#tell your immune system to attack the right stuff

[rhysintherain]

As a follow-up to my rant about mRNA vaccines, there's a question I get a lot about acellular and mRNA type vaccines:

"If there's no virus in there, why did the COVID shot make me sick as a dog the next day??"

Because viruses generally aren't what makes you feel sick.

Your immune system is.

Few viral infections, on their own, give you a fever, joint aches, and a stuffy nose. If you had no immune system, a virus could kill you without producing most of the signs and symptoms we associate with viral illness.

Those things you have with a flu are the direct result of your immune system fighting back.

Lots of microorganisms are vulnerable to temperature fluctuations. Fever is your body trying to cook the germs.

Inflammation is a concentration of immune cells at a given location doing their job. Lots of them go to where the infection is, which makes tissues puffy and painful.

Cough, congestion, and nausea are your body trying to flush out attacking organisms by removing them from your airways and digestive system. If it can get rid of them before they get into your cells, that's half the battle.

Which means that you don't actually need to have an infectious illness to feel like you have a cold or flu.

Your immune system just needs to THINK you do.

Vaccines trick your body into fighting an intruder that isn't actually a threat, much like allergies do. Your immune system throws everything it's got at the vaccine material, and creates antibodies against future infections from the same attacker.

So when you actually get COVID, or measles, or seasonal influenza, it'll be ready.

That immune response that makes you feel like dirt the day after your COVID shot is actually a good sign, because it tells us your immune system bought the ruse and treated it like an actual disease.

Which means it's also planning ahead in case you catch that disease again someday.

Working at the vaccine clinic, I heard from a lot of people about how the COVID vaccine affected them, and what I heard was incredibly consistent: maybe swollen lymph nodes on the first vaccine, but otherwise nothing. On the 2nd, 3rd, and later doses, almost everyone felt sick enough to stay home/in bed within about 24 hours.

This is good news, because it means the mRNA vaccines are producing a very similar immune response in most of the people who get it, and it keeps producing a strong immune response after multiple doses.

Anyway, the moral of the story is we need to feel sick for many vaccines to work. Think of it like a building fire in a big city: a building catches fire, the fire department is called, and traffic slows to a crawl.

This isn't because the fire slowed down traffic; fires don't do that, but firetrucks rushing to put it out do.

The same thing happens if somebody's kid wants to know what'll happen if they pull the fire alarm: the firefighters rush to the scene, traffic slows down.

But in this case there's no actual fire; the fire department gets the signal for a fire and responds accordingly without the building actually being in danger.

Vaccines pull the fire alarm for your immune system to make sure the firefighters know how to do their thing when a fire actually starts. Your immune system responding like there's actually something wrong is what makes you feel sick the next day.

#vaccines #science #microbiology #immunology #this is also why autoimmune conditions maje people so sick #but that's a rant for another day #also why allergies can feel like a cold #get your vaccines kiddos #tell your immune system to attack the right stuff #you get a day off work now and anti-viral superpowers later

[virgilisspidey]

2012 Head canon time getting sick/injured edition

The turtle that rarely ever gets sick is Mikey so he usually ends up being the one that interacts with the sick person the most. He's actually follows orders well and is sort of like a little assistant to Splinter whenever one of the brothers are sick and has memorised the amount of medicine they need and somehow knows when they need to take it without a timer or a clock, which is helpful when they have to check on a concussed person from time to time. When he does get sick he mostly couldn't tell until someone touches him and realizes. His brothers absolutely fear him because he can down the nastiest medicines ever because of the fact that he loves to put a lot of things in his mouth. Strong stomach, this guy. He is unfortunately, the easiest to bruise and the guy that gets the most head injuries for some reason.

Donnie is ill equipped when it comes to taking care of a sick person. Like sure he can treat your wounds but if you're sick and emotional from the fever he does not know what to do. When he does get sick he's the type to stand up and do his work anyway so one of his brothers usually has to watch over him to make sure he doesn't escape to try and do more work than actually resting. Leo watching over him works wonders. Hard to get him to eat stuff because he feels like he would throw up but he drinks... like a lot. He gets the most minor injuries like burns and cuts from the lab so he's used to it by now and patches it up himself. He gets less injuries on the field because he usually hangs back before acting to assess the situation/his brothers are watching his back because he's their greatest asset when it comes to infiltration.

Raph gets a lot of injuries on the field because he's the first one to attack and the first one to defend. He doesn't usually get sick much but when he does he just becomes super grumpy but super clingy. They usually just hand him Spike/Chompy and they'll be fine but if he manages to grab you and falls asleep you're not getting away. The victims always end up being Mikey and Leo, with Donnie just refusing to go to Raph whenever he's sick because of that. Sneezes so freaking loud like a literal ACHOO ya know. If Donnie claims he would hurl whenever he's sick Raph WILL actually hurl, he has the weakest stomach out of all the brothers and always have a trashbin right next to him and a bottle of water to rinse the awful taste out. Is always cold.

Leo tends to not realize he's injured sometimes. He's not the "i don't want to be a burden... i need to hide and treat these injuries myself", nah, that's Donnie, he just is so dense when it comes to his lack of self preservation coupled with the adrenaline he will not notice a stab wound until someone points it out. He gets really grumpy and wants to recover quickly, which sometimes results into him getting upset that he can't be any help. AND OH BOY THIS GUY IS UNLUCKY, when he gets sick he gets VERY sick. His immune system dipped out the moment he got sick, like, vro is the most dramatic sick mofo ever and for a good reason because this poor guy is absolutely suffering he's not being dramatic. And even with the knowledge that he gets sick easier and far harsher he still takes care of his sick brothers even though they would have to take care of him in turn if he catches whatever his brothers are carrying. Splinter is the only one who can tell him to stop doing that he will get sick and even then he still peeks at the door wanting to help. He insists he's fine when he's sick... trust that he is not.

#tmnt 2012 #tmnt 2012 headcanons

[itsahotminuteinbetween]

Back with another chapter that actually gave me such a headache to edit, you have no idea how much I cut from this. Mostly filler here, nothing terribly important, just buildup.

[Psst, @itsberrydreemurstuff, I saved you a seat :) I dunno if this is what a taglist is supposed to look like, but now you've got a front row ticket]

(Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3)

Now, on with the show!

Word Count: 1,754

You wake up and immediately regret it when a headache hits you like a dump truck. You make no move to sit up just yet, debating on whether or not you really need to go to work today. Your stuffy nose and sore throat certainly aren’t helping your argument. 

As usual, the pep-talk does absolutely nothing, but you find yourself sitting up anyways, wincing at the jolt that runs through your spine at the movement. You ignore it and hobble to the kitchen cabinet on legs too weak to stand. 

O-kay, maybe this wasn’t just a light cold.

It’s fine, you tell yourself, leaning on the countertop and squinting at the labels on pill bottles before finding what you need. It’s all fine. I’ll just get some meds and head out. 

You heat up a glass of milk and mix in a dollop of butter and honey before downing it, feeling the swelling in your throat start to go down. Some Tylenol and cough medicine helps combat whatever’s attacking your immune system for the time being. You stuff the meds in your bag, along with tissues and another book that you pray Moon won’t destroy and an extra pair of work clothes, just in case. You throw in your laptop at the last second, and head out the door, driving over to the plex.

You slide your badge over the scanner, clocking in and heading straight for the Daycare. The mental countdown begins.

You head straight for the desk after bidding a good morning to a room seemingly devoid of its Attendant. You doubt they aren’t here, though. They’re probably around somewhere hanging from the rafters or disinfecting the play structure for the umpteenth time. Sun does it often. (You’d offered to leave him something to do after hours once, when you were starting out. He did not appreciate the gesture, accusing you of prying into his business and reminding you to mind your own.) The faint jingle of bells gives him away. They both tended to dismiss your greetings and attempts at conversation without response. That was okay though. You’d been told before that you were sometimes a bit too much oblivious as to when the right time to converse was.

You set your bag down beside you and pull out your laptop. You had to send an email to management about yesterday, not to mention the request for maintenance on the Daycare Attendant. You’d noticed they moved more stiffly as of late. Maybe a joint problem? You did have the qualifications to work on them yourself, but they didn’t seem to like that idea last time. You’d worked on other animatronics before, though. Mostly STAFFbots who didn’t have the time for Parts & Service, but also that one time when Monty’s endo bugged out. He’d nearly killed you after you replaced it and booted him up, making it adamantly clear that you would do better to get someone more qualified to do it should it happen again, which was fair enough, considering that you didn’t have too much experience in the field. You briefly recall the bruises on your arms when he’d grabbed you.

Right, the list. Email management, request maintenance…you consider calling your brother during lunch, let him know he might have to pick you up if you get worse. You decide against it. He has enough on his plate, he shouldn't have to worry about you. Besides, you could survive the day. It was a little cold, that’s all, it would pass and you’d be fine. You could take nap time off for lunch if it got that bad. You hadn’t exactly eaten much the last few days, and the worst Moon could do is take your stuff.

You start typing up your report, leaving out little bits of interaction with the Attendants and instead focusing on the children. As usual, the kids were all tended to without issue and the Daycare was spick and span, wholly worthy of its five-star review. It was fine. All fine. You finish, eying the word count and praying that Management would care to read at least a quarter of it before hitting send and pulling up a separate email.

Having submitted the most pressing issues, you close your laptop and stretch. Welp. Might as well see what else there is to do. You walk through the open space, spotting no messes thanks to Sun’s obsessive cleaning. You peered into the arts and crafts bin, noting the dwindling piles of materials. You’d need to order more. Now that you thought about it, the cleaning supplies would probably need to be replenished as well with how frequently your coworkers ran through them. 

Restocking aside, you move on, making a mental to-do list as you go. You might as well bring a few more children’s books while you were at it, you were more than willing to donate yours from your youth. And you’d have to take out that sewing kit of yours, the stuffies and pillows were starting to wear down and rip again. Maybe you’d do well to buy new ones…

You mull through everything you’d have to take stock of, leaning against the wall and duly noting the pain that lingered in your legs. Nothing to worry about, you’d go home if you were actually hurt. Sun was lurking around here somewhere, it wouldn’t do well to be so dramatic over nothing when you had a job to do. You push yourself off the wall and stand back up, straightening your legs to keep your footing even. You could make it a couple hours, you would see this through.

You check the clock again. 20 minutes until opening. You wrack your brain for something else to do, reluctantly grabbing a binder of one of the taller shelves and returning to the desk. It was high time you reviewed the schedule for the month. Not the most entertaining task, but you’d learned that work wasn’t supposed to be fun. 

You open it up and skim the contents briefly. Meal plans, activities, compacted schedules…that one made you raise a brow. Apparently a field trip was to be held some time later this month to see the GlamRock’s performance. And since Sun couldn’t leave the Daycare, and you were required to be present…

You inhale and shut your eyes for a moment, half-aware of your hands gesturing in the ‘bruh’ meme fashion before raking through your hair.

Fantastic. Wonderful. You’d be chaperoning with Moon. Peachy.

You want to find the nearest ditch to crawl into and die in.

No matter. It would be fine. He’d probably be too focused on the children to torment you. 

(You knew that wouldn’t stop him. He wasn’t like Sun, who ignored you entirely-he’d find a way to make you suffer.)

You shake off the knot beginning to form in your stomach and snap the binder shut, placing it back in its spot. Your vision blurs for a moment before you for the two sets of jungle gyms back into one and rub your eyes. There’s a knock on the door, marking the official start of the day.

“I’ll get it!” you call out to the supposedly empty daycare, hearing no reply. You push the doors open and greet a woman with two kids hot on her heels. They take off with screeches of laughter while you jot down the information their mother tells you with a smile and a nod.

The daycare starts filling up as the minutes tick by, and Sun finally makes his appearance, looking just as bright and cheerful as ever. Soon, the kids are all whisked off to whatever catches their fancy. A couple of them decide to stick with you today, and you’re sucked into a game of doctor. You’re not the best with kids, but you make do, citing your illness of randomly bursting into song at any given moment with no known cure. You count it off as a success when they break into fits of laughter at each iconic reference you perform, complete with dramatic poses and memorized lyrics for each request you’re given (though you make sure it’s G-rated first, of course).

You have Hakuna Matata (among several others) floating around in your head throughout snack time, but it’s a small price to pay. While the tots munch on apple slices and pretzel sticks (that you consider but refrain from eating), you eye Sun warily. 

He was usually up and about before your shift even started. His absence, while not entirely unwelcome, was somewhat concerning considering his track record of perfect attendance on functionality.

After gathering your non-existent confidence, you muster up the ability to turn to him fully and ask, “Hey, Sun? Are you okay?”

His eyes ‘blink’ as he tilts his faceplate to stare at you quizzically. “Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”

You glance away, a bit unnerved at the blank optics burning holes into you. Your conviction wavers. “I dunno,” you shrug after a second. “You weren’t around earlier, I got worried.”

He regards you coldly. “Well, Y/N, our whereabouts do not concern you…unless you’re admitting to requiring supervision?” 

The question is innocent, but a sharp edge lies beneath it. There always is.  And yyyep, there goes that confidence, completely dissipating. Your cheeks burn with indignance and embarrassment. “Nevermind…” So much for worrying about your fellow coworker. You feel that headache coming back on, you don’t want to make it worse. You take your leave after the children finish, continuing your games with a little less vigor.

Naptime rolls around and you’re almost as tuckered out as the kids. That lingering back pain from earlier has returned full force. You rub your shoulder blades and leave it at that, subtly limping over to the desk as the lights cut.

 You steal a glance at Moon, with one of the twins in his lap watching him read to the excited children that were quick to grow drowsy. You liked seeing him like this, a stark contrast between his typical snarky and sometimes malicious attitude directed at you. You kept watching as he changed his voice to match the characters, much to his audience’s delight. Mean as they were to you, they really were incredible with children. You lower your gaze back to the desk before he notices you staring. You find yourself yawning, more tired than usual. You slowly slip from consciousness, breathing evening out as you rest your head in your arms, falling into a light slumber.

Aaaand that's a wrap! I dunno when I'll put the 5th part out cuz I dunno how to complete Chapter 6, but hopefully I'll figure it out. MC is a little under the weather here, hope that won't be of any consequence later on...

#sorry to bother #don't mind me #fnaf moon x reader #moondrop x reader #fnaf moon x y/n #fnaf sun x reader #fnaf sun x y/n #sundrop x reader #i really hope i didn't misspell anythin... #Where the Stars Don’t Shine

[hell-drabbles]

Alright no idea what to talk about but I just wanted to tell this niche little things

In Beel's attack of kings prologue story he talks about a shop that allows people to change genders

And honestly I have never wanted to be somewhere more then that

Anyways I had something to say about embittered companion and angel companion but I'm still thinking it out rn

And also this au idea was for a obey me au

But essentially think of a au where the devils can sacrifice Solomon's descendant to bring back Solomon

I don't know

I feel like the demons would do so without regret if there was a choice to do so

Dante Anon

Huh, that sounds like fun. And take your time with your thinking, I too am taking my time. But that's because I've been groggy.

I probably wouldn't call it changing genders so much as customizing your own body, almost build-a-bear style, just so there's a plethora of options that isn't just limited to what is perceived as female and male by the masses. Don't want to change anything about your dick but want to have the biggest of knockers? Go right ahead. Want a pussy but don't want anything else? Go right on ahead buddy. Want the stuff to be temporary or permanent? You can choose so. Lot of little options, might be overwhelming to a beginner so there might be sampler packages to start them right off.

Also sorry for not being all that active, immune system went a little into overdrive and became convinced I was infected with something and gave me the old fever and chills combo. And then I started showing signs of hives and low blood pressure and almost whited out just trying to look for some medication but I'm doing better now. It's my own fault really, I haven't been eating well at all.

And hohoho, that certainly sounds like an interesting au, though I can only imagine it as a series of one-shots rather than something I can expand. Curse my limited imagination! Solomon's descendant over is pretty much engrossed in this paradise that they're in. They're being fucked however they liked, they're indulging in new and weird kinks just about every day, and the devils give them all the love and affirmation that they could possibly want! Which, eventually, leads to them forgetting that they're devils. They've been projecting their own human elements upon the devils, and often forget just how fickle and childish they can be.

So, when the opportunity comes that Solomon can be brought back with this sacrifice, of course they take it. And that would slap the descendant right in the face, a dose of reality that they have entirely forgotten was possible. Funny too, because I would imagine this all happens right after the descendant has abandoned their home back on Earth.

I just like the thought of the descendant being smacked in the face that these devils have different values and different ways of expressing themselves, that their ability to love and fuck isn't reserved to just the descendant like they want it to be. I just like being cruel to them. Seriously, out of all the self insert protagonists, there's something about them that just...ticks me off. They just remind me of all the male eroge protagonists that I've ever played. They're all horny to atmosphere-deafness, they're all dumb as fuck, and they all make me feel second hand embarrassment just reading about them as they bumble their way into dick or pussy because they showed the barest of kindness. The fact they can be female does not absolve my feelings towards them.

But, instead of getting rid of that personality all together, I want to commit to it and see what kind of person it ends up creating. Just, how big of a mess would this person be with these kinds of traits interacting in Hell, in a place that does not put sex and love in the same category. Any descendant that is easily jealous of other devils fucking one another is not going to survive down here. I know there are devils that want to fuck one person only, but that was so hamfisted in there to placate the audience that I don't consider it canon. Nor do I consider the "some devils can lie" canon. They can be tricky with their words, intentionally misleading, but lying outright they cannot do.

But anyways, this kind of au would force Solomon to also shift his perspective on the devils, since he seems to believe that they're all innocent. He infantilizes them, simply put, and that will also come biting him in the ass because, simply put, they're devils. Indulgent in their sins, no restrictions to be found.

But yeah, that be my thoughts. The angels and devils, as they are now, are just too human for me, you know? But ah, I'm just repeating myself. Sorry about that.

#admin #dante.anon

[whoa-its-dani]

Some quick life-updates from yours truly:

Realized I was, in fact, nonbinary. Being honest with myself and being away from the internet really helped me figure that one out. I'm still largely in the closet, but I'm planning on where I go from here. I know I'm going to get top surgery or at least a reduction eventually, but that's a Future Leigh thing.

I developed a shellfish allergy which is a thing that can happen. Your body can just... decide it's allergic to shit. I know it's an immune system overreaction but wtf wtf wtf we've eaten shrimp and clams and crab our whole life wtf wtf wtf There's the slight possibility it was a spice or the ramen I was eating them with but like. It's more than likely the fucking shellfish.

I'm currently outside of the US right now and FAR away from home. I'm not immigrating, I'm just helping a friend with some housework and also getting my first vacay in like a decade. Also I dealt with quite a bit of ableism and assumed misogyny (bc still in closet) with immigration to the point they had to bring two different women officers to deal with my sitch. Like I don't wanna spread the stereotype of men being insensitive and women being "more compassionate" or w/e but yikes. I'm struggling so hard right now not to let that asshole taint all men. I'm beating that sexism back with a fucking bat.

My cynophobia is in severe decline, at least with smaller and some medium sized dogs! Anything bigger than like a corgi still triggers me (shaking, crying, panicking, etc.) but smaller dogs are so fucking cute and fun and snuggly!!! I love when they curl up in your lap and when they roll over for tummy rubs!!! I really miss my mom's dogs right now 😭 but I have a cat here so it's kind of ok

Had some True Crime shit happen to my family. My aunt (who's always been in poor health) passed away in her sleep. Her husband had her cremated asap, threw out all of her stuff, repainted the room she slept in, and then waited a week to tell the rest of the family... by text. Originally it looked like she had died in her sleep while he was at work, but then he admitted to his daughter (who then told the fam) that he had been home all day, that he lied to police about being at work, and that he was glad she was dead. So it's looking more and more like he killed her, or at least let her die. Like... he's always been an asshole. It's totally believable he killed her, but I hope (for everyone's sake) that he didn't and he's just being a selfish jackass who doesn't understand how sus he sounds.

My mental health has been the best it's been in years. I still have bad days (esp right now bc of the shit that happened with the border officer) but I'm kind of in awe that I'm like. Alive? Like I'm entering my late twenties. My first suicide attempt was when I was 11. I never imagined I would make it past 21. Bitch I'm still here!!! Life is not my problem, I am LIFE'S problem!

I learned how to make stroganoff and became mildly addicted to it for like a month.

Lived to see cicadas in the summer! Saw SO many!!! I think about them when winter makes me sad. They're my light at the end of the tunnel.

I ALSO SAW A BABY (ok more like a young) POSSUM!!! My dad discovered him in a box of apples we had outside. He was havin a FEAST lemme tell you. Boy went through like four apples that were about half his body size. Hell yeah.

I've currently been trying to exercise and strength train because I tried to climb a tree to get a cicada shell and yeah. I didn't even make it off the ground. Spaghetti ass arms. Right now I'm too sore from the travel (& stress & panic attack due to border issue) to see if my strength has improved, but I can definitely tell there are muscles in my arms and not just mush. Human bodies are so fucking weird and cool and shit.

I still remain uneducated and unemployed, but I actually checked out the GED study guide from the library earlier last year. I had a panic attack and ended up returning it, but... it's progress! A few years ago, I would've just passed it by. I actually opened it and looked in it and shit! Give me some more time and I'll actually be able to USE it and then get my GED and then bitche!!!! :D I've also decided I'm going to try to become a mortician. I doubt I have the patience to become a medical examiner, but I'd still like to work with the dead (not in a creepy way, I'm just better with dead folks) AND I got some family in the business back home (here's hoping I can use nepotism to my advantage teehee) so it's a good idea. I'm not saying it'll work out, but it's a plan.

I beat Pokemon Diamond again, and Skyrim. I made like four new characters but only ended up completing one (and they became a sneak archer because of course.)

I've done a little more sewing! I'm still kinda sucky at it and my brain can not figure out how the hell a back stitch works but I'm having a lot of fun!

Ok that's all I can think of right now but yeah. I'm surprised I haven't completely lost my mind yet but hey. There's still time 😌

I'll hopefully be more active on here in the upcoming days (bc I've missed my sweet little garbage trash site and all my gay little mutuals), but right now I'm just trying to exist in as little pain as I can. Very fatigued but also incredibly sore (shoulders, back, and legs).

I'm so grateful to all the kind messages and asks you guys have sent me while I was gone, and I hope your lives have been going well. Things are tough right now for everyone, and I hope you find the strength and support you need to go on. Fucking love you guys.

#Whoa's Posts #Whoa's stuff #Long Post #''quick'' post my ass right lol

[1000-niche-interests]

I imagine Lin having a bad immune system so sick!Lin and the ship Linumi:D

Hello, anon, and thank you for my ~very first~ request to this blog :) I appreciate you!! I haven't actually written anything for Lin in about a year so I can't promise this is *entirely* perfectly in character but I hope you like it! Thanks again for your request! Fic under the cut.

Since retiring from the United Forces, Bumi took every opportunity to sleep in. Juvenile, as Tenzin often told him, but Bumi had never been much of a morning person. A trait that had only exacerbated during his airbending training; then, he slept in just to annoy Tenzin or to avoid more of his boring speeches about gurus he’d almost certainly already learned at some point in his childhood. 

(Okay, maybe he couldn’t recall all of them, but still.)

Lin, on the other hand, stuck to a strict schedule. She always had, ever since they were kids; once they’d finally moved in together, he wasn’t the least bit surprised that had continued.

The trend lately did concern him, though, just a little.  While Lin had always been an early riser, most times than not in the past week he’d awoken in the small hours of the morning to her heading out the door. 

He understood it, he did; rebuilding the police force and keeping the peace after Kuvira’s attack had demolished half the city was no easy feat. 

The difference between them, though, was that Lin seemed to believe that if she wasn’t there, the city would implode. Bumi believed that pretty much everything could wait until at least nine am. 

He’d considered broaching the subject, tell her to sleep in and slow down if she could, but she was always so tired after coming home from the station, or what currently passed as a temporary headquarters, he found himself biting his tongue. Which didn’t happen often, even where Lin was concerned. 

But if he knew her, and he did, this could only go on so long before she inevitably crashed. 

Which was why, waking this morning with the sun shining high though the windowpane, Bumi wasn’t overly surprised to find Lin still beside him. Nor could he find it in him to be surprised at the veritable heat radiating off her through the sheets she was curled up in. He sighed to the quiet room, and got out of bed as silently as he could. Lin’s health was one of the few things in life that couldn’t wait, for good reason.

No reason to wake her yet, he decided as he made his way to the kitchen. As he put the kettle on to boil for tea, he set about digging up whatever medicine was stashed in the back cabinets. This being Lin’s place through and through, everything was in a limbo of organized disorganization. She organized what she thought was important-- papers, clothes, old photos-- but the afterthoughts… things like medicine, in this case… were more often than not stuck wherever she found space for them. The tea, at least, was tucked away in its own cabinet, but other than a half-full, potentially expired bottle of cough syrup, Bumi hadn’t found much. 

“Dammit Lin, how do you live like this?” He whispered to no one, entirely ignoring that his room on Air Temple Island was much less organized (and just how he liked it). It wasn’t even his lack of progress that bothered him, but the fact that he couldn’t believe a woman as prone to accidents and illness as Lin had almost nothing by the way of medication in her house. 

“Bumi, why are you tearing up the kitchen?” He heard Lin’s voice from behind him, and barely stopped himself from jumping. He’d have sensed her coming had he not been so focused on the search at hand. Probably. 

“Looking for drugs.” He said as he turned to face her, hoping it might cheer her up a bit. It did not, if her frown was any indication. She crossed her arms, and he held up his in surrender. “No, really. Where’s your, uh… anything? This place have stuff for fevers, at least?” If the flush high on Lin’s cheeks was any indication, she could definitely use it right now. 

Lin shrugged, very noncommittal, and Bumi’s eyes narrowed. He knew Lin’s mannerisms to a t, and that one definitely meant the answer was no. 

He opened his mouth to speak, ask what she was using as medication, then, but the sharp whistle of the kettle cut him off. Lin winced, a hand going up to her temple. The kettle was quickly silenced, at least, and soon he had a cup of hot water ready to go. 

“So, what kind of tea do you want?” He asked, turning back to see Lin at the table, watching him with half-open, slightly glassy eyes. He knew she was exhausted and why she didn’t just go back to bed and wait for him was a question he doubted would ever be answered.

“White peony.” She answered after a moment, crossing her arms again; though he noticed that this time, she’d begun to shiver. In the cabinet he found the tin of white tea leaves, thankfully in tea bags and not loose. He could work with infusers of course, but he had a sneaking suspicion Lin didn’t own one. Because of course she wouldn't.

He left the tea in the water to steep, then set it in front of her. She spared him barely a glance as he ducked into the other room and retrieved his coat, before returning and placing it over her bare shoulders. She tensed, then relaxed, melting back into the red folds of his coat like it was the best thing in the world. Bumi couldn’t help but chuckle at that, remembering that as grumpy as Lin was known to get when she was sick, with a fever she got rather docile, too. 

As the tea seeped, Lin watched, no longer quivering as badly within her makeshift blanket. When it was to her liking, she plucked the tea bag out, setting it aside. Bumi sat down across from her, half wishing he’d brewed some tea of his own just to seem less of a mother hen. But Lin’s stock almost depleted as it was, he’d skip it this time.

“So,” He began as she wrapped her hands around the cup, obviously trying to warm them. “You’re not going to work today, right?” 

He’d had to broach the subject eventually; she hadn’t mentioned it explicitly which was usually a good sign, but he still had to check. 

He was relieved when she slowly shook her head in affirmation, though he could tell it wasn’t an easy decision. It never was, with her.

“I should,” She began, with a heavy sigh. “But I feel like shit.” 

“Hey,” He said, putting a hand on her’s, not needing to mention the tremor in her voice to know how she felt about it. “This city can survive a couple days without you, you know that.”

Lin merely huffed, more disapproval then dissent. “I know. I just don’t like it.”

“I know.” Bumi said, squeezing her hand with a smile that only grew as she squeezed back, their time-honored signal. “But, you got me to take care of you! You’ll be back on your feet before you know it.”  That got an actual smile out of her, if a tired one. 

When she’d finished her tea, he followed her back to the bedroom, where, without prompting, she curled up, his coat still wrapped around her. He raised an eyebrow, for a moment not sure whether he should be amused or concerned, before remembering that if he really wanted to get her even slightly less miserable, he’d need to go out and buy some medicine. 

It being early autumn now, he might’ve appreciated having his coat… but decided it was probably better served in Lin’s care. 

“Well, if you don’t have any medication here,” He began, pulling in his shoes alongside something slightly more presentable to go out in. “I’ll make a run to the pharmacy.”

Lim grumbled something unintelligible from the bed, probably voicing her disapproval, which Bumi chose to ignore. 

“Hey, you’re wrapped up in my coat and a blanket,” He called back, the keys for the satomobile now securely in his pocket. “You need something for the fever, at least… you’re too quiet, I’m not used to it.” He joked lightly, only to be met with a definite, "fuck you", from Lin’s linen cocoon. 

There was the Lin he knew, he thought with a smile. A good sign. 

Now, to get some medicine for her… and maybe he’d even pick up something nice for her on the way back home. 

Before he left, though, he glanced back to the bedroom door, closed now. 

Lin Beifong could be many things on bad days, from cranky to seething in her anger, to almost docile like this-- but it was these days, too, that he remembered so very clearly why he loved her.  Because she was many things, but she was always so quintessentially Lin, every time… and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

#my fics #Lin Beifong #Linumi #sickfic

[cadavertrolls]

Tell us some stuff about your newest slut (affectionate)!

YESSS SOOOO Irudok Lysyke <33 affectionately nicknamed Leech sometimes by his buddies because of his predicament. He's a drinker! Don't ask how he died that's personal </3 anyway he's a variation of a clearblood and he's always been that way! He technically does have a natural blood colour but he has an autoimmune disorder that attacks the natural pigments in his blood. Nasty stuff that sometimes affects him but as long as he drinks often he's good to go.

He does have a bit of a weird quirk to his condition though. His body will circulate the pigment of the colour of blood he drank for a bit before his immune system realizes Hm! These shouldnt be here! (eats and destroys the molecules) so effectively he can be whatever blood colour he wants. At least until his body catches on. This leads to him mooching off of his friends if he needs to get into highblood parties and doesnt want to bother doing makeup to properly disguise himself hence his little nickname. Even if they say no to him, he doesn't have much of an issue wandering off and bedding someone just for a little sippy and then immediately leaving, that's how most of his interactions go. Survival of the sexiest, that's the saying right?

Previously he used to get his blood supply from his nursing job... Either yoinking some from the blood reserves or drinking from patient IV's when they're sedated like those girls on tiktok sipping their cocktails in fastfood chains. He's no longer a nurse but he tends to be the guy his friends go to for medical advice no matter how TMI/embarassing because by gods he's seen some shit when working in the medical field.

Thats about as much as I've fleshed him out so far enjoy <3

#answered #anonymous #irudok text #talking cadaver #.txt #long post

[spinningbuster98]

Dark Mantis is a stealth level where you have to avoid getting spotted and can barely see around you

So it sucks right? Well...not necessarily

You see X8 has some seriously explorative elements to its stages, even more so tha usual for an X game and this level has one of my favorite instances of this

So you may have noticed that you can choose between 3 navigators before any level (or choose none at all).

Pallette helps you with finding hidden stuff in stages and is IMO the most useful

Layer technically helps you with boss stategies but honestly her advice on them is useless. What's more useful is that she will chime in whenever you encounter an enemy that Axl can copy and will give you a hint on how you can use their abilities in the stage

It's not a perfect system but it is encouraged that you replay stages with different navigators to help you with fully exploring them

For example if you have Pallette she'll tell you that there's a hidden generator room in this level that you can activate in order to turn on the lights. You can find the entrance but there's a guard that won't let you pass

If you have Layer she'll tell you that Axl can copy the random Reploid enemies here and may use their resemblance to fool some of them

If you copy one of the grunts then the aforementioned guard will let you into the generator room, all you'll need then is Gigabolt Man O' War's weapon as Axl to jump start it and boom! No more darkness and no more search lights!

Moreover some previously hidden ceiling platforms will show up, one of which containing a very special weapon for Zero

The D-Glaive

The D-Glaive does one thing and one thing only: it doubles the length of Zero's attacks

No joke this alone makes Zero incredibly broken and solves all the issues I mentioned last time

No issue in hitting enemies if you can hit them from halfway across the room right?

And if you combine it with the ability you get from Dark Mantis itself Jesus Christ...

Gravity Antonion's level requires plenty of practice to master but can actually be pretty fun once you do: it's very platforming centric, and the enemy placement towards the end can get mean but the gravity gimmick is actually pretty well executed and has my favorite track of the main 8 stages

If you have Axl copy those guys near the start of the level, as Layer will inform you about, you can use their immunity to insta kill spikes to make some sections a hellofalot more comfortable (as long as you don't die otherwise you lose their copied DNA and can't go back to get it)

Bamboo Pandemonium has a rather fun gimmick: you can play through the entire stage with a Ride Armor (and a pretty damn fine one at that) as long as you're very precise with your platforming.

It can get very tricky and will require very good knowledge of the level and if you fuck up even once you'll lose the thing permanently unless one of the enemies drops theirs intact (which is random as far as I know).

However if you do succeed in bringing it all the way to the boss you can humiliate him faster than you can say "Magma Dragoon was here"

Also at this point Vile will start pestering you randomly. If he shows up in this level and you have the Ride Armor well....remember how this series started with him almost killing X with one of those?

Yeah turns out he doesn't like being on the receiving end

So this game has a shop much like Classic Mega Man and....it's fine?

I personally don't think it's necessary, the X series has always been more exploration focused than Classic, so having to buy health upgrades at a shop instead of just finding them in a stage feels less rewarding

Granted these levels still reward you plenty for exploration, mostly through Metals (this game's currency) or Rare Metals, which unlock power ups that you'll later have to buy at the shop

However most Rare Metals unlock stuff that is clearly meant for New Game Plus, like double defense or things of that nature and it costs an obnoxious amount of Metals

Stuff like Sub Tanks are also way harder to find than usual so instead the shop starts out with half life bottles which are the same except they heal you for less and can only be refilled at the shop

Again it's fine, it works well enough, I just think it was an unnecessary change

#mega man #mega man x8 #my gameplay #Youtube

[seeminglyseph]

The more I think about my appointment with the new therapist the more I find some red flags…

She indicated that it was almost a rule that Men who are Abused become Abusers and Women who are Abused become mor Abused. And I feel like the therapist who set me up with her when he left either did not include for her the information about my gender, or she specifically ignored it once she saw me. I think it’s on my file with them… she talked a lot about women’s struggles with DV and I’m really thinking that she might not be the right fit..

She also like… listened sympathetically when I explained my fibro and autoimmune stuff, but then went on to say like “most chronic pain symptoms are a sign of stress, and if we can get your stress level down that fibromyalgia will go away” because she had been diagnosed with fibro which DOES improve with improved mental health, but it’s not… solely caused by stress. She seemed to indicate that she thought fibro and chronic pain as a stress symptom were the same thing.

And I think… I don’t really like the idea that going in she’s drawn a hard line on like… gender essentialism and like… denial of my diagnosed chronic illnesses. Like you cannot therapize my immune system into not attacking my spine. It might slow it or ease some of the pain because yes, stress makes everything worse…. But I really really hate when therapists ore whatever tell me they’ll fix my chronic pain which… is not possible for them to do.

#my life

[subfitnessroadies]

Health What Are You Able To Do To Remain Healthy

There ar five easy stuff you will do, to remain healthy.

1. Avoid smoking and smokers

2. Eat right and keep your BMI (Body Mass Index) at eighteen,5–24,8

3. attempt to avoid drinking alcohol

4. Exercise daily

5. Sleep right

1. Avoid smoking and smokers

Dangers of smoking.

If you smoke, you must quit, smoking harms you and everybody around you.

Did you know?

– smoke smokers have a high risk of attack.

– smoke smokes have a particularly high risk of carcinoma.

– every year over three hundred,000 Americans die from carcinoma, caused by smoking.

– seventy fifth of deaths caused by respiratory disorder and respiratory disease ar directly coupled to smoking.

If you wish to remain healthy, you’ll need to quit smoking and avoid smokers, as a result of “Passive Smoking” may be as harmful, as “Active Smoking”.

2. Eat right and Keep your BMI (Body Mass Index) at eighteen,5–24,8

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ ABOUT WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL IN FOOD AND HOW TO MAINTAIN LOWER CHOLESTEROL.

How to Eat Right?

As I’ve mentioned in my previous article: “Diet: the way to very build your Diet work for you?” , your body wants a correct Balanced Nutrition Diet, with a correct daily quantity of: vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates.

What will a correct Balanced Nutrition do for you?

– provide effective Weight-Management answer

– cut back fat and increase your body tone

– forestall and reduce signs of aging

– Strengthen vessel and immune systems

– Regulate levels of sugar and internal secretion

– facilitate regulate steroid alcohol level

– Improve your memory and clarity of mind

What is the BMI and the way the information of it, will assist you to boost your health?

Knowing your BMI, you’ll tell whether or not your weight complies with the quality otherwise you have further weight (or your weight is insufficient).

The BMI is directly associated with the health risk; because the BMI will increase, the danger additionally rises.

That is why it’s thus necessary to grasp your Body Mass Index and keep it safe (18,5–24,8)

Body Mass Index Formulas:

BMI formula (Metric): BMI = ( Weight in Kilograms / ( Height in Meters ) x ( Height in Meters ))

BMI formula (English): BMI = ( Weight in Pounds / ( Height in inches ) x ( Height in inches )) x 703

3. attempt to avoid drinking Alcohol.

So, why is it thus necessary to avoid Alcohol, so as to boost your health?

Alcohol has several aspect effects:

– heart and central system injury

– abdomen ailments

– liver injury

– blackouts

– a high risk of alcoholism

e.t.c.

So, if you’re serious regarding living a healthy life style — avoid alcohol the least bit prices.

4. Exercise Daily.

Exercising is extremely necessary for human health and has tried to be a decent cure for several well-known deceases.

How much workout is enough?

In order to be healthy, you wish a minimum of ten -15 minutes on a daily basis of workout.

Also, you may mix your average daily activities with workout, to save lots of time.

These, ar simply few samples of what you’ll do:

– Walking a minimum of 5000 steps on a daily basis

– Walking up stairs rather than victimisation elevators.

– Do some running rather than walking.

e.t.c.

5. Sleep Right.

A good night sleep is extremely necessary, without it, all of the items I actually have mentioned on top of, wouldn’t work.

#Health & Fitness #health #health fitness lifestyle fitnessroadies beauty skincare

[c-is-for-circinate]

Thinking today about viruses, allergies, oppression, and anti culture.

(under a cut because WHOOOPS this got long)

Racism is a virus. Homophobia, transphobia, sexism, antisemitism, ableism, etc etc etc, they are all viruses--a topic that many of us have learned a great deal about in the past year. They are ideas, yes, not literal physical diseases, but the analogy holds up. They are infectious, and often spread from person to person without anyone involved realizing they have it. They can sit latent for years, never showing up because the carrier never finds themselves in a situation where the issue comes up, only to flare up and take over when you least expect it. And they mutate, just like the flu, just like the common cold; they put on a new jacket every year and slide in undetected yet again, slip past our internal sensors and bury themselves in our brains until we go in and deal with them as best as we can.

One more thing we've learned about viruses this year is how we can fight them. The viruses of oppression are a little different because they tend to hurt the people around their carriers even more than the people they've infected (although let's talk about internalized anything-ism sometime), but in a lot of ways the attack is the same. You treat the symptoms even when you don't know how to cure the disease: we invest in respirators, antiviral treatments, hospitals; we create and sponsor programs to help those who've been hurt by various oppressions, we uplift our neighbors, we try to keep people safe from violences both big and small. You work to stop the spread: we wear our goddamn masks, we stay home when we can; we train ourselves not to say racist shit that might foster a culture of hate, we stop that guy in our office from making rape jokes, we make slurs unacceptable. You pay attention to your immune system: we seek medical attention when we experience symptoms, we get COVID tests, we talk to our doctors before the symptoms get deadly; we protest and we pay attention to the people who do, we take them seriously when they tell us that something is wrong.

You vaccinate. We train ourselves and our immune systems to recognize the thing that infects us, the thing that we fear. We try to teach our children about history, bit by little bit, on fragments of dead violence the same way we train our bodies on dead virus shells, so that someday they'll recognize the live disease when they see it. We learn about slavery and Jim Crow and the Holocaust. We tell kids bedtime stories about why hitting and bullying is bad, before we ever start teaching them the specific shapes that violence so often takes. As we get older, as we get stronger, we learn about the living stuff, all the new forms that same old virus has mutated into; we educate ourselves, we listen, we read. Just like vaccines, of course, there are anti-vaxxers and denialists shouting about how racism and sexism are already dead and they don't need any propoganda besides Fox News. Hell, just like anti-maskers, there are plenty of people screaming about how political correctness is ruining the world and they demand their right to spread their virus to anyone they can. Often these are the same people.

But we try. And make no mistake, we all of us are already infected, and just like a real virus, once you've caught it once it probably won't ever go away again--but we can prepare, and we can try to lessen the severity of our cases, and we can support our immune systems of activists and protesters and our own internal sense of this is wrong, and we can work, bit by bit, if not towards eradication (not yet, not in this world, but maybe someday in another), then at least towards control.

And then there's allergies.

An allergy is what happens when a human body's own immune system freaks out over an enemy that wasn't particularly harmful in the first place. All our immune defenses--those precious immune defenses, which work so hard to protect us against all those viral, deadly ideas--go screaming into high gear. All of that fear and fury and attack power gets brought to bear all at once, against a bit of pollen or bee venom or cat dander or peanuts, and your body is left itchy and runny-nosed and gasping--sometimes literally--as it tries to keep up. Allergies are miserable. Sometimes they're life-threatening. And the biggest danger isn't the foreign agent that triggers the allergic reaction; it's the immune system trying to fight it in the first place.

Which, yes, brings us to anti culture--but not JUST anti culture. It's a good example, a little internet-centric microcosm of the same force that drives progressives to tear bloody shreds out of moderate liberal politicians. Hell, it's the same force that enables both TERFs and the Capitol rioters. It's a combination of an immune system that points in the wrong direction, flagging the wrong thing as bad, terrifying, danger, NO, and a freaked-out response that can manifest as anything from mildly irritating to absolutely deadly.

To be clear, I am not by any means equating the scale or even the source of these things, any more than hayfever is the same as anaphylactic shock. Likewise, the sources are different. Sometimes, a disease can infect an immune system and point it in the wrong direction. (Terror of the other is the absolute cornerstone of white nationalism, and when that terror gets triggered by a harmless environmental condition like, god forbid, other people asking for rights, the allergy response can be deadly.) Other times, it's the other way around. Our internal immune systems, so well trained to protect ourselves and those around us from the insidious viral ravages of prejudice and oppression, start seeing traces of it everywhere.

And they freak out. And we suffer for it.

We talk a lot of well-deserved shit about TERFs, but it's useful to remember how much their nastiness feels to them like activism. Their immune system, trained and primed and sensitized over years of exposure to misogyny and sexism, catches the tiniest whiff of something that might seem at some point to have possibly been taken for male, and freaks out, because why is that trying to get into our system. Never mind that they're wrong. An immune system that flips out over penicillin is wrong, too. It's still trying to help, and it's still doing more harm than good trying it.

So bringing this back around to anti culture, which was absolutely where I started thinking about all of this this morning: anti culture, the terror of porn and the attempt by antis to protect themselves an other people from sexual content, is an immune response. It is a trained immune response, in people who have been taught and re-taught again and again that rape culture is a dangerous insidious virus that should be fought at all costs. And, right, there's more than a bit of 'the sexism virus infected this immune system and reprogrammed it to fight itself' involved here, but look, we are all of us infected with all of the viruses at least a little bit everywhere. If we tried to direct our immune systems to rip every last shred of -ism out of every last bit of us, we'd rip ourselves apart. Which is exactly the problem.

Porn, in and of itself, is natural. As natural as environmental pollen, and living near dogs and cats, and eating wheat or nuts or citrus fruit. It's even healthy, for a whole host of reasons that belong in another essay. And citric acid and nut-based proteins and whole grains are nutritious, and pets are physically and psychologically helpful, and being exposed to lots of different environmental substances as a child can actually help train your immune system in the first place. Porn can help us figure out what we like. It can help us figure out what we don't like. And while the processes that create it are sometimes unethical and awful, we don't condemn all dogs because puppy mills and dogfighting rings exist, even if we do have dog allergies.

What we see in anti culture is often a good-faith attempt on the part of antis to attack and subdue an environmental trigger that they read as dangerous. It's a panic attack over something that is by nature harmless or mildly harmful, blown out of proportion by the very instincts that are supposed to keep us safe. It's the response of an immune system that's been taught over years and years, by everyone from parents to school systems to the activists they look up to, that negative stimulus is to be feared, avoided, and fought. Of COURSE they're going to freak out.

And of course, early exposure to controlled amounts of allergens can help prevent later allergies from developing. Of course when kids are raised with abstinence-only education, sheltered from the very concept of sex, they're going to grow up allergic to it. (Of course they're going to try to protect other kids from the same, like worried mothers who refuse to let peanuts or wheat products or dirt near their precious babies, whose kids grow up with a whole suite of allergic triggers because their bodies never learned what was okay in the first place.) And no, that doesn't mean we hand pornography to ten-year-olds any more than we should give raw honey to an infant--but of course if our culture refuses to introduce kids to the fact that sex and desire and the inside of their own brain can be messy and silly and kinky and downright weird, we're going to have a higher rate of allergic reaction to the entire concept in adults.

I wish I had a better answer for what to do with understanding that this is what's going through so many people's brains. The best I have is a prescription for allergy-sufferers, who probably haven't read this far through this wordspew of an essay in the first place--but we all get a little hayfever once in a while, and we all sometimes run into content that makes us angry. So some thoughts on how to deal with metaphorical allergic reactions, inspired by the ways we deal with literal ones?

First: we recognize that what is happening is an allergy. The thing we're reacting to might be gross, or irritating, or even unpleasant, but the danger is not and never has been the thing itself. Whether it's triggering a response because of its similarity to an actively dangerous pathogen, or our immune system just doesn't like it, our aversion to one kind of story or another universally says more about us than about it. Luckily, we have a lot more control over our social responses than our biological ones!!! If vocal activism is our sociocultural immune system firing itself up to fight an infection that may or may not exist, then we get to tell our metaphorical white blood cells to stand down. We get to decide.

Second: we get some space. The funny thing about allergies is, while early exposure to allergens can help prevent them, re-exposing yourself to dangerous allergens after you've already developed a reaction to them can make them worse. Anaphylaxis is always more likely after someone's experienced it the first time. Repeated exposure to triggers, whether biological or psychological, can make the effects worse. So stop exposing yourself.

If something makes your throat itch every time you eat it, stop eating it. If something makes you mad every time you read it, stop reading it. Obviously this can be easier said than done in a world that's a lot worse about warning labels on stories than ingredients labels on foods, but that's why fic tags exist. And: sometimes, the croissant is delicious enough that we decide we're willing to suffer through the way the almonds make us feel, just this once. Sometimes the ship or the characterization or, hell, those other kinks that we really like are tasty enough that we'll put up with the trope we hate. We're allowed to do that. But we do it knowing there will be consequences, and we don't blame the baker when they hit.

We also don't have to blame ourselves. It sucks to be allergic to shellfish when all your friends are raving about the new seafood place. But that's not our fault any more than it's theirs.

Third: sometimes, if we need one, we go to the doctor. Or a therapist. Yes, really.

Not because there's anything really wrong with an aversion or even mild breakouts of hives, annoyance, and bitching in your friends' DMs--but it sure isn't pleasant, and sometimes your doctor might have a better solution than 'avoid it and take a Benadryl' that makes you feel a little better in the long run. And sometimes, it's not a mild breakout. Sometimes it's the kind of story that lingers with you for days, makes your skin crawl; sometimes your throat swells up and it gets hard to breathe. Sometimes we get angry enough about something we've read that we can't stand down our immune system, don't want to stop ourselves from writing that angry comment, that tumblr post, that abuse report to the mods for something that didn't actually break any rules. And that's dangerous, because when our immune response can flare out of control like that, we don't always know where and when it will happen next, and the risk of what we'll do if it happens gets way, way higher.

Sometimes it really is worth getting a second opinion. Sometimes you need somebody to tell you, "actually, it is not normal to get tingly and sweaty every time you eat potatoes." There are ways to train your brain and leash your white blood cells that I sure as heck am not expert enough to address. There are, it turns out, ways to feel better. There are ways to mitigate the damage your own well-meaning defense mechanisms might do to yourself or other people along the way.

And: we can take a deep breath when someone with an allergy to something we've baked, something we've written, something we like, is lashing out trying to protect themselves and everyone around them from something they've registered as a threat. Of course they're wrong. Yes, we told them there were tree nuts in the brownies ahead of time; yes, they chose to eat them anyway. But it can be worth reminding them and ourselves that there's a difference between "this thing is toxic" and "this harmless thing has driven my own system into a defensive response that sure makes it feel like I've been poisoned." And it can be worth reminding ourselves as well as them that sometimes, that difference can be really hard to spot.

#driveby meta attack #I guess #whoops I essay'ed #this was not meant to get this long #welp #anti discourse day

[fefipranon]

Rivamika Fic Preview

Topic: Mikasa, a hardcore feminist, kidnapped by Levi, the leader of one of the most powerful gangs and who is the book definition of a dick.

Mikasa Point of View (P.O.V.)

Here I am, another restless night. Turning on my bed like a hamburger patty being flipped on a grill, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. I can hear birds chirping outside so it's probably already morning but my thick light-blocking curtains make my room look as dark as night. Whoever invented those, has a special place in my lazy heart.

I started hearing shuffling sounds outside the door of my room. These two have no sense of self-preservation, I thought. My two roommates, Eren and Armin, have been living with me for a year now. I met them ten years ago, starting my teenage years, a tragic event brought us together. Since 'that event', Eren's parents took me in as their own and he introduced me to Armin, his best friend since childhood.

We are inseparable, even now as adults. Even though Armin works as an accountant for a law firm, I work as a Computer Engineer for the CIA, and Eren works as a veterinarian, when we are together, we still act like silly kids. I love them like siblings love each other, which means that we also fight like siblings, and right now they are breaking a golden rule.

You see, I love them. I would give my life without a second thought for them, but, there is something I love more: my bed. I can be a charming and decent person, AFTER my morning coffee, and AFTER I wake up on my own. If anyone dares to wake me up from my precious sleep, there will be hell to pay. I am not a morning person, who is it really? Those who said they are, are not to be trusted, they are probably psychopaths and serial killers. I also don't trust people that don't like cheese, how could you not like cheese?! They are probably part of those reptilian people that conspiracy theories warn you about from alien abductions and shit.

I heard Armin's voice, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

I walked to the door to better listen to their conversation.

"She promised to join us for our traditional 'Sunday pancakes' today since she has failed to wake up early for the last four Sundays in a row! It's her fault!", Eren said.

"You know she is not a morning person! She will kill both of us!", Armin said.

I saw the bolt of the door shaking. Eren was clearly picking the lock from my room. He really has a death wish. I stared around my room looking for ideas on how to greet him, and my eyes landed on my hamper which was almost full of my dirty clothes. I walked to it and grabbed two dirty socks and rolled them together in a ball.

"You can still run away and save yourself.", Eren said.

"I will just stay out of her room, and watch how she kills you while eating popcorn then."

No Armin, you are going to get it too since you are not stopping him, I thought. Then, I heard the beep sound from the microwave. He really made popcorn, unbelievable. I rested my back against the wall next to my door, waiting for their intrusion.

"Do you even know how to pick a lock?", Armin asked.

"I've seen it in movies, they open everything with bobby pins on those spy movies so, how hard can it be?", Eren said.

I pinched the bridge of my nose thinking, he can't be serious. But knowing the bastard, he probably was, and I didn't have the patience to wait for him to finally open my door. So I opened it myself.

He looked at me in shock and said, "Mika-"

But I cut him short by shoving to his open mouth the ball of dirty socks. Armin was on the way to the microwave and yelped at the sight of Eren spitting the dirty socks from his mouth and coughing. I gave him a death stare and yelled:

"You are next!"

"Fuck no!", He yelled as he ran to his room with me running behind him.

He got into his room and closed the door before I could get to him.

With a sing-song voice, I said, "Oh, Armiiin, open the door now and I might forgive youuu."

"Bullshit! I will only open the door after you have your morning coffee!"

Suddenly, the smell of popcorn hit my nose making me smile. Armin never got to get his popcorn out of the microwave. He and I have this unhealthy addiction to popcorn for years now. I mean, who doesn't like popcorn? Those are other types of people I don't trust.

I walked to the microwave and took the popcorn out. I grabbed a fan and pointed it directly to the door of his room. I opened the bag and started eating in front of the fan. He will smell it eventually.

"That's a low blow, stinky feet!", Eren said.

"Is that!? Are you eating MY popcorn!!?", Armin shouted.

"Mmm delicious and extra buttery. Thanks for making popcorn for ME, you are so considerate. You shouldn't have-", I was cut short by Armin slamming his door open and running towards me.

I started running away but he tackled me, making me drop the bag causing the popcorn to fly out, "Give me back my popcorn you thief!", he shouted.

"Did you stuck your socks inside somebody's ass?! This smell is not human!", Eren shouted.

Ignoring Eren, I shouted to Armin, "No! I'll take it as a peace offering apology from you two for waking me up!", while we both struggled to get the bag making a mess of popcorn all around the apartment in the process.

Armin managed to run away while Eren grabbed me and tried to get the dirty socks into my mouth when someone knocked at our door.

We all froze, Armin stared at both of us and asked, "Are any of you expecting someone?"

We both shook our heads in response. I ran to my room to get my gun, Eren did the same while Armin watched the door and grabbed the gun we stored in the kitchen for emergencies.

I immediately started thinking of all the possible threats that could be behind our front door. This is all Eren's fault, I thought.

You see... I was deemed a 'child prodigy' at a young age. I started college at the age of 12, my studies were disrupted for a couple of years when 'that event' happened. Later I resumed my studies and by the age of 18, I already had a bachelor's degree in computer engineering. I joined a couple of hacktivist groups and helped them with the usual stuff: DDoS attacks to government websites, machine learning algorithms to find patterns in social media of government bot accounts, you know, the usual stuff.

One day Eren challenged me to hack into the CIA so I started with a social media scan looking for stupid people that post their work information, I just needed someone with access to the building. In summary, after finding a few victims I did a MITM attack on their phones and computers. From there I got access to the network, installed a backdoor, and had access to everything. I did a similar process to gain access to other intelligence agencies' networks from different countries.

Since we were broke at the time, I did ransomware of the data but instead of money, I asked for a job and immunity for the crime. I also sent them part of a list of vulnerabilities in their system and told them that if they wanted the full list they had to comply with my demands. Since I was already deep in trouble I decided to also give them evidence of the access I gained to other countries' intelligence networks. Not even an hour passed by, and they were already begging me to take the job.

Thinking of who could be behind my front door right now, I thought about the time I got access to the Russian 'Federal Security Service' agency and replaced their data with, well, some 'not-so-innocent' pictures. I think Putin hates me. There is also what I did to the North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau agency... I think Fluffy Kim hates me too.

None of it would've happened if Eren didn't challenge me in the first place! It's completely his fault!

I got out of my train of thought when we were back at the door and Eren asked us, "Ready?"

We nodded in response, and Eren slowly opened the door.

He quickly pointed the gun at the unexpected visitor who was... An innocent girl scout who was trying to sell cookies.

The kid yelped scared, but Eren quickly hid the gun and said, "Oh, we don't want cookies."

"I want cookies!", I protested and pushed Eren away from the door.

"Order for me too!", Armin said.

Author P.O.V.

After getting their girl scouts cookies, Eren started making pancakes while Armin and Mikasa sat in seat stools behind the small kitchen island facing him. They had popcorn on their messy hair, and on their clothes. "You two better clean the mess you made!", Eren shouted.

"It was Armin's fault!", Mikasa shouted while Armin gave her a death stare.

Eren started to stick his tongue out while making disgusted faces.

"What's the problem Eren? Are you having a stroke?", Mikasa said teasingly.

"For fucks sake Mikasa! I have washed my mouth around five times already and I can still smell your stinky socks! Those things are a hazard!", Eren said while walking away to the bathroom to wash his mouth again.

"The pancakes are going to burn!", Mikasa shouted.

"You take care of them, stinky feet! I am on my way to drink some bleach!", Eren shouted back.

Mikasa rolled her eyes and walked to the stove while Armin stood up to turn on the television. While flipping the pancakes Mikasa took a look at her phone notifications and messages. She started looking through the messages from her girlfriend's group chat:

Sasha: OMG! I just saw the cutest guy ever!

Annie: Did you banged it already? 👉👌🍆

Sasha: I wish! I don't even know how to talk to him yet!

Christa: Where did you saw him?

Sasha: He works at a new bookstore that opened near my apartment.

Christa: Did you tried to talk to him somehow? Or just stared at him like a mentally unstable stalker?

Sasha: Well, I asked for book recommendations, he started asking me about what I liked so he could give me a more accurate one but the dick of his boss cut him off telling him to go back to the cash register.

Annie: Maybe we should meet up for lunch to come up with a plan.

Ymir: I just saw that I have new messages. I tried to read them all but my lazy ass just read 'cute guy' and 'bang it already' and skipped to the end. I am up for lunch and the 'banging plan'. Speaking of people in need of banging, @Mikasa wake your ass and join us!

Annie: 😂😂

Mikasa rolled her eyes and replied:

Mikasa: I am awake, count me in for lunch, and the 'banging plan'.

Christa: Girls, call the police, that is not Mikasa, that's an impostor! There is no way that woman is awake this early!

Mikasa sighed and typed,

Mikasa: Eren woke me up, putting his life on the line.

Suddenly Eren's phone made the sound of a new message notification. Mikasa rolled her eyes and thought, here we go.

Eren grabbed his phone, unlocked it, stared at his messages, and started laughing. "Sasha just asked me if you are okay because you are awake. She wants to know if it's really you before calling the police. She also wants to know if I am still alive."

"Hey guys check this out.", Armin said while turning up the volume of the TV.

The news was on. Mikasa served the pancakes on the plates. She took two of the plates and gave one to Armin while sitting next to him. Eren grabbed his plate and sat next to Mikasa. The three of them were seated on the sofa in front of the TV watching the news.

Breaking News:

'We are reporting live outside of Mitra's bank. Just moments ago, criminals robbed the bank and took three hostages with them. The police are tracking their whereabouts at the moment, avoid the area. The perpetrators' identity has been confirmed as the gang that calls themselves "The Scorpions". They are commonly identified with a Scorpion tattoo on their necks, reach out to the police if you see anyone suspicious.'

"These guys again, they piss me off.", Mikasa said.

"They are the same ones that robbed one of the stores of the mall right?", Armin asked.

"Yes, those assholes take hostages with them but they end up always killing them.", Eren said.

"That's the gang that posts the videos about they killing the hostages like is some sort of sick hunting game?", Armin asked.

"Yes, they take the victim to a secluded wood area and tell the victim to run, after a minute or so they run after the victim to kill it, recording the whole thing.", Eren said.

"That's sick.", Mikasa said.

"That's why they are one of the most feared and powerful gangs around.", Eren said.

"It doesn't make sense, the tattoo I mean, who would be so stupid to get a tattoo that clearly dictates that you are a criminal? Why have the police not caught them yet if they have a fucking mark on their necks screaming I'm the killer?", Mikasa said.

Suddenly Eren's phone made the notification sound again. "Oi, Mikasa, Dad wants to meet with us today for dinner, he is in the area."

"Tell him to pick us up then.", Mikasa replied.

-----

Mikasa P.O.V.

I arrived at the restaurant where the girls planned to meet for lunch. As I was walking from the parking area to the restaurant I felt the unease sensation that someone was following me. I've been feeling this for two weeks now. Even though I have gained many enemies by my hacking 'activities', and I joke about Putin or someone else knocking on my door, the reality is that it's highly unlikely that they know my identity. I didn't use my network, on top of it I used nested VPNs mixed with virtual machines with an eastern VPN added on top. Even though the probability of them knowing my identity is almost zero, my job provided me with an apartment in the most secured area in town plus extra police patrols around the building. But, of course, you can never be too cautious, so I always assumed the worst.

I took my phone out and texted my boss: "Activating precaution protocol."

Almost instantly he replied: "I will be on the lookout."

My boss, Pixis, has been very overprotective of me since I started working for the CIA. Since the first day that I arrived at the office and introduced myself, he personally asked to work with me. He was impressed by the stunt I pulled and introduced me to everyone on his team like I was some sort of Messiah sent by Thor itself from the land of Narnia. But not everyone reacted the same way he did when he saw me. It seemed like I wasn't what they were expecting to see since I do not fulfill the stereotype of a programmer. I am not a gamer, I am a ballerina, and what seems to be the worst of all to them is that I am a woman.

The biggest fear of a male chauvinist pig is a woman with confidence having success on a field dominated by men. When will they understand that women can do everything men do while even wearing high heels?

Ever since college, I've heard crap like:

"She probably slept her way in."

"Too pretty to be a programmer."

"A woman in my team? She will probably end up making us do all her work."

"She will probably need to be trained in the most basic crap. She doesn't look like she even knows how to do basic programming."

It's exhausting being a woman, why do we have to put double the effort to at least be noticed or recognized? When will they stop calling us 'emotional' or 'bossy', and start calling us instead 'passionate' and 'leaders'? We intimidate them because they can't control us and they know we have the potential to kick their asses.

I was snapped out of my mental rant when I received another text message from my boss: "Location received. As always, call me if you need to talk."

Good, from now on, until I turn it off, my boss will have a constant live feed of my location using my phone's GPS. Also, in case of emergency, I only have to press twice my phone's power button and in a matter of minutes the police, FBI, and the SWAT team will arrive at my location ready to get rid of any threat.

I can relax now, I thought as I opened the door of the restaurant and met my friends.

"Mikasa! We are here!", Sasha shouted while shaking an arm up to get my attention.

I sat at the table and grabbed the menu, the waiter was already taking the orders so I ordered the first thing I saw that was to my liking. Then I took out from my purse a box of girl scout cookies that I bought for Sasha and gave it to her.

She yelped excitedly and said, "This is why I love you!" while hugging the box.

"So, we've been booked for three schools next week.", Christa said.

Christa was referring to a feminist organization we all created that focuses on motivating girls to pursue a college degree, especially in fields dominated by men.

"I think that it's the most we've had in a week so far!", I said.

"Yes, people are helping by sharing our social media accounts. I have messages of people who want to join us.", Ymir said.

"We should hold a meeting for newcomers, we are going to need more people eventually anyways.", I said, and Ymir nodded.

"So Sasha, what do you have in mind so far to talk to your cute guy?", Annie asked.

"I have no idea, someone needs to distract the manager of the library so he doesn't interrupt us again.", Sasha said.

"Who volunteers as a tribute?", Ymir asked.

"Is the manager at least cute?", Annie asked.

"He was hot but had this unapproachable vibe, and on top of that, a jerk.", Sasha said.

"In that case, I offer Mikasa as a tribute.", Annie said.

"What!? Why me?!", I shouted.

"Because you never get intimidated or scared, and you always speak your mind. That personality is the greatest weakness of self-absorbed jerks.", Annie said.

I stared at her in disbelief while Sasha yelped excited looking at her cellphone.

"Girls! The package arrived! Just received the amazon notification.", Sasha said.

All of them gave me a devilish smile, confusing me, I asked, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Mikasa, this is an intervention.", Christa said with a serious tone.

"We've noticed that you've been grumpier than usual. We also know that you haven't, well, how do I put this?", Ymir said.

"You haven't had a good fuck in a while!", Annie shouted.

I wanted the earth to swallow me whole right there. Annie said that a little too loud for my liking.

"Where are you going with this?", I asked.

"Well, we bought you a little something to help you deal with, you know, the grumpiness. It just arrived at your door.", Sasha said.

"Are you crazy! You know I live with Eren and Armin!", I said.

"Come on is just a package in your name, they are not going to open it.", Annie said.

"You definitely don't know Eren.", I said in disbelief.

When we finished eating I rushed to my car and drove as fast as I could to my apartment. I ran to the elevator and then ran to my apartment's door. The package wasn't there. I panicked and opened the door and saw Eren about to open it. I ran and tackled him making us both fall to the floor.

"What the fuck Mikasa!", He shouted.

"Why were you trying to open MY package?!", I shouted back.

"Because it could be something dangerous sent from one of your enemies, like Fluffy Kim for example.", Eren said.

"Why would Fluffy Kim send me something life-threatening via AMAZON!?"

"I don't know! Amazon sells some weird shit and they ship from all around the world, I am pretty sure North Korea is included."

I gave him a death stare, snatched the package, and went to my room closing the door behind me.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. I opened the package and found the box of a pink glow-in-the-dark vibrator. I grabbed my phone and wrote in the group chat:

Mikasa: Got the 'package'.

I put the phone down and opened the box. The thing brought batteries and had a little plastic paper that said, "pull here". I think is to protect the device from direct contact with the batteries, I thought.

I pulled the damned paper and the thing started having an epileptic attack. That thing had a demon inside and I didn't know how to do a fucking exorcism! Scared of it, I screamed and dropped it to the floor.

Apparently, Eren heard my scream because he shouted, "I knew it! I am not letting you kill her Fluffy Kim!" while slamming open the door of my room.

I panicked and jumped on top of the frantic thing that looked like it was break dancing on the floor, to hide it.

"What happened?!", Eren asked me.

"Nothing! Get out!", I shouted, trying to stop the damned thing from moving. It felt like I was riding one of those mechanic bulls.

"You screamed! Something happened!!", Eren shouted worriedly.

"What's all the fuss about?", Armin appeared.

"Fluffy Kim sent something dangerous from Amazon to Mikasa!", Eren shouted.

"Fluffy Kim didn't send me shit! Get out!", I said giving a pleading look to Armin.

He got my message and pulled Eren by the back of his shirt, out of my room, and closed the door. I took a deep breath and found the button to turn that demonic thing off. I checked my phone again and read the messages:

Sasha: Yay! You have to name it!

Annie: She's right! Put a name on it!

Mikasa: The thing tried to kill me! I literally just pulled out a piece of paper from it and the thing started to have a panic attack!

Annie: 😂😂

Christa: You can control the intensity, check the instructions! But first, name it!

Ymir: It has to be a sexy name.

I rolled my eyes knowing that they won't drop the subject until I give the thing a name.

Mikasa: Any suggestions?

Sasha: Just think of something that turns you on. 🔥🔥

Something that turns me on, something sexy, I thought as my mind went blank. I started looking around my room. I had a stack of letters and spam stacked on top of my nightstand. I sighed and went through it, I stopped at a promotional flyer for men's underwear. It had a couple of men modeling the underwear. This could work, I thought.

Mikasa: I found a flyer of men's underwear, the models are kind of hot.

Annie: You are messing with us right? 🤦

Sasha: Hold on, she might be onto something. What's the name of the brand?

Mikasa: Levi's, I like it, I will call it Levi.

Christa: 🥳🥳 Now, it's time to let Levi give you a good time!! 🥳

Mikasa: 🤦

I put my phone down and stared at, well, the Levi thing. I still have a couple of hours until dinner, how do I start? Porn? I thought making my mind go into another rant.

Another industry dominated by men, made for men: the porn industry. They try to sell a ridiculous idea of what 'good' sex is supposed to be. They show a man sticking his penis in a woman's vagina with little to no foreplay time. After that, they start going ridiculously fast, like the world is about to end, and start changing the poor woman to different positions like she is some kind of rag doll. They do all of this while ignoring the most important thing: the clitoris. If the poor thing could talk it would scream something around the lines of:

"I'm fucking bored dude!"

"She is faking it!"

"Feeling nothing bro!"

"If I would describe this whole experience with you, I would use the forever-alone meme!"

I locked the door and grabbed the thing, "Let's see, please don't kill me."

-----2 hours later-----

Mikasa: Levi, oooooh Leviiiii!!!!

Annie: 😂😂

Sasha: 🥳🥳🍆🍆🥳🥳

Christa: 😎🔥

Ymir: 💥💦

--------

Author P.O.V.

"Mikasa, are you ready? Dad is already here!", Eren shouted.

"Yes!", Mikasa said, opening the door of her room ready to go.

"Well, someone is in a good mood.", Eren said while raising a brow.

Ignoring his comment Mikasa said, "Let's go, we don't want to make Grisha wait."

"You are right, Dad has texted me like 5 times already since he arrived.", Eren answered.

They took the elevator down and walked by the building lobby. Eren looked at the security guard and said, "That's a new guard right?"

"Yes, he arrived around two weeks ago.", Mikasa responded.

They went out of the building where Grisha, Eren's dad, was waiting for them inside his car.

"We have to make a quick stop at the bank first.", Grisha said.

Mikasa groaned in protest and said, "You know that nowadays you can do mostly all bank stuff through the internet right? I can teach you."

"I need to speak with a manager, is an account that locked me out and they told me to go to the bank directly. It will be quick.", Grisha explained.

"Why do old people avoid using technology?", Mikasa whispered to Eren.

"I heard that!", Grisha said.

They arrived at the bank and Grisha took a piece of paper and started to fill it out with his account information. He told Mikasa and Eren to start making the line for him. He finished filling up his account information and walked to the spot they were in the line.

"I'm hungry, they look like the Zootopia sloths.", Eren said looking at the bank employees.

Suddenly, a loud sound was heard that shook the whole building. Grisha jumped on top of Mikasa and Eren throwing them to the floor. Smoke was coming from everywhere. A huge truck had collided with the bank's main entrance, making a hole. In an instant, a bunch of men with guns, wearing hoodies, and a clown mask entered the building.

"Hands up! And sit on the floor now!", one of them commanded.

Mikasa P.O.V.

Grisha sat on the floor hugging me, and Eren sat in front of me protectively. A couple of the men grabbed an employee and went through a door. After a minute they started going out with black bags. I remembered that I still had my GPS location shared with my boss since lunch. I grabbed my phone and double-clicked the power button, it was programmed to send a high-priority emergency signal to different agencies. I hid my cellphone, pinching it with the inside border of my jeans and pulling my shirt over it. At that moment, one of the men was walking in front of all of us. He was staring at each one of us on the floor.

Eren was covering me with his body when the man said, "You, move!", to him.

Trying to still cover me Eren asked, "Where?"

The man moved closer to him and said, "To the side, now!", and pointed the gun at his head.

Eren hesitated for a moment but then he moved. I was looking to the floor avoiding the man's gaze, hoping that it had the same effect as when a teacher asks a question in a classroom and you avoid making eye contact in hope that he doesn't pick you to answer.

I saw him with the corner of my eye as he lowered the gun and tilted his head. It seemed as he was confused for a moment.

Grisha tightened his hold on me and I saw the man pointing his gun again.

"You!", he said.

I felt a cold metal being pressed against my forehead. When I lifted my gaze I was staring down the barrel of a Walter Q5 Match Semi-auto pistol, held by a man who had... a scorpion tattoo on his neck and grey eyes.

"You are coming with me."

-----------

Want to know what happens next? Check the rest of the story here: 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27557422/chapters/67401547

or in Wattpad:

https://www.wattpad.com/980985373-saved-by-deception-encounter

#rivamika #levimika #fanfic

[doubleshotofsomething]

To Hell & Back

Part Four:  “My wings are frayed and what’s left of my halo’s black”

--

Summary: Your exit strategy involves your neighbour... Well, it is your neighbour.

Prompt: "I don't want to live on this planet anymore."

Warnings: swearing. (Typos that will be fixed). That's it??

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x Reader

-----

Series Masterlist

-----

You weren't always this...angry.

You weren't always this spiteful and short tempered, and malicious enough to deliberately poison muffins.

At one point in life, you were everything you'd ever wanted in a friend. Kind and compassionate. Even patience was a virtue you had an abundance of.

Then, one day, some guy from Asgard came with an army of aliens and ripped a hole through your father's finances. Apparently damaging a bunch of buildings, including the one your father worked at, was bad for business and so it closed down.

Just as your mother's job had barely managed to get your family out of the red, her boss gets murdered at some important meeting that blew up – along with some world leaders. In her boss's place, the son took over and ran the company into the ground.

Luckily, your sister had a bakery that made just enough to cover your parents' costs and your summer jobs had saved you enough to get you through college. Then, some other guy came with another alien army, and decided to take half the world with him – or whatever he did

The wrong half of the world, in your opinion. You could have lived without watching your sister's husband run her business into the ground. And life would have been a little easier if you didn't have to stretch yourself thin, to make sure your mother saw the next day.

"Then half the world came back," you continue, eyes focused on the cat. "And some random family showed up in my apartment. I'm pretty sure the husband had a heart attack when he saw me–"

Bucky places another beer in front of you. You hate the taste, but coffee on an empty stomach has never worked well for you.

"–so I moved," you take a final sip of your second beer, before placing it down and reaching for the one he just placed in front of you. "Now, I'm here. Stuck with a nosy neighbour and his cat."

"You can keep her." Bucky sighs, leaning against the wall next to you. Your shoulders brush. "I don't know the first thing about cats."

You frown and look up at him. "Barnes... You are cat. And I already have you, why would I want another one?"

He scoffs, blue eyes meeting yours. "I am not that kind of lady."

"Oh god," you roll your eyes.

"Gotta buy me dinner first, doll–"

"Not a doll."

"Maybe take me dancing," he continues, lips twitching at the sight of your scowl. "If you're lucky, I might invite you in for tea."

You glance at the coffee machine, still boxed, sitting on his counter but don't comment. You know what it means, you know why he bought it, and the thought alone makes you queasy.

So you look back at the cat, curled on your bare lap, and sigh. "Sorry I came in without pants."

You don't say anything else and he chuckles. He found you in nothing but an old shirt and socks that night, so he's not really surprised.

"Sorry I helped you without a shirt." He replies. He would've answered you immediately, the second you said his name, but he had to find pants first.

Silence falls between the both of you, and it takes actual effort for Bucky to look away from you. Tempering down the disappointment that has the audacity to knaw at you, at your stubbornness, you turn back to the screen of his laptop.

He was reviewing CCTV footage of your building's basement garage. Two hours into the viewing and he heard you calling him from the balcony, so he had to pause.

Now, four hours, three beers on your side and a weird trip down memory lane later – you're helping him sift through footage at a faster rate.

"So," you begin, eyes glued to the screen. "I have a question, about that whole serum thing."

"Hmm?" It's the first question you've ever asked about that part of him, that part of his history.

"How does it work when it comes to diseases?"

Blinking, Bucky has to pause the video to look at you. "Diseases?"

You nod. "Like flu, chicken pox, tonsillitis. You know, that stuff."

"I'm confused–"

"Do you not get it or does it run through you like water?"

"What?"

"Or does your immune system just basically butcher it within the hour?" You blink at him, eyes wide with curiosity. "'Cause like, I had this friend with one helluva immune system. He never got sick, so does it work like that?"

He pauses, lips pursing as he considers you. "Do you wanna know if my blood cells can cure AIDS?"

"If that were the case, you'd be in a CDC off-site lab right now–" you put down the beer you've been cradling. "–so, no. I wanna know what kind of illness can knock a super soldier out long enough for me to use it as an excuse."

He blinks. Once. Twice. "Huh?!"

"Saturday is in a few days."

Oh.

"What does that have to do with me?" His face scrunches up into the most confused expression you've ever seen.

"As we both know," you narrow your eyes at him. "Ever since you saved my life, like the asshole you are, my parents have taken a liking to you. And since I poisoned their favourite couple last week, I'm in deep shit this week unless I can find a good reason to not show up."

"I'm not gonna apologise for saving you."

You raise an eyebrow. "Of course not. That would mean admitting it was very selfish of you."

This is not how he expected this conversation to go. Or how he wanted it to go. So, he decides to turn back to the screen and continue watching the footage.

You know you struck a nerve, and it would be easier for you to blame it on the beer, but you can't. You want answers, just as much as he does.

You want to know what gave him the right to knock down your door, or the audacity to have his friend fly you to the hospital. He won't straight up tell you, you tried when you woke up in the ICU and found him there, and it pisses you off that he might not ever tell you.

Bucky frowns at the screen. "The camera's get switched off right after I leave–" he glances at you. "Did you bribe security to switch them off?"

"We have security?"

"The guys at the front desk?"

You frown at him. You know those guys, you bring them baked goodies from work three times a week.

"Hang on," you place the cat on the couch next to you, cross your legs and turn to move closer to him. "Let me get this straight."

Your knees gently press into his thigh and he forced to look at you.

"You're telling me that Laurence with sinuses, down in the lobby, and Percy with the three-legged rabbit. Those guys–" of course you'd know that. "–they're security? For this apartment building? We have security?"

"You can't be serious–"

"We have a biometric system at the door and like cameras, and a patrol car that frequents this neighbourhood–" you're pressing a little to hard on your fingers and he's worried you just might snap one off. "–what the hell do we need security guards for?"

You continue rattling off all the safety measures the building has, which means your fingers have to suffer throughout the list, unless he does something about it.

Which he does. Almost as if instinct, his hands are clasping yours before he can make the decision to reach for them. They're warm and cold against yours, but the right kind of warm and cold that makes you frown at them.

His hands swallow yours, which isn't something that surprises you. It's the way you're not pulling away, the way you're not fighting it, the way you can't blame the alcohol because it almost feels...normal.

You haven't felt normal in such a long time.

"You gonna stop tryna break your fingers?" Bucky starts. "Or do I have to stay like this 'til you knock out?"

You blink. "Does a concussion knock you out long enough to warrant an excuse?"

"You're relentless."

"Says the guy watching CCTV footage because of a cat."

"It's... For a good cause."

"Me missing Saturday dinner is a good cause, Barnes."

He sighs. "Doll–"

"–I'll owe you one."

Bucky is about to argue, his mouth was halfway open before your words registered. That's really what happened.

It's not like he was looking for an opening or anything. A way of asking you, that wouldn't resort in an argument or anything.

It's not like those were the words he's been waiting for, for quite some time now.

Not at all.

Of course not.

But, who is he to argue with the mysterious workings of a universe.

The room you're in is dimly lit, the only light originating from the kitchen and the streetlights. But you can still see that dangerous glint in his eyes.

He grins. "Is that right?"

You swear you heard yourself gulp.

-----

"Okay–" you're fidgety and anxious, and can't seem to stand still as the elevator doors close. "–now, let's go through this again. What's our exit strategy?"

Bucky turns to fully face you. He's been trying to keep you calm ever since the parking lot, but even he can admit that he was far too distracted to be helpful.

It wasn't even his fault he was distracted, it was completely yours. When he invited you to Sarah's party , the party celebrating the expansion of the success revamp of the boat business, he had said to dress comfortably.

Not dress like you were put on this Earth to be the end of him.

He was waiting in the parking lot, the same one that had the camera's switched off right after he left, when you came barrelling towards him.

You had narrowly escaped your sister. She was getting off the elevator just as you were nearing it, so you quickly opted for the staircase beside it. You were a flurry of floral black and white and pink in a summer dress, your hair barely in place – you tried using pins and thought about ribbons, but then forgot about them when you couldn't find your other shoe – as you basically pushed him inside the car.

You used the passenger window to try and fix your hair, as best as you could. And he spent the drive trying to reassure you that you looked fine.

You looked more than fine, but he couldn't seem to muster up the words.

"Doll–"

"Not a doll." Is your automated response.

"You look fine, " sweet as sugar, is what he wants to say. "And, well, there is no exit strategy."

You gape up at the mammoth of a man in front of you. His words, a ballad of heathens in your book, echoes in your head.

"No exit strategy?" You whine, fisting his shirt as you desperately meet his eyes. "Bucky, no. Please. You can't do this."

The elevator doors open before he can respond to you. Sam is waiting on the other side of the doors, champagne glasses in both hands.

Hands still gripping into Bucky's shirt, hair almost presentable, Bucky's face flushing from hearing you say his name, and your expression portraying pure fluster. You and Bucky both turn to find Sam staring at the scene in front of him.

His eyebrows shoot up, golden brown eyes lighting up at the sight. "Okay. This definitely makes up for you being late."

Bucky blinks, seeming to snap out of his stupor. "Wait, wha–"

"No–" Sam cuts in. "–I know how you 40s guys are about kissin' and telling. I won't pry."

"Hang on, Sam–"

"Bathroom's on the next floor," he has the audacity to grin. "Just be quick about it. The speech's in twenty minutes."

With that, he steps away from the elevator, gives a curt nod and – with a Cheshire grin – walks away.

You slowly peel your hands away from Bucky and take a few steps back.

Bucky clears his throat. "So, about the exit strategy..."

---

TAGS :D : @sunflowerxbarnes , @ginger-swag-rapunzel , @arctic-duchess , @sltwins , @thewayilookatbacon , @buckyisperfect , @paryl

#bex's 1.5k meme challenge #bucky barnes #reader insert #sam wilson #x reader #bucky x reader #bucky fanfic #bucky fluff #mcu x reader #bucky x you #marvel fic #neighbour!bucky #neighbours au #enemiestolovers au #bucky barnes x reader #marvel masterlist #to hell and back #part 4 #bucky x y/n

[blush-and-books]

Juke 48 fluff please...

Prompt #48: “I told you to take care of yourself.”

Ksjahdsf High School AU inspired by the fact that my generation has been so crushed by the pressures of our education system that we would always show up to school with colds and strep and literally anything because we refused to miss school. Double inspired by the morning I threw up at 3AM and had a cold but literally went downstairs and monologued to my mom that I had to go to school bc I had two quizzes that would have been hell to make up and I would have had major anxiety if I missed anything. And she let me go. Triple inspired by the fact that pre-COVID I would get sick routinely 4 times across Oct, Nov and Dec because my peers would also show up sick. So, yeah. Here’s to the american education system 

Luke knows that something is off with his best friend when she finally approaches her locker that Wednesday morning, where he had been anxiously bouncing on the balls of his feet waiting for her.

Where she is usually like sunshine to him, glowing brighter than the California sunrise -- a lyric in the song he was planning to show her, but would never admit was inspired by her as well -- she arrives with the pale glow of the moon instead. Julie’s eyes are half-open, and her usually bouncy curls have been pulled back and up unto a messy bun. 

He hasn’t seen her like this since-

“Jules,” he mumbles, half to himself and half to her when she finally looks up and notices him. Instantaneously, he takes an energetic step towards her, letting his hands rest on her upper arms. “Are you sick? Again?”

As if she doesn’t want to hear it, not again, her bottom lip juts out in a pout that is only seen on a miserable Julie Molina before she brushes past him to her locker. Deeply concerned, Luke trails after her. 

“Julie, hey,” he attempts, but she won’t look up at him. There’s a shame in her face while she gets her calculus textbook from her locker, and it’s then that Luke notices the thermos she’s clutching in her left hand. “Let me take this stuff. Drink your tea. Don’t try and talk, I’m sorry I didn’t notice.”

She shakes her head, it’s not his fault, she’s the idiot showing up to school sick, but she couldn’t miss today. She just couldn’t. 

Without putting up a fight, she lets him take her backpack and textbook from her possession while she unscrews the lid of her thermos and chugs two big gulps of tea. Temporary relief is brought to her throat, but it doesn’t last long. 

“I-” She attempts, but Luke shoots her a glare and wags a finger at her. Ignoring him, she powers on. “I have a calc test and a history quiz and an English debate.”

“You can make those up.” “But do I want to? Do I want to miss a whole day of notes and work and assignments because I have a runny nose?”

(And a sore throat, obviously. And a headache. She also woke up right before her alarm to throw up, but she hasn’t felt the urge to do that again since. You get the picture though.)

“Jules, I mean this in the best way possible, but you look like there’s a lot more than a runny nose happening here. A runny nose was two weeks ago. This looks like your whole body aches.”

(Fair assessment. It does.)

She lifts her thermos to her lips once again to soothe the throbbing that resulted from her excuses, feeling her stomach twirl in a way that she can’t tell is another bout of nausea or just Luke making her painfully fall more in love with him. 

He, on the other hand, is one step away from hauling her over his shoulder and driving her home himself. He doesn’t know what to do. Julie’s stressed, and the stress has made her vulnerable to colds for the past couple of months, and this is the third time he’s seen her sick. No matter what, she shows up to school -- freshman year, she stayed home sick with the stomach flu, and had a panic attack in the bathroom on the day that she came back. 

He knows because he was in her music class that year. Her best friend, Flynn, had rushed into the music room to explain to their teacher, and he’ll never forget it. 

Coincidentally, it was two months ago, with Julie’s first ceremonious cold of the year, that Luke officially realized that he was in love with her. It was the feeling of seeing her uncomfortable, powering through because she felt like she had to -- he was so proud, yet so worried, and wanted to bring her home so they could watch Tangled and he could make her the matzo ball soup recipe that Alex taught him when they were kids. 

“I know,” she croaks at him, face crumbling. “It does. I feel like shit. But I just have to get through today, and I’ll be fine.”

(After spending six hours at school, another two on homework, pedaling through five bottles of Gatorade and getting four hours of sleep because her throat and sinuses prevent her from any adequate rest. Yeah. She’ll be fine.) ((She’ll still come to school tomorrow.))

Luke knows all of this. In his head, he’s drafting the text to his parents that he’ll type out in his lap during first period to tell them that he’s going to be at the Molina’s for the next couple of days, taking care of Julie. They do have a band to worry about, after all, and their lead singer needs to be in top shape. 

Just looking at her tired face makes his chest hurt. She looks like she hasn’t smiled in a long time. Wanting to comfort her, somehow, he reaches his hands up to cradle her cheeks -- but she swats him away. 

“Luke, no. I’m not getting you sick.”

Fighting her flailing hands, he manages to slip his own to her cheeks, making sure that the fingers that are wandering into her hair rub her scalp. That’s always a calming, relieving feeling. 

“Impossible, mariposa. My immune system is Herculean.”

She looks up at him, fully, for the first time that morning. He can’t help but grin at getting to see her face, no matter how tired she thinks she looks, and even though she thinks he is full of shit she can’t help but mirror his expression. 

“There’s my girl,” he whispers unconsciously. Her skin warms underneath his hands. “Are you alright? Do you have a fever? You’re getting a little toasty.”

Her skin temperature rises from her blush even higher as his hands slip from her hair and to her forehead, pathetically testing for a fever. 

“I’m good,” she shakes her head, trying to brush it off. His eyes refocus on her, and he sighs; the air staying silent between them as she tries to decipher what he’s thinking. 

“You need to take better care of yourself,” he insists. “I told you to take care of yourself. Can’t have my frontwoman blowing her nose in between each song at a gig.”

“I’m your frontwoman now? Fuck Julie and the Phantoms, I guess.”

Luke smirks, and for a heavenly moment forgets that the precious girl in front of him isn’t in pain, but she stiffles a cough after her joke. Frowning, he drops his hands to grab hers so that he can hold them up between their chests. 

“You’re my everything, silly. Frontwoman, best friend, study partner, favorite person-”

“-Walking petri dish.”

“Yes. My walking petri dish.”

The joke lightens Julie up. Maybe today, if her and Luke can keep making jokes, she will get through. She can’t think of anything else to say as his lips press against her forehead in a gesture so caring that she would grab his face and move those lips down a few inches if she weren’t, you know, a walking petri dish. 

Before either of them can say anything else, the school bell rings. It’s time for her miserable day to start. Just the idea of sitting still in her math class makes her shiver, and she wraps her arms around herself. 

“Are you cold?” Luke jumps to ask, moving closer to her as the halls start moving with crowds of other students. 

“Luke, I’m fine-”

“My locker is right by your math class. I have a flannel in there. You’re wearing it today.”

“Luke-”

“No arguments. I was walking you to class anyways. I’m walking you to every class, actually. Your backpack weighs more than you do and that’s the last thing you need to feel right now.”

(Not to be creepy, but Julie Molina would marry Luke right now if he asked. Sometimes she wonders if her other best friend, Flynn, is right when she makes jokes about her and Luke being a married couple. If this is marriage, sign her up.)

“Thank you,” she says lightly, trying not to strain her throat. Luke responds with tugging on her left hand, beginning to pull her towards the staircase at the end of the hall. 

“We’ll get you better, Molina. Mark my words.”

Tagging @willexx because you got all impatient on me. love you babe and love you too anon!!

[ecclais-fouoras]

Sometimes moving on is good

Chapter 10&11

(11&12 on wattpad)

Chapter 9 here

Somehow both of you had managed to get your vacation at the same time, and you were planning to surprise Diane with a trip during the two weeks off you both had.

She was collecting strawberries in her garden and you were watching her from the window like you usually did when she was out. This time you decided to have fun and go find her to help. It was the morning and your flight wasn't before the afternoon.

You dressed to go out and came out the house and behind her so you could surprise her with soft kisses.

Your hands pulled her hair to the side as you pressed your mouth against the back of her neck, moving further to her jawline nibbling her skin quietly as your hands caressed her sides greeting her by kneading both her breasts.

"Oh hello there...what are you doing ?" She playfully asked as she giggled.

"Well I Wanted to meet my neighbor  have you seen her anywhere ?"

"Haha very funny...are you single by any chance ?"

"Yes I am, just don't tell my girlfriend I said that."

She set her box down before turning around and pointing at her house

"I think she lives here but most of the time she spends at her girlfriends house"

"Oh really ? Her partner must be a very nice person"

"Not really she's quite annoying I've heard"

You pretended to be offended for a second before replying.

"hah babe ! I am not annoying..."

She kissed the pout on your face and rested her arms around your shoulders to hold you while yours circled her waist. You both held each other for a few minutes, or was it hours ? Just enjoying the feeling of your bodies against each other, being close.

Her head resting against your neck as the sun was heating her skin keeping you in a warm embrace.

"Are you done with the strawberries ?"

"Almost why ?"

"I'll give you a hand so we can go home quicker"

"Okay we'll get started then"

"I will"

She bent down to pick up the box filled with the red fruit and you smacked her ass as she yelped, "hey !"

"Oops I thought there was a fly right there, wait here it is again" you said before slapping her again before grabbing her by the hips and pulling her close. She moaned at the feeling of your leg between hers.

"What is it about strawberries that gets you going like this y/n ?"

"I'm pretty sure it's not the strawberries."

"Well.. what Then ?"

"It's the paints"

She got up and began picking the berries up and placing them in her basket. You caressed her butt one last time before adding.

"Yeah...it's definitely the paints"

"Get to work y/n"

You took your own box and mimicked her movements. Filling your box up you picked one and brought it to your lips to have a bite.

"Hey put that down"

"Try me" you ate the fruit, moaning at the taste of it.

"You didn't even rince it, that's nasty"

"No it's not, besides you don't put any chemicals in this, it's good for my immune system"

"Yeah it'll be good when you have a little worm growing inside you, y/n"

"Whatever you say babe... At least

Come on and have a taste"

You picked one up again this time holding it between your teeth and moving your head closer to diane's, pausing in front of her lips, waiting for her to bite down on it.

"It's silly y/n"

"Mmf...comMfe..on" after some esitating she finally tasted the strawberry before you spit out the leaves and kissed her softly.

She giggled the sugary taste making your kiss more special.

"I'm really not going faster with you distracting me"

You got back to gardening, and once there was no more ready fruits you both went back to the house, hand in hand except for the recipient you held.

After some washing and tidying up you floped down on the couch her upper body resting on your lap as you massaged her temples with on hand and played with her hair with the other one.

"Baby ?"

"Mmm?" She groaned eyes still shut.

"Sit up please I gotta fetch something reel fast"

"Okay.." she sat up and waited as you disappeared to your office for a second.

You came back with your keys and put on your shoes at the bottom of the stairs.

"Can you grab your coat and put on your shoes again ?"

"Wh..wh..what's going on ?"

"Just trust me babe ?"

"..the things I do for you"

"Take your phone and keys too and meet me in the car baby"

"Wait...y/n !?? Where are we going ?!"

Chapter 11

WARNING ⚠️ SMUT (very slight mommy kink nothing too crazy)

You were both driving to the airport and you had managed to get her to bandage her eyes for the trip, after waiting at the airport you finally had hopped in the plane your baggages in the hold.

The flight was calm and Diane didn't complain about being blinded, your hand was on her thigh, keeping her grounded through contact.

When you were almost there you decided it would be too stupid not to let her see the landscape from up here especially since you weren't sure it would be this sunny when you left. So you tapped her shoulder before whispering in her here that you were going to take it off. She blinked a few times at the sudden light around her, she confusedly looked at you before you said

"I couldn't let you miss this"

Pointing out the small window as you were passing the few lakes and swamps surrounding the colorful fields.

"Oh good...this is beautiful y/n...where are we ?"

"..well this is...ouh you almost had me... nice try baby"

"I had to try"

"You'll find out soon we're almost here"

The rest of the time was calm between the few kisses you shared and the ones you pressed to her neck while your fingers rode up and down her thigh.

When the flight was over you got back your stuff and found the car you'd rented.

You took of her blindfold and she gasped

"Y/n are we in france ????!"

"Really ? What gave it away ? Let me guess the car's plate"

"Well there's an F and the shops have french names"

"Then Yes we are "

"I don't even know what to say y/n...i.. I'm..thank you I guess"

"No need to thank me..baby i wanted to take you on a trip so here we are. Don't get to comfortable cause we are driving for an hour an a half maybe"

"We ? Oh honey you are driving"

"How come ?!"

"It's your trip and I don't know where we're going"

"True"

After driving for around 1h15 you arrived where you were staying, it was a small farm that you had rented, away from the city but not to far so you'd still be able to go visit some stuff. It was a quiet place surrounded by fields and Forests.

"My god baby this place is Wonderful, how did you find this ?!"

"My grandma lives a few minutes away, I used to ride my bike here when I was 5."

She looked saddened all of the sudden for some reason and you couldn't help but hold her in your arms for a second before asking her what was wrong.

"..will you teach me ?..how to ride I mean"

You pulled back slightly raising your brows

"You don't need any help riding me ?...Oh you meant the bike"

"Yes I did you pervert...m..my mother never took the time to teach me"

"Well it'll be my pleasure, surely we can borrow my grandma's we hen we go there tomorrow"

"Wait...what ?"

"It was supposed to be a surprise so you wouldn't be anxious but your meeting my family tomorrow, we're having dinner at their house".

"Why didn't you tell me !? Y/n ! You know how I need to prepare for these...do they know how old I am ? What are they gonna think ?"

"Diane calm down baby..they know all that already they don't care as long as you make me happy and I love you...now let's put these inside I want to show you around before we settle in."

You both put your things inside the house and got ready for a small walk outside.

You went buy the animals that were there, a few goats, donkeys, horses and normand cows all enjoying their grass behind the wooden fence. She looked around eyes shining with amazement, feeding the animals and holding your hand as you went through the small paths protected by the leaves, the sun shining through them leaving dots of light on her face and her bare shoulders. You found a spot near a small fountain where you dipped your feets inside the cold Water, snuggled together while listening to the sounds of birds chirping and animals running though the trees. Your eyes Met each other and you were both driven by the desire to press your lips together, bodies tightly wrapped against each other, you started making on on the soft grass, the green plants tickling her ears as you started prepping up on your elbows on both sides.

Lips trailing downward to her neck, biting collarbones, hands running over her body, curves finding her hair to cup her cheek lovingly. Her breath getting shallower by each pressing of your lips, each touch of your fingers against her skin, eyes flying closed as she enjoyed the feeling of having you have her here.

The sun warming up her skin and water drowning out her sounds, little whimpers fell out of her mouth as you took your breast in one hand, lips starting their way down her body. Taking of her shirt and bra, leaving her chest available for your wet attacks, sucking her nipples as she moaned against you.

Your hands playing with each of her buds while you went down on her, she shivered in anticipation when she felt you take off her panties with your teeth, before she opened her legs welcoming you with her dripping pussy.

"So wet for me my baby"

".. please...I'm close already"

You wasted no time devouring her, between the soft licks on her clit and the sweet sucking of her lips, you had her on the edge quickly, her hips grinding hard against your jaw, fist grabbing anything she could hold, the grass, your hair, her skirt.

"Does that fell good baby ?"

"Uh..uh B..BABE...Y/N I..I'm gonna cum ....AH.!!"

she came when you entered her with two fingers, curling them inside her clenching walls. Bending her back until she snapped shaking in your arms, Your teeth grazing the skin there, drinking up her juices.

You looked up and pulled her panties back on and her skirt back up before coming up and kissed her while whispering.

"I love you"

You walked back to the house after she regained some strength, settling your things in the room before fixing each other something to eat, after you were both finished you washed the dishes while she looked outside again, admiring the landscape.

"I'm done sweetie do you want to go in the jacuzzi ?"

"There's a jacuzzi ?"

"Well it's a hot tub, outside but still"

"Baby i don't have any swimsuit"

"That's a good thing I packed one for you then"

"Well in that case lead the way"

She put on the two piece you'd picked for her, it was a green color that complimented well her red hair, and hugged her curves perfectly. And you had your swim shorts with a bikini top.

"Baby you look so hot in this Diane"

"you know me well babe it's a nice color"

"Hop in then babe, the waters warm just how you like it"

You lented your hand to help her in and she settled herself on your lap, straddling your things.

"There was plenty of room not that I'm complaining but you didn't have to sit here"

"I can get off if you want"

"Well I'm not stopping you if you wanna get off on me like.. go ahead I'll be happy to watch."

"You know what I meant, I can get off of you"

"I don't want you to"

"Good, me neither"

She began kissing your neck while her hands untangled your bikini straps fingers dancing on your nipples as you moaned.

"Let me make you feel as good as you did mommy" she was shocked at the words that came out of her own mouth, never would you had thought it was something that turned her on but you have her a reassuring smile and went on.

"Well go ahead then"

Her hands went down while she kept nibbling your collarbones, underneath your shorts immediately circling your clit, digits dragging through your folds, she build up the pace and grounded her hips down on your thighs, also getting wet from the interaction.

"Go ahead...baby...fuck yourself on mommy's lap"

After a few minutes you both came moaning each others name, her hips grinding with force on your lap, her fingers stroking you in rythme. You rested your head against hers breaths evening out, hands caressing her hair.

"This is going to be a great vacation"

"I love you y/n"

"Me too baby..me too"

#sarah paulson fanfiction #diane sherman x reader #diane sherman #sarah paulson characters

[onyourzeus]

• certainty | kyh

ykcyj ➝ arskyh

title: certainty pairing: kang younghyun (youngk of day6) & you genre: FLUFF words: 2.6k

author’s note: requested by @strxwberrifields :’) thank you so much for fueling the idea for this prompt. i think i strayed away a little, though, i’m sorry! i hope it is still enjoyable. also, youngk’s cover of when you love someone was playing while i wrote this, it helped set the mood a ton. (listen to it, you won’t regret it)

any requests? check my pinned post if i’m accepting any at the moment, thanks!

there’s something about being in love 

that you can’t put into definitive words 

it’s so sickeningly cliche, you know that

there’s nothing more annoying than hearing 

someone gush about their significant other 

over and over and over— we get it! you’re in a relationship and it’s great and just

don’t rub it in, please 

kidding aside

—you don’t think your relationship with younghyun is like that 

if anything, you feel somewhat lacking in telling him how much you love the guy

dating a pretty famous bassist, idol, vocalist, business admin major—

scratch that. dating someone like younghyun is already out of the ordinary for you 

and so you can’t help but feel… insecure, at times

or feeling left out from his idol circle and the fact that 

you can never bring yourself to fully immerse in it like he does

you don’t blame him!! you never blame younghyun for who he is 

it’s just a bizarre concept to find yourself even crossing paths with the now love of your life

for almost a year, might you add

the thought still sends goosebumps all over your skin

and a silly smile that gets you weird looks when you’re in public 

man, if they knew who that smile was about

who your heart is for

they’d be jealous, duh

or judge you because— 

you? with a guy like him? scoffs 

you should get out of your head sometimes, it’s healthy (try it, please) 

you’re good to younghyun, right? you think you are

a guy like him is smart enough to know what’s good for him… right? 

STOP IT STOP you have a mission to do today

and that’s to bring the very same guy—  

(plaguing your mind and disrupting the rhythm of your heartbeat every waking second)

—his lunch today

it’s just him in the studio; him and his bandmates have been doing their own thing for a few months now

which is a refreshing change of pace for everyone, you heard  

but work is still work; and younghyun is recording yet another single to upload sometime soon

you’re excited, and jealous of how his mind works 24/7

but with that much thinking and execution comes a lot of hunger; and younghyun is not immune to not having an appetite

man’s stomach is the blackhole, anything that goes in there is nowhere to be found

(as if it never came in the first place)

you text him you’re by the entrance, and there’s a lot of typos

“hrre> i hv lunch. its heavy”

you know he won’t respond because there is no second wasted recording; you still do it, anyway 

just in case

you’re greeted by a few people working in the bldg, some of them recognize you already which you’re still shy about 

finally, you enter his studio, careful not to topple over the take out stuff you have in the bag

as expected, younghyun is inside the soundproof room where the ~*~magic~*~ happens, eyes closed and headphones on

immediately, your heart soars at the sight of him. it’s not a new thing for you to see him in his workspace

but it’s always a new feeling to watch how he lets the music flow in his presence

he can’t hear you but you’re careful in taking out bowls of ramen, broth, rice, and other side dishes on the coffee table. he’ll probably be done in a few minutes—

door opening louder than you anticipated

“you’re here!! and there’s FOOD,” younghyun exclaims, the headphones slung around his neck with the cord hanging in midair

you’re shook at his speed, but then again the one thing he loves the most is right in front of him

yep: food 

you laugh, greet him with a kiss on the cheek (that warms your own face up, you’ll never get used to doing that) and let him know about his probably expensive headphones just dangling around

“eh who cares,” younghyun casually shrugs but you keep reprimanding him with an expectant look 

“fine fine, i’ll put them down safely”

“good, have you eaten today?” 

“yep but that was like an hour ago” 

that’s younghyun for you, and you expected it. so you tell him to dig in

“it’s from the ramen place we tried a month ago, thought you’d want some soup since it’s getting colder”

his eyes light up like a kid opening his birthday present which he already knew what would be inside

“this is amazing, babe, thanks!” he reciprocates your kiss on the lips this time: short but sweet 

you squeal, and temporarily feel calm and collected about his “approval” 

you sit next to him, just watching him attack the noodles first, then slurping the broth with utmost grace (spoiler alert: he is chowing down like it’s his last meal)

and yet you’re falling so deeply in love again as you try to picture the image of him happily eating in your mind, framing it and keeping it stored there safely

“you’re not eating?” he asks in between bites of kaarage and takoyaki. it was practically a meal for three

you shake your head. “i ate before coming here” which wasn’t a lie, and he’d know if it was since he’d hear your stomach grumble 

but that takoyaki sure looks tasty… 

“wh—” younghyun shoves one right inside your mouth, chuckling as he watches you struggle to chew it so suddenly 

“you know you wanted some,” he teases. pouting, you finish the takoyaki before trying to defend yourself

but younghyun had something else up his sleeve; or rather he grabs a tissue and dabs it on the side of your cheek

“someone was hungry,” he sing-songs, slanted eyes glinting with amusement

“you have the nerve to say that considering you finished a full course meal!” you sneer at him, feeling his gentleness as he wipes your cheek clean

you keep bantering back and forth like that; it’s natural, it’s what you like about your relationship

he finishes and it hasn’t even been an hour since you got here. someone can study this man’s digestive system and find new wonders of the human body in him 

buuuut you kinda wanna keep younghyun to yourself for now— as much as you can, really, seeing as he’s an idol… 

“that was sooo good,” he sighs, leaning back against the couch with one hand around your shoulders

you rest your head against his, cradling up to his warmth

he’s so cuddly when he’s just finished eating

not to mention

“zzz”

“younghyun, you have a song to record!” you shake him awake, and he’s not kidding either

the man just falls asleep! 

“mm five minutes…” he dozes off, hugging you even closer to him. both arms around your frame this time

now that you’re face to face, you can clearly see the exhaustion smearing his perfect features

without make up on, his eyelids are veiny, there’s a shadow underneath them and his face just physically looks dull 

the more he eases into you, the heavier his body feels sinking into the couch

and your heart sinks with it

younghyun works so incredibly hard— literally every single day, there is no stopping him from creating and doing and sometimes

you just want to tell him to slow down, pause for a moment

it makes your chest tighten, to think that younghyun thinks time is moving so fast for him

that he needs to accomplish so much before time runs out

you lift your hand up and card your fingers through his hair (he had it dyed black recently, and you’re all for it) 

he hums in satisfaction and nuzzles his head against you even further

then, you move your hand over to his cheeks, tracing its height and going over the tip of his nose

boop

and steal kiss 

he can really fall asleep like this, right next to you

you might doze off with him too 

but, just like younghyun, true to his word— 

he’s awake and back into recording mode less than ten minutes later

he stretches like a cat, and leaves you bewildered at the amount of energy he’s recharged himself with in such little time

“you give me energy, what can i say?”

“shut up” 

he tries to clean up the empty bowls and used utensils, but you shoo the musician away

“go. work, i’ll handle this” he knows he can’t argue with you on that

it makes you feel useful to him, somehow, just doing these little things to accommodate for his lifestyle

you wonder if it’s enough

you spend the rest of the afternoon in the studio. while he records and edits and goes back to recording, you brought your laptop to do some work remotely

he lets you hear some of the recorded lines he’s done, and you nod your head all the time and say they sound perfect, they sound like him

he doesn’t really like that

“there’s bound to be something that’s missing. what else would you have liked to hear from this verse?”

he looks so serious, brows knitted, lips curled forward whenever he listens to himself in the audio

you feel bad; you don’t know much about music mixing and all that— plus you’re not lying when you say you like what you hear

but maybe in this area, there’s not much you can contribute in his life 

and these are the moments when you think you fail as an equal partner

younghyun realizes the abrupt quiet in the air as you make yourself feel smaller than you do

“just a little more and i’ll be done for the day,” he tells you, patting your head reassuringly

you give him a meek nod, not meeting his eyes, and go back to some work

at least, you try. for distraction

he sounds disappointed— maybe you need to learn how to analyze beats and harmonies and such next time? 

before you know it, younghyun finishes up and saves his progress

you’ve also fallen asleep a little there while sitting down on the floor, and your head on top of your laptop 

“babe?” 

when you wake up, the take-out bags are nowhere to be seen and your laptop is inside your messenger bag

“can i hang out at your place tonight?” younghyun asks, and you try to regain your senses

“yeah, yeah of course,” you say absent-mindedly, concerned thoughts swirling your consciousness

younghyun doesn’t bring a lot when he goes to the studio, he leaves the instruments in the room and only carries his phone and USB on him

upon exiting the place, he grabs hold of your bag and slings it on his arm

on the other, he invites your hand in his

you don’t say anything, still feel guilty for the incident a while ago, but accept his intertwining fingers

he squeezes yours tight, and gives you a slow, reassuring kiss on the cheek 

“i’m sorry if i pressured you back there,” he apologizes firmly, looking at you straight in the eye

it’s a little intimidating, if you’re being honest 

because when younghyun owns up to something— or even when he’s just determined about his words

he wants you to look at him, and see the truth in what he’s telling you

in retrospect, that’s how you fell in love

as that’s how younghyun confessed his own feelings

but now, he’s saying sorry for something you should be sorry for

before you even feel the tears well up, he has his hands cup your face, rubbing alongside your temples 

the air is still outside, and there’s a faint noise of people chattering, walking, and existing in the world

but what you see is younghyun, and the way he presents you all of who he is at the moment

“it’s not you,” you start off the cliche, so you stop yourself

“i just feel like i don’t do anything…”

“anything?”

“in this relationship… that’s beneficial to you…” finally, words that explain some of your true, insecure feelings

you shut your eyes as tight as you can as to avoid confronting younghyun’s gaze 

he’s quiet

probably mad

possibly about to break up with you

realizing that you’re right

instead, a slight pain on your forehead and you mutter a surprised, “ow.”

“that’s what you get,” younghyun says, seriously but his eyes show that of worry

you pout, and he tries to resist but he can’t so he kisses you

“for thinking the opposite of who you are to me,” he continues, letting go of your face and sliding his fingers in between the crevices of yours once more 

you leave it like that, feeling just a tad bit calmer than before

but younghyun keeps looking at you, poking at your side which causes you to be ticklish

and he knows that 

“you hungry?” he asks once you reach downtown

“just a little,” you say, thinking of what to cook dinner for the both of you soon since he said he’s coming over

“let’s get some galbi,” he urges, tugging you towards the restaurant with the glowing sign

“but you just ate…” you say quizzically, and as if on cue your stomach grumbles

well it has been a few hours for you

but for younghyun, technically he should already be full for the rest of the day!

“c’mon, my treat,” he doesn’t take no for an answer and you guys sit at a table with the stove in the center

for the rest of the night, he grills you your meat 

doesn’t even let you put them on your plate, it has to come from him as you feeds you some of your favorites, galbi, gobchang, hangjusal; the whole nine yards

of course, he’s eating too, and laughing, and making you smile

“room for dessert?” he asks, and you shake your head no too many times

“get yourself some, i know you want to” you tell him, and he’s already calling for the waiter to bring him a mochi or two

he eats it while walking back to your apartment with you; and he seems like such a satisfied kid

you can’t go on throughout the day being all sullen with younghyun; it’s impossible

back in your apartment, you ease into the familiarity of the place

and so does younghyun

you ready some clothes for him that he’s left in your dresser to prepare a warm bath

but he calls you in the living room 

“just a moment, younghyun”

“no no i need you now :(“ 

well, can you resist that tone? no

“what’s up? don’t you want to freshen up first?”

“i want you first” 

:( “okay,” you say as shyly as your pounding heart can let you say

and you’re back in the same position as in the studio, right after he ate

arms around you, and he coaches your legs to rest on his 

basically you’re koala-hugging him on your couch

“what’s this?” you say embarrassed. even in your own goddamn apartment, he makes you feel so many things at once

“being extra clingy”

“i can see that— but why?”

“so you don’t doubt yourself” 

you’re taken aback

“there’s nothing that you need to change or do in front of me, or for me to make me love you more,” he starts off, and there goes his eyes again. staring, watching you. steady, serious but.. calming, in a sense

“because i already love you, so much. for everything that you do for me. all the little things.”

“i love you too,” you whisper, finding it hard to find words to describe how lucky you are to have him

again

but this time, you know he doesn’t mind

just having you right here by him is enough, having him recognize the small yet appreciated gestures that you do

and how he manages to check up on your own feelings so quick, and remedy the sadness just like that

there’s just something about being in love with younghyun

that words can’t express

but this moment with him right now can at least make you feel

that much loved by him too

#young k imagines #young k scenarios #day6 imagines #day6 scenarios #young k x reader #brian kang imagines #brian kang scenarios #day6 au #by:jiae #dot series