#and then he was placed in a rehabilitation place to learn how to walk again and stuff

[alientee]

This is a 3 shot series inspired by the amazing writer @gyoongim. They did amazing with my ask and I’m in love with Alastor x Jessica rabbit .🤣

Fun fact It’s said that Jessica rabbit is also asexual!

Charlie felt defeated, she tried her hardest but there wasn’t shit she could do against that damn Adam or the council. Sera took pity on her stopping her for a moment “Charlie…… while you were not successful maybe we can come to a compromise?”

Charlie looked back up with her with hope in her eyes while Vaggie continues to glare.

“How about this we send an angel down with you, they spend a day in your hotel and we get to learn about all your progress. Maybe that will help sway the masses and myself.

Charlie instantly nodded thanking them over and over again. “So where’s the angle joining us”

“Emily has gotten her….. ah there they are”

Emily bounced forward happily introducing you

“Charlie this is y/n she’s one of the angels that actually believe In your cause!”

Sera looked down at you giving you a stern look.

“You’ll stay there for 1 day and then come right back y/n. Stay safe and good luck”

You walk into the portal with Charlie and Vaggie leading to the hotel. The demon princess didn’t stop talking about how she was going to give you a tour, show you everything they have to offer, even take you to the few nice places in hell. She started to ask you questions. She seemed really sweet and excited to get to know you. “Can I just say you look absolutely gorgeous, you’re like wow!”

You giggled. “Thank you hun I used to turn a lot of heads when I was alive. Too bad I only had eyes for one man.”

Charlie looked even more excited “ Oh my gosh tell me everything!”

You went on and on about your past, how you were a singer and a model, how you were married to a radio host. How you got married and ended up retiring to be a housewife. You stopped your story when you ended up in front of a hotel looking around shocked.

“So this is hell huh? Now tell me more about the hotel”

Charle links her arm with yours pushing the doors of the hotel open. “This is the hazbin hotel! Were we have 2 residents ready to rehabilitate and reform there life into good! It may not look like much but I garuntee you everyone here is dedicated to making there life better!”

Vaggie scoffed “not everyone”

“Okay almost everyone hehe” Charlie rubbed her neck nervously.

You look around and see the interior with a scary looking bar there were a couple of demons one looks like a spider the other a snake, two cyclops and the last one was…. a bird cat?

“Everyone this is y/n! She’s gonna be staying with us for the day to prove to heaven that demons can change!”

They all introduce themselves and the spider named angel comes up to you, looking you up and down. “ Beautiful and Busty they should’ve never sent you down here toots! Now you can give me a run for my money”

You laugh it off giving him a wink “I’m a tough lady I can handle myself. It’s nice to meet y’all”

Charlie gives you a tour of the hotel and you meet up with group once more “So what do you think y/n!”

“I think y’all have something really nice going on here”

“Thank you-“

“Charlotttttteeee~ why is there an angel in our premises didn’t I tell you the couldn’t be trusted”

You turned around at the sound at the static like voice.

“Y/N… is that you?”

Alastor still keeps his signature smile but his eyes are wide with confusion. He walks up to you pulling you into his chest. Alastor kisses both your cheeks putting his forhead against yours. “It’s me mon amor”

“Alastor!? Honey you look so different and your smile is even bigger than I remember”

“Well you know you’re not fully dressed without a smile. Y/n darling what are you doing here? Someone sweet as you doesn’t belong down here”.

You hold him close snuggling into his chest “oh Al it’s alright I’m just here to see the hotel on behalf of the council. I missed you so much ! What are you doing here honey ? I was so confused when I never met you in heaven what on earth got you down here?”

Alastor looks away sheepishly “Well about that-“

“UM EXCUSE ME!”

You both turn around to see everyone looking at you both in shock. After a long silence Charlie speaks up.

“So you two know eachother huh”

You looking at everyone shyly “You remember how I said I was married to a radio host”

Alastor smirked pulling his arm around your waist. “This gorgeous gal has had my heart since I first laid eyes on her” He kisses your forhead

None of them could believe it! You were Alastor’s wife?!

Vaggie moves forward while everyone else is looking at you in shock. “Hold on, wait a minute let me get this straight. You! A gorgeous, kind hearted, helpful angel…… are married to that thing?!”

Alastor squints his eyes his static going off “what are you trying to say Vaggatha”

Angel interrupts her before she could speak

“ it means she’s waaaayyyyy out of your league smiles. I mean Vaggies right, she’s hot and your….anyway, how and the hell did a dame like you end up with old freak face anyway?”

Alastor rolls his eyes “ I won her affections with my charm and manners. Something you clearly don’t have my feminine fellow”

Angel looks at him uninterested “yea I ain’t buying that. Toots why you with this stuck up prude?”

You hold alastor arm cuddling up to his side “He makes me laugh, how could I turn him down when he always put a smile on my face” you giggle softly

Everyone was still shocked by your answer none of them could really see someone like you with someone like alastor but decided to accept it (everyone accept Angel and Vaggie) Angel smirks

“Ok so I was right it definitely wasn’t for his looks”

“Well beauty isss in the eye of the beholder, I guesss he jussst got lucky”

Alastor rolls his eyes “Are you miscreants quite done”

“Now we always know why Mr fancy talk creepy voice is always smiling. Thinking about his busty wife gets him through the day haha”

“Angel dust if you wish to redeem your soul and make it into heaven I suggest you watch your mouth before I end your life.”

“Oh Al leave him be he’s just joking, now tell me why your down here”

Alastor sighs giving you his arm. You grab it not questioning it as he walks you both to the door. He doesn’t even look back at the others .

“I’m talking my wife for a walk we’ll be back shortly”

As the two of you walk out everyone stays silent until Angel speaks up. “I don’t care what any of you’s say, he was definitely not hitting that right”

As you both leave Alastor stays silent. You don’t rush him to talk, you never did. You two never fought when you were alive you always talked it out and took it one step at a time.

“You should know that I didn’t tell you this because I didn’t want to hurt you or scare you. You were the only good thing I had left after my mother. So I hope you can forgive me for keeping it from you.”

“Go on hon I’m listening”

“The bayou serial killer, that was me doll….i died getting shot in the head with a rifle, being mistaken for a deer while I was burying a body. And I may of…. ate a few people, but they were never in your food!”

You looked at him in shock but you never let go of his arms. “Oh my gosh….. that’s what you were doing out there, they never told me, just said it was a hunting accident….. I should’ve known! You would always go one these nature trips at night when ya barley had friends plus I shoulda known someone like you doesn’t like outdoor activities like that! How ya wouldn’t let me in your tool shed because it was to much “dangerous” stuff in there. How you’d come home from the radio tower early hours in the morning. I thought you were stepping out on me for a time but you still showed me all the same amount of affection so I pushed that thought out the window”

Alastor laughed a laugh track playing in the back ground “Oh daring why would I ever step out on the most beautiful woman in the world. I’d be a fool to have eyes for anyone but you”

He squeezed your hips pulling you into a hug “Do you regret marrying me, please tell the truth?”

“Oh Al of course not, even if you are a killer you were so sweet and gentle with me I’ve never felt safer than when I was with you. Your a wonderful husband I’ll never regret you honey ”

Alastor pulled you close his smile getting wider. “How about I make it up to you darling let me take you out on the town, it’s been a while and you deserve to be spoiled doll.”

“I’d love that Alastor”

You both walked down the street in silence with you both linked arm and arm as always. Until Alastor spoke up again”

“And by the way sweetheart Tu portes l'enfer hors de cette robe, j'ai raté ces courbes”

You blushed “Still a charmer I see”

Part 2 comming soon~

#hazbin hotel #alastor #hazbin alastor #alastor x reader #alastor x you #alastor x y/n #hazbin hotel x reader #alastor the radio demon #alastor hazbin hotel #alastor hazbin x reader #hazbin hotel alastor #hazbin hotel x you

[slayfics]

Behind the Mask

Inosuke x Reader

The final chapter.

Chapter 11

“Oh my.”   

You opened your eyes quickly realizing you had fallen asleep on Inosuke’s chest. You looked up to see Shinobu in the doorway. Inosuke was awake but didn’t say a word.  

“Glad to see you’re awake Mr. Hashibira... Well, it seems you are well attended to, so I'll be on my way.” Shinobu announced and walked out of the room.  

You felt your cheeks warm up, you hadn’t intended to fall asleep here or get caught. You started to get up.   

“Good morning” Inosuke said.  

“Good morning,” You responded sitting on the edge of the bed. “My apologies I didn’t mean to fall asleep here. I’ll get started on breakfast I'm sure you’re hungry.”  

“I’m starving!” He said. “But first... You said once you fixed my wounds you would kiss me again.”  

Inosuke was right, you had promised him that. As happy as you were that he wanted to kiss you again, you felt your heart begin to race. Without the adrenaline you had running through your system last time it was a lot harder to approach him.   

“What are you waiting for.” He said impatiently and grabbed your wrist pulling you back on to him. He smiled seeing the shock in your eyes. “I’d do it, but I don’t want to give you a bloody nose like last time” He said grinning.  

You were taken off guard by his boldness but relieved that he was willing to take initiative. It made you feel less nervous.   

“The trick is to be gentle Inosuke. You don’t want to knock out the person you’re trying to kiss.” You said letting out a small giggle.  

“Hm..” Inosuke grunted. He couldn't remember being gentle with anything his whole life. You moved slowly closer to his face.  

“This is so slow.” He said.  

“Sometimes that makes it better.” You said, moving even closer and placing your hands on both his shoulders while you moved in to slowly press your lips to his. You stayed a few moments before pulling back to look at him. He looked at you with wide eyes and his cheeks slightly pink.  

“Is that it?” He asked. You felt the blood drain from your face. What did he mean by that? Was that bad?? Or was he asking for more than just a kiss?  

“Um I uhh wh-” You stammered trying to collect your thoughts.  

“I want to try.” He said and grabbed you by the front of your uniform pulling you closer till you were pressed up against him and he harshly pressed his lips against yours. You felt your heart beating so fast it felt like it would burst out of your chest.   

He let go and looked at your shocked expression.  

“How was that?” He asked.  

“A little rough but sometimes that makes it better too.”  

Inosuke smiled at your words. “I can hear your heart beating fast and your pupils are big. I don’t have a lot of experience, but I know that means you like me.”  

“Yes I do.” 

“I like you too." He said simply. You smiled and kissed his cheek before leaving to get started on breakfast and your tasks for the day. 

Every moment after that you were careful to be fully present for and enjoy. After all, Mitsuri was right. You knew it would only be a matter of time before Inosuke was healed and back on missions. Which meant soon you’d have to face the fact that every time he left there was a chance he wouldn’t make it back. That was just the nature of being a demon slayer.   

Eventually that time did come. Insouke’s wounds had healed, and he had finished his rehabilitation training. With the time you two had together you learned more about each other and gained a better understanding of each other. You even taught Inosuke how to write three words: I am ok. This way he could send letters on his solo missions when another demon slayer wasn’t available to help him. Of course, Inouske always held the pen in a strange manner as if he was still confused by it.

You both stood outside the gates of the Butterfly Mansion as Inosuke prepared to leave. 

“Well I guess you’re ready to go.” You said trying not to show too much worry on your face. 

“Mhm.” Insouke nodded. You pushed his mask on top of his head and kissed him to send him off on his journey. When you began to pull away, he grabbed you around your waist and pulled you closer, pressing his lips hard to yours. He never did learn how to be gentle, but you didn't mind.

“Don’t look so worried.” He said when he pulled away. “I told you. I’ll always come back. Besides those demon's are no match for Lord Inosuke.” A grin spread over his face just as his mask fell back over his head. “I’ll see you soon” he finished and took off. 

You watched as he vanished and while feeling both worried and sad you couldn’t help but feel extremely grateful for the new relationship you found with Inosuke, and excited for what the future might bring you both.

Thank you to everyone who has read, liked, commented, or reblogged! I never intended to make this many chapters but was encouraged to keep it going with all the love from everyone. It has truly put the biggest smile on my face logging in and seeing the responses. Nothing makes me happier then knowing I have made you all smile. I'm sure I'll continue to work on one shots here and there that I hope continue to make you smile. My chat's always open so feel free to talk to me!

#demon slayer #inosuke hashibira #inosuke x reader #inosuke x y/n #inosuke x you #kny x reader #kny x you #anime x reader #anime x y/n #demon slayer x reader #demon slayer x you #demon slayer x y/n #kny fanfic #kny fluff

[s090l]

Jake Seresin | hey babe I’m home .

A sudden accident lands Jake in the hospital with severe injuries, leaving Y/n in shock. The room oscillates between tension and relief as Jake wakes up to a grim reality. Y/n's unwavering support becomes the anchor in their journey through surgeries, rehabilitation, and the healing power of love

"© s090l . All rights reserved. This work is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized copying or reproduction without explicit consent is prohibited."

THIS IS PART 2 : PART 1

Despite the challenges, the day of Jake's discharge had finally arrived. Y/n's excitement reverberated through the air as she prepared to take him home. However, Jake's demeanor hinted at a deeper struggle beneath the surface.

it had been two week since Jake’s last surgery , it was finaly time to go home , to say that you were excited is an understatement, you were buzzing. Jake was just ready to be close to you again and not have a nurse standing in the way , the morning before his discharge Jake had to go though a final round of tests , so bloodwork , scans everything.

He wasn’t really in the mood but he knew once that was done he could go home. "Baby …" he cried , y/n turned to him stopping what she was doing.

"Hey bub, what’s wrong?" "Why are you crying" wiping his tears with her sleeve, y/n knew Jake was tired and angsty so she knew he would be a bit emotional but she didn’t expect him to be this upset today .

Jake had been distant the last 6 weeks , at first he looked 'okay' but then after a couple of days the nightmares started.

*flashback to week 2 in hospital*

y/n had just showered and started getting ready for bed , this had been her space for the last 2 weeks , she knew she needed to let Jake try healing on his own but every time she was on her way out , he crumbled. So she took of work and stayed with him .

As she was asleep she heard something, almost like someone was weeping , and then it started, Jake started rolling around in his sleep , tossing and turning whilst mumbling, she tried to wake him up , realizing that he was probably having a nightmare.

Jake shot up screaming and crying „no , please, I just want to go home“ he shouted , "Jake , hey babe , look at me , hey , hi , Hi baby , im right here, im not going anywhere" Jake started crying into y/ns chest ,

“you’re okay baby , can you try breathing a bit slower for me ?" Jake inhales a bit better " good job , just like that , once more ?" "You feeling a bit better? You want some water?" She handed him some water , "hun you’re sweating like crazy, what happened?" He replied feeling embarrassed that he let y/n witness that , he had always struggled with his anxiety, but learned to cope with it "im sorry baby“

*end of flashback*

Then came his surgeries, Jake was always so confident, he never showed fear to anything, but his hip surgery was an absolute nightmare.

He was in a heck of a lot of pain, he had to have a catheter placed again… he wasn’t allowed to shower or walk , he felt useless. And when he saw the scar on his hip he felt even worse

As the final tests concluded before his discharge, Y/n extended a comforting hand. "You've been through so much, Jake, but you're not alone. We'll face whatever comes next together." She wiped away his remaining tears, a silent promise echoing in her gaze.

"You wanna go home , bub ?" , Jake felt as if he could cry , he looked up at you , "please , please baby I want to go home" , y/n almost laughed at how excited yet exhausted he looked, he was standing up getting ready to go "okay hotshot , slow your roll there , don’t need another hip gone bad" .

The drive home was peaceful, something they hadn’t experienced in almost 2 months .

Jake felt awful as he realized , he was going home for the first time since that day , and that you had all those fancy dinners planned.

Y/n put her hand on his thigh , "don’t even Start Leutnant.“ , Jake scoffed , "it’s Leutnant commander missy“

A/N : do you guys want me to make this a series ? Also let me know if you guys have any requests

#top gun maverick #jake seresin #imagine #bradley rooster bradshaw

[silvysartfulness]

Only cuz you invited questions about your fics but I think about your Deep Blue Sea fic a lot and it maybe haunts my dreams because i love it so much but i wanted to know if you had any ideas about how xue yang makes it up to xiao xingchen and song lan to regain their trust and reach that frankly adorable epilogue. specifically song lan because the betrayal there was just so much deeper and i love xue yang having to work hard for song lan's forgiveness(for as much as 'forgiveness' is even possible) and trust.

Ahh, that makes me so happy to hear! I’m deeply fond of that fic, so I’m delighted that it’s getting some love! 😍

Their getting back together is less about making up for things or repentance, and more about trying again while being honest with each other and trying to understand each other. Recognizing how much of what Xue Yang did and the things they have in common was real, and building upon that.

It’s all very fragile at first, both Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan understandably quite wary to trust Xue Yang at all – it’s one thing to have had your little non-profit infiltrated by industrial espionage, but this is a dangerous killer sent to literally destroy everything you’ve worked for. And Xue Yang equally wary to trust that they’ll actually give him this second chance, that it isn’t just a trap or that he’ll be tossed aside the moment he’s no longer useful.

But first things first they have a dolphin to save, so they all roll their sleeves up and get to work.

Xue Yang and Babydoll move into the Yicheng Group garage at first, rummaging all Shuanghua’s equipment aside enough to fit her pool and a cot in there so Xue Yang can spend all his time with his dolphin as she gets used to all the sudden changes while they’re negotiating more permanent solutions with Jin Guangyao. I’m sure Wei Wuxian helps keep tabs on Xue Yang’s digital trail, too, just to make sure he’s not up to no good.

It’s… pretty miserable at first, with all the other volunteers avoiding Xue Yang like the plague with the possible exception for a-Qing who is all too happy to chew him out whenever they bump into each other outside.

More than once Xue Yang considers just walking away (and probably acts on the impulse a couple of times, though somehow he always ends up coming back.)

More than once, Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen question their judgment in giving things a second chance in the first place.

But they’ve talked it through over and over. What Xue Yang did to the Chang and to Baixue were horrific things – but he was just a teenager at the time, barely more than a child, let down by the systems the Yicheng Group themselves fight so hard to change. They’ve had rehabilitating criminals and ex-cons among their volunteers before – it would feel hypocritical not to extend the same compassion and opportunity to start over to Xue Yang, provided he puts in the work to prove that he’s willing to change.

The therapy helps a lot, too.

Both individually and in their various constellations. It’s like pulling teeth, especially for Xue Yang who hates showing vulnerability and often doesn’t analyze or even understand his own emotions in the first place. But the end goal is worth it. They persevere.

Bit by bit, they heal. They learn to trust again. To love again – or rather, to accept and finally embrace the love that never really went away.

By the time they’re given the chance to move their operations to the Jinlintai islands, there’s so much work to do, they can put aside a lot of the remaining hurt and uncertainty and just get busy. Both Xue Yang and Song Lan do better when they can express themselves through hard work than words, anyway. Building the research center together is a metaphor for them rebuilding their relationship so blatant even Xue Yang can’t miss it!

So they build, and they grow and they put in the work.

Babydoll is an excellent character witness, proof that Xue Yang is capable of taking good care of those he loves when given the chance! And I’m sure Daoren showing up helped a lot, too, letting Xue Yang practice and show off his caring side even more, raising the little orphaned baby dolphin.

At the time of the epilogue, they’re still working on all these things – the trust (going all three ways! If you want to be trusted, you have to trust others in return, even with your weaknesses and flaws! You have to talk about the difficult things!) and patience and compromises and moving on beyond past hurt. They’re still in regular therapy, learning better ways to cope with past trauma and handling rough situations. They still hurt each other from time to time, though they’re getting better at not lashing out, and at apologizing and moving on when it does happen.

It’s a work in progress – but they are making progress.

And the love is still there. Held together with duct tape and bandaids at times, but the love is still there.

Together, they’re building something extraordinary.

And they’re happy. ♥

#asksilvy #thank you so much for asking! #it really made my day! #😍 #between the devil and the deep blue sea

[eternal-love-song]

Dice Daycare ch 1

During the day, Dice Daycare takes care of Pokemon. During the night, the group known as Phantom Mask steal Shadow Pokemon from the evil Team DR so that they can be purified and rehabilitated. Kokichi, along with his organization Dice, show these pokemon how to open their hearts again.

Too bad no one told Shuichi Saihara this. When his friend Kaede, who can see the auras of Shadow Pokemon, brings him news of her sister having one of these evil pokemon, it puts him on a crash course with the vigilante group. As he tries to investigate the daycare and figure out what these Shadow Pokemon are and why Dice seem to be involved, he learns about pokemon being stolen and slowly uncovers the existence of Team DR.

[Kokichi & Dice]

[Pokemon Crossover, Non despair, Original Pokemon Region, Pokemon Trainers, Team Dynamics, Teams as Family, Friendship, Developing Friendships]

It was the night of a new moon, making the sky darker than usual and lending an ominous air to the world. Kokichi had switched out his usually bright clothes for a darker outfit, a dark purple cloak obscuring his form as he held his mask in his hand. He looked behind him at his team of five, all wearing hooded cloaks like his but in varying colors. Two in pink, one in black, one in red, and the last in blue. 

"Are we ready?" Kokichi asked them. They were already wearing their mask, an army of brightly smiling faces staring back at him as they all gave him a salute. "Good," he said, placing his own mask over his face. He tapped his ear piece a few times to confirm that it was working before he spoke again. "Team smile, with me. Team Frown, go around the back. Now let's move out!"

The building had three stories and two entrances. While his second team would be making a quieter entrance around the back so that they could head up to the higher floors more quickly, Kokichi was prepared to enter the building with a bang. He tossed his two balls in the air, one a normal pokeball and the other a premiere ball, and out came his Ghastly and Misdreavus. 

"Psybeam, Misdreavus!" The pokemon cried out in excitement before launching a beam toward the doors and blasting them open. 

His two pink robed associates took the lead ahead of him, an Espeon and Umbreon at their sides. Kokichi kept to the shadows, keeping his eyes peeling for anything amiss. It took less than five minutes for someone to come investigate the commotion. Two adults wearing black and red, letting him know that his information was correct. Team DR always wore black and red. 

The girl was wearing a red crop top and matching beret, with a black jacket draped over her shoulder and black pants with two belts across her waist, one black and one red that held four pokeballs. The guy was shirtless under his black jacket, wearing a black beret and the same style of pants and belt, but only two pokeballs on him. 

"What the hell is going on here?" The guy demanded.

One of Kokichi's two subordinates, code name Joy, walked forward, waving cheekily. "Hi! We knocked, but no one answered. Hope you don't mind that we let ourselves in," she said.

The other, Trust, was more sedate in his response. "Just to confirm, you are part of Team DR, right?"

"Shit, they're onto us," the girl said, grabbing one of her Pokeballs.

"Oh good," Joy said as she reached beneath her cloak and pulled out a love ball. "You're making this easy for me."

"We're not letting you leave here," the guy added. 

"They're making this really easy," Trust added, tossing a friend ball up and down in his hand. "It's a pain when they try to retreat."

The female DR grunt sent out a Gloom. "Make them feel despair!"

The guy silently sent out a Mankey.

"Let's go, Vivi!" Joy cried as she released her Espeon.

"Help her out, Eclipse," Trust said as he let out his Umbreon.

Kokichi only kept half an eye on the battle as he moved along the sides of the room, looking for anything suspicious. Ghastly kept close to him, while Misdreavus wandered to the other side of the room, keeping an eye out. He didn't see anything too important laying around and when Misdreavus floated back to his side, the quick shake of her head reported the same results. If there was anything important in this base, it would be on the upper floors.

Espeon made quick work of the first two pokemon, and Umbreon was able to dispatch the female grunt's second pokemon just as handily. That's when things got interesting.

"It's time to stop playing around," the girl said. "Destroy them, Tangela!"

"Annihilate them, Meowth!"  The guy added. 

Kokichi stood up straighter as he stared at the two new pokemon. Both had strange, dark auras around them, marking them for what they were, Shadow Pokemon. Pokemon that had been abused to the point of closing off their heart and obtaining a strange power. Kokichi clenched his fist to see them, even though he'd known to expect them. That was why he was here, after all. To steal these Shadow Pokemon right from under Team DR's noses.

The Meowth used shadow rush right away, disappearing into a dark blurr and barrelling straight into Trust, knocking him down. Shadow Pokemon had no hesitation when it came to attacking trainers and hurting others. The cruelty that had been done to them became second nature and they lashed out at whatever was in front of them.

Joy jumped away from the pokemon. "Attract, Vivi!"

The Espeon quickly followed her trainer's command, shooting out hearts that hit the Meowth head on and made the pokemon hesitate. The Tangela didn't though, using vine whip against both trainer and pokemon, making them both cry out in pain. 

Umbreon let out a cry before disappearing and slamming into Meowth with a faint attack. Trust was able to push himself to his feet and Joy made her way to her partner's side to help him stand. 

"You good?" she asked. 

"Yeah, I'm fine," Trust answered. "I've taken worse."

Meowth turned around and bit Umbreon, only to be knocked away by a quick attack from Espeon. Tangela released a purple powder into the air, but both Espeon and Umbreon were able to dodge the poison powder.

Kokichi made his way closer to the fight from the shadows. He pushed his cloak off of one shoulder, revealing the machine that he wore on his arm. He took a premier ball in hand and charged it with the snag machine as he waited for his chance.

Meowth scratched Umbreon, who released a screech in turn, causing Meowth to wince from the loud sound. Espeon followed up with confusion, making the pokemon cover its head in pain. Kokichi chose that moment to strike, throwing his premier ball at the Meowth and watching as the pokemon was sucked into the ball.

"What?"

"What the hell?" the two DR grunts cried in unison. 

His subordinates didn't hesitate. 

"Quick attack, Vivi!"

"Faint attack, Eclipse!"

Espeon quickly slammed into Tangela, followed by Umbreon.

Kokichi quickly readied another premier ball and tossed it at the newly injured Tangela. Both balls stopped moving quickly, cementing their stolen status. 

"They stole our pokemon?" The male DR grunt said in a shocked whisper.

"How dare you!" the woman yelled. 

Kokichi stepped out of the shadows as Ghastly and Misdreavus went to retrieve the two balls for him. "If your superiors ask, make sure that you tell them you were hit up by the Phantom Mask." He caught the two balls that his pokemon dropped into his hand. "And make sure you remember that karma is bitch. Misdreavus, shadow rush."

Misdreavus cried out happily as her eyes glowed before she charged at the two trainers. Kokichi didn't usually like to have pokemon use shadow rush. It did recoil damage to the pokemon that used it and it was a reminder of whatever sick experiments that team DR had done to try and make their pokemon stronger. But he was a fan of karmic justice and letting an abused pokemon get to attack the trainers that hurt them was justifiable in Kokichi's book. 

Joy and Trust were high fiving each other as the two DR grunts hit the ground, knocked out. "Great job, missy!" Joy said. 

Misdreavus preened at the praise, floating around Joy before returning to Kokichi's side. He tapped his ear piece once. "Team Frown, how we doing?"

He could hear the sounds of battle in the background as one of his subordinates answered him. "Second floor was a bust, but there was an office on the third floor. Envy found a shadow Magnimite and Fear is holding off a team of electric types. Vaporeon wouldn't be much use there so I'm grabbing files from the office. Might be in your best interest to get up here, boss."

"Alright, I'm on my way," Kokichi said. He looked at his pink clad teammates. "I'm counting on you two to guard the exits in case anything happens. And tie those two up. I don't want them to get away before we can get Officer Jenny here."

They both saluted. "Got you, boss."

Ghastly floated ahead of him, showing the fastest route to the next floor. Before the end of the night he'd have at least one more Shadow Pokemon under his belt.

OoOoOo

The lights were still on when they returned, well after midnight. Even in the dark the large sign that read Dice Daycare could be read. They had used glow in the dark paint to make sure that it would always stand out. It was a two story building with a rather large yard and a tall, sturdy fence meant to keep pokemon in and people out.

Kokichi looked up at the two ghost pokemon floating over his shoulders with a smile. "Take a look around and make sure things are alright for me?"

The two ghosts made sounds of agreement and vanished from sight. 

Kokichi glanced behind him to make sure his five subordinates were still there, then he continued forward to open the daycare door. 

Two of his Dice members were sitting at the front desk, sharing a pot of tea. To the left was Elaria, a delicate looking pokemon breeder with teal hair pulled into an elegant bun and large, bright blue eyes. To the right was his younger half brother Kouchi,who shared his hair and eye color but wore a mask pulled up over the bottom half of his face. The mask was currently pulled down so that he could sip his tea, but it was pulled up again as soon as he placed his cup down on the table.

"Welcome back," Elaria greeted. 

"Anything cool happen while we were gone?" he asked. 

"Not really," Kouchi answered. "How did it go?"

The rest of his team came in behind him, with the three members of Team Frown waving and giving brief greetings as they walked past them to the stairs that lead to the upper floors, likely to sleep. Team Smile meanwhile moved past Kokichi to talk to the others at the desk. 

Member Joy, real name Orchid, hopped up onto the counter, Elaria moving her cup of tea out range for being accidentally knocked over. She tossed off her hood and took off her mask, smiling brightly at them both. The bangs of her bright pink hair fell over the left side of her face, partially covering one of her bright pink eyes, the rest of her pulled back into a messy ponytail, revealing the double piercings in her ear. "It went great!" Orchid told them. "We got three new Shadow Pokemon."

Member Trust, real name Cormac, leaned on the desk beside Kouchi as he removed his own hood and mask. Cormac had short, messy white hair and pink eyes that were darker than Orchid's. "A Tangela, Meowth, and Magnemite."

"A Meowth," Kouchi repeated. "Koharu will be happy to hear that."

Koharu was his other half brother and Kouchi's full brother. His two half brothers had only found and joined him recently, but they were a good fit for Dice. Koharu, for all of his arrogance and difficulty getting along with people, was really good with pokemon and animals alike. In contrast, Kouchi was really good with people. He was soft spoken, kind, and a bit of a night owl, making him a good choice for nightwatch at the daycare.

The other core members of his group included his twin brother Kimochi, the twins Aoko and Arin, psychic trainer Hunter, and cool trainer Kanade. Kimochi and Kanade were on the Attack Team, battling with Shadow Pokemon and taking down the stronger members of Team DR. They were currently away on a mission and Kokichi wasn't sure when the two would be back. A few of his former classmates also worked with him on occasion, but he hesitated to call them official members just yet.

Kokichi let out a loud sigh and sprawled out on the counter, causing Elaria to again quickly move her cup of tea before it was knocked over. "I can't believe neither of you have greeted your beloved leader."

Elaria took a sip of her tea before dutifully saying, "Hello, beloved leader."

"Welcome back, Kokichi," Kouchi added. 

"Lackluster, both of you!" He glared at them before forcing his eyes to water and sniffling sadly. "Wahh! Neither of you care about me! If Kimochi was here, I'd never be treated so poorly."

"Tragedy of tragedies," Kouchi said, sipping his own tea. "How will you ever recover?"

Orchid raised her hand enthusiastically. "I appreciate you, boss!"

"It's too late!" he cried. "I know that none of you love me."

"Was that supposed to be on the test?" Cormac asked. "Shoot, I knew I forgot to study something."

Orchid laughed. Kouchi thought his grin was hidden because his face was covered, but Kokichi could tell by his eyes that he was smiling as well. 

"You're all horrible minions! You're fired."

"I'm your brother, you can't fire me," Kouchi told him.

"I can," Kokichi insisted, slamming his hands down on the counter. "I'm firing you as a brother."

"Oh, can I be your new brother?" Orchid asked excitedly.

"You're hired."

"Yes!" Orchid cheered. 

Kouchi just shook his head before standing up. "Are you in for the night? Can I lock up?"

"Yeah, go ahead," Kokichi agreed. "We should all probably get some sleep soon."

Orchid hopped off the counter with a yawn. "You don't need to tell me twice," she said. "Night everybody. Night new brother."

"Good night, big brother," Kokichi said with a grin.

Kouchi frowned. "You don't call me big brother."

"Well you're not my brother anymore, are you. You got fired."

"And what, she immediately got a promotion?"

"Yeah."

Elaria got to her feet and collected the tea cups and tea pot. "Would you like another cup before bed, Kouchi?"

"No thank you," Kouchi answered.

Kokichi waved at her as she left the room. "Alright, I'm off to bed, minions."

"Good night, Kokichi." 

  OoOoOo

Kokichi woke up to his bed shaking. The confusion only lasted as long as it took him to sit up as he was immediately wrapped in an embrace. "Good morning, Kokichi!" Orchid chirped happily. 

Kokichi sighed and slumped against her, submitting himself to being cuddled as he tried to blink the sleep out of his eyes. "Why did you wake me up?" he asked. 

Orchid was a morning person and she made it everyone's problem. Cormac was the usual target of her morning wake ups, since the two were childhood friends, but everyone had gotten it at least once. She was a social butterfly and the only way to prevent her from waking someone up for company was if someone else was already awake or she decided to wander off and get herself into trouble. 

"You'll miss breakfast if you sleep too long," she told him. "You're the last one still in bed."

"That's not true," he said immediately. He knew for a fact that Aoko wouldn't get up before noon and it was nowhere near that late.

Orchid paused before leaning back and smiling widely. "You're the last one who's door was unlocked."

Kokichi knew he had forgotten something last night. He groaned and pushed her away. She was dressed in a long flowy pink dress with a large hibiscus flower in her hair and a coral bracelet on her wrist, looking remarkably like she had the day he met her. They were both a few years older, but nothing about her had change at all. 

"Go away so I can get dressed," he told her.

"Will you just go back to sleep?" she asked him.

Any other day the answer would be yes. The day after a raid, however, he had too many things to do and she probably knew it. Ugh, he hated his group sometimes. "No."

Orchid hugged him one more time before bouncing off the bed. "Okay! See you downstairs." She closed the door behind her.

Kokichi groaned as he fell back onto the bed. Today was going to be a long day.

  OoOoOo

Kokichi met a wall of noise when he descended the stairs to the daycare. Ghastly and Misdreavus were floating over his shoulder and he yawned as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Ghastly appeared in front of him to make a ridiculous face, turning his yawn into a laugh.

His classmate, Kirumi, was standing behind the counter. She nodded her head as she saw him. "Hello, Kokichi. I've prepared breakfast and left it on the table for everyone. I made plenty so don't be afraid to eat your fill."

"Wow! Thanks mom!" he said cheerfully. 

Kirumi's face scrunched up in distaste. "Please don't call me that."

"Someone's got to be the mom around here," he said.

"I don't wish to have any children, let alone children that are my same age," she said calmly.

"Aww, you love me just as much as my real mom!"

Kirumi looked troubled by that, but Kokichi skipped past the counter before she could say anything more. 

The bottom floor of the daycare consisted of one large room separated by the front desk, and a kitchen area but an open doorway. There was a decently sized bathroom off to the side of the main room, the door to which was kept open when not in use. 

Koharu and Elaria were sitting at the low table in the main room. His half brother Koharu was more concerned with appearances than the rest, so even this early he was wearing a dash of eye shadow and had a bit of color on his lips. He was the youngest of Kokichi’s brothers by around two years and Kimochi spoiled him way too much, but his twin was very indulgent with those he liked. Koharu was far too uppity in Kokichi's opinion and insufferably smug when he wanted to be, but Kokichi had gotten used to him and wouldn't want to go back to life without him. He'd never say that though. The biggest upside of Koharu was that he was good with pokemon and animals alike, and he was as big of help at the daycare as Elaria was. Vulpix was dozing on Koharu's lap as he picked at a platter of fruit on the table between them.

Elaria was dressed as delicately as she looked, with a thin white veil hanging from her pinned teal hair, and a dress that made her look a bit like a fairly. She had a Cyndaquil in her lap and was using a special brush to brush his fur. There was a cup of tea in front of her and her Ralts sitting beside her was attempting to lift the tea pot to pour her a cup. Elaria looked amused as she gave her young pokemon encouragement, but Kokichi was sure that was going to end with spilled tea. Ralts was just a baby and it liked to imitate its trainer whenever possible, which didn't always go well.

"Hey," Kokichi said as he walked past them.

"Good morning," Elaria greeted softly.

Koharu just nodded at him. "Kokichi."

He continued past them to the kitchen where the rest of his awakened members were. Cormac was sitting at the kitchen table nibbling on a piece of bacon. There were flowers in his hair which Kokichi was sure were courtesy of Orchid and a coral bracelet to match her own around his wrist. Orchid was sitting across from him with a stack of pancakes covered in syrup and topped with berries. Hovering over the counter was the psychic trainer Hunter, who liked to use his telekinesis to be obnoxious whenever possible, emphasized when he stole a bite of Orchid's food by floating it off her fork and into his mouth.

"Hey!" she objected.

"God, this is like pure sugar," Hunter complained. He kept his dark hair pulled back from his face in a ponytail and his green eyes had a hard look to them even when he smiled. "How can you stand that this early in the morning?"

"If you want something less sweet, get your own," she told him. "Or steal from Cormac."

Cormac just raised an eyebrow as he pushed another piece of bacon into his mouth.

Kokichi guessed that the twins and Kouchi were still sleeping.

Over to one side of the room was a row of food bowls where the eeveelutions were eating. Orchid's Espeon, Cormac's Umbreon, Hunter's Jolteon, Aoko's Vaporeon, and Arin's Flareon. Kouchi's Absol was also near the food bowl, curled up like it was sleeping, and Kirumi's Houndour was there, too. There were a few pokemon missing, but he wasn't worried about it. They didn't always let their pokemon out all at once.

Kokichi took a seat at the table, helping himself to half the eggs and all the remaining bacon. "Is there coffee?" he asked.

Orchid made a face of disgust as Cormac answered. "Yeah, there should be."

"Can you pour me a cup, Hunter?"

"Sorry, my hands are full," Hunter answered, reaching down to pick up his plate and bite into a piece of toast. 

Kokichi gave him a flat look, which the psychic ignored. "You are all  the most disrespectful minions ever," he grumbled as he pushed his chair out. 

"I know," Hunter replied with a grin.

Kokichi blew a raspberry at him as he walked to the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee, pleased to find that it was still warm. He took a long sip, draining a quarter of his cup and filling it back up before returning to his seat. It was mostly quiet as they eat, just the sound of forks and knives hitting plates and the background sound of the Pokemon. That was until the twins finally stumbled. 

Aoko came in first, her cheeks puffed out as if she was already angry at the day. Her black hair was short and wavy, covering half of her face and leaving only one light brown eye uncovered. She kept her hair styled so that her small red hoop earrings could be seen, an accessory that she shared with her twin brother. Said twin, Arin, had a much more timid expression. His hair was much longer than his sister's, though worn in a similar way so that it covered one eye and left his ears uncovered. 

"Did you sleep badly?" Cormac asked Aoko after seeing her sour expression.

"It's too early," she groaned.

"Then why did you get up?" Orchid asked. "It wasn't my fault, your door was locked."

"Did you try to wake her up before me?" Kokichi asked. 

Orchid smiled. "Of course I did. Aoko is funniest when she just wakes up."

"Shove off," she groaned. 

Arin pushed the remaining food onto two plates, placing one in front of his sister. "Missy came in and woke us both up."

"Her vile, evil ways are showing," Aoko grumbled. She looked up and pulled her plate close, shoveling a forkful of eggs into her mouth.

That explained where his pokemon had wandered off to. 

"Excuse you," Kokichi said. "Missy is my best Pokemon."

"What about Ghastly?" Cormac asked.

"Gassy is also my best pokemon," Kokichi answered. 

"You let them get away with too much," Hunter said.

"Be lucky they don't target you," Kokichi said with a grin. "Psychics are weak to ghosts, riiight?"

Hunter grumbled and went back to eating an apple.

"So what's the plan today?" Cormac questioned, pushing himself away from the table and taking his plate to the sink. Hunter was kind enough to float the other empty plates to the sink for him, but not nice enough to actually help with the washing up.

"Gotta introduce the new pokemon," Kokichi answered. "Kimochi and Kanade probably won't be back for a while, so someone else will need to take care of them. We'll talk about it once Kouchi's down."

His half brother didn't join them until after they'd cleaned up breakfast and had convened in the main room. Kirumi was still at the front counter, leaving his group free to talk among themselves without interruption.

"So," Kokichi spoke up, looking around the room to make sure he had everyone's attention. "We got three new Shadow Pokemon yesterday. A Meowth, a Tangela, and a Magnemite."

Koharu's eyes lit up immediately. "A Meowth, you say."

Kouchi chuckled behind his mask. "I knew that would catch your attention as soon as he mentioned it."

"I've had a lot of practice with cats," Koharu said confidently. "So I'm the obvious choice for a cat pokemon."

"I doubt that anyone wants to argue with you over it," Kokichi said. Koharu was very protective of the pokemon that they looked after and they all learned that he was also incredibly stubborn. Even if someone else did want to claim the pokemon, most wouldn't want to go through the effort to fight with him over it. 

Koharu looked around at them all, nodding at the lack of objection. "Good."

"Do any of you want to claim responsibility for the Tangela?" Kokichi asked. 

After looking around at everyone, Arin hesitantly raised his hand."Um, I can try."

"Great! That takes care of that then," Kokichi said with a smile.

"What about the Magnemite?" Hunter questioned. He was hovering in the doorway of the kitchen, keeping as far on the outskirts of the group as possible. He wasn't a fan of being crowded together and always found some way to keep his personal space, even when he needed to use his powers to do so. 

"I'm going to offer it to our lovely benefactor."

That provoked a response immediately. Koharu glared at him disapprovingly while Aoko and Orchid made objections, Cormac and Arin made noises of surprise, and the others were silent. Hunter had raised a judging eyebrow, while Elaria and Kouchi both waited patiently for him to explain. 

"I told you all before about my associate, right?" Kokichi asked, receiving nods all around the room. "Well it just so happens that they've been wanting another Pokemon and now is as good a time as any to test her reliability."

"You're going to let someone untested have a Shadow pokemon?" Koharu questioned. "How does that make you any better than Team DR."

"Koharu!" Kouchi exclaimed disapprovingly. The other didn't back down though and continued glaring at Kokichi. 

Kokichi glared back. "She's not untested," he shot back. "She both has a pokemon and goes to the academy, where's actively learning to be a better trainer."

"Having a pokemon isn't the same as having a Shadow Pokemon. That could be dangerous for both of them," Koharu argued. "Not to mention that Shadow Poklemon require more care--"

"Don't act like you're the only person that's ever loved a pokemon before," Kokichi snapped.

"This isn't about love, it's about competence."

"And you don't know her competence."

"Which is exactly the point!" Koharu said sternly. "You don't know what kind of trainer she is. She couldn't possibly be prepared--"

"You don't know what I know," Kokichi said. "And it isn't your decision one way or the other. It's mine."

Koharu glared and geared up to speak again when Elaria placed a hand on his arm. "Koharu, I'm sure Kokichi doesn't plan to just drop a Shadow Pokemon on someone without help or experience. Perhaps listen to his plan first."

Koharu huffed, but Elaria was a voice of reason that would actually listen to, so he remained silent. It didn't stop his glare but Kokichi didn't give a damn about being glared at. 

Elaria smiled at him and nodded. "As you were saying."

"Thank you, Elaria," Kokichi said. "I'm glad that some people actually have half a brain around here."

Koharu immediately opened his mouth again, but Orchid leaned forward to cover his mouth with her hand. His glare switched from Kokichi to her, but she was equally as unconcerned about it.

"Now then. Since she was the one to make my snag machine, I was going to see if I could get her to make a few more and if I commission her, that'll give me an excuse to have her around. We can easily teach her how to handle Shadow Pokemon as well as keep an eye on her. Plus, I can see her at the academy."

Koharu still didn't seem pleased by this, but he held his tongue on any other complaints, even after Orchid moved her hand.

"I don't think it's a bad plan," Orchid said with a shrug.

Kokichi noded. "Does anyone not named Koharu have any objections to make?" He looked around, but no one spoke. "That's that then. We'll go outside to say hello to Tangela and Meowth. Anyone that doesn't want Shadow Pokemon duty is free to go."

"Alright!" Orchid said as she practically jumped to her feet. "Thanks boss man." She grabbed Koharu's hand, pulling him up and out the back where the pastures were.

"Unhand me," Koharu groaned, but the complaint was drowned out by Orchid's laughter.

Hunter stormed off next, making a beeline for the stairs and going back to his room. The rest dispersed more slowly. Aoko and Arin heading outside, Cormac to the front desk, and Elaria after smiling at him, also went toward the back door. Kouchi was the last to move, speaking softly as he asked, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"You doubt me, too?" Kokichi aske with a sigh.

Kouchi was silent for a moment, thinking of how to choose his words before he spoke. "Your benefactor, as you called her, you mean Iruma, don't you?"

Kokichi crossed his arms. "And if I do?"

"She's not the kind of person that I would think of if I needed a caregiver. That's all."

Kokichi sighed. "Miu is... she doesn't have many friends. You can probably guess why. She's not great with people even when she tries to be. People like that are always a little better with Pokemon. Pokemon aren't judgemental in the same way as humans and it's a steel type, which will make her feel a bit more kindred to it. She's good at inventing things, which means she's both used to a few shocks and can make something to keep herself safe if she has to." He met his half brother's eyes, or tried to. Kouchi dropped his gaze a bit, making himself look more submissive than he really was. "I didn't make this decision for no reason."

"I didn't think you had," Kouchi said. "I just wanted to be sure."

Kokichi walked past him, going toward the back door. "You coming?"

"No, I don't think so," he said. "Kimochi sent a letter earlier and I didn't get to read it. I'm hoping to find out when he'll return from his mission."

Kokichi knew when he was supposed to return, but he also knew that anything could happen while they were on the road. Part of him misses the days when it was just him and Kimochi, traveling from town to town, city to city, trying to stay out of trouble they didn't cause and running straight into the trouble that they did. The daycare was a good idea, but it sucked to have his second in command away so often. Kimochi would have been able to handle Koharu without getting into a ten minute fight. Kimochi got along with their new brothers much better than Kokichi did.

"Tell him to hurry back when you write your reply," Kokichi said. "That's an order."

Kouchi chuckled. "I'll be sure to pass it along."

Kokichi watched as Kouchi walked to the stairs and ascended before finally walking out the back door to try and get acquainted with a new Shadow Pokemon.

#Danganronpa V3 #Pokemon #Kokichi Ouma #Dice (v3) #ELS Writing #Pokemon AU #Fanfiction #Dice Daycare

[the-kingshound]

so... how about this for a modern au take? hahaha

Gwyar, being the successful business tycoon that they are, has amassed not only a great amount of fortune, but numerous enemies as well. With numerous enemies out to have his neck, Gwyar has learned to trust no one but their self and their partner, MC.

Life goes on and everything seems perfect. Until it isn't.

On a quiet, rainy night, while driving towards their planned dinner, Gwyar gets into an "accident" and falls into their apparent death. MC is inconsolable and pushes away everyone and everything.

But of course, Gwyar survives and is brought to a countryside hospital where they wake up with no recollection of who they are or where they're from. They meet Arthur, a nurse, who helps them rehabilitate their body to once again function the way it did before the accident.

Arthur and Gwyar grow close and closer and closer while spending time together, Gwyar now sporting a new name, at least, until they remember their own. Gwyar is happy, but they cannot ignore this small, nagging feeling in their head that's telling them that they're forgetting something important - that although they have given Arthur a part of their heart, a part of it has been given to someone else. Gwyar gets discharged and starts living with Arthur.

Gwyar starts getting flashes of memories - nothing cohesive. Just images of places, scenes they must have seen a million times. Images of tall buildings and [MC eye color] eyes. Soon, the eyes expand to a face, and even without a name to call the face, Gwyar knows it's them who has a part of his heart.

After answering a call for an immediate need for nurses, Arthur makes his way to the city, leaving Gwyar, after Gwyar reassures them that they'll be able to manage a few weeks without Arthur and to not worry.

In the busy city hospital, Arthur meets a patient with sunken cheeks, a thin body and empty eyes, red from crying - MC. It has been more than a year since the accident and still, MC has not accepted that Gwyar is gone; throwing themselves into their work with no regard for their own well-being. Working makes them forget that they're gone, MC tells Arthur one day.

Of course, in true blue Arthur fashion, Arthur breaks into MC's walls and helps them, guides them to move on. Baby steps, but at least MC has taken the first step. Arthur and MC cannot deny the attraction as they grow closer, but MC, after hearing Arthur's stories about his partner waiting for him back home, does nothing. Arthur has helped MC after all, they do not want to go between their love, a love they used to have with Gwyar.

But it's so familiar, Arthur and MC think to themselves. All the little quirks, the endearing habits, they all seem familiar.

After hearing that Arthur paints, MC helps him organize an exhibit, as thank you for all the help they've given MC. Arthur is exuberant and cannot thank MC enough. He gets to work and quickly tells Gwyar the exciting news.

Fast forward to the exhibit, MC is walking around, looking at Arthur's work when they come face to face with the most familiar golden eyes. MC is stunned - everything is the same, from the golden eyes, to the braided black hair against beige complexion. It's Gwyar - their Gwyar. MC turns to call out to Arthur, only to come face to face with the same golden eyes they have missed so much - alive. and standing, hand in hand with Arthur.

Gwyar recognizes the person in front of them - the face with no name, the other part of their heart. They tighten their grip on Arthur's hand.

MC notices this and even though they want to scream and shout, call Gwyar again and again, telling them of their identity, they don't. Because how could they? When Arthur looks at Gwyar with so much love and adoration. How could MC go between them? They don't. They couldn't do that, not to Gwyar and Arthur. Never, to Gwyar and Arthur, who MC knows deserves whatever they have between them.

heh.

DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE IT THERE ANON.

Finish it or I will. I want my happy ending >:(

#you ALMOST got me #daamn the last part hurt #anon come back here- #FINISH THIS #I loved every line of it I was so invested!! #anon give me the poly I need it🙏🏻 #modern!au

[theredcuyo]

Shuake Inaba Story

So, i got this idea for a fanfic that I’ll write someday soon, but basically, Akira’s hometown was Inaba and Goro was sent there while he recovers under the protection of the anti-shadows unit

Details

After a few days in rehabilitation, Goro got a visit, at first he thougth Akira had found him, but it actually was Mitsuru Kirijo, who explained the situation to him and gave him the oportunity to pay for his crimes and use his power for the good, he agreed at last

Now, he’s had problems with the control of his personas, which Mitsuru explained is because of his bad mental health, after all that’s part of what personas are. And as such, she sent him to recover in the most peaceful place she knows, yakushima

But later she realized that it would be easier to keep him in check at inaba, so she sent him there, on the way they talked for a bit and he mentioned “not having a proper highschool experience” he said more as a joke, but she related to ir, so she made an excuse with a tricked test to sent him back to last year to have one

Goro is staying at the Shirogane’s residence, it was Naoto’s idea so there wouldn’t be problems about security and keeping him in check with going to school and to the therapyst sesions. Goro was more excited than he will admit about meeting the “original detective prince”

Mitsuru had thought there wouldn’t be problem about Goro getting recognized because after all, no one comes and goes of Inaba that often, but she learned a little bit too late that Inaba was actually the hometown of the lider of the phantom thieves, she doesn’t do anything about it because it looks like Goro cares for him, so Mitsuru figures that it’ll be good for him to have someone he knows around, she didn’t tell Akechi tho

Akira was texting Ann on the way home, and she only then discovered that he was from there, the thing is that she and Shiho are also staying in inaba, so she was almost killing him for not telling her sooner

Akira barely survived the travel home because all the time after that Morgana was lecturing hm, but he didn’t think he was that tired until at his arrival he saw Goro Akechi, just standing there, searching for a machine that could have coffee. He was just there, breathing, standing still, and trash talking the vending machines for not having any coffee

He dropped his things without thinking about the cat in his bag and ran to him, and only then Goro saw him, but he couldn’t quite process it before being held into a hug, and also getting slaped in the face while Akira tried his best to say a million things in one second, like if it was the only one they had

When he finally calmed down, they talked for a bit, and after that they walked home side by side, and Akira wanted to say the one thing he had wanted to say for so long, but then, then his words just didn’t come out, at least not ones that Goro could understand, Akira then internally cursed his expression level habilities

Akira thougth it was already a long enough day, and he did not expect again another shock to his already too tired brain, after all not every day you have to convince your dad to not call on the police to report a found missing person, who just happens to be your crush rival, after all Akira’s dad is still a Policeman

Akira and Goro sit together in class, and both usually fell sleep because they get really bored, Morgana does not aprove this sleeping schedule

Goro wears a black long sleeved sweater that Akira had gifted him back in 3rd semester, also his hair is in a ponytail because he hasn’t got the time to cut it

Akira wears a turtleneck under the uniform because he got too used to it

Ann was vey unsure on how to react, but Akira talked with her before she saw Goro, they agreed on her “giving him a chance” and not telling the others yet (Futaba was spying on them tho)

Goro does social service at noons, he’s a free tutor, that’s how he met shiho, becuase she needed the help after basically skiping a whole year, and thanks to that Ann warmed up to him

Morgana is feeling really uneasy about the tv in Akira’s bedroom, he can’t quite explain why, he just does not like it and always warns him to not get to close to it

Morgana has been teasing Goro about his feelings for Akira ever since they got to talk about the engine room, it started as Goro asking if he knew why he was alive and ended in Akechi yelling at a cat that he was definitely not in love with his most importan person rival

Now sketches I made :D

#shuake #akeshu #p5 #p5r #ren amamiya #akira kurusu #goro akechi #akira x goro #akira x akechi #joker x akechi #persona 5 royal #goro is in inaba with akira au #akiras parents are jun and tatsuya btw just cuz i love that headcanon

[toulousewayne]

Batman: The Dark Knight Series🦇🌃✨

———////———

Season 7

This is a concept for a live-action Batman Tv Series that could be adapted on something like HBO MAX or a another network or streaming.

Synopsis: Gotham City has been at the mercy of criminal networks and underground operations that have plagued it for years. Batman had fought hard to protect Gotham. Has the Dark Knight enters his third year he learns just how much more help he’ll need to accomplish his crusade on the city.

—-

Cast & Crew:

Cassandra Cain……….Madison Hu

-

David Cain………………..Brian Tee

-

Lady Shiva………………..Arden Cho

-

Stephanie Brown/Spoiler………Emily Alyn Lind

-

———

Season 7 takes place eight months after the previous season.

Seeing if this was a streaming TV series the episode count would be anywhere from 8-13. For the first season will go with 13. Each episode is about 59 minutes, and I will give a little summary for each episode.

Episode List:

1. Red Death:

-Red Hood as been killing off most of the remaining crime families but he has been unsuccessful with killing Black Mask. Batman has a plan to stop him.

- Barbara has turned the clock tower into her base of operations as Oracle; an information broker for Batman. She is beginning to try to heal from the trauma she suffered from the Joker. As well as participating in rehabilitation to determine her chances of walking again. And as of now she does need the use of a wheelchair.

2. The Spoiler:

- Batman tracks down the Red Hood and the two have a brutal battle where Red Hood identity is revealed to Batman.

- Robin with assistance of Oracle goes after a new vigilante who has been targeting Cluemaster’s crimes for some time.

3. The Last Dance:

- Jason gives Bruce the ultimate choice. He either kills the Joker himself or Jason release the a nuclear weapon on the city.

- Tim asks Barbara advices about relationships as a vigilante and how sometimes the lines of professionalism and play can get blurry.

4. Brother’s In Arms:

- Nightwing returns to Gotham for a while to find the source of a new drug called Titan which has been hitting the streets of Bludheaven and he gathers intel that the drug was made in Gotham.

- Spoiler and Robin form a friendship and agree to work together. Their first assignment is to protect Dr. Leslie Thompkins clinic from Two-Face’s gang.

- Red Hood is given a chance to redeem his actions by shutting down most of the shipments of Titan in Gotham,but he isn’t allowed to kill anyone. The two brothers must put their differences aside to stop the operations.

5. The Dog Days Are Over:

-Batman and Robin interrupted a drug meeting in Chinatown and come face to face with David Cain one of the world’s deadliest assassins.

-David escapes the dynamic duo and returns to his safe where his most prized possession is missing,Cass had never been to Gotham and has no way of communicating with anyone she’s alone for the first time ever.

6. Lost Little Girl:

-Cassandra has been wandering the streets of Gotham and comes to Clocktower where she breaks into in to hide from her father, and their she meets Barbara Gordon for the first time.

-Stephanie’s Mom tells her that her father escapes from Blackgate and is hunting her down;her mother tries to knock out Stephanie to turn her over to her father.

- Jason has cut off contact with the Batfamily feeling like he should leave Gotham,he’s surprised to find Tim at his doorstep.

7. Strike at Midnight:

-David Cain follows a tracker he implemented in Cassandra to the Clock Tower where Batman and Oracle protect Cassandra from her father.

-Batman brings both Barbara and Cass to the Manor to prevent David Cain from getting Cass.

-Tim sneaks into Jason’s safe house and helps Red Hood with a stakeout in South Gotham.

8. High Ground:

- David Cain breaks into the manor and attacked Alfred and threats to kill anyone who stands between him and what he wants.

- Lady Shiva arrives in Gotham and warns Bruce that David Cain is not someone to be underestimated and tests the Dark Knights willingly to bring Cassandra back.

- Spoiler alerts Oracle that someone has broke into the Clock Tower’s servers and the two investigated the incident.

9. Daddy’s Girl:

- Lady Shiva meets Cassandra for the first time since her birth, and learns that she was never taught how to talk or write. She only knows how to read people’s body language and emotions.

-Bruce goes to a Wayne Enterprises charity dinner and is nearly killed by David Cain himself.

- Cassandra learns the true about why she never met Shiva. Stephanie has broken all ties with her mother and becomes independent from her.

10. Enough:

- Cassandra confronts her father on the rooftops of Gotham and he is nearly killed by her, Barbara tells Cass she’s nothing like her father.

-Jason notices Tim doesn’t talk to anyone from his school and decides to take him somewhere where the two can talk.

11. Madhouse:

-Ra Al Ghul is revealed to have survived his fight with Batman years ago,but is in a weaker state and the Lazarus Pit is unable to heal him any long. Ra is on the brink of recreating a true form of immortality and will become stronger than before.

- Cassandra dawns the persona of Batgirl with a modified from Barbara to help Batman go after Ra Al Ghul and David Cain.

-Nightwing,Robin, Red Hood, and Spoiler try to stop members of the League from further posing the city.

12. Trial & Error:

- David Cain is taken into custody and is sent to prison to await trail. Ra Al Ghul is still at large and his assassins have come across the last few components needed to make him truly invincible.

-Barbara calls the members of the Batfamily to take on different strongholds of Ra’s in order to find where he is creating the serum.

13. La Famila:

- All of Batman’s allies past,and present join the Dark Knight in his largest fight to save Gotham City and protect its people from Ra’s League of Assassins.

-Batman begins to see clues of an unknown society beneath the city. And just how powerful they are. And why Ra needed to return to become truly immortal.

#dc comics #batman #batfam #batfamily #jason todd #dick grayson #tim drake #gotham knights #dc universe #batgirl #barbara gordon #cassandra cain #stephanie brown #dc live action #batman tv series #live action #justice league #gotham

[daily-media]

A camp teaches Ukrainian soldiers who were blinded in combat to navigate the world again

Over several weeks, the men would learn to navigate the city of Rivne, prepare their own meals and use public transportation while travelling solo.

RIVNE: Along a bustling street in a western Ukrainian city, Denys Abdulin takes his first independent strides since he was severely wounded and blinded while fighting invading Russian troops more than a year ago. The 34-year-old former soldier, wearing black glasses and gripping a white mobility cane, steps onto a more crowded stretch of sidewalk. His movements become tentative and tense. He accidentally blocks the path of a woman approaching an ATM to withdraw cash.

Like many other pedestrians, she responds with a compassionate smile and gracefully moves aside. Gradually, Abdulin covers 600 meters (almost 3/10 of a mile), guided by a trainer walking ahead of him with a bracelet of small metal bells.

Five other Ukrainian military veterans conquered similar challenges while attending a rehabilitation camp for ex-soldiers who lost their vision in combat. Over several weeks, the men would learn to navigate the city of Rivne, prepare their own meals and use public transportation while travelling solo.

Daily tasks they previously performed without thinking now demand focus, strength and dedication. “Everyone pays their price for freedom in Ukraine,” Abdulin, who spent months confined to a hospital bed and rarely takes off his dark shades, said.

The war Russia launched in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, has killed tens of thousands of fighters on both sides. Countless others, both Ukrainian military personnel and civilians who took up arms to defend their country, have been maimed or suffered other injuries that irreversibly reshaped their lives.

No statistics currently exist for how many service members have lost their sight due to severe wounds sustained in the war, according to Olesia Perepechenko, executive director of Modern Sight, the non-governmental organization that puts on the camp. But demand for the program is growing as the war nears its year and a half point.

Over the course of several weeks, the veterans, accompanied by their families, reside at a rehabilitation centre outside of Rivne. Most receive their first canes here, take their first walks around urban and natural environments without assistance, and learn to operate sound-based programs using cell phones and computers.

“Our goal isn’t to retrain them, not to change them, but simply to give them a chance to become independent and self-reliant,” Perepechenko, who is herself blind, said.

Abdulin voluntarily joined the military when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly 18 months ago.

Completing the 600-meter walk marked a new phase in his recovery following the wounds he sustained when a mine detonated a few meters (yards) behind him in Sieverodontesk, a city in eastern Ukraine now occupied by Russians. “It seemed to me that a flame flew out of my eyes,” he said of that day in May 2022.

“I immediately realized that I had lost my eyes.”

“Of course, I expected everything, but becoming blind, I couldn’t even imagine,” Abdulin continued.

“I thought that I could lose an arm or a leg, and I didn’t want to die at all. I never even thought that I would become blind. Therefore, at first, it was very difficult.”

In 2014, when Russia unlawfully annexed Crimea and armed conflict erupted in Ukraine’s Donbas region, Perepechenko yearned to be on the front lines helping in some way. Her request to join the army was declined, so she decided to embrace a new mission: helping soldiers who lost their sight to reclaim a sense of autonomy.

Modern Sight held its first rehabilitation camp in 2019 and organized around 10 more since then. However, only two camps have taken place during the war. Although there is a waiting list of 30 people for the next session, the non-profit’s primary hurdle is funding: each camp costs about 15,000 euros ($16,400) to put on.

Abdulin spent almost a year receiving treatment for his injuries, which included a shattered jaw from the shrapnel that also stole his vision and left him with breathing and balance problems. His wife, Olesia Abdulina, returned with their two children from Lithuania, where the three of them sought refuge after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“His eyes were still so swollen, with bandages over them, covered in cotton pads,” Abdulina said of seeing her husband at the hospital for the first time after their months of separation.

“The main thing is that you’re alive,” she said she responded when he told her he would never see her again. During the months after that, she fed him with a spoon and rarely left his side.

At the Modern Sight camp, the two of them were learning how to integrate his impairment into their family life. While Denys attended physiotherapy or cooking classes, Abdulina and other women with husbands or boyfriends in the program go through their own training exercises. One purpose of the camp is reminding the spouses they are not “nannies” but life partners to their men, Perepechenko said.

During one such session, Abdulina is blindfolded and given a long cane. She tentatively probes the floor while another participant holds her hand. The purpose of the exercise is to help the women better understand what their partners experience and need.

“We remain the same people. We have the same capabilities,” Ivan Soroka, 27, who joined the Ukrainian army on the day Russia invaded and was attending the camp for a second time. “We need to stand up, take control and work on improving ourselves.”

A projectile wounded Soroka near Bakhmut in August 2022, when the longest battle of the war so far was just beginning. Russian forces ended up taking the city in eastern Ukraine in May after more than eight months of intense combat.

“I lost my sight immediately, thrown by the blast wave. I felt that I was dying,” Soroka said. “I lay there for about two minutes. Then I realized that no, someone isn’t letting me go there.” As he recalls those moments, he implies it was his fiancee, Vlada, now sitting beside him, who kept him alive.

The couple met when Soroka was participating in the defence of the Kyiv region in the spring of last year. Their love blossomed swiftly against the backdrop of war. Prior to Soroka’s summer deployment to the Donetsk region, he proposed to Vlada. She agreed to marry him.

But soon after, the two were spending days and nights in a hospital instead of preparing for a wedding. The happy occasion that was postponed because of Soroka’s injury is now planned for early September; after months of rehabilitation, he feels both physically and psychologically strong.

“I’ve realized that unless I rise on my own and start doing something, nothing will change,” he said.

The men and their partners spend camp breaks and evenings in a gazebo on the rehabilitation centre’s grounds. An atmosphere of tranquillity prevails, occasionally interrupted by hearty laughter and jokes from their time as soldiers.

By the time they leave the centre, the men will know they have the tools to get around a city and gain something equally vital — a sense of community forged through shared experiences and common trauma.

One evening, when the day’s activities were completed, the camp participants gathered in a courtyard to celebrate Oleksandr Zhylchenko’s birthday. He lost his sight late last year, though did not share details about the circumstances.

“I’m drawing you into a circle, into your family’s circle. There are about 50 of us here,” Perepechenko said, handing Zhylchenko a heart-shaped balloon in the yellow and blue of Ukraine’s national flag. “This is our collective heart.”

The trainers and trainees stood in a circle and, one by one, shared their birthday wishes for the man of the moment. Careless days. A bright future. Patience, confidence, faithfulness. A peaceful sky. The final wish was for “victory for all of us and for Ukraine.”

Moved, Zhylchenko held the balloon a moment longer, silently conjuring his own wish. Then, he released it, without seeing it swiftly ascend into the sky.

#Ukrainian soldiers #blind

[medicalartshospital]

Advanced Physical, Sw Florida Rehabilitation

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Bryan Geletka, PT, DPT, OCS (Faculty/Mentor) acquired his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Youngstown State University in1997. In 1999, he acquired his Bachelors of Science in Physical Therapy from Youngstown State University. Dr. Geletka completed his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from EIM Institute of Health Science in 2019 and is presently pursuing his Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy. In 2016 Dr. Geletka became a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

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[freakran]

rebuilding after vecna, or, how my eddie fuckin’ survived the demobats/the upside down

HEAVY SPOILER WARNING FOR ST.RANGER TH.INGS 4 VOL. 2. PLUS A WARNING FOR GRAPHIC CONTENT. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.

the injuries that he’d sustained down there....they shouldn’t have been survivable. at least, not for most people. luckily for everyone else, eddie munson was not most people. 

through sheer force of will and possibly a bit of spite (and a whole lot of amped up adrenaline and a surge of energy), eddie, with dustin’s help, managed to make it to the gate in his trailer before collapsing on the ground below it. all he felt was pain, and for a moment there, he thought he couldn’t feel his legs. that is, until the trio made it back and saw the state that he was in. 

another rope is made from the icky sheets in the upside down and the end is tied to eddie’s waist. or at least what’s left of it. they had to be extremely careful concerning where they tie it as the demobats have almost ripped entire holes through eddie’s body. the only reason his organs hadn’t spilled out of the worst of these holes was because he’d made a makeshift skin out of his bandana and some duct tape. 

he doesn’t get out without more damage, however, as in-route to the hospital, eddie coded twice before being placed in a coma. it was clear eddie needed so much surgery, but they first had to battle an incredibly nasty infection and stop it from spreading to his other organs. 

by the end of it all, eddie spent two-and-a-half months in the hospital with the first two weeks having been in a coma and the remainder of the first month in and out of surgery. the second month-and-a-half were spent in rehabilitation. in total, he’d lost one of his kidneys and part of his intestines as well as chunks of muscle and fat from his thighs. he had to learn to walk again and rebuild strength in his legs, and most of his body is scarred from bat bites and claw marks. 

on the plus side, while in his coma, his name was cleared by lucas, who vouched that eddie wasn’t around when max was ‘attacked’, and dustin, who lied and said he was with him the whole time and lost him in the ‘hawkins split’ as he called it. the people of hawkins are still unsure of who killed the teens and almost killed max, but they know now it wasn’t eddie.

he shouldn’t be alive, but he is. and god is he thankful for that.

#⌊ 002. ⇀ headcanon. ⌉ #⌊ 000. ⇀ ooc. ⌉ #( finally got this on paper ) #( and it'll be linked when i finish up the doc with verse info ) #( poor dude is eternally on the struggle bus )

[ownerrail04]

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#balustrades

[byunmyeon]

Saudade

↳ pairing: lee suho x reader

↳ synopsis: this is the third installment following philophobia and metanoia. after years of being away from your soulmate, you finally begin to believe that you have a chance at a normal life. but you learn that fate is never that simple or kind.

↳ warnings: language, alcohol consumption (nothing too crazy), ANGST you guys know what it is, a pinch of fluff

— note: sorry this took so long! i hope you guys enjoy the final part!

Fate was something you would never be able to truly understand. It was something so complex, yet at the same time so astoundingly simple.

When you were younger, you always believed fate to be a benign concept that could only lead to happiness. The day you lost sight of your string, you belatedly realized that all your preconceived notions were nothing more than delusions born from the idealized world the people around you had constructed.

Perhaps the cognizance would’ve been easier to deal with had you not been forced to move to a city that was constantly embraced by a daunting aura, one that didn’t allow you to properly heal from your internal wounds. Looking back on it, the trepidation might’ve had something to do with the fact that Seoul was the city where you would be forced to confront your destiny—the same fate that had disappointed you time and time again.

And therein lied the reason why being back felt like a surreal dream.

Every memory that came with walking down the busy streets overwhelmed you. After all this time, you still found yourself powerless to the retention of the time in your life where you felt the most miserable. Years had passed since then, but being back at the start of it all had you faltering in a way you thought would be impossible after your treatment.

There was a sudden heaviness in your chest and feet as you neared your destination. You allowed yourself to stare at the large building with muted dejection. This was the last place you were willing to revisit, but you were aware that never returning wasn’t a viable option. Not after you agreed to work through your condition without any restraint.

You instinctually forced yourself to shove all of your unwanted emotions into the dark place of your mind that was rarely visited before heading into the large building. By this point, you’ve become overly familiar with the place; a token of your dedication to get better. In spite of the fact that you were no stranger to the setting, an unbearable feeling of discomfort overcame you in that moment. You were undeterred by this sudden shift in your emotions and forced your feet to carry you to the elevator.

You pressed the button to the top floor, briefly recalling the days when you only had to go to the fifth floor. How time flies.

The second you stepped off the elevator, you noticed a young woman waiting to greet you. She led you to the large office, knocking once before letting her boss know you had arrived. You heard a familiar voice urging her to let you in.

The doctor’s new office was twice the size of his old one—a luxury he never would’ve had without your help. Being in his office reminded you of the point in time when you were adamant about not helping him with his research. Now, helping Dr. Kwon study the enigmatic soulmate bond was the very thing you had dedicated your life to. A true irony, really.

“Y/N.” Your name was spoken fondly and with a friendly smile. “It’s been a long time since we’ve met like this. How does it feel to be back in Seoul?”

Dr. Kwon’s words made you think about how long it had been despite the fact that it felt like you left the city only yesterday. You hadn’t been able to visit him personally since you left the rehabilitation center and started working with other patients to further his research, but you never imagined that being in front of him after all this time would feel as harrowing as it did. Deep down, you knew it was only because of the torturous memories you subconsciously associated with him. Luckily for you, those memories no longer forced you into a debilitating state—a development you had worked hard to achieve.

With that thought in mind, you set the report on the doctor’s desk while murmuring a noncommittal response to his inquiry. “There aren’t any new side effects.”

Your distant response made Dr. Kwon frown. Many years had passed since you two met, yet that did nothing to help erase the line you drew all those years ago. It wasn’t unusual for his patients (you, in particular) to unconsciously project their internalized trauma onto the people in their lives, but he couldn’t help but be slightly disappointed with your behavior.

“Tell me about what’s been going on with you.” Dr. Kwon prodded gently. “Have you been seeing anyone?”

The doctor’s biggest hope was to successfully help you get past your philophobia so you could finally start living normally. However, even after all these years you still didn’t allow yourself to get close to anyone romantically in spite of knowing no one could ever hurt you as badly as your soulmate had.

“I’ve lessened my dose like you suggested.” You told him even though you knew he would read it in the report after you left.

“That…” Dr. Kwon’s smile faltered, but only for a second. “That’s great. If you aren’t experiencing any side effects or withdrawal-like symptoms, I think we can start drafting a plan for you to stop taking the suppressants altogether.”

Those words caught your interest. To be able to live normally without the help of the suppressants was something you had longed for since you started your treatment back when you were a teenager.

“Will I really be able to?”

Dr. Kwon didn’t miss the spark in your eyes as you gazed at him. It made him confident that he could potentially help you live happily like you always wanted. He would never give up his mission to help you get better, and this was the first step to achieve that goal.

“If you don’t mind staying in Seoul a bit longer.” He said simply. “This way, I’ll be able to monitor you more closely and decide how soon you can stop taking the suppressants.”

You had no intentions of extending your stay, but you would do anything to be free from the chains that came in the form of medicine. And so, you eagerly agreed.

Often times, you were thrown into situations before you realized it.

When you coincidentally ran into Soo-ah, you didn’t expect her to invite you to come out with her and a handful of your former classmates. You had meant to politely decline her invitation, but instead you found yourself asking her who would be in attendance before you could stop yourself. She listed off names you could vaguely recall, but just barely. There was no mention of him.

And so, you ended up drinking with people who you didn’t know that well and vice versa. You weren’t uncomfortable per se, but there was a pressure building in your chest that you couldn’t make sense of. Luckily, the alcohol helped you forget about the foreign sensation as well as the other strident thoughts that had been on your mind.

It wasn’t until you stumbled out of the place that the real trouble began.

You had taken all of two steps, but came to an abrupt stop after you heard a quiet yet forceful call of your name. Han Seojun was walking toward you with a strange look in his eyes. In that instant, you knew that whatever was coming next wouldn’t be pleasant.

“How long are you planning on staying in Seoul?”

His question threw you off. Seojun was someone you could hardly call a friend, and you were certain that wouldn’t change with time. Despite not liking the premonition that came along with his words, you answered him anyway.

“Not long.” You told him truthfully. “I have some work related things to take care of, then I’m leaving.”

Seojun remained silent as if in deep thought, and you assumed he was done with the conversation. But as you turned on your heel to walk away, he called out to you again. This time, the tension in his tone made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

“About Lee Suho…”

You tensed instantly. Just the simple mention of his name awoke feelings in you that you thought you’d gotten rid of a long time ago. Instead of reacting in a way that would give away your true emotions, you turned your head slightly to look at him. Seojun could only see half of your face, but it was enough for him to hope that you might still care about his friend.

“He’s missed you. Even though he’s living abroad right now, he still—”

“I have to go.” You interrupted him, unwilling to hear the rest of his tirade. “I’ll see you around.”

Back then, you had no idea it was only the beginning of fate’s cruel plan.

People often said fate was something that you made yourself—something that wasn’t predetermined but something that was subject to change depending on the course of action taken. You weren’t so sure if that was true because more often than not, you found that the course of your life was filled with trials and tribulations that were completely out of your control. These painful events (as your mother and countless therapists said) were meant to build character. In your case, they just hurt.

However, now that you were older, you were starting to understand what people meant.

After all, it was you who decided to remove yourself from the situation and distance yourself from your soulmate. It was you who made the effort to get better and build a new life for yourself. That had to count for something.

You had come this far, and that in itself was a notable achievement. Soon enough, you would no longer be dependent on the supplements Dr. Kwon developed soon after you came into his care. It wouldn’t be long before you would be free to live your life without any restraints.

That thought alone made you appreciate the view that much more. Snow was falling lightly, but it didn’t take away from the calmness you felt. Nothing could kill the high you were on. Finally, everything seemed to be falling into place. The peaceful life you always yearned for was within your reach, ready to be taken.

“Y/N.”

There was a sudden heaviness in your chest and feet after you heard your name. Every single hair on your body stood up at the sound of an eerily familiar voice calling your name, a voice that you wouldn’t be able to forget in a million years. Hesitantly and very slowly, you turned around only to come face-to-face with the one person you hoped to never see again.

The mere sight of him evoked a jagged feeling from your chest that you were very familiar with. It was no longer as intense as it once was—a curtesy of the supplements you were taking. However, you weren’t numb to the dull ache seeing your soulmate caused.

Suho’s face crumpled instantly at the sight of your watery eyes. The glistening tears in your eyes could’ve easily been mistaken for previous crystals from how brightly they were shining. He reached forward and cupped your frozen face, barely able to contain the emotions swirling in his chest.

You flinched away from his touch, realizing that all the effort you made up until this point was in vain. The ache in your pounding heart reminded you that no drug in the world could be strong enough to completely detach you from all the emotions your soulmate provoked.

“I’ve missed you.”

There was a sincerity to his words that might’ve moved you at one point in time, but now his words only left a sick feeling in your stomach. This could have been due to the suppressants, or perhaps the result of being away from him for so long. Either way, the affection Suho was displaying was something you no longer wanted or needed.

“Why?” Your voice was quiet as a single tear fell from your eye. “You rejected me.”

Unlike before, Suho’s expressions were completely transparent. His wounded eyes almost had you regretting your blunt words. Almost.

Not being able to withstand the sight of his pained expression any longer, you turned around and ran.

It was a well-known fact that the string of fate pulled soulmates closer and closer until the two souls were eventually brought together. Trying to resist the tug was practically impossible and, in most cases, futile. You were no exception to this natural contingency despite taking every possible measure you could to fight it. Eventually, you learned that fate wasn’t something that could actively or easily be avoided.

That’s why it wasn’t too surprising when you crossed paths with Suho so soon after you saw him the other night at the bridge. Whether it was coincidental or not, the strength of the bond was enough to soothe the initial irritation you felt at seeing your soulmate. Perhaps the power of the pull was what made you accept the invitation to have a meal with him, or maybe it was out of the need to prove to yourself that Suho could no longer affect you in the intense way that he used to.

The restaurant wasn’t anything grand, but they did serve alcohol which was perfect for you because you weren’t sure you could sit through a meal with the person who broke your heart while being completely sober. You didn’t hesitate to start drinking before the waiter brought your food out.

“So,” Suho cleared his throat as he saw you down a shot with concern. “How have you been?”

It was a loaded question that almost made you angry because how did he think you had been? Undergoing treatment wasn’t anything easy, and it definitely wasn’t pleasant. But you couldn’t bring yourself to spit out your poisonous thoughts. If you agreed to join him it was because you were better now (and to potentially expand on your research). You couldn’t let all your hard work go to waste because of his sudden reappearance and your petty need to make him feel the same way you had all those years ago.

Suho saw you hesitate, and for a moment he was worried that the resentment you seemed to feel for him would keep him from getting closer to you. He felt extremely relieved when you answered him politely, seemingly not too caught up with rehashing the past.

“You actually worked with the Dr. Kwon?” Suho was in awe.

“I still do.” You told with a nod. “I’m the one who helped him develop the suppressant for the soulmate bond.”

Your comment wasn’t malicious, but Suho felt his chest tighten uncomfortably. The drug you helped develop was worldwide famous as it was the first of its kind. He had read about all of its effects and how it was life changing for people who had been rejected by their soulmates. People like you.

When you saw the look on Suho’s face, you let out a dry, humorless laugh. “I’m taking them, if that’s what you wanted to know.”

There was an awkward pause, and you weren’t sure why everything had become so tense all of a sudden. Suho should’ve guessed that you were taking the suppressants because of the fact that you were still alive. Without those drugs, you would’ve died a long time ago. It would’ve been easy enough to tell him that, but something restrained you from doing so.

“So… you don’t feel anything now that you’re with me?”

That wasn’t exactly true. A suppressant was different from a blocker, and even modern medicine wasn’t advanced enough to stop all the effects caused by the soulmate bond. However, you didn’t tell Suho any of that. It was petty, but there was still that part of you that was unwilling to let him off so easily.

“Not really. I feel the like I’m spending time with any other person.” You lied.

Suho felt a sharp pain strike his chest. The throbbing was painful, but all he could focus on was your cold expression. There was no trace of resentment or love or anything. Just a blank canvas that he was unable to fill.

After a beat of silence, you spoke up, unable to stand the discomfort that suddenly consumed you. “I’m sorry about your dad. It must’ve been hard for you.”

Your words caught Suho by surprise. He wasn’t sure how you knew that his dad had been in the hospital while he was abroad, but it hardly mattered. The knot in his chest loosened when he saw your earnest expression. Your empathy was just that, but to Suho it meant the world. It touched him deeply that despite all the pain he had put you through, you didn’t hate him enough to rejoice in his misfortune.

“He’s better now. That’s part of the reason why I came back.”

You didn’t need to hear the other part because you knew what it was, and you weren’t ready for him to vocalize it. Dr. Kwon would be proud.

Suho seemed to realize you were uncomfortable and quickly changed the subject. “How has it been helping Dr. Kwon with his research?”

“Healing.” You told him without thinking. “It helped me get better, and now I’m one step closer to living a normal life like everyone else.”

A sudden pain struck Suho in the chest. Your smiling face managed to soothe some of the sting, but not fully. He would never be able to truly forgive himself for what he did to you. It was his fault you hadn’t been able to finish off high school like everyone else. He was the reason you hadn’t been able to live like any other person who found their soulmate. But somehow Suho pushed down those feelings of painful regret and smiled back at you.

“That’s great, Y/N.” He managed to say through the pain he felt. “I’m… I’m really happy for you.”

Seeing Suho was starting to become a regular occurrence. He was insistent on spending time with you even though you weren’t always welcoming of his company. Recently, he had started to walk you to work. There were times where his actions moved you and times where his actions irritated you. It was usually the latter, but this time you couldn’t be angry or annoyed. Not when it was clear that something was wrong. The moment you laid eyes on Suho, an uncomfortable feeling pinched at your stomach only for it to die down and completely disappear within the next second.

“Hey, are you okay?” You asked, unable to hide the worry in your voice.

Suho caught the emotion in your tone and faintly smiled. “Are you worried about me?”

The contrast in his behavior always threw you off. He wasn’t acting like the person you remembered, and you never knew what to make of his perplexing behavior. Was this really the person you met back in high school? It didn’t seem like it. There was a subtle jerk in your chest, almost as if the emotions being repressed by your medicine were clawing to get out. You frowned at the feeling.

“Have you looked in the mirror today?” You ignored his question. “You don’t look okay.”

Suho shrugged off your words. Instead he told you to have a good day and to not overwork yourself. That was another thing you couldn’t understand. Suho followed you everywhere, except your workplace. You weren’t sure why he had an apparent aversion to the building you currently worked in, but you didn’t dwell on it. Having a place you were able to escape to made you forget all about his abnormal behavior. Well, not entirely.

It was difficult not to think about the situation you had found yourself in. You didn’t know exactly what to call this… relationship between you two, but it felt like you were in a sort of limbo state. It was alarming and potentially problematic because recovery was something that was well within your grasp, and you weren’t sure if Suho was hindering you from finally grabbing what you worked so hard to achieve.

“There’s something you’re not telling me.”

Perhaps not telling Dr. Kwon that your soulmate was back and regularly seeing you wasn’t the wisest decision, but you were sure he would have canceled his plan to take you off the suppressants if you had told him the truth. You kept your cool expression in tact, not willing to give yourself away.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dr. Kwon frowned. You hadn’t so much as looked up from the paperwork in front of you, but he wouldn’t let you get away from his question so easily. Not when it was about life or death.

“I’m talking about the fact that a man named Han Seojun came in here asking about a consultation for his friend, Lee Suho.”

The shift in your eyes was immediate. You couldn’t hide the emotion on your face as you looked over at Dr. Kwon. He was looking at you with a somber expression, waiting for your explanation. But you couldn’t be concerned with that because there was a sinking feeling in your stomach that wasn’t allowing you to think straight.

“Han Seojun managed to get him in here for a check up.” The doctor continued after realizing that you weren’t going to provide him with the answers he was looking for. “I’ve haven’t seen so much strain on a heart in a long time. His results look almost like yours did all those years ago.”

Blood rushed to your ears, partially muting all the noise in the room. The feel of your heart pounding painfully against your chest was foreign now, yet familiar all at the same time. It was almost entirely painful, but not quite. No. This couldn’t be happening. There had to be some sort of mistake. But you knew there wasn’t. The signs had been there, and you had purposely ignored them because you hadn’t wanted to entertain the possibility of Suho going through what you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.

“You’re rejecting the soulmate bond.” Dr. Kwon said simply, not knowing he was voicing your greatest fear. “If he doesn’t undergo treatment soon, he will die.”

There was a moment where you could only hear your heartbeat. It’s unsteady rhythm was the only thing you could focus on in order to hold back your tears. It was true that you didn’t want Suho in your life, but to think he was experiencing the same pain you had made you feel sick to your stomach. No one, not even Suho, deserved to experience that type of pain. You could only press your lips together, afraid that a sob might break through at any moment.

“Y/N?”

You lifted your distant eyes, as if snapping out of some sort of trance. “Sharing a person’s medical information is a crime.”

Dr. Kwon frowned, but wasn’t all that fazed by your threatening reminder because he was aware that your reaction was nothing more than a byproduct of the trauma caused by your soulmate. Still, he had expected more from you. The treatment you received at the facility he founded was meant to help you (which it had—physically), but it had also inadvertently morphed your philophobia into something more grave that didn’t allow you to be emotionally vulnerable.

The doctor let out a deep sigh. “Y/N—”

“If you’re going to treat him, then do it.” You said as you put down the paperwork. “Just don’t expect me to care about what happens to him.”

With that cold statement, you stood up and grabbed your things. You hurried to the door, not willing to be in the office any longer. Just as you reached the door, you were stopped by the doctor’s voice.

“He won’t take the supplements.” Dr. Kwon said. “I don’t know why, but he’s unwilling to undergo any sort of treatment.”

You swallowed thickly, unable to keep the tears in your eyes. It was difficult, but you swallowed the lump in your throat and walked out of the large office without looking back.

Suho never thought you would ask to see him first. It was something that went beyond his all of his wildest dreams, and for the first time he felt the pressure in his chest loosen. You had asked to meet him at the bridge where he first encountered you after returning, and he didn’t hesitate to clear his schedule in order to meet you. He didn’t have time to think about why you wanted to see him. It didn’t matter, either. Not when you willingly wanted to see him and spend time with him.

Suho made it to the bridge in record time. His eyes immediately spotted you, able to distinguish you almost immediately. Even from afar you looked as stunning as ever. The bright city lights managed to give you an ethereal glow that took his breath away. Not wanting to keep you wait any longer, Suho was quick to go over to where you were standing.

“Y/N.”

You turned around, expression as blank as usual. It was a bit disappointing, but Suho wouldn’t let that deter his mood. When he finally got close enough, he could see traces of concern in your eyes. It made him wonder what was wrong while thinking of ways he could ease your discomfort.

“Suho.”

He hadn’t heard you say his name in years despite all the time you two had spent together. It was like music to his ears, and it made him hopeful that you two were finally moving in the right direction. Maybe earning your forgiveness wouldn’t be impossible like he originally thought.

“You’re dying.” You said shakily. “Because of me.”

Suho felt his heart sink into his stomach. He didn’t have any time to think about how you found out, but he couldn’t stand to see at the wounded look in your eyes. The last thing he had wanted to do was hurt you, yet that was the very thing he did.

His silence made the sickening feeling amplify. It was true. You had known it was since Dr. Kwon had told you, but part of you had hoped it was a mistake or a flat out lie. To think that you were doing the same thing Suho did to you was reprehensible. All your years of helping people and your own recovery didn’t seem to mean anything because it felt like you were right back at where you started. Except now it was you who was causing the pain.

You swallowed thickly, not believing this was happening. “Why… Why wouldn’t you agree to take the suppressants?”

The stoic expression that was imprinted in your mind made an appearance for the first time since you two met again. It made you feel sick and like you were trapped in the middle of a bizarre nightmare.

“Don’t you realize what you’re doing?” Your voice rose slightly. “How could you be reckless enough to disregard your own health?”

Suho’s eyes gleamed with regret and something else you couldn’t identify. “You did the same thing back then. You risked your life for my happiness.”

The suppressants weren’t perfect, and still left room for error. Often times, the emotions people didn’t want to feel passed through and consumed them. But now it felt like you weren’t taking the medicine at all because in the next instant, you were bursting with emotions, the most prominent one being anger. How could he compare your situations? How could he think that this was what you wanted?

There was a tense pause, one that didn’t last very long but felt like an eternity.

“Don’t act like you’re doing some selfless deed.” You hissed, feeling angry tears pinch the back of your eyes. “What I did back when we met isn’t the same as what you’re doing now, and you fucking know it.”

For a moment, you two only stared at each other fiercely. Similar emotions were building inside both of you, ready to burst at the seams. Neither of you were willing to speak the truth, but expected the other to understand.

“You chose to do that for me back then.” Suho forced himself to say. “It was your choice, and what I’m doing now is mine.”

And it was his choice. Suho would never forgive himself for everything he did to you, and he was certain there was nothing he could ever do to make it up to you. Except this. Only going through the same pain would he be able to truly repent his mistakes. The only problem was that you didn’t take his words in the way he meant them.

“It was never my choice!” You yelled angrily, feeling like you could explode from the rage. “Why would I ever choose to feel the pain you put me through?”

Everything was happening too quickly, but it was too late to backtrack. The misunderstandings and the misuse of words didn’t matter anymore because you were finally letting your true feelings spill out of you like a waterfall.

“You were the one who rejected the bond that we have without caring about how it would effect me!”

The sight of your tears came as another blow to Suho’s chest, one that was much stronger than all the others. Everything was falling apart so quickly. Too quickly to stop it. Suho took a step toward you but you stepped back. The anger and pain you were feeling was evident now.

“When are you going to stop hurting me?”

Suho sucked in a sharp breath. Your words made him feel as terrible as he did when he found out you couldn’t see your string. A single tear slid down his face as he looked at your pain-filled expression. The bond between you was completely damaged, and for the first time he could feel it.

“Wasn’t it enough for you when you almost killed me because you loved Lim Jugyeong?” You wondered, feeling like your throat was closing in on itself. “I didn’t know about our bond, but you willingly ignored it. When I found out, you didn’t hesitate to tell me you didn’t want me as your soulmate. I accepted all of that, so why… why do you keep doing this to me?”

Subconsciously rejecting or accepting the soulmate bond was something every human did as soon as they recognized their soulmate, and it had a stronger effect than most people would ever understand. It might’ve occurred to you that this is exactly what you were doing, but thinking logically wasn’t possible with all the emotions that were overpowering your thoughts. It no longer mattered that you never intended for any of this to happen because it had. Because it was fate.

Suho couldn’t stand it anymore. All the pain he caused you was suffocating, and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He reached for you, only to be stopped by the blinding pain his chest. Tiny black dots clouded his vision before they completely engulfed it.

You could only watch in horror as Suho collapsed on the ground just as you had all those years ago.

At times, you wondered if your entire life was nothing more than a terrible dream. Some of the things that happened to you felt too surreal and distorted to be an actual part of reality. However, there was always certain moments that managed to remind you that your life was far from a dream. Seeing Suho’s pale form laying in a hospital bed was one of those moments.

You watched him carefully, gasping quietly when his eyes slowly opened.

When Suho saw you by his bedside, it immediately eased some of the pain he was feeling. You tearfully whispered his name, no longer hiding behind the stoic mask he had grown used to. It almost made him feel like all the pain was worth it.

“I’ll go get the doctor.”

You stood to leave, but Suho immediately caught you by your wrist. He gently caressed it, looking like he might cry. “Stay. Please.”

And you did. You slowly sat back down, feeling the enigmatic pull take over your actions. You hadn’t felt it in years, and you wondered if it would be a good idea to take more of the suppressants before your feelings became too intense to control.

“I’m sorry.” You apologized through the tears. “I shouldn’t have said all those things to you knowing that your health is in a delicate state.”

Your apology meant the world to Suho, but it also managed to make him feel horrible. Just like back then, you were putting his feelings before your own, and he couldn’t stand it. He didn’t deserve the consideration you gave him back then, and he definitely didn’t deserve it now.

Suho shook his head. “Everything you said is the truth. I deserve that and much more.”

You pressed your lips together before letting out a shaky sigh. None of that mattered anymore. The only thing you were concerned about was helping him get better. “Take the suppressants.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” You demanded, feeling your heart clench painfully. “The pain is only going to get worse.”

“It’s nothing compared to what I did to you.”

His words made your heart ache. At one point in your life you wanted him to suffer in the same way you had, but now it was the last thing you wanted. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but Suho didn’t seem to realize that. Seeing him in this state wasn’t what you wanted at all. Didn’t he understand that?

“If you don’t agree to undergo the treatment, you’ll die.” You told him, your voice was an apparent mixture of fear and guilt. “How could you think that would make me happy?”

“You haven’t forgiven me for what I did, and neither have I.” Suho said. The tears in his eyes spilled over as he looked at you. “I don’t deserve it either.”

You couldn’t stop your tears own from falling. He had it all wrong, and you weren’t sure that you could ease his pain despite having done it so many times before.

“It’s not that I don’t forgive you.” You whimpered as you took ahold of his hand.

This next part was going to be difficult for you to express, but it needed to be done. It was the only way you were going to be able to truly heal from all the pain that you went through.

“It’s that I don’t forgive myself.” Your confession came out in a shaky sigh. “I didn’t love myself enough to put my health first. Even back then, I had the option to get treated before the pain became unbearable, but I didn’t because I loved you more than I loved myself.”

You let out a quiet sob. “And I’ve never been able to forgive myself for that.”

If anyone understood that feeling, it was Suho. He didn’t hesitate to pull you into his arms, caging you against him. It felt warm and comforting—an unexpected safe place. It made you feel completely protected, like nothing and no one could ever hurt you.

“It’s not your fault.” He whispered. “None of it.”

Suho couldn’t have known it, but his words set you free. Finally, you accepted that your father’s death wasn’t you fault, neither was the resentment your mother felt, not even the fact that Suho had rejected you. None of it was your fault. You were only a victim of the circumstances.

The road to recovery wouldn’t be an easy path, but it was one that you were both willing to take.

Fate was a strange concept, indeed.

Even now, you couldn’t tell if destiny was something that was predetermined or something that could be made, but it didn’t matter. You walked the path that you were meant to take despite not being ready for it. In the end, it had led you to the place that you were meant to be at.

“Y/N!”

You looked over your shoulder with a smile, seeing Suho excitedly wave at you from the other end of the street. He jogged over to you with a giant grin on his face before engulfing you in a tight hug. His warm embrace gave you a sense of security that you had grown to love.

“Did you have fun with Seojun?” You asked, feeling like you were in the middle of a blissful trance.

“The guy thinks he’s all that because he’s famous now.” Suho said jokingly, emitting a laugh from you.

An entire year had passed since that day in the hospital, and now you could proudly say that you had successfully worked past your philophobia. It hadn’t been easy, but with help from Dr. Kwon and even Suho you managed to overcome all the trauma you had been unconsciously clinging on to. Now, you were living happily without the help of suppressants.

Suho pulled back, looking at you with shining eyes. He cupped your face before he swooped down and pressed his lips against your own. You melted into the kiss instantly, feeling a fiery passion consume you. The movement of his lips was sweet yet strong. It managed to make your head swim with euphoria. Suho gently caressed your cheek before he slowly drew back.

“I love you.”

You couldn’t contain your smile. “I love you, too.”

Suho let you go and swiftly grabbed your hand. He swung it happily as you two walked down the street. “Where should we go?”

“There’s a new comic store that opened down the street.” You told him with a grin. “Let’s check it out.”

Suho gave you another smile and gave your hand a gentle squeeze. The sheer joy you felt in that moment seemed unreal. It was hard to believe that you managed to get to this point where happiness was a regular part of your life. You never imagined that it would be a part of fate’s plan for you. There was only one thing that made you realize it was all real and not part of some blissful dream.

You looked down at your intertwined hands, smiling wider when you saw the red thread wrapped around your index finger.

#lee suho x reader #lee suho x you #cha eunwoo x reader #cha eunwoo x you #true beauty fanfic #suho x reader #lee suho imagine #cha eunwoo imagine #cha eunwoo #lee suho #true beauty #lee suho fanfic #cha eunwoo fanfic #astro fanfic #true beauty tvn

[dreamrecorder]

Unique Strength

Genshin men with an amputee significant other who uses their vision as a prosthetic!!

Includes: Venti | Diluc | Kaeya | Albedo | Zhongli | Xiao | Baizhu | Childe

Reader can either be geo, cryo, or dendro- it' up to you- but why these three??? I just have an hc in my head that with solid geo or cryo you can control that stuff as artificial limb- and so can dendro!!! Althouuugh dendro is a bit of a special case- dendro, like you have to apply branches on your limb and those branches will grow and get their nourishment from your blood BUT ITS ALL FLUFF DONT WORRY

Venti

The moment he saw you play your string instrument- he fell in love

But when he saw your hands made of branches and littered with leaves- he fell for you even more so!!

Venti just loves how youre so dedicated to your craft- to the point of using your vision for artificial limbs!!!

When the two of you perform- he always makes sure that you get the spotlight bcos---

HelllllOoooO that's his s/o over there overcoming a disability!!!!!!!!!!

Diluc

He may be lowkey but Diluc worries for you Every Second-

Even if he knows you're not fragile- he cant help but worry

Whenever youre around in the mansion he will always make sure to have the fireplace out or else your cryo prosthetic might melt

Out for a stroll? Begone!!! Pyro slimes and those pyro flowers!! (I forgot the names of those flowers lmao)

In a battle? Diluc makes sure to end the battle swiftly without the use of his flames

Out on an adventure with the Traveler? He ABSOLUTELY forbids you taking any commissions relating to pyro

Ascension materials??? NAME DONT YOU DARE GO TO THAT PYRO REGISVINE OR ELSE-

Please please just beat up the cryo regisvine and not the pyro one or else diluc will have a heart attack

Kaeya

This man will always always! Brag about you!!!

Because who would have thought that a disabled person like you will make it to Cavalry Captain?!?!

Respect

Whenever he sees you teaching the recruits- his heart swells with pride

He can also tell how you also inspire those recruits bcos heck

The way they look at you with awe and respect

And when training is done- expect him to be at your side to check if any of your muscles are straining

And then and then he will give you a kiss to the forehead and say how amazing you are~

Albedo

Being an alchemist, of course he's familiar with the human anatomy and medications

But never once he encountered a person using their own vision for a prosthetic

Medicine!!! Orthotics!!!

This man will always look out for you partly bcos he wants to research about this too

He's not subtle about it- but you appreciate it nonetheless

Albedo will always remind you to put your padding before putting on your prosthetic

He will always be by your side whenever you're about to stand up just to make sure you dont fall

Then at the end of the day- when your prosthetic's off

He will always massage your amputated limb to make sure your blood flows well <3 also expect a small kiss on the limb after the massage <3

Zhongli

Mortals never fail to surprise me, Zhongli mused

He was just visiting Qingce village when he met you the first time

When he was given tea, he cant help but relish how soothing it is against his taste buds

It was perfectly brewed and he asked who was behind this masterful brew

You were then brought to him and his eyes instantly laid on your arms made out of geo

When introductions were done- the two of you went into smooth conversation about tea- and of course he does not miss to compliment your brew

When evening came- you told him it was time for you tend to the glaze lillies and this piques his curiosity all the more

Geo- it was a rough and sturdy element

But the way you handled that most fragile of flowers proved him wrong

He observed and admired how you caress the flowers so gently

You were so oblivious that your Archon fell in love with you that night <3

Xiao

Deep inside xiao is awed and inspired by your strength

Even if fate decided to have your limb cut off- you just flipped off destiny away and made your own prosthetic

You were just a mortal- but you denied your disability to control your life!!!

From his balcony- he can see you work fluidly through the customers of the inn-as if you're not disabled in the first place

With his keen sense of hearing, he can hear the awe and praise offered to your way about how you overcame your disability

In his heart- a small bud of pride blooms

That's my s/o

Baizhu

He didn't like the look in your face whenever you gaze sadly at the people walking freely in the harbor

At first he was hesitant, but if it will make you smile, he would do it

So- he did some research about prosthetics- even as far as requesting medical information from all over Teyvat

He did his research day and night he was so determined to have you smile again

The day came he told you his plans for your prosthetic

Oh how your smile returned to you melted his heart

He cannot fail this operation and failure is NOT an option

Operation SUCCESS!!!

The braches he made from his vision are now your prosthetics!!

Come rehabilitation- he will never fail you to give words of encouragement as you learned to walk each day

And Archons

Each day, your smile kept growing and growing until finally- you are walking

Childe

Similarly to the cryo husbando--

Childe will also !brag! about you!!!

The two of you know that you dont want to be pitied for your missing limb

And guess what did the recruits of the fatui do???

They snickered mocked pitied and laughed at you

Deep inside- Childe was seething

But!! He let you be with those fools

Hoo boy those recruits dont know whats coming

You offered them a battle, hand to hand combat, all against one

Next thing those newbies knew they were beaten thoroughly to a pulp by yours truly- you made sure to utilize your vision plus prosthetic against them thoroughly

Oh how Childe's also itching for a fight but your health comes first

As he observes for any muscle strain- Childe will not fail to give you words of praise bcos heck u deserve them

A/N: this prosthetic made from vision idea was bothering me for days now i had to write smth about it lmao

#genshin impact #genshin imagines #genshin scenarios #genshin impact x reader #venti #diluc #kaeya #albedo #zhongli #xiao #childe #venti x reader #diluc x reader #kaeya x reader #albedo x reader #zhongli x reader #xiao x reader #childe x reader #baizhu #baizhu x reader

[theregoesmylurkerstatus]

Caleb has, verbally, shown so little bloodthirst regarding the people who wronged him. He doesn’t know how he feels. He doesn’t know what he wants. He wants them to change, he wants the pain to stop. He wants to rehabilitate all these murderers under Ikithon because he was one of them and he wants to believe he’s not alone in this, he wants them to get better.

He also takes three steps into the place where he was sealed away like some kind of animal, full of simple (if skilled) guards who are so much lower on the food chain than the assassins Caleb knows... and for the first time ever he starts crushing people to death. Gone is the soft talk and hesitant hope. He asserts that they knew what they were doing. That they were not innocents.

He spent eleven years there. He can’t remember it. He also can’t think of the people who did that to him as people, whether they were actually the ones that guarded him or not.

I think Caleb’s trauma and his ability to react with extreme prejudice when confronted with it often gets underestimated both by the audience and Caleb himself. There’s a really interesting dichotomy that seems to go on with him, in that we’re constantly taken somewhat aback by these breathtaking displays of violence of his, even though they keep happening.

I realised it when we first met Astrid, actually. I don't know about anyone else, but the revelation that Caleb’s reaction to watching his parents die wasn’t running in to help them, or screaming himself, or even dissociating, but was instead attacking his peers? It surprised the heck out of me.

I don’t think anyone thought that would have been his reaction. All the pieces of fiction or art or meta about that moment that I saw assumed he had a much more passive or help oriented reaction. Even the cast themselves animated that moment as Astrid and Eodwulf stoically walking away from a silent Caleb on his knees in their own animated title sequence.

The fact that we all accepted the image of Caleb, on his knees, silently watching his family burn, is interesting to me. Because I do get why.

When Caleb is forcefully reminded of that moment of extreme grief, he dissociates. He doesn’t react violently when lost in his trauma in that particular way. Add to that that Caleb brushes over the immediate aftermath of his parent’s deaths, which makes it seem like his foggy, clouded state in the Asylum was the instant result of his trauma, and the idea that Caleb reacted passively to his parent’s deaths is a very easy assumption to make.

At this point I believe it’s also indicative of how Caleb sees himself. Caleb hates (hated?) himself, yes, but he doesn’t actually seem to see himself as a violent person. When asked to impress a high level mage from an alien culture, he chose the versatile reskinned Bigby’s Hand, Cat’s Ire. When trying to be intimidating, he uses his words, or points to his friends as threats, or uses Frumpkin as a prop.

He doesn’t seem to give his ease with violence much thought or weight in his own view of himself. I think he assumed he was passive during his years at the Sanitarium, and so therefore assumed that his “breaking” was similar. And if that’s what Caleb thought of himself, why would we think any different?

People don’t tend to think of Caleb as a fighter, least of all Caleb himself. The common view of him is that he’s a hesitant support character. He’s not someone who fans or other characters alike would easily call “bloodthirsty,” especially with him confronting and discussing the man who ruined his life and refusing to commit to killing him.

Everything about how Caleb verbally approaches these traumas shows that he’s not vengeance driven. Revenge has never been part of his game plan, never been something he cared enough to pursue. And because of that palpable lack of bloodthirsty vengeance, because of his soft spoken, cautious demeanor, Caleb is not someone who would generally be picked as having extreme, unrelenting violence as his knee-jerk reaction.

Except that’s exactly what Caleb does when backed into a corner. That’s like his biggest move. Wall of Fire and Fireballing Avantika and her crew on a hair trigger? Bleeding, on the verge of unconsciousness, out of spells, and still managing to deal the killing blow on Lorenzo because he chose violence over any other action? Opening the final fight against Obann by smashing through the window and burning half the cultists to death, because they were that desperate to get Yasha back after two failed attempts?

He woke up after eleven years of being addled, confused and not himself, and immediately killed a guard and broke out of the Assembly’s own Saitarium in the heart of Rexxentrum. He unexpectedly got stabbed by a full-fledged Scourger, and his instant reaction was to beat her over the head with a rock. 

And now, he’s infiltrated that same Sanitarium where he was kept only to flip from his desire to redeem those under the Assembly’s thumb to murdering half the people he came across in there with extreme prejudice.

His lack of interest in long-term vengeance is interestingly balanced by his frequent choices to pursue short-term retribution. It’s both his way of protecting his friends and himself, removing the threat and discouraging other threats, but it’s also, in my view, frequently an outlet for his heavily suppressed anger at the people who hurt him and his friends.

Caleb can be a good diplomat, but Caleb rarely chooses to be a diplomat. Caleb can be charming, but Caleb doesn’t like being charming. Caleb can be a good support caster, and Caleb is a support caster! But when he’s too compromised for strategy, when he stops thinking, he starts burning everything in his way. Because Caleb? He likes the way fire feels.

Caleb spent his formative years training to respond to conflict, physical or political, with lethality, and on a much more fundamental level, he is and always has been a man of action. 

He took action to get out of the Sanitarium as soon as he was capable. He took action in the Bright Queen’s throne room, made a risky ploy instead of letting them be arrested. He wanted to take action retroactively against his parent’s deaths the second he regained coherency.

Despite what we all assumed, doing nothing in the face of his parent’s deaths was never an option for Caleb, and he wasn’t taught anything that was going to help his parents once the house was on fire and the screams started. So what else was he going to do, after two years of growing into the Scourger mould? When he loses his mind, his ability to think, two of his reasons to care?

Of course it was violence. Of course it was lashing out at the people he must have thought, on some level, as being in his way. Of course it was fire. What else would it be?

And though these circumstances here aren’t the same... there are enough similarities. He’s once again in those familiar halls (in that familiar mindset) where he was treated as a weapon, nothing more. He’s with the people he loves and he knows they’re in danger, again. In fact, they’re in danger from the same people he spent eleven years feeling threatened by, that he viewed as obstacles, whether consciously or not.

He doesn’t want his loved ones to be in danger. He doesn’t want to be surrounded by the guards who he associates with his own helplessness. He especially doesn’t want those two things to go together. And he has never been able to sit idly by when he can act. But what kind of actions can he take? What can he do to get these guards away, away from him, away from his friends, out of his way, right now?

The tried and true method. Not burning, not here, not now, let’s not set a building on fire with his loved ones in it again (though it happened anyway). But no matter. He’s learned a lot of tricks in the last few months.

And hey, don’t worry, Caleb’s not angry. He’s not still working through his own pain and rage at these people. He really does want to heal, not hurt.

It’s just that these ones deserved it.

#critical role #cr spoilers #c2e127 #c2e89 #ramblings #caleb #speculation #its interesting because he has such a good hold on his temper and he tries to think through most situations #which means he DOESNT get pushed to that breaking point a lot #and its usually only that breaking point that showcases how easily he wields violence #which is another factor in why he doesnt get regarded as a violent character #because he isnt! he really doesnt get violent often! its just something thats instinctive for him #his instinctive reactions though are not often seen bc he usually has a pretty good control over himself and situations around him #and i think its really really telling when he gets pushed into that mindset when theyre NOT at deaths door #hey caleb i dont think you're as ready for forgiveness and moving on as you think #theres a lot of buried rage in caleb and you can quote me on that #ive been saying it for months (years?) and ive only grown more confident in that assertion since then #sorry if this is an incoherent mess #does this make sense? i dont knoooow im sick of looking at it

[too-gay-for-marvel]

just this once pt.5

a/n: yall. yall im on a roll. and no i will not apologise for anything that happens in this chapter. also, still learning how to do taglists so if it doesn’t work or you weren’t included, send me a message and i’ll try to get it fixed!

Word Count: 4,285 

Warnings: canon typical violence, non-explicit mentions of torture, mutant experimentation

Pairing: Natasha x Reader

(pt.1 pt.2 pt.3 pt.4 pt.5 pt.6.1 pt.6.2 pt.6.3 pt.7 pt.8)

“I think Fury is giving you a sign.”

Natasha looked up from her paperwork to see Maria leaning against the door frame to her office. She herself had just gotten back from a mission, evident in her slightly mused ponytail and gun still on her hip. A very beyond attractive look, if Natasha had to say it.

“What do you mean?” Natasha asked, leaning back in her chair to give her full attention to her fiancee.

“So he didn’t tell you,” Maria said with a nod. She pushed herself off the door frame and moved to sit in the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

“I’ll admit that gives me a clue,” Natasha said with a small frown. She didn’t like where this was going.

“He’s sending you on another mission,” Maria replied. “With Y/N.”

“I thought we told him emergencies only,” Natasha mused more to herself than to Maria.

It seemed like Nick was sending the both of you on every mission he could possibly come up with. He needed some information. Then he wanted the layout of a base. Then he wanted some recon on security in another location. All were things that Natasha not only could have done with someone else, but she could have gotten them done on her own.

He seemed to think differently.

“He wants you to leave tomorrow,” Maria continued, bringing Natasha out of her pouting. “Personnel recovery.”

“At least that gives us a few hours together,” Natasha said with a small smile.

“Maybe we can finally get some planning done,” Maria nodded as she stood up. “Maybe a colour scheme?”

“Red and black,” Natasha shot back.

“We’ll argue about it later,” Maria smiled. She walked over and tilted Natasha’s chin up to give her a quick kiss before leaving the office, presumably to get cleaned up.

Natasha looked down at her paperwork for not even five minutes before deciding she was going to rush upstairs and surprise Maria in the shower. She had just started piling the papers up when you walked in, harpoon on hip and soaking wet.

“Did you ask Fury for another mission?” You asked as you plopped into the chair opposite her, water instantly dripping down the sides of the seat.

“No,” Natasha said curtly, hoping she could get you out of her office sooner if she didn’t invite conversation.

“Then why is he sending us together?” You asked. Your fingers started combing through your hair, the webs gathering whatever was stuck. Drops of water splashed onto Natasha’s pristine papers.

“I don’t know,” Natasha said again, turning her lip up when you put a piece of seaweed on her desk.

“I thought you knew everything,” you huffed, staring intently as a shell you had pulled out of your suit sleeve.

“Well clearly not,” Natasha mumbled to herself.

You leaned over to rest your elbows on the desk, your dripping wet hair leaving puddles on the mahogany and her papers. Natasha set her jaw and gave you a look, keeping eye contact. But your eyes gave off that mischievous sparkle, the one that would make any woman swoon. And Natasha’s heart raced.

“Think I can get that in writing?” You asked with a raised brow. “You know, for the next time you act like a know-it-all.”

“Did you just come in here to act like an ass?” Natasha asked as she picked her papers up and started walking out.

“Actually,” you started as you pushed away from the desk and stood up, “I’m here to bring you this.”

You held your open hand out, palm up, and Natasha looked cautiously to see what it was. In the middle of your palm was a whole shell, with a small black pearl in the centre. It looked absolutely stunning, and Natasha reached out to gently take it.

“Why did you bring this to me?” Natasha asked, although she feared she already knew your answer.

“Cheeseburger found the shell the other day,” you shrugged, “and Roger got the pearl out.”

Natasha did her best not to chuckle at the silly names you had given the octopus and otter that usually inhabited your moon pool. Cheeseburger, the octopus, had lost two limbs and had a nasty habit of stealing your cheeseburgers (hence the name), while Roger was an in-progress rehabilitation project. Unfortunately, the three of you were like peas in a pod.

“It’s beautiful,” Natasha mused, her eyes still glued to the pearl. “But I can’t take this home to my fiancee.”

You huffed and crossed your arms over your chest. The space between the both of you increased as you visibly took a step back, and Natasha missed the closeness. Things had seemed normal only a moment ago, and now she could feel you closing yourself off to her, going cold once again.

“Then give it to Maria,” you shrugged. “Get some brownie points before going off on another mission with her favourite person.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Natasha shot back. “I just don’t want to waste your gift.”

“It was just cluttering up my space,” you replied, voice cold.

“Give it to Yelena,” Natasha said softly, holding the shell and pearl back out for you to take. “She would love it.”

“Yelena,” you huffed with a small smile. A sad smile. You grabbed the shell from her hand rather roughly, causing Natasha to flinch. “Thanks for the input.”

“Y/N,” Natasha started, but you were already walking away in the opposite direction, head high and feet dragging.

Natasha sighed and started her own way back to her floor. She wanted Maria to distract her. From you.

———

“What’s our objective again?” You shouted from the back of the quinjet.

“Personnel recovery,” Yelena answered. “Some scientist wanted out of AIM.”

“Why is that my responsibility?” You continued. Your boots echoed off the floor and you popped your head in between Yelena’s and Natasha’s chairs.

“Because something smelled-”

“Don’t,” Natasha interrupted.

“-fishy,” Yelena finished anyway, and both you and Natasha groaned as she just laughed at herself.

“I’m not paid enough for this,” Natasha mumbled to herself before turning her head and looking out the windows.

“I’ll throttle you,” you said as you lightly slapped Yelena upside the head.

“Listen,” she tried to say around another round of giggles, “if Fury ever told me his plans, I wouldn’t be stuck here with you two.”

“Well why don’t you find out? I wanna know why he’s sending me on this mission.”

“I already told you, I don’t know.”

“Why don’t you know? Surely you must have some kind of-”

“Can you both shut up?” Natasha shouted. The both of you grew silent immediately, and Natasha finally let out a breath and tried to rub her growing migraine away.

“Should’ve just sent Nat,” you grumbled. “She’s grumpy enough to scare everyone away all on her own.”

Yelena snorted, and when Natasha shot a look her way, she tried her best to look out the window. You, on the other hand, held up to her challenge and met her eyes. That ridiculous smirk refused to disappear, and Natasha wanted so desperately to wipe it off your face. But instead she just turned back around and looked out the window once again.

The rest of the trip was silent, only the occasional update being spoken aloud. Yelena managed to drop the both of you off and stayed in the jet, more than ready for when you both got back and could get back to the Tower for a well-deserved weekend.

It was a quick jog to the location, with tents and cages set up all around the landing port. The building was a few stories tall, but well fortified with guards around every corner. The majority of cages were empty, but every now and then you could hear a bear, a dog, a human.

“I thought these guys were scientists,” you whispered from where you were crouched beside Natasha.

“They are,” Natasha nodded.

“Must be pretty paranoid then,” you continued.

“You would be too if your work relied on illegal mutant experimentation,” Natasha clarified. You didn’t say anything else, but she could see your knuckles going pale.

“Let’s get our man and go,” you practically growled. “Before I kill them all.”

Natasha knew you weren’t joking.

You both went in opposite directions, you heading to the back door and Natasha heading to the side. There was no guaranteeing that the scientist was even inside at all, but that was the easiest place to check. There was too much vulnerability outside and Natasha wasn’t going to risk getting caught and failing another mission.

“How are we supposed to find one nerd in a facility full of nerds?” You asked over the intercoms, and Natasha assumed you had made it into the building.

“Be nice,” Natasha whispered, “not all scientists are nerds.”

“Bruce and Tony are,” you replied. Natasha pulled herself against a wall when she heard voices. “Everyone here is.”

“Hush,” Natasha whispered. You remained silent as Natasha listened to footsteps getting closer, and then turning into the opposite direction. She let out a quiet breath.

“Do we really want to help someone who’s torturing mutants?” You asked again, a barely contained anger in your voice.

Natasha rounded another corner, trying to come up with an answer for you. You weren’t wrong; she didn’t like the idea either. Why save the scientist when you could save the people instead? But Fury wanted him, and there had to be a reason for it. The location was known, so someone could always come back to save them another day.

“Nick will send us back another day,” Natasha finally said out loud. You huffed on the other end of the comms.

You both continued through the facility, methodically clearing rooms until finally you indicated you had found him. Some wiry man with broken glasses, according to your description. Natasha gave confirmation and headed to the meet up point, somewhere on the second floor. Once Natasha was about to round the corner to the location, she could hear your voice carrying through the halls.

“You’re lucky I don’t wring your neck myself.”

“What’s the problem?” Natasha asked as soon as she saw you.

You were right. The man was wiry and nerdy, something you would expect from a mad scientist in a comic book. White tape was wrapped around the nose piece of his glasses in stereotypical fashion and he was hunched over like the world was resting on his shoulders.

No surprise, considering you were hovering nearly a foot over him.

“He called me an animal,” you seethed, your hands visibly shaking with the desire to have them around the man’s neck.

“Look at your arms and neck, what else could you be?” He asked in a gruff New Jersey accent.

“You want an animal? I’ll show you an-”

“That’s enough,” Natasha demanded. She stepped in between the both of you and pushed you away, not even bothering to get near the man.

“If he has to go with us, then so does one of the mutants,” you said, leaving no room for argument in your voice.

“We can’t risk it, we’re leaving them here,” Natasha said quickly. The hair on the back of her neck was starting to stand up and her stomach felt like it was dropping.

“I’m not leaving them and taking that,” you said through clenched teeth while pointing at the scientist.

“You’re going to risk my life for one of them?” He asked, his face drawn in disgust at the mere thought that his life was equal to a mutant’s. Natasha wanted to strangle him.

“We will come back for them another day,” Natasha said again, but you didn’t look convinced.

“I’m not leaving without them, so you’re gonna have to wait,” you shot back.

Voices could be heard in the stairwell a few halls away.

“And I’m not risking another mission,” Natasha argued, walking closer to you and forcing you to step backward to keep your space.

“If you think I’m taking that and leaving one of those kids then you’re-”

Click.

The both of you froze, your eyes boring into Natasha’s. A heavy silence fell upon the both of you, so thick Natasha struggled to draw breath. Her heart was pounding in her ears and that feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach returned.

And then your eyes left hers, trailing down to the too-tight cuffs that were now keeping you chained to the pipes against the wall. They weren’t the usual police handcuffs, but the kind that they had used on Loki after the invasion of New York.

You weren’t getting out of them.

“Natasha,” you started, your eyes moving back to meet hers.

“I’m sorry,” Natasha whispered. She took one heavy step back, never taking her eyes off of you.

“Unlock them,” you continued. Your chest was starting to rise and fall slightly faster.

“Someone will come for you,” Natasha said again with a slight nod.

Her mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

“Get back here, Romanoff,” you said as Natasha started leading the scientist down the hall.

Away from you.

She didn’t answer. She just felt her leaden boots take step after step, leading her further away from where you were chained. When she didn’t answer, she heard the sound of metal pulling against metal and your grunts and groans as you tried to yank the cuffs off.

“You can’t leave me here!” You shouted, your voice echoing down the hall after Natasha had turned the final corner.

She heard other voices coming from the same direction as yours, quickly followed by shouting and the solid thuds of blows being landed.

“Natalia!” You shouted again once Natasha had opened the door to lead the scientist out.

Only moments after the door shut, Natasha heard your scream. A scream of anger and frustration, a scream that reached down Natasha’s throat and ripped her heart out. The prick of tears in her eyes left a sinking feeling in her gut, left her feeling empty and a broken shell.

But she had a mission. And she was going to complete it.

She shoved the scientist in the direction of the quinjet and didn’t look back. Ignoring the whining and complaining coming from the man and eventually just throwing him into the back of the quinjet, ignoring the way Yelena jumped at the sudden noise.

“Where’s Y/N?” Yelena asked, moving her head around, trying to see if you were close behind.

“Get us in the air,” Natasha ordered. Tears pricked her eyes once again.

“Are they coming?” Yelena asked again, ignoring Natasha’s order.

“I said get us in the air, now.”

Yelena gave Natasha a look that sent a shiver down her spine, but turned around and got the jet in the air nonetheless. The scientist pulled himself into the seat next to Natasha. He seemed much more relaxed, and Natasha couldn’t blame him. He probably didn’t realise just how much had been risked to get him back to SHIELD.

“You made the right choice,” he said after some unbearable silence. Natasha turned to look at him, her brows pulled together.

“Excuse me?”

“You made the right choice,” he said again with an enthusiastic nod. “You never know what those animals might do-”

He was cut off with a choked gasp as Natasha slammed her elbow into his face, and he quickly lost consciousness.

“Just shut up,” she mumbled to herself, knowing he couldn’t hear her.

It didn’t make her feel any better.

———

It was six weeks before the party had been dispatched to get you back.  The party had consisted of Natasha, Yelena, and Wanda, and there was going to be nothing extra. They were going to get you out and get back to SHIELD, no side missions, no stops, no questions.

Maybe it just so happened that the only way to get you was to burn the facility to the ground and get the rest of the mutants out. Maybe they had called for a second quinjet to arrive to make sure everyone was able to get out safely.

Yelena and Wanda were tasked with getting everyone on the jets and eliminating the few soldiers remaining while Natasha had scoured the facility top to bottom to find you. There was a large portion of the basement that Natasha had found, filled with surgical equipment and things that would have been enough to give anyone nightmares.

And you were there, nude, in a too-small empty glass tank with a chain around your ankle. There were rips and tears in the thin membranes between your spines, and a dark black mark on your left shoulder blade. From her angle, it looked like some kind of gunk was stuck in your gills. You were curled up into a fetal position and kept your eyes glued to the ground directly in front of you.

“Y/N,” Natasha said, her gun still drawn but lowered.

“I should thank you, Miss Romanoff,” a voice called, and Natasha spun with gun raised to find a scientist walk forward, standing near a panel by your tank. “You gave me my greatest obsession.”

“How about you just let them out and I don’t kill you,” Natasha shrugged.

“I’ve learned a lot from our little friend,” he continued, ignoring her. “And you’re in time to see the results of something I’ve been working on.”

“Let them go,” Natasha said again. She cocked the gun, but the man laughed.

“I hear drowning is a horrible way to die,” he said, still ignoring her.

Out of the corner of her eye, Natasha saw you raise your head and look at her. The dark spots under your eyes were beyond evident, sticking out against the sickened colour of your skin. There was no emotion in your eyes, not even a silent plea for help.

You looked like you had already accepted death.

“How long do you think a sea creature can hold its breath underwater before it needs to breathe?” He asked, his fingers typing against the panel.

“Don’t,” Natasha shouted, her trigger finger pulling instinctively and burying a bullet into the man’s chest. He was dead before he hit the floor.

Water started filling your tank, and you stood up to get your head as tall as it could get. Natasha nodded at you once, and you covered your head as she fired shot after shot at the tank. But there wasn’t even a dent, nothing to indicate that the tank could be broken.

“What do I do?” Natasha asked as she ran up to the tank, watching the water slowly rise to your ankles.

You didn’t speak, didn’t open your mouth, instead pointing as best you could to a discrete pipe against the opposite wall. Natasha looked at it and followed the direction until she saw a lone wheel connected to the wall. A wheel that could control the water flow.

“Stay here,” Natasha told you as she ran off, grimacing to herself. It wasn’t like you had anywhere to go.

She grabbed the wheel and pulled, but it didn’t budge. It felt like she was trying to pull a quinjet with her bare hands; an impossible task in and of itself. Her eyes trailed over to see the water had reached your waist. There had to be something else she could get, something to help.

The thud of your hands on the glass made her turn, and you were pointing in another direction. Her eyes followed, but there wasn’t anything she could see that would immediately-

A pipe.

Natasha sprinted to grab it from the table, nearly dropping it in her haste to get back to the wheel. The water was up to your neck, and Natasha could already see that your gills weren’t filtering anything. They stayed terribly still, and Natasha had to drag her feet to get back to the wheel.

She stuck the pipe into the empty spaces of the wheel and pulled, yelling in frustration until it finally moved. She continued pulling until she heard the flow of water stop, and a tired smile etched itself onto her lips as she turned back around to see you.

But the water was over your head, and now she was leaving you to drown.

She couldn’t break the glass; the water was off and you were still drowning. Your eyes were wide, and the fear of the situation finally made its way onto your face as you curled in on yourself and started pulling at the chain around your ankle, air bubbles escaping from your nose at a rapid rate.

Natasha got an idea. She didn’t hesitate as she started pushing the pipe, the flow of water rushing back. Only this time, she didn’t stop until the pipes rattled with the flow, barely able to contain the volume inside. She pushed until the pipe stuck, and she turned and ran back to the tank.

Your eyes were closing, the air bubbles almost nonexistent, your struggle against the chain ending. Natasha started banging on the glass, trying to keep you awake, but you didn’t move, instead just floating, and Natasha felt her heart sink.

The glass creaked under her fingers. Natasha’s eyes shot open and she watched the glass, noting the single crack that started to web across the entirety of the tank. She barely had time to step aside as the glass shattered, water shooting out and leaving you to drop to the ground.

When you didn’t move, Natasha jumped forward, dropping to the ground and immediately starting CPR. She could feel a rib break, maybe two, but she didn’t stop. She wasn’t going to stop until you could breathe. You just needed to fucking breathe-

Your body shuddered as you choked, coughing up water before your eyes shot open. Natasha felt herself let out a shaky breath, but she didn’t let herself rest. She grabbed her gun and shot where the chain was connected to the floor, listening to it break before grabbing you and pulling you up.

“You need to lose some weight,” Natasha groaned as you leaned on her side, your feet barely moving.

You didn’t say a word the whole trip out of the facility. Just managed to  drag yourself out, eventually walking more on your own when you neared the quinjet. Yelena ran up to the both of you and got on your other side, sharing a look with Natasha.

“I’ve got it,” Yelena said in a tone that told Natasha to let go and give her some space.

Natasha did, watching as Yelena finished dragging you to the quinjet and putting you in a seat before wrapping a blanket around your naked form. Your eyes fell back to the ground when Yelena finally got the jet in the air, and you refused to look at anyone when you got back to the Tower, leaving Natasha without a second thought.

———

Natasha was sitting at the bar on the common floor, picking apart her food. She had tried to see you multiple times over the past two weeks, only to be turned away by doctors or Yelena. There was something wrong, but Natasha couldn’t find out because no one would let her.

The ding of the elevator had her turning her head, not necessarily eager but casually curious on who had appeared. To her surprise, Yelena walked out with a McDonald’s bag in hand, some drink in the other. She didn’t look happy, but Natasha could’ve expected that.

After all, Yelena hadn’t forgiven her.

“How are they?” Natasha asked.

“Alive, no thanks to you,” Yelena shot back. But she had stopped and was talking back; that was an improvement from the past two weeks.

“I had a mission,” Natasha said, but her voice was small, weak.

“They were part of that mission,” Yelena answered.

“I’m sorry,” Natasha said quietly. She said it to assuage her own guilt. It didn’t work.

“You’re stringing them along,” Yelena said, her voice taking a different tone that Natasha hadn’t been expecting. “Just marry Maria already and end the suffering.”

“I’m not stringing them along,” Natasha defended.

But she knew she was wrong. Yelena was right. And Natasha wasn’t going to stop because what would her life be without you? How could she go about her day-to-day life if she knew you weren’t going to be there in some fashion? Maybe she was in love with Maria and was going to marry her, but that didn’t mean she wanted to throw you away.

“Just be gentle,” Yelena said with a sigh. “Everyone has feelings at stake.”

“And you?” Natasha asked, causing Yelena to freeze. “What feelings do you have at stake?”

A small, sad smile made its way onto her face.

“Desire,” Yelena shrugged, but just like that her demeanour changed. “Y/N said I couldn’t eat before them, and I very much desire this McChicken.”

“You’re disgusting,” Natasha chuckled.

“And this McFlurry. You know the good stuff,” Yelena teased again, causing the both of them to laugh.

“Then go on,” Natasha motioned toward where she assumed you were waiting. “I’d hate for the two of you to starve.”

Yelena gave her a smile, one like the good old days, and continued her walk. She stopped in the doorway and turned around.

“Oh, Fury wanted me to tell you something.” Natasha gave her a look for her to continue. “You and Y/N are going undercover. As a couple.” With that, Yelena continued off, leaving Natasha to deal with the news.

Why couldn’t things ever be easy?

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#natasha romanoff x reader #natasha x reader #black widow x reader #my writing