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#we really just. woke up and decided to choose nonsense huh.
the-furies · 3 years
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hurgie in my burgie and my meat go soft
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kurowrites · 4 years
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Since you like cute fluffy prompts, how about everyone assumes LWJ and WWX will end up together for political reasons (which is fine, it's a smart match) but then slowly come to the realization that they actually really like each other?
Celebratory arranged marriage fic! This is probably not what you expected, but oh well! :D
---
"Wangji, are you sure this is what you want?" Lan Xichen asked.
Lan Xichen had invited Lan Wangji to the Hanshi to have tea with him, and although Lan Wangji had expected his brother to have something on his mind that he did not want to discuss in front of their uncle, he would have preferred if his brother had not voiced his concerns. It would have made things... easier.
Lan Wangji studied the bottom of his teacup for a long time before he was able to raise his gaze to meet the concerned eyes of his brother and speak.
"Xiongzhang," he finally said. "I have agreed to the proposal. I am not... unwilling. I never expected to fall in love."
Lan Xichen looked like he wanted to say something, but one glance from Lan Wangji had him maintain his silence.
"I do not place value on such impermanent emotions. To have a steady companion will be enough."
"Oh, Wangji," Lan Xichen sighed. "Sometimes I fear Uncle has had too much success with your education. You deserve to be loved, you know?"
Lan Wangji did not know how to reply to that.
He was not unhappy, that was the truth.
He had long known that a political marriage would be an inevitability, eventually. The steadily aggravating situation with the Qishan Wen sect, Jin Guangshan's own questionable ambitions; it had only been a matter of time until the other sects saw their hand forced. It was only natural that they would want to strengthen their own alliances and raise their defences. Arranged marriages were only too common in situations as these.
He should be glad, he thought, that his chosen partner would be Wei Wuxian. His uncle might not be as happy with the choice, might have preferred someone else, perhaps a woman. But to Lan Wangji, it had been the best choice out of the few that he had had. The Gusu Lan and Yunmeng Jiang sects needed a stronger alliance, and barring marrying Jiang Wanyin himself, Wei Wuxian had been the best choice. Naturally, Madam Yu would insist that Jiang Wanyin's wife would be a woman, someone that could bear the future sect heir.
Thinking rationally, choosing Wei Wuxian had been less of a choice and more of a given. The marriage needed to be both strong in terms of the ties that it created, but also unoffensive enough so that no other sects would object.
The only other possible choice would have been Nie Huaisang. But considering that Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen were already sworn brothers, the alliance to the Jiang sect took precedence.
Lan Xichen sighed again.
"I just want you to be happy, Wangji."
"I am content, Xiongzhang. There is no cause for unhappiness."
His brother said nothing, but Lan Wangji could read his thoughts on his face.
After all, he had deliberately evaded referring to himself as 'happy.'
---
When he had agreed to the marriage, he had thought about Wei Wuxian, and felt a sliver of worry. Lan Wangji might be content to marry for politics, and settle for nothing more than a companion, but he had always felt that Wei Wuxian would want more than that.
Wei Wuxian had always been a passionate person; it followed that he would be a passionate man when it came to love, as well.
Instead, he was going to marry Lan Wangji.
Would he be content with simple companionship? Lan Wangji had considered it once, offering Wei Wuxian the opportunity to practice... certain activities outside the marriage, to keep a lover on the side. But something deep inside him rebelled against the idea. He didn't know if he would be able to live with the knowledge that his husband would seek the embrace of another.
And Wei Wuxian had agreed to the marriage, after all. He had known who Lan Wangji was when he agreed, and he had known the conditions attached to the marriage.
Still, there was the smallest nagging voice in the back of his head that told him that someone like Wei Wuxian was made for love. Not for marrying men like Lan Wangji for the sake of politics. He still remembered when Wei Wuxian had visited Cloud Recesses for the first time. He had heard that Wei Wuxian had calmed down a little since he had become an adult, but Lan Wangji remembered all too well how much of a flirt he had been, how openly he had carried all his emotions on his sleeve. Wei Wuxian had not been made for politics.
Still, the marriage would happen. They had both agreed to the proposal, their families had agreed to the proposal. Soon, they would be here, and Lan Wangji would be a married man.
---
"So," Wei Wuxian smiled once they were finally alone, back in the familiar quiet of the Jingshi. "Looks like we're married, huh? I feel a little bad for you - you must have wanted a nice, quiet wife, and yet here you are, with someone who's neither nice, quiet, nor a wife."
He let his eye wander over the room in front of him, and Lan Wangji wondered what it looked like to Wei Wuxian's eyes. As the rest of Cloud Recesses, it must seem like a horribly boring place to him.
Lan Wangji himself had no eyes for the room in front of him, however. He looked at Wei Ying, resplendent in his red wedding robes, and tried to remember if Wei Wuxian had already been this handsome before, or if the maids had simply done an excellent job in anticipation of the wedding ceremony. He truly looked like a heavenly prince, in his red robes, his hair half done up with an elaborate braid, decorated with a hair piece that had been part of Lan Wangji's betrothal gifts.
"What about the living arrangements?" Wei Wuxian asked, rousing Lan Wangji from his thoughts.
Lan Wangji frowned. "It is customary that we share the Jingshi with each other."
Wei Wuxian sent him a look he found difficult to decipher.
"Is that what you want?" he asked. "Forgive me my bluntness, Lan Zhan, but I cannot help but think that my presence here will be a disturbance for you. I don't want to force you into bearing my presence and suffer my noise. I know you don't like to be touched; you can hardly be wanting to share a bed with me."
Lan Zhan felt his heart thump loudly. He had considered before that it was possible that Wei Wuxian might insist on a token marriage. That was essentially what it was, after all. But now that he was faced with Wei Wuxian's evident dislike of the idea to cohabit, he found himself... disappointed.
"I had hoped for companionship," he found himself saying, hardly even knowing what he was doing. "I- No. It does not matter. If you are unwilling to share quarters, I will look for another room. The Jingshi is yours."
His answer was met with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed. "Why would you think I'd be unwilling to share? Or throw you out of your own home? I was trying to be respectful of your wishes! I-"
He suddenly fell silent.
"Wei Ying."
Wei Wuxian sent him another unreadable look.
But Lan Wangji was good at waiting people out. He stood there, silent, as he studied the beautiful embroidery on Wei Wuxian's robes, and watched his husband consider his answer.
"I had hoped for a hug," Wei Wuxian suddenly burst out. "That's it. I know I can't expect much from this marriage, Lan Zhan, and I don't want to force you into anything you don't want to, but I had hoped for at least a hug, now and then.  If I can't-"
He bit his lips and fidgeted with the seams of his robes.
"Look at me, doing my best to fuck this marriage up on the wedding night," he said, laughing quietly, even though there was nothing funny about it.
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji said again. Wei Ying looked at him, and Lan Wangji was almost sure there was something akin to fear in his eyes.
That was… distasteful. He did not want his own husband to be afraid of him. And he would never want-
He himself remembered a time when a hug had been all he had wanted, but he had never had the courage to ask for it. And now, all he had left was the bitter taste of regret.
He tried to find the right words that would adequately express that he was willing to work for the success of this marriage, token or not. That he was willing to accommodate Wei Wuxian, within the realms of possibility. They had both agreed to this marriage. They had to pay the price.  
But the words would not come, not as he wanted them to.
In the end, he could do nothing but uselessly lift his arms.
"I will hug Wei Ying," he said.
It was terribly nonsensical and did not help in illustrating the point he was trying to make. But Wei Wuxian smiled a sudden, brilliant smile, and stepped right into his arms as if it were nothing.
"Mh," Wei Wuxian said, his face pressed into Lan Zhan's shoulder.
And Lan Wangji closed his arms, giving the promised hug.
Maybe that was enough, for now.
---
The next morning, Lan Wangji woke before dawn, as he always did.
For once, however, things were a little different.
On this morning, he woke with Wei Wuxian still in his embrace, his face buried in Lan Wangji’s shoulder, occasionally huffing out a deep breath that warmed Lan Wangji’s skin through his wrinkled robe.
Lan Wangji considered his new reality for a moment. He decided that the assessment he had given his brother had been accurate:
He might just be able to be contented, indeed.
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nevertheless-moving · 3 years
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Suicidal Misunderstanding Part Three: SW Time Travel AU #27
Part One
Part Two
Obi Wan woke with a dry mouth and a moderate headache. A fairly typical morning these days. 
He peered around his bedroom in the temple confused. Wasn’t he just with Cody? Shouldn’t he be on the Negotiator? No wait, the war was over, Cody tried to kill him, and the Negotiator was a part of the Imperial Armada, of course he wouldn’t be there. He closed his eyes, snuggling back under the covers. Before he could drift back to sleep, his sluggish mind processed that last thought. 
He BOLTED upright in bed. The temple had been razed, his personal chambers scorched with particular thoroughness. Just being on Coruscant was an automatic death sentence. Faint tendrils of panic began to curl around his throat before he remembered his decision to give Spice a try. He had reasoned that he should probably find at least one pleasure in his new life, instead of focusing incessantly on what was lost. 
So what if he lost a few brain cells? Good riddance. 
Obi-Wan had been a bit nervous, but this had ended up being his best decision in years. His goodbye to Cody had been painful, but deeply cathartic. Spice Hallucination Anakin didn’t scream like Nightmare Anakin, and the color of his eyes was perfect. Far better final memories to cling to than reality- a reminder of the good times. Comforted, he relaxed backwards in bed, pulling his blankets back around him.
He LURCHED out of bed, covers tossed aside, movement a blur.
He was still hallucinating?!? Spice shouldn’t last in the system this long! He might’ve been uncertain about whether he was supposed to smoke or snort the substance but it was a well known fact that its exhaustive but rapid passage through the body was half what made it so addictive. If nothing else, his well-restedness and thirst indicated it had been at least six hours. He looked frantically around the room, searching for some thread of unreality to pull at.
This...was not good. Hadn’t the subconscious manifestations of his friends mentioned drugs that interacted poorly with force users last night? He had dismissed it at the time but...
He clearly was stuck in some sort of drugged fantasy combined with force-enhanced memory recall. Kriff, he had to wake up in the real world before he died of an aneurysm. Or just dehydration.
He sat on the ‘temple floor’ to meditate. This could be tricky as he couldn’t risk lowering his outer shields to reach out to reality. It would be deeply embarrassing as well as horrifying if the Emperor managed to find him and, by extension, Luke because he got stuck in a bad spice trip.
The door to his room clicked open quietly. 
“Oh! You’re awake. Sorry to come in without knocking, Master. I wanted to let you sleep, but I’ve been checking on you every two hours to make sure you were still, you know, breathing. You were...pretty out of it last night and I would be a pretty bad ‘best friend in the whole galaxy’ if I let you choke on your own vomit, right?” His blue-eyed Padawan explained with a grin.
Obi-Wan just stared. Oh this- this hurt. It was easier last night, when the whole fantasy had a kind of drunken blurriness. Sleeping and waking had brought sober clarity to the dream world. He could see the bags under Anakin’s eyes as well as the sheepish slouch of his shoulders as he instinctively ducked at the door frame. It was just so real.
“Obi-Wan? Are you feeling ok? Do you still feel drunk?” Anakin asked concerned.
Obi-Wan shook his head. He hesitated, before deciding to just go along with the interaction. He didn’t want to risk his subconscious throwing a less idylic scene at him by pretending to ignore this one. And besides, last night had been, all totaled, a huge relief- an unburdening of things left unsaid. This was probably the closest thing to therapy available to him these days, he might as well take advantage.
“I’m just...processing. Not to mention dealing with some mild dehydration.” He finally answered.
“Processing, huh? So does that mean you, uh, remember last night?” Anakin asked nervously.
“I do.” Obi-Wan smiled gently. As heart-wrenching as this was, it was also adorably sweet. Maybe it was worth it to push off waking for a little while. He could get some closure, maybe even work through some of the past to see where the two of them had gone wrong. It might even be helpful for Luke! Force willing, he would probably end up training Anakin’s son someday.
(the boy wouldn’t have many masters to choose from)
If this dream world could help him figure out specifically how he had failed as a Master, then he owed it to the galaxy to see it through. Satisfied, he resolved to let the fantasy play out. At least for a few more more hours. And...he had missed what Anakin had said. Wonderful start.
“I’m very sorry, Anakin would you mind repeating that? I was still a little distracted, but I promise, I’m focused on you now.”
Anakin shuffled nervously. “It’s nothing.”
Obi-Wan tried to project reassurance without actually projecting. “Please Anakin, I’d like to hear what you have to say. I know I wasn’t the most observant or approachable Master, and I’m sorry for that. But I have always cared about your thoughts and feelings.” It was a struggle and the words caught in his throat, but the raw burn of the apology was cleansing in an almost addictive way.
Anakin flushed. “Did you mean everything you said?” he asked nervously.
“I’d...rather not talk about seeing the destruction of the temple, seeing you... Maybe later...but please, I just don’t want to focus on it while I’m sitting here, looking at you,” Obi-Wan said quietly.
“That actually wasn’t what I was talking about,” Anakin responded quickly. “I mean, I do want to help you with that at some point, but I get not wanting to talk about visions, even if you should probably should. Of course if you do want to talk about that stuff, that’s more important, but since you don’t we can talk about the other stuff you mentioned. I was more referring to, you know, us, and what you said about our friendship?” his voice got progressively higher the longer he rambled. 
Obi-Wan thought back. “Well some of it is a little hazy, but overall yes. I...for a very long time I’ve considered you my best friend, and its not so easy for me to let go of my affections. I miss spending time with you; there are times I turn to say something and am still shocked you’re not there. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, with real words, how much I cared. I’m sorry I didn’t hug you as much as I wanted, looking back that was a nonsensical Jedi custom. It’s not in the code; it’s just an affectation of dignity. All things considered, the fact that you often snuck out to see Padme doesn’t really bother me.” He paused. “Was that everything?”
“Oh. Yeah, that pretty much covered everything.” Anakin looked embarrassed, but happy. “I wasn’t sure if you were just saying that stuff because you were drugged, or really drunk or something.”
“No, I meant what I said. I suppose it just took an altered state for me to relax enough to actually say it instead of just thinking at you and assuming you would know. I must admit, its difficult for me to maintain this emotional honesty without feeling drunk, but it’s good. This is good.”
“Ah, that’s... wow. So you weren’t drugged? Cody was concerned you seemed to off for much you actually drank.”
Obi-Wan frowned. Hadn’t that been a trip? Vision blurring from desert hovel to some nameless Catina he once visited with Cody. The continuity since then was almost unsettling. But, then again, Obi-Wan always did have a remarkable talent for self-delusion, didn’t he. He waved away the concerns.
“My substance consumption was entirely deliberate and exactly what I needed. There might have been some unknown additions with some unforeseen after-affects, but like I said- I’m not drunk. I’m clear minded and in full control right now and I knowingly accept the current fallout from whatever I took. I could meditate and force purge to completely recenter, but I think it would be far wiser to just see where this goes. Do you disagree, Anakin?”
Anakin grinned widely. “Whatever you say, Obi-Wan. Just remember this is your idea. Also, I’m taking you to the healers tonight if you’re not completely back to yourself.”
Obi-Wan signed, “If I’m not back to myself in 12 hours, than I fully agree that’s a problem worthy of the halls of healing.”
“Right,” Anakin nodded decisively, “I’ll go get you some water then comm Cody to tell him you’re still alive.
Obi-Wan smiled weakly in response. This wasn’t just a hashed up memory; the responsiveness was more that. He quickly got dressed, hands lingering over soft fabrics and sand-free linens.
Anakin dropped off a cup of water; Obi-Wan sipped at it hesitantly. Dear force, this was dangerously vivid. It actually felt like a relief in his parched mouth. Clearly his subconscious was pulling out all the stops to trap him in this soft delusion. He would have to deal with the thirst and hunger until he woke up- it was probably the firmest link he had to his real body.
He took one last look around before rushing out of his room, eager to take advantage of the time.
Anakin looked nervously up from the comm when Obi-Wan started pulling his boots on. “You’re not going out in the temple like this, are you?”
“Of course! I want to visit the gardens and the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Not to mention spend some time with a few of the other Jedi. You might still be the dearest being in my heart, but there were other Jedi that I care for, and dammit I’m going to tell them that.” He finally finished lacing up his left leg and moved to the right.
Anakin was dumbstruck, presumably as burnt by the ‘dearest being’ comment as Obi-Wan was. Then he rallied, “Wow, wow, No. You are not running around the temple drugged so you can, I don’t know, give Mace Windu a hug. I thought when you said you were going to ‘deal with the fallout' from whatever the kriff you’re still on, you meant you were going to lounge around the quarters all day!”
His former padawan physically blocked the door when Obi-Wan started to leave, sounding vaguely hysterical, “You can’t run around loopy! You’re a High Council Member!”
“Not anymore,” Obi-Wan replied bitterly. 
“What do you mean not anymore,” Anakin said fiercely, grabbing on to his shoulders . “Did they kick you out? Is that why you’re acting crazy? Did you resign?”
Obi-Wan responded by pulling Anakin into a hug, which was immediately returned, “Of course not, don’t be absurd. Fine, I suppose I’m technically still a high council member, it just seems like a bit of a moot point.”
“What the kark does that mean? You used to dream about being on the council! You’re the wisest Master in any of those stupid chairs!”
‘Master of the High Council’ Kenobi just sighed heavily in response. He maneuvered around the confused errant Knight and into the hall. 
"Obi-Wan wait! At least eat something first! Or let me put my shoes on!”
“Very well, you have one minute to make yourself presentable. I only have a few hours before I’m going to need to get back to reality, and the longer I linger the more I fear extreme measures may be necessary.”
“What does that mean?” Anakin shouted from inside. “Extreme measures sounds really ominous, you know.”
“I’d rather not get into it, alright? Let’s just enjoy the here-and-now, eh, ad’ika?
Anakin crashed out the door with less than a second to spare. “What did you just call me?"
“Ad’ika,” Obi-Wan answered, striding down the hallway in the direction of the hanging gardens. “Surely you must have picked up some Mando’a from the troopers?”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t sure if I heard you right, bu- um- ori'vod,” Anakin fumbled out. “Uh, you’re not going to call me that in front of anyone else, right? You do remember that the council already gives us the side eye for over-attachment right?”
Obi-Wan hummed thought fully in responded. “There are far worse things a Jedi could do than admit to affection they already feel. Maybe if I had been honest about my attachments, they wouldn’t have ended the way that...” he trailed off quietly.
“The way that what,” Anakin asked frustrated. “You’re really giving me some emotional whiplash over here, and I’m starting to think that putting off dragging you to the healers is a stupid idea.
“There are far stupider things a Jedi could do,” he responded cheerily. “Oh look, there’s Plo Koon. MASTER KOON!” He shouted, startling the Kel Doran Jedi.
“Yes, Master Kenobi?” He replied slightly concerned as the two human Jedi came jogging over.
“I just wanted to say that I consider my former padawan my family. I raised him, I care for him deeply, and I don’t want to let go of those feelings.”
Plo Koon nodded seriously in response. “I feel just the same about my former padawans, and the Wolffe pack, of course. Denying my attachments isn’t, personally, a practical way to handle them. I’d rather honestly live as an imperfect Jedi than pretend to be a perfect example of the code. If I must have some imbalance, I’d rather it be an excess of compassion than a dearth,” he replied earnestly.
“I always admired that about you,” Obi-Wan replied ruefully. “This might be a little odd, but could I have a hug? I hold you in the highest regard and I’ve realized that there are so many Jedi that I never directly expressed my affection for and...”
Plo Koon didn’t wait for Obi-Wan to finish before wrapping his arms around him. “Of course, dear boy. You’ve had such heavy burdens placed on your shoulders during your life, especially in the last few years; it saddens me to see how deeply they’ve weighed you down. If there’s anything I can do to help, in any way, you simply have to ask.”
Obi-Wan sniffled slightly into Plo’s Shoulder while Plo rubbed soothing circles over his back.
A few passing Jedi gave the embracing Masters uncomfortable looks before hurrying on their way. Anakin stood slack-jawed.
When they finally pulled back, Plo Koon hesitated before finally asking, “I don’t mean to pry, but what brought all this on? I can sense much grief from you, even through your impressive shields.”
“It’s a long story,” Obi-Wan replied, wiping at the corner of his eyes. “I’d rather not get into it.”
“He’s high,” Anakin offered bluntly. “He took something last night and won’t go to medical wing.”
“Ah,” Plo said. “Is that true?”
Obi-Wan looked a little embarrassed. “I have the situation under control. My connection with reality might be...slightly altered right now, but my emotions, and what I chose to do with them are my own. I’m just, taking advantage of a unique opportunity to express myself.”
Plo Koon seemed to scrutinize him intensely, “If you’re sure this is what you need, than I support you. Just don’t do anything too foolish.” he finally offered.
Obi-Wan beamed. “I appreciate you saying so, I thought you would be supportive. Farewell, Master Koon”
Obi-Wan offered a respectful bow and then turned to walk away briskly. Before Anakin could follow, Plo rested a claw on his arm. 
“Feel free to comm me if his behavior reaches a point where you think he truly needs a healer. I’m happy to help you drag him there if need be. A little cathartic release isn’t in of itself such a bad thing, but if he starts acting too out of control...”
Anakin nodded in acknowledgment, then ran off to see who else Obi-Wan had chosen to throw himself at.
Part Four
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creambunnie · 3 years
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Hello Baby ❤💜💚💛💙💓
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ONEWE fluff - Yonghoon, Kanghyun (Hyungu), Harin, Dongmyeong, CyA (Giuk)
"hello Hyungu, are you free right now? it's urgent!"
"eh Yonghoon hyung? yeah i'm free, what's wrong?"
"UWAAAAAAA"
.....
"hyung was that a cat??"
"what? noooo, it's a baby!"
"oh i thought so, it was weird if you had a ca-- WHAT? A BABY?"
Hyungu stared at Yonghoon who was wearing a baby carrier as he entered Yonghoon's apartment. Yonghoon had his index finger on his lips, asking Hyungu to keep quiet as to not wake up the baby in his arms.
"why do you have a baby?? oh my god, did you pick it up from somewhere?" Hyungu whispered as he panicked.
Yonghoon sighed and knocked Hyungu's head softly.
"don't be ridiculous, Kang Hyungu. this is my cousin's son. her mother in-law just passed on so she asked me to look after her son for a while as she helps her husband settle the funeral and all."
Hyungu took a seat on the sofa, still processing the whole situation.
"so why the heck did you agree if you have never in your whole life babysit a... a baby?"
Yonghoon gulped and scratched his neck awkwardly.
"i misread her text. i thought her son was 10 years old, but it's actually 10 months... i couldn't reject her when she already brought her baby and all his things here."
Hyungu massaged his temples.
"how long?"
"a week."
"A WEEK?"
"shush Hyungu you are going to wake Minsoo up!" Yonghoon scolded Hyungu in whisper.
Yonghoon decided to contact Hyungu first because he lived the nearest. the baby was sleeping when he was brought here but the moment his mother left him into Yonghoon's care, he woke up and started crying.
Yonghoon panicked and called Hyungu right away, and while waiting for Hyungu to come, he tried to soothe Minsoo down with a lullaby.
Hyungu finally calmed down and approached Minsoo who was still in the carrier. he stared at the doll-like sleeping baby and let out a chuckle.
"naww Minsoo is so cute"
"i know, it's cause i'm his uncle"
Hyungu rolled his eyes and fished out his phone.
"i'm telling the others. you and me taking care of a baby is not enough, we need the whole squad."
Yonghoon hesitated for a bit because he didn't want to bother the others, but Hyungu was right. the two of them were not enough.
Hyungu and Yonghoon were busy lying Minsoo down carefully on the sofa that they didn't notice the beeping sound from the front door.
"baby Minsoo~ your Giuk hyung is here!!"
the two older boys' eyes widened at the sudden loud voice. a high pitch crying started filling their ears.
"i am so sorry, i didn't know Minsoo was sleeping!" Giuk apologised as Yonghoon was frantically making milk in the kitchen while Hyungu was trying to calm Minsoo down in the living room.
"can you help me check if the milk is okay instead? i mean your age is the nearest to the baby, so"
Giuk was confused at his hyung's nonsense but he was guilty so he poured some milk on his hand to taste it.
"uhm i think it's fine? it's a bit hot tho??"
"oh my god, why is it so chaotic in here?? no one even noticed we entered, Harin hyung."
Harin scanned the scenes happening and quietly but efficiently tried to handle the situations.
"Dongmyeong, go help Hyungu calm the baby. i will check on Yonghoon hyung"
Dongmyeong gently took the baby from Hyungu. he craddled Minsoo in his arms and swayed back and forth until he calmed down.
"well aren't you a cutie?" Dongmyeong cooed and poked the baby's nose softly. Minsoo stared at Dongmyeong confusedly and giggled.
"low low!!" Minsoo babbled and reached his hands out to Dongmyeong's neck. Hyungu noticed Dongmyeong's necklace and chuckled.
"he is so smart! he said yellow~" Hyungu was amazed at the 10-month old kid.
Yonghoon, Harin and Giuk finally went to living room with a warm bottle of milk.
"here, feed Minsoo the milk first" Harin passed the bottle to Dongmyeong.
Yonghoon, Hyungu and Giuk sighed in relief and plopped on the sofa side by side.
"how are you and Dongmyeong good at this, Harin??"
Harin chuckled and carressed Minsoo's head gently.
"we are not good at it, hyung. it's just that you guys were panicking so more panic won't do good. i just had to be the calm one just now. also, we had more time to prepare mentally, so no worries hyung, you will do just fine!" Harin humbly comforted.
Yonghoon thanked Harin and took Minsoo from Dongmyeong.
"Yonghoon hyung, what's this?" Giuk asked as he found a small booklet in Minsoo's bag.
"oh my cousin said that's a list of food that Minsoo can and cannot eat."
"great!! pass me that Giuk. i was just about to ask about this. Dongmyeong and I bought some ingredients for dinner, Hyungu, you wanna help us cook?" Hyungu gave Harin a thumbs up and followed the two into the kitchen.
Yonghoon and Giuk contiued playing with Minsoo in the living room.
"baby~~ Giuk hyung bought a looot of plushies for you! which one do you like ?" Giuk neatly placed the plushies in line in front of Minsoo and waited for him to choose.
Minsoo looked up at Giuk with his big round eyes as if he understood what Giuk said clearly.
"wook! wook!" Minsoo exclaimed and reached for the hamster plushie.
Yonghoon poked Minsoo's chubby cheek in admiration.
"you two are really friends, huh," Yonghoon chuckled as Giuk continued making short 'conversations' with Minsoo.
Minsoo warmed up to the boys quite easily and giggled alot while playing. Yonghoon was relieved he had awesome brothers who could help him out.
"let's eat~~" Dongmyeong called as he set the dining table. as Minsoo was in Giuk's good hands, Yonghoon helped Dongmyeong while Harin and Hyungu brought out the dishes for dinner.
"i even made Minsoo some baby chicken porridge~" Harin excitedly said as he showed Minsoo his own bowl of food.
"nyam nyam!!" Minsoo was already salivating at the delicious smell.
"hyung,, your cousin didn't bring Minsoo's high chair, right?" Hyungu asked after scanning the whole apartment.
"mm, it's fine, Minsoo will just sit on my lap and one of you can feed him."
the 5 boys took turns eating and feeding Minsoo.
"zoooom! good boy, Minsoo~" Giuk praised the baby as he happily took a big bite of the porridge.
Dongmyeong also took a big bite of the dakgalbi that they cooked and hummed in delight.
"it's been so long since we've had a family dinner like this~"
Giuk looked at Dongmyeong weirdly. "but we just did last week.."
Dongmyeong shushed Giuk and shook his head.
"last week was sooo long ago!! we need to eat dinner together more frequently."
Yonghoon only chuckled at the younger boy's wish.
"sure, we can have family dinner everyday for this whole week~"
Dongmyeong and Giuk were on their semester break, while Yonghoon and Hyungu worked from home. Harin was the only one who had to go to the office.
"so Harin, can you teach us some things like how to make the perfect temperature milk, and how to cook the food for Minsoo?" Hyungu requested as he wiped Minsoo's messy lips.
Harin of course agreed, he wanted Minsoo to experience the best care from his brothers.
after the yummy dinner, Yonghoon and Giuk did the dishes while the other 3 boys played with Minsoo.
"what colour is this, Minsoo?" Hyungu showed the baby a penguin plushie.
"woooo~~" Hyungu hugged Minsoo softly, refraining himself from squishing the baby for being too cute. "you are correct! that is blue!"
Dongmyeong hummed as he thought of something.
"Yonghoon hyung, Giuk, come here quickly after you finished. we gotta introduce ourselves properly to Minsoo!".
the boys sat in a line as Yonghoon carried Minsoo. he made eye contact with Minsoo and started introducing himself.
"Minsoo, i am Uncle Yonghoon!" "hoon~~"
"i am Uncle Hyungu!" "gugu~"
"i am Uncle Harin!" "rinnie~"
"i am Uncle Dongmyeong!" "meong~~"
"i am Giuk hyung!" "wook wook!!"
for every response, Minsoo either got a peck on his cheek or a carress on his small round head.
"now that's done, let's lay out the futons in the living room. we are having a sleepover~" Yonghoon happily announced.
since Minsoo started yawning, the boys decided to quickly turn the lights off and go to sleep with the baby. it was quite a tiring day afterall.
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the night was calm, Minsoo didn't make a single fuss while sleeping. he must have felt really comfortable with the boys, or he was just too tired after a lot of playing earlier.
"wow... i thought they were the same age." Harin whispered. the other 3 boys giggled at his words as they looked at Giuk and Minsoo all cuddled up. it was a cute scene to wake up to.
Harin woke up early to prepare food for Minsoo's meals and at the same time he taught Dongmyeong and Hyungu too. the other boys only need to heat them up when it's time to eat.
Giuk and Dongmyeong played and took care of Minsoo most of the time as the two older boys were working. Giuk even took a bath with Minsoo and made bubbles for him.
Minsoo was really a good baby. after warming up to the boys, he rarely cried. only when he was hungry, he would whine a little but goes back to being the giggly baby when he was fed.
Giuk and Dongmyeong were resting while Minsoo was playing with some plushies by himself. Dongmyeong almost dozed off when Giuk nudged him softly. "hey, Minsoo is saying something."
Minsoo was cutely sitting in front of the entrance with his hamster plushie. he looked up and stared at the doorknob as he mumbled.
"rinnie... rinnie... unc rinnie."
Dongmyeong and Giuk chuckled at the cuteness. it was 5pm, about an hour left before Harin comes back.
Yonghoon suddenly went out of his room and scooped Minsoo up.
"i finished my work for today. should i bring Minsoo out for a walk and welcome Harin?"
Hyungu closed his laptop and volunteered to follow Yonghoon.
"Dongmyeong and Giuk should rest."
"mm Hyungu hyung. Dongmyeong and I will prepare the ingredients for dinner after we rest for abit."
the two older boys nodded and prepared to go out with Minsoo.
they walked and reached a playground near the apartment. since Minsoo was too small to go down the slide by himself, Hyungu carried him and played together. everytime Hyungu and Minsoo reached the bottom, Yonghoon would make funny noises, making the baby giggle loudly.
after playing on the slide for a few times, Hyungu and Yonghoon sat on the empty swings side by side. Minsoo was securely seated on Hyungu's lap as he swung back and forth slowly.
"foooshh~" Minsoo cutely babbled as he felt the wind hit his face.
Yonghoon and Hyungu looked at each other and chuckled at the adorable baby.
"oh Minsoo, look who's here !" Yonghoon prompted as he pointed to the busstop. Hyungu stood up to let Minsoo see.
"rinnie!!!! unc rinnie!!" Minsoo exclaimed excitedly.
Harin heard the baby's voice from afar and jogged to the three boys.
"aww did Minsoo wait for Uncle Harin?"
Minsoo looked at Harin with sparkles in his eyes and grinned. Harin chuckled and took Minsoo from Hyungu.
"you are so cute!! look at you drooling from being too excited~" Harin cooed and wiped Minsoo's chin with Yonghoon's help.
"let's go home and prepare for dinner!"
"mm mm Hoon nyam nyam!" Minsoo mumbled and pointed to the apartment.
"yes Uncle Yonghoon's nephew is so smart, like uncle like nephew~~" Yonghoon praised.
Harin and Hyungu just went on with him, as long as their oldest brother was happy.
during dinner, Dongmyeong excitedly suggested the idea he and Giuk thought of together earlier.
"how about we go on a picnic at the park this weekend ? Minsoo is going to love spending time with all 5 of us outside!"
the baby happily clapped his hands when he heard his name being said.
"meong meong!!"
"hehe yess Uncle Dongmyeong loves you too~" Dongmyeong scrunched his nose as he poked Minsoo's round cheek.
"that's a good idea! the weather these days seem nice too" Yonghoon acknowledged.
"then it is set! we can go buy some ingredients for the picnic too when we go grocery shopping tomorrow." Hyungu suggested.
as planned, Hyungu and Dongmyeong went to the supermarket the next day and brought Minsoo with them. they made sure Minsoo was full first before going out. Hyungu tightened the baby carrier and pecked Minsoo's head.
"let's go~"
Dongmyeong was relieved the supermarket was not that crowded. he quickly took the things they wrote on the shopping list to not waste any time.
"gugu! gugu!" Minsoo called as he tried to reach for something behind Hyungu.
"hmm?" Hyungu turned around and saw a brightly packed biscuits. the bright orange colour must have attracted Minsoo.
"i don't think you can eat those yet, baby.."
"gugu?" Minsoo pouted.
Hyungu sighed and poked Minsoo's small nose.
"alright, we'll buy it for the packaging"
"gugu!!!" Minsoo happily exclaimed when he saw Hyungu putting the packet into the cart.
after buying the groceries and things for the weekend picnic, Hyungu and Dongmyeong decided to walk around the shopping mall for a bit.
"oh my god hyung!! that is super cute~ can we buy it for Minsoo? pleaaase!" Dongmyeong pleaded as he pulled Hyungu into a baby store.
the outfit Dongmyeong saw was a cute brown overalls. it was too cute to be ignored.
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"yayy! we can dress him up in the new outfit this weekend!"
Minsoo was a simple baby, when people around him were happy, he's also happy. Minsoo bounced excitedly to Dongmyeong's voice in the baby carrier.
"okay baby,, uncles are also excited to hang out with you~"
the long awaited weekend was finally here. the 5 boys were busy with their own tasks. Yonghoon was fixing the baby car seat, Harin and Hyungu were packing the food they made for the picnic, while Dongmyeong and Giuk were dressing Minsoo up.
Dongmyeong can't help but squish Minsoo's cheeks because he was extra cute after Giuk tied his thin hair into two small ponytails.
"omo, who is this handsome baby? of course no other than handsome Uncle Yonghoon's nephew~" Yonghoon sang as soon as he entered the house.
"but we are all handsome uncles and hyung, right Minsoo?" Dongmyeong held Minsoo's small hand and shook it gently.
Minsoo grinned. "meooong~".
after Hyungu and Harin were finished packing, the 6 boys finally started on their journey to the flower park.
"Minsoo~ look here!" Dongmyeong called out as Harin quickly snapped a few pictures of the cute baby.
"hey, let's take a family selfie!" Yonghoon suggested as he held Minsoo close to his chest. the other 4 boys gathered closer to Yonghoon as Harin took their picture.
the boys managed to find a spot under a big tree so they were shaded from the hot sun. they ate the food and snacks that Harin and Hyungu made deliciously. even Minsoo asked for seconds.
they then played around with Minsoo, Yonghoon sang some nursery rhymes for his cute nephew as the other boys did some simple moves that Minsoo could follow. they made sure Minsoo was having a fun time with them.
"oh Minsoo, it's your mom!" Yonghoon quickly answered the videocall from his cousin. his cousin would call everyday to check on Minsoo and the boys.
"hi noona!"
"hi Yonghoon! i heard you guys are on a picnic now? is Minsoo doing okay? did he make a fuss ?"
"Minsoo is fine, he is a good boy! here look at him!"
Yonghoon turned the phone so the camera was facing Minsoo.
"Minsoo~ it's mommy!"
"mama!!"
"aww look at your outfit today ! it's so cute, your uncles really have a good taste in clothings. Minsoo, mommy miss you so much. i will fetch you tomorrow, okay?"
Yonghoon turned back the phone and continued talking with his cousin.
"and boys, Minsoo looks so happy today! he must really love you boys so much! i know i say this everyday but thank you so much for taking good care of my son! you boys continue having fun together okay,, see you tomorrow!".
after bidding goodbye, the 5 boys continued playing with Minsoo. they stayed at the park for a few more hours. Minsoo even took a nap on Yonghoon's lap while his uncles enjoyed the fresh breeze.
it had been a while since they were able to relax with nature. not that they were too busy to do that, it just didn't cross their mind to spend time like this together. they were grateful to Minsoo because he gave them the opportunity to experience such a fun time.
the next morning was awkwardly gloomy. Minsoo's things were already organised at one side of the house. the 5 boys were playing with Minsoo in the living room as if playing together yesterday at the park wasn't enough.
"i'm so attached to Minsoo already. i don't think i can sleep without him tonight." Giuk sadly said as he carressed Minsoo's arm who was holding onto the hamster plushie that he gave on the first day that they met.
"i had fun making his baby food. it's amazing how this little thing could eat other than milk. thanks for enjoying my cooking, Minsoo! Uncle Rinnie will cook again for you when you are bigger!".
Yonghoon sighed and pouted. "you guys staying over for a whole week was so much fun. i'm gonna feel so lonely when you guys go back home."
"aww hyung,, you know we will always visit you. me especially! i will crash into your apartment often!" Dongmyeong comforted.
"yeah hyung, Minsoo or no Minsoo, we are always a call away!" Hyungu supported.
the gloomy atmosphere turned gloomier when the front door bell was rung. it was time to send Minsoo off back to his parents.
Yonghoon greeted his cousin and invited her in as the other boys took turns giving Minsoo a goodbye hug.
"take good care of mr hamster okie? wook hyung loves Minsoo so much!"
"Uncle Gugu also loves Minsoo! stay healthy, baby."
"my cute cute Minsoo, Uncle Meong loves you so much."
"you have to eat well and grow up healthily, okay? Uncle Rinnie also loves Minsoo!"
Yonghoon was the last one to hug. he was sad but he knew he had a higher chance of meeting Minsoo more in the future as they were close relatives.
"the next time we meet, you must be healthy, alright Minsoo? Uncle Hoon loves Minsoo soooo much!".
Yonghoon's cousin took Minsoo from his arms and bowed to the 5 boys.
"thank you so much for taking a really good care of Minsoo. i'm sure he had a good time with you boys. tell me when you all are available, i would like to treat you all to a meal. a meal is not even enough, honestly. maybe two or three meals would be great too!"
after Minsoo's father took all of his things, it was really time to part ways now. Minsoo was not smiling nor crying. he just stared at his five uncles blankly as he waved goodbye with his tiny hand. it was hard to close the front door but they eventually had to leave.
the once lively living room was now so quiet. it was amazing how 1 baby could make the mood so happy. now that he went back home, the 5 boys felt empty.
Harin sighed as he sat up. "guys, i miss Minsoo already.."
it had only been about 2 hours since Minsoo left.
"me too.." Hyungu mumbled.
"Yonghoon hyung, can we videocall Minsoo? pleaaase!" Dongmyeong requested.
of course Yonghoon would agree. he wanted to see his cute nephew's face. Yonghoon texted his cousin in advance before giving her a call.
"hi Minsoo!" the 5 boys greeted in sync as soon as Minsoo's face popped up on the phone screen.
Minsoo whose expression was blank like earlier turned into a happy smile. his eyes sparkled when he saw the 5 boys that he was already missing too.
"UNCS!!" ('uncles' but baby talk)
no matter how many kilometres apart they were from each other, the 6 boys' hearts were still as closely packed together as ever.
.
.
.
a/n : i've always wanted to see ONEWE taking care of a kid, so i wrote a whole imagine for it 😂 hope yall enjoyed it!
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moth-song-archives · 3 years
Text
The Insatiable Flow of Time (1/8)
I remembered that I can make posts here too huh! Anyways, I wrote a post-MAG200 fic <3
I’ll reblog it again with the link to ao3 if you’d prefer reading it there :D
Rating: Teens and Up Archive Warnings: Choose Not To Use Categories: F/F Relationships: Georgie/Melanie, Georgie & Jon, Jonmartin (mentioned) Characters: Georgie Barker, Melanie King, Jonathan Sims, the Admiral, Basira Hussain (mentioned), Rosie Zampano (mentioned), Martin Blackwood (mentioned)
Additional tags: Diary/Journal × post mag200 × Post-Canon × Canon Compliant × Rated for swearing and me doing my best to write a fitting epilogue for my most fave story of all time × Bittersweet × Hurt/Comfort × Grief/Mourning × Gentle-Sad-Soft × Fluff × Non-Sexual Intimacy × Tenderness × Generally Hopeful Ending × Ambiguous/Open Ending × Catharsis × You know how TMA is a tragedy? ... yeah × Hope Punk × dealing with the fallout of surviving a literal apocalypse × Moving on and letting go × Trans Georgie Barker × Nonbinary Melanie King × Melanie uses any pronouns but needs to (re)discover this first × and is then mainly referred to with they/them pronouns for diary-simplicity × Melanie is ace in my heart ♡ × Jon is also enby but it only gets referred to in passing × Georgie has a Type™ × Character Study × i love them all so much × Nonbinary aspec author × it's very hope punk and somft BUT ALSO VERY SAD × in like a cathartic way × because i like causing pain :') × pre-written and updates every 2-3 days
I think I might use it to… rediscover myself. That’s what I liked about journaling in the first place, I think. Getting to think about things outside of my own head, putting it out there so I could move on? Maybe it’s time to return to old coping mechanisms and try again. Even if I haven’t really changed. Even if I should’ve changed. Right?
As the world tries to piece itself back together, Georgie grapples with her past, her present, and her future by keeping a diary. She also keeps having this strange, recurring dream that involves Jon. Post MAG200.
Finished at ~12k, will upload over the next couple of days <3
Day 3 - Evening
Melanie is sleeping. Basira is also sleeping, on the sofa in the living-room. She doesn’t really know what to do with herself, these days, so for now she’s staying with us.
I am not sleeping. I’m so far beyond tired that I can’t sleep anymore. It’s been... how long? More than a day, certainly. I’m at the kitchen table and the night outside is darker than any I’ve ever seen. There are no street lights and a million more stars than I could’ve ever imagined. I wish Melanie could see them too :(
Back before everything in my life went wrong, I used to be really good at this. I think I got my first diary when I was... seven, maybe eight? I used to be obsessed with it. I guess I stopped writing in college, after the incident, because it felt... wrong? Like I was lying to myself, trying to fabricate emotions that just weren’t there, keeping up with things that no longer seemed important or note-worthy. Mainly, I couldn’t make myself care about anyone or anything anymore.
I think I want to find that person again, now that it’s over. Try and… move on? And Melanie encouraged me :) I guess that’s the main reason. I found this notebook in one of the domains when we were rescuing people. I don’t know what I originally wanted to do with it, but I did end up forgetting about it until I went through my bag again today. It smells like fire and is a bit singed in places, but I kind of like that? I think I might use it to… rediscover myself. ...that sounds very pretentious, but this is just for me, so...
And I like that it’s just cheap paper scribbled on with a shitty biro. Maybe I’ll just burn it when all the thoughts are on the paper instead of in my head. When I can sleep again. And the prize for the most dramatic way of closure goes to Georgie Barker! But yeah. That’s what I liked about journaling in the first place, I think. Getting to think about things outside of my own head, putting it out there so I could move on? Maybe it’s time to return to old coping mechanisms and try again. Even if I haven’t really changed. Even if I should’ve changed. Right?
But I don’t feel any different. Shouldn’t I feel different, now that they’re gone? The entities, I mean, though Jon and Martin seem to be gone, too.
I keep remembering Martin’s expression when he told us to go early, how upset he was.
Honestly, I can’t say I’m surprised. As long as I’ve known Jon, he’s always done what he thought best. It used to drive me up the walls, but I also admired it, I think? I never would’ve told him that, but… Well. He’s gone now.
It’s over, all of it.
And I still can’t sleep.
And Melanie is still blind, and I still feel empty, and my fear still hasn’t come back. Everyone who died is still dead, and the trauma is still there. There were angry mobs in the streets, and people got killed.
I can’t quite believe that Jon and Martin went with them. I can’t believe they left us behind to explain the entire mess.
 We’re back in our old flat. It’s so weird to be back home. Everything looks the same, as though no time passed at all. Nobody knows what date it is. How long were we caught in there?
Outside, it feels like spring. There are birds everywhere, singing their hearts out. Sounds like more birds than there used to be, too. The trees are leafless and dead-looking, but Basira pointed out that they’re getting there... and it feels like spring.
I haven’t slept properly in 3 days because the questions keep me awake. It’s not that I’m worrying, really, just… thinking? I think I could sleep better if the worry had come back, but it hasn’t.
As far as we can tell, all modern devices are broken, too. Computers and phones and such, digital cameras, generators... we don’t even know what the rest of the world looks like. I hadn’t realised how much gets controlled by computers these days, we don’t even have central heating or water access in our flat. Rumours and news are spreading person-to-person, like in the Olden Days. We only have emergency systems that were installed in case of nation-wide blackout. I guess I’m glad we don’t actually have a blackout, we just need to get the computers back to work. (If I understood it correctly.)
Melanie thinks it’ll all come back to life in a few more days. I certainly hope so. I also hope I’ll stop feeling like this. Or rather, not feeling like anything. It’s so strange. Like in the first days after the incident, when I just felt numb?
They’re gone! I want to feel like a person again! What if I never get myself back?
 They’re actually gone.
 What will we do with our lives now? Basira isn’t the only one who feels uprooted. I think the whole world feels like that right now.
I hope my computer comes back soon. I miss music, and making things. My photos, all those memories.
I don’t want to lose all of that. I want to start fresh, but not without records of the past.
…I’ve had a lot of time to think about that, specifically. Records, and futures.
What the Ghost is done, right? There’s no fun in creepy ghost stories if you’ve been through an actual, living nightmare.
I think I want to start new with that, too. When everything works again, that is.
New world, new future, new podcast. I like that. I think. Make a record of what happened through eyewitness accounts? Or is that too similar to the Statements… then again, it’ll be more like interviews. And I think we shouldn’t forget.
We owe them that much.
I’ll have to talk it over with Melanie tomorrow. Maybe.
We’ll see.
God, I think maybe… maybe I can actually try and sleep tonight. Writing does seem to help.
 Note to self: thank Laverne for suggesting it. (Also for being there for Melanie. And listening to us. And stopping with that culty nonsense. She’s the only one we found so far, but she actually listened to us. Strange to think that in this world, I have to be grateful for someone not worshipping me for some dumb reason?!)
   Day 4 - Morning
So. Three things.
1) I did manage to fall asleep after all! I’ve always been a bit of an insomniac, especially after the incident, so actually getting some proper rest felt really good.
2) I somehow woke up right as the sun went up! I think I’ve never seen a dawn this beautiful? I watched it from the bedroom window and I’ll definitely describe it to her in detail when she wakes up! The Admiral was sleeping on our pillow, right next to her head, snuggled up against the back of her neck and shoulder... it was so cute. I can’t believe my phone and camera still don’t work! Melanie has that old polaroid camera somewhere but we haven’t found it yet, and I wish my art skills were any better. I did draw a sketch of the two of them though. I’ll cherish it forever, no matter how shitty it is :’)
After everything that happened, the Admiral is still a bit weird around us. He started out really aggressive, calmed down a bit, and now… now he’s weirdly skittish? Meows a lot. Keeps walking around the flat. The only thing that even remotely returns him to how he used to be is tuna. It’s weird.
But seeing him like that, with Melanie? I love him so much.
I think he’ll be okay.
But before I forget, and why I actually got out the diary at this ungodly hour instead of trying to go back to sleep now that the sun is up…
3) I had a really nice dream. And... I don’t even know. I think I want to try and hold onto the feeling? I don’t think I’ve felt that… deeply… in a long while. Maybe the last time was before all this, when we decided to move in together. Before all of this happened.
For a moment, I felt like I was whole again :’)
It didn’t even have Melanie in it, which is very rude tbh. I think Jon was there? The Admiral, too. We were just chilling on the sofa, watching netflix I think... It felt so... mundane??? Casual, somehow??? Like it was normal to feel like that and I just... I want THAT. I want to feel like that again, instead of this weird… blank nothingness? I want that all the time, not just when I’m riding a high or feeling so terrible that it pierces through.
I don’t know if that makes sense but this is just for me anyway so I suppose it doesn’t have to.
 I think I should feel bad about Jon being gone, but I still don’t even feel relief at it being over. Just this vague numbness.
I hate it so much, except I don’t, actually, I just know that I should?
Melanie keeps saying that I need a therapist but if we’re being honest here, I guess I need one the least? The whole goddamn world needs therapy right now. Including the therapists. And I’ve been dealing with this for a long time now.
I guess I keep hoping it’ll just go away somehow.
 Anyways. Enough introspection, I’m going back to bed. I hope I don’t wake them! :)
  Day 4 - Evening
 It’s night now, the sun went down hours ago. We have a bunch of candles, but I’m trying to use them sparingly, so I just have one lit. I put a glass of water next to the candle so now the light gets magnified a bit more. It’s a weird atmosphere, but I kinda like it? Feels… cozy! :)
I’m still not over how everything looks the same, but nothing works like it did before, and there’s this… burden? This collective trauma everyone went through. It feels so surreal. So many things are still broken… it’s like we woke from a collective nightmare, but pieces of it still remain, floating around.
And we just sent it away with the tapes. I really hope those other worlds are doing better than us, but what else could we have done? I… try not to think about it. I know I should, but I still can’t really bring myself to care, or even feel overly guilty for that? …
 Melanie fell asleep with her head in my lap half an hour ago. I was reading to her. She says she loves the sound of my voice, so I’ve started doing that in the evenings. (I still love that we had separate crushes from a distance on each other for ages because of youtube and WTG. We’ve been talking about that a lot, too.)
She still has nightmares, but apparently she’s also been having good dreams, and she looks so peaceful right now. The last few days have been a lot, but in comparison to before, and even before then…
It’s over. We made it out. We get to have a future together. I still can’t quite believe it. :)
 I guess I’m writing again (despite already having done so in the morning) because it somehow helped yesterday and I’m hoping to replicate that. And I have a lot to think about. It’s been a long day.
Basira is still out there, helping out where she can. I think she feels guilty. Melanie says she doesn’t because there was no other choice, but I know her, and I know that she’s lying.
There’s always another choice. We just say that to make it easier to bear.
I hope she knows she can come talk to me when she feels ready to tackle it.
I hope I ever feel able to tackle it myself. No. I will talk to her when I’m ready.
We did talk a bit about things, of course. Melanie doesn’t really remember her dreams, most of the time, but apparently she’s been alternating between horrifying nightmares and a really nice, recurring one that sometimes happens after the nightmares. She doesn’t really remember much of it, but she mentioned it after I told her about the Jon dream. Not what it was about, just… in general.
From the way she talked about it, I think her dad might have been in it? I’m actually not sure, but the way she smiled…
She has that little smile on her lips again, even now, dreaming. The soft one she gets when she talks about good things. About him.
About me.
(I still can’t believe she chose me. How impossibly lucky? How did I ever deserve her? But then, it’s not about that, is it? She is mine, and I am hers, and… life will be good. I know it will be.)
 She’s been smiling a lot more, these past few days.
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joy1579 · 4 years
Text
the RFA reacting to MC saying something creepy in her sleep
so I went to a con and in one of the panels the speaker mentioned her boyfriend (also a speaker there) talked in his sleep and said only the creepiest shiz (she also mentioned him sleep fighting which is hilarious but not what this story is about) one of the things he had said that really shook her was the phrase “the wall’s demand a sacrifice” and i really like that phrase. 
so yeah that’s where this came from
oh and ya know master list
Jumin
-        it was past midnight and he was up to respond to a foreign business partner
-        he wasn’t fazed when you shifted and mumbled something incomprehensible
-        you had always talked a little in your sleep, mostly cute nonsense from your dreams
-        “the walls demand a sacrifice”
-        Well that was new
-        He debated waking you up, if it were a nightmare he certainly didn’t want you to suffer longer
-        Then you chuckled and he felt a shiver run up his spine.
-        He had never her you laugh quite like that
-        Perhaps he should make some tea and finish his work in the other room
Yoosung
-        He had woken up when a particularly loud crack of thunder rang through the stormy night
-        Jolted awake he looked around to check on you
-        But you were snuggled up just as cute as ever
-        “the walls”
-        He smiled a little to himself, he loved when you talked in your sleep
-        Sometimes if he goaded you along he could get you to say his name
-        “what was that MC” he asked gently prompting you
-        “the wall’s they want a sacrifice”
-        That was all he needed to hear to know he would not be sleeping that night.
-        He sat in the well-lit kitchen watching cute animal videos
-        Anything to not think about the ominous warning you had muttered
Saeyoung
-        You had your head on his lap as he worked on his laptop at the coffee table
-        He chuckled at your occasional grimace or smile as you dreamed
-        That is until you spoke
-        “we must give the walls their sacrifice”
-        “heh what was that?”
-        “the walls demand a sacrifice”
-        A second later you were shaken awake
-        “MC if you ever do that again I will douse you in holy water”
-        “huh?”
-        “nothing just um, time to head to bed I think”
-        You grumbled something about already being asleep before you shook you but relented and followed him to bed
-        not noticing as he absentmindedly fumbled with the cross around his neck
Zen
-        he’s occupied with character analysis when you appear in the doorway glassy eyed and vacant
-        he had seen you sleep walk before when work stress got particularly bed so he wasn’t too surprised
-        he stood, prepairing to gently guide you back to bed you turned your head towards the window and muttered something
-        he chuckled quietly thrilled by how cute you always were
-        he placed his arm gently around your shoulders and began to hush you gently as he walked you back to the bedroom
-        “the walls demand their due”
-        That stopped him in his tracks as he searched your blank and unfocused gaze still turned towards the only small window his apartment had
-        “jagiya?” he prompted gently trying to rouse you “are you okay babe?”
-        You shook your head blinking rapidly and coming back to yourself
-        “Zenny? What? Was I sleep walking again?”
-        “what were you dreaming about”
-        “I um its fuzzy, you were there I think, but mostly I remember there was someone talking”
-        “let um let’s get you to bed jagiya”
-        he decides its best to head to bed with you, though he didn’t sleep very well after that
Jaehee
-        she woke up to a call from MR.han
-        she was ready to turn him down. You had helped her take great strides in being able to say no
-        even to him
-        she looked at you and readied her resolution
-        then you spoke raspy and sleep deep
-        “the walls demand their sacrifice”
-        Well that was, unsettling to say the least
-        When a chuckle escaped your lips the last of her bravery slipped from her grasp
-        If she wasn’t going to sleep anyway she may as well work after all
-        She left you a note on her way out
-        “MC I had to go into the office urgently also you were sleep talking again last night. I read recently sleep talking can be caused by stress and sleep deprivation. Please take care of yourself and be sure to get good rest.”
Saeran
-        He doesn’t sleep well
-        So he’s used to sitting up watching you sleep it helps him calm down
-        The you nuzzle into his lap just a little more and mumble
-        “the walls demand a sacrifice”
-        He’s more curious than anything else
-        what does it mean? how do the walls speak to you? what kind of sacrifice do they want?
-        am I in danger? why did they choose to give you their demands?
-        I could sacrifice someone to the walls just as easily as you could?
-        who are the walls to judge me unfit for preparing their sacrifices?
-        He has to shake his head that line of logic was still so easy to fall into
-        He would wake you gently then in case the dream that caused the sleep talking was a bad one
-        then both of you could start the soothing routine of falling back to sleep together
181 notes · View notes
audiblesmirking · 3 years
Text
erratic heartbeats ~chapter 6: you gotta love them over-affectionate characters~
Legend: "English unless stated otherwise" --- 'Thoughts' --- "Telepathically speaking" --- [Authors' Note]
"what are you saying, mother...?" Azumi's eyes glistened with the tears she's been suppressing. "you had other intentions...?"
Akina sighed exasperatingly, raising a hand to rub her temple, trying to ease the growing headache. "... This wasn't the right time to tell you."
"Well, when were you planning to tell me?! Years later after I've mastered my psychic abilities?!"
"Yes." Aiken answered bluntly, looking straight at his daughter's eyes as it darts from his to his wife's. The look of betrayal was prominent on Azumi's face; with eyes the widest they have ever been since she was a child, and eyebrows furrowed in denial. She refused to comment on her father's brutally honest reply. Not like she could anyway; a lump had already formed in her throat, preventing her from speaking clearly without her voice cracking midsentence. As if a rope of thorns are wrapped around her neck, occasional sharp pains pricked her throat.
"There was no other options to choose from so quickly. We feared your powers would be too much too soon, so we went with the best decision we thought." Aiken explained, maintaining eye contact as Azumi takes unconscious small steps back until her calves bumped the sofa. At the unexpected impact, she almost lost balance and, fortunately, didn't fall on her butt on the couch. It would have been embarrassing to argue after just falling.
"This issue involves me! Why didn't you consult to me first?!" She was now yelling, the dam in her tear ducts breaking and sending rivers down her cheeks. "If you thought lying to save you the trouble of talking to me would be best, you were wrong!"
"But I suppose you're too busy with other things to care about—" Azumi cut her sentence short went she silently choked on her saliva. Usually, she'd be embarrassed, but she was too deep in emotion to be feeling only a specific one for a moderate amount of time.
"What does that supposed to imply?!" Akina joined her daughter in standing, seemingly understanding her words despite it being abruptly cut. "We're doing this for you! For when you've given up all your powers you've had your whole life to your child! When you turn into an ordinary person, atleast you'll live in comfort. In luxury!" Azumi was irritated at her mother's assumption of procreating. How dare she, she doesn't get to decide on that. Whether she decides on an offspring is up to Azumi.
"I don't need luxury if it means I have to be neglected by my own parents! Parents who could always spare time for their lonely daughter, who spent all her life trying to achieve all her parents' expectations hoping to be rewarded with praise and attention." Azumi tried not to sniffle too loud, not bothering to wipe her tears. "and receiving nothing after all those years." Azumi walked away, the first time she's done that to her parents, and she felt a new sense of freedom by doing so.
"Azumi—!" Aiken was already by his wife's side, shutting her up.
"It's fine. Let her be alone for the remainder of the evening. We'll discuss about this again some other time..." He looked at his wife in the eyes as he held her in place, knowing she'll follow their daughter to her room demanding an explanation for her deplorable behavior. "We're also at fault here, Akina."
——————————
The next day, Azumi woke up all puffy and blotchy after crying so hard last night. She intended to wake up just after Aiken and Akina left for work, so she could prevent running into them in breakfast and in departing. Not like they ever encounter everyday in the morning, anyway.
.
.
.
Azumi arrived at school early, so she decided to take a detour from her usual walk straight to her classroom. She headed to the side of the school, where very few people would choose to walk through, and sat down on the concrete bench surrounding one of the trees. It was a windy morning, mild gusts of air blowing from the east, providing Azumi with the coolness she needs to feel as comfortable as possible. She was content on simply watching the leaves sway and fall from the wind until the morning bell chimes, but she was interrupted.
"Huh? Little buddy?"
Azumi turned to see Nendou approaching her. 'I didn't pin Nendou to be one of the early birds.' She gave a small wave, before redirecting her attention to the sky. 'But maybe it's just for today that he arrived here early, I do remember him mentioning about some early morning try-outs.'
"What are you doing here? Let's go to our classroom!" He beamed, before shifting his expressions to a more playful one. "Or did you forget where to go? Don't worry, little buddy, I'll show you the way!"
Azumi smiled at this. "No, I didn't forget. I just thought of clearing my head before school starts." She watched as he walked closer to her to listen more clearly to what she was saying, before another gust of wind blew the trees and drew her attention back to them.
Nendou decided to sit down next to her, planting each of his palms on the concrete beside his thighs and leaning back, using his arms for support. "Eh? Clear your head? Where will your brain go then?"
She lightly laughed, sparing her friend a glance. "It's not that type of clearing. I just want to forget about what happened to me last night."
"Huh, something happened to you last night?"
"Say, Nendou, how is your relationship with your parents?" Azumi realized her confession, and attempted to change the subject before her companion pries too much.
"I only have my mom. My dad died before I was born..."
"I–I'm sorry to have brought it up." Azumi felt bad for being so insensitive, she intertwined her fingers together and broke eye contact with Nendou. "How is your relationship with your mom, then?"
"Oh, we're doing fine!" His drastic change in expressions is questionable. "She got a new job at this company that she says pays more. I'm really happy about that, because my mom says she can buy me new shoes now! Though, last night she made me clean my room because I came home late and made her worry... Oh yeah! What happend to you last night? You hadn't told me that yet"
'To think that he came back to the topic after my distraction.'
"A–Ah, that..." Azumi hesitated, 'I guess telling him would be fine. I mean, he's not one to judge the lives of his friends, right? I'll just leave out the whole psychic powers thing.' She sighed.
"... I had a fight with my parents..."
•°●•°●•°●
"I feel like a kid who got beat up by a delinquent on their first day at a new school."
Azumi wanted to talk to Saiki about what she found out from her parents last night. She wished to tell him, most likely out of spite from being lied to, but also because it involves him as well. Just after she rounded a corner, she was surprised to see an unfamiliar student walking next to Saiki as she was heading to her classroom. She raised a hand to fiddle with her ear cuff, curious to know what his relationship was with the new student.
"I don't get why you want to hide it. Psychic powers would get you all sorts of attention." The new student was being too loud with his words in their sort of environment.
Azumi raised her eyebrows at the thoughts incoming behind her and hid in an empty classroom. She felt Teruhashi about to walk by and pass the two boys walking ahead of her.
"That's what I don't want."
A few seconds and a gasp later... 'Looks like the new transfer student fell for me, too.' Kokomi cheered in her head as she leaves the hallway, bringing Azumi out of her hiding spot. She furrowed her brows at what Teruhashi had done, confused on why she would actively search through the school looking for the transfer student only to receive a mere gasp for her efforts. She can always wait for him to hear about her and watch as he finds her. Atleast in that way, she can just sit pretty.
"Wh–Who is that beautiful girl?!"
"That's Teruhashi-san. She passed by us on purpose. You should be thankful."
Toritsuka Reita reacted loudly, shaking the shoulders of Saiki, before quickly being flocked by girls. All of which are curious about the news that spread about his psychic abilities.
"Saiki-san..." Toritsuka began, seemingly shocked by the crowd, but easily recovering. He smiled and gave a thumbs up in Saiki's direction. "Maybe I can settle for this."
'It'll die down, soon enough' Azumi thought, taking the chance to stand beside Saiki as if she had just arrived. She kept her hands in her pockets as the two psychics witness Toritsuka do his job in impressing the girls before him. "Who is he?" Azumi feigned ignorance of the situation, turning her head to look at the friend beside her.
Saiki shortly glanced at her in masked skepticism, before looking back at the gathering people around the spirit medium. "Toritsuka Reita." Azumi nodded in response, turning as well to watch the commotion in front of her.
Takahashi and his friends insisted Toritsuka tell their spirit guardians after initially being ignored, which inconvenienced the spirit medium in his quest to woo every girl that are around him. "Okay, let's see..." Toritsuka deadpanned, sparing them only a quick look. "Geezer, hag, hag, and hag. Okay, it's done."
Azumi got overwhelmed by the growing number of people gathered in the hallway, she sought solitude. In her attempt to walk away, she drew the attention of Toritsuka. "W–Wait—! You there, don't you want to know your guardian spirit?!" He gaped as she ignored him and left to go to her classroom. Toritsuka turned to the psychic he knows. "Saiki-san, do you know her?!"
"Ah, that was Kanasawa-san. She was new here on the first day."
"She's got a crazy powerful guardian spirit. Maybe even a psychic...?" He whispered to Saiki, to which his words piqued his interest.
He was about to repsond, when Kaidou came and interjected. "Guardian spirits? What nonsense." He acted uninterested, despite his thoughts telling otherwise. "Still, I'd suppose it would be rude not to hear you out. So tell me what my guardian spirit, or whatever, is."
Toritsuka was about to deadpan at him as well, but his guardian spirit was too interesting to not comment on. "Huh? Your guardian spirit is quite abnormal."
'Seriously?! 'Quite abnormal'?! Is it a demon?! A sealed monster?! A dark spirit?!'  "I-I see. So what is it? Tell me." Kaidou had an obvious blush on his face, but despite his excitement, he lowered his voice to maintain his appearance of uninterest.
"It's a chihuahua."
"Ch-Chihuahua?!" Kaidou exclaimed as the students around started laughing. Looking down on his clenched fist, he started mumbling to himself. "How dare he?! I bet he's a fraud!"
Toritsuka faced Saiki. "Introduce me to her so I can tell her about her guardian spirit." His favor sounded friendly, but adding in his expressions and his true thoughts, it became too friendly and borderline perversion. 'Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute, cute, cute. She looked so cute...' Not like he wasn't a pervert, anyway.
"What was that about, Kanasawa-sensei? Are you feeling alright?"
"Quit repeating 'cute' in your head...!"  Saiki directed his thoughts to only the spirit medium, irritated at his noisy mind.
——————————
Aiken looked up from his desk, seeing the faces of two of his co-workers. "Hmm? What do you mean, Kinji-san?" He addressed the hospital resident who was with him in the OR, lowering the pen he was holding.
"In the surgery a while ago..." Kinji started.
"Why, what about it? Did I cut something wrong in any way?" Aiken knit his eyebrows, worry bubbling within him.
"No, it's not that. You did everything perfectly."
"So what's the problem here?"
"The problem is, you did everything. It was as if there was no one there to assist you in the surgery." The other doctor, Taiji, replied. He was there to confront Aiken after having been approached by Kinji. 'I appointed a number of residents under Kanasawa-san, because he was the best of the best, but how can they learn from him if he doesn't give them a chance?'
"Yes, is there something bothering you? This normally isn't the case." Kinji held on the backrest of the chair on the other side of Kanasawa's desk, contemplating if he should sit down or not.
Aiken sighed, leaning back on his chair. "It's a family issue. I apologize. I promise it will be ameliorated by tomorrow."
.
.
.
"Kanasawa-sama, the new managers of the marketing department have arrived. We are waiting for you to teach them the ropes." A petite young woman entered Akina's office after notifying her presence with a knock.
Akina looked up from her documents, she had finished little in the span of the morning, and the executive secretary took notice of this. "Is that so?" She turned back to the papers on her desk, lifting her pen to scribble in her signature. "Call in one of the presidents to lead on the managers. Whoever you choose that best fit the role will be my substitute." She spoke after a moment of silence.
"Are you not feeling well, Kanasawa-sama?"
"Yes, and so I entrust the decision to you, May-san." Akina looked at the young psychic in the eyes, an aura of superiority radiating off of the CEO. "Good luck."
"Come on, Saiki-san..." Toritsuka pestered Kusuo after he followed him around the whole day, through lunch and even now as they were walking out of the campus.
"As you wish, Kanasawa-sama" She bowed before leaving the room. May heard the sigh coming from her supervisor right before she fully shut the door.
——————————
Toritsuka mistakenly thought Nendou was a ghost a while ago, having swung his bag at him, and were now on their way to his home at the temple to explain his reason for assault.
"Just tell me more about Kanasawa-san!" He whined like a child that was denied from eating candy. "The ghosts avoid me like the plague when I ask about her from them."
"They do?" The new information grabbed Saiki's attention, but he didn't turn to look at his companion. "Well, they should."
"Is she a psychic like you? Because I think her guardian spirit might be an ancestor of hers. They look alike..." Toritsuka gave up on his begging, knowing that Saiki will not let out information even if he cried all night. Toritsuka leaned his head back on his interlocked fingers, before his saliva was practically drooling from the corner of his mouth. "But if she is someone with psychic powers, then I should've come to her instead."
Saiki smacked the back of his head with his psychokinesis, glaring at him from the corners of his eyes. "Hey! Don't go changing your mind after annoying me last night."
"Ow—! That hurt you kno—" Toritsuka cut off his own sentence when something in him clicked, as if the slap urged the gears in his brain to work. "Kanasawa... Does Kanasawa-san live next to you?!" He held the shoulders of the psychic beside him.
Saiki frowned at his personal question and invasion of personal space. "Why would you want to know?"
"Last night, while I was walking to your house, I passed by this huge house that was beside yours. It had 'Kanasawa' written in the gate's plaque." Saiki raised an eyebrow, having already known the information, but Toritsuka continued. "It was strange, because there were no ghosts hanging around and in the lot. There are a lot of ghosts that prefer to hang out in mansions, so it came as a surprise when I saw absolute zero ghosts when I passed by."
Saiki hummed in response, before throwing off Reita's hands from his shoulders using his powers. He contemplated with the new information he received, continuing with his walk. 'Her family is a mystery, even with the help of ghosts. As I thought, there is no other way to figure them out without getting close to them.'
"We're here. Okay, could you touch me while using your psychometry?" Toritsuka said after they stopped infront of his house, making Saiki push the topic of the Kanasawa's some other time. "I think you'll know why I made the mistake I made a while ago."
As Saiki stared at him suspiciously, he held his shoulders and activated his psychometry. "This is..."
Kusuo trailed off as he saw a Nendou lookalike sleeping on the ground while leaning on the stairs "Let me introduce you. This is my guardian spirit" Toritsuka looked ashamed, and didn't even look at Saiki in the eyes when he talked.
"You really do have it tough"
•°●•°●•°●
Azumi dreaded to enter her house, standing in front of the double doors and contemplating whether to enter or to retreat to a nearby park. 'No, I shouldn't postpone this any longer. It is bound to happen, anyway.'  With gathered confidence, she pushed opened the door and walked in.
'They're either waiting in the main living room, my room, or the dining room.' Azumi hoped they were in the dining room, but the call she heard after being halfway in walking past the main living room, proved otherwise. 'Living room it is...'
She silently entered and sat in the exact spot she was the other night, feeling the gazes of Akina and Aiken as she does.
A heavy silence hanged in their air, each member of the family waiting for the other to speak up. Aiken chose to start. "It has come to our attention that you have been feeling neglected and ignored by your mother and I... and, we wish to amend the mistake we made and be given another chance to become proper parents to you." He spoke slowly, thinking over his words before it would be said, so as not to offend anyone. "I hope our talk today will enlighten all three of us of the hardships we each have encountered, and discuss a proper solution to help."
"There should be no raising of voices. We are here to talk and to listen." Aiken finished, looking at the expressions of his wife and daughter to see if they understand and agree or not. The two nodded, making Aiken nod as well.
The Kanasawa couple met gazes, and Aiken prompted his wife to talk. "I... have come to realize that I oftentimes cut you off... Zumi-chan. I didn't know it would have a greater effect on you than waiting for you to finish what you're saying. I'm sorry. This is more on a problem of self, so I don't wish for you to change because of what I've done."
Azumi stared at her mother, harboring mixed feelings on the apology she received. She looked down, thinking over of what to say. "An apology is the first step to redemption... and so, I accept your apology." She took notice of the wistful look on her father. 'Ah, I guess he has nothing to talk about, because we almost never talk—or do anything, really—alone.' Despite Azumi thinking her father had nothing to share, she was surprised to hear his voice.
"I apologize for not spending any of my time with you, Zumi-chan." He looked down, with his eyebrows low, he refused to look at his daughter. "I will make it up to you over time. We'll be bonding together atleast once a week, now."
Azumi furrowed her eyebrows at his words. "But your work..."
"I can always have a number of leaves a month. Since I'm a talented volunteer, they treasure me enough to let me manage my own schedule."
"And I can always reschedule." Akina added in. "You were right. No amount of money can ever replace the love from your parents." Akina genuinely smiled at Azumi, who slowly returned the smile. "I'm sorry it took so long for us to realize."
"it's okay, as long as you both won't forget." Azumi weakly said, afraid to hear her voice crack as a lump formed in her throat just as what happened last time.
"Ah, before I forget. About what you said of being well-rounded yesterday." Aiken raised his head.
"A–Ah, that. You can just put it off as me blabbering because of anger. I wasn't thinking straight last night."
"No, what you say matters." Azumi locked eyes with her mother. Her eyes widened by a fraction at the words she never expected to hear from Akina. "I cared too much about you being powerless, I pushed you to be perfect in every aspect. I hoped that even without psychic abilities, you can live your life whatever you wish, and pursue your dream job, as if you had them. I was obviously wrong."
"I'm sorry, as well, that I made you master various martial arts. I was simply concerned for when you encounter immoral people, and had no other way to protect yourself. By the time your powers awakened, you've already achieved all the highest honor of belts." It was Aiken's turn to lock eyes with his daughter. "I'm very proud of you."
"I pushed you to perfect every instrument, sport and hobby I give you. And I truly am sorry for everything I have put you through." Akina said after her husband finished. "I am very proud of you as well, Zumi."
Everything was going too fast and is overlapping with each other in Azumi's mind. She heard an apology and words of praise from both her mother and her father, so why isn't she satisfied? Was she too stuck up to genuinely accept their words? If so, she's feeling very horrible right now. Nevertheless, she forced a smile and wordlessly nodded. She didn't know what to think of right now, and ought to think it through the night.
"We'll be holding something similar to this every week, so we can improve our communication with each other." Aiken concluded, standing up from his seat, his family following suit. "Now, let's have dinner. I'm famished."
——————————
It was Saturday, and Azumi woke up pretty early; that is, if you can count 10:15 am as early. She had a sports lesson with Furushima Yumi, the volleyball captain she met during 'chapter iii.', and ought to prepare before their agreed time of 11:30 am.
She finished everything, from changing into her sports attire to packing water and towels in one of her bags, after almost an hour. 'Alright, 15 minutes is probably enough time for me to arrive at the school. But only if I run... Should I take the car?' While she was contemplating whilst headed for the stairs that lead down to the ground floor, she saw, from the corner of her eye, a frantic boy in front of her gate. 'Toritsuka-san?'
Azumi watched as he shouted at seemingly nothing, elaborating huge gestures as he does. 'What in the world is he going on about?'  She was curious to know what has gotten him so worked up. 'Kusuo-san's house is over there, anyway.' With her heightened hearing, without touching her power limiter, she listened in on what the spirit medium has been talking about with the air.
"Come on, it'll only take a few seconds to peek inside..." Toritsuka dragged on, slouching his back and hanging his arms, slowly getting tired of all the ruckus he's been creating. "What's so terrifying about that mansion, anyway...?"
He stayed silent for a moment, most likely listening to the ghost he's conversing's explanation. "Eh? Is that so?" He looked at the front door of Azumi's house, before sighing. "I guess I'll wait for Kanasawa-san to come out. Oh, I bet she'll be super cute today, too~!"
Azumi grimaced in disgust at his last words. 'Yeah, I should take the car.'
.
.
.
"Azumi-san—!" Furushima took notice of the approaching figure of Kanasawa, placing down her water bottle and excitedly jogging towards the girl. "You're here!" She beamed, eyes creasing in delight and arms open to hug.
Azumi slowed her walking at the gesture the volleyball captain was showing, hesitating on whether or not she was comfortable enough to accept the hug.
In the end, she awkwardly wrapped her arms around Furushima, choosing to be polite and accept the gesture of affection.
After the first few volleyball lessons that happened between the two, Azumi thought they were close enough to be called by each other's names. "ah-hah... Did I make you wait, Yumi-senpai?" She let out a short nervous laugh before stating her question.
Furushima released herself from the hug, but let her hands rest on Azumi's forearms, smile unfaltering. "Not at all. But I have missed you since our last meeting." Before the psychic could respond, the volleyball captain was already ushering her towards the court, a hand gently guiding her back. "I thought you were ready to play with a team, so I invited a few of my friends, if you don't mind."
"No, it's fine. It's a fundamental part of playing volleyball, after all."
As if Furushima's smile couldn't possibly get any bigger, it just did. "You look pretty as usual today, Azumi-san..." Once again, Kanasawa was unable to reply when one of Yumi's friends yelled their greeting once they saw them walking towards the court.
==========
A/N
discuss plot holes of "erratic heartbeats" with us! @ the link in my bio.
3 notes · View notes
supernatural-love14 · 4 years
Text
Crossroad Demon
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Summary: After a hunt goes wrong. You make a deal to bring back Sam, but to hold up your end of the deal, you have to become the one thing you hate the most. Will Dean and Sam be able to save you?
Chapter Summary: After Y/N’s disappearance, the boys start to search for her, but not before dealing with a few things themselves.
Warnings: Angst, language, dickhead of a demon (don’t think that's a warning)
Pairings: Eventual Dean x Female reader, Sam x Female reader (Platonic)
Word count: 2880
SPOTIFY Chapter Music: Brother by Kodaline, Drowning by Radio Company, Carry on my Wayward Son by Kansas
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Main Masterlist
Crossroad Demon Masterlist
← Part 2
Part 3 - Finding You!
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Dean’s POV
“Sammy?”
“Dean?”
Slowly heading towards Sam, my face remains shocked, before I stop altogether. Not truly believing that Sam is there, I look down to the practically empty bottle of whiskey in my hand, before placing it on the War Room table.
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“Sam? How?” Rushing towards my brother, wrapping my arms around Sam into a bear hug, I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. Pulling away, I check Sam for any injuries, checking mostly where the Vamps had bit into him around his neck. “How are you alive?” mumbling at Sam.
“I-I don’t know. I woke up in my room. What happened?”
“Vampires. Y/N and me. We couldn’t get to you in time.” Trying to explain as best that I could as I quickly brought Sam into another hug, my heart swelling at the thought of my brother alive. “We brought you back here. Put you in your room.”
“Where’s Y/N?” Looking around for their best friend, noticing the trashed-up library. “What happened over there?”
“Me. I kind of destroyed it. After we put you in your room.”
“What about Y/N? Dean?” Sam looks expectantly at me, waiting for the answer. “Dean, where is she?”
“She, um, she’s gone.”
“W-what do you mean gone?” A questioning look appearing in his eyes, Sam’s concerned features takes over.
“She left, after an argument. I-I guess.”
“Dean! What is wrong with you? You let her leave. Why would you do that?”
“I couldn’t help it. You were dead.”
“Dean, I told you. I told you not to do this. When I was dying in that nest, I told you to not blame her, to not let her leave, to tell her the truth. Why couldn’t you do that?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t bring her back here.” Sam says before running a hand over his face, stopping when he reaches his mouth, realising something. “Wait a minute. I was brought back to life, wasn’t I?”
“I-I guess. Why? What are you thinking?”
“If it wasn’t you, Dean.” The realisation finally hits Sam’s head. “What the hell! It was Y/N. wasn’t it. She made a deal.”
“No, no, no. She couldn’t have. She wouldn’t have.” panic sears into my eyes, bringing out concern. “No. No. Don’t say it. Why would she do that?”
“What did you say to her Dean? When you made her leave, what did you say to her?”
“Dammit.” My hands running through my hair, turning my back to Sam. “I-I told her… I told her it was her fault that you were dead.”
“DEAN? You can’t be serious!”
“I was angry, I was grieving your death.” I snap back around to face my brother. “I was just taking it out on the first person I saw. I made her leave Sammy. I did this to her.”
“We have to find her. We have to save her.” Sam said, “I’ll call Cas, see if he’s heard from her or knows anything from Angel radio.”
“Right, I’ll call her again, if they haven’t already dragged her to Hell.” Even the thought of that hit me hard in the chest, breaking my heart. The idea of Y/N being in Hell. I just prayed that she was still on Earth.
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TWO MONTHS LATER
“Dean. Jody called something about a nest near Sioux Falls. She needs backup. I told her we would help her.” Sam calls out to me from the War Room, he just entered. A pile of books and pieces of paper scattered the Library table, where I was sitting. My laptop in front of me, as I search for practically anything on Y/N. So far, nothing.
“I’m not giving up on this Sam.” I said as I turned my head towards him. Sam strides towards me grabbing the top of the laptop, before closing it.
“Look man, I never said we’d give up on this. But there’s nothing so far. Every hunter out there will call us if they find anything.” Sam explained, sitting on the table, staring down at me as I lean back in the chair. “Cas will find something on Y/N. We both know that he won’t stop looking until something comes up. But we need this. We need to help Jody. If we continue to sit here, researching, we will never find Y/N. Ever.”
“Sam. You have got to understand that all of this is my fault. I’m the one that sent her away. She could be hurt, tortured, or-o-or dead.” Closing my eyes, the thought of Y/N being dead, breaks my heart.
“We don’t know anything yet. We don’t know for real if Y/N made a deal. Something else might have brought me back. Mayble Crowley. Maybe the Angels - highly unlikely. Or maybe it was God. But Y/N has practically disappeared off the planet. No one knows where she is right now. We can’t do anything to help her if we don’t know where she is. But what we can do, right now, is go kill some vamps.”
“Fine. But if something comes up and we’re not here to see it. It’s your fault.” I say, standing up to go grab my things from my room. Sam quickly puts his hands up in a surrender stance. “We leave in ten.”
Moving swiftly towards my room, I pass Y/N’s room. Her door was shut and for a second I thought I heard movement from behind the door. Grabbing my pistol that was tucked into the back of my jeans, cocking it, I enter her room turning on the light. Empty. Nothing had been touched. Nothing had even been in here since I realised she left. Sighing, I put away my gun, having a quick look around the room before leaving, shutting the door behind me.
Heading to my room, I enter turning on the light, grabbing my duffle bag. Shoving a whole load of weapons and clothes into the bag and zipping it up, I pick it up throwing it over my shoulder before I head to the Garage. Sam was alreading in the Garage, waiting for me. I sighed when I chucked my bag into the trunk of the car.
“Hey man, what took you so long?” Sam said, as he headed for the passenger door.
“Nothing, just choosing what I should take for the hunt.” I wasn’t going to tell him I thought someone was in Y/N’s room.
“Right… well we should get going before Jody decides to take on the vamp nest alone.” Chuckling at the thought Sam gets in Baby.
Getting into the driver side myself, We head out of the bunker, with me driving us to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
After a five hour drive to Sioux Falls, we finally made it. Pulling into Jody’s place, we park up - Jody already waiting for us with a big grin on her face.
“Well look who decided to show up.”
“Hey, Jody!” A smile forming on my face as I got out of Baby to go give Jody a hug. 
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Sam does the same thing once I step back.
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“You boys ready for the nest?”
“More than ready. So what’s the play?”
“Well, from my guess there are about six vamps in total.”
“Let’s play this smart Jody, we’ll stick together. Have each other’s back. Keep a lookout for more vamps. They might just be hiding in the shadows.” Sam planned out looking at me, we both remembered what happened last time we dealt with Vampires. I am not going through that again.
“You sure you’re up for this Sam? You know, after last time.” I ask him out of concern.
“I’m fine Dean.”
“W-what do you mean after last time?” Jody questioned, her inner-mother concern being brought out.
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“It’s nothing Jody, don’t worry about it. Just a hunt that went wrong.” Sam replied.
“Don’t lie to me, Sam Winchester. Spill. Now!” That mother tone would put the fear of God in anyone, and it’s not even directed at me.
“Well… Um… I died. Kind of. But then I was brought back after a friend gave up their life for mine. We think. Anyway.”
“I’m sorry, What?! Am I supposed to understand that nonsense?”
“Basically. Sam was killed by vampires. And then Y/N, um... one of our closest friends. She, uh, she made a deal - at least we think she did - to bring back Sam.” I explained, while Jody’s face fell into shock, mouth wide open at the reveal.
“Wait. You mean Y/N Y/L/N?”
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“Yeah? You know her?” Sam asked, head tilted in confusion.
“She saved my life a few times now on hunts. She was a good person.”
“Well, now she’s missing. We think she made a deal to bring back Sam. It’s the only reason we have to believe when Sam came back to life.”
“So, what, she’s in hell?”
“Maybe. We’re not sure. Maybe she got some time before being sent to hell. But if she's still here we have to find her. We’ve been looking for signs, omens. But so far, nothing.” Sam explains.
“I’ll send out some feelers. See if anyone has heard anything.”
“Thanks Jody.”
“It’s no problem. Now what do you say we go kill some Vampires? Huh.” Jody said, pulling out a machete from her car. Before heading over to my Baby.
“Let’s go.” I replied as we all piled into my car before speeding off to the Vampires location.
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FIVE MONTHS LATER
Nothing. There is absolutely nothing on Y/N. No one has heard from her. Not Cas. Not Jody. Me and Sam had started to go to many different crossroads, trying to find a demon that would give us a deal. But nothing. It was as if the demons were trying to hide what was really going on.
At our next stop, another crossroad. 
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Me and Sam stand in the centre as he places the box in the middle of the road, covering it up. A red-painted demon’s trap surrounded the area, from where we had painted it not minutes beforehand for insurance, before Sam started to recite the spell.
“Not you two.” We hear from behind, turning around quickly  to see the red-eyed demon, clearly not amused.
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“Well, you don’t have a choice. We need information.” I tell him, bringing out the demon blade that had resided in my jacket pocket.
“You really think I’m scared of that dinky little thing?” The demon laughed.
“Oh, we know you are!” Sam said, smirking.
“Look. I have nothing. No information on the whereabouts of Miss Y/L/N.”
“Why did you say Miss Y/L/N?” My face etched with confusion, such a strange way to say it for a demon, right?
“Yeah, and how did you know we were talking about her?” Sam asked, taking a step forward towards the demon.
“Well, you have been bothering the other demons at every crossroad you’ve come across. Nasty business that, What else would it be about?”
“Just tell us what we want to know and we’ll let you go.” Sam negotiated.
“Like you did with the other demons? Did you really have to kill them?” The demon said as he started to walk around the demons trap, with us turning our bodies, following his movements.
“Just. Tell. Us.” My teeth clenching together as I spoke the words. The anger within me radiating, losing my patience with this demon.
“I hear that this is all Dean’s fault. Isn’t that right?” The demon laughed.
“How’d you hear that?” Sam asked, while putting a hand on my shoulder to stop me from killing the demon. No matter how much I wanted to tear this demon apart I had to keep it together for Y/N. I knew this was all my fault and I would be damned if I didn’t spend the rest of my pitiful life trying to make it up to Y/N, wherever she is.
“Where do you think?” The demon smiled. A look I just wanted to wipe off of his stupid face. “Hell, of course. From the King himself.”
“What? How the hell does he know?” Sam turned his head towards me, confusion etched into his face.
“He’s the King of Hell. He practically knows everything.” The smug demon is practically asking for death right now as I try to hold back my urges to kill him.
“Where is she?” I growled at the demon.
“Hell.” The demon smirked, me and Sam looked at each other, before turning back to the demon.
“We want to make a deal. Me and Sam for Y/N.”
“No.”
“What do you mean no? It’s the best kind of deal.” Sam asked, confused why any demon would ever refuse an offer like that.
“Because I said so. No Crossroad Demon will ever make a deal with the likes of you. Not after what you guys have done to the other demons.”
“Fine. We’ll do this the hard way.” I said, stepping forward towards the demon, raising the demon knife as he stepped backwards with his hands raised.
“Woah, hold on. Let’s talk about this.”
“No, the time for making a deal is over. You had your chance. Now we do it my way.” Me and Sam quickly grab the demon by the arms, before placing the demon handcuffs on him.
“Ok. Ok. Wait. I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you her next location.”
“Her next location? What’s that supposed to mean?” Sam questioned.
“You don’t know, do you Winchester-scum?” The demon laughed, as I raised the knife to his throat. His laugh quickly subsided as he realised his predicament.
“Tell us now! What do you mean?” I practically shouted in his face.
“Well now, this is quite enjoyable. But I’m not going to tell you anything until I know that I will be getting out of this situation alive.” The demon bargained, smirking at his proposition.
“Fine. You’ll live, if you tell us what you mean.”
“I made the deal with her. To bring back Sam.” The demon started, smiling as he turned to look at Sam. “Crowley didn’t just want her soul in Hell.”
“Then what did he want?” Sam asked. I keep the knife close to the demon’s neck, putting a slight pressure on it, forcing the demon to speak.
“You have got to know that Crowley always gets what he wants.” He smiled, reminiscing about the deal he made with her all those months ago. “She’s a demon.”
“What?!” Me and Sam say at the same time. Shock clearly hitting us both.
“Not just any demon, you know. She’s the best. Crowley’s favourite.”
“No. No, I don’t believe you. She would never accept a deal like that.” I said, pushing the knife deeper against his skin, letting some of the blood drip down.”
“Hey now, hold your horses. She chose this. I didn’t make her say yes. I didn’t make her seal the deal. That was all her.”
“Tell the truth!” I shouted at him, anger radiated through me.
“Dean. Wait. We need to know where she’s going to be.” Sam tried desperately to calm me. His hand on my shoulder to tell me to let the pressure off of the demon's neck.
“Yes. You do. I know where she will be next.”
“Start talking now. Where?” Still holding the knife to the neck, slighting, but not putting too much pressure on it, I wait for the demon to squeal.
“Abbotsford, W-W-Winsconsin… Now let me go!”
“Fine, we’ll let you go. Back to Hell. Sam, start the exorcism.” Moving the knife away from the demon, I put the knife back into my jacket pocket waiting for Sam to start the exorcism.
“What?! No, you said you would let me go…” The demon looked from Sam to me to then back to Sam, as he realised how royally screwed he was.
“Yeah we did. And now we are letting you back to Hell. Sam?”
“Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas omnis incursio infernalis adversarii...” Sam started.
“Oh, Come On!!” The demon shouted in annoyance.
“...Omnis legio! Omnis con... potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii. Omnis legio! Omnis congregatio et secta diabolica! Ergo, Draco maledicte et omnis......legio diabolica, adiuramus te!...”
The Demon’s body starts to twitch involuntarily at the exorcism, causing him to scream out at the power of the words.
“...Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii. Omnis legio! Omnis congregatio et secta diabolica! Ergo, Draco maledicte et omnis legio diabolica, adiuramus te!”
As Sam finishes the exorcism, red smoke flows out of the demon’s vessel before hitting the ground in a fiery motion, letting us know that the demon has been expelled to Hell.
“Now what?” I ask, looking down at the vessel, damn he didn’t survive, I move swiftly to go pick up the body that was left behind as Sam follows my lead. We lift the body heading straight for the ditch close by where we would bury and burn the body before taking back the handcuffs we placed on him earlier.
“We go to Winsconsin. Let’s get our friend back.” Sam replies, a smile on his face, mine mirroring, finally we were going to get Y/N back.
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← Part 2
→ Part 4
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xaeons · 3 years
Text
With stars in her eyes
The results came back. She'd taken a short breath and opened the letter with shaky hands. She was in Hanji's office, Hanji standing next to the dirty blonde. Slowly Elizabeth opened the letter. Hanji watched the expression of the woman next to her, she watched Elizabeth's face drop. Hanji's voice spoke up, "Based off the look on your face I think I know what the results are..." The other woman nodded and smashed her face into Hanji's shoulder. Elizabeth sniffled, "What am I going to tell him? He's already upset with me because I've been acting 'strange'." "In my opinion, you should just tell him." "Hanji, he's going to tell me not to go on the expedition." "Well you shouldn't. As your friend and now confidant, I also would advise you not to go." "Hanji, we leave tomorrow. There's not enough time to replan everything and find a replacement for me. This is the biggest expedition, we need to protect Eren." Hanji grimaced, "Liza, you're pregnant. Obviously far enough along to have morning sickness and other symptoms. You can't do this." "Hanji, it's one expedition. I've done this thousands of times. I won't be on the front lines this time. I'll be okay." Hanji shook her head, "I can't stop you. But as your friend I want you to think this through." "Promise me you won't tell anyone Hanji, and I mean anyone. After we get back I will do whatever you want me to, tell Mike, let you dote on me, anything. But I can't back out of this. It's too late." Hanji hugged Elizabeth, "I promise. Go down to breakfast. I'll meet you down there."
Hanji had other plans. She snuck towards the commander's office. She knew that if she had anything to do with it, she'd get Elizabeth out of this expedition. She didn't technically lie to her friend, she bent the truth a little... but only for her now pregnant friend's health! She knocked on the door a few times when she heard Erwins voice come through faintly. Hanji opened the door and shut it behind her. She looked at Levi and Erwin. Erwin looked up to her, "Yes Hanji? I'm finalizing a few more things before tomorrow's outing. I'm quite busy." He gave her a look to speak. Hanji gave a nod, "It's mostly important. I think we should have Elizabeth stay on the sidelines this upcoming expedition. She's been throwing up and I'm afraid it'll affect her work tomorrow. I was wondering if we could have her sit this one out?" Erwin shook his head, "It sounds like she has nerves again. She used to get that way often when we were cadets and had just joined up. This is an important thing we're doing tomorrow. It's too late to move her around. Everybody has their positions memorized and it might make things messy moving it around. She'll be fine Hanji, she always is and has been. Trust me." Hanji nodded, "Understood sir." Levi gave her a look and Erwin had dismissed her.
Hanji left the room feeling unsatisfied with how Erwin swept this under the rug. She heard someone's footsteps behind her, she turned to see Levi catching up to her. His voice rang out, "Someone's awfully upset Erwin couldn't move people around for her friend." Hanji stopped dead in her tracks and turned to Levi, "I have no clue what you're talking about Levi." "Something's up and I can just tell. Mike's acting weird, Elizabeth's sick after eating half the time and now you. Something's up." "I made a promise not to tell Levi," Hanji let out a whine. Levi rolled his eyes and pulled Hanji into an empty office. "Talk, shitty glasses. I have a right to know what's going on with my friends." "I promised Elizabeth. I gave her my word..." Levi rolled his eyes at her, "Let me guess, she's pregnant and it's Mike's. She's avoiding Mike because she's scared and Mike is upset because she's sick more often than not right now. I can also assume that she's either just found out or just told you, so you're taking it into your own hands to get her out of this. Am I right so far?" "Jesus Levi, you're a wizard!" Hanji covered her mouth, "I mean, you're so far from the truth that it hurts!" Levi rolled his eyes at her. "So she's pregnant. Huh? Thought they'd be more careful than that." Levi shook his head, "so she's not telling him?" "No she's not. She's really adamant about going tomorrow. I've tried talking her out of it but she just won't listen, Levi. I'm scared for her and their child." "Hanji, Mike needs to know. He needs to know before dawn tomorrow. He's the only one to talk her out of this nonsense." "She doesn't want anyone else to know though." "So we pull him aside when nobody else is around. Simple." "Not that simple Levi. Nanaba has been hanging around him non-stop and he's training with his squad more often than not. Pulling him aside is gonna be harder than you think." "We'll get it figured out. In the meantime, let's go get her to actually eat something. I don't think I've seen her eat for a day or so." Hanji nodded.
Both Levi and Hanji sit next to Elizabeth and she gives a look, Levi never sits with them. Levi lifts his teacup to his mouth and takes a sip. He lowers the cup, "You should really eat something. Keep up your strength." Elizabeth gave a confused look to Hanji and noticed all the staring they were getting, especially from squad Mike's table. Mike hadn't been there today. Elizabeth looked away from Mike and kept her gaze to the food in front of her. Levi stared at her, Hanji felt uncomfortable with the current situation. Elizabeth continued to sit there and not touch her food. She looked to Levi, "so. What brings you over here today?" Levi continued to look at Elizabeth. "I'm making sure you eat. Now don't waste time. You look famished and we have a big day tomorrow. Eat." Elizabeth flushed red and took baby bites and swallowed. She got halfway through before she felt nauseous, she immediately stood up and beelined for the closest exit to the outside. Everybody stared. Levi stood up and loudly announced, "Back to what you were doing. This is of no concern for you." And left with Hanji.
They finally found Elizabeth hunched over some bushes emptying what was left of her already empty stomach. Hanji rubbed her shoulders, "Liza, please don't go tomorrow. You're not in good shape." "Hanji, I'll be fine." Levi spoke up, "Elizabeth, you're pregnant. You're not fine." Elizabeth snapped her head at Hanji, "you promised not to tell," she let out a small sob. Levi straightened up, "Technically Hanji said nothing. I figured it out myself," he let out a small sigh, "Hanji, she's gonna do whatever she wants regardless of what's best for her. Let her do what she wants and call it a day." Hanji let her jaw drop, Elizabeth did a double take. Hanji broke the silence first, "It's not right Levi!" Elizabeth stood up, "thank you Levi. I'm gonna go finish my paperwork. My squad meets in an hour and I can't be late," and she leaves. Levi waited until he heard the door shut before speaking again, "Reverse psychology shitty glasses. She thinks we're giving her the choice. She'll choose right. Either way it's not our choice. No matter what she chooses, it's what she thinks is best for her." Hanji agreed.
Elizabeth walked back into the castle and past some cadets from the 104th. A brunette girl and a clean shaven boy asked her if everythings alright and she nodded "Everything is fine guys. No worries okay? Just my nerves. Everybody has them." And with that they split. She walked into her office and sat down at her desk. She stared at her paperwork for what felt like hours, 'nothings getting done today huh?' Her eye caught the envelope again and she picked it up. She decided she was going to tell Mike. She struggled through her paperwork before it began to get dark. She hadn't eaten all day and she realized Mike hadn't come to check on her, 'I really fucked up haven't I?' She grabbed the envelope and exited the office. Elizabeth knew exactly where she was going as she had traveled this path hundreds of times. She saw the door she needed and stood there for a moment, the knob turned and out came Nanaba. Both women stared at each other. Nanaba rolled her eyes as she started walking the other way, Elizabeth now felt a small bit of jealousy hit. She never felt jealous.
Elizabeth let out a small breath she had been holding and knocked twice on the door. A moment passed before she did it again. Finally Mike's voice rung out, "who is it?" Elizabeth shivered, it's been about two weeks since she heard his voice last. "It's me Mike." A moment of silence passed and she heard his chair scrape across the floor and footsteps approach the door. The doorknob turned slowly and the door finally opened. "Now's not the time Elizabeth." "We need to talk. Please?" She pleaded with him. "I have no time for these games. You were the one who avoided me all this time. We're going to be busy tomorrow. I have enough on my plate right now." "Mike please-" and the door gets locked and shut. Elizabeth let a few tears out. She leant onto the wall and eventually sat on the floor. She silently cried to herself eventually falling asleep.
Levi and Hanji had found her in the same position she was originally in. They woke her up and walked her to her bedroom. She began to cry again. "I tried telling him. He wouldn't talk to me. I fucked up. I fucked up, I fucked up, I fucked up. I shouldn't have shut him out. I'm so scared and it's too late to back out now," she pointed to the clock that read 3 am, "I don't know what to do anymore." Hanji got her boots off after Levi sat her in her bed. Levi threw a blanket on her, "It's not your fault. You were scared. Shit like that happens, especially here in the survey corps. You did what you thought was right and there's no going back. You will do great things tomorrow Liza. You will do great things and after this is all said and done, you will talk to him and figure out the rest of your lives okay? I'm not one for pep talks but this isn't one. This is me telling you the truth of the matter. You will get through this. Get some sleep okay?" Elizabeth nodded and Hanji and Levi closed the door behind them. 'I can do this.'
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Text
Crossed Wires pt.3
Flash Fanfic
——
Warnings: None
Word Count: ~2,500
Pairings: Oc x Canon
***Note: Emily is my own creation, I just like sticking her in random places***
——
Emily woke early the next morning, Harry still sleeping sound beside her. She pondered if it would still be Harry or if Nash took control again before stretching and leaving the warm covers. With one last stretch she rummaged around for something to wear, picking up a pair of her pants before looking for a shirt. Not finding any of her spares that were clean, she instead opted for one of Nash’s. He wouldn’t miss one of his many white shirts nor would he really mind, in fact he seemed to stare a little bit longer whenever she borrowed one. Smiling to herself she slipped out of her sleep shirt and into his before turning to the bed after having heard the sheets ruffle. “Morning,” she said smiling.
“Mornin’,” the response came with a distinctive southern drawl. Emily froze studying the familiar yet unfamiliar face looking back at her. Where in the world did his shirt go? Harry certainly fell asleep with one on. “Whaaa....?” she started confused.
“My apologies,” he replied standing. “Lothario, at your whim and desire.” He bowed low looking her up and down once he righted himself with a half smirk. Emily cringed a bit recognizing who it was that had taken control. “Ah, right. You dropped trow at a council meeting.”
“Made an impression did I?” He asked somewhat smugly taking a few steps toward her. “If only because it was so unexpected,” Emily countered taking a step back. He chuckled having come to a stop a few feet in front of her. “Yes, well, I’m not just impressive to look at. Should you so choose, I’d be more than happy to demonstrate my skills.”
“Ah, no, no thank you. That won’t be necessary,” Emily dismissed stepping around him. “Worried little ole Nash won’t measure up after?” he asked cheekily. Emily spun around and looked him in the eye, something she suspected may have excited him a degree given his reactionary behavior. “Did you forget you’re just borrowing Nash’s body?” she asked.
“Are you implying you’re already, *intimately,* familiar with him?” He attempted at prying. Although she could feel her cheeks become red and ears begin to burn she held her glare. “I’m not gonna stay on this topic,” she declared bringing an intrigued raised eyebrow to the man’s face. “Doppelgängers is carbon copies of each other,” he calls after her as she turns to leave the room. “But that don’t mean he can do what I do.”
“That’s perfectly fine with me,” she called back continuing towards the kitchen. “If you want food you’ll drop it and follow me.” Lothario smirked and followed her keeping quiet about the previous topic like she asked. “Since I’ve only seen you in passing,” she said rounding a corner into the kitchen. “What did you want for breakfast?”
“You,” he said pointedly sauntering up to the table. Emily gave him a look and sighed somewhat annoyed. “I meant food.”
“You look appetizing, you tellin’ me you ain’t nowhere on the menu?” He asked trying his best at flashing a smolder look. Emily glared completely over his schtick. “You’re not the first person with such a mindset I’ve had to deal with,” she said with some authority. “I’m not afraid of enforcing boundaries.”
“Ohh, scary,” he dismissed still smirking.
“Fine, you will get toast and you will like it,” she said matter-of-factly before turning to place four slices of bread in a near by toaster. After pressing the button she spun back around to point at him having heard his steps coming up behind her. “Sit,” she ordered. Rolling his eyes he complied taking a seat near by continuing to watch her and she continued keeping her eye on him. When the toaster popped, and without breaking eye contact, she floated the bread out and a plate from a cupboard before placing the toast onto it floating it over to Lothario. “What, no butter? Honey? Maybe some sugar?” He asked wiggling his eyebrows. Keeping a deadpan face, she floated over butter setting it down next to his plate. “When you’re done I’m taking you to the lab,” she said. “So don’t dawdle.”
“Yes, of course,” he smiled buttering his toast. “Are you gettin’ somethin’ as well?”
“I basically run off cosmic radiation and as such don’t need much food,” she explained. “I’ll be fine.”
“Nonsense,” he dismissed holding up a piece of toast. “Even Superman needs breakfast. ‘Ave one at least.” Emily eyed him for a moment before accepting. “Alright, fine. One piece.” She floated over some brown sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle on top before taking a bite. Lothario watched her curiously. “What you doin’?”
“Hmm? Oh, you’ve never had brown sugar cinnamon toast?” Emily asked mid bite.
“Can’t say that I have,” he responded.
“My mom used to make that for a special breakfast whenever there wasn’t time for actual special breakfast like strawberry shortcake.” Emily explained.
“Sounds delicious,” Lothario replied interested. Emily smiled reflecting on the breakfast memory. “Started by my memere, it has dense biscuits, sliced strawberries and lots and lots of whipped cream.”
“Whipped cream you say?” Lothario asked with a smirk. Emily’s face dropped, her jaw slack and cocked to one side clearly not amused. “Uh huh,” she said before deciding to just play along. “Sometimes it gets all over, just really messy y’know?”
“Uh huh,” Lothario agreed too distracted to finish the piece of toast in his hand.
“‘Course, if you don’t wash it off right away, the cream and syrup from the strawberries just make things really..... really..... sticky.” Emily took slow careful steps toward the table where he was sitting and leaned over it. Lothario stared wide eyed and slack jawed at her, his mind swimming with images until he dropped his toast startling him. Emily smirked. “You done?”
“I uh.... yeah. S’pose so,” he said still dazed.
“Good, lets go then,” she said holding out her hand. Lothario took the opportunity to get up close pulling her right up against him as he held her hand, almost like he was preparing to dance. Emily blushed and felt rather uncomfortable, especially with the placement of his hand so low on her back, but kept her composure enough to form a wormhole and transported them both to the lab. “Caitlyn!” Emily called trying to pry herself away from Lothario who had pressed himself closer to her. It was still rather early in the morning but she had taken note she usually showed up first. Caitlyn rounded the corner into the cortex in time to hear Emily scolding him. “Let me go before your hands are broken,” she said sternly.
“Nash?” Caitlyn asks.
“Lothario,” they both answer simultaneously.
“Please tell me he has cloths on this time,” Cisco pleads from around the corner just as Caitlyn was about to ask what he meant. “Council of Wells, has little to no concept of pants,” Cisco explained seeing Caitlyn’s confusion. “Ah,” she responded in understanding eyeing him warily.
“I made sure he kept pants on,” Emily assured.
“Not for lack of trying,” Lothario teased still keeping uncomfortably close to her. Emily stuck her hand in his face to keep him from making eyes at her. “He’s not very convincing.”
“You didn’t give me an opportunity to,” he countered trying to get his face close again.
“Caitlyn, help, please,” Emily pleaded.
“Alright, ok,” she says heading over to break things up. “Lets see what the device readings are for last night. Maybe it can tell us how to reverse it seeing as its happened again.”
“Don’t feel you need to rush,” Lothario said nonchalantly walking to the exam room. “I’m happy hangin ‘round for a while.” He winked at Emily who huffed still somewhat flustered.
“I think we may have to rush that actually,” Caitlyn said studying the readings. “Why, what is it?” Emily asked concerned. “It would seem that, somehow, the neural device not only monitored but malfunctioned during the night and caused his brainwaves to become unstable.”
“So what does that mean exactly? Is it dangerous?”
“It’s hard to tell but, it’s possible he could suffer permanent brain damage if the instability goes unchecked effectively leaving him in a vegetative state,” she said pointing at the screen.
“So how do we fix that?” Lothario asked now worried himself.
“Well, perhaps we could make adjustments to the device in order to stabilize and prevent spontaneous jumps. Most importantly though, is getting Nash to the front and preventing as many jumps as possible. The more jumps, the more damage.”
“So, I could disappear for good?” Lothario asked. “Caput? Erased? No more?”
“You, and every other Wells entangled in there,” Caitlyn confirmed.
Hearing the news, Emily became restless and tried to keep herself calm. “Emily? Hey, are you alright?” Caitlyn asked concerned. “Yeah, I’ll.... I’ll be ok,” she said stiffly. “Just a bit of anxiety, that’s all. How many jumps happened last night?”
Caitlyn paused while hiding the tablet. “Emily....”
“How many?” She insisted. “Please, it’s gonna be worse if you don’t tell me.” Caitlyn pursed her lips and paused. “According to the data retrieved, it looks like.... maybe 5,” she explained hesitantly. Mild panic flashed over Emily’s face and her whole self seemed to fall. “How bad did that leave things?”
“I can’t say exactly,” Caitlyn admitted. “But, we really don’t want more than that to happen again. Considering he still seems coordinated and aware of what he is doing, if there is any damage it’s not serious and easily reversible.” Emily ran her hands over her face and took a deep breath. “Why don’t you go take a walk?” Cisco suggested. “You look like you could use some air.” Emily shook her head. “No, I’m fine,” she dismissed. Cisco and Caitlyn nodded after a reluctant pause, Lothario studied her curiously mentally noting her attempt at saving face. He could tell she wasn’t handling this as well as she wanted them to believe but didn’t say anything.
“Alright, what’s step one?” She asked crossing her arms and resolving to see a solution.
“First step would be to recalibrate the neural device to stabilize his brainwaves,” Caitlyn explained nodding to Cisco.
“The device is wired mostly to Caitlyn’s brain, which thinking about it now, may have contributed to the malfunction; it wasn’t calibrated to handle so many patterns,” Cisco chimed in. “So we’ll need a detailed recent scan to start things off.”
“We still have the scan from when Eobard was expelled, right?” Emily asked.
“Right!” Caitlyn said remembering the prior events. “We can use that as a ‘target’ for the device. So that just leaves programming it to re-merge the brainwaves and getting Nash back to the front.”
“I’ll see if I can get th’ other Wells’ t’talk,” Lothario offered keeping his attention on Emily. “Don’t worry, we’ll get ‘im back for ya.” He nodded with a genuine smile and not his usual leer. Emily returned it causing a glimmer to appear in his eye and his smile to widen a bit. “So you, go head off with Cisco there and deal with the programming and I’ll stay here with Miss Caitlyn, and work out how to get Nash back.” Emily nodded with a deep sigh before turning to Cisco who ushered her away. “You sure you’re alright?” Cisco asked once they got a few feet down the hall. “I’ll be better when things are sorted,” she muttered. Cisco nodded in agreement before they entered his lab to begin working.
After a bout two and a half hours, Cisco and Emily felt confident they were making good headway. Using the data from the expulsion of Thawn, they modified the device to alternate frequencies until the brainwaves merged back into stable position. All they needed now was for Nash to be in the forefront when everything fell into place. “This should keep jumps from happening,” Cisco explained holding the modified device. “Once Nash takes control, we can increase the frequency to start and hopefully complete the merging process.”
Emily smiles and sighs with some relief. “Alright, lets get this to Lothario and see if it helps stabilize things,” she suggested. Cisco nods in agreement and they both leave for the cortex. “When we see the results of this first test, we can tweak the settings to better resonate,” Cisco explains as they walk, more in an effort to break her unease than to clarify the functions. Emily nodded understanding what he was doing and suspected it was for his benefit as well as hers, he and Nash had grown into quite good friends since Earth Prime had been created and everyone settled into their new routines. She was sure he was just as worried as her about these developments. The closer they got, the louder a murmured voice became until they realized Caitlyn was having a very intense argument with Lothario. Although, Lothario didn’t quite sound like himself; it seemed to them that he donned a new accent. Emily’s face fell in concern at the immediate implication to such a development and quickened her pace. Hurrying into the room they both were at a near sprint when they arrived.
“Will you shut up!” Frost, who couldn’t take the arguing much longer and took over, nearly yelled. “And keep your voice down will you?”
“Jou can’t zeriously ve conzidering listening to zat oafs propozition,” a new Wells voice asked somewhat insulted. “He haz no idea vat he iz doing!”
“Wolfgang?” Cisco asked in surprise. The man turned and faced them having been shaken from his thoughts momentarily. “Jes, jes, of course,” he dismissed. “Ze only juan who knows vat to do apparently.”
“Yeah, that’s Wolfgang,” Cisco confirmed sourly glancing over at Emily. Wolfgang followed his gaze and his demeanor changed to a more friendly tone. “Ah, Emily,” he said with an actual smile. “So nice to meet jou again.” He breezed over and clasped his hands around one of hers, Emily staring blearily at him. “Vorry not,” he assured, “I am formulating ze perfect tactic to get jou jour Nash back.”
“Another jump?” was all Emily could mutter. “Well, at least it was one. It was only one, yes?” Her eyes pleaded more than she outwardly showed. Wolfgang paused tensing briefly while holding her gaze. “Ah, jes, vell.....” he started, gaze wavering as he struggled to hold it. “I...... I am ze..... only vun to appear.... if zat is vat jou mean,” he struggled. Emily didn’t say anything continuing to stare, Wolfgang began to feel uneasy under the unrelenting gaze and even Cisco became wary of her rigid demeanor. “Emily, dahlink.....” Wolfgang continued. “Lothario.... he’s not ze best at vorming coherent toughtz. Ezpecially zince he, well, can’t ‘tink properly’, if jou get vat I’m zaying.” His eyes and head rolled downward for a moment and he shuddered before looking at her again. “Don’t you listen to him none,” Lothario said assuming control again. “He’s just angry I have a diffnt way of doin things is all. Unorthodox he calls it.”
Emily felt her panic rise a degree witnessing a jump first hand. “No, no....” she said quietly to herself registering what he just went through. “Now, don’t worry,” Lothario tried reassuring. “I know just how to get ole Nash front n’center.”
“No, Lothario, did you just—“ Emily started before yet another Wells appeared pulling Lothario back into the recesses of Nash’s psyche. “They have no idea what they’re doing,” he said with yet another accent, this time sounding french. “They are neglecting how his emotional being is, how to calm him in order to ease the transition.”
“H.P.?” Emily asked trying to keep her freak out under wraps. “Yes, indeed,” he replied with a smile. “So good you remember me. Perhaps we could have a conversation sometime in the future. It seems something is always going on lately and prevents proper socializing.”
“Wh-Wait, you... you don’t..... You can’t......” Emily stuttered before yet another jump happened. It took him a moment to shake off the now sluggish delay before making eye contact again. “Can you b’lieve them?” Lothario said back in the lead. “I wasn’t nearly done with my-“
“No, STOP!” Emily nearly yelled, her hands now shaking as panic finally set in to full effect. Everyone froze and stared in surprise at her outburst. They knew she was worried but had no idea how much trouble she was having keeping her cool. “I think.... I think I’ll go take that.... that walk now,” she said, voice wavering a touch as she ran her hands through her hair. “I could use some air....”
“Yeah, go get some air...” Cisco agreed placing a hand on her shoulder as she walked away. He turned back to Lothario with an irritated and disapproving look. “What?” Lothario asked seemingly oblivious. “I say sum’n wrong?”
“Gee, I don’t know,” Cisco retorted sarcastically. “You were warned about brain jumps and what do you do? How many happened??”
“Now hold on, it wasn’t just me,” Lothario defended.
“I’m not talking to just you, I know the other Wells’ can hear too,” Cisco near snapped. Lothario stared after Emily for a moment before inhaling deeply and changing posture. “I’m going to go talk to her,” he said still looking past him. “No, I think you’ve done enough,” Cisco denied.
“It would help more if you stayed here,” Caitlyn added switching with Frost again now that Wolfgang had receded. “She’s really quite concerned with all this.”
“I know,” he said finally turning to make eye contact with someone other than an empty hallway. “I know. But, this is Harry. Please, I think I can put her at ease.”
“Not you too, Harry,” Cisco started to complain.
“No, I promise it wasn’t a jump or anything like that,” he assured. “I was permitted to ‘drive’, so to say, and I think that’s the key. Having Nash just close enough to the surface and then giving him permission to take control again.”
“But the question remains, how do we find him and bring him forward?” Caitlyn added.
“Well, I’ve been......I’ve been conversing, or as close to conversing as you can call it, with the other Wells’ and they’ve been trying to guide him forward. And let me tell you, it isn’t easy. Especially with Wolfgang and Lothario making so much noise.”
“I can imagine,” Cisco commented sourly.
“But I think it will help if she’s here too. Like a.... like a target or anchor point for him to aim for. But it would be best if she was on board with the idea,” Harry concluded. After a brief pause and moment of consideration, they both nodded in agreement. “So, anyone have any idea where she may have wandered off to?” He asked.
——
I must admit, my mind started rambling a bit at this point so I apologize if things get confusing. I couldn’t quite figure out how to articulate what it was I wanted to say.
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capnwinghead · 4 years
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For the kisses, Sambucky 1?
Sorry for the long wait! Thanks for the prompt! This turned out longer than I intended.
Sam/Bucky, for Bucky’s belated birthday, MCU, post Endgame, established, light angst.
1. Small kisses littered across the other’s face.
Bucky awoke to a light sensation.
Soft and sweet, chaste kisses almost too faint to mention. He turned his face towards the gentle warmth, fighting a smile when a line of kisses rained down his cheek, his hair brushed away as they fell down his throat and to his bare shoulder. The comforter slipped lower, a soft scratch against his skin that would probably leave a mark. No matter, Bucky liked feeling them throughout the day when his shirt sleeves brushed over them. It was a reminder.
“I had about thirty more seconds of sleep, you know?” Bucky grumbled, his eyes shut.
A hand shook his shoulder lightly as Sam placed another kiss on his shoulder. “You actually have all day.” The bed shifted as Sam sat up, his voice warm and cheerful. It was part of the reason Bucky could never get too annoyed with him. “It’s your day, man. We can do whatever you want.”
Bucky gave up feigning sleep, rolling onto his back into the warm space Sam had left behind. He opened one eye curiously, staring up at Sam as he smiled down at him. Well rested, Sam was a sight to behold. Well rested and happy was another thing entirely. It left Bucky tongue tied and nervous, his face warming. A strange fluttering filled his stomach, his chest expanding with a feeling he was damn sure never going to name.  
Sam stayed quiet for as long as he could stand before he reached out and shook Bucky’s shoulder again, a big smile on his face. “Come on! What do you want to do, babe? Go for a run? Go to the park? Get something to eat?”
Bucky stared at him, frowning. “Anything on your list that a Labrador retriever wouldn’t do?”
Biting down a laugh, Sam leaned over, resting his chin on his hands as he settled on Bucky’s chest. seven months of this and Bucky still got nervous when Sam got this close to him. “You realize those are all things you like to do, right?”
“Yeah, but, aren’t I supposed to do something bigger for my birthday?” he asked.
Sam’s brow rose. “If you want. If you want to stay in bed all day and watch Real Housewives, we can do that, too.”
Bucky shook his head, the corner of his mouth turning up. “When have I ever done that?”
“I came home early one day when you were resting up after that stupid stunt in Arizona left you with a broken ankle—”
Eyes widening, Bucky started to sit up. “That was one time!”
“One time is all it takes!” Sam began, laughing as Bucky took hold of his wrists. Sam shifted back, his bare chest coming into view as he rose up on his knees. “You watch four hours of Jersey girls arguing about nonsense, I’m allowed to call you a fan!”
“I’m not!” Bucky insisted, pulling Sam in closer as he squirmed, his legs tangled in the sheets. “I couldn’t reach the remote!”
“Uh huh, sure,” Sam said, accepting the kiss Bucky laid on his cheek. He leaned in, smiling as their lips met. He moved forward, spreading his legs to settle in Bucky’s lap. “Seriously, whatever you want to do.” His eyes were clear and honest.
And honestly, Bucky can’t really remember the last time he had choices. At least, not before Sam.
Reaching up, he cupped Sam’s cheek and closed his eyes, pressing a kiss to Sam’s brow. “C’mon,” he replied softly, climbing out of bed.
+
“It’s your birthday, Buck,” Sam said, his cheek in hand.
He sat at the bar, watching Bucky with an adorable pout on his face. Bucky had turned around shortly after seeing it, he had to focus on the stove. “And I want pancakes,” he said matter of factly.
“Yeah, I’ve heard of them. I can make you pancakes.”
“I want good pancakes,” Bucky clarified, laughing at the washcloth that hit him in the back of the head. He moved smoothly to the side as its friend quickly followed. Sam was a whiz in the kitchen; he knew how to bake just about anything, he made his own pasta and he knew how to make pizza from scratch. For some reason, he’d never been able to make a decent batch of flapjacks. “I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, but even you have to admit your pancakes come out a little darker than most.”
“Some of them are just a little well done.” Bucky shot him a skeptical look as he transferred two pancakes to a plate. Sam frowned at him. “I thought I won you over with my pancakes?”
The corner of Bucky’s mouth turned up and he rested his hand on his hip, leaning across the counter. “It wasn’t the pancakes.” He dropped a kiss on Sam’s lips and returned to the stove, ladling out more batter.
“But you agreed to go out with me after I made you pancakes.”
“No, I agreed to go out with you after you tried to make me pancakes.”
Sam had tried so hard; to be stealthy and quiet that morning and have them ready when Bucky usually woke up at the ass crack of dawn. The smoke detector had gone off and Bucky had leapt out of bed sure Hydra or AIM had decided to set their house on fire. Instead, he’d found Sam running around in circles trying to get rid of the smoke filling the kitchen. Bucky had nearly launched a fire rescue before he realized Sam was trying to save something on the stove.
In the end, as sappy as it sounded, it was the thought that counted. He’d been flat out shocked that anyone would go to the trouble to do something nice for him. Let alone Sam who’d already done so much from letting him stay there after being given more than enough reason not to trust Bucky at all. Sam who hadn’t bat an eye at making Bucky his partner and tying his future to him. Sam who’d never once looked at him and saw the guy he used to be before Hydra sank its fangs into him.
He hadn’t thought twice about agreeing to go out with Sam. To this day, he was still shocked Sam had wanted to date him in the first place.
He set the platter of pancakes down in front of Sam and sat down next to him, loading up two plates. Sam watched, a thoughtful look on his face. Bucky handed him the syrup and then a fork, frowning when a slow smile spread across Sam’s face.
“What?”
Sam shook his head, returning to his plate. “Nothing, man. Let’s eat.”
+
Sam’s grip on his hands tightened almost painfully as Bucky tried (and failed) to keep from laughing at him.
“I hate you so much sometimes,” Sam muttered, brow furrowed as Bucky smoothly slid backwards, keeping them moving and upright. “You only picked this because you know I’m bad at it.”
His left foot slipped and his eyes went wide, a death grip on Bucky’s hands. Biting down on his lip, Bucky smoothly slid forward on his skates, pulling Sam into his arms. “No, that’s not why I chose this.”
Sam glared at him, his hands moving to Bucky’s inner arms as Bucky held him still. They’d gone ice skating once, and only once before, when Cassie Lang had invited the team to her birthday party and Sam hadn’t had the heart to turn her down. He’d only scrapped by without serious injury because Bucky had taken pity on him and laced up to help him.
It had been several months before they started dating. Back when Bucky had resigned himself to working alongside a man he could never be with the way he truly wanted. Back when the highlight of his days was getting Sam, bundled in layers, wrapped in his arms and holding on for dear life. He still remembered when Sam had sent them careening into the nearby barrier and Bucky just barely managed to stop them from going over, earning a grateful smile and a laugh that left him dumbstruck and speechless, his heart beating impossibly fast in his chest.
Nearly a year later and Sam still had that effect on him.
Bucky managed to separate them a little bit, missing Sam’s heat instantly. He moved backwards, pulling Sam along with him. Sam kept his eyes on his feet, focused, the way he did everything else. It was rare he caught Sam at something he wasn’t great at – but that was the thing about Sam, if he didn’t know, he asked. He never made Bucky feel stupid for not knowing something and he never seemed embarrassed when he learned something new. Sam just was – he never put on airs that he knew everything.
After a few minutes went by with no injury, Sam’s head popped up, a wide grin on his face. “I think I’m doing it!”
“Great,” Bucky said teasingly, pushing back further. “I can let go now?”
“Don’t even think about it!”
They’d barely separated when Sam veered forward, snatching his hands. Laughing, Bucky pulled him in, a puff of air escaping as Sam rolled into his arms. He stole a kiss, feeling Sam’s pout give way to a smile, his arms circling Bucky’s waist. Bucky reached up to touch Sam’s cheek, pressing their lips together.
Sam hummed, deepening it. It was easy enough to lose themselves for a moment, taking this small little section of the rink for themselves. The winter air fresh and clean, Sam’s scent in his nose, his warmth spreading between them.
This was exactly what Bucky wanted.
+
“All of the city’s restaurants for you to choose from and you decided on burgers,” Sam said slowly stretching out across the couch. Their legs were tangled together in the center, an ungodly large blanket between them keeping them warm. “We could have at least eaten at Dolly’s.”
“Nah, this is good,” Bucky said, stretching out his leg, bracketing in Sam’s hip.
He’d often wondered if Sam had this couch before Bucky moved in. It was large enough for two grown men to stretch out on comfortably and even big enough for them to sleep on when they were having a lazy Sunday. It seemed much too big for Sam alone.
Sam shrugged, leaning back against the arm of the couch as he picked up the remote. There was a dash of sauce on the corner of his mouth, his head cocked to the side as he scrolled through the options on Hulu. He settled on something, setting the remote down as he picked up his burger once more. Bucky reached across, swiping his thumb over Sam’s mouth.
Sam’s eyes widened, softening as he understood. “Thanks, man,” he said with a smile returning to the television.
There was some sort of loud argument happening on screen between two brunettes at a restaurant and Bucky cursed. “Sam, seriously?”
“It’s your favorite show, I’m just trying to be nice,” Sam said, biting into his burger.
“Gimme the remote.”
“No, it’s your birthday, I’m willing to make the sacrifice. Besides, Dina and Teresa look like they might actually get along by the end of this one.”
Bucky stretched out, moving into Sam’s space and reaching beneath the blankets. Their legs got hopelessly tangled and he landed on Sam with a loud huff as he knocked the air out of them. His fingers closed around the remote and he switched it over to something tolerable.
Sam shifted around until he was pressed against the back of the couch and Bucky settled with his back to Sam’s chest. “Westworld?” Sam asked, biting into his burger.
“You seen it?”
“Not yet.” He carded his fingers through Bucky’s hair, tugging lightly until Bucky rested more comfortably in his arms.
After three episodes, Sam had fallen asleep. It was late, well past twelve and Bucky’s birthday was officially over. Snoring softly in his ears, Sam had wrapped his arms around Bucky like some sort of oversized teddy bear. Bucky took up his hand, kissing his palm.
When they slept together, Sam tended to stretch out, ensuring that some part of him was touching Bucky at all times. Upon realization, Bucky had felt strangely overwhelmed. This whole thing was clearly a fluke, right? But if he let Sam get used to this, to having him around, what would happen when it ended? Bucky kept trying to picture Sam trying, and failing, to fall asleep without him.
He’d just turned off the television when Sam shifted, turning his cheek into the pillow behind his head. “What’s going on?”
Smiling, Bucky pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Time for bed.”
Sam shook his head, rubbing at his eyes. “No, no, I’m awake. I’m good.”
“Relax, it’s late. It’s not my birthday anymore.” Climbing to his feet, he leaned over and kissed Sam’s forehead as he bundled the blanket in his arms.
Sam let Bucky pull him up, moving sluggishly through the halls, his shirt riding up over his hip. Never more adorable than when he was sleepwarm and tired enough that he just followed Bucky’s lead. Bucky moved through the house, turning out the lights and checking the locks. Steering Sam towards the bed, he barely pulled back the covers before Sam tugged him down on top of him.
Breath evening out, he caught Bucky’s hand before he could turn out the bedside light. “Did you have a good birthday?”
He stared up at Bucky curiously, chewing on his lip. Bucky’s thumb swiped over it, releasing it gently from his teeth. He kissed him, running his tongue over the indent. His thumb smoothed over Sam’s cheek, warming as he smiled into the kiss.
He remembered one night, several months ago, when he’d first moved in. It had been a Saturday night and, while Bucky clearly didn’t have any plans, he was surprised to find Sam didn’t either. He sank down on the couch next to Bucky with a huff and flipped through the channels. He’d found something to watch, Bucky didn’t quite remember what. Some sitcom that had over a hundred episodes and, by god, they watched every one of them over time. Bucky didn’t remember that night fondly because of the cheesy laugh track.
He remembered that night because it was the first night Sam had fallen asleep beside him. Well past two in the morning, the couch covered in half empty chip bags and empty soda bottles. An empty tub of Ben and Jerry’s The Tonight Dough ice cream melting on the coffee table. Bucky was half asleep when he heard snoring and looked over to find Sam bundled up beneath the blanket, fast asleep without a care in the world.
Beside a guy that had nearly killed him twice, that had killed several people over decades. A guy that was healing, but not quite healed, from what he’d endured. A guy that still didn’t trust himself to be around people; certainly not anyone that didn’t have their guard up at all times. Not anyone that had zero qualms about falling asleep on a couch beside him.
Bucky remembered that night as the first time he’d realized just how much Sam trusted him – and just how much he’d wanted to earn that trust. Over time, he began to realize just how far that trust went. When Sam insisted Bucky go with him to a children’s birthday party, when he took Bucky to meet his family, when he brought Bucky with him to visit Riley’s grave. When he shared things with Bucky that he’d shared with his friends; when he shared things with Bucky that he’d never shared with anyone else. When he tried his best to make a decent batch of pancakes and nearly set fire to the kitchen. When he proved, time and time again, how much he cared about the messed up, socially awkward, ex-assassin he’d invited into his home.
So much so that he’d spent an entire day trying his best to make Bucky’s birthday special.
Swallowing thickly, Bucky nodded, hovering over him. Sam carded his fingers through his hair, smiling up at him. “I did good?”
Bucky kissed him, reaching over to turn out the light. He pulled Sam into his arms, kissing his shoulder and the nape of his neck. “Yeah, Sam. You did real good.”
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*Ignore if you've already read this I just wanted to tag
Part 20: Recovery
My shit busted, Erik frowned frustrated as he sat looking through the rearview mirror in the Wawa parking lot. He hated this part of the job. Though he could take a hit and it wasn't his first, second, or third time getting shot, he didn't like the feeling of being dependent on someone else for help, even with a wound. Getting severely injured was always a risk but he preferred dealing with things on his own. Aside from that, he didn't trust hospitals. He probably needed surgery again but definitely not in Texas. Sighing, he decided to swallow his pride for the umpteenth time to go ahead and call the man he always went to when he got shot, stabbed, or had something bad happen to him that he couldn't completely fix in his own with a needle, some Tylenol, and time.
Dr. Charles. He had the equipment and resources and made private trips. He also knew Erik personally from his military days. On top of that, he was a proud Nigerian and didn't ask for specifics of Erik's dealings, deciding that it was best for him not to know so that he stayed out of it. Erik trusted him more because of it.
"Yellow," Charles answered on the first ring. Erik's eyes rolled. The man was in his sixties and it showed.
"Sup Chief. My leg's busted again. I'm a fly to you-"
"No no," he spoke forcefully. "If you're bleeding you must contain it. You will stay down and rest! Keep your leg elevated. Have you wrap-"
"Yea yea... it's in a tourniquet," Erik sighed. He felt like a child being fussed at by an elder.
"Where are you?! Drive to the nearest hospital and give them my information! I'll take care of it. We will bring you in and I will take a look."
"Or I could just-"
"No!" It was absolute. Erik's mouth set in a straight line. Charles reminded him a lot of his father. No one else could talk to him like that. "You pay me too much to be abandoned! Eh? Let us help," he insists kissing his teeth. Erik had no retort. He stared through the mirrors silently biting his thumbnail.
"Bet."
---
"Alřiiight," you sing listening to Erik's 'Necessary' playlist in the background. Moving around has warmed you up despite the fact that his A/C is pumping. Shake the Room with Pop Smoke and Quavo plays, the vocalizations in the background sounding like a lowkey creepy chant a secretly possessed Tebetian monk would do. You switch to some song called Kalifornia and climb the stairs to toss the cleaning rag into laundry taking your phone from its charger. "Downstairs is officially spotless... and sanitizzzed," you gasp to the walls as you stretch backwards feeling that sweet pull and release of tension in your back and shoulders. When you head back down, the entire bottom level smells like coconut mango, lysol, and tea tree oil mixed. "Mmm," you sigh having inhaled deep to smell the goodness. It was fresh. "That good shit," you chuckle.
Again, it feels so, so good to be in this house in the clear brightness of daytime. It's calm, spacious, and beautiful like a retreat or vacation home. You can go completely nude and feel at ease, alone with no one peeping at you in a private space. You can look outside and not feel as nervous in stepping out to the driveway. So you do just that.. proudly in the nude to feel the heat on your skin. It's still hot and muggy with the sun beating down so you head back into the A/C deciding to hit the hot tub instead.
"Oh my God," you nearly cry with a homemade smoothie in hand as you chill in heated water, the bottom of your fro soaked and hanging on your shoulders as you sit butt naked and slumped. "I'm never leaving this house... this is officially MY house now..."
It's an entire hour later when you dry off, as relaxed as Katt Williams' hair on a good day. You head through the lower level again before going back upstairs. You can't help but to be nosey looking again through his rooms and belongings. Where is the kink? This is ridiculous! It's all too simplistic... minimalistic. It's just weird... For someone who lives as boldly as Erik does to have no evidence of it anywhere. It seems sneaky and bizarre. You wonder why he hasn't accumulated a house of unique knickknacks. Maybe a toy drawer? Even you have a toy drawer. Alas, the craziest things you find are six different bongs, an ugly tie dyed pair of shorts that are way too short, a keyboard piano, and boxers printed with Obama's face. He's really good at hiding his deviance. "I bet it's all in that lil room," you mutter heading to the locked door. You try the knob again thinking of using a credit card to get in. Whether it actually works you're not sure.. and you don't want to mess up your card. You'd bet good money that everything you wonder about is behind that door.
"Anyway."
---
"Fuck this shit," Erik gritted through his teeth as he hunched over the outdoor freezer of the Wawa. Goddamn kid, cracker ass bitch, shooting don't know what the fuck.. He definitely needed fixing on his leg before he bleed out slowly in the Wawa parking lot. He was convinced he looked absolutely insane with a busted leg held tightly by his handmade tourniquet. It hurt like hell and he knew he had to do something. He hid the injury. No one could see it unless they really paid attention, he'd overlapped it with bandana and draped a jacket around his waist. He pulled the ice bag out of the freezer and sat it on the ground, not needing to look up to spot the camera above. In fact, he wouldn't look up because of it. Erik looked to a hefty ginger kid in a camo cap, beige shorts, and sandals. He couldn't be more than thirteen and he was hanging onto the glass door with a plastic bag of snacks dangling from his wrist as two rednecks entered through the door he held.
"Hey kid," Erik nodded watching the boy's eyes drift to his injury in question. He was observant causing Erik to shift the leg. "...Faulty machinery. Hence the ice.. but could you do me a big favor and save me some walking?" He held out a twenty and the boy took it. "And a strawberry milkshake," Erik called behind the boy who went back inside to pay for the ice as Erik limped back to the stolen vehicle. The kid was back and at his window quickly.
"Here's your change." The kid held it out, ready to drop it regardless of Erik's hand not being out to receive it.
"Keep it," Erik muttered.
"Nah, you look like you need it a lot more than me," the kid muttered scooting off. Erik stared after him. Little bastards. He scoffed starting the engine.
He pulled up to the hospital as instructed sending the info to Dr. Charles and as promised, Dr. Charles came through, calling on Erik's behalf. Erik initially refused the treatment learning that they intended on treating him right there in that hospital. "Treat me yourself," he'd fussed on the line with the trusted doctor. In the end he was swayed. He ended up in a hospital bed in Texas getting x-rayed despite his protests. Turned out they did need to operate to repair the fractured bone and tend to his vascular injury. The operation took three hours. When he woke, he was in recovery aka lockdown. His head was a little cloudy from their drugs. He decided to call the one person who he could count on to be truly excited to hear from him. He thought about how he'd start the conversation to keep her from asking too much. He just wanted to feel that warm glow she always gave him.. feel that she was with him without giving too much away.  
Thinking bout you.. Just wanted to hear your voice..
What you doing.. how'd you sleep?
Y/N. Can you talk to me for a bit while I listen? I'm tired...
Hey forehead...
---
Brrrrr.
That's your pocket buzzing. Pulling out your phone you do a double take at the screen and a streak of irritation surfaces, plucking your nerve. Perfect time to ask about that so called colleague he's probably hitting and he'd better fess up to whatever it is he's hiding.
Erik: You alive?
Instead of texting nonsense back, you dial his number and he picks up on the first ring.
"Angel... I miss you already girl."
"Well then you know where to find me," you snap hearing his soft chuckle. "And what the hell is so funny?"
"You... with all this bass. You hungry?"
"Don't ask me nothing dumb like that."
"Yeaah.... you need your tummy full. When's the last time you ate?"
"Erik?.. Shut up. You know what I wanna talk about," your voice lowers. "Tell me why that girl felt comfortable waltzing into your house last night and getting into my face like she belonged there.. Last I checked you don't have any friends."
"Well last I checked...," he kisses his teeth. "Nah, I ain't call you for all that..," his voice calms. "Just know we ain't close like you thinking. She happened to pop up. Ain't like I invited her."
"But if she's close enough to you to perform pop-ups then I feel like you should've mentioned her to me like you mentioned your other three."
"It's like I said, wasn't nothing to mention." Silence stretches as you wait for him to explain. "We work together. Work is all I have. Work is all she has. We just understand that about each other, that's all it is."
"Are you telling me the truth?"
"You starting to piss me off. Yes."
"Don't get smart.. I'm choosing to believe you."
"Uh huh. Eat something."
"I am," you squint fixing your face when the waitress brings your drink and smiles. "I'm at PF Changs now."
"Oh? What you order?"
"Potstickers... lettuce wraps.... Thinking of getting some spring rolls... but also kinda wanna wait to see how I feel first. I don't wanna order it and have all these plates on the table at the same time and I'm the only one sitting here... you know?"
He chuckles and it's a light breath of amusement. "You know what?... I'm proud of you, kid. You survived the night alone in that big scary house. Such a big girl."
"Erik, don't patronize me," you flush, glad he's not there to see it. Your tone gives nothing away. "I live alone. You forget that."
"But that's different.. were you scared?"
"Not at all!" You sip your ginger beer. "What are you doing now?"
"Mm. Resting before I head out. I'll see you soon though.. before you know it."
"No rush actually. I'm enjoying the house, you can stay where you at."
"Here are your potstickers.. lettuce wraps..," the waitress hums setting the white plates on the wooden square table. "Anything else for you?"
"Not yet, I'll have to see how this goes." The food looks delicious so you talk to it instead of her.
"Understood," she smiles warmly dashing off to the kitchen as you pray silently to yourself. You almost forget Erik's on the phone as you eat until he speaks up a minute later.
"Y/N.. Do you miss me?"
"Nope." You take another few sips of ginger beer as he's silent. "..I'm kidding."
"Are you though?"
"Shut up. I told you come home."
"Shame we couldn't finish that little exercise when we were out together. I wonder how you'd have fared if we had."
"You were gonna have me do something ridiculous, I already know it." Sauce drips down your finger from the lettuce wrap and you catch it with the paper napkin from under your glass.
"Mm.. It's only ridiculous if you're easily embarrassed.. which means you care too much how you're viewed by others. It's holding you back."
"We all care about how we're presenting ourselves in society." With another sip of ginger beer you pick up a potsticker and dip it. "It's called self-awareness it's how we maneuver.. and as much as we don't like it, image is important especially when you're black working against people's pre-judgements."
"Yes and awareness is crucial but avoidance is a fear-based response that you specifically utilize as a self-imposed barrier. You could go.. so much further.. if you wouldn't avoid the situations that could cause others to view you in a way you don't particularly like.. also keeping in mind you're not a psychic to know what others are thinking."
"It doesn't take a psychic to read the room."
Silence.
"You know.. I'd love to see you be yourself.."
"I'm already myself."
"With others and not just with me. Although I love having part of you to myself," he pauses. "If I'm ever.. not with you for some reason, I want you to take that with you. Keep that same energy wherever you go. 'Cause you don't and your interactions suffer for it."
"I'm out at P.F. Chang's eating lunch.. Why? Why do we always go to therapy when I'm eating?"
"Watchu mean? That's the best time to talk to you, when your mouth is full. As a matter of fact, ballpark. How many people in the restaurant?"
"NO." You bite another potsticker.
"YES. What we just talk about? Tell me how many."
"Too many."
He chuckles again, breathily. "More than 10?"
"Yes! More than 10!"
"So here's the thing. You do it and I'll do something you want when I get back, don't matter what it is."
"And if I don't?"
"Then your punkass don't get shit. Easily put. This what I want you to do.."
"No, wait," you frown and chew on your straw. "Let's wait until you get back. It'll give you incentive to come back quicker." The waitress brings your refill. "I'll take those spring rolls," you tell her.
"You think you slick," Erik laughs. He sounds dead tired. "Okay. When I get back."
"You okay? You don't sound too good." Listening more closely, you hope he's not coming down with anything.
"Yeah I'm good. Did a lil workout, you know.. nigga a lil.. tired," he exhales.
"Oh. Intense exercise. Can't relate.. Okay, hurry back. Bye!"
"Don't hang up, I like hearing you talk!"
"Negro this food ain't gonna eat itself."
"Aight," he chuckles. "Enjoy."
Hanging up, you grin having skipped out on embarrassing yourself. The lettuce wraps are calling your name and now you're thinking of getting shrimp dumplings.
For $5!
@soufcakmistress @itsiesha @ju5tp34chy @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @blackpantherimagines @blackpinup22
@muse-of-mbaku @goddessofthundathighs @panthergoddessbast @thadelightfulone @misspooh @marvelmaree @youreadthatright @forbeautyandlife @theunsweetenedtruth @bidibidibombaclaat @myboyfriendgiriboy @dameshaemonique @hidden-treasures21 @mysidefanting @hold-me-like-a-heart-beat @syndrlla97 @winteroflife @thotyana-in-this-hoe   @texasbama @gingerylimonte @princessstevens   @magic-madness-heavensin @wawakanda-btch @wakanda-inspired @blackgirloneshots @thegucciwaffle @thiccdaddy-mbaku @purplehairgawdess @indigoxsummers @cccccx1   @dynastylnoire @iamrheaspeaks @blowmymbackout @they-call-me-le @theblulife @raysunshine78 @sheisexcellent
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fieryanmitsu · 4 years
Text
Talented Fingers | A3! Week 2020 – Day 1 (Itaru/Izumi/Tsumugi) | 18+, NSFW
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It’s been a while since I’ve written, unfortunately, but when I saw that A3! Week was happening, I just knew I had to try to whip something up!
So, here’s my entry for Day 1 of A3! Week 2020~ We were given three prompts for each day to choose from… And, because I like to challenge my imagination (read: torture my brain), I decided that I would use all three prompts in each entry, haha.
Since one of the prompts for Day 1 was Link Skills, I just knew that I had to go with “Talented Tutors”, which features two of my favourite A3! boys: Itaru and Tsumugi. But, I will warn everyone now that this is a completely mindless, self-indulgent and spicy piece of nonsense, hahaha. I LOVE Izumi as a character as well, and I love her paired with both Itaru and Tsumugi, but couldn’t choose between the two considering the prompt… and so this happened.
Note that this entry is NSFW, but the rest of my entries should be SFW (unless something drastically changes). So if you’re under-aged or uncomfortable with NSFW content, please do check back again!
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TALENTED FINGERS
PROMPTS: Director | Link Skills | Firsts
CHARACTERS: Izumi Tachibana, Itaru Chigasaki, Tsumugi Tsukioka
PAIRINGS: Itaru/Izumi/Tsumugi
My fanfic masterpost: Here
AO3: Link in my Blog Menu
CONTENT WARNINGS: 18+ rating, NSFW, contains smutty/sexual descriptions and situations, tutor/student fantasy
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“I’m home!” Izumi announced tiredly as she walked into the first-floor lounge of the Mankai dorms. She had been helping her friend’s theatre troupe with painting background sets all day and she felt completely beaten up. She was sure that her knees would be bruised tomorrow and that her back would be in a world of pain when she woke up – her arm was already starting to feel like jelly.
“Welcome home! You’re back so late – you must be exhausted,” Tsumugi greeted from his spot at one of the tables. Piles of papers were sprawled out in front of him.
“GJ. Welcome home,” Itaru piped in from his spot seated across from Tsumugi. There were stacks of paper laid out before the other young man, as well. Two cups and a nearly empty pot of coffee also sat on the table between the two.
“This is an odd sight. Don’t you usually work in your room, Itaru?” Izumi asked as she walked over to the pair.
Instead of replying, Itaru simply sighed and took another sip of his coffee with one hand. With the other, he lifted one of the papers and handed it to Izumi.
She glanced at the paper and saw that it was a chemistry worksheet covered in messy hand-written responses. However, the amount of pencil marks was almost completely overshadowed by harsh red ink. Itaru’s handwriting was scrawled all over the page, circling wrong answers and writing comments in the margins. On the top right corner was Taichi’s name.
“I asked Itaru to help me with looking over the students’ homework since he used to work as a tutor as well. It’s almost exam time, so they all wanted some extra help,” Tsumugi responded with a sheepish chuckle.
“I didn’t know you worked as a tutor before, Itaru.”
“Back when I was a university student, I tutored as a part time gig. It paid well, you know,” Itaru responded with a shrug, taking a moment to tap a few buttons on his phone screen before turning back to the worksheet. Izumi had a good feeling she knew exactly what he had spent all of his earnings as she briefly stared at one of his games running automatically on his phone.
“But, wow, it looks like there’s still a lot of work ahead of you… It’s almost midnight already,” Izumi remarked, glancing at the papers on the table and nudging through them lightly. While there was a large pile of papers with red marks, there was also a significant stack that was unedited.
“Hmmm, I suppose so. Itaru’s been working on correcting worksheets while I’ve been making some study plans based on what areas they’re struggling with.”
“Yeah, usually worksheets don’t take this long to work through…. But, Taichi’s homework is a disaster… and don’t even get me started on Tenma… It’s taking me three times as long to go through theirs than the others’…” Itaru sighed again.
“Do you need any help? I don’t have any tutoring experience, but if there’s anything I can do, please let me lend you two a hand,” Izumi offered.
“You wouldn’t mind? Maybe you could go through the Japanese homework? It’s just checking off if they wrote the kanji properly and in the right context, so I think that you should be able to handle that,” Tsumugi replied as he shifted through the worksheets on the table.
“No problem! Oh! I’ll make us a new pot of coffee! My friend also gave me box of cookies as a thank you as well – let’s share them together!”
“Ahhhh, caffeine and sugar – the best nutrients for our brains~ Want to feed me one? Since my hands are busy?” Itaru asked with a teasing smirk.
Izumi rolled her eyes and plunked the now-open box of cookies on the table.
“Nice try, but that smile won’t work on me!”
“Ah, well, it was worth a shot,” Itaru lamented as he helped himself to one of the cookies, mumbling a quick thanks through a mouthful of crumbs before he picked up his pen again.
“Oh, Azuma was telling me about this bakery the other day,” Tsumugi remarked, examining the box. “But, thanks again for helping, Izumi. I’ll leave the worksheets here for you.”
“No problem – glad to help!”
After brewing a new pot of coffee, Izumi grabbed herself a mug and sat down in front of the worksheets that Tsumugi had collected for her. As she took a sip of the coffee, she couldn’t help but stare for a moment at the two men in front of her. It was a striking image – two handsome young men bent over their work with serious looks of concentration, pens flying across the pages.
The Mankai Company students were certainly lucky to have access to not one, but two talented tutors. She hadn’t been a bad student back in her school days, but she had always been middle of the pack when it came to academic subjects. She couldn’t help but idly wonder how it would have been if she had been tutored by Tsumugi and Itaru. She had seen them both explain concepts to the students before, and they were both always so clear and easy to understand. Maybe she would have had an easier time in school.
As she focused on the worksheets in front of her, listening only to the scratching of pen on paper, the ticking of the clock and the occasional sipping of coffee, Izumi felt her eyelids grow heavy. She had been doing physical labour for close to eight hours, and it was now close to one in the morning. She tried to shake her head to wake up, but soon found herself completely nodding off….
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“… Izumi… Izumi… Wake up, Izumi…!”
Izumi’s eyes snapped open as she heard someone call her name. Tsumugi and Itaru were staring at her with furrowed brows.
“Eh?! I-I’m so sorry!! I didn’t mean to drift off on you two!”
“So you did fall asleep on us,” Itaru sighed. “And here I was hoping you were just resting your eyes. You have some nerve, falling asleep on your tutors.”
“Huh? Tutors? Wait… what’s going on here?” she exclaimed, suddenly realizing her surroundings.
She had expected to be in the lounge at the Mankai dorms, but instead, she was in her bedroom back at her parents’ house. The three of them were sitting at a coffee table with worksheets and textbooks spread out before them. Looking down, she also realized that she was in her high school uniform. She idly noticed with a cringe that the skirt was a tad tighter on her than she remembered it being when she was in school – she really had to cut back on the rice…
“Why are we in my room? And why am I wearing my high school uniform?!”
“Ahaha, you must still be half-asleep, Izumi,” Tsumugi chuckled. “I know we usually tutor you at the public library, but it’s closed for emergency repairs from a water main break right now, so we’re here at your house instead.”
“And as for your uniform… well, we did ask if you wanted to change into something more comfortable first, but you were so eager to get started on studying and didn’t want to bother. But, despite your eagerness, you fell asleep…” Itaru remarked wryly.
Izumi felt like her head was swimming. What the heck was happening? Was this some kind of lucid dream? Was it because she had been wondering what it’d be like to be tutored by Tsumugi and Itaru that she had suddenly dreamed of them tutoring her?! She couldn’t believe how embarrassing this was – especially since she was in her high school uniform. What was she even supposed to do in this situation? Maybe she should pinch herself. But, before she could do anything, Itaru suddenly leaned towards her with a smirk on his face – a very seductive smirk, she couldn’t help noting.
“You know... you've been a naughty girl, falling asleep on us... Naughty girls need to be punished,” he drawled, as he inched closer to her, so that by the time he said ‘punished’, it was right in her left ear. She shuddered and felt a pleasant shiver shoot down her back.
"That’s right… Maybe we need to do something to wake you up,” Tsumugi added, closing in on her other side. “Perhaps… this will wake you up?”
And then, she felt Tsumugi’s tongue lick her ear, and she let out a yelp as he took her right earlobe in his mouth and started nibbling on it.
“Aaah, Ts-Tsumugi!! St-stop, that tickles! Nnngg-!” Izumi protested, but instead, his tongue was now licking up the back of her ear and she heard herself moan.
“Now, now, Tsumugi, that’s not a punishment at all – you’re much too gentle,” Itaru purred before he brushed aside the hair at her neck, his fingertips feeling like fire. Then, suddenly, his lips were on her neck and she yelped as she felt a sharp pain. Did he just give her a hickey?!
"Itaru!! What are you doing—!”
Both Itaru and Tsumugi were now nuzzling either side of her neck, their breath puffing against her skin, and she felt like her face was on fire. This was bad! This was very bad! But, she also felt a tell-tale shot of pleasure uncoiling in the pit of her stomach, and a stirring between her legs.
"Now, let's see if you've been paying attention...” Itaru said, lifting his face from her neck. “I was just reviewing dissociation with you. Have you solved the problem yet? Can you tell me the chemical equation for the dissociation for sodium chloride? Don't forget to provide an explanation if you want full marks."
"H-Huh? Sodium chloride?” Izumi squeaked, her mind trying to catch up with what Itaru was saying – it was very hard to focus when Tsumugi was sucking on the fingers of her hand. “U-Ummm, what was dissociation again?" How many years had it been since she’d looked at a chemistry textbook?!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You really weren't paying attention, Izumi. Were you distracted while I was teaching you?" Itaru scolded, placing one long finger against her lips before she could respond. His finger then slid down her chin, tracing down her neck and stopping at the collar of her shirt. "Maybe... you really aren't comfortable in that uniform. Let me help you loosen it up."
The next thing she knew, Itaru had pulled off the ribbon tie around her neck and was slowly unbuttoning her shirt. How was he doing that with one hand?!
"Itaru!!" she protested. She knew that she should button up her shirt again, because this was going nowhere good fast, but couldn’t muster the strength in her arm when she saw him flash her a crooked smirk. Instead, her heart fluttered in her chest – if only she didn’t find that smug face so attractive!!
Suddenly, she felt a tug on her right hand.
"Izumi..." Tsumugi looked at her with the saddest puppy-dog eyes and she felt her heart shoot up her throat. Gosh, he was so, so cute. "I had asked you to finish filling in the kanji on this worksheet, but you’ve only filled in two of the blanks… I worked so hard to make up this worksheet – were the questions too dull? Is my teaching boring you?”
“N-Not at all, Tsumugi!! You’d never bore me!” Izumi protested immediately, her mouth moving faster than her brain. All she could think was how she could stop this angel from looking so disappointed.
“Maybe… I should do something to make my lesson more engaging?” he asked softly, the light in his eyes had now turned from puppy-dog to something distinctly more dangerous. She felt Tsumugi’s hand settle on her right leg and whimpered as she felt his hand creep up her thigh, his fingertips tracing delicate circles across her skin.
Suddenly she felt a chill on her chest – her shirt was now wide open, and then she felt two hands push gently on her shoulders, and she was splayed on her back.
“It’s not good if you aren’t paying attention to your tutors, Izumi. Keep your attention only on us this time,” Itaru purred.
Itaru bent down and began kissing the top of her left breast. She let out a gasp at the sudden contact, but it quickly turned into a moan as he sucked harder and left another hickey. His left hand came up and grasped at her bra, quickly undoing the conveniently-located front clasp, exposing her breasts to the open air.
“Ahhhhh, I-Itaru,” Izumi gasped as his hand cupped her left breast and began to massage it gently, his fingers rolling her erect nipple. His mouth closed over the right breast and noisily sucked and kissed.
Before she could think too much more about Itaru’s ministrations, Tsumugi’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“That’s right, Izumi… let us teach you how to feel good.”
She felt him spread her knees apart and push up her skirt. He gently trailed his fingers down both of her legs, and she twitched at the ticklish sensation. Then, she felt one of his fingers trace the line where her panties met her thighs. The feeling of the edge of his nail against the sensitive flesh made her groan, her voice becoming louder as he moved his finger over to her most sensitive spot.
“You’re such a quick learner, Izumi, you’re already so wet that it’s soaking through your panties…” And indeed, as he pressed and stroked her, she felt her juices soaking through the thin layer of cotton.
She yelped as she suddenly felt Itaru’s teeth lightly scrape across her breast and his left hand tweaked her nipple, as if he didn’t want to be forgotten. A shot of pleasure coursed through her and she felt her back arch off the floor.
“Nnnnng, I-Itaru!”
Before she could recover, she let out a gasp as Tsumugi’s finger moved the panel of her underwear aside and plunged a single finger into her.
“Ah… ah…. Ts-Tsumugi…!” She could feel a gush of hot liquid ooze out of her opening at the sudden entry.
It all felt so good. The sensation of both Itaru playing with her breasts, and the steady pump of Tsumugi’s finger inside of her. She could feel a pressure building up inside the depths of her stomach and she let out another loud, wanton moan.
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“… Izumi… Izumi… Wake up, Izumi…!”
Tsumugi gently shook Izumi’s shoulder as she whimpered again in her sleep, but she wasn’t stirring from her slumber.
They had moved the young director to the coach when she’d fallen asleep in her chair about half an hour ago. But, suddenly, they heard her groaning and calling their names. They could see that she was squirming on the couch and was panting heavily. Concerned, they had decided to check on her.
“She seems to be having a bad dream… Should we try harder to wake her up?” Tsumugi questioned, looking up at Itaru.
“Hmmm, yeah, she’s sweating a bit, maybe she’s getting sick… it would be better for her to sleep in her bed—” Itaru started to respond, but was interrupted by Izumi. Moaning his name. In a very, very erotic voice.
“Nnnnng, I-Itaru!”
Itaru’s eyes widened in shock. The young director’s brows scrunched up and her lips were parted in a pant. He had never seen such an expression on her face before. And the way she had moaned his name sent blood rushing to his groin. He immediately clasped a hand over his mouth to stifle the choking sound he had made. He had no idea what she was dreaming about, but she was giving him bad ideas and his mind was about to kick into overdrive—
A moment later, she let out another moan.
“Ah… ah…. Ts-Tsumugi…!”
Tsumugi immediately felt his face flush. He was sure that if he looked in a mirror, his face would be red as a tomato. His eyes instinctively flickered to the juncture of her thighs as she clenched her legs together in another squirm. He felt his brain short-circuiting as his imagination jumped to the most inappropriate conclusion—NO, he couldn’t just assume that! Maybe she was dreaming about something else. Though he was secretly hoping that she really was dreaming about him—
“I-I’ll wake her up!” Tsumugi nearly shouted, cutting off his train of thought, his voice cracking in his desperation to cover up his embarrassment.
He quickly shook her shoulder, a little rougher this time.
“Izumi! Wake up!!” he said again, probably louder than he intended.
Finally, Izumi’s eyes snapped open, and she saw Itaru and Tsumugi staring down at her, both looking at her with anxious faces. Maybe she was still groggy, but they also looked quite red-faced.
One second passed in silence as she stared at the two men. And then another. And then, two things hit her like a truck. One, she remembered every detail of her dream. Two, she became distinctly aware that her panties were soaking wet. She could not believe it. She had never had such an intensely vivid and sexual dream before. In fact, this was the first time she could even remember having a wet dream at all. A wet dream about the two men who were crouching right in front of her!!
Izumi shot up into an upright position, heart racing and face flushing furiously.
“I-I’m so s-sorry I fell asleep! I-I’m not feeling well, so I’m going to go back to my room!” she quickly stammered out before swinging herself off the couch.
“Have a good night!” she added quickly before she stumbled out of the lounge and practically ran to her room, leaving behind two very hot and bothered tutors.
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I can’t believe this trash fire is my first contribution to the A3! fandom, hahaha. I’m sorrynotsorry for this. I had way too much fun writing this, so I hope you enjoyed it as well!
-Anmitsu
82 notes · View notes
itsclydebitches · 5 years
Link
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Clammy
Summary: Aziraphale's molt is upon him. He has to decide what to do with the feathers
A park bench and supernaturally beautiful weather. A basket of sandwiches, fruit, crisps, and a rather large selection of chocolate truffles. A bottle of Pinot Noir between them. Crowley stretched out his legs and thought that if this was it, all they ever managed to wring from this world, it just might be enough.
“Divine,” Aziraphale proclaimed, polishing off the last raspberry truffle. The sun had left chocolate coated over his fingers and he set to licking it off, heedless of decorum. Crowley designed to watch.
“Not precisely the word I’d choose,” he said. “Considering I bought them and all.”
“But Mrs. Sutherland made them.”
“But you don’t know what I did to them between here and the bakery.”
Aziraphale froze, thumb halfway between his lips and a smear of chocolate on his cheek. The shock lasted only a moment before he was rolling his eyes. “Of course I know. You forgot to chill them so now they’re a half-melted mess.”
“...touché.”
Not that half-melted messes had ever stopped him. Aziraphale continued to work his way steadily through dessert while Crowley watched the foot traffic in front of them, sneaking glances every now and then from behind the safety of his glasses. It was while he was most assuredly looking only at the changing leaves past Aziraphale’s shoulder that he noticed—
“That time of the century, huh?”
Aziraphale froze for the second time, eyes widening just a bit. But Crowley didn’t call him out on the absurd little wiggle he’d been trying (and apparently failing) to do subtly against the back of the bench. There was no one looking but Crowley and if he didn’t mind chocolate-covered fingers or crumbs down the front of his vest, there was little reason to think he’d mind this. With a sigh Aziraphale gave up and shoved the box away, reaching to scratch rather ferociously at his back.
“It’s so undignified,” he said, tone just this side of petulant. “I am meant to be an ethereal being. A creature of unsurpassed glory and wisdom—”
“Think rather highly of yourself, don’t you?”
“Not some, some, some common avian enslaved to his biology. I don’t even have biology. Not technically.” The last part was definitely a whine.
Crowley indulged in a snort and slid further down the bench, nearly boneless against the wood. Literally. His body bent in ways not generally allowed by spines and pelvises, but no joints dared raise a complaint. “You’ve got it easy, angel. I go through two of them.”
“Two?”
“Wings and,” Crowley gestured down his entire body, suddenly looking a little unsure. “You know. I am a snake.”
“Right.” Nothing like the embarrassment of another to sooth a bit of your own. Aziraphale cast him a crooked smile. “That’s... well. Quite sorry to hear it, dear boy.”
“You and me both.”
Another quick press against the bench and then Aziraphale deliberately went still. He let out a breath. Popped another truffle into his mouth and closed his eyes, trying to savor it. When he opened them again he could see Crowley’s concerned look, even behind the glasses.
“I’m fine,” he muttered. “Over sixty molts since the beginning. You’d think we’d grow used to them by now.”
Crowley barked out a laugh. “Grow used to what? The incessant itching? Constant pain in your back? Exhaustion? I slept for a month after my last molt. Only woke up because Beez themselves was looking for me. Molts are proof that She’s more than a little sadistic, angel.”
“Hush.” But the slap against Crowley’s arm was half-hearted at best. “I suppose I could return Upstairs. It’s always easier without a mortal body compounding things...”
“You really want to spend the next few weeks up there?”
No. He didn’t.
There was a certain understanding that came with annoyances shared across thousands of years. Without being asked Crowley miracled together the rest of their lunch and sent a quick thought towards the London traffic, urging it to thin out. He’d drive Aziraphale back to his shop, say goodbye like it was any other day... and then proceed to only call and text for the next three to four weeks. Their first substantial time away from one another since the Tadfield airbase, but they’d been expecting this. Molts, for all the grumbling, were intensely private things.
And as Crowley stood just outside the bookshop’s entrance, pressing the basket of leftovers into Aziraphale’s hand, he didn’t dare ask that they might change that too.
***
The bookshop was a disaster.
The space had grown considerably in the last two weeks, making room for a collection of supplies that would have rivaled any doctor’s office. Electric heating pads were a marvelous invention that Aziraphale now hoarded, along with the small pharmacy of mortal medications that didn’t seem to do much, but he was inclined to try nonetheless. Safe from the books were melting ice packs he used when unexpectedly feverish; weighted blankets when, a mere hour later, he was suddenly chilled. In the leftover space surrounding his most comfortable couch was the food, a veritable feast of everything salty and sweet. Some of it he’d ordered in, slipping the containers through the smallest crack in the door and slipping exorbitant tips back out. The rest came from Crowley. Per the unspoken promise he hadn’t stopped by again in person, but he could easily miracle things directly into the shop. Aziraphale often looked up from one of his books to find chocolates or tarts or freshly made bubble tea now sitting on the table. He gobbled it all up with a hunger he wasn’t supposed to feel.
Where there weren’t supplies there were feathers. A stunning collection of white that settled into every nook and cranny; an ethereal blanket of snow. Aziraphale didn’t bother picking up after himself whenever an old feather dropped and a new one began the arduous process of growing in. Most would disappear over the next week, fading out of this reality entirely. It was a rather convenient thing (perhaps the only convenient part of this whole process), with just a handful of flight feathers to deal with in the end.
Which was precisely what Aziraphale dealt with now, curled up on the couch with Persuasion resting forgotten in his lap. Disposal of these feathers was no minor thing. It required patience and careful thought.
...Which Aziraphale was quite happy to ignore once his phone buzzed. It took him a full minute to find it amongst all the mess and another to remember which button allowed him to light up the screen. Two more remembering his passcode. Really, he could appreciate humans’ continued advancements in technology, but did they have to keep making them so hellishly complicated too?
Ah. Now that he thought about it, that drive might have been Ligur’s doing.
hows it going?
Aziraphale smiled. Three simple words from Crowley and he already felt better. Though admittedly only a bit. One breath later and that incessant itch reared its ugly head again, along with the familiar ache in his lower back. One wouldn’t think that losing and re-growing feathers would be such a monumental feat, yet here he was, taking a moment to breathe before daring a response.
Crowley,
I’ve been better, as you know. Nothing to be concerned with, however. I expect only another week of this nonsense before things return to normal. Shall we get lunch together next Thursday? I greatly appreciate the food you’ve sent over, though I find myself craving something a bit more substantial after all these sweets. Italian would do nicely.
- Aziraphale
The response was immediate.
sure, angel.
There was a beat of silence except for the tick of the clock and a very low hum emanating from two of the heating pads. Then,
need more time to gift your feathers?
Aziraphale’s throat tightened. He blamed it on his poor health.
Crowley,
No, I don’t expect they’ll be any travel this time around. It’s quite nice of you to be thinking about my needs though.
- Aziraphale
His words had the desired effect. Aziraphale’s phone suddenly buzzed as ferocious as a beehive, text after text coming through about how Crowley was not nice, they’d had this discussion, he was actually being selfish, if you’d just listen, and by the way texting isn’t the same as sending a letter you stuffy, outdated, impossible—
With a chuckle Aziraphale let him keep going, well aware that no answer was the best response of all. As he leaned further into the cushions another primary dislodged and settled in his lap. This one didn’t look like it was going anywhere.
Aziraphale stroked the feather tip to tip, thinking.
No. The person he wanted to give this to wasn’t far away at all.
***
Angel feathers had, shockingly, once been a part of an angel. Imagine that. As such, they had a bit more significance to them than what came from your average hawk or peacock or whatever else might be leaving bits of themselves behind. Aziraphale didn’t know why some primaries remained while the rest disappeared—another question on the tip of his tongue that he’d never dared ask—but every angel knew that they’d wind up with a small handful after their molting and those must be dealt with in the most careful fashion. There was a vault up in heaven that catalogued and stored each deposit, perhaps with the hope that the feathers might one day be turned into weapons against the enemy. For those on Earth, however, there was the expectation that they not allow these pieces of divinity to fall into the wrong hands.
Aziraphale knew it was the same among the demons, another similarity that others were too scared or blind to question. They would molt and be left with feathers that gave off what one might term a bad aura: nasty thoughts and feelings that radiated outward, soaking into the back of a mortal’s mind and strengthening the longer they held on. Aziraphale didn’t know what Crowley had done with his own feathers over the years, whether he simply tucked them away where they’d never be found, or handed them off to those who were later remembered as the more unhinged individuals throughout history. He’d never had the nerve to ask. He, however, had always considered the remains of his former wings to be a gift and gave careful consideration to who would receive them. Angel wings had rather the opposite effect, promoting feelings of goodwill, creativity, and a general sense of peace when held. Aziraphale had thus handed his off to writers who fashioned them into quills, great chiefs who wore them with pride, poor mothers who might not have jewels or vases to display in their homes, but they could set this on their mantelpiece and know that someone was watching over them. It was a process that deserved his utmost attention.
Though in truth, Aziraphale had an inkling of what he'd do with his next molt in 1941. Now, with Armageddon behind them, he was quite sure of his decision.
Crowley,
My deepest apologies, dear boy. I meant to say that you’re quite considerate. Is that better?
- Aziraphale
P.S. It’s hardly my fault humans have forgotten how to properly write to one another. Besides, you ought to be proud of me. Convincing this tech to put in line breaks was no easy task!
His phone blew up once more as Aziraphale shook out his wings, trying to encourage the remaining stragglers to finally let go. He must look a right mess, physically done in and sporting only half his usual plumage. It was perhaps no surprise that molting had become a rather private affair over the millennia. Anyone who saw an angel in this state might second-guess their supposed superiority. Aziraphale hadn’t bothered with a mirror in weeks.
The heat was doing wonders for the muscles surrounding his wings though. The ibuprofen, while perhaps not effective under normal circumstances, seemed to be taking the edge off his headache. Crowley kept up a vibrating litany in his lap. He was clearly busy, yet just a moment later Aziraphale caught the scent of garlic and looked up to find a takeout box of pasta sitting on the table.
Fondness surged, helping his new feathers to grow and his mind to settle. Aziraphale placed the primary on a stack of books beside the couch, safely away from his newly arrived lunch.
Crowley,
Thank you <3
~Aziraphale
He’d made his decision. Best to start the implementation of it early.
***
A week and two days later Aziraphale finally left the bookshop. He was what, in human terms, might be called an introvert. Had anyone asked him on an average day whether he’d enjoy spending nearly a month by himself, nothing but books and films to keep his attention, he would have gasped in pure pleasure at the idea. Now, having lived that life once more—one always tended to forget such things as the years went by—Aziraphale recalled how little fantasy matched up with reality. Taking that first breath of fresh air was an unexpected pleasure.
“Angel!”
As was the company. Though perhaps ‘unexpected’ was quite disingenuous of him.
Crowley waited for him down the street, Bentley parked and providing the perfect object to lean against. Aziraphale took in his appearance, identical to when they’d last met with the exception of a pendant necklace spicing up his outfit and rather longer hair. Crowley must have encouraged the growth. Aziraphale was rather sure hair didn’t get to that length in just three weeks time, no matter how much Crowley might yell at it in the mirror. He had most piled up in a bun with the occasional wisp framing his face.
Perfect. Aziraphale couldn’t have planned it better if he’d tried.
“You don’t like it,” Crowley said, noticing his gaze, assuming the worst. One hand lifted instinctually to his hair, twitching like he wanted to start tearing it out. “I’ll change it back. If you want.”
In that moment, with Crowley framed by London traffic and the quickly fading light, Aziraphale had the uncomfortable realization that he could ask him to do anything. Anything at all and it would be done without question or hesitation. The power made him hesitate. Aziraphale knew now that he had to guard his words: ask for nothing more than what Crowley deserved to give; certainly nothing worse than what he’d forced him to endure before.
Wait for me.
“Not at all,” he said. “I love it! You’re just missing that final touch.”
“...final touch?”
They knew separation well. One month was nothing to them. Aziraphale slipped back into Crowley’s space, easy as you please, allowed to turn him slightly and gain access to his bun. Crowley was so focused on the hand Aziraphale had placed on his arm that he didn’t notice the object until it was slipped beneath his hairband.
“What the devil did you put—” Crowley stopped, catching sight of his own reflection in the Bentley’s hood. Aziraphale watched his eyes blow wide behind his glasses.
“Hardly the devil, my dear.”
With the molting finished Aziraphale had been left with eight primaries still in existence on this plane. He’d told Crowley as much over text and had patiently sat through reading the same thoughts he’d already had: it was suspiciously convenient, one might say miraculously so, that he had just enough feathers remaining to number the humans involved in stopping Armageddon. Well, seven humans and one antichrist. The brats deserve it, Crowley had said, voice surprisingly tender down the line. They’ll appreciate it, angel.
No doubt they would. Appreciation wasn’t quite what Aziraphale was going for though.
Upon getting the text that Crowley was outside he’d miracled one of the feathers into the fern he’d gifted him two months back, the only plant in his apartment given the honor of a room to themselves and (Aziraphale would bet) the occasional kind word. The white beauty would be the first thing to greet Crowley when he opened the door, stark against the otherwise dark space.
As Aziraphale donned his coat he’d sent the second feather into the pocket of Crowley’s favorite coat, a surprise for when the weather turned cold and his mood predictably plummeted. The third appeared pressed between the pages of The Extremely Big Book of Astronomy; the fourth now slipped beneath his pillow. By the time Aziraphale was descending the steps of his shop the sixth feather was on its way to Lesley, accompanied by instructions to deliver the inconspicuous envelope at a future date and time, to be decided. It never hurt to have another pick-me-up waiting in the wings. Pun most certainly intended.
The seventh currently rested on the Bentley’s dashboard, yet unnoticed because Crowley was reeling from the feather Aziraphale had slipped into his hair.
“Angel.”
Just that. A breath. So much packed into one single, reverential word. Aziraphale had to swallow hard before he could speak himself.
“I know,” he whispered, trying for steady and failing spectacularly. “We needn’t speak of it if you don’t wish to. Simply know that this decision was the easiest I’ve ever made... and you look quite beautiful, my dear.”
Crowley’s hand rose to brush at the feather, shaking enough that Aziraphale could spot the emotion even in the fading light. He was steady enough to open the door for Aziraphale though, stumbling back around to the driver’s side, managing up until he spotted the second feather on his dashboard. Aziraphale watched him double over and thought that perhaps he’d made a mistake...
No. There’d been enough doubting between them and the care with which Crowley cradled the gift said it all. Even as the rest of him shot the Bentley recklessly through the streets.
For once Aziraphale did not call Crowley out on his driving. There was silence—not even any Queen—all the way back to Crowley’s apartment. Aziraphale caught the tinniest noise, like pain, when Crowley saw the feather in the fern and then he was moving again, nearly tripping over himself in an effort to get to the closet.
It was a door Aziraphale had never seen opened before. He couldn’t even be sure the space had existed before this moment. But the trunk Crowley pulled out was certainly real enough. Aziraphale sucked in a gasp at its age, wood now held together through will and more than one demonic miracle. Crowley hesitated only a moment before flipping the lid.
Inside were black primaries. A couple hundred at least. More than enough to account for one individual’s molts across the centuries.
“Never gave them away,” Crowley said. One hand gripped his feather while the other dove into the trunk, finding and extending a handful of himself. “I was waiting for you.”
Aziraphale tried vainly to keep the tears out of his eyes. He’d never been very good at that. Too soft. Too soft by far.
“Well... I’m here now.”
And he was. As Aziraphale knelt and took Crowley’s face in his hands the feather in his hair slipped out, drifting into the trunk. A spot of white among the black. New amidst the old. It nestled there, settling in.
As did those who had born them.
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bastardnev · 4 years
Text
Cheat Day
in which i inexplicably decided to write a fic about mustafa’s cereal-nutella-oreos breakfast combination
Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: World Wrestling Entertainment, Professional Wrestling, All Elite Wrestling Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Mustafa Ali/Pac | Adrian Neville Characters: Mustafa Ali, Pac | Adrian Neville Additional Tags: damn i guess i gotta start tagging aew in my nevstafa fics huh, Fluff, Silly, mischief involving nutella and oreos Series: Part 1 of Jess Has Too Many Fics In Her Notes Summary: Neville wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the scene in his kitchen that morning.
(ao3 link)
i ended up making a new tag list bc its been so long since i last posted a nevstafa fic + i didnt wanna tag ppl who might not be interested anymore -- im going off the likes/replies to the post i made abt this yesterday so if you’re not on the list and you wanna be added lemme know !! i’ll add you 🥰
tag list: @sailor-slam-dunk @residentjoth @riveliciousx @lambchopviking @storyranger
Neville wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the scene in his kitchen that morning.
He had heard Mustafa get out of bed earlier, but he figured he was just going to get breakfast started — it was his turn, after all. Technically, he still was, but not at all in the way that Neville anticipated. Rather than finding him cooking the pancakes they’d agreed upon the night before, Neville instead walked in on him preparing a bowl of cereal in a large serving dish he’d placed on the island. This in itself wouldn’t have been so odd (other than his choice of bowl) if he didn’t follow up his milk pouring with a big search around the kitchen. He was rummaging through the cabinets that lined the walls for... for something. Something that Neville couldn't quite figure out, especially since the only thing he could plausibly be looking for was a spoon. What a can of olives had to do with anything, Neville had absolutely no idea.
And so, he choose to ask him about it. “What the hell are you doing?”
Mustafa glanced over at Neville quickly before putting the can back and going right back to his hunt. “Oh, good morning. Where’s your snack stash?”
Neville blinked, confused. “My what?”
“Your snack stash. Y’know, where you keep the snacks?”
“I— I know what a snack stash is, Mustafa.”
“Then where’s yours? I know you have one — everyone does. Fess up.”
What was he trying to do? The fact that he still hadn't given Neville a clear answer was a bit concerning. “What does it matter where my snacks are? Wait, forget about that, aren’t you supposed to be cooking pancakes?”
"Who said anything about me making pancakes?"
"You did. Just last night."
"Ehh, that was just pillow talk."
"You told me about how badly you were craving them when we were eating dinner." Why would they be discussing pancakes during pillow talk, of all things?!
Mustafa scoffed, and he offered no further response other than continuing to push aside the items stacked up on the shelf. "Are you planning on answering my question at all?" Neville crossed his arms. "What are you doing?"
“You'll see!" Mustafa responded when he finally decided to speak again. "I’ve got something even better than pancakes in mind."
Mustafa placing a breakfast food above pancakes was almost enough for Neville to consider the idea that he'd been replaced with an imposter. Almost. “And, that is...?”
“A secret — until you tell me where your snack stash is, of course.”
Neville sighed, rolling his eyes. He knew there was no getting out of this no matter how hard he tried. “Oh for the love of God, it’s the one under the microwave,” he at last confessed.
“The only one I didn’t check!” Mustafa grinned, and he darted over to the appropriate cabinet, digging around excitedly. “Ooh, you’ve got a lot of good stuff in here!”
“No need for the commentary, just take what you need.”
“You’re pretty defensive over your candy, huh?”
“You’ve got the biggest sweet tooth out of anyone I know — how can I not?” Now that he thought about it, seeing as Mustafa now knew where he hid all of his sweets, Neville would probably have to find a new hiding spot once this visit was over...
“Hmm.” Mustafa pouted as he moved a variety pack of mini candy bars aside. “You bought the Oreos I asked for, right?”
“Of course.” Like Neville honestly wasn’t going to do so after Mustafa practically begged him to pick some up when he went on his most recent grocery run.
“You do love me!” The package of cookies in his hands, Mustafa triumphantly brought it over to the island, pulling back the seal.
“Can you tell me what you’re doing now?”
“Patience, Nev! Geez. You can’t rush these things, you know?”
Neville wanted to retort, but the distinctive crunch of Mustafa crushing a fistful of Oreos over the serving dish interrupted him, and all he could do was watch in silent awe (and confusion). Mustafa repeated this process over and over again, unblinking, until he’d gone through one of the sleeves. “There...” He muttered, sealing the pack back up and putting it aside. “Now for the last part...”
Last part? Neville found himself a little afraid to say this out loud. His question received an answer anyway, however, as Mustafa then returned to the cabinet, pulling out the large jar of Nutella that Neville was secretly hoping he wouldn’t notice. (Man goes through jars quicker than I can count.) "Not really much I can work with here..." Mustafa mumbled as he put the lid aside, looking at the jar's contents. "You ate it all on me. Naughty boy."
"I'm... sorry?"
"Better be." Mustafa then went to the silverware drawer and pulled out a big spoon, and before Neville could wrap his mind around what was happening he'd scooped out a healthy amount. "This'll work, though."
"What—"
Neville wasn't able to finish this sentence, as just as he was going to Mustafa let the Nutella drop right on top of his cereal. Neville looked back and forth between the bowl and Mustafa, who appeared to be debating what to do next with his messy spoon. Rather than put it in the sink like Neville assumed he would, however, he shrugged, dipping it into the bowl.
It was right as he was about to put a spoonful of cereal into his mouth that Neville decided to go through with asking his question. "Okay, what the hell?!"
Mustafa paused, spoon hanging in the air. "What?"
"What is this..." Neville gestured towards the bowl, trying to find the right words to describe what he was seeing. "This... concoction?"
"It's... my cheat day breakfast?" Mustafa said this as if it were the most obvious thing ever, like he couldn't understand why Neville so was baffled. "Duh?"
"How did you even come up with this?"
"Easy — I woke up one morning, couldn't decide what I wanted for breakfast, so I just mixed everything I wanted together. It's better than you think it is, really."
Neville pointed to the package of Oreos. "You wanted to eat those for breakfast?"
"You haven't thought about eating cookies for breakfast before? What are you, an amateur?"
"And— And the Nutella, what were you planning on doing with that if you hadn't thought to throw everything together?"
Mustafa didn't respond, instead choosing to avert his gaze. Suspicious, Neville followed up with, "You weren't seriously considering eating it straight from the jar, were you?"
Mustafa made eye contact with Neville again, and neither of them said anything for a solid few seconds. Eventually, though, Mustafa shot Neville a sheepish grin, and the latter brought his hand to his forehead, slowly shaking his head. "Oh, God..." He let out a breath. "All this, yet you still have those abs..."
"I sure do." Mustafa brought the spoon back to the cereal and mixed it up a bit. "Now, maybe instead of pickin' on me you can come give this a try. You might like it."
"I have no use for any of that."
"False — everyone needs this in their lives."
"Not everyone needs something loaded with sugar so early in the morning."
"What are you gonna have instead, then? Egg whites?" Mustafa shuddered at his own suggestion, and he held a spoonful out towards Neville, who leaned away. "You know you want toooo..."
Neville looked at the spoon with a narrowed gaze. He knew damn well that he gave in to Mustafa way too often (something about the look in his eyes, he figured). He'd told himself that he would stop being such a pushover when it came to him, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity for him to stick to his word for once. Mustafa wanted him to try some food combo that he swore was amazing, something that Neville thought was completely ridiculous. He would be lying if he said he found it to be anything but.
...But he would also be lying if he said that he wasn't at least a little curious as to what Mustafa saw in it. Not to mention that he was giving him the dreaded eyes...
Neville said nothing. Instead, he took a few steps closer to Mustafa, allowing him to put the spoon into his mouth. "There we go..." Mustafa took it out a moment later, giving Neville a second to chew and swallow before asking, "It's good, isn't it?"
It was. "It's fucking disgusting."
"Liar, liar..." Mustafa singsonged, and Neville huffed. There was no point in denying it.
"Maybe you're right..."
"Ha! I knew it."
"Why do I always agree to go along with your nonsense..." Neville lamented, and Mustafa chuckled, leaning over to give him a kiss.
"Because you love me," he replied as he pulled away, and Neville struggled to hide the little fond smile that forced its way onto his face.
"...Yes, I do."
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otomehonyaku · 5 years
Text
DIABOLIK LOVERS CHAOS LINEAGE | RUKI 2 (ENGLISH)
♥ MASTERPOST (CLICK FOR OTHER CHAPTERS) ♥
Today I’m back with part two! I’ve already played through his route once going for the good ending, so I feel kinda bad choosing the bad choices right now... T^T Either way, enjoy!
In terms of the gameplay: The black choices lead up to a bad ending, the white choices lead up to a good ending.
DO NOT REPOST MY TRANSLATIONS ON TUMBLR OR OTHER PLATFORMS, TRANSLATE MY TRANSLATIONS TO ANOTHER LANGUAGE, OR USE MY TRANSLATIONS IN ANY FORM ELSEWHERE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING DOING ANY OF THESE THINGS, PLEASE ASK FOR MY PERMISSION FIRST.
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-LOCATION: YUI’S ROOM- 
Yui: Nn…  (Huh… did I…? After we were in the courtyard…) (That’s right…! Ruki!) (After Ruki fed on me, I suddenly became dizzy… and then, I remembered everything.) I’m Komori Yui… I’m a high school student living in Kaminashi. Good, I actually remember it. (Why was I mistaken for the legendary Eve?) (Oh, no, rather than mistaken, it seems like my memories were completely rewritten…) Ah, Ruki and the others too… Has everyone lost their minds, just like I did? (It seems like everyone is under the impression that their opponents are actually their brothers, and are fighting for some kind of throne…) (And then the mansion, this place… This is definitely not Kaminashi, although I thought I was in the Mukami mansion.) I don’t know what, but something strange is going on… I have to tell Ruki and the others, quickly! 
-LOCATION: ORANGE MANSION LIVING/DINING ROOM- 
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Yui: Ruki! …Oh, you’re here? 
Ruki: You’re being loud. We’re having an urgent meeting right now. 
Yui: Ah, I-I’m sorry… (Wait, I apologised without thinking, but that’s out of the question! This is also urgent!) 
Ayato: Come to think of it, Pancake, weren’t you sleeping in your room? 
Yui: Ah, I just woke up. Now that you mention it, how long was I gone for?
Ayato: What? Hasn’t something changed about you? 
Yui: Huh…? 
Kanato: You’ve suddenly become over-familiar. There’s a limit, even to being shameless. 
Yui: Ah, uh, that’s… (That’s right. Until I remembered everything, and thought that was our first meeting, I was keeping more of a distance…) (However, at this point, I should try to deceive them, because I can’t get used to treating them so formally.) Uh, maybe because I slept well and felt refreshed when I woke up? 
Ayato: Huh? Is that it? 
Shin: Above all, don’t cause Brother too much trouble. You fainted in the courtyard, right? 
Yui: Ah, yeah… It’s just because… I got a little dizzy. 
Shin: That’s why I don’t like you weak humans. With the falling over even when you’re just walking, and all. 
Yui: (But really, I fell over after being fed on…) 
Ruki: … 
Yui: (I suppose it would be better not to say anything, right? Let’s try to stick with that…)  (Even if I try to do that… this atmosphere. There’s something unusual going on, but it seems like they just won’t break the ice.) 
Ruki: Eve, now that you’re awake, take a seat. It’s not like our talk has nothing to do with you. 
Yui: Ah.. y-yeah. (Ruki, why aren’t you even considering that I fainted? If we could, I’d want to talk with just the two of us…) (I just want to know what’s happened between you all, so I’ll leave it…) 
Ruki: Let’s properly summarise the situation. We’re continuing our strife in order for me to become the King.  Eve, who will be the key to achieving this, is in my possession. 
Ayato: Well, actually, she’s mine. 
Shin: Save your sleep-talking for when you’re sleeping, alright? Do you still not know that she’s his? 
Ayato: What? Don’t go on deciding that yourself! 
Kanato: You’re annoying. Don’t shout around me like that, I’ll get irritated! 
Yui: (E-even though I suppose everyone’s memories have become messed up, they sure sound like they normally do…) 
Ruki: Let’s continue our talk. Under these circumstances, shouldn’t we consider what that remaining lot will do next? 
Shin: Of course. They’re after Eve, and there’s no doubt that they will come to attack us. 
Yui: (…come to attack us? That’s right, the thing they’re fighting for is to obtain Eve…) (If it continues like this, they’ll start hurting each other…!) 
Ayato: Isn’t that a comfort? If we don’t act first, they’ll be coming here for us. So, it’s fine to beat up anyone who comes here, right? 
Shin: Think about the difference in strength! If they attack us right from the front, what will we do? 
Kanato: Fufu, Ayato is such an idiot. 
Ayato: Huh? Are you picking a fight with me? 
Ruki: Everyone, shut your mouths. Something such as attacking from the front is a foolish plan. We’ll unnecessarily exhaust ourselves.  If it’s possible, we could go and assault them in their mansions. 
Yui: Assault them? What are…
Ruki: What is it? Is my remark so dissatisfactory?
Yui: J-just… (Yuma, Kou, and Azusa are in the other mansions.) (Is he saying that it would be alright if they went over to battle the rest?)
Ruki: I’ll give you the right to speak, then. What method would you use to gain control over the other mansions? 
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— SELECTION —
    1. 話し合いで Talk to them (black)
Yui: I wonder if you could work it out by talking, to keep you from fighting…?
Shin: Haha… really, Eve? Do you seriously mean that?
Ruki: So in your eyes, this dispute ending by means of discussion is a desirable outcome? If so, I can’t say anything other than that you’re a fool.
Yui: T-that’s…
    2. 罠を張って Set a trap (white)
Yui: I just don’t want you to hurt one another! We could at least try capturing them with a trap, or something like that...
Shin: Capture them... This is not hunting, you know.
Ruki: However, traps might just be what we’re looking for. It should also be effective when it comes to depleting the enemy’s strength, right?
Yui: So it’s a good idea! (No, it’s not good! I’m being praised, but we’re not solving any problems right now!)
— END OF SELECTION DIALOGUE —
Ruki: In any case, in the other mansions are Carla and Reiji, and the others, who will simply turn their heads away [if you try to start a discussion]. We should start moving and investigate, without doing anything careless. 
Ayato: Jeez. How troublesome. That’s not exactly a gala [?]. I’ll just let you do whatever.
*Ayato stands up and leaves*
Kanato: I don’t have any interest in this either. I’ll be returning to my room. 
*Kanato stands up and leaves* 
Yui: Ah, you guys… 
Ruki: So it’s the same old… 
Shin: As per usual, those two don’t have any sense of cooperation. With this, I suppose this family meeting is over… I’ll always support you, Brother. If anything happens, let me know.
Ruki: Yeah. I’m counting on you.
Shin: I’ll go and patrol around the mansion first, then.
*Shin stands up* 
Shin: Ah, right, Eve.
Yui: Eh?
Shin: You’ve chosen to be here, so making sure that you do not start wanting to go to one of the other houses is for your own good.
Yui: I’m not thinking about that at all!
Shin: Huh. I wonder if that’s true, as Ayato’s reaction just now wasn’t like him. You’ve been seeming different today compared to what you’ve been like before.   
Yui: (Did he notice that I’ve gotten back my memories?)
Shin: Ah, well. It’s not like you’ll be able to run away from us easily, anyway.
*Shin walks off* 
Yui: Shin… 
Ruki: I see. So Shin noticed it too…
*Ruki stands up and walks over* 
Yui: Eh, Ruki…?
Ruki: As I thought, you’ve changed. Is it because I fed on you in the courtyard? 
Yui: …! 
Ruki: Bullseye… I thought of what might happen, and hid the fact that I fed on you from Shin, but… Back then, it seems like you remembered something. Did you remember your duty to help me become King? 
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Yui: (Ah… right. To Ruki and everyone else that I’m dealing with right now, the fact that I’ve changed…) (It seems like see it as a change with regard to me being the Legendary Eve.) Hey, like you said, I did remember something. However, it doesn’t have anything to do with the fight for the Throne. It’s more important than that!
Ruki: You don’t think there isn’t anything more important than the Throne?
Yui: There is! Please, hear me out to the end. Something strange is happening to everyone’s memories. It happened to me too… But after you fed on me, I managed to get a hold of the real me again! 
Ruki: Huh. So?
Yui: This isn’t Kaminashi, where I am living with you all. I’m not sure why we’re here right now, but… There’s really no need to be fighting in this place forever.  More than anything, Kou, Yuma, and Azusa… they’re your loving brothers, Ruki. So please! Stop the dispute! 
Ruki: …I see. So that’s why you tried to influence our discussion just now. Kou and the others are all members of the other houses. Though it’s an impromptu made up story, my brothers and I—that’s just nonsense.
Yui: (Ah, he doesn't believe me at all!) I’m not joking! It’s no good at all for you Mukami brothers to be fighting like this! Please, believe me…! 
Ruki: What will you do if I believe you? Let’s say that we view your story as reality. Do you think I should go and hold hands with the other three, and cry in a circle? Ridiculous. [T/N lmao what a savage] 
Yui: (That’s… he’s not listening to me at all… it doesn’t seem like he’s willing to remember either.) (Even though I thought that I could help Ruki get his memories back if I could just talk to him…)
Ruki: For a moment, I thought you might be of use to me when I noticed a change in your tone, but you’ve failed your only task. You’re not a way to for me to become King. You’re just an insult.  
Yui: (Ah, he’s leaving!) W-wait! 
*Yui grabs his sleeve*
Ruki: …What is the meaning of this?
Yui: Ah, that’s…
Ruki: It’s as I’ve been saying. I’ve been granting you a certain degree of freedom. However, I don’t remember giving you permission to express your opinions. Neither do I remember allowing you to stop your master from returning to his room. 
Yui: (…! His aura… it’s scaring me. Is this the real Ruki?) 
Ruki: Getting in the way of your role as a livestock shows that you’ve got some nerve.
*grabby sound*
Yui: Ah?! 
*Yui falling to the ground* 
Yui: Ouch…
Ruki: The sight of you on your hands and knees suits you. Today, I’ll let you off like that. 
*rustling sounds, cue the god awful organ music* 
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Yui: Aah! (He’s pressing on top of me from above… He’s heavy… I can’t move.) Hey, wait… Please, Ruki, stop! 
Ruki: Right now, it seems I’ve been telling you to not express your opinion. You really can’t follow up to your master’s orders, can you? Unruly livestock should be disciplined. So, from where shall I feed on you, then? Your arm, the nape of your neck… Or, somewhere around your ears— 
Yui: *holds her breath*
Ruki: Well then, this spot seems fine. It doesn’t only hurt, but you should be able to hear the sound of me sipping your blood well enough. I’ll properly engrave your body *sips*
*struggling sounds*
Yui: Ugh… Ah… S-stop… Ruki…
Ruki: You really aren’t competent enough to learn. Still expressing your opinion?  
Yui: N… no… (I’m being pushed down by Ruki’s body… I can’t, run…) 
Ruki: You can’t move, can you? Remember it well. Who controls you. Shut up and let me act accordingly… *more sippy sounds*
Yui: Ah… (It hurts…! It really seems like he’s gone back to the old Ruki this way…) *breathes heavily*
Ruki: In the end, you finally obey. You’re so troublesome… If you’ve learned it with your body, watch out from now on. So you don’t mess with your master’s mood anymore, hm? If this happens again, I won’t have mercy. I’ll pierce your body thoroughly with my fangs… remember it well, with that incompetent head of yours.
Yui: (So this… is Ruki now… Maybe, if there’s no way out of this situation…) (If that’s the case, what should I do—) 
Ruki: *gasps for breath*
Yui: (Huh…? Ruki…?)
Ruki: …What was that, just now?
Yui: What’s… wrong…?
Ruki: It’s nothing serious… It seems like somehow, I drank too much of Eve’s blood. To the extent that I can remember what dizziness feels like, I’d say that it was rather strong.
Yui: (Dizziness?) 
Ruki: The disciplining is over. I’m going to rest in my room.
*Ruki walks off*
Yui: Ah… (There he goes…) (The bite mark hurts… It might have been too long since we did this…) I should go back to my room as well… If Ayato or the rest find me like this, I might be bitten all over again… (But still, Ruki was dizzy, and I wonder if he’s alright…) (Whenever he bit me until now, this never happened…) 
-LOCATION: RUKI’S ROOM- 
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Ruki: (…It’s the same as the time I drank her blood in the courtyard.) (The extreme dizziness, and the phenomenon of images flashing through my mind that I’d never seen before…) (The images that I saw… were Eve and I, and three more people…) (The people by my side… who were they?)
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