#hope i managed to get the most popular spoiler tags

[klngfili]

me after watching episode 17 of the gay pirate show

#mr david jenkins sir i see you #its like poetry it rhymes #no to yell about black sails again bUT-!!!! #anywho hows everyone diddly doing after that ep? #our flag means death #ofmd spoilers #ofmd season2 spoilers #smaugs ramblings #hope i managed to get the most popular spoiler tags

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

tags: f!reader (afab), spoilers for anime onlys

a/n: after some very popular demand, here is another makima piece (more specifically a sequel to my last fic). this is not one of those standalone sequels however, it would be best to read the prequel to best understand this one.

man is the breast, heaven is the playground (prequel)

AO3

i. ハッピーエンド

“So, how’s the married life treating you?” Himeno deviated completely from what you were initially discussing.

Perhaps ‘marriage’ wasn’t too far off from what your relationship actually was. A life-binding contract was marriage in its own right. Despite your musings, however, the truth of Makima’s identity as the Control Devil was a secret. Even if it was Himeno, you wouldn’t let that fact slip. “It’s not the married life,” you replied instead. “But yes, things are going great. Does everyone still hate me for taking away their queen?” It was quite the uproar when you both announced your departure from the Devil Hunters. Makima received more flowers than you could carry on your last day. It had been several years since then and now you were nestled in Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture.

You managed to find work in translation, much to the joy of your family back home. “We have to meet this girl who got you to quit,” your mother insisted, she’d hear no objections. She might have wanted you to come home to your country in general, but she was happy nonetheless you were no longer hunting devils for a living.

Himeno’s snort told you as much. “I don’t think Nanaka will ever be over it.” Himeno snickered.

“I’m glad to hear she’s still alive and kicking regardless,” you replied honestly with a chuckle of your own. Even if you had never seen eye to eye, you wished the brunette the best as Himeno mentioned setting Nanaka up on a blind date. “How’s your new partner?”

Himeno’s voice was a mixture of satisfaction and melancholy. “Aki’s great, he’s still alive after all this time. I wish he’d just settle down now. I’m hoping this new division helps with that.”

Right, Himeno mentioned something about it before. A Division composed of tamed devils and fiends, though it would be terminated should there not be any good results. “Any new additions?”

“Since last time, the Blood Fiend actually. Other than that, there’s still just the Spider Devil with the Violence and Shark Fiends.”

“Any other blessings I should know about?” What about that Angel Devil you talked about? You still keeping his discovery secret?

“None for now.” Still my best kept secret in the village I found him in.

“I see.” Good for him.

It wasn’t too long ago Himeno had sent you a coded message detailing her orders. She requested that if things about him ever came to light, you and Makima would help somehow. The redhead didn’t seem too interested in this request, but she agreed when you asked. The Angel Devil is a peaceful one, Himeno detailed in her script. He doesn’t have what it takes to kill, so I just want him to stay with the humans that brought him up. The little guy even has a girlfriend. Humans and devils living in peace might be a reality one day, I’m just not naive enough to think that’ll happen overnight. Maybe that’s what won you over now that you thought about it.

“Well,” Himeno pulled you away from your thoughts and back into your conversation. “There is a Zombie Devil I’ll be snuffing out tomorrow morning, maybe that’ll be our new member.”

You grimaced at the thought of a zombifying-devil. “Even I think that’s a terrible idea and I’m the one who decided to become a devil hunter just so I could travel.”

“You think every idea I have is terrible.” Himeno whined.

“Not every idea,” you corrected with a teasing tone. “Only most of them.” Upon turning a corner, you viewed the welcoming sight of your apartment door. “But look, I’m just getting home so I’ll talk to you later. Try not to get yourself killed tomorrow.” 

“Say ‘hi’ to the missus for me.” Himeno drawled before hanging up.

Still a maelstrom. It would always be a relief to hear from the playful devil hunter in spite of that maelstrom though. You sighed in satisfaction, reaching for your keys when the door opened on its own. 

The breeze must have drifted your scent under the door, you figured, as you welcomed the comforting sight of your girlfriend. “Welcome home, [First].” Makima greeted you warmly as you walked into her embrace. “How was your day at work?”

“Peaceful,” you pecked her cheek before kissing her lips. “How about you? Busy day again?” You weren’t the only one to find new work after your resignation from the Devil Hunters. Makima took to working at a small but popular café in the neighborhood, preparing tea and crafting baked goods. She told you before baking was merely an activity she took up to alleviate her boredom, but it had since become something she enjoyed. It was beneficial to your being as well as you happily indulged in testing prospective new items on the menu for her.

“The choux crème has been a really popular item, more people are coming in for it.” Makima replied, satisfied. You blanched at the emphasis of the dessert name and the hounding sound of heavy paws heading your way. Your reaction, sadly, was too slow as Makima’s many dogs came to greet you like clockwork.

“Maki- nooo!” You sputtered as Makima laughed gleefully at the onslaught of wet tongues and wagging tails. “Tell them to get down!”

Makima’s expression was teasing, “but they’re so happy to see you come home, see?”

You dodged another lick from Macaron with expertise. “You’re not funny, I hope you know this,” yet the grin on your face said otherwise as Makima finally got her pups to relax. I guess I’ll be washing up sooner than expected.

“Someone looks like she’s in a good mood today,” you noted as you massaged lotion onto your freshly washed face. Bagheera and Tora welcomed you home, brushing against your legs now that their larger canid roommates finished their turn. Makima moved about the kitchen, making tea. “Did something good happen while you were out?”

“Your mother called today,” Makima answered with a small but satisfied smile. You couldn’t hold back a small grin of your own at those words. That action alone would probably give your girlfriend enough happiness to last several days. To earnestly earn the love of your family and feel as if she were part of it herself, it meant more to Makima than she could ever express. “She wanted to practice her Japanese before she came here.”

“My mom called and she just wanted to practice her Japanese with you?” You implored in disbelief once you settled on the couch, Makima sitting between your legs as she drank a hot cup of chai.

Your girlfriend’s smile was an uncanny replica of the Mona Lisa. “She asked why you haven’t proposed yet.”

“Now that sounds like my mother.”

Makima took a long sip of her tea before saying anything else.  “Maybe we should be married in the human sense as well.” She set her cup down on the coffee table. “It’s the ultimate contract for humans.”

Your expression was curious. “You like the idea of marriage?”

“The idea of weddings was something I was always drawn to.” Her golden eyes had a distant look in them, her mind far beyond your comfortable living room with your many pets. Makima never went into the specifics of her childhood, but she told you enough to get the picture. She was simply one of the best kept secrets of the government; a young devil whisked off the streets of Tokyo to become a necessary evil. Concepts such as love, family and friendship were ones she learned from film and books. “The idea of binding yourself to another person for an eternity, it’s a concept I’m fond of. I wanted a big wedding.”

“I’m not opposed to a wedding,” you smiled. Marriage hadn’t been something you thought about prior to Makima. Your contract with her practically was one, all a wedding would make Makima’s integration into your family official. “I’m not sure if we have enough people in our lives to have the wedding size you’re thinking of, though.”

“I have plenty of people at the headquarters in Tokyo that would come if I asked.” Makima’s lips curved into a smile primal in nature while amusement danced in the rings of her irises. “Nanaka would for certain, she wouldn’t want to do anything to make me sad. If she’s still alive, we could extend her a personal invitation. What do you think?” At your dry look in response, your girlfriend chuckled lightly before pressing herself against your chest. “It’s a joke, I’m joking.” You decided to take her word for it. You always wondered to what extent it would be possible for Makima’s view of those who had fallen victim to her abilities as her equal. Perhaps it was one of those questions best left unanswered. “Weddings are one of those things that feel best when those in attendance truly care about the couple. I only want those people to come to our wedding.”

There was a lot of moral ambiguity that came with dating the Control Devil. Any devil really. You wondered if you were the only person in the world to do so, but you wanted to believe in the one you fell in love with.

Makima no longer relied on the fake relationships she manufactured with her abilities since your move to Takamatsu. Not for the interpersonal parodies she made to fill the loneliness inside her. She wasn’t perfect. Her first few weeks of generating business at her café were completely reliant on absolute control’s influence to bring customers in directly and through word of mouth. You were quite sure that power was how she obtained her job in the first place. 

But you’re still trying your best. “There’ll be people like that,” you cradled Makima gently as you kissed her forehead. “My family loved you before even coming over to meet you properly. More of your regulars are just normal people you just happen to talk to daily. When the time comes, lots of people will be there just because they’re your friend.”

ii. 「純愛だよ」

There would be many people that would come to the wedding for Makima’s sake, that you were sure of. Kishibe of the Devil Hunters, however, would not be one of them. This you were certain of as you recalled the day you encountered him only a month after your resignation. If not for the way he intercepted you outside of your apartment building on your way home, definitely because of his cold but calculating stare.

When the man made no move to explain what he wanted, you decided to move your piece first. Nothing about the encounter felt coincidental as you were led to a place with as few people as possible. “So what do you want?” You had seen from the ground level that Makima had opened the window and you wondered if she knew of this sudden arrival. “I’ve been busy planning a move and I want to go home, it’s my turn to cook dinner tonight.” You dangled your small bag of groceries, a few ingredients required for the dish you planned to cook.

“You can’t spare a moment to talk to an old work buddy?” In spite of his words, there was no nostalgia or yearning in his tone. Kishibe held out his box of cigarettes to which you declined before he lit a cigarette of his own. “It’s been a while after all, we haven’t talked in so long.”

“We barely talked in the first place,” you replied tersely. Besides introducing you and Makima to one another, you seldom saw the man held as one of the strongest in the Bureau. He was an enigma, a drunk enigma who still managed to do his job well. You were doubtful you’d be able to hold your own against him for long. “Hit me with that line after it’s been a few years.”

“How is Makima?” Your eyes narrowed at the sudden question. “It was quite the surprise to everyone that she resigned. I’m surprised the higher ups weren’t more insistent that she stay.”

“Cut the crap and tell me why you’re here,” you crossed your arms and you shared a knowing look. Whatever it was, you were on the same pageー both of you knew more than what you initially assumed. “What is it that you need to know so you can get out of our hair?”

“I suppose we can drop the pleasantries then,” Kishibe put out his cigarette as quickly as he lit it. “I’ve never been fond of Makima, but I could always tolerate her. Whatever inhumane deeds she committed, as long as I knew she was on humanity’s side, I could always turn the other cheek.” Tired black eyes that knew too much glanced at you piercingly. “I just find it strange that she decided to leave the Bureau to play house with a new toy.”

Your eyebrow twitched, but you held back your anger. “Because she’s the Control Devil, you mean,” you chuckled humorlessly. “Were you the one that brought her to officials? You worried that your dog got off its leash? Or is it because that dog turned on its masters?”

Infuriatingly but unsurprisingly, the man didn’t answer any of your questions. “I was worried that the Control Devil forced you into making a contract with her.”

“Makima can’t force me to do anything,” you scowled.

“Did she make you make a contract with her?” Kishibe queried. 

“That’s none of your business.” After a strong silence between you both, sighed. “It’s part of our contract,” you answered begrudgingly. It would be better to cooperate lest he decide to take action due to your insubordination. “Makima can’t use her powers on me. She couldn’t force me to do anything before anyway. I’m not sure about the specifics, neither is she. We just know she hasn’t been able to order me successfully.”

“And what does she gain from a contract like that?”

“We stay together forever,” a soft voice cut through the conversation before you could answer. Makima stood behind you in an accompaniment of caws and frantic wingbeats as crows dispersed from where she stood. You sighed in relief at her appearance, at the very least Kishibe was the only devil hunter that had come to inspect the motivations of the Control Devil. “Hello, Kishibe,” a cold smile spread across her lips as she softly nuzzled the crow perched on her forearm. “had I known you were coming, I would have made tea.”

“You don’t need to keep up appearances on my account,” the older man insisted gruffly as Makima sent her corvid on its way. “You’ve been listening since we left the apartment. You left the window open.”

The redhead seemed to take a dark thrill in this moment, “yes I suppose we don’t have to keep up those things,” she agreed fluidly. “I wanted to keep a listen out for [First] so I could greet her at the door when she came home. Anyone would worry about their beloved when a strange man intercepts them.”

I do not need a fight breaking out. Makima versus Kishibe, you worried less about the physical outcome. No, you were fearful of what the long-term consequences of this fight would be. “Makima,” you stepped between the devil and the hunter. “we finished talking, let’s go home. He got the answers he was looking for.”

Makima’s smile shifted into one warmer for you, “yes, let’s go home.” You held her hand with the one not holding groceries and gave it a squeeze, Makima squeezed back.

You glanced at Kishibe over your shoulder, “you have the answers you’re looking for,” you repeated.

It’s-

iii. ごめんな

Your wet cough tore you away from your memories. It hurt, it hurt, everything hurt. It all hurt, yet you couldn’t react beyond a weak gasp as you laid on the ground, crushed under debris. Ah, this sucks.

You get off hours early from work, and a devil decides to attack. Perhaps it was muscle memory from your devil hunting days as you absently reached for a weapon that was no longer there. It had long since been confiscated after you resigned, civilians had no need for such weapons. Yet the horrifying realization that your sword was gone, was all the devil needed before gleefully thrusting its hand through your stomach. This all sucking was truly the understatement. Where were the devil hunters patrolling the area supposed to be, stopping to get lunch?

Today was supposed to be a good day, you lamented.

Your half-day at work aligned perfectly with Makima’s off-day. You were supposed to swing by and change into something comfortable, then you’d hit the town. You recalled the dress she said she would wear. It was gonna be that white sundress she got last year, she looks so good in that. 

She was waiting for you.

That was what hurt you the most. Makima and the makeshift home you made for yourself. The two cats that slept anywhere that inconvenienced you and the seven dogs that welcomed you home rambunctiously everyday yet you were somehow still surprised when it happened. Makimaー

Your phone rang in the distance for the fifth time in the past six minutes.

I’m a terrible girlfriend, you berated yourself. You couldn’t crawl to it and your arms refused to move no matter how much you willed for your adrenaline to make a miracle happen. I’m sorry, you weeped quietly as your phone fell silent before the sharp trill of your ringtone started all over again. I’m so sorry.

You weren’t particularly religious, nor were you sure if there was a god that they would stop to listen to hear prayers for the sake of a devil. Still, you prayed. please let her be okay. I’m okay with dying as long as she’ll be okay. Don’t let this be what makes her lose hope in everything. I want her to be loved for the rest of her life.

Whether it was by your family that survived you, whether it was by the friends, whether it was by someone else who loved her beyond the controls of her abilities. Anything would be better than her being alone again.

Please.

Please.

The continuous trill of your cell phone accompanied you until your eyes closed, and your chest stopped heaving.

iv. 彦星と織姫の物語

At five years of age, you dreamed of a prince on a magnificent horse saving you from a life of despair. 

The world was unimaginable without your parents.

And you were sure you were born for a special purpose, a belief amplified by the strong feeling something was missing in your life and you needed to find it.

At thirteen years of age, you understood how the world truly  worked.

The world continued despite the loss of your parents.

There were no princes riding on magnificent horses and there wasn’t anybody who would save you from the despair-filled life you were living. 

And no one was born with a special purpose in life, not even you.

One… two… three… four… You held yourself tightly, forehead pressed against your knees as you waited for the sound of rushing footsteps to fade. It was just your luck that you ran into cops that found it more than a little suspicious that a preteen was wandering around instead of at school. They were unconvinced when you told them you were homeschooled and a kick to the shin later, you were hiding in an alley. Just a little while longer, you whispered, hugging yourself tighter. There was no prince that was going to come and save you, you realized this the moment your parents died and you were left alone in the streets of Beijing to fend for yourself. You became your own prince.

That was why you stole from merchants, that was why you picked pockets of anyone gullible enough to let their guard down.

You stood up from your crouch when you were sure the police officers were gone. You’d earned enough cash that day and something for dinner to boot. It was time to go home before you got too cocky and landed yourself in trouble. You patted your pocket with the squished meat buns in them. That would be enough to get through today.

You just needed to save. You were unsure of the amount you needed to save, but once you had enough, you would be able to get out of this place. That belief reassured you more than anything, it certainly reassured you more than the dead magpie your right foot nearly touched. Ew gross! You nearly touched another in your attempt to avoid the first. The cats would be in heaven later when they found this spot you grimly thought.

You glanced to your right, wondering if this would be a decent alley to leave into the main street when you saw a girl your age sitting with her knees bunched to her chest. You couldn’t see her face from how she was hunched over, nor did you trust her. It didn’t look like she was with anyone else, though it crossed your mind that maybe she was a decoy so you could get jumped.

You glanced over your shoulder without turning, relieved no one was standing behind you. You’d seen it happen more than once, you weren’t going to be another victim. Promptly, you turned around, more than willing to pretend you never saw the girl in the first place and exit in the opposite direction when-

Growl.

No, you told yourself sharply as you paused midstep. Giving someone else your food would be a terrible idea. She can find something for herself.

That was what you told yourself; it was what you told yourself and you still begrudgingly turned around, stomping your feet all the while when there was no one to be mad at but yourself.

“Here,” you grumbled without looking at the girl, holding your misshapen haul over her. “take it before I change my mind.” When she made no move to take the buns from your hand, you dropped them in front of her. The wrapping would keep the dirt off of them. “You’re welcome,” you sighed as you finally took your leave. Your only consolation was that she wasn’t a decoy that would lead to your ass getting kicked. There goes dinner.

When you felt a gentle tug on your sleeve, instinctively you jerked away.

You glared at the girl, ready for a fight. “Hey get off of m-,” You. Your words halted as soon as you saw her wide-eyed stare and tears. There was nothing familiar about this girl, you had never seen her before in your life. There was nothing familiar about her black hair, nor the mole under her left eye. You were sure you couldn’t say you’d ever met anyone with golden eyes with red rings in them either. There was no reason to feel like your senses had been set ablaze and the universe shifted.

You didn’t know this girl.

This girl was a stranger.

You knew this and yet you still fell to your knees as warm tears flooded your eyes without your permission. Your mind had gone blank, unable to conjure a single thought and even if you could, you doubted you would be able to voice them. So you followed instinct as it screamed at you to hold this stranger in your arms, welcomed the way she threw her arms over your shoulders in return.

An indeterminable amount of time passed while you cried in the arms of a stranger before you stood up again. 

As you wordlessly led her to your home, it vaguely crossed your mind how strange this was. It was strange that you held this girl’s hand while you crossed the street. It was strange that you led her into the abandoned apartment building you called home. It was even stranger that despite only meeting a few hours prior, you were laying with this girl on your tattered bed, holding each other like you were scared you’d disappear if you let go.

It was all strange, but something told you it would be even stranger had you ignored her in that alleyway. “By the way,” you yawned, as it dawned on you that you never once asked for your new companion’s name. “what’s your name?” 

When there was no immediate response, you thought the girl fell asleep. “Nayuta,” you finally heard the feathery light reply. Nayuta pressed herself closely to your chest, listening to your heartbeat.

“I’m [First],” you squeezed.

Nayuta squeezed back.

v.「行かないで！行かないで！行かないで！どこにもいけないで！離れないで！あたしのそばにずっといて！」支配の悪魔が叫んだ。魂が叫んだ。

You discovered Nayuta was a devil less than a month after you started living together. She did a terrible job hiding it. Considering how airheaded she could be, though, you doubted Nayuta was truly trying to keep it a secret. Still, the truth of her nature eluded you for a few weeks as you initially accepted that perhaps these things were simple coincidences.

Her eyes were unlike anyone else’s eyes you’d ever seen. (You wondered for a while if they were special contacts, but if they were, they were beyond dried and damaged considering she never took them out.)

Animals listened to her way too easily. (There was no longer any need to fight off the crows when they got too close to your meal. A simple “go away” from your companion, and they would fly off just as she commanded.)

There was the time you bore witness to something you wouldn’t have believed had you not seen it yourself. Nayuta walked up to an older woman, held out her hand and plainly demanded, “give me all your money.” Promptly, all the yuan in the woman’s wallet was placed in Nayuta’s hand.

(“That old lady just gave you all her money?” You gawked in disbelief, eyes bulging out of their sockets. “How?!”

“I told her to give it to me,” Nayuta told you plainly, like she was telling you the sky was blue. Then she told you she wanted soup dumplings and jianbing for lunch.)

As such, it was no wonder why you found yourself thinking that she was a devil. It never crossed your mind that perhaps she had another sort of trick up her sleeve. Devil was the first thing that came to your mind and the only answer you felt was right.

“Hey, Nayuta,” you asked after much contemplation, watching as she drew a dog on the dirty hardwood floor of your home. Your belly was full from eating roujiamo and candied hawthorns, purchased with money Nayuta got from a mean teenager. “are you a devil?”

Nayuta paused her ministrations, staring at her rough sketch before she nodded, “yeah.” Her revelation wasn’t a surprise in the slightest. Gold eyes stared into yours as you thought over your next question. Were you scared of her now? No, you answered your internal pondering quickly. Being scared of Nayuta felt like an inherent rejection of what made you ‘you’. You’d never be scared of her, there was nothing intimidating about a devil who wanted a large dog so she could ride atop it like it was a horse. Instead you asked, “what kind of devil are you?”

“The Control Devil,” she answered truthfully.

“Have you ever used your powers on me?”

It was like a dam suddenly broke as Nayuta’s expression suddenly changed from blasé to fearful. “I haven’t!” When did she even get in front of you? It felt like you had only blinked once before she was standing right in front of you, grabbing your hands tightly as she shook her head frantically. “I haven’t!” She repeated desperately and you almost took a step back in bewilderment. You hadn’t seen Nayuta cry since the day you first met but you could tell these tears were different.

Her tears from your first meeting were inexplicable. A visceral reaction to whatever emotion took over the both of you that day. These tears were based on fright and distress.

“Na-,” you tried consoling the girl, but panic had overtaken her completely.

“I didn’t, [First], please believe me!” Nayuta begged hysterically, her grip on your hands somehow tighter. “Don’t leave me!”

“I believe you!” Your heart felt like it was beating a million kilometers a second, but you had to convey how you felt. Nayuta looked as if she was going to cry once more, scared but hopeful.“I believe you,” you repeated softly. “I’m not gonna leave you.”

vi. 誓いの言葉

Nayuta wasn’t much of a talker.

That wasn’t to say she was timid, nor was she diffident. It was more like she was an airhead who skipped to the beat of her own drum. She did as she pleased and she said what was on her mind as it came to her mind. That was how you often ended up spending hours of your day looking for her if she suddenly ran off to find something that piqued her interest or keen sense of smell.

This time thankfully, she’d only been drawn to the display TV in front of a store. That was leagues better than the time she’d wanted to see why two cats were fighting in an alley.

You shot the girl an incredulous look, hands on your hips. “I keep telling you not to let go of my hand when we walk, you always get lost,” you scolded, more concerned than annoyed. The last thing you wanted was for Nayuta to run into devil hunters while you were separated. It was your worst fear that she would be taken from you and killed. Despite your worries, however, it didn’t always prevent instances when something would catch Nayuta’s eye and she’d let go of your hand in favor of checking out.

“[First],” Nayuta pointed at the television, completely ignoring your worry. “[First], I want one of these.”

You pursed your lips in annoyance knowing Nayuta had moved well beyond the matter at hand. At the excited look in her ringed eyes, however, you felt your annoyance fading faster than you’d like. “You want what?” You looked at the TV, wondering what grabbed her attention so much. It was a wedding, you realized after a few seconds. The wedding was western style, the bride donning a beautiful white dress. “Do you want the dress?” There was absolutely no way you’d be able to finesse a wedding dress no matter how hard you tried.

“I want the wedding.” That made you look at her even more wide-eyed than before.

“We can’t afford something like that!” You held up your hand before she could make her ridiculous suggestion. “And they won’t let two kids get married anyway, we’d have to wait until…” you honestly weren’t sure, now that you thought about it. You shook your head and Nayuta’s brow furrowed with a disgruntled pout, “anyways, we can’t have a wedding like that, it costs too much money.” When Nayuta didn’t reply, you poked her cheek. “You okay?”

Nayuta’s following grunt was neither in agreement or disagreement. When she didn’t object to you holding her hand, you held back a snort of amusement as you led the way home. It became apparent later on, when Nayuta approached you with your off-white bed sheet, however, that she had not gotten over the topic of weddings.

“It’s my veil,” Nayuta said as much when you asked why she was wearing your sheet. “I want the wedding now.”

“If you don’t put the sheet back on the bed, it’s the only one we have!” Laughter slipped through your words at the ridiculous display. But she’s still really cute. A total dork, but cute. Your hands moved to adjust her ‘veil’ more evenly on her head. You wanted to marry Nayuta when you grew up; when you had your house and weren’t living off scraps. Then her veil wouldn’t be the dirty sheet you laid on and she could wear the princess-style gown that you saw in the movie, not the dirty clothes you wore everyday. That was a long day away, you knew. It was hard enough imagining that you’d ever be somewhere better than this. “Okay,” you said warmly. “let’s have a wedding.”

Nayuta beamed, holding her head high, before she noticed the sheet slipping. You couldn’t hold back another snicker at that, “we have to say the vows first,” you instructed. “It’s where we promise each other the things we’ll do for each other once we’re married.” Your mother was fond of movies where weddings were the center of the plot, but you couldn’t recall any of the vows expressed in them. “I promise…” you began, pondering what you would say. I promise that first, I’ll get you a big house. One that has lots of dogs, well, as long as they’re cats too. We’ll have food from all over the world because we’ll have some fancy butler make it for us, and when we feel like it, we’ll go to any amusement park we want. And I’ll protect you from any devil hunter we come across.”

“I promise that I’ll be with you forever,” Nayuta followed seamlessly in your exchanging of vows. “I won’t use my powers on you. I won’t let go of your hand when we go out, because you get upset when I get lost. And I promise I’ll protect you too.”

You grinned, content. “Now we have to kiss too.” It was a quick kiss, a simple peck on the lips before you rested your forehead on hers. “And I now pronounce us wife and wife.” The imaginary audience applauded, welcoming your union in open arms.

“The people in the movie were dancing too afterwards,” Nayuta chirped after a moment.

“That’s because we’re supposed to have our first dance as a married couple afterwards,” you replied. The sheet, unfortunately, could not keep up with your dancing even if it was a slow waltz to an unknown melody you made on the spot.

“I want a real wedding this time.”

I do too. “We can get married for real when we grow up,” you vowed once more as you clumsily led each other in your dance.

Nayuta’s smile was saccharin, “promise?”

“Promise,” you repeated joyously. “it’ll be in a fancy hall with lots of people.” Not that either of you knew enough people to have even a small number of guests at your wedding. But that could change by the time you are grownups. 

vii. 旧友

The day the devil hunters came was a blur.

You weren’t sure what it was that led to their discovery of Nayuta. You could only guess in the future that it was because of the trail of people who complained that their money had been stolen and they couldn’t remember how. At the time, guessing wasn’t going to get you out of the situation you landed yourselves in.

They didn’t buy your usual excuses.

There wasn’t anywhere to run in the corner they expertly trapped you in as you ran away, believing you had been making progress in losing the one following you.

You held your arms out between, knowing full well you were a flimsy shield to someone trained to kill devils.

Nayuta fingers dug into the back of your shirt, body tense. Her abilities required she believe one was lesser than her for her to order them, that was impossible when you were both scared out of your wits cornered with nowhere to go.

The woman kept an eye on you both, weapon drawn in one hand, phone in the other. “I found the C-” were the only words she managed to get out when she suddenly collapsed, revealing the scarred old man behind her. You learned later he called himself Kishibe.

You weren’t sure if you should have felt relieved when you saw the old man, suited up as any other devil hunter would be. You didn’t like him, that much you had decided in your silent stare down. 

He released a raspy sigh, humming thoughtfully as he crushed the unconscious woman’s phone. “I came here expecting to only find one of you,” the man scratched the side of his head sluggishly. He eyed you carefully with a sense of recognition you couldn’t quite place before his eyes drifted to Nayuta beside you. “The Control Devil really is a selfish one.”

viii. マキマとナユタ

“You’re starting to look like me, Himeno.” It had been years since he’d last seen the woman and she seemed tired beyond her years. If Life played favorites, it was more than apparent Himeno was not one of that group. Aki died, succumbing to his final two years to live. The Chainsaw kid took off before then in the aftermath of the brief but chaotic attack of the Bomb Devil. Perhaps she’d been driven mad, perhaps she craved being the country mouse of Aesop’s fable. It was all the woman could do to run off with sister and the Blood Fiend, nestled in the quiet coastal town of Shonai in Yamagata Prefecture.

“It’s rude to point out a lady’s age, sir.” Himeno accepted the cigarette regardless. A large portion of her bangs were white and gray, her eye showing signs of crow’s feet. “What are you doing in little ole Shonai?” Smoke wafted from her mouth with a soft exhale.

“I started my own delivery service,” Kishibe gestured his cigarette to his car. “and you’re my first and only customer.”

Himeno’s smile was amused, but her one visible eye was anything but. “Funny, I don’t recall me or my sister ordering anything.”

“Consider this your lucky day then, it’s the delivery of a lifetime.” Kishibe didn’t miss a beat. “It’s a two-for-one deal.”

“I’ve had enough once-in-a-lifetime deals.” Himeno crushed her cigarette on the bottom of her foot before flicking it to the wayside. With more than a hint of finality, she waved and walked in the opposite direction of his vehicle.  “Whatever it is, you should keep it to-”

“It’s the new Control Devil.” Those words made Himeno stop in her tracks. “They discovered her in China, but I managed to nick her.” Just in time to thwart disaster. Makima had been a ticking time bomb that had been staved off successfully when ー appeared in her life. That timer began once again when ー was killed in an attack by the Rat Devil. If the Chinese government had disposed of your current incarnation in front of the new Control Devil, Kishibe knew that there would have been no preventing the hell that would be unleashed upon the world.

Still, it would be best for the two of you to be protected til you could properly fend for yourselves.

Himeno’s shoulder shook for a few moments, it wasn’t hard to imagine the thoughts going through her head. I can keep on walking, she possibly thought. I can pretend I didn’t hear anything. Yet human nature got the better of her, Himeno sighing shakily, “why’d you bring her to me?”

“I’m not fit to raise children and out of all my old contacts, you’re the one I trust the most to do a good job handling her.” Kishibe answered truthfully. Not even Quanxi could be relied on for such a task. As much as he trusted his unrequited love, he knew the woman would have less of an interest in raising children than she did his old advances. 

“What’s the second part of the deal?”

“Take a look in the car.”

Warily, the former devil hunter turned around, taking slow steps towards the car and leaned close to the window.

Himeno said nothing for a while as Kishibe watched her back, knowing that she was likely experiencing a strong wave of emotion. Everything likely clicked the moment she saw you. The same skin tone, the same hair texture, everything exactly the same as she remembered. “ー always knew about Makima, didn’t she.” Despite her phrasing, it was not a question. It was a soft, emotional observation. 

“This new one shouldn’t have any of Makima’s old memories, but it seems this is one attachment she can’t shake.” Perhaps this was part of their contract. Leave it to Makima to make the implausible possible. The life of a devil may have been cyclical in nature, but reincarnation among humans was unproven. Yet here you were in all your similarities to ー. Kishibe didn’t ponder what this meant for humanity. If this meant his old buddies were somewhere walking around earth as new beings.  Perhaps you were simply an exception, a product of the contract ー made with Makima. Makima did say you’d stay together forever. 

Kishibe doubted he would ever receive an answer. All he was certain was that if you were the one thing keeping the Control Devil from wreaking havoc on the world, you were a necessary piece of the puzzle.

“This one isn’t ー either, she’s [First]. She doesn’t have any memories from before.” Kishibe warned, lightly tapping Himeno’s shoulder. He didn’t need the woman to get any false hopes. ー was dead, there was no doubt about it. The age separating Himeno and yourself was succinct proof. You weren’t the friend she lost more than a decade prior. “If you really can’t handle it, I’ll figure things out.” 

Himeno’s one blue eye shone with more fire he’d seen since the last time he’d seen her. “I’m glad you feel that way,” the man tipped his proverbial hat to her. “I’ll be back when they’re old enough for defense training.”

“Hey, Gramps, where are we?” You demanded once you had woken up, rubbing your eyes tiredly. He might have saved your life, but he had kept you in the dark long enough. 

Nayuta ungraciously yawned,“I have to pee.”

The wizened man took a hard look at the pack of cigarettes in his hand before shoving it in his pocket, sighing heavily. “We’re in Shonai over in Japan.” At last, he introduced the woman next to him. “This is Himeno, she’ll be taking care of you both from now on.”

You shared a look with Nayuta, wondering if this place would really be the best for you. It beats living where we were though, you were forced to admit. A part of you would miss the room you and Nayuta called home for the longest time, where you had your wedding and where you drew on the floor when you got bored. But you planned to leave that building someday, hoping you’d be leading a better life by then. ‘Someday’ simply came faster than you expected.

Thanks, old man, you doubted you would see much of him again though as you saw his car become smaller and smaller in the distance.

“Do either of you like cartoons?” Himeno asked when it was just the three of you. “What do you like watching?” When neither of you could come up with a response, Himeno cheerily made the decision for you. “We have the complete Ashita no Nadja set at home, we can watch that when we get there. But since we’re celebrating your arrival, you have to pick dinner.”

Nayuta wasted no time in answering that question, “I want pancakes.”

You rolled your eyes, bemused. “What if I want burgers though?”

Nayuta looked at you carefully, as if she hadn’t considered the possibility. “We want burgers and pancakes,” she told Himeno a second later.

“Burgers and pancakes,” Himeno said more to herself than anyone else. “Alright, I can work with that.”

translation notes:

i. happy end ii. it’s pure love iii. sorry iv. the story of hikoboshi and orihime v. “don’t go, don’t go, don’t go! don’t go anywhere! don’t go away! stay with me forever!” the control devil shouted. her soul shouted. vi. word of oath vii. old friend viii. makima and nayuta

#look she's writing #csm x reader #chainsaw man x reader #makima x reader #nayuta

[heytherejulietx]

Could I request something like Steve protecting reader in a fight please (maybe with a monster since he's better in those fights)?

ty for the request my love! this is a different take on that scene in the creel house. i got a little carried away with this one again but i hope you like it!

tw - vol 2 spoilers, thoughts of death, injury, near death

1.2k words

@eddie-darling @amazingphanisnotonfire-imagines @80strashbag @ilikefruitgummies @d22malfoys @ninuffi @eldriidd @icarus-star @demigirl-with-problems @alexxavicry @simplymurdock @sydnee-writes @savagejane1 @vintageobx @katsukis1wife @pastel-abyss-x @levylovegood @mayyvh @mystickenz join my tag list

The air was cold, and she shuddered as she walked through the creepy house, her eyes glued to the floor to make sure that she didn’t step on any of the vines. The old Creel house had made her nervous the first time they visited, but it was a whole different type of terrifying in the Upside-Down. It saddened her to think of Will Byers, and that he had gotten stuck there when he was just so small. That kid was way braver than she ever could be.

“Hey,” she had been squeezing the circulation out of Steve’s hand ever since they entered the house, but he hadn’t seemed to mind. His words were whispered and she glanced up at him for a moment. “Where do you fancy, then – Enzo’s, that pizza place near my house, McDonald’s–”

“You want to take me on a date to McDonald’s?”

Steve was good at reading her; what she needed, how she felt, what she thought. And she supposed it was because he knew that she was scared, or simply because he really did want to, but ever since they had climbed back through the portal in Eddie’s trailer he had been planning to take her on a date when they got home. It was sweet, and whilst the nervousness of what they were doing left her chest tight and uncomfortable, Steve still managed to make her smile.

“Well, it might not be the most romantic place, but it’s still nice. I’ll even buy you a Happy Meal.”

“Wow, Harrington, no wonder you’re so popular with the ladies.” She giggled, and he grinned at her.

“Guys,” Nancy’s voice from in front of them was nervous, and the girl’s frown made her feel nauseous with worry. “You hear that?”

Before Nancy could elaborate, a rumble ran through the house before the entire thing began to shake. It felt like the floor was purposely trying to push them over, like a horse trying to get someone off of its back, and if it wasn’t for Steve’s tight grip on her hand she would have fallen backwards down the staircase that took them too long to climb. He yanked her forwards away from the edge, and in her movement her foot stepped on something squishy, but as she gripped onto Steve’s arm with both hands her one thought was that she couldn’t fall over.

All of them were holding onto each other by the time it had stopped. Both of her hands were a vice on Steve’s arm, he had his free hand on Robin’s shoulder, who had her fingers laced with Nancy’s. It took them all a moment to let go of each other, and even then everyone stayed silent, listening for any other hints at it happening again.

“Alright,” Steve finally spoke up, squeezing Robin’s shoulder since she looked like she was about to throw up. “Onwards and upwards?”

Something cold touched her ankle, and her stomach dropped as something wrapped itself around her ankle. Her eyes were wide as she looked down and watched the vine wrap itself around her leg, and she didn’t move in fear of making it worse.

“Steve?” She whispered his name, and by the time he looked at her the vine had stopped moving.

Her hand slipped from his when she was pulled off of her feet, and all of the breath was knocked out of her when she hit the floor. She barely had time to suck a breath back in when another vine snaked around her chest, and she was lifted back up and slammed against the wall with such force that the air was forced from her lungs once again. They were all over her, slimy ropes that pulled at her limbs, restricting her movement whilst they kept her pinned to the wall. She was going to die, she thought as she struggled to breathe in again, oh god she was going to die.

Everyone else was panicking. Through her tears she made out Nancy’s figure as she slammed the butt of her gun against one of the vines, Robin was trying to pull the vines away from her legs, and Steve had his axe raised before he swung it down on the vine closest to her head.

“Steve-” Her words were rasped out through the conscricting vine around her neck, and as the tightness grew and her breathing began to struggle, she panicked more. “I don’t- I don’t wanna die.”

His eyes were wide, like she had slapped him, and for a moment the most terrified look she had ever seen crossed his features. Steve slammed the axe down again, his eyebrows scrunched, and he shook his head. “You’re not going to die.” His voice was firm, like he would not be letting that happen.

The vines were so tight they hurt. Her wrists were burning at the restricted blood flow, her stomach hurt with the pressure, and her throat was on fire from the lack of air. Her last struggled breaths were wheezed in and the heartbeat in her ears almost drowned out everyone else's panicking.

“Nancy!” She barely made out Steve’s panicked words. “You see that there? On my signal, shoot.”

Steve held the axe above his shoulder, and it was the last thing she saw before her eyes squeezed shut. She was growing lightheaded, and the panic was too much whilst watching them as well.

“Now!”

The gunshot was louder than she had anticipated, and it sent a rumble through the wall against her back whilst the axe cut through something on her other side. And thankfully the vines started loosening their hold on her. The one around her neck recoiled first, and she was left gasping for breath as the rest of the vines followed. The one around her stomach was last, and it dropped her from the wall, only to land on Steve, sending them both to the floor.

“Y/N!” His hands were on her cheeks as she spluttered for breath, leant over her as his knees pressed into her back. “Hey, hey talk to me! Are you okay?”

His face was a little blurry through her tears, and by that point she was half breathing in and half crying, but she took one of his wrists with her trembling hand and nodded.

“I’m okay, I’m okay.” She rushed out, and the latter half of her sentence was muffled by Steve’s jacket when he leaned down to hug her.

His palm worked its way against her upper back between her shoulder blades and anchored her to his chest, cradling her like she was a baby, and in the midst of her tears and aching everything it was exactly what she needed.

“Don’t ever do that again,” he mumbled into her hair, where he left a countless amount of kisses. “Okay? Shit, you scared the life out of me.”

“I’m okay,” she assured again, and sighed into his collar as she shut his eyes. “Promise.”

She knew that they still needed to finish what they came to do, but she allowed herself that one moment in his arms to feel better. She took in another deep breath and sighed, safe all the while she was encased in his arms.

#steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington x reader fanfic #steve harrington x reader blurb #steve harrington fic #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington imagines #steve harrington imagine #stranger things #stranger things imagines #stranger things imagine

[moinsbienquekaworu]

Hi Ram! I hope youre having a good day <3

I'm here for some more fic recs! You have impeccable taste in fic, so what's your top tier recs for obikin and/or vaderwan? Any genre, any length, any rating; if you think it's worth reading it most certainly is something I'm interested in! (And anything with spoilers for Kenobi is cool too! Spoilers don't bother me at all, and I really am trying to finish watching it asap I swear)

All my love to you! I hope your day goes well! <333

(And take your time responding, obv, rec lists take ages to put together but no matter how long goes by before you answer this ask im still v interested! Okay that's it ily)

Tomas when do you want the wedding to be. I don't have a preference personally I'll let you pick the date, I kind of want to wear black though. We do have to come to an arrangement with Pigeon because we're already planning our marriage :'))

Jokes aside, here's my list of 'Obikin fics I really like and if you haven't read them but they sound interesting please go read them', in different categories but no particular order inside of those. This is just a list of fics I liked reading, if you see this and you think I have horrible taste or that those are already popular fics it's fine you're free to think whatever you want but don't tell me lol just ignore this

(I tagged the authors whose tumblrs I knew/could find because I'm a bit shy and tend not to leave comments but I wanted to show my appreciation! If you didn't want to be tagged I am so sorry, I can untag you if you want)

I also threw in other ships with these two I thought you might enjoy and some gen fics with good interactions, I figured you wouldn't mind, this is a rec list specifically for you after all. I know I forgot some good fics and good authors but this was getting really long even like that, so I guess this just means you can come back if you want and I'll have more next time haha

First of all, these are the authors I love so much I couldn’t pick just one fic from them, and even then I omitted some fics I like because the list has to end at some point. I’m not going to say it every time but you can absolutely take a look through all their work, I had to pick favourites here unfortunately

- Intermundia @intermundia

• My Anankē (7/? chapters, 29k)

Professor Obi-Wan Kenobi has a problem. A tall, messy-haired, frustratingly brilliant problem. It's hard to teach Ancient Greek when Anakin Skywalker is making bedroom eyes at you from the back of the room, but somehow he has to manage. Anakin is a student, off limits, and Obi-Wan would never cross that line. Luckily, being a student comes with a countdown to an inevitable graduation.

• Soulbound (12k)

The first place they met was on World of Warcraft, where Anakin is a tank who pulls recklessly and Obi-Wan is his long-suffering healer. The second place they met was at a random bar on a snowy Tuesday night in December.

• Apartment Story (10k)

It's late at night on Coruscant, midway through the Clone Wars. Obi-Wan is not at the Temple, not on his ship, and not answering his coms. Cody is at a loss, and so Anakin is dispatched to find him—despite his resentment at Obi-Wan's deception during the recent Hardeen mission. He finds Obi-Wan in a bar on the lower levels, and he's a little drunk, very depressed, and altogether confused by Anakin's presence. After all, Anakin had just moved out of their shared apartment. Why would he be seeking Obi-Wan out? Or, the boys finally communicate, and realize a few things about how their relationship has changed during the war.

→ Note, Lex Talionis isn’t there because I haven’t been in the right reading mindset to go for it, but I wish I was because it sounds like the coolest thing in the world. I’m also a fan of Temporary like Achilles, Snap, Crackle, Pop, Prompted | Obikin, and I think Symposium altered something in me forever. He also writes excellent metas on tumblr, the ones he wrote for the Kenobi show live rent free in my head!

- RexIsMyCopilot @rexismycopilot

• The Anakin/Obi-Wan series (70/? works, 350k)

Exploring Anakin and Obi-Wan's developing romantic relationship, one sometimes smutty/sometimes angsty/sometimes painful ficlet at a time.

• Fifty Shades of Love and Affection (29/? chapters, 170k)

Anakin interviews the handsome IT director of an insurance company for the news site where he works. He was not ready for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

→ Both are ongoing and absolute pearls, if you’re into domestic discipline (and Anakin getting spanked in general haha) Rex is the author you’re looking for. She also has lots of really interesting posts, mostly in answer to really good asks, up on her tumblr, and they greatly enhance the reading experience of both series in my humble opinion. They’re also just plain fun :’) (also Rex updated as I was polishing off the list like!! what a good timing!!)

- RagnarLothcat @ragnarlothcat

• à la carte (8 chapters, 55k)

Anakin Skywalker is a perfectly normal grad student. He spends his days at the robotics lab, his evenings working at an upscale restaurant and his weekends on inadvisable hookups. That is, until Obi-Wan Kenobi saunters into his workplace and sweeps him off his feet. Despite the misgivings of everyone around them.

• Out of the Bag (8k)

Obi-Wan has made his peace with his inappropriate feelings for his former Padawan. He knows there’s no room in their relationship for romance, and he’s used to denying himself for the greater good. He has everything under control: until Anakin comes back from a mission looking and acting a little different, and suddenly the relationship between Master and Padawan becomes a little fuzzy.

→ Also a big fan of as holy and enchanted, Aggressive Negotiations, Art Imitates Life and Learn Your Place, Young One! Nyanakin has my heart now and forever that's why Out of the Bag is one of the highlighted fics haha

- Tennessoui @tennessoui

• when all we have are shadows (8k)

Anakin’s gone when Obi-Wan wakes up. He’s left a note, a little cutesy message with a smiley face and awful handwriting. He has a class he can’t miss, it says. Obi-Wan’s gone and fucked a college kid. Alright, he knew that from the beginning as soon as he’d seen Anakin’s ID. But now he’s gone and fucked a college kid, and he wants to do it again. This feels like a new, wild level of unacceptable, but he can’t help but remember how Anakin leaned into his touch and his kisses and his words of praise. If anyone is going to coach Anakin through his sexual awakening, why shouldn’t it be Obi-Wan? (This is what Obi-Wan thinks this story is about.) (It's not.)

• like saints, like monsters (8/? chapters, 30k)

Seven years after Obi-Wan Kenobi disappears on a mission, Anakin finally finds him. Or, what's left of him. But before Anakin is a Jedi, an omega, a general, a Chosen One, he's something much more simple. He's a mechanic. He fixes things. And he's going to fix Obi-Wan, heal him, bring him back to himself, even if it takes him seven more years. Even if it takes him fourteen.

→ Also a big fan of you be the tightrope, baby i’ll be the safety net, what tomorrow may bring, what tomorrow may carry away, be careful not to choke on your admirations, lost to a sea of troubles, what’s mine is yours is ours, tongue-tie me so tightly i cannot tell you the truth, almost could have been strangers again, how to say someone’s name like it’s just a string of letters, the Obikin Fairytal Tropes series – okay that's just everything she's written and a long list of other fics without summary but I can't make the post longer and they are GOOD. If the pretty bird & mobi-wan series sounds like it would be your thing, I also heavily encourage you to check it out, it's not my thing but it seems incredible. Kit also has a ton of AUs on her tumblr, which are mostly text posts with a ficlet thrown in if she was inspired, and sometimes sprout their own fic on AO3, toss overboard what is too heavy to carry being the latest (and oh my god I’ve been in love with the couple councelling AU since the beginning I can’t describe how I felt when she uploaded that one to AO3!!)

- Ghost_Owl @twilightofthe

• Parrots, Parkour, Pirates, Punk, and Perfect Strangers (12k)

In which Anakin is having a rough day, Obi Wan just wanted to help out the cute stranger and also maybe impress him, someone films their encounter and it goes viral on Twitter. Now the entire internet wants these two to get married. Too bad neither got the other's name…

→ Also in love with The Snowball Effect!

- Shatou

• The Cygnets at Sundown (28 chapters, 125k)

When the only Jedi sect in all of Kalevala falls to a Sith attack, crèchemaster Obi-Wan Kenobi flees with the six younglings he has taken under his wing. He is prepared to do anything to protect them, even if it means begging for shelter at the doorstep of a Mandalorian clan or giving himself to a warrior in any way an Omega might. That being said, he didn’t expect for his hand to be ceremoniously asked in marriage. Least of all by Anakin Skywalker Kryze, youngest of the three Alphas in line for the throne. or: pre-republic era; omega jedi obi-wan and alpha mandalorian anakin get together after a marriage of convenience, in true idiots-to-lovers style, with a sweet little twist

• A Study in Tears (6 chapters, 52k)

Anakin is used to sinking into the comfort of Obi-Wan’s arms when he is in tears. Obi-Wan is used to offering it. Neither of them realizes the moment when habit tips into heat-haze, but their acceptance for each other is boundless all the same. (or: five times anakin gets aroused by accident when he’s crying and being comforted by obi-wan… and one time obi-wan does)

In collaboration with Duskscribe:

• Eggs and Milk (5 chapters, 19k)

Stewjoni biology is more complicated than Anakin would've guessed.

• to hold and to keep (8 chapters, 28k)

Anakin thinks Obi-Wan doesn’t love. Obi-Wan thinks he shouldn’t love. Somehow, all while believing their respective feelings are unrequited, they still manage to behave like the most married couple ever.

→ Obviously I love all of these, but I have to talk about The Cygnets at Sundown, because I think this fic changed something in me a little bit. Not only did Shatou expand on Mandalorian culture and draw absolutely wonderful illustrations to go fic his fic, but he wrote and composed three different songs for it. Let me repeat that, you can actually go listen to recordings of them singing the songs they composed and wrote the lyrics to that they put in their fics. Like it’s an excellent fic and it made me cry at the end but I cannot explain with words how I felt when I realised he’d put up links for people to go listen to the songs the characters sing. I think I’m a little in love with this fic and honestly who would blame me. (and in a completely direction, Eggs and Milk is one of the only fics I’ve found that has good lactation without mpreg, which is harder to find than you’d think but also hotter than you might imagine, and there’s oviposition on top! what a blessing)

- treescape @treescape

• game plan (6 chapters, 11k)

The measure of footsteps is familiar—and right on schedule. Obi-Wan has been waiting with more anticipation than is seemly, perhaps, but there’s a certain satisfaction that comes of these encounters. He finds himself avidly curious, in the days and weeks that stretch between, to discover what Vader will say or do next time. Or, Vader keeps capturing Obi-Wan during the Wars. Obi-Wan keeps escaping. It's kind of a thing.

• curtain call (1.1k)

Vader brushes cool, mechno fingers along the curve of one cheek, faintly red above his beard, and scowls. He feels eyes catching briefly on the upturn of Obi-Wan’s face before sidling away, feels the guarded interest of more than one slipping through the cloud of embarrassment and chagrin. He files the names of those last away in the darkness of his mind to deal with later. Or, Obi-Wan gives Vader a blowjob while they're at a public event.

• to touch the light, darkest (4/? works, 6k)

In the end, Obi-Wan thought as he watched Vader strain to obey, this was his. No matter who Vader served outside this bedroom, no matter who he called Master in Obi-Wan’s place, here, he needed something only Obi-Wan could give. Or, Obi-Wan fucks Vader back to the Light.

• Professor Kenobi (3/? works, 6k)

Collected one shots about Anakin and his husband, Professor Kenobi.

→ Also love hands on, reason by the pulse, at your leisure, down beside me, truth of you, no space between stars, okay I’ll stop here you get the gist. They also write QuiObi since I know you’re more into those two than me!

- glimmerglanger @glimmerglanger

• Various Applications of Salves and Oils (16k)

Obi-Wan’s shoulders were already red. The back of his neck looked almost the same shade as Dooku’s saber, and the color stretched down his arms and back. Anakin blurted, “You’re burning.” Obi-Wan twisted to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “I’d noticed,” he said, glancing down and shrugging. “Believe me. There’s nothing I can do about it.” OR, how to improve your relationship through the use of oils and salves.

• Nor the Suns Themselves Brighter (26k)

Everything interesting in the desert happened at night, at least in Anakin’s experience. The temperatures dropped with the setting of the suns and the darkness crept in, covering acts that would be revealed under Tatooine’s harsh daylight. Considering what people were willing to do in the light, the night hours were a dangerous time to be about. Anakin was one of the many factors that made them so. (AU where Qui-Gon never took Anakin off of Tatooine) OR, the one where Anakin gets a ready-made family dropped on him and handles the situation far better than anticipated.

→ as someone with skin problems seeing my favourite little guys taking care of each other’s skins was a specific kind of wonderful. I also liked Cascade Overload!

- y0u_idjits @rhymenoceros

• no need to say goodbye (3 chapters, 6k)

“Do you think you’ll take another padawan?” she asks him eventually, not sure why it makes her nervous. But he only grins at her, bumping his shoulder against hers. “Not for a long time, Snips - I’ll let Obi-Wan go next.” Obi-Wan, Anakin, and the legacy they create together.

• ‘SECRET JEDI LOVE AFFAIR’ (3 chapters, 7k)

They zoom in to where General Kenobi’s eyes are fixed on General Skywalker’s ass. Again. A caption pops up: ‘FURTHER PROOF OF THE SECRET JEDI LOVE AFFAIR.’ In an effort to garner support for the men fighting the Republic's war, the clones are given permission to document their lives as they protect the galaxy alongside their Jedi generals. It goes about as well as can be expected.

→ also a fan of yesterday’s jam and all the better to love you with. When I first read No need to say goodbye I cried so hard, let me tell you, sometimes I think about rereading it because it’s so damn good but I think no, I’m not in the mood to cry right now, I’ll leave it for a good session of cathartic crying later (this is a compliment!). All the better to love you with is also exactly the kind of omegaverse you love to see, because why introduce a new gender system if no one’s going to have fun with it anyway?

- Petra @petralemaitre

• Stone or Mahogany/Kinktober 2021, they’re the same fics but the first is chronological order and the second posting order (31 works, 37k words)

Being a Jedi does not preclude exploration of kinks -- and how.

• All his Schrödinger's cats survive (14k)

Obi-Wan has a secret nemesis: Qui-Gon’s padawan Skywalker gets on his last nerve. Padawan Skywalker has a secret ideal of what it is to be a Jedi: Knight Kenobi. When they actually get a chance to hang out, one of them will change his mind.

• Hold out your hand and have no fear (28 chapters, 53k)

Anakin's queenwolf knows who she wants to spend her first heat with. Obi-Wan doubts that she has the best idea for everyone concerned.

→ Also a little in love with The letter but not the spirit and Deepens like a coastal shelf. Note that all of those (except All his Schrödinger’s cats) survive might not be your taste, since they more or less straddle the line with underage (and in the case of Deepens like a coastal shelf just completely go over it), it depends on the fic and your own limits. They’re tagged appropriately, make your own choices and all. I personally cannot get enough of the way they write Obi-Wan and sex scenes, and I love how they pick their titles.

--

Now onto individual fics I really like, which doesn’t mean I don’t like the rest of the authors’ fics, just that in those cases I either didn’t read almost everything else they wrote or managed to pick a favourite.

• dreams of summer by elisianprince @elysian-prince (5 chapters, 34k)

“On the night of the lunar eclipse, if you place seven different flowers under your pillow, you’ll dream of the other half of your soul—the person you’re meant to spend your life with.” The thought of finding out his true soulmate through a Force vision of some sort sent a thrill through his heart. Anakin was enamored by the very concept of lovers as two halves of the same soul, fitting together perfectly in almost every way imaginable as if they were made for one another. And while Anakin wanted almost more than anything else to know who that person was, he couldn’t fathom it being anyone but Obi-Wan.

→ one of the first Obikin fics I remember reading, and what a good introduction to the ship that was

• A Just Punishment by Achrya/Daiako (2 chapters, 8k)

Omega Padawans are always teamed up with alpha masters, who are given free reign to handle their padawans as they choose. Obi-Wan has always taken a lighter hand than most with Anakin, even when others thought he was being too lenient. Anakin knows, not that anyone ever asks him, that Obi-Wan's approach works just fine...even if sometimes he wishes his Master would put a hand or two on him sometimes. At least that's what he thought he wanted, until an undercover mission finds him saying something he shouldn't to someone he shouldn't, and that someone demands Obi-Wan punish him or else see months of work ruined.

→ another problematic fave but what can I say, the smut is very cool. Do read the notes just to be sure!

• In Vino by Tenillypo (4 chapters, 22k)

Near the end of the Clone Wars, a drunken encounter prompts Anakin and Obi-Wan to confront some long buried truths as they fight for their lives—and for each other. (aka, the one where Obi-Wan's dick saves the galaxy)

→ apparently it got a sequel since the last time I read it?? absolutely jumping on it after I’m done with this list

• parks & recreation by luckee and septemberist @theseptemberist (3 chapters, 32k)

Obi-Wan left his apartment in the city with the hope that a walk in nature might help to cure his writer’s block. He didn’t expect to nearly fall off a cliff, and he certainly didn’t plan to be found by the world’s most beautiful—and infuriating—park ranger.

→ leela1414 wrote a follow-up, Reunion! I remember reading that one early on in my Obikin journey in my lunch period and I was absolutely fascinated, hunched over on my phone trying to absorb everything about it.

• Five Times Anakin Skywalker Played Horrible Party Games and One Time He Knew Better by AllennellA (12k)

Five times Anakin Skywalker played horrible party games and one time he knew better. Alternatively: Anakin Skywalker finds out that the Jedi Code should really be called the Jedi Guidelines, because no one really follows them. Aayla Secura lives the Wild Life™. Also Padme knows how to throw a really good party and Anakin is too much of a scrub to appreciate it.

→ I have vague memories of this fic but the concept is hilarious and I remember it had good vibes. Also Aayla is in there and we all love her

• On Whose Authority by Mithrigil (8 chapters, 33k)

After seven years training as Qui-Gon's Padawan, Anakin finally has questions that his Master can't answer. A specialist in force-user initiation and the erotic mysteries might be just what Anakin needs--but Kenobi is almost too good at his job.

→ When I realised I’d forgotten to write that one down on my first few passes to the list I was so offended at myself because that fic is just so !!!

• Gray Matter by unfortunate17 @unfortunate17 (2 chapters, 16k)

“Master? Is that you?” It’s too dark in the hole the blast has created for them to make out any details, but Obi-Wan can see a dark silhouette finally get to his feet a few feet away from him. The figure is too short, not quite lean enough, to be Anakin. Obi-Wan watches helplessly as Anakin – or should he say, himself – steps into the faint light emanating from the holocron. There’s a long moment of silence, broken only by Anakin saying, voice still hoarse but distinctively Obi-Wan-esque, “What in sithhells is going on?” – Or, in which Anakin touches a dangerous force object and now him and Obi-Wan are trapped in each other’s bodies until something, or someone, can find a solution to their predicament. But before they can, they're both going to make some eye-opening discoveries about the other.

→ In my head it’s The Body Swap fic, when I remembered it I knew I had to put it on here

• [IASIP Music] Anakin Gives Himself A Housework Kink by willowcrowned @willowcrowned (2k)

It began as most things with Anakin began—without Obi-Wan's knowledge, and against his will. Or it would have been, if Obi-Wan had ever thought to consider the possibility, which he hadn’t, because the possibility was patently insane. This, he had learned (over and over and over again, for as long as Anakin had been around), was little defense against whatever it was Anakin had done this time, as Anakin’s conception of what was sane and what wasn’t was rather far outside what was normal.

→ The one and only, the first Obikin fic I can remember reading (or at least the first one I downloaded to my phone) Beloved, very good memories, gave me a taste for Anakin with all sorts of fun kinks. Funfact, it took me a good year (that is to say I realised like, yesterday) what the [IASIP music] in the title meant :’) I thought it was the author’s way of sorting their fics or something

• starbird by imaginarykat @imaginaryanon (9k)

As far as Anakin’s concerned, Obi-Wan is the picture of a perfect Jedi. – or, – Anakin thinks he knows everything about Obi-Wan but doesn't. Anakin thinks a lot of things, actually, and he's wrong about most of them. Anakin's whole world view is turned upside down. Obi-Wan is having the time of his life.

→ okay confession time, when I tried reading it for the first time a while ago I remember stopping in the middle like – ! oh no Obi-Wan isn’t like that! Having seen the error of my ways (read the fic until the end to get the full picture) I now only have to say, past-me was wrong, go read it it’s good and then ending is something

• Talk to me by ToolMusicLover @obi-wkenobi (4k)

Recording an audiobook can be horribly dull, but Anakin finds that he doesn't mind when he gets to ogle Obi-Wan Kenobi.

→ I just think it’s neat! I also like the rest of the author’s fics, let me tell you I jumped soo fast on the new chapter of Hands that are earnest, brave and true when it updated

• if i only knew by wanderlove (16 chapters, 120k)

Newly knighted Obi-Wan Kenobi and his padawan, Anakin Skywalker, have been sent to Ryloth on a simple diplomatic envoy. While there, an unsettling incident causes Obi-Wan to look at Anakin in a new light and re-evaluate...everything. The Galaxy will never be the same. aka: "come for the obikin, stay for the tzai and deep emotional discussions that dismantle every single misunderstanding in the prequels."

→ No favouritism here, I love all the fics I named very much – but this is A Fic with capital letters. It’s so good. I cried so much at the end. I’m in love.

--

And here’s a bonus category, because listen, I love Obikin, and that's what I mostly read but it doesn’t have to be just them or romantic! So here’s the Obianidala, Quiobiani and gen fics with those two I like, colour-coded for convenience (the Quiobiani is for you Tomas this is a wedding proposal)

• Prompted | Obianidala by intermundia (2 chapters, 9k words)

A collection of short smutty oneshots written in response to prompts :) 1) During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Padmé have come to an arrangement to share Anakin, trading him back and forth. Anakin, the brat, adores the arrangement, and has a very good birthday. 2) Same AU, Padmé almost died on Naboo because of the Blue Shadow Virus, and takes Anakin to Varykino to recover. It takes Obi-Wan's help to calm him down from his stress about almost losing her.

→ no comment, I think I already gushed enough about Will haha

• Three’s Company by RexIsMyCopilot (2 chapters, 8k)

Obi-Wan allows his sub to be used as a learning experience.

→ this one is set in the 50 shades universe and makes more sense if you’ve already read that one first but it’s really fun! Rex also got a few very fun asks about these three on her blog

• Untitled Soulmate Game by Ghost_Owl (2 chapters, 27k)

In a galaxy where the Force has crafted soulmates for the people who live in it, there are also sacred guides that appear to guide two lost souls together to seal their soul bond with a fated kiss. Unfortunately, the guides are also loud, feathered, and will bite you. The guiding experience is not particularly pleasant. Anakin and Padmé's mornings both become much more exciting when they each wake up to pairs of horrible geese hell-bent on leading them to their soulmates. Obi Wan's already been kidnapped for a couple of days, so two geese manifesting in his cell isn't as big a deal.

→ I mean do I need to say anything else. Force geese that lead you to your soulmate. You agree. Read it.

• perfect decimals by shatou (2 chapters, 17k)

Anakin knows three things to be absolute truth: one, that he is the only Omega in his long lineage of Alphas; two, that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are in love; and three, that nobody has ever wanted and will ever want him. [unreliable narrator intensifies]

→ Love it when authors make Anakin feel a lot of emotions >:)

• shared by treescape (2 chapters, 579 words)

Their ruts have never actually coincided, but sometimes it's close. This time, Qui-Gon’s starts less than an hour after Anakin’s has ended.

→ I don’t know what to tell you it’s just really good

• Charting Constellations Unseen by glimmerglanger (18k)

So, perhaps Padmé really wanted to be crawling into Obi-Wan’s bunk in the midnight hours. Perhaps she wanted to run her hands up his body, over pale skin and freckles, the planes of muscle that might shift beneath her touch. Perhaps she really wanted to kiss his mouth, sink fingers into his hair, pant against his skin. Anakin wouldn’t have been able to blame her, really. He’d entertained so many of the same thoughts. OR, the one where Anakin and Padmé realize some things about one another and have to decide what to do about the realization.

→ It’s been such a while since I read it but I should go and check it out again because !!

• she loves me, she loves me not by y0u_idjits (1k precisely)

The Force hums, running breezy fingers through his hair. My little star, you’re going to be everything. Anakin Skywalker loves the Force, and she loves him.

→ exactly 1k words and it gets me emotional every time I’m never going to be over it

• Virtue Fluttering series by Petra (2/? works, 14k)

Obi-Wan asks Anakin to top him. Anakin obliges to the best of his ability, honed by months of marriage and spanking games with Padmé. // Anakin's second attempt to top Obi-Wan goes considerably better than his first thanks to getting a better caliber of instructions. Padmé has opinions about what they're up to.

→ I already talked about these authors earlier & I don’t think I need to repeat myself, if you liked the rest of Petra’s fics you’ll like these

• Plot Twist by ?, the fic is orphaned (10k)

The supposed love triangle between Mr. Skywalker, Ms. Amidala, and Mr. Kenobi is all their students (and even their fellow teachers) can talk about. The only thing is, no one at Coruscant High School can figure out exactly which of them are together.

→ Every time people call Obi-Wan some variation of DILF it adds to my lifespan

• Operatics by obikinn @obikinn (3k)

“Dear one, when was your last heat?” Obi-Wan asked, and Anakin groaned and wanted to hit himself for not realizing until then. Of course. If anything, he should have at least noticed the cool slick starting to trickle out of his ass and onto the couch. With all the insanity of the past few weeks, rescuing the Chancellor and capturing Dooku and crashing the Invisible Hand, the passing of time had completely slipped Anakin’s mind. Oh, Force, speaking of the Chancellor— Or, Anakin goes into heat instead of going to the opera during Revenge of the Sith, and the galaxy is saved.

→ Please fuck him away from the Dark Side 😌

• Mistakes For My Binary Heart by TheFlirtMeister

After Obi-Wan finds himself without accommodation, he is forced to move in with his friend Anakin, and girlfriend Padme. Anakin is a full time Youtuber who screams down the flat in the middle of the night, and Padme keeps using Obi-Wan as a model for her photography project. This combined with Anakin's finicky cats, Threepio and Artoo, means that Obi-Wan isn't going to survive for long.

→ It’s sweet and cute and Palpatine suffers, what else can you possibly want

• the more things change (the more they are the same) by Whitefox

Qui-Gon survives TPM, and lives to be Anakin’s Master. However, some things are meant to be, and the Force (and therefore Anakin) has other ideas.

→ Once again, leaving – well not best, but a fic that has a special place in my heart, for last, this one is just wonderful and I love it so much I wish I could eat it. Alas, I’ll have to make do with rereading it regularly

--

Okay I think that will be all, love you Tomas come yell into my inbox any time you are always welcome. I counted how many fics/series I put here and um I might have gone. A bit overboard. That's 82 recs just for you though, have fun reading <3

#star wars #obikin #i won't tag the two ot3s since this isn't actual content for it and it's under a readmore #god the stress of tagging so many authors i respect so so much?? #i'm not sure i want them to actually see this post and a tag is really really increasing the chances #but also. i love them. i love their writing. i want to show my appreciation!! you bring me so much joy and comfort!!! #i want to give something in return and i really have trouble commenting or even going in people's askboxes #so this seems like a reasonable thing to do #hope you like this tomas i am Stressed #wow i have an asks tag now #fandom nerdery

[thistlecatfics]

2022 Roundup

Thanks for the tag @danpuff-ao3 ! and oh yours was so lovely to read through.

Rules:

Post the top 5 works you're most proud of that you released in 2022 (not necessarily your most popular),

your top 4 current WIPs that you're excited to release in the new year,

your top 3 biggest improvements in your writing over the past year,

your top 2 resolutions (ways you wish to improve your writing/blog) for the new year,

and your number 1 favorite line you've written this year!

Danpuff covered nearly everyone I thought to tag but also @fonkeloog @billsfangearring @narcissa-black-supermacy​ @fvckyouimaprophet @sliebman10 and let me just tag them again: @broomsticks @vdoshu​

5. Post the top 5 works you're most proud of that you released in 2022 (not necessarily your most popular)

1. Icarus (Pansy/Millicent/Parvati, 20k, M)

The addiction/trauma recovery/we’ll kill each other or save each other fic. 

I love my characters. I always do, and I think it’s my strength as a writer. But these three have such tight grips on my heart that it’s almost painful to reread and yet I keep doing it. 

2. Duty (Regulus/Sirius, 2k, M)

Regulus Black’s life in less than 2,000 words. 

So intensely personal I never expected it to but one of my more popular fics. I’m so proud to have created a literary work I’m proud of woven almost purely out of myself and my hurt.

3. Alphard’s Favorite (Sirius/Peter, 5k, M)

Peter is a good friend to a drunk and sad Sirius... to a point.

More fics where Peter fucks 2k23!!! But also - resentful Peter is SO much fun to write from, and this has my favorite concluding line I’ll ever write. 

4. Family Legacy (Andromeda/Ted, Remus/Tonks, Teddy Lupin/Victoire, 1.6k, T)

This tragic, queer family can give us all hope. 

Proof I can also write something wholesome. Queerness and transness is beautiful, and we are a legacy. Not overly sweet but pure honest love. 

5. you will burn right now but then you won’t regret it (Fleur/Tonks, 32k, M)

All is not well, and Tonks and Fleur are on the case (and definitely don’t have feelings for each other.)

A case fic! I wrote a case fic! One that says “fuck the police” and “messy dykes deserve love too.”

4. your top 4 current WIPs that you're excited to release in the new year

It’s ambitious to say these will all be released in the new year based on 2021’s writing pace BUT

My Black family AU

Inspired by Jade City by Fonda Lee, I want to write an ambitious Black-family-against-the-world fic. Andromeda does not run away, and Sirius sorts Slytherin, and everything changes. Each cousin has their own POV chapters. It would be by far my most ambitious writing project, and I doubt I’d finish in 2023. I’ve been sketching out broad arcs for each character, outlining and writing some scenes to practice getting in their little morally grey heads. Ships as they stand now would be Sirius/Remus, Andromeda/Bellatrix, Andromeda/Ted, Narcissa/Lucius BUT I also want to fit in some Narcissa/Lily and maybe some Regulus/Barty. Who knows. I’m excited.  

Bellatrix: Protector to threat to dangerously out of control to [spoiler!]

Andromeda: Lost girl with a serious drinking problem to spy to survivor

Narcissa: Naive romantic to realist politician

Sirius: Little rebel princeling to a responsible family head

Regulus: Underestimated spare to hero

Andromeda Liberata book 3

I’ve written a bit for it, but I’ve been feeling uninspired. It’s not abandoned, but it’s certainly on the backburner. 

Fenrir/Remus trauma processing fic

When you go back to the person who hurt you to try to make the trauma meaningful or manageable, but it ends up making you feel so much worse.

Tonks/Bellatrix My Dark Vanessa inspired fic

I thought I could get this done for Fuck the Faculty but alas I got concussed again. Defense professor Bellatrix. Grooming. Incest. Bella getting revenge on the sister who abandoned her, but also whoops maybe she does have genuine feelings for Tonks, but whoops again she’s destroying her. 

3. your top 3 biggest improvements in your writing over the past year

Freedom - writing boldly and unapologetically.

Exploration - I wrote a wholeeeee lot of different types of fics this year.

Confidence - I was confident in my writing this year in a way I wasn’t in 2021. 

2. your top 2 resolutions (ways you wish to improve your writing/blog) for the new year

I need to find a way to integrate writing into my non grad school, non daily drinking life. (I stopped drinking by myself on weeknights in 2022, and, while it’s been good for my health, it’s been terrible for my writing output.) As a private practice therapist my schedule will be entirely my own which is both exciting and terrifying, and I need to add structure.

I want to work on another long, plotty fic! That Black family AU that’s wrapping itself around my soul. 

1. and your number 1 favorite line you've written this year!

The ending line for Alphard’s Favourite which floored me as soon as it entered my head: 

He fucked Sirius three more times, once more at Hogwarts, twice more afterwards, each time calling him his good boy, his favourite.

He fucked him a fourth time, if you count blowing up a street and pinning the blame on Sirius, which Peter did.

#thistlecat fic

[myevilmouse]

I posted 2,997 times in 2022

180 posts created (6%)

2,817 posts reblogged (94%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@ele-millennial-weirdo

@sheptronic

@silvertyger

@dragonfly-wings1

@tatooineknights

I tagged 2,995 of my posts in 2022

#fanart - 1,244 posts

#luke skywalker - 779 posts

#thrawn - 677 posts

#mark hamill - 668 posts

#awesome art - 538 posts

#grand admiral thrawn - 504 posts

#people are so talented - 235 posts

#fandom friends - 221 posts

#master skywalker - 200 posts

#a new hope - 193 posts

Longest Tag: 81 characters

#get you a guy who trails a hand along your underside like luke does to his x-wing

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

60 notes - Posted July 23, 2022

#4

Day 20:  Flufftober “Bedtime Stories”

Fandom:  Star Wars (Legends)

Words:  100

“...but the Princess didn’t recognize the brave Knight as her true love, the Prince, and she tried to kill him!”

Jaina gasped and Jacen scoffed as their Uncle continued the bedtime story.  

“Luckily the power of love was stronger than the evil magician’s spell, and the handsome Prince…”

The next scoff was Mara’s, listening from the doorway.

Luke smiled broader.

“...the VERY handsome Prince broke the enchantment just before the Princess attacked!”

“With a lightsaber?” asked Jacen.

“With a kiss?” squealed Jaina.

“Yes, and yes,” interrupted Mara.  “Now sleep!”

“And they lived happily ever after,” concluded Luke with a wink.

See the full post

66 notes - Posted October 20, 2022

#3

Lukeuary!  Today’s 100 word drabble theme:

“I sense something...”

Luke crept stealthily around the palatial Coruscant apartment.  Hide and seek with his niece and nephews was always a popular game, but tonight Mara was helping babysit, so they played teams.  Anakin tiptoed with exaggerated care in his footie pajamas, rounding the sofa in the reception salon.

“I sense something…” Luke whispered, jerking his head to indicate a pair of booted heels peeking out from the ornate curtains.

The toddler squealed, lunging like a tiny rakghoul with arms outstretched towards Mara’s feet.

“You found me!” she laughed as Anakin hugged her leg.

“Best ever discovery,” Luke grinned, kissing her cheek.

72 notes - Posted February 5, 2022

#2

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: Thrawn Series - Timothy Zahn (2017) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Arihnda Pryce/Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo, Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo & Eli Vanto, Arihnda Pryce/Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Eli Vanto Characters: Arihnda Pryce, Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo, Eli Vanto Additional Tags: Tags Contain Spoilers, Fluff, Fluff and Crack, Beaches, Planet Corellia (Star Wars), Drinking, Secret Relationship, Crushes, Awkward Conversations, Inspired by Fanart, Established Relationship, Thryce Discord's Fluff Fridays, thryce, Friends to Lovers, Friends With Benefits, Propositions, Romance, Memories, Imperial Officers (Star Wars), One Shot Summary:

Governor Pryce and Grand Admiral Thrawn have managed to escape their responsibilities for a vacation that doesn't quite turn out the way they planned.

Inspired by blackmonitor's fanart of Summertime Thrawn & Eli

80 notes - Posted July 23, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

106 notes - Posted February 10, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #i'll tumblr for ya #tumblr milestone #i love everybody in this tumblr bar

[incorrectlasthours]

Final Chain of Thorns Predictions!

This is SPOILER FREE - I have managed to avoid all of the spoilers that leaked early!

This is my last post before getting the kindle book at midnight and logging off until I finish… I’ll see you all on the other side 🫡

And happy book birthday, Chain of Thorns! We’ve all been waiting for a long time (I started this blog in 2016… who knew it would take until 2023 to get the final book?!)

As a quick note, I will be using the tags #chain of thorns spoilers and #chot spoilers after I finish the book, and I will continue using the tags for the next month!

Without further ado, here are my final predictions (split by category):

Overall Plot:

Belial will be more desperate in this book than the other two to see his plan succeed. He is going to do something much bigger than we’ve seen before.

I think Belial will either a) unleash his shadow monsters through to Gate to Nowhere into London while our heroes are isolated there alone, or b) pull our heroes into another realm (a shadowy version of London) and unleash a massive invasion on them there

We know the truth about Tessa, James, and Lucie’s connection to Belial will come out. I believe the Herondale’s will be punished for this and lose access to the institute (but I think they’ll get it back in the end).

We also know something will happen with the artifacts found in Jesse’s coffin in SoBH (James’ gun, Cordelia’s scabbard, Jesse’s sword). I have no idea why these ended up there, but we know something bad happened at least with the gun (remember Tessa’s traumatic reaction to it and the way she stepped in front of Mina?) I think James is going to shoot someone (either accidentally or be forced to if someone is possessed/being controlled by Belial/etc.) and even if it’s not fatal I think it will be traumatic. I know a lot of people think he will shoot Lucie (maybe to protect Cordelia), and while the thought breaks my heart it does explain Tessa’s reaction.

Speaking of Jesse’s sword, I think he will use it to kill Tatiana. It was foreshadowed that Jesse would kill her in the ChoG prologue (remember Lucie’s game, that he’d cut off his evil stepmother’s head?) and I really think he will have to be the one to do it, because he’s the only character with a little sympathy for her (although Grace could also be the one to take her down I suppose!)

As for the chess metaphor… honestly, the way I see this going down is Belial vs. Lilith, using the different characters as their pawns. Lilith has Cordelia as her paladin, and I highly suspect that Lucie will somehow fall under Belial’s control (remember the snippet where Jesse said what Lucie did raising him made her more vulnerable to Belial?) I think Cordelia and Lucie might have to fight one another (under their respective demon’s control) and James might have to shoot one of them. Imagine the angst!! (Also side thought: maybe shooting Cordelia with the gun would break her connection to Lilith?)

Contrary to popular belief, I actually don’t think Matthew will die! I could see him sacrificing himself (getting stuck in Faerie, perhaps, or staying behind in another realm) or perhaps getting turned into a vampire (although I think this is too obvious now that Cassie has teased it so much). However, I do think he will be the character to stay alive and carry over into TWP!

Character Deaths:

Tatiana - I don’t really see a version where she survives this. If she somehow survives I think she’ll have her marks stripped and/or end up in prison in the Silent City for life.

Sona - A popular theory, but unfortunately I think it’s likely. There have already been so many hints that Sona is not doing well and will not survive the birth of Baby Carstairs. I hope I’m wrong about this though!

A Gabrily Kid - I HATE THIS, but I think they are the most likely of our “main cast” to be killed. Sophie and Gideon already lost Barbara, and losing Eugenia would not have the same emotional toll (we don’t know her as well as Anna and Christopher). I don’t think Matthew will die either (Cassie already killed one alcoholic, and it wouldn’t be an uplifting message if neither of them manages to recover/lead fulfilling lives) so it will have to be Anna or Christopher. BUT I HOPE I’M WRONG

Grace - Okay I hate this a little less than the one above, but I still hate it. I feel like it’s cheap writing for her “redemption arc” to end with death, especially for a character whose story is already so morally gray. It’s also a little misogynistic, but that’s a whole long conversation (the gist though: men who make “morally gray” mistakes are easily forgiven, women who do the same are often only redeemed with death).

One of the TID gang: I don’t think so, but I could see her writing off Gideon or Henry (PLEASE NO)

Romantic Endgames:

James/Cordelia - will definitely end up together. I believe they will both survive, decide to stay married, and continue the Herondale line that eventually leads to Jace.

Matthew/Cordelia - might have a brief thing together at the start of the book, but Matthew’s alcoholism/Cordelia’s feelings for James will quickly interfere. I don’t think this will last long, if it happens at all.

Lucie/Jesse - my faves! I’m 99.99% sure they will end up together and maybe about 70% sure that their line will lead to the current LA Blackthorns. I do think there is a chance that they will be exiled, but I really don’t want to see that happen to them.

Thomas/Alastair - I’m also 99.99% sure that they will both survive and get together by the end. I could see them raising Baby Carstairs if Sona passes away; if not, I’m sure they will adopt kids of their own!

Christopher/Grace - I love the potential, but I’m worried Christopher and/or Grace could be killed during the book. If they both survive, I think there’s about a 60 - 70% chance of this one happening?

Anna/Ariadne - Again, I’m not sure if Anna will survive. If she does, I do think they will end up together!

Future Generations:

James/Cordelia - I am certain they continue the Herondale line through their son Owen, and that line will eventually lead to Jace.

Lucie/Jesse - I see two possibilities for their line. The first is that it eventually leads to the TDA Blackthorns in LA; the other is that their line leads to the Blackthorn “cousins” we hear about but never see in TDA. In SoBH, Great Aunt Marjorie leaves her main house to one of these unnamed cousins; a lot of people think Marjorie could be Lucie and Jesse’s daughter (because Marjorie = the English version of Margaret, and what is the nickname for Margaret? That’s right, Daisy… we all know Lucie would do this in a heartbeat), so it would make sense that she would leave her main house to a “direct descendant” (probably a grand-niece or -nephew here) rather than a relation from the other line of Blackthorns. If this is the case, we can think of the Blackthorns as two separate lines; there are the Cornwall Blackthorns (Annabel, Felix, that Sticky-Hands guy James and Lucie talk about, etc. etc. all the way down to Andrew and his children) and the Leeds Blackthorns (Rupert, Jesse, down to these unnamed cousins today). If this is the case, hopefully we can meet these other Blackthorns in TWP!

Thomas/Alastair - I believe they will adopt Baby Carstairs (and perhaps some other children too), but I think Baby Carstairs will be a boy and Emma will come from his line.

Christopher/Grace - On the CP2 family tree (I KNOW, I KNOW), their line eventually leads to Alec and Izzy. However, I think Alec and Izzy could also come from Alexander - hence Alec’s name.

Anna/Ariadne - I really, really hope they end up together and adopt children, especially because Ariadne dreams of being a mother - I want her to fulfill that dream while still being true to her authentic self!

Connection to TDA/TWP:

Okay, so my big theory for TWP (for years!) has been that all the characters will have to come back to fight the big threat (maybe all of the princes of hell working together and attacking at once?) Perhaps the TID/TLH characters are raised as the consequence of these attacks/threats, or maybe they just come back briefly to fight? Maybe Lucie or Livvy or someone with ~ghost powers~ has something to do with it? Either way, we NEED this to happen. I scream about it all the time, but the POTENTIAL.

If Lucie and Jesse’s line leads to these unnamed Blackthorn cousins, I think they will come into play in TWP.

Those are all my theories for now! Happy reading all 🫶

#the last hours #tlh #chain of thorns theories #chain of thorns #james herondale #lucie herondale #cordelia carstairs #jesse blackthorn #matthew fairchild #thomas lightwood #alastair carstairs #christopher lightwood #anna lightwood #ariadne bridgestock #grace blackthorn #eugenia lightwood

[queenofmalkier]

I posted 2,709 times in 2022

That's 941 more posts than 2021!

48 posts created (2%)

2,661 posts reblogged (98%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@wot-tidbits

@highladyluck

@amemoryofwot

@birgittesilverbae

@wheelwheelwheel

I tagged 2,701 of my posts in 2022

#wheel of time - 1,811 posts

#wheel of time book spoilers - 1,620 posts

#wheel of time tv series - 700 posts

#rand al'thor - 524 posts

#moiraine damodred - 443 posts

#memes - 403 posts

#matrim cauthon - 358 posts

#nynaeve al'meara - 296 posts

#elayne trakand - 263 posts

#wheel of time fanart - 232 posts

Longest Tag: 138 characters

#i'm still recovering from surgery and pushed myself too hard so i'm going to wait until i'm better until i respond but for the most part i

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Somehow Moiraine manages to be the most selfless human being on the planet and also the most selfish.

55 notes - Posted August 25, 2022

#4

I’m still mad about the lack of thatched roofs with cranes in them.

What’s your minor-missing-detail-pet-peeve about the show?

68 notes - Posted June 15, 2022

#3

The Ongoing Egwene Exploration

If I’m gonna kick the hive, I might as well cite the books and clarify my meaning.

I’m going to preface this with, while Egwene is not my personal favorite character that doesn’t make her a bad character, a bad person, etc. I do stand by my statement that I find her to be arrogant to the point of being dangerous, and her motivations at time are not as pure as she suggests from her own POV chapters, but ultimately she is who needed to be in the role she played, and she is a vital part of the series.

This is going to be a multiple parter, because I truly wish to be fair about my perceptions. The rest will probably be in September because I’m going to be away on a trip. But who knows I might get squirrelly.

Basically, I’m going to skim through the books and only review mentions of Egwene that give insight to her character/how she is perceived by those who personally know her or her own POV chapters.

As an aside, I would argue that unlikable female characters are important. More important than the Moiraine’s (who also had her fair share of arrogance), more important than the stern-yet-soft-hearted Nynaeve’s. They’re the most important in fiction because we so often don’t get to see them.

Female characters are forced to be likeable or be Amy Dunne. Even their grey areas are carefully negotiated so they aren’t written off as a bitch.

They don’t get to be heroes that you sincerely hope you never have to be stuck in an elevator with.

They don’t get the depth and variety because it makes people uncomfortable.

I find that annoying on a good day, on a bad day it makes me want to burn half my library. Modern writers have developed much more nuanced characters, and we’re beginning to see “new” types of female characters that really are just based on living, breathing, real people, but the backlash and fear of it is often there too.

It’s very easy for people to hate a female character. Just look at any popular series and go to reddit. If by some miracle there’s more than one female character in the main cast, chances are there are individuals complaining about her.

Hell, they’ll complain even if she’s the only female character.

(The phrase Mary Sue will appear often. If it does not make you want to boil with rage at the outright hypocrisy when compared with every mainstream male character I invite you to walk into the ocean.)

Lastly, before we begin, this is solely about Egwene. I can just as easily get into every single character in the series and how they also display negative characteristics but then we’re going to be here for ten years. I specifically said Egwene when I kicked the hive and I’m going to see how well my argument is supported by the source material.

So, Egwene.

Why does she get under my skin? How is she any more arrogant than the other characters in the series? What about her do I find troubling and ultimately dangerous? Am I biased because she was mean to my poor little meow meow trash son Gawyn?

Let us start with our first introduction to Egwene, through the eyes of a very, very smitten Rand. (To be fair, I would also be smitten. Just because I don’t particularly like her doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be half in love with her in ten minutes.) We know through later POV’s that Egwene has admitted that he is easy to manipulate so it is difficult not to allow that to color this transaction now, but let us try.

She begins by mimicking Nynaeve, a figure of authority, perhaps to see the effect it has. This is a trait she carries on throughout the series until she no longer needs to mimic and instead becomes the one who is mimicked.

But she soon shifts focus to staring at Rand, unsettling him because he has a crush the size of a solar system and it’s so obvious Perrin and Mat leave him to his fate. They flirt a little before Egwene reveals her now braided hair.

This is a very calculated move, and it feels planned, on her part. A test. But what is she testing?

Being a young, unmarried man in a small village that definitely pushes traditional values, Rand senses a trap here but it’s not what he’s expecting. I think this gives us a very key piece of information about Egwene early on. We think this is her Hint Hint moment, only for her to pull the rug out and mention not only does she want to become a Wisdom, a woman who seldom marries, but that she’ll likely have to travel to a different village in order to do so because Nynaeve isn’t going to retire any time soon. Egwene is telling us that she wants more.

Queue Belle song.

We also see some of her arrogance here. “She says I have a talent, that I can learn to listen to the wind. Nynaeve says not all Wisdoms can, even if they say they do.” When Rand fails to be suitably impressed, we get the very word used that I have mentioned already: dangerous.

Again, we’re seeing character traits I originally brought up: manipulative, arrogant, dangerous. She strikes me very much as the type of person who plans encounters in her head before they happen. That isn’t a bad thing - as the most socially anxious person ever I do this as well as a way to ease my anxiety and plan for everything I can think of - I am simply making an observation. This does not feel like a casual, unplanned conversation on Egwene’s part.

(Manipulative behavior in and of itself also isn’t inherently negative, most human interaction is based on it.)

Yet this moment isn’t Egwene gently letting Rand down either is it? Because Rand - puppy that he is - mentions he’d never see her again and she’s back to vaguely suggesting it’s not like he cares. Because we only see it from his perspective, it’s hard to know if she shuts down ultimately because the conversation didn’t go how she’d planned, or if her temper really did get the better of her.

Was she angry he didn’t demand they wed? That didn’t demand she not become a Wisdom? What was her ultimate goal here? Did she have one? Because of her age, I highly doubt Egwene is some crazy, master manipulator of Hannibal Lecter proportions. She’s not even on level 1 of that crazy train; I doubt she even knows where the station is. Not yet.

My perception here is she’s likely conflicted and confused about what she wants, and angry that Rand isn’t giving her anything to act on. He isn’t saying no, so she can’t dig her heels in. He isn’t offering to marry her so she can’t react to that either. He’s simply saying he’d never see her again, and what’s she to do with that? Egwene very much is a character who wants to act, and right now she has nothing to fuel her to action.

We do get the idea that Egwene is sensitive, perhaps overly so. Does she feel the limitations of the Two Rivers? How small their world is? Do their recent visitors make her feel equally small and therefore her fuse is shorter than normal?

I do want to mention here that I do not want to dismiss Egwene’s cleverness, or her own abilities when it comes to gleaning information from others. Yes, she’s eavesdropping in this moment, but even before she was reading Rand and the others like braille, which is a skill that should not be undervalued.

See the full post

68 notes - Posted July 9, 2022

#2

SHE’S MAKING ITTTTTTTT.

68 notes - Posted January 8, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I will not go on a random tangent about silhouettes in clothing. I will not go on a random tangent about silhouettes in clothing. I will not go on a random tangent about silhouettes in clothing. I will not go on-

71 notes - Posted January 4, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#my 2022 tumblr year in review #my angry braid mom isn't my top character tag??? #I have committed a crime #also I should post more #but I am a reblogging fool what can I say? #Youtube

[omgrachwrites]

These Violent Ends - Chapter One

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Summary: Peter Parker is your twin brother's best friend so naturally, you are off limits which is fine for the both of you. But, when tragedy strikes, everything changes between you and Peter. Spider- Man/ The Punisher crossover.

Warnings: swearing, fluff, angst, minor character death, mentions of suicide, everyone lives au.

Words: 2522

Disclaimer: This will not contain any spoilers for the new movie! And I'm so sorry if the Italian is wrong!

A/N: Hope you guys had an amazing Christmas! This is the first part of my Peter fic and if you guys like it then I'll be putting one of my Loki fics on hold! Also, this will be quite a dark fic, but I hope you enjoy this part and let me know what you think and if you would like to be tagged! I love you all! xxx

Chapter I

The last Saturday of summer had always been reserved for a family night, though your younger sister, Lisa managed to get out of it because she didn’t come back from summer camp until tomorrow. Usually, you resented family night, opting to sneak out afterwards to go to Flash Thompson’s last party of the summer. However, you didn’t feel like it this year because you knew that your ex-boyfriend, Max would be there.

About three weeks ago you had discovered that Max had been unfaithful to you so you broke up with him, and the only person you had told was your mom. Initially, you had been heartbroken, you’d been together for three years, but now you felt a bit better about the whole situation because the sadness had turned to anger. You would rather be angry than heartbroken; you didn’t want to mope around for any longer.

You smiled at your mom, Maria as you walked into the glorious smelling kitchen, there were notes of garlic and herbs in the air, “smells amazing, mom.”

Maria grinned at you as she kissed your hair, “thank you baby, you look like you’re feeling better.”

You shrugged as you snagged a handful of grated cheese, ignoring the way she tutted at you, “yeah, I’m okay. Max is a huge jerk.”

Maria laughed and was about to reply, when the back door banged open and your twin brother Frankie walked in, spattered with mud and carrying a football, he’d spent most of his summer playing soccer. He was going to be the Captain of the football team this year, senior year.

“Hey, mom, is it cool if Peter comes to dinner tonight?” he asked as he got a bottle of grape soda from the fridge.

Maria smiled, “of course darling, I really like Peter.”

You scoffed and leaned against the kitchen counter, “only because Peter keeps him out of trouble because he’s such a loser.”

Frankie and Peter had been friends for years, and it was the most unlikely pairing because Frankie was popular and on the football team, while Peter was in the decathlon team, but it seemed like Frankie didn’t really care about the status quo, not like you did.

“Y/N!” your mom said sternly as she frowned at you.

Frankie narrowed his eyes as he glared at you, it was remarkable how much he looked like your dad when he did that, “oh dear, I’m terribly sorry, Y/N,” he started sarcastically, “I forgot that unfortunately we can’t be all as popular as you and Max. Where is he anyway? I haven’t seen the little shit in ages.”

“We broke up.”

Frankie’s face fell and he looked apologetic – an expression he rarely wore – “what happened?”

You raised an eyebrow and shrugged, “he cheated on me so I dumped him.”

Frankie cursed beneath his breath, the angry look fixed on his face again, “he’s not playing on the team this year I’m going to kill him!”

“Who are we killing?” your godfather, Billy Russo laughed as he walked into the kitchen with your dad, Frank.

Your mom sighed as she turned round with her hands on her hips, fixing all four of you with a stern look, “we have a perfectly good living room! Why don’t you all go in there instead of distracting me?” she laughed as she shooed all four of you out into the hallway.

Frankie looked at Billy and your dad, “we’re killing Y/N’s ex-boyfriend, Max.”

There was a look of immense relief on Frank’s face, “thank god you’ve got rid of that tool! You’re much better without him sweetheart,” he smiled as he wrapped and arm around your shoulders and kissed your forehead.

“Thanks, dad,” you laughed.

“Frankie, if you don’t get a shower before Peter comes then you’re not joining us for dinner!” your mom shouted from inside the kitchen.

You smirked at your brother, “she’s right, you do pong a little,” you laughed when Frankie gave you the finger and traipsed up the stairs, bouncing his muddy ball onto the carpet as he went. Mom was going to kill him.

You were helping Maria set the dining room table when the doorbell rang, making you jump slightly, “can you get that for me love? It’ll be Peter,” she smiled as she lit some vanilla scented candles, you sighed and nodded, “be nice, Y/N,” she warned you.

“Of course,” you mumbled beneath your breath, it’s not like you hated Peter or anything, you just didn’t know him and you had no desire to get to know him.

You pulled open the door and acknowledged the curly haired boy with a nod of your head, he smiled at you as he hitched his bag higher onto his shoulder, “hey Y/N.”

“Hi Peter, come on in,” you stepped aside to let him in and he smiled at you gratefully, “Frankie’s upstairs, you can go on up.”

“Thanks,” he smiled and looked through to the kitchen, “hi Mr and Mrs Castle, Mr Russo,” he waved politely and all three adults beamed.

“Hey Pete,” your dad grinned, it was clear that everyone loved Peter.

Dinner was great that night, everyone was getting on and the conversation was flowing freely as you all sampled your mom’s delicious food. Billy was talking about his security company, Anvil and Peter seemed really interested, it looked like he was hanging onto Billy’s every word. You wouldn’t have thought that Peter would be interested in something like Anvil.

There was a short lull in the conversation where Frankie caught your eye with a smirk on his face and you raised an eyebrow at him questioningly as you sipped your soda, he looked over at your mom and gestured to his food, “the food is great mom but it could really do with some more salt,” he joked.

You let out a surprised laugh while Peter gasped and Billy snorted into his food, your dad had to look away to keep himself from laughing.

Maria narrowed her eyes at her son, if looks could kill then Frankie would be six feet under, “oh, tu maiale ingrato,” she tried to sound stern but you could hear the laughter in her voice.

Frankie gasped, “I have no idea what you’ve just said but it sounded very offensive,” your brother wasn’t really interested in learning Italian, “seriously, what did you just call me?”

“An ungrateful pig,” you and Peter said in unison and you glanced up at Peter in surprise to see a faint blush painted across his cheeks.

“I didn’t know that you knew Italian,” you remarked as you shovelled in a forkful of pasta.

“I didn’t expect you to know something like that,” he mumbled, his eyes widening a second later as he glanced over at your dad nervously, “I just mean, we don’t really talk all that much so how could you have known?” he laughed nervously and you smirked at his shyness.

Your mom quickly changed the subject, throwing a meaningful look at you “are you guys sneaking off to Flash’s party tonight?”

You choked on your soda as you exchanged panicked looks with Peter and Frankie, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” at your blatant lie, Billy snickered around his beer but managed to pass it off as a cough.

Your dad only chuckled as he leaned back in his chair, “you think we don’t know? We weren’t born yesterday, Y/N. We left you to it because we trust you and sneaking out is a normal teenage thing.”

You smiled at your dad before shaking your head, “I won’t be going but I’ve told Flash that he needs to save me some cake,” you laughed.

Peter frowned over at you, “I don’t mean to be nosy but why aren’t you going, Y/N? Won’t Max be there?”

“We broke up, Peter.”

Peter’s face drained of colour as he bit his lip and ran his fingers through his hair, “sorry, Y/N,” he mumbled.

“Don’t worry about it,” you replied with a smile.

Frankie snickered as he looked between you and Peter, shaking his head when you gave him a questioning look, “don’t worry about her, Pete, she’s been shut up in her room for most of the summer,” he smirked, to which you rolled your eyes, tempted to give him the finger.

“I’ll have you know that I’ve been working on a project that hopefully will help Tony Stark and The Avengers.”

Peter perked up, looking delighted, “I’m sure he’ll be grateful for the help, Y/N,” he grinned at you and you couldn’t help but smile back.

Later on, when Frankie and Peter were leaving for Flash’s party, Frankie glanced at you from over his shoulder, “are you sure that you don’t want to come?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.

Forcing a smile, you shook your head, though you were mostly alright with the breakup, you still didn’t want to see Max flirting with everyone in sight. Because, you knew that he would be, “no thanks, don’t forget the cake,” you warned with a laugh.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t,” Peter smirked at Frankie.

“Thanks, Peter,” you laughed and Frankie held up his hands in mock surrender.

“Never thought I’d see the day when you guys are ganging up on me together,” he chuckled, “if I happen to see Max, I’m going to kick his ass.”

“You’re the real MVP, Frankie,” you laughed as he bade you goodbye with a lazy salute, before walking out the front door with Peter. They didn’t have to sneak out this year.

You decided to go to bed early that night because your mom and dad ended up snuggled on the sofa with a bottle of red wine, and Billy had a date. Over the past few weeks, you had got out of the habit of constantly checking your phone, but tonight you just couldn’t help it. Nothing. You weren’t completely sure what you were looking for. Closure, perhaps? An explanation?

With a sigh, you walked into your bedroom and threw your phone onto your bed, you were just going to go straight to bed but you decided to work some more on your project. The formula needed to be refined before you presented it to Mr Stark. When you were struggling to keep your eyes open, you finally climbed into your warm bed and fell into a dreamless sleep within seconds.

On your last day of freedom, you woke up bright and early, feeling refreshed and made your way downstairs. You were filled with delight when you walked into the kitchen and saw cupcakes from Flash’s party on the counter, you didn’t see the way your parents were eyeing you with worry. You picked up a cupcake and laughed at the Spider-Man frosting.

“God, Flash is so obsessed,” you smiled as you turned to face your parents, your smile dropped when you saw the horrified looks on their faces, “what? What’s wrong?” you asked, feeling worry fill your chest.

“Y/N,” your mom sighed, before hesitating as if she was trying to gather her thoughts, “when was the last time you saw or heard from Max?”

You sighed, putting the cupcake down, confused as to why she was bringing this up, “I saw him a few days ago at the grocery store. Why?”

“Sweetheart,” your dad started as he reached out for you, “he was found this morning off a trail in the woods.”

“Found?” you frowned, you didn’t like the sound of that at all.

Frank sighed as he exchanged a worried look with Maria, “I’ll try and put this as delicately as I can, Y/N. Max was found in the woods with his wrists slashed, it looks like he’s been there for a day or two at the most, it seems like he did it to himself. It’s not public knowledge yet but his parents gave us a call earlier this morning, they wanted you to know. I’m so sorry darling.”

For a second, you felt nothing, and then your brain finally registered his words and you felt faint, tears springing to your eyes.

“Y/N, sweetie, are you okay?” your mom’s voice sounded as though it was underwater.

“I’m going to be sick,” you managed to say before you ran out of the room and emptied the contents of your stomach into the toilet. Tears streamed down your face, Max was dead? It was hard to believe that he’d killed himself.

You didn’t know how deal with your feelings, you should be troubled and sad, maybe, the reality hadn’t sunken in yet. You jumped when you felt a gentle, cool hand on your back, you didn’t even hear anyone come into the bathroom. You turned around and saw with embarrassment that it was Peter, he had a look of concern on his face and he was holding a glass of water. His hair was curly and his eyes were sleepy as he rubbed them with one hand.

“Thank you,” you mumbled as he handed it to you.

“Are you sick?” he asked and you shook your head.

“No, I’ll be fine, you don’t have to worry about me.”

Peter shrugged with a small smile, “I don’t mind,” he sat next to you as you drained the glass of water like it was the sweetest thing you’d ever tasted, “wanna talk about it?”

You scoffed a little, “no, but I’m sure that you’ll find out in a couple of days anyway. Max was found dead in the woods, he killed himself,” you whispered, it sounded so awful to say out loud.

Peter’s eyes widened and he looked horrified but he seemed to snap out of it pretty quickly so he could comfort you, “Y/N, I’m so sorry. How are you feeling?”

You were grateful that he didn’t ask you if you were okay, because of course you weren’t. You shrugged, “I should be heartbroken, I should be sobbing on this floor right now but I hardly feel anything, like I’m numb.”

Peter nodded, it looked like he knew what you were talking about, “everybody deals with grief differently but I was the same way after my Uncle died.”

“How long did it take for reality to set in?”

Peter bit his lip, “a couple of days,” he hesitated, running his fingers through his hair, “look, I know this is probably the longest conversation we’ve ever had but you can talk to me about this if you need to. Anytime.”

“Thank you, Peter,” you smiled at him.

“Everything alright, guys?” Frankie said from the doorway as he looked between you and Peter with an unreadable expression on his face.

You forced a smile, “yeah! You guys are going to the beach today, right?”

Frankie nodded, running a hand through his hair, “we really should get going, Pete.”

Peter bit his lip as he looked at you and you smiled, “I’ll be fine, go.”

Peter nodded as he got to his feet, “remember what I said, Y/N?” he bit his lip as he looked at you almost shyly.

“Of course, thanks Pete,” you nodded, ignoring the suspicious look on Frankie’s face.

#peter parker #peter #spiderman #peter parker imagine #peter parker fanfic #peter parker x reader insert #peter parker x reader #peter parker x y/n #peter parker x you #you x peter parker #peter x reader #peter x reader insert #peter x y/n #peter x you #you x peter #the punisher #marvel #marvel imagine #marvel au #frank castle #frankie castle #maria castle #tw: mentions of death #tw: mentions of suicide #au

[alkalinefrog]

may I request your top 10 favorie lawlight fics ?? I’m really interested

AIGHT BUCKLE UP BUTTERCUP because I’ve got a lot of feelings about these! Also, people have been asking me for fics featuring:

Ryuk shenanigans

yagami sibling hijinks

whammy kids found family

----- from my bingo card I made a while back. Tbh, I put those on the list to try and manifest the energy into the universe hoping people would bring fics to ME about them lmao. I do have a couple that check the boxes though! 

Also thank you to everyone who’s been recommending me fics!! You’ve all hit the nail on the head and sing straight to my heart! I’m just slow to make my way through them between work. <3

GOING UNDER THE CUT (rip mobile users)

Aight here we go, in no particular order:

“Change OR the one where L and Light get married” by @translightyagami (I’m so sorry I keep tagging you in these alsfjkalsfdj)

The one I never shut up about and am adapting part of into a comic because it’s just that GOOD. :’’’D Light and L get married in front of Watari and Light’s family back at the Whammy orphanage in England. A melancholy yet painfully sweet tale as Light and L reminisce on their history together while getting ready for the ceremony, and their first night together afterwards. Single-handedly sold me on Kira being intrinsically part of Light to boot.

“the forest holds strange creatures” by @translightyagami (I’m sorryyyyyyy I just love your stuff)

An AU where Light’s a paranormal researcher and L’s a reclusive cryptid living in the forest next to a small town. The writing has a fairytale feel to it, and the romance is so gentle. Light’s bunking at Whammy’s small little house, and Near and Mello are there as little kids pestering Light. It’s ADORABLE. Beyond Birthday also shows up in one of the extra chapters as a creepy cashier at a thrift shop for double the fun!

"Sickness” by BlueberryValentine (more fics on their fanfiction.net account!)

The ultimate hurt/comfort + fluff + angst with a happy ending fic. The first fic I read to get back into lawlight a couple months back! Canon divergence starting during the Yotsuba arc. Light is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer while still under investigation. L has to take care of him, and somewhere along the way they fall in love. It carved out a chunk of my heart but luckily filled it back up with a sweet sort of aching.

“Seeking His Hand” by magic__mind

Historical regency AU! L is a rich nobleman courting Light, a humble farm boy, for his hand in marriage. One of the most romantic pieces of literature that I have ever come across. The prose is pure poetry, and their love so pure! This one also has a special place in my heart for its portrayal of Misa! She’s A)a spy who helps L on his cases, B)totally removed from her co-dependence for Light, C)the  bubbly badass she was always meant to be. 100/10 worth the read!

The “Resurrections” Series by Shadow_of_Quill

A modern Orpheus and Euridice story, wherein Light’s spirit leads L back from Hades while he’s still Kira. L is thereby present for the confrontation at the warehouse. Believing that any trace of Light is lost in the man, he executes him right then and there. However, this was a grave mistake, and Light’s soul won’t be as easily revived. (spoilers, they’re both fine in the end) ******* THIS ONE ALSO INCLUDES YAGAMI SIBLING HIJINKS. Sayu plays a HUGE role in bringing Light back!

“Is This The Way It Ends Now?” by Seastar98

The one that checks off ALL the above three boxes!! A “characters watch their own show” fic, wherein the gang receives a mysterious DVD in the middle of the Yotsuba arc. Horrified by what’s to come, Light and L work to make sure their future is brighter than the one they witness. They bring in all three heirs to watch with ‘em, everyone gets character development, and Sayu comes in like black panther in endgame yet again to bring Light back from the darkness! Ryuk pops up in the end and the epilogue and he’s great. The ultimate and most direct fix-it you’re ever gonna get.

“From the Same Star” by Nilahxapiel

This is my only pure “Ryuk Shenanigans” fic, and it’s really really sad :’’’D A short but sweet one-shot wherein Ryuk traverses multiple dimensions, dropping the Death Note at Light’s feet each time. Light and L were always fated to clash, and it’s just as heartbreaking every time. 

“Primitive Liars” by Nilahxapiel

This one’s super popular in the fandom for a reason! The only omegaverse fic that I’ve liked! The A/B/O dynamics and their affect on society are super well developed, and the writer manages to keep L and Light very in character while still developing their budding romance in a believable way. This is an AU where somebody else is Kira, and Light’s genuinely helping L and the task force hunt him down. ***** Naomi Misora lives, the heirs come in, and Sayu actually hops aboard the task force!!! DUDE. BRILLIANT. I also just love the exploration of gender and identity that the author weaves in. Lots of LGBTQ rep!

“and indeed there will be time” by lawlietismyfavorite

The ultimate soulmate AU. People grow to be 18, then stop aging until they meet their one. L is the greatest detective of not only this century, but of six centuries. And then there's Light. (taken straight from the description!) The prose is absolutely breathtaking; like walking through a dream. Can not recommend this fic enough! It’s got my head up in the clouds and looking towards the stars!

“K” by  Dlvvanzor

AU where Light’s a Whammy with the moniker ‘K.’ He and L grow up together along with kiddos covering the rest of the alphabet. A murder-mystery-thriller on top of the romance featuring Beyond Birthday as a main character! Light’s a pathological liar and L’s super into it. They’re the top students at Whammy’s and are tasked with solving a string of homicides happening RIGHT AT THE ORPHANAGE (guess who dunnit). It had me on the edge of my seat, and I binged the whole thing in two days.

i’mMMMM doing more than 10, this’ll just be my ultimate fic rec post 😂

“Change of Circumstances” by wordbombs

Another AU where Light’s a whammy! It’s just a one-shot though, but one of my all time faves!!! I’ve gone back and reread it so many times and drew some stuff for it a couple weeks back. Much more light-hearted than “K”, Light arrives at the orphanage at age four and meets an eleven year old L, and from there they grow up together and fall in love (the age difference is handled really well, L’s not physically present for a lot of Light’s childhood and they bond on a platonic level first). It’s one of the healthiest relationship dynamics that I’ve seen for these two, which is honestly such a breath of fresh air. Matt, Mello, and Near are there too in the background!

“Dial K for Kira” by @kiranatrix

“Light needs some easy money to finance his Kira plans, and notices there’s a big demand for Kira roleplay phone sex. So he figures, “Why not? Pretty sure I’ll be convincing.”He raises some fast cash and plans to shut the whole thing down and get back to writing names, until he gets a request from somebody who wants to “roleplay” as L....“

Taken straight from the description! It’s very VERY NSFW so be warned. I’m too shy to talk about it more alskfjdasldjf sorry BUT IT’S GREAT.

“Dance with Me” and “Birthday Note” by @dotti55fanfiction

These are both one-shots so I’m putting ‘em together! Absolutely adorable tooth-rotting fluff!! “Dance with Me” has Light and L going to a club, while “Birthday Note” features L trying to think of the best present for Light. The dictionary definition of “warm fuzzies.” (Dotti ilu, I still gotta find time to read your longer works)

“you’re a wasp nest” by  raisuki (inthegripofahurricane)

Blind!Light AU! Light and L are both college students who meet when Sayu dares L to break into her house. Yagami sibling hijinksssss! Their quippy dialogue is adorable and it’s just a fun time watching them flirt.

“softly now” by smallestbird (jenwryn)

THANK YOU TO THE ANON WHO SENT ME THIS REC. The softest lawlight one-shot to finish off this list! Light and L share an intimate moment while painting their new apartment. The absolute JOY this fic radiates in a short 700 words!! Read it before bed for the sweetest dreams!

These are just my favourites, but read anything by any of these authors and you will not be disappointed! I might make a separate post later for soulmate AUs because... There’s just too many. :’D

-Alka

#Anonymous #ask #fic rec #lawlight #text #when you meet a work deadline and use the extra time to catch up on asks lol

[jokertrap-ran]

(光与夜之恋 Light and Night) Main Story Chapter 4-1 : 爱德华之旅 The Journey of Edward Translation

“Life is a journey so lonely; but then, I met you.”

*Light and Night Master-list *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Join the Light & Night Discord (＾▽＾)~ ♪ *Main story tag will be #For Light and Night

The lively entertainment news page was always chock full of all sorts of information.

From the divorce of the top flower maiden to the jubilant happily ever after of a popular celebrity’s long-standing relationship. The hot search was refreshed hourly.

And today, the entirety of this page was almost filled with Lin Yao’s announcement of her withdrawal from the entertainment industry,

Brother Mao: (Y/n)! Did you see? Lin Yao's leaving the entertainment industry!

I’d only just set foot into the office when Brother Mao rushed at me, shoving the screen of his phone in my face. It was streaming Lin Yao’s press conference.

❖☆———————————★❖

Lin Yao: I deeply apologize to everyone who has been supporting me, but this is my decision after having thorough thought.

Lin Yao: Starting today, I will cease acting.

She was wearing that black feather dress, and the butterflies on her cuffs fluttered their wings along with her every movement; her words setting off waves through the media.

This dress that had originally been prepared for the award ceremony had unexpectedly been used for her farewell in the end.

❖☆———————————★❖

Brother Mao: Why so sudden? Wasn't she still acting normal back when she was trying out her formal dress?

Brother Mao: Or, don't tell me her agent forced her to do it?

MC: But, don't you think she looks happier than before?

MC: A new life, a new goal. No matter which case it is, it's fine if it's her personal choice, don't you think?

I saw a flash of brilliance in her eyes, something that I’d never seen before other than back then at the café. 

It was a light so stunningly bright, even though she’d now have to face the world with her bravado, alone.

❖☆———————————★❖

MC: Actually, I've been meaning to ask you something. What did you mean when you said Bai Mu disappeared?

MC: Was he taken away by this "Blood Tribe" that you mentioned before? And even then, what's this "Blood Tribe" you spoke of?

Osborn: Why are you so very curious?

MC: It's not just curiosity… This matter already has something to do with me, regardless.

MC: I feel like it’ll always be weighing on my heart if I don’t set it straight now.

Osborn stuffed his hand into his pocket and let out a sigh.

Osborn: The Blood Tribe are a group of people with special Abilities, where bloodlines are prioritized above all. You can say that they’re... the Descendants of God.

It was a term he’d uttered after a short pause.

MC: Descendants of… God.

Osborn: That being said, I don't know whether it's true or not. It's just a legend.

I couldn’t help but look down at my fingers. Judging from what happened back then, I DID have an Ability. If so, then… Does that make me...

Osborn: And where are your thoughts running off to again? Just because you have an Ability doesn't make you one of them.

Osborn: Generally speaking, whenever someone from the Blood Tribe uses their Ability, their eyes will turn red.

There was an inkling, a vague image of something, that kept flashing past my mind, but I couldn't manage to get a firm grasp on it.

Osborn: This world is far more complicated than it seems.

Osborn: From the times of the ancients, other than the Blood Tribe and the Spirit Tribe, some humans also harbour Abilities.

Osborn: My guess is that perhaps someone up their line, like say, maybe one of their ancestors, had some form of relation to them. Or maybe it was due to some reason or another. No one really knows.

MC: The Spirit Tribe? And what is that?

Osborn: Just as the name suggests; they're the descendants of sacred beasts and deities.

MC: !

MC: So, they're not… human…?

Osborn: They're not, but they can exist in human form.

Osborn: What? Finally know what fear's really like?

I steeled myself and shook my head. Then, suddenly, a thought popped into my mind.

MC: Wait… Osborn? You're human, right…?

This question itself sounded odd. Osborn stiffened before his lips quirked up into a smile.

Osborn: Didn't you say that I'm just Osborn to you?

Osborn: And as for whether I'm part of the Blood Tribe or the Spirit Tribe… How about you guess?

Osborn: Get it wrong, and I'll have you for a snack.

He winked at me, the sly smile on his face easing some of the panic that had been in my heart.

It didn't matter what he was. I believe that he'll always be right by me, and that he'll be my guide in this strange, inexplicable, and unbelievable world.

He was someone that wouldn't hurt me.

❖☆———————————★❖

Osborn said that there were also some humans in the world that had Abilities. If so, then would there be people like that in my close circles?

I poked Brother Mao.

MC: Brother Mao? Do you know what Abilities are?

Brother Mao: 'Course I do.

MC: ! You-

Brother Mao: I know you want me to praise you, but you don’t have to go about it in such a roundabout way!

Brother Mao: The dress you made for Lin Yao this time turned out really good! You’re talented, young lady!

I gave an awkward smile before letting out a sigh.

Brother Mao: I heard Man'man day that today's the newbie meeting where they'll announce the mentor assignments.

Brother Mao: Your dress was so nicely done, you might actually be chosen by Director Qi himself! And when that time comes, you've gotta treat me to a round of milk tea~

MC: Oh, right! It was today!

I was so busy that I'd been up to my head in work. So much that I'd nearly forgotten about this important meeting.

Sister Zheng Lin had told me before that the mentors would choose their apprentices from each of their own individual works. So, I hope that this dress will allow me to obtain my desired result.

A glance at the time told me that it was nearly time for the meeting to commence. I did a quick and simple clean up before heading to the meeting room together with Man'man.

❖☆———————————★❖

There were already quite a number of people seated in the meeting room, with most of them in their own little groups. 

Gao Cheng, who had been sitting in a corner, smiled and waved me over upon seeing me enter.

Li Man'man: With so many newbies here, wouldn’t the competition for the mentor selection be fiercer than usual…?

Li Man'man: Please let me be assigned the mentor I want!

She clasped her hands together in nervousness, muttering the mantra under her breath over and over again.

MC: Who do you want as a mentor?

Li Man'man: Sister Zheng Lin! I love her style! What about you?

MC: I…

I leaned closer to her ear and secretly whispered the name of the person.

Li Man'man: Dear lord! You’re brave! But that’s even harder than trying to win the first prize of the annual year-end party’s lucky draw!

It was then that the door of the meeting room opened. Mya briskly strode in with wide strides.

Mya: Is everyone present? We’re short on time, so let me announce the results of your mentor assignments.

Everyone held their breaths in anticipation, nervously staring at the file she held in her hands.

Mya: Chen Xiazi. Mentor, Edward.

She was a designer from Team D. Her colleagues all wore smiles as they stood around her, congratulating her.

Mya: Jiang Lai. Mentor, Bob.

Mya: Li Man'man. Mentor, Zheng Lin.

Li Man'man: Yes!

Mya: Gao Cheng. Mentor, Mya.

Mya: Jin Shaoze. Mentor, Sariel.

MC: !

Sariel! 

I looked over to said person who got him as their mentor in envy.

Among all the names that had been listed so far, it seems like most of the mentors only selected one apprentice to take on.

Is there even any hope for a newbie like me…?

However, as the list went on and unfamiliar names sounded off one after another… I never did hear mine being called...

I kept lowering my expectations, telling myself that it wasn’t a big deal at all, but my heart continued to race as each name was ticked off. I couldn’t stop my hands, which had been placed on the table, from curling themselves into fists.

Mya: (Y/n) —

I subconsciously closed my eyes.

Mya: Mentor, Sariel.

MC: !

Li Man'man: Jesus! It really is Director Qi!

Man’man instantly made a grab for my arm in her excitement, snapping me out of my internal reveries. My mind was in a daze.

MC: It's Sariel… Thank god…

After reaching the end of the list, Mya closed the folder.

Mya: That’s all for the mentor assignments. Now, I’m going to be making another announcement.

Mya: In a month, the Design Hub will be holding a shoe design competition for all Assistant and Junior Designers.

Mya: The theme of the competition is high heels.

Mya: And the winning works will be then exhibited at the Warson Group’s big show.

Li Man'man: We have the chance to be on it!?

The meeting room broke out in a commotion almost instantly after. Mya raised her hand, rapping her knuckles on the table in a bid for silence, but there was a rare encouraging smile on her face.

Mya: I believe that all of you are aware that a big show is held once every ten years ever since Warson was established.

Mya: It is not only a summary of the past ten years as we look back at it, but it also serves as an outlook for the prospects to come. This show is a big event for both the Warson Group and the industry alike.

Mya: In the previous years, Assistant and Junior Designers were only able to participate as assistants; but this year, the board has decided to extend more opportunities.

Mya: The theme of this time’s show has been decided. It is “Spring”.

Mya: As this time’s show would also be Warson’s 120th anniversary, it will be of significant symbolic meaning to Warson as a whole.

Mya: This is an invaluable gem in the fashion industry.

Mya: As this chance is extremely rare, I do hope that all of you can seize it firmly since it might very well never happen again.

After Mya left, the people from the administration departments took over, explaining our company’s culture and systems. But it was obvious enough to anyone that everyone’s attention was no longer present.

I mused, resting my chin on my hand as I sketched an outline of a shoe in my notebook.

MC: This competition’s open to all Junior and Assistant Designers… And only one person can win…

After the initial excitement died down, I put my pencil down and contemplated the shoe I’d just sketched out.

It was an ordinary-looking shoe, made of ordinary materials and your usual out-of-the-mill patterns.

I might have made many clothes up till now, but I had a pathetically sad amount of experience when it came to making shoes, whether it be back in school or during my internship.

MC: ...I definitely need more references to work with.

MC: Oh, yes! There should be some there!

❖☆————— ⊹ For Light & Night⊹ —————★❖

Previous Part: (Chapter 3-20) | Next Part: (Chapter 4-3)

#光与夜之恋 #Light and Night #Otome #Translations #Tencent #萧逸 #Osborn #齐司礼 #Sariel #陆沉 #Evan #查理苏 #Charlie #夏鸣星 #Jesse #For Light and Night

[snowrobin-133]

A Happy Ending Yet to Happen

Characters: Xiao x F!Reader (Y/N), implied traveler x Xiao at end, ft. Venti and Paimon Fandom: Genshin Impact WC: 8.2k words Tags: character death, immortal(?) x mortal, grief, sadness, tears, angst, spoilers for Xiao’s voice lines and stories, Xiao might be slightly OOC in some scenes A/N: I’m pretty sure you can’t call Xiao an immortal since yakshas can die and stuff but like they live a long time so it sorta works HAHA. Also this hasn’t really been beta read and so there’s probably a couple of mistakes, sorry about that!

[EDIT] I FORGOT A PART FLIP- anyways yeah I accidently deleted a part somehow while it was in the doc??? Idk what happened but it’s back slkasdjasldaj

-----------------

In the center of Mondstadt’s square stood a fellow clad in green, playing a lyre as he weaved a tragic tale of an adepti and a mortal. The fellow first introduced himself as Venti before starting the tale to curious onlookers that stopped to listen.

----------------

Many centuries ago, a young girl, in her twenties perhaps, clad in strange attire, arrived in Tevyat, injuries scattered across her body. She was somewhat near the Liyue Harbor of that time and the millileth found her, quickly bringing her to the doctor where she was treated. The injuries were severe as if she had been slammed with a heavy rock that flew out of nowhere. With some healing and herbs, the doctors managed to save her life.

After a couple of days, she awoke. The millileth arrived and they asked her many questions.“Where did you get those injuries? What were you doing out in the wild? Where did you come from?”

Every question they asked was either given vague responses or a simple “I don’t know”. It seems that she had lost her memory. The millileth was in a tight spot. They then asked her one last question, hope shining in their eyes, “What is your name?”

The girl looked down at her lap, searching through the hazy memories in her mind. One word stuck out to her, perhaps that was her name. After a few more seconds of pondering, she answered with, “Y/N.”  

-----------------

After a couple of weeks, Y/N was released from the hospital. She was given a home to stay in and got a job as a waitress in one of Liyue Harbor’s most popular restaurants. She quickly fit in with the atmosphere of the city and got along with the city folk, a drastic change from when she first appeared in Liyue.

After some time, Y/N decided to take a couple of weeks off to travel around Liyue, although not all of it, just to places she had heard of from customers and colleagues. Her first stop was near Dihua Marsh. According to what Y/N was told, on an islet of the marsh stood a stone pillar with a large golden-leaved tree sitting on top of it. There were also rumors of a young man, called the Conqueror of Demons, that would be seen in the area. There was little to no details of the man other than that he seemed to hold an anemo vision and fought with a polearm. 

Y/N was slightly curious about this man but thought little of him, being distracted with simply trying to get to the area unscathed first. The monsters that stood in her way were rather easy to trick and avoid. Some were slightly persistent but she managed to shake them off after a couple of minutes. Although she lacked her memories, she, strangely enough, seemed to remember some pointless, or in this case, useful survival tips. 

After a couple of days, Y/N arrived at the islet as the sun began to set. She decided to look around to set up camp but was quickly interrupted by the growls and yells of hilichurls. Looking around, she quickly spotted them, getting into a position to run if needed. Y/N then paused, noticing something sinister coming from them. 

“There’s something different about these hilichurls…” she murmured to herself, attempting to back away quietly and hide. Thankfully, they didn’t seem to notice her movement and she hid behind some bushes nearby. She noted that they seemed to be walking towards her and she quickly put a hand over her mouth and nose, muffling her breathing as she hoped they wouldn’t notice her.

Before they got too close though, something suddenly came out of the sky, slamming down into the ground with green-colored spears shooting out of the ground. The force of whatever had slammed into the ground nearly blew Y/N away but she thankfully only fell on her butt.

She quickly regained her balance and watched the scene unfold in front of her. As the dust cleared, she could see a young man with black and teal hair and green tattoos standing straight with a polearm in hand. 

He was a somewhat distance from her with his back towards her but his head then turned around, making eye contact with Y/N. She flinched at his piercing gaze but he quickly turned away. Y/N was unable to think more of it as the young man started fighting the hilichurls. As she watched him fight, a sudden bad feeling started to stir up in her stomach. With the bad feeling in mind, she decided to back away a bit more as the fighting got more and more intense. 

The young man handled the hilichurls quickly, treating them as if they were ragdolls. Y/N watched in awe and slight terror at his strength. In just a few minutes, the hilichurls laid on the ground, not moving at all, and the man stood over them with cold gazes. He then whipped around and walked towards Y/N.

Y/N flinched at the sudden attention and leaned back as the young man loomed over her. His glare pierced through her, making her sweat bullets, “I- uh...thank you…!” she squeaked out under his intense gaze. 

He scoffed before speaking, “Night. When the darkness comes to envelop you, Don’t stay outside,” he turned around, preparing to leave.

“W-wait! What’s… What’s your name?” she stuttered out.

He looked at her, pausing before saying, “Adeptus Xiao,” and seemingly evaporated as he looked away.

Y/N sat on the ground, frozen, as she attempted to comprehend what just happened. After a couple of minutes, she snapped out of her daze and decided to heed Xiao’s words. 

-----------------

Venti hummed a bit before speaking, “After that first meeting, the girl and the Adeptus would run into each other many more times. Each run-in brought the two closer and closer, far more than they would realize” he smiled mischievously.

-----------------

The first run-in with each other happened only a couple of months after they first met. Y/N hadn’t seen Xiao once since the incident and returned to Liyue Harbor with little trouble. She attempted to look up some more information on him but came up empty. The only thing she managed to find out was that he was a Yaksha, an adepti that protects Liyue from demons and mutants that appeared when gods fell during the Archon War. She figured that the hilichurls she saw Xiao defeat that day were likely mutants. 

I’m glad I didn’t get involved with them at all… Y/N thought to herself as she set up some tables early in the morning.

“Ah, Y/N!”

Y/N turned around to see her boss, “Ah, Zhang Wei*. Do you need something?”

“Yes, is it fine if I trouble you to find some of these ingredients for me? I’ll give you a couple of weeks off to do so!” He handed her a small piece of paper with a list of ingredients with locations listed next to the names.

“Ah… Sure,” Y/N took the piece of paper from him. 

“Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to pay you double for this!” Zhang Wei smiled.

Y/N nodded, her mind focused on the location next to Horsetail. Dihua Marsh. Y/N wondered if she would see Xiao again.

She decided her first stop would be Dihua marsh, hoping to see the young adepti once again. Y/N doubted she would see him again, but why not try?

Y/N looked at herself in the mirror of her small home, she wore simple clothes that would make traveling easier, and over her shoulder was a satchel to put the ingredients in. Double-checking that she had everything, Y/N put on her shoes and left her home.

Y/N finally arrived at Dihua Marsh, although she was on the ground and out of breath. She had already grabbed some horsetail just moments earlier but then a group of hilichurls came up. They were different from regular ones though and she noted that they were similar to the hilichurls she had seen when she first met Xiao. After a while, she finally managed to lose them by hiding in some large bushes.

She threw her head back, taking a large breath of air. “Damn those hilichurls, huff… Why must they all be so… persistent…!” she muttered.

“You’re lucky they didn’t find you out.”

“Yeah… Wait-!” Y/N jolted and whipped around, seeing the familiar cold stone face of Xiao standing behind her.

He closed his eyes and sighed, “It seems I’ve caused you trouble again. I apologize.”

“...Huh? How did you cause me trouble?”

“That is because the changes that occurred in those hilichurls came from me, or more precisely, from the karma I’ve accumulated.”

“Ah...but you just killed those monsters, right? So if anything, you did me a bit of a favor,” Y/N laughed quietly and smiled at him.

He scoffed, “Anyways, there will likely be more of these monsters, so you best watch out,” he then turned to leave.

Y/N jumped up, “Ah! Wait!”

“...What?”

“Can you, uh, act like a guard for me? I doubt I’ll be able to avoid those monsters like normal ones…” Y/N laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck.

“Huh? Why should I?” Xiao asked coldly, crossing his arms.

“I have no way of protecting myself and like I said, I doubt I’d be able to avoid those monsters like normal ones…”

“Hmph… You’re quite bold to ask me that.”

Y/N clasped her hands together, “Please~! Just for a couple of days! That’s all!”

Xiao stayed silent for a few minutes before speaking, “...Fine.”

Her head shot up as she looked at him in hope. Before she could speak though, Xiao spoke again. “But don't think about getting close, and stay out of my way, or all that awaits you is regret,” he warned.

Y/N looked at him in surprise and slight confusion before nodding, “Oh, alright. Thank you so much though! Oh! By the way, I’m Y/N”

Xiao didn’t understand why he was agreeing to protect this feeble girl. There was nothing special about her, no vision, no special aura, nothing. So why is he even wasting his time with her? He sighed as he watched the girl gather more horsetails in the area. “Reduced to being a guard for a feeble girl, how pathetic,” he muttered under his breath, yet he kept his guard up and watched out for her.

After Y/N gathered enough horsetails, the duo made their way to Quince Village to gather jueyun chilis. Night soon arrived and Xiao decided for them to rest, gruffly claiming “You humans barely have any stamina.” 

After a bit of searching, the two found themselves in front of some ruins by Wuwang Hill. As Y/N began setting up a camp, Xiao jumped up, landing on top of one of the ruined structures, “Go and rest. I'll be here,” and sat down.

Y/N tilted her head, “Aren’t you going to sleep as well?”

Xiao glared at her, “You think I sleep? You have no respect for the ways of the adepti!”

She flinched at his sudden outburst, “Ah, sorry…”

His hard glare softened into a cold gaze, “...Just go rest,” and turned away, looking out into the wilderness.

Y/N’s lips curled into a soft smile, He’s harsh… but I think he has a good heart she thought and quietly giggled, settling down into the makeshift bed she made and watched the night sky. 

The two continued to journey for another week before separating. Y/N arrived back in Liyue Harbor with all the ingredients collected feeling a bit more giddy than usual. Her friends in the city all noticed, asking who the lucky fellow is. Y/N simply laughed, telling them that she made a new friend.

-----------------

The next meeting was when Y/N was exploring around Mt. Tianheng as the sun hung low in the sky. She had finished work and decided to walk around. On impulse, she decided to go off the road and was walking past a waterfall when she noticed something in the grass. Raising an eyebrow, she decided to walk closer, only to see the familiar hair and clothing of Xiao. 

Y/N’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of blood and quickly looked over his unconscious body. She hurriedly opened her bag and searched through it, eventually finding a pouch of first aid items.

“I’m glad I had the foresight to pack first-aid items,” she sighed in relief and began to apply first aid. Y/N was surprised with how natural it felt to apply first aid as if she had done it countless times before. Perhaps she was some kind of doctor in the life she no longer remembered. Y/N quickly pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind and focused on the injured man in front of her. 

After some time, she had patched up all of the severe injuries and she looked over the rest of his body as Xiao awoke.

“Ah! You’re awake! Phew…”

“... What are you doing here…?” he asked groggily.

“I was taking a walk, and anyways, I should be asking you that!”

He attempted to sit up but flinched and Y/N quickly went to help, “Don’t touch me.”

“Huh? But you’re hurt and-”

Xiao quickly cut her off, “Prolonged interaction with adepti will become dangerous, as your souls are not as robust as ours are.”

Y/N glared at him, “We’ll worry about that later! Can you move a little at least?”

“Hmph, of course I can.” 

“Then let’s get you out of the open, it looks like it’s about to rain soon.”

“... Fine.” Xiao finally allowed her to help him up and to lead him away from the open. They decided to take a rest in the cavern behind the waterfall, rain beginning to fall as they neared the cavern. 

As Xiao settled down against the wall, Y/N noted that it was colder thanks to the mist flowers that grew nearby. Standing up, she took off her coat, passing it to Xiao. “Here, it’s cold.”

“My body is used to these temperatures. Your body is not.”

Y/N sighed, “And who exactly is the injured one out of us?… Just take it,” she dropped the coat on his lap before turning away to set up a fire. Xiao sighed, too exhausted to argue.

As the fire blazed alive, Y/N asked, “... What exactly happened to leave you passed out in the grass?” 

“... It’s none of your concern,” Xiao answered coldly.

Y/N sighed, “...Alright.” 

Xiao paused before speaking, “In the thousands of years that have passed, I have taken countless wraiths. If you want no trouble, stay away from me.”

Y/N looked at him in surprise, “... Like I’m gonna do that,” she stuck her tongue out at him and he scoffed in response. Y/N sighed, opting to not say anything more, and turned her attention back to the fire as she began to make something with what little ingredients she had.

After ten or so minutes, she decided to speak up, “... Is there anything troubling you, Xiao?”

“Trouble..? Hmph.. trouble means nothing to Adepti. There is no trouble that can last for a thousand years” Xiao glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

“Ah…”

“...Don’t worry needlessly about me, as I said, you should stay away from me instead of getting closer.”

“You’re still going on about that, huh? Well, guess what! I’m just as stubborn as you so I’m not gonna leave you alone!”

Xiao sighed, “... What a menace…” he muttered.

Y/N pouted in response as she handed him a plate of Almond Tofu, “Here, eat up.”

“...Isn’t this a dessert?”

“Haha, yeah it is… but the ingredients it needed are the only things I had on me that I could turn into a meal, and besides it’ll boost your strength!”

Xiao sighed, “Human meals are rarely ever good.”

“Just try it, Xiao, you need food to get back on your feet y’know!” 

“I’m an Adeptus, my body does not follow the same rules that your bodies do,” he scoffed yet reluctantly put a spoonful in his mouth. 

Y/N pouted in response and turned away, preparing a dish for herself.

Xiao swallowed down the spoonful before speaking, “... dreams.”

“Hm?”

“It tastes like the dreams I once devoured.” 

Y/N paused before staring at him as if he had grown two heads, “... I, uh… Is that a good thing…?”

Xiao opted to not answer, instead, he ate another spoon of the almond tofu. Y/N sighed, deciding that it would be useless to try and pry further. The two ate in silence, listening to the rain pitter-patter outside of the cavern.

Y/N cleaned up the area a bit before leaning against the wall, putting a distance between her and him, and relaxed. Her head turned to the cavern’s entrance, making note of the heavier rain, “It looks like the rain won’t let up anytime soon…” and closed her eyes, falling asleep.

After a couple of minutes, Y/N’s breathing had become slow and steady. Xiao wondered if this was because of the prolonged contact between him and her. 

Once confirming she was asleep, Xiao stood up and walked towards her. He wrapped the coat she had given him around her, whispering a quiet “thank you”. He raised his hand, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear before standing up. His eyes remained on her as he made a conscious decision to avoid her as much as he could. The more contact she had with him, the more danger she would be in. Gazing at her for a few more seconds, he turned around and disappeared. 

Y/N awoke late at night, quickly noting that there was a warm weight on her. As the grogginess wore off, she noticed that the weight was the coat she had given Xiao. Speaking of Xiao, he was no longer where she last saw he was. 

“Ah… he must’ve left already… He better not have reopened his wounds.”

-----------------

The next meeting was several months after that incident. Even after traveling to Dihua Islet several times, Y/N did not see Xiao once, even if she had brought almond tofu with her. Y/N wasn’t completely sure if he did actually like her almond tofu but she was going to take any chances to get to see him. Thinking back to their time in the cavern, Y/N wondered if he was trying to distance himself because of the energy situation. She could understand the reason but still couldn’t help but miss the yaksha.

Y/N stared at her cup of tea, lost in thought wondering where Xiao was, as she hung out with three of her friends. They were talking about some kind of gossip when one of them noticed her silence and smiled mischievously, “Y/N~?”

Y/N quickly snapped out of her thoughts and looked at her friend with a hum, “Yes?”

“Just what are you thinking so deeply about? Ever since you went on that journey of yours, you’ve been staring out into space way more than usual~” she teased.

Y/N flinched at her observation and laughed, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about…”

Her friend pouted, “Oh don’t be like that Y/N~! Tell me! Please?” By now, the other two had noticed and began joining in.

Y/N simply laughed with a shake of her head, “No way!”

“A shame…” her friend hung her head and so did the others as they sighed dramatically, albeit did nothing in changing Y/N’s mind. It’s not likely that they would believe in her tale of becoming (sort of) friends with an adepti, a yaksha that vanquishes demons at that. Anyways.

“At least tell us if you’re thinking about a guy !” one of her friends leaned on her as she laughed, deciding to cave in a bit.

“Alright, alright,” at that, her friends perked up immediately, all eyes on her as she looked away, slightly blushing, “... it is a guy.”

They all gasped dramatically, “Oh my! What’s he like?!” they all asked excitedly.

Y/N decided that it wouldn’t hurt to tell them a small bit, “Hm… he’s a jerk that’s cold and rough,” she giggled at her description of him, “…but he’s still a caring person underneath it all.”

Her friends shared a knowing look with mischievous smiles, “It sounds like you got a crush, Y/N~” one of them teased.

Y/N laughed, “Even if I do, it’s not like I’d tell the three of you.”

“A pity.”

“So when are we gonna meet him?”

Y/N smiled at them, “never,” and sipped her tea. 

“Oh come on~ Whyy?” they whined. Y/N only laughed, not answering any more of their questions about Xiao. After a couple of minutes, they gave up on trying to pry answers out of her and moved onto other topics. 

Y/N walked home, humming to herself, planning her next trip to Dihua Islet, “Hm...I wonder if I should bring something else other than almond tofu…”

“Stick with the almond tofu. Other mortal foods are things I can’t stomach.”

“Huh, is that so- wait-” Y/N whipped around to see the familiar face of Xiao leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, wearing his signature frown. She quickly gasped, “Xiao! I was so worried about you! But wait, what are you doing here in the harbor?!” Y/N remembered the journey he had accompanied her on, how he had mentioned hating crowded and loud places. Although the area they were in at the moment was deserted and quiet, the noise of the marketplace could still be heard.

“The constant offerings of Almond Tofu and notes were beginning to get annoying,” he remarked bluntly, making Y/N flinch.

“A-ah, sorry,” Y/N laughed as she scratched the back of her neck.

He glanced at her and sighed, before tossing an item to her. Y/N quickly caught it with both hands, looking at her hands in surprise. “...What’s this?” she asked as she took a look at the item, seeing that it was a butterfly made of leaves.

“... It’s an adepti amulet I made. It staves off evil.”

Y/N eyes sparkled in awe as she looked at the beautiful details of the amulet, “Thank you… but why?”

“You mentioned your day of birth was near this time,” Xiao bit his lip, deciding not to mention that he thought the celebration of someone’s birthday was something he considered redundant. Why he kept his thoughts to himself would be a mystery to himself, but perhaps it had something to do with her happy expression.

Y/N glanced at him in surprise, “Oh wow! You remember that?!”

“Hmph, I was simply reminded of it from that last note of yours.”

“Geh-!” Y/N flinched as the memory of writing her last note to him flashed by, “... I forgot I wrote that…” she looked away with an awkward grin.

“Hmph, I will take my leave now.”

“Ah! Wait!”

“...What?”

Y/N looked at him from head to toe, “How are your injuries?”

Xiao sighed, “They’ve healed already, you need not worry.”

Y/N pouted at him, “How am I not going to worry? You disappeared for countless months without letting me see you once!”

“Did you forget what I had said? Mortal souls are-”

“Are not as robust as yours are,” Y/N finished with a sigh, “Even so, can’t we just meet up regularly? Like every couple months or so!”

Xiao stared at her pleading expression and sighed, “It is not wise to do so.”

Y/N sighed, “Ok then… let’s exchange letters!”

“...Letters?”

“Yeah! We can talk regularly without any physical interaction!”

Xiao sighed and attempted to answer, but was quickly cut off with a pang in his head. He grimaced as he flinched and held up a hand to his temple.

Y/N drew closer at his pained expression, “Are you ok?” she asked, panicking.

“Their voices... I can always hear them. Their screams, their cries, demanding more death... This is my burden to carry. It has nothing to do with you.”

“...But I’d like to at least help,” she smiled sadly at him.

“And just how do you plan to do that?”

“Umm…” Y/N then raised her hands to his face, stopping as he flinched away, “ah, sorry, uh, can I?”

“... Fine,” Xiao muttered, a faint tint of red on his cheeks, and leaned forward, flinching slightly at the feeling of Y/N’s hand on his face. “... Just how is this helping?” his body rigid in her hold.

Y/N pouted, “I’m trying my best! And anyway, just try to relax,” she murmured, avoiding his piercing gaze as her thumbs began rubbing circles on his cheeks.

Xiao sighed, pulling away, “This isn’t really helping me.”

Y/N pulled her hands away with a sigh, “that’s a shame…” she muttered. She then brightened as she thought of something, “Oh! Maybe we can make some kind of potion or medicine that’ll help!”

“...I understand your intentions, but mortal medicine has no effect on Adepti.”

“Wait, seriously?!” Y/N slumped over with a groan, “I’m sorry…”

“As I said, this has nothing to do with you, you do not need to spend your time helping me.”

Y/N looked down, “... Even though it has nothing to do with me… it still hurts to see you in pain as well.”

“...You better not be pitying me.”

“Of course not! I’m being empathetic!” “Huh? Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No! Of course not! Pity and empathy are two different things!” Y/N then went on a rant about the differences as Xiao sighed. Yet he didn’t feel annoyed, instead, there was a warm fuzzy feeling that replaced it. If he hadn’t noticed it, he would’ve let a small smile slip as well.

-----------------

Like Y/N had proposed, the two began exchanging letters. Her letters were usually long-winded and filled with emotions while Xiao’s were short and blunt, reflecting his personality, which amused Y/N. They only exchanged a few letters due to Y/N being unable to go out of Liyue Harbor often, but within those few letters, they found their attraction to each other growing.

Y/N stared out the window in a daze. In front of her was some paperwork from the restaurant, albeit she paid no mind to them. Instead, she found herself thinking about Xiao. She was quickly snapped out of her thoughts as she noticed a light in the sky. It was far in the distance but Y/N quickly realized that it was a lantern.

“Right, it’s almost time for the lantern rite… I wonder if I can convince Xiao to come by…” With a sigh, Y/N returned to the papers in front of her, making a note to ask him later.

Sometime later, Y/N finally finished the letter. Written in it was the general stuff she normally wrote with updates on her life and some interesting trivia she learned recently. At the end of the letter, she made sure to mention the lantern rite. “By the way Xiao, did you know the lantern rite’s coming up? You should come by to watch the mingxiao lantern! I heard it’s super amazing!” 

With a smile, Y/N closed the letter and prepared to leave the harbor. As she was preparing, a sudden and small thought popped up in her mind. I wonder what Xiao looks like smiling…. Y/N blushed as soon as the thought registered in her mind and shook her head. 

Quickly she set out for the designated area that they left their replies. Dihua Islet. Xiao often wandered in that area which made it an area that they would both find the replies easily. Silently, Y/N hoped that she would also get to see him once she arrived there.

Surprisingly, her small wish would come true. As she arrived at Dihua Islet, Y/N’s eyes were quickly caught by the familiar figure of Xiao sitting on one of the boulders on the islet. A smile appeared on her features as she quickly called out his name, “Xiao!”

Xiao turned at the familiar call of his name, greeted with the sight of Y/N rushing towards him with the oh-so-familiar smile that made his stomach turn in knots. He nodded as a greeting and he jumped off the boulder, meeting her halfway.

Her grin grew in size at the acknowledgment, even though butterflies began to flutter in her stomach. She quickly rummaged through her bag and took out the letter, handing it to him. “By the way… The lantern rite is coming up,” she informed him.

“The lantern rite? The time for humans to discard their glowing trash into the sea has returned, how childish…” 

Her smile quickly dropped, “... You really think that?”

“I do… the hatred and residual energy of the dead gods from some centuries ago sometimes erupt, and they often erupt in a large scale during this troublesome festival.”

“...And so you’re the one that’s fighting every time, right?”

“Yes.” “... It doesn’t happen every lantern rite though, right?”

Xiao glanced at her and sighed, “...No.”

“Then could you at least stop by to watch the mingxiao lantern? It’ll be worth your time! I promise!”

Xiao watched her as she stared at him with desperate eyes. He did not wish to admit it, but he knew deep inside that he couldn’t say no, and eventually gave in, “...If you insist, I will go with you.”

Y/N’s expression quickly lit up with a smile and she cheered, “Yay! I know a great place outside of the harbor that we can meet at to watch it!”

Xiao watched as she grabbed a map of Liyue out of her bag and began pointing at areas where they could watch it. Although he didn’t say it out loud, he was grateful that she was picking areas where there wouldn’t be many people. Nor would he say that he was growing nervous at how close she was, or how he was looking at every detail of her delicate face, or...

After a couple of minutes, they made arrangements to meet and watch the mingxiao lantern. As she walked away after (reluctantly) saying their goodbyes, Y/N internally celebrated with glee, a light pink blush tinting her cheeks.

The day finally came, the night of the Lantern Rite and when the large mingxiao lantern would be released into the sky. Y/N spent the first half of the day serving customers at the restaurant before returning home to prepare for her meeting with Xiao. She had everything in her bag but was quickly distracted when she noticed a food stall. Although Xiao couldn’t stand most human foods, this particular food stall was selling Almond Tofu. With a smile, she quickly bought some almond tofu as well as food for herself before setting off to find Xiao.

As Y/N arrived at the meeting place, she quickly spotted the lonesome figure of Xiao, standing at the ledge. She quickly called out his name and jogged up to where he was, handing him the almond tofu.

“... why did you get me this?” He asked, although took the plate.

Y/N smiled, “Because the lantern rite isn’t just about the lanterns! Plus I was hungry…” she quietly admitted the last part with a pout. Xiao released a huff of air and the two ate in silence, waiting for the time that the mingxiao lantern would be released. 

After some time, Y/N figured that it must be getting close so she gave him a piece of plaustrite and a carving tool as she took out two xiao lanterns.

“What are these for?” Xiao asked, motioning to the plaustrite and carving tool.

“We carve our wishes on these, then we stick it into the lanterns and let them float away!” she explained to him.

Xiao took the plaustrite and carving tool with a huff, “How exactly will these grant our wishes?”

“Hm… I’m not sure,” Xiao looked incredulously at her as she laughed. He sighed and glanced at the plaustrite sitting in his hand.

Y/N calmed down before she thought about what to wish for. A wish then popped up in her mind after a few seconds, “I wish to spend more time with Xiao”. She blushed at the wish, but deep inside, she knew it was the one thing she wanted more than anything. Steeling her resolve, she quickly carved the wish into the plaustrite with a faint blush on her cheeks. 

Xiao finished carving and glanced at Y/N before quickly looking back down at his own piece of plaustrite. He didn’t write a wish for himself since he didn’t have any wishes or desires. So, he decided to go with a statement, a promise. “If she finds herself clinging onto the past, reluctant to move on, I shall quietly remember the memories in my heart for her”. 

The two placed the plaustrites into their own respective lanterns before letting them fly into the air. They stood close to each other, their hands brushing against each other, as they watched their lanterns fly mingle in the air with the many other lanterns. 

After a couple of minutes, Y/N glanced at Xiao from the corner of her eye, spotting a small smile of awe appearing on his face. Her eyes widened at the sight of the rare smile and blushed before quickly looking away and into the sky. Tightening her jaw, she made the risky move of interlocking her pinkie finger with his. Y/N expected him to pull his hand away, and he did, yet he quickly returned his hand to interlock his slim fingers with hers. Y/N’s eyes widened again, a deep blush spreading across the rest of her face, as she looked down and squeezed his hand. Unbeknownst to her, painted on Xiao’s face was also a deep red blush.

----------------- [Edit: this is a part that got deleted accidently but it’s back lol]

Xiao found himself puzzled. Recently, a strange mortal had been hanging around him, wanting to get closer to him. Even stranger was that he felt the same way, wanting to get closer to them. The feeling and fluttering in his chest and stomach were foreign and even a tinge disgusting. Yet he seemed to crave more, more of their smile and expressions, more of the peace that surrounds them. He knew better though. Yet he found himself persisting against the knowledge of the mortal soul.

Xiao found himself falling deeper into the rabbit hole. Perhaps he could find momentary peace with the mortal. 

Y/N was traveling to Dihua islet, wanting to check if Xiao had left a reply to her previous letter, as well as a chance to actually see him in person. If he didn’t, then she had a letter to put in its place. On her journey, she encountered a traveler, who had told her that there was a group of treasure hoarders camping by the main road. She was told to either go back and or to take a detour. Y/N was confident in her skills though and decided to continue traveling through the main road.

What a bad decision that was.

As Y/N passed some ruins, a small blade flew past her face, barely grazing her nose. She gasped, slapping a hand over her nose as she stepped back. Quickly checking her hand, she sighed in relief at the lack of blood before looking up.

Stepping out of some bushes was a small group of men dressed in the clothing of the treasure hoarders. Y/N eyes widened, cautiously taking a step back.

One of them snickered, “Scared little girl? No need to be. We only want one thing.”

Another threw their shovel over their shoulders, “Right, just give us your stuff and we’ll leave you alone.”

Y/N glared at them, pushing her bag to rest on her back instead of the side, “Like I’m giving you all the stuff I worked my butt for.”

“Hmph, you’ve got a pretty face but a pretty bad sense of danger. Fine, we’ll just take it from you with force.”

Y/N tensed, preparing to run as the treasure hoarders came after her. Quickly turning around, she attempted to make a run for it. Before she could even lift her leg, an arrow pierced her calf, with a scream. Blood splattered onto the ground and she collapsed, “Ack-!”

Pain seared through her from her leg up and sat up with a groan. Shadows loomed over her and Y/N whipped around, seeing the Treasure hoarders smirking above her.

The one with the crossbow grabbed her by the wrist, “If you don’t want to get even more hurt then hand over your stuff.”

Gritting her jaw, Y/N twisted her hand around to grab the man’s wrist, twisting it to release her. He yelped in surprise before being pulled to the ground. Y/N stood up while she could in the shock of the moment and attempted to run. The arrow stuck in her calf made it difficult to run but the adrenaline rushing through her numbed the pain. 

Before she could even get far, a barrage of arrows flew towards her, multiple hitting her and throwing her to the ground. With a screech of pain, she collapsed, arrows sticking out from many limbs of her body.

As she laid on the ground, her mind wandered to Xiao’s smiling face. It was merely a glimpse into his softer side, but she remembered that that mere glimpse was enough to make her fall even deeper into the abyss of love. As her consciousness began fading in and out, she whispered his name, “Xiao…”

The treasure hoarders that stood over her were suddenly thrown to the ground, skidding away from the force that had crashed into them. Y/N squinted up, spotting the familiar black and teal hair of the young yaksha. “I’m here,” he announced, glancing at her.

“Mhm…” She smiled as tears clouded her eyes.

To the yaksha, seeing the state Y/N was in as she laid on the ground brought the deepest depths of his fury to the surface. He turned his gaze to the treasure hoarders, tightening his grip on his polearm before bringing swift justice to them, albeit not killing them. The treasure hoarders laid on the ground, groaning and moaning in pain. 

“Worthless,” Xiao muttered coldly, allowing his polearm to disappear. Xiao turned around and walked towards the injured Y/N. He knelt beside her, picking her up gently, a stark contrast to his hard glare, and avoiding the arrows that stuck out of her.

Feeling the warmth of Xiao, Y/N smiled, snuggling into him as she tried to ignore the pain of her wounds. “Thank you...Xiao,” she whispered. 

Xiao didn’t reply but he tightened his grip on her. He then spoke, “If you awake to a knife at your throat, if monsters dig their claws into you, if death comes knocking at your door, call out my name. Adeptus Xiao. I will be here when you call.”

Y/N pulled away slightly and met his strong gaze. As his words registered in her mind, she could feel her eyes start to water again, and whispered his name, resting her head on his chest “...Xiao.”

Xiao’s strong gaze softened at the whisper, “I’m here.”

The tears clouding Y/N’s vision began to fall as she whispered his name many more times, fisting his clothes and burying her face into his chest. Xiao tightened his hold on her comfortingly, replying every time she whispered his name. 

Some time passed and Xiao had taken Y/N somewhere safer. Dihua Islet. Where he treated her injuries. Due to the amount of blood and tatters on her, Xiao had thought she was more severely injured, but thankfully, none were severe.

Y/N sat on the ground, trying to stay still as Xiao treated the injuries on her arm. She stayed quiet before her eyes wandered to Xiao’s stern expression. Her eyes then fell to his lips, finding herself wondering what it felt like to kiss them. Her eyes widened as she realized what her thoughts were and quickly shook her head, a raging blush on her cheeks.

Xiao glanced up, an eyebrow raised at her sudden outburst. He dropped back down to her arm before speaking, “...It's too late now, you know. The connection between us is too strong. Even if you wanted to, it's too late to sever it.”

Y/N shook out of her flustered state, glancing at him, “Huh? Why would I do that?”

Xiao raised his head in surprise, “... You've never thought to sever it?” he paused and sighed, “This eternal dance of demon subjugation... My fight goes on… But… I would like to know more about you.”

Y/N stared at him in surprise, before her features softened into a small smile, “I want to know more about you too, Xiao…”

The two fell further into the rabbit hole. Deciding to risk everything for the peace they found in each other.

-----------------

Time passed and Y/N’s memory came back in small pieces, but they were enough for her to know a general amount of her past. She came from far away, perhaps a different world, that was far more advanced than the places here in Tevyat. The clothes she first arrived here in as well were similar to what the people wore in her memories as well.

After remembering more and more of her past, she decided to look into the other 7 nations of the continent, hoping to find her home. She brought home some books on the other nations to her house. After only a couple of hours, Y/N figured out that her home didn’t belong to any of the 7 nations. Many were far from advanced than the places she remembers in her memories. 

“I guess I am really in another world…” she spoke to herself quietly. Y/N wasn’t sure what to make of this. Perhaps she had a happy life in her original world, happily living with people that she no longer knew. But now this world had also become a home to her. At the thought of home, her mind flashed to Xiao.

Her cheeks heated up and she rested her head in her arms, warm feelings bubbling up within her. Xiao had only held her for less than an hour when she had been attacked, yet the warmth and gentleness of his hold were addicting. Y/N missed it. She glanced out the window, finding that the night was rather lonely.

After the incident with the treasure hoarders, Xiao decided that he would come to her instead of Y/N coming to him at Dihua Marsh. Y/N first protested, bringing up his distaste of crowded areas, but the yaksha was stubborn. Eventually, she relented, but she came to enjoy the monthly visits of the Yaksha. 

She perked at the knocking sound of the door to the balcony. With a smile, Y/N stood up and walked to the door, seeing the familiar Yaksha leaning against the railings of the balcony. Opening the door, she grinned, “Hey, Xiao.”

Xiao simply nodded but didn’t come inside. Y/N crossed her arms behind her, contemplating a slightly bold question. He noticed her contemplating gaze, throwing a gruff “What is it?” at her.

Y/N tilted her head, “... Can I hug you, Xiao?”

Xiao jumped at the question, his eyes wide and a blush beginning to adorn his cheeks, “Just what are you asking? Do you have no respect for the adepti?”

Y/N giggled quietly, “It’s a yes or no question, Xiao.” Xiao grumbled, not replying. Y/N giggled again, holding her arms open, “Well?”

Xiao sighed, holding his arms slightly open as well, unable to find it within himself to refuse her. Y/N giggled, walking towards him and wrapping her arms around his slim waist. Xiao tensed at the touch but slowly relaxed in her warm embrace. Within a couple of minutes, he wrapped his arms around her as well and rested his head in the crook of Y/N’s neck. Y/N glanced at him in surprise at how quickly he relaxed in her embrace but smiled. Her arms tightened around him, smiling at the familiar warmth of his embrace.

The unspoken words of “I love you” were stuck in both of their throats, yet pushed it down so as to not break the peaceful atmosphere of the hug. Xiao found that all of the yelling and screaming of the voices within his head would quiet down while Y/N found warmth and comfort on a lonely night. Neither wished to let go so they didn’t, enjoying the peace in each others’ presence.

It was unfortunate that the peace they found in each other would disappear as fast as they had first discovered it.

-----------------

Y/N was feeling great and energetic, but that mood quickly went sour as she collapsed. Kneeling on the floor, a series of loud coughs shook her body. As her hand drew away from her mouth, Y/N's eyes widened in shock at the sight of red liquid, dribbling down her palm. She was unable to think further about it as her arms gave out, falling on her side with the cold tile.

People around her panicked, yelling for healers, doctors, anyone that could help her. Their yells were quickly drowned out though, as Y/N succumbed to sleep.

The week that passed was nothing but a blur to her. Only remembering different people doing different things to her. They tried speaking to her, asking her about how she felt. Y/N could only mutter incomprehensible words in reply.

As the middle of the second week arrived, the healers and doctors deemed that she was beyond saving. Her friends came to see her, although Y/N could barely pay attention to them as her vision blurred. 

Before the healers and doctors retreated back to their offices riddled with guilt, they provided Y/N with painkillers, hoping that it would save her from further pain. As they closed the doors, they could hear the pitiful girl mutter out one word, 

"...Xiao..."

The door closed with a loud echo and Y/N succumbed to sleep once more.

Y/N awoke to a hesitant and rough, yet gentle, touch to her forehead. She could recognize that touch from anywhere after countless hugs despite the warnings. She leaned into his touch. The touch of the one she found herself growing to love. Y/N opened her eyes slowly, meeting the familiar golden eyes of Xiao. She smiled weakly, softly whispering his name.

He lifted his hand, a bitter and heartbroken expression crossing his face. He bit his lower lip before he found himself revealing all of his guilt to the frail one under him.

"Why...why must a foolish mortal like you continue to be around me…? You are only like this because your soul cannot handle being around adepti like me…I told you that, yet you continue to be near me, and now, here you are, dying."

He drew his hand away, the radiating warmth of his fading away. Y/N weakly reached for his hand, grasping it weakly. "...I stayed, beside you because, because I… I love you, Xiao," they whispered.

Xiao's jaw tensed, "Don't be foolish, us adepti would never be able to understand you mortals' emotions."

Instead of pouting like they normally would, Y/N simply laughed weakly, "You're right… but that doesn't... stop me from loving you, Xiao…"

Xiao growled quietly, and sharply took back his hand from the weak grip of Y/N, turning around to the window to leave. Barely getting more than five steps away, he heard a large collision to the floor. Whipping around in alarm, he saw Y/N attempting to sit up.

Without realizing it, Xiao took a few large strides, kneeling down next to them and helping them up. Although as soon as his hand had come into their sight, they quickly grasped his hand. Slowly lifting their head up, Xiao was taken aback to see tears falling down their cheeks. Before he could scold them, Y/N weakly began to speak.

"It's… it's fine, if you...if you don't like me back… but please, please don't leave me alone," They rested their head against Xiao's chest, clinging to his shirt now, "Please, please don't let me die all alone again…"

Xiao was tempted to take their hands off of his shirt but was taken aback at their last sentence. Although confused, he gave in after a few minutes of silence, awkwardly resting his hands on top of their head and back as Y/N cried into his chest. He didn't understand what they meant, but it didn't matter. Because he's known for a long time by now that he could never say no to Y/N.

“...You’re a foolish mortal, Y/N,” he gruffly whispered as Y/N calmed down. They froze at the whisper of their name coming from his lips, realizing it was the first time Xiao has ever said their name. Finally processing what he had said, Y/N smiled weakly.

“I guess I am.”

Xiao shifted and maneuvered their body so that he was holding them in his arms. He stood up slowly, and placed them back into their bed, tucking them in. Y/N allowed themself to soak in the gentleness and comfort of Xiao’s touch.

They turned to their side, resting their right hand on top of Xiao’s hand. He flinched at their touch but made no move to remove his hand from theirs. Her eyes shifted from their hands to his golden eyes as he stared outside the window. Xiao’s golden eyes were always beautiful, but the beauty couldn’t hide the spark of sadness and guilt in his eyes. Y/N wanted to wish those emotions in his eyes away, wishing that she could’ve made her wish about wanting him to always be happy instead of wanting more time with him. 

Y/N snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Xiao’s voice, “...You should rest,” his eyes shifting to her own.

“...But-”

“Sleep. I will be here when you awake,”

Both of them knew Xiao was lying, a lie to bring her comfort in her final moments. 

Y/N wanted to stay awake, to continue being with Xiao for as long as she could. As she struggled to stay awake, Xiao shifted his hand and interlaced his fingers with hers.

“There’s nothing to fear, I will keep you safe while you sleep.”

Y/N wanted to argue, wanted to tell him that she’s not sleepy, but is unable to even speak as Xiao uses his free hand to close her eyes. “Geh-”

“Don’t fight and waste your energy, Y/N.”

Y/N used the last of her strength to force a pout but smiled at his awkward attempt of showing that he cared for her. Before allowing herself to slip into the depths of sleep, she whispered.

“I...I love you, Xiao.”

Xiao stayed quiet as the hand intertwined with his hand started to grow limp before falling out of his grasp completely. Tears were welling up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. The breathing and movement of her chest came to an eventual stop and he held back a hiccup. 

Xiao leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the fading warm lips of the girl below him. He pulled away after a few seconds, whispering the three words she never got to hear. “I love you too… Y/N”

By the time the moon rose to its peak, the adepti was gone from the scene. The only evidence of his presence was the wet patches on the sheets and the qingxin flower that rested on the girl’s chest.

Xiao stood at the base of Dihua Marsh, watching the moon rise with a sad expression, before placing his mask on and disappearing from view.

-----------------

Venti finished his story with a beautiful but sad song note and the crowd before him had tears welling up in their eyes. Despite the sad note, they applauded him and tipped him with mora. As the crowd dispersed, a couple of children came up to him. “Venti! Venti! Why didn’t they get a happy ending?” they whined.

Venti smiled sadly, “Although those two didn’t have a happy ending, it doesn’t mean that the story ends there.”

“Does that mean the adepti will find someone else to love?”

Venti laughed, “I’m sure he will.”

Meanwhile, in Liyue, a floating pixie sneezed as she talked with her companion. 

“Paimon, are you sick?” her companion asked.

“Paimon never gets sick!” the pixie rebuked, resting her fists on her hips.

The companion simply laughed in response and Paimon pouted. The two were in Dihua Marsh near the Wangshu Inn as they spoke. Paimon quickly brought the both of them back to the previous topic, “Anyways, isn’t that Xiao over there?” and pointed in a direction.

The traveler looked in the direction Paimon was pointing at, seeing the familiar yaksha, sitting before a formation that looked similar to that of a grave.

“What is he standing in front of?” the traveler murmured as they observed the yaksha.

“How about we check it out?” Paimon suggested and the traveler nodded.

They approached the adepti but the traveler froze in their tracks as they noticed a slightly transparent figure next to Xiao. The figure was in the shape of a young woman, softly smiling down at the adepti.

Paimon also saw the figure, quickly freaking out, “Gah-! Is… is that a… a ghost?!”

The shrieks of fear from Paimon quickly alert the figure and Xiao. As Xiao turns around, the figure disappears, and Xiao sighs at the sight of the pair.

“You two. What are you doing here?”

“A-ah… we just saw you, so uh…” Paimon tried speaking but was still frozen in place after the sight of the figure.

The traveler sighed, before continuing for her, “And we wanted to see how you were doing.” 

Xiao sighed and crossed his arms, “You need not be concerned about that. But why were you shrieking?” The traveler and Paimon exchanged glances before replying, “Uh… well Paimon saw what looked like a… a ghost, next to you!”

“A ghost…?” Xiao echos, pondering over it, “...I see.”

“...Do you know that ghost, Xiao?” the traveler asked.

“...It’s not of any importance,” he replied and turned around, “I must get going now.”

Before the traveler or Paimon could ask, the yaksha disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

“Sheesh!” Paimon crossed her arms, “why is he so rude sometimes?!”

The traveler smiled at Paimon’s whining before turning to look at the makeshift construct before them. Paimon follows their gaze, “Oh! We should check that thing out! We might get some clues!”

“...I feel like we’re intruding on his privacy by doing this,” the traveler mumbled as they followed Paimon. They stopped in front of the formation, noticing very little of any unique details. As they observed it, the traveler froze, sensing a presence behind them. Sharply turning around, they saw the figure of the young woman once again. 

“Huh? Is something wr-” Paimon quickly cuts herself off with a shriek as she turns around, seeing the ghostly figure as well. She quickly floated over to the traveler, hiding behind them, quivering in fear.

Taking out their sword, the traveler got into a fighting stance but was interrupted as the figure’s mouth moved. Although unable to hear it immediately, the words it spoke floated upon the wind, reaching the ears of the traveler with a tickle.

“...Take care of Xiao, please…” it whispered with a sad smile.

The traveler stares in confusion but is unable to speak further as the figure fades away.

-----------------

*this isn’t an actual character in the game, I just searched up Chinese names and got this lol

Anyways I hope everyone likes this!

#genshin impact #genshin impact xiao #genshin impact x reader #xiao x reader #genshin impact venti #genshin impact traveler #genshin impact angst #xiao x you #xiao x y/n #genshin x reader #genshin impact fanfiction #this has literally been something I've been #working on since Xiao's banner #lmao rip my motivation and sleep #it's finally done tho mwuhahaha #Xiao might be OOC #if he is then i'm sorry sob

[logo-comics]

I posted 54,536 times in 2021

2408 posts created (4%)

52128 posts reblogged (96%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 21.6 posts.

I added 5,173 tags in 2021

#fanfic summaries - 2093 posts

#bakarina - 598 posts

#hamefura - 598 posts

#my next life as a villainess - 596 posts

#bnha - 427 posts

#miraculous ladybug - 360 posts

#logo's crafting chronicles - 159 posts

#rwby - 128 posts

#princess tutu - 114 posts

#fortune lover dlc - 100 posts

Longest Tag: 52 characters

#my next life as a villianess all routes lead to doom

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Modifying Even More Figures

These four were each on clearance at Target. You should probably recognize the Courier and Valkyrie’s doppelgangers. I’m looking forward to working on these.

As always, this will be tagged “logo’s crafting chronicles“.

49 notes • Posted 2021-10-05 02:08:22 GMT

#4

Fortune Lovers Inverted Personalities DLC

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Mary weren't so demure and self-sacrificing? If Sophia were a social butterfly? If Geordo were less... like himself? Have we got the DLC for you!

Join Maria Campbell as she navigates the the Sorcier Academy of Magic! But this is not the Maria you know, nor is this the Academy you're familiar with.

Maria, having grown up an outcast and ridiculed and despised by her fellow commoners, dreams of becoming the greatest Light Magic wielder of all time, with political allies to help her forge herself into someone that those who mocked her would fear the return of!

Joining her in this tale are the main cast as you've never seen them before!

Prince Geordo: The Soft-Hearted Prince - I do hope that you don't have any troubles during your time at this Academy. If you do, my fiancee and I would be more than happy to ensure you feel safe. A brilliant mind and an understanding of the political situation of Sorcier, he is a bit of a pushover, reliant on his fiancee to ensure that he doesn't get forced into things that he doesn't want to do. A rather simple pawn, if you so desire.

Prince Alan: The Good-Humored Prince - Hey, congratulations on getting the second-highest score, Miss Campbell! You earned it! A musical prodigy with a love of life in general and deeply emotionally invested in his relationship with those he cares about, he tends to let his heart lead more than his head. Handy, in that he is exceedingly loyal to whoever gains his loyalty.

Keith Claes: The Flustered Nobleman - Oh my! I am terribly sorry, Miss, I don't mean to be so forward, but you seemed to have dropped your handkerchief and I wished to return it to you so that you would no longer be without it and... A hopeless romantic at heart, this heir to the most influential politically neutral nobleman of Sorcier has some difficulties talking to those he finds attractive, something that ironically increases his appeal to many of the student body. A potentially useful piece to have on the board.

Sophia Ascart: The Beloved Storyteller - "Oh, would that I could still be Emma, be ever the merchant's daughter you knew, Sophia!" the Princess wept, "For I hold you first and foremost in my heart!" Capable of reciting entire books from memory, she quickly became popular in her youth for the powerful performance she gave to her readings, enthralling all those who hear her. There is no benefit, save her company, in the grand scheme of things, but that can be enough for some.

Sirius Dieke: The Ill-Tempered Student Council President - As a member of my student council, you are supposed to set an example. If you break the rules, I will personally make your life a living hell. A short fuse is what defines this strict proponent of order and discipline. Theoretically, he means well. **SPOILERS FOR THE MAIN GAME** Raphael is much more bitter in this setting and managed to essentially kill the spirit of the Dark Mage's ghost through sheer anger, albeit at the cost of the original revenge plan.

And, naturally there are the rivals to consider as well!

Nicol Ascart: The Exuberant Dandy - I hope that we can become good friends during our time at the Academy! I think you'd love to meet my sister! Son of the Prime Minister, he is quite the cheerful, handsome fellow, whose personality belies a great intelligence. A clever mind with somewhat unconventional thought processes, he could be useful.

Mary Hunt: The Bold Noblewoman - Pardon me, Miss Campbell, but I simply must kiss my fiancee. He is always at his most attractive when he really gets into his composing... Daring, affectionate, possessive yet somehow still managing to be polite about it. Daughter of a Marquis, she will not give up her fiancee without a fight if you try it.

And, of course, what game of Fortune Lover would be complete without:

Katarina Claes: The Compassionate Villainess - If I am cast as a villainess by my appearance and mannerisms, I will use this image to help others! A young woman with the heart of a saint, but the appearance and habits of a demon in human form, she has turned intimidation into an artform, forcing other nobles to help fund charities and stopping attempts at bullying with a glare. A gentle heart and a visible menace, she makes for an interesting contrast, at least. And before you ask, YES! She is romanceable!

Meet the Capture Targets! Win their hearts and minds as Maria plans to rock the world! All of this and more awaits you in Fortune Lover's Fortune's Shadow DLC!

58 notes • Posted 2021-08-20 04:42:18 GMT

#3

I have no idea what this is. But it was fun to play with the textpost generator and I’m still proud of the fact that every panel with a faceless MC was modified that way with MS Paint.

59 notes • Posted 2021-08-04 01:13:46 GMT

#2

Modifying a Toy Soldier

So, ever since middle school, one of my hobbies has been modifying 3.75in. - 4.00in. toy soldiers, something I’ve been getting back into recently.

The two in the front were my first batch, repaired due to being broken and melted, and repaired with clay and various other items.

The one on the left was the most burned and later lost an arm, which I replaced using a paperclip over his torso, one of those long twisting rubber-covered wires used to pack newspapers, and clay. His face was covered by a broken skull ring I found and I used clay for the rest of it to keep it in place and cover the rest of his horrifically burned head. He lost his other arm’s shoulder years ago, so I used a woodburning tool and a plastic bottlecap to reattach it. The soles of his boots are coated in clay, as well, as he could not stand without it due to more burns.

On the right, the hands and face were replaced with clay due to the face being burned off and the hands being broken (this actually was my brother’s doing, not mine) his legs had also been ripped off by him, so I used superglue, a broken Tech Deck my friend was gonna throw away, and a wooden pencil I split into pieces to get two pieces of appropriate size. Clay was also used to fix the brim of his hat and, while it’s hard to see here, he has three slits in the clay below the eyeholes to create a vaguely Cthulhu-esque look.

Recently, I’ve purchased another toy soldier, complete with guns and a motorcycle.

I will be working on the two of them here, using  a multitool, spare parts from other toy soldiers and vehicles that I have lying around, possibly a hot glue gun, paint and brushes, and other such things. If you aren’t interested in seeing this, I will be tagging this “logo crafting chronicles" and it will be recorded in real time through photos and my noting upon what I’ve done with each step.

61 notes • Posted 2021-03-14 03:49:00 GMT

#1

Modifying More Figures

These three came from a Fortnite Christmas skin set that I found at Target. I bought it for the Knight, to be honest.

This fellow came from a Roblox single package nearby and I bought him because I liked the look.

I will be trying to make sure to take photos as I go through them so I can show what is done, this time. As always, this will be tagged “logo’s crafting chronicles”.

66 notes • Posted 2021-09-07 02:30:07 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

#my 2021 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

[dean-you-assbutt-cas-loves-you]

I saw in your tags that there’s some old destiel fic you like on ffn. Do you have any recs ? :)

omg I haven’t been on there in years! like last time I read anything on there was like in 2014 lmao xD

32 fics total - I just checked and all of them are still up...there’s like 30+ more that I bookmarked that isn’t on the list cuz I’m not sure if they’re destiel fics or not so I gotta re-read them

all the ones below are fics that I’ve recced before in the past

1. All Angels Need Their Wings - RATING: NC-17 | LENGTH: 29,784 (2012)

Dean never thought that Castiel would ever return. And when he did, he came in a very unexpected way, a very horrifying way. SLASH Castiel/Dean. Wing-Kink. Takes place in season 7. AU.

2. Heart Trouble - RATING: NC-17 | LENGTH: 74,320 (2011)

Dean's having a harder and harder time of denying what he feels for a certain blue-eyed friend of his. And it's making him a little ornery, and a lot confused.

3. It Hurts - RATING: NC-17 | LENGTH: 29,963 (2013)

Inspired by the S9 Trailer Cas had watched the angels fall and with them, his self worth. Now human facing the challenges of navigating mortality he also tries to find a place for himself in this new world. It is a hope he has to find without the Winchesters, without Dean. So now he runs, from both Heaven, Hell and from Dean. 

4. Small Problem - RATING: NC-17 | LENGTH: 13,310 (2011)

A cursed artifact has made Castiel miniature, it's amusing for the Winchesters at first until they realize he might stay that way forever. Slash Dean/Castiel Please R&R

5 My Broken Angel - RATING: M | LENGTH: 24,999 (2010)

When Castiel disappears from his vessel, Dean is concerned. But when Castiel reappears and seems to avoid him, Dean is heartbroken. Set mid-season 5. 

6. A Hand - RATING: M | LENGTH: 23,474 (2010)

Dean/Cas, multichapter, slight AU. Dean's busy trying to re-soulify his brother, but Cas needs help. Maybe it's time Dean gave it to him. Ch. 15: Dean glared indignantly. "I find the term 'lovebirds' to be offensive. We prefer to be called 'sex-falcons.'" 

7. Saving Grace - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 38,602 (2010)

With everything that was going wrong in Dean's life, it took him a while to realize that the person close to him that really needed the most help was Castiel. 

8. Candy - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 98,068 (2013)

The Fall from Heaven changed everything. The supernatural no longer hidden. Angels roaming the planet. Sam and Dean's immediate concerns were on a smaller scale. What do you do with the former King of Hell? Where is Castiel?... Destiel/Mute!Human!Cas/Angst!Dean

9. Dude, Dean Looks Like a Lady - RATING: M | LENGTH: 20,774 *gen/pre-slash* (2013)

Sam's good, Cas has been found, and demons everywhere seem to be on hiatus. Seems like things are looking up for Team Free Will that is until Dean wakes up with his very own vagina anyway. Warnings: Fem!Dean, Destiel, female masturbation and S8 spoilers.

10. Evil Intent, Trials of Love, & Finding My Angel - RATING: NC-17 | LENGTH: 36,729, 70,453, & 59,941 *rape, graphic torture, violence* (2009)

Anna rapes Castiel and uses a method that torments him more than anything imaginable. WARNING: Rape and Castiel/Dean makes sense when you read it . If you don't like then don't read!

11. Cascade - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 44,626 (2013)

"And if you fall as Lucifer fell, you fall in flames!" An 8x23 coda. 

12. Count The Cracks, Hear The Shatters, Feel The Insanities - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 44,626 *gen/pre-slash* (2013)

They've walked miles on gravel roads that led to hell and back but the journey never quite ends. This is the story of Castiel and the Winchesters after the angels fell from heaven. Post Season 8. 

13. Damn Straight & Wait Wait Wait - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: about 21,000 (2010)

Humorous Cas/Dean, with multiple POVs. Slight AU. Fluffy. Ch. 5: Sam sat in the Impala in the motel parking lot, praying that three and a half hours at the library had been long enough.

14. Entertaining Angels - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 43,659 *gen/pre-slash* (2008)

A strange boy shows up at Dean and Sam’s motel room. Maybe he needs help, or maybe he’s there to help them—they can’t quite tell. Spoilers through 4.10. Not an OC. 

15. Happy Friggin’ Valentine’s Day - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 22,771 (2010)

SLASH. It all started with Dean's perfectly healthy hatred of frivilous holidays and a much-coveted sack of dust. Poor Castiel doesn't fully understand 'romance' to begin with, and this crash course is most unwelcome. 

16. I’m Just a Love Machine - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 29,200 (2011)

The Impala finally gets the chance to love Dean back. The problem is, Castiel seems to be in its way. 

17. It’s The Great Destiel Shipper, Sam Winchester - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 49,641 (2012)

What's Sam really doing all that time on the computer? Fangirling. Over Chuck's Supernatural books. Now Wincest might be a bit too much to deal with, but Destiel he might be able to get on board with... Especially after being around the two people involved for three days straight. 

18. Pain in the Head - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 78,771 *character death* (2011)

It started out slow. "Since when do angels have headaches?" "Since they become human." Established Dean/Cas. Sort of AU. PG-13. Complete. 

19. Sleep in Heavenly Peace - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 45,517 *christmas fic* (2013)

Dean wants to have a nice, peaceful Christmas for once, but it seems like the universe won't let him. Dean/Castiel. Post-8.08 (Hunteri Heroici) AU. First in "Holidays With the Winchesters are Always Fun." 

20. The Shattered One - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 94,021 *grace mpreg* (2012)

When it struck Castiel, it dropped him out of the sky. He set down the first place he could find. He stood in a field in Switzerland, swaying on his feet and staring down at his body, dazed by what it had just done.

21. This Cupid Isn’t Stupid - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 41,572 (2012)

Dean receives a shock when he wakes up to discover Castiel has returned. Why is the angel suddenly back? Why have his powers dimmed? And.. Why are he and Dean joined together by an invisible rope!

22. Wild Horses, Cas - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 23,505 (2013)

(S8 Spoilers (story is set in S9), Sickfic! Destiel, Minor Sabriel). When Cas comes down with a bad case of Pneumonia it leaves Dean feeling more protective over his friend than ever, but will it also lead to Dean's admittance of his feelings towards his friend? 

23. Wrong - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 51,384 (2010)

Angels are not supposed to drop out of the sky into motel rooms, broken and beaten. They're not supposed to bleed like that. It was all wrong. 

24. The Reluctant Contestant - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 50,502 (2012)

AU When Gabriel is hired as a new host for a dating show, Cas has no choice but to follow his brother along as part of the camera crew. Forced at the last minute to be a contestant, he is shocked when Dean Winchester continually refuses to eliminate him. 

25. The Ugly Duckling - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 81,676 (2012)

Castiel: a nerdy, skinny thing with a crush on the the most popular guy in class. Being unpopular isn't easy and it's worse when the homophobic school figures him out. A small struggle to be noticed by his crush is turned into a huge struggle for himself and his dignity. But bullying can get the better of anyone. Slash. Destiel rated M for later chapters. 

26. Nameless - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 77,882 (2013)

AU. Everyone has the name of their soulmate written on their wrist at birth. Well, everyone except Dean Winchester. Complete. 

27. Cufflinks - RATING: M | LENGTH: 61,845 (2012)

The world is full of creatures that prey on humans. It is up to 'Hunters' to fight against the dark. Lucky Hunters rely on the help of angels they have bound to their service. Sam and Dean may be good Hunters, but they have yet to capture an angel. One day, Sam finds an angel and seizes the opportunity to bind the angel to himself. Little did they know what they were getting into. 

28. Angel Training - RATING: M | LENGTH: 95,700, Angel Training 2: Save Us - RATING: M | LENGTH: 76,888, & Angel Training 3: Uprising - RATING: M | LENGTH: 89,512 (2011)

In a world where angels are common and the most privileged or skilled people are able to own one; the world's angelic hierarchy is about to change when Dean Winchester receives a wild and recently caught angel.

29. Chasing Your Shadow - RATING: M | LENGTH: 92,077 (2012)

The prophecy says that when Castiel turns twenty-three winters old, a stranger will come into his life and bring a lot of suffering. But do prophecies always come true? Demon Dean/human Castiel AU 

30. The Holiday - RATING: M | LENGTH: 32,088 (2011)

Castiel and Sam are unlucky in both life and love, so they swap houses for the holidays. Both find the experience highly...interesting. Dean/Castiel Sam/Gabriel

31. And In Your Arms I Shall Find Shelter- RATING: M | LENGTH: 33,824 (2012)

Dean Winchester is a long forgotten painter who suddenly receives an order for a painting from a rich man - Crowley. He is about to start painting when Castiel - his personal reaper visits him. The main question is: Will Castiel give Dean enough time to finish the painting? 

32. Jar of Hearts - RATING: PG-13 | LENGTH: 127,192 (2013)

February being the supposed 'month of love' people seem to forget that it's also one of the coldest times of the year. Valentine's Day themed events in a cafe turned bar is how Dean managed the courage to speak to the locally famous singer and somehow score a date, a relationship, and a man he didn't deserve out of the deal. Destiel college/uniAU some Sabriel 

#ask me stuff #my fic recs #destiel #spn fanfic #Anonymous

[tsarisfanfiction]

21 Asks: Fanfiction Q&A

Well I got tagged by @onereyofstarlight @gumnut-logic and @janetm74 for this, so here goes (answering on fic blog, because... fic!)

This is going to take a while, but it’s also going to be fun, so let’s get started :D

1. What fandoms have you written for?

Uhh... several.  In alphabetical order because that makes my brain happy, we have:

Published: Bleach, Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia), D.Gray-Man, Detective Conan, Flight Rising, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Märchen Awakens Romance (MÄR), Mortal Instruments, Naruto, One Piece, Team Fortress 2, Thunderbirds, Twilight.

WIPs (Unpublished): Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dragon Orb, Flame of Recca, HunterXHunter, Inuyasha, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures (Part 7/Steel Ball Run), Kuroko no Basuke (Kuroko’s Basketball), MI High, Yu-Gi-Oh (Duel Monsters, GX, 5Ds), Yuri On Ice

A couple of those are only because of crossovers... which we’ll get to later.  Similarly, a bunch of the unpublished I have no plans to publish, but I’ve written them so they count in my head.

2. How many works do you have on AO3 &/or FFNet?

AO3: 150 FFN: 149 (the difference is due to a co-authored fic with @lenle-g on AO3, because FFN doesn’t support co-authorship)

(Tumblr has many more because so many of those fics are actually fic collections)

3. What are your top 3 fics by kudos on AO3 &/or favs on FFNet?

AO3 Kudos:

Tales From The Heart (1449)

The Combat School (524)

Succor (348)

FFN Favourites:

The Combat School (681)

Tales From The Heart (185)

Succor (136)

4.  Which 3 fics have the least kudos & favs?

AO3 Kudos:

Wishes of the Dark (0)

4am Forever / Leave Out All The Rest (2)

FFN Favourites:

A Little Fall of Rain / He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, Leave Out All The Rest / See You In The Sky / Stolen Shadows all have 0

5. Which Fic has the most comments and which has the least?

AO3 Comments:

Tales From The Heart (618)

37 have 0

FFN Reviews:

The Combat School (608)

After Sundown / Heroes Made of Gas / Splatter / Stolen Shadows (0)

6. Which complete fic do you wish had gotten more attention?

I mean, I always like attention :P  That’s a hard question because my fandoms vary wildly in size, so for example, while Tales is one of my most popular fics, it’s still pretty tiny in comparison to the big One Piece fics out there, but ones like Grounded numerically barely rate while actually getting the attention of a much larger proportion of the fandom.

Honestly the fic that’s getting less of a response than I’d hoped is still incomplete... but I think I’ll go with Vulnerabilities.  It’s an older fic, and a drabble collection rather than a cohesive story, but it never really got any traction.

7. Have you written any crossovers?

Ah yes, crossovers.  I’ve got three published at the moment:

The Combat School (Harry Potter/D.Gray-Man)

Vampire vs. Shinobi (Naruto/Twilight)

Stolen Shadows (Flight Rising/Thunderbirds)

As far as WIPs go, I have (who knows when or if I’ll actually finish or post these):

Alliance (Naruto/Team Fortress 2)

Black Phoenix (Harry Potter/D.Gray-Man)

Legend of the Exorcists (D.Gray-Man/Yu-Gi-Oh/GX/5Ds)

Untitled (Avatar: The Last Airbender/Thunderbirds)

Untitled (Inuyasha/Lord of the Rings)

8. What is the craziest fic you’ve written?

What even counts as crazy?

Okay, I say that, but Vampire vs. Shinobi is a stupid, Twilight-bashing, parody crossover thing so.  Probably that.

9. What’s the fic you’ve written with the saddest ending?

Ahaha.  There are a few.  All of these have MCD warnings (two are canonical), two of which are suicide, so watch out if you’re poking around:

Deception (canon)

I Promised

The Fish and the Mermaid

The Light That Shines Twice As Bright... (suicide)

Torture (suicide)

Unwanted

Whirlwind (canon)

10. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

Tsari likes positive endings.  I’m not actually sure what the happiest is, though.  I often write... hopeful, rather than happy?  The happiest I can think of... is a WIP that I have the ending planned for but that’s spoilers~

I’ll go with Riding the Dragon, I think.  But honestly just take your pick out of the family fluff.

11. What is your smuttiest fic?

Tsari does not post smut.  She has written some, she has not posted it and will keep it that way.

Out of the posted stuff... there is kissing in Briefings?

12. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

I think when you hit 100+ fics, you’re lucky if you don’t.  I’ve had a few here and there, but they’re ignorable

13. What is the nicest comment you’ve received?

Oh boy.  I have had many nice comments, but I am going to highlight this one in particular because it’s the one that forever and always springs to mind when I get asked this:

Wow. That was pretty great. You writing managed to keep everyone in character, and still kept the story from falling flat. It's almost as if you stole a page from Cassie's story, and stuck it here. I really want to see more from you.

On: A Tradition of Pride

It’s nowhere near the longest I’ve got, and long comments make me super happy, but this one?  Being told it fits in with the original book?  Makes me beam like an idiot every time.

14. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

[insert eyeroll here]

I have had fics reposted, yes.  Tales From The Heart and Whirlwind have both found themselves posted on sites I don’t use - I managed to get Tales taken down, but the site hosting Whirlwind isn’t paying me any attention.

15.  How many fics do you have marked as incomplete?

Nine, which is both too many and not as many as I thought.  Although if you ignore the collection fics - Tales From The Heart and Behind The Scenes, which are basically eternal wips - it’s seven.

16. Which of the WIPS will most likely be finished first?

Just A Bruise, because it’s already just about finished, @lenle-g and I just need to tie up the final chapter and editing the rest of it before it’s posted.

17. Which WIP are you looking forward to finishing?

Long Way From Home, because it’s going to be huge and finishing that will feel amazing.  But it’s going to take a long time.

18. Is there a WIP that you’re considering abandoning?

Nope.  I will, one day, finish all of them.  Yes, even Uchiha Itachi.

19. Which complete fic would you consider rewriting?

Complete?  None.  However, the above mentioned Uchiha Itachi is being (very slowly) rewritten - and is actually on its second rewrite - because it pains me in its current state.

20. Which complete fic is your favourite?

Asking the hard questions I see.  I have a soft spot for In Your Shadow, I admit, although I have several fics that I love (mostly my Military Bros stuff...).  Also Tales, although that’s technically not “Complete”.

21. What’s your total published word count?

AO3: 956,962 (I aim to break 1 million by the end of the year... just watch me!)

FFN: 1,102,070 (FFN counts author’s notes, AO3 does not)

If someone is brand new to your writing, what work would you want them to start with to get to know you, your style, what you’re all about?

This is not a numbered question, I see, but it was on the post I copied these from, so I guess this is 21+1 questions!

I’ve answered this before, and honestly I think I’d stick with the same answer - Black Widow.  It’s not my biggest fandom.  It’s not my most recent work.  But it does contain a lot of playing around canon without breaking it.

Although, if someone has the time, Tales From The Heart does great for showcasing the range of things I write.  But that’s also 250+ chapters, so probably not a good one to start with.

And this is where I tag people, yes?  Not entirely sure who’s been tagged already, but let’s go with @lenle-g @ak47stylegirl @thetwelvecaesars @gaviiadastra @willow-salix @scribeofred

#thunderbirds are go #and various other fandoms i am not tagging them all #ask me #tag game #fanfiction

[sproutsgcrden]

sentinel of naruhata | chapter two

mr. nice guy

warnings: graphic descriptions of violence, one short scene implying sexual harassment (non-graphic), manga spoilers for my hero academia: vigilantes

word count: 3383

previous chapter | masterlist | read on ao3 | next chapter

want to be tagged? send me an ask and let me know!

If someone had told Koichi that he would get jumped, well, he may have believed them. That’s not too uncommon, especially around Naruhata. And it really wouldn’t be odd if it happened to him specifically. He just had that kind of luck. However, if they had also mentioned that a nine-year old would jump in and save him, he’d be a bit skeptical.

He honestly didn’t know if he quite believed what he had witnessed. One moment he was about to get hit by a guy he had managed to piss off earlier in the day, and the next some kid had shown up seemingly out of nowhere, threatening to steal his attacker’s quirk. Koichi didn’t think that was possible. Sure, there had been copying quirks, and erasure quirks were rare, but a quirk that allowed a person to take another quirk? That didn’t seem right, at least, it didn’t seem too entirely possible. A quirk is an integral, unique part of each individual- there’s no way somebody can take that, right? He could be wrong, it wasn’t like he was studying quirk theory.

As soon as the kid hightailed it out of the store with his strange assortment of items, Koichi knew he’d been in for it. He had already been late to work today because of the whole fiasco from earlier. He didn’t mean to run into Spiky Dude- it had just happened! Yeah, maybe he shouldn’t have been using his quirk in public, but he was running late! And then, of course, Spiky Dude just had to show up at the same convenience store Koichi worked at, and had to rough him up on the same day he was late. His manager was already absolutely pissed, and Koichi really didn’t want to stick around any longer than he had to in fear of a lecture, or something worse.

Luckily for him, he was nearing the end of his shift by the time Spiky Dude had entered the store, and the kid had helped him waste a lot of time due to the insane amount of items he was purchasing. All he had to do was clock out and sneak out of the door, which should be fairly easy. After punching out on the system and closing the register, Koichi grabbed his bag and began to get ready to leave.

“Haimiwari.” Koichi closed his eyes in disappointment, sighing before turning around with a fake grin.

“What can I do for you, sir?”

The angry tapping of the shoe really should have been enough warning, in hindsight.

------

The streets of Naruhata were busy for the late hour, not too unusual but it was something that Koichi didn’t want to bother with after the night he had. Of course that stunt had gotten him fired. Perfect. It wasn’t like it was his fault! He was the victim in all of this! What, did his boss really think that he wanted to get dragged into an alleyway and get beat up? Koichi grunted as he walked around a slow-placed couple. He would have to find another job and fast. Rent was coming up, and he still had payments due on his tuition. His left hand adjusted the strap of his backpack while his right passed over his face. This was too stressful to think about right now.

There was something he knew he could to help take his mind off of things for a while. Koichi’s eyes narrowed in determined concentration. Yeah, tonight was a good night for that.

------

The wind rushed through Izuku’s loose hair, tousling it beyond fixing. It felt wonderful, racing across the rooftops of an unknown city in the dead of the night. He was barely let out of his room and the training hall on good days- he could never hope to leave the confines of Kurogiri’s watchful eye. Which, unfortunately, meant that it was a rare opportunity to go outside… ever.

Izuku let out a harsh giggle, letting it echo in the air with a wide smile. He had never felt so free.

Slowing to catch his breath, Izuku pulled a wrinkled, old notebook out of his bag. Skimming through the pages, he stopped on the last entry he made. When researching Eraserhead, it wasn’t that hard to find out that the underground hero mainly patrolled in the Narahata Ward. However, it was a bit more difficult to find out specific times and locations of his daily patrols. He assumed that it changed quite frequently due to Eraserhead’s cryptid-like nature, but it was still frustrating to not know exactly where to find the hero. Especially since he wasn’t aware how much time he had before Tomura caught on to where he was.

However, Izuku did have a few locations that seemed to be promising. Most of them were hidden back alley’s, which made perfect sense. A majority of petty crimes took place during the day- they were a beacon to spotlight heroes, those who lived off the praise and popularity from civilians. But the nasty, evil villains? Oh, Izuku knew from experience that the worst of the worst were always found in the dead of night. Underground heroes always had to be on their toes, and it spoke volumes to Eraserhead’s vigilance that he’s remained pretty much untouchable and unnoticeable to those who wished ill intent.

Pulling up the map on his outdated phone, he inputted the first location he had written in his notebook. The specific alley was only about three blocks away. With a manic grin, Izuku pulled up the hood of his jacket and let Enhance swim through his veins once more.

------

The discs of air underneath Koichi’s palms lit up with a familiar burst of light, making the nineteen gleefully chuckle. The feeling of his signature All Might hoodie snugged tight over his torso provided him with an unexplainable comfort, as did the plain black mask covering the lower half of his face.

Koichi was inexplicably known for his plain nature at college (save for the rumors that said he was some creep that tried to lure girls into abandoned buildings. He really was just trying to make friends!), so it wasn’t like anyone would expect him to be the vigilante that ran around Naruhata at night.

Well, he supposed the word “vigilante” was a bit of an exaggeration. It wasn’t like he sought out and fought criminals, he just used his quirk to get around a bit faster and help out the common man. Koichi lost out on his chance of being a hero a long time ago, but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t help people when he had a bit of free time. As Mr. Nice Guy, he was able to get a glimpse of what he had dreamed about being his entire life.

Koichi zoomed through the lit up streets of Naruhata, providing directions to the lost, helping find missing items, and picking up bits of random trash. Everytime he received a “thank you” his eyes lit up- it was nice to be appreciated sometimes. The chorus of grateful civilians echoed within his mind as he continued to do good deeds throughout the night. After a few hours, he found himself moseying down a side road in hopes of heading home.

“All that do-gooding sure does make a guy thirsty.” He slipped down his mask, mumbling mostly to himself as he readjusted the straps of his bag.

A water bottle was thrust in front of him, followed by a peppy voice. “Here ya go!”

Koichi took the water bottle without thanking, shouting a quick “thank you” to whoever handed him the drink. And then, once he realized what had just happened, immediately did a double-take. Wide eyes looked over to the side of the road, only to see a young girl with pink, puffy pigtails staring at him with a bemused smirk.

“Pop Step?!” Koichi straightened his posture. “What are you doing here?!”

Ignoring his question, she began to walk out in front of him, hands stuffed in the pockets of her jacket. “So… you’re the guy picking up trash around town?” Her hand went to frame her cheek in wonder. “What’s your name again? Cockroach Guy?”

Wide, admiring eyes became downtrodden in an instant, an annoyed glare taking their place. “It’s Nice Guy!”

“Whatever! You’re the one who alerted me to the fuzz during my show, right? I wanted to say thanks, somehow!”

Koichi was the one who let her know the police were coming when she was performing her illegal street show earlier in the day. He didn’t care much for her music, but that didn’t mean he wanted to see her get arrested. Either way, he wasn’t sure why that provided an excuse to essentially stalk him. “So, you’ve been tailing me all day, huh?”

“Yup! I saw you almost get pummeled by those customers while you were working at that convenience store! I probably wouldn’t have stepped in either way, but wow! You were lucky when that little kid showed up, huh? Gotta admit, Cockroach Guy, that was pretty lame!”

“I don’t do well with violence, okay!” Koichi felt his eye twitch in annoyance; it was probably time to get out of this conversation before he lost his temper.

Pop Step’s face twisted with confusion. “Isn’t that dweeby hoodie supposed to be an All Might cosplay? And yet, you suck at fighting? That totally makes sense…”

“Sure, I look up to the guy. I wanna be useful to society however I can, just like he is! It’s got nothing to do with fighting! And the hoodie isn’t dweeby! It’s cool!”

“However you can?” Pop Step giggled, using her quirk to jump ust high enough to appear a little taller than Koichi. “So you know your place, at least!”

Koichi clenched his teeth in frustration, stepping around Pop Step to try and speed around her. “Stop getting hung up on the details! Knowing your place is important! If you keep playing at being some sort of pop idol, the cops will catch you sooner than later.”

Pop’s face scrunched up with a flash of anger, and if Koichi hadn’t had the night he had, he may have even been terrified. “Hey! I’m not ‘playing’ at anything! I’m the real deal!” She sped up, stopping in front of him as she pointed a perfectly manicured finger in his face. “You’ll just have to keep an eye out for the police! Also, I’ll need you to usher in my fans, set up the venues, and sell some merchandise!”

“Are you pissed off or hiring me for a job?!”

“Don’t you need one? Wouldn’t be surprised if you got fired after what happened!” Pop didn’t even take a moment to notice Koichi’s crestfallen glance towards the wall. “Anyways! If anyone can help me, it’s you- Know Your Place Guy!”

“Ugh. It’s Nice Guy!”

“Oh whatever!” Pop Step turned away from Koichi in order to run further down the alley, sparing him a glance backwards as she made her getaway. “I went through all of this trouble to express some gratitude… I didn’t think it’d be such a big deal, asking a ‘Nice Guy’ like you to do a little work to help a girl out!”

Koichi, good mood effectively ruined once again, went to bite back with a response. That was, until a familiar group popped into his view. He flinched as he saw Pop Step run straight into the leader, none other than the Spiky Dude who threatened to pummel Koichi into the ground just hours before. He could do nothing but stare as the group cornered Pop Step up against the wall, no doubt making her uncomfortable. Probably much more so than he was when he was in her position.

Now, if Koichi were a hero, this is when he would pull out all of the stops. He would crouch low to the ground, speeding to the men terrorizing the young girl and knocking them all on their asses. He would make sure he sped Pop Step to a safe location before coming back to make sure those bozos got arrested like they deserved. But, Koichi wasn’t a hero. And he would never be one. What could he do? His quirk was essentially useless in a fight. The only thing he was good at was running away.

But didn’t he have a duty to try and help? After all, if he couldn’t find the strength to help a young girl in this kind of situation, how could he try to help anyone else? With shaky legs and a determined glint in his eyes, Koichi bent low to the ground. The familiar pulse of his quirk activating below him provided little comfort, but he knew he had to push through this fear and go.

Mask pulled up, Koichi flew against the dirty pavement, locking eyes onto one of Spiky Dude’s lackeys. Now, if he could just get by unnoticed this time, he could knock this guy off his game and get Pop out of there. But of course, things never go Koichi’s way. That’s his luck.

The man caught him, large physique towering over him. The small tuft of flame acting as his hair cast an eerie shadow against the ground. “Well, well, well… look who we have here! Hey, boss! It’s the cockroach from earlier!” Still holding onto the back of Koichi’s hoodie, the large criminal threw him against the wall.

The pain of his head hitting against the rough edges of brick didn’t compare to the spikes slashing against his cheek.

“That annoying brat ain’t here to save you this time.” Spiky Dude’s eyes seem to glow in the dark night, and Koichi couldn’t ignore the sinister feeling pooling in his gut. “You ain’t getting away with just a small beating this time. I’m going to crush you. And I’m gonna enjoy it.”

The spiky criminal stalked closer to him; Koichi’s eyes immediately latched onto the blood dripping from the thick barbs protruding from the knuckles of his enemy. Shit. Shit. What could he do?! He really was going to die. Koichi shut his eyes in gruesome anticipation, hoping that at least Pop Step was using this opportunity to get away. A rush of air flew past his nose, and he blinked slowly. Looking up, Koichi locked eyes with Spiky Dude. The skewers had vanished from his knuckles, and the same, pale look of absolute petrification the criminal wore earlier in the night was on his face once more.

“Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t going to warn you next time?” The familiar voice of the kid that had stepped in during Koichi’s earlier encounter with this group echoed through the street, venom and animosity clear as day in his tone. Even Koichi shrunk into himself in fear. His wandering eyes latched onto a figure leaning down from the rooftop above, All Might hoodie bright against the black of night.

“I was looking for Eraserhead, but maybe I can do his job for him tonight and knock you fucker’s out.” Holy shit, what was up with this kid?

Koichi had noticed earlier that the kid had bright green eyes, but they seemed almost electrified, bright green sparks lighting off in his pupils as his glare deepened. He jumped off the roof, floating just above the ground before he hit it at full speed. His hand was held out, and Koichi glanced at the numerous scars stretching against the palored skin.

While Spiky Dude was distracted, Koichi took the opportunity to get back on his hands and feet, and forced himself to crash into the lizard looking man that was still holding onto Pop Step. She used the momentum from Koichi along with her quirk to jump out of the way and out of the alley. In his happiness of the fact that Pop was able to make a getaway, he wasn’t able to stop his momentum. Koichi ended up crashing straight into the other wall, the force of it knocking out the criminal he held tight in his grip.

“There’s no need for that!” A deep, grudd voice echoed from the other side of the street, and before anyone could react, a large fist connected straight into Spiky Dude’s nose. “The name’s Knuckleduster. And it’s my job to take out the trash like you.” Koichi barely even blinked, and the next moment the other tone was conked out right beside the leader.

What the fuck was happening?!

------

Izuku sighed in relief as he felt the rubber band snap against the quirk he held in his grasp, sending it back to its original owner as some random old man knocked him out. He didn’t want to steal a quirk, but that dude really wasn’t going to give him any choice. Luckily some geezer showed up before he could make good on his threat. He watched the man with a careful stare, seeing as he checked each of the criminal’s tongues before standing back up. His red sneakers crunched against the pavement as he lowered himself back to the ground; he walked towards the cashier he met earlier and held his hand out for him to take.

The man sitting across from him scratched the back of his head in a sheepish manner, choosing to take Izuku’s hand in order to get back up. “Uh, suppose that’s twice you’ve saved me, huh kid? We really have to stop meeting like this.”

Izuku chuckled, nodding his head in agreement. A cough sounded behind the two of them, and they both turned around to find the old man staring straight into their souls. Knuckleduster’s bandana covered his entire head, including the top half of his face, only leaving holes to see out of. His black trench coat was grimy, not to mention ripped on the hemlines. Everything about this screamed “homeless old man”, even down to the gritty way the man seemed to fight.

Izuku couldn’t help but think the man seemed familiar.

“You take quirks or something, kid?” The man’s eyes narrowed, his already gruff voice deepened.

“No! I don’t take quirks! I was just playing a bluff, really!” Technically, Izuku wasn’t lying. He hadn’t ever willingly taken a quirk before. “I have an erasure quirk! That’s why I’ve been looking for Eraserhead. I’m hoping he’s willing to train me.” Now, there’s the lie.

“Hmph.” Knuckleduster’s eyes stayed on Izuku a little while longer, tense silence following before he shrugged it off. “You both show promise. Gotta admit, when I heard about Naruhata’s newest vigilante, I wasn’t expecting him to have a sidekick.”

Both Izuku and Koichi stared at him in shock, making the old man laugh. It was a hearty laugh, scratchy and sarcastic. “People are gonna make that sort of assumption when you’ve got two kids helping fight crime in the exact same hoodie.” The two boys flushed, causing Koichi to shake his head.

“We just met today.”

“So? Doesn’t mean the two of ya don’t work well together. I almost didn’t need to come down here. If it weren’t for the threat of Trigger I probably wouldn’t have. Don’t know if it’s luck or not, but these thugs didn’t have a trace of the drug on ‘em.”

“Trigger?” Izuku knew what he was talking about. His father was one of the main benefactors of the production and distribution of the drug. Or well, he was before he got forced into a coma. He had originally thought the distribution would slow after the underworld had found out about All for One’s current medical status, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

Knuckleduster waved it away. “I can explain that later. After you two accept my offer.”

Koichi paled, backing away from the crazy old man. “What offer?”

A sinister grin formed its way onto Knuckleduster’s face, making the duo in front of him back away even further. “Let me teach you kids what it takes to do hero work, and how great it feels to pound some villains!”

Koichi thought this man was absolutely insane and would only lead him to more trouble.

Izuku thought that he had enough training from the villains themselves.

They met each other’s gaze before turning back to Knuckleduster.

“We refuse your offer.”

#bnha vigilantes fanfic #bnha vigilantes #koichi haimawari #kazuho haneyama #midoriya izuku #afo is hisashi midoriya #midoriya has a quirk #midoriya has all for one #midoriya fanfic #deku fanfic #deku au #bnha au #bnha fanfic