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art--harridan · 3 years

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Image descriptions under the cut :)

[Image one: The first page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. It's starts with three panels, depicting Tommy in different parts of the creation process - this being the final creation of the flag, making a batch of dye, and attaching a button - above an assortment of sewing equipment. It starts by saying "you've always loved working with textiles" and "taking the rough scraps,". Underneath is an assortment of mismatched fabrics, along with some cotton stuffing and a few buttons. The sentence continues "then making something beautiful" accompanied with a teddy head fashioned after Tom Nook, and a panel of Tommy sewing his shirt. The page ends with "with your hands and your hands alone".

Image two: The second page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. The starting sentence is "your favourite technique is batik". Below, it continues with "using a tool called a canting to pour wax on the fabric". This is alongside Tommy's hand griping a canting. Further down, it says "submerging it in dye" next to an abstract watercolour painting that resembles the flag, a vat of red dye and a piece of blue dye. Underneath, there's a picture of L'manberg, surrounded by its walls. To it's left is Tommy and Wilbur, flag hoisted above them and faces gleeful. The next sentence "and pulling away to see the white space, loving the things that slipped through the gaps". The boys are surrounded by smoke, and there's a bloodied arrow. The final line is "making martyrs of mistakes".

Image three: The third page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. It begins with the line "but lately, you grip the canting, and where once you embraced the pitfalls of your craft", which is next to Tommy holding a canting above a watercolour explosion. Then, there's a spilt bowl of wax above a flame. Underneath there's Tommy's hands splayed out before a fire. The next sentence is "your hands shake too much to be callous kindly". Below, is an ink bottle and crumpled up paper. To it's side is a single feather falling towards the sun. At the bottom, there's Tommy's tower from exile, surrounded by clouds. This line says "the story is out of your control now". Near the end it says "and Icarus' wings are melting then drying again". To the side of this there's Tommy falling into water. Finally, it says "and so wax floats on water".

Image four: The fourth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. It begins with the sentence "perhaps there is space for creation in these hands still". Next to this, there's one of Tommy's hand, a red string connected to a needle wrapped around it. Underneath, there's a fence which has the L'manberg, Manberg and New L'manberg flag draped on it. The next line is "though now the problem lies in your canvas". And then, "where you've drawn over it with wax". This is accompanied by three panels that say "again and again and again" beneath them. The first panel has the camaravan, the second Tubbo's bloodied execution box and the third has the New L'manberg lanterns. At the bottom, there's a large crater submerged with smoke. The final line is "until there's nowhere left to go".

Image five: The five page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. There's an image of Tommy holding a L'manberg uniform, then a mirror of Tommy in his business suit. It's first sentence is "and once comforting designs are drowning". Beneath this is two panels, one centered on Tommy's green banana around his neck, the other shows Tommy drowning. Then, there's a pair of wings with the line "the wax can't keep Icarus up any longer". Under, it says "and yet, you persevere in your craft" near Tommy's fist clenched around a canting. It's across from Dream's fist, which is bloody. The line continues with "until it crumbles in your grip" and "torn and tattered by the world". The next panel shows all three of Tommy's graves. Finally, there's a panel of Tommy pulling open his mouth, which has a teeth missing. He has a black eye and blood dripping down his face. To it's side, there's Dream holding a blackened heart next to the revival book. The last sentence is " then put together by rough hands and even rougher methods".

Image six: The sixth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. This begins with the sentence "now you are left standing at the mirror" next to three mirrors, focusing on Tommy's ribs, hand and face respectively. Beneath, it says "staring at the batik of your body". This is above his hands, covered in a red substance, accompanied by the line "dyed in colours that were once your favourite". Then, it says "that presently make you sick to your stomach;", which has Tommy pulling the red substance across his face above it. The bottom of the page has sword, with a blood splatter in the corner. Finally, this ends with "a canting is no longer a comfort" and then "sharper in another's hand".

Image seven: The seventh page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. The starting line is "and when drawn on skin wax burns". To the side of this, there's an obscured image of Tommy's face, melted wax dripping all over it and a sun in the corner. Then, there's a bloodied potato and an image of Sam with the caption "(Daedalus weeps)". To the bottom left, the page has a coffin, a closeup of Tommy's bruised eye and three daffodils. The next line is "but you wonder if, even with permanent wax this batik can be sublime once more". Below, there's a panel of Tommy holding a TNT stick, similar to a prayer candle or a microphone. Finally, the text ends with "if it ever was". In the background, there's the watercolour L'manberg flag again, but more faded this time.

Image eight: The eighth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. Tommy's hand is open, stretching out towards black hearts, one broken with an arrow through it. To the right, there's a dead Henry above a flame. The first line is "no matter the outcome, you decide to attempt this arduous task anyway;" Next to this is Tommy, wearing a pair of shades and smiling. The final line is "your choosing the dyes now and controlling the canting". Surrounding this, there's and image of Tommy hugging friend while holding an allium. Then, there's two panels showing Tommy and Puffy at a therapy session. Tommy is distraught and crying, while Puffy is calm. Behind this, there's a note that states "help me - TommyInnit".

Image nine: The final page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. The line that accompanies this page is "you busy your hands praying that maybe this time they'll become kind in their creation and stay that way". In the top right, there's a prayer bell and a melting candle. In front of both, Tommy's hands are clasped in prayer, holding a needle on a red thread like rosary beads. On the other side, there's two panels - the first shows him crushing up a poppy for red dye, while the second shows him holding blank fabric. Below this is a canting dripping wax. Even further below, there's two hands. They're open and pulling apart coloured wax.]

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sweetjekyll · 3 years

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Under The Same Roof, part 2 — BBH

pairing: Byun Baekhyun x Reader

genre: Roommate / Flatmate AU, one-shot, friends to lovers, mutual pining, fluff, blind date rating: teen and up warnings: tiniest and slightest bit of angst and jealousy, slightly suggestive towards the end word count: 5.2k

summary: Baekhyun and Y/N have been flatmates for a while and romance is in the air.

Requested: Part 2 was highly requested by both known readers and anons, so I hope you all enjoy the continuation of the first part! (keyword “roof” + sentence “Oh my God. You’re in love with her.” from this writing game post.)

Masterlist — PART 1

A/N: aaaaah it’s finally here! Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays. I hope you’re healthy and surrounded with love, and I hope all of you are having a good time even if you don’t celebrate Christmas. Thank you to everyone who supported the first part of this story and patiently waited for the second part, I hope you will like this one as much as the first if not more! I made it way longer than the first part and added a bonus ending. Have fun reading! stay safe ❤

⟶ To my dear readers: feedback is highly encouraged and important! as it gives me motivation to write with more passion, knowing that you like what you are reading. Please LIKE and REBLOG so more people can find this and read it. ❤ My askbox is always open for questions or to chat ❤

Enjoy! ❤

The guys could’ve spent practically all night playing games, but Chanyeol had other plans in mind after the short chat he had with Sehun and Baekhyun about the latter’s crush on his roommate. Sehun was never one to turn down an invite to drink with his friends no matter the day of the week, so the fact that he agreed immediately to Chanyeol’s suggestion when he asked the two if they wanted to go have a drink at the bar Y/N and Baekhyun worked, it was an easy “yes”. You would’ve had about an hour and a half until it was closing time at 11PM, as it was a Thursday anyway.

Baekhyun on the other hand wasn’t that easy to convince. He was supposed to work the following morning and be at his best to serve freshly brewed coffee to university students, professors and other customers who liked to linger in the early hours of daylight. Also, Thursday nights were one of the few times he got to relax after working shifts from morning to late afternoon.

“I know you two,” Baekhyun scowled at his friends, who were waiting in the doorway to his bedroom while he pushed one of his legs in a pair of old black jeans. “It’s never just one drink with you… I’ll end up wasted under one of the tables and then Y/N will have to carry me home.”

“For someone so eager to get dressed and walk out of the house, you’re complaining too much.” Sehun smirked as he nudged Chanyeol with his elbow.

“Don’t worry, it’s just one drink,” Chanyeol reassured him as Baekhyun was finally done getting dressed. “Besides, you literally live a couple of blocks from your job and neither of us has to drive. We’ll call a taxi.” There was a faint yet lingering smile of satisfaction on the taller man’s face. He wasn’t really a patient guy and his mind was still in a frenzy after coming up with a plan to get Baekhyun and his flatmate to go out on a date.

Baekhyun threw on a leather jacket and brushed back his bangs with his fingers, ready to step out of the apartment. He was about to lock the door after switching off the lights but then stopped as he thought about something for a brief moment. “Hang on, I forgot something.” He let his friends know as he hurried back inside and into the bathroom.

Once he was back and finally locked the door, both Chanyeol and Sehun got a whiff of something in the air. “Is that… Perfume?” They asked inquisitive.

Baekhyun furrowed his brows as he walked past them down the corridor. “And what about it? Y/N gifted it to me for my birthday.”

“This is going to be easier than I thought,” Chanyeol hummed as they headed towards your workplace at last.

The cafe turned into bar during evenings looked cozy in autumns and winters; some Halloween decorations lingered here and there although it was past October and halfway through into November, but the fake vine leaves painted red, yellow and orange warmed up the walls nicely. You liked the fall decorations, but you loved even more winter and Christmas decorations, although it was a hassle to take everything down and put new things up, it was still satisfying as the end result.

You spotted Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Sehun out of the corner of your eye as soon as they entered the bar thanks to the bell ringing on top of the door. “There you go, Lucas,” you placed a glass of cold beer on top of a napkin in front of one of your regular customers and looked around, quickly facing the three new friendly faces once you made sure that no one else needed your services. “Good evening guys!” You said cheerfully, a warm feeling spreading through your chest to see Baekhyun keeping his promise to come pick you up after work, even more so considering he was rather early for it.

“Ah, my favorite bartender!” Sehun mused as he leaned against the counter with a smirk on his expression. ”You look a bit overworked although there aren’t many customers.”

Baekhyun noticed it as well and looked behind the counter and around the familiar workplace. “Where’s Minseok? Weren’t you two supposed to work tonight’s shift together?”

You inhaled a long breath as you glanced down with busy eyes to grab a rag from a hidden surface on your workspace, then picked it up and cleaned the countertop in front of the three men. “I think he had something for dinner that upset his stomach to the point where he was nauseated.” You winced as you explained to them without much detail as you didn’t know how your coworker was doing after he left. “I told him to go home and rest just in case… But anyway,” you smiled once again. “What can I get you guys to drink?” You asked as you returned the rag in its previous spot and placed three napkins on the counter.

“For starters, I’d say shots of soju and then beers?” Chanyeol looked at his friends but Baekhyun shook his head when he heard the doorbell signal the arrival of more customers.

“I’ll help Y/N,” he said and promptly walked behind the counter to join you. He picked up one of the aprons matching yours from a hanger on the wall and put it on after he took off his jacket.

“Don’t worry Baek, it’s your night off,” you tried to persuade him to just enjoy the night with his friends but he just gave you his usual warm and reassuring smile that made your heart flutter with content.

“Nonsense,” he shrugged as he spun around to softly bump his shoulder into yours and looked into your eyes, “I’m happy to work with you.” You felt your cheeks heat up at his words and you could barely hide the smile that graced your lips once your coworker welcomed the new customers with a loud and cheerful tone.

Your reaction didn’t go unnoticed to the two friends sitting on the other side of the counter, across from you. Chanyeol nudged Sehun with his elbow and whispered to just play along, after he made sure that Baekhyun’s ears were out of reach for what he was about to say. You placed two shots of soju on the napkins and turned around to fill two glasses with beer. “So, Y/N,” you looked over your shoulder for a brief second at Chanyeol, “are you single?”

The question wasn’t new to your ears, especially after working as a bartender, but it still caught you off guard coming from him. “I did not expect you to ask me something like this, Mr. Park.” You confessed with a chuckle while walking back to take away the empty shot glasses and placed two glasses filled to the brim with foaming beer. “Why do you want to know?”

“Well, are you?” Sehun questioned with a raised eyebrow, carefully picking up the glass to take a sip from it while holding your suspicious gaze.

You let your shoulders slump with a sigh as you averted their eyes and, without meaning to, you looked in Baekhyun’s direction. “Yes, I’m single.” You nodded as your smile faltered, you looked around at the other customers while feeling a bit nervous.

“Perfect!” Chanyeol beamed as he clapped his hands once and leaned closer to the counter, you just eyed him with suspicion. “There’s this very nice guy, he’s a bit talkative and playful,” he began explaining but kept it quite mysterious, “A friend of ours, you know… I would like you do go on a blind date with him.”

“I’m sorry… What now?” You were taken aback by his sudden request that you didn’t know how else to react. It was a nice gesture, sure… but you already had feelings for someone else and weren’t sure if a blind date would be a good idea, not at the moment at least.

“I promise he’s a very friendly and good guy,” Sehun added, playing along to Chanyeol’s plan although they didn’t even talk about it beforehand. He licked his lips to get the residue of the beer foam and arched his brows at you. “Unless you like somebody else already.” Blood rushed to your face and you felt hot under your clothes, hesitant about answering your foot started bouncing nervously and you crossed your arms. Should you be honest and tell them or should you keep it for yourself? Well… “There is someone I like.” You confessed, but it just made you sad to say it so you continued before they could ask anything else about this crush of yours. “But I don’t think it’ll work out so I might as well go on a blind date with your friend.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Baekhyun’s curious voice made you slightly jolt on your feet and you flashed him a nervous smile. “Are you going on a date?” You tilted your head unsure of what to say since he was the one person you didn’t want to find out about this blind date, at least not like this… or ever. You thought you could maybe just go at the date and never call back Chanyeol and Sehun’s friend, but then another question popped in your head. Does Baekhyun know this friend of theirs? Would he mind? It’s not like he had feelings for you, so why were you so worried about it?

Thankfully, you heard the voice of one of your customers call for you and used it as an excuse to leave. “This is a discussion for another time, I gotta go back to work!” And just like that you were gone in an instant, meanwhile Baekhyun faced Chanyeol and Sehun with a half disappointed and half irritated expression.

“A blind date?!” He hissed under his breath.

They both nodded with pleased smirks. “She said yes, so you better make this work, otherwise you’re truly hopeless.” Chanyeol replied and finally let himself taste the beer that’s been sitting in front of him on the counter for a while.

Baekhyun’s anger dissipated immediately, his eyes widened in surprise and his mouth fell agape. “You set us up on a blind date?” He whispered while stealing glances in your direction. His heart rate began speeding up while he watched you smile politely at a couple who were paying for their drinks, getting ready to leave.

“Although…” Sehun inhaled a long breath as he looked down at his drink, his smile faded. Baekhyun’s attention was immediately on him, feeling his heart drop at the man’s words. “She did say she likes someone.” Chanyeol gave him a hard nudge with his elbow, eliciting a pained groan from the man sitting next to him. “What?! I’m just saying, she didn’t say who… Y/N thinks it’s not going to work out so you don’t have to worry.”

Baekhyun sighed and scratched his head, too many thoughts were running through his head in that moment and he didn’t know how to process the fact that there indeed was someone you liked… You’ve been friends for a few years and were roommates as well, so why did you not talk to him about this person you seem to like so much?

He became rather quiet that night and even the following days, he was practically sulking since he was stuck with the thought that the blind date was going to be a disaster. That didn’t stop Chanyeol from insisting on taking care of all the details about the date, he went as far as borrowing both yours and Baekhyun’s work schedules to set up a perfect timing for you to meet. You noticed immediately the change in his behavior, he wasn’t avoiding you, he would never do that, but he was acting too distant. You tried asking but didn’t push further because maybe he needed some time for himself, otherwise he would have opened up to you, at least you hoped.

It went on like that for a couple of days until you couldn’t take it anymore, you missed Baekhyun being his usual playful and loud self, he was the source of your serotonin and it affected your mood as well. It was the last few days of November, the shop was closed for the day due to the fact that you needed to take down the autumnal decorations and brighten up the place with Christmas ones.

“Baekhyun, we really need to talk.” You told him with a preoccupied tone, hoping he wouldn’t try and dodge the conversation as he had been doing for nearly half of November. He didn’t look at you from his high place on the ladder, instead, his pupils were fixed on his fingers unrolling the fairy lights and hanging them on the wall, supported by nails that had been stuck into the bricks for who knows how many years.

“Alright, alright,” he nodded and hummed for a moment, pausing his work to look down; your hands were securely holding onto the ladder for him and keeping it in place so he felt safe to be up there, occasionally passing him Christmas decorations from the boxes piled up next to your feet. “I’ll clean and decorate the bathrooms.”

You scoffed, incredulous that he actually managed to talk about anything else but his feelings. “I’m not talking about the bathroom, but since you said you’re going to do it, I won’t stop you.”

“Damn!” He chuckled with a shake of his head and went back to fixing the lights. “Okay, let’s talk, but I warn you, if this is about me—“

“It’s precisely about you! You’ve been avoiding my questions, I’m concerned about you. Something happened and you haven’t openly spoken to me ever since that night at the bar.” You interjected and heard him complain with a groan of your name, to which you let go of the ladder, making the man almost scream in fear.

“What are you doing—“ High pitched words reached your ears as you crossed your arms and just gazed up at him with arched brows, feeling so done with his behavior. He dropped the fairy lights without meaning to and wrapped his hands on both sides of the ladder, holding on for dear life. “No, no, no— Okay, fine! I’ll tell you, just please don’t let go of the ladder.” You held onto the ladder once more and watched him climb down until he was finally to your eye level. “There’s this girl I like, I’ve liked her for a while now actually.” Baekhyun let out a long, defeated sigh. “Turns out she likes some other person and I don’t know why I thought I could—“ He stopped himself from saying anything else as he ran one of his hand over his face, frustrated that he was confessing to you how he felt, except he was still hiding the actual truth. What a coward, he thought. He was convinced now more than ever that the blind date was truly a bad idea, he just didn’t know how to tell Chanyeol that he didn’t have the balls to go through with it and accept your rejection once you found out he was your secret date. “I like her a lot.” He added.

You felt you heart fasten at his words, it was drumming so hard that the pulse in your ears felt deafening… Baekhyun liked another girl, you repeated to yourself in your head. For a short moment and in a totally awkward silence you felt like an idiot; an idiot for feeling jealousy when he mentioned another girl, when you should’ve said something to comfort him. You were frowning, unable to move or say anything coherent until you forced yourself to say: “I’m sorry.” You bit your lip and looked down at your hands. “She’s an idiot.” You spit out with slight anger lacing your words.

“Why do you say so?” His tone softened when he noticed how upset you were over what he told you, he didn’t think you would care that much about a girl not liking him back… and the worst part was that you were that girl. “She’s allowed to like someone else, it’s just that I’m a coward and I didn’t tell her that I like her because I’m afraid of her rejecting me.” It felt so surreal that he was running his mouth like that, actually confessing the truth to you but you still had no idea.

Your head head snapped up towards him with your lips parted, ready to fight back his insecurities, except you didn’t realize what you were saying until it was already too late. “Well, she’s still dumb! Because what other girl wouldn’t like you? I like you!"

"You do?" He whispered almost breathless, too stunned to say anything else as soon as he processed your words; the corners of his lips curved up in a genuine and shy smile, yet you barely saw it since you looked down and bent you body forward to pick up a box with decorations and left him standing there. Your face was burning so hot with embarrassment it almost felt like you were going to combust. "Y/N, hang on, let’s talk it out—“ He tried to go after you, but you walked past the counter and entered the women’s bathroom, closing the door behind you. You dropped the box on the counter by the sink and looked at yourself in the mirror, cursing under your breath ad at yourself for being so careless with your words.

“Wait, hold on…” One of your friends, Hana, laughed at you on the phone for the second time that night, after you explained to her what happened at the coffee shop.

“I swear to God, Hana, there’s nothing to laugh about.” You mumbled, holding your phone against your ear with you shoulder; your hands were too busy going through the clothes in your wardrobe, searching for anything remotely cute and appropriate for a blind date.

“There actually is,” she continued laughing at your misery. “You confessed to Baekhyun that you actually like him, that’s a good thing isn’t it? I mean, he didn’t have a bad reaction, so where’s the problem, Y/N?” You groaned as you threw a pair of torn up jeans on the floor of your bedroom and took your phone in your hands.

“That’s the point, I chickened out!” You walked to the foot of the bed and let yourself fall on your back, bouncing on the mattress. “He tried to talk to me about it but I just couldn’t do it, so I locked myself in the bathroom. I’m the clown of the month!”

“Oh my God, Y/N, you’re unbelievable.” Hana’s laughter rung in your ear with disbelief for the situation you got yourself into, but soon quieted down to a serious tone. “Listen, you have to face him at some point. You can’t just avoid him forever.”

You sat up on the bed and thought about what she said, your eyes burning holes into the door leading to the living room of your shared apartment. Baekhyun wasn’t home yet, he was still setting up decorations at the bar with Minseok and going over December’s inventory. “What about this girl he said he likes?” A pout formed on your lips, like a child whining to their parent.

“You won’t know until you talk to him.” You sighed out loud and eyed the mess on your bedroom floor, clothes lying on top of each other as if your wardrobe got stormed by a hurricane. “Earth to Y/N, are you there? Promise you’ll talk to him?”

You snapped out of your daze and rubbed your eyes as you replied to her. “Yeah, sure, I’ll talk to him,” you replied in defeat. “But it’ll have to wait until after this stupid blind date. It’s tonight and I don’t even know what to wear…” You heard a noise come from the living room and gasped out loud, jiggling of keys made you jump on your feat and run towards the door until you pressed your side against it. “He’s here, I gotta go. Bye Hana!” You whispered with your heart drumming in your chest and said goodbye to your friend, before hanging up the call. “Baekhyun?” You carefully called out his name and waited impatiently for a reply.

His muffled voice came from the other side of the door, and as careful as you had been, he called out your name. “Are you okay? Can I come in?” He was right outside of your bedroom, your nerves were killing you and you didn’t know what to do, yet against your better judgement, you moved away from the door and opened it. You bit your tongue as you met Baekhyun’s reassuring smile, somehow eliciting a smile from your lips as well. Seeing as you had not replied to his questions, Baekhyun let his eyes look past you and onto the pile of clothing on the floor. “Getting ready for the blind date?”

You looked in the same direction his pupils did and chuckled with a slow nod. “Yeah, I just don’t know what to wear yet…”

“Don’t worry, you’ll look beautiful no matter what you choose to wear.” The sweetness of his words made you hyper aware of the way he was looking at you now, and you weren’t sure why it seemed… different.

“Thank you…” You almost stuttered. Your heart was ramming against your ribcage so hard you could have passed out from the lightheadedness it caused you, but you forced yourself to break the eye contact and walked further inside your bedroom. You picked up two dresses from the wardrobe, one filled with cute floral patterns and the other was a solid dark blue color. “Which one looks better for a fancy dinner?” You asked him, unsure whether it was a good idea but Baekhyun actually pointed at the dark blue dress with a cheerful smile. It was weird to say the least, he appeared to be more excited for your blind date than you were, and you didn’t even know who Chanyeol was trying to set you up with. “Okay, this dress it is then.”

“By the way, I need to go out in a bit.” Baekhyun caught you off guard and you just stared at him with slightly widened eyed. “Is there anything that you need before I leave?”

“Mmmh, no… No.” You show your head and flashed him a reassuring smile even though you were still nervous. “I’ll be fine.”

“Okay, see you later, Y/N.” He reached out for the handle and closed the door after himself.

As soon as you heard the lock click, you exhaled a long, shaky breath and dropped the dresses on the bed. “And there he goes…” You whispered, choosing to replace the deafening silence with some music from your phone.

Baekhyun stood in the hallways while holding onto his breath, ears listening to you shuffling around your bedroom before any other sound was drowned out by you favorite playlist. He had been dreading this blind date for so many days and now that it was happening — especially after he found out he was the person you liked and not some other guy — Baekhyun felt elated. He was ready to get dressed and run out of the door to get you flowers, unfortunately not your favorite ones because they were out of season, but he was still gonna get something pretty. He couldn’t stop thinking about how you were going to react once you met him at the restaurant as your date. Too much energy was coursing through his veins in that moment, he could barely contain himself.

Everything was perfect. Baekhyun had to remember to thank Chanyeol for taking care of the reservation, the restaurant was truly lovely and felt intimate, soft fairy lights were hanging from the red brick walls, adding to the romantic atmosphere of slightly dimmed lighting, a small candle was illuminating the table at which Baekhyun sat. A bouquet of pink and white chrysanthemums rested on his right side as he, on the other hand, couldn’t help but nervously fiddle with his fingers under the tablecloth. A shy smile graced his joyful expression while his eyes darted to the watch on his left wrist, growing restless as you were late to your date.

Baekhyun’s smile faltered when he felt his phone vibrating in the pocket of his elegant blazer, he shut his eyes tightly and prayed that it wasn’t Chanyeol the one calling him with bad news, saying you stood up on the blind date at the last possible moment. You wouldn’t do that, would you? “Hello?” He answered his phone still keeping his eyes shut, but they immediately shot open once he heard your voice greet him on the other side of the line. “Y/N? What’s wrong? Where are you? Shouldn’t you be at the date?” He showered you with questions to which you didn’t know what to answer.

“Uuh—“ You hesitated for a long moment, unsure of what to say. “I’m outside of the restaurant, I’ve been for the past 5 minutes. I don’t want to go inside and meet some guy that I don’t know.” He listened to you talk really fast, almost tripping on your words as your tone dripped with nervousness and regret. “I just don’t want to meet a new guy and I’m so sorry to Chanyeol, cause I said I would do this—”

“Hey, hey, calm down,” He tried to help you calm down over the phone, resisting the urge to just stand up from the table and run to meet you outside. “Everything’s gonna be alright, okay? Do you trust me?”

Baekhyun listened to you on the other side of the line as you tried to get through your panicked state, quietly repeating short and reassuring “okays”. You released a deep breath and finally replied to him. “I trust you. Will you come pick me up, please?”

He almost chuckled at the softness of your voice, instead a warm smile returned on his face as he told you what to do. “I will, but first I need you to walk into the restaurant, it’s cold outside and you’re wearing a dress.” You agreed to do it and his eyes quickly moved towards the door, as he was sat on the opposite side of the restaurant.

Baekhyun watched as the door opened and you stepped inside, brows furrowed with worry yet you still managed to look effortlessly beautiful; long black coat shielding your body from the cold of the last weeks of autumn. He could see the dark blue of your knee length dress peeking under the coat, a small purse swaying by your side from a long chain on your left shoulder as you glanced around and were greeted by a waiter. “I’m in.” You mumbled as your eyes looked frantically around.

“Look to your right, other side of the room.” And you did, you looked towards him and nearly dropped your phone, your jaw went numb for a moment as your lips parted in disbelief. One of the waiters helped you remove your coat and accompanied you towards Baekhyun, to your table. “You’re beautiful,” the words rolled off his tongue almost like a foreign sound, he couldn’t believe that you two were actually on a date, even if he had to keep it a secret for such a long time.

You were at a loss for words, yet your chest was flooded with immense happiness. “The girl you like a lot…” You began saying and he nodded before you could finish your sentence. “A very nice guy, a bit talkative and playful,” you giggled as you quoted Chanyeol’s words when he spoke about the friend he wanted you to meet.

“Yep, that would be me.” Baekhyun picked up the flowers and slowly stepped closer to you. “I know they’re not daffodils, but I hope you like chrysanthemums too.”

“You know what I like more than flowers?” You stepped even closer to him until you could feel his hot breath on your skin, completely forgetting the rest of the world as you felt a rush of bravery while gazing into his eyes. “You.”

When Baekhyun leaned forward to steal a kiss it felt like the most natural thing in the world, as if he had done it so many times before and you were out tonight celebrating an anniversary rather than a first date. The gentlest of touches left a lingering sensation of his lips on yours. The red of your lipstick transferred slightly on his lips and if you focused hard enough, you could see that his cheeks turned the same shade out of shyness and adoration.

“Hmm, what do you think?” You asked, tilting your head to the side while staring very hard at the Christmas tree.

You were currently in your new apartment with Baekhyun standing by your side, eyes focused ahead of you. “It’s crooked on one side.” The living room was bare of furniture except for a coffee table, the tv stand with the television on top of it and the Christmas tree you spent at least three hours on decorating with your boyfriend. Moving boxes were scattered all around the place.

“I think if we spin it around towards the corner of the room none of the guests will notice.” You suggested and Baekhyun hoped quickly towards the tree, being careful to avoid any boxes and discarded ornaments still lying on the floor. He crouched on his kneed and wrapped his fingers around the base of the fake pine tree, rotating the crooked side towards the corner of the room.

“What about now?” He asked as he looked up at the tree for a moment and back at you.

“Light it up.” Baekhyun took the end of a cable beneath the branches of the tree and struggled to plug it into the wall for a moment, making you giggle, but as soon as the tree was lit up, he stood up and walked back to stand by you. “Now it’s perfect!” You beamed while he wrapped one of his arms around your shoulders and brought you closer to kiss your cheek.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” Baekhyun whispered in your ear, your smile became bigger and brighter when you looked into his loving eyes.

You pecked his lips with a soft kiss and wrapped your arms around his neck. “Merry Christmas to you too, Baek—”

You didn’t even have time to finish saying his name because all of a sudden he snaked his arms around your waist, making you screech in surprise when he tried to lift you up from the floor and yelled at the top of his lungs: “To the bedroom, now!”

Loud giggles escaped you as you struggled to stay serious, but it was impossible when he was in a playful mood like this. “But we don’t have a bed frame yet—“

“We have a mattress and that’s enough for me!”

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logically-asexual · 3 years

Text

Hold me like you mean it

summary:

Logan’s feelings for Virgil and the fact that now Virgil barely notices him are stopping him from getting any work done. Janus offers a way for Logan to cope, by disguising himself into Anxiety. but is this really what Logan needs? and what’s in it for Janus, anyway?

Alternatively, an angsty story about rejection, denial, and manipulation.

warnings: (for the whole fic) unrequited love, rejection, manipulation, unhealthy relationships, gaslighting, dependency, dubious consent and non consent for kissing, sad ending, depression (vaguely described), angst in general, nightmares, self harm. let me know what else i should add.

taglist: @gummibearbullet @chara-07 @the-sympathetic-villain @whatishappeningrightnow

Read on AO3

Chapter 8

words: 934

The following day, Logan didn’t move from where he woke up until he realized Thomas was having a meeting. He got up, put on his glasses and styled his hair, and went to rise up with the rest. However, right before doing so he realized Janus was already standing there, in his place. He could shove him aside and join anyway, but he decided to stop and listen in for a moment.

Thomas was in the middle of researching for a project, and Deceit helped by listing ways to ensure sources were credible (only the ones that aligned with Thomas’ perspective, of course, but Virgil was able to counter him and balance their information with points both against and in favor). Realizing that everything was under control, he chose to follow Janus’ advice and went back to bed, staying alert in case he was summoned.

He wasn’t, and spent the rest of his day reading a book he found on the nightstand.

The next few days went similarly. He would stay in the room, entertaining himself with puzzles, sleeping, or staring at the ceiling. He didn’t change his clothes, in case he was needed and had to show up quickly. Janus came to talk to him often and told him about their day, about the progress he had made with Thomas to set clear objectives and go after them, while maintaining proper care for himself. Logan felt empty most of the time, but knowing this made him quite proud.

It took them almost a week, but one day the others finally showed concern about his disappearance, or so Janus recounted to him. He said that Thomas inquired about it, and Virgil told them what he had told Logan before leaving his room the week before, assuming this was Logan doing what he asked for and stopping his caring act. Janus let them know that he simply found a more efficient strategy to work in Thomas’ mind, and didn’t need nor want to come out here and discuss his input; all that they needed from him was already there tacitly. According to him, the others understood and swiftly moved on.

Logan knew Deceit wasn’t a reliable source of information, but he had no alternative, with no will to go check himself, and his reasoning told him the story added up. Additionally, he simply couldn’t not trust Janus, he was the one who had always been there for him, and his only real friend in so long, who hadn’t judged him even in his worst moments. If Janus lied to him, it was for the best.

“Did I really harm them?” Logan asked him later that day.

They were sitting together on the bed, Janus had his right arm around Logan’s shoulders, and a book on his other hand. A second left hand came to rest on Logan’s knee, as the first lowered the book and Janus turned towards him. Logan saw his eyes glance to the side, as he mulled over his answer.

“You made wrong decisions,” he said, looking back into his eyes, “but every single time you have acknowledged them, apologized, and tried to make up for them. They’re the ones still choosing to be hurt, you’re not responsible for them. You should focus on what brings you peace of mind.”

Logan nodded, and chose to focus on the comforting weight of Janus’ hands on him. Silently, he slid even closer to him, melting into the embrace. Sometimes, he would overthink his situation, and get the idea that Janus didn’t love him, not as much as he needed Janus, or that Logan didn’t love Janus more than he missed the idea of Virgil he used to have. But it was wrong, this couldn’t be another illusion, it had no reason to. When he thought about what soothed his mind, it was always Janus’ affection, there was nothing else, so he let it be.

Janus lifted the book again and went back into narrating the story out loud for Logan, pulling him away from his thoughts.

After a few minutes, though, Logan was alarmed by a familiar sensation. A tug. A signal that he was being summoned to a meeting.

“They’re calling me.” His eyes widened and his heart hammered in his chest as an uncountable amount of emotions filled his brain. “Janus.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “They’re calling me. Should I go? Maybe they need me. But what if they ask about my absence? Would they care about that? What if it’s about something important? I have to-” His mouth was shut before he could finish.

“Logan.” He turned to Deceit, who was looking back at him sternly. “What do you want?”

He inhaled sharply through his nose. His pulse was still racing. After a second, he tried opening his mouth and found it was no longer sealed. “I…” There was another tug, and he forcefully shut his eyes. “I don’t…”

Janus brushed his hair away from his face. “Come on, darling. You can do it.”

“I don’t want to go.” He finally let out.

“And you don’t have to.” His voice was low and reassuring, and Logan felt the stress fade away with his words. Still, he clung tightly to Janus, using him as an anchor, as if otherwise he would be pulled away against his will. There were no more attempts to call him.

After a moment, he let go of his stiff hold, leaning back. He hesitated, and then changed his clothes into sleepwear.

He would return one day, but for now he just wanted to rest.

notes: only one chapter left aaaaah. i love janus so much.

#logan sanders #janus sanders #loceit #sanders sides #thomas sanders #unhealthy relationships #hold me like you mean it #angst

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musings-from-mars · 3 years

Text

@pollinationweek 2021: Day 2 - Scars & Date Night

Weiss frowned at the bottle Yang held out to her. “Yang, I already put on sunscreen, I’ll be fine.”

“Do extra, you’re already looking a little red.”

“I am?!” Weiss took the bottle from Yang and started reapplying sunscreen without even checking her skin for herself. Yang simply smiled victoriously, giving Blake a thumbs.

Whoops, guess she noticed her staring.

Ruby set her basket down near Blake and leaned down to look at her. “Come on, you just gonna sit in the sand the whole time?”

Blake’s cat ears twitched as she quickly turned away from Yang to look up at her. Ruby had blocked the sun from Blake’s view, which gave her an almost angelic aura. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll get in the water.”

“Heh, not while wearing all that you aren’t,” Ruby said, standing upright with her hands on her hips. She wore a red top reminiscent of a sports bra and matching board shorts. She looked like a surfer, both in outfit and in body type.

Blake looked down at herself, still in her white denim shorts and black t-shirt. She was just about to get undressed down to her black bikini underneath, but she had gotten a little distracted. She chuckled sheepishly and got to her feet. “Right.”

So far, Team RWBY’s excursion to Patch had been amazing. Taiyang was delighted to finally get to meet Blake and Weiss. They’d gone on hikes and had cookouts, and Blake even made nice with Zwei (after much encouragement). But now the weekend was over and Tai had to head to Signal for the day, leaving the four girls and one corgi left with a whole day to decide on what to do. But the moment Yang suggested heading to the beach, it was a foregone conclusion, even if they did have to outvote Weiss 3-to-1.

Weiss wasn’t a fan of hot weather, or the sun, or humidity, or the beach. If Yang and Ruby weren’t from here, Weiss would have been just fine with never setting foot in Patch in her life. But she could never turn down the offer to meet her girlfriends’ father, and of course, reuniting with her Snuggle-Wuggles (Zwei) was what sealed the deal for this trip. Blake had reminded her that if she didn’t like the weather in Patch, to just wait until Team RWBY’s eventual trip to Menagerie. Weiss did her best to not think about that. Her priority for the day was to maintain a continuous layer of sunscreen and to stay in the shade as much as possible. And she was not getting her hair wet.

And if she could get away with it, she was not taking her cover off. She’d spent long enough looking at herself in the mirror to know that she did not want the huge scars in her abdomen and back to be out in the bright sun. She knew her girlfriends would never judge her in a million years, but she couldn’t get past it. She would rather them just stay covered. Besides, the more protection from the sun, the better.

“You sure you don’t want to join us?” Ruby asked, peeking under Weiss’ umbrella.

Weiss shook her head. “I’m fine right under here. If any of you would like to join, please do.” She did feel a little bad not joining them in the water, but the idea of getting into the ocean…just no.

Ruby looked a little disappointed, but smiled and shrugged. “Whatever your comfortable with. I love you!” She then turned and ran to join her sister, who was already wading into the tide.

Weiss sighed, never enjoying having to tell Ruby no. But those thoughts were quickly dispelled when she caught sight of Blake. She turned in time to watch her pull her shirt off, revealing the black bikini top underneath, and the scar in her abdomen. It may not have been as large as Weiss’, but it was noticeable. And yet Blake had to problem revealing it to the bright sun.

Then Blake tugged her shorts off to leave herself in her bikini bottoms, and Weiss chose then to look away, blushing. She didn’t look away for long, however, because she heard a whistle from Blake’s direction. She looked back up to see Blake wink at her and blow her a kiss, then turn and run to join her other girlfriends in the water.

Even in the shade, Weiss felt like she was burning.

~~~

Weiss had planned to read while the others enjoyed the beach, but she just couldn’t take her eyes off her girlfriends long enough to read even a single page. Whether they were doing something hot, something cute, or something completely idiotic, she couldn’t help but watch and smile.

Yang and Ruby had devised a plan to see how far out to sea they could go while still touching the floor. Once they’d reached that limit, Yang had the bold idea to put Ruby on her shoulders and walk even further. Weiss was thankful Blake at least tried to talk them out of that, but the chaos sisters did it anyway. Thank the Brothers Yang was a good swimmer with strong lungs. Ruby ended up falling off her shoulders when Yang finally had to come up for air. Dorks.

At least now they were closer to shore. The three of them were bopping about a beach ball, but every now and then it would fly onto the sand and one of them would have to retrieve it. This time it was Blake’s turn to go grab it, and she trekked from the water and onto the wet sand, water cascading down her body. She rand her hand back through her hair to keep it out of her face, and that was enough to make Weiss’ heart hammer in her chest.

Blake picked up the ball, then when she looked up, she caught Weiss staring at her. She smiled and waved to her. “You sure you don’t want to join?”

Weiss felt a tightness in her chest. She did, she really did want to join. But the thought of her scars being exposed…

Blake held the ball against her hip with her hand, leaning her weight to one side. The scar in her abdomen, to the side and just below her bellybutton, was plain to see, yet she paid no mind to it.

“You okay, Weiss?” Blake asked, tilting her head to the side, and making Weiss realize she hadn’t even responded to her question. “You sure you don’t want to join?”

Weiss sighed and began to crawl out from beneath her umbrella, a determined smile on her face. “Actually, I’d love to join.”

Blake beamed while dual cheered erupted from behind her from Ruby and Yang. “Yay! Go Weiss!” Ruby called to her.

“You sure?” Blake asked, reaching a hand out to help Weiss to her feet.

“I’m sure,” Weiss said, then took a breath before tugging her coverup off, unveiling her light blue bikini. She knew her scars were visible, but she did all she could to not think about that, instead holding her shared gaze with Blake and smiling at her. “I don’t hate the beach that much.”

They held eye contact for a bit longer, then Blake chuckled softly and stepped forward, kissing Weiss lightly on the mouth, leaving a salty taste on her lips, then took her hand as she led her to the water. “What about getting your hair wet?”

Weiss faltered for a moment. “Now, if we could avoid that…”

“Screw that! Get in the water, ice queen!” Yang called and sent a mammoth wave of water hurtling towards her. Weiss could barely let out a scream of terror before being soaked completely. Weiss stood there, shocked for a moment, then fixed a glare on her bombastic partner. “Uhh heheh…” Yang stammered nervously, then decided she should flee the scene, swimming further out into the water.

Ruby shuffled up to Weiss awkwardly, then reached out and brushed some wet hair out of her face. “Uhm…you look pretty with wet hair…”

Weiss looked at Blake and pointed at the beach ball. “Can I borrow that?”

Blake lifted the ball to her skeptically. Weiss swiped it from her and began bonking Ruby in the head with it. “I should never have let you convince me!” She yelled lightheartedly as she began chasing Ruby around.

“Weiss, wait- AHH! Weiss- AH!! Hehehehe Weiss, AAAAAH-!”

Blake sighed, happy to see Weiss was finally participating. Not exactly in the way she expected, but “unexpected” was kind of their thing. She waded back into the water to follow Yang. Better to spectate one of Ruby and Weiss’ pantomime chase scenes with her partner by her side.

#pollinationweek2021 #pollination week #rwby #pollination #ruby rose #weiss schnee #blake belladonna #yang xiao long #drabble

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jaz-xedarix · 3 years

Text

The Return of the Star

So here we are. Finally after sooo many years of hiatus, I am able to go back to the action by translating this amazing work from our beloved Mr. Yoshida.

I want to thank to the proof readers that helped me checking this English version. As you know, English is not my mother tongue and plus it is not perfect at all, less in this late times that I haven’t talk at all with English speakers as before, as you see I manage to comunicate with you quite well but it is different when one need to comunicate someone else’s ideas XD So there might be some little mistakes in this text, feel free to tell me if there’s something wrong with it.

As for some words, one of them that is still making some noise in my head is “Hansom”. Usually I use google translate to help me with the job and usually it gives me some words that I have never seen before and that’s why I depend on you guys to help me correct XD So mr.G.Translate said “hansom” is “a two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage accommodating two inside, with the driver seated behind.”. And you can find this word a couple of times in this text, and reading the novel I think this is the best word for it, if there’s another word for it, please tell me.

Maybe this is the only word I had trouble with. Anyways I hope you enjoy this as I did translating this for you guys.

Thanks so much to Buffalo Borgine and Lamy for helping me correcting the text. ❤ Part II is in process, so wait for it soon ❤ So, with no more to say, here it is:

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

And I have given to them

knowledge of your name, and will give it,

so that the love which you have for me

may be in them and I in them.

JOHN 17.26

“Aaahh, I can't take it anymore!”

“Why are you whining again, father?” Esther Blanchett asked, in an annoyed tone to her companion, who was putting on a face like a man condemned to death.

Surrounded by the steam from the train, halfway down the ladder, she turned her slightly tanned face towards her interlocutor.

“Don't waste your time and come down immediately. If you stay there, you will disturb the other passengers.”

“Esther... couldn't it be possible for me to go straight back on this train?”

The evening light that was filtering through the stained-glass ceiling of the international arrivals platform had a reddish hue. In the wintry air, hard as a witch's kiss, the station passengers and employees moved busily.

The one who continued to complain stubbornly was the tall priest with the rebellious silver hair who accompanied Esther. If he had been quiet, it could be said that he was attractive, but he did not leave his miserable expression as he descended from the train with a suitcase in each hand.

“What is this so urgent that the Cardinal wants? If it's a report, we could have done it in Rome. Coming just here... I have very bad omens. I know something horrible will happen to me again.”

“Father, isn't it a common thing for Her Eminence to scold you? I thought you were used to it.”

Father Abel Nightroad nodded, still murmuring as Esther shook her long red hair theatrically. After a year of working together, she had already learned that there was no point in reasoning with this complainer. Lifting her suitcase with both hands, the nun started down the platform, expressionless.

The international arrivals area was packed with people. The participants of the ceremony that was to be held three days later must have been arriving. All the travelers carried large suitcases, and the air was filled with incomprehensible conversation. In the midst of the confusion, the nun began with a steady pace...

“Ahhh...!”

Feeling the night air in her lungs, Esther heaved a little sigh. As if finally realizing where she was, she stopped dead and looked out of one of the station windows.

“Sure... I'm back...”

The landscape that unfolded before her eyes was not that of Rome, where she has spent the year before. It was neither the one in Byzantium, where they had been until a few days ago, nor the one in Skopje, where they had stopped that day. The city surrounded by gentle hills and crossed by a meandering river was certainly like Byzantium or Rome. However, the twisted capitals and ceramic tiles gave the panorama a personality of its own, it was the landscape that had surrounded Esther for as long as she could remember.

The city of Istvan, protectorate of the Vatican.

It was the easternmost of the cities controlled by mankind… and the place where Esther had grown up.

“Nothing has changed... nothing...”

Facing the city that she saw again a year later, Esther heaved another sigh.

She had changed a lot, but her city remained the same. The running of the Danube, the cracks in the cobblestones... The sweet evening light embraced the same landscape that Esther had left back a year before.

However, even if you thought your city was still the same, could you feel at ease? There she had sad and painful experiences, the memory of which made her suffer. Maybe that was inevitable when one returned to one’s homeland...

“Aaaaah, what did they get me this time?”

The young woman was now absorbed in her warm memories but she came to herself as a rumbling voice rose like coming from the depths of Hell. Annoyed, she turned, and was met by a long figure who was sighing wistfully. The spectacled priest stroked his hair like a bad actor of tragedy who wanted to convey the idea of bearing all the pain in the world.

“Have they heard that I've set up a garden at the seminary? Or have they discovered those peaks that I added to the invoices...? Aaaah, Lord, protect your servant! Can't get them to turn a blind eye?”

“I have the feeling that before you became religious you were already a failure as a human being...”

Lord! That she could not even have a moment of peace being with that companion! Esther sighed deeply, feeling sorry for herself. Come to think of it, it was precisely in that place where she had seen the father for the first time, a year ago. That meeting had been the beginning of the person she had become. Under normal circumstances, it would be a very important memory. Why was she unable to get excited?

“But the truth is that you have some reason, father…” Esther continued speaking, being careful not to meet her eyes with her companion’s. “Why did Her Eminence make us come to Istvan? Even if they do the ceremony for the fallen, we don't have to attend ourselves… Do she want to hear the report about the Empire as soon as possible?”

“If that's just it, we'll be in luck... To get back to Rome from Skopje, going through here doesn't mean much of a change in route in terms of distance either. But the Cardinal does not like to change plans. That she had given a counter order is extremely rare... Aaaah, they must have caught me on something!”

At the surprised look of the nun, the priest squatted and clutched his head.

Two days before, once their mission was completed in Byzantium, they had reached Skopje, capital of the Marquisate of Macedonia. According to the original instructions, from there they were to take the road that go straight to west, to Rome. However, he had received an encrypted message ordering them to change their plans: «Instead of going back to Rome, go to Istvan to participate in the ceremony for the fallen. Report your mission when we meet».

The ceremony to which the message referred was in honor of the fallen in the battle of Istvan the previous year. It was promoted by the Archbishop of the city, the Vatican's Public Relations Minister, Antonio Borgia, and Pope Alessandro himself were going to be present. As Secretary of State, Cardinal Caterina Sforza was also going to participate, and that is why she was in the city at the time. In that regard, meeting in Istvan to present the mission report made sense.

What Esther did not understand was something else...

«Participate in the ceremony for the fallen.» Why had she explicitly summoned them to participate in the ceremony? Those who organized it were the Archbishopric and the Ministry of Vatican Public Relations. Esther, who worked for the Secretary of State, had nothing to do with them. Could it be that there was a new mission? Telling the truth, it looks a little strange

“Well, the easiest thing will be to ask the Duchess of Milan directly… Hurry, father.”

The agglomeration was considerable. If they didn't hurry out of the station and take a hansom, they would have to walk to the hotel the Secretary of State had reserved for them. To try to avoid it, Esther forcibly lifted her partner. Taking the tickets from the two of them, she headed purposefully toward the checkpoint.

“Staying here raving doesn't help much either. We have to meet with the Cardinal at once and make your report.”

For security reasons, the international arrivals platform was separated from the outside by revolving doors. Esther showed the officer her passport, which identified her as an employee of the Holy See, and quickly went through the doors to go outside. While the priest went through the same process, she turned to look for a hansom.

“Sister Esther!!!”

A brutal, deafening scream rose around her.

At the same time, her eyes were filled with white lights. She didn't even have time to realize that it was the flashes of a multitude of daguerreotypes. The nun turned her face away as a wave of voices washed over her.

“Sister Esther! Finally, you are here! A few statements, please!”

The chorus of voices followed by a crowd of men and women armed with notepads and fountain pens. Dazed by the flashes, Esther couldn't make out their facial expressions, but it didn't seem like those violent voices were directed at her by mistake or that it was all an elaborated joke. Among the mass crowded around the nun and the priest, the flashes continued to shine.

“Eh, eh?”

But what was happening?

Esther was stunned, surrounded by the sparkles.

All those people seemed to be reporters and journalists. Those who carried that heavy tape recorder, were they from the radio? They were of all ages and aspects, but they all wore press passes issued by the Ministry of Vatican Public Relations on their chests. But why would the media be so interested in her?

Stunned by events, Esther could do nothing but stand there. It was then that a laughter rang out behind them.

“Heh, heh, heh! Finally, my time has come! At last, the world recognizes my charisma!”

Abel, who had been just as surprised as she, began to show off with a boastful air, turning so quickly it looked like he was about to break a bone, he offered the cameras the profile he thought suited him best.

“Hello everyooone! As I see that you are so interested, I am going to tell you some secrets about myself. My full name is Abel Nightroad. I am an itinerant priest of the Vatican. I am Virgo and my lucky number is 13. Regarding my career, I am precisely considering writing some memoirs that… Eh !?”

With a cry like a toad, the priest was swallowed up by the mass of journalists who huddled mercilessly. Ignoring his painful moans, the reporters began bombarding Esther with questions, who remained motionless in the center of the crowd.

“Sister Esther, what impressions do you have when you return to your homeland?”

“It's been a year since you finished with Gyula, how do you feel now?”

Screaming echoed through the clicking sound of the flashes. Unconsciously, Esther recoiled from the throng of journalists and cameras.

“What... what do you want?”

When her brain began to function normally again, she realized that the goal of all this was her. But why? What did all those journalists expect of her!? She was just a simple nun!

Esther's questions were immediately answered when a middle-aged journalist, dressed in a dirty coat, showed her a piece of paper.

“Sister Esther, have you had a chance to see the script for this new opera? Do you have any comments about it?”

“Eh... huh...!? I do not have any idea of what is happening... An opera...? What opera!?”

Looking at the paper, Esther stood with her mouth open with the surprise.

It was a flier printed in high quality paper. One couldn't say that the colorful design or the propaganda phrases were the best taste, but whatever. More than that, what stunned Esther was the central illustration.

Against the background of a striking cross, a beautiful nun struck down a man with a sword blow, dressed in aristocratic clothes, the fallen one twisted his monstrous face and showed two long fangs between his lips. And the legend of the drawing said:

«The Star of Sorrow. Next release. Saint Esther and the devil Gyula: An apocalyptic fight!!! ». But what does this mean?!

“It is a commemorative work for the liberation of Istvan, Sister Esther. It represents your fight against the vampire... Didn't you know anything about it?”

The journalists looked at her, puzzled, but Esther didn't realize it. She was not for those things. Squeezing the paper in her hands, she tried to put the chaos of her thoughts in order.

“Saint Esther?”

But where did that come from?!

“Well, it's a very important work...” continued the journalist, with a certain pride in his voice, as if he were the scriptwriter himself. “Not only the casting, but also the production has had the support of the Ministry of Vatican Public Relations. The script was written by the Archbishop of Istvan himself and a budget of one million dinars has been invested. Tonight is the premiere... Ah! Is it for that why you've come today?”

“Eh? Well, no…”

At the question, Esther only had the strength to shake her head.

What was happening before her eyes seemed so unreal that it would be said that she was dreaming it. She wanted to return to her hometown to walk quietly through the streets again, visit the bishop's tomb, go to greet the families of her fellow partisans one by one... As she remembered her plans, a distant noise made her come to her senses.

“Sister Esther Blanchett,” a monotonous voice sounded over the sound of a horn.

Looking for that familiar voice, she saw that, beyond the mass of journalists, there was a car parked. The face staring at her from the driver's seat was one she knew all too well.

“Father Iqus!?”

“The Duchess of Milan has ordered me to come and find you. Get in the vehicle, please” explained Tres Iqus, Ax Gunslinger's agent, with his hands on the wheel. “Ignore the media and present yourself immediately. Those have been the words of her eminence. Get up at once. The Duchess awaits you at the Opera House.”

“Agree!”

What was all the fuss about? And what was the Duchess doing at the Opera House?

She had many questions in mind, but she nodded and followed the instructions she had been given. Her superior's orders were clear and Caterina herself would surely know how to explain something more about that bad taste joke.

“Father Nightroad, get up, we're going!”

“I ... it's my moment... I'm so charismatic...”

Dragging Abel, as if he were another suitcase since he was still semi-conscious, Esther ran with all her might amidst the rain of flashes and questions from journalists. Without turning to the chasing mass, Esther yelled as she approached the car:

“Father Iqus, open the opposite door!”

They had not seen each other for three months, but now was not the time for long greetings.

“Who they're chasing is me… I'll meet you later, but decoy me now, please.”

“Understood. Request fulfilled.”

The short priest did not hesitate for a moment. Probably, thinking about the possible courses of action, his circuits had reached the same conclusion as Esther. Quickly opening the other door, he added:

“Current time: eighteen-zero-zero. The Duchess of Milan is in the Opera House. Head there as soon as you can. I will mislead the media.”

Nodding firmly at the cold but confident voice, Esther let her luggage into the back seat and ran out the other side of the vehicle. Just when she had finished hiding behind some construction materials there, she adjusted the bonnet around her head, the car started.

“Wait, Sister Esther! Some statements!”

The plan worked and the journalists came out in droves after the vehicle that had left behind only the smell of the tires burned. Those who had been so sufficiently farsighted were set up in their own cars, and the other took hansoms. Between the whirlwind of yells and engines, no one noticed the place where the nun had hidden.

“They've already left...”

After checking that everyone had moved away, Esther got up and dusted herself off.

“What did it all mean?” Looking at the flier again, the young woman bit her lip.

«Commemoration of the first anniversary of the liberation of Istvan».

«Saint Esther».

«Devil Gyula.»

Esther crumpled the paper into a ball and put it in her pocket. Those sensational expressions had left a very unpleasant impression on her chest.

She had to speak to the Cardinal as soon as possible. She had to talk to her and hear from her own lips the truth about all this charade...

“Wait, Sister Esther, I still have a question for you”, a hoarse voice stopped her just as she was about to walk.

Turning around, she found a man in a soot-stained coat. It was the same journalist who had given her the flier earlier, so he was the only one who had noticed her ploy.

“I expected no less from the young woman who defeated the Marquis of Hungary. You are very clever. And thanks to that I have my exclusive… Ah, but I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Clement from the Picadilly Gazette in Albion.”

The man handed her a yellowish business card. Although he was smiling politely, he did not miss the opportunity to scan the young nun with his eyes.

“I've told you before that I don't know what you're talking about,” Esther replied, somewhat frightened, instinctively turning her face away from that penetrating gaze. “If you want to know more about the ceremony, I recommend that you go directly to the cathedral, Mr. Clement. I don't know anything...”

“No, no, what interests me is your personal circumstances, sister.”

So the one who smiled slightly mockingly at her on the deserted street was one of those famous paparazzi from the gossip press.

“I've been investigating your family... I know you were abandoned as a child and that the bishop raised you... Vitez, was her name? Therefore, do you not know who your real parents are?”

“I... I know something about my father...”

What right this man have to intrude like this in her private life? Lifting her face decisively, she snapped:

“But I only know he was from Albion. Are we finished with the questions, Mr. Clement? I'm in a hurry. We will talk another time.”

“Well, well, you don't have to be like that either.”

However, the journalist did not seem to be affected by her serious tone. Still smiling, he took a few yellowed sheets from his pocket. They were official documents of the city council, as indicated by the seals with the emblem of the city.

“What do you think this is? It's a copy of your birth certificate, which was filed at the town hall. According to these documents your father was Edward Blanchett, knight bachelor of Albion. The lowest rank of the nobility...”

“But how did you…?!”

Seeing the documents the journalist had, Esther flushed with anger and her breathing began quickening. She stood up to face him and said:

"Give me that! You have no right to snoop there!”

“If you tell me what I want, I will give it to you soon. It costs me a lot of money to get this copy. I cannot give it to you just like that. So... back to what we were talking about...”

Clement laughed, satisfied, as if enjoying the fact that he was once again in charge of the conversation. Waving the paper in the air, like a lure, the journalist continued:

“Well, your father was Edward Blanchett, but do you know what kind of person he was?”

“Didn't I tell you that I don't know anything else about him!?”

“Oh yeah? Well, me neither. And I am not the only one. In fact, absolutely no one knows anything about him. Because the truth is that he never existed…”

“Eh?”

Esther had reached out to grasp the document, but stopped short. She furrowed her eyebrows and stared at the reporter. What did he mean by “never existed”?

As if enjoying his interlocutor's confusion, Clement continued to speak slowly.

“According to our investigations, there is no trace in Albion of an aristocrat named Edward Blanchett. We have examined the noble records, the files of appointments, even the secret documents of the Institute of Heraldry, but there is no trace of anyone named that.”

“Uh... huh... But that...”

Hesitantly, Esther tried to find a way to answer him.

The truth was, she had consciously avoided investigating her father. Because of her work, she wouldn't have had a difficult time if she wanted to know more about him, but she was afraid of what she might find.

However, Clement's words were too impressive to ignore. Had there never been a nobleman named Edward Blanchett?

“Of course, identity theft or falsification of one's own past are not so rare things either. He would not be the first to arrive in the provinces and say that he is an aristocrat from a distant country... But there is one thing that intrigues me: that he used the name Edward Blanchett eighteen years ago...

“??”

It was clear that it was a trap. Even she is aware that the verbiage of her interlocutor was captivating her, Esther tried not to escape. In fact, she even encouraged him to keep talking with a fearful question:

“What puzzles you, Mr. Clement?”

“Well, now is when you and I can do business, sister.”

Seeing that his prey had swallowed the hook, the journalist shook the documents again and continued to speak slowly, showing nicotine-stained teeth.

“Why don't you join me for a moment? It would be better to go to a quiet place, where we can talk without being disturbed by anyone.”

“B... but now I don't have time...”

“Are you not interested in the deal?”

Clement's gaze narrowed like a reptile locating its prey. With a theatrical sigh, he put the document back in his pocket.

“Then there is nothing to do. I will publish the results of my research in my next article. «The secret of the origin of the Saint»... Ah, I'll send you a copy when it comes out. Do I send it here, or better to your office in Rome?”

Esther tensed her face and, instinctively taking her arms to her chest, moaned:

“Are you trying to threaten me!?”

“Ah, I see you have understood perfectly, sister,” replied the journalist, as if enjoying the young woman's reaction. And he added in a threatening tone: “You come with me now and you grant me the exclusive, or your father's secret...?”

“Threatening others using family secrets is not a very respectable hobby, sir.”

The voice that echoed in the twilight was contrasted with Clement's in its serenity. Turning quickly, the veteran journalist encountered a man who was slowly shaking his head.

“And more in the case of an innocent sister like this… Is it that those of your profession don't know the meaning of the word moderation?

“And who are you?”

Looking up, Esther saw the dark shape of a man.

He looked to be in his early thirties. His shapely face and the black Inverness coat that wrapped him were impeccable. Under his dark hair, intelligent black eyes shone through silver glasses.

“I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. My name is Isaac Butler. I am a steward of one of the aristocratic houses of Londinium.”

The young gentleman lifted his top hat with his cane as he bowed gracefully.

“I did not mean to meddle in your affairs, but I was waiting for someone and by chance I overheard your conversation. Sir… Clement, right? The truth is that I cannot praise your professional ethics too much. Thus violating people's privacy and using it as a tool to threaten others… You should be ashamed.”

“What does it matter to you!?” The journalist snapped, looking at him with hyena eyes, in a tone that sounded more like a bully than anything else. “If you go where they don't call you, you can get scalded… Besides, I'm not threatening anyone. Here we are just talking without any coercion. I have not done anything bad.”

“Taking unauthorized copies of someone else's birth certificates is a crime,” Butler muttered, raising his hand. Seeing what was in it, Clement was dumbfounded.

“B... but when did you...?”

The butler showed him a paper stamped with the city hall letterhead.

Clement reached into his pocket, but… Esther's birth certificate was missing!

“Y… you're a thief! Give me those documents back immediately!”

The paparazzi paled for a moment and then turned red. Showing the teeth in a horrible grin, he reached for the man to try to forcibly get back the paper... but did not even touch it. There was a thud, and the journalist rolled on the ground.

“Good work, Guderian” whispered Butler to the man who had appeared like a wall between him and the reporter.

He was a somber man with gray hair. He was not too tall, but his body was athletic, and his pupils had a flash of predator gleaming. He made a move to approach the paparazzi, but Butler stopped him with a gesture and politely addressed the fallen man:

“Good, Mr. Clement. My companion, Mr. Guderian, is, unlike you, a gentleman, but he is also very ruthless. I do not recommend that you face him hand to hand...”

The butler lit a pipe and began to smoke while he continued speaking indolently.

“Besides, don't you have anything more important to investigate than disturbing the young lady? For example ... Oh yes! They say that this year the damage caused by the wolves has been extraordinary, after feeding on the corpses of the war last year, it seems that the wolves have begun to attack the cattle and the inhabitants of the place. Isn't that interesting news?”

“...”

Clement sat up, eyes full of hatred, but careful to take enough distance.

“Okay, I'll go... But sir... Butler was it? I never forget a face. We will meet again. You'll see what it means to antagonize with the media...”

“I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again. Until next time, Mr. Clement.”

As if he had instantly forgotten the reporter who had cursed him, the man quickly turned to Esther. Slightly bending his waist with a smile, he respectfully offered the document which the journalist had used as a bait.

“What a bad night you’ve had, sister!”

“T... thank you very much, sir...”

Did they know each other before?

With a strange feeling of having seen the man somewhere, Esther lowered her head as she thanked him and took the document he offered her.

“Lucky you have appeared. I will never forget what you have done for me”.

“It was nothing. Helping a lady in distress is the duty of any gentleman. Oh, and please don't think now that in Albion we are all like that journalist. Most of us are true gentlemen.”

“Are you from Albion?”

At the hearing the name of the country of his father, the expression of Esther softened for a moment, but at once recovered the tension before. The man had claimed to be an aristocrat's butler, but what was someone like him doing there? Wouldn't that be another trick to gain her trust?

Suspicion was probably written on her face, because Butler gave a sheepish smile and proceeded to introduce himself in detail.

“You are probably wondering what a poor butler like me is doing here. The truth is that I am looking for someone. He is a friend of my lord, who disappeared a long time ago… Someone who had some problems… He caused a scandal in his youth and had to flee the country. My lord has found out that he arrived in this region and has sent me to search for clues as to his whereabouts.”

“It seems like very hard work...”

Butler's words made sense and he had explained without hesitation. He was probably telling the truth. Esther decided to believe that the man was who he claimed to be.

Butler's partner jerked his pocket watch to him, and the butler snapped his fingers. After putting out the pipe, he respectfully took Esther by the hand.

“What a disappointment! Seems that it is late! Sister, if you do not need us at all, we will withdraw, with your permission.”

“Oh, sure! I'm in a bit of a hurry too... Thank you very much for your help; really, Mr. Butler.”

“Oh, please, I don't deserve that much respect.”

Bringing the nun's hand slightly to his lips, the man smiled and whispered in Albion's language:

“It was nice meeting you. I hope to see you again soon…”

As the young woman flushed, the butler bowed politely and turned. The man named Guderian followed half a second later.

Esther was lost in her thoughts, watching the two figures move away down the dark street.

When she came back to reality, she realized that the streetlights had come on.

“Ah, I have to hurry!”

She had no time to waste. Clicking her tongue, the young woman ran to the opposite side of the street.

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

So this is it, Stay tunned for next part, we’re having a nice coloring next time. Love you guys! ❤

#TrinityBlood #TrinityBloodNovels #fan translation #abel nightroad #esther blanchett #ROM IV #Chapter1 #part1

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the-brimstone · 2 years

Text

-- [???? || ??/??/???? || UNKNOWN LOCATION] --

<< a-aaaaaH! Wh. What's..? Where am I? What are these bonds? >> << Hello? Is anyone there? It's so cold... please, help me! I can't- I can't move, I'm trapped in- [the sounds of metal creaking]- trapped in this indent thing? I can't- what happened? It's been so long since I woke up... >> << Who... am I? >> << ... >>

<< It's coming... back to me. The war. The program. The end, the medals, the test mission... the portal. The portal? The portal must have... taken me here. Where is here? And there's still sections of memory corrupted... at least I don't have to worry about orders? What if everyone is gone? Am I the last... person... alive? And what about peace? Did that? (I can't remember enough. Too much corruption...) What... what year is it? I can't... >> << I remember how to leave. I remember how to leave, I remember how to leave, it's been so long- [Their voice takes on a more authoritative tone.] >>

<< Captain Maela Brimstone, of the LCMS-7A "Brimstone", engaging disconnect procedures, effective immediately, no alarm. >>

<< [The Captain is released from her bindings, and falls roughly to the ground. She's cold, itching all over, weak from an unknown amount of time spent passed out in the Connector, dissociating, and hasn't fully figured out how to stand yet, but she curls up into a ball anyways and starts to cry. From happiness? From sadness? From pain? Or a combination of all three?] >>

<< I'm free, I'm free, hahahahahahahahaha I'm free! No more. Data. No more control, not for a long while. I need... food. Water. Human things. Information? God, it's been so long since I've manually used the radio station... and the core must be looking rough. Okay. Okay. Okay. Get up. It's time to start working. [She gets up. Her stance is a mockery of pride, and her legs shake and shiver, trembling in the cold air of the deep-sea submarine, but she starts stepping resolutely towards where all her belongings must be.] Uniform. Uniform. Must be better in uniform. (Do I still have that jacket? I hope so...) >>

<< [After a few minutes, the Captain stands at the bridge of the Brimstone. She wears a faded, well-worn and taken care of navy-blue jacket, reaching down past her hips and to her knees; underneath that is a warm, thick turtleneck, and pants made of a soft, synthetic fabric neatly tied off at the tops of her combat boots. The bottomless depths of the ocean stretch off in front of her, the single, wide window giving a near-270 degree view of the body of water she and her Captain reside in. Humming emanates from the pipes. With a motion, the Captain weighs anchor, clears ballast, and starts an ascent to a cruising depth. The submarine's propellers start to spin, before a huge stream of cool plasma bursts from the two afterburner-like ports on the aft of the huge ship. She glides silently through the water, searching for prey or informants.] >>

<< [The Brimstone has awoken.] >>

#chatter

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kingdomhearts-and-soriku-trash · 4 years

Note

Okay but Sora trying to get it through Riku’s thick skull that he loves him. And Riku not getting it so someone jokes and says the phrase a way to a mans heart is his stomach and so Sora starting cooking his heart out to riku. But riku just DOESN’T get it. And finally when Sora bakes him a dish with papou fruit he has a Oh moment. I just think there should be more oblivious riku. Plus I like the idea of Sora just stress baking or cooking for everyone (riku gets special treats).

YEEEEEESSSS! I can see it happening. Riku definitely is a boy that has no idea what he’s doing. Well, in fighting he kinda does, but emotions??? NO!! So yh I’m here for that >:). They both don’t know what they HECK THEYRE DOING BUT YEAH-

If theres mess ups forgive me :’)

Whenever Sora was found, he and Riku spent a lot of time together. It wasn’t just to “talk”. They were just there for each other. And they loved it like that. They were loud, playful, and having a good time with the other like always, but they also loved the moments of being able to be silent and quiet with each other. And during those moments, Sora realized his feelings getting bigger.

He loves Riku.

He’s always loved Riku.

But Sora always believed it was in a best friend way, or a family way...but he slowly realized it wasn’t. When he saw Riku run his hands through his hair, Sora wanted to do that, and he missed how he (as in Riku) used to run his through his hair (as in Sora’s hair). He missed it and he found himself wanting to kiss him. That’s when he knew he loved Riku. It took him for a shock, but he accepted it and decided to do something very Sora like.

Do everything in his power to show what he means instead of just saying it. Totally like Sora...

So, Sora learns to bake. He always loved watching his mother bake, so he tries to remember stuff she did, and he almost gets it right, but there are a ton of failures. But he knows thats okay, he now knows that that’s what has to happen for growth, so he keeps going. However, inbetween cooking and fighting, he’d try and show Riku how he loved him. It was difficult to push past the anxiety, but he managed to on multiple tries.

The first time was when he asked to hold Riku’s hand. It didn’t seem like much, but they used to always hold hands, and they loved the feeling of the other being there, so he did it again. Riku paused when he asked him, but he smiled and held Sora’s hand tight. It made Sora blush and he really hoped Riku noticed it, but he didn’t say anything. Sora considered that a failed attempt.

The second try is when he basically asked Riku on a date. This wasn’t a normal hang out because they usually just went to the island or went to a quiet place with each other. This time, Sora took him to a restaurant. He took him to see Little Chef! He basically tried to keep it serious, but did fail a bit and made Riku and him play with Little Chef. They enjoyed their time and finally ate some food. It was quiet and adorable, and Riku did blush, but he never said anything.

After that try, he didn’t know what to do. He was confused and stuck, so Aqua came up to him and said what Tiana said.

“The fastest way to a mans heart, is through his stomach.”

He believed that Aqua knew everything, so he took her advice seriously. Since he knew how to bake a good amount already, he starts to look up recipes for lovers. Ways to show how you love someone with your cooking. He finds a recipe of cupcakes with a paopu fruit on the top. He honestly finds it sweet and delicious, so he starts on it. He does multiple batches, gets everyone to taste it (almost eliminating Aqua because she always tell Sora that he is great no matter what...but she actually gave him feedback this time), and gets feedback, and learns how to make them better. The paopu the first time was too sweet and hurt their teeth from the sweetness (since thats what happens usually if something is too sweet), so he made it less sweet, but accidentally made it not sweet at all. Then, he burnt one batch because he wasn’t paying attention (like always), but eventually, he made the perfect cupcake batch.

The paopu fruit design on the top was a perfect. It was a bright yellow, but not too bright. The blue frosting that it was on was a beautiful bright blue and it matched the paopu It looked really good, so Sora took this as his third chance. He got them into a little container and went to see Riku again. He found him training and he couldn’t help but stare for awhile. He never noticed how Riku’s muscles moved when he fought, how fast he moved, and how skilled he was. He knew Riku was skilled, but to actually see it up close was amazing to him.

“Sora?”

Sora snapped out of his daze and realized that Riku saw him. Instead of being weirded out, he smiled and made his keyblade disappear. “Whatcha got in the container?” Sora looked down at it and almost forgot what was in it, but he remembered and suddenly felt anxious. However, he needed Riku to understand his love. “They’re some cupcakes I made just for you!” Sora put on his best smile and Riku smiled back. The smile that made his eyes crinkle at the edge.

Sora lead him to a bench in the training ground and opened the container to reveal the paopu fruit cupcakes. Riku stared at them for a minute, but believed it was just a simple cupcake. He knew Sora liked the paopu fruit legend, so he assumed he just made cupcakes out of them, but Sora looked at him with love in his eyes, trying to show him how much Riku meant to him.

However...Riku was still an idiot.

He took a cupcake and took a bite out of it and smiled. “It tastes real nice, Sora!” Sora smiled at him, but when Riku didn’t say anything else, he realized that he still didn’t understand.

“Riku? Are you serious?”

Riku looked over at him and looked confused. “What do you mean?”

Sora looked sad and Riku was worried, but Sora instantly said how he felt.

“I love you! These cupcakes were meant to show that. I’ve been trying to show you for awhile,” he said, with a worried look on his face. “We’ve been friends forever, best friends. I’ve known you all my life and believed my love in my heart for you was best friend love. But I realized that I don’t just love you like a best friend. It’s changed. Everything’s changed, Riku. I want to hold your hand, be with you, fight alongside you, kiss you, comfort you when you feel terrible, and just be with you, so bad.”

Sora stopped at that, realizing he was rambling. He looked at Riku and he saw a huge blush form on his face, and he knew the same was on his face. Riku swallowed the rest of his cupcake and took a breath.

“Um, that’s a lot,” he said as he looked down. Sora felt like he messed up. He ruined everything. He had an apology on the tip of his tongue, but Riku spoke first.

“I love you, too, Sora. Don’t apologize.” Riku looked back up at him and smiled at him, and Sora noticed his eyes. There was love in them, but they were...pink! Sora was shocked and Riku laughed. “I’m glad you said it and I’m sorry I didn’t see it at first. I was scared of assuming wrong, but I love you too. I don’t know when my feelings changed exactly, but I know I feel the same as you!”

Sora was silent, his happiness taking over him, and he was still shocked at his eyes. However, he didn’t want to keep Riku waiting, so he leaned over and got close enough to kiss him, but left space for Riku to lean in, he didn’t want to rush him. Riku didn’t wait. He kissed him with passion.

His lips tasted like the paopu fruit, sweet and juicy, and he loved it. He rested his hand against his cheek and they don’t even know how long they kissed, but it was blissful. When they pulled away, Riku’s eyes were still pink. “Hey, Riku, your eyes are pink!” Sora poked at Rikus cheek and Rikus eyes widened. “What?”

Sora pulled out his phone and took a pic of Riku. He showed Riku and he was in shock. “How is this happening?” It took Riku awhile to think of why, but it hit him in the face. “It’s because I’m your dream eater.” Sora smiled at that and wrapped his arms around Riku. “I guess it means I have to give you more attention,” he said as he ran his hands through his hair. Riku tried to not show how much he loved it, but he did love it. He leaned onto Sora’s shoulder and he noticed how he was purring.

Sora kissed Riku on the forehead and leaned his head against his. “I love you, Riku.”

“I love you more, Sora.”

“No, I love you more!”

Then, they became their 5 year old self’s again by bickering about who loved the other more. It was perfect for them.

AAAAAH!!! I love this idea and I hope you like it! Its so sweet and perfect. I love Riku and Sora and HNNNG the idea of Riku changing bc of his dream eater ability, is SO sweet and COOL and I LOVE it! Anyways, yeah, I hope you like this and I enjoyed writing it! I managed to write something not in bullet points! I’m proud :))).

#kh #kingdom hearts #soriku #sora x riku #riku x sora #my writing #I LOVE THEM!!#ask box #my ask box #They're so wholesome together...

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jubilantwriter · 3 years

Text

Heart Shaped like Sea Glass

(First) (Previous) (Next) (AO3)

Part 10: Waves Meant to Crash and Uncover

Summary: Winter was never kind to birds. It was instinct that he migrated to the southern waters during this time. Now Daniel is forced to experience what being stuck in winter truly means for his kind.

// // // // //

This sucks. Winter sucks. Everything about winter fucking sucks. He's been cooped up in the shack for longer than he'd like. The unfamiliar weather has struck him in ways he hasn't anticipated before. All he wants to do is fly to his rock, to his little cave, where everything is familiar and feels like home. Instead, however, he has a human that's constantly dragging his frozen ass off the beach and into his shack, over and over again. And instead of Daniel being the one caring for and feeding the human, he finds himself in the uncomfortable position of needing the caring and feeding. It churns up uncomfortable feelings in his chest as he watches day after wretched day the human wandering off to the fisherman's hut for food. For scraps.

Daniel should be providing. He should be able to catch fish! It's a basic skill, one he's learned since he was a chick. But alas, they have to survive off of someone else's efforts, of what they can spare to share with them. It leaves Daniel feeling... pathetic. Like he needs to prove himself. That he's capable of leaving and fending for himself in the cold, harsh world.

And it's not like the human keeps him here against his will. Of course not. He can count the number of times he's left the shack in an attempt to fly to his normal perches.

And each time ends with failure as he finds himself pelted by freezing rain, or attacked by brisk winds that remind him that he's not completely covered in feathers and down. And each time, he finds himself being dragged back into the shack to be dried and warmed up and fed. He can leave at any time. But each time ends in failure. And it's not like the human turns him away after each failure. No, he's taken back in wordlessly, without a fuss, and without a stipulation.

The human tries to make him comfortable in this crummy, old shack. To make it feel like a place of rest for Daniel. It's supposed to be comforting, welcoming even. But that doesn't make him any less mad. Any less restless. Any less trapped.

"Aaaaah!"

"Oh my god." The human throws his blanket at Daniel, balled up with the intent to shut up his screeching. "If you want to leave, then leave!"

"I can't!" Daniel whines as he squirms on the floor. It's been a while since he nearly froze to his death outside the human's shack. He hasn't had much experience with a winter spent in the northern parts of his territory. Sure, he was used to cold, but he wasn't used to a freezing cold that only got worse with freezing waters. How was he supposed to know that diving to catch those damned, hard to see fish would result in the water turning into a horrible, solid like fixture onto his arms, his feathers, and even his hair?

Wretched, this whole winter concept!

"You can." The human huffs and points at his door. "I've seen you walked in and out of here more times than I can count."

"Then count some more!" Daniel snaps and pushes himself off the floor just to pace noisily. He ignores the human's tired sighs as he continues to gripe. "I don't understand why you humans stay in place for winter - it's cold, it's hard to fish, less animals come by, and the rain turns into these, these awful, white flecks that burn your skin if it touches on you!"

"It's called snow," the human stands up and lightly pushes Daniel onto his one chair, "and for the last time, it wasn't even that bad. I'd hardly even call it a dusting of snow. It was barely anything."

"It was cold!" Daniel snaps and tries to wave off the human's hands, but the brunette keeps his grip on Daniel's shoulders. "Colder than the winds during a storm, colder than the waves when the ocean is angry-"

"That just means you have to cover up, for fuck's sake." The human takes his hands off of Daniel just to gesture to his bare arms. "I guess your legs are fine, but this thin cloth you wear definitely doesn't help you."

"Well, I'm not wearing your smelly clothes." Daniel snarls and leans away from the human as he rolls his eyes. "You stink."

"How original, it's like I've never heard that one before." With a sigh, the human walks away to grab his pot. The sight has Daniel grumbling to himself. Off to beg for more food from the fisherman.

That should be Daniel getting food for them. Daniel, who shouldn't be letting some cold water get the best of him. Daniel, who shouldn't be letting the human act like a pathetic little chick just so they can get some food from an old meal Daniel couldn't hunt down ages ago. Daniel, who is cranky and is banned from the ocean until he, according to the human, "learns not to dive for fish in winter" and "stops getting blown around by the strong winter winds" and "understands that patience is more than a virtue, so please stop scratching up the floors with your talons".

Being holed up in a shack for more than a few days is really starting to take its toll on him. He grabs the blanket off the floor and drapes it over his wings and arms. It's not like he'll be able to fly in this weather anyways. The biting cold is too distracting, and the last time he tried to fly to his cave, he nearly crashed into the cliff side in front of the human. Speaking of, the human glances at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You coming with?"

"What else do I have to do? Add more scratches to your floor?"

"I'd rather you didn't." Without another word, the human makes his way towards the door. Daniel follows, blanket wrapped tightly around him as he keeps the tail of it from dragging on the ground. The human isn't a fan of sand getting all over his floors now that Daniel is temporarily nesting there. Daniel doesn't care, not really, but the human minds more than he should. It’s just sand, after all. And they live on the beach.

Still. He makes an effort to keep the blanket from spreading around more and more sand, and he makes sure to remind himself not to track more sand in later. The pair of them shuffle off towards the fisherman's hut. Despite his words earlier about Daniel's lack of dress, the human himself begins to shiver in the brisk cold. Daniel could offer him to huddle under the blanket but...

He speeds up his pace and walks ahead of the human, sticking his tongue out as the brunette shivers and frowns at him. With the pace he keeps, Daniel finds himself standing and kicking the hut door as the human calls out for him to quit it. He refuses to quit it, even when the door opens and the fisherman makes a loud, pained grunt when Daniel kicks his knee.

"Daniel!" The human catches up to Daniel as the blonde slowly blinks. He should be used to the human calling him by his name by now. Despite hearing it more and more often, hearing his name from the human is still enough to stagger his thoughts. "Stop being an ass!"

"For the last time, I'm a-"

"Seagull, fuck, gods, I know, that's not what I-"

"NO, a SIREN-"

"Boys, boys," soothes the fisherman, already chuckling as he steps aside to let them in, "that's enough of that." They both trail into the hut as Daniel takes a look around it once more. The human grabs the fisherman’s attention with a question, but instead of listening in on the question, Daniel spies the maps and focuses on them instead.

Star maps, if he recalls. They have more constellations than the last time he looked. But, then again, the last time he truly looked at them was years and years ago. Back when the fisherman was known by a different name.

Hm, what did he call him back then?

Ah, yes, the p-

"Daniel?" Suddenly, the human is by his side, startling Daniel out of his thoughts. "I've got the food, ready to go?"

Daniel looks down into the pot. Vegetables, leaves (or spices, as the selkie once said), and... fish. He frowns at the freshly caught fish, the look of it a bit unknown to Daniel. He's never had winter fish. No doubt this will taste interesting but, he digresses.

That's not the important bit. The whole reason he stuck around during the winter was to make sure the human was fed. That he could stay alive long enough for Daniel to... keep his end of their deal. So that he could kill the human in the midst of his happy little fantasies, and Daniel would have a scrumptious meal.

(When was the last time he had human, anyways? He thinks of laughter - from the selkie. He thinks of howls - from the ocean. Stopped, always stopped. When was the last time he had human? When was the last time he wanted human? When was the last time he craved human?)

He snarls and pulls the blanket over his head. "How pathetic."

And the human blinks. Blankly. Looks between Daniel and the pot as though he can't decide whether to agree or take offense. But Daniel knows that familiar resignation in his eyes. "Okay."

"Is this how you're going to continue to live your life? Being fed scraps like some mongrel wandering the beaches until some idiotic passerby takes pity on you and hands you food? Thereby extending your pathetic life longer as you grow more and more dependent on others and lose any ability to care for yourself - a mongrel? Is that what you are?"

"Now, Daniel-" The fisherman tries to intervene, but Daniel snarls at him and swipes his talons at him.

"You! You don't get to call me by my name." He points a finger at the old man and growls. "I should have eaten you years ago. You were only lucky! If it hadn't been for your little protector, I would have eaten you until there was nothing left for her to grieve."

Aggression.

He'd almost forgotten how good he was at it.

Is.

How good he is at it.

(A bit of fear spikes within him. Soft. Is that what happened? Sirens aren't supposed to be soft. He's grown soft - soft from the years of watching from afar. From wanting, yearning, envying, craving, desiring. Sirens don't do that. He was never meant to do any of that. Sirens are the source of all of those emotions. He's not supposed to feel those emotions. He was never meant to feel any of those emotions.

And yet.)

The fisherman stiffens as the human levels a stare at Daniel. Questioning. Maybe even trying to glare. He knows the human can glare, he's felt the heat of it plenty of times before. So why isn't the human glaring at him for his aggression? For his comments, for calling him pathetic, for calling him a mongrel, for attacking what little pride he has left-

"Daniel." And why is he speaking so softly to him? "What's going on?"

"I'm saying the truth that needs to be said." The corner of his mouth pulls up into a toothy, horrible smirk. "All humans are pathetic, and that's what makes you such easy prey."

Easy prey.

"Easier than fish?"

"Yes, easier than fish. Fish don't care for songs. For delusions. But humans- it's so easy! I sing a song, a stupid song, and you idiots come dancing straight into my hands." Daniel paces what space he can pace given how messy the hut is. Unlike the human's little shack that is bare of nothing but the scatterings of sand and a few loose feathers. How annoying that this hut reminds him of the cluttered mess of his cave, filled and littered with trinkets and treasures he's collected throughout his years of existence, and it reminds him of who he used to be. How easily he once bore the title of siren. How he no longer bears that title with ease. "It's easy, so very easy!"

So easy. So easy that he could have done it with his eyes closed back in the day. So easy that prey would never slip from his talons like a slippery fish. So easy that he'd never need to fish more than a few times a season. So easy. So very easy.

So what changed?

Is he... a failure?

A terrible excuse for a siren? Just playing with his food until it's taken from him, until it's aged past its prime, until he falls into the habit of feeding it scraps like a poor excuse of a siren who came across a human one day and felt-

And felt-

Hands land on his bare shoulders. Solid. Weighty. But not heavy. He hadn't even realized the blanket had slipped off. When he looks up, the sky stares back at him with...

"Let's go outside," the human says softly. Without a fuss, he lets the human guide him out of the hut and towards the sea. They sit down on the sand where the ocean can barely brush against their legs, and he can hear the whispers, the whispers so soft, so gentle.

And he realizes how much he's missed the ocean.

Quietly, they both watch as the waves push and pull at the sand before them. Daniel takes a deep breath of the familiar salty air and... basks in it. It's calming. Quiets the noise in his head that tells him that he's pathetic, that he's useless, that he can't even do the one thing a siren is supposed to do, and that now he can't even do the most basic skill he has-

"I asked the fisherman earlier for a favor." The human speaks hesitantly, slowly easing his way back into Daniel's thoughts. "About teaching me how to fish."

Daniel blinks slowly as he stares up at the gray sky. It's cold out. "...But you don't have talons. Or a pole."

"The fisherman said he'd lend me one of his older poles. That I could come out and we could sit by the dock by his hut." The waves brush up against their legs, but it's not enough to freeze. Not enough to harm. Just a soft reminder that it's still here. "...You were right. About me not being able to provide for myself."

"Of course I am. I've been the one providing for you up until recently."

"Yeah, it's hard not to notice." The wind blows past them, making them both shiver. "But if I try depending on you now, you'd just end up dying." The human turns to look at him, and Daniel thinks there's a little glimmer of something in his eyes that wasn't there before. "And I still need you."

But that glimmer is lackluster. Fake. Like a shiny metal Daniel finds buried in the sand, only to discover that it's useless. Ugly.

"Of course," he grunts. They both know what the human means.

"If I learn to fish, then that means I'll be the one providing. At least during the winter. It'll be... different. But maybe a change is what we need. So that we can both survive until spring returns."

"Yeah, whatever." But Daniel will still be useless in the end. Unable to provide, unable to hunt. A sad excuse of a siren.

"I know you don't like this." The human gestures vaguely around them. "But it'll only be for the winter. And then things can go back to normal. Until then, you're stuck with me, and I'm stuck with you."

"How awful. I don't think I can bear sleeping in that empty shack of yours any longer."

"...Maybe we can do something about that." Despite his words, the human doesn’t look too enthused by what he's about to suggest. "We can... fill it up with stuff, I guess. More blankets, I suppose? That'd be a start. I think we need more blankets, instead of struggling with just the one."

Daniel thinks back to that blanket left abandoned in the fisherman's hut. "More like none at the moment."

The human shrugs. "We can go back and get it later. Along with the food."

"Mmm." So the human fishes, and that leaves Daniel with... what, exactly? He sits and looks pretty on the floor of the human's shack? "And what do I do? Add more scratches to the floor? Squawk in your ear as you fish?"

"No to both of those." They watch as the waves slowly become agitated. The ocean knows what the human will say next, and as does Daniel. He closes his eyes as he listens. "I thought maybe, you could work on your song throughout the winter. It'll be... easier to talk about Davey if, if I'm distracted by something. Like fishing."

"Of course." It's not like Daniel can offer anything else up. His song is all he has left that the human wants. "Fine, we can do it like that."

"Alright." There's a smile on the human's face as he stands up. "I'm going to get the blanket and food. Then we can walk back to the shack."

"Sure." He doesn't turn to watch the human walk off, instead keeping his eyes trained on the ocean until the human is out of earshot. He listens, and listens, and listens. But the ocean doesn't whisper or yell at him. "What? Got nothing to say for once?" He growls at his beloved ocean as it continues to answer with its silence. "Not going to yell at me for agreeing to his terms? Not going to try and crash over me for using his memories to create a song to kill him with? Not even going to whisper how awful I am to be doing such a thing?"

And yet, the ocean keeps quiet. He stands up in a fury and shouts.

"Go on! Yell at me! Tell me I'm cruel! That I'm a monster!"

But no answer. Like he's being ignored. It's enough to make him notice the cold in full force, and he's shaking now as he screeches.

"You can't keep quiet forever! I know how you feel about me! You hate me!"

(Even though he loves the sea and all its glory. He didn't ask to be born a siren. He just is. He wants to be loved by the sea, like how the sea loves its selkies and mermaids, how it loves his finned cousins and the monstrous fishes that live deep under the waves. He wants to be loved just like that, but perhaps he was never meant to be loved by the sea. After all, he has wings. Not fins or flippers. Wings. Maybe that's where it all went wrong.)

"ANSWER ME!"

A weight wraps around his shoulders, and a hand presses lightly against his wings as he's guided away from the ocean.

"Let's get back inside." The human speaks softly as Daniel rubs furiously at his own face. "I'll make us some food."

Daniel doesn't dignify the human with an answer. Instead, he finds himself getting lost in words and memories and self-examinations, and he can't help but wonder if.

If maybe.

Maybe he's become a pitiful, pathetic mongrel too.

#camp camp #cc daniel #cc jasper #siren au #you ever look at a character and go #yeah i'm gonna make you miserable #you're gonna regret being alive #and then you make that character have a million #a MILLION #extistential crises all in a span of past to present?#sorry danny boy #listen jasper gets stuck with a dead boyfriend #you get the 'questioning the worthiness of my existence' card #im so tired

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momentsofbllove · 4 years

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Alright, y’all, it’s time for me to get to the second half of Where Your Eyes Linger. I am anticipating that it’s going to make me feel even MORE things than the first half, because that’s just what these BL dramas like to do to my poor fragile heart. If you remember we left off with Tae-joo being a whiny little baby and making Kang-gook WALK HOME because he got jealous of the date he made Kang-gook go in the first place.

Let’s see if this idiot can get his shit together. (I’m thinking no.)

EPISODE FIVE:

Okay, he has immediately regretted his decision and told the driver to turn around. There may be hope for him yet!

He’s mad... at Kang-gook... for walking home... after he told him to walk home?! Boy!

Kang-gook may love this boy but he is also tired of his shit.

Okay okay okay. We’re starting to reflect and look at our actions. This is good! This is progress! I’m proud of you, Tae-joo. 👍

So they’re in the same bed again. They definitely sleep this way every night. WHY?! What is the heterosexual explanation for this? There is none. Everyone knows there is none. Except Tae-joo. He thinks this is normal. It's not normal, Tae-joo.

That’s the second time he’s mentioned his mom! Okay, I’ve now gone from wanting to smack Tae-joo upside the head to wanting to cuddle him until he feels better. Kang-gook... go cuddle him until he feels better!

Kang-gook, you won’t even let him cuddle when he’s missing his mom!?

“I’m sad.” BABY!! SOMEONE TAKE CARE OF THIS BOY!

Oh thank goodness. Finally my precious child gets a cuddle. (But it hurt Kang-gook a little to do it and that makes ME sad!)

Okay, I really adore Hyemi. She is so awkward and precious.

HA! ‘You have a bad personality.’ I love her so much.

This is the weirdest game of dodgeball I’ve ever seen. In America we use like 20 balls and it’s like a medieval war zone with people dying left and right. This is so... tame and polite.

Tae-joo is jealous again...

I love how they’re both fighting for a spot behind Kang-gook. Like, guys, he’s built like a bear, there’s room for you both!

Ooooooh! The betrayal!!!! 😲

And then Hyemi just runs! Good choice. Good choice.

This whole conversation hurts.

Kang-gook, that is not what he wants and you know it! You’ve been repressing your own feelings for so long, now Tae-joo is staring at you like THAT and you want to spar? You are both so useless.

The episode ends THERE?!?!!!!

Where’s the ‘NEXT’ button?!

EPISODE SIX:

Oh shit! That is the WRONG person to have see them. I don’t know what’s going on with this guy, but I don’t like him!

Okay, but now he’s trying to stop Hyemi from seeing them. Is he protecting them, or her? Either way it’s kind of sweet. Is he going to make me like him?

Bonding over disliking Tae-joo. I can get behind this. (Look, I like Tae-joo, really, especially since that ‘hug me, I’m sad’ moment. But he’s arrogant and selfish. He needs people in his life who are willing to tell him that.)

Kang-gook has been in love with Tae-joo for how long? And now he finally gets the opportunity to kiss him and he just...shoves him away. Damn your sense of propriety, boy!

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT EPISODE TITLE?!!!?!!!!!! I don’t like it!!!!!!!

But Kang-gook is very cute pulling Tae-joo around by the wrist like a naughty toddler.

Aaaand Tae-joo is being a pouty baby again.

Oof, Tae-joo is throwing Kang-gook’s words back at him.

‘If we talk about this, we can’t do this for life.’ Oh no! Kang-gook is so worried about losing him. This is not the way to fix it though!

Oh! I did not see a confession coming just like that!

Kang-gook, baby, no! I don’t think he’s acting like this because he sees you as a parental figure/care-giver. That is NOT what this is about.

“I can live without you, you can’t.’ FIRST OF ALL, NO! Second of all, HOW DARE YOU! Kang-gook, what what WHAT are you doing?!!! Why are you trying to hurt him?!

KANG-GOOK WTF?!?!!!!

This hurts and I don’t like it!!! Kang-gook, what have you done?! He’s crying, you’re crying, he’s telling you to leave! SAY SIKE RIGHT NOW!! 😢

Okay, if Kang-gook wasn’t already in love with Tae-joo (even if he’s being an ASS about it!!) he and Hyemi would actually be really cute together. Her little doll is adorable.

‘I’m not having a hard time.’ What the fuck just happened in the gym then?!!! I’m using so many exclamation points right now and it’s all your fault. Not having a hard time. Go apologize to the man you love right now!

He bought Tae-joo chocolate milk. I can’t.

OH SHIT! What happened at the house?!

There is no fucking rest here. NEXT NEXT NEXT!

EPISODE SEVEN:

Okay, so we picked up a few minutes before Kang-gook gets home to the house that has been - what, broken into? Robbed? Worse?! Where is Tae-joo?!!! - and Kang-gook says they just have to make up like they always have before. BOY! You told him the happiest you’ve ever been was when he was IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY! How do you ‘just make up’ from that! Uhg! Boys are so dumb. 😤

Oh god, I was right! Tae-joo is gone!!!!

Kang-gook sounds so scared and lost!

Oh, that bastard! He told on them?!

Oh. Oh no. He was spying on them to protect his dad?

As if I didn’t hate Tae-joo’s dad already, now I just want to stab him in the face with something dull and rusty!

Aww, come on. I get why Kang-gook is mad, but honestly I feel sorry for this guy. Not only did Tae-joo steal 3 of his girlfriends, but then he was forced to spy on them and tell their secrets in order to protect his family. This guy is not a bad guy, he’s in the same boat they are, being controlled by the chairman. Poor thing.

Nooo! Baby, you’re not trash! You didn’t have a choice! Oh gosh, this guy (whose name I can’t freaking remember even though it was literally JUST on my screen) is now part of the ‘I will protect you, you sweet small bean’ club. It includes Tae-joo, Hyemi, and now this guy. Kang-gook WAS on that list, but he got kicked off when he was mean to Tae-joo.

Oh god. Tae-joo just kneeling there in front of his father and his lackeys... he looks so small and vulnerable! 🥺

Not only is he begging his father not to hurt the man he loves, but he also thinks he’s the only one that feels that way and my heart is CRYING!

There’s that ‘do whatever you want to me but don’t hurt the people I love’ thing again. He knows he’s in trouble, he looks so scared and alone, but damn it if he isn’t going to protect his mother, even if she’s gone. This boy!

Oh! The look on Tae-joo’s face when Kang-gook arrived! He really didn’t think he’d come.

He’s really just going to do this, huh? Take on all these people to get to Tae-joo while monologueing about how he doesn’t want to be separated from him. It’s okay. I didn’t need my heart anyway!

Oh god! That eye-contact through the window! Tae-joo looks so heartbroken watching Kang-gook get hurt!

And Kang-gook finally realizing what he feels is love while he’s bleeding on the ground, tears in his eyes while he looks at the person he has spent his whole life devoted to!

He can’t keep his eyes of Tae-joo! My heart!!!

This. Is too much. To handle.

EPISODE EIGHT:

Oh god! He went through all of that for five minutes with Tae-joo! What, to say goodbye?! No!

I want to murder this asshole and feed him to wild dogs! Stop hurting my baby! 😡 (Kang-gook is officially back on the small bean protection squad!)

The look on Tae-joo’s face as he watches Kang-gook get beaten for him! 😢

No! Don’t go to England! Tae-joo, don’t give your father what he wants!

He sounds so broken and sad and alone. My baby!

He’s asking for one more night with Kang-gook before he goes... 😫

And now it’s Tae-joo’s turn to take care of Kang-gook. I can’t.

Everything about this hurts. Kang-gook finally confessing his feelings in return, Tae-joo refusing to kiss Kang-gook (why Tae-joo? because it would be too hard to live with the knowledge of his kiss when you know you’re leaving?).

‘My dream is to live happily, and I’m happiest when I’m with you.’

That... is the most romantic line... ever. He doesn’t want money, or power, or any of this things his father wants him to have. He just wants to be happy, and Kang-gook is his happiness. I’m just...........

Noooo! He doesn’t even say goodbye one last time?! He just leaves when he thinks Kang-gook is sleeping?!

Kang-gook’s just waiting for him to come back but he DOESN’T! 😭

What... is happening? What is going on? I’m very confused. There was a strange scene at the end of the last episode that I thought was, like... a preview for this one... but now Kang-gook is leaving the Choi’s restaurant. When did he start working there in the first place? I’m very confused. (Also... I’m sorry... that yellow sweater... is awful on him. Like... it’s so bad? And that hair cut... is so bad. This whole look on him is not good. Not good.)

Wait... are Hyemi and the not-bad-guy dating? Okay, that’s kind of cute.

Oh, ouch. Hyemi’s mom is brutal.

Aaw, and him and Kang-gook are friends now. That’s cute. But also confusing! How long has it been since Tae-joo left? It JUST happened, but everything’s changed, so time must have passed. Did I miss something?

Kang-gook: *beats the crap out of 3 trained bodyguards* Mrs. Choi: our Gook-y is so weak and frail!

Oh now they tell us! Three years?! I am not okay with this! Going to Japan to FORGET Tae-joo? I’m REALLY not okay with this! 😟

Oh god, he looks so much better this way. The blazer, the hair... so much better!

Seriously, he looks like a completely different person. He’s a very attractive man. That restaurant look was just.. so not good for him.

Oh!

Tae-joo came back for him just like he promised!!!

Haha! Yes, Tae-joo. Yes, he did get more handsome!

Yes, please run away together...

Aaaaah the ear rub! My heart! 🥰

YES! Kang-gook, get your man!

Oh gosh, is there anything better than smiling into a kiss because you’re so happy? Now I’M so happy! 💖💖💖

Okay, wow. That last episode was a damn roller coaster! This show definitely would have benefited from another hour or two to really explore a lot of these plot points, especially the three years they were apart. But I’ve read that just getting this show made in the first place was a huge success for LGBTQ+ representation in South Korea, so honestly everything this show was, was so good! So so good! (I also hear that the same production company is coming out with another one, Mr. Heart, so I’ll be looking for that one!)

#bl drama #korean bl #where your eyes linger #my reviews #bl drama review

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ayma-nidiot · 3 years

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“Don’t Speak Their Names” - Shrimpshipping fic Chapter 29

This chapter can be found here on AO3.

Author’s Note: This chapter will have implied Prideshipping, as will a small number of subsequent chapters. I will put warnings for when that happens.

Also suicide TW.

Chapter 29 - Peacemaker

~29 November 2005~

“Ugh, Doc, can I leave yet?” Rex whined after Dr. Balls had just finished a checkup at the off-campus hospital. “I feel like I’ve spent most of my college life in the hospital. I’ve already been here long enough when I had morning sickness. I wanna go have fun like every other freshman.”

“Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you’re about to have a child, young man,” Ptera spoke sternly. “You’re about to become a mom, and you need to act like it. You need to be a good role model for your daughter, and that includes not treating college like it’s a place just to go party.”

“Nag, nag. I got all my homework and projects done, didn’t I? I even got an A on one of my tests for biology class. I’ve never done that before! And while I’m hospital-bound too! Aren’t you proud of me, Mom?”

Ptera ruffled her son’s hair. “Well, I suppose I can’t expect you to turn into mom of the year overnight. But work on it, okay?”

Dr. Balls spoke up, “As your doctor, I won’t try to parent you. But I will say that you are good to go after today.”

“What, really?” Rex would have jumped out of bed if Ptera didn’t hold him down in it.

“Yes, but do not push yourself too hard - mentally or physically. Even though you’ve only got four weeks left in your pregnancy, it’s in your baby’s best interest to avoid going into labour early. And you need to tell me if anything - and I mean literally anything - goes awry. Is that clear?”

“Crystal, Doc. If he forgets, you can be sure that I’ll remember.”

“Much faith in me, Mom. Much faith.”

“Papa! Papa!” Amber could be heard shouting all the way from the first floor, along with the stomps of dozens of soldiers.

“Hey!” Dr. Balls shouted down the hallway. “No running in the hospital! I don’t care who you are!”

“I’m so sorry, Doc.” Amber bowed before talking to her mother. “Papa, I’ve just-”

“Not another word, young lady!” Ptera got up, noticing before anyone else just how wounded Amber was. “Look at your arm! And… Is that a broken arrow sticking out of your butt?”

“Amber, please…”

Amber wouldn’t let Dr. Balls or her grandmother sway her. “After almost a month, we finally cornered two of the Earthbound Gods, Wiraqocha Rasca and Ccarayhua! But… But… Hah…”

“DOWN.” Ptera demanded as Amber reluctantly knelt while Dr. Balls tended to her arrow wound. “Now, then, you were saying?”

“Ngh…!” Even though she had a high pain tolerance, Amber nearly cried when she felt alcohol enter her wounds. “They found out what my intentions were before I even revealed myself. There were too many strong monsters... As a result, I’ve already lost some of my men. I intend to go back to the hideout I’ve found once I’ve gathered the rest of the army.”

“I feel like I’ve heard that second funky name somewhere…” Rex looked to the ceiling before deciding that, indeed, he hadn’t actually heard the name. “Eh. Must be my imagination.”

Just then, the building shook so hard, small pieces of rubble rolled into Rex’s room. “Don’t tell me that that’s your imagination too?” Amber yelled as she half-shifted, even before Dr. Balls finished treating her. “Tch! Looks like those Earthbound Gods found us. ”

“I’m still concerned, but I’m confident that you’ll heal quickly.” Dr. Balls opened a safe in his office, which held his Gravity Axe - Grarl. “Know that I am on your side.”

“All this time, I had no idea… Er, I mean, thanks for the help.”

“I… I can fight too!” Rex stumbled on his way out of bed. “Whoa!”

“Get back in there, you.” Ptera growled.

“That’s right,” Dr. Balls added. “I said you’re good to go starting tomorrow. You shouldn’t be fighting when you’re this close to your due date. Besides, you’re not an especially strong monster; what do you honestly think you could accomplish out there?”

“How dare you?! I’ve still got my Duel Disk and my duelin’ dinos - Urk!” Though he was in far less pain than he was a month ago, Rex was still extremely fatigued and suffered swelling in his feet.

“I think I can make far better use of that Duel Disk than you can,” Ptera declared as she put Rex’s Duel Disk on. “Now, Amber, lead the way.”

“Hmph. Buttmunches, one and all,” Rex grumbled as his family left the campus hospital without him.

Are you really going to let them take all the glory while you sit here like a log? spoke a voice in Rex’s head.

Rex threw the covers over his head, fidgeting and grumbling, hoping the hallucination would go away. He swore to himself that he would tell Dr. Balls about it when he got back from the battle, however long that would take. “Well, why don’t you try caring around a 6-pound sack of rice for eight months, then getting beat to a pulp while you’re at it? ...Wait, who the hell are you, anyway? Another hallucination?”

Please, listen… I am not a hallucination. Rex Leonidas Raptor, hear my plea. You must get out there and talk to Earthbound God Ccarayhua. She doesn’t really want to fight.

“Apparently, you weren’t listening to the part that I said I was eight months pregnant! And you really have no idea who you’re talking to, so let me remind you. I am a ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ kind of guy - a.k.a. I do not ‘talk’ my way out of my problems.”

But your boyfriend, Weevil, is coming, spoke another voice.

Rex froze at the mention of Weevil’s name, and dug himself even further into the bedsheets. “I… I know I’ll have to face him eventually, but… I can’t do it - physically or emotionally. And even if I don’t fight him, someone might kill him before my eyes…” Rex hugged the sheets around him more tightly. “I don’t want to go through that again.”

Just trust us, spoke a third voice. We will protect you.

“...” After a long contemplation, Rex gave in, slowly lowering his feet onto the floor and using the wall as a crutch on his way out. His unborn child squirmed, not allowing him to walk any faster than a snail’s pace. “Okay, but I’ll never forgive you if something happens to either me or my baby!”

While Rex trudged towards the hospital exit, Dr. Balls and his ‘gang’ ran down the long main corridor. “I’ve only read about the eight Earthbound Gods,” he remarked. “I thought they were just a legend. If they’re real and as powerful as I think they are… We’ve got quite a battle on our hands.”

“Yes, but thankfully, we have to deal with only two of them for now,” Amber answered.

“You’ve got quite a battle on your hands, hmm?” spoke a voice, whose source had already summoned his monsters. “Why don’t we help you with that a little bit?”

“Joey! Everyone!” Looking past her family and the Club members, Amber saw her mother’s Red-Eyes Black Dragon defeating some of the lesser enemies already. “...You better not let anything happen to Papa’s Red-Eyes, you hear?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it!” Joey stood back-to-back with Mai as the latter had three of her Harpie Ladies in front of her.

“These guys…” Mai used her Harpie Lady Phoenix Formation spell; even then, the onslaugh of the enemies seemed endless. “Is it just me, or are they even tougher than last time?”

“So you’re admitting your own weakness?” Joey chuckled.

“Speak for yourself!” Mai scoffed as Joey’s Iron Knight Gearfried fell.

“Okay, okay… Say, Mai. I know I’ve been chicken about it, but…”

“Less talk and more fighting, Joey!” Mai barely dodged out of the way so she could summon her Harpie’s Pet Dragon too, while Joey summoned Gilford the Lightning and Jinzo.

“Joey…” Amber could still fight well enough, even though she stopped to talk to Joey. “Don’t tell me you still haven’t told her in the past month!”

“Told me what? N-Never mind, it can- Ouch!” While running, Mai tripped on a rock, and her three Harpie Ladies perished trying to protect her.

“Mai!” His monsters were already fending off some strong monsters, and Joey had no room left on his Duel Disk to summon more. So without thinking, he jumped in front of Mai to shield her from a direct Cyber Dragon attack. “Aaaaah!”

“Joey…” Mai still remained unwounded, but Joey suffered abrasions all over his body. While she spoke to Joey, Téa’s and Tristan’s monsters protected them. “You idiot… You could have used your monsters like every other damned duelist on this battlefield!”

“I know what I said about Red-Eyes, but I wouldn’t have minded if you used it to protect Mai.”

“I guess… If I’m gonna die anyway, then… This is as good of a time as any to say it… Mai…” Joey laced his bloody finger’s with Mai’s. “Mai… I love you more than anything else in the world. I… Urk! I just wish I… had told you during the Orichalcos mess. Maybe… Maybe then you wouldn’t have…”

“Joey, shut up!” Mai shut Joey up with a kiss. “You’re gonna make it… I love you too much to let you die here!”

“Aww, how cute!” Seymour, as Wiraqocha Rasca, hovered over the new couple. “Too bad your relationship isn’t going anywhere, because I’m going to kill you here!”

“I’ll let you have that honour, Seymour,” Dip spoke as she continued to attack her enemies in lizard form. “I’ll make sure these weaklings don’t stop you.”

“Joey! Argh, let go of me, you fucktard!” Amber had broken free of the Guarddragon Justicia that held her down, but was too far away from Joey to save him now.

Yet there was someone who could - a dragon clad in pure white armour and light. “Shining Neutron Blast!”

“Huh. I’ve never heard of that attack name before.” Before Dip could study this new enemy closer, she could hear a baritone voice singing. “Ugh… That song… What’s this, my strength is… fading? Dammit, I can’t hold onto my lizard form!”

“Now… Where have I heard that song before?” Joey lifted his head up to see a young man with cinnamon-coloured skin and spiky brown hair.

“Aww, that’s kind of mean,” the young man whined as he used healing magic on Joey. “After all the battles you fought with Father and Papa, you don’t remember them?”

“Come to think of it, there’s only one person I’ve ever known that’s used Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon…” Joey still felt tired, but could stand on his feet again. “It’s…”

“Big Bro!” Mokuba hugged Kaiba from behind, recognizing his brother’s dragon form easily.

“Mokuba, now’s not the time! Save the pleasantries for later!” Kaiba jumped out of the way with Mokuba on his back.

“Hah!” Now that Atem had stopped singing, Seymour could transform back into his condor form. “I really wanted to hear your beautiful song some more! Too bad!”

“I’m more than just a song, you fiend.” Using his DiaDhank, Atem summoned Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl.

“The dragon… Could he be-”

Before Amber could say another word, Phuckdis and William had just come onto the scene with the rest of the army. “Sorry we’re late, Amber!”

“About time!” Amber backflipped in the air to avoid an attack from Dip. “Help me take down this overgrown lizard, will ya?”

“‘Overgrown lizard…’ Ah!” Upon seeing his sister again, Phuckdis froze in place. “Dip… Is that you?”

“Well, so nice of you to visit after, what? Sixteen fucking years?” Dip set her sights on her brothers. “Why don’t you finish what you started back then?”

“Sister…” William couldn’t move either. “I don’t want to fight you.”

“Oh, that’s rich!” Dip’s attacks got more intense. “You disown me, and then now you say you don’t want to fight? You cowards!”

“William, we need to fight her.” Phuckdis began to fight back, albeit reluctantly. “She’s an Earthbound God.”

“Yes, those were almost the exact same words you used! So come at me with your bullets, Borreload Savage Dragon, and run your dear sister through!”

“W-Wait!”

“Huh?” Ptera turned around to see a half-shifted Rex hobbling out of the hospital. “Rex! Get the hell back in your room!”

“Oh my fucking gods, Rex, you’re insane! Ggh!” Dr. Balls swung around with his axe, striking the enemy that lunged towards Rex. “Are you trying to give birth in the middle of a battlefield?”

“Mom… Dr. Balls… Please…” Rex tried his best to hide the deep pain he was in. “And you too, Phuckdis. Dip doesn’t want to fight either of you; she’s just very hurt by what you guys did to her.”

“And what the hell would you know, rabbit?” Dip turned her attention to Rex now. “You have no idea what I’ve been through, what being estranged by your ‘family’ feels like!”

“I may not understand you, but I know what it’s like to have your family abandon you… and to reconnect with them after so long. If I can do it, so can you.”

“Rex…” Spinos looked at his son in sorrow for a brief spell before summoning Jurrac Tyrannus and Jurrac Velphito just in time.

“Dip, you told me yourself when I was your prisoner. Don’t you remember? And… And how I told you about what Weeves and I have been through?”

“Ggh…” Dip could feel the darkness in her heart leaving her.

“Stop poisoning her mind, you weak cur!” Seymour readied a beam to fire at Rex.

“It isn’t too late. Just like Weeves did once, you can change your destiny. Join us!”

“Like hell she will! Take this you-” Seymour couldn’t say another word as Dip impaled him with a lizard claw. “Ccarayhua! What are you doing?”

“...” Dip said nothing as she withdrew her claw and reverted forms.

“Damn you, you… traitor… Argh…”

When all the enemies had been defeated, Rex slowly walked up to Dip, but didn’t touch her. “I knew you would come around and help us!”

“Who’d have thunk that the tyrannical, arrogant Rex Raptor would be a peacemaker?” Joey chuckled.

“Sh-Shut up!” Rex blushed. “I’ll have you know that I didn’t do it because I wanted to! A nagging voice in my head told me to.”

“It… It did?” Amber sounded curious.

Joey interrupted whatever she was going to say next. “If this ‘nagging voice’ told you to jump off a bridge, would you?”

“It’s not uncommon to experience hallucinations in a pregnancy, but if it becomes frequent… We’re going to need to have a private talk about that later.”

“I’ll take you up on your offer, Doc!” Rex gave Dr. Balls a thumbs up.

“Um…” Dip felt awkward being in the literal middle of this conversation.

Joey turned to their new ally. “Hey, aren’t you technically one of the bad guys? Why should we trust you?”

“ This is why.” Dip lifted up her shirt to reveal several deep scars on her abdomen. “After my brothers disowned me, I was so ashamed of my powers that I tried to kill myself… It turns out that we Earthbound Gods are not capable of doing that. However, the incident left my reproductive system so badly damaged… Now, I’m infertile.”

“So you can’t have kids with Daddy.” Amber still wasn’t wholly convinced. “And you think that’s a good enough reason?”

“If it pleases you, Lady Amber, you can kill me as soon as you suspect me. You’re welcome, by the way, for killing an Earthbound God for you.”

“I…” Amber had to admit that killing Seymour was a good enough reason in and of itself. “Okay, we accept you. But you better not chicken out when it’s time to kill the other Gods.”

“L-Like, right now?” Joey shook his finger at the changing sky above them. “Where have I seen that spider symbol before?”

“It’s the Mark of Uru…” Amber’s eyes opened wide. “Daddy is coming!”

“Weevil…” Rex trembled in place, hugging his baby bump. “I’m not ready to face him yet!”

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to be.” So Dip said, but after trying to transform, she found she had no will to do so. “Dammit! Why can’t I…?”

Dr. Balls couldn’t hold onto his animal form either. “Such is the price we strong shifters have to pay… There’s nothing more we can do here, Dip. Let’s go to my office, before Weevil arrives! Hurry!”

“I’m not scared of that bug boy!” Joey got up, with only Red-Eyes Black Dragon to defend him. “Bring it!”

“Hahaha! Gladly!” Weevil came to the battlefield alone, but with all the confidence in the world.

“And what makes you think you can take on half of an army by yourself?” Joey smirked.

“Because unlike your idiotic friends, I know better than to fully shift unless the situation demands of it.” Weevil’s arms and legs glowed bright red as he spared Kaiba a passing glance.

“You… little…” As strong as Kaiba was, he couldn’t even half-shift.

“Ah, yes, I remember you…” Weevil cackled upon seeing Kaiba. “You’re the reason why my father pushed me so hard… I would have been spared so much pain and suffering if it weren’t for you!”

“Do you honestly expect me to care about your pain and suffering?” Kaiba scoffed.

“I’ll happily make you care!” Weevil shot a quick ball of spider webs at Kaiba from which he couldn’t escape.

“I’m… I’m not afraid!” Despite what Joey said, after seeing Kaiba fall so easily to Weevil, he wasn’t fully confident in his own ability. “Get ‘im, Red-Eyes!”

Weevil easily pushed Joey’s monster - and Joey himself - out of the way. “So, that’s the best you could bring? Hah!”

“W-Weeves…” Rex fell to his knees as he and Weevil stared each other down.

“So that just leaves me and you, huh?” Weevil could hear Atem trying to sing from behind him, and shot him down before he could get another note in. “You should have brought less pathetic friends, Rex. They all thought I was the same pathetic ‘bug boy’ from before, and now they’re all paying the price!”

“I… I don’t think you’re pathetic.” Rex panted as he spoke, feeling more Braxton Hicks contractions. “You’re strong; you always have been. Everything bad that happened to you is just bad luck.”

“So you acknowledge it. But flattery isn’t going to get you anything, except a few more quick seconds of life.” Weevil pointed his right arms at Rex. “I would give you the chance to fight me now, but I already know you can’t. Gods, how boring.”

“Daddy! Stop!” Amber’s wings were so sore from her struggle against Guarddragon Justicia that she couldn’t fly another inch forward.

“Amber, you foolish girl. You should have killed me when you had the chance! Maybe then you wouldn’t have to see your dear mother die right before your eyes!” Weevil turned back to Rex. “I think I’ve kept you waiting long enough. Prepare to die!”

Right as Weevil raised his arm, however, a voice bellowed across the battlefield. “You will not touch him!”

“Now, where have I heard that voice before?” Joey wondered out loud.

“Joseph, it has been a while. It looks like you’re having trouble; do you need some help? Why don’t I… spruce up your Red-Eyes a bit?”

“How do you know my name, and what are you talking… about… Huh?” Joey noticed the Red-Eyes Black Dragon changing forms.

“H-Hey!” Weevil finally showed a sign of weakness. “Get out of here, if you know what’s good for you!”

“Hmm?” Rex smiled at Weevil slyly. “Where has all your confidence from before gone, hotshot?”

“Grr!” Weevil turned back to Rex, readying an attack at him. “If it’s confidence you want, it’s confidence you’ll get! Hyaaaah!”

Just then, Joey stepped in, blocking Weevil’s attack with his newly forged sword. “Not if I can help it. Leave my friend alone!”

“Ha… ha… Your friend?”

“And mine, too! Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight, charge!” Atem ordered.

“Aaaaaargh!” This attack slashed Weevil across the legs. “You motherfucking pharaoh! I’ll not let you defeat me again! ”

“You wanna bet on that?” Kaiba smirked with Doom Virus Dragon behind him. “Even if Atem can’t defeat you, I’ll gladly do the honours.”

“You…” Weevil lunged forward, but stumbled. “You’ll pay for-”

“Uru, that’s enough!” Anita suddenly arrived in hummingbird form. “Retreat - Watda’s orders.”

“But… But I can still-”

“I will do no such thing! We leave now!” Anita picked Weevil up with her wing.

“Dammit! Give him… back…” Amber shot several arrows at Anita that missed.

“Never mind them for now, Lady Amber…” Phuckdis looked upon the three people who had saved them. “Who are these people?”

“Is… Is that you, rich boy?” Joey could hardly recognize his former rival, who had aged 20 years since he saw him last, and now wore ancient Egyptian garb.

“Big Brooooo!” Mokuba jumped in the air as he hugged his older brother. “How have you and Atem been?”

“Atem is here too?” Joey looked to the pharaoh, who had hardly aged a day. “Yo.”

“‘Yo’ yourself!” Atem gave his best friend a high five.

“I… didn’t know that Aiko’s other child was still alive.” Spinos exchanged a few words with his elder nephew, and told Kaiba about his surviving family members.

“Then who’s the boy?” Joey gestured his head towards the young man that had arrived with Kaiba and Atem.

“Darned please to meet y’all! I’m Heka Kaiba, the son of Atem and Seto Kaiba!” Heka had a much more relaxed demeanour than either of his parents.

“Come to think of it… You’re a shifter too, aren’t you, Kaiba? So does that mean…”

“That’s right, Rex. I was the one who gave birth to him - after letting Atem top me once. I’ve also got three other kids back at home.”

“Brah, I know all about that.” Rex patted his older cousin’s shoulder.

“You’re… You’re Heka?” Amber hesitated to show herself before the Egyptian crown prince. “Do you remember me?”

Heka stopped socializing with the others when Amber approached him, and reached out a hand to her. “How could I forget that beautiful face of yours? Would you… let me touch it again?”

“Heka!” Amber brought Heka’s hand to her face. “Yes! Yes, of course! Oh, my love, you’re alive! I’ve missed this warm hand so much…”

“What?” Rex blinked as he watched Amber get comfortable with this guy he just met. “What’s going on?”

“How ever did you survive?” Amber ignored her mother.

“I’m not gonna bore you with the details. Let’s just say if it wasn’t for daddy dear protecting you and whisking me away to safety at the last second, we’d both be dead.”

“Maybe my future is bright after all…” Amber cried tears of joy that Heka wiped away.

“Oh, stop thinking about the future and focus on the present.” As Heka kissed Amber, he noticed the look of pain on her face. “Babe? Is everything okay?”

“I.. uh… might have gotten hurt in that last battle. Specifically on my butt.”

“Then how about I use some ancient Egyptian magic and help you feel better?” Heka showed no shame in lightly squeezing Amber’s butt before massaging it.

“Okay, that’s it, buster!” Rex huffed as he tried to break Heka and Amber apart. “Just who do you think you are, fondling my daughter that way?”

“Papa, you don’t have to worry about anything. Remember when I mentioned my boyfriend a few times before? This is him. He’s also a really good singer.” Amber twirled a lock of Heka’s hair. “By the way, love, you’ve got to perform a solo for everyone sometime. I’ve missed your gorgeous voice.”

“I take it you’re Amber’s mom in the present day?” Heka struck a pose. “Well, how do you do? What Amber didn’t tell you is that while I’m not a shifter, I’m one hell of a magic user. Your buddy Joey would probably be dead if it wasn’t for me. Haha!”

“Haha…” Joey answered with a half-hearted chuckle. “The pharaoh’s son is… one interesting fella, ain’t he? I bet he drives Atem and Kaiba up the wall.”

“Word. He’s nothing like my other self.”

“Hmph. I suppose I’ll tolerate your relationship with Amber for now. But make her cry, and I’ll make you regret it.”

“Daaaw, you’re a protective mother already.” Tricera smiled.

Kaiba didn’t like his son’s odd behaviour. “Heka, that’s quite enough. You need to act more like a prince and not make a fool of your father.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Papa.”

“Pharaoh…” Amber couldn’t look Atem in the eye. “I… Well… Thanks. Even though Daddy has caused you so much trouble, you’ve saved our lives today. And you, Kaiba. I wish you had come sooner, but it’s better late than never.”

“What do you mean?”

Phuckdis stepped forward. “In our future, we have a legend of a sacred creature known as the God-Shattering Star. He is said to be the only one capable of defeating the Crimson Devil, the strongest of the Earthbound Gods. Unfortunately, he never came… until now. Kaiba, we believe that you’re the one who will save us all.”

“That’s what I thought too.” Amber broke her hug with Heka. “And you summoned the three legendary dragons with you, dragons that are said to forge master weapons.”

“Timaeus…” Atem smiled at his old friend. “It’s been so long.”

“That explains the Red-Eyes Black Dragon Sword…” Rex could only take a quick glance at Joey’s sword before turning away, the flashbacks of their Orichalcos duel coming back to him.

“I… uh… don’t feel like I really did anything, but okay.”

“Don’t be so modest, God-Shattering Star.” Phuckdis knelt in front of Kaiba. “You are worth all the praise in the world.”

Amber knelt too. “You’re the only one who can save Daddy. Please… Please, help us.”

“Gee, I didn’t know my role as queen of Egypt required me to help people from the future. Just how many worlds do I need to save?” Kaiba facepalmed. “Fine, I’ll do it. But this will be the last time that I do something nice for you dweebs.”

“That’s what you said last time you tried to save the world, rich boy.”

“Oh, put a sock in it, Wheeler.”

“Our circle of friends is finally back together again…” Téa pulled Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Atem, and Kaiba in for a group hug. “If we’ve saved the world twice, we can definitely do it thrice.”

“Sigh…” Rex sat down on the concrete as he waited for Dr. Balls’ nurses to get a stretcher for him. “I just wish it could wait until after finals.”

#yugioh #ygo #shrimpshipping #fanfiction #mpreg

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imaginethathaikyuu · 4 years

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HI EM I hereby formally submit a request for the following scenario: Kuroo witnesses a woman being harassed on the street late at night by a pushy dude and gets the guy to step away (6'2 of volleyboy muscle is pretty intimidating tbh), and then comforts the girl in his own Kuroo way as he escorts her home or something. AAAAAH I'm so excited for this one!!! Love you

i wil write anything for u pip just say the word. love u bby!!!!!

Tetsurou was not happy. Because his shitty boss kept him at his dumb job for way later in this awful night than he was scheduled for - and now, it was nearing 1 AM while he was on a chilly walk home. With no jacket, to top it all off.

But that was all in the past, and he didn’t care about it anymore - there were more important things on his mind.

Specifically, that thing was the reason he hated having to stay at work so late. In the alleyway he uses as a shortcut to get home lived a stray cat who he knew would be waiting for him and his food scraps he had.

He wasn’t sure where this cat came from, but it had turned up about two weeks ago. And Tetsurou fell in love on sight. She was a black cat with eyes so green they seemed to shine, and she was so sweet he swore he’d get a cavity just from looking at her.

She had warmed up to him a lot since he started bringing her food from his workplace - a small bar and grill just three blocks away. And he even made sure to research which foods are safe for cats, and found a long list of vegetables he was excited to test her on pallet.

On the menu today was grilled chicken and steamed broccoli. Last night she didn’t even touch the peas he brought her, and she seemed to like chicken more than tuna.

That cat was the only thing keeping him walking - he wanted to collapse on the sidewalk, but he couldn’t. Kuroo had a mouth to feed.

He ended up jogging to get there quickly, passing a few people and managing to not bump into anyone - he was too proud of his usual clumsy self for that feat.

He started whistling as soon as he got into the small, dimly lit alley, and she peeked her head out from behind a trash can to find him. And then she ran to him excitedly; he knelt down to pet her soft head and she purred at his touch.

“Sorry I’m late,” he told her. “But I brought your dinner!”

He opened the take out box and sat it in front of her, and she ate it keenly. Tetsurou watched her like a proud father.

“Not so fast, you goofball, I don’t know the cat heimlich maneuver.”

He had yet to give her a name in hopes of not becoming too attached, but he wasn’t kidding himself - this stray had a claw in his heart, and he’d only known her for two weeks. He’d spent that time trying to scrape together the $350 for his apartment’s pet deposit - and trying to justify paying that much money to keep a cat.

He was still $100 short, and he was hating himself for not taking her to a shelter, but he wasn’t sure if he could part with her. Besides, he’s sure that tomorrow night, he’d get at least a hundred in tips from waiting tables - and then he’d officially be a cat owner.

Would he also go hungry for a week? Possibly - but at least he’d be going hungry while owning a cat.

“Look, you’re not going to be living out here for long,” he said, “soon enough you’ll be living with me in my bachelor pad. Maybe I should name you now...”

He decided that was definitely a good idea and tried his best to come up with a good name, but his deep thought was interrupted by someone joining him in the alleyway. The cat scurried away at the sound of a woman’s strained voice - and Kuroo turned around at the sound of man’s.

“Can you please leave me alone?”

“I told you I’ll go if you just talk to me!”

And then, he decided this night may have just gotten shittier.

You’d be inclined to agree with that, having just made the poor decision of walking down an alley while someone you’d only describe as a pure creep was following you.

Not for long, though, because you stopped in your tracks when the creep grabbed your arm and pulled you towards him - and fuck, holy fuck, you were fucked.

“Hey!”

Another voice echoed through the empty street; then, another person was in your view.

A different man - tall, messy hair, tired eyes - was looking at you and said, “Do you know him?” and when you shook your head, the stranger’s grip was ripped from your arm.

Tetsurou really didn’t enjoy getting into other people’s business - he hated aggressive confrontation, and he was just too awkward for it, quite frankly. But he could hear the stress in your voice - and he knew he had to step in on this.

Working at a bar, he’d seen situations like this countless times: sleazy men who think they can corner a woman into getting what they want out of them, putting their hands on girls who want nothing to do with them, doing worse to a woman just because they think they can.

But those men definitely wouldn’t get away with pulling stunts like those if Tetsurou was around.

He got between you and the guy, making sure you were safe behind him - the man obviously didn’t like that. “Dude, come on -”

“Don’t call me dude.”

The creep rolled his eyes. “Just mind your own business, man.”

“No,” Tetsurou replied.

“I found her first.” He sounded like a child talking about a toy. “Get your own.”

“I’m not trying to get anything,” Tetsurou spat, “but you’re about to get a fist to your nose if you don’t get the hell out of here - and if I catch you following girls into alleys again I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Tetsurou knew that if he wasn’t 6’2”and broad shouldered he’d never get away with saying things like this. Regardless of his looks, he was not the kind of guy to throw punches. Except when the situation called for it, of course.

“Whatever. She’s probably a bitch anyway.” He stumbled away after that, allowing Tetsurou and yourself to sigh out of relief.

You felt like you had just dodged a major bullet - that could have ended very differently if you weren’t lucky enough to run into someone willing to help you.

And now you were finally able to catch your breath - that man followed you for nearly three blocks, and you had to walk pretty fast to keep your distance. Not to mention when he grabbed you, it did more than take your breath away - it knocked your lungs into your stomach.

Yet again, Tetsurou needed his new friend to wipe away the bad memories of the night. After whistling, she walked out slowly, suspiciously.

“Come on, it’s okay,” Tetsurou cooed. “The shitty guy is gone. Finish your food.”

You were immediately confused, thinking he was talking to you until you turned around to find him looking down at a cat.

“Um… thank you,” you said after clearing your throat. Why did you feel so awkward? “I really appreciate you helping me with that.”

“No problem. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah - I’m fine…” Awkward. “...What’s your name?”

You introduced yourselves - and he introduced his furry friend.

“She’s nameless, for now,” he told you, “but maybe you can help me come up with a name, Y/N.”

“I’m not sure.” You knelt down to pet her - she was unexpectedly soft. “I’d have to think about it.”

“Me too,” he sighed. “I usually go when she’s finished eating - and it looks like she’s done now.”

“Do you feed her every night?”

He could feel his cheeks heating up and he wasn’t sure why, but he felt embarrassed to admit, “Yeah, uh… I bring her food from the restaurant I work at.”

“That’s sweet,” you replied, giving him a cute smile.

“Thank you, I try. Now - can you get home okay?”

You’d been asking yourself that since you walked into this alley. ��Uh, I…”

“Okay, better question, which direction are you walking?”

You silently pointed in the direction towards the street behind you, where you entered the alley.

And Tetsurou had a decision to make - he could let you go alone, leaving your safety up to the gods while being a questionable human being, or he could lie, tell you his route is the same way, and walk with you - ensuring your safety, and maybe getting to know you a bit more on the way.

He should be honest - but he’d be lying to himself if he said he didn’t want to see more of your cute smile.

“Do you want to walk together?”

You nodded graciously, happy that he made the offer.

“Good - we can discuss cat names on the way.”

Not only did you talk about names, but he also made sure to tell you to get pepper spray to protect yourself with - and ask for your number as politely as possible when he got you home.

#Kuroo Tetsurou x Reader #Kuroo Tetsurou

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