#anyway i'm interested in your thoughts but please be civil

[sissylittlefeather]

In honor of Halloween...

"Devil in Disguise"

I wrote a vampire fic but PLOT TWIST Elvis isn't the vampire.

YOU ARE!

Warnings: 18+ SMUT MDNI!!!! Kissing, cussing, fingering, oral sex (f receiving), a little girl on girl action, threesome (MFF), p in v sex, unprotected sex, creampie, also vampire bites and blood drinking

A/N: this was a fun stretch for me. Please let me know what you think!

Inspired by these pics:

You've honestly forgotten how many years you've been a vampire. You know you were turned at the end of the American Civil War as a means of survival for your children, who are all dead now anyway. After your youngest passed, you moved to France. You followed the American soldiers here in 1944, since they had literally been your bread and butter since you were turned. Now, the war was over, but your job as a dancer at the Moulin Rouge was too good to leave and there was still a steady stream of young men, and even soldiers at times, to keep you well-fed and young(ish)-looking. You had been 33 when you were turned, so that was your permanent age, but when you were well-fed the men assumed you were younger and never bothered to ask if you weren't.

None of the other dancers knew what you were except for Anya, who was also like you and had been a refugee after the Russian revolution. While she was younger, she had become your closest friend in the years since you'd come to Paris.

She was the one who alerted you to the presence of one Elvis Presley in the spring of 1959. You'd seen him on television and knew he was in Germany with the Army, but you hadn't expected him to show up here.

"He's on furlough. The girls are fighting over who will get to be with him first." Anya whispers to you as you get dressed. Luckily you've learned to understand her thick accent. She knew you were always looking for a new challenge and she preferred rich, older gentlemen, so she wasn't interested in this boy, as she thought of him.

"Oh, Anya, I don't know. I'm exhausted and he's sure to be surrounded by photographers and fans. It'll be hard to get him alone."

"You're tired because..." she leans in and speaks softly, "you need to feed. And how fun would he be?"

"Maybe. I don't want to compel him, though. That's too easy."

"Then don't. Go out there and show these little girls how a woman works." She slaps your ass and gives you a wink before walking to line up for the opening dance.

******

After your dances are finished, you're sent to mingle with the men in the club and see if you can't score a few extra tips. You see the throng of people and assume that must be where he is. Swinging your hips as you walk, you move to a spot in his eye line, but far enough away to not draw the attention of the crowd. He's got dancers all around him and he must've kissed a half dozen of them already, but you recognize the look in his eye. It's the same look you have on most nights. He's hungry for a challenge, something new and exciting and not the same girls falling at his feet.

That's when his eyes meet yours. They lock for a good thirty second before his gaze moves down your body. He takes in your black and red bodice and fishnet hose, all the way down to the black heels on your feet and back up again to the feathers stuck in your hair. But you know what he wants, so you pull your eyes away from his magnetic stare and start to walk away, a look of disinterest on your face.

You move slowly across the room, talking and flirting with patrons as you do. Still, you can feel his eyes on you, tracking you like a predator with prey. Little does he know, he's the prey in this scenario and he's falling perfectly into your snare.

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch him dismissing the girls around him and trying to shake the crowd that follows him, assuring them he'll be right back. But you know better. Once he's yours, he'll be yours for the night.

You keep making your way around the room until you feel a soft hand on your shoulder and a voice in your ear.

"You runnin' away from me, mama?" You turn to face him with a bored smile.

"Should I be?" The hunger in his eyes intensifies with your apathy towards him.

"I'm told I'm a pretty good time. You might not want to run away just yet." He's laying it on thick for you, smiling devilishly, with his lip curled just so. You have to admit, he is very good looking, and you smile in spite of yourself. He leans his head back a little, confident he's got you now.

"Come on, mama. Let's go somewhere we can talk."

That didn't take long. He's less of a challenge than you thought he'd be. Turns out his hunger is your best weapon.

"Follow me." You smile up at him through your lashes and make your way to the door that leads backstage. Once you're back there with a little privacy, you push him up against the wall and kiss him deeply, running your hands down his front to the top of his pants and then back up. At first, he's caught off guard, but it doesn't take him long to wrap his arms around you and pull your body in close to his. He has some skill with his tongue and you realize that you're hungrier than you thought you were. You feel your fangs start to extend, so you pull away quickly and grab his hand, practically dragging him to one of the rooms you use for this sort of thing. He doesn't complain about your speed, though.

When you get inside, you turn and lock the door behind you.

"Damn, baby. Somebody knows what she wants."

"You have no idea." You round on him, trying to keep your fangs hidden until the right moment. You don't want to scare him away too quickly. It takes everything inside you not to just pounce on him, but you take a deep breath and feel your fangs retract.

You push him backwards to the edge of the couch.

"Sit down."

"Yes ma'am." His eyes sparkle with the excitement of being told what to do. You can tell he's used to being in charge, but he's not opposed to letting you take control. You walk over to the record player and put on something jazzy and sensual. The more aroused he is, the more vitality you can derive from his blood. When you get back in front of him he reaches out and puts both hands on your hips.

"Nuh uh." You move his hands back to his lap. "Just look. Don't touch."

"Mmm." He grunts and bites his bottom lip as you begin to move in front of him. You sway your hips seductively and touch your body as you dance. Slowly, you reach behind you and unzip your bodice, letting it fall to the floor. The only thing you have on underneath is your fishnet hose and his mouth drops at the sight in front of him. He adjusts his pants and you know he's well on his way to where you need him. You slide the hose down and kick off your shoes until you're standing in front of him completely naked. He still hasn't closed his mouth or been able to make a sound. You straddle him on the couch and reach for his tie. His hands go to your breasts and again you stop him.

"Did I say you could touch?" He whimpers.

"Honey, please..."

"I will tell you when you can touch me." He whines and flexes his hands before he puts them back at his sides. You begin to undress him slowly, first his tie, then his jacket, and finally his shirt, running your fingers across his chest lightly. He barely even has hair there.

"I need to touch you. Please." He looks at you with puppy dog eyes and bucks his hips up into you. You feel his hardness pushing against his pants. Then, you stand up again and he moans.

"No, honey, I'm sorry..."

"Take off your pants." He does as he's told and frantically removes his pants and shoes and then sits back down on the couch. His cock bounces in his lap and you can't help but be a little impressed by the size of it.

"You want to touch me?"

"Yes, please, mama." He looks at you with his eyes wide, dick twitching. You walk toward him and he reaches out, first cautiously and then hungrily, his hands exploring your body feverishly. He pulls you down into his lap and kisses you passionately. He lays you on your back on the couch and kisses down your neck. You put your hand on the top of his head and gently push him down toward your center.

He smiles. He can do this part well and he knows it. When his mouth makes contact with your clit, you yelp a little because it feels so good. He really is talented with his tongue and it's obvious as he licks and laps at you. Then, he slides two of his long fingers inside you and starts to move them in and out. The sensation is almost overwhelming and you feel your orgasm building deep in your core. He knows he's almost got you there too, so he picks up the pace of his hand and tightens his tongue to a point as he licks over and around your clit. Finally, the waves crash over you, sending heat and electricity to your fingertips and back again. You shudder and pulse around his hand and he does that boyish grin again.

"How badly do you want to fuck me?" You ask as he makes his way back up your body.

"Honey, I don't think I've ever wanted anything more in my life." You push him up into a sitting position and straddle him again, slowly sinking onto his cock until you're stuffed to the hilt with him. He groans and leans his head back on the couch. You feel your fangs extend again with the pleasure and do your best to keep your mouth closed, but his neck is exposed and you're so hungry...

"Honey? You okay?" You realize that you've stopped moving and snap back to reality.

"Mhmm!" You go back to grinding on his lap, pushing him deeper and deeper. That was too close. You have to keep yourself under control better until he's lost in a post-sex drunken haze. Why is he getting to you like this? You need to not let yourself get this hungry.

"Fuck, mama. This feels so good. I'm getting close." You stop and stand up off of him. "What? Why?"

"Not yet." He breathes deeply and leans his head back on the couch again. You grab a robe off the back of the door.

"I'll be right back."

You step out into the hallway and almost run smack into Anya.

"Oh thank God. I need your help. I'm having a hard time controlling myself. Help me finish him off." Anya looks at you concerned.

"Okay. I will help you." This isn't the first time this has happened. You've helped her and she's helped you before. Balancing the desires and hunger as a vampire is a delicate business. Sometimes it takes two of you to keep each other in line.

You open the door again and step in with Anya. He sits up and attempts to cover himself with his hand.

You unzip Anya's bodice and let it fall to the floor, pulling her into a deep kiss, your breasts pressed up against each other. Elvis sits on the couch with his mouth open again, unsure of what to do next. When you both turn to him, he sits up straight and swallows hard. His cock bounces in his hand as he looks at you both there naked in front of him. You sit on either side of him on the couch. Anya's hand goes to his dick and you pull him into a kiss. You add your hand to hers and he groans, watching you both work with his eyes wide.

"Holy fuck." He whispers as you lean in and kiss each other again over him as you touch him. Together, you lay him down on the couch. Anya climbs onto his face and he goes to work. But when you slide his cock into you, you hear him moan audibly. You begin to bounce up and down on him quickly and he grabs your hips. He has a hard time deciding what to do with his hands as Anya sits on his face and you sit on his dick. He gets her to an orgasm pretty quickly, being as skilled as he is and she stands up off of him. He's surprised when you lean in and kiss him, even with Anya's desire on his lips. He thrusts into you from underneath and you feel another orgasm forming, your fangs starting to descend. She can tell you're struggling, so Anya leans in and kisses you hard.

"I think he's almost ready." She whispers with her thick accent. She grabs his hands and holds them above his head while you fuck him.

"'M gonna come, mama." He groans. You don't stop. Instead, you move faster, your own orgasm just a couple of thrusts away. You slam into each other faster and faster, harder and harder, all while Anya holds his hands. Finally, you scream and he cusses loudly.

"Yes, fuck, oh my god!" He pumps into you weakly as he shudders and fills you with warmth. You come too, hard, and your fangs come out one last time. You can no longer hide them and you lean forward to the soft supple skin of his neck.

"What?!" He begs, but doesn't fight back. You gently pierce him with your teeth and suck as the blood comes quickly. It's sweetened with the energy of his desire and his release and it fills you in a way you didn't think was possible.

As you finish, Anya releases his arms and you lick the tiny marks on his neck, knowing your saliva will heal it quickly.

"Did you just bite me?" He asks drunkenly.

"I did."

"I liked it."

"Most of you do, you just don't know it until it happens."

Anya kisses your forehead and grabs her things, wrapping the robe around herself and disappearing through the door.

He sits up and wraps his arms around you.

"Did you get younger?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"Make me like you."

"Oh, no, honey, I would never."

"Why not? Please?" He looks at you with his round blue eyes and you see the pain there. You kiss his hair and hold him close to your chest.

"You don't really want this. I promise."

"What if I really do?"

"I'm not turning Elvis Presley into a vampire."

"Then I'll find someone who will." You look deeply into his sex-drunk eyes.

"We'll talk about this in the morning." You curl up next to him on the couch as sleep approaches both of you.

"I'm not changing my mind."

You drift off in his arms, thinking about what it would mean to release him into the world as a new vampire. Is that a responsibility you're willing to accept? Is it really what he wants? Can you be the vampire that makes the most famous man on the planet immortal?

You don't know. But tonight, you were the vampire that fucked and drank Elvis Presley. And who else can say that?

******

Hope that was a fun treat!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Taglist:

@ccab @elvisfatass @elvisalltheway101 @aliypop @18lkpeters @dkayfixates @ashtag6887 @your-nanas-house @joshuntildawn13 @lookingforrainbows

Sorry if you didn't want a tag in this one! Either way, I hope some of you enjoy this little Halloween treat!

#elvis presley fanfiction #elvis presley #elvis fanfic #elvis smut #elvis presley x reader #elvis x reader #elvis presley fic #elvis presley x y/n #elvis fic #elvis fanfiction #elvis presley smut #elvis presley x you #elvis presley fanfic #elvis x y/n #elvis x you #halloween #halloween smut

[lookismaddict]

Lookism Chapter 438 Memes/Thoughts I Have:

(SPOILERS !!! I don’t own any of the Lookism panels and the translations. Only the memes that I made.)

God. It’s like every week, I get even more tired than the previous week. What has my life come to? I feel so dead inside.

Anyways, wooooo new chapter is here. Let’s goooooooo!!!

“DiD yOu JuSt HiT a CoP ?” Yeah mf. Call it “injustice” or a “crime”, IDC. Daniel gon beat yo ass GTA style. 😤

It’s ok Daniel, go get him!!!

*h e a v y s i g h*

. . .

PLEASE. EXCUSE ME FOR A SECOND WHILE I… “TAKE CARE OF SOME BUSINESS”.

*stays in the bathroom for about 30 min*

I'M KIDDING... not really.

BRUH EVEN DANIEL IS NAKED? AROUND GUN??? This is dangerous. 😭😭😭

OHHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYY GAAAAAAAHHHHHDDDD.... SIRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! THE WET HAIR THOOOOOO. 😩😩🤤🤤🤤🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴

I def know what I want for Christmas this year... 👀

Santa would definitely kill me in my sleep...

N S F W M E M E W A R N I N G !!!

(If you don't wanna see the inappropriate meme, just scroll past it.)

God, my 😺 been quivering... What? I bet those of you who read Rendezvous would agree that you want him too. I'M LOOKING AT YOU!! READERS WHO'VE READ THOSE CHAPTERS ACTING LIKE YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT, SMH. 👁👁 Don't lie.

Man, this is giving me mad inspiration to write again. Who knew that some steamy shower panels would bring me back to continue writing for that story? How ironic. 😅

YESSSSSS GUN BBG, MAN WHORE, DADDYYYYYYY. 🥰

DAAAAAAAAMMMNNNNN DANIEL, BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE FANCY FIGHTING SPINS!!! Also, "I'm gonna get punished severely when I get back." 🧐 Is Gun gonna make you give him 🧠 or nah? Like what?

BRUHHHHHHHHHH. DANIEL NOOOOOOOOOO!!! 😭😭😭

AWWWW BABY, DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP ABOUT IT. JUST CONTINUE TO GIVE IT YOUR ALL!!! 🥺🥺

Awwwww shit... Is this where I think this is going...? 😭

Hey Alexa, play "Lose Yourself" by Eminem.

OMG WAIT. HE DOESN'T LOOK THAT DIFFERENT FROM WHEN HE WENT CRAZY MODE IN HIS OTHER BODY!!! :O God, it's like the same demon possessed Daniel or something.

OK DANIELLLLL!!! I SEE YOUUUUUU, KING!!!! 😩😩👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

AYO, IS THAT JAKE'S OLDER BROTHER??? 👀 HOW TF JAMES LEE KNEW ABOUT HIM AND NOT EVEN HIS OWN BROTHER, JAKE KIM KNEW ABOUT HIM UNTIL TOM LEE MENTIONED HIM??? 💀💀💀💀

Geez, I'm starting to feel bad for Jichang. Like, ok Daniel, I get it. Your fight with Jichang started because you're trying to find out more about Jinyoung and all that, but... y'all can't just... talk it out? 😅 "Civilized folks" style? No? Ok.

Oh crap... that's not good. 😬

B R U H. THESE PANELS GAVE ME MAD GOOSEBUMPS. SHIIIIIT. I HOPE DANIEL'S HOMIES ARRIVE!!!! 😖

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I KNEW ITTTTTTT!!! I TOLD Y'ALL WTF. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I EVEN KNEW IT IN THE LAST REVIEW HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I GOT PSYCHIC POWERS. 🔮

SEE???? I CONCLUDED THIS LAST WEEK WITH MY OWN WORDS, BRUH. CALL ME A... G E N I U S. ✨ (Actually don't. I'm still a dumbass.)

"Thanks. I almost died just now." 💀💀💀💀 Idk why I thought that line from Hudson was funny to me LMFAOOO. Just caught me off guard because I mostly see him being so serious all the time. Also, Jichang... don't underestimate Daniel lol. It'll be your downfall if you do.

I stg. Almost every chapter, Daniel always gets even more attractive. 😍😍

I always see people comment on how Daniel is turning more into Gun due to how he has improved in fighting as the story progresses. HOWEVER, I've never heard Daniel becoming James Lee before and I find that concept very interesting. I'm not sure if PTJ is leading Daniel towards that path of him becoming the new "James Lee", since he is a self-righteous character who seeks truth.

Even though I find this moment to be very cool, I worry that Daniel might create more enemies for himself and I hope he doesn't kill anyone then spiral into long-term guilt like James Lee.

God, I still can't get over the GUN SHOWER PANELS. AHHHHHHHHH!!! HIM... NAKED??? I MEAN, COME ON MAN. HE LITERALLY IS EXPENSIVE ALCOHOL WHO REALLY AGED SO GOOD. SO TASTY. SO DELICIOUS. SO SCRUMPT-DIDDLY-UMPTIOUUUSSSSS!!! CALL ME A CONNOISSEUR, BUT HE CAN BE THE YAMATO TO MY HENNESSY, WITH HIS HIGH PRICED SEXY ASS. 🤤🤤🖤🖤🖤🖤

If any one mentions him in the shower, yk Imma be "showering" down there. 💦

ALSO, WE NEED MORE SHOWER FAN SERVICE PTJ. KEEP 'EM COMING!!!

The correct answer is "Both".

They'd be amazing Calvin Klein models.

Anyways, BYE- 🏃🏽‍♀️

#THIS CHAPTER IS SO GOOD!!! 😫 #GOLLYYY MY SENSES ARE TINGLING #MY LIL MEOW MEOW 😩😩💦💦 #Gun plsssssssssss make me your baby 💀 #lookism #lookismaddict #lookism 438 #lookism spoilers #lookism spoiler #lookism webtoon #lookism manhwa #lookism memes #lookism meme #daniel park #park hyungseok #kwak jichang #gun park #park jonggun #james lee #kang dagyeom #jay hong #hong jaeyeol #hudson ahn #hyunseong ahn

[fandomfluffandfuck]

https://www.tumblr.com/fandomfluffandfuck/744411115429167104/tedllasso-chris-evans-as-steve-rogers-in-the

it's funny that this is the first time i've noticed the zipper in the middle of his uniform, what an interesting place to put it where it's in plain sight 👀 if bucky were around at the time he definitely would not be able to resist honing in on that, just the need to unzip him and put his hands on that waist 🥴🥴🥴 i also now understand the urge to put him in corsets as well, baby doesn't feel comfortable without something hugging his body tightly 🥺

related to some stills of Chris as Steve from The Avengers (2012)

I knew the zipper was there, but, yeah, you're right, I haven't really noticed it before.

I'd like to imagine that The Avengers suit has a similar belly window to the Civil War suit 👀 I mean, I would love to imagine that all the cap suits have removable panels over the abs for easy access and maximum slutty-waist vibes, crop top looking shit, with that zipper right there. C'mon, what else is under there anyway?

You're so right, though. If Bucky were around then, he would've been all over his man. They would be in the middle of a stake out, hiding in the shadows, the darkness of night when--

Ziiiiiip

"What was that?" Sam whispers.

"Nothing," Steve answers, all too quickly. If a voice can sound like it's blushing, Steve's suddenly does.

And if a smirk can be audible, then Natasha's is when she answers, somewhere to the left, unseen, "Barnes."

"Ugh," Sam makes an involuntary sound, "I get that the serum turns everything up to 11, but can you please keep it in your pants until I'm at least out of earshot I would like that."

"Relax," Bucky's voice is unbothered, smooth as always, "it wasn't even his pants."

"I don't wanna know what it was," Sam retorts.

Steve squirms, half grumbling and half squirming with embarrassment, stuck between it all. Bucky's cold, metal hand is on his waist, squeezing him so hard that he wants to squeak. No matter how many times Bucky unzips his suit and starts petting his skin, only explaining himself by putting a finger to Steve's lips, shushing him, claiming, shh, I miss your waist, we just need a minute alone, Steve will never be used to the sudden touch. He's not sure what's the worst though--when Bucky squeezes his hip, traces the cut of his abs, or thumbs the deep line of his Adonis belt.

It's all terrible.

(He likes it.)

((He doesn't want Bucky to stop.))

Thank you for the thoughts. I certainly agree, baby deserves a corset. And, yes! He deserves every sensory experience he craves--including tight corsets squeezing around his already teeny tiny waist.

#asks #bucky barnes #steve rogers #stucky #incorrect quotes #kinda lol

[amor1st03]

Did My Heart Love Till Now? | Han Jisung

Han Jisung x fem!reader

friends to lovers, college au, fluff, little bit of angst

warnings: some suggestive jokes, alcohol consumption, teeny tiny bit of jealousy, like one swear word, think that's it let me know if I missed anything

word count: 10.8k (it's a long ik so buckle in lmao)

in which: your university puts on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and you're excited to be playing alongside your long time crush Hyunjin. Things get a bit complicated when Jisung is thrown in the mix

a/n: I swear I'm gonna start working on some fics for the others members soon I'm just obsessed with him rn tbh lmao but anyway this took me forever to write I just couldn't seem to sit down and write large chunks of it but I finally finished it so hope you enjoy :)

Skz masterlist

You couldn't believe how lucky you were to have been cast in the play.

You had pushed your way through the crowd of people to get to the bulletin board to look at the names on the casting sheet. Romeo, Hwang Hyunjin, of course. But then you looked at Juliet's casting and your jaw dropped. Your own name was beside it. You couldn't believe it, you had got the part! A large smile spread across your face. Not only did you get the main lead but you also would be playing love interests with the guy you had been obsessing over since you started university.

You looked at the other cast members to see who else you would be working with. You were pleased to see your best friends Felix and Jeongin were in the play too as Benvolio and Paris. Bangchan had been cast as Lord Capulet, Minho as Lord Montague, Seungmin as Friar Laurence, and Changbin as the villain, Tybalt. You also saw that Romeo's best friend, Mercutio, would be played by Han Jisung. How fitting.

Jisung and Hyunjin had been friends since high school so the two of them playing best friends in the play would require next to no acting. Mercutio also was a rather playful character which would fit Jisung well. You had only spoken to Jisung a handful of times. You majored in English and Drama combined while he studied music but you shared one class together that you had a few times a week about writing poetry. Jisung had decided to join this class because he thought it might help to understand language better and also help him write his songs. Songs after all were technically just poetry with music behind it.

You had shared nothing other than civil conversations but he was a nice enough guy. He was a bit of a class clown, trying to make people laugh but he was always nice to everyone and on top of that never let his 'class-clown-ing' get in the way of his grades.

You were excited about the play but a little bit nervous. But you knew you could do this, you had worked so hard at studying the play and had rehearsed for weeks for the audition. All you had to do was just focus on the play. And, hey, it also gave you the chance to get closer to a certain Hyunjin, right?

***

You avoided eye contact as you made your way into the theatre for the first script reading. You made your way onto the stage where the drama teacher had set out a circle of chairs with a script placed on each one. There were a few students already sat down and talked amongst themselves. You picked up a script and took a seat, away from everyone else, hoping Felix and Jeongin would get here soon.

When Han Jisung entered the room, you were the first person he spotted. He had spoken to you a few times but nothing other than small talk, really. But he knew he wanted to get closer to you for the play. He wasn't sure why he was so intrigued by you but he found it fascinating that, despite you being usually reserved and quiet, when you were on stage you were a different person. He put his intrigue down to the fact that he wanted to learn from you as it was his first time doing the show.

Every year your school did some play that everyone was allowed to audition for, not just the drama majors. In last year's play, you had played one of the secondary roles but Jisung had thought you stole the whole show. You were truly incredible. He was so glad when he read your name on the casting list next to Juliet because he knew you would be perfect. Especially alongside one of his best friends, Hyunjin. Hyunjin had always had a flare for dramatics and he believe that you and him would do a great job as the titular characters.

Jisung made his way across the room to you and up onto the stage. He took the seat next to you and smiled as you turned your head to face him.

"Hi, Jisung," You said with a soft smile.

"Hey, I don't know any of those guys is it alright if I sit with you?"

"Yeah of course it is, but aren't some of your friends in the play as well?"

"Oh yeah, they are but I'm sure they'll join us soon." Your stomach flipped, you knew Jisung was friends with Hyunjin and the thought of him sitting with you made your start to feel a little flustered and he wasn't even here yet.

Focus, Y/N. Be professional, you told yourself. That was when Hyunjin happened to walk into the theatre laughing along with some of his friends. You had a moment where your mind went blank as the boy beside you waved his friends over. As Hyunjin approached, you felt your heart race. Taking a deep breath, you tried to calm yourself, putting a small smile on your face as Hyunjin sat down beside Jisung.

You're playing his love interest, for god sake, you cannot, I repeat cannot act flustered around him, you kept telling yourself.

"Hey, guys this is Y/N, she is in a one of my classes." They all greeted you, introducing themselves. You already knew all of their names, of course, how could you not? You were living most of the people at your university's dream right now, surrounded by what most considered to be the hottest group of guys to ever come to this school.

"You were in the play with me last year, right?" Hyunjin spoke up looking over at you. You just simply nodded with a polite smile on your face. "You were one of the secondary characters but your monologue was truly amazing."

"Oh, thank you, you were amazing last year too."

"Thanks," Hyunjin replied, "I'm looking forward to working with you." You felt your cheeks warm up.

"I'm looking forward to working with you too. All of you." You looked around at the group of boys and smiled.

***

Rehearsals were going well as the weeks seemed to fly by. You had grown to like all of the boys, hanging out with the group even outside of rehearsals. Jisung and yourself had picked up a weekly routine of hanging out to practice, your characters never interacted in the show but you both enjoyed filling in to help each other learn your parts.

"I'm so glad you agreed to help me out with this, Y/N. I've never done any acting before this," He said, looking up at you from his seat on the floor, watching you perform one of Juliet's monologues. The two of you had booked out one of the drama rooms at your university for practice after your classes had finished for the day.

"Well, you're a natural," You said, sitting down next to him.

"So are you and you give really good advice too. After I saw you in last year's play and auditioned for this one I knew I wanted you to help me with it."

"Using me for my talents, are we?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"Jisung!" You hit his shoulder softly.

"I'm kidding. I enjoy hanging out with you sometimes. That is when you aren't hitting me."

"Shut up. Now come on, show me how you're getting along with the Queen Mab monologue."

He stood up and began his monologue. You watched in awe as he spoke with enthusiasm. When he had finished he was happy to hear your round of applause.

"Wow, like I said you're a natural. Almost on par with Hyunjin," You teased as you handed him his water bottle.

Hyunjin. That was something that was weighing on his mind. He knew that you were shy but now you were comfortable around all the guys but something was different about Hyunjin. Something twisted in his stomach, he wasn't sure why.

"You like him, right?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"Huh?"

"Hyunjin. You like him, don't you?"

"Oh my god, is it that obvious?" You asked, sounding a little flustered.

"A little, but I don't think anyone else has noticed. But I did." You put your hands in your face.

"I'm so embarrassed."

"Why? You can like whoever you want. You wanna talk about it? I won't tell anyone." You smiled softly.

"I don't know, I've liked him for a while, but it wasn't until this play that I really got to know him."

"Yeah, he's a really great guy. And you're a great girl. You'd look good together," He said sincerely but, for some reason, couldn't look you in the eye. You both sat in silence for a moment before Jisung cleared his throat. "Well, anyway, I'm going out to eat with the guys, um, do you wanna come?"

"I can't just intrude like that."

"You wouldn't be intruding, they all like you plus Changbin messaged me earlier to say Jeongin and Felix were invited and I know you are best friends with them. Look, I'll message the group chat and ask if you can come too just to make sure so you don't feel like you're intruding." You still looked hesitant. "Hyunjin will be there."

"Okay, I'll come." Jisung couldn't help feeling a little disappointed at how quickly you agreed at the mention of Hyunjin.

***

"What do you mean you've never watched it?"

"I just haven't!"

"We are literally performing the play and you haven't watched the 90s version?"

"Nope, never interested me before this."

"But a young Paul Rudd's in it."

"That's not a reason."

"I beg to differ." The other guys around the table laughed as you and Jisung bickered. Chan looked between the two of you with a strange look in his eye which didn't go unnoticed by Jisung but he decided to ignore it. "I'm going to force you to watch that film even if I have to tie you to a chair."

"He'd probably enjoy that," Minho piped up earning another wave of laughter while Jisung's eyes went wide in shock.

"Minho, you're disgusting," Jisung practically shouted.

"Jeez, Jisung, will you quieten down a little, you're gonna get us kicked out," Changbin said in between laughs.

"I hate you guys." He slumped down, putting on a dramatic pout.

"Aw, you love us really," Hyunjin threw an arm around him. "Isn't that right, Y/N?" Hyunjin smiled at you which you quickly returned.

"Of course it is." You leaned in on the other side of Jisung and pinched his cheeks teasingly. You missed the look Hyunjin sent Chan's way. Jisung swatted your hands away but a small smile graced his lips.

"Alright, alright, enough," He said with a soft laugh. "Let's order some food, I'm starving."

***

After you had all eaten the majority of you headed back to campus as most of you lived in the student accommodation, only Changbin and Bangchang broke off as they rented a place outside of the campus.

You reached the campus and the group started getting smaller and smaller as each person left for their own building. There were 3 student accomodation buildings, Seungmin and Lee Know left for the first one where they shared the room. Felix and Jeongin did the same thing when you reached the second building. That left you, Jisung, and Hyunjin to walk to the third building. Jisung had been so excited when he discovered that you lived in the same accommodation as him, even more so when he found out you were only on the floor above him. You were equally excited when he told you his roommate was Hyunjin.

"I'll walk you to your room."

"It's one floor, Ji, I'll be fine."

"Ugh, fine, don't say I never offer to do anything nice for you," He teases.

"See you later, Y/N," Hyunjin says with a smile as Jisung waves you goodbye, heading towards their room. You then make your way up to your own.

"Honey, I'm home," You joked as you walk through the door to find your roommate and friend, Lily sitting on the sofa watching a film.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yep, it was really nice to hang out with the guys."

"Next time invite me, I wanna ask Changbin for his number."

"First of all I wasn't originally invited, Jisung invited me, I don't know if a plus one can bring a plus one and secondly, just ask him he will 100% give you his number."

"You really think so?"

"I do."

"Alright, the next time I see him around I'll do it." You wish you were as brave as Lily and could just ask Hyunjin out like that but you knew if it went wrong rehearsals and the play would be awkward. You sighed, sitting down next to her on the couch.

"What are you watching?"

"Me Before You, I'm only five minutes in you wanna watch it with me?"

"Sure."

***

"Why did we decide to watch this?" You asked, tears streaming down your face, turning to your friend only to find her fast asleep. "Oh great, I get to cry about it alone." The movie was devasting, it truly broke your heart.

It's just a film, get yourself together, you told yourself. Once you had calmed down a little you headed to the bathroom to splash some water on your face to calm yourself down further. You had a love-hate relationship with sad films. They were masterpieces while at the same time the most soul-destroying, heart-crushing films ever.

You took a blanket from your room and placed it over Lily, not wanting to wake her before getting ready for bed. You were beginning to feel sleepy but the second your head hit the pillow you felt wide awake. You were awake for what felt like hours when you checked your phone to see the time. It was 1am, you knew you had to get up early but there was no way you were going to get to sleep anytime soon. You were too restless to sleep

You decided maybe some fresh air would do you some good so you slipped out of bed replacing your pajamas with a hoodie, sweatpants and some trainers. You quietly made your way out of your room, past Lily who was still fast asleep on the sofa, and out of the front door.

You reached the roof of your accommodation building to find someone was already up there. You recognised him instantly and silently moved towards him.

"Boo!" You shouted, grabbing his waist and making him jump. Jisung jumped and turned around to face you.

"Y/N, you gave me a heart attack, I thought I was about to get murdered!" He said clutching his chest and closing his eyes, trying to calm his racing heart. Not that it ever calmed that much whenever you were near him which he was beginning to find extremely strange.

"Oh, come on, it was a little funny." You said laughing. Your laughter died off as Jisung sighed.

"No, it wasn't."

"Was too."

"Was not." He said, but contradicting himself with a smile, opening his eyes to look at you.

"Was too." His smile dropped when he looked at you.

"Hey, are you alright? Have you been crying?" His hand reached out to rest on your shoulder.

"Crying?" You questioned. "Oh, yeah, don't worry about it, Lily and I were watching a sad movie earlier but she fell asleep leaving me to weep alone."

"Ugh, how dare she!" Jisung joked in a mocking voice.

"Exactly, how dare she. Anyway, why are you up at this time?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Just restless. Just thinking," You replied as you leaned on the railing of the roof. Jisung leaned next to you.

"About?"

Hyunjin.

"Just the play and stuff."

"Oh, right."

"Why aren't you sleeping?" You asked.

"Just thinking about stuff too."

"What stuff?"

You.

"Nothing in particular, just can't seem to shut my brain up."

"Ah, I see. You usually struggle to shut your mouth too."

"Hey, you're mean!" He said, his hand going to his chest again, over his heart.

"But honest," You reply, turning to him with a smile.

"Whatever, if you don't want my company I'll just leave," He said with a huff, turning to leave. You rolled your eyes with a smile grabbing his arm and pulling him back.

"Don't be silly, you know I like spending time with you." This earned you a smile from him.

"Well, how about we do something tomorrow? Maybe, uh, you know if you want to, you could show me Romeo and Juliet 'cause as I said earlier, I haven't seen it."

"Yeah, that sounds good. Is straight after rehearsals alright? We can walk back together and you can come over to mine. Lily will be at work so we can watch it without her pestering you for Changbin's number." He laughed at this a little.

"You have his phone number, why don't you just give it to her?"

"I don't know, I feel like we aren't close enough yet for me to just be giving out his number to anyone."

"You know he has a bit of a thing for your friend right?"

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Oh, I guess I will give it to her then. Look at us doing cupid's work and playing matchmaker." You nudged his shoulder with your own a little. He smiled softly at you.

"It's getting late and we need to sleep, we have rehearsals bright and early tomorrow," Jisung said, looking out at the view from the rooftop. You admired him for a moment before agreeing and you both turned to walk towards the door.

"Let's hope we can practice Juliet's death scene so I can just nap through it."

***

"Say something!" Jisung shouted at the TV screen as the two of you sat and watched Romeo an Juliet. He groaned as he watch Romeo drink the poison as Juliet, who was very clearly alive if only he looked down at her, watched him. "This film is so annoying! She could have stopped him!"

"Looks like someone is really invested."

"Juliet's an idiot!"

"Thanks," You replied dryly.

"Sorry but it's true."

"It's all pretty dumb when you think about it really though, they meet, fall in love, get married, and then die all in the space of about 5 days and on top of that, all this causes 4 more deaths, besides their own." Jisung looked at you for a minute, processing everything you just said.

"You're right but damn Shakespeare was talented to make such a stupid plot be that good."

"Yeah, I'll give him that."

When the end credits rolled you turned to the boy beside you with a smile.

"So, did you like it?" You asked him.

"I did, it was actually really good, I love how they still used the original script but the setting and stuff were modern, we so should have suggested doing a modernized version of it."

"Right? That would have been so cool. Plus I wanna see your version of Mercutio wearing a glittery bralette singing Young Hearts Run Free."

"Dream on," He laughed.

"Maybe I will," You teased.

"Are you flirting with me right now?" He replied, with a mischievous look on his face.

"Dream on," You replied, using his words from before.

"Oh, I see what this is. I'm practice, right? For Hyunjin."

"Shut up. No, I would never flirt with him, I'm too shy around him."

"True. Which is so dumb because I'm sure he would like you back if you just opened up to him a little."

"Felix said the same thing. But I've tried, I've made some progress, before I couldn't even make eye contact with him now I'm playing his love interest and actually talking to him."

"I'm sure it will happen. I just want you to be happy, Y/N."

"I want that for you too." You both sat there smiling at each other for a second. Jisung's eyes briefly flickered down to your lips. He'd hoped you wouldn't notice but you did. You felt a strange twist in your stomach. You continued gazing at each other for a moment longer before Jisung's phone pinged with a notification. He broke eye contact, clearing his throat slightly and reaching for his phone from his pocket.

"Speaking of Hyunjin, he just messaged me to see if I want some of the food he's made, do you wanna come too?"

"Ah, no, Lily will be back soon and I promised I would eat with her. You go ahead."

You walked him to the door, feeling a little disappointed he couldn't stay for longer.

"See you tomorrow."

"See you," You watched as he turned away from you and walked along the hallway before you shut your door. You thought back to your conversation about Hyunjin.

You realised that the entire time Jisung was with you, until he brought Hyunjin up, you hadn't even thought of him.

***

The months had flown by as the first performance of the play neared. Movie nights had become a weekly thing for you and Jisung, each week alternating between the two of you picking a film. As much as you were enjoying the rehearsals for the play, your movie nights were always the highlight of your week.

Speaking of the play, you were almost ready there was just one thing you needed to practice: the kisses.

You had practiced the scenes but every time it got up to the part where you and Hyunjin were meant to kiss you just awkwardly skipped over it and continue the scene. Hyunjin had spoken to you about it and you both agreed you would book a drama room and practice it.

You were a bundle of nerves as you worked your way through the first kiss scene. You had thought about kissing him millions of times and this would finally be it. You had dreamt of this moment. And yet, something felt off.

"Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged," Hyunjin said his line before leaning towards you. "Ready?" He asked quietly. You only nodded, looking into his eyes.

His lips met yours and they were soft. It was a good kiss. Gentle and sweet, enjoyable. But that was all. You felt nothing. You pulled away, feeling disappointed and annoyed. It wasn't him, you were certain, there was something wrong with you. All you had ever wanted was to be kissed by him and when it finally happened there was no butterflies, no fireworks. Not even a spark

"Was that alright?" He asked.

"Y-yeah, it was good," You replied with a small smile. He smiled back with a strange glint in his eye. "Um it's getting late and I've got plans with Jisung, it's our movie night. Why don't you practice the monologue you were talking about earlier that you said you wanted to practice?"

"Oh yeah, can't keep him waiting." He smiled again in a weird way but you couldn't understand it. "Do you want me to walk you back?"

"Oh, no, there's no need, it's not a long walk after all and there's no point you going back yet unless you are heading back to your place. You might as well use the room while nobody else is. See you later, Hyujin." He waved you goodbye as you quickly left.

When you finally arrived at your flat you found Jisung resting on your door, waiting for you. He heard the sound of your footsteps approaching and looked up from his phone.

"Hey."

"Hi, sorry I'm late, practice ran a bit late."

"No worries." You took your keys from your pocket to open your door, not noticing the way Jisung was studying your face.

"You wanna talk about it?" He asked.

"Talk about what?"

"Whatever it is that's up with you. I know you, Y/N, I can see something's bothering you." You sighed, looking at the boy next to you. He had a delicate smile on his face. Had he always been that handsome?

"I'll tell you inside." The two of you made your way through the door once you had unlocked it. You threw your bag on the counter before heading to the sofa and dropping down on it with a sigh. Jisung sat down next to you.

"So?" He asked you.

"We practiced the kiss." You weren't looking at him and he was grateful because he was certain you would have seen the way he frowned.

"And?"

"And it was good but I felt nothing. I think it's my fault though because I was just so nervous and in my head about it all that it was probably awkward. I've liked the guy for what feels like forever and I blew it because I was too scared to properly kiss him."

"So, you need to gain some confidence to kiss him properly then you think it will feel right?"

"I think so but I'm not sure how to gain confidence, I haven't kissed anybody before today in ages." That was when an idea sprang to your head. It was stupid you knew it. But it might just work, you told yourself. You turned to Jisung.

"I've got an idea. It's dumb and you can totally say no but what if we kissed?"

"What?!" His eyes widened.

"Like, just to practice so I can gain some confidence and then next time I kiss Hyunjin I'll be able to kiss him back and not just stand there awkwardly. Actually, it's stupid, sorry, I shouldn't have sugges-"

"Okay."

"What?"

"I'll do it. I'll kiss you. It doesn't mean anything anyway, right?" Jisung tried to ignore the way his heart dropped as those words left his lips. "If it'll help you, I'll do it."

"Wait, seriously?"

"Yep."

"Okay, alright." You both turned to face each other. Gently, he placed his hands on your arms, leaning in. He was hesitant, but the way his eyes flickered between your own and your lips made your heartbeat begin to race.

Your lips finally met his and your breathing hitched in your throat. You brought a hand up to cup his face, softly stroking your thumb over his cheek. His kiss was delicate but full of passion, his lips fit perfectly with your own as you kissed him back. A kaleidoscope of butterflies erupted in your stomach. This felt right. This is what it was meant to feel like when you kissed someone.

You both pulled away, gasping for air, with flushed cheeks and soft smiles. You remained close, your hand still cupping his face.

"That was really good, thank you." Jisung suddenly became aware of what had just happened. He pulled away, out of your reach.

"Yeah, no problem," He replied, trying to act nonchalant. He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's my turn to pick the film right?" He asked as he grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Your heart dropped at his dismissal of the moment you thought you had both shared.

"Yeah," You said quietly, turning to look at the TV as he picked a film. You weren't really sure of what he picked because the entire time you were watching your mind was elsewhere thinking about the fact that you and he had just kissed. You turned to look at him, his eyes fixed on the TV screen. Your hand came up to your mouth, replaying the kiss again and again.

That was what it was meant to feel like when you kissed someone. And you knew it.

***

Jisung regretted the kiss the second the two of you had pulled away from each other. Not that he hadn't enjoyed it. He certainly had. He had been waiting for ages to finally kiss you but he wished that the first time he kissed you would have been when you felt the same way that he did. Not as a practice to help you kiss his roommate, who you had liked for years.

The kiss had plagued his thoughts since then. It was now three weeks later and it was the final dress rehearsal before the first show.

It was the first scene where you and Hyunjin kissed. Jisung hadn't seen the kiss before as the two of you would avoid it but now he knew that you had been practicing it. He watched as your eyes flickered from Hyunjin's eyes to his lips when the two of you leaned in and your lips met a wave of jealousy washed over him. He tried to maintain a calm disposition but inside he wanted to scream.

Why him? Why not me? He wanted to ask you.

But he knew he wouldn't, for your sake. He wanted you to be happy. Even if that meant he had to watch you be with his best friend. He watched as you kissed Hyunjin. The kiss looked perfect.

But it wasn't. You could pretend there was love in that kiss, but it was just acting. You knew deep down that nothing could recreate the emotions you felt when you kissed Jisung.

You tried to imagine him instead of Hyunjin but your mind was not strong enough to fake that kind of emotion. Sure the kiss was good but it wasn't like the kiss you shared with Jisung.

As the scene ended, you wanted to cry. Everything was all messed up. You knew Jisung didn't feel that way about you. Hell, you had only just figured out you felt that way about him. He was helping you out in your pursuit of Hyunjin. He had no idea that you had in fact fallen for him a long time ago, it had just taken you a while to notice.

You wished it had been him from the beginning because the way you felt about him was different from the crush you had had on Hyunjin. That had been you, admiring from afar. This was so much more. You wished the kiss you shared with Jisung had meant something to him, because it meant a lot to you.

When you pulled away from Hyunjin, you looked over his shoulder, at Jisung in the wings. He had a soft smile on his face. He wanted to show he was happy for you, hoping you wouldn't take notice that the smile never reached his eyes.

You exited the stage at the end of the scene, coming face to face with Jisung.

"The kiss looked great," He said, avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah?" You asked rather sadly.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Jisung, I-"

"I'm on in the next scene so I better get ready to go on."

"Oh, right." You smiled softly, stepping aside.

You watched as he stepped out on the stage and performed. He really did have a natural talent for it. When the scene concluded he left the stage via the opposite wings. You were so busy watching as he walked away that you almost missed your cue. Luckily, Bangchan had been there to push you out on stage.

"Stop staring at Jisung and get on stage." He lightly nudged you, his words leaving you a flustered mess as you quickly composed yourself for the scene.

***

When the dress rehearsal was finished, you quickly packed your bag ready to leave.

"Hey, we're going to grab a coffee, you wanna come?" Felix asked you.

"No, thanks for the offer though. I'm really tired and just wanna get home but I'll see you tomorrow at the library, 11am."

"Yep, alright, we'll see you later," Jeongin said as he and Felix waved you goodbye.

You were about to leave when Hyunjin approached you.

"You were really great today, the show is gonna be perfect."

"You did a really good job too, Hyunjin." You noticed your sudden ease around the boy. Usually, you would become all flustered and your heart would be racing a mile a minute. Guess you really were over him.

You didn't see Hyunjin's glance at Jisung on the other side of the room, who was standing looking at the two of you sadly.

"So, what's going on with you and Jisung?"

"What? Nothing."

"Well, in that case, maybe after the first performance I could take you out on a date." A couple of months ago these words from Hyunjin probably would've made you faint. It had been all you ever wanted. But when you thought about the idea of going on a date with someone, the person you imagined wasn't Hyunjin, it was Jisung.

"Hyunjin, I'm flattered, really, I am. You know I used to like you, a lot, and I still think you're a really great guy but I just don't feel that way anymore, I'm sorry," You said to him, apologetically. He looked at you with a smirk.

"I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"You like Jisung."

"Well-"

"Oh my god, you don't just like him, you love him."

"Ah, don't say it out loud." Your hand came up to his mouth covering it. Across the room, Jisung watched the interaction between you and his best friend. His hand tightened around the strap of his bag as he felt jealousy swirling in the pit of his stomach.

"I knew you had feelings for him, I just had to get you to admit it," Hyunjin said more quietly now, as you removed your hand from his mouth, revealing his smile.

"Alright, I do love him, but it doesn't matter, nothing is ever going to happen between us. He still thinks I like you and is clearly not bothered by that."

"Y/N, are you blind? Is the way he is looking at us right now not a dead giveaway." You couldn't stop yourself from turning your head to look in Jisung's direction. He quickly looked away, glancing at anything other than you before heading towards the door and leaving the room.

"There goes your chance to tell him today, it's alright, you can try again tomorrow."

"I will not be telling him anything."

"Yes, you will."

"No, I will not. At least not yet anyway."

"Come on, Y/N. Just tell him because I don't know how long I can keep quiet about this."

"Give me until the last show."

"Alright, deal but if you don't tell him, I will."

"This is peer pressure!"

"It's for your own benefit."

"Hyunjin, you're so annoying."

"I may be annoying but I make one hell of a matchmaker."

"Alright, I'm leaving now."

"See you later, I'm gonna go find Chan and tell him you finally admitted your feelings."

"Chan knows about my feelings?"

"We've been talking about you and Jisung for months. We knew about your feelings before even you did."

***

"You kissed him?!" Jeongin said, in shock.

"Yes, but it wasn't like that. It didn't mean anything, not to him at least. He agreed to help me practice for my kiss scenes with Hyunjin." You explained as you and your two best friends left the library. You had been studying together for a few hours but were tired now and wanted to go to a cafe to relax for a little while instead.

"Okay, first of all, do you really think he agreed to kiss you just for practice? I highly doubt that, the guy is obviously smitten with you. And second of all why didn't you tell us any of this earlier?" Felix asked.

"I don't know, I had to find the right time. I didn't want to tell you at rehearsals. Honestly, I would've kept it to myself but I wanted to get it off my chest to someone, especially after Hyunjin made me admit it to him."

"Hyunjin knew before us?!" Jeongin said.

"Will you keep your voice down? This is why I couldn't tell the two of you at rehearsal, he can't keep quiet, I didn't want Jisung overhearing our conversation about him." You pointed accusingly at Jeongin.

"You know what, I knew something was up with you two." Felix smiled at you.

"Nothing is up with us. He doesn't feel that way. I won't be telling him. Hyunjin is trying to get me to confess but I'll find a way to keep him quiet."

"Find a way to keep him quiet? Jesus, you're gonna have to murder him, Y/N."

"If I must."

"You scare me sometimes." Jeongin looked at you with a concerned expression.

"I agree with Hyunjin. You should tell him, what could go wrong?" Felix asked.

"Are you insane? I ruin everything with him? I lay my heart out for him and he tears it to shreds?"

"Jisung's a nice guy, he wouldn't do that."

"Fine but he could still reject me and break my heart regardless of how softly he let me down."

"I think he feels the same way for you," Jeongin states simply.

"Yeah, well I don't."

"He's definitely in love with you, he can't seem to keep his eyes off of you in rehearsal."

"You're imaging things, Felix."

"You think I wouldn't notice when some guy is ogling my best friend?"

"Shut up, he does not love me."

***

Pretending things were fine between you and Jisung proved harder said than done. After realising your feelings for him you felt a lot shyer around him. But he still seemed to be his usual bubbly, chatty self. You would never know Jisung's struggle to maintain this facade.

"You nervous about the first show tomorrow?" He asked you as he sat down on the sofa next to you with a bowl of popcorn. You were over at his apartment as Lily had asked if she could have the apartment for a few hours. She and Changbin had gone on a few dates recently and she wanted to have her own movie night with him, but you knew from her tone, that they probably wouldn't end up watching whatever movie they picked. You didn't really fancy sticking around to find out. Instead, you asked Jisung and Hyunjin if you could crash at their place to which they agreed. Hyunjin was in his room, while you and Jisung had decided to watch a movie together.

"Yeah, a little," You replied. It was true you were anxious about it but right now you were more nervous at the close proximity between you and Jisung. Your heart fluttered as his leg nudged yours. "What about you?"

"Really nervous but excited as well."

"We'll be fine. The entire cast and crew have worked so hard for this, it'll be okay."

"Yeah, I'm sure it'll be great." He smiled at you before clearing his throat and turning his attention back to the TV. "Anyway, what do you wanna watch tonight?"

"I thought it was your turn to pick?"

"It is but I'm feeling nice."

"Alright, how about 10 Things I Hate About You?"

"Yeah, we can watch that before, I've never seen it."

"What? First Romeo and Juliet and now this? How have you never seen it before? It's so good, it's one of my favourite films of all time. It's fitting actually because it's based on the Shakespeare play The Taming of the Shrew. And there's this one scene where the male sings for the female lead in front of everyone. Oh and the poem scene near the end makes my heart ache every time. And I'm rambling and spoiling it for you, I'm sorry." Jisung doubted that he could keep the look of affection from his face and at that moment he didn't care. He loved the way you rambled on about things you liked, he found it the most adorable thing ever.

"No it's alright, I think it's cute." You felt your cheeks up at his words, noticing how close his face was to yours. You could just lean in and kiss him.

Just lean in, your heart told you, but your brain kept you from doing something so stupid.

"Well, yeah, my point is it's really good but if you want to watch something else we can, it is meant to be your night to pick."

"We'll watch that, it does sound good." 

***

You weren't even halfway through the film when you felt yourself grow tired and felt yourself drifting off. You hadn't been sleeping too well, thoughts and worries about Jisung keeping you up late at night. Even your dreams were filled with images of the boy beside you. Dreams where he cruelly broke your heart. You knew he wouldn't do that to you but it still hurt.

Jisung's body stiffened when he felt your head fall to his shoulder. He heard your steady breathing before realising you were asleep and relaxed a little, adjusting the blanket the two of you were sharing.

He continued to watch the movie, trying not to move too much so as to not wake you. You had been right about the movie, it really was great. He liked the scenes you had mentioned. He imagined himself serenading you with a marching band. Maybe one day he would sing to you one of the songs he had written about you. He would do it in a heartbeat if he was certain that you loved him too. Because it was love. It had taken him a long time to come to terms with the fact that like had turned into love. It, of course, hurt him to know you liked his best friend but he wouldn't change his feelings, even if he could. He quite liked the fall. Loved the way it felt to love you.

When the movie had finished you were still fast asleep. Jisung carefully maneuvered his way off of the sofa laying you down gently. He crouched beside you, looking at your peaceful face. It was the first time he had seen you look so peaceful in the last few days.

He had noticed something was up with you but when he asked you just dismissed him He hadn't wanted to pry so decided would wait until you came to talk to him first about it. He gently stroked your cheek and sighed. What was he going to do? He felt so helplessly in love with you. He knew was drowning but instead of saving himself, he was diving deeper and deeper.

He didn't want to leave you to sleep on his sofa so instead he gently picked you up in his arms and carried you to his bedroom, laying you down on his bed. He pulled the covers over you as you began to stir.

"Jisung?" You asked.

"It's alright, Y/N, you fell asleep so I carried you to my bed. I'll sleep on the sofa," He whispered softly. He turned to leave when he felt your hand grab his. He turned back to look at you.

"Please stay." Your eyes looked into his with a sense of pleading.

"Okay." You let go of his hand and he moved to the other side of the bed. He got under the covers, keeping a safe distance from you. But you turned onto your side to face him and moved closer. He turned to look at you. He wanted to reach out and touch you, kiss you, but he knew better. So instead he settled for admiring your features, his eyes tracing your soft smile and bright eyes.

"Goodnight, Jisung," You whispered, shutting your eyes.

"Goodnight, Y/N," He whispered back.

***

Jisung was the first to wake in the morning. The two of you had somehow moved even closer in your sleep. He wanted to start every day like this.

He knew you both needed to get ready for school but when he checked his phone there was still plenty of time so he decided to let you sleep for a little longer. He carefully moved away from you, getting out of bed. In the kitchen he found Hyunjin making himself some breakfast.

"Good morning."

"Morning Jisung, Y/N still asleep?"

"Yep. I'll wake her up in a bit but I can tell she's been really tired recently so I'll let her rest for now." He sat down at the breakfast table after getting some cereal for himself.

"That's so sweet of you, you guys are such a cute couple."

"It's not like that, Hyunjin."

"Not yet. But I have a good feeling about you two."

"Trust me, it'll never happen."

"Why? Because of her feelings for me." Jisung's head whipped up to look at Hyunjin.

"You know? If you know why not let her down easy instead of toying around with her? I swear to God if you hurt her, I-," He began to raise his voice. Hyunjin rolled his eyes.

"I thought you were smarter than that. I'm not playing around with her, I know that she used to have feelings for me, as in past tense."

"How do you know for certain she doesn't still like you?" He asked skeptically.

"Haven't you noticed her change in attitude toward me? She isn't as shy anymore. Besides I had my own theories about her feelings so I decided to put it to the test so I asked her out."

"You what?!"

"I asked her out. And guess what? She said no because she likes someone else and, well, I know who I'm putting my money on." Hyunjin had promised not to tell Jisung about your feelings for him but he wasn't telling Jisung that it was definitely him, he was just hinting, right? He was only trying to help. Watching you too pine after each other was becoming pretty unbearable.

"You think it's me? Yeah, right."

"Look, all I know is you were the one spooning with her all night, not anybody else."

"We weren't spooning!"

***

The first show went incredibly smoothly, of course, there was the usual stress of making sure you remember lines and cues, costume changes, etc but nothing went wrong. Jisung had managed to busy himself with neatening up his costume or being in his dressing room listening to the dialogue over the speakers during the kissing scenes. When it was time to gather on stage and do the final bow you stood next to Hyunjin and Jisung. Jisung was sure the whole audience could hear his heartbeat when you took his hand. You were sure the audience would notice how you were hesitant to pull your hand away from Jisung's. Part of you hoped he would notice too.

The curtain began to close as the cast celebrated and the audience continued to cheer. You turned to Jisung and threw your arms around him pulling him into an embrace. His own arms slid around your waist and you couldn't help but think that this felt right. Holding him like this.

After every show, this routine continued. When the final show came around you were feeling sad and scared. You feared now that the show was over you wouldn't see everyone you had grown close with as much anymore. Mostly, you feared you and Jisung would grow apart.

The curtain finally closed as the atmosphere on stage was still buzzing with energy. You smiled at Jisung who still had his arms around your waist from the hug the two of you once again shared.

"You did amazing!"

"Thank you, but you were just perfect, absolutely incredible." His words made you smile. You leaned forward and kissed his cheek, causing him to blush.

"Thank you." You looked into his eyes and everyone else on the stage seemed to disappear. You could have sworn he was leaning in but he stopped himself. You both pulled away a little awkwardly.

"So, uh-"

"Hey, you two are you coming to Chan's party tonight?" Hyunjin asked, seeming to appear out of nowhere.

"Yeah, I just need to go home and get changed."

"Okay, cool, I brought something to wear so I'm gonna head straight there and help set up. What about you, Jisung?"

"Yeah, I'm coming too but I'll go home with Y/N first, I forgot to bring something to change into as well." His mind flashed to the outfit he had carefully picked out last night and had in fact put in his bag. He just wanted an excuse to walk you home.

"Cool, I'll see you both there," Hyunjin said, before turning away from you both.

"See you," You and Jisung called after him, both replying in unison.

***

Your phone pinged while you were finishing up your makeup and you opened it to see a message from Hyunjin.

Hyunjin: Don't forget the deadline.

Y/N: What are you talking about?

Hyunjin: Your confession

Y/N: You were being serious about that?!

Hyunjin: Of course I was, you should do it tonight, at the party

Y/N: Okay fine, only because I really wanted to say something today after the final bow

You were interrupted by Jisung knocking on your door, ready to take you to the party. You quickly message Hyunjin to tell him Jisung was here before heading toward the door.

You had picked a nice dress, nothing too fancy but it looked amazing on you. As you opened the door, Jisung stared in awe.

"Wow." He blushed, realising he had said this out loud. "Sorry, I uh...you just look...wow."

"Thanks, Ji, you're looking pretty good yourself." And he was. But, to be quite frank, Jisung could be wearing a plastic bag and you'd still think he was hot.

"Ready to go?"

"Yep, come on." You locked your door, before taking his arm.

The walk from your accommodation to Changbin and Chan's apartment was only ten minutes long but it felt like time froze when you were with Jisung. You kept stealing glances at him as Hyunjin's messages on your phone kept popping up in your head.

"Jisung I..." You trailed off as he looked at you with those gorgeous eyes.

"What is it?" He asked softly. For him, the question was more of a plead for you to say the one thing he so desperately wanted you to say: I love you.

"Jisung, I..." Your mind flashed back to the nightmares you had been having about being rejected by him. In the dreams he was cruel, nothing like Jisung you knew. But just because he was kind didn't mean he wouldn't reject you. And it certainly didn't mean it wouldn't hurt all the same, even if he was nice about it. You couldn't confess what you really wanted to say so you confessed the next best thing. "I don't want us to stop being friends now that the show is over." It was bittersweet for Jisung. He was happy you didn't want to lose him but he wanted more than just friends.

"Of course, we'll still be friends, you can't get rid of me that easily." He smiled at you.

"Good. I don't wanna be rid of you anytime soon."

***

You had lost Jisung somewhere in the crowd of people.

The two of you had been dancing with Jeongin and Felix when Jeongin started to feel sick. You and Felix helped him to the bathroom. He never was a good drinker and you made a mental note to remind him of this tomorrow, as you gently patted his back as he was sick. Felix beside you was trying to be a supportive friend but you could see the way he was grimacing so you asked him to fetch a glass of water from the kitchen. When Jeongin was feeling a little better you both helped him up.

"I'll take him home, you stay here, go have fun."

"But-"

"No buts, go have fun with Jisung."

"Fine but text me if you need anything and message me when you both get home safe."

"I will, see you later."

Once they were out the door you turned back to the crowds of people. You wanted to find Jisung sooner rather than later because, honestly, he was almost as bad as Jeongin when it came to drinking. You were pretty tipsy but not drunk yet, Jisung on the other hand was one shot away from passing out the last time you saw him. You had been searching for what felt like forever when your phone pinged. You had hoped it was Jisung but it was Felix telling you himself and Jeongin were home safe.

"Well, two home safe, one to find," You murmured to yourself, continuing your search.

Struggling to find him because of the sheer mass of people, you headed to the kitchen to get yourself a drink instead when you met Hyunjin.

"Have you told him yet?"

"I tried to but I couldn't do it and now he's too drunk and I've lost him in the crowd of people. But please don't tell him, I promise I will tell him, eventually."

"Fine, I won't tell him, but I'm rooting for you."

"Y/N, I found you! My favourite person in the entire world!" Jisung had stumbled into the kitchen looking for you. He wrapped his arms around you from behind, pulling your back into his chest in a hug. He rested his chin on your shoulder, his warm, flushed cheek against yours.

"Speak of the devil," Hyunjin said with a smile.

"Oh, Hyunjin, you're here too." Jisung pulled away from you but came to stand next to you with an arm around your shoulder. "Sorry, was I interrupting something? I know you like him, Y/N," He whispered to you.

You don't know anything, Ji.

"Yeah we were just talking about you actually. But anyway, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go dance, leave you two be." He winked at you before moving away.

You turned to look at the boy beside you. He had a silly grin on his face as he engulfed you in another hug.

"You're drunk, come on, I'm taking you home, you've had enough." You were the only thing keeping him upright so you wrapped an arm around his waist and wrapped his around your shoulder before helping him out of the apartment. The 10-minute walk must have taken at least 30 with you practically having to drag Jisung.

"Where are your keys?" You held out your free hand that wasn't supporting Jisung.

"Not telling." He said with a giggle.

"I'll leave you out here in the corridor."

"You're mean," He said but reached into his pocket, pulling out his keys and handing them to you.

Once you had got him inside you managed to get him to his bedroom. You took his shoes and jacket off but knew it would be too much of a struggle to get him changed.

"I'll get you some water, stay here." He nodded, lying his head down. You quickly got a glass of water for him before returning to his room, pacing it on the cabinet beside his bed. "Here, now get some sleep, message me if you need anything. Goodnight, Ji."

"Please stay."

You smiled slightly.

"Deja vu," You said, thinking back to the time you had asked him to do the same thing. "Alright." You took off your own shoes and jacket before slipping into the bed, next to him. There were a few minutes of comfortable silence, you thought perhaps he had fallen asleep. You reached out and gently stroked his hair. Jisung's eyes remained closed but he spoke up.

"Why him?" He asked.

"What?"

"Why Hyunjin? Why can't you love me? Because I love you." Your breathing hitched in your throat.

"Jisung, you're drunk."

"Yes, I'm drunk, but that doesn't mean I can't be honest." You stayed silent for a moment. Do you confess? Do you tell him how you really feel? But what if he woke up in the morning and told you he never meant it, he was just drunk?

"Can't you kiss me? Just once. Not as practice for a play or to make kissing someone else feel better but as a real kiss. A kiss from a girl to a boy who's totally and utterly head over heels for her." And in that moment, you wanted to kiss him. More than anything. You cupped his face but didn't kiss him. You leaned your forehead against Jisung's.

"I don't like Hyunjin anymore," You whispered in the dark. "And I can't kiss you, not properly, it would be wrong of me because of how drunk you are right now." You laughed, thinking about how drunk he really was.

"But for now, I hope this will do." You leaned up and gave him a soft kiss on his forehead. "If you remember this, and mean what you say, Ji, tell me you love me again." He hummed in agreement as sleep overtook him. You sighed, looking at his peaceful face before finally closing your eyes.

***

You were the first to wake the next day. You smiled remembering last night and hoped that Jisung would remember too. It wasn't long after that Jisung began to stir.

"Good morning." He smiled at you as he stretched out.

"Morning, how are you feeling?"

"Everything's fuzzy." You laughed lightly.

"Have fun last night?"

"I'm assuming so and, by the looks of things, I'm guessing you had to help me home." Your smile faltered. Of course, he wouldn't remember. He probably didn't even mean it, you thought to yourself.

"You can't remember?" Jisung picked up on your sad tone.

"I remember playing beer pong with Changbin but everything's hazy after that. Why, did something bad happen?" You ignored his question, moving away from him.

"I've got to go," You said, quickly getting up and reaching for your shoes and jacket.

"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked, sitting up and watching as you frantically pulled on your jacket.

"Nothing's wrong, I've just got to go."

"Did I do something last night? Please, Y/N, tell me. Did something happen?"

"No... nothing happened. It was nothing." You quickly hurried out of the room as Jisung scrambled to get out of bed.

"Morning Y/N-Oookay," Hyunjin, who was sitting in the living room, said as you raced past him and out of the door without a word.

"Y/N!" Jisung called after you, rushing out of his room. He turned to look at Hyunjin. "What did I do last night? I can't remember but Y/N is upset about something."

"I don't know, but I'm sure it'll come back to you then you can sort out whatever is going on."

What am I not remembering?

***

All week you had been avoiding Jisung and he knew it. Other than the few classes you shared, he never saw you. Even in these classes, your conversations were short and awkward. If he asked you to hang out you would always apologise and say you already had plans. You even canceled your movie night that week saying you had to study for a quiz in one of your classes.

It was hurting Jisung and he became irritable, snapping at his friends.

"I'm not the one avoiding you, no need to snap at me!" Hyunjin said. "She's literally on the floor above, just go up there and ask her why she's avoiding you."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

Because I just can't." Hyunjin groaned.

"Whatever, I'm going to bed, I don't wanna deal with your grumpy ass right now."

Jisung turned back around to face the TV to watch the film he had put on. Alone. He had put on 10 Things I Hate About You again, thinking back to how cute you were when talking about it. But as he watched he found he couldn't focus and grew bored. It wasn't right without you. He turned it off before dragging himself to the bathroom hoping a nice shower would clear his mind. But it didn't. Eventually, he made his way to bed. He lay in the darkness, looking up at the ceiling, trying to think of something, anything, he could have done that had made you avoid him. He turned on his side looking at the side of the bed you had once laid on.

"What am I not remembering?" He asked himself, out loud.

He closed his eyes, trying to focus. A hazy image of you helping him home and into bed cleared in his mind. His words echoed in his head. Please stay.

He reached up and touched his hair as he remember you doing the same that night. But try as he might to remember more, he had exhausted his brain and he was beginning to get a headache. He sighed in defeat as he could remember no more, deciding to sleep instead.

***

You were in his dreams. There were words of love whispered in the dark and forehead kisses. Jisung sat up suddenly. He thought at first it was just a dream but it felt too familiar, too real.

He jumped out of bed and threw on the first pair of shoes he could find, running out the door and along the corridor. He just prayed that nobody was planning on attempting to break into his and Hyunjin's apartment that night because they would be greeted by an unlocked door. He raced up the stairs, running two at a time before he finally came face to face with your door. He frantically knocked. He heard shuffling inside.

"Who is it? I'll ring the police, I swear to god."

"Y/N, it's me?" He heard the door being unlocked.

"Jisung? What the hell are you doing here, it's like 4 in the morning?"

"I'm sorry but I really need to talk to you."

"Look-"

"No, please, it's important. Please, don't push me away," He pleaded with you.

"Fine, but be quiet, Lily's sleeping.," You sighed, allowing him into your apartment. You locked the front door and led him to your room, shutting the door. You sat down on your bed as he stood awkwardly fidgeting with his hands.

"What's up?"

"You've been avoiding me. It's been bugging me because I knew that something was wrong and it was to do with the party but I just couldn't remember. I was able to piece together small interactions last night before bed, like me asking you to stay but I just couldn't remember everything."

"Ji-"

"Please, just let me finish," He said as he sat down next to you on the bed, looking straight into your eyes. "But then I fell asleep and I had a dream but it wasn't just a dream it felt so familiar. I'm hoping it's not my mind messing with me but that night you asked me to repeat my words if I remembered that moment and truly felt that way. Well, guess what? I remembered. So I just came over to tell you, I love you, Y/N." You stared at him with a shocked expression. The hopeful glint in his eyes began to fade as you sat there, not saying a word. You felt the tears start streaming down your cheeks.

"Y/N, are you alright? I'm sorry. Shit, did I remember wrong? Oh god, and I just confessed."

"No, you remember everything just right. You did as I asked." You leaned forward, wrapping your arms around him. After a moment of shock, he hesitantly placed his own arms around your waist, pulling you closer to him.

"Does this mean you feel the same way?"

"I do, I love you, Ji, of course, I love you. I think I have since that first day when you sat next to me at the script read." You pulled back slightly to look at him. He smiled at you, brushing away your tears. "And the night of the party, when we were talking about the kiss, I wanted so badly to tell you that the kiss wasn't nothing, it was what made me realise I loved you. I was just scared to tell you in case you woke up and said it was just the alcohol talking." He smiled brightly at you again.

"I can't tell you how happy you've just made me. Does this mean I can take you out sometime?"

"Of course, you can." You leaned in to hug him again.

"Hey, Y/N?" You pulled back to look at him. "How about that kiss now?"

"Oh, you mean this one?" You kissed his forehead and looked back at him. He rolled his eyes playfully as you giggled lightly.

"Haha, very funny." Your soft laughter died away as you just looked at him. Admired the way the light from the moon landed on his skin, the way his eyes sparkled as he looked at you, the way his lips look just too kissable. Your hand cupped his cheek. "Come here," He whispered, barely audible, as he pulled you onto his lap. You leaned in to meet his lips.

And as you kissed him you thought back to everything that had happened in the past few months and just how lucky you were to have been cast in the play. As you kissed him the whole world faded away and you were just a girl kissing a boy who was totally and utterly head over heels for her.

#stray kids #skz han #skz #kpop #han jisung x reader #han jisung #han jisung fluff #fanfiction #fanfic

[boycigs]

SO WHAT YOU'RE MURDERERS ? : CHAP 2

masterlist. previous chapter. next chapter.

genre; crack, slightly suggestive, check cw from masterlist

taglist ; @gabytodd @rome-alone @milkyfab @defnotphantomofficial @satsuri3su @one-green-frog @royal-shinigami @sanemiss @astrozuya @8-29pm @yuuisasimp @kawouya @massivebde @kusuinko @spqce-bun

bibi's note ; please note that since reader is izana's brother. (MALE READER) he will have similar features, lavender eyes. thank you so much @softiefeli for proof reading <3 ily, reblogs and comments are very appreciated!!

Your class wasn't half bad. A lecture explaining the content for next week and talking about the start of mid-terms. Now on the way to Bonten HQ.

Thoughts going through your head of why Mikey couldn't have sent for someone to get you. Ah well, going through these parts of the city was interesting. Just a few more blocks and you decided you're done walking for the day.

The building wasn't as you expected, but they're criminals. Hiding in plain sight.

As you opened the doors to the building there was a lady behind the desk who just acknowledged your presence.

"Ah, Good evening sir. May I help you?"

As you glanced down at her the words softly spilled from your lips, something resembling 'meeting with Manjiro Sano'.

"Meeting with the big boss huh? You're gonna wanna take the elevator to the top floor, get out, turn left and take the second right door-" she handed you a piece of paper with a tiny, quickly drawn map. "Just in case."

"Thank you."

Now on the way to see your brother. Although one thing you could say was the elevator music was crappy, not even the original tunes.

"Office, office, ah map‐" you pulled out the poorly drawn 'map' and started to follow it.

15 minutes later after searching and passing by a couple of interesting-looking employees that eyed you with wide eyes. You made it to a very loud office room. One distinct voice boomed with an anxious tone. "BOSS, WAS THAT IZANA, OR AM I SEEING THINGS?"

As you knocked on the door, it was like a spell. All those voices ceased, plus a large thump which worried you.

Finally, someone came and opened the door, and the first thing that caught your eyes was; the semi-familiar shirtless Ravenette passed out on the floor with what seemed to be a head injury, two purple heads, (both having features making them look like jellyfish) now pointing at you and screaming "ITS YOU", to which the taller one hummed along with you 'Video Games' by Lana del Rey, and a short man who looked like your brother, but deathly pale.

"What's going on here ? and, you ! must be Manjiro right?" you questioned, pointing at the short platinum blond.

"That's boss, and why do you look so much like Izana Kurokawa? Are you two related? Are you Izana Kurokawa ?! Did you really die ?!?" The toned lanky-looking one bombed you with questions.

"Uh, Izana's my brother, and by that logic, I'm Manjiro's adopted brother." You stated before your lips slightly turned, the feeling of still having family warmed you inside.

"It's really nice to finally meet you, 'Invincible Mikey', oh and here ya go. 'Zana said you liked 'em." You handed him a taiyaki as well as opening one for yourself, while he started to introduce everybody with his mouth full.

"Thanks, and you as well (name). Now, those two purple jellyfish are Ran and Rindou Haitani, the one on the floor is Kakucho Hitto. The pink one is Sanzu, beware he's probably on something-" You snickered, cutting your brother off. "It's fine, that's how I get through uni."

"Anyway, the other blonde in red is Koko, Takeomi is Sanzu's more civilized brother and mochi is, somewhere. That's Bonten. Everyone, treat him like you would me. Otherwise I won't hesitate to put you on the chopping block."

The short blonde looked the younger haitani in the eyes before speaking again. "Rindou I trust that you'll get this info to the executives that aren't here right now."

When Mikey finished introductions he ordered his executives off to whatever task they had at hand before you came, and took you to his office to talk more with you.

#blitz's.paperwork #so what you're murderers.pdf #bonten x male reader #bonten x reader #bonten crack #tokyo revengers x male reader #tokyo revengers x reader #tokyo rev x reader #tokyo rev x male reader #sanzu x reader #rindou x reader #ran x reader #koko x reader #takeomi x reader #mikey x reader #manjiro x reader

[junotter]

I've deleted tiktok off my phone and now mainly use Instagram reels. I get a bunch of content related to Japan (makes sense I'm moving there) but omfg the comments are like the trenches. Some are purely racist to Japanese citizens and others are such Japan dick riders that it's insane.

Anyway recently got a post about a white guy complaining that TOKYO has gotten too "foreign" and that he doesn't want Japan to "lose" their culture. I've got a lot of thoughts on this but nowhere to put them so here they are:

I'm literally losing my mind at how many people think Japan is this orientalist non-westernized country when Japan has westernized itself since the 1890s. Losing my mind at foreigners in Japan complaining that there are more foreigners in Japan and acting like they've been in Japan since before it when they moved there in like 2010.

Saw someone comparing Japan to Hawai'i in how it's losing its culture (truly mindboggling considering what Japan has done to Okinawa) and another guy who's name was literally Noah saying "Americans should keep their bs out of japan no one wants your stupid westernization" like dude ur name is Noah.

Also, no part of America has "westernized" Japan since the early 20th century, and Japan's "westernization" is entirely Japan's own doing for wanting to be in proximity to whiteness. No other culture country or people gets to decide where Japan's culture gets to go, that is solely up to the Japanese people (mind you not the government but the PEOPLE)

Most people obsessed with Japanese culture have never read an actual book on Japan that goes beyond "Japan has shrines that worship the kami or spirits of the world" and "being polite is important as a tourist in Japan". If they did, then they'd know that during the pre-war era and throughout the wartime era, the Japanese government purposefully put out cultural propaganda in order to boost nationalism. They wanted Japan to seem entirely unique and therefore more special than all other Asian countries. This is not to say Japan does not have beautiful cultural traditions that extend centuries, but largely those have been transformed and marketed to Japanese and foreign tourists alike.

Shrines and shrine groups donate and mass support alt-right-wing groups in Japan. The over-politeness culture is part of the awful workplace conditions and suicide rates. Actual Japanese people have spoken to these facts but that does not mean they do not like their home culture. Globalization/modernization will not westernize Japan. Women's rights, LGBT rights, labor rights, and immigrants' rights, will not westernize Japan. They will save Japan.

These Japan-obsessed right-wingers will ignore the hundreds of years of protests and civil rights groups to create an orientalist idea of Japan. None and I mean NONE of those people care about Japan, Japanese culture, or Japanese people, they only care about living out their orientalist fantasies while actual Japanese people living their daily lives are simply background props.

We need to stop pretending Japanese people are not their own people with history, culture, and movements.

Here are just SOME links on Japanese politics not known by most people (please message me if you're interested in these topics or would like more resources):

Nippon Kaigi- Alt Right Religious Group

Japanese Work Culture

Ainu - Indigenous Group of the Lands in the Okhotsk Sea

Ryukuans (Okinawans) - Indigenous Group of the Ryukyu Islands

Scream from the Shadows- A Book on the 60s Feminist Movement in Japan

Chizuko Ueno "Forty Years of Japanese Feminism" - Prominent Japanese Feminist

Burakumin - Lowest "Caste" Group in Japan

Zainichi Koreans - Resident Koreans Who's Families Entered Japan During and After the War

LGBT Rights - LBGT+ Rights Group in Japan

Organizing the Spontaneous - 60s ANPO Movement

Sadly I cannot find the twitter page that often posts modern-day Japanese news that normally is not posted by other news organizations. But if any of you remember it please send me the page so I can add it as I believe it is an important resource. Or just reblog with it!

Look, whether you like or dislike Japan, remember it's a country with people just like anywhere else. Do not dismiss the work activists have done in Japan. Do not say Japan "needs this political movement", instead talk about how Japanese progressive groups need international support and recognition (mind you don't say this about any country, especially largely nonwhite countries!!! you are completely ignoring and rejecting the work millions have put into social change!!! instead talk about those people!!! talk about those movements!!! don't let their efforts be forgotten!!! don't let any government tell you these movements are new!!! THEY AREN'T!!!!). One of the biggest ways we can create change and push away alt-right groups and people from any place is by ruining their image of those places.

Do NOT let the alt-right in Japan convince you Japan is purely homogenous and that Japan is the best country in the world. Do not let the Japanese government erase the Ainu, the Ryukyuan, Immigrants, Zainichi Koreans, LGBTQ+ citizens, women's rights, the Burakumin, the poor, and the communists/progressives of Japan. Do not let ANY country erase that history!

DO NOT LET JAPAN PLAY THE VICTIM TO "WESTERIZATION"

#Japan #Japanese politics #weeb culture #white supremacy #progressive politics #this post got way out of hand and there's still so much to add that i feel bad for leaving things out #anti blackness is something id also like to talk about but i also know there's countless black people sharing their own stories #please feel free to message me if you're interested in further research and information #especially on things like anpo the ainu ryukyuans and burakumin #if anyone is interested i have a massive paper on burakumin political action and history post war i wrote #please dm for more resources!!

[mochirizu]

I genuinely can't wrap my head around why people hate Vania

I have come across a few people who dislike/hate Vania and I kind of see where they're coming from, don't get me wrong. Some people may find her personality annoying to no end, or they may dislike Cole/Vania as a pairing(valid as hell, ship what you ship but hating a whole character over it???). I am an avid Vania stan so here is some self indulgent Vania appreciation.

NOTE: These are all my opinions and personal preferences so don,'t get too butthurt. I'd love to hear you guys's own opinions on her, just please be respectful :)

- - - -

Reasons I like Vania:

We have the same personality traits: happy go lucky, warm and optimistic. She's strong-willed, enjoys books and is a fangirl! I can resonate a lot with her character and I really love seeing her onscreen.

She's not afraid to help other people, no matter what!!!

There is no established relationship between her and Cole, so there are lots of possibilities!

Evil dad, bubbly daughter. Slay.

She has a pet dragon. That's just cool as fuck.

Her character design is so yummy i wanna hhhhhhhhh- I mean just LOOK at her

Anyways-

There are many more reasons as to why Vania is best girl, I just don't wanna ramble too much.

Now here are some reasons people dislike Vania(and my debunking of said reasons):

I'm gonna kick this off by saying you do not have to agree with me on any of this. Opinions are opinions and I respect that. In fact I love hearing other people's opinions! However, most of the negative comments I have seen about her are rude, petty or just downright bewildering. You can hate a character without being disrespectful.

Her character is ugly- first of all, r u d e. Like I understand aesthetic preferences but she was designed that way. Not liking aesthetic/appearances and hating on a character don't align all too well.

Shipping- golly gosh goodness... the amount of people who hate Vania because she's an implied love interest to Cole is astonishing. I completely understand with headcannoning Cole as gay/mlm. I'm a multushipper so I agree with that headcannon to an extent(My headcannon is that Cole is pan). I mean, that one scene in the royal blacksmiths is definitely mirroring a 'coming out' story. However, hating on a single character because she 'ruins' your ship or headcannon is just??? Confusing????? And OC shippers aren't safe either.

Vania is young- Again with shipping, Vania is introduced as a 'young' princess who is celebrating her birthday, and young can mean anything from 17-23. I personally see Vania as 19, going on 20: young but coming out of her teen years. I have seen people who are so butthurt that Cole is shipped with a 'minor', so, coming the reasons why she's disliked for that kind of debunks the whole 'Cole's love interest' thing. If she were an intended love interest(she isn't) for Cole, then why would they ship a guesstimated 19/20 year old with a 17 year old girl?

I had an experience with a content creator who imma call C(iykyk) who has a Cole/OC ship. Cool, slay, even. I have a Cole/OC ship as well, more love for the big guy! And we were talking about Vania and C just...spewed disgust for her. Hating her personality, the fact that she's young, all the reason's above. It confused me and even made me mad. I told C I thought ColexVania was kind of cute. And C, flat out, without hesitation, replied 'Ew'.

My jaw fucking dropped because it was the pettiness for me💀. I'm not speaking to C anymore for very different reasons(iykyk) but that was my worst ever experiemce with Vania hate, and hell, It pushed me to be the avid Vania lover I am today!

- - - -

That went on for a while, whoops. But to make a long story short, I love Vania to no end. If you do dislike Vania, please tell me why because I like talking about this stuff, just again be respectful and civil. Don't be C.

#ninjago vania #vania supremacy #can y'all tell i kin her #ninjago #cole x vania #conia #multishipper

[microcomets]

#i have like………an entire MA thesis' worth of thoughts about the 'running away' trope in queer romance #because it SO consistently appears within specifically queer stories for a reason #text #queue

Please elaborate?

a friend just asked me to elaborate as well LOL so i'm gonna copy over my brain-dump to them under a read more!

basically the main thought i have is that existing in the metropolis, wherever that may be represented in a story, means being subjected to a purveyance of domestic order, which inherently enforces oppressive systems of heteropatriarchy. so i think the reason WHY the "running away" trope persists in so many queer narratives comes from a yearning to escape those structures that are enforced by whatever the site of "civilization" is, which i think is why again so many of these queer fantasies of escape or retreat have a bucolic/wilderness feel to them; a desire to exist apart from that heteropatriarchal surveillance that demands adherence to survive. i think that visceral longing to be free from surveillance (which requires a constant SELF-surveillance of masking your true identity, self-closeting or hiding your relationships, etc.) is something that is very uniquely queer. this could all be much more simply boiled down to "desire for escapism" lol but i think looking at it from a spatial theory perspective is neat…queer folks are used to being marginalized, so with this narrative desire there's a spatial drive toward the margins of society, "uncivilized" wilderness (cottagecore, farmcore, being out in nature etc). of course that dreamworld is always disturbed by reality and the expectations therein, which is that even with a geographical move away from the metropolitan center there is no true escape from its systemic reach; nowhere is truly untouched or a tabula rasa in a modern world, and there are too many strings tethering the characters (family or filial obligation is especially prevalent in queer asian media, but also due to career and self-sustenance reasons). anyway i've seen this in a lot of shows now — e.g., first one that comes to mind is the thai BL bad buddy, where the characters literally DO run away to the coast to escape the expectations of their parents where they're free to be a couple, but then eventually return to society because of the reasons i cited — but i just think it's interesting the sheer amount many queer or queer-coded romances that either portray this as an arc or have its characters express this desire, so much so that that i think it's notably distinct from het romances i've seen

#stilllostinthedaydream #asks

[faustandfurious]

Hi!! Late to the party inspired by that horrendous person's anonymous ask (anonymous of course, why would they have the spine to back up whatever they have to say) but I have to say, your thoughts are unique, gorgeous and entertaining!

Please keep on sharing them with us because I'm all in for the ride! Basically anything originating from you coming up in my newsfeed is a piece of art. I don't know you, but I feel I like you, and I',ve liked you and your content for quite some time now.

I hope you never ever get discouraged by cowardly and bitter people like that one and even though all I can testy to is that I love your blog, I know for a certain that there are are I many like me. We love you and we love your content. Please keep on sharing it.

Thank you <3 I have to point out that only a small percentage of the asks I receive are like the one you're referring to, most are nice and civil, with good faith questions and interesting thoughts, and those are always welcome (even if response times may vary for IRL reasons)

Anyway, I'm just so glad there are other people who are equally interested in the topics I post about :)

#kacorkiraly #answered

[anti-katsuki-lounge]

Hello, I'm a BKDK stan here, and I'm have been stalking this blog for a while to read why you guys hate Bakugou. It's very interesting to me for now. There is a few things I would like to highlights since I saw some anons commenting on some certain subjects that I thought was interesting. I don't know if you guy only keep your hate of bakugou to yourself or going around telling it to people who like bkdk just because you feel the need to. Since if you did the later, I could only say that you guys are more trolls than people who just happens to hate a character. If not, than you can hate on him however you want because hey, you can and you have reasons to. But seriously, if you go out your way, go to a specific blog where people are enjoying what might not be your cup of tea or which you feel wrong about (but the things they are enjoying aren't defying any laws), just to go and voice your opinions and not let them enjoy their hobbies. Then, at that point, it is on you guys for actively trying to cause drama, vice versa for bkdk stans. To be real here, I felt a need to voice my opinions about this only because I want to truly see how you guys would react to this and make a quick reminder (due to me seeing a few anons being double standards about this). So, please don't hold double standards (not being able to take opinions of people who does like bakugou's character writing despite wanting them to listen to your's points,etc.) and stereotyping a bunch of people together (if you like bkdk you must be having a thing for abusive bastards, bad boy mthfckers that do no good,etc, for example), and just keep enjoying what you do lawfully. Keep hating and liking whoever you want, but please be civil about it.

Anyway, good day/night to y'all. English isn't my first language so pls don't mind if I have any wrong spelling and grammar.

Hi, thank you for the post 😊. You lay down some very important things that I do wanna discuss. I agree with everything you said. There is no reason for an anti to instigate conflict against a Katsuki or BkDk fan just cause of their ship. It’s rude and unnecessary. When it comes to shitting on Katsuki, I keep it in the appropriate tags cause it’s not my intention to ruin people’s enjoyment. I’m just here to bitch about a fictional character to those who decide to listen 😂. For those who don’t, then that’s perfectly fine. I also agree that stereotyping is bad. It’s why I differentiate between “Stans” and “fans”. At the end of the day, we should be civil like you said and simply exist in our own spaces. Sometimes we may interact due to Tumblr’s tagging system being a bitch or cause we’re genuinely curious about the other side, but as long as we’re civil, that’s fine.

#anti katsuki bakugou #anti bakugo katsuki #anti bakugo #anti bakugou

[ssahotchnerr]

Hey Katie, it's the anon that sent you the "hate" feedback. After reading through everyone's thoughts and opinions, I wanted to apologize! I realize I was being overly harsh and straightforward. Regardless of our differing opinions, I don't want to taint your blog with negativity as it's obvious you work so hard to be positive and kind.

I am actually a writer myself, and i suppose I never really cared for feedback- l've always been okay with just likes and blank reblogs. But I can now understand how everyone has diff ways of coping, how some may need more obvious feedback than others. I shouldn’t force my own preferences on others! I understand the frustration, and I've been educated and I totally support your opinions!

Also, just to clarify. I love the community the hotch girlies have built, and I am not saying we should not all connect and talk due to our common interests. I just think it’s important to be reminded that all our relationships are, indeed, parasocial. BUT I am not saying there is anything wrong with parasocial relationships, because like I’ve said, the community we’ve built is amazingly comfortable and safe, but personally I just believe we should all remember this fact once in a while! I hope this makes sense.

I know I am kind of deserving of being "attacked", but being called a "shithead", “coward”, "pig", “selfish dog”, and generally being sweared at is… well, horrible? I expressed an opinion, perhaps rudely and unfairly, but I am also human. It’s great to see people standing up for you as it shows the strength of everyone coming together, but, wow. I honestly feel scared that everyone is suddenly going to come for me and as a member of the hotch community, I do not feel safe and I do not feel the positivity. (Again, maybe deserved, but still hurts.)

Ofc, Katie, i am not saying this is your fault. You didn’t tell your friends to swear and defend you. I am not blaming you, nor your friends, simply expressing my thoughts! To everyone, I’m really sorry that I brought negativity to Katie’s blog, but pls understand I was simply providing another point of you. Regardless of whether you agree or not, let’s all be civil and not call each other names and be so overly rude. After all, we need to stand together as writers and readers, right? We all love Aaron and Katie and those are the most important parts.

Anyways, sorry for bombarding you with yet another long essay, but I just wanted to own up to my mistakes and express my love and support for your writing! For the record, I really do love how domestic and real your scenarios feel. I see and can feel myself being in the cm world whenever I read your writing! Keep going!

hi anon 🫶🏻 i want to thank you for apologizing - it takes a lot of courage to do so and i respect you greatly for it <3

as you stated, yes everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and you were simply stating yours. i see your perspective and i want to apologize for all the hate you've received as well. i don't condone name calling or belittling at all, that is not something i stand for and my blog is meant for positivity and positivity only. and with being said, i'm tremendously grateful for everyone who came rushing to my defense and the amount of love i've received has been so overwhelming in the best possible way, and it shows how strong our community is 🫶🏻 but now i please ask that all the negativity stops from this point forward - from both sides 🫶🏻 i'm considering all of this to be in the past now, no hard feelings, and i hope y'all do the same <3

thank you for apologizing again!!

#katie's inbox

[peach-and-bugs]

❤️Fallen Star - Wanda Maximoff x fem!Reader (she/they pronouns)❤️ Marvel canon divergence

Ch 1 ❤️Chapter 10❤️Ch 11

Fanfiction master list

Summary: You don’t remember much of what happened during the experiments, or before them honestly. Your mind seems to be protecting you from that somehow. You’ve been on your own for a year now and you can’t recall what normal life used to be like. Now, everything is mixed up and you’ve somehow been taken in by a group that calls themselves the Avengers. It’s a good situation, but it still has its challenges. However, you don’t expect the quiet girl that never talks to you but is always around for some strange reason to be one of those challenges. -❤️- (y/n is a former HYDRA experiment that was assumed to be a failure when she encountered the mind stone, but what HYDRA didn’t realize was that they were given the ability to morph her inner being into the form of light, aiding in her accidental escape. Now, after a year of running from people who had no clue they should be looking for her, y/n has been taken in by the Avengers.)

Warnings: cannon complacent violence, guns, explosions, death

Word Count: 4,391

A/N: And after yet another month+ long break from writing a chapter, we're back! This was one I was both excited about and dreading writing because I wanted to get it right. but anyway, it's time for the civil war era, which is one of my favorites and I intend for it to be quite angsty, so buckle up (also I finished and I'm posting this around 3:30 in the morning, so please ignore mistakes for now.) As always, feel free to leave questions or comments in my comments or ask box, and happy reading! ❤️

Fallen Star Tag List: @blackxwidowsxwife @fleet-prodigy @lattayhottay16

Wanda Maximoff Tag List:

General Tag List:

-❤️-

Months had passed by faster than you would have expected. You'd started spending more and more time at Wanda’s side, so much so that the others had begun to notice. Wanda would confide in you more often than not and you took the time to listen to whatever fuzzy thoughts she needed to expel with a warm presence. In turn, Wanda continued trying to help you regain the memory of your former life. But recently, you'd begun to seek her out simply for her company. 

Some afternoons you'd spar together in the gym, or you'd relax in Wanda's room, watching an old television show together or just talking into the night. Now, however, you were lounging together in your room. Wanda had been dozing on and off after a long session of morning training with Steve. She currently buried her face in one of your pillows with both arms wrapped around it, her breath moving in and out of her parted lips. You let her rest and flipped through a book Natasha had suggested you read. It was an old murder mystery, which wouldn’t normally be your thing, yet you found it quite interesting this time. 

You had to look up from your book when you heard a chuckle. Wanda had left the door wide open when she’d come in and flopped beside you, and you hadn’t bothered to get up and shut it. So now, looking up, your eyes meet an amused pair of blue. You scowled your brow, despite the smile that tugged at your lips as you shut your book.

“She seems comfortable,” Pietro leaned against the frame of your opened door, arms crossed in front of him.

“Shouldn’t you also be in bed, Piet?” you asked, arching a brow. Wanda had been updating you regularly about his condition and by your understanding, he had only been cleared for supervised activity. A walk along to your room didn’t seem to fit that definition. He shook his head and laughed lowly.

“Wanda worries about me too much,” he sighed and turned his gaze to her at your side, smiling fondly. “You know I’m older, right?” he asked, looking your way again. You laughed and rolled your eyes.

“You have mentioned that at least once before,” the Socovian snorted, continuing to smile. “How’s the recovery coming along?”

“I would have thought Wanda would keep you posted?” 

“She has, but I want to know what you think,” he tilted his head with a curious hum, then sighed after a beat. 

“Yaknow, I’m feeling better. I can walk and eat. I feel ready to take care of myself. But sleepy over there…” he paused, watching Wanda again. “She worries,” you nodded with him, eyes glancing down at her as well. She sighed against the pillow, holding it ever so tighter as she took in a long breath. She appeared to be smiling and you couldn’t help but wonder what she might be dreaming about. 

“It’s just what she’s used to, I guess,” he sighed again, running a hand through his hair, which had gotten considerably longer since his accident. “And I hate that she’s gotten so good at it,”

“It’s in her nature,” you murmured, looking back up at him. “When we had our little run-in, she was so worried about hurting me and she didn’t even know me yet,” you mused fondly. 

“Now she’d helped me recover what I lost. Not because she has to, but she wants me to have that back, I guess,” Pietro sighed again and nodded.

“Wanda values those better parts of our childhood. She wants you to have that too,” he paused, chuckling. “She talks about you a lot,” you blinked, surprised by the comment, only he turned his attention back to Wanda before you ask what he meant. The redhead began to stretch beside you, crunching her face as she reached her arms forward. Her fingertips blindly brushed against your arm as she did so, but you made no motion to notice. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting yours as you smiled her way. 

“Hi,” you said, failing to suppress the grin forming on your lips. She of course did not incline that her brother was just by the door and you knew she wasn’t going to be as pleased as Pietro was.

“Hi,” she managed, her voice groggy as she snuggled up with the pillow again as her eyes began to focus after blinking slowly. It took her a second to recall where she was and when she looked up at you again, the faintest pink tinted her cheeks. She sat up promptly, scooting a space away from you as she cleared her throat. “Sorry, I didn't mean to -” she started till her eyes caught her brothers. 

“Pietro! You’re not meant to be up,” she began to scramble off of the bed, marching toward him with outstretched hands. The taller twin began to laugh as she pestered him with questions. “You can’t be walking around without supervision! What if you fall-” Pietro laughed as she began to shove him from the door. 

“I told you!” you called from your seat as he began to walk away with her. 

“I didn’t wanna wake you, Wan. You looked so cozy,” he said with a bright grin as Wanda’s scowl grew into something made up of embarrassment rather than just her initial annoyance. She glanced at you only for a second and you gave her a tiny wave before forcefully shoving her brother down the hall and back to his room. 

“Bye Pietro!” you called, craning your neck to peek out of the door from your bed. You leaned back into your bed, taking up your book again in your lap, but you couldn’t quite seem to get back into it. Instead, you kept thinking about what Pietro had said.  

“‘She talks about you a lot,’” repeated in your head and you couldn’t contain the smile that formed on your lips. Only when you realized, you groaned, flopping on your back and covering your face with your hands as you bit the inside of your cheek. All this time with Wanda had started to make you feel different. 

You knew what it could be, but you weren't going to admit it. Not to yourself and certainly not to her. Besides, what if it was just a silly, fleeting thing that you got over? Or what if she didn’t feel that way- Your bumbling thoughts were interrupted by a chime from your wall.

“Good afternoon, Miss y/n. Natasha and Steve have called for a meeting in the briefing room. You will be there in 5 minutes,” you arched a brow in confusion, sitting up to check if Friday had been right. Sure enough, briefing room, five minutes. You sighed and got out of bed, stretching as you walked out of your room and shut the door behind you. 

-*-

“Alright, the gist of it is that we have a lead on Rumlow,” Steve explained as Natasha pulled up a photo on the room's big screen. You sat at the table with Wanda and Sam, but Vision didn’t seem to be attending. “Now we’re not sure what he’s after. Some chatter says he’s planning to hit the police station in Logos, but again, we’re not certain about anything,” you raised your hand and he nodded towards you.

“Was Rumlow that guy that you kind of…” you paused, gesturing with your hand “dropped a building on, for lack of a better term,” Steve took in a breath through his nose and scratched the bow above his lip.

“Yep. indeed he was. Thank you for the reminded, y/n,” he finished, turning back to the presentation. Wanda, who sat just diagonally across the table from you made a face and you shrugged. “Wanda, you’ll be running visuals with Natasha while Sam and y/n are our eyes in the sky,” you glanced Wanda’s way instinctively, then back at Steve without another word.

“We’re leaving now. Whatever’s happening is going down in the morning and we’ll make it just in time so go suit up,” he dismissed you with a wave of his hand. You got up promptly 

“Will Vision be coming?” Wanda asked and you stalled at the door, waiting for her to catch up.

“No. we figured he’d stand out just a touch,” Natasha interjected as Steve left the room. “Stealth is the priority here,” Wanda nodded then left with you without another word about it. 

“Why’d you ask about Vision?” you interrupted the silence as you walked with her when curiosity got the better of you. She shrugged as you turned down the hall to the compound elevators and pushed the down button. 

“Just curious maybe,” she looked up at the blinking numbers above the elevator. You watched her carefully, trying to catch something you could be missing. “We haven’t had a full team mission yet. I thought maybe this could be it,” she stepped into the open elevator as she finished talking. You hadn’t noticed the doors open, you were so focused on her. You rode down in silence beside her, leaning your lower back on the wall as you snuck glances at her. She’d taken out her phone and was typing quickly. Assumedly texting Pietro to let him know what was up, you guessed. 

“Have you been to Africa?” Wanda asked just as the doors opened up.

“Hm?” You hummed then shook your head. “No, I haven’t. At least I don't think I have,” you said with a slightly smug smile, enjoying your one joke about your memory loss just a little bit. Wanda’s eyes widened slightly and she shied away, a slight flush coming over her complexion again.

“Sorry. That must have slipped my mind…” she mumbled, walking with you to the gear room. You laughed and shook your head. 

“It was funny! Don’t worry about it,” you assured her with another shiny smile. “But no, I not sure if I’ve been or not,” you pulled the door open, gesturing for her to go in before you. Sam was practically ready to go and was sat fidgeting with some of Redwing’s code before heading out. 

“Move it, bird brain!” you called in a joking manner as you walked in behind Wanda, the door shutting with a quiet clock. Sam arched a brow with a lopsided smile as he tisked. He finished with Redwing and tucked him away, making a face as he passed you and you in turn stuck your tongue out at him. 

“Nice, y/n. Very mature,” he called as he pushed the doors open with his back. 

“Says the guy who started it!” you yelled back. You heard Wanda chuckle from her locker and you turned to see her shaking her head. “What?” you asked, though you smiled, knowing what she was probably going to say.

“You’re never mature with him,” she commented, pulling out some of the more “undercover” attire she suspected she might need given her surveillance assignment. 

“Yeah, I know. But Sam’s hardly serious,” Wanda hummed, moving to a more secluded changing room to get dressed. “Don’t forget the baseball cap!” you called to her as she left. You heard her chuckle under her breath and imagined her shaking her head again.

-*-

You landed in Lagos when it was still dark and Steve ran down the plan once more for you. Around five, you moved into your positions. Steve was hidden in a hotel room that overlooked the police station while Wanda and Natasha took up seats at a small cafe just across the way. You sat with Sam on the roof of a taller building, also facing the station. 

“All right, what do you see?” Steve asked over coms, his question targeted Wanda. While this was a very real mission, Nat and Steve had professed that this would also be treated as a team-building exercise of sorts for the three of you. You watched Wanda from above, though her face was obscured by an umbrella as well as the hat, which she’d worn per your suggestion.

“Standard beat cops. Small station. Quiet street. It’s a good target,” Wanda observed.

“There’s an ATM in the south corner, which means…” Steve was stalling, wanting Wanda to come up with the answer herself rather than telling her.

“Cameras,” right on the money. 

“Both cross streets are one way”

“So, compromised escape routes”

“Means our guy doesn't care about being seen, he isn't afraid to make a mess on the way out,” he stalled in his breath, considering possibilities. “You see that Range Rover halfway up the block?”

“Yeah, the red one? It’s cute” 

“It's also bulletproof,” Natasha interjected, “which means private security, which means more guns, which means more headaches for somebody. Probably us.”

“You guys know I can move things with my mind, right?” you had to refrain from laughing over coms. Sam noticed and shook his head with a smirk as your smile turned to a scowl at the sight of him.

“Looking over your shoulder needs to become second nature,” Natasha added. You could see her sipping her coffee and imagine her eyes shifting behind her sunglasses.

“Anybody ever tell you you're a little paranoid?” Sam asked upper coms. Now it was his turn to shoot you a grin. You rolled your eyes and turned your attention back to the street.

“Not to my face,” you could hear the smirk Natasha was keeping concealed in her voice. “Why? Did you hear something?”

“Eyes on target, folks,” Steve interrupted now, ceasing the conversation altogether and focusing up once more. “This is the best lead we've had on Rumlow in six months. I don't want to lose him,”

“If he sees us coming that won't be a problem. He kind of hates us,” you nudged Sam’s shoulder, getting him to knock it off when strange movement on the street caught your attention along with Sam’s

“Sam, see that garbage truck?” you exchanged a mutual look with Sam and nodded “Tag it,” doing as he was instructed, Sam released Redwing from his back with the click of a button. The little camera robot hovered for a moment before it was flown down to provide visuals of the truck. You leaned close to Sam to get a better look from your perch.

“Give me X-ray,” with a click of a few buttons, you watched as he grimaced. 

“That truck’s loaded for max weight. And the driver’s armed” Sam turned to you and you nodded. You both knew it was time to get going, so Sam started up his thrusters and you got your powers working, warming them up for a quick getaway.

“It’s a battering ram,” Natasha added with a breath.

“Go now,” 

“Why?” you heard Wanda ask as you all began moving. 

“He’s not hitting the police.'' With Steve’s order, you jump into action with Sam, both diving to the ground with you at the front in a move you'd been practicing for some time now. Just before you hit the ground, you reached up and Sam grabbed your hands. Normally, he would have strained himself flying like this, but strangely, when you activated your powers, they helped you both grip on to one another, making the move possible in short inclinations.

Moving quickly, he managed to turn around and sort of launch you into the air in a corkscrew motion to give you an added boost. Unlike Wanda, you couldn’t quite support yourself in the air with your powers. So ratchet than flying, you'd learned to use your powers like a jump boost of sorts, which helped run across spread-out roofs like you were now. And Sam’s help gave you some additional air that you wouldn’t have been able to get otherwise. 

Sam ducked back into the city once he knew you'd had been set up to get hold of Steve and you kept running towards the scene. You could see the truck speeding up now and it Tapppeared to be heading for a building with writing that reads “Institute of Infectious Disease” on the outside. Your stomach dropped with a familiar kind of dread for what they might be after. 

You arrived a little late and watched as Steve was launched from the air, similarly to how you had been, and began sparing with men on the ground. You made your way to the roof with the familiar clanging and wooshing of the Captain's shield echoing below you. You landed on a bridge-like part of the roof with one last boosted jump and skid across the gravel lining, alerting the two men with rather large guns to your existence.

“Hello boys,” you said with a smug smile. Guns began to click and with a pound of your fist into your open palm, you manifested a sparkling gold shield in front of you. You charged forward, bullets rickshaw till you fully ran and slid across the roof and between the two men, getting behind them long enough to knock one off his feet. You worked to deflect the other one’s attacks till you hit him square in the chest with an extra powered punch. 

“Body armor, AR-15s. I make seven hostiles,” Steve said over crackling coms. Sam appeared on the roof as you continued to fight the first of the men. You could hear the other one begin to get up but didn’t have the time to worry as Sam handled him. Hitting your attacker square in the jaw as well as with an uppercut to the ribs seemed to do the job and you turned to Sam with sweat trickling down your brow. You moved over to him and gave him a knuckle bump as he nodded with a heaving breath.

“I make 5,” Sam said over coms. 

“We make 5,” you clarified, moving on to the next wave below. You stopped before jumping down and looked up for the familiar sound of Wanda’s magic as she flew overhead, landing on the main level as she left a red pulse in her wake. She quickly manifested a shield similar to your own (which you'd helped her learn), blocking a barrage of bullets till she could grab her attacker and fling him backward with her magic.

“Sam,” she called and your partner flew down, knocking into the flying guy with his wing and slamming him to the ground. 

“Four,” he said as he walked off. 

“Do you need to count!” you called just before jumping from the roof, cushioning your landing with a pulse of your magic that kept you on your feet. With the outer ground floor secured you had a moment to breathe and did a short jog over to Wanda. You grabbed her shoulder gently and smiled. “Hey, you alright,” she nodded with a quick smile of her own and you gave her a curt nod, squeezing her shoulder just before turning back to the mission. Looking up you saw Redwing scanning the building and taking a headcount of the remaining hostels in the area. 

“Rumlow’s on the third floor,” he reported when the drone had finished up. Steve nodded and turned to Wanda, looking right in her eye to assure her attention. 

“Wanda, just like we practiced,” He barked as he walked, pointing at her as he looked up at the building.

“What about the gas?” the Sakovian asked from beside you. 

“Get it out,” Steve’s fast-paced walk turned into a sprint as he jumped onto the roof of one of the parked trucks. You watched as Wanda strained, using much of her efforts to lift Steve quite high and guide him through one of the large windows that walled off the third floor. once he was through, another wave of hostels moved in from where the truck had crashed. 

“I’m covering you!” you yelled as gunfire rang out, pressing your back to Wanda as you made ye another shield, only bigger to cover the both of you. Wanda leaned her back on you as she focused on moving the gas, using you as a way to physically relieve some of the pressure from using her magic so much. Periodically you managed to send a blast into one of the men shooting when they got too close, but your effort was primarily working to keep both Wanda and her shield up. 

“Rumlow has a biological weapon,” you heard Steve over the coms ad Wanda dispersed the gas into the air. 

“I’m on it,” Nat’s voice rang out now. You kept an ear out for anything of pertinent importance or orders over the coms but focused your attention on Wanda. She’d keeled over, hands on her knees as she worked to keep her breath regulated. You came up beside her gently, tentatively rubbing circles in her back with your palm. 

“Hey, talk to me,” you murmured. “You ok?” you asked. She nodded, eventually standing fully as she caught her breath. She smiled at you, though it appeared weak as her chest continued to rise and fall at a pace that felt to fact. 

“Let’s take it easy,” explosions began to ring out from behind the building and Steve sounded over coms again. 

“Sam. He's in an AFV heading north” Wanda turned to you, reaching out her hands. You shook her head, knowing what she was trying to do, but she relented, grabbing your hands and wrapping them around her shoulders. With little to no warning, she pushed off the ground and you had no choice but to hold onto her tight. She focused her energy to round her feet and in her right hand as her left came up to wrap around your waist, pressing you close as she flew you in the same direction as same. 

“Wanda, this in no way taking it easy!” you yelped over the rushing air around you. Wanda only laughed in response and you could feel it reverberate in her chest with the proximity between you both. You held on a little tighter after that. 

“I got four, they're splitting up” you heard Sam yell in person rather than over the coms from his perch on a tin roof as you landed in the market with Wanda. Bistanderds scattered from your landing spot and you promptly apologized as Wanda continued, dragging you along in the chase.

“I got the two on the left” you spotted Natasha running over the hoods of taxies down a different street of the market. As you moved inward, you watched Steve do the same till he dove into a crowd. 

“They ditched their gear,” he started. You stopped running for a moment with Wanda to listen. “It's a shell game now. One of them has the payload” you didn’t see it, but you heard the explosion followed by the collective screaming from marketgoers as Steve was attacked. Wanda tried pulling you through, but with the sudden divulgence into chaos, it was difficult to get any kind of opening. Especially since you were going in the opposite direction of practically everyone else. 

“We need to get to Steve!” Wanda insisted as she continued to try and move. She went to try and fly you both again, but you pushed her fist down, stopping her for the moment. 

“You're tired, Wanda. We’ll make it, just give it a moment,” She stared into your eyes as people swarmed around you but gave in with a nod. You took the lead this time, guiding her through the frantic crowd to the clearing that appeared to be forming around Steve. 

You pushed forward, trying to get some kind of visual. When you did, you realized he was soloing with Rumlow and you felt your heart sink. You moved faster, shouldering and elbowing your want though as anxiety began to pulse through your throat. The realization that you could be too late didn’t hit you till you skidded to the edge of the crowd, finally in earshot of the scene. 

Rumlow smiled menacingly up at Steve, who had a frozen look on his face as if he had just seen a ghost. His face was coiled and burned from their previous encounter and you stood, petrified as he spoke, your grip on Wanda’s hand tightening as your eyes widened. 

“He said to me, ‘Please tell Rogers. When you gotta go, you gotta go.’” his grin curled as his brows furrowed in a crazed delight. “And you're coming with me,” you noticed the bomb vest too late, only when he pulled out the trigger. 

“Steve!” you screeched, beginning to move forward as there was a burst of orange light around Rumlow only to be forced to the dusty ground by Wanda’s hands as she reached out in front of her. Steve turned in a mixture of amazement and horror, similar to your expression as Wanda began to contort her hands and arms, groaning at the strain of heaping the explosion contained between the walls of her magic till Rumlow was shot into the air. Only she couldn’t hold it long enough. 

He exploded right beside the windows of an office building, multiple stories high. Wanda knelt to the ground, the hand covering her face moving to her mouth in horror realizing what she had done. Steve stared wide eyes up at what was now a burning hole and slowly reached for his earpiece. 

“Sam… We need… Fire and Rescue… on the south side of the building. We gotta get up there…” he asked between panting breaths. You remained frozen in place due to shock and the rushing adrenalin that pounded in your ears. Wanda practically collapsed to the ground, tears burning her eyes as she swallowed a sob. 

Only that shook you from the frozen staring and you moved. You practically fell again as you scrambled to your feet, your suit dirtied by the sandy ground as you took her into your arms. You wrapped one arm over her chest, the other over her head as she began to cry. Sirens began to blare in the distance, honing in on the three of you. But all you heard was the mingling of Wanda’s trembling cries and your shaking, hushed whispers as you tried to soothe her. You went as far as obstructing her view of the damage as you promised her that it was a mistake.

#marvel #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfiction #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff x you #wanda x reader #wanda x y/n #wanda x you #wanda fanfiction #wanda mcu #wanda fanfic #wanda marvel #wandavision #fanfiction update #fanfics #fanfiction #fanfic #fanfic masterlist

[sehnsuchts-trunken]

Hello! I was wondering if I could get a Matchup for Maze Runner, LOTR, and Marauders Era please? I'm bisexual with a male lean, she/her.

Personality wise, I am very quiet at first, having to be encouraged to actually talk to people upon first meeting them, but after a while I open up and I am very talkative, I also can be very unsure of choosing things (my best friend always says that I'm allowed to ask for things when I am at her place) especially because I always get nervous someone will judge me for my decision. I also can have a very short temper at times, with either leads to me finding a pillow to slam against a bed or me crying the anger out. I tend to care more for those around me and making them happy rather than myself, because my family and friends are extremely important to me. I've always been a little bit of a people pleaser, and people do find it easy to take advantage of me because of that at times. And what attracts me to a person is usually their personality, if someone seems rude I will distance myself from them, but usually I end up liking people who I find are kind, like talking, and have similar hobbies to me, and can make me laugh and want to make me laugh

For hobbies I do a lot of writing (as my dream job is to be a writer), and reading, but I also love skating, listening to music, colouring, and dancing. I also tend to include talking to my friends as a hobby. (This is throwing me back to when my crush said that writing and reading weren't my hobbies because I do them both too much to be just a hobby lmao-)

Interests is definitely writing and flying, as said before I love writing, but I also really want to become a pilot!

Love language: My love language is either giving gifts or physical touch

well hello hello, you absolutely can have a matchup! also i just have to ask, are you a hufflepuff? 

for maze runner,

I (definitely) ship you with...

Newt

genuinely i didnt have to even read through your whole text to know this lmao

- Newt is the kindest, most compassionate person around, and he’s super pretty too, so it was inevitable you’d fall for him. He would be the one person never once taking advantage of you, even if the others unknowingly will at times. Like, he’s also kind of keen on keeping things civil and friendly and all, but he’s well able to call someone out on their bullshit, so when you aren’t... He really, really pays attention to it. And tells others, too, even if you hear about it from Minho who heard it from Fry who heard it from Gally and not from himself. 

- He continously tells you the same thing your friend does, namely that you’re allowed to speak up and do things just because you want to. That you don’t matter less than anyone else. I don’t want to make anyone cry here but that definitely has to do with his past. 

- Anyway I feel like I don’t even have to elaborate why Newt is so perfect for you. Your personalities just work. A relationship between you works. He adores everything you do, especially when you write - he loves teasingly (but never mockingly or threateningly) convicing you to read it out to him afterwards, just because he’s always amazed at the skill you have, stringing sentences together, making them sound so wonderful - but really just everything about you. 

for lotr, 

I ship you with... 

Aragorn! 

- First of all, I pictured Aragorn helping you through one of those rage episodes/ with your short temper immediately when I read through your description. Like I can just really imagine you losing your temper, clenching your hands to fists during some really annoying conversation, him instantly noticing and taking your hand and walking two steps and then just handing you an axe and letting you chop down a tree. Or some orks. 

- Also he really is a kind person. I can absolutely see you falling for him. He’s loyal and protective and so strong willed, and he may not like talking as much as listening, but he’s certainly always up for a conversation with you. He’s really physical (on second thought that comes across wrong, what i mean is that he’s sporty and fit) and he offers to teach you swordfighting as a way to deal with your temper, but it also perfectly fits your love language because he does enjoy  a good hug. I do think he values acts of service himself, but he likes that you’re all about physical touch. 

- He shares your love for music, if not as much as some elves do, but a lot. And something he loves even more than music is just... watching you dance. He is always happy about dancing with you, too, but expect him to stare at you much more than joining you. (He’ll never decline an invitation, of course. He could never do that to you.)

for harry potter, 

I ship you with...

Pandora!

- Pandora may be a little quieter than you are, but she is not shy in the slightest. She loves to talk about anything and everything with you, join when you’re writing or drawing or dancing or just listening to music. 

- She’s definitely all about gift giving as a love language - when she sees something that reminds her of you or makes her think of you, she’s giving it to you. And she also adores you doing the same; she has a jar of things for everything that you get her, an album for photographs and poems and after some years, a whole drawer because it was getting out of hand keeping it in a smaller place. Every flower you get her, she dries and makes into jewellery or decor. 

- Pandora really likes the outdoors and I genuinely think she’s made friends with enough magical... things in Hogwarts and on its grounds that she has no problem coming up with date ideas that involve flying. Sure, yeah, you can just use a broomstick and you do do that a lot because you just love the sensation of being so high up, but it really is a different feeling when you’re riding a Thestral or a Hippogriff instead of a wooden stick. 

#matchups #x reader #harry potter #marauders era #marauders #tmr #maze runner #newt #newt tmr #newt x reader #pandora #pandora lovegood #aragorn #lotr #lord of the rings

[syrupwit]

happy friday! For Anders and anyone of your choice: B04. Character Attempts to Matchmake Love Interest They Believe Is Unattainable

yoooo thank you!! my brain said "matchmaking? elves!" -- so, under the cut, please find ~730 words of Anders/Merrill, set between Acts 1 and 2 of DA2, for @dadrunkwriting.

(This is -- I can't fathom why I keep writing so much fluff. But here it is.)

-

Anders had been coming by the alienage pretty often lately, Merrill reflected. Not a bad thing, actually; he'd been civil! He'd healed lots of elves! He'd kept the cracks about blood magic to a minimum! And the spirit hadn't appeared so far. It was just that he kept trying to—match her up.

"What about that one?" he said, pointing at a rangy elf loading sad summer squashes on a cart destined for the Lowtown market. It was early in the morning, and they were sitting in front of her house together, sharing cups of tea and a cloth full of sour plums.

Anders had stayed so late treating a series of related concussions that he had been unable to return to Darktown, and had spent the night. He didn't get as upset about it as Merrill might have feared. Instead, he had thanked her for the bed, claimed to have a decent night's sleep in spite of his dreams, and now seemed almost perky.

"That's Jonidia's son Tafer," said Merrill, wincing and reflexively half-rising as the elf dropped an armful of squash in the dirt, "and he's much too young for me! I don't understand why shemlen are so bad with elves' ages."

"I'm not that bad with elves' ages."

"Last week you kept pestering me about that old flower merchant. That was a grandfather—maybe even a great-grandfather!—and he was being kind." Merrill sat down and took back her tea, which Anders had taken for safekeeping when she stood up. It was nice to feel comfortable enough with someone to do things like that, and very odd that it was Anders. "Why is it always men with you, anyway?"

"You'd prefer women?" He shaded his eyes—it was going to be a hot day, she could already tell—and scanned the horizon. "What about her?" He pointed at a middle-aged elf who was coming around the vhenadahl, a pair of covered baskets yoked over her shoulders. "I'm sure she has plenty to teach… oh, bollocks, I can't talk like this anymore."

"This is more fun for me when Isabela does it," Merrill informed him.

"I've been told that before," said Anders out the side of his mouth like he was offering a shared joke, his tone almost sly. Then his expression twisted and soured. "What about Hawke?"

"Hawke doesn't tease me like that unless Isabela really gets going, and then Varric usually tells them to stop after a while." Merrill thought. "Have you seen Hawke recently? I've been thinking of dropping in on her again soon. It must get so boring up there in Hightown, in that big new mansion of hers, and she doesn't water her plants enough."

"I'm sure Hawke will be thrilled to see you," said Anders, sounding none too happy about it. All this talk of ages and here he was, a grown human sounding like a child.

Merrill frowned at him. "Why are you upset now? I thought we were having a nice morning."

"I'm not upset."

She took the plums from him and rolled one between her fingers. "Is it because I mentioned Hawke? Did you have a fight with her?"

"No, Merrill, I did not have a fight with Hawke."

"Did Justice have a fight with Hawke, then?"

"Justice and I are one—" She hid her smile too late, and he sighed, his exasperation half serious. "Just drop it."

Merrill was still watching his face when she bit into the plum, which was why she noticed his eyes dropping to her mouth.

She licked her lips, he licked his, she moved towards him a little, and there was a moment of clumsy but effective nonverbal communication that managed to convey a lot more than Anders probably wanted it to.

"Oh!" she said, embarrassed and pleased. It seemed like the day was getting warm earlier than usual. "Is that why you keep bothering me about people?"

"Merrill," he said, and looked away, his shoulders hunched like he was ashamed.

"You could have just told me." She put her hand on his knee—his leg was still right next to hers—and squeezed. After a moment, his hand settled over hers. It was big and warm and there were hairs on the back of it. Merrill felt excited about all of that.

They could talk about things later. She drank her tea, which had grown lukewarm, and watched the alienage wake up around them.

#dadwc #dadwc fill #dreadfutures

[whattheskyknows]

Your thoughts about Kaito are interesting but I have a bit of contrarguments (if you don't mind) a) with Shuichi there was an element of "Kaede trusted that guy with her wish, gotta make sure he won't fall to pieces" and then took Maki in also bc he felt guilty after what happened to Ryoma b) there are moments in the first chapters where Kaito tries to talk with Kokichi (one example is trying to find him in 1st fte in chapter 2 while Kokichi's hiding) while he just flat out refused to listen

I don't mind counterarguments as long as they're civil (like this ask is being!) I don't aim to spread negativity using my blog but I also don't mind people expressing their opinions respectfully. I've heard that the Danganronpa fandom can get intense ahaha, it's one of the biggest reasons why I don't really outwardly make many posts talking about my opinions since I don't particularly want to get into any online arguments. I like to keep things relaxed on my blog lol. Anyway I'm gonna add a 'keep reading' tab since I did end up rambling quite a bit ahaha

Your counterarguments do make sense and are points I haven't really thought about fully! I like that Kaito took Shuichi under his wing because he wanted Shuichi to be strong enough to carry out Kaede's wish. I just think it was a little frustrating that Kaito was so nice to Shuichi yet gave up on Ryoma a little too quickly. It was a shame to see.

I also totally get Kaito wanting to help Maki too but the one thing that always plays on my mind is that she's an assassin. The first thing she did when she was exposed was literally choke Kokichi. She established herself as a threat the moment she did that. In my personal opinion I just couldn't see myself reaching out as eagerly as Kaito did to Maki straight away.

I guess what I find the most weird is that Kaito happily hounded an assassin to be his sidekick. I don't think she would've been my first choice of friend. I guess I just find it funny in a way that Kaito sees Maki try to choke out someone and he's like yep, she's gonna be my sidekick ahaha.

As for the free time event scenario with Kaito and Kokichi, I must admit I haven't done Kaito's free time events in quite a while and I especially didn't do them during chapter 2 since I was more focussed on talking to Kirumi and Ryoma for obvious reasons ahaha. I didn't know Kokichi had ran away from Kaito! I must admit I have an absolute garbage memory and I don't remember who said what to who and who was friends with who but yeah, I do remember Kokichi being an absolute pain and not listening to anyone during the earlier chapters.

I guess I just wish Kaito treat everyone with equal energy. I just think for plot convenience he lost patience with other characters more quickly than others just so the plot could advance. I just wish the game was a little longer and we got to have more character interactions outside of free time events. I think the game should've had some compulsory bonus scenes or something that showed us characters interacting perhaps even outside of Shuichi's pov. I'm not talking one on one conversations either, I would've loved to see more interactions between smaller groups!

I do want to make it very clear what I'm saying is also my opinion. If anyone reading this post disagrees with what I'm saying then that's fine! I must ask though if you do disagree with something I've said then please just either ignore my post or if you really want to say something, please, please, please be civil about it ahaha.

Thanks for the ask! Have a nice day!

#I must admit I haven't really interacted with the danganronpa fandom despite being in it for several years #I've heard things can get wild #idk I just want to keep things chill on my blog #like it's fun having different thoughts and opinions on games since it can lead to in depth discussions #and it's interesting to see what different people think about the game! #but yeah I absolutely don't mind asks like this since it was worded nicely

[frogs-in3-hills]

hey do y’all remember when i said i might post that crimeboys & bedrock bros avatar fusion AU i’d written like 2 yrs ago? because. i might have just impulsively decided to clean up the first of two chapters and. yeah.

short disclaimer: i’m not in the dsmp fandom anymore, i don’t fully remember how to write these characters or even entirely where i was going with this fic, so don’t expect a continuation. sorry!! i'm just posting this for the sillies and for the couple of people who said they were interested. also, obligatory apology for referencing the gene yang comics in even the vaguest of senses…. i like the general conceit of the promise way more than uh... what they actually did with it.

---

Safe Return (11,240 words) sorry about the length but y'all know me :|

Characters: Tommyinnit, Wilbur Soot, Technoblade, Captain Puffy

Tags: Avatar: the Last Airbender fusion, Tommyinnit-centric, angst and fluff, alternate universe, Wilbur and Tommy are brothers, found family, unhealthy relationships, no beta

CW: fucked up immigration policy and a few stomach/gut-based analogies that may trigger emetophobia. also be aware of very lightly implied exile arc and briefly referenced suicidal tendencies.

Summary: Wilbur enlists the help of a stranger in the hopes of getting safely into Ba Sing Se. Tommy is not very pleased with this development, but they both know he'll follow Wilbur anyway.

---

“Names?”

“Wilbur, ma’am. And he’s Tommy.”

Tommy flinched a little as Wilbur placed a hand on his shoulder. It was loud. They’d been standing underground for a few hours now, and before that they’d been waiting in the line trailing outside of Full Moon Bay since the early, early morning. The air was unpleasant in the same way it feels gross to hold a raw egg in your hands, bloated with sweat and the quiet shuffle of feet. The sooner Tommy was out of here, the better. 

The woman before them had a perpetual pucker to her lips, as if she were holding something sour between her teeth. She raised a thin eyebrow.

“Hm… those are some unusual names. Where are you from, Wilbur and Tommy?”

Wilbur’s grip tightened slightly, and Tommy shuddered, worming two fingers into his pocket to fiddle with a loose thread.

“Well —” Wilbur started, but he could barely be heard over the hustle and bustle. He cleared his throat. “Well, we hail from Yu Dao, but we’ve been traveling north longer than we can remember, so we…”

Wilbur trailed off. Despite having asked, the woman looked uninterested in their story. Tommy could practically hear the social-interaction-cogs turning in Wilbur’s head. Distantly, he recalled a few minutes ago when Wilbur had begged him to “be civil” when they talked to the immigration officer. 

Well, Wil had been too distracted to notice he never actually agreed to that, so he didn’t feel that bad for glaring daggers into the woman’s eyes. It was the least he could do, really. 

“I see,” she drawled. “Passports?”

“We’re just humble refugees seeking asylum and work in the great walls of Ba Sing Se, ma’am,” Wilbur said.

“Either of you boys have an education? Or any in-demand skills?”

Wilbur sucked in a breath and his hand left Tommy’s shoulder. His words were familiar, a few short sentences having been practiced a hundred times over. “Both Tommy and I have a unique skillset from working a variety of jobs. I have political experience and he’s well-versed in agriculture and animal care. And we—we’re both young and can pick things up quickly. I’m confident we can—”

The woman raised her hand and Wilbur’s mouth clamped shut. The sight of it made Tommy want to strangle both of them. He wove the thread in his pocket so tight that it threatened to cut off the circulation in his fingers.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Wilbur attempted to continue. “…We can be of value to this great city’s community if… if you would lend us the opportunity…”

Oh my god, shut up! Tommy thought. This was it, wasn’t it? Their entire lives basically ruined in thirty seconds. Wilbur was bungling it, wasn’t he? Tommy should… Wil just needed a bit of inspiration. Right. Tommy gave him a gentle and motivational stomp on the foot.

Calm down, idiot, Tommy attempted to communicate to him through eye contact alone. He wasn’t sure if it worked. Wilbur only responded with a series of difficult expressions, all layered thinly under his best imitation of a more pleasant kind of human being, which made it hard to tell.

The woman sighed, sounding sort of dissatisfied, and then her eyes turned sharply to inspect Tommy.

“Show me your hands, little boy,” she said, her voice pitching somewhat as if she was trying to sound more approachable. Tommy felt butterflies rear in his stomach, anyways. He swallowed back the instinctual “I’m not a little boy, I’m fifteen!” retort and slowly presented his hands.

They were bony, nimble, fingers sprinkled lightly with scrapes and small moles. On the back of his left hand, a burn scar trailed from just under his sleeve and all the way down to his elbow. His nails left four angry, crescent-shaped indents in each palm as he unclenched his fists.

She reached out and snatched one of his hands.

Tommy hissed, immediately trying to yank it back to no avail as she ran a scrutinizing thumb over the tips of his fingers. 

“What the fuck?” He shouted, the crude words slipping out of his mouth before he could stop them. “Don’t touch me!”

Her fingers felt soggy, like when a grandma kisses you on the cheek but without any of the affection. After a moment of tug o’ war, the woman, seemingly mollified, let go. Tommy stumbled backwards into Wilbur. Two warm, steadying hands met both his shoulders, and this time, Tommy wasn’t even sure if it felt comforting or restricting.

“I’m so sorry, ma’am, he didn’t—” Wilbur started, attempting some damage control. Tommy would normally have been offended that Wilbur wasn’t taking his side, but the protective grip on his shoulders told him that Wilbur was just as upset as he was.

“Save your breath, young man,” the woman interrupted, then gave them a little lopsided smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I can’t admit you. Look at all these people behind you, they’re hard workers, and they have nowhere else to go. You tell me this kid’s a rancher of sorts, but look at his hands; he hasn’t worked a day in his life. We simply don’t have room for everyone.”

“Please, you need to understand—”

“I’ve worked! I’ve worked fucking plenty, bitch!”

“Denied. Next!” the woman called, waving a hand at them as if dismissing servants from her court. Tommy thought, optimistically, maybe she was just tired. Maybe he was just tired and none of this was actually happening. But then he blinked, and when he opened her eyes, her face was painted with cruelty instead. Maybe.

His stomach ignited with anger, but Wilbur reigned him in. “Tommy, we can’t—look, there are guards all around. Let’s go.”

It was true. Tommy glanced up to see that a group of women in guard uniform were standing in a group near the wall. One of them met Tommy’s eyes, but she didn’t seem like she was gearing up to drag them out or kill them or anything. For a moment, Tommy was distracted—they all looked extremely cool—but another tug on his arm reminded him of the situation.

“Ugh, but Wil—”

“I’m afraid we have no more business here.” The finality in Wilbur’s voice shut Tommy up long enough for him to twist around, practically dragging Tommy with him as he began to powerwalk to the exit.

Well, it was more like he was confidently squirming through the gaps in the crowd. Tommy pressed closer, growing ever more conscious of the mass of people in the huge station. The rumble of chatter soaked through his ears and into his brain. He could barely think. He was gonna—it was ruined. Everything had gone wrong.

Tommy made an effort to step on Wilbur’s heels as they walked, trying to distract himself from the fact that he wanted to spew his guts all over the floor or something. 

But Wilbur just ignored him. His entire body felt too light, like butterflies but worse. Like if all the butterflies had turned to worms and they were eating him from the inside out now. 

Still staring straight ahead, Wilbur’s grip slid from Tommy’s forearm down to lace with his fingers. Tommy tried not to rip his hand away.

They eventually made their way out of the cove. It was bordering on late afternoon, the sun low enough to cast long, dark shadows but not quite tired enough to set. Outside, something of a town had formed, though still innocuous as to avoid raising suspicion from the Fire Nation. The trailing line was shorter than it had been when they’d arrived, and Tommy reveled a little in the fact that he was right that they hadn’t needed to wake up in the asscrack of dawn and stupid Wilbur was wrong. 

The two went to sit, finally, against the side wall of a small shack. As soon as Tommy felt like he could breathe right again, he yanked his hand away from Wilbur’s and stuffed it back into his pocket.

He could tell Wil was looking at him, probably something very interesting and complicated happening on his face. Eventually, he turned away to face the rocky shore, murmuring, “That was it, then.”

Tommy felt his throat do a laugh-so-you-don’t-cry thing and he kicked his heel against the wall, which was only a little better than just stamping his foot like a child.

“I don’t know what the fuck they’re looking for in refugees if not—if—I don’t know how we didn’t—!” he started to ramble.

He looked back at the lines of families, waiting so patiently, only to be turned down like them. Some were injured or ill. There had been women holding their children close to them, people from all over the Earth Kingdom come to escape the war.

“Yeah,” Wilbur said, morosely shoving his stupid beanie back over his stupid hair.

Tommy felt warm tears building in his vision, so he wiped his eyes roughly with his sleeve. “Haven’t worked a day in my life—like you—like she can tell my whole fuckin’—a guy’s life story just ‘cause he likes to stay moisturized! Seriously, it’s such bullshit, it’s—it’s—but it’s fine, ‘cause we can just—we’ll just—we—I can, like, I can pretend to be sick and we’ll go back. And they’ll say oohh, we’re so sorry for doubting you Tommy, you’re so sad and destitute and Wilbur is so bitchless, I’ll be a little soggy, they wouldn’t dare—I reckon they’d let in a soggy little man like me.”

“There’s no need for that, Tommy,” Wilbur sighed. “I don’t think having any transmissible diseases is going to help our case anyway. Look, the ferry was our best bet, but it was never our only bet, okay?”

Tommy scoffed. “Oh! I guess now you wanna go with old Tommy Scammy’s plan of forging our passports, great time to get on board, Wil. We already—they already fuckin’ turned us down, alright?”

“No, dude, I mean my plan. The back-up plan.”

Ugh. The backup plan again. Sometimes Wilbur could be so fucking vague with things, always thinking he was the boss and Tommy was just a little kid following along. Making decisions without him and not telling him like he was doing Tommy some big favor. Every time Tommy asked, he was met with a dismissive “don’t worry about it” or an “it won’t even come up”. Clearly, it fucking did, and now Tommy had no say in their next move even though Wilbur was barely older than him. Probably. Well—five years wasn’t that big a gap, was it?

“Well apparently, it’s our plan now,” Tommy corrected. “It’s not the fuckin’ Wilbur Soot show. It’s not—it’s not all about you, you prick bastard.”

Wilbur’s hand juttered between five different motions, like he was trying to exhasperatedly rub his temples and fidget with the hem of his coat at the same time. “I—Tommy, would you say I’ve been self-centered in all this?”

Tommy pressed his lips together. “Fuckin’ trick question.”

He’d meant the whole thing to come off as a joke, or like, one of those things you can take seriously if you agree with it or take it as a joke if you don’t. But he could tell by Wilbur’s wince that maybe he hadn’t gone with the joke interpretation.

“You’re right,” Wilbur said, turning away. 

That made Tommy feel kind of bad, but… it’s not like he was wrong, really, and he wasn’t in the habit of enabling Wilbur’s chronic flirtations with his impending emo arc anyway, so he swallowed the vague apology that had begun to form in his mouth. It went down like chalk.

“You’re right about that,” Wil repeated. “Look, I’m just thinking… I know someone willing to guide us. An old friend.”

“Who? Where?” Tommy asked.

Wilbur chewed idly on the broken upper clasp of his coat before muttering, almost as if he was ashamed of the words, “through the Serpent’s Pass.”

Tommy’s breath caught in his throat.

“You want to—the—Wilbur, we—The Serpent’s Pass? What do you mean? We can’t—Wil, we’ll fucking die, Wil.”

“No, we won’t,” Wilbur responded, obviously trying to be firm, but his voice teetered off at the end like he wasn’t so sure. 

A flame of frustration bloomed in Tommy’s stomach. “Oh, fuck off, bitch, you—ohh, are you fucking kidding me?! Now, I don’t—I don’t know about you, Wil, but I—I remember what happened last time you wanted to meet up with an old friend. What, you’re risking everything—risking it again because you think—you fuckin’ think some stranger will save us? Yeah, that’s great Wilbur, real great. The fact that it’s called the fuckin’ Serpent’s Pass isn’t springing any red fuckin’ flags in your head, man? Y’know, serpents?! Does that seriously sound like a nice friendly little creature to you?”

“Tommy!” Wilbur hissed, shoving a palm over Tommy’s lips.

“Fucking what?!” Tommy snapped back, though he instinctively lowered his volume to a whisper, following Wilbur’s lead.

Wilbur pressed his hand closer over Tommy’s mouth. “You’re smoking, you brat, that’s fucking what!” 

Tommy’s eyes widened as he caught a dark trail of clouds puffing through the gaps of Wilbur’s fingers.

Immediately, Tommy glanced out towards the sparse group of people exiting the cove, probably having been rejected just like them. None of them looked all that interested in the two, nor did anybody seem to notice the tiny plume of smoke wafting out from the top of the small alley they’d settled in. 

He had to admit, breathing smoke whenever he got pissy was damningly quirky. And a little inconvenient to the whole secrecy thing.

“Sorry,” Tommy said insincerely, his voice muffled. He reveled in the halfhearted glare that Wilbur sent in return. Tommy licked his hand for good measure.

“Tommy!” Wilbur cried, yanking his hand back. 

Hah. Loser.

Wilbur heaved the world-weary sigh of a man who’d been forced to tow around an Innit child for the past three years. Tommy folded his arms and leaned back, satisfied with the amount of annoyance he’d caused within the past thirty seconds. (And maybe feeling a little better now that he’d gone and screamed his frustrations out. Just a bit.)

“I know you and I don’t have the best track record with this kind of thing, but I—I promise this person isn’t like—like. Y’know.”

“Okay, Wil,” Tommy said, really genuinely trying to sound like he believed it even though he didn’t. 

It wasn’t like they had much of a choice now. Beggars can’t be choosers and all.

Wilbur studied him for a moment before pointedly turning on his heel, focusing his attention on forming a plan. “This alley might be a good place to settle for the night.”

He wasn’t stupid enough not to notice the transparency of that subject change, but maybe Wilbur was stupid enough not to notice that Tommy noticed? He frowned, picking at the edge of his sleeve. “This is a transport hub. Surely there’s—I reckon there’s somewhere that refugees gather and like, set up little tents, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Wilbur said absently, then turned back around. “Oh. Yeah, you’re right.”

Tommy snorted. Wilbur rolled his eyes.

It felt so achingly close to normal.

Still, they needed to find some food for the night and see if they could find some other folk to sleep near. They still had a few copper pieces and a silver split between them, and food would likely be cheaper at Full Moon Bay to accommodate for the constant influx of poor customers.

In Tommy’s mature, humble opinion, most Earth Kingdom food couldn’t hold a candle to Yu Dao cuisine. Wilbur was lucky—his favorite food had always been crab puffs, which, while not common, could still be found in other parts of the Earth Kingdom. But no amount of squeezing lemons and sprinkling chili flakes into a bowl of soup would ever come close to the suan cai yu back at home.

They eventually found a cheap place and brought a bowl of possum chicken noodles along with them as they perused the barely-existent streets, pretending to be tourists. As was routine, Wilbur took the bowl first, adding some chili flakes from the jar they always kept in their bags, then picking out most of the vegetables Tommy didn’t like. Once he’d eaten half, he handed it off to Tommy, who snatched up the chili flake jar and shook it violently over the leftovers until red became the dominant color in the bowl.

They came across a small encampment of people who hadn’t had time to depart from the harbor before nightfall, or who had arrived in advance and would be trying their luck the next day. And everyone was nice, too. Tommy didn’t even have to watch Wilbur grovel too much trying to get in. He saw one of the cool guard ladies there, but it didn’t seem like she was there for work; she’d shed the outer layer of her uniform to offer as a makeshift dinner plate for some other refugees.

They settled down in a corner against the earthen wall of a tiny house. A few struggling bushes kept them out of sight from most of the other folks, but it wasn’t solitary enough to be rude about it. As soon as they set their packs on the ground, Wilbur was already on his hands and knees, examining the stony slab.

“I think this was earthbent,” he beamed. “Look, you can even see where these pieces of limestone were split.”

Tommy was temped to do his due diligence and call Wilbur a nerd or something, but it was kind of cool, so he figured it wouldn’t be so bad to indulge the guy every once in a while. He still managed to slip in a few insults between Wilbur’s interesting bending facts.

It didn’t take long for most everyone to settle in for the night. Tommy could hear low murmurs drifting from various groups, but didn’t bother to parse what they were saying. It was getting too dark to tell who was who, anyway.

“Y'know, I wanted to ride the ferry,” he remarked, pulling a thin blanket from their pack. "It seemed nice, right?"

Wilbur, who had been scribbling something into a journal, dropped his quill and looked at Tommy. His face twisted into something unidentifiable.

Right—of course—that was childish. The fucking ferry ride to Ba Sing Se, yeah, that was the biggest blow to their plans by far. 

Tommy glanced away, worrying the blanket with his thumb. 

Obviously he liked acting like a brat, otherwise he wouldn’t do it so much, but he wasn’t an idiot, either. He knew tagging along made things harder for Wilbur and that’s probably the reason he hasn’t gone off to, like, study something awesome or enact political change and stuff. Whatever he wanted to put his big fucking head to. He knew if they’d stayed in Yu Dao, Tommy’d have been drafted a year ago. He was old enough to fight, but all Tommy could think about was boat rides, really? He was…

“Tommy,” Wilbur said, in that way he does when he’s trying to be embarrassing, but there wasn’t anything playful in his voice.

He frowned. “What's up, Wil?”

Then Wilbur was reaching out, his hand hovering over Tommy’s shoulder. “Can I—?”

“Yeah, sure,” Tommy said, quickly ducking his head and pulling his friend into a hug. His ratty wool coat was rough against his cheek. It smelled bad, too. Sweaty and kind of like smoke (ugh).

“I’m sorry,” Wilbur sighed.

“Wha—Wil, it—it’s okay, it’s just a boat ride,” Tommy replied, brows furrowing.

“I…” Wilbur paused and sniffed quietly. “Can I be real with you?”

“Yeah, ‘course.”

Wilbur was silent for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice came out a little less watery. “That… you said that, and I… it’s like a switch just flicked in my brain. Y’know, I fuckin’ wish we could’ve. You deserved to get to take the ferry and have something fun for once. And yet, I…”

Tommy heard the note of frustration building in his voice, and his body went cold. He wanted to break free from the hug, but before he do anything about it, Wil pulled away first. Worst part was, it didn’t make him feel any less cold.

“Seriously, it’s not a big deal,” Tommy mumbled, but as soon as he got done saying it, he realized that wasn’t even the point.

Wilbur chuckled weakly. “Believe me, I know you don’t like to be coddled, Tommy. I like to think that, y’know, you don’t feel like I’m ever looking down on you. But you know you’re still… I think of you as—”

“I know, Wil.” Tommy said, then glanced over with a wry smile. “You don’t have to say it. I know you’ll cry.”

He knew Wilbur was blaming himself over their encounter with the border lady, how it ruined everything they’d been working towards. Really, it was Tommy’s fault for freaking out—but, well, that wasn’t all that unreasonable of him, was it? It was that they hadn’t been good enough. Not needy enough. Wilbur could have—why didn’t he plan this out more? Why—?

No, that wasn’t fair. That lady was just an asshole.

“It wasn’t your fault. Dickhead,” Tommy said, an edge of finality in his voice.

Wilbur sighed, in that annoying way when it was clear he was doubting Tommy Trusty’s words of wisdom.

“Alright, brat,” he finally said. After a moment of what looked like calculating hesitation, he reached out and mussed up Tommy’s hair.

“Fuck you!” Tommy cried, shoving Wilbur away (and then immediately felt bad for yelling when people were trying to get some shut-eye).

They settled down the way they always did: doing their best to share a blanket between them, with their pack of supplies kind of smooshed between their heads like the world’s most ineffectual privacy partition.

Tommy was often the first one to fall asleep, but not tonight. It was only the turn of spring, so there were still some vestiges of the winter chill clinging to the darkness like a spider to her web. Tommy tried to salvage some warmth by tugging over a little more than his allotted 50% of the blanket, but even then he could still feel himself shivering.

Every time he looked back out into the dilapidated streets of Full Moon Bay (Shit name, by the way, it was clearly a waxing crescent tonight), his heart jumped a little. Like they were being watched or something. Flashes of light disappeared and reappeared in the distance like fireflies. Every time he caught one, Tommy shut his eyes tight and prayed they would disappear for good when he opened them.

He tossed and turned—well, as much as one could when sleeping next to somebody and still not be a dick. He considered waking Wilbur up for about two seconds before deciding that was baby behavior and it’d probably be the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to him.

He didn’t know how long he laid there, but at some point he realized he could still hear a little conversation from the other refugees.

“I just… don’t know where we’re supposed to go from here, dad.”

A pause, then a second voice answered quietly.

“Listen, dear, if you really think we’ll be safe in Ba Sing Se, we could try the other way.”

“Do you mean the Serpent’s Pass?”

Tommy’s toes curled at the mention of that name. The place Wilbur wanted to take them. Because he was a fucking wrong’un and an idiot.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, guys,” someone new whispered. Tommy realized it was that guard lady, which meant the other two were probably the woman and her elderly father he’d seen earlier. “It’s one of the most dangerous passages in the world. On foot, at least.”

“But, haven’t you heard, young lady? They say there’s a half-spirit who guides people along the pass.”

“A half-spirit? What, like the Avatar?” The woman scoffed.

“Who’s to say?”

Tommy’s eyebrows furrowed at that. Wilbur had been talking about an old friend who might help them on their own journey, but Wilbur definitely wasn’t cool enough to know any half-spirits, let alone the Avatar.

“Dad…”

Another pause. “Oh, you’re too serious sometimes.”

“I’m really not trying to lower your mood,” the woman sighed, some bitterness in her voice. “I just don’t think it’s worth putting all our hope into any spiritual business.”

“Oh alright, I understand…”

“Actually,” the guard lady cut in, “I’m kind of curious. Seems like you know your spirits, sir.”

The old man laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I’ve heard many different rumors. That he was once an assistant in the Spirit Library, or that he’s from another world entirely…”

The guard hummed. “You’re talking about The Blade, aren’t you?”

In the dark, Tommy’s eyes widened. It’s not like he really thought they were the same person-spirit-thing, but if this somehow turned out to be Wil’s guy, Tommy was gonna fucking strangle him. As if accentuating this thought, Wilbur did a stupid little snort in his sleep.

“Oh, yes, that was his name.”

The daughter chuckled a little. “Sounds friendly.”

“I don’t know a lot about him either, but I think he was around when Avatar Kyoshi was alive,” the guard remarked. “But I’ve also heard he doesn’t show up for just anybody, so… I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t bank on it, either.”

“Don’t apologize, dear,” the old man said. “Jia Li and I will be alright, one way or another.”

The rest, Tommy supposed, was too private for words, because after another moment of listening, he didn’t hear anything else after that. 

Well, it sounded like he and Wilbur didn’t need to worry about any “The Blade”s trying to come and murder them or anything like that. Not like Big Man Tommy Innit was gonna be scared off by a spirit who probably didn’t even want to help out perfectly nice people like Jia Li and her father. He scrunched his eyes shut once again, trying to calm down.

But his thoughts wouldn’t stop racing. The Serpent’s Pass kept jumping to the forefront of his mind—what it was like, whether Wilbur really seriously wanted to go, all the potential ways they might die there without anyone finding their bodies. That kind of thing.

And it was so. Fucking. Cold.

As slowly as he could, Tommy tilted his head up to see if Wilbur was asleep yet. In the faint light, he could tell his brother’s face was slack, peaceful. But the lines of stress and deep bags under his eyes were still there. They could almost make Tommy forget that the man before him was only twenty years old.

But he was asleep.

Quietly, Tommy took a deep breath. It was shaky at first, so he curled tighter around the feeling in his gut, willing his fears to melt away. Buzzing energy gathered inside him.

He breathed out.

It was as if he was holding a pile of kindling. It started with with a speck of red, barely even hot against his palm.

A little fire grew, swaddled in Tommy’s hands. It was warm. Not as big and burning as he would’ve liked, but still warm. He held it close to his chest so none of the light would flutter out from behind him.

He breathed deeply, in and out, until he, too, finally managed to fade into the restless night.

---

Wilbur did, in fact, really seriously want to go.

“So. What’s this—this old friend, what’s he like?” Tommy asked, trying to suss out Wilbur’s real feelings towards their new… route. If you could even call it a route. To Tommy, it obviously seemed more like a suicide wish. He didn’t want to wonder if that’s why Wilbur liked it so much (he really, really didn’t want to think about that).

Wilbur sighed a little and shifted his pack. “I always knew him as Techno.”

Tommy raised his eyebrows. “Real shit name, innit? How do you even know he’ll help us? Or even fucking be there?”

“I mean…” he trailed off.

“Wilbur, you—are you—!” Tommy groaned. “You have got to be fucking kidding me, man!”

“Oi, he is gonna be there, alright? He will. He just—he’s always where he needs to be. That’s what he does.”

“Oh, so what, the little birdies whispered it in your dumb oversized fuckin’ ear. You want to go on—” he recalled what the people from last night had said—“one of the most dangerous passages in the fucking world, because that’s the vibe?”

“My ears aren’t oversized,” Wil protested.

He looked vaguely unhappy with the direction of the conversation, so Tommy broke eye contact and began to focus on the path ahead of them: a long stretch of rocky earth, speckled with sleepy anthills and crusted with slabs of limestone emerging from the dirt. The Serpent’s Pass couldn’t have been more than two day’s determined travel from Full Moon Bay, but he still wasn’t excited for the short journey.

Especially since they’d be meeting with this “Techno” at some point. Allegedly.

Tommy just wanted to get to Ba Sing Se, where the war couldn’t touch them, where—where that tyrant freak couldn’t touch him, where he could go on pretending there wasn’t any Fire Nation in his veins, and where Wilbur could do… well, whatever he wanted to.

Tommy also wanted to not fucking die. And, if he was being honest, he wasn’t exactly keen on some random stranger barging in on his and Wilbur’s dynamic, either. Didn’t he know that an extra party member always ruins the vibe? Obviously not, the bastard.

So. If Wilbur didn’t like Tommy being a bitch about the whole thing, then he would just have to fucking deal.

“Look, Tommy, I know you don’t like this,” Wilbur started, a little undiplomatically. “But you need to—I need you to give him a chance. He’s done this before. You can trust him. I’m afraid we don’t have many other options.”

Tommy pointedly kept his gaze to the ground, dodging another anthill as they trudged along.

“Fine. What’s he like?” Tommy asked again.

Wilbur told him. Apparently, Techno had been close to Wilbur’s father, but eventually grew to care for him as well. Tommy thought it was stupid that Wilbur refused to call him dad anymore, but he also kind of got it.

“So they were friends?” he asked.

Wilbur’s nose scrunched up a little and his glasses bobbed stupidly with the motion. “I guess. I—I mean, it was perhaps more than just being friends, I would say.”

Tommy snorted. “So they were—they were in love? They made out and stood on furnaces ‘n’ all that shit?”

Wil briefly made a face like he was going to throw up, but less in a grossed-out way and more in a I-hate-my-life-way. “No, I… don’t think so.”

According to Wilbur, the guy was quite easygoing, preferred things to go his way, awfully stubborn, and criminally funny. Tommy scowled at the description.

“What? What’s that face for?”

“Nothing. I trust him,” Tommy lied.

“Tommy…”

Tommy had some trouble reading the tone of that one. It was a little drawn out, but exasperated didn’t seem quite right. He somewhat prided himself on being able to read Wilbur when others couldn’t, but sometimes he was too much of a closed book even for Tommy’s magnificent, gargantuan mind.

Suddenly, Wilbur gasped.

“Awwe, Tommy…”

Oh, he knew that one well enough.

Wilbur grinned. “Are you fucking jealous?”

Immediately, a flame of embarrassment licked at Tommy’s cheeks and he halfheartedly shoved Wilbur away. “I’m not — I’m not jealous, dickhead.”

“You’re jealous! You’re fucking jealous!”

“No, no, I’m not! I’m not! I’d never be—I’d never be jealous of—of—I’m not jealous!”

“It’s okay, Tommy, it’s okay, don’t be embarrassed!”

“Mmm! Mmm! Mmmm… Can’t hear you, can’t—shut up! Humina humina humina humina…”

“Look, you’ll like him, it’ll be fine! Don’t worry, Tommy, I’ll still pay the most attention to you,” Wilbur crooned. 

“Dickhead prick bastard, you’re unpleasant to be around, you—you’re the worst person to be born, Wilbur, ever. Fuck you.”

The two walked on until night returned, taking little breaks to rest. They hadn’t fully restocked their waterskin—for the billionth time, Wilbur passionately expressed how much he wished he was a waterbender so he could pull water out of thin air for the both of them. Tommy figured if it was that easy then every waterbender would fucking be doing it. But go off, he supposed.

This part of the Earth Kingdom was a different type of cold than they were used to, a thick humidity permeating the air. It was the worst kind of weather ever. Now that they were back on the road, they could at least set up a real camp. The sun’s last dredges were about ready to fade behind the horizon. Instead of forcing him to help like usual, Wilbur got busy pitching the tent, letting Tommy watch the sunset bleed out.

“Wil,” Tommy said.

Silence.

“Wilbur.”

Wilbur’s finally glanced at Tommy.

“Wil, I heard some of the other people talking last night.”

His mouth popped in an “oh” shape. “What did they say?”

“They said—well, there was that really pretty guard lady and they were talking and all, and they were talking about—they said that on The Serpent’s Pass, there was some kind of spirit.”

“A spirit?” Wilbur perked up.

“Or like, a half-spirit, I don’t know,” Tommy amended, “like the Avatar ‘n’ shit.”

Wilbur frowned. “The Avatar isn’t a half-spirit.”

“Oh my—whatever, you fucking nerd.”

That made Wilbur laugh, which made Tommy feel about 2% better than he did before.

“So, who’s this half-spirit?”

“Well,” Tommy started, trying to remember. “They said it, like, helps people across the pass, but I guess only certain people, like some kind of fuckin’ capitalist or something. It’s called The Blade or something stupid like that.”

“Oh,” Wil said, “That’s Techno.”

“What the fuck?!”

Tommy gaped as Wilbur started laughing again.

“Your friend is a fuckin’ spirit?!”

“No, no,” Wilbur attempted through his stupid fucking giggle fit. “He’s just a guy. Like, he’s just a dude. That must be some kind of rumor.”

“Oh my god.” Tommy put his face in his hands.

“I bet he’ll be pleased to hear he’s got a reputation, though.”

“Oh yeah, he sounds like a right fuckin’ egotist—I mean, like, a fuckin’ bastard.”

Wilbur made a little "pffft" sound like he kind of agreed, but didn’t say anything more, so Tommy turned back to the sunset and hummed to himself for a bit.

“Wil,” Tommy asked approximately two minutes later. “There’s nobody around here, right?”

A short silence followed before he heard Wilbur call back, “No.”

“Let me set up a fire?” 

Tommy’s heart stood still as he waited for the reply with bated breath. Wilbur must have been expecting the question, though, because he just smiled. “Sure, king.”

“WOO! Fuck yeah!” Tommy cheered, bouncing up immediately. No sleeping cold tonight!

He was able to gather some firewood fairly easily. Some of the twigs and branches Tommy found didn’t feel quite as dry as he would’ve preferred, but he’d been getting better with his control, so… At the very least, he was just quick enough that by the time he’d wandered back to the camp, some residual heat from the sun was still lingering in the sky.

Wilbur was sitting outside the tent on their ratty blanket. He watched silently, seemingly absentmindedly, as Tommy began to make a small firepit.

“Now,” Tommy boasted, “the moment you’ve been dying to see! Gentlemen…”

He looked to Wilbur, then all around the desert, then back to Wilbur. “Wilbur.”

He snorted. “Child.”

“Fuck you,” Tommy dismissed, then continued on with his exciting performance. “Please pay attention now, keep your eyes peeled all the way open like an orange. The Great Big Tommy Danger Hands, sleightest of fingers, Breaker of Chains, will demonstrate his finest and most manliest trick, which all the women love and they drool over him and try to marry him constantly… as he now delicately starts… a fire!”

He plopped down into a low squat, like he’d seen in the picture books Wilbur used to show him before they got banned from the Yu Dao library (Admittedly, that was Tommy’s fault). It was technically an earthbending form, but Tommy figured it didn’t matter that much. It wasn’t like he had any other old masters to teach him.

He could do this.

Breathe in.

Tommy felt the air hum and pulse with warmth. Something buzzed alive inside his stomach.

Breathe out. 

Energy flowed through his breath and a wave of heat curled from the firewood.

Breathe in. 

A few bright sparks whistled around the sticks, and Tommy had to quickly calm the rush of excitement he felt so he wouldn’t lose control. He was going to do this like a real master.

Breathe out. 

A little flame sprouted and affirmed itself like mushrooms rooting into a tree stump, stretching its tendrils into the clouds above.

Breathe in.

He opened his eyes, and the light caught on the edge of the scar on his hand.

(“I thought we were friends, Tommy,” the bastard said.

Tommy said… Tommy said—

Everything was really hot suddenly. He looked down, and he saw red, and he wasn’t scared. He wasn’t…)

Stop, stop, stop! Tommy gasped as his little fire crackled burst into a roaring blaze.

“YOO!” Wilbur cheered from the other side of the firepit.

He blinked, suddenly aware of the tension in his knees as he held his squat. He was…

Breathe out.

The fire shrank down from its outburst, fluttering pleasantly in the air like a lovely dancer. The tinder and logs shifted a little as smoldering chunks fell to the bottom. Right. He was…

Right.

He watched Wilbur lean in, excited. Flecks of light danced in the reflection of his shitty stolen glasses like confetti. Tommy could feel the heat pulse through his arms, both from the fire and from his own energy, but it was a pleasant sunbathing warmth instead of the cold, mango-sticky feeling they’d been trudging through all day. 

Breathe in. What was he so freaked out about, anyway?

With the final bit of air in his lungs, Tommy slowly pushed out the rest of his energy into the fire. 

Breathe out. 

A golden glow lit up Wilbur’s face like a firefly hovering in the night. It caught against every early wrinkle and stray hair on his cheeks and cast long, somber shadows on his face. His smile brightened as he watched the flame bloom.

Tommy bit his lip, feeling ashamed for some stupid fucking reason.

“Dude!” Wilbur cried. “That was fucking amazing!”

Tommy glanced down at the fire, popping gently, a product of his own soul and practice and care. He sank into the dirt, watching it for a second and muttering a string of astounded curses under his breath. 

A tiny laugh radiated from Tommy’s chest. It was beautiful, this thing that he made all on his own, and a lightness rose in his throat like a bubble of mucus, but in a good way. It was alive.

“Yeah—yeah—I fuckin’—that was so fucking cool!”

They both cheered, Wilbur bestowing Tommy with a searing high-five, a communication of only the utmost respect. Even though it was nearly too dark to see past their little circle of light, everything somehow felt brighter than it had in days. 

All the times Wilbur had to shove a blanket over Tommy’s emotionally reactive firebending in public felt so worth it just for this moment. Tonight, they would fall asleep with warmth and light in front of them, backs unguarded in the open field. The boiling weight in Tommy’s lungs would be forgotten.

---

The Blade was late to their rendezvous. You know, the one that only existed in Wilbur’s head.

Wilbur seemed to know Techno lived somewhere around this little port down near the start of the Pass, but nothing more than that. He’d seemed confident that they would just… run into him, or something like that. Apparently Wilbur has sent the guy letters before, but never got a message back, which meant either Wilbur was fucking wrong, or Techno was fucking rude.

Tommy, the self proclaimed “polite one” of the two brothers, bit back about six “I told you so”s throughout the morning. It wasn’t much, but it was honest work.

At first, Wilbur didn’t seem too stressed about it, explaining that Techno was just trying to maintain a cool and fashionable facade, but after about an hour of walking around doing nothing, he’d started to pick up on Tommy’s antsiness.

“Technolate,” Wilbur said.

“Technolate,” Tommy agreed, not feeling the least bit smug about it, as was the kind and brotherly thing to do.

After another hour of wandering and playing various word games—that devolved not once, not twice, but three times into promises of future violence—the two decided to wander off in search of cheap food. Considering this was a fishing port, it didn’t take them long to find somewhere near a dock on the shore.

A slightly older looking woman with a mane of thick, curly hair was unloading a small fishing ship. Tommy made eye contact with Wilbur for a second before bounding over the sloped ground towards the boat.

“Hello? Hello?” Tommy asked, fingering their remaining coins in his pocket.

“Oh! Uh, hello, friend.” The woman startled a little, nearly dropping a crate she’d been heaving onto the dock. Tommy heard Wilbur walk up behind him at a leisurely pace, and the woman smiled. “…Friends.”

Tommy opened his pitch with a dazzling smile. “Well, miss—?”

“Puffy,” the woman supplied.

“Miss Puffy—you are incredibly beautiful, by the way—”

“Tommy,” Wilbur groaned. He went on, probably needlessly apologizing to Puffy like he always did when Tommy started talking to strangers, but Tommy decided not to comprehend it.

“My brother—my big brother Wilbur and I, we—we’re very poor and sad. We—we’re impoverished, we scramble around on the floors and we—and we eat up all we can like little mice. We came down to the lovely town of—?”

Puffy laughed. “Well, it’s really more of a club than it is a town, but—”

Wilbur straightened up, trying to dominate Tommy in the conversation, and cried, “well, we love your fishing club!”

“Yes!” Tommy agreed, doing everything in his power to resist the urge to jab his thumb into Wilbur’s belly button. Instead, he gestured out into the barren land of the cliffside. “It’s like—it’s like a fancy little forest! With little fish just—little fish swimming around and being… delicious.”

“Goods! Fish! Your wares are available for purchasing?” Wilbur added, sounding more embarrassed with himself with each new syllable.

This seemed to break Puffy, as she immediately sputtered into a round of buoyant laughter and pressed her face into her hands. “I’m—I’m so sorry you two, but I—”

“Look, look, Wil—now’s the—now’s our chance. Let’s steal her wares. She won’t see a thing,” Tommy conspired unsubtly.

“What?” Puffy asked. It sounded more like a wha-ha-haaat? because she was laughing still.

“Tommy!” Wilbur groaned. “You are the worst salesman I’ve ever seen, and every time you open your mouth your ineptitude fucking spreads to me like a disease.”

Tommy sighed. “But I’m not selling anything, Wil, except—except for my winning smile and my vivacious abs-sculature. I’m a Crime Boy, I’m a Dirty Crime Boy!”

“I regret passing that title to you every fucking day.”

Puffy, with a lingering grin on her face, cleared her throat. Tommy and Wilbur’s mouths snapped shut. She was not laughing anymore and the jig was up because Wilbur was afraid to take action in the moment of truth.

“Look, I’m really sorry you two, but I’ve honestly been struggling to get by with the whole, uh, fishing thing myself. Serpent and all,” Puffy admitted. “I’m actually trying to set up shop somewhere else right now, and I’ve already sold all the good fish.”

“Right. The Serpent.” Tommy shot a glare towards Wilbur.

Wilbur ignored him. “We’re okay with the bad fish, too,” he negotiated, overeager.

Puffy smiled apologetically. “I hate to break it to you, but this lil’ shack is fresh out of fish. But, I mean, if you two need money, I wouldn’t mind having some helpers on the boat. In fact, uh, I picked up someone like you a few hours ago for the same reason.”

“Oh, sorry, we’re looking for someone today”, Wilbur replied, raising his arms purposelessly then letting them awkwardly fall back down. “We appreciate the offer, though.”

“Wil,” Tommy protested, “You don’t even fucking know where he is.”

“I know he sticks around these parts,” Wilbur spat back, but he sounded unsure.

Suddenly, a heavy clank rang from the back of the fishing boat. Puffy didn’t seem too alarmed.

“Hey Captain, remind me exactly how much of this ya need me to carry out?” A voice called from inside the cabin.

From the corner of his vision, Tommy caught Wilbur’s eyes widening. “What? What?” He asked, ramming his elbow into Wilbur’s side.

“Uh, just one or two boxes,” Puffy replied, then turned back to the two. “That’s the guy who’s been helping me today.”

On cue, a hulking figure stepped out of the cabin, carrying a large crate with a line of slime dribbling from one of the bottom corners. Peering over the top, Tommy saw what he was pretty sure was maggots squirming around inside. Cute.

The man was wrapped in a thick, woolly cloak that looked like it could have cost more than twice Tommy’s lifetime earnings, but it was so worse for wear that he wasn’t entirely sure how the man could even touch the thing without it dissolving into a pile of thread. Like Puffy, he had a mane of brown hair, but his was streaked with pink, like how middle-aged ladies sometimes have a salt-and-pepper greying thing going on.

Most interestingly, he wore what looked like a thoroughly cleaned moo-sow skull over his face, obscuring most of his features and making him look both batshit crazy and indescribably awesome. 

“Holy shit!” Wilbur said, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

“Uh…” The man set his box down—yep, definitely maggots— onto solid ground. “Wilbur?”

Wilbur’s shock quickly transformed into a bright grin. “Techno, my man, it’s good to see you again!”

Oh, Tommy thought. Great. Wilbur's mysterious friend actually did appear.

“Ha, you still have those old glasses! Nerd,” Techno said, stepping over and immediately wrapping Wilbur in what looked like a warm, crushing hug. Tommy grimaced and looked away.

It was kind of funny how Wilbur clung back to him though, like a weird little stick. “We were looking for you, actually.”

“Oh, right, ‘cuz—”

“Did you get any of my letters?” Wilbur asked.

“I got, like… three.”

He frowned. “I've sent more than that. Which ones got through?”

Techno freed Wil from the massive hug, patting him hard on the back and causing him to let out a sharp oof. “Well, there was the one about that girl who dumped you, or you dumped her, I didn’t really get it, honestly.”

Wilbur’s frown deepened. “Other than that one.”

“Well, I got the one where you adopted, like, a raccoon child? That was cool.”

Tommy decided enough was enough.

“AHEM.”

“Oh, Techno—” Wilbur, presumably, began to introduce him, thank god.

“Oh, riiight,” Techno cut him off, “and I got the one from a month ago saying you might want some help up The Serpent’s Pass. I don’t have anythin’ to do right now, really, so that’s fine.”

What?

Tommy clenched the edge of his shirt. “Excuse me. Excuse me.”

“Oh,” Techno said. “Hullo.”

“Wilbur, you—” Tommy said, feeling kind of ill in a flippy way, like when you spin around in circles for too long. “You’d already told him to come?”

Wilbur sighed. “Tommy, listen, I was just letting him know it was a possibility.”

Techno tiled his head curiously, but that ridiculous skull mask made the gesture look predatory instead. “Oh yeah, Tommy, that’s right. The raccoon child.”

Tommy tried to stab him with his eyeballs. “And you’re Techno. The Blade.”

“Yep,” he said, unbothered.

Wilbur straightened up, obviously trying to take control of the conversation from there. “Now, there’s no need for hostility, you two.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna be honest, I’m feelin’ kinda attacked right now, don’t know why though. Definitely some sort of wave of antagonism coming from… about this direction,” Techno said, gesturing towards Tommy.

Tommy bristled. Before he could say anything, though, Wilbur pushed forward. “I’m sorry it’s sudden, Techno, but we’re just trying to get to The Impenetrable City. It’s important.”

“Nah, it’s fine. I was kinda prepared for you to be here, like I said. And I owe ya one, anyway.”

Wil shot him a little smile. “Planning on putting us through Serpent’s Pass boot camp or something like that?”

“Eh. Sounds like a lotta work.” Techno said. “I mean, you guys’ll be fine if you just listen to what I tell you out there. Not to brag or anything, but like, I kinda know my way around.”

“I know it might not be a big deal to you, but this really means a lot to us,” stupid Wilbur said, speaking for Tommy like he knew what he was thinking. “I failed to get us a ferry in, so now I’m afraid we have to take the next-best option.”

Tommy was… he was pissed. Actually pissed. Not fake-pissed or funny-pissed. Miffed, one could say. Fuming, even.

First off, he told the dipshit it wasn’t his fault, but there Wilbur went putting it all on himself like it was nothing again, like he was just that used to covering for Tommy’s fuck-ups. It was humiliating. It was wrong. And then he decides to pull some stupid stunt and pretend that’s what he meant from the very fucking beginning? And he wanted Tommy to just go along with it, his stupid Tommy, his Right-Hand Tommy. His—whatever. 

“Well, I think it’s a fuckin’ horrible idea, if either of you give a shit,” he declared. Just because he was still gonna stick with Wilbur didn’t mean he couldn’t be a bit of a dick about it. Had to keep his brand image and all.

“Tommy,” Wilbur said, frustrated.

At that, Puffy stepped forward with an air of authority. “Okay, I guess today’s been a weird day for everyone, and I don’t exactly know what’s going on, but I’d like to remind everyone that this is my dock. So I think we can all be chill, right?”

Tommy leaned back against the shack and crossed his arms. “‘M not trying to start shit,” he muttered. Honestly.

“I’m very sorry about all this, ma’am,” Wilbur said.

Puffy waved him off. “Hey, no need for the formality. I appreciate it, it’s just that Techno’s been helping out on the boat all morning. And when I’ve got someone working with me, I don’t let anyone bother them, you get me?”

“Yeah,” Techno said. His voice was lighthearted, but the animalistic appearance to his mask made it feel shallow. “I didn’t expect to get all caught up with this, but it turns out Captain Puffy here is kinda based. Makin’ a real connection out here.”

“Oh, well, that’s good,” Wilbur said.

“Yeah, turns out we have a lot in common,” Puffy smiled, “like having surprisingly compatible political beliefs.”

“And havin’ similar hair problems,” Techno supplied.

“And we both think eggs are only okay.”

“We’re basically besties now, is what I’m sayin’.”

Tommy huffed to himself, thinking that was kind of funny but not wanting to show it.

Techno’s gaze fell on him.

“Uh, so I’m kinda feelin’ like we got off on the wrong foot. Maybe a bit of a misunderstandin’ between you two, I dunno.”

“Well—I think this has been just lovely, Techno-Blade,” Tommy said, making sure to emphasize how stupid the man’s name sounded.

“Uh, that’s not—” Techno started, then interrupted himself with a huff. “So… I’ve heard a bit about you.”

“I most certainly—well, I certainly do not fuckin’ want to know what you’ve heard,” he lied.

“Nothing good, don’t worry,” Wilbur rolled his eyes.

Techno looked somewhat uncomfortable as he wiped his hands against the front of his pants, leaving a subtle stain of sweat in their wake. He reached up to twist a strand of hair between his fingers, but he’d already dropped his hands again by the time Tommy had the brilliant idea of making fun of him for it.

“Okay, cool, ‘cause this is like, really awkward,” Techno said, and despite looking mildly weirded out by the whole thing, he somehow seemed above it all at the same time.

Something bubbled inside Tommy’s gut, and he didn’t feel like examining it. This Techno guy was obviously fucking with him, and Wil wasn’t even saying anything!

“I do not—okay—I do not fuckin’—Techno-Blade, I’d like to have—I would like to have a talk with you. A private audience. With you.”

Techno simply stared for a second, then shrugged before shambling off to a nearby tree. He glanced expectantly at Tommy to follow.

“Tommy…” Wilbur said.

“I’m so sorry, Ms. Puffy. Mr—Mr. Soot. I’ll be—I’ll be right back,” Tommy said, straightening his back in mock politeness. Wilbur looked—well, not upset. Tommy couldn’t tell. He hated it when he couldn’t tell.

Tommy stomped towards Techno. 

“Alright, listen here, The Blade. Real shit name, by the way.”

“Hey, man,” Techno protested. “I’m literally just vibin’ here, I—”

“You—you think—you think…” Tommy trailed off.

He couldn’t identify the feeling burning inside him. It wasn’t quite anger, since he really was just trying to annoy Wilbur’s friend. Make a good impression. Nothing personal, right? And Techno was obviously trying to troll him back. Nothing personal. Tommy didn’t know what he was planning on saying.

“…Wilbur likes me more??” was what Tommy decided on.

Techno did something of a half-laugh. “I’m not tryin’ to, like, imply anything here, but you honestly don’t seem sure about that.”

“Fuck off!” Tommy hissed. “That’s not what I fucking meant. You’re like a little snap pea to me. You’re a little ant. And there’s like, a fuckin’ million of those per anthill, so you’re not even, like, a special ant.”

Techno leaned back against the tree, contemplating that mind-shattering insult—the whole thing bent a little under his weight, and it pissed Tommy off so bad because he couldn’t even tell if it was an intimidation tactic or the guy wasn’t even aware of how fucking massive he was.

“Alright, we got a firecracker here,” Techno said slowly. 

“Don’t condescend to me, bitch—!” he started, but Techno cut him off and Tommy snapped his mouth shut without meaning to.

“I’m gonna talk to you the way you want to be talked to,” he rumbled easily. “So if you’re gonna act like a brat, then that’s how I’m gonna treat you. Uh, no offense.”

Sore luck for you, then, Tommy thought bitterly. Because I’m always a fuckin’ brat. 

 “So here’s the deal. I don’t—” Techno’s mountainous shoulders raised in what Tommy guessed was some facsimile of a shrug— “I don’t really get why you’re beefing with me so hard, it’s honestly kind of sad? Again, not to imply anything…”

“Oh my god, you are actually a fucking asshole,” Tommy blurted.

“Oh, but I’m an asshole for a really good reason, Tommy.”

Something cold ran swiftly through Tommy’s veins, and for the second time in just a few minutes, he was embarrassingly shut up without Techno even having to raise his voice. 

“You’re tryin’ to go down the Serpent’s Pass?”

He glanced away. “I don’t fuckin’—I dunno, I don’t fucking want to.” 

“Sure,” Techno agreed, “But are you gonna?”

Fighting the urge to make myself smaller, Tommy nodded ever so slightly. “Yeah. What of it?”

“The Serpent’s Pass is a dangerous place. People die here, kid. Sometimes people die even when I’m supposed to be there, protectin’ them and guidin’ them along the way. And ya know why that is?”

Tommy clenched his teeth, raising his head to look at The Blade through the eye socket of his moo-sow skull. “Why?”

“Because they thought they knew better. They didn’t listen to me when they needed to.”

“…Prolly ‘cause you’re a fuckin’ asshole,” Tommy said, raising an eyebrow.

To be honest, Tommy didn’t know what he was expecting when he said that. He thinks he maybe wasn’t expecting anything, like a dumbass little kid who doesn't know how to think ahead. But he was still surprised when Techno planted a goodnatured hand on his shoulder.

“Pffft. Nah,” Techno said flippantly. That light tone carried into his next words, foreboding as they were: “‘S ‘cause they just saw me as a tool. Y’know, like a carriage or somethin’, just a way for them to get from one place to another. They never really trusted me. Tommy, you know the story of Orpheus?”

“Fuck is an Orpheus?” Tommy scoffed. 

“Dude…” Techno muttered to himself, scratching his neck. “I keep forgettin’ people in this world don’t have Greek mythology.”

“What? What’s that mean?” Tommy asked. He remembered what that lady and her dad were saying about The Blade—he was some kind of half-spirit, or maybe not even from this plane of existence. But there was no way that could be true, because he was friends with Wilbur. Cringe…

Techno folded his arms. “Well, the story goes somethin’ like this. So there was this guy named Orpheus who lived a long time ago. He had a wife, Eurydice, she went off to dance with nymphs one day, but while she was doin’ that, she got bitten by a snake and died. And now, Orpheus was a bard, so all he could do to cope with how much he missed her was to sing, and sing, and sing for days straight.

“And he was so upset that he went all the way to the god of the underworld to ask for her back. His song of grief was so moving, so rich with the deepest feelings of love and loss, that even the god of the underworld decided to humor his foolish request. He said that he could lead Eurydice all the way back home, and she’d get to stay alive—as long as he could manage one little thing. Orpheus couldn’t turn around to look at her until they made it out of the underworld. Not even once.”

“But then he wouldn’t be able to tell if she was following,” Tommy argued. “That’s a shitty thing to make him do.”

“That’s true. But that’s how it goes when you’re dealing with the gods,” Techno tilted his head back to rest against the tree. “So Orpheus leads his wife all the way out of the underworld. They climb up together for hours and hours, passing by all sorts of dangerous things, but Orpheus managed to hold on to his faith that his true love was still following. But just when they got to the exit, Orpheus realized he couldn’t hear her footsteps anymore. And so—”

“Shut up, man!” Tommy interrupts, his heart racing. “I—this is fuckin’ stupid, I get it, alright? You’re a real bastard, y’know that, Techno-Blade? That’s—shit name, by the way.”

Infuriatingly, Techno chuckled. “There ya go. Guess you can figure out what happened yourself, huh. You’re obviously a smart kid, Tommy—”

“Stop fuckin’ patronizing me, bitch!”

“—So,” Techno emphasized. “I think ya know what I’m tryin’ to say. Those guys who died out there on the Serpent’s Pass died because they didn’t trust me, they trusted their instincts. Or maybe they just took one millisecond too long mulling it over… guess it ends the same both ways. Anyway, I’ve been doin’ this for a while, so you’re gonna have to listen to what I tell you when we get out there, Tommy. You’re gonna need to trust me over yourself, and over Wilbur. ‘Cause I have the skills to get through this place and you don’t. That’s all I’m sayin’, alright?”

This guy was a real piece of shit, Tommy decided. 

“Are you fuckin’...” He hissed under his breath. Down at the dock, Wilbur was talking with Puffy about who-knows-what, doing that thing where he just kept kind of walking between a few points as he talked, which he only does when he’s nervous. Tommy watched out of the corner of his eye for a moment, but twisted back to Techno just as Wil was about to look up.

“This is stupid. I can’t believe I’m about to go on a fucking field trip with you,” Tommy told him.

“I think it could be kinda fun,” he replied, right back to being weirdly laid back.

“I tell you what, big man. Here’s the thing, I don’t—I don’t know why you think I’m gonna trust you when I don’t even fuckin’ know you. I look at you, and I—do you know what I see? I see some fucking weirdo who thinks he can never be in the wrong. If you ask me, kinda seems like—sounds to me like maybe you’re more like that Orpheus fellow, and those guys only died because you weren’t paying attention, and listen, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but that does not inspire confidence, man.”

At that, Techno just stilled, but Tommy just kept going. “But I trust Wilbur, I fuckin’—I fuckin’ guess, and he trusts you for some reason, so—listen, that means you get a little baby shred of my trust, but not a lot. It’s gonna, like—it’s like secondhand trust. And secondhand trust isn’t good for you, it—like, it wiggles all up in there, Mr. The Fuckin’ The Blade, but it’s what you fuckin’ get, alright? So my suggestion is, you make it work.”

Silence. The moo-sow skull hanging from his face went very suddenly from vaguely creepy to… Actually Really Threatening.

“Fuckin’. Uh…” Tommy said awkwardly, not sure if he should attempt to retract what he’d just said, but Techno was still chewing on it so he just kept insulting him. “Dick bastard son-of-a-bitch. You fucking wrong’un. Shit.”

Why did he say any of that again? He kind of thought it would be funny, but maybe it… wasn’t.

“Maaan…” Techno sighed, and his whole stature kind of drooped like a deflating balloon. “You sure are Wilbur’s little brother.”

A few questions flickered through Tommy’s mind. The first ones to rise to the surface were what the hell does THAT mean? and why is Wilbur friends with him again? But in the end, the thought that won out was great, so he isn’t going to murder me?

“So you’re not going to murder me?”

“Wha—no,” Techno said. It was offputting. He spoke with a janky, dispassionate intonation, like he was reading lines from a script. “Did ya think I was going to—dang. I was kinda trying to stay light here, like, keep it PG ‘n’ all, ‘cause, y’know.”

“…Oh my god, you are fuckin’—you are being for real right now,” Tommy laughed. “Techno-Blade, you are fuckin’ nuts, man, you’re worse than Wilbur and he’s like—well, he’s not crazy, y’know, like he’s—but it’s—listen, look, it’s like—fuck you even mean I’m his little brother, anyway? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Techno raised a hand to his neck again. “Nothin’, you just… he made you out to be so nice and all, and then.”

Tommy made a face. “No he didn’t.”

“Heh. Nah, he didn’t, really…” With a grunt, Techno lifted his weight off the tree (the leaves rustled a little from the weight of the movement). “But what he did write makes ya seem like an angel now that I’ve actually met you. Anyways, uh.”

Tommy took the smallest step back as Techno stepped forward. Not because he was scared, honest, but the guy was just so big it just felt right to give him some space. Techno stretched a hand towards him and his heart jumped a little. But it just stayed there, hanging between them, not doing anything.

“Hope we can work well together, Tommy.”

Right. 

Tommy shook his hand like an idiot. 

Fucking prick. 

---

“Hope you didn’t scare him too bad, Tech,” Wilbur remarked as the two of them returned, Tommy trailing quietly behind Techno, whose cape he could now see in all of its disheveled glory. The fur lining that poked from the edge was so caked with grime it was hard to tell what color it was originally. Against the rail, Wilbur was tapping out a nervous rhythm with his fingers.

Tommy clenched a fist in his pocket. “I’m not fuckin’ scared.”

Tommy could feel Wilbur watch him for a second, but when he looked up, his brother was narrowing his eyes at Techno instead. 

“What’d you say to him?”

Techno didn’t look like he noticed anything out of the ordinary, or maybe he just didn’t care. “Nothin’ special. Just levelin’ expectations, y’know how it is.”

“Cut it out, Wil, I’m not a baby,” Tommy said, walking past Techno to join Wilbur at the railing, turning his back towards the sea. It was strange, because for the one second he stood between the two of them, he’d almost felt like he was defending Techno. 

“Child,” Wilbur retorted. 

“Bastard.”

Near the entrance to the boat, Puffy cleared her throat. “Sorry, whatever you guys are talking about… this something I need to know about?”

Techno turned to her, and from a profile view, Tommy could spot the faintest curve of some kind of huge tooth peeking from behind his moo-sow skull. “Aww, nah, Captain, I’m just takin’ these guys up the Serpent’s Pass tomorrow. Didn’t mean for you to feel left outta the conversation.”

“Oh. So you guys are really serious about that, huh…?” She put her hands on her hips. “Not that you don’t look capable, but like, that seems… misguided. Y’know, the Serpent herself has been kinda aggressive lately, from what I’ve heard.”

Wilbur stood up, clearly trying to be polite (Tommy, of course, knew such a thing wasn’t possible). “Please don’t worry about us, Captain Puffy. It’s the best option we’ve got. Right, Tommy?”

It’s the ONLY option we’ve got, fucking apparently, Tommy thought sardonically. Not like his own ideas were any good.

“Yeah. We’re sure,” he agreed, standing up next to Wil. 

“Well, alright,” Puffy said, shrugging a little. “I get it if you guys need to head off soon, but if you’re planning to stay a little longer, I’m still happy to throw some compensation your way if you still wanna help out on the ship.”

Tommy glanced towards Wilbur, who glanced towards Techno. 

“Uh…” Techno seemed to wilt a little under the attention. As much as someone built like a rock could wilt, anyway, which wasn’t very much at all. “I was kinda planning to stick around a little longer and finish up with ya, but I mean, I can’t speak for these two nerds, so.”

“We’ll join you,” Wilbur decided, placing a hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “Thank you for the opportunity, Captain.”

“Hey, I like the extra company,” Puffy smiled before turning to lead them inside. 

Wilbur’s hand was only lightly resting on top of Tommy’s shoulder, never wanting to touch too much without permission, but Tommy shook it off like it was burning him anyway. 

This was gonna be a rough few days, he thought, but Tommy Trusty’s made it through worse before.

---

since this is already so self indulgent, i thought it’d be fun to leave a more in-depth AN here. i’d set up a lot of backstory details to be explored in chapter 2, but that’s ofc not happening, soo… yeah! no need to read all this. hope you liked the fic! :)

chapter 2 was going to be about our boys’ journey along the serpent’s pass. techno would reveal himself to be an earthbender and offer to teach tommy some bending basics. you see in this chapter that tommy has a complicated view on firebending due to his trauma, but he still obv thinks it’s cool and wants to learn. learning from techno lets him get in touch with his earth nation roots and maybe even start to get through his firebending block. they would eventually make it to ba sing se and part ways with techno, with tommy and him having become friends. we also would have seen more of wilbur’s motivations, how everything he does is for tommy and how he struggles with the aftermath of his own traumatic event in which he feels he “should have died”. but most of those feelings would remain unsaid, only gleaned from his actions and loyalty to tommy.

on to some fun commentary:

wilbur lies to the immigration officer quite a bit. he says they’ve been traveling for as long as they remember, but him and tommy only left yu dao 2-3 years ago. his “political experience” also comes exclusively from reading history books, and tommy’s skill with “agriculture and animal care” is derived from the fact that he loves animals and was a fire nation soldier’s gardener back in yu dao. but we’ll get to that more in a bit.

the reason tommy and wilbur want to get to ba sing se so badly is because tommy dodged the draft lol. yu dao is a fn colony, so there’s a lot of cultural mixing—tommy and wilbur both feel more earth nation and are treated as such (ie. extremely poorly), but tommy is also a firebender. he feels a lot of guilt for dragging wilbur along to escape his own problems, but he also kinda feels like wilbur’s dragging him along, too. 

if you’re thinking ba sing se probably isn’t a good place for either of them, you’d be right. wil’s interest in politics, tommy’s trouble-magnetism, and their combined tendency to start drug empires would have the dai li on their tails eventually. it’s almost lucky, then, that i see this story taking place during the very beginning of avatar’s season 2, only a few weeks to a month before the drill and the following fn takeover. tommy and wilbur still have a while to go before they’ll be truly safe.

a few times, tommy and wilbur mention another “old friend” with whom things didn’t go down too well. this friend is eret, of course! up to interpretation whether she is connected to wilbur’s above-mentioned traumatic event.

i decided it wasn’t unreasonable that tobacco might exist in the avatar world, so wilbur’s canonical smoking habit gets to stay.

yes, the guard lady tommy thinks is cool is a kyoshi warrior! she knows “the blade” was around during kyoshi’s era because he shows up in some of the historical texts she’s read about kyoshi. that means the blade was around at least 200 years ago, probably longer.

wilbur is very insistent that techno is just “there” whenever he needs to be. it’s completely up to interpretation whether techno is a god, a spirit, a human, etc… it’s not even clear who the blade is or whether it’s really techno. so do with wilbur’s claims as you will.

so, tommy mentions he wants to get away from a certain “tyrant freak”, and later has a flashback to something burning and a man calling tommy his friend. this is a reference to the exile arc equivalent in this AU. dream was an accomplished fn soldier who’d been released from duty due to an injury that prevented him from bending for a long time. he lived in yu dao and hired tommy as his gardener. eventually he found out that tommy was a firebender and threatened to send him to the fn army if he didn’t cooperate. the rest, i think, can be extrapolated.

the bit where tommy is upset about wilbur having sent letters to techno about the serpent’s pass was going to be a whole thing in the second chapter, but i don’t really remember where i was going with it.

wrt wilbur: techno does not, in fact, owe him one. he thinks phil would want him to help, though, so that’s basically the same thing.

techno telling the story of orpheus is where i picked up on this draft after like, two years of not touching it. so if it feels a little janky from there, it’s because i don’t really remember how to write these characters, lol.

thanks for reading all this way!

#silly sully writing #dsmp #mcyt #c!crimeboys #c!bedrock bros #dsmp fanfic #dsmp fic