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neonscandal · 2 years

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Manga With Me: MHA Edition

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: focused on chapters 100-150 and references previous chapters

Who doesn’t wish they could experience something again for the first time? Join me during my first MHA read through with reflections and head canons. Be sure to drop your head canons below, too!

This was a fortuitous break in chapters as we kick things off with Mei Hatsume who marks the beginning of a distinct departure from Deku's status quo. Her curiosity and cavalier attitude towards failure sets her as another form of bravery for consideration but also illustrates how the hero course tends to get all the shine and accolades with their flashy quirks (a surprise tool that will inevitable destabilize hero society later! that I'll discuss below). However, her brilliance resonates with Deku and drives his departure from All Might’s style of fighting. This sets him on a path diverting from imitating All Might.

Deku just needs a push in the right direction..

With this revelation, we see the power dynamic between Deku and All Might shift notably when Deku saves All Might from falling debris following Bakugo’s training attack. As Deku begins to find his own way, it’s a sobering highlight of his deviation from emulation and All Might's fade into fragility. Even Aizawa cautions All Might due to his injuries and, by extension, weakened state.

In an earlier section, we explored the fact that in the case of Shigiraki, anyone could have been a hero had they only stepped in. When Deku rejoins the class after his gear upgrade and is observed for being plain, I believe his aspiration to be a hero despite his lack of flash and prestige further aligns himself with the model hero Stain envisioned. This is demonstrated frequently as was the case when Deku, making a snap deduction, chose to save impostor!Uraraka when she was at risk for injury. Later revealed to be Toga!Camie!Uraraka, she is delighted by his rescue and uses the opportunity to question his limits as to what his parameters were to determine who is worth saving.

Despite being removed from the figurative board, Stain’s ideology is revealed to be quite the cancer among hero students which makes me wonder if, prior to Stain, burgeoning heroes had such discerning morals? Or maybe Stain was simply a catalyst for hero students to begin to question. In later chapters, Nejire alludes to him as a cautionary tale like a nameless boogeyman. Other students, however, begin to espouse his rhetoric in varying degrees. We see this when Shishikura (meat senpai) staunchly waxes poetic to Denki who had previously conceded Stain had a point. Rather than take the exam, Shishikura uses it as an impetus to preach to other students like Bakugo, Kirishima and Denki in their face off. In fact, he blows off the exam completely and uses the second part to observe everyone else during the practicum which seems very suspicious. We later see Denki call after him and I wonder if that’s in any way foreshadowing as its expected there is a mole within UA. As Toga sheds her layered disguises, the idea of several moles is introduced.

The provisional exam raised many questions. Like Mera’s exhaustion, that of which rivals Aizawa’s to the point where his character vignette is a crumpled mess on the floor – is it a sign that the heroes are losing ground with their short staffing? Despite this, they’re still arbitrarily only considering the first 100 students who pass the first round. Aizawa even remarks that this iteration of the exam has noticeably kicked up a few notches as it would give pros some trouble. As the exam unfolds, it’s clear, that this is an attempt by the Heroes Public Safety Commission or the police to push for more collaborative heroes after All Might’s retirement having realized no one person can fill his shoes. They’re basically looking for palatable idol groups to fill the gap.

This is seen by Mineta relishing in the old hierarchy falling to pieces where a hero like him would be barely scraping by and Sero observing that the “simpler” you are the better. As if to say the Hero Commission seeks strength and compliance. Deku’s acknowledgement that the test was a system with no hope of recovery once you stumble is very much in line with being a hero in the first place.

What do I mean by this? Well, let’s focus on Aizawa not warning his students about the UA Crush. I initially imagined this was with the hope that some of them would be caught off guard and fail thereby protecting them from the escalation in danger they’ll face once licensed. That doesn’t seem on brand for Aizawa. He is gravely aware of the risk in hero work and reminds his students constantly. More than likely, Aizawa was safeguarding his kids against bad politics or warped headspaces. In the context of everything above, I get how that sounds confusing but Aizawa tends to protect his kids from senseless bull shit wherever possible to prevent them from getting caught up.

Outside of UA, other hero schools have a clear animosity for the #1 school as Pro!Ms. Joke’s comments allude to. As if to suggest that they are due for a reckoning (not unlike the larger hero culture). They proudly broadcast their strength and weakness year after year without consideration for what that may mean for those students in the future. Villains hate heroes and that show of strength but we see that, even within the hero community, there is a distinct hierarchy that breeds resentment.

Big Picture – Annual hero rankings that use a matrix of variables including incident resolution stats and popularity which introduces regular competition, sometimes at the expense of what’s practical for civilians re: Pro!Mt. Lady forcing herself to work in a densely populated urban environment instead of somewhere where her quirk wouldn’t pose as much of a problem.

Small Picture – Within UA, class hierarchy that establishes Hero Course > General Education (as they can potentially move up into the Hero Course) > Support Course > Hero/Business Management as they are slotted for classes A & B > C, D, E > F, G, H > I, J & K respectively. This is how people like Shinso or Mei can be overlooked because they don’t meet the very rigid expectations of what might be preferred for a hero.

Snapshot – Public (and peer) Opinion. All Might’s projection of perfection is the root cause of the fiber of hero society wearing so thin currently. This is a guilt and burden he carries on narrow shoulders and, with his retirement creating a power vacuum, it feels like anyone who hopes to be a hero must measure up to that impossibility. It just goes to show how little space that “Hero” pedestal has because every Pro is inches away from falling off it when someone like Inasa can or Shishikura can call anyone into question.

So, Class 1A, similar to Deku, have a bit of a blind spot to where they fit into everything. In fact, this sheltered world view, in some ways, is what makes Class 1A somewhat exceptional as their isolation and subsequent alienation from other groups means they can only intensely rely on and understand one another. An example of this and interesting departure from the manga is the arc the anime gives Momo. In the anime, she is given a leadership arc that guarantees Tsu, Shoji and Jirou’s passing the exam while also highlighting the intense loyalty Class 1A has one another. This is an interesting inclusion considering Pro!Ms. Joke’s analysis of UA’s reception. Class 1A is all Class 1A has.

But it’s not exactly roses and daffodils for them either. The other schools don’t have to contend with the unknown traumas of Class of 1A as with Deku and Iida flashing back to Kamino during the provisional licensing where people died as they ran their own covert rescue mission. This is something not everyone knows they experienced unlike the attack on USJ and the training camp. Who gave them aftercare? They’re stacking up trauma after trauma and hated to boot.

Ultimately, Deku questions why the Commission would allow people who broke the 50-point benchmark to keep going instead of removing them and I wonder if it was to continue to surveil them and detect potential villains in the making as it's becoming ever apparent that the control the Hero Commission has on the state of affairs is wavering.

COMPARISONS

All Might v Endeavor

As heroes in the spotlight, they are both subject to the court of public opinion and what makes that so hard during this transition is that Endeavor is extremely polarizing where All Might is obsessively palatable. It is for this reason that the Commission seems to be seeking a change in the way they’re grooming heroes to fill All Might’s shoes where they feel Endeavor cannot. When we think of the bitter rivalry Endeavor has for All Might (and the fact that it’s completely one sided), this must grind Endeavor’s gears even more. A win by default that he can’t possibly find any honor in. Not unlike Bakugo vs. Todoroki at the Sports Fest previously.

Todoroki v Inasa

Inasa Yoarashi hating Todoroki because of Endeavor and their shared disposition 👀 then both completely derailed the exam because of petty infighting? It highlighted the fact that they are just kids and how far they are from being heroes despite going after their provisional license. Not to mention, Todoroki had grown to a point where he thought he’d overcome his daddy issues only for Inasa to challenge all of that and call into question whether someone who can behave so callously can be a true hero.

Reconciling their similarities in that moment, Todoroki realized that even though he’d grown from the entrance exams, there will be people who still have that view of him (not unlike Endeavor's own journey for "redemption"). Subsequently, he realized that a hero isn’t just about heroics. This is just another obstacle to overcome in being Endeavor’s son if and it kind of reminds me of Endeavor building the bridge between himself and All Might. Tirelessly.

Between Todoroki and Inasa, they both had the easy way into UA but we see that even with the path paved before him, Todoroki still has hurdles ahead. Although, Inasa could reflect and see that the hate in the eyes of the Todoroki’s seemed for something far off but couldn’t bear the crushing weight of not being seen by them which subsequently “radicalized” Inasa against them. I wonder if his fanboying aligns him more with the public in that way.

League of Villains (Villains) v Shie Hassaikai (Yakuza) v Heroes

According to Twice and AFO previously, heroes need villains. AFO went one step further and said that the only reason All Might existed was due to the sacrifices of his allies. Twice shares a similar sentiment in essentially saying villainy was his civic duty to maintain the balance of power within society.

In this way, villains serve a purpose serving as the dark to heros’ light. Additionally, they can very narrowly sway the public into a spiral as well. He reflected on the fact that more people will run a red light if they see others getting away with it. Morality is a slippery slope and villains are merely pieces on the board. However, prior to the advent of quirks, yakuza was in power. Likely functionally similar to the fashion in which it is now *out of universe*, the yakuza is a bit more nefarious than your average quirked up criminal.

Ironically, when comparing the three, there’s a specific lack of loyalty and cohesive teamwork among heroes of all groups. While they are holier than thou in theory, their heroism is frequently to the end of making sure they get credit and thus paid or see a bump in ratings. Sometimes undercutting one another for the rescue as exhibited by Pro!Mt. Lady in earlier chapters. Twice establishes that, those who live outside of the confines of society, outcasts as it were, are just banding together to give care to one another. There is honor among thieves which we also see mirrored in the yakuza as heroes and law enforcement are forced to battle an onslaught of lackey’s ensuring Vil!Overhaul’s escape.

The ages of the LOV members and their reckless aims establish them as juvenile especially when compared to the entrenched history of the yakuza. It is made clear that yakuza is not villain even if they too have quirks. This is contrasted most sharply between Twice who talks about his own purpose in society (like a hokey menace) which is immediately followed by Overhaul whose only aim is to eradicate thereby reinstating the yakuza’s power. Overhaul’s decay and rewind quirk is pretty tongue in cheek and aligned with his goal to break down the yakuza and bring it back into power.

All Might v Mirio

Mirio is presented as the initial contender for OFA, backed by Pro!Sir Nighteye and even recommended by Nezu. Their physical similarities are intentional, how could All Might not see a successor in this Rin Tin Tin-esque ball of sunshine? Mirio is tempered by the fact that he had to work incredibly hard to find a way to maximize his quirk’s potential. If anything, this is a testament to how seriously he would probably take as the OFA successor but what I found most interesting is that Mirio also carries the burden of being seen as strong. There’s a societal tendency to simply lean on the strong like a crutch. In a larger sense, civilians simply lean on heroes with the expectation that someone else will take care of everything which is what creates gaps that allow people like Shigaraki to slip through.

Nejire, during the work study intro, questions why they bothered coming and participating in the discussion and Amajiki responds that they should be grateful to Mirio that they got to just sit back. Not unlike the heroes v the sludge monster as everyone was willing to watch Bakugo suffocate deferring to a point when All Might or a more suitable hero would step in.

All Might v All For One

All Might and AFO, in their waning splendor, are deliberately cast as being two halves of a whole in terms of decline, ideals, etc. and we see this during All Might’s visit to AFO. AFO, blind, bound and clueless as to the outside world and Small Might in his sagging hero costume, clutching onto his relevance desperately. Meanwhile, the trajectory of their successors differ greatly as expressed in previous analyses and I think will continue to until All Might is as “transparent” with Deku as AFO had been with Shigiraki. AFO manipulated Shigiraki and probably is holding back some secrets yet to be revealed, but All Might keeps Deku shrouded in secret, cut off from a support system and largely left to scramble without direction.

Kirishima v Mina

Mina was destined to be in the Bakusquad. Even if Bakugo doesn’t "recognize" her yet, she’s an integral part of who Kirishima is right down to his horns and I love this origin story. For one, we see that Bakugo and Deku aren’t the only pair who happened to beat all odds and get into UA at the same time. Additionally, Mina helps Kirishima to realize his own strength, which still sometimes waivers, because of her bravery. What’s interesting about this is because it lends itself to the overarching idea that anyone can be a hero.

When Kirishima looks back on how heroic Mina was, it’s not because she’s physically fighting or subjugating a foe. It was only as she bravely interjects herself into an uncomfortable situation and deescalates it without violence. These situations inspire fear within her as well but she persists and it marks why Kirishima knows chivalry knows no gender. Manly is manly.

Another aspect of KiriMina that somewhat mirrors BakuDeku is idolatry though it’s more one sided within KiriMina. With BakuDeku, you see a shared love of All Might but also an intense admiration that Deku has for Bakugo who is his relatable hero and inspiration. With KiriMina, Kirashima regularly defers to the teachings and beliefs of Crimson Riot but, in this background story, we see that Mina is his relatable inspiration.

Deku vs. Bakugo

When Aizawa speaks of his fondness for Class 1A (that’s what I’m calling it), he identifies the divine pair of 1A. What about Deku and Bakugo raises the bar of the whole class? Their intimate rivalry? Their earnest desire to be heroes? What is it that makes them so pervasive? To understand their impact on the class, we must first understand their impact on one another.

As this story is largely told from Deku’s perspective, we tend to focus on him learning from and studying Bakugo but, with Bakugo’s armor piercing shot in preparation for the provisional exam, is it possible that he’s begrudgingly learning from Deku too? In this chunk of chapters, we get a brief section told from Bakugo's POV but wherein we realize neither of them really understand the thoughts or feelings of the other and its to both of their detriment.

Both of them carry guilt about what happened to All Might in Kamino but where Deku uses this guilt as a catalyst to learn, Bakugo internalizes it which is compounded further when he endangers All Might with some errant debris. It’s something that causes him to lose focus and ultimately impacts his performance at the exam and drives him to fight Deku after.

Deku, now realizing he has the potential to become a hero is realizing the comprehensive nature of the work and loses points for approaching a situation with a lame, “wow, this looks bad” which is called weak. Meanwhile, back at the figurative ranch, Bakugo, makes snap judgements and barks harsh orders, which is interpreted as strength.

Best Jeanist and Shishikura - why do people feel the need to constantly try to humble Bakugo. His uncontrollable personality is deemed unbefitting a hero but all of his other manners are largely incredibly wholesome. This speaks to his character's misinterpretation both in universe and within the MHA fandom. He’s studious, intelligent, relatively responsible especially compared to the rest of Class 1A. These are not traits that Deku lacks but, because of Bakugo’s temperament, he’s crapped on way more. Inversely, where people try to humble Bakugo, more people practice Deku erasure. He receives very little credit for the feats he accomplishes, likely because his rescues are foolhardy and reckless as with Bakugo and Kota previously.

WHEN THEY FINALLY HAVE IT OUT, we see Bakugo can talk about his feelings. This is another section that is heartrending, even in print. Neither of them have a support system in place as Deku’s been isolated by OFA and Bakugo is simply too prideful to be vulnerable but this reckoning and talking things out with fists? Yikes. While this is happening, I couldn’t help but think that neither of them are looking up to All Might in the wrong way but that they simply might be looking up to the wrong person..

Bakugos frustration with Deku’s seemingly enigmatic nature hurts more in print. As the story is told from Deku’s perspective, we see that Bakugo is an enigma to Deku as well. How can this scene be at such odds and yet so painfully honest? We understand that, as mentioned above, Bakugo was Deku’s real life All Might. When you’re at the bottom of the totem pole, you can only see but so high above you and Bakugo was really it for him until All Might swooped in and changed everything (as is his way). But critically, we see that Deku always chased after Bakugo. It is something that Bakugo also acknowledges and the whole time, during Deku’s inner monologue, I just want him to say it out loud. Bakugo would rather interpret Deku's admiration as condescension and it just shows how twisted his confidence can be.

BakuDeku v All Might. Why all might got to lie? All Might knew Bakugo was struggling but he too is just a coward when it comes to his own pride and answering for his mistakes. He talks about Bakugo’s strength being a burden, something he’s undoubtedly familiar with, and it’s like a magic trick. Like, look at my strength so you don’t see me crumble, how the prestige of a magician’s trick distracts you from the reality of the ruse. This fight establishes that Bakugo and Deku are two halves of the same All Might. Love to win and strive to save those in need. Save by winning and win by saving.

Bakugo carries the burden of being All Might’s secret keeper and, to a point, I wonder how he must resent this. Again, I wonder if this is where Bakugo starts seeing how All Might pales from the Pro!All Might he’s always looked up to because he says he’s not doing it for All Might 👀

Bakugo considering Deku to be the “chosen” one is so ironic considering he was quirkless and persecuted but go off Bakubaby. We also see the structure of their relationship begin to change ever so slightly while under house arrest. Talking technique begrudgingly while cleaning? Deku has gall. But Bakugo responding constructively? Chef’s kiss.

CHARACTER ALIGNMENTS

Mei Hatsume (Chaotic Neutral) – Mei is chaos incarnate and I love her. Enterprising as hell with 49+ creations only four months into the school year. She’s got a mad hatter-ish personality and she doesn’t fear failure but is self-serving at the expense of others. I can’t wait to see more of her.

Twice (Lawful Evil?) – personally, I love that villainy is like his admirable contribution to pass the time. Also, holy shit, Twice. The fact that he only turned to villainy to be okay with being him and subsequently thinking he’s not worthy of being saved? It makes me question whether things could have been different for him had his circumstances not been what they were (explored below).

Overhaul (Chaotic Evil) – is further explanation even needed?

Sir Nighteye (Neutral Good) - I feel like this is perhaps a product of his excessive caution. Rather than rush in to save Eri, he will risk her possible (but unlikely) disposal for the sake of increasing their probability for overall success.

Rappa the Brawler (Lawful Evil) - Rappa wants all out but also illustrates that villains have their own sense of morals.

Katsuki Bakugo (Neutral Good) – In the last section of chapters, I assigned him chaotic neutral with that thought that he’s starting to evolve at UA. I think that his behavior at the provisional exam as it dealt with saving people who could save themselves but also starting to work more collaboratively as needed is starting to push the needle in the right direction barring his violent spat with Deku of course..

CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS

No thoughts, just this beautiful but subtle character development for Bakugo (and the Bakusquad).

A lot of people have less than board behavior for burgeoning heroes. Mineta immediately comes to mind. But any time we pay too much attention to Aoyama it’s in a situation where he’s cowering: too afraid to act at the training camp, hiding at the provisional licensing exam.. but Iida really managed to inspire a sense of self-sacrifice and what a redemption when we see that he’s only ever wanted to be an equal. They haven’t really dug into him as a character but seeing these panels and the way the remaining 1A students rejoiced in finding him and Iida was really validating.

Quirk draw backs – This is a recurring theme, quirk society is not infallible or without downsides. Shindo concedes that his brain gets scrambled by his own quirk day after day and I’m forced to question how long can that happen before there is long term or permanent damage. He doesn’t pose it as a tolerance.

Deku delivering the final polite kick to Pro!Gang Orca to the dismay of Todoroki for needing assistance and saving and Bakugo who wanted to crack skulls is so them.

Twice having two opinions on Miyano the news caster (the man who polarized viewers by cutting down one of his horns) but also comments on the media's propensity to stoke the flames of dissension. I sometimes wonder if one side of Twice is the embodiment of his thoughts if he were more hero leaning. This also feeds into a question of quirks and mental health as it pertains specifically to Twice. We see that his mask is effectively what keeps him “together” but we also know from earlier chapters that support equipment is prohibited outside of those licensed as heroes. Maybe a mask isn’t support equipment but that’s only in Twice’s case. I also love Twice’s inclusion as frequently in say, dystopian or post-apocalyptic media (not saying that’s what this is…) there’s a specific exclusion of people with mental health issues even as characters are actively being traumatized.

“People bound together by the chains of society always laugh at those who aren’t.”

Kind of related but not is Hound Dog being incapable of communicating which killed me. But also, what do quirked up animals even do in society if they’re not useful? That’s kinda sad to think about.

The top 3 being anxious Amajiki, irrational and insensitive ass Nejire and nudist Mirio is hilarious. Gives 1A some reassurance since their top 3 are also certifiable oddballs.

Mirio’s eyeball touch is so simple it’s hilarious but everything looks easy when you have the finesse of mastery. According to Amajiki, Mirio has been strong since he was a kid though Mirio says otherwise. I wonder whose recollection is true.

Mirio talks about prediction and foresight (likely Pro!Sir Nighteye’s influence to an extent and it’s benefit to the use of his own quirk) and was amazed Deku predicted where he’d pop up during their brawl. This speaks to the fact that, mentally Deku is further along than 1A even as he struggles to keep up with the control of his quirk but I also wonder if this perhaps is foreshadowing.

The fact that the staff is so clearly conflicted about work studies but that the kids are pushed forward anyway… it kind of echoes Aizawa’s reflection that they are pushing the kids harder than they would some pros.

I knew Sir Nighteye was a perv with his need to be called “sir” but I forgot about tickle hell. Bit if a sadist, isn’t he? Also explains why he’s bent on torturing Deku during the work study. When Sir Nighteye told Deku that “those standing at the top must never openly show their doubt and unease,” I wondered if this was an ideology from All Might or vice versa. Additionally, Sir Nighteye really got beef with a child. Like, I’m going to put you in your place to humble you before Mirio, my superior pick. It’s very Best Jeanist of him which emphasizes the fact that this is life or death and, as their mentors, some of these pros really just wanna squash their hope.

All Might keeping Mirio another secret from Deku and for what? Shame in his choice? This finally causes Deku to snap and show All Might that his cloak and dagger approach is causing even more strain on the kid. Perhaps, similar to Bakugo, we the readers don’t have a comprehensive understanding of All Might as Deku is blinded by his own admiration. I feel like All Might carries more shame and guilt than we've been made privy to as he probably regrets his own hubris in not listening to Sir Nighteye and leaving while he was still on top. How would that have gone? He’d have privately faded into the background and remained the villain equivalent of a boogeyman.

Kirishima can’t help but be encouraging and sympathetic even to blades dude he’s like, “yea I know what it’s like to be weak, bro”. The irony being, we know this to be critical of Kirishima’s character. Despite his quirk being to harden, he constantly feels weak, powerless and like he doesn’t measure up to his peers. But the villain can’t imagine a blessed hero, who sits pretty within the social structure, knows anything about being weak. Meanwhile, the frustration of the downtrodden is what’s driving this change in society, outcasts are going to rule the world. This is echoed again when one of the Hassaikai laments to Amajiki. They’re fighting their villain foils. This idea that “a hero could never understand”. Meanwhile, they’re all trapped in a gilded cage. I don’t think it is a coincidence that this happens with Kirishima and Amajiki in particular as they both have a distinct lack of confidence though Kirishima’s is much harder for others to pick up on. Perfect proteges for the ever positive and lovely Pro!Fat Gum. The way he defended Amajiki’s weak spirit and how, true to form, Amajiki pulled it off? OMG and for Rappa to recognize Kirishima as a man, Fat Gum must have been beaming with pride (same, FG, same).

Bakugo’s words of strength to Kirishima during his moment of self-doubt. And comparing him to All Might (and perhaps Deku...) of all people. It’s love and respect, your honor. There is a theme in the way the “strong” admire the “weak”. Bakugo of Kirishima and Mirio of Amajiki later.

This also sounds like a reflection on Deku's strength. Deku constantly returns Bakugo's violence with a resilient kindness.. just saying.

During the joint task force meeting, Pro!Rock Lock is the only person in that room with any damn sense about not involving children. He’s also the person who clues us into the fact that the police commission, despite working with pros, may not trust or like them which is interesting. It just further splinters the “good guys” as the “bad guys” are unifying.

Mirio and Deku understood the bullet thing way faster than the others, likely because they’ve seen/experienced more. Or is this meant to suggest how "dark" they can become as they were able to imagine the worst case scenario quicker?

It’s ironic that, despite Pro!Sir Nighteye’s quirk for foresight, he practices extreme caution. Sure, we can’t do things as All Might could but also, does it show that even pro’s have qualms or misgivings about their quirks? Like, I wonder if this caution is a product of Sir Nighteye maybe not believing the prophecy about All Might. Or maybe he saw something he shouldn’t have.

Hope is a dangerous and irresponsible thing. All Might gave Deku hope and it blinded him. Deku gave Eri hope and sent her back into the lion’s den. Aizawa gave Deku hope and punched him right in his fatherless tie. Seriously, what is up with his tie?

During the infiltration, I think it’s interesting that Deku and Aizawa are the only ones who go after the flying officers. Maybe Bakugo’s the only vocal person about considering weaker people cannon fodder because I would think more of those pros would have sprung into action. If the Hassaikai knew about the raid, maybe there’s another mole? Same as UA? They don’t fear cops or heroes that’s for sure. Again, an observation by Rock Lock.

Um. Are Amajiki and Mirio tragic like Satosugu? Like Amajiki is constantly trying to catch up to and discouraged by Mirio’s strength? Amajiki’s hero name, Suneater as it relays to his quirk suggests if he figuratively eats the sun, he can project it as an extension of himself and I wonder how that evolves.

Mirio talks about someone who saved and inspired him but doesn’t name them… I wonder who it is and if it was 1) All Might or 2) if it was actually a villain thereby indebting him to them. Mirio just seems so irrevocably earnest, it doesn’t seem genuine. Kind of like how Shindo was at the provisional exam. Mirio later telling Eri that he’ll be her hero, I wonder if he shares a parallel to the hero who saved him. Perhaps the reason he didn’t identify the hero is because maybe he was saved at the expense of the hero’s life. I just think it’s odd he didn’t specify and wonder if it’s something that will come up later.

Toga is a G. She really got the drop on Aizawa with like no training. During the provisional exam she also showed some serious abilities to camouflage herself where, again, I have to wonder what she’d be like had her circumstances been different.

The imagery of Toga and Twice as a reverse yin yang I feel like meant something. Read: I am not shipping them. But, in later chapters, I hypothesize that we’ll see a greater delineation between Toga and Twice and the rest of the LOV. Like, Twice specifically talks about needing to care for Toga and I think Toga sees the LOV as a found family but I wonder if the other members do? I think Dabi couldn’t be bothered and Shigiraki… I’m undecided.

As if Overhaul wasn’t already in the shit with the LOV, misgendering Big Sis Magne sealed his fate. For sure.

If you made it this far, let me know what you think. Otherwise, I'll catch you in the next 25 chapters.

26 notes · View notes

disasterghaster · 1 year

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Hat? Whack. Too big. If you need to find them in a crowd, that's the way.

Otherwise, not bad looking, but somewhat on the dainty side in looks over all. Bit reedy in that way people that value speed and precision in a fight, but an unexperienced eye would think a dismissive physique. Even if they happened to spot the toothpick sticker (rapier).

The few times we've spoken, he's been very...Well, his voice lends to this quality of diplomacy to his general speaking. Though that does change when he's excited about something.

He had a great deal of enthusiasm and what could be called, by me, trauma-response optimism. Both of which are an excellent drive to his personality--yet does keep his head in the clouds at times. Despite his feet's best attempts to stay grounded below the cloud cover. That's my sense of him so far, anyway.

I do not miss, at all, the layers of fucking clothing that go into the outfit he arrived in. Bless washing machines. His fit reminds me a bit of...like Tudor style. I know that's not right. Lot of the elite clothing fashions sort of passed over my head for most of my life. He seems more in-tune with his fashion sense so expect something, erm...what's the word? Coordinated and possibly flashy by modern standards. I know he's got the puffy sleeves going. Only up high on the arms and the lower body is kept in a sleek style. No doubt to keep his footwork and sword work from getting snagged up in anyway.

I know he has magic and I have seen his staff, but I've seen it much less in action and, honestly, my grasp of magic is rudimentary. He seems proficient and he's mentioned his title of "spellblade" before which makes me think it's an integrated to his blade in someway.

...There's a part of my brain that's..."Dekro-wired" to wonder what fighting him would be like. That's sort of frowned on between friends here, so...I don't. Also because I'm fucking tired all the time lately. Not at all able to fight like I used to because of that. Wouldn't feel...fulfilling. In this withered state of mine.

Anyway, he's living in my house with his twinsies pal, D. They both mostly keep to themselves and that's fine by me. I'm...hard to talk to at times.

Point being that I do consider him a friendly sort of fella. Don't want him to wander into any snake-pits or anything. His perky way about him isn't The Worst and I like that he's eager to explore and learn. Even if the undeath situation makes me Nervous(tm).

I have noticed he's collecting Very Large Hats...

#ic #((oops these will not be one paragraph #devang has too many Observations ))

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reader-no-danna · 3 years

Text

characters: genos, zombieman, metal bat, amai mask

synopsis: headcanons for the characters stated above in a relationship with an s-class!reader

fandom: one punch man

warnings: none!

a/n: my first writing post 🤩 i love the s-class heroes so much so i decided to write some headcanons for them with a reader who’s also s-class! i may make a part two with flashy flash, fubuki, etc. hope you like it!

genos

at first, genos is indifferent to your presence among the s-class. he’s already prioritized his training and spending as much time as possible with saitama

i don’t even think he’d be aware you’d joined until it was announced at another meeting

he’s veryy curious to know about your abilities and how you shot through the ranks so quickly. but i think he’d keep his distance for a while

assuming reader is around his age, genos would be low-key shy around them. he just can’t bring himself to approach you first. this poor boy-

so at first he sticks to keeping things ✨professional✨ when he hears about a successful mission you were on, you’d get the occasional “i heard you did well against the enemy. well done, y/n” and a little awkward nod of his head

but you’d soon catch on him. when you gave reports at the hero summons, he would ALWAYS pay attention. like watch-dog man could be going on about how city-q is burning to the ground and you’d be like “well everythings fine over here-” and his head would shoot up-

silent fuming if tatsumaki scolds you or anyone interrupts you

and he’d make trips to whatever city you were placed in charge of and ask if you needed any help. he knows you can take care of yourself, he’s just looking for an excuse to talk to you

one day you saw him with saitama and the gang and you started hanging around them and that was it-

you all would be going on a lot of outings together, trying to ignore all the people gaping at you

he definitely finds time to steal you away from the others. he could never grow tired of saitama but fubuki would probably have loads of questions for you so he may excuse himself from the group for a bit and take you with him

the two of you fight sooo well together. you’re often assigned to handle monsters as a team because of how well you work with each other

you’re always with him if his parts get damaged during a fight. scolding him and telling him to be more careful, he’s getting too reckless these days

and genos’ fans take a particular liking to you... if your relationship is public then please believe the fan pages are goin wild

genos doesn’t care about all that, but he’ll quickly jump your defense if people start spreading false rumors about you and your relationship

he loves you and you’ll know it everyday 😌

zombieman

yet another stern man

he is also quite curious as to how you managed to make s-class.

because you either got in right away after the entrance exam, like genos, or you somehow managed to surpass amai mask. either way, he already has some degree of respect for you.

he seems like a bit of a loner, so i imagine the two of you would have to be assigned to a task or mission of some sort together to start communicating.

one thing i like feel he’d admire in an s/o is their strength, so he would be looking respectfully if you two were fighting together.

very observant. he’s looking for your fighting style, what attacks you normally use, and how he can help with his abilities.

he cannot stand heroes who’re only in the profession for the publicity. amai mask already annoys him- so that being said he’s very appreciative to see you actually saving people and being compassionate and not just smiling for the camera while leveling a boulder or sum-

in fact, he probably started to develop some sort of feelings after watching you save someone. maybe it was a child you had helped reunite with their parents after their town was wrecked.

you bring the kid over to their parents, and when you turn over to zombieman he was smiling for a split second before reverting back to that slight frown.

it can be slightly unnerving watching him fight, with his regenerative abilities and all that. you know he’ll recover from any injury but it still concerns you when he gets hurt.

he always reassures you, it’s not a big deal, he’s more than used to it by now. the last thing he wants is to scare you, so catch him actually looking out for his safety and trying to limit the damage done to him for you.

if you get hurt somehow, he’s by your side in an instant. your safety is top priority

he’ll blame himself for your injury, you gotta reassure him for him to feel better, and even that would take a lot of convincing

he’s glad to have you in the s-class, it was getting a little insufferable over there-

badd/ metal bat

remember when he had no idea who madame shibabawa was?? yeah this man does not pay attention during hero meetings 😭 he also was not aware you had joined s-class even though he definitely should’ve been told at that point.

another meeting was called and he’s sitting down in his usual spot, he turns around to see you there like ”😀”

he watches as you calmly give a report on recent sightings of monsters and other matters, like where?? did you come from???

he’s got a pretty boisterous attitude, and he’s very assertive and loud when you first meet him. i feel as though his rashness would be even worse if he thought he had feelings for someone

easily flustered, and it’s obvious too. you offer to come with him for a threat-level demon mission and he’s going on about how he doesn’t need the help of a “newbie” and how he can handle himself just fine. of course you have faith in him, he’s VERY strong but it’s fun to mess with him, and he’ll know when you’re doing it

eventually you decide to tag along with him on an assignment, and surprise, surprise, you hear no complaints from him

you two are a force of NATURE in a fight. his stamina and strength is boundless, and you’re also very impressive with your abilities.

you know those scenes in the manga where he’s in the middle of a fight, his shirt torn, hair all ruffled and in his face, and he’s got bloodstains on him? yeah you’re getting a full view of that on the regular 🥵

fights always end with you two walking away together, he’s swinging his bat and talking about the thrill and how much he enjoyed a good fight. he’ll also be slightly embarrassed to add “you weren’t so bad yourself, you know” and his face will be red but not from the exhaustion-

his sister zenko will become a big fan of you now that you’re s-class! he may even ask if you can give her your autograph and talk to her. he’d be so embarrassed but trying to hide it-

doesn’t know what to do with his hands so he just stuffs them in his pocket. also he avoids eye contact with you too. it’s too cute

“y/n, look, i don’t mean to bother ya, but my lil sis, she’s a huge fan and she'd really like to meet you so if you had the time that would be great. thanks.”

pleasee be nice to this mans sister 😤 i headcanon that he wouldn’t date anyone if zenko didn’t like them

after you meet zenko, congratulations- you have unlocked his soft side 🥰 you’ll find he's a real gentleman

if you’re talking during an s-class meeting and someone interrupts you- this man will NOT care who-

“oi! didn’t you hear y/n speaking just now? shut up or i’ll thrash you!”

in conclusion: badd >>> and his heart is yours 🥰

amai mask

this little prick right here

he wouldn’t be as upset if you went straight to s-class after the hero entrance exam like genos did. but if you actually climbed through the ranks?? and surpassed him??

he would’ve had to be a-class rank t-t-two for a bit 🤢🤮 like hurry up and move to s-class already, it’s killing him

despite being upset about it, he’s also quite impressed. the reason he refuses to move to s-class despite being more than capable is because he wouldn’t allow anyone he deemed unworthy to pass. you had to be very strong, and he begrudgingly had some sort of respect for you because of it

he also respects just people. a hero has to be beautiful, in both appearance and personality. so if you’re a good person then he’ll actually get along with you

make no mistake, he cares about his public image. so when he sees you, a young and stunning hero who made their debut in the highly esteemed s-class? he’d definitely see that as an opportunity grow his fan base

purposely greeting and talking to you frequently in public. and then acting surprised and bashful when being questioned about it by the media

it wouldn’t be long before the tabloids started rolling out with your names on the headlines, with people talking up your relationship

whether or not you’d be upset with it is up to you

if you don’t mind the gossip, amai mask would be muchh bolder with you in public. giving you those wry smiles that would make any other fan melt and openly flirting with you. the two of you may even be invited as guests on one of those talk shows he’s seen on

if the publicity is too much for you, he’d actually shut down the rumors immediately. “y/n is a wonderful addition to the s-class, and i’m looking forward to watching them grow. but their just an acquaintance… nothing more.”

why do i actually want to write a fic about amai mask and reader playing up their relationship in public now

buttt that’s actually not true because he’s starting to catch FEELINGS

he doesn’t like most of the s-class but you’re the exception

he’s a busy man but expect him checking up with you as much as possible to make sure you’re doing alright

after a particular stressful mission, he’ll book a reservation for you two at the best restaurant in the city! perks of being a star...

he’ll tell you all about his upcoming projects, but he’ll also listen very attentively as you talk about the s-class! he may even make fun of some of them just to get you to laugh

very attentive boyfriend and much nicer to you than he is to anyone else, s-class or not!

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sorryjustafangirl · 3 years

Text

it’s a love story

a/n: this is my submission for the @doubleminor’s #hockeychallengemusic ! im so so super late but i finally had the time to write this. the toronto six of the nwhl have this as their winning song and i loved watching them celebrate this season. and apparently all i can write is matty tkachuk but i felt he really fit this idea

Pairing: Matthew Tkachuk x reader

Work count: 2.2k+

warnings: mentions of the pandemic and one swear but other than that just fluff :)

disclaimer: this is a work of fiction and real person fiction if you don’t like that, please don’t read! also the gif isn’t mine! all credit to the fantastic gif-maker!

prompt: choose an official team/player goal song and make something using that goal song // found here

He had wanted the proposal to be perfect. The moment he knew you were the one he wanted to marry, he asked your best friend for everything you had ever mentioned about a proposal. You were only going to get proposed to once, and he wanted to make sure it was perfect.

Secluded, yet meaningful, place? Check.

Get it on camera? Check.

Cute outfit with nails done? Check.

But a global pandemic was not in his plan. Not even close.

When the season had got put on pause, his parents suggested he come back to St. Louis to spend time with them, since Brady was coming back too. He was hesitant to go considering you were still going into the office for an essential project, but you assured him that he should go spend time with his family. He didn't get to see them a lot, and you knew he missed them. When he packed, he made sure to take the little velvet box and shove it between his socks. He didn't want to risk you finding it while he was away.

A couple weeks later, after many FaceTimes and virtual date nights, you finished your project and work gave you the all clear to work from home. A two week quarantine and one plane ride later, you had joined him in St. Louis. You were still working, but working from the Tkachuk's home and with your boyfriend was much better than working alone in your shared apartment.

Since you had joined the family, Taryn had noticed her oldest brother was a little jumpier than usual. Before, he was more carefree, aside from the occasional moping, and he definitely wasn't making sure his bedroom door was closed whenever he went in there alone. But now? It seemed odd. He wasn't moping, but he had those moments when he seemed too sad for it just to be about the season.

So after Matthew's third sigh and retreat to his room while you were working, she decided it was time for an intervention. She quietly followed him to his room, where he methodically closed it and made sure it clicked.

***

It was the second time today Matthew had looked at the box today. He knew he was torturing himself, opening the box to look at the ring he had picked out. It wasn't too flashy, something just your style. He remembered the way his heart jumped when he saw it in the store. It instantly reminded him of you and he just knew it was the one. It was like he couldn't help himself, looking at the box another time.

You could’ve already been engaged by now. The two of you could’ve been looking at venues and dates and even if he said he never really cared about that stuff… he couldn’t help but long for those things, because it would mean it was real. The two of you would be getting married, and he’d get to be your husband.

But instead of being engaged, he’d just have to stare at the ring and wish he could make this all go away so he could give you the proposal you’ve always wanted. He relived the time he knew you were the one, anything to remind him that you wouldn’t mind waiting until this pandemic was over to get engaged.

It was a home game against the Senators. Nothing speculator, just a regular game that they unfortunately lost in OT. Because it was against the Sens, and because he scored the only goal of the game, Matt knew he’d be chosen for press. He was tired, and there was nothing he wanted more than to see his family who had made the trek out to Calgary to see the boys play. He left the dressing room with his tie a little crumpled from the rush to meet them.

He turned the corner to see Taryn sitting on a bench, with Brady standing with his parents, probably cracking a joke based on the way his mom was playfully glaring at Brady while his dad laughed loudly. His mood picked up a little after the interview and the loss.

As he got closer, he realized that Taryn wasn’t sitting alone. You were sitting there, your head resting against her shoulder, your eyes slightly closed. He stopped in his tracks when he saw your work bag sitting in your lap and your suitcase beside you. Your flight was supposed to get in around 8 and he had insisted that you just meet him at home after the game. This work trip had been horrible, your co-worker throwing you under the bus in a meeting with executives on a project he didn’t work on. You deserved to be relaxing with a glass of wine in the sanctity of your shared apartment. But you were here, at his game, straight from the airport, laughing with his family despite your drooping eyes. He had never felt more loved than he did right there.

A knock startled him from his thoughts.

“Uhh... just a second!” He snapped the ring box shut and quickly stood up from the bed to shove it in his drawer. Taryn popped her head in to see him very suspiciously standing in front of his dresser.

“It’s just me, dork. What are you doing?” She entered his room, making herself comfy on his bed. He scoffed, and closed the door behind his sister.

“I’m not doing anything. What are you doing?” He went back to standing by the dresser and Taryn rolled her eyes.

“That’s exactly it, you’re doing nothing. Normally, when we’re all home you’re like bouncing off the walls. Like I know this time it’s different but Y/n came too so I thought… I don’t know, you just seem off but Brady didn’t think so and I didn’t want to worry Mom… so like, what’s going on? Is everything okay? Are you and Y/n fighting?”

His eyes bugged out and Taryn would have laughed if she wasn’t so serious. “What no! We’re fine! We’re fine, why-why would you say that?”

“You’ve been quiet Matt. You’re never quiet, especially when Brady’s home with us.” He rolled his eyes and she huffed at her older brother. “You know it’s true! So... what’s going on?” He sighed and turned to find the box from the drawer. He looked down at the velvet in his hands as he sat on the edge of the bed. Taryn moved to be sitting beside him and gasped quietly.

“Is that...?”

“Yeah. I was going to...you know, before the world went to shit. I had it all planned out too. The weather was getting warmer and there’s this hiking trail we like in Banff, it’s only like an hour drive. There’s this perfect spot where I could prop my phone up so I could get it on camera, just like they wanted. But now... I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Do you still want to, you know, propose?”��

“’Course I do. Honestly, I want nothing more. But, they deserve it to be perfect, you know? And like, I don’t know how I could surprise them here, because we’ve been chilling in the same sweatpants for the past week! Asking them to get dressed up would seem suspicious and I want it to be a surprise,”

“Could… could I help you? I might have an idea…” She grinned towards her brother, his eyes brightening at the idea of marrying you.

***

“Y/N, do you want to do a TikTok with me?” She called to you from across the Tkachuk’s backyard. Taryn must’ve been feeling the quarantine because yesterday the two of you did your nails together, which prompted you to, for once, put on a pair of pants that weren’t Matty’s sweatpants and do your hair, so you had no problem setting down your book and hopping up from your seat to join her. She squealed and you laughed as you joined her.

“It’s so easy! I promise! So, it’s to a remix of Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ and the only set in stone parts are that you actually kneel when she says ‘knelt to the ground’ and then the camera will start to pull away and then you just freestyle! We can do a couple practice ones before we film it for real, if you want?”

“Yes, please, you have severely overestimated my dancing skills,” you laughed. Right at that moment, Matthew came out of the house with a Bud Light in his hand. He placed it on the edge of the firepit before walking over to you.

“What’s got you all cracked up?” He pressed a kiss to your cheek.

“Taryn thinks I’m a good enough dancer to film this TikTok on my first try,” He grinned at you.

“A TikTok you say? Can I do it too? If you can do it surely it’s easy enough for me,” You gave him a playful eye roll and laughed.

“How bored are you to want to film a TikTok?”

“I want to spend time with my girlfriend, is that a crime?” He smirked and you cracked a smile.

Taryn spoke up. “Hey no, this would be perfect! I need to move the camera away from you when you’re dancing anyways, and this way you won’t be alone. And you’ll get Matt’s dancing on camera for future blackmail!” You laughed at her comment and slugged him lightly in the arm.

“Game on, we’ll see who's the better dancer after this,” He just laughed and then told you to tell what the heck he was doing for this dance. After a while, the two of you were ready to film.

Taryn got behind her phone and started the music. You got into position and bumped Matthew’s hip before facing the camera.

Is this in my head, I don’t know what to think. He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said

You knelt down and pretended to open a ring box, while Matthew pulled out the box he’d been hiding for six months.

Marry me Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone

You started to dance as Taryn pulled the camera away from the both of you. Lost in the music, you didn’t seem to notice that Matthew was still on one knee, an adoring smile on his face.

“Y/n,”

I love you and that’s all I really know

You stopped dancing and glanced to your side. “Oh my god,” Your hands flew to cover your mouth as you saw Matt still on one knee, but with a black box in his hands. “Are you joking?”

“Not joking, baby, I promise.” He opened the box to reveal the most beautiful ring you had ever seen. It was classy, with just enough bling to catch your eye and go with the rest of your jewelry. Your eyes filled with tears as he started to speak.

“Y/n, you are the best person I have ever met. I never thought someone would be willing to put up with me, not with my job and the media and how I play my game, but then I met you, and it’s like the whole world shifted. I have fallen more in love with you every day, even the past few days when we do the same thing every day. I love you so much, babe, and all I want is to keep being your person. I know my job means I’ll have to leave sometimes, but with me, with this, I promise you’ll never be alone. I want to be your husband and I want us to have little mini-us’s running around, well really mini-you’s but with my hair, because let’s face it, they aren’t escaping the curls,” You let out a teary laugh, and you could see his shoulder visibly relax a little. “When I look to my future, all I see is you. You are my future. And I know this isn’t perfect or even ideal but..”

“No, no, Matty, it’s perfect.” You whispered, your eyes full of tears. “It’s perfect because it’s with you.”

His grin widened if that was possible, and he looked down at the box in his hands before up to you. “If that’s the case, then Y/n, will you make me the happiest man on Earth and marry me?”

“Yes! Yes, yes, of course,” You bent down to kiss him, leaving your tears on his cheek when you pulled away. He slipped the ring onto your finger and swept you into a bear hug. “Oh my gosh, we’re going to get married!”

“It’s you and me, baby, for the rest of our lives.” He tried to smirk, but it didn’t last long, a smile covering it as the euphoria overcame him.

“Okay, okay, show me the ring!! Matthew didn’t tell me he was proposing!” Chantel came out in the backyard with a bright grin on her face. You couldn’t contain the smile on your face and the two of you admired the ring together.

“I didn’t tell Dad either, don’t get offended,” Matthew said, coming over to meet the both of you.

“Oh, you liar! You totally called me and asked me for advice.” Keith chimed in with a laugh. “Granted, you never told me you were going to do it today… but I’m happy for you kids.”

“I didn’t think he’d ever get the guts to propose, sorry for the wait Y/n,” Brady chirped, earning a whack from his mother.

“I don’t mind, he’s worth the wait.” You looked to your fiancé, only to find him already looking at you, his blue eyes gleaming full of warmth. “So worth the wait.”

let me know what you think! thanks for reading!

#hockeychallengemusic #matthew tkachuk #matthew tkachuk imagine #nhl imagine #matthew tkachuk fic #nhl fic #calgary flames imagine #nhl x reader #hockey imagine #abby writes #again im so so late but better late than never i guess #also i wanted to do this idea justice i thought it was so cute

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andypantsx3 · 3 years

Text

statistically significant | 5 | bakugou/reader

length: 23,490 words | 7 chapters

summary: You’re the scientist who developed a neural net to model the value of assists. Now that your work is feeding into the hero rankings, pro hero Ground Zero has a bone to pick with your results.

tags: romance, enemies to lovers, sexual tension, reader-insert

warnings: aged up characters, eventual smut, m/f threats of violence, problematic behavior

The next few weeks were a blur of activity.

When he wasn’t off on patrol or a mission, Mina and Kaminari kept Bakugou busy with dozens of team exercises, all of which needed your analysis. They ran him through any and every scenario that entered their brains, and after the first few rounds, Bakugou seemed to resign himself to their ministrations, his explosions no longer rattling the windows of the training room in displeasure. You’d reviewed footage of the first couple of rounds all together, the trio of heroes jammed into the tiny surveillance room with you, grimy with the ashy residue of Bakugou’s explosions, someone or another’s shirt partly melted off, and all of them looking exhausted but pleased.

Eventually, though, it became difficult for you to spare time in between your meetings with the other agency heroes. Bakugou was not helping matters by kicking the door down in the middle of your meetings and attempting to bodily remove anyone you were in conversation with whenever he wanted an update. You were dedicating almost as much time to breaking up fights and rescheduling appointments as you were to having the actual meetings themselves.

In the interest of maintaining the peace--and health and safety the Miruko agency employees--you wrote a quick script that monitored the training room footage and automatically ran your analysis program any time it keyed in on Bakugou, Mina, and Kaminari together on screen. It forwarded the results to their phones so that Bakugou wouldn’t come stalking in and making any more enemies than he already had.

That seemed to pacify him for a couple of days, and you managed almost twenty blissful meetings uninterrupted, until a Friday morning when no sooner had you flipped the lights on in the surveillance room than Bakugou was ripping the door open after you.

“Enough slacking off, nerd,” he growled, stalking over to loom over you in a vaguely menacing manner. It was early but he looked wide awake, maybe a little mussed like he'd already been training, the same combination of annoyingly handsome and intimidating as always. He was also dressed in some variation of his usual training set, dark fabric clinging to his chest, arms bare. The sight was really way too much for this early in the morning.

His sudden entrance startled you out of a yawn, and you just barely managed to catch your laptop before it slipped through your fingers.

“Good morning?” you hedged, looking up at him in apprehension.

He made an angry, dismissive noise. Before you could dredge up enough energy for a proper eye roll, something small and warm was thrust unceremoniously into your chest, briefly winding you.

You looked down at the item he was attempting to fracture your sternum with and found yourself staring at a white takeout cup.

You looked up at him in confusion but he just glared passively until you looked down again.

“....what is this?” you asked. Your hands raised automatically to take the cup from him.

“Battery acid,” Bakugou said.

You stopped, gaping at him, and he rolled his eyes. “The fuck do you think it is, idiot?” he demanded, gesturing at it forcefully.

You looked down at the cup again, a soft swirl of steam issuing from the opening in the cap. You brought it hesitantly to your face. A cursory sniff revealed very little in the way of poison--not that you had much expertise on the subject--but it did smell suspiciously like the house blend from the nice bakery down the street.

You stared at Bakugou with misgiving. “What is this, actually?”

He made a disbelieving noise. “You spend all this time acting like such a smartass and you don’t even know what a fucking coffee is? The fuck do you think you drink every morning?”

You couldn’t help but stare at him. There was absolutely no way Bakugou Katsuki was bringing you coffee. This had to be some kind of trick.

His threats from a few weeks ago floated to the forefront of your mind. I’m going to win the bet, he’d said, and then you’re in for it. Was this part of "in for it"? What was “it”, exactly, and was it likely that “it” entailed poisoning you in broad daylight in the middle of a hero agency?

The offing you in broad daylight seemed very much his style, but poison seemed a roundabout way to do it. No, if he was going to settle a score with you, it was going to be something much more immediate, and probably obnoxiously flashy.

You brought the cup to your mouth, taking a tentative sip. No acid tang of poison met your tongue, only the rich, buttery taste of the coffee. Though arsenic was said to be flavorless... Damn that was good, though.

Bakugou hovered impatiently, like he was waiting for something, wearing a strangely blank expression. You watched him nervously. Was the poison slow acting or something?

His scarlet gaze locked onto yours, and it suddenly hit you what he must be doing. You almost dropped the coffee. Was he...waiting for a thank you? As in, he was aware of and actively acknowledging that he’d just done something for you?

You decided to test the waters. “Thank you, Bakugou.”

He made an impatient clicking noise. “Fucking took you long enough.”

You frantically schooled your features into a mask that betrayed nothing of your shock. Christ, he was serious. He’d actually brought you a coffee, and he knew it was a nice thing to do? There was no way he was doing this just to do this. He had to want something from you.

“...So, what is it that you’re bribing me for?” you asked.

Bakugou’s face went dark, the tips of his ears strangely pink. “Fuck you. I don’t need to fucking bribe you for shit, with your obvious little crush on me.” He took a threatening step closer, and that familiar scent of gunpowder and caramel filled your nose.

You felt your face heat, your heart jumping into your mouth. Not this shit again.

So, it was absolutely true that you had a lot of trouble detaching your eyes from the width of his biceps, and that your brain ran wild loops every time he was close. But just because you had difficulty looking anywhere else when he was in a room, didn't mean you had a crush on him. He was way too much of a brat and it was exhausting trying to keep up with his weirdly intense personality. Just because he was pretty did not mean you had a thing for him...

“Why are you like this?” you complained, edging away from him as he moved nearer.

He smirked knowingly, taking another step closer. A small, traitorous shiver went up your spine at the thrill of a man so close. To your eternal embarrassment, Bakugou’s keen gaze seemed to catch it, a darker smile curling his mouth.

You opened your mouth to make some kind of excuse--though what you would have come up with was completely beyond you--when a head of wild pink curls poked itself through the door.

The intruder let out a quiet gasp, but that was enough to break the moment. Bakugou whirled on her, red eyes glaring.

“Raccoon, do you ever mind your own fucking business?” he demanded, in the tones of someone interrogating a war criminal.

Mina’s dark eyes widened innocently. “What? How was I supposed to know this is where you’d gone?” she asked. There was note of something gloating in her voice, however, and you got the feeling that she’d been hoping to catch you in some kind of act.

Your face went hotter. Why did everyone think there was a thing with you and Bakugou, including, apparently, Bakugou?

“Anyway, I’m not here for you,” Mina informed him briskly, derailing your wandering train of thought. “I was gonna ask stats girl to give us a hand this morning.”

She turned to you, her smile slightly predatory. “Blasty’s better at sticking close now, so we started focusing team exercises on victim evaluation. Any chance you can play civilian? Denki was for a bit but he started getting too into it.” A grimace flitted over her pretty features. “I almost lost an arm trying to stop Katsuki from blasting him clear into the stratosphere.”

You looked at Bakugou, but an irritated twitch of a blonde eyebrow was all you got by way of an explanation.

Your thoughts turned inward, wondering if this was a good idea. You’d been hoping to use the morning to get a little work done on a prototype of a productionized model, seeing as you had fewer meetings than usual today. And you hadn’t really come prepared for a potential roll around in the dirt and dust of the city simulation training spaces.

As if sensing your hesitation, Mina chirped, “I’ll let you a spare set of my training clothes so yours don’t get dirty! And you would probably be saving Denki’s life here--don’t you owe him one from the Hero Awards?”

Your gaze cut back to Bakugou without any direction from your brain. Bakugou appeared to be making no attempt to look apologetic about the incident at the Awards. He raised an eyebrow in challenge when your look lingered too long for his liking, red eyes narrowing in on you with a sudden heat. “The fuck are you looking at, nerd?”

“He means please,” Mina said, her voice going honeyed and wheedling. “Plus, it will be fun! I promise you I won’t melt any of your body parts off. Just Blasty’s, I swear.”

You couldn’t help the way your eyes stayed firmly attached to Bakugou’s face. His mouth twitched in obvious irritation at the implication that he would ever say please, but he made no move to correct Mina, limbs drawn in tight, defensive.

You looked down at the cup in your hand, sighing. He’d brought you a coffee and was doing minimal yelling. He appeared to be making some kind of effort here--though to what end you weren’t sure--and you supposed contributing to his training was ultimately your goal here, anyway. You could reward him for behaving himself as well as he knew how, and work towards your promotion at the same time.

“Fine,” you allowed, watching as Mina startled wiggling in obvious delight. “Let me finish this coffee and then I’ll help out.”

Mina clapped her rosy palms together. “Ahh! This is going to be so fun! You’ll see.”

Mina’s definition of fun was any civilian’s definition of fucking terrifying.

It was one thing to see the three heroes using their powers on screen, or safely tucked away behind a meter of quirk-enforced glass. It was another thing entirely to be in the center of the action, acid sizzling mere inches from your feet.

“You said you wouldn’t melt anything off!” you shouted, stumbling away from Mina.

She’d accused Kaminari of getting too into playing civilian--whatever that meant--but you thought she was way too into playing villain herself. A hard look passed over her pretty features, sending a chill down your spine. With that dark look, those unusual eyes and twisted horns took on a more sinister nuance. She looked almost like an alien, and moved like one too, stalking you through the twisting alleys of the training cityscape.

“Accidents happen,” she cooed, almost happily. She threw up a twisting fistful of acid that hardened into a warped wall in front of you. You skidded wildly on the gravel to avoid it. “Now stay still, you’re supposed to be a hostage.”

A choked little noise escaped you. Honestly, thank god this woman was a hero. You might have trouble sleeping at night if you knew a villain like this was stalking the streets, unchecked and unbound by social mores. You’d probably still have trouble getting to sleep tonight, even after she went back to smiling and bouncing all over the place.

“Actually, maybe Kaminari should take over again,” you managed, stepping back from her. “Not really sure if I’m cut out for this.”

A loud boom drowned out her reply, an office front a few blocks away crumbling under the force of the blast. You gaped at the force that shook the street, even blocks away.

Mina used your distraction to her advantage, grabbing the back of your shirt to haul you towards her. “He’s so obvious, my god--how he got to be number eight is beyond me. Now come over here and do your best to look injured. He needs practice evacuating people instead of coming in blasting.”

She fumbled with something on her belt, pulling out several bright red bands that proclaimed various types of injuries in blocky white font. Then she leaned over you, shoving a band up your arm that announced SEVERE BURNS, and another on your left ankle, proclaiming a DISLOCATION.

She clicked her tongue, looking you over. “Would more be overkill? This is enough that he should at least hesitate before trying to blow me sky high…” She seemed to decide against more, shoving the rest back into her belt. Then she gently pressed you down to the ground at her feet.

“This is the part where I get to monologue,” she said, winking down at you. “Do your best to look helpless and make sure your severe burns thing is showing. I wanna see if he can prioritize rescuing you over my trash talk.”

A soft groan escaped you. Fat chance. Bakugou was the most foul tempered little shit you had ever met, and while it was true that his single-minded focus on winning the bet meant he was tolerant enough to be doing this exercise in the first place, you highly doubted he was going to hesitate if Mina was pushing his buttons as expertly as she usually did.

The chance to find out came soon enough. There was a strangled kind of yelp and a crackle of lightning followed a thunderous boom a few blocks away as Bakugou presumably rendered Kaminari’s perimeter defense useless. Then with another screaming explosion, he was rocketing over the buildings separating you, barrelling straight down on Mina.

Mina threw up another acid shield that hardened into a defensive wall. Bakugou’s first attack cracked it but didn’t manage to penetrate. There was barely a breath between the cracking and another explosion, however, and then the wall exploded inwards in a crackling shower of fizzing pieces. Mina crouched over you, breathing excitedly, “This is the fun part!”

Whatever reply you might have given her was drowned out by an angry series of hissing snaps from Bakugou’s palm as he stalked closer to you. The right half of his shirt had been singed off by lightning, it looked like, and a fine veneer of dust layered in his hair and on patches of his skin. It was just a training simulation, but he looked half-wild, teeth bared and eyes bright over the ash on his face. If he looked nearly this intense in real life situations, it was a wonder that anyone would agree to be evacuated by him at all.

Maybe that’s why he sucked at rescues.

“It’s fucking over, raccoon eyes,” he said. “Hand her over.”

Mina laughed, a delicate sound like bells. “Not another step closer, hero, or I’ll melt a hole straight through her pretty neck.”

You twitched away from her minutely. God she was terrifying.

“Quit it with the fucking villain act, fuckwad, or I’ll blow you all the way to hell,” Bakugou growled.

Mina reached for your arm, pulling you up next to her. “Hmm, then I hope your aim is good. She’s already got one set of severe burns.”

Bakugou’s crimson gaze cut down to your shoulder and the displeased twist to his mouth deepened. “Fucking--of course you got yourself fucking injured. Fucking idiot.”

“Hey,” you protested, shifting against the band. “I’m not actually.”

Mina kicked you. “Moments to live, this one. Unless you can pull a healing quirk out of those glorious buttcheeks of yours.”

You choked on your own spit while Bakugou snarled. “I’m gonna fucking remember this, you strawberry fuck.”

“Maybe. But she won’t,” Mina said, and suddenly there was a rosy palm in front of your face, dripping acid. A drop landed deliberately on the fold of the training pants she’d lent you, searing straight through with a loud hiss. Your heartbeat spiked in violent alarm. You reeled back, but Mina was still crouched over you, and you banged into her collarbone.

In the next second, everything went to shit. Something searing hot blazed just over your shoulder and Mina swore, jerking back from you in the blink of an eye. There was a deafening crack and a rush of burning air over you as Bakugou let loose an explosion at the same time he seized your ankle and pulled you straight underneath where he’d aimed the blast, missing you by inches.

“What the fuck,” you gasped. Bakugou grunted, and yanked harder, pulling you straight to him.

“Quit being such a fucking princess,” he growled, shifting an arm underneath you. You froze, suddenly wishing that his explosion had managed to hit you, searing off every nerve ending.

“What are you doing?” you demanded, sputtering in alarm when he hoisted you against him. You could feel every place your body touched his, and smell the sharp gunpowder and sugar scent of his sweat. He hooked his arm firmly around your waist, glaring down at you with one baleful red eye.

“Fuckstick gave you a dislocated ankle so I would have to fight her off with one fucking arm and carry you with the other,” he bit out, whirling when a stream of acid came hissing your way.

You gripped at his shirt, swearing. “Oh my god. What the hell is she doing, aiming for me? This is a simulation! Also, I can walk.”

He grunted. “You can shut the fuck up is what you can do.”

He executed another agile dodge, pulling you with him. “Now hold on, princess, this is gonna be a rough ride with one arm.”

You didn’t have time to ask him what the hell he was on about. He aimed a shot over your shoulder, the heat simmering and boiling in the air next to your ear, and you heard the impact of Mina hitting the pavement behind you. In the next second, Bakugou tightened his arm around you, and aimed a palm for the ground.

The next thing you were aware of was a strangled screaming sound. It took a second for you to realize the mortifying noise was coming from you. But in your defense, Bakugou had literally blasted the two of you clear above the alleyway. You could see the wreckage from Bakugou’s scuffle with Kaminari, and Mina scrambling to her feet, much smaller and further away that you were comfortable with. Your hands fisted in his shirt and you nearly decapitated him with the force with which you shoved your face into his shoulder.

Even with your eyes closed, you could tell Bakugou hadn’t been kidding about the rough ride. Another blast from his palm jerked you sharply to the right, and he uttered a soft swear.

“Hold tight, nerd,” he said in your ear. There was a series of more explosions and you spun violently in the opposite direction. You went careening over a low roof top to land heavily on the pavement, Bakugou twisting at the last second to take the initial impact to his shoulder, rolling over you to distribute the momentum.

You rolled twice more, eventually stopping with his hard body under yours, your face jammed unpleasantly into his shoulder, his arms bracketing your sides. One of his hands was fisted in the back of your shirt, and a tuft of blonde hair brushed your cheek.

He let out a huff. “If you ever let her put the fucking dislocation band on you again, I’ll melt your damn laptop.”

You pulled back from him, hissing into his face. “If you dare, I'll--”

“The fuck you gonna do, nerd?” he demanded, sitting up. Straight into you.

You gripped his shirt so as not to fall right off of him, widening your knees for balance. Then you froze when you realized he was pressed against you everywhere, hard muscle and the heat of his skin bleeding through your training clothes. He was hot like a furnace, ashy and dust-streaked like one too, and his eyes glowed like banked coals. He gazed back at you, his mouth setting with some kind of a challenge.

Then those red eyes trailed slowly and deliberately down your face, stopping right on your mouth. His fingers tightened in the back of your shirt.

You couldn’t help your sharp inhale. Holy shit, was he...going to kiss you?

You sat frozen, locked in place, neither willing or able to move away, like you were being pulled towards him like some kind of magnet. Was he really going to do it? Was he really going to kiss you? Or, no...were you going to kiss him?

You could, you thought hysterically. That’s what it felt like, watching him breathe shallowly, eyes fixed on your mouth. You could kiss him and he would let you.

Had that been what all the your little crush on me shit had been about? Had he been torturing you not because he’d noted the way your eyes lingered over him, but because it was something he’d wanted to happen? Had that been what all the threats were for, what the crowding you against walls and the frigging coffee had been about? When Mina had said he’d been fixated on you, did she actually mean it less like revenge and more like actual attraction?

You let out a shaky breath. Only one way to find out, you thought wildly, leaning forward with your pulse singing in your veins.

And then an explosion rocked the foundations of the building, throwing you forward against Bakugou’s chest. You gasped, the breath knocked out of you, and whipped around to glare at his free hand in accusation. Bakugou pulled you back, however, a hard looking passing over his face.

It was only seconds before Mina and Kaminari came scrambling out of the maze of training buildings, looking worried. Kaminari was already crackling with static, agitated whips of lighting zipping across his skin. Bakugou's palm started to grow hotter against your back.

His next words threw the situation into sharp clarity.

“That wasn’t from a training room.”

#bakugou x reader #bakugou katsuki #bakugou katsuki x reader #bnha x reader #my hero academia #bnha #katsuki bakugou x reader #katsuki bakugou

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hrina · 4 years

Text

In The Ring, Pt. I - Jab

PAIRING: Harry x Reader RATING: M WORD COUNT: 4k REQUESTED: not exactly lol

hey everyone! this is PART 1 of the boxer!harry AU i’ve been working on. i was so inspired by this concept that i wrote it all in one day lol. if u enjoy reading it, reblogs and feedback are very much appreciated! it really helps in terms of motivation and just knowing how my readers feel about this story in general. so yeah, that would really make my month!

warning: parts of this fic will contain mentions of blood, violence, mild stalking, and sexual content. if any of that makes you uncomfortable, please take care of yourself and keep scrolling <3

okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, go stupid go dumb! my masterlist and my inbox are both linked in my bio, for anyone who would like to check out my other fics or who feels like chatting. can’t wait to hear your thoughts 💘💘💘

~*~

January 7, 2021

All of Harry’s teeth are still intact.

For now, at least.

He knows that mouthguards exist—there’s one tucked between his lips every single time he enters the ring. But even then…sometimes punches go awry. Sometimes your opponent dodges at the last second. Sometimes people end up with a mouthful of leather and a few loose incisors. He always keeps one fist near his chin, shielding the lower half of his face from any blows that come his way.

Speaking of blows coming his way…

He ducks away from the straight jab that the man throws—The Wall, they call him. Harry had rolled his eyes when the nickname boomed across the room, soon lost in the roar of the crowd.

He’s never been one for flashy introductions. He prefers to let his technique speak for itself. His brand is his name. Harry Styles. Simple, concise, and so utterly deceiving. He loves watching the smile melt from his opponent’s face, basks in the moment when they realise that he’s tougher than his name suggests.

The Wall jabs again, and Harry successfully dodges the punch. He doesn’t register the other fist hooking around, however, until the blunt front of the man’s glove makes contact with the side of his head. Usually, a blow like that wouldn’t even faze him. But the sheer force behind the hit knocks him off-balance, stumbling to the side as he loses his footing and inhaling sharply when his shoulder collides with the ground.

The yells from the crowd are deafening. Harry coughs, trying to guide air back into his lungs. When he blinks, black spots dance across his vision. Subconsciously, his eyes trace a path upward, past the floor, past his opponent’s feet, past the ropes encompassing the ring. Higher and higher, still, past jeering faces and sloshing beer bottles and grungy eye makeup. All the way to the top of the bleachers, to the exit—to you.

That’s been your unofficial spot for the past two years. Once you turned twenty, your father finally gave in, allowing you to attend Harry’s matches in exchange for the cessation of your endless badgering. You always stand near the door, observing the commotion with thoughtful eyes and puckered lips. Despite himself, Harry has started to think of you as his lucky charm. It’s dangerous—he always swore that he wouldn’t be one of those overly-superstitious athletes—but he can’t help it. He just seems to perform better when you’re around.

Through the rocky field of his vision, he can see just how wide your eyes have grown. There’s an unmistakable look of concern on your face as you watch the fight unfold. Your hand finds its way to the base of your throat, playing nervously with the rose-gold pendant resting there. You crane your neck to get a better view of the ring, your pupils flitting back and forth between Harry and the frighteningly large man looming over him.

A warm rush of adrenaline floods Harry’s veins. The saliva that has gathered in his mouth tastes stale on his tongue. He spits it out as he staggers to his feet. The crowd grows louder, somehow.

The Wall’s smile shrinks as Harry assumes his previous position; his hands orient themselves in front of his face. His opponent gnashes his teeth, seemingly annoyed with the fact that the match has not ended. Harry shakes off the dizziness clouding his brain, and then he’s lunging forward with a newfound sense of determination. He throws punch after punch, sidestepping The Wall’s returning attempts. All he can think about is the fact that you’re up there, watching, waiting, worrying. He never wants to see you like that again.

You’re his goddamn lucky charm.

His victory comes in the form of an uppercut followed immediately by a nasty right hook. The Wall—this big, towering man with bulging biceps and rippling pectorals—crumples to the ground. Harry waits, his chest heaving with exertion as the countdown begins. He’s prepared to watch his opponent rise again, to shift back into a fighting stance and start over. But as the seconds trickle by and The Wall remains motionless on the ground, he soon finds the tension in his body seeping out into the hot, sticky air.

His shoulders sag in relief as a single promising word echoes through the grimy arena.

“Knockout!”

~*~

The crowd thins out considerably in the ten minutes following the termination of the match. Harry stumbles out of the ring, sliding through the ropes and pulling his mouthguard from between his lips. Your father is waiting for him with a smile on his face, holding out an arm and helping him jump down from the raised platform.

“Well done, H,” he says, patting his back proudly.

Harry pants and nods. Your father holds out a reusable water bottle for him to take—he accepts it graciously and gulps down the cold liquid with fat, greedy slurps. Once he pulls the nozzle away from his mouth, he runs the back of his hand over his face to catch any stray droplets that have collected on his chin.

“Thanks, Coach.”

“You took a pretty hard fall, there,” your father says, guiding him to sit down on a bench propped up against the wall. “Medic’s in the back. He’s checking out Aaron right now, but you’re next.” He taps his index finger against Harry’s temple. “We’ve got to make sure everything’s alright up there.”

Harry sucks in a deep breath, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “Who the fuck is Aaron?”

“Oh.” Your father laughs. “Aaron. The Wall. Whatever you want to call him.”

Harry frowns. “Don’t like that. Makes him sound like a dick.”

A new voice enters the conversation.

“That’s because he is.”

Harry’s head snaps to the side, and there you are.

You look nice, as usual. There’s something about you that he can never seem to properly describe. You always look so…clean. If he tried to vocalize his thoughts, he’s sure that you would look at him like he was crazy.

But in his head, it makes sense. You take care of yourself. Your nails are spotless, your hair smells good, and he knows that you must dab spritzes of perfume onto your pulse points before you leave the house, because a fresh scent follows you wherever you go. Even now, as you stand a few feet away with your hands on your hips, he catches it on a deep inhale. Not flowery, not fruity, just…clean. Refreshing. Light. Breezy.

Your father snaps him out of his reverie, and he realises that he should probably stop listing every word in the thesaurus.

“How do you know?” Your father’s inquiry is curious. He shoots you a puzzled look, his mouth curling down into a soft scowl.

You roll your eyes. “Called me ‘sweet thing’ before the match started and asked me if I was the prize,” you say, sticking your tongue out in disdain. “I told him to go fuck himself.”

Harry’s lips twitch.

Your father chuckles. “That’s my girl.”

You laugh quietly, shaking your head. “What time are we leaving?” you ask. The question is directed at your father, who is fiddling with the drawstrings hanging from his sweater. “I was hoping to study a bit more before bed.”

“Soon, gioia,” your father says. “As soon as Harry gets checked out, we’ll be on our way.”

You nod, and—for what feels like the first time since you cut into the interaction—you glance down at Harry. “Hi,” you say softly, shooting him a small, friendly smile.

He meets your gaze for only a moment. Everything about you is so gentle. Your irises are like melted pots of honey, regarding him with such warmth he feels like he’ll never be cold again. “Hi.”

“Congratulations on your win,” you murmur. Harry wants to bottle your voice and save it as a keepsake. “You made a great comeback.”

Because of you, he wants to say, but he bites his tongue. “Thank you,” he offers up instead, the words scraping against the roof of his mouth and tumbling unceremoniously into the air between you.

A moment of silence ensues as you wait for him to say something—anything—else. But he’s done. You nod once before turning back to your father, who is tweaking the settings of the watch wrapped around his wrist.

“Do you know where the washrooms are?” you ask. You toy absentmindedly with the necklace hanging from your throat. “I need to pee.”

“You can use the one in the women’s locker room,” your father tells you, throwing a thumb over his shoulder. “Around the corner, first door on the left.”

“Thanks,” you say, slipping by and pressing a quick peck to his cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

He just nods in agreement, still too preoccupied with his watch.

Harry, on the other hand, can’t keep his eyes off of you as you walk away. He takes note of the way that you tuck your hair behind your ear, how you shoulder the strap of your purse to keep it from slipping down your arm, how you walk with a purpose despite being so moderate and kind. His gaze falls momentarily to the sway of your hips, the enticing nature of your waist. He stares for a long moment before tearing away, clearing his throat and blinking a few times in quick succession.

“Proud of you, H,” your father pipes up, tapping the face of his watch twice before dropping his arm with a sigh. “You did well out there.”

“Thanks,” Harry mutters. A spark of guilt flares up in his chest when he realises that he had been blatantly ogling you with your father standing only a few feet off to the side. He silently berates himself, shaking his head free of any alluring thoughts.

Your father’s phone chirps with the arrival of a new notification. He fishes the device out of his pocket and glances down at the screen.

“Let’s go,” he tells Harry, jerking his head to the right. “Medic’s ready for you, now.”

January 13, 2021

“C’mon, H, be smart with it! Watch how he angles himself!”

And Harry’s trying, really, but Arthur—or Artie, as your father likes to call him—is a hunkering titan of a man. He used to be your father’s star athlete before retiring, and now…now he’s working in finance, or something akin to that. Harry isn’t one hundred percent sure; he usually zones out when people begin to discuss the stock market.

Artie throws a right hook, but Harry sees it coming and blocks it with ease. They move in a circle, focussed only on each other while other individuals outside of the ring totter around.

Harry prefers to train on weekdays during the afternoon, because that’s when the gym isn’t as packed. Right now, only a handful of other people are working out, lifting weights or doing cardio exercises. Harry and Artie are here so often that nobody even blinks an eye anymore. And your father…well, he runs the place. Of course he would be here.

The sparring continues. When Harry refuses to make the first move, Artie sticks one glove out, beckoning him forward. “Come here, pretty boy.”

“Don’t make me pull your hair,” Harry grits, because Artie’s ponytail is swinging temptingly from beneath his headgear.

The other man laughs good-naturedly before lunging. Harry blocks his uppercut and delivers a strong, pointed jab right to the middle of his chest. Artie stumbles backward, inhaling sharply as the breath is knocked from his lungs. Harry bites back a smile.

“Nice, H!” your father calls.

“Thanks, Coach,” he mutters.

The front door of the gym opens, accompanied by the soft tinkling of a bell to announce the new arrival. Harry’s attention is reflexively drawn toward the direction of the sound, and his heartbeat stutters beneath his ribs.

You’re there, with your hair tied back in a low bun and silver hoops hanging from your ears. You’re holding a tray of coffee in your left hand, and there’s a warm smile on your face. You wave excitedly as you greet Portia, the middle-aged woman sitting behind the front desk. The two of you chat as you shrug off your jacket and tug the sleeves of your sweater over your hands.

Your mouth moves languidly. Though Harry is too far to hear your voice, he has a pretty good idea of what you’re saying. Your eyes widen and you shiver dramatically, shaking your head.

It’s cold!

A heavy fist makes contact with the side of his jaw, and he falls to the ground.

Your father’s loud exclamation pulls your attention away from Portia and toward the ring on the opposite end of the room. Harry groans lowly as he pushes himself to his knees, tilting his head from side to side and cracking his neck. When he turns to face your father, he finds him frowning through the gaps between the ropes.

“What the hell was that?” he asks, shooting Harry a disappointed look.

“Sorry,” Harry mumbles, climbing to his feet with a grunt. “Got distracted.”

He chances a glance back at you, and his shoulders grow tense when he realises that you’re making your way over to the ring, the tray of coffee held between your hands like a peace offering.

“Hello, boys,” you singsong. “I brought drinks.”

“Thanks, sweetheart,” your father says as you hand him his designated cup. He leans forward, pressing a quick kiss to your hair. You hum happily in response.

“Jason!” you call out as Artie approaches the side of the ring. “I got your lemonade.”

“Thanks, little girl,” Artie hums, accepting his drink graciously and taking a long sip from the straw. “And for the hundredth time, stop calling me ‘Jason’.”

“Stop calling me ‘little girl’,” you shoot back, laughing deviously. “I can’t help it if you look like him, okay? You’re even the same age, too.” You cock one eyebrow. “Should I start calling you ‘Aquaman’ instead?”

“God, no.” Artie shakes his head vehemently. “Let’s stick to Jason. ’Least that’s a real name.”

You giggle as he ambles away. Your eyes shift over to Harry—who has kept silent the entire time—and your lips curl up into a kind smile. “Hi, Harry.”

“Hi.” His voice is guttural.

“Last, but not least,” you murmur, plucking his drink from the tray and holding it up for him to take. “One black coffee, right?”

“Right,” he confirms with a curt nod. He tugs his bulky gloves off, dropping them to the floor and reaching out to accept the cup. A strong spark pricks at his hand when his fingers brush against yours. Your responding gasp is soft, barely-noticeable—if he weren’t so painfully aware of everything you do, he would have missed it completely.

“Thank you,” he says, guiding the coffee to his mouth and taking a small sip.

“No problem.” You smile up at him again, and God, that fucking smile. He wants it tattooed onto the backs of his eyelids. A wave of heat blooms in his chest and creeps up his neck, but thankfully, the pink flush blends in with his sweat-slicked, already-rosy skin.

“How was class, sweetheart?” your father asks, tilting his head to the side.

“It was good.” You shrug, tossing a thumb over your shoulder. “I’m going to head home now, though—I have a proposal due in a few days and I really need to get started.”

“Go, go,” your father concedes. You bid him goodbye before standing on your tiptoes and craning your neck to catch sight of Artie, who is quite evidently enjoying his lemonade.

“Bye, Jason!”

“Bye, little girl!”

You laugh. Your gaze lands on Harry again, eyes sparkling and features resolutely tender. “Bye, Harry.”

He swallows down the hard lump in his throat. “Bye.”

January 16, 2021

Harry’s workout playlist features a lot of Ariana Grande.

He just thinks that she’s good, okay?

But he knows that Artie and your father would never let him hear the end of it, so he keeps that information private. During practice, he’ll endure whatever shitty tunes Artie picks from his own library, and he won’t say a word. He’s not in the ring to dance, anyway. He’s there to make money—albeit illegally—because quite frankly, he hasn’t discovered an aptitude for anything else.

It’s late—the gym is technically closed. But the great thing about having the owner for a coach is the fact that Harry was given another key to add to his collection. Your father doesn’t care, as long as he locks up after he’s done. Harry has spent more time here than at his own home, he imagines. It’s nice when it’s quiet—it gives him plenty of time to think.

The back of his t-shirt is soaked through with sweat. He’s gazing at the ceiling as he lifts the heavy weights up and down over his torso. A bubbly song is playing on his phone, keeping his energy high.

So what if he listens to Ariana Grande? She makes great music.

The distinctive sound of footsteps reaches his ears. He pauses, setting the weightlifting bar back onto its rack and sitting up quickly. The noise is coming from the stairs that lead down to the swimming pool in the basement. Harry stands, and though his muscles are already screaming from previous exertion, he readies himself for the worst.

You appear at the top of the flight, your slippers smacking against each step loudly. You’re ruffling a towel against your wet hair, your head angled to the side as you squeeze out any excess water. Upon catching sight of Harry, you freeze in your tracks.

“Oh. Harry. Hi.”

“Hi,” he says slowly. “I…didn’t know you were here.”

“I didn’t know you were here,” you reply wryly, a small smirk making its way onto your lips.

Harry scratches sheepishly at the back of his neck. “Yeah. Er…I was just working out.”

You nod, your expression coy. “I can see that.”

An awkward silence hangs in the air. Harry clears his throat, rubbing his jaw with his fingers because what else is he supposed to do? “Were you—did you go for a swim?”

“Yeah,” you say. Your shoulders deflate, like you’re almost grateful that he’s contributed more to the conversation. “Spent half the time doing laps, and the other half on my phone.” Your lips quirk up with the feeble joke.

Harry chuckles weakly. “That’s just how it is, sometimes.”

Your eyes flutter shut for only a moment. “Yeah.”

More silence. Harry chews nervously on his bottom lip. Why the fuck can’t he speak?

The song playing from his phone changes. Your eyes narrow ever-so-slightly when a few upbeat notes trickle into the air, followed immediately by the smooth crooning of a woman’s voice. “Is this…,” you hesitate, and he can see how you’re fighting a smile, “…Carly Rae Jepsen?”

“Uh,” he says dumbly, uncertain of how to proceed. Sure enough, I Really Like You by Carly Rae Jepsen is filtering through the taut atmosphere, painfully loud now that the two of you are truly paying attention to it.

A high-pitched laugh falls from your mouth, and your shoulders shake with the force of your amusement. Harry, unable to help himself, begins to chuckle along with you. Heat blooms across his cheeks, but he’s not as embarrassed as he thought he’d be. Your giggles aren’t derisive, he realises.

He’s nearly overcome with the urge to take you in his arms, then, but he resists.

“Late night, watching the television…,” you sing quietly, and then you’re dissolving into merriment all over again.

Once your joint laughter subsides, you shoot him a bright grin. Harry tries his best to return it, though he doesn’t think that he mirrors your smile to its full extent. You sigh in delight, shouldering the strap of your bag and tossing your towel over your forearm.

“That honestly made my night,” you tell him, utterly sincere.

His heart somersaults in his chest. “’M glad.”

“Well,” you say, shrugging gently, “I should probably go.”

“Yeah.” His response is hollow. He lifts his hand in a half-hearted wave. “Have a good night.”

“You too.”

He lies back down with a grunt as you make your way toward the exit. His fingers wrap around the weightlifting bar, about to pull it off of its resting place, when your voice suddenly rings out again.

“Harry?”

“Yeah?” He sits up too quickly, nearly catching his forehead against the metal of the bar. When he turns around to face you, he finds you doubling back, approaching him and nibbling apprehensively on your bottom lip.

“I actually—,” you pause, like you’re unsure of how to continue, “I was wondering if I could ask you something.”

“Sure,” he says, rubbing his hands over the black shorts covering his thighs. “Go ahead.”

“It might be kind of weird,” you warn. “Don’t laugh at me.”

He shakes his head, blinking solemnly. “I won’t.”

“Would you—,” you begin, and your fingers come up to play with the pendant resting at the base of your throat, “—teach me how to box?”

“I—,” Harry recoils slightly, taken aback by your question. “What?”

“Would you teach me how to box?” you repeat, though your voice is significantly smaller. “I want to learn how to defend myself.”

“Against what?” he asks, his brows knitting together in concern. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine.” You wave away his worries with an inattentive flick of your hand. Harry’s eyes narrow as he studies your face. You refuse to meet his gaze.

You’re lying, he realises, straight through your pretty teeth. But it would be impolite of him to pry, wouldn’t it? And this is the first time that the two of you have ever been really, truly alone; he doesn’t want to fuck it up.

“Okay,” he says slowly, even though he doesn’t believe your guarantee.

He pulls at the hem of his t-shirt, tugging it up and wiping his face with the fabric. When he fixes his gaze on you once more, he thinks he catches your eyes drifting across his torso. Cocking one eyebrow curiously, he climbs to his feet.

“What do you want to learn?” he asks, reaching for his phone and pausing the music streaming from the device.

“Anything,” you say breathlessly. “Everything.”

His lips twitch.

“I—,” he scratches at his nose with two fingers, “—I don’t really have a set schedule, you know, between practice and actual matches.”

“I know.” You nod understandingly.

“And I know you have school,” he continues, tilting his head to the side. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Positive,” you tell him. There’s something strong burning in your eyes; he can’t quite figure out what it is. “I want to train. Just…don’t tell my dad, okay?”

“Okay,” he repeats. He swallows heavily, offering his phone to you. “Put your number in, yeah? I’ll text you on the nights I’m free, and if you’re not too busy, we can meet up here.”

“Alright,” you concede softly. You take the device from him, and he pretends not to notice just how badly your hands are shaking. Your nails tap quietly against the screen, and before you know it, you’re passing the phone back to him with your information saved under a new contact.

“Alright,” Harry echoes.

The two of you stare at each other for a long, silent moment. The spell is broken, however, when you finally take a step back, clearing your throat and tucking a strand of damp hair behind your ear.

“I should go,” you say. “For real, this time.”

“For real.” Harry nods.

“You’ll lock up, right?” you ask, retreating toward the exit.

“Yup,” he says, popping the last letter instinctively. At that, you smile, your mouth curling up into a soft, inviting crescent.

“Okay,” you murmur, placing one hand on the door. “Goodnight, Harry.”

He watches you go with forlorn eyes and empty lungs. “Goodnight.”

~*~

PART II: Cross

PART III: Hook

PART IV: Uppercut

if you’re enjoying this series so far, please consider donating to my ko-fi! thank you bunches <3

#harry styles smut #harry styles imagine #harry styles one shot #harry styles fanfiction #harry writing #boxrry #alrighttttttt here she is! hope u guys enjoy <3

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honeynutouran · 3 years

Text

Thanks (Shinso x reader)

Summary: You had taken an interest in Shinso during the sports festival and wanted to help him get into the hero program.

Word Count: 1.7k

Female reader x Shinso

Y/N = your name

A/N: I have been enjoying all the Shinso content in season five and have been wanting to write about him for a while now and this seemed like the perfect time.

Warning: Some spoilers, fluff, and unedited.

After the sports festival, you did not understand how Hitoshi Shinso was not in the hero program. He had made it further than you and you were in the notorious class 1A. Even during his fight with Midoriya, your classmate and friend, you were a little upset when he lost. You thought maybe it was because you felt bad for him that everyone always assumed, he would be a good villain, or that you understood how he felt because before entering the hero course people said that about you too. But unlike Shinso you had a quirk that let you get in based on the entrance exam. After the sports festival, you tried to track down the purple-haired boy, but it was not as easy as you had hoped. Luckily on your way to class one day, you spotted him walking alone.

“Hey, Shinso!” you yelled after him, causing him to look your way.

“Uh, yeah?” he asked confused, and you realized you had never talked to him before.

“Oh sorry, I’m Y/N. Nice to meet you. I just wanted to tell you that you did a great job at the sports festival. I know what it’s like to get judged based on your quirk.” You smiled at the boy and extended your hand to him. He looked at it for a second and shook your hand.

“Thanks, nice to meet you too Y/N.” he replied looking down, unsure of how to feel about the situation he shoved both hands in his pockets and continued to walk to class.

“If you ever want to train or something, I’d be glad to help out, since I’m in the hero course I’m sure you could join me.” You offered, wanting to help Shinso out.

“That could be cool. I have been training some myself already. I really do want to be a hero. I have to get to class though.” He waved to you as he headed toward general studies.

You watched him as he walked off and hoped you didn’t come off too strong. You put yourself in his shoes and blushed at how awkward that actually was. But for some reason, you really did hope he would train with you sometime and that he would at least talk to you again. It was not long until you run into him again, this time it was at lunch and against your better judgment, you asked if you two could sit together.

“Thanks for letting me sit with you. Sorry if this is awkward, I just wanted to get to know you more.” You explained sitting down across from him.

“It’s okay, but why do you want to know me more?” he asked, taking a drink of his water.

“You reminded me of me.” You said like it was an obvious answer, but he just looked at you waiting for more of a reply. “Back in middle school people always said my quirk would be more suited for a villain than a hero, of course, that all stopped when I get into the hero program. But I do know how you feel. Fortunately for me, my quirk is ‘flashy’ I guess.” You put air quotes around the word flashy as you explained.

“At least you got into the hero program.” He rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, but that’s why I want to train with you. I think you have great potential, and you deserve to be in the hero program, please.” You begged to try to give him puppy dog eyes.

“Fine, because I want to make it myself.” He smirked back and you smiled and ate your food.

A few days had passed, and it was finally time to train with Shinso, you had asked Mr. Aizawa if it would be okay if he trained with you and he said it would not be a problem. You had been eating lunch with Shinso every day since he agreed to train together and you were looking forward to seeing how he has been working on his quirk.

“I am not sure I want to brainwash you.” He said as you both entered the training room.

“Why not?” you asked, he did not seem like one who would hold back in a fight.

“I just want to try working on my fighting skills for now.” He replied scratching the back of his neck.

“Alright but, I don’t mind as you use your quirk on me, in training at least.” You said walking over to him. “Hey, are those- “

“Yeah, I’ve been wanting to try it out.” He cut you off wrapping the binding cloth around his neck.

“Well played Shinso.” You said before you two started training.

The training was not quite how you expected it. After you two were done, he explained that Aizawa had been helping him out with combat training and made sure you wouldn’t tell anyone. You agreed and were surprised by how quickly he had picked up this new fighting style. Soon enough you two were training together as much as possible and both of you were greatly improving. You also noticed that the more time you spent with Shinso the harder it was to say goodbye to Shinso. Even if it was at lunch and you knew you would see him in a few hours for training.

“Hey, Y/N do you want to hang out at my dorm after we train today?” Shinso asked as you walked to the training grounds.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun.” You smiled back and you saw a slight blush appear on Shinso’s cheeks.

“Awesome, we can watch a movie or something.” He said looking down to avoid eye contact. As you walked you noticed that the gap between you keep getting smaller and smaller your hands kept brushing against one another. Every time they touched you wished he would grab your hand but before either of you had the guts to do so, you made it to your destination.

After training, you practically ran to the locker room to take a fast shower and change. You took probably the fastest shower of your entire life and almost put your shirt on backward. By the time you walked out Shinso was waiting for you his appearance also in a disarray.

“What took you so long?” he joked as you huffed your way over to him.

“That was only five minutes.” You complained, but you couldn’t hide the blush you were trying to contain. Once again every step you took the gap between you closed. This time Shinso had his hand in his jacket pocket. You were jealous once your blush faded you realized you had forgotten your jacket and it was not the warmest out, you shivered.

“Are you cold?” Shinso asked looking over at you.

“A little, I forgot to grab my jacket. But it’s okay I..” Your words stopped when you felt Shinso wrap his jacket around your shoulders and his arm pull you into his side.

“Is this okay?” he asked rubbing your arm.

“This is completely one hundred percent okay.” You blushed melting into his side. Once you made it to his dorm you started to hand his jacket back, but he held a hand up to stop you.

“It looks better on you, keep it.” You shrugged at his words and slipped the jacket back on. He put a movie on and sat on his bed motioning for you to sit next to him. “You can sit here, it’s more comfortable than the floor.” He smirked.

“I would hope so.” You smirked back and joined him on the bed. It was a bit awkward at first as you just sat next to each other shoulders touching. “You know I said it was okay right?” you asked after a few minutes. He turned his head toward you and smiled as he put his arm around you pulling you into him once again.

“So, do you want to go out, with me?” he asked as you were practically spooning.

“Yes, Toshi I would love to.” You almost laughed as you wondered if he thought you would actually say no.

A few months had passed since you and Shinso had started going out and it was time for the joint training with Classes 1A and 1B. Unlike the rest of your peers, you were not surprised at Shinso’s arrangement and tried to hold in your smile at his speech. No one else really knew about the two of you yet and although neither of you wanted to hide it, it just never really got out. So you were just glad to watch your boyfriend finally get a shot at entering the hero program. You loved watching everyone’s reactions to how much he had improved and took in some pride of helping him. When he finished his first round after he talked with the teachers you ran over to him and practically jumped into his arms.

“Toshi you did such a great job I am so proud of you!” you exclaimed still hugging your boyfriend.

“Ha, Toshi. I was right you are popular with the ladies.” Kaminari smirked from behind you, making fun of the nickname you called Shinso.

“Well, I wouldn’t say, ladies, just Y/N since she is my girlfriend.” Shinso practically bragged to Kaminari.

“Good for you man, you gotta teach me your ways,” Kaminari replied and you questioned how you felt about this new friendship.

“I am not sure that is information I can share,” Shinso said as he grabbed your hand. “Since I’m not so sure myself.” He said low enough so only you could hear.

“Hey, you still have another round, are you going to be ready for that.” You asked once you realized unlike everyone else, he had double duty.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine don’t worry about me when you still have a round yourself.” He squeezed your hand before letting go and ushered you toward your group.

After the long day of joint training, you went over to Shinso’s dorm to tell him how proud of him you were and how he would for sure make it into the hero course.

“Hello, Kitten.” He said as you entered his dorm.

“I am very proud of you.” You said hugging him once again.

“It’s all thanks to you… and Mr. Aizawa but I don’t want to kiss him.” He said before leaning down and giving you a tender kiss. “I love you Y/N.” he smiled before kissing you again.

“And I love you.” You said in-between kisses.

#shinsou hitoshi #shinsou x y/n #mha #mha shinso x reader #mha shinso hitoshi #mha x y/n #mha fluff #shinsou x reader #bnha #my hero academia #mha x reader #bnha x reader #bnha shinso x reader #bnha shinso #sfw

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docholligay · 3 years

Text

“Haunted” Prompt, starring Minako

Minako opened her eyes slowly, seeing the barest hint of early morning light coming through the open window. It had been a late night and Minako hadn’t gotten much sleep, but it was important that she got up early today. She was about to start her usual stretching routine when she remembered that her bed was occupied by another. Minako glanced over at the woman with whom she had shared a pleasant night.

The woman, Sanae (or was it Kanae?), was splayed out on the bed with her long dark hair fanned out around her head. She was facing away from Minako, and the faint sound of rhythmic breathing that reached Minako’s ears confirmed that she was still asleep. Minako took a moment to appreciate the intricate dragon tattoo that covered the woman’s back (a rarity in Japan, and something that had caught Minako’s attention last night in the club) before she got up from the bed stealthily.

Unfortunately, they were in Minako’s apartment. Last night, she had been too intent on getting the distraction Sanae promised to provide for her to remember to insist on going to the other woman’s place. If Minako had remembered, then it would have been a simple matter to leave before the woman woke up. Minako was still planning to do just that, but now she was reliant on Sanae getting the hint and leaving before she returned.

Their discarded clothing was in a pile on the floor. Minako glanced at the dress she had worn the night before, knowing that it was totally unsuitable for a motorcycle ride. She then made her way to her dresser. Minako grabbed a pair of jeans and a dark halter top and dressed as quietly as she could. Not quietly enough for Minako’s taste, and unsurprisingly, it was enough to wake her temporary guest.

“…Going somewhere?” Sanae asked in a low voice from behind her.

Minako sighed inwardly before turning around. She hated this part. It was time for another reprise of this always-awkward conversation. The only thing to do was to act as casual as possible and hope the other party took her lead.

Sanae (she was almost certain it was Sanae, but Minako damn sure wasn’t going to risk saying that without confirmation) had sat up in bed. Minako just barely kept her eyes from drifting downward from Sanae’s face, knowing that she needed to look the other woman in the eyes for this, at least.

“Yeah. I’ve got things to do, I’m afraid. But feel free to use the shower, and you can grab anything you want out of the fridge.” Minako offered airily, forcing a sunny smile to appear on her face.

“Oh. Alright.” Sanae replied a little frostily, declining to smile back.

Minako escaped the room as quickly as she could. The woman was a tad bit unpredictable, and the chances of Minako returning to find some of her things stolen or her apartment trashed was not zero, but what did she care? There was nothing of any real value to Minako here anyway.

“She seems nice. Nicer than you treated her, anyway.” A voice spoke up remonstratively behind her.

Minako gritted her teeth and ignored it. She knew it wasn’t good to encourage her own delusions. Rei was not behind her, no matter what a small part of her mind wanted her to think. No, her friend was gone and had been for the last three years. Three years to the day, to be precise.

The flashy, Solar-Yellow painted Yamaha that was Minako’s pride and joy rested pristinely in front of her. Minako took a moment to appreciate the beauty of the machine (as she always did before riding it), then put her helmet on. Much better. Minako couldn’t hear any unwanted voices with it on, achingly familiar though they may be.

Having revved the engine a few times to warm it up, Minako pulled out of the small parking garage swiftly, merging into traffic without giving the car behind her as much room as she should have. Perhaps in another country, the driver she cut off would have honked angrily at her. But this was Japan, and no sound came Minako’s way. The sun was just starting to rise, though it was still obscured behind the countless buildings that formed the skyline of the Greater Tokyo Area.

Minako had come to love motorcycles, but learning to ride one had been an act of necessity for her. She couldn’t drive cars anymore. Not that she was in any way incapable, but Minako hated being in them. If there was an empty seat behind her, then Minako’s mind was apt to fill it with Rei’s phantom presence. Even short drives were too painful to be worth it.

The Bayshore Route of the Shuto Expressway would have been Minako’s favorite place in the city to ride. She didn’t have to constantly dodge around slow-moving traffic here. Halfway down the highway, however, she had a clear view of the Yokohama Landmark Tower. Memories that Minako didn’t want to relive came upon whenever she saw it. Ordinarily, that would have been reason enough to avoid this road, but there was no point in doing that today.

As she passed by it Minako couldn’t help but gaze at the Tower. The high windows of the building had caught the rising sun, causing them to flash brilliantly in Minako’s eyes. Her grip on the throttle tightened for a moment before Minako forced her hand to relax. Of course they had repaired it. The Tower was a national landmark. They couldn’t let the destroyed 30th floor remain as a monument to her friend’s ultimate sacrifice.

But Minako couldn’t help but hate the owners of the building for erasing the evidence of what Rei had done for them, for the entire city. Her friend deserved such a monument, but all she had was a lonely grave at Aoyama Cemetery.

Minako rode on, memories of that night filling her mind. Unlike most every other time, Minako made no effort to shut them out.

Minako could still see the last smile that had appeared on Rei’s face as she turned to face the jeering, laughing monsters arrayed in front of them. She could remember fighting with Makoto as her friend carried her down the stairwell, ignoring the way her broken body wouldn’t cooperate. She could remember screaming to Makoto let her down, that she could still fight, but most of all, she could still feel the way the stairwell shuttered around them both, the colossal explosion that had marked Rei’s final sacrifice ripping through the floors above them.

Those memories were indelibly marked in Minako’s mind, even if the weeks and months after that had passed by in a foggy, uncertain blur. Minako couldn’t deny that a small part of her wished that Rei’s death was similarly unfocused in her memory. It wouldn’t be as painful that way. Just as she couldn’t deny wanting that, Minako couldn’t help but despise herself for it.

Minako pulled up and parked her motorcycle half a kilometer away from the cemetery. She could have parked closer, but she didn’t want the noise of the engine to disturb any early-morning visitors. A walk would do her good anyway. Minako wanted to clear her head a bit before she got to her friend’s grave. She took off her helmet and hung it from the handlebars of her motorcycle before making her way eastward.

Was it her imagination, or did Minako hear footsteps on the pavement behind her? The sound was keeping pace with her perfectly. Minako didn’t bother looking. She didn’t want the confirmation, either way, of who it might be. At least the presence behind her was keeping quiet.

Minako passed the gates of Aoyama Cemetery, pausing only to retrieve a single incense stick from the pile that was freely offered to visitors. Minako had remembered to bring her lighter (more of a reflexive action than a conscious one on her part) so she wouldn’t need any of the matches that were left out alongside the incense.

The Hino family had a large plot near the southeastern corner of the cemetery. Rei’s grandfather had taken care of all the details of her funeral, a task that had given Minako enormous respect for the man. She hadn’t been in any condition to help at the time. None of her friends had been.

The faint sound of footsteps had indeed kept pace with Minako, even over the well-maintained grass of the smaller side paths she had taken. Minako knew full well what the sound was by now, but that was even more reason not to look. If her mind was kind enough to keep Rei’s ghostly presence from speaking to her, then Minako wasn’t going to complain.

There it was. Minako’s breath caught as she saw the tall, distinctive headstone that marked her friend’s grave. Perhaps because there had been nothing left to cremate, and therefore nothing to inter, Rei’s headstone was visibly larger than the others of the Hino family. It was a small comfort to Minako, but a comfort nonetheless.

Minako stood silently in front of the grave for a few minutes. Ritual called for Minako to polish and clean the grave with one of the brushes hanging from various pillars, but she could do that together with her friends later on in the day. Offerings of items the deceased had enjoyed in life were expected, but her friends would doubtlessly have that covered: Usagi would bring handfuls of the plum-flavored candy Rei had liked, while Makoto would bring white Casablanca lilies that she grown for this very purpose.

Minako had her own gift planned, but for now, she had nothing but the incense stick in her hands. She pulled out her lighter and lit the incense before placing the end into the soft ground in front of the grave. Minako kneeled and clasped her hands together, feeling a little silly to be doing this with no one beside her. These kinds of rituals weren’t at all her style, but she knew that Rei (with her Shinto background) valued them. So Minako would do it.

“It’s been three years, huh? It feels like barely any time has passed.” Minako said to the empty air, knowing that speaking to the dead was an expected part of visiting their grave.

Thankfully, her mind was not crass enough to have her guilt-driven image of Rei respond here. The near-silence of the cemetery was all that reached Minako’s ears, though she still had the faint impression of someone standing behind her. Minako took a deep breath, noted the not-altogether-unpleasant scent of the burning incense, and continued.

“I’d like to say that I’m doing well, but all I can say is that I’m doing the same.” Minako said softly, feeling unusually honest at the moment.

If Minako hadn’t made much progress in fixing herself during the last three years, she could at least say that she hadn’t managed to destroy herself either. Although they were nights where she desperately wanted to, Minako hadn’t drunk herself into oblivion. She had kept any other appetites from spiraling out of control, though the occasional slipup was unavoidable.

“You’ll be happy to know that Makoto and I have patched things up, though. I can’t believe I spent all that time blaming her. She really should have kicked my ass to the curb a while ago, but you know how she is. We actually had dinner a couple of weeks back.” Minako explained in an easier manner, not feeling the pressure to maintain an overly respectful air with no one else around.

As Minako went on, a tightness in her stomach she hadn’t known was there gradually loosening. It felt good to talk here. Minako never let herself converse with the image of Rei her mind had conjured, lest she intensify her delusions. But talking to Rei’s headstone felt…healthy, sort of. It was a feeling Minako hadn’t experienced much of lately.

“As for Ami, we keep in touch. She’s in her final year of residency. Maybe once her schedule isn’t so hectic, we’ll be able to meet up more than a couple of times a year.” Minako remarked, genuinely hopeful that would be the case.

Minako’s clearest memory of Ami had been in the days after Rei’s death. Her always-analytical friend had explained to Minako and anyone who would listen that the explosion had been so powerful that Rei likely hadn’t felt a thing, obliterated in an instant as she was. Minako’s response hadn’t been kind, but she was no longer so ungenerous in her thoughts. If Ami was comforted by that knowledge, then Minako was glad. She hoped her other friends were too.

“Michiru and Haruka are doing great, as you’d expect. We see each other pretty often. I get invited to their house every weekend, but I obviously don’t take them up on it every time. If I don’t go two weeks in a row though, Haruka comes around. She seems to think I need looking after sometimes. I didn’t really appreciate it early on, but now I do.” Minako went on with a laugh, feeling unusually light and airy.

Though Minako didn’t want to admit it, those standings invitations were an important part of keeping her worst impulses from taking control. She could hardly go on a bender (alcoholic, sexual, or otherwise) without Michiru and Haruka finding evidence of that. Minako wasn’t certain what they would do if she did, but the desire to avoid seeing disappointment in Michiru’s face or what would no doubt be a strenuous attempt to “help” her from Haruka was enough to make Minako not want to find out.

“I’m sure you want to know about Usagi most of all. We hang out all the time. That hasn’t changed. I think Mamoru is finally getting ready to pop the question. If he hasn’t done it by the time summer’s over, I’ll have to speak to him.” Minako explained, her voice taking on a faux-grim tone.

Even more helpful than Michiru and Haruka’s ministrations was Usagi’s need for comfort. Though everyone had been hit hard by Rei’s death, Usagi was the only one who had been as close to Rei as she was. Minako couldn’t afford to go to pieces when Usagi needed her. The time they spent together was difficult for Minako, as Usagi’s easy ability to channel her emotions clashed with Minako’s arms-length relationship with her own. But that was why it was so important for Minako to be around her.

“That about covers it. I…I think you know there were things I wanted to say to you. Things I never got the chance to, and now I never will. I just…” Minako whispered, trying to press on but was suddenly unable to.

Tears filled Minako’s vision before she was able to shut her eyes. Of course. Loosening the tight grip she had kept on herself was always going to result in this happening. Minako’s first impulse was to grab ahold of herself again and will the tears to stop. But she didn’t. Minako dropped her hands and let her tears come hard and fast, glad that this embarrassing breakdown wasn’t happening in front of her friends.

It was quite a while before Minako had finished crying. She hadn’t allowed herself to do so in a long time. It was probably only the fact that her tears were not actually limitless that she had managed to stop. Minako wiped her cheeks and took several moments to catch her breath before she felt she was ready to continue.

“But that’s all in the past, sadly. You can’t change it, no matter how much you might want to. All you can do is use it to impact the future.” Minako said quietly, repeating words of advice that had been given to her.

They had always seemed like terribly hollow words. But as Minako stood up from the ground and regarded the headstone in front of her, she saw them in a slightly different light. Rei’s existence was entirely in the past now. She was in a place Minako could never reach, but did that mean that her friend had no effect on the world she had left behind? Hardly.

“I’d say goodbye, but there’s no need. I’ll be back here in a few hours with everyone else. We’ll see if Usagi manages to keep herself from eating all of those candies you like.” Minako said with a wink, reasoning that she might as well try to reclaim some of her famous charm now.

Minako turned to leave the cemetery. As she made her way through the pathways between family plots, something seemed different to her. Minako couldn’t put her finger on it until she was nearly at the cemetery gates. There were no footsteps trailing behind her. Minako couldn’t sense any presence there at all, in fact.

The ride back to her apartment went by in a flash, and not because Minako had leaned too heavily on the throttle. The air seemed fresher to Minako, though that was certainly her imagination. The Greater Tokyo Area had not suddenly become more breathable, that was for sure.

It was with a slight sense of trepidation that Minako entered her apartment. Everything was still, which meant Sanae had indeed left. There were no signs of theft or destruction, thankfully. The only difference Minako had found was a small note left on the kitchen table.

“I took you up on your generous offer to use your shower. Maybe I shouldn’t have expected anything else, but what’s done is done. I can’t say I’m not a little pissed, but I will say this: Here’s my number, and if you have the guts to call it, I’ll be expecting you to bring a gift to make it up to me. Make it a nice one, okay? -Sanae”

Minako smiled at the note. What’s done was indeed done. Minako’s admittedly shabby treatment of Sanae couldn’t be changed, but the future was her own to make.

Now the question was: what gift might Sanae like?

DELECTABLE. SO much of the things I love on display–I’m a huge sucker for the graveside visit, always have been always will be, this idea that we have to say things to people who are gone, even if we don’t think they can hear. I of course love the touches with Haruka, but also this idea that Mina CAN hurt but move on. That it’s doesn’t have stay like this. THank yoU!

#submission #DOcs' birthday angst

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kozumebunny · 4 years

Text

Dabi x reader (with minor x bakugou)

Prompt: During the USJ incident the villains kidnapped you. UA has been on high alert after that incident, metal detectors at gates, students having to check in during breaks on campus, and more. You have been at the villain bar ever since, quirkless thanks to All For One, and with no memory of UA or your life before it. When Dabi started hanging around the bar, he became attached to you, playfully teasing you for being forgetful. Things fall apart when Bakugou is captured during the summer camp training and he gets to see you, his stolen s/o again.

-When you woke up in a wood panel room with no memory you panic and look for a way out

-The door was unlocked so you opened it, found an empty hallway with the staircase at the end, so you go down it

-Its only kurogiri there at the bar, you look towards the door and bolt for it

-Kurogiri terrified you at first

-Kurogiri just teleports you upstairs

-It repeats for about three more times before you come down and hug the wall asking who he is

-“Kurogiri.” he makes a glass of apple juice and puts it on the bar counter. You walk over and take it

-“Are you hungry?” “yeah”

-He starts asking about you, gauging to see what you remember

-He makes you food and keeps talking to you

-He tells you you can’t go outside yet

-You ask him if he knows why you have amnesia and he says you had a mental break of sorts

-Your family left you in their care with no phone number

-Shigaraki comes in, he’s very demanding and childish

-You all get to know each other, you play minecraft with shigaraki, specifically those hunger games ones

-He gets better, calms down and learns how to be more strategic

-You never meet all for one, and shigaraki and kurogiri are careful never to mention him around you

-Enter: dabi

-Shigaraki HATES him lmao. He hates how Cool and Chill he is

-So he saddles dabi with babysitting you, and he lets dabi take you outside

-Dabi keeps a hand on your wrist the whole time, he never lets you out of his sight and he doesn’t let you let go

-You two had never talked outside of introducing yourselves

-You happily thread your hand through his and tug him through the shopping district

-You’re constantly talking to him and wanting to explore so he goes along with it, sticking to the busier parts of the shopping districts to help blend in

-He has on glasses, a beanie, and a face mask so no one can see him

-There are cameras that identify you in the district so UA is alerted. The heroes immediately head out to get you back, the local police are alerted

-Dabi notices that there are more police around, he doesn’t even know what you’re doing at the villain hideout all the time. All he knows is you have amnesia and that you’re quirkless. He immediately withdraws his hand from yours and slings it across your shoulders. He leads you into a shop, “follow my lead, doll.”

-He picks out a dark pair of sunglasses for you, sloppily restyling your hair and picking out a big jacket and a new outfit for you

-He rips the tags off them and says to change and wait outside the dressing rooms. He comes back to get you, giving you a face mask too

-There are police and heroes there in the whole area. Dabi tightens his arm around your shoulder and walks faster. He’s calling kurogiri trying to coordinate a way out.

-The police and heroes are going through the crowd picking certain people removing glasses and masks.

-The whole area is closed off, there is no way to a private spot for kurogiri to open a portal

-Dabi calls someone else

-And then someone behind you says excuse me

-Dabi’s fingers loosen off your shoulder and his palm starts to hover so he can move his hand if needed

-He slowly turns the both of you around

-Its a kid

-‘You guys dropped this’

-Its a bracelet you bought

-You say thanks and take it back

-The kid blanches. He grabs a piece of his hair and awkwardly scratches it, then throws it to the ground

-Its a purple ball

-Seriously what the fuck

-Dabi panics and moves his hand

-Nothing comes out

-All might is running at you yelling to let go of one of his students

-But you arent his student

-Does he mean the kid in front of you

-Dabi is panicking youre both stuck in place

-And then the floor falls under your feet

-Dabi puts his palm back on your shoulder pressing down to keep you close

-And you fall into the bar hideout, shigaraki pacing and toga, twice, and shuichi all watching you

-Toga is asking about deku, twice comments how uncool it is for dabi to not even say a villain one liner to the heroes and shuichi is grateful you guys are back but thinks dabi is an idiot for not keeping on moving

-It unconsciously puts a target on dabi’s back, the heroes cannot have it confirmed that the masked man who had you was in league with the league of villains

-Twice, toga, and shuichi all take turns hanging out with you

-Twice likes to be dramatic so you guys get screenplays and act out scenes together

-Toga likes to do boy talk and make up and shop online

-Shuichi likes to watch anime. The sword fighting ones that are super philosophical. Kill la kill. Attack on titan. THAT philosophical stuff.

-They go away on missions often but they always come back with stuff, plants, flowers, something from the outside world

-You have not been able to go back out after the shopping district incident

-Dabi realizes from your amnesia you cant read

-He bought you a very cheesy very embarrassing very risque manga

-He teaches you to read, do math and you learn it all very very fast

-Its more remembering than relearning

-He also brings music

-You all have small dance parties together and kurogiri doesn't mind

-Shigaraki is NOT invited he just stands and. Watches. Its unsettling.

-Kurogiri teaches you how to make drinks in a flashy bartender style

-Dabi tests out what you make

-You two typically spend time casually but movie nights with you all is fun

-And then they have a big mission to go on

-He has to go to a forest camping trip to take one of the students

-Hes gone for about three hours before coming back

-Kurogiri and shigaraki have you go upstairs

-They lock you in

-You can hear angry yelling and then it gets muffled

-You go to sleep for the night

-You wake up from the door being unlocked and yelling

-Dabi pulls your blankets back and you are immediately awake

-A little embarrassed to be caught in your star and rainbow pajamas

-He puts one hand under your chin and makes you look at him

-Toga is behind him saying not to

-Twice is saying that theyre being rude for barging in

-Dabi talks “what do you remember?”

-“I don’t remember anything.”

-He turns to twice and toga “told you everything is fine”

-He looks at you, “remember that outfit from the shopping district? Change into it. We have a guest”

-Its a simple outfit, a big hoodie, casual jeans and a white t shirt with a smiley face heart on it

-You step out of your room and dabi is in his same outfit

-He puts a hand on your shoulder and saunters down the stair with you

-He looks smug

-You come downstairs and there is a boy with spiky blond hair yelling muffled things from behind a steel mask

-His hands are bound too

-You think that this must not be a nice guy

-Shigaraki is hunched over at the bar while twice and toga are laying on the couch

-Spiky haired blond boy looks surprised to see you

-Dabis hand drops to your waist and spiky hair’s eyes follow it

-He looks angry and starts thrashing

-You take a step back but dabi’s hand keeps you in place

-“Are you willing to listen now?”

-Dabi takes a seat in a one person chair and you sit on the armrest

-Shigaraki gives a big long winded speech about everything wrong with society and how heroes are not bettering society but protecting the one thats already in place

-Dabi eventually gives you a tug and sits you in his lap

-Spiky hair has his eyes on you the whole time and he starts yelling again when dabi puts a hand on your knee and rests his chin on top of your head

-You don’t like this kid, he seems violent

-Thats how the first day of bakugo’s kidnapping goes

-Bakugou has to sit and see you his upper classmen crush sit in the lap of a villain and look at him with fear

-You’ve been here this whole time, why haven’t you left?

-Shigaraki wants you two to play this up, wants dabi to pursue you and rile you up in order to help break bakugou’s spirit

-Enter fake dating au

-Becomes real when all might saves you and dabi almost loses you when one for all forcefully opens the portal

-Bakugou is so angry to have you then lose you again

-You and dabi live happily ever after uwu

#dabi x reader #dabi #mha headcanons #my hero academia #bnha imagines #bnha x reader #bnha bakugou #bakugou headcanons #mha bakugou #bakugou #mha #bnha #boku no hero academia

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astro-break · 4 years

Text

Thoughts on the third ep of Hypmic Rhythm Anima (as always, spoilers beware but not only for the anime itself but for future things covered in the Drama CD and the Manga. If you’re an anime only, those are marked with a *)

Right off the bat. Super disappointed that it isn’t a MTC episode. I wanted an MTC episode. :((((

Still got my MTC crumbs this week tho and I think I can hold out until next week which hopefully will give me the MTC episode I so desperately want (Yes, i have a division bias and i’m not afraid to show it)

Jakurai entertaining kids are just so cute. I think its very very precious.

* Also. What kind of doctor is Jakurai anyways? So far we know that he’s a councilor/therapist (helps Doppo w/ his anxiety), a pediatrician (he helped a kid), a family doctor (I think i might be wrong on this one), a surgeon (In the FP vs MTC manga he’s shown preforming surgery), a hitman/assassin (:/ yeah evil line records seems intent on retconning this one), a battle field medic (he’s state to be one during WWIII) and now he’s getting called into the orthopedic (things concerning the musculoskeletal system) and gastroenterology (working w. the digestive system) department, two things that have nothing in common with each other. And I’m sure I’m missing some. There is no way in hell this man can do all that he’s 35 for fucks sake. You’d be old and grey before you could learn and complete the credentials needed to work half of these jobs

Nice to now that theres some hints of jakurai’s past. I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing more of the detective later in the story, esp for Matenrou

Doppo being overworked as usual *sigh*. When will the man ever rest? Never... Though im a bit skeptical as to why one of his co-workers calls him doppo. this is a work environment, usually he’d be called “Kanonzaka” for the least amount of informality. seems sus to me. Though his depiction of his insecurities is nice

I love how his first reaction is to call Hifumi and as him if he’s killed anyone. Peak bromance guys.

Honestly Doppo’s method of trying to calm down is nice but not at all effective. He has the right mindset of calming down and letting his body breath, but the way he goes about it is... eh.

Tom and Iris’ argument is hilarious and I really want to see more of them and Rex! Can’t wait to see what happens with these three new characters

Iasdgfjsd;flkasjdflkasdjfkasdlvn ajsdk, MTCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

MY BPOYS OH MY GOD RIOU NEVER CHANGE

fsajghasdf i love them asdhfoiksldjfasdfj riou’s food looks so so so so so good omgggggg

Samatoki respecting the fuck outta Jakurai is amazing and I never get tired of their father-child kind of relationship (yes jakurai is a dad to TDD fight me.)

The Riou and Samatoki interactionnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah my heart!! they know each other so well and play off each others strengths. its so cute and I love how Samatoki knows his teammates well enough to know when to play each of his pieces. He isn’t just some brute who speaks through his fists, but he does use his head too. I think this is one of the reasons why he’s also high up on the Yakuza ladder since he’s not only brawny but also brainy

EAT RIOUS FOOD SAMATOKI

ah yes, Jyuto kneeing a bitch. just what I needed to see on a stressful friday thank you for feeding me

I love MTC, im very happy with the MTC crumbs. Since MTR showed up in BB’s ep last week, i really really hope that next week’s ep will be MTC

There it is. Jakurai’s “Jitsuni Kyoumibukai” line

lolololololol the sound effects for MTR is hilarious. Though please give Doppo a break, man deserves it

Jaku’s hair man. its beautiful

Again, please give Doppo a break, he deserves with the 4 joints that they attacked

They say 3 times, but they attacked 4 places?? Did they not report one of them?

Ahhhhh the DoHifu interaction on the temple grounds is both hilarious and cute. Though I can’t help but feel bad for Doppo

* Huh, Jaku did you get that from your hitman days loll

Oh man host mode. Though I like how Doppo recognizes when Host Mode is a legitimate shield that Hifumi needs and is willing to give him that shield when he needs it. God I love their dynamic]

wow... yet another female stalker for Hifumi... very original. This is pretty similar to the stalker girl from the manga and CD

Lol callback to when Doppo was in the toilet and trying to calm down.

pffft the girl is so weird. I can’t stand her or Uwabami.

The plot is so convoluted holy shit. Is this a drama now? (I’ve never watched any c-dramas or k-dramas so I’m the furthest thing from a voice of authority but this seems like a drama show plot lmao.)

This is just a drama at this point lol. Misunderstandings, plot twists and cheesy shit all over the place. Its a badly written and hilarious drama thats for sure

Someone please write a fic where instead of the hypmic universe, the boys are all in a tv drama show plot and their hijinks bc it would fit perfectly. please

Ah, Doppochin snapped~ He’s very interesting once he gets fired up and thats when I really really like MTR. Don’t get me wrong, I love them normally but its when they get down to it that really makes me squeal in delight

Oh! So i think each character gets their own personalized intro w/ their speakers, not just the leaders. Thats honestly so so so cool. The 3D didn’t get in the way of the sequence and was really flashy and smooth. I love how they show the transformation and reveal of the mic and speaker. Honestly the Anime has so many good takes on thigs that aren’t touched on often in the franchise.

The rap was honestly fire this time around. I love it and have replayed it almost 20 times. According to the ending credits its called Welcome U which is so cute for such a funny and badass song. The strong base beat and imagery were so strong and included a lot of homages to things that really matches both Shinjuku, Matenrou and the lyric’s themes and they’re really small but important details! The humor was on point without sacrificing any of the amazingly cool elements and the three distinct styles of rap were integrated in such a catchy melody!

EG) the verse All Year Round features a quick shot of the four seasons and the things most prominently associated with each season. Spring has cherry blossoms and flower viewing, Summer has festivals, Fall and Winter have food that corresponds to events that happen in those seasons.

Doppo’s line of “The flea counters w/ a bite” is so so so cute bc he’s got a little w at the end and thats jp chatspeak for a laugh and skjdfhsdjfkslad adorable

Hifumi picking up right after and asking if Doppo is okay is just. Goals. And his gratutious english works really well and is super smooth! Very very good

Also the small homage to The Champions with Hifumi’s “Jump around” line and the format where Hifumi takes separate lines than Jaku and Doppo. Its a brilliant way to sneak these references in and they’ve kept that theme going from last episode

Foreshadowing with “We’re the true leader, Matenro!” Nice touch there lol.

Lol of course its attempted murder. Still gotta keep this PG 13 even though theres swearing abound

The ending w/ mimimi..... leaves me kind of torn since i don’t like how it ended but they did provide some nice advice. i guess

lsdf;jsalkdfjsldf Hifumi please you’ve known Doppo for over 25 years, you should know better than anyone what his charm points are. and shouldn’t you be the one who understands Doppo’s appeal? smh

SCREEEEEEE THAT TITLE OF THE NEXT EP. if its an MTC ep i will scream even more bc asudhfsdkjflasd A friend in need is a friend indeed this is just pushing my Poly!MTC agenda isn’t it

Final thoughts:

Please please please let next week be MTC please please please

DoHifu are goals, both romantically and platonically

The rap was fire and I’m going to keep listening to it on repeat. First ep was a bit of a disappointment in terms of CGI and raps but these latest two eps are really picking up the slack! I really hope they continue this for the next two!

JAKURAI WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR ARE YOU PLEASE TELL ME

#hypmic #hypnosis mic #hypnosis mic rhyme anima #hypnosis mic rythme anima spoilers #hypmic spoilers

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girlmeetsliv3 · 5 years

Text

Killing Me Softly III

Sugardaddy!BTS x reader

They were beloved. The very ground they walked on worshiped. It had been that way since before you were born and it would remain that way even after your choice. Decisions decisions, it would decide your future. But why choose one when you could choose them all? If you chose none, well… that wasn’t a decision you could make.

Trigger Warning: The following story contains mentions of manipulation, abuse, and vivid descriptions of abusive acts. The behavior and mindset of the characters in this will be incredibly yandere and toxic. This is a work of fiction and doesn’t represent the character of bangtan sonyeondan. Enjoy ~~~

AN: This is it the conclusion. I hope it’s everything you could hope for and so much more

Word Count: 10k

Tag List: @perrryyysblog @purpuravm @doodlesandthings @catsandstrawberries @ireallylikefoodandyoutube

killingmesoftlywithhislove

_Present_

His hair had grown since you had last seen him, the light curls framing his face nicely. From his posture and demeanor, you could tell he was upset, Hoseok was terrifying when he was angry: the way his eyes would darken, jaw clench, and his lips would curve into a smirk. It was a sign of the danger which was to come. After all, he had only ever been angry once before and it led to the murder of two innocent people. Hoseok was dressed in a black linen shirt with black jeans that fit snugly in all the right places, he looked absolutely beautiful. Seeing him like that caused your heart to ache and anxiety to flare up. He didn’t do it on purpose, or maybe he did, Hoseok could be incredibly cruel when he wanted to. You stepped out of the car, making sure leave enough distance between the two of you where an escape would be possible if needed. You doubted you would make it far though, as the car drove away, and the others were sure to be lurking around just like always. You stared at him straight in the eye refusing to cower even when every single bone in your body told you this was a fight you would not win. Meanwhile, his eyes trailed down your body until they landed on your neck focusing on the chain and pendant hanging on it. Wearing Taehyung’s present had been the right choice, maybe it would lull them into a false sense of security – one could only hope. “Aren’t you going to say hi, Jagi?” If seeing him almost broke you, hearing him speak delivered the final blow. Hoseok opened his arms, beckoning you towards him, and it took everything inside you not to succumb.

“Y/n…don’t you love me anymore?” There it was. He had whispered it so softly, practically whimpered it, and it ground whatever bit of your will was left. All you took was a step towards him, but that was enough for Hoseok who rushed to embrace you wrapping his arms tightly around your waist and burying his face into your neck. “God how I missed you. You have no idea, how I’ve longed for you.” Hoseok missed me? A small smile crept up your face, maybe all hope wasn’t lost. Hoseok let go of your waist to cup your face in between his two hands, he smiled gently. “Y/n,” The smile on his face grew wickeder and the grip on your face tighter, “Don’t ever do that to us again.” Emerging behind him you saw the six men standing a few feet away. This can’t be happening. No. You pushed against Hoseok’s chest, but his grip wouldn’t budge as his nails only dug deeper into your sensitive flesh. “Please Hoseok. Hobi. Don’t do this to me.” Your cries fell on death ears, as you saw Yoongi approaching you with something in his hand. It wasn’t long before he reached the two of you, the object in his hand is a rag which was subsequently shoved in your face muffling your cries. “Puh-please…” Your vision and hearing becoming weakening until your knees gave out letting you fall into unconsciousness.

_Two Months Ago_

“Jagi…Y/n…wake up.” You opened your eyes, to see the thick forestry opening up into a large clearing. You rubbed your eyes, before adjusting your reclined seat in order to get a better look. The North Joella province was a sight to behold, something you could only dream of yet here it was the beautiful lush landscapes and tall mountain paths something out of a postcard. Through the reflection in the car’s window, you could see the ridiculously large grin on your face, but you couldn’t help it. The excitement and wanderlust oozing out of you. “I’m glad to see you’re enjoying it already.” Hoseok spoke, in a teasing manner head tilted slightly towards you before he focused back on the road. “I must admit I was a bit worried about this trip…” That was an understatement, you had been a nervous wreck at the thought of the eight of you going on this trip together. Sure, you’d been with them before but never for several days in a row – especially not the week that was planned. Hoseok shot you a glance, “Why?” Because they were a lot to handle on their own. Because they were possessive enough as it was and you couldn’t possibly imagine them sharing. It was because you had realized that this arrangement couldn’t go on for much longer, but you had no idea how to tell them. You played with your fingers, forcing a small smile on your face to ease the tension. “I’ve never gone on vacation with you guys, of course, I would be nervous.” You could feel him staring at the side of your face, but Hoseok chose not to comment anymore, focusing on the road ahead. “Don’t worry, Y/n-ah. It’ll be fun.”

Hoseok and you had arrived together whilst the rest arrived in their own cars. Four cars lined the entranceway to the campsite, all of them sleek in style and the latest on the market. It was difficult not to remember how filthy rich the men were, for they often displayed it in ways no regular middle-class person would: their overzealous fashion, tips, and what they considering ‘small’ gifts. All things that would leave you bankrupt if you attempted to live that way. Still, despite these habits of theirs, they weren’t flashy nor were their egos due to their wealth. All of them were good people – incapable of doing harm to anyone of that you were sure of. The Hanoks were beautiful cherry wood color deep inside a mountain range, one Namjoon insisted all you must hike tomorrow morning. Once Hoseok had parked the car, the two of you walked hand in hand to the central Hanok where the others were preparing a meal. It was certainly a sight to behold, the six of them crowded around pots on noodles and meats, the smell causing you to salivate subconsciously. Namjoon was the first to look up, the others following suit. “Look who finally decided to join. Took you long enough.” He quirked an eyebrow at Hoseok, who simply shrugged it off going ahead to join the others. There was a weird tension in the room, and you couldn’t quite figure out why. The men seemed to be having a private conversation, one communicated through slight body movements and knowing glances. “Babe, come sit down,” Jungkook spoke, waving you over with his hand but you shook your head. “I’m going to go set down my stuff. Which one is my room?” They seemed disappointed at your response, but Seokjin quickly spoke: “The last one in the back, can’t miss it.” You thanked him and moved to exit the room before things could get any more awkward. Your ears picked up on their slight murmurs probably wondering why you were so distant. If only they knew why.

This was a fantastic idea, y/n. You really had to wait after the trip was over, huh? You couldn’t face the men once the decision had been made, but this was necessary. You couldn’t depend on them forever and now that you had graduated and were turning of age, it seemed appropriate. Even if to them it would seem like the utmost betrayal, they would come to understand. They had to. After walking out of the central Hanok, you saw what should have been your room; if the banner and balloons were any indications. Strangely it looked like the biggest out of the others, which you didn’t get since it would be yours alone. The others were sharing so it made sense they would get the biggest, yet somehow the Yo looked like it could comfortably fit at least ten. You set down your bag in the corner of the room and went to leave only to be greeted by Jimin at the door. “Not thinking of running away, are you?” He cocked an eyebrow as he leaned on the wooden frame. “Thought about it, but I’m so dumb I would probably get lost and eaten by a mountain lion or something.” Jimin chuckled, stepping forward to ruffle your hair. “Don’t be silly, we’d never let you go. Plus, there are no mountain lions in Korea.” You pouted playfully which caused him to lean down and peck your lips. “Now behave or you’ll get in trouble.” He said, as he turned around and headed for the door. “When have I ever?” You joked, causing him to turn back around to wink at you before shutting the door.

_Present_

You could feel the dampness on the back of your neck and your shirt. The sweat causing the fabric to cling to you in an uncomfortable manner, you tried to open your eyes but found your eyelids far too heavy. All you could do was pick up on the sounds of someone – make that two people talking. Their voices distant and slightly muffled, even though you were sure they weren’t that far away from you. The more time passed the clearer your senses became until you could hear them almost perfectly and it became clear that it was Seokjin and Namjoon having a discussion.

“…Can’t stay here. We have to move her before she wakes, or anyone realizes that she’s gone missing.”

“Don’t worry Hyung. Things will go much smoother from here, but we have to wait. Lay low for a while.”

“The more time we spend here, the more time we give them to find her and take-”

“It’s going to draw a lot of attention if we’re walking around carrying an unconscious girl. No one is following her or us. No one is going to take her away. Trust me.”

“Look where that got us, last time.”

“She’s awake.”

That last statement hadn’t come from neither Namjoon nor Seokjin, but rather it was Taehyung’s deep baritone voice. He hadn’t spoken the entire time, simply preferring to observe you while the other two talked. So, you hadn’t been made aware of his presence at all. Taehyung was waiting for the chloroform to wear off in order to alert the others, he had been able to tell by the slight hitch in your breath and the way your eyes had slightly moved in your sockets that you were awake. It reminded him of all the times you would pretend to be asleep in the mornings desperate for an extra five minutes of comfort before you were forced back into the cruel world. You could hear his footsteps getting closer until he stopped right by your head. Taehyung crouched down and let his fingertips lightly trail through your neckline. “You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.” His voice aroused something inside you, be it fear for you knew exactly what these men were capable of when upset or something far more twisted. It was those same words that Taehyung always spoke when wanted you to orgasm, usually with his hands around your neck and your body bent at an odd angle. Without much thought, you peeled open your eyes to see him leaning over you staring deep into your soul. His eyes were always wide and alert, you had once confused that as a positive trait. Thinking it made him look almost childlike. Now you realized those eyes made him even more of a predator, allowing him to see everything, especially his prey. Namjoon and Seokjin also walked towards where you were laying but chose to stand beside Taehyung looking down at you.

Your next decision could alter the course of everything that was about to happen to you, so you thought it over before finally speaking. “Where is everyone?” All three men exchanged a look before turning back to you, “Why do you want to know?” Seokjin spoke and you didn’t miss the anger in his voice either. All of them were on edge and that didn’t boast well for your chances of survival, so you had to be quick. “I want to apologize,” Funny enough they all simultaneously blinked in shock, “For what I’ve done.” You weren’t good at lying, in fact, you couldn’t lie to save your life. But what was there to lose, other than the obvious. Namjoon nodded, face completely devoid of emotion. “Fine. We’ll take you to them.” Even though Taehyung was the closest to you, it was Seokjin who scooped you up into his arms refusing to let you walk. It was probably to ensure you didn’t run away, but from how tightly he pressed you against his body, you were sure the man had ulterior motives. They all walked out of the Hanok together, Seokjin and you in the center whilst the others were on the sides. In the distance, you could see the stone path that led up to the mountains where all of you had gone on your second day there. It was ironic that you would recall such a happy memory at a time like this, but maybe it was a way for your brain to cope.

_Two Months Ago_

“Jeon Jungkook if you don’t put me down this instant. I will fling us both off this rock.” Laugher escaped all of you, as Yoongi continued to pout while Jungkook carried him on his back refusing to drop him even when the two walked so very close to the edge. “Learn to live a little a little Hyung.” Jungkook teased while tilting slightly towards the left where the safety rope barely reached his hips. “Yah. Listen to me or I swear to god.” You couldn’t help but smile at the two of them while you walked with the group, each of them had taken turns talking to you or holding your hand and it was nice. Though the first day had been a bit awkward, by the evening all of you had become accustomed to each other (read you had gotten over your guilt) and had ended up bonding over embarrassing childhood stories; Jin’s were by far the worst his narcissism often landing him in trouble. Then you went to bed with the promise of a long day ahead of you, first the mountains then a club. It was sure to be a fun day, and by the way, Yoongi kept screaming at Jungkook an unforgettable one. “Be careful or both of might actually fall,” Namjoon warned, Jungkook finally listening and letting Yoongi down. Yoongi pretended to frown but the joy in his face was hard to miss. He only ever got this happy when he was high on something and you were glad that it wasn’t the case this time when he glanced back and smiled at you it was contagious. Hopefully, when things end, he’ll still be as happy as this. What you wouldn’t give to see him smile every day as brightly as he was right now.

“Has anyone ever fallen off these?” Taehyung asked Jimin, who he was beside. The other man nodded, “I think a guy did a while back. Only got a few broken bones, nothing too bad.” Hoseok’s eyes widened, “That’s your definition of not too bad.” Jimin shrugged while both Taehyung and Hoseok looked towards the edge in fear. It was a rather large drop from where you were, after having walked for about forty minutes. Not to mention the housing area was already high above the ground. “For a thirty to forty-foot drop that’s not that bad. I heard he had enough time to make himself into an armadillo, you know? Curl up and protect his head.” Whoever he was, you reasoned the man must be extremely lucky. “How did he even fall?” You asked, which prompted Jimin who was far ahead to turn around. “Maybe he was running from mountain lions?” He stuck his tongue out and you chased after him, trying to hit him playfully. The other’s laughed as Jimin gave chase for quite a while before eventually turning his sight on you, leaving you to hide behind the others for cover.

_Present_

You had expected to be taken to the central Hanok, the one which connected all the others, but instead, they lead you to the one where you had previously stayed. Namjoon opened the doors allowing Seokjin to walk in first, then Taehyung, before he too stepped inside shutting you off from the outside world. The rest of them Yoongi, Jungkook, and Jimin were there all sitting comfortably on the Yo; staring at you with such scrutiny it felt like you were being dissected. Hoseok stood by the corner, in an angle where he could see everything. His eyesight wasn’t on you, but the rest of his lovers. Seokjin set you down before, walking over to the Yo to sit. Taehyung and Namjoon lingered behind you until Hoseok gave a curt nod and they too decided to sit on the mat. They were all waiting for you to say something, but your throat had dried up. Words being unable to escape but you could feel a sob incoming which would only worsen things. “I want t-to apologize for the way I’ve behaved,” You shifted your weight from one foot to the other, as you tried to reign in the tremor in your voice. “I was. I’m scared of you. What you did and why you did it, I just don’t understand -” It was Yoongi who cut you off, “We did it to protect you because we love you. Why can’t you fucking see that?!” He was seething. Pupils dilating and the vein in his neck popping out. No one said anything, only Jimin moved to lay his head on his Hyung’s shoulder to comfort him. It persisted: their justification of their actions lay solely on you as if you were the one to blame, not them. How could you win? How could you escape? You had thought it easy just weeks ago and here you were back in their hands, they had entrapped you in their spider web. The more you struggled, the easier prey you became.

“I don’t deserve that love…I don’t even understand why you would.” The sob tore through your throat, tears that you hadn’t even been aware of flowing freely. God, you were pathetic. Could you help it? Wasn’t that why you had needed them in the first place? You couldn’t even face them, preferring to stare at the hardwood floor beneath your feet. Hoseok walked towards you cradling you in his arms and patting your head. “Shh, it’s okay. People make mistakes and they grow, we’re okay with giving you a second chance but you have to promise us you won’t run away again.” With your head buried into his neck, you missed the sadistic smirk on his face. The smile that spread through the other men’s faces at seeing your resolve crumble right before them. This was everything they had ever wanted. Everything they had ever needed. You would finally be there’s and no one could take you away from them. The other’s stood up and crowded around you enveloping you in their warmth. “Before though, there’s something we have to show you,” Jungkook spoke as his hands rubbed circles into your upper back. You peeled away from Hoseok to stare at the youngest, nodding without much thought. At your lack of reluctance, he grinned bunny smile on full display. Jungkook grasped your hand in his and pulled you out of the room, practically running with excitement. Jimin and Taehyung cast a look towards their Hyung’s before walking out and following the two of you, knowing that what Jungkook was going to show you were sure to leave an impression.

Hoseok circled his arms around Yoongi’s waist, peppering kisses along the side of his head. “Don’t worry, she’s never leaving us again. I’ll make sure of it.” Yoongi sighed and leaned into the other’s caresses. Namjoon and Seokjin sighed as well, feeling exhausted after everything that they had to do in order to get you to be there’s. Hoseok turned around beckoning them closer, so the other two joined into their embrace. Being held, kissed, and caressed in order to ease their nerves away. “I promise you all, she’s ours now. Forever. Not even death will do us part.”

Jungkook had dragged you out of the resting area into an unset path. The soft grass beneath your feet turning into an amalgamation of rocks, broken tree branches, and patches of mud as the forest began to enclose around you. He seemed to be looking for something, his grip on your hand not loosening a bit. It was useless anyway, to run away now would mean certain death either by falling off the mountain or by their own hand. You preferred the former if you were honest. “Jungkook where are you taking me?” Worry evident in your tone, as your brows furrowed. You were deep into the forestry now and were uncertain if Jungkook even knew his way back. Instead of answering, Jungkook simply giggled like a small child. Up ahead, you could begin to make something out weird shapes coming into form the closer you got until… “No! Please dear god. Kookie no. I don’t want to see it.” It was too late, you could see the dismembered rotting corpses perfectly now. You began to hyperventilate as vile from your stomach rose, you hadn’t realized Jungkook had let go of you until you placed both hands on your knees to steady yourself. Jungkook was facing you, with a sinister gleam in his eyes. “Don’t you like it? Figured you might since they’re dead because of you.” No, that wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. Right? Jungkook bent down to be at your eye level, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “After all, if you had just listened that night none of this would have happened. They wouldn’t be dead.” Flashes of that night came to your mind like scenes in a movie. Unable to hold it back anymore, you hurled forward throwing up bile from your stomach. You wiped your mouth with the back of your hand, “It isn’t my fault. It isn’t.” You repeated it over and over again like a mantra that would assure your mind of its innocence. “Isn’t it though?” Chimed in Jimin behind you, “Isn’t you who disobeyed and wore that stupid dress? Wasn’t it you who insisted on dancing? Didn’t you pick the fight?”

You recalled the events once more, but this time in the way he had said. You had stepped out of line, more than once that night. Refusing to listen to them, and simply doing what you wanted, so was it truly your fault? Taehyung had inched closer to you, in the midst of your spiral. Getting close enough to whisper into your ear the words that would finally shatter you once in for all. “If we did it for you, doesn’t that make you the worst one out of all of us.” When your knees gave out, Taehyung was the one lift you into his arms carrying you the way a groom would a bride. Instead of taking you back to the Hanoks he stepped even closer to the bodies, making sure you could see them in all their glory. “Y/n, there are no more chances after this. I would hate for more people to end up this way, though I’m sure Sihyeon and Jeonhan would make beautiful corpses.” The image of the two of them laying there was now cemented into your head.

_Two Months Ago_

You hadn’t heard of many clubs in the Jeolla province, but Seokjin had assured you the place the eight of you were going was top tier. Exclusively for the rich and beautiful, as if it was meant to calm your nerves. It did the opposite. You had been out with the boys on several occasions individually, to events, galas, or even the casual dates but never all seven at once. Never in a position where others might begin to wonder what type of relationship all of you shared, they would probably assume you were a prostitute which wasn’t exactly legal. Is all of this even legal? You opted not to ponder on that. Instead, setting out two possible outfits for tonight, one a corseted black top with matching black jeans and the other, and the other a green silk slip dress that ended at mid-thigh. You knew which option the boys would prefer you to wear out, but the dress was so beautiful, and you did buy with the intent to wear on your birthday. Plus, you barely wore stuff like this anyway, one night a year wasn’t going to cause anyone any harm. So you settled on the dress, slipping it on, and going about finishing the rest of your routine until you heard the rasping of knuckles on the door. Not bothering to wait for an answer, the person quickly opened the door and stepped inside. Seokjin was dressed in a light blue button-down that accentuated his features, wonderfully. “You look handsome.” You smiled, as you walked over to kiss him on the cheek. He had yet to say anything merely staring at your dress before his eyes trailed up to meet yours. “Don’t you like it?” You asked, bracing yourself for the blow. “I’d love it if it were off you.” His words were meant to have come off jokingly, but he said in such a serious tone.

“Ha-ha. We don’t have time, come on let’s get going.” You tried to push him aside, to walk through but he wouldn’t budge. “I’m being serious Y/n, don’t wear that out tonight. You’ll draw too much attention to yourself.” He was scolding you the way one might a child, you scoffed. “Right as if walking in with seven men isn’t going to draw any attention whatsoever.” You rolled your eyes and attempted to push past him again, but he gripped your wrist and pulled you tautly against him. “You look like an escort.” It took all your willpower not to slap him right there and then, instead you stooped even lower. “Aren’t I practically one already?” You retorted. Seokjin’s eyes widened and his face grew red with fury, but you couldn’t care less finally pushing past him to join the others. Fuck him, why is he being such an asshole all of a sudden?! You shook your head, trying to ease your thoughts and the deep frown between your brows. The rest of them were already in front of the cars, waiting for you to join. Namjoon let out a wolf whistle when he saw you, causing the corners of your mouth to turn up slightly. Hoseok was smiling at you, so you made your way towards him walking right into his arms. “Do I look okay?” You whispered softly, he hummed in agreeance. “You looked like lust personified, in a good way.” A small laugh tore out if you were lust personified Hoseok must’ve been Aphrodite at that moment. Eventually, Seokjin exited the Hanok, his expression cool and calm. As if nothing had happened. You wondered how he managed to be so in control, even when he should clearly still be upset. You shrugged it off and instead got in the car, the other’s sliding in beside you while Yoongi took the driver’s seat and Seokjin the one beside him.

The drive there wasn’t long the province was rather small and the club was located in what could be considered a downtown area. The hotels, shopping center, and general ambiance letting you know that the men hadn’t lied about the kind of people that habituated there. It was around five stories tall with each floor dedicated to a specific vibe or kind of music, according to Taehyung. As you approached the front of the building, you saw a line of people almost the length of the block. It was a strange sight as you had assumed from how quiet everything around the campsite was that there wasn’t much to do in Jeolla except enjoy the scenery, clearly you were wrong. “Don’t be nervous, okay?” Jimin assured you before the door opened and one by one you all exited the car. People in line stared in awe at the men, some even taking out their phones to snap some pictures; probably assuming they were idols. You couldn’t blame them, they looked like gods walking among the Earth. “We’re going up to the third floor,” Seokjin said, as he led you all inside. Yoongi and Namjoon had wrapped their arms around your waist, causing a few judgmental stares to be sent your way. I definitely look like an escort now. It was different when it was one on one, most people would look at you with one of the men and assume the two of you were lovers. From the way you talked, acted, and openly embraced each other they would have no idea that it was a purely monetary relationship; a give and take of sorts. You had grown used to it, but that too could be dangerous especially when you found yourself falling deeper and deeper for a man who would never see you that way.

At the entrance stood a receptionist in front of a giant elevator when Hoseok said his name he was handed a key and told to board the elevator. The key apparently was the only way to unlock the doors and gain access to the other floors. “Probably to prevent people from sneaking in.” Namjoon had rationalized. It was a snug fit, but not enough to be claustrophobic. Once you reached the third floor, the elevator doors dinged open and you saw a giant dance floor riddled with bodies dancing without a care in the world. Excitement filled you, barely containing itself when you all sat down at a booth. Shots were ordered, minus Yoongi who wanted scotch, and it was three rounds later that you found yourself convincing them to go dance. “What’s the point of going to a club if we’re not going to dance?” You had to scream over the loud music, in order for all of them to hear you. Jungkook rolled his eyes, “You’ve never even been to a club.” True, but that was beside the point. “I want to dance, come on.” Glancing around the table, you saw that no one made an indication to move. So you huffed, beginning to cross over their laps in order to exit the booth. “Where are you going?” Seokjin asked, his hands gripping your waist causing you to stop right on top of him. “I’m going to dance. The rest of you can stay here and be boring.” To emphasize your point, you stuck your tongue out and finished exiting the booth. They all watched with varying levels of amusement as you made your way down to the center of the large swarm of people.

The second you got there, a new song began to play. The heavy bass and accompanying guitar riff causing your heart to thump to the beat of the song. Your hips swayed and you lost yourself entirely to the music, enjoying the ride it was taking you on. The alcohol in your system hadn’t left you tipsy but instead given you a soft buzz that spread throughout your body allowing you to loosen up a bit more. It wasn’t long before a pair of hands found their way onto your hips, and the warmth of another body heated your back. Assuming one of the boys had finally caved, you leaned back until you felt them press their hard-on into your backside. It was then that a voice, not belonging to any of your companions spoke. “How much for a night, princess?” Immediately, you separated yourself from them and whipped around. It was a man in his late thirties with a scruffy beard and lanky body, smelling of cheap cigarettes far too much liquor. “Sorry I think you're mistaken.” You tried to walk away, but the man gripped your forearm and pulled you back. His face contorted into anger, clearly not liking being dismissed. “Come on, sweetheart. I don’t bite, though if you’d let me, I would pay extra.” It was when you felt the sting on your hand, that you realized you had backhanded the man. If he was angry before, now he was livid. He moved forward but was stopped when a cold beverage splashed across your face. Turning towards the left, you saw a short red-headed girl with an empty margarita glass in her hand.

“You whore, what are you doing hitting on my boyfriend? Get your skanky claws away from him.” You wanted so badly to say something, but you were frozen. Couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, and now that you dwelled on it you were having a hard time breathing, your chest beginning to move up and down at an unnatural rate. The two of them seemed to enjoy your reaction, for they had smirks on their faces. Where are they? As if they had read your mind, you felt a jacket being placed on your shoulders before Jimin pressed you against his side. “Come on, Y/n. Let’s go home.” That was it? Jimin made no move to defend you against them, barely even spared a glance. Simply walked you towards the elevator where the others were waiting, their expressions unreadable. Was that all? None bothered to comfort you. None seemed to care. Maybe they didn’t. Maybe the time had finally come. As the eight of you stepped off the elevator, and onto the main entrance you simply kept your head down and tried to make yourself as small as possible. You had already gotten enough attention, you didn’t desire anymore. The ride home was silent as well, save for a few brief conversations between the men, you simply remained stoic. When you finally reached the Hanok’s it took all of your will power to not run straight to your room and burst into tears, instead you said ‘goodnight’ and walked gracefully towards your Hanok. Closing the door, slowly and walking towards the Yo before finally succumbing to the tears.

Tomorrow morning you would end things with them, there was no other way. If tonight was anything to go by the men clearly didn’t care for you as much as they had claimed, especially Hoseok whose ‘I love you’ seemed hollow when you realized they were just words to him. He didn’t love and how could he, when he had six others. When he had to share you. It was inevitable and postponing it until the end of the trip would make it more difficult to end things. Plus, you had already saved up the majority of the money you had been given by them; though that was something they remained unaware of entirely. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’ll end it and say goodbye to them forever. You prayed they would understand, they had to, plus they had other sugar babies before, so this was nothing new. It wasn’t an arrangement that could last forever, and this wasn’t a fairy tale where all of you would end up happily ever after. Life was far to cruel for that. With your mindset, you drifted off to sleep exhaustion taking you over.

It was a scream that roused you from sleep. A high shrill, the type that you had only heard in movies, but it was clear as day. Peeling your eyes open, you saw nothing but darkness in your room, your senses quickly adjusting to see that the doors had been slightly left open. You figured the men could be watching a movie, but you hadn’t seen any electronic devices in the central Hanok. Nor did there look to be electrical outlets anyway. You tried to go back to sleep, but a nagging feeling kept you from dozing off again. Something’s wrong, I can feel it. So much like a cat, you stood up with the intent of satisfying your curiosity. You hadn’t even taken off your dress or Jimin’s jacket, but none of that seemed relevant. You stepped out onto the main area and looked around trying to see if any of the boys were awake, all the other Hanoks were dark except for Hoseok’s who had a faint glow emitting from it. Carefully you tiptoed your way over, choosing to go by the side where there was a small window than knocking on the door. You didn’t want to disturb him and make him more upset at you. The closer you got the more disturbing sounds you heard coming from the room, causing the hairs on the back of your neck to rise as adrenaline pumped through your veins. You crouched down to avoid being seen and slowly peered into the room to see what was going on, your eyes widening in horror at what you saw. Before bile rose through your throat and you found yourself having to control the urge to gag.

Inside Hoseok’s room where all the men laughing and smiling, but it wasn’t a joke or movie that they got entertainment from. It was the two tortured individuals with cuts, bruises, and broken bones that lay at their feet. You recognized them almost instantly, it was the couple from the club, the woman’s cries reaching your ears even outside. The man was screaming incoherent things which only caused the men to laugh even harder before Jungkook kicked him in the throat silencing him effectively. What the fuck is going on? Soon Yoongi and Jimin would begin to tear the couple's clothes off and use brute force to break even more bones. The sound of broken ribs and pelvis would be something that would forever be engrained into your mind. Hoseok stood by the side, watching his lovers partake in their sadistic punishment of the man and women. Truthfully, they deserved it and Hoseok would’ve joined in had his mind not been running rampant with thoughts of you. He had wanted to postpone their confession until the end of the trip, show you how much fun you could have with all of them before asking you formally to be theirs. Hoseok wasn’t sure how you would react, seeing as you were fond of the members but had a preference for him. Not that he minded, but it would cause problems in the relationship if you constantly opted to spend time with him instead of the others. Still, you had done well until now, and Hoseok could see his lovers falling deeper and deeper in love with you every second that passed. He had to admit he was concerned in the beginning that the others wouldn’t understand his need to be with you, but once they began to display the same tendencies, he knew he had made the right choice.

Tomorrow morning, they would ask you to be theirs and you would say yes. You had to. Hoseok couldn’t fathom a single reason why you wouldn’t, then his eyes locked with yours. Quickly you ducked and made a run for your Hanok, hoping that had just been your imagination that you had locked eyes with Hoseok. There was no way he saw you, right? Your survival instinct kicked in and you reached your room in record time, slamming the door shut and racing towards your luggage. Quickly you changed into much more comfortable clothing and began to pack your stuff, leaving the jacket and dress out. It was when you heard footsteps inching closer to your room that you quickly placed the bag back where it had been and reached for the jacket. You hastily put it on before getting under the duvet and shifting to face the wall, closing your eyes as the door opened. “I told you she was asleep,” Seokjin said, before stepping into the room. The rest followed suit, making sure everything in the room was still intact. You looked so lonely in the giant Yo it really couldn’t be helped that they desired to join you. Jungkook took the first step, discarding his blood-stained clothes on the floor before slipping in beside you. Wrapping his arms tightly around you as he buried his nose into your hair, breathing in your scent. You tried your hardest not to move when the others joined in too, for the slightest movement could let them know you were pretending. Eventually, all of them drifted off to sleep, each curling up beside the other in a way that screamed intimacy, but you were unable to sleep that night the image of their expressions and the bodies replaying in your head until the sun rose.

When you opened your eyes the next morning, golden sunlight illuminated the room in a beautiful way. What was more beautiful was how it reflected off each of the men’s golden skin, as they all sat staring at you. Faking a groan, you stretched your arms pretending you had just woken up. “What are you guys doing in here?” Their faces were stoic, devoid of any emotion it terrified you. “We want to talk Y/n, about us.” Namjoon started, his hands moving as he tried to elaborate on what he meant but you cut him off before he could. “I think we should take a break.” It felt as if all the light in the room had been sucked up by something. “What?” Jimin whimpered, his voice barely above a whisper. All of them looked to be varying levels of distraught, but none more than Hoseok who you could barely manage to look at. Toying with your hands you breathed in deeply before continuing, “This has been going on for a while and I just think that before we continue, I need some time to think about what I want to do next in my life.” Taehyung leaned forward, his tongue-tied as he rambled. “W-what do yuh-you mean time to think? What is there t-to think abuh-about?!” Jungkook was shaking with fury, this wasn’t supposed to happen. You were supposed to be theirs forever, so what was this bullshit. “I need to figure out what I want to do with my life. I can’t rely on others my entire life, I need to be able to stand on my own.” Yoongi laughed, a genuine one as if you had just said the funniest thing in the world. “You be on your own? Don’t make me laugh. You could barely handle a confrontation last night, without breaking down.” That stung, you knew he did it to hurt you, but it didn’t lessen the blow at all if anything it made it worse. “Exactly, so I need to learn to stand up on my own.”

Seokjin nodded in agreeance, “Alright. You need time, we understand. Then you’ll come back to us.” It sounded as if he was trying to convince himself, rather than everyone else in the room. “Yeah, I will. I promise.” You were lying through your teeth, but anything to get you out of this situation was good enough. The air was beginning to clear until Hoseok finally spoke, “If you don’t come back, they would have died for nothing.” You gulped and felt the life being drained out of you slowly, there was a wicked smirk on his face which let you know just how much he enjoyed your fear. They knew. Of course, they did, how could you have been stupid enough to think they wouldn’t. These men knew you like the back of their hands and here you had played into their little game. Knowing your options were dwindling the more time passed, you rushed words out of your mouth. “A week. Seven days. I promise I’ll be back to you by then, please.” Your eyes were brimming with tears, as you hoped for some kind of miracle where you got to see the outside world again. After what felt like hours, it was Namjoon who finally spoke. “Alright, a week. Then your ours forever.”

_Present_

You practically had to be carried back to the Hanok, the men beside you were holding onto you with such force you were sure marks would be left on your body. The sky above you had darkened, small droplets of water began to rain down on the three of you, the smell of rain was always calming except now. Not when you could visualize so perfectly Sihyeon’s dead corpse; you knew it wasn’t an empty threat. They had proven themselves more than capable of taking lives in the name of ‘love.’ The closer you got, you heard the cluttering of pans and smelled the Seokjin’s familiar kimchi. Not wanting to face them all again, you stopped walking. “I want to shower. Can I?” The three youngest looked at each other before Jimin nodded. “Let’s go then.” Once again, you were lifted off the ground. You’re certainly being treated like a baby now. A small snicker escaped your lips causing Jimin to look down at you. “When we trust you again, you won’t have to be supervised.” The bathhouse wasn’t far, and it was possibly the only modern thing about the entire establishment, thankfully because you couldn’t handle bathing in cold water. Not now. Jimin dropped you off at the threshold, and you slipped your shoes off before entering. It was almost as large as the main area, but it was divided into two rooms. A smaller more compact one, for taking off the clothes and storing them into compartments and then the bathing area. Where there were a giant heated pool and a shower in the far corner. None of the doors could be locked, but that may have been for safety reasons. In any case, you stripped naked placing your clothes into a basket and entered the second room. Opting to shower first and then rest in the warm water, your muscles relaxed, and tension eased out of your body everywhere except your head.

I have to think of a way out. Their planning to take me somewhere else… You had seen enough true crime stories to know that whenever someone is taken to a secondary location their chances of survival are reduced by more than half, that wasn’t a risk you were ready to take. I need them to trust me, but how? You spent almost an hour pondering this until the idea finally came to you. It was twisted and incredibly dangerous, but you had to do it. There was no other way to lull them into a false sense of security. There were several curt knocks on the door before it slid open Yoongi stepping inside. “Food’s ready. Get dressed.” In his hands was a large t-shirt, shorts, and boxers. Clearly, the men hadn’t thought to bring clothes for you, but that could work towards your advantage. “Thanks.” You replied, before standing up and getting out of the bath. Yoongi was clearly not expecting this as he turned his face towards the side, a dusty rose on his cheeks. “No problem.” You got dressed rather quickly, as Yoongi was still waiting for you before finally stepping out into the smaller room and eventually outside. Yoongi’s interlocked his hand with yours using that as reign, instead of carrying you around like the other’s did. “Jin made your favorite.” You nodded, lightly squeezing his fingers. “Remember when you said, that you wanted to show me what the stars looked like here? We never got to do that.” Yoongi didn’t reply simply continued walking, after a while, you shook your head. “Never mind, sorry I brought it up.” His hold on your hand tightened before he spoke. “We’ll have the rest of our lives to look up at the stars.” That was exactly what you feared.

Dinner was delicious, in a way you assumed all last meals must be. Even if you weren’t going to physically die here, being with the men felt like the death of who you were. All the joy, hope, and excitement you had once held deep within your heart gone. They had destroyed that. Sawed it down until nothing but fine dust was left. They had all conversed with each other as if it nothing out of the ordinary was occurring, as if this was a routine for them. You couldn’t focus on that now, instead, you needed to focus on their weaknesses. How to exploit them and manipulate them in order for you to escape, and you knew just the way. You started by blinking more often and slower each time, pretending to zone out of the conversation, and allowing your body to sway to the side every so often as if it was uncontrollable. Seokjin picked up on it first, “Let’s go to bed. I’ll clean it up in the morning.” Pretending to doze off, you felt arms hoist you up everyone heading towards your old Hanok. Everything relied on who decided to lay beside you, if it was Namjoon, Hoseok, or Yoongi you were doomed. Thankfully the heaven’s seemed to smile down on you as you were placed between Jungkook and Jimin. When it felt like an hour had passed and the breathing of the men had evened out, you began your plan. It all started with a slight whimper, which leads to you pushing back against Jungkook. Subconsciously, he draped an arm around your hips tautly pressing them against his. Then you groaned reaching forward to touch Jimin’s chest, he too drew closer to you. It was a few touches later, that you grew bold slowly grinding your behind into Jungkook’s growing erection. Then your hand ‘accidentally’ dropped and just so happened to caress right over Jimin’s shorts.

If you were weak and pathetic, then you would make them weaker than you. For when Jimin’s opened his eyes and leaned forward to kiss you while Jungkook pushed up the fabric of your shirt, it wasn’t long until everyone else woke up and joined in too. You had to do whatever it took to survive; morality and guilt be damned. It had been a long night, so it made sense that none of the men would be up by dawn. Bodies far too worn out after everything that had happened, you felt sick to your stomach but there was no time to lose. It was now or never. You sneaked out of the Hanok and dashed towards the rocky path you recalled perfectly, going for the cars would be a reckless decision as they were sure to have hidden the keys – that was time wasted. No, you had to be smarter even if it meant risking your life as you followed the trail up the mountain looking for a spot with more soft grass and less harsh rocks or trees to impale yourself on. Taking a deep breath, you looked up to the heavens and prayed for luck. “Please let me get out of this alive.” With that, you crouched under the safety rope and curled your body into an armadillo position, before rolling down the mountain either to your death or salvation.

“Mrs. Jung?”

“Can you hear me, Mrs. Jung?” When you opened your eyes it was far to bright. Sterile colors facing back at you along with the face of an elderly woman downing scrubs. “Do you know where you are?” Glancing around you saw that, there was no one else in the room but the two of you, but there were scattered pieces of clothing and objects that you let know, you weren’t going to be alone for very long. Seeing as you had failed to respond to the nurse, went to walk away. “I’m going to fetch the doctor and Mr. Jung. Please try not to move.” Before she could move away from the bed, you latched onto her arm. “Don’t. Please don’t get him. I’m begging you.” The nurse had seen her fair share of iatrophobia, so she tried her best to calm you down. “I need to get him, so he can check up on you. It’s to make sure your injuries aren’t serious.” She didn’t understand. “No. Not him. Hoseok, the rest of them, please don’t get them. They did this to me.” The words hung in the air, the elderly nurse looking shocked before she nodded. “I’m going to stay right here, but I’ll have to call in a social worker in order to have them contact the police alright?” You shook your head once more, “If they find out they said they’d kill my friend. They have already killed before.” Whether she had experienced something like this before or whether she was that good at her job, you weren’t sure. But everything had occurred just as she said, none of the boys had tried to return to the room yet. All thinking you were still unconscious, the police were called and tipped off. The hospital also went into lockdown to ensure none of the men could leave the premises.

In less than two hours, six of the men were in custody of the police. Hoseok was nowhere to be found and police assumed he went on the run. A day later, the police had come in for a statement where you gave a statement telling them everything about your situation. They were charged with pandering and soliciting. You were at risk of facing charges for prostitution, but the officers had told you that you could argue you were coerced into it. You didn’t know what to do. The doctor had insisted you remained in the hospital for a few days, to treat your bruises. Thankfully all you had received was a minor concussion and a broken arm – still better than death. You had also learned through the news, that Yoongi was being charged with possession of drugs and potential for using them. It seems someone had previously tipped off the police about Yoongi’s habits. You had wondered who would do such a thing, until Kim Sihyeon threw open your hospital door a few days later, Jeonhan trailing behind her silently. “God Y/n. Thank god you’re alright.” She was a nervous wreck with her hair disheveled, makeup poorly done, and clothes wrinkled. Sihyeon had a lot of time to think about how she had handled the situation and realized that the version of the story Yoongi had told Jeonhan resembled in no way the person you were. It was when she tried contacting you but couldn’t that she realized something was wrong. It was then that Jeonhan stepped forward, “I tried contacting Yoongi and pressing the issue, but he was a wreck. The last time we spoke, he threatened to hurt me if I kept asking questions about you. So I filed a report.”

With time you came to heal, physically that is, you never did move on emotionally. Even when you tried, fate threw something your way. Be it by forcing you to take part in the investigation to incarcerate the men, seeing Hoseok’s face every time you closed your eyes, or a missed period that could no longer be blamed on stress. Broken bones are the easiest things to get through, the hardest is deciding whether to bring to life the child of your tormentor. It was Sihyeon who suggested adoption and at the time, it seemed like the right thing to do. So you put up with the morning sickness, fatigue, and monthly check-ups. During that time, you hardly went out or did anything rotting away slowly. Living off the money they had left you, even if it made you so sick you could throw up. If there was anything in your stomach to throw up that is. It seemed a bit sadistic, that their sentencing would be around the time you were due. Finding out the men who had broken you were only going to be in prison for a decade or less, around five years in Jungkook’s case, sickened you. Only the older ones could be found guilty of the murders, with Hoseok still missing they all shifted the blame onto him. So much for loving each other.

Nothing seemed to affect you anymore. Nothing could make you feel. You had remained that way for months, until this morning. When the labor pains were so intense, they had you screaming. When the living thing inside of you, longed to get out no matter what you wanted. After being rushed to the hospital and nine hours of arduous labor, she was born. Her cries echoed around the room and for the first time in a long time, you felt hope. It was when the nurse placed her between your arms, with her large crescent eyes staring up at you that you began to cry. For everything that had ever happened to you, for everything she represented, and for everything she would. As you held your daughter in your arms, you recognized the familiar curve of her lips and dollop nose. You saw so much of him in her that it hurt, but the longer you stared the more of you appeared in her. If life ever gave second chances, you were sure this was yours. “I love you. So much.” You choked on the words, as you came to an epiphany. If I can’t live for myself, then I’ll live for you.

_Three Years Later_

Jung Hoseok stood on the other side of the road watching, waiting, for anything interesting to happen. He saw the panic of the baby sitter through the large window, as she cradled your child in her arms. Likely screaming about the alarm that was going off in the house this instant. It didn’t take much for him to set it off, a small well-thrown rock breaking a window was enough. He had longed to go inside but knew that the camera’s surrounding the perimeter of the house would capture him. It was when he saw your car pull into the driveway, that he filled with glee. His lips spreading into a heart-shaped smile, as he watched you anxiously get out of your car and run into the house. You grasped the child into your arms before heading back towards the door, to input the code. Hoseok really needed to get his hands on that code. He watched you scream at the baby sitter, before promptly apologizing profusely. You had become extremely paranoid since he’d last seen you, it was probably his fault but that didn’t matter right now. His entire focus was on the child, the toddler hoisted on your hip who was looking out into the world. She could be his or Jungkook’s, Jimin’s, Taehyung’s, Namjoon’s, Yoongi’s, even Seokjin’s. He hoped for her sake it was the former, he didn’t know how he’d feel about raising the other’s child now that they’d thrown him under the bus. Maybe Yoongi’s was the exception.

It seems the child had spotted him for she waved at him, prompting him to smile and wave back. She was likable enough. Not wanting to risk you seeing him, Hoseok walked away following the crowd of people all going about their day. Soon he would have you in his grasp again and this time, he would never let you go. Even if meant both of you ending up as rotting corpses.

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