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staysaneathome · 3 years

Text

This Was Not A Dare, Reigen

Jon glares at each of the— the suspects traitors in front of him, tape recorder clutched tight in one hand.

Martin, wringing his hands uselessly, eyes wide and beseeching. Tim, fists clenched hard enough for his knuckles to go white and returning his gaze with a death stare of his own. Sasha, arms folded to form a barrier between Jon and herself, expression a perfect mask of concern. Reigen, radiating disappointment in every one of his gestures and quips. Elias, eyes weary, fingers rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Some intervention this is turning out to be.

Jon wants to scream. Wants to reach out and shake someone, anyone, until they admit he’s making sense and it’s the rest of the world that’s gone mad.

Every single one of them (except Martin) could’ve killed Gertrude. He knows he has no proof that they did, but he has no proof that they didn’t either, can’t they see that? If they don’t want him to suspect them, it should be easy for them to actually give him proof of their innocence (like Martin did), instead of just repeating platitudes of “you know this isn’t acceptable adult behavior, Jon” and “you’re better than this, Jon”.

Who cares about knowing better or acceptable behavior when it’s your very life on the line? He’s half tempted to throttle the con artist, see how dignified or adult he is when he’s the one with a murderer on his tail!

…Not that Jon is a murderer. It’s just the principle of the thing, is all.

“Jon,” Elias says, tone soothing in all the ways he doesn’t want it to be. “This is absurd. This goes far beyond an unhealthy work environment. I’ll admit it’s partly my fault for letting it get this bad, I should have intervened earlier.”

Reigen cuts in with a hand gesture that is as effusive as it is dismissive. “That doesn’t make his behavior okay, Bouchard-san. It may be bad here, but Jon chose to follow me, Tim and Sasha, and yell at Martin, rather than going to the police or paying a detective, like Herlock Sholmes or something.”

Jon sputters. “Wh- It’s Sherlock Holmes, not—and he’s fictional!”

Reigen blinks sleepily, one eyebrow raised. “Oh? That doesn’t sound right. Are you sure?”

“Yes!” Jon all but shouts, rapidly reconsidering his stance on braining the sardonic little git with his tape recorder. “Don’t you even—an-and you’re deflecting again! Just like with your ridiculous ‘haunted gun’ nonsense!”

“I’m not!” Reigen says, clearly deflecting. “I’ve seen this kind of thing loads of times as the number one psychic. When a weapon kills lots of people over 100 years, the bad energy gets bigger and bigger until the gun grows an evil spirit and is hungry—”

“I refuse to believe Gertrude Robinson was murdered by a sentient blunderbuss!!”

“Be that as it may,” Elias interrupts, shooting them both a stern frown. “This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about, Jon. Given how badly it’s affected your work ethic, I will be taking direct action to ensure it does not continue.”

Jon can feel his shoulders hunch almost against his will, dread pooling in his stomach at the thought of whatever punishment is about to be unjustly inflicted on him.

Only Martin looks half as worried as he feels, glancing between him and Elias nervously. By contrast, Tim looks downright triumphant, smirk nasty and vindictive. Sasha’s somewhere between those two, not openly celebrating his soon-to-be-downfall, but not acting like she’d lift a finger on his behalf either, though he’s unsure why that feels like it should surprise him. She’s always been as neutral as Switzerland.

Reigen, oddly enough, has more in common with Martin than with Tim. He’s staring at Elias like he’s waiting for a bit of news he knows he won’t like.

Jon thinks he’d appreciate that more if he wasn’t about to be unfairly lambasted simply for trying to stop a murderer and bring justice for an old woman who probably died frightened and alone. Much like Jon probably will once he’s been hobbled by whatever Elias is about to say next.

“Such as by restricting access to the archives from members of the public who are ultimately doing you more harm than good.”

…Wait.

What?

“What?!” Tim, Martin, and Sasha echo.

Reigen glances between them all, blinking in confusion.

Jon shares the sentiment entirely. His punishment is…for someone else to be removed from the archives? Someone he doesn’t employ or even like that much, no less?

He must have misheard, surely.

Though maybe not, given how Tim looks aghast, glancing between Elias and Reigen. “Okay, no, Reigen’s clearly not the problem here—”

“I’m very sorry, Tim, but Jon has made several remarks about the disruptive nature of Mr. Arataka’s presence in the archives.” Elias sighs. “From the arguments like the one we just witnessed to the nonsensical purchases of oddities inspired by his presence, such as Duolingo subscriptions,” Meaningful glare at Jon who resists the urge to clutch his phone guiltily, “That are now billed on the Archives’ expenses, it unfortunately seems as though he is dragging down productivity for all of you as an active stressor.”

“But we’re much better equipped to take statements from people who don’t speak English because of that!” Martin protests, stepping forward. “Isn’t it an advantage to have a more, more international perspective for our work?”

“One positive in a sea of negatives does not an advantage make.” Elias says, sounding infuriatingly like he’s misquoting something. “And really Martin, how realistic is it that this would help in more than a few isolated cases? I expected better from you.”

Martin’s face crumples, and his shoulders hunch, making himself smaller.

Jon finds his own mouth opening to—what? Say something? What would he even say?

Luckily, Sasha intervenes before he can dig his own grave further. “That’s as may be, but he’s a wonder for morale. He and Jon are funny, not anything serious, and I don’t think we’d have come to you about Jon‘s behavior unless he encouraged us to—”

“Which only fits into the delusion where Jon feels an outsider is rallying his subordinates against him, which is not good for his paranoid outlook.” Elias replies calmly. “And it’s never a healthy work environment when one employee feels the others are making them the butt of a joke.”

“I’d say that’s not as bad as when the boss feels he has the right to violate everyone’s privacy whenever he wants to just ’cause he’s feeling sad!” Tim growls.

Elias begins to answer, before Reigen finally speaks up.

“Sorry,” The con artist says carefully. “But you are…«I know this one…» banning me from the Archives? Yes?”

“That is the long and short of it, yes.” Elias says, grudgingly

“Why?” Reigen challenges, eyes hard and searching. “What have I, personally, done that’s wrong here? What behavior do I need to correct?”

There’s a moment of silence. The whirring of the tape recorder sounds uncomfortably loud.

“Mr. Arataka, are you currently under the employ of the Magnus Institute?” Elias asks, brow furrowed.

“Ah, no, no, but—”

“Are you looking to become employed by the Institute at this point in time, as a prospective member of the Archival Staff?” He fires off rapidly.

“Su-Sorry, but if you could just go a little slower—”

“Then I am afraid that unless you’re looking to fill out an employment contract or a Statement form, we cannot help you, Mr. Arataka.” Elias spreads his hands wide. “We are an academic institution, a place of research and learning. The Institute cannot allow for social dalliances on company time, especially not when those visits are negatively contributing to the work environment and the wellbeing of our staff.”

Tim throws up his hands, “I-I cannot believe this!”

Reigen’s mouth works soundlessly for a moment.

“Arataka is my…what do you call it? First name?” He says, at last. “Using it in this context is…inappropriate. Please call me Reigen, if you would, Bouchard-san.”

“Of course. My mistake, Mr. Reigen.” Elias does have the decency to look somewhat abashed. “Though, regrettably, I am going to have to ask you to leave the premises within the next twenty minutes, or I will be forced to call security.”

Reigen nods, jerkily, hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jon almost wants to call out to the fraud as he turns to go, grab him by the shoulder, pick another argument, something. He knows he should be happy, be glad that this thorn in his side will finally stop bothering him, but instead he just feels—befuddled. Off-kilter.

What happened to the man who once spent three hours arguing for the “spiritual effectiveness” of entirely performative and useless rituals, saying that ensuring his clients left his office fooled and contented was better than actually uncovering genuine supernatural forces and learning all there was to know about them? Why is he going so-so easily now, when he’s made Jon fight tooth and nail in every debate he’s had with the so-called psychic?

At the door, the con man pauses.

“Bouchard-san. You said I could come back if I had a statement to give?”

Elias shifts in his seat, looking bemused. “W-well, yes. That is a service we do provide. Of course, the statement would have to be genuine, and verifiable as such before we let you back into the Archives.”

“We don’t even do that for most of the rubbish we do take,” Tim mutters under his breath, and though Jon is glad he’s not the one being shot a quelling look, he does have to agree.

The con man turns back.

He’s got that smirk on his face that immediately puts Jon’s hackles up on instinct, prepared to argue against whatever inane point he’s come up with now to defend his phony psychic title.

“Gotcha.” Reigen says, far too cheerfully. «Ja ne.»

Then he strolls out of the office, as cool as a cucumber.

Jon could even swear he hears him whistling as he makes his way down the stairs.

There’s a moment of stunned silence.

“I’d do him.” Sasha pipes up, unhelpfully.

“Sasha!” Martin hisses, scandalized. “D-don’t you have a, a—”

“Oh, I don’t have to worry about that.” She remarks, far too blasé for someone in a newly committed relationship. “Tom’s heard about him too, and he agreed he’s just our type.”

“And I’m not?” Tim jokes, but there’s a hard edge to it that Jon’s found himself increasingly familiar with in the past few weeks.

Sasha shrugs with a mischievous little smile, as if that mattered very little to her.

Elias coughs. “Right. Well. Whatever your relations to Mr. Reigen are, please try to limit them to outside the workplace in future.”

The rest of the intervention is surprisingly subdued. Elias gives Jon access to the footage from the cameras in the rest of the Institute, and Tim bodychecks him on the way out of the office, muttering about how nice it must be to never face any consequences for his actions. Sasha follows, the way she won’t meet his eyes a condemnation in its own right.

Even Martin doesn’t say anything to him, just bites his lip and hurries past back down to the Archives. It doesn’t sting. It doesn’t.

Even as he settles in to watch and rewatch the CCTV records of Gertrude’s last week alive, Jon can’t shake the ridiculous feeling of foreboding that’s dogged him since Reigen left.

Most of him wants to say it comes from the fact that despite the fact that Reigen has not appeared in any of the camera records for the Magnus Institute before he started his term as Head Archivist in 2016, isn’t banning him from the Archives just letting the con man run around London with impunity, with no way for Jon to ascertain his movements or motives? That instead of solving a problem, Elias has just given a potential murderer free reign to escape?

But a small part of Jon, one that never could deny the sensation of being watched, that is frozen in second-hand terror whenever he reads a Statement, knows, Knows that it this stems more from the idea that the fraud will actually accomplish what Elias has unwittingly challenged him to do.

The illogical but pervasive surety that he will do so.

Jon’s not sure if he’s more afraid that Reigen Arataka will vanish entirely, another unfortunate victim become an unsolved mystery.

Or that he’ll come back, and bring whatever he’s managed to unearth on his insane quest with him.

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miyaniacs · 3 years

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Dämmerlicht - Sukuna x gn!reader

Wortzahl: 2853

Warnung: mentions of death and slightly sexual, alcohol

Charakter: Sukuna x gender neutral reader

A/n: hey guys, this is the first real part of my collab with @laceymorganwrites , it was really fun to write this and I really hope you all enjoy it - I’d be really great to tell us what you think of it ^^ Alsoo comment if you wanna be tagged for the other parts (Gojo, Fushiguro and Geto) and yes, we’re both German haha

Masterlist

Placing down the small glass filled with whiskey, you smile at the male in front of you. His hair was white and looks incredibly soft. A soft smile is shown on his lips while his eyes are covered by a dark blindfold, matching the color of his shirt.

“Thank you.” He says in a soft gentle voice.

“My pleasure.” You respond cheerfully. While the male walks away, to a group of people sitting in the back of the room, you hear someone huff. Looking to your right, your eyes are met with red ones.

“You want anything?” You smile politely.

“A new one.” He places the cup on the counter, in his other he holds his phone, while another hand runs through his hair.

“As you wish.” Taking the glass, you quickly clean it and start mixing a new Cosmopolitan.

“You forgot the small umbrella.” He says with a teasing voice. With more force than needed and a smile as bright as the sun, you place the small umbrella in his drink.

“Better?” You ask between gritted teeth.

“Say, how do you do that?” He asks curiously and rests his head on one of his hands.

“Well, I take this liquor right here and mix it with those… and then I decorate it with a small umbrella.” You respond with a sarcastic undertone.

“Well sweetheart, you know I didn’t mean that.” He smirks.

“And what do you mean?” You ask while mixing a drink for another customer.

“Working here. Shouldn’t it be annoying for someone as pretty as you?” He tilts his head, his eyes following every single one of your movements. You shrugged, “You mean because of all those creeps that try to hit on me and calling me beautiful?” You tease. Rolling the upper pair of his eyes, his other one on the right watches you.

“Well… I like getting to know different people.” You mention after a small break.

“Oh… and by meet you mean?” Now all four of his eyes are fixed on you, studying your expression.

“Y/n, you shouldn’t talk too much with someone like him.” Nanami says while sitting down on one of the chairs in front of the bar.

“Oh and why shouldn’t they?” The other male asks in a mocking tone.

“Same as usual?” You ask Nanami ignoring their conversation about you.

“Yes please.” He smiles at you before turning his attention back at the other. “You’re never up to something good Sukuna - and they are way too important.”

A sigh leaves your lips.

“Oh? Important? Are you a royal sweetheart?” Sukuna laughs at his own joke.

“No, just a grandchild of one of the elders.” You smile bitterly and slam Nanamis Guiness on the counter.

“Just be careful Y/n.” He grabs the Guiness and walks to the group the white haired one, Gojo, walked to earlier.

You watch the others smile and greet Nanami, Gojo pulling him down and throwing an arm around him. Nanami pinches his nose embarrassed while some pink haired guy laughs holding his stomach, earning a smack from the black haired one next to him. Then a hand appears in your view.

“What?” You sigh and turn around to Sukuna.

“Why is the grandchild of an elder working in a bar like this?” He underlines his words with one of his hands waving through the room.

“And why should I tell you?” You huff now annoyed.

“Ohhh they got some spice.” Sakuna teases a smirk now playing on his lips.

“How about I kindly ask you to shut up and let me finish my shift in peace.” You roll your eyes and walk to the other side of the bar, switching positions with the other bartender.

“Mhhhh, no sorry, I was quiet for way too many years.”

Looking up you’re met with the same red eyes. You’re about to leave again, when you feel a hand grabbing your arm. Spinning around you hiss a “Let go!”.

He looks at you calmly, his head resting in two of his hands, while his fourth hand holds his Cosmopolitan. You knew who he was. You’ve known it the second he walked into the bar. You know he is dangerous, but the more you think about it the more you’re drawn to him.

“Oh? Am I seeing that right? Is your face relaxing? Oh - could this even be a smile? Is the ravishing Y/n gifting me with a smile?” The second those words leave Sukunas lips, your flat hand meets his cheek.

“I said let go.” And with that you wiggle yourself out of his grip.

“Ohhh, sweetheart, you’re getting more interesting with every second.” He smirks and his hand moves to the spot you’ve hit him.

“Ahhh, I got myself a masochist?” You respond teasingly.

“I’d say I’m more of a sadist, but for you I would mind getting some … punishment.”

“I don’t think I got enough ropes and blindfolds for you,” you smile.

“I can lend you mine.” Gojo walks by and sends you a peace sign.

“Yes please Gojo, bless all of us with your beautiful eyes.” Sukuna says in a high pitched voice and claps two of his hands over his cheeks.

“Everything for my number one fan!” Gojo flips his imaginary long hair.

“Nanami!” You call out, “Come and collect your man!”

“He’s NOT my man.” He huffs while grabbing Gojo on the collar of his shirt, pulling him back towards the table they came from.

Laughingly you roll your eyes and finish cleaning a glass, throwing the towel over your shoulder.

“Let me guess - you’re working here to act up against your grandpa and all his rules?”

Clenching your jaw you look over at Sukuna.

“Ahh, I see, 100 points for me.” He smiles evilly and leans over the bar.

“Tell me sweetheart, how about you annoy him even more? I’ll promise, you’ll enjoy it.” He looks up at you.

“What kind of fun?” You ask, the idea of acting up against all those stupid rules making you exited.

Getting revenge on all the times you’ve been wrapped up in a big layer of overprotection. It was more than annoying, the feeling of not being able to grow, to find out who you truly am, everything was taken away from you, due to never being able to do what you want. Every time you had to think of what consequences your actions have for your family.

“Well... that’s a secret you’ll discover when you come with me.” An evil and mischievous smirk appears on his face. A smirk that screams ‘do not accept, warning, danger, keep away, walk in the other direction immediately, scream for help.’

“Hey Dan, I have to go now, can you cover the last hour of my shift?” You ask your coworker, who just rolls his eyes and nods.

Walking around the bar you stop right before Sukuna : “Where are we going?” You smirk and look down at him.

Quickly your gaze shifts upwards, as Sukuna gets up and now towers over you. One of his hands extends and he waits for you to place your hand in his. Taking a deep breath you keep your eyes locked to his red ones, as you lay your hand in his. Immediately he pulls you into his chest, two of his arms wrap around your waist while his forth one gently grabs your chin and lifts it up.

“Ohh you’re a bad one, aren’t you?” He leans closer, his lips almost touching your ear. “So hopeful to anger ... who? Your grandfather? Or...” his lips now gaze over the soft skin on your neck, “No... your dad - Daddy’s good little child is acting up?”. With his last words he looks straight in your face, leaning closer and closer.

“Y-Yes.” You breath out. Sukuna licks his lips and his eyes darken. Looking at you with hooded eyes he closes the gap between your lips. Closing your eyes the second you feel his, surprisingly soft, lips on yours. You melt into the kiss, it feels as if your whole body’s on fire, a fire that tickles right underneath your skin, all the hairs on your skin set up, your fingers grab his shirt, pulling him even closer.

“Ohhhh No... NO no no no no! I’m not working right now, but I still feel like it’s my duty to not just sit here and watch you making out with him.” Nanami angrily screams and somehow manages to pull you out of Sukunas four arms.

A deep growl escapes Sukunas throat.

“Nanami. Why can’t you leave them alone. They’re old enough to make their own decisions.” All of his eyes are fixed on Nanami now.

“I know them since they’ve been a child, sorry that I feel the need to keep them away from stupid decisions.”

“Hey, no fights! That’s the rule!” Dan shots from behind the bar.

“No need to paniccccc, they're just trying to figure out who has the bigger one. You know, they’re still kids at heart, right guys?” Gojo walks over and puts an arm around both of them.

“Gojo, that’s none of your business.” Nanami says and tries to escape Gojo’s grip, without any success.

“And it’s also none of yours Nanami.” You step up, arms crossed over your chest and look at him.

“Y/n, don’t be stupid. I’m just trying to protect you... like always.”

“I am not a small helpless child anymore, I don’t need your protection.”

“Judging by the people you keep on talking with... or hooking up with, you’re neither an adult nor in any way only a bit more grown up than the day I first met you.”

“Oh yeah? Am I? Well MAYBE I am doing all of this because all of you rather keep me locked in my room and never let me leave. I have no freedom.” Nanami is about to say something, but you’re quick to interrupt him, “ NO don’t come with the ‘but you’re working here, your dad trusts you enough to work here’ - I see all the agents that visit the bar whenever I have my shift. Even here I’m getting watched.” Angrily you take Sukunas hand and pull him with you, as you storm to the entrance.

“No, Y/n, WAIT! Please.... I’ll talk with your dad I-“ Nanami calls out but you’re already out of the bar.

“Well that was interesting.” Sukuna chuckles beside you, swinging your arms back and forth. The night is warm, the streets are lightened up by all the non sings, it must have rained recently, the ground is still wet, making all the light reflect. It was beautiful, no one else seems to be outside, but you couldn’t really acknowledge the beauty around you, your head still filled with countless thoughts and regrets.

Nanami just wanted the best for you and you’re not even mad at him, you’re mad at your family, you know that Nanami keeps many secrets from your father, protecting you and helping you having a rather normal life.

“Hey, little brat, how about we get something to eat?”

“BRAT?!” You exclaim and spin around standing right in front of him. “I AM NOT A BRAT!”

“Well... your behavior now tells me otherwise.” He raises an eyebrow and tilts his head in a provocative way.

“I know how to fight okay? Don’t you think I can’t kick your ass.” You say between gritted teeth.

“Oh? That’s tempting, my little brat is acting up now?”

“Your?!” You laugh and raise your brows, “One kiss and you already believe I’m yours?”

“Well... no, but I promise by the end of the night you’ll be screaming my name and mine only.” His voice is low and deep, he takes a step towards you and another one and another one. With every step he takes, you take one backwards, until your back is now pressing against the stone wall behind you.

“Are you going to kill me?” You ask, even though you try your best to sound confident, your voice still shakes.

“I will yes, the only question is, in what kind of way?” His eyes are locked with yours, his hands rest on the wall, caging you between him.

“You know with one thing Nanami was right. You are acting extremely childish, only thinking about angering your family and not thinking about your own safety.” He tilts his head and one of his hands moves towards your face, his index finger traces over your skin, going from your jaw upwards to your temple, down over the bridge of your nose, until he finally outlines the contour of your lips. You shiver underneath his touch.

“It’d be so easy for me to just kill you right here, right now.” His hand wraps around your throat.

“There are so many curses, jujutsu sorcerers and just simple humans, that would take advantage of a naive child like you.”

The pressure around your neck increases.

You’re unable to speak, too afraid of what he’d do.

If you haven’t been this harsh to Nanami, he and Gojo would have already found and saved you.

“You have no idea of how many curses I heard of that want to kidnap you and use you as a leverage.”

The pressure increases even more.

At this point it’s getting harder and harder to breath, your vision gets blurry.

Desperately you wrap your hands around his, yet he just laughs.

“Curses, just like them-“ one of his hands points behind him, “that asked me to get you out so they can kidnap you.”

His hand leaves your neck and you fall to your knees.

Your hands wrap around your sore throat, while you let out some rattling breaths.

“Wa-wait.... curses?” The words Sukuna said finally reach your mind.

Panic rises up inside of you as you look around, curses appear from everywhere.

“Yes... I brought you here... for them.. but well.... you see.” He turns towards one of the curses, who seems to be the leader, “ I changed my mind. They’re mine now, so you have to leave now.” He smiles calmly.

“Oh no, we paid you!” The curse hisses.

“Well... and you’ve really been that stupid to think I would work for one one like you?” He laughs and with every second it starts to sound more evil.

“We’re more than you.” The curse says and the other curses move forward.

“Gosh you annoy me, I’m just trying to have a nice night out with them now.” He rolls his eyes and looks down to you. “Little brat, Stay here I’ll be right back.”

In a matter of seconds all of the curses lay dead on the ground.

It starts to rain, Sukunas shirt is ripped, exposing his toned body, the blood, which drips down his hands, gets washed away by the rain. He looks up at the night sky, yet the second you try to move, he’s already kneeling down next to you.

“No no no... don’t be afraid. I never wanted to give you to them.” He says, his voice soft. “Well, to be honest, at first my plan was to just kill you along with them, but seeing your little fight with Nanami... I changed my mind... so in some way he actually saved you again.” He chuckles and gets up extending his hand, waiting for you to take it.

“Come on now, I told you I make you scream my name by the end of the night, isn’t this what you want?” He smirks and you roll your eyes.

“No more choking .” You sass and let him help you get up.

“Keep that bratty attitude and that’s all you get.” The smirk on his face grows and he pulls you closer.

“I really shouldn’t do this right now.” You sigh and get on your tiptoes, wrapping an arm around his neck you press your lips against his.

No, you really should not kiss the person that planned on killing you.

But the thrill of doing something, which feels so forbidden, is like a drug and the longer you kiss him, the more intoxicated you get.

“Now, let’s make your daddy angry shall we?” Sukuna growls and takes out his phone.

“Yes please.” You smile against his lips.

“Three... two... one.” You kiss him again and he picks you up, your legs wrapping around his torso, your back pressed against the wall.

Your head is filled with Sukuna and only him.

He’s your perfect drug.

Filling up all your senses and every inch of your body.

You know how wrong this is, but this is nothing you have to think about now, tomorrow you will deal with the consequences. You could easily blame it on the adrenaline or the whole situation you were in just seconds ago, yet both of you know, that you want this, that you needed this, that you needed him.

Pressing the send button Sukuna puts his phone away.

Now your father needs to increase the amount of your ... bodyguards, which will only make it more fun for him to steal you away every night, beginning now.

Taglist (open) : @kenmasgameboy , @dixonsbugaboo

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk sukuna #jjk headcanons #jjk oneshots #sukuna x y/n #sukuna x reader #sukuna headcanons #sukuna imagine #jujutsu kaisen headcanons #jjk hcs #jjk x reader #sukuna oneshot #sukuna x gn reader #🔪

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shutupandshipit · 3 years

Text

Christmas Preemie - One Shot

Summary: Izuku smoothed a hand over Katsuki belly, smiling as it was kicked at rather viciously. “He’s been moving around a lot, hasn’t he? Wouldn’t it be crazy if he decided to be a Christmas baby.”

Fingers curling in Izuku’s collar, Katsuki brought their noses very, very close. “Don’t even joke about that, shithead. I’m not done baking this loaf yet.”.

....

Or where Izuku makes a joke and forgets to knock on wood.

Pairing: Bakudeku

Rating: T

Check out Coming Home if you haven’t already! It precedes this fic!

Author’s Note: So, I'm sure other places have Christmas Strolls, but I've never seen one outside my hometown. It's literally my favorite part of the entire year, but I haven't gotten to visit it in more than 5 years. I didn't mention the name of the street in the fic, but it is based on the actual Plumas Street and Christmas Stroll that's in my hometown. When you're imagining it, think of what main street for a small town would look like (except we haven't been a small town in many many decades). Also, before anyone mentions it, yes the tortoise from the pat store that's mentioned is an actual thing we saw often. They would tie a balloon to him to keep track or where he went. He was pretty freaking big (medium dog size), and if I remember correctly, he was over 100 years old.

It's Christmas day here in Japan for me, so have another Christmas fic. Anyway, enjoy! Stop by and tell me what your Christmas Stroll/Festival is like! (when there isn't Covid) Blessed Yule! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Whatever you're celebrating, I wish you a happy day!

"Daddy."

The whisper was just soft enough to wake him up, but not loud enough to startle him. Still, Izuku hoped if he pretended not to hear it, it would just end up being a dream. He let his face remain slack, his breathing steady.

A few seconds later before Izuku had even managed to doze off again, the whisper came again, closer this time. “Daddy, wake up.” Weight followed, two small hands pressing into his chest with all their weight.

“Sumi,” Izuku breathed quietly, still refusing to move and believe his daughter had woken him up, “It is very early and Daddy is very tired. Please go back to sleep.”

“But there’s someone outside the door. I can smell them.” The weight disappeared from his chest, but not the edge of the bed.

Groaning, Izuku pushed himself up and peeled his eyes open. Weak blue morning light crawled into the room from beneath the curtains. On the bedside table, blurry red numbers told him that it was only 6:22 AM. Katsuki was still dead asleep beside him, pillow covering his head while his hand lay protectively over his belly.

Sumi bounced anxiously on the edge of the bed, her protheses bare metal all the way down to her toes. She glanced between the door and Izuku. Her wild green locks were wilder than usual from sleep, a brush handle protruding over the top of her head at the back of her hair.

Before Izuku could move to extract it, a knock sounded at the door. Three short, but loud, raps. Both he and Sumi startled, glancing at Katsuki before each other.

With a heavy sigh, Izuku nudged Sumi off the edge of the bed and stood. He was just pulling a shirt over his bare torso when the knocking came again. Louder this time.

Izuku wasn’t someone who normally got agitated easily, but between the early hour and the jetlag, he was less inclined towards solicitude. Jerking open the door, scent flaring out strong and sharp, he growled, “What?” He felt Sumi press against the side of his leg, and glanced down to see her baring her teeth.

The man on the otherside was a burly looking alpha fellow with an overwhelming burning sage scent. Irritation made the scent sharper, less pleasant plant life and more like weed. His arms were crossed over his wide chest, murky brown eyes cut in thin slits. He was taller than Izuku by several inches, but Izuku had no doubts that he could still take the alpha down even without One For All. “Tell your wife to reel in her pheromones. I’ve got three alpha teens in the next room over, and she’s driving them nuts.”

Izuku glanced over his shoulder at the still form of Katsuki before pushing Sumi back into the room and stepping out to square up against the man in front of him. He smiled, sharp and dangerous, channeling every ounce of Katsuki he had stored in his veins. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that? My English isn’t that great. I thought I just heard you say it’s my omega’s fault your boys can’t control themselves.” His English was almost as good as his Japanese after four years with Sumi and Katsuki and Shonetta every other day.

The alpha huffed, glaring down his nose at Izuku. “That’s right. You know you can’t bring omegas in heat to hotels in the U.S.”

“Wow! Amazing! You can’t do that in Japan either, and my omega isn’t in heat.”

“Whatever she is, you need to get her to reel in her fucking pheromones. I’m sure we’re not the only family being bothered.”

“I think,” Izuku started sweetly, “maybe, you need to teach your boys some self control. If they get riled up just from smelling an omega, I think the fault lies with their parents and not a family minding their own business in a separate room.” His smile could have cut glass.

The alpha bristled, face going red. “Why you-”

The door opened behind Izuku, and both alpha’s startled as a disgruntled Katsuki stepped up behind Izuku. “What’s going on? Do you know what fucking time it is, asshole?”

Izuku hadn’t heard Katsuki get up, and assumed Sumi had made the decision to get him. His protheses were attached, metal bare to the morning chill. Katsuki was also shorter than the alpha, but his presence was far more intimidating as he glared at him in all his pregnant glory. At eight months, Katsuki was deep into his pregnancy, and deeply over it as well. He had begun to swell at five months and hadn’t stopped.

“I’m just giving this man some parenting advice,” Izuku said, glancing at the other alpha whose face had drained completely of color.

Katsuki shot narrowed eyes at Izuku. “Yeah, sure sounded like it.”

“You’re Dynamight-”

“Yeah, what of it?” Katsuki groused. His eyes turned back to the alpha, looking him up and down with a critical eye.

Katsuki, pregnant and tired, was not someone a lot of people knew how to deal with. They’d set up the trip to visit Shonetta and Cynthia before they’d had the pregnancy confirmed. Izuku had suggested they move it either one way or the other around the birth to provide his mate with more comfort, but the paperwork had already been in route and tickets purchased. On top of that, Katsuki had been sure he was going to be just as small as when he’d had Katsumi. He had surpassed that stage two months ago.

The alpha seemed to shrink under Katsuki’s steady anger. “I, uh, I’m sure you don’t remember me, but you might remember my daughter? She was kidnapped while we were at the zoo, and you saved her before the guy could throw her into the lion pit.”

After a moment, Katsuki said, “Little red headed omega. Freckles everywhere. Presented very early at seven or something like that. Wouldn’t let any of the alpha heroes near her.”

A smile split across the alpha’s face, and Izuku wasn’t exactly sure what was happening here. “Yes! You were the only one who could get her to calm down enough to come out of the crevice she’d wedged herself in behind the statue.”

Katsuki considered the guy again, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the door frame. “Right, now what were you saying about omegas earlier?”

Sumi pressed between them, eyes still narrowed at the man before them.

Red bloomed in the alpha’s face again, but this time it seemed to be in embarrassment. “Oh, nothing. Nothing at all! Your mate was giving me some parenting advice like he said.” A door opened close by.

“Right.”

Izuku and Sumi glanced down the hall to see an omega girl of about twelve pop out of the door.

“Dad, Danny said- Mr. Dynamight!” She darted out, letting the door slam shut behind her. She gasped. “Katsumi!”

“Katherine!” Sumi shouted in return, wriggling out from between Katsuki and Izuku to jump around with the other girl, hairbrush still in her hair and all. “You’re so much bigger than me now! Do you talk to Ms. Bains anymore?”

While the little girls chattered excitedly with each other, Katsuki pointed at the alpha. “You, come here,” he growled threateningly, palm crackling quietly. Swallowing, the alpha stepped just a hair closer, and Katsuki snapped out a hand to jerk him forward until they were nose to nose. He hissed, “Get your fucking boys under control and stop blaming others for your short-comings. You’ve got a fucking omega daughter, and you’re spouting that rhetoric around her? Get your fucking priorities straight.”

“Y-yes, sir,” the man squeaked.

Katsuki pushed him away. “Great, now that we understand each other.” He turned, slowly making his way back into the room, but returned only a moment later with something clutched in his hand. “Hey, girl!”

Katherine perked up, trotting over to the three adults with Sumi’s hand still clutched in hers. “Yes, sir?”

“Here, something to make your brothers jealous.” Katsuki held out a bandana that their PR agents had specially made when Katsuki and Izuku had publicized their bond. Cut from one corner to the other, one side was green and black with Izuku’s signature bunny motif while the other side was black and orange with ‘X’ graphics. They’d brought a couple of the prototypes to give to Shonetta and Cynthia. “That’s the first like it. I sighed the ‘X’ in the corner, and I’m sure Deku would sign it too if you ask him.”

Katherine turned big brown cow eyes on Izuku, and he smiled as he turned to find a sharpie.

Behind him, he heard Katsumi shout, “I’ve got one too! We can match! We’ve got shirts too! I could send you one when we get home!”

“Would you?” Katherine asked excitedly. Izuku grabbed a pen and paper as well, returning. As he traded everything in his hands for the bandana, she asked, “Dynamight, can I feel your belly, please? I’ve never gotten to feel a baby move before.”

“Go ahead, kid.” If Katsuki Bakugou was anything, he was soft when it came to children and other omegas.

Izuku thought maybe it was something he’d never really completely get about his mate. He knew it had to do with biology, but he thought maybe it had to do with just Katsuki himself. He was gruff around the edges, but he had an ingrained instinct to protect those weaker than him. Then again, Izuku was softer than him when it came to children, so who was really to say.

Katherine stepped forward, pressing reverential fingers to Katsuki’s distended stomach before leaning to press her ear there as well. Sumi followed her lead, chattering all the while as the girls felt and listened. Katherine let out a high, girlish giggle as she pulled back. “He kicked me in the face! What a little bugger.” Still, she pressed her ear right back to where it had been. “You smell good, Dynamight, sir.”

“Well, heck, I hope so. How else am I supposed to keep this one around?” Katsuki jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Izuku who huffed out a laugh in response.

Laughing, Katherine took a few more moments before pulling away. She scribbled a cell number, email address, and physical address before exchanging the notepad for the bandana again. “One day,” she said very seriously, staring up at Katsuki with wonder in her eyes, “I’m going to grow up just as strong as you. I’m going to be a great omega hero like you!”

Her father seemed ready to protest, opening his mouth to say whatever had come to mind, but Izuku put his hand on his shoulder with another sharp smile.

Katsuki’s expression was soft as he patted her on the shoulder. “Hit us up when you’re about to intern in high school, and maybe I’ll be able to work something with Negative. Or if you choose not to be a hero in this sense, you can intern with her wife at the hospital as a nurse or a midwife. There’s a lot of avenues that you could take. Make sure you pick the one that makes you happy.”

Katherine nodded, just a quick bob of her head. “I will.” Before they could part, she wrapped her arms around Katsuki and then did the same to Sumi. When she pulled away, eyes finding her father, they went wide. “Oh no! I forgot. Danny said that the toilet is clogged and it’s leaking all over the bathroom.”

“Ah! What the hell!” The alpha threw his hands into the air, stomping towards the door she’d come out of.

With a giggle, she hurried after him. “Bye, Katsumi! Bye, Mr. Dynamight! Bye, Mr. Deku! Hope to see you again!”

As they disappeared into the room, Katsuki turned to Sumi. “Okay, little monster, time to get ready. Shonetta and Cynthia are supposed to be picking us up soon, and why is there a hairbrush stuck in your hair! Deku!”

Izuku gaped. “It was there when she woke me up! Don’t go blaming me!”

“And yet, I’m still going to.”

…..

-7 months earlier-

“Izuku fucking Midoriya-Bakugou, get your ass in here!”

It wasn't often that Katsuki called Izuku by his full name, and he nearly dropped the plate he'd been holding as Katsuki's enraged voice thundered from the bathroom. He and Sumi, now a stunning nine-year-old and growing bigger every day, caught each other's eyes across the kitchen counter. It had been what felt like years since Katsuki had yelled at him so ferociously.

' Papa's mad !' Sumi signed helpfully, eyes darting to the bathroom door before returning to Izuku.

' Yeah, but the question is how much ?' Izuku signed back one-handed, soapy fingers moving quickly through the air, ' And why ?'

“Fucking Deku!”

Izuku startled again, this time actually dropping the plate as he darted away. Sumi's laughter followed after him, but it did nothing to calm his nerves. “K-Kacchan? What's the matter?” he asked tentatively as he pushed into the bathroom. He paused just inside the door.

Katsuki sat on the edge of the sink, head cradled in his hands, fingers pressed to his eyes. The scent hit him next, sweet caramel and all-spice spiked with the bitter tang of bile and urine. Last was the quiet growling hum Katsuki seemed to be letting slip.

“Kacchan?” Izuku stepped completely into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Whatever this was, he doubted Katsuki wanted Sumi in on it just yet. “What's the matter?”

“Are you fucking happy?” Katsuki growled, but the edges were softer and fonder than Izuku normally received when Katsuki was angry with him.

That made him wonder; was Katsuki actually angry or just trying to hide something? “A-a-about what? What's going on?” When Katsuki jerked his head toward the toilet, Izuku stepped around him and stopped again.

Right on top of the lid, four pregnancy tests sat. Four pink sticks with four pink plus signs on white faces stared up at him.

He was crying before he'd even fully comprehended the sheer magnitude of what the tests meant. Inhaling a shuddering breath, he whispered, “How long have you thought...”

“A couple weeks. About a month, but I wasn't sure. Didn't want to get anyone's hopes up. Had to check after I puked though.” Katsuki still hadn't lifted his head, and Izuku turned to press between his knees, leaning in to lightly scent the top of his head.

“Kacchan, you really are?” he asked with a hiccup, throat thick and voice choked, “Really? You're not messing with me?”

“Tell me, in what world do you think I'd joke about this?”

A sob slipped passed his lips. “Really? You're really pregnant? Are...” he trailed off, fear coiling in his stomach right alongside the excited butterflies, “Are you mad about it?”

Katsuki released a heavy sigh, and dropped his hands. A smile pulled up the corners of his mouth, and he met Izuku's eyes. "No. No, I'm not, Izuku. Maybe it's just my stupid omega brain, but... I love Katsumi and I loved when she was a baby, and I didn't think it was going to feel the way it did. I didn't think I'd get another chance to feel that again. It's different having a baby and that changed my whole world. And this time..." Reaching out, he gripped Izuku's hips and pulled him close. "This time you'll be here to experience it too."

A torrent of sobs fell from Izuku's mouth, and he covered his face with his hands. Pressing forward, he wrapped his arms around Katsuki's neck to press his face into Katsuki's shoulder instead. "Kacchan, I'm so happy! I can't believe- I didn't think- I'm so happy!"

"Yeah, that's obvious, nerd," Katsuki said fondly, threading his fingers into Izuku's hair to hold him close. "Get it all out now. You're not allowed to be emotional for the next nine months. Got it?"

"That's totally unreasonable." Izuku laughed, breath sticky and wet against his own face. "But I'll try my best." He let out a breath, finally calming as he pulled back. “I can't wait to share these next months with you."

"You won't be saying that soon," Katsuki warned, but his smile ruined the effect. He pulled Izuku back in, this time for a kiss. And even though his mouth still tasted hideous, Izuku couldn’t have been happier.

Sumi burst through the door, eyes wild, hair wilder, hands popping around a phone screaming with Shonetta's voice. "I'm going to have a baby brother?" she screeched, launching herself between Izuku and Katsuki to try and get closer. "Let me touch your belly, Papa! I want to feel Taiyo move!"

"Katsumi!" Katsuki growled warningly as he pulled back to glare down at her, "How many times have I told you to not eavesdrop! Or answer my phone!"

Izuku was laughing though, stepping back to hoist her into his arms. "Sumi, you won't be able to feel them move for a long time. And how long have you had that name picked out? Also, hello, Negative."

Shonetta wasn't paying attention, screaming instead at Katsuki to pick up his phone so she could congratulate him. He didn't comply, ears red and face buried in his hands.

"Since I was three!" Sumi announced, "And I told Papa I wanted a baby brother like the other girls in my class!"

"And I told you not to hold your breath, you little monster," Katsuki growled before groping blindly for the phone. Removing his hand, he glared down at the woman on the screen with red cheeks and curled lips. "You tell anyone, woman, and it'll be the end of you, do you hear me?"

"I've already texted Cynthia."

"You know she's not who I'm talking about."

Izuku could hear the grin in Shonetta's voice rather than see it. "Well, the entire agency is congratulating you. Don't ignore them when they text you."

"Bitch-"

"Katsuki," Izuku reprimanded quickly, but Sumi was already preoccupied as she chattered away at Shonetta.

…..

-Present-

“Katsumi Bakugou-Midoriya, get over here and put your jacket on or I’m going to leave you here, and you’re not going to get to go to the Christmas Stroll at all.”

Izuku popped his head into the little guest room that Shonetta and Cynthia had set up for Sumi to use for the week they’d be in America. There was an air mattress on the floor with a rumpled pink comforter in the middle surrounded by two desks and numerous filing cabinets. Sitting on the edge of the mattress was Sumi, arms crossed over her chest in consternation.

“No! It’ll be too hot!” she shot back, “I can dress myself!”

“Clearly not if I’m having to tell you to put on more clothes because it’s going to be cold!” Katsuki snarled, out of breath as he glared at his daughter. He was gripping the back of a computer chair with one hand while the other pressed to the small of his back, face contorted with as much discomfort as it was irritation. “I’m not asking. This is nonnegotiable, and I’m not in the mood to be arguing with you.”

Sumi turned up her nose, and Izuku got a very sudden and terrifying flashback to Katsuki when they’d been kids. “No. I’m not wearing it.”

Before either could snap back, Izuku stepped into the room with a smile. "Sumi, you know you're not supposed to be arguing with Papa right now." He turned to Katsuki with a smile that softened as that now familiar warmth of seeing Katsuki swollen with pregnancy filled his chest. "Kacchan, please sit down if you're uncomfortable."

"I'm fucking fine," Katsuki snapped, but almost immediately blanched and slowly sank into the computer chair. "Fucking kid." Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back and rubbed a hand over his belly. Once, twice, soothing circles.

When Izuku looked back at his daughter, he found guilt twisting her round face. "Wait here for me, Sumi, and we'll talk about the jacket. I'm going to help Papa outside."

"Okay," she mumbled, ducking her head and tugging at the end of her long braid, "Sorry, Papa."

Izuku gripped Katsuki forearm as he slowly stood back up. "Not your fault, little monster, your brother just has a lot of energy like Dad."

She didn't lift her head, and they both sighed as they made their slow way out of the room, and out to the living room.

"Shouldn't have yelled at her," Katsuki grumbled as he sat down and let Izuku slide and lace up the orthopedic boots from Cynthia on his feet.

"There was a better way to handle the situation, yes, but traveling always makes you irritable. And you've been doing really well handling your anger throughout your entire pregnancy." Task completed, Izuku pressed a kiss to Katsuki's belly and got kicked in the mouth for his trouble. "I'll talk to her, and then maybe you can talk to her about why you were frustrated later."

Katsuki made a sound above him, and Izuku lifted his head to find his husband scrubbing at his eyes. Izuku pressed gentle fingers to Katsuki’s wrist, but it only made Katsuki's breath hitch. "You're so much better at this parenting thing than I am. What would I have done if you hadn't wanted to stay with us?"

Pregnancy hormones. Even eight months in, Izuku was still surprised by how wildly Katsuki's emotions could vacillate in a few moments. Anger to guilt to tears. Tears weren't something Katsuki was predisposed to, so each time Izuku found Katsuki crying over something, he always had to stop and think about his next step. Sometimes Katsuki would cry over something that made sense; pictures of Sumi in the hospital, a news story about children being lost in a villain attack, the anniversary of All Might's death. Sometimes, they didn’t make sense; the time he'd knocked the dish soap onto the floor, doing paperwork at home instead of at the agency because he'd had an appointment that day, watching Winnie the Pooh by himself while Sumi was at school.

Everything about pregnancy fascinated Izuku, and he felt blessed every moment of it he was able to share with his mate.

Standing, Izuku pulled Katsuki into his body, rubbing a hand up and down his spine. "We're a team, love, we've always been a team. This works because we're together. Even if I weren't here, I know you'd be nothing less than amazing."

They remained like that until Katsuki’s shaking slowed. After a moment, he whispered, “Deku.”

“Yes?”

“I want you suck your dick.”

Izuku felt his entire body flush from head to toe at the blunt word choice. He laughed, rubbing at his forehead. “How about we save that for later? I thought you wanted to go to this Christmas Stroll thing Sumi and Shonetta haven’t stopped talking about. Isn’t today the last night?”

Katsuki huffed against Izuku’s chest, fingers stilling where he’d pushed them up beneath Izuku’s shirt. “I would say ‘fuck it’,” he groused, using Izuku to stand back up, “But it’s Sumi’s favorite part of the season. The whole thing’s a fucking annoyance.” Which actually meant Katsuki enjoyed it, Izuku had discovered. “The things I do for that little monster and her godmothers.”

Izuku smoothed a hand over Katsuki belly, smiling as it was kicked at rather viciously. “He’s been moving around a lot, hasn’t he? Wouldn’t it be crazy if he decided to be a Christmas baby.”

Fingers curling in Izuku’s collar, Katsuki brought their noses very, very close. “Don’t even joke about that, shithead. I’m not done baking this loaf yet.” He pressed a quick kiss to Izuku’s lips before hobbling away towards the kitchen where Cynthia and Shonetta were singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. “Sumi’s still waiting for you.”

Izuku put on his own shoes before returning to the bedroom. Sumi was still sitting in the same spot he’d left her, scrubbing at her eyes with the sleeve of her long-sleeved t-shirt as she sniffled quietly. "I'm sorry," she whispered miserably.

Sighing, Izuku picked up the coat -barely a sweater really- that Katsuki had been trying to get Sumi to put on and sat down beside her. "Why are you sorry?"

Her shoulders hitched, just like her father’s a moment ago, and mumbled, “Because I’m being a bad girl.”

Running a hand up and down Sumi’s back like he’d done with Katsuki, he asked, “Why do you think you’re being a bad girl?”

“Because I was arguing with Papa and made him start to yell and now he’s mad at me. I don’t want to wear my jacket because it’ll be too hot, but I just get so mad when he starts to yell. I can’t help it.”

“You’re a lot like your Papa, baby. He’s like that too, and it took him a long time to learn not to let that be his first response.” Resting his hand on the side of Sumi’s head, he pulled her into his body, pressing a kiss to her temple. “He’s not mad at you, he just wants to make sure you don’t get sick. Papa shouldn’t have yelled at you, but you shouldn’t have yelled back, okay?”

“Okay.” Sumi hiccupped, tilting her head to rest on his shoulder.

Izuku let the moment stretch until he heard Cynthia’s voice coming down the hallway. “Alright, so here’s what we’re going to do.” Lifting her head, Sumi sat back to meet his eyes, silent and resolute. “I want you to put on your jacket before we go outside, okay. No, no arguments.” He put up a finger when her mouth automatically opened to argue. “You can take it off again in the car. You have to put it back on before you get out of the car. If it’s too hot after ten minutes of being outside, you can take it back off, but I want you to carry it just in case you do get cold. Okay? Is that fair?”

After a moment of puff-cheeked disdain, Sumi huffed and muttered, “Yes.”

…..

When the others had said ‘Christmas Stroll’, Izuku had been expecting houses lit with strings of light and families marveling at them as they passed. Maybe a few groups caroling or selling hot chocolate.

Izuku was not expecting a full-on parade of floats and fire trucks and police cars with people dressed as Santa Clause and elves dancing to Christmas music over loudspeakers. He also wasn’t expecting an entire street to be shut down and blocked off to allow the crowd to walk from one booth or store to another. At either end of the street, live music played. One side seemed to be professional musicians while the other side seemed to be high school students and volunteers. Behind the makeshift stages, Christmas trees towered, dripping in tinsel and sparkling lights and handmade ornaments from the ornament making stalls off to the sides.

Each booth and store shone with lights, boasting their wares. There was a whole booth dedicated to olive oil, another to soaps made out of goat’s milk, another to hero merch that Katsuki wouldn’t let him linger at. There even seemed to be a gift wrapping stall every ten meters or so. The stores were all small family owned businesses of holistic shops, restaurants and one records shop.

Katsumi ran out in front of them in the jacket she’d been so against with Shonetta, laughing as they held hands and darted around other families. Cynthia paced Katsuki, close at his elbow to help at any moment.

“Papa, look!” Sumi shouted, pointing down the road, “The tortoise from Guisser Pets is out again! Oh, Cookie Tree has a booth! Can we please get some cookies and hot chocolate!”

“Sure!” Katsuki called back, “Go pick out what you want, and we’ll catch up in a moment. Do a baker’s dozen!”

Other patrons glanced curiously at him, the Japanese obviously foreign to their ears, but Katsuki didn’t seem to notice as Izuku pressed close against his side. “This is really nice. They do this every year?” Izuku asked.

“Every damn year. The agency usually helps out too,” Katsuki said, eyes scanning over the crowd, “Those idiots should be around here som-”

“KATSUMI!”

Izuku and Katsuki lurched forward on instinct, Cynthia’s hand shooting out to grip Katsuki’s arm, but they stopped as quickly as they’d started. Up ahead, a group of heroes lifted their daughter into the air as she screamed with laughter. “Katsumi! Katsumi! Katsumi!” they chanted, Negative already in the middle of the group not making a lick of difference.

For a solid moment, they stood watching. Then Katsuki strode forward, intent in every step. “Hey, assholes! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

Izuku had heard Katsuki use English before -at the hotel, on the phone with Shonetta, to Katsumi when she got overwhelmed- but it was a shock every time. And every time it made him hot around the collar. He watched completely dumbfounded as Katsuki stopped in front of the group, hands on his hips, and subsequently as they engulfed him into their mist. “Ah, Kat!” they shouted, and Sumi popped from the group to dart to Izuku’s side, “It’s so good to see you! Where have ya been, fucker? Holy shit, you’re huge!”

It was a group of fumbling, laughing and crowing as they absorbed Katsuki into their ranks like he’d never returned to Japan in the first place.

Izuku stood with Cynthia and Katsumi, watching his husband interact with people in a way he never had before. Katsuki’s smile was wide and unrestricted as he wrapped one of the guys in a choke hold and rubbed his knuckles roughly over the man’s crown. As he playfully pushed at the shoulder of a small wolf-eyed woman with sharp canines, large triangle ears and grey bottlebrush tail. As a pair of twins with cotton candy pink hair and thin delicate claws pressed their ears to his belly to listen.

There was an instinctual need to ward off every person standing too close to Katsuki, especially the alphas he could smell in the air, but knew exactly how well that would go over. That didn’t stop him from pumping out pheromones enough to make others attending the stroll pass him wary glances before skirting as far around him as they could. Beneath his hand, Sumi giggled and reached up to grab his arm tightly.

“Calm down, tough guy,” Cynthia told him, hand on his arm as she pushed cinnamon dreads back over her shoulder, “You’re suffocating the crowd. They’re not a danger to your mate or pup.”

Izuku groaned, turning to meet her brown eyes. “I know that logically, but that doesn’t make me want to rip off their hands any less.”

‘ Protect mate. Protect pup. Mate close to birth. Vulnerable. Must protect. Run off threats. Protect .’ The litany of Izuku’s alpha was only interrupted when the group of Katsuki’s ex-coworkers started glancing around.

“Speaking of which, where is baby daddy? You brought him, right? Of course you did. No alpha worth his salt would let a mate as pregnant as you out of their sight. We haven’t met him yet! Let us meet the person who can handle you!” a burly man shouted to a crowing of assents from the rest of the group, “Come on, Kat, where are you hiding him?”

“My mate and husband , you absolute dickhole, is right over there,” Katsuki spat, jerking a thumb over his shoulder, “Can’t you smell him? Or are you as nose blind as you are stpuid?”

The group followed Katsuki’s motion, eyes landing squarely on Izuku. Immediately, his alpha went on high alert while his face flooded with heat at the attention. Their eyes stared at him for several long moments. Eventually, it was the woman with wolf eyes that spoke up first. “Honestly, Kat, I saw the news, but I thought it was a publicity stunt. I didn’t think you had your claws in Japan’s No.1 Hero Deku. Like what is that? Sumi, how could you keep this from us!”

“I didn’t! You just didn’t believe me!” Sumi shouted back, hands still wrapped around Izuku’s forearm as she bodily dragged him towards the group.

“Hey, assholes! He’s been mine since we were kids! And we switch between the top two spots all the time! Hey!” Katsuki’s teeth snapped viciously, a snarl splitting the excited atmosphere as he knocked aside someone’s hand who’d been reaching for Izuku. “Hands off. This is a no touch exhibition, fucking got it?”

“Ah, Kat, you’re too much like a territorial alpha,” the burly man said, setting a hand on Katsuki’s shoulder.

This time, Izuku didn’t stop himself. He slotted himself between the man and Katsuki, and very deliberately picked his hand off Katsuki’s shoulder to give it back to him. “Like Kacchan said, this is a no touch exhibition.” He gave the group his widest and most lethal smile that put his sharp canines in full view. “Please stop touching my mate. I’ve been very patient up until now.”

The heroes roared with laughter, unaffected by either Izuku’s or Katsuki’s displays. The conversation devolved from there. Introductions were properly made. Chatter shot from one side of the circle to another. Santa hats were shoved onto Izuku’s and Katsuki’s heads from the good-natured group. Eventually, Shonetta dispersed the group to continue with their jobs. Sumi took off with the twins as they promised her cookies if she danced with them. Shonetta and Cynthia pulled back, and then it was just Katsuki and Izuku holding hands as they wove slowly through the crowds.

At the end of the street where the professional band was playing a slow sweet Christmas song, Katsuki allowed Izuku to pull him into a crowd of couples of every age and orientation. He wrapped Katsuki up in his arms and swayed them gently to the beat. The twins turned passed them, Sumi held on their feet, and Izuku smiled.

When he pressed a lingering Katsuki’s temple, he muttered, “You’re being gross. Stop.” Despite his words, he leaned into the gentle touch.

“I’m happy. I like it here. I like the whole celebrating together and the lights and how happy everyone else is too.”

“It’s one of the more enjoyable things to look forward to here,” Katsuki agreed.

Giggles rose from around them, and for a moment, Izuku thought it was because they were so tightly bound up in each other that they hadn’t realized the song had changed. Only, the song was still the same slow beat. They pulled apart enough for Katsuki to give the surrounding couples a dirty glare.

They weren’t looking at them particularly, but at their feet.

Sumi swooped in, eyes worried as she whispered, “Papa, did you have an accident?”

“What? No, I didn’t have an accident. I’m twenty-”

“It’s just… your legs are all wet and there’s a puddle under you,” she interrupted.

Katsuki and Izuku reeled away from each other, staring down between their bodies at the puddle beneath their feet. Izuku couldn’t understand how Katsuki hadn’t felt the wet, but he also couldn’t understand how there could be so much liquid and it not smell like urine.

Color drained from Katsuki’s face. “Katsumi, go get Cynthia and ask Shonetta to run to start the car,” he said slowly and deliberately.

“Why? Are you hurt?”

Was he hurt? Izuku was as lost as Sumi seemed to be, but Katsuki didn’t seem lost at all.

“No. Just tell them my water broke, okay, little monster?”

‘ My water broke .’ Izuku was suddenly far less lost, and both fear and excitement thrilled through him at the same time.

“Are you going to be okay?”

Katsuki seemed to struggle to smile. “I sure am, little monster. Just go tell your godmothers that okay. Tell them to be quick.” His fingers tightened exponentially on Izuku’s forearms, and as soon as Sumi darted away, he spat, “You just had to open your fucking mouth, didn’t you, Deku?” Unbidden tears spilled passed his lashes. “I fucking told you I hadn’t finished yet. Now, he’s coming and-”

Izuku cupped Katsuki’s cheeks in his hands, quickly wiping away the tears. “It’s okay, Kacchan. He’s a little early, but it’ll be okay. It’s not ideal, but we’ve got Cynthia and Shonetta, and everything went well when you had Katsumi here. It’ll be alright.”

“I know that,” Katsuki grit out, eyes squeezed shut, “But so many things can go wrong with a preemie. I just want him to come out healthy and happy. What if-”

Izuku tapped Katsuki’s cheek lightly. “Hey, none of that now. No ‘what ifs’. Taiyo is going to be just fine, alright, but we’ve got to get him here first.”

After another few seconds of just breathing and couples staring at them in concern, Katsuki opened his eyes. He was back to himself, the same hero who had faced down more villains than a lot of heroes could even boast about. With steel in his eyes, he muttered, “Get ready. I’m going to end up breaking your fingers tonight. I broke Best Jeanist’s last time.”

Izuku laughed, and then Cynthia was at their sides.

…..

Taiyo came into the world in the early hours of Christmas morning, and was almost immediately whisked away to the preemie ICU. They hadn’t even allowed Katsuki or Izuku to scent him before.

Now, with Katsuki fitfully sleeping under the sedative they’d had to administer to make sure he wouldn’t come after them, Izuku sat in silence. At first, he’d busied himself with making the phone calls he needed to. One to Inko, to Mitsuki and Masaru, to their agencies to inform them of what had happened so they would know that not only would they miss their flight, but also they’d be immediately beginning maternity/paternity leave. The last calls he made were to Ochako and Kirishima.

Hearing their voices, so cheerful and encouraging, made tears slip down his cheeks and words difficult as he explained to them the situation so far.

They both said the same thing. “Don’t worry, Deku, everything is going to be fine. Taiyo is going to be fine.”

He wasn’t so sure the longer he sat there without a baby in his arms. He didn’t even have Sumi there to hold, Shonetta and Cynthia taking her home and telling him to call when he finally had word on Taiyo. So, he sat and fidgeted and stressed and cried at the side of Katsuki’s bed. Eventually, he just crawled in next to him and snuggled close.

What felt like hours later, Katsuki began mumbling and shifting, eyelashes fluttering as the sedatives wore off. “Zuku. Zuku. Izuku,” he panted, eyes struggling to open, “Alpha- where’s my pup?” His fingers curled around Izuku’s already bruised digits again, grip slowly growing stronger as he came out of the drug induced stupor. “Where’s my pup? Alpha!”

Izuku sat up in the bed, quickly reaching to incline the head so Katsuki wouldn’t have to move. After jabbing his thumb into the call button, he settled back against the bed and ran shaky fingers through Katsuki’s sweat sticky spikes. “D-don’t worry. They’re just making sure he’s healthy. I’m sure they’re almost done.”

“I want my baby,” Katsuki whispered weakly, turning his nose into Izuku’s neck. He breathed out shakily, grip calming if only marginally.

“Me too. I called the nurse. I’m sure she has an update.”

When the nurse pushed opened the door, tugging a bassinet in behind her with the doctor in on the other side, it was deathly silent. There was no smile on either of their faces, and Izuku’s stomach dropped at the silence.

He could smell Taiyo. Spearmint and brown sugar. There wasn’t anything off about it, but the expressions on the doctor and nurse’s faces told a different story.

‘ Pup. Scent. Hold. Protect. Need to scent. Pup. ’ Izuku swallowed against his alpha’s rising aggravation.

“I want my baby,” Katsuki said immediately, struggling to push himself up straighter and reaching out his arms towards the bassinet, “Now.”

“Mr. Dynamight, we need to discuss something first-” the doctor started, but Katsuki wasn’t going to let him finish.

He snarled, loud and harsh, all protective omega mother. “Give me my fucking baby before I get out of this bed and hurt someone. You didn’t even let me scent him before you took him. You didn’t let me touch him or feed him. Give me my goddamn baby.”

The nurse and doctor exchanged a glance, but after a moment, the nurse carefully lifted the abnormally silent bundle into her arms and brought him to the bedside. Hesitantly, she passed him over.

Katsuki and Izuku reached for him at the same time, bringing him in close between their two bodies. His eyes were closed, but he snuffled quietly as if he could smell them as well. There was wispy blond hair on the top of his head, and when his eyelids fluttered, there was the barest glimpse of color. Newborn baby blue eyes.

Tears tracked down Izuku’s face as he pressed a kiss to Taiyo’s forehead and then Katsuki’s temple.

“Help me get this stupid gown open,” Katsuki muttered as he shifted Taiyo closer to his chest. Taiyo made a soft barely audible sound, tiny nostrils flaring as Izuku and Katsuki got him flush against Katsuki’s chest. It only took him a moment to latch onto the offered nipple. “Why was that so much easier than with Sumi?”

The doctor cut in before they could continue on ignoring the pair. “Mr. Dynamight, Mr. Deku, please, if I could have a moment of your time. This is very important.”

“More important than me feeding my pup?” Katsuki asked, voice saccharine as he smiled up at the doctor.

The doctor swallowed, but nodded and forged forward. “I need to discuss your options with you. I know that you two are very busy pro-heroes with one child already.”

“What situation are we talking about?” Izuku asked, “You failed to mention what the problem was when you took him from us. I understand that you had to make sure he was healthy, and I appreciate the good work you’ve already done for us, but if something’s wrong, we should have been told immediately. Not hours after the fact.”

Looking chastened and rather aggrieved, the doctor nodded. “Yes, but this is a rather delicate subject. We weren’t sure how, uh…” He cleared his throat, eyes flickering toward Katsuki.

“How I would react? Is that what you were going to say?” Katsuki sneered, mouth cutting a razor sharp line. “You think anything is going to make me not want my pup, is that it? Full offense, but you don’t fucking know anything about me. So tell me what you’re so worried I’m going to react badly over.”

Swallowing again, the doctor cleared his throat. Worry and fear pierced straight through his scent when before Izuku hadn’t even been able to smell the alpha. Katsuki really was marvel. “Your baby was born with a birth defect known as spina bifeda. Do you know what that is?” Katsuki and Izuku didn’t answer, eyes now trained solely on the doctor. Clearing his throat for a second time, he gave a brief explanation before saying, “From the tests we’ve run, we have determined that it’s not a severe case. His brain seems fully functional, no sign of water.”

“But?” Katsuki snapped.

“But... it seems the mobility of his legs is non-existent. As he grows older, the condition may worsen or it may remain the same. What we know for sure at this moment is that he’ll never walk normally. There’s only so much our healers can do, but if the nervous system just didn’t develop correctly…” The doctor trailed off, looking between the two silent heroes. “He is going to need a lot of care, more than two pro-heroes may be able to give him. There are resources-”

“Shut up.” The doctor went silent with a clack of teeth, and Katsuki sighed, running a finger over Taiyo’s chubby cheek. “Not even you’re normal, baby. Sorry, but you’ll fit right in. Between the four of us, we’ve got three legs, six and a half arms, three sets of working ears and four pairs of eyes. Welcome to this dysfunctional family. Merry Christmas, you little heathen.”

Izuku was sure he’d never been more in love with Katsuki than in that moment. Laughing quietly, he asked, “I get everything else, but why six and a half arms? I’ve still got both of mine.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, not looking up from Taiyo. “Yeah, and one of them barely functions. Hence, half.”

“Okay.” Izuku pressed a kiss to Katsuki’s cheek before turning to look back at the gawking doctor and nurse. “When can we take him home? Also, when can we get on a plane? We eventually have to go back to Japan.”

They could only sputter.

…..

“Katsumi Bakugou-Midoriya, you are not taking your brother on to the jungle gym. He’s too small right now. Bring him to me.”

With a huff, Sumi turned on a heel and returned to Katsuki and Izuku where they were sitting on the park bench with Kirishima and Mina. Their little boy, a few years younger than Sumi, pouted impatiently at the swings while Sumi very carefully unstrapped Taiyo and his papoose from her front.

“I know you want to include your brother in everything, but you have to wait for him to get bigger. It’s going to be a while before he can really play with you, alright?” Katsuki explained patiently, holding Taiyo up so Izuku could remove his papoose and sat him in his lap. Taiyo waved his fists, but had yet to kick out. Just as the doctor had said, Taiyo seemed to have no control over his legs, though he could still feel pain. After returning to Japan, they’d immediately started him on neuro-therapy, but they had no illusions that he’d ever walk normally. Now, they just planned for what they could do for him instead.

Sumi leaned in to press a kiss to Taiyo’s nose, and he crinkled his crimson eyes at her before batting at her with a closed fist. She laughed, dancing back with a whirl of skirts. “I understand. I’ll play with him when we get home then.” Spinning, she tore off across the playground and tackled her friend to the woodchips.

Mina laughed, phone at eye level as she recorded the entire debacle. “Yeah, that’s your guys’ child. Poor, Dai.”

Kirishima sighed, though happily, running a hand through his ever lengthening red hair. “Honestly.” He cut eyes towards the trio as Katsuki began to bounce Taiyo on his knee, the baby babbling nonsense the entire time. Reaching over, he allowed Taiyo to grip at his fingers. “You know, a lot of people are surprised. I keep trying to explain it, but no one ever believes Chako or me.”

“Hah? About what?” Katsuki asked, glancing away from Sumi to throw Kirishima a scowl.

“You know, that you kept Taiyo.”

“Yeah, even after all this time there are people who thought you’d give him up for adoption or something for being disabled,” Mina interjected, leaning around Kirishima to get her eyes on him, “I know you’ve been staying away from the news and stuff while you’re still on leave, but some of the headlines are absolute bonkers. When they ask me about it in interviews, I tell them straight up that everyone’s being an idiot.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, eyelashes fluttering spectacularly, and Izuku sighed. “That would be kind of hypocritical of us, considering,” Izuku said, glancing at Sumi’s legs, bare metal because she’d refused to put on the synthetic skin or leggings that morning. “But that’s besides the point.”

“I mean,” Kirishima started, mouth skewing, “I don’t think they ever doubted you’d want to keep him, Deku.”

“And I’ll tell those vultures the exact same thing I told the doctor,” Katsuki interjected before Izuku had a chance to speak, “People don’t know fuck all about me.” He dropped his eyes back to the baby in his lap. “Taiyo was the best Christmas present I could have ever gotten. The only people who need to know that are the four of us. Everyone else can shove their opinions.”

Izuku felt heat press against his eyes, and he dropped his forehead against Katsuki’s shoulder as Mina laughed and said, “You’ve gotten soft in your motherhood, Kats.”

Instead of his usual response, Izuku heard Katsuki say, “Yeah, probably.”

Izuku laughed happily against his shoulder, grinning like the in-love fool he was.

#my hero academia #mha #bakudeku #dekubaku #decchan #bakugou katsuki #midoriya izuku #assorted ocs #omegaverse #a/b/o dynamics #alpha!izuku #omega!katsuki #disabled!katsuki #pregnant!katsuki #my writing #coming home #christmas preemie

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will-noble-owns-my-ass · 4 years

Text

BALLUM BIG BANG 2020 ENTRY

Title: Of Cops and Mob Bosses

Word Count: 9260

Rating: safe

Summary: Phil Mitchell. Mob boss of Walford. He was the hard man of Walford but it was time to pass on his legacy. There were few people he could bestow this honour onto, one of which was his son Ben Mitchell. Now Ben was… Well Ben, he’d been in trouble a few times, for a few big things but he hadn’t meant any of them, not really. Ben had searched all his life for his dad’s approval and he would get it if it killed him until something, or should I say someone, changed that. Callum ‘Halfway’ Highway. New to Walford and a new policeman to the area. He’d heard of the Mitchell’s, they were famous all over London for the crimes that they had committed. Now one Mitchell in particular intrigued Callum. Ben Mitchell. Ben intrigued Callum because, even though he had two serious charges on his record- from his childhood - he seemed to now be on the straight and narrow.

Artist: @lucres - Find the art here: https://www.tumblr.com/dashboard/blog/lucres/622878582499328000 and

here: https://www.tumblr.com/dashboard/blog/lucres/622878354864013312

Beta: @benxcallumx

Thank you very much for all your help❤❤❤

Chapter 1

“Ben Mitchell! Get down here. I’ve got a job for you!” Ben sighed as he walked down the stairs “What do you want dad? Look whatever you need me to do, I can’t. I’ve got the car lot to look after. You're gonna have to find someone else to do your dirty work.”

“Ben you are my son you will do as I tell you!”

“I am an adult! I have a job! I have a child! You cannot rule my life and I refuse to do your dirty work, do you understand?” “You will do as I tell you, I run Walford!”

“Sure dad whatever, but I ain’t doing whatever job this is, you’ll have to find someone else to do it” Phil stepped toward him and pushed him against the wall “YOU DO AS I SAY!”

Ben pushed his dad off of him and into the table “I AM NOT EVER DOING A JOB FOR YOU AGAIN! AND I AM NEVER GOING TO PUT LEXI THROUGH WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH!” Phil looked at him in shock “Why does it matter about Lexi, this won’t affect her!” Ben growled and saw red as he felt his fist connect with his dad’s face “What does she matter?” he hissed “Are you kidding me? She is your granddaughter. Everything we do affects her, how would you not know that? SO NO! I’M NOT DOING ANYMORE JOBS FOR YOU! Because Lexi needs me and I’m not going to put our relationship in danger just so you can get your job done. I AM NOT GOING TO PRISON because you can’t be bothered to do this job by yourself, or are too lazy to find someone actually STUPID enough, to not think for themselves and do as you tell them!”

He pushed his dad into the table again, walking out of the front door and slamming the door behind him, seething he stormed into the Queen Vic. “Y'all right Ben? What can I get you?”

“Pint please Mick” He sighed as he locked eyes with a handsome bloke with bright blue eyes “ £5.19 please Ben” Ben took the drink from him , handing him the money “Thanks Mick” He walked toward the new man who he’d never seen in the Vic before. He leaned against the bar and locked eyes with him. “Hi, I’m Ben Mitchell.. I haven’t seen you around here before.” The other man looked at him with slightly wide eyes “Hey I’m Callum Highway. It’s nice to meet you Ben”

Callum’s Point of View

Callum sat in the Queen Victoria in Albert Square, his new home, after his first shift at the Walford Police Department. He sat against the bar, sipping his drink and thinking about his day. He looked very pensive but was brought out of his thoughts by “Hi, I’m Ben Mitchell, I haven’t seen you around here before” he looked up to see one of the most handsome man he had ever seen, he felt his face heat up slightly as he smiled a little “Hey, I’m Callum Highway, it’s nice to meet you Ben”

Unbeknownst to Ben, Callum already knew who he was. The Mitchell dynasty was a big part of the reason he had requested a transfer to Walford, and why he’d moved into Albert Square. The Mitchells fascinated him, and he’d been quite excited at the possibility of meeting the Mitchell who intrigued him most. The one standing in front of him. Ben smiled slightly and slipped into the stool next to him “So you're new to Walford right?” he asked softly. “Yeah, I was transferred for work, I needed a change of scenery” he told him . Ben looked at him. “Transferred?” he asked. “Oh yeah I moved to Walford to join this police station” Ben smiled lightly “that’s cool, so how are you liking Walford so far?” Callum looked at him and thought for a second “Well from what I’ve already seen in the last week.. It’s interesting” Ben laughed lightly “Interesting is one word for it… There’s a lot that goes on in Walford… and surprisingly a lot of it happens in Albert Square” Callum chuckled “That’s kind of what drew me to wanting the transfer here… More exciting, in fact I was in here just thinking about how busy my first day at the Police Station was … What brings you here tonight?” he asked, genuinely interested.

Ben thought for a second and said “Well, seeing as you're from the police.. I’m not 100% sure I should tell you.” Callum analysed him for a second “Ben, I’m not on duty. Listen, I know I’m new around Walford but I know about your family.. I know you’ve got a history of your own. I know YOU haven’t done anything illegal in a long time. Ben what I’m trying to say is that you can vent at me.. It’s your dad isn’t it?”

Just at that moment Linda walked up to Callum. “Halfway, Mick’s busy and no one else is here, would you be a gem and help me change a barrel?” Callum looked at Linda and nodded. He looked at Ben as he stood up “Halfway?” Ben mouthed, Callum shook his head and whispered “I’ll tell you later if you tell me about what’s going on with your dad, Ben, you're talking to me as a friend not a police officer.. It might help to talk about what’s going on” Ben smiled softly “Alright ‘Halfway’” he mocked slightly “Go help with that barrel” Callum laughed softly and shook his head following Linda into the barrel store.

Linda looked at him knowingly, “You watch yourself with that one.. He’s trouble.” Callum looked at her “Linda, it’s fine.. I’ve known him an hour and a half. I know what he’s family is like.. But he’s not like that… at least not anymore I don't think so. It seems to me like he’s trying to change, from his record anyway, he hasn’t been in trouble for a long time, he was sixteen when he last committed a major crime.” Linda looked at him as they worked together to change the barrel “You're an adult and a police officer Callum, trust your own judgement it’s up to you” Callum smiled slightly at his mother figure “I appreciate that Linda, and I promise I’ll be careful about it. Although I have only known him for the last hour and a half, there’s no guarantee it’ll go that way, but I’d be happy with his friendship right now, considering I’m new to Walford and need friends” Linda laughed “Your very loveable Callum you’ll be fine”

Callum smiled softly and looked at Linda “Oh by the way, Thanks for calling me Halfway in front of him” she laughed again “Oh sorry, he wants to know why?” Callum nodded as they finished changing the barrel and left the barrel store. “Yeah, he wants to know” he glared at her playfully Linda laughed “Just go back to your new friend Callum” He smiled softly “I think I will”

CHAPTER TWO

Callum smiled as he sat back down next to Ben against the bar. “So Mr. Mitchell… What brought you here today.” Ben looked at him and grinned “Nice try ‘Halfway’, Why do they call you that?” Callum laughed softly “THAT was a nice try Ben but if I remember rightly, which I’m 99% sure I do, I said I would only tell you why they call me Halfway if you tell me why you're here and what’s bothering you.”

Ben sighed softly with a slight laugh, he shrugged his shoulders “right well it was worth a try… okay I’ll tell you” he took a deep breath as Callum locked eyes with him, giving him his full attention “Okay.. so you know about my past.. I’ve paid for my mistakes.. I’ve paid for it all and I am incredibly remorseful for everything I did.” Callum nodded “I see that.. Now what happened today?”

“My dad.. He wants me to do a job for him.. I refused. He started yelling at me.. We got into a fight.. And I came here to escape.. Because I don’t want to do whatever job he has for me.. I want him to find somebody else to do this job” he looked at Callum “Before you say anything I know I should just want him to not do the job at all.. But this is Phil Mitchell we’re talking about.. He does what he wants and everyone else has to deal with the consequences, because we’re the ones who have to do the jobs for him, and we’re the ones who have to pick up the pieces when it all goes to crap! Even his 7 year old granddaughter. He’s willing to put her future at risk. He’s willing to make her feel as if I abandoned her! And I refuse to put up with it any longer. She is a child she doesn’t need all of this, she doesn’t deserve to be put through this. I am her father, I’m supposed to protect her from all of these things!” he took a deep breath “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to rant… it’s just I have a lot on my mind.”

Callum smiled and flagged down Mick and ordered another two beers “Ben it’s okay… you’re allowed to feel this way” Ben sighed “But it’s my dad.. I should respect him.. Right?” Callum sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “No, Ben you don’t have to respect him at all or do as he tells you, especially if he’s trying to get you to do his dirty work, this is completely allowed and I am 100% sure you are justified in what you said to him” Ben looked at him and smiled slightly “Thank you Callum.” The other male raised an eyebrow at him “What for?” They both smiled at each other and picked up the drinks Mick had just placed onto the bar “Giving me someone to vent to… I know we haven’t known each other long, like at all it’s been what? Two hours” Callum smiled softly “Yeah okay it’s been two hours.. But sometimes we can all use a friend” Ben raised an eyebrow “A friend? You see me as a friend already?” he smiled softly and locked eyes with him “yeah.. Sure I do, only god knows we both need a friend right now, and I’m new around here I need all the friends I can get”

Ben grinned “Alright I can go for that, now I think YOU have something to tell me don’t you?” Callum feigned ignorance “Do I?” Ben laughed lightly “You know you do.. Why do they call you Halfway Callum?” Callum sighed softly “Why do they call me Halfway?” he thought for a second “They call me Halfway, sort of to make fun of me… Well because, I knew their son Lee at school and I was in the army with him.. And I was never very smart at school, I wasn’t ‘all there’ according to my some of my family” he gestured to himself “hence Halfway”

Ben smiled softly “That’s actually quite sweet” Callum blushed softly “yeah I guess so..” Ben chuckled and clapped him on the back “It’s not that bad Callum, or can I call you Halfway?” Callum glared at him playfully “Yes.. I think we’re friends enough that you are able to call me Halfway” Ben smiled softly and checked the time “Oh god.. Is that the time, sorry Callum I’ve gotta go get Lex from school..” He pulled out his card “This might be weird but here’s my number… you know if you ever wanna meet up here and have me return the favour, and have a rant at me?” Callum smiled and took the card “That’s not weird.. I’ll text you” Ben stood up “Okay sounds good, I’ll see you later okay?” he smiled as he walked toward the door and left. Callum grinned and looked down at the card in his hand with a slight blush. He took his pint from the bar and smiled slightly with a glint in his eye.

Yes, he’d only known Ben Mitchell for two hours, but he could see them as friends, possibly even more than that, he’d wait to see where the friendship took them. He didn’t know what the future held for him but he did know that he was excited about being in Walford. He had a family, and a home in the Carter’s and in the Queen Victoria. He also hoped he had a new friend in Ben Mitchell, although he felt a nagging feeling in the back of his mind telling him that it may lead to more with the other man who he already seemed to be very close to. He knew a lot about his new friends' past, but he could also see quite clearly, that the young Mitchell was changing, for the better and he shouldn’t let his father get in the way of the happiness he was clearly trying to find.. Callum resolved to try his best to help him to get out of the situation that he found himself in.

Ben grinned lightly as he left the Vic, walking towards the primary school to pick up Lexi. Callum was really really kind and he'd found it incredibly helpful to be able to vent to someone. Sure he had Jay and Lola, but he found that sometimes it was easier to talk to someone that he wasn't attached to, although he did think there was a possibility he may become attached to Callum in the future, he had felt a connection almost instantly, and he could see them becoming close. He couldn’t wait to see where his future would take him, and he hoped Callum would be there in some capacity.

Chapter Three

It had been a few weeks since Callum had arrived in Walford and met Ben, and most nights if he wasn’t working he was spending time with Ben, whether it be in the Vic or juist, spending time around at his house with him. A week after he had met Ben the other man had introduced him to Jay and Lola, and they had, all three clicked instantly, Callum had found some new friends, he just seemed to slot into their lives, like he was always supposed to be there, he’d even met Lexi. He smiled softly as he thought of all the people he’d met since moving to Walford. He finally felt like he would be able to be who he had always felt he was, He felt liberated now, secretly this was another reason he had moved away from Watford, from his father, from his brother. Now that they weren’t around him, he felt more able to be who he was without worry of being ridiculed for being different. Part of the reason behind this was watching Ben be completely open and honest about who he was. He didn’t know it, but Ben was teaching Callum not to be afraid, that it would be okay, that nothing would change, if he was open about who he was. He got ready for his night off, which as with most of his time off of late, he was spending with Ben, Jay and Lola. When he finished getting ready he went over to the Mitchell household and knocked on the door.

Ben’s Point of View.

Ben smiled softly as he chased Lexi around her bedroom “Hey missy come on it’s bedtime” she let out a high-pitched squeal “No! I want to say hello to Callum” he laughed softly as he caught her and began tickling her “Get ready for bed and we’ll see okay?” she nodded “okay okay fine” she said laughing as he placed her down, she went to put on her pajamas as he left to the kitchin to flick the kettle on. He rolled his eyes as he noticed Jay and Lola sat at the table “Soo” Lola smiled “What do you want?” he asked, slightly irritated. Jay laughed softly “You’ve spent a lot of time with Callum lately, he’s a nice lad, and we like having him around, but you seem to like him. A lot”

“Alright and? I do like him, but it can’t happen” he sighed softly “We’ve only known each other a few weeks” Lola smiled with a slight squeal “Oh Ben I’m so happy for you” Ben looked at her and then at Jay and rolled his eyes “Alright Lo calm down, we not getting married I haven’t even asked him out yet, and I’m not going to” Lola frowned “Why not? You like him, and I’m pretty sure he likes you too” Ben shook his head slightly “Lo, you can’t know that” She sighed softly “Alright if you're happy with that” Ben sighed “I think you know I’m not but I can't do anything about it. Look Lola we’ll see what happens in the future but he’s only been here a few weeks” Jay looked at him and laughed softly “But doesn’t he know you?” Ben rolled his eyes “You're on her side with this? I can’t believe you! And what could you possibly mean?”

Jay shook his head and laughed “Sorry bro, she will always win out on you, and I think you know exactly what I mean, he knows exactly who you are. He knows all about your past, and he still wants to be friends with you! Even if he is a police officer” Ben frowned at this and Lola slapped him upside the head “Jay!” she muttered as he rubbed the back of his head “I’m sorry okay?” Ben sighed and turned around taking four mugs out of the cupboard and set about making tea. He shook his head “Thank you for that one Jay, I appreciate it” Jay sighed “I’m sorry… Callum joining us again is he?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at the fourth mug on the counter “He should be… is that a problem?” Jay and Lola both shook their heads “No Ben of course we don’t… Callum is a decent lad. He fits in with us, he needs the friends anyway from what he’s told me… I just noticed that he spends a lot of his free time here..”

“Yes I suppose he does, but he seems to be happy with that and it’s not like I’m forcing him to spend time with me Jay” Lola sighed “Ben that’s not what he’s saying.. What he means is, he doesn’t think the way you feel about him-” Ben opened his mouth to protest “Don’t you even try to deny it Ben Mitchell we know you. We can both read you like a book.. As I was saying Jay was just saying that he doesn't think the way you feel about Callum is one sided” Ben sighed and rolled his eyes, as the doorbell rang he walked backward toward the door so he could see them as he went to open it “Alright, whatever, just don’t say anything while he’s here I beg you” Lola chuckled “Alright alright just answer the door”

Ben rolled his eyes and answered the door “Hey Halfway!” Callum glared at him playfully as he laughed “Hello Ben” he said as he entered the house and walked into the kitchen “Hey Lo, Jay, cheers Ben” he said as he was handed his mug “Oh no problem” he smiled and rolled his eyes Lola as she looked at him with a smile. They chatted for a while and smiled as they heard a thundering from upstairs “She waited up to see me again huh?” Lola laughed “You know she loves you Callum” As Lexi barrelled into the kitchen and into Callum’s legs. “Callum!” she squealed softly “Hey missy, have you had a good day” he asked as he bent down to pick her up. The little girl hugged him tightly as she launched into a rant about her day and how much fun she had had at school during the day. Callum listened with a smile “Sounds like you did have a good day” he smiled softly as he placed her down on the floor. Lola chuckled “Come on then missy it’s time for bed, you’re already half an hour late, that’s not gonna be fun in the morning” she whispered the last bit. Lexi nodded with a soft yawn.

Ben smiled softly and picked her up “Let’s get you upstairs” he said as he left the kitchen and climbed the stairs toward her bedroom and put her to bed. Callum smiled into his mug as he watched Ben go. Lola and Jay looked at each other “So, Cal, How was your day?” Jay asked as he took a sip from his tea. “Well you know, busy but not too bad, how was yours?” he smiled softly and leaned against the kitchen counter. “Oh you know.. Ben’s been doing my nut in at the funeral home” Callum laughed softly “Doesn't he have the car lot to run?” Jay grinned with a nod “Yeah, he has the car lot and the Archers.. But I think he gets lonely.. He works at both on his own so…” Lola smiled “He’s very busy in his own work and he does very well but.. He does get very lonely.. I usually spend his lunch hour with him”

Callum nodded very pensive “I might join him some time, I should have the time.. I’ll give him some company at the car lot for the day too” Jay and Lola grinned at each other “You don’t have to do that Callum.” He smiled softly “No no it’s not a problem, I want to he’s been one of my best friends since I moved into Walford, If he’s lonely I wanna help, I might even be able to be of some help at the car lot, or the Archers.. And it would mean that he’s not at the funeral home as much.” Lola laughed softly “I think he’d like that Callum” he nodded “Okay then”

Upstairs Ben was putting Lexi to bed, telling her a story. “Daddy?” he looked at her and sat on her bed next to her “Yes Princess?” she looked at him “I like Callum” she said with a sweet voice. Ben chuckled “I like Callum too baby” she smiled softly and gave him what Ben thought was a knowing look which was funny seeing as she was 7 years old. “Alright Princess I’ll see you in the morning okay?” he kissed her forehead as she cuddled into her bedsheets and her stuffed bunny rabbit. “Night dad” he grinned softly and joined the others back in the kitchen. He grinned lightly as they were discussing what they were going to do for the evening. He sat down, joining them. He was with his family and he finally had the kind of life he’d wanted for so long and he was going to make sure it stayed that way.

Chapter 4

Phil Mitchell was angry. His son had been ignoring him for around a month now and he was getting sick of it. He needed his son to do exactly as he wanted him to do. He was going to retire soon and he needed to know he was leaving his empire to someone he could trust. He let his fist hit the desk as he let out his anger. How dare his son not do as he told him? He was his father and he should be respected. Phil decided that if Ben wasn’t willingly going to do the job for him then he would just have to trick him into it. The only problem was, he wasn’t quite sure how to make this happen. Phil thought a while and snapped his fingers, he dialled Ben’s number and waited for him to answer it “What can I do for you Dad? If it’s that job I don’t want to know, okay?” Phil sighed softly “No Ben it’s not about the job, I was just wondering if you’d want to go for a drink? I’ll send you the address” Bwn laughed a little sarcastically “You wanna go for a drink with me? Really dad? If that’s true why don’t we just go to the Vic?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at his dad’s sudden interest in spending time with him. “I just figured we could try somewhere new” Ben gave a sigh of defeat “yeah alright dad we can go for a drink, where and when?” Phil smiled “I’ll send the address and time?” Ben snorted slightly “Alright then dad, I’ve gotta go I’ve got a meeting” he said as he hung up. Phil laughed a little as he put down the phone. He had finally found a way to get Ben to do as he needed him to do. He sent him the address of the warehouse that the job would be happening in and a time to go. Phil was rather annoyed because although Ben had finally given into him, (even if he didn’t know he was going to be doing it) Phil had had to lie to him to get him to do what was required of him.

The next day Ben got ready to go and see his dad he travelled to the address that his dad had sent him. When he arrived he looked around the warehouse and sighed “Dad!” he growled and leaned against the wall scrubbing a hand down his face. He looked around “Right.. What do I do now?” he walked through the warehouse trying to work out what he was to do. He sighed, he wasn't going to do this job, he had Lexi to think about now, he couldn’t deal with the consequences.. Lexi needed him and he was definitely going to be there for her, he wasn’t going to be anything that could possibly damage his chances of seeing her grow up.

In the warehouse he found it to be packed with a lot of things that probably didn’t belong there. He also found a note from his dad that said ~FIND SOMETHING TO DO WITH ALL THIS~

He sighed softly, he was going to have to talk to his dad about this. He couldn’t believe that he would do this, he had forced him to get involved in this, he couldn’t believe his dad could be this selfish. He ran his hand down his face again. Of course he would have to do this, his dad wouldn’t stop until he did. Phil Mitchell always got what he wanted. But not this time.

His eyes widened as he heard sirens close to the warehouse. “Oh crap” he ran around the warehouse trying to find a way out, as the sirens got louder, Ben stopped running, he decided that this was going to stop now. He decided it was time to make sure that his dad couldn’t get away with these jobs anymore. The police car stopped in front of him, and Ben walked over. The car door opened and Jack got out “Well, well, well if it isn’t Ben Mitchell” Ben sighed “Hi Jack, how did you know I was here?” Jack smiled softly, happy that he had finally caught a Mitchell doing something they shouldn’t be.

“We’ve got this place under surveillance.” he pulled out a pair of handcuffs as Ben turned around “Ben Mitchell, I’m arresting you on suspicion of breaking and entering and intent to sell stolen goods, You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Do you understand?” Ben sighed and nodded as he was placed into the back of the car. Jack got back into the car and drove towards the police station “Wait until Callum hears about this” he said, just loud enough for Ben to hear. He sighed “Why does what Callum thinks about this matter. Jack raised an eyebrow and looked at Ben “Nothing.” The rest of the ride to Walford police station was silent. When they arrived at the police station Jack pulled Ben out of the car and led him into the police station.

Walking into the building Jack stopped at the desk to book him in. Ben looked up and locked eyes with the officer behind the desk. “PC Highway, I’ve got Ben Mitchell here, I arrested him in a warehouse by the Thames, for breaking and entering and intent to sell stolen goods. Can you book him in please?” Callum nodded looking at Ben and quickly put him into the system. Ben was then placed into an interview room and questioned. “So Ben.” Jack said quietly “What were you doing in that warehouse?” Ben looked Jack straight in the face “I was just going for a walk” Jack raised an eyebrow “Down by the Thames? A little far away from the Square don’t you think?” Ben shrugged slightly “Maybe.. But then again Jack, maybe I just wanted to get away for a bit, Maybe I had been called to fix a car down there”

“Down by a warehouse? That doesn’t tell me why you were IN the warehouse Ben. Look I want to help you.. Tell me why you were there, be responsive, answer my questions and I can try to help you, I’m not the bad guy here Ben” Ben shook his head refusing to answer any more questions. Jack sighed, after about an hour and a half he said “Interview suspended at 18:45.” Jack sighed softly and left the room. Ben sighed he knew his dad needed to be stopped and he knew that this was probably the only way this was going to happen, but he also couldn’t bring himself to implicate his dad, even if his dad didn’t have a problem with implicating him. It was his dad, could he really do that to his dad? He shook his head. He would never talk to him again.

Callum’s point of view

Callum watched as Jack left the interview room and walked toward him with a sigh. “Jack..” Jack looked at him “What is it Callum, your friend in there isn’t cooperating at all”

“Can I talk to him Jack?” Jack looked at him and sighed “I don’t know Callum…” He sighed “Listen Jack I know it’s a bit weird but I might be able to convince him to cooperate, he listens to me… he trusts me” Jack sighed and ran a hand down his face “Yes, alright you can have 15 minutes with him, see what you can get out of him okay” Callum nodded “I can get him to tell me what happened.. He won’t tell me on the record though.. But I should be able to persuade him to tell you, I can’t promise you anything you know what he’s like.” Jack looked at him “I do know… but Callum I really need to know what happened, we can’t just leave it.. And we do need a record of what happened.” Callum sighed and walked towards the interview room “I’ll do what I can.”

Chapter Five

Callum walked into the interview room and looked at the man sat in the chair he sighed with a soft smile “Hi Callum” he shook his head and sat down “Ben, what happened?” Ben placed his head down on the desk “I don’t want to say” Callum sighed “Look at me Ben.. What happened, I can help.” Ben sighed and looked up at him “How can you always do this?” Callum laughed softly “I’m just that good, now come on tell me what happened.” Ben sighed and looked at his hands, suddenly finding them to be the most interesting thing in the room. “It was my dad, he uh, he told me he wanted to go for a drink and he sent me an address and a time… I should have known something was wrong Callum… He’s Phil Mitchell, he’s always got ulterior motives” he placed his head in his hands. Callum sighed “Look at me, this is absolutely not your fault and your dad needs to learn he can’t do this” Ben looked at him, “I know Callum I know, but I can’t he’s still my dad” Callum leaned back against the chair he was sat in “Listen Ben I get it some dad’s aren’t great… I understand that.. I’ve experienced it… Ben this is important.. Please… you can help us corner him if you tell Jack what you just told me” Ben sighed and looked at him “okay… okay yeah” he bit his lip “Your right he needs to learn.. It’s just not going to be fun at home”

“No, I know and I fully understand, but you’ve got Jay, Lola and Lexi around you” he locked eyes with him “You’ve got me” he said quietly. Ben smiled softly as Callum said “Can I go get Jack?” Ben nodded. Callum stood up and left the room going back to desk “He’ll tell you now” Jack smiled “What did you do Callum? He was completely locked up there was no way he was going to tell us what’s going on” Callum shrugged “You may have lived on the square with him for years Jack, but I’ve spent time with him, I’m friends with him. He trusts me, I talk to him, I understand where he’s coming from” he sighed softly “Jack there’s something you need to know about this before you go back in there and talk to him.” He looked at him “What is it Callum?” he asked leaning against the desk. Callum ran a hand through his hair “Jack.. it was Phil, he tricked him into it.. But, Ben’s got a little bit of a complex with Phil.. It might take him awhile for him to tell you what happened, because of his loyalty complex with his dad, so could you please do me a favour and be patient with him. I’m guessing you know about Phil Mitchell’s past?” Jack nodded “Yes and I’m also aware of Ben’s past too, but I’ll listen to what he’s got to say because you seem very confident in him.” Callum looked towards the interview room. He shook his head and looked up at Jack “I do, I do trust him and I do have a lot of confidence in him… I didn’t know him when he did all the things on his record.. But I know him now and I can tell you he’s not like that anymore… he’s got Lexi now, he wouldn’t do anything to affect her.”

Jack sighed and walked toward the room “Okay” Callum nodded and leaned against the desk as Jack walked back into the room “Okay Ben, I’ve been talking to Callum, he tells me there’s more of a story behind you being at the warehouse, that you want to tell me.” Ben looked up at him “Uh, yeah… But listen.. I wanna ask before I tell you.. If it comes to anything I’d like to stay anonymous.. At least to start with” Jack nodded “Of course I can do that… I’m going to go back on the record okay?” Ben nodded quickly as he sat down and pulled his chair into the desk. “Alright then” he nodded and pressed the button “Interview recomenced at 19:10 … Ben what led you to being at that warehouse?” Ben sat up slightly in his chair “My dad… he uh, he told me we were gonna go for a drink, he sent me the address of this place… I should have known something was wrong… Not only does he never want to actually spend time with me, He never actually does anything unless he can get something out of it.”

Jack sighed “Right okay, and you had no idea that this was going on beforehand?” Ben shook his head “Not at all, he’d said he wanted me to do a job for him… and I knew that, but I’d told him that I wouldn’t do it because I have Lex now. He uh.. Wasn’t all too happy about it and he’s been trying to persuade me to do the job for him.. I just. I don’t know how to fix it” Jack looked at him “Okay, right well what do you know about his workings” Ben sighed “He’s… Uh he’s trying to make it so that I can take over from him in the ‘Family business’” he put into air quotes “But I really can’t do this… well that, and all his jobs need to stop and I know that…”

Jack leaned back in his chair “Anything else we need to know about?” Ben snorted slightly “There’s quite a lot” Jack looked at him “We’ve got time” Ben took a deep breath “Alright so..” Ben then spent the next hour or so telling Jack everything he remembered about his dad’s past and all the different crimes that had happened that he knew about or thought that his dad may have been involved in.

Chapter Six

A few months after he had been arrested, and told Jack all about his dad’s past and his possible plans for future jobs that he had overheard, Jack had arrested Phil and charged him with all the crimes. They were able to prove some and his trial was in a few days. Ben sighed and sat down on the sofa and Lexi walked in”Daddy are you okay?” Ben looked up at her and pulled her into a hug “Of course I am Princess, I’ve got you” she smiled and hugged him. There was a knock at the door “I’ll get it” she chirped, Ben chuckled and put her down as she ran toward the door. “Callum!” he laughed softly and heard a “Hey Lex!” he heard her giggle as Callum walked into the living room with her on his shoulders “I’ll go ask mummy to put the kettle on for you” she said as Callum put her down. “Alright”

Callum smiled as he sat down on the sofa next to Ben “How’re you doing Ben?” Ben sighed and looked up at him “I’m doing okay but he still hasn't spoken to me” Callum sighed “Ben.. It’s okay, honestly maybe you just need to leave him to stew for a little while” Ben rolled his eyes “Callum it’s been six months… he just won’t talk to me” Callum looked at him and grabbed his hand “Ben look at me.. You don’t need him, you’ve got me, you’ve got Jay, Lexi, Lola.. and this might not fill you with the most confidence but you have Ian too.” Ben laughed softly “Your right that doesn’t really help at all” Callum laughed softly “Yeah alright” Ben sighed softly “Hey… do you think you could come with me to court to watch the trial” Callum nodded “Yes I’ve got the day off that day, of course I’ll come with you” Ben smiled and hugged him “Thank you Callum honestly” Callum hugged him back a little surprised “of course Ben, you need me, I’m right here okay?” Lola and Jay walked in and put the mugs they were carrying down on the coffee table. “We all are..” Lola smiled as they joined the hug. “I really appreciate you all” he grinned “Of course Ben, we’re your family.” He smiled softly. He suddenly felt as if he was finally in a safe space. He felt that he was finally away from his dad, which was something he never thought would happen.

The next day, Lola, Jay, Ben and Callum left Lexi with Ian and made their way to the court where the trial was taking place. When they arrived at the court, Ben stopped outside and leaned against the wall. Callum noticed that he wasn’t beside him anymore and backtracked out of the building “Ben?” the shorter man looked at him “I’m okay” Callum raised his eyebrows. Ben sighed “Okay so I’m not okay, my dad’s about to be sent down and it’s my fault… so he won’t talk to me again… but he deserves it” Callum nodded with a slight smile and pulled him into a hug and led him inside .”It’s okay Ben, we’re all right here… we’ve got you” Ben followed with a smile “I know, I appreciate it Callum I really do… You don’t have to be here…” Callum shook his head and led him toward their friends “But I want to be here for you Ben your my friend” Ben nodded as they walked into the courtroom and sat down. They sat through the trial waiting to hear the verdict. After they were called back in when the jury had come to a conclusion Ben sat next to Lola and Callum nervously. Lola pulled him into a side hug and Callum looked at him with a slightly sad smile. The judge asked the foreman of the jury to stand and asked what the verdict was. The foreman of the jury stood and Ben took a deep breath as they waited for the answer. “Guilty” Ben took another shaky breath and grabbed Callum’s hand. Callum looked at their hands a little surprised, he smiled softly and squeezed his hand as the judge then asked Phil to stand. “I have heard and taken into consideration all of the evidence heard and the fact that the jury has found you guilty. I believe that the only fair sentence I can give you is 10 years. You may take him down.”

As they watched him being taken down the four of them grinned at each other and stood up and Jay and Lola hugged Ben tightly., Callum smiled and looked down at their hands, which neither of them had realised they were still holding he blushed lightly and tried to pull away but Ben just held onto his hand tighter “Let’s go to the Vic and celebrate” Jay said “ooh yes I’m down for that” Lola laughed. Ben nodded “I need a drink after that” They walked out of the court and got into a cab “Albert Square, thanks” Jay said quickly. When they arrived back on the square, Ben finally let go of Callum’s hand. Callum felt a little odd at the sudden loss of contact and it confused him. He knew he liked Ben, but he wasn’t sure if he should tell him because he didn’t know if Ben liked him in that way, and he didn’t want to ruin the friendship he had built up with Ben since he had moved to Walford.

They walked into the Vic and, as Jay ordered the 4 of them drinks, Callum Ben and Lola sat down in a booth. Callum smiled softly watching Jay Lola and Ben have fun, and be who they are, he was incredibly happy that now that Phil was gone, Ben felt as though he could be who he was, and that he could pursue a future that he WANTED to.

The four friends celebrated in the Vic for a few hours and eventually Ben and Callum ended up outside on the square, Ben leaning against the side of the Vic, pulled Callum toward him “Ben- Ben what are you doing?” he asked, pushing him away and looking at him. Callum locked eyes with Ben, he connected their lips again.

Chapter Seven

Lola sighed softly, leaning against Jay as she looked at Ben “What’s going on with you Ben? I spoke to Callum earlier because he’s gonna go and get Lexi from school for me.. He said you haven’t properly spoken to him in a week..?” Ben looked at her “You remember last week when we went to the Vic, and at the end of the night we were standing outside.. And well we kissed.” Lola squealed “NO WAY” Ben nodded “Alright Lo calm down” Lola smiled “Okay… So what’s the issue? He kissed you back right?” Ben shrugged and looked at her “I mean… he did yeah… But what’s to say it wasn’t just a spur on the moment thing? Oh my god… Lo I’ve ruined it” he buried his head in his hands

Jay sighed “Ben, Ben listen to me” he sat down at the table next to him “ Listen… You haven’t ruined anything at all.. You have no idea at all what he was feeling when he kissed you because you didn’t ask on the night did you?” Ben shook his head and Lola sighed “And you haven’t spoken to him all week to talk about what happened have you?” she asked, taking a hold of his hand.

He ran a hand through his hair “No, no I haven’t because if I don’t talk to him then I haven’t ruined anything” Jay sighed “Ben, this is Callum you’d have to do something really awful to get rid of Callum… and look at it this way, you’ve done some really bad stuff in the past and he’s still here to be your friend. So I genuinely don’t think that you have to worry about that.” Lola smiled “You’ll be fine Ben honestly.” Ben sighed softly “I don’t know… It’s me isn’t it? I’m really not lucky like this” Lola sighed and looked at him “Ben, Ben you deserve so much happiness. Don’t let your past get you down . Be happy if it’s not with Callum then it’s not with Callum, but you deserve to try Ben”

Ben smiled a little “What would I do without you two hey?” Lola and Jay laughed lightly “I don’t know” Ben grinned and sat back “Wait did you say Callum was picking Lex?” Lola nodded with a soft smile “She wanted him to so I said I would ask. She’s really happy about it, he’ll probably take her to the park or something, that’s always her favourite” Ben nodded “She’ll have fun then” Lola grinned “That she will”

Callum’s Point of View

Callum smiled as he arrived at the school to pick up Lexi and his smile only got bigger as she ran out of the building toward him “Uncle Callum!” she called as she ran at him, he knelt down to her height “Hello little monkey, how are you doing? You have a good day?” she nodded with a soft smile. “We did art and Maths and Music” she chirped telling him about her day. He smiled softly “That sounds fun” he replied with just as much enthusiasm “Do you wanna go to the park Lex?” he asked softly as he stood up to his full height and held out his hand to her so that they could safely walk across the road “YES!” she giggled he laughed “Alright missy”

As they arrived at the park Callum stopped at the kiosk and bought himself a cup of tea and a hot chocolate for Lexi “Uncle Callum?” she asked softly as they sat down at the picnic table. “Yes Lexi?” he replied handing her the hot chocolate “Do you like my dad?” he smiled “Sure I do Lex, he’s one of my best friends” she looked at him “That’s not what I meant Uncle Callum. Do you like him the same way my mum likes Uncle Jay?”

Callum coughed as his face went red “Lexi!” she looked at him innocently “What? I’m just interested” Callum sighed softly. For 7 years old this girl was incredibly smart and perspective, there was no point lying to her “I don’t know Lex.. I’m his friend right now that’s all I can tell you” she nodded taking a sip of her hot chocolate “Callum?” she asked softly. He leaned forward a little “Yes Lex?”

“My dad’s really happy when you're around” Lexi grinned “You make him happy I think” Callum smiled softly as she finished off her hot chocolate and ran off to play with a friend who had just arrived at the park. He sat there with a smile on his face as he sipped his tea. He had a lot to think about.

Chapter Eight

Lexi sat in her room smiling. Lately her dad and Uncle Callum hadn’t really spent as much time together, and SHE hadn’t really seen Callum since the day he picked her up from school and took her to the park for the hot chocolate and she’d asked him how he felt about her dad. She was very smart for a 7 year old and she knew what he meant.. She was very mature for her age and she knew when her dad and Callum were happiest and that was when they were together. She had a plan, but she needed some help. She hopped off her bed and ran down to the living room where her mum and Uncle Jay were sitting “Mum… Can you help me with something?”

Lola looked at her and smiled softly “Sure Lex what do you need?” Lexi smiled and sat in her lap “I want Uncle Callum and Daddy to spend time together, do you think you can ask Uncle Ian if they can have a table at his restaurant?” Lola smiled and hugged her little girl knowing exactly what she was doing. “I’m sure we can do something like that..” Lexi grinned “Uncle Jay will you talk to Daddy?” His eyes widened as he looked over the little girl’s head at her mother. He sighed and smiled at her lightly “Sure Lex I’ll get him there.” Lexi smiled softly as her mother pulled out her phone to call her uncle Ian.

Callum was on his break at the Police Station as his phone rang. He answered it with a smile “Hey Lola, what’s up?” he could hear the smile in her voice “Callum if you’ve got plans tonight cancel them. I’ve booked you and Ben a table at Walford East for 8:00 .” Callum sighed “Lola, I don’t…” He could hear her rolling her eyes as she cut him off “No Cal! It’s been a month.. This is getting ridiculous now. Neither of you are happy. And don’t tell me you are because I know you both and I can tell. So can Lexi” Callum thought for a minute “Okay, Okay I’ll go but I’m not promising anything. Ben Mitchell is really stubborn” Lola squealed softly as he laughed “Okay, I’ve gotta go. I’m on duty now.”

Later on that night Callum walked to Walford East and went over to the table, where Ben was already sitting with food “Hi.. We’ve got food already?” Ben laughed “Yeah.. I think Lola tipped Ian to make sure we had food almost as soon as we arrived” Callum smiled as he sat down “I think we need to talk Ben..” The shorter man sighed “Yeah we do… Listen I’m sorry.. I was a little drunk” Callum held his hand out across the table “Ben Mitchell will you listen to me for a minute before launching into an apology that isn’t actually needed” Ben sighed with a quick nod, taking ahold of his hand “Sorry” Callum smiled softly asd he made him look at him “Ben listen.., Might have pushed you away but that’;s because I was trying to work out my feelings.. But did I not kiss you back?” he asked quietly “You did” Ben laughed “I’m sorry I panicked.. I really really like you Callum and I don’t know… I didn’t wanna ruin the friendship we have” Callum leaned over the table and captured Ben’s lips in his “You won’t.. Do you want to go on a date with me?” Ben chuckled between kisses “Is that not what this is?” Callum pulled away with a soft smile “I meant one that we’d set up rather than your best friend and your 7 year old daughter.” Ben laughed and picked up his fork taking a bite of his food “What about Lexi?” Callum smiled taking a bite of his own food “Oh she definitely had a hand in this.. She asked me the last time I picked her up from school, how I felt about you” Ben laughed softly and shook his head. “I’d love to go on an actual date with you, I’ll text you” Callum smiled “I’ll look forward to it.”

Epilogue

Phil had asked Ben to visit him. Ben decided that he would visit him one last time. He had a better life now. He didn’t know where he’d be in life if he had followed the path his father had set out for him, or what he’d do in the family he had built up with Callum, Jay, Lola and especially Lexi. He was really only going to visit his dad to say goodbye. As he arrived at the prison he sighed softly.

Phil sat down “Ben” he nodded toward him “Hi Dad how are you?” Phil looked at him “As good as I could be” he leaned forward “Listen, I’ve set up a job for you, someone in here needs something…” Ben sighed “Dad, no we’ve had this conversation” Phil growled slightly “Ben you owe me this, you are the reason I’m in here”

Ben locked eyes with him “No dad the reason you're in here is because of your activity, I said last time that I wasn’t going to do a job for you because “I have a child and I have a job, I have Lex to think about. And that still stands but now I have Callum to think about too” Phil looked confused “Whose Callum?” Ben sighed as he stood up “Someone I really care about and I’m sure as hell not going to let you ruin in” Phil sighed “Sit down Ben” Ben snorted “No, I just came to say goodbye.. Don’t contact me again and enjoy your stay” he walked away ignoring his dad’s shouts of “Ben get back here I'm not finished talking to you!” Because even if Phil Mitchel wasn't done with him, he was done with Phil Mitchell and their ‘family business’. Ben Mitchell was on the straight and narrow now and it was all because Callum Highway had crashed into his life and convinced him to do the right thing and rid himself of his negative influence. It was time for him to go and be happy with his found family, and he was never going to let anyone ruin that.

#ballum #eastenders #ballum big bang 2020 #bbb2020 #ben mitchell #callum highway #bbb2020 entry fic #callum halfway #halfwaymitchell #ben x callum #of cops and mob bosses

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lovely-sanie · 4 years

Text

𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚌𝚢𝚘𝚗 𝚙𝚝. 𝟷

⎬𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: NCT Hybrid!AU

⎬𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐: ??? x OC

⎬𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 4,380

⎬𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: minor panic attack

➤ 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝟸

➤ 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝

Dirt. Dirt. Dirt.

So much dirt covering her once grey fur turning it brown.

A bath was needed as soon as possible.

These are Eumni’s thoughts as she trots down the middle of the wet road before turning into an alley. Moving further into the dark, she ducks under cables and leaps carefully over barbed wire that the alley was filled with. Reaching the other side, she peers around before trotting across the road and into another alley.

At the very back of the alley, she sits and begins bathing herself with her tongue, trying to remove a layer or two of the dirt coating her body.

A black cat, named Minho, hops down from a higher place and lands softly beside her. It sniffs her then nips at her ear. In response, Eunmi swipes at the black cat with a hiss.

Felix, a lighter cat, jumps between them as a growl is heard from the dark.

From the shadows of the alley, a wolf steps out. Its ears are pinned back in annoyance.

Eunmi rolls her eyes as much as a cat can before stepping away from the black cat and closer to the wolf. Twining between the wolf’s front legs, she lets out a meow.

The wolf leans its head down and sniffs the top of the Eunmi’s head then licks it. The dirty cat purrs as the wolf cleans it, eyes closing in bliss. The wolf’s tongue could reach a lot more of her body quicker than her tongue or her paw.

There’s a sudden yip from the opening, causing all the animals in the alley to freeze.

A fennec fox dashes into the alley and yips again before darting into the hole in the wall. Eunmi is the first to follow it with the other two cats on her heels. The wolf is left outside to survey the surrounding area. Its swiveling ears catch the sound of wheels screeching to a halt prompting it to shimmy into the hole after the other animals.

Moments after the alley empties, four men rush into the alley. They’re all dressed in dark uniforms with white letters on the back stating “HCA”. Each of them carries a pole with a loop on the end, designed to catch animals by the neck.

“They were just here!”

“They couldn’t have gone far!”

“Check for holes!”

“I found one!”

Clicking on a flashlight, one of the men inspects the hole the five animals had disappeared into. A scan with the light shows the inside of an abandoned warehouse with the animals nowhere to be found.

“Let’s check the inside of this warehouse.”

“We’ll need to get permission first.”

“It’s abandoned.”

“We don’t need any infractions against us.”

“Call the local authorities then.”

On the other side of the warehouse, five young adults, four males and one female, sneak out of the warehouse through a side door. Each of them wears dirty and torn baggy clothes with beanies and sunglasses. Although tense, they walk calmly away from the warehouse and to a park a short distance away.

Eunmi, adjusting her beanie, glances around warily. “We should split up. They’ll be looking for us together.”

One of the boys, one with bits of blonde and brown hair peeking out of his beanie, shakes his head. “Not a good idea, Mi. If we’re together, we can take them. Alone, they’ll snatch us right up.”

“If we’re careful, they won’t.”

The youngest looking of the group looks around. “Whatever we decide, we should do it soon. The catchers aren’t far.”

“Chan, we need to split up. Minho, Felix, and I can blend very easily. You and Innie, not so much. You two need to find somewhere to hide.”

Chan sighs. “Fine. Just be careful.”

Everyone nods.

“We’ll meet up in a day or so at the safe house across town.”

“The others too?”

“Yes. We’ll make sure everyone is there.”

The female nods. “Okay.”

Chan freezes as he hears a truck nearby then relaxes when he sees a delivery truck pass by. “Okay. Let’s split up now. I’m getting anxious.”

The five split. Chan and one of the males go one way, the other two males go another way and Eunmi goes off on her own.

Eunmi strolls through town, keeping an ear out for any signs of the catchers.

Entering a crowded area, her stomach grumbles. The aroma of food surrounding the area makes her stomach tighten and her mouth water.

Looking around, she zeroes in on a platter of chicken sitting on a table not even 100 feet from her. The table was occupied by a brown-and-cream-haired hybrid who had a phone pressed to his ear. He didn’t appear to be paying attention to his food.

Taking a step forward, Eumni keeps her gaze on the hybrid. The closer she steps the more her mouth salivates at the thought of eating hot food.

Her hand is reaching out to grab the platter, or even just one piece, when it’s grabbed.

“What are you doing?”

The voice comes from the hybrid, who she had stupidly taken her eyes off of.

He stares at her, waiting for an answer, her wrist firmly in his grip.

Eunmi never gets to answer as her stomach rumbles loudly.

The hybrid’s face instantly changes and he releases her wrist before pushing the food to her. “You’re hungry. I’m sorry. I should have guessed from your attire. Have this, please.”

Eyes darting between the hybrid and the food, Eunmi cautiously pulls the platter closer. She sits down across from the hybrid and begins eating, physically holding herself back from shoveling the food into her mouth.

The hybrid’s voice is significantly quieter when he says, “Do you need somewhere to stay?”

Eunmi’s eyes narrow behind her sunglasses.

“That sounded creepy and totally like a ploy. I’m sorry. I just can see that you’re in need and my owner and I like to take care of people.”

At the mention of an owner, Eunmi begins shaking her head. She would go nowhere near a human that could turn her in.

The hybrid looks sheepish. “I promise I’m not trying to lure you to a center. From your reaction, I’m guessing you don’t like owners. That’s okay. My owner is out of town for the next few days. You can come stay at our place, clean yourself up, sleep comfortably, and then decide whether or not you want to stay.”

“I just met you.”

He smiles. “Hybrids can trust one another.”

Pulling her sunglasses off, Eunmi meets his gaze and holds it. “I don’t trust anyone outside my pack.”

He seems to startle a bit at her use of the word pack but has a smile back on his face a second later. “That’s fair, but I’m not out to hurt you. I want to help.”

“You can help by forgetting that you saw me.”

As Eunmi stands to leave, she catches sight of a group of catchers entering the square.

“Damn it.”

The other hybrid is suddenly on his feet. “Please come with me. I promise you’ll be safe.”

Eunmi turns to look at him. His face is scrunched and his eyes dart from her to the other side of the square where the catchers are. “Fine.”

He grabs her hand, pulling her behind him as he makes his way out of the square and down the street. “Our apartment isn’t far.”

Nodding, Eunmi lets him guide her to a modern-looking apartment building. It’s cleaner than any place she’s ever stayed in with the exception of the adoption center that she was born into.

Once inside, he leads her to an elevator and presses the button for the sixth floor.

“The catchers won’t look here. This complex is protective of hybrid residents and doesn’t allow catchers on the property unless they have a warrant.”

Eunmi’s eyes widen. She had heard of such places, but they seemed like a dream.

The elevator opens to a woodsy smelling hallway. There was a door across from the elevator that the hybrid with Eunmi ignores, instead of heading down the hall to another door, this one with a little cartoon Siamese cat on it. Under the cat, it says, “Beware: the cat will judge.”

The hybrid chuckles. “That’s my owner’s doing after I judged one too many of his outfit choices.”

Eunmi giggles. “Your human sounds nice.”

“He is. A bit neurotic about things staying clean, but then again, so am I.”

Walking up to the door, the hybrid unlocks it and pushes it open, stepping inside before waving Eunmi forward.

“Ten? Is that you?”

Eunmi freezes midstep. There was a human. A human who could see her and report her and then she’ll be taken to a center and brainwashed. No. She can’t let that happen.

Turning, she dashes down the hallway and then another and ends up at a set of stairs. Scurrying up down them, she pants as she runs through the lobby of the complex.

There’s a shout behind her so she quickens her steps, pushing through the large door of the complex as she hears the hybrid behind her, yelling for her to stop.

Once outside, her eyes dart back and forth before they land on an alley. Making her way quickly to it, she hides in the darkness and reverts to her animal form. Finding a box, she curls up as tight as she can and hides from the shouting she hears.

The next few weeks make Eunmi wish she had sucked it up and stayed with the hybrid and his owner. At least then she would have been clean.

Meeting up at the safe house went fine, all things considered. It was chaotic, though, with so many strays there.

“Why are there so many here?” Eunmi wonders aloud. “There’s usually not this many.”

“One of our other safe houses was raided yesterday.” One of the organizers says. “It has everyone on high alert.”

Chan sighs. “That’s the second one this month. Where are they getting this information?”

“The hybrids they took into the centers. I’ve heard they have mind control devices that can make someone answer whatever they ask.”

Minho scoffs. “Mind control? As if they’re that advanced. They still think they can catch us with those stupid snare poles.”

The organizer shrugs. “It’s what I’ve heard. Whatever’s going on inside those centers is starting to flush us all out. I would stay away from all safe houses for the foreseeable future.”

Eunmi frowns. “But how will we get supplies?”

“I don’t know. We barely have enough here for this crowd. The same goes for the rest of the operational safe houses. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to fend for yourself tonight.”

That led to a night of dozing in alleyways only to run anytime someone caught sight of them or made a noise. Some of the alleyways were downright disgusting with rats running around and garbage cans overflowing. Others were decent, but those were the ones the pack were most apprehensive in.

The third truck of the night passes by the alleyway, making the five hybrids in the freeze.

“I don’t like this,” Eunmi says, pulling on the hem of her shirt. “It’s too nice.”

“I agree,” Minho says, looking around. “There are no cameras either.”

“There should definitely be cameras for this nice of an alley,” Chan says, eyes narrowing. “Let’s go. We’ll find somewhere else.”

As the five stand to prepare to leave, a door opens not too far from them and a human steps out with a bag of garbage in her hand. Spotting them, she gasps.

The five take off in a mad dash for the other side of the alley. The door smacks shut behind them, propelling them forward faster.

Entering the street, Jeongin, their youngest, yelps as a car screeches to a halt, narrowly avoiding hitting him. Pulling his arm, Eunmi pushes him ahead of her as the driver of the car steps out.

In the next alley, the five hurry to climb up the fire escape and get as high as possible. The make it to the roof and hide behind two giant air ducts.

“That was too close,” Eunmi whines.

Chan, catching his breath, nods. “We may have to split up again.”

Felix groans. “I don’t like that. The last time we did that, Minho and I were almost picked up by animal control.”

Minho frowns. “It might not have been a bad idea to go with them. We seem like regular animals in our animal forms, so we could, theoretically, go to an animal shelter and stay there for a while. If we get adopted, we can just run away.”

Chan shakes his head. “Too risky. Some of us have microchips.”

“You mean Eunmi. Eunmi has a microchip. The rest of us don’t.”

Eunmi huffs. “Sorry my owner was mean enough to put a chip in me.”

“You can survive out here. Me and Felix should let animal control take us.”

“I don’t like that idea,” Felix protests, shaking his head. “Both leaving Eunmi and getting taken. So many things could go wrong.”

“Do you have a better plan?”

Felix, as it turns out, did not. Neither did Chan for that matter, which surprised all of them. So Minho went ahead with his plan.

The four of them watched from afar as Minho pretended to be hurt from a cut he had given himself. Attracting the attention of nearby citizens, animal control is called and Minho is taken in.

The last they see of him is his limp feline form being placed into a carrier which is then put in the back of a van.

“So what now?”

The question takes a while to answer.

Chan is finally the one to say something. “We lay low. Hide in places we know are safe. Stay out of sight.”

Nodding, Eunmi stands. “I’m gonna see if I can scrounge us up something to eat.”

“Be careful.”

“Yes, dad.”

Chan chuckles. “Go.”

Walking out of the alley, Eunmi adjusts her beanie before shifting into animal form. Wandering around, she comes to a stop in front of a delicious smelling alley.

Curious, she shuffles forward, hiding behind a dumpster.

At the end of the alley, she can see a hybrid, just as dirty as her, ravenously tearing into a plate of food. The food appears to be fresh, by both its appearance and smell.

Stalking closer, she sniffs at the aroma wafting towards her, only to freeze when she hears a low growl.

The hybrid’s voice is garbled and rough as it says. “Get out of here, stupid cat. I’m not sharing.”

Eunmi warily shifts back to her human form. “Please. I haven’t eaten in days.”

“You think I have?! This is my first meal in months and I’m not sharing it with you, you little brat.”

“Please-”

Eunmi’s words are cut off with a painful slice to her cheek.

The hybrid had moved without Eunmi realizing it and now stood face to face with Eunmi, its claws on full display and face twisted up in a sneer.

“I said I’m not sharing. Get lost, brat.”

Holding a hand up to her bleeding cheek, Eunmi stands up straight. “I’m sorry for bothering you.”

Turning, Eunmi jogs out of the alley, keeping her cheek covered.

As she exits the alley, she runs into someone, causing her to stumble. She’s caught by the arm, which hurt a bit, so she doesn’t actually fall.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t-” The familiar voice cuts off.

Looking up, Eunmi internally sighs when she sees the hybrid from a few days ago.

“It’s you! Are you okay? You ran out in a rush. I’m sorry about that by the way. I didn’t know-” He suddenly stops. “You’re hurt.”

She shrugs him off. “I’m fine.”

“You need to have that looked at.”

“I said I’m fine.”

“I know a really nice hybrid doctor. Please let me take you to him.”

Eunmi backs up a step, shaking her head. “A doctor will call the catchers.”

“He won’t! He helps strays! I promise. Please. I don’t want you getting sick.”

“It’s a scratch. I won’t get sick from a scratch.”

“You could. All sorts of nasty things can happen if something like that gets infected.”

“Fine. Fine. Okay. Only to the doctor though. And I get to leave as soon as I’m uncomfortable.”

“Of course!” The hybrid smiles. “Now let’s go!”

The hybrid clinic was too sterile in Eunmi’s honest opinion. She couldn’t smell anything, not even other hybrids or humans. For being in the lobby of an establishment that hybrids frequented, she should smell at least a trace of one of them.

“They use a lot of scent blockers,” the hybrid says, smiling. “As calming as some scents can be, most unfamiliar scents will stress a hybrid out so they just rid the entire place of scent. It’s disorienting, but it’s better that way.”

“Ten,” a soft, soothing voice says, coming from the doorway that must lead to the treatment area. “What are you doing here?”

When Eunmi looks over, she has to resist the urge to purr. The doctor looked classically handsome even if he didn’t look Korean. He also looked like he would give the best head scratches.

“My friend is hurt,” Ten, the hybrid you’ve been with, says. “Do you think you could take a look at her wounds?”

The bunny-looking doctor looks at you. “Of course. I assume this is to stay off the record?”

“Yes. She’s very adamant about not being discovered.”

“I understand. Sichengie was the same way when I first found him.” The doctor turns to Eunmi. “Hello. I’m Dr. Qian. Would you be okay following me to an exam room?”

Eunmi glances at Ten then looks back at the doctor. “I guess.”

He steps to the side and holds out his arm, motioning for her to go ahead of him. When Eunmi hesitates, Ten grabs her hand and pulls her along with him to the back.

“On your left,” Dr. Qian supplies.

To your left is an open door with all the clinic things that Eunmi had seen in passing the few times he had been caught. It does nothing to ease her anxiety about being in the office.

Dr. Qian follows her and Ten into the room and closes the door before turning to her with a smile. “We’ll stick with cleaning your cheek, although I’d really like to give you a full examination.”

Eunmi, who had hopped up on the bed, shrinks back at the mention of an examination. “Please don’t. I’m healthy. I promise.”

“I’m not going to,” Dr. Qian soothes. “You look healthy, so I’ll just clean and bandage your cheek and then you can be on your way.”

“With me,” Ten states. “You’ll be coming home with me.”

Eunmi freezes. “I- But- No. Can’t. Human. Not safe.”

Dr. Qian is suddenly in front of her, cool hands placed on her cheeks. “Calm down for me, Eunmi. Deep breaths in and out.”

He leads her through a breathing exercise that slows her breathing and heart rate.

“Good. There we are,” he praises with a smile. He then turns to Ten. “Abide by her wishes, Tennie. I understand you want to help, but she’s obviously had a rough experience with humans. Pushing her into a situation where a human would have control over her is too far for her right now.”

“I just don’t like the idea of her being out on the streets any longer than she has to.”

“I have a pack,” Eunmi says, her voice barely audible. “We take care of each other.”

Ten sighs. “A pack is not enough. The catchers have been more aggressive about catching strays. I’m scared that you’ll end up in one of the centers and then I’ll never see you again.”

Eunmi blinks up at him. “You don’t know me. It doesn’t really matter that much.”

“I was in your place once. I don’t like when anyone has to go through it.”

“Ten is just looking out for you, Eunmi,” Dr. Qian says, smiling. “He did the same for my Sichengie. It’s a bit heavy-handed, but it’s the only way he knows that works.”

Eunmi looks between the doctor and Ten. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good.”

The doctor then draws her attention as he pulls out a bunch of medical stuff and gets to work cleaning her cheek. She has to hold Ten’s hand as Dr. Qian wipes her cheek off, even if he’s gentle. The disinfectant stings and makes her grip Ten’s hand even tighter, a whimper slipping out.

“Easy,” Dr. Qian soothes. “We’re almost done. I just need to bandage it.”

Eunmi relaxes her grip on Ten’s hand as the doctor carefully bandages her cheek.

“There. Since you got here right away, there’s very little chance of infection, but I would still watch for any swelling or weird appearance of the scabs. Make sure to let it breathe every day and apply an antibiotic ointment.”

Eunmi nods. “Okay.”

The doctor walks over to the sink and washes his hands. “I’ll leave you two to discuss things now. Please let me know when you leave.”

“We will,” Ten says, smiling.

With that, the doctor is out the door, leaving Eunmi and Ten alone in the room.

“Taeyong is the sweetest, most laid-back owner ever,” Ten informs her suddenly. “I honestly have more control over the house than he does.”

Eunmi frowns. “But he still sets the rules and tells you what you can and can’t do right?”

“Not really. Well, I mean, we have house rules, but those are for everyone that’s in the house, not just me.”

“That sounds too good to be true.”

“I told you, not everyone views us hybrids as pets with no brains. Taeyong knows I can take care of myself.”

Eunmi nods but isn’t convinced. There was no way that a human would let a hybrid have that much control.

“Sounds unrealistic, right?”

Nodding, Eunmi hops down from the bed. “I’ll give it a try.”

Ten’s smile is blinding. “You won’t regret it!”

The trip from the clinic to Ten and his owner’s apartment is short, even walking.

As they reach the correct floor and stand in front of the apartment door, Eunmi trembles.

“Hey, you okay?”

She looks up at Ten. “I just- I’m not sure about this.”

Ten smiles. “It’s okay to be nervous, to lash out, to be scared. I scratched Taeyong so many times when he first took me in. I was convinced, like you, that it was all this grand ruse to gain my trust so he could break me. But wanna know what happened? He took care of me. He kept me safe and healthy. He gave me the time and space I needed to heal but also let me know that he wasn’t giving up or turning on me.”

Eunmi scrubs a hand over her eyes where tears were starting to bubble up. “I’ll try. Just please don’t get upset if I’m slow to adjust. I’ve lived on the streets since I was a kitten.”

Ten nods. “Of course. I won’t and neither will Taeyong.”

“Then let’s do this.”

Opening the door, Ten lets Eunmi enter first. They both take their shoes off before making their way into the living room.

In the living room, a pink-haired ethereal looking man is sitting on one of the couches and doing something on his phone.

“Yong-ah! I’m back!”

The pink-haired man looks up and smiles. “I got worried when you didn’t come back right away, but now I see why.”

Ten moves so Eunmi is in front of him. “This is Eunmi. She needs somewhere to stay for a while.”

Nodding, the pink-haired man stands, walking over to them. “Hello, Eunmi. I’m Taeyong, Ten’s owner. That’s really just a title the government forces me to have. Ten’s a friend that lives with me. And you can be the same.”

Eunmi smiles, even if it is a bit shaky, at the kind words. “Thank you, Mr. Taeyong.”

Taeyong chuckles, shaking his head. “No need to be formal.”

Eunmi’s cheeks heat up. “Right.”

“If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to the room you’ll be staying in.”

Following Taeyong to the steps, Eunmi realizes just how big the apartment Ten and Taeyong live in really is. The first floor is mostly an open plan, the only walls being the ones around the entryway. The second floor, from what she can see, has many doors, one of them cracked open to where she can see a toilet and a sink.

“Your room is beside Ten’s,” Taeyong informs her. “I’m on the other side of Ten, so if you need anything, feel free to come get one of us.”

Eunmi nods.

Taeyong smiles, opening up the door to the room that would be hers for however long she stayed. Eunmi is immediately in awe.

The room was nicer than any she had ever seen. The walls were a cream color and the floor was a plush white carpet. The bed looked incredibly comfortable if a bit bland. She couldn’t wait to sleep in it. There was a sliding door next to the bed and another door on the wall across from the bed which was open to reveal a bathroom.

“I’ll leave you to freshen up,” Taeyong says. “Grab Ten or I when you’re done so we can replace your bandages.”

Nodding, Eunmi watches as Taeyong leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.

Not even an hour later, Eunmi finds herself scrubbed clean and curled up comfortably in the softest bed she had ever laid in. She felt a sense of relief at finally being clean and a sense of contentment at finally having a full belly.

There’s also Ten’s scent on the clothes that she borrowed that is lulling her to sleep. The hybrid’s scent was a weird mix of calming and spicy and left Eunmi feeling warm inside. Ten had chuckled when she stuffed her nose into the collar of the shirt and mentioned that his friend Sicheng had the same reaction.

Eventually, she lets her body relax and her eyes slip closed.

#lovely-sanie #s: halcyon #nct #nct au #nct hybrid au #nct imagines #nct scenarios #kpop #kpop au #kpop imagines #kpop scenarios #hybrids #hybrid au #hybrid!au

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tzalmavet · 5 years

Note

Hello there! I absolutely love your characters, and I'm really interested in them and their story! Character creation reallt seems to be a strong suit of yours. If you're willing to divulge, I have been wondering how their resentment (particularly the Snork's) against their mother shows as they get older? Do they want to start straying away from her? Thank you so much for sharing your characters with us!

Thank you so much!! I’ve always loved developing worlds and characters to populate them, and I’ve had a lot of practice coming up with characters my whole life; during high school I kept track of well over 100 named OCs for one universe alone! (guess I owe that at least partially to Autistic Hyperfixation Powers)

And I’d be more than happy to answer your question about my moomins OCs!

(putting it under a cut since I have a lot to say)

As adults, they don’t live with their Mama anymore. They decided that they wanted to explore the world outside the places that she decided to wander through, and so they continue nomadic life without her. Grokemama herself didn’t object to this– she rarely objects to anything, and sometimes visits them on their travels; no matter where they go, she can always find them if she wants to.

Their resentment of her was cultivated in how she’d sometimes just… walk off to do her own thing, which could last hours or even days (sometimes she’d be getting food or supplies for them, sometimes she’d just be lost in her thoughts), leaving them to fend for themselves. Sometimes passing travelers would even assume they’d been abandoned and carry them around for a little while, which is how they first learned more about speech and socializing than their mother could teach them.But when their resentment grew was when they’d wander close to civilization and begin to take notice of how alien everything was compared to their own life. How different other children and parents were, to say nothing of society at large. Grokemama, having always been shunned by other people, rarely felt compelled to bring them into civilized areas, and so her childrens’ exposure to other people remained sporadic and brief.

The Mumbler’s snork brother is definitely the one who resents her more out of the two siblings. Where the Mumbler was usually content to stay near Grokemama, the snork had a more adventurous streak and liked to see and hear what was going on in the mysterious towns they passed. As a result, he’s the most “normal” one in his family… but he’s still by no means a well-adjusted adult.

The snork can tell enough about society to know that he does not fit well into it. He and the Mumbler are both quite feral, having grown up mostly outdoors and in abandoned buildings, surviving on the outskirts of society. They have that classic grokely look on their faces from being around Grokemama since infancy, and they tend not to respond properly in social situations (making too much eye contact, not knowing how close to stand to people or how loud to speak to them), not even mentioning how they tend to hiss and growl when they feel threatened.

What really got to the snork was realizing how, even as a child, he’d surpassed Grokemama on basically every mental level. Eager to communicate with her, he tried to teach her some of the words he learned on the road, and eventually realized he’d taught her a pretty hefty percentage of her current vocabulary. He can’t help feeling neglected compared to all the other people who can see their parents as equals and sources of wisdom.He hates being an illiterate, feral little man to whom laws and morality feel like something foreign. He’s more aggressive than the Mumbler, and has some issues with his anger. He sometimes wonders if everything in society would come naturally to him if he’d been raised by someone else, or if he’d always been destined to turn out strange. Even when he learns of how he’s supposed to behave, he feels uncomfortable changing his ways; and he knows that he’s like this, and it only makes him feel weirder.

The Mumbler often consoles its brother when he’s getting particularly upset. The Mumbler is a lot less malcontent with its life, but can definitely relate. To Mumbler, a lot of the world outside Grokemama’s influence feels different to the point of being some kind of fantasy realm. Everything is so big and unrealistic, with so many sights and concepts that don’t quite make sense, that walking through a city feels more like having a lucid dream.It always clung to Grokemama more than the snork did, and tries to enjoy life with how it turned out as best it can, but admittedly can’t help but wonder how things could be if it could relate to other people and understand their strange, noisy, rule-filled world. It occasionally sinks into a melancholy over things, but generally copes a lot better than its brother does.

They’ve never had a big argument with Grokemama over how they feel (they’d have a hard time putting it all in terms she’d understand, to be honest), it’s mostly a lot of mixed feelings. They can tell that, even if she can’t articulate it properly, that she’d led a hard, lonely life that made her the way she is, and that without her help they would have certainly died. It’s difficult knowing that she gave them their lives and their problems.They can’t help but still feel attached to her, despite everything. They have their share of fond memories together, and within their little family is always where their senses of empathy and understanding reach most easily.

The two siblings aren’t always together, but usually don’t stray too far from one another. They love each other very much, and would never want to have to stay apart forever. They’re fine with Grokemama’s visits; they both find it kind of nice that, as spaced-out as she is, she still thinks enough about them to want to see them every so often.

HOO this got pretty long but I have a lot of thoughts on these guys! They’re pretty messed up in a lot of ways but they make do. I think I’ll end this post here lol but I can say more in other asks if you want!

#thank you for this ask! I love talking about my OCs #the Mumbler (moomins OC)#Grokemama (moomins OC)#moomins OC #moomins #long post #answer #anonymous ask

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dr-m-r-ma · 5 years

Text

The Design in Her Mind

Part 1/?

Genre: drama, romance Rating: PG-13 Group: Monsta X

Summary: Sooyeon meets Monsta X by chance on the streets when they try to help her and her friends shake off creepers, but the meeting ends on a sour note. Some time later, Sooyeon meets the boys again, but at Starship’s headquarters. Although they act cold to each other, Shownu becomes more and more curious about her.

Disclaimer: This is 100% fictional and my own story. It is unrelated to the actual events and real persons of Monsta X and Starship. In regards to this particular fic, I’ve created new K-Pop groups (they don’t exist) so I don’t have to study up on other people and to avoid other complications. Parts will be written in Korean with English translations. I did not major/study in English/Korean, nor was I ever strong in English/Korean grammar, so there will be grammatical mistakes. This fanfic is written in third person and past-tense for ease of writing.

September 24 I was nervous to be talking with celebrities, but at the same time annoyed at what they said. I should have brushed it off but everything piled up and I couldn’t help but lash out on them… but oh well, I probably won’t see them ever again.

Hair tied back tightly, simple eyeliner and lip tint on, loose graphic tee hanging over shorts.

Shownu looked curiously at the girl who sat relaxed laughing with her friends from a distance. The other two didn’t look like Koreans, but the girl that caught his eye didn’t seem completely Korean as well. At least, her mannerism and her clothing seemed to tell a different story. Without realizing it, he had begun to walk closer to get a better look.

“어디가?” (Translation: “Where are you going?”) Wonho hissed from under his mask.

When Shownu didn’t respond, Kihyun scurried off to catch up to Shownu while Hyungwon pulled Wonho along. Luckily, there were enough people wearing masks that they didn’t look out of place, but Wonho and Hyungwon still pulled their caps down to hide more of their face. It wasn’t exactly like they wanted to run around unannounced in front of a popular university.

As Shownu walked closer and closer, he realized there were two foreign men, one blonde and the other with ash gray hair, nearby talking to them, but they seemed to be ignoring the two men.

The blonde man glanced up to find the four boys and he nudged at his friend. They both looked up and down at the boys before continuing to talk to the girls. “Hey, so, how about it? A drink, yeah? It’ll be on us.”

The girl with the loose graphic tee turned to the man and she snapped in perfect English, “We said no half an hour ago, it’s still going to be a no.” She seemed to notice the attention coming from Shownu and the others, as her face slowly turned the other way in Shownu’s direction. And in that moment, Shownu stiffened up, unable to breathe momentarily.

She had an extremely annoyed and angry look on her face, but the expression slowly turned to confusion when her eyes met his.

Why isn’t he wearing a mask? was the first thought that passed through Sooyeon’s mind. She recognized the four instantly, since they were noticeably more attractive and obviously standing out. In addition, she saw that two of the members weren’t even hiding their faces with masks like the other two were.

“--ey. Soo. Soo!”

Sooyeon turned back and saw her two friends, Vera and Nicole, staring at her with worry. She smiled at them to let them know it was okay and she was fine.

Nicole glanced at the two foreigners and whispered, “Let’s just leave. We can come back another time… we’re in the area for another couple of days. Let’s not bother with these guys.” Sooyeon sighed, having looked forward to the busking events that were planned for the evening in front of the school, but agreed with Nicole. As they all got up, different voices stopped them.

“저기… 불편하시면… 경찰 불러드릴까요?” (Translation: “Um… if you’re uncomfortable, should I call the police for you?”)

Sooyeon’s eyes gazed up at the owner of the voice and used everything in her to stay calm. Holy shit, did Shownu… that Shownu… just ask me if he could help?? Her mind went haywire but she let no change in emotion show on her face. Clearing her throat, she coolly responded, “감사한데, 괜찮아요.” (Translation: “Thanks, but it’s okay.”)

Before she could walk away from the attention, a hand wrapped tightly around her arm and yanked her back.

“Soo!”

Nicole’s yelp startled Sooyeon and only then did she notice one of the foreigner’s hand latched onto her arm. He glared at her while growling, “Why did you respond so kindly to them and not us? You prefer those gay-looking asses over us?”

Wincing lightly at the tight grip, Sooyeon calmly let herself be swung around by the arm. When he noticed her quietness, he yanked her towards him. The perfect chance has come! She positioned herself and stuck out her elbow as he pulled her back to him.

*Crrrrack*

“AGH FUCK!!” Instantly, he let go of Sooyeon and she backed away from him, while his friend ran over.

Her heart was beating wildly and the adrenaline rush got to her as she spat, “Fuck off before I call the cops on you guys. You’ve bothered us long enough.”

The other foreigner glared intensely at Sooyeon and moved as if to lunge at her. However, a broad back covered the sight. Her eyes moved along the back and up to the head, only to realize Shownu had stepped between her and the menacing men.

As she opened her mouth to warn him away, a voice squeaked out from the back, “아, 네, 경찰서죠? 여기--” (Translation: “Ah, yes, is this the police? There’s--”) And in a matter of seconds, the two men muttered strings of curses before running off. Look at those tails between their legs, ha! She turned around to see Kihyun wave a blank phone -- he had merely pretended to call the police.

The rest collectively sighed in relief. Nicole and Vera ran over to Sooyeon and Vera screeched, “Hey!! What were you thinking, acting out like that?! Bitch, you scared me shitless!”

Sooyeon flinched at her friend’s words, mumbling, “It was just self-defense though… I couldn’t help but defend myself against that asshole…” The moment the words were out, she instantly regretted them as she could visualize the steam spewing out of Vera’s ears. Glancing at the boys in the back, she slapped on a business smile and bowed her head politely, avoiding Vera’s outburst.

“정말 감사합니다! 혼자서 해결할수 있다고 생각 했는데… 아니었나봐요…” (Translation: “Thank you so much! I thought I could handle it on my own… but I guess I couldn’t…”) She continued to bow, but when she heard Kihyun’s soft voice speak sharp words, she couldn’t help but raise her head with a frown.

Exasperated, Kihyun rolled his eyes and said, “하… 좀 생각이 있으면 그렇게 감정적으로 행동하는게 잘못됐단걸 알텐데…” (Translation: “Ha… if you thought about it a little more, you would have known acting out like that would be bad…”)

What… “The fuck?” The words rolled off her tongue so quickly, Sooyeon stared back at Kihyun in confusion, not realizing that she didn’t complete the question in her mind only. She saw Kihyun’s eyes turn cold while in the corner of her eyes, she saw Wonho and Hyungwon stand protectively around Shownu. Rolling her eyes, Sooyeon started to explain, “이봐요, 제가 그렇게--” (Translation: “Look, I only did that--”)

“쟤… 약간… 이상하지? 보니까 욕도 많이 하고… 문신도 있고… 되게 쎄 보이는데 우린 그냥 가자.” (Translation: “Doesn’t she… look a little weird? She seems to curse a lot… has tattoos… and looks really aggressive, so let’s just go.”) Hyungwon nudged Shownu and Wonho, while pulling Kihyun away from Sooyeon. Scoffing at the sight of the four male adults huddling and making assumptions about her, Sooyeon squinted at them in annoyance. She couldn’t believe they were making assumptions based on her appearance and her speech.

Though she noticed Shownu’s curious eyes lingering on her, Sooyeon couldn’t ignore the hostility coming from the other members. And neither could Vera.

“What the fuck? Why are they acting as if you’re going to attack them?? Let’s just fucking go, bro.” Vera frowned as she pulled Sooyeon and Nicole away from the group. With that, Sooyeon let herself be dragged away, choosing to forget the annoying encounter, while Shownu never took his eyes off her.

*** TBC ***

A/n: I’m back! Work has been... so rough... I’m really dying on a daily basis so I haven’t been able to write that much ㅠㅠ and... I know the beginning is weird but o well I never plan my stories out too well... (lol) also what happened to Tumblr’s horizontal line function... -_-

#monsta x shownu #monsta x wonho #monsta x hyungwon #monsta x kihyun #monsta x #monsta x fic #monsta x fanfic #mx fic #mx fanfic #kpop fic #kpop fanfic #monsta x scenarios #mx scenarios #mx angst #mx fluff #mx drama #design fic

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writeanapocalae · 5 years

Text

Deviant Killer pt 2

Part 1 | Read on AO3 | Warnings: Android body horror/murder, anxiety, suicidal ideation

The room as a mess of papers, glass, metal, and whatever else may have been on the counters. They were now on the floor, not so much having fallen as being knocked off or thrown. There was blue blood splattered on the mess and on the walls. The majority of the damage was to the door, where a long jagged piece of metal, one side sharpened, had been shoved halfway through it. The android had been trying to tear his way out.

“Shit!” Hank growled, changing his aim. Gavin followed his lead, for the moment.

In one corner, standing stiff straight, as emotional as a trashcan, was the android. He was so still that Gavin had just skimmed past him on the first glance.

He as staring at them with cold steel eyes.

Hank started to advance, eyebrows drawn. Gavin knew that he’d once been a brilliant detective, but it had been a long time since he’d seen him in action. He was moving flawlessly, directly in the path of his experience and a million trainings. But for once, his approach was all wrong. “Alright, put your hands-

“Shut up!” Gavin snarled and passed him, approaching the RK900. Hank just looked at him incredulously. The android’s eyes grew rounder, pupils dilating. “Leave this to me.”

The android wasn’t standing still, not as much as they’d thought. He wasn’t emotionless either. The LED on his temple was flashing red so hard that it looked like it was going to explode. His eyes were large and predatory and he was searching them and the room, his lips were in a tight line, he wasn’t showing it, but to someone who had spent much of their adult life hiding behind a wall of anger, it was obvious that he was terrified. He was shaking too, absolutely quaking where he stood.

“You can’t be serious!” Hank kept up with him.

Gavin elected to ignore him. “Hi,” he said instead, lowering his aim. His voice was smooth and calm, kinder than he’d ever used around his coworkers. “My name’s Gavin. Can you tell me your name?”

“No,” the RK900 stated, his voice monotone and bland. “I am an RK900 unit, serial number 313 248 317 – 87. Might I see your firearm?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that.” Gavin tried to smile. He didn’t know if it worked. “I’ve dealt with a lot of people in your situation, I know what happens if I give you a weapon. I don’t really want to have a bad day today.”

The android turned his eyes, but not his head, to Hank. “You are detectives with the Detroit Police Department. Am I under arrest?”

“Hell yeah you are,” Hank growled.

“No,” Gavin argued, “Not yet. I was hoping that we could just talk first.”

Hank stared at him again, floundering. He gave him a two eyes wink. He knew what he was doing. He didn’t, but he told himself that he did. He could tell that he was confusing Hank, acting unlike himself, but this was how he worked with victims and the traumatized. He was good at calming them down. He was good at understanding them. It always took the other officers by surprise when he did.

Gavin tossed his gun over to Hank, who had to lower his guard and juggle a bit to catch it. He then did something incredibly stupid. He took a few steps over to Hank and turned away from the android, making himself vulnerable, opening himself up to attack. He could see the disappointment in Hank’s face but he knew what he was doing. It was a dumb move but it was one that he had perfected. Showing his back showed that he was not afraid, that he trusted the other person not to hurt him. It made him casual, a friend instead of a detective.

“Why don’t you take my gun and yours and get out of here, get me a coffee from the cafeteria or some shit. I can’t babysit you and Destructo-bot,” he whispered.

“What are you doing?” Hank hissed back. “That thing will kill you!” He had to fight his voice from rising. “That thing is scared, he’s anxious, he’s new to emotions. Remember how it was with Connor? When he first started to feel? Well this guy is doing that, covered in thirium, all alone! Give me 10 phcking minutes alone with him.”

“Connor wasn’t designed to be a killer!”

Gavin raised an eyebrow. “He was designed to stop deviants and destroy the revolution. That sounds a lot like killing a lot of people to me.”

He was done with this conversation. He patted Hank on the shoulder, turning him with the last pat and directing him towards the door. He turned back to the android, who hadn’t moved from his place. He could hear Hank grumbling as he headed out the door.

“Sorry about that,” he rubbed his hands together and took another step towards the android.

He shifted, took a step back in response, closer to the corner.

Gavin stopped moving. RK900 was standing upright, his hands were shaking in fists at his sides, but he was still not giving anything away. He may not have been curled into a ball with his hands over his head, but Gavin recognized what he was doing. He was cowering. He was terrified.

“Can you tell me about your stress level?” he asked. He didn’t know much about them but he did know that they could be guessed at by the LED and that 100% meant self destruction. The LED hadn’t left red once.

It blinked and so did the android. “Stress levels currently at 94%.”

“That’s not good,” Gavin admitted, “I think I’m going to have to sit down.” He did so, looking up at the android beside him. “You can sit too. Make yourself comfortable.”

RK900did as he was told, though his positioning was awkward. He looked like he wanted to cross his legs but one of them was too stiff and it jutted out straight. Gavin took a closer look at him, seeing that not all of the thirium on him was from other androids. He had a gash, deep in his cheek, and the skin had faded away around it. He could guess that he was also wounded in the leg that he had stretched out and there was blue running out from under the sleeve of one of this sleeves.

“Other androids have names,” Gavin mentioned, “Why not you?”

“Names are given by the owners of androids,” RK900 explained, “it is used to make them seem less other and more easily accepted by the humans. I was not made to easily integrate with human society. It was deemed unnecessary and even polar to my mission.”

“You’re mission is to kill deviants, right?” Gavin noted.

“Correct. The common sentence for android on human violence is recycling and now that androids are legally being classified as people, android on android violence is being sentenced similarly. Why are you not arresting me?”

“I don’t want to talk about that,” Gavin shrugged. “It stresses me out. I’m not going to arrest you though, not right now. Maybe later.”

“You are very strange.”

“Yeah, humans are weird, and we’re not rational or anything. You meet one and they’re one way and then you meet another and they could look identical but be completely different. It’s really confusing.”

“If you are not going to arrest me are you going to allow me to continue my mission?”

Gavin rolled his neck, hearing it pop loudly. “Do you want to continue your mission?”

The android’s eyes were on the floor. His stress might have been high but it wasn’t showing in his voice. This all sounded very calm and serene, like a normal conversation. “It is what I was programmed to do.”

Gavin chewed on his tongue for a moment, a habit he’d grown while trying to not smoke. He could really go for a cigarette. “You know what I want to do right now? I want to drink some bad coffee or a bad beer, I don’t really care which one. And I want to sit on the patio of my shitty apartment and read some cheap paperback book, with Dude in my lap.”

A small wrinkle in the middle of the android’s forehead, an attempt to show emotion. “Who is Dude?”

“Dude is my asshole of a cat,” Gavin smiled. “He’s so fat. Like, unhealthily fat. I’ve tried everything but he’d not losing much weight. And he bites you if you pet him too much. And he’s ugly as sin. I love him.”

“Those do not sound like lovable qualities.”

“No, but it doesn’t matter. When I’m in a bad spot with my head I sometimes go to bed and just stay there for hours and Dude always comes in and sits on my face. It helps.”

RK900 was staring at the floor. “Why are you telling me this?”

“What do you want to do right now?”

He blinked a few times, red LED whirring, then looked up at Gavin. “I don’t know. I want to complete my mission, at least in Cyberlife. There is only one deviant left in the building and destroying it is what I was built for. Ignoring it is compromising my systems, the main cause of my stress levels.”

Gavin blinked hard and stared at him. He looked like Connor, but he didn’t at the same time. Other than the wound in his face his skin appeared to be clear. He looked more stern, severe, and sharp. He was only a little bit taller but his posture was impeccable, caused somewhat by the high collared shirt and jacket. He was handsome though, and there was a lot of turmoil inside of him and Gavin knew that Connor had been wrong about him.

“It’s you, isn’t it?” Gavin asked. He reached out but the flinch, not in the body but in the eyes, coming from RK900 made him drop his hand to rest on his knee instead of on his jaw. “You’re the last deviant in the building.”

“I was designed to be better than those that came before me. I was designed in such a way that I could not contract deviancy. I have failed in that regard. I have been stress tested in many settings and styles and yet I am unable to continue in the way that they wanted me to.”

“You really want me to have a bad day, don’t you?” He ignored the flinching this time, reaching up with his free hand, catching the unmarred cheek in his palm. RK900’s skin was just a tad bit too cold.

RK900 wouldn’t look at him.

“Hey, beautiful,” Gavin said and there was that pinch between the eyebrows, the blinking of the LED, but RK900 did finally look at him. “There you are. What if I gave you a new mission?”

“You do not own me, I am property of Cybrlife and no one aside from my owners can give me a new mission.”

He ran his thumb against the android’s cheekbone. He could feel it leaning against him, even though it’s expression hadn’t changed. It was like when Dude didn’t want him to notice that he was rubbing against his leg, wanting attention but not wanting to come off as needy.

“Cyberlife is kind of dead, sorry. I guess that means you belong to yourself now.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

Gavin ran a hand through his hair. It felt real, terribly real. “It means you can make your own missions or take them from whoever you want. It means you don’t have to be owned by anyone.”

“What is your mission for me?”

Gavin brought up his other hand, making sure not to touch the damage on RK900’s face as he framed his handsome features with his own palms. “Make sure Gavin Reed has a good day.”

He couldn’t see the LED now but he knew that the android was thinking about it, trying to understand what that meant and how to comply. “What does that entail?”

“First we’re going to get out of this room and get all these cuts looked at. Then we’re going to go home and you’re going to relax with me on the patio.”

There was a twitch, almost impossible to see, at the edge of RK900’s lip.

“Stress levels?”

“68%.”

Gavin fought the urge to stress him out, just a little bit, just enough to get 1% more. Instead he released the android’s face and noted how the LED was now flickering between yellow and red, cycling. He got up with a groan, his knees popping, and held out his hand for the android. He didn’t know why he tried, the death machine just pulled himself to his feet on his own anyway, as if he was trying to prove some point.

He stumbled though and his LED went back to a cycle of red, even after Gavin wrapped an arm around his middle to help. The android wasn’t heavy as he leaned on Gavin but that was the least of his concerns. His own stress spiked as he realized what he was doing. He was about to help a deviant killing android out of Cyberlife industries, out into a place where there would be people, and they would all think that he cared.

#detroit become human #gavin reed #hank anderson #rk900 #fanfiction #my writing

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daegunotes · 7 years

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hold me by the heart || {2.5}

What: BTS Fic Genre: Angst Pairing: Min Yoongi x Reader + Jung Hoseok Words: 2k+

I’m a hoe for feedback so if there was something you liked about this series or something you hated, something you’d like to discuss, send me a message!!! You will have my heart foreverrrr

You’ve been seperated from Yoongi for 3 months, but fate keeps throwing the two of you in each other’s paths. Even when you’re not aware.

Chapter 1 - x Chapter 2 - x

Suggested Listening: Happier - Ed Sheeran

Yoongi sighed as he made to get up, when Slow Rabbit was dedicated to something, he was immovable. Whether it was in music or in personal life. If he had said 15 mins, he would be here in 13, it would be best to hurry.

Yoongi opened his closet to grab at the nearest clean piece of clothing. It was grey shirt, a dark palette much like 90% of his wardrobe. Much like 100% of his life. Bright colours repelled him, he physically ran in the other direction if accosted with fluorescents or any shade of VIBGYOR.

Slipping his head through the neck, his eyes caught sight of a tiny speck of royal blue peeking out of a forgotten corner of his closet. After lowering the shirt rest of the way, he pulled at the offensive piece of clothing. It was a tie, a very nice one at that.

It’s as if he’d been conditioned like Pavlov’s dog because the sight of the tie brought back a set of memories that he was sure he had buried deep under layers of regret and hate.

“Yoongiiii-babe- please just one tie, it’s not even that colourful, look it’s a blue, a royal blueee oooohhhh.”

“Don’t think you can get your way just because you’re using that voice - stop with the big puppy eyes, I’m not budging.”

“Pleaseeeee- for me, I already bought it look at how pretty it is, look how it shines in the light! It’s real silk!”

“First, why did you buy such an expensive tie? Second, where would I possibly wear this? Do you see a pair of sweatpants that the tie would go with?”

“Fine ugh you ruined it. I’ve set up a meeting between you and a few venture capitalists that are very interested in DaeguBeats, they are Big Money so I thought maybe you could crank up that devilish charm in some good clothes. Now hurry, we also have an appointment at the tailors…”

“You really like rubbing this ‘I have my shit together’ thing in my face don’t you?” “Forever and always….”

The memories faded like the sound of your laughter as you left the room.

Yoongi crumpled the tie in his hand and was ready to throw it away in the depths of his trashcan, but somehow his hand seemed to disobey its owner and refused to move. He sighed and rubbed his eyes with his free hand, deciding to chuck the tie into a deeper part of his closet, fervently praying that that was the last he saw of it.

He was at the door of his loft when Slow Rabbit texted to tell him that he was waiting for him downstairs.

Yoongi climbed down the 2 flights of stairs to the main lobby. He walked towards the exit and realised it was pouring. “Great.” Yoongi cursed under his breath and opened the door to quickly climb into the SUV parked in front of the gates.

As the door opened, the first thing he spotted was her, full face of makeup and dressed to the nines. She looked amazing he couldn’t deny, but the anger that bubbled in his heart because of her just increased. “I’m glad you decided to join us Grumpy. Sun-mi was so upset when you said you wouldn’t come. Look at how her mood changed now.” Slow Rabbit said in a cheerful voice from the driver’s seat while PDogg sat beside him and chuckled knowingly.

“Can we just go get drunk?” Yoongi said in a low growl, silently swatting away the hand Sun-mi was trying to creep up his thigh. Clearly his abstinence pledge was going to have to be martyred today.

“That’s my boy!!” Slow rabbit said as he put the car into gear and sped off in the rain, towards their favourite watering hole.

“Aaahh the old faithful! Oh how I love thee, please never change!” Slow Rabbit said as he inhaled his beer, letting out a loud and unapologetic burp right after

“If you gave a woman, half the love you have in your heart for this goddamn pub, you’d be a married man by now.” PDogg said with humorous distaste on his face.

“Find me a woman that can provide me with cheap ass beer and excellent but questionable snacks, then we’ll talk.” Slow Rabbit replied without missing a beat.

The entire table erupted in laughter and even the sullen Yoongi managed to crack a smile. Being out in a loud group wasn’t his thing but he owed a lot to the people at the table and they were one of the very few people in this world, for whom he would make an effort.

“I’ll get the next round” Yoongi declared, he had to get away from the raucous crowd. “About time CEO! Stop being a cheap asshole.” PDogg slurred and then laughed heartily at his own quip.

“I’ll come with you, you can’t carry all of it alone.” Sun-mi said to Yoongi, her tone dripping with insinuations. “No thanks, it’s your night. You sit here and enjoy. I’ll be right back.” he replied curtly.

Yoongi made his way through the crowd and towards the bar. He could navigate this path with his eyes closed, maybe he needed to spend some time outside the pub.

He waited as Hyun-jae, his friend and the owner-bartender of the pub went around the back to grab their usual order. His head did a sweep around the pub half concentrated, half distracted. It was the usual crowd of regulars. He caught a familiar swish of hair whip past the main doors and his head whipped in that direction.

It couldn’t be. Yoongi could’ve sworn that he saw your caramel-brown head of hair rush inside from the rain into the pub. He blinked a few times and you were nowhere to be seen. Must have been a trick of the light. It wasn’t the first time he’d imagined you in places where there was no trace of you. Places like his bed and his arms.

He turned back to the bar as he heard Hyun-jae’s voice. “Here you go Hotshot. This one’s on the house. I heard the good news. I’m proud of you boy.” the bartender exclaimed proudly giving Yoongi a few congratulatory thumps on his back.

“Thanks hyung, I really appreciate it.” he replied politely as he picked up the drinks and returned to his table.

“The prodigal son returns! And he’s armed with drinks!” Slow Rabbit all but yelled as he saw Yoongi approach the table with a tray of shots.

“Yeah drink up guys. This is the last night of partying. It’s back to the grind tomorrow.” Yoongi said in a mock stern voice as he sat back down in the booth.

“Yes boss! You heard him boys, drink up!” Slow Rabbit yelled again clearly not willing not lower his volume.

Yoongi smiled a hollow smile and lowered his head towards the half empty bottle of beer in front of him. He took a swig from it when a painfully familiar sound hit his ears. It was the sound that plagued his dreams, the one that he couldn’t get stop thinking about during quiet nights alone.

The sound of your laughter.

He immediately looked up to search for the source when his eyes fell on you. There you were, a vision in gold and white, you were wearing one of his favourite dresses of yours, “The Goddess” dress he had oft called it.

You were sitting a mixed crowd of people Yoongi didn’t recognise, throwing your head back in laughter like you often did in the good times. Before he realised, Yoongi was smiling too, your laughter always had that effect on him. It was unconscious but his actions began mirroring yours until his eyes fell on the reason of your laughter.

The same man who was in your apartment that night was making you laugh with his antics. The smile on Yoongi’s face quickly faded and his eyebrows knitted together in a frown. He couldn’t believe that someone else was making you laugh like that. Was it childish of him to expect you to as sullen and broken as him? Absolutely. That didn’t change the fact that seeing you laugh so unabashedly with another man, felt like a several punches to his gut.

He looked away slowly, in case you turned your gaze and caught him staring at you. He needed more drinks, yup that was the answer. Getting up slowly he dragged his ass back up to the bar and motioned to Hyun-jae and asked for 4 shots of his cheapest vodka.

Hungry for the oblivion that lay within the depths of the shot glasses, Yoongi downed the 4 shots feral, hissing every time the harsh liquid burned his throat. This was good, he need to feel this sensation. He needed to forget.

Considerably more inebriated, Yoongi stumbled on back to his booth, ignoring the questions his friends threw at him. His eyes ran over the room again till they came upon the subject of their search. You were smiling softly now, talking to some girl who sat beside you. “Good, the bastard’s gone.” Yoongi’s thoughts said. The delight was short lived however as the aforementioned bastard returned right away with some drinks in his hand.

Yoongi snorted as he saw the man passing out drinks, he knew you only drank premium beer and there wasn’t anything remotely close to that on the man’s tray. The man handed you a glass of what Yoongi assumed was coke. You took the glass from him with a grateful look on your face and the most beautiful of smiles. Something was wrong and it nagged at Yoongi, you loved your drink and could drink most adult men under the table. What had changed?

As several scenarios ran through his head, Yoongi didn’t realise that he was blatantly staring at the group that included you.

Hoseok turned his head to catch Yoongi staring at them and realization dawned in his eyes. He turned back to you and made sure that Yoongi caught the arm he slipped around you. As you instinctively leaned into him, Hoseok started slowly rubbing his hand up and down the length of your arm.

This tender scene was too much for Yoongi to watch without emptying the contents of his stomach, so he turned away. His eyes began to sting and he knew it was going to be one of those nights.

Yoongi quickly took his leave of the group who weren’t happy with his sudden desire to leave. “Sorry guys, not feeling to hot. Going to call it a night. I’ll see all of you tomorrow.” he said while gathering his hoodie off the chair.

Walking hurriedly towards the exit, he couldn’t help but steal another glance in your direction. You were laughing again and the laughter pricked at the young man’s heart.

He made his way out of the pub and into the rain, “Fuck I forgot.” he cursed at himself for being so hasty, he had no protection against the rain save for his light hoodie.

“Don’t worry, Yoongi oppa, I have an umbrella, we can share it.” a sickly sweet voice called out behind me and Yoongi felt his toes curl. The urge to break out into an Olympics worthy run had never been stronger.

“Listen Sun-mi, I’m going to say this for the last time. What happened was a mistake. IT. WILL. NEVER. HAPPEN. AGAIN. This” he said as he waved a hand between the two of them, “is not something that will happen. You’re really talented and I respect you a lot, as an artist. But that is it. Never has been more, never will be. Stop wasting your time on me.” Yoongi said with finality hoping that the young ingenue got the the message.

“I knew you’d be like this when I first started liking you, I’ll wait. You’ll come around to me don’t worry.” Sun-mi replied cheerfully and turned back to head inside the pub again.

“Fuck I need to get out of this town.” he said towards her retreating figure.

As he half-jogged half-ran towards the nearest bus stop, words kept forming in his mind. With the wind and rain beating down on him, his brain was working in overdrive. The words kept coming to him, as if pleading to be let out into the world.

He finally reached the bus stop which provided much needed shelter from the rain. Quickly taking out his phone, he wrote down the words that were threatening to consume him whole.

“오직 너 하나만 보여 나 오직 너 밖엔 안보여 봐 공정하지 공평하지 너한테 빼곤 다 이젠 단 하루도 너 없이는”

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