#with other people as much outside of sunny and mina

[cake-apostate]

Astarion in Dracula

So people have noticed that in Dracula, Dracula comes across as suave and intimidating until you realize he does stuff like "I don't have any servants but I need to fake it, so I put on a fake beard and hat to pick up Mr. Harker, then I run back into my castle and change into new clothes," and, "I can control wolves, but there are no wild wolves in England anymore, so I run to a zoo and kidnap a wolf, then throw him through a window. The wolf placidly walks home the next day."

Now I'm imagining that something like this happens to future Astarion, and he's in a Dracula-esque plot where he is the vampire being hunted by a plucky band of normal people turned adventurers. While they're all like, "he is horrifying and must be a master strategist," he's being cringefail in the background.

My first caveat is that the plucky hunters should not be villainized, even if they are hunting (relatively) innocent Spawn!Astarion. They're not trying to kill him just because he's a vampire; even in the book, the hunters are after Dracula because he killed their friend and might kill others. They might be after our favorite vampy boi, but this isn't, "stupid vampire hunters harass innocent vampire for no good reason."

Depending on whether this is Spawn!Astarion or Ascended!Astarion, things might go differently.

Spawn

Centuries after the events of the game, after the end of Tav's natural lifespan, Astarion is still an adventurer, and has a house in Baldur's Gate. Maybe they did find a way to let him walk under the sun, or maybe they didn't.

But he's still immortal, and after a few centuries of staying in the same place for too long without visibly aging (he's still an elf, after all), he enlists the help of a solicitor to purchase a new house in Waterdeep and write up a will that allows his (totally real) son to inherit all his stuff. Things go okay for a while, but not-Jonathan Harker notices all kinds of weird stuff around him, such as the bottles of blood ("I'm a doctor, darling; it's a new kind of treatment called blood transfusion."), his lack of a reflection ("Trick mirror."), and possibly his red eyes and sunlight sensitivity ("It's the drow heritage, dear.").

Then after he finally moves to Waterdeep, some entirely normal serial killer shows up. And now not-Jonathan realizes that Mr. Astarion Ancunin was a vampire this whole time, and suspects that he's the one behind all the ghastly murders. Lots of paperwork ensues, and they discover both his life as a magistrate and his adventures during the games. If he can't walk in the sun, they conclude that he became a vampire after the events of the game because so many records mention that he was outside during the day, and lament how he was once a good man.

However, they never actually inform Astarion while they're hunting him that they think he's behind the murders. So he thinks they're after him for being a vampire, while they think that he's a gleeful murderer.

He could simply kill them all, but they're still innocent people who haven't actually done anything. He could also walk away, but he's not leaving behind all his stuff, godsdamnit! So he figures that the most fun would be to Scooby-Doo them out of Waterdeep.

Hilarity ensues. Everybody lives as well.

Ascended

For this one, Astarion is guilty, and probably was behind everything.

I admit I don't have much for this besides vibes, and those vibes are, "Ascended Astarion takes every possible opportunity to gloat that he's invincible." Not-Mina and not-Lucy are walking along the seaside one sunny morning, and they see him floating on an inner tube, wearing sunglasses and holding a tropical drink, shouting, "Come on in; the water's great!" Not-Seward and not-Van Helsing are at a medical conference and he's just there, waving at them. While they think they're safe in their houses, he breaks in and turns every bit of furniture upside down and write a note in the fanciest cursive saying, "Ahahahahaha! Mwahahahaha! Yrs. Astarion Ancunin."

Actual Dracula

I might actually make a fanfic for this.

So in this one, Astarion literally gets isekai'd into the plot of Dracula. Kinda. After Dracula finishes his correspondence with Jonathan Harker, Dracula vanishes and Astarion shows up in his castle. Some of the same story beats, but with different context.

I think Spawn Astarion would be funnier for this, because he'd be like, "damndamndamn, okay, deep breaths, I can work with this," while the Ascendant would try to take over Earth for real.

I also think that the best replacement for Dracula's 'brides' would be Sebastian. Sebastian might not be Astarion's spawn, but Astarion is partially responsible for him becoming one. I had also considered Tav as his spawn, or maybe the whole party, but the question of how they became spawn aside, they'd all be too sensible about this. This is Astarion's trainwreck.

Not all of Dracula's vampire weaknesses apply to dnd vampire spawn, and the ones that do might not work the same way. Turns out that holy symbols don't work on them at all, so none of the tricks with crucifixes and communion wafer would work ("I'm sorry, are you trying to murder me with crackers? *wry giggle* That's a first.") Dracula specifies garlic flowers while dnd goes for the more popular garlic bulbs, and the weakness to running water is "physically impeded from even using a bridge except at slack and flood of tide" in the book and "burns like acid but still possible to jump across" in dnd. Someone once pointed out that this is the first time Van Helsing ever dealt with a vampire, so he's throwing everything he can at Dracula without knowing for sure which things actually work.

The residents of the village around the castle notice that they aren't being bitten in the night, and that there are more dead wolves drained of blood. They still sit up at night with stakes in their hands, not unjustifiably. Astarion stays away, and hopes that their fear of the previous tenant is enough for them to not come charging in with stakes.

Jonathan showing up might be a complete surprise. Astarion and Sebastian have no idea what day it is, or how to read an Earth calendar, so even though they have Dracula's half of the correspondence, they think that he came and left, and Dracula with him. Jonathan thinks that Dracula forgot to pick him up from the pass, but his fear of not being good at his job led him to brave the woods the day after his appointment. During the day, of course.

Then Astarion is like, "Yes, I am Dracula," as he realizes that he can con his way into a ticket to a new city.

Jonathan talks to Astarion for hours about property law and suchlike because Astarion was a magistrate. Jonathan might ask more about his past, but Astarion deflects as much as possible.

From Jonathan's perspective, he's like, "Dracula is a fine fellow, so articulate and graceful," while Astarion is like, "Shit, he has to eat, doesn't he?!" and tries to make a halfway decent meal with Sebastian, both of them panicking.

"I do hope you enjoy wolf, it is a local delicacy."

"Really? Fascinating! None of the other villages I've stayed in served wolf!"

"It is a very local delicacy."

Would Astarion keep Jonathan hostage? I don't think he would unless Jonathan discovered his secret. But I can see that he would insist that Jonathan stay longer because he want to keep up the illusion of being a good host, and that includes driving him back to the last town... when he has no idea where that is. He could drive him to the village, if he wasn't sure that they wouldn't drive a stake through his heart right away. So while he keeps delaying, on the inside he's like, "Where are those damn maps?!"

I can see that Sebastian never learned to suppress his hunger. One night, Jonathan accidentally wanders into his side of the castle. Sebastian wants to just have a friendly chat, but his hunger wins out and he's about to bite him, so Astarion has to restrain him. Then Astarion feeds him a family of rabbits or something cute; he's not going to steal a baby.

Astarion and Sebastian won't board the Demeter, even if Dracula already has tickets. Stuck surrounded by running water with no animals to drink from? They'll just take the train, and then cross the English Channel on a midnight ferry or something. Not like they have the 'soil of your homeland' restriction. Of course, they're not paying for any of it; they're going to sneak aboard when nobody's looking.

Speaking of those boxes of dirt, Astarion is just happy to have a ton of property that someone else paid for, and is perplexed by the boxes. So he and Sebastian just use them to pot begonias or something.

Once the action shifts to England, the plot would change a lot more, since Astarion and Sebastian aren't actively malicious. I think they'd still end up in Whitby because Carfax Abbey might be the only decent home Dracula purchased; all the others were just cheap emergency safehouses to store his boxes of dirt.

Renfield can still sense when Astarion and Sebastian arrive, even though they're not the same kind of vampire. Astarion isn't above using him, and they both drink from him while Astarion promises to turn him one day. They never admit that they can't.

Speaking of turning, Lucy can't rise as a vampire either. I don't even know if they'd bite her to begin with; Astarion restricts himself to people they were going to kill anyways (and Tav). Lucy sleepwalking might be convenient for Dracula, who doesn't care if she wakes up halfway through or dies, but Astarion and Sebastian have more caution (and scruples).

But Lucy being bitten drives half the plot. Val Helsing only enters because Dr. Seward calls him in, the skeptics only believe in vampires once they see her rise from the grave, and everyone swears to avenge her death. If the vampires don't hurt Lucy, then the whole plot goes off the rails.

This brainworm has seized me and I am now thinking of a title. Astarion Annually? Count Astarion the Un-Dead?

#dracula #astarion ancunin #astarion #baldur's gate #baldurs gate astarion #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #jonathan harker

[stupidrant]

RANT INCOMING!

I have to talk abt this as this has been in my mind for months and this i think is the only safe space to talk abt the fandom and their weird antics towards the characters/actors and overall games.Im not against criticism but theres a line between criticizing and going overboard with hating.

One thing i dont understand abt the god of war fandom is that they complain about alot of things not being “accurate” and thats doesnt make sense to me bc when has gow ever been accurate? I thought it was obvious from the beginning that SMS wasnt going for that and never truly will. Its always their own interpretation. They also have this weird hatred / ignorance towards atreus that i also dont understand? Yea he was a little annoying in the first game but thats understandable as hes… a kid. Ragnarok expanded his character pretty well imo and i feel like alot of these people for some reason cannot get past him in general? Maybe because they are afraid of him taking over the series and “forgetting” kratos (idk why thats in their minds LOL) or they just hate him just because. I feel like the fandom wants kratos to forever be this god who destroys things and whatnot and its all so weird. like they never gave him a chance. thankfully he has fans but majority hates him. Dont even get me started on how they treat angrboda. Its really so ridiculous to me that they can be so hateful for no true reason. they call her a bitch for yelling at atreus when all the women in the game get annoyed or disappointed in him atleast once. And they dont understand that she has only known this prophecy shit for her whole life and she couldnt do anything outside bc of the threat. ofc shes angry bro LOLL its also in her name like i dont understand 😭.  Atreus helps her get out of that mindset and assures her she can do whatever she wants now. Laya is so strong idk how she does it :( I also noticed they treat thrud as this “replacement” of angrboda bc they dont like her either cuz shes black or bc they hate her and everything related to atreus but as long as he has a character they can like thats not angrboda its fine. Its all so weird bc theres no competition between the two. There never was. I dont think they actually like thrud for her character they just want to be weirdos and i feel kinda bad for her and mina bc they really dont give a fuck. Im so shocked chris sunny and others even INTERACT with this bullshit of a fandom they are all really strong bc id say fuck all of you and go 😭 im not against criticism at all and i try not to take this shit seriously but its hard when you see a insane group of people take alot of this shit to the next level. this fandom is a bunch of whiny babies who hold onto their precious destroyer too much. The hate everyone has gotten recently is just so stupid and they often times try to make it their goal to hate. I see that SMS is trying to diverge their fandom to a broader audience and they are taking a bit more risks esp with atreus and i love that despite the backlash against him, they continued with his character regardless. I hope they do the same thing with the other characters as well and expand them no matter how much these people want to hate and act all high and mighty. I can understand certain critiques like the ending being too fast or maybe they couldve done blah blah better and whatnot but i think alot of people are overreacting and being ridiculously nitpicky with alot of things when it comes to ragnarok. 

Last thing and also kinda random thing SMS is very wrong for what they did to TC Carson and i acknowledge that completely and i hope they never do smth like that to any of the current cast either bc i would be fucking pissed if so LOL

#God of war #god of war fandom #Gow #kratos #Atreus #angrboda #freya #thrud #thor #sif #yall are some fucking assholes #fandom #bullshit #gowr #god of war ragnarok #my stuff

[clerisy-fc]

Mina's Invitation

Hi! I’m Mina!  Mama said I was allowed to invite people over to see our FC house!

I’m always looking for new friends, so I hope you come visit us.  The address is Shirogane, Ward 17, Plot 28 on Malboro (Crystal DC).

We’ll start in the yard!  This is my favourite spot to sit and have a snack in the sun when mama makes me go outside instead of reading inside. Mr. Fuzzlekins likes his tea with lots of sugar, though Sunny doesn’t let me use as much as he’d really like.  

Sometimes I like to pretend to fight like papa with Lulu and the training dummy, it’s so big!  And I have to watch out for some of the chocobos in the stable, most are friendly, but I think Mei’s is hungry all the time and Lett says that it could eat me in one bite!

Going inside, I like to get into the fruit and other snacks that Elucia and Sunny keep in the kitchen.  They’re always so tasty!  Though, I do have to share the sweets with Gloyn, she’s got a bigger sweet tooth than me according to mama Sofy and Blodyn.  Mama and papa said I shouldn’t have too many, but Elucia always sneaks me extras when they’re not looking.

Going upstairs, there’s a bit with drinks I’m not allowed to have for a long time, but there’s also a stage!  I saw a bunch of the adults playing on it and we’ve had a few costume contests on it too!  The costumes were all so pretty! I like singing and dancing for Mr. Fuzzlekins and Lulu like Amis plays her instruments for other people.

Going all the way to the basement, there’s a library for everyone that my papa has been working on with mama for a long time.  I have a whole play area to myself by the stairs!  Though, I do have to share with Alba when Marisol and Gologa have to go do something, but that’s okay!

I don’t like being stuck behind the gate, but mama, mama Sofy, and papa all say it’s to keep me safe, so I guess it’s okay for a bit.  I do like all the stuffies I have, though.

Oh! Now it’s time to go to my room!

My room is through here, my bed is shaped like a carbuncle and so are my slippers! I don't understand why the adults look annoyed and also laugh about my slippers, though.

I have a pretty nightlight that looks like stars and the moon, and it makes me feel safe when I’m going to sleep at night!

Let me show you Papa’s study!

Look at all the books!  Isn’t it amazing?  Most of them are too big for me to read yet, but papa says that he thinks it won’t be long before I can start going through his shelves.

I hope you visit soon!  I can’t wait to meet you!

I’m going to sit here and wait for papa to get home, he should be back soon and I’m feeling sort of sleepy.

(Screen credit - @aurelia-polyps - Thank you SO much for making Mina come to life!!)

#lumina rayne #ffxiv roleplay #ffxiv #house invitation #bring chocobo feathers and books #pretty please

[lathalea]

Third Time's the Charm (1/3)

Third Time's the Charm is a story prompted by @anjhope1’s ask. Thank you very much for your patience - I hope you will enjoy the three chapters I prepared for you. Enjoy! 💙💙💙

Relationships: Thorin x Reader

Rating: T

Warnings: none Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

* * *

The first time you saw the King Under the Mountain was on the day you arrived to Dale. After Erebor was reclaimed by the Dwarves, the nearby city of Men that once was bustling with life needed rebuilding. Most of the people of Esgaroth moved to Dale, set on making it their new home. Soon, merchants started arriving with their goods, along with new settlers, searching for a good place to live. You were one of them. Two years ago, you got caught by a rainstorm while on a hike in a forest. Lost in the sudden darkness, you found a place to hide under a tree and decided to wait out the night. The sleep came soon, but when you woke up, both the storm and the forest were gone, along with the life you knew so far. You found yourself at the place called the Pelennor Fields, a place that, you were sure of it, wasn’t marked on any map of the Earth you knew. You were drawn towards the elegant towers of the White City, the capital of a land called Gondor, and started your new life there, quickly adjusting to it and making good use of your education as an architect. You were quickly noticed by the best Master Builders of Minas Tirith who taught you the secrets of their art in exchange for your knowledge.

Growing restless and eager to see the new world you were living in, you decided to join one of the merchant caravans and travel north to Rhovanion to find your luck there. If anyone would ask why you decided to travel so far away, you would tell them you’d always wanted to see the Misty Mountains. The truth was slightly different. As a woman of Men, you were fascinated by other cultures, their architecture and their building techniques. That is why you decided to travel to Rhovanion. If you were to find yourself in the vicinity of the Long Lake, you would have a chance to admire both the famed palace of king Thranduil of the Woodland Realm and, what was especially interesting to you, the legendary work of the dwarven stonemasons of Erebor. At least, that was what you hoped for.

Dale welcomed you with sunny weather and blue sky. After renting a room in a tavern, you ordered dinner to the sound of your growling belly. Enjoying the food in the main hall, you suddenly heard a commotion outside, and a sound of horns ringing in the air. A large group of the patrons moved to the door and left the tavern in visible excitement.

“What is happening?” you asked the barkeeper, a robust, middle-aged woman with a kind smile.

“The King of carven stone is returning to Erebor, see it for yourself!” she encouraged you, pointing her head at the door.

Erebor. The Dwarves. Finally! You’ve heard so much about the Lonely Mountain and its inhabitants and now you were going to see their king! Without thinking, you hurried outside and followed the crowd. The retinue of the King Under the Mountain was passing through the main street of Dale; a large group of proud Dwarven warriors in beautifully ornamented armors and helmets traveling on ponies. Every member of this group had an impressive beard and at least one dangerously-looking weapon.

One of the Dwarves caught your eye. He was slightly taller than most of his companions; his ceremonial black and golden armor shone in the last rays of the setting sun. A mane of dark, almost black wavy hair flowed down his shoulders and you noticed several braids, too. Looking at his profile, it was impossible to read his expression, but the aquiline line of his nose and his proudly set jaw made you think of the great dwarven statues of Erebor you had seen from afar. There was something more that made this Dwarf look different from his companions: the way he held himself, the way his icy-blue gaze scanned the gathered crowds, and... his beard. It was much shorter than one would expect, especially when compared to his companions, and pleated into only one braid clasped with a golden bead at the end.

“Look, Leah, the king of silver fountains is coming home!” a man in a leather apron who was standing near you said to a red-haired girl beside him, pointing at the group of Dwarves. “Where has he been, daddy?” the child asked him, her eyes shining in excitement.

“He visited the elves to make sure we all have enough food for the winter,” he explained.

“Does that mean I’ll have to eat kale again?” the girl grimaced in disgust.

“If you’re lucky, you’ll have some parsnip, too!” her father winked at her.

The girl moaned in obvious despair, but you didn’t follow their conversation any further, your eyes focused on the approaching Dwarves. Their ponies went slowly and steadily, clearly knowing the way. Soon you could admire all the details of their harnesses, the beautifully crafted saddles and the geometric patterns on the warriors’ armors. Your eyes followed the sharp lines of a breastplate; the pattern made you think of ruffled up feathers of a bird of prey, gold against black, accentuating a broad chest. And then there were the golden pauldrons with ravens adorning them. What an interesting design choice. Wondering if the Dwarves used this pattern in their buildings as well, you lifted your gaze to the face of that warrior and… gulped. A pair of icy-blue eyes rested on your face, the gaze piercing you to your very core, the whites of his eyes contrasting with his tanned face and thick, dark beard. You recalled that Dwarves were proud and fearless people and decided that averting your gaze could be understood as a sign of cowardice, so you looked straight back at him. There was a spark in his eye, but you couldn’t understand its meaning. Was it your imagination or the king just nodded slightly at you with a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth? You froze. No, his gesture wasn’t directed at you, you were sure of it. He probably greeted someone else who stood nearby, someone he knew. Yes, that must have been it. You looked around to locate the person, but couldn’t spot them. When your gaze returned to that Dwarf, you could only see his wide back covered by a long black cloak and the hind legs of his pony.

“When I’m bigger, I’ll be a warrior and I will have the same raven armor as King Thorin!” the kale-hating girl next to you stated firmly. Uh-oh. So... were you really staring insolently in the eyes of the king of Erebor himself?

“I’m sorry, did you just say King Thorin?” you turned to her. The girl flashed a gap-toothed smile at you and recited. “King Under the Mountain, Thorin Oakenshield, the second of his name!”

Her father chuckled amiably, “They have just started learning about the history of Dale and Erebor at school.”

You nodded in understanding, “But… has Thorin Oakenshield not fallen in the great Battle of Five Armies?”

“You are new to Dale, aren’t you, miss?” the man asked, holding the girl’s hand. Leah seemed to have lost interest in your conversation and looked towards the Dwarven warriors who were slowly disappearing in the distance.

“I have just arrived from Gondor,” you explained.

“Ah, that explains it. You see, miss, he was mightily wounded on the battlefield and there were some rumors about his death, but he is as sturdy a Dwarf as they come. Made of stone, they say. The Grey Wizard was with him, and the Elven King too! People say they made some powerful magic and the king survived! His cousin Dain Ironfoot ruled in his stead for a while until the king got better.” “The news that reached Minas Tirith were different…” you shook your head in disbelief. “I heard that Dain became the king.” “You’re not the first one who comes to us surprised that the lord of the Iron Hills is not the king of Erebor. The rumors of Thorin Oakenshield’s demise reached as far as Shire, I hear. It is weird how those stories spread sometimes. But here, in Dale, we are glad that all that dragon business ended the way it did. We moved here from Laketown a while back and with the Dwarves nearby, the city will soon be thriving.” “Daddy, daddy, can we go and feed the donkeys already?” Leah pulled at her father’s apron. “Yes, we’d better be going. Well, it was nice to meet you, and if you ever need good shoes, ask for Jossiah,” the man made a small bow and his daughter waved you goodbye. When you finally returned to the tavern, it was late and you quickly went to bed. Falling asleep, you recounted the events of the day.

You have arrived to Dale.

You saw the legendary dwarven king himself, Thorin Oakenshield. And you couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was.

* * *

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Don’t forget to let me know what you think about this story!

Read it? Like it? Reblog it!

Taglist: @fizzyxcustard @shrimpsthings @dark-angel-is-back @sherala007 @amelia307 @anyaspidergirl-blog @justfollowtheroad @jotink78 @rachel1959 @saltwater-in-the-afternoon @linasofia@bitter-sweet-farmgirl @yourqueenunderthemountain @guardianofrivendell

#thorin x you #thorin x reader #thorin fic #thorin fanfiction #erebor #sunday funday #the hobbit #the hobbit au #the hobbit fanfiction #modern girl in middle earth #thorin oakenshield

[nichuuu]

Sociopath: Epilogue

“Jeongie! Spring onions!”

“Yes, Chef!”

“Chuyoung-oppa! Put it down! You’ll hurt yourself! Let me help you!”

“Do we have enough bowls? Minsoo, have you wiped the tables outside?”

“Dubu, are the canapes ready?”

“Woaah… Massigeda!”

“Momoring! For fuck’s sake stop nibbling on the snacks and make yourself fucking useful for once!”

It’s a sunny Sunday afternoon in March. The renovations to Eomma’s porridge restaurant is finally done, and today is the grand re-opening of the restaurant, much to everyone’s delight. Nayeon and I have been busy preparing everything, and today, everyone came to help us. Naturally, Chaeyoung, Dahyun, Mina, and Sana were the first to arrive to help us, but the other directors helped us too.

Jihyo brought her boyfriend Minsoo along to make sure that all the tables are spotless, including the ones at the newly opened outdoor sitting area downstairs, after Nayeon purchased the seolleongtang restaurant for us in December. Tzuyu and her boyfriend Chuyoung helped put up the menus and framed photos on the wall–partly because they’re the two tallest people we have around. Mina and Chaeyoung are busy checking all the invitations, making sure that every guest has an assigned seat.

In the kitchen, Dahyun and Yoo Jeongyeon–Nayeon’s personal chef and good friend–are helping me to cook the dishes for our guests, practically becoming my sous chefs. Fun fact: Only today did I know that Minsoo is Jeongyeon’s adoptive younger brother. That’s interesting.

Momo’s boyfriend Sabito is currently hunching over his laptop on the cashier, setting up our payment and registry system. Sana and Momo… They’re not much of a help, though. They’re busy stealing food that we’ve prepared, taking small bites every now and then, although their presence does lighten up the mood. I guess everyone has a part to play.

What about Nayeon? Well… Nayeon’s being Nayeon. She’s the boss. She tells everyone everything, barking her orders to everyone, including me. I sigh as I watch all of us frantically preparing for the reopening event that is about to happen in half an hour time. It’s chaotic, but… Somehow I feel really happy.

“And… Done! Boss, all the food is ready!” says Jeongyeon.

“Thank you, Jeongie! Dubu, Minsoo, can you help me to bring these out to the tables?” I ask my best friend and Jihyo’s boyfriend.

“Sir, yes, sir!” the pale girl salutes me.

We all laugh, and we proceed to bring all the food that Jeongyeon, Dahyun, and I cooked to the tables. Minsoo stumbles to the kitchen, reaching for a few bowls, before clattering some onto the floor. Luckily they’re plastic.

“Ya… Pabo…” sighs Jihyo exasperatedly.

“S–Sorry, Mommy…” stammers Minsoo. Jihyo giggles and helps her boyfriend pick up the bowls.

“Cheer up, Baby… Just get it together,” she says.

I haven’t spent that much time with that cute couple, but I somehow feel like their relationship is an adorable one. We set up the bowls and dishes on the tables swiftly, before slumping on the chairs. I check my watch… Still fifteen minutes ‘till opening. We’re good.

“All good down here?” asks Nayeon, walking slowly from the second floor.

“Yup! How’s everything up there?” I ask my girlfriend. She smiles cutely.

“Oh, everything’s merry and happy up there,” she says.

Nayeon sits next to me and pecks my cheek. I smile and grab her hand.

“Aww… These two… Aren’t they a couple of heart shakers?” quips Sana, gulping down her iced coffee. Dahyun sniggers and slaps her girlfriend’s head.

“Heart shakers? What kind of a nickname is that?” she asks incredulously. Sana shrugs.

“Dunno… Just… Crossed my mind,” Sana says casually.

Dahyun sits down and rests her head on Sana’s shoulders. Sabito closes his laptop and walks over to join Momo and Jeongyeon, sitting next to Minsoo and Jihyo. Tzuyu and Chuyoung sit by one table, and lastly Mina and Chaeyoung join us from the front desk.

“All good?” asks Nayeon again. Everyone nods.

“You invited a lot of people, didn't you, Unnie?” asks Mina. Nayeon chuckles.

“Come on… There’s a reason why I purchased the seolleongtang restaurant too, right? We need more people know just how delicious Eomma’s recipes are!” Nayeon says. We chuckle and nod with her.

“Oh, but seriously, once they try the porridge, they’ll want more and more!” says Jeongyeon.

“I think so too, Noona!” Minsoo says.

“Yup! So do I!” exclaims Momo, drawing sharp glares from everyone.

“Ya! All you did today was steal food!” scolds Sabito.

Momo giggles and pecks her boyfriend’s cheek shamelessly, as if she didn’t just do what Sabito said. Sabito sighs exasperatedly but chuckle nonetheless. Nayeon smiles and asks the Japanese man.

“Is the system up and running?” Nayeon asks. Sabito nods.

“Mm! I’ve set up everything nicely,” he confirms. “They can pay using all available payment methods now, and I’ve also set up the touch screen menu system, so you can input orders more easily.”

Momo sighs as she drapes an arm across Sabito’s shoulders.

“My lovely scientist,” she coos. Sabito sighs.

“I’m an IT specialist, Darling… Not a scientist,” he objects. Momo smirks.

“You graduated from the Science and Technology faculty of Seoul National University… That makes you a scientist, right?” Momo stubbornly says.

“Ooo… SNU? Fancy…” quips Tzuyu.

We chuckle at her cute remark. Nayeon beams happily and looks around the room.

“Ya, yedeura! What about… After today’s event, we go out to a noraebang and enjoy our night together? I’m paying!” she proposes. Everyone gasps.

“Omo! Jinjja?!” gasps Dahyun.

“Am I invited?” asks Jeongyeon. Nayeon nods.

“Of course! Everyone here is invited!” she says happily.

“Alright! Let’s dance the night away!” exclaims Sana.

“Yaaaay!!! Me likey, likey, likey!” chimed Chaeyoung cutely, earning a kiss from Mina.

Nayeon looks at me proudly, and I smile at her. She’s grown so much. The old Nayeon would never even think about treating her friends to a night out, but this Nayeon… She’s different. She’s the kindest, most generous girl I’ve ever met. I smile at her and grab her hands, but then I notice that Chuyoung is looking a little strange. I lift my face and look at Tzuyu’s boyfriend.

“Hyung, is everything alright?” I ask him. Tzuyu turns around and looks at her boyfriend concernedly.

“What’s wrong, Oppa?” she asks. Chuyoung shakes his head and smiles.

“No… Nothing… It’s just… Why do I have a strange feeling when I hear you guys saying those words…” he says.

“What words?” Dahyun asks.

Chuyoung looks around at us.

“‘Cheer Up’, ‘Heart Shaker’, ‘Merry and Happy’, ‘More and More’, ‘Scientist’, ‘Fancy’, ‘Dance The Night Away’, ‘Likey’... It’s as if… As if I’ve heard those words before, but… They’re not spoken words,” he says.

“They’re songs, right?”

We all turn to look at Jihyo, who’s staring at us with her big eyes. Okay. This is weird. What is happening?

“W–What are you talking about?” stutters Minsoo. Jihyo looks at him, then back at all of us.

“I don’t know… Lately… I’ve been having this strange feeling every now and then… Like… Little flashes of things…” she starts.

My eyes widened. What? She’s been experiencing the same thing too? I exchanged glances with Nayeon, who had a similar experience once in front of that pet shop. Jihyo turns to look at her boyfriend.

“... I told you this before, Minchu. One night, as I was finishing my work to catch a deadline, I had a vision… That… That nine of us girls, including you, Jeongie… We’re… We’re not working professionals,” Jihyo continues.

“Then what are we?” asks Jeongyeon.

“We’re… Okay, this might sound silly, but it’s just a vision, or a dream… I don’t know what it is… We’re… We’re singers, and those words we just spoke… Those are our song titles,” Jihyo says seriously.

We all stare at her with gaping mouths. What the fuck?

“Singers?” repeats Momo. Jihyo nods.

“You’re… More of a dancer, really, Momo… Chaeyoung and Dubu are rappers. We all dance and sing, really…” she says.

“What… Like… K-pop idols?” asks Tzuyu. Jihyo nods again.

“Strange, right? Maybe it’s just me being too tired,” Jihyo smiles.

We stare at her with a long silence, but then one by one, we start to chuckle and shake our heads. Idols? Come on… These girls are pretty and talented, but… Not like that. I hear Nayeon giggling.

“Ya… If we’re idols, what should our group be called?” she muses.

“TWICE!”

We all whip around, and we see Jennie and Joohyun, Nayeon’s good friends and executives of our partner company, bickering outside of the door.

“We’ve been walking around this area twice, Jen! Can’t you get the address right? Where’s the porridge shop? This is getting embarrassing!” Joohyun exclaims, sounding irritated. Jennie is staring at her phone frantically.

“I know! I mean… I remember the shop being on the second floor of a seolleongtang restaurant… But where is it?” she mutters in frustration.

I laugh as I stand up, and Nayeon runs past me while giggling.

“Jennie! Joohyun! We’re here!” she exclaims as she opens the front door. “Welcome!!!”

“Unnie!” Jennie screams as she runs towards her. “I totally didn’t get lost!”

“Yea right, and I’m the president of the USA.” Nayeon huffs as she lets go of Jennie.

The younger girl blushes as Joohyun walks in as well.

“Thank god you found us… Another second with her dumb ass and I’ll end it!” Joohyun huffs as she flicks Jennie’s head.

“Ow!” Jennie pouts. Nayeon chuckles.

“I feel you Joohyun. Come on in,” she says as she lets them enter, making them the first customers for the day.

“Omo… The place looks great!” Jennie says as she does a small twirl, doing a full 360 scan of the place. “Love the vibe!” She adds.

“I’ll be agreeing with her on something for the first time today…” Joohyun remarks as she looks around as well. “You guys really make this place feel cosy…”

“It’s what Eomma always wanted…for this restaurant to be a place where people can call home,” I explain.

“Well, you definitely fulfilled her wish then…” Joohyun muses. “Alright. All that walking made me hungry. Let’s order!”

“Right this way!” Nayeon says as she leads them to the counter. I smile as Dahyun and Chaeyoung happily tend to them in their cute aprons and shirts.

“Oh boy… That’s a big crowd…”

I turn and see Minsoo pointing outside. As I turn, I see a huge crowd of people making a beeline for the restaurant. Hoo… Boy.

“Ya! Yeorobun! We got a big crowd, let’s do our best! Hwaiting!”

“HWAITING!” They all echo.

“Guide us, Eomma…” I whisper under my breath.

Drawing in a deep breath, I flip the sign hanging on the clear glass window to ‘OPEN’ and pull open the door.

“Welcome! Please, come in!” I greet the bustling crowd.

I step outside momentarily, letting all the people flood into the restaurant. Out of pure curiosity, I do a small headcount as they walk in.

50 people.

Holy… We are off to a good start…

“Sang-woo-ya!”

I look into the distance and see a man waving to me, a woman holding his hand and walking with him as they draw closer and closer.

“Jae-sang-hyung!” I wave enthusiastically. The tailor couple walks up to me.

“Omo… This is a big restaurant… Congratulations!” He smiles as he reaches out for a handshake. I shake his hand with an equally warm smile.

“Please, come in! We should be able to find a seat for you!” I say. They nod and voice another word of congratulations before walking in.

“Fifty-four now,” I muse before I walk back in.

The door closed behind me with a jingle. A familiar bustle greets me as the sound of chatter fills my ears, my vision lost in a long line of people. But that line doesn’t matter as I see Nayeon’s smiling face skipping towards me.

“Business is booming!” She happily declares. I smile and ruffle her hair.

“This is only about 50 people honey. We can’t call it a success yet…” I say.

“I know, I know… But it’s something, eh?” She whispers as she rests her head on my shoulder. I lace my fingers with hers and squeeze her hand.

“Yea… It’s just like how everything used to be…” I whisper, the early days of helping in the restaurant as a kid flooding back into my mind.

“I’m sure your Eomma would be proud of what you’ve achieved today…” Nayeon assures me. I shake my head.

“Not me. What we’ve achieved today. I couldn’t have done this without you my bunny.”

She blushes.

“It’s… It’s not much…”

I chuckle and pull her close.

“Not much? Honey… You bought a whole unit just to get us a 2 storey restaurant. I’d say that’s more than I can ask for…”

She giggles and gives me a quick peck.

“Only the best for you.”

I smile, holding back the urge to make out with her, right here, right now.

“Ya… Don’t even try it, Pabo,” she sniggers, reading my mind.

“Try what?” I retort playfully.

“I know you wanna make out with me now… But there are other people…” she giggles. I chuckle.

“Got me there…”

Jingle

“Appa!” Nayeon squeals. I let go of her and watch with a smile as she runs over to her father.

“Hello, Pumpkin!” he chuckles as he hugs her.

“I’m so glad you could make it!” Nayeon says as she lets go of him.

“Well… It’s the grand opening of a restaurant partially owned by my daughter. How could I miss it?” He smiles.

“Ya… Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Nayeon asks as she points at me.

“Oh yes! How can I forget? Congratulations on your new restaurant Sang-woo, looking forward to getting family discounts soon,” he jokes. I laugh.

“It’ll be there soon enough, Abeonim,” I reply.

“Ya! Not on my watch!” Nayeon huffs. “The only person who should get a discount is me!”

Classic Nayeon…

“Babe, you’re a majority shareholder, I think that’s more than enough…”

“Can’t I get a little more?” She coos cutely.

Nayeon’s dad laughs heartily, and I can tell that he’s proud of his daughter. The door opened again, revealing more and more guests coming in, so our sweet little reunion with Nayeon’s dad was cut short for the time being.

Detective Moon Hyejin comes with her girlfriend Yeri, the jeweller. This is the first time I’m seeing the two of them together like this. I beam happily as I welcome the petite couple, bringing them to their table and getting their orders myself.

“What would you two like to order?” I ask them. Hyejin smiles.

“Anything that you recommend, Sajangnim!” she says. “Yerim?”

“I’ll have what you’re having! Sangwoo-ssi! This is a good place! We’ll return here multiple times for sure!” Yeri says happily. I chuckle and bow respectfully.

“Kamsahamnida, Yeri-ssi, Hyejin-ssi…” I say.

Yeri nods, before flinging her eyes around the packed room. She caught a glance of Nayeon, and I know her jeweller eyes immediately noticed the bunny necklace around Nayeon’s neck. She giggles and looks at me with a sneaky look.

“You know… I see that you’ve managed to get your girl with the bunny necklace… Thanks to me,” Yeri says.

“Eh? What are you talking about?” asks Hyejin. Yeri giggles again.

“I told you, Babe… I gave him a 50% employee discount when he was buying that necklace for his girlfriend. It works, right? You’re together, right?” Yeri asks. I chuckle and nod.

“Very much so. Neomu kamsahamnida, Yeri-ssi…” I say, bowing again.

“Don’t mention it… But can’t we get a 50% discount on the orders in return?” Yeri asks. Hyejin gasps.

“YA!” she scolds her girlfriend, before turning to look at me embarrassedly, “Joesonghamnida, Sangwoo-ssi… She’s shameless like that!”

I laugh out loud and shook my head.

“No, no! It’s alright! You two deserve it! 50% discount on me!” I beam.

“Yaaay!” exclaims Yeri, making Hyejin sigh exasperatedly.

“You’re embarrassing me…” she mutters.

I laugh again and left the two on their own, walking towards the kitchen. Jeongyeon and Dahyun are busy cooking the orders, Jeongyeon barking orders like a drill sergeant to the pale girl, who is smiling so wide. I chuckle and lean against the counter.

“Everything good?” I ask them. Dahyun and Jeongyeon look up and smile.

“Yes, Chef! Dubu’s a great help!” Jeongyeon said, giving Dahyun a fist bump. I chuckle. I’m glad these two have a great chemistry from the get go. Dahyun glares at me.

“Ya, what are you doing back here? You should be out there welcoming your guests! Go, go go!” Dahyun says.

“Right, sorry!” I chuckle, placing Hyejin and Yeri’s orders in the rack, before going outside again.

I walk to the outdoor sitting area, where all the girls are busy taking the orders of our guests. I chuckle as I see two guys–one Black, one Japanese, assuming from his accent–talking to Mina and Chaeyoung.

“So you have no alcohol here?” the Japanese man asks. I notice that he’s wearing an eye patch. Mina nods.

“Mm. Yes… We’re so sorry, but we’re alcohol free here,” Mina says.

Huh. Alcohol free. Why does that sound familiar?

“Ahh… That’s alright. Let’s get soju somewhere else, then, Yori-kun?” the Black man asks. The man he called Yori smiles and shakes his head.

“Nah, we can get it later, Ansel-san,” he says, before turning to Chaeyoung. “We’ll just have tea with our porridge. Thanks!”

“Domo arigatou gozaimasu!” says Chaeyoung in Japanese deftly.

The two Japanese guys–Ansel and Yori–laugh and clap, making Chaeyoung blush and smile. I chuckle. My best friend is just so cute.

I left Mina and Chaeyoung and the outdoor patio and walked upstairs. Nayeon is talking with a couple of guests, and I think I know them, so I walk to approach them. It’s Jisoo, one of the directors from Jennie’s company, along with her husband Yeoni.

“Hi, guys! Jisoo-ssi! Yeoni-ssi! Welcome, welcome!” I say as I drape my hand around Nayeon’s waist. Nayeon whips around and smiles at me, and the happy couple also smile and nod.

“Thank you, Sangwoo-ssi! Nice place you have here!” Yeoni remarks.

“Kamsahamnida, Yeoni-ssi…” I bow.

Jisoo smiles angelically and grabs Nayeon’s hands.

“Just… Take it easy, okay? The first few months are always hard, but after that… It’s smooth sailing,” Jisoo says.

I assumed that she was giving Nayeon advice on running a small business, so I smiled and nodded at her. Nayeon smiled and nodded as well, but then I noticed that her face was blushing. Hmm?

I look at Jisoo, and notice that she’s rubbing her belly… Which is… Oh my God!

“Speaking of… J–Joesonghamnida, Jisoo-ssi… But… Are you…” I stutter. Nayeon laughs.

“Oh, just say it, Jagi! These two are breeding like rabbits!” Nayeon says. Jisoo giggles shyly.

“Well… It’s… Another twin now…” she says, rubbing her bump.

My jaw drops to the floor as I stare at Jisoo and Yeoni, who are both laughing sheepishly. Oh my God! Jisoo’s pregnant again? Just how many kids do they have now… SEVEN?

“Y–Yeah… I… Really need to practise self restraint,” says Yeoni. Jisoo sighs.

“Oh, damn right, YeongYeong!” Jisoo says.

We laugh as Yeoni blushes red.

“Aish…you’re too horny for your own good…” Nayeon giggles.

“C-Can’t help it…” he mutters. Jisoo slaps his arm.

“Yes you can! Now come on, let’s go get in that line before it gets longer!” Jisoo says as she grabs her boyfriend’s arm. “See you Nayeon! We wish the both of you the best in your new journey!”

“Kamsahamnida, Jisoo-ssi!” I wave back.

I turn and see Nayeon blushing even redder than earlier.

“Ya… Everything okay?” I ask. She smiles and nods.

“Y-Yea… Go… Go attend to your customers!” She says before pushing me back towards the main area.

I raise an eyebrow but decide to save it for later. I make a mental note to check up on her later before returning to continue helping my staff.

* * *

“Thank you for coming! Hope to see you guys again soon!” I wave to our last customers before closing the door and flipping the sign back to ‘CLOSED’. Man… What a day!

Business was great today, with lots and lots of familiar faces turning up left right and centre. Minjeong and Hajoon came in soon after Yeoni and Jisoo, followed by Appa and even a few high school friends. I only had time to say a quick hello to all of them before getting back to work.

“Good job everyone! That’s a wrap!” I yell.

The girls and their boyfriends all cheer and clap, ending our day on a high note. Now… Time to address the problem nagging me at the back of my head…

I walk up to Nayeon and gently take her hand in mine.

“Hey… You okay?” I whisper in a hushed tone.

She looks around for a bit before whispering into my ear.

“Follow me.”

She pulls me away from the area and into the office, where she closes the door and locks it shut.

“Is everything alright?” I ask as she walks up to me.

She smiles and wraps her arms around my neck.

“Mhm… I’m fine…” she whispers before softly tiptoeing and planting her lips on mine. I chuckle as my arms wrap around her waist, pulling her into me.

“Ya… Did you get bigger?” I ask as I feel the sensation of her heavenly pillows pressing against me.

They weren’t this big last time…

“Well uh… There’s… There’s a reason why I brought you back here… Other than to make out with you…” she blushes.

“What is it?”

She slowly unwraps her arms from around me.

“Wait here.”

She quickly runs behind the desk in the office and rummages through the drawer. A couple of seconds later, she produces a small, long box, along with a small envelope. She closes the drawer before running back to me with both items in hand.

“Here,” she says as she hands me both of them.

“What’s this?”

“Just… Open them… The box first,” she instructs.

I follow her instructions, undoing the clasp on the box before opening it up. Two thermometer-like objects greet me as the lid of the box comes off. I carefully pick one of them up and flip it around.

I let out a small gasp as I realise what it is.

It’s a pregnancy test…

And…

There’s… Two stripes across the one I’m holding…

“Check the other one…” she whispers as she takes the first one from me.

With trembling hands, I reach in and take out the second box.

Double stripes as well.

“N-Nayeon…” I stammer as I look up at her. She smiles and nods.

Oh…

My…

God…

“S-So… Is… This…” I ask as I lift the envelope. She nods.

“It’s my ultrasound… Have a look…”

My hands move on their own, my brain completely numb.

The flap of the envelope is ripped off by me as my fingers reach in and grasp the sheet of paper inside. As I pull it out, the paper unfolds into multiple images, and with each one, I slowly start to see more and more blurry images, but I can vaguely see different body parts of a baby.

Oh my God…

I’m… Gonna be a father…

My gaze stays locked on the paper, my mouth dry as I struggle to describe this sensation I’m feeling.

“When… When did you…”

“After you came inside me last Christmas… I–I had a feeling that I was gonna get pregnant… So when I ran into the bathroom to throw up one day last month, I… I somehow just knew it. So I bought a couple of tests and… Sure enough… I’m pregnant…”

I blink, my eyes starting to water.

“Is… Is it a he or…”

“I don’t know yet… But if it’s a girl, I want to name her Mi-soo.”

I stare at her.

“That’s…”

“Your mother’s name, I know. I wanted to honour her memory… To honour the lady who made me feel like I had a family,” she explains.

She gently walks up to me and grasps my hand. With that beautiful bunny smile, she slowly guides my hand towards her stomach and lays my hand on it. My heart flutters as I feel the firmness of her baby bump.

“Say hi…” she whispers.

My vision starts to get blurry as tears drip down my face. I can’t believe this…

“A-Annyeong… I’m… I’m going to be your dad…” I manage to choke out. Nayeon grins wider and squeezes my hand gently.

“And he’s going to be the best father ever…” she finishes as her eyes start to water as well.

A smile breaks across my face as I stare into her eyes.

“A-And… Y-You’re gonna have a g-great… Mother…”

She laughs and sheds a tear.

“I… I promise that… I’ll never leave you Nayeon… I’m… I’m gonna make sure that she has the best childhood possible…”

“I know you will, Jagi… I know you will…”

With that, she leans forward and plants her luscious lips on mine. I close my eyes, letting my tears drip down from my eyes as we kiss passionately. My hands hold her waist as I pull her closer than ever before, holding the soon to be mother lovingly.

“Looks like I’ll actually be a Daddy now…” I chuckle. She giggles softly and rests her head against me.

“But you’ll always be my Daddy as well…” she whispers. I smile and kiss her forehead.

“Of course, my Bunny… But… Let’s try not to get caught doing it by this little fella hm?” I suggest, rubbing her bump.

“Aish… She’ll have to learn to knock then…”

“Aish…” I sigh as she laughs.

“Joking…”

“I know, Darling…”

We kiss again, and she holds my hand on her small, growing baby bump. She brings my hands up, making me touch her breasts, and I chuckle.

“They do get bigger, don’t they?” I ask her. She giggles and nods.

“A cup bigger… Do you like them?” Nayeon whispers naughtily. I nod.

“So much… I can’t wait to taste my bunny’s milk…” I whisper. Nayeon laughs.

“Unlucky real rabbits don’t nurse their babies…” she utters as she kisses me.

Hang on.

“Jagi, rabbits do nurse their babies!” I protest. Nayeon stares at me confusedly.

“Eh? But… They… They lay eggs, right?” she asks, and I know she wasn’t joking.

“Nabong…” I sigh. “... That's the Easter Bunny. It’s a myth. Rabbits are mammals. They can’t lay eggs.”

Nayeon stares at me confusedly for a few seconds, blinking her beautiful eyes, before slowly, she starts laughing, and her laugh grows louder and louder. It was contagious, so I laughed with her.

“Oh my God… I really thought bunnies lay eggs!” she exclaims through her laughter. I chuckle and kiss her cheeks lovingly.

“My silly Bunny…” I remark.

We hug each other, enjoying the comfortable silence that comes after our laughter dies down. A thought crosses my mind, so I look at the door, making sure that it was properly locked, before whispering into Nayeon’s ear.

“You know… There’s one thing that makes you different from the Easter Bunny,” I say.

“Hm? What is it?”

“The Easter Bunny comes once a year during Easter,” I say. She understands immediately.

“Ya…” she warns. I chuckle.

“But my Bunny…”

“YA!”

“... Cums every time I call her my ‘Slutty Bunny’...”

Nayeon’s body shakes as waves of pleasure overtook her, and she presses her palm against her mouth to stifle a loud moan escaping from her. Her knees buckle, so she rests her body against the table, closing her eyes as I watch her denim skirt getting wetter, and wetter, and wetter. Nayeon looks up and glares at me.

“Y–You…” she growls, but I see her thick lips curving up into a longing smile.

“Me…” I say.

She giggles and pulls me closer. I thought she was going to undress me immediately after what I did to her, but Nayeon instead rests her chin on my chest, looking up at me the same way she always does.

“I love you, Darling…” I whisper.

“Forever and always?”

I smile.

“Forever and always.”

#im nayeon #kpop #hirai momo #writing #fanfic #nayeon #dahyun #chaeyoung

[agere-fandom-time]

Hi hi!! Can I gets a fic with toddler regressor! Midoriya izuku going nonverbal during an outing and lowkey regressing but he doesnt know what's happening and he just kind of rolls with it and the rest of 1-A's just like "whelp, looks like we've got a toddler on our hands??" Idk idk but yeah. Please n thankies

I loved this idea so much. Here is your fanfiction!! Mainly featuring Todoroki, Tokoyami, and Asui as the caregivers, with brief appearances from most of Class 1-A but I couldn’t fit everyone in. Also some Dadzawa, of course. 

Can be read below the 'read more’ or here on AO3.

Content Warnings: Sensory overload, non-verbal regression, briefly mentioned fear of Bakugou, involuntary regression in public. 

-Mod Stella

Izuku had always enjoyed shopping with his class.

Of course, now that they had moved into the dorms, there were new rules. A teacher had to come with them, and the students were required to stay in groups of three at all times. They had gone shopping in chaotic groups in their first year, but now leaving campus was an entire event, filled with paperwork and anticipation.

Today, Izuku sat in the middle of the bus between Ochako and Shouto, discussing their math homework. Around them, the rest of 1-A was humming with gossip and excitement as the city sped by outside the bus. Eventually, the conversation turned to specific questions, and all three pulled out their notebooks to compare their answers.

Kaminari wandered over to check on Ochako’s answers, earing him a smack on the head from Kirishima.

“Dude, come one, cheating is totally uncool!”

“I was just checking my answer,” Kaminari pouted, rubbing his head. “I wanted to know if I got question three right!”

“Bring your notebook over,” said Izuku. “The more the merrier!”

By the time they reached the mall, half of the class had their notebooks out and were arguing about the bonus question.

“Not to discourage you from schoolwork, but we could have stayed on campus if you wanted a study session,” Aizawa called from the front of the bus as the doors opened.

“We’re here!” Mina cried, shoving her notebook into her backpack and bolting for the door without zipping up her bag. Izuku could see her through the bus windows as the rest of the class followed her, bouncing impatiently in place as she waited for them. Izuku joined the line outside the bus, waiting for Aizawa to check the class numbers and announce the groups for today.

“Alright, pick your own trios today. Feel free to travel in groups of six, but don’t be a pain for the other people at the mall. Behave while you’re here.” Aizawa’s glare travelled across the class, and Izuku nodded furiously. He wasn’t going to cause any trouble this time!

Izuku was so busy nodding that he almost missed when people started mingling to form trios. He quickly located his nearest friend, which was Shouto, and walked towards him. It looked like he had already paired up with Tokoyami and they were just waiting for a third.

“Mind if I join you guys?” Izuku asked, hooking his thumbs into the straps of his backpack as he got closer.

“You are welcome,” Tokoyami said. Shouto simply nodded and shifted his body to include Izuku in their little circle.

“Cool, thanks!” Izuku took his place with them, watching the rest of the class divide themselves. Most of them were split by gender, having discovered that the boys and girls tended to shop in different places. Aoyama and Mina were the exception to the rule, an inseparable shopping duo. Hagakure had joined them today, and the three were already planning their route through the mall with loud enthusiasm.

“Do you guys need to visit any clothes stores? I’ve gone through, like, ten pairs of socks since our last trip, but I’m okay aside from that,” Izuku admitted. “I’d love to check out the new All Might figurines, I think the games store carries them here…” His trio started to plan their trip with far less fanfare than Aoyama’s.

“You have until five,” Aizawa called into the noise of the class. “Text me if there’s trouble, I’ll be in the food court keeping an eye out.”

“Yes sensei,” the class chorused. Finally free, they filed into the mall in an exuberant crowd.

Izuku, Shouto, and Tokoyami ended up in the bookstore first, trailing each other to their preferred sections (Izuku the manga, Shouto the poetry, and Tokoyami the historical fiction, which Izuku wouldn’t have guessed). All three of them found something to take home and they re-entered the main hallway of the mall with new bags hanging on their arms.

Excited as Izuku was to read his new magazine, the sound of the mall was starting to grate on him. The lights were slightly too bright, and the rustle of plastic bags clashed with the incessant noise of the crowd. People rushed past each other, occasionally brushing against Izuku, and he had to control his instinct to flinch whenever someone stepped on his foot or bumped into his shoulder.

Izuku trailed behind the others, focusing on Tokoyami’s sneakers so that he wouldn’t lose them. He tried to shut out the sounds of the mall, with limited success. There was just too much.

“Are you alright?”

Izuku was surprised to hear Shouto’s quiet voice from his left, and glanced up to see the other boy walking beside him, forehead creased with concern. Izuku smiled and went to say… something. But he couldn’t quite figure out what to say, or how to say it, so he settled for giving Shouto a thumbs-up. Shouto’s expression did something too complicated for Izuku to follow, and then he offered a subtle smile and an outstretched hand.

Izuku didn’t think twice before sliding his hand into Shouto’s, and everything was immediately better. Had the mall been too bright? It was very nice, almost sunny. It was still a little too loud, but he didn’t have to worry about that. He just had to follow Shouto wherever he went, hand-in-hand.

Knowing he wouldn’t lose his friends, Izuku was free to look around. And there was a lot to look at. Lots of strangers, and bright coloured clothing in the shop windows, and… ah!! All Might figurines!

Izuku dug his heels in, pulling Shouto to a stop. Shouto looked back with concern on his face, but Izuku smiled and pointed towards the shop with figurines in the window, and Shouto’s expression cleared.

“Tokoyami!” Shouto called into the crowd ahead of them. “Izuku wants to stop.”

It only took a moment for Tokoyami to join them, glancing briefly down at their joined hands. “I’m with you,” he nodded. “I will follow.”

Izuku tugged Shouto towards the games and collectibles store. There were so many things in here that Izuku loved! So many heroes and cool clothing and wow! Izuku bounced on his heels a little as he pulled Shouto into the store.

Once they were inside, Izuku let go of Shouto’s hand and dove in. There were plushies to feel, and figurines to inspect, and lots of games to check out! Distantly, he was aware of the others following close behind, murmuring to each other. But the merch was so much more important. Lots of All Might, of course, but there was a plushie of Thirteen that Izuku had to take a minute to cuddle. Ochako would probably like that: she was a big Thirteen fan, and had a fair number of plushies. And there was a Crimson Riot figurine that made Izuku think of Kaminari. He gave it a pat on the spiky head. Izuku didn’t hug Kaminari enough. He gave good hugs.

Finished with his inspection, Izuku turned back to his friends and reclaimed Shouto’s hand, leaning contentedly against his side. It made him happy just to be here, surrounded by all these things he could buy, and his friends as well. Tokoyami was on Izuku’s other side, and he bumped his beak lightly against Izuku’s head when Izuku came to join them. Izuku blinked at him. Was that how birds said hello?

Izuku tried to return the gesture, but he didn’t have a beak, so he just poked his nose into Tokoyami’s jawline. He heard Shouto stifle a laugh behind him, and he was pulled back to Shouto’s side.

“Be nice to Tokoyami,” Shouto said. Izuku tilted his head, confused. He was being nice! He was saying hello.

“Should we find another group?” Tokoyami suggested quietly. “Would you like to see Uraraka?” he asked Izuku.

Izuku nodded. Why wouldn’t he want to see Ochako? She was one of his best friends!

“Sounds good.” Shouto’s fingers wrapped a little more firmly around Izuku’s as they started to walk again. Izuku continued to stare around the mall. Everything seemed so fast and loud and big. Was this how the world always was? Something felt off, but Izuku couldn’t put his finger on what it was.

Suddenly, there was movement through the crowd: Kacchan shoving his way through a group of preteen girls with his usual murderous expression, Kaminari and Kirishima loudly apologizing as they followed in his wake.

Izuku did his best to hide behind Tokoyami and Shouto, pressing closer to Tokoyami in the process. A face emerged from Tokoyami’s shoulder, making Izuku jump, but it was just a small part of Dark Shadow stretching lazily from Tokoyami’s shirt, glancing at Izuku and then back towards Kacchan’s trio.

“Don’t worry, kid, we’ve got your back,” Dark Shadow muttered, and did the same beak thing that Tokoyami had done, pressing gently against Izuku’s forehead and then retreating back into Tokoyami’s shoulder.

Izuku stared at the place where the shadow had been, mouth slightly open.

“Still alright?” Shouto asked, pressing Izuku’s hand lightly. “Do you want to get some headphones from Aizawa or Iida?”

Izuku shook his head. Less sound was nice, but he liked being able to hear his friends’ voices. Shouto gave him a thumbs-up, and Izuku mirrored the gesture with a grin.

“There they are,” Izuku heard Tokoyami announce. “Dark Shadow, get their attention.”

“Alright, alright, jeez.” Dark Shadow jumped from Tokoyami’s back and stretched above the crowd, waving a clawed hand. That got a lot of the crowd’s attention, but soon Izuku could see who he’d been gesturing at: a group of four girls, Ochako at their head, was coming over towards them.

“Hey Tokoyami, hey Dark Shadow! What’s up?” Ochako asked.

“I believe we have completed our expedition. We wanted to check with other members of our class,” Tokoyami said. Izuku frowned. Were they really done? But he needed… socks? Or maybe food? He was supposed to buy something.

“Hey, Izuku,” Tsu said, coming to join them. “How’s the trip?”

Izuku was slowly getting used to the weird twisting sensation that kept happening when he tried to talk. He gave Tsu another smile and thumbs-up. She nodded, her tongue poking out from her mouth.

“Don’t feel like talking? I get that. Ribbit. Do you want to go back to the bus?”

Izuku was conflicted. It would be quieter on the bus, and maybe he could even lie down, but all his friends were here! He didn’t want to be alone.

Not knowing how to express the feeling, Izuku reached his free hand towards Tsu and wiggled his fingers. Seeming to understand, Tsu moved forwards and curled her hand in his, and Izuku squeezed both her and Shouto’s hands.

“We’d come with you, if you wanted,” Tsu said. “I’m pretty much finished, and the others will still be a group if we head out. We’d have to check in with Aizawa-sensei, ribbit, but he won’t mind.” Izuku liked the idea of talking to Aizawa. He took care of the class. Izuku felt safer with Aizawa, and when his friends were with Aizawa.

Izuku reluctantly nodded. There was more to see at the mall, and he was sad to miss it, but the idea of curling up on the bus and relaxing with his friends sounded a lot better.

“Well, let’s go then!” Tsu said, pointing towards the food court.

“Wait, wait, I want to give Izuku a hug!” Ochako yelled, and then there were arms wrapping around Izuku from behind, pulling him back into Ochako’s familiar embrace.

Izuku melted, arms dropping to his sides and his weight leaning back into Ochako. She made a surprised noise, tilting back under the pressure, and then Izuku was weightless and Ochako pulled him properly into her arms.

“Hey, Izuku,” she murmured. “I’m sorry you’re going, but I hope you have a good time with Tsu and Todoroki.”

“Mmm!” Izuku said, hoping that Ochako would understand that he meant that he would definitely have a good time, and it was a very nice hug, and thank you very much.

“Okay, I’ll let you go,” Ochako sighed, and pressed a kiss to the top of Izuku’s head, right on his hair. He squeaked and felt his cheeks flush from the unexpected affection. It had felt… a lot like Tokoyami’s beak, actually. But kind of softer. “Take care of him, you two!”

“You know we will, ribbit.”

His weight restored and his hands taken again by his friends, Izuku turned to smile over his shoulder at Ochako as he was led away, his face still warm from the kiss. She smiled and waved, before turning back to Jiro, Momo, and Tokoyami. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Ochako’s voice was high-pitched and excited as she joined the conversation. Hopefully they were having fun.

“Careful, Izuku,” Shouto said, tugging at his hand. “Watch where you’re going.”

Izuku turned his eyes back to the front just in time to let Tsu and Shoto navigate him around a support beam that had been coming a little too close for comfort. Then they were in the food court, the crowd less chaotic here but the conversations louder.

Aizawa was sitting alone, dressed in passably civilian clothes with his capture weapon draped around his neck, phone in one hand. He lifted his chin as soon as Izuku and his friends stepped into view, acknowledging them as they headed towards him.

“Hey sensei,” Tsu said, when they got close enough. “Izuku’s a little overwhelmed and we were thinking about heading back to the bus for a while.”

“Did something happen?” Aizawa asked, directing the question towards both Izuku and Tsu as his eyes flickered between the three of them.

“Not as far as I know,” Shouto answered. “I think it was just the mall.” His thumb swiped across the back of Izuku’s hand. “Do you know?”

Izuku shook his head, then gently pulled his hands free.

Loud, he signed to Aizawa, whose eyes followed the gesture. Bright. Tired.

“Do you want a set of headphones?” Aizawa offered, making a shift towards the bag he’d brought along.

Izuku shook his head. Friends, he signed. Thank you.

“Suit yourself. How about a fidget toy?”

That sounded tempting, and Izuku’s face must have shown it, because Aizawa was rummaging in his bag and tossing things onto the table shortly thereafter. A Rubix cube, a length of string for cat’s cradle, squares of paper for folding, and a miscellany of little fidget gadgets. Izuku chose a set of interlocking rings that made a nice sound when he rattled them, and were fun to twist around each other. He gave Aizawa a smile and a bow, and then put the rings in his mouth. They were cool and metallic, and interesting to bite, but not very nice on Izuku’s teeth.

“Hmm.” Aizawa said, looking unimpressed. “I’ll have to clean those. And get you a proper chew if you’re going to be putting things in your mouth. Maybe a necklace so you can keep track of it.” He packed the rest of the fidget toys away, but not before tossing Tsu her favourite fidget cube and a set of keys. “Lock the bus doors behind you. If those keys go anywhere near the ignition, you’ll be expelled.”

“Yes, sensei,” Tsu agreed, tucking the cube and the keys into her pocket. “We’ll be careful.”

“You’d better be,” Aizawa said. “And take care of Problem Child.” Izuku perked up at the nickname. That was him! Aizawa was talking about him!

“Why is everyone saying that today?” Shouto said. “Of course we will.” He rested a hand on Izuku’s shoulder, which was almost as nice as holding his hand. Izuku leaned into the touch, eyes closing for a moment. He felt very tired all of a sudden.

“Come on, Izuku,” Tsu said, and then his hands were taken again and he was led away, out of the mall. Izuku’s eyes were more closed than open now, and the mall passed in brief flashes of colour and crowd. With a friend on each side, deflecting the traffic, no one bumped into him. Soon enough, they were in the fresh spring air, and Izuku blinked his eyes open to stare up at the clear blue sky, breathing in the taste of petals and dirt.

His friends were by his side, the smell of spring was in the air, and Izuku felt better than ever. The world was very big, but it didn’t matter because his friends were there. They would take care of him. He was safe.

#agere fanfiction #agere writing #fandom agere #bnha agere #agere story #sfw agere #mod stella #anon #bnha

[angelictaehyun]

Growing Pains

⤷ In kindergarten, he accidentally punched your nose. Thankfully, from that, a loving, caring friendship blossomed. Since then, you both had been attached at the hip, until suddenly... you’re halfway across the globe, a couple thousand miles apart.

PAIRING; yeonjun/reader

WORD COUNT; 3.2k

GENRE; singer!yeonjun, coming of age au, angst, slight fluff

WARNING; mild swearing, heartbreak, abandonment, angst

.

Honestly, five-year-old Yeonjun was nothing short of a nightmare. Though, he was seen this way only by you. 

On a sunny day, sometime in kindergarten, he sat crouched on the playground’s field, searching for a ladybug. As for you, you believed if you found a ladybug, it could grant you a wish, thus you joined the young boy in his quest. You sat next to him, mindlessly searching the grass, and when he looked up to see you... he panicked. Other children, as he was told, are unclean and gross, and that’s exactly the sentiment he told himself as he pushed you onto the grass, causing you to scrape your elbow and bleed. You couldn’t stop sniffling as a big, crocodile tear trickled down your face; he felt terrible. In the palm of his clammy hand, he held a tiny, red ladybug, and seeing you cry, pushed him to give it to you. 

"Please, just take it,” he quivered nervously. He thrust his hand in your face to present the small creature, but he ended up punching your nose. Unsurprisingly, you began full-on bawling. 

He ended up in the principal’s office, and despite his feeble attempt to explain the true incident, his nap and playground time was taken away as punishment. Shortly after, he sulked back to class, passing the nurse’s office. Through the tinted, glass window, he saw you laying on an uncomfortable cot with an ice pack held over your nose and gauze over your injured elbow. 

He was miserable. 

He decided to genuinely apologize. He despised the idea of you being upset with him, even though he didn’t know you. After a stolen pint of ice cream from the school’s cafeteria, a pleading fest, a horrendous papier-mâché, and a heartfelt apology, you decided he wasn’t the worst. As for Yeonjun, he decided he liked you and suddenly, in the blink of an eye, he was glued to your side. 

But you didn’t mind. It was hard to resist his smile. 

· ──────────────────── ·

The day you decided Jung Mina was your absolute, garbage, worst enemy, you were nine. 

On your first day back at school, you had gone to the restroom for a quick minute, and when you returned, you found she had stolen your diary to read in front of the class. Though she was quite the golden child, pissing you off to no end. Fortunately, your school’s field day neared the horizon and you decided to show her up. You wanted everyone, specifically Choi Yeonjun, to see your pure, unadulterated talent. You decided to absolutely destroy her in each event. 

You were quite the vengeful nine-year-old. 

Yeonjun, on the other hand, felt hesitant to follow through with your field-day-domination plan. Mina was just too pretty. Her hair smelled like sage and he had the biggest crush on her, unbeknownst to you. He was scared to mention his deep, dark secret, especially after you vocalized your complicated plan. You received virtually no help from him on field day. Despite that, you had won nearly every event. Unfortunately, somehow, you remained tied for champion with Mina, but the tiebreaker seemed quite simple. All you had to do was win a human-wheelbarrow race with Yeonjun, it was almost too easy. 

And in all honesty, you would’ve won had Yeonjun not dropped you in the middle of the field and trip over your body, easily distracted by an air kiss from Mina, herself. He’d been lovestruck, but he didn’t have much time to dwell, especially not when you were squashed under him. He scrambled to help you back up, hoping he didn’t completely ruin your chance but it was too late, you had long lost the race. He turned to you, meeting your unkempt ponytail, narrowed, piercing gaze, sweat, and pursed lips. He was terrified, rightfully so. You told him off in the middle of the field, him withering in shame as he took in your colorful wording. 

You chose to ignore him for a week, leaving him pouty. He decided to relive the past and create another papier-mâché, steal ice cream, and beg for forgiveness at your front door. He stood in the doorway, glancing at you with big, apologetic doe eyes, as an onset of a tear formed. Your resolve crumbled as you pulled him into a forgiving hug. As you pulled away, you admired his puffy lips which tilted into a small smile, and for the first time in your life, you felt your heart flutter. 

He never did tell you about his crush on Mina. In the end, it didn’t quite matter. 

· ──────────────────── ·

Year thirteen, you experimented with makeup. A lot of it. You tried different brands, colors, and styles. Yeonjun would be lying if he said you didn’t resemble a clown, but he kept his mouth shut and let you figure yourself out. Unfortunately, people were mean. When boys laughed at you behind your back, he made sure to drag them outside and put them in their place. When girls acted catty, he held you when you cried. When your family fell apart, he sat and devoured ice cream until your stomach ached. When you decided to join the dance team, he cheered you on at the audition. 

He was always protecting and supporting you, even when you weren’t aware. 

Lastly, when Homecoming approached, he was by your side as your unofficial date.

You both sat on the gym bleacher, overlooking your classmates who were either awkwardly swaying to the music, stuffing their faces at the snack station, or making out with each other. You regretted attending the dance, considering your boredom. though, when your watchful gaze traveled back to the couple kissing, a brilliant idea came forth.

“Junie, you know, neither of us has had our first kiss,” you observed, leaning slightly to see his reaction. He simply hummed in response, not fully listening. You continued, “... and I want to have my first kiss. I think we should have our first kiss with... each other.”

He stayed still, showing no indication of acknowledging your statement. You didn’t blame him, the music was quite loud anyway, you could barely hear yourself. You pretended you didn’t say anything and for an awfully long moment, you both stayed silent. Though that silence mixed in with a hint of embarrassment got too overwhelming, you had to excuse yourself to the restroom. As you left, he let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He definitely heard you, but he didn’t know how to process your ask let alone go through with it. He spent so much time, deep in thought, that he failed to realize your absence. When he snapped out his pensive state, he searched the massive gym for you and found you almost immediately, but you weren’t alone. You were pressed up against a dirty, filthy wall, experiencing your first kiss with someone that most certainly wasn’t Yeonjun.

He stood frozen, feeling a bit creepish, yet he couldn’t move if he wanted to, he couldn’t even breathe. Unfortunately, you didn’t stop until a while later, forcing Yeonjun to watch every second in complete agony. Your hair was messy and you were out of breath— that sight broke Yeonjun’s heart. The other boy dragged you onto the dance floor and when you spotted Yeonjun, standing absolutely dumbfounded, you sent a big smile and cheeky wink his way.

You seemed too cheery, and though he was your best friend that should’ve reveled in your happiness, all he saw was red. He felt pure, unadulterated rage, and jealousy. He was supposed to make your first kiss unforgettable, not the other boy.

It was supposed to be him.

· ──────────────────── ·

At fourteen, you decided you didn’t necessarily like your boyfriend all too much, especially since someone else already held your heart. Sure, you felt the loss of your first relationship, but the realization that you’d loved Yeonjun for longer than you cared to admit, hurt more. Though, what hurt the most, was the conclusion that your love was likely unrequited. That night, you sobbed into the phone, and the second he heard your cracked voice, he hopped on his bike and headed in your direction.

It didn’t matter the time, he needed to make sure you’d be okay.

Naturally, he believed you were heartbroken from your breakup, so he attempted to soothe you with ice cream and cuddling. He pulled you against his chest and softly caressed your hair as you watched Titanic; it was supposed to make you feel better, but it made you feel significantly worse. He belted out the movie’s famous ballad in a feeble attempt to lift your spirit and for the first time that night, you smiled. It was a fake smile, of course, but he wasn’t privy to that. Nonetheless, he thought you looked breathtaking.

You complimented his soothing, silvery, beautiful voice — it made his heart swoon.

He was fourteen when he decided to become a singer. It was also at fourteen, he realized he was hopelessly in love with you.

· ──────────────────── ·

At fifteen, you rode the dinky, old subway with Yeonjun to a company audition — one he eventually passed and became a trainee for.

You were there the day he stepped foot into the building for his first training session. You were there when he felt like a loner amongst the other trainee, and you were there when he decided to become the absolute best, letting nothing get in the way of his dream. He set his sight high, and with that determination running through his bloodstream, he decided to express his undying love for you. So when you kissed him back, on the roof of his house, under the moonlight, after eating a gallon of ice cream, he felt like he had everything in his grasp.

After that night, you never let each other go. You stayed by each other’s side and fell more in love as the days passed by, remaining blissfully unaware of the pain the future had to offer. At least you were happy, even if that happiness was on a ticking clock.

· ──────────────────── ·

You were eighteen when you packed a bag and said goodbye to Yeonjun.

A month before high school graduation, you irrationally decided to study abroad in America. You weren’t stupid, you knew about the promise he made to himself when he was younger, his whole schtick of letting nothing stop him from his dream. You knew you were a hindrance, and it was only a matter of time before he realized that as well. You loved him with your entire heart, that much was obvious, but you didn’t want to be the thing to hold him back. He begged you to stay, he said he could have you and success, something you both knew was a plain lie. He couldn’t have you and be an idol, it was one or the other, but he was too stubborn to admit that to himself.

He drove you to the airport in a painfully silent car ride. He was angry, hurt, devastated by your decision to leave him, but you, on the other hand, felt complete and utter relief. He was so close to reaching his dream and all you truly wanted was his happiness, unfortunately, leaving was the only way you knew how to ensure it.

You cried as you said your farewell to him, but his blank face gave no indicator as to how he truly felt; he had barely spoken a word to you the entire week leading up to your departure. He stood motionless as you kissed his cheek, completely devoid of emotion — it hurt you. When you walked away, you felt heartbroken but much lighter. He watched your figure travel through security, unable to bring himself to leave. When you turned for a final glance, you noticed how broken he seemed, but you knew he’d piece himself back together — it would just be without you.

When you turned the corner, leaving his sight, he let every emotion flood his body. That night, he sobbed into his pillow, crying harder than he ever had before.

He’d lost you.

· ──────────────────── ·

You truly discover yourself at twenty. You graduated university earlier than everyone else, got your first and only tattoo, decided America wasn’t great, and moved back to Seoul. Hell, you even found your signature scent.

As much as the country itself sucked, your time in America served you well. You got your first job, experienced university life, made a friend or two, dated a lot, but most importantly, you got the degree you diligently worked for. Of course, it was hard to be away from him. You spent months holed up in your room, refusing to leave the apartment. It hurt the most when you watched his debut, seeing his face rushed every memory back to you. However, over a long period, you slowly pieced yourself back together and moved on. Eventually, you were able to think of him without feeling a sharp pang in your heart.

When you moved back, you weren’t surprised to see his handsome face plastered along the subway or on large billboards. It brought up old scars, habits, memories, but it reminded you that he was able to achieve everything he sought out to do. You, of course, knew he would, he was too stubborn and hardworking to fail; he was meant to succeed.

You just hoped he was happy.

While you were self-discovering in America, Yeonjun nearly gave up everything. He wasn’t proud to admit it, but countless times he almost bought a one-way ticket to you. However, a newfound brother held him back and kept encouraging him to move on. Not long after, he thanked Soobin for his support, had it not been for him, Yeonjun would’ve given up everything. He understood why you left and it was that knowledge that pushed him to work harder, he just wanted to make you proud, even if you were out of his life. He worked tirelessly to debut and once he did, he realized that despite everything, it was worth it.

If it was meant to be, he’d find you again.

He let his mind stray to you from time to time. He couldn’t help it, you were the love of his life. He truly hoped that wherever you were, you were happy.

· ──────────────────── ·

At age twenty-one, on a warm summer’s night, you left your apartment to head to a convenience store, searching for a pint of ice cream and an iced coffee, and maybe an energy drink if you were feeling desperate. Not a month into moving home, you had decided to pursue a master’s degree, but on a night such as this, where you frantically searched for any source of caffination just so you could complete your dissertation, you sorely regretted it.

You were met with harsh, fluorescent lighting as you entered the store but it was a welcomed relief, especially after staring wide-eyed at a computer screen for the past week. You browsed then snack aisle, too preoccupied to notice the soft jingle of the opening door. a tall, lean figure strut past your aisle, standing in front of the drink section for a bit, clearly having trouble deciding on a beverage. You made your way to the front, feeling content with your pint of ice cream, iced americano, and a bonus bag of pretzels. On your way, you stumbled into the hoodied boy and you cursed yourself because only you would run smack into the only other customer in the shop. You scrambled to pick up your scattered belonging, “Oh my God! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see where I was going, I’m such a klutz. Next time, I’ll pay more attenti—”

“Y/N, it’s you...” the soft, hushed voice cut off.

You stared at the young boy’s feet, slowly lifting your gaze to scan the rest of him, stopping at his broad chest, too afraid to look into his fox-like eyes. You knew it was him, of course, you did. It was the same deep, soothing, honeyed voice you spent your childhood falling in love with. Your breath caught in your throat as you dared steal a glance at his face. When you finally met his piercing gaze, he thought he saw the universe in your eyes. He opened his mouth in silent awe as a stray tear cascaded down his cheek. He moved toward you as if you were a flighty deer, and hovered his face closely. You thought he was going to kiss you, and surprisingly, you were quite eager despite the time apart. He pulled you into a loving embrace, so tight, you believed he’d never let go — not that you wanted him to.

That night, he accompanied you home.

Your heartfelt reunion was more than you could’ve asked for. He spent the night with you, doing nothing but catching up, laughing at past memories, eating ice cream, and slowly falling back in love. When he pressed you against your sink, he kissed you with everything he had. At that moment, you understood that despite the painful heartache, everything worked for the best.

You were truly meant to be, you found your way back to him.

Everything was complicated, unsurprising for an idol, but he saw the way you looked at him; it was a look that said you’d move every mountain and all the bright stars in the sky, just to make him happy. It was the same way he looked at you.

He told himself once, when he was a young five-year-old, that he wanted to stay by your side. He left it once, but he’d be damned if he ever left it again.

#txt imagines #txt x reader #txt fanfic #txt scenarios #yeonjun x reader #yeonjun imagines #yeonjun drabbles #choi yeonjun #idol!yeonjun #choi soobin #choi beomgyu #kang taehyun #huening kai #yeonjun #kpop fanfic #angst #fluff #txt #funky fox

[marchioness-caprina]

The Vampire And The Hawk

Pairings : Hawks x Student! Reader

Writing Style : 3rd Person

Warning : Age Gap, Mild Cussing

Word Count : 2642

Note : In this Oneshot Dabi is Not a Villain since Endeavor is a Good Father in this AU and in this AU Hawks is adopted by the Todoroki Family so he's pretty much Endeavor's son now.

Note : Bare with Me. Your Quirk is Vampirism, So you have Midnight black hair and Crimson Red eyes on this Oneshot.

3rd Person's POV

It All started with a Mentoring Trial with Class 1-A . Everyone was hyped to know That The Pro Heroes Dabi and Hawks were assigned to their Class in teaching them how the actual field works while sharing their experience and giving advice to the Class.

Two people in Particular did not like the idea. The first one is undoubtedly Shoto knowing very well that his brothers will tease him nonstop and then there's y/n who really hated going outside because of her quirk. She hated the sun with all her being.

Her quirk is Vampirism, Meaning she pretty much has the Capabilities and Powers of a Vampire with a few minor upgrades but aside from that. She is allergic to Garlic and The Sun's Rays irritates her very sensitive skin.

And unlucky for her the training ground is on Ground Beta. Technically outside. It wasn't helping that today was extremely Sunny so now it led to her Bringing an Umbrella with her outside as she followed her class who were really enthusiastic with the idea of meeting two well known pro heroes.

" I hate this " Y/n grumbled and Shoto who was beside her couldn't help but agree.

" Come on you two! Be positive for once! Two of the most popular and not to mention good looking Heroes are here! " Mina cheered and she didn't get a positive reaction from y/n and Shoto.

Once they reached the middle of the training grounds they saw two figures standing there waiting for their arrival. One with blonde hair and the other with red crimson hair, similar to Todoroki's hair .

" It's Them! " Denki exclaimed and everyone came running towards their direction with delight and excitement leaving the two pessimistic people behind.

" Why does it have to be them? " Shoto growled.

" Why does it have to be outside? " Y/n grumbled.

" Hey! Slowpokes! You guys coming or what!? " Sero yelled at the two.

With a groan y/n slumped her shoulders hiding her face beneath the umbrella as she walked at an even slower pace.

She started cursing everything that lights up. Mostly the sun but within her train of thoughts she didn't notice a certain someone approach her.

A gloved hand grabbed the handle of her Umbrella yanking it away from her grasp and raising it above her head.

" Hey! What gives!? " Y/n hissed as she looked up , her red orbs clashing with a pair of golden ones.

" Kid, you're slowing Everyone down. Now hurry up! And stop walking around with an umbrella. Now's definitely not the time to be fancy " Hawks stated but his eyes couldn't help but admire the features of the girl before him.

Beautiful Midnight Hair with luscious curls, Big Crimson Eyes that stared right back to the depths of his soul, Delicate and Pale Skin, Captivating Lips that seemed to be Asking for his. It was actually too much because how the fuck is a First Year student so damn attractive!? .

" Excuse me? No wait.. Excuse you!? I am not being fancy you Prick! " Y/n objected his accusations while pointing at him angrily.

The man only chuckled giving her an amused smirk.

" Oh really? Then what's this doing here? Maybe I should throw it away " Hawks was about to do exactly as what he stated but he was stopped when y/n gripped his wrist.

She hissed at him showing her fangs and her red eyes glowed with menace, grabbing his chin with her free hand she forcefully turned his head to look at her at a very close and dangerous angle.

" I'm a Fucking Vampire you Little bitch but I must say. It's really bold of you to 'Tease' me but I warn you Not to do it... Don't tempt me" She whispered her lips inches away from his and he didn't know why he want to devour her lips in such a hungry way. Maybe it was because of how Suggestive her eyes are? .

Hawks's eyes couldn't leave hers the smirk on his face was long gone with his mouth slightly agape but he regained his composure and that same smug smirk from before came back to life.

Y/n rolled her eyes harshly letting go of his chin and snatching her umbrella away from the winged hero as she stalked her way towards her classmates who watched the entire scene unfold.

They were speechless because in their eyes their classmate pretty much owned the winged hero and not to mention they looked like they were about to tear each other's clothes off infront of them.

" Hawks.... I never knew you swung that way..." Dabi chuckled and the winged hero turned to him with a smirk on his face.

" I didn't know either " Hawks answered followed by a small laugh.

By now everyone was too shocked to say anything and y/n who had finally stood with her classmates gave a questioning look .

" .... I'm telling Dad about this " Shoto suddenly blurted out from the crowd and everyone turned to him.

" Shoto No... Unless you want me to show everyone what you did when you were 9 " Hawks threatened a sly smile plastered on his lips and shoto's eyes widened and it turned into a glare .

" You wouldn't " Shoto countered.

" Oh I will " Hawks Snickered.

And a glaring contest ensued between shoto and Hawks. The glares mostly coming from shoto though, since Hawks looked relaxed and unbothered.

" Ok enough you two. We're wasting Time here! Let's get started with training! " Dabi tried changing the subject and luckily everyone seemed to buy it.

_______________2 Hours Later

" So....Is it True that Vampires Can Turn into a Bat? " Hawks asked as he trailed behind y/n who tried her very best to ignore his random and very annoying comments.

Everyone was listening and watching their interaction from behind them after the physical exercise they did earlier and now they were just strolling around Ground Beta , The two heroes giving advice and telling the class their whole experience.

" If I could I would have turned into one and flew as far away as I can from you " Y/n snapped her eyes narrowed at his direction and Hawks put on a fake hurt expression that ticked the girl off.

" So... Can you Hypnotize people by Looking into their eyes like Dracula from Hotel Transylvania? Because I could get lost in your eyes forever " Hawks's Comments soon turned flirtatious and Dabi couldn't help but snort at how Terrible his brother was doing.

" If I could I would have hypnotized you to leave me the fuck alone and jump off a fucking cliff. Please stop annoying me, your very presence is pissing me off " Y/n growled glaring at Hawks who seemed unaffected by her words.

" Sheesh, your friend is really Harsh. Is she usually like that? " Dabi asked Shoto who gave him a shrug.

" She's usually like that when she's annoyed... Also because she noticed how bad of a flirt Hawks is " Shoto glanced at his older brother with a sigh.

Hawks leaned his head down over her shoulder from behind her as he glanced at the annoyed expression of the girl.

" So... Is it true? Some people on the internet claim that Vampires Sparkles--" Hawks was immediately silenced when y/n grabbed his cheeks and turned her head back to slam her lips against his in a dominating but lascivious kiss that got him going.

But the kiss ended a little bit too soon before he could even return the kiss.

" I didn't Know that the Pro Hero Hawks would actually Be interested in a Kid who's younger than him... Oh well I guess some people have nasty fantasies " Y/n's entire demeanor changed into a teasing and more playful.

The girl turned around completely her eyes hooded with an unreadable expression. Hawks's smirk began to falter as his eyes looked down to hers, His eyes flashing a hungry look.

He began to question his sanity. Was he really interested in a Kid? Well Fuck it. Call him sick but He is.

" Tell me Hawks. Wouldn't it be better to Have a woman instead of a Teenager? I suggest you start looking for one and stop playing Cat and mouse with a little girl " Y/n coaxed her index finger reaching over to brush against his lips.

Her soft skin touched his lips only to brush her finger down, staring at him with a teasing smirk on her lips, she kissed her finger that touched his lips before walking away from him.

" Holy shit.... What the Fuck was that!? " Dabi yelled and the class was rendered immobilized in their place and speechless.

Even Hawks was speechless as he stared at the retreating figure of y/n.

His emotions clashing with his growing desire for her and he knows he's pretty fucked up to like a kid but fuck everyone else he wants her and he intends to keep her.

" I don't fucking know but dude... I think I kinda got rejected " Hawks was finally able to answer but his eyes stayed glued to her figure.

" ... That was.... Highly inappropriate " Iida stated pushing his glasses back.

_____________________

It was finally lunch time and Class 1-A were of course in the Cafeteria eating.

However y/n who was happily snacking on her chocolate cake was bombarded with questions from her classmates.

" Y/n what the fuck was that "

" Do you Really Like him? "

" Oh shit that was so hot " ( mineta)

" Is that even legal? "

" That was not an appropriate interaction! "

" Guys Chill your tits. That was nothing " Y/n stated firmly but apparently she didn't notice that Dabi and Hawks were seated behind her.

" Was it really nothing baby bird? You wound me" Hawks frowned faking a pained expression as he placed his hand on his chest.

" Uhh yeah? " Y/n muttered unsure of what she should say.

" After that kiss? So now what? You're the type of girl who kisses me once and never again? " Hawks accused and y/n didn't really do anything to deny that which angered him but he was the type of person who had full control of his facial expressions and body language so it wasn't obvious but Dabi on the other hand noticed it clearly since he had known Hawks ever since he was a kid.

" That's pretty irresponsible of you Kid, Another rule of being a Hero Kids : Take responsiblity . And y/n you should take responsibility for stealing a kiss along with my heart " Hawks smirked poking her cheek.

" You know you're getting better at flirting...... Not " Y/n muttered as she scooped another small size of her cake pointing it at Hawks.

" Face it. I don't go for guys who are older than me. Sure maybe a year or two will be fine but more than 5 is a big NO NO. I like cute and young guys " Y/n smirked seeing Hawks's angered expression start to surface . Although his face was blank his eyes held anger and pain she kinda liked it.

She should probably start getting rid of her sadistic tendencies. She does like the Birdman but she wanted to tease him too.

Hawks was furious. He didn't really like how she got his hopes up and he wasn't the type to give up that easily. Now he was taught well and giving up is not an option. And the thought of her with another 'young' and 'cute' guy made his blood boil he wasn't that old but she sure as hell was making him feel like it .

He's an adult now but he doesn't know why he has the raging and jealous hormones of a teenager who foolishly fell in love at first sight. He's holding himself back from dragging her away and slamming her back against a random wall while kissing the hell out of her lips until she can't think of anything else but him.

You don't need a boy. Fuck it, you needed a Man and He was that Man. Because he'll screw up whoever tries to take his Baby bird away.

" Open up Hawks" Y/n cooed pointing her utensil at his mouth to which he replied with a glare and turning his head away

" Oh? You're butt hurt now and you refuse to talk? Ok then . Izuku say Ahh~" Y/n smiled as she turned stop Izuku who turned into a blushing mess while fearing for his life when Hawks flashed him a deadly glare.

" Come on Izuk--" Y/n was cut off mid-sentence when a gloved hand gripped her wrist and yanked her hand the other way.

Her hand now pointing at Hawks as he guided her hand up to his mouth. Opening his mouth he ate the small portion of chocolate cake on her spoon before letting go of her hand.

" I thought you didn't want to eat it? " Y/n raised a brow in amusement ignoring the intense stares of Dabi and almost Everyone in the Cafeteria.

" Oh, trust me baby bird. I'd rather eat you than any other treat in the world " Hawks grinned as he stood up bringing y/n along with him. On the other end of the table shoto was ready to cringe and Dabi held back a laugh.

" Hey Brats! Listen up! This girl here is Taken By yours truly! If any one flirts with her or even tries to take her from me... Good luck... You'll be at the Top of my list of people to eliminate ! " Hawks announced with a spine chilling tone making some people shiver.

Y/n was stupefied and couldn't utter a word.

Dabi was beyond flabbergasted he looked like a fish thrown out of the sea and directly onto the burning heat of a frying pan.

" What the hell? The fuck is wrong with you? What about your reputation?" Y/n gasped when she felt him cup her cheeks and kiss her. Right infront of everyone making the room tense up .

Y/n was stiff as Hawks let go of her staring at her with a grin on his face.

" Y-you.... " Y/n was speechless as a small hue of pink tinted her pale cheeks.

" Hawks you sick Fuck Get away from my student! " Aizawa said in fatherly tone and behind him were almight and endeavor.

" Young y/n! Is this true!? " Almight asked in disbelief.

" Well Keigo when do you want your wedding to take place? " Endeavor laughed staring fondly at his adopted son.

" Can I Marry her now? "

" Definitely No! Endeavor don't encourage him " Aizawa hissed and y/n who was too embarrassed to say anything kept trying to pry Hawks's grisly grip from her arm.

But in the end Hawks only pulled her forward pecking her lips .

" Don't try to run away from me Baby bird "

#bnha x reader #Bnha #Boku no Hero Academia #MHA #Takami Keigo #Keigo x Reader #Hawks x Reader #Hawks Imagine #Y/n

[toshiirou]

From Within - Linkverse Writing

This is is fic for a ‘link’s meet’ AU by @minas-linkverse go check it out! Specifically this is an among us AU that I have to thank Lyra from the linkverse discord for the idea. Given the nature of the AU this should be expected, there is major character death warning attached to this. Now to commence with the story.

They’d all been picked up, one after another, by the abandoned space station. It was some sort of relic of a time long passed – a backup of a backup, some sort of hideaway in the event of a disaster. Whoever built it were probably long gone, but the station remained, slowly rotting, but still alive – picking up passengers that needed it.

It was far from optimal condition, there was no doubt about that. Whether or not it was because of its age, or that it had never been completed, there were some essentials that were missing from the station. One of which was a robust enough life support that would allow its passengers to take off their space suits.

Legend thought it might have been designed that way. The minimal life support was energy conserving, and the suits lasted basically forever. They wouldn’t help in the dead of space, but in a controlled atmosphere they probably had a higher chance of outlasting any power supply issues that would otherwise arise from a fully functional life support.

It was lonely, though. Looking in the mirror and only seeing the reflective screen of their helmet, of looking at the other passengers and seeing only space suits – cold, alien, and distant. Legend had taken to imagining what everyone really looked like based on their voice alone.

Purple – Ravio, was probably some sort of weedy rich kid from a corner of the galaxy that barely saw conflict. He seemed to be completely incapable of doing tasks alone, was afraid of every dark corner, and his voice broke with fear at the mere mention of the imposter.

Oh right. So there was an imposter.

As established, the station was old and a little trash. Nobody could even tell who was the first to arrive on it, because its time-keeping system was kaput. Sky might have been first. Or maybe even Mini. The kid was so small Legend was sure they could have missed him entirely if Ravio hadn’t caught sight of the kid’s weird yellow suit and screamed. The fact that a kid was stuck on this hell-station, had been ghosted into the black at some point and survived only through the poor luck of getting found by this lumbering space junk – it filled Leg’s vision with red.

The poorly functioning space vessel was in a lot of need for repair. Most of their motley crew had gone off in ones or twos to try and patch it up through various tasks. It kept breaking again after some time but at least they weren’t slowly freezing to death out in the black. What a way to go.

It wasn’t until White, that is, Wild, upgraded their med-bay that the situation became apparent. There were eight of them: Sky, Twilight, Time, Mini, Ravio, Wild, Wind, and Legend themself. The space station read only seven human lifeforms, and one reading that screwed the entire screen when Wild tried to get more data on it. Whatever it was, the language that screen was showing for it was nothing that Leg had ever seen before. Which said something, since they’d been space-faring since childhood.

But the logs – the logs were damming. Previous readings of human lifeforms dwindling until only one was left, only for more to arrive and suffer the same fate. And throughout it all that one unreadable lifeform remained. Leg thought it might have never even left the ship.

‘This place is a death-trap,’ they thought. It could have been a graveyard except there was no remains to be found. If Wild hadn’t fixed up those logs then Legends was sure that they would have had no clue of the danger they were in. One of them, one of the group, was not who they seemed to be. One of them was an outsider.

And Legend was determined to find them.

Unfortunately tasks waited for no-one. Their group of eight usually split off into four groups of two. Wind usually stuck with Mini. He was happy to swap around sometimes once or twice with Ravio, and even with Legend themself. Although the less said about that partnership the better. Wind seemed to take offence at the fact that Legend wanted to get their tasks done as efficiently and correctly as possible, and had no time to teach Wind how to do this or that basic action. Plus the kid, like Ravio, was from one of those places where people spoke, and boy did he not stop speaking. Legend’s hands were too full to even reply! Honestly Legend would have preferred to go it alone but there was safety in numbers. And if not safety, there was accountability.

Usually Legend paired off with Wild, who was unobtrusive and got on with his tasks with no problem. Sky liked to pair with Wild whenever he got the chance, so Legend would rotate between pairing with Twilight, Time, or Mini, based on availability. Ravio only seemed like he was comfortable pairing with Twilight for some reason, but would take Wind, or Time, if Twilight was unavailable.

And that was suspicious, right? Ravio treated them all with fear. Even beyond what was reasonable. They all knew an imposter was on board but Ravio seemed jumpier than the rest of them combined. And his suit was a dark, almost faded purple, scratched up with some of the topcoat missing. Where did he get such a thing? The whole design of it seemed different. Even Wind’s garish lime suit modulated his voice – Ravio seemed to speak like there was no modulator at all. And for the life of them, Legend could not recognise the insignia that decorated the side of his suit’s breast. The rest of them came from societies all within the outer ring, and nobody knew what lay beyond that. What. Was Ravio from outside the known universe?

Or was he not human at all?

Legend had been keeping track of them all. The kid, Mini, was just quiet. He didn’t communicate with a voice or with hands, but he happily trotted along to accompany people in doing tasks. And he seemed so proud of doing his own tasks, despite being absolutely pants at it. He was just a kid, unfortunately enough to get brought along for the ride. It soured something awful in Legend’s gut that a kid was dragged into this, but they promised they’d try and keep him safe.

Time wasn't that much older than Mini, and barely more communicative. Time would, at a push, sign with the others, but he seemed content to be by himself, and talk to no-one. Time was certainly a little suspicious, and not out of Legend’s watch-list entirely, but the kid ha the stereotypical surliness of a young adolescent. He wasn’t very interested in the others, didn’t seem to care who followed him, and was very efficient at doing tasks. Someone who wanted them all dead would at least be a little less good at keeping them all alive, right?

Sky, well. Sky was nice. Probably too nice. His bright cyan suit exemplified his sunny personality. He was going to get himself killed one of these days. He was friendly and open, always willing to put himself as the first volunteer to go off and complete some necessary activity. He made sure to look after everyone else of board to the best of his ability, and Legend was honestly a little more worried about Sky sticking up for a potential imposter than they were Sky having a mean bone in his body. Sky was safe.

Wind, while exuberant, wasn’t a bad kid. He gave away way too much information with his chatter, and someone less scrupulous than Legend could absolutely use that against him. Luckily for him, legend did have scruples. And luckily for them all that they has Wild on board, who was hardly going to inform them all of their impending doom if he was planning on being the one to bring it. While that sort of sadism definitely existed in the universe, and Legend had met more than enough people who would relish in toying with them, Wild didn’t possess that sort of mean-streak. Both him and Wind were safe.

Twilight was definitely hiding something, although what that something was is yet to be seen. Legend has seen him huddle away with Ravio, heads together and whispering. If Ravio wasn’t the imposter Legend would be exploring that avenue of inquiry next.

As a group they had agreed on a plan. Nobody was keen on outright murdering anyone else on the mere suspicion of falsehood. But they were – after some pushing – fine within spacing a suspect, for a time that was. Their suits could hold up, especially with the portable oxygen tanks they found stashed on board. As a party they could then check the life signals in Med-bay and determine whether or not the unfortunate soul they excommunicate was the imposter or not. If so, a job well done. If not, well, they’d figure out how to retrieve them. Hopefully.

Now all Legend needed was an opportunity.

The lights shut off, and Legend was plunged into darkness. For a split, terrifying second they thought this was it, it was over. And then the alarm blared and the red warning lights flared, colouring the walls around them in their glow. What the hell was going on?

“Warning.” The automatic, monotone voice of the spaceship’s computer rang out over the alarms. “Catastrophic failure imminent. Internal oxygen failure countdown initiated.”

Legend ran.

They knew it. They knew something was going to happen, and look at them now. Trying to sprint across a hulking dead mass of a spaceship when they very well knew they were too far away from the override controls. They were dead in the water, done for. And not only them, the others, too. Even the god-damn kid. They should have spaced that snivelling purple coward when they had the chance.

Not a mistake they’ll be making again. If they lived long enough to have the chance, that was.

Legend was two-thirds of the way there before the count-down reached near-zero and stopped, abruptly. Their breath was almost fogging up the visor of their helmet, and their heart was thrumming in their chest like a scared rabbit. They’d over-exerted themselves in the effort to make it in time, but Legend couldn’t lie and say that part of it wasn’t fear. They hadn’t made it, but someone else had. Death had been delayed by a hair’s breadth.

They weren’t sure they’d be so lucky a second time.

Legend allowed themselves a moment to breath before they straightened up and pressed the nearby emergency meeting alarm. There was no way that purple was going to spend another minute on the ship if Legend was around to say anything about it.

They allowed themselves to take it slow on the way to the conference room, letting themselves calm down from the burst of adrenaline that fuelled their earlier sprint. Closer to the room they passed Twilight and Time, and gave them both a nod. Everyone was quiet while filing into the room, waiting until the last few people – Wild and Sky – to trickle in. Well, no time like the present.

‘We need to get rid of purple,’ Legend signed.

“Who, me?” Ravio asked, voice high pitched and anxious.

“What!” Wind yelled. “You can’t just decide that!”

“Yeah!” Ravio interjected. Legend turned to stare at him with such intensity that even with the opaque helmet blocking the way, Ravio quieted down with a squeak. Coward.

‘Lime’s right,’ Sky replied. ‘This goes off a vote-based system, you can’t decide by yourself. Do you have any evidence?’

‘Did you miss the alarm that just went off? We barely escaped with out lives.’

‘I didn’t miss it because White and I were fixing the issue.’ Wild waved from besides Sky. ‘White did a bulk of the work in making sure we’re still here.’

“Thanks, White,” said Wind. Legend was sure Wild, whatever he looked like, had a bashful smile on at the moment.

They needed to bring this back on point, however. ‘Yes thank you White.’ Legend nodded. ‘Ravio’s been acting suspicious since day one. He doesn’t seem comfortable with any of us, he’s always jumping at things, ever before we knew about the imposter. And not to mention his suit-’

“Are you sure you aren’t talking about yourself?” Wind interrupted. Rude. “Anyway, Ravio was with me the whole time! He has an alibi, which is funny because you don’t since you ditched me.”

‘You were too slow,’ Legend replied, aggravated. They could feel things turning, and they did not like where it was going.

‘I was with Green,’ Twilight informed them. Time, in their dark green suit, shrugged. ‘Well, I was chasing him. But I had him in my sights the whole time, so it couldn’t have been us.’

‘I was with White’, Sky signed. ‘Was anyone with Pink?’

A round of ‘no’s or head shakes was slowly sealing Legend’s fate.

‘I was on the other side of the ship. And I was only there so none of you had to fix it up alone!’ Legend wished they weren’t in a suit, if only to have the opportunity to pull on their own hair. Nothing was going right.

“You were the only one without a partner,” Wind said. “You have to admit it’s a little… incriminating.”

“I think we should vote them off,” Ravio said, speaking up again.

‘Quiet, you!’ Legend signed angrily, stepping towards him. They quickly found themselves on the blaster end of no small amount of phasers. They froze.

“I agree.” Wind replied.

Time shrugged. ‘Sure.’

Twilight seemed to take a moment, turning to look around and the people around him. He caught sign of someone, or something, and seemed to slump. ‘Agreed.’ He signed.

‘Cyan,’ Legend started, feeling a little desperate. ‘You can’t let them do this. Can’t you see you’re being played? He’s fooling you!’

‘I think,’ Sky replied. ‘The only one who’s fooling anyone is yourself.”

Legend staggered back. So really. Everyone was against them. They didn’t look towards Wild or Mini, unwilling to put that pressure on them. Unwilling to hear those two condemn Legend to a slow death in the cold of space.

‘I see how it is.’ They signed.

“Really,” Ravio said, rubbing salt into the wound. “It’s for the best.”

Well, the deed was done. A heavy atmosphere fell over the remaining members of the spaceship.

‘White and I are going to go check medbay. We’ll get a confirmation for you all.’ Sky paused. ‘Twilight. Just in case, can you and Green go ready the shuttle? If we were wrong… well. If we were wrong we’ll have to go give Pink an apology to their face.’

‘Alright.’ Twilight replied. ‘Let’s go Green.’ They left.

“See you in a little while,” Wind said, distractedly. He was looking over the reports from the emergency alert system. With just a little finagling he’d be able to track which part of the ship the breach first occurred. Any second, now.

“Huh,” Wind muttered. “That’s odd, it was nowhere near-”

“Hey Lime?”

Wind looked up, before looking back at the report. “Oh Ravio, you’re still here. You sure gave me a scare, buddy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Wha-” Wind whirled around, but it was too late. There was a glimpse of yellow, and Ravio’s uncovered human face looking sad, and then there was nothing.

‘Did you hear that?’ Twilight asked, pausing in his preparation of the shuttle. Time shrugged and didn’t reply, which was typical for him, really. Twilight sighed in the confines of his suit. ‘I’ll go check’

He didn’t have to go far before he ran into Ravio, who was wide-eyed and panting.

‘Ravio! Your helmet. Did you run here, what’s wrong?’ Twilight’s hands could almost not keep up with the speed of his questions. Then he noticed the phaser clutched tight in Ravio’s grip.

Just over the quiet hum of the space station, the sound of a shot could be heard. Shortly followed by another.

Sky found him on their way back to the conference room, Wild coming up the rear behind him. ‘Yellow!’ He was rattled. ‘We have to call another meeting. We checked medbay, and Pink is innocent! There’s still the alien life-form- wait.’ Sky paused, looking at the shorter child. ‘Is that blood?’

…

And then there were none.

#txt #mywriting #linkverse #tloz

[zamoimagines]

Someone Else’s Baby

Word count: 1,807

Pairings: Venable x reader, Reader x OC

Chapters: 1, 2

Summary: Things between you and Venable had ended rocky. When Venable realizes that she’s still in love with you, she travels to find you to make things right. You’ve moved on with someone else. Mina is determined to win you back and give you the love you deserve. 

A/N: Here you guys go! It’s been a long wait, but here’s chapter two! Sorry that it’s short but I have a lot more to write up. Enjoy! I hope you guys like it!

A loud crack of thunder rumbled outside of the airport. Most of the other travelers looked nervous, but Wilhelmina wasn’t too worried about the weather. As long as she could get back to sunny Los Angeles and never come to this state again, she was happy to travel in any weather. She turned the page of the book she was reading before the intercom blared a voice from overhead.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing quite some severe weather up in the skies. All flights to Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles have been canceled until further notice. Please visit one of our customer service desks to reschedule your flight.”

Everyone around her began to groan and mumble. Wilhelmina’s eyes widened at the sudden news. There was absolutely no way that she was going to be stuck here. Frantically, she reached for her cell phone and called Jeff’s number. When the line connected, she could hear hooting and hollering in the background of the call.

“Miss Venable! What the fuck is up, man!” Jeff cried out.

Wilhelmina rolled her eyes. They must’ve gotten another shipment of coke while she was gone.

“Mr. Pfister, I need a private jet sent to me as soon as possible.”

“Hey! Mutt, Venable’s heading back!”

“YAY!” Mutt yelled into the phone. Venable took the phone away from her ear for a moment so she wouldn’t go deaf.

“Let us talk to Y/N! We wanna know how you wooed her back!” Jeff added.

“She isn’t with me-”

“That’s okay, we’ll talk to her when you guys get back!”

“No, that’s not what I meant-”

“We’ve got a whole wedding to plan, Jeff! We have to come up with a color scheme!” Mutt said with a slurred voice.

“Gentlemen!” Venable shouted into the phone. The people around her stared at her in confusion. All she could do was scowl and turn away from the looks she was being given.

“I’m coming back by myself. She’s moved on.”

The other end of the phone call was completely silent. Venable could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

“If you could just send the jet for me, it would be greatly appreciated. I would like to come home.”

“I thought you had a flight back?” Jeff muttered.

“My flight has been canceled, Mr. Pfister, and I need to be back in my office today.”

“CANCELED?! IT’S FATE!” Mutt yelled once again. She could hear Jeff excitedly laughing as well.

“Miss Venable! Don’t you see it! The universe is fucking telling you to go after her!”

“That’s definitely not what a canceled flight means.”

“Venable, I gotta give it to you straight; Before you met Y/N, you always had a stick up your ass. You never had any fun, you were always working, and I don’t think I ever saw you smile.”

“Yeah, you were a complete bitch!”

“Mutt, shut up!”

All their talk wasn’t making her feel any better. She only felt worse about herself. A single tear rolled down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away.

“What are you trying to say, Mr. Pfister?”

“I’m saying that Y/N completed you. You were so happy, and so in love! You can’t just let it all slip away because you guys had a falling out.”

“What does that have anything to do with my travel back home?”

“That’s the thing, Venable. You’re not coming back home.”

Venable’s heart raced in her chest. They were most definitely trying to torture her, in no way was this any helpful.

“You’re not serious,” Venable growled.

“Actually, I am! You have another two weeks in the Midwest, missy. I’ll call the hotel and tell them that you’re extending your stay.”

“Mr. Pfister, wait-”

“We’ll send some money to your account for food and shit.”

“GOOD LUCK VENABLE!!!” Mutt screamed into the phone. Before Venable could protest, the two hung up on her.

------

After the phone call, Venable had stopped by her hotel to drop off her things. She couldn’t stand the thought of sitting around her room and wallowing, so instead, she changed blouse and high waisted pants. Her hair was tied up in a bun; she could care less about the way she looked. Though, with the extra money, she figured it would be good to get out to the grocery store and get little things to eat while her bosses were tormenting her.

Midwestern grocery stores weren’t nearly as packed as the ones she’d gone to in Los Angeles. In fact, the little building she decided to go into barely had any customers. She could get used to staying here. Wilhelmina skimmed at the aisles and tried hard to find something to get her by. She mindlessly filled her cart with random items as she continued throughout the store. For a moment, she paused to look down at everything in the basket.

Raisin bran, a couple of cans of soup, and a bottle of red wine. She sighed heavily. Even her shopping cart was depressing. How was she even going to try to eat anything? Her heart was so broken that it was taking all of her energy to get out and even be here. What would Y/N say…

What was so much better about that blonde? Y/N had never mentioned finding a single blonde attractive as long as Mina had known her. Yes, the new woman was peppy… and positive, kind, and she had a very warm smile. But wasn’t that off-putting? Wilhelmina had never seen someone so happy. What the hell was wrong with her?

She was thrown from her thoughts as she felt her cart crash into something. Mina had run her cart into the wall of the bakery. She groaned in embarrassment. Her thoughts were getting the best of her.

“Oh! Hey there!” a familiar voice called out.

Why was that voice so recognizable? It was a little too bubbly. When Wilhelmina glanced up, she felt a fire brewing in the pit of her stomach.

There was the exact woman she’d been thinking about. She couldn’t even remember her name.

“Please don’t come over here, please don’t see me..” Mina thought to herself. It was too late, the blonde was already making her way over.

“Miss V! I didn’t think I’d see you here!” she exclaimed.

Wilhelmina gripped the handle of the cart so tight that her knuckles turned white.

“Hello… Kara.”

“It’s Keri!” she replied with a giggle. “You’re too funny! Y/N told me you were a hoot.”

“Did she now,” Venable replied in a short tone.

“Love the outfit, by the way. Not a lot of people can pull off that much purple, but you look great in it!”

She was so nice to her. What a fucking bitch.

“Thanks,” Mina replied. She didn’t really care if she sounded genuine. “If you’ll excuse me, I really have to get going-“

“Wait! What are you still doing here?” Keri cocked an eyebrow. “I thought you were leaving yesterday?”

So full of questions. What did Y/N see in her?

“My flight was canceled. Now, I really am a very busy woman-“

“What a coincidence! I cannot believe this, you have to come to the little get together we’re throwing tomorrow night! Here,” Keri had this glimmer in her eyes as if she was doing something good. She quickly pulled out a pen from her purse and yanked on Venable’s hand. The fire in her stomach was growing into a volcanic eruption.

“I’m gonna give you my number. Text me in an hour… Let’s make it a surprise for Y/N!” Keri exclaimed as she wrote into Mina’s skin. “Seriously, she would love to see you. Even if you can’t stay for long, it would mean the world to her if you came.”

As much as Keri was a villain in Mina’s eyes, this was an opportunity that quite frankly had been handed to her. So much could go wrong… What if Y/N didn’t want to see her? Venable couldn’t stand getting her heartbroken again. If she could just tell Y/N the way she felt… that would be all that mattered. At least she would know.

“I… I’ll have to see if I can make it.”

“For sure! Just let me know. It was good to see you, Miss V!”

Keri turned on her heel and was instantly gone. How the fuck did she walk that fast?

Wilhelmina gazed down at the phone number on her hand. She couldn’t find the nerve to be mad at Keri any longer. This was her chance. Perhaps the world was giving her a sign of hope. She never really believed in fate, but this felt different. Her chest felt tight with anxiety.

Venable picked up a few more snacks before heading to the checkout. She was so antsy that she threw random items that she didn’t even think about into her shopping basket. The redhead quickly purchased her things before making her way back to the rental car Mr. Pfister had gotten for her.

The rain pelted against the windshield, echoing loudly from inside. Wilhelmina couldn’t even turn on the car. She stared blankly out of the window. Was this even a good idea? What if she just got rejected once again?

But… What if she won Y/N back?”

“If there’s a god,” Mina began, closing her eyes and leaning her head toward the sky in the sunroof, “Tell me what to do.”

The winds roared outside as the rain came down even harder. Venable’s eyes opened softly. In front of her was Keri, walking out with her groceries. Something was stirring inside of Mina though she wasn’t sure what it was.

Almost without thinking, Mina picked up her phone and dialed the number on her hand. She stared at where Keri was to ensure that the woman was genuine about inviting her. To her surprise, the blonde answered.

“Hello?”

“Keri? This is Wilhelmina Venable.”

“Oh! Hey, what’s up?”

“I…” she hesitated. What else did she have to lose?

“I looked at my schedule… I believe I’ll be able to make it to your event.”

A squeal could be heard on the other end. Venable winced at such a high pitched sound.

“That’s amazing! Oh, Y/N is gonna be so excited! Keep your phone on you, I’ll send you the address and everything through text. This is gonna be great!”

“I’ll make sure to be there.”

“Ugh, you are too cool, Miss V! Oh! The party’s dressy, but casual! We can go shopping if you want-“

“That won’t be necessary, but I appreciate the offer.”

“Of course! See you tomorrow night!”

Venable could hear the sound of a click. There was no turning back now. And the most ironic thing?

She needed a damn dress.

REQUEST MORE FICS HERE!

#Wilhelmina venable #venable x reader #ahs #ahs imagine #American horror story #american horror story imagine #venable #Wilhelmina Venable x reader #apocalypse #apocalypse imagine #ahs apocalypse #ahs apocalypse imagine #Sarah paulson #Sarah Paulson x reader #hope ya'll like it!

[jihyosforehead]

soulmate au where the world is black and white until you fall in love with your soulmate for mihyun please im begging u authornim

THANK U FOR THIS !!! this was v fun to write and i almost got carried away and u have been so so patient im sorry this is so late, i dont even rly have an excuse its just due to who i am as a person 

...

also on ao3

dahyun doesn’t think much of it at first. barely even notices the difference anyway because mina’s hair has always been so dark. 

dahyun’s world had been black and white all her life, she didn’t notice when it had begun to change. 

first, it was mina’s hair. 

it’s pretty impossible to not be looking at mina’s hair all hours of the day, if she’s being honest. 

dahyun watches a row behind in their advanced algorithms lecture. their professor had been going over some data structural problems and was enthusiastically expanding more in-depth about splay trees. or it might have been splay trees. dahyun had zoned out about ten minutes into the lecture. out of her peripheral, she can vaguely see notifications lighting up her phone, every 3 minutes or so. normally she would have picked it up by now and replied to chaeyoung’s snapchat spam and meme-tagging spree.

but, she’s completely distracted by mina’s slender, graceful fingers lazily twirling strands of silky dark hair, head slightly tilted and pen absentmindedly tapping at her chin. probably going over the equations in her head, running them back and forth easily. she’s always been so smart and consistently at the top of their class. mina’s wearing a fitted white sweater that hugs her shoulders just the way dahyun likes and wire-rimmed glasses, sitting almost carelessly at the end of her nose. she still manages to look so soft though. dahyun exhales deeply.

the change was subtle. she almost doesn’t register the way the fluorescent lighting dances on the crown of mina’s head. bending the light back and forth until mina’s hair flashes a colour that’s neither black or white. 

her eyes flicker back to the screen when the lecture slides change over, displaying a long sequence of diagrams lining the wall. she should really be paying more attention, she was barely scraping in this class. her eyes involuntarily wander back to mina again. the lighting plays on mina’s hair, making it almost shine a dark brown? dahyun blinks a few times and forces her eyes to focus. it’s a tone just barely lighter than black. the light plays over it again and dahyun squints.

she’s jolted out of her reverie when their teacher claps their hands and wishes them a good rest of their day. while students move around her, some rising from their seats to bolt out the door, others packing away their things at a more relaxed pace; dahyun removes her glasses and presses the heels of her palms into closed eyes. she really needs to spend less time in front of a screen.

odd, dahyun thinks when she steps into the sunny hallway, feeling the heat tickle her skin. had it always been so bright? 

…

it’s two thirteen. and mina’s late. a highly unusual occurrence. 

dahyun taps at her phone and scrolls through her recent messages. there’s none from mina. she glances around at the courtyard. some students were casually sprawled on the grass, laughing at each other, or eating. others had laptops open, typing furiously at their keyboards. 

her phone begins vibrating in her hands and she fumbles hastily, trying to answer it. mina’s voice is soft and gentle in her ear; apologising for running late but she had run into a lecturer she needed to speak with and then another friend for a quick chat but was now on her way with some food and a powerbank for dahyun’s dying phone. dahyun pictures mina speed walking down the hallways, her voice growing more breathless the longer she talks. pictures silky black hair trailing behind her, tucking her bag more securely across her shoulders while dodging passing students. 

she can’t really bring herself to be annoyed when mina looks so adorably sheepish and apologetic while handing dahyun a homemade lunch. it was neatly packaged in a shiny metal lunchbox. today it was a chicken sandwich, with grapes and pear and apple slices on the side. there was even a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice, lemon slices cheerfully floating on the top. dahyun feels her heart hammer wildly in her chest.

mina’s always doing cute things like bringing her food while they study because she knows dahyun cuts it close between her classes and doesn’t have time for anything other than a protein bar. sometimes an apple she snags on her way out of her apartment. dahyun would probably be surviving on fruit and protein bars if not for mina. 

mina hands her a tissue and then flashes her a wide, bright grin right before typing something into her calculator, eyebrows furrowed. dahyun carefully sets down her sandwich and dabs the corner of her mouth. the sunlight is reflecting off her laptop and into her eyes. she looks up for a moment and watches as the light weaves itself into mina’s hair, setting it alight into a copper blaze. dahyun blinks, dumbfounded. 

she tilts her head slightly and watches the light move from strand to strand. she moves her head back and forth and side to side, the copper follows when mina adjusts her position. dark hair, with shadows? different shades of black strands? was that even possible? it did look a lot richer, flecked with dark brown and golds. 

dahyun blinks again and chalks it up to a trick of the light. mina gives dahyun a soft, fond smile, her eyes slightly squinting, right before returning to her work. her fingers clacking away at her keyboard and then occasionally scribbling at an open notebook. 

…

it was mina’s eyes next. they were a steady, solid black, that dahyun loves. sparkly and shiny and expressive. bright when she’s excited and duller when she’s sad. 

over the next month or two, far too slow for anyone but dahyun to notice, mina’s eyes acquire the same richer colour as her hair. almost the same shade of lighter black, but not black. it wasn’t just black anymore though. her irises were a warm, shiny dark brown and the pupils, black. they dilate slightly when mina looks up at her. but there isn't an overt difference. 

dahyun thinks likes this colour more. 

...

it was a coat next. 

dahyun had fallen asleep on her notes. she jolts awake and blearily blinks at her surroundings, sleep still weighing heavily on her eyelids. she swats a paper stuck to her cheek and is met with amused, fond eyes. she sits up and realises she’s covered in mina’s thick coat. dahyun blinks down at the heavy material and just stares. 

the fabric is beige on the outside, a tan sort of colour that errs more white than it does brown; but the inside of the coat is lined with a subtle tartan pattern. most notably, there’s red stitching. red. dahyun runs her fingers over the checked print design and blinks dumbly at it. she thinks she’s still coming out of her sleepy haze, but five minutes later when she looks down at the coat again, the stitching is so obviously more than black and white. red lines woven through pattern, sticking out like the obvious thing in the world. mina is happily typing away at her laptop, completely oblivious to dahyun’s realisation.

then it was a sunflower she’d spotted sticking out of chaeyoung’s backpack. a bright, happy, obnoxiously yellow sunflower. loud and cheerful. dahyun had seen sunflowers before, but only ever in light grey. sometimes white. sometimes even black. she was so entranced by it that chaeyoung insisted she keep it. dahyun picks it up and holds it to her chest until she was safely in her apartment. 

that night, she set it in a transparent glass vase on her countertop so she could look at it everyday. 

she learns that sunflowers have a pale green, almost yellow centre. that the colours grow into a gradient of orange and black seeds, surrounded by full yellow leaves. the petals have this faint orange that looks like it’s been carefully, painstakingly painted on each individual leaf. 

the next day, on her way to class she spots a rose growing on a bush. it was a striking deep red, a stark contrast to its vibrant green stem. she sticks it in the vase with her sunflower.

dahyun came home everyday, and stared at her sunflower and her rose over dinner, and wondered who they were for. could they see colours this bright? did they know yellow and red looked this pretty? that sunflowers had oranges painted on the petals? 

mina had gone back home to japan over the christmas holidays to spend some time with her family. she hadn’t seen them in over a year, it made sense for her to go home. but. mina is also one of dahyun’s favourite people; it was perfectly natural to miss her. however, dahyun misses her a lot more than she anticipated. her days seemed to be a lot more empty and dull. 

dahyun finds it difficult not to miss warm brown eyes, and mina’s pretty smile. she misses having lunch with mina after class. she misses turning up unannounced at the other girl’s dorm and planting herself on the couch for an afternoon nap. she misses their dumb, playful arguyments over what take-out they should get for movie night; that almost always end up with mina asleep on dahyun’s shoulder, fifteen minutes into pressing play. 

luckily, there was so much else to see. the bushes growing on the edges of her apartment grounds were a deep green, lush leaves sticking out of thin, woody brown twigs. sometimes there were ladybugs on the leaves. dahyun hadn’t realised their shells were red with tiny black dots. one time she even saw a bee sitting on a flower. she didn’t think she would ever be this delighted over discovering that bees had yellow and black stripes. her downstairs neighbour had a golden retriever. and her fur was as gold as the sun, with a pink lolling tongue and sweet, honey brown eyes. 

the new colours could keep her occupied for so long though. 

the sunflower and rose had long died. leaving only the petals behind. they’d drifted onto her wooden countertop, with the flowers blackened and dead. dahyun missed their colours too. 

who were they for? 

sometimes mina would facetime her while she was out and hold up plushies and toys she thinks dahyun would like. the plushies, were big and colourful but dahyun can’t help but think they look dull next to mina’s flushed cheeks. other times, mina would send her photos of the scenery and her food. dahyun can’t help but wonder what they’d look like in person. 

she finds that she doesn’t ever really stop thinking about mina. it’s starting to become a bit of a problem. 

most of all, she just misses mina. a weird ache in her chest that she doesn’t realise is there, just deepens. 

two weeks later finds dahyun nervously pacing the airport lobby. airport crowds never fail to make her uneasy. but honestly, she’d do anything for mina. 

she spots her from a distance, heart thudding loudly. she feels her pulse quicken, hammering obnoxiously in her eardrums, like clanging cymbals together. the most irritating percussion she’s ever experienced; she’s half convinced that everyone around her can hear it. mina was wearing an oversized sweater, her lips stained rose red. a maroon sweater, with gold stitching on the sleeves wrapping around her wrists. dahyun’s breath catches in her throat. she swallows hard around a lump of clear understanding. 

oh. 

mina. it had always been mina. 

dahyun watches as mina’s head cranes around, carefully searching the crowd. her eyes find dahyun’s, as they always do, and dahyun can feel the fondness wrap around her heart and take firm hold. the ache in her chest deepens, like a dam breaking. the crowd seems to part when mina runs towards her and throws herself at dahyun’s torso, not caring at all about dahyun’s heart, beating wildly out of control. mina’s arms wrap around dahyun’s neck and she buries her face in dahyun’s shoulder, nuzzling into the fabric. dahyun can smell mina’s shampoo, clean and fresh.

they just stand there for a moment, swaying a little as dahyun adjusts her hold around a slender waist, fingers finding its home at the small of her back. she keeps a palm resting there and brings her other hand to the back of mina’s head, massaging the base of mina’s skull. she can feel mina huffing a relieved sigh into the side of her neck, the tip of her nose is cold against her skin.   

she hears mina whisper that she missed her and asks if dahyun had been waiting long. dahyun barely hears it over the almost immediate snap of vivid colour encompassing them. the blues, and oranges and greens and pinks colouring the airport scene and moving outwards. dahyun’s world had transformed completely. 

everything suddenly made sense, slotting itself perfectly in place. 

it was beautiful and bright and brilliant. but dahyun hadn’t noticed it at first because she only had eyes for mina. like always.

mina, whose hair was a deep chestnut brown, with flecks of copper and bronze when the light hits it in the right spots. she must have dyed it while she was away because the gold has disappeared now. mina’s lipstick, red and rich, she can see the ridges where it’s redder in some areas, and more faded in others. mina’s sweater, maroon with gold stitching. mina’s earrings, a deep emerald green, flecked with golden marbling, and wrapped inside a delicate gold circle. 

dahyun blinks rapidly at the change, taking it all in. slowly, the colours swirl around them as everything gradually finds its place. her eyes wander up and down mina’s face and hair and clothes and nose (had the mole on the corner of her mouth always been a dark brown?), finally landing on mina’s eyes. dark brown and sparkly. honey and gold and cinnamon and chestnut and dusky all at once. had mina’s eyes always had those colours? 

mina looks at her softly. fondly. like she always has. the corners of her eyes crinkle when she smiles and mina’s eyes shine even more brightly when the light bounces off them. 

then the colours didn’t really seem to matter anymore. dahyun studies mina’s features closely, glances at the moles that dot her nose and decides that without mina, what did it matter if there was colour or not. without mina, dahyun’s world may as well have remained black and white.

for mina, it was distinct. 

absolute certainty. 

the very first time she ever laid eyes on dahyun, her whole world burst into a million different colors all at once.

#mihyun #mina #dahyun #twice #twice hcs #twice headcannons #twice scenarios #twice imagines #asks #anon #hELLOOO sorry this is late #ty i loved this prompt #💞💖💕 #this was inspired in equal parts by raveena - sweet time #and then also carly rae jepson #as all good things should be #i forreal sat here and STRUGGLED to come up with a title #i almost named it colours like a Fool #ANYWAYS i HOPE U ENJOY IT xoxo 💘💗💝

[mechaspirit]

1, 3, 7, and 10 for AA 5

Thanks for the ask! ❤️💙💗

1. Who is your character’s patron Arcana?

Well, technically all my apprentices represent, The Fool, so they would have them as their patron. If asking what they could possibly look like if it weren’t for the fact that The Fool didn’t look like a sunny background card, then their patron would resemble humanoid animals that represent them.

Iris-Dolphin

Yasmin-Phoenix

Harun-Tiger

Lynn-Wolf

Mina-Swan

3. Does your character rely on The Cards?

Iris- Yes. Supposedly when telling fortunes and traveling across the Arcana Realms with Asra. And sometimes, she speaks with them when needed.

Yasmin- Not as much as she used right after that Masquerade event. Yasmin only used them if any of her customers asked for their fortunes.

Harun- After giving up the shop to Asra, Harun didn’t rely on The Cards anymore. But sometimes Nadia’s sisters asks him to tell them their fortunes

Lynn- Assuming that they already have their Upright Ending, Lynn might use them to entertain people around them when they’re traveling across the seas with the Devorak family.

Mina- Again, assuming that Mina has her Upright Ending, it’s usually to do fortune telling for customers at the shop whenever Asra is away and needs her and Muriel to look after it.

7. In your character’s story, how did they acquire the Stove Salamander?

All the verses are the same for all of my apprentices when they met the stove salamander. It happened during winter, and they were trying to get the fireplace working. All of a sudden, they noticed flames bursting out randomly in the shop and burned a curtain and a few other stuff (don’t worry. Not to the point where it’s on the verge of burning down) and tried to follow it. They managed to corner the fire source to the outside of the shop and then the fire power weakened to the point where they could see that it turned out to be a fire salamander. Realizing that the little guy was only trying to find some place warm and accidentally spit out fire by sneezing, they decided to keep him.

Extra note: I should probably make a fanfic about this now that I think about it. 😅

10. Describe your character’s Masquerade outfit.  Use pics if you like!

I only have the Masquerade outfit for Iris so here it is. Credits to @deathbyarcana for her amazing artwork. 💗💗💙

Didn’t have any pics nor can really draw outfits for the other apprentices, but I can see that their outfits are in their favorite color and their masks correspond to the animals they represent.

Iris-Blue-Dolphin

Yasmin-Red-Phoenix

Harun-Green-Tiger

Lynn-Purple-Wolf

Mina-Pink-Swan

That it for now. Hope you enjoy! ❤️

#the arcana #the arcana game #the apprentice #apprenticeapril

[flutteringphalanges]

                                        Mirabile Visu

Summary: Sister Agatha Van Helsing discovers she’s in over her head when a competitive game of chess ultimately results in her becoming pregnant with the child of her worst enemy, Count Dracula. Now tied by a bond deeper than blood, the two must learn to coexist and adapt in a world that could be potentially hostile towards their offspring. Parenthood has never looked so batty.

Characters: Dracula/Agatha Van Helsing

Chapter: 10 (Part One)/?

Read on FFN and AO3

A/N:  Thank you so much everyone who read and left a review for this chapter! It means the world!  Feedback is greatly loved and appreciated! Stay safe and healthy!

                                       Chapter Ten (Part One)

                                               Dracula Residence

                                                  Present Time

“Sunny, you can’t just waltz into the Harker Foundation and demand that they let your parents go without there being repercussions,” Jack tried to explain as Sorina angrily paced back and forth. “You’ll get killed!”

“I’m immortal,” she shot back. “I can’t die!”

“That’s far from the truth,” Zoe frowned, her niece not even meeting her stare. “Sorina, just because someone is immortal doesn’t mean they can’t be killed. And the fact that the Foundation was able to bring both of your parents in with,” she glanced around. “What seems to be little of a struggle is a great concern.”

“Then how exactly do you propose we get in?!” Sorina exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air. “Your key card has been cancelled and I’m sure soon enough Jack’s will be too. The longer we wait, who knows what they’ll do to them! And it’s not like I’m equipped with any skills in martial arts.” She caught a quick glimpse of a look of surprise on the young man’s face. “I was locked up for decades, Jack, the only thing anyone ever taught me was how to hide and be unnoticed. Stealth. Basically, a useless trait!” She paused. “My agility is enhanced, but like I said, I’ve never been in hand to hand combat.”

“We’d need to think creatively on this one to get in,” Zoe replied, cutting through Sorina’s tirade. “And how to defend ourselves. You both know well enough that the Foundation is known for being armed and heavily guarded. Jack, I don’t suppose you have any hidden talents that may help?”

The young man paused, choosing his words carefully. “I’m good with a bat.” Both women blinked, and Jack found himself awkwardly rubbing at the back of his neck. “I played baseball as a kid. Was pretty good at it too.”

“Great,” Sorina’s exhaled, voice dripping with sarcasm. “So we’re bringing ourselves and a bat to a gunfight. Brilliant. Let me go grab my butter knife and we’ll be good to go!”

She collapsed on the couch, her head resting in her hands. This was her own doing. Maybe if she hadn’t fought with her dad. Maybe if she had spent the night here. Maybe then they’d both be safe. Sorina sucked in a breath, trying to hold back tears of anger and remorse. Jack sat down beside her, putting an arm around her. Zoe watched quietly, contemplating her next move.

“I have a handgun.”

Sorina looked up from the floor and at the doctor curiously. “What?”

“I have a handgun,” she repeated. “In my dresser drawer for safety measures. Anyway, that’s beside the point.” Zoe ran a hand through her hair. “If we’re going to do this now, we best prepare how we can. This won’t be an easy feat.”

                              The Jonathan Harker Foundation

The last time Agatha stepped foot in a hospital was in 1870 during the fourth Cholera outbreak pandemic. She was but a child, eleven, when her mother fell victim to the illness. To this day, she could still visualize the crowded room of the sick and dying. The moans. Pleading. Putrid smells. But where she was now made that a distant memory. Clean. Pristine. A dirty, yellowed mattress replaced by a gleaming metal table. Her wrists and ankles bound by restraints that, no matter how hard she tugged, wouldn’t come undone.

“There’s absolutely no reason to struggle, Agatha. I promise you it’ll get you nowhere.”

Dr. Bloxham entered the room, followed by two other individuals wearing matching lab coats. One pulled a strange device by their side that the vampire didn’t recognize. She stiffened, eyes locked on the doctor’s as the woman leaned over her.

“You’ve missed over a century’s worth of technology,” the scientist explained, turning around to fiddle with the object. “Medical science has come so far from 1900. It’s incredible how humans can advance,” she paused, smirking. “We are, after all, the superior species-unlike your husband, I’m sure, would beg to differ.”

“Yet, one might wager that both can be equally as cruel,” Agatha interjected, watching as Bloxham removed a probe-like device. “This Foundation, I knew Mina personally, I doubt she ever intended it to be like this.”

“What she desired and the outcome no longer matter,” the woman said simply, pulling up the fabric of Agatha’s clothes to reveal her bare abdomen. “Anyway, the vile nature of your kind was proven when Dracula took the liberty of removing my thumb.” Bloxham, not diverting her attention away from the former nun, addressed one of the scientists. “Lubrication gel.”

The substance was cold the moment it touched the vampire’s skin. Agatha’s fingers dug into her palms as the transducer was pressed hard against her stomach. If her heart could, it’d be pumping right now. She stared darkly at Bloxham as the woman moved the object across her flesh. Suddenly, an odd swishing sound filled the room and Bloxham paused immediately.

“Well I’ll be damned,” she exhaled, mouth curving into an unsettling grin. “It has a heartbeat.” Her eyes flickered over to Agatha’s. “Like sister, like sibling. Things just became a lot more interesting…”

                                       Jack Seward’s Residence

Sorina sat curled up in the passenger seat, glancing out the window as Jack came hurrying out of his flat. It had been hours since the realization that her parents had been abducted and though she would’ve loved nothing more to immediately go in full force, Zoe had insisted they wait several hours until the next nightfall.

“Are we ready?” Jack inquired as he slipped into the back seat, his bat resting on the floor.

It was a load questioned. They were far from ready. Far from being well equipped. Hell, dawn would be making its appearance in a few hours. Time was indeed slipping away from them and Sorina could feel it like sand in an hourglass.

“We’re going to have to find a way in,” Zoe said quietly, restarting her car as they drove down the mostly empty road. “I’m sure both Jack’s and my key cards have been cancelled out.”

Sorina paused. “There’s an opening towards the top of the left wing side of the building. It feeds into the air ducts.”

“But there isn’t a ladder we can use to reach it,” the young man countered. “And even if we did, who knows if it could hold our weight.”

“I can do it.”

Both Zoe and Jack looked to Sorina, who eyed them both solemnly. Maybe she couldn’t turn into a bat or could run at an inhuman speed, but she was agile. Far more than any person she knew. If anyone could get up there, it was her.

“But what if…”

“It won’t,” she interrupted, cutting him off. “I’ll climb in and once I’m inside, I’ll figure out how to open the entrance.” Sorina offered a wry smile. “Like I’ve said before, I know the place like it’s the back of my hand.”

                            The Jonathan Harker Foundation

It felt odd. Viewing the stone building in a different light. Sorina essentially grew up within the walls of the Foundation. It had been a second home in a sense. But now that she stood outside of it, staring up at the pipe opening along with Zoe and Jack, another feeling deep within her rose. Resentment.

“I’ll send you a text when I’m in,” Sorina exhaled, looking over her shoulder. “Be ready to go. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to keep it open.”

As she stepped forward, fingers pressed against the icy rock, she felt a hand on her arm. Turning, Sorina met Zoe’s eyes, a small glint of concern flickering within them.

“Be careful,” her aunt warned. “Promise me.”

The halfling nodded, suddenly finding it difficult to reply. Swallowing hard, she gazed upwards. With all of the confidence she could muster, she hugged the wall and began to shimmy upwards. She dared not look down, the idea of seeing how far from the ground she was made her dizzy. But in no time, she made it to the large, metal opening. Taking in a deep gulp of air, she made her way inside, darkness cloaking the atmosphere around her.

Sorina wasn’t afraid of the dark. She’d grown up in its silent embrace. She knew not of the sun, nor the light it carried. Just pictures of it. Images on television and movies. So as she made her way through the maze of pipes, she didn’t fear it. Even if she had, the determination to save her parents was far greater than a worry such as that. And it was with that ease, she found the entrance way, slipping through the grate in the ceiling and gracefully landing on the floor.

“Code,” she mumbled to herself. “Code, code, code…”

Her fingers danced on the keypad, trying not to focus on the surprise that there weren’t any guards nearby. With a satisfying click, the main entrance creaked open and she was immediately greeted to the sight of Zoe and Jack.

“You’re brilliant, Sunny,” Jack beamed.

“We’ll have time to congratulate later,” Zoe whispered. “Come on, the clock is ticking.” Sorina eyed the gun in her aunt’s hand, but said nothing. “The prison is way down the hall. Christ knows how many people are guarding it. We need to stay focused.”

As they began to make their way deeper into the bowels of the Foundation, Sorina heard the muffled sound of a discussion coming from a room nearby. Something about it made her stop, much to the alarm of Zoe. The halfling turned as her aunt hissed and crept towards the open door. Her eyes went wide at the sight. There, strapped down, guarded by two men, was her mother.

“Mum-”

A hand clamped over her mouth and Zoe yanked the girl out of plain sight as the men began to turn. Sorina struggled, finally breaking free. Her eyes were wild as she pointed towards the room.

“They have my Mum in there,” she whispered. “We have to go…”

“You can’t just run in there like that,” the doctor hissed. “You can’t be stupid about this, Sorina!”

“Then what do you suppose we do then?!” The halfling exclaimed, eyes beginning to brim with tears. “We can’t just leave her. We can’t-”

“I’ll cause a distraction,” Jack said quietly, causing both women to look at him. “I’ll distract them somehow and you go and get Agatha out.”

“Jack,” Sorina breathed. “You…”

“I’ll be fine, Sunny,” he said, offering her a small smile. “Trust me.”

She wasn’t quite sure what to expect when Jack said he had a plan for distracting the two guards who had her mother. But when he slipped away and the distant sound of a bat being struck across a wall, if she wasn’t so hellbent on saving her parents, perhaps it’d be almost comedical. Watching the enterance hopeful and relieved to see the two men actually exit, she and Zoe made a dash for the examination room.

“Mum!” Sorina cried out, hurrying to the bond woman’s side.

“Sorina?” Agatha gasped, a mixture of shock and worry on her face. “How did you…why are you here?!”

“We’re going to get you out,” her daughter promised, yanking at the restraints. “Are you hurt?! Where’s Dad?!”

“You shouldn’t be here,” Agatha scolded, sitting up as Zoe managed to figure out how to undo the locks. “It’s too dangerous.” She paused, glancing towards the door. “I’m fine. Your father was still in the cell last time I checked. Sorina, you need to leave right now.”

“No!” The halfing exclaimed, fury manifesting in her tone. “Not without you and Dad!” Sorina’s breathing was ragged and try as she might, her emotions were getting the better of her. “I’m not losing you two again!”

The sound of footsteps pounding on the marble floor caused all three women to grow silent. Suddenly, and much to everyone’s relief, it was only Jack who appeared. His hair was windswept, chest rising and falling rapidly.

“We need to get out of here,” he panted. “They’re coming.”

“I’m not leaving without my Dad,” Sorina insisted, gaze turning to her mother. “Mum…”

Agatha was silent for a moment. “I can hold them off,” she stated. “But I don’t know for how long. If things go awry,” her stare locked on Sorina. “You leave. All three of you. Do you understand?”

“But Mum, I…”

“Sorina,” she repeated, firmer this time. “I need you to listen to me. If I tell you to run, you run.”

The girl reluctantly nodded. “Okay.” As much as she hated the idea, she knew if it came down to it, she’d be forced to. “Okay.”

Sorina, Jack, Zoe, and Agatha stood side by side, the sound of shouting and hurried footsteps growing closer and closer. The halfling felt something light brush against her fingers. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Jack was watching her. She took his hand in hers and squeezed. It was now or never. Her eyes narrowed, knees bent, and for the first time in her life, Sorina felt the blood of a vampire rush through her veins. The call of Dracula’s daughter.

#Dracula #Dracula 2020 #Dracula on Netflix #Agatha Van Helsing #Dragatha #Dracula x Agatha #Mirabile Visu

[bnhascribbles]

Better Late Than Never

Kirishima x Reader

Music AU, Fluff, Pining; A (late) birthday present for the vibrant @sunlikesthis!  Kirishima is precious and SO ARE YOU MY PAL.  YOU’RE FRIEND CAN’T FINISH STUFF ON A DEADLINE SO HAVE SOME FOOLS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Words: 3K

Warnings: Swearing (only slightly because Bakugo)

The first thing that strikes you is the fact that it is absolutely freezing in the hall.  Then again, that was the case at all of these concerts; the AC always seemed to be cranked up to “Antarctica,” and the fact that your clothes are sopping wet only helps the chill seep into your bones that much faster.  The second thing you notice is that the lights are already out, the stage already lit up, the quintet already...performing?  No, they couldn’t be—maybe they were just warming up.  With the lights off.  For a silent crowd.  You hang back against the wall, checking your phone and doing what you can to cover up some of the light from the screen.  When you see the time, it takes all the restraint in you not to gasp over the sound of the group onstage.

You were late, and not in the fashionable way either, if that rule could even be applied to musical performances (it can’t).  The rain—it must’ve been the rain.  People always forgot how to drive when the sky got even a little cloudy, and you could never trust buses to arrive on time, even on sunny days.  You thought you’d accounted for that.  Keyword: thought.

The musicians were already well into their piece and you’d just walked in and slammed the double doors behind you like some sort of moron that’s never been to a recital before.  You become acutely aware of the eyes on you—the old woman shaking her head in the corner, the mother and son glaring daggers at you as you just stand there, frozen and looking just a little too casual in your soaked tee and sneakers.  The way they saw it, you were probably the poster child for “what not to do as an audience member.”  Your head throbs, the weight of the sheer embarrassment threatening to topple you and create an even bigger scene.

With legs like jelly, you shuffle down an aisle, crawling over more than one frustrated concert-goer and sinking into the first empty seat you find.  You can still feel their stares though, and somewhere at the back of your mind, a little voice tells you to stand right back up and nope out of there before anything can get worse.  It’s tempting, but then again, listening to it would mean you’d have to do that weird seat-waddle thing through the aisle again.  Your shoes are full of water too—there’d definitely be some sloshing on the way out, and that wouldn’t really help make your escape any more subtle.  It would also mean you’d be breaking your promise to Kirishima.  That would be worse than any amount of embarrassment you could ever experience.  You might be a disaster, but you were a disaster that supported your friends, dammit.  That meant that your personal policy on tardiness at recitals was a bit more lenient today—a “better late than never” sort of deal.  

Hands pressed firmly to the sides of your face (like that’ll do anything to hide you from the looks), you peer up at the stage.  Kirishima’s there beneath the blinding beams of light, sitting right of center-stage with his trumpet propped in his lap.  He looks impossibly casual—in his element—even decked out in a suit and tie instead of his usual cargo-pants-and-crocs getup.  Casting a quick glance at Bakugo across from him, then to his music below, Kirishima lifts his instrument to his lips, begins to play.  You’ll never understand how he does that, how he just performs and forgets about the hundred pairs of eyes trained on him while he does it.  You know from experience (some of it very, very recent) the way that any sort of attention could shake a person, make them feel like they’re breathing underwater—dizzy and nauseous with lungs that can’t seem to do their job right.  But you suppose that’s the difference between him and you.  He’s meant to be a frontman: his sound is strong and his disposition perpetually sunny—he’s the sort of person that people flock to without even realizing it.  And of course he has to be humble about it; Kirishima couldn’t just be an egotistical jerk like Bakugo.  No, he had to be perfectly kind, perfectly charming, and perfectly out of your league.  In regards to friendship and...anything else.

Not that you need more with Kirishima.  Friendship is fine.  Friendship is awesome.  Sure, that intense look he gets whenever he practices makes something curl up on itself deep in your belly.  Sure, whenever he gives you one of those playful pats on the back, you wish he would linger for just a little bit longer. 

Sure, you can’t seem to shake the image of his hard body melting into yours—a fantasy where your hands are knotted into his wild hair, dragging him in closer as you gasp, finally begin to understand what all those long hours spent perfecting embouchure and technique were good for when he starts to—

But friendship.  Right.  Your friendship with Kirishima is perfectly acceptable.

The piece ends in what feels like a minute.  You barely notice.  It takes thunderous applause all around you to snap you from your trance, and you join in clapping before anyone can find another reason to accuse you of being disrespectful.  The group stands, instruments at their sides, and they bow, but you’re hyperfocused on Kirishima.  He’s squinting into the audience, nose crinkled and sweat dripping down his forehead.  Searching.  You can’t imagine it’ll do any good; you’re not in the seat you’re supposed to be in—the one he’d reserved specifically for you—and the blinding stage lights shining down on him probably don’t make looking for any one particular person easy.  Still, the silent moment of recognition that passes over his face when his eyes scan over your area of the crowd makes you think, just maybe, he sees you there.  Kirishima grins wide, lopsided, and you can feel your heart do a minuet in your freakin chest.  Because he looks good when he does it.  Really good actually.  And he isn’t looking away, even when he sits—when the rest of the quintet starts fumbling through their sheet music in preparation for the next piece.  

It takes a subtle, but firm, kick to the shin from Bakugo and a whispered something from Sero on his right to get Kirishima back in his “performer mode,” emptying the valves on his instrument and flipping through the paper on his stand.  Kaminari and Ashido turn to each other with these smirks plastered across their faces, and it’s barely a second before that earns a murderous glare from Bakugo.  Their smiles don’t fade, not even a bit, but they shift in their seats, sitting up a little straighter.  The damage is done though—you feel fuzzy and hot and hopeful.  And maybe you’re reaching, but you think you see a bit of a pink color creeping up Kirishima’s neck.  That’s only fuel for your fire.

The rest of the concert passes in a blur.  You can’t say you exactly remember standing up for the final applause, nor elbowing your way out the hall and into the lobby, nor walking outside and looping around the building to stand, shivering at the backstage entrance.  Your damp clothes feel like they’re covered in icicles by the time someone finally swings open the door, nearly knocking into you in the process.

The encounter is a surprise for both of you, so much so that for a second, you’re seriously concerned Ashido is going to use her French horn case to bludgeon you.  Thankfully, she only gets as far as drawing her arm back in preparation for the swing before a bit of light from inside reaches your face.  Ashido lowers her “weapon” and clutches her chest in relief.

“Oh my god,” she pants, leaning on the doorframe for support, “oh my god, oh my god, you scared the shit out of me.  I thought you were gonna murder me or something.”

You swallow hard, choking down most of your own shock before speaking.  “I could say the same for you.  Do you always swing first and ask questions later?”

Ashido lets out a short laugh, having caught her breath a bit.  “Only when the other person looks like the fuckin’ grim reaper.”  She blinks and gives you a once-over.  “Seriously, how are you not actually, like, dead?  Or at least frozen?  You’re soggy and...where’s your coat?”

“Didn’t have time to grab it; had practice earlier today, so I ran home to drop my instrument then booked it to the bus stop.  I still wound up getting here late.”  You sigh, remembering the horror of it all.

“So you were late—big deal.  You know, it’s fine to miss a concert or two if you’re busy.”

“It is a big deal, Mina.  And it’s not fine to just be a flake when—.”

“—when Eijiro is the one inviting you.”  Ashido finishes your sentence, lips twisting up into a familiar smirk—mischievous and all-knowing.  Your brain shoots into panic mode at the suggestion, and you frantically search for anything witty or sarcastic or just plain contradictory to shoot back with.  You’re at a complete loss though, your mouth forming the words without any sound coming out.

“Just get inside already.  Things’ll never get interesting between you two if you die of frostbite now”  Ashido ushers you through the door and into the warmth, still doing absolutely nothing to contain her smug expression.  When you scowl, she rolls her eyes and gives you a gentle shove forward.  “Kidding, kidding.  Come on, ever heard of a joke?”

“No.”  You deadpan, peering back at her over your shoulder.  Ashido gives you another shove, and you’re about to tell her off, but before you can, you’re colliding with something—something that feels like a boulder wearing a suit jacket.

Kirishima grabs your shoulder as you bounce off his chest, steadying you before you have the chance to fall back too far.  Ashido cackles the entire way out to the parking lot—you can hear her shrill laughter long after the door slams behind her.  

“Hey!” Kirishima greets you a little too loud, obviously caught off guard by the whole scene.  It only takes him a second to recover though, and once he does, he flashes a toothy grin and gives your shoulder a friendly squeeze. “Fancy bumping into you back here.”  

You groan.  “Puns don’t suit you, Eijiro—leave em’ to Kaminari.”

“Aw, really?  I thought that one was pretty good, though!”

“Nope.  Stick to trumpet; if today’s concert is any indication, you’re way better at that anyway.”

He chuckles and ruffles his hair with his free hand, smile softening a bit.  “I’m glad you made it.”

“Me too.”  You say, a smile forcing its way across your lips.  That always seemed to happen when you were around Kirishima, and you like to pretend you don’t know already know why.  “The rain slowed me down so I wasn’t even sure I’d make it in time.  But better late than never, right?”

“Right.”

There’s a moment of silence between the pair of you—the sort that happens when neither person has the slightest clue how to continue the conversation.  You definitely weren’t going to be the one to say “see ya’” or “bye,” mostly because you really didn’t want to; Kirishima had been busy all month prepping for today, and seeing as you hadn’t even gotten to speak with him before the recital (once again thank you so much public transportation), you were seriously falling short of your “Kiri Quota” for the week.  Consequences associated with a failure to meet it included: an empty feeling in your chest, an unexplainable preoccupation with the color red, a sudden desire to google pictures of crocs, and the inability to stop thinking about how good his lips would feel if he’d just lean in a little and—

No!  Bad!  You need to stop doing this—stop daydreaming, stop making up these impossible scenarios in your head.  Your crazy games of what if were the reason these awkward silences even started happening in the first place.  

One little comment from Bakugo had been all it’d taken.  Seriously.  One exasperated exclamation of “just fuckin’ get together already” shouted in a drunken stupor had been enough to create a rift between you and Kirishima.  Which was ridiculous really, because if anything was meant to happen between the two of you, it would’ve happened already.  One of you would’ve abandoned all your fears of horrible embarrassment and a wrecked friendship and would’ve just gone for it.  That's the way it worked, right?  Because if it didn’t...well then, hell, you didn’t know what you were supposed to do.

The buzz of the lights is almost deafening.  Kirishima shifts in place while you clench your jaw tight in a desperate attempt to keep your teeth from chattering.  

“Are you—”  You both begin at the same time, then stop abruptly.

“You first.”  The two of you do it again, laughing nervously when you end up copying each other a second time.

“You cold?”  Kirishima offers.  You raise an eyebrow and his eyes drift down to your folded arms, hands nestled tightly beneath your armpits.  The moment you notice his gaze, they fly out, adopting a frantic, placating gesture.

“Oh, I’m fine!  My clothes are just a little wet from earlier and you know how the staff likes to turn up the air, even when it’s negative whatever degrees outside.”  You shove your hands back to their original place.  “It’s alright—really.”

Kirishima nods like he understands, but still pulls his hand back from your shoulder and shrugs off his suit jacket.  

“Eiji—”

He cuts you off before you can finish.  “I was actually thinking it was hot in here.  Besides, I’m gonna be hauling chairs and stuff and I don’t need to sweat while I do it.”  Kirishima reaches around you and places his coat over your shoulders.  “So this works better for both of us, right?”

You huff, but that’s the extent of your complaining.  Because it is warmer—you can still feel the residual heat from Kirishima’s body lingering in the fabric.  You try to pretend that fact doesn’t make the hairs on the back of your neck prickle.

You clear your throat, resolving to ask your question and distract yourself.  “Are you sticking around to pack up?”

Kirishima sighs, heavy.  “Yeah.  There’s not a ton to do, but Katsuki will kill me if I leave before him.  As it is, he’s already pissed that Mina bailed on us.”  

“I can help if you need a pair of extra hands.”  You offer.

“Nope.  You’re my guest, so I’m not gonna have you lugging around our stuff for us.  That’s what Hanta and Denki are for.”

“But I’m—”

“We’re good.”  Kirishima assures you.  “With the four of us, we’ll have it done in, like, 10 minutes.  Just hang tight and, if you’re willing to wait, I’ll give you a ride home.”  He extends his hand outward towards you.  “Deal?”  

You take it, but make sure that he can see you rolling your eyes when you do it.  “Fine, I’ll wait.”

Kirishima gives your hand a firm shake.  But once that’s done, he doesn’t let go.  When his thumb brushes up against your knuckles, just barely there, you tell yourself it’s chance—he has something he’s forgotten to say and he doesn’t want you rushing off into a dressing room before he can say it.  When he rubs at the bottom half of his face with his free hand, covering the beginnings of a blush, you convince yourself it’s because he really is hot—in the temperature sort of way, of course.  When his face seems to drift in closer to yours, agonizingly slowly, millimeter by millimeter, you discount that as...well, you don’t have an explanation for that yet.  At least, not one that won’t get your hopes up.  

Still, you can’t help it.  You find yourself chewing on your bottom lip and leaning in, determined to meet him halfway.

Before you can, a gruff voice calls out from beyond the stage door.  “Take your fuckin’ time, Kirishima!  Not like we’re waiting for you or anything!”

Kirishima practically throws your hand and hops back, expression looking almost guilty as he peers over his shoulder, then back at you.  Then he laughs, but it’s completely forced.  Awkward and full of tension.

“Uh, I’ll be right back.  So just—” he rubs furiously at his jaw, “—don’t go anywhere, okay?”

“I’ll wait right here.”  You say, scratching at the back of your neck and praying that your feeble voice doesn’t betray you.  

Kirishima nods and, as you watch him hurry away, your insides are churning.  Damn Bakugo for starting this fiasco, and damn him for not letting you see it through to the end.

Thankfully, you don’t have much time to feel sorry for yourself.  Kirishima groans just as he reaches the stage door.  He presses his clenched fists to the wall beside the doorframe, just for a second, then turns on his heel and faces you once again.  His expression is much different than it had been before.  It’s intense—like the look he gets when he’s practicing.  When he has a goal in mind.

“I’m sorry, I can’t do this anymore.”  He says, his voice gravelly and strained.

Kirishima stomps back over to you in a hurry, and before you have the chance to question him, he takes the sides of your face in his hands.

“Better late than never?”

You understand the meaning of the question immediately, and your pulse beats wildly for it.

“Better late than never.”  You exhale, pressing your forehead to his.

And then he kisses you.  Hard.  You suppose that his way of making up for lost time.

#bnha x reader #bnha reader insert #bnha kirishima #Kirishima Eijirou #kirishima x reader #kirishima imagines #bnha imagines #mha imagines #bnha #mha #mha x reader #eijiro kirishima #HAPPY BDAY SUN

[dndeviants]

The Ally and the Weapon

Everyone was eager to leave the Abbey after the harrowing fight with the Abbot. None more eager than Strahd, who had nearly died from the encounter.

Death at this point would be rather humiliating, wouldn’t it? He mused to himself. He had no fear of dying... especially when he knew that the powers that be would not let him do so permanently. 

But death was a setback. 

He had to work with these outsiders- and the Barovians- to escape from this place. At one point he had dreamed of taking all of his country out of this damned plane, but the years of torture, the Barovians’ ungrateful existence...

Tatayana’s deaths... over and over...

He no longer cared if he took his country with him or not.

Linda proposed to defeat these Dark Powers that held them imprisoned. He held little faith in that plan. But he humored her, nonetheless.

Strahd led his allies down the winding path to the town of Krezk, and pulled his special pipe from his pocket. He took out the dried dung for the spell component and lit it. His protective spell- Aura of Desecration- was something that he created for himself long ago that would protect him from the effects of consecrated ground. 

It was a simple spell, but he was almost at his limit for magic today...

He traced the glyph in the air, not bothering to conceal the casting of his spell. After all, all in his company knew the truth.

 "The Shrine of the White Sun is a holy place,” Strahd explained to his guests, “I've not been near it in centuries. Not since Sturm had it made to honor our parents."

Aric tilted his head, "Why would she want to meet there?"

 Strahd thought for a moment, "It's isolated. The water is permanently blessed with miracle curing effects, and my power would be reduced in such a place. I think it is a precaution against me, specifically...”

He turned to his allies, “Which is hardly surprising, given her circumstances."

And our history... He thought, tiredly. 

Linda shrugged, "I don't blame her, considering your reputation."

Strahd quirked a brow at the cheeky woman.

Linda quirked her lips in a smug smile, admitting,  "Though that assumption may be misguided... not sure on that yet, though. We will see."

"We will see..." Strahd echoed hollowly. 

They walked further down the path, and came to an overlook. Strahd pointed downward, “That... is the Shrine.”

Everyone peered over, and were all greeted with a shimmering pool, the brightest blue water that any of them had ever seen. The place itself seemed to reflect a small amount of sunlight, but...

Linda looked up. It was dreadfully overcast, dim, and cold. This place seemed warm and sunny... Linda squinted. On the pool itself was a gazebo with a wooden bridge extending out to it. In its center, was a statue of a man.

Aric felt a tingling sensation inside of him. It is almost like an oasis in Calim Desert, he thought. Somewhere safe, and refreshing after a brutal day.

Nostalgia... that is what Ruki felt. She couldn’t quite place her finger on why... She looked to the gazebo. The statue in the center was the old sun god of Barovia, known as Father Sun to many. The Barovians now called that man, “the Morninglord,” the old faith almost completely forgotten...

Something forgotten... that something was calling to her from the Shrine.

"I'm guessing it is also the only happy looking place in this country," Linda looked to the vampire.

Strahd actually laughed, "That may be so. If that is what happiness looks like to you."

Linda shook her head,  "No, but to your people it might."

“I don’t know...“ Mina spoke uncertainly, “It almost looks... too inviting. I don’t trust it.“

Victor squinted, “Is it going to damage Mr. Whiskers? Because if so, I want nothing to do with it. Resurrecting him again would be a great inconvenience.”

Strahd held out his hand to Victor, "I have a protective aura against its effects. If you would like, I could hold on to your companion..."

Victor turned from Strahd, protecting Mr. Whiskers, "Um. No touching. But he can sit very near you."

Mr. Whiskers batted at a butterfly flying by.

Strahd took no offense to the gesture and led them down the rest of the way to the shrine.

A woman sat by the pools. She had umber skin, with thick hair corded into braids around her head. She reached into the water, filling vials from the pool. She heard them approach and stood, her dress revealing that she was heavily pregnant... going to give birth soon. 

Her nostrils flared as she smelled the air. She spoke to the party in a voice soft, and low, "Hail, Count. And guests."

Strahd put a hand over his chest, lowering his head, "Lady Toranescu. A pleasure to speak with you again."

Zuleika smiled sadly, "I wish I could derive as much pleasure from this meeting as you profess to have."

Strahd tilted his head up and gestured to his allies, "Lady Zuleika, these are my guests who are helping me for the time being. You already know of Ruki. But allow me to introduce Lord Aric and his retainer, Jeeves. Linda Tacklemeyer, Mina Harper, and Victor Vallakovich."

The woman raised a brow at Aric and sniffed, "If my senses weren't bombarded, I would think this one a member of my own pack by his scent... how can this be?"

“I was bitten a few days ago,“ Aric spoke truthfully. There was no use hiding it, and this werewolf woman might help him learn.

The woman frowned at Strahd, "He has until the full moon. If he was bitten by one of Kiril's... spawn... there's no telling what may happen."

Strahd nodded, "I know. But it was Kiril specifically that we came to discuss. I can't abide by what his marauders are doing. But we need more information. If you would help us, we would be grateful."

Strahd stepped back and gestured to Linda and Aric, "They have questions for you."

Linda’s heart pounded as she stepped forward,  "What can you tell us about Kiril? His followers kidnapped my apprentice... do you know anything about that?"

Zuleika  was grim, "Unfortunately I do..."

Zuleika put a hand over her pregnant belly, "A little under a year ago, Kiril returned from his banishment. He was banished from the pack because of his radical views on how we were too passive with the humans who were hunting us and killing us...”

She looked to Linda’s kit, and frowned at her. But the werewolf continued her story, “We couldn't afford to draw attention to our kind unnecessarily, so we banished him. It was a kind of death sentence, so we were surprised when Kiril returned. But something was not right..."

 "He came with others. We could sense that he had become something else. He wasn't living, nor dead, nor lycan... he was something foul and unnatural. He challenged my mate, my husband, Emil, for control of the pack. Emil was honor-bound to fight for the pack... and he was slain.”

She shook her head and bit back tears of grief and anger, “I had to defer to Kiril for a time... hiding my pregnancy from him until I could escape."

She fixed her amber eyes on Linda, "He had made a pact with some dark entity, it seemed. It made him the powerful monster he is now. He was able to dominate the minds of our pack-members, and subdue their personalities. He also took to kidnapping children."

Zuleika turned and faced the pool,  "The children, he would infect with his kind of curse. It wasn't like if any of my kind would bite a human... no... it changed these children, and they acted like born lycans... as if the lycan blood already ran through them, even though it never existed before... some of the pack lauded this as a way to further our breed... but then to everyone's horror..."

She had to pause to breathe. She steadied herself,  "He gave all the children weapons and commanded them to fight each other, and hold nothing back. He commanded children to fight to the death. And this was not just the kidnapped humans... these were our own pups as well."

Zuleika turned back to face Linda, stony faced,  "Kiril decreed that only the strong would have a place in our pack. And those who were not strong did not deserve to live."

 "If Kiril has your apprentice,” Zuleika warned, “Then he is either dead, or being turned into a murderer."

Linda sighed and rubbed her temples, fighting down the urge to scream and shout. She finally trembled, and spoke, "I... don't like either of those. I just hope he's not dead. He's like family to me. I wouldn't know how to tell his parents."

Zuleika lowered her gaze on Linda, sympathetically. 

She turned to Strahd, "Kiril has figured out where I am. I didn't get far enough away. If I could change, It would have been no problem getting as far away as Immol or Hoessla,” she paused, “I was actually surprised that you were here, Count."

Strahd mused, "Is that so?"

"You don't get around as much as you used to. And with the Abbot here...” She made a gesture, “Why would you come here? He nearly destroyed you, if I recall."

Strahd waved his hand nonchalantly,  "And he almost did today. What of it? I am still here... and all that remains of him is... well, remains...” he turned to the boys, “I think Jeeves has some pieces."

Jeeves held his hand in his pack, "Ah. I didn't think anyone was looking..."

He looked at everyone’s dubious stares and sighed, lifting out a vial of dust to show them, and emphasizing, "They might be useful."

Zuleika’s mood changed. No longer dreading and sober, she seemed to be more excited, "The Abbot is dead? Then perhaps all is not lost..."

"What do you mean?" asked Linda.

"The Abbot was helping Kiril,” Zuleika explained, “Delivering children to him and to another man, and a foreign wizard. The Abbot and Kiril had made a plan... for Kiril to take over Krezk, and for the Abbot to show the people what their lack of faith in the Morninglord had done... I... believe that the Abbot even poisoned Ilya Krezkov, the Burgomaster's son to aid in that plan. I don't know all the details, because I was still part of the den when they were discussing it, and left before they completed their plans..."

Linda turned to Aric, "If the Abbot poisoned him, didn't he say something about bringing the child back? It had to do with that ring right?"

"Yes,” Aric nodded, “It is a ring of spell storing, using it to revive the child would be easy with the spell already in the ring. I would imagine the Abbot wanted to use their faith to control the people, and reviving a dead child would seem like a miracle."

Linda held her arms and shuddered,  "I'm glad we killed him. That guy was all sorts of messed up."

Zuleika folded her arms and walked down the bank of the pool toward the wooden bridge, "The twisted abominations in that Abbey, the twisted thing Kiril has become... I long for the simpler days. Humans left us be for the most part. The only thing anyone had to worry about was.... well..."

Zuleika uncertainly looked to Strahd.

"Taxes," Strahd responded dryly.

Strahd quirked his lips in amusement at Zuleika’s annoyance.

“No. You, my lord...“ she corrected him.

Linda paused and held her hand to her chin in thought,  "I'm starting to think there is much worse than Strahd here. What made Kiril like he is, for example...”

She smiled and pointed her thumb to Strahd,  “Whatever that thing is has to be a lot less reasonable than this pushover."

Pushover? He looked to Linda. Normally, he would be insulted by such a claim, but seeing the playfulness in Linda’s eyes as she said it made him feel...

Something. 

“Perhaps I am growing soft in my old age...“ he spoke gently.

The werewolf looked disbelievingly at the exchange, not understanding how they could be so cordial with each other. She shifted in her stance, "Well, Kiril and the others mentioned a place called the Amber Temple... and the Dark Powers."

Aric looked to the vampire for insight, “Amber Temple?”

Strahd blinked in genuine confusion, "I have no idea what or where that may be. An... Amber Temple? That seems odd... we don't have much amber here. Can you tell us anything more?"

Zuleika made a vague gesture, "I know that it is in the mountains... I think it is... inside Mount Ghakis... that is what I heard, but I don't know if it is right or not."

"Mount Ghakis?” Strahd mumbled, “Well that would explain why I don't know of its existence... but... it doesn't explain how they would either.”

He turned back to Zuleika, “You and I both know that the cold of that mountain can freeze a brown bear in minutes... mortal men are no match for it, and I would have to break my own limbs continuously to explore the area..."

Aric was even more confused, "Why would you need to break your limbs to explore the mountain?"

"The cold,” answered Strahd, “My body, although it is stronger, and heals faster than a mortal body, cannot defy certain laws of physics. My magical preservation cannot keep up with the sheer, freezing cold. I've tried it once, and gave up after being... forced into a mist to retreat to one of my aeries."

Linda shivered almost instinctively,  "That's really cold and I don't think anyone has the protection for that. I certainly only have the clothes on my back right now."

Zuleika folded her arms, "That is why it is so shocking to me. To everyone. No one survives Mount Ghakis..."

Zuleika took a moment, lost in thought. The werewolf walked down to the bank of pool,  "I came here to protect myself and my unborn child, not from you, Strahd. But from Kiril."

She turned to everyone to explain, "He has the same weaknesses that you do, but none of the magical know how to get around them."

Strahd was relieved... it would have been a pity to lose Zuleika as... an acquaintance, "Ah, I was worried I had lost your trust and favor, seeing as you chose this of all places to meet."

Zuleika huffed in amusement, "It may come as a surprise, my lord... you may be the Land, but not everything is about you."

Strahd shrugged, "Most of it is."

"I can't argue with that,” Zuleika laughed softly. She picked up her skirts and walked away from the shrine.

Ruki sighed and looked up to her father, Arrogant, she thought.

Linda glanced over to the shrine and walked up to an ancient stone plaque. She read the engraving:

SHRINE OF THE WHITE SUN

Blessed by the priests of Father Sun, in honor of King Barov and Queen Ravenia von Zarovich. 

Though you are gone, your lights will always be a beacon for those without hope. May the sun ever shine on your children, Strahd, Sturm, and Sergei von Zarovich.

For his parents...? she thought. She looked down the way to the statue in the center of the gazebo. She walked toward it. It was that of a bare-chested man, bearing a sad face, with arms outstretched as if asking for an embrace.

Something is off...

She circled around the statue and saw small, almost imperceptible pressure plates. There were three of them: two under the armpits, and one on the back... 

She climbed up on the pedestal with the statue and pressed one under the arm. Click. Nothing...

Then the significance of the placement hit her. This was something activated by pushing all three at once... returning the statue’s embrace.

Clever, she hummed to herself. She embraced the statue, and felt something shudder beneath her, as gears turned and stone slid against stone.

One of the tile slabs had slid over, revealing a set of stone stairs that led into a chamber below the pools.

Strahd could not contain his surprise. He rushed across the bridge to Linda, and exclaimed, “What is this?!”

Linda hopped off the pedestal and smirked at the vampire, "Looks like stairs."

Strahd blinked, stunned, "It would appear so."

Linda grew excited, "Secret stairs at that. Let's go!" She gestured Strahd to follow her.

Strahd hesitated, and reluctantly followed her lead, lightly stepping and cautious of traps. Ruki, Aric, and Jeeves curiously made their way over and stepped into the darkness.

It wasn’t too impressive. Massive amounts of spiderwebs hung from the ceiling and covered chests and crates... the water lapped around outside the chamber... and oddly, there was a skeleton, splayed out on the floor.

Strahd ignored the skeleton and walked around, looking at crates, "All that is missing is the armory...” He wondered aloud, “Why would Sturm commission something like this and not tell me?"

Linda felt drawn to the skeleton and walked over... Just behind her, Aric curiously examined a chest, reaching out to it...

“What if it is a mimic?“ Jeeves cautioned.

Aric jumped back instinctively, knocking into Linda. Linda slammed into the ground on top of the skeleton, scattering bones across the floor.

Linda yelped in shock.

"Are you alright, my lord? Linda?" Jeeves rushed over to help.

Linda pulled herself out from under Aric and brushed dust off her leather jacket,  "It's alright. I just scattered whoever's skeleton that was,” She offered her hand to Aric.

Aric took her hand, “I am fine, Jeeves. I apologize Linda...”

Linda helped him stand, and made a gesture to dismiss his worry. She looked back at the scattered bones and sighed. It would be hard to pin down the cause of death now... Could be anywhere between bleeding and blunt force trauma.

She looked at loose fibers on the ground. Whoever this was was wearing cloth. That had disintegrated long ago, leaving only fibers and bone buttons... but why were they down here to begin with?

Aric examined the chest again. Not a mimic... He was pretty certain. Linda peered over his shoulder as he lifted the top of the chest.

More cloth fibers... mostly silk and other fabric, it seemed. Most of these things had been destroyed by time and insects...

Aric turned to the now broken skeleton, and saw Ruki also examining it. Something was out of place... an ornate hilt with no blade...

Even though Aric had no skill in magic, he could tell that this hilt was magical.

Linda peered into another chest... there were several pieces of fine jewelry... gold, silver, jewels... It would be worth her time taking this to an appraiser. She pocketed what she could.

It seems that the hilt may have been part of a greater weapon once... Aric thought. It still had potential to be a great weapon. He recalled the prophecy:

 "Look for the warrior's tribute... an abandoned shrine touched by the sun has the artifact you seek."

Ruki picked it up without a word and put it on her belt, meandering over to another chest, much to Aric’s chagrin.

Ruki examined the chest with Linda... it seemed to be scroll fragments detailing certain histories... but the ink was faded and hard to read.

Linda mused, "Scrolls huh?"

Ruki took the scrolls, “About some sort of history it seems.”

"It seems that this is some kind of time capsule...” Strahd determined, and added, “Not a very good one. There was some magic supposed to preserve these things, but it has long since worn off. I can't make sense of any of this... These artifacts.... are definitely before my time."

Strahd examined a coin he found. 

As Ruki examined scrolls she found, Aric snuck up on her, slowly reaching for the hilt on her belt...

Just... a little... closer....

He slipped, and nearly gave himself away. 

Jeeves reached out and grabbed him, preventing Aric from revealing himself.

Aric sighed in relief, and resolved to get the hilt later, “Thank you,” he breathed.

Strahd paled and looked as if he were going to be sick. He turned to everyone with him, "I am... at my limit. I can't cast this spell again until I recover, and it is starting to wear off... I'm sorry, I have to retreat from this."

Strahd hastily exited, rushing up the stone stairs.

Linda noted his reaction and  turned to everyone else, "I'll go with him."

She followed him up the stairs and saw that he had made his way to the edge of the property that held the shrine and pools. She huffed to catch up to him. 

Strahd leaned against a tree, wrapped up in his cloak, his face furrowed with pain and stress.

 "Did it wear off while we were down there?" Concern crept into her voice.

He nodded, "I was too entrapped with that place. I let my spell run out. I can't...” He looked to her uncertainly, “...afford to be near holy places or things for the rest of this day."

Linda nodded and showed off the jewelry she found, "I think I am done for the day too. I would like to go back to the town and buy and sell a few things."

He nodded, not caring about the jewelry she took,  "I will have to recover my stores of Arcane Magic. And plan for how we will tackle this werewolf problem tonight. Fare you well... " 

He paused, looking at the woman that had shown him such care, concern, camaraderie... something stirred in his chest... it had been happening a lot, recently...

 "Thank you for your help," He spoke quietly, his usually hard gaze softening.

Linda noticed the look he gave her... Longing? Fondness?

She quickly looked down and pulled her hair behind her ear, "Don't mention it. I'll make sure the others are in the right mindset for tonight as well."

She looked back up at him. His expression did not change. His lips parted as he whispered gently, “Thank you...”

He wrapped himself up tighter in his cloak, seeking some kind of comfort. He looked down, away from her, cursing himself... He had already thanked her, doing so twice was foolish! 

He wanted to speak to her, keep her in his company a little longer... he battled within himself, and conceded. He looked to her, nearly pleading, “Be safe.”

Those words were a genuine wish- no, a command- to her... and released her from his presence.

Linda raised her eyebrows, surprised at his apparent change in manner to her. She couldn’t help but raise the corners of her lips in a small smile, “You be safe as well, and...” she nodded to Strahd, holding his eyes with hers for a brief moment...

Her heart seemed to jump to her throat, “You’re welcome...” she choked out. 

She quickly turned away to try and hide her flush of embarrassment. Stupid, stupid, stupid! She thought. She breathed and steadied herself. She couldn’t... just leave him here with that... 

She turned back to him, and saw that his expression had changed to that of curiosity... It was a little easier to look at him now... she nodded to Strahd in acknowledgement, “I’ll see you later, then... And um... Take care.”

“I try,“ he replied.

She laughed quietly and turned away, heading out toward the town. She couldn’t believe that she was still tripping over herself around him... she would have expected her fascination with the man to end when she learned the truth about him... but that simply wasn’t so.

Strahd watched as Linda walked away, and unconsciously placed his hand over his heart. He was certain that he had felt it move... beat... once more... 

Since his turning, it hardly ever did that. The only occasions his heart beat were in the heat of battle, in dread fear, or when he saw Tatay...

He cut off that comparison before  it could complete itself. Whatever he felt toward Linda was a mere, fleeting fancy. She was attractive, yes, with features similar to his own beloved, true... But she was not Tatayana...

Perhaps I could make her my consort... The thought came to him... but without much enthusiasm. He doubted Linda would agree to such an arrangement, no matter how attractive he was to her... and he felt that he would not gain enjoyment from that either...

No, he wanted something more from her... but what, he wasn’t certain...

Thud. There it was. Under the tips of his fingers, something he hadn’t felt in so long stirred...

Be still, my beating heart... he commanded himself, to no avail. 

He couldn’t feel this way for her- he mustn’t... or else everything he had done...

Would have been for...

Nothing.

#story update #linda tacklemeyer #ruki von holtz #aric rein #curse of strahd #writing #D&D

[raynaperryart]

For the smooch-tober, 29 for todomomo pls...

Alright, gem, here’s for you! I also posted it to AO3: Sealed with a Kiss

Sealed With a Kiss

Momo was fidgeting with her purse in her hands, looking down at the faux leather straps, lost in thought as she waited outside the café. It was a perfectly sunny day, mild temperatures, and people were milling about in a generally happy mood. She felt out of place among them, though, as her nerves seemed to be going crazy as she waited for Todoroki Shouto to arrive for their date.

Just thinking about it was enough to make her blush. She couldn’t believe that after all of this time of pining after him that he’d agreed to go on a date with her after her not-so-eloquent confession and proposal of said date. She bit back the wide smile that was spreading across her lips at the memory, one hand coming to rest on her cheek at the thought.

Deep breaths, Momo. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of Todoroki-san any more than you already have, she thought. A giggle escaped her, though, and she could feel the warmth on her cheeks from the blush. How was it that he made her so happy and he wasn’t even in front of her?

“Yaoyorozu, are you okay?”

Momo jumped at the soft yet deep voice in front her, clutching her purse up to her chest, eyes wide, as she looked at Todoroki standing in front of her.

And then her eyes seemed to widen even further as she took in his outfit because: he was matching her.

He had on a blue button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up neatly to his elbows, white slack pants, and clean black dress shoes. She was wearing a blue button-down shirt, as well, tucked into a flowing white skirt, black ankle boots on her feet, a black purse in hand. He looked so… handsome.

He looked so handsome, in fact, that Momo couldn’t help the blush from once again spreading over her cheeks as she stared at him.

When she looked back up at his face, he had his head tilted to one side slightly, looking at her curiously. “Is there something wrong?”

She laughed lightly to ease her nerves, shaking her head. “No, I’m sorry, Todoroki-san. Are you ready to go in?” He nodded and the two headed into the café, walking up to the counter to order their food and drinks before finding a seat. The café was small, quaint, with soft light-hearted music playing overhead. A few other couples and friend groups were in there, but it wasn’t overcrowded by any means.

They found a seat by the large window and sat across from one another. Momo hung her purse on the back of her chair, her fingers looking for purchase of something to fiddle with as her nerves began to strike her again. Why was she so nervous? She’s surely faced much more harrowing situations than a simple date, hasn’t she?

Glancing up at Todoroki, Momo bit her lip and asked, “Todoroki-san?” He turned his attention from outside the window to her, his blue and gray eyes peering at her dark brown ones. She smiled, her hand absentmindedly reaching up to play with her long fringe. “I think it’s quite surprising of you to match someone on a first date.”

Todoroki blinked before looking down at himself and then nodding. “Ashido gave me the idea when I was leaving. She told me what you’d be wearing and that you’d probably like it if I wore similar things, so I figured I would.”

Momo blushed, surprised but also not. She’d have to thank Mina later. She nodded, giggling softly. “Mina-san does always have a way of putting people together.”

Todoroki stared at her for a moment before looking away to see that one of the people working behind the counter was bringing them their drinks and food: a strawberry smoothie for him, a peach-mango for her, and some finger sandwiches for them to eat.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, Momo sipping nervously on her drink. What was she supposed to say? She’d never been on a date before, and she didn’t know what to expect. Was he having an okay time? Should she ask him about his internship? Should she talk about how she thinks she’s found a new way for her quirk to expand its limits? There was so much on her mind that she didn’t hear Todoroki saying her name until he reached out to touch her hand that was wrapped around her drink.

She jumped at the contact, her eyes shooting up to his. His look wasn’t as calm or nonchalant as usual; she could see the concern in his eyes as he looked at her, even if his face didn’t express it. “Yaoyorozu, are you sure you’re okay? Do you want to go home?”

“No!” She said instantly, a little too loudly. She moved her hands to her lap, his hand falling to the table as she did. “No, I-I’m sorry, Todoroki-san. I’m just…” She took a deep breath, looking out the window, ashamed. “I’m just nervous, is all.”

“Why?”

Momo looked up at him from beyond her fringe as it draped over her face. “Huh?”

“Why are you so nervous?” He leaned forward just slightly, resting one hand on his drink.

Momo blinked at him before shaking her head. “Nothing, it’s silly.” When she looked again he had that curious expression again. He didn’t always verbalize what he was thinking, and many times she believed that he simply didn’t care, so why did he keep showing such curiosity toward her? She sighed, trying to keep eye contact with him as she said quietly, “I just don’t want to disappoint you, is all.”

“Disappoint me?” He frowned, just slightly, his eyebrows twinging down just enough. Clearly he hadn’t been expecting that answer.

Momo nodded, her words spilling out now because how else was she going to tell him? “I don’t want you to think that this date was a waste of time. I’m very grateful and very happy that you agreed to come with me, and I feel like we’ve been so quiet because I just don’t know what to say to you.” She looked down at the plates and sandwiches on the table. “I know that it probably doesn’t seem like that big of an issue, but I don’t want you to think that I’m boring or that I’m doing things improperly. I just want you to have a good time… with me.” The words became quieter as she spoke until she was practically whispering, but Todoroki just simply sat and listened to what she had to say. She bit her lip worriedly.

He said, “I don’t think you’re boring, Yaoyorozu.” She glanced up at him. “You shouldn’t have to worry that much. Have more confidence in yourself.”

Simple words, simple statements, simple facts. That’s what they were to him: facts. She’s not boring. There’s no need to worry. She should have more confidence.

It was enough, though. Those three simple statements were enough from him to make her feel a little less worried. She laughed softly to herself, fidgeting with her fringe again. “Thank you, Todoroki-san.”

They were able to talk more then, with Momo asking the questions that had been on her mind while she also talked about some of the other things that were happening in her life. They talked about many things until their food and drinks were gone. They got up and left the café soon after that, walking side by side down the street. Momo had her hands in front of her, her hands clutching her purse, and even though she was looking down again, she felt lighter than she had earlier.

They reached a water fountain in the center of the shopping square, the water reaching high above their heads. They stopped in front of it, watching it for a moment, before she turned to him and took in his features once again: his half red, half white hair, his cool gray and blue eyes, his blank but still sharp gaze. He turned to look at her, the clouds of curiosity stirring once again in his eyes.

She blushed, but didn’t shy away, not this time. “Thank you for the lunch, Todoroki-san.” He nodded, humming as he did. She bit her lip, looking down. There was an impulse there, one that she’d talked about with her girlfriends just the night before: the desire to kiss. Was it improper to think these thoughts after just one date? What would he think? Would he want to? Would he be okay with it? It didn’t have to be passionate by any means, just a simple, chaste kiss. Yes, that’s all—

“You’re doing it again, Yaoyorozu,” he said, and she whipped her head up to look at him, her face furiously hot with blush. But instead of finding a disapproving look she saw a smile just teasing the corners of his lips.

So, she blurted the first thing that came to mind: “Can we go on another date, Todoroki-san?”

He blinked at her and she could have sworn she saw the touch of red on his cheeks. He nodded. “Sure.”

She smiled up at him and nodded. And, trying not to let her confidence wean any more, she tacked on, “Can we seal it with a kiss?” This time he definitely blushed. It wasn’t as bright as her blush, that was for sure, but it was there and the fact that it was there made butterflies dance in Momo’s stomach. She waved her hands in front of her then, panic setting in. “I-if you don’t mind! I don’t want to force anything on you or feel like you have to—”

He closed the gap between them, placing a soft kiss directly onto her lips. It was soft, innocent, chaste, and so sweet, the hint of strawberries still there. It lasted longer than she was expecting, but also ended all too soon, because when he pulled away she could feel her heart pounding in her chest and the strong desire for his lips to be back on hers.

When she opened her eyes to look at his, he was still very much within her bubble, his gaze never leaving hers. He said quietly, low, “Sealed with a kiss.”

Momo thought she would melt into a puddle right then and there, but luckily, she kept it together long enough to smile shyly at him and whisper back, “Sealed with a kiss.”

The crowds around them buzzed with the late afternoon air, some taking pictures of the fountain, some going up to one of the street vendors around the square, some laughing, some talking, but all Momo could see and feel and hear was the young man who had captured her heart a long time ago in front of her.

#todomomo #fanfiction #writing #ask #answered #my writing #gem-chan-the-huge-dork