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gardens-light · 9 months

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On The Run

After discovering Optimus Prime in your family barn, normality seemed to briefly throw itself out of the window.

The leader of the Autobots couldn't be anymore in your debt. For as you spend every waking moment putting him back together- repairing and replacing parts of him to the best of your skill.

Admittedly, he almost gave up on humanity. As time seemed to prove itself that they would always look after their own, and protect what's theirs- no matter the cost. Betrayal unleashed it's ugly face to him multiple times, slapping him with the reality that Earth may not be safe for him and his Autobots anymore.

Yet here you stand before him. A warm smile with an aura of glittering hope, burning away his darkness of doubt. It was as though the Universe itself spoke through you, giving Optimus a warmth he thought was forgotten long ago. But he cannot help wander... how far could his trust in you really go...?

Content: Mild coarse language. Events takes place in Transformers- Age of Extinction. (Minor spoilers.) Mention of weaponry. Reader insert.

Word count- 2,800k

Sparkmate Series: Part 1 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 (End)

"Don't move like that."

Your hands pressed against Optimus' chest plate as you stood upon the scaffolding.

"The welds are still fresh. Transforming back into your truck form could ruin them- it would be like undoing stitches on a wound."

His Spark burst like small firecrackers as your delicate fingers brushed across his chassis. Jolts of electricity rush through his wires, as your touch run up towards his neck. Heat swept through his metal plates, as you reached up towards his cheek.

"You still need to heal, Big Guy. You of all people should know these things takes time..."

Optimus' optics snapped open. Your touch still lingering upon his chest plate like a ghostly inferred sensation. The memory of the previous hours of the day, playing on repeat within his processors. The haze of sleepiness soon rubbed off, his surroundings becoming faminular again.

His optics scanned the barn, the nocturnal wildlife outside disturbed the still night air. Your small whimpers of your voice caught his attention, Optimus' spark gave a warming glow as he looked down at you.

Engine grease staining your hands, as you curled up upon an old couch. Sleeping peacefully on your side, resting your head in the crook of your elbow.

Optimus' servo touched his lower abdomen, his digits feeling a fresh weld stretching up his side. A gentle sigh left him.

She must of pulled another all nighter.

Grabbing a blanket with his free servo, Optimus carefully draped it along your body. Allowing the tip of his index finger to trace your curves.

His Spark hummed, filling his chest with gentle warmth. Optimus quickly pulled away from you, placing his servo over his Spark.

No. Closing his optics, a heavy sigh left his mouth. Shaking his helm before the thought could permanently fixed itself to his processors. Nothing like that exists. It's just a romanticide idea...

---

"Y/N!" Tessa's voice shouted from the porch.

Stopping mid-weld upon Optimus' side. Gently tapping on the metal sheet, signaling for the Autobot to hold it in place while you pulled down your goggles around your neck.

"I don't like the tone of her voice..." you looked up at Optimus. He saw the worry shining in your eyes. "Hold that tightly, it's only half welded. Hide in there."

His optics followed your pointed finger, "go underneath the floorboards. It might be cramped for you, but it keep you be safe. Don't come out till I say."

Quickly leaving the barn and closing the door behind you. Swallowing down your nerves, as the sight of multiple black cars parked all across the gravel driveway and front lawn. Followed by your dad's truck.

"Oh no..."

A helicopter hovered a few meters away from the house. Disturbing the still air. As soon as the black vehicles parked, multiple heavy armoured individuals got out and scouted the farm.

A man wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses approached you, as your dad came to your side.

"Sweetie..?"

"I donno, Dad-"

"Mr Cade Yeager, my name is James Savoy. I'm a federal agent." Savoy took a look around the property. "My men and I are trying to track down an abandoned truck."

You watched one of the men walk past Tessa. Her eyes staring something in her hands, her fingers playing with the object. You saw her adjusting her breath to a calm rhythm, before looking up in your direction.

"It's a nice spread you've got here." Your attention turned back to Savoy. "Too bad she's up for sale."

"Thanks, and she's not." Cade boldly spoke. "And do you mean that truck?" he pointed to an vintage ute covered in rust, the grass and flowers started to reclaim it for many years now.

"Afraid not... y'know Mr Yeager. We received a call from someone whom is concerned about this truck. That wasn't you?"

You briefly glanced daggers to Tessa's direction. She quickly shook her head rapidly, using her index finger to draw a cross over her heart.

"The only thing I'm concerned about is you being on my property without permission."

Savoy scoffed at your dad's words.

"You know, there's a rule about people messing with people from Texas-"

"And we don't know what truck you're talking about."

Savoy took a step towards you, taking off his sunglasses allowing his narrowed stare to burn into your eyes. "The kind that cost American lives!... Ma'am..."

Savoy studied your firm expression before turning back to his men, "search the property!"

"What? What you mean 'search the property'? You don't have a warrant!" Cade protested.

Savoy glared at him, stepping into Cade's personal space. "My face is my warrant"

You swallowed nervously, trying to keep steady shallow breaths as you watched the men move throughout the farm. Roaming into the house and approaching the barn. Voices scratched over their radios, as the buzz of drones flew above.

Cade turned and looked at you, "what is going on Y/N?-"

"I don't know, Dad..."

His brown eyes studied you, "you sure?... I'm happy to vouch for you but I need to know what it is."

You hesitated before speaking, " I. Don't. Know..."

---

"The fuck is all this junk?"

"A hoarder's yard. That's what."

Optimus looked up at the floorboards, hearing voices and footsteps of the agents entering the barn. Trying to lower himself further down in the cramped floor space, his face wincing in pain as the half welded sheet dug into his thighs. Automatically covering it up with his servo.

"Clear!"

A groan escaped from an agent's lips. His footsteps retreating back to the barn doors, "there's no signs. We've got nothing."

Optimus rested his helm against the dirt wall.

"Sir! We have a live armed missile in the trash!"

The Autobot's wide optics quickly glanced up back up.

Oh no... Y/N!!

---

"Shit..." you hissed under your breath. Feeling Cade's questioning daggers immediately turning your way.

"I-I thought it was a dud." You lowly admitted. Hands clenched into fists.

Savoy's glaze switched between you and Cade.

"Look! Okay, yes. Yes, I found a truck. All right!" you admitted.

Tessa kept shaking her head. Cade leaned towards you, muttering your name.

"I towed it back for the parts, and left it here on the driveway last night. This morning it was gone." You gazed at Savoy. "When? Where? I don't know- I swear to God. That's as much as I know about him!"

You tried to approach Tessa. Eyes staring at the ground, Cade's voice shouted questions at you as he followed. But Savoy grabbed your arm.

"Ma'am-"

"What?-"

"You just said 'him'." Savoy smiled as your terrified expression told him everything. "Take them down!"

Your heart jumped into your throat. Fear running up your spine, as the agents forcefully grabbed Cade and Tessa, throwing them down against the grass.

"They don't know about the truck!" you protested. "I know! I know about it! Please, let them go!"

Savoy grabbed your jaw, forcefully making you look at him. "What kind of woman betrays her flesh-and-blood brethren, for some alien metal?"

"He's more human than you ever be!"

He groaned, wiping your spit away from his face. Savoy's fist made contact with your face, two agents restrained you by the arms holding you up. As Savoy grabbed your jaw again.

Clicking his fingers, the agents restraining Cade and Tessa pulled out their weapons. Clocking the gun and removing the safety.

"You'd kill my family?!-"

"If I have to. You've got ten seconds to tell me where the truck is."

Cade fought against the agent whom knelt against his back. "Don't you fucking dare touch my daughters! Hurt them and I'll kill you!"

Tears ran down Tessa's face as she yelled out for you and Cade. The sound of a gunshot made you flinch.

"Next one will go through your father's head." Savoy warned. "Now, the truck-"

"I've told you everything I know!" you protested. "He was here, and now he's gone! That's all I swear!"

---

"I'm telling you the truth!" your voice cried. Hearing the pain in your tone made Optimus' Spark weep. "He's not here! I swear! He's not here!"

"Tell your men to back off! Don't you dare fucking shoot my daughters!"

"Y/N! Y/N! Please!"

The cries from you and your family wurld around Optimus' head. Hearing Savoy countdown from ten, as he continued yelling his demands at you.

Optimus withdraw his cannon from his back plates. Clocking it, allowing the weapon to light up and wurl. Allowing his face guard to untuck from his faceplate and cover his mouth.

Let's roll!

Erupting from underground, Optimus opened fire at his enemies. Blowing them out of the way, and reducing the barn to splinters.

"Here I am!" his machical voice roared, standing at his full height. Allowing all to see him.

His Spark pulsating fast as his optics laid on you. Rage filled him as he changed the output of his cannon, firing non-lethal EMP's in your direction.

"Stay away from her!"

You knelt to the ground, using your arms to shield you from the blast as the agents flew away from you. Tessa and Cade quickly rushed to your side.

"What the fuck is going on?" Cade yelled over the comotion.

"Run Y/N!" you looked up at Optimus as his cannon returned to deadly rounds. "They're going to kill you! Get out of here!"

Heeding the Autobot's warning, grabbing your sister and dad by their hands. Running towards the wheatfield on the left of the farm. Two missiles came from above. Turning your once family home into nothing but rubble.

Without warning the sound of a car engine roared in the air, quickly stopping at the bottom of the wheatfield. As a white Hatchback raced down the hill, and came skidding to a halt before the three of you.

The passenger door flew open. "Hurry! Get in the car!" the male driver yelled.

"Daddy! Y/N! Get in the car!" Tessa shouted. Shoving your dad into the front passenger seat, and trying to pull you into the back with her.

"What about Optimus? We can't just leave him!-"

"Stop protesting, Y/N! And get in the car!"

"Perimeter! Optimus moving your way!" Savoy yelled into the receiver of his radio.

Optimus looked ahead. Breathing a little easier, once his scanners assured him you were at a safe distance. Seeing the Hatchback race down the road, a low groan escaped Optimus' mouth as he crouched down. Forcing his metal plates to shift, loud churning noises rumbled throughout his mechanical body, as he transformed back into a truck.

You and Tessa clung onto the roll cage for dear life, as the hatchback raced down the open fields.

"What's happening, baby? Who are these guys?" the male driver asked Tessa, looking at her reflection through the rearview mirror.

"It's the truck!" she yelled over the engine. "They want my sister's truck!-"

"Truck?! What truck?!" Cade looked at you over his shoulder. He turned to Tess, "who are 'they'?" his attention fell back onto the male driver. "Who are you? And who the hell are you calling, 'baby?'-"

Tessa and the driver paused.

"I know you heard me!-"

"He's Tessa's boyfriend!" you cried out.

Cade's eyes widened, "what?-"

"His name is Shane! I saw him leaving Tessa's room in his underwear!"

"What?!-"

Tessa punched your arm, "well Y/N brought home a Transformer!"

You punched her back. "If you're going to tell a secret. At least get it right! Optimus was already in the barn!"

"At least I tried to keep your secret!-"

"If we survive this. You two girls have a lot of explaining to do!" Cade shouted.

You and Tessa slouched back in the rear seats.

Shane bit his lip, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "Mr Yeager, this was not how I wanted us to meet ok?-"

"Introduction later!" Cade yelled. "Just shut up and drive the car!"

Two black cars appeared in Shane's rearview mirror. Putting the accelerator closer to the ground, the Hatchback raced through the neighboring paddocks.

"I'm going to try and lose them in the cornfield!" Shane spoke over the roaring engine, as he took a sharp right turn. Driving down a dirt road, kicking up dust and dirt behind him.

A scream left your mouth, as your wide-eyed gaze saw one of the black cars quickly emerging from the tall corn. "Watch out!-"

"Brace for impact!"

Heeding Shane's warning, you and Tessa grabbed hold of the handles above the passenger door. Reaching out for one another, as the car t-boned into the side of Shane.

Screams filled the car, as everyone tried to shield their eyes from the rain of glass. Forcing the Hatchback off the dirt track and into the tall field, Shane kept surprising control of the car. The vehicle swerved in and out of trees.

The speed chase continued onto the main road. Shane weaved in and out of oncoming traffic, effortlessly changing lanes and avoiding pedestrians. Other drivers bleeped their horns and flashed their headlights.

Tessa scrunched up her face, as the sound of crashing cars piled up behind as Shane drove through red lights. And sped through traffic.

Your heart beat hard against your ribcage. Anxiety and adrenaline raced through your veins. Closing your eyes and placing a hand over your stomach as Shane drifted around a corner.

"Great! Now they're firing at us!" Tessa said as bullets ricocheted off the Hatchback.

You and her quickly braced yourselves against the driver and front passenger seat.

"Man! I don't know how I'm driving so good!" Shane exclaimed with a smile. "It's like, today I've gone to a whole other level-"

"Road! Focus!" Cade shouted.

"Shane! Look out!" he drifted around another corner as Tessa's warning came to him.

Your stomach turned into a sickening knot, "I honestly don't know how long I can hold myself together-"

"Y/N! If you throw up on my jeans. I will never forgive you!"

You looked up at Tessa, giving her questioning eyes. "That's your concern right now?!-"

"Hang on!" Shane momentarily stopped the car. Skidding to the side, before putting his foot down on the pedal again and crashing through an empty cafe.

Exiting through the back alley and down an old, forgotten road.

"Lose them through the factory, Shane!"

"You got it, Babe!"

Racing around the empty car park of an abandoned factory. Swerving around corners and driving through large gaps in the building.

"I thought you knew how to drive this thing!" you shouted, as it appeared nothing Shane did was working in losing the tail chasers.

Optimus' Spark raced through his wires, as he drifted and turned through the factory. His scanners having a hard time keeping track of the little Hatchback. Metal plates shifted and groaned as he unleashed his full height, jumping from roof to roof of the factory in an attempt to keep up with you.

You quickly looked out the back window, as Optimus' voice called out for you. Your eyes widening as he rolled in the way of the black cars, causing them to slam into him and setting alight upon collision.

"Take them upstairs!" Tessa pointed from the backseat.

"We're gonna lose them on the fifth floor!" Shane agreed.

The knot in your stomach tightened as the Hatchback entered a multi-story car park. Your skin turned pale, bracing yourself against the back of your dad's seat, as the car drifted around corners and moved up the levels.

"Do that thing, Shane!"

"You know it-"

"What? What thing?" your panicky tone questioned.

"What we're about to do is gonna be kinda scary." Somehow Shane's tone didn't sound much of a warning, as he failed to hide the excitement in his tone.

Pressing the accelerator fully against the floor, Shane looked at Tessa through the rearview mirror. "Ready, Babe?"

"Got it" she said, leaning as far forward as she could. Grabbing onto the handbrake.

"Three. Two. One.. Pull!"

At Shane's command, Tessa pulled the handbrake as hard as she could. Causing the car to sharply stop, then turn right and continue racing towards a ramp that hung out of a window.

"No! No! No!" Cade cried.

The pit of your stomach lifted during the brief seconds of weightlessness. Until it dropped hard once gravity pulled you back down. A high pitch scream left your mouth, hands clutching into the back of Cade's seat, ripping the fabric. As you closed your eyes tightly.

By some miracle the Hatchback roughly landed on a ramp upon the ground. The two black cars behind you wasn't so lucky.

"You two girls are so grounded!" Cade shouted, as Shane drifted around one more corner.

Churning and clunking noises begun to erupt from the engine. The car finally came to an abrupt halt, as Shane slammed on the breaks.

Smoke begun to leak out of the hood.

"Shit! We gotta go!"

Shane and Cade quickly got out of the Hatchback. Optimus blared his horn, rolling up a few feet behind.

"Optimus!" you shouted as Cade helped you get out of the car.

The four of you ran towards the rusty truck. Quickly dodging the rain of bullets from above. Once safely inside, the Autobot sped out of the car park and raced towards the entrance to the highway.

#x reader #transformers x reader #optimus x reader #optimus prime #autobot x reader #optimus prime x reader #transformers fanfiction #transformers bayverse #optimus prime bayverse #optimus prime x you #fanfic writing #bayverse transformers #fanfiction #gardens light

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scekrex · 1 month

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Another idea💕💕💕 if you want to do this thank you 🙃

Male reader x Adam were y/n died for Adam and after the extermination he starts to see y/n every where he goes but believes it is his imagination, he didn't even like y/n so why is he caring so much for a nobody that save his life for him he is straight right? But one night in his apartment he couldn't stand it and hugged the imaginary y/n and he finally felt warm and starts to cry tears of joy and sadness even though you are not real.

"I'm sorry I let you down y/n"

"Oh, there's nothing to be sorry about, Adam"

"Not all of us are cut out to be exorcists"

"I'll say"

"Adam"

"This is really for the best"

"Some shouldn't have to survive there"

"You have a good life, an easy life some envy you"

"I miss you"

"I'll always be with you, Adam, and if you ever need me I'll be there"

"Now go dear it's starting to get dark"

"Adam I love you"

"I love you too y/n..."

Hurt/comfort 💕

Okay so we know Adam would never truly admit his feelings, never. Not even in a situation like that. So I changed it up a little bit but I hope you still like it!

Goodbyes that feel like you're still in my city

pairing: Adam x male!reader

warnings: language, mentions of character death

note: not beta read bc fuck you I don't have beta readers

He didn't know why you weren't able to leave his mind. He didn't know why he was feeling guilty for your death. Maybe because he was the reason you had died?

He did know that it was driving him insane though.

The image was burned into his memory, he could practically still feel your hands on his body, feel the force you had used to shove him out of the way to take the stab to the heart for you. Your scream of pain that had formed his name was ringing through his ears and all he could do was press his hands against them to try and mute them - to no avail. The blood that had covered your body - your own blood - was still covering his hands even though he had washed it off days ago. He still remembered what your body had felt like, how it grew colder and colder once your heart had stopped beating.

Why did he care so much about you? You had been one of many - the only qualified male in his army of females. There had been nothing special about you and yet you weren't leaving his mind ever since you had sacrificed yourself for him. That was maybe because whenever he looked at the other angels, all he could see was your face, sometimes it even felt like you were walking next to him. But that was just his mind playing tricks on him.

He turned around in his bed, his back now facing the open room. His eyes were squeezed shut and his wings had wrapped themselves around his body to hide his misery from the world. Not that anybody was seeing him, he was in his bedroom. But it felt better, to be shielded from curious eyes that weren't physically there.

His eyes slowly opened and he saw your face yet again. Not just your face though, your body was laying next to him, you looked so lifeless and yet you moved your hand to reach out and cup his cheeks, to wipe away the silent tear that he hadn't even noticed rolled down his cheek.

Fuck, why was he crying?

Because deep down he knew, none of the others would've had done what you did for him, because even when it was life or death, you chose him, chose to die for him. You had proven your loyalty once more, this time in the most final form that existed. And he hated you for it, he hated that you had died for him.

He leaned into the gentle touch, his eyes fell shut again at the warmth of your body despite it looking so pale, so lifeless and he sighed. “You fucker left me,” he mumbled, he knew no one was there to hear his words and yet he needed to get them off his chest. What he didn't expect was your soft voice to respond, “It was you and me Adam,” there was a short pause and Adam could only imagine the warm smile that must've been on your lips. “And I’m glad it was me.”

The brunette opened his sad, golden eyes yet again to look at you, “I’m fucking not, I need you to get your ass back to me.” Your smile saddened at that, knowing very well that wasn't possible. Angelic steel caused a permanent death, no matter if angel or demon. “This is for the best,” your voice was coated in sadness and your eyes were apologizing over and over again. You knew what it meant to him when someone left, you knew he struggled with that ever since what went down in Eden. “Everyone always fucking leaves,” he hissed, his eyes reflecting a mix between anger and love. “You fucking swore you'd always be there,” he sounded betrayed and on a certain level he was right with that, you did swore to always be there to have his back when you had joined the exorcists. “But I'm here, aren't I?” you spoke softly as your thumb caressed his cheek. Your touch was numbing, it made his mind shut up for a second, all the thoughts and the gruesome memories were gone ever since you had cupped his cheek. “No you're fucking Not you- you're-” he was out of words, out of breath, out of energy. You knew what he meant to say was ‘I miss you’ and ‘Come back to me’. He just wasn't the type of guy to admit it out loud, not when those words scared him the most. Commitment was something Adam didn't do, didn't admit to. And yet he wanted to commit to you and your soul, until death would do you part. But that had already happened and there was no way to fix it.

“Adam,” he liked the way you said his name, it was like he was the most beautiful creature you had ever seen, like all the love your heart held was dedicated to him. Had you ever said his name that way when you had been an angel, before you had been killed by that little demon girl? He couldn't remember. He felt like every memory that involved you was slipping from his mind except the one in which you saved his life but paid the price by offering your own. “I have to go,” his hand shot up to grab your wrist and fear was visible in his eyes. “No you fucking don't, you fucking can't, you hear me?”

The smile slipped from your lips entirely and you couldn't bear to look him in the eyes as you continued, “But I have to. I’ll be around, you won't forget me. But for now, I have to leave you.” He didn't know what that meant, all that he knew in that exact moment was that he wanted you to stay, he wanted to hold and protect, wanted to right the wrongs and shield you from the pain. But he couldn't. You had made that decision without his consent.

His eyes looked at his hand holding your wrist and he wished he could go back in time and stop you from scarifying yourself. He wished he would've been better. But he wasn't, he hadn't been and he never would be. History will repeat itself, that he knew.

“Adam?” The first man couldn't help himself, he had to look at you. “I love you,” your voice whispered, it sounded so distant all of a sudden, so far away. And your wrist was slipping from his bone crushing grip. “Fuck you,” he spat out but what he meant was ‘I love you too’. But he couldn't say that, not after you had died. He had lost yet another person he loved because of demons that were no good. They took you from him before he even had you and he hated them for it.

And then he was alone again, alone with the unbearable pain, with the thoughts that haunted his head and with the feeling of loneliness.

And that was a thing he might have hated even more than commitment.

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel adam #adam x male reader #male reader #adam x y/n #adam x reader #adam x you

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bi-bard · 10 months

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How Did We Get So Good at Dismantling These Hearts? - Kaz Brekker Imagine [Shadow & Bone]

Title: How Did We Get So Good at Dismantling These Hearts?

Pairing: Kaz Brekker X Reader

Based On: Hourglass

Word Count: 1,219 words

Warning(s): mention of murder

Summary: Kaz gets word of a new job for the Crows. On the surface, it appeared to be nothing other than a normal job. However, when he tells the crew, (Y/n) has a reaction that immediately catches his attention. He just needs to find out why.

Author's Note: I changed this story because the original one was alarmingly similar to the May stories.

Part Two of "June" [Release Date: 7/5/2023]

Part Three of "June" [Release Date: 7/7/2023]

YEARBOOK - SLEEPING AT LAST WRITING CHALLENGE MASTERLIST

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

If any of the Crows had noticed me tense, then none of them spoke up about it.

Not at the time.

Kaz had gathered all of us together, telling us about a new job that he apparently couldn't turn away. Nothing felt strange about it. It all seemed normal... our version of normal, anyway.

Some plan for a heist, a good pay... it was exactly what our crew was meant to love.

And I did. I loved working with the Crows. The idea of having a new job made me grin a bit to myself.

And then, I heard my mother's name come out of Kaz's mouth.

My shoulders tensed a bit. I had to physically stop myself from drawing them up. I did my best to take a subtle deep breath, desperate to return to normal. Nothing would stop my heart from racing and my leg from bouncing.

I was watching Kaz as he spoke, but I couldn't hear him. My ears were filled with buzzing as my mind played back every memory that I had buried for all too long.

The first thing I heard was Kaz dismissing us for the day.

I was the first person to stand up and walk out. Maybe I had been a little too fast on my way out. Maybe I had pushed the chair away a little too hard. I don't know.

All that I could think of at the time was going home.

I didn't notice anyone paying any mind to me.

It wasn't until that night that I would even know that anyone had looked at me in some way other than normal.

I was pacing my small room, mind still racing when there was a knock on my door.

I took a breath before walking over. In my state of distractedness, I didn't think much before pulling the door open. I found Kaz standing on the other side of the door.

"All this time with the Crows and you still open your door with no attempt to check who could be on the other side," he said. There was the smallest hint of a grin on his face, letting me know that this wasn't him genuinely scolding me.

"Did you come here to inform me of your new passion for comedy," I asked.

"I'm here to talk about the job."

"Much less exciting," I replied.

Kaz didn't reply, merely raising an eyebrow at me and nodding toward the inside of my place. I took a deep breath and stepped to the side, letting him walk in.

It was strange to see Kaz in my home.

I had trouble associating him with something so... comfortable. There was something about Kaz being in a place meant for merely existing that made me pause. It felt like watching an animal exploring a new habitat. It made me wonder how many nights he had spent avoiding his room. How long had he been avoiding falling asleep in his bed? Or simply falling asleep at all?

I moved around him, putting myself between him and the rest of my home. "What did you need to talk about?"

"You have a personal connection to the job," he said. "I need to know what it is."

I scoffed, going to deny it.

He cut me off before I could, "No use denying it. You're not as subtle as you think you are."

There was a long pause.

"I need to know any potential risks that come with this job. Whatever you're hiding is a risk."

"The woman that you're robbing... she's my mother," I explained. "I... ran away... a long time ago."

"Why?"

"My uncle. He killed my brother... He didn't know that I had seen him until after it was over. I had... I had only seen the very end of it. If he had told me that he had just found him like that, then I would have believed him. And then, he told my mother that I did it."

"You were a child."

"He called it an accident," I shrugged. "He played the part well. That was when I knew that he had done it. My mother hated me. He threatened to kill her if I ever said anything... because killing me would be too easy. I had to run. Now, he is going to inherit everything that my mother has... and nothing is going to stop him."

There was a silence.

I watched as Kaz's eyes scanned me. I couldn't tell if he was trying to see if I was telling the truth or if was merely some kind of assessment of my current state. I blinked away any tears that had built up. I hadn't let myself think about it for years. I forgot how much it hurt.

"I can't have you on the job," Kaz finally said.

"What?"

"It's too dangerous-"

"I can keep my composure on the job, you know that-"

"That's not my concern," he stopped me. "Your uncle knows that you're the only one that knows that truth. Your mother thinks that you killed her son and then ran away. If either one of them sees you, then it will be more than just imprisonment. I am not going to willingly get you killed."

"We have gone on jobs where our lives are in danger," I argued. "Most of them do-"

"Not with such a clear target on our backs."

I took a deep breath. I hated how much I agreed with him. Mainly because I had never once seen him show himself this much care. I had watched him walk into dangerous situations with little to no concern for his own well-being. Part of him had to be aware of that.

"You're off the job."

"Fine," I muttered begrudgingly. "No mourners."

He nodded once. "No funerals."

Kaz turned around to walk back out. He made it to the door before I spoke up.

"Why did you come," I asked. "Why not just sent Inej down here to get information? Or Jesper, even?"

"Your desire for vengeance... it's one that I'm familiar with," he explained. "More than you know... and I will help you get it."

He went to turn away again. His words made me panic.

"Kaz," I stopped him again. "Don't get yourself killed for me."

He didn't respond. He merely looked back at me, waiting for some explanation or request or something.

"I'm not worth it," I said quietly.

He watched me for a few moments longer. I wish I knew what he was looking for. "You don't get to decide that."

He walked out before I could ever question him about that statement.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I stepped forward and locked my door.

I didn't want to make any assumptions or jump to any conclusions, but it was difficult for me to act like I had no desire to do so. Taking me off of the job, the way he spoke, the promise of vengeance in my name... it all gave me pause. Embarrassing pause.

I ran my hands over my face before shaking my head. Jumping to conclusions was foolish. I knew better. His rare empathy was not a sign of anything.

And all I had to do was continue reminding myself of that until I believed it.

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

Navigation Guide

What I Write For

Some Original Characters

#fanfiction #x reader #imagine #shadow and bone imagine #shadow and bone x reader #shadow and bone fanfiction #kaz brekker fanfiction #kaz brekker imagine #kaz brekker x reader

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undiscovered-horizon · 2 years

Text

Imagine being Maverick's daughter and quickly catching the eye of both Rooster and Hangman, unknowingly starting a cutthroat competition. - ROOSTER'S ENDING

▷TOPGUN PLAYLIST

[Part 1] [Hangman's Ending] [Secret Ending?]

Note: didn't even think about writing follow-ups until @rosiahills22 made a comment.

Ever since that memorable handshake he shared with Jake, Bradley really did bring out his A-game each time he saw you. Perhaps North Island simply got warmer and that's why he walked around shirtless or wearing white tank tops. Considering how much he made you laugh, maybe he could become a stand-up comedian when flying aeroplanes becomes a tad too boring. It's hard to say whether he had learned that your father kept close, squinted in suspicion, eye on him Maverick himself was quite torn: you looked really happy, radiant, whenever Bradley was around but at the same time, he remembered Rooster's mother when she learned that her husband wasn't coming back home. Pete didn't even want to think about the very real possibility of you being in her shoes.

It didn't escape anyone's attention, especially Maverick's, that those two men seemed even more competitive towards each other than usually. Whenever someone brought up the escalation of the conflict intrinsic to their relationship, Rooster and Hangman suddenly were in agreement that there was nothing particular going on and the other guy was just being a shithead. No one believed them but also no one wanted to dig through this can of worms.

The climax of the bizarre butting of heads between Rooster and Hangman seemed to take place during the dogfight. Although there were two teams fighting neck in neck, it looked more as if Bradley and Jake were the only players, constantly trying to one-up the other. Phoenix, the more observant of the group, quickly caught on to the fact that the two pilots would glance in your direction every now and then. You were sitting next to Maverick, acting as a referee and recalling fond memories of playing dogfighting with your neighbourhood friends when you were younger. Back then, every kid thought you had 'the coolest dad ever'. And, truthfully, you couldn't disagree.

Hoping that your dad wouldn't notice, you bit the inside of your cheek as you watched Rooster play the game. He was this big, bulky and terribly handsome sun-kissed god you thought existed only in ladies' literature. Bradley always knew how to make you laugh, even if it meant embarrassingly butchering top hits in the most ridiculous of ways. You were pretty convinced he was the only man alive to be able to pull off a moustache and not look absolutely creepy.

"You're not listening to me, (Y/N)." Your father's voice brought you out of your daydreams.

"Sorry, dad, it's just..." There was no way in this world and the next one that you would ever admit to admiring one of his trainees. You had to think of something plausible, fast. "It's nice to see them all so happy and carefree you know? Not arguing for a few minutes. I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"I said we're all going for a beer to The Hard Deck tonight. Come along."

"You sure it's a good idea? One day without exercises might put you behind. It's not like you have much time in the first place."

"I know what I'm doing. I raised one kid and it went pretty good, you know?"

"Yeah, she's kinda cool," you said while nodding. A self-assured grin crept onto your face - exactly the same smile that made it virtually impossible for you to ever renounce your connection with Maverick.

"She's the best."

Laughing, you and Maverick clicked bottles of beer in a light-hearted toast. Shortly after, laughter erupted among the pilots playing dogfighting: Bradley, terribly distracted by your radiant happiness, got hit with the rugby ball straight in his chest. Maybe you can kiss it better later.

You bit your lip, unsure which song in the jukebox to choose. All the titles that you were familiar with made you remember something about Maverick or rather listening to his CDs when he was gone. Music from his youth, that you grew up listening to, seemed to be tainted in a weird way. Your hand was wet from holding a cold bottle of beer.

"Oh, what the hell," you whispered to yourself, partially annoyed with your own indecisiveness. Having quickly pushed the buttons for record A58, The Hard Deck was momentarily filled with the electric guitar and drums of Mountain's Mississippi Queen.

"Thought of you as a more modern music type of girl."

Turning around, you saw exactly the man you expected: Bradley. He was leaning against the wall next to the jukebox and had been, most probably, silently watching your musical dilemma for some time. A curious gloss covered his eyes whenever he looked at you - Rooster was wearing his adoration for you on his sleeve, or rather, his face. Even though he was leaning, he remained physically bigger than you, making your heart excitedly jump in your chest. His broad frame was the source for quite a few of your unsavoury fantasies.

"The most modern song Penny has in here is dinosaurs' mating call."

Rooster laughed at your words and you could feel your chest clenching. He was a beautiful man - in any and every meaning of that word. A few years ago, you would have considered him way out of your league.

"So, Mississippi Queen, can I get you out of here for a bit?"

Catching a glimpse of you and Rooster leaving the bar, Jake hit the cue ball a little too hard and went for a foul instead.

The sand was refreshingly cool under your feet. Soon, the sound of waves lazily washing the shore had drowned out most of the noise coming from the bar. It truly felt like aside from you and Bradley, there was nobody else in the world, only memories of friends and strangers dancing in distant realms.

Your head was on his shoulder, silently watching the rhythm of the tide. Bradley had his arm wrapped around you, pulling you even closer to his chest. He had this very particular smell of salty ocean water and motor oil. At that moment, you swore you could happily drown in the peaceful contentment.

"If my dad finds out, you're getting shot dead." Although your statement was meant to be humorous, there was a kernel of truth hiding somewhere between those words.

"I thought I had the old man's sympathy."

Of course, Maverick did have warm feelings towards Bradley. It was just the very father-like combination of being overprotective and not quite communicative that spun their relationship into the odd situation that it now was. Still, Rooster wasn't exactly innocent in this less-than-favourable turn of events.

Rooster leaned away for a moment to look at you. Softly silver moonlight danced across your face and he couldn't recall if he had ever seen someone so beautiful.

"Well, you surely have mine," you said quietly before kissing him. Feeling your lips on his, Bradley thought that, maybe, Maverick shooting him wasn't that bad.

You felt his hot breath against your cheek. Whenever his lips left yours, even for a fraction of a second, you were quick to chase after them, never satiated with the affection he was offering. To your displeasure, Rooster pulled ever so minimally from you, your mouths nearly brushing against one another. His voice was quiet enough that the ocean waves nearly drowned out his whisper:

"That's more than enough."

The endless kisses the two of you shared that night were filled with giggles and carefree jokes, pretending as if the troubles of tomorrow were nothing but fairytales and fever dreams.

#rooster x you #rooster x reader #fanfiction #fanfic #imagine #scenario #rooster fanfic #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw imagine #bradley bradshaw fanfiction #top gun maverick #top gun maverick fanfiction #rooster imagine #rooster fanfiction #rooster imagines #bradley bradshaw imagines

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bonefall · 1 year

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Ok, I decided I might as well put out that Hollyleaf ask I mentioned. So I was thinking about your Hollyleaf and how while I love some aspects of her and think they are preferable to canon, there feels like there's something that I liked missing in her relative to canon Hollyleaf that I have suggestions on how you reincorporate. So what I really like: I love how you give Hollyleaf a political arc, with her constant musings on Clan life and the world being actually relevant to the narrative and her clearly going from one position to another based on her life experience, as opposed to canon where she's open-minded and fascinated by other cultures when the plot requires it and then a super conservative rule follower who believes the Clans' way of life is the only legitimate one when the plot requires that, without any clear arc of going from one place to another.

But one thing I like about canon Hollyleaf that I feel is missing from yours is the way she is a complete wreck by the end - she can't stand her birth being against the code, she can't stand the life she's build being broken, her guilt over murdering someone to make those feelings go away only drives her further into her broken mental state and leads her to ironically undoing the very thing she killed for. She is despairing about having any sort of purpose to her life, about being evil herself even as she tries to convince herself she is a hero doing what's right and thus has a right to punish everyone, and she runs away to get away from it all. And I feel like the fire scene (perhaps with the help of previous events) destroying the foundations of what she's built her life on has more of an impact than just her calmly, philosophically deciding "all right, I'm mad at my parents, I choose revenge and evil now".

All of which is to say, I had some ideas I wanted to suggest on how these aspects could be preserved in your Hollyleaf, which is incorporating some of a Hollyleaf AU I made myself adapted to your world. Since in Bonefall AU she learns about the prophecy at the same time she learns about her parentage, it could be both revelations that really impact her. She's always seen herself as the hero, wanting to be a medicine cat because that's the position where she gets to save people and be important and everyone appreciates her for it for example. And she's always wanted to be the good Clan cat who serves and is beloved by StarClan, even if she has varied on whether she wanted to do it by following Firestar's example and ideology or something else. So maybe finding out about the prophecy makes her horrified - she's some kind of abomination that exists beyond StarClan, who StarClan is terrified of, and in her mind that makes her evil, an abomination against the ancestors she loves and worships destined to destroy everything good. Then when you add to this her arc of diplomacy and Fire Alone going wrong, maybe it could not just be a sense of betrayal in play but also guilt; her diplomatic attitude resulted in something bad happening to someone else and she was already dealing with feelings of being bad and horrible for that which her ego and belief she had to be a hero couldn't take. And then there's how her parentage ties into this - while the rule wasn't originally about this, I would imagine in your rewrite the kits of medicine cats would have a cultural connotation of being cursed, evil, abominations from the fact that all of them in recent memories had been leaders who ended up in the Dark Forest (Ripplestar, Brokenstar, Leopardstar), so this could add to these feelings and maybe feel she should punish Leafpool for creating kits like her that would destroy the Clans and punish Squirrelflight for covering it up so the Clans didn't know the danger in their midst.

But of course, she can't take thinking of herself as wrong and evil, so her shame causes her to break down further and take drastic actions to punish everyone who did wrong before StarClan as if in her zeal she can make it up to them, prove that despite her birth and "curse" she can still be StarClan's favored "adopted child", and make up for the harm her previous "evil" support of Fire Alone has caused. Maybe if she punishes Leafpool hard enough she will defy her "fate".

And then you add in Sol, who is the antithesis of what she believes but yet seems to have some kind of connection with her, and maybe Sol plays on her feelings of shame and anger to try to get her to do what he wants. Then by Hollyleaf's Century, realizing she has Sol's powers now puts her even deeper into that state of feeling she has to make up for something, and now she thinks she will prove her nobility and heroism to StarClan by saving them all from their environmental destruction, showing she's such a loyal servant to them by implementing the Clans' way of life, the only good way of life, decades early, and never making the mistakes she's made in the past! Then maybe she wouldn't have to feel she is an abomination anymore, maybe she can make up for existing. All of which ironically plays into just what Sol wanted.

She could be contrasted with Jayfeather where she realizes with the benefit of 100 years of hindsight that her brother didn't care about pleasing StarClan, that he accepted his existence was in defiance of it and proudly committed sacrilege (so she knows about this, maybe he could confess what happened with Hazeltail to Hollyleaf thinking she would understand due to their shared experience with the prophecy, only for her to criticize him and want him punished, leading him to realize how much she changed) - and yet he was a better and more truly heroic cat than she ever was. And this helps slowly push her out of her mindset. Not sure how Bonefall Lionblaze plays into this since he seems a bit too similar to Hollyleaf in his reaction to having powers, though.

So what do you think of these suggestions for Hollyleaf?

They sound great! I think Cruel Season is coming together.

Cruel Season is going to be a book between the episodic Po3 and the narrative-driven OotS, where the majority of Holly's breakdown is contained. It bridges the gap between the casual tone of Po3 and the serious one of OotS. Here's the plan;

The prophecy is revealed at the end of Po3, and Cruel Season opens up with the three grappling with it.

This sets the stage for the following;

Hollyleaf worrying she is an abomination because StarClan is terrified of her,

Lionblaze concerned for what this means in terms of how he will protect ThunderClan if he is so powerful he could destroy it, and

Jayfeather confirming to himself that StarClan is full of assholes, telling his siblings that he fought Molefall to save Hazeltail.

ASHFUR LEARNS TOO, and puts together that the Fire and Tiger prophecy + Kin of your Kin prophecy = Disaster

This, plus the death of Brackenfur in the previous arc, causes Holly to start isolating herself. She doesn't know what to think. She's supposed to be a hero, a prodigy, but what does that mean if StarClan is already terrified of her?

There must be something else they know that she doesn't. And her siblings... Jayfeather IS a problem to them, isn't he?

But that's still her brother. Cracks are starting to form but she's not gone yet. This is when Sol pops back up, offering to be someone to talk to.

Harry is thinking this is for more manipulation, Sol itself is taking an interest in a possible new vessel as he grows bored.

This time, the Fire is NOT random. Unknown to the Three, this is a Dark Forest plot.

Thornclaw (knows the territory), Whiskernose (established as knowing how to manage fires in TNP), and Breezepelt (breezepelt) are creating a diversion so they can murder Firestar

Regardless, the Three are caught in it. Ashfur makes his infamous move, cue The Fire Scene

I mentioned before how it goes in the rewrite, but here is is again for newcomers, those who missed it, and people who want a refresher;

BONEFALL FIRE SCENE

The Three are trapped in the blaze, Squirrelflight appears and is trying to kick a weak tree over so they can escape

Ashfur: "I CANT LET YOU DO THAT SQUIRRELFLIGHT"

They have a fight, Ashfur shouting about the prophecy, Fire and Tiger + Kin of your Kin = they are fated to destroy the clans, if Squilf has chosen him this never would have happened

Squilf is pinned, but reveals with passion, "BRAMBLECLAW'S KITTENS ARE DEAD, THESE AREN'T MINE"

Ashfur is confused just enough that she's able to muster a massive kick, sending him flying into the weak tree, knocking it over

Lionblaze races across this tree to help Squilf, smacking Ashfur across the face

It's a Moment, Lionblaze seeing his mentor both furious and terrified of him, blood on his claws

Ashfur absconds, leaving the Three with Squilf

Now this next part is important and is a big change of motivation from canon; I want it to be clear that Holly killing Ashfur is 100% her REVENGE. It's not about safety, nor about keeping the secret. So here's how it goes;

The blood on Lionblaze's paw, Squirrelflight’s wounds, and the absence of Ashfur is DEFINITIVE PROOF he tried to murder them

Brambleclaw, the deputy and defacto leader because Firestar is missing, is furious and declares that if Ashfur is seen on ThunderClan territory, he is to be considered a rogue and to be brought to justice.

Ferncloud, Cloudtail, and the rest of Ashfur's associates are shocked.

Birchfall may try to ask "are you SURE?" But immediately regrets it, seeing the haunted look in their eyes.

Especially Lionblaze, Ashfur's apprentice. He's devastated.

When Hollyleaf hunts Ashfur down later, she is IGNORING the order to bring him to justice.

But before that happens... they discover the body of Firestar.

His throat is torn out. It's immediately assumed that Ashfur did it.

"He wanted to hurt Squirrelflight so badly he settled for her father..." -Ferncloud

Hollyleaf alone realizes that he had black fur in his claws during his vigil later...

And she removes it.

She speaks to Sol about this and he tells her that it was surely an omen.

It means SHE is responsible in some way.

She agrees and adds,

"I'll do what has to be done, I will prove I'm worthy! I'll exact justice on everyone who needs it, this black-furred killer, Ashfur, and the one who broke the code and set these events into motion with my birth"

Sol: "oh my me this woman is crazy i need to possess her"

Lionblaze remains very close with Squirrelflight, getting more of the truth from her. Hes confused and upset, but, accepts that she did it to protect them and Leafpool... even though he doesn't Get It yet.

(Squilf is always his mom and he has no doubt about this)

Jayfeather really doesn't want to hear it, having independently worked out that the only other parent they could have is Leafpool (since this wouldn't be a Federal Fucking Issue if it was Cloudtail) and... that evokes a lot of negative emotions.

Buuuuuuuuuut all this turmoil starts causing him to lean on Poppyfrost for escapism. He leans on her too hard and she got pregnant. JayFUMBLE.

Hollyleaf kills Ashfur. Raggedy from living on his own for several weeks, missing his Clan, hoping to face justice and find mercy for being unsuccessful, it wasn't a fight. It was a murder.

(This is important for TBC later, as Ashfur is allowed into Silverpelt over this while also making sure that StarClan isn't accidentally incompetent like canon)

Next on Hollyleaf's list; Leafpool

The Reveal at the Gathering happens

Bramblestar IMMEDIATELY demotes Squirrelflight from her deputy role for covering this up, breaks up with her, and disowns his children.

Assures the gathering that there will be consequences for Leafpool, and promotes Thornclaw to deputyship on the spot.

Jayfeather is now the only Cleric of ThunderClan.

Breezepelt, who was tense but friendly with the Three, has declared them his enemies because Crowfeather CAVED IMMEDIATELY and admitted he loved Leafpool, embarrassing him in public AGAIN by making it clear he was not wanted

"They're the reason he treats me like this! They're disgusting! They shouldn't have been born! I thought they were my friends but they were actually part of my torment!"

ThunderClan IMMEDIATELY starts treating the Three differently, because they are halfclan and cleric children

Lionblaze suddenly understands what Squilf meant by, "I did it to protect my sister, but also to protect the three of you"

"Sometimes keeping secrets is Good Actually," concludes Lionblaze

Opinions are split about Squilf and Leafpool,

"Squilf was protected by the Queen’s Rights"

"Leafpool still broke the code tho"

"That should have stayed between her and StarClan, she did the right thing"

"That law is stupid anyway!"

"Uhhh no it's not? Brokenstar? Ripplestar? Leopardstar? Helloo??"

"Are you saying Squilf's kids are tyrants? What is wrong with you?"

"I'm saying you don't respect the code you heathen!"

"She still lied to Bramblestar and needs consequences!"

"A halfclan cat is a halfclan cat! It was revealed and we must deal with it!"

ThunderClan is fighting, basically.

Holly has her scene later of trying to get Leafpool to eat deathberries, like canon Leaf is a queen who's like, "...girl you can't hurt me more than I already am"

And this is the point where Poppyfrost realizes she is pregnant. They're Jayfeather's. He is the only Cleric in ThunderClan, Poppyfrost does not want to be a single mother, it's a mess.

So they contact Cinderheart and Lionblaze and ask for help. They agree-- but preparing for the arrival of the kittens means they'd need to start saying they're mates.

Cinderheart: "hey uh Hollyleaf I'm, uh, mates with your brother now?"

Hollyleaf:

"Youre McFuckinf What?"

Cindy, unable to keep a secret and not really being in love with Lionblaze, admits there are kits she needs to adopt. Hollyleaf does more deduction and jumps to the correct conclusion, Poppyfrost is pregnant because Jayfeather has violated his vow.

And she's going to do something about this.

Sol offers his services. Friendship ENDED with Harry; now HOLLYLEAF is my best friend.

Jayfeather needs to be dealt with. He has disobeyed StarClan for the last time

As he slips into the Tunnels to communicate with Rock, she follows him, planning to kill him quietly

Lionblaze intercepts this, defending Jay.

"What happened to my sister?! Hollyleaf, this isn't you!"

"A black cat killed Firestar, and I've killed that black cat! Soon I will put an end to all enemies of the Warrior Code!"

"What does that MEAN"

The fighting destabilizes the tunnel, Lionblaze is able to push Jayfeather out just in time before the rockslide

Sol saves Hollyleaf's life by teleporting her 100 years into the past, so that she isn't killed by the collapse.

Lionblaze is a tank and rocks can't kill him, when the Clan digs him out, he's just bruised and unconscious

They never find Hollyleaf's body, or any remains at all. Not even blood.

The book ends with the birth of Ivykit and Dovekit, tension settling over the entire family, pain and mourning all at once. They chose not to tell anyone about Hollyleaf's betrayal, allowing her to die as a hero.

Cinderheart admits she still loves her, and misses her with her whole heart. Lionblaze can't understand why it happened. Jayfeather is expressing his pain through anger. Poppyfrost wants to put this behind her as soon as possible.

And thus ends Cruel Season, and begins Omen of the Stars.

#Bonefall OotS #Bonefall Cruel Season #Bonefall Hollyleaf #Fallenleaf #Bonefall Rewrite #And of course Holly does her thing 100 years in the past #And goes through her entire villain arc #And comes back in the future as a changed man #Only kept unfaded for the love of her family and the thought that she could apologize

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xxcatzladyxx · 4 months

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Demon Slayer Advent Calendar | Day 21 | Sanemi x Reader | Hot chocolate

Written by @lupina36

~~~

"What a miserable mess!"

A loud curse coming from the garden of your property startled you out of your doze and you looked around in confusion. It took you a moment to realize where you were. On the estate of the wind pillar Sanemi Shinazugawa! But there was not the slightest sign of the person in question.

Only now did you realize that someone had wrapped you in a warm blanket, which immediately made your heart beat faster. Sanemi could be so sweet and caring when he wanted to be.

You quickly slipped out of your warm cocoon to go in search of the pillar of wind.

He couldn't be far away. After all, you had just heard him swearing. However, it took you a while to find it.

Sanemi was outside in the garden of the sprawling estate. He was standing with his back to you and seemed to be training. You yourself always found it amazing how he could train outside in the snow even in such icy temperatures. What's more, he didn't even seem to need winter clothes as he was dressed in his Demon Slayer uniform with his shirt open as usual, revealing his bare, muscular chest. You sometimes wondered if he even felt the cold or if he just didn't care.

Unfortunately, it had snowed a lot more that night than in the past few days, which is why the snow was now almost up to the white-haired man's knees.

You had never seen so much snow before. Some of your neighbors couldn't even leave their properties because the snow was far too high to even move a few meters. Nevertheless, Sanemi was obviously determined to complete his training anyway.

"Wouldn't you rather come in?" you asked your friend, who only growled at you like a wild animal in response.

With a heavy sigh, you retreated back into the cozy warmth of your home. Sanemi would come in when he had had enough. That was the way he was. He trained like a man possessed to become stronger so that he could take on any demon, no matter how strong. You couldn't blame him one bit. You too would prefer it if these horrible man-eating monsters only existed in your imagination. Because then your family would surely still be alive today. A lump formed in your throat at the thought of them.

You didn't know how long it had been since they were gone and you hoped that if they were looking down on you from somewhere, they would be proud of you and your work as a Demon Slayer. After all, you saved other people from falling victim to these horrible creatures too.

For a moment, you indulged in happy memories.

You remembered how you used to spend hours playing in the snow with your siblings. Your hands and the tip of your nose had been frozen every time you finally returned to the house where your mother was already waiting for you with a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

Suddenly you had an idea!

You could also make two cups of hot chocolate for you and Sanemi. You still remembered the recipe from back then.

It didn't take long for the delicious aroma of hot chocolate to spread throughout the estate. When Sanemi finally entered the estate, dripping wet from the snow and visibly frozen. He sniffed curiously, despite the delicious aroma of chocolate.

He looked somewhat confused. He simply wasn't used to being greeted by such a delicious aroma. You just smiled and approached him with a cup in your hand. "I thought you could do with a little something to warm you up after your training," you said, still smiling and pressing the cup into his hand, hoping you hadn't done anything wrong with the recipe. You didn't want to do anything to reignite his short fuse. Even though he usually behaved rather peacefully towards you, you weren't entirely safe from his frequent fits of rage.

You watched intently as he lifted the cup to his lips and carefully sipped the hot liquid.

"That tastes good," he commented after taking another sip of his drink. "What do you call it?" he asked, which made you smile a little more. "It's called hot chocolate. And it's especially popular in winter or at Christmas time," you explained as you took a sip from your cup.

For a while, the two of you just sat together in the kitchen and drank your chocolate in silence.

"I'm sorry," Sanemi finally broke the lingering silence and made you look at him. "Huh?" was your less witty response.

"I mean the one from earlier," said Sanemi, now nervously looking at his knuckles. "I know you only mean well," he added before taking one last sip from his cup. It gradually dawned on you what he was trying to apologize for and you just shook your head with a smile. "It's all right. I know how important your training is to you. To be honest, I even find it admirable that even the knee-high snow can't stop you," you said full of admiration and watched the white-haired man's cheeks turn pink.

"Who knows, maybe I'll even keep you company next time. Then we can train together and I'll make hot chocolate for us at the end!" you suggested.

"That sounds good," Sanemi suddenly said in a slightly raspy voice and before you knew it, he was standing in front of you and already capturing your lips.

#reader #demon slayer #x reader #kimetsu no yaiba #kny x reader #kny #advent calendar #sanemi x you #sanemi shinaguzawa #sanemi x reader #kny sanemi #sanemi shinazugawa

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library-of-ohara · 2 years

Text

Anon asked “ Hi would anyone be willing to write me some sabo propaganda 👀 I’m thinking a nsfw yandere scenario for that crazy son of a bitch 😈 afab reader please “

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️

Noncon , cum play , mention of blood , stalking , breaking in entering , gore , anal , mentions of female anatomy , penetration,

I went kinda crazy on this request not going lie , I loved writting this . It was my first time writting s yandere fic snd a sabo fic so thank you for requesting this 💕

Ask answered by : @fire-fist-ann

January 5th

It had been a twist of fate, he had never meant to meet the love of his life that day. The way you had bumped into him, and looked at him set his soul on fire. That was the day his obsession began with you, it was love at first sight, you two were meant to be, you were destined to be soulmates

The moment his eyes graced upon you he knew he had to have you, it was his right to claim you as his one and everything. Sure you didn’t know he existed, a part of him would be lying if he said he didn’t like that.

It became a past time of his, he couldn’t deny how much he loved to watch you go about your life completely oblivious to his love, yet you still talked to other men like he meant nothing.

The more he watched you through the blinds the closer he wanted to be to you. To touch your soft, supple skin he wanted to memorize every single inch of you, burn you into his memory, and ravish you in the streets if it meant no one would take what belonged to him, how he just wanted to bend you over and yank your hair and make you submit to

him until you were fucked stupid.

The longer he played this game of cat and mouse with you, the harder it was getting to keep himself in check. Every time you would undress in front of him of course you had no idea he was watching, he was always watching. What you didn’t know couldn’t hurt you

He couldn’t help himself once you went to work he had watched where you left your keys, surely you wouldn’t mind him in your home it would become his someday as well.

February 12th

The more he watched you, the more he fell in love with you. You were oh so kind, a breath of fresh air, innocent from corruption, pure and utterly perfect. He wanted to savour that innocence of yours, he wanted to protect you and keep you safe, it was his duty as your future husband after all.

He still remembered the first time he stepped foot inside, his heart was leaping through his throat. What if you came back early, he was almost giddy wanting to see your pretty little face. The way he ran his fingers over every inch of your house, touching everything that belonged to you made his head spin feel intoxicated almost like he was drunk just being in the very same space you touched yourself. Did you think of him while you did it? You had to, you were just too shy to say his name yet

His breath caught in his throat as he stopped in front of your dresser. With shaking brown gloved hands, he pulled out that special pair he knew you loved to wear. You must have gotten it just for his eyes only. His breath hitched as he pulled out that delicate underwear staring at it with a flushed red face before his shaking hands brought it up to his face.

He couldn't help but to gulp as he lowered his face into it as he inhaled a sharp breath. He could feel his blue eyes roll back in his eyes as he let out shuddering gasps of air as your sweet scents filled his nose, making his legs feel weak and tremble, stepping back his legs hitting the very edge of the mattress causing him to fall down onto the plush bed with wide eyes.

He could feel his heart thumping against his chest as he moved his other hand down his body rubbing over his own crotch feeling how hard he was already as he shut his eyes pressing the fabric deeper to his face as he shoved his pants down with his own boxers. His cock standing to attention.

He let out a low groan as his mouth opened he needed to taste you like he needed the air to breathe. His tongue flicked, licking a stripe against the middle of the fabric, as his hand wrapped around his cock moving it up and down. Shutting his eyes picturing it was your pretty little lips wrapped around him. But this wasn't close enough for him, his own thoughts weren't giving him enough relief. A light bulb went off in his twisted brain, what better way to be close to you than to wear your underwear.

He slipped the coated underwear, dripping with his saliva onto his own frame making him shudder it was tight but it was wet enough to feel like how he thought it would when he finally would fuck you for the first time. He shut his eyes as he lay on the soft bed moving his hand gripping himself whispering your name as he moved his hand up and down, pleasure fueling his brain.

His mouth hung open as he could feel the drool falling in front of the corner of his mouth. He bucked his hips up into his own hand as he used the thumb to rub over the tip, smearing his precum as his cock pulsed in his own hands. He liked to think he could last a few rounds, but he was so pent up from months of watching you finger fuck yourself . “y-y/n” he whined out sharply as his cum shot out, soaking the fabric and running down his legs. His blonde hair sticking to his face with his eyes facing the ceiling, like god himself was smiling down at what he had just done.

Of course, he could have just left but no he couldn't help himself but to move his own drenched fingers into the delicate underwear. Scooping up some onto his hand bringing it up his lips before his tongue darted around, sucking on the slick groaning loudly. He could feel the blood rushing to his head would you like how he tasted just as much as he liked it himself.

He let one last shuddering groan as he looked at the underwear he was wearing before his lips curled up as he picked up his dark boxers from the floor, it was only right he was taking one of yours it was the least he could do. He smiled as he laid it across your cute sheets you would be so grateful for a piece of him.

June 26th

Waiting for you was getting much more difficult, he was patient yes he knew he had to be in order to make his move. It was a game of chess, he wanted to secure the final piece but nonetheless his heart was aching, weeping almost being apart from you so long was killing him on the inside. You had to know he loved you deep down even though you acted like he didn't exist, you were testing his love for you, that must be it. He needed to prove it to you, and prove it to you he would no matter what he had to do.

Ever since that day in your apartment where he swore he went to heaven, watching you from a distance was no longer quelling his thoughts. He wanted you to notice him, see him…and love him, but despite how he felt you kept talking to other men like some whore. But he couldn't be angry you were just so cute, it was natural for men to be drawn to you. But they could never love you as he loved you.

Six months…it’s been six months since the first time he ever saw you. Always watching from a distance, but today would be different, it was your sixth month anniversary. This was a day he needed to celebrate with you. His breath was tight in his throat as he turned the doorknob, you were much too trusting you didn't even lock your front door. He really needed to have a talk with you about that in the future, but today was all about you.

His footsteps were quiet as he walked through your apartment he cracked open the bedroom door. His smile widening seeing your curled up body entangled in the sheets, the very same sheets he had laid on. He peered down over you leaning down and kissing your temple “Happy anniversary” he whispered to himself.

He reached into his bag pulling out serval wrapped gifts and setting them on the bed, you would be so happy when you woke up and saw them. he pushed a couple of your strands of hair away from your face, “Soon y/n…soon.” He cooed as he spared you one last look as he walked out of their home.

June 26th

The way your eyes widened when you woke up filled him with undescribable joy, you were so surprised, you were speechless. The way your fingers trembled as you looked at the gifts. He could hardly keep his body still and out of sight as you started to open the gifts he got you. He had outdone himself. Especially how flustered you were getting open them, you must have found the lingerie set, he got blue with lace to match him.

He was almost impatient he wanted you to open his real gifts, the teddy bears, and chocolates were simple and overdone. He got something much more special for you that you would love.

His breath hitched seeing how your delicate fingers unwrapped the blue box staring at the gift eyebrows furrowed, going deathly pale as they screamed dropping the gift, a bloody ear laying on the ground from the box with a letter stapled to it

Sabo was giddy, they were so moved they were crying they LOVED the gift he got them, just like he knew they would! , he had enough of one of those stupid men talking to you. You must have hated it too, what better gift than that pig’s ear. You were even trembling you were just so excited as their hands moved to the rest of the box seeing the lock of hair he left. But his final gift had them falling onto their knees in tears.

As they pulled out the one favorite pairs of underwear they thought they lost, covered in cum stains and sticky with fresh cum dropping it into the box scooting back as far back as possible, as tears streamed down their face. Before they jumped up and ran out of the apartment. Sabo felt his heartache, why were they running away he spent so much time getting those gifts? Why weren't they touching them, they had tossed it to the side…were they more fussy with gifts than he thought?.

August 8

Something had changed after the anniversary his poor sweet y/n was always looking over their shoulder, they seemed scared of something. He needed to find out who was scaring them and put an end to their life. The poor dear was so stressed they even moved to another apartment on the other side of town, and got locks on their doors, and even bought a gun. He needed to find out who was behind this and put an end to their life. No one had a right to scare his soulmate like this, he would bring them their dead body that would put them at ease, it had to! He would crush their skull in his hands for the pain they put poor y/n through.

It broke sabo’s heart seeing you so timid and locked away in your apartment when you were always so bright and bubbly and friendly to everyone you knew. You didn't even leave a key out for him or a letter where you were moving. It had to be some kind of mistake, you weren't trying to avoid him on purpose that was utterly absurd, insane even. You loved him just as much as he loved you, you were just so shy that’s all.

He knew just the thing to cheer you up, you needed a piece of him to get through the day, you didn't like the last gifts he gave you but this one he knew you would love the most, he had poured his own blood into it quite..literally, it was personal you would love that.

When you left for work that day he snuck into your new apartment like he had a million times while you were asleep, blissfully unaware of his presence. He almost wanted you to wake up so badly sometimes and then he could touch you, kiss you, run his hands all over your body until you were a puddle under his fingers. It would be wrong of him to touch you if you were asleep. He was nothing if not gentlemen he told himself, believing it whole heartily.

He sucked in a breath the way your scent lingered in the apartment always made a mess of him. He reached into his pocket placing the silver chain with the two vials attached to them laying it on the center of the bed. He smiled softly, they had to love this gift it was a part of him! He would leave a note this time so his sweet little y/n would know exactly what it was, they would be so moved when they saw the vials. Wearing them so proudly they had to.

He laid the note in front of it feeling that same flicker of excitement he had on their anniversary, he could hardly quell himself but he needed to leave and wait for them to come home he could even feel himself getting hard at the thought of them carrying that around for the world to know they belonged to HIM and no one else. All his, his sweet innocent y/n.

He waited hours for them to get home, staying close to the window his leg trembling in anticipation. He could feel his heart racing a thousand miles per hour as his sweet y/n opened the door. Their face drained of all color as they approached the bed with trembling legs. Only to look around in sheer terror as they dropped it on the bed and backed out of the apartment, running to get the police.

Sabo liked to think he was a forgiving man but..why couldn't y/n see how much they were breaking his heart. He spend so much collecting the perfect amount of his cum and his very own blood to put into that necklace just for them, it was personal so they should have loved it! So why!. He liked to think he was patient, he knew you were just confused by his love, it was strong the way it was supposed to be. but yet he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by anger.

He couldn't believe they had the nerve to run to the cops after his heartwarming gift for them. Not that they did anything of course, as if he was stupid enough to leave his DNA for them to take. He could feel his very being burn in anger when the angel of his life throw his gift in the trash after how hard he worked on it, his heart was shattering into million of pieces right then, and they're not a care in the world.

September 13th

How dare they, how fucking dare his sweet, y/n play this cruel game with him. He hadn't done anything wrong to be treated this way like he was NOTHING to them. He gave them everything and yet they had still tossed his gifts in the trash without a single care in the world. His blood was boiling, the rage was overflowing, and he was seeing red, not even his sweet y/n could get away with treating him like a fool. If they wouldn't notice him he would simply have no choice but to force them to see him.

He couldn't contain his rage when he stepped into the apartment that once brought him a sense of curiosity and awe, only now filled him with dread and fury. He raised his rusty pipe and swung it smashing all of the windows in your room, throwing your bed against the wall, smashing holes in the wall. His eyes were hard in pure rage as his chest heaved up and down at the mess. You were going to see him regardless of what you wanted, his shoes clicking across the floor. As he stopped at the wall pulling out a can of spray paint leaving behind big, bold , black letters

“do you see me now y/n!”

Ripping the door off the hinges as he walked out of the apartment, leaving a wake of disarray in his wake

January 1st

After his unfortunate fit of anger, his sweet y/n started taking different paths to get to work and home, and triple checked the apartment as if they were being followed, but there was no one but him watching them. It was almost a year since he ever laid his eyes upon them. It was a new year, and their first year together soon, yet nothing had changed still. He even gave them months of space. But obviously, y/n didn't know how to handle this kind of a relationship he was patient but this wasn't going to work, it was time to make them commit to their love. Commit they would, they would never leave his side again.

January 5th

Today was the day, the day he would get his y/n to finally admit how much they loved him and needed him. It was their anniversary the words filled him with endless joy it wasn't going to be an easy but most good things in life never came free much less easy. He always did like a challenge his y/n proved to be the perfect example of that. It was their first anniversary, a reminder of a whole year together, a year of ups and downs but oh how he wouldn't change that for the world if it meant he got to call himself your boyfriend maybe soon fiancee would be a better word.

He knew you would be working late again, you were working so many doubles and picking up extra shifts they didn't deserve you, but this was perfect. It gave him the chance to make everything breathtaking for you. He could hardly wait to see your face when you stepped inside your home seeing the pages of your journal talking about him taped to your front door, you had acted like you hated him but you talked about him, you loved him just as much as he loved you, you two were truly meant to be.

Next, he made your favorite dish he had even had to break into your mother's home he wasn't fond of it to steal the recipe but it had proved a good investment in the very end, all that was missing was you.

His eyes gleamed as he tapped his gloved fingers on the dinner table as he heard those footsteps and that shaky gasp as the door creaked open. Ah even your voice was wavering as you turned on the lights to reveal… Him. The man who had been oh so blindly chasing your love for the past year. About time you got home, I was worried the food wa going get cold you know” he said his voice smooth as silk as he stood up towering over y/n much smaller frame

He clicked his tongue as they went to scream leaving him no choice but to cover their mouth as he slammed them against the wall, his lips brushing their ear.

“If your going scream, I’ll give you something to scream about,” he purred as he pressed his body against theirs pushing his knee between their legs, really he had wanted to make this a bit more special. But if they were going scream then what choice did he have other than to correct that behavior. He couldn't help but lean down and smash his own lips against theirs as they were using their arms to hit the blonde man in the chest. Really they were never a match to start with as the blonde pinned their smaller arms over their head.

He grunted as he pulled away with blood running down his lip, “you bit me!“ He said as his lips curled up into a twisted smile, as his eyes moved up and down seeing how their chest was heaving up and down, how their legs trembled. They needed him just as much as he needed them.

He could practically feel his cock pressing against his pants he needed to make this feel mind-blowing for them. He moved a hand down running it down their chin down to the center of their shirt as a loud sound of fabric tearing filled the quiet apartment as their breasts bounced free.

Y/n turned their head to the side letting out cries of please don’t, As the blonde man moved his fingers down clutching at their chest enjoying how they felt in his hand, they were oh so perfect as always. He leaned down taking that cute little rosy nipple into his mouth squishing his tongue around it, his blue eyes half-lidded never breaking eye contact from them.

He moved his hand down to their underwear rubbing circles through the fabric as he felt how damp the fabric only to yank it to the side exposing their dripping clit. He pressed his rugged, yet smooth fingers against their gentle jewel only to push two of his fingers inside pumping them in and out. Listening to the loud squelching noises you were making as he used his thumb to rub messy circles smearing their juices everywhere as high pitched sounds left his little cocksleve

He started to pump his fingers in and out hitting every single nerve. as he was knuckle deep in their sweet cunt as he started to curl his fingers up as he was slamming them in and out of them. The way their thighs kept quivering around his fingers as they were sobbing as he used his hand that was supposed to be holding theirs back even if they fought back what could they really do. He gripped their hip shoving them onto his fingers as he pulled away from their nipple leaving it cold and puffy as drool dripped down onto the floor.

Sabo twisted smile only grew even wider and more sicker as he could feel just how tight it was getting to slam his thick fingers inside of them. The tension was becoming tighter and tighter, He hadn't even done much,...Well yet and here they were already about to explode, “ Go on, don't be shy.” He cooed into their ear as they weakly glared at him. He moved his thumb pressing down on the top of their clit making their eyes bug out nearly out of their skull as that little band snapped violently as they cummed all over his gloved fingers and some ran down their thighs.

He pulled his hand away to exiame the soiled gloves he leaned down using his teeth to peel his soiled gloves off before throwing them to the floor as he stared down at them his cock throbbing painfully, to hell with taking his time .

He moved his fingers to his belt yanking it off and started to unzip his pants when he was knocked flat on his ass which honestly made the room spin for a momen. As he looked over only to see his y/n running toward the door screaming for help . He jumped up running after them yanking y/n by their hair pinning them to the floor.

He wrapped his hand around their neck putting pressure on the area cutting off their air, “I suggest you stop screaming otherwise i might just break your neck, just be good.” He said his blonde brow twitching at how they were kicking and thrashing under him pushing against him. He reached down yanking their soaked underwear off before he shoved it right into their mouth, as he grabbed His belt tying their hands together as they continued to kick for dear life at him with hot tears running down their face.

He grabbed their knees with his strong hands bending them back to the point they were next to their head making him smile at the scene in front of him , they were presented like the final meal for him to feast upon.

He pushed his pants and boxers down exposing his thick cock leaking with pre cum as he rubbed himself agaisnt their quivering core. As they shook their head frantically letting out muffled cries and screams behind the gag “shhh shhh,.” he whispered as he impaled y/n. Not giving them any chance to adjust to his rather large size. He let out a shaky breath as he got all the way to the hilt. His eyes nearly rolling back in his head as he shuddered in pure ecstasy.

He buried his face in their neck as he pulled out only to slam back into their heat. They felt like heaven, the way they were gripping his cock for dear life, as he was picking up the pace. His hips hitting against theirs, skin slapping against skin, it was addicting. Just how he always pictured it as he started to pick up the pace letting out small grunts. He couldn't hold back any longer he needed to have them right now he was going fill them to the brim until they were a quivering mess under him.

His lips curled up as he let out little grunts and pants filling the room as he started ram into them without any remorse or care as his brows furrowed. He was on a mission it was like with every single thrust he was searching for something, that special little spot that would make their toes curl up and have them singing their prayers to whatever god that was listening out there.

When y/n let out a loud muffled gasp with wide eyes their thighs trembling in the psychopath’s grip, his smile only widened “aha found it” he thought as he ruthlessly started to attack that one spot, over and over again. “What a good whore, your taking my cock so well” he sneered at them as he moved a hand fisting a chunk of their hair in his rough hand.

He hadn't thought his little y/n was so kinky but the way they clenched around his cock whenever he would choke the life out of them or pull their hair so hard he swore he accidentally ripped some of their hair out. He could feel himself starting to reach his limit but he wasnt done with them by any means yet no far from it accidentally he was going to Ruin them.

He let out a sharp gasp as he felt himself cum deep inside of them, filling them up as promised as it rolled down their thighs. Only for him to pick some up with his fingers and smear it across their breasts making them look like a goddess.

“You know y/n you look so good in white, but your going look even better swollen with my seed” he whispered as he grabbed the back of their neck pushing them onto their stomach. Ass up arms behind their back, with their face pressed to the floor y/n choked behind the gag.

He leaned down placing a kiss on the middle of their spine before he pushed his cock into their back entrance without warning making yn let out a blood curdling scream as their fingers gripped the binding. He grabbed their hips as he started to jackrabbit into them sweat running down his face as his blonde locks covered his eyes as he whispered sweet nothings into their ear sending them to a new cloud, a new piece of paradise, one they never would have ever gotten from anyone but HIM .

Time was blurring together with how fast and rough he was driving his manhood into them as he could see y/n whole body was convulsing underneath him from the force of his thrusts. Any moment now they would come undone, “come on cum for me,” he purrred into their ear as y/n eyes were rolled back in their head. Drool coming out of the side of their mouth getting onto the floor leaving a puddle.

He jolted as he felt them clench him almost painfully so as he gave one more thrust as he felt that familiar feeling as they came hard all over his shaft, he followed right after, pulling out spalttering his cum all over their back, getting it in their hair. As they laid on the ground convulsuing from their orgasm.

He smiled as he moved closer to their bruised and broken body, his breath hitting their neck “ you did so good y/n , were finally one , this is the start of our lives together “ he said pushing their gag down “you,ll learn to love me,” he said/

Janunary 6th

How could this have happened y/n had been so careful , they had moved the moment they felt something was wrong. But it hadnt been enough , why couldnt they see this coming, they never even saw his psycho path coming a mile away. After what he did on what he claimed was their anniversary, but it was more like the day their freedom had been ripped away from them. He had moved them into his own apartment far away from the town they knew, the police wouldnt help them …he had paid them off.

No one was coming to save them, they were stuck in the clutches of this mad man, trapped in physical and invisible chains praying upon a miracle.

#one piece x reader #sabo x yn #one piece #yandere sabo #ohara library answers

394 notes · View notes

atlascripts · 2 years

Text

Warnings: angst

the truth unveils

You had been stuck in the most agonizing time loops, one would eventually wake from their sleep paralysis but you seemed to relive the same moment every time you woke up. You tried to stay back in bed to close your eyes and not get the damn door that kept knocking incessantly but then when you'd open your eyes you found yourself lying on the floor of the hallway. With every loop though, the smallest hints of gaps filled back in your forgotten memory, like the number of people lined up dead along the hallways that never existed the first time around. And just when you thought you couldn't do it anymore, the final loop seemed to play over, this time however you chose a different path. All this time you had just stood in the hallway cowering in fear, but what would happen if you were to walk into the rainbow room right now in your dream?

The sudden curiosity and hope that that would end this nightmare had you move your feet before you could even process your decision, and you barged into that room the way one rips off the bandaid in one swoop. What you saw was a moment stuck in time and oh how it crushed your soul into a million little pieces. It all came back to you as you circled around the scene witnessing it before you, you walked around Peter's figure that held you against the wall with his abilities, you saw yourself then and the emotions came rushing back. You didn't run away or scream in terror, you only looked away closed your eyes and cried silent tears almost as if you had been suddenly mourning for a very long time. You now knew why your body was reacting so strangely all these years, it was recovering from such a traumatic incident, you also realized something wasn't right in all of this. Now that your memories were back you had full control over your senses and because of that, you could tell your reality was distorted. It was like you were trying so hard to wake up but when you did finally, from this nightmare, you were back in your little apartment on a sunny afternoon. Your shoulders drooped as you were sat by the bedside processing your emotions with a blank expression. Where does one go from here? You couldn't even navigate, because you were trapped in Peter's illusion.

'Fuck that, I really don't want to go inside, I can stand guard out.' Eddie spoke as he sized the Hawkins Lab at its full length now that they were at the gate in the upside down. The sky was darker here than in most other parts and clouds seemed to circle around it with thunder crackling.

'Do you think it rains in the upside down?' Robin had asked and just then, it actually did start raining and everyone turned to look at her as if she summoned it. Steve and Nancy lead the way with El right behind them and Eddie and Robin at the end. They were armed with guns, nailed bats and axes you name it but they really hoped El would take care of most of it. The lab really looked like a whole other dimension here, despite her history, El was having trouble finding her way around.

'Do you think we should split up and search for the gate?' Steve asked and Eddie protested immediately, 'How many horror flicks do you all need to see to realize that is a bad fucking idea, so no, we are not splitting up.' He hissed through gritted teeth completely on edge from the entire predicament. 'El can you sense anything?' Nancy asked. 'A little,' She replied and walked around the corner into another hallway with the gang following behind. A few turns, and a few dead ends later when they were bickering about which way to go next, something caught Nancy's attention. It was more so a sound she could pick up, she took a few steps away from the noise her friends were making and though the black vines had covered the whole place, she could see a few of them pulse in a certain direction. The sounds she heard were a mix of slithering and breathing, her heart plummeted a little, they never realized there could be a dormant monster sleeping here but the idea was slowly creeping her with fear. 'I see it too,' El spoke then and the others turned to see what the two girls had found. They followed the pulsing veins and El's memories started kicking in, the route to the rainbow room, she remembered it now.

The closer they went the vines seemed to change colour to a dark blue in hue, it was dark but very vivid, smaller mushroom-like flora grew from the walls followed by strange exotic flowers that looked nothing short of demonic fly traps, their edges were rimmed black with spikes like teeth and the inside was pure yellow and very viscous. There was an intense breathing sound again and they turned to notice horrifying mutated rafflesia that exhaled spores making the kids immediately cover their faces with their masks and bandanas. And amongst all this, behind membrane-like red veins, lay the door to the rainbow room.

'Listen we don't know what creepy monster is sleeping inside, do we really have to walk into the monster's den and become a free meal?' Robin panicked, but Nancy was committed, 'We have to close the gate or this nightmare will never end.' And with that said she hacked away the flimsy barrier as El decided to be the one to open the door.

Scared for what they would find, they all braced themselves holding their weapons firmly and ready to see the worst if it may be. But what they saw surprised them completely, the walls were lined with the same blue vines but they were growing more vivid in colour and around it were strange luminescent blue flowers that glowed rather beautifully, as if lighting up the darkness, The slightly greener plants there were concaved holding water that spilt into other plant leaves like a small cascade. The vines however bundled in the centre like a weird web holding onto something firmly, as if gripping for dear life, they slithered and tightened their hold, the edges of it attached to something, to someone. And just behind it, there was the wall with a thin thread-like crease that was crimson in colour, you couldn't miss it even if you wanted to. That was the final gate, the final and the first one ever created.

'Is that a person...' Eddie's voice spoke shakily and he went a little pale, a hand peeked from under the web of vines and at its wrist, the edge of the vine had sunk itself as if leeching off of it...or was it injecting it with something? When El walked up closer she covered her face in horror as tears began to stream down her face. Her vision of her little self that had watched Peter try to kill you played before her eyes, she had been tossed back in anger and had collapsed on the floor when you had come looking for the kids and Peter only for him to turn on you, her small self had cried seeing you before her eyes like that. And she cried now seeing it was you trapped in the web of vines. You had run bluish pale and looked sickly, most of your body was wrapped in them with your face barely visible because of the thick vine choking you.

'Wh-what to do we do, do we close the gate or save this person, what are we doing?" Robin asked frantically. 'No we're saving her, we all thought she moved out of Hawkins when she'd been missing all this time and no one fucking knew!' Steve hacked at the vine with his axe as it seemed to protest in a weird screech and shrivelled away. 'Right we're going to fix this.' Nancy spoke as she held El and rubbed her arms, 'It's okay El, stay with us, okay? You need to close the gate so let us do this bit.' El nodded and turned to look back at the darkened hallway it was like she could see how it looked before and now it was just another version of a monstrosity. She furrowed her brows confused though, Peter wasn't here, he should have been here and if he's not, it means he could show up any moment. 'We have to be quick, he will return soon.' El spoke as the other four kept hacking to break off the vines. 'Say what now?' Eddie asked arching a brow, El didn't explain much but she used her powers then by holding out her hand to loosen up the vines in one go.

You gasped loudly and coughed and for the first time in all these years, after that day when you were to spend the last night in your home, you opened your eyes to actual reality. Your view was bleak though, it wasn't the hospital’s piercing lights or the sun above you, nor the stars in a night sky. It was a horrific sight and you were so weak you couldn't do or say anything at all, the moment the vines were cut off from their supply chain everything seemed to go downhill.

For the longest time as they tried to untangle you from the grip of those plant life, the vines stayed dormant in their shrivelled state but none of them noticed how they slowly started coiling around you again, at your ankled and legs and your wrists piercing themselves to your bloodstream. 'Why is it not working?!' Steve shouted in frustration and within the next second the plant life turned on them, it yanked each and every one of them hoisting them to the wall in its vice-like grip. While they all were pinned, El was choking the most as the thing coiled around her neck to subdue her, she was their last resort but right now it all seemed to fail. Peter was there in the darkened hallway and he walked in both enraged and panicked and didn't heed any of them and just fell to his knees before your weakened state. None of them even knew Peter even existed until now and they surely didn't know he was the cause and reason for all that had happened to their town.

Peter had no regard but he was using up a lot of his energies to keep the illusion alive and right now with everything at risk, his powers had weakened, and his resolve wavered. It was years of hard work to have you be locked away in this strange ecosystem so he could create a false illusion in your mind, to live the perfect life you two would have wanted. All of it was gone just like that as held you in his arms trying to get you to breathe to say anything, his worst fear was manifesting before his eyes and he had never felt so powerless.

'No, no please say something.'

His voice was low enough for only you to hear but what was more strange was the tears that streamed down his face endlessly as he cradled you. Peter didn’t recall if he ever cried like this or at all, it was years of suppressed grief and hurt that had him pour his heart out like a child. Peter sobbed seeing what had become of you, what he had done to you.

'i am a monster,'

His words echoed in his head. He wanted to save you from all the falsehood of life but he hurt you the most in the process, he did more damage than good and the realization was the heaviest burden that chained him down, he was more human than ever at this moment, under the weight of his guilt of all the wrong he had done. As his hand stroked over your face feeling your faint breathing, he let go finally, not of you. He let go of everything he worked towards in all these years, and with that, the rest of the flora started drying up and dwindling to ashes. He was becoming worse than his demons, he was turning into despair itself, and his grief could be felt in the energy he gave out.

'Don't go please,'

'I am sorry, I am so sorry,'

'You're all I have and I..'

'I love you,'

That day Peter realized what truly was the woe of feeling how to be human and how he tried to become above it all initially and became the worst of it in the end. As if he hadn't been neglected and misunderstood all his life as a child but then he found love and lost it by his own doings. Where does one go from here? Who does one pray to? How does he ask for help?

The vines holding the hostages were the last to turn to husk but they too realized the gravity of the situation, they also knew the gate was yet to be closed. They looked at each other confused about what to do but El stepped forward, 'Peter, we can still save her, don't do this please.' None of them knew how much truth the statement held but they all spoke in unison trying to reason with him so as to not anger him. Peter felt your shallow breaths and knew he had to make a decision and fast, so he held you in his arms as he stood up and looked over his shoulders back at them. He had made his decision.

His soul had dried out, he’d become like the sand in the scorching desert, never resting. He had buried your existence somewhere under his smothering love that proved so brutal. He knew you were alive at this moment, he had to save you if it's the last thing he did, if it's the only selfless thing he did.

mood song: what we feel is enhanced by nowt

#jamie bower #peter ballard #henry creel #stranger things #henry creel x reader #peter ballard x reader #001 #suede jacket #mood song

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licncourt · 1 year

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I agree with the post you reblogged about how they bungled Lestat's death scene! They couldn't have filmed a more different version – both in action and meaning – even if they tried.

But, in the context of the show, the story they insisted to tell, I can't ever imagine Lestat's death scene playing out like it did in the books. It doesn't fit. (And I'm upset they deviated so much from the core relationships that it doesn't fit anymore).

They have destroyed Lestat's relationship with Claudia from the very beginning. In the show they tolerate each other at best, and they hate each other the other time. All the things Lestat taught Claudia with love and enthusiasm in the books, he does it out of desire to manipulate/placate Louis in the show. Not to mention that he threatens to kill Claudia 🤢 and hurts her even in the last episode where he waits for Antoinette to kill Claudia 🤢. There is no way he could fall for a genuine attempt at reconciliation in this context, so they have to paint Lestat as on to her plan.

Regarding Loustat, since they have escalated the violence in their relationship to such a degree that never existed in the books, they had to give Louis a more active role in the death scene, otherwise he'd pass for a sad wife-beaten victim with Stockholm syndrome. They had to give him some agency in this instance. His hesitancy/indecision translates here not in passivity, but in reversing the course and ultimately saving Lestat (or at least hoping that his actions saved him cause according to Claudia's diaries, he is still convinced they killed him). Otherwise there would be no catharsis for the public.

Though, the choice to have Louis cut Lestat's throat perplexes me when I think about what is supposed to happen in Paris. THE TRIAL! How is that going to work since Claudia isn't the one who ultimately killed Lestat. She didn't even touch him!! She planned it but she isn't the one who killed him. Like, why is Louis still standing and not Claudia? Or will they have Louis throw Claudia to the wolves to save his skin?

That's why I'm thinking that the entire Lestat death scene didn't happen at all as Louis described it, not just the aftermath. I'm thinking Claudia did kill Lestat/cut his throat etc like in the books and Louis did stand by and watch helplessly paralyzed. Then Louis cried over Lestat's body etc and put Lestat in his coffin, ultimately saving him. So when Lestat pops up in Paris and Claudia is executed, Louis has to face the reality that by saving Lestat he condemned his daughter to die...and he can't take it. It's trauma on top of trauma and he starts to tell himself a kinder story : one where Lestat told him one last time he loved him before dying, one where Claudia didn't stab Lestat with glee but he's the one who did it tenderly, one where Claudia was unfairly murdered and his actions didn't doom her. And I'm sure Armand was only glad to help with this version of the story and reinforce it. Honestly, I think Louis doesn't know yet that Armand orchestrated Claudia's execution.

That's how I think they could save the mess they made in this episode (and how they could use tvl to give a more rounded picture). Though they could end up with the same problems regarding Louis' agency.

Okay I fully agree with the first part, and I love that idea for the story if that's where they choose to go with it. The specific storyline of the AMC show, whatever my personal feelings on it, would come together very nicely if things played out that way and it's really a brilliant theory. I don't have a lot to add because you connected the dots for us, but I think this would be great TV and a very effective use of the memory theme that they haven't utilized much yet. It makes the most sense to present it in this sort of context, combined with trauma and abuse (as long as it's done with sensitivity).

#answered #vc #vctv #interview with the vampire #iwtv

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lostinthewiind · 2 years

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Brave Heart: Chapter Fifty-Three

Attack on Titan

Rating: Mature

Warnings: sexual themes, death, gore, mature themes, extreme violence, body horror, blood, weapons, major character death, age-gap relationship

Within the confines of her cell—the second cell she had been kept in her entire life—Vera was given a lot of time to think. Back pressed against the cold hard surface of the wall, she closed her eyes and let the flashes of destruction play on the back of her eyelids. For the first day or two, she had tried her hardest to push these memories out of her head, but now she understood that she didn't deserve to forget the chaos she had helped cause.

The worst part was, she didn't even feel guilty about it all; not really, at least. She couldn't help also feeling like anything would have been worth reuniting herself with Levi and her friends . . . and then she would remember the feeling of Sasha's hot, sticky blood coating her hands and she would take it all back. Maybe it wasn't worth it. That cycle would continue over and over again.

Vera had used the corpses of innocent civilians to climb high enough to reach her old life—something that had been just out of her grasp for four long years—and she had no idea how she was supposed to feel about it all.

Hearing the sound of running water, Vera slowly opened her eyes and glanced at the wall on her left. On the other side of that wall, in the cell next to her, Eren was being held. Vera clenched her jaw, hating the fact that his very existence made her despise herself. He had manipulated her into going along with all of the fire and death and destruction. He was the reason that Natalie and her mother and Reiner could be dead. He was the reason she was a monster now.

No, that wasn't true. Vera did this all herself. She was a big girl who could make her own decisions; after all, wasn't that what she had been fighting against her mother for?

Monster or not, Vera had carved her own path in life. She was the sole reason she was back in yet another cell because now, she was seen as a traitor to both Eldia and Marley.

Minutes later, the sound of rattling keys echoed throughout the cellar where the prisoners were kept and a large group of armed guards stepped up to Eren's cell. Without fighting it, Eren let them handcuff him and lead him away, most likely for more questioning. They had done the same to Vera the day before.

She hoped they weren't going to come back for her after. Being interrogated was exhausting, and she should know, considering she had been through it countless times before.

"You can relax. Levi made sure they won't come for you anymore." A voice broke through the suffocating darkness and Vera looked up to see Armin standing on the other side of the bars, his face partially lit up by the torches on the walls.

Vera felt her tense muscles ease at his words and even just the sight of him. Considering Sasha's death had put a damper on her initial reunion with everyone, she hadn't gotten a chance to officially catch up with Armin since they had thrown her in a cell the second they had touched down on Paradis Island again.

"Armin." Vera pushed herself up and crossed the cell toward him. It was now that she really got a good look at him and how much he had changed in four years. His hair was shorter now, he was taller, and he actually looked grown-up instead of the mousy little boy he was when she last saw him. "I'm sorry," she apologized without even thinking about it; it just felt like the right thing to do. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted to see everyone again. I wanted things to change."

Armin's lips curled into a small smile before he reached through the bars and pulled Vera in for an awkward hug with the bars squished between their bodies; and yet, it was the best hug Vera had ever felt. "It's okay," he whispered to her, his hand cradling the back of her head. "I can only imagine what you've gone through these past four years."

Vera bit her tongue, deciding against admitting that the past four years had actually been the most comfortable she had ever lived—despite the constant mental anguish. She couldn't risk having Armin think differently of her. She couldn't risk losing him too.

"I never got to tell you this before, but thank you, Armin," she told him, ignoring the discomfort in her chest against the metal bar when she squeezed him even tighter. "Thank you for everything. You're like the brother I never had. I missed you so much."

Very felt Armin's body twitch a little in her grasp at her words. "I seriously thought you were dead. We all did."

"I know. I assumed everyone had forgotten about me. I'm surprised you didn't."

"How could I?" Armin pulled away, eyes wet. "How could I ever?"

Vera just shrugged. "I'm glad you didn't."

"Never leave us again. Never leave me again." Armin threw himself back into the hug.

"I won't." Vera's voice barely came out as a squeak. "Hey, Armin?"

"Yeah?"

"I saw the sea. It's just as amazing as you said it would be."

Armin chuckled lightly. "I saw it too. It really is salty."

"Yeah, it is."

After a few minutes of savouring the physical sensation of being reunited, the two pulled out of the hug and wiped the tears that had collected in their eyes. Just as Vera was about to ask if Armin knew anything about when she was going to get released, the door to the cellar opened and the sound of a single pair of footsteps could be heard coming down the cement stairs.

Armin, who seemed to know what was going on, took a step back and smiled. "I'll leave you to it," he said. "After you settle back in, come find me. There's so much more I want to tell you."

"Okay." Vera nodded.

With that, Armin turned on his heel and walked off, passing a shadowed figure on his way. As he disappeared into the darkness and up the stairs, another person emerged and Vera felt the tears flood back in full force. With a set of keys in hand, Levi made his way over to her cell. Not only did it look like she was finally getting out, but this was the first time she had seen Levi since being imprisoned.

Wiping away the tears with the back of her hand, Vera tried her hardest to look as put together as possible, despite her dirtied black uniform that she had been wearing since Eren had given it to her back in Liberio and her matted hair. "You're a sight for a sore eyes," she greeted him casually. Things had been charged between them on the airship, but Vera wasn't ignorant of the time that had passed since they had been something more than Captain and subordinate.

She also didn't miss the yellow dahlia still pinned to his chest, but that was a conversation for another time.

"Hange finally convinced the higher-ups that you don't pose a risk," Levi said as he sorted through the ring of keys to find the right one. "Sorry, it took so long."

"Four days is nothing compared to four years," she retorted as he finally located the key he needed and unlocked her cell door. "I know these things take time. No need to apologize. I was fed and watered, given adequate bedding, and had my wounds tended to. This place is like heaven compared to the last place I was held in."

Vera caught a glimpse of Levi's grimace when she mentioned being held prisoner in Marley. She had spoken about it briefly on the airship but hadn't gone into the details; and after seeing his reaction right then, she definitely wouldn't be telling him that she had been on the brink of death.

"Let's get you cleaned up." He changed the topic swiftly as he brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face, his fingers ghosting over her as he ran his hand down her neck and over the dahlia necklace, just like Reiner used to do. "Follow me."

Vera stepped to the side and motioned for Levi to lead the way, waiting for him to pass her before she let the feeling of his touch bring a light blush to her cheeks. God, she had missed his touch.

After climbing the stairs out of the cellar, Levi handed the keys back to the guard standing watch and led the way out of the building and across the courtyard. Vera had to squint and shield her eyes from the bright sun above after being confined to the darkness for four days, but the warmth and blue sky were a welcomed change of pace.

"Home." Vera drew in a deep breath of fresh air. "I did it. I made it home."

Levi's eyes lit up at the sight of Vera taking a moment to soak up the glory of surviving all she had and making it back to Paradis Island. "Welcome home," he told her quietly, not wanting to hear any of the passing soldiers to hear him.

Vera's dry lips cracked into a wide grin and she let out a victorious laugh. "It's real. I'm really here." She closed her eyes and basked in the feeling of the breeze in her hair, raising her arms into the air. "There were a few times when I woke up in that cell and thought I was back there. But it's real."

Levi's eyes shifted uncomfortably as he clocked a few people taking note of the unusual spectacle. "People are starting to stare."

"Let them stare," Vera said, but when she opened her eyes again and noticed the stressed look on Levi's face, she sighed and lowered her arms. "You really are still the same old Captain Levi." She shook her head as she started walking again. "You really should take the time to enjoy the little things in life."

Levi, who was now walking just behind Vera, exhaled. "Oh, trust me, I am." She missed the way he looked at her, longing in his grey eyes, still not able to wrap his mind around the fact that she was really here with him.

Leading the way into another building, which Vera recognized as the place where most of the high-ranking officers had assigned quarters, Levi stopped in front of an unassuming door that looked identical to all the others in the long hall and pulled another key out of his pocket to unlock it.

As soon as the door was open and Levi stepped inside, Vera took in the sight of a room that rivalled her own back in Marley and stopped in the doorway. She had never seen a room this nice on Paradis Island and felt guilty about crossing the threshold in the state she was in.

After hanging his jacket off the back of a chair, Levi noticed that Vera was still frozen in the hall, eyes flickering from one side of the room to the other. "This is my room," he told her as if that made it any less intimidating. "You can come in."

Vera glanced down at the dirt and dried blood on her uniform and swallowed hard. She knew how much of a germaphobe Levi was and how much he liked to keep things clean, and the pristine nature of his room and the filth caked to her being simply did not go hand in hand.

"Should I not get cleaned up first?" she inquired.

Levi cocked his head, confused. "That's what we're here for." He gestured to a door on the far side of the room, which no doubt led to an attached bathroom. "The regular barracks only have communal showers, as you know, and I still haven't been able to arrange a room for you yet."

Vera's mind swam with all the implications of that sentence. "I-I don't have anything to change into," she said, unsure if this was the best idea. "And I don't want to inconvenience you like this."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Levi marched over, grabbed Vera by the arm, and yanked her through the doorway. "I've got clothes for you already." He pointed to a neatly folded crisp uniform and green trenchcoat. "You're not an inconvenience. Part of the reason why you're out is because I vouched for you and am taking responsibility for you."

Vera smirked. "That sounds familiar. Am I under probation again, Captain Levi?"

"You will be if you don't get in that damn bathroom and get washed up." He jabbed his finger toward the far door. "You are quite literally a walking stain right now."

Realizing that there was no way she was winning this battle, Vera huffed and strolled toward the bathroom. "Fine, fine. But only because you asked so nicely."

Stepping into the attached bathroom, which was just large enough for a bathtub, sink, and some storage space, Vera closed the door behind herself and pressed her back to it, letting out a breath of relief. She didn't expect things between her and Levi to feel so foreign, but her senses had been on high alert the entire time she had been in his presence. He felt just as intimidating as he had when she had first met him, despite the noticeable softness in his demeanour toward her.

Unable to discern whether or not her time in Marley and with Reiner had truly tainted her feelings for Levi, Vera began to strip her uniform off and fill the tub with warm water. Leaving the dahlia necklace on, because it could also use a good wash, Vera let out a content sigh when she stepped into the water. Instantly, she began to scrub away the many days' worth of grime and filth from her body, hair, and under her nails. Once the water had turned a disgusting shade of light brown, she drained the tub and filled it once more, this time so she could soak in the warm water and relax.

Eyes glued to the blue sky through the window, Vera let her breathing slow as she pushed the many gnawing thoughts from her mind and focused on enjoying the present. There was still a war going on, so it would be foolish of her to take the small moments of bliss for granted when they popped up.

With a small knock on the bathroom door, Vera instinctively covered her chest and looked back over her shoulder as Levi popped his head in, gaze averted. "I just wanted to drop these off." He held up the pile of clothes and set them atop the counter. "Everything okay? Do you need anything else?"

Vera shook her head. "No, I'm okay, thank you." She found amusement in the way he so desperately avoided looking in her direction. "I'm just finishing up. I'll be out soon."

When Vera turned back to the window, her arms resting on the sides of the bath, Levi stepped back to exit the bathroom. By accident, however, he caught a glimpse of her and the sight of the single silver chain around the back of her neck caused him to falter.

Every morning he woke up and pinned that dahlia to his chest, he wondered to himself if it was foolish to keep honouring the memory of someone who had only been in his life for such a short period of time—especially as the weeks turned to months and months turned to years. But when he saw her among the chaos of Liberio, he instantly knew that none of it had been foolish. A part of him had known all along that she wasn't really gone, or at least that's what he told himself.

And apparently, she had felt the same way this whole time. Four whole years hadn't managed to snuff out the flame they had felt for each other for what felt like a blink of an eye, and surely that meant something.

Unable to stop himself, Levi grabbed a small stool that he used to dust the high corners of the room and positioned it behind the tub. Sitting down, he rolled up his sleeves and glided his hands along Vera's bare shoulders and down her arms.

Vera jolted at the sudden embrace from behind but relaxed into it when Levi shushed her softly, gently calming her with tender whispers into her ear. He then ran his hands back up her arms before pushing her hair over her shoulder and pressing a soft kiss to her neck, directly over the chain of her necklace.

"You've come back to me," he muttered against her skin. "Thank you."

Vera's breathing was deep and heavy with the feeling of Levi's lips on her sensitive skin. "I had hoped you moved on," she told him plainly, the hurt in her heart proving that nothing had and nothing ever could taint her feelings for him. "I hated the thought that you missed me as much as I missed you."

"I won't lie to you and tell you that I didn't try," he said. "But I couldn't." There was a stiff pause. "Is it crazy that I still love you this much after all this time? Am I crazy for holding onto those brief moments we had together?"

Vera's breathing hitched at his words, particularly the ones where he confessed that he loved her. "It's not crazy." She turned her head so she could look at him out of the corner of her eye. "I don't think so, at least. Because then I would be crazy too."

Standing up so abruptly that he knocked the stool over, Levi pulled his boots off before stepping into the bath with his clothes still on. Without a second of hesitation, he slid in behind Vera and wrapped his arms around her from behind, unable to stand another moment not holding her in his embrace.

"I never thought the universe would grant me the privilege of finding love, but when I met you there wasn't a sliver of doubt in my mind that you were sent here for me," he whispered in between soft, open-mouthed kisses to Vera's neck and shoulder.

Trying her best not to ruin the moment with the awkwardness of turning around in the bath, Vera straddled Levi and quickly pressed her lips to his. She didn't care about covering herself up anymore and Levi's eyes couldn't have left hers to look at the rest of her body even if he wanted to. Those deep pools of blue entranced him, holding him captive under her mercy. There was nothing inherently sexual about this moment, despite the fact that Vera was stark nude. Instead, it symbolized just how willing she was to lay herself out bare in front of Levi, trusting everything she was with him.

"When I saw your coat outside the burnt remains of your old house, the world went dark." Levi tangled his slender fingers in Vera's freshly washed hair and pulled her close, pressing his forehead against hers. "After losing Erwin, losing you too damn near killed me."

Vera let out a shaky breath. "When I woke up in that dark cell, cold and alone and scared, all I could do was wait for someone to come for me." The words slipped from her lips even though she had originally decided against sharing this part of her past with Levi. "My wound got infected and I got really sick. I almost died. I gave up. I wanted to die. But now I'm glad I didn't."

"I'm sorry." Levi hung his head, hands gripping her sides and fingers brushing against the scar of her poorly healed injury. "I should have torn the world apart until I found you. I'm sorry I didn't. I'm sorry I threw away four years."

"Don't apologize." Vera leaned forward and nuzzled her face into the crook of Levi's neck. "Just don't let me go again. I'm not strong enough to face this world alone."

"Sure you are," he assured her. "You've always been strong enough. You could take on every evil in the world alone and come out the other side, but you won't have to; I won't let you."

The two of them stayed like that for a while, holding each other like the other would disappear if they let go until the water got cold and they began to shiver. After drying off with a wonderfully fluffy towel, Vera changed into the newest version of the Scout uniform, comprised of simple white pants, a simple white button-up, knee-length black boots, and a long olive green trenchcoat.

"This is way more comfortable than those black, skintight bodysuits," Vera said as she secured the last button on the coat and looked at herself in the mirror, finally sporting the wings of freedom again. "I see the majority of the war effort has gone toward new fashion designs."

"Okay, smartass." Levi rolled his eyes as he grabbed something out of a drawer in his bedside table. "One last item and you're officially a Scout again."

Vera's eyes widened as Levi held up a beautiful emerald green pendant secured to a bolo tie and bowed her head so he could slip it over and around her neck.

"They gave us these when we got back from taking back wall Maria," he said as he secured the tie and tucked it underneath the collar of Vera's white shirt.

Vera placed her fingers over the large pendant and smiled. "It looks like the one Erwin used to wear."

"That's the point." Levi nodded. "I've been holding onto yours since they handed them out but now that you're back, you can finally wear it like you deserve."

"It feels good to be back." Vera admired her reflection in the mirror once more.

Looking down at the dahlia pinned to his chest, Levi pressed his hand over it. "I suppose I should probably give this back to you now."

"No, don't." Vera placed her hand over his fumbling fingers. "It's been yours longer than it was ever mine. Keep it. I have my necklace."

Levi cocked a brow. "You sure? I got this for you."

"I'm sure," she assured him. "I don't need something to remind me of you when I've got you right here, all to myself, in person."

"What about this?" Levi reached up and brushed his fingertips over the lilac hairpin tucked in her thick blonde hair.

Vera reached up and touched the gift Natalie had given to her. "It's from a friend."

"From Marley?"

Vera nodded. "They're not all bad there, you know."

"I know." He dropped his hand from her hairpin to her cheek, caressing her skin. "Did you ever find your mom?"

"More like she found me, but yes. She was there."

"Will it be hard for you?" he asked before elaborating. "Will it be hard to fight against Marley when there are people you care about there?"

Vera thought for a moment. "Yes," she answered honestly. "But I know what has to happen. I know what I have to do. I just have to believe that my mom and my friends are safe."

"You don't have to do this, you know. You don't have to fight. You . . . you don't have to stay here."

Vera's breath caught in her throat. "I didn't struggle to get back here just to leave again. Sure, there are people dear to me across the water, but my true family is here. You are here. I'm not going anywhere."

"I just don't want you to hurt anymore."

"Hurting is inevitable." Vera stepped closer and pressed her forehead to his once more. "We're all going to hurt before this is over. We can't let the possibility of loss deter us from caring about anything or anyone in the first place. I know that either one of us could die tomorrow, but I'm not going to let that stop me from loving you today."

Levi inhaled sharply. "Are you sure about this? About us?"

"No," Vera answered honestly. "But I want it anyway. I want you anyway."

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lgcyuuki · 1 year

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musical audition ;; solo

yuuki was good at thinking up stories on the spot. a vivid imagination mixed with a certain interest in the form of storytelling one commonly referred to as manga and anime led him to not find himself bound by any limits. if it could be imagined, it was valid.

still very much in the process of processing and fully understanding what the hell he had signed up for when he had auditioned and signed the contract, the potential of acting in a musical performance had not been high on his list of expectations. just because he hadn't anticipated it, however, did not mean that he did not appreciate it. quite on the contrary. he did not want to do theatre. he did not want to pursue a career in acting. but if he could show the spirit of his grandfather that even if he couldn't carry on his legacy, yuuki would always keep him in memory and respect his existence as it had been in the mortal world. whether the old man now resided within tokoyo or in the christian concept of heaven or whoever was right in their theories, yuuki knew he was still watching over his family.

hence, no matter how pointless it may be, he was going to pay a tribute.

mediocre performance aside, yuuki knew that if he had any chance at catching the attention of those in charge of electing participants, it had to be through the second half. time had been dedicated to research the previous performance to grasp at least a certain understanding of what was going on, so if he could sweet talk with his imagination and his promises of hard work, perhaps he would stand a chance of impressing.

bowing for the judge who asked him about his character idea, yuuki took a deep breath and began. he had a wrinkled up notes paper in his pocket, but hopefully he wouldn't have to use it. "yes, i am irie yuuki, and because i am japanese, character concept relates to origins," he began his explanation. "i am working hard, but korean is still difficult. i know i cannot master language easy. have to remember this in character. that is why i am japanese knight, samurai." so far not necessarily unique, but he wanted to show that he had taken his biggest weakness into consideration for this.

"i am training under my master to protect, as he trained under his master before. i am loyal, but naïve, and my fellow diciple frames me for murder of my master. i must travel to yomi to see izanami no mikoto and have the spirit of my master speak the truth." laying out the elaborate backstory he had put thought into, he took a moment before continuing.

"i know background is not the task. but idea is important to my 'ideal persona'," he explained the reason for his starting the whole thing with getting side tracked. "i grow up watching kabuki play. kabuki often tell old stories from folklore, and i have much regret not listening more to my grandfather when he tried to teach me. ideal me will treasure the mystic world he liked more. ideal me will not let things pass by because it is hard to change fate. ideal me will believe he can prove himself right, even if he must go to yomi as dishonourable ronin. he is proud of his strong conva--conviction."

pausing his monologue, yuuki realised he had put far more of his true regrets into his words than first intended. far more than he had jotted down on the note. with an inhale, he continues his story. "but he never make it to yomi. he is naïve, so the mischievous yako, kitsune of the fields, trick him to the world of ayakashi. for even if strong in conviction, ideal me still believes in others. even if he is hurt. this is best part of me."

offering a nod for emphasis, he ventured into the final part of his explanation. "but time is different in the world of ayakashi than human world. when kitsune servants of inari bring him back, he is not in a world he knows. time can not turn back, but kitsune of inari take pity on the foolish human who is easy to trick. people can only tell him truth, but he does not know this himself." letting his fingers unconsciously run to his pocket to feel around the ball of paper, yuuki tried to remember if there was anything else he had noted down beforehand. he wanted desperately to take a look, but he felt as though the image he was trying to give right now would work better if he did not check for assurance. if he had forgot anything, then it was not important to the him he wanted to present both in ideal and in current. letting go of the balled paper, he gave another deep bow.

"thank you for listening. that is the version of the ideal irie yuuki i have imagined to create. the irie yuuki who is standing here now has a long way to go in many things. i am not good performer yet, and i struggle with language. but to become ideal me, i have to give it my all. please allow me to work for ideal me!"

#irie yuuki.solo #lgc:projectorigin002 #this got a bit out of hand #but i am proud of it and i am proud of my boy

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xhatake · 1 year

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"i just want to sleep . please, just … help me sleep ." iruka breakdown moments... || @allgather

And his voice is so small, so fragile. It was a desperate plea from a tired man, a prayer for relief. Iruka was cursed with a relentless mind, the weight of the present constantly plaguing him. Naruto being actively hunted definitely added another layer of unpleasantness to his stress. Kakashi wishes nothing more than to heave the weight of the world off of his shoulders & set it aside, if only for a night.

Though it's impossible to entirely resolve things for him, he would do what was in his power to preserve Iruka's light. It was special but temperamental. It could be used to help everyone around him or tear him to shreds, little by little. Perhaps this is why Kakashi pulls him closer to the couch they had been resting on, wordlessly at first. He positions Iruka on his chest, using strong arms to wrap around the whimpering man. This was second nature; what came next was a fleeting idea.

"I'd like to try something. " His words are careful as he presses his hand to the back of Iruka's neck, drawing him closer to kiss his forehead gently. His hand drifts from its spot along Iruka's jaw, trying to soothe him through a lingering touch. Kakashi takes his chin between his fingers. He lifts Iruka's gaze to meet his own, activating his Sharingan.

Now, they are standing in a field. It's a private recollection that Kakashi liked to visit when the world was too much to handle... If it was too loud or too fast. He thought that, perhaps, sharing the remembrance may relieve some of the weight on Iruka's aching shoulders. The memory was that of a field he had played in as a boy; he wasn't sure where it was or if he would ever find it again... But it existed in his mind as a distant thought that he could wear like a soft blanket.

He intertwines his fingers with Iruka's, opting to help him navigate the pocket of Kakashi's mind. Here, he picks wildflowers from the depths of his senses, tucking them gently behind Iruka's ear. Though there are still tears in his eyes, there is something else as well. Kakashi leads him to a stream where they can sit. The village was nowhere to be seen, and there were no expectations on the horizon. Here, all they had was one another.

Kakashi was not sure when Iruka stopped shaking, or his breath finally slowed. He couldn't deny the relief that washed over him when the scene provided some ease; it seemed to translate in the way that the clouds above them inched across the sun, leaving them bathing in its delicate light. He drags Iruka down to lie with him in the soft grass, watching imaginary clouds drift by until he dozed off. Kakashi mused that he was likely making his way toward his own dream.

When Kakashi reluctantly drags himself out of the illusion, there is a thin layer of sweat on his brow... but Iruka's body is curled up against him so sweetly, so peacefully. He finds a deep sort of comfort in the steady breaths that pass through Iruka's lungs, at peace at last.

#allgather #allgather; iruka #v. main #i am currently crying over these two dont judge me #i dont have an icon that works for this but know that it is important to my soul

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floor10ghost · 9 months

Text

Rena Reviews Euro Demo 67!

I don't remember many demo discs I had as a kid, just this and one other come to mind right now (which I'm also downloading) - but I'm just gonna chuck my thoughts on revisiting this silly psx demo disc here! It was in the official uk playstation magazine, i used to play the shit out of it over and over but only remember a couple of the games on there. Maybe I'll remember more while playing, who knows!

look at this sexy fucking disc. This invokes absolutely nothing.

The playable games on here are:

Asterix: The Gallic War

Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters

Chicken Run

Cricket 2000

Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge

Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness

Re-Volt 2 (RC Revenge)

Time Crisis: Project Titan

anyway. Join me under the cut as i talk about each of these!

straight away LOOK AT THIS SCREEN

guys i think my demo disc has covid

the music is too generic to describe lmao but it goes very well with the imagery

anyway

Asterix:

I didnt grow up with Asterix! So there isn't the full nostalgic attachment there, but theres some *vague memories* here? Anyway I don't think I played much of this because it's dogshit.

It's a *VERY* rudimentary turn based strategy where you pour potions on provinces to reinforce them, then you enter an attack phase where the bigger number wins, then Caesar's Legions attack (fallout new vegas omg????)

At the end of the attack phase you enter a minigame, one of them is a 3d platformer where you play as Obelix

VERY bare-bones. There's no music *anywhere* in this demo. It's also all just very very slow. Won't be buying this when it comes out :/

Next up: Bugs and Taz!

This one is how I found the demo disc! It was one of the ones i played over and over, lets see if it holds up lol

There's thankfully a lot more to talk about here... and music!!!

This is a pretty standard 3D platformer at its core, but you can switch between Bugs and Taz, or you can play it co-op! I imagine that's how its meant to be played. If you're playing single player the other character stands entirely still, however you can hit the left bumper to summon them back to you.

You collect carrots throughout, as well as medallions that I imagine don't do anything in the demo. They seem to be your stars.

When you have enough carrots you can participate in a minigame, the one I remember is the Pelota against the Aztecs.

It's a fairly standard game, if you're playing single player though you *are* outnumbered - but it's not too hard anyway. You just steal the ball and try to throw it through the hoop.

The one I don't remember however, is

Baladi lessons? It's a fairly standard simon says type game but

it got gender in it

all in all, neat lil demo! I mostly remember finding rabbitholes and digging around in them because I thought it was insanely cool that bugs could go underground lol

Next up: Chicken Run!

this is the *other* game I played on repeat! But it *scared the shit out of me*. You'll see why.

So... this is a stealth game

You play as Ginger and you must *be careful of the dogs*

The entire demo is dreary with unsettling ambient music, why the fuck did they make the chicken run game a metal gear clone????

Anyway, you are quite literally a chicken being chased by fucking dogs. and if you get caught a menacing stinger plays as you see this

Was a bit much for me 2 year old heart i must say! Couldn't quite handle that!

Anyway, the stealth is really simple and easy, as one would expect. There's not much going on here other than childhood trauma.

Next: Cricket 2000!

yeah

Next up issss: Frogger 2!

Okay, I had no idea this existed at all. What the fuck?

Whenever I think of frogger sequels I think of those weird ps2 ones, but this is straight up frogger

Rather than the traditional level though you're presented with a themed gauntlet, such as the first stage, a garden themed one. You are tasked with saving frogger's children.

You might be wondering, what happens if you get run over by a lawnmower?

he explodes into chunks. What the fuck?

The second level is a haunted house

This is genuinely an oddity to me, I never expected them to try implement traditional frogger gameplay into something like this. Might play it on stream at some point, I'm intrigued. That being said, I definitely dont remember this. Pretty decent? The music fucking OWNS btw

youtube

NEXT: Ms. Pacman Maze Madness!

I had no idea this existed. But first I gotta say

REST IN PEACE MS PAC-MAN

she lives on in our hearts. Fuck pac-mom, ms. pac-man was where its at

Anyway this is. really *really* boring.

It's that era of pac where they clearly had no idea what they were doing, which still goes on to this day (i say this affectionately, i love pac-man) but this one was a fuckin MISS

It's trying to translate the mazes into something completely different, more a labyrinth than the single screen mazes of yore, with block pushing puzzles and launchpads, a gauntlet you must get through while collecting as many pellets as possible

and its really lame and boring im sorry. I like that the ghosts seem to wear different attire in each level, i like that my gal ms. pac-man is here

i dont like much else. its slow and tedious as hell

however

ROCKET LAUNCHER???? HUH???

Two games left!

Revolt 2!

I forgot to take screenshots but... this is an RC Racing game, it's really a cart racer with really confusing level design, a slight bump in the road will get your car flying across the entire universe and world. There's a bit where you drive under a jeep though which is pretty cute! @is-the-driving-good? No I'm afraid, ridge racer this is not.

Anyway I'm kinda rushing a lil bit because I'm tired and the last one is TIME CRISIS!!! ITS FUCKIN TIME CRISIS, DUDE!!! I love Time Crisis!!!

Time Crisis Titan

Alas... This was not the saving grace this demo disc needed. I can't get far at all for reasons I'll get into, but what *is* there is full of the silly janky charm Time Crisis is known for.

Love these silly models! Love em

Anyway, why is this on here? Why would you put *Time Crisis* on a demo disc? This *will not* shift copies, put it as a video or something, not as a playable demo! It's a fucking lightgun game, this is clearly made for a ps1 lightgun peripheral, but people are going to be playing this with a controller!

the crosshair is incredibly slow and it's VERY difficult to aim properly which is why i didnt get far, it's just... either someone is gonna not own a lightgun and see this and think its just shit, or own one and probably plan on getting it anyway, all that's needed here is a video feature showing it off, having it be playable is *a bad move*

this is likely a pretty good time crisis game! Most of the negative reviews I can see mention the beautifully crunchy graphics being bad so the gameplays probably fine, but by advertising it like this youre convincing people it isnt.

ANYWAY

this was disappointing lmfao

a fun trip down memory lane, but yeah none of these were really that fun at all. Thankfully, the PS2 demo disc I'm downloading has much more interesting titles. Will be doing the same thing with it when I can. I wrote this one over the course of a few hours, but that one will likely have more put into it.

If you read this far thank you very much lmao, and remember:

#reenthoughts #rena writes #rena reviews

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capricornwriter5 · 2 years

Text

You are the one - Chapter 9

Pairing: Bang Chan x female OC; Lee Know x female OC

Genre: au (high shool, college), love triangle, fluff, angst, smut, from friends to lovers. Warning: soft drugs

Words: 7k

Summary: Bang Chan and Jasmine have been best friends for as long as they can remember. With little time to finish high school, they both begin to develop romantic feelings. However, family situations and communication issues force them to move away. Once in college, they decide to try to regain the friendship they had. As Bang Chan sees the opportunity to finally be with the girl he has always loved, his friend Lee Know, who had been studying in England, returns home and the connection he develops with Jasmine is undeniable. Can the chemistry and attraction with Lee Know outweigh a tender first love and memories of years of friendship between Bang Chan and Jasmine?

Disclaimer: I named the character Jasmine (Minnie for Chan 🥰) because I love that name. Besides, it’s easier if we want to see Chan saying cute names (it’s better than just Y/N, I think) but you can totally picture yourselves in the story, that’s the idea. <3

Chapter 9 - Starting College

Back in Korea, Jasmine was experiencing some quite turbulent days. Decisions such as what do to with her studies, job, family, and Chan did not allow her to think of anything else, nor to rest.

Desperate to clear her mind and be able to finally plan what to do with her life, the girl took a blank sheet of paper and tried to write all the reasons why she should and shouldn't continue with the college plan. Firstly, she put down the justifications to decide to stay at home and find a job. Surprisingly, there were numerous reasons, from lack of motivation to worry about money, her mother's health, her relationship with her dad, until the fear of failing in her career. She had not even realized when that confident and determined girl who had been throughout school had disappeared and there were only doubts.

Aiming to feel a little better and ward off so many negative thoughts, she went to the other side of the paper, where she would write the reasons that motivated her to move on and start a new stage in her life. The only word that came to mind was the name "Chris." As much as she thought, it was the only thing that kept pushing Jasmine, the only reason why something in her life was still standing. She couldn't imagine being without Bang Chan, she just couldn't and didn't want to.

They had walked away again, again they did not speak but this time Jasmine admitted that she had not acted well and that she should apologize to her friend; that way, she decided to do it the next day. Jaz knew she needed to rest and try to sleep at least some hours but her mind was playing dirty tricks on her and she ended up giving up. Once she got out of bed, Jaz returned to her desk but this time she opened the last drawer on her left, where she kept a box with diverse objects that reminded her of moments she treasured. She saw photographs with her parents, but what really touched her heart were the memories with Chan.

Seeing one old painting, she remembered the hours they had spent at Chan's house designing what would be the first building they would do together. Chan had drawn it, but Jasmine had painted all the rooms and filled them with details that would be their decoration. Those sketches, together with other drawings, were what Jasmine cherished the most, especially during those days because it reminded her of a time when only Chan and her existed, there was no problem between them.

Those sketches made Jasmine remember that all her life art was her passion, designing was something magical for her. Firstly, because she had learned to do it next to Chan. In fact, when they were children her father used to take them both to classes. As time passed, Chan loved drawing buildings, and he was extremely talented at doing so. Moreover, Jasmine had found in colors, shadows, and shapes a way to know herself. Through them, she discovered she could remain the same organized girl when drawing concrete things; however, Jaz could also unleash her imagination when she leaned towards more abstract works.

*****

It was six in the afternoon in London, Chan was talking with Lee Know and his family when his cell phone rang and Jasmine's name appeared on the screen. He immediately thought about the time difference, in Korea it was three in the morning, it was not normal for Jasmine to call him at that time, she had never done it, so he took the cell phone and barely managed to apologize to everyone when he was already leaving the bedroom.

"Minnie, is everything all right?" Chan asked highly concerned.

The almost impenetrable cuirass that covered Jaz's heart since last Christmas was easily destroyed to pieces just by hearing that, despite their fight, Chan was still there for her.

"I'm sorry." She said with a trembling voice. "I did not want to hurt you. I miss you so much, Chris. I was very mean to you, I shouldn't have brought back what happened between us."

"Don't cry." He said without being able to avoid smiling a little and even breathing easier. The anguish and anxiety Jasmine felt during all that time were the same feelings Chan had to face despite being in another country.

"I hurt you and I miss you."

"Minnie, you're still upset with me and I swear to you that I totally understand it. I'm not looking for you to forget what I did so easily, but... I don't know, it's just too painful. It's so damn hard to look at you at your face knowing what I did. But I try to ignore how I feel it because I know I deserve it, I hurt you. From all the people I know, I hurt YOU."

Lee Know had come out to ask if everything was alright and by accident ended up overhearing part of the conversation.

"You're amazing, I still think it's a dream that you're giving me another chance, but it's not fair that you throw that at me. I don't want to force you to do something you don't want, and I'm really not sure if you want me near you or not."

"Chris, please don't say that. I do want you near me."

"Gorgeous, I know you don't want to hurt me, but you are doing it. It's like you open a door and then you slam it on my face."

"Be patient with me, Chris. It's not easy for me either."

"I'll be patient with you all my life, and I'll do it happily if I know that I'm not forcing you. I mean, do you really want to try to make things work between us? Because I do, but I can't do it alone."

"I know I've given you reasons to feel like you're walking on glass, but I won't do it anymore. I'm saying this as honestly as I can. I want things to work, I'm really trying to move on. There's something I haven't told you but I need you to know so you don't think that I'm just being cruel to you without a reason. When we were together I was so happy that I felt like I was touching the sky, and now, being forced to bury that it's so fucking hard, Chris. In a matter of months, I had to grow up and struggled with my feelings like never before. The way I see dad changed, the way I see you changed too. Going back to when we were just friends it's not easy, especially not when I was so sure that I was going to be with you all my life. I'm not playing with you, Chris, I would never do something like that. I'm just trying to learn to love you again in a different way so I don't completely lose you, but sometimes I'm clumsy and I said stupid things, probably because I've spending much time wich Changbin."

For some seconds Bang Chan did not say a single word, he could only sight and laugh resigned to how much he could love that girl. Ever since he left Jaz's garden he had been waiting for the slightest sign from her to go back home, he wasn't expecting for her to open with him in such an honest way.

"I'm sorry about the apartments, you spent hours organizing everything, I know that."

"That wasn't your fault, I shouldn't have pushed you with a topic you weren't ready to talk about. I am sorry too. Besides, I have no right to claim anything from you, you were right. If you still don't feel ready, that's fine, forgive me for being so selfish and just thinking about me."

"I was very stressed by all the problems at home. Of course I want to go to university with you, the only thing that makes me smile is thinking of you and how much fun we'll have. Although I'm not going to lie to you, I don't know if I'm going to make it, Chris. I really feel like I can't paint anything anymore, but I can try. I can try for myself, for you, for the both of us."

"Are you sure you want to try it now? I can wait for you to feel ready, little doll."

Jaz sighed when she heard that Chan called her that again after so many years. It was too much of a coincidence that her best friend had referenced a time in her childhood when she had spent hours remembering her first art classes. Besides all the things that Chan said or did to her, hearing him call her that was the most direct way to reach Jasmine's heart.

"I had forgotten how it felt for you to call me like that." Jaz said after a few seconds of not even being able to say a word. "Chris, the only thing I'm sure of is that I want to apologize to you and see you."

"Forget about it, you don't have to apologize anymore. You almost made me cry. I'm such a whiner, we seriously need to stop hanging so much with Changbin and Han." He said laughing with Jaz. "Please don't cry anymore. Rest a little and think about what you want to do, I'll support you no matter what your decision is."

"I know what my decision is, I know what I want to do." She responded by looking at the paper where she had written down the name of his best friend. "Do you still want to show me the apartments you looked for?"

"There is nothing I want more, precious."

"When are you coming back, Chris? You have a lot of time away. I've never heard that a koala can be happy in England."

That last comment made Chan laugh in a way that expressed how in love he was and would be forever. Jasmine did not usually demand time or attention from Bang Chan, it was the other way around; but the few times that happened, the dimples on Chan's cheeks stood out from the smile he showed.

Lee Know, from where he was standing, opened his eyes wide, he had never even come close to laughing like that.

"I'll see some things with Lee Know and I'll be back. I promise you I'll be there soon. But go rest, it's too late."

"Are you really not mad at me?"

"Of course not, I am happier than ever to listen to you. If you don't believe me, I'll send you a photo so you can see that I'm smiling. In fact, wait."

Lee Know chuckled as he saw his friend take a picture and send it to that girl. He had never had such a relationship with anyone, he had never smiled like Chan was doing. He had never enjoyed and appreciated a call like his friend was doing at the time. He had seen Chan quite unmotivated since he had arrived in London, but the illusion on his face returned with just that call.

Once the call ended, Lee Know walked over and sat next to him.

"So, you are definitely not staying here." He said laughing and shaking his head negatively. "It seems that you do have someone waiting for you at home, someone who apparently you too are dying to see."

"Does it bother you if we continue with the gallery idea virtually?"

"Are you so desperate to get back?" Leeknow asked laughing heartily, especially seeing Chan's cheeks blush. "I'm teasing you, don't worry, there's no problem doing it like that."

*****

After a few days, Changbin and Han went with Jasmine to buy some new paintbrushes. The boys had been begging her for months to paint something for them before entering college and had finally managed to convince her. On the way back they came talking about how the whole thing was going on with her family and Jasmine gave them the news that her mother looked a little better.

"So you did talk to your mom?" Han asked.

"I asked her to go to therapy with a psychologist and to talk to her friends and that has helped her a lot, especially now that dad has a new daughter."

"And how are you? Does your dad keep insisting that you meet her?"

"I'll be better when I leave here." She answered. "I guess one day I'll have to meet her, but for now, it's better this way."

"Well, I'm not so happy that you and Chan are leaving," Changbin said with his arms crossed and stopped walking. "I'm really worried about what might happen to us without the two of you around."

"Nothing will happen to me, I am a responsible adult, take care of yourself."

"Han, you are not a responsible adult." Said Jaz. "You cry when you see a baby cry, you make noise with everything you have near your hands. And I haven't forgotten the best part!"

Jasmine and Changbin saw each other because they knew which moment of Han had made them laugh the most, and that was when they found him asking a mannequin in a store about the size of a pants. Clearly the boy had seen the doll from behind and it looked quite real; however, he thought the salesman was ignoring him until Bang Chan turned it over and realized it was a mannequin.

"If you are going to say that I speak to inanimate things, I have an explanation and you know it." He said very ashamed of himself.

"Okay, we don't want Han to feel bad, so let's forget what happened at the store." Jasmine said winking at Changbin. "And as for Chris and me, don't worry so much about moving, you can visit us whenever you want."

"Are you going to live together?"

"Changbin, don't be reckless! How can you ask that?" Han scolded, hitting him on the head.

"That was totally unnecessary!" Changbin exclaimed touching his own head. "I just wanted to know if they're renting two different apartments."

"I know you have a lot of questions. Guys, right now Chris and I are just trying to be friends again, as close as we can to before all of this happened. I really don't think living together is an option, things could get complicated."

"That means you still like him," Han said smiling maliciously but it did not last long, as Changbin pushed him hard when he saw that Jasmine's cheeks took on some color.

"And you call me reckless? Be a little more respectful!"

"Ouch! Don't be so rough, muscles. You threw me almost a meter away. Besides, I'm not saying anything bad, Chan was an idiot, but it doesn't mean that..."

"Enough," Jasmine said sighing and putting her hands on the boys' shoulders. "We better go eat and leave this matter at that."

*****

With very little to go to start classes, Bang Chan returned to Korea. He had practically no rest because he immediately went with Jasmine to look for apartments. Just as he had warned her, there weren't many options left. Either they were so small that they could not fit more than one person, or they reached such a level of luxury that the prices seemed unreachable.

After a tiring day of nonstop walking, Bang Chan and Jasmine ended up in one of Lee Know's family's coffee shops. Just by entering Jasmine was fascinated by the place. It was not such a big cafeteria, but the walls painted in warm colors, as well as the armchairs and chairs totally vintage made that cafeteria a place where anyone could spend hours. Unlike everything they had run through and the stress of the day, in that place they felt a lot of peace, so much so that Chan had to call Jasmine a second time to choose what she wanted to drink, for one of the girls who worked there was waiting for them.

"Sorry! I've never been here, the place is beautiful."

"Minnie, go sit down, I'll order for you. We have walked too much and you must be tired."

"Can you order a...?"

"Latte macchiato with extra cinnamon? Got it, got it." Chas was trying to get his credit card, but he ended trying to pay with his passport, he was so sleepy that he was not paying attention.

"Chris, you're seconds away from falling asleep, you better sit down and I'll take care of it."

Bang Chan smiled gratefully at her, as he really needed to sit down for at least a few minutes. Meanwhile, Jasmine looked at all the coffee options there were.

"Wow, I didn't expect such a small site to have so many options. Is there one that you recommend to me? "

"How much does your boyfriend like coffee?"

"Oh... he's not..."

Jasmine was about to deny that Chan was her boyfriend, but when she turned around and saw him practically passed out on the table, she couldn't help but laugh, she rarely saw her best friend that exhausted.

"He prefers to drink other things, but today he needs something to wake him up. But let it not be sweet, he doesn't like sweet. "

"Would you believe me if I told you that I have a recipe with chocolate that he might like? I promise you it won't feel sweet at all." The girl assured with a wink.

"I've been trying for a long time to make him drink something that has coffee with chocolate on it and he always says no, if you manage to do it, you're going to surprise me."

"Leave it to me, in a few minutes you'll have him awake and taking what he has always rejected."

Jasmine returned to the table and while the girl was preparing their drinks, she was looking at the apartment options with Bang Chan snoring next to her.

From where the young woman was preparing the coffee, she saw how Jasmine sheltered the boy and looked at him tenderly, she couldn't avoid thinking that they were quite a lovely couple, especially when Chan woke up when he felt the sweater on his shoulders and barely just opening his eyes, he smiled at her. He was still somewhat asleep, so he tried to bring Jaz closer to him to get some rest, but Jasmine reminded him of where they were and what they had to do, so Bang Chan ended up stretching and looking at the computer.

"As I see it, we have two options, but we would be living a bit far away."

"No," Chan said, shaking his head negatively. "Let's keep looking."

"Chris, there are no more options, I should've listened to you earlier. We could live a little far away while we find another place."

"And what if something happens at night and you are alone?"

"You are not worried about that, you worry about sleeping alone in a place you don't know."

"That's a lie."

"Chris, you can't even go down to your kitchen when the lights are out. Also, it is not that far either, walking would be about fifteen minutes away. And if you are worried about me, I can live in the one that is closest to campus. How does that sound?"

"I don't like it, Minnie, it wasn't what we had in mind."

"If you think about it, it will almost be like living together. I'm sure all my things will be in your apartment and yours in mine. Technically we would only sleep in separate apartments. That without considering that we have many classes, we'll spend more time in the campus than in the apartments. Also, yours would be the biggest, it has several rooms where Han and Changbin could later live. "

"We really are the parents of those two. But if we do that, I'll keep the dishwasher machine."

"That's not fair, Bang Chan!"

"Minnie, if I'm going to keep Changbin and Han, that means I'll have to buy plastic plates and cups because if they just try to wash them, we'll have an accident every minute. I really, really don't want to buy plastic and I don't want them to wash anything."

"You are right."

"On second thought, it won't hurt us to have a non-chaotic and orderly place where we won't hear the cries of the two of them. I think I am liking this idea of having two apartments." Chan said when the girl was already approaching with the drinks.

"I hope you enjoy them."

"Chris, she recommended a special drink to me. Go on, try it."

The girls saw each other conspiratorially as Chan tasted the coffee and put the cup back on the table. For a few seconds he did not speak and the girl who had attended them could not believe that he had not liked it, she was too good at her job for something like that to happen. However, little by little Chan showed a smile and immediately took another sip.

"This is really good. What's on it?"

"It's a secret." The two girls replied at the same time, which made them laugh.

"I'm glad you liked it, I'll leave you to continue working."

"Wait!" Said Jaz. "What's your name?"

"Romy"

"Nice to meet you, Romy, I'm Jaz, this is Bang Chan. I think you will continue to see us, we'll study here."

"Cool! I'll wait for you."

*****

The first weeks of school passed too quickly for the couple. On the one hand, they had their academic responsibilities; on the other, they not only had their personal projects but were also dealing with everything that involved living alone. Fortunately, they had both of them, and what one did not know how to do, the other did. There were many things they had to learn together, from very simple things like when was the right time to buy certain fruits or vegetables, to more important matters like paying bills on time or keeping track of credit cards.

Bang Chan and Jasmine had been excellent students all their lives, but there were many things they took for granted from living with their parents. Regarding Jasmine, she was her parents' little girl and they took care of practically everything that a house involved; meanwhile, Chan's family had a lot of money and other people took care of the housework. However, now they needed to take care of everything, especially money since they did not want to depend on their parents. Trying to be organized with just the money of the scholarship was not easy and they ended up using their savings more than once.

"Minnie, look! Tangerines are on sale! We have to buy two boxes." Bang Chan said very excited one Sunday when they were shopping together.

"No, we're not going to do that again, last time you came home with so many apples that we ended up having lunch and dinner for apples for a whole week. Also, I think that yesterday we spent more than we should have." Jasmine looked on her cell phone how the balance of the money was and realized that it had dropped considerably and it was no wonder, they had gone to eat and ended up buying several bottles of soju.

"That's because we go too often to the coffee shop. I think we have to start preparing it at home."

"It doesn't taste the same."

"We are not going to have this discussion again." He said laughing since Chan actually told Jaz every day that they spent too much money going to the cafeteria where Romy worked. "Going back to lunch, we could buy ramen, I'll go get something to drink."

Jasmine nodded and searched for the instant ramen they would eat. Upon arriving at her apartment, the girl prepared everything without telling her best friend that she had bought the boxes of extra spicy ramen, which was her favorite.

It took two minutes after Chan took the first bite for his face to turn red and he jumped up from his chair.

"Shit! Chris, I'm sorry I forgot it!" Jaz said trying not to laugh, as Chan was sweating spurts while looking for some milk to help him with the spice. He had never handled spicy food, he could not even smell it, but that day he had been so hungry that he failed to notice the smell and now he was moving his hands in the most exaggerated way for air.

"Where are you going?" Jasmine asked taking his arm, as he was nowhere from running away.

"Milk, I need milk. I'm dying!"

"And where are you supposed to go?"

"My apartment!" He said looking desperately for his keys, at the same time that he made a mess.

"Chris, calm down! There's no milk in your house. I told you you had to buy!"

"Are you seriously scolding me right now? Honey, give me honey, that helps!"

"We don't even have sugar, do you think we have honey?"

Jasmine covered her mouth with her hands but it was inevitable that the laughter won over her, forcing her to sit on the floor when she saw Chan jumping, screaming, and trying to drink water, all at the same time.

Chan's show lasted a few more minutes until he collapsed into the living room chair shirtless and with his face, ears, and neck totally red. In addition, Jasmine even listened to him with rhinitis from the number of tears that had come out.

"That was the most extra thing I've seen you do in years. You ended up half-naked, sweaty, snotty, and red-faced." Said the girl trying to catch her breath after laughing so hard.

"I can't feel my fongue and I can't zmell anyfing, Jazmine." He said wiping his face and blowing air with a magazine he found on the floor. "I fink I lozt ten yearz of my life becauze of you."

"Oh, my God! Your tongue really fell asleep, I don't understand what you're saying."

"Jazmine, fat's enough!"

Chan tried to get up from the couch but ended up lying down again. With that movement, he had tightened the muscles of his abs and being shirtless, Jasmine was perfectly aware of that. She watched as every muscle of his best friend was marked. Memories of when they were dating automatically came to her mind.

"What'z wrong wif you? You're just az red az me." Chan said looking at her confused.

"Yes, too much chili, too hot. I'll go buy honey."

Just as she was about to leave, Jaz yelled from the door that he had better be dressed when she returned.

Chan and Jaz had found a way to live together and avoid any awkward moments or closeness that could ruin things. They couldn't deny that it was quite difficult at times, but they had really achieved it. Whenever memories of when they were dating came, or they found themselves looking at each other with different eyes, they reacted too quickly. And that was precisely what had happened that morning when Jasmine had practically run out of the house.

"Stupid Han!" Jasmine expressed remembering his friend's words related to the attraction that remained in the couple.

******

Back at home and with Bang Chan with his face less red, Jasmine gave him something to drink with honey, which ended up removing any trace of the spice.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't do it on purpose, I missed so much that brand of ramen that I got excited and forgot you didn't like it."

"I'll never let you buy the food again, next time you will surely poison me with oysters."

"Do you know something? Looking at you like this, you look like a new species of red-haired koala."

Chan ended up laughing at that comment and getting up, turned on his computer. He needed to send Lee Know some new drawings for their gallery.

"Oh, no, Chris! It's Sunday! You promised me to continue with the series, I want to know who killed the boy."

"I just need some time, this is for the gallery, I'm almost done."

"Just some minutes, if not, I'll continue without you. By the way, you are doing well, right? The last time I visited the gallery's page you had twice the number of followers."

"Lee Know has done a very good job in England with his contacts. His photographs are very good."

"And your drawings too," Jasmine replied sitting next to him to see the drawing that he was finishing. "Wow! Chris, it's gorgeous."

Chan had been finishing a drawing of an Arab landscape. Jasmine knew that he was very fond of Islamic architecture and the temple he worked in had been amazing.

"Do you think so? I'm not really sure, I think the colors are not right."

"Let me see." Jaz asked by taking the computer and taking her time trying to help him. "You're using the same dark color palette, it doesn't match well with the color of the sky, nor does it match people's clothing."

"Shit, did I miss the colors again?"

"You did not fail." Jasmine smiled tenderly and played a bit with his hair. "You just have to lose your fear of colors and try a different range than usual. I can help you, today I have the day off. And if we consider that I almost intoxicated you, this is the least I can do."

So, Jasmine went to sit in her favorite place in the apartment. Despite finding the place in record time, they had been extremely lucky with the natural lighting. The girl had a whole window that allowed her to see the city and just in front of the window she placed the desk where she drew.

While Jaz let her mind wander to Chan's drawing, he had been reading in an armchair next to her, or at least he was trying to, because with every second his concentration was more lost on Jasmine's face. She had always seemed beautiful to him, but when he saw her doing what she loved the most, there was no comparison. Her hair tied back with a few loose strands, as well as the glasses she was wearing made her look gorgeous. In addition, she had habits that made her look adorable to Chan, such as tapping the pencil very gently on the tip of her nose or smiling in such a way that her eyes were more slanted than normal when she used a new color.

It hadn't been easy for Chan to have to suppress everything he continued to feel for her, but he had kept it because he had promised it to Jaz and because he knew that the girl was far from wanting to have a relationship. It was precisely in those moments that he wanted to go back in time and have told her the truth since he knew it. Now, he had the girl he had loved since he was a child by his side, but he couldn't show her half the things he wanted.

"Chris, I think I did it. Come see." She tookoff her glasses and when she turned around, she saw that Chan was quite serious. "Something happens?"

"I think I'm a bit tired, don't worry." He responded by getting up to see what she had done. "Minnie! It looks like another totally different drawing, how are you so good, huh? This will sell very quickly." He said smiling proud of her work.

Just as Chan predicted, the drawing sold almost immediately; however, what was a surprise was the buyer, whose identity was not known until some time later.

*****

On Monday, Chan and Jasmine had breakfast together before going to class, or rather, Chan was trying to cook some eggs while his friend finished getting ready. Suddenly, he heard a scream and didn't even flinch, he was already used to Jasmine realizing that she was running late when she was just starting to put on makeup. In fact, the boy only laughed as he shook his head negatively.

A few minutes later, he heard footsteps and when she was in front of him, Chan almost dropped the plates. Jasmine looked stunning.

She had a special activity in an art appreciation course, they would go to a museum and then students would exhibit what their favorite work had been and why.

For that day, the girl had chosen a short pastel color dress which fits amazing to her sillouete. Besides, Jaz was wearing heels, something that didn't happen much, especially because of all the time she spent doing physical activities with her best friend.

Chan had expected to see her go out like every day, in the comfort of pants or shorts, even with a dress, but never how she looked at that moment. That morning, though, he acted more evident that ever, Chan even forgot how to speak properly.

"Oh no... Is it a lot? Should I change?" Jasmine asked seeing that Bang Chan had been dumbfounded looking at her. "What do I wear? Chris, help me, it's late!"

Just when Jaz was taking off her shoes, Chan took her hand. "No! You look perfect, I mean... you look very good." He said clearing his throat and trying not to look at her so obviously. "Don't change, that's fine."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, now sit down to eat, you can't go out without having breakfast."

*****

The visit to the museum was going great. As always when she was in front of works of art, Jasmine had cleared her mind. In addition, she was already beginning to meet several of her classmates, so every day she felt a little more motivated. After seeing the paintings and having something to eat with the rest of the class, the presentations were about to start.

However, Jaz was walking to her seat in the luxurious room they would use to make their presentations when she felt something paralyze her. "It can't be, no, no, no." She though without daring to take another step.

"Jaz, aren't you going to sit down?" Asked one of her classmates.

"Yeah, just a minute, I think I left something in the cafeteria."

Jasmine took her bag and in the most awkward way, trying to cover the back of her dress, ran out of the room. Being out of sight of the class, she used a door as a mirror and saw that what she feared had happened.

"Shit!" She said covering herself even more with her bag, her period had arrived unexpectedly and by wearing such a light dress, it was impossible to hide the accident.

*****

"Minnie, speak more slowly, I don't understand what you're saying." Said Bang Chan, who had left one of his classes to call Jasmine, as the girl had sent him at least 20 messages telling him to answer her.

"I need you to do me a favor! I can't leave the museum!"

"What did you do, how can you not go out?"

"I didn't do anything, it was an accident."

"Did you break something? Jasmine, did they arrest you?"

"Chris, you're not helping! Of course I wasn't arrested, don't be an idiot." She said exasperated. "I had an accident with my dress and I can't go out like this, I need you to come and get me."

"What do you mean an accident? Minnie, I don't understand anything."

"Just look for what I'm going to ask you, okay? I promise you that if you do me this favor, I will do whatever you want, but go to the apartment now."

"Does that include food? Can we buy the tangerines?"

"We can buy all the damn tangerines you want, but hurry!"

Once at the apartment, Jasmine was trying to tell him to bring her a coat, it really wasn't complicated at all, but she had so many clothes, that Chan just didn't understand which one he needed to bring. She had even had to make a video call to ask him what she needed.

"That's a vest, for God's sake, I already told you I only need a coat!"

"It's not my fault you have so many different types of coats. Is this okay?"

"Chris, that's a blazer and it's too short."

"I think I found it!"

"That's a damn raincoat! Find a coat, Chris, that's all you have to do, they are next to the shirts. "

"These?"

"You must be kidding me." Jaz said while Chan was pointing the crop tops. "Chris, this is serious, I want to die of shame."

"What the hell is going on? I don't even understand what happened to your dress, I see you as nice as when you left!"

Jasmine took a deep breath and despite being on a video call, Bang Chan could see that her face was taking on a lot of color, especially her ears. Jasmine was not to be ashamed, much less with him, but the whole situation was terrible. She had lost her presentation percentage, had stained her favorite dress, and was now locked in a bathroom, possibly with people waiting to get in and Chan couldn't find a simple coat.

"Ihadafemaleaccident..." The words came out so fast and so soft, that Chan with costs and could understand, but when he did, his eyes widened.

"Fuck! Don't worry, I'm going there!"

A few minutes later Chan got out of a taxi and ran into the museum with at least four different types of coats, he had even brought one of his hoodies, the one Jasmine always took from him.

Even though Jaz managed to get out of the bathroom and managed to cover her dress, she felt terrible and didn't even want to look Chan in the eye.

"Hey, Minnie, it's okay. That's nothing." He said when they were going home together in the taxi. "It's me, are you really going to feel embarrassed with me?" He asked taking her hand and she finally raised her gaze and then nodded. "Are you ashamed of the person who had a red face and was nowhere near choking on his own snot from eating spicy ramen?"

That question made Jasmine laugh and getting a little closer to Chan, she hugged him and closed her eyes. "Thank you, Chris."

"Nothing happens. The dress looked good on you, but you look even better with my hoodie. I still can't believe that of all the ones I brought, you chose that one." He said hugging her back.

"You know it's my favorite."

"I also brought you something else, look."

Bang Chan took the bundle he had brought from the seat and Jasmine giggled when she saw an heating pad. "That is not used like that, it is used at home, when I am lying down and feeling miserable about what happened today."

"While you're feeling this way, I can get you chocolate, I've heard it helps you feel better, little doll."

"Chris, you are incredible, a bit silly for not knowing how to recognize clothes, but the best." She said sighing, totally lost on him.

******

"Not even my mother would have done something like that for me." Romy said the next day while Jasmine had a coffee and the girl took advantage of her break to talk with her friend.

"It was an emergency."

"Jasmine, no boyfriend leaves class, goes to your apartment, takes your whole closet, looks for you in a museum and also, voluntarily goes to buy you chocolate. You are really lucky, Bang Chan is a very good boyfriend."

"Actually ... Chris is not my boyfriend."

"No shit! You're kidding." Romy said about to choke on the cookie she had been eating. "I don't believe you, it's impossible, I've seen you together. How he treats you, how he looks at you..."

"We were dating, yes, but we broke up a long time ago. We have been best friends all our lives."

"Shit! I'm really sorry, I always refer to him as your boyfriend, I had no idea, Jaz, I swear."

"Don’t t worry," Jasmine said smiling sincerely at her.

"But then there is nothing between you guys anymore?"

"No, since we broke up we have just been friends. Things between us ended very badly, Romy, worse than you can imagine. Relationships for me are unthinkable, especially with Chris."

"Did he do something to you? Because if so, I swear to you that I am capable of starting to prepare his coffee with chili."

Jasmine laughed at her friend's threat, she was sure Romy was fully capable of it. "It was not on purpose, the situation was somewhat complicated, it included my family and neither of us knew how to handle it in the best way. I haven't talked about this for a long time, I'm sorry."

"Don't do it if you don't feel comfortable." Romy put her hand on Jaz's shoulder, who shook her head.

"My parents had a perfect relationship, they were what I dreamed of having. And dad... dad was the most important person to me, after Chris. Romy, Dad was always by my side, I trusted him more than my own mother, he was the first person I accepted that I was in love with my best friend. If it hadn't been for him, Chris and I would never have had a chance to be together. But he had another woman and Chris knew it, he saw them. He didn't know how to tell me and I ended up finding out everything in one day. About my dad's affair, that I would have a sister, and that Chris knew part of this. That day a part of me died and I don't think I can ever get it back. I don't talk to dad anymore, Chris and I broke up, mom hasn't been well and apparently, now I'm unable to trust a partner."

Romy listened to Jasmine's every word carefully. It was the first time that someone opened up to her so much and trusted her with something of that magnitude. In turn, it was the first time that the girl felt really bad for someone else. It was not easy for Romy to express herself, so she fell silent, thinking about what to say and how to support Jaz.

"Did I talk too much? I made you uncomfortable with all of this, right? Sorry, I haven't talked about this in a long time."

Romy saw that her friend's eyes were full of tears, and before Jasmine even shed a tear, Romy had quickly gone to the counter and brought her her favorite dessert.

"Sorry, I just don't know what to say to you. Despite everything, you still managed to get ahead, you graduated, you continue studying and you were brave and understanding enough to accept Chan back into your life. You're unbelievable."

"What can I tell you? I loved him more than anyone." She said lifting her shoulders. "Even though we're no longer together and our relationship ended in a very painful way, Chris means so much to me, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him."

"And what about your parents?"

"Mom goes to therapy to get over what happened. Dad lives with his daughter's mother, but we haven't spoken again. The baby was in the hospital. She came out recently, fortunately, she is fine now. "

"How do you know that?"

"I went to visit her several times." Jaz confessed barely audible, for it was something she hadn't even said to Chan.

"Jaz, did you do that alone? For God's sake, don't do something like that again, you're not alone."

Jasmine looked at her and smiling tenderly she came over to hug her. At first, that misplaced Romy a bit, as she was not an affectionate person, unlike Jasmine; however, she ended up smiling and hugging her back.

"Well, enough sentimentality for today. I think you already know a lot about me, next time it will be your turn." She said as Romy nodded.

"Do not expect much."

To be continued… 🐺 ✮Prev. Chapter

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