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amazingmsme · 5 months

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A Good Golly Holiday Time

AN: Extremely loosely based on the squealing santa warmup prompt featherflake & basically just my excuse to write for The Solve It Squad/How the Grunch Cribbed Christmas. Ever since I first laid eyes on Scrags I knew he had to get wrecked. Hope you enjoy, merry Christmas & happy holidays to everyone! Really gonna try to pump out one more holiday fic but we’ll see about that won’t we?

Scrags... really wasn't having a good time. He normally tried to avoid the holidays because it only served to remind him of the family that didn't want him, and that fucking Maddie girl in his dad's reserved seat was just rubbing salt in the wound. He tried to keep his glaring to a minimum.

It seems his efforts failed because his friends very easily picked up on his sour mood, and it was obvious that they were walking on eggshells around him. They were in the craft portion of the planned activities, and it felt like his friends were coddling him rather than actually checking in. It was insulting damn it, he was a grown ass man! He didn't need their condescending praise about his crappy snowflake or the pitying looks they cast his way when they thought he wouldn't notice. Well news flash: he notices everything; he's a fucking FBI agent for crying out loud!

He heaved a heavy sigh as he glued a handful of feathers onto his snowflake. Keith walked behind him and off to the side, looking over Ester's shoulder at the iPad in their hands.

"So, what's the chat saying about me?" he asked, sweeping a hand through his hair. Ester rolled their eyes as they continued to scroll through the comments.

"Not much, they're all talking about what a sad sack of coal Scrags is being," they muttered, causing Kieth to furrow his brows.

"What? No way, Scrags is always high strung and snappy, they just don't know him like we do," he tried to justify. He glanced up at Scrags, his playful smirk falling when he saw the way their friend's shoulders sagged. He slapped a handful of feathers onto his snowflake in a messy, haphazard thud onto the table. "Okay yeah, he is being a classic Grunch, but it's not like we can cheer him up." Keith caught sight of a nearby camera and flashed a smile and wink.

Ester rolled their eyes. Keith stepped in front of her to be in the camera's full view and addressed the audience.

"Hey all you beautiful people at home! Our friend Scrags is having a little trouble getting in the holiday spirit, so we're taking suggestions on how to cheer him up!"

"Really Keith? C'mon, we got more important things to do! I need all you fuck nuggets at home to donate in my name, got that?!" Esther yelled, addressing the camera as they shoved Kieth out of the way. "Think of the children, first and foremost, but make sure I fucking win when you do!" they insisted, drawing the attention of Gwen and Scrags with the shrill pitch of their voice.

"Esther, try and keep it down, it's arts and crafts time and I do expect you to use your indoor voice," Gwen said in her classic cheerful tone with a dash of condescension and and a pinch of superiority. Thankfully, neither Esther nor Keith paid her any mind as they searched the comments for ideas.

"Wow you guys really have no sense of humor," Esther muttered as they scrolled past a few particularly bad holiday themed jokes. Keith grabbed their wrist and pointed at the screen.

"Hold up, go back I think I saw something," he said, not waiting for them to comply and snatched the iPad.

"Hey, give that back!"

"In a sec!" he said, scrolling until he found the comment once more. He froze and looked at Esther with an excited, sinister grin. "I think mrsclausgiantjuggs just gave us the solution to our problem."

"Ew, Kieth-"

"No, it's a username! Here look!"

"No I don't wanna-" they stopped mid sentence as they read the comment. A devilish glint flashed in their eyes. "Is Scrags ticklish? You guys should totally tickle him, I bet THAT will cheer him up!" They looked up from the screen and locked eyes with Keith. An evil chuckle slipped out as they slowly crept over to their gloomy friend.

"Gwen, your snowflake is looking picture perfect, just like you," Keith flirted, ever the suck up simp.

She flushed and giggled, "Oh stop!"

"Scrags, buddy! Yours is... coming along," he said, staring at the mess of paper, glitter glue and feathers.

"Gee, thanks. Gwen made me do this so she wouldn't be crafting all by herself," he teased lightly. "But y'know, I think it'd look better if you did it, Esther. Or even you, Keith."

"The hell do you mean "even me?" he asked incredulously. Esther smacked him from behind, reminding him they had a goal to accomplish.

“Scrags, I gotta be honest with you. You’re acting like a Grade A Grunch, and the chat’s picking up on your vibe. Now if you don’t change that, we’re gonna have to take drastic measures,” he warned/threatened. Scrags merely rolled his eyes.

“Sorry that I’m no happy enough to conform to your cheerful holiday standards,” he quipped, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly.

“Well that’s where we come in,” Keith said, sidling up next to him. Scrags looked him up and down skeptically.

“I’m not really in the mood for jokes…”

“Oh but this isn’t a joke!” Esther assured from his other side, making him jump. “If you ask me, this is a sure fire way to get your cheer meter filled all the way to the tippy top!”

Scrags scoffed, returning to his half-assed snowflake. He jerked away with a squeal when he felt something soft and fluffy flutter over his ear. He looked over to see Keith twirling a feather between his fingers, sporting a wicked grin. Scrags held his arms out in front of him as a weak defense.

“Dude, no, we’re live,” he practically pleaded.

“Uh, I know. This was a fan suggestion!” he chirped. Scrags choked on his own spit, sputtering and stumbling to his feet.

“Ex-excuse me? No, I don’t believe you!”

“Oh but it’s true,” Esther spoke up from behind him, making his blood run cold.

He stared at her, completely frozen for a solid few seconds before his brain caught up with himself. “What?” he reacted with his entire body, tossing his head around to look at her, placing his hands on his hips in his iconic sassy dad pose. “Who would want to see that?” he demanded.

“I think a better question is who wouldn’t want to see that,” Gwen joined in on the teasing, walking up behind Scrags and squeezed both his hips, making his twist out of her grip with a choked off giggle. “Great idea Keith!”

“Technically all the credit goes to mrsclausgiantjuggs, but I am the one spearheading this mission,” he bragged on himself, but still gave credit where credit was due. Okay, so maybe he wanted to say that username one more time.

“No, okay, I am shutting this down, it is not happenIIING!” his stern scolding morphed into a shrill squeal when Ester grew tired of waiting and dug their fingers in his armpits. He whipped around just in time to see their sinister grin as they wiggled their fingers in the air, getting ever closer. He desperately tried to fight off the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Not once up to this point in the livestream had he been so aware of the multiple cameras trained on them. He continued backing away from the threatening fingers… Right into Keith’s outstretched arms.

Strong arms, that immediately trapped him in a very tickly bear hug. “GOTCHA!” he yelled as he pinched and kneaded his sides and ribs, launching him into a full fledged giggle fit. He squirmed around like a fish on a hook, swatting and shoving at his probing hands.

“Aww, I can’t remember the last time you looked so happy, Scrags!” Gwen cooed, placing a hand over her melting heart. She wasn’t even meaning to tease, it was a genuine observation.

“Ihihihit’s fohohorced! Gwen d-don’t just stahahand there, hehehelp me damnit!” he snapped through his laughter. Before she could answer, Esther interjected.

“Uh oh, someone clearly isn’t feeling the holiday spirit!” He shook his head, eyes wide with panic as they lunged for him. Their fingers prodded his soft belly, causing him to double over in Keith’s grip.

“Oh I’ll help you alright! Trust me, when we’re through with you, you’ll feel like a million bucks! Just like when we were kids, right Mr. Giggles?” she asked and okay this time she definitely meant to tease. It had the desired effect and had him turning a rather adorable shade of pink.

“D-dohohon’t call me thahahat!” he cried indignantly, twisting around in his friend’s hold to hide his face from the camera, and hopefully protect at least a few of his tickle spots.

He realized his mistake when Keith took a deep breath and planted a loud, sloppy raspberry on his neck.

“OHOHOHO FUCK KEITH THAHAHAT’S SO GROSS, GEHEHET OHOHOFF!” Scrags’s hysterical laughter nearly blew out his mic before it tapered off into a less earsplitting volume as Keith pulled away, wiping a hand on his mouth.

“Sorry, could’ve sworn you said you liked raspberries,” he said with a shit eating grin. Scrags rolled his eyes, still grinning from ear to ear.

“Yeah, the fruit you dickwahahad!” his insult lost its edge when Esther drilled their thumbs in his hips, sending him back into helpless laughter.

“Hey, this is a charity livestream for children, watch your motherfucking mouth!” Esther yelled over him. Gwen gasped at the outburst.

“Well that’s the pot calling the kettle black!”

Esther smirked, cocking their head to the side. “Sorry Gwen, pretty sure you’re not allowed to say that anymore,” they said, shaking their head with a tsk. Gwen scoffed.

“Oh you are so asking for it!” And with that, she set her sights on a new target.

Needless to say, the chat was going wild, and they were gaining view by the second. It was a rare glimpse of the fun, bright eyed detective group they remembered growing up, and that was the greatest non denominational holiday gift anyone could ask for.

#solve it squad fic #tsis fic #how the grunch cribbed christmas fic #htgcc fic #benji scragtowski #scrags #esther backpack blueglasses #keith swanson #gwen berrywood #the solve it squad #how the grunch cribbed christmas #solve it squad tickle fic #htgcc tickle fic #ticklish!scrags

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raftersomefood · 3 months

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I am now taking Solve-it Squad fic requests

#Solve-it Squad #Back in Business #Grunch #How The Grunch Cribbed Christmas #still need to watch those 2 #BUT!#180k was hit #if we hit 200k today or tomorrow; I will take longer fics

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justabigassnerd · 5 months

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Protected

Pairing - Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x daughter!reader

Word count - 1,654

Warnings - creepy guys, protective Jake & Mickey, being made uncomfortable, angst, fluff

Summary - when you get bothered by customers at work, Jake and Mickey can't just stand by and watch

A/N - hey y'all! sorry it's taken me so long to get a new fic out, I swear I'm trying to write faster but I be struggling. this was a request sent in by @stupendousnightmaretrash so here's a formal apology for taking so long. anyways I won't ramble, as per y'all, please send in requests, feedback, and enjoy!!!

Growing up it had always just been you and your dad, and you were perfectly fine with that arrangement. There would be a small number of people that would come in and out of your life, but your dad stuck around no matter what and he was all you needed.

Then he got called back to Top Gun.

After completing the mission he was called back for, Jake and his squad were offered a permanent position at Top Gun so they could all remain together which brought a new array of people into your life. You knew Javy of course; he and your dad had formed a close friendship early on so having him back in your life was a welcome surprise. Then there was the likes of Bradley, Bob, Ruben, and Natasha who became your honorary uncles and aunt. Then there was Mickey who somehow became like a second father to you. He was the youngest of the Daggers and so everyone had assumed he’d take more of an older brother role towards you, but he showed his complex maturity when he helped you solve a problem you were having, and you often found yourself going to him with problems you weren’t ready to talk to your own dad about yet to get advice from him.

A couple of years down the line, your dad and the Daggers were still based in Miramar and life was just as good as it was when the team first became an official squadron. You had recently turned sixteen and gotten a job working at a little restaurant along the beachfront for a little extra cash. It wasn’t the best job in the world, but it was something.

One evening, after a long day of work at Top Gun, the Daggers decided that they’d visit the restaurant you worked at to grab some dinner and to also surprise you while you were working.

The squadron turned up and waited excitedly to be seated and Jake couldn’t help but smile when he saw your eyes light up upon seeing the team gathered. You found them a table and handed out menus to everyone. The smile never leaves your face as you talk to them, getting their drinks orders before heading off to go and get their drinks. When you returned with their drinks you took their food orders and took them to the kitchen before returning to your section and seating two middle-aged men at a table near the Daggers. At first, they were polite, thanking you as they initially sat down and gave you their drinks orders with kind smiles but as the evening progressed their behaviour shifted. When you brought them their meals after the Daggers were just about halfway through their own dinners, the two men started looking you up and down, making uncomfortable flirty comments and one of the men even tried to run his hand along yours as you placed his food down in front of him. None of the men’s comments or actions went unnoticed by Mickey, who nudged Jake and pointed out how uncomfortable you clearly looked while serving the two men. When you moved away from the table to grab more drinks for the two men, Mickey and Jake exchanged a look and pushed their chairs away from the table, rising in sync and crossing to the two men.

“Can we help you?” One of the men asks, raising an eyebrow as they stare up at the two aviators who fold their arms across their chest in tandem, glaring down at the two men.

“You can stop bothering my daughter, that’s how you can help me.” Jake says, jaw set as his gaze grows colder by the second. The two men share a brief glance before letting out small chuckles.

“With all due respect. Your daughter is very beautiful.” One of the men has the gall to say, making Jake almost shift to land a punch on that man’s cocky smile, but Mickey was quicker, grabbing Jake’s shoulder and pulling him back a couple of paces to reduce the fight risk.

“She’s also sixteen years old. She’s just a kid!” Mickey has to hold himself back from screaming it in the man’s face as his friend shrugs.

“Well, she looks older.”

“And you still think that makes it okay?” Mickey says as Jake shrugs Mickey’s hand off his shoulder and approaches the two men, bracing his hands on the table, and leaning down so he’s in their faces.

“You two have about five minutes to pay your bill, give my kid a good tip and get your sorry asses out of here.” Jake’s voice was low and threatening, but the two men chuckled once again.

“What exactly are you going to do if we don’t do that?” The man asks, smirking cockily as he leant back in his seat, arms folding over his chest.

“I’ve got an entire team of naval aviators behind me, and they will not hesitate to get involved on my kid’s behalf.” Jake is seconds away from throwing a punch when the men laugh in his face.

“I have your- what’s going on?” Your return should’ve been expected yet in the moment all four men had forgotten you had gone off to get drinks.

“Nothing for you to worry about, sweetheart.” Jake says, straightening up and flashing a smile in your direction as Mickey drops his defensive stance to make everything seem more natural.

“Exactly, sweetheart. Are those our drinks?” One of the men says, condescension in his tone as he looks you up and down, frowning when you begin to look uncomfortable at his words.

“Oh come on, you can’t serve us with a smile?” He then says, and Mickey immediately walks over to you and takes the drinks off the tray.

“Mickey, what are you doing?” You ask in a hushed whisper as Mickey winks quickly, refusing to answer before turning around and slapping the biggest grin on his face and approaching the table.

“Here’s your drinks.” Mickey says, placing both drinks down making sure he spilt a bit over each man as he put them down.

“What are you doing?” One man says, standing up and attempting to brush the drink off his trousers.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you wanted to be served with a smile. I must’ve gotten a bit carried away.” Mickey says, the grin never leaving his face as both men grab napkins to wipe at their clothes while Jake crosses to you.

“Why don’t you grab the bill for these two? I have a feeling they’ll be leaving soon.” Jake whispers, watching as you nod lightly and head back to get the bill for the two men. Jake and Mickey return to the table with the Daggers, telling them that the situation appears to be defused and that since they had finished up all their meals, they’d get the bill and pay after the two men left. Jake kept glancing over at the two men as you brought over their bill and thankfully their mouths remained shut and they paid for their food and drinks silently before finishing their drinks and leaving the restaurant. When they left, you went over to the Daggers table and got them their bill and took the payments. You said goodbye to each Dagger in turn as they left but Jake and Mickey stopped in front of you.

“We’re going to wait outside for you, I know you don’t have much longer of your shift, and we want to make sure those assholes don’t come back.” Jake says, both he and Mickey smiling softly at you as you nod, thanking them before rushing off to finish off the rest of your shift.

Mickey and Jake sit outside the restaurant on a bench just by the beachfront and watch people taking evening strolls along the beach and listen to the sounds of seagulls calling and waves crashing against the sand. The two men found themselves talking about how work was going for them to pass the time until they heard you calling out for them, and they both turned and looked over their shoulders, a smile coming to their faces as they got to their feet and crossed to meet you halfway. Jake reached you first and trapped you in a strong but gentle hug.

“Was the rest of your shift, okay?” Was the first thing he asked as he hugged you, feeling you nod against his chest.

“Yeah.” You say as you pull away from the hug, moving to hug Mickey who embraces you happily.

“No one else bothered you?” Mickey checks in as he releases you from the hug.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle. Thank you, by the way. Those guys really gave me the creeps.” You admit, briefly casting your gaze to the floor before looking back up at the two men.

“No need to thank us, sweetheart. We’ll always look out for you.” Jake says with a soft smile.

“Honestly, if you two weren’t in the Navy I would’ve asked my manager to hire you guys. We could do with some people to help us handle the creepy guys. And I think Mickey would be an excellent waiter, he’s got the customer service smile down.” You say with a slight laugh, making both your dad and Mickey let out laughs of their own as they imagine Mickey being a waiter.

“Come on you, let’s get home.” Jake then says, the laughter dying down as Mickey slings an arm over your shoulders and tugs you into his side as the three of you begin to walk away from the restaurant, chatting and laughing the whole way as you enjoy each other’s company. The events of the evening are now behind you as you cherish getting to spend time with two of your favourite people. And you wouldn’t trade them for the world.

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it-happened-one-fic · 9 months

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10 Seconds - Floyd

Author Notes: I'm not gonna lie, I had a lot of fun writing this. This fic was pretty much entirely inspired by a scene in chapter 111 in Akagami no Shirayukihime (Snow White with The Red Hair). After I found out that Floyd and Obi had the same voice actor, the temptation was to great for me to resist. As per usual, reader is gender-neutral. I hope you enjoy!

Type: Fluff/ flirtation/ romance/ kind of spoofy/ Reader does have a pushy admirer so be warned on that note

Word Count: 1890

There was something about persistent wanna-be lovers that made one nervous enough to look to even the most shady sources of help. Including Octaveinelle.

“So this young man has been bothering you for…?” Jade trailed off as he looked up from the glass he was currently polishing to where I sat, right in front of him, at the bar.

“A little over a month now, I think.” I frowned as I recounted the numerous times the Pomefiore junior in question had just ‘happened’ to be right where I would inevitably run into him.

I would be trapped there, having to interact with him and dodging his advances until I was saved by some passerby or thought up a reasonable excuse to leave.

I could’ve gone to Vil for help, considering it was one of his dorm members. But I also didn’t entirely want to put my annoyingly persistent and considerably pushy admirer through quite that much sorrow.

I did, however, want this handled, and me turning him down numerous times as politely as possible simply wasn’t cutting it. Which was why I went to Octavinelle to seek the advice of the infamous tweels. After all, they handled a lot of Azul's issues. Surely they would have advice for handling one persistent admirer.

Floyd let out a low whistle from behind me, causing me to twist slightly to glance at the young man who ought to be sweeping but was now just propped up on the broom’s handle as he shook his head, “Stubborn guy.”

His eyes found mine as a grin crossed his face, and I realized very quickly that I didn’t want to know exactly what Floyd was thinking. That wasn’t really one of his nice grins….

“Come now, Floyd. We can’t exactly blame the poor fool for being quite so smitten with our darling little Prefect, can we?” I almost grimaced at Jade’s teasing tone as I turned in time to catch his mocking, sharp-toothed smile.

“Guys,” I didn’t even bother fighting the whine that slipped into my tone. “I just want some advice. I can’t get him to go away, and I’ve already tried being blunt.”

Jade smiled in an indulgent manner down at me before a frown crossed his face, “I suppose it is rather problematic and concerning if he’s been at it this long.”

He sat the glass down with a tiny clink on the bar as he continued to ponder my plight, “You said he’s a Pomefiore student?”

I nodded, wondering exactly what Jade was thinking as Floyd slipped up next to me, propping himself on the bar, “Should I just scare him off? That’d probably do it.”

Floyd sounded perfectly willing to do just that as he looked at me with that sharp-toothed grin of his before looking towards his brother.

But he was soon frowning in confusion as Jade started to shake his head with a slight frown, “No, if he’s as determined as I fear, then I doubt that would solve the problem for little more than three days.”

That mocking smile appeared on Jade’s face again, even though he wasn’t actually looking at either me or his brother, as he continued, “Besides. Those Pomefiore boys are the schooling sort. Always flitting about in a group. If we tried aggression, he’d just come back with his friends, and that would make things more difficult for you, wouldn’t it, Prefect?”

He looked towards me as he finished, and I nodded glumly, “A squad probably would make it tougher.”

Especially since Pomefiore squads were known to be aggressive. Turning him down in front of his posse could be risky at best.

A chuckle slipped from the vice-housewarden’s lips as he smiled at me, “Now, now. There’s no need to make such a face. The solution is really quite simple, isn’t it?”

I perked up at his words, looking at him hopefully before I frowned once I noticed his grin, “What’s it gonna cost?”

The twins laughed together, their voices joining in a strange harmony that made me tense ever-so-slightly.

“Oh, it’ll be on the house this time. After all, this will be most amusing for both of us.” Jade’s words seemed to surprise Floyd as much as they did me.

Unperturbed by our obvious confusion, Jade leaned forward with an undoubtedly conspiratorial grin. Propping himself on his elbows as he gestured both of us closer with a single flick of his long fingers, “Listen closely…..”

And that was what had brought me to this moment, as I let out a quiet exhale before rounding the corner.

I didn’t even have to worry about setting the guy up. I knew exactly where he’d be.

Propped up on the wall in that careful pose he was always in when he was waiting for me to come and just ‘happen’ to bump into him.

And sure enough, there he was. Leaning against the wall with one arm raised so that he had me slightly caged in from the very second I rounded the corner.

“Prefect! What a surprise,” His perfectly white teeth flashed almost blindingly, and I fought not to gag at the raw amount of perfume he was wearing.

It was a good thing he hadn’t brought his posse; I probably would’ve passed out from the raw amount of perfume that would’ve been in the air.

But I smiled. Pretending to be surprised and not at all frustrated by his persistent, unwanted affections as I carefully went back through the plan that Jade had laid out in my head.

Interact with him like everything was normal while waiting until reinforcements came, and then follow those very simple directions that Jade had given.

So I waited. Awkwardly exchanging pleasantries and smiling up at the young man who now leaned increasingly closer despite how much I would like him to say far away. He was no doubt about to drop some sort of new line that was intended to sweep me off my feet but would be far more likely to make me grimace.

And right as he opened his mouth with a grin that spoke of some very misplaced confidence, I heard the exact thing I’d been waiting for.

“Shrimpy~” Floyd’s sing-song call came from behind me, and I turned so fast that I almost missed the deep frown that appeared at impressive speeds on my admirer’s face.

“Floyd!” I didn’t have to fake my joy at seeing him, though I couldn’t say the same for him considering that Floyd himself looked entirely bored as he looked towards the Pomefiore junior that now stood stiffly silent. Already frustrated by the mere presence of Floyd.

For a brief moment, I was honestly worried about how well Jade’s scheme was going to go over until Floyd’s gaze shifted and his eyes met mine. Because then there was an entire change to his person.

His gaze softened ever so slightly, and his lips twitched up in an absentminded smile as he walked over, all but cooing at me affectionately, “There you are.”

He didn’t stop until he was right next to me, looking down at me, and then I knew the moment of truth was upon us.

I could hear Jade’s amused voice in my head as I braced myself, swallowing as I recalled his words: “Ten seconds. You will need to stare into each other’s eyes for ten seconds. But that’s all it will take.”

Floyd was far calmer than I was as he slipped off his blazer and draped it over my shoulders, blocking the cool breeze that came through the open window.

His voice was quieter than usual, though still playful as he spoke, “There you go; can’t have you getting cold.” And that was my cue that we were beginning.

One.

My hand reached up to tug his oversized jacket a little closer around my body, and my hand brushed lightly against his fingers that lingered at my shoulders.

Two. Three. Four.

I twisted just a little bit more so that I could look at him better as his hand slid down my arm so that his arm was wrapped around my shoulders.

Five.

It was already getting sort of awkward to keep staring for this long into Floyd’s mismatched eyes for this long. But now I was beginning to think more about the color of his irises than the actual situation we were in.

Six. Seven.

One was a yellow color. Not a sickly yellow, but rather it was a warmer color that made me feel oddly safe considering the young man I was looking up at. The other eye was a surprisingly gentle olive that was also welcomingly familiar and spoke of how, in certain moments, Floyd himself could actually be quite gentle.

Eight. Nine.

I could feel numerous people staring at us, and I was fairly certain that one of them was definitely Jade. He was probably utterly delighted by how uniquely embarrassing this really was. Because even though I’d been prepared to feel a little self-conscious, I hadn’t been expecting to be this flustered. Especially since it was just Floyd….

Ten.

Floyd’s smile grew by just a fraction, and then he blinked, “I reckon I’ll see you later. I know you can’t miss your class. Good little student that you are~” He let go of my arm with an affectionate squeeze as he continued to look down at me. But this time with amusement in his gaze and a teasing lilt to his voice.

I swallowed down my overwhelming shyness as I looked away, blinking as I attempted to force my recovery by focusing on his teasing.

But even then, my voice wobbled as I quipped back, not quite able to look back up at him, “Unlike you, I actually have to study to keep my grades up.”

Out of my peripheral vision, I could tell he was fully grinning now, “Aww, if you ever need help, you can just ask. If you're nervous about Azul, I can help you out.”

He leaned down and into my line of sight so that he could wink at me, and I let out an exhale. Reminding myself that this was Floyd I was dealing with. Not some incredibly romantic male lead who was here to sweep me off my feet and actually be successful.

Which brought me back to my admirer, who was still standing there, staring in open-mouthed shock.

“Ex- Excuse me, I lost track of time with Floyd and really do need to get to class now,” I was still flustered enough that I stammered slightly before I flashed him an apologetic grin before I trotted off.

As I fled the scene, I passed a chuckling Jade and mouthed a quick, ‘Thank you,’ before hurrying on. Attempting to outrun the oddly shy sensation I now felt at the thought of being near Floyd and entirely missing what happened behind me as I fled the scene.

“You haven’t gotten anywhere in a month, and it only took me ten seconds.” So saying, Floyd glanced down at the Pomefiore student, who almost immediately puffed up with indignance that quickly deflated as Floyd grinned in a way that perfectly displayed his too-sharp teeth.

“You might as well just try somewhere else, ‘cause you aren’t going to be stealing Shrimpy away from me anytime soon.”

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lopez-richter-fangirl · 3 months

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The Tin Can Bros have launched a kickstarter to celebrate their 10 year anniversary with SEVEN new projects, and they need our help!

Read on to find out how:

This is Brian Rosenthal, Corey Lubowich and Joey Richter

You may know them from Team Starkid, or you may know them from their own group the Tin Can Brothers (creators of projects such as Spies Are Forever and the Solve it Squad), formed in 2014. To celebrate 10 years, they’re raising a goal of $200k in order to stage seven projects

They’re currently a week into their campaign and have raised almost $50k with 675 backers. But they still have a way to go! And to help, we need to spread the word

TINLIGHTENMENT PROMO SCHEDULE:

Saturday 10th - The Great Debate

What is it?

A live comedy game show featuring Joey, Brian, Corey and special guests pitted against each other to win a debate. It gets silly!

How will I be able to see it?

Live shows in LA (and potentially other places!) throughout the year, digital tickets, and eventually some ‘episodes’ on youtube!

What can I share?

If you’ve been lucky enough to see past great debates on Patreon, talk about favourite topics and moments!

If you haven’t, share moments and clips from the first public great debate livestream happening on Thursday! (I think - if plans are changed then they’re doing a terrible job letting me help them)

Talk about guests! They talked about a Dropout crossover which I know people have been asking for with Starkid. I don’t know what that is but tell the people that do!

Tuesday 13th - Gross Prophets

What is it?

A brand new comedy musical featuring Joey, Brian and Lauren with music by Ali Gordon and Angela Parrish (shitty broadway! https://youtu.be/AZ-bOPiDqo8?si=F6guq3Pk_lOkCB5B)

How will I be able to see it?

Live shows (some workshop-y) in LA leading up to a run at the Adelaide Fringe, with digital tickets and eventual youtube release

What can I share?

We don’t know a whole lot about this project yet, but we do know it’s got a great cast and creative team - talk about those people!

That it’s going to Adelaide!! Australia is frequently in the top backing countries on kickstarters, and those people finally get a chance to see a TCB show live!

Theories on what the show might involve!

Saturday 17th - SIS at the Fringe

What is it?

An Edinburgh Fringe run of the fucked up Scooby Doo parody, with the original cast!

How will I be able to see it?

Live shows throughout the entire Edinburgh Fringe run in August, or a digital ticket!

What can I share?

This is an existing TCB property, so talk about what you love from the original! Share art, gifs, edits, anything!

That it’s going to Edinburgh! As above, UK fans have been desperate for this for ages, now’s our chance! Make sure people know about it!

Tuesday 20th - Spy Another Day LA and London

What is it?

A live concert screening (Hollywood Bowl meets Rocky Horror!) of Spies with most of the original cast for LA and TCB plus Lauren for London!

How will I be able to see it?

A live show in LA in Spring (likely April) with a digital ticket option, and a live show in London in early September following their SIS fringe run

What can I share?

Like with SIS, anything and everything you love about the original show! Angsty fics, art, memes, it’s all good

Joe Walker. To me personally he’s just A Guy, but some people are still shocked to be learning he’s doing a show again! Get those OG fans to support this!

That it’s going to London. I need Joey doing a passable to decent depending on how much he’s practiced English accent in London! And again, an opportunity for one of the highest backing cities to see them LIVE

Saturday 24th - TCBoB at 54 Below

What is it?

The songs from their musical This Could Be on Broadway in concert at 54 Below in New York City, with Joey, Brian, Lauren, Esther, Bryce and Clark, plus more performers to be announced!

How will I be able to see it?

Live in NYC in November, with a digital ticket option

What can I share?

The first workshop only got a digital ticket release but if you caught that, share favourite parts! And the soundtrack is available, so talk about how fucking good the songs are

The fact that it’s an opportunity for people to hear these songs live!

Tuesday 27th - Intelligent Life

What is it?

A reading of TCB’s queer sci-fi comedy TV pilot

How will I be able to see it?

Live in LA in early Summer, or by digital ticket

What can I share?

Like with Gross Prophets, this is a brand new (to us) project so we don’t know a lot! But we do know it’s gays in space! We love space gays

Remember, these are just ideas. Share anything you personally are excited for and think other people might be interested in! The aim is to make sure people are aware of these projects, what they entail and why they need to happen! Any other way you have of getting the word out about the projects and the campaign in general is valuable!!

Join our discord for more ways to help or to ask questions! https://discord.gg/4VNEBzpA

And if you’re hearing about all this for the first time, check out the campaign! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tincanbros/tinlightenment-world-tour

#i’ll probably share a lot of this info again when it comes to the promo days #cause this is a lot to read lmao #just wanted to get it all out there #tinlightenment #tin can bros #tin can brothers #tcb #starkid #team starkid

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fuyuu-chan · 5 months

Text

Only a Genius could Love a Woman like Her

Pairing: Ron Kamonohashi x Detective!Reader

Sypnosis: (Name) being one of the top detectives, everyone admire her and had a lot of fans, including Totomaru, but then Toto thinks, who would be the most genius? Is it Ron or (Name)? Well you might find out if they were in the same case...

Warning: mention of body, murder, serial killer (idk if this should be added but just in case 👍)

Fuyuu-chan: My first time writing a detective fic so yeah, also a big thank you to @mayaree-darling for being my proofreader and for helping me 💙 (love you mwah). Anyways enjoy reading! 😚

✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧

(Name) is one of the top detectives out there, known for being very intelligent. A lot of people had been talking about her mostly because she had solved a lot of cases.

She's also a person you can trust, very friendly as well. All of the people in her investigation squad are her friends. She’s even close with other investigation team members, like Isshiki Totomaru.

Totomaru actually wondered who is the most intelligent - is it you or Ron, his friend that he made a few months ago that was also intelligent and a former student in BLUE.

Well that might get answered today as there was a new case involving a serial killer again.

You bumped into Totomaru in the mall and ended up hanging out. He tells you that he wanted to introduce you to someone he was gonna meet up with when you heard someone scream and of course out of instinct you and him hurry to where the noise came from.

And there you saw a body on the ground and a saleslady, judging by her uniform. The saleslady was sitting on the ground, looking terrified. Who could blame her, the people around look just as afraid. Totomaru looks shocked but you remain unfazed about it, probably because you've seen so many bodies before that you've grown used to it.

You called the police and after that you glanced at the body, observed the surroundings. When you turn back to the body, a man was lying next to it. "What are you doing? And who are you? This is a restricted area," you said to the man, but he seems to be saying something to the corpse.

Then Totomaru came towards you. "Ah, sorry Miss (Name). This is my friend, Ron Komonohashi. He's an acquaintance of mine, and he always does that. He's also the person I wanted for you to meet, the one I've been talking about," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I see...so that's him," you looked back at the man whose name is Ron. He got up and went towards you.

"You’re a detective right? You look pretty" he said as he smiled. "I've noticed a few details that might have happened here.”

"Oh? Well can I hear it? It might add on the details I've already taken note of," you said as you showed your notebook.

"Wait, you already took notes?" Ron asked.

"Of course," you said. "Also I believe this case is also part of the new serial killer based on how the victim died and that card next to the body, it's what that serial killer does whenever they strike again," you explained as you look at the body.

"As expected of the highly praised and famous detective," Totomaru smiled at you, his eyes shining with admiration.

"Although, I don't think you've gone near the body... how did you..?" Totomaru said, confused.

"Wait, she didn't go near the body?..." Ron said as he looked at Toto and back to you.

"I don't need to since I already saw everything I needed to see," you said as you shrugged. You never really needed to go near the body since you had sharp eyes; only needing to in complicated cases do you have to approach the body but most of the time you don't. It's one of the things your admirers admire about you.

"Sugoiii" Totomaru said, his eyes shining again. "So that's what all your fans have been talking about, I can finally see you in action during the investigation!" he added.

Ron was quiet the entire time, caught off guard. First, you were fast at taking notes about the details, second you didn't have to go near the body because of your sharp eyes and third, the fact that you already connected this case to the other, when most of the detectives he knew took a long time to realize these things. You were clearly different, you were fast and serious about your job.

Ron looked at you and analyzed you for a bit. You looked casual, friendly, approachable, but there is something about you that he can't put his fingers on, something he feels about you that he can’t place yet.

He was so busy thinking he didn't realize the police were already there. You were smiling for some reason. He realized he didn't investigate again, and got distracted by thinking of you. But then you spoke up saying you figured it out, making him even more shocked than before.

He listened as you explained and deduced the entire case. Finally, you point out the killer, which was the saleslady who "discovered" the body. You showed proof that she's the one who did it, only proven when she had one of the pieces of evidence on her.

As she was cornered by you she had no choice but to fall down to her knees and admit she was the one who murdered them all. You notice in your peripheral vision Totomaru leading Ron outside for safety purposes and for no accidents to happen again like any other case he'd been in.

After everything is solved and done you go outside to see the two of them talking.

"Ah, Miss (Name), is everything done?" Totomaru said as he looked at you.

"Yes," you answered.

"That's good to know...also, I'm sorry for not helping" he said as a sweat dropped.

You sighed. What had Amamiya done to this boy that he was sweating like this? Had she been scolding him that much? You thought to yourself as you waved him off.

"Nah it's good, I handled it anyways and besides it's your day off and this is my investigation squad area. No need to feel bad."

He sighed in relief, he thought you would scold him. "You're so nice, Miss (Name). Thank you," he said.

"No need to thank me... also, stop with the formalities. The job is over, anyways," you said as you finally looked at Ron only to meet his gaze already on you.

"Wanna have some coffee?" Ron asked.

"Hmmm? Well I guess I could use some coffee break, so sure," you said as you smiled.

Then the three of you set off to go to the nearest coffee shop. Once you all arrived you ordered your drinks and snacks and picked a seat in one corner. Ron breaks the silence "You were really good back there, I can't believe you solved that so easily."

You chuckled. "It was obvious, the girl already showed signs from the very beginning."

"She did?' they both asked at the same time.

"Yep," you said. Just in time, you hear the counter call the number for your order.

Totomaru said he would get the drinks so you and Ron were left alone. "Tell me, Ron, why were you so distracted earlier? I noticed you didn't get to solve it, either," you said.

"Huh..? What do you mean?" he said, caught off guard.

"You were looking around even while I was explaining the murder and the evidence, so it was pretty obvious,” you tap your fingers on the table. “But you’re probably wondering how I knew you were the one solving the cases when Totomaru “handles” the situation, right?”

Ron nodded. You turned to where Totomaru was and saw there was a line to get the order, so you looked back at Ron. "Don't tell it, Totomaru but knowing him, he wouldn't know how to solve difficult cases. When I heard what Chikori Monki the journalist told me about Totomaru’s attitude and reaction during the coffee shop case,it just confirmed it for me. Even Amamiya is surprised he gets to solve cases like that."

You looked back at where Totomaru is and back at Ron again. "And then I heard you were always with Totomaru in those cases, it clicked that you were the one solving those and telling it to him. I also heard you were a former student in BLUE, Totomaru mentioned meeting one of the professors there; well...late professor. You have my condolences," you continued.

Ron was silent the entire time, you know so much about him. "Did you research about me?" he asked.

“Not really. There was no need. I get all my information from stories Totomaru tells me, even if he leaves your name out of it. I heard your name a long time ago in BLUE, I just remembered recently. Finally, I heard from my friend Kawasemi about you and he just confirmed it for me when I told him.” you wave your phone around, showing your recent chat with the detective. Ron is stunned.

"That's a lot of information you have there," he said, chuckling nervously.

"Of course, I have to know things about the people I interact with," you said as you smiled innocently.

"Ah...wait...don't tell me you know about the-" he was about to ask when you cut him off.

"Oh, Totomaru is here... and to answer, yeah." you said as you looked at Ron and to Totomaru who was approaching with a tray in hand with all of your drinks and snacks.

Ron looked at Totomaru who set the tray down on the table. "Thank you for getting the order," you said as you grabbed your drink and snack.

"Thank you as well for treating us Mis- ah (name)" Totomaru said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You're welcome" you said as you took a sip of your drink.

"Wait..don't change the topic, how'd you know about that?" Ron said as he looked you in the eyes.

"Umm it's obvious? I notice a lot of things other people don’t, especially like earlier. Besides, when Totomaru tells me about his cases, or I hear the police talking about recent cases, I ask about details. And one thing the other police always mentioned was something happening at the end of a case: when the killer is found, a man would pressure them, but Totomaru would always manage to save the day.” you took a bite on your snack.

"Huh..?" Totomaru looks puzzled when you say that.

Ron just looked speechless. How could you know every little detail?

"Wait, Toto, don't tell me you lead me outside earlier because she told you to?" Ron turned to Totomaru and asked.

"...Umm, yeah, (Name) told me to. She said we should both go outside and I should look over you.." he said as he recalled what you told him earlier as he held his chin.

Then Ron suddenly looked at you with wide eyes and Totomaru gaped at you. "Hold on a minute, you knew from the very beginning? Is this what you’ve been talking about?"

"Not quite the very beginning, but yeah, some of it. I didn’t want any problems. And besides, I don't want that happening under my care. If you don't want whatever is going on with you and the culprit to happen then make sure to go outside or somewhere far away after Totomaru voices your deduction," you said as you looked at him unfazed. You were expecting him to react like this anyway.

Ron looks at you, completely floored. Here you were, basically aware of half his life, retelling it to him casually. Totomaru looked confused still, but then it clicked after a few minutes of silence.

"Wait, she knew everything? You knew?" Totomaru said as he looked at Ron and then you repeatedly, looking for an answer. So you explained everything to him again.

"Wait, but you never knew much about me and don't ask people about me," Totomaru said but you just shushed him

“That’s just what you think,” you chuckled as you sip your coffee. “Besides the more I heard about Ron, the more I thought he was interesting.”

After that you and Ron got close especially after knowing everything. He took his time with you, getting to know you almost as much as you knew him. Ron also found out you were also good at self defense after one of the killers in one case attacked. He saw how you handled it. He thought about it before, when he first met you, but you were a bit scary...

As time passes, you, Ron, and Totomaru had cases that all of you would investigate together. You and Ron took this chance to compete (in a good way) on who'd be the first to solve the case. Totomaru actually couldn't believe you and him would hold competitions even during times as serious as this but eventually he got used to it. Most of the time, you win because you distract Ron, but at the same time Ron does the same to you and that makes you lose to him.

You said you would defeat him in other cases, and there is no problem in finding some cases because every time you three are together somehow there is always a murder and if not probably theft or other things. Ron seemed happy to solve more cases; sometimes you were, too, but at the same time you find it rather concerning...

While in the past everyone saw only Ron and Totomaru, now they see (Name), Ron, and Totomaru together. People even said that Totomaru looked like a third wheel to you and Ron, especially with how you got along. Some even said that you and Ron looked like enemies to lovers as you two would always "fight" in investigations.

ฅ⁠^⁠•⁠ﻌ⁠•⁠^⁠ฅ

Please do not copy, translate, repost to any other social media, Thank you

#fuyuu chan writes #fanfic #anime #anime fanfic #anime and manga #ron kamonohashi #ron kamonohashi x reader #ron kamonohashi x you #ron kamonohashi's forbidden deductions

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isabella-kr · 1 year

Note

Just read your reassurance fic and fuckin loved it. Absolutely feral for price rn. Not sure if you're still open for requests, but i am a strong believer that price gives the best hugs, holds you to his chest for comfort, problemsolving kinda hugs, but maybe something happened and now its oc/reader's time to return the favour.

This is the first time I've ever made a request so hope I did it right lol. basically I'm starving for fluff. maybe a bit of hurt/comfort.

Thank you so much for requesting!! I'm so glad you liked it!! I agree, he definitely gives incredible hugs and I would kill to experience them at least once. I hope you don't mind, but I made this an F!reader because you didn't specify and it's what I find easiest; however, if you'd like me to change this to gender neutral, let me know and I will edit this :))

Out of Your Control

Do not repost

Synopsis: After a mission gone awry, Price can't help but blame himself for everything that had gone wrong. Hugs won't solve the problem, but they will definitely help ease his nerves.

Pairing: John Price x Female!Reader (Hints of an established relationship)

Genre: Angst & Fluff / Hurt & Comfort

Warnings: Swearing, self-blame, Price cries, reader cries, use of ‘sweetheart’ and ‘love’

Word Count: 2k

General Masterlist COD:MWII Masterlist

GIF not mine

The mission was a disaster.

Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. It was as though the enemy was expecting them, and decided to make his defence ten times stronger, quicker, and more ruthless. It was clear that the mission was doomed for failure from the start, but they prevailed nonetheless; eager to complete their task.

The place was swarming with soldiers who were armed with weapons from head to toe. So were they, but no matter how armed their Squad seemed to be, the enemy soldiers had twice as many guns, and twice as many blades. They were like flies on a hot summer’s day, doubling at speeds that didn’t seem humanly possible, and before long, they were surrounded from every corner.

Their hushed voices rang out through the comms as they considered their next course of action. Yet as Price was about to tell them to retreat - to evacuate because there was no way they would come out if this mission alive – it was already too late. Loud sirens rang out in their ears, and the rapid sounds of stomping boots made the hairs at the back of all their necks stand up. It went south too quickly for them to even attempt to deescalate the situation.

Bullets rained down like hail, and it didn’t take a genius to know they would not be getting out of this scot-free, and none of them did. Some of their injuries were worse than others, but they all looked equally beat up, as though they were on the brink of death.

It was barely an hour later that they were sat in the medical bay, with nurses and doctors running around them like headless chickens. Their frantic movements and hushed whispers made her head feel like a balloon ready to be popped, and she could only assume the others felt the same from the way their faces scrunched up with discomfort.

Price was nowhere to be seen, having ran out the moment the nurses told him he was free to go. The Captain’s injuries weren’t as severe as the others, and that only seemed to worsen the guilt he was already feeling.

It was Soap who looked the worst out of all of them, like Death himself was about to knock on his door and take him away. Yet somehow, with half of his face turned purple, and his left eye swollen shut, he still managed to send her a sweet smile the moment their eyes locked together.

She sent him a sympathetic glance in return, hissing and flinching when a bullet was suddenly extracted from the flesh of her thigh. She almost glared at the doctor who pulled the metal out of her, but stopped herself when an anti-septic was wiped over the open wound, and another wave of pain made an anguished groan leave her throat. She could only sigh and wait for this to be over; to finally leave and get some time for herself.

“Take this,” a nurse spoke with a sweet smile, giving her three small pills and a cup of water. Once she downed the medicine and emptied the small, plastic cup, the nurse nodded, “Good. Now, you get some rest, alright? You need it.”

“Thank you,” she nodded, plopping down from her bed to leave the stuffy room. She winced with every limped step she took, but decided she would rather suffer than spend the night in the medical room because of a non-fatal injury.

She wasted no time before making her way over to her room, welcoming the familiar smell with a smile on her face. The material that was soaked with her sweat and blood was pulled off her tired body, and soon replaced with something more comfortable. The new clothes were soft to the touch and didn’t stick to her bruised skin, making her sigh out in relief. She decided to wear something that would cover her up entirely, not out of modesty, but to hide the injuries from the captain’s guilt-filled eyes.

After leaving her room and making another stop to brew two cups of tea, she began making her way down a long corridor. It didn’t take her too long to arrive at Price’s office, though the wound in her thigh definitely slowed her down somewhat. His door seemed to be locked shut, for when she pressed her elbow against the handle, it didn’t budge.

With a small sigh, she knocked on the door with the rip of her boot, and waited for the door to be opened. Yet no sound came from inside the room; no gruff voice telling her to piss off; no sound of papers rustling, and no heavy footsteps making their way across the room.

She exhaled sharply, eyes closing as she kicked the door harder than before. Some of the tea trickled down from the mugs, the steaming hot liquid burning the skin of her finger. She ignored the burning sensation, instead focusing on the man who she knew was on the opposite side of the door.

“Sir, I need to speak with you,” she spoke out loud, hoping the sound of urgency in her voice would get him to open up. But alas, the silence continued. “Captain-” she looked around her, making sure there was no-one there to hear her next words, “John… please let me in.”

That seemed to get him moving, as only a few seconds passed before the door was pulled open. She walked in without waiting for permission, and placed the two hot mugs on his desk. Her eyes were quick to notice the scattered papers on his desk, his handwriting turning frantic on some of them.

Her eyes soon settled on the bearded man who walked around the desk and sat down in his chair. He had a blank look in his eyes, and she slowly sat down on the chair on the other side of the desk. She moved one of the mugs closer towards him, but he made no attempt to reach for it. His eyes didn’t even glance down to look at it.

“John,” she spoke slowly. Softly.

He didn’t look at her, and she swore his eyes were avoiding eye contact at all costs. There was a dark bruise forming on the apple of his left cheek, the skin turning a dark purple, mixed with a sickly yellow. A deep gash also decorated his clavicle, the skin red a raw, yet the wound was not deep enough to require stitches.

She could feel her heart break into a million pieces at the sight of his hopeless state. “John,” she whispered once again, “…sweetheart.”

This time, his eyes moved to look into hers. They were glazed over, and she could tell he was close to cracking, the guilt eating him up alive.

“This wasn’t your fault, John,” she told him with a shake of her head.

He let out a humourless laugh. The type of laugh that told her just how deep in despair he was. “Yeah, it was. I should’ve known better.”

“John, no.” She disagreed, “You couldn’t have predicted this.”

“No, but I should’ve been ready for it,” he argued, “I should’ve been prepared for things to go wrong.”

“And you were,” she spoke softly, “But we were all taken by surprise. None of us could have known this was going to happen. No matter how prepared we could have been. No matter what you think you could’ve done, we were simply too outnumbered.”

With a tilt of his head, he exhaled sharply, “This was supposed to be an easy mission. In and out.”

She nodded in understanding, “And it would’ve been if the information you were given was correct,” she pointed out. “This one was out of your hands, John.”

He shook his head in disagreement, hie eyes trained on the ceiling as if it was the most interesting thing in the room. With a small wince, she pushed herself off the chair and walked over towards him. Her fingers curled around his jaw and she moved him so that his eyes were locked with hers.

“John, what matters is that we’re all alive.” She told him, “You’re fine. The boys are fine. I’m fine. We’re all okay.”

With a blank stare, his hand moved to her thigh and applied some pressure in the exact spot where the bullet had penetrated her skin. He didn’t do it hard, in fact, he barely touched the area. Yet despite all that, she felt like a thousand needles were stabbed into her sore skin at once.

She choked at the pain that travelled through her body, and her hand instinctively pulled his away. He stared at her with a look that told her he did not believe a word she just told him. How could he when the soft, and otherwise welcome gesture caused her so much pain.

“You don’t sound fine to me, love.”

“John.” She scolded, “This isn’t something that’s never happened to me before. I’ve lost count of how many times I got shot, and I’m sure you have too.”

He didn’t respond to the accusation, his eyes only closing in shame. With a small, yet deep sigh, she managed to pull him towards her. The non-bruised side of his face was pressed against her chest, and her arms wrapped securely around him. The palm of her left hand cradled the back of his head, whilst the other moved to rub comforting circles on his shoulders.

“I know you won’t believe me,” she whispered, “But none of us blame you. Not Ghost, not Soap, not Gaz, and most definitely not me”

Upon hearing her words, he wrapped his arms around her torso and pulled her even closer to him than she was before. A small whimper left his lips, and he moved his face so that his nose was pressing against her. She moved down, carefully not to startle him, and kissed the crown of his head. She kept her face there, only tightening her hold around him when his body began to shake; the dam which he had built breaking into pieces as he allowed his emotions to flow freely.

His tears soaked through her shirt, and the situation made her own eyes well with tears. She didn’t care when they began to roll down her cheeks, or when his fingers clenched around the material of her shirt and pulled on it. She only cared that he finally let himself feel, without shoving his emotions away until they became unbearable.

“We would never blame you for this. Sometimes things are out of our control, okay?” She hummed against him, “There’s no point in beating ourselves up over it. It’s in the past. We can’t change it, so let it go. Please, just let it go.”

A sob wrecked through his body, and his fingers let go of her shirt to dig into her skin. He managed to nod against her, and she felt as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She knew the guilt had not fully left him, and that they still had a long way to go, but this was progress. She was just glad he was willing to try and move past it, and no matter how long it would take him, she would remain by his side the entire time.

She would wrap her arms around him and hold him close as he let the tears flow freely, just as he had done for her so many times before. She would hold him for as long as he needed her to, even if her arms began to ache, she would keep her arms wrapped securely around him.

“Just please…” she sniffled, “Don’t beat yourself up over this. We’re all going to be fine. Nothing a little rest and some medicine can’t fix.”

“And some stitches.”

“Yeah,” she let out a small laugh as her lips pressed against his hair once more, “And some stitches.”

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angstigone · 2 months

Text

𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 (𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡)

the title is a lyric from the song 'everybody talks' by neon trees

𝗛𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘄𝗮 𝗔𝗸𝗶 𝘅 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿! 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 (+ 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗶 & 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿)

(A/N): hello there, lovelies!

alrightie, I am... I am not going to lie, aki dragged me into this fandom as well, as I have been thinking of slowly getting more into animes, now that I feel less the social struggle of it. still, I hope you'll enjoy this silly little thing and I have another fic with neighbor! reader (an au of sorts, far angstier as it's my usual).

so, pls, if you enjoyed this, pls consider leaving a like, a comment or a reblog and I'd appreciate it a whole loooottt!

SUMMARY: «Alright… alright… let’s take this from another perspective» he started again while Power got her own drink, having Denji open it for her as it ruined the pretty nails you had painted for her«… Hayakawa is a huge pain in our ass, isn’t he».

«He is» Power relented as she duked her head low in obvious displeasure.

«… but…» and Denji held up a finger in utter conviction «… if he got laid! Then the problem would be solved! And he doesn’t seem the type to bang somebody he meets in a bar… or he’d have probably hit it off with Himeno by now… don’t you think?».

Power seemed to consider it for a moment and right when Denji thought that his partner got it, she screeched. «I don’t see how getting laid might solve it!» and after a moment of meditation «… laying down in the bed might help him but…!».

«I don’t mean laying down like that!».

what happens when a fiend and a chainsaw man gets together to make their squad leader and you, his neighbor, happy?

WARNINGS: fluff, (bad) matchmaking, denji and power playing cupid, not canon compliant (himeno doesn't have a crush on aki) and the characters might be slightly ooc, getting together, requited unrequited love, unresolved sexual and romantic tension, mentioned sexual harassment, 5+1 things, jealousy, idiots in love, reader genre is not specified but a few characters reference them being a lady.

Denji might have been considered an idiot by the large variety of the adults around him, but he did notice things.

Such as the way topknot would always be more smiley and far more relaxed whenever you – his adorable neighbor – were around the house, by now living there more than in your own apartment.

Not that he minded the thing in itself: you were kind, not focused onto hunting devils and baked him and Power a treat every weekend.

You were also pretty.

Not on Mrs. Makima’s pretty level, certainly, but Denji had stolen a look as you leaned a bit too close to Hayakawa, brushing accidentally your chest against either his own or his back and God, did the stern head of the squad blushed worse than a teen.

In conclusion, you two were in love but somehow far too stubborn to admit and this where he and Power came to play:

«Think about it!» he muttered as he Power were outside for their patrol stroll, in the service area waiting for their sugary drink «… if they came more often… we’d have treats more often… and I know just how much you love them!».

Denji had also noticed the way that Power, who thought humans all beneath her, was almost warm with you; certainly, eccentric and bold but after having witnessed Nyako brushing against your legs on your first meeting, she had grown much mellower around you, rubbing against you as the cat did and somehow… purring.

Denji had by now stopped trying to police Power’s behavior, still he thought that in this case it was favorable to his general idea, although his friend remained as stoic as ever, even going as far as showing him her tongue.

«Why should we help some humans?» she grimaced lightly as Denji grabbed his beverage from the vending machine «… if they are too stupid to notice their obvious feelings for each other… why should we meddle?».

«Because it’d be fun!» Denji promptly intervened although he understood they had two very different – and violent – definitions of fun and his first argument didn’t have much effect on Power «… and it’d mean that we might get more treats… as I was saying».

«We could simply imprison them in the apartment, and they’d be forced to make us treats»

Power’s mind never failed to amaze – and scare – Denji who simply shook off his head.

«Alright… alright… let’s take this from another perspective» he started again while Power got her own drink, having Denji open it for her as it ruined the pretty nails you had painted for her«… Hayakawa is a huge pain in our ass, isn’t he».

«He is» Power relented as she duked her head low in obvious displeasure.

Power seemed to consider it for a moment and right when Denji thought that his partner got it, she screeched.

«I don’t see how getting laid might solve it!» and after a moment of meditation «… laying down in the bed might help him but…!».

«I don’t mean laying down like that!».

Denji was growing frustrated, unable to explain to power the utter genius behind his plan, clutching his head tightly in his hands as he slowly crumped on his ass against the wall.

«… God, almost… almost pretend I didn’t say anything, I just… thought it’d be fun… and it might get us a bit more of treat and kindness from topknot».

And right as he was losing all hope, Power leaned against him to be at his height, smiling what seemed a pure devious smile.

«… it’s going to be fun?» and at Denji’s obvious nod she cheered almost as if she had been told that she had won the Nobel Prize «… why didn’t you, immediately, say so?!».

And like that Denji’s and Power’s partnership started up to get you and Aki together.

First action: getting rid of the competition.

«… shouldn’t we also get rid of Mrs. Makima?» Power asked as she and Denji stared off Aki’s window to look at the entrance to the apartment building, waiting for your arrival.

It had been a few days that they had met you as they returned from their patrol with a man that you had presented as one of your colleagues.

Still, the way said man flustered whenever you’d chat him up was definitely a sign that he could be a rival to Hayakawa and they couldn’t have that.

«No!» promptly Denji protested, ripping himself from the window, where he was staring through the cones made by his hands.

«Why?» Power questioned also disrupting her watchful gaze on the entrance «… didn’t you say that the topknot has a crush on her?».

And that was also another reason why Denji wanted for you and Aki to get together: if you got together then Aki wasn’t anymore a threat to his conquer of Mrs. Makima.

«Well…» obviously he couldn’t have said that to Power after he had convinced her that what they were doing for the greater good «… well! It’s because we all know that Hayawak has zero… zero chances with Mrs. Makima!».

Power seemed to consider it for a moment before a grim smile appeared on her face.

«… and we would have zero chances of intimidating Mrs. Makima, considering she’s as scary as a bath in the middle of the day» the blood fiend commented, her voice showing the obvious fear they felt towards their leader and Denji couldn’t help but agree by taking a huge intake of saliva, and noticing that you had come back.

Annoying suitor on your tail.

«Hey!» he called out to Power who had noticed the same thing and was barely able to contain the excitement she felt «… let’s go with the next phase of the part, alright?».

And just like that they both rushed to the entrance of the building, waiting hidden that you’d be passing and going up to your apartment, and then they rushed out of the gates with matching mischievous smiles on their face as they were switch, to catch up with your colleague.

He looked the least aware possible of a fiend and a chainsaw devil following him but so wouldn’t be for long as both Denji and Power came to stand in front of him, blocking him from walking further and right as he moved to the side to avoid them, they both matched his step, stopping him in his walk.

Now Denji knew that he wasn’t that scary – and he couldn’t exactly evoke the chainsaws as he knew that Mrs. Makima would have been disappointed with him – but Power had horns.

And even more importantly: a crazy personality.

The poor man seemed already startled as he took a step back, mumbling something that seemed like apologies and just like that Power started rolling.

«Yes! Yes, stupid human, apologize!».

Well, Power shouldn’t have definitely tried for the Nobel Prize when she might have as well won an Oscar for her thrilling performance as she moved closer to the backing away human who looked halfway through running away but, Denji was right there for it, by pushing himself to the shoulders of the man to cut off his escape rout.

«… hey! I am talking to you! Shit of a human!».

«I… I… I…» and pathetically the man went to his knees.

Denji would have felt bad for the man, hadn’t it been for the fact that they were doing this for the greater good: letting Hayakawa have a stable sex life.

«… don’t know… I… am sorry if I…».

«That woman…» now Power had moved closer to the man, lowering herself to further tower over him while Denji made sure to close all the areas around him «… you must let her go! Don’t you understand!».

He looked confused for a moment, before saying your name almost questioningly and that’s when Power evoked her blood hammer, a good scenography bonus that had the man widen his eyes as his arms went to his head waiting for a bow.

«Don’t! Speak! Her! Name!».

With each word, Power smacked the hammer against the palm of her hand and although he hadn’t been hit, he convulsed on the floor as if he had.

Like a pig

«… and don’t ever… ever! Don’t ever come close to her! Understood?».

«But…» he tried to protest although another smack of the blood hammer against Power’s awaiting hand was enough to have him shut up promptly.

«You aren’t to come closer to her than a…» and scrunching her brows at Denji who was holding up five fingers, she went to add «… than at least seven meters! You understand me, silly, stupid human?».

The man nodded heavily and clearly scared for his life and Denji couldn’t help to think that – aside Power’s lack in math – they might have taken the game a tad too far especially as Power was laughing maniacally, spurred on by the man’s terror.

«… alright…» he tried to lean in the thing, by letting the man’s back be free and going to retrieve poor Power, who wasn’t satisfied as she was dragged away by Denji before a crowd could form around the crying man.

«… and I’ll know it! I’ll know it if you come close! Understood?» she was definitely having far too much time on this «… you silly… silly… humannnn».

So, it shouldn’t have surprised that although you reported that your affectionate colleague had suddenly started distancing himself from you – “it’s strange as he was always insistent on walking me home if anything happened, when we finished late” – to Aki, who comforted you – a victory in both Power’s and Denji’s eyes – they got an horrible reprimand – and their sugar privileges revoked – because apparently a fiend and a blond-haired boy had been reported threatening an honest neighbor.

Well, who said victory tasted sweet was wrong.

According to the magazine that he had forced Power to buy for them – something called Teen Vogue with a quiz that told you whether you were a pea, chickpea, or a banana but also a lot of photos of hot celebrities – what got a couple to form was spending time together.

Now, you and Aki didn’t spend too much time together, mostly because you both were hard-workers and especially in the last period neither you nor Aki had been in each other’s apartment at the same time, forcing Power and Denji to take extreme measures, as they had to force you to stay together.

You had come over ahead of time as you had wanted Power and Denji to try a treat that you had done in your free time and to wait Hayakawa’s return at home – according to Power, you, two, were already disgustingly domestic – and although you’d have stayed a few hours to chat with Aki and might have stayed even for dinner, they needed you to spend more time immediately.

Hence while Power distracted you with Nyako, Denji stole your apartment keys from your purse and flushed them; he hadn’t exactly thought the whole thing through, especially as you panicked once while checking your purse after dinner – they both celebrated Aki being the one to ask you to stay for dinner – and didn’t find the keys, worried that you might have lost them or left them inside of the house.

You were panicking and again Power and Denji celebrated because Hayakawa was so sweet with you, calming you down with his usual neutral tone and helping you focus on where you might have last left them.

“I swear they were in my purse!” you promptly repeated, and you were right, hadn’t it been for two special busybodies who feigned utter focus in searching the entire house, although eventually a universal truth was delivered: you must have lost your keys.

The landlady would give you a copy in the afternoon and you now needed a place to stay, for the night.

As you were flipping through some contacts, Denji pipped up the discourse he had readied for himself that afternoon while making sure that the keys would be properly flushed out.

«Why don’t you stay here?».

He even made his puppy eyes.

He had thought of being the one saying something this time, especially as Power had gone a bit… overboard the last time.

«… I mean… I am sure that topknot will agree… it’s… late and if anything happened… God forbids a demon.. or…».

And he had expected sweet and dependable Aki to join in, but the man had just lowered his head in an obvious dismissal.

Didn’t he have a heart for poor you who’d be forced to walk in the dark?

«… it’d be terrible if anything happened to you» he stepped up on the subtlety as Power joined in and nodded eagerly and tried to have Nyako do the same in a show of support «… and we have… we have a lot of space and… I mean you’d be forced tosleepwithHayakawa because Power is a very delicate sleeper and… I am a teenager boy, and it wouldn’t do…».

«That’s very kind, Denji» you sufficed softly with a gentle smile, before nodding to your phone «… but I have a friend who lives in the apartment complex right beside this one and…».

«But you might never know» God, Denji couldn’t believe that Power was able to act like that «… humans… you are puny, and I have heard of a fiend terrorizing the neighborhood. They… well… they apparently terrorized this silly-looking and coward man…».

«Power».

Oh, finally Aki did speak, although it wasn’t the ‘oh please, stay! Stay forever if you want’ that Denji had been expecting.

«… did you… did you… flush all the toilette paper confection?».

And right as Denji was trying to understand the reasoning behind such a crass comment and Power was about to defend herself from such a vileaccuse – it had also happened once – he noticed that Aki hadn’t been looking at his shoes but to the water erupting from behind the bath door.

That’s how Denji discovered that you shouldn’t – ever – flush keys in the WC.

The silver lining of it all was the fact that the toilette did push out your keys – and other stuff – and hence you did have them back, while Denji, Power and Aki were forced to sleep at your apartment while they waited for somebody to fix the toilette.

Oh, and apparently Nyako being blamed didn’t seem believable, so their sugar privileges were revoked for another week.

«Hear me out!».

Denji hadn’t relented the plan; he didn’t care that it had gotten him deprived of his candies – both you and Mrs. Makima had sneaked him some – when the purpose of his actions was far more glorious.

And he had come to collect further information about how a couple came to be, especially from experts.

«You want to push them together?» Himeno had asked as both Denji and Power had come to her asking for help.

A horrible decision considering how annoying and crass the woman could be, but Mrs. Makima was out of question and Kishibe would have laughed right in their face, something that Hmeno had done as well.

Then she had spoken to be useful.

«… alright, alright» she had settled brushing her hair off her face with her invisible hand «… you, then, need to make Aki jealous».

At that both Power and Denji had seemed utterly confused: how did making Aki jealous of you would have helped you forming a couple?

Still, Himeno had promptly illuminated them.

«It’s what always happens in romcom» she explained with the air of an expert, although the fact that she quoted movies should have been a huge red flag to her flawed reasoning «… whenever the guy realizes that somebody is threatening their girl… well, he also concludes that he can’t live without her. That he loves her».

And in both Denji’s and Power’s book that perfectly made sense.

Now the difficult part was making Aki jealous; he didn’t seem bothered by anything who could offer a threat to you?

Considering they didn’t have much choice, Denji and Power had to be the ones.

That day you had decided to spend it together with Aki, Denji and Power grocery shopping, which was already a nice start because whenever you’d be around the head of the squad would be far more lenient of the two troublemakers.

Your own good mood rubbing off him, as Power and Denji raced through the aisles on the shopping cart.

Still, this time they hadn’t come to play.

Denji and Power exchanged a swift look and so it began.

«Mrs.!» Denji asked gaining your attention but also the one of Hayakawa who looked at him as one would do to a bug.

An ugly bug right on their toilette roof.

«… did you do something to your hair?».

You looked taken aback, flustering lightly but mostly because you seemed taken aback by the question.

«Ahem… I… washed them… this morning?».

«Oh» he feigned innocence as Aki’s distrustful gaze became more evident and he felt like he might have been on the right road, especially delighted that Hayakawa would feel threatened by somebody like him «… it looks better than the usual».

And although he had meant it as a compliment, it didn’t sound like that as promptly Aki shook his head with a huff while you regarded Denji with a kind but a bit startled smile, saying nothing but a lukewarm ‘thank you’.

As you and Aki turned to focus on the grocery shopping, Power flicked his forehead and muttered:

“Let me try” and before Denji could say anything, she was off to your side.

«Mrs.!» she called out to you as you smiled gently to her «…you are the smartest human, I know».

Shit, Denji cursed himself for not having thought about that, all too focused on the physical side.

He had thought hair to be a safe zone, but he had been so wrong as your smile promptly brightened on your face and you went to gently put a hand over Power’s shoulder, right as the girl opened her mouth again, ruining everything.

«… I mean… you are still pretty stupid, because I saw you falling on your ass that one time while trying to carry all those grocery bags on your own».

And just like that your easygoing smile was gone replaced by an embarrassed expression while Power turned to Denji to show her his tongue, considering it a victory.

«Power!» Aki reprimanded her promptly, waggling a finger, although he also turned to you with a sober expression «… and please, don’t hesitate to ask for me when you need to carry something heavy… you do live a floor above us and with the elevator not yet fixed…».

You, further, flustered at Aki’s suggestion and although it wasn’t due to the whole jealousy thing, it seemed like you and Aki were now talking.

«I… I mean… I didn’t want to disturb you and…» you looked to your shoes «… you weren’t at home».

«Then please feel free to ask Power and Denji, as they are always not doing anything» and just like that the intimate moment was destroyed and Power and Denji got another reprimand, although this time they hadn’t done anything.

Both Denji and Power relented from the jealousy program the entire grocery store run, thinking it was stupid and neither of them were equipped to have Aki jealous and thinking about it, Hayakawa hadn’t seem even bothered by your colleague accompanying you.

Was it possible that they had seen wrong, and he wasn’t interested in you?

All their hard work couldn’t be for nothing, could it?

As they were panicking – or better Denji was panicking and Power plotting her world domination dream – in the grocery shop parking lot, they witnessed a scene that reinforced their resolution; you were filling the back of the truck with the grocery while Aki was smoking a cigarette a bit far away hidden by the car, when a guy approached you.

Neither Power nor Denji were minding him any attention, till they heard Aki’s voice.

«Leave the lady alone».

And just like that, they both moved their eyes to where the man had grabbed onto your wrist with you looking utterly at unease and clearly wanting to be anywhere but there.

Aki had appeared right in front of the scene and had pushed himself in front of you, right in the line of the man.

«… she said she isn’t interested».

«And who’d you be, dude?» the man asked as both Denji and Power were startled by the fact that man made perfect pristine asshole Hayakawa tick in a way that they hadn’t been able to in a long time «… I was just fucking talk with her».

«And I said I wasn’t interested» you reiterated, clearly at unease, at which both Denji and Power came closer.

Now they might be disasters in relationships but they had no qualms in helping topknot kick this dude to the curb as he had come onto you, the person who baked goods to them and treated them like two teens and not an adult and a monster.

Still, Aki had it promptly handled as the man didn’t seem ready to release your wrist, hence he twisted it in a way that hurt him and wouldn’t bother you, effectively getting him to release his hold and once he had done such a thing, he slammed that same fist in the dude’s face with an agility that gave Denji the chills.

And so happened to the man who had tried to approach you.

«Scram».

It was said in such a neutral tone that suddenly Denji thought that he was face with all too powerful demon and not topknot.

Thankfully it wasn’t direct towards him as the man got the message and left you alone, your wrist still clutched – far more gently – in Aki’s hand as he took a moment to caress it before turning to you.

«Everything alright?».

You nodded painfully out of breath and red in the cheeks, although Denji reasoned that both reactions weren’t due to collusion, but to Aki treating you tenderly as his whole face and demeanor softened turning upon you.

«… he didn’t hurt you, right?».

«Not really» you explained with a soft-spoken tone as if you didn’t want anybody to hear the words aside Aki. As if it was just the two of you «… I… it was so kind of you to intervene, Aki. I am sorry that you had to… though… God, I don’t think it has ever happened to me in sunlight and in the center of a parking lot!».

«It shouldn’t happen at all» Aki commented categorically before he finally snapped back from his reverie, letting your wrist go that fell limp between the two of you as if it hadn’t been ready to let go «… and it wouldn’t have happened if those busybodies had helped you with the groceries! Instead of minding their business!».

Why was it that whenever he tried to do anything for the greater good, Denji got kicked in the metaphorical – and not – balls?

Slowly Denji was losing faith: his own ideas didn’t work, advice on magazine didn’t work and this was the last time that he listened to Himeno.

He didn’t know how to bring you and Aki to kiss kiss make up.

Was it possible that he was simply not meant… to work the greater good?

Unless, obviously with the greater good you meant the gun demon and the possibility to have his wish grant by Mrs. Makima.

Or maybe it wasn’t his fault: you and Aki were just a desperate case, stealing longing gazes to each other and never acting upon your emotions. Although it seemed like something had changed at work, as Himeno had sneakily told them, since Aki had seemed quite… unfocused and constantly checking his phone which meant – according to the older woman – that he was texting you.

Denji and Power had once tried to steal Hayakawa’s phone, but they had soon risked of finding Aki’s katana shoved up their asses at such infractions and had immediately given up such a thing.

Maybe they should have just stopped and minded their own business as it seemed like this was what best suited the situation.

And Denji was minding his business, looking lightly gloomy as you tried to teach – with little results – to Power how to make cupcakes as she had insisted that she wanted them now and to ease her tantrum you had opted to have her do them with you, while Aki settled the laundry and Denji comfortably lazed around.

Looking gloomy which you immediately noticed.

«Anything of the matter, Denji?» you asked as you left Power to press the baking solution in the mold, trusting that she wouldn’t coat the entire kitchenette with it «… you are looking a bit sad, my dear».

«Eh?» he kissed lightly his teeth, wondering what lie he could come up with to cover the fact that he felt disappointed because his genius plan of bringing you and Aki wasn’t working. Still, Aki answered for him.

«He’s just grumpy because he hasn’t been given enough attention» he hissed almost disgusted with Denji although they were past now the initial hatred «… Mrs. Makima was disappointed with him because he doesn’t seem focused».

«I could say the same to you» Denji whimpered through a lowered octave enough not to be heard by Aki, as you came closer.

«Still, trying to catch Mrs. Makima’s attention?» you lightly teased him, settling in front of him «… isn’t she a bit too old for you?».

«She’s a tad too much for him» Aki muttered happily, as this time Denji flipped him off.

«Oh no need to be mean, Aki!» you called out to him gently, before grabbing both of Denji’s hands and pushing him to his feet «… if you want I can teach you a sure way to impress Mrs. Makima, alright?».

And just like that Denji’s eyes brightened as he nodded eagerly.

You smiled, always gentle and reassuring.

Thinking about it, you were far too much for the old grumpy man, Aki and maybe the universe was doing you a favor by not allowing you to be together with topknot.

«… I’ll teach you how to dance, alright».

And like that you were swift to put one of Denji’s hands on top of your shoulder and another on your waist, just shy of your lower back and enough to have the poor boy flustered, huffing, and wondering whether he could die from the simple contact.

It got even worse when you pulled him closer with a hairline distance between your body before starting to tut a rhythm.

«… now usually it’s the man that guides… which is an antiquated thought, but… oh well, I am blabbering. I’ll guide this time».

And like that you twirled Denji and all the exactment he had felt for the closeness of a hot female body was gone, busy as he was to keep his balance at rhea sudden move much to your chagrin.

«Alright, we’ll start slow» you proclaimed, adjusting the rhythm as you moved up and down and then side-to-side showing Denji all the base moves, although he kept on not getting the full hang of it, stumbling a bit while you patiently repeated the move before a disgruntled Power claimed her own turn at the ‘dance contest’.

Only once pushed back again on the sofa, Denji noticed the way Aki’s lips had lightly quirked up in a pleasant smile, as if he was genuinely happy.

He looked almost… peaceful, which was a weird sight to see on his face and Denji wondered whether something awful would be happening all too soon.

The oven beeped and you separated from Power, who apparently was better than Denji at dancing, to get the muffins and just like that it seemed like the dance contest was finished, everybody all too happy to enjoy the sugary treats while you praised Power for helping you make them, although her help had been abysmal unless you counted the mess in the kitchen that neither of the troublemakers helped clean, leaving it to you and Aki as they took their turns in the bath.

Denji, feeling a bit bad, went to see whether he could help you after his shower – and not totally because he wanted to smuggle another muffin – but as he came in sight of the kitchen he was startled to find a soft music playing in the background alongside your giggles as – ever serious – Aki twirled you with much more ease than you had done with Power and Denji.

He was far better than Power and Denji as a partner and again, he looked genuinely amused as you joined in the general hilarity something akin to intimacy being reached between the two of you as Denji promptly turned around, thinking to have witnessed something far too private for his sight, although he regretfully had to let go of his muffins since Power had no shame and stole his own.

Suddenly spurred on by the kitchen memory, Power and Denji decided one last attempt: they had recently gone to the cinema with Mrs. Makima, a memory that the boy treasured dearly in their heart, but both he and Power had especially been hit by a scene of the movie where the main couple exchanged a romantic dinner, using it to confess each other’s feelings.

And just like that Denji and Power had their own final plan.

If it didn’t work, you’d have to handle your own, you and topknot. Denji did like you both, but the next step was just to smash your head together and scream ‘now kiss’, an idea he wasn’t especially fond considering that while Aki would have straight up killed them, you would have stopped baking them any good.

So, the dinner it was.

After all, how hard could a dinner be?

Very, apparently.

Ordering everything from a nearby shop had been an idea, but neither he nor Power had enough money having mostly spent it in magazines, candies, and drinks on their patrols.

So, they had to improvise and neither of them had the skills to cook.

Empowered by the muffins episode, Power insisted to prepare the dessert, leaving Denji to the main course.

Naturally he had read somewhere that some specific foods could be used to put people in the mood and God knows how much Hayakawa needed to fuck.

Hence without thinking he had thought of making an omelet with asparagus and saffron as he had both the things at home.

The problem started with the eggs; they were difficult to crack without the external shell not going in them and when it came to cook the eggs, he had a bit of difficulty in turning them as he had seen in TV, burning every and each one he tried, till he obtained a somewhat nice result.

The asparagus didn’t help, and the saffron stole the entire flavor of the thing, as Denji dutifully tasted the meal to assure it’d be up to your taste.

He couldn’t serve such a thing and yet, there wasn’t anything else he could have offered for the romantic dinner.

He turned to Power, hoping she had succeeded in something, just to see her trying to use Nyako as a rolling pin, effectively contaminating the whole muffin baking base.

They were royally fucked, especially as you came in.

They both hid behind the kitchen counter, as was the plan: the table was already set with a candle that they had found and that wasn’t as beautiful as the one in the movie but smelled of lavender that was supposed to be calming.

A bottle of wine – that they had grabbed from the top shelf, jumping one over the other – was opened and technically both Power and Denji should have been in their uniform feigning to be waiters.

But the meal wasn’t ready and the kitchen was a mess.

Everything aside the romantic dinner they had planned.

“What did you try to do, busybodies?” Aki promptly asked once he got to them, while you tried to lenite his harsh words “… how many times have I told you not to cook unsupervised? And… you shouldn’t use the phone but for emergencies! We both rushed here…”.

«Aki» you promptly caught the topknot’s attention «…I think that they might have meant well. For once».

Your eyes were set upon the dinner table with what could only be described as a tad of emotion while looking over the elegant set up – Power and Denji might have fucked up the food, but they certainly hadn’t done the same with the table – before turning to the two troublemakers with an inquisitive look.

«But why only two plates?».

And before either Power and Denji could reply with the obvious statement that it was for the romantic dinner between you and Aki, you moved to where the cutlery was kept – by now more at ease with Aki’s apartment than your own – and got a few plates out while the topknot followed you and grabbed the glasses, catching your drift without words.

«… if this needs to be a celebratory dinner, we should be I four».

And turning to Denji with a provocative smile you added:

«Don’t tell me that the idea was for you and Power to have a romantic dinner?».

Both Denji and Power felt more disgusted by that insinuation than the rotten food that they had prepared that night, grateful when you simply suggested ordering pizza to ease their tormented souls.

Well, at least this time the plan hadn’t backfired.

Denji, after endless nights spent in a general state of alarm, had developed a rather light sleep, waking himself up at any slight noise, which was especially troublesome when a snoring fiend was sleeping beside you.

Still, it wasn’t Power the reason behind his suddenly awake status as he held footsteps coming from the other room, and the giggles.

Your giggles.

And yet, you hadn’t stayed over. You hadn’t even come over that night, feigning yourself busy with some work matters much to Power’s and Denji’s disappointment who had hoped to spend some time with you now that Aki had been dismissed by the hospital.

You did visit them, but with work you had had just the time to drop some meals over, before going to the hospital as well to visit poor sweet Hayakawa after his last fight against an annoying demon.

Hence your sudden presence seemed almost a dream and Denji shook lightly Power, risking being bitten in a leg as the fiend didn’t enjoy being woken up – her sleep being especially heavy with Nyako on her chest, as was the case – although once settled she also confirmed to the boy he wasn’t hearing fantasies.

You were there.

In their apartment.

And as a second voice joined, they realized you were there with Aki.

Shouldn’t he have been still in hospital?

Power went to move to greet you and Hayakawa but Denji held her back as a conversation seemed to sparkle between the two of you as he leaned with his ear against the door to catch onto it.

“… can’t believe that she brought alcohol in the fucking hospital” you spoke bubbly and much to the shock of the fiend and the boy, Aki joined your tone.

“It’s fucking Himeno, what the fuck were you expecting?”.

Neither Power nor Denji had heard the man speak so unbuttonedly and they exchanged a determine look before going to open the door with as little to no noise as possible.

“… I think it was her ‘get well’ bouquet of sorts”.

Both Denji and Power moved like spies across the house till they came in the dining room, hidden by the kitchenette and hallway to the rooms to sneak a look to the slumped form of Aki leaning onto you while you helped him to the sofa, before sitting down next to him as a fit of giggles filled the room.

Again, Aki being strangely happy.

“Do you think they…?” and Denji signed the gesture of ‘getting high’ to Power who obviously didn’t understand it, sending him a confused look but whatever she was going to say was promptly stalled by your voice echoing.

«… I think that she was extremely worried for you, Aki» and Denji noticed that your hand had moved to pat gently Hayakawa’s hair, which weren’t put in his usual updo and when he turned lightly, the younger boy couldn’t help but think that he looked so young.

And happy.

«… I was also extremely worried for you».

The tone sobered up immediately.

«It’s my job».

Did Hayakawa sound almost… resentful?

Power did look halfway through giving out her hiding spot to protect you.

«… I… you shouldn’t worry».

«And Himeno should?».

Was that jealousy in your tone?

Was it possible that they had used the wrong tactic, and it was you who should have been made jealous?

«You know what I mean» Aki hissed through his teeth as your hand moved from his hair onto his chin and grabbed it tightly.

Again, Denji had that sensation of when he had caught you and topknot dancing in the kitchen

«… I… don’t want you worrying for me. It’s rotten work».

«Not to me» your voice was above a whimper and Denji had to jumpe from his hiding spot to shush Power.

“He is hurting her!” she protested, trying to bite his fingers.

“They are adults!” he shut back, trying to keep his noise quiet “… they can handle it”.

“It doesn’t seem so!”.

«I can’t…» Aki looked right about unable to be as smart as usual and Denji almost wished he could have had a camera to immortalize this moment «… make you undergo that. I… can’t promise to…».

«You don’t need to».

Your voice was so brave that for a moment Denji thought that you’d have made an even finer Devil Hunter than Aki.

«… you just need to let me love you, Aki».

The ‘l-word’ you had finally said it and Power sent Denji a look of pure victory, although he kept the hold onto her mouth.

«… I…» also Aki seemed taken aback and it took everything in Denji not to curse him out for promptly letting such an occasion «… guess… that’d work… I…».

«Then let me fuss and care for you, Hayakawa» you teased him lightly, making to get up promptly to get the white paper bag on the table with the medication, but before you could, the topknot had stopped you.

You seemed promptly stalled in your steps.

«… does it…».

Still, before any further words could leave his words, Aki brought you into a breathless kiss.

Denji didn’t think that he’d have expected it from his emotionless squad leader, but the way his arms promptly clutched you down to push you further against his lap was anything but cold and neutral.

Power let out a small giggle and when you detached you took a step back obviously taken aback although a warm smile appeared on her face.

«Thank you, then» Aki had the audacity to utter «…for caring for me».

You nodded, without words and both Denji and Power thought that you got this, retreating to their rooms with a pip in their walks, and imagining it the warm voice of topknot through the door muttering.

“Thank you, busybodies”.

Afterall, Denji did it for the greater good.

Tits.

credits for the separators go to: @strangergraphics

#Aki Hayakawa x Reader #Aki Hayakawa Imagine #Aki Hayakawa x You #Aki Hayakawa Fic #CSM Fic

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a-vivid-dreamer · 1 month

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i have so much i wanna ask about the Guiding Light AU, but I'll simply ask if 1. yanqing uses ghostly grove to post about his ghost encounters and 2. if he gets roped into heliobus hunting

1. When it comes to the Ghostly Groove, Yanqing doesn’t post anything. However, if the situation is harmless enough, he won’t mind passing things over for the ghost hunting squad to post so they get the attention for it. However, anything that should be taken seriously he keeps to himself. But he does use the Ghostly Groove postings to sometimes hunt down the non-heliobi/real ghost issues since he’s the only one who can manage it.

2. Yanqing never ends up joining the actual ghost squad for the heliobus hunting. In truth, he really doesn’t care about the heliobi and is more annoyed by them than anything. Though he will report any heliobi activity. But what’s also interesting to note about Yanqing in this AU is that he’s really not a big fan of the Ten Lords Commission. Especially since they can’t actually solve problems of the dead and also act as judges. Yanqing actually finds them rather useless and a joke. After all, Yanqing can see every single person that could never actually be helped despite the Ten Lords acting as a “mortal Death”. So he ideally would like to keep his distance from anything relating to their work and prevent paths crossing.

Another fun fact about this AU is that Guiding Light!Yanqing actually has only one person who knows his secret and that is… Huohuo. So in relation to the ghost hunting stuff, Yanqing hands over content to Huohuo for the squad to post on Ghostly Groove (sometimes will even make use of the ghosts he’s befriended) and only Huohuo knows that Yanqing is busy hunting real ghosts and will even try and help share things with him that she thinks might not be heliobi.

For months now I’ve had a clear scene for a comic stuck in my head of them meeting for the first time and how Huohuo becomes an accidental ally for Yanqing. I hope to someday finally get to work on it or maybe write it out if the eventual fic for this AU comes out first.

#Guiding Light AU Q&As

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amazingmsme · 5 months

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Who’s ready to see this sopping wet poor little meow meow get wrecked?

#meee #i am #i’ve been wanting to write this ever since watching the grunch #& no that’s not a typo #fic in the works #benji scragtowski #scrags #the solve it squad #how the grunch cribbed christmas #htgcc

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make-me-imagine · 1 year

Text

Secret Santa: Part One

12 Days of Christmas: Day 10

Plot: When you and the squad end up taking part in a Secret Santa exchange. The gifts you receive end up being love confessions. But who are they from?

[Bob's Ending] [Fanboy's Ending] [Hangman's Ending] [Rooster's Ending] [Maverick's Ending]

Pairing: Gn!Reader x ??? (Choose your own character ending) *Possible Endings: Bob, Fanboy, Rooster, Hangman & Maverick

Words: 2.9k

A/n: Bob and Fanboys endings will be posted Christmas Eve. And the other three will come out Christmas Day. I will add the links to this fic once they are posted.

Walking towards the training room, you heard the familiar voices of the other pilots. You had been reunited with the dagger squad, and some other pilots you knew from the past. Another mission, another training program, trained once again by Maverick.

Through the grueling training and test flights, you were enjoying your time being with the others again. Though you had to admit you were excited about one, more than the others, but you were sure they didn't know that.

As you entered the room, your eyes cast over the group. Hangman and Rooster were bickering as usual, while Bob and Phoenix rolled their eyes. Fanboy, Payback and Coyote watched silently, sharing the occasional look.

Seeing you enter Jake turned in his seat "Y/n, perfect, perhaps you could solve our little problem."

"Nope, no." You shook your head as you took your seat, "Do not drag me into whatever is going on, I don't want to be a part of it."

Phoenix and Bob snickered as Jake leaned over"Come on, I think you'd be on my side."

"Like hell they would." Rooster broke in.

You shook your head with a soft smile as you saw Maverick enter. "Pilots, good morning." He said with a cheery voice.

His eyes ran over you and the others as he walked past. In his hands was a Santa hat.

As he stopped at the podium he looked at all of you in silence for a short moment. "Before we start our training today, I thought we might have a little Christmas fun."

You quirked your brow and sat up a bit, you saw the others do the same.

"Sir?" Bob asked with a curious tone.

"Secret Santa!" He said with a smile.

A small murmur went over the group as Maverick shook the hat in his hands. "In this hat are all of our names. You will each pick a name, and over the next three days, starting tomorrow, you have to give your person three gifts."

"Three?" Jake spoke up.

"Yes, three. On day three, by the end of the day, you must give me a slip of paper with the name of the person you gifted, and the name of the person you think is your gift giver. If you guess correctly, you get a day off of training. If you are wrong. You will be cleaning up after the Christmas party."

A small groan came from the group as you all pictured what mess would be left behind after that.

"There are two rules. One, don't get caught leaving your person a gift, or you are disqualified. Two, do not tell anyone who your person is."

As Maverick walked around holding the hat out for everyone to take a name, your eyes scanned over everyone. You wonder who would be the easiest person to buy a gift for. Your eyes lingered on one person as you thought of a thousand things you could get them.

"If you get yourself, grab a different name." He said softly as he continued down the line.

Getting to you, he gave you a small smile as you reached in. Pulling out a slip of paper you opened it to read 'Natasha 'Phoenix' Trace.' You smiled softly before closing the paper and shoving it in your pocket.

After everyone had chosen their names, the class went on like usual, though you knew everyone was a bit distracted, thinking of what to get their chosen person. Though it wasn't a competition, a familiar buzz ran through the room.

You tried not to look at Phoenix, not wanting to give away she was who you got. But you did glance around, wondering if you might find someone looking at you.

You would be lying if you didn't have someone particular in mind as to who you hoped might be your secret Santa. The same person you thought would be the easiest to buy for. Though, the luck of them getting you was pretty small.

By the end of training you had enough time left to go out and try to find a gift for Phoenix. You had thought long and hard about the types of gifts she might like, but you still struggled. Knowing she had a thing for antique and vintage objects, you thought going to an antique store might do the trick.

Walking through the store, you looked at various objects, before finally landing on an old hourglass carved out of wood. It was certainly unique, and looked old. Buying it, you hoped she would like it. Knowing you wouldn't really know for a few days.

Making it back to the base after another hour of shopping you felt relieved, having bought three gifts for Phoenix, and some wrapping paper.

As you walked down the corridor, you saw Bob walking towards you. He smiled and his eyes caught on the wrapping paper in your hands.

"Don't tell me you got all your gifts already?" He asked with mild surprise.

You smiled "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't" You said jokingly as you continued past him, seeing him smile at you as he nodded in understanding.

As you rounded the corner, you looked back, seeing him disappear around the corner. 'I bet he's a great gift giver' You thought to yourself as you made your way back to your room.

Unpacking your shopping bags, you looked at the gifts you got Natasha. The hourglass, a gift card for one of her favorite shops she could never convince herself to buy something from, and a Phoenix pendant necklace you managed to find by chance in a cute shop near the beach. You had almost jumped in excitement when you saw it.

After wrapping the gifts, you finally went to sleep, your last thoughts being about who may have picked your name from the hat.

--- --- ---

During your break in between training the next day, you snuck Natasha's first present out of your room and quickly made your way to her room. Setting the present down in front of her door, you rushed back to your room. Breathing a breath of relief as no one spotted you.

As you rounded the corner to your room, you stopped as you spotted a bouquet of flowers placed at your door.

"Wha-" You looked back down the hall in bewilderment.

You had only been gone for a few minutes, and you hadn't seen or heard anyone else.

"Sneaky" You whispered to yourself as you walked up to your door.

Picking up the flowers, you smiled at them. It was a beautiful bouquet of Gardenias in an ornamental Christmas colored vase. You smelled them as you made your way into your room.

You knew it was a well known fact that you loved flowers, and often knew the meaning behind them, enjoying the symbolism of each individual flower. You were teased by some of the others about this in the past, which didn't really narrow down who might be your secret Santa.

"Gardenias" You muttered to yourself as you tried to remember the meaning behind them.

Seeing a small note in the flowers, you pulled it out to see a short typed note.

'There's importance in the symbolism.'

You smiled as you remembered saying this once when the others were teasing you about why you were so determined to get the right flowers for someone as a gift.

Thinking back to that moment, you tried to remember who was in the room. Maverick, Hangman, Rooster, Bob, Fanboy and Coyote. Well, that doesn't narrow it down much.

"Appreciation? No, that's not it. Joy!" You knew that was at least one of them.

Setting the flowers on your table, you pulled out your phone to look it up. As you scrolled through the meaning of gardenias, your eyes caught on one particular meaning.

"Secret Love?" You asked softly, your heart beating heavily in your chest.

No, it could be the 'you're lovely' meaning. Just a friendly message. Not an admission. Unless it was?

As someone popped into your head, you felt a mild sense of hope, before you pushed it away. It might be a mistake. They may not have seen the meaning of gardenias as secret love.

You decided not to focus on this too much. Not until you knew more, maybe the next gift would tell you?

Hearing your alarm, you made your way out of your room for your next test flight. You took one last look at the flowers as you went.

As much as you tried, the idea of the flowers left for you being a confession stuck in your mind. You couldn't help but look at the others, wondering if it could be any of them.

You had hopeful thoughts for one, but that was all it was. Hope. There wasn't anything that made it seem obvious that they had feelings for you. Nor had there been from any of the others.

You were close to all of them, good friends. But secret love? You really weren't sure.

--- --- ---

The next day the pilots were abuzz with talk of their presents. Each trying to trick their Secret Santa into giving themselves away. Everyone eyed each other with suspicious gazes.

Natasha briefly mentioned the hourglass, and you could tell she had liked it. That was all the gratification you needed.

You kept your present to yourself, knowing that everyone would tease you about the flowers. Asking what their meaning was. You didn't want to out the meaning in case it was a mistake. So you played coy, only making everyone else more curious.

"Maybe their secret Santa forgot to give them their present?" Fanboy asked as he eyed you, his chin resting on the back of the chair in front of him.

You smiled softly at him and made a motion of a zipper across your lips as you looked to the front of the class as Maverick entered.

"Alright everyone, I know you are all talking about your secret Santa's Anyone get caught leaving a present?"

The was silence among the crowd and Maverick smiled "Good, stealth is important, I'd be disappointed if anyone got caught."

You were nervous to head back to your room after training. Expecting another present to be left for you. There was an odd sense of suspense, that you weren't sure was based around excitement or dread.

As you rounded the corner, and your eyes locked onto your door, you felt an odd pang in your chest as you saw nothing sitting at your door. Maybe they hadn't had time to leave it? Maybe they changed their mind on the prssent?

Getting to your door, you opened it, accepting that you were a bit disappointed. As you stepped into your room, you flinched as a small box fell from your door and bounced off your head, landing on the ground.

"What the hell?" You asked perplexed as you looked up at your door, seeing a small piece of tape, had been holding the box there. "How the hell-" You mumbled off as you reached down and grabbed the box.

You looked over at the window, wondering if they used it to get in. Or maybe they got the key?

Opening the small box, your heart was racing. Would this present give away another secret? Would it confirm or deny the meaning of the flowers? And why tape it to the door?

Seeing a small chain, you grabbed it and pulled it out, revealing a small glass apple on the end. It was cute, but you wondered why they chose it of all things.

Seeing a piece of paper in the box, you pulled it out. Taking a deep breath as you opened it.

Another typed out message.

'Did you know in Ancient Greece, to throw an apple at someone was a declaration of love?'

Your breath caught in your throat as you read over the message again and again. To throw an apple? So the rigged the box to fall on you as though they were throwing it at you?

You wanted to laugh, but your heart was hammering too heavily. You sat on your bed and looked over at the gardenias. So it did mean secret love. That wasn't a misunderstanding.

As you sat there, thinking it over, more realizations came to mind.

The person who got you happened to be in love with you, and was now using the secret Santa exchange as a way to tell you.

You let out a long drawn out breath. You were touched, and excited, yet nervous. There was only one person out of all the pilots these gifts would really mean something from. If it was any of the others, could you ever feel the same?

Who would know about Ancient Greece? You wondered. It definitely seemed like some odd fact Bob, Rooster or Fanboy might pick up at some point. Hangman could be a secret romantic. Maverick was playing the game too and he knew a lot about random things.

You felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety wash over you. Lying down you stared up at your cieling as you held the small apple necklace to your chest. It wasn't obvious who it could be. Would it be an insult to this person to keep hoping it was one specific person?

It would only hurt you more if you kept hoping it was them, and you were wrong.

Maybe the third gift would give it away. Sitting up, it suddenly donned on you that you needed to leave Natasha her second gift.

"Shit." You muttered as you looked over at envelope with the gift card. I could slip it into her locker, you thought. Or slip it under her door.

This secret Santa exchange took such a different turn than you were expecting, and you really didn't know how to act.

Looking at the clock, you saw it was nearly time to head out. You were all heading out to get dinner. You'd take the envelope with you, hoping to find a moment to slip it into her bag or car sometime during the night.

And maybe you could gather some hints about who might be your secret...admirer?

--- --- ---

As you walked across the tarmac the next day, your eyes landed on the person walking up to you.

"Nice time." Rooster said as he slowed in his step.

"Thanks, think you can beat it?" You asked with a teasing tone.

"I know I can." He winked before continuing past you and towards his jet.

You smiled and shook your head softly as you headed towards the locker room. After a long day of training, you were finally done.

You even managed to slip the last gift for Phoenix into her bag this morning. Having slipped the envelope under her door the previous night once you got back from the dinner.

During said dinner, hen the topic of secret Santa came up, you tried to pay attention To hints of who might be your secret Santa. But you learned nothing, everyone was keeping it close to their chests.

Today was the last day of the Secret Santa exchange. By eight this evening you had to give Maverick a slip of paper with your guess on it. You had yet to receive your third gift, and had yet to figure out who it was.

Opening your locker, you watched as an envelope fell to the floor. You looked around, seeing and hearing no one else in the room. Picking it up, you opened it, with your heart beating faster than before.

The third gift, what would it be? A full length confession? A gift card?

As you pulled two slips of paper out, your mouth opened slightly in surprise.

One slip was a ticket to a Christmas festival behind held about an hour away tomorrow night. You had wanted to go, but the tickets sold out too fast.

The second piece of paper was a short note, once again typed out.

'I have the other ticket, find me there.'

You stared at the paper in contemplation. So they had every intention of you finding out who they were after all. 'Find me there.'

It had to be someone who knew you wanted to go to the festival. Who did you mention it to?

Thinking back on it you sighed. Five of them knew about the ticket. That hardly narrowed it down. Though you were still aware that that specific someone always on your mind was one of them.

Tucking the ticket and note back into the envelope you put it in your duffle. You needed to decide what to do.

Not only who to guess, but whether or not you were ready to find out who they were. To find out who apparently had hidden feelings for you.

Your mind was heavy with uncertainty as you headed to Maverick's office at the end of the day. As you knocked on the door and handed him the paper, your heart was never steady.

You didn't know who you would find at the festival tomorrow, but you knew who you wanted it to be. Whether or not it was them, you would go, you had to. And if it was someone that you didn't have feelings for, well, you would deal with it then. No matter what.

Even with the nerve wracking thought it was unrequited love you might be finding at the festival, the hope that it was not unrequited, that it was a shared feeling, hidden between the two of you, made it worth the risk.

You just hoped you still thought that tomorrow.

xx End xx

General Taglist: @criminaly-supernatural, @imaginesfire, @onuen, @witchygagirl, @alexxavicry

Top Gun Taglist: @malindacath, @hotch-meeeeeuppppp, @sarcastic-sourwolf, @stargirl-05, @persephonesportal, @springflwer07, @pockyandme, @iceman-kazansky, @soultrysworld, @averyhotchner, @linkxneptune, @creativitybeware, @callsignmaverick5, @phoenix1389

Hangman/Rooster Taglist: @readingwithatorch,

#Top Gun: Maverick #Top Gun Maverick #Secret Santa story #choose your own ending story #top gun imagine #top gun x reader #robert 'bob' floyd x reader #mickey 'fanboy' garcia x reader #jake 'hangman' seresin x reader #bradley 'rooster' bradshaw x reader #pete 'maverick' mitchell x reader #secret santa part one #tg:m #top gun oneshot #top gun one shot #top gun fic #top gun maverick imagine

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the-ace-with-spades · 2 months

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Relating to this post, a snippet of the different first meeting/secret identity au fic (I think I'll stick with exhumation as the title):

The MacTavish House, Erskine, Renfrewshire, Scotland December 2017

Johnny got a call on Christmas Day.

Unknown number, with the Greater Manchester code at the beginning. He missed it, busy helping his Da and sisters with the tree decorating, but when the notification showed up on his Samsung, he felt something heavy drop from his throat to his stomach.

Simon hadn't been answering his texts, yesterday and today.

He was doing, well, not well, but better. He knew he was cleared to go back to work, finally, even if on a limited duty for a couple of months, but he was still having the PTSD episodes, still wasn't sleeping, still was on a constant high-vigilance and it didn't sit right with him. Even months later, everyone was worried about him — his mum, Tommy, Beth — but John wasn't sure they actually understood the extent Simon's issues run. John had opted to ignore it, for the sake of not arguing with Simon, but Simon's family seemed to have a very distorted image of him, like he was this invincible man capable of holding them all together, solving all their problems and never really needing much care himself.

It was easy to fall for the image — Simon, the unmovable wall of a man, standing guard over all of them — and John had fallen for it himself, just to have it shattered when Simon walked away from his grave after whatever happened that had him declared MIA for almost six months. The Simon that came back seemed the same now, to anyone who didn’t look closely, but John knew something died in him in the time he grieved his disappearance.

He loved him all the same.

It didn’t matter if he had nightmares through the nights they were in the same bed, it didn’t matter if he stayed awake and unmoving under John’s arms, it didn’t matter if he spaced out and stared at people’s faces like he could see their bare bones smiling at him, it didn’t matter if he kept scratching at the gnarly scars, opening them again and again. He was still John’s Simon.

He hadn't felt good about leaving him alone for the three days he’d be in Scotland, but it was his first Christmas back since he came—back, and Simon wanted to spent it with his family and not John’s and insisted John went, seeing as he didn't have many opportunities to meet his family much either.

“Promise I’ll try to meet your ma for Easter,” he had told John. He wasn’t sure how much of that promise would actually be kept — John didn’t think Simon would be doing that much better by Easter.

It was just three days and then John would be back in Manchester with the G Squad during the day and Simon during the evening.

He tried to find a quiet place. Impossible with half of their family in his parents’ house, but after shushing one of his nephews out of the living room and sending off his ma back to the kitchen after a couple of, “Yes, A’ll tell him ye’re sending love, ma, even though Am not even callin’ him reit noo,” and a promise to help her season the meat. He stood in the corner, not too far away from the Christmas tree, watching the snow moul their empty laundry line.

He called back the Manchester number.

It kept on ringing and ringing, and he was about to give up when he heard, “Detective Sergeant Wright speaking.”

Chapter 1 will most likely also have those scene headings:

Interrgoration Room, Unnamed Base, New Mexico, USA January 2018

(which is Price & Ghost)

Unnamed Joint Base, Classified Location, Urzikistan October 2022

Unspecified Location, near Verdansk, Kastovia March 2021

(Soap joining the task force)

#im on a roll rewritting all the dialogues again #i hate writing accents #scottish is beautiful (at least glasgowian since i heard that one in person) but its so hard #dunno if ill post it im still thinking about rewriting the whole thing #ghostsoap #ghoap #cod #q #charlie writes #op

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bilbosmom-belladonna · 5 months

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Clone Bang Promo Post: Team 35!

The members of @clonebang Team 35 are proud to announce our upcoming contributions to the Clone Bang! 🎉

I wrote Built on Bones and Middens, a 90K (!!!!) Commander Fox/Quinlan Vos mystery fic set late in the war on Coruscant. This Fox POV story follows our hard-knock, heavy-drinking commander as he (and a very irritating Jedi) dive deep into Coruscant's underworld to solve a mystery before Fox's brothers suffer the worst fate.

Action! Intrigue! Banter! A fatalistic view of Coruscant's inherent corruption!

Check out a snippet under the cut. Chapter 1 posts on January 6th, 2024!

The immensely talented @sankt-jesper contributed their artistic chops. Here is a might fine preview for you:

And the dulcet-toned @flowerparrish did a podfic for one of the chapters! For a scintillating preview, please enjoy a recording of the snippet below.

Friends, I'm so excited to share this work with you all. It is the longest thing I've ever written (by a lot) and it was so lovely to collaborate with others to create these works. This was my first Star Wars fandom event and I had a lot of fun. Enjoy!

🎉

“Are you sure?” Vos asked. “They make the best Ithorian food on the planet. Would you like to try it?”

“I would like,” Fox said, keeping his voice level, “to know what we’re doing here.”

Vos went still again, eyes locked on Fox’s face with the air of a predator preparing to pounce. Fox regarded him back evenly and tried very hard not to find it intimidating.

Once again, Vos’ smile emerged after a moment. He relaxed back into his chair. “All business, I see. No worries, Fox, I won’t waste your time. We needed to be able to speak openly and that called for a change of scenery.” Vos spread out his arms, indicating the decor. “And also a change of wardrobe. I suppose you’re wondering where I left my robes.”

Fox took another sip of his whiskey. Damn, it was good. “I wasn’t going to comment on your fashion choices,” he said.

“Big of you,” Vos replied breezily. “Here at The Little Dipper I’m known as Garyth Lidon, a small-time gangster trying to break into the casino business. He has… a certain look I need to maintain.” Vos tugged a little at his voluminous trousers.

“And why,” Fox asked, “are we meeting at Garyth Lidon’s favorite restaurant to discuss this case instead of the secure GAR facility?”

Vos hummed. “Not so secure, though, is it?”

Fox looked down at his glass, swirled the whiskey around. He took a moment to control his expression. “You have a problem with my security?” he asked cooly.

“Oh, don’t be insulted, Fox!” Vos cried as he flopped back in his chair. “It’s nothing against you personally. I’m sure you run a very tight ship. But we can’t ignore the obvious here, can we? It was clones who attacked Obi-Wan and we don’t know why.” He spoke with his hands, rings catching the light as they moved. “Maybe they were just angry mutineers. Maybe they were brainwashed by a Sith. Maybe they swallowed one of those brain slugs from Geonosis!” Vos leaned forward, elbows on the table, and pointed at Fox. “Maybe it was the first attack of a massive coup and you brought two squads here to kill me when my back is turned.”

Fox raised an eyebrow and used his glass to point at one of the windows. “My sniper is getting into position now, I’m just waiting for the signal.”

Vos snorted and sat back again. “I get it, I do, Fox. You have faith in your brothers, as you should. But we have no idea who we can trust here, even among friends. So we’re going to keep this investigation as far away from the GAR and the RCMO and that bantha-kriffer Tarkin as we can. And that starts with meeting at fine establishments like this one.”

“You don’t trust Tarkin either?” Fox asked.

Vos shrugged. “We don’t know how far up this goes. The attackers told Commander Cody they were acting under orders, but not who gave them. We can’t rule anyone out yet.”

Fox tried not to be too pleased at the idea that he might get a chance to arrest Tarkin, far-fetched though it may be.

“And the serene mystic act?” Fox asked.

“Ah!” Vos waggled his eyebrows. “That was my spot-on impression of Obi-Wan’s late master, Qui-Gon Jinn. He could stonewall politicians with all that Force babble for hours. When we have to be under close supervision I want to discourage anyone from asking too many questions. And no one wants to talk to the guy that makes you want to strangle him after two sentences.”

“The thought did cross my mind.”

“Then I’m doing my job!”

Fox allowed himself to relax a little. Vos wasn’t what he had expected from this meeting and he certainly wasn’t like any of the other Jedi Fox had met. But he didn’t seem to care if Fox got a little sarcastic with him. Vos himself had insisted they forgo the formalities. Maybe he wouldn’t be too much of a hindrance during this investigation. Even if he was a little… cocky.

#my writing #star wars #star wars fanfiction #star wars fanart #cb2023 #commander fox #quinlan vos #quinlan x fox #podfic

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wanderinginksplot · 10 months

Text

Refuge Chapter Five

Continued slowburn Delta Squad x fem!reader fic

You deliberate the choices the Jedi Council gave you... with a little help from Delta Squad

Word Count: 4,000 words.

Warnings: Homesickness and brotherly bickering.

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We have a fancy new fic image! Mostly because there are so few high-quality Delta Squad gifs. (Due to the original game's quality, NOT gif-makers, who are all incredible!) Enjoy!

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Deliberation

The Jedi Temple was amazing.

No one had told you whether you were allowed to wander the halls and explore the rooms, but - given that you had first been discovered by the Jedi while you did exactly that in the GAR’s hangar - the fact that they hadn’t explicitly said not to was more telling. At least, that was what you told yourself as you wandered around the Temple.

The space was expansive, and you found yourself wondering how it all managed to fit into crowded Coruscant, but that mystery was solved when you heard someone make a comment in passing about how the Temple extended slightly into the second level. That had sent you down a different path while you learned about the way Coruscant was set up. The Jedi in charge of the Temple’s archives - Master Jocasta Nu - had been thrilled with your quest for information, and had shown you how to retrieve the necessary files to read on one of the archive’s datapads.

That had been how you spent much of your first full day on Coruscant, but you had been learning the layout of the Temple the remainder of the time and all of your second day. You had been warned by several occupants that the labyrinthine Temple could be confusing and to be sure to ask someone if you became confused. Whether they were just looking for a way to keep an eye on you or a building simply wasn’t challenging after finding your way through dense forests most of your life, you didn’t find it as confusing as they had implied.

You had already known a few places, of course. The Jedi Council chamber was at the top of the temple, positioned so the Council could see out and across the surrounding city. You avoided that area, but made your way to the cafeteria at meal times. You knew about the clothing supply and the sewing room already and didn’t feel the need to spend more time there. Even ignoring the sections you were familiar with, the Temple had so much else to see.

You explored instruction rooms and training areas, spaces that seemed to help prepare for lightsaber use and ones that were meant to simulate battlefields. There were some rooms that were perfectly empty and ready for anything at all. The Temple held more gardens than you were truly capable of understanding, each one reflecting a different climate and the plants that would grow well there. There were kitchens and kennels, rooms filled with music and areas set aside to memorialize those who had come before.

You rushed through some areas, like the mock strategy centers and battleships, trying not to look like someone gathering information for the Separatists. Despite their warm welcome, you were sure some Jedi would be suspicious of you, and you couldn’t blame them.

And then there were places where you spent a little more time. A large creche filled with younglings kept you occupied for a while, playing with and helping care for the occupants and generally assisting the Jedi there. You found a huge space that seemed to be a farm filled with teenage Jedi and, by exploring it, you learned about the agricorps and what happened to the young Jedi who weren’t chosen to be someone’s padawan.

There was also a large garage-like space you wandered into that was filled with pieces of droids. Diagrams on the walls showed the best ways to dismantle different droids, and a few of every kind seemed set up for practice. Those droids were well-loved, a few even bearing paint and - on one B-1 - a nametag. Its name appeared to be Clank.

Not all of the rooms were for everyone, though. You had steered clear of a few areas meant for different species. There had been signs for underwater meditation rooms and a passing Jedi had welcomed you inside, but the idea of being around a large amount of water made you uncomfortable. You hadn’t even attempted to go inside the rooms that offered varying changes to the level of oxygen. Master Plo Koon had nodded as he slipped inside, presumably preparing to remove his oxygen-filtering mask for a short amount of time.

On that note, even for a Jedi Temple, you found a truly mind-boggling number of meditation rooms. In addition to the underwater meditation chamber, there were ones specializing in warmth, coolness, silence, noise, floating, and other criteria that made no sense to you.

Eventually, you ended up in a room that was doing its best to simulate a mountainous climate. There were trees everywhere. You half-expected them to feel false, especially when you sat under one, but it seemed real enough. You settled against the trunk and listened to the sound of a nearby stream. If the room was an illusion, it was a good one. When you closed your eyes, you could almost imagine that the birdsong was familiar and that you were home on Voubos, enjoying a late afternoon walk before you needed to return home.

Your eyes stayed closed and your breathing fell into a steady rhythm. In your mind, the landscape changed from the inside of an expansive room to the forests of Voubos. You had wandered out for a little exploring, maybe foraging for part of the lunch that you had sat down to eat. When you opened your eyes, you would be there. It was only a short walk back to your home with its familiar gardens and cheerful yellow door. Maybe you would read a book before you sorted out dinner. Or maybe you would do some knitting. Your mind felt tired, and the familiar motions of yarn and needles would soothe you.

You had told Barriss that you didn’t meditate and that was still true, but if meditation was anything similar to the half-trance you put yourself into, maybe it held some merit. The back of your mind stayed firmly in place, cognizant of your real surroundings and situation, but part of you was transported to Voubos, pretending the Separatist invasion had never happened. It was relaxing and your whirring mind felt like it could relax for the first time in far too long.

Eventually, though, someone entered the room and you opened your eyes. The young Jedi walking through the door looked politely curious rather than suspicious of you, but you still decided that it would be best if you left.

As you moved down to the main floors of the Temple, you heard an odd conversation ahead. You were almost tempted to call it an argument, but neither side sounded combative. Instead, the calm voice of a Jedi could be heard countering someone else who seemed to be extremely business-like.

The not-quite-confrontation wasn’t in your direct path and it certainly wasn’t any of your business. You weren’t a Jedi and couldn’t help the situation in any meaningful way. That being said, you were a naturally curious person and you had nothing else to occupy your time in the Temple.

Especially since, in the haze of your almost-meditation, you had come to terms with the idea that your exploration was really a way to avoid pondering the opportunities you had been offered.

You changed directions to walk toward the discussion. Surely it wouldn’t hurt anything if you walked through the area and tried to find out what was happening. In fact, your gossip-loving Voubosian roots demanded it.

With that decision made, you ducked slightly through a side hallway to catch a glimpse of the conversation. It was indeed a Jedi - not one of the Jedi on the Council, but one you had seen around the Temple. And she was speaking with-

“...Fixer?” you asked incredulously.

You had never seen any of the troopers caught off-guard, but Fixer turned to look at you so quickly that you were worried for his neck.

“What are you doing here?” you continued when he didn’t immediately say anything. The Jedi just watched silently.

“Trying to find you,” Fixer grumbled. “We were worried when we didn’t hear from you.”

“How would I contact you? I don’t have a comlink or your frequency.”

“Good point,” Fixer conceded reluctantly. “Come on, we need to go find the others.”

“But the-” As you spoke, you turned to look at the Jedi, ready to offer an explanation for Fixer’s presence in the Temple. However, she was gone, having tactfully faded away into another part of the Temple.

“Let’s go,” Fixer repeated, already walking away. He raised his wrist to his mouth. “Found her.”

“Rendezvous at Room 27-A,” his comlink crackled.

“You said the others are here?” you asked, walking faster in an attempt to keep up with Fixer. “Why?”

“Did you miss the part when I said we were worried about you?” Fixer said sharply. “We all decided to search the Temple. It’s faster when we split up. Especially since we had no way to contact you and no way of knowing which room was yours.”

That made sense and you followed Fixer’s broad shoulders the rest of the way in silence.

Room 27-A was on the main floor of the Temple, but set away from the entrance. It was one of the unoccupied rooms, seemingly set aside for meetings or maybe impromptu meditation sessions. By the time you and Fixer stepped inside, the rest of Delta Squad was already waiting for you.

“Finally!” Scorch said, grinning at you. “Didja miss us?”

“You look like you’re doing well,” Boss observed, ignoring Scorch entirely.

“Thought you might have died,” Sev added.

You smiled at the group, surprised at how pleased you were to see these commandos. “Thank you guys for coming here! Fixer said you were worried about me. Is everything okay?"

"You tell us," Boss said steadily, cutting through the disgruntled noises Sev and Scorch made toward their brother. "The Jedi made you an interesting offer. What do you think you'll decide?"

You let out a sigh. "I've been asking myself that for two days and I don't have an answer."

"Is there even a debate?" Sev demanded, voice harsh with derision.

"Uh…" you wavered, unsure whether that lack of debate was supposed to prove that the clear choice was going with them or staying with the Jedi. Delta Squad had been welcoming, but they were also insistent that you should stay away from any action.

Fixer rolled his eyes. "Leave her alone, Oh-Seven. She's just trying to think over all of her options before she makes a choice."

"Of course you would think that's a good idea," Scorch snipped sarcastically. "You'd triple-check your decision to take a piss if you had the chance."

Fixer gave a glare so burning that you, an innocent bystander, cringed from the heat. Thankfully, Boss interrupted before anyone could continue the argument.

"Men," he said, tone stern and commanding. "This conversation ends now."

Fixer closed his mouth and gave a tight nod. Sev nodded as well, the muscles in his jaw dancing. Scorch shook his head and complained, "You never let us have any fun, Boss."

Boss, ignoring the men entirely, focused on you. "Whatever decision you make, it'll impact your life. One way or the other, it has to be your choice, not anyone else's."

You tipped your head at him, willing to obey his order. You couldn't claim to know exactly how Boss had gotten his name, but that commanding presence had to have been part of it.

“Now,” Boss continued, “you wanna show us around this place?”

You gladly led Delta Squad around the Temple for a while until Scorch had dropped several obvious hints about being hungry, then you brought them to the cafeteria where Barriss had taken you on that first day.

“Did any of the Jedi say anything about why they offered to let you work with us?” Fixer asked. Boss sent him a dirty look but didn’t berate him for asking. Scorch and Sev watched with anticipation.

“I asked, actually,” you admitted. “They sensed a bond between us. Nothing permanent or serious, but they know that we’re friends. Friendly, I mean. Well-”

“Don’t go being all flowery on our account,” Scorch told you, pressing a hand to his chest like he had been deeply wounded by your self-correction. “Of course we’re friends. We’re not in the business of rescuing people we hate.”

“Except all the times we’re ordered to,” Sev added.

“And you weren’t ordered to rescue me?” you checked.

“No, but don’t let that go to your head,” Scorch warned, wiggling his fork at you.

You hesitated, unsure of how to take that, but Scorch laughed uproariously at his own statement and you couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Did the jetiise say why they offered to train you?” Boss asked, seeming willing to discuss your situation now that Fixer had brought it up.

You lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. “They didn’t say much more than they said in the Council meeting. I’ve been through a trauma and they think I’ll need some training on controlling my Force connection so I don’t lash out in an unexpected way. And they’ll train me to work on stealth missions even if I don’t choose to be attached to your squad. Apparently, being able to sneak by most people is one of my natural Force abilities, so it wouldn’t take much training to learn that.”

“And then you would be a Jedi?” Fixer asked, frowning slightly.

“No, not at all,” you denied instantly with a chuckle. “I’m much too old for the right training. I’ll never be an actual Jedi. They would just teach me the basics of control and how to use my abilities to help me survive - whether that’s in a battle zone or in normal life - then I’ll be done. They said they would help place me somewhere I could help the Jedi Order if I want, or I can set out as a civilian. Or I can do something here that doesn’t require being a Jedi. An assistant in the kitchens or the archives, maybe.”

“And none of that stands out to you?” The oddly intense question came from Sev, who eyed you with something close to understanding.

“No, not really,” you admitted. “Let me ask you all a question, though: what do you think about the Jedi offering a civilian a place on your team? As far as I know, that isn’t typical and they didn’t consult you.”

One of the things that the Separatist propaganda had emphasized was that the Republic’s army was made up of clones. They had planted people on Voubos to speak about meeting clones and talk about how chilling it was to see the same face and mannerisms repeated so many times. That had been contradicted the first time you met Delta Squad. Yes, they looked similar, but they all acted so incredibly different that you couldn’t help but think of them as being individuals.

The look they shared at your question didn’t run counter to that observation. Instead, it just reminded you that these men had been working, training, and living together since birth. It looked more similar to a behavior you would expect to see from a group of close siblings than anything that smacked of them being clones.

It was only because you were watching so closely that you saw Scorch put on a carefree attitude. “Always nice to have someone to show off for.”

There was more he wasn’t saying, your gut told you that much, but you didn’t feel confident enough to call him on the lie. Instead, you just turned your attention to the others at the table.

“You’ve shown that you’re willing to help people,” Fixer said, a slight frown growing on his face. “Not sure how well that would translate to the battlefield, though.”

“If any civvie could keep up with us, it’s her,” Sev argued. You were so startled by the unexpected support that you didn’t even argue with the fact that he was speaking about you rather than directly to you.

“I’m more worried about how things would work,” Boss said, his gaze heavy on you. It was hard to meet those eyes, but you managed. “You’ve shown that you don’t follow orders well. If you came along as a civvie expert or some kind of Jedi apprentice, you’re still not a general. I’m in charge of this squad, and I would need to know that you can be trusted to do as you’re told.”

The urge to immediately defend yourself was strong, but you fought it back. Boss deserved more than a rote assurance. All of them did.

“I would like to tell you that I would follow orders without question or hesitation, but I won’t lie to you,” you started, keenly aware of the way they all exchanged another glance. “I’m not used to obeying anyone but myself. What I can tell you is that I’ll do my best to learn how. If there’s anything I can do to help you complete your missions, I’ll do it.”

The silence was thick and heavy, eventually broken by Fixer. “What could you do, though? You’re good with stealth, but you have no combat training, no weapons training. All due respect, but you would be a liability.”

“Maybe I would,” you admitted readily. “But I know how to move through an area quickly and silently. I know how to blend in and gather information. I know how to find trustworthy people. Those skills have to be helpful in some way, right?”

“Maybe,” Boss agreed slowly. “But if they’re not?”

“Then I’ll tell the Jedi I just want to stay here,” you offered. “If you don’t want me to come along, I won’t. Simple as that.”

“Why would you do that?” Scorch asked, leaning forward with an uncharacteristically intense expression on his handsome face. “Why would you leave an important decision about your future to four commandos you barely know?”

“You saved my life,” you told them with a shrug. “Seems like you should get some say in what I do with it. I owe you.”

“That makes no sense,” Sev argued. “You saved us first, gave us a place to stay. We’re square.”

“Huh, true.” You pretended to think about that for a moment, fighting back a grin as you shrugged. “Kark off, then.”

The group fell deathly silent, watching you with various levels of shock and dismay until a sharp laugh from Sev broke the crackling atmosphere. Scorch fell into laughter a moment later, Fixer grinned, and even Boss cracked a smile. You laughed along with them, much harder than the joke itself had merited, but the release of tension was a relief for everyone.

“I still think you need to make your own choices about your future,” Boss said eventually when things had settled down once more. “I don’t want any of us trying to influence you one way or another… but, if it were up to me, I’d be willing to have you onboard.”

Your eyebrows shot upward, your jaw wanting to drop with surprise, but Boss held up a hand. “It would be on a trial basis only. I need to make sure you know: one disobeyed order - a single one - and I’ll have you back here learning how to meditate with younglings before you can say, ‘sorry, Boss’.”

“Yes, sir,” you agreed with a salute.

Boss watched you with a frown. “We’d have to teach you how to do a proper salute, too.”

“Dibs,” Sev and Scorch claimed at the exact time.

“She hasn’t made a decision yet,” Fixer reminded them.

“And we’ll leave her to it,” Boss said sharply. “Are we finished here, men?”

“Yeah, but I think she should show us her room,” Scorch tossed out. “You know, in case we can’t reach her for another two days.”

“Not a bad idea,” Boss agreed, glancing at you. “We’ll walk you back to your room and then we’ll let you make up your mind on your own.”

The last few words were pointedly directed at the rest of Delta Squad, but you felt their weight connecting with your chest like they had been stones tossed your way. Boss had been right earlier. Whatever you decided, you would have to live with it. Either you stayed here to learn from the Jedi and took a position helping them out, leaving Delta Squad to fend for themselves in the field, or you went along with them. There was a very high likelihood you would die on a mission, especially since you were admittedly a liability unless you learned several important skills very quickly.

You stood up from the table a little too quickly, but no one commented on it. Instead, they asked questions about the Temple the entire way to your quarters, discussing each of your answers in-depth. It was a good excuse to keep your speech to a minimum, though you did your best to pay attention to their amusing comments.

In the end, Delta Squad left you alone at the door of your room. Boss reminded you to carefully think everything over, Fixer nodding behind him all the while. Sev just watched you and Scorch gave an exuberant wink. You waved as they walked away.

A moment later, a frantic tapping at your door brought you back. It was Scorch. You opened the door enough to step out, scanning the hallway behind him. The rest of Delta Squad was absent, and Scorch was alone.

“Scorch? Is everything-?”

“You should come with us,” he interrupted breathlessly, dark eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’ll be fun! And we’ll keep an eye out for you. Just think of all the places you’ll be able to see with us. I mean, most of them are war zones, but… But we’ll be there! And you like us. Just keep in mind that you’re getting all of this in the bargain-”

Scorch’s gesture to his own face was interrupted as Sev appeared behind him and smacked the back of his head. “Di’kut. Boss told us to leave her alone.”

“Yeah, so what are you doing here?” Scorch shot back.

“Bringing you back with the rest of us,” Sev explained exasperatedly. “There are only four of us. Did you really think Boss wasn’t gonna notice when you snuck off?”

“There was a chance,” Scorch told him sullenly.

Sev rolled his eyes. “Go while I repair your damage, vod.”

Scorch glanced back at you, giving you the most pleading look you had ever seen on a grown man. “Just think about what I said!”

“Go,” Sev barked.

When Scorch had reluctantly ambled down the hallway, you bit back a smile and told Sev, “You really don’t have to repair any damage. Everything is fine.”

“I know,” Sev replied easily. “I just came back to give you these.”

He passed you a bag holding something that clacked together lightly as he moved. You must have looked as confused as you felt, because Sev relented and offered an explanation. “They’re vambraces.”

“Oh, great!” you said cheerily, trying to disguise the fact that you were still confused. “Thank you!”

“That’s armor, civvie,” Sev sighed, tapping his forearms. “These pieces here. The left one has a comlink in it and the right one has a locator. In case we need to contact you or you get lost in this temple, respectively. They’re yours no matter what you decide, but… try not to lose ‘em.”

He turned and walked away before you could say anything else. You smiled at his back as you stepped back inside your room once more.

It was just as well that you hadn’t opened the bag when Sev was still there. He probably wouldn’t have appreciated your harsh gasp or the tears that had filled your eyes as you reverently fished the vambraces out and put them on.

They had been carefully painted the exact shade that your front door had been. The brightness of the yellow against your bare, impersonal room in the Jedi Temple made you feel centered for the first time since you had seen the smoldering remains of your home.

Just like that, the weight of decision-making disappeared from your shoulders. You were going with Delta Squad.

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Author's Note - Was this intended to be a full chapter? Absolutely not. But combining it with anything else was just a little chaotic, so this one stands as its own, rather slow chapter. On the plus side, that means the next chapter shouldn't take nearly as long to finish!

Thank you for reading! You can find other works on my masterlist or sign up for my taglist here. Have a great day!

Taglist: @theclonesdeservebetter @ladykatakuri @fordo-kixed-rex @bitchylittleredhead @itsagrimm @murderofcrows1 @quietplaceinthestars @dinsverdika @cawyden @merkitty49 @professional-yearner @xxxcertifiednerdxxx @justanothersadperson93 @brokenphoenix99 @amaliia @coruscanticoffee @archangelsunited @94pigeons @zykova @nainara5 @ladytano420 @beverlybeav @fangirl-goes-nova

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photogirl894 · 4 months

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"Sun and Rain Part 2: Age of the Empire"

Chapter 27

"Bracca"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: Here I am again with another installment of this beloved fic of mine! Now, we're really getting back into the thick of the main story from the show. This is where things are really gonna get interesting...if you catch my meaning 😜😅😁 Enjoy this, why don't you?

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @cole-kenxbi , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx , @idoubleswearimawriter , @techs-stitches , @fantasyproductions

《 Chapter 26

》 Chapter 28

All chapters (Part 2) (Part 1)

Explanation: Kimber, Rex and the Bad Batch venture to the junk planet of Bracca to get the Clones' chips removed...but their goal won't be so easily achieved.

Hunter ended the call with Kimber and Rex, standing now outside the Aurora. When he’d first answered the call, he was surprised to see Kimber looking calm and put together, thinking her time visiting the crash site would’ve been much more emotional. Before he could ask how she was, she’d informed him that Rex knew of a place they could go to in order to get the Bad Batch’s inhibitor chips removed: a junk planet called Bracca. The planet was almost clear across the galaxy from Ord Mantell, so it would take a few days for both parties to get there. Hunter was surprised to be hearing back from them on that front so quickly. He wasn’t entirely sure at first how that place held the answers they were looking for, but he trusted Rex. More than that, he trusted Kimber and she had stood by Rex’s decision during the transmission. That all was enough for him. It was decided that Rex and Kimber would head there together immediately instead of Rex bringing Kimber back to Ord Mantell. That had been at Kimber’s insistence, saying time was of the essence and they’d be able to solve the chip problem faster if she just stayed with Rex instead of having him bring her back. At first, Hunter didn’t feel sure, but that feeling was short-lived because, once again, he trusted the Captain. If there was anyone else outside his squad and the Koriena Force that he would trust to take care of his sweetheart, it was Rex. He’d get her to Bracca safely.

With a new course now in mind, Hunter retreated back into the Aurora to round up the rest of his squad. As he entered the main area of the ship, he called out, “That was Kimber and Rex. We’ve got our destination. Let’s move.”

“Where are we going?” asked Omega.

“I’ll tell you on the way,” said Hunter.

As the rest of the squad made their way over, Rina cried out, “I’m coming with you!”

“I will, as well,” added Kida.

However, Hunter looked back at them and told them, “Negative. This could potentially be dangerous. I won’t have you two be caught in the middle of it.”

Kida put her hands on her hips. “Isn’t that our choice to make, Sergeant?”

“What about your son?” Echo asked her.

Then Lex answered, “Irys and I will gladly watch him. Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve done that while Kida goes on a mission.”

With an almost uncharacteristic pleading look in her eyes, Rina spoke up, “Look, I’m worried about Wrecker. I need to make sure things go okay and Kida wants to be there for Rex, as well. Besides, you might need our help.”

Kida shot Rina a look and stated, “I'm also going so I can make sure you stay out of trouble, shortstacks.”

Rina glowered up at Kida. “Don't ever call me by the lizard lady's nickname,” she warned her.

When they both turned back to the boys, Hunter sighed and shook his head. “I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. If things go south with Wrecker's chip, I wouldn't be able to take it if something happened to you both. I need you to stay here where you're safe. Got it?”

Then without waiting for a response, Hunter turned and walked out of the room, the others following behind him. Wrecker, however, stopped for a moment and looked back at Rina, an apologetic look on his face.

“I'll be okay, babe. Don't worry,” he said to reassure her. Then he flipped around to follow his brothers, crying out over his shoulder as he ran off, “Love you!”

Rina stiffened up at hearing him say those words again and Kida just chuckled.

“You know…I get the feeling he still doesn't quite know the gravity behind those words,” said Kida.

“I overheard him telling Hunter once that he says it because Hunter and Kimber say it to each other all the time,” said Lex, who was carefully rocking Kori in her arms. “They're happy together and Wrecker is happy with Rina…so he's just following by example, even if he doesn't fully understand.”

“One day, he will,” Kida stated. Then she looked down at Rina and asked, “Well, what do we do now?”

Determination in her eyes, Rina answered, “Simple: while the guys are out resupplying and refueling the ship, we stow aboard the Marauder. There's no way the Sarge is making me stay behind, not with Wrecker's well-being on the line.”

Then Irys spoke up behind them, “How do you plan to do that? Hunter has enhanced senses and he'll pick up your scents easily, you with your sweetblossom and Kida's perfume.”

Rina, though, just turned around with a grin. “Oh, I've got a plan,” she said slyly.

Irys smirked and shook her head. “Of course, you do.”

A couple hours later, the Bad Batch were now soaring through the bright blue tunnel of hyperspace on their way to Bracca to meet up with Rex and Kimber. Wrecker was feeling nervous about the whole plan knowing Rex wanted to cut open his head--all their heads, as well, as Tech reminded him nonchalantly--but Hunter was doing his best to keep him calm. During their flight, Tech continued to work on his brain scanner with Omega’s help.

“Do we really have to do this?” Wrecker asked Hunter apprehensively.

“If Rex is sure, we should trust him,” Hunter responded. “I know it's not ideal, Wrecker, but this is our best course of action.”

Wrecker groaned in defeat. “If you say so,” he relented.

Just then, Hunter's senses picked up something unusual. It sounded like voices…voices that didn't belong to anyone that should be on the ship. They were quiet, but loud enough for his enhanced hearing to detect, and were coming from the back of the Marauder in the bunk area. They also sounded familiar.

He briskly made his way to the back area, earning curious looks from the others at his sudden movements before following him. He detected the voices coming from Wrecker’s bunk.

“I can't hear them anymore.”

“Get away from the door, then, before Sarge catches us.”

“Unbelievable…,” Hunter groaned quietly as he activated the door.

As the door slid open, two figures leaning against it yelped in surprise as they fell forward and hit the floor as Hunter stepped back. Dressed in large, black shirts over their regular clothes and lying prostrate on the ground were Rina and Kida.

Putting his hands on his hips, Hunter said aloud, “Are you two kidding me?”

As they both sat up and got up to their feet, the others realized the shirts the girls were wearing were the same as the tops of their blacks, but they were at least three sizes too big for the women, so the shirts looked like tents on them.

“Are those my black shirts?” asked Wrecker.

“Yeah. How else do you think we were able to sneak aboard?” Rina asked.

Then Kida added, “We figured Hunter would be able to pick up our scent, so we used these to hide them, knowing he wouldn't question anything with his brother's scent. However…we didn't account for his apparently enhanced hearing.”

“What are you doing here? I told you to stay on Ord Mantell,” Hunter chided them.

After pulling off Wrecker's shirt from over her clothes, Rina responded to him, “No offense, Sarge, but you're in charge of this squad…not us.”

He reared back, startled.

“Listen, if I stayed behind, I don't think I'd be able to sleep, not knowing if Wrecker was okay or if the rest of you were okay,” Rina admitted. “I sensed something really wrong with his chip and I can't shake the feeling I got. I have to be there.”

She stole a look at Wrecker and he was a bit surprised to see the evident worry in her eyes, something he wasn't accustomed to, seeing as she usually was more guarded about her emotions even with him. Whatever she'd sensed regarding his chip must've really shaken her up. That and it only made him more nervous about the whole situation on top of it all.

“Besides, if something does happen to either of us, then it'll be on us, not you. You told us to stay on Ord Mantell and we didn't listen, so it'll be our responsibility,” then said Kida.

For a moment, the Clones said nothing. Only exchanging looks with one another.

“Well, we're already in the middle of hyperspace. Can't turn back now,” stated Echo.

“Perhaps their company on this venture will prove most beneficial,” added Tech, mostly to Hunter.

While still displeased at the fact Rina and Kida had stowed aboard and disobeyed his orders, Hunter sighed in defeat. “Fine. Guess we have no choice.”

“Look, sorry we snuck onto the ship, but you also might need our help,” said Rina. “We won't get in the way.”

Kida stepped closer to Hunter and laid a hand on his arm. “I know you're not happy with us right now, but we're here because we care about all of you, Hunter. We just want to make sure you all get out of this safely.”

Then Omega, flashing her brown doe eyes up at Hunter, asked, “That's not so bad, isn't it, Hunter?”

He sighed again, this time a little softer. “I guess not.” Then he looked between the two ladies and said, “Well…looks like we're all going to Bracca then.”

“Well, I'm glad they came because now, my best girl is here!” Wrecker exclaimed, scooping up Rina into a big hug.

She groaned both shyly and gratefully at the same time. She didn't know why, but Wrecker calling her his “best girl” just really set her heart a flutter.

After planting a big kiss on her cheek, he stated, “With her around, I feel better already.”

A few days passed and Kimber and Rex reached Bracca, a planet completely filled with space garbage; transport scraps, decommissioned starships and more. After Rex landed the Y-wing inside the remains of a larger starship, he told Kimber they'd wait there until the Bad Batch arrived, activating his tracking beacon so they'd be able to find them when they got there. He urged her to stay put while he quickly scouted the area for the ship they'd come to find.

While she waited, Kimber sat back against a wall, waiting patiently for her squad to come. She could only hope the plan Rex had in mind for them would work. If it could get their chips out, then they'd be truly free from any possible Imperial influence, like Order 66.

Remembering Order 66 made her think of Crosshair. Now knowing the chips were really a threat and it was what made the Clones turn on the Jedi and serve the Empire, it explained everything about Crosshair's erratic behavior from Kaller as well as Kamino; why he suddenly seemed so keen on following orders and why he'd turned on the Bad Batch for the Empire. If only he were with them now, then he could get his chip removed, too. He could finally be back to normal and be one of them again. If only he were here….

That was it! Perhaps if she reached out and told him what they knew, then maybe he'd see reason and join them on Bracca. If he could get his chip out, then he'd leave the Empire and be part of their squad once more. They'd be partners again…the eyes in the sky…brother and sister….

Without a second thought, she fished into her pack and pulled out her encrypted holopad. Even though he hadn't responded to any of her previous transmissions, maybe this one would finally get his attention. All she had to do was tell him about their plan and--

Kimber heard movement close by and it startled her that she nearly dropped her holopad device before shoving it back into her pack. When she looked, she realized it was just Rex coming back. He was back from scouting quicker than she'd anticipated.

“Lucky for us, the cruiser we need is already nearby,” he informed her as he approached.

“That's good,” she said. “Then we can get right to it once the boys get here.”

“Exactly,” he replied.

About an hour passed before they heard the sound of engines overhead and when they peeked out from their hiding place, they saw the Marauder coming their way. Kimber couldn’t help but smile at seeing that junk of a shuttle she loved so much. Soon, the Marauder docked next to the Y-wing and Rex and Kimber made their way towards it to greet the others. Hunter came out first followed by Omega and the others.

“Right on time,” Rex greeted Hunter, the two of them grasping arms.

As Kimber was about to say something, she caught sight of two faces in the back of the group she wasn’t expecting to see. “Rina? Kida? What are you two doing here?” she asked.

Rex peered around the Clones to see the two women, as well, once Kimber called attention to them.

“They stowed away,” said Hunter, sounding slightly miffed still, giving the girls the side-eye.

“Hey, we said we’re sorry,” said Rina.

Then Kida added, “We just thought you all could use some extra help. Plus, someone was worried sick about her man and refused to stay behind.” Then she looked down at Rina, who blushed bright red.

Rex smiled to himself at seeing Kida. Something about her being here now made him feel less nervous about the whole ordeal. “Well, we’re glad you’re both here,” he said.

“So how’s a junk planet gonna help us?” Wrecker asked him.

After donning his helmet, Rex simply replied, “Follow me.”

After Kimber and the other Clones--sans Omega--put on their own helmets, they followed after Rex as he led them out of the scrapped ship they’d docked in.

Hunter leaned in and asked Kimber quietly, “How are you, my love? Are you doing okay?”

She nodded to him, knowing he was referring to her previous venture to say her final goodbyes to Jesse at his grave. “I am. I’m doing better,” she told him. “You were right. I really needed that closure. Now, I can move forward with peace and clarity.”

He grasped her hand tightly for a moment and he replied, “For that, I’m glad.”

“Thank you for having Rex take me there,” she said back.

He bowed his head in return.

The whole group walked up a slight incline of a toppled steel wall that overlooked much of the area. The entire landscape before them was just covered in ship junk for miles.

“Bracca may not be much to look at, but it has exactly what we need,” Rex told everyone as they came to the peak.

Before them just yards away was a huge decommissioned Venator cruiser set amongst much of the rubble, its engines facing them.

“I had my inhibitor chip taken out on a Jedi cruiser just like that,” stated the Captain, pointing to the ship.

“Then why’d we land all the way over here?” Wrecker inquired, puzzled.

Just then, Hunter spotted something in the sky and ordered everyone to get down. They obeyed and crouched down as low as they could as another smaller ship flew overhead.

“That’s why,” Rex answered Wrecker.

Behind him, Tech flipped down his visor to analyze the ship. “It’s the Scrapper Guild,” he said a few seconds later.

Rex then told everyone that the Scrappers controlled the entire planet and that they needed to keep out of sight from their different patrols. They waited a few more seconds for the patrol ship to pass before Rex told them to move. They took a turn to the left and made their way down into more ship wreckage to keep themselves hidden. The metal of the damaged walls and support beams groaned and creaked all around them, echoing almost ominously as they walked. They moved quickly yet stealthily so as to not catch any attention and also not disturb the rubble around them lest anything come loose and cause a ruckus or injure any of them. Caution was key in a place like this. They had to climb up onto platforms and carefully maneuver across support beams until they successfully made it inside the Venator. Once inside, Rex, Echo and Tech pulled out their torches so they could see through the dark corridors of the crashed ship.

“The last time I was aboard one of these, it didn’t end so well,” Rex commented as they went, stealing a quick glance at Kimber since she really was the only one who knew where he was coming from.

Then Echo asked him, “If the inhibitor chip isn’t something you can control, how’d you get yours out?”

“I…had help,” Rex answered.

He then halted abruptly and signaled for everyone else to stop as they came to a break in the path that fell into a chasm filled with water below.

“The medical bay is at the other end,” Rex stated.

“How are we going to get over there?” asked Kimber.

Rina cracked her knuckles and suggested, “I could Force-push everyone over there.”

Turning around to face her, Rex replied, “Firstly, I’ve been pushed around by the Force too many times for my liking. Second of all, the foundation of the ship could still be unstable and compromised on the other side. Using the Force to throw us all over there could cause things to give way if we’re not careful.”

Then Kida snapped her fingers and declared, “I’ve got an idea!” Then she gestured to something lying wrapped up on the floor next to Wrecker. “Wrecker, grab that cable,” she told him.

He knelt down and grabbed part of the cable, immediately getting anxious--more so than he had been a second ago at seeing the deep ravine--and stammering, “This? W-Why? W-W-What are you gonna do with it?”

“Hand me the end,” Kida told him, holding out her hand. Once she grabbed it, she said, “I’ll get to the other side and secure the end of this cable over there. Then the rest of you can use it to get across safely.”

“Then how are you getting over there?” inquired Kimber.

Kida just grinned deviously. “I’ve been known to be pretty light on my feet, so I shouldn’t cause any problems,” she simply said. Then she took a couple steps back, glanced at Rina and said, “Rina, Shooting Star.”

Rina gave her a nod and before anyone could ask what was going on, Kida grasped the cable tightly and bolted for the edge of the walkway.

“Kida, don’t!” Rex cried out, reaching out for her.

As she got to the edge, Kida leapt through the air towards the other side and Rina stepped out, pushing out her palms in front of her with a Force push. Then Kida suddenly jolted further and faster with that extra push, doing a graceful front flip all the way to the other side and landing softly in a three-point stance on the ground. She straightened up, looked back over her shoulder at the others on the opposite side and confidently blew them all a kiss before moving to tie the cable around a nearby beam.

“See, Cap? Your baby mama’s got this,” said Rina, elbowing him in the arm.

Rex was thankful his helmet was on so no one could see the bright shade of red he was sure his face was turning at Rina’s comment.

Kida finished wrapping the cable, made sure it was secure and then cried out, “You’re all good to go!”

Rina was the first to go, but instead of using the cable, she just took a big Force jump across the entire chasm all the way to the other side, landing effortlessly next to Kida. Then she turned around and called out, unable to hold back a smirk, “What’s the hold up? Hurry up, slowpokes!”

“Yes, very amusing, Rina,” Tech replied flatly.

Hunter stepped forward. “I’ll go first and help everyone get across on the other side,” he said. Then right away, he crouched down, wrapped his legs around the cable, grabbed on with both hands and proceeded to climb along the line to the other side of the chasm, joining Rina and Kida.

“Nice job, lover boy,” said Rina.

He just gave a small grunt in response before looking back and gesturing for the next person to follow. Rex motioned with his hand for Kimber to go next, so she obliged. Though, she had an easier idea. She took out her sniper rifle, laid it over and across the cable and held onto both ends of the rifle. Then she stepped off the edge and slid fast down the cable like a zip line. Hunter was nervous for a second seeing her dangling over the chasm, but he trusted her and trusted she knew what she was doing and braced himself near the edge on his side to catch her. She zipped down and as her feet touched the ground, his strong arm caught her around the waist to steady her landing.

“Well done,” said Hunter, impressed.

“Ha! Showoff,” commented Rina to Kimber, smirking in amusement.

Then followed Rex, Tech and then Echo. Kimber was worried at first for Echo, wondering how he’d get across with his scomp arm, but as always, he proved that there was nothing to worry about as he was able to shimmy across with no issue. However, when he dismounted the cable, his feet touched the very edge and slipped, but Kimber was quick to catch him.

“I got you,” Kimber told him as she pulled him back.

“Always there to catch me when I fall, right?” he asked.

“Always,” she said back.

Omega and Wrecker were the only ones left. It was clear Wrecker didn’t want to go due to his crippling fear of heights. He was standing behind Omega nervously rubbing his hands together. Omega went ahead and climbed across the cable. Rex stepped up and held his hands out to catch her when she got all the way across and she did so without any problems.

“Nicely done,” Rex complimented her as she let go of the line.

“You’re up, Wrecker!” called out Hunter.

“Uh…yeah, my head doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m fine,” Wrecker tried to lie to get out of going across. “You guys go without me.”

“You can do it! Just keep your eyes on the cable!” Omega encouraged him.

Then Rina cried out, “We believe in you, big guy! You’ve got this!”

Still feeling as anxious as ever yet willing to try, Wrecker gingerly knelt down and got himself on the cable. Due to his weight, the cable dropped a little, which made him even more nervous. He inched forward a bit and it dropped again, but he clung even tighter to it.

“That was close,” he commented.

Snap!

The line broke free on his end and Wrecker started plummeting down into the chasm on the cable.

“Wrecker!” yelled Kimber in alarm.

Rina immediately dashed to the front to look over the edge. She, Kimber, Rex, Hunter and Omega all watched as Wrecker swung back on the cable, hit the side of the wall and as he fell towards the water, he spun through the cable and it ended up wrapped around his ankle, halting his fall just inches above the waterline. Omega got down on her knees and shined the torch she’d been given just then from Rex down so they all could see Wrecker, now dangling above the murky green water.

“Are you all right?” Rex called down to him

From down below, they all heard him answer, “No! Smells awful down here!”

Right then, they could see a large dark shape move underneath the water and everyone’s anxiety spiked.

“What’s that?” Omega asked, concerned.

Hunter peered over and said over comms, “Wrecker, start climbing.”

“Why?!” Wrecker asked back, his voice cracking anxiously.

“Hurry!” yelled Kimber.

Suddenly, there was an echoing roar from below and then a giant tentacle sprung up from under the water, wrapping itself around Wrecker and tugging him under the water.

“Wrecker!” cried Omega.

Kimber stayed at the edge with Omega to watch for Wrecker while everyone else sprang into action, grabbing the cable and pulling together to get Wrecker out of the water. Kimber watched as Wrecker came up above the water, pulling his large vibroblade from his boot and slicing the tentacle off him. Then he pulled himself up and began climbing up the line himself. Kimber caught sight of the creature as it briefly emerged from the water, seeing more tentacles and a round mouth with several curved, razor teeth pointing inward. She recognized it from her studies of other galactic creatures.

“It’s a dianoga!” she shouted.

“Faster! Pull faster!” Wrecker shouted up to the others in alarm.

Then Kimber moved away and started helping pull the cable with the others, getting in front of Rina.

“Give…my big guy…back!” she heard Rina grunt out behind her.

They strained trying to pull the line, inching further and further forward. Even with all of them pulling except Omega, their strength was no match for the dianoga’s as it pulled Wrecker back down. Suddenly, the weight on the line disappeared, making it slacken and everyone fell onto their backs. That wasn’t a good sign. That meant Wrecker was no longer on the other end.

“No, no, no, no, no…!” Kimber cried, panicking, as she rushed back to the edge.

Rina was right on her heels, calling out Wrecker’s name as they both looked over to see if they could spot him.

There was no movement save for the waves of the water rushing back and forth. There was no sign of the dianoga nor Wrecker. The others began to fear the worst.

Just then, there was a splash and to their relief, Wrecker appeared again at the other end of the line, climbing his way up.

“Pull!” Omega called to everyone else.

However, the dianoga appeared again below him and all of its tentacles came out of the water, wrapping themselves around him. It was determined to drag him down below the depths.

“You will not have him,” Kimber stated out loud, pulling her sniper rifle off her back.

Echo had the same thought as she did, drawing his blaster, and together, they both began firing shots down at the creature in the attempt to wound it enough so it would release its hold on Wrecker. After a few shots made contact, one hit it straight in the mouth, it released a low groan of pain and the tentacles retreated, letting Wrecker go. Feeling the cable slacken again, the others resumed pulling it to get Wrecker to safety. A few seconds later, Wrecker reached the edge and both Kimber and Rina grabbed his arms to help pull him up. Once they got him, the others released the cables and collapsed onto the ground.

“What…was…that?” he asked, out of breath, as he came up over the edge.

“Something that’ll think twice before messing with us again,” Rina answered. Then her voice got softer as she laid a hand on the back of Wrecker’s shoulder and asked, “You okay, babe?”

Still breathing heavily, he answered, “Yeah…I’m okay.”

“Makes you miss battling clankers, doesn’t it?” Rex then asked him, trying to be optimistic.

“Yeah…,” Wrecker groaned, exhausted.

After taking a brief rest to catch their breath and letting the adrenaline from the situation die down, the group resumed moving again through the Venator towards where the medical bay should be. They maneuvered a few more corridors before reaching the right spot. The door to the med bay was open just a tiny sliver at the bottom, so Rex and Tech both pushed the door up so it was open completely. It was dark inside just like the rest of the ship, save for the lights from their torches, and in the center was a large surgical pod. There were squeaks coming from the room, meaning rats were scattering about inside.

“This will do nicely,” Rex stated, removing his helmet as he looked around.

Though, Tech had a rebuttal, saying, “I would no longer call this medical bay a sterile environment.”

“Do you prefer to use the facility on Kamino?” Rex asked back.

“This will do nicely,” Tech replied, changing his mind instantly and agreeing with the Captain.

Echo informed everyone that’d calibrate the surgical pod to get things going. He inserted his scomp into the appropriate socket, activated it and seconds later, the lights in the room came on along with the pod and the computer attached to it at the foot of it. The screens beeped as they came to life and electricity whirred and pulsated through the surgical pod as it slowly gained power.

Wrecker was holding his head, moaning in pain as he took his helmet off and sat on the edge of the surgical table, Rina guiding him by the arm. Everyone else started removing their helmets and setting their packs and weapons down against the walls.

Tech pulled out the brain scanner he’d made and declared, “Time to get scanned, Wrecker.”

“Let’s…get this over with,” Wrecker groaned out, ready for the whole ordeal to be over as the pain in his head was seemingly getting worse.

Kida gently pulled Rina away from Wrecker so Tech could put the scanner on his head. “Let Tech do his thing. It’ll be all right,” she soothed Rina as they stopped in the doorway of the med room.

Turning away, Rina said quietly, “He’s in more pain now. I can sense it getting worse and I don’t like it.”

Kimber moved next to the two of them, hearing Rina’s concerns, and said, “Stay calm as best you can, Rina. Tech knows what he’s doing. We’ll get Wrecker’s chip out and everything will be fine.”

“I can’t!” Rina almost snapped back in a hushed voice. “I can’t stay calm until that thing is out of his head.”

“You don’t think I’m worried, too?” Kimber asked in reply, a little frustrated. “Hunter’s going to get his head cut open, as well; all of my boys are. I’m scared to death right now…but panicking isn’t going to help things. The boys need our support right now because they’re all scared, too, even if they’re not outwardly showing it. Not just for Wrecker, but for themselves, also. For once, we need to be the strong ones for them. They're going to need us if they're gonna get through this, so straighten up, okay?”

This was the first time Kimber had ever gotten short like that with Rina and both she and Kida were taken aback at her abruptness. Though, it was understandable why Kimber was so upset. Her whole squad was about to have their brains operated on, which was incredibly risky in and of itself. If something went wrong, there could be dangerous consequences. Rina thought her own worry was bad, but it hadn't even occurred to her how much more afraid Kimber would be. Rina only had one person she feared for most. Kimber had four.

She heaved a shaky sigh. “You're right, boss lady,” she said. “We gotta be strong.”

“Wow, so authoritative,” Kida commented to Kimber. Then she smirked deviously. “I'm sure Hunter loves that…especially in bed.”

“Oh, shut up,” replied Kimber, lightly shoving her.

With a grin, Kida just said back, “I'm incorrigible, I know.”

In that moment, they heard Tech state aloud, “I think I found something.” When everyone gathered around him, he pointed out Wrecker's brain scan on his datapad, showing the chip was ninety degrees from his right orbital floor, below the parietal and temporal intersection.

However, Wrecker was getting more and more agitated and suddenly ripped off the brain scanner from his head, growling, “Get that away from me!” as he shoved it into Tech's chest. He grabbed at his head again, his groans of pain getting louder.

“Something's not right,” Omega pointed out.

“We need to speed this up,” Rex urged.

Echo pressed a few more buttons on the console controlling the surgical pod, hoping to get it to power up faster.

Then Rex spoke up, “You boys got lucky. Very few Clones were immune to the effects of Order 66. It's rare.”

“When the regs attacked the Jedi on Kaller, we didn't understand why,” Hunter responded.

“Uh, maybe we shouldn't talk about the thing that triggers the inhibitor chip around the person with a clearly malfunctioning chip,” Kimber said under her breath, gesturing subtly to Wrecker.

Seeing her point, Rex and Hunter stepped off to the side to continue talking. Kimber looked down to Omega beside her and ran her hand over Omega's hair comfortingly.

The young girl looked up at her. “I'm worried, Kimber. I don't like how much pain Wrecker's in.”

Kneeling down to Omega's level, Kimber told her, “I'm worried, too, but it'll be okay, Omega. He's strong and so are you. I'll be here with you every step of the way.”

Omega began to smile, but then they both heard the sound of a choked cry followed by Tech gasping Wrecker's name. Then Wrecker's voice spoke aloud in a deeper, darker tone no one had ever heard from him:

“You're in direct violation of Order 66.”

When everyone flipped around to see what was going on, they were aghast to see Wrecker holding Tech up by the throat and then, with a loud growl, throwing him into a nearby wall. Tech crashed into the cabinets and collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Wrecker then turned to face the rest of them, an angry and almost bloodthirsty look in his eyes. As he stood up, his tall, hulking form seemed to ominously tower even more over them all.

His chip had activated.

Immediately, Kimber pushed Omega behind her.

“Wrecker, stop!” Rina shouted, moving in front of everyone.

“Rina, don't!” Kimber warned.

The smaller woman looked back steadfastly over her shoulder and simply said with surety, “Don't worry. He would never hurt me.”

Kimber gulped nervously.

Then Rina turned back to face Wrecker, his anger-filled eyes trained solely on her. “Listen, babe, you gotta get your head back in the game,” she said firmly to him, carefully inching closer to him. “This isn't you. You'd never hurt anyone here. I know you…and you know me.”

The giant Clone leered down at her in a way that made the others almost afraid, something nobody had ever experienced with Wrecker. This was definitely not like him. He would never look at Rina in this way, not ever.

He then replied in a voice devoid of all normal emotion except for contempt, “You're a Jedi, Rina Caska. By Order 66, all Jedi must be eliminated.”

In the dim, blue light of the surgical pod, she saw the glint of a single tear falling from his eye.

“Wrecker, I--”

Wrecker moved faster than anyone could've anticipated. He lunged forward and his arm swung out, hitting Rina square in the stomach and sending her flying towards the doorway of the med room. There was a hollow thud and a sickening crack as her back made contact with the doorframe. Then her limp body landed on the floor, motionless, as Kimber and Kida screamed her name in horror.

#star wars the bad batch #the bad batch #bad batch hunter #sergeant hunter #bad batch fanfic #hunter x oc fic #sun and rain fanfic

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redfurrycat · 9 months

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🤠👨‍🏫🏫🐓Educational Occupations Fic Recs🐓🏫👨‍🏫🤠

Check the Top Gun Masterlist post for the latest updated version. 💕

Ao3 Authors: Callsignsmax, Davidbyrne, Greenstuff, Hangmanbradshaw, LulaluzHazel, MadeItUp, Nimuetheseawitch, Ok_thanks, ReformedTsundere, Rnadison, SunMonTue, Teacupivy, Vannral.

> High School & College/University

learning steps by vannral {E}

/Top Gun Instructor!Bradshaw/

”So, an instructor?”

A straight hit. Bradley shifts uncomfortably on the leather seat and clears his throat. ”… Yeah.”

In which Bradley becomes an instructor after the mission, Jake keeps showing up to his classes and his students are very curious about their dynamic.

sereshaw student/teacher 'verse by callsignsmax

/Physics Teacher!Seresin/

a first time for everything {E}

Mr. Seresin is his new physics teacher, he’s twenty six at the most. With how he looks Bradley would be shocked at anything more. He’s from texas, obvious from his accent and the obnoxious Texas Rangers banner he has pinned on the cork board next to his desk.

I see right through you {E}

“Nothing’s fair, Mr. Seresin,” He hiccups, throat sore and scratchy from suppressing his sobs. “Why don’t my friends support me and you being together?”

NSFW alphabet with Mr. Seresin and Bradley {E}

Learn the ins and outs of Mr. Seresin and Bradley's sex life, including the struggles of true love in a teacher/student relationship.

I’d wait forever for you {M}

“Red,” he manages to choke out, even though Mr. Seresin had already stopped. His hands were off of Bradley the second the younger froze up. “Stop, please.”

You Are My Treasure by hangmanbradshaw {E}

/Librarian!Seresin/

History's Like Gravity, It Holds You Down Away From Me

“That’s too much thinking for you, obviously. You should leave that to the professionals. Don’t want to hurt yourself.” This time Bradley let out a laugh. Jake had missed that sound. “I don’t see any professionals around here, do you?” “You wound me, Bradley.” “Sorry, princess.” Bradley didn’t look sorry at all. “Just don’t come crying to me when you get lost in the tomb and can’t read the hieroglyphics that say this way to the exit.” “I’m not worried. I don’t plan on leaving your side, problem solved.” “I will leave you behind.” “You would never. Plus, someone’s gotta talk you out of leaving society for good and moving into the ancient burial grounds to live amongst your favorite mummies and old ass relics, like some modern day form of an Egyptian hobbit hole.” Jake stopped. “You know, that’s a valid point. Weird ass way to put it, but valid.” Bradley grinned. “What can I say, I know you.” Jake was starting to realize just how accurate that statement was.

You Can Make My Wish Come True, If You Let Me Treasure You

“Jake…you know you’re my family right? If we do this, we do it together. It’s not a Bradshaw only thing.” The man blinked at him and then smiled softly. “Okay. You’re my family too so if you’re doing this, I’m riding shotgun.” Bradley nodded and grinned brightly. “Think we’ll have to fight off any zombie founding fathers brought back to life?” “I’m putting $5 on at least two. I call dibs on fighting off Franklin though.” Or, The one where, fresh off their mummy adventure, Jake and Bradley steal the Declaration of Independence, make way too many mummy related jokes, and get married, all with a little help from their friends.

I can be your fantasy (football punishment) by ok_thanks {_}

/HS Teacher!Seresin/

“This year, the second annual season of the Dagger Squad Fantasy Football League, the loser, one Bradley Bradshaw, must face a fate worse than death.” Nat pauses for dramatic effect. “He must – drumroll, please, boys... — Successfully and wholly complete the Scholastic Aptitude Test, also known to some as the SAT.” As if that wasn't bad enough, the proctor being Javy's stupidly handsome best friend — who he keeps running into — adds to his misery. AKA: the one where Bradley's fantasy football punishment leads to an embarrassing crush of high school teacher Jake.

it's such a magical mysteria, when you get that feeling by hangmanbradshaw {E}

/Paleobotanist!Seresin & Paleontologist!Bradshaw/

“So, they pulled you away from some bone dig for this? Let me guess, you were looking for a velociraptor?” He asked as he pulled out a toothpick and stuck it in his mouth. “It’s a little more than that.” Bradley replied with a furrowed brow. He was annoyed that he was right. “Sounds like a lot of sand and dirt to me. Then again, your type always loves that stuff. I’m shocked they were able to pull you away from it.” The man said with a smirk around his toothpick. He was being obnoxious, but the smirk sent a jolt down Bradley’s spine. “You’ll have to excuse Mr. Seresin here.” Simpson said with an annoyed grimace. “He suffers from a case of extreme personality.” “It’s Dr. Seresin.” Simpson rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

The Penguin Agenda by greenstuff {E}

/Marine Biologists!Bradshaw & Seresin/

Penguin Day at the aquarium not only means Bradley has to put on a penguin costume for their full day of elementary school kid tours, but he has to work with his rival in academia and life: Jake Seresin. He should have called in sick.

but I absolutely love him (when he smiles) by rnadison {G}

/Field Trip Educator Contractor!Bradshaw/

“Did you just hit on me?” Jake tilts his head, weighing his options. Clearly this wasn’t the response he’d been anticipating. “...Yes?” Bradley nods. “Right. Okay.” He pulls himself closer to his monitor and opens a new browser window. “What are you doing?” “Trying to see if I remember the link to the Title IX complaint form.” -------- In which they work in a museum, and Jake is the director's annoying assistant, and Bradley is just trying to get the Education Department name-brand markers.

Extra Credit by ReformedTsundere {T}

/History Teacher!Seresin & Maths Teacher!Bradshaw/

"I'm going to kill him," Bradley seethes, stomping into the teacher's lounge and briskly cutting across the room to get to the fridge where his lunch is waiting. Or 5 times Jake and Bradley's teaching forces them together, and 1 time there's no force at all

you were nothing but trouble, baby and I've been sifting through the rubble lately by hangmanbradshaw {M}

/Professor of Meteorology!Seresin & Storm Chaser!Bradshaw/

Rooster rolled his eyes, but didn’t go any faster. He was in his head, which Jake knew how to handle. He pulled out his phone and tapped on the music library, swiping until he found what he was looking for. The beginning strums of Slow Ride filtered through the car bluetooth. He lulled his head over, smirked widely, and said, “I love this song.” Rooster shook his head, but Jake could tell a small smile was threatening to blossom. It felt like a small victory. “You haven’t changed.”

Suitable Replacement by ReformedTsundere {E}

/Professor!Seresin/

It's the middle of mid-term hell week, Jake's vibrator is broken, and the fastest Amazon can get him a new one is after the weekend. His only salvation seems to be the newest sex shop in town and the weirdest, hottest clerk Jake's ever seen.

A thief to catch a heart by LulaluzHazel {E}

/Art Professor!Seresin/

Using as an excuse that the Head of the Department, Professor Mike Metcalf, a goofy but authoritarian guy, was away one week before the Spring Break, Jake ditched Javy and Reubens, telling them that he was going to have some sort of crazy party. (Even if he would probably stay home browsing dating apps where people would promise crazy plans that would entitle them to pretend to go hiking and end up getting drunk at brunch. In the best case scenario.) What he didn’t expect, is to have to receive on Friday morning to the FBI in his boss’s office. “Sorry, Special Agent Mitchell,” Jake sat behind his boss's desk. He felt it was too big and out of place. “Let me get this clear, you need my help to certify if two paintings that were stolen from a museum in Spain are authentic.”

Most Arduously by MadeItUp {M}

/Film & Media Associate Professor!Seresin & English Literature Associate Professor!Bradshaw/

When the Dean of Hale South Western College announces a prestigious new writing course, rival Associate Professors Dr Jake Seresin and Dr Bradley Bradshaw find they've got to co-operate. But as the two of them pit their disciplines against one another, each set on proving the other wrong, they're grudgingly forced to admit that in order to teach, they've got to learn... Jake stares forlornly at his laptop as he contemplates withdrawing his acceptance. But damn if that wouldn’t make Bradley fucking Bradshaw happy. And Jake would rather drive himself to the depths of misery than give that dickhead one single second of satisfaction.

my love life waits for me by davidbyrne {T}

/Chemistry Teacher!Seresin & English Teacher!Bradshaw/

Jake’s been a Chemistry teacher at Winthrop Preparatory Academy for more than three years and has, so far, avoided holding over, the dreaded duty of having to stay over the holiday break to watch the kids who aren’t going home. It’s a two-teacher job, and in Jake’s experience, it’s always been Bradshaw and some other poor sap. Jake had been promised it wouldn’t be his year. He has plane tickets, family plans, and his mother’s pecan pie sitting on a kitchen counter in wonderful, warm Houston. And now he’s gonna have to stay trapped in this snowy hellscape with a bunch of obnoxious kids and Bradley fucking Bradshaw. or jake and bradley are two teachers at a boarding school, forced to spend the holiday season together

Experts In A Dying Field (the math prof au) by nimuetheseawitch

/Math Professor!Seresin & Poli Sci Professor!Bradshaw/

Experts In A Dying Field {T}

He gave in to the inevitability of gravity and slid to the floor, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. Taking a deep breath, he looked around his office and saw his early career researcher award and the excellence in teaching award he’d earned last year, and he reminded himself that he loved math, he loved teaching, he was good at both, and that the beginning of his fourth semester here was too early to lose his shit just because a student had asked him for the 27th time today what was going on with him and their favorite Poli Sci professor, Bradley fucking Bradshaw. It was the end of January, he hadn’t even seen his ex-husband this calendar year, and yet, their supposed rivalry and mysterious bad blood were the talk of the campus yet again. Jake had hoped that the incident in December would’ve been forgotten by now, but apparently not. OR Jake and Bradley used to love each other, and now they're working at the same small, Midwestern college.

I just want back in your head {E}

It's the faculty holiday party, and all Bradley wants is for his ex-husband to notice him. Once Jake does, the rest is history.

It's all academic darlin' by SunMonTue {E}

/Engineering Professor!Bradshaw/

Bradley is a professor but living his best life with IceMav parents. Jake is a pilot. Maverick sort-of tries (and fails) to play matchmaker, so he tries again. Touch of epistolary and sprinkling of one-sided unknown/mistaken-identity.

vesuvius by teacupivy {M}

/Chemistry lab/

It’s too much, and it’s infuriating, and Bradley has a lot of shit he should be doing, but instead he’s making goo-goo eyes at the asshole in the corner.

#Educational Occupations Recs List #hangster #sereshaw #hangaroo #bradley rooster bradshaw x jake hangman seresin #bradley rooster bradshaw #jake hangman seresin #🐈red🐈furry🐈cat🐈tag🐈

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