#think about how so many people felt so weirdly ashamed and lost after Game of Thrones ended -

[inkskinned]

i. about 2 weeks ago, i was told there's a good chance that in 5 or so years, i'll need a wheelchair.

ii. okay. i loved harry potter as a kid. i have a hypothesis about this to be honest - why people still kind of like it. it's that she got very lucky. she managed to make a cross-generational hit. it was something shared for both parents and kids. it was right at the start of a huge cultural shift from pre to post-internet. i genuinely think many people were just seeking community; not her writing. it was a nice shorthand to create connection. which is a long way of saying - she didn't build this legacy, we built it for her. she got lucky, just once. that's all.

iii. to be real with you, i still struggle with identifying as someone with a disability, which is wild, especially given the ways my life has changed. i always come up against internalized ableism and shame - convinced even right now that i'm faking it for attention. i passed out in a grocery store recently. i hit my head on the shelves while i went down.

iv. he raises his eyebrows while he sends me a look. her most recent new book has POTS featured in it. okay, i say. i already don't like where this is going. we both take another bite of ramen. it is a trait of the villain, he says. we both roll our eyes about it.

v. so one of the things about being nonbinary but previously super into harry potter is that i super hate jk rowling. but it is also not good for my mental health to regret any form of joy i engaged with as a kid. i can't punish my young self for being so into the books - it was a passion, and it was how i made most of my friends. everyone knew about it. i felt like everyone had my same joy, my same fixation. as a "weird kid", this sense of belonging resonated with me so loudly that i would have done anything to protect it.

vi. as a present, my parents once took me out of school to go see the second movie. it is an incredibly precious memory: my mom straight-up lying about a dentist appointment. us snickering and sneaking into the weekday matinee. within seven years of this experience, the internet would be a necessity to get my homework finished. the world had permanently changed. harry potter was a relic, a way any of us could hold onto something of the analog.

vii. by sheer luck, the year that i started figuring out the whole gender fluid thing was also the first year people started to point out that she might have some internalized biases. i remember tumblr before that; how often her name was treated as godhood. how harry potter was kind of a word synonymous for "nerdy but cool." i would walk out of that year tasting he/him and they/them; she would walk out snarling and snapping about it.

viii. when i teach older kids creative writing, i usually tell them - so, she did change the face of young adult fiction, there's no denying that. she had a lot more opportunities than many of us will - there were more publishing houses, less push for "virally" popular content creators. but beyond reading another book, we need to write more books. we need to uplift the voices of those who remain unrepresented. we need to push for an exposure to the bigotry baked into the publishing system. and i promise you: you can write better than she ever did. nothing she did was what was magical - it was the way that the community responded to it.

ix. i get home from ramen. three other people have screenshotted the POTS thing and sent it to me. can you fucking believe we're still hearing this shit from her when it's almost twenty-fucking-twenty-three. the villain is notably also popular on tumblr. i just think that's funny. this woman is a billionaire and she's mad that she can't control the opinions of some people on a dying blue site that makes no money. lady, and i mean this - get a fucking life.

x. i am sorry to the kid i was. maybe the kid you were too. none of us deserved to see something like this ruined. that thing used to be precious to me. and now - all those good times; measured into dust.

/// 9.6.2022 // FUCKING AGAIN, JK? Are you fucking kidding me?

#witches and wizards #kids need to be able to play games without knowing the extended universe #playing was easy #i knew i wasn't gonna be able to explain chronicles of christomancy #but we could pick up a stick and run around #nd say we were magic that would be enough backstory #and i think the last time i felt that sense of community #was the summer of pokemon go #it's about cross-generational connectivity bro #yes there are insular communtities but EVERYONE had fucking read harry potter #which is me saying - i think maybe people don't miss HER or the ACTUAL BOOK tbh #they miss... feeling connected #think about how so many people felt so weirdly ashamed and lost after Game of Thrones ended - #they did SUCH a bad job that the entire community just... vanished. #where beforehand people would have GoT weddings #we are just animals who love stories and love feeling like we speak the same language #btw i am not on twitter so i hadn't seen some of the shit she was doing #and then when i was 19 she published the ''american school'' hogwarts stuff #and was reading it casually bc again a huge nerd #and in it shes like ''the british taught the natives their more civilized magics'' #and that was like..................... oh okay. okay. so.....

[helloalycia]

alex’s little sister [two] // kara danvers

summary: spending time with kara gives you thoughts you can't help but feel guilty for. You shouldn't be thinking about Alex's little sister that way after all.

warning/s: none.

author's note: here’s part two, hope you like it :)

masterlist | wattpad | part one

I had been focusing on myself for the next week, going to my therapy sessions and training so I wouldn't fall behind with anything. Alex also kept me up to date with any DEO business – she even tried asking Haley to let me come back, but it didn't work. I appreciated it though.

I ended up going to Kara's that Friday, hoping her invitation was still open – thankfully it was. Going the first time made me feel less stressed and less lost, as weird as that sounded. Maybe it was being surrounded by lovely people that helped, but it made all the difference. And Alex's little sister, Kara, was a genuinely lovely person. She was so easy to talk to and she, weirdly enough, made me feel very me, despite the mush my mind was at the moment. It was strange, as if I'd known her before, which I knew was impossible.

Going to hers again really helped though and I think Alex noticed the difference it made because she pulled me to the side to say how proud she was of me. The evening went well, and I managed to have a few conversations with Kara that made me feel good. She was such a good listener.

I continued this routine for a few more weeks, focusing on working on myself and whatever was wrong with me, and attending game night with Alex. Kara and her friends were lovely, though I still hadn't met Lena. Apparently she was quite busy lately, but I heard good things nonetheless.

Kara was especially kind to me, having an unexplainable impact on my life whenever she was around. I didn't know how else to describe her presence other than comforting and familiar, but I didn't think about that too much, instead opting to accept this sudden change in my life with open arms.

As if life was getting back at me somehow though, it managed to mess with my head and make me question the blonde's affect on me whilst I was asleep...

Kara and I waved goodbye to Alex, the older Danvers sister smiling as she left through the front door. As soon as she left, I felt Kara's arms snake around my waist from behind me and she pressed little kisses on my neck, making me laugh.

"I thought she would never leave," she mumbled between kisses.

"Hey, she's your sister," I replied, resting my hands on hers and tilting my head so I could see her face.

She stopped kissing me and met my eyes with a knowing look. "She's your best friend."

I cracked a small smile. "She was your sister first, long before she was my best friend."

"Whatever," Kara mumbled with defeat, before continuing to press little kisses to my neck.

I laughed and turned around to face her, allowing her to lean forward and catch my bottom lip between hers. She rested one hand on my neck and the other on my waist, pulling me closer to her. When we pulled apart for a breath, I smiled and gave her a knowing look.

"Gosh, Kara, you should slow down a little, you're looking a little desperate," I joked, making her lips curl into a smile as she shoved me in the shoulder before pulling me in for a kiss again.

I felt goosebumps all over my skin as the kiss escalated into something more. Kara lifted me up with ease, not breaking contact as she took me to her bedroom and laid me down on her bed gently. She broke the kiss to meet my eyes, as if asking for confirmation. I couldn't help but smile and admire how thoughtful she was.

The last thing I saw were her deep blue eyes staring right at me, making me feel comforted and safe, before my own eyes closed.

I opened my eyes, expecting to find myself laying on Kara's bed with her hovering above me. Instead, I found myself in my own bedroom, indistinguishable at first, until my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

The clock beside my bed told me it was almost three in the morning and that's when my senses woke up a little, realising that I'd just dreamt about Alex's little sister in a way I definitely shouldn't have.

I felt uncomfortable and awkward, slightly ashamed that my subconscious would even create something that felt so real involving Kara, who had been nothing but kind to me since I'd met her.

If that wasn't strange enough, I felt like despite it being a dream, it seemed like much more. It was too real, if that made sense. I could almost remember that happening, like deja vu, which made no sense because there was no way that had happened.

I forced myself to fall back asleep, hoping the funky feeling I had would disappear in the morning so I could pretend it hadn't happened. Only, the funky feeling was still there and I was ashamed that I couldn't help but think of Kara in that way now. A romantic way.

When I met up with Alex, I was reminded of how it was through her that I had met Kara and she was my best friend, but I had theoretically betrayed her trust by thinking of her little sister like that. Okay, yeah, I never told her my dream (I'm not stupid) and I never did anything about how I suddenly felt, but I still felt like I had somehow betrayed our friendship a little.

Still a little uncomfortable with everything, I decided to miss out on the following game night, saying I was ill. Nobody questioned it and I was out of the clear of having to face Kara and be reminded of my dream. Well, that was until I received a text from the younger Danvers sister that same evening, with her hoping I felt better. I chose not to reply, thinking it would be best to just avoid her until I got over how weird I felt about everything.

The same thing happened a week later, except I just told Alex to say I was busy with stuff, so I couldn't make it. Alex was concerned at first, but I managed to convince her I was genuinely busy. Kara sent another text, expressing her own worry of not hearing from me but hoping I was well. It made me feel a little guilty for simply ghosting her for something that wasn't her fault, but when I remembered my dream, I was reminded of how messed up my head was right now and how much Kara didn't need that when she was only trying to be a friend.

I wasn't sure how long I expected to get away with this, but it was definitely longer than the two weeks I did get. Alex had asked for my help with moving some old belongings out of her flat that she'd been meaning to do for a while, so I agreed to help, accepting the distraction.

It backfired instantly when I was let into Alex's flat and I spotted Kara walking out of Alex's bathroom.

"Oh, er, hey, Y/N," Kara got out awkwardly when she saw me.

I tried to ignore the tightening in my chest and forced myself not to think about my weird dream-memory as I gave Kara an awkward smile. "H-hi, Kara."

"I have a lot of crap, so three pairs of hands are better than one, right?" Alex said, not aware of the awkwardness in the room.

"Yeah, makes sense," I agreed, suddenly developing an interest in the floor.

"Okay, so it's pretty straightforward," Alex dove right in, leading me to the accumulating piles of miscellaneous items on the floor. "This is the give-to-charity pile and this is the throw-out pile. Just sort through this third pile and see what's worth giving away or throwing out. I'm just finishing grabbing some things from around the place. Kara will give you a hand. That okay?"

My throat went dry at the mention of the blonde, so I nodded in response, watching Alex smile gratefully at me before heading into her bedroom. I stared down at the piles, thinking about what I could do first, before feeling a presence beside me.

"You can start over here if you want," Kara suggested, making me jump a little.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, joining her and picking things out of the pile. I avoided Kara's eyes, feeling hers look up at me every now and then. I felt a little guilty ignoring her, but not enough to forget why I was in the first place. It was annoying because we were getting along so well at first, but now I made it weird.

"So, how have you been?" she broke the silence. "I haven't seen you at game night in a while."

I cleared my throat, nodding awkwardly. "Er, yeah, I've been good. Busy. Very busy."

I saw Kara nod from the corner of my eye. "Oh, that's good, I guess. I was just a little worried because you weren't replying to your texts or anything. I thought I'd done something wrong or something."

I looked up without thinking, only to stumble over my words when I met Kara's curious eyes. "It's– I mean– you didn't. You're not to blame. You didn't do anything." I breathed out slowly, finding my words, before continuing. "I've just been busy, Kara, sorry."

Kara nodded, pursing her lips. I clenched my jaw and looked away, trying not to think about kissing her. It wasn't right.

"I think we should start filling some boxes for charity," she said, changing the subject. "Can you grab that one behind you?"

I nodded, grabbing the box and beginning to fill it with Kara's help. Alex returned with more stuff when we managed to fill quite a few boxes. We sorted some more things – it turned out Alex had way too much crap that needed tossing – and got ready to take the boxes of rubbish outside.

"Y/N, can you hold the lift doors open and we can fill it with the boxes that need to go outside?" Alex asked as she moved some boxes to her front door.

"Sure, but won't the other residents get annoyed that we're using it?" I asked, already heading to the door.

"It's not too busy at this time plus there's another lift, so we should be good," Alex said dismissively, waving her hand. "I'll bring some out now."

I nodded and grabbed a box before leaving the flat and heading to the lift. When it came up, I kept the doors open and set the box down, continuing to fill it with as many boxes as I could.

"Kara, can you help Y/N get rid of them outside whilst I sort through these last few things?" I heard Alex call to Kara in her flat.

I didn't hear Kara's response, but I saw her walking down the hall towards me with the final box. She smiled awkwardly and passed me the box, her hand brushing mine as I took it and set it down. I felt my cheeks heating up and hoped they weren't as red as I imagined.

Kara stepped in the left and I closed the doors, feeling it move down to the ground floor.

"Just this last batch and we can finally leave," Kara said with relief, a childish smile on her lips as she tried to break the silence.

I couldn't help but crack a small smile. "Yeah. Alex sure has a lot of rubbish."

Kara laughed melodiously, making my stomach do somersaults. "She always has. She comes across as organised and clean, but that's just because she hordes everything until she does a deep clean every now and then. We were unfortunately roped in this time."

I chuckled, looking down at my shoes.

"So, erm, how's everything going at work?" she asked, a little hesitantly. "You don't have to share obviously, but I just thought I'd check in."

I nodded. "It's cool, and er, yeah, everything is pretty much the same. My brain is still mush, but I need time, I guess."

Kara watched me thoughtfully. "Alex said they're still trying to find out Supergirl's identity."

I sighed. "Yeah, she's been keeping me updated. It sucks. I think Haley will get sick of searching soon though."

"Yeah, I'm sure..."

The doors opened finally and I stepped out, grabbing a box. "Let's get this done, shall we?"

Kara smiled but seemed distracted. Nonetheless, she said nothing and the two of us got to work.

–

It was a few days after this encounter when Alex and I planned to hang out, so she picked me up from my place when I was ready.

"We could go out for food," Alex suggested on the way to her car. "You hungry?"

I shrugged. "I guess I could eat."

"Or we could go to a bar," she added, still thinking.

"That works, too," I agreed half-heartedly.

Alex sighed when we reached her car, before chuckling and looking at me. "We really suck at making plans."

I smiled. "We do. But we figure it out in the end, don't we?"

She nodded as she got in her car. "Very true."

I got into the passenger seat and put my seatbelt on when Alex got a call.

"Oh, hey, Kara."

I hated how my heart did a little flutter at the mention of the blonde. I squeezed my eyes shut and scolded myself before looking out ahead.

"Oh, yeah, er, give me a second... hey, Y/N, you in the mood for pizza and ice cream? Kara asked if I could come over and since we don't have anything to do, we could go there if you want." Alex looked to me for a response.

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, erm–"

"Kara, it's fine, she won't mind," Alex said into the phone, before looking to me. "You don't mind, right?"

I felt under pressure as Alex waited for a response. I didn't want to look like an arsehole though, so I feigned a smile and said, "No, I don't mind. Sounds good, if Kara doesn't mind."

Alex smiled as she went back to the phone. "See? She's cool. You guys are getting on, so it won't be weird... yeah, she won't mind. We'll be there in twenty minutes, yeah? Okay, love you, too, Kara, see you soon."

"So, we picking up pizza and ice cream?" I asked, mentally preparing myself to see Kara again.

"Yeah, we can go to the pizza place near that convenience store. You can get the ice cream and I'll grab the food. Is that okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah..."

We did just that, heading to Kara's with the food she'd requested. I wasn't really sure how the evening would go since I was still keeping my distance from Kara, but I certainly wasn't expecting us to arrive only for Alex to need to leave instantly.

"Wait, what? What do you mean you have to go? You just got here," Kara said with a frown.

"Yeah, we just got here," I agreed, growing nervous for what Alex would say.

"Haley called," Alex said with distaste. "It's apparently urgent."

"An emergency?" Kara asked, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, if you call the security camera detail an emergency," she said with an eye roll, before smiling apologetically. "I'll be back soon, Kara. Y/N will keep you company until I come back."

Both sisters looked to me and I forgot how to speak until Alex nodded between me and Kara. I realised that she wanted me to speak, so I nodded and met Kara's uncertain gaze.

"Yeah, I'll be here," I said unconvincingly. "We can eat and watch a movie or something. Alex won't be long."

"See?" Alex said, and Kara seemed reluctant to agree, but she nodded.

"Okay, I'll put some food away for you just in case," Kara said, before smiling at her sister.

Alex smiled appreciatively and nodded at me. "I'll be back in a bit. I'm sure I can share another story about Haley tormenting me when I get back."

I smiled. "Try not to piss her off, Alex."

"No promises!" she called as she left, leaving Kara and I alone.

It was quiet as the two of us stood there, trying to think what to do next, but then Kara stepped forward and grabbed the bag with the ice cream tubs in.

"I'll put these in the freezer before they melt," she said, pulling the tubs out. A smile appeared on her lips as she held them up. "Hey, you got cookie dough, my favourite!"

I smiled a little, finding her excitement adorable. "Yeah, well it was either that or this blueberry one and I wasn't sure which to get, but something told me cookie dough was the better option. I can see now that it was."

Kara looked up and I felt my mouth go dry at how pretty her eyes were.

"Thanks," she said, before putting it away. "And sorry if I ruined your plans with Alex tonight. If I had known she was out with you, I wouldn't have asked her over."

"You didn't really ruin anything," I reassured her, going to help her find some plates for the pizza. "We hadn't decided on what to do until you rang. So, I guess, thanks for giving us something to do."

Kara cracked a smile and gave me a knowing look. "Yeah, I'm sure that was it."

I couldn't help but laugh. "It really was! The option was this or a bar."

"Nice to know I beat a bar," she joked as she plated up the pizza, before heading to her fridge. Taking a look inside, she glanced over her shoulder and said, "I've got some Dr. Pepper, you want? It's your favourite, right?"

"It is actually, yeah," I said, a little surprised. "How did you know?"

I was sure she hesitated, but then she said, "You told me last time you were here," so I presumed I'd imagined it.

After getting our dinner ready, we brought it into the living-room and sat on the couch with our plates and drinks and decided to watch some Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes.

I was glad that we decided to put something on, since it meant I didn't have to make awkward small talk. Plus, as much as I hated to admit it, I liked hearing Kara laugh at the funny parts. It was too contagious. A nice distraction from the fact that we were sat alone on her couch watching TV.

After a few episodes, we'd eaten our pizza and ice cream and there was still no sign of Alex, so Kara and I decided to call her to check in.

"Hey, Alex, Kara and I were worried, everything good over there?" I asked when she answered the phone.

"Yeah, sorry, I've just been managing some things on this end," she explained. "Haley's being a pain in the arse."

Kara leaned on the couch as she watched me, raising an eyebrow questioningly. I gave her a look as if to say 'wait a second', before replying to Alex.

"It's fine, just thought we'd check in," I said, before adding, "We saved you some pizza and ice cream. When d'you think you'll be back?"

"I should be back... er... say in half an hour or so?"

"Okay, good luck," I joked, and I could hear her groan loudly. "See you soon."

"Bye," she said, before hanging up.

"Well?" Kara asked impatiently. "She good?"

"She's good," I said, smiling at the blonde. "She's being held up by Haley and she's definitely not enjoying it."

"Haley that annoying, huh?"

"You have no idea," I mumbled, shaking my head. "Anyway, she said she should be back in about half an hour."

Kara nodded, before getting comfortable. I felt her staring at me for longer than usual, so I looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"How's everything lately?" she asked, her voice sounding a little more serious now. "You still feel a bit off?"

I chewed on my lip as I tried to think about my response. "I don't know... I– it's confusing. It doesn't matter though."

"It does," she said, a hint of concern in her voice, as if she felt responsible for my messed up head. "It won't be like this forever..."

"I hope not," I joked, hoping to lighten the mood, but she didn't laugh.

Instead, she watched me with an unreadable expression before swallowing hard and looking down to her lap.

"Enough of the pity party anyway," I said, sensing the change of mood. "Let's talk about you. How's your work going?"

She sighed and looked up, forcing a small smile. "It's good, yeah."

"Anything new to look forward to? Alex mentioned you have a new series you're working on. Aliens in National City, or something like that?"

"Yeah, I am," she confirmed, "it's just a little something to help with the xenophobia going on lately. Something to show everyone that aliens are normal people, just like humans."

I smiled. "That's amazing, seriously. I'll be sure to read it. It's a weekly thing?"

"That's the goal," she said, her cheeks flushing a little.

"I'll keep an eye out," I said with a playful wink. "I'm sure it'll be amazing."

"Thanks..." she got out awkwardly, avoiding my eyes.

I chewed on the inside of my mouth as I found myself admiring how beautiful Kara looked tonight, even if she was just in her pyjamas. I tried to stop, but I just couldn't.

"Do you think this is weird?" Kara asked, looking up and pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose nervously.

I zoned back into reality and said, "Huh? What is?"

She motioned between us. "This. Us. Being friends. Do you think it's weird since I'm technically still your best friend's little sister?"

I was taken aback. "I don't, I mean, I guess not. Do you?"

Kara licked her lips and shook her head. "I didn't think so. But I don't want you to think you have to be my friend just because I'm Alex's sister."

"What? Kara, I don't think that," I assured her. "I'm friends with you because, well, you're kind. And you're nice to be around."

Kara pursed her lips. "Hm."

I watched her face, noticing her scrunch her nose as she tried to sort through whatever she was thinking. She looked really cute and I smiled softly to myself, forgetting for a moment that she was Alex's little sister.

"I need some more ice cream," she mumbled to herself before standing up.

"I'll get it," I offered, standing up as well.

"It's okay, I got it," she said, blocking my way around the couch making me bump into her a little.

I looked up and realised how close she was to me, enough for me to feel her breath tickling my skin. She realised too, when she looked up and gasped a little.

"Sorry, I–"

"It's fine," she said, but she didn't seem to be moving.

I tried not look her in the eyes, but I ended up doing the complete opposite anyway and almost forgot how to breathe. They seemed so familiar to me and it frustrated me that I didn't know why. She stared at me like she knew me better than I knew myself, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

I wasn't sure when or how, but I realised she was leaning forward to kiss me. I probably should've stopped her or moved away, but I found myself letting her rest her hand on my cheek as she pressed her lips to mine.

An eruption of butterflies exploded in my stomach as I melted into her touch, our lips fitting together like two puzzle pieces. I closed my eyes and rested a hand on hers, feeling goosebumps all over my skin at the warmth she emanated.

I barely had the chance to decide whether this was wrong or not because Kara immediately pulled back, releasing her hand from mine.

"Oh my god," she said, holding her hand over her mouth with shock.

"Kara, it's okay," I tried to reassure her, knowing she would be thinking the worst. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have–"

"No, no, no, no," she muttered, shaking her head, taking a big step back from me. "I screwed up. Big time."

She turned around, her back facing me as she seemed to be thinking deeply.

"Kara, it's not that big of a deal," I tried again, though it was hard to completely focus because of my tingling lips. "It was just a kiss. We can figure this out."

"I'm such an idiot," she said harshly, turning around to reveal her teary eyes. "I was being selfish and now I've– fuck."

I was surprised at the cursing since Kara rarely ever used that type of language, and I was also taken aback by her reaction. What happened was surprising, yes, but why was she crying?

"Kara, it'll be okay," I said, stepping forward to try and offer some comfort, but she stepped away. "We can sort this out. It was just a kiss."

"I shouldn't have... oh, Rao, I'm an idiot... I should have left you..."

I furrowed my eyebrows, not following as she muttered to herself angrily, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"I don't understand, Kara," I said, shaking my head. "What... what are you talking about?"

"You need to leave," she said, grabbing my arm and dragging me to the door. "I'm sorry, I– you've gotta go."

"I'll go, if that's what you want, but will you be okay?" I asked, halting her actions as she tried to push me out the door. I searched her face until she met my eyes with her glassy ones. "Kara?"

She swallowed hard, her eyes not betraying anything but regret, before shaking her head and pushing me gently out the door.

"I'm sorry," she said before closing the door on me.

I stood there, facing the hardwood, trying to understand what had happened. Kara had kissed me and it had felt just like I had seen, or dreamed, or remembered... whatever it was. For a split second, whilst kissing Kara, I felt that absence in my brain disappear, like she was the answer. It was silly, but it was how I felt.

I left Kara's place, trying to make sense of my cloudy thoughts. I dropped her a text, apologising for making her upset and hoping she would give me a call when she was ready, and also told Alex I was going home because I was tired. It wasn't entirely a lie, except when I got home, I couldn't sleep.

I laid in my bed, like most nights recently, staring at the ceiling and trying to fill those empty gaps in my brain. I was also trying to make sense of everything that happened with Kara.

She was blaming herself for something, claiming she was acting selfishly by kissing me. How did that make any sense? It was purely an accident – spur of the moment. It was nobody's fault.

I thought about the feeling she gave me when she was close to me, all those times I'd feel at peace for a moment, just because of her presence. The way she made me feel at home and sane, not like I was confused and absent-minded. My thoughts must have drifted off into something I had no choice but to follow into...

"I don't think I can do this without you," Kara whispered into my chest.

I smiled painfully as I kissed the top of her head. "Now that's a giant lie, isn't it? You're Kara Danvers. The strongest, bravest person I know. On top of that, you're Supergirl. A literal superhero from another planet. You've been doing completely fine without me."

Kara sighed sadly, shuffling so she was wrapping her arms around my torso and curling into my side. I adjusted the blanket that was around us and revelled in our closeness, knowing it would be the last moment we would share for a long time.

"It's going to be hard," I rationalised, frowning, "I know. I can't imagine what you'll have to go through... but I know you can do it."

Kara sat up for a moment, turning around so she was facing me with her glassy blue eyes. "What if I can't? I'm losing you and Alex. Two of the most important people in my life... what if... what if I can't be strong enough this time?"

Her lower lip started to tremble and it hurt my heart to see the pain in her expression. I grabbed her hands and squeezed them comfortingly.

"You're not going to lose us, Kara," I promised her, trying my best not to shed a tear. "We'll always be here for you. You'll still have Alex, and with us...? It's just for a little while that we can't be together. Nothing could keep me away from you, not even my memories. I'd fall in love with you all over again, in every moment, in every life, Kara. You're not losing me."

Kara nodded slowly and I could tell she was trying to accept my words, but it was difficult. I settled for opening my arms, watching as she pressed herself into me in a tight, helpless hug. I closed my eyes, taking in her scent and warmth and touch, wondering how long it would be before I could have her with me again.

I opened my eyes that following morning with the realisation of all that had occurred. Haley was trying to find out Supergirl's identity, so J'onn erased her identity from Alex and I's mind so we wouldn't give it up. But I only met Kara through her identity, so I lost Kara, including our relationship, our memories, our life.

That's why Kara had felt so familiar – she was my Kara! My girlfriend, the love of my life and my hero. National City's hero: Supergirl. That's why she was blaming herself, claiming she was acting selfishly. She'd kissed me and almost ruined everything, which technically, she did because now I remembered, but I didn't care. I felt whole again and I needed her back. I needed her to know.

The first thing I did was race over to Kara's workplace, expecting her to be there since it was a weekday. I needed to make sure she was okay, let her know I was back. That I was here. But she wasn't there which didn't help with my impatience, so I went as fast as I could to her flat, hoping I'd find her.

I kept knocking on the door until she finally opened up, revealing her distraught self as she was still dressed in her pyjamas. Her hair was messy and her eyes were red and she looked like she'd just been crying but she still looked beautiful to me and I felt my heart bursting with love as I remembered. I remembered her.

"Oh, Y/N, look, now isn't the best time–"

I cut her off by pulling her in for a hug, holding her close and closing my eyes. I smiled with relief when her familiar scent washed over me and her warmth tickled my skin.

"Y/N–"

"Kara, I remember," I said, pulling away and looking her in the eyes. "I remember everything."

She seemed confused as she searched my expression to see if I was telling the truth. Her eyes softened as she saw the smile on my lips.

"You remember?"

"I do." I nodded, resting a hand on her cheek and stroking it with my thumb. "Kara Danvers. My beautiful girlfriend. The woman I love with all my heart. Who I'd fall in love with all over again in every moment, in every life."

Her eyes pooled with tears as she looked between mine, nodding her head slowly.

"You remember," she repeated, before a smile appeared on her lips and she pulled me in for a hug. "Oh my god, you remember."

I grinned into her shoulder, aware of how tightly she was holding onto me.

"But wait, no!" she exclaimed, pulling away abruptly. She shook her head, closing the front door before looking up at me. "That means I definitely screwed up. I should have stayed away. I tried to. But I couldn't take... I couldn't take not having you."

"Kara, it's okay, it doesn't matter," I reassured her, stepping forward and holding her still.

She scrunched her nose, wiping away some stray tears. "I shouldn't have ruined it. I thought I could be strong enough, but then Alex brought you over and I saw you again and I lost it. I had to have you in some way, even if it hurt. But I made it worse. I confused you. I should have stayed away."

"I'm glad you didn't," I said, squeezing her hands gently. "I needed you, too. Without you there, my life felt... I didn't feel whole. It made no difference whether I knew your secret. Haley thinks I'm incapable. It was stupid and we really shouldn't do it again."

Kara tried not to smile, but I saw her lips tugging upwards and I laughed.

"You shouldn't blame yourself," I told her, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "It was bound to happen. We tried our best. We're gonna be okay. Alex will remember soon, too, I'm sure of it. And by then, Haley will stop trying to find out your secret. Everything's going to be okay."

Kara nodded, hopefully believing my words. She met my eyes and I felt my heart fluttering at how beautiful she looked. She breathed out slowly, taking a moment for herself. I did the same, so appreciative that I could remember her. It must have been so hard for her, but we were okay now. I had her back.

She stepped forward and pressed her lips to mine in a long, passionate kiss. I didn't fight her on it as I pulled her closer by her waist, if it was even possible. I missed her in every way and now I no longer felt guilty for wanting her. She wasn't Alex's little sister anymore, she was my girlfriend.

The love of my life.

#kara danvers x you #kara danvers imagines #kara danvers imagine #kara danvers x reader #supergirl imagine #supergirl x reader #supergirl x you #melissa benoist

[amour-salvatore]

all is fair in love and war

Part 6

It’s just a bet babe - This sentence has been stuck in your head for a month now.

1 month since you saw Dele for the last time. The first week, he tried calling you many times but you didn’t answer and eventually, he gave up. He knew you good enough to know that you’re not going to pick up. It was just better than doing nothing. The hurt look on your face was still hunting him. 

Thinking back, you shouldn’t have loved him in the first place but couldn’t help it. You knew that Dele was a player and he liked playing with girls, after all, it was just a game from the beginning. A game you lost. Still, it hurts like hell thinking of what you heard. The thought of him betraying you like this, just won’t get in your head. The Dele who wouldn’t stop teasing you, stealing glances, the one who made you feel so good. All a lie. He should have been an actor instead cause you believed every single lie.

In the last weeks, you tried to distract yourself with school work, going to the gym and then coming home exhausted only having the energy to shower and finally fall asleep. This has become routine for you and when you would come home, crying because everything was just too much, your brother wouldn’t ask about your puffy red eyes and let you go to your room closing the door immediately.

Tottenham had a game today which they lost. Dele was taken off the pitch after 30 minutes. He looked furious when the camera showed him. A part of you thinks it’s karma. You watched the game with your brother but you went straight to your room after it was finished because you knew his friends were coming over again, like always.

After 30 minutes of laying in your bed and listening to music, you hear people, talking, drinking and music being played from the speakers.  It’s the fifth party this month. Not once did you leave your room, not even to get yourself something to drink. You just want to lay in bed and watch your shows, hoping it will distract you. But Dele hasn’t been to one either. He had never missed one before. Sometimes you wished he would come, so you could tell him what an asshole he is.

Laying in bed, listening to music you suddenly hear someone trying to open your door but luckily, it’s locked. Watching the doorknob move, you stand up, taking your air pods out of your ear and slowly walking towards the door, trying to eavesdrop on the voices outside.

“Mate, let her be.” You recognize your brother's voice. He sounds mad.

But the person is still, playing with the doorknob.

“I haven’t seen her in a month. I just need a little glimpse of her face.” Your heart drops. Dele is here? Your heart beats faster at his voice. You lean closer to the door, the music, making it difficult to hear if it really is Dele or you’re just imagining voices.

“If she wanted to talk to you, she would've answered your calls. Now go and drink some water. You’re drunk.” You hear your brother push him away. “She isn’t the easiest girl to love Dele. Y/N isn’t a one nights stand.”

“Don’t you think I fucking know that? Why do you think I can’t get her out of my head?” With that, his voice fades and he walks away. You’re tempted to open the door and confront him but you're scared of the other boy who's behind the door.

Your brother knows about you and Dele? Confused you stare at the floor, trying to find out how he knows about you two. Is he going to be mad? Great, another thing to worry about.

Leaning against the door, your thoughts are interrupted by a knock. Taking a deep breath you go through all the things you want to tell Dele. Slowly opening the door, it’s not Dele who is standing outside but your brother.

 “I guess you heard that.” He leans against the wall across from you.

You nod, not able to say anything. He’s weirdly calm for someone who found out that his little sister had a thing with his best friend.

“I hate him for what he did behind my back.” His gaze is intense. “But I can’t ignore the fact that you’re both miserable without each other.” He shrugs, taking another sip of his drink. “It’s your choice now Y/N. You know how he feels.”

You open the door wider, gulping hard.

“He doesn’t feel the same way don’t worry. ” You don’t meet his eyes, still ashamed.

You feel him move closer. “Y/N, that boy is an idiot. He does stupid things but for the right reasons.” After a long pause, he gently nudges your shoulder.

“He’s outside.” 

Thanking your brother you take your cardigan off the chair, walking through people drinking and dancing. Reaching for the front door, you take a deep breath, ready to find closure. Opening it you walk outside, getting hit by the fresh air.

Looking around the street, you finally spot Dele, leaning against his car his eyes fixed on you as if he knew you would search him.

He was waiting for you.

Heading towards him, you go through everything you wanted to tell him, again. But when you stopped in front of Dele, you couldn’t hold yourself back and slapped him across his face.

Your eyes go wide when Dele holds his right cheek and you realize what you did. “I deserved that,” he mumbles under his breath. You want to apologize but decide against it, I mean he did break your heart.

Looking up again, something flickers in his eyes. His gaze stopping on your neck.  

You realize your fingers are playing with his necklace.

“I see you’re still wearing it.” He wears a small smile which doesn’t reach his eyes, still cupping his right cheek.

“I won it after all.”

After a long pause, Dele starts talking again. “Listen, I..” He tries to find the right words.”I know what you heard. and I hate myself for not explaining it sooner. You just believed everything so fast, doubting my loyalty so quickly. I was mad Y/N.” He runs a hand through his hair.

“How can’t you see that I won’t waste a thought about any other girl if she isn’t you.” He repels himself from the car, coming closer to you.

“If I told her I loved you, she would make your life a living hell and tell the media. I wanted to ensure you still have your private life.” Did he just say he loves you? You can feel your knees go weak, not even comprehending the rest of what he’s saying.

“Did you just say you love me?” You mumble looking up at him.

Dele chuckles. “Since the first time I saw you when I came over to play with your brother.”

He’s now standing just centimetres away from you, brushing a hair behind your ear. “I’m sorry for causing you so much pain, Y/N. The last month without you was hell.”

You look up at him, leaning into his touch. It feels so good to be near him again, to feel him and see his beautiful smile again. He really has you wrapped around his finger.

“If you give me another chance I’ll make it up to you.” 

You want to believe him but a part of you is still very cautious. He might tell you the truth but he could have told you that a lot sooner.

 “Let’s start over this time. No games.” You hold your hand out for him to shake.

“Deal.” He grins, leaning in for a kiss, instead. “Let’s seal it with a kiss ”

You roll your eyes. “So much to starting over.” You mumble but when he closes his eyes your turn your head so he kisses your cheek. “I guess I deserve that as well.” He chuckles a little disappointed.

“You have to earn it, babe.”  

His hands move to your waist, pulling your body against his. Looking down at the necklace, pausing for a second  “I had your initials engraved the next day you told me you wanted it.” His fingers glide over the chain on your neck, remembering the day.

Your heart starts beating faster again. You can’t put into words how much you love this boy standing in front of you. He really knows how to make you forget everything you had resolved for yourself. “I love you”

2 months later

“I’m scared Dele.” You squeal laying on a chair at the tattoo studio.

“Babe, it was your idea.” Yes, because you felt like it was the right thing to do, you think to yourself. He gave you the necklace so you felt guilty about it and wanted to give him something in return.

“You got this. It doesn’t hurt that bad.” He squeezes your hand, sitting next to you. He still hasn’t told you what it is. He wanted to surprise you.

You choose to have the tattoo on the left side of your ribs.

After 30 minutes of pain, it’s finally done. Slowly standing up you basically run to the mirror. Looking at it through one open eye, you gasp. It looks beautiful, it’s small and very delicately written over your ribs.

But you don't know what it means. 

omne pulchrum est in amore et bellum

“It’s beautiful,” you mumble not looking away. Your first tattoo.

Dele appears behind you, his gaze fixed on the small tattoo he chose. His eyes are filled with love as he meets your eyes through the mirror.

“It means ‘all is fair in love and war’.” 

@savingprivatecass

#tell me what you think #Duun dun the end 🥺 #dele alli #dele alli blurb #dele alli imagine #football #football imagines #football imagine #harry winks #trent alexander arnold blurb #jadon sancho

[shinadog]

Time to (finally) update Mob! Go check it out, it's full of tears.

Summary : Something happened after Haruka’s concert. (PART 1) (AO3 Link)

2 - TEARS

He had been crying for what felt like hours.

Days, even.

None of this felt real.

He vaguely remembered talking to people. Distant family members, coworkers, neighbours. Nice, friendly people with their sorry, pained expressions and their kind words. They all came flocking to him the second the news talked about it.

He hated them.

Hated how he felt them struggle with his own raw grief. Hated the sad tint of compassion in their voices as they told him they couldn’t imagine what he was going through. Hated how they looked at him as he cried, scared of that pathetic display.

He was scared, too.

But mostly, he was angry.

His anger, at first, was directed at no one in particular. Or everyone at once. He blamed the people who made this concert happen. He blamed the girl, the idol who started this disaster. He blamed the yakuza who had raised her. He blamed every single fucker who had been in the crowd that night.

He blamed her, too.

He hated himself for that.

When some journalists managed to track him down, asking him about what happened, what he felt now that his world had been turned upside down, he could barely believe it. These people were vultures. All of them. Hounding him down, following him everywhere until he cracked and talked to them. And even then, as he allowed some of them into his house, he was speechless. Their questions barely made sense, he barely remembered saying anything, his eyes lost in the camera in front of him. He doubted any of his answers made any sense. How could they? Nothing made sense anymore.

All he could offer to the good people of Japan, who were in no doubt watching because they wanted to see what a broken man looked like, were his tears.

He kept crying long after everyone had left.

**********************************

Kiryu was awake. And, like all the times he had been conscious enough for it, he was begging. Bargaining. Trying to win over whoever was in front of him, to be finally allowed to leave this damn room. Today’s target was Akiyama, who was trying to avoid his desperate plea by looking at something outside, through the window. The man was being particularly stubborn today, not even meeting Kiryu’s eyes as he made small talk, attempting to distract him. Well, Kiryu was stubborn enough. He knew he would win at this game, eventually.

He tried to brute force his way out of there several times, only to be pushed back in his bed by Saejima or Majima. Sometimes both. Apparently, the two oath brothers were standing guard next to his door at all times, making any escape impossible. For the time being, at least. Kiryu couldn’t wait to be back in full force; to show them what it means to try to stop him.

For now, he was still far too weak to even attempt to fight anyone. Last time he tried, punching Majima in the nose after he stupidly got a bit too close, the nurse gave him something that made him sleep for an entire day. His punch was so weak it didn’t even manage to break Majima’s stupid nose.A total flop. After that, Kiryu was forced to behave, not wanting to lose more time than he already had.

The big bad dragon of Dojima, grounded. Stuck in this hospital room when all he wanted was to see Haruka.

Not being able to be with her was driving him crazy.

So he begged.

Asked as soon as he was awake, no matter who was in front of him. The nurses, the doctors, Majima and Saejima, Date that he only saw once or twice, Akiyama… They all gave him the same answer. Not today. Not yet. You’re not strong enough.

If today was any indication though, he was making some progress. He felt it as Akiyama wriggled uncomfortably, back on the chair he usually sat on next to Kiryu’s bed.

He knew if anyone was going to cave in and give him what he wanted, it was going to be Akiyama. The man was crushed by his guilt, and Kiryu wasn't ashamed to exploit that. He'll feel bad about it later.

“You do look better, today.”

Too busy focusing his thoughts on trying to win him over, Kiryu almost didn’t hear Akiyama talk. He blinked stupidly, trying to process what had been said.

“Good enough to take a walk?” he asked, daring to hope it would be enough to work. He would have tried to smile, but his face kept its usual stoic expression, hoping he looked at least strong enough to walk out of here.

Akiyama just stared at him, and for the first time since he had walked into his room, Kiryu noticed how truly exhausted he looked. He usually looked tired, with bags under his eyes and his dishevelled suit, but everything about him looked worse right now. Having lost track of days ever since he woke up, Kiryu didn’t know how long the man had been in the hospital, keeping watch over him or checking in on Haruka. He would have been thankful for it, if his mind was not solely focused on finding a way out of his cell.

After what felt like an hour, Akiyama finally talked again, his voice weirdly hushed. “It’s a bad idea.”

And just like that, Kiryu was set free.

Well, more or less.

Taking a walk was apparently out of the question. Kiryu had to admit he probably wouldn’t have been able to take a step on his own, but he refused to admit it as his friend pushed a wheelchair that he got from who knows where in front of him.

It would do.

Finally being able to get out of the room felt unreal. Kiryu immediately felt the anticipation of it all making him dizzy, his body still aching from his wounds. Still, he said nothing as they started moving, afraid any comment about his pain would take him back to his room.

Akiyama was pushing his chair, mumbling to himself some more about what a bad idea that was while Majima and Saejima were following like two nervous shadows. Kiryu was more or less sure they didn't ask anyone’s permission before they took him out of the room. Not that it mattered now, no doctor's order could have stopped him, anyway.

Kiryu felt better than he did when he first woke up, his head wasn't spinning as hard anymore, and he could more or less focus on what was happening around him. Still, he felt numb. Wrapping his brain around what happened after the concert was hard, no matter how many times it was explained to him. Even now, as Akiyama kept talking to him as they advanced through an empty corridor ("It looks worse than it really is" , "Doctors say she was lucky" , "Her chances of waking up are very good", things like that), Kiryu's mind was blank. He didn't know what to make out of those words. He was probably still high on painkillers. And probably a bit in denial, too.

He heard Majima take a deep sigh behind him and wished he could have punched him again. He wasn't sure why.

Maybe because they had finally taken a stop near a small room, similar to the one Kiryu had just left.

Maybe because Date came out of it, looking more glum than Kiryu had ever seen him.

Maybe because right now, fighting someone, anyone, sounded better than getting inside this room he had begged again and again to be in.

Now that he was here, he was scared of what was inside.

Date was talking to him, no doubt saying the same kind of things Kiryu has been hearing while he was being pushed here. This time, he couldn't focus on his words at all, barely aware of how his own hands got on the wheels of the chair, making a move for the room. Akiyama showed no resistance and let go of the chair, taking a step back.

Scared or not, he had to do it.

Once he was inside the room, everything went too fast. Everything he saw was too much for his still fuzzy head, but it was still enough to make him stop in his tracks. Feeling as if his blood has frozen in his veins, Kiryu took in the details of the horrid scene laid out before him.

The slow beeping of machines and, louder, the respirator, filling the room with a hypnotic rhythm.

The bruises on her face, deep purple in places, still way too vibrant after so many days.

The terrifying paleness of her skin.

The catheter lodged in her arm.

The fact that it was her, the child he swore he would stay far away from, for her own sake, lying here, completely still. Haruka.

Kiryu only managed not to fall down because he was already sitting in the wheelchair.

He did break down, though.

He wasn’t sure when he had started crying. The world was spinning again, his body screamed in agony, and the only thing that made him take his eyes out of the bed where his daughter laid way too still was a hand on his shoulder.

Date. The man was suddenly next to him, kneeling next to his chair, at his eye level.

He was crying, too.

All that Kiryu could think about as their eyes met is that it felt wrong. Date wasn’t supposed to cry. He wasn’t supposed to cry, either. And Haruka wasn’t supposed to be here, wounded and unconscious.

It was all wrong.

**********************************

Majima ran away as soon as everyone started falling apart around him.

It was not that he was scared of that unbearable display of vulnerability. No, really. He was tough, he could handle a few tears. But when he heard some actual wails coming from the room, he felt as if he’d rather be somewhere else. It did not help that both his oath brother and that loan shark guy looked absolutely mortified, the latter looking like he was going to burst into tears as well at any moment. Majima really didn’t want to be here to see that.

So he turned tail and quickly put some distance between himself and all those unpleasant emotions. He did hear Saejima call for him, but he was already far enough to pretend he didn’t notice.

His quick, angry steps disturbing the stupid silence of the hospital earned him a few suspicious looks from staff members and patients alike, but Majima didn’t mind. He couldn’t exactly blame them, the place was quiet enough than a tall, obnoxiously dressed yakuza stomping around stuck up like a sore thumb. That was alright with him. If anything, looking at the nurses glaring at him as he zoomed past them made him forget about his thoughts for a hot second. Which was nice. Not much, but nice. He gave them a wide grin, baring his teeth as they quickly looked away.

He would have accepted anything to distract himself from the voice in his head, his own voice, what he had said to his oath brother right before their fight echoing at the back of his mind.

He loves her more than life itself.

God, he hated being right.

He had known Kiryu for long enough to know the man cared too much about pretty much everyone he met. He forgave backstabbers without a second thought, worse, he was the kind of sad sap that would grieve for a fallen enemy like he would for a dear friend. Most of all, the bond between Kiryu and that kid that somehow ended up in his care was something else. Sure, Majima couldn’t pretend he knew much about what being a parent was like. Hell, Kiryu had what, a dozen crying orphans? A whole pack of sad little fuckers, waiting for him at home, that he surely cared about just as much.

But Haruka was special. Had always been.

And, right now, she was in pieces. Broken by the very same morons who swore they idolized her right before she had the nerve to open up to them. And, just like Majima had predicted, this also broke Kiryu. He felt an unpleasant shiver creeping on his neck as he thought of the other man crying in the depressing little room where his daughter laid.

Still, things could have been worse - at least, the kid was still alive. For now.

Alright, so trying to not think about it wasn’t working as well as Majima had hoped. He needed to think about something else right now. Find an actual distraction, since wandering through the hospital aimlessly didn’t work.

He needed someone to pester.

He went straight for Daigo’s room.

As he made his way through the much nicer hospital aisle, with the fancy rooms they kept for the important, wealthy guests, Majima frowned. The place felt strangely empty. No body-guards in front of either of the corridor’s end, no guy standing in front of the room’s door, and, surely enough, no one inside.

He sighed.

One of these days, they were going to make a “ Who’s the biggest dumbass who had ever led the Tojo Clan ” poll, and Majima wasn’t sure who would actually win that title. Sure, Kiryu was a colossal meathead who kept putting himself into impossible situations, but Daigo was no slouch either. What he lacked in stupidity he made up for in impulsivity. The only reason he was still in the hospital at all was because he kept finding ways to escape his room, and, way too often, fuck up his stitches again.

It had been years since Majima had sworn he would keep an eye on the chairman for Kiryu’s sake, and the guy had managed to throw himself at all kinds of dangers with a frightening regularity ever since. Though he had joked when he proposed keeping his boss on a leash last time a major crisis happened, Majima found the idea pretty reasonable right now. That would at least cut the poor nurses some slack. They were always running after their patient, and, if the emptiness of the room was anything to go by, they didn’t have much luck in finding him this time. That, or they simply gave up. Majima wouldn’t blame them.

Still, they probably didn’t look that hard, because as Majima got down a few floors, abandoning the quiet fancy corridors to come back to something more modest, he found Daigo in his usual spot, standing guard in front of room 407. Well, “standing” was perhaps a bit of an exaggeration,  as he was sitting in a wheelchair similar to the one Kiryu was probably still weeping in. A few Tojo clan men were scattered in the corridor, keeping an eye on their chairman. As Majima walked past the closest one, a sweaty brat who literally looked like he had never worn a suit before, he had to stop himself from barking at them to get lost. If the way the guy bent over as he passed was any indication, shaking and sweating even more, he would have obeyed pretty quickly, too. Those body-guards might not have looked like much, and looking at them shaking as they stared at him did nothing to make his bad mood better, but they were at least doing better than their predecessors, so far. After the whole Aizawa fiasco, the only thing Majima asked of these guys was to be born and raised Tojo men, no more wolves in sheep's clothing bullshit.

So he settled for a grunt of acknowledgment, leaving the bodyguard behind to go sit on a chair placed conveniently next to his boss. As if Daigo knew he was coming to bother him. Majima was grateful - he had been standing still for too long while Kiryu was unconscious, and though he wouldn’t say it out loud it, he was starting to get a little tired. He frowned, realizing this was basically just him admitting he was getting old, which was not something he needed right now.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in your room, boss? Ya know, getting some rest, not playing hide and seek with the nurses, that kind of stuff?” he said as he collapsed on the chair with a loud thud, making all the body-guards suddenly stiffen. Majima paid them no mind, focusing his attention on Daigo who… Certainly looked like a man who hadn’t slept in a week. Which, to be fair, was how he usually looked, but still!

Before he could attempt to make fun of him for looking like shit, Daigo answered his question with another, not even taking his eyes from the door he was surveying. “Aren’t you supposed to be in front of Kiryu’s room?”

“Yeah, about that…”

That got him a reaction, at least. Majima appreciated for a few seconds the fact that his boss finally stopped staring at the door like an exceptionally sad looking guard dog to glare at him, before he took pity on him and grumbled some kind of explanation. “They took him to see the kid. Went as well as you’d think.”

“And by “they”, you mean…?”

“That loan shark guy. And Saejima, I guess.” Majima decided to omit he too had taken part on their little excursion to Haruka’s room. It wasn’t like it was his idea. And it wasn’t like they could have kept Kiryu from escaping forever. “He felt better, today. Hell, he has always been quick to heal, the fucker. So taking him to her room didn’t sound like such a bad idea.”

“How bad did he take it?”

“Eh. If he hasn’t fainted by now, he’s probably still wailing in there, I bet.”

As if summoned by the growing tension in the corridor, a nurse got out of room 407, freezing in her tracks as she realized a bunch of yakuza were staring at her. Still, she said nothing and left the scene as quick as she had appeared. Majima guessed when you worked in a hospital, you had no time to lose on a bunch of criminals looking at you funny. He assumed the conversation would just continue, but the chairman’s eyes were once again wandering to the now semi-open door of the room.

“That friend of yours is doing okay, I heard?” Majima only had a brief knowledge of who was the patient of room 407. Some guy that Daigo knew from high school, who ended up fighting alongside Kiryu and his ragtag bunch of buddies, because, of course, why not. He was also the one who was actually AT the concert that night, and who didn’t exactly save the day. That was a bit of a touchy subject, though, so Majima thought he would rather focus on something safer. Like what the guy was called, for instance. “Shit, what’s his name again? Swear Saejima told me, but-”

“Shinada.” Daigo cut him off, still focusing on the door, his brow furrowed. “I don’t think I should be calling myself his friend. He’s only in there because I meddled with his life. Again.”

Majima was musing on what that “again” meant when he noticed a worrying twitch of Daigo’s eye, as the man lowered his head slowly, his shoulder sagging. It occurred to him that perhaps he had just fled a crying chairman to come find another, and frankly, this pissed him off.

A good subordinate would have said nothing or, better, changed subject to spare his chairman the embarrassment of showing some kind of vulnerability, something the bodyguards were doing very well, as they all mysteriously started to look in different directions. Majima wasn’t exactly a good subordinate, though.

“If you start crying, I’m going to sucker punch you.”

The exhausted glare Daigo gave him was miraculously tear-free, so that was nice. “I’m not going to cry. And it’s not exactly a sucker punch if you warn the guy beforehand.”

“Maybe. But hey, let’s look at the big picture, yeah? The clan is still standing. Most of our guys are still alive.” But a lot of them were dead, Kiryu’s kid was in a coma and he himself wasn’t doing well at all, the clan’s hierarchy was once again all shaken up… Majima gritted his teeth, struggling to find something positive to add, before he settled on what he thought was a particularly nice note. “And shit, almost forgot, Saejima and Kiryu are not going to jail, thanks to ya!”

Majima had been slightly worried when cops started to get into their business shortly after the concert. That they had the nerve to show up at all, claiming that it was time for Saejima to go back to jail, and that Kiryu somehow had to go too, for some reason. It only took a little bribe from Daigo, the you-could-buy-a-house-with-that-much-money kind, to get them to back off and forget about the whole “jail” thing for a little while. They would come back, of course, but for now, his oath brother was free to haunt the hallway of this damned hospital, and Kiryu was free to cry for his daughter in peace. Lucky them.

“They’re not going to jail yet.” Daigo added, still looking pretty glum but at least finding some kind of a normal posture again.

“Yeah, sure. Still, it was nice of ya to do that. They’ll never admit it, the big idiots, but it’s probably better if they stick around, at a time like this.”

Would be a shame for them to miss all those tears, uh?

#yakuza #yakuza 5 #yakuza fanfiction #rgg #rgg5 #weird art of mine #stories #fics #mob

[genius-with-a-j]

I have had a Sanders Sides college AU bouncing around in my head for a few weeks and the gremlins have been begging for me to let it out so here is some of it:

Virgil:

Sophomore

Undecided major (will eventually go with psychology major and creative writing minor)

Purple hair, very pale (actually has celiac and diabetes and struggles with eating enough)

Actually has a lot of health issues but was still determined to go to college

Skinny boi, into the emo scene still, has purple hair

Has severe anxiety (social and otherwise) and mild to moderate depression

Goes to on-campus counseling

Has an emotional support black cat named Gerard (yes after Gerard Way)

Has okay grades, like a B-/C+ student

Lives in a dorm that’s basically apartments, everything is very separate and it’s mostly grad students there

Not super into extracurriculars because anxiety but does volunteer at an animal shelter

Is reluctantly a barista in like a very indie coffee shop off-campus

Went to a really big high school where he felt very ignored and lost in the crowd

Logan:

Senior

Mechanical and electrical engineering double major with an artificial intelligence emphasis and a computer science minor

Has also considered picking up a math minor or expanding to a double degree

Dark brown hair that’s always just a little messy, tan skin

Angular features, half-Korean and half-Hispanic

Speaks several languages, all weirdly perfectly

Korean, Spanish, English, some Mandarin and some Japanese

Has major depressive disorder and autism

4.0 with ease

Apartment coordinator who was an RA for two years and hall gov president before that

Involved in the robotics club, chess club, head of the engineering society

Went to a large high school, was a standout, won many awards and was valedictorian with like a 4.3 GPA

Patton’s boyfriend, they’ve been together for like 3 years at this point

Patton:

Super senior, this is his 5th year

Changed major a lot, has finally decided on animal science, wants to be a vet tech

Curly, blonde hair and lots of freckles

Chubby, very soft and huggable

Jewish

Genderfluid! Is fine with any pronouns and wears whatever he wants (normally big sweaters and ugg-style slippers)

Struggles with depression and a touch of OCD

Dyslexic

Super empathetic and frequently gets compassion fatigue

Solid C student in most things, but is SUPER good at animal-related classes and pretty bad at math (so Logan helps him)

Lives with Logan even though technically they don’t want apartment coordinators to have roommates but Logan is really good at his job and was basically like “if he goes, I go” so they allowed him to live there for free too

A very good baker and involved with a baking club on campus

Works at an animal shelter (yes that’s how he met Virgil)

Went to a small high school (20 graduating class) really struggled with being bullied, is glad to be away from his small, oppressive hometown

Logan’s boyfriend

Roman:

Junior

Theater and vocal double major with a creative writing minor

Obsessed with love stories, writes love-based plays and love songs, etc.

Plays piano, guitar, and trumpet because he was forced to learn a wind instrument

Black hair basically styled like a Disney prince

Mexican (is actually a DACA student)

Speaks fluent Spanish and English

Has complex PTSD from years of emotional abuse before ending up housed with Abuela

Depressed but going constantly, can’t stop because that’s how the feelings catch you

ADHD but doesn’t know it because he hasn’t been tested, his parents didn’t believe in it

Straight-A student in subjects he cares about but barely scrapes by in the required common core type classes because he doesn’t care and therefore is Unable To Learn

Lives with his brother in an off-campus apartment because Abuela asked that they live together so when she helps pay it’s just one rent payment for the two of them

It’s a bad apartment, it’s basically falling apart but it’s what they can afford

Delivers pizza so he can afford to live

Involved in the choir, jazz band, super active in the drama program, and has starred in multiple roles on the student-run TV network

Went to a small-ish high school (80 graduating class) and was a big fish in a small pond; he and his brother were very well-known

Remus’s identical twin

Remus:

Junior

Creative writing and theater double major with a criminal justice minor

Writes horror, also likes to write poems that seem sweet but are very dark

Majors in theater for the writing aspect more than the acting aspect

Criminal justice minor is because he loves true crime and wants to write accurate criminals in some of his horror stories

Black hair is normally spiked, has a white streak in front

Has that gross rat stache most of the time but will shave it off for a play or the like

Mexican (is actually a DACA student)

Speaks fluent Spanish and English

Has complex PTSD from years of emotional abuse before ending up housed with Abuela

Also depressed, but instead of avoiding his problems embraces them in a way that’s pretty uncomfortable, can be a little too open sometimes

Has OCD that really messes with his head but tries to embrace the intrusive thoughts and blurt them out because he thinks that’s how he wins even though it doesn’t quite work that way

People thought he had Tourettes because of it, but he doesn’t, he has control over what he does (besides the OCD compulsion part of it but that’s different than a tic)

ADHD but doesn’t know it

An impressive writer and excels in his creative writing and theater-based classes but is just awful at other classes because he gets bored and ends up making games out of assignments like trying to freak out his professors or spelling out messages down the side of the page with the first letter of every line

Lives with his brother in an off-campus apartment because Abuela asked that they live together so when she helps pay it’s just one rent payment for the two of them

It’s a bad apartment, it’s basically falling apart but it’s what they can afford

Writes smut for money online

Super active in the drama program, often directs or writes the screenplays, has also written for the student-ran TV network, wrote a whole Twilight-zone-ish show that was pretty popular, enjoys poetry slams

Went to a small-ish high school (80 graduating class) and was a big fish in a small pond; he and his brother were very well-known

Is kind of dating Dee, they’ll both tell you it’s complicated and they like it that way

Roman’s identical twin

Dee:

Freshman

Political science major with a criminal justice minor

Wants to be a lawyer or politician to make changes for marginalized groups

Indigenous

Has vitiligo, it primarily affects the left side of his face (even his left eye is almost hazel instead of dark like his other eye) and also his limbs and his stomach

It started in high school and he was teased pretty bad for it, was afraid college would be the same way

He wears gloves to hide it because he’s kind of ashamed of it, he feels like people think he’s gross-looking

Has very thick, dark hair that’s always a little shaggy, wears a lot of hats

Depressed

Very defensive and guarded, doesn’t want people to know who he truly is

Not a pathological liar, but he does lie to protect himself

Was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder because of his fear of losing people and his lack of emotional regulation

Was raised in a really turbulent household and has trust issues because of it

An honors kid

Nearly has a 4.0, is really good at writing and arguing and history, only struggles with science

Lives in the honors kid dorm, is involved in hall government

Works as an intern (paid) with a local firm

Involved with Model UN and debate team

Went to a medium-sized high school and was very good at blending in

Is involved with Remus

So yeah!!! That’s most of it, I plan on writing stuff about it, feel free to ask questions if you have any, I’d love to answer

#sanders sides #remus sanders #roman sanders #virgil sanders #deceit sanders #patton sanders #logan sanders #college au #my aus #when the gremlin demands i write i have no choice

[it-all-went-wrong]

I Told The Truth

Lottie: Oh shit, I’m so sorry! * I scurried to the small alcove, crouching down beside the now laughing man.  I was trying to hide my smile but the sound was infectious and he brushed me away with a shake of his head as he stood and sat back down on the bench in front of the piano.  He was really, really pretty and that was not anything I needed right now, not in the slightest.*  I’m still sorry.  I’m Charlotte Davis, my  Aunt said you needed a piano player for services but if you’re here, I have no clue why she said that.  You’re really, really good. *The paradise may have been a bit much, but it was honest at least; I wasn’t one to compliment musicians unless I had meant it, I’d seen far too much downfall from that in the past.*

Dec: * To say I had been thrown off my game was an understatement; I’d always been fairly unflappable, another great consequence of being the baby of six, but even I had my moments.  I declined the woman’s attempts at assistance with a laugh, more at myself than anything else, and fiddled with my scarf as I settled back down on the piano bench, my fingers trailing across the keys again*  We actually do, I can’t play during services.  *It was an understatement but felt accurate anyway.*  I’m Declan O’Connor, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Davis. Please sit, I’d love to hear you play if you don’t mind? *I wasn’t quite able to get up before she settled beside me, blowing out a long breath before running through a quick set of scales; I could smell the rain that was thundering outside of the windows as she warmed up, and my gaze bounced from her fingers on the keys to her face as she looked at the music open on the stand with a grimace.*  Not a fan of Amazing Grace?

Lottie: I think it’s pandering and overdone, but not the worst there is. * It had been a bit since I’d shared a bench with anyone, and I wasn’t going to complain in this instance, odd as it was.  The piano was old but well-tuned and meticulously cared for; whoever was in charge of the miniature here was very, very good.*  It’s Miss Davis, although my students do the same thing.  It’s Charlotte or Lottie, I’m good with either. *Running through the songs I knew by memory, settling on one that may have been the least appropriate for a church, humming under my breath.* 

Declan:  * Making a  mental note of the young woman’s preferred name, I was about to speak again when she started to play.  The song was familiar of course, it was something of a modern classic, although perhaps one that shouldn’t be played in a church. I think, when it came to music, He would be forgiving as long as the intent wasn’t to cause any malice. And really, she was a beautiful player so I couldn’t, and wouldn’t complain.  I could just barely hear her humming along under her breath, the words familiar after giving numerous covers and endless repetitions of the original. The slight hesitancy to sing had intrigued me and I  paused for the briefest of moments before I started singing along, keeping time with my heel.* It goes like this, the fourth the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift, the baffled king composing hallelujah….

Lottie:   *It took a lot to surprise me, it really did, especially when it came to singers but holy shit. Declan was good.  Like…really fucking good, like I’d been on Broadway with people who couldn’t sing like that good. I’d missed a few notes fawning like a goddamn idiot, and forced myself to focus, chiming in on the second verse.* Your faith was strong but you needed proof, you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you… * It was almost organic, in a strange sense, and I hadn’t found myself lost in music like that in a long, long time. It was easy, and almost weirdly instinctive, to harmonize as the song continued and when it finally came to the crescendo at the end, and the last note finally died off in the air, I stilled my hands and closed my eyes, ignoring the goosebumps that had popped up on my arms.  There were moments, for me anyway, where music, truly good, pure, HONEST music, played or sung for no other reason that the utter joy of it, was better than any high that I could have ever experienced; this moment, as the silence slowly fell in in old church smack in the middle of nowhere, Georgia, was one of them. Swallowing heavily, I gave a tiny laugh, opening my eyes and glancing at Declan.  The tips of his ears were read and it was endearing as all hell.* Well shit, Dec. You can play piano, sing LIKE THAT, and you’re pretty hot. That begs the question of what exactly are you doing HERE? 

Dec: *If I was a man who believed that God actually looked down on music, and even judged us on it, I might have held back but, he has created all of us in his image, and that includes musicians.  It had been a very long time since I had considered myself one, at this point, I was a Priest first, as it should be, but that love, the fact that I did have what I considered a gift from Him, wasn’t something that I was ever ashamed of, although I didn’t indulge in singing much outside of my car and mass.  It wasn’t until after the last note had died off, drifting and then disappearing into the vast expanse of the sanctuary, that I came back to myself, such as it was. Miss Davis’s words, and her blatant assessment that held something more than she said, had me shaking my head with a laugh as I realized she had absolutely no clue who I was but then again, I hadn’t exactly told her either. * Thank you, that’s very kind on all counts. And I’m here because it’s where I was sent. *Shifting slightly, I unwound my scarf to reveal the stiff collar at my throat.*  I go where I am needed, and Father Matthew, bless his soul, passed not long ago. Someone at the archdiocese in Boston knew someone here and well… *I trailed off with a shrug and glanced over at Miss Davis who looked a bit startled, her cheeks pink.* Sorry, I forgot about the scarf and just assume people know. 

Lottie: You’re a priest?  You’re a legit priest and I’m not being like… punked, right? *Running my hands through my tangled hair, I give a resigned laugh even as my face warmed as Declan- FATHER Declan- shook his head with a smile..* You’re a priest and I just told you that you're hot. It’s true, by the way, but oh my god. The day was going so well too. *I couldn't help but laugh, a longstanding nervous habit, and glanced at Father Declan out of the corner if my eye. He was smiling.*

Dec: I'm an actual priest, yes, you're not being punked, I assure you. And you did, which I'll take as a compliment, thank you. *I couldn't help but smile, despite myself; vanity and pride were not normally in my wheelhouse, but I was human and it was nice to hear, I couldn't deny that no matter how much I wanted to. I wouldn't lie, even to myself and so I changed the topic easily.* It can still be a good day, Miss Davis. I promise I won't hold it against you. Now that we've got all of that out of the way, we still need a pianist until Edna is able to recover from her injury. Would you be interested? We can't pay you, but I can promise all of the mediocre coffee and breakfast casserole you could want.*It was a genuine offer, and one that I could always make; there was a sense of community within my small congregation, and the after-service coffee and refreshments always brought a delightful spread, only some of it questionable, as well as whispers of gossip that I tried my best to tune out.* What do you say, Miss Davis? 

Lottie: Well, with an offer like that, how can I refuse? *I couldn't help but laugh, playing a brief snippet of a U2 song and earning a chuckle.* As long as you don't have a problem with an atheist sitting in on your service and there is cream and sugar for that coffee, you've got yourself a deal, Father. *The words were accompanied with an offered hand for a shake and it was granted with a grin.*

Dec: I'll even throw in some flavored creamer and a homily about Charlie Brown just for your heathen soul. *I didn't often get the opportunity to joke, many of the members of my church were older and held clergy in high and somber esteem, and so the easy conversation was more than slightly welcome. Sifting through the selection of sheet music, I pulled out the selection for tomorrow's services and handed them over. Outside the sound of the rain lightened against the windows just a bit, and I stole a glance past the stained glass.*  I don't want to take up too much of your day and it sounds like the storm is easing up a bit if you wanted to try and stay a bit drier. 

Lottie: *Accepting the music with a smile, I follow Father Declan's gaze and wrinkle my nose.* I think Im already in that mess, but Im sure you have important duties to finish before tomorrow. *Gathering up the music and tucking it under my coat, I give a smile.* I'm gonna hold you to that Charlie Brown, Father. *Giving a small wave, I head back down the aisle and out into the rain, flashing back to my car  as the skies opened once again, just as I closed the door. Cranking the stereo, I scrolled through Spotify unto Leonard Choen's voice filled the car, and I sang along the whole way home.* 

[musicprincess655]

“Isn’t that your brother?” Kuramochi asked. Ryou looked over to see that yes, that was Haruichi standing next to a tall boy and Sawamura. Nyarlathotep and Yggdrasil were hovering in the distance, keeping watch. He shot a disapproving look at Nyarlathotep. He expected this kind of thing from Yggdrasil, but Nyarlathotep knew better. As if she was actually ashamed for once in her life, she skulked into the shadows.

“What do you think you’re doing here, Haruichi?” Ryou asked. Sawamura didn’t give him that wide eyed stare again, thank fuck. He’d had enough of it the first time.

“I’m going to the library later with Eijun-kun,” Haruichi said. “I don’t have anything to do until then, and this looked interesting.”

“You’re supposed to call people by their family names,” Ryou reminded him. It really had been a long time since Haruichi had been here. And if Ryou had anything to say about it, it would be a long time indeed before he came back again.

“It’s okay, Onii-san!” Sawamura said happily. “Harucchi can call me by my given name if he wants!”

“Onii-san?” Ryou asked.

“Harucchi?” Haruichi asked. Before Ryou could finish consider the pros and cons of blasting Sawamura out of the park, they were interrupted.

“Is that another demon?” 

Ryou turned to see Kuramochi’s spell theory professor staring at his little brother. The group nodded mutely, cowering away from the very obviously angry woman. Even Ryou took a step back. Demon or not, he could tell Takashima was nasty when she was angry, and he had enough problems already. “Whose demon is that?”

The tall boy raised his hand, because he was either brave or stupid, and Ryou was strongly suspecting the latter.

“I made a contract with him,” he explained. Takashima looked like she was praying for patience, and Ryou related to the sentiment.

“Why?” she asked, looking almost pained at the depths of her students’ stupidity.

“I needed something,” he explained.

“Furuya-kun? Laps.”

“How many?”

Takashima looked ready to commit murder. Furuya took off running. She raised her voice so the rest of the team could hear her.

“I cannot believe this is an announcement that has to be made,” she shouted. “But summoning demons is banned under every single circumstance. I don’t care what your excuse is. I don’t care what you think makes your situation special. If I so much as hear you breathe the word demon in my general direction, summer camp is going to look like a day at the beach when I’m done with you. Do I make myself clear?”

There were various murmurs of assent, because everyone knew better than to argue with Takashima, apparently. She turned on Ryou.

“And you,” she snapped.

“I still have a name,” he said, because he really was getting sick of people treating him like he couldn’t hear them.

“I know,” she said. “Want to explain to me why it’s on my class register?”

Ryou could feel Kuramochi staring at him, but he didn’t return the look.

“I’m enrolled in the school now,” he said. “Haruichi is too.”

He was sure that, just for a moment, Takashima was actually about to explode.

“How did you manage that?”

The administration building, just close enough to Kuramochi’s class that the bond could stretch.

Two terrified admissions officers, cowering from his open red eyes.

“Do you really want to know?”

“No.”

Takashima walked away, looking like she’d need some extensive therapy. Ryou finally faced Kuramochi.

“How are you paying tuition?” he asked. “I’m here on scholarship, but tuition’s expensive.”

A terrified old donor, sounding like he might be crying through the phone, agreeing to whatever demand was made of him.

“I made some phone calls.”

“Wait, is that why I had some terrified secretary calling me?” Kuramochi asked. “I lost my phone for a few hours, and…oh. Oh.”

Rather than looking afraid or disgusted, Kuramochi actually looked a little impressed.

“And you got your little brother in, too?” he asked. Ryou shrugged.

“If he insists on staying, he might as well go to school,” Ryou said. “I’ve taught him what I know, but there’s plenty he could still learn.”

“You really care about him, don’t you?”

“He’s my responsibility.”

Kuramochi looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but it was at that moment their coach called them over. He took off running to a team huddle.

Ryou had planned on standing by the sideline, but apparently the field was too big to make that work. He felt himself jerked towards Kuramochi by the bond. Rather than stand awkwardly in the middle of the field where it let him stop, he kept walking to stand in the huddle.

The coach sent the team off in various directions, and Ryou stayed by his side, just close enough that Kuramochi wasn’t jerking him anywhere. The coach gave him a sideways glance, but didn’t say anything, which Ryou appreciated.

He watched the team run drills, and had to admit the sport was intriguing. It was very clearly a kind of combat training, but disguised as a game, and one that became more complex as he looked closer. What seemed simple at first had strategy behind it that he could see in the older members and could see lacking in the younger.

His eyes settled on Kuramochi, running drills with some younger members. It took him a few tries to realize what the point of the drill was, which was more than he could say for everyone except Kuramochi.

More or less, Kuramochi was trying a combination attack against Miyuki and some tall boy with a shaved head. The goal seemed to be to have the two of them avoid any attacks from Miyuki and the other boy and get past them. The problem was, everyone was just dodging, not working with Kuramochi to defend and attack back. No one had made it so far.

Ryou tried to sit still, but he could see Kuramochi getting frustrated, and he was feeling the same. It was such a simple task. They all really did suck.

He finally gave up, stalking across the field to where the drill was running. Kuramochi noticed him first, probably more attuned to him because of the bond.

“Ryou-san,” he said.

“All of you, move,” Ryou snapped. “None of you get the point. Watch this, and try to suck less.”

He was sick of being stuck in this place, sick of being stuck with these people, sick of being stuck in this body. Just for a minute, he wanted to cut loose. He stood ready to run. Everyone else had been starting in front of Kuramochi, so they must be practicing for a more offensive position than Kuramochi’s.

Kuramochi didn’t question him. He just prepared to run the drill again.

It was easy to reach out and feel the crackle of Kuramochi’s magic, doubly so because of their bond and because the chaos magic was familiar to him. It felt so good to run, so good to unleash all of his frustrations into a powerful assault.

The bald boy tried to attack, but Ryou just countered it, masking Kuramochi’s movement to the side with an attack of his own directly at the other pair. It was satisfying to watch them flinch away even as Miyuki threw up a shield to defend them, and before they could recover, he was already behind them, poised to attack with Kuramochi by his side.

Miyuki looked at him with a new expression of respect and appreciation. Kuramochi was staring at him with open admiration. Ryou could still feel the magic flowing along his skin. It felt nice.

“You,” someone interrupted them. Ryou looked up to see the coach standing there. He prepared to be sent away. It had been nice while it lasted. “You’re a demon?”

Ryou nodded.

“What’s your name?”

“Kominato Ryousuke,” he gave the surname he’d picked for himself and Haruichi, since humans were weirdly dedicated to filling in all the boxes on their forms, even if they were terrified of the being filling out those forms.

The coach’s eyebrows twitched.

“You’re a student here, yes?”

“As of yesterday.”

“Any interest in joining the team?”

If Ryou’s eyes had been more open, he would have blinked in surprise. Of all the things he’d been expecting, that wasn’t one of them.

“What?”

“We could use a new center striker, and nobody else has been able to work with Kuramochi so well,” the coach went on. “If you’re an enrolled student, there’s no reason you can’t join the team.”

“You don’t mind having a demon on your team?”

“There’s no rule against it. We really could use someone with the skill you just showed.”

Ryou nodded mutely. He didn’t know what to make of the coach at all, but he’d just had the most fun he’d had since coming from Hell. He didn’t want to give that up yet.

“The other demon, is he your brother?” the coach asked. “Can he do the same things you can do?”

“Yes,” Ryou said. They were siblings, so their powers were quite similar. He’d probably be able to work with Kuramochi as well, but Ryou could feel some weird competitive urge well up inside him. He didn’t want to give up this position to his brother, not when he’d just had so much fun.

“Would he be interested in joining, too?”

“You’ll have to ask him,” Ryou answered. Honestly, what kind of witch was so accepting of demons so quickly?

“Good. I expect you both at practice. I’ll talk to the managers about getting you both uniforms.” The coach turned, leaving as suddenly as he’d appeared.

Ryou turned to see Kuramochi giving him a look that was excited and pleased.

“What’s that look for?” Ryou asked.

“I’ve never had a proper partner before,” Kuramochi said. “Last year’s center striker was a real dick.”

“We’re not partners after one successful run,” Ryou said. “Reset, and run it again. You could’ve gotten past them much faster. Try to do it better this time. Keep up.”

For some reason, that made Kuramochi’s grin even wider, and Ryou almost couldn’t help his answering smile, even if there was still a little poison in it.

#kuraryou #furuharu #dailydaiya #fydna #daiya no a #ace of diamond #dna #my writing #elt #magic au