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beautifulloverwitch · 10 months

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By Fire, Sea and Blood

The untold tale of an approaching collapse

Act I Chapter thirteen: depths

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Summary: Rhaenyra’s outburst had pushed away her eldest daughter, sending her off to wander, an action Daenerys has always claimed she was smart at doing. A curious thought lingered in everyone’s mind at her committal, what stupid thing must she have done that would leave her dead?

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Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Daenerys Velaryon (Strong! Oc)

WC: 5k+

Warnings: Child Violence, Child death, implied death.

Masterlist

Aemond had left the hall seeing that his mother had left a while ago, seemingly distraught, his brother after downing all the wine he could pass through his gullet and entertaining every lord's assumptions was dragged back to his chambers, at his Grandsires command he would venture. And his sister, she had vanished, scurrying off to her chambers mere moments after the committal.

He had heard all of the guesses the nobles had made as they wondered what had become of her. Each one seeming more terrible than the last, but none was worse than the one that Aegon endlessly entertained.

He had said that she had longed to have a dragon and in her attempts to claim one, she was spurned.

Aemond refused to believe such a thing to be true, she was more Valyrian than her brothers and even they had -by some miracle- claimed dragons of their own. And he knows Daenerys, he recalls who she was at least, she was not stupid, she had warned him before of the danger of attempting to claim a dragon such as Vhagar, or any dragon for that matter.

‘No dragon is worth a life.’

He closed his eye as he heard her voice, still remembering their last exchange, the last words she had kindly spoken to him, the last time he had felt the warm embrace of her kindness.

Why did it have to be her?

He stopped in his tracks as he heard the frantic and distressed whispers coming from his sister's room.

He looked inside through the small crack, gasping as he saw her sat beneath the window sill, rocking back and forth as she held her head in her hands. Her fingers digging into her skull.

Aemond burst inside his voice gentle as he called out for his sister “Helaena?”

“This cannot be, this cannot be true,” she muttered, her eyes agape as she stared ahead of herself in terror.

He followed her gaze but saw nothing but an empty floor before him. He again moved closer his hands in front of him as though approaching a frightened animal “Helaena, sister, what is wrong?” he asked, as he slowly knelt beside her.

“The Darkness called, the tides have roared…” she trailed off, shaking her head as she whined out “where is she? How can this be?” she asked no one in particular, her kind and soft face ailed by fear “she can’t be gone, the branch… the branch of red.”

His brows knitted together, realising who she was talking about in between her ramblings.

He moved to rest his hand on her arm but she flinched away “this can’t be, This can’t be!” she wailed, the often melodic sound of her voice torn apart by her sobs and cries.

He pursed his lips, ignoring the stray tear that passed through the jagged scar across his cheek “Helaena… I’m sorry.”

“She will rise thrice more, she will rise and break away, she must, she has to, she needs to,” she muttered quickly, trying to deny what had happened only hours ago.

“Aemond?”

He looked over his shoulder, seeing his uncommonly dishevelled mother, wet patches staining her cheeks, likely the tears she could not wipe away. Her hair a mess down her shoulders, her hands tucked beneath her sleeves as she clasped them in front of her, the once shining star on her chest now seemed dull.

Alicent looked from him to the crying Helaena, her heart breaking all over again beneath the pressure of guilt.

“I tried… I tried to comfort her,” he told his mother, looking over her form worriedly “mother? Are you well?”

“I could not find rest, but I am well now,” she explained with a tight smile on her dry lips, not meeting her red eyes “Get your rest Aemond, I shall look after Helaena.”

Helaena shuddered, curling into herself further as she continued to mumble.

Aemond was reluctant to obey his mother, wanting to stay in case either of them needed him, but he would not disobey.

He gave her a nod, placing a quick kiss to Helaenas forehead and another upon his mothers as he walked her way before leaving for his chambers.

As he locked the door, he thought he would enjoy it, the silence, the sounds of the heavy rain hitting the stone outside. But he could only feel her absence, even greater than ever before.

He had long realised he was fool to think that he could ever forget her. He had missed her, he had missed her so terribly, he should have never had to lose her to gain his dragon. It is because of them that he had lost her that night, and now, forever. He still remembers his excitement afterwards, how eager he was to show her that he had done it, that he had succeeded, and she could as well. Instead, those fools had to make a fuss over the trivial matter and forced her to choose.

He refused to weep, and instead he basked in his loathing for them, streams of tears slipping down his hot cheeks.

Two months ago…

Daenerys stepped out onto the familiar stoney field again, it had been a long time since she had been there. The sky was a hue of reds and purples as the sun began to peer up from beneath the horizon. Fiddling with the hilt of her fathers dagger strapped to her side clumsily with a piece of fabric, On a pleasant day she would have hopped about the chasms of steam, but today her heart was stricken with a dull sorrow and stinging betrayal.

Her mothers words rang uncomfortably within her mind, how hateful her voice had sounded towards father, how angry she was with Daenerys’s sorrow for him.

Daenerys could not control how long this grief had lasted, and how could she? Laenor was her beloved father, no amount of time was enough to grieve him correctly. It had been months but what had happened to him was still so clear in her mind.

Her hands clenched tightly around the dagger as she recalled his screams, halting in her tracks as she shivered in this humid atmosphere.

It had been months and she had yet to move on, why should she just because everyone else had?

‘Mourn all you wish but this grief will not slow me down.’

Daenerys huffed kicking a small stone in her path before lifting the blue skirt of her dress to climb the wall of boulders before her.

What had she expected? Daenerys did not know how to grieve, she did not know how long it should last, but she knew that a few months was not enough.

She slid down the hill of boulders, wincing as she felt the stones dig into her skin.

She supposed slowness was not something to be proud of, slowness leaves one vulnerable, slowness leaves one weak. She frowned as she recalled how slow she was to see the truth behind Aemonds guise, how blind she was to his cruelty, her slowness and foolishness led to her dear brothers and beloved cousins getting hurt. Her slowness had allowed for her fathers murderer to get away.

Her face began to redden with anger and shame, her stubbornness fighting against admitting the truth, that her mother was right.

She gripped the daggers handle tightly, reminding herself there was no excuse to spit on someone's memory.

She lifted her saddened gaze up from the ground, stilling in her tracks as she saw three familiar figures sat behind a boulder that overlooked the dragon caves ahead.

It was Ellis, Baldwin and Alwyn, who were oddly paying no mind to the caves. Ellis glanced over her shoulder and noticed Daenerys standing afar, her lips curled upwards excitedly, rising from the ground catching the boy's attention.

Ellis waved at her “AY! YOU!”

Daenerys tensed as she saw them, it had been a long while since she had last encountered them, she was surprised they still remembered her. She slyly hid her dagger in between the layers of cloth wrapped around her hips, pulling short strands of hair in front of her face, hoping that her dress was dirty enough for them not to suspect anything.

She was surprised by the happy look on Ellis’s face, whose face was often sour. Ellis ushered her towards the overlook “the dragons haven’t come out yet, wait with us!” she invited.

Daenerys pondered the offer, but supposed there was nothing wrong with it, a nice distraction would serve her well, she had missed seeing the free dragons take to the sky without a care to bind them to the world.

She leaned against the rock, missing how the boys seemed to lean down, trying to catch a better glance of her shrouded face.

Mouse shook away his curiosity, his voice unsure and nervous as he asked her “what’s brought you here?”

Daenerys shrugged in answer, trying to buy herself some time to come up with an acceptable answer.

Ellis laid down closely beside her “you’ve been missing quite a while.”

“I was busy, I couldn’t come around,” she answered, trying to seem indifferent to their questions as she stared at the dark caves.

“Doing what?” Mouse continued to pry.

Ellis smirked, gesturing for him to stop “That don’t matter, we’re all here for the dragons, not each other’s business aren’t we…” she grimaced as she searched her mind for a name she had yet to be given “Nameless are you?”

Daenerys quickly answered “Rys.”

Ellis fell silent, seemingly annoyed, a chilling look flashing across her face as she mouthed a quiet ‘are you?’ her eyes skimming over what she could see of Daenerys’s face, but they lingered a moment too long on her shrouded eyes “let’s wait.”

Daenerys slightly frowned at her expression before looking back towards the caves.

Ellis gestured for Mouse to lay down beside her, while Baldwin went to lay closely beside Daenerys, who squirmed at the proximity but would not complain.

“Where’s Lory? And Bertie?” she asked.

Ellis shrugged, a pointed look on her face as she leaned her cheek against her hand, paying no mind to the caves but at the side of Daenerys’s face as she spat “too scared to come.”

Daenerys could feel Ellis’s hot breath brushing her cheek, bowing her head further down as she stared up at the caves from beneath her lashes “they seem to be taking a while,” she pointed out, trying to cut through this unnerving silence.

“Lets busy ourselves while we wait shall we?” Ellis asked, a forced note of jovialness laced within her voice “Us girls, I ‘eard much gossip these past few moons.”

Daenerys’s brows shot up “Gossip?”

Ellis's playfulness seemed to fall away, seemingly outraged. “Gossip is not a privilege that only belongs to them highborns.”

Daenerys turned to look at her, frantically denying “I never said it did.”

Ellis upper lip twitched before turning to look back at the cave again.

Daenerys’s eyes lingered on Ellis’s face, alarmed by the frustration, the anger, and the excitement that wrinkled her freckled face. Warily following her gaze and turning her attention back towards the caves

“Anyhow, let me go on, so… a merchant came from Driftmark months ago, told us of the son of the sea snake's murder, a terrible tragedy,” she told the girl who had already long known about this. A happiness seemed to whelm Ellis as she spoke that news.

‘Serves you well, the gods were bound to make you pay for taking what was mine,’ Ellis thought to herself, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lip.

Daenerys squirmed at the mention, not catching the satisfied smirk sweeping Ellis’s face. Her hand resting upon the bump where her fathers dagger was, stroking it comfortingly, an apology to her father for staying silent.

Mouse chimed in “i ‘eard he had his throat slashed at the festival!”

Baldwin argued loudly from beside Daenerys, shouting in her ear “stupid who ever told ya that,” he chided before giving his own account of events “The father struck him down, I heard he was a man of despicable nature.”

Ellis observed Daenerys again, to her dismay Daenerys had begun to exact restraint upon herself “You know… I heard, he was attacked within the walls of his own home.”

Daenerys tensed as she felt Baldwin press up against her side, grimacing at the smell of his breath.

“That he was forced into a fire,” she told “and when he was found he looked like a burnt pig.”

“How terrible it must have been for his family, to find him like that,” Mouse credulously pointed out, watching Ellis’s every move intently.

“Indeed… can only imagine… his daughter musta been devastated,” Ellis agreed, not a note of sympathy in her voice.

Daenerys froze at the mention.

“Daughter?” Baldwin scoffed, staring giddily at the frightened expression that began to grow on Daenerys’s face “I ‘eard she looked nothin like em, might be a distant relative,'' he laughed “a worlds distance.”

They all laughed while Daenerys remained quiet, tears beginning to swell within her eyes. Her shaking hand rested upon the handle of her fathers dagger, her lips twisting in shame, she could do nothing but listen to them insult him.

Ellis gestured for them to be quiet, inching closer towards Daenerys, her hot breath burning the flustered skin of Daenerys’s cheek “poor girl… I wish you had visited…” Daenerys refused to look her way “I would have given my condolence, and my shoulder for your pretty purple eyes to cry on…”

Daenerys’s eyes went wide, quickly moving to step away from them all, but she was too slow.

Ellis’s hand wrapped around her locks of hair, her grip tight around the strands. She tugged her head back revealing to them all the treasure Daenerys so desperately tried to keep hidden “Daenerys!”

Daenerys squealed in shock of the action, feeling Baldwin's hands tightly grasp her shoulder and arm as she began to thrash, trying to twist away from Ellis’s tight grasp.

Unbeknownst to her, in the midst of her frantic struggle, her hand had grasped the handle of her dagger and pulled it from its makeshift sheath, pushing its sharp blade across the nape of Baldwin's neck and cheek.

The brutish boy choked on a cry of pain, throwing her to the ground behind him as he reached to clasp at his neck, blood spurting from between his clasped fingers.

Daenerys looked on in horror, his blood splattered across her face and bleeding into her blue dress. She had not realised it was she that had done this, even though the blood was still warm against the cold steel of the dagger in her hand. Scraping her white knuckles against the scratchy ground as she scrambled back.

Alwyn cried out in horror as he saw his brother trying to catch the spurts of blood beginning to shoot out from in between his fingers “BALDWIN!”

Ellis was in disbelief of the sight, she looked away from Baldwin and towards the startled Daenerys.

Her anger boiled beneath her skin as her vision went red “YOU BASTARD!”

She tackled Daenerys to the ground, straddling her hips as she tried to keep her down, trapping Daenerys’s armed hand beneath her knee “MOUSE, GET OVER HERE! HELP ME!” her left hand curled tightly around Daenerys’s neck.

Alwyn was too busy trying to help his brother, cutting off a strip of cloth from his shirt and holding it to the pale boy's lacerated neck. He was petrified into silence, too focused on stopping the bleeding to notice his brother's eyes beginning to blankly stare up at the red sky, succumbing to the calmness that began to wrap snugly around him.

Daenerys’s free hand clawed at the one gripping her neck, fighting to pull it away, whimpering as she saw the wild look in the girl's eyes.

Ellis was mad with rage, nobles had cost her the life of her father and now they have taken the life of her friend.

She had grown sick of Daenerys’s feeble struggling, muttering to herself as she tried to keep her restrained “I’ve waited for this too long- GAH! STOP FIGHTING!” striking her across the face with a her balled fist.

The panicked Daenerys screamed in pain, fighting the daze as she began using her legs, feebly trying to pull them out from beneath Ellis.

She did not know what to do first, wasting her energy doing everything she could to get away. Her throat went raw as she cried out for help, whimpering and sobbing as Ellis began slamming her against the ground.

Dark spots began to grow across her vision, frightened when she began to lose sight of Ellis and what she was going to do next. She kept thrashing and clawing, doing everything she could to bore this predator and be set free, but Ellis had long had a hunger that had yet to be sated.

She winced as she felt her muscles begin to burn at every movement, she found herself struggling to battle with the exhaustion that began to settle upon her limbs, Her right hand going numb beneath Ellis’s knee.

Daenerys shook her head pleading to the girl above her “Please let me go, Please!” she tried to wriggle away only to be pulled back by the frustrated Ellis.

Ellis slammed her down one more time, needing her body to go limp, but her mind awake. She wanted Daenerys awake for everything she was about to do, reaching behind her as she patted her side, blindly searching for something, for she was too busy relishing in the terror within the poor girl's eyes.

Daenerys’s squinting eyes tried to see what she was reaching for. Whimpering as she saw the glinting flash of a knife.

Her hand tightened around her fathers dagger, desperately screaming “GET OFF!” As both of her knees beat against Ellis’s back. Ellis grunted as she was pushed forward, her knee sliding off Daenerys’s hand as she moved to try and pin down her legs “ALWYN!” she frustratedly cried out to him, frowning as she saw him try to haul his limp brother towards the village.

Daenerys was still trapped in the fear that shrouded her furiously beating heart but her mind had recognised her heart's efforts and was swift in its decision. She pulled her right arm from the ground and reared it up behind her before lodging her dagger into Ellis’s shoulder.

Ellis cried out, falling back, startled by the weapon protruding from her shoulder.

Daenerys heaved in a deep breath as she regained her freedom, crawling back away as she watched on in disbelief of her own actions as Ellis tried to drag out the knife painlessly, mumbling curses.

Her gaze flitted over towards the crying Alwyn, clutching his brother to his chest as he tried to drag him away, her eyes meeting Baldwins empty ones. Sniffling as she shook her head, thinking to herself that she could not have done this. Even though the coppery taste of his blood touching her tongue as she wiped her face with the back of her hand said otherwise.

She scrambled to her feet and ran the opposite direction, to her terrible misfortune, her feet had guided her towards the dragon caves.

Ellis dragged the knife out of her shoulder, a loud groan of frustration and annoyance passing her thin lips as her teeth shined bare out into the world, like a wolf flashing its teeth menacingly, a promise to its prey.

The sobbing Alwyn had failed to realise that his brother had already passed on, hooking his arms beneath Baldwins limp ones, attempting to drag him back “Ellis help me!” he cried out.

Ellis was staring at Daenerys as she ran, her breaths laboured with her hot anger, her hand tightly wrapped around the new dagger in her hand.

“Let ‘er go! She's dead anyway!” he told, pointing to the dragon caves Daenerys ran into.

Ellis did not see the danger, she only saw opportunity, she could trap Daenerys inside and have her way. A chance to have her wishes finally come to fruition were enough for her to chase after Daenerys into the dark caves “GET BACK HERE CRAVEN! FACE YOUR DOING! PAY FOR IT! PAY FOR WHAT YOU’VE TAKEN, WHAT YOU’VE DONE, BASTARD! DAENERYS!”

Daenerys flinched as she heard her roars echo out, nearly tripping over her own feet. Her eyes searching the illuminated walls, hoping that there would be somewhere to hide, to wait this out. She could not possibly go further in, for she knew such an action would not end well for her.

Her mind was so clouded by the will to survive, that she had not bothered to observe the insides of the caves. Had she been able to stop and truly take it all in, she would have noticed the scratch marks on the cave's ceiling, and how the stones that protruded from the ground, looked oddly similar to bones.

“BASTARD!” Ellis’s voice boomed into the cave again.

Daenerys began to choke loudly on the sobs that hit the back of her throat ‘shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!’ she told herself ‘This is all your fault, why did you leave, why did you go?’

Daenerys forced that thought away, she had not the time to think of culpability she needed to survive.

‘All because of a fight over a father that’s not even yours, Bastard.’

She could hear a hundred voices speak those words, none of them her own, had she focused just enough she could make out who each of them had belonged to.

She thought it was the dizziness beginning to catch up with her, the fuelling fear slowly seeping away, no longer numbing the pulsing ache radiating from the back of her head.

Her eyes went wide as she entered a large cavernous area within the cave system, looking up at the various holes above, bright streams of the sun's warm morning light seeping through them. A dark mound covered jagged rocks and moss deep within its centre.

She winced as she felt the rough texture of the ground, frowning at the warmth that seeped through her ruined flats. As she stepped forward she tensed upon hearing something crack beneath her foot.

Looking down her eyes went agape, bones old and new were scattered across the ground, all of various shapes and sizes. They had not belonged to animals, nor had she imagined them belonging to humans, no… they looked far too similar to the dragon diagrams and skulls she had seen within the red keep.

These were dragon bones. As her eyes followed the trail of them she saw how they surrounded the dark mound at the centre, shuddering as she saw it rumble and shake.

She was in the cannibals home, welcoming herself into his territory.

Echos of shouts began to dance about the cavernous area, irking the sleeping dragon making him stir and groan in his sleep.

She had imagined him to be so much bigger but he seemed so frail, she supposed it was difficult to sate a hunger of such unique appetite.

She moved closely about the walls, eyes plastered to the ground as she minded her step, a new burst of fear beginning to course within her.

“BASTARD! COME! OUT! CEASE YOUR HIDING, THERE’S NO CASTLE TO KEEP YOU SAFE! FACE ME!”

Daenerys snapped to glance towards the tunnel she had come in from before looking at the stirring Cannibal, his snout dancing about as a familiar scent passed through its canals.

Daenerys began to move swiftly ‘don’t slow down, do not dare slow down.’

She stepped about the bones, accidentally kicking some as she moved towards another tunnel.

“DAENERYS! WHAT ARE YOU WITHOUT YOUR GUARDS, CRAVEN?!”

Her voice grew louder, for she had grown much closer.

The Cannibal had enough of this, groaning as he arose, dust and rock crumbling down from the ceiling as the foundations of the cave shook beneath his feet as he rested them on the ground. His green eyes were bright against his dark as coal skin, his mouth fell agape as he yawned revealing an array of yellowing and old teeth. He attempted to shake away the itching moss that had attached itself to his old skin, the shrivelled skin of his gullet swaying side to side as he moved.

Daenerys’s lips parted in disbelief of the sight before her.

The familiar fresh coppery scent of blood reached the cannibals senses, stilling its movements as he scanned his surroundings.

Daenerys knelt down behind a dragon's skull, whimpering fearfully as she heard his grumbles.

She slid down against the skull, realising how terrible a predicament she was in, which was all the fault of her foolishness again.

Mayhaps she could wait, mayhaps she could wait and flee when the right chance had offered itself. She had the patience to wait.

Soft, squeaking croaks caught her attention, interrupting her as she planned for a means of survival. The soft sound came from her left, crawling over to that side she peered to see the source, her eyes widening with worry as she saw a baby dragon, its small pink wing trapped beneath a cage of ribs.

It had curled into itself, hiding its small face as it whined beneath its free wing, awaiting its terrible fate.

Daenerys rested back behind the skull, closing her eyes as she heard him stir again, his wings encompassing the ceiling, covering the sources of light filtering through.

As the light within the cavern dimmed a stupid thought began to brew within Daenerys’s mind, for all she could hear now were the fearful whines of the poor dragon.

The sound had not escaped the Cannibals ears, his eyes darted about his surroundings as he searched, salivating as he waited for his hunger to finally be sated.

The cave was now dim enough, and Daenerys was sure he would not be able to see her. Despite every reasonable bit of her being telling her not to, she bolted from the ground towards the small dragon, falling to her knees beside it.

The dragon lifted its wing up from its head, a croak of surprise coming from the back of its throat as it jumped back, trying its best to squeak out a roar at Daenerys as she moved to lift the array of ribs from its wing.

She hushed the little beast, quietly pleading for it to be quiet as she tried to help.

It frantically tried to pull itself away from her, whining in embarrassment as it saw how pointless it's roars were.

She groaned, finally managing to lift and push away the bones from its wings.

The little dragon was surprised by the action, flapping its now freed but injured wing in the air before looking up at her curiously, Its ocean blue eyes meeting her lilac ones.

She tilted her head at the little dragon, her brows shooting up in surprise as it reflected her action.

The little dragon was soon overwhelmed by terror, her ocean blue eyes going wide as she glanced up at the shadow behind Daenerys before scurrying away into the small cave behind it, one not big enough for the cannibal to follow.

Daenerys gasped as she saw a shadow begin to grow from a figure above her, streams of light returning to the cavernous chamber. Slowly turning around to face the old beast behind her.

Her mouth fell ajar as she looked up, greeted by the sharp scowl that danced along the Cannibals mouth.

He was furious with her, she had entered his home, disturbed his slumber, and sent his meal scurrying away.

Daenerys gulped as she stared up at him, shrinking beneath his glowing green gaze cutting through its shadowed form. The light behind him frames him like a god of death, judging the worth of his victim.

As she heard him growl and huff at her a warning plume of smoke came through his snout she lifted her hand up “Lykiri Zaldrīzes!” she tried to assure.

The cannibal tilted his head at her, recognising those words, but seemingly enraged upon hearing them.

“Lykiri…” she repeated again in a shuddered mutter as she took cautious steps back as she saw his head rise above her

From the corners of his mouth, wisps of his green flame of legend danced about, an action he had assumed Daenerys would not have noticed… but she had.

She rushed back, quickly sliding into the small steep cave the little dragon had gone into, narrowly missing the flames that licked at the stone and passed through the tunnel.

As she slid down into its depths, she shielded her face as shards of sand and gravel scratched against her skin, tearing apart the heavy skirt of her dress.

The Cannibal roared out, trying all he could to shove his massive head into the small hole, biting and clawing at it. His actions did not serve to aid him but instead they had caused a cave in, large rocks coming down within the cave.

He grunted and growled, furious by the ease of their evading him. His attention was quickly again for a whiff of blood and lots of it hit his snout, the smell was faint before but now, it was so much stronger.

As he turned to find the source of the strong scent his eyes narrowed as he saw a girl holding to her chest a dagger as she looked up at the beast, gone was the fury in her eyes and instead all that existed was fear.

The ancient beast saw no child before him, he only saw a meal, big enough to sate him for the time being. As she bolted the opposite direction, rushing to leave the cave, both he and his flames were hot on her tracks.

Daenerys, whose eyes were screwed shut as she slid further down into the caves, waited for a sharp impact, only for the ground to disappear from beneath her as she fell down. As her eyes came open in shock, she gasped as she saw pools of glowing water.

She choked on the water that slipped past her lips, Her legs flailing, quickly moving to swim to the surface. Heaving in a deep breath as she looked at her surroundings.

The sound of crumbling alerted her and she glanced above her, her eyes widening as the glow of the water illuminated the approaching rocks.

She swam across the pool as swiftly as she could, panting as she narrowly avoided the downpour of stones. A wave arose from the disturbance to the normally calm waters, pushing Daenerys across the pool and upon solid stone.

She winced as the raw skin of her cheek scratched against the rough stone, shuddering as the cold latched onto her wet skin. She was spent, she had not even the strength to pull her legs out from the cold water.

She battled sleep's fuzzy embrace as her eyes began to flutter shut, for her mind still buzzed with a thousand thoughts.

Sleep had assured that she would not feel the dull pain pulsing from her muscles and the red marks blooming upon the skin of her cheek and neck, and no doubt her back as well. Sleep assured her that she would need not worry about the thoughts gnawing away at the edges of her mind, it’s distant voice urging her to succumb to a deserved rest.

Taglist: @takemetotheweirdness @grungegrrrl @paininmyasgard @deadunicorn159

#hotd #a song of ice and fire #aemond fanfiction #aemond targaryen #aemond x oc #rhaenyra targaryen #aemond targaryen x reader #alicent hightower #house of the dragon #helaena targaryen

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bobbyseyesmile · 2 years

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Pride and Passion | 3

Chapter 3

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Three weeks.

You had counted the days and made a small scratch in the wall for every day that had passed. For three weeks no one, not even a single person, had spoken a word to you.

You were sure that this was Negan’s work and he probably instructed all of his people not to interact with you. After a week you had stopped leaving your room, Dwight brought you three meals a day and left without speaking a single word.

At first it was fine; you could be alone and Negan ignored you but after a week you imagined voices that clearly weren’t there. It was his voice.

A small knock signalized your food was there. You opened the door and stared and the plate on the floor: Chicken breast, peas and a dinner roll. The food at the Sanctuary was far better than in Alexandria. Back there you only had meat if Daryl went out hunting and would be successful- other than that there was canned goods. Most of all canned beans or fruits. It wasn’t the best but it was a source of energy and that was the only thing that mattered.

A few days ago, you heard Negan walking past your room, talking about visiting Alexandria to collect whatever they could’ve found. It worried you a lot. There wasn’t many places you hadn’t already searched; their possibilities were small to find goods for Negan that would satisfy him.

“If I’d be still alive, we would never be in this situation.”

“Shut up, you aren’t real…” you hissed to the voice inside your head.

Since his death he hadn’t ‘visited’ you that often, mostly in your dreams or on sleepless nights when you thought about that one fateful night. You had no choice. You had to kill him. But some days, like today, you heard him loud and clearly like he was standing right next to you.

He wasn’t. He was six feet under and would never come back. Since his death a lot changed, you changed. A lighthearted, naïve and playful teenager turned into a serious grown-up who barely remembered what happiness felt like.

18 years old when you kissed for the first time, 19 when you had sex in the forest and 20 when you blew his brain out. It was your first kill ever, beside walkers, and your last one ever since.

When your dad found his corpse and started sobbing you stood beside him, a hand on his shoulder, supporting him through his grieving process. You supported your mother who had a secret affair with him when she still believed her husband had died.

You were there for everyone who loved Shane, even though he was impulsive and stubborn, comforting them while you carried the weight of his death on your shoulders.

You never grieved openly for him. When the group buried him and everyone said some nice last words you just stood there, unable to form a sentence. Your dad gave you a hug, telling you how sorry he was. After the funeral you went in the forest for a walk and puked. You didn’t cry. Not once.

“Y/N! Open up, please.” You got up from your bed and opened the door, not sure if you were imagining it or not. Negan’s right hand, Simon, stood in front of you and gave you a polite smile. “Hi there. It’s your lucky day! Negan wants to see you and I brought a small present too.”

He handed over a simple black box with your name on it. You carefully opened it and realized that it was a dress and some high heels. That can’t be good… “What do I do with this?” you asked, obviously confused.

“You wear it.” Simon answered and looked down on his watch. “You get five minutes.” He closed the door for you and started tapping with his shoes against the floor.

The dress was way too short and tight, the shoes too high. You gave it your best shot but never walked in things like that, stumbling around while Simon supported and held your arm till you finally reached Negan’s bedroom. Simon knocked twice and you heard the approval to come in.

“My god, you look absolutely fucking fantastic, darling!” Negan’s smile widened when his eyes wandered from your body upwards your flustered face. “Don’t be shy doll, or did ya miss me in those three weeks?”

You rolled with our eyes and suddenly noticed another figure in the corner of your eye. Your head turned and stopped at a blonde woman, clothed in the same dress and shoes as you, but her face looked down as if she was staring at her feet.

“Ah, you noticed my beautiful angel?” Negan asked and brushed her long blonde hair back. “Don’t be fucking shy, babygirl, say hello to your new best friend.”

Amber’s eyes met yours and she gave you a quiet "Hello" and a small smile before she looked down again. “What the fuck are you doing with her? Why is she so scared?” The question lingered in your head since you entered the room but you realized that you had spoken it out loud. In front of Negan.

“My my…” Negan casually moved towards your persona and stopped a few inches in front of your face. “Calm the fuck down. I told ya that I hate violence towards women, so why the fuck would I hit my beautiful angel right there?”

“It was you who told me that punishment isn’t always physical.” You didn’t know where all the courage came from to speak to Negan like that, because Amber and Simon were also listening, but you had enough already.

This man wasn’t a god, even if he acted like one. He was just a stupid cult leader. In those three weeks of isolation, you may start losing your mind, hearing your dead boyfriend and talking to yourself, but you never forgot all the things you already went through. In order not to be scared of Negan you remembered the worst thing that you ever witnessed: Terminus.

Nothing was scarier than a bunch of crazy cannibals, trying to kill and eat your dad and friends, trying to rape the women so they would make them new babies and then kill the mothers. You had witnessed it. You would have been one of those women. If it wouldn’t have been for Carol and her brave intervention. So, screw Negan and his cult. Screw all the big bad wolves out there, trying to intimidate your group. You would take them all down.

“Good girl.” Negan whispered and then showed his signature smile. “Today’s a big day for ya, you gonna move, darling. Amber here will escort ya and show ya where all my beautiful wives reside.”

“Wives?” you blurted out. “Plural?” Negan didn’t answer, he just started laughing when Amber grabbed your hand and dragged you out of the room.

Taglist: @toxic-ink @jaywinchestersalvatore @crosshajr

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kuugetsu · 8 months

Text

@suzukiblu

Part 3 of my unnamed au

Tim warned him that being on this new earth might make him forget the previous world. Wally fought daily to remember how things used to be. And even had forgotten his own children. So on his first night on this new earth. He went to the nearest store and grabbed some art supplies.

Kyle Rayner had taught him how in what felt like eons ago. And even though his schooling had always been chaotic. He had kept up the habit.

Clark couldn’t even draw a circle. So he had always been pretty proud of this one skill he had over him.

So on his first night back on earth he drew the face of everyone he had ever cared about.

Because he was one of lucky ones who managed to claw his way back.

He remembered and he was not allowed to forget.

He drew Ma and Pa first. The duo sitting on a porch holding hands. The embodiment of unconditional love like he remembered.

He drew Chris next. The child and the adult. A hero in both form with Mon-El beside him. He didn’t know how the future would work. But he hoped he had made it.

The Supergirls were next, Linda, Mae and Cir-El flying through the night sky.

Then came his fellow members of Young Justice. He did a group shot of the entire team of Young Justice back at the Mountain. Anita, Greta were gone and Slobo had been replaced with a daughter named Crush. But in this picture they were here where they belonged.

He did another for his fellow Titans as well. Aquagirl, Kid Devil, Kid Eternity, Static, the numbers of missing titans felt endless. But still he drew.

Even Match got a sketch.

He wrote notes on the back of each of them to make sure he never forgot his relationship to any of them.

Littering the apartment with heroes that no longer were.

The next day he looked up the others that were alive.

And that somehow managed to be so much harder.

He found her first.

Tana. Younger than one he remembered. This one looked barely out of high school. But alive and thriving as a intern at a news station in Hawaii.

Whatever they had been…most days it was too hard to describe. But she had been his first love that much was clear. Killed out of revenge and given a second chance. Who was he to ever darken her door again?

Roxy had become a influencer with her dad as her manager. Her face slapped on billboards. She seemed happy.

Lori was one of the hardest to find. His cousin was the one flower that blossomed from the dirt of the Luthor name. Lex had buried her existence deep. It took Tim to finally track her down to some to exclusive boarding school in Sweden as a full time student. Compared to the girl who lived for her mom in Smallville. She hadn’t seen any of her relatives in years. Not that he could blame her. This Lena Luthor didn’t seem to fall far from the tree.

But she was safe.

And that’s all that mattered.

He drew all of them too. Because even if they were alive and even if they didn’t remember him, he could not forget.

Their ghosts could not stop haunting him.

He wouldn’t let it.

#superboy #conner kent #kon-el

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moonmeg · 2 years

Note

Caleb is ever going to find out who the culprit was?

"It's six or seven years in the past. I- I'm over it.", Caleb wiped away the tears forming in his eyes, quietly adding a "more or less." to his previous statement.

Catherine jumped up from the dinner table to embrace her husband. Sitting down on his laps she wrapped her arms around him and held his head to her bosom.

"Over it? You're everything but over it!", she said slowly stroking through his hair.

"I- I don't know why I'm so emotional about it I- I thought I was over it.", Caleb tried to laugh over the sudden tears in his eyes. The topic of Elizabeth and her death was one he thought similar to his parents: something he can talk about without crying. That he was wrong about this surprised him. Why was this still so painful to him?

He let out a sob, his head falling more into his wife's bosom. His arms firmly hugged her, holding her close to him.

With his beloved wife on his laps, her heartbeat under his ear, her head resting on his and her long nails brushing through his hair, he was quick to catch himself again. He took a deep breath to calm down and wiped the last tears from his eyes once again.

Catherine, while silently allowing Caleb to let our all the pain he seemingly held in for so long first, took a checking look at Caleb once he seemed to have let it out.

"Have you ever talked about this to anyone?", she asked quietly.

"No one mourns an alleged witch. And me being hurt by her death and openly showing so? The people of my home village wouldn't have liked that."

"Oh for Titan's-", Catherine pulled her head and chest away to catch Caleb's eyes better, "do the people of your home village hate everything? Every time you tell me something about earth and how you grew up it's one terrible story after the other!".

The calm in her voice changed for a mixture of a frustrated and indignant tone. She was always interested in the stories her father told her about this mysterious human realm that was always mumbled about between the people and towns with it's curiosities as a child. Whatever Caleb told her about it though now, this human realm turned more and more into a place she would never want to set a foot into.

"Why do you think I wanted to escape it so badly...".

Caleb blankly stared at the dining table before him, remembering his life on earth himself. Remembering how much he went through, how cold the people were, how much of his dark thoughts and feelings he had to bury and keep hidden from everyone, how so often he not only prayed for things to turn better but also to be delivered from his misery permanently.

"I'm sorry for your loss.", he heard his wife tell him in a quiet, pitying voice.

"Just one of many", he thought and stayed silent. Just one of many he lived through.

"She wasn't a witch, was she?"

"No."

He already was certain six years ago Betty was never a witch and was torn from life as someone falsely accused. But now, he knew she couldn't have been one. Witches ears are pointy au contraire to humans' round ones.

Betty had round ears.

Innocent. She was innocent.

"And you have not even a clue who might be responsible for it?", Catherine asked confused. From what she knew the village her husband grew up in was rather small - everyone knew each other - and gossips and rumors spread around like a fire.

"Nobody knew. Not even Philip. And he usually always knew or had an idea. But not this time.", he replied frustrated.

Catherine's heart skipped a beat upon the mention of Philip. A dark idea started to form in her mind. An idea she was hesitant to reveal to Caleb. She knew he cared for Philip, no matter how much Caleb was hurt by him.

But as much as she wanted to keep him safe and protect him, it felt wrong to keep this possible truth from him. Honesty was important to both of them in this relationship and marriage.

She took the courage to slowly address her idea.

"Say, sweetheart... I hate to go this direction but... did Philip know about the marriage suggestion she made you?", she asked carefully, knowing well that if she accuses Philip of this now, it would pierce through his heart and cause more pain than he already feels regarding his brother.

"Yes. Yes, of course he did.", Caleb let out a small chuckle of confusion. He lived with his brother and shared almost everything that was on his mind with him. Obviously he would tell him about Betty's unofficial proposal.

"Let me guess: he did not like it?"

"Well, he wasn't happy about it, he never liked it when I wasn't giving him my full attention or had other people around me but I told him right away that I refused her for now!", he replied not understanding what Catherine was trying to do here. Until he finally looked at her face and saw her concerned look, suddenly realizing what she was implying.

"You don't think that-", he furrowed his brows and lightly shook his head with a whispery "No..."

"No, no, no, he-he wouldn't-", the denying head shake intensified and the whisper got louder with every "no".

He softly pushed Catherine away to stand up from the chair. It couldn't be. As much as he loved Catherine, this simply couldn't be.

"I'm afraid he would. And without second thought.", Catherine tried to pull Caleb out of his naivety towards his brother. She could imagine how Elizabeth was treated by Philip perfectly. She could imagine all the ways Philip tried to keep Caleb away from her. She could imagine it all perfectly due to own experience.

Caleb stood there with his back to her, his hand covering his mouth, his eyes staring at the floor thoughtfully. Nothing could put in words what was going on in his mind now. Of course he knew how Philip reacted whenever there was someone between the brothers but surely this is a method that goes too far, even for Philip. For his little brother he so deeply loved.

"Kitty- I- I know you don't like him but accusing him of this now?"

"Caleb, dear, think about it!", Catherine walked up to him and turned on her foot to face her husband again once she was at his side. She looked up to him, trying to get his eye contact.

"He treats you like he owns you! He doesn't want you to be with anyone else other than him! Think of how he acted whenever he saw you with me! She was getting too close to you in his eyes and so he...", she paused trying to find a phrasing not too painful.

There was no way to put it lightly she quickly noticed.

"...he had to get rid of her."

Caleb shut his eyes in pain upon hearing that and turned his face away from his wife. He refused to believe this.

Catherine looked at him with worry. She tried to take his hand to give him comfort like she always did. Like she's done so many times before.

"Stop.", he jerked his hand away and stepped back from her, widening the gap between them. He didn't want her to hold his hand now. He didn't want her to be around him now. No matter how much sense this theory she presented made and how much a small part of his inner voice knew Catherine probably was right, he didn't want it to be right. Even just possibly be right.

"I... I'm sorry, I... need to be alone now.", he said and walked out of the drawing room without giving Catherine just a glance. Even pushing Flapjack off his shoulder before exiting, leaving the little cardinal confused.

She stood there, her eyes following him until he was out of sight. She stood there as if out of stone. Not moving an inch. Flapjack and Opal chirped and curred worriedly, trying to get Catherine's attention. But it was like she didn't hear.

If only she hadn't been curious about his past.

If only she wouldn't have told him the possibility of Philip being the responsible person for this innocent woman dying.

#tdaac #tdaac moonmeg #caline megpeggs #toh #the owl house #caleb x catherine #catherine clawthorne #catherine megpeggs #caleb wittebane #caleb clawthorne #philip wittebane #flapjack toh #toh oc #the owl house oc

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mermaidsirennikita · 6 months

Note

So I saw your tags about how the Ravenel series is a bit mid, and I don't disagree despite liking some of them a lot? Marrying Winterborne was my first intro to Kleypas, and it fucks real hard, I love it. I have a soft spot for Chasing Cassandra because I enjoyed Tom in previous showings, and I found their dynamic compelling.

But I didn't even finish Ethan's book because I couldn't be arsed, and I bought West's and wished I hadn't I was so incapable of getting into it. Anyway, this is all to say that you're not wrong, and are in fact generally right.

(In positive news tho, re: Marrying Winterborne, never gonna be over the scene where she agrees to fuck him and then after she's in the bath and he's like "I'm changing her agreement" before realizing "Oh shit, I've made this woman panic, fuck shit". Anyway, have a great day.)

"you are not wrong, and are in fact generally right" I sincerely love this lol, it sounds like something I would say to a friend of mine

Marrying Winterborne DOES fuck so hard, and I think that because of this, the series in general gets a strong rep than maybe it should...? Because in terms of popularity, I think Rhys is absolutely up there with some of Lisa's top heroes--people like me who prefer her older books love him, people who prefer the Ravenels adore him (generally). I don't think I've met a Kleypas fan who doesn't love that book, though I'm SURE some don't. And you do really need to read Cold-Hearted Rake for the background of MW (the first time I tried to read MW I did it without CHR and was like "this fuck is this"). I wonder if this is why CHR gets so much flack? Even though, and I will die on this hill, it's PROBABLY better than Devil in Spring and definitely better than Devil's Daughter and Hello Stranger? (I really need to give Chasing Cassandra another fair shot because I remember very little of it; I think the one-two punch of Hello Stranger and Devil's Daughter, two of my least favorite Kleypas books, made me very burned out when I read it.)

Ethan's book was very disappointing to me because I actually was very excited about Garrett as a heroine beforehand. And I do.... wonder if Kleypas changed plans, the way she famously did with Scandal in Spring. Because there's a scene in... MW I think? Where Garrett and Tom have like, an arm wrestling moment, that makes me wonder if the original plan was Garrett/Tom. Again, I need to reread Chasing Cassandra to really experience THAT pairing again--but I do think Garrett/Tom would've been more interesting than Garrett/Ethan.

I mean, HS was also fucked from the jump because it had that really racist "Ethan got his sexual education from an exotic Indian woman" thing, which shocked people into calling Kleypas out, and I think triggered the Great Kleypas Editing Hackjob. Which, by the way--it does speak to how much name and expectation matters, because while what Kleypas wrote into that book is absolutely awful and unacceptable, I feel like it's portrayed as this shameful anomaly when I can think of at least one smaller name (but still notable) author who wrote a historical with a MUCH worse depiction of India around the same time. Which doesn't excuse what Kleypas did, I just dislike the idea that Kleypas was the only one doing that in the 2010s, when that's faaar from true. Historicals still haven't figured that out, and sometimes I think the recaps of how the Hello Stranger issue was handled read very "look Patrick, we saved the city" because the biggest name got dogged into apologizing/editing. Either way, Hello Stranger is mid without that content and it's gross with it, so I usually put it at the bottom of my rankings. Either way, it ain't up to par and I can't judge it fairly in its edited form at this point.

Devil's Daughter is just Not Good. And I will take my lashings from everyone who loves that book, because everyone loves Kleypas soyboy West Ravenel, and I just have to say--do these people like THE BOOK? Do they like PHOEBE? Because everything I see is all about West West West and even if I was into West, which I Am Not, I feel like there has to be more to a book that's being upheld as one of her recent bests than "I love him". Sorry, the plot of DD is boring at best and lame at worst. Phoebe hates West because he was her dead husband's childhood bully, and I do mean childhood? And sorry to Phoebe's dead husband, but he's dead and fictional and I never met him and I don't care. And West is a less interesting Leo Hathaway. He stopped drinking and realized booze was giving him the dad bod, so he's hot now (my kingdom for a dad bod historical hero). And now he's boring because he's not a rake anymore and has responsibilities, but like? He just sounds like a fuckboy before his redemption lmao. Like a bit of a wastrel. Leo Hathaway was out there crying in a public sphere and giving great advice to Kev Merripen like "if you don't get with my sister, one day you're gonna wake up covered in tears and your own come and realize you have nothing but regrets" to which Kev goes ".... is that what.... you do...?" Leo Hathaway readily admitted to waking up on the regular covered in tears and semen. That's a true wreck.

And Leo is in itself the softer Kleypas hero type--other "redemption" heroes are like, Sebastian, who kidnapped his wife's best friend and threatened to rape her! Derek Craven, who was born in a drainpipe and fucked for money for years (not that this is anything to feel bad about, but he does) and owns a degenerate gambling hell lol. John McKenna, who comes to find his childhood sweetheart with the explicit intention of like, filling her belly with his fetid seed and siring a bastard on her so that she'll be humiliated forever I cannot. Why would I be impressed with West going "I was kind of a loser tbh" YOU ARE FINE. THIS IS BORING. GIVE ME ANOTHER THING TO CARE ABOUT.

But yes, I love that scene in MW so much. To me, a lot of MW's charm is that Rhys severely does not know how to talk to women, or romance them in a tender way (him fucking shit up with Helen with the flower situation is hilarious sorry). And he also does get legit douchey with Kathleen, lol. He very much gets a little threatening and is all "SO YOU WANTED A BIT O' ROUGH" and Devon has to do a mild Westcliff moment. Kleypas heroes: always mad when their best friends get sexually aggressive with their women, always ready to forgive after like a week.

#romance novel blogging #anyway if you love the ravenels or any of the books i hate this is not a moral or intellectual judgment of you on the srs #i love so many books people hate #i enjoyed devil in disguise (and i also totally get why people dislike it lol)#i think what frustrates me is that the ravenels is often pinned as the Unproblematic Kleypas Series and like #... no first off that's not true it arguably had some of the most problematic content she's written on a racial level #which i personally find a lot harder to read than derek craven almost strangling a woman who threatened to like #SA and murder his wife #(altho i know there are several bigger implication issues to that whole thing that i think are much more problematic than character actions #but bc people think 'older historicals = bad books bad problematic'#they assume the ravenels is better #and i'm here to say the writing and plot content is a lot less interesting and a lot less daring

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crescentsteel · 2 years

Text

Keeping a Secret - Part 17

pairing: Tsukishima x f!manager of Sendai Frogs genre: fluff, crack, slow burn, sexual tension, angst, smut wc: 8.7k

a/n: doing my best to not apologize for taking 84 years before updating

Part 16 || masterlist

You don’t want to look like a stalker but you can’t go in. The familiar sound of the ball hitting the gymnasium floor is making you question yourself if visiting the Sendai Frogs is something you should be doing.

You left without a word to anyone.

Are you ready to look back at what you once abandoned? You can just text Coach Mira to meet up and ask what you want to know. That would be less awkward for everybody, right?

You sigh and shake your head. What has seriously gotten into you? You know better that no one is allowed to barge in during training, not even friends. You’re the one who set that rule, which you passed down to Shiro before you’ve gone.

Yes, you were the previous manager, but now you’re just a stranger. You didn’t maintain any kind of congenial relationship with anyone when you left so you can't even call them friends, which is truly unfortunate because you liked everyone. It was a solid team for you, not just as a Volleyball team but as .. people.

But that’s how it is. You couldn’t have both at the time. It doesn’t feel right to want to reconnect with them just because things are already better for you. It’s selfish and aside from that, a part of you is scared to face them again. The last dinner you had with them was full of smiles and laughter. You left with that last setting in your memory because that’s how you wanted to remember them.

You’d be devastated if even one member glances at you with disappointment or betrayal.

With that, you decide to take a step back - one, two, three steps back and more until the sound of the ball hitting the gymnasium floor dulls and their voices hush down.

“Y/n?”

You flick your eyes up and see a familiar freckled person and a cute blondie stop on their tracks. You remember Yamaguchi, alright. You’ve met him twice and the first time you did, you already coined him as Tsukishima’s best friend, probably because he had no other friends.

That is until you met the small blondie at the graduation party. That’s when you figured he has one more actual, legitimate friend. What was her name again? And more importantly, did you have to come across them again? You usually don’t mind small talk and a little chatter but not right now. You prefer to be by yourself.

But at the same time, you don’t want to be rude. Contrary to Tsukishima, they were nice and pleasant to be around with.

“Hey, Yams,” you dispel the clouds of gloom in your head then smile at them both.

Yamaguchi brightens up, an encouraged smile forming his lips when he hears the nickname. “You still remember!” He exclaims delightedly, which makes your smile more genuine because he looks truly glad that you still know him. And by saying his nickname out loud, the name of his companion springs up because they have the same first and last syllable in their names.

“Of course, I do.” You state confidently then turn to the cutie next to him. “Nice to see you too, Yachi.” She flinches and seems surprised when you call her name.

“H-hi.” She lets out a deep breath as if she’s calming herself down, then her features relax to a more neutral one before returning your smile.

“It’s nice to see you too.”

“Are you the manager again?”

There’s something about Yamaguchi’s question that seems off to you. Has he been visiting since you left? You can’t imagine Tsukishima telling him about you leaving. The middle blocker is not the babbling type.

It’s not just that, he’s all too eager about it. He’s not a member of the team. Why should it matter that much to him if you were the manager again or not?

“Um. No. I was just passing by actually.” It was only half a lie because you really did just pass by even though your original intent was more than that.

“Oh.” His smile dwindles a little and even with just that reaction, you can tell what he’s thinking.

What a shame.

“I see.” The mood is suddenly stale and the pleasantries become tense and forced. It’s as if the both of you are on pins and needles to say something but no one utters a word because even you don’t know what you want to say.

If it isn’t for Yachi who breaks the silence, you’d have a hard time making an exit from the awkward quietness.

“We’re going to watch training. Maybe you want to come with us.”

You’re definitely taken out of your silent trance from her invitation. Watch training? Since when was that allowed?

“But it’s prohibited to watch.”

The confusion in Yachi’s features were obvious and yours is probably just as evident. Yamaguchi squeezes her shoulder then intercedes. “It’s allowed now. Each player is given two visitor passes per season,” he explains kindly for you. “But since you’re the previous manager, I’m sure they’d be glad to have you visit without any passes,” he adds too eagerly and defensively.

Your lips form an ‘oh’ but no sound comes out, barely comprehending what he said next after he announced that it’s okay to watch now during training hours.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Changes are inevitable. When you became the manager, you implemented some too so this shouldn’t be a shock.

It’s simple, really. They’re no longer the same team you once managed. Just as your life was unfolding without them, so were they.

You bow down and shake your head with a forbearing smile before looking at them again. “That sounds wonderful,” you comment sincerely. If Coach agrees to it, then it must be okay. Having friends and family over to watch can be a morale boost so you understand the rationale behind it.

“Well, it’s great to bump into you guys. I should get going now.” The next phrase gets stuck in your tongue as you reconsider if it’s a good idea or not. You decide on the latter. You wanted to add, ‘Say hi to the team for me.’ But that will be confusing for everyone. You can’t be gone then suddenly say hi through Yamaguchi who’s not even on the team.

He nods while Yachi waves as they bid their cordial byes. You tip your coffee up again to your lips as you wave back, hiding the unpleasant smile lingering in the corners of your mouth at how things came to be.

They walk past you and and you walk past them, not one of your worries resolved nor soothed.

—

“We met Y/n yesterday.”

Tsukishima conceals his slight surprise from Yamaguchi’s statement. You were just with him yesterday. How can you have met with Yamaguchi when his friend and Yachi went to the gymnasium right after the conference?

He hasn’t told Yamaguchi yet that you two have seen each other again. What he told his friend is that he’s applying for another position in the museum but he didn’t reveal the details of it, which heavily involves collaborating with you. He omitted you from the details. He didn’t want to talk about you because Yamaguchi knows.

His childhood friend was there when he was distraught from your sudden leaving. Yamaguchi and Akiteru were the people who witnessed him in his tacit desolation and for him, that’s a big audience already. And since you’ve invaded his life again, he’d prefer them not knowing. His pride has already been tarnished enough.

He doesn’t want them to figure out that he’s still hopelessly longing for you.

“We thought she was back as the manager,” Yamaguchi adds as his visitor leans back against the wall of his room, sitting across him on the floor.

“Why would she be back? She’s the one who wanted to leave in the first place?” Tsukishima counters with ease while organizing the folders on his upper shelf.

Yamaguchi nods, choosing not to comment on how Tsukki is not at all surprised that you appeared once again. When it happened, his best friend didn’t say anything to him right away. He knew something was going on. Tsukki has always been quiet, but he was never absent. But months ago, he and Yachi noticed that Tsukki would be at dinner with them and yet he’s not there. His eyes are somewhere far away - absent from them.

Of course, Tsukki didn’t tell him anything. He only noticed it.

For many nights, when he had invited Tsukki for dinner or lunch on weekends, his friend declined. He thought Tsukki was just busy. But one night, Tsukki responded to his text with, ‘I had dinner with y/n already.’

Yamaguchi knew instantly. You held a very special place in his best friend’s heart.

That was Tsukki’s way of letting him know that he was spending time with you and even though Tsukki claimed to not like you, Yamaguchi figured that there had been certain twists in your relationship that completely reversed his friend’s not so nice perspective of you.

Just by letting him know that you were with Tsukki, it told him everything he needed to know. “People who leave can still want to come back,” Yamaguchi insinuates, remembering how lost you looked when he came across you yesterday. You looked like you wanted to be there but didn't want to at the same time. It was sad to see because during the times he met you, you’re always so sure of yourself.

“Not her,” Tsukishima firmly counters.

Yamaguchi could only deduce that things did not go well and that it’s been left that way. It’s troubling to watch his friend struggle because Tsukki is not the kind of person to do that. Tsukki always looks collected and even if he’s not, he always knows how to resolve whatever’s riddling him.

Tsukki can’t seem to do that with you. Yamaguchi thinks that maybe if you two talk it out, it will help Tsukki to finally put it to rest. Or possibly, if the both of you still want to, continue what you had.

“She looked like she wanted to visit,” Yamaguchi nudges further to encourage his friend in the most unobtrusive way possible.

Tsukki doesn’t respond anymore and just sits down on his chair after reorganizing his shelf. He gets a box of strawberry Pocky that he took from the kitchen before going up then leans down the chair facing Yamaguchi. Tsukki crosses his arms as he settles a stick at the corner of his mouth.

“So.. have you told Yachi yet?”

Silence falls as Yamaguchi’s thoughts of Tsukki’s current dilemma are bulldozied away by Tsukki’s question. “I– uh.. Told her what?” He stutters disgracefully as he tries to act unfazed by the question.

Just as Tsukki hasn’t been saying anything about you, he hasn’t been exactly forthcoming about his budding feelings for the other blonde in their circle.

And it’s not because he’s ashamed of her or anything! It’s just that he doesn’t want things to be weird when the three of them come together. At the moment, he can still be himself and act normal when he meets her but he’s not so sure it’ll be the same when Tsukki finds out and joins them, knowing full well of his endearment towards Yachi.

“What are y-you talking about?” He gives off a broken laugh then gets his phone to look as if he’s checking something.

“I’m talking about you staring at Yachi for far too long.”

Tsukishima noticed it before already. Anyone has to be blind not to notice it when spending time with them. He doesn’t know why Yamaguchi won’t spit it out already. It’s obvious that Yachi likes his freckled friend back. Although, it is a little problematic because Yachi doesn’t seem to realize that she has feelings for Yamaguchi either.

It’s a pain to look at, honestly. Yamaguchi can easily fix it by telling her but no, Tsukishima has the unfortunate chance to watch the pair cluelessly pin for each other. And it’s even more unfortunate that Yamaguchi thinks that he doesn’t know.

His friend is a blushing mess on the floor attempting to look unaffected but does the exact opposite.

“You should tell her already.”

If he can’t end up with the person he wants to be with, at least someone in this room will. Then, maybe, love wouldn’t be as pathetic as he thinks it is.

—-

Tsukishima leads you past the restricted area and you can’t help but feel a little excited. You’re actually gathering data now after weeks of planning and scheduling. You’ve established the structure of the research so you’ve moved now to collecting information to fill the gaps.

The construction of the park is obviously still underway but that’s the magic of the tour. It’s fascinating to be informed on the behind the scenes of the museum’s upcoming extension of its living exhibit. The site is truly unique because it’s the only one with a fully functional ecosystem that’s different from the rest of the city.

You kinda feel like you’re being taken to a very exclusive tour. Well, technically, you are. But for a second, you want to pretend like you’re a guest, not a researcher on our job.

However, Tsukishima only lets you relish the excitement for only a second because he begins talking nonstop like a robot on duty. You can’t even get a single syllable in.

“Wait, wait, wait. Can you slow down and let me observe first?”

You roll your eyes exasperatedly as you lift your notepad out for the questions you have. Even his strides are faster than usual, which is putting you off because you don’t want to rush anything.

“Do you have something to do?” You know it’s beyond his working hours but you two have settled on this schedule so you’re a bit befuddled why he’s in a haste.

“Are we on a time limit or something?” That would make sense because the trip is beyond regular offices’ working hours but the two of you just started and he’s going off like he has a script memorized.

Because there’s just the two of you, you hear the little sigh he lets out.

“Yeah. Go ahead,” he simply says then stops talking.

You frown then take a few steps forward so you’re facing him. He’s acting odd and you’d prefer to know why. “You didn’t answer me, Tsukishima.”

With the place starting to dim, it's hard to make out his features clearly. Nevertheless, you see his eyes flick back to you from wherever he was looking at.

“I don’t have anything to do. We are not on a time limit either. But won’t you rather get this done before it’s completely dark?”

Your jaw goes a little slack at his unbelievable question for it’s a stupid one coming from Tsukishima. The sun has already set and there are only remnants of its light in the sky. If you two try to get this done before dark, then he might as well stop the tour and lead you back to the museum offices.

“Unless you now transform into some hideous monster at night, no. What are you talking about?” Your dry sarcasm is mixed with irritation as you ask. This tour is vital, basically one of the main content of your output and he wants to rush it? Because it’s going to be dark?

“We scheduled it deliberately at this time so why are you acting all weird?”

“Nothing,” he doesn’t get fazed and continues walking as if he wasn’t acting strange. But you don’t question it anymore since he slows down his steps and gives you the time to observe first, take photos, and ask questions.

Tsukishima doesn’t really care that it’s dark already. It’s just that the private tour makes him restless. It is making him reminisce all those nights alone with you, which it shouldn’t. The present is a completely different situation from the past but back then, the times you spent solely with each other often occurred after the sun had set.

That’s why he immediately went on and discussed the upcoming plans for the expansion of the museum. That way, there’s less silence and there won’t be much space in his head for thoughts of your evening walks to resurface.

Obviously, you hated his monologue, which he understands. He usually hates talking and doing tours. That’s why he’s applying for another job role in the first place. But ironically, he’d prefer if he was doing the talking this time so his thoughts are not occupied by you.

He keeps his sigh to himself. If he was in your shoes, he would’ve reacted much worse. He knows that he really is acting odd and it’s annoying even to himself. Can he get a fucking grip already?

He’s just thankful that you’ve read the material he gave you in advance. If you haven’t read it, your questions wouldn’t be as substantive as they are. They also do the job of bringing his thoughts back to the museum expansion and the conference paper, where it should’ve been right from the start.

“I noticed last time that there were insects and several frog species by the pond. I didn't see anything about animals in the material you gave me. Are they introduced by the museum? Will you be adding more?”

“No. We don’t introduce any animal species in the forest. The butterflies and the cicadas came on their own. We usually leave them be as they contribute to the overall health of the forest. Except for the frogs. Our staff monitors them because they tend to be invasive.”

You nod several times, not glancing up from your notes as you scribble his answers.

He notices that you’re holding it up too close to your face, eyes squinted hard. Have you been doing so for a while now? He hasn’t been looking at you this whole time so he takes notice of it only now. There are not many lights in the area so he figures you’re having trouble seeing what you’re writing.

He gets his pocket flashlight and calibrates it to high intensity before hovering it over your notebook. Then, you stop writing and straighten your back. You turn and tilt your head up to look at him, your features brightening up as your eyes twinkling with sincere appreciation accompanied with the smallest, prettiest smile.

“Thanks, Tsukki.”

He feels the dithering flutters in his stomach and if you didn’t look back on your notepad, you would’ve seen how taken aback he is from the mere mention of how you used to call him.

You little witch.

How can you have this effect on him without even trying? While you’re busy taking down notes, you’re completely oblivious to the enticing mayhem you’ve caused in him. Your trifling nuances that mean nothing to you, means everything to him.

In this dark park where there’s only the two of you, you’re making him think that you’ll still come back to him - that you still feel the same way you once did.

He loathes the feeling, this useless and destructive pipe dream. He’s been tirelessly trying to crush it and there you are, easily reviving it.

“I think we can go to the pond now,” you state and walk ahead as if to remind him otherwise.

You pause as you must have realized that he isn’t walking with you. You turn around and speak a little louder so he can hear from where he is. “You okay?”

He’s befuddled and consumed with rampant emotions you stirred just now, but he’s left with no choice but to deal with them at the same time he’s dealing with you - a nettling ordeal he can’t wait to get rid of.

Without saying anything, he catches up to you and leads the way. Since you stopped taking notes, he keeps his flashlight again.

“Are you getting tired?”

You’re a bit concerned because he suddenly got totally quiet, as opposed to his nonstop, scripted rambling earlier. You’ve practically dragged him to all corners of the forest under renovation and based on Tsukishima’s previous tour with your class, you know this is not his cup of tea. Maybe he’s exhausted.

“I’m fine,” he mumbles as he continues walking.

“Let’s just look at the pond then we can head back.” You’re getting a little tired too since you came from your own job. However, you want everything covered tonight so you’ll tread on for just a little longer.

As Tsukishima leads the way, he slows his steps down. And you can understand why - there aren’t light posts to where you two are heading. He takes his handy flashlight again and points it forward to illuminate your path.

“Be careful,” he says mindfully. “The pond is the least developed here so—“

His next words are incomprehensible to your ears as you slip on your heel. Your fingers clutch the air as you try to grab whatever you can so you don't fall on your butt.

“Ah!”

You feel a certain sense of relief when you feel a hand grab your wrist. But instead of getting pulled up, his weight topples forward and only makes you fall faster as he goes down with you.

When Tsukishima hears the telling scuffle of mud and your succinct yelp, he figures out what happened instantly. Fuck, he was just telling you to be careful. He grits his teeth and turns as fast as he can to prevent the accident about to take place, but because of the slippery ground, he falls victim to it as well, speeding it up even.

In the split second of the fall, his mind goes through a hundred things - the most concerning of them all are the pond liners set up across it.

It’s too dark to see so he’s worried that a stunted post might blunt any part of your body. He only has two hands to protect you so he covers the back of your head and your upper back while his arm shields your spine.

He’s never been more grateful for his reflex because his worries are founded when he feels the pole blunt his arm as you two descend down the water. His elbow supports the fall of your back, preventing the both of you from immersing deeper. He’s certain that more than half of your body is soaked since you’re beneath him, while he managed to keep his whole torso dry.

Just as he wraps his arms around you, you do the same. Your rear touches the wet soil as half of your body becomes submerged in water, the cold liquid seeping in your clothes and tickling your skin uncomfortably.

Even though you’re aware that you’ve reached the bottom of the pond already, you refuse to let go of Tsukishima. You tighten your hold on him, your palms flat against his back as you snuggle your cheek against his neck.

“Will you fucking let go already?” You hear him hiss on your ear.

“Wait,” you whisper as you carefully slide your hand across his back until you deem it safe. You slowly flip your hand up from Tsukishima's back, then you run your shaking thumb across the notepad you firmly plastered on his back as you two feel.

The pads of your fingers feel the coarseness of your notes, telling you that you saved it. You squint your eyes and adjust your sight to darkness to check if your notepad is dry despite the splash. There are spots that have liquid blotches but they’re not that bad.

Joyed with relief, you ease your hold on Tsukishima then slowly pull back so you can look at him. His features are hard to make out with what very little light you have. But even though you can’t see much of his profile, you really don’t care. You smile blithely at him and murmur.

“You are amazing.”

If it weren’t for him catching you, the whole night would’ve been wasted and you would’ve gone home soaking wet with no notes.

Bless his attempt to pull you up a while ago. You would’ve thrown your notepad away just so it doesn’t get wet, but it could’ve still ended up in the water.

His ridiculous height and broad back was a great platform. You couldn’t be more grateful.

Meanwhile, Tsukishima has no words from how predictably unpredictable you reacted towards the current situation.

The less than five minute exchange from the fall until when you pull away only to plainly tell him that he’s amazing - is a journey he didn't expect nor ask for.

Really? Your notes? That’s your concern? You two are literally soaked, submerged in water in a dark park with him on top of you and arms around you.

And your first thought is your fucking notes?

His facial muscles feel odd from whatever face he’s making. Is he frowning or grimacing from how unfathomable your response is? He can’t tell.

“Are you serious?”

Your awe doesn’t shrink as you nod repeatedly. “Very.”

You grin then let go of him, straightening your back as you clutch your notepad on your chest. You sit the fuck down then take a good look of the pond like his knee isn’t between your legs, like everything’s perfectly normal!

He watches with nothing but absolute incredulity as you survey the pond while he remains appalled in place. Few minutes later, you tilt your gaze back to him and simper.

“You can get off me now.”

He feels a throb in his temple and he seriously hopes he didn’t pop a vein off from how you’ve successfully maddened him.

He blows out an infuriated groan as he pulls himself up, his weight increased from the amount of water absorbed by his coat and pants. As he looks at you, still sitting down, surrounded by water, he thinks how he’s an idiot for looking out for you. He should’ve just let you fall.

No, not really.

He doesn’t mean that. He’s just irked at how unfittingly indifferent you are with what just happened.

“I’m heading back,” he says sternly as he drags his soaked shoes and coat which is becoming more burdensome each passing minute.

“Hey, wait!” Water splashes as you stand up and catch up to him. You feel very uncomfortable with how drenched you are but you focus on the bright side which is that you got everything you needed tonight. Things will proceed as is with no need to reschedule.

Your drenched blazer is heavy so you remove it and let your bare arms as is.

With muddy soles, you speed spatter your way to reach Tsukishima’s side. You know that you probably pissed him off by how you acted but it wasn’t intentional. You were there already at the pond. You’re never gonna get another chance to inspect it from that perspective, so you had to.

But yeah, you did get a little cheeky when you saw him still in the water with you.

You clear your throat and look straight ahead because you know he won’t like it when you stare at him.

“My bad,” you apologize vaguely because you’re sure everything you just did merits you his annoyance and at this point, he’s probably just one sass away from snapping.

He doesn’t respond and just keeps walking. You let him take his time to dissipate his silent fury then text Kuroo if he can fetch you. You can’t use the bus as you are and you don’t want to get sour looks from cab drivers for getting on the backseat dripping wet. You just hope he wasn’t suddenly called to report in Shibuya where his main office is.

You reach the main trail of the forest, light finally gracing you and Tsukishima again. That’s when you see that you’re not just wet, you’re filthy too. Your coat is heavy not just from water but also from dirt. And it’s not just you, Tsukishima is the same. “Tsukishima?” He still doesn’t respond and you’d let him be but you have something important to ask. “Uhh.. Might you possibly have a towel in your office?” You’ve accepted that you’re going to go home in your current state but you don’t want to completely soak the car seat.

He keeps his silence as he goes and you’re already getting antsy. It’s fine if he doesn’t have one. There’s nothing you can do about that. But you’d like to know because if he doesn’t have anything that can help alleviate your wet and dirty situation, you’ll ask Kuroo to get at least a towel for you.

You’re about to tug his sleeve and force him to talk to you, but your hand stops mid-air when you see the silhouette of his shoulders start to quiver.

You haven’t noticed because you two have been brisk walking on the way back, but it is cold. It’s November and it’s chilly at this time of the year. During university days and training, Tsukisima would often come in clothes thicker than most. Even when you two walked together way back, he’s always wearing snug clothes.

It's the same tonight. He’s wearing a coat on top of his long-sleeved turtle neck, but instead of helping him be warm, it’s probably now just worsening the cold of the breeze

You weren’t really feeling bad before, but now you are. The chill is still bearable for you but that’s obviously not the case for the blonde docent.

Guilty as hell, you rush to his side and wrap your arms around him. You lock your hands so you’re hugging him completely, his arms trapped as you force him inside your warm embrace. “Let’s walk like this,” you say with conviction with your cheek squished against his arm.

You don’t see it but Tsukishima is stupefied. The shiver that courses through him is not from the November air.

He’s been ignoring you and focused all his energy into convincing himself that it’s not really cold. He was walking in long and quick strides so he’ll reach the inside of the museum and be appeased by the room temperature that will be warm enough for him.

He was doing so well and you had to startle him by throwing yourself at him.

Incredibly stupid. Even if he’s terribly shivering, the museum is just a walk away. He’s not in any imminent threat from the cold. You don’t have to press your warmth against him. It feels physically comforting but it’s a complete conflict to the havoc it’s ensuing in his head.

It’s crystal clear that you no longer have any shred of amorous inkling towards him since you can act this freely with him. But that’s not the case for him. He wasn’t friends with you even when you’re on the same team, so for him, acting as such after what had happened between the two of you, is not right.

You already have a boyfriend - a good one at that. If your boundaries are loose, his are not. For him, this isn’t proper. It doesn’t matter how innocent or generous your intention may be.

“Can you let go?” He utters lowly but is heard in the stillness of that chilly autumn night.

You shake your head, your squished cheek brushing his arm. “You’re cold.”

“I’d rather be cold than be hugged by you.” As if his own body is mocking him, he shivers from the blow of wind that hit him.

You sigh and pull away, but not completely, only enough to tilt your chin up and look at him. “You can say whatever you want but we’re walking like this until we get inside.”

He knows that look - eyes narrowed with overt defiance as you meet his gaze. He knows you won’t budge no matter what. He’d have to physically push you away.

He grits his teeth because he can’t do that. He can’t shove you. He can’t hurt you like that especially when you’re only looking out for him.

“Fine,” he mutters with palpable irritation as he purposely walks faster, hoping to shake you off somehow.

It doesn’t work, of course. You keep up with ease and don't loosen your hold on him, not even a bit. And he hates to admit it, but despite the soaked clothes, your sweet warmth is seeping in.

“There you go,” you coo then lean your cheek on his arm again.

He’s no longer shaking like he was so you smile to yourself. He can tell you off to his heart’s content later when he’s all warm.

When you reach the museum, you slowly let go until you think his body has settled with the room temperature in the building.

No words exchanged from the both of you, you two treaded back to his office with fast strides.

Back in his cubicle, he opens his personal cabinet then throws a towel to your face. “There you go,” he says, obviously mocking you from a while ago. It wasn’t really an unusual gesture from him but you still let out a muffled “Ow.”

When you take the towel off your face, your fingers grasp another piece of fabric.

It’s a white polo shirt. You look at him who’s currently removing his coat then ask, “Uhh. Are you letting me borrow this?”

He puts his dirty coat in a paper bag then turns to you with a neutral expression. “Leave it if you don’t want it.”

You grin with delight because you won’t be going home with a wet top. You’re sure Kuroo has some shirt, probably used because he’s disgusting like that, at the back of his car. Still, you’d take a dry shirt to change into if it’s offered to you.

“I’ll return it next time.”

“As you should.”

The salty comment doesn’t throw you off as it is classic Tsukishima behavior. Still pleased with the dry shirt he gave, you turn for the restroom just outside their office.

When you get there, the first thing you notice is the quiet. It’s quite distinct from your workplace where at eight in the evening, people are still there. Professors, assistants, and students will still be in the building until ten. Your office, at this time, is still lively.

The museum, however, is already deserted. You hear faint cars from outside but the inside of it is practically dead.

Kinda creepy.

You don’t bother getting into one of the stalls. You hastily change into Tsukishima’s beige polo and don’t look at the mirror. You don’t get spooked easily. You watch horror movies as your idea of fun at times. However, knowing that you and Tsukishima are the only souls in that building, you start getting unnerved.

You’re certain that when you look in the mirror, there’s just you there. There’s no shadow lurking behind you nor a hand that is grabbing your shoulder. There’s definitely none of those.

Goddamnit. Out of all the kinds of clothing Tsukishima has, it had to be a polo which seems new because the button slots are still tight.

You take a deep breath and calm yourself. You’re fine. You just have to quickly tuck the buttons and …..and fuck it. Nope. You can’t stay there anymore.

You go for the handle of the bathroom door and semi-run back to the staff’s office while you continue clasping the buttons of Tsukishima’s polo. ‘Don’t run. Don’t run,’ you scold yourself while pacing your legs so that you’re not going at a speed that can be considered running.

There might be cameras around and you don’t want to look like a museum thief when someone reviews it in the morning.

You might not have daddy long legs like Tsukishima or Kuroo has but you sure can brisk walk for your life when neeed.

And after what seemed like an eternity, there you are, back to Tsukishima’s cubicle. He’s already changed as well into a new shirt which makes you wonder why he gave you a polo instead of that shirt that you only have to pull over your head. You’re not an ungrateful bitch though so you just let it be.

You greet him with a strained smile to make it seem like you’re not panting, but the trenchant arch of his brow tells you that you look suspicious as hell.

“Why were you running?”

“Iwasn’trunning.” You blurt out too fast that you wheeze right after, then smile again.

His eyes narrow at you for a few seconds then look away and begin cleaning up his desk. “Where’s your shirt?”

Your shirt. You scrunch your eyes close then inhale a hefty amount of air to prepare yourself for what comes next for you.

You pinch his sleeve by his elbow then tug the corners of your lips to firm a forced smile that shows your teeth.

“Can you come with me to the girls’ restroom?” You widen your graceless grin. “Please.”

“Huh?!” He snaps his gaze to you with a vicious glare that makes you flinch and wipes off your pretentious smile.

Oh, shit. You’ve really done it this time. He’s not just pissed. He is ostensibly furious.

“I’m sorry! Your building spooks me!” You cry out in admission then add, “I was creeped out that I bolted and forgot my shirt.”

“How is this building fucking scary? You’ve been here before.” The crease is his forehead is intense and his voice is audibly louder.

“It’s only the two of us here!”

His furrowed brows ease up as and his intolerant eyes tone down a bit as he must have realized the same thing only now. That’s the only extent of his sympathy though as he drags his palm across his face and sighs.

“Stay here. I’ll get your damned shirt,” he instructs with a clenched jaw as he moves to head out. You don’t want to further aggravate him but you can’t stay there! If he goes alone, you’ll be alone in that office too.

So as soon as he steps out of his cubicle, you follow quietly in the hopes that he’ll let you go with him.

You see him glance back sharply at you, a clear indicative that he is not in any way pleased that you’re tailing him.

“I’ll shut the fuck up now! Just please please please don’t leave me here.” You whisper aggressively to show your conviction that you’ll behave from there on.

You hear the click of his tongue but veer his gaze forward again and ultimately pretend you’re not there as you walk closely behind him. You manage to dissuade yourself not to grab onto him because you know that you’re already treading on the very edge of his patience which you’ve effectively reduced to a thinness of a thread.

You also just look at his back and not the dim corners of the museum so you don’t creep yourself out more than you already have.

When he enters the girls’ restroom, of course you follow with no hesitation. Being left in that big space of an area would be worse than staying in their empty office.

You don’t have to look around for your shirt because there it is on the sink, right where you left it before you escaped from the eeriness of the bathroom. You go past him and grab it. “Got it!” You turn around and wave the dirty shirt at him whose arms are crossed, watching you with a bored expression.

“Great,” he says dryly then untangles his crossed arms.

Before he puts his arms down, something in his hand catches you attention. His knuckles have specks of red, definitely a bruise on the onset of forming.

Where did he get that? That wasn’t there before you two went to the park. You’ve noticed it only now because he hasn’t faced you directly upfront since you both came back.

The only cause you can think of is when you pulled him to your fall, something marred his hand.

You put down your insignificant shirt then go and grip his arm to inspect his hand. You feel his resistance but you stiffen your grasp on his arm. You carefully roll his sleeve up to see the severity of the graze.

He absolutely cannot be injured, not on his hand nor his arm. What if the team has an upcoming match? He cannot be anything less than a hundred percent.

As you check the scrape, a familiar sprinkle of guilt begins to resurface - a familiar ugly twinge that you resent so much.

You despise that a part of your concern is ultimately not for his well-being, but for yours. You don't want to feel responsible for any injury again. Anything remotely close to that hideous guilt you had before, you don’t want any of it again.

As you expose his bare arm, you see the light gash from his knuckles to the base of his forearm. It’s not profusely bleeding but it’s also not just a simple gash. If not treated with cold compress, the bruise will be much worse.

You gently press your thumb against his palm then latch your digits on the side of his forearm which isn’t chafed.

You slowly push his palm backwards. “Does your wrist hurt?” You ask then tilt your head up to check for any signs of discomfort but when you meet his gaze, you go rigid.

His features are masked in languor as his eyes are glazed with cold fury that makes the hairs on your skin prickle uncomfortably. He’s not just pissed. He is seething with anger that you haven’t seen before.

For the first time, you’re scared of Tsukishima.

The crevice of his lips curl up to a twisted smile that causes you to drop his hands and take one step back, your worries crushed by the crawling fear on your spine.

“Oh?” His brow cocks up in complete mockery, straightening his back and towering over you as he easily covers the little step you took backwards. “So now you let go.”

Your heart is pounding painfully against your chest as he looks down on you and lightly tugs the first pair of buttons of the polo you’re wearing. His thumbs graze the skin of your chest which rings all sorts of alarms for danger in your head.

It’s getting difficult to breathe with his eyes dropping down where his hands are. And when he starts unbuttoning the first pair, you know you have to put a stop to whatever he's doing. “Tsukki,” you call out with a trembling voice. “This is-”

His eyes flick back sharply on your face which knocks the words off your tongue from how grave his stare is. “What?”

You’re screaming in your head. You know this is no longer appropriate but you can’t move nor can you say anything with your breath stuck in your throat. Apart from the pervasive trepidation, there’s something else that’s bothering you and you hate it.

You hate the familiarity of his touch and how it brings back memories of you two in his bed.

Tsukishima hates it just as much. He hates that you pushed him to this. Since you came back and slapped him with the agonizing reality that you will no longer be his, he has done nothing but tolerate you.

All your annoying but also endearing quirks, the way you dangled them too closely in front of him for only to watch and never touch - he tolerated them all.

This one, he won’t.

The whole night it’s as if you’ve been testing both his patience and his resolve. He cannot believe you had no problems being that close to him in the pond. He held you in his arms and it meant absolutely nothing for you. Then after, you threw yourself at him as if you two didn’t share an illicit past that involves more than that. So what if he’s cold? He wasn’t dying.

To exacerbate things for him, that wet shirt of yours hugged your curves sinfully and the only thing he was thankful for is that it wasn’t white. He thought the Gods had shown him some mercy for that.

He couldn’t be more relieved when you finally got out of his sight but it just got a lot worse when you came back. Your hair was disheveled even more so than it already was, your face was pale, and you’re wearing his very own polo. To top it all off, it’s buttoned completely wrong that he can see the ample bosoms in your chest.

His patience was wearing thin as a strand and the only thing keeping him in check is the look of terror in your face when you came back in his cubicle. You were truly scared and you admitted it. Despite your stubborn cheekiness, he knew that you were trying your best not to get on his nerves any further.

You kept your word that you’ll shut the fuck up as you followed him, so he was appeased somehow. He counted his steps in his head and treaded fast because he couldn’t wait for you to get out of his sight already.

He needed to calm himself down and he can only do that after you leave.

And then it happened, that last flick that completely snapped his self-restraint. You touched him. You had to fucking touch him.

It wasn’t only that. It was the sudden switch you had from relief to that painstaking concern he did not need nor ask from you. The reminder of the past you two shared was too great to ignore.

There’s a limit to the punishment he deserves and you crossed that limit.

He unfastens the disorderly buttons slowly, taking his time as he observes the red tint coloring your pale face each button he loosens.

He can feel blood rushing below his belt when he sees the red fabric of your bra, clasp at the front, taunting him to unfasten not just the buttons.

You still look as delectable as he envisions you to be and his fingers ached to meander away to recall once more how great your flesh felt under his palm.

When he loosens the last button, he stops for a second and asks, “I know you’re stupid sometimes but you can’t even wear a simple polo on your own?”

Your eyes widen as you seem to realize why he was unbuttoning your top. You snatch the hem of each side of it and cover yourself quickly.

“I can!” Your voice is defiant but your eyes are brimming with embarrassment.

He lowers his back and extends his arms on both of your sides, effectively cornering you as he settles his palms on the cold sink.

“Show me.”

You are in no way obligated to follow Tsukishima. You know this and yet, your hands are moving to close the buttons he unclasped. You want to do it fast but your fingers are trembling from how nervous and ashamed you are. You focus your attention on the buttons so you don’t mess up and also to distract yourself from how close he is.

Each button you finish, you feel him leaning in even closer until his breath fans your cheek. You fasten the last button but your hands stay on the seams of the polo as you look up at him in bewilderment. What a mistake that was.

Your lips are almost touching his. One tiny move from either of you and a forbidden kiss will take place.

But that isn’t what makes it a mistake. As you meet his eyes and see the trickles of longing there, you finally pin down what’s making you nervous. The embarrassment you can easily justify, but there was no need to be nervous. This is just Tsukishima.

Yet, as you hold his gaze, you realize that you’re scared because a tiny part of you still feels something for him - yearning, bitterness. Whatever it might be, you’re terrified of it. You don’t want to feel something for Tsukishima other than camaraderie.

You actually had hopes that maybe, despite what you two had in the past, you can become friends. That would have been ideal because that would mean that you made amends with your prior mistakes already. What’s not ideal is standing frozen beneath his keen gaze fixated on you. You let out a shaky breath as you place your palms on his chest to push him away. However, you have no strength and what you give him is only a slight nudge.

He gets your wrists, his slim fingers wrapping around each of them as he whispers, “You should push me away harder, y/n.”

As if that isn’t what you are trying to do.

“Especially for someone,” he pauses as he narrows his eyes, disappointment tainting the longing in his gaze.

“..who has a boyfriend.” He puts your wrists down then takes a step back, his eyes no longer glistening with want but with contempt instead.

Kuroo’s grin comes to your mind instantly, a sucker punch to your gut that knocks out your egregious thoughts. How could you think of such things when you have someone like Kuroo?

You bow your head in shame then with one hand tug together the open collar of the polo while the other grips your soaked clothes. You want to remove Tsukishima’s clothes on you but the need to get out of there is much greater.

So you escape.

Without a word, you dash towards the door and leave. Your strides pick up swiftly until you’re running. You quickly get your stuff from his cubicle then rush towards the door.

The ghosts you made up in your head are no longer present, only ghosts of the pasts that you’ve successfully buried up until now. In that empty museum where there’s only you and him, Tsukishima is the most terrifying thing there is.

—

Tsukishima watches the door fling close and doesn’t do anything to go after you. It was his every intention for you to run and leave.

He walks towards the sink then opens the faucet. He lets water run over his wounded hand and lathers it with soap. Once he deems it clean enough, he removes his glasses. He leans down the sink to wash his face, the water cooling his head effectively.

He was standing too close to a boundary that must never be crossed. He’d be a liar if he’d say that he wasn’t tempted to. How can he not be when you were being so pliant in his arms?

When you met his stare, you looked equally confused and scared. He was almost convinced that you were just as enthralled as he was. It made the temptation even more inviting. All he had to do was lean in and he could have a taste of you - something he’s been craving, fantasized about even.

His nickname leaving your lips while looking like you did fanned the flame of the temptation for him. What he’d give to hear you say it over and over again while he pins you beneath him.

But he’s not a fool.

Even if you were unhesitant and willing, which you weren’t, he still wouldn’t. He will never touch something he’s not allowed to. He has degraded himself too low already. He cannot tarnish his dignity any further than he already had.

What he simply wanted was to make you uncomfortable as you did with him. It was childish revenge but stronger boundaries needed to be established between you two.

After tonight, you’ll think twice about treating him like any other person you know. Because he’s not. He’s not an old friend and is not trying to be one at present. After tonight, you’ll stay at a safe distance away from him.

You shouldn’t be too concerned about him. He can take care of himself. He doesn’t need you to act like you still care about him, both as a person and as an athlete. That relationship of yours ended already. You should know that.

You two should not be too at ease with each other. That was how the both of you got entangled with one another the first time around. He’s not going to make the same mistake again.

Part 16 || masterlist

taglist (those crossed out can’t be tagged)

@ameliaxo @suikrem @akaashisslave @tsumurai @loving-unicorns106 @flairlust @geektastic84 @anaiss97 @berna-dette @just4readingfics @suteorra @xxekitten69xx @simp4tsukkii @music-is-all-i-need @keshinslittlegirl @raspberrysunshinebby @iminlovewhaikyuu @pdiddy11 @lightyagamami @sailorscout1902 @lovershaikyuu @expectonothinfromme @finnydraws @namelessidentity @hqbeesun @yatoatyourservice @mrkozume @suzuyamitsuki @celestialarchiveshq @yongboxerrr @gomenpudding @kutiekoge @fizzfrick @flamingosis @korean-bbq @ihaterainbowsprinkles @red-lint @backtonormalthings @borpcorp @lonelyheartxn @venomouscreatures @lucyrocks86 @shawtiie @honestlysora @sunanyaa @my-dream-universe @mysteriousparker @kaieoh @softpeachysoul @millenialfanfictionaddiction @5sausefandom @jeanbabygirl @just4readingfics @sabrinakishi @joyhdh @heyitsmeyuhh @all-in-the-fandoms @amine-amina @jiungsfav @bl3333h @itachoo @cheeseriz @tsumoooo @ireokhenantto

#tsukishima x reader #tsukishima angst #kuroo x reader #kuroo angst #haikyuu x reader

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babsvibes · 1 year

Note

Maybe a perspective flip from Logan’s perspective in the “His eyes followed the path, spending an inordinate amount of time at her navel…” section of already medjool dating

😭 so sorry for taking forever on this one!! Yes, and I’ll combine it with an ask I received from the lovely @percysburgers, requesting a scene from AMD as well! Even though the original excerpt is from the spicy chapter, I’ll keep it PG-13. As always, they’re in their twenties/thirties.

Already Medjool Dating - Louise is the last person to find out she’s already dating Logan.

If he was another man, he would say he was lucky.

Sitting back in his bed, he looked at this beautiful woman, who trusted him enough to let him see all of her. They were having fun, sexy fun even, and he knew too many people that would kill for an opportunity like this.

But Logan had waited and worked and suffered a very long, torturous time for this moment, so he considered it only his just deserts. (Never mind the dopey smile that he had to cough away every time he remembered they were really, actually together.)

After a nod from Louise, he let his fingers skirt across her soft skin and let his mind drift to the past. He traced her bellybutton and thought of food, which had started this all.

When he first reentered her family’s restaurant, he expected to be a jerk and have a laugh about how everything in the old joint was exactly the same: same layout, same menu, and same pun board despite nearly two decades having past since he last visited.

However, his waitress was decidedly not the same.

Oh sure, she was still a complete pain in his ass, immediately trying to run him out as soon as he sat down, devolving until she was challenging him on whether he knew the difference between a bread and butter pickle and a dill pickle (Why? He couldn’t remember. His answer? Probably the dill). But this Louise was another ballgame, with an even finer point to her sharp wit and a wider arsenal to combat him. And also the boobs. He did notice the boobs.

He had lit up while they were arguing, involuntarily but still excited all the same. No one liked to have fun like this anymore. Arguing over things that didn’t really matter just because. Everyone he knew found the game to be a waste of time, but not her. She was going to win, and he did love a challenge.

Little did he know what a damn challenge she would be.

As he skimmed his way down and over her hips, he moved slower, sure to commit the curves to memory just right.

Logan didn’t like to brag (yes he did) about his… prowess when it came to dating, but he never wanted for long. He was attractive, a smooth-talker, and he loved cheesy movies. A winning combination, some might say. Did the relationships last more than a month after they found out he could be kind of an egotistical ass? No, not really. But the getting there part? That had never been an issue.

Well, here was someone that already knew he was an ass, but she… kept talking to him. When he came for another burger, she beelined to his table just to slam down proof that she was right in their previous argument. When Bob came by to tell her she could take a break, she waved her dad off to keep talking in the booth. And when they ran out of subjects to tease each other about, they talked about things they agreed on and liked even. Pretty good signs, right?

Wrong. Turns out, Louise was a skilled debater, a genius strategist, and also a complete and utter moron. Specifically with anything romance related but he had caught her once trying to pet a dog through a window, so he couldn’t fully rule out other forms of moronic behavior.

He had assumed they both knew what they were building towards, especially with how often they cropped up in each other’s lives. “There’s this restaurant I want to try, but they don’t have single tables.” Boom, he was there. “I have to pick up a shelf from Gregslist, but I got weird vibes from the seller.” Boom, she was there. “I want to go to a concert, but none of my friends know the band.” Boom, they were there. Harmless at first but definitely foundational.

Then a stupid gimmick restaurant had opened up, Hide and Leek, that only served soup. No doubt the place would shut down in a few months or so, so they had to jump on it. It was fancier than either of them expected, candles, string music, multiple tiny courses… of soup. Thankfully, they dressed semi-appropriately and were let in. He remembered choking on his own tongue at the sight of her, looking exactly the same but wearing a slightly lower cut blouse.

His eyes moved back up, his hands following suit, cupping her boobs but not quite playing with them. He could do that later. Right now, he was on a mission. He thought back again to the soup place.

Between the ambience of the restaurant and the lure of his companion, the words felt pulled from his throat.

“I like doing this with you,” Logan said, spooning a bite of vegetable broth—the appetizer soup before the entrée soup—to distract him from getting in his own head. “We should just make it official. Less questions that way.”

She snorted and said why not. His heart jumped into his throat, but he stuck his spoon in his mouth to keep from saying something stupid. Neither mentioned it again.

In hindsight, probably not one of their better moments of communication.

Resisting a sigh, Logan traced up along her collarbone then down each of her arms, a little faster now.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t face facts that their relationship had… an unconventional beginning, but it did sting a little to remember when it finally clicked that he had been dating her but she was not dating him. At least not intentionally. It hurt his pride, and pride was a powerful thing.

Pride almost drove him, if only for a second, to cut himself off from her altogether.

The invitation to his cousin’s wedding put a pause on that idea. He refused to sit quietly at the same table as his mother and listen to her make snide comments all night. He refused. Maybe he wouldn’t have a date or a partner, but if Louise was there then he at least had an ally. A friend. God, she had been amazing. Every remark from Cynthia sent their way was swiftly returned, every nauseating wedding tradition was made tolerable by her jokes, and he remembered gazing at Louise in awe.

“This caviar covered veal simply doesn’t have enough baby animal death to satiate my need,” Louise said, pitching her voice to sound like his mother. “How will I ever achieve eternal youth if I can’t steal it away from everything around me?”

He laughed, glancing back at Cynthia having a harsh word with the caterers but too far away to hear what they actually said. She felt his eyes it seemed, her head snapping to him. He quieted as she looked down her nose at him, then Louise, then him again. His shoulders slumped.

A slight thump hit his forearm on the table, and he turned back to Louise, whose wrist still rested on his arm, fist clenched like she might start a fight.

“Are you letting her get to you?” She asked in what seemed like genuine concern. His mouth opened but no words came out. Still, she waited for him to give her an answer. Because she cared. About him. She really did. He shook his head.

Letting her hand fall off him, Logan looked at her wrist and wished nothing more than to put it back, to kiss it and let her know he was fine, to pull her to the dance floor so they could both embarrass themselves.

“It’s all good,” he offered simply. “Want to keep making fun of people together?”

While grazing that same wrist with his thumb, studying the veins, it hit him how alive he felt even while wading through dreamlike memories. He supposed the rush might have come from realizing that all their choices—the fumbled questions and the torturous patience—still led here. It could also have something to do with them both being naked.

With that, he finished observing her. Logan was ready for this memory to join all the others. A compilation of nonsense, of fun, and of affection that he couldn’t help but break the tension of by tickling her until she was slapping his hands away.

AMD Chapter 3:

The tips of his fingers traced over the entirety of her body, slowing down where he thought she might still be sensitive. His eyes followed the path, spending an inordinate amount of time at her navel, her breasts, and one of her wrists. Louise swore that he was memorizing her.

#babsbles #asks #louigan #my fic writing #already medjool dating #thank you for being interested in my writing and what this blond idiot was thinking during that scene!#I hope it’s what y’all were looking for 😭

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stainedglasstruth · 1 year

Text

TIMING: Current SUMMARY: Arden has a rough day and decides to go for a run, but she can't outrun her thoughts. CONTENT WARNINGS: Parental death and very brief description of a dead body

Arden threw the pen down and ran a hand through her hair for the nth time that day, glaring down at her desk as if it had personally offended her.

It was one of those days; a restlessness had settled under her skin, a bone deep itch that she wouldn’t be able to scratch no matter what it is she did. Nothing she wrote felt right, none of her leads seemed to actually lead anywhere, and neither her body nor her mind seemed to want to stay still. So, instead of continuing to try and fail to work, she pulled on a hoodie and a pair of leggings, put on her running shoes, and headed out.

She headed toward the river, music blaring in her ears as she tried to drown out the thoughts that seemed to bounce around her head like a screensaver. Her feet pounded against the pavement as she ran past storefronts and buildings that simultaneously looked so familiar and so foreign in a way that made her chest ache.

She had known– had thought she had known– what to expect coming back to Wicked’s Rest. She’d grown up here, had lost so much here, she knew what this town was like. But you can’t really know what is essentially a variable, and she sure as hell didn’t have ‘massive mining accident that floods the caves with some dark goop, makes crabs weird, and cracks the Flat’ on her return to town bingo. And, of course, no one seemed to have any idea what the fuck was happening.

Even after the incident, the folks at Erebus remained as mysterious and elusive as they had always been, refusing to comment on anything. Meanwhile, the local government and authorities were spouting the same bullshit lines about how “unfortunate it is, but accidents happen, and we’re working diligently to ensure everyone’s safety.” Lines that she had to keep parroting to keep the general public from freaking out until she could find some actual information. And then figure out how to spin when it inevitably if it turned out to be something insane and supernatural was going on.

She slowed as she neared the bridge that joined the two halves of the town, separated as they were by the river. If she squinted, she could see the border of the Pines peaking out from behind Oldtown. She ignored the way her heart dropped at the sight, instead turning her attention back to her pace, her form, her breath, as she pointedly made her way across the bridge and into Harborside. But still, she was acutely aware of the Pines at her back, as if the trees were watching her.

Ugh, she shook her head, ponytail whipping behind her. It was that damned nightmare from the previous night throwing her off. She could still see it in her mind’s eye even as she ran along the picturesque riverside. They were there, haunting her dreams, just as they perpetually haunted her mind. She had been in the forest– the Pines, she knew immediately– in a sea of trees. Darkness, pressed in on the two of them as they led her through the trees, searching for something. Words had been exchanged, though she couldn’t remember them exactly, just the monumental feelings of guilt and sorrow and remorse. And, then–

In the dream, she had found her father– found his body. Her pulse raced as she remembered the blood soaked dirt, the torn limbs, the massive chunks- she paused mid-stride, closing her eyes in an attempt to make the images stop.

She forced herself to take a deep breath. It was just a dream. It was just another nightmare, just another one of the– quickly becoming commonplace– nightmares that had been plaguing her since coming back to this fucking town.

She made a mistake coming back here, didn’t she? She should probably pack up and go back to Boston and try her best to forget Wicked’s Rest and all the terrible shit that happened here. But, she’d tried that already, and she had been pulled right back because she needs to know what happened to them. Curiosity killed the cat…

And, if she was being honest, she did still have love for the town. It’s where she grew up, and made so many memories. The weirdness of it all used to delight her before her father died, before she knew the of all the hidden dangers. Now that she knew, she could help, though. She had to keep the secret she had to she couldn’t let anyone else but, she could try to keep people as informed as possible, try to keep them safe.

#parental death tw #writing #solo #she needs more sleep #also therapy #and prob some anxiety meds #also i shouldve given this a look over and an edit but i have Zero Energy today

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coolcattime · 1 year

Text

Old Conflicts Come to Surface [Mianite Oneshot]

Characters: Captain Capsize, Jordan Captainsparklez

Relationships: N/A

AO3 Link

The sea was calm with only the lightest breeze present, bringing only the smell of the water but not the spray typical of waves. These conditions were those that had become Capsize’s preferred ones for when she was alone. Actually being alone was somewhat of a rarity, more so than it had been in her previous life anyway. And while that was a good thing, she still liked the opportunity to decompress anyway from the relative crowd of people that now resided on the isle. And with the sea like this, sitting on the docks she could almost imagine she was back home. Back in a city that was lost so long ago now, that even though she knew it had been rebuilt in her absence she was unsure if she’d ever return. She knew she’d be welcome, but she didn’t want to face those who looked at her as a hero when she didn’t feel like one, when she didn’t even feel like herself.

As it turns out, being revived after at least one failed revival and a length of time everyone she asked seemed to disagree on had had some effects on her memory. It wasn’t as if she had lost everything, as far as she was concerned she remembered everything important, but she didn’t notice the gaps until she was directly confronted with them. Basically, she was never really going to know how big an issue it was. And that was fine, she was happy to be alive, but it did still bug her. She was missing information about herself, most of which she didn’t even realise was missing. So, when she had moments to herself, she’d been sneaking off to the docks to read one of her old journals to see if she could get any fuzzy memories to form within the blank gaps. She hadn’t gotten any results thus far, but that wasn’t going to stop her from continuing to try.

It was in this position, sat leading against the railings of the docks, surrounded by the familiar smell of salt water, that one of the carefully handwritten sentences was interrupted by an annoyed voice belonging to someone casting a shadow over her.

“You’re avoiding Ianite,” Jordan said, looking down at the pirate captain who up until this moment had really been enjoying her day. He stood, waiting for a response, as she contemplated just ignoring him until he went away. However tempting that slightly immature idea was, she knew that he was unfortunately far too stubborn to leave without some sort of answer.

“Can’t avoid her, she still has a very direct line to telepathically chat whenever she wants. I just, you know, haven’t felt the need to go to Aethoria lately,” She didn’t look up when telling the half-answer. Despite how she was no longer reading, she kept looking at her journal intently with the dim hope that if it looked like she was in the middle of something this conversation might be postponed, preferably infinitely. Because she didn’t want to have this conversation. She didn’t want to actually admit that she was avoiding Ianite, because she just knew he wasn’t going to be quiet about his opinions on the matter.

"No, you haven't spoken to her at all since Tom and I got back," The amount of certainty in his voice made it clear that the goddess had spoken to him about these concerns which aggregated Capsize. She had to have known what it would lead to. If she wanted a conversion so badly, she should just force one instead of venting to her champion. Jordan stared harder, waiting for a real answer as he was unsure of what could be driving her to act this way. But she stayed silent. So, he decided to continue. "Seriously? Are you that annoyed about me being back that you decided to be all standoffish again?"

"You really want to do this?" She said, suddenly snapping the book closed. The shift was quick enough that the champion almost took a step back. That was not the response he expected, but he couldn’t let her keep doing this. Whatever problem she had with him shouldn’t extend to their goddess.

“Yes. I want to know why you’re suddenly avoiding our goddess after everything we’ve been through,” He said, already far too impassioned for her liking. Acting as if Ianite was owed her presence, as if he was owed an answer for her absence. As if her staying away was some massive betrayal. And she just knew that if she didn’t answer him he was going to stay standing there all day assuming. So, not willing to literally be looked down throughout this conversation, she stood. For the first time, they both met each other’s eyes, and both looked annoyed in a different way. If anyone else could see them, they would be rushing over to try and drag one of them anyway. But there was nobody. For better or worse, this conversation was happening.

“I’ve been avoiding her because I’m fed up with the way she looks at me. She keeps looking at me with pain and regret and that’s not something I’ve really been in the mood for,” She couldn’t stand how Ianite looked at her now. It was always such a pained look. And nothing she did made them soften. “She doesn’t treat me like she did before I died and I’m not in the mood for that.”

“Seriously that’s it?” He couldn’t believe her. She was meant to be loyal like him. To just give up on Ianite for such a reason was ridiculous. And Capsize wanted to slap him.

“Is that not good enough for you?” She scoffed. How dare he. Who was he to decide what level of discomfort was she meant to suffer through to interact with a person? Oh right, the high and mighty Champion of Balance. The man who got to decide her feelings for her. Why would he have stopped doing that? “I’ll go suffer through her looking at me like I came back wrong so you both feel better.”

“You did come back wrong. It was a whole big thing. Excuse her for still having some guilt over that,” He couldn’t believe how difficult she was being. Sure, she was fine now, but that didn’t erase the memories of her coming back as a feral corpse, her pained voice begging for help. She frowned. Or perhaps scowled. It was hard to tell outwardly if the comment had upset her or just pissed her off. Or, at least, it was hard for him to tell. Anyone else would be backing away or quickly retracting their statement.

“Oh right, I forgot about that, no one’s mentioned it. Except Sonja after her and Spark actually revived me. And Tucker when I talked to him for the first time. And my brother when he was having a panic attack because I was alive again!” She’s getting louder. Not quite yelling, but certainly getting close to it. She didn’t remember the failed revival, though she’d heard the story enough times that she knew what happened. Obviously she knew it was bad, but no one else looked at her like Ianite did. Well, maybe Red did, but, well, he was a very different story right now. He was also the cause of a twinge of guilt running through Jordan as at the mention of him, he couldn’t help but remember man was still not okay. That he was still coming to grips with Capsize being alive after what he’d had to do. That their interactions still had to be limited. But that wasn’t the conversation right now. He wasn’t going to get guilted out of this. “She should be used to me being back by now!”

“What and avoiding her is meant to get her used to it?”

“No one else needs to ‘get used to it’ who doesn’t have a real excuse! Most people are just happy I’m alive!” She was so sick of it all. Why should she have to put up with Ianite’s self-loathing that she did it wrong. She’d even asked Sonja if the goddess had started looking at her weirdly, but she said no. It was just her that was now somehow different in her eyes. Was it too much to ask for things to just be normal? Even if the normal she wanted wasn’t ever going to happen again. And, yes, maybe she resented that, but how was that any of his business? Jordan frowned.

“Obviously she’s happy you’re alive. She just…” He paused, Capsize staying quiet only to see what excuse he was cooking up. He racked his brains for the right words, for the right description of his Lady’s struggles. Then something hit him. “If that’s what this is really about, why did this only start when I got back?”

He spoke like he had figured out an unspoken truth, while she just looked annoyed. It always came back to him, didn’t it? His goddamn self-importance. It was worse that he had it right, that this was about him. And she wondered if he was going to be happy about that. No time like the present to find out.

“Oh, it’s pretty simple,” She said in a tone she knew would annoy him. Even after everything, she still knew how to push his buttons. And was she ever glad for that, watching his face scrunch up before she’d really said anything at all. “She doesn’t need me now. You’re acting like this is all on me, but she hasn’t once reached out either. Not since her precious champion came back.”

“You’re still jealous?!”

“Still?”

“Come on! I’m not oblivious, you know!” She snorts at those words. “I know you wanted to be Ianite’s champion, that you never respected that I was instead of you.”

“I just wanted to be treated the same as I was before you appeared out of nowhere! I mean, I only dedicated my life to her, I suppose it’s a bit much to not want to be replaced out of nowhere!” She can’t believe how he doesn’t get it. That just boiling it down to her being jealous is simplistic. She could’ve understood his position if she hadn’t been side-lined. If everything she’d done hadn’t been forgotten in favour of him. If he’d treated her with any respect. Was it so wrong that she didn’t forget how that felt? To just be expected to be happy to help this champion she’d been surprised with the existence of. “I gave her everything just to be overshadowed!”

“And what? You think I didn’t give her everything? You know the amount of mocking I went through! What I had to sacrifice!”

“You didn’t know a damn thing about sacrifice back then! Just because you’ve lost now doesn’t make it retroactive!” She knows she’s being harsh. That he went through terrible things in the other world. But she remembers him back then. And she knows back then he didn’t know the same loss she did. And that wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t even a bad thing, but to pretend that he knew. Now that was something that infuriated her. “The moment I was chosen to be her messenger, I got a target put on my back. I lost basically my whole crew getting here, and my home got destroyed in the meantime. My ship got destroyed gods knows how many times. And up until the point where I literally died, she was lecturing me about who I wanted to be friends with.”

“You mean asking you not to be a complete asshole to me?” He pushed at her last statement, trying to force the point. He knew she didn’t respect him, that she had never respected him. He just didn’t understand what was so wrong with him that she never even tried. It’s not like she had trouble with anyone but him. “Clearly she should’ve let you continue to disrespect me!”

“You mean like she let you keep disrespecting me?! You never got lectured about that, did you?” She was so fed up with him acting like this one sided. Like he never wronged her. And he just looked confused. He looked like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. And he was confused. Because he had been friendly hadn’t he? He saw her as an equal, he tried her as one, wasn’t that what he was meant to do?

“I—I didn’t disrespect you,” For the first time, he faltered a little. Because as sure as he was that what he was saying was right, he also saw how she looked. It wasn’t the usual annoyance he’d become used to. It was something more. Like she would just walk anyway from this conversation if he wasn’t standing in the way.

“Is that really how you remember it?” She said in a low tone. She couldn’t believe him. How could he have not looked inward in all the time that had passed for him? “I remember you disregarding the idea that I was a person with opinions. You just assumed everything. Obviously, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know about Ianite regardless of if I know who you are. Obviously, you’d be co-captain. Obviously, you could mess around with my ship when you had no idea what you were doing. Obviously, you can date me!”

She practically spits the last one, as the resentment comes in boiling bubbles to the surface. The amount she was expected to put up with by Ianite with no sympathy for her growing frustrations. And hearing his actions said out loud, the guilt hit Jordan in a wave. He’d realised a while back that they’d never actually dated, that she liked the others much more than she liked him. But in all his realisations, he’d never reflected back on how Capsize must’ve felt. And now, with her looking at her with such anger, it was impossible to ignore.

“And I know you got egged on with that last one, but you still should’ve asked if I wanted any of those things,” Her tone is softer, though exhausted rather than understanding. She’s had so long to think about this moment, about confronting him for the disrespect, but actually experiencing it wasn’t as satisfying as she thought it would be. He just looked sad. Not angry or self-righteous. He looked wounded. And while, yes that’s how he should feel, it didn’t feel good to see someone like that. She knew it wasn’t as fresh to him as it was to her, that he’d had time for the memories to fade. And maybe this whole thing was resentful of her. “Look, I know I wasn’t nice to you, and you can yell at me all you want for that. I just… I wanted Ianite to treat me like she had before, I still just want that. And for you to like to chill out a little.”

“No, I’m not gonna… I don’t think I’m in the position to yell at you,” With that both of them sort of slumped. Neither of them felt great about the ‘conversation’ they’d just had, but their festering tempers had been snuffed for the time being. For the first time, the two sat together with neither wanting to tear into the other. Nowhere close to being friends, but still the closest they had ever been. And in the calm, Jordan decided to ask something. “Are you going to talk with Ianite again?”

“Eventually… Could never bring myself to stay away forever,” She says. The exact tone in her voice was odd to Jordan, it wasn’t exactly one you’d expect of a devoted follower speaking of their goddess. But it wasn’t the time to push into that. “I just need some time, that’s all.”

And with that, the two of them fell silent. Different people than when they had first met, and now with a different understanding of the other. And while there were still conversations that needed to be had, and actions that needed to be made up for, this was perhaps just what they needed to start anew.

#mianite #mianite fanfiction #cat's fanfiction #captain capsize #jordan captainsparklez #i'm probably gonna post my post-timeline at some point soon but i'm like so excited to have finished this #mianite post time

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redrosesartcabin · 9 months

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The Exposing: The Energon-Mine

Megatron x reader fanficition ( can be found here as well https://archiveofourown.org/users/Redrosessoulcabin/works)

Link to the previous post: https://www.tumblr.com/redrosesartcabin/724063076519968768/the-exposing-always-having-each-others-back?source=share

Link to the first post: https://www.tumblr.com/redrosesartcabin/722529797578833920/double-posting-my-fanfic-now

Link to the next chapter: https://www.tumblr.com/redrosesartcabin/724908446651203585/the-exposing-art

Only when a big group of Vehicons had you surrounded in the Energon-Mine, threatening inhalation if Megatron didn’t show himself (transform), you remembered that Miko had said that there was still quite some Decepticon activity on earth.

God knows why you forgot; this had been one of the main reasons she had visited you. But since becoming friends with her you had also just hung out often, casually, and with you, she wouldn’t really talk about her work or Deceptions. One of those reasons being something you didn’t directly know but suspected with Megatron having been the founder of their cause and it maybe being sensitive for you to hear about and all that. Though in truth, you had long accepted Megatron for both for who he is and was, and, also for who he will be, no matter what. If anything, you were curious to learn more about his warlord days. Especially now about his so called Vehicon soldiers.

“I thought they had no will of their own”, you whispered, still sitting paralyzed in the drivers seat inside his vehicle form. “Not quite”, Megatron explained, whispering back, “Their will is to follow the Decepticon cause and to obey me. Although I’m not sure if it would still work after all this time and wirh everything that happened on Cybertron and whatnot. I think the Decepticon cause now is priority number one. But I will try to reason with them… Hold on to something, I will transform with you inside, it’ll shake you around a bit.” “Alright”, you agreed.

Then everything started to move and shift, the windows disappearing and the world turning dark whilst you were thrown around like you were in a washing machine. Finally, what was actually just a few seconds of transformation but had felt like an eternity, ended. You held your breath and listened: “Stand down Vehicons! It is me, your lord and master Megatron.”, he spoke and the way he said it made even you want to stand down even though you weren’t even spoken to.

Jack had the com-device in his left and the plaster gun ready at his right and pointed at Megatron who just transformed back with you inside (he had spotted you shortly, noticing you were wearing the dark-red wig that had coincidentally disappeared not too long ago from the disguise room in his work facilities).

Megatron was now talking to his Vehicons, commanding and harsh as ever.

“Should’ve known Miko and Raf were misunderstanding something, he’s just like he’s always been”, he whispered to himself, yet stayed observing the scene, wanting to know where this was going, so he had something to report.

And just as he was convinced Megatron had just shown a farce to everyone, one of the Vehicons asked: “Lord Megatron, we saw a human inside of your new automobile form. Who is that?” To which Megatron answered sternly, “Just a Holoform.”

Jack lowered his gun. So, he was protecting you after all. What he was displaying in front of the Vehicons was the farce, not the other way around.

“But Lord Megatron”, the Vehicon who had spoken up argued, “, doesn’t that require very intricate expertise? Which you currently do not posses? Besides, we have noticed the supposed Holoform communicating with you. I am sorry my liege, we cannot believe you”, the Vehicon pointed the gun again, “Who is the human in your companionship?” Now Megatron grew visibly angry, his eyes slightly bulging, his shoulders tense and his claws slowly forming fists.

“I said, it is a Holoform. And if you refuse to believe that and to follow my command you better step aside before punishment awaits you”

“So, it is true”, another Vehicon said after a few moments of silence, “You are a traitor to the kind which you have created. You have called off the Decepticon cause.” And at that all the Vehicons raised their weapons towards Megatron again.

Instead of attacking however, as Jack had expected, Megatron jumped over one of them and ran as fast as he could. Temporarily confused, the Vehicons started shooting delayed, giving Megatron a chance to dodge the shots before hiding behind a big rock inside of the huge Energon-laden cave.

Light flooded inside of the confinement, and you breathed in deep as fresh air finally found your lungs again. A little too forcefully, Megatron ripped you out of the area of his chest where you had resided and put you down where your legs collapsed under you, and you fell against the boulder and onto the dusty ground.

“Stay here my love! I will get some Energon and try to trick to Vehicons. If I’m not back in ten minutes just leave!”, Megatron ordered and before you could answer he was gone. “No”, you then whispered after a few moments, feeling tears prickle in your eyes. It couldn’t end here…

A few moments later Jack saw Megatron blast a hole into one side of the cave but running into another direction. The Vehicons took the bait, and inspected the gun shot whilst Megatron headed towards a mine wagon with a load of harvested Energon. In his hurry, he simply took some of the Energon into his arms and ran again, only to be shot at by two Vehicons. Thinking quickly, he threw some of the Energon in his arms and thusly shielded the shots and then he bolted again, trying to gather Energon again but never shooting back.

“Shit, why isn’t he fighting?”, Jack heard himself ask and was frustrated at himself for even rooting for Megatron. Not thinking too much of it, Jack decided to run towards the rock where Megatron had hid before briefly, suspecting that he had let you out there- and was proven right.

At the sight of him, you gasped a little frightened before he shushed you calmingly. “Don’t worry, I’m a friend of Miko’s”, he explained, “I’m here to help!” “Then”, you answered, “Go and help Megs. He needs you more than I do.”

Jack’s breath hitched for a moment before he asked, “Are you sure? You do know that he used to be a warlord? That he is an expert fighter? An ex-gladiator? A-“ “Yes”, you breathed out annoyed, “How often to do I have to keep telling people I know? I know everything. I love him the way he is and was, you get me?! Now help!”, you demanded, “If need be, I know how to defend myself as well”, you added, taking a stone in your hand as if it proved the point. He didn’t exactly understand how you planned on defeating a Cybertronian with simple stones, but he didn’t dare to argue, not with the way you glared at him.

“Alright alright”, he answered, moving his hand in a defensive matter, “I’ll go, sheesh…”

For the third time, Megatron had to throw his rations into the wind to block the shots. He was starting to lose his patience with his new way of being, but at the same time he had made a promise to you and to himself. He had to endure, and he would.

For a fourth time then, Megatron darted to a filled cart and took the rations that he could. From the corner of his eye, he however saw some Vehicons again and was about to scream out in frustration when suddenly the Vehicon fell to the ground, a hole where his spark used to be visible in his chassis.

“Run!”, Megatron heard a familiar voice, “I’ve got you covered! Your lover is getting anxious.” Not thinking on where he knew that voice from, he ran towards where you were hidden. Surprisingly, he found you with two unconscious Vehicons laying on the ground in front of you.

“Don’t ask”, you simply said, voice and body tired but a smirk adorning your beautiful face, “Let’s just say the pressure points you showed me worked out well.” Megatron smiled back, simply stating, “I love you.” He transformed, stashing the collected Energon in the trunk. And then you two were gone again.

After consuming some of the Energon, Megatron and you walked up the mountain where the Energon cave had been in to observe the street below and find a new vehicle mode. When you arrived, settling in place he asked: “Do you know who the human man was who helped us?”

You grinned playfully “Another former enemy of yours. Upon further thinking I believe it might have been Jack. At least from what you’ve told me about him. He was pretty keen on helping me.” At that Megatron frowned, “He better try and flirt with you. If he touches you, I’ll have to reconsider my pacifist ways.” And that you just laughed out loud, giving him the biggest, sloppiest smooch, you’d ever given.

Megatron still pretended like he was agitated, but you clearly saw a little smile, tucking at his corners, surrendering to your charms. He could never stay mad at you.

Instead, you two observed the highway in peaceful silence again, until another impressively large pick-up truck came by. It had a bit of a different silver hue, but, nonetheless, it was to Megatron’s liking. Quickly, he scanned it, testing it out by transforming into it and then back to his slightly new altered form (though he somewhat managed to keep most of his spikes, which he hid in the floor of the big trunk both in the previous and now in his newest form).

You snorted. “Really Megatron? A Chevrolet?”

#megatron fanfic #megatron x reader #tfp megatron #tfp #tfp transformers prime #tfp transfromers post predacon rising #megatron transformers #transformers fanfic #jack darby #you

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driftwoodmfb · 2 years

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Click for better quality

Reborn Kirby bosses, gijinka edition

The names above them are the names they go by.

Idk if it's just a theory or what, but I saw someone saying say that Dark Mind is probably the mirror version of Zero. I went with that in this drawing.

Dark Mind is still a jerk and holds a grudge of the four Kirbys who originally killed them. They don't really care about Shadow Kirby since they don't see him as one of the people who aided in their death (even though Skirby did). Dark Mind is a lot weaker, but is still trying to kill the four Kirbys. They can switch their three eyes between their eye sockets and mouth. This works well if one eye is injured.

Zero is a lot more chill, but still only begrudgingly gets along with Kirby. They can spit out their eye in their mouth to eat food. When they do this they put their eye in a glass of water to prevent it from drying up, dentures style. Zero and Sequel are pretty much siblings. Although Zero is the oldest over all, Sequel was reborn first given Zero the appearance as being younger. Zero is stronger than Sequel and has gotten pretty protective of them.

Zero 2 AKA Sequel. The name Sequel started off as a joke, but the name ended up sticking. They have chronic headaches and takes medicine for it. They constantly drip a little blood from their mouth. They feel ashamed for what they did in their previous life and now severs under Queen Ripple. The crystal still scares Sequel.

Miracle Matter, AKA Miri. Miri can still use different copy-esk abilities, but it morphs them a bit physically. For example for spike, their skin would turn orange and spikes will grow from their skin. Their horns will also change with each ability. They are very self-conscious of how the abilities physically change them so they cover up head to toe and wears a mask that resembles their original form. They have vertigo, but they aren't self-conscious about that. Miri doesn't remember much of their past life, but they are aware of what they did. They have bad anxiety and fears that everyone secretly hates them. They're making progress though.

Void AKA Popopo. Popopo is fine with any pronouns, she, him, they, it, etc. He was actually found by Morpho Knight who pretty much adopted Popopo as a sibling. Popopo remembers most of their past life, although a good chunk of the memories are pretty fuzzy. They even remember being sealed away by the heroes of Yore. They don't hold it against anyone who they fought in their past lives, but those people are kind of scary to Popopo. Unlike Kirby, Popopo can copy things by just watching for long enough. They even eventually learned how to take a butterfly form like Morpho, but she still struggles to hold that form for a long time. Popopo still has the mask as Void Termina since it's the only thing they have left of their past life, but they rarely wears it. Popopo's hair is white, but shines with a rainbow of colors when light hits it. Their hair kind looks like a pearl. Anyone who holds/touches her can feel the power of Void and if they had fought previously they could probably recognize that she is Void reborn.

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commentaryvorg · 2 years

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Digimon Savers Commentary Episode 40 - The Strongest Group of Knights! The Royal Knights Assemble!

In this episode, the team seeks out Yggdrasil, guided by a reborn Gotsumon who doesn’t remember them. They encounter the Royal Knights and struggle to fight them, but Masaru’s biggest shock is in store when he comes face-to-face with Yggdrasil.

So now that we’ve got through the mostly lacklustre half-clip-show introductory episode for it, it’s time to really properly get into my other favourite arc of this series! I am excite.

The recap’s fairly short – not that it even had that much from last episode to recap. Apparently they didn’t even want to remind us that we spent half of last episode watching a clip show, because Yggdrasil isn’t mentioned.

We continue pretty much exactly where the previous episode left off, with the group at the summit of Mount Fuji having just decided to head to the Digital World. Masaru’s DATS earpiece, which apparently he’d kept in his pocket this entire time (or maybe he picked up a spare one from the hideout?) beeps with an incoming call. It’s Chika and Sayuri, still in the hideout, with Miki and Megumi having helped them get in contact with Masaru. Masaru implicitly fills them in on what he and the others are about to head off and do.

Chika: “Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Aww, Chika. Someone’s always got to try and tell Masaru not to do that, because you know he’s going to anyway.

Sayuri: “Try to make it back by dinner time. I’ll be waiting with a heaping helping of fried eggs.”

Aww, Sayuri. Still coping with her worry by cooking all of the food! It’s also quite a thing that she’s saying “by dinner time”. What even is dinner time any more when there’s no day and night because there’s no sun in the sky, and they’re living in a hideout that isn’t their normal home? But Sayuri just wants to try and make everything sound normal and familiar and safe.

Masaru glances up at ShineGreymon as he responds to this, which is amusing. Hopefully our dinosaur friend is not planning on eating any fried eggs while in that form. He’d need a hell of a lot more of them to fill his stomach that way.

Masaru: “We’ll be sure to come back home.”

I love that Masaru makes a point of saying this. He’s still aware of how Sayuri feels about him disappearing off to the Digital World, given what happened to his dad.

Masaru gives this small smile as he hangs up the call. It’s the kind of expression he only ever makes when thinking about or talking to his family, and it’s adorable.

With the goodbyes said for the only person whose family is in any position to actually do so from here, the four of them and their partners fly up towards the Digital World. Yushima is still with the Norsteins, watching the four bright streaks of light shoot upwards into the sky.

Yushima: “They’re our only hope left. We’re counting on you, Masaru.”

You’d think he’d want to mention at least Tohma as well, given he’s currently with Tohma’s family, but.

The space between the two worlds is full of huge purple storm clouds, with plenty of lightning and turbulence, just as Tohma was worried about. Yoshino is the first one to get swept off her partner by the winds – which is actually pretty surprising to me, because Rosemon and Ravemon are small enough that their humans are physically holding onto them, whereas Tohma and Masaru are literally just standing on their giant partners’ shoulders without holding anything, so they should really be the first ones to lose their balance.

Not that it matters, because it’s not long before all four of them and their Digimon partners are sent spiralling helplessly down to the Digital World.

Everyone regains consciousness sprawled on a beach, the Digimon having been reverted to Child form from the impact.

Agumon: “Aniki, I can’t eat any more.”

Agumon mumbles this as he wakes up, because even when he’s knocked out rather than asleep, he still has the best and tastiest dreams.

Tohma confirms that they are indeed in the Digital World by looking at the Earth in the sky, though it’s pretty difficult to see it through all of the huge purple storm clouds.

Yoshino takes a moment to breathe in relief that they made it, and sits herself down on a nearby rock. The rock yelps and twitches. Figuring its probably a Digimon, the group helps to dig it out of the sand, and it’s… Gotsumon. The same Gotsumon from before; his voice is identical.

Everyone is extremely put-out to see him here all of a sudden. Ikuto and Falcomon in particular are very startled. Not surprising, given the number of times he tried to kill Ikuto back then.

Gotsumon: “Well, I am Gotsumon, but is there a problem?”

Gotsumon doesn’t have a clue why they’re all staring at him like this, though!

Towards my future in the sky!

Just as I felt it

And on that sorta-bombshell, the opening! We sure did just head towards something in the sky, at least.

This second opening has a whole bit with the Royal Knights, which seems appropriate to cover in this episode where they’re properly introduced. It puts some particular focus on Craniummon, whom we’ve already met and seen is important, and also Dukemon, who’ll have a bit more of a significant role than most of the others.

Masaru: “Damn it, you were alive?!”

Back to Gotsumon, Masaru as ever is getting right to the point, physically grabbing him to interrogate him about how the hell he’s here.

Tohma points out that it’s possible Gotsumon’s completely different now. Agumon and Lalamon are Unconvinced.

Gotsumon: “It seems… It seems as if you are all angry at me, but that must be my imagination, right? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Agumon: “He’s the same.”

Lalamon: “Definitely the same.”

Agumon and Lalamon seem to be getting at the idea that his supposed pretending he’s done nothing wrong when he knows full well that he has is classic Gotsumon. That’s not actually what’s happening – but what is very much the same as the Gotsumon we knew is his simperingly polite tone (harder to get across as well in the subs, but it’s there in Japanese and very familiar, trust me). He is still basically the same person he was before.

Tohma reminds everyone that Gotsumon was reverted to a Digiegg and reborn, meaning he shouldn’t remember everyone any more. Indeed, it doesn’t seem like he does! Just like BanchouLeomon said, Digimon who are reverted to eggs are supposed to lose all their memories of their previous life. Agumon was an exception, only because of the strength of his bond with a human partner, but what’s happened to Gotsumon is the norm.

Gotsumon: “I’m so grateful that you’ve helped me! You’ve saved my life! Thank you! Thank you very much!”

Gotsumon gives this heartfelt thanks while enthusiastically shaking Falcomon and then Ikuto’s hands. The two of them are extremely awkward at suddenly being treated this way by a person who in a previous life repeatedly tried to kill them.

If you remove his memories of a lifetime of bigotry and prejudice towards humans, suddenly Gotsumon’s actually not that bad.

Gaomon: “His personality does appear to have changed…”

It’s really not so much his personality; like I’ve said, that’s pretty similar to before. It’s just his attitude towards humans that’s been completely reset.

Yoshino: “But when he acts like that, it actually makes it harder to trust him…”

I don’t blame Yoshino for feeling weird and suspicious about this, though. Even if you know intellectually that he doesn’t remember anything at all from before, seeing someone who was previously so hostile towards you acting all nice and friendly must be weird and raise all kinds of instinctive suspicions.

Masaru asks Gotsumon why he was buried in the sand, and he’s happy to explain.

Gotsumon: “I felt strangely uneasy about something this morning, so I came here to check out the scenery.”

I don’t know, Gotsumon, could it possibly have been the fact that the human world is falling from the sky? Just maybe that. Or even if you couldn’t see that, the huge purple storm clouds that are covering the entire sky are also a pretty big sign that something’s up.

(I guess maybe what he’s getting at is that he usually lives in the forest and couldn’t actually see any of that going on in the sky through the tree canopies, hence why he came here to get a better look?)

It’s as Gotsumon was at the beach that something huge fell from the sky and landed on him, burying him in the sand.

Masaru: “I see… Well, that’s harsh.”

Agumon: “It’s a good thing you weren’t injured!”

Masaru: “You’ve got that right!”

[the two of them laugh awkwardly with Gotsumon]

Either these two are being oblivious dorks, or they know full well that the large thing that landed on Gotsumon was probably ShineGreymon and are awkwardly trying to play dumb about it.

Tohma: “That large Digimon who fell out of the sky was most likely…”

Lalamon: “ShineGreymon.”

Yoshino: “Yup.”

Gaomon: “Let’s just leave the ignorant to their laughing.”

I mean, there’s about a 50/50 chance it was actually MirageGaogamon, so don’t be so quick to poke fun at Masaru there, Tohma and Gaomon. (It was in fact ShineGreymon, we see him in Gotsumon’s flashback, but these guys don’t know that for sure.)

Agumon: “Anyway, Aniki! We need to find Ykkrajil, quick!”

Yes, Agumon, Ykkrajil. He’s such a kid. What are these weird complicated words.

Ikuto and Falcomon, the Digital World natives, have heard of Yggdrasil but have no idea where to find it. Luckily, though, it just so happens that Gotsumon does, so he offers to take them to it! That’s… rather convenient that a Digimon who must have been born only fairly recently happens to know this thing that it seems most Digital World residents don’t, but you know what? I’m not complaining, because it means that we can get on with the plot immediately instead of spending several episodes aimlessly wandering around.

(Or, the writers could have had our guide to finding Yggdrasil be someone where it makes more sense that they know where it is, but I also find it neat that we get to see Gotsumon again here and have an actual example of how Digimon losing their memories when they’re reborn works.)

At Gotsumon’s offer to help, the group retreats into a huddle to confer amongst themselves.

Yoshino: “It’s a trap. It has to be!”

Gaomon: “Master, this smells dangerous.”

Tohma: “He certainly isn’t the most trustworthy guy I know.”

The most rational members of the group definitely aren’t falling over themselves to trust him. (I love how Gaomon says it “smells” dangerous, again, did you know he is Dog.)

Ikuto: “I think it’s okay to trust him.”

Masaru: “Ikuto!”

Ikuto: “Gotsumon is reborn. He doesn’t even remember me. He’s different from before.”

It’s really neat that Ikuto of all people is the first one to decide to trust him. Not only is he used to the concept of Digimon being reborn and completely forgetting their old lives, he also interacted the most with Gotsumon’s barely-suppressed bigotry and hostility towards him in his past life, and he can clearly tell that that’s not there any more. Ikuto is good. Look at him not holding a grudge, not against the new Gotsumon who doesn’t deserve to be blamed for things he doesn’t even remember doing.

Masaru: “I’ll trust him, too.”

Yoshino: “Why?”

Masaru: “C’mon, remember that old saying? ‘If you don’t go in the butt, you won’t get the tiger cub.’”

[long, awkward pause]

Yoshino: “It’s not ‘the butt’.”

Tohma: “It’s ‘the tiger’s den’.”

(The subbers’ notes explain that this is a Japanese idiom that’s the equivalent of “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. The words “butt” and “den” are only one consonant apart in Japanese, so it’s reasonable for Masaru to get them muddled up.)

I love this. It’s so Masaru for him to have misheard that idiom once when he was younger and then just ran with it and assumed that was how it really went. Maybe he was young enough to figure it made a certain kind of sense, in that baby tigers come out of the mother’s butt, right, and then never re-evaluated this when he learned where babies actually come from? It’s the exact kind of thing this dork might do.

Also, idiom mangling aside, it’s very Masaru for him to decide to trust Gotsumon simply because they won’t get anywhere if they don’t. Always gotta move forward, even if there’s a risk.

It seems like Masaru and Ikuto’s votes are enough to sway the others to agree, so the next thing we see, they’re making their way along a narrow cliffside towards wherever Yggdrasil is.

Yoshino: “Don’t you think it’d be faster if we evolved?”

Oh my god, it’s a miracle, somebody is actually suggesting evolving for the sake of transport, the world must be ending. (Oh, wait.)

Unfortunately for their convenience, Tohma points out that the sky’s grown even more turbulent than it was before and flying wouldn’t be safe, hence why they have to make their way there on foot. But I do still really appreciate that the writers finally actually addressed this option and gave a reason for why they aren’t doing it! This time, at least. It does not excuse literally every other time.

Back in the human world, the roads and train stations are absolutely packed with people trying to evacuate and get to shelters, at the government’s urging. Sayuri and Chika, however, have returned to their home.

Chika: “Hey, Mom. Shouldn’t we evacuate?”

Sayuri: “Why?”

Chika: “Because we’re the only ones who are staying behind.”

Sayuri: “It’ll be the same no matter where we run.”

I like Sayuri’s approach to this. Unlike the general public, she knows enough about what the crisis is that she’s perfectly aware that if the worlds do collide, they won’t be any safer in a shelter. The government’s only telling everybody else that to try and make them feel safe. Knowing that, if the end does come, Sayuri would much rather face it in her own home.

Sayuri: “Besides… Masaru and the others will be sad if they don’t find us here when they come back.”

Aww. She did say he should be back by dinner time, and this way that can feel a little more normal! She’s trying so hard to keep her family together and happy in whatever small ways she can, even at a time like this.

Chika accepts this and happily starts munching on some of the rice balls her mom’s just made for her. As her daughter does so, Sayuri looks behind her at the family photo – of all four of them, back when Suguru was around.

Sayuri: (Dearest… If something dangerous ever happened to Masaru… you will come and save him, right?)

Aww, Sayuri. How many times must she have coped with her worry about Masaru heading off into danger in the Digital World by telling herself that surely Suguru will somehow swoop in and save him if it ever comes to that.

(And yet it’s definitely not a coincidence that the narrative is showing her doing this for the first time in this episode out of all of them. Foreshadowing. Hee.)

Back in the Digital World, we’ve skipped the rest of what may have been a very long and boring travel time (don’t you love how Savers always just gets right on with the plot), and the group has arrived near Yggdrasil’s giant tree.

Gotsumon: “That is the World Tree which supports the Digital World.”

That’s an interesting implication that the Digital World needs this tree, because, as we’ll learn in a later episode, it actually wasn’t always there. I guess this is some sort of legend that started up after the tree became a thing. Perhaps it’s considered to be that because Yggdrasil supports the Digital World, and it currently lives in that tree.

Gotsumon: “No-one has ever seen what Yggdrasil really looks like, but it’s quite likely that he’s predicted this unprecedented crisis.”

Oh, it sure did. Predicted it so hard that it sat back and let it happen, even.

Masaru: “My dad must’ve climbed that tree…”

Hee, I love how Masaru’s instantly thinking about that. For all he knows, his dad never actually found Yggdrasil at all! But no, obviously he would have managed to achieve his goal, and obviously Masaru’s following in his footsteps now.

Before they can approach the tree, Craniummon appears dramatically in front of the group in a huge whirlwind, refusing to let them pass.

Craniummon: “I, Craniummon, shall eliminate all who dare to approach Yggdrasil.”

Masaru: “What?” [he steps forward] “We just came here to see Yggdrasil. At least let us talk to him!”

Love how straightforward Masaru always is, refusing to be deterred by Craniummon’s lofty pompous attitude about this. Come on, just let them talk to the guy, it can’t be that unreasonable a thing to ask.

Something suddenly slams into Masaru, throwing him back across the ground. Craniummon didn’t appear to move an inch, but it was him, doing that moving-too-fast-to-see thing.

Craniummon: “I believe I told you not to come closer. The next time you do, I will slice out your heart.”

Yikes, Craniummon. Taking this guarding-Yggdrasil thing very seriously, I see.

As the rest of the group marvels at how invisibly fast Craniummon struck, Masaru gets up, one hand over his chest.

Masaru: “You’ll slice my heart out, eh? Bring it on! I’ll force you to let us pass!”

Oh, Masaru. He rushes forwards and is slammed backwards by something invisible again, but this time he manages to right himself mid-sprawl and land safely in a crouch. His heart doesn’t appear to have been sliced out at all. He looks up, grinning, and raises a fist glowing with Digisoul.

Tohma: “You were able to see Craniummon’s attack?”

Masaru: “No way. I just punched the air in front of where my heart was!”

I love Masaru’s approach to this! So straightforward and risky, and yet he knew he’d be able to block the attack if he did it this way! We get a brief flashback shot to the moment of the impact, just slightly slowed-down enough that we can see Masaru punch at the slicing energy that was shooting towards him, but we still don’t actually see Craniummon move.

This is how you show someone using this kind of tactic to hit an enemy that moves so fast they can’t be seen! Take notes, episode 23. This is the same tactic Masaru used there, but this time it’s actually depicted well.

With that, as everyone decides to fight to get past, it’s evolution time, for all four of them and not just Masaru, so time to stand up and get a drink or something.

As the four Ultimate-levels stand before Craniummon, Gotsumon has a good view of ShineGreymon’s back and suddenly realises that this is the Digimon who fell on him earlier. He is not happy about it.

Yoshino: “I-It was an accident! An accident!”

Tohma: “She’s right! We didn’t do it on purpose!”

Gotsumon: “No! That was unforgivable! I won’t forgive you for it!”

Also a very Gotsumon trait: being very petty and insisting on holding grudges about something like this, even after they helped him out of the sand afterwards and even when they’re telling him it was an accident.

Masaru: “Gotsumon! We came all this way trusting your word! That’s why you should believe us, too! That’s what a man does!”

The writers mostly make comedy out of this by having Masaru’s last sentence accompanied by an overly-dramatic close-up shot, but even so, this is some legit Masaru manliness here! They trusted him (despite some compelling reasons not to on their end), so he should trust them, obviously!

As Masaru keeps glaring dramatically at him, Gotsumon is cowed into deciding to believe them. It kind of comes across less like Gotsumon relented because he bought into Masaru’s manly argument, and more just that he was intimidated into it. But maybe that’s kind of necessary, for someone like Gotsumon. He may have lost the bigotry, but he still has that pettiness to him that makes him not very compatible with Masaru’s principles.

Yoshino: “It looks like we were able to convince him in a really confusing way!”

Tohma: “Even with my intelligence, I can’t tell how that happened!”

Yoshino and Tohma’s comments are continuing the comedic vibe, though they don’t quite land right for me. Tohma’s “even with my intelligence” is a particularly awkward phrasing, especially given that he already knows full well that Masaru’s approaches rarely make sense to him and yet often work.

Anyway, comedy over, mostly, Craniummon starts off the fight by firing a blast at Gotsumon. ShineGreymon has to dive in the way of it to protect him.

Masaru: “You bastard! Gotsumon just brought us here!”

I love how Not Happy Masaru is at Craniummon taking such an approach. The four of them and their partners have expressed their willingness to fight by evolving, so they’re fair targets, but Gotsumon is an innocent bystander who doesn’t want to fight. Nobody should attack somebody like that; that’s not what a man does!

Craniummon: “My duty… is to get rid of all who dare to approach Yggdrasil. Those who assist you must also be eliminated.”

Geez, Craniummon. That’s a bit much in and of itself, but it’s especially a bit much that you made a point of attacking Gotsumon first. Ravemon and MirageGaogamon agree that this is super uncalled for.

Masaru: “Damn it! ShineGreymon, go and…!”

[Gotsumon steps forward and points at ShineGreymon]

Gotsumon: “Go and beat him up! Now go! Do it!”

Seeing a little bit more of the old Gotsumon we knew here. He always did like bossing around bigger and stronger Digimon, didn’t he? Apparently he has an instinct to be the one to do that, even when it’s completely unnecessary, because Masaru was already going to ask ShineGreymon to attack and has a lot more right to be the one to tell him what to do.

Not that ShineGreymon really cares who’s telling him to do it; he’s quite happy to charge at Craniummon. Craniummon easily deflects his and MirageGaogamon’s attacks with his whirlwind, then catches Rosemon’s whip between his fingers and flings her into Ravemon.

Masaru: “Don’t give up! We defeated Belphemon, so we can’t lose to a guy like him!”

Oh, Masaru. I do like him reminding them of the incredible against-the-odds victory they’ve already managed to pull off.

Masaru activates the GeoGrey Sword, which is actually the first time we’ve seen it since its debut in episode 33. I suspect that most of the reason the writers decided to give ShineGreymon this fancy sword is because of the Royal Knights he’s going to be fighting in this arc, a lot of whom also have their own weapons.

Indeed, Craniummon responds to this by summoning his own double-ended spear, Claiomh Solais… man I’m probably never going to actually call it by that name again, that is hard to spell and also contains an accent on the first “I” that I can’t be bothered to figure out how to input on my English keyboard. It’s a thing from Irish mythology or something, I think. Big fancy weapon, is the point.

Craniummon: “We Royal Knights, who protect Yggdrasil, are the ones who are closest to God! Opposing the likes of us… is the same foolish act as challenging divine authority!”

That sure is some Royal Knight pompousness there. It seems Craniummon – and almost certainly the other Knights too, we will be seeing a lot of them acting similarly – tells himself that Yggdrasil is totally always right, because it’s a god, and therefore he is also totally always right if he does what Yggdrasil tells him to do. Sure makes things easy for you, Craniummon. Easier than thinking about whether you actually agree about billions of humans being wiped out.

He gives this line as his and ShineGreymon’s weapons clash, and ends it by flinging the GeoGrey Sword out of ShineGreymon’s grip. Which kinda goes to show how overhyped the GeoGrey Sword is by the narrative, really. It’s literally just a big sword – and funnily enough, against opponents who have much more experience using similar kinds of weapons, ShineGreymon doesn’t get any meaningful advantage from it at all!

Craniummon summons a huge whirlwind attack, flinging the Ultimate-levels helplessly into the air and back down to the ground (while, amusingly, the humans and Gotsumon have to avoid getting sucked in too by clinging to some nearby trees).

Craniummon: “Come, my next attack shall sever you from any lingering attachments you have to this world!”

Wow, Craniummon, that sure is one way to dance ridiculously around saying you’re going to kill them.

He raises his spear to thrust it towards ShineGreymon, who’s lying prone and helpless on his back. Something stops it before it can stab through him. ShineGreymon opens his eyes to see…

…Masaru punched the spear. In the pointy end. And it worked.

Which, to be fair, is almost certainly because his body is cloaked in Digisoul right now. We’ve seen a fair few times now that Digisoul is more than just a power that can pass onto Digimon to evolve them. It can make Masaru’s (or Suguru’s) attacks more powerful and have other very tangible, physical effects, such as what BanchouLeomon did to keep the two worlds apart. Why shouldn’t it also be able to act as some kind of shield?

Still, credit to Masaru for the fact that he didn’t necessarily know that when he decided to do this. He just wanted to protect his partner in the most straightforwardly gutsy way possible, and went for it, and it paid off. Masaru is so good.

Craniummon: “You…”

Craniummon’s eyes widen as he stares at this tiny human showing such ridiculous tenacity towards someone as important and godly as himself.

Masaru: “What’s this crap about the Royal Knights?! What’s this crap about God?! Two worlds are about to be destroyed, and just what the hell is your God doing?!”

You frickin’ tell him, Masaru! I love that he can call this out for the bullshit it is. Who cares about all this pompous posturing about gods when people are going to die?

Craniummon: “What?”

Masaru: “Someone who doesn’t even bother to save the world… shouldn’t… shouldn’t call himself a god!”

EXACTLY! I love this speech of Masaru’s so much. It draws from his strong sense of responsibility – if someone’s going to call themselves the god of a world, that means they have a responsibility to protect all the people in it to the best of their ability. Sure doesn’t seem like Yggdrasil gives a damn about doing any of that!

(Well, unbeknownst to Masaru for now, apparently, on the surface of things based on what we saw last episode, it seems like Yggdrasil is at least trying to protect its Digital World by destroying the human world. But, ha ha.)

Masaru gave this whole speech while still furiously blocking the spear with his fist and his Digisoul, and at the final words of it, he thrusts his fist upwards and pushes the spear away, sending Craniummon toppling onto his back. Everybody else gapes in amazement that he managed to do that. Do not underestimate the power of Masaru’s sheer determination and fierce sense of right and wrong.

ShineGreymon: “Aniki, that’s amazing!”

Masaru: “C’mon! Show ‘em what you’ve got!”

ShineGreymon is still always so in awe of his aniki and the awesome things he can pull off, I love it. Inspired by this, he gets to his feet, blazing with power, and Masaru, probably also coasting off the fierce emotion of the speech he just gave, activates his Burst Mode.

For the record, this is not evolution padding. Yes, Masaru didn’t evolve ShineGreymon to his absolute highest form right away at the beginning of the fight – but we are never going to see anybody go straight to Burst Mode from Child-level. So evidently that’s not how Burst Mode works, because it’s different from a regular evolution level. It seems like a Digimon and their partner need to fight for a while at Ultimate level before they can build up enough fighting spirit to be able to achieve that extra Burst Mode boost.

ShineGreymon Burst Mode flies at Craniummon, clashing against his spear, but the moment only lasts a short time before another glowing figure shoots out of the sky towards the battlefield, knocking ShineGreymon down. It’s another Royal Knight, Dukemon, who seems unimpressed by Craniummon having so much trouble dealing with these intruders.

(Dukemon has the same Japanese voice that the Dukemon in Digimon Tamers did. It’s an amusing reminder, for anyone who’s seen Tamers in Japanese, that this armoured humanoid dude actually used to be an adorable dinosaur friend once upon a time. Oh, Digimon and their obligatory humanoid evolutions. Tamers had a reason for it, but here Dukemon’s a humanoid knight because he just is, how else would he be able to be one of the Royal Knights, right?)

More glowing figures arrive on the battlefield, revealing (most of) the rest of the Royal Knights. Gotsumon stammers out their names as he sees each of them, but I’m not going to bother giving them here, because most of these guys won’t actually matter much to the narrative. Gotsumon seems particularly intimidated by one called Omegamon, who is in fact supposed to be the leader of the Royal Knights, but this also does not matter one bit for the purposes of Savers. I’m not sure Omegamon even gets any lines. (Edit from later: okay, he gets like a couple of lines in one episode, that’s it, but it’s very telling that I forgot that fact.)

Digimon Analyser: “Each of them fight for their own personal justice.”

Which is kind of a weird thing for them to do, when their whole thing is supposed to be mindlessly obeying Yggdrasil’s orders, as we’ve seen with Craniummon. They shouldn’t have much room to have their own individual feelings and principles about anything this way. This is probably a remnant of an idea that’s lot more relevant in other media featuring the Royal Knights.

Masaru: “Interesting. Let’s take them all on, ShineGreymon!”

Oh, Masaru. There’s like… nine of them? here, and he had enough trouble with just the one. But of course he’s just seeing this as a challenge.

(Okay, seven, apparently, I had to count. That’s how little most of them matter. I very much appreciate that this is not one of those Groups Of Villains in Digimon where we obligatorily have to defeat all of them in individual episodes before getting on with the main plot. Man that’d be tedious.)

Before ShineGreymon can actually start any attempt to take them on, though, Dukemon raises his lance and launches a huge blast of energy that turns the entire surroundings blinding white, knocking the whole DATS group and their Digimon out.

The next thing we see is a flashback to Masaru’s childhood! We haven’t seen one of those from him until now, have we? There might just be a very good reason why this is suddenly changing.

Little Masaru: “No! I want to take him with me!”

Tiny four-year-old Masaru is holding a frog that he found out in the wilderness somewhere, insisting to his dad that he wants to take it home as a pet. That’s adorable. Remember how Masaru seemed low-key upset at the school pets being killed in episode 2? Turns out he’s actually got a soft spot for animals!

And, of course, remember him calling Agumon a frog both times he first encountered him? (“Both” as in counting the memory wipe episode as a “first time”.) Masaru actually did end up bringing a big orange fire-breathing frog home with him, in the end! Perhaps that’s part of why he insisted on thinking of Agumon that way, despite all appearances to the contrary. What an adorable dork.

Suguru: “Masaru. That frog has a family, too.”

Little Masaru: “A family?”

Suguru: “Yeah. The mommy frog has dinner made and is waiting for him to come back.”

I love that this is the angle Suguru takes to explain to his son why taking a wild animal out of its habitat is wrong. It’s got a family! You should always respect other people’s families and how important they are to them, no matter what species.

Masaru doesn’t have that many distinct memories of the times when his dad was still around (he was four), so it’s very meaningful that this one – in which his dad taught him the importance of respecting people’s families – is one that managed to stick with him.

At these words from his dad, little Masaru understands that he needs to let the frog go, and he happily waves goodbye to it as it hops off.

Suguru: “You did great. That’s what a man should do!”

Of course Suguru finishes up with this. Respecting other people’s families is part of his concept of manliness! He was already teaching his son how to be a Man (which is not about gender but about being a decent and honourable person), even when Masaru was this little.

Look at him he’s so smol and so good and so happy to be making his dad proud, it’s adorable.

Masaru: “Dad…”

Masaru in the present regains consciousness mumbling his dad’s name, probably without having really meant to. How often do you want to bet he has dreams about some of the few memories he still has of his dad. Very often, no doubt.

He opens his eyes to see his comrades sprawled around him, hurt and barely conscious just like him after Dukemon’s attack, the Digimon devolved. Further around them, the scene’s suddenly taken on an atmosphere of ominous gravity; the Royal Knights are lined up in two rows, bowing deeply, as a human-seeming figure in a cloak walks between them towards the group.

Masaru: “Damn it… They’re planning to finish us off… I won’t… let that happen… This fight… isn’t over yet…”

Masaru doesn’t quite seem to register what this might mean. He struggles to focus on the approaching figure, seeing them as nothing but another enemy, here to finish off him and his friends. Of course he can’t let that happen. Of course he can’t just give up like this.

He forces himself painfully to his feet and rushes at the figure, throwing a punch at their face. His fist ends up sailing harmlessly past just inches to the side – at the last second, Masaru must have noticed whose face it was and frantically redirected his fist to miss on purpose.

The gust from the missed punch blows the figure’s hood back, revealing the face of Suguru Daimon. Masaru’s eyes widen in shock as he stumbles to a halt and turns around to stare at him.

This is the first time Masaru’s seen his father in anything but a photograph in ten whole years.

(At this moment, the BGM piece called I’M JUST FIGHTER starts up. This scene is the single biggest reason I really love that piece.)

“Suguru” turns back to look at him with a completely cold, impassive expression, no hint of recognition or happiness at seeing his son again.

Masaru: “Dad… Is that you, Dad…?”

Masaru is Staring, hardly able to believe this is really happening: his dad, here again right in front of him after all this time. He doesn’t even seem to be properly registering the lack of reaction he’s getting, not yet. He’s too stuck on his dad is actually here.

Masaru: “Don’t scare us like that. Why didn’t you contact us or something if you were safe?”

I love that this is something that immediately comes to mind, seeing his dad here and apparently… fine? He must have told himself for all this time (and especially since learning where his dad really disappeared to) that the only reason he didn’t contact them must’ve been because he couldn’t somehow. And yet it looks like… he probably could have, but he just… didn’t? Why on earth not?

Masaru: “C’mon, let’s go home. Mom and Chika are waiting.”

I adore how Masaru’s got so caught up in the moment of finding his dad at last that he’s completely forgotten what they’re supposed to be doing right now. They kind of have a god to talk to and an apocalypse to stop, but literally none of that matters to Masaru in this moment. His dad’s here; that means he needs to bring him home and they can finally have their family back together at last, like they’ve always dreamed of. Nothing else is even remotely as important as that.

He says this while raising his hands forwards and stepping towards his dad, perhaps vaguely hoping for some kind of hug or something. “Suguru” just keeps giving him that impassive look, and slaps one hand away.

Masaru stares some more, probably beginning to realise there’s something very wrong about this. He must have imagined a thousand different ways his reunion with his dad might go when he definitely eventually found him again in the Digital World, and this was not any of them.

Dukemon: “Insolent fellow! Do you have any idea who you’re speaking to?”

Masaru: “Who I’m speaking to…? This is my…”

Dukemon: “This person is our God, Yggdrasil!”

I love the sort of lost, automatic way Masaru mumbles an answer to Dukemon’s question without thinking. He never even stopped to consider the context of what’s going on and the fact that the Royal Knights were all bowing to this figure. It’s his dad, of course, why even ask, what other possible answer could there be…?

Except apparently, his dad’s also a god.

Masaru: “Dad is… the Digital World’s God…?”

This shot here, as Masaru tries to process this, is so good. It does a perfect job at getting across just how huge and momentous and all-encompassing Masaru’s father is and has always been to him. His dad is the biggest most important person in the whole wide world, so upon hearing that he’s literally a god, some part of Masaru’s mind just kinda goes, yeah, that makes sense? it’s his dad, after all.

(Remember that Masaru last saw his dad when he was four. Thanks to his absence, that way that a four-year-old kid would look up to their parent as the greatest most powerful person ever is still how Masaru unconsciously sees his dad today, even now that he’s fourteen. I love Masaru’s dad complex so much.)

Masaru: “I-I don’t get it, Dad. We came here because we were told to go see Yggdrasil. Explain to me what’s going on here…”

It’s so adorable how, despite how obviously weird and unresponsive “Suguru” is acting, Masaru still instinctively asks him for an explanation to clear up the confusion he’s feeling. It’s his dad, right? He knows the answer to everything; of course he’ll be able to explain things and make it all make sense.

Dukemon informs him that there’s nothing left to talk about; Yggdrasil has already made up its mind to save the Digital World by annihilating the human world. Everyone gapes at this revelation, Masaru especially. “Suguru” stands there impassively, saying nothing to contest it.

Masaru: “H-He’s lying, right? You can’t destroy the human world… My dad would never say that…”

I love the desperate smile on his face, and the stammer (Masaru hardly ever stammers!) as he tries to tell himself that surely all of that’s just lies, surely his dad would never want to destroy an entire world, that doesn’t make sense, as soon as his dad opens his mouth to say something it’ll all be put back to normal again (right?)

(and yet he’s got to already be afraid this is true, because that look on his dad’s face, and the fact that he hasn’t said anything to question it, and how can this be happening it’s his DAD)

“Suguru”: “The ones who destroyed the dimensional barrier and are leading the two worlds to their destruction are none other than the humans. There is no worth in keeping the humans alive.”

Masaru’s desperate smile falls away as his dad’s voice cuts him off with an emotionless, callous explanation of exactly why humans deserve to die. No; no explanation from the father he thought he knew is coming. This really is exactly what it looks like.

(Of course, this is Yggdrasil speaking, just the same as it was last episode. It’s only Suguru on a superficial, physical level. But I’m using “Suguru” as the tags for this in these scenes where Masaru is present, because it is vitally important that Masaru 100% believes it really is his dad.)

Masaru: “Da… Dad…”

Masaru backs away in horror, and there’s this delightful flash of his dad smiling at him from the flashback, like Masaru’s image of his father as the kind and honourable person he thought he was is being utterly shaken to its core right now. I love it.

“Suguru”: “The human world… will be destroyed.”

I utterly adore how “Suguru”’s decisively ruthless words in the present are immediately followed by the flashback snippet of Suguru smiling at his son, affectionately saying his name while patting him on the head – and then it just shatters, and there’s nothing but a dark swirling void of nothingness behind it.

This is a very deliberate metaphor. Literally everything about who Masaru is has been built off his image of and idolisation of his father as the best most wonderful person ever. Seeing his father like this, casually ordering the genocide of an entire species – his entire species – utterly shatters that image. And without that, Masaru has nothing left that makes him Masaru. It’s all just gone. Empty. The writers knew exactly what they were doing with this shot and I love it so much.

Back in the Daimons’ house on Earth, Sayuri and Chika turn around in surprise. The family photo’s been knocked off its shelf by an earthquake or something, the glass shattered exactly where Suguru’s face is. Sayuri stares at the broken photo in horror, perhaps sensing that this is an omen of something really bad.

(It may be a huge coincidence that this happened with this exact timing and the exact placement of the damaged glass, but I don’t care it’s symbolism I love it)

Masaru stares at his father in broken disbelief for a long moment… and then he just crumples to his knees, utterly defeated.

I love this so so much. This is Masaru Daimon, completely indomitable unstoppable spirit, who’s been unintimidated by literal Demon Lords and who just earlier this episode stopped a huge deadly spear twice, by punching it – but this one man says three sentences to him, and he shatters, simple as that. It’s so impactful. It says so much about how his father is everything to him. This is my single favourite scene in all of Savers.

Something else worth talking about regarding this is: remember the concept I brought up in episode 26 when Masaru nearly didn’t remember Agumon, and in episode 34 when he completely bought into Tohma’s betrayal, both times because he’s so straightforward that he doesn’t know how to look at something beyond surface level? That is extremely relevant here, as well.

Anybody else in this situation, even someone else with an equally powerful dad complex as Masaru’s, would have been able to look at the way their “father” is acting, see him callously declaring that he’ll destroy an entire species, and realise, something’s up with this. Surely the better explanation, rather than that their dad has become a genocidal god, is instead that this isn’t really their dad at all, despite what it looks like. But Masaru is so utterly used to taking everything at face value that this doesn’t even occur to him. He completely buys into the idea that his dad has turned into this monster, despite how much it hurts and how badly he must not want to believe it.

Masaru reacts the way he does to this, again, because he is Masaru and has such a straightforward approach to everything. Nobody else would in quite the same way. (I mentioned that this scene uses I’M JUST FIGHTER, and it’s perfect for it. The music comes to a crescendo and climax right as “Suguru” says those damning words that break Masaru, and it hits just right; I love it.)

And then, because his belief in his dad was nonetheless so strong, that’s why this breaks him so badly, just like when he thought Tohma had betrayed him. The difference between the two situations, of course, being that Masaru can’t even get angry at his dad betraying him, because how could he? It’s his dad! That and all of the mental mechanisms that enable Masaru to get fired up and passionate about things are rooted in his belief in his dad in the first place, so when that shatters, he simply loses the ability to even get angry at all. There’s nothing else he can do but just… shut down entirely.

With Masaru summarily dealt with – he’s very clearly not about to say anything else to question their god – the Royal Knights advance on the others, asking Yggdrasil what to do with them. It orders the Knights to kill them, as they’re useless to it.

The Royal Knights tower over the group, raising their weapons, while Tohma and the others watch in fear, knowing they have no hope of stopping this. Yoshino is hugging Lalamon and trembling – aaaa, Yoshino, she’s still always so scared of all of this!

Agumon: “Damn it! Aniki! Get a hold of yourself! Aniki!”

Agumon at least is clinging to some of his Aniki’s usual never-say-die spirit, not understanding why Aniki isn’t – but Masaru himself is still broken, utterly unable to function like his follower expects him to. Masaru.exe has encountered a problem and has stopped working. He probably doesn’t even hear Agumon’s words.

His dad is a genocidal god out to kill humanity; how is he supposed to care or even think about literally anything else?

(This is my single favourite shot in Savers. I love it so much. Please give this kid a hug and tell him it’s going to be okay. Also, a bonus detail about it that I enjoy: Masaru’s pendant is almost always angled so we can see the front, but right now all that’s visible is the back.)

Just before the Royal Knights can finish them off, another giant Digimon, Sleipmon, swoops towards them, scooping the humans and their partners up in his hand and flying away with them. People familiar with Royal Knight lore will know that Sleipmon is also a Royal Knight, though the rest of the Knights seem quite surprised to see him doing this.

(You can just about see Masaru there in Sleipmon’s hand, but while most of the others seem to be freaking out about this sudden development, Masaru looks like he’s barely even registering it.)

Dukemon shoots an attack at Sleipmon as he flies up into the sky, which hits him but isn’t enough to kill him or stop him escaping. Craniummon suggests they should pursue him, but Yggdrasil tells them not to bother. Everything will be wiped out anyway; these humans and one rogue Royal Knight don’t matter.

Overall thoughts

This would otherwise be a relatively unremarkable, solidly decent but not outstanding episode, if it weren’t for my single favourite scene in the entire series at the end of it. That inherently pulls my appreciation of the episode as a whole up by several notches, purely because it contains this scene.

The rest of it’s fun enough as episodes go. Having Gotsumon show up reborn is neat, giving us an example of how this normally works; he’s clearly the same person but without the previous lifetime of bigotry making him an asshole. There’s a lot of comedy in this one that’s kinda hit-or-miss for me, but I do like the tiger’s butt line for how dorkily Masaru it is. And I love Masaru’s determination while fighting Craniummon, having the guts and straightforwardness to block his spear twice with his own fist, as well as the delightful “shouldn’t get to call himself a god!” speech.

And then. The best scene.

I just adore how comprehensively it gets across that Masaru’s dad is everything to him. We’ve always known this the whole time, of course, based on the way he acts whenever his dad – or, heck, parents in general – get brought up, to say nothing of where he obviously gets his manliness and determination from. But it’s so, so delightful to finally actually see it in full force. All this stuff I’d been noticing about Masaru’s dad complex this whole time, even on just my first time through? Yes, I’d been reading it right, and it matters, and we’re about to start getting really deep into it all. I love it. Those metaphor shots in particular are just. *chefs kiss* So good. The writers get it. They knew exactly what they were writing when it comes to Masaru.

And, of course, deep analysis aside, it’s also the absolute biggest possible example of Masaru being Not Okay. This is the most Not Okay it is possible for a Masaru to be, literally the one single way it is possible for him to be this. Even his dad turning out to be dead wouldn’t be nearly as bad, because then at least he could still keep believing in the father he remembered. The single best way to break Masaru: show him that his dad’s a monster. Which, thanks to his ridiculously straightforward nature, he won’t even question and will accept at face value.

Also I do love the adorable Little Masaru flashback with the frog, and his dad teaching him about the importance of family. The first of a few Little Masaru flashbacks we’ll be getting in this arc!

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[Dub comparison]

#digimon #digimon savers #masaru daimon #sayuri daimon #suguru daimon #yggdrasil #gotsumon #craniummon #dukemon #masaru's dad complex

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fakepriest · 1 year

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@mirckel

With a familiar voice coming from behind the corner, Illyasviel waited until the other party left before approaching Kirei. Ready to cause "mischief" as the older man called her actions with a spring in her step, she stilled upon seeing the figure. With a blink of an eye the gears in her head turned as she recognized that, indeed, he was still Kirei- just different. A new ascension then.

"What? A new look to represent your age?" Illyasviel started with a grin on her face, still processing the new look. It wasn't a bad look on him, she actually noted. Though something of it seemed familiar. Ah. "You would easily now pass as a---" the phrase dying on her lips as she remembered something.

Had she not thought that he was simply red eyes short of truly passing as her father? Now he even had the fully white hair as well. He looks like an Einzbern homunculi. Though she was no longer alone, nor was he stuck having to humor her antics while dealing with everything else, the feeling still struck her.

She knew him better than her own father. She was closer to him than her own father.

"Ah." What had she been thinking? She couldn't confess anything of the sort to Kirei, despite a part of her wanting to after what had happened the previous time she had confessed something so major. "I simply meant that you truly do look like an old man now." Trailing off with a weak laughter, Illyasviel looked away.

He was also one of the few that even recognized her, remembered who she was. Was it really so bad to feel this way?

Considering the amount of servants present at all times, it is not surprising in the least that they still had not run into each other until now--moreover, he sincerely doubts any of their old mutual acquaintainces, such as Emiya himself, would have notified either of them about the other’s presence. Perhaps they wanted the little homunculus to have nothing to do with him. How endearing.

“Hoh, if it is not the Einzbern master--”

Kirei certainly was expecting much more wariness, perhaps even hostility from her, not... whatever this is. He has always known about how lonely she had been in life, how she had clung to her beloved big brother throughout its last part. But certainly not to him.

Therefore, he simply cannot not understand the evident affection and longing in her eyes--not because of his nature, but because their interactions had been extremely limited throughout the entirety of the Holy Grail War.

The boy had not managed to achieve his goal in time, and relief and a delirious joy had poured over the priest’s wounded figure in the form of the grail’s corruption, of Angra Mainyu’s very essence--washing away his regrets and his anguish along with everything else in its path.

The answer at the end of it all had cost everyone else their lives. In that moment, nothing else mattered, his long obsession of thirty-six years coming to fruition.

“What a disgraceful way of greeting me after such a long time, Illyasviel. Should we not rejoice in this unexpected reunion?”

While his words might be filled with teasing, the gaze that accompanies them remains devoid of whatever it is that she was expecting to see in it.

#answers from the confessional.#forget your songs; forget your prayers; forget me. any burden has been forgotten. o' purifying fire—save us. ( alter ego )#:DDDDD

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greatlydelirious · 2 years

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𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 (𝐈𝐈𝐈)

Karl Heisenberg x F!Reader

wordcount: 3.5k words

summary: No matter where you go, you can’t seem to catch a break.

chapter warnings: light angst, light fluff, porn with plot, eventual romance

previous chapter | next chapter | (AO3 Link)

III: Caught Up

“You look like shit.” Your gaze moves from Elena’s form retreating into the kitchen to the older man. Taking a seat across from him you huff. Blunt was Leonardo’s middle name. Instead of being offended, it made you laugh. “Aren’t you quite the charmer?” His usual mean disposition softens a fraction. “I’m only telling you the truth sweetheart.”

In all honesty, a part of you wanted the reminder of how much everything was affecting you. It made your pain feel real. Not only was it festering on the inside, but it was clear to anyone who looked at you.

Elena walks into the small dining room with a pot filled with something that smelled amazing in her hands. “Papa, please. She just looks… rugged. Some would consider that attractive.” Leonardo snorts before taking a sip of the dark liquid in his glass. Although you didn’t know what it was, judging by the way he slightly winces it would make hair grow on your chest.

After placing the pot in the middle of the table Elena playfully smacks the man on the shoulder with a rag. “I invited her over to make her feel better; not worse.” Earlier that morning a set of hefty knocks woke you from your light slumber and you were greeted by a worry-faced Elena. She practically dragged you over to eat with her and Leonardo.

Their relationship made you smile. You couldn’t be bitter at such a close bond between daughter and father. Even with that in mind, your heart clenches in the way it loved to do lately.

Leonardo wasn’t wrong though. If it wasn’t for the flush on your cheeks the villagers might have mistaken you for a Moroaica. Even The Duke seemed concerned about your well-being during your weekly visit.

Dark bags sat under your eyes due to nonexistent sleep and your skin was paler than usual. Misery was also evident in the way your mouth would sit in a frown unless you purposely schooled your features.

The universe was choosing to not only punch you in the gut but beat you to a pulp.

Ever since that first night, the same nightmare became a reoccurring dream for you. The more you had, the more you felt sick in each one. You still hadn’t figured out what plagued you, or that little girl rather, in your dreams.

Your mind would keep you up till the very late hours of the night. It was due to a mix of fear of what was to come when you slept and the many questions constantly running through your mind.

Anytime you tried to read, Heisenberg was all you could think about. You had only been around him for such a short amount of time, but there was this undeniable spark. Every time the door of your home opened a part of you hoped Heisenberg would be the one to walk in.

It never was.

A steaming bowl of stew is placed in front of you. “Eat.” Elena gives you stern look before sitting down herself. Damn women and their mothering ways. You gave in every time.

The meal goes by in comfortable silence. By now you probably spent hundreds of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with the pair. Ever since the attack that left you orphaned Leonardo kept an eye on you. They were the only semblance of family you had left.

When everyone was finished, you and Elena gather all the dishes and cleanup together. You washed while she dried. The ritual was foreign when compared to your usually unstable day-to-day life. Lately, your routine had been far from normal. This was a welcome distraction.

Both of you slipped into the domestic routine with ease until Elena wiped her hands on her skirts. As you lean against the counter you catch up with your friend. Elena was more than excited to tell you everything from the cute pig she ran into to the village gossip.

A sense of guilt gnawed at you for being so distant from her. That feeling is relieved slightly when you suddenly remember something.

“I have a gift for you.” The girl’s cheeks turn flush as she gasps your name, “No you do not!” You pull a small velvet bag from the satchel on your hip. “Ms. Elena, I’m hurt. I didn’t know you took me for a liar.” Teasingly pouting your lips, you hold out the gift.

Indulging you with a roll of her eyes, Elena gently takes it before seeing what’s inside. A soft gasp comes from her when she pulls the item out. Danglingly from her fingers is an authentic gold necklace that held a dainty charm with two hearts; one slightly bigger than the other.

“At first it caught my attention because its delicate design reminded me of you. On closer examination, I noticed the second heart and I thought it represented you and your father. It was practically made to be worn by you.”

Elena’s eyes were wide as she gaped at you. “How did you get this?”

Giving Elena a wink, you smile at her awestruck face. At this moment she looked just as innocent as she did so many years ago. “I have my ways.” Your “ways” was a sizeable merchant who always seemed to be selling just what you needed.

You carefully pluck the necklace from Elena’s hands and move behind her. Brushing her ponytail out of the way, you secure the piece of metal around her neck. When you move back to get its full effect your smile grows wider. It looked beautiful on Elena.

At a loss for words, she envelops you in a hug. The loving touch made tears start to brim behind your eyes. “Thank you. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever given me.”

You tighten your arms around Elena. It had been so long since you last saw the young woman. Her companionship meant more to you than she would ever know.

After a few shed tears and girlish giggles, you bid Elena and Leonardo farewell. Elena’s mission was a success. Your heavy heart felt lighter than it did before.

In high spirits, you practically skip down the dirt path. That boost of serotonin was like a hit of the best kind of drug. Unfortunately, no high can last forever.

As you make your way through the village, sly glances and low whispers are left in your wake. No matter how much you tried to prove yourself, the rumor mill was insatiable. Most people had nothing better to entertain themselves with, clearly.

You almost scream when a cold hand meets your elbow. Spinning around you’re greeted by someone you hoped to avoid. The old hag snickers, “Don’t be frightened. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” That couldn’t be good.

“Are you ill? I can walk you to my home.” When you go to turn in that direction her grip on your elbow tightens. “No. no.” Overly large eyes roam over you. It takes all of your muscle control to not shiver,

“Do you sleep well dear?” The question catches you off guard. Of all the things she could have asked you, this was the most important? You must have looked worse than you thought. “Not as well as I would wish. My brain never stops even when I sleep.” You let out an awkward laugh.

This felt a little too personal for your liking. Elena and her father were the only villagers you talked to outside of healing. For good reason too.

The hag hums, “Unlike a forgiving rest your mind reaches for more. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become.”

If you were anyone else you would think the woman was out of her mind, but you didn’t. There was this twinge in her pale eyes that told you more than just words could. Similar to The Duke, she was indirectly warning about something that was to come.

However, your mind couldn’t decipher what she was trying to say. “What does that mean?” An unnerving smile stretches across the hag’s face. “That’s for you to discover in due time.”

Before you can try to question her more, she turns away. “In life and death, glory to Mother Miranda.”

You watch the very old woman walk toward the church in stunned silence. The sounds of her decorated staff clattering are the only thing keeping your mind from collapsing in on itself. Instead of an answer, you’re left with a taunting riddle.

The universe and all of its inhabitants were truly against you. With no sense of guilt, you let yourself indulge in the endless sea of self-pity.

You walk through the woods for some much-needed time away from the village. For just a little while you wanted to pretend like your life was problem free.

Loose dirt flies around at every kick of your feet. Stupid village. Stupid people. Stupid Mother Miranda. Stupid Heisenberg. And yet the worse thing of all is your treacherous heart.

It had been two weeks since your last visit from Heisenberg. As time passes your brain became more and more meddled with confusion. You tried your best to consume yourself in healing and reading, but of course, your mind always managed to wonder. What was up with him? More importantly, what was up with you?

Elena even noticed how you would zone out with “hearts in your eyes”. It didn’t take much prying for you to confess about the new man that walked into your life.

Of course, you hadn’t told Elena that you were starting to develop feelings for Lord Heisenberg himself. Her caring gaze and soft voice did lure you to tell her half-truths, however.

To her knowledge, you started being intimate with a man in the village. When you wouldn’t divulge a name Elena teasingly asked if it was Anton. The gag noise that came from your mouth made her double over in a fit of laughter. Only in his wettest dreams would you give him a chance to merely hold you.

The last time you had any kind of relationship with a man was when you were still in your “fuck it” stage of life. You were young and used any outlet to suppress your grief. Over eager hands slid across your body, not taking the time to pay attention to the parts of you that made you moan the most. For you, it was more of a time filler rather than an actually pleasurable time.

When you finally got your act together you just thought you didn’t enjoy sex. That was until Heisenberg proved your theory completely false. Now you felt like a sex fiend.

Mother Miranda may have not turned you into one of her mindless followers, but you still felt like you were going insane. Each wisp of cold air that caressed your legs reassured you that you were indeed still a coherent being.

This was the first time you went into the woods after you first met Heisenberg. You were even wearing the same outfit; cloak and all. The only difference was that instead of your straw basket, you had a satchel slung across your body.

You don’t even notice how the sky started to turn dark as you continue to walk. Your mind works overtime to keep up with your raging thoughts and contemplations. You wanted to come to a conclusion on how you would tackle the obvious chemistry between you and Heisenberg.

There was an undeniable pull, but you figured the man was the noncommittal, fuck without feelings type. While you, on the other hand, locked yourself in your home and sniffled at a couple of chapters of “Pride and Prejudice”.

What got to you the most was the little sweet moments you had. Heisenberg did some of the most intimate things by brushing away your hair, cleaning you off, and helping you get dressed. Your mind had to jump through hoops to find something, anything that made sense.

Why did Heisenberg have to be so complicated? “How could he not?” You admonish out loud. He was a metal-wielding, all-powerful, mutation of a man for fucks sake.

You really get lost in thought when your mind relives your second encounter with the village’s old hag. The way she asked about your sleep was unnerving. It was almost like she knew what you were going through.

The hair on the back of your neck raises the same time goosebumps litter your skin. Taking in where you are, you blanch. You had wandered halfway through the dark woods like a careless child. This walk had to of been your worst idea yet.

Growls from hungry beats can be heard from all directions. Turning your head, you notice the light from the moon reflecting off of almost silver fur. “Oh shit.” You breathe out loud. Three Lycans were prowling right toward you. Each had saliva leaking from their toothy maws.

For a moment you consider running in the other direction, but you are certain it would lead you into the claws of more of their friends. When one snarls you see a hint of blood running down its chin. You’re frozen in fear.

You hadn’t encountered a Lycan since the devastating attack that left you alone, scared, and hopeless. Memories begin to assault your brain.

“Run! Get help!” Your mother and father frantically push the dresser in front of the door just as another blow makes the wood bow. Fire licks up the walls, adding to the chaos. It was just a matter of time before you were all torn to shreds by a beast or the flames.

For a second you hesitate. You couldn’t leave them, you wouldn’t. Running over, your father grabs your face in his hands. Only then do you notice how your body was shaking as sobs raked your body.

Rough lips kiss your forehead. “All of us can’t make it out undetected. You’re our last hope honey.” When you stare into your father’s eye it’s the first time you see fear and uncertainty in their depths.

All though the sight added to your terror, he was right. Your grandmother was in no fit shape to leave your home and if more than one of you left it was almost guaranteed that the Lycans would chase. Nodding your head, you reluctantly run for the back window. “I’m sorry Papa.”

When you refocus, two of the Lycans had moved within arm’s distance of you. There was no use fighting, you were outnumbered. Closing your eyes, you accept your fate. Doing so made your heart feel light; a strange tranquility taking over you.

Briefly you hoped this is what your parents felt; instead of the painful terror you always imagined. Something hard wraps around your waist. This was it. The Lycan must have grabbed you and was going to tear your throat out.

You gasp when instead of feeling sharp teeth, you feel a sudden burst of weightlessness. A swoosh of air ruffles your hair and tickles your skin. Your eyes fly open and you’re faced with the top of a tree. Shock outweighs any other emotion. Pressure around your middle encourages you to explore.

Cool metal meets your fingers. An astonished laugh leaves you. The item was instantly recognizable. Heisenberg’s hammer was wrapped around your torso, stabilizing you in the air.

Growls coming from below make you shift your attention. Even from this height, you could see a pissed-off-looking Heisenberg. You watch with batted breath as the beasts cower away from the man.

“Run off you fucking mutts. This one is mine.” The way Heisenberg growled out the words made you shiver. Unlike before, you would gladly let yourself be devoured by him.

You watch as the three Lycans scamper off from where they came. No more growls could be heard from nearby either. After a beat, you jump when you start to move. Ever so gently, you are lowered from the air.

When your feet touch the ground the support around your waist is replaced by two strong arms. “Are trying to get yourself killed?” Resting your arms on Heisenberg’s muscular biceps you look up at him, starry-eyed. “I just wanted to go for a walk.”

He scoffs, “At night, in the middle of the woods? You surprise me once again doll. I thought you were too smart to make a dumbass choice like that.” Of course, your brain only registers that he called you smart.

It was a head trip to go from not seeing the man to him coming to your rescue like a knight in shining armor. (Or in his case a knight in an overworn trench coat.)

“Why did you save me?” Your question was a genuine one. Based on your last interaction, you assumed he was done with you. Now here you were, in his arms.

“I told you I wouldn’t let anyone lay a hand on you.” Heisenberg’s possessiveness confuses you as much as it hypnotizes you. Any anger you held towards Heisenberg dissipated as you just smile. He had saved you. It would have probably been more convenient if he just let you die, but he didn’t.

Still smiling up at Heisenberg you pull back an inch. “I was hoping to see you.” With the only light source being the moon above you couldn’t make out his exact expression. “Were you now?” Nodding your head, you let your hands travel down the strap across your body.

Fumbling inside your satchel you finally are able to yank out what you were looking for. You hold a familiar pair of well-loved leather gloves. Heisenberg had forgotten them on your exam table after rushing out of your home.

“You left them at my home. I’ve been keeping them on me just in case I ran into you. We seem to lean more towards the spontaneous persuasion.”

It was Heisenberg’s turn to be shocked. Releasing you, he steps back. From this angle, you could see his expression change. He was looking at you like he was seeing you for the first time. And maybe in a way he was.

A rush of emotions that you have been suppressing come to the surface. For the first time in two weeks, you run your eyes over Heisenberg’s tense body. It had to be from the adrenaline, but you swore he looked even sexier than the last time you saw him.

When Heisenberg continues to just stare you raise an eyebrow. “Long time no see.” There was a slight edge to your tone. You couldn’t help, but still, feel hurt. After letting Heisenberg have his way with you, he gave you radio silence.

“I was busy.” The clipped sentence left no room for discussion. A large hand encircles your wrist and tugs. Due to the force, you fall against the man’s hard chest. Heisenberg’s shades fell low enough, so you could look into those eyes that haunted your daydreams.

That familiar spark starts to crackle when your gazes meet. After a beat, rough lips meet your own. Sweet relief washes over you at the connection. Maybe he still wanted you after all.

Teeth nip your lip, demanding entrance into your hot mouth. When you oblige Heisenberg wastes no time exploring you with his tongue. Your wet appendages circle and twist against each other in a sensual tango.

Over the past weeks, you craved him to the point of insanity. Now you would greedily take anything he would give you. Your hands bunch the fabric covering his chest, desperately trying to keep him against you. You moan at the feeling of being consumed by Heisenberg.

A sharp canine nicks your soft skin, but you could care less. “What big teeth you have.” You think to yourself with childish amusement. Heisenberg was right when the first thing he told you was that you looked straight out of a fable. It seems as though Heinsberg was the big bad wolf and you were the helpless little red riding hood. Only, you wanted this story to end with the animalistic man stealing you away for himself.

As you lean deeper into Heisenberg something hard presses into your lower stomach. The length of him twitches at the warmth and pressure of your body. His free hand trails up your bare thigh and makes contact with the wet cloth of your panties.

To your disappointment, Heisenberg growls before pulling back. When your lips leave each other with a wet pop, a string of saliva connects you even through the distance.

You watch enraptured when Heisenberg curses and takes off his hat to run a hand through those long grey locks. Your fingers twitch, wishing they were touching his hair instead. Despite everything he has told you, his body betrayed his word. You just know that he wants you as much as you want him.

Why can’t he just accept it?

One of his hands snatches your wrist that still held his gloves and you are practically dragged behind the Lord. “Wh-where are we going?” You’re taken aback by Heisenberg’s tight hold and quick strides. Unable to see his face you wonder what his intentions are.

“To my factory, little healer.”

Any and all interactions are greatly appreciated.

#karl heisenburg x reader #karl heisenburg x you #karl heisenberg imagines #karl heisenberg #resident evil 8 x reader #resident evil village #resident evil x reader #heisenberg x reader #delirious masterlist #crucible of desire masterlist

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spectral-kitkat · 3 years

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Miraculous Rant.

Where the hell do I begin…

Season 1:

The show was decent in season 1. Some episodes were just mindless filler and probably weren’t needed in the grand scheme of things but they helped us get introduced to the characters, we got to know the plot and the world our characters inhabit. It was good. The love story between Adrien and Marinette was cute and off to a touching and fluffy start.

Season 2:

This season was immediately better than season 1. It had character development, it went more into detail about the lore surrounding the Miraculous and we got to learn more about our characters and their families and the villian’s motives. (HM really went from “I wanna destroy the world” to “I wanna wake my wife from the coma she’s in”).

We got to see new heroes which was fun! We got new characters like Luka and Kagami.

The season finale was epic! The Miraculous team all taking down all the previous villains in the show was awesome. At the end we even got Mari kissing Adrien on the cheek. It was great! (Even though it clearly reset itself in season 3 cause it’s never mentioned again)

I really enjoyed season 2 and it’s probably my favourite out of the 4.

Season 3:

Season 3 was kinda good and kinda bad. We had some great episodes but this is where the show took the wrong turn.

Marinette lost some of her character in season 3. This was the start of her descent into being the Queen of Mary Sues. It’s also where she was crowned the Queen of Stalkers! Her character took a fucking nose dive in this season. We had so many moments that just creeped me the fuck out.

1. The ENTIRETY of Puppeteer 2 🤢🤢🤢 I could not stand that episode. When we reached the dreaded statue scene I physically had to pause it like 10 times. That scene takes about 3 minutes to watch… it took me about 20. I cringed so fucking hard because of the secondhand embarrassment I was feeling. That was not sweet, it wasn’t romantic, it wasn’t the least bit cute… it was a train wreck! It was creepy and stalkerish and it’s a wonder Adrien even spoke to her again after that atrocity!

2. LB delivering the present in Chat Blanc. Two words: STALKER BEHAVIOUR!!! I genuinely could not believe my eyes when I saw LB run her hand across everything in his room and then actually SNIFF Adrien’s pillow. Like WTF!!! 🤮 I’m pretty sure whoever was responsible for that scene clearly thought it was the equivalent of when someone gets their S/O’s jumper or something and it still smells like them. But this turned it up to the nth degree and way passed the line of sanity.

Adrien was extremely under-utilised in this season. He didn’t really do anything. The only episodes we got about him didn’t really focus on him. ‘Felix’ whilst focusing on Adrien’s family didn’t really feature him. ‘Party Crasher’ while a beautiful mess was more about Mari trying to get into the party than the party itself. ‘Chat Blanc’ again focused more on Mari trying to fix her mistake.

We got even more heroes in season 3, not in the right order but they were there. It was fun seeing everyone’s transformations.

Season 3 was also the season of destroying redemptions. The big one obviously being Chloe. Season 2 was setting up this amazing redemption for her and before it could go anywhere it was wiped off the face of the earth during the finale (and don’t worry we’ll get to that dumpster fire later). Gabriel also had any remaining sympathy ripped away from him. How did the guy who stopped Gorizilla from letting Adrien die when he only thought he was CN go from that to using his son like fucking baseball in Chat Blanc when he knew his son was CN. Like I knew you were a shit father but you still cared about Adrien in some way shape or form but after that episode I can see I was clearly mistaken!

Before we get to the finale I want to talk about probably my 2 least favourite episodes from this season: Desperada and Reflekdoll

Desperada:

I fucking hated this episode! The only good thing was Luka getting to be Viperion, other than that this episode was awful!

Marinette was a selfish cringey bitch. Completely ignoring Luka to gush about Adrien to Jagged. Brushing Luka off as soon as Adrien turns up. Immediately cuddling up to Aspik and flirting with him when she needed to focus on the akuma (something which she has told CN not to do many times before)

Adrien, I love you kid but Jesus Christ you were a dumbass in this episode! Aspik’s design was terrible! Aspik himself was awful. I know Adrien tried his best but dude you were given the Black Cat miraculous for a reason! He shouldn’t have tried to be Aspik but even when he did he should’ve called it quits after like 5 resets not 25,913 times.

The only person with a brain this episode was Luka. So well done guitar boy, gold star!

Reflekdoll:

This episode was annoying! It was basically the start of the Marinette can do no wrong streak! When they have to swap miraculous I was happy cause it meant we got to see new outfits and see how they each handle the different powers. It would also serve as a way to get LB and CN to see what their partners role is first hand. Until we actually get to it…

LadyNoire is of course amazing and needs no introduction to using this new miraculous that she’s never used before. She’s cocky and confident and basically just LB in Chat’s costume with his powers.

Mister Bug on the other hand is just useless. He struggles with this new miraculous (like anyone would!) and is stupid and goofy. He has to rely on LadyNoire to solve the lucky charm. They swapped miraculous so shouldn’t that mean that Mister Bug should get the lucky vision and the creative powers that the earrings give him.

Overall Reflekdoll is awful. It was shitty writing and the start of Adrien getting the short end of the stick.

And now the season 3 finale… Just what the fuck. That is my only reaction: what the fuck!

Chloe you poor fucking child! What did they do to you!!! So much potential SQUANDERED!!!!

What was the point in bringing in all these different superheros with unique skill sets, costumes and transformations if you were just going to immediately reveal them to the main villian so they can’t be used again. That’s stupid! If you wanted the shock value that is “Oh no HM knows some of the heroes identities!” Then keep it as only some. Have like Max, Kim and Kagami outside trying to find somewhere to hide but unfortunately they get hit. Or Nino and Alya are hiding but the windows open and they get hit. Have some of the heroes hide so they’re fine! Taking away every ally of LB and CN’s was a stupid move! (Even if they wanted Alya to become a spy have her as part of the like 4 that get revealed or something, it’s not that difficult)

Season 3 was 50/50 for me

Season 4:

So I know season 4 isn’t even halfway through yet but so much is wrong with this season already that I need to vent!

So my biggest problem with this season of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybitch and Rena Rouge, I mean Rena Furtive… shit, Chat Noir! Is that CN is basically pointless! Adrien has been flung over a rainbow and is only remembered when he’s needed as

1. Marinette’s love interest

2. Someone for LB to shout at

3. A plot device

He has basically been sidelined. Partners my ASS!!!

Adrien is being blown off by pretty much EVERYONE! It’s coming to a point where this poor sweet summer child is going to crack! And it is not gonna be pretty… I definitely feel like the writers are leading up to a big fight between CN and LB which will probably end with Chat Blanc 2.0.

I REALLY HATE MARINETTE/LADYBUG!!!! In Season 3 I said it was the beginning of her descent, well in season 4 she’s done it. She’s descended, she has hit rock fucking bottom. She is so unlikable I don’t actually care about her as a person. She has entered full blown stalker territory it’s only a matter of time before she starts killing people for even looking at Adrien! Not to mention that Miss Mary Sue here can’t do anything wrong! She never has to suffer the consequences of her actions, she is always perfect no matter what she does… it pisses me off!)

She’s the Guardian now big whoop. I know what it feels like to be stressed and under pressure so I do understand why she needed to tell someone about it all. I just don’t see why that person had to Alya! Especially considering she has someone by her side every akuma attack going through pretty much the exact same thing. I know she’s worried about CB happening again but as I said before the more she leaves him out the more she is actually pushing that to become a possibility! Plus it makes sense for them to reveal their identities now since LB is now the guardian it’s probably a good idea to know who holds the cat miraculous, she knows everyone else’s identities!

Even if she didn’t want to tell CN her identity she could still explain the situation to him. If she didn’t want to tell him anything (which she doesn’t anyway) then instead of Alya she should’ve talked to Luka! Her boyfriend for all of half an episode (thanks writers…). He’s so sweet and caring and clearly loves her so much! If she wanted someone to confide in then why not choose the person you clearly wanted to date but couldn’t because of that very reason! (Yeah I know it’s kinda a moot point now since Luka knows both identities but still). He wanted to try and comfort her so it would’ve been the perfect moment for it. That way you could still date him and he’d know why you had to suddenly leave dates halfway through! But no break the boys heart instead!

Adrien and Marinette were both such fucking idiots in the first 2 episodes. Like why would you start a relationship with someone when you know your heart isn’t in it! That’s called leading someone on and is a really shitty thing to do to someone! No wonder Kagami and Luka ended up akumatized!

Another aspect of season 4 I don’t like is Rena Furtive. Yes ok having a spy for your side is a good strategy but when said spy basically tells an important member of a duo that the 2 person job doesn’t involve them… it just really ticks me off! Alya you are the sidekick to LB and CN! Chat isn’t!

Miraculous specials:

The Miraculous World specials suck! Shanghai is better than NY but still has its problems. Both specials add nothing to the overall plot/lore of the show apart from trying to set up some weird cinematic universe…

NY special:

One of the worst things I’ve ever had to sit through! The plane scene alone I paused a few times. I want to say well done to Mari for trying to move on from Adrien (especially considering I’m pretty sure she’s dating Luka at this point) but I can’t help but think it’s just to give her character some pointless development that goes nowhere and doesn’t actually develop anything!

LB can pretty much fuck off at this point! I hate her! She put all this shit on CN (like she doesn’t know exactly how that feels). It’s like why does she get to go off on holiday but CN can’t. LB should’ve stayed in Paris for 3 reasons:

1. She’s recently become the guardian meaning it would probably be best that she stayed with the Mircle Box

2. She’s the only one who can purity the akumas

3. If she’s so sure about being the boss then she should take responsibility of Paris and the citizens.

What really pisses me off about her is what she says to CN during the big fight. “I can’t trust you”… surely you could have this conversation afterwards since you’re supposed to be focusing on taking down the villian! Plus everyone bashes Adrien for giving his miraculous up in this episode but look at it from his point of view: His partner and best friend just said she couldn’t trust him which in turn caused him to cataclysm someone and essentially kill them. That’s gonna take a toll on anyone, especially a 14 year old! He probably thought in that moment. “Ladybug needs a partner she can trust and someone who won’t mess up and kill someone. She needs a better partner.” It makes sense he renounces his miraculous! I’m just upset that in doing so he loses Plagg who is pretty much his only friend who actually understands what Adrien goes through at home.

When Uncanny gets CN to come back, LB acts like it’s not her fault in the first place that he feels inadequate! She didn’t even apologise for saying what she did! He apologised for lying about not being in Paris but nope LB wasn’t in the wrong at all and didn’t have anything to apologise for 🙄… (yes the LadyNoir hug was amazing but I just wish it was under different circumstances!)

Also are we not gonna mention Gabriel Agreste almost starting WW3??? He wanted to launch a fucking missile!!!

Shanghai:

As I said before, this special is way better for several reasons.

We got MariChat! (Best side to the love square imo). This special actually had some semblance on a plot. Fei, whilst a bit op, was a cool character. It was nice to see Wang Cheng again.

However once again there were many problems.

A big one being Marinette yet again! (What a shock! 😒 I’ll come back to this). Another was that once again HM’s motivation has changed. How is getting the Prodigious gonna help bring back Emilie??

Back to Marinette… The fact that the words “Huh?! There must be some kind of mistake! I always know what's up with Adrien! … His 5 first names and every corresponding name date, his yearly schedule, even his shoe size! If there were anything to know about him, I would know it!” come out of her mouth whilst she is flipping through his schedule that she keeps in her pocketbook is a hugh red flag!!! That is not cute or adorable! That’s messed up and Adrien needs to fucking run and maybe possibly go into witness protection… Marinette is a full blown stalker! Not to mention the GPS she has (that could just be the find my friends app on iphone but still).

It also is extremely rude of her to use not only her great uncle’s birthday but also a lie about wanting to know her Chinese heritage in order to go to Shanghai to stalk her obsession, I mean crush. This could’ve been avoided if the Dupain-Chengs were going to Shanghai for the purpose of celebrating Wang Cheng’s bday and then Adrien just so happened to be in Shanghai.

Also this means LB left Paris without telling CN! I know CN did the same but again he can’t purify the akumas. Plus he has a reason he couldn’t stay in Paris, Mari just went cause her crush did. Great guardianship there Marinette.

This was also the last time CN actually did something. Even if it was for a short while before LB and her female partner took over (the beginning of a theme…)

Other things:

There are 2 other things that I wanna say but felt they needed a separate bit.

In Furious Fu, Su-Han has a rule book that he uses to tell Marinette which rules she has broken. At the end of the episode he tells her that is she breaks 1 more rule that he will take the Miraculous and the Miracle Box off her, which fair enough but wouldn’t it be helpful to leave the rule book with her?! How can she be wary of not breaking anymore rules when she doesn’t even know what the rules are??

Now the big one: Master Fu…

Where do I even start with him. He is so fucking manipulative!! He is Asian Dumbledore!

He decides to leave these extremely powerful jewels in the hands of 13 year olds! Surely leaving the miraculous to someone in their 20s would’ve been better!

He clearly favours LB over CN even though the Ladybug and Black Cat are supposed to be partners! Wouldn’t it make sense for them both to be in contact with the guardian from the start?? He randomly started introducing rules such as if LB and CN find out each other’s identities they would lose their miraculous… what kind of bullshit rule is that? It also came out of fucking nowhere!

Final Thoughts:

But to summarise all of that: Miraculous is on quite a steep decline but I’m invested at this point and I am genuinely curious as to where the fuck this will go.

Marinette needs professional fucking help before the writers even consider canonising Adrienette cause at the moment she is not what Adrien needs!

Adrien needs to stand up for himself! He needs to pull LB to the side and tell her what he feels and what he’s going through cause he is on the precipice of a breakdown!

(Small point that’s more to do with the fandom: when searching for fanfics it’s really annoying that Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir Bashing is a tag but Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug Bashing isn’t. Why does everyone think Marinette can do no wrong???)

#miraculous fandom #miraculous ladybug #miraculous salt #adrien agreste #marinette dupen chang #marinette salt #master fu salt #ladybug and chat noir #fandom salt #thomas astruc salt #adrien deserves better #miraculous season 4 #miraculous season 3 #miraculous rant

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