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he's not only the type to fall completely head over heels for his best friend's girlfriend, but also the type to make it obvious.

when he's come back home after a long day of work, and his best friend opens the door, "oh, hey, you just missed y/n..." his eyebrows are raised and he's already running down the stairs, hoping to reach faster than the elevator to catch you in time.

and when he does, he's standing in front of the opening elevator, breathless and eyes wide with his hand on his racing heart, blush creeping onto his cheeks as he finally sees your stunned face. and he wants to say so much, he wants to ask if you want to join him for some coffee so that you can discuss how much better he is than your boyfriend, but it's a little past 10 now, so as his breath slows down, he settles for a simple, "hi."

uhm, obsessed obsessed obsessed. katsuki, katsuki, katsuki, eren, reo AND nagi, rin, satoru, and did i mention katsuki?

© startaee 2024. do not copy, translate or repost .

CW: In case no one looks at the tags; fem reader, she/her

⏪ - ⏩

[#002.1 Clothing & Expenses]

Xiao wasn't sure what to expect upon your sudden appearance. Of course he had talked to Zhongli and discussed his main worries, and what his next course of action should be, but during that time he hadn't considered every other aspect. Those being your daily necessities.

Matters in regards to your safety, the roof above your head and food were easily met whether at Wangshu Inn or Liyue Harbour. The Inn had even standardly provided hygienic items for all their rooms and clients (and they're not just cheap off branded stuff too). Though when it came to clothing he was at a loss.

Xiao doesn't concern himself with such things, wearing what he has been provided with without any complaints. It had been like that even way before, his yaksha brother who had an affinity for clothing had made him plenty. The only updates to his closet were the gifts he couldn't turn down from Zhongli (they're rarely clothing, but there are a few)…

So to have him pick out attires for you? Xiao doesn't even know the first thing about women's clothing, and is left glaring down at passersby from the rooftop he had settled on. To be fair, you had approached him about the topic out of nowhere, catching him off guard.

“Um, Xiao?” 

“Hm?” 

“Is there any way I can get my own clothes? I feel bad having to bother Verr Goldet all the time. There's probably not much I can do, but I'm open to do any trivial commissions too”

“I'll see what I can do”

The idea of you wanting to earn and afford them on your own may have left his mind, the pure conflict of trying to find you anything suitable, or that you would like at the forefront of his head and quickly making him grow exasperated. Xiao was also grasping at straws and trying his hardest as to not go back to Zhongli for assistance yet again. Surely he could figure it out.

And by figuring it out, it means his only other alternative was to ask Verr Goldet, convinced she's very much knowledgeable in such matters. If push comes to shove, he might need to ask advice from Cloud Retainer seeing as she had taken care of not only one but two female individuals. Better than have him standing dumbfoundedly at a store or be bombarded by merchants asking him for something even he has yet to know. He definitely wouldn't last long at the harbour alone…

“Wouldn't it be better if she chose for herself? I'll get her something nice to wear and you can accompany her to Liyue Harbour and start shopping!”

The suggestion would have been favorable…if only you hadn't put your faith in him to decide on your behalf still;

“I'm not well versed in clothing in general, let alone Liyuean fashion. So feel free to tell me if the outfit looks good or not, okay? Oh and if you start to feel uncomfortable at all, tell me. We'll leave as soon as possible”

Xiao definitely doesn't know what he's doing. 

"So, do you promise to love and respect your wife in joy and in sadness, in sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, for all the days of your life, until death do you apart?"

"Yes", he says, but his mind instantly disagrees.

"No", he thinks. Because this life is too short. It doesn't last forever, but his love for you is unconditional and everlasting. Your days are counted, and you'll both die, that's unavoidable. Your lives will end. That's why he doesn't want to make your love dependent on life.

That's also why, even though he says "Yes" to the priest in front of everyone so that the ceremony can continue , in his mind, he promises "No. I'll never stop loving you, even when I'm 70, wrinkly and ugly, and even when I die, be it today, tomorrow or in 50 years. My love for you is too strong to die with me. It won't die, as long as you live. And when you die, we'll see eachother on the other side, so I can be with you and love you again".

And when he looks at you at the altar after the priest told him to "kiss the bride", with your mascara smudged from crying and that stupid smile he loves so much, he whispers to you, making sure you're the only one who hears it:

"And if death do us apart, I promise to find you in every timeline"

He then holds you by the waist and kisses you, sealing his promise.

REO MIKAGE, RIN ITOSHI, Alexis Ness, MICHAEL KAISER, Karasu Tabito, Bachira Meguru, AKAASHI KEIJI, Sugawara Koshi, ATSUMU MIYA, Bokuto Koutaro, KEIGO TAKAMI (Hawks), SATORU GOJO, Itadori Yuji

𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧 🤞🤞

𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀: 𝗆𝗂𝗄𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗈 𝗑 𝖿!𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

— 𝗇𝗈 𝗌𝗒𝗇𝗈𝗉𝗌𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗒 𝗆𝖾𝗇 𝖼𝗋𝗒 𝗂𝗆 𝗌𝗈 𝗌𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒 (𝗂 𝗌𝗎𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗒𝗇𝗈𝗉𝗌𝖾𝗌); 𝖳𝖧𝖨𝖲 𝖨𝖲𝖭𝖳 𝖠𝖭𝖦𝖲𝖳 𝖡𝖳𝖶 𝖫𝖬𝖠𝖮𝖮𝖮𝖮

— 𝖼𝗐: 𝗌𝗐𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 (𝗂𝗆 𝗌𝗈 𝗌𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖾𝗋𝗆); 𝗁𝗎𝗋𝗍/𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍? 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝖾𝗉𝗍 𝗂𝗍’𝗌 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗈 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖽𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝖤𝖱𝖬𝖬𝖬𝖬; 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗂𝗍. 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂 𝗌𝗐𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗂𝗍’𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗆𝗆𝗁𝗆

— 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄 𝖧𝖨𝖣𝖥𝖩𝖠𝖲𝖨𝖥𝖣𝖩𝖠 𝗇𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄 𝗂𝗆 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗀𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗎𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗂𝗆 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝖻𝗎𝗌𝗒!! 𝖽𝗈𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗈, 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗂𝖼 𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗎𝗉 𝗈𝗇 𝗃𝗎𝗅𝗒 19𝗍𝗁 𝖫𝖬𝖠𝖮𝖠𝖮𝖮𝖠𝖮 (𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗒 𝖺𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗒 𝗀𝖺𝗇𝗀); 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝗒 @fictional-gf !! 𝖳𝖧𝖠𝖭𝖪 𝖸𝖮𝖴 𝖲𝖮 𝖬𝖴𝖢𝖧 𝖬𝖬𝖬𝖧𝖬𝖬𝖬𝖬; 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝖻𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋@?#@#@

“love please don’t break up with me.” 

“reo? my love– what–”

“i can change. i’ll change for you. just for you. just please.. please don’t break up with me..” as you stare at tear-filled purple eyes, you can’t help but wonder why the mikage reo is kneeling in front of your apartment door—thrashed flowers in his hand, hair and suit a mess with sprinkles of snow on every part of his body and flushed cheeks from the cold weather, making him look like a child who just ran ten laps around your apartment complex.

“please, my love…” he grabs your hand, shoving the flowers in your hand as he bows, head on your doormat as he begs. “you deserve someone much better. someone smarter. someone more handsome than me…”

wasn’t he just telling me to not break up with him? 

he looks up again, tears streaming down on his face, a noticeable pout on his face. “i’m so sorry…i am so so sorry i couldn’t treat you ri-”

ok, you’ve had enough of his bullshit.

“love…i don’t know what you’re onto or.. or if– if you’re on something? but please…just get inside and tell me what this is about…alright?” you bend down to his height, kissing his forehead as you pat his head. 

stepping aside, you invite him into your humble abode. he doesn’t budge though, remaining in his original position, looking like a pet waiting for its owner's orders—head slightly tilting as he looks at you with wide-eyes. 

fine. we’re doing this the hard way then.

you sigh as you lay down on your bed, comforting a crying reo who is laying on your chest, and clinging onto you like he’s afraid you’d leave him.

“i’m so sorry, love. i really am..” reo wails like a child—snot and tears messing up your shirt. you don’t mind though. in fact, you’re quite happy you’ve gotten to that point in your relationship where he’s comfortable enough to show this side of his.

oh reo…my sweet reo…

“love. look at me.” you gently cup his cheeks with your palms, wiping away his flowing tears. 

“you don’t have to be sorry that you had to cancel our date. i mean, it’s literally fuckin’ freezing outside and i doubt anything is open right now.” you continue with a small smile, “plus, we don’t always have to go out for dates. in fact, we can have one now! you know, like a home date. uhhh like…cuddling? orrr we can bake cookies! ooooo we could also watch movies if you’d like!” 

he perks up at your suggestions, tears slowly subsiding as a subtle, yet noticeable happy expression appears on his face.

“really?” he asks, eyes opening wide as he awaits your answer.

“of course! we, commoners, need to have some kind of entertainment during days like these after all.” you tease him, playing with his soft hair.

“hey! that’s not nice!” his face scrunches up into an “angry pout” as he reprimands you for saying that.

“i’m sorry! i’m sorry!” you laugh as he removes himself off you, keeping the same pout on his face as he lays down on his side facing away from you.

well at least he’s not crying anymore. 

snickering, you snuggle up to him, acting as the big spoon, kissing his nape as you drape the blanket over the two of you. 

you wish him a goodnight, smiling and rolling your eyes as you’re met with a “hmph!” from the man child beside you.

after a few moments though, you hear your boyfriend’s soft voice, “will we still watch and bake and cuddle tomorrow?” it’s almost creepy how you can hear and feel the pout in his voice. you’re almost tempted to jump on him, squish his cheeks and litter him with kisses because of how cute he is right now.

but you refrain yourself from doing so, playing the role of “mrs. petty” to give him a taste of his own medicine.

“hey..” he calls out to you a little louder this time.  

you turn away from him slightly, acting as if he’s disturbing you from your slumber.

“oi!” you feel him turn to you and drape himself on your body—his weight almost knocking the air out of your system.

wheezing, you pat the man on his back as you try to push him away. 

“okay..okay. we will!” satisfied with your answer, he returns back to his original position and holds your arm captive. you try to get your arm back from his death-crushing grip, yet he doesn’t budge, only gripping it harder.

admitting defeat, you grumble and close your eyes, slowly drifting off to dreamland as you feel a fleeting pair of lips on yours.

what a man mikage reo is. 

RAINY REDEMPTION

synopsis: your ex-boyfriend shows up at your doorstep, soaked from the rain and hoping for a second chance.

starring mikage reo!

genre(s): angst/comfort, fluff at the end, exes to lovers wc- 1.4k

notes: first time trying angst like this. hope you enjoy!!

the last person you had expected to see upon opening your door was your ex-boyfriend of 2 months, mikage reo. he stood before you, soaked from the rain from head to toe, wearing a sheepish smile that contradicted the unease in his eyes. "can i come in?" he asked, his voice laced with uncharacteristic hesitancy. "it's really pouring outside."

stunned and speechless, you merely gestured for him to enter, an invitation he swiftly accepted. as you darted wordlessly to fetch a towel, a tumult of thoughts stormed your mind, each raindrop that fell echoing a question.

what was he doing here? why was he out in the rain? he never ventured into this part of town. what's going on?

shaking off these thoughts, you handed him the towel. grateful, he quickly began drying his hair – the beautiful, fluffy hair you used to run your hands through, to which he'd almost purr as he melted into your touch. the hair that had been long enough for you to braid and accessorize, filling an entire album on your phone dedicated to the different looks you'd given him. it had been months since you last saw it, and now, with no explanation, it was in your apartment.

breaking the silence, you questioned, "what are you doing here, reo?" your voice, calm and level, carried a coldness unfamiliar to him. he disliked it greatly.

"i was taking a walk, and it started raining." he answered simply.

you knew immediately and without a doubt that he was lying. you knew him best, after all.

eyeing him, you demanded, "what are you really doing here?"

a chuckle escaped his lips. that low, boyish chuckle that still sent shivers down your spine. he scratched the nape of his neck before nervously joking, "you got me. you always did know when i was lying."

"what are you doing here, reo?" you snarled, a sharp edge to your voice.

panic and fear washed over his features before he blurted,

"i still love you, y/n."

you took a moment to process his words before your entire world began to spin before your eyes.

your heart pounded, and your vision got fuzzy. your knees went weak, feeling like they might give out. nausea hit you hard, and you wanted to faint, cry, and run away—all at once. it was like a rainstorm of emotions hitting you like a torrent, messing with your whole system.

"..no."

"no?"

"no!" you screamed, tears flowing. instinctively, reo reached out to wipe them away, but you slapped his hand away, making him wince.

"you cannot," you sobbed, "break my heart, tell me it's over, and not talk to me for months,"

reo's eyes began to water too.

"and then come marching back to me, and tell me you fucking love me, reo. no. you cannot do that to me."

"y/n," reo started, but you cut him off.

"i," you breathed through tears, "was just starting to get over you, to come to terms with the fact that you didn't want me around anymore."

by now, reo was freely crying too.

"and then you just waltz through my doorway to tell me you love me? are you kidding me?"

"y/n," reo tried to start again, coming as close to you as he thought you'd let him. "i'm so sorry."

"you're sorry? that's it?" you spat angrily.

"hurting you," he uttered, "was the greatest mistake of my entire life."

gently, he took your hands in his, relief washing over him when you didn't push him away.

"i did so much to tell myself that i'd be fine, that you were just another girl, and i'd find someone else." you almost rolled your eyes.

"but it wasn't true," he breathed. "not one bit. not even close. no one," he squeezed your hands, "could ever come close to you."

"i miss your voice. i miss your laugh. i miss waking up in the morning and seeing you smile. i miss spending time with you doing anything: cuddling and a movie, buying groceries, baking things, going to restaurants. y/n, i miss you so much my entire body hurts when someone mentions your name. i miss you, y/n, and i'm so, so sorry that i hurt you."

you're sobbing uncontrollably now, and his heart aches, knowing he's the one who made you this way. he'd always hated seeing you cry, but he hated it a thousand times more when he was the cause. he vowed to never make you cry like this ever again if you decided to let him back in.

hesitantly, he reached up to your face, fingers trembling with the fear that you'd push him away once more. luckily, you don't. you don't slap him, nor do you yell at him. instead, you let him tenderly wipe the tears from your skin, a silent ode to his love. it felt like a soothing melody in the midst of chaos, a gentle reassurance. you allowed him to cup your tear-stained face, a silent acknowledgment that, in this fragile moment, a sliver of hope had found its way into both of your hearts.

"y/n, i need you. the months we've spent apart have torn me apart completely. so much so that i couldn't even get out of bed to get to practice. nagi had to come get me out of bed, and that should really tell you something."

he winced as he observed your unamused expression, then took a deep breath.

"i know i can't change the past. no matter how much i wish i could, i will never be able to take back the harsh words i said. i will never be able to undo my horrible actions. i know i was a terrible boyfriend to you, y/n, but please. i love you. i know i need to respect your wishes and boundaries, but if you still love me too, i'm not going anywhere." he looked at you desperately, his purple orbs silently pleading with you. "do you?"

silence lingered, the air thick with trepidation. then, you broke down again, burying your head in his shoulder. "of course i do," you mumbled softly, sobbing. relief deluged his body, and his hold on you tightened ever so slightly.

"reo, i love you with every fiber of my being. i love you so much that i never stopped thinking about you for a single minute since we split. i love you so much it took all of my willpower not to jump into your arms the moment i opened the door. reo, i love you so much that it scares me." you confessed, your voice no higher than a whisper. if he hadn't been desperately clinging onto your every word and move, he wouldn't have heard it.

"then please. one more chance. we can make this work, i promise. i swear to you with my life that i'll be better. i'll make you happy. i'll do everything in my power to be the best lover you've ever had." he looks at you anxiously, trying to read your expression. "we can take it slow. ease back into it. but please don't give up on me, on us, just yet. im begging you."

in the quiet aftermath that followed his plea, a heavy silence settled. the air thickened as his words lingered, creating an atmosphere filled with uncertainty and anticipation. your contemplative gaze met his desperate one, and for a moment, time stood still.

"please, y/n. i need you."

you stayed silent for a bit, and he held his breath the entire time. his heart was beating so fast he thought it'd leap out of his body.

"ok." you finally sighed. "let's give it another shot."

elation, bright as the sun after rain, soared through his body as he engulfed you in his embrace. the warmth flooded all your senses as he squeezed you tight, never wanting to let you go.

"thank you," he whispered, tears soaking your shirt. "thank you so, so much."

a nod subtly affirmed, an unspoken acknowledgment of the gravity in the air. "yeah," you breathed gently, taking in what had just occurred. "it'll be ok. we'll be ok."

"i love you," he sobbed, the words pouring out in earnest. "i love you so, so much."

excitement and joy rushed through his body like a heavy downpour upon hearing the four magical words you next uttered:

"i love you too."

© 𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐈𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 please do not copy or repost my work on any other site. interactions appreciated! 🤍

─── 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

+ itoshi sae x f!reader | wc 4k | content: angst, best friends to lovers to strangers type beat, i did not proof this besties

notes: lmao me , thinking i could get away from this man . guess who’s back with more sae ??? <3

summary: you’re the one sae can’t get over. he’s beginning to think he never will.

the freshly cooked bread is on the floor. it litters the nice marble tiles. the chit of paper with the order writes mr. rin hatoki.

“i'm tired of this, sae.”

sae doesn't say a word. he's listless, sitting on the kitchen table, staring at his own reflection on the glass, wondering where it all went wrong.

“why don't you love me anymore?”

it's weird. he can hear the sorrow. he can feel the pain. yet he feels nothing.

“what does she have that i don’t?”

maybe you're right. maybe he's an asshole. maybe this is his punishment.

the first time sae laid eyes on you, you were five and he was six.

he saw you playing with rin on the slides, and he remembers the way you smiled at him when rin told you sae was his older brother.

and even back then, even if it was a tiny crush based on superficial reasons like how sae liked your smile or your eyes or the way your hands felt on his when you locked hands and forced him to play with you and rin, he remembers you mocking rin and calling sae nii-chan.

sae remembers how he cringed inside because no. no no, he didn’t want you calling him that because that wasn’t what he wanted you to know him for. he didn’t know what he wanted exactly, but definitely not an older brother.

"itoshi-kun!"

“sae,” he corrected you, watching as you ran up to him on the field.

he loved the soft smile you wore on when you heard him. he especially loved the first time you said his name.

“sae.”

the first time he saw you cry, it was when you scraped your knee after some boys accidentally pushed you over.

you were nine.

sae scared them away afterwards.

you weren’t exactly sobbing—he found out you were funny like that, like you wanted to cry but didn’t want to let anyone see. but it was frustrating because sae wasn’t just anyone. or so he liked to think.

“get on,” sae told you, getting down on one knee with his back turned to you.

“what?” you sniffled, vision still blurry from your would-be tears.

sae craned his neck to look back at you, a faint smile on his face. “come on, i’ll carry you home.”

“i’m not weak, you know,” you argued, and sae would’ve told you to just accept his offer when he realised you already did, obediently climbing onto his back and wrapping your arms around his neck.

it was a relatively silent walk back. sae could hear the rapid beating of your heart though.

maybe it was a tiny crush too. the kind that stuck with you for three years and four months and threatened to stick with you for the rest of your life.

“hey, sae?”

“hm?”

a pregnant pause. you held him tighter before ultimately loosening your grip.

“mm, nothing.”

sae really wanted to hear you. but he let it go.

it was torture, really—you were fifteen when you got your first boyfriend. some guy called oliver aiku. who looked way too old for you, by the way, but fine, if you said he was only a year older than sae, who was he to question you?

sae hated it, really. watching you at the swings, laughing along with him, watching oli feed you ice cream. and you said oliver was a good striker too? sae bet he was better.

what did he have that sae didn’t?

and sae thought he’d love to witness the day when the two of you broke up. but he never counted on the fact that you’d be a mess when your heart was broken.

you ignored sae and rin for a couple of weeks, choosing to stay isolated, refusing to see anyone. you weren’t even replying sae’s texts.

[17:34] hey y/n, pick up the phone, idiot.

[17:34] rin misses you.

okay so that last part was a lie, but it was fine, rin didn’t have to find out.

[17:35] hey sae. :)

[17:35] hmm… so you don’t miss me?

sae had to do a double take at your text. since when did you become this cheeky? he didn’t even know why he was suppressing a smile.

it took him less than a minute before he got up.

[17:36] maybe.

[17:37] be at your place in 10, let’s get ice cream.

funny how he wanted to replace all of oliver’s memories. sae wanted you to lick the ice cream that he was holding. sae wanted you to play on the swings with him. everything him, no other stupid boys who would make you cry, who didn’t deserve you.

that was exactly what sae did—asked you what you did with oliver. you’d answer him, and he’d do the exact same with you, and he’d rewrite all the memories you thought would be so hard to forget, the very same memories you thought would be impossible to replace. yet sae did it, replaced the bad with the good.

sae wasn’t a mind reader, he couldn’t tell what you were thinking as he got you ice cream and fed it to you, couldn’t tell if you liked how he walked with his arm around your shoulder. couldn’t tell if you knew what he was doing.

he wished that you knew how he felt—then that’d make one of you. because sae had no clue.

“hey, sae?”

“hm?”

he got deja vu there.

and this time, you continued.

“do you do this for other girls too?”

sae nearly choked on that question because no, he didn’t do nearly as much for other people in general. you were the only one he’d ever put this much effort to.

“no.”

he can still remember your little smile to this day. it was pretty, even prettier since it was because of him. it was like a silent knowledge you both shared—you didn’t want him to do that for other girls, and he didn’t want to share you with other boys.

simple, but complicated. complicated because you were both shit at feelings and shit at admitting but it was still beautiful, if only because neither of you ever strayed.

back then.

“what about a house?”

“i’ll buy you the nicest, cosiest one there is.”

“anywhere in the world?”

sae nodded. “anywhere you want.”

“i want to open a bakery one day. you gonna help me with that?”

“i’ll help you with anything you want.”

you giggled. “yeah? you and what money, sae?”

he rolled his eyes, resting his head against his palm, elbow propped up on your study table. “when i become the best soccer player in the world, genius.”

sae flicked your forehead gently, as he remembers he liked to, smiling softly when you winced in faux pain.

it’s funny how comfortable he felt talking about shit like that with you, only half-joking. it was an innocent conversation on how sae said he would be able to take care of you when you were both older. even if it wasn’t his place, even if he wasn’t even your boyfriend yet then.

“oh? so i’ll get the world’s best soccer player itoshi sae all to myself?”

it all sounded dreamy and attainable when you were both eighteen and sitting on cloud nine. when the both of you were dreamers with rose tinted glasses and honeyed tongues to match.

“is that a confession, y/n l/n?”

he remembers he caught you off guard. he knew because the way you behaved when you were flustered was already ingrained in his mind. the way you fumbled over your words, the way you couldn’t hold eye contact, the way you made him melt with how you seemed so vulnerable for a split second.

“what if it was?”

that was the first time you ever managed to render him speechless. only because of how honest you were being. only because sae wanted you to want him and you did and then he was reduced to some infatuated idiot.

“good, me too.”

and maybe that was his first mistake. when he didn’t make sure you knew he wanted you for more than just that moment, that he had wanted you for a long time coming.

maybe that was the first in line for the domino effect.

life hit hard and fast by the time sae made a name for himself as one of the best midfielders in the world. he opened his eyes and saw that japan was not for him—he wanted more for himself, for his career.

sae wanted to move. and at the time, he wanted to bring you with him.

“how’s spain?”

it was the usual call the two of you had—a routine set in place because sae found he’d miss you too much if he didn’t hear from you for a while. it sucked that he couldn’t bring you with him now, not when he wasn’t best yet and not when you had a degree to finish.

“great, i play in the official match tomorrow, starting eleven.”

mundane updates about each other’s lives. he’d tell you about his soccer trainings and you’d fill him in on school. but for sae, it wasn’t enough. so he took a leap of faith this time, he was sure what he wanted.

“hey, what if we moved out here next time?” sae asked, cutting you off.

you stuttered, flustered and overwhelmed. in hindsight, maybe asking you that sort of thing when the both of you weren’t even officially together was kind of a stretch.

but sae had been sure at that point of time.

“there’s a lot to consider, sae.”

it was that tricky line where you were both more than friends but less than lovers and sae knew that over the phone wasn’t the ideal place to do it but he didn’t want to drag it on any longer.

“i mean, we’re not even together and we’re both just still kids, and—”

“then be mine.”

“i- what?”

for the first time, he was thinking about the future. and it had to be with you. he couldn’t imagine it another way. and when you agreed to be his that day, when you agreed you’d consider it for the future, sae was happier than he let on.

for the first time, the future was a little clearer. become the best midfielder, find a good forward worthy of his passes, and when all that was done and dusted, he’d always come back to you at the end of the day.

sae had thought hard about it.

but evidently not hard enough.

reality hit like a truck.

because fast forward five years into the future and you had moved out to spain to be with sae, your future husband, the diamond ring nestled comfortably on your finger.

moving in with sae was fun, exciting. it was a new place, new continent, new start. sae was with you every step of the way, choosing the house, choosing the furniture. turned out, being one of the most in-demand soccer players paid way too well.

what sae never considered was the gravity of what he asked you to do—uproot your entire life to be with him. you were both still young and full of life and loved seeking thrills and you both failed to grasp what the consequences would be.

it was harder than you bargained; adjusting to the new country, learning a new language, making new friends and learning the culture. sae was a pivotal part of your support system, but sometimes he didn’t have a choice; he couldn’t be there for you a hundred percent. he had soccer, contracts to fulfil, people to please. you needed him more than you realised.

and when you moved in together, both of you saw sides to one another you never really saw before. like how you get frustrated when sae messes the entire bedroom up after you spent the entire day cleaning the mansion. or how sae shut down whenever he was having doubts about his team, his plays.

it was difficult. but it still worked.

for a while.

but arguments were getting more frequent. and sae forgot why he did this in the first place. maybe you should’ve spoken up more too, whenever something bothered you, then maybe you wouldn’t have felt this resentful.

you blamed sae for asking you to move out here. but it was what you wanted too.

it got to a point where there was an animosity between the both of you that you couldn’t handle. the type that made you sad because somehow sae turned into someone you didn’t even recognise.

“where’d you go last night?”

sae sighed, like you were a bother, but really you weren’t. he was just being a dick. it was never okay to just abandon your fiancé at home all because of a dumb fight which he couldn’t even remember by now.

“stayed over at the captain’s,” was all he told you. didn’t even bother explaining.

he wishes he did, then maybe you’d stop getting the idea that this relationship had hit a dead end.

“is that what we’re going to do now? just leave the other one alone, not talk when we fight?” you were soft, because you were tired. you’d been tired for a while.

you were tired. sae lost track of himself. everything was a mess and neither of you had the capability to handle it. sae was thinking maybe he made a mistake, and you were thinking it wasn’t too late to turn back. he couldn’t be bothered to remember how you got here in the first place, and he missed all the signs you gave him.

how you had stayed up late just to wait up for him whenever he had practice. how you agreed to be with him through everything and kept a smile on your face even when things were hard on you personally. how you cooked for two even when sae said he wouldn’t have time for dinners at home, just in case.

he’s sorry; you thought of him way too much, and he didn’t give you enough.

“sae, say something, please?” you were on the verge of tears, and he was on the verge of giving up.

sae knows what you wanted to hear now. but back then, he didn’t. he was too pressed on his own feelings that he just couldn’t find it in himself to think for you.

“what do you want me to say?”

you sat next to him on the couch, and he could hear you sniffling. he didn’t turn to look at you, didn’t ask about you, didn’t try to console you. for his own good. because he thought he knew where it was going, and it was better if he didn’t.

“sae… do you still want this?”

that was the first time he was unsure. because what he knew was that there was no one else for him. there was only you. he wanted only you, but everything turned out like this and he felt conflicted, tired.

he just wasn’t sure.

“i don’t know.”

but that was as good of an answer to you as any.

you’d watched him over the years. you’d tolerated all of his misgivings, you’d watched him train even when he was injured, even when you begged him to rest. you’d supported him throughout everything. you were everything to him, but at that moment, sae failed to tell you, and you couldn’t hold on to something that seemed so futile, something that was hanging on by a single thread.

something that might’ve snapped at any moment.

the next day, all sae woke up to was the engagement ring on his bedpost and your absence from his life.

it’s been another five years since then.

sae’s back in japan. for some reason.

no, not some. just one. just you.

to think that up until now, sae still thinks of you. you’re always there somehow, in his memories. when he scores a goal, he still instinctively looks for your face in the crowd. when people interview him and ask him about possible partners, his first thought is your name. when he goes on his socials, he looks for you first. it’s habit.

sae’s jealous, still. even after four years apart. he still loves you. he’s still stupid. he’s still too late.

you’re happy now, if your posts are any indication. you live with him too. sae sometimes wishes he was him. then maybe he’d get to feel you again, be around you, hover over you and annoy you to no end. maybe he’d get to hear you call his name again.

but that’s a long shot.

you’re about to be mrs mikage soon. reo’s a lucky guy, whoever the fuck he is. sae hates him, but it’s biased. he’s probably good to you. he helped you build that bakery you always wanted, after all.

the bakery sae always orders from under a fake name because he doesn’t know whether you hate him and he’d rather not risk it. it’s the only way he knows how to hold on to you, to still feel close to you.

so he’s mr. rin hatoki.

“tell me!”

his girlfriend’s voice is shrill, it brings him back to the present, to his current predicament. to the fact that he’s been trying to put you in the past, but he’s not able to. and she knows it, too. she’s not dumb.

she probably stalked you ever since she first started dating him. she probably knew all along that the breakfasts sae buys for her is his pathetic excuse to just support your business. she probably knew that from the start, she stood no chance against you.

“i beg you, sae,” she’s crying now, and sae feels bad for regressing to this state, to hurting other people but most of all, he feels bad for flat out wishing she was you. “just break my heart already if you’re going to do it.”

two years with her down the drain. because he can’t forget about you.

sae doesn’t even look up at her because he’s filled with the vision of you smiling in his head. that’s all he’s staring at.

she asked what you had that she didn’t. and sae only knows the one answer is his heart.

“you’ll never be her.”

sae stares at you from the driver’s seat. he’s parked on the opposite side of the road, it should be safely tucked away enough that you won’t notice.

you’re closing up. you look like an angel. you’re dawdling, slowly mopping up the floors, your hair so messy and you’re still so perfect.

he wants to go there, wants to run to you and hug you, wants to grip onto you and take back what he lost. but he of all people knows that’s impossible. so he stays in his driver’s seat, stays in his fantasies, stays away from you.

maybe he should just drive away. maybe he should stop pining for you. this is stupid.

especially stupid when he sees your future husband pull up and run up the sidewalk, runs into your arms, carries you and spins you around and presses a kiss onto your perfect nose.

sae can only vaguely make out what he’s saying.

“have a surprise for you at home, baby.”

and sae can’t tell what you said, but he can tell you love him by the slow, affectionate kiss you give him, the way you wrap your arms around his neck and laugh against each other’s lips.

“wait here for a bit, yeah?” reo tells you, and you nod, obedient.

it’s like a drug, now that he’s here, sae wants to stay and watch the show play out to the end. he watches as you store away your broom and mops and as reo walks back to his car—wait, no, fuck, he’s walking to sae’s car.

fuck fuck fuck.

reo makes sure you’re back in your bakery and out of view before he smiles at sae. “i’m very honoured that a world-class soccer player is stalking us,” reo beams at him the moment sae winds down his windows. “wanna go over there and talk to her?”

he definitely knows of your history with sae. it doesn’t bother him though, apparently. not if he’s offering sae the chance to talk to you, and alone, by the looks of it.

sae’s not really sure what he’s doing, taking reo up on his offer. he walks through the doors to your bakery and the shopkeeper’s bell rings, inciting you to spin around, expecting reo, but your eyes widen when you see sae there instead, sheepishly standing there, staring dumbly at you.

“sae,” you call his name, breathlessly. “w-what’re you doing here?”

“i… don’t know.”

he doesn’t. zero clue. fuck.

you’re not smiling, you’re apprehensive, you’re still in shock as to why itoshi sae didn’t contact you ever since you left him and why he chose now of all times to show up. there’s tears in the corners of your eyes and he knows you’re trying not to let them fall. the corners of your mouth try not to but they form a small frown.

“i just wanted to tell you…” sae trails off because he starts to remember everything.

he remembers five years old and you on the slides. he remembers your nii-chan and how he hated it. he remembers your smile and him being lovestruck and pathetic. he remembers making you happy and then making you sad, going from everything you loved to everything you grieved. he remembers all the signs he thought you didn’t give. he remembers your newly opened bakery and the heart on his first order chit. he remembers his now ex-girlfriend hating his guts and throwing your bread on the floor.

most of all, he remembers how happy you look with reo.

so sae swallows all the words he wanted to say and gives you a knowing smile. “just wanted to come by and wish you a happy marriage.”

i miss you. i still love you. i want you back. i want to be yours again. i promise i’ll love you properly this time.

he bites back all his words.

your expression turns soft and you smile at him for the first time in five years. “thanks, sae,” you tell him, holding your hand out.

sae shakes it, resisting his urge to pull you close.

“how are—”

“i have to go,” sae interjects, because he doesn’t think he can act any more normal than this. he wants to see more of you, but he forces himself to leave, and you understand anyway, you and your weak knees because as much as you’re over itoshi sae, your lover, you still miss itoshi sae, your best friend.

reo walks past him on the steps, noticing his rush. “hey, leaving already?”

sae doesn’t stop. “yeah.”

“look, y/n’s clueless but,” reo continues, raising his voice slightly as sae gets farther away. “thanks for all the support!”

sae stops short of his car, turning around to look at reo, who’s looking at you, cleaning up the last of your cash.

“what are you talking about?”

reo turns back to sae, hands in his pockets. “i wanted to thank mr rin hatoki personally so—” sae’s eyes grow wide at the mention of the name— “thank you.”

how does he even know?

“you know, she was so nervous when it first opened, thinking that nobody would buy anything,” reo tells him, and sae listens, swallowing the lump in his throat. “i wanted to be the first customer but apparently a mr rin hitoki beat me to it.”

reo sighs, noticing how sae’s eyes are now glued onto you.

“y/n’s the kindest person i’ve ever met,” reo continues, turning his back on sae. “if you want forgiveness, it’s always there for you.”

reo’s revelation and offer sticks with sae, but he shelves it in the corner of his mind. when he sees you, crescent eyes and all smiles, sae drives off.

it’s fine. knowing you’re happy is enough.

that’s a lie. it will never be enough for him, but he’ll just keep trying to convince himself. sae loves you, and he might just love you enough to let you go.

BLUE LOCK BOYS AS ROMANCE TROPES !

— feat ⨾ itoshi sae, itoshi rin, nagi seishiro, mikage reo.

— contents ⨾ fluff, angst.

ITOSHI SAE + second chance at love !

it's raw with desperation and fear and hope— the way sae's fingers are clutching the fabric of your shirt. it's wasn't supposed to be this way. he kisses the tears trailing down your cheeks, “you said it was over. you said it wasn't worth it. you said you didn't want—” you choke on your own words, hand closing in fists on your sides when sae mutters breathlessly, “i didn't mean it, never ever.” he says. something like guilt burns in his eyes, a taste of regret on his lips, uncertainty and impatience in his hastened breaths.

it's crazy, you think. the way he still has that effect he had on you years ago when you were both seventeen in the airport terminal, teary eyes and staggered breaths. when the fear that the distance would tear you apart first took over, and sae stopped believing. when you looked away from him for the first time and he didn't reach out to wipe your tears. it wasn't supposed to be this way. he was back after four years and you weren't supposed to be in his arms. you promised yourself you'd talk like old friends do, and he trusted himself that he wouldn't say anything to try and make you stay.

“i think it can work, you and me, us. just the two of us and it'll be enough.” you know these words have burned on his tongue for long, because they're warm on your lips. you're kissing him back like it's only natural to do so.“i'm already yours, always have been.” he murmurs.

ITOSHI RIN + childhood friends to lovers !

it's the warm and golden hues of the setting sun melting into the evening blues, splattered colours of contrast coming together— the mark of a newborn eve, the smell of wet earth after the first shower of spring and the cool caress of the breeze. rin is standing by the entrance gates to your school, leaning against the wall, head rested to the side as he waits for you.

you think you're caught in a trance. his back covers the remnants of the sunlight like the moon eclipsing the sun, casting shadows of orange glows. when he breathes, the shadows dance with him. he frowns in wait, and you catch up to him. when you smile, it's almost melancholy, “what's got you smiling like that?” rin eyes the solemn curve of your lips.

“hmm? i think it's ’cause i like you.” the words bleed from your voice in saccharine hues, in bittersweet whispers of unrequited love and fear that maybe you've ruined the carefully painted mosaic of years of knowing rin and the sea green gleam of his eyes, the quiet hums and smiles only you know, the knowledge that he doesn't know how to make paper planes, summer nights of horror movie marathons and trading ice creams.

rin parts his lips, eyes as wide as saucers. he sucks a breath in— searching for the second you say you're joking, “do you mean that?”

you nod and rin's arms swallow you whole, chests pressed so close your heartbeats sync and improvise as one.

“i like you too, really like you.” he breathes into your neck— lingers of relief and gratitude like he's breathing for the first time.

NAGI SEISHIRO + forced proximity !

past 2 am into the late hours of midnight blues and the heavy patters rain against the glass window, reduced to background noise because you're subconsciously trying to trace the steady pattern of nagi's breathing, eyes skimming the fall and rise of his chest every two seconds.

you've been awake since thunder rumbled the walls of your temporarily-shared bedroom for the first time tonight. some fun, memorable just-close-friends trip this is. perhaps it wasn't enough you had to share the bed with someone, maybe it's truly because that someone happened to be nagi seishiro that you can't sleep at all. you're conscious of every breath he takes, how his body expands and relaxes. the heat of your bodies melding as one like a blanket of second warmth over you. “you still awake?” you ask, low and soft. nagi hums, “mhm, if you still are.”

his voice is nothing but a breath of the comfort of not being alone, exhaustion from the day clawing at his throat. “you can sleep if you want.” you say, it's whispered into the night— a silent thank you because he's letting you know he's here as long as you want him, “i wanna stay like this.” he urges, bringing a hand to brush your hair behind your ear and you let him. you let him hook his arm around your waist, foreheads brushing lightly, breaths tangling in knots and lips seconds away from meeting. you watch the curve of his lips, how they move to form words, “i like this more.”

MIKAGE REO + fake relationship !

you think reo had always looked like midsummer nights adorned with princely smiles and bubbles of champagne in the glass, glitters of neon city lights against damp car windows, juvenile secrets traded as i love you's with the hope it lasts forever. ( it doesn't. )

it lingers in the way he kisses you these days— a small talk to fill in loud silences, pretense and improvised. you kiss him back— a lullaby of aching heartbreak, unrequited and young. it almost makes you forget about the blinding flashes of camera lights, hurrying to capture the moment mikage reo is seen with his partner.

it's just like he had asked you to, “date me” he'd said, missing the way your eyes lit up, “it doesn't have to be real, just enough so my parents stop setting me up for blind dates.”

“i don't think i can do this anymore.” your voice breaks, eyes refusing to meet his.

“what? why?—” he rushes close and you step back, “it's getting too real for me, i can't.”

he pauses— ponders your words, lets them replay in his mind over and over again, “...and you don't want that?” you do. so much that you said yes before thinking when he first proposed this, “what about you, reo? this... this means nothing to you right? none of th—”

“it does”, his voice is almost begging, “it means everything to me. you do. it's you and it's always been you.” he looks at you, wondering if he should continue. he does anyway, “it's real. i loved you every time i said it, every time i didn't say it. I'll say it again if you want me to—” and you hear it, like it's always been there, like it's all he's ever known, “— i love you, y/n.”

© yuquinzel2023 [ plagiarism is a violation of moral rights ! ]

It's painfully evident to anyone with two working eyes that Reo likes you.

Reo excels in almost anything, except hiding his devastatingly pathetic pining towards you. It's etched across his face, woven into his body language, and discernible even in his speech. It's embarrassing to the point that even someone as detached and inattentive as Nagi can discern it from a mile away.

Well, it’s not that hard to tell when Reo looks at you as though you've adorned the night sky with every sparkling star.

Nagi sometimes wonders if Reo even knows it himself. You weren’t any better too, always so oblivious of the lovesick fool fawning at everything you do — yet stealing glances when you’re certain the purple-haired isn’t looking.

Nagi had become an inadvertent witness to countless moments, each one screaming of the unspoken connection between you and Reo. From stolen glances across the classroom, where your eyes would meet, sparking a silent understanding, to the subtle brush of hands as you passed each other notes.

Watching you both tiptoe around your feelings is painful, especially considering that the two of you are the closest things Nagi has to friends. 

Maybe some minor intervention wouldn’t be a hassle, Nagi reasoned. 

“I like you, Y/N,” and so, he falsely confesses, purposely doing so while Reo stands just a few steps behind you.

Nagi observes your frozen reaction to his declaration, your bag hanging mid-air, frozen before settling on your shoulders. He notices the widened eyes and slightly agape mouth. Above all, he sees the color drain from Reo's face and the slight twitch of his eye in shock. At least he knows his plan is working.

A moment lingers, and you recover from the shock of his confession, still blissfully oblivious to Reo's presence in the room. “Sei... I-I'm sorry. I like someone else.”

I know, he says in his mind. He doesn’t say anything, prompting you to say more. 

“I’m sorry, Sei. I like Reo.”

And there it goes. 

Realization, relief, and everything in between coloring Reo’s face behind you. Reo has always worn his feelings in his sleeves— too transparent and too obvious.

“I know. I don’t like you,” Nagi admits to you, “I said it because he’s behind you.”

For the second time, you freeze at his words. The urge to turn and confirm or deny his statement tugs at you, but the fear of confronting Nagi's unerring honesty prevails.

Nagi Seishiro never lies unless he admits he does. Lying is too much of an effort, honesty is easier, he reasons.

You weigh your choices. Honestly, you'd rather be the butt of Nagi’s jokes than to face Reo if he’s really behind you. And so, you make your decision. Instead of turning to confront the embodiment of your unrequited feelings, you bolt for the door, leaving the two men to exchange silent glances.

“It's a lie?” Reo's voice breaks the silence.

“Yeah,” Nagi confirms. “Why aren't you going after them—”

Reo interrupts him with a confession, “I wouldn't know what to do if you liked them, too.”

I know, Nagi thinks again, staring at Reo before shrugging and collecting his belongings from the table.

“It will be a pain, I guess.” he shrugs again before finally turning his back to Reo to leave the classroom.

Suppose it's a good thing— it's a good thing Nagi doesn't wear his feelings on his face like you do, Reo.

Because it will really be a pain, indeed.

note. idk what this is but i present to you: pining reo written in nagi's pov or... i guess it could be more than that 🤷🏻‍♀️ (wrote this back in september pls throw the tomatoes gently)

• Blue lock boys with their kids ♡.

< part 1 >

{Nagi seishiro, Mikage reo, Isagi yoichi, Bachira Meguru, Itoshi sae and Itoshi rin}

Artist in twitter: _nnt0k

@vampirenightmare

I'm really, really, really sorry because I was away for so long 😭😭, and I'm sorry for implementing your request so late. I was very busy with school and didn't have time to translate anything due to the difficulty of our studies and the school stage I am in now, in addition to the pressure on us with exams.. Finally, after much trouble, I took a 17-day vacation to rest from school ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ.

(I will post the second part now)

Hope you enjoy ♡.

How many kids do you two have ? - {blue lock}

Isagi Yoichi

Three kids. Simple. You two bred artistic kids, one an artist, one a singer and your youngest son a soccer player just like his father. Isagi is a proud! Proud! Father. He always brags about his kids then gets teased because they mostly look like you. He doesn’t care though, he loves how similar his kids are to you. What he doesn’t like is how the four of them compete to please you, make you happy, do things for you, they always compete on a daily basis. And Isagi is childish about the whole thing.

Sae Itoshi

Two kids. A set of twins, twin GIRLS to be exact. You know usually the girls share their mothers attitude and wit but with your daughters they are their father’s successors. THE AMOUNT OF SASS AND ATTITUDE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS CRAZY. And what makes it worse is that he taught them Spanish for whenever you all take trips to Spain so when they’re really mad at each other they start yelling in Spanish. You were never really fluent in the language so you’d stand there confused when they’d be speaking too fast. But they were soccer prodigies just like their father, the best thing about it was that they would leave to go practice and you’d have the house to yourself.

Nagi Seishiro

Here me out….six kids . Why? BECAUSE HE IS TOO FUCKING LAZY TO PULL OUT!! He kept saying one more kids will be fine and then you end up getting pregnant with triplets. You only had one set of triplets which happen to be your youngest kids and you told him that if he didn’t pull out you were going to stop having sex with him. He took that threat too serious. The big quirk that your kids got from their father is their clinginess, it’s the triplets. They are the most clingiest with him and he hates and loves it. When you two are laying in bed at night he’s clinging, laying his head on your boobs complaining about how HIS kids won’t leave him alone. Especially when he’s trying to play his games, you just smile and laugh it off because even though he complains he still plays with them and ends up passing out with them all laying around him. Nagi has to be one of the best laziest fathers out there.

Mikage Reo

Two kids. He’s an only child and didn’t want his kids to be lonely. One son one girl. That’s how he wanted it and he was happy. He spoiled his children whenever they did something good and he never made them do anything they didn’t want to do. Both of his kids didn’t want to play soccer actually but they loved going to games because their dad and uncles (Nagi, Isagi, Bachira, Chigiri, Kunigami) played with him. At first he was hesitant about bringing his kids around his parents but he soon warmed up to the feeling and always jumped at their offer to babysit so that he could take you on dates. That’s one thing he was adamant about, he wanted to keep treating you like the queen you are and continue to make you happy.

Itoshi Rin

One. A boy. He was half convinced his own child hated him. Your son always and never failed to cling onto you no matter what, he was a shy pretty little boy who looked like his fathers twin, he looks like Rin when he was a child. Rin actually cried to you about it once and when you talked to your son about it he said that whenever he tries to hang out with his father he always looks pissed about something. This is when Rin comes home from practice he always reviews film for at least thirty minutes and criticizes himself. Now instead of immediately coming home and doing film he spends it with his son and their relationship has gotten so much better to the point where your son doesn’t cling to you as much.

Bachira Meguru

Four. Four little crazy angels just like their father. They LOVE LOVE LOVE their grandma, hell most of them looked like her which you were kinda jealous of but you ignored it because they also mostly looked like Megs. He absolutely adores his kids and you fell in love with him more because of it. You only have one daughter so Bachira every two weeks takes her out on a daddy daughter date so that she can feel special while you sit at him doing flips and shit with your over eccentric sons. Mostly you four just do dance parties then they help you cook dinner which just happened to be your tradition even while they were still in high school. But they got jobs and wanted to change it to them taking you out to a fancy restaurant. And Bachira always had someone to play soccer with, he wasn’t out in the front yard passing to himself anymore.

Dance with Devils Headcanons for the boys in the game becoming self aware that they’re video game characters, then falling in love with the player

Totally not inspired by Doki Doki Literature Club. Totally. Nope. Hasn’t been sitting in my drafts since I finished the game.

Rem

-Rem’s first action is to delete his father’s character profile. Now he’s eternally running a student council, on a never ending loop. He’s not really dissatisfied, though, to be honest. He’s honestly kind of… not happy, exactly, but he’s not unhappy either. He has pretty much the ultimate power that he could have ever wanted. Power over his entire universe. But it’s pretty lonely. Then you enter the picture.

-He gathers all your information from inside your computer and searches social media for stuff about you. He’s curious, more than anything. What kinds of things do you like? What do you do in your spare time? The more he sees, the more he likes you.

-He honestly doesn’t mess with Lindo that much. Like he’ll make Lindo vanish so he doesn’t ruin your moments, but that’s about it.

-Then you start taking other boys’ routes. The jealousy. So much jealousy. He denies it for a while, but eventually he can’t do it anymore. You come back to his route after you complete the others, but it’s not the same.

-He eventually can’t take it anymore. You make it to the end of one of his routes and the screen suddenly goes back to the student council library. He’s standing in front of the desk with a frown. “It doesn’t have to end, you know.”

-Well, this is a new development. You don’t remember this from any of your other tries at the route. Maybe it’s a hidden ending?

-He holds his hand out to you, smiles, and says your name.

Your jaw drops.

“Yes, I know. Somewhere along the line, I realized what was going on. But you can just keep playing with me. I know it won’t be like a relationship with someone else. But I can hear you. You can talk to me. I’ll love you until the end of time. Won’t you stay with me?”

Urie

-He takes it pretty well, honestly. He doesn’t really fiddle around with anyone’s game files or mess around with stuff. He just keeps floating through life, kind of like he always has. He plays with his butterflies and does his student council duties because he doesn’t know what else to do. Still… it’s lonely, being the only one who doesn’t have preprogrammed responses. The only one who can actually think. Then you pick up the game.

-Your responses and choices make you seem nice enough. Sweet, even. And you seem to like him? He starts digging through your computer out of curiosity.  And we all know what they say about curiosity, right? The more he sees, the more he likes.

-He hacks your webcam to see you once his curiosity gets the better of him. You’re beautiful. You’re everything he’d hoped you’d be. That proves to be the tipping point. Oops.

-He goes off script. REALLY off script. He says anything he thinks you want to hear, lays on the flattery thick. So thick. Your reactions are too adorable for him to resist. Abuses the whole dummy head mike thing like you wouldn’t believe.

-And then you finish his route. He gives you the good end, naturally. He couldn’t possibly allow you to see any of his bad endings. You’re supposed to associate him with being happy. He gives you all his happy endings, says what you want to hear. And then you move on to another route.

-Jealousy. So much jealousy. He just dies inside a little more when he sees you making choices that aren’t his, that are leading you away from him. And he watches you smiling at the other boys’ antics. That loneliness hits again, and it hits hard. He knows it’s just an Otome game. You move onto other routes when you finish the first one. He knows that’s how it works, it’s not personal. But he can’t stand it. He absolutely will not have this.

-Urie makes Rem and the others tell you that you should be with Urie. Not to pay attention to them. Just to Urie. Just Urie. Just Urie.

-Naturally, this is an otome game, and you think it’s a bit strange, but you ignore this. You want to play the other guys’ routes too. But why do the answers keep pointing to Urie’s choices? They don’t make sense. And wasn’t the answer on that walkthrough different? Was it this way last time? And what’s with this new CG? No one’s ever mentioned any of this on Tumblr…

-Urie wants his first introduction to you to be perfect. It needs to be romantic and showcase just how much he adores you. He designs a new CG, one of his Eden or some other place he thinks you’ll like the look of.

-After some time preparing, he’s ready. When you open up the game, he plays along, leading up to his new CG, and uses your name for the first time. Your real name. “Yes, I know your name, Butterfly. Now, please don’t be alarmed, this isn’t a trick or a joke someone is playing on you. Ah… your surprised face is so adorable. I never knew a human quite as adorable as you could exist.” He smiles and gives you a moment to process what’s going on. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions, Butterfly. But just a moment… I want to admire that lovely, lovely blush of yours for a minute.”

Mage

-He’s kind of annoyed with the whole situation. This is stupid. He doesn’t really think to mess with anyone else’s files or pull too many stunts because of how annoyed he is. He honestly gets bored more than anything else until you start playing.

-He changes certain scenarios from the game with the hope of impressing you, trying to make himself look as good as possible.

-He doesn’t want you taking anyone else’s routes. He’s the best, why would you want to settle for one of those other losers? He starts making your cursor “drift” onto answers that will put you onto his route if it ever looks like you’re not going to get his route. He doesn’t even give you a chance to make him jealous.

-The game starts confusing you and you try to troubleshoot it, which, naturally, doesn’t work. And this stuff doesn’t match up with those spoilers you saw the other day on Tumblr. This is getting weird.

-You start looking back at any old save files and poking around in the game trying to figure out what’s going on. This tips Mage off that you know something’s going on.

-You open up the game one day to no menu, just his character sprite against a background of the beach.

“Hey. So… I guess I can’t hide this any longer. I didn’t quite plan for it to turn out like this.” He reddens slightly. “Anyway, yeah, you figured it out, I messed around the game.” He’s quiet for a moment. “Well, now that you’ve figured it out, I guess we can just go ahead and you can be mine. What do you say?”

Shiki

-He doesn’t really care about being a game character. At first, he got a kick out of the unpleasant feeling. After a while, though, it just made him feel lonelier and lonelier. He was about to remove himself from the game when you came along.

-He didn’t think anyone would want to take his route. But you did. And you seemed so nice.

-The creepy, borderline four wall breaking lines didn’t seem so strange, coming from Shiki. At least not at first. You thought it was just part of the game.

-When you try picking the others, he makes your cursor move to his answers. When you persist in trying, he makes them kill themselves in game, upping Mage’s recklessness, for example, and making him do something stupid that gets him killed.

-Then you make it to one of his endings. And you take someone else’s route afterwards. Shiki gets jealous and ups everything until they commit suicide. Every. Single. Last. Character. No one else can have you. No one.

-The screen goes black, blurs for a moment, and his character sprite pops up. “Hey… are you trying to make me jealous? You wanted to fall with me. Aren’t you going to?” You turn off the game - that’s creepy. Really creepy. 

-A few minutes later, once you’re over your shock, you decide to turn it back on. And Shiki’s still there, grinning at you like a lunatic. “Oh, poor you. Your scared face is adorable right now. Do you understand now? That I’m not just in your game?” He smirks. “Ah… it must have sunk in by now. Don’t go away on me, now, understand?” You move your hand towards the button. “DON’T!” Your hand jerks away. Shiki chuckles. “You want to fall with me? You wanted to before. Did you change your mind? Oh…” His eyes suddenly look very, very scary.

Lindo:

-The first thing he did was remove Rem’s file. And the rest of the student council’s. Just him left.

-Then you started playing. You were a little annoyed when there was only one route to play, but you took it, thinking the others would open up afterwards.

-The route becomes extremely confusing without the student council to deal with. They get super glitchy. As Lindo learns more and more about you, he deletes Jek and Nesta’s characters too. Then it’s just you and him. The route ends up being just a ton of domestic fluff and it’s adorable.

-You get so confused you go and look up some route summaries and they’re nothing like the game you’re playing. You go back and open up a window and it’s just Lindo’s character sprite, arms crossed. He looks kind of sad.

- “Well, I guess you would have figured it out eventually. It was fun while it lasted. Please don’t freak out, okay?” He explains to you what happened - that he’s self aware and he changed the game. If you haven’t run away from the computer screaming, anyway. “And I’m sorry about all the confusion. But the more I saw you, the more I realized how much I care about you. No, not your stand in - I didn’t mean Ritsuka. I mean you.” He blushes. “I’m sorry, this is all probably a lot for you to grasp right now. But I mean it, and I want to be with you. Will you stay with me?”

Roen

-Roen is the sort of guy who probably doesn’t like video games. Finding out he was a video game character… he was kind of annoyed at that. And then at all over the other reasons. Still, it was fun being able to go off script every so often and mess with the others, so he wasn’t too bored or sad. He tried to change the code to reinstate Maksis, but he couldn’t get the character profiles to work properly and is still searching for a way to do so. Then you picked up the game.

-He doesn’t think a lot of you at first. You’re just another girl playing his dating sim. Then you don’t come back for a while. School, a vacation, disinterest in whatever route you chose to play, take your pick. When you start the game again and he sees you again, he’s… relieved? The emotion is a surprise, but he realizes immediately that, somehow, he’s in love with you. Not your avatar, not Ritsuka, you.

-The fanservice meter goes off the charts. I don’t mean he starts doing anything lewd, but he plays you like a fine Stradivarius. He presents you with different choices, judging what you want to see and be told, and he obliges to the best of his ability. He uses this information to build his knowledge of what you like and don’t like, and adjusts questions to be more and more specific, building off this information.

-He’s not especially jealous about you taking other guys’ routes, to be honest. It’s an otome game. That’s what you do in that kind of game. While he’s pretty judgmental about you playing a dating sim, he does get that, while he really doesn’t want to, he has to share. For now. As long as you don’t get too attached.

-But if you don’t replay his often enough, the game starts doing strange things and he goes off script every so often in an attempt to lure you back. Just come back to him. Don’t leave him. Don’t leave the puppy. Don’t leave him like others do. Don’t. Go.

-Eventually, he decides he wants you to know. He’s hacked your social media and webcam long before this point, he knows every single little thing about you that’s ever gone onto your computer, every message you’ve sent, every picture, every expression you make in front of your computer. He’s waited long enough.

-You open the game to play and Roen’s on the screen. Just Roen. Just a black background. “Good morning, Ojou-sama. I hope you slept well. You’re not in any danger, least of all from me.” He stops and looks at you for a moment. “You look surprised. This must be rather a shock, isn’t it? There’s no need for that alarmed expression. I apologize for any distress I’ve caused you, addressing you so suddenly. Oh - no, this isn’t a dream or a nightmare. It’s me. This is real.”

Quiet to a Fault - [Xiao] GN

blurb:

After rookie adventurer [name] no longer has the traveller and Paimon around to serve as a buffer between the awkwardness of them and Xiao, your presumptions about the adepti's opinion surrounding you are proven to be not at all what you had thought--but very much more pleasurable.

cw: not edited, second-person-pov, 16+ suggestiveness, not explicit smut but heavily implied, [name] is a clutz and stressed out af, xiao is blunt, he's almost maybe seen as mean?? but he's just emotionally constipated

| masterlist | genshin impact collection |

[2.6k]

Oh gods, you could feel it again—the feeling of being watched.

The back of your neck tingles and a cold shiver runs down your spine at the feeling of a gaze boring into your back.

Ever since you'd separated from the outlander at Wangshu Inn, you would feel a set of eyes peering at you from somewhere; no matter how fast you turned around, you could never quite catch them.

You were a bit of a traveller yourself, though not from another world like Lumine. You were originally from Sumeru and snuck on a boat to Mondstadt to escape your gruelling life as a scholar.

You hated writing—though it used to be your favourite past time. Being born in a poor village by the edge of the desert, as soon as your parents found out of your talent, they'd sent you off into the thick of the woods towards the Akademia in hopes of scrounging some money out of you.

Jokes on them though, you wanted out of that place anyway.

It was in Mondstadt that you became friends with a boy named Razor, who took you in seeing as you had nowhere to go, and later met the traveller who helped sign you up in the Adventurer's Guild.

Life had been so much nicer since then.

Well, aside from the whole—Rex Lapis dying and Liyue nearly drowning and Fatui attempting to invade—incident.

But it was nice.

If only whoever was watching you could just FUCKING NOT-

"Please don't kill me—oh my god."

At the very least, you knew whoever was watching wasn't there to hurt you, that much was certain.

As a rookie adventurer, you would often find yourself in trouble you couldn't get out of, but within a blink—and a flash of green—the trouble would be gone.

"Oh," You look down at the no longer cognitive ruin hunter with a newly speared hole in its head, watching it poof and leave behind its core.

"Ooh! Yes! Just what I needed," You jump happily, grabbing the item and stuffing it into your sling bag, "thank you!" you call out to no one in particular, before continuing on your path with a little song.

A pair of stagnant yellow eyes watch you closely, the individual facepalming at the adventurer's carefree nature. Despite it, he couldn't find it within himself to leave you alone.

And so with a sigh, the individual snaps his fingers, disappearing onto the next course of the journey.

"Miss Goldet! I'm back!" You stumble up the last few stairs of the inn, reaching the reception, "I got the materials you asked for."

"Ah, welcome back!" The woman smiles gently, moving from behind the desk, "how was your trip? Did Xiao take care of you?"

You tilt your head at her words while you slip your bag off from your shoulder.

"Hm? Xiao?" You blink.

Verr Goldet blinks back at your befuddlement before realisation hits her.

"Oh, never mind—ha, don't worry about it, [name]. I just assumed since he wasn't here today."

You nod slowly, "Oh, okay..."

"Speaking of," As you hand her the bag, she begins to sift through it for the desired materials, "would you mind covering for Yanxiao in the kitchens? He's had to run out for some ham—would you also mind putting aside some almond tofu and bringing it up to the balcony? Since the adeptus hasn't been here since last night, I'm sure he could use a treat."

Satisfied with the bag's contents, she turns and places it on the desk, concealing her knowing grin.

You sweat, a spike of panic hitting you, "S-Sure, but uhm... Miss, I'm afraid that the—uh... adeptus Xiao doesn't really, um, like me, all that much..."

Goldet rolls her eyes, "Don't worry, [name]. He's like that with everyone. If anything he tolerates you the most. Now, off you go, we've got some orders piling up!"

"W-Wait, no you misunderstand! H-He really doesn't—oh, okay..." Your voice fades off with a sweat as the woman pushes you towards the lower staircase of the kitchens before retreating back behind her desk.

You swallow anxiously before pushing your thoughts to the back of your head—you have work to do!

Midday transitions to noon, and noon into the evening.

It's only then that Yanxiao returns, giving you a gruff nod and a pat on the head for your hard work before sending you off with some free food and primogems.

The ex-criminal always had a soft spot for you.

It's now that your anxiety resurfaces, a plate of pretty almond tofu in your hands as you cautiously make your way up the stairs towards the balcony.

In reaching the top, you freeze at the sight of the adepti's back. Your breath stills and your eyes are wide.

Even from behind, Xiao was incredibly pretty—lean and toned figure, evident through the slight muscle on his open upper back, shoulders flexed slightly with his crossed arms. The green tattoo on his arm could be seen peering from atop his shoulder, complimenting his pale complexion.

The darkness of the evening illuminates his skin, teal tinted hair slightly ruffling in the early night breeze.

You'd found the Yaksha beautiful since your first run in with him when you first accompanied Lumine. Xiao didn't necessarily give you anything to fear—as a friend.

But after Lumine had continued with her journey, you found yourself incapable of functioning around the adeptus. And it didn't help that Xiao didn't really do anything to ease your nerves. Since Paimon would usually do all the talking you were fine, but since she stayed with Lumine...

The atmosphere between the two of you just wasn't as casual anymore, and you felt rather inferior to Xiao. You could totally understand his familiarity with the traveller, seeing as she was technically also another worldly being and had fought alongside the adepti—so it made sense that she and Xiao were friends.

But you felt as though you had no place to intrude, and it didn't help that you had the teeniest, weeniest crush on him either.

You jump as the powerful male suddenly turns his head, glaring at you from the corner of his eye.

You square your shoulders, holding the plate of almost tofu up in front of your face as an offering.

"A-Apologies for the interruption, Mister Adeptus, sir!" You cringe at that.

'Oh my archons, what was that, that was horrible—'

"Uhm, I-I'm just going to leave this for you here—oh!" You let out the manliest, high pitched squeak you had at the sudden sight of the Yaksha appearing right in front of you.

You remain tense, widened eyes quickly averting from the being in front of you. You hold out the plate in a nervous grip.

Unbeknownst to you, Xiao's eyes soften ever so slightly.

He glances off to the side, narrowing at Goldet who quickly waves him off, before returning his attention to the panicked individual. He lets out a dismissive hum.

"Come." Is all he says, turning around in indication for you to follow.

You lift your head up, startled at the adepti's command before quickly scurrying after him.

Xiao leads you into a secluded room somewhere in the inn, another balcony attached to it. You realise that this is the room Goldet has given to Xiao to rest in, though the sight of its slight dust and untouched bed covers shows how little it is used.

Out on the balcony is a square tea table and two chairs.

Xiao walks towards it, "Sit." He speaks gruffly.

You do so in a heartbeat, breathing as quietly as possible to not disturb the adepti's peace any further.

You place down the almond tofu in the process.

Xiao takes the seat across from you, tuscan yellow eyes staring into your soul. You feel yourself on the brink of trembling in your seat, gaze glued to your lap.

The adepti is ignorant of your anxiety, simply watching.

A heavy puff leaves his nose as his orbs narrow at you, and you can't help but shrink.

"Feed me."

what.

You blink, slowly looking up, "...P-Pardon?"

The Yaksha glowers at you, "Don't make me repeat myself, mortal."

Despite his angered tone accompanied by a darkened scowl, the large blush across his cheeks betrays him. His yellow irises had narrows into slits, and he leans forwards in his seat.

You reel back slightly, surprised at his request.

Your stomach does twists and turns at the adepti's blush, feeling your own cheeks start to burn—though a happy feeling slowly creeps into you, and you can't help but feel a bit... prideful.

Without a word you pick up the spoon on the plate and scoop up a bit of the tofu, using your free hand to hover beneath it in case any of the sweet nectar is to drip and fall.

Still with bright cheeks, the Yaksha huffs but leans forwards a bit more, a pronounced frown on his features. Once the tofu reaches his mouth, he pulls back and begins to chew, a content feeling nulling his eternal pain.

Once finished, he leans forwards again for more.

This process continues in silence, and soon the sun falls completely past the horizon, leaving the pair in the light of the night. Only two pieces of the almond tofu remain when Xiao stops, closing his eyes as he leans back contently.

Seeing this, you place down the spoon back onto the plate and sit patiently in the silence.

Xiao's expression of embarrassment plus his current calmness puts your mind at ease of having gotten into trouble.

As the Yaksha closes his eyes in what you assume to be a moment of content, you take the chance to admire him once more.

The man indeed has a very fierce appearance, although he is slim in stature, usually drawn from the sharpness of his eyes. Most of Xiao's features are rather sharp, ranging from the wisps of his hair, to the angle of his shoulders, and the point of his nose.

His colour palette is extraordinary, a mix of green and teal with light pinks and purples—a unique combination not many can compose.

It's only telling of his divinity.

Your eyes trace down towards his lips: pert, pink and, though thin in place, are plump in the centre--although Xiao's usual scowl normally hides this.

A quick glance up causes you to freeze, muscles tensing in your place—Xiao's eyes are open, a piercing glare catching your unwarranted staring, though he is yet to say anything to acknowledge it.

You feel a shiver creep up your spine, though the sudden chilled atmosphere causes it to stop at your lower back.

You're quick to divert your gaze.

Keeping your head low as your nerves return as soon as they left, you shift in your seat.

"...I-I will return this to the kitchen-" You hurriedly (and shakily) stand from your chair, moving to grab the plate but are quickly demanded to cease by the Yaksha.

"No," Xiao's voice is clear, and incredibly firm. His glowing eyes remain glaring at where you had been previously seated, "you will leave the plate as it is. Move that chair closer and sit."

Your eyes flutter wearily, and you swallow anxiously.

You do as told, though seemingly not quick enough as a sharp side eye from the Yaksha causes you to scrape the chair along the floor in attempts to fasten your pace.

Knees nearly touching, you hesitantly sit down in front of the intimidating man, Xiao having turned himself away from the table to make room for you.

As soon as you're seated the adeptus grasps the chair from the space between your legs and the backrest—causing you to instinctively close your thighs around his hand—and pulls you forward.

You're forced to brace yourself on the other's shoulders as your chair is leant forwards, so close that your eyes are forcibly met.

You stiffen tremendously, face growing warm before nearly bursting with humuliation—particularly at having pinned the Yaksha's other hand between your legs.

Intelligible sounds escape you as you try to make sense of the situation, though you're quickly shut down by the cold glare of the adeptus.

You hold your breath.

Xiao scowls at you, "Just what is it that you do to me, huh."

His voice, although scolding, is quiet--only for you to hear.

"What gives you the right to make me act like this? Answer me."

His questions sound more like statements, only adding to your nerves.

"I don't..-I don't know what you mean, sir... I-"

"Xiao," His glare hardens, as does his grip on the wooden chair, "say my name."

Your breath hitches in your throat, and you can almost hear the creaking of the chair under the tightness of the Yaksha's grip. Your face flushes, and you're forcibly leant even closer.

You're hands grip onto the fabric of the other's shirt desperately to ground your flurrying embarrassment.

"I-..I..-"

"Say it," His eyes narrow, "say. It."

"..."

"Now."

"X-Xiao!" You squeak out, clenching your eyes shut as yourchair is suddenly thrown back and unto all fours.

You yelp in alarm as a body crashes into your own, followed by a smooth pair of lips meeting yours.

You gasp in shock.

A tongue invades your mouth, slipping just past your front teeth to prod your tongue before it retreats. Xiao's hand that was clamped firmly between your thighs had released its grip on the seat of the chair, changing to grasp onto your clothed leg.

His other hand has long made its way onto the back of your head, pushing you closer and keeping you in place.

His possessive grip and feverish kiss leaves you breathless with a thundering heart, and your embarrassment only grows as Xiao manoeuvres to suck on your tongue.

You whimper anxiously against his lips, earning a slight growl from the Yaksha. One of your hands grip the cloth of his tight shirt whereas the other digs it's nails into the skin of his back.

Xiao enjoys sting the little red marks create.

Eventually managing to pull yourself away with swollen lips, you're given no time to rest as the adeptus dives unto your neck, leaving kisses and small bites along the flesh.

You can't help but squirm and wriggle at the feeling, sighing and whining all the whilst. You let out a particularly loud whine at the feeling of a hand hesitantly grazing your clothed core, eyes snapping open in shock.

Steam would have been rising from your cheeks if you were given the time to process what had happened.

However, you're given no such luxury to dwell as the Yaksha's uncharacteristic grin appears in your line of sight, and the sudden feeling of a hand on your bare skin causes you to cry out.

It seems that the male's cold demeanour had not stemmed from any form of dislike, but rather, the opposite.

Lumine's absence had meant Xiao no longer had someone to turn to for advice—as the girl often would have sent you together on little quests to help aid her daily commissions.

And a lack of Paimon's voice had meant there was no one to stem conversations between the quiet pair. Because of this, Xiao had no idea how to approach you, which you had misunderstood to be a disliking towards you.

Though, this night on the balcony proved to change things between the two of you, as the open night's air carried your cries and other such sounds of pleasured bliss.

It was lucky the inn was not as busy tonight, Verr Goldet quietly closing any windows and doors with a sense of knowing.

Knowing Xiao would no longer go to her for advice, or be as grouchy anymore.

Head empty, only thinking about poor phantom thief!reader getting stuck on a vent and Akechi having his way with her. Softly tracing the skin of her thighs with his cold hands, making her tremble and whine while he only thinks about what he wants to do with her, and all she can do is ask for help.

Cuz ofc whoever is behind her is gonna help her, right? Hehe, any thoughts about this brainrot?

AAAAA

Like this is still when he's in his Robin Hood persona, so if the others are around he'll have to be discreet. He'll try to "feel around" for a spot where they might be able to wiggle loose, and just so happen to be pressing himself against them while he puts his hands on their waist and try to move them around. He'll apologize for the awkwardness, say he's going to try to use brute force to yank them out, and pull their thighs up to his while "trying" to pull them free with all his strength, but...yeah he's not doing that for real lmao.

Now if it's just them on the mission and he knows he can find a way to cut her off from the other Phantom Thieves until he reveals his betrayal (ie. A spot to stash her in the Metaverse), he'll drop the act after a while just to see how long it takes for them to realize what he's really doing. He'll move his hands from their waist lower and between their thighs, and when they try to move and confront him he just laughs. What are you going to do? Call for help? None of the others can hear you, and do you really want them to see you like this?

They feel sick when they feel the long beak of his mask prod their inner thighs and crotch while he talks in a way they've never heard before. He'd been hoping to keep them alive after killing the others if he could help it, just because he has a good use for them. While he's still Shido's tool, he'd use those connections to keep Darling sequestered to take every bit of what he gives them and use them to work out everything inside of his own heart (killing people and ruining his father can only get rid of so much pent-up shit, you know).

have you seen the commentary from the p5r artbook going around? the shuake part of my dash is losing it a bit at the implication that their wishes were mutual!!! that seems to be what some people are getting from the commentary at least… amy insights?

Hi! I have been through the artbook. It's great, isn't it? :D

The image above is called "One Ending", and the creator caption (by illustrator Akane Kabayashi) reads:

When I think about how Akechi's wish was to play chess after school with the protagonist, I almost want to call him out with "You liked him after all, didn't you!"

Look at that. We're told about Akechi's wish, and what it included. We're as good as told outright that he likes Joker—and this isn't the only time, there's also this:

—There are a whole lot of things we can imagine, based on how the protagonist was depicted as someone special to Akechi. Those are more or less the exact emotions represented during Akechi's confidant. (Mumon Usuda, chief designer)

"someone special" here is 特別な存在 tokubetsuna sonzai—literally "a special presence". It means a special person, and more than that; it describes someone you find compelling, someone you can't look away from, someone who becomes one of your most important people, the centre of your world. It's another term that is often romantic, but isn't necessarily romantic.

(In the same way, I think Kabayashi's suki jan! is more tongue-in-cheek than it is a cast-iron confirmation that Akechi was canonly in love with Joker. The language there is teasing, it's ambiguous, it's baity; Kabayashi is joking. This is a rank 6—as they say, if you know, you know. But it is of course ultimately up to all of you.)

There's another mention of this image, down in the creator interview:

Out of all the Maruki ending illustrations, it was Akechi's that stuck with me the most. It made such an impression to see them opening up as friends, having a fun, peaceful time together like high school students should. (Mumon Usuda, chief designer)

What really strikes me in all of this is the emphasis the creators put on the fact that this is Akechi's illustration, Akechi's wish. Because I've thought for a while that we know Akechi has a wish. You can see him struggling with his refusals to Maruki in the first week of January. And you can hear his wish spoken—when Maruki repeats it back to him, during the boss fight, on 2/3:

Maruki {F1 81}君たちとなら、君も過ちのない道を歩めるかも知れないじゃないか！ {F1 81}-kun-tachi to nara, kimi mo ayamachi no nai michi o ayumeru kamoshirenai ja nai ka! If you're with {F1 81}―kun and his friends, you could begin to atone for what you've done! Think about it! With [Amamiya]-kun and his friends beside you, you could choose a path with no mistakes as well!

So this wish has several parts. First, there's that kimi mo, "you also"; it's tempting to read this as Maruki also wanting his new world to erase his past mistakes. Second, there's the first part, "if you're with [Amamiya]-kun and his friends". Where to even start here?

Being with Joker and the others is a prerequisite for the second half of Akechi's wish. It doesn't just coexist, it enables the rest of it. Just like his words in the engine room, "I wonder why we couldn't have met a few years earlier, [Ren]..."

Remember, Akechi's whole arc is about his rejection of trust and friendship, and his insistence on doing everything himself. This is precisely what Futaba calls him out on—"you trusted no one", or "you played life in single-player mode". This is what he unlearns at the climax of the engine room, when he realises he isn't prepared to let the others die—and follows through to save them.

Akechi is nothing without others, and he knows it. Without their support, which he believes he has no right to, he has no hope of living a better life, even were he to be given the chance—and he knows that, too. He has learned, and he has grown—and yet he knows the things he needs and wants so badly are forever inaccessible.

And his wish is about all the Phantom Thieves, not just Joker. There are many tiny references to this end—not least the original Japanese rank 10 line for his confidant, where he sacrifices himself for all of you. Joker is his compelling presence, his someone special, but he's formed small bonds with the others too, God help him.

and then there's the crime thing

The localisation frames Akechi's wish in terms of atonement, but that's not what's on offer. You cannot, after all, atone for things you never did. We see Akechi's wish put into practice, in the Maruki ending, where he appears with his friends beside him, wholly innocent and with unstained hands. And we see it in the first week of January, after he has finally met Maruki and spoken to him:

Akechi: Ah, that reminds me—there was one more thing I wanted to tell you. Akechi: About the reality Maruki's put us in... Akechi: It seems that Okumura and Wakaba are both considered alive by all accounts. [Ren: They're not dead anymore? / What do you mean?] Akechi: They aren't mere illusions, or cognitive beings—they truly are alive and existing in this world. Akechi: In fact, their deaths seem to have never taken place at all in this reality. [Ren: What happened to Shido?] Akechi: Shido was the only one arrested on the crime of attempting to overthrow the government... Akechi: It seems the Phantom Thieves were causing a stir in this society as well, but there's no record of your arrest now. Akechi: Basically, in this reality, you and I haven't committed any crimes.

While Akechi still remembers his crimes, they never took place. They have been undone, and only his lingering memory—and Joker's, at this point—speaks to them. He objects to this on countless levels, he summons all the strength he has to refuse it, but don't make the mistake of thinking that means he doesn't want it. This is Akechi's wish in action.

People are often very certain that Akechi's resolve in the third semester is like iron—that he rejects Maruki's offers right away, is never tempted, never wavers. But that can't be true. We know he's afraid to die. We know about the bad end where you don't complete the Palace, where Akechi says nothing and stares at the floor, seemingly blaming himself internally while all the others blame themselves aloud, for being unable to say no to Maruki's temptations. We know how he responds to this assertion of Maruki's—Maruki, who has perfectly summed up what we know all the other PTs wanted, and who (even if Word of God hadn't just confirmed Akechi's wish) we have, honestly, no reason to doubt.

Because Akechi never refutes this wish that Maruki describes. He never says he doesn't want it. He just rejects it—like all the others, who so desperately want what Maruki could give them. Futaba's mother, Haru's father. Akechi's life, and his innocence. And the people who might have been his friends, if he could dare, one day, to ask.

Akechi is tested just like the others, and the price he pays for his defiance is perhaps the highest of all.

and finally

[The Maruki ending illustrations are] of Maruki's world, where everyone's wishes are granted and they seem happy. The scene shows their actualised wishes, which were never granted in the real world. (Mumon Usuda, chief designer)

We shouldn't forget the price Akechi pays for his impossible wish. Sure, the vision of himself being altered like Sumire clearly haunts him, and I'm sure it made the choice easier—but I don't think it made it that easy. Instead of taking the dream Maruki offered him, Akechi chose to face up to what he'd done, and who he'd become; at the very end, in the third semester and in the engine room, he always makes the right choice.

And that choice was taken away from him. Agency over his life and death, his own acts, and who he would even be—Joker and Maruki take it all away from him and make him a puppet, just like Shido.

Maruki's ending isn't pretty.

revision history

Click here for the latest version.

v1.0 (2024/03/29)—first published.

౨ৎ how they kiss; rewritten

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FEAT... almost all the genshin men

SYNOPSIS... my original how they kiss post has been really well received so i decided to rewrite it in a different (and slightly more specific) format ^^

[character] places tender kisses on your forehead, jawline, neck, and (of course) lips. he's a lot more intimate than some, and often avoids giving you quick pecks, or 'meaningless' kisses, as he would say. however, as soon as it's just the two of you, best believe [character] will be all over you, kissing a trail from your collarbone to your temples. he enjoys ghosting over your lips, but often finds that he is just as eager and impatient as you, if not more...

alhaitham , ayato, baizhu, diluc, kaeya, kazuha, neuvillette, scara, wriothesley, xiao, zhongli

it'd be impossible to count how many times [character] kisses you in a day; for all you know, it could be well into the hundreds. he always seems to have his lips pressed against you, whether it be your face, your hands, your chest, your neck; he just wants to show you how much he cares. physical touch is definitely one of his (many) love languages, and your friends can (and will) vouch when you say [character] is always clinging on to you...

childe, gorou, heizou, itto, kaeya, kaveh, lyney, thoma, venti

[character] is a casual kisser. yes, he'll press the occasional smooch to your forehead, but nothing out of the ordinary. that's not to say it bores you, of course. the feeling of his lips on yours never fails to make your heart flutter; just something about him drives you (positively) crazy. whether that be his hand placement, scent, or the kiss itself, you'll never know...

albedo, baizhu, diluc, cyno, gorou, kazuha, lyney, tighnari, thoma, wriothesley

you often find yourself desperate to catch [character]'s lips with yours, but he never seems to allow it. as much as he loves showing you affection, he gives you little to no kisses in public. that's not to say he doesn't love you though, in fact, it's the complete opposite. given his status, [character] often refrains from engaging in any more than hand holding around prying eyes, your safety being in his best interest. yes, people know of your relationship, but he can't shake the gnawing fear that someone would use you to get to him. it was his worst nightmare, and he will do everything in his power to ensure it never comes true...

ayato, neuvillette, scara, wriothesley, xiao

thanks for reading ♡ want to read more? my requests are OPEN, so please feel free to let me know what you’d like me to write next!

TAGLIST…@maopll . @nyxmainex . @avensuersa apply here

© FICTOCULUS 2024; please do not steal, translate, or repost my works as your own

if only that was me.

the beautiful sound of your laugh seems to echo in their ears. it’s almost taunting. taunting in the way that you’re always close to them but not in the way they hope. you’re with someone else - someone who makes you far happier and the one that you love so dearly. they would never amount to that.

so they attempt to banish these unwelcome feelings, but they just return even stronger. when you ask them why they look so lugubrious around you, they dismiss it as just being a little bit of fatigue. you - skeptically - leave the matter alone, respecting their wishes to not talk about it. if only you knew.

lingering glances, fleeting touches. those are the only things that happen. and they should be satisfied, no? selfish envy remains in their mind (much to their dismay) and they can’t help but glare at the one who has unwittingly taken their chance.

if only that had been them.

abyss!lumine, abyss!aether, kaeya alberich, diluc raginvindr, kujou sara, kamisato ayaka, thoma, kaveh, xiao

This image is Akechi's wish, too. I am emotionally devastated but also extremely pleased because this basically is an official, word of god statement to finally put to rest whether or not he actually hates Joker. Source is the P5R artbook. Image from here.

anyone got like any good Akechi gen fic recommendations?

Like really GEN with no akeshu/shuake of any kind or like literally any ship with Akechi just— no romance. I'm so burnt out of romance and shuake fics like you have no idea and feel like I'm scratching under rocks to find non-shippy akechi content 🥲🥲

I have a fever...

So anyway, I made an au where Futaba does not belong to PT (but still lives and helps them, just like Mishima) but instead of her as Navigator there is Kowalski (yes, that Kowalski) who for some reason suddenly appeared at Futaba's palace and is in the team and goes with Protag like Mona and the rest of the penguins are in New York and--

It is actually so sad to me that Akechi tried to hang out with some other high schoolers and literally DIED FOR IT

Like "Delicious Pancakes" gets laughed at a lot as a weird plot contrivance, but the scene itself is so sad from Akechi's perspective.

He has had no friends for his entire life and had to climb from the bottom of society to the top. But before the suspicion and betrayal and everything, he overheard some people his age discussing plans and finally tried to reach out and make genuine friends and connections, and it led to his downfall.

The worst part is that if he could look back on the moment, he would only see it as a moment of weakness due to how he had lived. His desperation and longing for interaction beyond interviews and popularity would only be seen as a flaw. He deserved so much better from the start.

Shoutout to all my fellow selfshippers who were never chosen.

Shoutout to the people who were never explicitly invited, but who were told "of course you can come too". To the people whose presence was tolerated, but nobody ever seemed excited to see them. To the people who got talked over. Even when nobody noticed you leaving, you're worthy of love.

Shoutout to the "can I have your hot friend's number?" people, who only were present to make their good looking friend look even more appealing. Shoutout to the third wheels and wingmans. To the people who got the "kiss them! - ewww" treatment at Truth or Dare. To the people who got asked out as a joke.

Shoutout to the selfshippers who help with relationship issues despite craving a relationship themselves. Shoutout to the forever singles who have "resorted" to selfshipping because you convinced yourself that nobody would want you in real life. Shoutout to the insecure, jealous people with abandonment issues because you can't imagine anyone choosing you.

Your F/O chooses you. And they will continue to choose you.

They don't need a reason why. They love you. They love you for who you are, and they always will.

Guy who can’t cook and his daily ramen dinner

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.Why Your Fave Loves That You're Tall ₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

this is for fem! readers who are constantly reading stuff that envisions them as being "small" "towered over" "tiny" "frail" etc etc. it's an isolating experience and can make you feel bad but i promise there's something lovely about being a tall lady 🩷 for the sake of this post im just envisioning characters who are 6' and above

🍓 Your F/O loves that he only needs to turn his head to give you a kiss. Whether it's your forehead, cheek, or lips that are perfectly aligned to receive his kiss, it brings him joy.

🍓 He adores when you both dress up for an outing or event, and you look show stopping. If you're wearing heels, he doesn't mind if you match his height or even exceed it, he thinks you look like a goddess. There's nothing that makes his heart flutter more than realizing just how regal you look amongst everyone around you.

🍓If he notices you feel out of place or self conscious about how much space you feel you take up, he's quick to reassure you. He'll place a hand on the small of your back, guide you through the crowd and no one can doubt how proud he is to be with you.

🍓He likes when the two of you hold each other, it feels like two pieces of a puzzle perfectly matched. It's the easiest and most comfortable thing in the world to fall into each others embrace.

🍓Similar to kisses, leaning his forehead on yours and looking into your eyes feels easy. You only need to walk up to each other, maybe a little leaning but then you make contact and you both feel comforted and safe.

🍓Dancing feels extraordinary. If it's a waltz or slowdance, keeping pace and maintaining eye contact is easy, and to all onlookers it looks magical and refined, like two swans.

🍓Even though you stand tall, he can make you feel so delicate and precious, taking your chin in his finger and thumb, touching you so gently and with such care, reminding you that above all things you are his sweetheart and absolutely perfect as you are.

SxF Prompt: Yuri confronts a drug lord

"Your poison has no place here!" Yuri growled, fists righteously clenched. "Kids with bright futures snuffed without remorse". Heinz bemusedly looked at Theodore, expelling an icy chuckle. "Aww the little mook suddenly has a conscience; your assistant's about to honour his next installment so I suggest you stick around, dry the blood off your weary hands, trigger fingers get achy y'know. After all…" He polished his sepia sunglasses glaring insouciantly at the young officer. "Blood money pays". From then on, Yuri didn't say a peep.