#well I spelled 'birthday' wrong but I'm keeping it that way

[carelessflower]

consort 101

Alec dreaded his daily court-holding.

He knew his duty as consort, to look over and manage the royal harem. And what is a better way to do it than hearing the same people arguing over who had the best gold embroidered silk fan collections?

Alec took a sip of his tea, not missing the eyes that traced his every movement. Of course, many were convinced he had enchanted Magnus using a dark magic love spell. Magnus had laughed hearing that once. Then promptly demanded Alec to properly enchant him with his love spells this time. Alec's sore back the next morning did not help much with Alec's enthusiasm to deal with the harem. Many concubines were nice, but the one with the most to say always went out of their way to annoy Alec.

"Oh, your majesty. I haven't noticed how dowdy you look this morning." As if on cue, Jasper stood up and didn't even bother for a decent attempt of worry. "Please forgive me for my oversight." He was on his way to kneel, and it was obvious from the speed he didn't intend to go through it.

Alec smiled faintly. "That's alright. Please stand up. I appreciate your concern, but I am perfectly well."

"Really?" Jasper continued after returning to his seat, not caring at all about Alec's no desire to engage in whatever imaginary feud Jasper was having in his mind. "I thought- Well, you don't have to hide for our sake."

"Our king is a generous lover. Surely you understand that, your majesty. There's no need to be sad." Another concubine giggled.

"The consort will never. Jealousy is frowned upon in the harem. Your majesty knows it better than us."

"That's right."

"In fact, I'm sure the consort is happy for the king. The consort must be tiring himself out taking care of our majesty, and now he has someone to share that responsibility with him."

Voices laced venoms, the room hid the weapons underneath those smiles. Alec already knew the culprit for all of this. Victoria stood still, dress newly made and of the finest quality, all lace details and trim. Alec recognized the fabric. Magnus gifted it to her, and everyone in the palace was under no illusion how much her dressmakers went through for the gown to be a week-done affair.

He felt her staring at him, smugly proclaiming her win over Magnus's heart.

Usually, Alec would let this slide. Arguing with anyone who equated material gain to love was a waste of time, he would rather spend it to force Isabelle's stew not to poison every living creature in close proximity. But today, Alec was feeling a bit mischievous. And curious too. It was a unique combination.

Using the teacup to disguise his next move, he undid the first front lace on his robe, enough to reveal what was underneath. Magnus's marks were a stark reminder of what they were doing with the silk the night before, dotted on the pale column of Alec's throat, down to his collarbone.

"Concubine Johnson got it wrong. How can being with the king ever be tedious?" The chaos from the room erupted even more with his sentence.

"I thought the consort had fallen out of favor."

"How indecent! Showing off those things."

"The consort is so selfish, he's hoarding our majesty and bragging to us."

"Wait, haven't you been begging for that ruby pearl choker foreve-"

"Shut up!"

A range of emotions flashed and switched like rapid flames across many's faces. Alec hid the smirk to himself.

@dustandducks happy birthday lys you're absolutely talented and amazing legendary human being keep excelling always!!!!

#malec #alec lightwood #magnus bane #shadowhunters #tmi #tsc #the mortal instruments #the shadowhunter chronicles #tec #anh writes stuff #consort alec

[maxphilippa]

Beware of HybridAlex17.

CW: Guilt-tripping, Suicide Baiting, Manipulation, Stalking, Identity Theft, Death Threats. Please read this. It is very important.

Hello, I usually don't make these type of posts, but lately I've been too stressed to even be here on Tumblr due to a certain individual in The Lego Movie Fandom. And that person is @/HybridAlex17.

Weeks ago, I decided to cut ties with this person on a calm way due to the fact that I genuinely couldn't keep the friendship going on any longer. Truth is that this friendship made me feel like I was trapped.

I'm in no way invalidating his trauma and suffering, and of course, I will always try to help my friends in times of need, but Alex constantly needed me to "comfort him" and basically be there for him all of the time, making me responsible of his emotions since he's an very unstable person "who would think of the worst case scenario happening to me" if I didn't told him what I was doing at the moment. Of course, friendships are meant to work through bad and good times. But there's moments where you should realize that you have limits. I had mine.

And I couldn't possibly just stay any longer in a relationship where it felt like I had to take care of someone. That's not what I'm looking for. It never was. I felt unsafe and constantly scared about what he could do to himself if I said the wrong thing, as he was constantly feeling bad about everything. And call me what you want, but I realized that, I do not want to be there. But even then, I didn't have any hard feelings towards him. I genuinely wished him the best and to get better, but I couldn't be there to see that change. My mental health mattered. So I spoke to him very calmly about it, reassuring him that I do not hate him and I just wanted to cut our ties peacefully.

(At the moment, I censored his name to protect his identity. This was before I blocked him.)

Then, in reply, he guilt-tripped me, wishing that I never met him, that he died that one time, that this never happened, and everything. Despite me having high hopes for him to actually react properly, he didn't. So I ended up blocking him in all of his accounts and just calling it a day, because I didn't want to think of it. Sounds pretty fair by now, right?

Well, the story does not end there. Some more days later, he would then tag me on a PUBLIC POST (because he couldn't just DM me, I guess), apologizing for taking it too personally and for everything in spanish. I spoke to my friends about this at the moment because I really didn't feel like it was genuine. You would never post an apology towards someone unless you would want them to feel pressured to reply to you, right? Well then, because he did this already MORE THAN ONE TIME with me. I blocked him because I really didn't want to deal with it. It was tiring and I was hoping that he would just give up.

(This account of his does no longer exist.)

But then, here comes the impersionation thing. Three days ago, my friends sent me an blog that was weirdly similar to mine. Lucy icon and the description, eh, ya' know. Very fucking basic. And look at the URL. A mix of the words Max and Philippa but changed to spell Philippines.

And if that does not convince you, then take a look at this post.

"Android Emmet AU".

I swear to fucking God.

You guys might or might not know that I'm the creator of the Android Rex AU, I created it on June 22 of the past year, being the second AU I've ever made. So he didn't only just made a weird puppet of me to pretend that we're still friends, he's STEALING THE WHOLE THING AND TRYING TO MAKE OTHERS THINK THAT IT IS AN ACCOUNT OF MINE.

But seriously though. Come on. He's not fooling anyone. It's an pathetic imitation of who I am, of what can I do. He's acting like he knows me enough, but he never even tried to. He could never replace me. He will never get me back. And he knows it. He knows it so well.

Yesterday, it was my birthday. Of course, it was a great day for me. But various anonymus asks came in for me then. The first ones were kind ones, but then, there were some that straight up wished that I was never born and that I died! And hey! Not to assume! But that was Alex in different accounts! Because he literally stopped once I turned the anonymus off and one of my friends stood up for me!

And you can see this by scrolling through my blog just a bit!

And once he realized that he fucked up, because they thought that this friend of mine didn't have any relation with me (despite the fact that I do have posts where I drew their guys), he blocked them and "apologized". Can't even take responsability for such a messed up thing.

And he just didn't stop there. Wishing me death? Expected it. But how did he know that it was my birthday? Because I blocked him before I ever publically told it. And that's when it hit me. An alt account. And someone sent me a post in which he drew Android Rex and Joseph, two of the main characters of my AU for my birthday, saying that he wishes the best for me and stuff.

I never fucking told you when my birthday was. You could have never possibly known unless you were stalking me over an account. You use alternative accounts to boost your own art and don't even try to deny it. People will realize once they take a look. So many empty accounts. Instead of moving on and just fucking accepting that I cut ties with you because you made me feel scared of even entering this app, and learning from your mistakes, you're being a fucking creepy man. And don't deny it. You've done this to a bunch of people here. My close friends were affected by your shit.

And I know that you're going to see this.

And just so you know, since you crave my attention so fucking much to the point where you created a fake account that was "me" so you could still think that nothing happened, let me tell you something.

I was never angry at you. I stated that I wanted to cut ties because I couldn't be in such a toxic relationship. I respected you as a person. But then you tried to make me feel bad about my choice. About everything I do. Because that's what you're good for. Is this how you treat your friends? Because Good Lord. Seeing your true colors makes me think that we were never really friends since the start.

And even then? I'm not angry at you.

I'm disappointed.

And I already hit my favor quota on saying this in the most harmless of ways possible, but I'm feeling generous. So. Like. Have some dignity, would you? Don't be an asshole. Move on. I already did.

I hoped that you would move on. But you never learn anything, do you? You said how much you cared about me back then. I guess death treats, constantly stalking someone, and impersonating them is your way to care.

I will never be your friend.

And to those who read this post, please, do not harass HybridAlex17. As much damage he has done, he's not worth it. What I would be thankful of is that you guys report the fake account he made of me, since I can't do it myself. And let others know about him and his doings.

If you're a friend of HybridAlex17, then I'm deeply sorry. I do not have any hard feelings towards you, but I would rather not interact with anyone who is.

And with this, I'm done. Take care, all of you.

#max speaks #beware of #please reblog so more people can know about this

[the-lady-amphitrite]

— A FAIRYTALE BEGINNING | chapter 9

of mirrors and secrets

pairing: Loki / f!half-Asgardian!Reader word count: 6,452 summary: you settle your thoughts on soulmates, and then a conversation with your best friend goes wrong in this chapter: more soulmate talk, a sprinkle of Loki being jealous, more points for the "idiots in love" tag, Loki's pronouns are she/they in the second section, an interrupted argument with Loki (i'm sorry) author notes: and welcome back! if you've seen the masterlist today, then yeah the chapter count went up again. i'm sorry. this was originally meant to be the second half of the last chapter, but that cliffhanger was fun, right? 😊 also, if anyone knows anything about gardening i'm very sorry. i do not, and considering this is the only planned time gardening will be used in a scene i will not be learning about anything more than seeding and planting times just to make sure Voranda works in the rough timeline of this chapter. many apologies.

( previous chapter | read on ao3 | series masterlist )

Tension winds its way through you in the days that follow. Frigga’s words about the soulmate spell containing both blood and soul magic weigh heavily on you. It weighs more since you learnt it the days after Lord Ivarr’s bonding with Lady Tryggvadóttir.

Something that you once admired, something you once looked forward to, something that once seemed so sacred now feels like it could be the worst part of what it means to be a Drekasál.

You force yourself to push those lingering thoughts aside for other matters. Between your lessons and the upcoming string of back-to-back feasts, birthdays, and holidays, there’s so much else for you to focus on right now. And yet, the questions still find time to push themselves forward. To make you worry, think, and wonder.

You wonder the most about if you should ask your family how they see it. Do they see the soulmate bonds as a curse, or do they believe it’s blessed by Yggdrasill and the Voiceless One? Once, you might have believed that they all see it as being blessed by Yggdrasill and the Voiceless One. After all, you did, even if no one had ever asked you.

How else were you meant to view something that you see every day because of the bonded pairs you’ve grown up around all of your life?

It takes so little for you to remain quiet each time you want to ask. Seeing the relationships between your mother and uncle, or Katla and Tórbjǫrn, keeps you from asking.

Your mother and uncle are incredibly close, their bond strong from a thousand years spent with one another. Bonded by time, and by experiences that they sometimes talk about, regaling you with stories from their life before settling on Asgard. Of the battles, the friendships, the adventures, and the mundane moments that filled those centuries.

With Katla and Tórbjǫrn, the twins have always had each other, but you know from watching Loki and her brothers that such a thing doesn’t mean siblings don’t argue or have days they can’t get along. You’ve never seen Katla and Tórbjǫrn do anything like that. They just always seem to exist in harmony, annoying each other in an affectionate, loving manner, but never anything worse.

How can you reconcile the idea that you and your family are all cursed, when they look so happy to have the one they were meant to be bonded to?

The answer comes just a few days later.

You’re told at lunch by Katla that Lord Ivarr and Lady Tryggvadóttir are finally ready to meet the rest of the conflagration. Lord Ivarr had apparently even told Katla that he and his new soulmate would be remaining in Asgard. Something you thought she would look happier about than she was when she told you. He’s one of her heartmates, after all. Someone she loves dearly and has loved deeply for longer than you’ve been alive.

You do your best to distract her from whatever leaves a shadow in her dark eyes. You’re not sure how well it works.

Later, your family collects itself in Katla’s pavilion. It’s not as high up as your family’s, but her rooms aren’t as high in the palace as your family’s either. The whole conflagration stands together in a loose, casual formation, though it’s nothing like the one you take up when flying.

While your uncle stands next to your mother, you stand before them. You don’t know the order the others are standing in, but you think Katla and Tórbjǫrn are right behind them. You can’t turn around to check, though. Your mother’s hand on your shoulder feels heavy, rooting you to the spot.

Everyone is standing in tense silence as you wait for the pavilion doors to open. For the new soulmate pair to enter. When the doors finally swing open on silent hinges, you can almost hear everyone’s collective breathing just stop.

It’s strange, in a way. You’d been so eager to meet Lady Tryggvadóttir just a few nights ago when she first showed up. Now you’re worried about meeting her. She and Lord Ivarr have decided to remain in Asgard, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still change their minds. They could still leave. Lord Ivarr could decide to leave Asgard, to journey across Yggdrasil’s branches with his new soulmate, and leave your conflagration behind.

You don’t like the idea of that. Of losing a member of your family just because he decides he wants to leave.

Lady Tryggvadóttir enters first, Lord Ivarr close on her heels. Walking next to each other, you’re surprised to see how much taller the drekakona is when compared to Lord Ivarr. Her height, combined with her high-pointed ears, makes you realise that she’s both Drekasál and Ice Elf.

Watching them approach also makes you realise just how at ease they seem to be with each other already. It’s only been a few days, but if you didn’t know better, you would think they’ve known each other far longer. Something about the way they walk together, the way they move as a unit, is just… different. You’d never realised (consciously, or unconsciously) how your mother and uncle or how Katla and Tórbjǫrn move in the same way.

They move like they’re two halves of a whole. Like one could exist without the other, but to do so would leave you without the complete picture of either Drekasál. And suddenly, you get it. Not entirely, not quite the way a bonded person does, but for the first time, you’re seeing what it means, truly, to become one half of a soulmate pair.

To move without speaking and yet understand one another entirely. To know what the other is thinking, with just a glance. Offering a hand before one is asked, and reaching for it because you know they’re going to without you asking. Someone who is always in your corner, even if no one else will be. Someone to see and understand the worst of you, but also the best of you. A being who is always there, always yours.

It’s nothing short of beautiful.

“Go greet them. Remember your eyes,” your mother whispers to you, and then pushes you forward gently. Your first step is hesitant. Uncertainty winds its way through you as you approach them, even as your steps grow more confidant.

Your mother had said earlier that you must be the one to greet them. You hadn’t thought to ask then why it has to be you, and not someone else from the conflagration. Still, you shift your eyes as you approach; the world becomes sharper, gaining more variance in colour even as it remains monochrome. You can’t see the colour of Lady Tryggvadóttir or Lord Ivarr’s eyes, but you can see their shape. They wear their dragon eyes, just as you are.

You stop a few feet from them as Lady Tryggvadóttir drops to her knee. She bows her head, places her left hand over her heart, and then lays the palm of her right hand pressed flat against the floor.

It’s a gesture of respect. Something that both surprises you and thrills you in a way you can’t quite explain. Even more so when Lord Ivarr follows suit to do the same.

“My Lady Kárudóttir,” both dragons say.

“Lady Tryggvadóttir, Lord Ivarr,” you say. You nod your head at each of them, just as your mother and uncle have taught you. Yet you also choose to be a little unorthodox, to deviate a little from the norm of greeting a dragon who bows to you because you’re curious. “Lady Tryggvadóttir, might I inquire what colour your scales are?”

Without any hesitation, she replies, “Blue, my lady. Not like the dark blue of the ocean as your scales are, but the light blue of the sky.”

A small smile blooms slowly on your face at her answer.

For the first time in your life, you are not the only blue dragon on Asgard.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

When spring arrives in Asgard nearly half a year later, it finds you once again in Frigga’s garden.

It’s Voranda now, the month where the mornings are cold, but the afternoons are starting to warm up. The perfect time to begin tending to the garden, preparing it for this spring’s growth. It's also the first time you've watched Loki try to garden with her new diadem.

Like her brothers, Loki’s sixteenth birthday meant, according to the Æsir, she had finally come of age. For Loki, it mostly meant she was finally allowed to take on a few royal duties, like her brothers had when they turned sixteen. With that milestone had also come the reveal of their royal diadem, and their rune. The symbol she had chosen to be hers, just as Thor and Baldr had done when they each came of age.

Made of gleaming nornaseiða uru, the horns that curve back out of the band of Loki’s new diadem are tall and elegant. The cheekpieces curve softly around Loki’s cheekbones, adding a bit of something between awe and fear to the way the diadem looks on her. The segment between the horns also has an embossing of her symbol — a Kenaz turned on its side so it points down.

It’s because of how tall the horns of their diadem are that you’ve spent the last ten minutes kneeling a few feet away from her, trying not to laugh.

Loki’s tending to an elderberry bush, the branches only beginning to bloom in the early spring weather. As she’s checking the soil and pruning the lower branches of the elderberry bush, her horns keep getting caught in the upper branches of the bush. You were tending to a juniper berry bush just opposite her, but the constant rustling and aggravated noises Loki kept making as they tended to their bush ended up distracting you.

“You know,” you start to tell them after she breaks one branch trying to disentangle the horns from the bush, “if your diadem is giving you this much trouble, you should probably take it off.”

The laughter you’re trying so desperately to hold in as you watch Loki struggle must be clear, because she turns an exasperated, affectionate look on you. The branch she broke off falls to the ground, and you can’t help but smother your giggle behind your hand as it hits the soil.

“Sticky charm,” Loki grumbles as she sits back on their heels. It takes a moment for you to understand it's an explanation for why she hasn't taken their diadem off yet.

“Loki,” you say, unable to hold back your giggles as you give them a disbelieving look. “Tell me you didn't.”

“The sticky charm was the only way to get it to stay on my face!” Loki says to you with obvious irritation, their jaw clenching as she defends herself. “This one only has a half-band, not a full band like my ceremonial diadem. I know it wasn’t the brightest idea, okay?”

Her words throw you off balance for a moment. Loki’s rarely irritated at you, and you wonder how many times she’s had to defend herself today about casting the charm on their diadem. Your giggles die down quickly, your smile slipping into a frown.

A stricken look crosses their face when she sees your frown, and the young goddess looks away, shoulders stiff. You shuffle over to their side, reaching out a tentative hand to place on their shoulder as you lean around, trying to look into her eyes even as she turns her face further away from you.

“Loki…” You say their name as softly as you can, suffusing those four letters with the soft, gentle affection you hold for your best friend. You rest your chin on their shoulder. “Who said it?”

Loki is quiet, but then she takes a deep breath, her shoulders untensing as she leans her head against yours. Their answer is hushed as she tells you, “Both of them. They said I shouldn’t be so ‘irresponsible’ with spells I cast. I know they have a point, but…”

“You didn’t like hearing it after you’d already realised your mistake?” You offer.

“I didn’t like how they said it to me,” Loki corrects, then sighs. “You’re lucky you don’t have to deal with this with your parents.”

You let out a soft half-laugh as you wrap your arms around them, hugging them.

“Maybe not about seiðr, but my father still struggles to deal with me being a dragon, and my mother still thinks I’m too Æsir. Add in my seiðr that neither of them understands, and,” you give a half-shrug, “sometimes I think I might as well be completely foreign to them.”

The chuckles you and Loki both let out are tinged with bitterness and mutual understanding. This is far from the first time you and Loki have lamented about your parents, and you know Loki’s grateful that she has someone to talk to about it.

When Loki talks to Thor and Baldr about it, her brothers don't seem to understand what she’s telling them. Something the young goddess has told you she believes is simply because neither of her brothers wield seiðr the way she does. Thor and Baldr’s seiðar are more elemental in nature, rather than the free-flowing nature of Loki’s.

“I still can’t believe they let you commission six headpieces. Did you really need so many?” you ask, a teasing smile on your face as you try to banter with your best friend and get her mind off of what their parents had said.

“I needed more, actually.”

You can hear the grin in Loki’s words, her tone dry and playful, and you let out an amused huff before asking, “Really? The ones you’ve commissioned already weren’t enough?”

“Well, I was thinking about commissioning one with horns that angle out from the band, and then angle up like the others.” She moves her hands around to create a vague shape, trying to outline her idea for it. You lean around to look at their face — thinking for a moment that surely they’re joking with you — but she looks completely serious, even with the slight smile on their lips.

“You make me look forward to when I’ll have to commission my own headpieces after maturity less and less,” you say to her. You shake your head, a slight smile of your own on your lips, before resting your chin on their shoulder again.

“Do you know what design you’re going to do for yours?” She asks, leaning back against you.

“Mmm, I have a few ideas for what I want,” you say. “I know I’m only going to commission a ceremonial one, and a war one. I’m not royalty, so I don’t need to commission a diadem.”

“You could be, maybe, someday.” Her voice is soft as she looks away, twirling the stick they broke from the elderberry bush. You grimace at Loki’s words, feeling uneasy about her veiled suggestion for multiple reasons.

As the only child of Týr Hymisson, in some ways it makes you, well, valuable to Asgard.

Your father is the General of Asgard’s armies, and one of the most powerful gods in the Nine Realms of Asgard outside of the House of Odin (politically speaking, anyway). Of Asgard’s nobility, only your mother, Kára, outranks you. Once you come of age some time in the next decade, you’ll be the highest ranking unmarried member of the Court of Asgard. And with your family being so close personally with members of the House of Odin, it makes you highly valuable to Asgard. If the realm needs a non-royal for a marriage alliance with one of the other Realms of Yggdrasil, you would be its first choice.

Loki places their hand over one of yours, holding onto it gently. That strange, familiar warmth begins to burn in your hand and spread through your body. The sensation breaks you from your dour thoughts, bringing you back to this simple moment.

A cool spring breeze rustles the bare branches and the barely there leaves, driving some of Loki’s dark hair to tickle your face. The sun lays a gentle warmth on your skin, the heat seeping through your clothes. There’s a gentle twittering of birds from the trees across the Sleipa. And in the silence of the moment, you can hear Loki’s breath and your own heartbeat.

It’s one of countless simple moments between just the two of you that you’ve had together over the years. One you would like to do again and again, perhaps even for the rest of your life.

The warmth in your chest, centred in your heart as the beats grow heavier, trembles and shakes.

Like a match lighting a candle in the middle of the night, suddenly you can see into the web of those clouded, often nebulous feelings you associate with Loki. Feelings that you have so frequently pushed aside and ignored for the last year, as that trembling, shaking warmth in your heart envelopes you until the world shines brightly.

If it’s possible, you will do this with Loki for the rest of your life. Part of you belongs to Loki, a part freely given to her over and over through the years you’ve known each other. A large piece of your heart that has grown to cherish — to love them as more than a friend.

There’s a small part of you — springing off the realisation of your affections for Loki — that thinks, ‘Yes, I could be royalty someday. Because of you.’

But you can’t just say that. The words stick in your throat, clawing their way back down into your chest so they remain unsaid. Your heartbeat quickens and your stomach curls as the words refuse to be spoken.

Loki is your best friend. If you were to lose that to a confession of your affections, if you were to lose her, you don’t know how you could ever pretend everything is just the same as before.

So you let the words settle back down in your lungs. Let them make a permanent home there.

And then you pretend the words never crossed your mind in the first place.

Like you haven’t realised the sheer depth of your affections for the Goddess of Mischief.

“Comes with the territory of being my father’s daughter,” you say with a shrug.

An attempt at nonchalance over something that you both know bothers you. Something that’s bothered both of you since the first time Lord Alfarr made an off-hand comment about arranged marriages and betrothals between Asgard's nobility and the other kingdoms in the Nine Realms.

Before Loki can say anything, you scoot around them with a grin on your face. You give a playful swipe at her nose with one finger as you tell them, “Besides, my mother would never let me be married off. According to her, dragons don’t marry, we only take heartmates. And Babba always listens to her when it comes to Drekasál things. So, Princess Loki, you are stuck with me until I decide to go looking around Yggdrasil for my soulmate.”

Loki giggles as she shakes her head. She takes your hands in hers, her expression soft.

Your traitorous heart leaps in your chest at that gentle look of hers. Warmth burns and curls tenderly from your heart to your hands. She’s always beautiful, but even more so when this look is on their face. You love seeing such a tender, earnest expression on their face — especially when it’s directed solely at you. It makes you feel alive in a way you can’t quite put to words.

“I will always be happy being stuck with you, Firefly,” she says. She leans towards you, the look on her face becoming a questioning one as she stares at you. “Do you really want to go running alone across Yggdrasil for decades? What if you never find them?”

“I’ll find them.” You say it with heartfelt conviction. You understand now (because of Lord Ivarr and Lady Tryggvadóttir, and because of your mother and uncle) that, while it’ll take time, you’re destined to find your soulmate at some point. “It’s the Voiceless One’s will. It might take me a while — a long while even — but when I do find them, it’ll be worth it.”

You look up at the sky, where Iðavǫllr hangs, high and shining in the daylight. Your mind wanders and wonders about the realms out there. Places you’ve only read about, places your heart yearns to see and experience. Your voice turns wistful as you say, “I’ll get to see so many places out there among the stars, Loki. See so many things that we’ve only heard or read about.”

“Yet Asgard is your home, and we are your friends. You would truly leave us behind to chase after a being you might not find for centuries?”

“It’s not like I have much of a choice. The chance I find them in Asgard? It’s low.”

You shift your gaze from the sky back to Loki, who’s looking at you. The look on their face is something that reminds you of desperation — but that’s silly; this is Loki, and she’s never desperate about anything.

And yet, you can’t shake the feeling that is exactly what you’re seeing.

“I’ll come home for you,” you promise. Your words are soft, but their meaning is weighted. “I’ll always come home to you.”

You squeeze her hands, watching the way her eyes dart around your face. It’s something Loki has always done, weighing the words they hear. Like sometimes she’s not sure she can believe what she hears, despite their godhood being a domain that gives them more clarity on if someone is lying or not.

“I’ll hold you to your word,” Loki finally says. She gives you a tentative smile, squeezing your hands back. You smile at them in return, yours far less hesitant and far more bright. After all, you expected nothing less from the Goddess of Lies.

Loki stands, pulling you to your feet with them. Lacing their hand with yours, she tugs you along after her, saying, “Come. We’re going to find my mother. We’re done with the plants, and it’s nearing dinner time. And based on the procession of hǫfálfar that arrived just after lunch, we have guests from Søkkvavǫllr this evening.”

“Søkkvavǫllr? The hǫfálfar are visiting us again? So soon after Búradagrinn?” you ask, genuine curiosity and excitement in your words as you follow behind.

Búradagrinn was only a couple of weeks ago, and there had been several hǫfálfar in attendance during those three days of celebration. You’d had a lengthy and enjoyable conversation that first night with a young hǫfálfar named Bǫðvarr before Loki joined you. Topics about various interests like Søkkvavǫllr’s famed underwater fields, the recent discovery of an old castle in Vanaheimr’s polar cap that predates Álfheimr’s first visit, and the new play Death of Desire had all come up as you spoke with him.

“Hoping Bǫðvarr is going to be there?” Loki asks. She doesn’t look back at you when she speaks.

There’s something unfamiliar in Loki’s words, something almost bitter that makes you frown at them. They’d avoided your question entirely. Loki loves to tease that she knows the truth sometimes. You’re used to that, but rarely does she not answer. At least not without hinting she knows the truth. And their tone… you’ve never heard that tone before from your best friend.

“Well, he was nice to speak with,” you mumble, trying to ignore the sudden pit in your stomach. “Did you… not like him?”

Loki suddenly straightens, her hand gripping yours a bit tighter and subtly pulling you closer to her side. The way she does this is an answer in and of itself, and you can feel yourself relax almost immediately. You can’t help the bit of a smile that tugs at your lips as you wrap your free arm around theirs, and lay your head on Loki’s shoulder.

“You know you’ll always be my favourite,” you tell them. There’s a warmth curling and winding through you. Your heart beats a little harder in your chest. It’s borne of the sudden, spiralling fantasy that Loki’s jealousy might be something more than you greatly enjoying that brief acquaintanceship with Bǫðvarr.

It’s a fantasy you have to quickly shove down and lock away. You can’t recall Loki ever even hinting that she thinks of you as anything more than her best friend. You’d make a fool out of yourself eventually if you let that fantasy run wild.

“Mmm, do I now?” Loki asks, but her tone is lighter now. More playful.

“Well, I would hope so! It would make calling you my best friend a bit awkward if you thought someone else was my favourite,” you say, squeezing their hand.

“And here I thought Gauti was your favourite,” Loki teases. You let out a soft chuckle, shaking your head at her words

“Oh dear. Well, don’t tell him he’s not actually my favourite. I’m sure it would crush him horribly to learn it's actually you, Your Highness,” you reply, doing absolutely nothing to hide your wide grin.

Loki brings the both of you to a halt. She presses a finger to her lips, tilting her head back and letting out a falsely contemplative hum. Then, they turn to face you, leaning toward you with a smirk and a playful glint in her eyes.

“No,” Loki says, poking your nose quite suddenly, “I think I will let him know I’m your favourite. We can’t let poor Gauti continue believing such a lie! That would be —”

It happens without warning.

One moment, Loki is looking down at you with that playful smirk. The next, something heavy, and solid, and sharp smacks into your face. You hiss in pain, turning your face away and backing away a few steps from her. You hear whatever it is thud against the ground a few times before rolling into the bushes.

"Ymir's drowning blood! What in the Nine Realms was that?" you ask. Hand pressed against your forehead, you take in a sharp breath, gently rubbing at the suddenly aching, tender skin.

"Are you okay?" Loki asks, something like distress in her words. She quickly steps closer, a hand outstretched towards your face. Brushing your hand aside, their palms cup your cheeks as she looks at your face.

It takes only half a second for you to realise what's different from just moments ago. Their diadem is gone. There's not even an impression left behind on her skin from where it's sat for most of today.

“That was careless of me,” Loki mutters, angry and annoyed as she holds your face, “not realising the sticky charm had a chance of dispelling before this day is over.”

You hold very still as she cradles your face, unwilling to move in case you give your recently realised affections for her away. The intensity in how she looks at you is disarming, and it takes a few moments for your mouth to work again.

“I’ll be fine. I’ve taken worse hits in training,” you tell Loki, trying to reassure them you’ll be fine in a few hours.

Their thumb swipes gently over where her diadem hit you in the face. The pain fades quickly, and you know without having to ask that she’s taken the moment to heal the minor bump.

“Better?” they ask, eyes searching your face to see if she needs to heal anywhere else. The healing hadn’t been necessary for such a minor thing. A tiny part of you finds it pointless, because you’ve definitely had worse injuries from training, but most of you appreciates the gesture for what it is. Affection and care.

“Yeah. Thanks, Loki.”

You gently pull away, quickly averting your eyes. They fall on Loki’s diadem, resting beneath a cluster of what appear to be shrubs just to your left. Looking at them, it takes you only a moment to identify what kind of shrubs they are. You know the shape of those leaves and how they grow. It’s a shrub you’ve helped tend to, and one you’ve harvested urushiol oil from when asked.

Thunderwood. A harmless plant to you, and to most other beings native to the Nine Realms.

You drop to one knee, reaching for their diadem —

“No!”

Loki’s voice rings out, sharp and high. At the same moment, an invisible force wraps around you in an instant. Before you can even understand what’s happening, you’re slung through the air and landing a few feet down the path.

You lay there for a moment, too stunned by the quickness of events to speak.

Loki is kneeling down beside you. She doesn’t touch your arm, even as she tries to check it over. You don’t know what they’re looking for. The look on their face is one you’ve almost never seen either — genuine terror.

“Did you touch it? Did any of it get on you?” she asks, her voice tight and her words rushed.

“What?”

“Did the leaves touch you?” their eyes flick up to your face briefly before returning to your arm. “I need to get you to Lady Eir, and quickly.”

You’re taken aback by their tone. As you sit up, you say, “What? No. Why? Is something wrong with the thunderwood?”

“Thund—gods above,” Loki says. Something in her features twists in a way that makes you feel twisted up and almost ill inside. You don’t like it, and you don’t know why.

“Firefly, that wasn’t thunderwood.” Loki picks up your arm gingerly, looking at it closer. Without even looking, she waves a hand at her diadem. It dissolves before your eyes, and you know they’ve sent it somewhere. Likely their room, since it wasn’t in their hand to store in a pocket dimension. “That was Hel’s touch.”

“No. No, it couldn’t be,” you tell her, tugging your arm from her grasp. You stand up and step away from her, wanting a few feet of space between you and the young goddess. That distracting warmth and fluttering feeling in your heart is not what you need to feel or focus on in this moment. “I know those leaves. I know the way thunderwood looks, Loki.”

Loki stands up after you do. She looks at you with a pinched expression.

“Thunderwood has red stems. Those stems are purple,” she tells you. Something about the way they say it makes your posture tighten. It hits you a moment later why. Something about her tone has shifted away from that Loki-tone you always hear, to the regal, authoritative tone of the Princess of Asgard.

“I know the difference between them, Loki,” you snap back to them.

“Really? Can you suddenly see colour then? Because last I checked, that curse makes it so you can only see in monochrome,” Loki bites out, stepping towards you. You swallow the growl that wants to slip from you. The growl that demands to remind her the kind of being they’re speaking with.

“It’s not a curse.”

“You still buy into the whole ‘fated’ aspect? Genuinely? Even though you could have died—”

“Because I am, Loki!” A growl slips from your lips without you realising for a moment. You turn away from her quickly and take several deep breaths, pushing down the swirl of wrath that snarls and howls inside you. Once it’s contained, you turn back to her. You can see the flinty look in her eyes, the stubborn set of her mouth.

“It is a curse, and it needs to be destroyed. Permanently.” Loki’s words are soft and sharp. They’re a dagger, slicing right into your heart as the memories of your conflagration’s soulmate pairs flash to the forefront of your thoughts.

Your words are still edged with hardness when you speak again, but they’re quieter than before.

“Just because you don’t understand what it means to have this spell on your soul—” you emphasise the word ‘spell’ on purpose, letting them know you don’t agree with their word choice, “—doesn’t mean you have the right to scorn something that is part of me. I didn’t judge you.”

Loki flinches hard enough that it surprises you. You freeze in turn. It was a low blow in more ways than one. You regret saying it now, especially when you know you’ve undoubtedly hurt her.

“What’s with the shouting I heard?” Frigga’s voice says from behind you.

You tense immediately, a sick feeling filling you once more as you watch how Loki turns a charming smile on her mother. If you hadn’t been the one arguing with her, you wouldn’t have even thought they were angry just a moment ago.

“Hello, Mother,” Loki says with their usual grin, tinged with that warning of mischief. “We were looking for you.”

You compose yourself quickly, turning to Frigga with a mostly neutral look on your face. You hope your slight quirk of a smile is convincing enough.

Frigga raises her eyebrow as she walks right past you to stand closer to Loki. She looks between the two of you as she asks, “Were you now? Well then, what can I help you both with?”

Loki places one hand on their hip, waving the other dismissively. “Not for anything of that nature. We finished tending to the plants you asked us to, and now it’s nearly dinner. Firefly’s hungry, so we wanted to let you know before we left to eat.”

When Frigga’s eyes land on you again, you shrug at first. You follow it with, “Loki told me we have guests from Søkkvavǫllr. I want to see them.”

“Very well,” Frigga says, nodding, “if you’re done for the evening, then go ahead. I’ll join the festivities in time. And Loki?”

“Yes, Mother?”

“Try not to cause too many problems for our guests this evening. I heard they weren’t quite so entertained by your antics with the young prince during Búradagrinn. I’d rather you not offend them again, understood?” Frigga says it with a smile, placing a hand on Loki’s back.

“Yes, Mother,” Loki says again, though their tone is a bit more exasperated this time.

“And wear your diadem with the full band this time as well.”

Loki’s smile slips a little, then becomes a bit more forced. She says, “Of course. I’ll grab it before we go to dinner so I can change too, since I doubt you want me going to dinner in trousers and a tunic. Anything else that you need me to do before I go, or are we free to leave?”

Frigga seems to be trying to withhold some of her amusement as she looks down at her child. You’ve known the Queen of Asgard long enough to recognise how terribly she’s hiding it though. You’ve never quite understood why Loki’s occasional lack of subtlety is so amusing to Frigga.

“Yes, you may leave,” she says. She drops a kiss on top of Loki’s head. “I love you, Loki.”

“I love you too, Mother,” Loki says as she begins walking back towards the garden’s entrance.

“We’ll see you later tonight, Frigga,” you tell her, before turning away to follow Loki.

Despite the tension you feel choking the air between you, Loki doesn’t try to outpace you as she walks. They walk like nothing is wrong, but you can tell they’re still mad or upset about the argument. She doesn’t link arms with you as you walk, nor does she speak.

You remain silent as you walk, too afraid of upsetting her more by speaking. Telling Loki you’ll see them at dinner once she breaks away to take a lift up to her room is hard enough. Especially with how friendly Loki acts towards you right before she gets in the lift.

It feels easier for you to breathe once Loki’s gone. You don’t understand why Loki reacted the way they did in the gardens. They’ve never snapped at you like that before.

And you’ve never growled at them before either, you think to yourself.

“It is a curse, and it needs to be destroyed. Permanently.”

The words sting, and you’re glad you’re alone when you remember them. You lean against a wall, somewhere between the lift you left Loki in and the lift you’re headed to so you can change as well. With your head in your hands, you bring forth the hundreds of memories you have of your conflagration’s soulmate pairs.

As always, your mother and uncle are the first to spring to the forefront of your thoughts. You’ve seen them almost every day of your life that you can remember. Theirs is a more subtle bond, but you’ve always felt the love between them. You’ve seen them support each other, and you’ve seen the easy way they bring joy to one another.

Lord Ivarr and Lady Helga are the next to come to your thoughts. They’ve been a wonder for you to watch since that first day. You’ve watched them as they adjust to seeing the world in a new way. You’ve watched Lady Helga learn how to fit herself into Lord Ivarr’s life, and how easily he’s made room for his soulmate in so many spots. Sometimes you’re not even sure if he’s aware he’s doing it. Lady Helga is, though. You’ve seen it on her face a few times.

Then there’s Katla and Tórbjǫrn. The twins have always shown you without any restraint the joy and warmth that comes from being each other’s soulmate. You envy them for how close they are. You also can’t count how many times you’ve begged the Voiceless One for your bond to be like theirs.

An aching joy fills you as you let the memories of them fill you. You yearn for your soulmate, whoever they will be. You have your hopes for a bond like Katla and Tórbjǫrn’s, but you know you’ll adore whatever bond the Voiceless One gives you. They’re yours, whoever they are.

You know the soulmate spell isn’t a curse for your people. You just can’t figure out how to show Loki so she sees it like you do.

After a few more minutes, you push away from the wall. A deep breath in, then out, and then you head towards the lift that will take you closest to your family’s quarters.

You don’t know what awaits you tonight, or what tomorrow will bring, but you know what your future holds. Your soulmate. Whoever they are, wherever they are right now, they’re yours. And when you find them, you know without a doubt your universe will be all the brighter for it.

( next chapter )

@ladydracona @huntress-artemiss @sarahscribbles @mischief2sarawr

Find the lore notes for this chapter here!

Join the taglist for this series (and other works) here!

#loki x reader #loki x you #loki x y/n #loki imagine #loki laufeyson x reader #loki laufeyson x you #loki laufeyson x y/n #a fairytale beginning #the prince and his dragon #of fire and of ice #amphi writes

[tupperwaretub]

hello there 🦈💙 could I request for Javi Gutierrez x male reader where Javi heard rumor about m/n admire Javi for a while and Javi seems not to believe it because m/n always have blank face whenever he talk with people including Javi until one day, Javi had enough hearing about the rumor and decide to ask m/n if the rumor is true. M/n immediately get flustered when Javi ask if m/n have been admire Javi for a while. So m/n nod and told Javi that he been admire Javi for so long but think that Javi wouldn't like him back (actually Javi have crush on m/n, he just try to move on.) well the rest of the story, you can just play with it. Idc if it's smut or fluff bc i actually love your fics man...

my apologise if there some word's that i spell is uncorrect ( ‪ᯅ̈).ᐟ.ᐟ anyways have a nice day/night! oh and ily (〃´𓎟`〃)

-anon🦈

Rumours

Pairing:Javi Gutierrez x male!Reader

A/n: HI i actually love this idea so much and thankyou so much ilyt!!! ❤️ I'm trying to write more and this is exactly what i needed. I hope you enjoy <3

Warnings: Getting drunk other than that none just some smooching ;)

Summary: Javi has has a crush on his life long best friend, y/n, but he wasn't getting the same feeling from him. So Javi burries his feelings and tries to get over them, but he can't help but investigate when he hears rumours of y/n liking him back...

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

It was Javis birthday, you had been the one to plan a huge party for him wanting your best friend to have an amazing birthday. Sometimes you worry your feelings for him may slip and become too obvious, but so far everyone seems oblivious to how you feel for your best friend.

That was the case until you decided to drink a glass too many of champagne... Then you started doing shots... And thats how you ended up as a babbling mess with people around keeping check.

"C'mon y/n we should get you to bed.." one of your friends says.

"No! Wheres Javi?" You slur out with your arm around your friend getting dragged to the house.

"He's talking with other people, we need to get you bed seriously you're too drunk.." your friend sighs. You fall out of your friends grip and into a garden chair.

"i love him..." You slur "i love javi so much. I love him...." Your face blanks for a second forgetting your words. "More than life!" You fall back with a dramatic hand over your face. Your friend just looks around at the crowd who's attention is half on you and flashes them a smile in apology.

When your friend looked back you were asleep in the same position you were just in, leant back on a garden chair with your hand over your face.

The next morning you woke up in your bed, well more like on your bed your friend had just about managed to carry you in and chuck you onto your bed. You covered your eyes and groaned, the light coming through your curtains was blinding. Still, you pushed through and got up to take a shower hoping that would help your hangover.

The shower left you feeling better than you had, so you made your way to the kitchen to get something to eat.

You were pouring cereal into a bowl when suddenly your best friend walked in. "Y/n." He says as he enters. "Hey Javi." You say not looking away from your cereal, as far as you were aware everything was still in place and nothing was wrong, you had forgotten all of the events from last night.

"y/n... People are saying things about you- uhm- liking me?" He blurts out awkwardly.

"what?" You say finally looking up from your cereal. Thats when the memories started flooding in of you gushing about Javi infront of a particularly large group of people. "Shit Jav, look i was drunk it wasn't -" you try to explain yourself walking towards him but he cuts you off by grasping your head in his hands. "Do you like me, y/n?" He asks.

The look in his eyes could be best described as hope, your jaw still hanging you confess "y-yes." It was one word, three letters and how three letters could cause you so much anxiety was beside you.

Javis smile was so wide you were worried the muscles in his face would cramp. "I never thought you'd like me back, mi amor.. can i kiss you?" You didn't know what so say so you just nodded and he encased you in a loving kiss.

When you broke apart it seemed almost too soon, you rested your head on his shoulder. "I'm way too hungover for this.." you both giggle and he takes you and your cereal back to bed where he showers you in cuddles and kisses.

Somehow you hangover seems much more bareable with him by your side.

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

A/n: sorry this feels really short and rushed. I hopes you enjoyed it and i really loved this idea so much ty ❤️❤️

#javi gutierrez x male reader #javi gutierrez #the unbearable weight of massive talent #x male reader #fluff

[wtpb-rcp]

What headcanons do you have for the HUMAN side cast of RCP, their family trees, and more?

@canyonkingdom you might appreciate this post...or not. Idk.

(This is a hyperfixation moment fr fr)

I've hyperfixated too much on Mr. Wheeler's own family tree while building the WTPB AU (ALL the way before it was called WTPB...and at its first roots of shame) and so here's my family tree+info+spoilers for my AU? (and is that some certain people commenting?! Helly, I told you to shut the wall off! /j)

(The thing is, this devolved into some expanded lore shit. Forgive me for the wall of formatted words and colors.)

Unknown great grandfather marries unknown great grandmother, thus Rick Wheeler is born. He grew up with the smell of wheels and people and vehicles alike buying from him. He got no bigotry for some reason since his parents have to keep up a good facade (they're the bigots) and they're always busy, although he got his dad's negative traits.

Later on, he married a woman named Reese Cougart, and both have an only child named Gerald Wheeler. And since Gerald grew up in the late 70's and then towards the 80's...yeah take a guess.

After Reese died in '80 and The Incident of '84 happened, Gerald mysteriously broke contact and connections with one of his last friend from their highschool friend group (that he also helped with, as a programmer, making the set of code and blueprints that is now called "The Robocar Code"), Steve Harrison. Rick was never told by his own son why he did so, and when he did found out at '93, he got mad and also broke contact with his son (not that he doesn't deserve it, anyways...he got what was coming after him, and even if I pity his falling out, he still went on as if it never happened, never affected...never the one at fault of his emotional failure)

Rick also moved to Broomstown (it's spelled that way 'round here), out of pure spite and pettiness (it runs in the family. The girls don't get it, though), and there he stayed until now. Broomstown is also Steve's hometown, and Rick's father used to live there as well.

Meanwhile, Steve somehow found Gerald's contact and encouraged him to go into his place. There, he met Steve's sister, Marcy, and both took about two years before they married, due to fixing interpersonal issues. (Dude, where's the reason why they hooked up? No idea.) That doesn't mean Gerald changed his other ways.

One day, somewhen in 2001, Gerald was rushing his now wife into the hospital due to her about to give birth to who we now (vaguely in canon) knew as Betty. However, due to his frantic driving skills and arguing with his vehicle the wrong way, they got into an accident. Fortunately, someone saw them and called for help at the hospital, which happened to be right near the accident spot...and where Amber worked in (oh my, we're really connected). Upon seeing Amber's presence, Gerald was, well, shocked, and the cries of Betty are drowned by him shouting at his ex-friend Steve due to him giving away the blueprints and script to make a Robocar, and Rick somehow indirectly heard of this so that night was intense hell.

Fast forward one year later, Gerald and his family moved into Japan due to his job application being accepted. It was hard to adapt at first, but it went smoothly after. Here, Betty was supposed to be not taught about her grandfather, just her mom's parents, but she still did knew of Rick Wheeler. So by childlike pleas, Gerald gave in and lets her send letters to Rick since he is still not used to the trending phones (I'm happy Mr. Wheeler isn't so cranky for his granddaughter!). At the same time of this moment, Steve and his wife, Casey, divorced on good terms and for the sake of good, due to Casey discovering Steve's closetness and Steve having responsibilities and pressure about what happened in the past. Casey still kept the Harrison surname, though, so Jin grew up to become a Harrison, contacting her biological dad through messages and birthday gifts.

A highschooler keeping in touch even after a tragic event. A kid keeping in touch, oblivious of what transpired in the past, to say.

Jin and her mom moved into Broomstown on September 17, 2004, and Rick is willing to nag his pal, Ollie Buster (aka Mr. Builder), to help the two girls settle in this town.

And then, many years passed...after Jin dropped out of college...after the Rescue team of Broomstown are formed...after that incident...

"Jin, I have some shocking news."

"Huh? What is it, Mr. Wheeler?"

"You know my son, right?"

"Oh, Gerald? Last time I've heard of him, my bio dad is trying to mess with his date, who happened to be bio dad's sister. R-a late relative... told me about it when I was ten. I was still impressed that even if he wanted to break contact with my bio dad, Mr. Gerald still ends up being connected to him."

"Well, the thing is...he has a newborn son!"

"That's great, I guess."

"And he's...gonna move into this town because his wife insists so and he quit his job because he lost the drive to continue it."

"Oh my..."

~~~

"Oh no."

"Huh?"

"I'm just gonna pluck that little blackthorn..."

#robocar poli #robocarpoliau #headcanon #WTPB-info

[flowercitti]

Forrr the character headcanon thing

Knives for 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 + 12 (Vash for both), 13, 14 relieved

(I'm so sorry)

1. A fun headcanon

I think Knives would be an avid bookworm. Like, if he ever learned how to Sit and Chill, he would just devour book after book. Definitely read a lot on the SEEDS ship back in the day. Just sat down quietly and read and maybe he’d learn peace for a bit.

2. A sad headcanon

This is essentially canon, but he just lets Everything Fester. If he’s overwhelmed and overstimulated he shuts down and keeps everything locked inside until he’s pushed into Nuclear Fallout proportions of exploding. He’ll take it out on others, himself, it doesn’t matter. If there were ever a world where Vash and him were capable of getting along again, he’d break down in his arms for hours, releasing over 100 years of pent up agony into his brother’s arms.

6. A headcanon about their family

This is essentially canon as well, but Knives still loves Vash. He might not show it in a healthy or good way, but he does. He wants a world where he can have a family, where plants are no longer resources to be used. He’s certainly deluding himself into thinking he’s helping them, but to him he is. He’s caring for them in the way he thinks he has to so he can have a family and a world where humans don’t infringe upon that. (And at one point, Rem was a part of that family too.)

7. A pre-canon headcanon

Knives is very sensitive to any kind of stimulation. As a child, he likes the quiet. He likes gentle fabrics and food that isn’t too flavorful. He can get overwhelmed easily, so he’s careful in limiting himself to the little things that he can handle at a time. He’s also very organized and meticulous, and would hate to feel like his methods are being ruined or changed. This still applies to adult Knives, but this is easier to adhere to as a child when it’s just him, his brother, and Rem.

8. A post-canon headcanon

Still in the process of re-reading the manga, but in a perfect world where it’s even possible for Knives and Vash to reconcile and they both live, they settle down somewhere by themselves. Somewhere quiet and secluded where they can work out all their Shit. Vash tries to teach Knives how to be a little more normal, and Knives learns what it’s like to feel like he’s living again instead of festering in his own hatred and anger and fear. It’s a slow process, but plants live a long time. They’ll get through it.

9. A missing scene that definitely happened

Not exactly sure if this is a missing scene really but considering how little we got of Vash and Knives’ childhood well—Vash and Knives 100% had to have gotten up to more shenanigans on the SEEDS ship. They didn’t have too much to do, after all. I imagine them baking cakes together, discovering Vash’s sweet tooth. (Knives’s as well, but he doesn’t like to admit it outright). Or watching old movies together and acting them out with each other, getting Rem to join in on their games. You know, normal kid stuff that they deserved to do.

11. Something [Vash] believes about them that isn’t true.

Vash thinks that Knives doesn’t love him anymore. That he hasn’t in a very long time. That isn’t true at all, but Knives certainly isn’t any good at acting like it’s not.

12. Something they believe about [Vash] that isn’t true.

Knives thinks that Vash is blinded by his own ideals to the point where he thinks that humans are perfect. This isn’t true. Vash knows that they’re flawed, that they make mistakes and do wrong, he just forgives them anyway. Knives doesn’t get that, even when Vash spells it out for him.

13. Their happiest memory

There’s a lot about Knives’s past that seems almost blotted out to him. Like he doesn’t allow himself to remember much of it. But if he were to ever tell the truth, his happiest memory is the first time that Rem celebrated their birthday with them. That day that marked their first year, when he remembered what it was like to be happy. When he still thought humans could accept them, when he still thought Rem actually loved him.

14. Their worst memory

Finding Tessla is certainly his worst memory. The day he realized that he’d never be accepted by humans in the way he wanted, and he knew that he needed to hurt them before they hurt him and Vash. Before they hurt any of his other siblings.

#trigun #millions knives #knives #vash #trigun headcanons #vash the stampede #trigun stampede #ask game

[candyapplemacchiato]

hazbin hotel season 2 wishlist;

Lucifer gets a polka song. literally doesn't matter what the context of the song is i just want him to be involved in a polka now.

the musical spell hell + heaven are under actually becomes a plot point (i have a whole theory based on this but can you IMAGINE how nuts it would be for a musical show to suddenly go "actually the fact this is a musical is plot important" ???)

Alastor betrays the hotel. listen it's gonna happen might as well just get it out of the way.

cameos from the other sins

more Emily!!! please!!! i love her so

Charlie and Vaggie go on a date and everyone else is both spying on it + trying to keep things from going horribly wrong

at least one birthday party for someone. i just think it'd be sweet.

Adam is now a sinner... and joins the Vee's. cue some sort of Alastor vs Lucifer vs Vox vs Adam scene

i wanna see what Velvette's plans are like. give me an episode based on something she's schemed up.

Angel Dust, Husk, and Cherri get to do a heist. i think they deserve it.

Vox kidnaps Lucifer

Charlie gets at least two more cool fight scenes where she kicks someone's ass

BODYSWAP EPISODE.

they get to go to the amusement park Lucifer built.

i genuinely wanna see one of the archangels (Lucifer's siblings) show up. it'll either be the funniest thing ever or the saddest thing ever and i'm hyped for either option.

#Hazbin Hotel

[maybetomoko]

Satoru Gojo (q&a official fanbook)

"Don't worry. I am the strongest!"

Age: 28 years old 

Birthday: 7 december

Level: special level sorcerer 

Enrolment modalities: family lineage 

Technique: spell of the infinite minimum 

Ability: reversal of “Red Glow” technique, continuation of “Blue Glow” technique, imaginary expression “Purple Glow”. Domain expansion: Incommensurable Void. Reversal technique, can throw “black lightning”.

Hobby/special skills: none (because he is approximately good at everything)

Favourite food: sweets 

Food he does not like: alcohol

Source of stress: interaction with higher-ups

q&a about Gojo Satoru

Q: How did your character come into being? 

A: I wanted an ultra-strong person who was easy to understand. 

Q: What do you focus on most when you draw him? 

A: Around the middle of the story I started to draw him as beautiful way possible. 

Q: What was Gojo's first impression when he first met Geto? 

A: But what is that quiff?

Q: When he was a student he used to say that it was a real chore to take care of the weak, whereas now what does he think? 

A: I suppose he actually still thinks it is a chore. 

Q: Once he got into such a state of mind that he said in front of the Religious Sect members, "Why don't we kill them all? In the state I'm in now, I wouldn't even feel anything." However now he no longer has this mentality. Is it because he has matured? 

A: At that time Gojo tended to say what was on his mind and rely on Geto's moral judgement as an indicator to decide what was right and what was wrong. 

Q: Did he become despondent after Geto became a dark sorcerer? 

A: No, he worked even harder as a sorcerer. 

Q: Were his grades in normal school subjects good? 

A: In science subjects I think so... My school grades were what they were...

Q: Are the Gojo family members alive and well? 

A: Maybe.  

Q: Can he teach anything other than occult subjects? 

A: In a way yes, but I don't think he has any kind of licence to teach. Normal subjects are taken care of by assistant directors and “windows”. 

Q: How much does he sleep? 

A: Not much.  

Q: He seems aware that he is super handsome. Wouldn't he like to have a girlfriend? 

A: I can't imagine Gojo being faithful to any particular woman. 

Q: He usually wears a blindfold, but can he see? 

A: The six eyes are essentially “eyes that see evil energy extremely clearly”. Even covering himself with the blindfold, it is as if he has high-definition infrared vision. He can even detect objects that do not possess evil energy, such as buildings, thanks to the residual energy around them or from the flow of energy around them. So if he doesn't cover his eyes it's a bit tiring for him, even though he constantly uses the inversion technique to keep his mind fresh. If a normal person wore Gojo's sunglasses he would see everything black. 

Q: Why did he go to meet Megumi Fushiguro after hearing about him from Toji?

A: To recruit a talented person.

Q: Why did he offer to help troubled boys like Okkotsu and Itadori?

A: Because they are strong, so he doesn't care much about other details.

Q: Why did he teach Itadori how to defeat shikigami users? 

A: Because as Sukuna once said, there are many shikigami users. 

Q: Why does he address his students by name? 

A: He doesn't make such problems. Those who agonise over such details like me wonder what it means when someone calls you by your name, whereas Gojo doesn't think that way. 

#tomoko's translations #satoru my love #satoru gojo #jjk #jujutsu kaisen #gojo satoru #jjk fanbook #jujutsu kaisen fanbook #jjk manga #jujutsu kaisen manga #jujutsu kaisen gojo #jjk gojo #jjk satoru #jjk spoilers #gojo sensei #gojou satoru

[lfc21]

Hey there 🙋🏻‍♀️! Hope your summer's been amazing, and that you've been having a great time! So, I'm annoyed by the lack of Nuñez fics on Tumblr since his debut, why don't we start changing that with your no.20 (in a flirty light)?

Your just making it harder

PART 2

You and Darwin had been cast under a spell of love for weeks now. There was no denying the chemisty between the both of you, it was obvious. His presence was the one thing you urged to have next to you, to comfort and keep you safe. It wasn't ment to be you and Darwin it just seemed to happen. In a blink of an eye he was there, in another blink you where wanting him back again. You met due to a mutual friend, a mutual friend in who you where certain got you together on purpose. The first time you saw him his eyes had you locked, they where the windows to his soul - his sweet, caring and joyus soul. You where addicted, but rehab wasn't your answer, feeding the beast was the perfect ending.

"You look so beautiful tonight" Darwin softly spoke to you as his hand fell between yours on the soft white table cloth under the dimbly lit candles. Darwin had taken you to a restaurant for your birthday, he promised this was nothing romantic but you both knew it was. He was whipped under your spell, he wanted every inch of you but couldn't admit it.

"Darwin stop" you gently mumbled as your face turned rose at his sweet words, you hid your face as much as possible causing his large hands to hold your chin up to show the beauty he was missing.

"Don't cover your beauty up" he announced with a smile. Those smiles he constantly gave you, the tight soft lips and the way his eyes would sparkle in sync with his mouth.

"Weren't you the one to say we where just friends" you challenged to him as you let his hand go and took a long swig of your red wine. His eyes where on yours, locked together like a key in a door.

"I was also the one to say I would never move to England but here we are" he sarcastically replied dropping every sence of his romance he was trying with you just moments before. You couldn't decide which type of Darwin you ached to have - the soft, angelic, romantic Darwin or the sarcastic, cheeky Darwin or even both.

"Well what a fool you would of been to turn down the chance to live here" you slowly said as you carefully trailed your foot up his tight trousers. Your heel sat inbetween his two legs on the hard chair infront of you, his eyes followed your lips as the words dropped from them every second.

"Y/n" He warned as you moved your heel up and down his thigh. You could feel his leg tense at the feeling and you knew you had him right where you wanted him to be.

"Yes Darwin" you dumbly replied as you twirled your long hair between your fingers. He had urgency in his eyes, fire that you knew you couldn't put out instead just add more too it. As his lips parted to let the words fall a young waiter came wondering over for the orders. This was perfect. Of course you would of wanted to find out every reason he had for you to stop your teasing but you also loved the fact he had to act so calm and collective infront of you when he was the complete opposite.

"May I take your orders" the waited offered as he stood infront of your table. Your eyes where left on his as he carefully told the waiter your orders, his serious tone was wrapping around every part of your body. Your tease had him gathered in a number of wild thoughts which changed his persona - the big hard man was no longer strong, he was now weak under your power. As the waiter finally took the orders and walked off Darwin's eyes hosted fire within them with burning range and steamy desire.

"What is wrong with you?" He asked furiously as a small vein popped through his neck showing the level of fire and tension he had in his blood stream.

"What is wrong with me? Your the one angry, chill out where supposed to be having a good time" you dumbly replied back with a look through your eyelashes as your finger trailed around the rim of the glass.

"Are you trying to start something?" He asked again in need of an answer to the million and one thoughts. He was lost, so lost, but the look in your eyes made his search for freedom ten times harder.

"Start what?" You quickly asked with a shriek of your voice at his persistent asking. His face fell relaxed as if he had realised something so deep that changed his mood completely. He simply shook his head to your quick question fueling nothing but a raging fire to go off in the pit of your stomach. How could you feel this way about a man giving you so many mixed emotions? You had no idea where you stood. "Don't be an idiot Darwin" you simply added as his hand fell back into yours as his cheeky smile danced back onto his face, this was getting you back for the teasing and you couldn't of regretted it more. You wanted him to get away with his sarcastic moods because of his romantic and charming side he showed you.

"That's not a nice thing to call your boyfriend" Darwin said with confidence as his thumb ran across your small knuckles. The word boyfriend made your stomach churn and your words feel like another language.

"Boyfriend?" You challenged as your voice was high and your eyebrows fell half way up your face. His answer was a small laugh, a small agreeing laugh which made things seem to fit like a puzzle. Was he your piece?

"Maybe" he simply said with a slight nod as he lifted your small hand up to his wet lips before planting a kiss delicately on your hand.

"A man of many words" you mumbled with an eye role as your sarcastic side started to fall out accompanied with the nerves. He knew you, he started to realise your idea of protection was sarcasm and that was something he admired - your confidence.

"Thank you" he replied with his cocky personality. You didn't reply you just looked up, from under your eyelashes your soft gaze danced across every part of his face. Your fingers danced along the knuckles of his wide hand as you felt every piece of warmth you could get too. "Your just making it harder" Darwin abruptly added with a small snigger and smile.

"Making what harder?" You quickly asked as you took your hand of his rather large arm due to his turn of events.

"This. Us" he sternly said as he pointed between the both of you. You where both so close yet to far away, your love was together but your sence was running away like it's the end. "I'm crazy for you. I'm obsessed with everything about you, your smile, your long hair, your non stop talking about the kardashians or dogs, I'm even obsessed with your constant moaning about how messy I am at your house. I'm in love with everything about you but you aren't seeing it." He admitted with wide eyes and a regretful expression. His words weren't completely true and he knew that. You where the one constantly noticing the way he admires you or the way he makes sure you always have a piece of food or a drink. He was in love, and so where you.

"You think I dont see it?" You asked in great urgency as your eyes locked into his. "You think I dont see the way you look at me or the way you make sure I'm safe when I get home! Do you not think i feel the same way, I'm crazy about you and have been for months. I've been waiting for you to realise that but your trying to pretend that you can't see it when deep down you can. I'm falling for you Darwin, just let yourself love." You admitted as your body fell tight at the words you where sharing to him. His face was falling with every word given to him. You where right, so right but he couldn't see it he was so far into his own idea of not being able to love someone yet that idea was morphed, and so wrong. His words where silent matching his body. "Do you know what just forget everything I said" you mumbled as you fell deeper into your chair and you watched Darwins every move.

"Why?" He simply asked with a soft tone. His eyes where looking up through his eyelashes wondering the words you spoke.

"Because you will never realise" you mumbled back with tears threatening to run wild down your soft cheeks. His effect on you was ruling its power over the whole of your body. The addiction increased.

"Then make me" he quickly replied back with fast words and a cheeky smile. Your eyes locked to his and his body came leaning over the small white table. "Now kiss me" he urged as his hand came to the side of your head intertwining every piece of your hair to his long fingers. His lips landed on yours creating a dance to form in your mouths. This was love and Darwin knew.

This is my first Darwin Nunez one! There needs to be some more Darwin imagines soon. Please leave feedback and requests as it helps me in the future with my up coming pieces. My title requests are still open aswell as normal requests. Have a good day! 🙏🏻🤍 @prettylittletrent @cornertakenquicklyyyy @trentsko @trentalexanderarnold @robbo38 @robbothegoat @kostasstsimikass @chelseamount @chloereddy @hnrfc @tsimikasfamily @avenirdelight @blueathens @jordanhendersunshine @mrs-henderson @thatonesexycancerian @hendersons1truelover @nyctophilic0vitnir @peekapeaches @tsimikxs @tsimikostas @trentalexarnofan @leddows @moneymasnn @superkittywonderland @virgilvansike @virgilvandickmedown

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#lfc imagines #lfc masterlist #liverpool imagines #lfc imagine #darwin nunez #darwin nunez imagines #darwin nunez x reader #darwin nunez x y/n #darwin nunez imagine #writing #imagines #fanfic #football fanfic

[ginnyw-potter]

True Love's Kiss

Happy Birthday to Harry and his one true love

Ron and Neville carried Harry into St Mungos. He was having difficulty breathing and he complained of an odd headache. They had been going through evidence of a captured Death Eater when Harry had touched one of the artefacts. He immediately collapsed and gasped for air. 

They handed him off to a Healer and they were ordered to make room. The Healers set to work immediately, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Harry's breathing became more laboured. 

"Cursed object?" one of the Healers asked.

Ron nodded. "Yes, it was a dark glass orb with a crest, it was in a box of sand-"

"Merlin, it can't be… Get the Head Auror," one of the Healers said.

Neville and Ron looked between each other. Neville nodded and left to find Gawain Robards. 

Ron stood waiting while they worked on Harry. He saw how they had to take multiple measurements just to sustain his current condition. He had a breathing spell put on him just to keep him from choking. 

Minutes later Gawain came running in with Neville in tow. Ron watched as he talked to the Healer, the crease between his brow deepening as he spoke. Gawain turned to Harry. 

"If you can understand what I'm saying, nod," Gawain asked Harry. He nodded ever so slightly. 

"If you feel like there's fog in your brain, nod again," he said, which Harry did. 

"Feel like your veins are on fire?" Another nod. Gawain stood up. 

"You did a good job containing it but I may need to do some more additional spells just to slow down the process and buy us time," he told the Healer. Ron felt as though he was going to throw up. 

They were asked to clear the room. 

"You may wish to inform his loved ones, this is pretty serious," the Healer said. Ron nodded silently. He went to a quiet corner to send out several Patronuses.

Hermione arrived first. She looked at Ron for an explanation but Ron told her they had to wait for more information. Arthur arrived next. 

"Molly had Victoire, she'll be along later," he informed them. 

"Is Ginny on her way?" Hermione asked. 

"I've sent her a Patronus so I assume so…" Ron responded. 

The minutes dragged on and it seemed to take ages before they were called back in. 

The Healers spoke to them. Harry looked to be barely conscious. 

"He's been cursed. It's pretty serious but we're working on a cure. We just have to make sure the cure is ready before the curse gets him entirely," the Healer told him. 

"Well, what's the cure?" Ron asked.

The Healer sighed. "There's two. There's a complicated potion to brew, it can't be rushed … we're putting our best potioneers on it but we don't know if Mr Potter can fight it that long." 

"Well, what's the other one?" Hermione asked. 

"We may as well not mention it at all. True Love is quite rare." 

"I'm sure the Department of Mysteries has got that bottled somewhere," Ron turned to Gawain Robards.

The Head Auror raised his eyebrows. "How would you bottle True Love? It's already hard enough to come by as it is," he told Ron. 

"I don't know… put the happy couple's blood together in a vial and shake it?" he proposed. Both Hermione and Neville turned to look at him with a frown. 

"Hey, at least I'm trying," Ron defended himself. 

"Can he hear us?" Hermione asked.

The Healer nodded. "The brain fog will continue to increase but for now he's some degree of conscious," he told her.

Hermione walked up to Harry. 

"You've got to hang in there, okay?" she told him. He slowly blinked to signal he had heard her. 

"Damnit, where's Ginny?" Ron said, looking at his watch. .

The next moment Ginny came bursting through the door. She did not bother to ask what was happening and ran past them towards Harry. Without caring who was in the room, she embraced him and kissed him firmly. The next moment there was a low rumble that seemed to be coming from within Harry. He gasped as his lungs filled on their own accord, his arms coming around Ginny to hold her close. 

The whole room watched in absolute shock at both of them. 

"Is that…?" Neville asked.

The Healer had to stop himself from gaping in shock. "Yes." 

Ginny looked up as she felt the room had stalled. Half the people in it looked absolutely gobsmacked. Ron was wearing a weird smile. The Head Auror looked as though he had seen a miracle and the Healer looked down at his notes blankly. 

"Harry?" Ginny asked for some kind of explanation, turning to look at him again. He was wearing a wide grin as he pulled her close again. 

"I'm going to be alright," he told her and he could not hide the emotion in his voice. 

When Harry released her from their embrace, the rest of the room still seemed not to have moved. 

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" she asked firmly.

Harry sat up and cleared his throat. "There are only two cures for the curse I caught. There's True Love and there's a potion…" 

"They gave you the potion?" Ginny asked.

Neville spoke. "No, that's still brewing." 

Harry watched as Ginny processed the information. Then her lips were on his again, ignoring the rest of the people in the room.

"If you bottle that, I want credit," Ron said. 

#hinny #harry potter #ginny weasley #fic #true love's AU #hp

[thetrashywritingwitch]

“Be Still, Just for Me” Bakugo x Fem!Reader, Ch. 45

First Chapter

Previous Chapter

(all chapters are available in my masterlist!)

Summary: Bakugo Katsuki, a Pro Hero in Japan, is used to the routine: wake up, kick villain ass, rinse and repeat. He’s living his dream, soaking in all he’s ever wanted and worked for.

During the brief moment he lets his guard down, everything changes.

Tossed into a world without quirks with nothing but the clothes on his back, he’s forced to accept the help of someone who knows exactly who he is: a manga character who should definitely not exist.

Chapter length: 12k

Warnings: T+ for language, no warnings

Reminder that the A03, Wattpad, and Quotev links will be in a reblog so this post shows up in search results! They’re also in my profile header! <3

Co-written and plot mapped by @rose-sparks13

thanks to all my beta readers!!! <3 @birinboom, @bananabossbitch, @jems-all-in-a-wood, and a few others who prefer to remain anonymous. NOTE: please ignore and forgive anytime i might've misspelled "Yaoyorozu" because I swear I spelled it three different ways throughout the chapter and @birinboom bonked me on the head for every single one

Chapter Title: The Night We Met

__________________________________________

"Oooh, I feel like I'm gonna barf." Your hands never felt so jittery before, shaking like a leaf in the wind; well, no, that probably wasn't entirely true, but it damn sure felt like it was in the top five potential nervous breakdown moments in your life so far. Just to be safe, you hurried to the bathroom with the toilet seat up and paced on the cold tile. Despite your stomach's twisting unease, nothing came up. 

Waiting for someone to whisk you away to the world of My Hero Academia so that you could reconnect one last time with Bakugo Katsuki would no doubt give anyone brain fog at the plausibility of it all.

You should've been excited - you were excited - but the stress of committing such a risky leap into turbulent waters was nerve wracking to say the least. If things turned out well and Katsuki didn’t outright reject seeing you as his surprise birthday gift after six months, then you’d not only get to spend valuable time with him again, but you’d get to meet his friends, see Japan, and experience the world of My Hero Academia with your own eyes; an opportunity singular to you and only you in the entire world as far as you were aware. 

On the other hand, what if your sudden reappearance instigated Katsuki into another angry outburst to mirror that awful night after the theme park date? What if waiting months after Uraraka arrived with her gift at a second chance was the wrong thing to do? Rejection tasted like glass shards, sharp and bloody and nearly impossible to pick out every tiny piece. Hearing it from him the first time was bad enough even though he took it back and apologized less than an hour later… but you weren't sure if you could take having all of his friends watching as he potentially rebuffed your arrival at his own birthday celebration. 

Catching yourself in the bathroom mirror, you frowned at the stress evident from the shadows under your eyes; sleeping last night proved nearly impossible with anticipation twisting in your stomach. Nevertheless, you tried to rest as best you could considering the incredibly busy day ahead of you if things went according to… well, whatever plan Katsuki's friends had in store.

You'd been anticipating this moment ever since Uraraka left your apartment months ago. The realization of what exactly you agreed to didn't set in until that evening when panic slowly crept in as you went through a mental checklist of what you needed to do in preparation and what could possibly happen to derail all of it once you arrived. You asked for time off from work for the week of April 20th right after the holidays. To keep your parents from worrying if they tried to contact you, you told your parents that you were going on a week-long trip with some friends where you wouldn’t have close access to cellphone towers. 

Most unexpectedly of all was the fact that you and Livia from the ramen shop had actually become friends. Though she was younger than you and things had obviously been awkward at first, you found her energetic and optimistic personality a welcome gift in your dejection as it slowly waned with time. And because she had actually met Katsuki, you told her that you were planning on going to Japan to try and visit him for a week. It wasn't a lie… your trip was taking you to Japan… just in a different universe. 

"Oooh, that's straight out of a romance book my mom would read I swear," she'd said after you explained. "You nervous?" 

"I mean, yeah," you joked with a dry laugh as the two of you sat at a small café after work for warm drinks and pastries. "I've never been to Japan, but I've always wanted to go… "

"I meant about seeing your man again." Livia picked a crumb off her plate and stared at you with raised brows. 

You fidgeted with your mug and avoided her scrutiny. "Oh… um, yeah. Just unsure of how things will go, I guess. Since he doesn't know that I'm coming as far as I'm aware-" 

"Hold up." She blinked, obviously disbelieving your words. "He doesn't know you're planning this trip? Um, explain that one to me?!" Face scrunched and twisted in a way that anyone who wasn't being interrogated by her would find funny, Livia held her palms up facing the ceiling to pass the conversation back to you. 

Scraping your teeth across your top lip, you thought about how to spin this so she would buy it. She was smart enough to get into law school, which meant she was smart enough to pinpoint your bullshit. "So, like, his friends found out about what happened and contacted me saying that he wished he could see me again… sooo, we're kinda planning to surprise him… which wasn't my idea! I said they should tell him what they were gonna do, but they're his friends, not mine, and they wanna keep it a secret in case I can't make it or something…" 

She sat across from you, chin in her palm, lips pursed before she let her tongue click against the roof of her mouth. "You're gonna get kidnapped."

"What?! No-" 

"This is like, stranger danger 101. Now. I'm totally into traveling and experiencing new things and chasing what you want, but this sounds sketchy as hell." 

To anyone that didn't know the true context of the entire situation, yeah, it did sound like a dumb and audacious idea to travel to an unfamiliar country to find a guy you knew for a month. However, Katsuki and Uraraka and all of their friends were trustworthy Heroes who only wanted to bring the two of you together again. They'd never bring you there if it would put you in danger; if anything, being around top Heroes would be the safest possible option. 

You tapped a fingernail on the side of your cup and sighed. "It does sound reckless, yeah. But it's still four months away and I've talked to his friends. You and my parents know I'll be away. Like, I get it and this whole plan sounds like a bad Lifetime movie plot… but just-" The tea in your mug almost sloshed out onto the table as you slid it to the side and leaned forward into Livia’s personal space, eyes determined, and mouth pulled into a thin line. “Just know that I wouldn’t do this if I thought something bad would happen or I didn’t trust Kat’s friends. And even if our meeting doesn’t go as planned… well, I’ll just explore Japan on my own, then. Which is why… I’m wondering if you couldhelpteachmeJapanese!” 

The last words - a plea towards your new friend - slurred together as you sank lower into your seat. One of the biggest obstacles you knew you’d face being in a different country was that you knew next to zero Japanese aside from the easy phrases Katsuki helped you with. There was no way your phone was going to work there since Uraraka’s didn’t work here, so learning as much as you could in as little time as possible was your best chance at having some mild independence while there; plus, it was a huge bonus if you were able to talk to Katsuki without having an annoying robotic voice to translate every little thing. 

Livia's face morphed into the most shiteating, smug expression that would even give Katsuki a run for his money. "Aaah, I see what's going on here. You want me to give you Japanese lessons so you can talk to your hottie boy toy easier. OK, I might indulge you… but what do I get?" 

"I'll pay you money."

"Deal." Her response was so immediate, you couldn't help but snicker. "Plus, if you know the basics, then I’ll feel better about you going… but if they do kidnap you and you escape, I’ll totally be your defense lawyer.”

All you could do was shake your head limply trying to hold in your laughter while picking at the last crumbs of pastry on your plate. It wasn’t as though you were leaving your whole life behind for a guy, now that would’ve been dumb, even if the guy in question was Bakugo Katsuki. He was the one from the shounen manga story, not you. 

Now, months later as you double-checked your bag to make sure you had everything safely packed away while replaying Japanese phrases in your head. Clothes to last for a week, plus extra socks and underwear, hygiene products, makeup, styling tools for your hair, a phone charger that you probably wouldn’t even need… and Katsuki's orange hoodie. 

His scent had long since faded from the comfy fabric even though you tried not to wear or hold it too often. Sometimes, you just wanted to press into whatever was left of him as a source of comfort, even if it left you with mournful nostalgia. Maybe if things went well, he'd toss it in with his laundry or wear it so you could bring it back… or maybe that was a bad idea considering this would really be the final time the two of you could be together. Just delaying the inevitable. 

And finally, sitting on top of everything else was the red dress that had been gathering dust in your closet. 

You planned on wearing it for this birthday party of his. Hopefully, he’d think it looked as good on you as it did on the hanger. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be upset at seeing you again after all this time…

At that very moment, you jumped up from the couch and stared at the center of your living room as an iridescent shimmer began to appear and swirl around the air. Recalling when Uraraka left six months ago, this had to be-

“Oof!” The simmer quickly formed into the shape of a person before materializing fully. A familiar-looking man in plaid, sun-faded jeans, dirty boots, and a beard that nearly engulfed his entire face landed with a hard thud on your floor. 

“Fuck, shit, are you OK?!” You remembered how tired he was last time and thought you were prepared, but having someone manifest out of glitter in your living room was still kind of shocking. Bending down, you helped him onto the couch before grabbing him a glass of water. “Um, Devin?”

Clearing his throat, he finally looked at you and nodded. You knew it was him, but your nerves frazzled the rational part of your brain because you were about to travel to a different fucking universe! 

Devin’s strength began to return about ten minutes later as he took a deep breath as if sucking in clean mountain air before sitting up and letting it all out again. “Wa- ah, chotto matte,” he said with a thick American accent before he dug into his pants pocket and pulled out two things: a small device you didn’t recognize, and the champagne cork that looked just like it did six months ago; true to his word, he’d taken good care of it. 

You watched as Devin fiddled around with the device before holding it up between the two of you. “This thing workin’?” A small light on top flickered on before a robotic-but-pleasant voice came out of a speaker on the bottom. It seemed to translate Devin’s words into your own language… except it was much faster and more accurate than your phone app. 

“If you’re asking if I can understand you, then yes? It works." Well, this was something you didn't expect. "Is this a translator of some kind? Why didn't Uraraka bring it with her last time?" 

He took another long sip of water and relaxed into your couch. "Yep, it's a translator thingy. And it seems to work a lot better than whatever you used; still weird, but ah well. As for why we didn't have it before, well it didn't exist. Uraraka apparently thought ahead and asked someone in Support to make it with the excuse that it could help with their Hero work or something." 

"Support? Oh, you mean like someone who makes support items for Heroes?" Devin barely knew you and vice versa, so you weren't scared of accidentally saying something that Katsuki possibly didn't mention. The underappreciated department gave all Heroes their edge with specialized equipment and gadgets; it made you wonder if Hatsume was still around. 

"That's right," he confirmed while carefully placing the cork back in his pocket. "They'd already been workin' on this thing for a while since rescuing tourists could get messy if you're trying to tell 'em something important. But don't ask me how it works because I don't have a clue. I chop wood and fix stuff; Hero tech isn't my area." 

All of that made sense, and you felt lucky that they'd use a fancy gadget like this to help you out. "Ha, I'd been practicing Japanese since you and Uraraka left in preparation, but four months isn't long enough to know a whole lot. This is appreciated. Thanks, Devin." 

He shrugged. "Thank Uraraka. I'm just the messenger. Also a taxi, I guess… so uh, you ready to go or…?" 

"Oh, right. Umm… just one question, I guess. What's the weather there like right now? To make sure I packed appropriate stuff." Sure, a logical question, but maybe you were also stalling out of fear of what would happen once you got there. This was what you wanted - something Uraraka claimed Katsuki wanted, too - so all you could do was hope for the best. 

Devin found your question simple enough to answer. "I know about comin' prepared for a trip, though my pack is usually full of provisions and survival gear. Weather's nice in Japan right now. Cold's mostly moved on and a light jacket should be plenty." 

OK, yeah, that worked. You'd looked up the weather in Tokyo here but weren’t sure if it would be exactly the same there. Anything extra just meant you were stalling. "Then… y-yeah, I guess I'm ready." 

He waited for you to turn off all the lights and make sure you left nothing plugged in like most people would do when preparing for a vacation. You also sent texts to your mom and the few friends who knew you'd be gone before turning off your phone. If they tried to call and got some kind of disconnected message, it could cause unnecessary worry that you would hate to deal with when you came back home. 

"Does it hurt? Teleporting, I mean." 

"Nah," he assured as he stretched his thick arms towards your ceiling. He'd given you the fancy translator to hold along with your bags. "You'll feel a tug behind your belly button, but it happens in a flash. Probably be kinda disoriented and tired, but it'll affect me more than you." 

If it wasn't for Devin and the dedicated effort of Katsuki's friends, none of this would even be possible. "Thank you for all of this, Devin. Without-" 

"Nah, no, none of that." Holding up his hands as if you were sick, he sucked in his lips until they were completely hidden behind his beard. "I'm doin' all this as a favor to someone. But you better make this little journey count and snag that guy of yours, got it?"

Heat pooled in your cheeks as you shuffled your feet. Even this stranger was rooting for you and Katsuki to try and make it work… temporarily, at least. "Half of it is up to him, but I'll do my best. Now, let's go before I do something dumb." 

Devin cracked his neck before extending his elbow out for you to hold onto. Terrified that a vital part of you would somehow get left behind despite Devin’s reassurance, you gripped his sleeve and dug your fingers into his arm while your other hand shakily held onto your suitcase. Please let this work, please let this work, please let me not barf as soon as I get there…

You screwed your eyes shut while Devin pulled out the old All Might keychain Melissa gave him. All of these small, ordinary items held so much emotional significance to their owners… the world really was a crazy, beautiful place behind it all, huh?

The tug behind your stomach was immediate, like a vacuum trying to suck you into a powerful whirlwind that gave you no time to escape. Your vision swirled and meshed like a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes shoved into a blender. There was no time to process dematerialization or what you imagined taking LSD might be like, as everything turned blindingly white before something hard and flat came up to meet your palms and knees.

I'd much rather fall out of bed than deal with that. Thoughts disoriented and blurry, you groaned as you tried to figure out what happened, where you were, and if all of your limbs were still attached. Although nothing hurt, your eyes felt as though you’d stared straight at the sun for a second too long and struggled to open them. Unrecognizable voices talked around you in Japanese as you tried to sit up before a painful twisting in your chest had you doubling over in discomfort. 

Meanwhile, halfway across the city, Katsuki and Mar were talking to authorities after just apprehending a rowdy group of wannabe villains trying to start trouble at a bank. 

"Mm, that's right," Katsuki said to one of the cops on the scene. "They- hhrg!" Out of nowhere, a sharp jolt struck him right through the chest and nearly took his breath away, causing him to stagger and lean against a nearby building for support. 

"Dynamight?! What happened? What's wrong?" The officer followed Katsuki’s glare as he whipped his head around trying to find the source of the pain, paranoid that a hidden villain had somehow managed a sneak attack on him again… but just as quickly as it began, the pain subsided. Also, for some unexplainable reason, the ache that had plagued him since first returning home six months ago, the light tug of invisible thread wrapped rigidly around his heart… lessened. The thread was given slack like a jump rope resting on the ground while two points still held the handles. 

A bead of sweat ran down the side of his face at feeling the paradox of simultaneous worry and relief. Mar's voice came into focus as they jogged up behind him. 

"Dynamight-senpai? I saw you double over and-"

"You secured the perimeter, right? All the villains are in custody?" He avoided Mar's worried expression and instead stared across the horizon of the city trying to mentally piece together what just occurred. 

"Um, yes. I double-checked and everything's in order and accounted for. Did something happen…?" 

Katsuki remained silent, his lips pulled into a thin line. Just let me get through my fucking birthday without any bullshit. 

Back at the Midoriya household, you were dealing with similar confusing feelings muddying your thoughts compounded by the daze of landing in a stranger’s house with people who looked familiar. You almost couldn’t believe it despite knowing they were just as real as Bakugo Katsuki. 

A tall woman with long black hair pulled into a neat ponytail trailing over her shoulder and dark granite eyes was tending to Devin laying limply on a nearby couch with a damp cloth. She looked exasperated while trying to keep polite composure as she spoke in hushed Japanese. 

Another person, this one with pale pink skin, matching hair, yellow horns, and dressed in loud but chic clothing waved her arms dramatically while giving an earful to- 

“Oh my god,” you mumbled to yourself as you immediately identified the mop of forest green hair, freckles, and long-healed scars covering his hands and forearms as he nervously attempted to assuage the pink-skinned woman who was now karate chopping him on the head. Though they were older, taller, and noticeably more muscular - Midoriya, especially - you were clear headed enough to put names to their faces.

Yaoyorozu Momo, Ashido Mina, and Midoriya Izuku currently surrounded you while you recalled what the hell happened over the last five minutes. You landed on the floor, distressed voices in alarm, your chest hurt as though someone had smacked your sternum hard enough to knock the breath out of your lungs, someone helped you sit against the edge of a chair…

Your murmuring must’ve drawn Midoriya’s attention away from the frustrated Ashido as he swiftly walked forward with panicked eyes, glued his arms to his sides, and bowed generously while repeating what you could only make out as a string of apologies in rushed Japanese as you sat dumbfounded on the floor with your knees pulled into your chest. The translator Devin gave you lay off to the side since you dropped it while trying to break your fall. 

"Umm… " While you slowly reached for the translator while staring awkwardly at the man apologizing to you, Ashido gently pushed him to the side with a roll of her large black eyes before kneeling in front of you as her expression softened.

"Ogenki desu ka?" Ok, you could finally put some of your studying to good use…

"Uh, hai, genki desu," you answered easily. This mild disorientation was finally wearing off. For whatever reason, that made her giggle which reassured you that nothing had gone catastrophically wrong with this part of whatever their surprise birthday plan entailed. 

Just as your hand was about to close around the translator, Ashido noticed and snatched it up with quick reflexes before holding it up curiously. "Nanda korya?" 

"G-gomen! Hai," Midoriya stammered while grabbing the device out of her hand and handing it back to you. Pressing the "power" button that Devin showed you earlier, a green light flickered on while Ashido pouted. 

"Thank you," you said as the pleasant voice reverberated out of the bottom. "I don't really know what's going on… I mean, I sort of do, but-" 

"Please tell me you're (y/n)-san?" Midoriya looked as though he'd barely slept in days, so the least you could do was pacify him even though you desperately wanted to know where Katsuki was. 

You nodded and he deflated in relief. "Thank goodness… so, it really worked-" 

"Excuse me, Midoriya-san." The woman you assumed to be Yaoyorozu stood up from her place next to Devin, her perfect posture and disciplined visage almost imposing despite knowing her kind personality from canon. Hopefully, she hadn't changed drastically in that regard since being a teenager. "Can you please fill Ashido-san and I in on what exactly is going on? You asked us to come and help you with an important favor for Bakugo-san's party tonight, but have been evasive on the details. Who are these people," she said, gesturing to both you and Devin, "and how did they get here?" 

Knowing Midoriya hadn't actually told them who you were and what you were doing here made you want to curl up into a ball to catch up on missed sleep. Did that also mean they didn't know where Katsuki had been all that time he was gone? You knew his friends were as impulsive as they were strong, but there was no way this would go off without a hitch. What a mess and I've barely been here ten minutes… 

Chancing a look at the couch to your left, you asked, "Is Devin alright? He said he would be tired afterwards…" 

Yaoyorozu followed your line of sight and sighed. "Yes. He's asleep, but fine. Apologies for my rude outburst. I'm Yaoyorozu Momo and this is Ashido Mina. It seems like you already know Midoriya-san and that you are not fluent in Japanese judging by your accent and use of the device in your hand…” 

With fidgeting fingers, Midoriya stood up and again bowed in apology, this time towards Yaoyoruzu. “Sorry, sorry… I know this all must be confusing, but you and Ashido-san were who I thought of first to help with our, um, plan. Also, if we could try and keep it down… Ochaco is resting right now, but she’ll wake up soon to help with tonight since I know she wants it all to go well…” 

“That doesn’t tell us much.” Ashido stood up and brushed invisible dirt from her thighs. “I mean, I like surprises and all as much as the next girl, but we really need more to go on than that… why are you staring at me?” 

Her sudden inquiry made you realize that your eyes were glued to her appearance, which made you feel incredibly embarrassed. “Crap, that’s rude, sorry,” you apologized while standing up yourself to make sure the dizziness was finally gone. Introducing yourself properly even though they heard your name through Midoriya a moment ago, you explained, “It’s just… no one has pink skin or horns in my universe. But I still shouldn’t stare! You’re very pretty and it’s a lovely shade of bubblegum pink.”

Cupping her cheeks demurely, Ashido fluttered her lashes and gleamed. “Oh, well, thank you- wait. What’d you just say? What do you mean in your universe?!?”

You looked to Midoriya for silent advice on what to say since that answered a few questions regarding what they knew or didn’t know, but luckily he stepped between you and the other two bewildered women. “I-I know that must sound weird, haha! Like I said, it’s hard to explain… but um, hopefully (y/n)-san can fill you in because I have a lot to do before seven o’clock tonight.” Silently balking at Midoriya shoving the responsibility of telling perfect strangers your history with Katsuki on your own shoulders, you frowned as he continued to plead his case. “Just help her get ready? I guess??”

Ashido and Yaoyorozu shared a look that spoke volumes. “Midoriya-san, ready for-” 

A familiar but tired voice echoed from somewhere down a hallway on the opposite side of the room. “We were too loud! I swear, Kirishima-kun, Todoroki-kun, and I will make it up to you two! Devin-san can stay here for now, but if you all could leave and just come back later tonight, I think that will work best." 

Rather than wait for an answer, Midoriya quickly but politely shooed all three of you towards the front door while you dragged your single bag of luggage and purse behind you. Ashido and Yaoyorozu huffed while they slipped on their shoes, Midoriya continuing his trait of apologizing profusely before he opened the door, waited until his guests were fully outside, and waved goodbye before leaving you standing with your back to Yaoyorozu and Ashido while silently panicking. This wasn’t exactly how you expected to be welcomed by Katsuki’s friends…

On the other side of the door, Midoriya came close to banging his head against the frame from his own frustrations. “Why’d I do that?! Kacchan’s going to blow a hole in my chest if he finds out I pushed his girlfriend out of my house because I can’t handle everything myself-”

“Izuku? What’s going on?”

He turned around to find his wife, now almost seven months pregnant, holding her stomach while tiredly pointing at Devin still asleep on the couch. Her drowsy face and messy hair from waking up were adorable to Izuku; he wanted to keep her as relaxed and stress-free as possible as the pregnancy progressed, which was why he’d attempted to handle all of the party planning, communications, favors, and Kacchan’s extra special surprise gift all on his own despite Ochaco’s insistence that she was still perfectly capable of helping. 

Back outside, you stood by awkwardly as Yaoyorozu and Ashido discussed what to do about, well, you. 

“Look,” you interjected while wheeling your suitcase behind you like a lost tourist in a foreign airport. “I’ll explain what I know and why I’m here and all of that if you give me a chance. But it’s kind of a long story… I just don’t have anywhere to go and don’t really know anyone here besides Uraraka and Katsuki.” 

At using his given name, Ashido’s eyebrows shot up and the warm sun above sparkled off her sheer lip gloss with a silent “ooh…” while Yaoyorozu, ever the prim and proper lady, brought a hand up to her mouth as struck by your presumed social faux pas. Black eyes glistening curiously, Ashido reached over and tugged you by the elbow towards a very nice and expensive-looking car parked nearby. 

“I think you really do have a lot of explaining to do, missy… YaoMomo!” She called over her shoulder with a wave of her free hand. “You mind driving to your place?”

Knowing she wouldn’t get any answers as to what in the world was going on without agreeing, Yaoyorozu nodded with a sigh while pulling out her keys and mentally noting which tea blend would help with her inevitable headache. 

It proved difficult keeping your attention on Ashido and Yaoyorozu as you sat in the back seat studying the architecture, signs, and people - oh, the people - who differed so drastically from the familiar. Even though it looked like a normal residential neighborhood, it reminded you of the picturesque animation styles from classic slice of life anime with kids running to school with toast hanging out of their mouths. But what truly caught your attention were the people going about their day. Someone had more arms than Shoji while another seemed to have hair that twirled like lavender flames. 

It really hit you that you were the odd one out here. Not just as someone from outside their world, obviously, but you were also quirkless. Considering that only a quarter of people were quirkless in the canon timeline, that percentage had most likely shrunk even more over the past decade. Feeling so out of place, it reminded you of Katsuki's initial arrival. Well, with several key differences.

"Helloooooo, anyone in there?" Ashido's sing-song voice snapped you away from the car window as you held tight to your purse in your lap. She looked at you quizzically over the headrest while Yaoyorozu kept her eyes trained to the road ahead. 

"Sorry. This is just a lot to take in… but you want to know what all this is about, right? And who I am and why I'm here and all that?" 

"Bingo," she affirmed. "We're Heroes so our whole job is to help people, but all this is like, giving me weird vibes. And what you said earlier about people not having pink skin where you're from? What's that about?" Her tone was pleasant laced with skepticism, but her large black eyes seemed to regard you with slight mistrust. You really couldn't blame her and were honestly frustrated with Midoriya for leaving this part of their "plan" in your own hands when you were more out of the loop than anyone; well, except for Katsuki if they'd managed to keep this whole situation a secret since December. 

"Yeah," you breathed out with your head heavy on the back of the seat. "You both deserve to know what's going on since you were dragged into this… I'll try to summarize but it, uh, might be a long story…" 

The car rolled to a smooth stop at a red light as Yaoyorozu said, "We have six hours until the party tonight. That should be enough time, right?" 

Wrapping up six months worth worth of time in as many hours would've been doable if you were able to get through it all without questions or interruptions, but less than five minutes after nervously recounting the first day he arrived so many months ago, Ashido nearly made Yaoyoruzu lose control of the car with her yelling. 

"NOW HOLD ON!" 

"Ashido-san, please don't make sudden movements while I'm-

"You mean to tell me," she continued while halfway turned around in her seat to face you, face smeared with incredulity as Yaoyorozu returned her focus to the road. "That aaaaaaall this time, Bakugo was just fine and dandy while all his friends thought he was in trouble? And that you come from a different universe that’s similar to ours, but everyone’s quirkless?!”

Gnawing on the inside of your cheek, you avoided eye contact and gave a short nod. Ashido opened her mouth while the device in your hand translated, then shut it again as Yaoyorozu interjected. 

“I can understand Ashido-san’s… hesitance to accept such a tale,” she admitted, fixing her slick black hair in the rearview mirror while waiting for some pedestrians to cross the street. “But I trust Midoriya-san and assume he is aware of what happened since you are here because of his help, I assume. Kirishima-san and Todoroki-san must also know where Bakugo-san was since he mentioned them as well…”

Ashido huffed and slumped against her seat. “I knew Kirishima was keeping secrets. He’s such a bad liar. Best bro friend privileges, I guess. OK, OK, so like, he crash-landed in your house, so what-”

“We’re here.” You peered through the gap in the front seats as Ashido turned around to see a set of large and intricate iron gates swing open to reveal a long, winding driveway leading up to a beautiful house big enough to fit at least ten of your apartments inside. Right, Yaoyorozu is rich… I feel too poor to be here.

It felt similar to walking into a ritzy hotel, wheeling your suitcase behind you as you followed Yaoyorozu and Ashido inside. Following their example, you removed your shoes and slid on a pair of indoor house slippers that you knew were customary in Japanese homes to avoid tracking dirt everywhere. Again, you felt incredibly out of place: a tourist in a new place with no real direction, resources, or friends - well, except for Katsuki and Uraraka - relying on the kindness of strangers; the situation really was parallel to Katsuki’s. The sooner evening came and you found out if this whole ordeal was worth it or not, the better. 

Yaoyorozu led the two of you through a sprawling entryway and into a dining area that could’ve easily seated twenty people. Along the way, you spotted photos hung up on the walls of Yaoyorozu and her supposed parents since they were never shown in canon. The pictures that gripped your attention, though, were the poses of her standing next to a shorter woman with dark violet hair and long earlobes that ended in earphone jacks. Holding hands. Smiling… oh man, does this mean MomoJirou is canon?! 

A pink hand gripped your sleeve and tugged you further into the house. "C'mon, missy. YaoMomo can tell you about herself and her girlfriend after we get some more answers. Man, that translation thingy is annoying… " 

"Not as annoying as using an app on my phone that's only about seventy percent accurate," you admitted before someone you didn't recognize appeared from around a corner and held out a gloved hand as if wanting to take your suitcase. "Um…" 

"Don't worry." Looking up, you saw Yaoyorozu seated gracefully at a table as another unidentified person waited patiently at her elbow. "Kageyama-san will keep your things safe while we talk. Are you hungry? Some tea will be out for us shortly." 

OK, this was a little more overwhelming than you expected, but things could've been worse. "I'd like to keep my bags with me if you don't mind." There were too many sentimental things stuffed behind the zippers and letting them leave your sight, even if they would be secure in trusted hands, made you uneasy. "And I don't want to impose or anything… but I guess I was too anxious to eat breakfast this morning, so I wouldn't mind a snack." 

Ashido echoed your desire for some food, albeit in a more relaxed and amicable way, before sitting down herself with her chin resting in the palms of her hands while Yaoyorozu waved off who you now assumed to be hired help. Feeling black and grey eyes staring you down expectantly, you sat down with your things at the table, Yaoyorozu at the head and Ashido seated at your opposite.

Clearing her throat as if to begin a speech, Yaoyorozu cut the silence. "Now that we are comfortable, I'd like you to continue explaining who you are, why you're here, and what happened with Bakugo-san while he was missing."

None of this was going how you expected it to play out. These two heroes were familiar to you from canon, but they were essentially complete strangers who were trying to understand your motivations; yet another parallel with Katsuki's stressful vacation away from home. Maybe once you gave them enough diary-esque word vomit to satisfy their curiosity, the stiffness embedded in your spine and fidgeting fingers could finally relax. It'd be nice to be friends with Katsuki's friends… 

So, with a deep breath to steady yourself, you began. 

Your confusion and his anger. Your generosity and his needs. Your flustered inelegance and his effortless poise. As you talked, Yaoyorozu and Ashido slowly began to understand. The warm tea and appetizing spread of food placed in front of you went untouched as you recalled that first week and a half with Bakugo Katsuki. It was as simple as tying your shoes or brushing your teeth, tasks ingrained and completed without effort. After all, you'd lost count of how many times you replayed his visit from beginning to end over the last six months. Rewinding the tape to remember and sadly smile with nostalgia and yearning before pressing the button worn down from the oil of your fingers right before the credits rolled to bring it back to the beginning once more. Day 1. Day 2…

The two women sat in wide-eyed silence, a teacup hovering in Yaoyorozu's manicured hand while Ashido curled a section of hair around her finger while  gradually scraping off her lip gloss with her teeth. The latter snapped first. “Oh. My. God. Oh my god,” she repeated with increasing volume. “So you and Bakugo were like, DATING?!” You answered with an endorsing nod, which made Ashido slump in her chair like bubblegum ice cream melting in the sun. “I owe Sero soooo much money…” 

In contrast, the ever-composed Yaoyorozu carefully set down her teacup and met your stare with her own. “I see. Well, that certainly does answer some things. In all honesty, I’m as surprised as I am happy for Bakugo-san. He was in a dire situation and you offered him help when he normally refuses such things if he cannot reciprocate in some way. Forgive me, but he never struck me as the… dating type.” 

You managed to let out a small laugh for the first time since arriving. “I mean, I was as surprised as you are when I wasn’t outright rejected. All I did was tell him how I felt and left the rest up to him. It’s not like I’d rescind my offer of letting him stay with me if nothing happened.” 

Skipping over that whole bit of conversation, Ashido chimed back in. “And you’re sure this is the same Bakugo Katsuki that we know? And not like… an imposter?”

While her exaggerated reactions to every new bit of information you revealed was funny at first, her reluctance to accept your relationship of all things ground on your nerves. Was it truly so unbelievable? 

“Ashido-san! Don’t be rude.” 

“I’m joking, I’m joking!” She turned to your unamused face and managed to look repentant. “Sorry. Bakugo isn’t the type to do something without putting 110% into it. And he’s such a workaholic…he never made time for stuff like that. But…!” Reaching her hands towards you across the table, Ashido winced and said, “If you and him were together that whole time, and then he had to leave, that’s so sad! No wonder he was so moody when he came back home…” 

It was then you realized that this was the first time you were able to be completely honest about Katsuki and who he was with other people. There was Uraraka, sure, but she already knew most of what happened. You were telling Ashido and Yaoyorozu what you couldn’t back home. Lying to your parents, your friends, coworkers, your therapist about who Katsuki truly was and why keeping in touch wasn’t as easy as just calling or texting. He was unreachable, and though you’d tried so fucking hard to accept that reality and move on… here you were one last time. 

You only realized you were crying when Yaoyorozu jumped up from her chair in a rush to grab a box of tissues. 

While you were sipping lukewarm tea in her mansion-like house, Katsuki was finishing up the day’s paperwork after returning to the agency with Mar. No other bizarre incidents happened after that invisible sucker punch to the chest, but it still put him on edge for the rest of his patrol. Something just felt… off, and it had nothing to do with his birthday. At least, he hoped it didn't, considering he wasn’t sure exactly what those idiot friends of his had planned. 

“Knock knooooock!” Katsuki didn’t bother looking up, knowing Kirishima’s sing-song voice as he waltzed into his office as if he didn’t have one of his own right down the hall. "How's the birthday boy-" 

"Shut the hell up," he hissed with a glare. "Announce it to the whole damn city, why don't you? I've already gotten enough annoying texts to last me through all of next year." 

Kirishima didn't falter at the sass and instead walked calmly up to the large wooden desk in the center of the room with a knowing grin. "C'mon, don't be a sourpuss on your birthday of all days; you got 364 other days to turn up that dial as high as you want." 

Even though he knew Kirishima was right, Katsuki just clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair with crossed arms. "Mar already called us old, the little brat… if you really want me to relax, the fewer people know about today, the better." As far as he knew, Kirishima had no idea that Todoroki opened his mouth about their little surprise party tonight. Might as well fuck with him a bit to teach him a lesson about secrets…

Laughing, Kirishima said, "Yeah, well, I already had a brief quarter-life crisis for about an hour. Then I got over it. We're just gettin'  better with age!" Katsuki stared at him blankly. "You got any plans later? And why are you still working? Reports can wait a day," he insisted with a wave of his hand. 

"Lucky you; I just finished," he replied. Well, he was ninety-nine percent finished, the remainder being reading it over for mistakes… but Kirishima was right, it wasn't anything that couldn't wait until tomorrow. "As for plans, I'm going home. Maybe pick up a pastry or something on the way. Make sure my cat hasn't destroyed anything. Order out for dinner. Go to bed." 

The red head grimaced as if his imaginary plans let out a foul odor of their own. "Uh… that's it? No, no, unacceptable. What if I said-" 

"No." 

"...No? But I didn't say anything yet." 

Kirishima's sad, puppy-faced dejection almost made him feel bad. Almost. "Isn't everyone saying I'm a workaholic? Well, I'm going to relax on my own damn birthday." Packing up his things, Katsuki stood up as if getting ready to leave, sliding in his hearing aid kept in the small case on his desk. It had taken him a while to adjust to the damn thing after a villain with annoyingly precise aim got him right on the left ear. Things were just slightly… fuzzier out of that side, now. Doctors recommended he upgrade his ear protection and invest in a hearing aid. Plenty of heroes used prosthetics or support items to help them back on their feet after a rough fight; no shame in that. 

"I mean, true! The relaxing part." The slight urgency in Kirishima's voice was evident now as he followed Katsuki out into the main office, still talking as he locked the door. "But I totally think it would be good to, y'know, get out for a night and celebrate!" 

Quickening his pace towards the elevator, Katsuki didn't let his facade slip through Kirishima's nervous chuckling. "I already told you my plans. Isn't what I want the most important thing here?" 

"Just! Trust me on this; it'll be great." 

"What will? You dragging me across town to get drunk?" 

"No, something better." 

The elevator dinged.

"What'd I just say?" 

"We spent ages planning this party for you, and I'm gonna make sure you make it there!" 

Finally. The confession brought a sly grin to the surface while Kirishima deflated, assuming he spilled the beans. However, his raised voice caught the attention of several office staff minding their own business, Mar included as they walked in from the restroom to see their senpai dragging Red Riot by the arm around a corner at the other side of the room. 

He stammered, trying to backpedal his blunder, but knew it was too late. “Dammit… I was supposed to come up with an excuse to get you to come over to Midoriya’s tonight.” 

“I know,” Katsuki admitted coolly. “Or rather, I’ve known for a few months about whatever surprise party bullshit you and the other two members of the Nosy Friend gang have been planning for me.” 

“Y-you knew?! But how-”

“Blame Todoroki. He’s good at bullshitting, but didn’t seem bothered telling me over noodles. I just wanted to see how you’d get me to go along with it if I claimed to have different plans; you need to work on your script.” 

Judging that his friend wasn’t promptly freaking out, Kirishima assumed that Todoroki only told him about the party and not about the second part of their plan. He just needed to keep it that way for a little while longer…

As the two men bickered, Mar stood just out of sight around the corner, eavesdropping on their little conversation. Celebrate? Party? Specifically for Bakugo…? Then it clicked. Flaring their nostrils, Mar whipped around the corner, causing Kirishima and Bakugo to turn and stare at them. 

Deep breath in, deep breath out. “"ES TU CUMPLEAÑOS POR QUE TU NO ME LO DIJISTES?!?” (Why didn’t you tell me it’s your birthday?!?) 

“Uh… what?” Kirishima never was one for learning new languages, so he met the Spanish yelling with startled confusion. Katsuki, however, actually put some effort into learning some of the basics from Mar; living with you and engrossing himself in a completely unfamiliar country might’ve had an effect on that. 

So, he got the gist of why Mar was a fuming teenager. Cursing to himself, Katsuki glared at Kirishima’s fat, shark-toothed mouth before turning on his heel, bolting down the hallway, and kicking open the door to the stairwell leading downstairs. 

That whole relaxation idea seemed better and better by the second. 

Back at Yaoyorozu's home, things went much smoother and the discomfort slowly evaporated as the three of you talked and opened up to each other. Yaoyorozu confirmed that she and Jirou were dating, still flustered over it despite being together for almost two years. But it only got to that point after both laughter and tears were shed on all fronts. 

Ashido freaked out over the bear attack story - months of therapy made talking about it a hundred times easier - and insisted that she would've run away, too. In addition, Yaoyorozu reminisced on her childhood when you talked about the amusement park, and how her parents would take her to similar places; neither of them had been to one in years, though, and were in agreement that they would attempt to make time for plans like that in the future. 

It took a while, but your appetite finally returned once you felt comfortable enough to unwind from your initial reserved stiffness. True to what you remembered, Yaoyorozu’s persnickety options of fancy tea blends offered you warmth and relief. 

Once the two of them were in agreement on what exactly to help you with - Ashido would fix your hair while Yaoyorozu decided to paint your nails and help with makeup. At first, you insisted that they didn’t have to help and that you could get ready on your own just fine since you packed a week's worth of stuff in your bag, but they claimed they needed to complete the task Midoriya had given them. 

Maybe being pampered… wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world? Just for a few hours…

“I swear I’ll drip acid on Bakugo’s shoes if he says something stupid after all you went through to get here,” Ashido vowed while running her fingers through your hair after you described how you wanted it styled. “He’s smart, but he’s also dumb.”

“I agree that, while Bakugo-san is very knowledgeable with battle tactics and quick to react while in a combat situation, it would be callous of him to dismiss your efforts.” Yaoyorozu straightened out your red dress hung up on a door hook after insisting it needed to be pressed and steamed once she asked what you planned to wear in order to coordinate a proper nail color. It had wrinkled a bit while folded up in your suitcase, but she’d whisked it away before you could argue. 

Groaning to yourself, you wondered if he’d understand why you waited so long to see him again rather than coming here as soon as Uraraka handed you the invitation. “It’s been six months… what if he’s already moved on and is with someone else, now?”

Ashido sputtered behind you. “Pfft! Trust me, he’s not. Kirishima used to try and help him meet new people and even set up a few dates for him, but they never went anywhere. Actually… Do you have, like, lists of well-known people in your world where they’re ranked as hot or not or something like that?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, I see those kinds of things on magazines and clickbait websites about celebrities… why?”

“Well,” she began as Yaoyorozu raised a meticulous eyebrow up at her colleague. “I’ve seen where people rank us Heroes and-”

“You can’t be serious, Ashido-san,” Yaoyorozu challenged as she held a jelly red nail polish in her hand. 

“I totally am. Anyway, Bakugo is usually on those lists, but there’s usually a little note next to his picture that complains about his personality or something mean like that; you know how those types of fanmade things are. Kami showed Bakugo the list one time thinking it’d be funny, but actually, Bakugo didn’t really care at all. Nothing and no one can make that man change who he is. We’re used to it,” she continued, pointing at Yaoyorozu as her other hand accidentally tugged your hair a little too hard. “And know that’s just how he is. For you to come aaaaaall the way here just to see Bakugo again tells me you’re one of a kind.” 

You sat stunned at Ashido’s unexpected speech that ended in defense of not only Katsuki, but your own feelings for him as well. It was definitely true that he never held back with anything he did or said and usually got straight to the point, taking the shortest route in favor of a longer, more scenic experience. 

Yaoyorozu nodded along in apparent agreement as she sat diagonally from you. “Ashido-san is right. Besides, would Midoriya-san have brought you here if Bakugo-san was dating someone else? That would be an awkward and uncomfortable meeting.” 

“I… yeah, that’s true.” While you knew that Katsuki favored keeping his personal life behind a privacy wall, with how much attention his friends were giving him, keeping a new date under wraps would’ve been difficult. Not to mention his insistence that if he were with someone, he wouldn’t be ashamed or hide them from the world. Their words set you at ease despite the lingering worry of what would happen when you finally came face-to-face again. 

This back and forth continued for a while with questions and light banter, both of them sharing about themselves alongside your own personal stories. Yaoyorozu was actually intrigued when you told them about your job since she has no real experience doing work outside of her Hero career. However, Ashido seemed more interested in digging up romantic dirt between yourself and Katsuki to quench her thirst for gossip.

Leaning over your shoulder as she finished up with your hair, Ashido hummed curiously. “Hmm… I have a very important question for you, (y/n).” 

You adjusted yourself in the chair to gain back some feeling in your butt after sitting in it for so long. “Yes?”

“Do you looooooooove Bakugo? And if you do, does he know?”

“Ashido-san! That is a very personal thing to ask,” Yaoyorozu chided, pausing with a fresh cup of tea in her hand and a frown. You stiffened in your seat as you chewed the inside of your cheek at Ashido’s prodding. 

How many times had you rewound the tape of that final tearful morning? How many times did you plead for an answer in return, even if it meant heartbreak? “Yes,” you said flatly, eyes transfixed on your fingers gripping the translator device in your lap. “Yes… I do love Katsuki. I did six months ago, and I still do now. And he knows… I told him… right before he left…” 

Ashido gasped and squealed like a teenager while Yaoyorozu placed a delicate hand over her mouth as a flush spread across her cheeks. Only when you revealed that you weren’t sure if Katsuki fully reciprocated your feelings did they both understand the final puzzle piece of your worry for the night to come. 

Halfway across town in the heart of Tokyo, Katsuki stood with his back against the bathroom counter, a mirror in one hand and a tar-black eyeliner pen in the other. 

After escaping Mar’s pitiful wrath and coming home, he gave his apartment a decent once-over to make sure his devil-in-cat’s-clothing hadn’t broken or wrecked anything. True to the warning he was given at the adoption agency, Princess Explosion Murder was an absolute terror… well, to anyone who wasn’t Katsuki, at least. 

That first week in his apartment, she’d secured some favorite hiding spots, including: under his bed, under the couch, squeezed between the wall and the fridge, and the dark seat of a rarely-used chair covered by the edge of a tablecloth. The first time he came home after a long patrol and found her perched atop his wall-mounted TV wobbling precariously on its hinges was also when she gave him some of the worst kitty scratches across his arm. 

She turned her whiskers up at half the cat food brands he bought until he attempted to make his own with the help of some online recipes and a bone grinder that he already owned for making his own stocks. That way, he knew exactly what was in it and she seemed to approve as well. 

She hissed if he got too close, but meowed if she didn’t get the correct amount of attention at exactly the right time. He’d written off the arms of his couch as a lost cause in addition to trying to cut her pin-sharp nails; at least she used the scratching posts… sometimes. 

However, when he eventually figured out the balance between giving her space and recognition, things slowly but surely improved. If he sat on one side of the couch, she’d inch closer from the opposite end day-by-day until she was almost against his knee. The furball even allowed Katsuki to pet her briefly, but only in specific spots and for the perfect amount of time before she tried to gnaw his fingers off. At least it was progress. 

While he and Princess were building up this cohabiting relationship, Kirishima had come by one day after seeing Katsuki carrying a bag of cat litter on his shoulder and practically begged to meet his new pet. 

“Do not make any sudden moves… at least your quirk is good for this,” he warned before opening his apartment door. 

Kirishima beamed at the beautiful white cat with the black rhinestone collar perched neatly on the back of the couch staring at them, orange eyes surrounding pinprick slits of black. 

"Oooh, she's so fluffy and pretty! Who's a good-" 

That's all he managed to say before Princess leapt off the furniture like a pouncing lion right towards Kirishima. He was hesitant to come and visit after that, escaping with a few scratches to avoid possibly hurting her with his hardened skin. 

Now, that spoiled and snarky fluffball sat in the doorway of Katsuki's bathroom staring up at him expectantly since it was almost her dinner time; apparently, cats understood routines very well when it came to food. If he was five minutes late, she wouldn't let him forget it. 

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Stop meowing like you're starving," he huffed before returning to the mirror to finish the perfectly crisp wing of his eyeliner. He didn't do this kind of thing often - dress up in a nice pair of dark wash jeans, a deep indigo blue button-up shirt rolled up to the elbows with a gray tank top underneath, his hair actually styled for once, etc. - but if everyone else was going to make a big deal out of his birthday, he might as well put in his own effort, too. 

Finally satisfied with his appearance, Katsuki tried not to trip over Princess, who tried to weave between his legs with angry meows while leading him to the kitchen. He made enough food to last a few weeks and just put them in pre-portioned refrigerated containers for ease. "You got your attention earlier, so entertain yourself while I'm gone tonight… do not break anything." 

He might as well have been mute and invisible to the damn cat who attacked the food bowl ravenously. Rolling his eyes, Katsuki did his rounds to make sure he grabbed everything and turned off most of the lights before leaving his apartment. 

Checking the time on his phone as he stepped off the elevator, Katsuki headed towards the door leading out to a private garage for residents when the security guard Takahata called out to him. 

"Don't usually see you heading out so late, Dynamight." Takahata knew exactly who came in and who left every single day, so a change in routine would never get past him. Plus, it was obvious by how he was dressed that this outing was for leisure and not work for once. 

With his elbow pressed against the door handle, Katsuki turned back and said, "Yeah, well, maybe it'll do me some good." Takahata probably knew the birthdays of every Hero resident by heart, but he was smart enough to keep his lips sealed for certain people. 

The garage was warm from the spring air outside as he walked under the ceiling lights towards a back corner with only a few cars sparsely parked nearby. Unlocking the chain around his bike, he let it fall against the pillar before sliding on his customized helmet with a grenade detailed on the back, stretched a pair of gloves over his calloused hands, and situated himself atop the second spontaneous personal addition he bought: a flashy motorcycle painted in gradients of black and burnt orange. 

After adopting Princess, he continued his moderately impulsive streak with the bike purchase after looking up reviews and maintenance costs of various models made within the last couple of years. Paying for it made him want to puke, but Katsuki considered it an investment in anonymity and privacy. With the slick black helmet and gloves, no one knew who he was on the road; maybe a few assumed he was a Dynamight fan from the subtle coloring and decals, but with his face hidden, he didn't have to deal with crowded public transit. 

He still rode the train if the weather was ugly and generally didn't take his bike to the agency. For errands or getting around town on less busy days, though? The motorcycle scratched his speed demon itch in a completely different way… plus, Katsuki was right: he did look hot zooming around Tokyo - and occasionally the mountainous city outskirts if time allowed. 

All of this to say that for the first time in months, the weight of every stressor and obligation just… disappeared as he focused on the lamp-lit streets leading out to the Midoriya household. And as much of a fussy show as he put on for Kirishima earlier, he really did feel excited about this stupid party. Maybe having a drink and eating cake and catching up with the people who put in an effort to come - the people who probably cared about him the most - wouldn’t be so terrible. 

Pulling up into the driveway, Katsuki took note of the cars lining the streets. He recognized some, but not others. The motorcycle kickstand moved easily under the toe of his boot as he took off his helmet and ruffled his hair; so much for putting in the effort to style it.

The lights were out and the neighborhood was quiet when, not bothering to knock, Katsuki opened the front door. 

“SURPRISE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” The lights flickered on simultaneously as the entryway flooded with hollers and laughter. Katsuki’s face remained as impassive as stone as his eyes roamed across familiar faces that seemed puzzled as to why he wasn’t reacting. 

“Um… did we get the day wrong?” Kaminari, wearing a cliché party hat with glittery polka dots all over it, whispered to Tokoyami who then looked to Midoriya who appeared to have barely slept for at least two days. 

In response, Katsuki scoffed and pointed a lazy finger at Todoroki and Kirishima. “Oh, right,” Todoroki recalled. “I told him about the party months ago.” 

While this revelation generated dramatic groans and sighs, a woman with dirty blonde hair and a plastic cup in her hand stepped into the center of the room and smiled at Katsuki who was about two seconds from walking right back out the front door. “Like, about time the birthday boy got here. This party was mega lame, but I bet we can totes save it.” 

“WOOO YEAH!” Kaminari enthusiastically agreed as Camie raised a half-empty cup that smelled strongly of alcohol. 

While everyone said their hellos and embarrassing birthday wishes to Katsuki who grumbled about how he just had to come so that all their effort wouldn’t be a giant waste - Kirishima blocked the door so he couldn’t escape - Midoriya sent a quick text to Yaoyorozu letting them know that they could arrive soon. He and his other two cohorts in super secret birthday present crime figured that it would be best to try and get the two of you together after he’d settled in and loosened up first. 

“Are you ready, (y/n)-san?” Yaoyorozu and Ashido stood waiting by the car as you stood under the porch light, your purse in one hand and translator in the other. They’d already put your suitcase in the back seat despite being unsure what would happen and where you’d go at the end of the night. 

With a lump in your throat and an overhang of worry shadowing you like an eclipse, you nodded. 

Being the enthusiastic person she was, Ashido tried to keep things positive and assuage your worry as the car drove through illuminated neighborhood roads. "You look so cute! We did a good job, huh Yaomomo?" 

She hummed while you watched the houses go by from the back seat window. "I should be more excited, right? And I mean, I am! It's just crazy that I'm actually here, but Kat doesn't… nevermind. Whatever happens, happens. No regrets…" 

Ashido frowned and glanced at Yaoyorozu who gave her a silent "I hope this works" look. They hadn't known you for long, but they did know Bakugo; you both deserved to be happy with each other again, even if just for a single week. 

Pulling back up to Midoriya's house, you counted the new, unfamiliar cars lining the street and drivewa while trying to think of what you were going to say once you came face to face with him again. Why are you doing this to yourself? Don’t be dumb. It’ll be fine… We’ll be fine. Yaoyorozu opening your door for you as the air outside ruffled the hem of your dress forced you to swallow your insecurities and troubles. 

Your heels clicked against the pavement, your eyes darting to the dark motorcycle parked close to the house; if Tokoyami was here, maybe it was his? He seemed like the motorcycle type. “Whose bike is that?”

“Hm?” Ashido spun around, walking backwards as she looked between you and the motorcycle. “Oh, hehe, that’s Bakugo’s! It’s pretty new, I think. Probably makes him feel badass or something.”

Eyes going wide at her answer, you almost tripped on your own heel, but caught yourself at the last second. God, if Katsuki called you Clumsy-chan in front of his friends, he might just find himself with smushed birthday cake in his face. 

Shifting weight between your feet and needlessly patting out nonexistent wrinkles from your dress, you stood behind Ashido and Yaoyorozu as they knocked on the door. A few seconds later, it creaked open a hair as if the person on the other side was guarding the entrance to an underground club. Everything seemed to be in order when the door finally swung open, revealing a man - more like a mountain in the shape of a human - with a long and spiky red ponytail who quickly and quietly ushered the three of you inside. 

Oh my god, that’s totally Kirishima and he’s even taller than Katsuki! And- why is everyone here so fucking attractive?! There was little time to try and introduce yourself to the fan-favorite and resident Good Boy Kirishima, though, as he ignored you for the moment and whispered something to Yaoyorozu and Ashido, the latter of which stuck her pink finger in his face to seemingly berate him for keeping so many secrets. 

As you followed their example and slid off your heels in favor of a pair of house slippers that weren’t as fancy as Yaoyorozu’s, the anxiety in your stomach attempted to bubble up again while you attempted to understand and recognize everything and everyone further into the house. 

Low music played from an unknown source while people stood and talked, a few of whom you identified almost immediately. Kaminari’s signature lighting bolt hair was unmistakable. So was… oh god, don’t make the same mistake of staring at Tokoyami’s bird head that you did with Ashido’s pink skin. And that’s-

Kirishima suddenly stepped to block your view, clapping his hands together and muttering something you couldn’t understand since you’d turned the translator device off with the assumption that it would be a mess surrounded by so many voices. Although you didn’t normally feel claustrophobic, being bombarded with unfamiliarity made you take a reflexive step back towards the front door. Where was Katsuki?

The green-haired man you knew as Midoriya skidded around the corner looking exasperated and relieved to see you again. Moving too quick for you to see, he suddenly appeared behind you and encouraged you forward with his scarred hands on your shoulders. In any other circumstance, you would’ve wheeled around and demanded to know where Katsuki was, but being surrounded by strangers without anyone to really lean on made you silently compliant. What the hell was going on?!

Kirishima followed Midoriya and Todoroki wasn’t far behind. Ashido gave him a brief scolding for not telling them what was going on, but you three managed to arrive at the literal perfect time, which meant they needed to get you to Bakugo as quickly as possible so the two of you could talk without prying eyes. 

“Is Kacchan still out back?”

“Yeah, said he wanted a breather from everything for a minute,” Kirishima answered before an arm swung around his neck and Kaminari sloppily pointed at your back, nearly spilling some of the alcohol in his cup in the process. 

“Heeey Kiri! Who is that? Didn’t tell me you were bringing pretty ladies to the party-”

The red head lightly headbutted his shorter friend. “Dummy, that’s Bakugo’s girlfriend! I told you we had a plan to bring her here, and tonight’s the night!” The tipsy grin on Kaminari’s face remained for a good five seconds before he yelped in disbelief. Or tried to, anyway, since Kirishima clamped a hand around his mouth to avoid Bakugo coming back inside a moment too early. 

Weaving between guests, a few of whom tried to stop and chat, Midoriya remained focused on guiding you through his house towards the back door leading out to their small covered porch and garden. He was so focused, in fact, that neither he nor the others noticed how rigid and strained you appeared. On the way, he passed by his wife who did a double-take while holding a tray of snacks. 

"Izuku! You didn't tell me (y/n)-san was here," she chided while attempting to give you a friendly and familiar wave, but you just stared straight ahead until you stood in front of the sliding glass door at the other end of the house. 

There, in your peripheral vision at the very edge of the porch stood the unmistakable silhouette of Katsuki. Like a phantom lit by the ghostly glow of the moon overhead, he remained statue still with his back to you as though closed off from the rest of the world in his own little bubble. 

The tightness in your chest swelled and your nails dug indents into your palm, unable to take your eyes off of him. 

Even for someone like Katsuki, there sometimes came a point when the quiet called out and drew him away from the raucous and rowdy turbulence of high energy situations. The porch was a respite away from Kaminari’s drunken shenanigans and Kirishima’s toothy laughter and the half-decent music that Jirou picked out. 

Condensation from the drink in his hand coated his calloused fingers as he leaned on the banister and stared up at the moon, bright and glowing in the cloudless black. The idea of you crossed his mind - as you often did during these serene escapes - and he wondered briefly how you were, what you were doing, if you were happy, and if you sometimes stared up at the sky in wonder like you did back at the cabin all those months ago. 

… But his moon wasn’t your moon, and his stars weren’t your stars. There was no cliché stargazing shared from opposite ends of the earth that could exist for him. Maybe the lingering fumes of alcohol brought out this fruitless romantic nostalgia; or maybe it was-

“Katsuki…”

Time stood still. The gentle breeze faded as if suspended. He’d heard the click of the glass door behind him and assumed it was someone about to drag him back inside. But no one called him “Katsuki.” Not in that voice, that tone, that painfully familiar lilt that he’d fought to remember and forget and remember and forget… and remember… 

“... Katsuki?”

Neck stiff and mouth dry, he looked down at the melting ice in his glass and silently cursed at the cruel tricks played on vulnerable hearts. He misheard. You weren’t here. You’d never be here. Haven’t you haunted me enough?

Turning with a frown to stare down reality and blink away the taunting mirage, Katsuki froze, struck wide-eyed and off-balance by Medusa’s gaze staring mournfully at him just a few meters away. 

Eyes locked on each other as everything and everyone else faded away. Two apparitions brought together once more to rekindle old love before finally being laid to rest. 

____________________________

... please do not hate me for this cliffhanger it's been planned for literal years and the next chapter will be SO fucking long so ummmm worth the wait??

again of course, so sorry for the wait lkajsdlkjaf i shold NOT have given myself "oh yeah next chapter by his birthday haha totaly doable" and here we are two fucking months later almost to the DAY. just... just tell me i'm a good girl and pat me on the head 😭

so heeeeh yeah. they come face to face for the first time in six months. it'll be satisfying i SWEAR so don't @ me but also you're allowed to strangle me affectionately for this cliffhanger :)))) love u all!

Tagged list: @featherboawing @108052921 @bemyhero-academia @hentaidemon69 @makarovs-brat @alexparrsih @desia22 @justalittlecrazybutimok @trashqueenbitch @loverbug1123 @manq-fandoms @theworldsgreatestdisapointment @dabwithperkins @sarcasm-is-my-form-of-attack @i-am-fandoms-and-satan @eternal-apricot @grumpbisexual @apsara-study @nyantodamax145 @bakuhoetoedoroki @stargazerunlimited @fairyf3v3r @the-abyss-of-fandoms @raeyn-muir @lilithbasically @spicywrites

#bnha x reader #mha x reader #bakugou x reader #bakugou x fem!reader #bakugo x reader #be still just for me #bsjfm #pro hero bakugou #bnha fanfiction #mha fanfic #my hero academia x reader #bnha imagines #mha fanfiction #Youtube

[mushibashiraas]

feeling sick and depressed rn. so i'm feeding myself fluffy jamil hcs and drabbles.

gonna be very specific here; gn! s/o (who will be referred to as "Yuu"), chronic migraines/pain, nausea, depression

lots of grammatical and spelling errors; just gonna word vomit this. if it doesn't look pretty or whatever, oh well.

EDIT (May 14th, 2022): i added 5 new headcanons at the bottom owo

- as a retainer for the inheritor of the asim legacy, jamil would naturally know the ins-and-outs of his s/o's migraines: what their triggers are, what the best potions are to administer, etc.

- when his s/o texts him to cancel their study date, they barely get in two words before a scarabian student lets them into ramshackle dorm arms laden with potions, soup, salt pills, caffeinated tea AND coffee....... s/o doesn't even know what to do with everything!

- grim takes s/o's confusion the wrong way and gets all huffy saying how "my henchman doesn't need all this weird human medicine and food. The Great Grim can take care of them just fine on his own!" before he rudely shoves the also riled up scarabian student out the door.

- between errands, chores, and babysitting— taking care of kalim, jamil will definitely check up on s/o via text message every other hour. if they're feeling well enough, he'll do a video call with them.

- again, as a retainer, cook, butler, assistant, and personal bodyguard of kalim's, jamil unfortunately is much too busy to be there in person to care for s/o. but sometimes kalim will convince, bribe, and maybe even blackmail jamil into taking time off from his vice housewarden duties to go visit his s/o.

"Jamil, you bought extra coffee. Is that for Yuu?" "Hm? Oh! Nah, Cater. Jamil gave me the afternoon off. He's busy with Professor Crewel making another potion for Yuu." "Jamil! You keep checking your phone. Why don't you go check on them in person? I'm going to throw you the most extravagant parade to date on your birthday if you don't put down that laundry and go. See. Them." *proceeds to forcibly shove jamil out the mirror while snatching his dirty laundry from him*

- if s/o gets a migraine while hanging out or studying in scarabia, he immediately takes them away from the noisy lounge to his room where he dims the lights to a soft, warm glow.

- if they can tolerate a little bit of noise, he'll put on a playlist of soothing melodies that may or may not put them to sleep....

- with chronic migraines, one's head will hurt so bad that even their hair hurts. everything aches and it's hard to stomach certain foods due to the waves of nausea that come and go.

- depending on how bad their pain tolerance is, he'll give them a head, back, or neck massage while he finishes his homework.

- he'll try his best to keep kalim out of his room or assign a student to keep an eye on kalim for him.

- if their migraine is in the middle of the night — thus messing up s/o's sleep schedule, he'll talk in gentle tones with them reading to them some of the material they missed in trein's history class to keep them awake.

- though if it's really, really bad, he'll insist they try sleeping off the migraine "after you eat and take this potion with a glass of water."

- he'll only do this in the privacy of his own room as he is so not fond of PDA. but he is totally down to cuddle with his s/o and give them plenty of kisses. and if those cuddles and kisses lead to the two of them asleep, limbs tangled together, no one needs to know~ (kalim, ace, deuce, cater, and/or grim better delete those photos before they wake up though. otherwise they'll have to deal with a very embarrassed, angry snake boy. hahahah!)

- as one of the smartest, most clever students on campus at nrc, he's definitely sitting next to his s/o helping them make up any homework they missed while they were absent with a migraine.

- as someone who can also get pretty snippy and savage (there's a reason he's at nrc and not rsa, after all), s/o's mood swings and irritability while they're suffering from a migraine isn't anything new to him. in fact, he'd be an expert on handling them when they're irritated. he'd come back equally with a sharp retort while telling them to go rest or eat at the same time!

- the few times jamil must keep an eye on kalim while comforting yuu, the two scalding sands students resort to communicating via hastily written notes.

- they all sit around kalim's small table in front of his futon.

- jamil sits on the left along the longer side of the table while kalim sits with his back to the open-ended "wall" by his bed. he likes that spot bc he can easily flop over the entire table covering it and whatever else is on it with his body much to the chagrin of jamil

- yuu lays down with their head on jamil's lap either napping or quietly listening to the two boys scratching their pen tips against each other's notes arguing

- if they're not too sore, yuu will tolerate jamil massaging either their stomach, back, neck, shoulders, or head with one hand while the other jots helpful notes or tips beside kalim's mistakes

#twisted wonderland #jamil viper #kalim al asim #kalim #jamil headcanons #headcanons #scarabia #scarabia headcanons #twst #twst headcanons #mushi's headcanons #i'll add more later #i think

[gone-with-the-twist]

Twisted Wonderland Oc form. I have nine characters of my own, so... Au mixed studying.

Here will be my drawings. I'm not a very good artist, but I tried. I'm sorry if this is going to be bad.

(Also, there may be mistakes here, because English is not my first language). Have fun!~

Song for entourage:

Name: Yaran

Occupation: Student of Scarabia dorm

Age: 16

Birthday: 16 August

Zodiac sign: Leo

Height: 169 cm

Dominant Hand: left hand

Homeland: Scalding Sands

Family:

Unnamed parents

Iris – older sister

Yacir – twin brother

Amira – younger sister

Other Names:

Parrot fish-chan – Floyd

Mademoiselle sarcasme – Rook

Grade: 1 year

Class: 1-B.

Club: Track and field club

Best Subject: Flight

Hobbies: Watching soap operas, manicure

Pet Peeves: Extra work

Favorite Food: Lemon

Least Favorite Food: Bakery products

Talent: Slackening off from work

Appearance:

Yaran is a bright girl. Her dark-skinned skin makes her short scarlet hair with dyed blue strands stand out brightly. Her lemon eyes also stand out well. But Yaran's most distinctive feature is her hunched nose.

Personality:

Yaran has become Scarabia's main and only drama queen in a short space of time. She is not the most reliable person and can change her mind quickly. She is a sarcastic, loud-mouthed girl. She has a difficult time keeping her negative comments to herself and has a habit of hollering and ranting on about her aggravations whenever things don't go as planned.

She had hoped to go to Savanaclow, but something went wrong. Now Yaran finds it amusing to piss off Kalim(!) and Jamil by talking about it forever.

Growing up with two sisters and a brother, Yaran is always trying to stand out. Not always in the right ways, though. She can be reliable, honestly... But only to some people...

Signature spell

"Hear me" - Yaran can imitate the voice of absolutely anyone she has ever heard. It's not a complete transformation into another person, only a half.

Fun facts:

~ Yaran is based on Iago, Jafar's parrot.

~ She's in a completely disgusting relationship with Jamil after his overblot. She helped him kick Kalim out. But Yaran quickly changed her mind about Kalim when things got really bad.

~ She loves to chat and could talk for hours without stopping. She's a chatterbox.

~ No one knows how the fair and right Jack became date with Yaran.

~ Her name is a man's name. Yaran likes to talk about how her mother gave her the name.

~ Jack is the only person who can shut up Yaran.

My sketches and character's aesthetic:

Thanks for reading💖

#twisted wonderland #twst x oc #twst oc #twst #scarabia #my oc writing #Spotify

[drjohndisco]

Binding Ties (Chapter 08)

Warnings: allusions to sexual assault

Ao3 Link || Masterlist

Coming home to the smell of burning food had not been what Briar, Nick and Juliette had expected after a wedding rehearsal. Thankfully Nick and Juliette had been able to solve the problem quickly, although the smell could take a while to leave the house.

'Nick almost burned the house down once trying to make me a birthday dinner.' Juliette comforted.

'Some sort of flambé, wasn't it?' Nick asked.

'It was hard to tell after I was done with it. We went out.'

'I was just trying to cook something for you guys.' Trubel said.

'That's sweet. What were you trying to make us?'

'Bacon and eggs. If it worked, I was gonna make breakfast, but...' Trubel sighed, putting the remains of the bacon into the compost bin. 'I never really got past the bacon.'

'Well, I can never get past the bacon. I'm addicted.'

Then the phone rang, startling Briar who grabbed onto Nick's arm for support.

'Hey, it's alright.' Nick reassured them. 'It's just the phone. I've got one more thing to discuss with Trubel, go and sit down.

'Okay.' Briar mumbled, following his instructions.

'I'll get the phone.' Juliette said, walking out of the kitchen.

A few moments passed (during which Briar zoned out) and then Juliette came back into the room.

'Who was that?' Nick questioned.

'Adalind.' Juliette sighed. Behind her Briar groaned, but said nothing else.

'Adalind? Who's Adalind?' Trubel asked.

'The Hexenbiest who put a spell on Juliette and tried to kill her. Among other things. She's also Briar's sister.'

'What did she want?' Briar asked.

'She said that she thinks Sean's obsession with me is coming back, and she wanted to warn me.'

'Are you feeling anything?' Nick queried.

There was a pause as Juliette considered her next words.

'Yeah. Pissed off at the whole idea.' Juliette snarled.

'She's probably wrong, and I wouldn't trust her anyway.' Nick replied.

'All I'm saying is, this better not be happening again.'

(The Next Day - Afternoon)

Putting their phone down Briar flicked the switch to the door across with a loud clack. They then got up off the couch and stood next to Trubel. Sean had sounded very stressed when he'd called, but apparently hadn't had the time to explain. Something about a potion, which could only mean one thing.

'Trubel, that's not Juliette.' Briar said.

'Congratulations. You got me.' 'Juliette' said sarcastically. Her hair then changed colour, and her face shifted back to that of Briar's sibling.

'Adalind.' Trubel stated.

'What do you want?' Briar asked.

'It doesn't matter now. I've already done what I want.' Adalind gloated. 'There's no way for you to stop me.'

At this realisation flashed through Briar's mind.

'Nick!' Briar gasped. 'Oh, you bitch.'

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

'It's Juliette.' Trubel said, after looking through the window at the top of the door. 'Should I let her in?'

'Sure. I'll keep this one,' Briar jerked her hand at Adalind. 'Detained.'

'As if.' Adalind muttered.

Juliette was then let into the house, and she took one look at Adalind before knocking her out with her handbag.

++

'Are you sure that you're okay?' Briar asked Nick, breaking the silence. Nick had come downstairs after his shower, to see what had occurred and had just shut down completely (as expected). So, Briar and Juliette had been seated with him for five minutes.

'I don't think there's any way I can answer that truthfully.' Nick sighed. 'But, before you make me stay here, I'm showing up to that wedding.'

'Okay, then.' Briar surrendered. They could tell by the tone of his voice that he'd be worse if he missed the wedding. 'But you have to promise me that you'll at least talk to Juliette in the car. This is something all of us need to work through, and we can't do that without proper communication.'

'Yes, dear.'

'Good, now I'm going to the station with Adalind.' Briar said, getting up from where they had been sitting next to Nick. They then picked Adalind up from where she'd been placed on the floor. Adalind struggled against their grip, but thankfully the handcuffs held. 'Juliette, please tell me if anything goes wrong. I'll do the same for you.'

'Good luck!' Juliette called out.

'Thank you! Please, tell Monroe and Rosalee I send my love, and that I am so sorry!' Briar replied, shutting the door behind themselves and their sister.

++

About an eternity and a whole load of paperwork later Briar was fed up. Adalind had been placed into a holding cell (Nick had given them a written testimony.) Their phone still hadn't rung either, so hopefully everything had gone okay up at the wedding venue.

Sadly this peace was obliterated, as the moment they thought that their phone rang. It was Hank, and it wasn't good news.

#oc x canon #my writing* #universe: binding ties #grimm au #[ot3] blood leads me back to you

[penname-artist]

You want comedy gold, here is some comedy fucking gold.

Nick and the PPAA / Rated M, for Manchildishly presented adult jokes

-

"Ugh..." Nick muttered, the eighth sound of disgust he'd made at the mirror that morning. Blade sighed into the face towel, lifting his head.

"Is something wrong?" He deadpanned. Nick frowned at his reflection, as he was touselling his hair back in random ways.

"Um, YES?" He replied. He tilted down, holding a lock of his curls and pulling it apart, "Do you see this!?"

Blade blinked. "I might need my reading glasses. Does your hair spell the word "drama queen" or something?"

Nick ignored his jab. "It's silver. Silver, Blade!"

"Welcome to the club." Blade told him, "I've been the mayor since my eighteenth birthday."

Nick turned back to the mirror, adjusting his lock to look for the glint of grey in his brown shades. "I mean, I can get it dyed, but that's still just temporary!"

"Apollo can probably get you some recommendations. His hair is a different color every other week, the damn freak of nature..."

Nick already seemed to be constucting his own idea. "Hmm...before I do that, maybe I can see how others pull it off with visible grey..."

"I just live with it. I don't really care. But, if you really want to change it-" Blade stopped, suddenly realizing Nick had already left. He signed. Who knew where he was headed.

-

The rest of the base was quiet as usual, finishing meals in the mess hall and beginning to span out to their own things. Though Cabbie had been up before dawn, he'd also been working out for the last couple of hours and was returning for another cup of coffee and something to snack on. Just as he'd settled at the table, Nick appeared beside him, leaning on his elbows and looking up at him with knowing, pleading eyes.

"Heyy, Cabbie you're an...older gentleman, yeah?" He said, blinking rapidly. The smile stretched across his face warned that it was a loaded question.

"I'm not your daddy, fuck off." Cabbie said, immediately getting back up and leaving.

Nick pouted as he walked away. "Well fine then, keep your secrets!"

Thankfully, he had a few others to turn to as well.

Windlifter was still in the gym, back to his regular workout. By gym, of course, he meant outside, and his "regular workout" was splitting logs into firewood. Legend had it that the quiet lumberman supplied the whole park with quality cut lumber for all the park's campfire needs.

Nick was a little caught off guard, his thoughts skewed by the sight of the tall, muscular man standing in front of him. He paused his work to wipe a bead of sweat off of his forehead. Nick nearly died.

"You're a, ah-..." He choked on his words, trying to focus his eyes on some part of him that wasn't hot. He settled for the firewood instead. "...so age, right, it's just a number isn't it?"

Windlifter blinked, big and slow.

"Uh- what I mean to say is, um...I need some advice. Like...old guy advice. You know? You know. Dudes. Age. Things, uh...changing."

"This sounds like it would be more of a Maru question."

"Great!!" Nick sputtered, aware that he was melting on the spot and that if he didn't leave soon Blade's wedding ring was about to be in trouble. "Where can I find him?"

Windlifter pointed out towards the medical hangar, where the sounds of drills abounded. As the younger began to walk away, the former lumberjack shook his head, reaching for another log. Really, to come to him for erectile dysfunction was a little insulting, was it not?

-

(do you guys want a part 2? XD)

#disney planes #disneyplanes #planes fire and rescue #disney planes 2 #blade ranger #nick lopez #humanized #windlifter #cabbie #maru

[alicewonderao3]

Diamonds and Flowers

Title: Diamonds and Flowers

Warnings: None

Pairing: Dean Winchesterxreader

Authors note: I had a whole theme and setting for this and then a cold just ripped its way through my house and halfway through writing this, I lost inspiration and re-wrote using two of the three items, a diamond bracelet and a bouquet of flowers. I'm still taking care of a sick kid, so it's not as well polished as I'd prefer, but here it is. All spelling and grammar mistakes are mine, but I wanted to keep posting for @the-slumberparty I am enjoying this so far.

Today was my birthday. One of my favorite days of the year, a day when Daddy spoiled me rotten with anything I asked for, although if you asked my mother, he did that every day anyway. I slipped on my favorite pink dress, the sleeves long enough to cover my arms, with soft white flowers on the skirt. I slipped on my favorite pair of off-white vintage heels and with a quick spray of my jasmine perfume, I headed downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. 

I pushed through the swinging door and saw Daddy standing in the kitchen with mother. Neither noticed me at first, and it was clear that whatever conversation they were having wasn't a good one. Before I could alert either to my presence, Daddy's eyes met mine and he forced a smile. 

"Happy Birthday Princess!" He said, holding his arms out for a hug. I let him hug me and asked, "What's wrong?" Mother, who was sipping a cup of coffee near the sink, just said as she left the kitchen, "You tell her, George." 

I frowned, turning toward Daddy. He explained that he had several business meetings today and that he wouldn't be able to take me to lunch as he planned. Before I could frown, he said, "You're still going, but I won't be able to join you until later." I let it slide, happy in the knowledge that he would join me later, so I resolved to have fun. 

After breakfast, I spent most of the morning shopping. But I wasn't like most of the other girls I'd grown up playing with as a kid. Those girls were dripping in designer clothing and expensive jewelry, and that just wasn't my thing. I much preferred to shop at vintage stores and bookstores, surrounded by old books and quiet corners where I could sip coffee and immerse myself in another world. 

I was walking down an aisle in one of my frequented and favorite bookstores when a tall shadow fell over the book I was looking at. I glanced up and had to hold back the frown that threatened to spread over my face. Dean. Dean was my daddy's right-hand man, always there at his side for business meetings, and his main protector. His brother Sam was his attorney, serving him in court as needed. 

If Dean was here, Daddy wasn't coming. I sighed. "Daddy isn't coming, is he?" I asked, meeting his intense green-eyed gaze. Dean shook his head. "No, but he sent me to give you his apologies. He's just busy." I frowned, especially when Dean handed me a small velvet box. "From your dad." I held the box in my hands for a moment before opening it. 

Diamonds glittered in the light as I opened the box. The diamond bracelet was pretty and expensive, something I'd never buy for myself on my own. I closed the box with a snap and dropped it in my purse. I glanced back at Dean as I shelved the book and forced a smile. "Be sure to thank him for me." I felt tears forming, today just wasn't a good birthday. "I just want to go home." 

Dean didn't even try to convince me. He just nodded and was silent the entire ride back to my parent's house. Dean escorted me back home and was gone in seconds, back to see my father, no doubt. I skipped dinner and went to bed early, hoping that tomorrow would be a better day. The next morning, however, I walked down to breakfast to see a bouquet of beautiful flowers. Daisies and tightly closed roses, with a scattering of babies breath, met my gaze. There was a card next to the flowers. 

I frowned, picking up the flowers and breathing in the scent of the flowers. They were pretty and the daisies were my favorite flower. I picked up the card and opened it, skipping past the cover to the inside. There in a messy scrawl that could only belong to one person were the following words, "Happy birthday sweetheart. It's not much, but I hope you like them. I know daisies are your favorite. Dean." 

I felt a bit of warmth on my face as I stared down at the card. Dean always called me sweetheart, and it always did something to me. I wasn't ready to admit I might or might not have feelings for the handsome man who served my Dad so faithfully, but I picked up the flowers and hugged them to my chest for a moment. I softly whispered, "Thank you, Dean." 

I was startled by a deep voice, "You're welcome, sweetheart." I whirled around to see Dean standing in the doorway, a smirk on his lips. I felt very underdressed in my dress and bare feet, but I simply said, "I didn't see you there." Dean chuckled, "I can see that. I didn't mean to startle you, I'm sorry." 

I busied myself by putting the flowers in a vase and I asked him if he wanted any coffee. He shook his head, "No, I came to talk to you." I turned to face him, "Me? Are you sure?" He nodded, walking close to me as I turned and started arranging the flowers in the vase, nervous about having him so close. "Sweetheart," Dean said, his voice soft. I took a deep breath and felt his hands gently turn me toward him, a single rose in my fingers. "Look at me," He softly commanded, and I raised my face to meet his, my breath taken away by the soft look in his green eyes. 

His eyes were soft and kind as he said, "Let me take you to dinner." It wasn't a question, and normally I would bristle at such a command, but it was delivered so softly and so sincerely that I couldn't help but nod my head. "What time?" I asked, unable to tear my eyes away from his. Dean smiled and leaned in close, "I'll pick you up at seven."

Before he could do much else, his phone rang and his whole demeanor changed in an instant. "Winchester. Yes. Yes." He hung up the phone and turned to me, ready to say something, I wasn't sure what, when I set the rose in the vase and scooped the vase up in my hands. I leaned up on tiptoe and gently pressed my lips to his cheek softly. As I passed him, I said, "I'll be waiting for you at seven, Dean." 

I left him standing there in the kitchen, and heard his footsteps as I climbed the stairs to my room. He gave me a wry sort of grin and headed out the door. Maybe this date wouldn't be so bad after all. 

#navy and roo sleepover #dean winchester #I haven't figured out how to add read more to works yet