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#thought it’d be cute to format it like a love letter
diyeoracha · 3 years
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IwaOi Fanfiction Masterlist with 90+ Works
Hello! In celebration accumulating over 290 bookmarks on my AO3 account featuring IwaOi, Haikyuu S4 part 2, and @haikyuuweek2020​ (Day 7 - Free Choice), I decided to create a masterlist of all of my favorite Iwaoi fics in order to keep myself organized as well as contributing to more traffic for those works! Works are split up into genres such as alternate universe (either not childhood friends or set on Earth), angst, canon compliant (post timeskip with spoilers), canon divergent (childhood friends but divergent timeline post timeskip), high school, and university au
Formatting update: Jan 13, 2021 (spacing is wonky on the mobile app!).
Fic update: Jan 7, 2021
This is incomplete as I got distracted while re-reading a lot of these and have only gone through half of my bookmarks, but feel free to check my own page here for the rest of them! I really do hope you guys enjoy reading these and leave comments and kudos! Please reblog and like so more people can enjoy
Titles marked with (♡) are my absolute favorites and there’s a chance I cried while reading them but otherwise they’re in alphabetical order
Alternate Universe
an allegory of all the things we could’ve been
Word count: 16k
Summary: “I don’t know anything about some red string,” Iwaizumi murmurs into the cracks of Oikawa’s skin, “or even about lifetimes or fate. But no matter where you are, I’ll find you. Gods or otherwise.” Reincarnation AU
And All the Prince’s Men
Word count: 65k
Summary: “Father only loves that which he owns, and I am the one thing that can never truly be his.” Royalty AU
Built a Temple in Me
Word count: 55k
Summary: Up the mossy mountain steps, past the komainu guardians and the faded red gate, and beyond the boundaries of the green shrine—that’s where the forest and the spirit world within it lies. That’s were Hajime met him, and where their story began.But intertwining of destinies can be ugly business, Hajime finds, when their first meeting begins with blood and the too-human eyes of a beast. God Oikawa AU
Quote: It fills his heart anyway, heals the hole in his chest that had been bleeding since he cut Tooru so forcibly from him.
Cotton Breathing
Word count: 13k
Summary: Long-distance and summer only but childhood friends AU
Conquering the Great King
Word count: 105k
Summary: Oikawa's lips twitched into a smirk and he brought them hovering just over Iwaizumi's, "One time thing, Two time thing, what's it matter as long as it's not a Relationship thing?"
Quote: Oikawa's eyes twitched wide for less than a second, his knee pressed in hard against Iwaizumi's thigh, "I may be gorgeous, but I'm not a doll."
dear diary, i met a boy
Word count: 15k
Summary: Iwaizumi's first impression of his upstairs neighbor involves getting woken up at two in the morning to the sound of Oikawa singing along to trashy pop music. He'd thought it would get better, but it all just goes downhill from there. Modern AU
Desperado
Word count: 82k
Summary: Clearly Iwaizumi had a checkered past. Kyoutani has never asked about it, nor has Iwaizumi ever brought it up. He knows it’s a sore spot for his mentor, just like the gorgeous Monte Carlo he keeps hidden away is, so he leaves it alone. Out on the streets, you learn a little something about when to turn a blind eye in order to survive; Kyoutani knows better than most to leave the past of men like Iwaizumi well alone. Heist AU
Even Heroes (have the right to dream)
Word count: 20k
Summary: Oikawa Tooru, ace reporter of the superhero beat of Asahi Shimbun, hates superheroes. Or maybe he just hasn’t met the knight one yet. Superhero AU
♡Infinite Risks
Word count: 8k
Summary: “It’s my fate,” Oikawa responds slowly. He’s crying. “It’s too lonely,” Iwaizumi’s heart sounded broken. “And I’m not there with you. Not really.” Edge of Tomorrow AU
In Defense of Reptiles
Word count: 9k
Summary: In their seventh year, Oikawa is chosen to be the Hogwarts champion in the Triwizard Tournament, and Iwaizumi suffers. Harry Potter AU
Quote: “You are so spoiled,” Iwaizumi tells him, but lets him shuffle down until Iwaizumi’s hand is now running through Oikawa’s hair instead of rubbing his shoulder.
In the Telling
Word count: 6k
Summary: Muggleborn Iwaizumi could not be less impressed with pureblood Oikawa Tooru. Harry Potter AU
♡Lockdown
Word count: 72k
Summary: Within the first few months of his stay, Oikawa gets caught up in a war between cellblocks, becomes a prime target, and must decide just how far he's willing to go to protect Iwaizumi Hajime. Prison AU
♡long nights, no peace
Word count: 18k
Summary: It's the steady knowledge that Iwaizumi Hajime will always be someone that he can rely on, that no matter what the world throws at the two of them, they share in a piece of each other's soul. Pacific Rim AU
Quote: Quiet settles between them softly, like the warm pressure of the blanket, or Iwaizumi's fingers curling to lightly hold the fabric of Oikawa's shirt.
The Long Light
Word count: 36k
Summary: Iwaizumi Hajime's seventh year at Hogwarts begins, and begins, and begins, and begins. Somehow, Oikawa Tooru is always there. Harry Potter AU
Magic Man
Word count: 12k
Summary: Oikawa is named the most desirable wizard in France. Iwaizumi is not impressed. Harry Potter AU
Quote: You keep saying partner or them. Is it rude of me to ask you to clarify?
Meet me in the grey area
Word count: 24k
Summary: Set in a hero/villain AU with Iwa as our trusty hero and Oikawa as our charming villain
Saw You at the Fish Market
Word count: 14k
Summary: In other words, Oikawa befriends hot part-time worker Iwaizumi and tries to impress him both off and on the court, in hopes of more.
♡♡ (sing with me) A Song of Conquest and Fate
Word count: 26k
Summary: When Seijou receives a missive from Aobajousai to discuss a potential peace, its emperor Oikawa Tooru could not have foreseen the series of events that would follow. Historical fantasy AU
Similar Creatures
Word count: 53k
Summary: "What's your name?" "Whatever you want it to be."(Or, Oikawa gets directions from an attractive stranger on a street corner.). Escort AU
♡Something Like Us
Word count: 28k
Summary: Friends since childhood, Oikawa and Iwaizumi now live together, both playing for the National Team. It's no secret that athletes who are bonded perform better. So if the two of them happen to bond...It'd be for the good of the team, right? A/B/O AU
Space
Word count: 44k
Summary: Tries not to think of his rooftop garden, or the apartment he used to inhabit, or Hajime’s broken expression on the night they whispered their goodbyes before Tooru’s launch, attempting to push it all to the back of his mind behind visions of this alien world terraformed. Astronaut AU
Stop the Time
Word count: 10k
Summary: Iwaizumi Hajime, 27, E.R. nurse at University of Tokyo Hospital. Hospital AU
♡♡The Loyalty of A Traitor
Word count: 76k
Summary: Iwaizumi Hajime was an undercover officer with a single objective: Infiltrate the Seijoh Syndicate of the Yakuza and tear them down from the inside out. His primary target was the boss, Oikawa Tooru. The job itself was simple enough, until Iwaizumi got in too deep and absconded not only from the mission, but from the city itself. Yakuza AU
These Flowers I Stole For You
Word count: 3k
Summary: ANBU don't cry. They tear themselves apart, bit by bit, and then they stitch themselves whole again. Naruto AU
on shipwreck shore
Word count: 8k
Summary: “I’m going to murder you in cold blood and feed you to the basilisks,” Iwaizumi says conversationally. “You can’t do that, I’m your boss,” Oikawa sings, positively sparkling. “Also we’re partners, which means,” he points at Iwaizumi and leans in, “you’re stuck with me.” Detective AU
Page 305 of 304
Word count: 53k
Summary: “…she called you ‘papa’,” iwaizumi managed. oikawa just stared for a moment longer before relaxing in a smile. “yeah. cute, right? but you can call me ‘daddy’ if you want.”
Temporary fix
Word count: 12k
 Summary: “And you’ve shampooed his hair how many times now? Hmm. Yeah, that’s not technically a bromance.” A/B/O AU
Tokyo Boy
Word count: 16k
Summary: He has feelings for Iwaizumi Hajime, who probably has casual lovers just like him in every major city he visits on business. Oikawa is just his Tokyo Boy, just another pit-stop on Iwaizumi’s travels. Businessman AU
Trial by Fire
Word count: 78k
Summary: (lawyer!AU - in which Iwaizumi loves his objections, Oikawa is beautiful, and they have more chemistry than two opposing attorneys probably should.)
Watch Me
Word count: 32k
Summary: Oikawa's a cam model. It’s been a month since Iwaizumi first spoke in his chat. When they meet in person, things get complicated. Cam model AU
Angst
open when
Word count: 1k
Summary: Iwaizumi knew it was coming, but it still hurt. It still hurt when he opens one letter and drowns it in the tears he cannot keep at bay.
Chasing Paper Suns
Word count: 10k
Summary: Post-high school,     Oikawa makes it to the national volleyball team but Iwaizumi doesn't. The     next three years become an exercise in growing up without growing apart
Quote: “ ‘it’s just—I’m     just trying so hard—’‘What, and I’m not?’
Timeless (We Have 30 Days)
Word count: 12k
Summary: Or AU where you're branded 50 days before you die. But Oikawa doesn't tell anyone so now there's only 30 days left.
the weight of water
Word count: 6k
Summary: “Again,” he says, the smallest tremor in his voice, and Oikawa blinks at him a moment before smiling, soft and sweet. “Iwa-chan,” he replies, and Iwaizumi closes his eyes. “Again.” “Iwa-chan.”
Canon Compliant
Are You Listening?
Word count: 4k
Summary: 30 times oikawa said i love you and 1 time he didn't have to
Quote: “Iwa-chan, watch out for the log—!” Oikawa looked on in horror as his best friend tripped and fell flat on his face.
Edge of the balcony
Word count: 8k
Summary: Iwaizumi looks older, he realizes. Oikawa knew he had aged as well, and so did everyone around him, but the thing was when you see people often, you don't notice the subtle changes in appearance. And Oikawa hadn't seen Iwaizumi in four years.
How can this loser ever win
Word count: 2k
Summary: everyone is in stupid love with Iwaizumi Hajime and he has no idea
♡♡♡Lost in Translation
Word count: 9k
Summary: Because misfortune come in threes, Iwaizumi Hajime starts his Thursday having a screaming fight with Shittykawa, spends his lunch break listening to the UCI women's volleyball team gossiping about how Ushijima Wakatoshi had gone public about his longtime love affair with Oikawa Tooru, and closes out the day by drunkenly dropping his phone into a sewer grate.
maybe we could be enough
Word count: 9k
Summary: iwaizumi hums in reply as the car goes silent, frank ocean crooning from the speakers. they stop at a red light when iwaizumi feels eyes at the side of his face, and turns to look at oikawa.
Most people never even get a single high school rival
Word count: 5k
Summary: Team Argentina gets to know Iwaizumi Hajime (27) Athletic Trainer.
Primavera
Word count: 8k
Summary: They say it takes twenty-six years, for certain breeds to fully bloom.
Quote: Did you know that distance is only me, growing towards you?
♡♡♡rest on your laurels
Word count: 4k
Summary: In Iwaizumi’s heart of hearts, untouched by time, they are young and alive, burning with the hearth of home and bright as winter light. Unbreakable. Invincible.
♡♡♡Something Borrowed
Word count: 16k
Summary: In which Oikawa and Iwaizumi have always been a foregone conclusion to everyone else, but a massive, unanswered question to one another.
‘Til Infinity
Word count: 2k
Summary: “Hey,” he says, “that cloud looks kind of like a dick.”
Quote: “I got you ladybug”
♡♡♡ You Set Off a Dream In Me
Word count: 15k
Summary: In which Oikawa is 41 and ready to retire. He's at the top of his game and ready to find a new challenge. Turns out his new challenge is pretty familiar. It's high school, round 2.
Quote: A past with an Iwaizumi that wasn’t on the opposite side of the net, monsters on all sides, guiding a setter that had lived the dream left behind in the ruins of Tooru’s past self.
Canon Divergent
a world alone
Word count: 60k
Summary: Iwaizumi has his medical books on the musculoskeletal system. Oikawa has his research papers on parallel universes. It isn't until much, much later that they realize they have each other.
♡Almost a Stranger
Word count: 16k
Summary: Iwa-chan's leaving Kapan. Tooru's not sure he can forgive him, but he's not going to admit his long-held feelings, either. A trip to Miyajima complicates everything.
Quote: There are only two things that have ever broken Oikawa Tooru’s heart. Iwa-chan would say Tooru has no heart to break, but that’s simply untrue.
Count your blessings, it goes 1,2,3, me
Word count: 7k
Summary: He's unsettled by the undefined boundaries of their relationship so it's all his luck that he accidentally wins three wishes to be granted just for him, and all that comes to mind is Iwaizumi.
Quote: Now, as an adult, past convenience of circumstance and the haze of hormonal lust, exactly none of his feelings have worn off
♡♡♡the courtship ritual of the hercules beetle
Word count: 66k
Summary: Tooru is pretty sure he could manage the mating habits of a mosquito. It’s the mating habits of people he can’t seem to get right.
♡days fall away
Word count:17k
Summary: Except now he’s back home, so close to his old haunts and to Oikawa himself, and it's—weird.
Quote: “You and Tooru,” he begins, and then shrugs. “I was just thinking, you look at each other a lot.” And he walks away, leaving Hajime winded, and sort of aching, somewhere deep in his chest. Whatever that means.
♡here comes your man
Word count: 8k
Summary: Iwa-chan, it reads, Have a good day today! Good luck! <3 <3 <3 Suga chokes. It’s hard to imagine anyone calling the scowling and fierce Doctor Iwaizumi “Iwa-chan.” But marriage probably comes with all sorts of liberties. Doctor AU
♡♡In damp earth my body
Word count: 15k
Summary: Onscreen, the nation’s favorite setter has arranged himself so that he’s bowing, forehead pressed to the court, like he’s thanking everyone for their kindness thus far, like he’s asking for forgiveness. Hajime thinks: shit, it’s really happening
In the Business of Love
Word count: 22k
Summary: Meet Oikawa Tooru: He's a best-selling shoujo manga artist, a hardcore romantic and you won't believe where he's getting his lovey dovey fodder from...Enter Iwaizumi Hajime: He's Oikawa's best friend, a realist who also happens to be a wedding magazine writer despite not believing in romance...
Quote: A flare of pride lit in Oikawa as he watched Iwaizumi's eyes crinkle with mirth and in that yawning second, it bloomed into a warmth that bordered on a burn, forcing a bittersweet inhale.
it's been so long (nobody knows me the way you do)
Word count: 8k
Summary: Tooru hums, only half-listening. Somewhere along the way, Hajime’s palm has settled itself over the curve of Tooru’s cheek, thumb tracing over the line of his jaw.
Quote: Iwaizumi blushes even more. “That you’re here, I mean. I’m happy that you’re here. With me.”
♡♡♡Mint
Word count: 19k
Summary: It's the December after Iwaizumi’s last year in university when Tokyo welcomes him with a new ad campaign for Bright Days toothpaste, and Oikawa Tooru—fresh off a run at the 2016 Summer Olympics—has decided to grace the city with his signature grin, a flip of his wayfarer sunglasses, and the most irrepressible tag line for the signboard above.
Quote: "To be able to tell him, in the new year."  This comes under Oikawa's breath, so low that Matsukawa and Hanamaki can't hear, and the game continues.
Six-Month Lover
Word count: 89k
Summary: Iwaizumi barks out a laugh. “I’m still trying to get over the fact that you made a PowerPoint presentation about why we should date.” Oikawa doesn’t tell him the file has existed for the last twelve years, constantly receives updates, and that the original copy contained almost a hundred slides before he forced himself to get a grip.
Special Relativity
Word count: 22k
Summary: Time moves differently for people in different inertial reference frames. Oikawa goes on a two-year exploratory mission in space. Iwaizumi's been waiting for a lot longer than that.
♡♡sunset towns
Word count: 33k
Summary: In the summer of 2020, Oikawa Tooru returns home from his first successful stint as captain of Japan’s national volleyball team. In one hand, he holds the undisputed weight of an Olympic medal, and in the other, his unresolved feelings for a childhood best friend.
♡♡Thirty Years and Change (the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad)
Word count:     19k
Summary: It’s July 10th, 2024, and Oikawa Tooru is an Olympian. His smiling face airs on an NHK promo every 45 seconds. He’s captain of the national men’s volleyball team, reigning star of the professional leagues, and he hasn't spoken to Iwaizumi Hajime in two years.
Quote: Oikawa’s grin in  the last set of the morning’s game. Oikawa’s grin as they sat on their asses on a golf course. Oikawa’s grin when they were in college. When they were in high school. When they were twenty-two, seventeen, fifteen, twelve, six.
High School
Bet On It
Word count: 13k
Summary: Hajime knows exactly how shitty Oikawa's personality is, and has no scruples whatsover about betting Oikawa six thousand yen that he can't be nice for an entire week.
Quote: The whole instant-compliance thing was seriously creeping him out. Oikawa from a week ago would have made a crack about how if he'd wanted something cold, he could have just put his face on Hajime's shoulder.
Betweens
Word count: 2k
Summary: Iwaizumi is asleep in the club room. Oikawa is blindingly awake in the club room. The sun moves slowly across the sky, and Iwaizumi’s skin is gold underneath it. Oikawa watches the changing shadows on Iwaizumi’s face and thinks about nothing in particular.
Don’t think too much
Word count: 6k
Summary:  In which Oikawa and Iwaizumi have a confusing, drunken encounter and then deal with the (sticky) consequences.
Quote: As soon as that thought crossed his mind, though, Oikawa did what he always did:  exactly the opposite of what Hajime wanted
Gates
Word count: 12k
Summary: The day after their graduation ceremony, they drive to the beach at Shirahama. Iwaizumi drives, because it’s his car, and as he has told Oikawa on multiple occasions, he’d rather die than let him touch the wheel.
Quote: ‘Yeah,’ he says, because they’re on a beach, and they’re supposed to be on a metaphorical journey, and they’re supposed to be growing up, and completing rites of passage, so it’s honesty, today - just for today, at least.
♡♡i sing the body electric
Word count: 8k
Summary: It was never part of the plan, falling in love with his best friend, but then again, most things in Iwaizumi’s life that involve Oikawa rarely unfold the way he thinks they will.
Quote: But Iwaizumi thinks about Oikawa laughing with that girl in the low light of the gym, a particular kind of quiet intimacy that Iwaizumi’s only ever read about in books hovering in the air, and all it makes him feel is small and petty and spiteful.
it’s better than words
Word count: 3k
Summary: [ or : oikawa makes iwaizumi participate in three bonding activities for new friends, and iwaizumi just wants to know why oikawa's being so weird about this]
Make sure you cross the line
Word count: 4k
Summary: With graduation just around the corner, Iwaizumi knows he has to gather the courage to really ask Oikawa out.
Quote: He’s been asking Iwaizumi to go out with him every single day this past week, increasingly panicked about getting his time and attention now that they’re nearing the end of this season of their lives.
Only the jellyfish know
Word count: 6k
Summary: Their third and final year at Aoba Jousai has come to an end, and the guys decide to go to the beach the day after graduation. That day, the ocean water is salty, the watermelon is sweet, and the people are sweeter.
static
Word count: 6k
Summary: Being snowed in with all of Seijou volleyball in his childhood home brings back a lot of memories for Iwaizumi, because it's kinda Oikawa's childhood home too.
Quote: It's fate that brought them together and choice that keeps them that way. The closest description in Hajime’s vocabulary is partners, but only because Oikawa taught him what its true definition is.
Told before and told again
Word count: 3k
Summary: This is how Hajime and Tooru fall in love, through the accounts of those around them.
Quote: When Oikawa lets out a long, heavy breath, Iwaizumi looks up at him and frowns, and flings a towel over Oikawa’s head to cover his face. Then, he tugs, once, on Oikawa’s fingers, and leads him down the hallway, Oikawa walking quietly in tow.
♡we can do better than that
Word count: 16k
Summary: Oikawa and Iwaizumi go on a road trip during the summer after their high school graduation. It doesn't go as expected, but maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
Quote: Because Iwaizumi’s known Oikawa nearly all his life and never felt anything more than vague affection usually followed by intense irritation for him. But then suddenly at eighteen years old and nearly two weeks into a very badly planned road trip, it’s like someone flipped a switch somewhere inside Iwaizumi
♡when it starts to rain, they go inside
Word count: 33k
Summary: “Where?” starts Iwaizumi.“ My parent’s old lakehouse, silly, didn’t you hear me the first time?” OR: Oikawa takes Iwaizumi to his lakehouse for two weeks, post-graduation.
reassemble it
Word count: 15k
Summary: When Tooru was six years old, he discovered—unbeknownst to him at the time—two of the most important things in his life: volleyball and Iwaizumi Hajime. It was ironic that he had stumbled upon them hand in hand—quite literally, too.
♡things that change, things that stay the same
Word count: 8k
Summary: Oikawa realizes he's in love with his best friend; it sucks for a while. (But only a while.)
Quote: Iwaizumi’s expression right now is less terrified than it used to get back then, but he’s tight-lipped with concern, and his broad body blocks out other passengers as if their stares might be a danger to Tooru too.
University AU
An Archaeology of Affection
Word count: 23k
Summary: For Hajime, it is a riddle and simultaneously so evident. It fills his chest, surging like water, paints heat up his neck. In retrospect, it eats up his days, makes them its own until it feels like his heart has always been in his throat at the smile thrown over Oikawa’s shoulder, the stilling of his fingers on Hajime’s sleeve.
closure
Word count: 22k
Summary: In his first year of university, Oikawa builds a new friendship and upgrades an old one. Or: Ushijima is not a great wingman, but he tries his best.
Quote: “On the first day of his university career, Oikawa Tooru walks into his dorm, spots his assigned roommate, and turns one hundred and eighty degrees and walks right back out. He dials a familiar phone number - the first one he ever memorized - and starts complaining before Iwaizumi even gets the chance to say hello. “Iwa-chan,” he says, “tell me why Ushiwaka is in my dorm room.”
♡♡♡galaxies, within you
Word count: 21k
Summary: Hajime and Tooru move in together at the start of university. Too bad they’re stuck with the two gremlins that haunt their apartment.
Quote: I AM A HEADASS
Hands to yourself
Word count: 11k
Summary: He missed his parents, and he missed Takeru, and Takeru's badly behaved puppy. He missed Aoba Jousai, and he missed the volleyball team. He even missed Karasuno and Shiratorizawa, just a little.
Home, and how we made ours
Word count: 3k
Summary: “No, I like it here.” There’s a rustling as Iwaizumi shifts, inching closer. “I like it here, as in this crappy apartment—with you.”
Quote: “Do your fights end up being like—you know, about actual things and then extending into toddler days and suddenly you’re accusing Iwaizumi of kissing the girl you used to like in preschool?”
in progress to you
Word count: 6k
Summary: The eventuality of Oikawa and Iwaizumi falling toward each other is dramatically lackluster. Still, it's a process to go through.
Quote: “But what if you didn’t eat my pudding all the time?” Iwaizumi asks flatly, ignoring the way Oikawa is slapping his thigh to get out of his chokehold. “Do you think I buy them for you, huh? I buy them for me, you turd.”
Like we’re made of starlight
Word count: 6k
Summary: (a look into iwaizumi hajime’s journey of falling in love with oikawa tooru, from when they’re babies meeting for the first time to young adults moving in together.)
Ninety nine percent
Word count: 14k
Summary: more than anything, oikawa tooru wants to be with iwaizumi hajime, but he's only ninety nine percent of the way there.
Quote: Their ace was lining up for the ball, knees bent and arm pulled back, just as Tooru tosses the ball……to Hajime.
no sleep in the city
Word count: 7k
Summary: Along their journey to find Tokyo's best ramen, Iwaizumi finds himself asked again and again why Oikawa is still single.
Quote: “I was only telling Hanamaki literally yesterday that your personality isn’t as vile as before,” Iwaizumi informs, slightly stiff from the way Oikawa’s got an arm looped through his own. “Why do you make me such a liar to people I care about?”
Out of nowhere
Word count: 8k
Summary: They move in together after graduation and it's doing weird things to Iwaizumi's heart. He's a little in denial about it.
Quote: Oikawa excitedly ran up to him when Iwaizumi came home with groceries the other day. Not about the food but just to say how boring everything is when Iwaizumi's not there, eyes shining, and he couldn't meet his gaze after from blushing down to his neck. He doesn't know how much more he can take.
♡♡shiver
Word count: 16k
Summary: Oikawa was always the brave one. Hajime just followed two paces behind.
Quote: “I’m in love with you,” Oikawa tells him three days after they graduate junior high, head in his lap and hands gently folded over his chest and completely and totally unconcerned that he’d just shattered Hajime’s world.
Terpischore
Word count: 38k
Summary: They’d ended up going to different universities, Tooru and he. The distance was good for them. The confession Hajime dropped in both their laps wasn’t. That’s how it’d ended – a lifetime of friendship crumbled to dust in the space of five minutes. (Or, a lesson in learning to move on from things you can't have, in finding old loves in new ways and in understanding that life is never truly simple... till it is.)
terrarium
Word count: 11k
Summary: At this point, is he really happy with just staying best friends forever? Will he be writing journals and collecting rocks forever (he will, he knows, but that is aside from the point)?
these foolish things (remind me of you)
Word count: 3k
Summary: Oikawa helps Iwaizumi move into his new college dorm.
Quote: He’s desperate for something to happen. It must show on his face because Iwaizumi blushes and looks away. The thing is, Oikawa always looks at him like this when Iwaizumi isn’t paying attention.
They say it rains diamonds on Jupiter
Word count: 35k
Summary: "You're in love with him. "Hajime considers denying it. "Yeah," he says instead.
Quote: “Share the weight of your feelings with me, Hajime wants to beg when he hears Tooru's first hitched breath. Let me carry some of your burdens”
to be first, to be best
Word count: 26k
Summary: Hajime is apparently something of a masochist, and as he stares down at the tie-dyed AREA51 T-shirt in his hands, he thinks “I’m totally in love with this asshole, aren't I?”
Undecipherable
Word count: 4k
Summary: "Koi no yokan," he says. "The sense one can have upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall in love."
Quote: Because for all the bravado, for all the flaunting Oikawa does, he wants Hajime by his side, and no one else.
♡we shine like diamonds
Word count: 26k
Summary: "You know Abe-kun from class?" they snicker, hands cupped around their mouths like they're passing along a filthy secret. "I hear his older brother is... gay."
Where you are (I’ll be)
Word count: 6k
Summary: Theirs is a love that starts out like a seed and it takes two sets of hands tending it for a shoot to appear. There are no dramatic declarations of love, only a pair of hands that find each other again and again and again.
Quote: Oikawa broke off into giggles as Hajime slowed the descent of his hand from a slap to the back of Oikawa’s head to a gentle ruffle of the taller boy’s hair
♡♡with every second that you could give
Word count: 9k
Summary: The journey of Iwaizumi and Oikawa going for gold.
Quote: He knows they’re too close. Iwaizumi knows it too, and they both decided to move in together anyway.
Your love is sunlight
Word count: 6k
Summary: It's Iwaizumi's birthday, and they have a talk about the future.
Quote: But Hajime doesn’t think any present could top this: them, kissing in a sun-dappled bathroom, Oikawa’s skin warm under his hands, and the promise of a life together stretched out before them.
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cupcakemolotov · 4 years
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New York, New York
So I finally finished a thing, and its not what I thought I was going to wrap up first but that is life! It is completely SFW, and very much “Canon, what Canon?” And its been more years than I willing to admin since I applied for colleges, I just glossed over those details. :)
Also, formatting, why are you like this.
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Caroline rolled her eyes. “Bon. I don’t want to say I told you so but…”
The groan was loud in her ear. “I know, I know. But who would have thought it would be this bad?”
“Me. I thought it would be that bad,” Caroline said with a laugh. “And then I told you about it so you could avoid it. And then you didn’t.”
Bonnie muttered something so low, even Caroline’s vampire gearing couldn’t quite catch it. “Well, we're going to put down rules. As I’ve already told Elena, I might not be a vampire but I have a perfectly good set of ears and there are some things I do not need to hear.” Bonnie huffed out the last sentence. “And I refuse to have to spell my own bedroom to sleep.”
Caroline bit down on the side of her tongue to keep from commenting, knowing it would do little good. Somehow Damon and Bonnie had become friends, and while she would never understand it, she and Bonnie had come to an agreement. Caroline wouldn’t be automatically negative about Damon as long as Bonnie managed to do the same for some of Caroline’s friendships. 
It was a work in progress. 
“Well, if you need some breathing space, you are welcome to come hang out with me for a weekend. I’ve been melting my credit card, and I might as well use those points for something instead of shoes.” She glanced towards her bedroom and grudgingly admitted the next sentence. “I really don’t have the closet space for more shoes.”
Bonnie seemed to consider that. “Shoe collection aside, it can’t be that small…”
Caroline laughed. The apartment was a small one bedroom and technically outside of her budget, her dad’s insurance money only went so far, but she hadn’t felt a lot of guilt over her teeny tiny use of compulsion. Not when the renting market was so high and her textbooks were so expensive. And while hardly microscopic, her bed barely fit into the space designated as her bedroom. She did have walls that separate her bedroom from their living room, her couch, TV, and small table were tucked pretty close to her tiny kitchenette. The big selling point had been the claw-foot bathtub. She’d given up having a real shower, the  shower-head had been rigged above the tub and the shower curtain she’d bought was super cute but if she’d still been human the breeziness of the space would have been murder. Overall, the space she had carved out for herself was cute but cramped. 
And she wouldn’t change it for the world.
“It really can be. You should have seen Mom’s face when she agreed to co-sign, which is another really weird thing about this city. My credit check was stellar, I had the cash for the down payments and still they wanted a co-sign, but whatever. The good news is my obsession with HGTV has taught me plenty about hiding organizers, and thankfully, I don’t really need the kitchen.” She wrinkled her nose and looked down. “Though carpet is new but seriously ugly, so I am going to have to invest in a rug, I think.”
“The lack of needing a kitchen thing is kind of ideal for New York, but I personally am going to miss your stress brownies, though my hips wont,” Bonnie said with a sigh. “And your note taking. I already miss you in Physical Science, and why are Gen Eds so terrible?”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “It cannot be that bad.”
“Says you,” Bonnie retorted. “And anyway, Elena just stuck her head in to remind me that I promised to go to some Freshman Orientation event, so I guess I gotta go. Stay out of trouble, will you?”
“You first,” Caroline retorted. Bonnie laughed and disconnected the call. For a moment, she held onto her phone before sighing and setting it on the coffee table and flopping onto her couch. If she closed her eyes and listened she could hear everyone in her apartment building, which was something she hadn’t really thought about when deciding on an apartment.
Not that she’d had much time to figure things out. Weeks instead of months, but Forbes women were nothing but resourceful. And very, very determined.
Caroline just hadn’t expected her mom to get stubborn about her college experience. She’d expected Liz to be fine with Caroline going to Whitemore and sticking close to home, and it’s been a shock when things had gone sideways. When Caroline had marked down NYU on her SAT application form, it’d been on a whim. She’d been required to pick three schools and some part of her just couldn’t stick to the local community colleges. 
And later, when her counselor had handed her the application packets, she’d stared at them for hours, considering. She had never thought she’d get in or that she’d get enough of a scholarship that living in the city would be manageable if she was careful. Very, very careful with a bit of compulsion thrown in at least. She’s considered it for all of thirty seconds before tucking the acceptance letter away. 
There was just too much going on that she could walk away. Even with the Originals packing up and moving on, there was still her mom to worry about. One of the perks of being a vampire was that she could always pick up those dreams later. 
Her mom had disagreed. Loudly. It’s taken three days before Caroline has finally cracked, and admitted why she had refused. And she’d learned a lot about her mom that morning that she hadn’t expected, and hadn’t had much time to contemplate with the scramble of getting into NYU. Her mom hadn’t even argued when Caroline had dragged her to NYC to check things out and to smooth over the issues her late application had caused. 
Compulsion really was quite handy if she was careful with it. But more importantly, NYU was totally close enough that if she had to she could get on a plane for an emergency, but her mom, in a bit of underhanded maneuvering that Caroline had admired, had made a very specific list of what could be considered an emergency. And then she’d invited Elena and Bonnie over for dinner, and her mom had also explained it to them too. It’d been weird to have someone else fight that battle, but good. 
Above her, something crashed and there was muted swearing and Caroline sighed heavily. She was really going to have to make a point to stay well fed. Going on a rampage because Courtney in 4A couldn’t keep her dog from yapping at all hours of the night was not ideal. She had been prepared to listen to her neighbors have noisy sex, well, at least until she could get Bonnie here to do some proper spell work, but the rest of it was a learning curve. So far, eating had been going okay. 
She’d been getting tips. 
And boy, would her friends freak out as soon as they learned who she’d been texting. But Caroline had always considered herself pragmatic, and her options had been limited. Stefan would rather light himself on fire than give her any kind of 101 Guide To Eating People Without Killing Them, and she would rather light herself on fire than talk to Damon. 
Klaus…
She blew out a breath. Klaus was her friend, even if her graduation ceremony had made his position on… things… perfectly clear. But weirdly, she’d found his words strangely boundary defining and a relief. Last love was definitely not now, not anytime soon in fact, and his acknowledgement of that had eased the knot she always seemed to carry around in her chest. And so when she stood in the middle of the hustle and bustle of more people than she could remember really seeing in one place, like ever, she’d let herself text a number she’d refused to admit to anyone she had memorized ages ago. 
And he had responded. 
And Klaus had kept replying, no matter when she sent him a question. In between organizing her life and schedule, he’d been extremely helpful without any sort of judgement. If anything, he seemed more resigned to her lack of knowledge than anything else, providing her with Vampire Basics she’d never thought to ask Damon or Stefan about, and the knowledge had helped. Accepting the monster under her skin was not something that was going to be easy, but Klaus providing actual information about the whys and the hows helped far more than she thought she’d ever tell him. 
And his faith in her control was not something she’d ever expected to need. But he’d offered it with no prompting and the truth was she made an excellent vampire. She was good at it, thrived with the challenges of it, and she thought the next few years would be good for her. And it was nice, knowing that if she screwed it up she’d have people who’d help her fix it. Even if  some of them were just  a tiny bit more dangerous than others. 
Head tipping to the ceiling, she chewed on her lip and sighed. Putting Klaus in one category had never been easy, even when he’d been firmly in the villian bucket. She didn’t doubt he would continue to refuse any easy labels, and she thought she might be okay with that. 
For now. 
Pushing to her feet, she stretched and sighed. Classes started in two days, and while she’d already organized her books and started doing some pre-class reading, there was no harm in double checking her planners and reorganizing her books. And after, maybe she’d go for a walk. Check out some of the all night places near her place to plan for future all nighters. The kind of places you’d take broke friends to for pie.
The sudden knock on the door startled her, because she hadn’t noticed any unusual footsteps. For a moment, her pulse slammed in her ears as she recognized the slow thump of a dead heartbeat. A familiar barely their heartbeat that promised something old was outside her door, and one that should not be in New York City. Reaching for the phone she tossed on her coffee table she picked it up and typed out a quick text. No point in guessing who was there; not when it was pretty easy to check without moving any closer to the door. 
Caroline [8:30pm]: Seriously, tell me you are not standing outside my apartment. Like, right this second. 
A soft vibration, a low noise of amusement was all the confirmation she needed and Caroline stomped towards the door and yanked it open. “Are you serious right now? How do you even know where I live? I didn’t tell you that.”
Eyes gleaming, a hint of dimple curving in his cheek as he looked up from his phone, Klaus smiled at her. “Hello, Caroline.”
Arms crossed, she leaned against the door and huffed to cover the way her pulse skipped at the sight of him. He looked the same, same clothes and same hair, but she felt his presence with an awareness that did not bode well for her intentions of thinking of him as only a friend. Klaus had always straddled that line but here, outside of Mystic Falls, it somehow felt different. Better. And that was not something she could allow with her plans laid out in front of her. Plans that did not suit him. “Yeah yeah, hi. Why are you here?”
He slipped his phone back into his pocket, lips tugging upwards. “I was in town, and I thought I would stop by. See how you are settling in, perhaps come up with an idea for a house warming present, since it seems you will no longer need that mini-fridge, hmm?”
“In town,” she repeated, ignoring the rest of his words. “Doing what? Because I am attempting to avoid vampire shenanigans for the next four years, Klaus. I promised my mom.”
“Nothing like that,” he assured her. “Just a quick errand, and I head back to New Orleans tomorrow. I am quite invested in you having the experiences of your choice, sweetheart. No one will bother you while you are here.”
Caroline paused. “No one...  as in no one? Are you threatening people again? People I haven’t even met?”
“Not yet,” Klaus said mildly. 
She bit the tip of her tongue to stop the barrage of words that wanted to spill out. Slowly exhaling, she forced herself to let it go. There was a time and place for this discussion and she wasn’t sure right then was it, not when she was so surprised to see him, and she could hear some of her neighbors coming up the stairs. “Don’t think we won’t discuss this later but I suppose you can come in?”
“Thank you, and I don’t doubt it,” he murmured as he took her invitation and stepped into her home. His gaze swept her space and for a moment, she had to stop herself from fidgeting. This was her first space that was hers and Klaus was the only person besides her mom who had seen it. He walked slowly through her public space, and his words were sincere when he spoke. “You’ve done a lovely job with your home, love. “
For some reason, she had to fight down a blush. “Thanks. The carpet sucks though.”
He slid her a laughing glance. “An entirely fixable state of affairs.”
“You will not compel my landlord,” she warned him, exasperation almost hiding the hint of her own smile. “About carpet or anything else, Klaus.”
He made a low noise but no promises. “And how are you liking New York?”
She did smile then. “I love it. But we’ll see if that sticks when I have to deal with the snow this winter and pushy people and an overheated subway. I’ve been warned.”
His laugh was soft. “I think you’ll manage. And while it's a bit late in the evening, could I interest you in dinner? My treat.”
Caroline eyed him carefully. “Taking me to dinner will not get you out of explaining how you have my address or any potential yelling about it.”
Klaus slid his hands into his pockets and dimpled. “I would expect nothing else. But I do hope that’s not the only topic you wish to discuss tonight.”
Curious, she tipped her head. “Oh?”
He lifted a shoulder, gaze intent. “I assume you’ve picked out your classes? Have your semester organized down to the hour? And while I am certain you more than have the knack of feeding down, sweetheart, I’m happy to answer any remaining questions you have or even provide a demonstration or two.”
The idea of hunting with Klaus did something funny to her stomach, and she turned towards her room to cover it. “I’ll think about it. Give me ten minutes to change and then yes, you can take me to dinner. But not something fancy, I am not in the mood for multiple forks. But wine would be great.”
His laughter followed her into her bedroom and she shut the door. Taking a deep breath, she forced down her tangle of emotions. One night out with Klaus wouldn’t hurt anything, she reminded herself, and he was right. She did have questions, and lists, and she should probably take the opportunity to go over everything while he was here in person. Plus she’d be willing to bet he had an opinion or two he’d be willing to share about rugs. 
Squaring her shoulders, Caroline headed for her closet to slap together a friendly dinner date outfit that would be suitable even if he did take her somewhere with too many forks. But they were definitely going to be chatting about his business in the city, and how he would not be dropping by without warning whenever he wanted to.
No matter how nice it was to see him. 
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potatoesandsunshine · 3 years
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Campaign 2 Wrap Up: Anna Potatoesandsunshine Edition
Seemed like it would be fun to go through all the fan content I made for this campaign and try to find at least one thing I like about each thing! Kind of like looking back through a photo album. Under the cut because as it turns out, I wrote kind of a lot! (As in, 21 fics and 3 playlists kind of a lot!)
the sea, once it casts its spell (fjord speculation, what’s up with all this ocean stuff?? the fic)
The first thing I wrote for c2, wayyy in the beginning of things. We had no idea about Uk’otoa or Avantika or anyone at this point, it was pure ocean vibes for my favorite warlock. I really like how hard I leaned in on the “the ocean follows Fjord to land” idea.
so many things will fill my life (but only one will do) (post-campaign cali/jester fluff, written the night of the cali episode and so sweet it could rot your teeth)
This one is just good. I just did good with this one. I’m one of those people who hates their own work the night of posting and then when looking back at it goes, “Wow, this is great.” My favorite thing is the little gifts sent along with the letters! Cali was so fun and cute :)
when the dust does roam (Beau study up to Episode 42, 2k words of Beau poking at the idea of grief)
Best thing I did in this fic was have Caleb-through-Frumpkin bugging Beau about getting some sleep. They really... they’re siblings, your honor. 
“  “Fuck off, I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Beau picks the bird up and sets him in the hood of her own cloak, out of reach of any weasels or startled monks in the morning. It’d suck to have to tell Caleb that his Frumpkin got eaten by Sprinkle.” C’mon guys, let’s do the sibling dance.
keep your swords out by your sides (the idea for this was, What If Fjord Has Nightmares From Uk’otoa Every Night and just doesn’t remember them)
Assigning everybody a word Uk’otoa had said for each nightmare in this was a challenge; I went into it knowing I wanted Caleb for Learn and Caduceus for Consume and had to guess the rest - for an angry eye snake Uk’otoa didn’t give us a ton of quotes. 
“ He reaches over and runs a hand along the wall of the ship. From his touch, mushrooms begin sprouting.” Caduceus starting to decompose the Mistake in the middle of cooking was maybe the best moment in this story for me. Like, yeah. Yeah. Ok you funky little grave cleric.
strange but not a stranger (Caleb & Jester, in the immediate aftermath of Caleb’s charm in Episode 55)
the first of my “the Mighty Nein won’t have these conversations with each other in canon so they have to be had in fic” ideas that turned into a full-fledged story. I still had not discovered the em dash at this point, so the formatting of this makes me cringe a little bit, but this fic was really about The Emotions Of Being Out Of Control which turned out to be a very big Thing for the Mighty Nein.
now this story was when swords were humble (fake academia mixed with a Yasha study)
Honestly I’m still obsessed with the AU I made here where Yasha was just awakening every sword she used without knowing it?? Why did I use that here only?? That might come back. But the best part about this fic is the citations; me at my most in-joke and ridiculous.
through the teeth of this tempest (Written in the immediate aftermath of Episode 69, Yasha internally trying to break Obann’s control over the course of a month.)
The most “I wrote this to cope with canon” fic out of all of them. I was crying writing this, I was so upset that Yasha was gone ugh just remembering it. Still waiting for past me to discover the em dash, I genuinely don’t know why I didn’t know how to do it and I’ve thought about going back and editing all of these but I’m just Not Gonna Do All That. Anyway, I really like how Yasha catches lightning with her sword in this. We all really manifested that happening.
nothing more than what the losers settle for (Time travel, a series of oneshots where each member of the m9 sans Caduceus went back to a different point in the timeline and murdered Trent Ikithon)
This was my longest fic for c2, so I’m mostly just glad it got finished. This happened somewhere around the time Matt released that set of notes that mentioned Trent in more detail and I hated him so much I just had to write him dying six times. That speaks for itself.
Revolutionary!Fjord was also a good turn. He could pull it off, I think.
we’re gonna show ‘em a thing, or two, or three (Jester growing up fluff!)
I really like how I did Jester & Artagan in this, even though he barely appears. Someone better at songwriting than me please write the Dragon Song. Em dash makes an appearance here but the formatting is still wrong. I Am Once Again Asking For Proper Use Of The Em Dash.
the best things (happen while you’re dancing) (Mid-Episode 97 Divergence, Jester taking the reins at the party + hints of jester/beau/yasha bc i still love my girls so much)
Jester’s a little out of character in this, but not wildly so, and it was for the purposes of a Trapped By Societal Convention plot that I wanted her to mastermind so I think it was fine in the end. I’m still fascinated by the way she unbalanced Ludinus Da’leth in basically every interaction they had, and while their scene feels pretty cliche in this... the cliches are there for a reason. They’re so fun to write.
Em dash my beloved, there you are.
plus thirty-one varieties of sacramental wine (The Galavant crossover that truly nobody asked for, Beau + the monks)
Yeah, this one’s just fun. Not much more to say about it. Critical Role and Galavant are both fantasy, but they’re honestly pretty different in tone, and it was fun to write Beau dropped into a comedy musical.
oh we were sea-bound and aimless at best (Purely angst, a What If The Fjord & Orly Resurrections Didn’t Work fic)
Made myself care about Marius with this one, y’all. What more can I say? Beau having to go from first mate to captain was just... deliciously painful, because she would.
lost my shape trying to act casual (Beau & Yasha during travelercon, another mid-episode fic, this time of 104)
Yasha comforting Beau, who feels guilty for not feeling guilty... That Mighty Nein wasn’t lying, Mind Control and Autonomy can be themes. Another in the  “the Mighty Nein won’t have these conversations with each other in canon so they have to be had in fic” tank. They really just... didn’t open up to each other for a long time, which made sense, but I wanted them to.
so long as you don’t mind a little dying (Beau & Caduceus, sometime in the peace talks arc)
Keeping with the Mighty Nein Please Talk To Each Other theme, I feel like I did a pretty good job with the late-night conversation energy of this fic. This was at a time when I was looking at Caduceus, can opener in hand, ready to make this firbolg open up about his feelings. Beau in this is prickly and confrontational but only in service of her friend’s well-being.
amber light, bending (Eiselcross speculation, Widofjord and all the messiness therein)
THE widofjord fic of my two widofjord fics. The blueprint. The better one. Finally I got the dynamic figured out. I maintain that the tower is an absolute expression of Caleb’s love for his friends. The way that neither of them have the braincell in this fic... yeah this one is just good.
and a blade between them (Widofjord happening... sometime.)
Okay so this is not as good as amber light and I will never be able to look at it and like it as much, but it was still fun to write. Anyway, the intimacy of shaving someone else. That is good. The tag “if they didn’t want me to think about the blood pact they shouldn’t have made the blood pact” is the most useful takeaway from this fic and is the driving force behind the Fjord/Jester/Caleb fic I’m working on now, so it wasn’t a waste of time or anything.
feel the ground beneath my feet turn into the sky (Post-Campaign Astrid-retires-to-Nicodranas, Astrid/Jester)
This is another one where I’m like “Yeah, this is just good.” Packed full of Wizard Fashion, Artagan making an appearance to rope Astrid into having a happier future, and the power of Going To The Seaside. Good for you, fic-Astrid.
spend your days biting your own neck (Role-reversal where Beau is the one mind-controlled this time and Yasha is the one chasing after her, set very early in the Tomb Takers arc)
So much of this fic is about not saying things aloud - Beau’s POV spends a good chunk on body language and Yasha writes multiple letters on paper and in her own head - but devotion bleeding through anyway because there’s nowhere else for it to go. The two of them go tumbling over a cliff together at the end but Yasha has wings, ugh. Yeah this was a good one.
and blow the dry leaves from the tree (Somewhere before the beauyasha date but otherwise timeline-nonspecific Nicodranas, Yasha & Yeza become friends)
Yasha & Yeza making pancakes together when neither of them know how to do so... is good. This fic is very much about grief sneaking in, but it’s even more about finding someone to share the moment with you. I think these two have more in common than we think.
oh, lend a mending hand (Caleb & Caduceus during Beau’s tombstone meditation in Episode 130)
I wrote this entire fic as an excuse for Caleb and Caduceus to hug and it does what it says on the tin. Got em.
it’s about the passing of measures (Beauyasha at the end of Episode 134, Aeor speculation)
This fic got extremely sidetracked because I rediscovered the marble machine during it and I do not apologize for that. I still really like the idea that Aeor as a whole, not just the Cognouza, is somewhat-alive. Too much magic and too much death for it to be anything else, in my mind. And I’m a sap for hurt/comfort.
the blumentrio playlist nobody asked for
If I think too much about how deep in each other these three people are I will cry. Made myself a soundtrack for those tears. 
the caleb playlist nobody asked for
what if this angsty wizard had a playlist of songs that mostly just... make me want to dance? that question was answered here.
the caduceus playlist nobody asked for
songs about home, leaving home, dying, changing, becoming someone new, coming home and finding it’s changed... this to me is caduceus.
yeah... this campaign has been fun!! I probably won’t stop making things about it; I still write about Vox Machina, for crying out loud, but... it feels good to lay it all out like this. It’s been a long few years, and it’s wild to be seeing the end of it now.
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minijenn · 4 years
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Universe Falls Chapter 75
AN: Just realized I never posted Gravity Falls Drift on here in the usual format so here’s this super fucking late whoops my bad oh well byeeeeeeee
Previous: https://minijenn.tumblr.com/post/189818825584/universe-falls-chapter-74
Chapter 75: Gravity Falls Drift 
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“They told me there wasn’t enough room on the road for the Universe. And I told them, the universe is my road.”
Steven grinned confidently as he adjusted his sunglasses before gripping the steering wheel in front of him. And then, with a deft move of the gear shift, he pressed the pedal to the metal, more than ready to take on the road ahead. 
“Pew! Pew! Pew!” 
The young Gem was slightly caught off guard however as he looked to the passenger seat, or namely, to Mabel, who sat alongside him, leaning out of the open car window as she held her fingers together in the vague shape of a gun. “Oh, were we not doing the whole cop thing?” she asked, noting Steven’s look of confusion. 
“Well, if you were, you guys aren’t really doing a very good job of it,” Dipper noted with a casual grin as he came to stand beside Mabel’s window. “No offense.”
Before either of the pair inside the car could counter this, a sudden knock on Steven’s window caught their attention. Connie smiled as the young Gem turned to her, offering him a bright wave until he rolled down said window to greet her. 
“Oh, hey, Connie!” Steven grinned, taking off his sunglasses before opening the door to the brand-new used vehicle. “Thanks for letting me practice, Dad,” he said to the former rock star, who stood by, admiring his new set of wheels as he had been for the past several hours now. “Hey, maybe one day when I’m older, you can teach me how to actually drive using it!”
“Eh, l-let’s not get ahead of ourselves there, Schtoo-ball,” Greg remarked with a small, if not anxious chuckle. “We’ve still got several years until--well, then again, you are 14 now so… Oh boy…”
“Your new car is sooooo cool, Mr. Universe!” Mabel quipped excitedly as she got out of the car herself. “Though… ya might wanna think twice before you move into it. It seems like it’d be just a bit too small to live in it like you do your van.”
“Heh, thanks for the concern, Mabel, but the van’s still home sweet home,” Greg said. “I just thought that now that I’m swimming in dough, why not get a new car?”
“A new car?” Connie questioned, looking over the vehicle, particularly its bumper. “But it’s got this big ‘used’ sticker on it.”
“I like to think of it as more experienced than used,” Greg grinned, slapping a sticker of his own, one that read ‘Dad on Board’ over the one the car came with. 
“So what kind of car is it anyway?” Dipper asked, curious.
“Glad you asked,” Greg proudly placed a gentle hand on the top of his new vehicle. “This baby’s a Dondai Supremo, from the era of frosted tips, mood rings, and slap bracelets.” A beat of silence passed at this, in which all four of the kids simply stared up at the former rock star, completely clueless as to archaic period he was talking about. At least, until he kindly clarified. “You know, before you kids were born.”
“What a time to be alive,” Connie remarked, impressed.
“Whoa… that’s like… forever ago!” Mabel gasped, awestruck. “Then that means this car must be super old!”
“Ah ah ah,” Greg wagged a correcting finger. “Not old, experienced. I’ve had my eye on this Dondai even way back when.” At this, the former rock star pulled out a stack of photos, depicting a younger version of himself in a car lot, fawning over a then brand-new Dondai. “I loved that car. I wanted that car.” The series of photos eventually reached a bizarre conclusion as the younger rock star was caught romantically sharing a plate of spaghetti with the car before ultimately being chased out of the lot by security. “A-anyway,” Greg cleared his throat, tossing the photos aside. “Another great thing about these cars? They’re crazy on the road.”
To prove his point, the former rock star took over the driver’s seat, pointing out several of its best-known features to the kids. “Front wheel suspension, tons of ponies, and best of all, it has a tape deck!” 
Greg readily inserted a favorite cassette of his into said tape deck, allowing the Dondai’s strong speakers to play out a laid-back beat across the car wash’s parking lot. Caught up in the chill vibes of the music, the former rock star “rocked” out to it via air guitar as the kids decided to pitch in to help him spruce up the new car up a bit. Taking up wet sponges and a hose, they began washing the Dondai in the hopes of making it shine as if it were completely new rather than lightly used. However, they didn’t get very far into it before the lighthearted mood of the afternoon was interrupted by an unexpected, unwelcome arrival. 
Said arrival came in a sharp yellow sports car, one that sped down the hill that led toward the car wash, loud booming rock music rising over its roaring engine. The group gathered at the car wash all got a good scare as it drifted aggressively onto the otherwise empty lot, spinning a tight circle to turn itself around before grinding to a stop. And yet, as unruly and downright disrespectful as this sudden entrance was, the person behind it was hardly surprising at all as he rolled his window down to bark out an order right off the bat. 
“Give me a wash, old man,” the teen called, barely even sparing a glance out the window as he continued the conversation he was having on his phone. 
“Uh, right away, young man,” Greg responded, dutifully taking up a bucket and a sponge to head over to do just that. 
“Huh, you know, that really rude guy seems kinda familiar…” Mabel noted with a frown. 
“Yeah, I--wait,” Connie squinted to get a better look at the teen. “Is that-”
“Kevin…” Steven scowled, instantly set off as he squeezed the water out of his sponge in quiet fury. 
“Ugh, that guy?” Dipper asked disdainfully. “He’s still around? I would have thought he’d been kicked out of town for being the biggest creep ever.”
“Yeah, he should have been,” Mabel agreed, sticking her tounge out in disgust. “He was super icky at that part, especially when he flirted with you guys like that,” she said to Steven and Connie in particular.
“Tell us about it…” Connie glanced down, rubbing her arm. She did take pause however as she spared a glance over at Steven. The young Gem’s expression was consumed in a rare type of fury, fury that was all directly aimed at Kevin alone, even if he didn’t seem to be aware of it whatsoever. And in light of that newfound, almost unsettling fury, Connie couldn’t help but be instantly concerned for Steven’s wellbeing in light of being met with one of the biggest obstacles they had faced during their first time fused together. 
“I didn’t say iron the socks,” Kevin huffed as he continued on the phone. “I said I want my socks pressed. And--whoa, wait, wait!” He snapped at Greg quite suddenly as the former rock star began wiping down his wheels. “Careful with the tires, grandpa! I got a big race today and my car has to look as beautiful as me.”
“Back off, Kevin!” Steven exclaimed, boldly rushing to confront the callous teen in his father’s defense. “He’s not a grandpa! He’s just a regular pa!”
Kevin took pause at this, lowering his sunglasses a bit to give the young Gem a dry, cursory look. “Have we met before? I think I’d remember a twerp like you.”
“You do remember a twerp like me!” Steven shot back harshly, his hands in tight fists at his sides. 
“Uh, y-you… you just look like another guy we know!” Connie hastily interjected with an uncomfortable laugh, Dipper and Mabel joining her in doing the same. 
“Yeah, t-though totally not like this really scummy guy who was at this party we cra-” Mabel was abruptly cut off before she could give too much away by Dipper quickly covering her mouth just in time. 
“Uh, l-like Connie said,” he said much more cautiously. “You look like someone we know. That’s all.”
“Tch, that’s impossible,” Kevin scoffed, rolling his eyes at the kids. “There’s only one Kevin.” At this, the teen turned his nose up at the kids, coldly speeding off in his car every bit as noisily as he had arrived without even sparing any of them a second glance whatsoever.
“Hey!” Greg called after the sports car as it zoomed out of sight. “He forgot to… Eh, what do I care? I’m rich.”
However, even in light of Kevin’s departure, all was not well, especially not with the young Gem as he let out a frustrated growl, glaring off in the direction the teen had went. “Augh! I hate Kevin!” he huffed hotly, ignoring the startled looks the others sent his way upon hearing this. 
“Whoa, Steven!” Dipper exclaimed, practically shocked. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say you hate someone before.”
“Yeah, or seen you this angry,” Mabel noted before muttering something to herself with a discreet smile. “It’s kind of cute…”
“Yeah, watch the four letters, bud,” Greg cautioned with a frown. “Hate’s a strong word.”
“It’s a strong feeling…” Steven grumbled, crossing his arms. 
“Do you kids know that guy?” the former rock star asked, curious to know exactly who Kevin was to have elicited such a strong reaction from his son. 
“Well, kind of…” Connie explained apprehensively. “When we fused into Stevonnie, we met him at a dance and-”
“And he was a creep!” Steven interjected harshly. 
“Steven!” Greg scolded, surprised once more by his son’s severe language. 
“What? That’s five letters!”
“He kept asking us to dance with him,” Connie continued much more calmly. “Even though we said no. It was really… uncomfortable.”
“He didn’t even care about how we felt at all!” Steven professed, still quite upset by the unsavory experience. “He only cared about himself and getting what he wanted! He’s the worst!”
Greg wavered upon hearing this, his stern expression turning sympathetic as he met his son’s clear anger evenly. “I… had no idea that happened,” he sighed softly. “I’m really sorry. But that guy? He’s not even worth the time of day. Don’t even give him the satisfaction of thinking about him.”
“Thanks, Mr. Universe,” Connie smiled, thankful for such good advice. 
“Yeah!” Mabel chimed in with a supportive smile. “Why think about a loser like Kevin when you could think about ice cream, or puppies, or roller coasters, or-”
“Or literally anything else,” Dipper interjected before Mabel could keep her otherwise endless list going. 
Despite the bout of light laughter everyone shared over this, Steven didn’t join in on it. Instead, he kept his gaze on the ground, his expression still quite cross and bitter. It had been quite awhile since he’d felt like this, and it certainly wasn’t a feeling he enjoyed stewing in for very long. And yet, for whatever reason, he couldn’t let that feeling go, not as long as he remembered Kevin and what he did to them. Not as long as he thought about how terrible it had felt then, and how it still cut deep, even now. 
Which was why, even hours after the fact, the young Gem thoughtlessly held onto that feeling, willingly letting himself fall even deeper into it all the while. 
The starry evening sky was crisp and clear and warmed by the lofty summer air. Normally, such a night would have been a relaxing sight to the kids, but even as they sat comfortably atop the Dondai to admire it, a noticeable air of discontent still hung over them all. Discontent that the others could all practically feel from Steven in particular as he heaved a long, frustrated sigh. 
“Um… you ok, Steven?” Dipper asked, glancing down from the spot him and Mabel were sharing on the car’s room with apt concern. 
“Never been better,” the young Gem replied, disgruntled as he continued reclining on the hood. 
“...Are you still mad about Kevin?” Connie asked, looking over at him knowingly. 
“Yes!” Steven instantly admitted, his expression souring even more at the mere mention of the haughty teen. 
“Well, that explains a lot,” Mabel noted, leaning forward somewhat. “But Steven, remember what your dad said; Kevin’s such a major jerkface that he isn’t even worth thinking about!”
“Ugh, I know!” Steven groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes before he sat up to turn to the twins. “But it’s not that easy! You guys only watched what happened; me and Connie were there when he--a-and it was… we just… AUGH!” The young Gem let out another angry growl as he flopped back down onto the hood, barely even able to articulate just how much of a negative impact the awful experience really had on him. 
While the twins exchanged a worried glance over Steven’s rare anger, Connie simply kept her sights steadily on him. And, when she spoke a moment later, her tone was much softer, yet it still carried a hint of lingering satisfaction all the same. “Steven… I know how you feel,” she said, sitting up. “I’m mad about what happened too.”
Steven finally stilled at this, looking to her with apt surprise as he also sat up once more. “You don’t seem mad,” he noted, concerned. 
“I’m thinking mad,” Connie sighed, shaking her head. “I still feel like there’s something… big I wanna say to him, you know? Something to make him think, like we’re thinking.”
“Ooo, maybe you guys could call him a major jerkface to his face!” Mabel suggested pointedly. 
“Uh… somehow I don’t think that’s really gonna help, Mabel,” Dipper remarked, deadpan. 
“To bad we can’t just… race against him,” Steven said, remembering just how much shallow pride Kevin seemed to have over his impressive vehicle. “Then we could use the first place ribbon to wipe that smug look off his face!”
“Well, that’s not the worst idea ever,” Dipper said with a shrug. “Just a little flawed given the obvious problem with it…”
“Really? What problem would that be?” Mabel asked, somewhat obliviously. 
“Uh, we’re kids,” Connie replied, furrowing her brow. “And kids can’t drive; that’s against the law.”
“...We weren’t kids when we met Kevin…” Steven pointed out with a growing smile as he looked to Connie hopefully. 
Connie smirked at this, understanding the young Gem’s intent almost immediately. “I smell what you’re steppin’ in,” she noted somewhat deviously. 
“Ew,” Steven returned, his own wry grin still apparent. 
“Ohhhhh my gosh!” Mabel gasped, getting the point of the plan herself. “Fusion racing! Its like regular racing, but with fusion! I LOVE it!”
“Uh, ok, but we all realize that this whole thing is still pretty illegal, right?” Dipper asked with a frown. “I mean, it’s not like either of you have driver’s licenses that are gonna just… fuse along with you, right?”
“You don’t need a license to drive a Dondai,” Steven remarked, taking on a cool, sauve tone. 
“...Yes, you do,” Connie noted. “But then again, street racing is pretty illegal too, so… I guess two wrongs make a right in this case?”
“It will,” Steven’s tone turned serious once again at this, solidifying his resolve toward this plan and how it could--or at least he hoped it could--at long last set this egregious wrong against them right. “Especially if it finally helps take Kevin down a peg like he deserves…”
Out of all of the various hills and outlooks surrounding Gravity Falls, Demon’s Peak was by far the most notorious, and the most popular with the town’s young racing crowd. Most of its long, winding stretches of road were covered by a dense forest canopy, concealing much light at all during the later hours of the night. And as that road led to the top of the small mountain, drivers who took on its challenge were often met with a perilous journey filled with sharp turns and narrow paths along the way, not to mention the countless rumors of the peak being haunted, which of course, had contributed to its famous name. However, many of the town’s teens still flocked to the mountain each Friday night to get a taste of the high-octane thrills each race had to offer. 
This night was no exception as a large crowd had gathered at the base of Demon’s Peak, many within it bringing their own vehicles to compete for the title of the fastest racer around. And yet, try as they might, there was really only one among them who could even hope to come close. A fact that they were all bitterly reminded of as a certain yellow sports car zoomed past the finish line in first, just as it always did. 
A loud, disappointed groan arose from the bystanders as Kevin rolled his window down to smirk triumphantly over the car he’d just bested. Jenny returned that smirk with an irritated scowl, her frustration only growing as she pressed against the wheel of her car. “Ugh! My practice didn’t pay off at all!” she groaned, frustrated. “That was so bad.”
“I know, baby,” Kevin grinned as he stepped out of his car and walked past her. “I’m the worst.”
Jenny simply returned his smug, flirtatious remarks with another bitter scoff before she rejoined the spectating crowd herself. “Ugh… what a creep…” she grumbled as she came to stand alongside her friends. 
“Seriously, and I thought I was a jerk,” Robbie remarked, his arm casually flung over Tambry’s shoulder. “But Kevin’s on, like… a whole other level.”
“Tell me about it,” Tambry remarked dryly, texting away as she usually did.
“Oh, I will, I-”
“Don’t, babe,” she glowered, briefly glancing up at her disgruntled boyfriend.
With yet another competitor beaten, Kevin also reconvened with his pair of friends, or rather, his partners in racing. One was clearly the muscle of the group, a large, intimidating, towering young man who barely even looked like teen with his impressive frame and noticeable facial hair. Flanking him was a much smaller girl, one with a keen, expensive fashion sense and layers of makeup to spare to match her practically flawless golden hair. Despite the drastic differences, both of them carried the same exact air of haughty arrogance as Kevin himself did, one that was apparent as they surveyed the crowd of apparently much less “fabulous” teens before them. 
“Yet another flock of losers down,” the girl remarked, eyeing Jenny, Robbie, and Tambry smugly. “So… who’s next?”
“Anyone else think they can beat us and my Himitsu X-12 on the downhill course, step right up,” Kevin formally offered the challenge, though nobody seemed to take it. Instead, several members of the crowd seemed to shrink back at the offer, all of them too afraid of the inevitable shame they’d face upon so much as even trying to beat Kevin and his friends at their own game. “Oh, come on,” Kevin teased, disappointed by the lack of any real competitors. “How are we gonna get a cool-down lap if no one wants to go?”
“I’ll race you!”
The entire mood of the crowd shifted to surprise as a new car drove onto the scene--a certain Dondai, to be exact--driven by a certain fusion who, after a few self-taught driving lessons, had come more than ready to race. 
The bystanders’ muted amazement continued as Stevonnie stepped out of the car, their expression stern and brazen, even as they faced their old foe once again. While Connie’s father’s jacket had been rather large on her, when she fused with Steven, it now fit Stevonnie perfectly, adding a unique sense of flair to their already bold style. As the fusion properly stood, they fluffed the collar of said jacket, briefly glancing down to the Dondai’s tinted window to exchange a discreet nod with Dipper and Mabel as they watched everything from their hidden spot in the back seat of the car. After all, even though the twins couldn’t exactly compete  in the race itself, they were still dedicated to standing by Stevonnie’s side for any support they could offer, especially when it came to getting back at Kevin for everything he’d done. 
As baffled as Kevin and his pair of friends were by this unexpected challenger, before any of them could say anything to Stevonnie, Ronaldo happened to run up to them from the crowd instead. “Ah! Is that a ‘96 Supremo?!” he asked the fusion enthusiastically. 
“Uh… I think it’s a Dondai?” Stevonnie replied, looking to the car behind them. 
“A Supremo is a Dondai!”
“Whoa. Really?”
The teen adjusted his glasses, dumbfounded at this. “..Are you saying you don’t know the true power of the Supremo?”
“Uh…” Stevonnie frowned, unsure of what to say. Briefly, they looked back toward the twins for help once more, both of whom shrugged, just as clueless as they were. 
“Hey!” Kevin suddenly interjected, glaring at the fusion from across the lot. “That’s why I knew those brats at the car wash; they’re you!”
“Oh, you mean those ten year olds you flirted with at that party a few weeks ago?” his female friend asked with a sharp, teasing smirk. “Creep.”
“Ugh! For the last time, Lacy, I didn’t flirt with them!” Kevin growled before turning back to the fusion. “You twerps totally tricked me by looking like... that. But your whole ‘two kids in a beautiful trench coat’ routine isn’t gonna fool me this time, so don’t even try it!”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Stevonnie shot back just as coldly as they slammed a hand down on top of the Dondai. “And I’ll show you what I’m made of when I beat you at this race!”
While a ripple of “oos” and “aahs” passed through the crowd at this, Kevin himself was hardly phased as he instead let out a smooth, sardonic snicker. “Oh. I see what’s going on here.”
“Do you?” Stevonnie asked, crossing their arms disdainfully. 
“Yeah,” the teen smirked knowingly. “You’ve had a taste of Kevin, and now… you’re obsessed.”
Needless to say, Stevonnie was absolutely taken aback by such a remark, as were the twins inside the car as they met the fusions shocked look of disbelief evenly as they looked toward them once again. Yet even so, Stevonnie was absolutely having none of it, especially not from Kevin. Not again or ever again. “What?” they asked harshly, essentially whispering the word through their tightly-clenched teeth. 
“I get it,” Kevin shrugged innocently. “I have that effect on people. Its cute. But aren’t I a little old for you?”
By this point, Stevonnie was far too set off by the teen’s continually slimey behavior to even come up with a coherent response. Instead, they simply let out a frustrated, disgusted groan, their hands shaking in fists of tight fury at their sides. Even so, they were more than ready to keep this argument going, at least until Kevin’s friend, Lacy, happened to interject. 
“Ugh, enough already,” the girl rolled her eyes, clearly bored. “I swear, Kevin, I’m gonna puke if you keep this going any longer. Let’s just settle your whole ‘baggage’ with this fashion-blind wanna-be on the road, k?”
“Y-yeah!” Stevonnie agreed, glaring Kevin down once more. “You wanna race or not?”
“Do you?” Kevin raised a critical eyebrow at the fusion. 
“Uh… yeah?”
“Hmph, then I guess you didn’t hear,” the teen smirked coldly. “Tonight’s race is a tag-team gauntlet. Three on three, with each racing one leg up to the top of the mountain and back down again. I’ve already got my team with Brock,” he nodded over to the mighty teen alongside him, who simply nodded gruffly and silently. “And Lacy here.” Lacy offered Stevonnie a patronizing grin and playful wave, her ego clearly large enough to match Kevin’s own. “So… where’s yours?”
“Uh, a-a team…?” Stevonnie frowned, briefly taking a look around the group of teens gathered behind them. Despite their initial support of the fusion however, they were all quick to avert their rather pleading gaze for help, none of them willing to face could very well be an embarrassing defeat against Kevin and his friends. “Um… well… I don’t…”
“No team, no race,” Lacy interjected, wagging a finger at the fusion. “Those are the rules.”
“Yeah, so if you can’t follow the rules like us ‘big kids’ here,” Kevin added, hands on his hips. “Then why don’t you go back to kindergarten and play with the rest of your little friends, hm?”
Stevonnie took in a sharp breath at this, gearing up to shoot back just as harsh of a retort back at the callous teen. That is, until they paused to actually consider a part of what he’d said, something that actually managed to give them a timely idea, especially as they turned to glance down at Dipper and Mabel still inside the Dondai beside them. “‘Little friends’, huh…?”
“You want us to what?!” Dipper asked, completely shocked by the outlandish idea Stevonnie had just proposed to him and Mabel. 
“Look, I know it sounds crazy,” Stevonnie began, pacing around the secluded clearing they’d pulled the Dondai into to talk this out with the twins. “But I-”
“But I LOVE it!” Mabel suddenly interjected, stars in her eyes. “Just wait until Kevin and his jerky friends get a load of MAVEN! They won’t know what hit them once we blaze past ‘em on road, leaving them behind to eat our sparkly fusion dust!”
“That’s the spirit!” Stevonnie agreed brightly. “So obviously, Maven’s in but… we can’t be a real team without Stepper too…” The fusion looked to Dipper with a hopeful, pleading smile. “So… what do you say, Dipper?”
The most Dipper could really do was let out a small, relenting sigh as he looked between both Stevonnie and Mabel, knowing he couldn’t very well say no to either one of them. Even if the entire situation as a whole was an odd mix of ridiculous and risky. “Ok, fine,” he said. “But… this is gonna be tricky. I mean, you look normal enough, Stevonnie, but Maven has four eyes. And I don’t even wanna know what they’d say out there if they got a load of Stepper’s extra set of arms….”
“No woes, bro-bro,” Mabel grinned, tossing an arm over her brother’s shoulder. “That’s where Mabel comes in. Now, Steven… if you will…” Her smile widened as she extended a hand out to Stevonnie, who was more than happy to comply by gracefully unfusing. And with Steven and Connie apart, the latter was just as ready to go from one fusion right into another. 
However, what none of the kids spotted as that fusion was formed in the usual flourish of radiant light, was a bright flicker of purple flame sparking in the nearby woods. Nor did they notice the lone figure, completely obscured by shadow outside of her more fiery features, discreetly watching the entire scene from afar. “Well, well… How interesting…” she grinned deviously to herself. “Better get a front-row seat. After all, this is one race I’m not about to miss…”
Though they had agreed to allow Stevonnie enough time to gather their “team” together, the longer Kevin and his friends were left to wait, the more impatient they became. Said impatience was first voiced by Brock, albeit in his usual wordless way in the form of deep, disgruntled grunt. 
“Yeah, I know,” Kevin huffed, annoyed as he glanced up from his phone. “They’re taking forever. Should have expected as much from a bunch of dumb kids.”
“Who knows?” Lacy remarked with a broad grin. “Maybe they chickened out. You know how little kids get when they’re scared. They’re probably running home to their mommies and daddies even as we speak.”
Both Kevin and Lacy broke into a round of mocking, vindictive laughter at this and even Brock let out a small, albeit very slow chuckle. However, that laughter was short lived as the Dondai came speeding back toward the crowd, albeit rather haphazardly to the point that several of the teens had to hastily leap out of the way just to avoid being hit. As surprised as everyone was by this wreckless arrival, it soon became apparent that Stevonnie wasn’t behind the wheel this time as a seemingly new figure entirely emerged from the vehicle instead.
“Hi, everybody!” Maven cheerfully exclaimed the moment they burst open the door. The fusion rose to their full height just as brightly, showing off their more “mature look” as they decided to dub it in the form of the sweater now tied around their neck, their long hair tied up tight and most importantly, the pair of dark sunglasses completely concealing their upper pair of eyes from view. Confident in that look, Maven strode forward, clearly happy to be there as they continued waving to the dumbfounded crowd while passing them by. “Hey! Hiya! Maven here, ready to race!”
“Tch, looks like they managed to scrounge up a team after all,” Kevin remarked with a dry glower, though it soon turned into a flirty grin as he looked Maven over. “Hey there, baby, I-”
“Whoahohohoho--whoa, whoa,” Maven instantly cut him off, aggressively shoving a finger over his mouth to silence him. “Back it up there, big guy. You really oughta learn to quit while you’re ahead before you go and embarrass yourself. Again.”
Kevin was admittedly quite taken aback, especially as he met the rather dour, disapproving glare Maven was sending his way. Even so, he did his best to play it off with a cool scoff, backing away from them as he maintained his usual pompous demeanor. “O-oh yeah? Well, maybe you should learn that socks and sandals together are about the biggest fashion mistake anyone can make! Same goes for wearing sunglasses at night!”
Maven was clearly unaffected by such shallow remarks, however as they simply shrugged easily. “Eh, it’s a look. One that I can totally pull off. Makes me stand out in a crowd, ya know?”
“Ugh, whatever,” Kevin scowled, crossing his arms. “So, where’s the rest of your team? Did ‘Stevonnie’ or whatever their name is wimp out and head home?”
“Nah, Stevonnie and our other teammate Stepper are just… a little busy right now…” Maven turned, sparing a brief, wry wink over at the Dondai. From its back seat, Dipper and Connie spared a peak outside the window, not wanting to give their cover away, to the point that they had already carefully cautioned Maven not to do exactly that. Not that they believed such caution would do much good when it came to the somewhat flighty fusion but still, it was a protective measure all the same. “But don’t worry, they’ll be ready when they need to be. For now, Kevin,” they remarked pointedly, turning back to the teen. “Are you ready to race me?”
“Oh, I won’t be racing you, sweetheart,” Kevin grinned evenly. “I’ll leave that up to Brock.”
“Oooo what?” Maven said with a challenging grin. “Are you too scared to take me on your… self…?” The fusion stopped short as they noticed the large shadow looming over them. When they turned however, they were met face to face with the practically massive form of Brock, who easily towered over their own impressive height, making them feel quite small by comparison. Even so, Maven took it in stride, offering the much larger teen a wry, cheerful wave all the same. “Oof, you’re a big fella, aren’t you? Say, what kinda diet does a guy have to be on to get that… you know…” Maven trailed off, puffing their chest as they flexed their muscles to show what they meant. “Is it a protein thing, or like a balance of the right vitamins and minerals, or do you, uh….” The fusion frowned as Brock turned without answering a single one of their questions, instead heading toward Kevin’s car to begin the race in earnest. “Oh, um… good talk, I guess?”
“Don’t mess my car up, or you’re done, you hear?” Kevin remarked to his teammate, his tone cold as Brock barely managed to squeeze his way inside. As always, Brock simply nodded silently, his expression stern and unreadable as he turned his sights toward the starting line ahead. 
At the same time, Maven returned to the Dondai, eagerly taking the driver’s seat as they gripped the steering wheel confidently. “Alrighty,” they grinned, adjusting their mirror to get a glimpse to catch a view of Connie and Dipper in the back seat. “You guys ready to be a part of the best, most action-packed race ever!”
“Uh… maybe we could tone down the ‘action-packed’ part, just to be safe?” Connie purposed, anxious. 
“Remember what we talked about, you guys,” Dipper reminded cautiously. “You need to drive carefully. Losing to Kevin and his pals are one thing; but sending the car plummeting over the side of a cliff with all of us inside it is… something else entirely. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who would rather not have that happen.”
“Aw, relax, Dip-bro,” Maven assured, adjusting their shades. “I got this. Not only are we gonna beat Kevin and his cronies, but we’re gonna do it in style.”
“That’s… kind of what we’re afraid of…” Connie muttered, exchanging a nervous glance with Dipper. 
Even so, the race was clearly all set to begin, the pathway leading up the mountain clear and open for both cars competing on it. And, with a swift wave of  the checkered flag, the first leg of the three-part race was at last underway. 
“All right!” Maven cheered, daringly pushing the clutch forward as they pressed the gas pedal all the way down. “Full speed ahead!”
Both the Dondai and the sports car blasted forward right out of the gate, their engines equally thunderous as they peeled out onto the road. For the first stretch, both vehicles were neck-and-neck, clocking in the exact same speed as they rounded the first bend uphill. However, as that turn leveled out, Borock began taking on the slightest lead, something that the pair of passengers in the Dondai’s back seat were quick to notice. 
“He’s getting ahead!” Connie warned, glancing back to the fusion in the driver’s seat.
“Not for long!” Maven grinned, shifting gears to gain more speed. The Dondai suddenly jerked forward on that speed, throwing Connie and Dipper back into their seats, though Maven readily thrived on it as they leaned forward, exhilarated, especially as they passed Brock by. “Whoo! This is so fun! Its like I was born for the road and the road was born for me!”
“Uh, m-maybe you should keep your eyes on that road!?” Dipper suggested tightly, holding onto his seat for dear life as Maven recklessly swerved around another hairpin turn. 
“Hey, no worries, Dip-bro!” Maven assured, glancing back at the pair to the point that they weren’t looking at the road at all. “Like I said, I got this in the bag! There’s no way that big guy will ever catch up to us! Especially not when we shift into turbo!”
“T-this car doesn’t even have any turbo gears!” Connie exclaimed, aptly frightened by Maven’s dangerous driving. 
“Wait,” Dipper gasped as he caught sight of what awaited on the road dead ahead. “Maven, no-”
“MAVEN YES!” the fusion exclaimed, pushing the Dondai as hard as it would go toward the natural ramp made up of a handful of logs. They still had a solid lead over Brock as he trailed behind them, but with this new, risky route in mind, Maven hoped to claim a victory that would be all but guaranteed. 
As the Dondai reached that ramp, Dipper and Connie were mutually covering their eyes out of sheer terror for what could very well be their painful demise in the very high likelihood that the vehicle didn’t stick the landing. Even so, Maven took the leap confidently, their sunglasses flying off to reveal their upper pair of eyes, which were practically sparkling with excitement as the car soared into the night. For a few brief, breathless seconds, the car was completely weightless, until gravity began to bring it back down toward the road. Or rather, toward the entirely new pathway that had suddenly been paved, as if by magic, right as the Dondai landed solidly (and above all else, safely) upon it. 
However, said magic pathway did divert its driver off of the main path, something Maven didn’t notice until they happened to catch sight of a familiar yellow sports car breezing past them out their rear view mirror. “Hey!” the fusion exclaimed, grinding the Dondai to a screeching halt within the wooded clearing they’d accidentally driven into. “What gives?! This wasn’t part of my totally awesome plan to victory!” 
“Maybe not yet… but it could be!”
“Huh?” Maven blinked, surprised as they looked around the clearing. Likewise, Dipper and Connie exchanged a confused, still quite breathless from the harrowing leap they’d just miraculously survived. 
“Who said that?” Connie frowned, looking out the window to notice the surrounding trees were encompassed by an odd purple glow. 
“I don’t know… but I’m gonna check it out,” Maven said, summoning their grappling shield just in case.
“So are we,” Dipper said, Connie agreeing as they all slowly, carefully got out of the car. The woods were strangely quiet as the kids all grouped together, Maven still brandishing their grappling shield as they looked around for anything out of the ordinary. The race was all but forgotten in place of a possibly more important threat, one that, even without their swords, Dipper and Connie were more than ready to back Maven up in facing. 
And that supposed threat soon made itself known as a bright, mischievous laugh began echoing through the woods. It was accompanied by a ring of sudden pinkish flames that surrounded the kids and the Dondai, catching them off guard even more as they all pressed a bit closer together defensively. 
“Who’s there?!” Dipper demanded brazenly. 
“Show yourself!” Connie added just as sternly. 
“Yeah! I got a whole, loaded grappling shield here and trust me, you do not want a piece of it!” Maven warned, holding said weapon aloft. “I should know, I’ve accidentally bonked myself in the head with it more times than I can count and it really smarts.”
The odd, chuckling voice didn’t respond to any of these threats, however, as it was instead replaced by the loud din of an approaching roaring engine. The kids still had no idea what to expect as the shape of a motorcycle soon began to materialize amidst the flames, though what was even stranger was that its silhouette soon seamlessly transformed into the shape of what seemed to be a racecar. However, as the flames finally began to burn out and the wild laughter quieted down, that car somehow became a vibrant bike once more. A bike carrying an even more vibrant rider. 
The motorcycle screeched to a stop right before the startled group of kids, allowing them all to get their first clear view of that rider. Based on her sharp horns, claws, fangs, and tail alone, she clearly wasn’t human, as if her bright purple skin and matching, literally flaming hair weren’t telling enough of her otherworldly nature. Yet beyond that, her entire look fit her high-speed ride quite well, from her pink torn jacket, to her slick black leather skirt and gloves. All this was topped off by a sharp black biker helmet, with a pink visor that obscured her eyes but did reveal her large, broad, toothy grin. 
“Beware foolish mortals!” she began, hovering high over the dumbfounded group of kids, displaying her claws threateningly as her flaming hair burned brighter. “For you have incurred the wrath of-” She cut herself off sharply as a sudden small shield zipped past her, nearly hitting her in the process, though she happened to dodge it just in the nick of time. “Hey! I was trying to pull of a dramatic entrance here!”
“Oops, sorry!” Maven apologized as they reeled their grappling shield back in. “Please, continue.”
“Ugh, no, forget it,” the biker groaned, annoyed. “It’s already ruined. ‘Sides, I’m not really one to drag on with a bunch of dumb ‘theatrics’. Really just drags things down to a crawl if ya ask me.”
The kids still had no real idea of what to think about this strange being, though even so, Dipper was the first to speak up to get a better read on her. “Uh… who and… what are you, exactly?”
“Ooo, gettin’ right to the point,” the biker grinned, levitating a bit lower.  “I like that. Well, since you asked soooo nicely, the name’s Zoom. And I’m what your kind calls… a speed demon.”
“A-a demon?”Connie asked, exchanging mutually nervous glances with Maven and Dipper. 
“Aw, what?” Zoom asked with a patronizing smirk as her visor disappeared to reveal her set of five multicolored eyes. “Are you kiddos scared of a big, bad demon? Lemme guess, it’s ‘cause of this guy, right?” Her devious smile widened as she positioned her hands in the shape of a triangle over her singular, center eye.
“B-Bill?!” Dipper exclaimed, aptly alarmed. “You… you know him?”
“Ugh, wish I didn’t,” Zoom finally scowled as her visor reappeared. “Cipher’s a total chump. Gives all of demon-kind a bad name. Sorta like how those ‘friends’ of yours give racers a bad name.”
“Kevin is not our friend,” Maven clarified much sharper than they usually would have.
“Yeah, I kinda figured seeing how you kiddos are so dead-set on beating him in your little race,” Zoom noted, casually reclining back in midair. “I’m usually not too keen on all these punk mortals, thinking they can tear it up on my turf. I’m the only one with enough skills to really race around here; that’s why they call it Demon’s Peak. ‘Cause it’s mine.”
“Uh… well, we’re… sorry for racing on your peak,” Connie began earnestly. “But we-”
“Eh, don’t be sorry,” Zoom shrugged. “Believe it or not, I’m actually a big fan of how you kids operate. The whole ‘sparkly, glowy magicking into the same person’ thing? It’s a pretty killer angle, even if it pales in comparison to what I can do on the road.”
“Uh… you mean… fusion?” Maven asked, somewhat confused. 
“Sure, if that’s what you wanna call it,” Zoom said, leaning in closer to Maven to get a better look. “And just look at you! Lovin’ the look, especially the whole four eyes thing you’ve got goin’ on. Almost as wicked as my look. Almost.”
“Wow, thanks!” Maven grinned, warmly accepting the compliment. “You know, for a demon, you’re awfully nice.”
“Yeah, sure, ‘nice’,” Zoom said, emphasizing with air quotes. “Anyway, enough talk about you, let’s talk about me. See, like I said before, I got a little… problem with so many mortals racing on my mountain. But I think you kids might just be the solution I’ve been looking for to curb that little problem once and for all…”
“Uh… how do you see that?” Dipper asked, somewhat uneasy.
“Simple,” the demon crossed her arms confidently. “You wanna take those chumps down a peg, right? Well, you’re never gonna do it in an old hunk of junk like that,” she seamlessly teleported behind the kids to take a seat on top of the Dondai. “Though I will give ya points for keeping it classic. So here’s the deal; I’ll use my special “speed demon powers” to help you kids win the race.”
“In exchange for…?” Connie asked, worried. 
“Nothin’!” Zoom smiled amicably. “You get to win and I get the satisfaction of watching a bunch of dumb, tresspassing losers drive home with their tails between their legs. Everyone leaves happy! Well, ‘xcept for… ‘Kyle’ or whatever his name was.”
“Kevin,” Maven corrected. “And… I… really kinda like this idea! Especially if it involves putting Kevin in his place.”
“Uh, Maven?” Dipper interjected. “A word?” The fusion agreed, leaving Zoom on standby as both Dipper and Connie pulled them aside. “This is a really bad idea,” Dipper began in a tense whisper. “She’s a demon. And we should all know by now that deals with demons are practically destined to end badly.”
“Aw, but c’mon, Dipper,” Maven protested. “Zoom seems really cool! And if she wants to help us out, then why don’t we pitch in to help her in return? After all, wouldn’t you be mad too if a bunch of strangers started racing all over your mountain?”
“I highly doubt this is actually Zoom’s mountain, you guys,” Connie frowned. “But still… she could give us a leg up in the competition… which we’re currently losing, by the way.”
“Yeah, we are,” Maven crossed their arms, disgruntled. “To Kevin and his friends…”
“Wha--Connie!” Dipper exclaimed, caught off guard. “You’re supposed to help me be the voice of reason here!”
“I know… but...  maybe this won’t turn out as badly as you think it will, Dipper,” Connie proposed thoughtfully. “That’s all I’m saying.”
“You better believe it won’t!” 
The kids were all caught completely off guard as Zoom suddenly interjected into the conversation, appearing seemingly out of nowhere as she hovered in the space between them. “So, do we got ourselves a deal here?” she asked, extending a hand out to Maven in particular. 
Maven took pause at this, glancing between Dipper, who shook his head disapprovingly, and Connie, who simply shrugged indecisively. Even so, though one half of the fusion themselves wasn’t quite sure what to do, their other half had essentially no doubts. Kevin deserved to be humbled, needed to be knocked off his high and mighty pedestal. And if beating him and his friends in this race was the only way they knew how to do that, then they would just have to do whatever it took to win. No matter what. 
“Deal,” the fusion said, shaking the demon’s hand solidly. 
Zoom simply smiled at this, her fiery hair blazing brighter as her visor flashed with unknown intent. “Perfect…”
“Ugh, keeping us waiting again?” Kevin asked as he stood alongside Brock and Lacy at the end of the first leg of the race. “What’s wrong with those dumb kids and their dumb friends?”
“They had to have chickened out for real this time,” Lacy remarked, touching up on her makeup. “Figures they wouldn’t be able to hand the heat, right, Brock?” 
Brock simply nodded, his icy expression set straight ahead as it always was. Even though he’d crossed the finish line without contest quite some time ago, he’d hardly celebrated the easy win like Kevin and Lacy had. Still, the latter pair were more than happy to claim victory in the first third of the leg of the race, confident that they’d be able to do just as well in the other two rounds. 
“Ohoho, look who decided to show up after all!” Kevin called as he spotted the Dondai finally approaching. “What, did you get lost on the straightaway up here?”
“Nope,” Maven remarked smoothly as they stepped out of the car. “I was just… taking care of some business, is all.”
“Heh, well, while you were busy with your ‘business’,” Kevin said with a pointed grin. “Our boy Brock here was basically driving circles around you. Or at least he would have if you had been here.”
“Oh, I know,” Maven nodded coolly, adjusting the shades they’d recovered their upper eyes with. “Congrats, by the way. Though, I’m sorry to say, that’s the last one you guys will be getting tonight.”
“Oh, really?” Lacy asked with a scoff. “And why is that?”
“Mm… let’s just say we’ve got a little extra… team spirit on our side…” the fusion grinned, looking beyond the trio to the forest behind them. Or rather, toward Zoom as she casually sat atop a distant tree. The demon’s visor disappeared, allowing her to offer Maven a playful wink, one that the fusion readily returned, albeit with one of their hidden upper eyes. 
“Whatever that’s supposed to mean,” Kevin rolled his eyes. “So is your next racer coming or not? You’ve already made us wait on you guys twice now and we don’t have all night. Kevin needs his beauty sleep.”
“Next racer… oh, right!” Maven exclaimed, hurrying back to the Dondai. “Uh… lemme get go him! Be back in a jiff!”
“Ugh, seriously?!” Lacy groaned as the fusion took off once again. “More waiting!?”
Mabel and Connie both sat on the hood of the Dondai, watching with anticipation as the light of fusion steadily died down to reveal their ‘next racer’. Like Maven and Stevonnie before him, Stepper’s attire was somewhat changed, though only really in the form of him wearing Dipper’s jacket as opposed to his usual vest. Even so, the fusion was diffident right off of the bat, especially since half of him was largely still opposed to most of their rather risky undertakings this evening. 
“Ok, Mabel... “ Stepper began, frowning down at his lower arms. “You came up with a pretty clever solution for Maven’s extra eyes, I’ll give you that. But… how exactly are you planning on hiding these?”
“Hm… you do propose an interesting challenge, dear… technically half-brother of mine…” Mabel nodded thoughtfully. “But… if I recall correctly, Dipper happened to bring his backpack along with him, didn’t he?”
“Uh… yeah?” Stepper shrugged, confused. “It’s in the back seat. Why?”
Mabel didn’t answer, instead sliding off the hood to fetch the aforementioned backpack. Connie and Stepper watched curiously as she dumped everything out of the pack before pulling a pair of scissors out of her sweater. “Um, Mabel?” Connie spoke up, quite bewildered herself. “What are you doing?”
“Less talk!” Mabel exclaimed, digging the tip of her scissors into the backside of the pack. “More snip!”
“Wha--hey!” Stepper gasped, reaching for the pack. “Mabel! That’s my, o-or that’s Dipper’s backpack!” 
“Correction, Ste-bro, it was Dipper’s backpack,” Mabel grinned as she turned to present her finished product to him. “But now, it’s your backpack, ‘specially made just for you, Stepper!”
“Um… thanks?” Stepper said, half smiling as he took the pack before his expression and tone turned deadpan and flat. “Yeah, thanks, you cut a gaping hole into the back of it. Super helpful.”
“You bet it is!” Mabel proclaimed proudly. “Especially when it comes to tucking away those extra arms of yours out of sight where nobody can see ‘em…”
“Oh? Oooooo…” Stepper’s eyes widened as he looked back to the backpack with newfound realization. “That’s brilliant, Mabel! Well, at least it will be if it actually works…” 
“Well, try it on and find out,” Connie encouraged with a small, curious smile. 
Stepper did so, sliding the back on before (albeit a bit awkwardly) bending his lower arms behind his back to slip inside the pack’s opening. It took a bit of doing, and while it wasn’t the most comfortable setup in the world, it certainly worked in concealing his lower arms perfectly fine. “Oh wow!” Stepper smiled excitedly. “We might actually be able to pull this off after all!”
“You’d better, kiddo.” The fusion gasped in alarm as Zoom suddenly materialized out of thin air alongside him. As startled as he was, his shield journal flashed into his grip, a small shield forming over it as he braced himself for an attack he found he didn’t have to unleash after all. 
“Oh, hi, Zoom!” Stepper greeted, blithely at first before shifting into clear distrust. “Ugh… you again. How exactly do you plan on ‘helping’ us anyway? What, are you gonna turn our car into some sort of soul-eating monster? Turn the road into a lava-filled death trap? P-possess us to make us a better driver?!”
Zoom barely even flinched at any of these suggestions, instead only letting out a wry, amused chuckle after the fusion was done. “Ohoho, all good ideas! When you think, you really think big, dontcha, four arms?” she proceeded to playfully pinch Stepper’s cheek at this, something that set the on edge fusion off even more, especially given the demon’s sharp claws. “But… luckily for you, my strategies are a little more… subtle. And you’ll just have to wait to get a taste of them until you’re actually out on the road.”
“Hmph, I’ll be looking forward to it…” Stepper remarked dryly, crossing his arms. 
“Uh, speaking of the road, you guys should probably get back into the race,” Connie reminded. 
“Yeah, you don’t wanna keep Cody or Kameron or what’s-his-face waiting,” Zoom teased, turning Stepper’s cap backward as she floated past. “Or more importantly, you don’t wanna keep me waiting. See you on the road, kiddos.” The demon let out another smooth chuckle as she called upon her bike once more, revving it loudly before driving it out of sight in a bright burst of her iconic purple flames.
“Ugh,” Stepper growled as he straightened his cap, though he still left it on backward as he took his seat inside the Dondai. “Let’s just get this over with…”
Compared to Stevonnie and Maven, Stepper was admittedly much less comfortable behind the wheel, a fact that was made obvious given how touch-and-go the fusion was in so much as driving back to the start of the next leg of the race. The Dondai slowly, almost cautiously approached the trio of waiting teens, largely as a result of Stepper trying his best to drive as safely as possible, especially after the wild ride Maven just had. 
“A-alright,” Stepper began somewhat unsteadily as he got out of the car to face the teens. All the while, he made sure his lower pair of arms were safely secured out of sight within his backpack, hoping to come across as normal enough. Or at least, to not completely blow the cover they’d all been scarcely keeping up so far. “Let’s race?” he offered the trio an apprehensive smile, one that none of them returned as they instead offered him a shared cursory look. 
“Are you kidding?” Lacy spoke up, hands on her hips. “I have to race you?”
“Uh… yeah?” Stepper raised an eyebrow as the girl walked up to him. “What of it?”
“Tch, I knew this was gonna be easy, but this?” she laughed, essentially circling the confused fusion. “Schoolyard backpack? Baseball cap? What are you, 12?”
“N-no!” Stepper snapped, flustered. “I-I mean… t-technically not right now I guess, b-but whatever. It doesn’t matter how I’m dressed; I can still race laps around you!”
“Heh, maybe if we were racing tricycles,” Lacy mocked, leaning in close to the fusion. “You know, despite your garbage taste in fashion, you are pretty cute. Say, why don’t you and I ditch the rest of the race and go have a real good time…?”
“Augh!” Stepper instantly recoiled in disgust at such a flirtatious suggestion. Even so, he was hardly surprised by it; after all, this was one of Kevin’s friends who was offering it in the first place. Even so, the fusion was quick to regain his cool, adjusting the sides of his jacket as he took a large step back from Lacy. “Sorry,” he said with a cold glare. “But I’m already spoken for.”
“Hmph, your loss,” Lacy shrugged, heading back to stand alongside Kevin and Brock. “Enough talk; let’s race.”
“Finally,” Stepper groaned, turning to get back into the car. He was still largely simmering with anger even as he got back behind the wheel, largely ignoring the surprised looks both Mabel and Connie were sending his way as he did. “She’s going down…” he grumbled crossly, gripping the steering wheel tightly. 
“Ohoho! Feisty Stepper!” Mabel grinned excitedly. “I like it! Throw some of that fire under our tires and we’re sure to win!” 
“Well, between that and Zoom’s help, I’d say our chances are pretty good,” Connie noted with a relieved smile. 
“We don’t need her help,” Stepper scoffed, annoyed. “We can do this on our own.”
“Oh, can you now?”
“Ah!” the fusion gasped as he glanced to the passenger seat, only to find a certain speed demon casually reclining in it. “Will you stop doing that?!”
“Aw, c’mon, kiddo,” Zoom grinned playfully. “I just figured I’d hitch a ride, get a taste of how you are on the road before I make my move.”
“No need,” Stepper huffed, pulling up to the starting line. “I’m just fine on the road, thanks.”
“Lemme guess,” Zoom said knowingly. “This is your first time ever getting behind the wheel, right?”
“Uh, technically it’s my third,” the fusion corrected. “But it’s also sort of my first--b-but it doesn’t matter. I can do this.”
“We’ll see about that…” the demon remarked, getting comfortable in her spot in the passenger's seat. 
“Well, we believe in you, Stepper!” Mabel cheered brightly. 
“Yeah! You’ve got this!” Connie warmly agreed. 
Enthused by their encouragements, Stepper resteeled his grip on the wheel, blocking out any further distractions as the countdown to the start of the race began. And yet, the moment the flag came down to start it, Lacy instantly sped off, the sports car blasting out onto the road that led the rest of the way up the mountain. However, Stepper on the other hand, noticeably did not. 
“Uh… Stepper?” Mabel frowned, leaning forward from her spot in the back as she noticed Stepper’s relatively low speed. “We gonna… pick the pace any time soon?”
“Um, no?” the fusion scoffed, keeping his eyes on the road. “The signs say the speed limit is 30 miles an hour here. I may be trying to win, but I’m also trying to keep us from crashing. Unlike another fusion I happen to know.”
Mabel stuck her tongue out at Stepper upon hearing this, at least until Connie worriedly interjected. “Uh, ok, but… we’re never even gonna catch up to Lacy at this rate. Staying under the speed limit is important, but I think, in this case, it might just be ok to break it…”
“And risk speeding off a cliff?” Stepper asked incredulously, still maintaining his slow, steady pace. “I don’t think so.”
“Yawn,” Zoom groaned tiredly. “You’re puttin’ me to sleep with all this ‘safe driving’, kiddo. Looks like you need my help more than I thought. So… why don’t we turn up the heat?!”
“Wha-” Stepper cut himself off sharply as the demon suddenly disappeared, only to reposition herself on top of the vehicle. Then, before the fusion inside of it could even try to protest, Zoom slammed her hands down on top of the car hard, engulfing it in a bright, purple aura. The Dondai suddenly catapulted forward, flames of the exact same color erupting from its tailpipe as Stepper panicked under this newfound burst of manic speed.
“W-what’s happening?!” the fusion cried, desperately trying to maintain control over the car as it zipped around a sharp turn. To help the effort, Stepper hurriedly pulled his lower arms out from his backpack, gripping the wheel with them as well in the hopes that they’d give him some better leverage. A tactic that, surprisingly enough, actually happened to work. 
“I’m happening, kiddo!” Zoom laughed loudly from her spot atop the Dondai, her flaming hair flickering wildly in the wind. “And if there’s anything you should know about me, it’s that I race… to WIN!” 
“Whoohoo! Yeah, you do!” Mabel cheered, pumping her fist as she took a peek out the window. “Look! We’re about to catch up!”
“I-If we don’t crash first!” Connie exclaimed, aptly fearful. 
“Aw, relax,” Zoom scoffed in amusement. “I like you kids too much to let ya crash. But as for your little friend up there… well, she’s an entirely different story…”
As the Dondai sped forward, Lacy did largely the same in Kevin’s car, brazenly confident in her victory to the point that she was hardly even trying at all. “Tch, looks like ‘baseball cap’ should have thrown in the towel when he had the chance,” she smirked as she adjusted her rear view mirror to catch a glimpse of her own reflection. “There’s no way he’ll ever be able to catch up driving so--what?!” Lacy snapped harshly as she stole another glance out of the mirror to see the Dondai rapidly approaching from behind. “Hmph, looks like he’s more than just a pretty face after all…” she noted before shoving the car’s clutch forward aggressively. “But so… am I!”
While the sports car got a hitch of speed, Zoom responded in turn, pressing the Dondai even further as she disappeared out of sight to carry out the next part of her plan. At the same time, Stepper’s eyes were wide as he watched the speedometer waver wildly back and forth, never able to settle on a single speed as he continued using all four of his arms to keep the car on track. “I-I can’t stop it!” he cried, slamming his foot on the break only for the car to continue on its haphazard way. “W-what do we do?!”
“Win, silly!” Mabel exclaimed, exhilarated as she pointed out the front window to what lay ahead. “Look!”
The fusion did so, only to find that Zoom had taken up a perch atop the sports car this time, where she briefly glanced around before finding exactly what she was looking for. A burst of purple flame materialized above her hand, one that she instantly lobbed toward the forest far ahead of her. Her aim hit true, striking one of the several shorter trees bordering the road squarely at its base. The blast was enough to uproot the tree entirely, sending it careening forward into the road right as Lacy sped toward it. 
The kids inside the Dondai all let out a startled gasp as they saw this, genuinely frightened that the teen would actually end up in a deadly crash. However, Lacy herself managed to spot the falling tree just in time, letting out a terrified scream as she slammed hard on her breaks. The sports car spiraled out, coming to a sharp stop just shy of the downed tree now barring up half of the road ahead. Shaken by the harrowing experience, Lacy took a moment to catch her lost breath, her usually pristine hair and makeup completely askew. However, she was about to receive an even greater shock as a certain Dondai suddenly drifted past both her and the tree in her way. 
Stepper spun the wheel hard to avoid hitting the tree himself, finding a place on the small patch of the road not covered by it. As he did, the Dondai swung out to the point that its front window was briefly facing the sports car, effectively allowing him to be face to face with Lacy. And, even despite his own abject terror, it was an opportunity the fusion wasn’t about to waste as he flashed her a broad smile, lifting three of his four hands away from the steering wheel to offer her a playful, teasing wave. 
“WHAT?!” Lacy gasped, dumbstruck as she saw this, though only for a moment before Stepper sped past her entirely. Acting quickly, she forced the sports car back into action but it was already far too late now. The Dondai had gained an incredible lead, still pressed on by the otherworldly power Zoom had fueled it with. And, unlike before, Stepper reveled in this lead, letting out an excited laugh, one that Connie and Mabel gladly shared as their car glided swiftly over the finish line at the peak of the mountain, completely uncontested. 
With one victory in hand, Zoom finally cut her magic off, at last allowing the Dondai to come to a safe stop. The moment it did, Stepper, Mabel, and Connie all piled out of it, more than happy to celebrate their unexpected triumph together. “W-we did it!” the fusion exclaimed, both sets of arms happily embracing himself. “We actually won!”
“Correction: I won,” Zoom remarked, taking up her usual spot on top of the Dondai as she appeared out of nowhere. “You… well, you mostly just sat there screaming the entire time, but I guess you were there, so kudos to you for not dying, kiddo.”
“Uh, yeah, speaking of that,” Stepper’s smile finally faded into a disapproving look. “Can we talk about how you nearly killed someone back there? That wasn’t part of our deal.”
“So what if it wasn’t?” the demon shrugged, unconcerned. “You won, didn’t you? And that’s what you wanted, right?”
“W-well… yeah, but…”
“But nothin’, kiddo,” Zoom turned her back to the kids. “Far as I’m concerned, if you wanna win any race, then you’ve gotta be willing to do whatever it takes. No matter what…”
Upon hearing such an ominous statement, the kids all exchanged a mutually concerned glance, all of them silently wondering exactly what the demon’s true intentions really were. And yet, they didn’t get a chance to figure that out as the loud roar of a familiar engine sounded out from just down the road. “Look alive, kids,” Zoom advised, smirking as she disappeared into her usual purple flames once more. “The final lap is about to begin…”
If there was one thing the kids could all agree with the demon on, it was that. Which was why Mabel and Connie quickly piled into the back seat as Stepper concealed his lower arms once more, just as the sports car pulled up alongside the Dondai. 
“Look, I’m not crazy, Kevin!” Lacy snapped, getting out of the car first as Kevin and Brock sullenly followed. “He really does have four arms, see?!”
Her companions took a skeptical look over at the fusion, who simply offered them an innocent smile and wave, his lower set of arms still completely hidden away inside his pack as they’d been before. “Yeah, ok, whatever, Lacy,” Kevin scoffed, rolling his eyes. 
“Sounds to me like you’re just coming up with excuses about why you lost,” Stepper pointed out with a patronizing smirk. “But there’s nothing to be ashamed of. I am pretty great behind the wheel after all.”
“Tch, suuuure you are,” Lacy deadpanned crossly. “If driving like my grandma is what you call ‘great driving’.”
“Hey, it was enough to beat you, wasn’t it?” Stepper snarked right back. 
“Only ‘cause you cheated.”
“W-wha--how’d you--I-I mean, no, I didn’t-”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Kevin interjected, coming to stand between the pair. “You ‘ladies’ can always argue about which one of you is prettier later. ‘Cause now, it’s time for the main event.” The teen turned to Stepper, who only had a severe scowl to offer him and nothing more as he continued. “Tell your friend, Stevonnie, that Kevin’s ready for ‘em. And this time, the winner takes all.”
Upon hearing this, Zoom simply laughed quietly to herself, perched against her bike just past the nearby treeline as she watched the exchange unfold. “They always do, bud,” she grinned, her visor flashing mysteriously as she prepared to get in place for the race’s final leg. “They always do…”
Stevonnie let out a deep, steadying breath as they pulled the Dondai up to the starting line. The last third of the race would lead all the way down the mountain back to where it had all begun, taking a much shorter path than the two-segments of the race that had led up to the peak to begin with. Even so, it was a tricky stretch of road with sharp turns and narrow passages aplenty. Even so, the fusion was determined to tackle both it, and more importantly Kevin, head on in the deciding lap of the currently-tied race. 
“You know,” Kevin spoke up, looking out his open window with his usual smooth grin. “This mountain pass has some really beautiful views. Shame you’ll only be seeing my tail lights the entire time.”
Stevonnie gripped the steering wheel tighter at this, agitated as they clenched their teeth and let out a hissed response. “You wish.”
“Don’t listen to him, Stevonnie!” Mabel encouraged from the back seat in a bright whisper. 
“Yeah, he’s just trying to get inside your head,” Dipper added just as supportively. “You can do this! H-hopefully in a much less dangerous way than the past two rounds…”
“Thanks, guys,” Stevonnie grinned, remaining subtle as they set their sights on the road ahead. However, as they waited for the starting flag, they failed to see Brock send Kevin a subtle signal from the sidelines. One that only the teen saw, prompting him to get the race started before the flag even fell. 
“It’s Kevin time!” he grinned, slamming his foot on the gas to peel out from the starting line several seconds early. 
“Shoot!” Stevonnie exclaimed, startled as they quickly gathered their bearings, pushing the Dondai into motion itself. The vehicle took off, speeding down the road at a steady, yet confident pace, matching the fusion’s own determined confidence as they made their brazen attempt to win this race once and for all. 
At the same time, Kevin also carried an air of confidence in his own driving, assured that he’d be able to turn the current tie in his favor, all for the sake of maintaining his undefeated title. However, he was quite caught off guard upon catching sight of none other than the Dondai starting to gain on him from behind, in no small part thanks to another round of help from a certain unseen speed demon. 
Zoom smirked as she reclined against the back of the Dondai, the bright flames sparking out from her feet giving the vehicle the exact boost of speed it needed to catch up. It was a boost Stevonnie readily took as they steered the vehicle deftly, shifting gears and barely even flinching as they breezed right past the very disgruntled Kevin. 
“Ha ha!” Stevonnie goaded, sending the bitter teen a taunting grin, that is, at least until they spotted what awaited them on the road ahead. “Uh oh…”
“C-cliff!” Mabel yelled warningly, hugging Dipper fearfully as the Dondai sped toward it. 
At the same time, by now the race had reached a point where the group of spectating teens at the foot of the mountain could see the competing cars clearly again. And as the Dondai approached the dangerous cliff turn first, needless to say they were all beyond captivated to see what would happen. 
“Oh my gosh!” Ronaldo exclaimed, lowering his binoculars. “This is it!”
“A-are they gonna crash?” Jenny asked, worried. 
“Should I be recording this?” Tambry asked, poising her phone to do just that. 
“No! We’re about to witness the true power of the Supremo!” Ronaldo said, pointing back toward the mountain. 
At that exact moment, Stevonnie reacted just in time, shoving the car’s gear hard as they slammed their foot on the break. At the same time, Zoom maneuvered around the car, using her powers to craft a few extra inches of road to give the fusion enough space to make the tricky turn. And, through this partnership, they fortunately did, drifting skillfully around the turn before quickly straightening back up once again. “Whoa…” Stevonnie gasped, amazed, especially as they spotted Zoom gliding past their window. “Zoom, did you do that?”
“Eh, yeah, just a little trick I picked up a few decades back,” the demon shrugged casually. “No need to thank me, you kids winning will be thanks enough.”
Stevonnie didn’t get a chance to ask what she meant by this as she vanished into thin air once again, ready to help whenever needed. However, in place of the speed demon, something else soon began speeding by the fusion’s window, and a much more unwelcome sight at that. 
“So you do know how to use that thing,” Kevin remarked with a wry, somewhat vindictive smirk. 
The fusion did their best to ignore him, remembering the twins’ advice as they paid attention to the road instead. However, as they approached the next turn, Kevin remained tight up against them, never passing them as he instead opted to remain neck-and-neck instead for some reason Stevonnie couldn’t possibly begin to understand. As both cars cleared that turn, they were essentially inches apart, nearly scraping against each other as their speeds remaining consistent all the while, neither of them daring to slow down whatsoever. 
“I know you wanna be close,” Kevin began, once again peering over at the fusion smugly. “But this is a little clingy.”
“Ugh,” Stevonnie stuck their tounge out in disgust at this, shuddering at this blatantly flirtatious remark. 
“Ew, seriously?!” Dipper remarked quietly from the back seat. “Can this guy be any more of a scumbag?”
“Can anyone?” Mabel asked, quite baffled herself.
“What’s the matter?” the teen continued to patronize the frustrated fusion. “Feel like giving up yet?”
Stevonnie growled, gripping their steering wheel tightly to the point that they could bottle up their growing anger no longer. “Why do you have to be such a jerk all the time?!” they snapped hotly, more than ready to receive one of Kevin’s usual catty responses. What they actually got, however, was perhaps the very last answer they could have ever expected. 
Kevin was quiet at this as he glanced down, his smile falling into an ashamed frown. “Truth is… I don’t mean to be this way. I-I just lash out because of my little brother.” He took in a sharp breath, clearly trying to hold back tears as he continued. “He’s sick. Been sick all our lives. Sometimes, I think if I act real cool and never let anyone see my pain… t-then maybe the pain will go away. A-and maybe…” He briefly trailed off, covering his eyes with his hands as he choked out what sounded like a sob. “I can take his pain away too....”
Stevonnie stilled at this, exchanging a brief, surprised glance with the equally dumbfounded pair of twins in the back seat. With this brand-new bit of rather tragic context revealed, it was as though their entire demeanor toward Kevin had changed. While his behavior was absolutely abhorrent, yes, perhaps there really was a grounded, grieving reason behind it after all. And in light of that fact, Stevonnie couldn’t help but feel rather guilty for their own attitude toward him as well. “Kevin…” they began sympathetically, earnestly. “I-I… had no idea…”
The teen didn’t respond at first, instead still crying, at least until his ‘sobs’ steadily turned to a bout of harsh, mocking, hysterical laughter instead. “Dude!” he cackled deviously, satisfied that his sob story had worked perfectly. “I don’t even have a brother! I’m like this because its funny!”
“Oh what?!” Mabel exclaimed, appalled from the back seat. Her initial reaction was to leap forward to give the callous teen a piece of her mind herself, though she was narrowly stopped by Dipper pulling her back just in the nick of time. 
“Like I said,” he scoffed, just as disgusted as his sister was. “Total scumbag.”
“Augh! You’re awful!” Stevonnie snapped back at Kevin, absolutely floored by his despicable lie. 
“You better believe I am,” Kevin chuckled, still quite amused as he his car finally began speeding past the Dondai. “Chowzers.”
The teen offered the fusion a playful wave as he passed them by, barely even paying any mind to how absolutely outraged they were by his terrible behavior. “KEVIN!” they yelled after him, forcing the Dondai to go as fast as it could possibly go. By this point, they didn’t care about anything, not about whether or not Zoom was lending them a hand, not about what obstacles might be on the road ahead, not even about the concerned pair of twins calling for them from the back seat. As far as they were concerned, the only thing that mattered now was Kevin and how they were going to beat him, no matter what it took. 
And with that sole, sharp thought in mind, everything else seemed to disappear, the forest around their vehicle turning to sheer darkness as Dipper and Mabel’s worried cries turned into strangely distant echoes. Some part of the fusion noticed this, gasping in surprise as the road ahead suddenly seemed to narrow to a dangerous degree. “W-what’s happening?” they asked, suddenly nervous, at least until their former rage returned full-force. “Ugh… Kevin!” 
That fury wavered back into shock as they stole a glance out of their rear-view mirror however. The road behind them was crumbling, rapidly falling to pieces behind them to to the point that soon, there would be nothing left for them to stand on at all. “W-wait!” they cried, both panicked and angered as they returned their bitter glare back toward the Himitsu before them. “No! We have to beat him! He deserves to lose!”
The fusion could barely, barely feel two pairs of hands on their shoulders, desperately trying to shake them back into reality. Likewise, the panicked cries had all but fallen on deaf ears as they tried their best to lock their focus onto the car currently in the lead, refusing to back down until they’d finally passed it. Until they finally bested him. Until they finally won. 
And yet… just before they could… 
Stevonnie lashed back in shock, their terror and anger finally overwhelming them in the form of a ghastly image of Kevin’s face, looming large and powerful before them. That image overtook their entire window, rushing for them with glowing red eyes as it prepared to devour them entirely. In a last ditch effort to avoid it, the fusion snapped the steering wheel hard to the left, closing their eyes tightly in an attempt to avoid their gruesome, hateful fate. 
And as they did, it was with a flash of bright, blinding pink light that everything suddenly went black.
“-even! Steven!”
“Connie! Wake up, you guys!” 
“H-huh?” Steven slowly opened his eyes, groggy yet largely unharmed. He was quick to notice that they had unfused, largely since he sat shoulder-to-shoulder alongside Connie, still buckled up in the Dondai’s driver’s seat. 
“Oh, yay!” Mabel cheered, catching the young Gem’s attention. Both her and Dipper stood just outside the open door, fawning over the pair with immense concerned written all over their faces. “You’re both alive!”
“N-not that we thought you were dead,” Dipper clarified. “I mean, we somehow didn’t hit anything, but still, you can never be too careful.”
“Ugh, what happened?” Connie asked, rubbing her sore head. 
“We don’t know!” Mabel answered honestly. “You guys just… shut down and wouldn’t listen to us even though we were super scared for you! And then ‘poof’! You unfused!”
“And without Stevonnie, the car spun out so… here we are…” Dipper added with a worried frown as he offered a hand to help Steven out of the car first. “Are you guys ok?”
“I think so,” Connie said, accepting the help that Mabel was extending to her. “Are you ok, Steven?”
“...Yeah,” the young Gem nodded, quietly glancing down as he stepped out of the Dondai. He stopped however, upon noticing Connie turn to face the road leading down the mountain, her expression stern and solid as she looked away. “W-what are you doing?” Steven asked, confused. 
“What are we doing?” she turned the question back around as she turned to face the others. 
“Uh… I thought we were racing…” Mabel pointed out with a frown.
“Well, at least we were…” Dipper noted, knowing their chances of catching up to Kevin were practically non-existent now. . 
“W-we’re getting back at Kevin!” Steven added instantly. “We’re about to beat him at his own game! We’re about to win!”
“Yeah…” Connie nodded solemnly. “But… why do we even have to play his game?”
“B-because!” the young Gem exclaimed tightly, his anger starting to build up all over again. “He… h-he’s… augh!”
“I know!” Connie agreed, understanding Steven’s frustration all too well. And yet at the same time she also knew, there just had to be a better way of dealing with that frustration than losing themselves to it as they had mere moments ago. “So why should he get to have any say over how we feel?”
“H-he doesn’t!”
“But he’s the reason we’re racing,” Connie pointed out. “Steven… he’s the reason we all fused…”
Needless to say that Dipper, Mabel, and Steven alike were all taken aback by it, unable to deny that this was completely true. Because like it or not, the very reason they had formed Stevonnie, Maven, or Stepper this time around had been solely for the sake of this race. Solely for the sake of trying to beat Kevin and his friends at their own twisted games. 
“W-we… we are obsessed with him…” Steven muttered, letting out a small, shaken gasp of realization. 
“What were we thinking?!” Mabel pouted regretfully. “Fusion is supposed to be for fun--and the occasional throwdown with uber-powerful bad guys--not for major jerkfaces like Kevin!”
“W-we really let ourselves get carried away… didn’t we?” Dipper noted, just as perplexed by their mutual error. 
“We did…” Connie nodded with a sigh. “But… it’s not too late. I wanna finish this race… but not for him.”
Steven paused as he noticed the hand Connie was offering him, one carried a message of solidarity rather than spite. And as he met that hand, suddenly he completely understood. What Kevin had done to them, how he made them feel was awful, yes. But holding onto those feelings, letting themselves linger in just how awful it all was, was doing none of them any good. And chances are that besting him in some simple, silly race wouldn’t change that fact. The only ones who could have any sort of power over how they felt were themselves. Which was why there was no doubt between any of the kids as they all exchanged warm, resolved smiles with one another as they came together; this time around, they were going to feel better, win or lose. 
“For us!” they proclaimed in an affirming unison, ready to take this last leg of the race on together, no matter what happened. 
And yet, before Steven and Connie so much has had a chance to try and fuse again, a sudden blast of bright purple flame broke out between the kids, quickly forcing them apart. And in the midst of those flames, Zoom herself materialized, her expression absolutely outraged as she hovered high above the startled kids. “What do you dumb kids think you’re doing?!” she hissed harshly, her clawed hands in tight fists at her sides. 
“We’re gonna get back into the race!” Steven exclaimed brightly. 
“Yeah!” Connie, Dipper, and Mabel readily agreed, though Zoom, on the other hand, was having none of their shared  enthusiasm. 
“You’re gonna LOSE the race at this rate!” the demon snapped angrily. “While you brats were sitting around here ‘talking about your feelings’ or whatever, that chump Kelvin is taking the lead! And you’re just gonna let it happen?!”
“Uh… sure?” Connie shrugged, unconcerned. 
“Yeah, it’s just some silly ol’ race,” Mabel smiled with a wave of her hand. “Who cares if he wins as long as we’re having fun?”
“I CARE!” Zoom shouted furiously, her flaming hair flickering wildly. “We had ourselves a deal, kiddos. I help you brats out, so you could win! That’s what ALL this was about! That’s what it was always about! That’s what everything’s about: WINNING!”
“Yeesh, somebody’s a little over-competitive…” Dipper remarked with a bit of a wry smile, eliciting a brief laugh from the other kids. 
“Oh, what am I some kind of JOKE to you now?!” Zoom growled, snapping her fingers to call her set of shapeshifting wheels onto the scene. “Well, we’ll just see who’s laughing when I’m standing in the winner’s circle, kiddos! Catch you in the photo-finish… NOT!” 
The speed demon let out a cackling, wild laugh as she hopped onto her bike which was quick to turn into her otherworldly car as she took off, barreling down the road in a burst of violet flames. The kids stood by, watching her all the while, hardly minding as she, much like Kevin, got an impressive lead ahead of them. Yet even so, they hardly minded, instead exchanging a blissful shrug just shy of Steven and Connie reclaiming each other’s hands, engulfing themselves in the light of fusion once more to face this final lap, and whatever came after it, together. And this time, they were going to do it entirely on their own terms.
The Himitsu thumped rhythmically with the electro tunes blasting through its speakers, Kevin nodding along with them as he rounded one of the last bends of the race with ease. He hadn’t the faintest idea as to what happened to the fusion, nor did he care; all he knew was that his victory was all but guaranteed, just as it always was. 
That is, until an entirely new competitor blasted her way into the race entirely out of nowhere. 
“Tch, finally,” Kevin grinned, spotting the shape of a car approaching from behind in his rear-view mirror. However, it only took a second glance at the fiery pink car to see that this vehicle was not the Dondai he’d been expecting. “Wait, wha-”
“Outta the way, slow-poke!” Zoom shouted, honking her horn obnoxiously as she easily caught up with Kevin. “I don’t got the time or patience to deal with a second-rate novice like you.”
“Hey!” Kevin snapped, offended and absolutely dumbfounded as he glared over at the demon. “W-what and who are you supposed to be?!”
“Oh, me?” the demon smirked. “Nobody important. Just the demon who’s gonna win this race without even trying!” Zoom let out another rowdy laugh as her car swiftly roared past Kevin’s, leaving the teen even more baffled, and even more set off than before. 
“Over my beautiful dead body!” Kevin scowled, shifting the Himitsu into high gear to catch up with the speed demon. He managed to keep a good pace behind her for quite while, that is, at least until his other competitor finally returned to the race. The teen’s cold grin returned as he caught a glimpse of the Dondai out his window as it pulled up alongside him, knowing that it wouldn’t be able to keep that tie going for too long if he had anything to do about it. “You caught up,” he remarked to Stevonnie. “I was worried you’d miss seeing me win.”
Much to the teen’s surprise, however, Stevonnie didn’t even spare him a single glance, instead looking forward with a calm smile on their face. “What, so you’re shy now?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at them. Still, the fusion didn’t answer, even as they happily began to catch a bit of a lead on him. Shocked and appalled by this, Kevin accelerated, pushing the Himitsu hard, even as both cars rounded another tight turn. However, it was only as they cleared this turn that Stevonnie finally happened to glance away from the road… and toward the view on its other side instead. 
“Whoa…” the fusion gasped in amazement, taking in the grand sight before them. From their spot on the mountain pass, all of Gravity Falls could be seen laying out before them, bathed in the cool, milky light of the full moon. From the mysterious floating cliffs to the north to the glistening lake to the east to the temple statue towering high into the western sky, the charming little town sat peacefully, resting easily under the beautiful canopy of endless stars hanging over it. Stevonnie couldn’t help but smile as they took in those stars, elated by just how lovely it all was now that they had spared a moment to enjoy it. Briefly, they glanced back at Dipper and Mabel behind them, both of them pressed against the window to catch a glimpse of the radiant outlook themselves and admiring it just as much as they were. And as the fusion met their delighted smiles, they reveled in them and the fun they were having, to the point that they didn’t even notice, nor did they care as Kevin raced past them altogether. After all, simply being here, together, was more than enough for any of them. 
However, even as the finish line came into view, Kevin himself wasn’t the first to cross it. Zoom sped over it, cackling wildly all the while as her tires treaded flames behind them. The spectating crowd all gasped in surprise at this unexpected racer, especially as her car seamlessly shapeshifted into a motorcycle as she peeled past them, high on the adrenaline of her easy victory. “Let this be a lesson to you, punks!” Zoom shouted back to the confused crowd with a sinister smile. “Demon’s Peak is my turf! And anyone who thinks they’re good enough to race on my turf better be ready to put the best to the test! See ya, LOSERS!”
 With yet another triumphant laugh, Zoom raced off into the woods, leaving a very baffled group of teens behind in her wake. “WHOA!” Ronaldo shouted first, trying his best to capture any photos he could of the demon for his blog. “Who was that?!”
“I dunno... “ Robbie remarked, hoping to get another glimpse of the retreating demon himself. “But she was kinda hot--ow!” He was quick to rub his sore ribcage the moment after Tambry harshly elbowed it to remind him to keep his eyes on her instead. 
Mere moments after Zoom claimed her victory, both the Himitsu and the Dondai came careening across the finish, the former only barely scraping a clear victory past the former. The crowd let out a collective disappointed groan at this, knowing that, as always, Kevin had triumphed in yet another race. 
“Aw, I was rooting for you, Dondai!” Jenny called supportively. 
“Kevin is the worst!” Ronaldo exclaimed, briefly putting his phone down. “Boo!”
“Hmph, guess that crazy pink girl wussed out…” Kevin noted to himself as he got out of the car, not spotting any signs of Zoom in the vicinity. “Uh… I mean, that’s right! First place, baby! It’s like I invented winning!”
“Actually… I think you were in second…” Stevonnie noted with a small, cordial smile as they approached the smug teen. All the same, they offered their hand out to his, maintaining their even calm, manner all the while. “Still, good race.”
“You… tryin’ to kiss my hand with your hand or something?” Kevin asked, eyeing their hand suspiciously. 
“You know, Kevin, you were right,” Stevonnie said, still smiling. 
“I know,” the teen said, turning away before looking back to the fusion, slightly confused. “...About what?”
“The view from the mountain was pretty great,” Stevonnie grinned warmly, nodding back up to the mountain itself. 
“H-hey! Don’t try to teach me a lesson! You lost!”
“Eh, third place isn’t so bad,” Stevonnie shrugged, accepting that fact as they made their way back over to the Dondai. “For my first time driving a car!”
“Ugh!” Kevin scoffed, agitated by just how unbothered the fusion seemed to be. “Look at you! Y-you’re so obsessed with me, you’re gonna drive away!”
Stevonnie did just that, smiling contentedly all the while as they began to drive off away from the mountain, even as Kevin tried hurrying after them to prove his point. “Fine! Go play with some kiddy toy cars with your dumb baby friends! I-I could beat you at that too! Don’t forget! You’re obsessed with me! Obsessed!”
“Yeah, you guys are totally the obsessed ones…” Dipper deadpanned to Stevonnie as the Dondai continued driving away.
“Looks like he’s got me pegged,” Stevonnie shrugged just as sardonically, taking one final glance at Kevin out of the rear-view mirror before they passed over a hill, blocking him from sight. 
“You guys!” Mabel cut in blithely. “This was so much fun! We should really break out Stevonnie, Maven, and Stepper back to back like this more often! It’s like we had our own personal fusion party!”
“Well, it would have been more personal if it had been just for us from the start…” Stevonnie noted thoughtfully. “But yeah… it was a lot of fun, wasn’t it?”
“You can say that again, kiddo.”
“Huh?” the fusion gasped, looking over to see Zoom casually reclining in the passenger seat once more. “Zoom… y-you’re… not mad?”
“Pfft, please,” the demon scoffed with a small chuckle. “I was never mad to begin with. I was just itching to get out into the race myself, so I did. And I’m glad I did. The look on all those chumps’ faces? Classic!”
Zoom let out another amused snicker, eliciting shared looks of apt confusion from all of the kids until Dipper finally addressed it. “Wait, I still don’t understand. You helped us in the race, yeah, but what was really in any this for you to begin with?”
“Ooo, did you wanna teach us an important lesson about how winning isn’t everything?” Mabel asked, curious. 
“Uh, no,” Zoom scoffed. “Like I said, winning is everything. I just did all this to mess with you kids.”
“Uh… why?” Stevonnie asked with a frown. 
“Because it was a total blast!” the demon grinned brightly. “This is the most fun I’ve had in centuries! Gotta hand it to you kiddos, you got a ton of spunk. Well, for a bunch of mortals, at least. Maybe next time you’re in my neck of the woods, we can have ourselves a real race.”
“Yeah,” Stevonnie smiled, allayed. “Sounds like fun.”
“Well, this demon’s gonna call it a night,” Zoom stretched out with a fake yawn as she began hovering above her seat. “I’ll see you kids around. Keep it real.”
“Always,” all of the kids agreed in solid unison as the demon disappeared for the last time. Still holding onto their warm smile, Stevonnie turned some relaxing tunes on to accompany the drive home. A drive that each of the kids readily enjoyed as they rode through the crisp warmth of the beautiful summer night solely for themselves… and for each other.
As they did, a single engine drifted its way up to the very top of Demon’s Peak, awash in vibrant purple flames. As it came to a slow, easy stop, its enigmatic, demonic rider proudly sat upon it, smiling up to the full moon above her, always ready for another race. 
Next: 
17 notes · View notes
lalahbug · 4 years
Text
Dual Fate - France x F!Reader
Fandom: Hetalia   Word Count: 2,164  
My Masterlist
Warnings/disclaim: general Angst if you choose the sad ending
Author’s Note: Originally posted on DeviantArt, under the same username, on 11/05/2013, different endings were posted on 11/06/2016. Word count includes main story and both endings. Revamped/edited in 2020.
To make it not as much as a hassle with posting, both endings are just here. You can read both or just one. Pick your poison.  
___ is a blank for your name/oc/whatever you prefer  Written in 3rd person 
Line/header is to separate paragraphs to indicate time skips, as Tumblr hates my formatting.
Story under cut
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          He spotted her running from the taxi as the rain poured down making him smile. ___ entered her favorite café, his café. Francis took a deep breath and tied back his hair the way she likes it. Today was the day Francis was going to tell ___ he loves her. He had to get to know her better, even if it meant rejection. He had her usual breakfast ready.    
          Every time he tried to ask ___ out, she'd get an excuse and leave. He asked around to figure out why. The reason being that she’s never had a boyfriend and knows Francis is a player and doesn't wait to get played. For the past 6 months, Francis stopped seeing all his normal hookups, stopped going to clubs, and mainly focused on her. All in hopes to get a chance just to date her.    
          He watched her unhappy face turn into a smile from the smell of the café. The smell of bread, eggs, chocolate, coffee, and fresh pastries.    
          "Morning Francis,” she smiled at him, as she put her stuff down at her normal table. His butterflies started to whirl. Her soft plump lips curved to show her dimples and her eyes slightly crinkled from the true smile. He stood there like an idiot with a dreamy smile. "Hello, Francis?" She giggled and poked his cheek.    
          He shook his head. "Morning, ma chère." He mentally slapped himself, she makes him act so out of character it even threw him.    
          "Can I get my usual?"    
          "Of course, anything else?"    
          "You were out of blueberry crumble yesterday. Got any today?"    
          "I made a fresh sheet this morning just for you, they also have a surprise in the middle."    
          "I love it when you cook something different."    
          "Do you want one?"    
          "Oh, Francis you know me better than that don't you?"    
          He laughed. "Two blueberry crumble cake pieces coming right up. Ohonon~!" She giggled then started organizing her backpack and her messenger bag.    
          He sighed, she was lovely, her damp hair was clinging to her face. He ran off the kitchen to get her usual. He peered through the kitchen door, balancing her plates on his arm. Waiting for her to go to the restroom like she does every morning. She grabbed her backpack and walked to the bathroom. As soon as she was in the restroom, Francis went to her table quickly. He laid down her hash brown where he formed two eggs as eyes and bacon for the hair and sausage for the mouth. He placed the hot chocolate and pieces of blueberry crumble down. Then he put a letter under her book. The letter had his confession and an explanation of everything on his mind for these past 6 months.    
          Thankfully the café was slow, meaning he could join her for breakfast. ___ came here every other morning. Every Friday she stayed longer, until about lunchtime, because she didn't work on weekends at all. On Saturdays and Sundays, she went to the gym, then came to his café, if she finished her book, then she’d go to the library then come back to the café to read and relax before heading home. Needless to say, Francis knew her schedule inside and out. He also loved weekends because of how much he got to see her and talk to her if it wasn't busy of course. Today, though, it was raining, business was usually slow during the rain.    
          The flirting between both of them had been going steady for a good 4 months and he wasn't going to chicken out anymore. He sat down across from the place he had set up for her.    
          "Oh, Francis!" She beamed from ear to ear. "This is so cute! I might just not eat it until my friend shows up to show him!"    
Francis' smile quickly faded, guy-friend, coming here? He quickly put on a fake smile. "I am okay if you want to show off my skills but it'd be a shame for it to get cold." He was trying so hard not to twitch, had he waited too long?    
          "My friend will be here at any moment. I will definitely show it off!" She giggled with happiness.    
          "You've never brought a friend in before. Special occasion?" Francis was trying to keep his cool.    
          She blushed slightly. "Not really. Just hanging out with him. Oh, there he is!"'    
          ’Why was she blushing? Can I even look at this "friend" of hers?’ Francis’ thoughts were raging with many emotions at once.    
          "Matt," she waved, "over here." The Canadian boy turned with a shy and unsure look.    
          Francis' whole world stopped. His little brother. What was Matt doing with his ___ today? How did they even meet? Francis’ heart was racing and almost contracting with pain.    
          "Matt, this is Francis, my favorite cook in the whole world!" She gusted to him; his eyes stayed on the floor.    
          "Oh, hey bro," Matt whispered.    
          "Brother?" ___ looked between them quickly. "You two are related?"    
          "Francis, he raised me. I was going to tell you I knew him but I couldn't figure out how too." Matt was still looking down. ___'s face flushed.    
          "Hello, brother," Francis whispered with a broken look on his face...   
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Sad    
          Matt’s eyes scanned Francis’, with an apologetic face.    
          “So, you’re ___’s friend. What are you guys doing today?” Francis forced a smile, which Matt could sense, almost making him flinch.    
          “Well, Matt asked me out on a date. So I’m not sure what we’re doing today.” ___ smiled at Matt as she said so.    
          “So, you asked her out?” Francis dropped his fake facade.    
          “Yeah,” Matt whispered before sitting next to her.    
          “Well, then I’ll let you two enjoy breakfast.” Francis stood up. “I’ll get you maple syrup and pancakes, okay Matt?”    
          “Thank you,” he whispered before giving his brother another apologetic look.    
                       After numbly making the pancakes and giving them to Matthew. Francis rested his hands onto the counter, trying not to cry. He loves ___, he loves Matt. Of course, Matt likes her, she’s so cute and shy, just like him. Matt only learned of Francis’ love interest yesterday, walking in as he was writing the letter to her. There’s no way Matt could have known; there’s no way Francis could have known. They never talked to each other about crushes and love interest.    
                      Francis froze. “I have to get that letter before she reads it.” He said to himself, before getting them fresh refreshments. He rushed and got the drinks to them, unfortunately, another customer came in and he had to take and make that order.    
                      By the time he was done, they were gone. With money on top of the letter, for their meal. There was more there than necessary. He pocketed the money; he could feel his tears welling up.    
                      “I’m so sorry.” He noticed the handwriting; it was Matt’s and the letter was unopened. She didn’t even open it, Matt just responded for her. He flipped it over, to see her cursive handwriting.    
                      ‘Matt told me not to read this, but while he’s in the bathroom, I wanted to apologize for not reading this. I’ll see you next Friday~!<3’   
          Francis went into the kitchen with the letter, ready to throw it away with his feeling.    
          Tears spilled over as he ran a finger over the last sentence she wrote.    
          He threw the letter in the trash and cried.    
                                  Kneeling, he pulled the letter back out. Sobbing, he smoothed it out. Then there was a jingle, showing that someone was in the cafe. He quickly wiped his eyes and came out. There she was, grabbing a bag she forgot. She smiled at him before walking over.    
          “Were you cutting onions?” She reached up to where the wetness was on his cheek.    
          “Yeah.” He lied; he loves it when she touches his cheek with so much care.    
          “Oh, that’s good. I would hate to see you cry. Oh, is that the letter you wanted to give me?” Francis glanced at the letter in his hand.    
          “You can give it to me, I’ll read it when I get home. It can be our little secret from Mattie.” She giggled; it only tore his heart more.    
He ripped it.    
          “It was just a thank you, for always brightening my day by smiling when you come in.”    
          She looked a little confused then smiled at him. “You’re so welcome, you are my favorite cook. So I’m glad I can do something in return. I’ll have to buy you goggles for cutting onions,” she giggled before turning and heading for the door. “Bye~!” With that, she ran out of the door.    
          Francis went back to his kitchen, crying again, realizing he had torn where she wrote. So he threw it away, this time with his hope.
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Happy    
          An awkward silence engulfed the three.    
          “This is really cute,” Matt spoke up looking at the breakfast Francis had set up for ___.    
          “Yeah, I waited so I could show you.” She smiled at Matt then looked at Francis. “It’s super cute, thank you for putting the effort in for me.”    
          Francis' heart melts at the sight of her smile. “Anything for you.” Matt sat rather close to ___ since Francis was sitting in the car across from her. Which only made Francis more uncomfortable.    
          “Sorry, I never told either of you, that I know both of you,” Matt mumbled.    
          A clear blush came onto her face. “So, you knew he was before I even asked you to come today?” She almost hissed at him; a voice Francis had never heard from her.    
          “Yeah, I didn’t know how to tell you. But I approve. I’ve got to go, though. I’ll see you later.” Matt quickly hugged her then shuffled out of the cafe. Leaving a flustered and confused ___ to stare at Francis. Francis smirked at her, understanding why she wanted Matt there.    
          “So, you wanted your friend's approval of me. Why is that?” He leaned a bit forward rested an elbow on the table and hand against his rest.    
          “What makes you think I wanted his approval?” Her cheeks were nearly burning.    
          “Well, he said he approves. If not me, then what?”    
          “Your food?” He chuckled as she was questioning herself.    
          “He didn’t eat any. Also, you’re blushing,” she basically slapped her cheeks from trying to hide the blush. “Covering it doesn’t make go away. Ohonon.” Francis kept staring at her, he was so incredibly happy. He wasn’t late. She liked him. She was being nervous in front of him. He reached across the table and took her hand from her face. Entwining his fingers with hers, before kissing the back of her hand.    
          “We should eat before it gets cold.” She whispered.    
          He let go of her hand and nodded in agreement.    
          Francis managed to get her talking again, while they ate. Unfortunately for him, another customer came in, thankfully he was done eating. He excused himself from her and to assist the other person there.    
          ___ finished her hot chocolate and the crumble cake. Once she was done, she politely stacked her plates so it was easier for Francis. When he brought out the other customer's order, he winked and smirked at her. Making her blush again. He glanced at her while taking the dishes from the table. She sighed once he left to go wash the dishes.    
          Deciding to read, ___ picked up her book, but paused, noticing an envelope. She was very confused and decided to take it, starting to open it. She smiled fondly, once she realized it was from Francis, his neat handwriting always made her smile. Even if it was just on the receipt because the cafe was too busy for him to actually talk to her. It was short and to the point.    
          Summarizing it; it explained to her, how much he loves her. From trying to make sure to have time with her, to stopping all of his playing around. All he wanted was a date and if it was good, for her to be his girlfriend. She blushed at his neatly wrote words. Tracing the letters at the bottom, the words that were making her heart race. ‘Anything for you, love, Francis.’    
          Putting down the letter, she noticed Francis coming out from the back. Holding a new hot chocolate for ___. He smiled at her once he sat down. He raised an eyebrow once he saw the letter.    
          “Didn’t expect you to read it here. Well, let me ask in person then.” He sipped his coffee before grabbing her hand again. “Will you go out on a date with me?”    
          She looked at him. “Ask something else.” He was confused for a moment before smiling and getting up. Placing a kiss on her forehead.    
          “Will you be my girlfriend?”    
          She squeezed his hand slightly, looking at him with red cheeks and a smiling face.    
          “Anything for you, love.”
2 notes · View notes
eurydicum · 5 years
Text
from me to you — r.b [3]
Pairing: Robin Buckley x Popular! Reader
Category: fluff
Summary: Steve and the others invite you to ditch school, but for the first time you decide to be a good angel and stay, but for personal reasons
Word Count: 2k
Author’s Notes:  This is best read on the website rather than the mobile app, the app flubs up the formatting of it all.
If you want to be added on the tag list, just let me know! I’m going to have a max of ten people on the list :) 
Also, I headcanon Steve to not get his “King Steve” title until later in his high school years (right now you, Robin, and Steve are sophomores), so that explains his ‘prince’ title mentioned in this chapter 
Also, just for sake of keeping familar characters in as much as possible, I’m pretending that Jonathan and Robin were good friends in high school (at least for a year)
Tag list: @jdogjdyke , @lettersshapes , @marland56 , @silver-winter-wolf, @bandsandanimefreak , @ihavetwospleens , @retrogarden , @hogwartsrey
part two || part four || buckley master list || series master list
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     “You sure you don’t wanna come along?” 
    “I’ll stay here, I have a test I need to take in English anyway,” You told Steve with a sad smile, toying with your sleeves nervously. Normally, you wouldn’t oppose to ditching school with the rest of them, but you had other plans for today and it could only be done while they weren’t here. 
    You were gonna actually talk to Robin today and that was final. 
    “Alright, have fun being a nerd,” Steve joked before leaving a friendly kiss on your cheek, walking off campus with Carol, Nicole, and Tommy. You watched them hop into the car, the lot of them waving you off before they sped off. 
    You felt a huge weight lift off your shoulders but suddenly felt hopeful and excited for your potential plan to be executed. You had English first thing with Robin and planned to shoot a message to her asking to hang out during lunch, and if she says ‘no’ … well, your car was still in the parking lot and nothing was stopping you from meeting up at the movies with the others. 
    The bell rang and you hastily made your way to class, buzzing with nervousness and eagerness. You held your breath as you shuffled past other students toward your locker to collect your notebook and required book. You saw Robin from the corner of your eye and noticed the somewhat curious look about her — especially since you always walked with Steve to English. You shot her a little smile before closing your locker and leaving for English. 
    You stepped into English and given the lack of assigned seats, you decided upon taking up a spot next to Robin. She noticed you sitting near her, and while she felt no ounce of a complaint, she was curious. 
    “And what have I done to deserve your presence?” Robin questioned with an arch of the brow and a smirk on her lips. You looked up at her and gave her a cute smile, lounging in your seat. 
    “By being the coolest kid around,” You said cheekily, referencing the middle school title you once gave her. Robin remembered this fondly and smiled, sitting in her seat in a more chipper mood than earlier. 
    “Harrington?” The teacher asked aloud, looking around the classroom for the face of the young boy. Of course, he was nowhere to be seen, and the teacher turned her attention toward you now. Her expression alone spoke more clearly than words would. 
    “He said that he was feeling a bit under the weather this morning,” You smoothly lied, smiling innocently as she narrowed her eyes and inspected your face for any sign of a lie. But of course, having to lie for Steve all the damn time got you into being a better liar. 
    The teacher nodded, accepting your statement before continuing down the line of listing off students. Robin gave you a curious look and leaned closer to you slightly. 
    “I’m guessing Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington isn’t actually sick?” Robin questioned with a raised brow, and you shook your head to her question. 
    “It’s Steve we’re talking about here, he’s never sick,” You snorted lowly as you glanced over the teacher to ensure that she didn’t hear you. Robin snickered lightly at your response, shrugging her shoulders before returning to her proper position. 
    About mid-way into class, you realized that perhaps writing a note wouldn’t be the best of ideas as she may figure out you were secret admirer way too quickly. Instead, while everyone was silently reading the next chapter of the book. You glanced in her direction and tapped her on the shoulder, immediately catching her gaze as she removed her headphones and paused her music. 
    “Yeah?” Robin murmured. At this moment, you felt nervous and shy, but your conscience screamed as you to tough it out and just spit out your dumb ask. 
    “Do you mind if I join you during lunch?” You ask softly, cheeks slightly dusty with blush and your hands playing with one another. Robin, truthfully, was taken aback by this but attempted to not let it show on her face. She felt really enlightened by this, and it made her feel really good. She was pleasantly happy with your request. 
    “Of course not,” Robin responded with an excited grin. “Meet me by my locker,” She said before taking your book and scribbling her locker number on the front cover. Of course, you didn’t need it, but again she didn’t know that you were her admirer. 
    Class soon ended, and you felt the impending dread once realizing that lunch couldn’t come soon enough, but it was a 15-minute break period next. Since all your friends were out, you decided upon going into the library and working on the letter that you would be leaving for Robin the next day. 
    Luckily, the library was relatively empty and you were relieved for this. At least you could write in peace. Words immediately flooded your head the moment that you sat down with parchment. You frantically began jotting down your words so as to not forget them. 
    This is, what, the third letter now? Anyway, I’ve begun to realize more and more that I have no clue of what you like or any of your favorites. 
    Perhaps you could leave a little note with all of your favorite things? And maybe leave a note on page 45 of the English book we’re reading (the copy in the library)? And maybe leave it by the end of Monday? 
    Of course, you don’t have to do this, but I think it’d be a nice little way for me to get to know you a little better this way :) 
    Pretty much all I know about you is that you know French, Italian, Spanish, and English — which, mind you, is super impressive.; and that you’re in band and soccer. With that alone, it’s really obvious that you’re insanely talented it’s insane oh my God. But anyway, so I’m a little ways away from getting to know you better, you know? Sorry for keeping this brief, but if you decide on leaving a little note then be prepared for a little more than a letter :) 
    “And the princess ended up showing,” Robin remarked with a grin as she stood by her locker, a bright grin on her face the moment that she saw you. 
    “Princess?” You asked incredulously with a little chuckle. Robin nodded, lowering down to sit on the ground just below her locker. 
    “Yeah, you’re known as a princess here — right next to Prince Steve,” Robin mentioned, patting the spot down on the floor next to her. You joined her on the floor, looking at her with a curious look. 
    “Weird. I didn’t know that I was nicknamed,” You huffed, a weird smile about you. Honestly, you thought that only Steve called you ‘princess’. Robin admired you silently for a morsel of a moment before openly questioning you. 
    “Why’d you ask to waste your lunch time with me of all people?” Robin blurted out, hugging her knees to her chest as she looked to you. 
    “Waste?” You rhetorically exclaimed, meeting her eyes. “I’d hardly call spending time with you to be a waste,” You firmly state. “You’re actually cool and a much better person to be around than my asshole of friends,” You pointedly said, smiling at Robin sincerely.
    “Why continue to hang out with them then?” Robin retorted, flattered that you liked her more than the most popular people of your guys’ year. 
    “I’ve always been friends with Steve, even after our break up, and I was forcibly introduced to Tommy H. and Carol while we were dating,” You reminisced, but not necessarily fondly. “I just kinda ended up sticking around, and I like Steve too much to just leave him,” You explained softly, smiling a little to yourself as you spoke of him. Robin sensed your passion behind you, and how it was held for Steve. She was curious about this. 
    “Do you still love him?” Robin boldly asked, an intrigued smile upon her lips. She wasn’t one for being insanely gossip-lovey, but you, in particular, intrigued her. You were the only one of the ‘snobs’ that had a legitimate ounce of gold in their heart, and it was clear that you were actively seeking Robin out as some sort of friend. And of course, she wanted to get to know you. 
    “Of course not,” You exclaimed, looking at her as if she was absolutely insane for asking such an innocent question. “I did at some point, but I just sort of … lost feelings for him. He’s still my best friend, but I don’t harbor anything romantic,” You explained with a sweet smile, leaving Robin with a sense of ease. 
    “What even happened to you guys? You seemed perfect,” Robin continued, but hastily realized how invasive she seemed. She apologized for it after, and you brushed it off as it was literally no problem.
    “I broke up with him after coming to the realization that I liked g-” You hesitated quickly, clearing your throat before switching up your words. “I didn’t like him romantically anymore,” You said with an embarrassed flush, feeling foolish for almost exposing yourself too quickly of your sexuality. Steve was the only one that knew that you like girls, and for now, you wanted to keep it that way. 
    Robin picked up on this clearly but didn’t comment on your preference of significant others. She felt overjoyed at the thought of herself not being the only one to have an interest in the same gender. In a way, this accidental revelation was comforting. 
    “Anyhow, enough about me,” You swerved, attempting to pin the conversation on her instead of yourself. “Tell me about yourself, you’re a bit of a mystery,” you chuckled lightly, earning a smile from Robin as well. 
    “Well for one I’m a connoisseur in tasteful music and movies,” 
    “I’m hoping ‘tasteful’ includes Ebony and Ivory in there,” You jest with a hopeful grin, and Robin nodded with a smile. 
    “It’s not my go-to song, but it sure is beautiful,” Robin commented with a smile before beginning to make a list of her favorite songs, and you took a mental note to listen to some of the music you haven’t heard of before. 
    For the next ten minutes, you two were exchanging so many pieces of songs and good movies to watch. Some you knew, and a lot you didn’t — the same went for Robin. You wanted to perhaps watch some of her favorites with her, but truthfully you were terrified of asking especially since you’ve only just gotten to know each other. 
    “Hey, Robin-” An unfamiliar voice broke your engagement in one another, your attention drawing to the tall and somewhat awkward standing man before you two. He was staring, agape at the sight of you — even more so the sight of you with Robin. 
    “Yes, Keith?” Robin asked with a sweet smile, noticing how obviously (and unabashedly) he had been with all his gawking. Keith reluctantly trailed his eyes over to Robin, her brows raised in a manner that screamed ‘tell me what you want now so you can get the hell away’. 
    “Jonathan, Fagan, and them were asking where you were,” Keith drawled, eyes flickering over to you for another moment. “But I guess you’re busy,” Keith gave an awkward smile to you, which you politely responded with a cute grin. 
    “You know, we still have thirty minutes left. I don’t want to take up your time with your friends and everything,” You politely intervened, smiling sweetly. 
    “But ... I also don’t mind joining you, I’d like to meet the others. But if I’m not wanted, which I understand, I’m okay with denial,” You added on, drabbling and frantically sputtering words. Both Keith and Robin shared grins, but for slightly differing reasons. Robin was pleased that you were stepping down from the throne to actually be a not-so-haughty human, and Keith was pleased that a cute and popular girl wanted to talk to them all. 
    “No yeah, come with us,” Robin responded, standing up from her spot before hoisting you up alongside her. She smiled and draped her arm around you for a moment, giving you a light side hug. 
    “It’s time for you to meet the people, princess,”
133 notes · View notes
astrofireworks · 6 years
Text
cha eunwoo | astro
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An introduction to Astro, lights of our lives, for new Arohas!
(done with @rockoaroundthechristmastree, @rockytheastroid​, @astrofireworks​, @jinwoosmile, @ongbins and @jakganim)
masterlist 
Born 30 March 1997
Gunpo child
How to recognise Eunwoo: look for a literal angel there you go there he is
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Literally looks the same in all his eras bc he looks good with dark hair and fantagio Knows it
^ At time of writing anyway; he just came out with light brown hair for dream pt. 02′s jacket and everyone is fucKIN SHOOKT
Fuckin unreal smdh
Baby: light blue car
Visual 3/6
@jakganim (in a fic LOL but it was FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY PUNY LIL HEART) said once that Eunwoo’s as beautiful outside as he is on the inside and honestly i’ve never heard a sentence that describes eunwoo so perfectly 
in short, a heart as radiant and beautiful as he appears????
Researches everything bc he’s a diligent and worried bub
Whatever shows he goes on???? He researches them 
researched every single person going on law of the jungle and also researched what the climate was going to be like and how to build different things 
researched the MCs he was going on with when he went on Happy Together 3 and got exposed they read his unfiltered notes out loud in detail he got so shy ajsdfhlaskjd
researched everyone in crime scene 3 because he didn’t want to make a fool of himself 
got so nervous about variety show training programme bc they didn’t let him know who was going to be on the show with him so he couldn’t research them
puts so much effort into things what the fuck ! 
Real Name: Lee Dong Min 
Nickname: Buttmin (Lee Dongmin: 이동민) where second letter 동 sounds similar to the second letter in butt (엉덩이) because he thought he had a big butt asjdhlfakjsd
he can spell his name with his butt thanks variety show training
Actor 
Was MJ in The Best Hit/Hit the Top (and the members made jokes about it)
had a thing with the members where they’d call him Fake MJ 
Starred in their webdrama To Be Continued as the “lead” but not really (cries forever)
Was part of a miniseries called “Replies that Make us Flutter” where they took send-in answers for topics and incorporated them into short drama episodes. 
Bin starred in one with him as well. He tried to be a bad boy that hated Eunwoo. It was not convincing.
Won Male CF Star at the MTN Broadcast CF Festival
He’s currently in Revenge Note as the “leader” of Astro, it’s weird
#SmartBoi
goes to Sungkyungkwan uni, prestigious uni in SK
was also the top 3rd student in his school AND was student body president in middle school i’m truly weeping
Introduced on a few shows with the hashtag #차파고 (Cha-pha Go, a spin on Alpha Go) because he’s so damn diligent and detailed 
Also went on 1 v 100 with bin and mj but he got into the finals/semi-finals WOW WE STAN BRAINS AND BEAUTY 
Knows japanese and chinese and is nearly fluent in english bless his heart
Also speaks Chinese because his younger brother studies in China
DONGHWIIIIIIIIIIIII
Cute as fuck during new year’s when the rest of astro were in the fantz celebrating new year’s he went home to visit his brother bc he came back from china so he video called into vapp
I need to stop saying fantz someone shoot me i started ironically and now i can’t stop
Once upon a time was in the jungle with Yuri, apparently picked up aegyo there
Gets made fun of all the time by astro for the aegyo asjdfkhlskjd they make him sing the aegyo song literally every time 
And they annoy him by singing it too
Always gets iconic lines / killing parts in songs 
내꺼할래 !! (wanna be mine?)
같이 갈래? (let’s go together?)
Iconic line in polaris
Here’s a compilation you didn’t know you needed
Again made fun of by astro for doing the 같이 갈래
That one astro play where he’s just talking and then lil bitches sanha and jinjin pop up behind him and go 같이 갈래!!! and he just looks so done
The centre of all of Astro’s arm symbol formations 
Makes sure that you know who he is (bc he’s cHa-A e-EUN Wu-UU *thumps chest*) 
This ALSO gets mimicked by the other members, and poor boy tried to chug a soda and do this as well but ended up burping on camera as a result ;v;
Also the stiffest dancer my poor son
Got sent on some programme for idols who can’t dance it was Hilarious
But he also put so much effort into it i’m rly crying he made sure to get help from rocko in dancing the choreography right ;;;;
And he’s improved so much i’m !!!!!! so proud he puts in so much effort and he works so hard and he practices so much fuck i’m emo 
Literally ??? is perfect whatever he says his bad sides are are actually good points smdh 
Was asked once if there was anything he couldn’t do, to which he replied that he wasn’t good at relationships and the MC replied that wtf it just made him more attractive
farewell i am on the floor crying 
oh right okay yes one bad side:
MINIONS 
Smdh he loves them so much
The glasses he wore in the cicada video
that one video of them playing with the minion helicopter
that MINION HAT
160108 DDOCA when they’re playing with the minion blanket and jinjin opens it up and promptly looks horrified  
What the hell is this
European Bagel: once said he was eating an ‘european bagel’ on ok!ready episode 1 if anyone knows what that means pls let us know
He gets anxious about being a burden to astro
Talked about it in Astro Project watch at your own risk I cried
Listen he does so much he juggles acting and photoshoots for CFs and astro promotions he’s constantly trying to improve himself he’s never a burden and if there's one member in all of astro i want to hug and just !! tell him he's okay and that everything will be okay and tell him that he’s perfect and that he’s enough and deserves love it’d be Eunwoo for me ;;;;;;;;
Also Eunwoo: (sits quietly) / 5stro: let’s fuck with him
was playing with the ducks when jinjin and sanha come up behind him and screamed lmao he nearly fell on his face
A compilation or two… or three of Eunwoo being bothered by the other members lolol
Once Jinjin had to pull a secret camera on him and tell him that Astro accidentally broke a camera and without hesitating he offered to pay the full 1.5k$ that camera was worth adsfjkasd what a pure gullible bean ;A;
ICONIC BASEBALL DDOCA THAT SLAYED ALL THE BINU STANS THERE EVER WERE i’m writing this from the grave
Cutest whine? He goes like aaAAa or something like that idk but he does it when he gets annoyed it’s the cutest thing ;;;;;
Literally the (^▽^) face
Mouth opens up into a really wide triangle, width depends on how embarrassed he gets
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My favourite laugh in the entire universe
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heck I’m so in love,,,
LOVES KIDS 
during one ASC a baby came on and asked all of astro to go to their house to play for christmas eunwoo got out of his seat right away he was 1000% ready to run out of the studio and hop on that airplane
Actually a lil bitch lmao 
“Haha u were going 2 sleep?? Nah stay up & watch me on vlive fam”
Makes fun of hyung line’s height i live for this 
After arohas missed the “MJ” during the first fanchant he joked saying “why don’t y’all just come in on ‘jinjin’ instead?” #LetMJLive2k17 also #LetArohasLive2k17
Voice like moonlight 
Need him singing??? Here
Titles his v-lives “차은우의 Just one 10 minutes” but they’re never 10 minutes they’re nearly an hour long 
His voice is just really really soothing and comforting and if you ever need something to calm you down when you’re upset or if you need a background voice for when you’re studying here he is
Singing voice has improved so so so so so so much from Spring Up, his live singing shakes me to the core
Also sang opera in ASC so really hoo boy he’s improved so much I’m so !!! :’)
Literally can we pause and take a moment to appreciate his baby photos I looked like a rat when I was younger and here he is, snatching, 
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My favourite baby ever ajkdlhsfakjsdf i lovE
Did some modelling campaigns pre-debut 
Shara Shara
I bet you needed all these pictures in your life
Cute lotion video :’)
Still king of CFs he recently did a baskin robbins one (with Yoo Seung Ho)
It’s pretty funny
He’s so cute what the heck
After the whole thing, he got addicted to ice cream; he mentioned in a vlive that at some point he could just eat sandwiches and ice cream the whole day
But fantagio also probably feeds all of astro ice cream for breakfast so really,  
A Lafuma ad with Seolhyun (AOA) 
A Polham ad with Doyeon (Weki Meki)
A Ceci spread with Doyeon too!! 
A Lotte Water Park ad with Sejeong (Gugudan)
Won an award for best male CF smdh 
Wears frickin glasses and makes everyone cry 
That one DDOCA where it’s him preparing for a hit the top shooting I would like you to know that this is coming to you from the grave
Got scouted by a Fantagio recruiter when he was in middle school, then bugged into joining the fantz
He was the school president, in the top three of the entire school, wanted Seoul National University to become a judge bless his fuckin heart
Apparently rejected Fantagio the first couple times they asked, but gave in bless him thank god
Astro claimed pre-debut walking anywhere with him meant everyone doing double-takes
Re-enacted on ok!ready: sanha and mj talking in a coffeeshop then stopping and sTARING THE FUCK OUT OF EUNWOO LMAO
Literally blew up on male-dominated sites for being PRETTIER THAN THE FEMALE MCs AT SHOW!MUCORE
So pretty that Hello Venus thought he was prettier than them when starring in their video
Some weibo arohas describe him as the kind of handsome where “even if you’re already married, you’d still take a second glance at him if you passed by him on the street” ("那种虽然有老公了但是对路过的帅哥还是想多看两眼的感觉") I 10000% agree 
weibo arohas also call him "车车" car car / cha cha i'm fuckinjasdfkjdf
In case you wanted a heart attack
Labelled a “Face Genius”, but wants to be acknowledged for more than his looks
“Someone who’s more reliable than anyone else and who always gives his all to the people he treasures, who’s very hard on himself and there are times where it gets too much but because of that, he’s someone who’s detailed and earnest.” (creds to @astrotranslations)
Dony on Weekly Idol called Rowoon (SF9) a face genius once but Rowoon politely deferred and said that title belonged to Cha Eunwoo :’)
Said once in an interview that he’d take whoever he likes out to dinner, give them a necklace then confess asdjfhlaskjd a true romantic bby
Also said that he was an “FM” boyfriend (field manual) asjdhflaksjd my heart is weak don’t attack me like this
You know what, Binu gets a section to themselves smdh 
Just so you know, arohas didn’t come up with the name ‘Binu’, they came up with it (”Team Soap”) themselves 
explained it by saying 빈 (Bin) + 우 (Woo) = 비누 (Soap)
Roommates!!
Picked each other in OK!Ready and have been living in the same room ever since 
in the recent Night Night show they did Eunwoo said that if he could pick roommates again, he’d still pick Bin 
Is apparently scentless to Bin 
Smdh we all know what habituation is it’s bc he smells Eunwoo too much Eunwoo doesn’t have a specific smell anymore
Also together like 24/7 stuck to each other’s side if you’re looking for eunwoo ever just look for bin you’ll find him there
Bin claims Eunwoo is the most beautiful creature on earth tbh same 
“Is he really human? How can someone that looks like him exist?”
Eunwoo thinks Bin is the most handsome too I love supportive friendships ;u;
IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN WAKE BIN UP AMAZING
Literally though sanha and jinjin posted a twitter video of them trying to wake bin up it doesn’t work it apparently only works when eunwoo gets him to wake up 
Sleeps through sanha and jinjin prodding him but wakes up when eunwoo starts talking in a vlive
Bin said in the harper’s bazaar interview that he doesn’t wake up when the manager calls him to get up but his eyes naturally open when he hears Eunwoo sighing (creds to @astrotranslations)
Bin’s mom even sent in a concern to hello counsellor bc he wouldn’t stop sleeping and couldn’t wake up so really… eunwoo = magic?
Want more Binu? Here, here and here!
Friends with Mingyu from Seventeen
Mingyu called him once for advice on what to bring to the jungle since he too was going on law of the jungle
Said in Night Night that he gets cold really easily
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Yet in OK!Ready (as pointed out by @jinwoostro) he stood outside waiting for Jinjin and Sanha to come even though he was freezing ;u; 
A sweetheart!! Who cares so much !!!! for other members!!!!!!
Listen this boy works so hard and he does so much for a 20 year old: he models, he acts, he’s learning 3 other languages for Aroha, he handles university courses AND he still keeps up with astro’s promotions I’m really crying he’s worked so hard he deserves the world
Im rly fukcing criyng i gotta sotp i love this boy, 
122 notes · View notes
pirate-patton · 7 years
Note
Hi!! Just wanted to say I absolutely love your writing! If you're still taking prompts could you write some an analogical fic, maybe where Logan is pining or decides that *logically* they'd make the perfect couple and decides to use logic to persuade Virgil he's right? No worries if it's not your thing tho
Logan sat at his desk,hands in his hair and frustration on his face.  He couldn’t even close hiseyes without seeing his face. That cute little smile, the way he covered it when he laughed, the way hechewed on his hoodie sleeve-
“Ughhhh!” Logangroaned and threw his head back, squeezing his eyes shut and rubbing themfervently.  This had to stop!  He had no time to deal with mushy,disgusting, lovey-dovey feelings!  No matter how much Virgil made him wantto deal with them.  Gah, this was so not fair!
True, logically speaking, if any of the sideswere to be together, it made sense that it would be the two of them, right? Virgil was very fond of pointing out issues and questions that Loganeasily answered and solved.  Logan also kept Virgil grounded, kept him calmerand happier.  Happier enough to see that cute smile - OK ENOUGH!  
The two of themtogether would most certainly benefit Thomas, Logan believed.  After all,his anxiety working through issues with his logical side makes sense, and themore time the two spend together the less anxious - oh, who was Logan kidding. Certainly not himself.  When this dumb crush, this infatuation, begunto grow, he was not thinking of Thomas’s health!  Why throw him into thisawful mix?!  Logan groaned and dropped his head down, banging it gently onthe desk.  He had to get rid of these feelings, restore his sanity and getsome peace.  He had to tellVirgil, that was the only way.  With renewed vigor and some excitement inhis step, Logan shot up out of his seat and propelled himself toward the door- 
Wait.  What if Virgil didn’t reciprocate? Or worse, what if Virgil thought he wasn’t serious?  After all, asthe embodiment of Thomas’s worry and anxiety, Virgil had a very difficult timewith trust.  Many times when one of them tried to be nice and give kindwords, Virgil immediately defaulted to “you’re just saying that,”or “don’t lie to me; I know you hate me.”  Logan wasn’t sure at thismoment if he could handle hearing that come out of his crush’s mouth.
And, just like that, Logan backpedaled all theway to his bed and flopped down face first.  This was impossible to dealwith!  Why him?!  Then, an idea popped in his head.  He couldwrite a letter, a stone-hard, cold and concrete letter of his seriousness. 
Logan snatched up a memo pad from his deskalong with a pen.  Twelve cited sources, four Teen Vogue quizzes, and 16points later, Logan had his essay, properly MLA formatted and ready to sendunder Virgil’s door.  He produced an envelope and neatly tri-folded thepages, tucking them in.  Logan didn’t lick the envelope closed, findingthat utterly disgusting.  Instead he simply tucked the opening inside.
Quick as a flash,Logan darted out his door, down the hall, and threw the letter essay under Virgil’s door.
Virgil was laying on his bed, listening to hismusic, minding his own business when something white came flying across hisfloor from under his door.  Curiously, he stood to retrieve the something. 
“What the-?”  Aletter?  Turning it over in his hands, Virgil could tell it was fromLogan.  Patton always sealed letters with a puppy sticker, and Roman, always the most Extra of the group, sealed letters with wax stamps.  
Virgil had no idea what this letter could be or why Logan didn’t just come in to talk.  But, with Logan’s thesis statement, it started to become clearer.
“I believe that we would be a great pair we would make a great couple be great together.  Our relationship friendship is already wonderful, but something inside me wants it to be more to progress grow.  Hopefully you can understand and not hate despise me after.”
The rest of the letter read much like this, so much of it crossed out or scribbled over top of, and Virgil wondered why Logan didn’t just get a pencil, for crying out loud!  However, at the last page, Logan’s strongest point, he couldn’t handle it anymore.  With the words “You make me feel happy,” Virgil was out the door.
Logan shot off his bed when he heard knocking.  Flinging open the door, he came face to face with Virgil.
“You idiot,” was all Virgil could manage before yanking Logan into a hug.  Logan froze, arms hanging limply at his sides as he tried to figure out what to do.  “Why couldn’t you just use a pencil!” Virgil cried into his shoulder, and Logan was definitely sure that was not the issue.
“I…apologize?” Logan tried, reaching up to pat Virgil on the back.  “I will try to find a pencil next time?”
Virgil pulled away from the hug, and Logan almost leaned forward to get close again.  “You didn’t have to write me a freaking paper to say you like me, too…” Virgil said, one of his sweet, small smiles creeping across his lips.
“’Too’?” Logan repeated.  Virgil nodded, crossing his arms and hunching his shoulders to seem smaller.  “…The appropriate response to these sorts of situations is typically a kiss, correct?”
“Just shut up, you nerd,” Virgil snickered, leaning over to catch Logan’s lips.  “I love you…”
“I…I love you, too.”  
The two stood in silence for an awkward moment, neither sure what to do from this point.  But, Logan had an idea.  “We could watch a movie if you want?  Your choice.”
“OK…”
It didn’t take long for the two to fall into a comfortable, cuddly pile.  Spirited Away played, though the two barely attention.  Logan found a new interest in Virgil hands, playing with the digits and fitting them between his own.  Virgil wasted no time cuddling into Logan’s chest, his eyes falling shut and sleep taking over.  When Logan realized he had fallen asleep, he couldn’t help but smile.  He pressed a kiss to the side of Virgil’s head and nestled farther down on the sofa, silently pointing out the impossibilities in the movie.  
//sorry if this isn’t exactly what you were wanting! i read “decides to use logic to persuade Virgil” and immediately got high school persuasive paper flashbacks. also this is longer than i thought it’d be, but still shorter than i think it needed to be with how i wrote it i just rAN OUT OF IDEAS AT THE END FRICKIN HECK
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you've heard of RFA & Minor Trio proposing to MC, now get ready for: MC proposing to all these dorks ^^ hope you're doing well btw
✿ sasjh ahh thank you for your ko-fi support, you’re all so generous. ♥ I tried a bit of a different format for this, please tell me if you like it!
You propose to Yoosung in possibly the most stereotypical way imaginable – by trying to spell it out on the high score field of your favorite arcade game.
Unfortunately, you and Yoosung share the same favorite arcade game (Honey Buddha Racers) and Yoosung is dense as a brick, so when you get the highest score on the game and input ‘Yoosung’ on the line, he finds it later, laughs at you and, thinking it’s some sort of joke, proceeds to beat your score and input your name on the top line. You beat him back, putting his name first again and thinking you should ban him from the game parlor until you’re freaking finished, but you don’t want to arouse his suspicion just yet.
The next day, you manage to get just under your high-score and input Will, but you have some trouble getting the other words to align right (including being undermined by some jerk who apparently was obsessed with getting onto the leaderboards) so you can only get two parts of your message before your prescribed playing time for the day is over.
The third time you try, you dedicate your entire Saturday afternoon to setting up your proposal, and approximately fifteen minutes before you’re supposed to meet Yoosung for dinner, you finish. Pleased, you go out to a restaurant with him, and then casually say you should check out the arcade afterwards.
He agrees. You both go in and, immediately he suggests a round of Honey Buddha Racers. You bring him to the machine, and on the screen, is…
YOOSUNG
WILL
YOU
KEVIN
ME?
“What?” Yoosung asks, squinting at the screen, and you clench your fists, seething and cursing to yourself. You were gone for like, an hour tops, and someone had ruined your proposal by beating one of your scores?
KEVIN WOULD PAY FOR THIS.
You get on one knee and propose anyway, because SCREW KEVIN, you were not letting him ruin your STUPID PROPOSAL.
(Despite the hiccups, Yoosung has stars in his eyes as he accepts.)
You propose to Zen with a smile, a rose clenched between your teeth and glittery flower petals strewn on the bed around you.
You’d gotten the idea from one of his musicals, specifically the one where Zen played a womanizing cat-boy who proposed to the female lead in the third act while wearing a diamond-encrusted speedo. Not to be outdone by your (soon-to-be) fiancée, you consume as many romantic movies, tv shows, and songs as possible in an attempt to melt down their contents and create the ur-proposal that would dominate all proposals for decades to come. They’d teach classes on your romantic ability, studying your silver tongue and your amorous passion! Stand aside, Cassanova! It was time for you to dominate history!
…Which is why you had a camera set up to record the entire thing.
Zen walks in to see you, in an exactingly pressed tuxedo, lying with one hand propping up your head and the other holding out a ring box. After a moment, you get up, and you do not climb off the bed, no – you billow. You sweep. You do a number of grand, romantic movements before you end up in front of him, on one knee, presenting him a diamond.
You whip the rose out of your mouth. You present it to him. He takes it, avoiding the spot that’s kind of shiny from your spit, and you recite a sonnet that you wrote and practiced extensively in the mirror specifically for him. You expected a lot of things – for him to swoon, for his knees to tremble, for him to grab your hands and say Yes, yes! Absolutely, yes! Let’s get married tomorrow!
Zen only does one of those things, instead bursting out laughing, putting his face in his hands… and saying that he loves you so much and that he will, without a doubt, promise to spend the rest of his life with you.
You propose to Jaehee with a cake.
Honestly, your planning could have been better. It was nothing to do with the cake itself! It was perfect! Handmade icing topping a perfectly moist chocolate body, gorgeous floral decorations, and a fondant that didn’t actually taste like shit with the words will you marry me? in a perfect, calligraphy-esque script on the top. It was her favorite color, favorite flavor, and your presentation was spot on, delivering it to her at the end of her shift along with a cup of coffee and a kiss on her cheek. No, your mistake was much smaller, much simpler than that.
After Jaehee squeals, hugs you, and says yesyesyes! About a million and one times, she asks you, like – not to be weird, but – where’s the ring?
And you look at the cake.
And you sweat, because you thought it would be cute to bake the goddamn diamond inside.
“Uh,” you say, and Jaehee facepalms and laughs.
You eat the entire cake during an all-day Zen musical binge, while making sure to take small, careful bites as you look for the ring.
[the rest are beneath the read-more!]
You propose to Jumin in a book.
Not a book you’ve written, to be precise, though that sounds like an excellent way to deliver your feelings in a way he can understand, and you wish you had the writing talent to deliver. No – it’s much simpler than that.
You don’t want to propose in public, as Jumin is such a Presence that it would naturally be co-opted by some sort of reporter or another, and you have nothing to prove to the world, wanting it to just be between you and him. So – you find an old, gold-leaf embossed volume from an antique store, hollow out the inside, and place a velvet box with a diamond ring and a letter that espouses your feelings for him. It’s Jaehee who sets it on his desk – you ask if she’d please do her this favor, just this once – and the rest of the day, you wait for him to get to it, and to… well. Call you back.
Or whatever he’ll end up doing.
It’s evening when you get your reply. There’s a knock at your door, an urgent, insistent rapping, and you open it, seeing Jumin panting and out of breath from just having run up four flights of stairs. Without a word, he embraces you – holding you close, closer than he’s ever held you before – and in the crook of your ear, he says a single word that makes your heart soar.
Yes.
You propose to 707 on the radio.
You and him, you love going for car rides. Top down, blazing fast scenes, seeing the countryside whirl around you – and leaving a roar of laughter behind, intermingled with the rumbling engine. It’s great! It’s a hoot! And the two of you always blast the radio, normally oscillating between your and his favorite stations on the way.
While your rides aren’t always predicable, you always go out for a Sunday drive, and that’s when you’ve asked his favorite DJ to read your proposal on the air.
You’re anxious, waiting for the arranged timeslot. It makes it harder to enjoy Seven’s company, because this awful queasiness is dominating your thoughts. What if he says no? What if he gets weird about it? What if – man, what if he doesn’t even notice it, being so focused on the road that the words slip over him like water?
You finger the box in your pocket and hope.
The interrupt in the music at exactly 4:42 PM causes your breath to catch, and at first, Seven doesn’t seem to notice it, only groaning about another commercial break. But then, the announcers voice catches his attention – that this is a special message for one Saeyoung Choi, from a partner who loves him very much.
Saeyoung laughs a bit, not believing it, and then looks over at you, who is smiling at him enigmatically. A strange expression on his face, he slows the car to a stop, pulling over at the side of the road.
And he listens, his face heating up with every word.
So, what do you say, Saeyoung? The announcer asks. Ready to get married?
He doesn’t respond at first, hands gripping the steering wheel tight – but then he looks at you, smiling through a glistening sheen of tears, and says yes.
Yes I will.
You propose to V by a fountain, the water rippling over your feet as you sit on the brim of the basin.
He sits beside you, and the scent of flowers fills the enterity of the park, coating everything in a thick, floral haze. It’s a lovely spring day, you’ve taken him on the prettiest, most pleasant date you can imagine and now, at the end of it, you sit with him, cooling your feet and staring at the coins glinting in the water. A million wishes lie there, you think to yourself, and you ask V what he wishes for the most in the world.
He laughs, saying there are a lot of things. He wish he’d handled the Rika situation differently. He wishes he’d been there to save Saeran. He wishes he had helped Saeyoung. Sometimes he wishes he’d never met Rika, but then he’d never have met you, would he?
…Perhaps it’d be best to say, he wishes the path to you hadn’t contained so much suffering.
You take a coin out of your pocket and flip it, letting it plop into the water. As circles ripple, you look at him, and say that you only have one wish.
“What’s that?” he asks, and you pull a ring out of your pocket.
“I wish you’d marry me.”
V cannot say anything for a moment, as overwhelmed as he is – but tentatively, like this is a dream that might disappear if he touches it, he reaches for the ring and says…
“I think I can grant that for you.”
You propose to Saeran by accident.
It’s during an argument. It’s hard to exactly pinpoint how it started, really, but it eventually morphed into you bickering about which of you would be better than the other at being married. I’d do the dishes! Saeran says, crossing his arms and letting out a noise of discontent. And do the vacuuming, and earn ALL the money! I’d be the greatest husband!
Well, yeah? you respond. I’d take the trash out EVERY DAY, and clean the stove, AND I WOULD BUY YOU FLOWERS EVERY WEEK.
Every week? Says Saeran. I’d buy them every day!
Every HOUR, you say, and Saeran is like – PROVE IT.
And you, being an easily riled up moron, get on one knee and say, “You know what? I will! GET MARRIED TO ME RIGHT NOW AND I’LL SHOW YOU THAT I WIN AT MARRIAGE.”
“FINE, I WILL,” Saeran says, and the both of you stare at each other, not really sure where to go from here.
In lieu of a ring, since you don’t really have one, you end up making him a band out of a dandelion you find growing nearby out of the sidewalk. “The puffball can be the diamond,” you say. “Until I can get you a better one.”
You propose to Vanderwood while you’re running for your life.
Neither of you meant for this to happen. Neither of you really understand how things came to this, but as you book it through an abandoned dockyard and hide in an alley, all you can figure is that this is Seven-oh-Seven’s fault. Did he have to tease the agency?! Did he have to pull one last prank on them before trying to disband them for good?
UGH.
As armed mafia goons comb the area looking for you, you peek around the corner, and then – staring dead-straight at Vanderwood – say, “If we get out of this, I am marrying the shit out of you.”
Vanderwood clears their throat, cocks their pistol, and says that’s some pretty good motivation for staying alive right there.
After a sneaking sequence straight out of a Metal Gear Solid game, you manage to find a car, hot-wire it, and book it out of there as gunfire sounds behind you. Vanderwood is driving, you’re in the passenger seat, and as you wipe the sweat from your forehead, you ask, So, what do you like better? Spring weddings? Autumn ones?
“Anything but summer,” Vanderwood replies, still shaking a little bit from your narrow escape. “I hate the heat.”
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ohsweetsweettooth · 7 years
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video title: 20 QUESTIONS GAME [ft HUSBAND!!!!!!] [L]
desc: Donovan and I found an old 20 Questions game at the store, he was really surprised they still existed!!!!! We bought it and decided to see if it could guess what we’re thinking of!
 BUY DONOVAN’S NEW ALBUM, SOMBER SUNSET! [link] Donovan’s channel! [link] Donovan’s Twitter! [link] Donovan’s Instagram! [link]
 Visit my online store! [link] My Twitter! [link] Instagram! [link] Tumblr! [link]
[cutesy intro title, zigzag swipes into bubble letters reading “20 QUESTIONS GAME”]
[Camera is fixed to them seated under a kotatsu (decorated in cinamaroll merch), a pastel pink couch fill of sanrio items and some out of place-looking halloween plushes. Spice is wearing a long sleeved pastel blue shirt with a fried egg on the left breast, with a little pan clip in his icing. Donovan is wearing a black shirt that says ‘VIP’ on it in yellow, with no additional captioning. His hair is more casual than usual, but still in a pompadour. On top of the table is a blue 20 questions machine, two starbucks drinks, and a bottle of water]
Spice: [waves] Hello, cupcakes! Welcome to the show!
Don: [waves at the camera, then goes back to watching spice talk]
Spice: So today, I’m with my husband Donovan! [Donovan smiles, but bites his lips to hide it] We got our hands on this little game called 20 Questions [shows the game to the camera, music in the BG stops as it unfocuses. Donovan chuckles as he tries again] [to Donovan] for such an expensive camera, you think it’d focus on what’s in front of it. [camera focuses on the game]
Don: it heard you talking shit [laughs]
Spice: [grins and sits back down] Well, hopefully it won’t be too angry, if that’s the case. [to the camera] So, this thing is supposed to be able to guess what you’re thinking of! But since it’s like... A programmed little egg... thing... it can only guess out of a few categories. Vegetable.... Mineral, which are like, rocks and stuff, I think? Isn’t water a mineral?
Don: Uh, fuck if I know. [beat] No, it ain’t. Mineral water’s got minerals and shit in it.
Spice: So waters-- vegetable, mineral... unknown, concept... and animal. Donovan’s gonna do the first one! [hands Donovan the game]
Don: ‘Kay... Let’s see... Ya think it will guess the concept a’ death, dude?
Spice: [snorts] Maybe.
Don: Concept... ‘Does it break if dropped...’ The fuck? How the hell would a fuckin’ concept-- you can’t even hold a concept.
Spice: [laughs]
Don: I guess, fuckin... Unknown. Next... ‘Does it make music?’ Fuck no. ‘Is it straight?’ This thing doesn’t know its own catagories. It’s retarded, dude...
Spice: Are you sure you clicked on Concept?
Don: Yeah. [snorts] We’ll see if it gets it. I mean, fuckin’ Akinator was a dumbshit too but it still guessed you.  ‘Can you touch it?’ No.
Spice: Oh yeah! I forgot to explain the point! It tries to read your mind and guess what you’re thinking by asking you 20 questions! If it gets it wrong, it’ll try 30.
Don: You already told them that.
Spice: Oh. [bites lip and grabs coffee] It’s 5am what do you expect.
Don: [smiles at him] ‘Is it outside’ I mean, I guess it’s everywhere. But yeah...
Spice: What if it guesses the sky.
Don: This was much cooler when I was younger. Well, 20, but I was easily impressed [snorts].
Spice: It’s still cool to me! Too Bad it’s, like, obsolete now!
Don: They discontinued these, like, a year before I met you. Traded 20q in exchange for a cute husband.
Spice: Since we have one of these now, do you have to trade me in?
Don: Nah. Shit trade. Oh, the game [looks at it] ‘Is it delicious’ Yo. What the fuck. No. ‘Is is orange?’ No. ‘Dangerous?’ Yes. ‘Can it speak?’ Fuckin’... metaphorically but it’s askin’ me if it’s orange so I’m gonna put no.
Spice: ‘Do you find it in the sky?’ Maybe the concept of death isn’t in this handheld game for kids.
[SFX of the death march, zooms in on the 20q game and gets distorted. back to normal music and format]
Don: They’re fuckin’ pussies.
Spice: [scoffs, laughs] God!
Don: ‘Will it eat almost anything?’ No-- WWAIT, SHIT, go back.. Yes. ‘Does it come from something larger’
Spice: Ooh, that’s really deep.
Don: Didn’t expect it to get exisential. Fuckin... [giggles] Fuck, I dunno... Unknown. That’s an ominous fuckin’ answer too, ain’t it?
Spice: It fits the mood! I should have worn some darker clothes.
Don: You can borrow mine. ‘Do you use it in public?’ God. Damn it. We ain’t gonna get it, guys.
Spice: That’s a surprise.
Don: [absently] You’re gonna write my next song with rhymes like those, man.
[edit, zooms in on spice and puts a crown png over him and big bold letters that say ‘PROMOTED’]
Don: Flexible? Sure. Round? [massages his temples] God... This fuckin’ thing...
Spice: I don’t think you’re giving it a fair chance, though. It *is* discontinued. And from two-thousand something. It’s 2017!
Don: No excuse. Can you smell it... Yes. [beat] [snorts] [laughs] Does it..... hahaha, fu-fuck, [giggles] Does it have-- does it fuckin’ have paws... [snorts] fuck no.
Spice: [giggling] What number was that?
Don: Fuckin’ 16... Oh my god, he’s gettin’ too fuckin’ hauty. He’s guessin’ it.
[jeapordy music. Spice and Donovan lean to view the handheld]
[both laugh]
Spice: A *dragon*?! What the hell?? [laughs]
Don: Holy shit. What a fuckin’ dumbass... Fuckin’ no, you dumbshit [giggles] Now it’s asking if it has a tail. Is it smoke? No. Oh my god, dude, it’s desperate. Askin’ if it’s garbage... Wrongo-fuckin’-dongo, ya dingus.
Spice: You’re stumping it!
Don: Unless these next few questions are really specific, I’m gonna win. And I’m gonna treat myself to some fuckin’ pie.
Spice: For all this stress, you really deserve it.
Don: Don’t get snarky, sweet cheeks, I out-thought a kid’s toy from the 2000′s. Hard work.
Spice: [snorts]
Don: Living? No. Useful? Yeah, I guess. Wait-- sometimes. Okay, does it fuckin... come in many varieties? Yes.
Spice: definitely.
Don: It guessed passion. It actually guessed a concept this time, so good on it. Should I do close, or wrong, ya think?
Spice: Um... Hm... [taps chin] I would go no.
Don: Kay. No. Can liquids pass through it? I’m gonna go back and choose passion to close.
[edit #DonTheGrammarMaster as he says ‘choose passion to close’]
Don: Does it grow over time?
Spice: It’s gonna guess love now.
Don: I’m gonna go no. Is it annoying? Sometimes. Oh shit! He guesses a fuckin’ zombie. Man... he’s close, dude.
Spice: That might be the closest it can get!
Don: Located in the sky? Shit, it keeps bringin’ my fuckin’ hopes up...
Spice: I mean, heaven is, isn’t it?
Don: [in a hushed voice to Spice] Heaven ain’t real.
Spice: It might be to the game!
Don: I’ll go ‘sometimes’. It guessed ghost. Shit, man, I got it. That’s 29.
Spice: Aww, he was close!
Don: Yeah. Now he guessed lightning bolt like a fucktard. Oh shit, I won! [gets up quickly and leaves the frame, Spice watches him go, come back, and grab his coffee]
[edit shows a blurry frame of Don’s face and puts a fancy crown on it, sfx confetti, and says WINNER in bold, gold letters]
Spice: [to Donovan] Come back when you’re done so we can do the outro!
Donovan: [off-camera, far] Alright babe.
[cut]
[Spice has a slice of pie too, Donovan is eating his]
Spice: Well, that went like I thought it would! Thank you guys for watching, but sadly the game didn’t win... Join me and Donovan next time when we try out some new M&Ms!
Don: Fuck yeah. [pauses] I hope you don’t lose monetization cuz I fuckin’ cuss so much.
Spice: [laughs] I don’t, I just put a warning. [to camera] See you cupcakes later!
Don: See ya.
[outro card linking to other videos and social media]
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