#the rebels usually join me and we just do dumb jokes

[hopeassassin]

Rally’s Scribbles in the Work

So after that lovely anon blew my mind away with their kind words and wonderful support, and because I keep telling you guys about my writing plans without actually giving you even a teensy little detail, I have decided to stop being coy and actually likely get your hopes up a bit by dilvulging small details and bits of plots of what is currently going on in my G-Drive. 

This will be a brief recount of what I have currently baking in the AoMomo oven, so let’s dive right into it! Please note that the numbers are in no particular order - I just keep revisiting each of these stories and writing a bit more to them whenever I feel like it. So there’s no ranking and no importance, just a number to keep proper count.

1. “Knight of Renown” Dragons and Knighthood AU, based on that one AoMomo pic with Momo ithe Knight and Dragon Aomine that I reblogged a while back and I actually let me imagination go a bit too much in the tags. I ended up actually rather enjoying the premise I set up in the tags so I actually started writing that one out!  Completion rate at about: 5%? I’d say? Less? :D 

2. AoMomo Music AU - a dearly beloved project that I am pouring a lot of love and attentioin to. That’s why it’s coming along super slow. It’s been in the making since November and I chewed it and mulled through it so thoroughly that I’ve grinded to a halt with it. Intending for there to be 2 chapters, and I am at about 25-30% of chapter 1 currently ready currently. At the pace I’m going, it might be another full year before you actually get to see this bad boy up, but when you do, I’m sure you’ll see all the care and effort that went into making it perfect. Honestly, no joke here, I am intending for this to be one of my rare masterpieces in this tag. So I’m not gonna rush it!

3. AoMomo Car Accident AU where Daiki barely manages to save Satsuki from being run over by a hit-and-run and ends up being the one run over instead. This was my first piece of writing after coming back to AoMomo last summer and yet completion rate is a sad thing. I want it to be flawless, a perfectly agonizing, thrilling type of torturous read that gives you a great sense of relief by the end of it. Needless to say, the clusterfuck of negative feelings is a bit difficult to hold onto for a prolonged period of time and the work is coming along slowly. Planned at about 5 chapters, I have 2 complete ones and the 3rd one is at about ... 30%? Hopefully before this year’s whumptober, we’ll have a finished piece!

4. AoMomo bond character study, which went in a direction I did NOT expect nor intend. It was suppsoed to be an idea that you will see also listed below. But I started this one from their early childhood and somehow, instead of focusing on the kids and their bond and their weird interactions with each other and their first moments of realizing they are of opposite genders, it turned into something much too fun to let go of and the ideas for scenes just kept piling. It’s going to be a long one, very explorative and very in-depth character study on the bond between these two and how it changed over the years, and their first encounters with their sexuality inbetween (because that was really the main idea that I started with... xDDD;;;) Currently at 1 chapter complete, chapter 2 somewhere around 50-60% completion, and at least 6-7 chapters to come after that, soooo.... :’DDDD YEAH. THIS ONE AIN’T SEEING THE LIGHT OF DAY ANYTIME SOON.

5. AoMomo deciding to practice stuff on each other, because I am a sucker for this trope.THIS will be what the idea under previous number 4 was SUPPOSED to be like, but it instead spun out of control. So this one, under number 5, is going to be the smutty, idiots bumbling through physicality to discover that they actually have serious feelings for each other kind of piece. Chapters are planned at about at least 6-7 or so, but not my usual monstrocities! :D First we start with practice kissing, and we move our way up from there! 

6. “The Evil of Humanity” AU - a dystopian futuristic kinda mecha AU, sort of an amalgamation of some of my favourite anime in the genre - a bit of NGE, a bit of Gurren-Lagann, a lot of Darling in the Franxx rewrite and improvement, in distinctly AoMomo colors. I poured a lot of thought and love into initial outline of main moments for this one, and I really hope to make it an epic, thrilling action/adventure with a big dash of romance kind of read! Chapters currently not even planned properly, because I need to sit down and consider this seriously. It will definitely be more than 10-15 though, and they will be my usual chapter lengths so.... likely no time soon. :D 

7. Aomine Fanclub - I got a plot bunny some time ago and I shared it here and my friends were spurring me on with it, so I started trying it out a little more. I’ve written out like... maybe 30% of this one as well, but need to re-read and reconceptualize to get it back on track. The issue with this one is that I’m not really sure where I want to take it, thus it’s on the back burner at the moment.

8. KagaKuro AoMomo double-date kind of story, where Aomine is asking some curious questions of Taiga about going to America and pondering if any of his immediate friends know what Satsuki wants to do with her life. I’m really invested in this one but haven’t started properly writing it out yet beyond just sketching out the idea so I don’t forget it. (I’d say 1% complete here.) Really looking forward to using the idea of Kagami being super impressed with AoMomo perfect sync when playing as a team in arcade games!

9.Laws of Attraction Chapter 2 - You might be surprised at this, but I’m actually super invested in this one. Likely the reason why I am delaying so much working on it - I feel like all my great scene ideas are just too chaotic and I have a hard time starting the chapter flowing properly. I had like 4-5 false starts already and I’m feeling a bit skittish with picking it up. But I have such AMAZING concepts on where to take it after it revvs up the engine, so... Maybe sometime this year! Completion rate: 0% written, but at least about 30% ideas built up for the installment!

10. AoMomo college rooming together story - sort of an expansion on my fill for one of the prompts way back those years ago in AoMomo week. I really dig the concept and the trope of sharing spaces with someone you consider nothing more than a friend and then gradually learning to appreciate each other for something so much more. I am definitely doing this one some day, but not anytime soon, likely.

11. A random idea bit me the other day (read: a month ago) and I actually wrote out like... maybe 25% of it already as well. A random comment from Wakamatsu miffs Satsuki but then she realizes why he’s asking dumb questions and she comes to realize that something is wrong with the equation: either Dai-chan likes someone really close to them and she hasn’t realized, which is unlikely, or Dai-chan likes HER and is super blase about it in a way that betrays his feelings not at all, which is even more unlikely. Being a curious  individual, she sets out to find which it is! Some hilarity should ensue but mostly just some mess-with-Dai-chan fun!

12. Touou summer training camp at the sea - progress is practically 0, I wanted to write a summery piece and set my mind on this, but nothing beyond has come to me, so I’m not forcing it.

13. AoMomo cultural festival fic in second year of high school (meaning something approx end of Oct -> beginning of Nov.) with Daiki being in a distinctly Haruhu Suzumiya role at that festival (has anyone even seen this anime? I adored that episode to freaking bits, man, it’s engraved upon my soul) and singing Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” and one more song just like Haruhi did. And Satsuki just beholding the phenomenon he becomes in no time flat while he lays bare his passion for life for all the student body to see. Shippiness will happen in private afterwards!

14. You Can Leave Your Hat On Chapter 2 - Probably like 2-3 years ago while I was still in the damn woodwork and wrestling with real life and adulting being crap, I remembered this AU premise and I got super hyped on the idea of Club Owner Dai-chan being a flirt with innocent Satsuki who got dragged to his joined and fell in love at first sight with his shenanigans. I’ve already played around for like 7k words with the second chapter of this but I’m still not where I want to be at, so it will take a while longer to flesh it out.

15. Idol Worship - a story that I promised my mate aricana some 6 years ago the premise for which I am super hyped for but not quite engaging with it yet. The idea was that Momoi finally starts gettiing the dates she has been pesting Kuroko for for years, and Daiki feeling terrible about beholding that, whilst Kise is being pestered by Horikita Mai for a date and instead ditches her with Daiki because he knows his former Teikou classmate is a huge fan of her. Mai-chan isn’t particularly happy but somehow ends up enjoying her time with Daiki and starts considering actually pursuing him instead of Kise when she sees what an interesting soul he is, with the torch that he’s carrying for some girl in his life he doesn’t really talk about but is evident from the little things he drops off as hits. AoMomo shenanigans will start to ensue properly when Satsuki realizes that Daiki is actually having a close female friend who is not her but is Horikita Mai instead, Dai-chan’s perfect woman, practically. She doesn’t take well to the news and has to grapple with why that is! And what to do with these newfound frustrating emotions!

16. Obstruction of Justice Chapter 3 - MAYBE SOME DAY, I WILL GET TO WRITING THIS. Last summer I inteded to do just that but instead, Wild Side of Justice was born. And it became a spin off of sorts on its own. ORZ. I WILL FINISH THIS SOME DAY, I do have some plans for it and I do have the desire to pursue them. I just need to be in the right headspace for it ahsjkfhkjaf

17. A PWP story of Kagami arriving early for a practice match at Touou and somehow walking in on AoMomo getting busy with each other in very unexpected and explicit ways that Kagami did not see headed his way. Because, we need more PWP in this fandom, honestly.

18. And since we DO need more PWP, recently when checking the 30 lemons community on LJ (shut up, I’m not ancient, YOU’RE ANCIENT) I was wondering how exactly a smut plot around the “Taken by the Faceless Stranger” could work for Aomomo and I came up with this Masquerade ball that they end up both attending because of their friends and meeting each other and hitting off fantastically just chatting the night and then banging in a niche in the long castle-like premise of the ball. :’DDDD Cuz it’s me and if I don’t have something like that in the works, you know i’m likely sick.

ALL OF THESE I am planning on eventually finishing one day. ONE DAY!

For now they are in various states of completion and in various stages of being cared for and improved on with more ideas added and fleshed out.

I am not joking when I say I am very invested in this fandom. I just have difficulty getting to writing out these ideas when I spend like 60% of my free time playing my mobile games. :D 

So there you have it. I didn’t want to say anything about these because 1) I don’t want to get your hopes up. You Can Leave Your Hat On 2, for one, has been in the making for 3 years, very on-again-off-again kind of way, and I just... can’t do that to you guys. I have decided against posting any incomplete fics so I don’t torture you guys and my muse doesn’t abandom me forever for them. So when something is complete, it gets posted promptly for your viewing pleasure!

And 2) If I divulge too much of the story, I feel like my hype of it may disappear completely. Ehh, my muse is a willful creature, what can I tell you... 

So let’s hope at least SOME of these get to see the light of day soon!

#my scribbles #here you have it #a rather complete list of incomplete AoMomo stuff I'd say #Rally's works in the making #tagged as: #AoMomo #because it's all AoMomo #sorry for spamming the main tag with nonsense #Kuroko no Basuke #will I ever finish any and all of these? #here's to hoping! #a little bit insider info from the kitchen #fanfiction #writing

[vgckwb]

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 57: Ducks in a Row

That night. Sae stood in front of a doorway. She knocked. Naoko answered. “Ah, Sae. What brings you here?”

“Don’t play dumb with me!” She shouted. She held up the manifesto. “Did you really think I wouldn’t know this was from you? I could turn you in, you know.”

Naoko looked at it. “Ah, I think I heard some of my buddies who are still on the force talking about this.”

“Cut the crap!” Sae said.

Naoko chuckled. “Sorry. But you can’t pin this on me with just this little note. Have you found any hard evidence that points this to me?” Sae glared at him. “Still, even if I was the one behind it, why bother coming to me at all?”

“I’m giving you a chance to stop,” Sae said. “As a courtesy to my father.”

“Heh,” Naoko said. “Classic Sae; always wanting to help others, but doesn’t know how to show it.”

“Forgive me for not be appreciative of premeditated murder” Sae shot back.

Naoko was impressed with Sae’s tenacity. But he was still unshaken from his new found path. “Tell me, is this manifesto the first new thing you’ve heard about Kaneshiro? At least for a while?”

“Why do you ask?” Sae responded.

“I’m just saying,” Naoko said. “Another trademark of Classic Sae is that you’re always so focused on everything else that you don’t know what’s going on in front of your own eyes.”

Sae got angrier. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Naoko chuckled. “How IS Makoto doing these days?”

Sae grabbed Naoko. “You leave her out of this!”

“How can I when she’s already in so deep?!” Naoko retorted. The two stared at each other for a while.

Eventually, Sae let go, and proceeded to leave. “I can’t protect you if you get caught, you know” she threatened before she got out of earshot. Naoko had a blank look on his face as he closed the door.

The next day, Makoto met with the student council. She stood firm. “OK. We’ve been looking into the incidents of students being harassed by gang members, and we’ve gotten rather far. However, I think we’ve reached the end of our capacity to do anything.” There were some murmurs, while Kisa looked disheartened. “However,” Makoto continued, causing Kisa to perk up a little, “I have given the information to people who can help solve the problem. So we can rest assured that this will be resolved. When is a little ambiguous, but it will be before exams. With that, you are dismissed.” Everyone nodded and broke off. Well, almost.

Kisa stood still as everyone left. When the last person left, she told Makoto. “Thank you.” Makoto nodded. Kisa left.

After Kisa left. Makoto loosened up a litte, then got serious. “The real fight starts now.”

After school, Ren messaged Makoto.

Ren: You busy?

Makoto: Not really. Why?

Ren: I was thinking we could head out as a group to get our facts straight.

Ren: And since you’re part of the group now…

Makoto: I see.

Makoto: I’m glad to.

Ren: Great!

Ren: I guess just meet us outside.

They put their phones away and met up; heading toward the access panel hideout. Once they arrived, Ren said “So, here we are. I know it’s not much, but it is what it is.”

“Huh,” Makoto said. “Isn’t this a bit open?”

“Well, that’s sort of the point,” Sumire said, defending the choice. “We’re essentially hiding in plain sight.”

“Right, but if someone is looking for you, they might not have to look all too hard,” Makoto said. “Before all of this, I have followed you here a few times in my investigations of you.”

“Oh” Sumire said, dejected.

“However, I think I may have a solution!” Makoto said. “Oh, but I’m new here. I might be overstepping my bounds a bit.”

Ren smiled. “Not at all. We’re a team here. Everyone’s input is valid.”

“Well, in that case, ” Makoto said, “I have an ice cream shop with our name on it.”

“Ummmm” Sumire said. “It’s not that I don’t like that idea, but we did discuss this before, and we decided that maybe going to a food place for our hideout might be a bit of a distraction.”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess I can see that” Makoto said. “Well, does anyone mind the hideout being in Kichijoji then? I know of a place there that could work.”

“Well, it IS a fair distance away,” Yusuke noted. “And I only have so much money…”

“Um, we can just use the Metaverse funds,” Ryuji said.

“Wait, that place gives out real money?” Makoto said. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Well, if it is, it’s too late now,” Ren said. “But I haven’t had any problems. It’s almost as if the economy is taking this all into consideration.”

“Well, I haven’t heard about any big economic problems…” Makoto thought. “So, I guess it’ll be alright.”

“Hold on,” Ann said. “While money might not be an issue, we’d have to go from Shibuya to Kichijoji, then back to Shibuya for any missions..”

“Oh. Right” Makoto said.

“Well, maybe we can go to this place just to hang out sometime” Ryuji offered.

Makoto smiled. “I’d like that.”

“So, I guess we’re staying here then,” Jose said. “Unless we have any other ideas.”

“I think here is fine for now,” Yusuke said. “But this Kaneshiro person IS a rather big fish. Once we change his heart, it might be a good idea to find someplace else to meet up.”

“That’s a good point,” Makoto said. “And if and when Naoko’s note goes public, that’ll only further fan the flames.”

“Speaking of Kaneshiro though,” Morgana interjected, “that’s something else we need to discuss. Our previous two big targets are ones at least some of us were familiar with. This will be the first time we’re going in mostly blind.”

“Yeah,” Ren said. “On the one hand, that’s a sort of comfort. We’re not learning anything deep and disgusting about someone we know already.”

“But on the other hand, that doesn’t prepare us well for what’s to come,” Sumire countered. “Which is a difficulty of its own.”

“True” Yusuke agreed. “Sometimes when you roll the iron dice, you come up snake eyes. So maybe some knowledge would be beneficial in tipping that scale.”

“Well, from what Kisa has told me from her interaction, he’s really aggressive and belligerent,” Makoto explained. “He’s really more invested in his bottom line than anything, and he’ll do anything to get it.”

“You said you’ve done some research as well…” Ann added.

“Yes,” Makoto replied. “He’s a really big name in the criminal underworld. Although, from what I could tell, he’s a bit different from people you’d usually find down there.”

“How so?” Morgana asked.

“I’m not sure entirely, but from the looks of things, even some in the criminal underworld are afraid of him,” Makoto explained. “And those who aren’t seem almost disgusted with him.”

“Huh. Maybe this uniqueness might explain why HE’S the gangster with a palace” Jose rationalized.

“That’s not a bad assumption,” Ren said.

“Hm,” Ryuji grunted. “Sounds like this guy is gonna be coming at anyone who doesn’t like him with full force.”

“But at the same time, he sounds like he might have a few tricks up his sleeve,” Jose added.

“Yeah. Dude definitely fights dirty” Ryuji said.

“So we need a strong approach, but the ability to think on the fly,” Yusuke said. “Well, if that’s not Ren, I don’t know what is.”

“Aw, you’re making me blush” Ren said, grinning ear to ear. “But don’t just sing my praises.” She looked at Makoto. “Our newest recruit has that moxie in her too.”

Makoto was stunned. “Oh, well…”

“Don’t worry, it's a compliment” Ren said. “You’re one of us now.”

“Oh. Well then thank you” Makoto said, embarrassed about this for reasons she couldn’t explain.

“I think that’s everything we can surmise about Kaneshiro” Ann said. “So, what about Naoko?”

Makoto was surprised. “Oh, well, there’s a lot I know about him. In a lot of ways, he’s like a second father to me. He’s usually an affable person; that’s part of the reason he and my father worked so well together. My father was a little more reserved, but was always open to almost anything. They both knew when to take things seriously, but they also both knew when to crack jokes, or just have fun. Naoko was a bit more louder on that front though.

He’d come over sometimes, and we grew close. Eventually, we met his sister, and that’s when Kisa and I became friends. My father and Naoko would take us to the ice cream shop I mentioned earlier whenever they solved a big case. It was a nice little way of getting everyone in on the celebration.”

Makoto took a brief pause. “But when my father died in the line of duty, Naoko grew frustrated. He was upset not only by the loss of his partner and friend, but also that the police, the very institution he served, didn’t seem to take the investigation into it all that seriously. So, in a fury, he quit, and became a private investigator.”

“Woah,” Jose said.

“That’s quite a story…” Ann said.

After a moment of silence, Ryuji bursted out with “I’m sorry.” Everyone looked at him. “It’s just,” he sighed, “I told him about you, and Kisa, and then he figured it out, and it set him off on this crusade. If I hadn’t said anything…”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Sakamoto,” Makoto said. “Naoko is a brilliant detective. I’m sure he would have figured it out, especially if Kisa was involved.” Makoto grew serious again. “Naoko’s wife died of cancer four years into their marriage. So Kisa’s the closest thing he has to a child, so he’s very protective. My sister and I are the second closest, and he can be a bit protective with us too.”

“He’s lost his wife and his partner,” Yusuke remarked. “That’s...a lot to deal with…”

“But I get it,” Sumire said. “I’d hate to lose anyone else right now too…” Ren looked over, glanced around, and gave Sumire a gentle side-hug. Sumire smiled. “Thanks.”

“Right…” Makoto said, acknowledging she knows, but not actually saying anything.

After another silence, Jose summarized “So, Naoko is also bringing his full force to bear.”

“Yeah,” Makoto said. “Which means we need to swing for the fences ourselves. If we’re going to save Naoko and Kisa, and make Kaneshiro confess to his crimes, we CAN’T afford to slip up.”

Ren started up a slow clap. Pretty soon, the rest of the Phantom Thieves joined in, aside from Morgana because paws can’t clap, but he wanted to. “Spoken like a true leader,” Ren said.

“Oh” Makoto said, surprised and embarrassed. “But aren’t you the leader?”

“Of the Phantom Thieves, sure” Ren said. “But you’re the head of the student council, and I can see why now.”

“Speaking of, I should also apologize,” Ann said. “I was really frustrated with the whole Kamoshida thing, and I thought you were among the people who wouldn’t hear me when I was screaming, and I took out some of my frustration on you. But I realize now that you would. So, I’m sorry.”

Makoto walked up and gave Ann a hug. “It’s OK. I’m sure it wasn’t easy what you were going through. And I get it. You thought those things of me because someone wanted you to. But now I’m working on trying to find myself and stand up for who I am. If anything, I’m the one who’s sorry.”

Ann broke out in tears and hugged Makoto back. After she finished crying, Ann grew determined. “I forgive you. You had a lot of pressure on you too. I can’t be mad at that. I know what that's like.”

Makoto smiled. “I forgive you too, Takamaki.”

Ann giggled. “Thanks. But, um, could you just call me Ann? And could I just call you Makoto?”

Makoto giggled in response. “I don’t see why not.” She looked over the group. “I think the offer extends to everyone as well. We’re all friends, right?”

“Of course,” Yusuke said.

“Uh-huh,” Jose said.

“Yeah!” Ryuji exclaimed.

“I’d like that,” Sumire said.

“I’ve been kind of doing it anyway,” Ren admitted.

“Heh heh” Morgana chuckled. “Makoto’s good for this world… But what do we call you, shall we say, professionally?”

“What?” Ryuji said.

“Her thief name…” Morgana said. “I was trying to be discreet.”

“You could just say it outright,” Ryuji fired back. “Only we can hear you, ya know.”

“Well, it’s still cool…” Morgana retorted.

“Hm, that is a good question, regardless” Ren said. She turned to Makoto. “Well what do you want to be?”

“Oh, what about ‘Biker’?” Ryuji suggested.

“Pass!” Makoto said. “It’s too obvious.”

“I agree,” Yusuke said.

“Your name is FOX’ Ryuji said. “If that’s not obvious…”

“It is,” Yusuke agreed. “But my name is reflective of a bold stroke, and as an artist, I prefer that boldness. But Makoto is more elegant and tactical. She should have a name that reflects as such.”

“Thank you, Yusuke,” Makoto said, smiling.

Ryuji hung his head. “One of these days, I really need to learn to shut my mouth.”

“Why not ‘Prez’?” Ann suggested. “Since she’s the student council president.”

“Well, that’s also a bit obvious,” Makoto informed her. “Just in a different direction.”

“Oh” Ann said.

“Heh heh” Ren chuckled. “Elegant? Tactical? I have a name that’s all that AND more.”

“Oh? By all means” Makoto invited.

“‘Queen’” Ren suggested.

Makoto thought about it. She smiled. “Queen it is.”

“Heh heh” Morgana chuckled. “I was just about to suggest that as well.” Ren raised her first up. Morgana bumped it with his paw.

“So, now that that’s all settled” Sumire said, “all that’s left is to finalize the end date.”

“Right,” Makoto said. “The note Naoko left was fairly clear. He’s going to find and kill Kaneshiro by the 11th of July. So, we have until then.”

“Well then, I suggest we get prepared,” Ren said. Everyone nodded. “Dismissed.” Everyone smiled and headed off in their own direction.

That night, at the Niijima household, Makoto and Sae were eating dinner. Sae was glancing at Makoto. Makoto took notice of this. “Is something on your mind?” Makoto asked.

Sae looked deep into her eyes. “Is there anything going on I should know about?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” Makoto responded.

“Are you doing alright?” Sae continued. “Outside of school stuff?”

It took Makoto a second to realize. She read the manifesto too. Of course she would know Naoko wrote it. Does that mean she met with him? Makoto answered “Oh. Well, the truth is, there have been some incidents of gangsters harassing some of the students.”

Sae slammed the table. “What?”

“Ah,” Makoto yelped.

Sae glared at her, but slid her fist back down to her side. “Sorry. But why didn’t you say anything?”

“Well, I wanted to gather as much information as I could before I told you…” Makoto said. “But things got out of hand, and in a desperate move…”

Sae was concerned. “What?”

“...I posted a message asking the Phantom Thieves for help,” Makoto finished.

“WHAT?!” Sae said, surprised.

“I know,” Makoto said. “It was dumb, but I didn’t know what else to do. But I realized I shouldn’t, and deleted the post like 15 minutes after I made it. But the Phantom Thieves took notice of it anyway, and started messaging me.”

“They MESSAGED you?” Sae said, still in disbelief.

Makoto nodded. “And they’re using some sort of advanced programming, so the messages were deleted. They really don’t want to leave a trace. So, they agreed to help me, and I helped them out too by giving them the information I collected.”

Sae looked at Makoto, and then the table. This SOUNDS a bit suspicious,  she looked back up, but I don’t think Makoto would lie about this kind of thing. Perhaps Naoko stumbled across the investigation the Phantom Thieves were making with Makoto’s information. If that’s the case, he might know who they are, or at least one of them. Still, I don’t think he’s in the mood to tell me right now. Sae sighed. “Well, I’m glad you told me the truth.”

Makoto sighed. “Thanks sis.”

“Just try to be more careful in the future,” Sae reminded her. “You might be safe now, but if things even remotely look like they might get out of hand, you come tell me right away. Or at least someone who can handle it.”

“Right…” Makoto said, feeling a sting that was unintended and unnoticed by Sae, but it hurt all the same.

Later, when Makoto was in her room, pondering her sister’s behavior and attitude, she thought aloud “Sis… You’ve changed too… I know the you I once knew is in there somewhere…” She glanced at her phone. Curious, she picked it up, loaded the Metaverse app, and gently whispered “Sae Niijima.”

“Match found” the phone responded. Makoto looked at it. Her sister’s name was in black, but unlike Kaneshiro’s the two following lines were also in black. Makoto was a little relieved, since no one was trying to actively kill her sister, but at the same time, she grew worried, since her sister had a palace of her own.

“Well… if no one’s trying to kill her…” Makoto said. “It might be better to hold onto this for now…” She set her phone down, changed into her pajamas, and got under her covers to go to sleep.

#persona fanfiction #persona 5 #persona 5 royal #p5 femc #p5r #p5r rework #p5 rework #p5 #FeMC #female ren #ren amamiya #makoto niijima #sae #morgana #ann takamaki #Ryuji Sakamoto #jose #Sumire #yusuke kitagawa

[apriorisea]

“One Year” You x Jin

You stare at your reflection in the mirror, your gaze unfocusing slightly as you get lost in your thoughts. Unconsciously, you clamp your hand over the simple silver bracelet on your left wrist.      The door to the bathroom swings open and you start, pulled out of your fog by the welcome distraction.     Jin comes to you, his smile soft and calming. “It’s almost time to go, princess. Are you ready?” He cups the side of your face, his thumb stroking your cheek absently.     You nod, but the tears fill your eyes at his touch.      “Oh,” he murmurs, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you close against him. “It’s okay, love.” He kisses the side of your head.      “I miss him,” you whisper into his shoulder, and he squeezes you extra tight. You hadn’t been entirely sure you’d wanted to visit your dad’s grave on the 1-year anniversary of his passing, but as soon as you mentioned it to your boyfriend, he had dropped everything to help you make the plans. “I miss him a lot right now.”     He releases you, carefully wiping a few of your tears away. “I know,” he gives you a gently, encouraging smile. “...If you don’t want to do this today, we can always---”     “No.” Every part of you rebelled at the idea of changing plans. Taking a breath to steady yourself, you nod a few times, trying to pull yourself together. Visiting the gravesite would be hard, but with him by your side, you could manage it. Hopefully. “I want to go. And you worked so hard to put everything together.” You look up at him and feel your heart skip a beat as you meet his eyes. Impulsively, you wrap your arms around him again. “Thank you,” you say quietly. “Again. Thank you.”     He rubs your back. “You don’t have to thank me. You never have to thank me for something like this.”     You laugh a little but release him. “Okay, sure. “ You meet his gaze again. “How do I look?”     “Perfect.” He leans down to give you a soft kiss. “Like always.”     On the car ride over to the cemetery, he keeps up a quiet stream of conversation, not wanting to leave you alone with your thoughts for too long. When he can tell your nerves are about to eat you alive, he turns on one of your favorite songs and softly sings along. As usual, his voice puts you at ease, so at the next stoplight you lean over and kiss his cheek.      “I’m so glad I have you, Seokjin,” you say honestly, smiling to yourself as his ears go pink.      When you reach the cemetery, you discover the two of you are not the first ones there. The tears climb back into your throat as you see your mom and older sister waiting by their car. Barely waiting until Jin had parked the car, you throw the door open and rush to them.      As soon as you’re wrapped in your mom’s arms, you feel equal waves of pain and relief and once again thank your lucky stars for your boyfriend.     It had been his idea to invite your whole family to the visit, turning what could have been a solitary trip into a supportive, loving atmosphere. You hadn’t realized how much you’d needed that until this moment.      Finally releasing your mom, your older sister crushes you against her in a death-grip hug as Jin respectfully embraces your mom.      “Thanks for doing this,” your sister says quietly near your ear. “I wasn’t sure I could face this day alone.”     The tears well-up in your eyes and you nod. “Me either.” Stepping back, you smile faintly as your sister and Jin exchange a warm greeting, then realize someone’s missing. “Where’s J?” you ask, looking around for your oldest brother. “I thought he was coming today, too?”     You miss the look your mom exchanges with your boyfriend. “He’ll be here soon,” she says with a small smile. “He’s just running a little late.”     “Oh.” Turning away from the cemetery’s entrance, you feel a sudden chill as you see the miles of headstones stretching out in front of you. I don’t know if I can do this, dad. Even with your family there, it still seemed so daunting.     As if he had read your mind, Jin casually sidles up next to you, wrapping his arm around your shoulders and pulling you against him securely. He brushes his lips against your temple and you feel some of the panic fade.      Exhaling softly, you say, “I wish B could have come. I haven’t seen him in such a long time.” Your younger brother had moved a few hours away shortly after your father had died; he’d needed a new start, a break from the memories of the house where his father had grown sick and withered. You’d completely supported his decision---and still did---but especially at a moment like this, your heart ached for your diminished family to be whole again. You feel your boyfriend kiss the side of your head again.     “I know,” your older sister nods. “I’ve told him he needs to be better about calling us, but...you know how he is.”      Your mom is still smiling, but there are clearly tears in her eyes. “I’ve always wondered why we even bother keeping his cell phone line active. He certainly never uses it!”     It stings, this old tried-and-true joke of your father’s, but in a good way that soothes just as much as it hurts. You smile through your own tears, surprised at how good it felt to share a moment like this with your family. Grief is much easier when shared.      “Well, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jin quips, though his voice is still calm. “We have an unbroken texting streak!”     The timing, cadence, and placement of his dumb joke is pitch-perfect. You playfully groan and elbow his side as your mom and sister break into a harmony of pleasantly surprised laughter.      At that exact moment, another car pulls into the cemetery’s parking lot. Your smile fades from humor to fondness, anticipating seeing your oldest brother for the first time in weeks.      But when the car engine dies, it’s not one but two people that climb out, and you feel your jaw drop as the occupant of the passenger seat comes around the back of J’s car.      You and your sister squeal his name at the same time and launch yourselves at the youngest brother, who accepts the attack gracefully. The three of you stand entangled in a group hug until your oldest brother playfully complains about being left out. Your sister reaches an arm out and drags him into the fray.      Back at your mom’s car, she’s holding on to Jin’s arm, smile-crying as she watches the four of you hug and sway and nearly topple over.      When the group-hug finally ends, you put a hand on either side of your brother’s face, just like you’d done ever since he was a small, chubby-cheeked toddler and say, “I can’t believe you’re here! How did you get here??? Why didn’t you tell us?”     He smiles tolerantly, but his gaze moves to someone standing behind you. “He paid for my ticket,” he explains, and you turn to stare at Jin, too. “And you know how bad I am at communicating.”    “Yeah, we know!” Your sister swats his arm. “I think we’re all hoping you outgrow that someday.”     You ignore the ensuing bickering, moving back towards Jin instead. Your mom sees you coming and subtly drops his arm, taking your place in the puppy-pile group gathering of your siblings.      “You did this?” you ask, your voice soft in an attempt to hold back the emotion.      He shrugs, uncomfortable with the attention. “You wanted your whole family to be here. And he really wanted to come, so I just...”     “Made it happen,” you finish for him. Closing the distance between the two of you, you reach up and kiss him. “Thank you,” you say when you pull back. “You’re amazing. This means everything, Jin, it really does.”     Smiling now, he brushes a tear away gently. “I love you, princess.”     “All right.” Your mom has wrangled the other siblings and now you all stood together by her car. She turns to look at the distant spot where your dad was buried, her face morphing into something sad. “Shall we?”     Your oldest brother takes her right hand and reaches for your sister’s hand with his free one. Following his lead, your baby brother takes your mom’s other hand and the group of them join you and Jin.      Taking a small breath, you nod. With Jin’s arm around your shoulders and your family by your side, you could do this. “Yes,” you agree. “I think we shall.”

#bts imagines #bts scenarios #REQUESTS #bts clean imagines #BTS #non-smut #apriori sea requests #apriori sea imagines #asks #bts imagines requests #bts imagine jin #seokjin #jin

[aliofvalhalla]

As Long As We’re Together

For the prompt, "Let's go get lost somewhere". (In an AU in which Deadlock!Jesse runs away before Deadlock were taken in by Overwatch.)

You sat atop a red rock overlooking the gorge, a pleasant breeze weaving through your hair and lessening the burn of the midday sun. You closed your eyes and took a deep inhale of desert air picking up the distinct smell of the creosote bush drying out from the morning's rare shower. As you leaned back, you let your mind wander back to your days working at 'The High Tide' and began to wonder what would've happened if a certain gang hadn't taken an interest in you.

You'd been working as a waitress there. It was probably illegal since you were only 17, but your boss was kind enough, if you put in the work, he gave out the cash. Not that that was much. You earned just barely enough to get by on the basics, but it was fine...you were okay. However, you'd always wanted something more. Never intended to just be 'okay'. When you'd ran away from home and ended up here, you'd dreamed of adventure, travelling, no financial cares in the world, but that was a pipe dream. Always had been. Everyone has to work to live, right?

The High Tide was an interesting place of work to say the least. You enjoyed the chance to people watch. All sorts of different and fascinating people passed through as a stop on their own adventures, looking for a drink, a snack or to rent one of the two small rooms the place offered. No passersby were as notable as a certain group of local regulars though.

The Deadlock Gang. A notorious group of cowboy bikers who favoured the place for their relaxation after whatever-the-hell it was they did all day. They always interested you, but none more so than Jesse. From the very first time you saw him, you knew he was different. Nothing like the rowdy, loud, obnoxious companions he had; he was more reserved, polite and always ready with a smile and a kind word for you. He was younger too. Seemed around your age.

It didn't take long for the gang to realise that Jesse and you had become friends on their visits. He'd always take a minute to come and say 'hey' and ask about your day. You often heard them tease him about you; accusing him of having a crush. He would always tell them they were dumb idiots, to which they'd laugh and mock him, but he didn't seem to mind whenever you were there to offer him a sweet, reassuring smile.

One night, everything changed.

You were about to close up when you heard loud, jeering voices approaching the opposing side of the door you were about to bolt up. Before you had chance to move or lock the door in question, it flung open. A group of about six of the most prominent Deadlock Rebels waltzed in like they owned the place, knocking you unceremoniously to the ground. Jesse was by your side in an instant, asking if you were hurt and helping you stand.

An amused, gruff voice then sounded. It belonged to the grizzled man you'd learned was the ring leader. He was known as 'Jax', but Jesse had told you once that his full name was actually Hector Jackson. The burly, tanned-skinned man stared at you with icy blue eyes and an unnerving smile beneath his greying beard, "Sorry 'bout that lil lady. Didn't mean ta hurt ya none...I'm sure our Jesse boy'll make you feel better."

The rest of the gang joined in as he laughed then. You spared a glance at Jesse who was already looking at you with such a kind sympathy etched on his face. You cleared your throat and turned back to Jax, "Don't you worry about it. I was just closing up I'm 'fraid, so you boys will have to come back tomorrow."

All the laughter had stopped and all eyes were on you. Those piercing blue ones of the older cowboy were full of annoyance. He didn't like being told what to do, especially not by a woman.

"Nah. I think we'll stick around a while." He said, taking a seat at their customary table, his cronies following as they usually did, "We'll have our usual order, bumblebee... and make it quick, my boys are mighty thirsty."

He and the gang members whom had followed began talking loudly and laughing at each other's jokes as you resigned yourself to your fate and started for the bar. That's when Jesse caught your wrist in his hand, "I'm sorry about him. I promise they'll be done here soon. I'm sorry."

You smiled at him as genuinely as you could before releasing your wrist and making your way to the bar. You hoped he was right...you weren't sure how your boss would feel about you letting the local rebel gang in after hours, but you supposed you didn't have much of a choice.

A few minutes later, you made your way over to the table they sat at, expertly balancing a tray full of drinks. As you placed them in front of their owners, you couldn't help but feel Jax's unmoving stare on your face. As you finished, you saw his gaze flick quickly to Jesse, before returning to you, "So, you like working here, bumblebee?"

The nickname he'd given you always made you cringe. Despite that, you smiled with your reply, "It pays the bills."

He scoffed amusedly, "Ya know, you could be earning a lot more than the owner of this place is givin' ya."

You quickly noted the look of horror on Jesse's face, "Jax, knock it off..."

"Relax, Jesse boy. I'm just sayin' she could be doin' somethin' else to earn her keep."

Someone to your left gave a chuckle. You turned to see that it had come from Wyatt Jackson, Hector's son. He was undeniably good-looking. With tanned skin, cobalt eyes and a sparkling smile that seemed so out of place amongst the unkempt beard and unruly, golden hair; you'd seen many a woman swoon and fall for him in your time at The High Tide, but he was nothing more than a sleaze. He brushed his hand against yours as his eyes scanned your entire form agonisingly slowly before meeting your concerned gaze, "You're damn right she could."

The wink he gave you made you sick to the stomach and you wanted nothing more than to be at home, snuggled up on your sofa watching your favourite movie for the umpteenth time. You gave them both a polite 'no thanks' and were about to turn to walk away when Jax grabbed your wrist, "No. I didn't mean in the way Wyatt thinks." He offered his son a disapproving look, "Ya see, the kid doesn't think with his brain...but I do."

Your eyes flicked between his stare and Jesse, who you could see was giving Jax his own burning stare accompanied by gritted teeth, "I'm okay, really...this job is fine."

He clicked his tongue and released your wrist, "You could be making millions."

You whole gang was interested now; all wondering what he was planning as the cogs of his mind whirred and turned. You were sure he was exaggerating, but...

You thought for a second. Millions? You...could be making millions? In spite of your better judgment, your curiosity won out, "How?"

Jax grinned wide and you saw Jesse's pleading eyes land on you from your peripheral, "Y/N, you don't have to do anythin'..."

"Don't be rude, Jesse. Can't you see the lady and I are talkin'?" For a second, Jesse looked as though he was going to answer back, but thought better of it. Jax lit a cigar between his lips as he mumbled, "Join our little family."

You were shocked. Dumbfounded. You weren't sure that you'd heard him right, and by the looks on the faces of the other men around the table, neither were they. You stuttered, "S-Sorry, what?"

"Ya see, bumblebee, in this business, we gotta make a lotta deals. Most of said deals are with self-righteous a-holes or seedy b'hoys. I reckon you'd be somethin' that'd persuade any of 'em to give us the best deal...I might not even have ta get ol' Betsy out at meetings anymore." He chuckled and moved his long, black coat aside to gesture to the silver and dark wood revolver at his hip. "Maybe we need a soft touch...a woman's touch."

You once again struggled not to cringe at him. Was he seriously offering you a place in the Deadlock Gang? You looked across to see Jesse staring blankly at the table in front of him as though he was in some sort of trance, "And you'd pay me for that?" You asked.

"O' course! We ain't unkind to family. I'm a man o' my word, if you help us secure deals with your...charm, you'll get a share o' the profits."

So, that's how you'd gotten here. Five months on and part of the Deadlock Rebels, schmoozing potential arms dealers for Jax and running errands and recon. He kept his word, as promised, you always got paid, but it was hardly 'millions'. It was way more than you'd been making at The High Tide. One thing he had been less then truthful about, however, was how they would treat you.

You were under the impression that as 'family' you'd be treated the same as everyone else, with respect...but that wasn't the case. To be fair to him, Jax wasn't unkind, in fact he hardly spoke to you unless he needed something done, it was the other gang members that were a problem...especially Wyatt. He was definitely the sleaze you'd pinned him as the first time you'd saw him walk into your little bar just over a year ago. The other guys (all except Jesse) feared him and wanted to impress him. Therefore, if he was being gross towards you, they would be too.

There were many times you'd wondered why you stayed and put up with it all...was the money really worth it? Was that what was keeping you with them? Then you'd catch sight of Jesse McCree grinning cheekily at you, chewing a toothpick whilst ignoring the lecture he was receiving from Jax or another Deadlock big gun and you had your answers.

You stretched and opened your eyes again, only to squint at the harsh light of the sun bleeding into your tired orbs. You stood and were about to make your way back into the hideout, but a condescending, sing-song voice from behind you stopped you in your tracks, "Bumblebeeeee." Wyatt. You groaned and went to move forward before he was suddenly in front of you; he and two others forming a blockade to prevent you from going any further, "Hey now, where ya going Angelica?"

"Angelica is not my name." You growled as you tried to step round him.

He laughed along with the other two, and placed a hand on your collar bone to stop you again, "Woah there, hey, I know it ain't...Y/N. Angelica's a term of endearment...I'm bein' nice."

"You ain't nice." In the time you'd spend with the Deadlock gang, you'd picked up some of the language and phrases they used. Jesse said it was cute.

"Ouch. Come on, bumblebee, don't be like this." He said stepping closer until you could feel his hot breath against your face.

Suddenly, he kissed you. You pushed him with all of your might and he fell to the dusty, orange ground with a grunt. You could practically feel the rage radiating from him as he pushed aside his two buddies, you'd now recognised as Clay and Sam, and dusted himself off, standing to march towards you. He pinned you against a nearby rock wall; his left hand by your head whilst his other pinned your shoulder in place. You grit your teeth and snarled through them, "You got ten seconds to take your hands off of me before I rip them off of your body."

His friends laughed as he whistled towards them and then looked back at you with raised brows, "I love it when you get all...feisty."

"I don't care whose son you are, I will kill you in your sleep."

He smirked, "I'll make sure to sleep with one eye open then...one eye always on you, Angelica."

You looked him directly in his blue eyes and leaned close. He watched you intently, "Get. The fuck. Away. From me."

He had no time to respond before he found himself on the ground again. Jesse had thrown him there despite Sam and Clay trying to pull him back, "Didn't ya hear the lady? She told you to get away."

Wyatt got to his feet for the second time and faced Jesse, "Leave him boys." The two smaller men let Jesse go as Wyatt picked up his fallen cowboy hat and dusted it off, "The little mutt'll get what's comin' to 'im." He flicked his cruel, cerulean gaze back to you, "They both will."

He set off in the direction of the hideout. He whistled and like obedient dogs, Sam and Clay followed.

You gasped to regain the breath you hadn't realised you were holding. Jesse placed a gentle hand on your shoulder. You looked up at him to see that concern painted his handsome features, "Are you alright?"

You beamed at him, "Always am, Jess."

He chuckled and pulled you in for a tender hug. As your arms found their way around his firm body, you relished in his warm embrace and breathed in the musky scent he carried with him. You stayed like that for a few minutes before he pulled back, holding you at arm's length by your shoulders. He stared longingly into your sparkling eyes before he shook his head and looked down to the ground beneath him; his arms dropping to his sides.

Your brow furrowed as your reached out to softly stroke his upper arm, "What's wrong?"

He met your gaze once more, that adoring twinkle still present in his, "I-It's...ah, it's nothin' sweet pea. Don't you worry about it none."

A few hours passed and Jax had called a meeting...and you were pretty sure you knew what it was about. You sat with the other Deadlock members around a light, wooden table constructed of old gun boxes and liquor crates. Wyatt's dagger-like gawp stung you from across the table, but Jesse laid a reassuring hand on your thigh with a gentle squeeze and you thanked him with a sweet smile.

Jax came wondering in nonchalantly, cigar hanging from his mouth as usual, shuffling his favourite pack of playing cards. Reaching the head of the makeshift table, he sat with his legs either side of the back of a green, plastic fold away chair. His eyes roamed across every member of his gang around the table, but they seemed to linger on you and Jesse just a little longer than they had on anyone else.

"Now..." He started, cigar muffling his speech as it often did, "Y'all should know by now that nothin' that goes on around here gets past me. I know fine well that there's been some trouble in the family." He smirked at you. "Some of y'all think it's okay to be fightin' with each other...it ain't. Now, we're family and families stick together. Y'all best remember that. If things ever go south with one of our buyers or the law, none of us is leaving any of us behind, y'all hear?" Most of the members nodded and shared words of agreement amongst themselves, "Good. 'Cause y'all know what happens when someone tries to leave the family, yes?" Another round of nods, but this time they were attended by fearful looks and awkward shuffles. What did happen if someone wanted to leave? "Every soul sittin' here knows too much about the way things work around here...there ain't no backin' out o' Deadlock. We're family forever." He graced you with one more sickening grin before he chuckled and stood, "That's it. Don't forget to get your shit together for our little jaunt tonight. Wyatt. Sam. With me."

Wyatt and Sam stood to follow Jax, but not before giving you a knowing look; one that said, 'He was warning YOU'. The rest of the gang dispersed and left you wide eyed in your spot next to Jesse.

"You alright?"

You snapped out of your stupor and chuckled, leaning into him, "How many times you gonna ask me that today, huh?"

He laughed and shoved you playfully, "Let's go eat somethin'."

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

A week passed with very little trouble from Wyatt. You figured Jax had given him his own little warning after pulling he and his most loyal dog, Sam aside after the meeting. That didn't mean he'd changed. He still gave you uncomforting smirks and intimidating glares in passing, but you could deal with him...he was just mad that you didn't fall for his 'charms'. You thought he'd actually begun to give up on trying to forcefully 'woo' you...until the Saturday night of that week.

Jax had told the whole gang to relax before he put in motion the job he'd been planning for months...something to do with a train and explosives and the Panorama Diner; you didn't much care. Yourself and Jesse had decided to spend your time off playing a few rounds of friendly, loose rules poker. He'd been teaching you some tips and tricks and you were getting good. In fact, you'd just beaten him for the third time in a row.

"Aw, sugar, ya gone done it again...I tell ya, I might regret teachin' you my ways." He said with a joyful, laughter filled tone.

You laughed heartily, which only made him beam bashfully, "Well, what can I say? I learned from the best."

You were both pulled from your mutual admiration of the other when a friendly enough voice called out for your companion, "Jesse!"

You both turned to see Clay making his way over to the table you sat at. He smiled at you in greeting and you gave him a small wave.

Clay was fine, really, he was just naive. Whatever Wyatt told him, he believed. Whatever Wyatt did, he did too. Maybe it was just fear...maybe he didn't want to be on the receiving end of Wyatt's bullying...you couldn't blame him.

"Yeah?" Jesse asked quirking an eyebrow at the freckled face of the short, red-haired man.

"I was wonderin' if you wanted to come practice your aim. I'm willin' ta bet you can't beat me now...I been practicing."

Clay was three years older than Jesse. He grew up on a farm in Arkansas and had been shooting guns with his dad for almost as long as he was walking...he never could accept the fact that Jesse was a much better shot than he was. So, in jest, the two would often have friendly competitions...Jesse could never resist a challenge. He'd always win.

Jesse looked and you briefly, then back to Clay, "I'm busy right now, but maybe..."

You could tell he was itching to prove he was still the best shot around, so you cut him off, "Go." You turned to Clay, "He'd love to."

Jesse looked as though he might protest, but then he sighed and smiled at you, "Alright...you comin' ta watch?"

You laughed a little, "Nah. I know your gonna win anyway." Clay scoffed playfully. "I'll see you later."

"See ya, sweet pea."

You headed out of the large, warehouse-like room to your designated sleeping quarters. The room Jax had given you was small; only just big enough to contain the single bed, end table and pipe-exposed sink. It's walls were a dusty pink colour and it had no windows...it was a hideout after all. It was only temporary...you hoped. You decided to read a book you'd picked up the day before. It was an old book called, 'A Tree Grows In Brooklyn' and you were desperate to see why the shop owner had been so enthusiastic about it.

You read for about an hour before you heard a faint, but rapid knock on your door. It was unusual for any of the boys to disturb you in your room and it made your brow furrow slightly in confusion. You placed the souvenir High Tide beer mat you'd kept into the book as a makeshift bookmark and got up to answer the door. There, you were greeted by a sight that both shocked and horrified you.

"Hey, darlin'. Are you alright?"

Jesse stood there with a pronounced black eye and blood leaking from cuts to both his left cheek and his bottom lip. There was a pinkish-purple bruise forming on the underside of his jaw and his right arm was slung across his body, clutching the fabric of the left side of his plaid shirt. Yet, he was still asking about you.

You spoke as you gently helped him into your room and closed the door, "Yes, I'm alright...w-why're you asking...What the Hell happened?"

"That shooting competition with Clay? Yeah, that was a set up for Wyatt and his cronies ta get the jump on me."

He winced and hissed as you helped him sit on the thin mattress of your small, single bed. Your brow furrowed, but this time anger replaced the confusion.

You snarled through your teeth, "Clay. What a little..."

Jesse chuckled at your rage, "Hey, it's alright...I'm doin' good. They obviously needed an advantage...they know I'm the best around."  He gave you a wink and you couldn't help but soften your expression in a little giggle and an eye roll. He gulped then, and looked down at his bloodied knuckles, "Wyatt was sayin' how he'd show you what you were missin'." He gritted his teeth, "Talkin' all dirty and sordid and...God, I hate 'im. I just...I had to come see if you were okay...make sure he didn't..."

You placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, offering him a look that was simultaneously appreciative and sympathetic, "Let me clean you up."

Jesse's eyes never left you as he silently watched you fill an old metal bucket with warm water from the sink in your room. You picked up one of your clean, white towels and headed towards him where you knelt to be at his level. He still watched...gaze intent on your face. As your hand came up to place the towel against lip, you gave him a warning that it might sting...yet, his eyes never moved from yours. You got on with the job of cleaning off the blood, trying to ignore the fact that he was staring like he'd stopped working or something.

Then suddenly, his hand was on yours where it lay holding the towel to the abrasion on his cheek. You couldn't tear your gape away from it...his hand, warm atop yours.

"Run away with me?"

You blinked and coughed. You sniggered, but the intensity with which he was regarding you caused the laughter to fade. It was posed as a question, but you felt like he only cared for one answer. He was serious. Your smile dissolved into an expression of uncertainty as you cast your eyes straight into his chocolate gaze; where you were instantly lost and struggled to find words, "W-What? J-Jess. I...I mean...we can't..."

You looked down at the concrete floor and he replied with an urgent desperation in his tone, only just managing to cover the excitement that lingered beneath it, "We can...Y/N?" A gentle thumb and forefinger cradled your jaw to lift it. Forcing you to meet his wondrous eyes once more, "We can. Jax won't find us, Wyatt won't find us, no one will...I promise." You sighed deeply. "Y/N? Do you trust me?" You gave a barely-there nod to accompany your grin; a grin which he returned tenfold, "Let's go get lost somewhere."

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

You woke up with a groan, just as Jesse was pulling the truck into a parking bay somewhere unfamiliar, "I suppose you wanna know where we are?"

The cheeky grin he held on his face, put an instant smile on yours. You sat up straight and regarded him with groggy wonder and a shrug, "Wherever we are, wherever we end up going...I don't care. As long as we're together, nothing else matters."

He grinned wide and leaned in to place his forehead against yours, "Couldn't have said it better myself, sweet pea."

The following kiss was long and passionate. It was filled with all of the love and care you'd always felt for each other; all the zeal and excitement of things to come...this was just the first of many, many more. That thought alone made you smile madly into the perfect exchange.

All of the butterflies you'd felt in your stomach every time he walked into The High Tide bar were released. They danced around your joined bodies in an explosion of colour and life that felt so wonderfully and so magically right...you never, ever wanted it to end.

Note: I realise the dive bar type building on Route 66 in-game is called 'The High Side', this bar is merely a reference. I imagine it slightly bigger, more grimy and with cheap rooms for offer.

#mccree #jesse mccree x reader #jesse mccree/reader #tropes #cliches #jesse mccree fan fic #overwatch fan fiction #ao3

[bodhimcbodeface]

I have a feeling my Shatt fic won’t survive the next season so go ahead and have a scene

(warning for PTSD stuff and discussion of torture)

Matt’s thought about kissing Shiro before. He usually imagines it happening in a moment of triumph, both of them coursing with adrenaline, both of them at their best. What he hasn’t thought about is almost kissing him, almost and then not, when they’re at their worst and have to let will outweigh desperation. That’s not the sort of thing Matt tends to daydream about. But it happens that he’s trying to pirate some movies from the Galra entertainment networks, while Shiro watches casually from the couch. Just movies to pass time, nothing that really needs doing. But he, like an idiot, has chosen to do it anyway. And then he, like an idiot, takes a wrong turn and pulls up some goddamn arena footage.

Something shrieks and swipes a claw, somebody’s bleeding on the ground, the crowd roars right into his ears and—

No, no, no. He needs to turn it off, needs to turn it off now, but he’s frozen in place, frozen again, oh my God, needs to breathe, needs to move, and by the time his fingers obey him they’re shaking so violently that he can’t hit the key and was that, no, that wasn’t, it can’t have been—

The screen blinks off. Matt turns and sees Shiro sitting on the floor beside him, his hand slowly pulling back from the keyboard. His eyes are wide, still fixed on the spot where the scenes had played moments before.

“I’m— I’m sorry,” Matt says, breathing deeply, forcing himself to come back. “Shiro, I don’t know how that even—”

“That was me.”

Shit. He saw it too, then.

“Yeah. It was. Shiro— ”

“I killed that person.”

“It was a...highlight reel, that was barely two ticks—”

“I killed them.”

“You don’t know the whole story.”

Shiro blinks a few times at that. Then his face forms into a scowl, which he turns to direct at Matt. “I didn’t hesitate,” he says. “I didn’t aim to disarm, or disable. I went right for the neck. Tell me what missing piece would fix that.”

Matt takes a deep breath. He knows Shiro’s anger isn’t for him, and he’ll face it. But he needs to be careful not to make this worse. “Them,” he says. “The Galra. The way they made you do it.”

“It’s not like they could puppet me,” Shiro argues. “If they ever had that ability, they wouldn’t have taken it out. And we checked.”

Matt shakes his head. “No, they’re not like that. They prefer to watch you struggle.” He tries to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but it creeps in anyway. “They’ll break you with starvation, or isolation, or planting stuff in your head that doesn’t belong there.” Careful, he reminds himself, but his mouth moves faster. “Hold other prisoners hostage like the goddamn trolley problem come to life, and bet on what the noble slave will choose: if he’ll puke, cry, try to save everyone— ”

Careful.

He takes a deep breath, and another, to steady himself. “If you killed that person, Shiro,” he says, “it tells me a lot more about them than it does about you.”

Shiro looks at him, puzzled. “How do you know all this?”

“After I joined the Rebels, I asked to be placed on the prison break missions, and arena prisons in particular,” Matt says. He wonders why it feels like a confession. “It kind of...seemed like the least I could do. And I learned a lot about how they work.”

He doesn’t mention how research, once a thrill and a pleasure, had taken on an edge of desperation, blurring the line between curiosity and compulsion in a way that hasn’t quite left him. He hasn’t mentioned that part to anyone, actually.

Shiro shakes his head. “I know what they did, Matt, or I know enough to guess…” He looks like he’s forcing himself to concentrate, like he’s fighting a war in his head and just wants all the noise to stop. “But it’s not an excuse—”

“Ever been in solitary?” Matt says abruptly.

Shiro frowns. “Probably? I don’t know.”

“Well, I have. So I can tell you myself that if you’re fresh out of a long enough stay in there, and they threaten to throw you back in...you compromise. Sometimes in ways you swore you wouldn’t. Or even if you swore you wouldn’t at all.”

Shiro’s face is instant sympathy, because he can do that for others just fine.

“Matt, I’m sorry, I-”

He throws up a hand. “Hey, I’m not saying this so you feel bad for me. Really. I’m saying it so you know I get it. Hell, I’ve done it. And no, it’s not an excuse, but it’s a reason, and it doesn’t make you like them.”

He forces himself through the end of that sentence. Then he inhales calm and exhales tension, the way Shiro taught him years ago, before they’d ever even left the ground. “Might feel like it does, but it doesn’t,” he adds, and he makes his shoulders open back up, makes his body turn back to center, because this is not about him. But Shiro squeezes his hand anyway, because he’s Shiro and of course he does.

“You’ll forgive me, then,” Matt says.

“It’s easier,” Shiro admits.

“That’s stupid, you know.”

“So I’ve been told”

Matt feels himself soften at Shiro’s face; there’s a small, tired smile on his lips, and for now he’ll count that as a victory. He twists his hand to maintain the grip, bumping arms in the process, then pulls them back to lean against the foot of the couch. To breathe, and breathe again.

“Can I tell you what I remember about you there?” he asks after nearly a minute. His tone’s not quite relaxed, but no longer urgent.

“Something good, I hope,” Shiro replies. It comes out not entirely as a joke, but Matt snorts anyway.

“Yeah? How about the first day, when I couldn’t keep down the food they gave us, and then the next time they came to take you somewhere you returned with crackers and a piece of fruit stuffed in your clothes?”

“I did that?”

“You did. You said you picked it from another guard’s pockets. But first you caused a traffic jam in the hallway to make it harder to trace back to us.”

“Clever.”

“Yeah. Or the time you punched a guard in the nose for trying to take my dad away.”

“But they took him anyway.”

“Not the point. And I don’t need to mention the last time, do I?”

“I guess I’ve heard that one enough.”

Matt turns, and waits for Shiro to meet his gaze. “You resisted,” he says. “I saw it myself. From the reports I’ve heard, you kept resisting until the day you got out of there. But if every once in a while you couldn’t win, well….Shiro, that just means you’re human.”

At the word human, Shiro’s eyes dart to his metal shoulder; the lower extremity is gone, but it’s managed to swallow up more of him than before. He starts to roll it in a cautious circle before Matt stops him, his hand firm against the metal.

“You know I can’t feel that,” Shiro tells him.

“No? What about this, then?” Matt slides his hand up Shiro’s arm and around to his shoulder blade, pressing firmly into the warmth.

Shiro smiles gently and rolls his eyes. “Yes, I can feel that.”

“And this?” he asks, disentangling his other hand from Shiro’s to wrap it around his waist. Maybe it’s dumb, maybe it’s not the time, but God, he wants to be close right now.

Shiro hums, turning to face him, or possibly turning so that more of them can touch. “Feel that too,” he says.

“How about this?” Matt pulls Shiro closer, slowly, until their foreheads are pressed together. He brings his gaze to his lips and wonders, not for the first time, what it might be like.

Then he pauses, because Shiro’s too vulnerable and because it would be too, too good. Instead, he lifts his face to kiss his forehead, then pulls away.

“Being chivalrous, are you?” Shiro teases him softly.

“Nah, that job’s all yours. I just wanted to make sure you’re good.”

He nods “I’m good.” Seeing Matt’s hesitation, he adds, “Really. I’d tell you if I wasn’t.”

Matt realizes it only as he says it: “Maybe I’m not, then. At least, not quite, you know? Not right now.”

And he feels stupid; he was supposed to be the one to comfort Shiro, was supposed to be strong for him for once, but now it’s him who feels just a little too cracked open.

But Shiro nods, and he seems relaxed, and that’s not nothing. He lays his hand down on his leg and lets Matt reach out and take it, lets him press up against his shoulder while they breathe into the silence. And it’s nothing like Matt’s daydreams ever were. But he’ll take it.

#voltron #sometimes I write things

[bathalyon]

Super Junior as High School Students!

Leeteuk:

- The Best Class’s President of the year - aaaand nobody listen to him - loves to have a chat with the teachers, an attention-seeker - When the teacher is absent, he’s the one who would know it first, and ask for replacement task so everyone knows he’s in charge. - he sits on first row, beside Kibum and in front of Heechul  - LT: “Guys, Kim Seongsaenim can’t teach us today, I think he’s fall from the cliff or something, but I asked for assignment, YEAH!!” The others: “...” HC: “Let’s kill him.” - He has this one nerdy girl who always been crushing on him. He knows that but pretends to be clueless so he doesn’t have to break her heart. - Is on Charity club and Student Communication Center Club. - Wears white everyday. One time he wears all white from top to toe, and the school janitor thought he’s spirit of clean-ness - always bring wet tissue/? and handkerchief in his bag just to wipes something dirty (OCD alert)

Heechul:

- The Narcissistic Flower-Boy but has a LOT of fans - Supposed to be second-in-command but he can’t even lead himself - Trust me his personality it’s getting better every year, now people can look at him in the eye - rumored to be gay because... JUST LOOK AT THOSE FACE!1!1!1 - (un)usual things on his bag: comb, small mirror, asuka’s miniature, and marker for signing on his fans stuff - HC: *is doing something nice* HG: “What are you doing?” HC: “Uhhh, doing charity?” HG: “BUT YOU’RE SATAN!” - Sits behind Leeteuk so he can wake him up if he’s asleep in the middle of class, and beside Hangeng just because he needs translator. - Jealous of Eunhyuk since he’s the Vice-Class president. - is on Anime club and Drama-Improv Club - make a bet about whose the real gay in class, because he’s SURE he is not the only one....

Hangeng:

- The Exchange Student form China who happens to be stuck with other 14 idiots. - Lives in Students Dormitory with Zhoumi and Henry - is on Martial Arts club and Korean Language Club - Sits on Second row beside Heechul and Henry, Behind Kibum and In front of Zhoumi (Ha... good luck for imagining that...) - Teacher: *explains something* HG: “Henry, can you explain that again to me?” HR: “Idk hyung, I’m not Korean” HG: “Zhoumi, Can you..” ZM: “I’m not Korean either hyung...” HG: “Kibum, do you understand--” HC: “FOR GOD SAKE HANGENG YOU HAVE ME!” - the victim of language and culture barrier. One time Kangin was asked him what he has for a pet, instead of answered, “dog” he said, “crab” - still bring chinese lunch although it’s his third year on Korea - has the most blank faces in every classes. - his parents are rich because they are one of successor from China, but he prefer to be quiet about it than taking a risk to be robbed by his shameless friends (as in 13 of them, except Siwon)

  Yesung:

- The weird guy who makes you question things - his fashion style kinda emo but rebel/? - sits on fourth row, beside Shindong and behind Eunhyuk, all he do is sleep in class - is joining the school band as vocalist. Guess what their genre is... yup, EMO. - when he’s bored he goes to people on the second row to touch their philtrum. But he ends up getting slapped by Heechul. - Cass: *in chaos* YS: *humming in song* “Is there anything I could help?” KB: “Yes hyung, we need you to shut up!” - bad at math but good at art - is on School band and Musical-Drama club - has crush on his keyboardist but it goes away when he knows she doesn’t like turtles - client of detention because sleeping in classes - annoyed by Eunhyuk all the time because there is this ‘rivalry’ thing between dance club and musical club, but when it comes to class he just annoyed because Eunhyuk like to tease him about his voice - the others make him promise to not wondering around when there is school trip, because if we lose him, the world is the one in danger, not him

  Kangin:

- The one of those Unpopular High-School Jock - always wear his baseball uniform although there were no training that day - sat on the fourth row, beside Shindong and behind Sungmin - best-friends with Leeteuk since he has to persuade him to not tell teacher if he did something wrong - was a school bullyer since he has big figure, but rn he’s just lazy - mistaking Heechul as a girl ONCE, and he regret having a crush on him in the past - KI: “Hey Wookie, Can I copy your homework?” RW: “I don’t think all the answers of my homework are correct” KI: “Well, Is that what I’m asking for?” - client of detention because sleeping in classes.2 - is on Basketball Team and Video Games Club - He was bullying Sungmin in their first grade but now they end up in same class make him more sorry towards him - Don’t worry, Sungmin forgive him although he still can’t be 3 meters around Kangin, face to face. - He always treat the guys especially eunhae since both of them look pitiful

Shindong:

- The Class’s snack storage and Division of Documentation - He prefer to sat in last row, in between Kangin and Yesung, also behind Zhoumi - He’s a Mama boy, so if you wonder where all the foods he has came from, yep it’s his mother - this guy hates pizza and noodles and it makes all the guys love him even more - SD: *leaves the class with full box of pizza* HC: “Yah yah yah, fatso! Where are you going?” SD: “uh.. throwing these? wae hyung? wanna some? I don’t eat pizza” HC: “huh, I guess world is indeed fair” - he doesn’t like to take photograph, so he’s the one who works behind camera instead - is on Screen-writing Club and Food Club - people always treat him like a kid, HE IS KIYOWO THO - This boy doesn’t care basically love ‘jaeyuk’ more than girls - if the class is more crowded than the usually, there must be a ‘wrestling competition’ between him and Kangin - He has been the winner of that competition for 5 consecutive weeks

Sungmin:

- The All-Time High School Sweethearts - He always be that guy who stare at the window in classes, with earphone on both ears and calm looks on his face - speaking of window, he sit on third row beside the window, behind Heechul and in front of Kangin, Zhoumi in his other side. - Sorry girls, he has girlfriend on math class - He used to be nerdy with those big specs but puberty hit him hard - He became popular since his girlfriend is Vice-President of student organization - Heechul always think that he’s the true gay in class, but when he knows Sungmin got a girlfriend, damn tears. - is a genius on learning new language. He listen to Hangeng-Henry-Zhoumi convo and discover how to speak Mandarin immediately, also he watch anime hentai from Eunhyuk’s pc and know he knows how to speak Japanese - KH: “Hyung stop doing that...” SM: “Huh? Stop doing what?” KH: “Smiling, the fangirls outside are having trouble breathing...” - is on Psychological Club and Foreign Movie Club - He made out with Kangin on Group therapy themed “Jocks need Nerds, but Nerds can murder Jocks without leaving a trace”

Eunhyuk:

-The hyperactive Class Clown and Leeteuk’s right-hand - has been friends with Donghae since they were on Kindergarten - he sits beside him and Zhoumi, in front of Yesung and behind Henry. third row - is on Food Club too because he eats a lot, ppl always say that Shindong is the one who has large stomach, they are wrong - also in Dancing club, the foods he eat are burned there - SW: “I think Eunhyuk is handsome...” EH: “HAH! DO YOU HEAR HIM GUYS? HE SAID I’M HANDSOME! SIWON-AH SAID THAT AGAIN!” SW: “I think I have talent on lying, hehe” - he call himself ‘Jewel-boy’ but the boys call him ‘Sun Go Kong’ - spends his time too much with Donghae, he become the 2nd Pabo in class - that one guy who gives teacher random questions and random answers - is happy when everyone cracks up because of his jokes - is the real angel here, PROTECT HIM - although he’s kinda silly but everyone never doubt his leadership, even Heechul is afraid of angry Eunhyuk

Zhoumi:

- The Not-So-Chinese-Playboy - He’s Siwon’s cousin, no wonder they kinda look alike- he sit on third row, between Eunhyuk and Sungmin, behind Hangeng and In front of Shindong. - he knows he born with ‘handsome genes’ that’s why he’s known as the class’s player - at every lunchtime he would come to cafeteria to pick up girls - his success rate is 4/10, depends on how dumb the girls are - is on basketball team since he wants to see the cheerleaders, and on School Magazine club - KI: “Yeah, talk to you later nunna” *hang up the phone call* ZM: “Is that your sister?” KI: “Yep” ZM: “Is she pretty?” KI: “Do you wanna see her from hospital or graveyard?” - he’s the most ‘up to date’ person on class. His gadgets are in diverse. One time Eunhyuk was in shookt when he knows that Zhoumi’s toilet could lift the lid by itself - knowing a lot of people at school, kinda popular. And the boys make him gossip scouts and news notifier

Donghae:

- Class’s Crybaby and Beauty-Pabo - people said he’s handsome but he doesn’t believe it til now - he’s not stupid on common knowledge, he’s just stupid at doing his life - he sits beside Eunhyuk and behind Siwon - he loves poetry and photography, makes him joined Writing Club and Photography Club - because he friends with Eunhyuk, he also takes Dance Club. He kinda follow Hyuk everywhere.... - he’s spoiled by Heechul because he looks like lil puppy who needs its mama (or tamagochi) - Teacher: “How many world war has happen up until today?” DH: “ME! 6 WORLD WAR” EH: “Yah, not that many!” DH: “Jinjja? Is it 5 and a half?” - The others never let Siwon, Donghae, and Heechul walk together, the hallway would riven - he cried watching Bambi and Documentary of Crocodile’s Evolution - he has a lot of secret admirer, not fans tho, just the one who cannot talk to him because of his 14 overprotective brothers

Siwon: - The Real High School Prince and Church Oppa - His parents are on of biggest donors for school - Everyone who knows this immediately treat him like prince, (everyone knows tho...) - despite his handsome appearance, the boys always mock him because he looks older than he suppose to - always go to Church to pray or just refill his holy water for purifying Heechul - he sits on second row, beside Henry, Behind Ryeowook, and in front of Donghae. - From the first day of school, he always wants to be friends with Ryeowook, but Wookie can’t stand Siwon’s greasiness - KB: “Why are you so rich and Zhoumi looks like he always got nothing to eat?” SW: “Because I always thankful for what God’s ha given to me...” KH: "HEECHUL HYUNG! SIWON HYUNG IS GIVING HIS TRIAL TO KIBUM” HC: *slams table* “NOBODY PERSUADE MY BABY!” - He’s on Christian Club and Charity Club, holy shisus... - the boys crowned him as “the one who likely to become a president” and “the one who likely to become a sugar daddy if Heechul ask him to”

Kibum:

- The most normal among the freak - actually he’s not normal, he’s too quiet - despite the silent he does, he always get 1st rank at school. No, not class, at SCHOOL. - sometimes he would play with the other boys, ot be the one who split the fight with his intelligence - he sits in first row between Leeteuk and Kyuhyun. In front of Hangeng - tbh, his favorite hyung is probably Sungmin because he’s the next normal one - YS: “Kibum-ah, you’re too smart for this class, why are you in this class?” KB: “Hyung, If you want to look smarter you need to hang out with dumb people” - is on Science Club and Math Club - loves astronomy because he wants to go to somewhere more quite than this class - the only person who would fight him is Kyuhyun, but both of them are lousy so they just ends up crying and made up - Siwon’s companion going to church

Ryeowook:

- The Music Box and Class’s Chef - he sits on first row, beside Kyuhyun and in front of Siwon - he choose a song that suits situation of the class everyday - SD: *is eating* RW: *plays SJ - Cooking? Cooking!* DH: *is crying* RW: *plays Seventeen - Don’t wanna cry* HC: *is doing anything* RW: *plays Sunmi - Gashina* HC: *death glare* “really Ryeowook, really?” - he also the one who does commentary when somebody doing something, the most absurd thing he does is commenting on Yesung who just chewing gum - is on Radio Club and Cooking club - He won from category of “the one you wants to get stuck in deserted island with” and the reason is just because he can cook - admits that he has girlfriend, but nobody believe that. everyone wonder what kind of girlfriend who wants parrot as her boyfriend - once ask Siwon to buy him a GIRAFFE as his birthday gift

Kyuhyun:

- The Gamer with Mouth full-of Sarcasm - that one guy who never pay attention on class but always get the 2nd rank - Leeteuk would always be the one who snatch his phone or game out of his hand so he would interact with others - he sits in first row between Kibum and Ryeowook, also in front of Henry - there is one time when Kyuhyun made Donghae cry because he said Donghae is useless - HG: “I can’t believe you said that, I’m mad at you!” KH: “Hi Mad At You, I’m Kyuhyun! Nice to meet you�� - is on Algebra club and starcraft club - the boys never let him goes into argument with Heechul, there would be no end - but sometimes Heechul is his companion on playing starcraft and mock the others in sarcasm - everyone call him “Evil Junior” - He almost killed Yesung’s turtle by giving it a camphor - Siwon’s second target of purifying soul

Henry:

- The one little bastard - he came from Canada but his soul is Germany - likes to hide porn inside Eunhyuk’s table, so he’s the one who get blamed - sits in seond row, between Hangeng and Siwon, Behind Kyuhyun and In front of Eunhyuk. - since his cheeks are chubby, the hyungs often pinch it so it gets red - SD: “I get nervous when you get silent in the corner of the room” HR: “Waeyo hyung?” SD: “Molla...” *look at Henry’s magazine* - is on Violin Club and DJ Club - his parents is Korean, but they lived in Canada for 7 years and now forget how to talk in hangul/? - his favorite hyung is Heechul since he’s always on his side whenever porn is involved - HC: “HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT MY BABY WATCH PORN, HE’S INNOCENCE!” LT: “HE FREAKKING NAMED THE FILE “TISSUE NEEDED”, HOW COME I’M NOT SUSPICIOUS!” - he sleeps on the same bed as Hangeng because he’s skinnier than Zhoumi

#super junior #suju #sj #leeteuk #heechul #hangeng #yesung #kangin #shindong #sungmin #eunhyuk #donghae #zhoumi #siwon #kibum #ryeowook #kyuhyun #henry #kpop #kpop imagine #suju imagine

[zutaralover94]

2 and 10? PLEEEEEEEASE?

Thanks so much for the request! Childhood best friends and high school popular kid/nerd aus! This one I could probably write a long chapter book about! 

“I heard she was back for good.”

“Yeah but why did she leave to begin with?”

“Well… Ty Lee told Asumi, who told Kya, who thentold Izumi…”

Zuko’s head hit the desk. The two girls in frontof him paused their conversation and looked to him with a disgusted look. WhenZuko looked up, the girls had turned back around and were now huddled closertogether. Zuko just kept his head down and closed his eyes.

“Oh, thank you.”

Zuko knew that voice anywhere. Hell, he hadgrown up with that voice chasing after him. Except now, now it had an airy tintto it. Like a heavenly sound or a siren that lulls you into the ocean onlyto rip your heart out and leave. Zuko gritted his teeth.

“Anyone sitting here?”

Agni. Zuko turned to thevoice. Midnight blue eyes blinked at him expectantly. Zuko’s eyes followed downthe darker tinted tanned skin. Katara had grown up, a lot. She wore the uniformof Ba Sing Se Academy, but she pushed the envelope, like most of the girls. Thewhite button up shirt was untucked and half of the top buttons were undone toshow a light blue undershirt. The navy blue plaid skirt fell millimeters belowher fingertips. And were those heels? To school?

The Katara, Zuko knew, never wore heels. Thenagain, she wasn’t the type to straddle the line of school rules. Hell, she waslike a mother, forcing all those around her to not get into trouble.

The girl next to Katara smirked and gave out ashort laugh. “Careful Kat, you might catch fire on the way he is staring atyou.” The girl wore practically the same outfit except her skirt was a darkgreen plaid and her shirt was buttoned and a school issued tie was around herneck.

It was Katara’s turn to smirk, “No. No. Zuko isharmless.”

She remembers me? Zuko waved to the open desks beside him. Both of the girls takingtheir seats as the teacher walked in.

As class went on, Zuko began to pray to whatevergod and higher power was out there, that this was the only class he had withKatara. The siren she had turned into, was sure to kill him. He looked over toher. Her hair had become somewhat shorter and the braid was replaced with herhair in a half bun and curls that fell in just the right place.

Katara turned to him and raised an eyebrow,“It’s rude to stare.” That got a round of snickers and a flushed Zuko. Theteacher cleared her throat to get the classroom’s attention again.

Zuko turned back to the front and tried to payattention to the teacher in front. Speech was not his favorite subject. But inorder to get out of this hell hole of a city, he had to suffer through. Justone more semester and he was finished. Done. He could leave.

“Now class,” Ms. Joo Dee clapped her hands,“During the last five minutes I would like to discuss the upcoming musical…” Therewas a groan from practically all of the students. “Now, now! This year we willhave professional help!” The teacher’s smile widened. “The Ember Island Playerswill be coming to help you on techniques and stage acting. All those who wishto join, a signup sheet will be placed outside the door.”

Zuko had quickly tuned out and began gatheringhis stuff to leave for the next class.

“What do you have next period?” Katara turnedaround in her seat.

“College preparatory class: Landscaping.” Seafoam green eyes rolled.

“It’s not all that bad, Toph.” Katara patted herhand.

“Think about that, Sugar Queen,” Toph laughedand leaned forward tapping on Katara’s forehead. “How am I supposed to knowwhat color the flowers are? They all look practically the same.”

“Get a cute guy to help you.” Katara smiledback, a joking tone in her voice.

Zuko now rolled his eyes and looked over hisschedule. When the bell rang, he was quick to stand and leave, but a manicuredhand shot out and grabbed his elbow. His eyes followed the tan fingers down thetan arm to Katara with a sugar-sweet smile. “Can you let go? I have to get toclass.”

Katara’s bottom lip pouted. “I was just going tolet you know, in case Sokka hasn’t already told you, we have family dinnertonight.”

“I know.” Zuko felt like growling, but surprisedhimself that his voice came out semi-normal.

Katara retracted her hand with a smile, “ThenI’ll see you tonight?”

“I don’t have a choice.” Zuko pushed away fromthe desk and walked as fast as he could, out of the room to his next class. Agni.

Zuko hadn’t seen Katara in any more of hisclasses up until lunch, which he was thankful for. He still had two left but hedoubted she would show up to mechanics. But his last class was historicalliterature. And if he knew Katara, which he used to, she would be in thatclass.

Zuko sat by himself in an open window, down thehall from the loud lunchroom. He watched as the shades changed as the cloudspassed over the sun. When he felt a tap on his shoulder, he nearly knocked theschool issued laptop, which was sitting in his lap, onto the floor. Fu…

“Sorry.” Katara laughed. Zuko knew in a momentthat it was an unguarded laugh. And when he turned to look up at her, she wasalone.

“What do you want?” Zuko shut the laptop andbegan to stuff it back inside of his bag. If Katara was here, a poesy of peoplewould never be far behind. The library usually keeps the louder people out.The popular people out.

“Geeze,” Katara crossed her arms over her chestand shifted so her weight was on one leg. “No ‘Nice to see you again Kat’ or‘It’s been a few years, you look good.’?”

“It’s nice to see you again, Kitten. It’s been afew years.” Zuko said in a monotone. His eyes raked down her body again.“You’ve changed.”

Katara slightly scoffed at his tone. “But a goodchange right?” Katara fluttered her eyelashes and moved into Zuko’s space,slightly trapping him in the window sill.

Zuko only nodded and shrugged, “Uh, I think thatdepends on who you ask.”

Katara paused in her descend on him; she let outa humorless laugh, “Was that supposed to be an insult?”

Zuko threw his book bag over his shoulder andsmirked down at her as he stood, “I think that…”

“Depends on who I ask.” Katara finished for him.

“Now, you’re getting it, Kitten.” Zuko pushedpast a surprised Katara.

“Stop calling me that!” She yelled after him.Katara could faintly hear the chuckle that came from Zuko.

At the end of the day, Zuko was happy toannounce that he only had one class with Katara. So avoiding her would be easy.Especially once the gossip stopped flying around as to why she was back or whyshe left.

Zuko knew the truth, but why tell everyone aboutKatara’s family fall from grace. Or the fact that he knew the only way she wasback at Ba Sing Se Academy was because of a scholarship. Zuko couldn’t doanything, if she thought the charade of her acting like she still ownedeverything. She would soon see and feel the fall, just like Zuko had.

Though Zuko’s fall would probably be a littleless painful that Katara’s. After the fire two years ago, Zuko fell from thenext up and coming quarterback and most likely to succeed to the lonely nerdwith a messed up face.

Zuko always pointed his problems back to twoyears ago. If those damned rebels hadn’t screwed over the Southern Water City,which was under Katara’s father’s mayorship. Then Zuko’s father wouldn’t have runto help, causing multiple rebellions to set fire to each of Phoenix City’sproperties. Many had called it an insurance gag. There was one report that saidOzai had purposefully sent the rebellion to Southern Water City to overthrowthe mayor. And then sent them to his own properties to act like theywere mad that Ozai had helped Katara’s family.

And did Zuko believe those rumors? Hell yes.Zuko believed his father would do anything for the power and anything to stophis son from becoming something to great. Burning everything Zuko had, hisitems, his football scholarship papers to some of the best colleges, hisdreams, his popularity, his face… his honor.

Zuko’s status fell quickly and painfully.

But watching Katara, he knew it was only a smallmatter of time before everyone found out. And that fall from grace would not bepretty.

***

The next day

***

Zuko cringed as he sat down in his first hourclass. Katara’s rein had only gotten bigger and in one. Now with Azula by herside, the girls following Katara had tripled. Katara quickly became second incommand. And Zuko could almost place a bet on how long it would take for Katarato overthrow the fire queen.

Katara slid into the seat beside Zuko with anasty smile, “Morning, ZuZu.”

Zuko gritted his teeth and refused to look ather. “The fuck you want?”

“Language.” Katara reached over and playfullyslapped his arm. Zuko only scowled and moved out of reach. Katara only put on apout. “Dinner last night was great. Except you know with the parents andsiblings there, it was kind of drab.”

“Drab?” Zuko made the mistake of looking over toKatara.

Katara’s midnight blue eyes seemed a tad darker.Her navy blue fleece jacket was zipped up until right under her chest. Thewhite button up had been opened and shared a fair amount of tanned skin. Shehad on a pair of navy shorts and a pair of dark red boots that came over herknee. “Yes, boring, dumb, not fun at all. So I was thinking maybe tomorrow nightwe could do it without them?”

Zuko could hear the slight nervousness in hervoice. “I don’t think so.”

“You think too much.” Katara tilted her head. Aringlet curl fell onto her cheek and she swiped it behind her ear.

“Then, no.” Zuko turned back to his desk andlooked down at his notebook as Ms. Joo Dee walked in.

“Fine.” Katara plopped back into her chair witha childish pout and arms crossed over her chest.

And that was it. Zuko was so relieved whenKatara didn’t try to stop him from practically running out of the room. But therelief soon wore off later that day during free period. Zuko had sat down andopened his homework for math when another body sat down across from him. Thesmell of oceans and firelillies drifted over to him.

Zuko took and deep breath and released it beforelooking up to Katara. “Can I not go a whole day without seeing you afterSpeech?”

Katara smiled and opened a book. “‘Fraid not.”She slid a piece of paper over to him. A blue tutor note, that had Zuko shakinghis head furiously.

“No. I refuse.”

“Zuko…” Katara drawled out with a pitiful lookin her eyes. “I need help. Seriously.”

“No.” Zuko slammed his own math book closed andbegan gathering his things.

“Come on Zuko.” Katara was quick to grab hisbook and pull it towards her. “I really need help. I don’t understand anythingout of Mr. Bushi is saying! What is tan and why is it sin? Zuko you have tohelp!” Katara clutched the book to her chest. “Please.”

Zuko closed his eyes and took another deepbreath. “You can find someone else to help. Let me have my book back.”

“There is no one else that is tutoring in trigthis semester, unless I want Mr. Bushi’s alternate personality Xu to help.”Katara pleaded.

Zuko opened his eyes and sat back down in hischair. “Sit.” Zuko grumbled after a few seconds of silent.

“You’re the best!” Katara sat back down with alarge smile and opened the book back up.

Days turned into weeks, turned into months andthe end of the school years was approaching. Zuko was getting antsy. Hereceived a scholarship to Raiders University and he was excited to finally getout of here.

Zuko would miss the hour he spent with anunguarded Katara. She had quite quickly caught on trigonometry and was probablyeven quicker at solving most of the homework problems than Zuko.

“So graduation is in two weeks. You excited?”Katara closed the math book. They still had fifteen minutes to spare.

“Ha,” Zuko gave a short laugh. “Who isn’texcited at this point?”

“I’m going to miss it.” Katara shrugged. Shewore a light blue cardigan today. Her white polo was highly decorated in laceand her navy blue shorts were high with little silver buttons.

“Miss what?” Zuko closed his math book and beganputting it away. “The terrible cafeteria food or the math equations you willnever have to look at again?”

Katara propped her chin on her hand and lookedat Zuko. “Neither…” It came out really quiet and it caught Zuko’s attention.

He looked up and navy blue eyes looked at him.There was sadness there; something like Zuko couldn’t place the feeling behindher eyes. “Then what? The popularity?” Zuko grabbed the spare pencils andshoved them into his bag as well. “Trust me; you won’t have a problem fittinginto whatever sorority you plan on joining.”

“Not that.” Katara shook her head. “I’ll missthis.” Zuko stopped shoving things deeper into his bag. He again looked up toher, golden eyes falling steady onto Katara. “I’ll miss you.” Katara bit herlip after the words came spilling out.

Zuko’s heart burst open. Years of suppressingfeeling for the girl in front of him tumbled around in his chest. Butterflies… Fucknot butterflies but a stampede of cowpotomusses… filled his stomach. Inthat instant, Zuko wanted nothing more than to confess those feelings. But itwasn’t fair. Wasn’t right. They were going to two different Universities. AndZuko wasn’t going to let his dumb feelings get in the way of her going after herdreams. “I’ll miss you too, Kitten.”

Katara’s nose scrunched up. “Stop with thenickname. I definitely won’t miss that.” They laughed and gathered their thingsas the bell rang. Zuko soaked in the sound of Katara’s laughter and locked itaway with all of his childhood memories.

 At the graduation party Zuko stood alone, a cupof spiked punch in his hand, as he watched Katara flit around the room. Thenavy dress she wore seemed plain, but he had overheard many of the girls exclaimhow beautiful it looked. Katara smiled to everyone and talked and laughed. Evenafter word got out about her scholarship, Katara remained popular. Peoplepractically worshipped her drive for knowledge and she kept her throne at thepopulars’ table.

Every other person she would talk to her eyeswould drift over to the tall man standing in the corner alone. And after anhour more of talking to people, she skirted the outside of the room and toZuko. “Having fun?”

Zuko smiled, “It’s better than looking at a bookof trigonometry for an hour.” He joked.

No matter how ridiculous the joke was, Kataralaughed. She placed her hand on his shoulder and began slipping out ofsparkling golden heels. “You know the best thing about university?”

“What?” Zuko held onto Katara, as she took offthe other heel.

“You can wear sweat pants and slippers to class,and no one will look at you funny.” Katara held onto the heel of her shoes.

“I like the way you think.” Zuko’s heart sped upslightly when he realized that Katara wasn’t going to let go of his arm. “So dosorority girls have like uniformed pajamas or…”

Katara laughed and nudged his arm with hershoes. “Very funny.” She turned and looked around the room. “I’m sure many do…and they have Kappa Kappa Omega written on the seat of the pants.”

Zuko nodded. “Color coded for each sister.”

Katara shook her head. “So you have everythingplanned out for when you start?”

“Yeah,” Zuko looked down to the girl next tohim. “I have my pajama colors picked out and everything.” Katara gave a wholenew round of laughter. “And if Azumi thinks she’s stealing metallic gold awayfrom me. She better watch out.”

Katara busted out laughing, causing Zuko to joinin with her. “Zuko…”

“Okay,” Zuko’s laughter died down. “Yes. I haveeverything settled. I meet my roommate two weeks before I move into the dorms.He seems fine.”

“Mmm.” Katara hummed and waved to a group thathad called out to her. “Ty Lee is the only other person I know that’s going tobe at Water Island University.”

“Ahh, well don’t miss me too much, Kitten.” Zukonudged Katara.

“Miss what?” Katara teased, “You droning onabout angles and the hypotenuse? Or that terrible nickname?”

“What?” Zuko shrugged his shoulders in fakeignorance, “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy those long hours of my droning.”

Katara shook her head and they stood in silence.After a few minutes, Katara made her way to leave to talk to more people. Zukostuck out his arm to catch her before she got too far. “Kat… I…”

“Katara!” A girl yelled from across the room.Katara turned to look at her, she held up a finger to the girl. The girl lookedslightly irrated on having to wait.

“Yeah?” Katara turned back to Zuko, a smallbloom of hope rising in her eyes.

“I’m really going to miss you.” Zuko nodded, ablush crawled up his neck. “We’ll keep touch right?”

Katara smiled and she quickly wrapped her armsaround his neck. “Of course. I’ll miss you too.”

As Katara let go and Zuko sat his drink down toleave, little did either know that this would be their last time to confess tothe other. Or that the other, years later, would look back on that day and kickthemselves for not saying something about their childhood feeling.

#zutara #fanfiction #zutara short fic #i hope this smooths your needs #i could write a whole fic about these prompts #with more background #and flashbacks #childhood friends au #high school popular kid/nerd au #thanks for the request! #zutaralover94 answers #beealexageek

[aussie-mantle]

Archie's Sister Part 5 (Reggie x Reader)

After some randoms wedding Dad insisted that I come with him and Archie to support Miss Grundy in her classical music band, we headed to Pop's for dinner. There was a weird vibe from both Miss Grundy and Arch all day. "Now that's an odd combo of people." You head Kevin say as you walk in. "I'll be back." Betty announces and walks over to us. "Betty." Archie says like he's shocked. "Hey Betty." "Hey Mr Andrews, Miss Grundy, (Y/N). Archie can I talk to you?" Betty asked coming over to our booth just as we sat down. I turned my head and noticed Jughead, Veronica and Kevin sitting in the booth where Betty just came from watching us. "Sure. I'll call you later." Archie said politely to his best friend. "No actually, now. Just school stuff, outside." She said shaking her head. Why does she was Archie's help? I'm in all of her classes. Archie walked off with Betty and I sat alone with Dad and Miss Grundy as they spoke. This has got to be the most awkward dinner I've ever been too. Just as Veronica got up to go outside to join her friends, I scooted next to Jughead. "What's got you in a fowl mood?" I asked him taking one of Veronica's onion rings and pulling it in half. "The Drive In's closing." He frowned. I was the only one that knew that Jughead lived there. I sighed. "I'm so sorry Jug." I said placing my hand on his shoulder. "It's all good." I looked at him and shook my head just as Kevin tuned out. "Don't lie to me." I muttered. "We're gonna have a closing night, you in?" "Yeah. I'll be there." I nodded. "Awesome." Jughead smiled. It was rare to see him smile. "Why not?" Betty asked Archie as she stood with him and Veronica outside my house. "Archie it's getting late." I said gesturing for him to come inside. "You better tell her, or we will." Veronica said and I looked at her confused. "Whatever guys. See you at school." Archie shrugged and entered our house. "That's weird." I laughed as Archie began to walk upstairs. "Yeah. Oh, I'm walking you to school tomorrow." Archie demanded and I nodded. "No worries." You say to your older brother as you follow him upstairs to your separate rooms. "We think Archie and Betty should stop spending time together. Their relationship isn't  good. For either of them, and their respected behaviour reflects that." Alice Cooper said as she stood with her husband at the front door.  "Hi Mr and Mrs Cooper. How are you?" I asked walking down the stairs getting ready to meet Reggie at the drive in. "Swell (Y/N). Thank you for asking." Alice sneered and then turned to my father once more who was carelessly drinking his coffee out of his only mug which Archie and I brought him for a Father's Day present years ago. "If there is anything you can do on your end-" "My son is a good kid." "I live next door Fred. I see him sneaking out at night, sneaking off into the darkness at all hours." "Alice." Dad paused. "Are you spying on us?" Dad accused her. Nice one dad. "Come on Hal. We said what we came to say, it's on him if he chooses to ignore us." Alice smirked and left. Dad nodded and shut the door. "Good luck trying to explain that to Arch, Dad." I told him and he sighed. "He's out with Betty as we speak." Dad said taking another sip out of his mug. "Would you two stop for one second and enjoy the movie?" Jughead complained as Reggie and I pulled away from our make out session on Jugheads made up bed. Reggie was too dumb to realise it was a bed. "Sorry Jug." I mumbled as cuddled into Reggie's chest as he put his arm around me. It was closing night at the Twilight. 'Rebel Without A Cause' as playing. During the movie Reggie would twirl my hair with his fingers and would place a kiss or two on my head. I watched Jughead closely examine the Drive In from his spot. I sighed. "Babe. Do you mind getting some more pop corn?" I asked Reggie pulling away from him. "No worries." He said grabbing his wallet and phone from the table next to us. "Do you want anything Jughead?" Reggie asked using Jug's full name. Well it's actually Forsythe, but I'm not going to tell him that. "No thanks." Jughead shrugged him off. As Reggie left, I leaned forward. "Thanks again Jughead. I appreciate you keeping this secret. You know you're always welcomed to stay at the Andrews residence." You smile at him. Not that FP would care.  "It's fine. It's not the only secret I'm keeping." Jughead mumbled. "Jug, I know you don't speak to Arch much anymore, but you probably know more than me." I said to him and he turned away, facing me rather than the movie. "What's going on with him?" I asked him and he sighed. "Do you really wanna know?" Jughead asked and I nodded. "Him and Miss Grundy were together during the Fourth of July weekend." "Is that why Archie asked me for $50 yesterday? Dad turning the garage into a music studio. Oh god does Dad know? Is that why Veronica and Betty were sleuthing around our house the other day."  "I'm surprised you hadn't figured it out yet. You're just as slow as Mantle. You've been hanging around him too much." Jughead joked. "In all seriousness (Y/N). Don't tell anyone." Your night seemed to be the best out of everyone's. Your father sent you a message asking you to come home before it gets too late. He assumed you were at the Drive In with Cheryl, Veronica and Kevin. He had some important things to discuss. Reggie dropped you a block away as per usual. You walk home with your iPhone flashlight and the dim street lights guiding your way. You stop at your house and noticed your brother hugging your father, a scene you had only seen once before. When your mother left for Chicago.

#reggiemantlexreader riverdale rossbutler cw archieandrews bettycooper veronicalodge reggiemantle jugheadjones cw andrews #reggiemantle riverdale archieandrews cw bettycooper andrews

[expressandadmirable]

Femslash February day 28: Happy Ending

One set of legs. Two. Three.

With more effort than she would have liked, Sol pressed towards the front of her consciousness. The drugs made her sleepy, but sleepy was better than dead. Non-magical healing sucked. She felt a weight press against the side of the bed, and before she could open her eyes, something very cold and very wet smacked against her face.

“Hey! No! Come on girl, we talked about this!”

Slowly, Sol opened her eyes to see the broad, smiling face of Soft Girl looking back at her, the great white beast trying her absolute best to crawl onto the bed and join her. Behind the dog, her arms wrapped around the animal’s trunk, was Aviva, caught somewhere between a laugh and a grimace. With a grunt, she wrestled Soft Girl’s front paws from the bed and placed them on the ground. “Yes, good, you found her. You’re not even supposed to be in here, you know. You promised you were going to behave.”

“Did she, now?” Sol offered with a faint smile. “Fool on you for believing her.”

Aviva’s face broke into a wide grin. “Hey you.” Stepping over Soft Girl, she took one of Sol’s hands in hers and gently touched her forehead to the Drow’s, sinking onto the edge of the bed at her hip. She looked tired, Sol noticed; even more tired than normal, if it was possible. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got shot.” She waved away Aviva’s scowl with her free hand. “I’m as okay as can be expected. I’m healing the old-fashioned way, and if my tests come back normal, I should be released in a couple days.” She smirked. “Hope you’re ready to deal with me being a lump on the couch for awhile.”

“More than ready.” Despite Sol’s attempt at a joke, Aviva answered with absolute sincerity, her gold eyes wide and guileless. “Wil was able to cancel the tour before we got too deep into the planning, and if I go into the studio a couple times a week we should still be able to get the album out on time. The fridge is stocked and the calendar’s clear.”

Sol’s smirk faded. “V--”

The Tiefling silenced her with a kiss, delicate but lingering. “I know. Don't put my life on hold. I’m not, I promise. I'm just concentrating on our life.” She straightened back to sitting. “I’m playing a basement show tonight, which will put some extra cash in our pockets, and I finished most of the promo stuff I needed to do yesterday.” She paused, and when she spoke again, her voice was low. “I can barely concentrate, knowing you're here. It feels too much like when you were away.”

Away. Sol knew what that meant: at war. She squeezed the Tiefling’s hand. “I’m going to be okay. You know that, right? You can’t get rid of me that easily; I’d have thought you knew that by now.” She looked at the worried lines of her partner’s face, the dark circles beneath her eyes. “Are you still feeling guilty?”

Aviva nodded miserably, suddenly unable to meet Sol’s eyes. “I can’t help it.”

Sol scoffed, but her smile was gentle. “Come here.” She opened her arms. Aviva hesitated, then leaned in enough to rest her cheek against Sol’s collarbone, careful not to press too heavily on the Drow’s wounded abdomen. Sol stroked her hair, running her fingers through the snarls and tangles, feeling the tension start to ebb from the Tiefling’s body. She must not have slept at all in the week since the incident. “You are not responsible for what happened,” she stated, slowly and clearly. “It was simply a matter of wrong place, wrong time. Yes, really. Don’t huff. You’d be shocked to know how often people walk in on robberies. The important thing is, Brash says they caught the guy, and he shot a cop. He’s fucked.”

“Good.” Aviva lifted her head, her lips curling wryly. “Can we please get married now? Have we finally met the threshold of near-death experiences to make you wise up?” Their long-running half-joke.

Sol made a show of rolling her eyes. “If you insist.”

Aviva started her usual protest, but froze mid-syllable, mouth hanging open. “Wait, really?”

“Yes, really.” Sol smiled, then raised a brow. “But if you use my being trapped on the couch to make me plan a wedding, I will go out and get shot again.”

The Tiefling’s expression widened into horrified laugher. “Don’t even joke, you little shit!” Soft Girl’s ears perked up at the change in tone, and she gazed up at the bed with a dopey grin. She loved when her people laughed.

“Hey!” shouted a voice from the hallway. “Is that a dog?! Ma’am, you can’t have a dog in here!”

“Uh-oh, gotta go.” With the sheepishly hunched shoulders of someone who knew exactly what they had done wrong, Aviva reached down for Soft Girl’s leash, then stood. “Sorry to cut this short, but I’m too much of a rebel for this place. Dogs in the hospital! Madness.” She cupped Sol’s cheek with her free hand, then leaned down to kiss her. “I’ll be back tomorrow, sans canine. I love you, my sunshine.”

“I love you, too.” Before Aviva could step away, Sol caught her hand in hers. “When you come back, can you bring me some soup?” she begged, her voice almost a whine. “The food here is terrible.”

Aviva laughed. “Soup and a ring. Special delivery.”

(This has been sitting in my drafts for months after I had an attack of the "nobody cares about your dumb AU"s, but this seemed like the right day to finish it. It's not actually the last AU story I'll write, but it ties up the one major plot point I'd invented during FemFeb last year. For @stufflaalikes )

#Dungeons and Dragons #Original Characters #AU #Modern AU #Aviva Lux #Femslash February #Prompts

[emeraldthoughtsblog]

Code Geass: A Tale of Two Demons. CH9: Zero’s Aftermath

Chapter 9 of A Tale of Two Demons. Kallen meets up with Naoto after his trial, Suzaku takes Euphy to Shinjuku and fights the Purists trying to kill Jeremiah, and Lelouch has a somewhat normal day at Ashford.

[First Chapter] [Previous Chapter] [Next Chapter (Soon)]

As the events in Japan are happening, the battle in the Middle East is about to come to a close. The Arabian forces give one last push against the Britannians, taking out some of Britannia’s tanks. As the dust settles, several knightmares approach the Arabian forces. “Gloucesters!” One of the Arabian soldiers says, seeing the knightmares approach.

“They’re supposed to be in Seravold!” Another says.

“Shotty, oversized, imitation Knightmares!” Andreas Darlton, leader of the advancing knightmares, says.

“They would have been wise to surrender from the start.” Lord Guilford, Cornelia’s knight, says. As the Gloucesters approach the Arabian knightmares, they fire up at the bellies of the large machines, destroying several in the process. In the distance, the Arabian headquarters blows up.

“What!” The Arabian general shouts. He looks back to the base and sees a Gloucester with in the flames. “So, Cornelia, a singles unit did this!” The general says, before losing his like to the Britannians.

“Another victory. Area Seventeen has been established.” Cornelia reports.

“My lady, about our next course of action.” Darlton says over the radio.

“Do you think Japan needs our usual treatment?” She asks her forces.

“Yes, my lady.” Darlton replies.

“Good.” Cornelia says. ‘I’ll drive into the open, Zero. Clovis will be avenged.’ She mentally says, looking into the distance.

Lelouch returns to the Ashford clubhouse after his big debut to the world. He makes his way to the dining room, and as he enters the room, he sees Nunnally and C.C. “I’m back.” Lelouch says, sighing as he enters the room.

“Welcome home, Lelouch.” C.C. says, looking up from her origami.

“I’m so glad, I was worried.” Nunnally says, glad to know her brother has returned safely.

“I’m assuming that you ate out tonight, judging from your appearance.” C.C. says, placing her newest crane on the table.

“Thank goodness. I thought you gotten caught up in all the uproar caused by that man Zero. I tried calling you, but you didn’t answer your cell phone.” Nunnally says. “I wanted to tell you that Miss C.C. has applied to the school.” She says after a short pause.

“What?” Lelouch says, surprised to hear this. Lelouch looks at C.C., and sees that she is still dressed in her blue kimono.

“Lelouch, I’m curious, is C.C. your girlfriend?” Nunnally asks.

“He made a promise about our future together. So did Suzaku, but I’ve taken more of an interest in Lelouch.” C.C. says, seeing that Lelouch is at a loss for words.

“A future together? You mean marriage?” Nunnally asks.

“No!” Lelouch quickly replies. “No, that isn’t what she was talking about. It’s uh… like she’s kidding around.” He says.

“No I’m not.” C.C. says, beginning to work on another crane.

“Well, you’re certainly doing this sooner than most. But everyone’s different, aren’t they.” Nunnally says. Lelouch then approaches the table and picks up a cup of tea. “So, I suppose that it isn’t that strange, and if you feel like you’re…” Nunnally says, being cut off as Lelouch tosses the cup to the floor.

“Oh, C.C., look what you’ve done, you soaking wet.” Lelouch says, grabbing C.C.’s arm. “Come on, let’s get you to the bathroom and into a dry change of clothes.” He says, dragging C.C. with him out of the room. “Nunnally, stay here and I’ll clean that up in a minute. And she was kidding before. Kidding. Just a dumb joke, that’s all.” Lelouch says, leaving the room. Lelouch then takes C.C. into his room, letting go of her arm. “What do you think you’re doing?” Lelouch asks C.C.

“Blending in.” C.C. replies. “Times are changing Lelouch, and things aren’t as what they seem.” She adds. “So, do you like the power I gave you?” She asks him.

“Very much.” Lelouch replies. “In the seven years Suzaku and I have had this power, we hardly used it, but we know the limitations of our geass from the tests we’ve done over the years.” He adds, activating his geass.

“You and Suzaku are the first to share the same power.” C.C. says, looking at Lelouch. She then takes a seat on Lelouch’s bed.

“Share? I can use my power on someone that Suzaku has controlled, and he can do the same to anyone I control.” Lelouch says.

“Your power grows more powerful after each use. If both of you use it more as time goes on, it may ultimately consume you sooner that you think.” C.C. says, laying down on the bed.

“I accepted the terms of our contract. If our geass destroys who we are, then I accept the consequences.” Lelouch says. “I will obliterate Britannia.” He adds.

“You think you can destroy it, simply by using that power?” C.C. asks.

“My anger towards Britannia would have been enough, but I’d have had to wait even longer before making the first move.” Lelouch replies, deactivating his geass.

“I just knew he’d be a fascinating guy.” C.C. says to herself. She then strips out of her kimono, tossing it to the floor, and gets under the blankets of Lelouch’s bed. “A gentleman would sleep on the floor.” C.C. says. “Good night, Lelouch.” She says, going to sleep. Lelouch then picks up C.C.’s blue kimono and hangs it up.

The next morning within the lower levels of the embassy, Cecile, Lloyd, and Suzaku are looking at the news. “Itsukushima, Kochi, Hiroshima. This has been the seventh occurrence since that man named Zero has raised his head.” Cecile says, looking at all the terrorist activity that has sprung up around the country.

“It seems that the other groups are taking his lead and putting up a valiant fight.” Lloyd says.

“The fact that most of the Japanese military have turned rebel, doesn’t look good for the Prime Minister. And that ‘Orange’ thing has cost Margrave Jeremiah his command.” Cecile says.

“Maybe he wasn’t good enough. Thanks to him, communications between the police and the administration are screwed up.” Lloyd replies.

“Suzaku, what are your thoughts on this?” Cecile asks Suzaku. Cecile approaches Suzaku after he doesn’t reply, and sees him watching the event when Zero appeared.

“What is going on in his head?” Suzaku asks himself. “How did he pull this off?”

“Suzaku, everything alright? You’ve been watching this for hours now.” Cecile asks.

“I’m just trying to wrap my head around this. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on in Zero’s mind.” Suzaku replies.

“And what have you concluded, Suzaku?” Cecile asks.

“I don’t know how he managed to convince Jeremiah to release Naoto, but the gas was a diversion. Just harmless, colored smoke. The result, not a single death. But that’s the only thing that matters to him, the result.” Suzaku replies. “I don’t know what his plans are, but he’s using contemptible means to accomplish them.” He adds. As Suzaku and Cecile are talking, a girl with pink hair and dressed in a yellow and white dress approaches.

“Suzaku, can I ask you a few things?” The girl says. Suzaku and Cecile look at the girl.

“Euphy. Uh… Sure.” Suzaku replies.

“Was there a reason you declined Jeremiah’s offer?” Euphy asks.

“That’s a good question.” Cecile says. “Why did you decline?” She asks Suzaku.

“If you think I’m Zero, then you’re wrong.” Suzaku replies. “I declined because I don’t want new of my involvement with Britannia to reach my father.” He explains.

“Why keep it a secret?” Cecile asks.

“My father would rather see me join the Japanese military. I fear what he’d do when he hears of my involvement with the Britannians.” Suzaku replies. “Is there anything you wish to ask, Princess?” He asks Euphy.

“Yes. Yes there is.” Euphy replies. She then stands up straight and looks Suzaku in the eyes. “Suzaku, I’d like you to take me to Shinjuku.” She orders.

“Shinjuku? Why there?” Suzaku asks.

“I wish to see what the ghetto looks like. I ordered the ceasefire, now I wish to know what I was protecting.” Euphy replies. “Please, Suzaku, escort me to Shinjuku.” She says.

“As you wish.” Suzaku says. He then gets up and approaches Euphy, ready to take her to Shinjuku. As the two leave for the ghetto, four Purist knightmares leave the embassy.

“I wonder where they’re going?” Cecile says to herself.

“So, what did ‘Orange’ turn out to be anyway?” C.C. asks, dressed in one of Lelouch’s school uniform shirts, eating a slice of pizza. “Well?” She asks, pressing for the answer.

“There is no ‘Orange’. It’s something I made up.” Lelouch replies, looking at his computer, searching for details about Naoto Kozuki. “But, the more they claim to be comrades of like mind, the easier it is to divide them with the thorns of suspicion.” He adds.

“Everyone on earth is looking for you.” C.C. says, looking at the magazines and newspapers on the bed and the floor. “Because of you, the world is going through an upheaval. So, is this it, is this what you wanted to see?” She asks.

“No. This uproar is simply a means to an end. The world is destined to descend into greater chaos.” Lelouch replies, getting dressed in his school uniform.

At the court where Naoto is being tried for the crimes he was arrested for, the judge reads off the verdict. “Case number 107, Corporal Naoto Kozuki, Japanese military forces. In the murder of his highness, Prince Clovis, you are no longer a suspect. But in the case about Shinjuku, you are hereby dishonorably discharged from active service, for disobeying a direct order. You are hereby set free due to lack of evidence.”

“Dishonorably discharged. It’s as I thought.” Naoto says to himself as he leaves the court.

“Naoto!” Kallen shouts as she rushes towards her brother.

“Kallen.” Naoto says. He then embraces Kallen as she quickly hugs him. “I’m so glad to see you.” Naoto happily says.

“As am I, Naoto.” Kallen replies.

“Shouldn’t you be in school?” Naoto asks.

“I spoke with the principal, and he excused me from class for the day.” Kallen explains.

“Well, looks like we can spend the day together for the first time in a long time.” Naoto says, releasing Kallen.

“I’d like that, Naoto.” Kallen says. Kallen and Naoto then leave the court and walk through the Settlement, enjoying the sights and food along the way. “What are your thoughts on Zero, Naoto?” Kallen asks as they approach a park.

“What do I think of Zero.” Naoto says. “I think he’s arrogant, Kallen.” Naoto says, taking a seat on one of the benches. “What about you, Kallen? What do you think of the man?” He asks.

“I agree that he’s arrogant, but he can accomplish what you and the others have started. He proved to us that he can when he rescued you.” Kallen replies.

“Kallen, I don’t like the fact that Zero has you involved in this. I’d rather see you stay in school, but you’re one of us now.” Naoto says. He then looks up at the sky. “Genbu can’t do anything now, not with his military divided as it is.” He says to himself.

“Isn’t Tohdoh still with Genbu?” Kallen asks, taking a seat next to her brother.

“He is, but I’m not sure how long he and the Four Holy Swords will stay with him.” Naoto replies. “I wonder who’s going to get the Guren now.” He says to himself.

“Guren? That’s a knightmare, right?” Kallen asks.

“Huh… Uh, yeah. It’s a new model that Kyoto is working on. I don’t know the specs on it though.” Naoto replies.

As Suzaku leads Euphemia to Shinjuku, he sees wanted posters for Zero and the news discussing him. “Something wrong, Suzaku?” Euphy asks, seeing Suzaku’s frustration.

“No, it’s nothing.” Suzaku replies, continuing on his way to Shinjuku.

“It most definitely in not nothing.” Euphy says, walking in front of Suzaku. “Tell me, what’s on your mind.” She says.

“I could have stopped Zero the day he killed Clovis.” Suzaku says, clenching his fist.

“Suzaku, I may have lost my brother to Zero, but I want you to make sure that Lelouch and Nunnally are safe from him.” Euphy says, placing her hands on Suzaku’s shoulders. “Have you spoken with Lelouch yet?” She asks.

“Not about this. We’ve both been rather busy lately, so I haven’t had the time to discuss it with him.” Suzaku replies. “Come on, we’re almost to Shinjuku.” He says.

In the Ashford clubhouse, C.C. gets dressed in the green and yellow girls uniform. Once dressed, she heads towards a mirror and looks at her reflection. “I guess I’ll have to cover this up.” She says, touching her forehead. She then heads for the bathroom and applies skin tone to cover up the geass symbol on her forehead. “At least I look normal.” She says. She then leaves the bathroom and heads for the main school building to begin her tour of the campus. As she heads towards the school, she sees Lelouch outside, seated at one of the many benches.

‘How can I convince Naoto to join me.’ Lelouch mentally says, researching Naoto on his laptop. “I’ll give him time to decide” He says aloud. Lelouch’s phone starts to ring, and he closes his laptop and answers his phone. “This is Lelouch.” Lelouch says, answering the phone.

“Lelouch, it’s Kallen.” Kallen says over the phone.

“Kallen, shouldn't you be in class?” Lelouch says.

“I asked for the day off. Family issues.” Kallen replies. “About that phone call the other day.” She says.

“Phone call?” Lelouch asks.

“Yeah, you know when we were… in the bathroom together.” Kallen says. “It wasn’t like that, Naoto!” Kallen shouts away from the phone. “Sorry about that.” She says, closer to the phone.

“Yeah, I know the phone call you’re talking about.” Lelouch replies.

“Could you find out what the caller ID was, I want to contact that person again.” Kallen says.

“It was a school phone, so I’m not sure if it’s on school records.” Lelouch replies.

“Makes sense, I should have known. Thanks anyway, Lelouch.” Kallen says, hanging up.

Lelouch then closes his cell phone and puts it away. He then shoulders his laptop and gets up from the bench. As he gets up, he sees C.C. “I’m new here, so would you mind giving me a tour around the school.” C.C. says, acting out of character.

“C.C., why are you acting like that?” Lelouch asks.

“I thought that was how all the girls acted.” C.C. replies, returning to normal.

“You’d be mistaken, C.C.” Lelouch replies. He then leaves and heads for his next class. C.C. then steps in front of Lelouch.

“Anyways, I will still need that tour.” C.C. says.

“Fine.” Lelouch sighs. He then takes C.C. on a tour around the school.

Late in the afternoon, Suzaku and Euphemia arrive in the Shinjuku Ghetto. “The Shinjuku Ghetto, ruined again.” Suzaku says, taking in the sights of the ruined city. “The residents were starting to return too.” He adds.

“This is awful. What happened here before?” Euphy asks, looking around.

“It’s amazing what seven years of neglect can do to a city.” Suzaku replies. He then sees Euphy look puzzled “When my father made the alliance with Britannia, the Britannians came here in droves. Yes they improved Tokyo, but the outlying cities were forgotten and abandoned. The terrorism didn’t help either.” He explains, walking around the ghetto.

“I see.” Euphy says. “Maybe we can work together, Britannia and Japan, and rebuild the forgotten cities.”

In the lower levels of the Britannian embassy, Lord Jeremiah, rushes towards his knightmare. ‘I’ll make Zero pay for making me look like a fool.’ Jeremiah mentally says, entering and powering up hit Sutherland. “I will redeem my honor.” He says. He then goes full throttle and leaves the embassy.

“He was in a hurry. I wonder where he’s off to.” Cecile says, seeing the event take place.

“Maybe…” Lloyd says, pondering about the Purists that left earlier. “Where did the Purebloods from earlier go?” He asks.

“Do you think…” Cecile says, looking for the IFFs of the Purist Sutherlands.

“That Jeremiah is walking into a trap? Probably.” Lloyd replies before Cecile and finish her sentence.

“They’re in Shinjuku.” Cecile says after finding the knightmares.

“Then load up Lancelot. Suzaku is going to have to end this squabble before it gets out of hand.” Lloyd says.

“This is accurate? This information about Zero?” Jeremiah says to the command center, once he is well away from the embassy.

“Yes sir.” One of the Purists replies. “Lord Kewell contacted me.”

“Right. Set up a cordon around Shinjuku Ghetto, sector four at once.” Jeremiah orders.

“Cordon sector four, roger.” The Purist replies. He then switched channels. “Okay, balls in your court, Lord Kewell.” He says to Kewell. He and the other conspirator gasp as a sword appears right between them.

“I wanted to be put through to Lord Jeremiah, but it appears that you’re too busy now.” Villetta says.

After the tour around the school, Lelouch and C.C. return to the clubhouse. Once in Lelouch’s room, C.C. changes out of her school uniform and into her blue kimono. “I’ll tell you what I know about our geass.” Lelouch says. “We need to have direct eye contact with the subject. I tested reflections, and that works just fine, and transparent objects pose no problems.” He says. “The effective range is approximately 270 meters, and the subject has to memory before, during, or after the power is used. I think this is due to damage caused by the geass interfering with the brain of the subject. And as I recently learned, I can’t effect the same person twice, even after having the power for seven years.” Lelouch says, going on a tangent.

“I’m curious, when did you and Suzaku perform these tests?” C.C. asks.

“Shortly after enrolling here at Ashford Academy. Several of the students, and some of the teachers were our subjects.” Lelouch replies. “My opponent is an empire that controls more than one third of the world.” Lelouch says, looking out the window, seeing Nunnally and Sayoko outside. “There’s no such thing as being too careful. I only need to convince Suzaku to join me, and the two of us might be able to do it.” He adds.

“And if he doesn’t, what will you do?” C.C. asks.

“He won’t be so lucky next time. Besides, that’s why I’m trying to gain the trust of the resistance groups. It’ll take a lot to convince Suzaku. He’s stubborn once he’s set his mind on something.” Lelouch replies.

“You may be way over your head. This opponent may be too large and strong to fight with only geass as a weapon.” C.C. says.

“Is it good to be strong?” Lelouch says.

“Is it bad to be weak?” Suzaku says to Euphy in the ghetto. “Back then, when I was ten, the world seemed like a terribly frightening place. A world teetering on the edge.” Suzaku adds.

“Starvation.” Lelouch says to C.C.

“Disease.” Suzaku says.

“Filth. Decay.” Lelouch adds.

“Racism.” Suzaku adds.

“Constant war and terrorism.” Lelouch says.

“Living in a never ending cycle of hate and fear.” Suaku says.

“Rats running in a wheel.” Lelouch says.

“The cycle must be broken.” Suzaku says. “Somebody has to do it.” He adds.

“How idealistic.” C.C. says.

“Of course, it’s doubtful that the one who does it will make all the bad things go away.” Suzaku says, fearing what the future might hold.

“I’m not that arrogant, and so…” Lelouch says.

“...No one should lose more of the people they love, at least a world without war.” Suzaku says.

“And to have this utopia, you’d…” C.C. says

“How would you do it?” Euphy asks.

“It’s simple. When somebody wins, the fighting will end.” Lelouch says, knocking over a chess piece with another.

“Somebody?” C.C. asks. Lelouch just smirks in response.

In Shinjuku, Suzaku and Euphy hear an explosion in the distance. “Jeremiah! You’re going to pay for letting Prince Clovis’s murderer go free!” Kewell shouts, as he and three other Purists surround Jeremiah.

“Kewell, you dirty coward! That sighting of Zero was lie, wasn’t it!” Jeremiah says.

“We have to wipe away our disgrace before Princess Cornelia takes up her post here.” Kewell says. “This is how we keep our officials honest.”

Lloyd and Cecile approach Suzaku and Euphemia in the Lancelot’s transport. “Suzaku, your highness, it’s dangerous here, get in.” Cecile says.

“The Purebloods are having a silly squabble. Best get out of here.” Lloyd says.

“Wait, please. Isn’t this an opportunity to gather battle data for the Lancelot.” Suzaku says.

“You catch on quickly.” Lloyd replies.

“Suzaku, they will ask to see you, you know this.” Euphy says.

“I know.” Suzaku replies. “But I need to do this. I think I can stop them with the Lancelot, I have to try. I… I must!” He says. He then prepares to pilot the Lancelot once again.

“Damn, it’s four against one.” Jeremiah swears as his Sutherland gets knocked down. He drops his firearm, and one of the Purists destroys it with their lances. “Coward!” He shouts. He then raises the left arm of his knightmare, blocking the strike from Kewell’s lance.

“Don’t worry Jeremiah, we’ll say you died in battle. Your family’s name won’t be disgraced.” Kewell says. He then backs off as another knightmare strikes the right leg of Jeremiah’s Sutherland.

“You’re serious then. You actually intend to kill me!” Jeremiah shouts, activating the hand weapon on the left arm of the knightmare.  “Kewell!” He shouts in rage.

“Silence, Orange! We serve the Imperial family. Why else would we be here.” Kewell says. He and the other Purists then charge at Jeremiah from all four directions.

“All hail Britannia!” They all shout. Before they pierce the Sutherland, a slash harken appears from above, hitting the ground in front of the charging Purists, causing them to stop and look up at where the harken was fired from.

“It’s him, the advanced weapon. Lancelot!” Jeremiah says, relieved to be saved.

“What business does the special corps want here?” Kewell asks the pilot of the Lancelot. “Interlopers will die!” He shouts.

“No!” Suzaku says, preparing the Lancelot’s new swords. “I can’t stand by and ignore this senseless battle.” He says, activating the swords.

“My god. They’ve perfected the MVSs.” Kewell says, seeing the swords activate. “Too late, I won’t back down.” He says, aiming his slash harkens at the Lancelot. He and the others fire at the Lancelot, which then jumps out of the way.

“We’re on the same side.” Suzaku says, dodging and destroying the harkens fired at him.

“He… He’s saving me.” Jeremiah says, watching the Lancelot.

“We can at least kill Orange!” Kewell says, charging at Jeremiah, as the Lancelot deals with the others. Jeremiah blocks the attack, but is struggling until another knightmare arrives and knocks Kewell’s Sutherland out of the way.

“Lord Jeremiah!” Villetta says.

“Villetta, thanks.” Jeremiah says, relieved to be saved yet again.

“Still want to fight.” Suzaku says as he and Villetta back off and guard Jeremiah.

“Men, stand down.” Kewell says, ordering the others to back off.

“Kewell.” Villetta says, surprised at his action.

“You understand then.” Suzaku says, glad that the Purists have backed down.

“I’m using a chaos mine.” Kewell says, grabbing a device from the right leg of his knightmare. He then tosses the mine into the air.

“No! Stop it now!” Euphy shouts, rushing towards the knightmares. Jeremiah, Villetta, and Suzaku all look at Euphy as she runs onto the battlefield. Suzaku then activates his shields and deflects the numerous bullets the chaos mine is rapidly shooting. Euphy gasps in shock as the bullets hit the shields. Once the mine is spent, it drops to the ground, and the Lancelot has taken some damage to parts that were exposed to the mine.

“That pilot. He risked his life for all of us.” Villetta says, surprised to survive the chaos mine.

“Everyone, lower your weapons at once.” Euphy says, taking a serious tone. “In my name I command you. I am Euphemia li Britannia of the empire, and the third princess of the royal family. I’m assuming command here. Now, fall back.”

“What’s she doing here?” Jeremiah asks himself.

“We’re truly sorry, your highness.” Kewell says. He and the others then kneel before Euphy.

“My lady, allow me to safely escort you back to the embassy.” Suzaku says, kneeling before Euphy.

“Thank you, kind knight.” Euphy says, approaching the knightmare. Suzaku lowers the right hand to the ground and allows Euphemia to climb on. Once on the knightmares hand, Euphy is lifted up, and Suzaku leaps away from the battlefield and heads back to the embassy, with Lloyd and Cecile right behind him. “Will you let me help you in your quest to ensure that no one ever again has to suffer the loss of a loved one on the battlefield.” Euphy says to Suzaku.

“Yes, I’m worthy of your kindness, Princess.” Suzaku replies.

“Now, about revealing who you really are to the rest of the Britannians.” Euphy says.

“I fear I must do as what Zero has done. I must hide my face from the world.” Suzaku replies.

“Then do what you must.” Euphy replies.

Later that night at the embassy, Cornelia and the Glaston Knights arrive at the embassy, exiting their knightmares on the lower levels and greet the welcoming party. “I heard what you did, Euphemia. You shouldn’t be so reckless.” Cornelia says to Euphy.

“I know, sister, forgive me.” Euphy replies. “But…” She starts but is cut off by Cornelia.

“You will address me as Ambassador here, Ambassador Euphemia.” Cornelia says. “Because we’re sisters, we need to follow a stricter protocol.” She adds.

“Yes, I understand.” Euphy replies.

“Now then, give me your report.” Cornelia says, turning to face one of Clovis’s staff.

“Yes. My lady, the first order of business is a welcome party we arranged for your highness and…” The staff officer reports, but is cut off when Cornelia draws out her dagger pistol and aims at him.

“Sloppy. Senile. Corrupt.” Cornelia says. “Where is Zero! I want the enemy of the empire caught! Get Zero!” She shouts.

The next day at Ashford Academy, class is in session, and Suzaku and Kallen have both returned. “Alright class, we have a new student joining us today.” The teacher says. “Everyone welcome Miss CC.” He adds.

“It’s C.C.” C.C. says, entering the classroom. Suzaku is surprised to see C.C. as she enters the classroom. “I’ll be joining the student body here at Ashford Academy beginning today. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She says.

#Code Geass #Code Geass: A Tale of Two Demons #Fan Fiction #Alternate Universe #Lelouch of the Rebellion #Lelouch Lamperouge #Lelouch vi Britannia #C.C. #Nunnally Lamperouge #Nunnally vi Britannia #Cornelia li Britannia #Euphemia li Britannia #Guilbert G.P. Guilford #Andreas Darlton #Suzaku Kururugi #Naoto Kozuki #Kallen Kozuki #Lloyd Asplund #Cecile Croomy #Jeremiah Gottwald #Villetta Nu #Kewell Soresi

[aussie-mantle]

Archie's Sister (Reggie x Reader) Part 5

After some randoms wedding Dad insisted that I come with him and Archie to support Miss Grundy in her classical music band, we headed to Pop's for dinner. There was a weird vibe from both Miss Grundy and Arch all day. "Now that's an odd combo of people." You head Kevin say as you walk in. "I'll be back." Betty announces and walks over to us. "Betty." Archie says like he's shocked. "Hey Betty." "Hey Mr Andrews, Miss Grundy, (Y/N). Archie can I talk to you?" Betty asked coming over to our booth just as we sat down. I turned my head and noticed Jughead, Veronica and Kevin sitting in the booth where Betty just came from watching us. "Sure. I'll call you later." Archie said politely to his best friend. "No actually, now. Just school stuff, outside." She said shaking her head. Why does she was Archie's help? I'm in all of her classes. Archie walked off with Betty and I sat alone with Dad and Miss Grundy as they spoke. This has got to be the most awkward dinner I've ever been too. Just as Veronica got up to go outside to join her friends, I scooted next to Jughead. "What's got you in a fowl mood?" I asked him taking one of Veronica's onion rings and pulling it in half. "The Drive In's closing." He frowned. I was the only one that knew that Jughead lived there. I sighed. "I'm so sorry Jug." I said placing my hand on his shoulder. "It's all good." I looked at him and shook my head just as Kevin tuned out. "Don't lie to me." I muttered. "We're gonna have a closing night, you in?" "Yeah. I'll be there." I nodded. "Awesome." Jughead smiled. It was rare to see him smile. "Why not?" Betty asked Archie as she stood with him and Veronica outside my house. "Archie it's getting late." I said gesturing for him to come inside. "You better tell her, or we will." Veronica said and I looked at her confused. "Whatever guys. See you at school." Archie shrugged and entered our house. "That's weird." I laughed as Archie began to walk upstairs. "Yeah. Oh, I'm walking you to school tomorrow." Archie demanded and I nodded. "No worries." You say to your older brother as you follow him upstairs to your separate rooms. "We think Archie and Betty should stop spending time together. Their relationship isn't  good. For either of them, and their respected behaviour reflects that." Alice Cooper said as she stood with her husband at the front door.  "Hi Mr and Mrs Cooper. How are you?" I asked walking down the stairs getting ready to meet Reggie at the drive in. "Swell (Y/N). Thank you for asking." Alice sneered and then turned to my father once more who was carelessly drinking his coffee out of his only mug which Archie and I brought him for a Father's Day present years ago. "If there is anything you can do on your end-" "My son is a good kid." "I live next door Fred. I see him sneaking out at night, sneaking off into the darkness at all hours." "Alice." Dad paused. "Are you spying on us?" Dad accused her. Nice one dad. "Come on Hal. We said what we came to say, it's on him if he chooses to ignore us." Alice smirked and left. Dad nodded and shut the door. "Good luck trying to explain that to Arch, Dad." I told him and he sighed. "He's out with Betty as we speak." Dad said taking another sip out of his mug. "Would you two stop for one second and enjoy the movie?" Jughead complained as Reggie and I pulled away from our make out session on Jugheads made up bed. Reggie was too dumb to realise it was a bed. "Sorry Jug." I mumbled as cuddled into Reggie's chest as he put his arm around me. It was closing night at the Twilight. 'Rebel Without A Cause' as playing. During the movie Reggie would twirl my hair with his fingers and would place a kiss or two on my head. I watched Jughead closely examine the Drive In from his spot. I sighed. "Babe. Do you mind getting some more pop corn?" I asked Reggie pulling away from him. "No worries." He said grabbing his wallet and phone from the table next to us. "Do you want anything Jughead?" Reggie asked using Jug's full name. Well it's actually Forsythe, but I'm not going to tell him that. "No thanks." Jughead shrugged him off. As Reggie left, I leaned forward. "Thanks again Jughead. I appreciate you keeping this secret. You know you're always welcomed to stay at the Andrews residence." You smile at him. Not that FP would care.  "It's fine. It's not the only secret I'm keeping." Jughead mumbled. "Jug, I know you don't speak to Arch much anymore, but you probably know more than me." I said to him and he turned away, facing me rather than the movie. "What's going on with him?" I asked him and he sighed. "Do you really wanna know?" Jughead asked and I nodded. "Him and Miss Grundy were together during the Fourth of July weekend." "Is that why Archie asked me for $50 yesterday? Dad turning the garage into a music studio. Oh god does Dad know? Is that why Veronica and Betty were sleuthing around our house the other day."  "I'm surprised you hadn't figured it out yet. You're just as slow as Mantle. You've been hanging around him too much." Jughead joked. "In all seriousness (Y/N). Don't tell anyone." Your night seemed to be the best out of everyone's. Your father sent you a message asking you to come home before it gets too late. He assumed you were at the Drive In with Cheryl, Veronica and Kevin. He had some important things to discuss. Reggie dropped you a block away as per usual. You walk home with your iPhone flashlight and the dim street lights guiding your way. You stop at your house and noticed your brother hugging your father, a scene you had only seen once before. When your mother left for Chicago.

#reggiemantle riverdale archieandrews cw bettycooper andrews #reggiemantlexreader riverdale rossbutler cw archieandrews bettycooper veronicalodge reggiemantle jugheadjones cw andrews