#I LOVE THESE 2 SM I AM GOING FERAL OVER THEM | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

a-small-batch-of-dragons · 2 years

Text

Rest Now, Little Prince

Prompts: !!! i am *living* for the newest chapter of "come now little prince"!! at some point if you feel up for it, would you mind making a pt. 3? Maybe focusing on janus Bonding w/ the rest of them, and some of that "unmaking" that he was talking about :eyes:?

I love your writing sm!! - eater-of-hopes-and-dreams

oh my sweet jesus can we please get more of Janus taking care of people in the Come Now Little Prince?? (maybe Logan next??) (only if want obv) -anon

Hi, I absolutely adore your writing, and every time I see a new story from you I light up! If you’re still taking requests and you happen to be inspired, I am really craving some of your particular brand of feral protective Remus (of Roman), but no pressure at all! Mostly I just wanted to say that you’re an amazing writer and I love all of the work you put out! -anon

Y'all really like this au huh

Read on Ao3 Part 1 Part 2

Warnings: self-destructive behavior, gaslighting, implied/referenced torture

Pairings: roceit

Word Count: 10533

Cities are full of bright lights and shadows alike. Those that live in the light, the heroes, the ‘good guys.’ Those that live in the shadows, their grisly work only illuminated when the sun deigns to show its face again. Sometimes the shadows are too deep. Sometimes the spotlights are too much.

The Prince, Roman Prince, is the Golden Boy of the city. The newsreels, the cameras, the public adore him. But they don’t see the winces when the bulbs go off right in his face, or whispers to be better, do better, perform better from the people that pull him aside after every daring adventure.

No one knows the name Janus, but they know his work. They don’t shout, they whisper. They huddle together in the dark, searching for the light so as not to get caught in his coils.

But sometimes, when spotlights are too bright and shadows too flat, a little prince will make its way into the snake’s den.

Janus opens his eyes, hearing the quiet rustle of someone trying to move very slowly in the bed next to him. He closes them again for a moment, taking a breath, before sitting up and turning on the light next to the bed.

As soon as the warm light bathes the room, the lump of blankets freezes. He waits, another gentle chide on the tip of his tongue, only for the lump to relax and slowly roll over, Roman’s face appearing to peer up at him.

“Hello, little prince,” he murmurs, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair away from his eyes, “did you manage to sleep at all?”

“A little.”

“Good.” He gets out of bed, tugging everything back into place. “Are you hungry, little prince?”

After a pause, Roman nods, and he gestures toward the door. Roman gets up slowly, clearly trying not to put pressure on the stitches, as he comes around to join him on the other side of the bed. Janus frowns as he notices how Roman is walking.

Bowed head. Rounded shoulders. Hands brought together in front. Eyes low.

“Roman,” he calls softly, just enough to get the little prince to look up at him, “go out and sit at the counter, I’ll be out in a moment.”

When Roman’s eyes flash with fear and he takes a moment too long to cover it, Janus reaches out and smooths a hand over his shoulder.

“This suit,” he says, gesturing to himself, “is not built to be slept in. Let me change and I will come join you.”

His internal frown deepens when he sees guilt replace the fear but he steps back, letting Roman decide when and if he’s going to move. He makes a point of turning his back on the little prince, walking to the closet, and opening the door. He pauses just out of sight, only to sigh with relief as he hears the bedroom door open and close.

Oh, little prince, the snake hisses, what will we do with you?

Roman is clearly operating in survival mode, if not due to the wound he sustained then at the very least finding himself in Janus’s apartment. Reconciling the frightened creature, braced for a blow and resigned to abuse, with the cocky and sure spitfire of a hero that danced happily through ruining a few too many of Janus’s plans is…difficult to say the least.

Janus pauses as he buttons his cuffs.

Is this…has this always been lurking just under the facade of Roman Prince? Underneath the quips and barbs and almost casual disregard for the meticulous planning that went into some of the operation he’d foiled? Part of him knows it must have been; someone didn’t learn the methods of appeasing an abuser overnight, nor did one’s regard for their own life disappear in the snap of a finger.

Part of him, though, remembers the way the poor thing had looked terrified at the gentle tease of kidnapping him and how quickly he’d realized Roman would take him seriously.

Janus shrugs on a new jacket and tugs his gloves into place. Roman’s lack of self-esteem had been hidden, the lack of self-worth done with such prestige that it came off as a healthy sense of self.

The little prince is a better actor than he initially gave him credit for.

“Oh, little prince,” he murmurs to himself as he closes the closet door, “what will we do with you?”

When he walks into the living room, he holds up a hand as Roman instinctively jerks his head around to stare at him. He raises his hand and lowers it a few times, mimicking deep breaths, until Roman looks a little less like a frightened child.

A little less.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” he says instead, walking to the kitchen and filling a glass with water. “Drink.”

Roman picks up the glass and takes a sip. His eyes keep darting over his shoulder. Janus follows his gaze and sighs when he sees the blood still on the carpet. He pulls out his phone and sends a quick text to get the cleaner to take care of it.

“What do you normally eat for breakfast?”

When Roman looks at him in confusion, Janus raises an eyebrow, hiding the slowly growing fury at the fact that Roman doesn’t seem to know what breakfast is?

“You are aware of the concept of breakfast, yes?” He waves a hand at the apartment. “Or did it not occur to you that I must eat breakfast as well?”

Roman toys with the glass for a moment. “I don’t normally get to choose. We—I eat what they give me.”

Janus files away the ‘we’ to address later. In the meantime, he gestures to the fridge and cabinets in the kitchen. “This isn’t exactly a five-star restaurant, but there are options here that I daresay will taste better than most dining fare in the city.”

Roman’s gaze follows his hand, leaving Janus free to watch his face. He narrows his eyes when he sees Roman fail to focus on any particular thing, instead sweeping in a wide arc that seems more indicative of following a command than pursuing curiosity.

“Of the things they brought you to eat,” he tries instead, “did you have a favorite?”

“…I liked the toast.”

“Toast,” Janus repeats, a small smile on his face, “that doesn’t seem impossible, now, does it?”

He turns to the breadbox and opens it, retrieving a loaf of bread and setting it on the counter. He reaches for one of the knives in the block and lays it next to it. He turns back to Roman.

“Anything else?”

Roman’s eyes drag away from the knife and he nods. “They sometimes gave us apples.”

“To keep the doctors away?”

A tiny smile and Janus will absolutely take it. He opens the fridge and holds up an apple for Roman to see. Roman nods.

“Catch, little prince.”

Roman catches the apple with a somewhat startled expression. Janus laughs and pulls out another, settling it next to the cutting board.

“Anything else?”

“That’s enough,” Roman says quickly, clutching the apple to his chest, “I—that’s about what they gave us.”

A piece of toast and sometimes an apple. Well, there go the questions about how Roman’s physique is what it is, and here come the questions about eating disorders, body images, and injuries due to malnutrition. Joyous.

“Well, I am going to have some bacon as well,” Janus says, hiding a smile at the way Roman’s eyes widen like a child offered a piece of candy, “and you are going to help me eat it.”

“I’m—I’m what?”

“I can’t abide looking at half-done things.” He pulls the package out of the fridge and sets a pan on the stove. “So either I make half of the package and spend the rest of the day thinking about it, I make the whole package and try and eat it myself which my tailor will abhor—“

A small snicker from over his shoulder and he grins.

“—or, you can help me.” He glances back. “Which would you prefer?”

Roman looks at the package and then back up at Janus. There’s a glimmer of something else in his eyes, now, something that isn’t guilt or fear. He nods.

“Use your words, little prince,” he encourages gently.

“May I help you?”

He smiles. “Good. Yes, you may.”

He notes the way Roman barely suppresses a shudder and oh, part of him longs to trample that little tidbit of information but he resists. Please, after having the little prince all blushing and shivering at the small bits of praise he offered before, he can resist this.

I will get you used to praise and affection, little prince, just you wait.

He pops the bread into the toaster and begins to slice the apple, setting the slices onto a small plate for himself. He looks up when Roman is silent and motions to the apple in his grasp.

“Do you want yours cut too?”

Roman quickly shakes his head.

“Well, go on, then, you don’t need my permission to eat. If you’re hungry, you’re hungry.”

Roman looks between the apple and Janus and the knife in Janus’s hands. Janus pointedly takes one of the apple slices and eats it, waiting for Roman to raise the apple to his mouth and take a bite.

“Good.”

If it’s a little easier for Roman to take the next bite, Janus keeps it under wraps. He does notice Roman eyeing the apple slices with a bit of curiosity and he chuckles to himself.

“I envy you,” he says, startling Roman, “I’ve never been able to eat apples like that.”

Roman tilts his head.

“I can’t bite into them like that,” he says, gesturing with his hand to indicate what he’s talking about, “makes my teeth hurt.”

A small, private smile comes over Roman’s face and Janus raises an eyebrow. “Sorry, it’s just…Serpent. Snake. Figured—“ he makes the motion too— “that wouldn’t be a problem for you.”

Janus allows himself a self-deprecating laugh. “Next you’ll be telling me you expected me to have scales.”

At Roman’s not unexpected but pointed silence, Janus hisses playfully as he turns around to fetch the kettle. It softens to another chuckle when he hears Roman snicker behind him. The kettle boils away as the bacon sizzles. He lays a paper towel across a plate and begins to set aside the finished pieces.

“Here,” he says, passing a plate with Roman’s toast and several pieces of bacon over the counter, “eat as much as you like. There’s more bread and I will not be eating the rest of the bacon by myself.”

If you had come to Janus and told him that he would willingly and gently be helping Roman Prince eat breakfast, coaxing little laughs out of him and pouring a generous amount of honey into a cup of tea, he would have patted your cheek and had Remus drag you out of his office by your hair.

And yet, Roman’s hands curl nervously around the mug—not a cup, but an ungainly blue mug that holds about twice as much as one of his cups—and the bacon disappears between the two of them.

“There,” Janus says as he sets the dishes in the dishwasher, “enough?”

There’s a little more color in Roman’s face as he nods, still nursing the cup of tea. Janus indicates the pair of chairs by the window and Roman moves, clutching the mug as if he’s afraid he’ll break it as he sits down. Janus sits opposite him, his own cup of tea in his lap.

The city sprawls beneath them, sunlight catching and reflecting off the now-gleaming buildings. Several artifacts dance around their feet, the carpet shining with little rainbows.

A very small part of Janus, the part that lets his fingers twitch toward the little rainbow pin Remus once offered him as a joke, whispers as it should be.

Janus sighs, sinking into the chair and letting the warm tea wash down his throat. He’s cleared his schedule for the day, no need to worry about anyone bursting in unannounced since Remus is very much aware of the security concerns, and the cleaner will be coming by later. His attention can stay completely and utterly undivided.

Which it’s going to need to be, if the way the little prince is retreating further and further into himself is any indication.

He looks at Roman’s reflection in the window. His eyes are down, on the mug of tea in his lap. Every few moments, he lifts it and takes a practiced sip, almost as if he’s learned how to time out his actions to make them seem natural. His gaze is unfocused, his limbs a practiced relaxed.

“Roman?”

Roman looks over at him. Janus settles his cup aside and folds his hands in his lap.

“You do not need to wait for my permission to eat or drink. If you are hungry, eat. If you are thirsty, drink. The kitchen is there to be used, the things in it are meant to be consumed.”

He sees the disbelief in Roman’s gaze but then the little prince swallows. “Thank you…sir.”

Janus raises an eyebrow. “Sir?”

When he sees Roman begin to panic, he continues.

“That’s an awfully far cry from what you called me last time we met,” he says lightly, “what was it, ‘Coil De Ville?’”

“…I was tired,” Roman protests weakly, “it was the first thing I thought of.”

Janus chuckles. “Ah, of course. What were some of the others…we had the classics of slippery serpent, slimy snake…”

“The Scaled Menace,” Roman mumbles, “or our very own Venom.”

“Isn’t Venom a hero?”

Roman hesitates. “…depends on the continuity?”

“Mm.” Janus tilts his head, looking at the little prince. “You don’t need to call me ‘sir,’ little prince.”

“…what am I supposed to call you, then?”

“I’d settle for my name.”

Roman just looks at him for a moment, before red blooms at the tip of his ears again and he quickly looks away.

“After all we’ve done, is this too intimate for you?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem, little prince?”

Roman stays quiet. Janus narrows his eyes, scanning the little prince. Embarrassed, yes, but…not in the same way.

“Why don’t you try, little prince,” he offers, “and see?”

He shuffles. “I can’t.”

“Of course you can, little prince, it’s alright.”

Shoulders hunch tighter. “I can’t.”

“…why not?” When Roman looks at him, shame burning in his cheeks, Janus lets out a small ah. “Do you know my name, little prince?”

And oh, there it is, that fragile blush, blooming over the little prince and making him seem oh so scared, the poor thing…Janus waits patiently until Roman jerks his head.

“Clearly we have not been operating at the same level of mutual respect,” he teases gently, reaching out and warming up Roman’s tea to soften the jibe.

Roman just looks at him. It’s a test for the both of them, for Roman to articulate something he wants and know he won’t be punished for it, and for Janus to keep from making all of Roman’s decisions for him.

If Roman would rather call him ‘sir,’ he’ll accept it. He will. He has to. If he wants to do this right, he has to.

“Ask, little prince,” he pushes in a soft whisper, “I’ll give it to you.”

He watches the roll of Roman’s throat as he swallows. “What’s your name?”

“My name is Janus, little prince.”

Roman’s fear melts into curiosity as he tilts his head. “Like the god?”

“My, my, how flattering.” Janus chuckles at how quickly the better blush, the flustered one, spreads across his face. “Yes, Roman, like the god with two faces.”

He gestures to his face.

“Seems they had something like this in mind, hmm?”

“No.”

Janus blinks at the sudden steel behind Roman’s words, the hero bleeding through in small measures as his hands steady on the mug in his lap. Roman looks at him. Really looks at him.

“No parent would wish something like that on their child,” he says, jerking his chin toward Janus’s scars, “much less name them after it.”

The amount of sincerity behind his words and the implications therein threaten to rob Janus of his words, staring at Roman. The little prince had, of course, made his care for the wellbeing of others quite obvious in the encounters they’d had before, but never had it been directed at him.

“…thank you, little prince,” he settles on, “how kind of you.”

Roman just nods, a bit of his bravado leaving him as the moment passes. “Are you…fine with me knowing your name?”

“Why wouldn’t I be, little prince?”

“Just seems like that might be…sensitive information.”

Janus chuckles despite himself, raising an eyebrow. “Ah, yes, and when I am finally captured and put to interrogation for my many misdeeds, the sensitive information they will use over me is…what, my name? The fact that I can’t bite into an apple?”

Roman looks at him.

Oh.

Oh, no.

“Roman,” Janus says, leaning forward and cupping the side of his neck, “listen to me—”

“They would,” he whispers, “they would be able to use that. They would train it into you.”

“You’re not there, Roman,” Janus says firmly, “you’re here with me. You’re in my apartment, you’re safe, little prince.”

“J-Janus?”

“Yes, little prince, I’m here.”

“J-Janus—“

Janus stands, pulling Roman’s head closer to his chest, kissing his forehead and smoothing a thumb across his cheek. Roman shudders in his hold, eyes squeezing shut as he keeps him steady. He doesn’t cry, not quite, but he takes several deep breaths until Janus can gentle them both back into their seats properly, one hand still on Roman’s shoulder.

“I told you,” he murmurs when Roman shyly pushes into his hands, “if touch is what you need, little prince, you can have it.”

“…thank you.”

He nods. “They’re not going to be able to use anything against me,” he murmurs, “because the closest shot they had to actually having something on me was you, little prince.”

Roman’s eyes widen. “It…what?”

A smile of disbelief comes to Janus’s face. “For all your bravado, don’t tell me you didn’t think what you were doing was impressive, did you?”

He shifts, running his hand along the curve of Roman’s face.

“You were single-handedly disrupting things for years,” he says, “you managed to find the address of my real apartment on your own, and you were…well, you were clever enough to be quite the pain in my ass.”

He taps a finger under Roman’s chin as he starts to apologize.

“None of that, now, little prince, I did say were.”

And he has to laugh at the indignant twitch in the little prince’s face. “‘Were?’”

“Well, since you’re staying with me for now,” he says, softening his voice as much as he dares, “I’d hope we come to fewer disagreements of that nature, hmm?”

Roman’s gaze flicks back and forth from eye to eye, checking the validity of Janus’s words. Whatever he finds, he must come away satisfied as he swallows, nods, and shyly pushes into Janus’s hand again.

Janus chuckles. “Good, little prince. Do you want to finish your tea?”

Roman nods, pulling away enough to take the mug back into his lap and cradle it there. Janus sits back and takes his teacup as well, both of them looking out of the window.

“We’ll have to get you clothes, little prince,” Janus says after a moment, and quickly continues upon seeing Roman’s tensing at the prospect of going outside, “but I can have Remus pick up things for you. You two are—well, you’re about the same size, aren’t you?”

“Twins,” Roman says quietly, “we…we were twins.”

“Then I’m sure Remus will be more than capable of getting you clothes that will suit you well.”

Roman nods, taking another drink. “…how often will I be allowed to see him?”

The snake hisses at the weight behind the question and how obvious it is that this isn’t the first time the little prince has had to ask that question.

“He comes to debrief with me regularly,” he says instead, “and while he spends a great deal of his time running around the city, he spends a great deal of time with me.”

Roman nods. When he doesn’t seem to connect the dots, Janus frowns.

“…so you’ll be able to see him.”

Roman’s eyes widen. “Th—all the time?”

The snake hisses and coils. Learn now. Learn now. Learn how to put aside the anger to protect the little prince, the little prince does not deserve the brunt of this. Learn to be gentle, learn to be gentle, learn to be gentle.

“Yes, little prince,” Janus says, “whenever you want.”

After another moment of watching the poor little prince wrap his head around the fact that Janus is not going to limit his contact with the brother they made him think was dead, he shakes his head.

“We’ll get you a phone as well, little prince, so you can call him.”

If he thought that would make it better, he was wrong, as Roman’s eyes widen so much part of the snake worries they’re about to fall right out of the little prince’s head. “You’re giving me a phone?”

Janus just looks at him. Then he slowly settles the teacup aside, folding his hands in his lap.

“At some point, little prince,” he says softly, “I will need to ask you about what happened to you.”

In an instant, walls slam into place as Roman eyes him warily. “Why?”

“In part so that I can understand the enormity of what you’ve been through,” he starts, “in part so that Remus can ensure you aren’t tracked or hurt while you’re here…”

He reaches out and runs two fingers down Roman’s arm.

“And in part so that you can tell someone what’s happened to you,” he murmurs, “and so I make sure I don’t ever do anything that could hurt you.”

Roman stares at him, then at the hand on his arm, then back up. “…does it have to be now?”

“No, Roman, it doesn’t have to be for a while.” He pats his shoulder. “We can do what you like for now.”

Roman glances down at the empty mug in his lap. “…can I have another cup of tea?”

Janus smiles. “Of course, little prince.”

———————

“Wow,” Roman murmurs, staring at the clean carpet as Janus comes out of another room, “that’s…wow.”

He hears Janus chuckle and then there’s a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Better than you’re used to?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been able to do it that well.”

Janus’s hand tenses for a moment before he’s stroking up to gently squeeze the back of Roman’s neck. Roman shudders, fighting down the noise that threatens to escape his throat as a thumb strokes over the tense muscle.

“Easy, little prince,” comes the gentle murmur, “it’s alright.”

Roman takes a deep breath and fights the urge to tense up again as hands land on his shoulders. They press down gently, smoothing away the tension and coaxing him to relax properly. He lets out a long, slow breath, and they squeeze reassuringly.

“That’s better.” One of the hands moves to card through his hair and he looks up. “Remus will be here in a moment with your clothes and your phone.”

Everything wells up in his throat again and it becomes impossible to speak. But he should speak, he should say something to Janus. Janus, not the Serpent. Because he’s letting him stay here, he’s keeping him safe, he’s given him permission to eat and drink, he’s letting him see Remus, he’s buying him clothes, he’s being given a phone—

But he can’t say a word because the hand in his hair is a different kind of ache, one that stems from his chest through his limbs and sets his scalp prickling.

“I know it’s a lot—“ oh, this must read on his face— “and you’re doing very well, little prince.”

The praise washes through him like a warm wave, carefully stoking the swell growing in his stomach. Janus’s hand lingers for another moment before he pulls away, pressing something on his phone as the door unlocks. A knock comes a few seconds later.

“Come.”

The door opens and Remus, Remus is back, Remus is here, it’s Remus, he’s really alive, he’s really okay—

“Hey, hey,” Remus says quietly, suddenly right in front of him and reaching out to wipe his tears, “enough with all that sappy shit, huh?”

But Roman can see his hands trembling a little too and Janus just chuckles. Slowly, he reaches out and grabs ahold of Remus’s wrist, squeezing once, just once, to feel the jump of another pulse beneath his hand.

“Yeah, yeah, you got me, Ro,” Remus says quietly, “now come on, let’s get you into these scraps of fabric and see if they’ll work.”

“Phone first, Remus.”

“Sure.” Remus places something in Roman’s hand. It’s a phone. It’s a real phone. “My number’s in there, so is J’s.”

Roman stares at it. He’s held phones before, he’s been handed phones before, but…but…this is his phone. It’s his. They can’t take it from him. He doesn’t have to give it back. It’s just his.

In the midst of cradling the phone to his chest like it’s something precious, he misses the way Remus steps a little closer to him and Janus’s face darkening the slightest amount.

“Thank you,” he manages to gasp, “thank you f-for—“

“Thank the obscene amount of money J has to spare,” Remus says wryly, gently ruffling Roman’s hair as he steps back.

“Little prince,” Janus calls, “why don’t you go into your room and make sure the clothes fit? I need to have a word with Remus.”

Roman stands obediently, accepting the bags Remus holds out for him, only to pause as part of Janus’s words register. “…’my’ room?”

“The guest bedroom, formerly,” Janus says, “but considering it’ll be important for you to have your own space, yes, Roman, your room.”

“You—there’s a guest bedroom?”

Janus tilts his head, then walks across the living room to a door Roman didn’t even see and opens it. He gestures inside. Roman walks over slowly, peering over his shoulder. His eyes widen.

It’s…it’s a room. There’s a bed bigger than any he’s ever seen—though not quite as big as Janus’s—with a dresser and a table. And there’s another door.

“I—I can—what?”

“Go on, little prince,” Janus murmurs, too quiet for Remus to hear, “go inside. It’s alright.”

Roman hesitantly steps over the threshold and Janus closes the door with a gentle click. He turns slowly on the spot. This…this room, it’s—it’s—

Only when the bag hit his legs does he remember he’s holding them. He quickly sets them down and rifles through them. His eyes widen. There’s almost an entire wardrobe in here, from t-shirts to long-sleeve shirts to slacks to jeans to sweat pants and socks and underwear and—is that a suit?

He looks around and spots a smaller set of doors. He goes over and opens them, finding a closet with a mirror on the inside of one door. The sight of his reflection gives him pause.

His hair is loose, falling over his forehead. There are circles under his eyes and red splotches all over his face from crying and leaning into things for too long. His shoulders look smaller. He—he looks smaller.

Part of him knows that without the costume, he won’t look like the photos they made him imitate, but without everything, it’s…it’s…

He turns sharply away and begins the task he’s been set. Most of the clothing, he realizes, are the same sizes as each other, so he only needs to try on one of each to know the rest of them will fit. With this in mind, he carefully draws out a t-shirt and lays it carefully on the bed. He takes the borrowed shirt off, mindful of the wound in his chest, and slowly pulls it on.

It settles around his chest and arms easily, the material soft enough that he has to stop and run his fingers over it. Back and forth, back and forth…is this what all shirts feel like, or is Janus buying him the best quality? The realization makes something sink.

He glances at the others, another white one, and two in navy, gray, and black. Surely…surely it would be alright if he tried on one of each color, just to make sure, right?

He glances at the door. Janus and Remus still seem to be talking, so…

Roman reaches for a gray one. He keeps part of his awareness on his chest, just to make sure he doesn’t accidentally pop one of the stitches again, but the rest of his mind is swept away by the cool brush of the soft material against his skin. It feels…safe.

When he’s tried on each of the t-shirts, he reaches for one of the long-sleeved shirts. It’s of the same material, soft to the touch and a little chilly—probably from Remus walking with the bags outside—but as he pulls it over his head and the shirt settles into place around him, and oh.

Oh, is this what clothing is supposed to feel like? Nothing scrapes against his skin, nothing presses uncomfortably into tender points or threatens to rub against him, no, it’s just the barest amount of pressure on his arms, his wrists, his sides. It feels…good.

He clings to the shirt, wrapping his arms around himself, when he looks back to the bag. He doesn’t particularly want to take this one off, but he has the others to try on. He takes off the shirt and lays it carefully on the bed next to the t-shirts.

Just as he’s about to pull the last one over his head, he pauses. If he…if he puts the last one on now, he won’t have it to try on later. If he tries on the pants first, he can go back and then put this one on.

He quickly finds a pair of the sweat pants and pulls them on. They fit snugly around his waist without being restrictive. It’s a bit weird to have so much material around his legs when he’s not in a hospital gown. The jeans aren’t his favorite, just because they’re the roughest, and the slacks fit a little too much like his uniform to be completely comfortable, but he sighs in relief every time he moves his legs and isn’t threatened with the harsh press of a restrictive material.

He settles on a pair of sweat pants when there’s a knock on the door. He freezes, his hands on the last shirt he was going to try on, gaze darting toward the door.

Silence. Then:

“Ro? You okay?”

Remus. Roman takes a breath and walks to the door, opening it slowly. Remus peers around to find his face as he does, smiling slightly.

“Hey, Ro-bro. Can I come in?”

Roman stands aside as Remus walks in, taking stock of the clothes he’s laid out on the bed before turning to look at him. He stops. His eyes are on Roman’s chest.

“It’s not that bad,” Roman hears himself saying, “it doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

Remus just nods, before indicating for Roman to sit on the bed. He does, keeping the shirt clutched in his hand. Remus kneels—kneels in front of the bed, retrieving a small container from inside his belt and looking up.

“Tell me if it hurts,” he says in a low voice, “let me help?”

Roman can only stare down at him and nod as Remus swipes a little bit of the jelly onto his pinky and braces his other hand on the bed. He rubs the jelly over the wound, brow furrowed, paying such careful attention that it springs tears to the corners of Roman’s eyes.

Remus looks up when Roman sniffles and his eyes widen. “Hey, hey, Roro, what’s up? Am I hurting you?”

“N-no,” Roman blubbers, “I just—I jus’—when you were—were still with me and—an’ I could l-look after—after you and I—“

Remus’s gaze softens and he pats Roman’s knee. “Hey, it’s okay, Roro, we’re not there anymore, okay? I’m right here, I’m just doing what I always do, looking after my pain-in-the-ass little bro.”

Roman sniffles, a watery smile on his face. “You’re the little bro.”

Remus gives his knee a gentle flick. “Shut up and let me finish, okay?”

Roman hushes, Remus finishing the wound and carefully rubbing the excess into the surrounding skin. He tapes a bandage over it and gives Roman’s chest a pat. He stands, ruffling Roman’s hair as he jerks his head toward the clothes.

“Everything fit okay?”

“Mhm. I, uh, haven’t tried the suit.”

“Oh, you won’t need that for a while,” Remus reassures when he sees how scared Roman is of it, “that’s only if you decide you want to let Janus take you somewhere and be all prissy.”

Despite everything, Roman quirks a brow. “’Prissy?’”

“Don’t tell him I said that.”

Roman mimes zipping his lips shut and Remus grins. He reaches out and pats Roman’s shoulder.

“You’re gonna be okay, Roro,” he says softly, leaning down to knock their foreheads together, “J’s gonna take good care of you, you’ll be safe here, and if you need anything you call me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’ve gotta go take care of some stuff, but J’s gonna come talk to you in a sec, okay? You pick something to wear and go out when you’re ready.”

“R-Re?”

Remus stills as he goes to pull away. “Yeah?”

“C-Can I—“

“Oh, come here, you big sap,” Remus grumbles halfheartedly as he wraps Roman in a tight hug, “there we go, is that better?”

“Mhm.” Roman squeezes his eyes shut and drinks in the fact that Remus is here, he’s safe and his brother is too. “Thank you.”

Remus ruffles his hair again and leaves. Roman glances back at the bed. He carefully pulls the other shirt over his head and stands near the mirror.

He looks…better.

———————

The moment the door closes behind Roman, Janus turns and stalks across the living room to Remus. Remus draws himself up as if preparing for a blow, and lets out a very soft and confused noise when Janus grips the back of his neck and pulls their faces close together.

“We will get the others out,” he promises in a low, dangerous voice, “they will never hurt you or your bother again, and I will give you the chance to make them pay for what they’ve done to you.”

Remus just nods, another soft noise escaping him as Janus squeezes his nape, protecting, claiming. After a moment, he pulls away and looks at him, a thumb lingering in the hair on the back of his head before leaving. The poor thing has a version of Roman’s hopelessly confused face on and oh, the snake wants to wrap its coils around something and choke the life from it.

He can see questions burning on the inside of Remus’s mouth and the barely-concealed frantic energy in his fists but Remus stays still and quiet. Janus raises his chin.

“I won’t ask you to tell me exactly what they did,” he says quietly, “but I need you to tell me what will make him think he’s back.”

“He’s going to think it’s a trap,” Remus says immediately, “he’s going to think you’re testing him, waiting for him to break some rule he doesn’t know or remember so you can punish him.”

Janus nods.

“If it’s not that, he’s going to think you want something from him. You want him to do something or be something or give something. He’s not going to believe that you—“

Janus raises an eyebrow when Remus cuts himself off. “He’s not going to believe that I what?”

Remus sighs. “…he’s not going to believe you’re helping him because you care about him.”

Ah. Remus stares at him with an intensity he’s never seen up close before.

“…did you figure out why you want to keep him?”

He tilts his head. “Excuse me?”

“You don’t have to tell me,” Remus says in a rush, “but do—do you know?”

“Yes.”

Remus’s shoulders relax. “Good, that’s—that’s good.”

Janus gives him another moment to collect himself.

“Okay, uh—don’t lock him in anywhere—“ Janus’s eyebrows raise— “and, well, try to make him guess as little as possible.”

“Guess?”

Remus sighs. “I know your whole deal is—whatever it is, with the sarcasm and the threats and the weaponized politeness—“

Janus reaches out and fixes Remus’s collar.

“—but he—Roman isn’t good at picking up on when you’re joking-joking and when you’re not-joking-joking.”

Janus can hear the he’s too fragile to play with that goes unspoken in Remus’s words. He nods. “And how are the rest of the preparations going?”

Remus straightens, the familiar conversation topic easing some of the remaining tension. “All is in place except for the last payload, all but the last two have been drawn out and taken care of, and we have almost everything we need for the last piece.”

“And the packages?”

Remus glances over his shoulder at the door. “If all goes to plan, should be secured by the end of the week.”

Janus nods. “Good work. See to it.”

“Aye.” His eyes dart to the door again. “Can I say goodbye to Roman before I leave?”

“…let me make something clear.” Janus steps closer to him. “Unless it directly interferes with your duties in an unavoidable way, I will in no way prevent or restrict the two of you from seeing each other, is that understood?”

Remus nods, his eyes a little misty as he steps around Janus to go to the door.

“Remus.”

He stops. Janus turns, walking slowly over to him.

“When I found you,” he says softly, “you were a feral little junkyard dog, snapping at everyone and anyone. You were burning out, a little candlewick in the bottom of a pool of wax.”

He allows a small smile to come to his face as he cups Remus’s shoulder.

“And yet you still managed to kill four of my senior men drunk off your ass with nothing but a pocket knife.”

Remus watches him, his eyes fluttering slightly as Janus’s hand moves to the back of his neck again.

“I had no idea,” he admits, his voice dropping to a whisper, “where you’d come from…and if I…if I—“

“Stop, J,” Remus cuts him off, his voice a little hoarse, “you weren’t. You’re not a saint by any damn measure but you never claimed to be, not like them. And you…”

He swallows with difficulty.

“You were always fair.”

Oh, these poor, broken boys…

The snake gives him one last squeeze before letting him go check on his brother, shifting its coils in contentment as the two of them look after each other safely behind the door.

Remus reemerges a little while later, giving him another nod before heading off, and Roman a few moments after that, carefully shutting the door behind him with a wary look.

“I’m not telling you to leave,” Janus says when Roman carefully asks him what he meant about having his own space, “and you may stay with me in my room for as long as you like, but…when you want your own space, I want you to have it.”

He reaches out and strokes over the material of Roman’s new shirt.

“They fit well,” he murmurs, “Good. Do you like them?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He smiles as a familiar flush spreads across his cheeks. “Now, why don’t we see if there are any books you’d like to read?

———————

Logan stares at the readout in disbelief. Over his shoulder, he can feel Patton and Virgil getting antsy, trying to figure out what’s taking him so long, why isn’t he telling them what it is, what’s going on?

He swallows.

“The Ladybug has been killed or captured,” he manages finally to the sharp intake of two breaths, “and so has the Morning Dove.”

“Fuck,” Virgil says, tangling his hands in his hair, “they’ve gotten both of them? Do we ever—what’s—how did this happen?”

“I don’t know, Virgil, I’m just telling you what it says!”

Patton twists his hands together. “And we’ve not been deployed?”

“No. No calls.”

“No mission either.”

He throws himself on the bed. “What is going on?”

Logan squints at the readout again. “I can’t tell what’s happening, they must’ve blocked comms.”

A shiver goes up their spines as they hear the crackle of the intercom.

“All hands, report to stations as normal. Repeat, all hands, report to stations as normal.”

“How can they just pretend nothing’s going on,” Virgil mutters to Logan as the tree of them slip into line, “we’ve just lost two of the biggest leads for this place, how—how is it still business as usual?”

There are whispers around them of a similar type, each growing more and more hysterical the farther away they get from the center of the compound. Logan has a hand on Virgil’s arm and one on Patton’s, keeping them close as they move to their observational stations. They each trail off into silence as they near the white testing grounds with the technicians in full protective gear.

“…what are we going to do,” Patton mumbles as they move toward the three of them, “did we have anything scheduled for today?”

“Full scrub down,” one of the technicians says, “boss’s orders. You three are under suspicion of bio-contaminants.”

“We haven’t been out of the compound in two days,” Logan argues, “and we had a scrub down immediately post-op.”

“Don’t argue,” Virgil hisses, “just—just let them do it.”

The technicians seem to agree, or at the very least, not care enough to initiate the proper paperwork because they’re hurried onto their stations. Logan takes a deep breath. Patton squeezes his hands together. Virgil shuts his eyes.

Just before the protocol initiates, there’s another crackle of the intercom.

“Assignment, Level 8. Hostage reclamation. Report to Landing Bay 7.”

Patton’s eyes go wide. “Hostage, that means—“

Logan is already off the platform. “They found him.”

Virgil is already out the door.

———————

P: The scan’s done.

HQ: Analysis complete. Proceed with the assigned task.

P: Request confirmation on backup window.

HQ: Request denied. No backup scheduled. Proceed with the assigned task.

P: No current capabilities, requesting backup to complete the task.

HQ: Scan indicates Roman Prince, Alias ‘The Prince’ is capable. Proceed with the assigned task.

P: The Prince does not have the means to respond to stimulation of this magnitude. Request backup.

HQ: Request denied. The Prince is capable. Proceed.

P: No, I’m hurt, I won’t be able to maintain this, I—

The cold wires of his suit wind through his legs and make him stand, marching him forward.

P: I need to rest, please, I—I want it to stop. Make it stop. Make it stop. Help.

HQ: Request denied.

P: Listen to me, I—

HQ: Proceed with the assigned task. No further infractions will be permitted.

His hands shudder.

He—there’s—

He can’t rest.

He’s stuck.

The feelers retreat and the restraining support vanishes along with them, his limbs collapsing in on themselves like paper, crashing to the ground, folding, tearing, crumpling, discarded—

Maybe he can force himself to rest, make the suit start its own reset. Corrupt the suit to a state where he’ll have to get help, make the pain crash in waves, beating against the shore, flood the system, overwhelm it. Let the iron fists close around the lungs, squeeze the chest, choke the heart, reach in and knot the intestines, mangle everything beyond repair. But the buzz retreats and the static won’t come back, there’s no one to catch him at the bottom of this yawning maw, just down, down…down…

You

will

proceed.

———————

When Janus arrives back at the apartment after a brief meeting, he frowns when he closes the door and can’t see Roman anywhere. He quickly peeks into the open door of Roman’s room and doesn’t spot him, nor is he in the adjoining bathroom. A quick check of the security system shows he didn’t leave, so he must be…

He takes a breath and lays aside his briefcase, settling his case into its holder and crossing to the door to his bedroom. He knocks on it lightly.

“Roman?”

No response. He’s about to knock again when he hears a soft gasp and a pained wheeze.

The snake hisses and bares its fangs as it bursts through the door, looking for what’s hurting the little prince, what it can do, what needs to be done. Its coils twitch in pain as it spots the little prince, curled up into a ball between the bed and the wall, sobbing and hyperventilating into his arms.

“Oh, little prince,” he coos, coming over and kneeling down in front of the poor thing, “shh, shh, it’s alright, sweetie…”

Poor Roman doesn’t even register his presence, even when Janus reaches out and carefully tugs him up away from the sharp edge of the bed frame. Only when Janus’s hand lands on the top of his head does he look up, horribly startled.

“Shh, sweetie,” he soothes, brushing away a tear, “it’s only me. You’re alright, sweetie, I’ve got you, little prince, I’ve got you.”

“J-Janus?”

“Yes, Roman, it’s me.”

“I—they—they never told me y-your—your name.”

“I know, sweetie, it’s okay, it’s…” Janus’s eyes widen in realization of what Roman must be using this for. “No, they didn’t tell you, I told you. You’re here, with me, in my apartment. We’re safe, you’re safe, I’ve got you, I’m right here.”

“Janus,” Roman whispers, over and over, as if to calm himself down and oh. If that isn’t its own addictive thing… “Janus, Janus, Janus…”

“That’s right, sweetie,” Janus murmurs, continuing to coax him away from the uncomfortably snug corner, “that’s right.”

Roman looks up at him after a long while, his face red and splotchy with tears, his lower lip bitten and swollen. Janus lets out a soft noise, dabbing gently at his face to clean away the tears.

“That was a lot, little prince, wasn’t it?” He strokes a hand over a damp cheek. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Roman just stares at him, fat tears still hanging off of his eyelashes.

“This isn’t a trap, Roman.”

Roman swallows. “What—what do you want?”

“What?”

“Why do you want to keep me,” the little prince mumbles, looking every bit as if the world is pressing down on his shoulders again, “why am I worth all of this?”

The snake hisses, longing to wrap its coils around the little prince and keep him here, make him soft, let him feel safe, but it can’t. Not yet.

Janus is quiet for a moment, finishing the cleaning of Roman’s face, before he stands up and slowly brings Roman with him. Roman watches him as he takes a few steps backward, until half the length of the bedroom is between them.

“I promised that I would unmake you,” he says, “that I would take the touch-starved, terrified tool they made of you and undo it, bit by bit. That I would show you that you deserved to be told that you were good, that you are good, and that you were worth protecting.”

He carefully takes off his gloves.

“Would you like me to show you what I mean?”

Roman looks at him with the posture of a stray dog too afraid to eat and finally, finally nods. Janus smiles and holds out a hand.

“Come here, little prince.”

Roman swallows and walks to him, slowly reaching out a hand to take his. Janus returns the tentative grip, never giving more than Roman, letting him decide when and how to lace their fingers together as he tugs him close.

“Good,” he murmurs, smile widening as Roman’s eyes flutter, “now, if I do anything you don’t like, or if you need me to stop, I want you to squeeze my hand twice and I will, alright?”

Roman nods.

“Can we try, little prince?” When Roman looks up at him in confusion, Janus carefully cups his elbow, stroking little circles with his thumb. “Can you tell me to stop, little prince?”

Roman squeezes his hand twice and Janus raises his hand, stepping away.

“See? Just like that, little prince, I’ll stop.”

Roman nods, fear slowly morphing to confusion as Janus watches. He steps close again, keeping his voice a low murmur.

“Can I touch you, little prince?” Roman nods. “Thank you.”

He lays his hand gently on Roman’s shoulder, creating a little pocket of intimacy in the still room. He traces light circles over the thin fabric of the shirt, smiling as a small shiver runs through Roman’s body.

“When I first encountered you,” he starts, “I must admit, I thought you were a lot older than you are. Not just because of the sheer gall of you to try and take on my operation, but because of your skill level.”

His hand travels down his arm and slips to rest warmly on his side.

“And when I learned how young you were, well…part of me was astounded we hadn’t found you sooner. You would’ve made an excellent recruit.”

The weight of why else they wish Roman had been found sooner hangs between them but Janus brushes it away.

“But you, oh, you were a stubborn little thing, weren’t you?” He tilts his head and rests his hand against Roman’s ribs. “You wouldn’t be swayed, not when I told you how hopeless your cause was, not when I offered you money, power, no, you were steadfast in being a thorn in the side of the Serpent.”

He pauses, then notices Roman’s hand twitching at his side.

“You can touch me if you want, little prince,” he murmurs, “I haven’t told you what to do. You just need to remember how to tell me to stop if you can’t speak.”

It takes a moment but then Roman carefully reaches out to take a hold of Janus’s jacket.

“There you go, little prince, is that better?” Roman nods. “I’m glad.”

He reaches up and runs a hand through Roman’s hair.

“I will admit, I am a little surprised it took me as long as it did to realize how well you respond to touch.” He gives Roman’s hair the gentlest tug and smiles when Roman lets out a soft noise. “Though I didn’t realize it was because you were touch-starved.”

Roman’s hand slowly moves and cups Janus’s side.

“Do you want me closer, little prince?” Roman nods. “Alright, pull me close, then.”

Roman carefully maneuvers them until he’s almost hugging Janus with one arm. Janus brushes his nose against the side of Roman’s head.

“Good, little prince, good job.”

Roman’s next exhale is a little shaky.

“Yes, that I realized too. Touch, praise…I didn’t realize, little prince. I thought it was something else. I am…aware of the effect I can have on people, especially when they’re restrained.”

A small giggle.

“I thought it was me, little prince, my hand, my voice…” He runs his hand up and gently chucks Roman under the chin. “…that made you so flustered.”

Roman blinks up at him and shyly pushes closer.

“Do you like my voice, little prince?”

“Mhm.”

“Good,” he murmurs, “because there is a lot I’d like to say to you.”

He leans closer.

“May I kiss your forehead, sweetie?”

Roman nods.

“Thank you,” he murmurs as he does as bid, “no, sweetie, I may not have noticed what it was, but I did notice some things.”

Roman’s hand in his twitches and he goes to step away, only for Roman to carefully free his hand and reach out.

“Do you want to cuddle me, sweetie?” At his nod, Janus gathers him in gently, making him promise to squeeze twice still to make him stop. “There…good, good, little prince.”

Roman’s head rests against his, pleasantly warm.

“I noticed that no matter what happened, no matter where we fought,” he murmurs, “you cared just as much about saving the lives of my men as the civilians you were protecting. I noticed that you spent just as much time trying to convince me as I did trying to convince you.”

He allows his hold to tighten a little.

“And I noticed that doing that was getting you hurt.”

Roman leans into his hold and he thrills at how close he is.

“…may I kiss your cheek, little prince?”

“Mhm.”

Janus presses a kiss to Roman’s cheek, holding him close, and whispers, “I’ve wanted to steal you away from them for a while, little prince, and unmaking the poor dear they’ve made of you will be even better.”

Roman’s grip on him suddenly tightens with such ferocity that it takes Janus’s breath away, before he holds back just as tightly.

“Oh, I’ve got you, little prince, my good little prince, you’re mine now, don’t you see?”

Roman’s chest hitches and the poor thing begins to sob again, but as Janus eases them down onto the bed, Roman has a breathless smile on his face.

“Little prince?”

“Keep me,” Roman whispers in a rush, “keep me, please, keep me—“

“Of course, little prince,” the snake purrs, wrapping the little prince in its coils, “of course.”

———————

“...Janus?”

“Mm?”

“What about the others?”

Janus smiles, reaching out to cup Roman’s face in his hand. “What did I tell you, little prince, I can’t abide seeing a job half-done.”

———————

Logan, Patton, and Virgil arrive at the warehouse. It’s dark. As soon as they cross the threshold, their comms splutter and die, leaving them isolated from HQ. They glance at each other before following the heat signature on Logan’s display.

They round the corner and stop short.

The Serpent sets aside his cup of tea and folds his hand on his crossed leg, looking at them. “Good. They sent all three of you.”

Virgil doesn’t lower his gun. “What do you want?”

“To talk.”

They glance at each other, then Logan slowly holsters his weapon. Patton and Virgil exchange glances before following suit.

“Ah,” the Serpent hums, “so we are capable of being civilized. Lovely.”

“You wanted to talk,” Virgil spits, “so talk.”

“My, my, how hasty.” The Serpent picks the teacup back up. “There’s no need to be rude.”

Patton can’t help looking over his shoulder.

“Oh, don’t bother looking for any reinforcements,” the Serpent says, “this place is a dead zone. No effective communication in or out.”

“Which means you’re just as stuck in here as we are,” Patton points out.

The Serpent just hums. Logan narrows his eyes, looking at the Serpent and around at the room. Then he looks back. “Where is Remus?”

“You are the smart one,” the Serpent says, lifting a hand.

They all stare as Remus walks out of the shadows, coming to stand over his shoulder. Logan gives him a look as he folds his hands, one that Remus returns.

“…what’s going on,” Patton asks, “why…what?”

“Like he said,” Remus says, indicating the Serpent, “to talk.”

Virgil jerks his head toward the Serpent. “That how you got away? You got the Serpent to help you?”

“No, that shit I did by myself.”

Patton’s eyes widen. “So how’d—you—wait, so you got away, and then you dec—did you get caught?”

“No, I killed four of his guys.”

“By yourself?”

“Armed with a Swiss Army knife and a stomach full of Jack Daniel’s.”

Logan shrugs. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

“Mhm.”

“That tracks.”

“Come on,” Remus says, spreading his arms with an almost manic grin, “what was I known for?”

“Spray painting your scrubs hot pink by mistake because you thought that’s what the highlighters were for?”

“Getting stuck in the cafeteria laundry chute?”

“Hurling a hockey puck at the security camera and breaking it?”

The Serpent hides a snort behind a cough as Remus’s mouth drops open. “Wow, fuck you guys, I’ve changed my mind, you can fuck right off.”

“Remus.”

Remus sobers, looking at them with an expression they barely remember. Logan looks between the two of them.

“You want us to get out too.”

“There’s the Lolo I remember.”

The Serpent hums.

“Why?”

“Because they’re shit, Logan,” Remus says, “and you know it. They treat you like shit, they treat everyone like shit, and they can’t get away with it.”

“So what,” Virgil says, even as he takes a tiny step further into the room, “we just…disappear? Like you?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Remus, we can’t,” Patton says, “they’ll—they’ll come looking for us.”

“Not if they’re dead.”

Logan’s eyes widen. “You. You took out the Ladybird and the Morning Dove.”

“My, my,” the Serpent murmurs, “don’t you want to let the rest of the class have a chance, you’ve gotten so many?”

Logan bristles and instinctively takes a step forward, covering the other two. He watches the Serpent’s eyes narrow.

As they stare at each other, he watches puzzle pieces click into place as the Serpent’s eyes widen and a wave of terrible fury rises behind his eyes.

Maybe…maybe…

“What do you want,” he asks instead, “in exchange for this?”

“The prize is bringing down your HQ,” the Serpent returns easily, “and the added bonus of ruining what they consider their life’s work doesn’t hurt either.”

Logan stares at him.

“…you are a bright one, aren’t you?”

He doesn’t say anything.

The Serpent sighs, finally leaning forward. “No one should go through what they’ve put you through. Not children. I will not leave a child in a place like that.”

“We’re not children anymore,” comes the weak objection.

The Serpent’s gaze softens. “Yes, yes, you are.”

Logan swallows. He wants to. Judging by how Patton and Virgil are edging further away from the door, they want it too.

But they need one more thing first.

As if he understands, the Serpent stands, walking to the back of the room and opening another door, hidden in shadow. He steps aside and—

“Roman!”

“Princey, oh my god—“

“Ro—“

Roman, alive, safe, here Roman rushes toward them, wrapping them all in a hug so tight they feel their arms start to ache. Logan buries his head in Roman’s neck and breathes him in. Roman is here, Roman is safe, Roman is alive.

He looks up. The Serpent stands there, next to Remus, watching them with a soft smile on his face. They make eye contact. The Serpent quirks an eyebrow.

Logan nods.

The Serpent smiles and turns to Remus.

Remus pulls out an old-fashioned radio and speaks into it.

“Burn it down.”

———————

BREAKING NEWS: Compound found destroyed on the outskirts of the city. Officials have identified it as belonging to the Cyrus Corporation.

Technicians have identified several victims of the blast, including those that claim they were being held hostage for human experiments. They have also found records pertaining to several of the city’s heroes, including Logic, Heartbeat, Stormcloud, and the Prince. Were these heroes the results of these experiments?

A calling card of the Serpent was found at the scene, implying a connection between the destruction of the compound and the disappearances of the heroes. We’ll have more of the story after the break.

———————

Janus allows a slow smile to come over his face as three bodies jerk back to consciousness in front of him. He listens to their shouts, their angry declarations of revenge, their insistence that he let them go. He simply lets them shout themselves hoarse before he picks up the syringes in the case next to him.

“What are you going to do,” one of them spits, “poison us?”

“Snakes don’t have poison,” Janus drawls, savoring the fear as he gets closer, “they have venom. Interesting differences between the two.”

He brings the needle down and injects the contents into the first body.

“Poisons,” he says as he prepares the next one, “are deadly when ingested. Venoms, on the other hand, are only deadly when injected directly into the bloodstream.”

He injects the second one.

“You can actually survive ingesting several venoms.”

As he finishes the third one, he rolls his eyes at how terrified they look.

“That wasn’t venom, you uncreative idiots, that would be too easy.”

He lets the grin crawl back across his face as one of them nervously asks what it was.

“A little concoction that will enhance your sensory responses.” He trails a finger over their arm and smiles as they flinch. “Makes you a little more responsive.”

At last, they are quiet.

“Now,” he says as he turns, “unfortunately, as much as I would love to, I have a prior appointment to get to. So I’m going to leave you in the hands of my very capable friend here.”

Another figure walks in and Janus sweeps his arm as if to mockingly introduce him.

“I believe you all remember Remus Sanders?”

He closes the door before the screams can start again.

———————

“Little prince?”

Roman turns, looking up as Janus drops his hand to card through his hair. He smiles as his eyes fall close.

“Does that feel good, sweetie?”

“Mhm.”

“I’m glad.” Janus sits on the bed next to him, his hand still tangled in Roman’s hair. “Are you alright?”

“The others…they’re safe?”

“All settled into their new rooms,” Janus promises, “and their numbers are in your phone too.”

Roman smiles, cradling the phone to his chest as he leans into Janus. The snake purrs, coiling protectively around its little prince.

“Thank you, Janus,” he murmurs, “for everything.”

A kiss, pressed gently to his forehead. “Of course, little prince.”

They’re interrupted by a jaw-cracking yawn from Roman, prompting Janus to chuckle and urge him to get into the bed.

“You need to rest,” he murmurs, settling him under the covers, “those stitches come out tomorrow, you’ll need your strength.”

Roman hums, sleepily blinking up at him. Janus softens, stroking along the little prince’s cheek.

They’ve got a ways to go to fully unmake him, but they’re making progress. Evidenced by the way Roman reaches out for him when he goes to leave.

“Do you want me to stay?” Janus chucks him under the chin when he just nods. “Words, little prince.”

“Stay,” Roman mumbles, “stay?”

Janus carefully gets into bed, mindful of Roman’s stitches, and opens his arms. Roman blinks at him.

“Come now, little prince,” he murmurs, “let me hold you.”

The little prince snuggles into the snake’s coils and falls asleep, safe, in the darkness of the still room.

General Taglist: @frxgprince @potereregina @reddstardust @gattonero17 @iamhereforthegayshit @thefingergunsgirl @awkwardandanxiousfander @creative-lampd-liberties @djpurple3 @winterswrandomness @sanders-sides-uncorrect-quotes @iminyourfandom @bullet-tothefeels @full-of-roman-angst-trash @ask-elsalvador @ramdomthingsfrommymind @demoniccheese83 @pattonsandershugs @el-does-photography @princeanxious @firefinch-ember @fandomssaremysoul @im-an-anxious-wreck @crazy-multifandomfangirl @punk-academian-witch @enby-ralsei @unicornssunflowersandstuff @wildhorsewolf @thetruthaboutthesun @stubbornness-and-spite @princedarkandstormv @your-local-fookin-deadmeme @angels-and-dreams @averykedavra @a-ghostlight-for-roman @treasurechestininterweb @cricketanne @queerly-fluid-fan @compactdiscdraws @cecil-but-gayer @i-am-overly-complicated @annytheseal @alias290 @tranquil-space-ninja @arxticandy @mychemically-imbalanced-romance @whyiask @crows-ace @emilythezeldafan @frida0043 @ieatspinalcords @snowyfires @cyanide-violence @oonagh2 @xxpanic-at-the-everywherexx @rabbitsartcorner @percy-07734 @triflingassailantofmyemotions @virgil-sanders-the-gay-emo @cerulean-watermelon @puffed-up-bees @meltheromanstan @joyrose-fandomer @insanitori @mavenmush @justablah65

If you want to be added/taken off the taglist, let me know!

#dragonbabbles #fic #sanders sides #roman sanders #roman angst #roman sanders angst #janus sanders #deceit sanders #sympathetic deceit #remus sanders #sympathetic remus #patton sanders #logan sanders #virgil sanders

50 notes · View notes

christianbalelover · 1 year

Text

February TC challenge 1-15

1. Do you have more platonic or romantic feelings for them?

deff romantic hehe

2. Have they ever physically touched you?

yeah cuz he always gives me headpats and everytime we see each other he gives me a high five or fist bump <33333 i love him sm bro

3. Would you ever plan to pursue them when you graduate?

probs not i would literally die before telling him i like him shhshs he's gonna have to ask me lol and if he does i'm deff saying yes 😫

4. Do you know their birthday/zodiac sign?

nahhh i wish, tho if i asked him he'd probs tell me but i'm too scared T^T

5. Do you know their favorite color?

idk but i think its like red or sum

6. What do they teach?

math (and he does it amazingly 💪 luv me a man who's good at teaching fr!)

7. Do you think you're their favorite student?

i am 100% no doubt hehe

8. Are they tall, short or average?

He's tall asf

9. Do they have any pets?

idk but if he had like bunnies then that would be so cute shshshsh

10. Do you ever plan to confess your feelings to them? (Careful with this one, they could lose their job or get you in trouble.)

neverrrrrrrr, i would die if he found out bro

11. Do you know any of their talents?

he cooks 🤭

12. How often do you think of them?

allot tbh 😭

13. Have you told anyone irl about your crush?

the kids at my schools are annoying little snitches i could NEVER

14. Be honest, do you think you're in love?

ehhh honeslty no i mean i like him but i don't think i love him, yk?

15. Do they motivate you to come to school?

yeah deff, him and also cuz theres this group of guys at skl that are obsessed with him and even tho i deff do not like them its still fun to see them gush over me and shii (i'm not even popular those dudes just luvv me for no reason shshsh)

16. Have you seen them cry?

nah shshsh i'd prob cry too if i saw him sad 😭

17. What kind of dynamic do you guys have?

he's kinda mean in a sarcastic way (he's so cute omfg) and he has this nickname for me thats normally like kinda an insult but he uses to kinda tease me shhsh (its in french and idk what it translates too in english) and also i'd say were pretty close and he likes to tease me and stuff and he's really funny with me lol (this mf got me in chokehold istg😫)

18. Have they ever caught you staring?

noooo act i dont see him that much outside of class which is lowkey sad but when i see him outside of class he always comes and talks to me (going feral just thinking of it 🤭)

19. What was the most embarrassing thing you've ever done in front of them? (All of us have done some pretty embarrassing stuff, lets be honest.)

me stuttering and stumbling over my words when asked me 4 divided by 1.......

20. Do they make you feel safe/loved?

lowkey yes 🤭 but he's still kinda mean T~T

21. Have they ever rendered you speechless?

all the time bro 😞✊

#teacher crush #tc crush #male tc #tc male #tc community #tc struggles #tc blog #teacher love #teacher crush community #teacher student #i love him #my love #he's so obsessed with me fr (i'm delusional)#my babyboy <333 (he's 40)#fyp #teacher

5 notes · View notes

valleynix · 11 months

Note

Chapter 18 analysis LETS GOOOOO

I wanted to get this out sooner but I’ve been so busy lately 😭

Anyways congrats on 39k hits and 1100 kudos on ao3‼️‼️‼️

THEY CARE‼️‼️ I now believe everything lunny says, since they never lied before. I trust in lunatic intuition

Man.. I Wonder who do that 🤨🧐🧐🧐

Truly an unsolved mystery

MY HEART

Daniela loves reader sm omg

And reader really is someone who grounds daniela, considering that she didn’t go feral when they were bleeding in front of her the second time and the fact she literally drank their blood

SHEE NEEDS THEMM

You sure about that 🤨🤨

I’m assuming reader is gonna tell Bela the truth next (since telling Alcina is scary af) and I’m really excited for the scene to happen

SHES IN LOVE OMGG THEYRE SO CUTE

This whole scene had me giggling and kicking my feet they're so cute together 😭

I also think Bela is going to be the next person to confess her feelings to reader, AND I CANT WAIT I LOVE BELA

I love jealous reader LMAO

I was worried for a second that lunatic still wanted to work for Miranda, but thankfully they were just faking it 😭 (correct me if I’m wrong) but I wonder, was Miranda watching them from nearby for them to fake it? Or was she doing some mind stuff?

This part was when I kinda knew that it wasn’t lunatic causing any of the hallucinations. Cuz if I remember from part one, the hallucinations that lunatic shows were mostly of the dimitrescus being very.. uncomfortable? I guess? (I don’t really know how else to describe it) and maybe some other stuff about them crumbling/dying. But I never remembered lunatic showing them something about reader themselves (correct me if I’m wrong).

NAH WHO TF R U

I NEVER MET YOU IN MY ENTIRE LIFE ☝️

Okay but this scene really got my brain GOING, the writing was great 😭

And the part with that other voice monster thing was very unsettling. My guess is that the young version thing and the monster thing are the same person, since reader said something about seeing something dark underneath their skin

And I’m glad reader wasn’t really tricked by the weird voices of anything, they know their beloveds would never

10:

THEYRE EVILLL

my guess is that watcher made a deal with Miranda to bring them back to their reality if they torment reader

And for this part I think the someone else is that weird monster voice thing. Maybe watcher was trying to distract reader until the monster attacked them and reader accidentally attacks the dimis? And then lunny snaps them back to reality?

11:

You don’t even try to fight her moving away from you, her brows furrowed as she glances between you and your copy. “You… We trusted you-“

OH MY HEART

This scene was so sad but I’m glad Bela was okay. One thing I really love is how you make the dimis put their family first over reader.

12:

In one last ditch effort to gain her attention away from everything else, you muster what’s left of your strength and energy to mutter out a rough, weak, “Mother.”

BROS MAKING MIRANDA RETHINK HER LIFE CHOICES RN

Her mother instincts kicked in

I do Wonder what’s going to happen now (if mother Miranda is still conflicted with this), like is Miranda going to try to be a ‘mother’ to reader now or?? I LOVE MIRANDA ANGST

13:

You blink once, twice. The third time, your eye does not reopen.

Let me just say- THIS WHOLE SCENE GOT ME GOING

LIKE DAMN READER REALLY ALMOST DIED

Like the other times it was just really bad injuries, but girl really stabbed straight through their neck💀 I am so excited for the next chapter with this reader angst

AND THE DIMIS?!?

omg I wished we were able to hear what they were saying cuz they just witnessed their love getting brutally stabbed 😭

14:

Some time during your spiral, you feel something settle beside you, some weight nudging against your back. When you peek your head out from beneath the blanket, you see that crow leaning into you, watching the door intently. Your copy says nothing to you, no smart comment or even a noise. They watch the door, never straying from their protective position beside you.

THEYRE LOOKING OUT FOR THEM‼️‼️ PROTECTIVE LUNNY THEY CAREEEE

I’m really excited for how their relationship will go, and so happy that lunatic is officially (I think) on reader's side. They’ll be able to talk to each other about everything that happened, cuz even if cass and Dani know they never really remembered anything. So they’ll be there for each other

THIS CHAPTER WAS AMAZING AS ALWAYS

I wanted to say more but I’ve been so busy and burnout lately 😭😭

Keep up the great work ❤️❤️

PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST!!! you better be getting lots of rest and drinking plenty of water/eating plenty of food or ELSE >:(

but onto the analysis <33 i saw the notif pop up on my phone and couldn't stop grinning BAHA

Lunatic has canonically never lied!! maybe omitted some things or said things they truly believed at the time or what they were told, but they've never intentionally lied :3 always a treat to go back and read the things they've said while knowing that bit of information

you could never guess who did that :)

I LOVE THEIR RELATIONSHIP SO MUCH- they literally need each other, both help the other stay grounded and in reality and they're just so sweet and caring and they love each other so much PLEASE MY HEART

i have plans >:3

i already have her confession scene planned out AND IT'S SO... BELA???? IM SO EXCITED TO WRITE IT AND SHARE IT AAAAAAA

jealous Reader my beloved <333

bro was just feeling edgy in the moment 😔 and it was a bit of both! she was definitely monitoring their progress mentally while keeping an eye on them after they took over, which is why she knew exactly where to find both of them. Lunatic, thankfully, also knew she was watching them so they could pretend to be on her side to keep both of them alive a little longer

you're right!! this entire scene was actually meant to be a clear show that Lunatic hadn't even done anything to them; whatever was happening in their head was from an outside party looking to clearly harm them or cause them distress. Lunatic strictly showed the Dimitrescus looking a little wrong or showed specific memories of the Dimis dying/crumbling/injured, but never anything like what they were shown here

i will give you a hint and say they're the same person; it's only a matter of who this person is and what they want with Reader :3 and they know their beloveds would never do such a thing!! they'd never guilt trip Reader for things out of their control

the way i giggled at this MWAHAHA but it's a really good guess!! i suppose we'll see soon enough if your theory is correct >:3

THE DIMIS WOULD PUT THEIR FAMILY OVER ANY READER/OC AND I STAND BY THAT. these mfs who have only had each other for years would NOT betray their own family for some little idiot they've known at MAX a few months. nuh uh. i don't believe it

EHEHEHE I HAVE HORRIBLE THINGS PLANNED >:3 i loved writing this part and having Miranda be utterly conflicted with what to do as she finally saw them after all this time and through all these many different experiments... my heart :(

GENUINELY A VERY SHOCKING MOMENT- like, how does one even recover from something like that?? trick question, but i can let you in on what the fruit flies were doing: Cassandra went straight for Miranda upon seeing Reader fall, which is who we saw as like a blur chasing after her. Bela was completely in shock and unable to hold Daniela any longer, who went to Reader's side and tried to get them to speak to her or do anything to show they were still alive and could see her. Cassandra was then either knocked down or killed (haven't decided which was worse), which caused Daniela to try going for Miranda to help her sister, and that caused Bela to finally snap into action to save her family. it... did not end well

I LOVE PROTECTIVE LUNATIC SO MUCH!!! my poor baby just wants to be loved and appreciated and they're finally realizing that Reader could be the one to give that to them. they're my favorite traumatized siblings and i love them so much <33

AAAA BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS!!! i've been mentally exhausted lately so i understand being burnt out, and i want you to take care of yourself >:/ take breaks where it's needed and worry about yourself first!! or else!!!!

i appreciate you so much and it has been an honor to read your analyses and see the wonderful art you've created <333333

#asks #THIS WAS SO FUN TO READ #THANK YOU

1 note · View note

sprinklesandshatters · 3 years

Text

A Review on NCT 127′s 3rd Album <Sticker>

So NCT 127 just came back with their 3rd Full Album <Sticker> and this is my first 127 comeback since I became a fan last year! Neozone is such a special album for me as it was their first album that I explored entirely. I've known NCT as the group who never fails any expectations so I've kept mine up although I know they'll exceed it anyway. And guess what, they did! I absolutely love their new album hence this review~

This isn't a technical music review—as I am not a musician myself—but rather a listener's honest takes, goofy notes, and interpretation on each of the tracks in the album. I admit I've also struggled to build my own opinions on some of the tracks until I listened to them over and over again.

I have also heard there are mixed opinions on the title track <Sticker> and a lot says it's another acquired taste. But I think it's not just that, as it can be a grower, just like how most of NCT's songs were for me. Maybe after a few listens and a right passage of time, it will grow on those people. The bottom line here is, I like it a lot! 😛

So I listed down the songs according to their respective track numbers and followed each with a bulleted list of my opinions and interpretations.

(Viewer/reader discretion: before you continue, minors, do not interact as there are few 18+ contents under the cut. Thank you.)

1. Sticker

THEY DIDN'T JUST PUNCH A NEW NOTCH ON THE BELT LIKE THAT

THIS SONG SLAPS, LITERALLY SLAPS… AND WHIPS

The recorder at the intro boyyyy I thought something was wrong but then I remember it’s NCT lmao

It already stuck in my head from my first listen from the Instagram audio.

With Taeyong opening the verse with his divine rapping, I knew I'm in for a new ride.

STICK-UH STICK-UGH STICK-UGHGHGH

To those complaining it sounding like noise music, imagine it sounding generic. I don't think it would fit as the title track. Not a b-track or in their repertoire, even. They are called NCT because they define the NEO in the music culture and music technology!

It honestly was an unorthodox, just like all of their title tracks, which I’m inherently here for.

Literally, no one does it like them!

The growls and the vocal flexes and adlibs! (You can tell it has Yoo Youngjin's brand.)

The crisp metronome sound that’s consistently ticking except for the pre-chorus and the dance break adds depth to the soundscape. I love how it’s used instead of the usual snaps.

The production quality blew my mind. Like how can someone think those melodies would sound so exquisite? CAN I CALL THEM GENIUS?

The piano at the back, oh my God—Yes! It adds this mystifying element to the song.

I'm not sure if it's a midi violin at the pre-chorus, but it added thrill to the song. It was a great transition from the bass line in the verses to the combination of the flawless harmony with the same instrumental.

"You treat me like a boy, like a grown-up child chasing a dream" JUNGWOO BABY NO MORE HUH

Taeil, Doyoung, and Haechan—the bridge vocal trinity!

But why the heck are they cowboys? I dig the concept, but why? LMAO

BTW GUNSLINGER MARK I’M ON MY KNEES YEEHAW

This is easily one of my favorite tracks from NCT 127's entire discography 💚

2. Lemonade

(⌐■_■)

Jaehyun starting off this song with his deep voice eee

The song opens to a verse oozing with chill confidence. They're like, yeah you're lurking because we’re cool.

This is such a huge slap to their haters. NCT's not chillin' like a villain, nah they're the main characters!

Well maybe they’re villains, but still ya not cooler than them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Funny enough how they could have just referred haters as simply lemons whose sour/bitter to the taste, but 127 squad's success is sweeter than all the haters' spiteful remarks so yeah, SIPPY SIPPY LEMONADE 🧃

"WOOF"

I might have just barked too wOW

Yuta’s vocals hooooO his voice just sounds so glamorous mhmm

Also Mark referencing their previous title tracks such as: Firetruck, Cherry Bomb, and Regular (it's Irregular in the lyrics) in his rap part 👌💅

I just love Mark's energy when he raps. HE RESOLUTELY BITES AND STRAIGHT UP EATS EVERY TIME HE DOES.

3. Breakfast

Now breakfast time, oh jeez!

AAAHAHFU—

Summer 127's bestie!

If Summer 127 talks about dancing all night long, Breakfast is the morning after.

You know what it is.

"Even if I gulp and drink you, it's not enough for me." oho Taeyong no you ha—STOP

Sexual innuendos aside, isn't it just sweet if someone tells you they'd want to have breakfast with you every day? Okay maybe I'm melting at the thought 😩🙈💞

And I can see myself dancing to this song as I make breakfast (in the afternoon or at midnight bc I’m crazy)

This was an okay b-track for me at the first skim on the album, but boy it grew on me wildly.

Honestly one of my favorite tracks in this album.

4. Focus

Did I just invade a private call? LMAO

The analog voice filters make it like so.

Dude, this feels intimate in the level of eavesdropping a phone call between seasoned lovers. Then you realize you hear them whispering their kinks over the line and you're ooh, that's sexy! hfgklhfhf

My first listen to this, I almost went feral because,

"I can't wait to eat you…" when it's actually "I can't wait 'til we chill…" aahaha

"Baby call me when you want me." OKAY!

This sounds relaxing and chill. I'd love to play this on a late night drive or just before bed time along with Fly Away With Me, Sun & Moon, My Youth, and Long Flight.

Belongs to ‘make out session’ playlist ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

That was lowkey a playlist recommendation, huh?

I'd be kidding if I don't say I could touch myself while listening to this song AHAHAFGHFJFJ

I didn't know this would grow on me this much lol I love love LOVE THIS!

5. The Rainy Night

Ooh, the holy melancholy!

Piano at the intro—I knew I'd cry to this.

This song isn't just about break-up, but the heartbreak after one.

The yearning; the remnant pieces from the shattering of what was once there.

I think I crumbled from this one.

This hit so hard I felt like I fit in the shoes with the lyrics throughout the entire song.

What’s fascinating is I clearly forgot the title when I mentally said this sounds like a sad rainy day song from the first listen.

Something I’d turn up when it suddenly rains, just because I want to feel the blues.

Taeil and Haechan singing in lower register? I wanna cry :( they’re just one of the best vocalists in K-music industry right now.

Could have been also nice if they added Yuta to the vocals.

"My selfish heart who waits for you to come back," OKAY WHO HURT THEM?

And the fact that they sang it so good that it translated every ounce of the emotions well even before I looked up for English translations is the reason why I love this song too.

6. Far

Hmm… What the hell?! Do I like this? Wait...

Alright!

The jumpy vibe from the first verse to the pre-chorus set the mood for this song. It sounds merry and heavy. It was honestly too much to take until I’ve reached the chorus part.

Honestly, I think this song could fit NCT Dream better, as it gives off a vibe similar to Hello Future's b-tracks. If some credible source say this could have made HF’s track list, I might believe you too fast.

Also Dream’s Deja Vu where they go na nananananana na na na~

Playful yet confident! That’s what I mean!

As usual, the vocals are insane! Vocal flex from left to right!

I swear Jungwoo sounded a bit like Taemin at the second verse that I had to replay it hahaha

I love hearing Johnny as a vocalist! SM, how many signs do you need until you utilize his vocal talent???

Taeil's part where he sings, "go nuts, go nuts, 'til we go bust, go bust" IDEK BUT I SNORTED A LAUGH AT FIRST LISTEN HFCAHKFHK

Not my favorite, but still great though!

But wait it’s actually stuck in my head???

7. Bring The Noize

Yes, they never beat those noise music allegations

HERE'S SOME NOIZE, BITCHES

I love me some noisy percussions. AND THE BASS YO

This screams so much confidence!

The build up from the pre-chorus to the chorus—FIRE!

This song reminds me a lot of SuperM's Super Car, especially with the engine roar samples and the battle cry-like singing at the chorus.

JAEHYUN RAPPING? You mean Jaehyun the visual, the vocalist, the actor, the model, the funny dude, aka my everything?! (markie bb look pls look away for a moment)

THEY DELIVERED IT STRAIGHT FROM NEOCITY THAT'S SOME NCT MUSIC RIGHT THERE NO ONE DOES IT LIKE THEM

When I said I'd play Focus on a late night drive, and if I add this in the playlist, VROOM VROOM SPEED LIMIT WHAT

OUTTA MY WAY

“We got no shame” ouh TAEYONG’S FLOW IS JUST VERY HIM AND HE’S IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN

You know what's so clever about this song? It's how it ended with Mark's final rap without any instrumental, leaving you standing there with a doppler effect-like post experience.

A super car on a super speed just whooshed past you and you look its way as it zips through the road. It's gone in an instant but you're floored dumbfounded at a sidewalk. That's how I describe this song.

8. Magic Carpet Ride

This song… Wow. Oh gosh it's so beautiful.

Their harmony in the chorus—it makes me want to kiss someone so passionately that I'd cry.

This makes me want to feel love that transcends the universe. Literally, just please take me on a magic carpet ride :(

The background harmonies too oh my goodness—HEAVENLY.

Jaehyun's voice is so warm and soulful it fits perfectly with songs of this genre.

Okay alright Doyoung Grande!

And Taeil makes me feel like I'm listening to old school R&B.

The first time I heard this from the track video, I can't stop replaying because it's just that great.

This makes me want to love. I think that sums it up.

9. Road Trip

This is such a soothing song for me, especially how I easily become nostalgic thinking about the road trips I've had.

Whenever I listen to this, my brain immediately conjures up thoughts of my ideal getaways. Gazing at the sky through the car window, stirring up from a nap in the middle of the ride, and eventually reaching your destination.

Oh, to travel around anywhere... (curse you covid-19)

Okay that's it. I'M PACKING UP.

But where do I go—

I could also imagine Mark playing this on the guitar and the other members sing along together, something like that.

Just Wholesome™ vibes.

I love how it evokes such a nice emotion within me effortlessly.

This isn't my favorite, but I still love this.

10. Dreamer

Eyyyy such a refreshing song!

This song is so bright it makes me want to dance. I play this first in the shower!

It reminds me so much of Elevator (from Neozone)

The horns make it more lively I think!

Yuta and Jungwoo's voice suits lively songs like this.

The background vocal in low register in Taeyong's part in the first verse is so good ahhfhf

Taeil, the R&B vocal king you are...

There's this part where Doyoung and Johnny harmonized, that at first listen they seemed to clash, but it sounded actually fine after a few listens. Maybe it's just that I've never heard them do it before.

And I think it's Doyoung's laugh at the end of the bridge? Oh my goodness I really love this too!

11. Promise You

MY FIRST LOVE AND MOST FAVORITE SONG IN THE ALBUM!!!

The first time I heard this from their NCIT Sharehouse Sitcom, I fell in love with the song already.

It sounds like something you'd feel from a warm, welcoming hug.

The lyrics are so beautiful and endearing. It's definitely a be-there-for-you type of song that will touch your heart.

It definitely sounds like a promise.

A song about platonic intimacy.

This really fits to be the closing song of the album. It's like the end of it but holds a promise that says “see you soon.”

Because they cherish their fans like that.

It's also like I've watched a movie with a happy ending, where the camera pans up to the clear sky and this song starts playing.

Speaking of ending, I would love to hear them sing this as an encore stage in their concert. You know, that moment just before the stage lights die down at the end of the concert where they send final blows of flying kisses to NCTzens. Then you come home smiling and crying.

This wasn't supposed to be this long since I originally planned to write this with just simple phrases and emojis but I got too engrossed lol. I also meant to include my own ratings but I figured it’s pointless since I can’t really decide about them hahaha

I really enjoyed the whole album and I love how they're progressively defining what NEO means by breaking through standards. It's not NCT music if it doesn't make you say "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?" But then you realize it’s stuck in your head and you’re enjoying it already.

✨ OVERALL RATING: 127/10 💚

if you’ve reached until here, thank you for letting me share you a braincell or two 💞

64 notes · View notes

snickiebear · 3 years

Note

yo nadia <3333 i'm bored in my online classes and u reblogged the questions thingy at the right time lmao, so get ready: 1, 4, 5, 9, 10, 17, 23, 24, 28, 30!!!, 34, 38, 39, 40 (the intimacy of being understood) (imma stop here lol) (also i'm sorry u're not feeling well, ily and hope u'll feel better soon!! <33333)

ELE ILY. (and thank you, i’m stayin home today cause,,, yeah. i appreciate you sm.) you’re the literal best, i adore you.

1. How long ago did you start reading fanfiction? Writing fanfiction?

The first fanfiction i read was for The Lunar Chronicles when I was like 11?? and it was 100% on accident and it scarred me because it was a hardcore porn one with a period kink and i was like WHAT IS THIS??? OH MY GOD???? LMAOOOOO i didn’t pick it back up until i was 13-14 and really got into the Fairy Tail fandom. I still reread my favorites on ff.net cause i love them.

As for writing, I wrote a horrible, terrible x-men fanfiction when I was twelve. (my friend still brings it up and REFUSES to delete it so it still gets comments and views, that shit HAUNTS ME ELE.) then tried again for Fairy Tail, posted like two chapters before taking it down cause i wasn’t really feeling it. And then I posted The Intimacy Of Being Understood and here we are.

4. Link your three favorite fics right now.

OMGG okok

@murd3rm1ttens ‘s The Problem How Time Works IF YOU HAVENT READ THIS YOU GUYS NEED TO HOP ON IT ASAP. MITTEN’S WRITING SO SO SO SO GOOD. SAKURA AND INO ARE TOTAL BADASSES. KAKASHI IS A SIMPPPP. ITS SO FUCKING GOOD.

@mouseymightymarvellous ‘s We Were Screaming In Color (Only A Possibility) yes, yes I KNOW. i always point into mousey’s direction but i WILL always advocate that everyone reads her fics, they’re literally so beautiful???? i just happen to be rereading WWSIN rn

@safelycapricious ‘s Shaking Up And Breaking Down series. I found this like?? idfk but i’ve been raving about it ever since. ALSO CHECK OUT THEIR FICS IN GENERAL.

fuck i have more than three but also check out @ambivalens999 ‘s Masks

i do wanna make a fic rec thing where i just rav about my favs,,, might do that later or sum

5. What are your fanfic pet peeves? Do they have a huge effect on whether or not you decide to read something?

Omniscient third person. I don’t like it. Like I can understand that it can be a little hard to stay in one person’s perspective but, in my opinion, if you can, it shows how disciplined you are as a writer. Plus, i just get so confused when I go from A’s thoughts to suddenly what B is thinking about A.

When writers use ‘ ‘ instead of “ “. When writers put thoughts in ‘ ‘ instead of just italicizing them. It’s small things but like they just bother me sO MUCH. most of the time i can ignore it and try to enjoy but other times i just dip.

9. Tag 3 fic writers you think are underrated/unknown in the fandom/fanfiction community.

@espoir-et-reves !!!!! THEIR SHISAKU FICS ARE SO SO SO SO SO GOOD. And they have a warring states one going on THAT I AM SO OBSESSED WITH.

@writer168 idk if they’re really “underrated” but THEY HAVE SUCH GREAT FICS ON AO3. Like theres an AU with sakura, kiba, and shino that i reread constantly because it just. is. so. fucking. GOOD. and they posted a new one that i’m YELLING about.

@eggtoasties okay they only have 2 in the naruto fandom (one shisaku which is still ongoing) BUT THEIR WRITING STYLE IS SO NICE?? I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. I still go back and reread their shikasaku one cause UGH i can’t get enough. I love it.

10. What’s your favorite fandom, pairing, or character to read fic for?

Fandoms: Naruto, Soul Eater, The Old Guard, ATLA

Parings: KakaSaku/ShikaSaku/ShiSaku/MultiSaku, SoMa, Joe X Nicky, Zukka

Character: SAKURA. I will read anything with Sakura as the main character and her being a fuckin badass or becoming a badass. I love her.

17. How obsessively do you sit and stare at your fic after you’ve just posted and wait for feedback?

aha.. haha.. well. I check my email like three times an hour. its the first thing i check in the mornings too. I’m literally a whore for praise and literally eat up feedback like its going out of style. I also reread a lot of my stuff because i make so many mistakes and spelling errors, or the spacing is weird oR SOMETHING. plus, literally any and all comments make my day, i go back and reread them cause they just make me feel so tingly and warm like “wow. this person enjoyed the fic/my writing enough to tell me. thats HUGE!”

23. What’s your absolute favorite trope to write?

Angry, feral, bloodied, morally gray women. They aren’t bad guys, they’re probably the good guy, but that doesn’t mean they cant be fucking raging at the world with raw knuckles and blood on their teeth. I just love an angry woman who struggles with her emotions and just has so much inner conflict but that doesn’t take away from her character or badassery, it adds to it.

24. What’s a trope that you’d like to never hear about as long as you live, let alone write?

The fake dating or miscommunication troupe. LIKE GUYS JUST TALK. AND TELL EACH OTHER OMFG. the entire like obliviousness of “nah they dont like me” while the They holds their hand and kisses their cheek. MOFO WHAT. it makes me so impatient and like mad HAAHHAHA. its probably because i’m a pretty confrontational person so seeing stuff like that just “cmon bro, USE YO HEAD.”

28. How do you deal with writing pressure (ie: pressure to update, negative comments, deadlines, etc)?

I have yet to receive a negative comment! Which i was really surprised about tbh. As for deadlines or pressure to update, i just kind of do whatever. I do set goals, but i set them flexible enough that hey, if i can’t do it, that’s okay.

I have a lot of mini goals, like “i want to write this chapter and get it done this week” and then the large goal is “FINISH BY END OF MAY” so i have time.

Actually, now that I think on it, the entire pressure to update thing is probably why i’m waiting until I have all of OL&W written to post it weekly,, cause well. I wouldn’t wanna leave you guys waiting as I tried to write and work out the next chapters and stuff, you know?

30. Post a snippet from your current WIP without context - no more than 300 words.

AAAAAA YOU KNOW I LOVE THESE AHAHAHAH

Have you seen the way the dead dance, World Breaker? They roar, half mad and starving. Do you not wish, do you not hope to see them twist and bend and dance to your will?

Shikamaru snarls, looking behind his shoulders to where his Shadows lay. “Patience.” He spits. “Is of the essence, Things of Ancient. Know your place as the dark you are.”

34. How much of yourself and your life experiences do you put into your writing? What do you think your readers’ image of you is?

None of my experiences match up to anything I write tbh,,, probably the only thing that is me in my writing is maybe the emotional turmoil? I’m pretty emotionally and mentally mature because from a pretty young age i started forming my own opinions, started looking into the world around us and being like “dude what the fuck this is not what disney advertised”. Then i started talking (read: arguing and debating) with my dad about a lot of it. So, like emotions are kind of hard for me. Like i’m pretty good at controlling them or understanding them, but still. idk its hard to explain ig.

Like the weight of stress, the anger, the sadness. It’s kind of therapeutic to write. Cause i don’t know how to put those feelings to verbal words so writing them really helps.

As for my readers’ image? Probably like some kind of hunched over figure typing away in the dark with a maniacal grin on their face. I honestly don’t know AHHAHAHA but it is fun to think about. I think they’d see me as someone with potential but a lot of room to grow and someone who is imperfect but in a charming way LMAOOOO

38. What does your writing process look like? How chaotic is it on a scale of 1 (very tame) to 10 (you can’t handle this kind of chaos)?

I’m gonna be real honest. Its probably like a 2. I’m a bit of a control freak so I almost always go in chronological order, my writing is pretty linear. Unless, i get bored and jump to one of my fav parts. It's pretty much i sit down, i open the doc, read over my notes and just start writing.

It’s a little boring to explain AHAHAHA but once i get into the groove of things its really fucking great, I can like feel myself in the world, I can feel what i want the characters to, i love it. I catch myself mouthing the words as i type too, which i find hilarious.

39. What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?

I rather like how raw my writing is sometimes. Which might sound really vain, but i do like the way i word things or describe things. I love juxtaposition and repetition, or making a good ole circle back to some minute detail that wouldn’t stand out until i repeat it at the end and you’re like “omg” AHAHAHAHA.

Like those little poetic snippets or certain wording i just sit back and go “damn thats kinda good nadia! go you!’ HAHAHA

40. How did you come up with the idea for The Intimacy Of Being Understood?

AAAAA this fic is like my first child, my pride and joy LMAO

so the idea initially came when i was reading some fic, idk if it was even naruto, but i was like “i don't like this, but i do like the rain symbolism.” And I knew i wanted to write something kind of slow paced, something a little sad and angsty, but would show KakaSaku slowly but surely falling in love.

Idk if you’ve noticed but a lot of my fics, the pairings don’t change each other dramatically. They accept each other as they are and then they grow with together. Like that acceptance is something i just love writing, its so subtle, it isn’t something you declare. Its simply “I am going to love you. I am going to love you despite your flaws and faults. I am going to love you unconditionally because I know you, I understand you, and there is nothing you could do to drive me away.”

The fic kind of wrote itself after that first scene. I kept going back to the rain, go being ghosts, and resurrection, and the small epiphanies one gets. I wanted to focus on each character’s growth with each other. They didn’t find light in life because of each other, but with each other. And i think that’s my favorite thing about that fic.

I wanted something raw and real and just something beautiful. I’m actually really proud of it tbh. Would i go back and rewrite/edit it? Oh of course! I’d do that with every single one of my fics, but i’m not gonna cause i think its in its rawest form right now. :))))

ask me shit plz

#silly things from silly friends

15 notes · View notes

letsfluxshitup · 3 years

Note

Okay I have slept and am signifcantly more coherent so! I do have more thoughts on the fic :] ik I should probably just comment these.... ON the fic.... but you know I’m already in this ask box so really I might as well just chill out here

I forgot to talk about it last night but I do like the mentioning of the whole Schlatt resurrection arc thing and the way it’s handled with these specific characters? Narratively you could have made Techno like ‘wait what no. don’t do that’ but in reality he WOULDN’T. It’s true that all everyone (w/ a couple exceptions) does is dictate what he’s supposed to do for them, or he gets manipulated into it, and I imagine that would be exhausting after awhile! And even IF resurrecting a dictator is, like, an objectively bad decision on Quacks’ part, it’s still his decision, isn’t it? Techno going off w/ Phil and not really siding with anyone else is a conscious decision on his part, and while it’s not like. Super explored in the fic I imagine Quackity has issues w/ his own level of control as well? Like, clearly he’s used to being bossed around for everything he does, and he wants Techno to be like Schlatt in the sense that he tells him exactly what he’s *supposed* to do, but the fact that Big Q is under the assumption that there’s an action he’s ‘supposed’ to take is flawed in the first place. This ramble got out of hand sorry I just LOVE how u portrayed this

‘“Oh? Quackity?” Philza paused, before whispering, “ The loud one with the messy wings? ”’ MDNDKDKD I LOVE U PHIL..... honestly the fact that Techno actively talks about Quackity to his dad is <3 but the fact that his biggest takeaway FROM Techno talking abt him is that he’s loud and his wings are a mess is even BIGGER <333 Techno why would you do Quackity like that

I’d LOVE to see more Philza and Quackity moments,, their dynamic is so fun (tho in a different way than Techno n Quackity’s) is and it makes me smile to read back over their stuff :] I love how Phil does get a significant amt of fun in fucking with Big Q (truly, like father like son) but still very clearly approves of him as a person? Like, I imagine Quackity isn’t really all that sure how Phil feels about him. ‘I’m pretty sure your dad hates me, dude.’ ‘What are you talking about?’ Techno asks, bewildered, ‘I’ve never seen him obviously like anyone this fast.’ Like, Phil would make it pretty obvious if he didn’t, I think? The man can be much scarier than what Quackers got rly it’s a blessing. I could probably rant abt their dynamic more but I’m a sane person I promise lol </3

Small thing but honestly with the way Techno clearly constantly takes care of Big Q’s wings for him bc he’d prefer to do it himself and then PHIL doing it I’m starting 2 think Quackity just. Doesn’t know how to groom his own wings. Like Techno he’s not a baby bird he should do it himself. But also... I care them :,] the fact that Techno can take care of Q’s wings and Quackity can braid Techno’s hair and they trust each other w/ that... I know the reasons for it are obvious bc Quackity trusts easily and Techno clearly doesn’t see Big Q as someone who could be a threat but it’s still making me soft,,

The little impromptu therapy make-up session was a rly good display of both of their characters :] Quackity’s awful at handling like, any tension whatsoever with anyone so him taking way less than a day to go ‘hhhrhdh can we talk it out’ even tho he hates talking about feelings? Like he’s making an attempt at maturity and Techno’s going w/ it even thi neither of them are really comfortable with all that :] they value their friendship sm no one talk to me

Also I agree w/ u on the Techno characterization thing! Techno can definitely do jokes and drop the serious murder man act every once in awhile but the way he plays his character is v like. Blunt in everything. He doesn’t rly lash out, his ideals are consistent, and even when he’s planning chaotic attacks on other people nothing abt the way he acts really changes it’s just,, Techno but you should probably run away rn. His personality rly should be given more kudos it’s lovely

This didn’t rly fit anywhere else in the ramble but I do love how clearly nervous the ppl in Techno’s family make Quackity. Like, it’s a little different w/ Tommy n Tubbo but they’re also? Literal children? And even Tommy has that ‘tall scary child’ vibe abt him whenever he gets worked up LMAO Like, you have Mr. Blade, who is very strong and could DEFINITELY kill you if he wanted to, Wilbur, who is a dramatic theatre kid but once he goes off the deep end it’s like. You might be able to take him in a fight but if he wants you dead he REALLY wants you dead, and Phil, who the other two clearly got the feral part of their personalities from and somehow manages to be even scarier despite the fact that he’s an all-around polite guy. Quackity is just a normal anxious dude can he please go five minutes w/o coming face-to-face with another generally terrifying figure in his life who could kill him easily but won’t bc he’s so small?? I love them :] u rly do have a good eye for dynamics!

Also I’m proud of u for sleeping the normal 8 hours!! But Xena :pensive: ma’am please get some rest it’s very important >:[

- Saturn 🪐

,mjxcnvm,vxnvfkdjf ilysm i love getting your thoughts heart FULL

- IM GLAD THE ‘BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO’ PART CAME ACROSS WELL I WAS REALLY WORRIED I DIDNT ARTICULATE IT GOOD ENOUGH :D

- noone: -- Techno: is anyone gonna bully quackity-;; i didnt consider the implications of philza knowing quackity bc hes loud and needs his wings groomed but now that youve brought this to light im KDSFKJDSFDLSKFJDSLKJFDS

- ALSO I WAS REALLY WORRIED ABT THE PHILZA PARTS IDK IF I SAID THAT BEFORE ADDING HIM TO THE STORY WAS KIND OF A RANDOM DECISION ALSKDJFLKSDJ

xenas last comment was the nail in the coffin when it came to adding phil oh my god alsdjkflsdkjfslkdfj

- “ they value their friendship sm no one talk to me “ Y E S;;; idk im really into character dynamics thats like “listen we need to figure it out i cant live like this ok” also characters who are just Bad at talking about their feelings are Good and Important To Me LKDJFLSKJFDSLKJF

- “ his didn’t rly fit anywhere else in the ramble but I do love how clearly nervous the ppl in Techno’s family make Quackity. “ YOURE MAKING ME WANT TO WRITE MORE SBI FAMILY DYNAMICS WITH QUACKITY IM ALSKJFASLDKFSDLKFJSDFK IF YOU (or anyone) HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR PROMPTS HIT ME THE FUCK UP

- “ u rly do have a good eye for dynamics! “

I TRY REALLY HARD OK;;; character relationships are like . priority number one for me and it makes my heart so incredibly full when people point out that they like my dynamics ok i try so hard--

also im devastated to announce that for some reason last night me and xena apparently switched sleep schedules, she slept for a reasonable amount of time and i slept for like four hours lkajdflksjfdlksdfjsdlkjf sometimes i wake up at 5am and my brain refuses to let me sleep again </3

#long post #just in case #ilysm saturn please continue to dump in my askbox ilysm you dont even understand how excited i get aslkdfjlksdfjlsdfkj #saturn anon #heart FULL

8 notes · View notes

denbroughism · 4 years

Text

━━ 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

It’s Lilia Barber ( @jaedenphy ) day and guess who’s making a fanfic masterlist for her?? That’s right, me! Okay, so I gathered together a bunch of fics I’ve read and considering that you’ve read the fics I sent you, some of these fics you’ve read before but are still godly. List under the cut for length purposes <3

My comments and reviews may contain spoilers and the ones without a specific chapter count are one-shots :)

The way making this masterlist made me reread the fuck out of so many fics smh

LAST UPDATED: 1 August 2020

Bill Denbrough / Richie Tozier

"Game Over, Bitch” by sweetpeacheddie | General

Richie plans a surprise date with Bill, but it doesn't quite go according to plan...

MY COMMENTS: smug Bill? yes. the Bill in this fic made me grin like an idiot just from how sneaky and attractive this little piece of shit is. Richie being soft and scared about Bill not having a good time is so adorable and the way Bill used it against him made me go jsjjdjsjd

Twister by @antisociallilbrat | Teen

Fluffiness, tongue twisters, and making out

MY COMMENTS: it’s short but still adorable idc idc. fics about love interests helping Bill with tongue twisters is adorable in itself and the flirting and the teasing in this fic made me scream from how cute they are pls

The Cruel Irony of Sunshine by @theflirtmeister | Teen

That’s when Richie spots him.

Leaning against one of the ridiculous fake palm trees, clearly not listening to the conversation he’s caught in, is Bill Denbrough in the fucking flesh. Richie could have picked him out from a hundred yards away, with his floppy hair, perfect eyebrows and jawline that could cut crystal.

Richie hates everything about him.

MY COMMENTS: the reason why i want to write bichie fanfics. the amount of angst and fluff mixed with longing and pining is godtier. the way they fell apart because of a fight and the first thing they do when they meet—after pining and longing mixed with anger—is fight made me cry :’)

Disciplinary Action by Apuzzlingprince | Explicit

He simply sat down on the end of Bill’s bed and patted a knee. Bill stared at him, uncomprehending.

“Bill,” said Richie, gesturing for him to come closer. “Pants down, over my knees.”

Bill balked. “Wait, s-seriously?”

Bill does something stupid and reaps the reward.

MY COMMENTS: i don’t think i’ve sent you this one because i remember i read it on my laptop instead of my phone lmao. this fic is the definition of “i’ll make it up to you with sex” fics but holy fuck this one is good. i remember reading this a while ago and yelling internally because wow this fic is so jsjsj

Dissolve by @wonderwheelzier | Explicit

After eight years of radio silence, Bill Denbrough finds himself at the same Hollywood party as his once best friend, and his first and only love, Richie Tozier. As adolescent memories come flooding back, Bill has to decide what he wants to do with this second chance.

MY COMMENTS: first off, the author is a brilliant writer so let’s put that out. second of all, this fic is 17K words long so that’s really fun. third of all, what the fuck? this fic is amazing and so well written, honestly. the way the pining and the smut were tied together wonderfully just blows my mind. this is such a pretty fic and the way the story ends with Richie leaving and BIll knowing that there’s no going back? that shit HURTED

If Your Love Was Bad for You by @perceabeth | Teen

Prompt: angsty unrequited type of situation with a happy and/or bittersweet ending.

MY COMMENTS: i gotta be real with you, i forgot about this fic whoops. but i read the last paragraph and i started heaving. i love this fic but i forgot the title and the way this fic started jsjfjsjf this fic is ends in a bittersweet tone holy fuck. the account on AO3 is an orphaned account, but i found the tumblr user of the author so here ya go

Soulmate AU by @perceabeth | Major Character Death

n/a

MY COMMENTS: i still think of this fic to this very day, this fic is the reason why i hate soulmate AUs oh my God. Richie and Bill’s dynamic isn’t too laid out in this fic, but the ending? God, the ending—absolutely wrecked me. I cried and I screamed and I couldn’t function properly after reading this fic. It’s one of the best fics I’ve ever read and deserves all the love you can give. I love this fic, I adore it, read it.

One Week Away by @trash-the-tozier | Teen | 2/2

School is out for spring break, and the Losers are taking a week long trip to visit Beverly in Portland. Could there have been a worse time for Richie to realize that he was in love with his best friend?

MY COMMENTS: I remember sending this to you but reread it. this fic is so soft and adorable my babies istg. Richie pining for Bill while Bill tried to stay away from Richie because he has a crush on him? God-tier trope. Put it in, roll it up, give it to me. The Stanlon in the background and Bev being the cheerleader she is? i love this

What We Built by @sinningtozier | Teen

each nail, each plank, the little scratches on the walls and the sloppily carved initials were a testament to them, a testament to their love and what they built.

MY COMMENTS: Soft boys in love that is all. The connections between kisses and hugs and the tears and pain was just adorable. Bill and Richie always being there for each other makes me smile and cry oh my God

Blood Brothers by @fairyling | General

bill and richie don’t say they’re dating but they kiss and they fight. their relationship isn’t one that the other’s understand or event try to.

MY COMMENTS: i read this fic once and i still cry about it <3 it’s just a really soft and adorable fic but then the ending made me scream and cry oh my God. Blood Brothers. The way Bill remembers vaguely even as all else fades away just hits hard. i love this fic so damn much and i think you would too

Eye On the Ball by @call-me-eds | Mature

Bill tries to cope with his role in his friend group and Richie can’t stand it.

MY COMMENTS: first of all, everyone say thank you to them for making Bichie Week and making fic hunting a gazillion times easier. Second, this fic is amazing i don’t care. the way Bill is so tight and Richie is trying to loosen him up is a concept that would first come to mind when you think of Bichie, but somehow I’ve rarely seen this put to work. This fic is amazing that is all

The Math Tutor by @sinningtozier | General | headcanon

georgie needs a math tutor, bill’s strong point is english not math, so his mom hire’s her coworkers son to tutor him three times a week

MY COMMENTS: look, i know this is a headcanon but lol i love this so much. Bill is so awkward around Richie and i find that hilarious omfg

Like I Do by @thegreatwhiteferret | Explicit

Richie is feeling down on himself because of his ADHD and Bill jumps in and tries to teach him to appreciate all of his flaws for how beautiful they are.

MY COMMENTS: I’ve always been a sucker for Richie’s ADHD going feral and his s/o helping him calm down. This fic covers that part along with smut so bonus points on that

Bill Denbrough / Stanley Uris

Ain’t Eez-Eh by simplerplease | Mature | 17/17

Bill gets drunk, texts a number written on the club bathroom wall, regrets it, then falls in love.

MY COMMENTS: deadass the first thing that comes to my mind when anyone says Stenbrough. this fic is iconic and god-tier. I’ve read this a few times and I love it :’) if you haven’t read this fic... wow alright, cool. read it.

All My Little Words by jojenstarked | Teen

Stanley Uris never considered himself a jealous person. That is, until he met Bill Denbrough and suddenly he was jealous of the person getting songs stuck in his head.

Bill Denbrough had always wanted to meet his soulmate. Then he met Stanley Uris and he forgot all about them. All he wanted to do was get him to love him back.

Good thing they're soulmates.

MY COMMENTS: this fic is so adorable and so soft holy fuck i remember crying a bit after reading this from how sweet this fic is, i love this fic sm

More Like Baerista, Am I Right? by @billdensbrough | Not Rated

In which Stan is a fake black coffee drinker, Bill really shouldn't be a barista, and the rest of the losers just want them to get together without a counter in-between them.

MY COMMENTS: First off, this fic is 10K words long and contains slow-burn and a lot of pining so there’s that. Other than that, it’s really soft, adorable and fluffy. It’s just a really adorable stenbrough coffee shop AU, truly one of the best coffee shop AUs

Richie Tozier / Stanley Uris

Untouched (Need You So Much) by breathplayed | Explicit | 9/?

Stan Uris could’ve gone his entire life without knowing what Richie Tozier’s dick looked like.

(Or, Richie has a big dick and Stan the Man has a Big Crisis.)

MY COMMENTS: this is the abandoned fic i cried about the other day omfg i can’t believe i started an unfinished fic :’) but either way, this fic is so sexy and hot holy fuck, the pining, everything is godly. Richie singing a song for Stan and Stan being awkward about it?? amazing. last updated in 2018 and ends with a sort of cliffhanger, but still—

Stan My Man! Series by @birdboyinthedeadlights | Explicit | 4/4

n/a

MY COMMENTS: bitch you thought i wouldn’t add this fic on this masterlist when it’s the definition of goddamn iconic. you really thought i was going to leave the fic that pushed us both into the Stozier hole? as if. the was the Stozier friendship and dynamic is laid out is wonderful. The banters and the snark along with the lovely fondness is tied perfectly. i love this, you love this, we all love this, i’m dragging you back into the Stan My Man! series hole, you’re welcome <3

I Wanna Hold You Like You’re Mine by @birdboyinthedeadlights | Explicit

Stan's hand was moving before he could think better of it, wanting to touch the pleated navy skirt in front of him. God, it looked so soft, it must feel amazing. The whispered drag across his thighs -

“What’re you doin’?”

Stan’s hand froze, looking up at Richie’s unfocused gaze. No aide of glasses to let him see Stan’s heating face in the low light.

“Nothing.”

Richie’s eyes squinted, trying to make out the shapes around him until he looked to where Stan’s hand still hovered. The small inhale and grin let Stan know he didn’t need his vision clear to figure out what was going on. He always did know Stan too well.

“You’d look pretty in that.”

MY COMMENTS: Hello, yes, the author is so great at writing Stozier fics oh my God. The intimacy, the relationship, the pining, the need. Everything about this fic is brilliant. The way Stan wants Richie’s love and Richie wants to give Stan love but they’re both so afraid, so nervous. God, the way they dance around each other and when it’s time to take a dip, they were both to scared. Oh God, I love them so much and this fic ties the intimacy of pining and the ‘friends-with-benefits’ line so well, so perfectly. The mirroring between past and present? I love this and the author is a genius.

I Need You by @childrenofthe80s | Teen

Richie Tozier was a mix of emotions. He was absolutely miserable and it was all because of a motherfucking named Stan.

MY COMMENTS: the way the insecurity trope is flipped to Stan being insecure and Richie holding onto him and comforting him just makes me so soft oh my Lord

The Truth is That I Think I’ve Had Enough by @eddieeatsass | Explicit

For the first time since Stan developed feelings for his best friend, Richie was finally single on Valentine’s Day, and Stan was fully planning on taking advantage of it. He invited Richie on a camping trip, just wanting one night where he could pretend, but Richie had different plans.

MY COMMENTS: Yo, do you remember this iconic fic? Because I sure as hell do. The camping mixed with the repressed feeling and Richie slamming his head on the tent cover when he tried to strip? Amazing

why not me? by seeingredfics | Mature | 1/?

everything between stan and richie was supposed to be platonic, especially their secret hook-ups and longing stares.

MY COMMENTS: This is unfinished but even the first chapter has a satisfying end to it. Richie is so soft for Stan, Lord Christ and wasted!Stan gives off second-hand embarrassment like no other. But other than that, it’s amazing.

I Guess That's Love by @birdboyinthedeadlights | explicit

Stan shook as Richie held him.

Richie was used to this - used to the damaged boy with his fractured face and shattered soul. Used to playing clean up to his meltdowns and sitting with him through his dissociations. Richie knew he was a burden, wouldn’t ever say it, but Stan knew.

Stan was tired of knowing.

MY COMMENTS: I don't think this author can even write a bad stozier fic, this is so good as well tf? The angst is so wonderfully done and put together with a Stan Uris who's trying his best just mames it perfect

Bill Denbrough / Richie Tozier / Stanley Uris

Not Complete Until There’s Three by @thoughtfullyyoungduck | Not Rated

Mike’s call brings back some memories for Stan, more specifically memories about Stan and Richie. Stan is in for a rough awakening when he comes back to Derry and finds out Richie and Bill are married.

MY COMMENTS: see my reaction here :’) but other than the angst from Stan’s half, the fic is godtier. There isn’t much Stenbroughzier fics out there, but this one is so satisfying and the way everything falls together was simply perfect.

Sk8er Boi by @s-s-georgie | Teen

Stan and Richie are dating. It sucks that Bill likes both of them.

MY COMMENTS: Honestly the first Stenbroughzier fic I’ve ever read. This fic dragged me into the Stenbroughzier mess I’m now dragging you into, but holy fuck. This fic is really adorable and the pining—the lovely, lovely pining. It’s so soft and adorable aside the slight angst that is all

To Make You Feel My Love by @thegreatwhiteferret | Explicit

Stan takes care of his very neglected boys.

MY COMMENTS: i remember finding this fic and falling in love with it immediately. i know it’s on Tumblr somewhere, but I can’t find the author’s Tumblr (if you know, please respond so I can change it) and this fic covers the intimacy and the worry along with the love and fondness. Really cute, really smutty, threesome warning.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Uris by @thegreatwhiteferret | Explicit

Stan is always taking care of his boys and making sure they feel loved, so for his birthday Bill and Richie decide to show him how much they love and appreciate him by fulfilling his biggest fantasy.

MY COMMENTS: This is the second part to this series but it’s optional to read the first one. If you read this in order of the list, then you’ve read the first part lmao.

Soulmate Tattoos AU by @peachyuris | Not Rated

stenbroughzier w/ soulmate tattoos!!

MY COMMENTS: The amount of pining here? Godly. Bill misunderstanding the situation? Stan and Richie feeling like something’s missing? I love this, I love them and I know you’ll love it too.

Milkshake Date by @winterstenbrough | Not Rated

stenbroughzier milkshake/diner date?

MY COMMENTS: Insecure!Richie is something used a lot, but never fails to warm my heart whenever his significant other(s) help him out. This fic also covers that aspect and is really soft, babies

#fanfic recommendation #bichie #stozier #stenbroughzier #stenbrough #stenbrough fic rec #bichie fic rec #stozier fic rec #fic rec #not my writing #fanfic masterlist

26 notes · View notes