#i recommend all of these god do i love these

[glossiersworld]

Nothing Feels Better

Lando Norris x Fem!Reader

summary- the legendary win. a win no one will forget

a/n- AGGHHHHH I'M STILL NOT OVER HIS WIN IT FEELS LIKE A FEVER DREAM FRGRGHSKFQWRJ. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this, I'm sorry if this is bad, I'm still improving🤍

The atmosphere in the McLaren hospitality was tense. No one relaxed after Lando pit. Each and everyone in the hospitality was a nervous wreck, their eyes focused on the gap between him and Max.

You were sitting with Ria and Aarav, heart racing, praying to all the gods for no fuck ups. The safety car ended and the tension levels in the hospitality were at an all time high with Verstappen lining his car up almost next to Lando. Everyone was up from their seats. This was it.

Once the green flag was waved, Lando pulled away with ease but Max was well within DRS range. But with pressure from Charles and Carlos right on his tail, Max had to focus on defending his position rather than fighting Lando for P1, although the gap between Lando and Max kept giving you mini heart attacks with it decreasing and increasing every millisecond.

Lap 33 to Lap 56 went by in the blink of an eye. It was the last lap of the race. No one in the hospitality dared to move till he passed the last corner of the track. After he did, the entire hospitality emerged in cheers, mechanics running over to the pitwall grill and climbing it to cheer your boyfriend on his very first of many wins in Formula 1.

You however stayed put where you were holding Ria's hand, both of your eyes glued to the screen until Lando crossed the finish line. You were completely shocked. Your boyfriend had won the Miami Grand Prix. LANDO WAS A RACE WINNER. Now, everything was a blur to you, all you were thinking about was running to Parc Fermé and smothering your boyfriend in kisses.

Lando was the last to reach Parc Fermé. He got out of his car and ran towards the mechanics, jumping on them. Next he came to you and captured your lips in a passionate kiss, you crying into the kiss. You pulled him into a hug before he left for the post race interview, "I'm so so so proud of you my love. My future champion, I love you.", you whispered into his ears. Lando whispered a quick 'I love you' to you with a cheeky wink before he rushed for his interview.

"Lando Norris, how does it feel to be an F1 Grand Prix winner?" Jenson asked him. "About time huh? Fuck, sorry. But yeah, it feels surreal. I'm so thankful for my team, my family, my friends, my girlfriend Y/N who is right there for their constant support. I wouldn't recommend recording her right now she's a mess." he chuckled. "But yeah, a huge thanks tot the team for believing in me, I finally delivered to them."

Once the podium celebrations were over, Lando and you went back to his drivers room. As soon as he locked the door, he pulled you in for a long, messy, passionate kiss. "I'm beyond proud of you baby. it was always a matter of when, not if. There's so much more to come for you. My future champ." You spoke into the kiss. "thank you so much for supporting me through this baby. I wouldn't have bee able to do this without you. I love you babygirl." he said. "I love you so much more"

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yourusername

liked by landonorris, carlossainz55, danielricciardo and others

yourusername P1 BABYYYYYYYYY 🏆🏆🏆 THE LOVE OF MY LIFE GOT HIS MAIDEN WIN TODAY. IM SO INSANELY PROUD OF U POOKIE🤍🤍🤍🤍 THIS IS ONE OF MANY MANY MORE TO COME♾️🧡

ALSO GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE TO "LANDO NOWINS" U WILL NOT BE MISSED

landonorris thank u so much babygirl couldn’t have done it without ur constant support🤍🤍🤍🤍

fernandoalo_official bravooooo👏🏼👏🏼

lewishamilton WELL DONE.

lnfour HE’S A RACE WINNER NOW GUYS🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

user okay but is anyone going to talk about how Y/N and ria fell when he crossed the finish line😭😭

— user that and how Y/N sprinted to climb the pitwall grill with the mechanics to cheer lando on 🥹😭

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Requests are open send in requests for fics and blurbs <33

#lando norris #lando norris x reader #lando norris imagine #lando norris x y/n #f1 x reader #ln4 #ln4 x reader #ln4 imagine #ln4 fic #f1 fanfic #f1 x y/n #f1 imagine #f1 x you #lando norris fanfic #lando norris fluff #formula 1 #miami gp 2024 #f1 #formula one #mclaren f1

[evidenceof]

Winnix Country, I'll take you there.

Winnix fic recs finally! I clawed through pages 1-61 on AO3 and then scoured through Dreamwidth because I just need this ship injected into my brain.

Just so we're all aligned, I'm very much into "Classic" Winnix. And while generally I do still read AUs, much of what I keep close are the ones that are entrenched in, before, and after the war. Still enjoy a bit of the supernatural though. So please forgive the lack of non-WWII AUs. :') Ok onward.

Note: All links in blue are restricted to logged-in AO3 users! So hopefully you have an account so you can read some gold.

5+1 tag

The Way I Wear Your Hat by Muccamukk - I will consume anything Mucca writes and live in it for at least two weeks.

Let Me Be Close by armyofbees - So tooth achingly sweet, tender in post-war. Nix combing Dick's hair? I'm so.

I'm Alright Now You're Here by @stopstopstopit - A.k.a. Dick and Nix going, "Was I truly that blind???" about each other and everyone in Easy Company saying, "Yeah." So good, so, so fun. Giggled like a maniac all throughout.

Pre-War

Before the World Begins by rilla (@flomps)- The first time I read this, I cried. Then again the second, third, fourth, etc. Lew and Dick meet in NY before Benning, before everything, and it's under very different circumstances. I love the characterization of Nix and Dick in this so much and the gentleness in the midst of all the smut. A TALENT!

Lancaster County by rachelelpillo - Technically not pre-war because this is an AU where it happens without them. It's bittersweet, but emphasis on the sweet. Teenage Dick and Nix and a whole summertime of falling in love.

Bicostal by dancinguniverse - I am a sucker for anything that starts at OCS. I love this and the telegrams and letters tucked within it.

Wartime

Bird Wedding by rachelelpillo - The way she writes anything really sounds like a summer day to me. This one is very understated and just wonderful if you want something that leaves you smiling. (Highly recommend you go through her work, last she posted was in 2010. :') )

And at Your Touch, I Burn by Muccamukk- CHRIST. A SICK!FIC. God I love this for so many reasons, one of them being just the incredible way Mucca describes the field exercise, the crawl and length of it. And Dick getting sick. Nix doing what he does. It's wonderful. It's perfect.

Vampire Overhead! by joissant - There's a little Vampire!Nix AU for you. In the midst of Bastogne and hunger, there is this and it's fucking fantastic.

love divine, all loves excelling by @flanneryoconnorfanfiction - The way my heart soared all throughout this fic. Religion, for many reasons is often the point of friction for Dick, and this one turns it over its head. It's reverent and (so) joyful and honestly, probably what God should feel like. There are not enough kudos-es in the world.

Post-War

Head Trip by @ezlebe - Two lines from this fic ring in my head daily, that's how much I loved every bit of it. And I mean who isn't a sucker for Operation Varsity-adjacent fics? Harry's in this so it's automatically just extra wonderful for me. I LOVE!! I absolutely love.

Like a Bird on the Wire by semperama - Them coming home without an established relationship is always a trope enjoy. Blanche Nixon is here being cheeky, and Dick is all smiley, Lewis is stressed the fuck out. It all makes for a wonderful get-together.

More than a Team by @mercurygray - I love reading about Ann Winters and I love seeing Nix and Dick navigate those familial relationships after the war. This is short and so, so sweet. Every bit as wonderful as the ice cream.

thyme and rosemary by @oatflatwhite - Yet another one where Ann Winters makes a wonderful cameo. Dick is trying not to be miserable and he keeps writing all these unsent letters to Lew. Featuring the cutest kitten ever.

Series

What Things We Have Heard Together by joissant (4 works) - Quite possibly required reading for Winnix enthusiasts. Feels like such a gift to be able to thread through so many points in their relationship and everyone else tangled in their orbit.

Winnix from the POV of other people Oh my god I love outsiders-looking in fics of the two of them.

Transcript by Corvid Cordelia - LISTEN. If you love Easy Company, you love Winnix, Webgott, Spierton, etc, they're all here. It's such a treat for people who fell in love with everyone's personalities in BoB.

Women in Conversation by shiveringpinkala - Ann Winters tries to surprise her brother and it doesn't go quite as planned. Blanche is in this too so it makes it extra delightful. Love this fic.

Entendre by @thrillingdetectivetales - Harry Welsh has no fucking clue what Buck Compton is implying about Winters and Nixon but he's gonna find out. Again, I love Harry Welsh with all of me.

A special mention to String Quartet No. 14 by @oatflatwhite for a HS AU that had me kicking my feet and smiling all the way to the very last word.

If you have similar favorites, PLEASE LET'S TALK ABOUT THEM. There's still a lot I'd like to re-read and revisit so this will highly likely be updated in the future. I'd love to hear your favorites too. <3

#winnix #evidenceofrecs #dick winters #richard winters #lewis nixon #band of brothers #BoB #fic rec

[scoonsalicious]

the shoot your shot anon here, thank you for updates you do give! I totally understand the frustration of not having the ending to a fic, drives me insane cz I got so involved without checking 😭😭😭

do you have any bucky x reader recs? Anything from one shots to series. Any genre, except for like extremely dark stuff, maybe some fluff and angst cz. Im a sucker for those

I have not forgotten about you, shoot your shot anon! It's just that, of course, once you asked for fic recs, my mind went completely blank because for some reason, that's how I work :P So, I had to do some thinking and research and go back through my Likes, lol!

I recommend:

@ellemj (she writes some amazing stuff; I love her. I will never not love her. Her sex pollen is 100)

@mrsbuckybarnes1917 (love her so much; she's got a series, Finding You that is great angst with a happy ending, and is currently putting out a new one called My Best Friend's Girl that I've had the honor of following throughout its development and it's so good, I fucking love it!)

@kinanabinks has Jealousy & Flirtation, which is also about a meddling girl bff for Bucky, but so much better than the shit I come up with; I love it so much and wait for each new chapter with baited breath. That last chapter literally had me like

@thenhewaswrongaboutme's My Hands Have Made Some Good Mistakes is a goddamn masterpiece and a personal favorite. It's got some Stucky, which is not my cup of tea, AT ALL, but fuck, this story is just so god damn good that I don't even care.

@dreamwritesimagines The Eye of the Hurricane is my favorite mob!au; I am DESPERATELY waiting for her Bucky and MC to get together. Seriously, I am dying over here!

@justreadingfics It's a Deal is one I come back to read again and again. It just makes me happy, lol.

@shurisneakers Harmless is so much fun and deranged in the best way possible; it had me laughing out loud so much.

I'm currently enjoying @endless-ineffabilities The Bolter.

@angrythingstarlight's Beefy Biker Bucky series is adorable and I love him.

@thatsmzbitchtoyou has a couple of great series; I'm really loving her Norsemen & Anglo-Saxons one right now.

@delicatebarness I Can't Read Your Mind series is one I'm enjoying right now as well.

Of course, there are the authors who just consistently put out amazing works: @navybrat817 @buckyalpine @world-of-aus

Fuck, I'm sure there are so many more I'm forgetting. Don't get head injuries, kids. They'll mess with your memory for years.

[pluckyredhead]

I have fallen down a Fourth World rabbit hole (this is @ngoziu's fault) and am now reading everything DC has ever published with these characters, in order, as is my wont, and I have a lot of thoughts and feelings, so I'm going to start dumping them all here. Sorry.

Background if you have no idea what I'm talking about but want to read this post anyway (why?): in 1971, Jack Kirby left Marvel because he couldn't put up with Stan Lee any longer and came to DC, where they were like "Yes you can do anything you want" (this was a lie). He immediately began writing, drawing, and editing an incredibly ambitious epic that stretched over four simultaneously published books: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (we can mostly ignore this one), New Gods, Mister Miracle, and The Forever People. These books came to be known as Jack Kirby's Fourth World Tetralogy.

The books all center around the war between the utopian planet New Genesis, ruled by the benevolent Highfather, and the dystopian planet Apokalips, ruled by the evil Darkseid. At the heart of the narrative is "The Pact," aka The Cosmic Baby Swap. To ensure a (temporary) truce, Highfather and Darkseid traded sons when said children were very young - so Orion, Darkseid's son, is raised on New Genesis, and Scott Free, Highfather's son, is raised on Apokalips. Neither knows who their real father is until adulthood.

Orion grows up in a utopia, but tormented by his feelings of rage and otherness that he can't explain. Scott is raised in a torture orphanage, because that's just what happens on Apokalips, but eventually he escapes to Earth and becomes the escape artist Mister Miracle. The Cosmic Baby Swap begs what to me is the central question of the Fourth World, which is: what is the nature of good? Which boy will be a hero? The one born to good and raised by evil, or the one born to evil and raised by good?

TRICK QUESTION THEY'RE BOTH HEROES!!! GOOD IS MORE POWERFUL THAN EVIL! LOVE WINS AND FASCISM LOSES! This is so, so important to me and any version of these characters that doesn't understand the really not very complex symbolism here is invalid and kind of embarrassing for the writer (looking at you, Tom King).

Also Scott falls in love with and eventually marries Big Barda, one of Darkseid's fiercest warriors, who was born on Apokalips and raised on Apokalips and chooses good anyway. LOVE WINS AGAIN! BARDA TOPS HER TINY HUSBAND IN THE NAME OF PEACE AND COMPASSION!

Sadly DC canceled New Gods and Forever People after only 11 issues, which kind of killed Kirby's whole vision. Mister Miracle limped along until #18, but as a really pale shadow of itself. So we never really got the full scope of Kirby's original plans.

ANYWAY. That's the background. Now thoughts on the actual comics:

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen: I love Jimmy, I love Superman, I love the Newsboy Legion, but this book feels very tangential to the whole Fourth World experiment and I think we can safely set it to the side. However, if you love the 90s Superboy series, I recommend dipping into this because it's the source material for a lot of Kon's worldbuilding (Cadmus, Dubbilex, clone Guardian, etc.).

The Forever People (1971): So I originally read all the Jack Kirby Fourth World stuff like...at least 15 years ago, when I was still relatively new to comics, and I'll be honest: I didn't get it. Kirby is sort of an acquired taste, and I didn't really have any context for what he was doing. I understood the metaphors, but I didn't get why people found the work appealing. And Forever People in particular was the book where I was like "Why. What is the point of this" the most.

Rereading it many years later, I find it to be a lot more moving and profound - like, the Happyland issue alone is a knockout. That said, Kirby is, uhhhh...not great at ensemble characterization without Lee, and the Forever People themselves are unforgivably bland. Default Guy! Big Guy! Black Guy! Girl! Kid! Props to Kirby for making it a not all-white group - and for introducing five out of seven of DC's first Black characters in the space of, like, two years - but it would have been nice if he gave them personalities, too.

New Gods (1971): This is Orion's book and the heart of the Fourth World. At its best, it's the pinnacle of "Makes no sense...compels me, though." Like, "Glory Boat?" I don't understand a single thing that happened in that comic but it's so fucking good. I just want to read thousands of words of comics scholars over the past 50 years going "????" in collective confused admiration.

Mister Miracle (1971): This was the book I was most invested in when I read the Fourth World years ago, because I already loved Scott and Barda from JLI, but now I think it's weaker than New Gods and arguably even than Forever People. Kirby doesn't seem as invested in going all in on Big Concepts here, and Scott escaping endless weird deathtraps is only compelling for so long. The later issues, after the other books were canceled and DC made Kirby pivot away from the Apokalips/New Genesis war, are nothing. But Scott and Barda (and Oberon and Shilo) are everything, so I guess it balances out. Anyway Scott clearly already knows a lot about Earth by the time he meets Oberon and Thaddeus Brown, so DC please feel free to hire me to write a Mister Miracle: Year One miniseries about Scott's arrival on Earth, thank you.

Okay, now for the post-Kirby (or really, intra-Kirby) stuff:

Mister Miracle (1977): This picks up the numbering from the Kirby series, running from #19-25, and was written by Steve Englehart and then Steve Gerber, and it sucks so bad. For three reasons, in escalating importance:

Riddled with continuity holes and factual errors that don't match what Kirby established. Himon is shown on New Genesis - how did he get there? Metron is depicted as subservient to Highfather when Kirby showed him as a neutral, independent agent. Etc.

The treatment of non-Scott characters is largely terrible. Oberon is written really condescendingly (Scott's like "Ride on my shoulders like you used to!" even though they definitely did not ever do that before, because Oberon is not a child). When Scott feels guilty that he's not actively fighting the war, Highfather's like "I don't want you to fight because I feel bad that I traded you to Darkseid, let Orion do it" as if that isn't the root of Orion's severe emotional trauma TOO. And worst of all is Barda, who is knocked out and captured in the first issue and spends pretty much the entire rest of the series unconscious, waiting for Scott to rescue her - except for the brief scene where she wakes up brainwashed, requiring Scott to beat the shit out of her. Lovely.

The series is reeeally fixated on the notion that Scott is a god, and extrapolates that to Scott deciding he's the messiah. Now, I'm not going to say that the Fourth World can't be used to explore Christian themes just because Kirby is Jewish, because Kirby was very definitely exploring biblical themes extensively and frankly I don't know enough about the Bible to say whether he was sticking religiously (ha) to the Old Testament. But I do think taking one of the central characters of a Jewish man's magnum opus and making him the messiah is, uh, pushing it. And there's no way to argue he's not a Christian messiah because, uh, he T-poses a lot in this series and Granny also specifically states that if Scott is the messiah, she'll find an anti-Christ to combat him (which...wouldn't that sort of by default be Orion? which just further proves that the idea of a messiah really doesn't work in the Fourth World framework). Anyway it's gross and I hate it.

New Gods (1977): I'm kind of using this as a catchall to cover all of Gerry Conway's New Gods work, which includes the actual 1977 New Gods series (which picks up the numbering from Kirby, so it's #12-19), the conclusion of the story in Adventure Comics, and the Justice League of America crossover with the Fourth World. (Also there's one issue of Super-Team Family where Lightray and Metron team up with the Flash to save Orion, who has grown really really big, but that doesn't fit with the rest of Conway's continuity so I guess we can ignore it.)

Anyway this stuff is not as infuriating as Mister Miracle, but it's also not...good. The central concept is that Darkseid has discovered that the Anti-Life Equation is contained within the brains of six humans, so Highfather sends six New Gods to protect said humans: Orion, Lightray, Metron (he doesn't work for you, Highfather), Forager (also does not work for you), Lonar, and Sensational Character Find of 1977, Jezebelle of the Fiery Eyes (Original Character Do Not Steal).

Mostly this series is frustrating because all the New Gods are wildly incompetent and fail completely at their tasks. Orion is dumbed down to The World's Most Basic Superhero (he has a big O on his chest now!). I spent the whole time yelling "HE CAN'T FLY, GERRY!" at the comics. Forager is lumped in with no mention of that whole thing where...he's a New God who was raised among the Bugs, who are being persecuted by the New Gods? I feel like that should be explained or at least addressed? (Presumably Kirby would have gotten around to it eventually.) Forager also should not be flying but here he does. I guess. Lonar flies too but mostly on his horse, which bothers me less for some reason, I'll accept a flying horse. (Also Lonar's human he's supposed to protect is Inuit and hoo boy is this comic racist. The poor guy wears a fur diaper the whole time and speaks a completely made up language.)

And then there's Jezebelle of the Fiery Eyes. Who is blue, for reasons that are never explained, and wears a bikini and fishnets because it's 1977, and mentions her fiery eyes (heat vision) every time she speaks. She's from Apokalips, but defected to New Genesis during battle. Which, like...I appreciate that Conway recognized that this team should have a female character, but what with Orion, Scott, Barda, and Inexplicably Present Himon, it feels like we have enough characters who have defected from Apokalips in some way? And it's just super weird that the ONLY female characters we have seen from New Genesis are Beautiful Dreamer of the Forever People (trapped in another dimension indefinitely) and Scott's dead mom. Like, what's the implication here? Heaven doesn't have women? Also, I know Conway was going for biblical names to match New Genesis and Izaya (he also introduces a Lucifar), but, like...Jezebelle? JEZEBELLE. Your only female New God and you named her "whore." Amazing.

And with that, we have covered the New Gods in the 70s (minus some Mister Miracle/Batman teamups). Next time: the 80s, and Kirby tries so so hard to kill Orion but DC won't let him.

#fourth world #orion #mister miracle #scott free #big barda #barda free #meta

[polarisbibliotheque]

Devil May Halloween - The Samhain Ritual - Vergil's Path

Devil May Halloween 2023 - The Samhain Ritual, Vergil's Path

Pairing: Vergil x Reader

Summary: It’s finally Halloween and, even if the demons are a lot more active this time of the year, that doesn’t stop you from going on hunts - the partying can be done later. Or… At least that was what you thought. Maybe Nero had pretty good reasons to worry about that job after all.

Author's Notes: Fucking finally part 2 hahahaha I deeply apologize for taking so long to post Vergil's part. As some of you might have seen here, my dad suffered an accident and my life turned upside down the last few months - I'm still managing, doing damage control hahaha but slowly getting back on track with my writing.

But here is Vergil's part! Be sure to read the Prologue first to understand this madness and, if you're a Dante appreciator, fret not, the red devil part is here.

I have to thank my dear friend @furyeclipse for sending me this idea as an ask a thousand years ago - and now, it is finally done! You can check Fury's work on ao3 right here, I highly recommend it!

I'm also going through a phase of powerful monsters (vampires, demons, the whole unholy pantheon) being on their knees for their human partner and, oh boy, it shows. I'm not apologizing. Oh. And the Helen of Troy/Sparta is NOT a gendered thing. It's more of being recognized as the most beautiful among mortals, enough to cause a war for their love. And yes there's a Ghost reference in there, I FINALLY got to properly listen to their music and man, why did I sleep on them for so long??

Devil May Halloween 2023 - Vergil's Path

Demonic marriages. There was a topic you had to admit you were completely ignorant about.

Vergil had mentioned it once. You did ask him when Sparda’s and Eva’s union arose as a subject in one of your researches one day – for, as far as you knew, marriages were religious and it did make you wander if demons had their own religion or only rituals.

That subject was very muddy, as per Vergil’s words. His own knowledge on the matter was very limited – and that was something new for you.

“Hmmm. A very good question indeed.” Vergil murmured as he put down his book on the table, raising his silvery eyes to you. The library was dead quiet, but his voice was always so low it wasn’t a concern – even if you both were the only living beings in that place at that hour. “You could say some demons are powerful enough to be viewed as gods, but those would be only the likes of Mundus.”

“And Sparda…?” Oh, you had to ask. After all, wasn’t Sparda the only demon strong enough to defeat Mundus? Who could ever defeat a being as powerful as a god? Only a god as well, at least in your mortal eyes.

Vergil allowed a proud smile to spread over his lips as nodded in agreement.

“Well, we do have Fortuna as an example of people worshipping demons as gods, so humans praying to demons doesn’t really surprise me. There are plenty of cults and even churches who do that.” You shrugged, organizing your books and papers, passing him a list of demonic cults you had been keeping track over the years. You weren’t one to judge, but, seeing your occupation was to slaughter demons, it was always good to keep an eye on them. “Eva and Sparda getting married made me wonder. Marriages are very religious, how did Sparda deal with that? Given his story, I don’t think it was only a civil ceremony for government benefits, right?”

“Right indeed…” Vergil once again murmured, curiously reading your list. It was a very thorough and good document, and he couldn’t stop himself to think how it was smart of you to do that. He had a list of people to keep an eye on as well now. “I’ve never really wondered about that as a child, for I didn’t know much of the world back then. We tend to accept that what we see and what it’s said to be true… But after I started researching and learning, it did spark my interest. As far as I can tell you, my father accepted my mother’s faith and married her by her rules, not the opposite. He would never do that just out of a civil agreement, he really did it for love.”

“So even with the power of gods, demons don’t have religions.”

“Again, that is a very good question. I never could really answer it with certainty.” Vergil sighed, leaving your list on the table between you and raising his silvery eyes to yours once more. “As impressive as it sounds, demons don’t lack faith. Some of them do worship more powerful demons as deities, and some of them do join each other in cults. As far as I could observe in Hell, they are very similar to humans on that matter: each has their own set of rules and beliefs and most of them kill each other for their ‘gods’.”

“Huh. Humanity once again proving they can be quite demonic.” You scoffed while rolling your eyes. Religious wars were as old as History itself and it was quite ironic for you to hear that was something present in demonic History as well.

“Or demons proving once again they have something of human after all.” Vergil shrugged after observing you a few long seconds, before turning his eyes to another one of his books again. “I’d argue not all humans, though. Differently from demons, most of them save themselves from being devilish and evil.”

“Hmmm. A few demons can also save themselves from that fate.” You had a slight smile on your lips, turning to your tea mug nearby. “And those who do can be even kinder than humans.”

That conversation would find its end right there that night, as both of you went back to your books and research – but you were able to see a slight smile on Vergil’s lips and how his eyes seemed to have softened after that.

Even if your Dark Slayer could soften under your words, you doubted other demons would do that – and even went as far as doubting they would have something close to a human heart. Vergil was different from all the demons in that place; and so, marriage was the last word you ever expected to hear.

But there you were, locked in a derelict room with Kyrie, surrounded by the long gone gothic architecture of a cathedral that once stood proud among those lands – now rotten, decayed, desecrated and with its colorful glass mosaics shattered everywhere, it was taken by demons to perform their unholy ritual.

“We’re really in it now, aren’t we Kyrie…?” You sighed back to the only human soul with you in that place – the only hope in that godforsaken night, lit only by the flickering warm light of candles. “Marriage. I did not expect it would be this way, though, I’ll tell you that much.”

“I didn’t expect it either…” Kyrie sighed in complete desolation, staring at a loose stone on the floor. “Nero is going to be so mad.”

“I can only imagine.” You answered with a giggle, taking a seat at rotten wood bench that once served as a place for priests to read while doing their own religious researches. “I don’t think Vergil is going to be very pleased as well.”

“Oh.” And it finally seemed to down on Kyrie who your lover was and how much trouble those demons were in. “Did he… Ever tell you about something like this…?”

“Well, marriage is not really a topic that usually arises with Vergil…” You had your eyes lost on an old bookcase, imagining if any of those would be worth a read. Not that you had too much time for that at the moment, but you were quite disturbed. If it was only you in that situation, you would be more at ease, but Kyrie’s presence changed everything. “But he did tell me about a similar ritual between humans and demons. The human usually isn’t a consenting participant though.”

Raising your eyes to hers, Kyrie felt a shiver down her spine. She knew exactly what you meant and that whole situation was also quite frightening for her – in a matter of fact, she probably wasn’t that scared because you were there; but even that didn’t help much. Not when both of you had no idea what was going on.

“I hate the fact they took my weapons. I’m thinking of a thousand ways to get out of here, but I can’t do it without at least my sword.” You rested your head on one of your hands, looking completely defeated. Kyrie had pity in her eyes, sitting by your side right after.

“Well… This isn’t exactly the sort of wedding dress I would choose either.” She sighed in desolation making you snort a quick laugh. “I’m not comfortable in this. I can only imagine how naked you feel.”

“Don’t tell me about it…” You rolled your eyes, pointing at your own attire. You and Kyrie looked positively ridiculous: it was as if the demon in charge of your clothes had only seen a bunch of 80’s movies depicting marriages and thought they had to be even more over the top than that. You could barely move in your own clothes and hated every single second of being in that thing. “If I at least had my gun, I’d shoot the bastard who thought this was acceptable.”

Kyrie had to giggle. It was always endearing to see how some of Vergil’s mannerisms spilled into yours over the time and vice versa. Your voice was as sharp as a piece of ice and your eyes had the same predatorial gaze – even if your words sounded funny in context.

“Couldn’t you use your summoned swords? Like Vergil?”

“I could but I shouldn’t.” Your answer was a little slow, because you were considering it. Using summoned swords was always an advantage, but it did come with its limitations. “Vergil is teaching me how to use all his arcane knowledge, little by little… But I’m human.” As you looked at Kyrie, she seemed to immediately understand what you meant: after all, she was the human companion of a half-demon as well. “It takes a lot of energy. Vergil can tap into his demonic energy that, honestly, it can power a whole city when he’s in the right mood. When it comes to me, though, I can only go so far. It takes a lot more concentration and I can do it only for a while – I’m a novice at it even, so I can’t hold it for too long. I need to train a lot more to be able to take an entire mission, for example.”

“Hmmm. It’s just like when Nero trains me with Credo’s sword…” Kyrie mumbled, resting her head on both of her hands, while her elbows leaned on her knees. You had to giggle: she looked like a bummed out child. “It’s so heavy, I can only do a couple of moves and I get tired quickly.”

“Is that why you’ve been training strength at the gym recently…?” You couldn’t stop yourself from smiling. There was something of sweet about that.

Your little angel was soon going to become a buffed little angel waving a big ass sword around. You loved that concept. Nero’s jaw would hit the floor.

“Exactly.” But Kyrie had the most angelic of smiles on her lips. You knew how it was important to her to be able to use Credo’s sword, even if it was just to protect herself and the children of the orphanage – she was never going to become a devil hunter like you. But she was going to be a guardian angel… Like Credo would’ve been if Sanctus hadn’t taken him away in that demonic cult in Fortuna.

Before you could say anything else, though, you felt a shift in the air. Furrowing your brows, you immediately got up from your seat and put yourself in front of Kyrie: whatever it was, it would have to go through you first. She didn’t say a word, seeming to hide behind you and that horrid thing you were wearing – which didn’t really work, seeing how evident her own dress was.

With a few sparks, one of the demon lords spawned right in front of you: Erlach.

“Everything seems to be ready for the ceremony, then. Good.” His smile spread across his leathery skin as a row of a thousand sharp knives. Erlach carried horns and claws, eyes with desolation and the fiery pits of his home, and a set of large wings fit for an overgrown bat – but something about his features were astoundingly human. Demon lords could tower over humans, sometimes even taller than doors, and carry all the might and horror of Hell, but their kind were built in resemblance with their mortal peers – which wasn’t very common when it came to demons.

“When you force your guests to take part in it, things do get ready at your will, demon.” You had that typical coldness in your eyes – the type that would make the will of a lesser demon waiver. It wasn’t the case with Erlach, though: a spark seemed to have crossed his eyes, as he stared at you for a few seconds with interest.

“Apologize being so rude, but I do think you wouldn’t have come this far out of free will, human.” He spat back, allowing a smile to take over his features once more. It wasn’t the most inviting thing you had ever seen, you had to be honest.

“With this sort of attire, I certainly wouldn’t have.”

To your surprise, Erlach laughed in response. You quickly shared a glare with Kyrie, both of you uneasy with such… Tolerance from him.

“I might have to agree with you. Now, come. I wish to speak to you in private – we have enough to discuss.”

*

Before you could even respond, you blinked and suddenly, you were in an old study. Probably a part of the cathedral that only priests had access, with private rooms where they could make their own little libraries and studies – the desk had books and documents all over it, the fire was lit and a thousand candles burned in orange to give light to one of the deepest nights of the year.

You tried not to sigh: demonic teleportation was always a nuisance to you. Your human body still had to get used to that and you always got a little angry at Vergil when he void teleported you with Yamato: he was wise to always ask your permission first and, if it happened during an emergency and it was the only thing available for him to protect you, he knew he was in for some serious complaining from your part later.

Honestly, Vergil would rather have you safe, complaining at him and as mad as a human could be than have you harmed in a place he couldn’t protect you. He was actually getting well versed in dealing with your void teleportation complaints.

“Your kind isn’t very prone to conversations.” You had to point out, taking a deep breath. Your dizziness would be gone in a few seconds and you didn’t want Erlach to know how much it affected you. “Mindless dismemberments and self-boasting talk seem to be the preferred route for demons.”

“Lesser demons. Demon lords do have a different approach to things… And deals.” Erlach walked around his table, skimming over some documents before turning his fiery eyes to you and smiling once more. “The brainless dismembering style is still preferred by some, though. Like Orcus.”

“The second demon lord here tonight.” As you noted, Erlach seemed to have enjoyed your answer. It meant you were paying attention, not only trying to escape. “Demons are quite selfish as well, I wouldn’t expect to see your kind engaging in alliances. Or is that something peculiar to demon lords as well…?”

Yes, you were trying to provoke him – it was in your fighting style, in your blood. When fighting against demons, they all boasted how terrible they were, how they would smash you into a paste on the pavement and feast on your bones. You had to know how to answer at the same level or the fear would get to you. After all, you were fighting against supernatural things on a daily basis, obviously faster and stronger than you. If you didn’t taunt them to inspire a little bit of fear and belittle them before your humanity, you would cower in a corner and wait for certain death.

It was something Vergil admired on you, though. You had everything to fear those you fought against – and, sometimes, you knew you were overpowered by them. Even so, you wouldn’t allow that to show, you would masterfully control your emotions and only let out those you allowed your enemies to see. Vergil was quite proud of that.

“It’s peculiar to those of us who rather use our minds instead of our powers.” Erlach’s eyes lost all interest they had on the documents and were immediately glued to you and you only. Not once you shifted your gaze, and not once your body seemed to want to run away. You just stood there, immobile, gazing back at his fiery eyes with the same conviction as his – waiting the rest of his answer. “You see, I could break your bones with the flick of my wrist, but that wouldn’t be so fun, would it…?” Erlach approached with a slight smile on his lips, some fun playing in his words. His steps were slow and calculated, everything he could to inspire fear in your human heart. “There’s so much more in this world than bending it to your will by force.”

“It is a lot easier. Or so did Mundus think.” You crossed your arms and slightly raised your head, failing to notice how arrogant you looked… Just like Vergil used to be. Dante said one day both of you would get your ass kicked for looking cocky and, well, your day might have arrived. You wouldn’t let your pride slip out of you, tough, and something about Erlach’s demeanor made you think he wasn’t really annoyed by it. His feelings were… Something else.

“It didn’t take him too far, did it…?” Erlach raised one of his eyebrows, slowly approaching you once again. He looked like a predator ready to pounce on his pray, but instead of running, you maintained your posture. The one the Dark Slayer taught you. The one from knowing the power of being tied to the blood of Sparda. “Mundus was arrogant to think humans were only meat.”

“Apparently we are unwilling wedding participants too.” You scoffed, making Erlach laugh in response. You had to hide how his reaction took you by surprise: how much did you have to taunt him for that demon lord to finally lose his temper? “I don’t suppose you brought me here only to properly propose to me.”

“Differently from the Spardas, I do believe in taking some things by force.” Erlach’s voice had a delight laced in his words that made you… Slightly uncomfortable. “The ritual is taking place tonight, whether you and your friend agree to it or not. I just wanted to look into your eyes and see what the son of Sparda, the Dark Slayer who had been locked in Hell for decades, saw in you. A bond between a demon and any mortal creature isn’t one to be taken lightly.”

“Well, then you aren’t in luck. I am not married to Vergil, nor do I think he will ever want to be.” Your answer was certain and, to the demon’s surprise, carried no tinge of bitterness. You and Vergil had an agreement regarding your relationship: he would be with you for as long as you would have him, but he would never think of binding you to his fate like his father did to his mother. You had said countless times you didn’t mind and you weren’t afraid, but it wasn’t something Vergil was ready for. And you could respect that. “Our bond is not what you think it is.”

“Oh, it is exactly what I think it is.” Erlach’s words carried a truth you feared you weren’t able to see at the moment – as if he knew something you didn’t. You had to control your feelings not to furrow your brows and allow him to see your confusion, hiding it under your unbothered and strong demeanor – like whatever words he said could never affect you. “It isn’t a ceremonial bond, but one of souls. The heart does not lie, my exquisite guest, and the Spardas seem to be haunted by their father’s heartful curse.” His fingers grasped an old piece of paper in one of the desks by your side; Erlach’s indifferent eyes analyzed its contents while he spoke. “I will never understand why Sparda decided not to follow our rituals. He could’ve been great; Greater than Mundus himself. But he chose to diminish and turn himself as human as he could be… and look at what happened to him and his family. A shame, really.” He tossed aside the paper, and you could see an old picture of Sparda and Eva, falling apart from how old it was. Probably cut out from a book, looking like a painting; a portrait made long ago, before Dante and Vergil were even born. “Our marriage is called a binding ritual. It requires two souls to connect, and it makes one of them more powerful than one could ever dream of.”

“Hmmm. It requires one to diminish itself and be a powerless servant, then. I can see why Sparda discarded this option.” He would’ve never done such a thing to Eva, and that you had learned from all the stories Vergil told you from his parents. If you had only known the story from the books and popular tales, you would’ve asked yourself the same thing and have the same questions Erlach had – but you did have Sparda’s own son to tell the story. To paint you how his father was warm, stern, yes, but still kind, graceful and loving… To paint him as human. In all his adoration for Eva, he would never think of turning her into a powerless slave to his will. That was not what love was. “You still have much to learn.”

Erlach’s fiery eyes immediately met yours – but they didn’t carry the offense you thought they would. There was something else inside his demonic eyes. Was it… Excitement? Maybe…?

“Oh, little human, you have much to learn then to think some wouldn’t appreciate being slaves to their partner’s will. It is all a matter of pleasure.” His smile, though, immediately made you uncomfortable. If that subject had been mentioned by Vergil, you would definitely answer with a sassy smile and state that, in a matter of fact, you did know about that – and see where that conversation with your devilish partner would get you. But with Erlach…? It sounded more like a warning rather than anything else. Definitely a red flag waving in front of you. “The other soul does get something in return – some very important things in Hell: protection and status. Desecrating the partner of one of the most powerful demons to ever live could easily be a death sentence to whatever demon foolish enough to do so.”

“If that is the case, and I am bonded to Vergil, I wonder how foolish you have to be to willingly kidnap and forcefully wed the partner of the King of Hell.”

You wouldn’t admit it out loud. You wouldn’t even say it in front of Dante and Nero. Whenever the subject decided to appear, you just nodded, agreeing with the others that what Vergil did was horrifying and terribly wrong.

But you couldn’t deny the power trip on the rare occasions you decided to flex Vergil’s King of Hell title.

It had its perks.

“Only foolish if I don’t finish the ritual in time, my little human. I was also careful enough to find myself some leverage.” Erlach immediately waved at the door, referring to Kyrie. You didn’t want to sigh in acknowledgement, but that was enough to at least try to put some halt in Vergil’s murderous rampage. Or to make Nero hold his father on a leash if Vergil just decided to recklessly kill everything on sight. You had some serious concerns those demons heavily understated Vergil’s power. “I had no intentions to let Orcus partake in this ritual but I did need a brute to carry out most of the killing; it would be terribly boring.” With those words, Erlach approached enough to stop right in front of you. At any moment you flinched or decided to walk back, even if everything in your being wanted to put some very good distance between the both of you. Preferably a Vergil of distance. “Therefore, he can bind himself to the weakest of partners. The grandson of Sparda clearly isn’t as attuned to power as Sparda’s spawns.”

“Only a demon would think a human heart is weaker than a devil’s will.” You scoffed in response, raising your head once even higher – in part to be able to look at Erlach directly in his eyes. Vergil’s gaze could cut like the sharpest of ice, and you had seen those silvery eyes in their worst. Erlach’s gaze was nothing compared to the Dark Slayer. “Maybe that was the source of Sparda’s power, have you ever thought of that?”

You would never throw a demon lord like Erlach at Kyrie, but you were quite certain he wouldn’t appreciate the truth to your words and would never turn to the crew’s little angel as the most powerful of partners. Demons could be quite predictable in your book.

“Hmmm. Maybe humans measure their status through empathy, but in Hell…” Erlach’s eyes leveled with yours, his head bowing to be able to share his gaze with you – and, instead of fear, he found something else… Something closer to pride. You were the counterpart of the King of Hell after all, weren’t you? You would never bow your head and lose your crown, Erlach was beginning to understand that. And appreciate that. “We measure through power. And you carry quite the power within you, dearest human. Vergil, the Son of Sparda, wouldn’t accept any less with all the titles he carries. He is part demon, after all.”

That was some food for thought that had never crossed your mind before. Yes, Vergil was partly human, but without a doubt, it was Dante who got most of Eva’s heart. Vergil always took pride in his demonic heritage and power, and always found solace in that – he slowly came to terms with his own humanity and learned to appreciate the human heart, but the thirst for power ran deep in his demonic veins. He did see something in you more than your human empathy… Or else, his devil would never consider bowing to you.

“Hmmm. If all you search is power then, you can always betray Orcus and perform the ritual only for yourself.” You had a spark of sharp intelligence in your eyes, making Erlach widen his smile as the words poured from your lips. “Surely a creature like you wouldn’t mind some backstabbing and murder to keep all the power to yourself.”

“Oh, my sweet temptation, I have to say, I love the way you think…!” Now his voice had a trail of smoldering lust that not even you could deny it was there. Yes, you were trying to manipulate the demon into killing Orcus and leaving only one demon lord for you to deal with – which would make your life quite easy – and probably releasing Kyrie while at it. But you never expected your little game to backfire so gloriously: perhaps Vergil was right when he said you still had a thing or two to learn about his kind. “And I know what you are trying to do – very exciting. A battle of wits and manipulation with a devil, you are truly fearless.” You didn’t think Erlach couldn’t approach you even more, but there he was, towering over you in a way you could almost feel his hot breath on your face. Even if you wanted to void-teleport Vergil right between you at that very moment, you wouldn’t back down – it wasn’t in you. “When all this started, I thought only to bond with a powerful creature of human blood – now… You have proven to be spellbounding, sweet sweet creature. I see what Vergil saw in you: all the cleverness, might, strength, wits; all that fire.” With those words, Erlach offered you his hand, with those fiery eyes staring inside your soul. “I will take you as my partner, but you can do it willingly. I will give you protection and you will be royalty in Hellish realms. You will rule by my side: everything we want is ours for the taking, and anything you ask, I will give you. Kingdoms, realms, worlds. Every living creature that has ever taken a breath will bow to us – the world is mine and yours to rule… You just have to say yes.”

Erlach’s words took you by surprise – your head spun and you thought soon your feet wouldn’t know how to keep you stable on the floor. Your plans backfiring was a serious understatement. You never gave Erlach a reason to like you: on the contraire, you only gave him reasons to be extremely annoyed and suspicious of any and all of your actions. He had no hidden agendas in his words, as far as you could see, and it was extremely obvious what was going on.

You just didn’t expect that to happen, out of all the outcomes of that night.

“Why would I do that when I am already royalty?” Your answer, though, came back with the icy stare you learned from your beloved blue devil, crossing your arms once more and raising your head high just like he used to do. It wasn’t something you did consciously – with time, people develop some mannerisms of their loved ones, and you were no different.

You just got Vergil’s arrogance – and you were more than ready to pay for your tongue. That little game between you and Erlach had already gone too far: you had spotted a few things in the room you could use as a weapon and you were ready to go feral if he attacked you because of your insolence.

You were disarmed, though, when Erlach started laughing – a laugh of pure delight.

“I will have to steal, then. Just like Paris did to Helen of Troy.”

“But remember: an entire kingdom burned just so that King Menelaus could have Helen of Sparta back.”

“Indeed, Beautiful Helen. I shall keep that in mind.” With those words, Erlach’s rough hands took one of yours by force and placed a sharp kiss on your soft skin – that seemed to burn like a lingering fire even after you were teleported back to your improvised cell.

You had to sit down. You had to sit down. That night was already becoming quite the ride – and you thought your Halloween nights couldn’t be even wilder than the ones you had already had so far. But there you were, proven wrong, by a demon lord with a crazy ancient ritual that required a demonic marriage. You were flabbergasted, shocked, breathless… And a little scared.

Vergil had always warned you not to play with demons – especially with those who were witty enough to answer at your level. You always thought he warned you so you could dodge being fooled and trapped into a deal you never saw coming in the first place – he never told you one of those creatures could develop feelings towards you.

“Y/n? Are you ok?!” Kyrie rushed towards you, sitting by your side on that bench you were before, checking your temperature. You were still staring at some lost point on the ground, clearly questioning your life choices so far. “Y/n! Did he hurt you?! What happened?!”

“I think one of the most absurd things just happened in this lifetime…” You murmured, finally staring back at her with a concerned look – but somewhat empty eyes. Kyrie just had her eyebrows furrowed, because if something worried you then she should be even more worried. “I think a demon lord just fell in love with me.”

“Ooooh, no…” The dread in Kyrie’s voice could be understood by even the most clueless of creatures. She closed her eyes, already foreseeing chaos and destruction. “Vergil is going to go on a rampage.”

Yes. And, honestly, you weren’t looking forward to that.

*

“I know we are in a hurry…!” Lady was leaning out the open door of the Devil May Cry van while Nico drove furiously right behind Dante’s trail. Screaming at the red devil while on the road wasn’t an easy – nor safe – task, but honestly, Lady had done worse. “But what are you trying to do, cowboy?! Not miss the train?!”

Dante immediately slowed down slightly, just so he could be side by side with the devil hunter he knew since his teen years. Looking up at her, Dante didn’t even have to watch the road to keep on going without running over anything – his demonic insight would make up for that.

“Kinda, Lady.” His answer was a little snarky, even if he didn’t want to. “Hey, kid! How are your instincts with your girl?!”

“Not good, I’ll tell ya that.” Nero growled, almost unable to stand still by Nico’s side. The gunsmith had made a mental note not to bother him through that whole evening: Nero’s fangs were already showing, his eyes had a tinge of gold, and his trigger distortion was already appearing in his voice. If she actually took some time to look at him, she would be able to see claws instead of nails and his hair a little bit longer than usual – almost like they were back in Fortuna. Nico still wasn’t used to half-triggered Nero and she could bet it would take some time. “Kyrie’s heart, she’s anxious. Somethin’s unsettling her. And I don’t like it. At all.”

With those words, Nero finished doing whatever he was doing with Red Queen and his sword clicked back into place, revving up with the engines he had installed long ago.

“If the kid is like that, imagine Vergil.” Dante stated back to Lady and Trish, now leaning by the open door completely unbothered by the speed and the wind. “He’s an idiot, but still, man’s got enough power to level a whole city. He’s an asshat who can control his feelings, alright, but he’s got one hell of a trauma and a thing for protecting. His partner is gone. He’s on a bloodlust rampage, trust me. We gotta get to this place before Vergil, or all hell will break lose.”

“Vergil’s our train. Got it.” Lady immediately turned serious, remembering all the times she had ever seen Vergil fight – and all he could do.

“Nico! Hit the gas pedal! We aren’t gonna get there in time going at this speed.” Trish strutted over the driver’s seat – always keeping an eye on Nero. She knew how half-triggers could be disorienting and dangerous, and she could help in case anything went wrong – after all, she was a full devil and, wanting or not, she could take down Nero in a fight, to some extent, if she ever had to. At least long enough to give Dante time to fight his nephew in a fit of rage.

“Already goin’ as fast as I can, demon lady!” Nico had her cigarette between her teeth and her foot never leaving the gas pedal. Indeed, it was the fastest speed for the van.

“We just gotta give it a spark, then.” With those words, Trish rested one of her hands on the van’s panel, her eyes immediately sparkling with thunderous yellow. Her demonic sparks ran through her body, pooling over her heart and running down her arm, jolting to the van and enveloping it on her signature yellow lighting.

“WOOOOAH!” Nico had to hold her cigarette even tighter, both hands on the wheel as the van seemed to fly on the road. “Are you CRAZY, woman?!”

“Keep your eyes on the road, virtuosa.” And Trish’s own glowing yellow eyes never left the streets. “We’ll make it there on time.”

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” Dante couldn’t help but laugh and use part of his own trigger to make Cavaliere go faster, now side by side with the van. “Keep it up, babe!”

They had to make it before Vergil. Dante knew in his heart he was the only one who could speak some logic back to his brother at a moment like that.

*

“Me and Vergil… We have a thing.”

You and Kyrie were being taken to the main event of the night: the ritual at the center of the derelict cathedral, under the light of the moon and the stars, witnessed by demons and the lost souls on the forgotten cemetery nearby. Barely any stained-glass mosaics were left – but those that were gave the cathedral an eerie tinge of color; like ghosts long gone in a place that was once holy. Your steps echoed on the stony ground, and you could hear the crackling of an enormous bonfire in the distance – as well as see the distorted, tall shadows of the demons taking both of you to your doom.

“I’m not saying it’s a good thing. I’m just saying it’s a thing.” You sighed, making her hazelnut eyes stare at you with interest as you walked proudly in front of her. The demons forced Kyrie to walk and kept shoving her until you made them only escort you to the ritual with just a stare of authority – she had to admit, you and Vergil were very much alike in some departments. “I can… Sense him sometimes. And he can sense me, whenever he wants to. It has to do with the arcane studies and the fact that we are partners.” You remained silent for a few seconds, closing your eyes for a while to take a deep breath before opening them again. “He can feel my distress. He knows when I’m worried, anxious, in danger.”

“Hmmm… Nero can do that too… I wonder if it’s a family thing.” Kyrie whispered back, not wanting the other demons to hear your conversation. You kept as close to her as possible, but still walking in front of her: if anything happened, it had better happen to you first.

“I wonder the same, too.” You answered with a breathy laugh, seeing the beauty of Vergil’s son being so alike him sometimes – and you wondered if Sparda had the same with Eva; with your heart already knowing the answer. “Sometimes, I feel Vergil’s rage too. His despair. His loneliness. His pain.” You went silent for a while, not really wanting to elaborate on that. It was the first time you were talking about that to someone on the crew – the first time you told Vergil, you had no idea what to do with those emotions and to say it was a roller coaster of a night to both of you, was an understatement. “What I feel is only a shadow of what he feels. And when he feels me, there is no force on Earth that will stop him. He will find me and, if need be, obliterate whatever is causing me trouble.”

“Oh.”

Kyrie finally understood why you said that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. When it came to her and Nero, their connection was deep and strong – and she had never seen anything like that before. But, the way you were speaking, it was different with you and Vergil… Maybe even stronger. And, when it came to Vergil, that could be for good or for bad.

You had to wonder how it was with Eva and Sparda. He was a demon, after all, and she was human. If Vergil was already that protective towards you, and that ruthless when it came to his enemies, you could see Sparda destroying entire countries for the woman he loved – being a harbinger of nothing but death, ruin and despair, only to have her feeling safe in his arms once again.

The fall of the city of Troy never made so much sense to you before that moment. Even if in the original story Helen’s heart was taken by Paris, still, Menelaus burned, killed, maimed and destroyed everything in his way just so she could be Helen of Sparta again… You could see Vergil and his father doing the same – but, in yours and Eva’s case, you would be longing to be back into their arms once more.

“Vergil is coming. And he is not in his best shape, emotionally speaking.” You whispered back to Kyrie so she could understand the extent of the situation you were in. “What I just felt, I could kill one of these demons with my bare hands. When Vergil’s here, he will do his best not to hurt you, but he is focused in one thing only so… Get out of his way. And I’m not trying to be rude…”

“I understand.” Kyrie whispered back, carefully noticing the demons eyeing each other. She knew you weren’t really giving her a warning, you were playing a little game: planting seeds of terror and discord so they would tear each other apart from the inside just from being afraid of Vergil. It was a clever move and Kyrie would’ve praised you if she had the chance. “I’ve already seen Nero almost go on a rampage. It really isn’t nice. I hope he doesn’t try to join his father, or there will not be a single rock left standing in this cathedral soon enough.”

She decided to play your game, noticing a slight smile of approval on the corner of your lips. All of you hunters always had smart strategies to deal with the demons you did on a daily basis, but, when you were completely stripped of your weapons just like on that moment, you had to resort to other ways of fighting.

Your scheming had to be put to a halt for a while when you approached the decaying wooden doors that opened your path down the church’s aisle – a moth eaten dark red carpet, now almost black from dirt and time, painting the path you should follow; until you would stand side by side with the devil who kidnapped you, now waiting for your presence by a tall bonfire at the center of the cathedral, illuminating an altar right behind Erlach.

Things suddenly seemed even more serious now and your heart sunk in your chest. As you started to walk down the aisle, the demons watching that hellish ceremony chanted and hit their weapons or claws rhythmically on the stony floor. Kyrie was held by one of the demons who guided you towards the aisle, outside of that madness, but soon to go in after your ritual came to an end – after you got married.

A few seconds after your heart seemed to have sunken on the floor, you felt a rage bubbling inside your chest, threatening to come out of your mouth with an earth shattering scream; running through your body like a violent bolt of lightning, resting on your hands that immediately closed to fists as you raised your head high: for a split second, if you saw anything that could be used as a weapon to cut Erlach’s head off its neck, you would’ve taken it and plunged in like a furious beast.

That lightning, though, dissipated as fast as it ran through your body. You didn’t lose your posture and kept walking with certain, hard steps towards your fate – but that blind bloody rage was gone.

It was Vergil.

You knew it was him. It was right after you had that desperate, desolating feeling of not knowing what to do, of watching that harrowing scene right in front of you and not knowing how to get out… Of feeling trapped like a little mouse on a cage. You felt some of Vergil’s emotions in a very fleeting manner – in a bolt of lightning – but he could feel yours more certainly and longingly. That bloodthirst that ran through your body… It was just a fleeting taste of Vergil’s emotional response to knowing how unsafe you felt.

After all he had been through, protection was a big thing for your blue devil. He silently promised nothing would ever happen to his newfound family now that he was strong enough to protect not only himself, but everyone around him. Knowing you were vulnerable, completely exposed, feeling like prey and he wasn’t around to keep you safe… To say Vergil’s demonic blood was boiling was a great understatement.

“Come, brilliant creature among humans. Midnight is close, and the ritual must be completed.” Erlach offered you his rough, devilish hand so you could take and approach the altar with him – a stone containing a couple of candles and an old golden bow, marked by ancient, dry blood.

You stopped right where you were, not taking his hand, but still staring into his eyes. You were thinking of words of defiance, of improvised weapons, of anything you could do to get you and Kyrie out of there. If you had to fight that demon with hands and teeth, so be it, but you wouldn’t back down – and if it was for you to die, you would die fighting.

Your thoughts were interrupted by a roaring thunder rumbling through the pitch-black skies right above your heads. You couldn’t see any clouds and it didn’t seem like it was going to rain earlier that day, but that ominous thunder roared once more – with a flash of a lightning in the distance cracking down from the sky suddenly illuminating your face as you opened a broad smile. Erlach only eyed you with confusion, taken aback by the sudden prelude of rain.

“A storm is approaching.” Your somber voice did not match the smile across your lips and Erlach’s eyes filled with understanding – even if he himself didn’t think that was possible for only a half-demon like the Dark Slayer. “You have yet time to give up this foolishness before he arrives.”

“I am not scared by a little thunder, human. You shall learn that in time.” The demon decided to ignore the warning on your voice, taking your hand with a little too much strength, already guiding you to the altar.

But you heard whispers – among the other demons, yours and Kyrie's words were being replicated, some of them resting silent while others laughed. With your ominous warning over a simple storm, though, they started to wander… To fear. Was that something done by your lover? Was that the extent of Sparda’s power? The Dark Slayer, the one who escaped from Hell and from his imprisonment by none other than Mundus, was that powerful…? They didn’t know. And some of them, didn’t want to find out.

“Oh, you will learn to be scared.” You whispered, back, slowly going up the few steps that kept you and Erlach far from each other. He conducted you with an iron grip, while the only thing you had in mind was to buy Vergil more time to get to you. “As all of you do.”

“Not if I get the ritual done first.” With those harsh words, Erlach gripped your arm in a way you couldn’t escape, even if his gestures were a lot more flourished than brute. You saw a ritualistic dagger in his other hand and you knew what the next step would be. “Then he shall learn a thing or two about fear.”

His hands moved so fast you didn’t have time to quip back – even if you wanted to answer that, after all Vergil had been through, making him feel fear was quite the achievement. Very few things could frighten his heart and soul… And you were oblivious enough to point out that, Vergil’s protective and enraged response that day was not only out of love, but out of fear of losing you.

Before Erlach could resume cutting your hand to harvest your blood for the bonding ritual, you managed to pierce his arm with a white summoned sword. With that surprise, Erlach dropped the weapon and you took it in your hand – twisting it and approaching him enough to press it against his neck, already making him bleed. You just didn’t manage to kill him because his survival reflexes made him snap our of his surprise and hold your hand against his neck, struggling with you in order to see who would win: you, by taking his life, or him, by taking you as his.

“My King of Hell isn’t the only one who should be feared, demon. You will learn that with time.” Your voice was low and filled with pride, hearing as the other demons immediately started whispering to each other: Orcus and Erlach probably didn’t tell them all the titles your lover carried.

As if to support you, another thunder roared in the skies and a lightning cracked near the desecrated cathedral. Some demons seemed to gasp and become startled, expecting Vergil to emerge from the shadows at any moment.

A few drops of water started to fall on your hair, your face, and run down your hands… And between your lips as you smiled.

“You are indeed a rare one.” But, to your surprise, Erlach smiled back. His sharp nails buried in the skin of your arm holding the knife, making you relax your grip ever so slightly as blood started to run from the wounds he inflicted. “Blood is blood. No matter how I attain it. Alas, I wanted our bonding to be beautiful, but this will do.”

With your blood running down his claws, Erlach grasped the blade on his neck, cutting his own hand even if you didn’t let the dagger go. Reaching out for the golden bowl, you once again tried to stab his neck, but the demon finally let go of your other arm only to hold your hand back. As you both struggled, you did your best to keep his hand away from the bowl, with Erlach already muttering some words in a language long lost to your human ears.

It was your blood already mixed with his. Whatever you did, he couldn’t reach that bowl for anything in this world.

You didn’t notice when the rain became stronger. You didn’t notice when Orcus moved Kyrie away from the door. You didn’t notice when the thunders seemed to roar inside the earth beneath your feet. All your strength was concentrated in keeping Erlach away from the altar, and all his strength was focused on completing the ritual on time.

“Before me all things create were none, save things Eternal, and Eternal I shall endure.*” Oh, you would recognize that voice even if you were dead. The words creeped through the stone walls of the cathedral, accompanied by calm, calculated steps approaching with resolve. The demons’ attentions turned to the rotten door, as well as yours and Erlach’s eyes, finally stopping to struggle. Vergil’s silhouette finally made itself visible, as if he was taken by a cold blue aura in the darkness – his silvery eyes set on you and your foe, one of his hands grasping the hilt of the Yamato as the other kept the sword safe at his side. “Per aspera, ad Inferi.”

There was a change in the air. Your very breath seemed to warp around you as time became slurred and thick. For a few moments it was difficult to breathe, as the storm outside that desecrated place looked like it would start bleeding inside the cathedral. You stumbled back, closer to the altar, dragging Erlach with you – you knew what was coming. Some demons tried to run, others froze in place, while some got ready to fight.

You could see how that cold, fiery blue started to cut the air – a split second before Vergil disappeared and all you could hear was the sound of the Yamato slicing everything in sight. Time stopped for a while, your breath disappeared from your lungs, your heart didn’t beat. You held yourself together as strongly as you could, while Erlach stared at that view with a pair of impressed – or maybe even fearful – eyes.

Vergil appeared once more, now standing a few meters away from you – all he had to do was climb the steps to finally reach you. Placing Yamato in its sheath, Vergil took a few long seconds to get the shiny blade to slide down and, with a click, make most of the demons – and whatever decoration that was left standing – fall apart in piles of flesh and blood.

You didn’t want to say you had warned them, but well… You had warned them.

“You’re too late, Dark Slayer.” With those words, Erlach reached the bowl – now even closer than before, since you dragged him back not to be so close to a judgement cut of that magnitude. His words were like a bell, waking you up to the reality that a single drip of your mixed blood in the gold, and it would all be over.

But Vergil unsheathed Yamato once again, as fast as he moved down the aisle to reach you, and the golden bowl was cut in half – cracking in some places, gold dust spilling at your feet.

“You should learn, demon, some things can never be taken by force.” Vergil’s voice was like a velvety murmur in the dark – and you knew, the quieter he grew, the more time he had to marinate his anger. “Love, is one of them. Respect, is another.”

Those silvery eyes finally landed on yours, as a faint smile spread across your lips. Love would be nothing without respect, and Vergil argued that earning your respect was one of the most honorable things you could have graced him with – not that the love was not of importance, but if you had never come to respect him, the love you shared would have never flourished… And the reciprocate was true.

“Well, well, looks like we’ve arrived in time.” You heard Dante sighing by the door, guns already on his hands. “Big bad demon is all yours, Verge. We’ll handle things back here.”

“Kyrie!” And you barely saw Nero as he ran towards Orcus with all the rage of the world in his eyes, slicing demons in the way with a revved up Red Queen and leaving a trail of fire behind him. Sometimes he was a lot like his own father, but other times, his uncle's heritage shined through.

Vergil didn’t even look back at the crew already killing the demons who fought and who tried to run away – he only had eyes for you and the filthy creature holding you in its arms.

“Last time I saw you, my whips cracked on that soft skin of yours, spawn of Sparda.” And for the first time that night, you heard some more emotion on Erlach’s voice – something close to hate. Maybe he wasn’t as controlled as he said he was… Maybe he was prone to violence after all. “You tried your best to hold back your tears as your filthy blood tainted the floors of Hell. But everything cracks, eventually.”

A jolt of pain burned across your skin on your back as if you were naked, as fast as a bolt of lightning. You couldn’t help but to wince at the feeling, even if Vergil and Erlach remained immobile. In a fraction of a second, you understood a little of that pain, of a memory in the back of Vergil’s head that came back like a kick in the stomach, and it seemed not to affect him at all – but you knew, you could feel what he didn’t show.

The pain was fleeting, but the anger wasn’t – that was yours and yours only. As you suddenly flinched, you took advantage of that moment of surprise to move your arms once again and the strength of your boiling anger to slash Erlach as you could, eager to take a piece of him… Eager to kill him after the suffering he put your lover through.

“Everything cracks indeed.” You murmured as he took one of his hands to his face, noticing the considerable gash you opened on his cracked skin – now pouring blood profusely. “Next, I will cut your tongue.”

You heard a quick chuckle from Vergil, silvery eyes observing you with so much pride – and a little of something else. Pride was always easy to see in him: the way he carried himself, the way he posed with his head high, the way his eyes admired that which he respected and loved… But care was a different thing. If you were looking at your lover, it would take you some time to notice, but his admiration for you was never ending behind his pride to be able to call you his.

“I do understand how you came to love this human, that I will admit.” Erlach hissed back at Vergil, licking his own blood from his fingers. Risking a glance at the cathedral, the demon assessed the situation: the bowl was broken, the demons were all but destroyed, fleeing from the weapons of Dante, Lady and Trish, Nero had Kyrie back in his arms and Orcus was nowhere to be seen. “I truly underestimated the depth of your feelings for such a fragile creature.”

“Eloquent words, but no wisdom behind them.” Vergil’s response was prideful as always, as he walked the small set of steps to reach you – and probably slice Erlach apart. “Fragile is far from what I would use to describe y/n. I will burn bridges, destroy cities, crush entire empires to protect those whom I love and respect. There is nothing of fragile in that.” Pointing Yamato at Erlach, the blade almost touched the wound you inflicted in the demon’s neck. “You should remember that as I kill you for this insolence, pitiful scum.”

His stern eyes glinted with a tint of blue, as Vergil’s teeth were already sharp in fangs. His hands around the Yamato already started to resemble claws and his voice, even if you would love it in all of its iterations, had that distinct demonic distortion. His blue fire engulfed him like a faint shadow, but it did make your lover look even taller than he already was. On the brink of his humanity, it would take only a spark to make him burst into his demonic form.

“King of Hell.” You mouthed at Erlach while pointing at Vergil right in front of you, as if to prove a point – the point you wanted to prove from the beginning: no matter what those demons did, Vergil was stronger and more powerful than all of them together.

And, of course, you could use another rush of power whenever you flexed that title. You just hoped no one else in the crew would see it: you’d be in for some harsh judgement if they did.

“I shall remember for the next time we meet, son of Sparda.” Erlach turned his fiery eyes to you. “And I shall see you again, brilliant Helen.”

With those words, the demon used its own blood for an incantation to flee a battle he would definitely lose – a smart move, even if you didn’t know where he went… And if that ominous warning was not something you would have wanted to hear. You would prefer to see him dead.

“Hmmm… Bold of this creature to assume it could steal your love like foolish Paris.” Vergil had to murmur under his breath, immediately turning around to face you, Yamato quickly back on its sheath. Before you could say anything, Vergil took your hand in his with a surprising gentle touch, only so he could analyze the bloody scratches on your arm – as well as allow his silver eyes to burn with wrath. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“No, that’s the only wound. You don’t need to worry, Vergil.” Your answer, though, made his eyes fly to look into yours as if you had said one of the most jarring things he had ever heard.

“I will always worry about you. You know that.”

He didn’t have to say, you could feel it. You had felt his worrying ever since he had learned it was Erlach who kidnapped you and wanted to complete that mad bonding ritual. Vergil’s worry was in his fear of losing whatever love he managed to have in that godforsaken life of his, and that usually manifested in an unparalleled anger in him. All that wrath… It was one of the highest praises you could ever get from your lover.

Placing both of your hands to cradle his face, you didn’t allow Vergil to keep on speaking as you pressed your lips against his. It was one of the most effective ways you could rest that flame inside his heart and bring him some peace – the same way the droplets of rain seemed to want to wash away all the blood and fury of that night. It took him a couple of seconds to start melting under your touch, arms wrapping around your waist and bringing you closer to his body, as your kiss quieted the fear that burned inside his heart.

You parted from his lips, even if Vergil himself didn’t seem to want to do so. His breathing, though, was already going back to a normal pace and you couldn’t feel his fangs under your lips anymore. As those silvery eyes stared back at you, the blue tinges were gradually gone. You took your hands to his hair, taking the rebellious strands that were already falling on his vision and brushing them back into his usual hairstyle – and Vergil even allowed himself to thank you with a soft smile.

“I cannot help but wonder, though…” He finally murmured, voice back to his dark tone with no traces of his demonic side showing up. “What, in the name of the gods, you are wearing.”

“Apparently, this hideous thing is what demons consider a wedding attire.” You sighed back, still in his embrace. You refused to look down and see yourself in that ridiculous thing again. “I wanted to get rid of it, but alas, the other option was to be completely naked.”

“Hmmm…” You didn’t know if Vergil hummed or growled, but you did know he was quite unpleased by that sight – almost as much as you. Taking your hand, Vergil guided you around the enormous bonfire behind the altar, in a place the crew couldn’t see you. “Don’t move.”

Before you could even ask what he had in mind, the air around you warped and your clothes fell on the ground after a quick and clean judgment cut.

That was a way to solve things, but…

“My clothes…”

Vergil immediately took off his coat, wrapping it around you and keeping you close, helping you dress it and hold it closed in front of you. It was a lot bigger than your form, and definitely a heavy piece of clothing, but it smelled like him – and that was one of the things that could always calm the distress in your heart.

“We will find your clothes. But you cannot walk around dressed like a clown.” With you still in his arms, Vergil placed a rather long kiss on your forehead, catching you by surprise.

A nice surprise that made you smile.

“On that, I agree with you. If we were ever to get married, I would have never worn such a thing.” You whispered back, making him chuckle while staring into your eyes again. Sometimes, the ice in his silver stare seemed to melt for a while, just like at that moment.

“You would be a beautiful sight to see.” His answer was also a whisper, and a rather unexpected one: that was something you never expected Vergil to say. He often mentioned how Sparda marrying Eva was a blessing to him and a curse to her, even if you insisted on arguing that probably wasn’t true; but you would never expect Vergil, of all people, would have imagined you on a wedding day… With him.

“Hey! Are you both makin’ out behind that bonfire? C’mon, it’s not time for that, Verge! Did mom never teach you to have manners?”

Dante’s voice interrupted whatever you could say in response, as Vergil already started to growl in annoyance at what his twin brother was implying. You headed back to the crew, twins ready to start bickering once again, as always. You saw Kyrie wearing Nero’s coat and couldn’t help but giggle – like father like son.

You sighed, finding Vergil’s fingers and entangling his between yours – his touch reciprocating immediately. It was time to go home.

*

“Your fingers are cold.”

Vergil held your hands close to him as you waited for the crew to drive back to the shop. Nico was smoking behind the wheel and you took some time to rest as everyone tried to find what the demons stole from you and Kyrie as well as where they found out about that binding ritual – or demonic marriage, as you began to enjoy calling it.

Your lover couldn’t stay away from you for too long, though. He came back after a little while, not wanting to admit he was too worried to leave you alone for more then a couple of minutes – even if you were with Nico.

He would argue if something bad happened, you would be the one doing the saving while Nico would be screaming around and trying to run demons over… And you couldn’t really disagree with him on that.

“Well, it’s part of my human condition.” You smiled back as Vergil had his mouth close to your hands, trying to warm them up with his breath. On the other hand, there was your blue devil, arms completely naked under his leather vest, oblivious to the weather. “I can’t keep myself warm while naked under a snowstorm like some.”

“Well, I cannot either.” Even if his eyes were a little harsh upon looking at you, there was also some amusement hidden underneath the ice. “Although I would survive enough to get you to safety.”

Vergil’s eyes went back to your hands while you kept on observing how he occupied himself with the task of warming you. His lips were close enough so you could feel them ghosting over your fingers, but never touching your skin. His rough hands cradled yours with a touch so gentle one would never expect from the likes of him. Everything about Vergil screamed danger, but when it came to you, it was completely opposite.

“I wished so bad you would find me.” You finally whispered, keeping your eyes close. Feelings weren’t easy for the both of you; somehow, you found that closing your eyes while being around only him was easier to allow your heart to open – and there were times Vergil did the very same thing when talking to you. “I… I did my best not to seem frightened. Kyrie needed me to stay strong, the demons couldn’t know and have the upper hand. But I was scared. I was lost. And I wished, deep inside my heart, you’d somehow find me in the darkness.”

“I know.” His answer was quiet, hands still wrapped around yours. You could feel Vergil’s breath as he spoke, slowly opening your eyes to find his looking back at your once again. “I know. No matter where you are, I will always find you.”

For a few seconds, the air lacked in your lungs and the words in your mouth. If you weren’t alone, you would’ve fought the tears that marinated your eyes, even if you didn’t want them to fall – they would rest there, making it seem like you were observing Vergil with a whole universe in yourself, just for him. And he would always appreciate that.

“As soon as I felt your rage, I knew you were coming.” You confided back, making him furrow his brows for a while. “I happen to be pretty good at energy work, Vergil. Remember sometimes I get to feel you back? I did today. And that’s when I knew I was safe.”

The last pieces of the puzzle arranged themselves in Vergil’s head: of course, when he got the strongest emotions from you, it was easier for you to get his. But when his emotions were too strong, that connection could work as well, for better or for worse – and he remembered how you flinched in the cathedral when Erlach mentioned how he tortured Vergil… When he was taken aback for a few moments suddenly feeling that pain he tried so hard to forget.

It was a shame you had to feel that too – his eyes went down to your hands while his eyebrows furrowed now from annoyance rather than confusion.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it.” You whispered back, placing your fingers under his chin and making Vergil look back into your eyes. “I’m here for the good, the bad and the ugly – no matter how harrowing it gets. You can always rely on me, as I know I can always rely on you.”

“As long as time will have us be together.”

Vergil’s murmured response was crowned with a gentle kiss on your hands, making you smile softly in return. You knew he was still annoyed with the fact you felt the worst of his emotions, but at least you were safe – and, for now, he would have to settle for that. You just hoped one day Vergil understood you didn’t see those terrible things that happened to him as a flaw, but as something he didn’t have to carry quietly on his own.

It just made you respect him even more than you already did.

“You don’t realize what you are, do you…?” Your question was a little absent as you kept on observing his stern face, with those silvery eyes now staring at you in confusion and distress: his heart beating a little faster, concluding you finally came to your senses that you had decided to give your love to a devil. “You deem yourself as one of the cruelest and worst creatures to ever walk the earth, but you don’t realize… Demons don’t protect their loved ones like you did today.”

To his surprise, you wrapped your arms around his neck, making Vergil instinctively hold your waist so you wouldn’t lose your balance. All the while, you never allowed those vulnerable silver eyes to leave yours.

“Angels do.”

As you placed your lips on his, Vergil’s embrace held you tightly against him – and even after you parted, he remained holding you, his head hidden in your shoulders and your hair. Vergil was silent and didn’t make a single noise, but you could feel the tears leaking into your mouth during the kiss and later dropping on your neck.

His heart could take a lot of harshness and cruelty, pain and torture, without even flinching. But this time… It was the first time in his life that Vergil was seen as good.

And his heart wasn’t used to that.

----

*Inferno, by Dante Allighieri

#devil may cry #devil may cry imagine #dmc #dmc imagine #vergil x reader #vergil imagine #devil may cry fanfiction #dmc fanfiction #dmc vergil #vergil sparda #devil may halloween #SO MUCH HAPPENING ON THIS #but for some reason I remembered when I was playing DMC4 with Vergil for the first time #having the hero music blasting on the back with Vergil saving the day #I found myself almost crying thinking 'this man hasn't had a DAY of rest in his life and probably was NEVER seen as good or as a hero' #and made me think how MUCH Vergil needs that #he needs to hear he's an angel sometimes #that would DESTROY this man #being tortured? fine #dragging his dying body out of hell? been there done that #having his lover tell him he's good? man is a crying mess on the floor not knowing what to do with this thing inside his chest #(it's called heart silly)

[gaycowboyjesus]

This is my big post for Trigun Fanfic Appreciation Week! I tried to stick to fics and authors I haven't already seen recommended and authors with under 5 fics if I'm recommending everything they've written (that said, you should definitely go read everything procrastinatingbookworm has written. I might do a post just for them.)

These are not described because I would have never gotten the post out if I tried but i've included ratings. These are all vashwood or gen.

everything by https://archiveofourown.org/users/molotovhappyhour/ (fics range from M-E, 18k-39k)

fool in the moon - arahir https://archiveofourown.org/works/44723611 (M, 8k)

Eat Your Young - ghosttopiary https://archiveofourown.org/works/46011964 (E, 3k)

Console - Latenightsgunfights https://archiveofourown.org/works/47289991 (E, 2k)

lazarus wept - Bioliminescent https://archiveofourown.org/works/47065492 (M, 9k)

Running on Empty - kae hunter https://archiveofourown.org/works/47611201 (the burger fic. T, 8k)

thirty pieces of silver - littleghost https://archiveofourown.org/works/46136608 (T, 14k)

she was there (she remembers) - beesinspades https://archiveofourown.org/works/48083725 (G, 3k)

God knows I know I’ve thrown away those graces - Obtenebratia https://archiveofourown.org/works/47040193 (E, 5k)

Sundew - TruckThat https://archiveofourown.org/works/47999755 (E, 5k)

for where else could i go? Who else could i love but you? - succubused https://archiveofourown.org/works/49819246 (M, 6k)

something in between, stuck down underneath - fleurmatisse https://archiveofourown.org/works/49604497 (G, 1k)

let it run like water out of mud - Hymn https://archiveofourown.org/works/50476291 (E, 1k)

Salt and Breath - plumtoad https://archiveofourown.org/works/50313310 (highly recommend everything by ren but this will always be my favorite, E, 6k)

dream a little dream - crocodile https://archiveofourown.org/works/49020724 (E, 7k)

sunshower - crocodile https://archiveofourown.org/works/48205390 (E, 14k)

Take Me To The Pilot - Moonsheen https://archiveofourown.org/works/50110762 (M, 4k)

babe, i’m gonna leave you - littleghost https://archiveofourown.org/works/49165369 (E, 7k)

everything but wiredneuron (https://archiveofourown.org/users/wiredneuron/) (E, 2k - 3k)

break beneath the weight - spinoffprotagonist https://archiveofourown.org/works/51082207 (M, 2k)

the lost pleias - riverenne https://archiveofourown.org/works/52413721 (T, 24k)

Ascension Day - farseersfool https://archiveofourown.org/works/52149649 (E, 26k)

darlin’, it finds a way to live in you - amaiyo https://archiveofourown.org/works/53049775 (E, 15k)

At the Top of the World - Insomniac_with_dreams https://archiveofourown.org/works/51455023 (E, 35k)

tokens - cardama https://archiveofourown.org/works/50281510 (E, 6k)

Long Goodbyes - ChenamaReel https://archiveofourown.org/works/54364954 (E, 17k)

on all fours, willingly damned - writerforlife https://archiveofourown.org/works/50840407 (M, 2k)

YOU ARE HERE; or, How to Get Lost in the Desert Without Really Dying - fathomfive https://archiveofourown.org/works/48146164  (T, 16k)

Whiskey and kisses for everyone - amphetamine_keen https://archiveofourown.org/works/47403235 (E, 7k)

#trigun #vashwood #trigunfanficappreciation

[just-jordie-things]

Imagine Megumi listening to love songs while he stares at the reader, who is chilling under a tree. Oh god, his precious significant other casually looks at him and asks, "What?" He's blushing too hard and can only mutter a small, "Nothing."

Song recommendation : Until i found you, Dandelions etcetcetccc

(I'm so madly in love with him🥹🥹❤)

i love secret romantic megumi sm he's such a loverboy deep dowwwn <3

you spend a lot of quiet time with megumi. you often make plans to get together just to do your own thing. and honestly, it was like that before you even got together. he liked his peace and quiet, you liked being around him in any capacity, and that was all the more you both wanted.

so it's not at all odd that you're both sat by a tree in the courtyard, not talking, hardly even acknowledging one another. you were scrolling through your phone, browsing through socials, occasionally getting distracted by a game. megumi had been reading, his earbuds in and a playlist of soft music to set the mood for a relaxing afternoon.

of course with soft music comes some love songs, and it doesn't take very many to draw his attention away from his book. before he knows it, he's listening to love songs and gazing over at you with hearts in his eyes. you're lost on your phone, so you miss the way het gets lost in you.

for megumi it's like he's watching a movie. a montage of all the moments you've shared, large or small, all guided by the lovely music and lyrics of his new favorite songs.

you're painted in every lovely color to him. he could be convinced you were an angel. maybe he was getting swept away by the music...

your eyes catch his, and immediately you break into a smile, seeing him staring at you so lovingly. and lovingly doesn't even begin to cover it, seeing as he looks like he's about to melt into a puddle before you. his eyes are gooey, his lashes hanging heavy over them as he looks at you with nothing short of softness. his lips are curled into a smile so dopey you can't help but giggle and reach out to poke his cheek affectionately.

"what?" you finally ask the simple question on your mind. you're starting to feel warm under his intense gaze. but megumi's the first to blush when he realizes what you've caught him doing.

he shakes his head, tries to play it off, tries to return his focus to his book, but it's hard when you're sitting there and you look so pretty and he's so overwhelmed by his love for you that he thinks he could die-

but all he says is a small "nothin" as he pretends to read his book again. he's not reading a single word. he's listening to the singer go on about finding true love and trying not to kick his feet knowing he had it.

#megumi brainrot #megumi x reader #fushiguro megumi x reader

[toomuchracket]

bday party girlie and matty at the met gala! and charli and george too!

girls stun while the boys simp and cause mayhem

MAYHEM MENTIONED???? nah fr though i love thinking about this, especially if it's like the first Big event you and matty go to as a couple. i haven't yet moved on from that time matty was working with dior, so in my mind that's who you're both wearing, and god knows you analysed the essay/story they gave as theme inspiration within an inch of its life because "there is no way in HELL i am letting some tiktok twink call my dress off-theme. not a fucking chance" - matty is so fucking entertained by that, all ":D i love you so much" lol, and there's also no way in hell you're letting him turn up in a black suit, so that's that. anyway!! your outfits aren't matching, but they do correspond perfectly together, and actually you assume you'll barely get a wink of sleep the night before the met because you're so fucking excited to see your boyfriend all dressed up and hot, but he tires you out enough (wink wink) that you're both very well-rested. and matty's SO cute while you're getting ready - he's documenting it all on video like "an angel! glowing! most gorgeous woman in existence!", and you're like "baby please stop making me giggle my foundation will crease" (but actually you very much enjoy him just sitting shirtless and wet-haired and looking at you lovingly. you're only human, after all). he actually tears up when he sees you completely ready for the first time, which your MUA gets on video, and you really do feel like the prettiest girl in the world when he sniffles like "christ, you are SO beautiful. i love you. and i'm honoured to do that", bless him. and GOD, matty looks amazing, all curls and slut hoop and clean-shaven face and the colour of his shirt making his skin glow, so you have to take approximately eight million pics of and with him before you can leave. in terms of walking the carpet, you start alone and then go up the stairs and take pics together (matty's adamant he's helping you up the steps in your heels "just so you don't have a jason derulo moment, babe"), and it's testament to how truly happy matty is to be with you that he smiles for almost every pic you take together; there are a couple where you whisper "baby. i think we should be cunty" and it's both of you smizing/giving blue steel lmfao, but most are just big smiles for the camera and tender glances at each other where it is so blisteringly obvious that you're in love. they split up couples at the dinner section of the met, but it's still nice getting to meet people you think are cool at your table (zendaya! she likes your dress! she said she had your first book recommended to her and loved it!), and you sneak off to hang out with your boyfriend in the toilets (iconic, really) or the smoking area. and of course you run into charli and george - literally, the boys aren't looking where they're going and walk into each other and find it absolutely hilarious - and take some (illegal!) pics; once again, george is like "we really are punching above our weight with the girls, aren't we? look how good they look" to matty while you and charli force them to take pics of you together, and matty's literally like "yeah..." in a daze just looking at you lmfao. and if you think he's simping now, well, seeing you in your minidress for the afterparty is SO MUCH WORSE - he's jaw-on-the-floor like "must we go? i can't just keep you all to myself?", and you're like "we have to go, but i do actually plan on clinging to you on and off the dancefloor the whole night", and needless to say he's convinced lol. the events are so much fun, but your favourite bit is getting back to the hotel and ordering room service to eat in bed with the love of your life, before giggling in the shower with him while you wash each other's hair, and then falling asleep curled up safe in his arms. perfect <3

#mads answers asks #matty asks #fluff asks #into the birthday partyverse

[yongility]

NEO TV # ROCKABYE (taeyong x reader, slightly yuta x reader) 3/?.

genre: single dad au, ceo au, fluff, slightly angst, smut. nurse au.

warnings: adult language, death mentions,taeyong's mom is kinda mean. idk there's not a lot of warning for this one.

word count: 8k (not proofread!!!)

a/n: if you want to be in the taglist, just lemme know;) enjoy!

Second month.

Week one, Saturday.

(Y/N)'s gaze lifted momentarily after hearing the notification from her phone, she stretched her arm to grab the device in her hands and smiled slightly as she read the text content, biting her lip softly, amused.

Taeyong.

"Well, so has Mr. Daddy finally deigned to send you a message?" a voice interrupted her trance, and she turned her head to see the person who had just sat beside her.

"Ew, Ten. What do you mean by Mr. Daddy?" she asked with a laugh.

"What's wrong with that? The guy is totally a DILF*, I saw him the week he was coming by, I mean, guy in his twenties, attractive, with more than triple the money we can earn in a year... single and with a daughter," the guy recounted, counting off on his fingers the descriptions of Taeyong. "Sweetheart, if that's not your weakness, it's definitely mine," he finished, taking a sip of his coffee and giving her a playful smile.

"Oh my god, Chittaphon. At least, make your daddy issues a bit more discreet," she said, lightly hitting his arm while shaking her head and laughing.

Ten burst into laughter, throwing his head back as he stroked his own arm, then said, "Well, the point is, he's sent you a text, right? Has he asked you out?" he asked.

"Hmm, yes. I ran into him on Thursday at the supermarket and he invited me for coffee," the nurse replied, looking at the food in front of her, and her friend noticed how her cheeks turned crimson.

"It's about time you had a date."

"Who's having a date?"

A voice in front of them made both of them turn their gaze in that direction, finding Dr. Yuta walking towards their table with a mischievous smile and holding his coffee in one hand.

"No one."

"(Y/N)” Ten and the brunette replied in unison, and upon hearing the guy's response, she widened her eyes and looked at him, shaking her head.

"Oh, so did I lost?" Yuta asked playfully. (Y/N) shook her head again, this time quickly, and cleared her throat.

"No. It's not a date," she turned to her friend and then to the doctor in front of them, "it's just someone thanking another person for a favor they did. That's all," she replied, glancing at her own hands, feeling embarrassed.

"Hmm, okay," the Japanese muttered, "but I still feel offended that someone else managed to take you out before me. I'm quite competitive, especially when it comes to someone as beautiful as you," with a flirtatious smile, Yuta took a sip of his coffee, and (Y/N) choked on her own drink.

"Oh, I better go. I don't want to be involved in any love triangles," Ten spoke, getting up from his seat, "good luck with your date," the guy added, laughing quietly and walking out of the hospital cafeteria.

"Chittaphon!" (Y/N) exclaimed, watching her friend walk away and covering her face slightly with her hands, feeling embarrassed by the words that had come out of his mouth.

"So... if that date doesn't work out... can I take you out?"

Yuta Nakamoto had recently arrived in Seoul. After graduating from one of the top universities in Tokyo and being one of the top students in his class, it wasn't difficult for him to immediately find a job thanks to the recommendations from his close teachers and doctors.

The trip to Korea had been a bit chaotic for the guy. Firstly, because of the abrupt weather he had encountered that day, which caused his flight to be delayed for a couple of hours, then upon arrival, with his minimal experience with Hangul, it was initially difficult for him to communicate. However, after many books, hundreds of YouTube channels, and a tutor, Yuta began to master the language a little more.

The Japanese still remembered his first day as the new pediatrician at Seoul General Hospital; as soon as he set foot in the large hallway of the maternity care area, all eyes turned to him. And how could they not? With his handsomeness, he stole glances as soon as he arrived. He was the new talk among all the nurses and interns. Yuta stood out among all the other doctors, perhaps because of his good looks or his youth, perhaps because he was a foreigner or because he was very flirtatious. However, Yuta's gaze was fixed on one person from day one, and it was the nurse in front of him, and no matter how much he wanted to find the reasons why... he couldn't.

But there he was, hoping that someday he could properly ask her out.

"Yuta... I won't have a date," the girl clarified with a small smile, "and I've been waiting for that coffee from this café you talked about since the day Kaeyoon was discharged," she finished with a giggle and could see the big smile spreading on the doctor's face.

"I'll take you to a place better than this café, I promise," he winked.

The girl sighed in mock surprise and opened her mouth, "A better place than the break room café? Is that possible?" she joked, earning a laugh from the doctor, who nodded happily and reached his hand to caress hers, an action that caused the nurse's breath to catch for a few seconds as she looked into his eyes.

"You'll be surprised."

______________________________________________

With one last look at his daughter in his arms and a small kiss on her forehead, Taeyong handed Sun Hee over to Johnny, who carefully held and gently rocked her after the baby let out a small whimper, not feeling her father's warmth.

"If my mother weren't busy, believe me, I wouldn't leave my daughter with you guys," Taeyong clarified, looking at the three guys in front of him and sighing lightly.

May the universe take care of your daughter, because your friends...

"You have no faith in us, Taeyong," Jaehyun muttered with furrowed brows. "We're the best uncles Sun Hee has!"

"You're the only uncles Sun Hee has," the father specified, shaking his head. "Just take good care of Sun Hee, it shouldn't be a problem; I've given her formula before you arrived and I've prepared another one that just needs to be warmed up if you need it. She'll probably sleep for the rest of the afternoon, but if she wakes up crying, give her a bottle or her pacifier," he explained, taking his jacket and putting it on, grabbing his keys, phone, and wallet to put them in his pants and jacket pockets, then looking at his friends. "Don't make too much noise, I know how you guys get when you're together, if you let her sleep in the bed, put pillows around her, but not too close to her that she could suffocate!" Listing things with his hand, the three guys watched him attentively. "Sun Hee likes to be held if she's about to wake up, so do it and cuddle her. If she wakes up and cries, you can play lullabies in the background, apparently they calm her down somehow," he paused for a second to think. "Oh! And if..."

"Taeyong, calm down," Doyoung stopped him. "You're leaving for a few hours, not for a year. Sun Hee will be fine. We'll take good care of her. It's us."

"That's what I'm afraid of," the guy confessed, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Oh, come on! As if we don't know the basics of taking care of a baby, I remind you that Doyoung has been an uncle before," Jaehyun explained, sitting on the couch and leaning back on it.

"Alright... just... if anything happens, call me right away, and I'll come as soon as possible, okay?"

"Yes, Taeyong! We'll call you, now go and enjoy your date," Johnny spoke while continuing to rock little Sun Hee and giving his friend a warm smile.

"It's not a date," Taeyong clarified as he turned around to walk towards the door of his apartment.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever you say."

_____________________________________________

With a slight tilt of her head, the girl's gaze fell on the window next to her, admiring the complete panorama. Snow was falling lightly on the streets of Seoul, decorating what were once cherry blossom trees and covering them with a thin layer of ice. Then, she could see a couple of families walking together. Some couples. Someone accompanied by their pet. Some children running excitedly as they scooped up some snow from the sidewalk to play with and enjoy a great time.

A melancholic smile spread across her face. Remembering the time when she was still a child and she and her siblings would get excited as soon as the snow season arrived in the city, when her family was complete. When her father was still with them and when no responsibility weighed on her shoulders. It was simply about enjoying the moment, and now, longing for it with all her might.

With a sigh, she dispelled those memories, taking her gaze away from the window and turning to the package on the table. She ran her hand over it and nodded with a half-smile, then the door of the café made a small ding, causing the girl's gaze to focus on that point and staying in place as she saw how handsome Taeyong looked that afternoon.

It was impossible for him to look so good every time they met.

Especially when his teeth showed through his smile as he approached the table where the girl was sitting. The girl got up from her seat and both bowed their heads in a slight bow, silently, they sat each in their respective place and looked at each other shyly.

"Haven't you forgotten something?" the girl asked slightly confused, which also confused Taeyong, who frowned.

"Something?"

"Yes. A small one," she replied and Taeyong slightly opened his mouth.

"Oh, are you talking about Sun Hee?" he questioned and she nodded slightly. "Oh, I thought... I thought it would be good if we went out alone... Sun Hee... is at my apartment with Johnny, Jaehyun, and Doyoung. I'm sorry," he muttered.

"Oh no! No, no. I'm completely fine with that, it's just that... I've brought this for Sun Hee," the girl commented, stretching out the package from the guy to hand it over. "It's just a small gift, not much, but I thought of Sun Hee when I saw it," she explained with a smile. "You can open it if you want, it's not like Sun Hee can do it," they both laughed and the guy with the package in his hands began to open it carefully, then he took out a onesie with rose and heart prints and letters printed that said "daddy's girl" right in the middle.

"Since that time in the hospital, I knew Sun Hee would be a daddy's girl, for some reason, sometimes parents take longer to make a connection with their children... I've seen it a lot in maternity care, but with you... I don't know. It seems like you connected as soon as you had her in your arms, I'm really glad Sunnie has someone like you as a father. I know you'll give her the best," she confessed as her cheeks turned crimson and she shrunk in her seat slightly, shyly.

Taeyong's throat threatened to knot and he swallowed hard to avoid it because whenever someone talked about his fatherhood or whenever he remembered the day he had truly experienced love, his heart shrank because he never thought that something as unexpected as Sunnie would fill his heart and soul completely.

"Thank you... really thank you. You didn't have to do this," he sincerely thanked.

"But I wanted to. I bet Sun Hee will look great in it," she affirmed with a smile, which was followed by Taeyong's.

"It will be the clothing she wears the most," they both chuckled softly, "would you like to order something?"

Talking between them seemed natural. As if they had gone out together before. Although there was a bit of shyness at first from both sides... it vanished as the conversation progressed. Taeyong liked listening to her and hearing her talk about growing up as the middle sister, how those afternoons of her childhood turned into countless adventures with her brothers. He liked hearing her talk about how she became interested in her career and how she developed a love for the pediatric area while growing up working at a small daycare a few blocks away from that same café.

And (Y/N) liked hearing about how passionate Taeyong was about his work, even when at first in his life he didn't know that was what he wanted for himself. She liked hearing him talk about his incredible travels around the world and all the things he managed to learn before he was 26, earning a little admiration from the girl, who found herself smiling throughout.

And in the eyes of anyone in that café, Taeyong and (Y/N)'s table seemed like a table of two young people deeply interested in each other, because it only took the wise eyes of one person to see it in the gaze of each and what they expressed.

But being able to genuinely and properly notice it always took time.

"I swear you should have seen his face. Johnny had never changed a diaper in his life," the guy finished telling the story as he let out a laugh.

"Oh, and what about you, mister who looks up tutorials on YouTube on how to change his own daughter's diaper?" she defended jokingly, earning a fake offended expression from the guy.

"For your information, I like to do my own research."

"Yeah, sure," she replied, rolling her eyes slightly before ending with a smile.

"It's been really nice this afternoon," Taeyong confessed with a small sparkle in his eyes. "I think it's the most relaxed I've felt in a while, I mean, with all this parenthood stuff, it's sometimes hard for me to take a break... I think it's the first time I've been away from Sun Hee for so long and even though she's with the guys, I don't feel pressured to come back so soon, I think I can start to step out of my comfort zone," he admitted. "Don't take it the wrong way, spending time with Sun Hee is one of the things I enjoy the most, but the time for me has been so reduced that I...," he sighed, "I just appreciate that you accepted my invitation."

The guy's words touched something inside the nurse, who with a warm smile, dared to place her hand on his, which rested on the table, and give it a little squeeze, as a show of support.

"I'm glad I accepted. You're a great guy, Taeyong, and I'm sure you'll be a great dad. Sun Hee is very lucky."

At the precise moment Taeyong would respond to that comment, the sound of his phone interrupted him. Moving his hand away from the girl's and immediately feeling an absence of warmth; Taeyong took the phone in his hands to answer the call: "Doyoung? Is something wrong? Is everything okay?" he asked quickly, catching the girl's attention.

"Yes... no... well, I don't know," Doyoung quickly replied, "Sun Hee has been awake and crying for a while... we've tried everything, lullabies... even Jaehyun tried singing to her," the guy continued, "but I think Sunnie has a fever, she's a little irritable."

Taeyong closed his eyes for a moment and got up from his seat, which was followed by the girl.

"I'm sorry, Taeyong, I wouldn't interrupt your date if it wasn't necessary, but we don't know what to do anymore," the guy apologized.

"No, it's okay, Doyo. Don't worry, I... I'll be right there. I'll be there in fifteen minutes," he affirmed, ending the call and turning his gaze to the girl, who was slightly worried.

"What's wrong? Did something happen to Sun Hee?" she asked with concern.

"Umh, I... I'm sorry. I don't know what happened, it seems like Sunnie has a fever... I should go... I'm so sorry. Aish, I knew it wasn't good to leave her alone..."

"No, no, no, don't worry, Taeyong. It's probably just a little cold, the weather is cold. Do you want me to come with you? I'd like to help if I can."

"I don't want to bother..."

"You're not bothering, neither you nor Sun Hee. I thought I had already clarified that," she said firmly.

"Thank you, really thank you."

The way to the apartment was a bit silent, with Taeyong driving impatiently and (Y/N) reminding him to calm down from time to time and by the time both were in front of the apartment; Taeyong entered hastily upon hearing his daughter's cries. The nurse followed him, earning a couple of glances from the guys in the apartment.

The guy immediately took the little one from Johnny's arms and brought his hand to the baby's forehead, where he could feel a slight warmth emanating from her. He turned to (T/N) with concern, who approached them and imitated the guy's action.

"I can call someone, I have a friend who is a pediatrician, maybe he can come. Sun Hee surely has a cold, but it would be better if someone gives her a check-up to know how to take care of her," she commented, receiving an immediate nod from Taeyong. Moving away from the guys, (Y/N) took her phone to continue her call and after a couple of tones, she could hear a familiar voice: "Yuta? I'm sorry to call you right now, but you're not on duty, right? Do you think you can come to this address?" After explaining the situation a bit, Yuta agreed and assured her that they would meet there in a few minutes.

____________________________________________

A couple of minutes flew by for Johnny, Jaehyun, Doyoung, and (T/N), but it felt like an eternity before the apartment doorbell rang, and the girl approached to open it, finding Yuta standing in front of her, already smiling warmly.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your Saturday, Yuta," the girl immediately apologized as she stepped aside to let him in.

"Oh, don't worry about that. You know I'd do anything for you, love," he assured her, and Taeyong was greatly surprised when he managed to hear those words over his daughter's whimpering, who was still trying to calm her down.

And he couldn't help but notice the blush on the girl's cheeks when she turned to him.

Clearing her throat, (Y/N) approached the doctor and spoke: "Taeyong, this is Yuta. He's a pediatrician at the hospital I work at: Yuta, this is Taeyong, a friend, and this is Sun Hee, she's two months old. As I told you on the phone, she seems to have a common cold, but Taeyong is a first-time dad, and I think he would feel more at ease hearing the verdict from a professional," she said as they introduced themselves.

"Of course, nice to meet you. I'm Doctor Nakamoto, there's no need to worry. I'll do a quick check-up on the little one and see what's causing this cutie's fever."

Starting the procedure, Sun Hee was placed in her crib where Yuta could easily take all her vitals and properly examine her. Starting with his stethoscope and her lungs, carefully checking the baby's ears, not letting any detail slip. With Taeyong and (Y/N) at the door, the former feeling nervous as he watched his little one fuss in her crib, resisting the urge to go and pick her up.

Taeyong had heard from his mother and aunts that seeing their own children with a doctor was always difficult, and right now he could experience it firsthand. He knew that a little cold couldn't be serious, however, it hurt to think that somehow his little one wasn't feeling comfortable and that there was something bothering her inside, so he was tense.

Something that didn't go unnoticed by the girl, who dared to place a hand on the guy's shoulder in support and managed to receive a small smile from him. With Yuta glancing at them out of the corner of his eye, he shook his head and straightened up.

"It is indeed a cold what Sun Hee has," Yuta announced, turning to look at them and fixing his gaze for a couple of seconds on the touch that both guys in front of him had, "it's nothing serious, don't worry. Her lungs sound good, so it shouldn't escalate to anything else. The only thing I can recommend, considering that Sun Hee is only two months old, is to feed her formula constantly, the fever will pass on its own, it's just a reflex of her system. You can buy a nasal bulb to help with her nasal congestion and use a humidifier in the room where she sleeps to keep her breathing normal and prevent congestion," he explained, "Sun Hee will be fine, colds in babies are more common than they seem, especially with this cold weather and considering the baby's age, her system is just starting to develop the necessary defenses to protect her. The cold should go away in about a week, but if you see any difficulty breathing or she has trouble sleeping at night, you can take her to the hospital or call me, I'll tell (Y/N) to give you my work number so you can contact me."

"Thank you very much, Dr. Nakamoto. I feel more relieved after you checked her."

"It's nothing," he replied with a sly smile.

"Do I owe you anything?" Taeyong asked, reaching for his wallet in his pants but was interrupted by Yuta.

"No. Don't worry. (Y/N) was the one that called and anything she needs, I'll take care of it without a problem," the Japanese man winked at the girl, who averted her gaze to anywhere in the room except for the two guys who were there.

Where was she?

A farewell to the doctor later and a sleeping Sun Hee in her rocker, Taeyong could feel a small weight lifted from his shoulders. His friends, after making sure everything was okay, said their goodbyes one by one, assuring the father that when Sun Hee was feeling a little better, they would come to visit her, as they preferred not to disturb her for the moment.

Leaving Taeyong and (Y/N) alone... well, with a sleeping Sunnie a few meters away from them.

"I think... it's best if I go. It's getting late, and I think you should take advantage of her sleeping so that you can rest too. She might wake up in the middle of the night, and you might not be able to do it," she commented, getting up from the couch and facing Taeyong.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," he admitted, stretching his body slightly and letting out a yawn.

They made their way to the door, where they stopped to look at each other once more and smile at each other. "Thank you for today, I had a good time even though our outing had to be interrupted," Taeyong confessed, "and thank you for caring for Sunnie the way you do. I'm glad to have someone besides the guys I could lean on and support Sunnie."

"Of course, Taeyong. I'm delighted to be with you guys, how could I not?"

With a glance into his eyes, she could notice the sparkle in them; something she found beautiful. And at that moment, they knew there were no necessary words to say, nor actions to perform, just silently thanking each other for their companionship.

"I hope we can see each other again."

And as if their relationship thrived on interruptions, hurried knocks on the door stopped (Y/N) from replying to the guy, who, with a furrowed brow, turned completely to the door and opened it, feeling and seeing his mother rushing toward him and exclaiming dramatically.

"Oh! What happened? Doyoung told me they had been taking care of Sun Hee because you had gone out and she got sick? How is Grandma's little sugar cube doing? Huh?" she asked fluently, separating from her son upon feeling a third presence in the room. "Oh, isn't she the nurse who took care of Sunnie at the hospital? How nice of you to call her to help you with the baby! But I think you should have called a pediatrician instead."

"Mom..." he called her to stop, "a pediatrician has already come, and Sun Hee is fine. Yes, she's the nurse, but her name is (Y/N), and I didn't call her to take care of Sunnie, I went out with her in the afternoon."

His mother's gaze went directly to the girl, and she looked her up and down, causing the brunette to feel small in her place and swallow slightly. "Good evening, Mrs. Lee. Um, I'm (Y/N). Nice to meet you," she offered her hand, which the lady observed for a few seconds before taking it and shaking it. "Taeyong, I think it's best if I go... it was nice seeing you today, I hope Sunnie gets better, give her a kiss from me. Good night," she said goodbye and moved from her spot to leave, with Taeyong wanting to follow her properly but being stopped by his mother.

"Mom, you didn't have to act like that."

"Have you had a date with her?" she questioned, raising one of her eyebrows.

"Mom, we've just been out today. Don't make a big deal out of it," Taeyong sighed, closing the door and walking to the living room to slump onto the couch.

"I'm just saying, be careful, son. Look, you're a very handsome and young man with money. Anyone could take the opportunity, and you have to be aware that you can't go around like a teenager when you're not one anymore. Now you're a dad, and you shouldn't only look out for yourself, you should also look out for Sunnie and what's best for her," his mother continued, making a slight pause and taking her son's hands after sitting next to him, "I've talked to Mrs. Park, and she told me Joy is back in town, maybe you and her..."

"Mom, don't start with that," he interrupted, taking his hands away from hers and bringing them to his face.

"I'm not starting with anything, Taeyong. You should consider it, Joy is an incredible girl, with good status, and she would surely come back to you if you asked her to."

"I'm not twenty years old for you to try to choose my relationships again, mom," he snapped, getting up from his seat and walking to the kitchen.

"Look, Taeyong, you're not twenty years old anymore, but you have a daughter, you should think twice before going around like a teenager."

"I don't have time for this, mom. I'm tired. So if you've just come for that... I'd prefer you leave. I'd like to rest now that Sunnie is asleep."

His mother got up from her seat and silently walked to the door, grabbing the doorknob and pausing before opening it. "If you change your mind, Joy's number is the same... I'm just telling you that it's hard for a young girl like her to look for a serious relationship with someone who's already committed to fatherhood."

She left the apartment, leaving Taeyong leaning his arms on the kitchen island and with a bunch of things running through his head, one of them being the image of Yuta and (Y/N) smiling at each other.

Would it be so hard?

_____________________________________________

Second month.

Week three, Friday.

With Sun Hee finishing her cold phase, Taeyong feels a little relieved.

Nights that felt endless, waking up at three in the morning after hearing his daughter's soft whimpers, which later turned into muffled cries. Nights trying to control the little fever his daughter experienced and where he couldn't feel at peace until the little baby fell asleep as needed, Taeyong truly knew what fatherhood was.

He didn't care how much his schedules had changed, the little rest he was getting, Sun Hee would always come first in every sense. As long as she was well, nothing else mattered.

Working from home these past two weeks had been difficult. The office he had set up at the end of the hallway was a mess, just like the rest of his apartment.

He didn't understand how, after all, Taeyong was someone who cared a lot about order, and it drove him crazy not to see things in their place... he supposed all of that came with the stage of becoming a dad overnight, the only organized place was the corner of his room where Sun Hee's crib was installed and the room he had been setting up right next to his for his little daughter's space.

He hadn't seen his friends frequently these weeks, despite receiving their calls and attending to them when time allowed, he hadn't wanted to receive just any visit, since, according to him, Sun Hee got irritated quickly.

He promised to see them as soon as Sunnie's cold disappeared.

His mother appeared a couple of times in the apartment, either to bring him some food or see how her granddaughter was doing, but he didn't know if his mother's visits were beneficial or not. After all, every time she came, she brought up the topic of him getting back with Joy Park and trying to start a life with her again because, according to his mother's words, a decent family man needed a good woman by his side. One who could stay at home and help him with Sunnie.

He disagreed.

He was too much in disagreement.

He could be the only responsible, and more.

Taeyong couldn't believe he was just over a week away from Sun Hee's three-month mark. He couldn't get over how much his little one had grown since that moment when he wrapped her tiny hand around his big pinkie. It really all still felt like a dream.

Sunnie was starting to outgrow her clothes from a couple of weeks ago, and Taeyong knew her small wardrobe would have to be replaced frequently.

Three months filled with emotions and different feelings. Three months in which he had been present for the development of a new life as he never thought he would experience it. Sunnie was starting to babble more, sometimes it seemed like she really wanted to have a conversation with him, and that seemed funny to him. She often brought her little hand to her mouth and loved being face down on her dad's big bed.

What was this? Why did he feel sentimental about believing his daughter was growing up fast?

Today they had gone to her appointment with the pediatrician.

Not with Doctor Nakamoto. Clearly.

But Taeyong decided to look for another pediatrician privately, one he was sure he could take his little daughter to during her childhood and part of adolescence.

Oh, but he wouldn't think about her adolescence right now, because he'd surely burst into tears right there.

The time they spent in Doctor Moon's office was a roller coaster. That morning before leaving home, he had showered and made sure to look presentable, he had shaved the little beard that was starting to grow, and had combed his hair decently. For her part, he had put a cute reddish bow in Sunnie's hair and put on her the gift that (Y/N) had given him two weeks ago.

She was right, Sunnie looked very cute in that outfit, and Sunnie was definitely daddy's girl.

During the short trip from his building to the doctor's office, Sunnie spent her time babbling in the back of the car, while the speakers played farm songs, which were of great help when it came to trying to calm the little one. Although Taeyong was sure that Sunnie loved those songs more when his uncle Jaehyun played them through his phone.

In the waiting room of the doctor's office, Taeyong felt weird. The stares of the mothers carrying their children were fixed on him and only him. Making him feel a little uncomfortable and unable to wait any longer for his turn. For a moment, Sunnie let out a sob that didn't stop until Taeyong stood up and rocked her in his arms.

He was grateful when her name was mentioned by the doctor's assistant, announcing that it was time for her appointment.

He felt proud of his little one and how healthy she had been growing, according to Doctor Moon, her cold was over, and everything sounded perfect. Sunnie was at the right weight, and the colic she had had during her first month would not be a bother right now. The doctor explained to Taeyong what this new stage of his daughter's life would be like entering her third month of life and the new habits the little one could develop. He recommended a new formula for her feeding, some motor activities he could try with her to strengthen her little bones.

With a couple more check-ups later, thanking and saying goodbye to the pediatrician, Taeyong and Sunnie returned home. This time, Sun Hee managed to fall asleep on the way back to the building, something Taeyong totally thanked internally. Arriving at his apartment and placing Sunnie's seat on the couch, taking off his shoes to change them for slippers and taking off the dress coat he was wearing... Taeyong let out a long, heavy sigh.

He watched his daughter peacefully asleep and couldn't believe all the work it took him to get there: all the nights where he barely slept for thirty minutes, all those shirts stained after Sunnie had taken her formula and repeated on him. The cries, the babbling, the whimpers. The times it took him to properly place a diaper, the few lullabies he had to learn to be able to calm his little one, and all those nights full of doubts about the work he was doing regarding his fatherhood, hit him coldly.

Still, Taeyong knew there was nothing else he wanted and would do well than to take care of that little human being with all his might.

He approached her and lifted her carefully from her car seat. Placing her gently in his arms and admiring her as she slept peacefully. Her reddish bow was slightly askew, and its color matched her rosy cheeks. Because if something characterized little Sunnie, it was that most of the time her cheeks were rosy, almost like Taeyong's when a drop of alcohol entered his system. Johnny, Jaehyun, and Doyoung thought this was funny and at the same time cute.

Then he brought his nose to Sunnie's crown, inhaling the particular baby lotion scent and feeling the softness of his daughter's thin brown hair. Sun Hee made small movements and babbling in her dreams, managing to draw a smile from him. He closed his eyes, leaned his forehead against hers, just as he had done the first week he held her in his arms, and experienced that feeling in his chest again, he realized that a small tear threatened to come out, and he sighed.

"I love you," he murmured. Sunnie babbled again— "you're my little ray of sunshine."

One more babble that turned into a little hiccup, and Taeyong let out a low laugh, finally letting the tear fall on his cheek.

You're doing well.

"Daddy loves you so much, I want you to always remember that."

_______________________________________________

Taeyong didn't know if "brave" was the correct adjective to describe what he was doing right now.

He knew it was something he eventually had to do, and it was time to start doing it, even if it was by taking baby steps.

He checked that everything in Sunnie's diaper bag was all set: her bottle, enough diapers, changes of clothes, baby wipes, her pacifier, and anything else his daughter might need during the couple of hours he would have to spend in his company.

Finally, after almost three months of working from home, he had to attend a meeting with some of his partners that he couldn't reschedule. If he wanted to maintain the international relationships he had fought so hard for his company, he had to responsibly take charge of his role as CEO, and hopefully, Doyoung and Johnny would help him with their parenting duties while Jaehyun and he attended the meeting.

At first, although the company employees tried to hide their glances when Taeyong finally showed up at the big building, this time, accompanied by a little human being with him, they couldn't go unnoticed by the CEO. Until that day, no employee knew about the possible new heiress of the company, and it's not like Taeyong had to make his private life public, but the news caused a stir in the hallways.

When he entered his office, he felt relieved not to perceive all the vibes his employees were transmitting and to have stopped hearing the murmurs they made as he took one step further.

He placed Sunnie's car seat on the couch in his large office and took a quick look around the place that three months ago was more his home than his own home, and everything really seemed to be in the exact place he had left it. After the observation, he decided to send a message to Doyoung, letting him know about his arrival so they could come and take care of Sunnie temporarily while he waited for the meeting to start.

Luckily, Sunnie was asleep, and he was sure she would stay that way for a while longer, so it shouldn't be a problem for her temporary babysitters.

Soft knocks on his door pulled him out of his thoughts, and he frowned, believing that Doyoung and Johnny had arrived too quickly at his office; but still, careful not to make noise and wake up Sun Hee, Taeyong opened the door only to be taken aback when he realized who was standing in front of him.

He didn't know if his surprise had been evident, but he really felt his blood disappear from his system and cleared his throat when he finally noticed that the person was indeed in front of him.

"Taeyong!" the feminine voice exclaimed as she threw herself into his arms.

"Joy?"

The mentioned woman let go of him and offered him a big smile as she nodded. Perplexed, he observed the girl, who was wearing a white button-up blouse and a pencil skirt. She hadn't changed at all; she was still the same as a few years ago when they had decided to end their relationship.

"Your mother told me you would come to your office today, and I thought it would be a good idea to visit you like old times," the girl commented as she walked through the office and stopped right in front of the couch, cautiously looking at the little one who was there—"Oh! So, this is the little one your mother was talking about," by the tone she used in her voice, Taeyong couldn't tell if she had said it in a good way or not—"such a cute little thing," the girl commented as she approached to get a better look.

And Taeyong still couldn't recognize the tone of her voice.

"Joy?" he asked again, confused.

"Yes, Taeyong. It's me, aren't you glad to see me?"

The brunette thought for a moment and, clearing his throat, he replied—"Uh, yes! Wow, it's been a long time since the last time we saw each other, three years?"

"Oh, yes. After our breakup, I went abroad, I was in Europe, but it was time to come back, and what a surprise I got when your mother told me you're a dad now!" the girl looked at Sun Hee and quickly returned her gaze to Taeyong.

"Hmm, yes. A couple of things have happened since you left," the guy confessed, making Joy let out a little laugh and approach him.

Taeyong was sure that physically Joy was still the same, but there was something in the tone of her voice that he didn't like. Had her attitude changed in those three years?

He wasn't sure.

But Taeyong was someone who usually offered the benefit of the doubt easily.

"It was a pity our breakup, wasn't it?" Joy said "I know we weren't in the right moment back then, but what if you invite me to dinner later?"

That comment caught Taeyong even more by surprise, and he immediately didn't know what to say. Simply mentally praying that Doyoung and Johnny would appear right away.

He couldn't help but think that all of this was his mother's doing, who had insisted too much that he should get in touch with Joy Park. However, the guy had been avoiding this precise encounter as much as possible.

And he didn't know if he would be able to go through the same thing he had gone through three years ago. He didn't want to feel pressured again, and again, his only priority at that moment was Sun Hee.

And he knew Joy wouldn't understand that.

"Joy, I don't know. I've been a little busy lately, and I don't think..."

"If your worry is your daughter," Taeyong interrupted.

"Her name is Sun Hee," he explained firmly—"and of course, my concern is my daughter, my life isn't like it was three years ago, Joy. Things are different, and..."

"Your mother told me you would be excited to see me again," Joy commented with a slight pout—"doesn't seem like it."

They looked each other straight in the eyes and shared glances for a couple of seconds.

Why did his mother have to get him into such big trouble?

Although through her eyes, he wasn't sure if he saw Joy, who had once been his partner. Maybe being out of the country changed her because if he remembered the look she used to give him a few years ago, the current one transmitted something completely different.

"Don't take it the wrong way, Joy," Taeyong spoke quickly—"it' difficult. Sunnie comes first, and I don't know if..."

"A dinner, Taeyong, just a dinner, and we'll see how things go. Even if..." she paused and turned to look at the baby behind her—"if Sun Hee, um, is there , is not a problem."

Why did it have to happen right now?

_______________________________________________

It had been an exhausting day.

Returning to what used to be his daily routine, now accompanied by a little human being by his side, had tired him out.

Nevertheless, the meeting had been a success. Jaehyun and he had managed to improve relations with their partners, and he was sure good things were coming for his company. Amidst paperwork, signatures, and discussions, Taeyong received countless congratulations for his new life and fatherhood.

But he didn't appreciate being asked about his love life.

Why did it seem like nobody could understand that he could be a great father even if he didn't have a partner by his side?

Now wasn't the time to think about that. He repeated to himself as he opened the door to his apartment.

Sunnie had fallen asleep on the way home, and he was deeply grateful that she hadn't caused any trouble during her time at the company. Doyoung and Johnny had taken care of her too well, so much so that when Jaehyun and he returned to their office, both of them were asleep with Sunnie in between them, fast asleep, and the big TV on the wall in front of them playing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

But the fact that Sunnie could be comfortable in what was his workplace opened up the possibility of him returning to it, maybe not on a full-time basis, but a couple of times a week, and the rest... working from home.

He picked up Sunnie in his arms and placed her in her crib carefully. He knew she would wake up in at least an hour to ask for her bottle. He put away the things he had brought from the little one in their place. He took off his tie and dress coat. He unbuttoned his cuffs and, opening his shirt a little, sank into the couch in the living room, his fingers on the bridge of his nose.

And with the door to his room slightly open.

His eyes closed for a few seconds as he leaned his head against the back of the couch. His body was screaming for him to rest, to sleep, but he knew he needed to shower first, wait for Sunnie to ask for her bottle, and then, finally, he could rest.

He opened his eyes for a moment, seeing that his watch already read ten o'clock at night, his stomach grumbled for a moment, and he remembered he had only had some breakfast on the way to work.

Apparently, it was time to order some food.

Because lately, his diet had been based on takeout.

He should do the groceries and start eating healthy again.

When his eyes closed for the second time... the doorbell of his apartment rang throughout the place, and with a grunt, he got up from the couch. He ran his hand through his hair, possibly messing it up; but he didn't care, after all, he was in the comfort of his own home.

Walking with his bare feet to the entrance of his apartment, he sighed before opening the door, and after a few seconds; a smile formed on his face.

Wait... were his cheeks red?

“ I hope I'm not bothering” the person's voice in front of him sounded, and he quickly shook his head.

“Of course not” Taeyong said. “Hi, (Y/N).

She laughed softly and then smiled at him.

“Hi, Taeyong” she greeted, then raising the bags she was carrying to face level. “I…uh... my mom prepared a little too much” she laughedactually, too much food and... it's been a while since we last saw each other, I thought it would be a good idea if we shared some”

“That... that would be great” the smell of homemade food reached the boy's nose, causing his stomach to rumble for a second, and making both of them laugh. “Oh! Sorry, come in, how rude of me.

(Y/N) took a few steps until she was in front of the couch where Taeyong had been moments ago. She left the bags with the food on the coffee table.

“My mom made some bulgogi and bibimbap, hope you like it” she said

“My favorites” Taeyong replied, approaching her— would you like something to drink? Maybe a glass of wine?”

She nodded, and the chestnut-haired man immediately walked to his kitchen, took out his favorite wine from his cellar, and poured it into two glasses. As he did, he glanced at the girl out of the corner of his eye, who was starting to take the containers out of the bags and open them carefully. The outfit the brunette was wearing was casual, white cargo pants, and a baby blue cardigan. Her hair was slightly wavy, and she seemed to have lip gloss on, looking absolutely cute.

He smiled to himself and took the glasses in his hands.

“How is Sunnie? Has she recovered from her cold?”(Y/N) asked when Taeyong handed her the glass, and both sat on the floor. Their bodies at table height.

“She's doing great, just yesterday we went to the pediatrician, and...”

“Oh, you've visited Doctor Nakamoto” she interrupted him, and Taeyong took a sip of his glass.

“Um, no. No, we're seeing a private pediatrician... Doctor Moon Taeil” Taeyong replied so that the girl's mouth formed an "O," and let him continue “Sunnie is growing well, her cold is gone, and... everything seems to be going smoothly, next week she'll be three months old, and oh, God. You don't know how sentimental it makes me to talk about that.”

Both laughed lightly, and with the chopsticks offered by the girl, they proceeded to have lunch while continuing their conversation.

“The gift you gave her turned out perfect; I even took a picture of her before leaving” Taeyong commented as he brought a piece of food to his mouth.

(Y/N)'s eyes lit up, and she bit her lip: "Can I see the picture?"

The boy nodded and stretched in his place to take his phone out of his pants pocket, giving the brunette a perfect view of Taeyong's discreetly exposed torso, causing her to swallow hard and move her gaze anywhere but at him.

Don't look. Don't look. Don't look.

Unlocking his phone and checking his gallery, Taeyong showed her the picture of Sunnie asleep in her car seat in the back of his car. With the rose jumpsuit and the reddish bow, which made her look absolutely adorable.

“Ow! I'm going to die of cuteness!” (Y/N) exclaimed as she focused on the phone. Lucky for her, that would distract her “she's so precious! She looks like a little angel”

Taeyong smiled at the compliments the girl gave him tonsmall ray of sunshine. He noticed the proximity they were in, very close, and the warmth emanating from the girl's body was enough to make him feel at peace.

“With that picture, I feel like giving her kisses all over her face, she's so adorable” she murmured, and Taeyong couldn't help but think of a mental image after the girl's words.

How beautiful it would be to see that.

Although there had been few times he had spent alone time with the girl; Taeyong enjoyed her company. There was something about her that made him feel comfortable and confident, especially knowing that she was someone he could trust to be with Sunnie.

But sometimes he wished their moments together wouldn't be interrupted, like right at that moment when Sunnie's cry echoed throughout the apartment. (Y/N) stopped looking at the phone and changed her view to the boy, now realizing how close they were.

“I'm sure she woke up just to eat” Taeyong murmured.

“Can I... can I feed her formula?” the girl asked timidly, to which Taeyong nodded without hesitation and with a smile on his face.

“Of course, we just need to prepare it” both got up from their place and walked to the kitchen, where Taeyong had a thermos that kept Sunnie's formula water warm all the time. He poured it into the bottle that best suited the little one, dropped a scoop of formula into it, and closing the bottle, shook it with a little force to mix it well. Every little action being watched by the girl, who didn't know exactly what to pay attention to, every tiny thing Taeyong did was enough for her to get lost in her thoughts.

Leaving the bottle on the kitchen island, Taeyong spoke: “ I'll go get Sunnie.”

The boy disappeared but immediately returned, trying to calm his little one in his arms. (Y/N) smiled and extended her arms while Taeyong placed Sunnie in them.

“ Hi, little one” the girl whispered as she rocked her gently “you're so beautiful, you're such a cutie... yes, you are” her voice had risen about two tones in pitch, the typical baby voice she used when talking to her kids at the hospital. She took the bottle in her hands and brought it to Sunnie's mouth, who immediately accepted it.

A very beautiful image in Taeyong's eyes.

Sunnie kept her eyes open while (Y/N) talked to her softly. He was sure Sun Hee still didn't recognize people well, according to Doctor Moon, Sunnie's sight would still see slight shadows until she developed her sight better, but he knew she would recognize the nurse's voice since she seemed too comfortable in her arms.

It was definitely a beautiful picture.

But he cleared his throat when he heard himself in his thoughts.

“Um, I, uh, today I went back to the company, and Sunnie kept me company” Taeyong suddenly let out, causing (Y/N) to finally take her eyes off the little one and change her gaze to the boy.

“Taeyong!” she exclaimed “I'm glad to hear that, I'm sure this little one behaved incredibly well. I'm glad to hear you're starting to adapt again to your old life”

“Sunnie behaved phenomenally. Doyo and Johnny took care of her while I was in a meeting, and she didn't cause any trouble. Still, it was quite a surprise for everyone to see me arrive with a baby after being absent for so long” he chuckled, infecting the girl.

“It must have been. Seeing your boss arrive and seeing this beauty by his side” the girl booped Sunnie's nose. must be quite a surprise... I hope it was a good day.”

“ Well, it was. Apparently, and seeing that Sun Hee has behaved so well, I'll be able to go back to the office from time to time and work there while it's not necessary to find a babysitter.”

“ You know that anytime you need me to take care of Sunnie, I can do it, as long as I'm not on duty” she offered sincerely, receiving a sincere smile from the boy.

“(y/N), I mean it when I thank you for being here, you were a great help when we were in the hospital, and... I don't think anyone else would have wanted to stay in touch with a patient after being discharged. I really appreciate your... friendship.”

The brunette brought the little one a little closer to her chest, who babbled for a moment, as if she were also talking to her, which made (Y/N) melt with tenderness right there.

“I think Sunnie also thanks you for being here.”

“Sunnie stole my heart when she arrived in the maternity ward, I think it would be impossible for me not to know more about her after you left. I also thank you for trusting me; I know as a first-time father it's hard to do, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me part of it.”

He wanted to know exactly what it was that ran through his body when he was close to her. He seemed like a teenager rather than an adult... why couldn't he behave like an adult? To be able to make decisions without so much thought behind them? His blood seemed to run faster through his body, and he hated himself when he remembered that alcohol made him blush quickly and, putting together how he felt next to her... he must look like a tomato right now.

Something inside Taeyong screamed at him to approach her and envelop her in a hug... maybe because of her words or because of the cozy scene it felt like to see her there with his little one in her arms, but just as that, there was another part that screamed at him not to do it, to stay there and not lift a finger.

He knew he had to hold himself back, it wasn't appropriate. His trust was just beginning to grow. Would it look bad to skip all that just for a hug?

Maybe not... maybe yes...

Maybe he should enjoy her company as he was doing until today, without crossing the boundaries of what was just forming.

Oh, Taeyong. You don't even know what you want.

What did he want?

And another interruption came at the worst moment.

Both of their views quickly changed to the hallway entrance when the door opened abruptly, heels were heard walking towards them, and both frowned not knowing who it could be.

Although Taeyong could imagine who it might be.

“ Honey! You have no idea how happy I was to hear that you're going to meet Joy in a few days!” his mother exclaimed, making herself present in the kitchen.

And then, the boy cursed under his breath.

His mother stopped when she noticed the two guys and her gaze fell on the girl, who felt like she was being silently judged.

“Oh, Taeyong, has Sunnie gotten sick again?” his mother asked, causing the boy to furrow his brow.

“ No, mom. Sun Hee is fine.”

“I see, it's just that I saw the nurse here, and I thought maybe Sunnie's cold had returned” Mrs. Lee commented, still looking at the girl.

“Mom…”

“Good evening, Mrs. Lee” the girl greeted kindly, still holding the little one in her arms.

“Mom, I remind you that (Y/N) stopped being Sun Hee's nurse when she was discharged. She's here because she's my friend, and she's part of all this just like Doyo, Jae, and Johnny are.”

His mother let out a heavy sigh and turned to the girl.

“I'm sorry, dear.”

(Y/N) just nodded without saying anything and continued her task of feeding the little one, trying not to listen to the conversation that Taeyong and Mrs. Lee were having... which was impossible for her.

“Mom, what's the reason for your visit? I would appreciate it if next time, you rang the doorbell before entering, please.”

“Son, since when do I have to do that? I remind you that I have the keys to the apartment” she commented, still not taking her eyes off the girl, and then smiled and addressed her son “I heard that Joy is coming to visit you, you have no idea how happy it makes me to see our children together again.”

“Mom, this is not the time to talk....”

“No, son, of course it is” his mother continued “Joy's mother called me, and you have no idea how happy we are, seeing our children together again...”

(Y/N) raised her gaze quickly and looked at the two silhouettes in front of her. Together?

She could see they were still talking, but her ears were no longer receiving any words. She didn't know why she had blocked herself, was it because she thought maybe she shouldn't be there at that moment? Or thinking that Taeyong might be with someone? But why would she feel that way if it happened? Shouldn't she be glad to know he could have company for himself and Sunnie?

“Mom, mom. Joy and I are not together “the boy denied.

“For now, Yong. Are you going to dinner, aren't you? It's just a matter of time, honey.”

“Ummh, excuse me “(Y/N)'s voice surprised both of them, and they turned to look at her “I think... I think I should go. It's getting late, Sunnie has already fallen asleep” she commented, and Taeyong briefly closed his eyes.

“ Are you sure? Don't you want to finish dinner?”

“Don't worry, Taeyong” the girl smiled “I have a shift tomorrow morning and... I should rest. It was nice to see you... to see Sunnie... I'll leave you the food; I hope you enjoy it.”

“(Y/N)....”

“I'll come by later” she assured him, approaching Taeyong to leave the little one on his arms “rest, well pretty baby” she murmured, leaning to Sunnie's forehead and placing a soft kiss on it. Taeyong stared at her intently, watched her lips touch the baby's soft skin, and move away to look at him for a few seconds in his eyes, smiling slightly “have a good night” this time, she addressed both adults.

“Goodnight, dear” Mrs. Lee quickly said goodbye.

The girl looked at the lady and nodded. She stroked Sunnie's hair and gently moved away.

And for the first time, Sunnie moved uncomfortably in her father's arms.

His mother, for the second time, had arrived at the wrong time, and once again, had caused the girl to leave.

Would it be like this every time she wanted to meet her?

I'm sorry I took too long for posting this!!

Taglist is open, just lemme know if u want to be added! You can ask me something if you want here!

Taglist: @geminiml95 @zooana @cathamada

#nctzen #nct #nct au #nct imagines #nct x reader #nct 127 #jaehyun #nct scenarios #nct x you #taeyong x y/n #taeyong x you #lee taeyong x reader #taeyong x reader #nct taeyong #lee taeyong #taeyong #ceo au #single dad au #dad au #nct angst #nct fluff #nct fanfic #nct u #nct dream #nct smut

[hlficlibrary]

Hey, I’ve read all the meet cute fits you linked in the pinned post.. do you have more recommendations?

I fell unloved with these kind of fanfics.

Thank you

Hi, anon! You're very welcome! I love meet cute fics, and there are so many great ones! Here are some more for you!

Stole My Heart by @haztobegood

“Oh my god, Niall.” The door slams shut as Harry rushes into the flat. He’s still panting from his rush to get away from the scene of his crime. “You won’t believe what just happened!”

Niall is sitting on the couch in their tiny living room. He looks up from his laptop. “What happened?”

“The worst thing. I’ll never recover. I just reached into a box of free samples outside that new chicken restaurant. Only it wasn’t free samples. It was a man. Holding a box of chicken nuggets. His chicken nuggets. I stole this man’s food, Niall!”

Stuck in Midnight Traffic by LetTheMusicMoveYou / @letthemusicmoveyou28

The curly haired man sniffles again, but the tears seemed to have stopped for now at least. “I was supposed to spend Christmas Eve with my boyfriend, that is until we got into a horrible fight.” He seems to wince at his own words. “I guess I should start getting used to calling him my ex-boyfriend. But anyways, we just couldn’t stay there any longer. Kevin and I had to get out.”

Louis blinks before looking around the empty tube car confusedly. “Kevin?”

The man nods and then squeezes a little tighter to the little potted plant clutched in his arms. “Kevin is a Christmas Cactus, but he doesn’t bloom.” He quickly adds. “Which is completely fine, because I love him just as he is.”

Louis’ not sure what most of that means. All he does know is that he needs to make sure this strange, beautiful creature is never sad again.

(Or the one where two broken people meet in an empty tube car on Christmas Eve. Can they find a way to heal each other?)

I Remember (The Distances We Covered) by @lululawrence

@ColleenisStylish: @LouisTomlinson my dad thinks he’s sat next to you on a train from Edinburgh right now, so if you could confirm that would be amazing. His name is Harry and he’s just had white wine and says you’re on red x

Louis glanced at the glass of red wine in his hand before taking a quick look around those nearest him on the train. Just across the aisle in a seat facing him was a man with graying, curly hair falling into his face yet somehow staying above his glasses. He was reading a book as he tapped his foot, seemingly oblivious to everything around him, and there sitting on the table in front of him was a half glass of white wine.

#ask #anon #ficrec #minificrecs #meetcute #lululawrence #letthemusicmoveyou #haztobegood

[needle-noggins]

Sav's Author Highlight: Lenipez

For the entire week of @trigunfanfic appreciation week, I’m going to highlight my favorite authors and friends whose writing I adore and why. Now it's @madnessmadness's turn >:3

Oh man. I gotta start first with the fic series that low-key changed my life, Becoming Eden.

Rating: mostly M (main series), some T or E (side stories) | Ship: Gen, +/- Mashwood if you squint, previous VashMilly | Genre: Sci Fi, Drama, Very House of Leaves, Psychological.... horror? fuckery? | Trigun Soup (all three characterizations in a blender)

Last summer I started this fic on a whim and had no idea that I was in for the wildest, most interesting fic I'd ever read. I have to chew on every word so slowly, sucking as much meaning as I can out of every metaphor, trying to figure out what the POV character is saying versus what they mean vs what is true. The prose is unlike anything I had ever read before, and the formatting is so unique and interesting. I was sending screenshots of this fic to my irl friends who haven't watched Trigun, that's how intensely this fic had me in a chokehold.

Becoming Eden is always reminding me that I can write weirder, I can write sillier, I can do whatever I want. It's a masterclass in sci fi weirdness, diving into different character POVs, unreliable narration, and using unusual formatting to help tell the story. It's a visual experience as much as it is a verbal one. Even with a huge cast of characters getting POVs, there is such an interesting difference in each one of them, and they all feel so unique and rich. And the imagery and metaphors! Damn!! This series has in turn inspired some of my own writing, particularly a one shot I wrote about Rem and plants.

Also, Waterloo is my new on repeat anthem. It calms me down, okay?

I also highly highly recommend Leni's other works, particularly their other interesting poetry if you like what BE has to offer, a Pacific Rim AU, their Millyknives if you're into that, and their fairy AU. ALSO! Their smut! Their smut is so delicious that I actually want to highlight some of it on its own.

First Rodeo - Mashwood, E. 11K of Meryl weaponizing her rope tying skills into the longest slow burn oh my god. Makes me insane just thinking about it. Everyone is pitiful in this and the tension is insane. This is one of my favorite smut fics of all time, and I read a lot of smut.

Jar of Marbles series - Vashmeryl, Vashwood. E. Weird alien xenobiology. I can never look at an ultrasound the same way. I love the implications in this fic, both funny and not. Wolfwood's weak little "Oh yeah?" makes me die laughing.

White Lie - Vashmeryl, E. But in the fun stupid way that is catnip to me.

Hog Tied - Stryfewood, E. You want stupid bickering Stryfewood? You got it!!

ANYWAY. I'm not sure how else to describe Leni's writing style other than that it's vivid, wonderfully metaphorical, and has a stream-of-consciousness flow that is so interesting and sucks you right in. It's really just something you're going to have to experience on your own. It's inspired some of my own writing too, and it's a really fun style. Leni's biggest advice is that fic is always for fun, and you can just tell how much fun they have writing their fic. And I want to sit down and dissect every little bit of Becoming Eden. I want a bound copy. I want a full college course and a dissertation on the themes. Makes me crazy in the best way, and to really just add the icing on the cake, Leni is a wonderful, kind human through and through.

#trigunfanficappreciation #becoming eden

[hopeinthebox]

tagged by the gorgeous and fabulous @cordiallyfuturedwight and @aprylynn for february's roundup:

tagging the usual music favs: @jiminsproof @thvinyl @jimin-gaon @visionsofgideontheninth @spicyclematis @kimchokejin @jihopesjoint @monismochi plus @kimtaegis for the amy macdonald of it all 💜 and also you, dear reader. MWAH

#heads up! here comes the director's commentary: #16 Carriages - now listen. i love texas hold 'em as much as the next daddy lessons supremacist #but holy shit. it doesn't hold so much as a candle to this track. #just unbelievably stunning. i'm begging you to give it another chance if you skipped over it the first time #Don't Forget Me - me and kayla and apryl all having ms rogers in this month's list... i think we might be better than everyone else actuall #End Of Beginning - good GOD we couldn't gatekeep djo any longer but it's worth it if only for all the bear tiktok edits. #and thus i have fallen for this track all over again. yes CHEF #Showtime - now if you've known me long enough you'll know i'm an absolute sucker for british indie rock bands #especially if their frontman looks like they might not make it through another winter #so you can imagine catfish has had an inexplicable hold on me. anyway their comeback single is actually pretty good #This Is The Life - fantastic tune. 2007 if you can believe it? #what a time to be alive and at the school disco and you're singing the songs and thinking this is the life and so on and so forth #Loving You Will Be The Death Of Me - tom odell can do no wrong in my eyes (ears?) anyway. lovely lovely new album #Never Need Me - been loving rachel for a while now and this single is brilliant. highly recommended. #plus the video features florence pugh and if that doesn't sweeten the deal then christ i don't know what will #Baby Now That I've Found You - i didn't even realise this was a cover of the foundations until hearing it again recently #because alison krauss just has an incredible way of making them her own and thus it's been on repeat. #Deeper Well - okay so now i'm seeing the country thread through this month's picks. #this is another lovely new one. hearing it on the radio and the fact that they have to censor “i used to wake and bake” is hilarious to me #shoutout kayla again because great minds.. #Stay For Something - CMAT is phenomenal and if you haven't listened to her yet i can't recommend her entire discography enough. #she had her arsecrack out at the brits last night and well. i would die for her #(speaking of the brits. raye... i literally cried for her. go find the recording of her live at the royal albert hall. #-watch it twice and then come back and thank me) #artists-wise - most of these guys are consistently up there. #katie melua is a new feature this time because all my amy macdonald-ing put me back onto nine million bicycles. #used to get that one mixed up with 99 luftballoons but they're really very different. i'm a fool #so tl;dr: fantastic tunes. do listen #tag #receiptify

[sciderman]

I would say you’re more of a Mr peanut butter type yeah

doggy doggy what now?

#sci speaks #i love mr peanutbutter. #i think i love especially that eventually people stopped liking him. #cute quirky doggy winds up being a JERK actually just like the rest of us. #i love him and i love that. #really need to rewatch bojack actually because i don't remember it very well but god do i remember Loving it. #i think it's probably the best adult animated series i've ever seen. just. like. i don't know. it's the kind of writing that i really love. #where all the characters are bad actually. and you think they might be outwardly put together but they're not. #bojack is a GREAT SHOW. depressing but great. #i can't even like recommend it to anybody i'm like. yeah. it'll depress you. sorry. but that's why i like it. #i like those kind of ugly sincere emotions that make me feel less alone for being an asshole sometimes. #not in a “haha this character i like is an asshole so i can be an asshole too” kind of a way but in a . #i shouldn't despise myself because this is just part of what it is to be human i guess. you'll mess up and make selfish choices. #we all have that same software and i don't know. makes me feel less alone. i love to see that nobody else has it put together either. #it's not just me floating in the world with no direction. #it do be why i hate people who point at a character and say “BAD ROLEMODEL!! why aren't they PERFECT??” #get out shut up i hate you. #try living LIFE for five days maybe.

[demobatman]

going back to my roots but if i have to read another post talking about how robin and eddie wouldnt be friends/it would be hard for them to be friends im going to scream those two fucking terrorize steve harrington and are gay married. he knows her. from BAND.

#everyday. twitter recommends me tweets. #sickens me #eddie: rob we GOTTA get you to put some trumpet on at one of our gigs #robin: only if you beg for it #eddie: 🫣🥺🥺 pwea-- #steve: Enough. #see how easy i came up with that. see how compatible they are #gay fucking neurodivergent ass damn shit hell fuckin STUPID damn #damn ass gay ass rock <- robin and eddie #'robin would hate eddi-- DURING PRIDE MONTH ?!?!!!???? #idiots. all of you #the same people who say robin would hate eddie are the ones that say he has her personality but looks like nancy #'thats why she would hate him' robin Loves Herself shut up #the only dynamic they have is the FIRST PIECE OF FANART I EVER POSTED... of them in the car with steve #and i have the notes to prove it 😘😘 #that was gross god anyways #the he knows her from band btw is just me quoting dustin its not. its not like me trying to pull from canon to prove my point #bc i know hashtag haters will be like ERM... what does BAND have to do with anything? 😐 #nothing. absolutely nothing it was a joke IT WAS A JO #robin buckley #eddie munson #steve harrington #they need a trio name #im not tagging st/ddie bc people Need To See This

[monards]

i know hoyo is setting up rhine to have good intent and whatever in her trying to 'save' khaneri'ah or whatever; but i REALLY hope they stay with the cruel persona thats been built up for her. because it would be so wonderful to see a character who had good intent in the beginning just get absolutely corrupted; with the inability to ever go back to that prior state purely because of what had happened. also because there is NO way in her turning back after all that shit

#sorry. i dont think theres any good and plausible explanation for rhine to still be a kind or gentle person in general #she can (and SHOULD) have her moments. but it'd make so much more sense (and be much more impactful) for her to be inherently cruel #because look at all the stuff thats happened #i love the indomitable human spirit trope. dont get me wrong. #but rhine has that in the way she WONT stop her research till shes either dead or murdered. she is not gonna be gentle kind and optimistic #she watched all her kids (that she was SHOWN to care for) get very brutally murdered. #had to then go and kill her next creations that she didn't consider perfect (which most certainly fucks a women up. no matter what you say) #made the 'perfect creation' and the way she treated him was obviously a HUGE contrast to how she was before (being gentle and nuturing) #and left him (albeit with what we can guess was good intent) with NO goodbye just #a recommendation letter. a text. and his final mission #she could have good intent #and still care for others #dont get me wrong!!!!!!! #but shes. human??? #humans can be (as much as i hate to say it) a tad selfish when it comes to survival #and being antagonized demonized AND shunned by teyvat and even her own people. having to survive multiple gods wrath #isn't. gonna be good for the human psych #and it isn't gonna be something fixable #look at how furina progressively faltered over a hundered years WHILE being adored #she already started waning in her ethics and morals (as someone immortalized as a human WOULD) #with exposing lyney and all of that when it was VERY clearly the morally wrong thing to do (which her as a human would know) #and being relatively pessimistic and clearly spiralling #(no hate. i love furina with all my heart.) #if thats how FURINA started going #imagine rhine who has nobody (save maybe alice. but i doubt she'd be constant given her spontaneous nature and refusal to sit still) #shit man. even I'D go crazy and be horrible. #its okay and natural to be bitter #and its not as if anybody was there to help #hexenzirkel has a ton of women who survived their own nations falling yes #but not ONE of them (from what we know) has had circumstances any where near rhine's

[mezzmerizd]

hi tumblr my overwatch obsession from 2016/2017 came back and. take a wip & doodle :]

also got to actually play the game!! today!! with a friend!! :DD first two hours of gameplay, i unlocked the junker dudes and got the 100+ eliminations achievement thing whatevers :3 super fun

#so uh #do i just #junkrat #hm #my recommended tags are all minecrafters and hermitcraft stuff #woopsies :3 #honestly they're not going away though the wips are for a severly self indulgent art of tango AND junkrat #god i love rambling in tags TEEHEE #junkrat fanart #overwatch fanart #i've also been rambling on twitter like so much i am absolutely sane