He starts by pulling you towards him by the waist using both of his hands, pushing your bodies together, leaving no space for air or doubt. His hands are steady and strong, afraid of the thought of you moving just one inch away, afraid of the separation. He wants you near, he needs to feel you.
One of his hands moves from your waist to your back, caressing it like something precious, while the other one moves to let his entire arm hug your waist, trapping you in position.
And while his arms are around you, his beautiful eyes are scanning every single detail on your face. Admiring you like something holy, something unreal. In your eyes you're the most beautiful being that has ever stepped on the planet earth. He gets drunk by the sight of you, and the feeling of having you with him.
And while he’s taking his time worshipping you, your hands move to his chest, rising to his shoulders, and finally ending in the back of his head, with your fingers intertwining with his hair.
It doesn’t matter how much time has passed since you both saw each other—it could be years, it could be months, or it could be just one day—the moment Jason’s lips touch yours he can’t hold back.
You taste the desire and longing in his tongue. The kiss is deep, heated and long. Jason only pulls apart to groan, making your entire body shiver with pleasure.
He needs you to be impossibly closer. He needs your hands touching him all the time. He needs to feel your breath against his skin. He always needs more when it comes to you.
Sometimes—whenever the situation allows it—without stopping, his kisses start lowering towards your neck; lower, your chest; lower, your stomach; lower-
But, when the situation is different—and he can’t have you like he wants to—he’s the one that pulls apart first. His body doesn’t move, he’s still holding you against him. His grip hasn’t loosened. It’s still strong, holding you against him, like he is afraid you might run away, or just vanish into thin air.
He admires you again, but this time with pride. Proud of being the reason your lips are swollen now. Proud of being the one having you.
Jason Todd kisses like a starved man, but only because he’s obsessed with you.
A/N: Don't ask me what this is, I don't even know myself. This is probably the closest you're going to get to smut written by me.
loser!leon being bugged because he has no game, he gets so worked up he tells a lie, saying he got a date with male!reader who’s kinda popular ish, and he makes up a whole scenario how he and R met, and how they are going on a date, and eventually everyone knows, so the day of the date comes around, and leon is sorta forced to the restaurant where he said he’d meet R by the mean people because they wanna see him humiliated, but BaMnn R actually payed attention to the rumours for once and shows up nonchalantly to the date with leon<33 i think it would be sweet to have embarrassed loser leon blush and the internal panic he must suffer hahaha
sometimes a double negative,
is really a positive
MALE!reader, university!au, loser!leon, slight bullying/tw, leon is so down bad, reader is a god send lol, kind of 2000s movie core if you sqint
Leon Kennedy did not think it would get this far.
In fact, if he was being completely honest with himself, he hadn't thought past the first lie.
That was the problem.
One lie became two.
Two became ten.
And now he was sitting in the most expensive restaurant he'd ever stepped foot inside, waiting for a date that didn't exist.
"Are you ready to order, sir?"
Leon looked up.
The waitress stood beside the table with the kind of patient smile usually reserved for children and people having a rough day.
Judging by the sympathetic look in her eyes, she had already decided he belonged in the second category.
"Uh..."
Leon glanced at the menu.
Again.
The same menu he'd been staring at for nearly forty minutes.
The ice in his drink had long since melted.
"I'm good for another few minutes."
The waitress nodded.
"Of course."
There it was again — the pity.
Leon wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole, because technically he hadn't been stood up.
To be stood up, both people had to know there was a date.
His date didn't even know he existed.
Well—
That wasn't true either.
You knew who he was.
Everybody knew who you were.
That was part of the problem.
You were popular without trying to be. The kind of person everyone seemed to know.
Meanwhile Leon had spent most of his life blending into the background.
Which was exactly how he liked it.
No spotlight. No attention. No drama.
Just his friends and a quiet life.
It had worked perfectly.
Until last week.
The party had been Ada's idea.
Which should've been warning enough.
Luis had helped.
Which somehow made it worse.
"It's one night," Luis had said. "You need to socialize."
Leon should've stayed home.
Instead he'd ended up balancing a red solo cup in one hand while pretending to enjoy himself.
At least nobody was bothering him.
That lasted approximately twenty minutes.
"Leon!"
Luis appeared out of nowhere.
A terrible sign.
"I want you to meet some friends."
Leon immediately wanted to leave.
Unfortunately, Luis was stronger than common sense.
Before he could protest, he was being dragged across the room.
"Guys, this is Leon."
A blonde girl looked him up and down.
Then made a face.
Ouch.
"Seriously?" she asked. "This is the guy?"
Luis visibly deflated.
"Bela..."
"What?" she said. "You act like you found some hidden gem."
Leon already hated where this was going.
"Leon isn't —"
"No offense," Bela continued, despite clearly meaning offense, "but I've literally never seen this guy with anyone."
The guy hanging off her shoulder snorted.
"I thought he just spawned on campus."
A few people laughed.
Leon clenched his cup.
Luis immediately stepped in.
"Hey, that's not true."
"Oh really? Then tell whose he with?" Bela asked.
Silence.
Luis blinked.
Leon blinked.
The room seemed to collectively lean in.
He shouldn’t care. Dating someone shouldn’t signify importance in any way.
And for reasons he would never fully understand —
Leon opened his mouth.
"I'm seeing someone."
The words escaped before he could stop them.
The silence somehow got worse.
"You are?" Bela asked.
"You are?!" Luis asked.
The second one sounded genuinely excited.
"Yeah."
Leon nodded.
Once.
Then twice.
Then committed fully to his own destruction.
"We've got a date Thursday."
The lie landed.
People exchanged looks.
Bela raised an eyebrow.
"Really."
"Really." Leon had no idea who he was anymore.
The guy beside Bela laughed.
"And who exactly is dating you?"
That should've been the end.
That should've been the moment Leon backed out.
Instead—
Your name fell out of his mouth.
Immediately.
No hesitation.
Like his brain had skipped every other possible option.
The second he heard himself say it, he wanted to die.
Because out of every person on campus he picked you.
You.
The guy everyone liked.
The guy who somehow looked good doing absolutely nothing.
The guy Leon occasionally saw around campus and immediately forgot how walking worked.
Luis nearly choked on his drink.
Bela stared.
Then burst out laughing.
"Oh, come on."
"It's true," Leon heard himself say.
Apparently his self-preservation instincts had left the building.
The story got worse from there.
Coffee mix-up. Campus café. Phone number on a cup. Study sessions. Late-night conversations.
The entire thing sounded like a romantic comedy written by someone who had never spoken to another human being.
Yet somehow people believed him.
Or wanted to.
Questions started flying.
How long had you been together?
Who made the first move?
What was your first date?
Leon answered everything.
Somewhere along the way he stopped digging a hole and started excavating a crater.
Finally Bela threw her hands up.
"Fine."
The crowd quieted.
"Words are easy."
Leon immediately hated whatever was coming next.
"Prove it."
The crowd murmured in agreement.
And somehow —
somehow …
Leon doubled down.
"If you're so sure I'm lying," he said, "come see for yourself."
Bela crossed her arms.
"See what?"
"Our date."
The words came out far more confident than he felt.
"We'll be at The Villa downtown."
A pause.
Then Leon added the worst possible thing:
"Unless that's out of your budget."
Luis made a strangled noise.
Bela's eye twitched.
And just like that his fate was sealed.
Which was how he ended up here.
Alone.
Humiliated.
One terrible decision away from becoming a campus legend for all the wrong reasons.
The click of heels echoed across the restaurant.
Leon closed his eyes.
Of course.
Bela.
"You know," she began, sounding entirely too pleased with herself, "you could just admit you lied."
Leon slowly lowered the menu.
Bela stood there with her entourage.
All smiles.
All waiting.
Waiting for him to crack.
Waiting for him to admit they'd been right.
His stomach sank.
Because maybe they were.
Maybe this had gone far enough.
Maybe he should just tell the truth and get the humiliation over with.
At least then everyone could go home.
At least then —
The front door opened.
And half the restaurant looked up.
Leon almost didn't.
Almost.
Then he heard someone whisper your name.
"Leon!"
Everything stops.
The restaurant.
Bela's voice.
The panic squeezing around his ribs.
All of it.
Leon looks up and nearly chokes on his own breath.
You're here. Actually here.
Jogging toward the table with a bright smile and absolutely no sign that anything is wrong.
For one horrifying second, Leon wonders if he's finally passed out from stress.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Bela demands.
You blink.
Confused.
"As opposed to...?"
She points between you and Leon.
"This."
"Oh." Understanding settles across your face. "I'm on a date."
The silence that follows could have shattered glass.
You glance around.
"Bela, what are you doing here? Is Robby around too?"
The question lands like a grenade.
Bela immediately goes red.
You don't even seem to notice.
Instead, you slide into the chair across from Leon and offer him an apologetic smile.
"Sorry I'm late. Traffic was a nightmare."
Your hand settles over his.
Warm. Comfortable.
You’re actually here.
Leon nearly short-circuits.
"I-I wasn't waiting long."
A blatant lie.
He'd been waiting nearly an hour.
You smile anyway.
"Good. I'd hate to keep my boyfriend waiting."
Boyfriend.
The word hits Leon like a truck.
His soul leaves his body, returns, and leaves again.
Across the restaurant, someone actually gasps.
Bela looks moments away from experiencing a medical emergency.
"Wait."
Her voice cracks.
"You're serious?"
You look genuinely concerned.
"About?"
"You two are dating?"
You glance at Leon.
Then back at her.
"Well, yeah."
The answer comes so naturally that Leon almost believes it himself.
"I thought everyone knew."
"No they didn't!" Bela blurts.
"Oh."
You wince sympathetically.
"That explains a lot."
Leon doesn't know whether to laugh, cry, or crawl under the table.
You continue before anyone can recover.
"It is a cute story, though."
Oh no.
Leon knows that tone.
You know exactly what you're doing.
"The coffee mix-up was pretty embarrassing."
Bela freezes.
Leon freezes.
"You remember that?" Leon squeaks.
You look at him.
"Of course I do."
Then you start recounting his own made-up story back to him.
Only somehow better.
The café, switched drinks, the number on the cup, the study sessions, the late-night texts.
Every ridiculous detail.
You tell it like it actually happened.
Like it matters.
Like the memories are real.
By the time you're finished, half the restaurant is invested.
Bela looks personally offended by your existence.
"So he wasn't lying?" she asks.
"Why would he lie?"
You laugh softly.
The sound makes Leon's stomach do something weird.
"He gets embarrassed when people put him on the spot." Your thumb brushes across the back of his hand.
"But he's sweet."
Leon stops breathing.
Completely.
Entirely.
Done.
Finished.
Dead.
Across from him, you're still talking.
"...and honestly, if you paid to get into this restaurant just to see whether someone's boyfriend was real..."
You tilt your head.
"That's kind of sad."
The killing blow.
Bela lets out an offended noise that barely qualifies as human speech.
Moments later security arrives.
The argument lasts all of thirty seconds.
Then she's gone.
The entire restaurant erupts into applause.
You laugh.
Leon continues staring.
"Leon?"
Nothing.
"Leon."
"Huh?"
"You okay?"
No.
Not remotely.
"You came."
Brilliant. Fantastic.
A real masterclass of conversation.
You grin.
"Of course I came."
Then, after a beat:
"It was weird hearing about my boyfriend from other people, though."
Boyfriend.
Again.
Leon grips the edge of the table.
He might never recover.
The date somehow gets worse.
Better.
Worse.
Definitely worse.
You order for both of you.
You ask him questions.
You listen.
Actually listen.
Not politely.
Not because you feel obligated.
Because you seem genuinely interested.
And Leon has absolutely no idea how to handle that.
Every time he starts apologizing, you shut him down.
Every time he tries to explain himself, you steer the conversation somewhere else.
Before long he's laughing.
Actually laughing.
Not nervous chuckles.
Real laughter.
The kind that sneaks out when he forgets to be self-conscious.
At one point you offer him a bite of pasta.
Leon nearly dies.
Across the restaurant, Bela groans loud enough for everyone to hear.
You immediately offer him another bite.
Just to spite her.
Leon accepts.
Because he's weak.
Eventually the night comes to an end.
The parking lot is quiet.
The city lights paint soft reflections across the pavement.
For the first time all evening, Leon feels the reality of the situation settling back in.
This wasn't real.
Not really.
You were helping him.
Saving him.
Fixing a mess he created.
So he forces himself to say what needs to be said.
"Listen..."
You stop.
Leon looks down at his shoes.
"I'm sorry."
The words feel small.
"I never meant for any of this to happen."
You stay quiet.
"I didn't think anyone would believe me."
A nervous laugh escapes him.
"Honestly, I don't even know why I used your name."
That part is a lie.
He knows exactly why.
He's just too embarrassed to admit it.
"If you want, we can tell everyone we broke up."
The sentence hurts more than expected.
"I'll take the hit."
Silence.
Then:
"Why would I do that?"
Leon blinks.
"What?"
You look genuinely confused.
"Why would I break up with you?"
His brain stalls.
"Because..."
He gestures vaguely.
"The date?"
"The fake date?"
"Yeah."
You think for a moment.
"Well."
A smile pulls at your lips.
"At first I mostly wanted to annoy Bela."
Fair.
Reasonable.
Understandable.
"But then I got to hear the rest of your story."
Leon groans.
"Oh God."
"No, no. The story was adorable."
"It was embarrassing."
"It was adorable."
"It was embarrassing."
You grin.
"It was both."
Leon covers his face.
You gently pull one of his hands away.
"Besides."
Your voice softens.
"I've had a crush on you for months."
The world stops.
Again.
"You what?"
You laugh.
"Leon, you literally invented dates I've wanted to go on."
His mouth opens.
Nothing comes out.
"You made up an entire relationship and somehow got my taste exactly right."
A gentle kiss lands on his cheek.
Leon forgets every language he has ever learned.
"So,” you tap his chest. "Which one should we do first?"
"What?" He can’t believe this is real.
"The dates."
You start counting on your fingers.
"The convenience store dinner."
Leon turns red.
"The movie night with the shared blanket."
Redder.
"The late-night study session."
Oh my god.
"The coffee shop."
Leon might actually catch fire.
You laugh and gently push his jaw closed.
Tonight started with a lie.
But as Leon stares at you beneath the parking lot lights, he realizes something important.
For the first time all night the best part isn't fake anymore.
Reader is an English Teacher. Reader is Tony Stark’s adopted brother.
Author’s note at the end :)
————————————————————————
“We’re still on for tonight, doll?”
Bucky asked you as he strutted into your classroom while you were still cleaning up your desk after a long day of teaching.
You nodded, not looking away from the pile of papers you were sorting through and filing. “We’re meeting Steve, Sam and Natasha at the bar right?”
You looked up when you were met with silence and saw Bucky pouting down at you, causing you to abandon your task and stand up from your desk worriedly.
“What’s wrong?” You asked Bucky, the other man automatically pulling you closer to him by a hand on your waist.
Bucky’s pout was still on his face. “You didn’t kiss me when I came in.”
“Oh my god, you’re ridiculous.” You groaned but still pecking Bucky on the lips, getting a grin from the other man before he lets you go so you could finish up.
Bucky laughed. “To answer your question, we are meeting them at the bar.”
“You’re not changing out of your school clothes?” You questioned Bucky when you glanced at his usual gym teacher outfit.
Bucky shrugged. “Are you going to change out of yours?”
“Not particularly, besides my clothes don’t make me stand out.” You told him, frowning at the way Bucky was smirking down at you.
Bucky leaned down, his voice dropping to a whisper. “So you just want me out of my clothes? We could make that happen but we’ll be late to meet with the others.”
You felt your face get hot before you looked away from your boyfriend, continuing your task with an annoyed huff.
Bucky laughed before pecking you on the cheek. “I’m just teasing you, sweetheart.”
“Coulda fooled me.” You muttered, finishing up your task.
Bucky waited patiently by the door, his hand outstretched for you to take once you were done with everything.
You smiled as you linked your hand with his, the both of you walking out of the school to begin your activities for the night.
~~~~~
“Buck, you gotta let your boyfriend breathe.”
Sam chuckled, watching as Bucky’s body was draped behind yours as he steadied your hands while you were aiming during a game of pool.
Steve and Natasha laughing along as they watched Bucky let you go with an irritated huff, his hands holding up in surrender as all of them watched you hit one of the balls successfully in the hole with your cue stick.
“Beat that one, Rogers.” You teased Steve, taking a step back to watch the blonde man get into position.
You felt Bucky’s hand touch your waist before he hugged you from behind, his chin resting on your shoulder.
“I’m helping you, aren’t I?” Bucky asked you, making you laugh as you caught Natasha’s amused look before the both of you rolled your eyes at Bucky’s behaviour.
You reached up to Bucky’s face, patting him on the cheek. “Of course, baby. I couldn’t have gotten that point without you.”
“Thought I recognised that voice.”
You jumped in surprise, startling Bucky enough for him to loosen his grip on you as you turned to see a familiar face.
You gasped. “Matt?”
“Been a while, pretty bird.” Matt replied with a laugh, accepting the hug that you gave him.
Bucky watched the interaction between you and the man with red glasses with a frown on his face, especially when Matt’s hand lingered on the small of your back even after you let him go.
“Sweetheart, who’s your friend?” Bucky asked, his voice slightly sharp.
You turned back to Bucky with wide eyes as if just remembering that he was there before you guided Matt to your boyfriend with a hand on the other man’s shoulder.
Bucky tilted his head curiously, his eyes fixed to your hand still resting on Matt’s shoulder.
“Matt, I want to you to meet James Buchanan Barnes. Bucky, this is Matthew Murdock. He used to work with Tony back in New York.” You introduced Matt to Bucky with a grin, making Bucky’s jaw tense slightly as he shook Matt’s hand.
Bucky tersely nodded. “So what’s with the sunglasses indoors?”
“Bucky!” You gasped out, your face contorting to one of horror. Bucky stared back at you in confusion before Matt starts laughing.
Matt shook his head, patting your hand that was on his shoulder comfortingly. “It’s okay, he didn’t know.”
“Even so, I’d expect him to not be so blunt.” You replied to Matt but you were glaring at Bucky.
Matt sighed but smiled at Bucky’s direction. “I’m blind.”
“Oh shit. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean-“ Bucky starts sputtering, feeling himself pale in realisation.
Matt waved his hand, stopping Bucky from speaking. “No, it’s fine. It’s hard to tell when I don’t have my cane out.”
Bucky hung his head in shame, his eyes meeting your angry ones. “Still, I shouldn’t have assumed. I’m sorry, Matt.”
As if sensing the tension between you and Bucky, Matt turned to you with a small smile. “Could I get you a drink while I’m here?”
“How long are you here for? Maybe Bucky and I can sit with you.” You replied to Matt, your tone softer.
Bucky raised his eyebrows in surprise, fully expecting you to leave him alone with the others but you were including him despite his mistake.
God, he was so in love with you.
Matt chuckled, nodding. “Sure, I’m here with Foggy on a case. We’ll only be here in town for the night.”
You turned to Bucky with a questioning look, smiling when Bucky nodded.
“I’ll tell the others, you go with Matt and I’ll find you later.” Bucky reassured you, watching you and Matt walk away.
“Did you just let your boyfriend walk away with a hotter man?” Natasha asked Bucky, making the man jump at how she managed to sneak up on him.
Bucky shrugged. “Apparently the guy worked for his brother. Seems like he’s excited to catch up with an old friend. Also, I’m way hotter.”
“Don’t kid yourself, that man has a better ass.” Natasha snorted before nodding her head towards Steve and Sam. “You go on ahead, I’ll let the guys know you two will be gone for a little bit.”
Bucky smiled, nudging Natasha’s shoulder with his. “You’re the best.”
“Obviously.” Natasha smirked before walking off.
Bucky chuckled to himself, now he just needs to find you and Matt.
~~~~~
Bucky sits and smiles as he had his arm draped over your shoulder while you caught up with Matt and Foggy.
He hasn’t seen you so openly free with people in your past before and he wondered what’s the extent of your previous life in New York with Matt.
It didn’t take long however for him to find his answer when Foggy offhandedly mentioned catching you and Matt together in their office.
“You and Matt were together?” Bucky blurted out without thinking, feeling your body tense up next to his.
Foggy immediately shut his mouth, sudden tension surrounding the table.
Matt cleared his throat after an awkward second. “Yes, we had an intimate relationship before but it was short lived.”
“Oh.” Bucky replied, feeling you uncomfortably shift next to him and he drops a hand to your knee and squeezed it once.
You turn your head to Bucky in surprise and you were going to open your mouth to say something when Bucky pecked you on the lips instead.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m not mad.” Bucky whispered against your lips before pulling back with a soft smile.
You gave Bucky a slightly confused look as if you were unsure whether he was telling you the truth or not and it makes his heart break, wondering about the past that you haven’t opened up to him about to still make you so guarded.
“Foggy, why don’t you and our old friend get us more drinks. I think it’ll be a good break from the sudden elephant in the room.” Matt told Foggy, the latter immediately nodding as he shuffled out of his seat.
“Will you be okay?” You asked Bucky, who only nodded, kissing your cheek before he watched you leave to the bar with Foggy.
Matt cleared his throat getting Bucky’s full attention. “I apologise, it must be very confusing. I wasn’t sure if he were open with you about his past in New York.”
“He hasn’t,” Bucky let out a sigh. “We’ve known each other for a year or so, dating for half of it and I’ve been trying to be respectful and not cross his boundaries.”
Matt nodded with a smile. “That’s admirable of you. I can’t give you any more information, I won’t break his trust but I can tell you that he was well sought out by many people because of his namesake.”
“Yeah I figured with such a giant name like Stark, he’d be wary of who he let in.” Bucky replied, smiling to himself as he recalled the first time you had dinner with him at the diner and the short conversation after at the parking lot.
It felt like many lifetimes ago since then.
Bucky then shifted his focus to Matt. “So how long were you two dating?”
“I wouldn’t really call it that when we were only together for about three months before Tony advised him to leave New York.” Matt replied with a shrug.
Bucky raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You let him go?”
“We had differing views on our lives. I wanted to stay for my job and he wanted to find himself someplace else. I guess he found what he wanted here or more precisely, who.” Matt said with a grin pointed at Bucky, making the gym teacher rub the back of his neck shyly.
Bucky sighed with a small smile. “In all honesty, I’m surprised he puts up with me and my shenanigans but I’m grateful that he reciprocates my love for him.”
Matt smiles in response before you and Foggy return back with a couple of beers.
You gave Bucky a look of worry, only smiling when Bucky leans in to kiss you on the lips and pulling back with a wink.
“What did you two talk about?” You dropped your voice to a whisper as you leaned your body against Bucky’s.
Bucky chuckled, pecking you on the cheek as he threw his arm over your shoulder to pull you closer to him. “I was telling him about how you’re the love of my life.”
That comment made your face burn with red before you tutted at Bucky and slapped his shoulder.
Bucky continued quietly watching you as you interacted with Matt and Foggy, even going with you to the front of the bar after to send off the two lawyers as they hailed a cab.
You and Bucky stood hand in hand, watching the cab drive off.
“I’m sorry.”
Bucky turned to you with a confused frown. “For what, sweetheart?”
“For not telling you about Matt. I was just surprised to see him after so long and I know I haven’t been open with you about my past but I’m trying to build up to it.” You told Bucky with a sigh, getting your hand squeezed in reassurance as Bucky kissed the side of your head.
Bucky pulled back with a soft smile. “You don’t have to force yourself, doll. You’re worth it to me, I’d wait lifetimes for you.”
“You’re such a sap.” You shook your head fondly at the other man, pulling on his hand to get back into the bar before turning around when Bucky pulled you back to him.
Bucky smiled nervously when your confused eyes met his, his heart beating fast. “I need to ask you something and it’s no pressure if you want to say no.”
“Okay, shoot.” You turned your body fully towards Bucky, giving him your full attention.
Bucky let out a breath of air, suddenly feeling the same nerves he had when he asked you to go out with him to the carnival before the both of you even officially dated.
“Move in with me.”
You blinked at Bucky in surprise, your mouth opening but no sound was coming out of it and it makes Bucky freak out internally before you let out a laugh.
Bucky frowned, wondering what was so funny before you threw your arms around his middle as you hid your face in his chest.
“Sweetheart?” Bucky worriedly rubbed your back, his mind going a hundred thoughts a minute at your unusual behaviour.
You laughed as you stepped back with a fond look on your face. “Yes.”
“Yes?” Bucky echoed back in disbelief.
You nodded. “Yes!”
Bucky lets out a whoop as he suddenly hugged you and picked you up to spin you in his arms, joining you in your laughter full of joy.
Bucky can’t wait to tell his friends.
~~~~~
“You two are ridiculous.”
Bucky squawked at Natasha while you giggled at his side.
Sam shook his head. “You had us thinking you proposed to him or something.”
“Congratulations on finally asking him to move in with you Buck. I can’t imagine what it’s gonna look like when you finally do propose to him.” Steve commented.
Bucky shushed at Steve and Sam, getting amused looks from everyone. “Stevie! Sammy!”
Bucky turns to you with a scared look but you just shook your head fondly at him before chuckling. “Bucky, I already knew you wanted to marry me. It’s not much of a surprise.”
Bucky thought it about for a second before shrugging and making the move to get on one knee when you stopped him.
“No, not now! Especially not at the bar!” You yelled at him with wide eyes, making him stand back up with a sheepish smile.
Bucky then pulled you closer by the waist, kissing you firmly on the lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” You rolled your eyes fondly at the other man before turning your attention back to the others to continue playing.
Bucky smiled as he watched you go back to everyone at the pool table, the thought of proposing to you at the back of his mind.
For now, Bucky gets to enjoy his time with his loved ones and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
*****
Author’s note:
Saw Sebastian Stan in The Bronze again and knew I just had to bring back the Gym Teacher Bucky series
yooo the Olympian reader got me thinking, how would the batboys be w a famous reader, maybe an actor or a singer?
♬ ♪ ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و Material Girl ‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
Warnings: None! Fluff. No pronouns used for reader, established relationship. No use of y/n.
Note: WHEN I TELL YOU I USED TO HAVE A BATFAM OC THAT WAS AN ACTOR/SINGER 💥💥 The Brucie Wayne persona needs some help sometimes, okay?
!!------------------------------------!
Bruce Wayne
To everyone outside of the Waynes' inner circle, this couple makes perfect sense. Anyone who knows Bruce, however, is astonished he's managed to bag you. Renowned Gotham sweetheart [name]? There's no way.
He likely meets you at another socialite party, assigned to sit next to you for the night. Naturally, he researches you beforehand, and makes flattering enough conversation for you to say you're quite fond of the elusive Mr. Wayne.
Bruce listens to two types of music on his own: classical jazz reminiscent of his childhood and hard emo music, so if you don't produce either, Bruce only listens to and watches your productions through his children's interests.
They're elated that he's managed to meet you! Dick, Jason, Tim, and Duke grew up watching you through their younger years. Bruce is kinda the awkward dad asking for a photo to send to his kids.
They serve as his wingmen to sweep you off your feet. Your [name]! He cannot fucking mess this up. Mess...what up?
It takes a really long time for Bruce to drop the ditzy, pompous act he feigns for the public. That's when his own infatuation for you really starts. For a socialite...you're not half bad (though you could say the same for him).
Bruce woos you in secret, but the two of you have fun stringing along the press and paparazzi. Some people refer to you as his sugar baby, others as the better parent to his children.
When you announce your relationship to the public, everyone in Gotham is up in cheers. Finally! Gotham's most elegant bachelor has someone worthy on his arm! Likewise, he's a fine man for the heart of Gotham's most beloved talent.
Dick Grayson
Dick has been watching you ever since Bruce first took him in. You starred as a character in a sitcom that quickly became his comfort show amongst the cold, old house that made up Wayne Manor.
He wouldn't call himself your biggest fan or anything crazy like that...but he is a fan. Dick enjoys media a lot more when you're on the face of it, but he doesn't necessarily seek your material out.
That is, until he meets you at a gala, and all of a sudden, he can name every album, tour, and song you've put out in the last decade. Dick goes as far as to ask you to sign his arm like a little kid! If you included your number underneath it...that's no one's business but yours.
Dick turns his charm up to the max, trying to pursue you. Everyone who has his contact is tempted to block him because of how much he runs his mouth, talking about how cool you are and how he can't believe you're even interested in him!
But...Dick's a cool guy, you don't need to know all that.
He likes to help you practice for things in any way he can. Be that in reading lines and acting out scenes together, or being your muse to figure out what to send to your choreographer.
Dick might not indulge in the arts very much himself, but goddamn if he isn't talented in them.
Have him be a backup dancer on a show in Gotham, and he'll be on cloud nine, having the time of his life! Ignore the flood of articles calling him an undeserving nepo baby. What would they know?
Jason Todd
Barely anyone had cable in the apartment complex he used to live in, but one of the older kids found a way to set up a TV near the roof and get a signal working.
One of the channels that they always kept on replayed this talent show where nobodies competed to make it big. You were his age when you won gold on that show, and for a week, it was all Jason could think about.
Now, as an adult, Jason recognizes your face on a billboard. Huh...you really did get far, didn't you? Between his death and well, everything else, he hasn't really cared to catch up on celebrity drama.
But Gotham is a crazy place, and on a night like any other, you're the person he saves from getting mugged. Your cover falls off, and it's exactly out of a scene of a romance novel.
Except Jason has a gun, and he's scrambling on how to tell you that you've been his idol since he was fucking like seven. What the hell?
He's needed somewhere else before you can make conversation, and you're left with your encounter with the infamous Red Hood. Suddenly, he's trending as you advocate for him and the rest of the city's vigilantes.
Bruce...isn't happy, but there isn't much he can do about it without butting his head into the conversation. Jason takes it as a win.
The following month, when the discourse slows down, you get a letter in your room, from the one and only, of course.
'If you're that interested, give me a call. Xoxo, your savior.' It's corny, and stupid, and Jason's red in the face as he leaves it, but it's all worth it when he gets that ping from you.
Tim Drake
Tim met you before you 'got big TM'.
You took piano lessons together, but you were always better at playing than he was. Typical, Tim didn't care much for instruments, but it always ticked him off that he never scored higher than you during performances.
As you grew up, you lost touch, not that either of you were ever that close to begin with. Reconnected at a fundraiser party where you performed. The two of you got to talking again, forced to take photos and answer interview questions due to your shared past.
As an adult...you're not so terrible, he guesses. Pretty hot, too. Ah, shit, is he really crushing on his old childhood friend? Damn.
Tim stumbles a bit in his pursuit of you. Since you already know him, he can't lie his way into your inner circle like he normally would, but at the same time, he wants to show you that he's a changed guy! Not the same little shit he used to be. He's good for it now, trust.
He buys VIP tickets to every concert, even if he can't attend in person, hiring people to hold out large signs in his stead. It's always the booth you can see from the stage. Likewise, he'll buy up all the backstage passes, giving you free time to decompress (and keeping that attention for himself).
You can feel the love from atop his four windowpaneled office above Wayne Enterprise...
When the pin drops and the two of you make it official, the media explodes. Full of 'they were the last ones to know', 'wait, they weren't official?', and the like.
Cassandra Cain
Her siblings go out of their way to recommend some of your older shows to her. TV and movies are difficult for her to watch because the physical acting is always too distracting, so Cass falls in love with you through your voice acting instead.
It's just...so soothing. Quickly, she finds herself hours into your albums and singles alike. Helping her sleep during the early mornings post-patrol and keeping her leveled during those tenser moments.
You're the one who comes up to her, offering flowers and praise after one of her ballet shows. She's shocked to say the least. Who knew big star [name] liked to come to local performances like this?
Cass shyly admits that she's a big fan of yours, and, in hopes of encountering you again, she invites you to a party as a plus-one that Bruce was forcing her to go to anyway. To her surprise, you agree.
It’s…certainly awkward at first, but her determination to make a good impression on you is so endearing that you can’t help but like her off the bat. Besides…a Wayne does look pretty good on your arm. Vice versa.
Cass is entranced by the world of art, being that it’s still so foreign to her. There’s nothing she likes more than sitting down and watching you go through your creative process. Humans are so amazing, living simply to make others feel like this.
You introduce her to the people you know who will help her get farther in her dance career, and with your recommendations, Cass gets audition opportunities she wouldn’t have otherwise.
She's forever grateful that her idol in private becomes one of her heroes in person, now her lover too.
Duke Thomas
As a kid, there was always this one ad Duke would play over and over again. It was a short clip advertising a cyber toy that could transform from a car to a fighter robot. Cooler than the toy itself or the soundtrack was the kid actor playing with it in the commercial.
It was cute! A crush he was able to point out on other posters and billboards throughout Gotham. When his childhood took that unfortunate turn, and Duke was no longer able to sit around and watch TV, he mostly forgot about it.
With Duke's new family, he comes across that old toy discarded by Dick. Casually, he mentions that old infatuation he had with you, and lo and behold, his siblings know exactly who he's fucking talking about. What.
Next thing he knows, he has a date scheduled with you for the following weekend. Fucking rich kids and their networking circles.
You're so different than what he was anticipating, and obviously gorgeous. He's similarly charming towards you for his earnest disposition and his lack of knowledge of your more recent work.
It's a dream come true when the two of you hit it off, making Duke tag along with you to movie permers and casting calls. Most of his glimpse into Gotham's high society is from the begrudging attitude of his family, seeing a less ultra-rich but no less elegant side to things is entertaining.
Duke is even more fond of you for being mostly self-made and hard-working. Honestly, it's a small world the lot of you live in.
Summary: You and Jason are out on a date when some onlookers start picking on you. Jason takes matters into his own hands.
TW: SLIGHT homophobia
It was date, the first you and Jason had enjoyed in a while. He was normally so busy doing God knows what. Truthfully, you didn’t want to think about it. You were less concerned about the trouble he was getting into, rather it was the danger.
But tonight he was here, safe, and all yours. He was treating you to a simple dinner. Neither one of you was a fan of fancy restaurants. Instead you both enjoy the simple things, so you were having your romantic date at a hole in the wall diner. Just how you liked it.
It was going well, as it always did. Jason’s rough exterior everyone told you about was always almost nonexistent when he was talking to you. The lights of the diner were dim, and you held hands across the table. He listened to you talk about your job.
Eventually, the two of you were about ready to go, with dinner eaten and your desire of eachother growing. “I am going to ask for a to-go box,”’ you said, standing up.
“I’ll do it,” he protested, as you knew he would. Jason was always doing things for you, especially with others around. His protective nature mixed with his distrust of most people.
“No no,” you replied, smiling at him, “I’ll do it, in exchange for what you’ll give me later.” You teased. As protective as he was, he was never controlling. “I’ll be right back,” you said, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
As you went to the counter of the bar you asked the waitress for a to-go box. She kindly handed you one when a gruff man at the bar with his friends asked, “Is that your boyfriend?”
Taken aback by the question, you felt your face flush. The harder you tried not to, the more you felt your cheeks heat up. “Uhhh, I-“ you stammered, unsure what to say.
He scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Figures,” he took a drink of his beer. As you grabbed the box to walk away, he pushed your back causing you to collapse on to the floor.
Jason was up out of his seat instantly, and you stood quickly. “Jason,” you said sternly, you knew where this was going. “I’m fine.”
“I am just going to talk to him,” he said, his tone calm, which was most chilling of all as you watched him approach your assailant.
-
Walking back into dingy studio apartment, you walked over to the bed. “Sit down and take your shirt off,” you ordered sternly, “You know the drill.” This was not your first time nursing his injuries.
He sighed, pulling his shirt off, revealing his muscular scarred torso. A few of the bruises were new, which you could tell very well. You had his every inch memorized. “I’m sorry,” he said with a groan, “But how could you expect me to let him get away with that?!”
You were silent, going into the fridge and grabbing a bag of frozen vegetables. You tossed him the pack, and he caught it, placing it on his new black eye. You went back over with a cold wash cloth and dabbed his other bruises.
“I know you’re mad,” he said, wincing softly as you addressed his bruises, “But he had it coming.” More silence. You didn’t know what to say. “I am working on it, for you. If he would’ve just said something I could have gotten over it, but he…. No one lays theirs hands on you, and I’m sorry but that’s not going to change.” He was firmer in his resolve now.
As you knelt between his legs, looking at the warrior before you, you sighed. “I don’t want to be the reason you get hurt.” It’s all you could say but it’s all you needed. You didn’t care he got mad or was even protective, but him having to come in and save you hurt him. You didn’t want to be the cause of more pain for him. “I don’t like seeing you like this, especially because of me.”
He grinned just a little, just enough for you both to know you two were ok. “This is nothing, I’ve died remember?”
You couldn’t help but laugh now, the rushes of emotions draining your decorum. Jason would do anything to make you laugh, even a joke like that. “I just can’t believe we got out of there before the police showed up.”
“I can’t believe I let those bastards get this many hits on me!” He exclaimed with another laugh. He patted his legs for you.
Smirking as you watched, you knew what it meant. You stood up, and let both of your legs straddle his, so now you were in his lap. Your arms instinctively wrapped around the back of his neck. “To be fair, there were five of them by the time his friends joined.”
Grinning he leaned in and planted small kisses on your neck, “Still,” he said between kisses, his proximity to your neck muffling his words. “You were distracting me.”
You let out a few very light moans then gasped a bit, “How is this my fault?”
“You’re too beautiful,” he said, working his way to your lips. He tossed his ice pack aside and smashed his lips into yours with a sense of messy passion. His hands gripped your hips but then slowly pushed your pantline down so he could start gripping your ass.
“Jason!” You gasped between kisses. “You’re still hurt!”
Back to kissing your neck, his hands were relentless in their quest to touch your naked body. “There is literally nothing on this Earth that can stop me from fucking you right now.” And he meant it.
Reader is Bucky’s assistant. Reader is Tony Stark’s adopted brother.
Author’s note at the end :)
————————————————————————
“One hot cup of brown bean water for Mr Barnes.”
The side of Bucky’s mouth twitched, looking up from his laptop to see you standing at the entrance of his private office with his usual cup of coffee in your hand. He loved that you absolutely hated the beverage but still brought it to him every morning.
Bucky gratefully accepted the coffee, his eyes wandering over to the outfit you were wearing to work today. Instead of the usual blazer you’d wear over your dress shirt and pants, it was now replaced by a long coat that stopped directly by your thighs.
Bucky gulped, trying his best to not imagine those thighs wrapped around his shoulders.
“Why’re you all dolled up, doll?” Bucky asked, getting an unimpressed look from you as you supported yourself by leaning on the side of his office desk with your arms crossed.
You sighed. “You have to start churning out new nicknames if you still want me around, also you’re wearing a very expensive suit today so you can’t say shit.”
“But you’re always dressed so nicely compared to everyone else in the office, I can’t help but notice the change.” Bucky teased you, smiling when he saw your cheeks tinted red at his words.
You cleared your throat. “You need to be nicer to all the other employees that work for you too by the way, this floor needs a morale boost.”
“You need to realise that I am your boss and you should probably be nicer to me instead.” Bucky retorted with a sarcastic grin, seeing you roll your eyes in response.
You shook your head, a small smile forming on your face. “Last I checked, my brother’s the president of Stark Industries and he’s your boss so I’d watch that tone if I were you.”
“You mean Tony made you my assistant so you could be his little spy and make sure that I’m not out of line.” Bucky replied, biting on his bottom lip when you merely shrugged at him, not denying any of his claims before you stood up properly and made your way to the front of his desk.
You tapped your fingers on the mahogany wood material of his desk. “You have an important meeting today with the Board of Directors, they’re expecting you to present an update on the work the company has been doing with the prosthesis made with Stark tech.”
“Our recent participant has been doing well with her new arm, correct? Misty Knight?” Bucky asked you, switching into business mode effortlessly.
You nodded. “Considering she’s an officer that lost her arm after getting shot in Harlem and was hesitant at accepting our offer for the prosthesis, she’s showing signs of improvement with her mental health and has adapted to her new arm. Having a metal arm helps you fight crime better, who knew?”
“Well we all watched Robocop,” Bucky chuckled before tapping the top of his laptop. “Could you send me the rest of the files so I can make a proper powerpoint presentation to show the board. The meeting’s after lunch right?”
“Yep,” You replied, pulling your phone out and tapping on it for a few seconds before sending Bucky the necessary information needed. “I’ll see you upstairs in the meeting room after lunch.”
“Oh we’re not having lunch together?” Bucky asked.
You rolled your eyes at him. “As much as I love doing lunch with you every single day as if we don’t spend every hour of our work life together, I got asked out by one of the newer leads of the company. We kept bumping each other in the lobby, making small talk while waiting for the elevator and he eventually asked if I wanted to get lunch with him.”
“That’s why you’re all dressed up.” Bucky replied lamely, trying not to let his jealousy fester and show on his face.
You grinned and did a slight twirl, a hopeful expression on your face and Bucky couldn’t help but smile at how adorable you were. “Haven’t really had someone ask me out in a while so I’m hoping the lunch goes well.”
“What’s the name of the guy?” Bucky asked casually.
Bucky sees you walking around, gathering the stuff you needed before you stopped at the front of his office door. “John Walker, he leads the team that’s two floors below us. Anyways, I’ll see you later.”
Bucky mutely nodded as you left, he had the perfect view of the elevator and he watched as you walked off with confidence in every step that you took until you disappeared into the elevator.
Bucky leaned back on his seat, letting out a sigh as he pouted. He felt the heaviness of his emotions weigh down on his chest.
“I’ll miss you.” Bucky muttered to the empty room before turning his attention to the laptop as he tried to not think about you on a date, hoping his work would distract him until lunch was over.
~~~~~
Bucky got through the meeting with the Board of Directors smoothly, managing to answer every single question aimed at him although he would be lying if he wasn’t a little distracted by you sitting at the side with a scowl on your face the entire presentation.
Even when the both of you were walking back to his office, you were uncharacteristically quiet the entire time. You didn’t even glance at the rest of Bucky’s team or greeted them like you usually would.
Bucky quickly shut the door once the both of you stepped into his office, staring at the way your back was tense as you moved to sit on one of the large leather chairs and pulled out your own laptop to start working.
“Are you okay?” Bucky carefully asked you, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants as he saw you cock an eyebrow at him.
You shrugged. “I’m fine. I just need to list down all the talking points from the meeting and then I’ll send it to you by the end of today.”
“You just seem tense.” Bucky winced at the way he sounded, suddenly realising how bad he was at trying to comfort someone.
You huffed, fixing your face to give Bucky somewhat a strained smile. “It’s nothing Bucky, just drop it.”
“Something is obviously bothering you and as your boss it’s my duty to make sure you’re able to focus in the workplace without external distractions.” Bucky replied, getting a look of disdain from you.
You sighed, shutting your laptop. “You’re just going to keep pestering me about it until I say something huh?”
Bucky shrugged at you. “Pretty much.”
“Fine. I’ll work somewhere else for today then.” You gave Bucky a snarky smile in return before you stood up to pack your things.
Bucky’s mind went into overdrive. He had already missed you in the morning due to John Walker and he didn’t think he could survive the rest of the day without you in his office.
Bucky moved quickly, reaching out to grab your arm and getting an alarmed look from you in return.
“Bucky?” You said his name, your brows furrowing in confusion.
Bucky gulped before releasing you and taking a step back. “Sorry. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, we can just stay here and work quietly.”
Bucky sees a flurry of emotions flicker over your face before you reached out and squeezed his shoulder, your eyes softening with a small smile on your face.
“Okay,” You replied before sitting back in your position on the leather chair and raised your eyebrows at him expectantly, your eyes glancing at his desk. “That means you have to work too, Mr Barnes.”
Bucky huffed out a laugh, feeling relieved before heading back to his desk to work. He still wanted to ask you what was wrong but he kept it to himself since it was obvious you weren’t in a talking mood, he was just happy you stayed.
~~~~~
“Get dinner with me.”
Bucky sees you falter as you were packing your things, your eyes blinking up at him owlishly as if Bucky had grown a second head.
You cocked an eyebrow at him. “What’s the occasion?”
“Nothing, I just didn’t have lunch.” Bucky replied, getting a noise of disapproval from you as you rounded his desk to stand next to his chair with your hands on your hips like a parent berating their child.
You glared at him. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier? I could have gotten you food before I came back for the meeting.”
“I didn’t want to interrupt your date.” Bucky responded, getting a huff from you.
You folded your arms, your expression closed off again like earlier. “Some date, what an asshole.”
“What happened?” Bucky asked, making you flinch when he saw you realise that you had said your thoughts out loud.
You were about to shake your head again when Bucky immediately stood up from his chair and gently crowded his body against yours by his desk, forcing you to look up at him as he fixed you with a determined look. “Tell me. Don’t give me some bullshit that you don’t want to talk about it because it’s obviously eating at you.”
Bucky watched as you had a conflicted expression on your face, your jaw tensing up before you sighed and pushed at his chest so he could take a step back.
“Fine,” You grunted out. “But at least give me some breathing room from that brick wall you call a body.”
Bucky nodded, taking a step back with the satisfaction of you noticing his physique. He still felt the warmth of your hand lingering on his chest and he silently craved for more.
You sighed, your eyes meeting Bucky’s and he was surprised to see a hint of vulnerability behind your gaze especially with it aimed at him.
“When I went for my lunch with John, everything was fine until he started to talk about the company.” You started, getting a silent nod from Bucky.
You clicked your tongue in disgust. “And then he started insulting you, basically calling you derogatory names and said that you were some snobby rich guy who doesn’t work hard or care about his employees.”
“Doll, people are going to think that regardless when I’m the CEO of a multimillion dollar company.” Bucky tried reasoning with you but only receiving a frustrated groan from you in response.
You shook your head defiantly at him, your hand waving in the air as you ranted. “But I know it’s not true! I’ve worked with you for almost a year and I’ve seen the hard work you’ve put in for the projects. You even went to talk to Misty Knight personally about getting her that prosthesis!”
“Hey, hey. It’s okay,” Bucky softly cooed at you, gently grabbing your hand and pulling it down to link his fingers with yours in a comforting gesture. “It doesn’t matter what others think, I know my own worth and I know the work I put in for this company.”
“How can you say that?” You asked in a demanding tone. “How can you continue to work like nothing’s happening when there’s people out here spreading lies about you?”
“Because I don’t care what they think, if I start caring what other people think of me and how they see me then I wouldn’t be able to give my all to my job.” Bucky tried reasoning with you, knowing it wasn’t enough to convince you.
You huffed, rolling your eyes as you pulled your hand away from Bucky’s to cross your arms. “Yeah, your job keeps everyone else’s afloat.”
“I don’t care what they think of me,” Bucky repeated, his body leaning closer to yours. “The only person’s opinion I care about the most is yours.”
The whole room went silent, Bucky watched as the gears were turning in your head as you processed his words.
“What?” You squinted at Bucky in confusion and disbelief. “Why does my opinion matter at all? I’m not Tony, I’m not in a position of power.”
Bucky sighed, smiling at you. He thought he could ignore and shake off his feelings for you but he couldn’t hold them back anymore.
You tutted, smacking him on the shoulder. “What are you smiling at?”
“God, you’re adorable.” Bucky told you, seeing your eyes widened in response.
You gasped. “What?!”
“You’re adorable,” Bucky repeated, grinning in amusement when he sees your face turn deep red. “And I like you, that’s why your opinion matters the most to me.”
“Oh.” You dumbly replied, your earlier outburst of energy now replaced with shyness and Bucky was trying his best to not maul you with kisses.
Bucky then hears the most beautiful sound to come out your mouth, a tiny giggle escaping your lips as your eyes meet his with a glint of adoration.
“I like you too.” You whispered, shyly.
Bucky leaned closer to you, forcing you sit on the edge of his desk while his hands were resting by your sides. “Say that again, doll.”
“Stop it, this is embarrassing.” You pouted, making Bucky laugh as he dropped his head onto your shoulder with a sigh.
You giggled again when Bucky took a not subtle sniff of your scent. The smell of your natural sweat from the day mixed in with the sweet perfume you’d always wear was making his head giddy.
“You even smell amazing sweetheart.” Bucky murmured against your neck, the tip of his tongue accidentally touching your skin and he was suddenly pushed away by you.
Bucky’s eyes widened in surprised before his face relaxed into a grin when he saw the redness from your face had traveled down under the collar of your shirt, the sight causing him to lick his lips.
You gave him a halfhearted glare, rubbing at the spot on your neck where his face was previously occupying. “Okay none of that in the office.”
Bucky smirked before raising his hands in defeat. “Of course, sweetheart. I’m sorry, can I at least hug you?”
You turned your head towards the front door of Bucky’s office, seeing it shut before you nodded. Bucky smiled before stepping back into your space and gathering you in his arms.
Bucky buried his face in your neck and sighed happily, feeling your hand soothingly rub his back as you laughed.
“Let me take you out to dinner,” Bucky told you, pulling back slightly while his hands rested on your waist. “I’ll show you what an actual date is like.”
“You were jealous, weren’t you?” You called Bucky out with an amused look.
Bucky pouted at you. “I saw you first.”
“Ugh, you can’t be cute and hot at the same time.” You told Bucky with a grimace, jumping slightly in his arms when he pinched you on the side.
Bucky shook his head with a small smile. “That’s my line, sweetheart.”
“Okay, let’s go already. As nice as this is being in each other’s arms, you have to eat something and not go to bed with an empty stomach.” You scolded Bucky, using your assistant voice against him.
Bucky sighed defeatedly, dropping his head to your shoulder again. “Yes dear.”
~~~~~
“Sewage water for Mr Barnes.”
Bucky smirked as you walked into his office with a fresh cup of coffee, which he gratefully accepted before taking a sip.
Bucky lets out a noise of disapproval, smacking his lips loudly and it causes you to turn to him in concern.
“What’s wrong?” You asked, taking a step towards Bucky as he was leaning on his desk with a scowl on his face.
Bucky lifted the coffee up, examining it before clicking his tongue. “It’s much more bitter than usual.”
“Shoot, the barista probably brewed it differently today. Do you want me to head back down to the cafe?” You asked Bucky, who shook his head in response.
Bucky sighed. “It’s fine, just needs a little extra sugar.”
Bucky put down the coffee on his desk, turning his body towards you and getting a confused look from you.
“Come here.” Bucky pulled you closer to him by your waist before pecking you on the lips and pulling back with a satisfied smirk.
You stared back at him with wide eyes, your face blossoming with red before you squinted at him and slapped his shoulder. “What did I say about casual PDA in the office?”
“You’re cute when you’re mad at me.” Bucky teased you, relishing in the pout you gave him as he squeezed your waist.
A cough from the front of the office causes the both of you to jump in surprise before separating.
Bucky felt the blood in his face drain when he saw Tony standing in front of the office with a quizzical look.
“Explain.”
*****
Author’s note:
I think I might make CEO boyfriend Bucky a short series, this was very fun to write and I imagine CEO Bucky being a very doting boyfriend
I apologise if this was short and there were a lot of mistakes! I wrote all of this while I was at work lmao
The 9th of the Fatui harbinger becomes interested in (m/n), the ancient Fox Adepti known as hushen.
After many events between them, will (m/n) fall in love with the fatui harbinger Or does he already have someone else in his heart from the start....
— 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝟎𝟏᯽—
Snow covered every corner of Snezhnaya, covering the streets and rooftops in white. People
hurried through the streets wrapped in thick coats and layers of fur.
The male adeptus walked through the snow-covered road with steady steps, his feet crunching softly beneath him. A cloud of fog left his lips every time he exhaled.
'shit, I really should've brought a coat agh'
Even someone like him could admit Snezhnaya's cold was excessive. Still, he continued forward without slowing down.
Soon, a massive mansion came into view behind tall iron gates. Fatui guards stood outside, some of them leaning against the gate sleeping and some of them alert and armed.
The adeptus paused for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly.
'Should I kill them? No, that would be necessary' his thought disappeared almost as quickly as it came. There was no reason to cause trouble over something so minor.
He walked toward the gates calmly instead.
The guards immediately tensed.
"Halt. State your business," they spoke up with Weapons shifted toward him cautiously.
The adeptus raised one hand slightly, expression unreadable.
"I'm here on behalf of Lady Ningguang," he said evenly. "I was sent to deliver an urgent message to the Regrator."
He pulled out a sealed letter marked with the golden emblem of the Liyue Qixing.
One of the guards inspected the seal before nodding.
"It's legitimate," he says to others.
After a brief pause, the gates opened.
"Follow me."
The mansion's interior was warm compared to the freezing streets outside. Marble floors gleamed beneath golden chandeliers, and expensive decorations filled nearly every corner.
Money.
That was the first thing the adeptus thought of when looking around.
Everything about this place screamed wealth.
The guard led him deeper into the mansion until they stopped in front of a large ornate door.
A knock echoed through the quiet hallway.
"Come in."
The guard opened the door and stepped aside.
Inside, Pantalone sat behind a large desk, casually reviewing documents. Candlelight flickered against his glasses as he looked up.
A polite smile appeared on his face almost instantly.
"Well," Pantalone said smoothly, setting his pen down, "this is unexpected."
The adeptus stepped forward and placed the letter onto the desk.
"Lady Ningguang sent me."
At the mention of her name, Pantalone's interest visibly sharpened.
"How rare," he mused before taking the letter. "She usually prefers handling negotiations herself."
He broke the seal and began reading.
"There's been an issue involving Mora transfers into the banks of Liyue," the adeptus explained. "Only half the expected amount arrived. The remaining funds disappeared during transport."
Pantalone's smile faded slightly.
"I see."
His voice remained calm, but there was something cold underneath it now.
"For Mora to simply vanish..." He tapped his finger lightly against the desk. "Someone has either become careless or far too confident."
"Lady Ningguang requested this be handled immediately," the adeptus added.
"Of course she did," Pantalone replied with a chuckle. "Whenever money disappears, everyone suddenly remembers my value."
The arrogance in his voice was subtle,
He folded the letter neatly before setting it aside.
"I'll handle the matter personally."
Silence settled briefly between them.
Then Pantalone's gaze lifted toward him again.
"And you are?"
"My name isn't important." the adeptus stated
"Hm."
Pantalone leaned back slightly in his chair, studying him more carefully now.
The elegant clothing. The exposed skin despite the weather. The calm posture.
Interesting.
"You're not human," he concluded casually. "No normal person would walk through Snezhnaya dressed like that."
"I can tolerate the cold. besides your not the one to question my dressing choice"
"Oh my apologies" Pantalone chuckled,
Still, his eyes lingered for a second too long before he looked away.
"My task here is complete," (M/N) stated. "I'll be taking my leave now."
"So soon?"
"You travel all this way only to leave immediately?" he asked, voice smooth as silk. "How cruel."
"My task here is done."
"So serious." Pantalone stood from his chair and adjusted his gloves neatly. "You sound eager to leave."
"I don't enjoy staying around Fatui Harbingers."
That earned a soft laugh from him.
"You wound me."
"You've traveled a long distance through unforgiving weather. It would reflect poorly on me to send a guest back out into the snow so carelessly."
Before the adeptus could protest further, Pantalone reached up and removed his own long coat, draping it carefully over (M/N)'s shoulders.
Warmth immediately surrounded him.
Their hands brushed briefly.
"Your clothing is far too revealing for Snezhnaya," Pantalone murmured, gaze trailing downward again. "Even if you insist you can endure the cold."
His fingers ghosted near the adeptus' thigh before (M/N) caught his wrist firmly
"That still doesn't give you permission to touch me."
"My mistake."
Though judging from the amused curve of Pantalone's lips, he didn't sound sorry in the slightest.
He simply admired him openly instead.
After a moment, the adeptus accepted the coat, staying here won't be that bad right? Besides he might even get some information as well.
"Prepare a guest room."
The adeptus narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You already assumed I'd stay?"
"I assumed the snowstorm outside would worsen before nightfall," Pantalone replied simply. "Unlike some people, I prefer planning."
A servant entered and bowed.
"Escort our guest."
As the adeptus turned to leave, Pantalone spoke again.
"One more thing."
He looked back.
Pantalone smiled faintly, unreadable behind his glasses.
"Tell Lady Ningguang that sending someone competent certainly makes negotiations easier."
There was the slightest pause before he added,
"Though sending someone interesting helps as well."
The adeptus frowned but said nothing as he left the room.
The door shut quietly behind him. Silence returned.
Pantalone stood there for a few moments before returning to his desk.
He opened one of the drawers slowly and pulled out a thin folder.
Inside were reports, notes, and information carefully organized.
Among them was a photograph.
The same adeptus.
Pantalone stared at it thoughtfully before adjusting his glasses.
Pairing - Giyuu x Husband reader a quick kiss gave you and Giyuus relationship away to his fellow hashiras
The afternoon sun stretched warmly across the stone pathways of the Hashira estate, golden light filtering through the trees while several crows perched along the rooftops above. Most of the Hashira remained gathered after Kagaya’s meeting, lingering in small groups with tea cups in hand while servants quietly moved around them collecting empty dishes. Giyu Tomioka stood, as always, slightly away from the others near the engawa, his expression unreadable as he stared out toward the gardens.
Shinobu had tried several times to drag him into conversation only for him to answer in short replies, and eventually everyone had simply accepted that Tomioka was being Tomioka again.
“You know,” Sanemi muttered while leaning back against one of the wooden pillars, “one day I wanna know what goes on in that damn head of yours.” Giyuu didn’t answer, which only made Sanemi scoff louder. “See? Nothin’. Empty.” Mitsuri let out a small nervous laugh while Obanai sighed beside her, already looking tired from the interaction before it had even properly begun. Before another argument could start, however, the sound of quick footsteps approaching the courtyard pulled everyone’s attention toward the entrance.
A young Demon Slayer wearing the standard Corps uniform stepped through the gate, your nichirin blade resting at your side while your haori shifted softly in the breeze.
The moment your eyes landed on Giyuu, your entire face brightened in a way that immediately stood out to everyone watching. “Giyuu,” you called gently, your voice warm and familiar as you approached him without hesitation. To everyone’s shock, the Water Hashira’s expression softened almost instantly, the icy distance in his eyes melting into something undeniably affectionate. It was subtle, but obvious enough that even Sanemi looked stunned into silence.
“You’re leaving already?” Giyuu asked quietly once you stopped in front of him, his voice noticeably softer than the one he used around the others. You lifted the mission scroll in your hand with a small sigh before nodding.
“A Kakushi brought in a report from the northern villages,” you explained. “Apparently the demon’s been attacking travelers at night, so they’re sending me and a few others to investigate.” Giyuu frowned slightly at that, his brows pulling together in concern. “You should be careful,” he murmured. “If anything feels wrong, retreat immediately and send for help.” You smiled at him fondly, reaching across to adjust the edge of his haori. “I know,” you teased softly. “You remind me every mission.”
The rest of the Hashira stared openly now, completely forgotten by the two of you. Mitsuri’s eyes were practically sparkling while Tengen looked deeply amused, but nobody spoke because they were all too busy trying to process what they were seeing.
A Kinoto, talking to Tomioka like this? Touching him? And more importantly… Tomioka letting him? “I’ll come back before you know it,” you promised quietly, your expression softening as you looked at him. Giyuu hesitated only a moment before gently taking your hand in his, his thumb brushing across your knuckles in a way so tender it nearly gave Mitsuri heart failure.
“Come back safely,” he said softly. “I’ll be waiting for you.” Your smile widened at that, warm enough to make even Shinobu blink in surprise. “You always are,” you replied before leaning forward and pressing a quick kiss against his lips.
The entire courtyard froze solid. Mitsuri let out a tiny squeak, Obanai nearly dropped his tea, and Sanemi looked like someone had punched him directly in the face.
You pulled away with a grin while Giyuu remained perfectly calm despite the fact every Hashira present was now staring at him like he’d grown another head. “I love you,” you said naturally, already stepping back toward the path. “I love you too,” Giyuu answered without hesitation, and somehow that shocked them even more than the kiss itself. Then, with one final wave, you disappeared down the pathway toward your mission, leaving behind complete and utter silence.
Mitsuri was the first to recover. “GIYUU HAS A HUSBAND?!” she practically shrieked, startling birds from the nearby trees. “There’s no way,” Sanemi immediately snapped back, pointing accusingly at Giyuu. “Tomioka? Married? Absolutely not.” Tengen laughed loudly while crossing his arms.
“I don’t know, the kiss looked pretty convincing.” “That had to be some weird hallucination,” Obanai muttered suspiciously. Shinobu simply smiled sweetly at Giyuu, though there was something deeply dangerous behind her eyes. “Tomioka-san,” she hummed. “Would you perhaps like to explain why none of us knew about this?”
Giyuu blinked once at all of them, genuinely confused by their reactions. “You never asked,” he answered simply. Silence followed again. “What do you mean we never asked?” Sanemi barked. Giyuu tilted his head slightly.
“None of you asked if I was married,” he said plainly. “Or if I had a partner.” Shinobu stared at him for several long seconds before covering her face with one hand. “You know,” she sighed, “sometimes I truly cannot tell if you’re intelligent or hopeless.” Mitsuri leaned forward immediately, eyes sparkling with excitement. “How long have you been together?!”
“We’ve been together for two years,” Giyuu replied calmly. “We got married a year and a half ago.” Every single Hashira erupted at once.
“A YEAR AND A HALF?!”
“YOU DIDN’T TELL ANYONE?!”
“YOU GOT MARRIED?!”
“HOW DOES TOMIOKA EVEN PULL SOMEONE LIKE THAT?”
Giyuu frowned slightly at the yelling, clearly not understanding why everyone was acting so dramatic. “Again,” he said quietly once the noise died down enough, “none of you asked.” Sanemi looked seconds away from throwing himself into the nearest river. Meanwhile Mitsuri was already gushing about how romantic it all was, demanding to know details while Obanai reluctantly listened beside her.
Even Gyomei looked mildly surprised, though he smiled warmly after hearing how long the two of you had been together. Giyuu, however, simply stood there wondering why this had suddenly become everyone’s business.
A week later, the quiet warmth of Giyuu’s estate felt infinitely more peaceful than dealing with the other Hashira’s nonstop questions. The evening air drifted softly through the open shoji doors while lantern light flickered across the wooden floors, filling the home with a calm golden glow.
You sat across from Giyuu at the low dining table, a steaming cup of tea resting between your hands while he quietly served the last of the rice into your bowl. “So,” you said after taking a sip of tea, unable to hide your amusement, “I’m guessing they know now.” Giyuu sighed softly, though there was the faintest hint of embarrassment on his face. “Mitsuri saw us before your mission,” he admitted. “Then everyone started asking questions.”
You laughed quietly, shaking your head. “And here I thought we were subtle.” Giyuu looked at you for a moment before speaking again. “Apparently not.” The deadpan seriousness in his voice made you laugh harder, and for a brief second Giyuu’s lips twitched upward into a tiny smile. “Sanemi yelled for almost twenty minutes,” he added after a moment. “Shinobu called me hopeless.” “She’s not entirely wrong,” you teased. Giyuu gave you a mildly offended look while you grinned into your tea cup.
Dinner slowly turned into quiet conversation as the night deepened around you both. You told him about your mission and the villages you’d passed through while he listened carefully, occasionally asking soft questions whenever you skipped over an injury or dangerous detail too quickly. In return, he told you about the chaos the Hashira had caused all week after learning he was married, and you nearly choked on your tea imagining Tengen loudly demanding wedding details while Mitsuri cried over how sweet it all sounded. “They want to meet you properly,” Giyuu said eventually, setting his tea cup down. “Though I think some of them still don’t fully believe I’m capable of having a husband.” You snorted softly. “That’s because you glare at people like a wounded stray cat.”
“I do not.”
“You absolutely do.”
By the time the two of you finally went to bed, the estate had gone completely silent around you. Crickets chirped softly outside while moonlight spilled faintly through the paper windows, painting pale silver across the room. Giyuu lay beside you beneath the blankets, one arm loosely wrapped around your waist while you rested comfortably against his chest.
Even after two years together, moments like this still felt precious—quiet, safe, untouched by the violence waiting outside the estate walls. “Welcome home,” Giyuu murmured sleepily against your hair, his voice barely above a whisper. Your chest tightened warmly at the words. “It’s good to be home,” you answered softly.
Sometime later in the night, you woke slowly to the sound of rain beginning outside. For a few moments you simply lay there in the darkness, listening to the soft rhythm against the roof while Giyuu slept beside you. His breathing was calm and steady, his expression far softer in sleep than it ever was during the day. Without the usual guarded look in his eyes, he looked peaceful—gentle, even. You couldn’t help smiling faintly as you brushed a few strands of dark hair away from his face.
“You’re too pretty,” you whispered quietly, knowing he was asleep and wouldn’t hear you anyway.
Giyuu shifted slightly at the touch but didn’t wake, only pulling you a little closer unconsciously. Warm affection flooded your chest so strongly it almost hurt.
Carefully leaning forward, you pressed a soft kiss against his forehead before settling back against him again, letting your hand rest over his heartbeat. The rain continued outside, steady and calming, while Giyuu held you close even in his sleep. Safe in his arms, you slowly drifted back to sleep beside your husband.
𝔗𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔦𝔞𝔩 𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔠𝔱
Leon Kennedy (RE2,RE4,RE9) x male reader
Summary: inside the ruined R.P.D. together with your long crush best friend, time fractures and Leon keeps finding you. Younger, older, hardened by years you haven’t lived yet, every version of him seeming to have a deep and intimate connection. Soon, once all three counterparts come into contact, protectiveness from each one of them sharpens into possession and than in a heated, unspoken competition, each of them determined to prove they know you better, can make you unravel faster.
Tags: No use of Y/N. Male reader. Older men. Age gap. Top and dominant Leon Kennedy. Resident evil 2 Leon. Resident evil 4 remake Leon. Resident evil Requiem Leon. Implied established relationship. Implied marriage. Protective behavior. Possessive behavior. Jealousy. Anal sex. Blowjob. Riding. Hand job. Overstimulation. Cum inflation. Multiple penetration. Overstimulation. Triple penetration.
gif - gif - gif
ℳ𝒶𝓈𝓉ℯ𝓇𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉
Words count: 8000
The R.P.D. lobby felt cavernous but not from its size but rather for the lack of survivors or police force, leaving behind a hollow silence that pressed faintly against your ears.
Dust hung everywhere, faintly visible in the dim, fractured light filtering through high windows and the marble floors were now streaked with grime and darker stains you refused to examine too closely.
Leaning back against one of the wooden desks, edge digging faintly into your lower spine through the layers of your gear, arms wrapped tightly across your chest. The tactical vest felt heavier with its straps that snug across your shoulders.
Your fingers tucked under your arms, gripping your sleeves, more for something to hold than warmth.
Leon stood a few steps away, hands raised slightly as he adjusted his own vest, tugging at the straps and outlining the firm lines beneath in a way that was hard not to notice even in a situation like this and his brows furrowed as he glanced around, blue eyes wide with disbelief and tension.
“This place is completely empty,” he muttered, voice echoing.
Tilting your head back slightly, eyes half-lidded as they stared toward the ceiling for a moment before answering.
“Considering what’s happening outside,” you muttered, shifting your weight and glancing toward the shuttered entrance, “I’m not surprised.”
Your gaze drifted back to him, watching the way his jaw tightened just a fraction as he processed that.
“We should check if anyone’s still here,” you added after a beat, pushing yourself off the desk just slightly. “This is where we were supposed to start, right? First day.”
There was something faintly bitter about the way the words landed.
Leon nodded quickly, almost reflexively. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right.”
His attention shifted toward the gate leading to the est side of the station, shoulders squaring just a bit in instinctive readiness.
He stepped closer, eyes scanning the mechanism and you followed more slowly, arms dropping from your chest as you approached.
His fingers hovering near the big red button there and, when he pressed it, the mechanism groaned to life with a grinding sound that echoed down the hallway beyond.
The gate began to lift, slow and uneven, metal scraping faintly as it rose just enough to create a narrow gap before it abruptly stopped.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Irritation in your tone flaring sharper than you expected.
Leon lowered himself down onto the floor without hesitation despite the dark smears that streaked across the tiles, metallic and stale smell hitting faintly.
He didn’t seem to care, or maybe he was just better at pushing it aside.
Lying flat, he angled his body toward the gap, one arm stretching forward as he clicked on his flashlight, the beam cutting into the darkness beyond.
You should have been focused on that but, instead, your gaze betrayed you as it dropped and lingered.
The vest hugged his back and stretched over defined lines of broad but not bulky shoulders.
Leon shifted, then quickly pulled himself back from the gap, pushing up onto one knee.
“I’m gonna check it out,” he said, lowering the flashlight slightly as he looked up at you. “There might be people down there.”
“What?” The response came out sharper than intended as you dropped down to one knee yourself, instinct kicking in. “No—no, I’m coming with you.”
Angling yourself toward the opening, ready to follow him through the narrow space despite the mess and smell. “I’m not letting you go alone.”
For a split second, surprise flickered across his face along something softer underneath it that made his eyes warm.
He reached out before you could move further, his hand settling on your shoulder.
It wasn’t rough or forceful, warm even through the layers of fabric.
“Hey,” he said, voice dropping just a little, gentler, like he was trying to ease you rather than argue. His thumb shifted slightly where it rested, the corners of his mouth lifted to form a small.
“I’ll be back in no time,” he continued, his tone carrying that quiet confidence that made it hard to argue, even when you wanted to. “You stay here, alright? If anyone comes in, they’re gonna need someone to help them.”
His hand squeezed your shoulder lightly before he pulled back.
And you hated how easily that look in his eyes unraveled your resolve.
So you nodded and watched him disappear through the narrow opening.
Time stretched as you tried to convince yourself that he’d be back any second.
It felt like hours had passed of barely shifting your weight, pacing a short line near the table to somehow make time move faster.
“Idiot,” you muttered under your breath, though whether it was directed at him or yourself wasn’t entirely clear.
Probably both.
Scrubbing a hand over your face, exhaling sharply as frustration coiled tighter in your chest.
All because, when he looked at you in that soft and earnest look, it felt… too good.
He wanted to protect you because you mattered to him.
That was the closest thing you were ever going to get, wasn’t it?
A hand on your shoulder, a promise he might not even be able to keep.
You bit the inside of your cheek, the sharp sting grounding just enough to break the spiral.
Enough.
Waiting wasn’t doing anything.
If he wasn’t coming back, you needed to find out why.
Turning on your heel and moving toward the lobby’s computer system, fingers moving quickly over the controls as you pulled up the camera feeds. The screens flickered to life one by one, each showing a different part of the station as you cycled through them, faster and faster, scanning for any sign of him.
Faint gunshots echoed through the speakers from one of the west side cameras.
You had trained for this, graduated alongside him and gone through the same drills and expectations.
That bright and determined smile will not be the last thing you’ll see of him.
Turning toward the taped gate, your eyes caught a knife half-hidden near the base.
Crouching and picking it up carefully before using the blade to slide under the tape with a satisfying rip, sound loud in the quiet lobby as you worked through the layers, peeling them away one by one until the controls were finally exposed.
A large red button sat at the center and, once pressed, the mechanism groaned, gate lifting steadily and fully without stopping.
Standing there for a second as the opening widened before stepping forward.
The room you forced your way into was smaller than you expected, more of a cramped connector than a proper office.
Gun forward and flashlight aligned just beneath it as you advanced, beam cutting clean lines through the dimness, illuminating overturned chairs and a smear of something dark dragged across the floor, breathing staying controlled even as your pulse pressed harder against your throat.
At the far end, a door that you already knew where it led with the map you’d studied moments ago burned into your mind, that long hallway stretching across the west side.
Your hand reached for the handle slowly, fingers tightening just slightly before you turned it.
Rather than rapidly invading the room, you shifted to the side, pressing your back lightly against the wall as you pushed the door open to create a narrow angle, your head tilting so you could peek through first, minimizing your profile the way you’d been taught.
Two figures at the far end of the hallway, slumped awkwardly against the wall, head tilted at an unnatural angle, skin pale in the weak wash of moonlight spilling through a distant window.
Your breath caught at closer look on the other one.
Even in partial shadow and the distortion of low light, your heart recognized Leon immediately.
Pushing the door open wider and stepping in, feet quiet against the floor as you approached, closing the distance carefully until you were no more than ten feet away.
He was kneeling near the body of a cop, from the look of the uniform, sprawled across the tiles and as your boot made the faintest sound against the ground Leon moved insanely quick, surging up from his kneeling position in one fluid, coiled motion, pivoting sharply as his arm snapped up, handgun already aligned with your center mass while his flashlight flared directly into your face, blinding in its intensity.
“Don’t—!” The word cut sharp and rough, far more hardened than the voice you had heard in the lobby.
Everything about him was different, stance much tighter and efficient, the way he held the gun was fluid and practiced under pressure.
The jacket he had on hit you first.
A thick B-3 bomber, shearling lining spilling out at the collar in pale, dense curls that brushed against his neck.
Scuffs marked the surface, subtle creases worn into the leather.
Beneath it, his frame was… bigger.
Not just lean like you had always seen him, but built. Arms filling the sleeves, faint strain across his chest when he shifted his aim.
His hair was slightly longer, falling just enough to frame his face differently.
But his eyes were still blue and unmistakably his, cold at first.
Recognition morphed his features as tension in his shoulders faltered and his gaze locked onto your face.
His gun lowered, flashlight dipping with it, no longer blinding you but instead casting a softer glow that revealed his expression fully now.
Not just recognition swarmed his face, something warmer as well came in that settled low in your chest.
“You’re here too, Babe?” He said, voice rougher than anything you’d ever heard from him before.
Heat flooded your face instantly, sudden and overwhelming, brain stumbling over itself trying to process that along with everything else.
“What?” Your eyes narrowed despite the warmth creeping up your neck. “Leon, what are you talking about? We came in here together.”
That only made his confusion deepen, brows pulling together, gaze flicking around the hallway as his jaw tightened, like every inch of this place held memories you couldn’t see but he could feel pressing in on him.
Your gaze broke from his haunted one, dragging instead toward the cop with his jaw completely torn on the side and hanging awkwardly, his head lolled back against the wall.
“Did you see who—” You swallowed hard, forcing the bile back down but stopped talking after seeing Leon’s attention fixed upward, body tense again in focused attention.
There were a jagged hole in the ceiling before something too large and wrong, tipped with elongated claw-like fingers, erupted from it.
An inhuman shriek split the air, vibrating through your bones as the thing pulled itself into view.
Its body was flayed, muscle exposed in slick, glistening strands that stretched and contracted as it moved, skin entirely absent as if peeled away to reveal the anatomy beneath. Its head was made of an exposed brain that pulsed faintly, vulnerable and yet somehow more horrifying for it.
A long tongue snaked outside of his mouth as it crawled forward with unnatural speed.
Leon’s large and gloved hand found yours.
“Yeah,” he muttered, already pulling you with him, pace immediate and urgent as he dragged you down the hallway. “Because one nightmare wasn’t enough.”
His tone was dry, edged with a sharp sarcastic bite that felt completely out of place.
You stumbled slightly trying to keep up, grip tightening on your gun as your feet scrambled to match his speed, the world blurring at the edges as adrenaline surged and from behind that tongue lashed out.
A violent tug came at your back as it latched onto your uniform, fabric stretching and tearing as the force yanked hard, ripping away fully your gears and layers beneath, the sudden exposure sending a sharp chill across your skin as the creature lost its grip just as quickly.
Leon didn’t let you go until he hit hard two doors, bursting through with brute force as they slammed open and dragging you inside with him in one continuous motion.
Soon after he pulled you in his arms, back colliding with his chest in a solid impact.
The thickness of his chest pressed against you through the layers acting like a pillow, pecs firm and broad, rising and falling with controlled breaths that you could feel against your back. Beneath that, even through the tight shirt, there was no mistaking the defined strength of his torso.
This was not the same Leon you’ve known for many years, not even close.
His arm wrapped around your chest, bicep thick and swelling as they locked you in place against him as his other hand raised the gun again, aiming past you toward the doorway just as the creature dropped down.
One shot and the bullet precisely struck its exposed brain with a wet impact, the shriek it let out was high-pitched and furious before it skittered back, retreating with unnatural speed.
Leon moved fast, pulling away just long enough to slam the doors shut, grabbing a chair and jamming it under the handle as guttural groans from zombies echoed from the other side.
Heavy banging followed relentlessly.
Adrenaline faded away and your legs crashed all at once, dropping you to the ground as the reality of everything hit in a dizzying wave.
Before you could fully process it he was there, kneeling in front of you.
“Hey…hey,” his hand came up to cradle your cheek, large and warm, thumb brushing lightly against your skin in a way that felt impossibly gentle and intimate. “Babe, look at me.”
“What year is it?” he asked.
The question, like everything else happening, hit wrong.
“1998,” you answered, confusion twisting tighter as the pounding on the door grew louder. “Why are you asking me that?”
Something shifted in his eyes in understanding.
Without another word, he shrugged off his jacket quickly and draped it around your shoulders, pulling it snug around you with careful hands, fingers brushing against your arms as he adjusted it.
It was warm and soft on the inside, shearling lining cushioning against your skin, scent of leather and his wrapped all around your frame.
“There we go,” his lips quivered slightly as he muttered, almost to himself. “You always like to take it from me. Still cute.”
The chair behind him shifted as it toppled over once the doors burst open, two figures stumbling in, decayed and groaning.
Leon moved instantly up on his feet, gun raised and the first shot snapped clean through one of their skulls, impact jerking its head back as it staggered.
He didn’t wait, closing the distance in a flash, knife in hand, so similar to yours it made your breath hitch, and drove it into the creature’s neck with brutal precision before pivoting sharply.
His leg came up in a powerful roundhouse kick that connected solidly with the second zombie’s head, force snapping it sideways as it collapsed.
“Go,” he said, voice sharp and commanding without even looking back at you when he spoke. “I’ll catch up.”
Reluctantly you followed his command and the door on the other side gave way under your hand with a reluctant creak, hinges whining low and the moment the gap widened enough for your body to slip through, the air changed.
Another hallway narrower than the last. Two doors sat on either side, one to your right the other on the left, both shut tight, undead police officers lurked further down the corridor.
Three or maybe four of them. One brushed against the wall with a dull thud, leaving behind a smear that caught the weak light while another let out a wet groan that echoed enough to make the space feel smaller.
Your heart hammered so hard it felt like it might give you away on its own, each pulse loud in your ears, drowning out everything else for a second as your mind raced.
Fingers tightening around your handgun, familiar weight grounding you enough to push past the spike of panic clawing up your spine.
You lifted the weapon slowly, arms steady despite the tremor trying to creep in, lining up your shot on the nearest one.
One trigger and the muzzle flashed in a brief burst of red-orange light for a split second before the bullet hit clean, tearing through rotted flesh and bone.
Zombie’s head burst open as the body collapsed instantly, crumpling to the ground in a lifeless heap that twitched once before going still.
A high and piercing screech followed down the hallway, claws scraping fast on concrete until the Licker came into view above like some grotesque parody of a spider.
Its brain pulsed, fully exposed, shifting slightly with each tilt of its head to listen and figure out where the noise came from.
Engaging that thing with the amount of ammo you had left was suicide.
So you moved slowly with agonizing care, boots barely whispering against the floor as you edged along the hallway, gun still raised but your finger easing off the trigger.
A low, clicking sound left its throat, tongue twitching faintly between rows of jagged teeth, tasting the air and searching.
Almost there at the other side of the hallway, a sudden bang on the window shattered everything.
Your head snapped toward the source instinctively, eyes widening as you caught glass exploding inward as a zombie forced its way through, collapsing into the hallway in a mess of limbs and broken shards, a guttural groan tearing from its throat as it dragged itself forward.
Above you the Licker froze, its entire body snapped toward the noise with terrifying speed, attention locking instantly onto the new arrival and moved fast.
It dropped from the ceiling and landed directly onto the zombie with a crushing impact, claws sinking deep as it let out a shriek, claws ripping through decayed flesh.
It was right in front of you blocking your path completely.
Behind a groan came and you turned sharply just in time to see another zombie lunge forward, arms outstretched as, in turn, it grabbed the Licker’s attention.
This was it, your grip tightened on your gun, breath catching as you braced for impact.
Something moved fast from behind the zombie, soon followed by a wet, slicing noise from an hatchet that pierced the back of the zombie’s skull, bursting through bone and rotten flesh in a spray of viscous blood as the creature’s body jerked violently, head tilting upward in a final motion.
For a second all you saw was the hand wrapped tight around the metal handle, veins faintly visible beneath the skin, grip steady and controlled.
Then he stepped forward fully into view and twisted in a brutal 180-degree turn of the wrist along the blade that followed, head coming off clean and body dropping in a useless heap as the hatchet came free.
Behind you, the Licker snarled, dragging your attention back and instincts screaming as your gun came up again, finger tightening on the trigger but he moved first.
Stepping in front of you and for a moment all you could see was a broad and solid back that filled your vision, a tight black shirt clinging to him and stretched across wide shoulders.
They rolled slightly as he adjusted his stance, the motion slow and controlled that made the muscles beneath that shirt ripple.
The Licker’s tongue attacked fast as a whip but he reacted faster, hatchet intercepting the strike mid-air and not only pairing it, but fully slicing the tongue.
It hit the ground writhing, twitching violently like a snake and the creature let out a shriek of pure agony, stumbling back as both of its clawed hands came up toward its ruined mouth, movements almost human in their panic.
“Follow me.” His voice, just like the last figure you met, felt familiar in a way that hit somewhere deep in your chest, even if your mind couldn’t place it yet with how much rougher it was.
He moved forward, closing the distance in two quick strides before driving his boot up straight into the exposed brain.
The impact was brutal, forcing the creature on the ground for him to bury the hatchet deep, infected blood spilling out around it in heavy, dark rivulets before he ripped it free in one clean motion.
“Move.”
Up the stairs, your legs barely keeping pace with him as he led the way without hesitation like he knew every inch of this place.
The upper floor opened into another corridor, steam already hissing somewhere ahead, thick clouds spilling out and blocking the path entirely except, he didn’t stop, swinging the hatchet against metal that gave way under repeated strikes, damaged pipe bursting further as the pressure shifted, steam redirecting, clearing just enough space for him to push through.
You hesitated just for a second before a gurgle from a zombie cut through the air that gave reasons to your legs to move past the showers and around the corner just in time to see him drive a punch into a zombie’s spine, forcing it down before that hatchet came down again, ending it with the same efficiency.
He checked behind him again rapidly still not seeing your face with how dark the hallway was.
The door at the end opened into a small room with bright light and the statue of a gazelle right at the center.
His gaze lingered on it, something unreadable passing through his expression before he turned to the creaking of the door.
“You the only survivor in h—” The question came out low and rough before he stopped, pupils tightening before widening again.
“…No,” he exhales under his breath, barely audible. His grip tightens slightly around the hatchet.
The same reaction erupted on your face as well at seeing Leon again, though much older. His face carried lines that hadn’t been there before, jaw stronger and scruffy with the stubble that decorated it. Same hairstyle but slightly longer, falling just enough to frame eyes that were duller now.
And his body was bigger by the look of that dark shirt stretched across his chest, arms thicker, veins faintly visible beneath skin.
Aged like fine wine didn’t even begin to cover it.
“…Alright,” he breathed, more composed now, though the roughness hasn’t left his voice. “Either I finally lost it or something’s seriously wrong.”
His eyes flick briefly around the room before turning and walking outside straight into the library, waiting for this nightmare to end immediately.
What else could you do beside following him?
The vast space had shelves towering high the more you got closer to them, filled with books and an atmosphere that seemed almost normal despite the hell outside.
Of which you got immediately reminded of when something cold and rotten grabbed your leg.
A corpse on the floor jerked to life, fingers tightening that didn’t get far as Leon’s (?) foot came down hard, crushing the skull as his weight pressed into it fully, thick muscles of his thigh flexing with the motion, muscle tightening under the fabric as he applied more pressure, grinding the remains into the floor before pulling back, wiping his shoe clean in one smooth motion.
“You really haven’t changed,” he said, a hint of dry amusement threading through his voice now. “Still walking into trouble, sweetheart.”
Heat flared up your neck instantly.
“What do you—”
From behind him there was movement done stealthily so well you’ve only now registered it, knife already raised and angled for a clean slice across the throat.
The older Leon in front of you didn’t needed a warning, arm suddenly wrapping and tightening around your waist as that large bicep locked in and dragged you alongside him, body pulled flush against his side as he pivoted sharply out of the attack’s path.
The knife cut through empty air where his neck had been a fraction of a second earlier before charging again and his hatchet came up, both hands bracing it for control.
Metal met metal with a biting clang fore his leg snapped forward to send a brutal kick to the attacker’s chest, forceful enough to send the man flying back into a stack of old books that collapsed under him in a cascade of dust and paper, sound loud in the enclosed space followed by a grunt.
Your eyes snapped to the Leon who gave you his jacket as he recovered with frightening speed, already pushing himself up and reaching for his weapon, bicep viewable from the short sleeved compression shirt he had on bulging in the process.
“Back off,” he said, voice tight and restrained. “Leave him alone. Now.”
A protective tone that hit harder than the gun pointed forward.
Another sound of a safety disengaging followed and all three heads in the room turned towards it.
Your Leon, one you had walked into this nightmare with, with his Matilda raised in both hands, stance just a little too stiff and textbook compared to the others, but his aim didn’t waver as he pointed it at both of them.
“D-don’t move!” he ordered in a firm voice, blue eyes not scanning tactically but locked specifically on the hand at your waist, gaze lingering there a second too long, jaw tightening just slightly, fingers adjusting on the grip of his gun like he needed something to ground himself before his eyes flicked back up.
“Let him go,” he added, quieter but more pointed.
The arm around you tightened as he pulled you back against him by a fraction, spine brushing his solid chest.
“M’not keeping him hostage,” he said dryly, tone edged with something almost amused, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “‘Sides… M’not the one waving a gun around.”
Your Leon’s grip flexed as a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes and you shouted his name the moment you saw the movement near him from the one now jacketless who closed the distance in a blur, his hand snapping up to knock the gun off its aim.
A shot rang out loud, slamming somewhere into the shelves above as the weapon was forced upward and, in the same motion, he disarmed him completely, twisting the gun free before shoving him hard to the ground.
“Shit—!” You broke free without thinking to rush forward and drop to your knees beside him.
“Leon are you okay?!” Up close he looked worse than when you left him, dirt smeared across his uniform, streaks of grime and something darker along his sleeves, hair slightly disheveled and breathing heavier.
“Are you okay?” he asked instead, voice tight with concern, scanning you quickly. “Did they—did they hurt you?”
“Why would I hurt my boyfriend?” A low, almost amused voice cut in, dry in disbelief while the figure extracted the magazine of the Matilda.
“What?” The man right next to you snapped, pushing himself up quickly, anger bleeding into his tone as he turned toward the speaker.
“What the hell are you talking about—” Arm moving before he seemed to think about it and wrapping around your waist to pull you back toward him, firm enough that you felt the way his bicep tightened against your side, holding you close.
The other Leon juggling a knife in hand tilted his head slightly, watching him with an expression that bordered on entertained while the hatchet-wielder leaned casually against a desk, dragging a sharpening stone along its edge in strokes that sent small sparks of orange flickering in the dim light.
“Relax,” he muttered, voice carrying that same rough, worn edge, though there was something almost nostalgic in it now. “You’ll get there.”
The younger one’s grip on you tightened slightly.
“Get where?” he shot back.
The man with the hatchet didn’t look up immediately, continuing the motion, metal against stone, the rhythm steady.
“Still before the train, huh,” the other Leon in a tight compression shirt and knife in hand said, almost to himself, though it was loud enough for all of you to hear. “Our first time together.”
Words loaded with meaning as he looked at you almost dreamily and it made heat spike through your chest.
The older one just huffed quietly, finally glancing up with something knowing in his expression.
“Yeah,” he added, almost fondly, as another spark jumped from the blade. “I remember that.”
Heat, heavy and dizzying, crawled under your skin under those six blue eyes, each a different shade but all carrying hunger locked onto you.
The much older one had pushed you on top of the first desk available with a quiet grunt, hatchet set aside without a second thought as his attention settled fully on you.
“Still got that same look… every time.” He murmured, voice a gruff baritone while his gaze dragged and took in every detail
Everything happened too fast.
The one near your age had his grip on your waist now, tightening like he was grounding himself before he let instinct take over. His fingers slid under the edge of that jacket still draped over your frame currently displayed on the desk for the three men around, brushing your now bare skin in a way that was almost shy and hesitant compared to the others.
A gloved hand caught your chin, tilting and forcing your gaze to meet his forward. His thumb dragged slowly across your bottom lip, pressing enough to part it as his eyes darkened with amused.
“Didn’t think you’d look this good in my jacket even now,” he murmured, voice dipping lower, teasing, that familiar edge of cocky charm sharpened into something far more dangerous.
The same culprit who took pleasure at slicing away the remaining of your clothes with his precise experience with that knife.
Your stomach flipped at the sensation of blunt and wide fingers pressing in with a knowing confidence that made your breath stutter, his chest brushing your back as he leaned in enough for his stubble to graze your neck.
“Easy,” he muttered against your skin, lips ghosting over the spot right below your ear before his teeth caught lightly in a teasing bite. “We’ve got time… gonna make sure you can take it.”
Slowly, one thick finger invaded your hole and the stretch came immediate, his other hand coming around your front to wrap around your now exposed cock at the same time.
Body jolting as his grip tightened, thumb brushing over the tip, spreading the first slick hint of precome just his finger curled inside you, realizing how he knew exactly where to press.
“Still this tight,” he hummed, voice coarse with approval, breath hot against your neck as his pace stayed slow but purposeful.
Your head fell forward as all your muscles relaxed to get through this and that was all the invitation the other two needed.
Knife-welding-Leon took the moment your mouth gasped in need of more oxygen and claimed it hard, lips crashing into yours with confidence that stole the remaining supplies of oxygen right out of your lungs, tongue pushing past instantly, claiming space and exploring deep with a low groan that vibrated straight inside your mouth.
Hand staying on your face and holding you in place as his tongue fought against yours, going deeper and more insistent to savor everything.
Behind that another thick intrusion came together the already existing one, thick fingers scissoring slowly, stretching you with patience and devoted work.
His thumb pressed harder against your cock now, stroking in a steady rhythm that matched the curl of his fingers inside.
Your body didn’t know where to focus as pleasure sparked everywhere, overlapped and built from each touch feeding into the next until it felt like your nerves were short-circuiting.
“Christ…” the Leon assaulting your mouth muttered against your mouth, pulling back just enough for his lips to drag down your jaw, teeth grazing your skin.
Your Leon was observing you like you were something fragile and fascinating all at once, hands moving slower than the others at first, careful and exploring on unknown territory unlike his other two counterparts.
They slid up your sides, fingertips brushing over your abdomen, lips following his hands, pressing hesitant kisses along your stomach, each one lingering just a second longer than the last.
Your hips twitched, body leaning into him without thinking and it that was all it took as a shift in his expression came in focus and determination.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered before his mouth moved lower, kissing down your abdomen when a hiss passed through clenched teeth the moment a third finger pushed in.
The sound got swallowed instantly as RE4 Leon pulled you back into another kiss, deeper and rougher, tongue shaking against yours as his hand slid down to your waist, gripping tighter.
Older Leon groaned low at the sound you made.
“Yeah… That’s what I wanted to hear.” He muttered, pace picking up just slightly, fingers driving deeper, curling harder and hitting your prostate again and again until your legs trembled from the assault on that bundle of nerves.
“Gonna take all of us like this?” he added, stubble scratching along your neck as he spoke, lips brushing over the marks already forming there. “Lookin’ this pretty…all worked up already…”
Their presence surrounding you completely, every direction you moved there was one of them as hard things brushed against you, insistingly reminding you constantly of what was coming next.
Leon forward you ground against your hip subtly, breath hitching into your mouth as he deepened the kiss again, tongue sliding slower now, thick tent in his pants stabbing you with more effects than a knife ever could.
Behind you, older Leon’s arousal pressed heavy against your lower back every time his fingers pushed deeper, control slipping enough to let you feel how much he wanted this.
And your Leon shifted closer, his bulge pressing against your side as his lips finally dipped lower, right below your navel.
Warmth spreads through you instantly.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” he murmured softly, even as his hands slid up to your chest, fingers brushing over your nipples experimentally before pressing, rolling them between his fingers.
You gasped again and he froze for just a second before his expression shifted into something quietly thrilled.
“Okay… you like that.” He whispered almost breathless before doing it again, more confidently this time.
“‘Course he does,” older Leon behind muttered, a smirk in his voice as his fingers pumped deeper, faster now, thumb still stroking your cock in sync. “Been paying attention, rookie?”
The loss of those fingers working you open made you whine.
“Yeah… you’re ready,” hatchet-wielding-Leon muttered, his hand coming down to pat your ass.
The loud sound of zippers followed and you shivered in anticipation, immense pressure from a clothed bulge pressing against your gaping hole.
“Don’t tense up,” he added, voice softer now—but no less intense. “Or I’ll have to take my time breakin’ you in myself.”
The one in front of you leaned in, hand sliding over your shoulder, squeezing once.
“Nah, he doesn’t want your old ass,” he murmured close to your lips, voice confident and teasing as his hand moved to your face again, softer now, thumb brushing your lip as he held your gaze.
“C’mon,” he whispered, voice taking a husky edge to it. “Tell ’em you want me first.”
Body moving with importance to the heart as you shifted and presented yourself fully to your Leon before drifting back to the surprise but aroused slightly older version.
A satisfied smile spread across his lips as his hand cradled your face and guided you down until your lips hovered just in front of that big bulge.
“Keep me busy while I wait my turn,” he added, voice low, amused, thumb pressing gently against your lip again. “Yeah?”
One moment you were trembling, stretched open and aching, every nerve lit up from the way older Leon had worked you apart, the next a different pressure followed.
He didn’t push in all at once, especially now, there was carefulness in him always present when it came to you. His hands found your hips first, fingers spreading wide, gripping just enough to steady you as he lined himself up behind.
“Tell me if it’s too much, okay?” He murmured, voice lower than you’d ever heard it, roughened by want but still threaded with that unmistakable sincerity.
He started to push in and God, the first inch alone stole the air from your lungs.
A gasp tore out of you, sharp and helpless, your body instinctively tightening around him as the blunt head of his cock pressed inside, stretching in a way that felt entirely different from the fingers that had prepared you.
He eased forward inch by inch, length sliding deeper into you with a steady, controlled pressure that made your entire body tremble around him as that solid weight filled and warned you up gradually.
“God…” he breathed, the word barely there, head dipping forward slightly, forehead almost brushing your shoulder as he focused on the feeling. “You feel really good..”
Another inch and your back arched as a broken sound left your throat.
It was overwhelming in the best possible way, body struggling to adjust as he sank deeper until he bottomed out.
A small pull back followed by a push forward again.
And that was worse, body reacting instantly, a sharp gasp tearing from your mouth as the movement dragged along every sensitive nerve inside.
The Leon in front of you was watching but waiting as well and, once you did remembered the other presence who you were now entirely sure was the same man currently balls deep inside, your trembling hands moved, reaching for the front of his jacket, then lower, finding the last barrier between you and what you’d been staring at this entire time.
“Go on,” he murmured, voice low and amused as his hand came up to cradle your cheek. “Been thinkin’ about it this whole time, haven’t you?”
Your fingers fumbled slightly with the fabric before finding purchase and pulled.
Fuck, he was hung.
Thick and heavy cock springing free, already flushed and leaking, head glistening under the light.
“Like what you see?” he asked, smirk tugging at his lips.
A question your mouth answered, leaning forward, closing the distance, lips parting as you took him in, tongue dragging along the underside as you guided him deeper, lips stretching around him until you sank down fully, nose brushing his skin as your throat adjusted around his length.
He sucked in a sharp breath.
“Fuck…” he groaned, his hand instantly coming to the back of your head. “There it is…”
You swallowed around him and that broke him in a way. “Yeah…yeah, just like that,” he muttered, voice rough and strained, his hips twitching forward instinctively before he caught himself. “You’re—shit—you’re still perfect at this.”
Behind your Leon groaned at the sight of your throat bulging around his older counterpart’s member, hands tightening on your hips again as his thrusts deepened.
Each push drove him fully into you, length dragging along your walls in a steady rhythm that made your body jolt forward and take more of the cock in your mouth without meaning to.
The connection clicked.
Every thrust from behind pushed you forward onto Leon, mouth forced to take him deeper, throat tightening reflexively around him as his grip in your hair tightened slightly in response.
“Fuck—” he groaned, watching you closely now, his breathing uneven. “Taking both of us like that… you trying to kill me?”
His hands slid up your body, one of them coming to your chest, fingers brushing over your skin in a soft, grounding motion as he watched you carefully.
“Is this okay?” The one behind you asked, voice strained but still so gentle, even now. “You’re— you’re not—”
You moaned around the cock in your mouth.
That was your answer.
“…okay,” he breathed, confidence shifting in his tone, maybe, or just the realization that you wanted this as much as he did.
His thrusts picked up, each one rolling his hips forward just right, dragging against your prostate repeatedly until your legs trembled harder, grip on the table tightening.
In front of you, Leon lost the last bit of restraint.
“Yeah… Take it just like that!” His hips started to move too, meeting your mouth halfway, cock sliding in and out between your lips in sync with the way you were being fucked from behind.
Your Leon leaned closer, chest pressing against your back as his hot breath came against your shoulder.
“You feel so good,” he whispered, almost like he couldn’t believe it, his voice breaking slightly as his pace faltered—then surged again. “I can’t—I can’t stop…”
In front—
“Don’t,” RE4 Leon shot back instantly, a breathless laugh mixing into his voice. “Trust me, he doesn’t want you to.”
Your body proved it as every thrust pulled another sound from you, cock twitching in overstimulation, but not forgotten as a hand wrapped around it suddenly.
“Don’t think I’m sittin’ this out,” he muttered against your ear, voice low and dangerous as his grip tightened just enough to make your hips jerk. “Go on… let go.”
Everything hit at once as a broken sound vibrated around the cock in your throat as you came hard, cock pulsing in his hand as release spilled over your stomach in hot bursts.
The sensation of your throat tightening pushing the one clogging your throat over the edge right after, grip tightening in your hair as he thrust deep one last time, spilling his load into your mouth with a low, strained sound.
Behind your Leon followed, a choked gasp leaving him as he buried himself fully inside you, hips pressing flush against yours as he came, warmth flooding deep inside.
Your body felt like it had been wrung out and put back together wrong, every nerve still buzzing, muscle weak, breath only just beginning to steady as the world slowly stopped spinning around you.
Yet, you were still painfully hard as a quiet, shaky breath left you, hand lifting to find its way to broad, familiar shoulders next to you, firm enough to communicate what your body couldn’t say out loud right away.
A low, knowing huff left him.
“Yeah… figured,” he muttered under his breath, voice rough but edged with that dry humor that never quite left him.
He shifted easily under your touch, turning and sitting back against the table in one smooth motion as you climbed into his lap, body sinking down onto his thick thighs, the heat of him immediately seeping into your skin.
Solid muscle beneath really told you how big he was, legs falling to either side of his hips and his huge tent nudged against your ass, heavy and insistent, blunt heat of it dragging slightly against your oversensitive skin.
A deep groan rumbled out of him instantly and you leaned closer once recovering, voice almost vulnerable.
“Did we… stay together for all those years?”
His grip on your hips loosened slightly, one hand lifting, fingers flexing like he was debating something before deciding and pulling his glove off, holding his hand up just enough for you to see a ring.
“…yeah,” he muttered, glancing at it briefly before his gaze flicked back up to you, a small, crooked smirk pulling at his lips. “Guess I was dumb enough to put up with you every day of my life.”
Sarcasm dry and familiar buy those duller blue eyes softened completely when he saw the happiness on your face that bloomed there before you could even try to hide it.
That was all you needed, leaning in to kiss him, stubble scratching against your jaw rough.
Then his hands tightened on your hips again and he moved you up enough to line himself.
“C’mon,” he muttered against your lips, breath warm, voice dipping lower. “You know the drill.”
He guided you down slowly, body tensing instinctively as the head of his cock pressed against your already slick and stretched opening.
The remnants of the others still coating you, making the slide smoother and easier.
Your mouth fell open as you sank down inch by inch, your hands tightening on his shoulders as your body adjusted again to his size.
“Fuck…” he grunted low, head dropping forward slightly, grip firm but controlled as he guided you.
He bottomed out and felt him pressed deep inside, so far in it almost felt like he was in your stomach, his heartbeat faint but real where your bodies connected.
Whimpering softly and he exhaled sharply at the sound.
“Always take me so good like you were made for it,” he muttered, voice roughening further, hands sliding slightly along your hips, thumbs pressing into your skin as you started to ride him.
Slow and weak at first, legs trembling as you lifted yourself just barely before dropping back down, motion dragging his cock along your walls.
But you didn’t have the strength.
“Easy,” he murmured, large biceps wrapping around your frame to pull you closer, chest pressed against his as he took over.
His thighs tensed beneath you, hands guiding your hips as he started moving you himself, lifting you up, then pulling you back down.
Each movement angled just right, hips tilting slightly to meet you every time, cock brushing against your prostate over and over until your head fell into the crook of his neck, your breath breaking into soft, helpless moans.
His pace didn’t falter, only getting stronger, breathing growing heavier against your skin as he kept you exactly where he wanted, pace picking up.
All until another presence came between your legs.
The other Leon older than you stepped in close, sliding between your spread thighs as you sat in his older counterpart’s lap, cock already hard again as it nudged against your entrance.
Older Leon stilled you instantly, holding you down firmly on his cock as his other hand came up to steady your hip.
“Hold on,” he muttered, glancing down briefly before looking back up at him.
“Relax,” the one about to join shot back. “I know what I’m doing.”
He pushed in, slow and careful, body of yours stretching again, a sharp gasp tearing from your throat as the second intrusion pressed inside alongside the first, walls straining and adjusting on both of them at once.
“Fuck—” you choked, your face pressing into older Leon’s jaw as your body trembled violently.
“Yeah… breathe,” older Leon murmured, his hand coming up to cradle the back of your head, holding you close. “You can take it.”
In front Leon groaned low.
“God, you’re tight,” he muttered, his hands gripping your hips as he slowly worked himself deeper, inch by inch until he was fully seated as well. “Missed this…”
Your body felt impossibly full and overstimulated, every nerve screaming as they both started to move.
Behind them, your Leon stood still, watching in absolute horny surprise.
Your head turned slightly, voice breathy and wrecked as you called out.
“…Leon…”
He blinked like he’d been pulled out of a trance.
“…yeah,” he answered quietly, almost dazed as the other Leon reached back, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him closer.
“Don’t just stand there,” he muttered, amusement laced through his tone. “Make him pleased.”
Just like that he was pulled in closer.
A hand of RE4 Leon’s gripped your ass, spreading you slightly as a thick drip of cum slid down.
Then your body git stretched again by a third presence pressing in.
You cried out, body shaking violently as all three of them filled every inch of you.
They moved together than, hips snapping forward, pulling back, thrusting again as your body was used between them, lifted, held, moved exactly how they wanted.
Kisses pressed against your mouth and neck… teeth grazed your skin along with hands everywhere.
Your mind went blank completely, moans breaking apart into nothing but sound, body giving in completely as they took over, driving you higher and higher again despite how sensitive you already were.
Your body tensed violently as you came again, cock spilling across older Leon’s abs, entire body shaking uncontrollably as the sensation ripped through.
They followed one by one, groans and grunts echoing along bodies tensing, followed by an uncontainable amount of heat filling you.
So much your body struggled to contain it as they emptied themselves inside you, movements slowing but not stopping until every last bit was spent.
Synopsis: You need to travel to London for a few meetings with multiple clients on behalf of Stark Industries, Bucky gets assigned as your bodyguard
Tags: cute, fluff, smüt, bodyguard Bucky, smitten Bucky, protective Bucky, flirty Bucky, pining Bucky, fake/pretend relationship to actual lovers, top Bucky, bottom reader
Reader is Tony Stark’s adopted brother. No use of Y/N.
Normal human AU. Bodyguard AU
Author’s note at the end :)
————————————————————————
“Tony, I’ll only be there for a month. I think I’ll be fine on my own.”
You argued with your older brother, who wagged his finger at you condescendingly and it makes your jaw flex in annoyance.
Tony frowned. “Maybe if you were any other employee in the company but you are my brother and I can’t go with you so you’re gonna need your own security detail.”
“I’m in my thirties and I think you’re watching too many spy movies if you think someone’s going to sneak into my hotel room to kill me in my sleep.” You told Tony with a scoff.
Your way of thinking immediately backfired on you when Tony squinted at you. “You’re right little brother, I’ll have one of the bodyguards share the room with you so you’ll be safe at all times.”
Your face fell, your hands flexing at your sides from the frustration of you accidentally making your situation worse. “Tony this is ridiculous, I-“
“After what happened to our parents, you’re the only one I have left.” Tony interrupted you, making you shut your mouth before you could say anything else.
You worry your bottom lip, suddenly feeling sullen. “Dead parents card? That was a low blow.”
Tony stood up from his large desk, making his way around you before he enveloped you in a giant hug.
“If bringing up the deceased every now and then, keeps you safe than I’m all about it.” Tony told you before affectionately kissing the top of your head, making you laugh in his embrace.
You pushed at his chest, getting him off you as you rolled your eyes at your older brother’s overprotectiveness. “Okay enough of that. I’m assuming you’ve picked who’s on the security team?”
“Yep, I’ve got the finest there is. Also, a little eye candy for you.” Tony winked with a teasing tone, causing you to make a face at him.
You sighed, shaking your head. “I’m gonna ignore that and go home to pack up for the month.”
“The car will come get you tomorrow at exactly ten in the morning, Matt Murdock will be accompanying you for the trip.” Tony told you, making you nod in understanding.
You tilted your head at him with a soft smile. “Bye Tony, I’ll let you know once the plane lands tomorrow.”
“Bye little brother, come back to me in one piece please.” Tony replied, making you roll your eyes at him fondly before leaving his office to go home and pack.
~~~~~
James Buchanan Barnes, Benjamin Poindexter, Yelena Belova and John Walker were assigned as your and Matt’s bodyguards for the trip.
You almost laughed looking at the four of them, three dirty blonde haired individuals being lead by a brown haired man with steel blue eyes that locked in on you immediately once you were in his sight.
Something about the man’s stare sends a thrilling chill down your spine that you’re going to ignore for the sake of maintaining your professionalism, though you can’t help but notice the man’s rugged handsomeness at the same time.
“Mr Stark, Mr Murdock. My name is James Buchanan Barnes and I will be the head of your security detail for the rest of your trip in England.” The brown haired man tells you and Matt.
You nodded with a small smile. “Thank you, Mr Barnes.”
“Call me Bucky.” The other man immediately replied, getting weird looks from the rest of his team that he was blatantly ignoring.
“Umm,” You opened your mouth in surprise before nodding with an unsure smile. “Okay, Bucky.”
You turned to Matt, eyeing his suitcase next to him. The both of you were traveling with the others in a private jet so it was going to be a little difficult for Matt to carry his luggage while manoeuvring his way up the steps to the plane.
“Let me get that for you Matt.” You were about to bend down and grab the handle of Matt’s suitcase when another hand immediately jots out and snatches the suitcase from you.
You looked up with wide eyes to see Poindexter with Matt’s suitcase next to him, the blonde man smirking at Matt even though he knew Matt was obviously blind.
“I got you.” Poindexter says to Matt, Matt’s eyebrows raising up in surprise.
Matt’s grip on his walking stick tightens. “Oh. Thank you, Mr Poindexter.”
“Please, call me Dex.” The blonde man grinned before he let Matt’s hand grip his arm as the two of them went on ahead to the plane.
You eyed the two in amusement as you watched Matt go up into the plane with Dex’s help.
“I can help you with your suitcase.” Bucky said next to you, making you jump when you realised that you weren’t alone.
You let out a nervous laugh as you shook your head at him. “That’s okay, I got it. Thank you for offering.”
“Sure thing, let me know if you need any help.” Bucky smiled at you before you made your way up the plane, oblivious to Yelena and John questioning their leader to his abrupt change of behaviour around you.
For the rest of the flight, you sat next to Matt as he explained the legal side of the project that Tony wanted you to present to the possible future partner to Stark Industries.
Sometimes your eyes would drift to the other side of the plane where Bucky was sitting with his team, looking away with a blush when Bucky would catch you looking at him.
You sighed, it was going to be a long flight.
~~~~~
Much to your chagrin, Tony wasn’t joking when he had assigned a bodyguard to sleep in the same room as you.
You try not to overthink about the situation as Bucky checked every single spot and corner of the room, even going to the extent of opening the windows to see if anyone was possibly hanging outside on the ledges.
“All clear.” Bucky grunted out, making you nod at him before you opened your luggage to take your things out.
You inspected the clothes you were going to wear for all the meetings that you had to go to, pursing your lips when you realised that you had forgotten to pack some different coloured ties to go with some of your outfits.
You thought about just having one black tie for all your outfits but a small voice in the back of your mind said otherwise.
“Hey, who’s rooming up with Matt?” You turned to Bucky, seeing the man at his own bed unpacking.
Bucky tilted his head in thought. “I was going to assign Walker but Mr Murdock insisted on having Poindexter instead.”
“Of course he did.” You snorted to yourself already knowing Matt’s taste in men. The more forward the other guy was, the more Matt liked to challenge them.
You sighed, looking down at your suitcase before making the decision in your mind that you were going to go out to shop for some ties.
You quickly took out your phone and wallet before you made your way to the door, opening it halfway before it slammed shut right in front of you.
Your eyes widened seeing an arm right next to your head, turning to see Bucky holding the door shut.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Bucky asked you, making you cock an eyebrow at him.
You folded your arms over your chest, almost defiantly with your mouth downturned into a small frown. “I was going to go for some light shopping, is that wrong?”
“Your brother specifically tasked me to keep an eye on you at all times, which also means that I will be with you even when you’re going outside.” Bucky replied.
You shook your head in disbelief. “I’m not some child, I’m a fully grown adult that’s capable of going out on my own.”
Bucky gives you an amused look, you hated how handsome he looked.
“How about this? We continue to unpack our things here, I’ll let the team know to stay put while you and I go out to do whatever you need to do, would that be sufficient?” Bucky asked you, making you huff unhappily before going back to your suitcase to unpack the rest of your stuff.
You missed the grin Bucky sent you as you continued unpacking, grumbling under your breath about overprotective brothers.
~~~~~
“You know it’s rude to keep glaring at everyone that walks by us.”
You told Bucky as you were looking over at some ties in a fancy store near the hotel, the other man hovering next to you cautiously as if the both of you were being followed.
Bucky frowned. “I’m just trying to do my job.”
“And I appreciate that, truly but you could at least be a little incognito about it. You’re freaking out the sales lady.” You glanced at the woman who was anxiously dawdling at the counter, you tried to give her a smile but only received a grimace in return.
You turned your head to Bucky to see him with a scowl, his eyes critically studying the poor woman.
You sighed. “Okay, can’t you like play a character or something? You know like in the movies.”
“I’m a security guard, not a spy.” Bucky drawled out, giving you an unimpressed look.
You rolled your eyes at him, picking up some ties that would match your outfits. “Whatever, I’m gonna go and get these ones. You coming?”
Bucky huffed unhappily as he followed you along, still somewhat glaring at the lady who was currently behind the counter.
You gave her a smile as you walked up. “Hi, I would like to purchase these.”
“Coming right up.” The lady stuttered, nervously taking the ties from you.
You felt bad for her and then a wicked thought came into your mind. If you were stuck with Bucky the entirety of your trip, you might as well have fun with it.
“Oh and I do apologise for my boyfriend’s rude behaviour, we had a run in with a pickpocket a while ago so he’s been overly anxious about being outside now.” You told the woman, ignoring the way Bucky’s head whipped at you with his eyes widening at being caught off guard by your untrue claims.
The woman seemed to calm down, giving you and Bucky pitiful looks. “Oh I’m so sorry to hear that! Now I understand the staring, it’s sweet that he’s protective of you though.”
You smiled, nudging Bucky’s arm with your elbow. “He’s a sweetheart, I swear. I couldn’t have asked for a better man in my life.”
“You two are gorgeous together.” The woman replied, her mood changing to something a little more lighthearted.
You made some more small talk before receiving your items and then leaving the store with Bucky in tow.
“Boyfriend huh?”
You shrugged at Bucky. “You were freaking her out and I handled the situation, it was easier to explain that you were an overprotective boyfriend instead of a security guard.”
“Of course, sweetheart.” Bucky replied, getting a look of disdain from you.
You felt your stomach rumble and you sighed, looking around the streets that’s lined up with stores but not seeing any restaurants nearby.
You turn to Bucky with a pout. “I’m hungry.”
“We can order room service once we’re back at the hotel.” Bucky replied, his hand tugging on your elbow but you didn’t budge.
Bucky turned to you with raised eyebrows but you were looking somewhere else before you started walking towards a different direction.
You heard Bucky’s loud explosive sigh behind you before the sound of his footsteps caught up to you, it made your lips quirk in amusement.
“Hotel cheeseburgers are slightly too fancy and dull, there has to be a place where there’s a cheeseburger with a side of curly fries and milkshakes to go along with it.” You said excitedly, turning your head to look at Bucky and seeing the other man with an exasperated look on his face.
Bucky’s jaw flexes. “I think it’s better if we just went back to our room and I’ll get one of the others to get some for you.”
“Oooh our room,” You teased Bucky with a smirk. “Sounds like someone’s getting into character.”
Bucky rolled his eyes at you, making you bite your bottom lip at how fun it was to make fun of the other man.
However, you didn’t expect that Bucky was more than capable of handling your teasing when he suddenly crowded you against a brick wall by the pavement with one of his hands curled around your hip while he leaned in with a smirk.
Bucky’s other arm resting on the wall just above your head.
“Sweetheart,” Bucky practically purred, making you shiver. “Aren’t you exhausted after flying and then going out to shop? Let’s just go back and get some rest.”
Not one to stand down from your own game, you leaned in closer to Bucky. You noticed his eyes drop to your lips for a second as you bit on your lower lip.
You tilt your head curiously, making direct eye contact with him. His steel blue eyes boring into yours before you leaned away, seeing his jaw flex again.
“No.” You whispered before ducking out of his arm and running away, giggling as you ran before you were eventually caught by Bucky with his arm around your waist.
You grinned, slightly panting with Bucky. The other man just shook his head and looked up to the sky as if asking god what he did to deserve this.
Bucky then fixes you a look of a disapproval but you could see the glint of amusement in his eyes. “So much for being a grown man.”
“Cheeseburgers with curly fries and shake or else I’m running again.” You challenged Bucky, liking the way his jaw flexed in annoyance.
Bucky lets out a defeated sigh before stepping back from you, his hand dropping from your waist. “Fine.”
“Score.” You replied in a singsong tune before you took your phone out to find the nearest place that served cheeseburgers.
~~~~~
The first week in London went by smoothly, you and Matt managed to get through plenty of meetings without any delays or problems from your potential partners to Stark Industries.
Bucky would sit in during the meetings, getting weird looks from everyone else in the room but you’d just apologise and introduce him as your boyfriend to ease their worries.
Bucky doesn’t even flinch when you’d do so, already used to playing the part so he could keep an eye on you.
Of course your first mistake was not telling Matt about it, the other man questioning you during breakfast in the hotel’s main dining hall the morning after the first meeting.
You had invited Matt for breakfast, hoping to at least spend more time with your friend but that also meant having Bucky and Dex along for the ride.
You helped Matt pick out his food before taking your own, opting to sit first while Bucky and Dex were still looking over the breakfast buffet.
“So you and Mr Barnes are a thing now?” Matt asked you as he cut into a piece of his bacon, making you choke on a piece of your pancake after inhaling it in surprise to his question.
You started to cough violently, getting the attention of some of the other guests. Of course that also meant Bucky but you waved him away after you pointed at your throat and the food, getting a scowl and nod in return before he turned back to the buffet to pick out his own food.
You took a swig of your water to wash the pancake down while Matt sat quietly by your side munching on his bacon as if he wasn’t the reason you were in such a state.
You glared at Matt, knowing that the other man would be completely unbothered by it. “What the hell kinda question is that?”
“Yesterday you introduced Mr Barnes as your boyfriend to the room. I’m blind but I’m not deaf, you know.” Matt replied, making you slap a hand to your forehead for not giving him a heads up.
You sighed. “It’s not like that. It’s just much easier to introduce Bucky that way instead of trying to explain why I have a body guard constantly around me. It was a whole thing when I went out shopping and he tagged along, he kept glaring at the poor saleswoman.”
Matt lets out an amused chuckle.
“What are you laughing about? I heard that you specifically requested for Poindexter to be in your room.” You whispered to Matt, trying to get under his skin.
Matt took a sip of his coffee, smiling over the rim of his cup. “Well, let’s just say he has a natural gift of repetition that I’ve been enjoying.”
“Oh my god.” You laughed, your shoulder knocking into Matt’s causing the other man to join you in laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Dex asked, him and Bucky joining you and Matt at the table.
Matt just went back to innocently eating while you tried to hide your laughter behind your hand, getting questioning looks from the other two men.
You shook your head. “Secret between friends.”
The four of you quietly enjoyed breakfast, the topic of conversation always swaying to what meeting’s next on the agenda, who you’re meeting with and where.
It almost felt like a double date as you watched Matt and Dex interact with each other, Dex blatantly flirting with Matt while the lawyer deflected the blonde man’s advances.
It was a game of cat and mouse with those two.
When Matt and Dex eventually left the table first, you stared at their retreating backs with amusement written all over your face. “Those two are trouble.”
“That’s true but they seem happy.” Bucky shrugged, biting into a piece of bacon.
You turned to him in curiosity. “There’s not a rule that you can’t hook up with your clients or something?”
“Not that I know of and not that I actually care either to be honest.” Bucky replied. “Yelena and John met their respective partners through the job as well.”
“What about you? Met anyone interesting while you worked as security?” You asked, getting a chuckle from the other man.
Bucky hummed, pursing his lips in thought before snapping his fingers. “I had this client that I had to take care of that ran away from me because he wanted a cheeseburger.”
You gasped, lightly kicking at Bucky’s shin in retaliation, making the other man laugh before he softly smiled at you.
“Oh come on, I’m serious. No one’s ever caught your attention?” You poked at Bucky again, seeing the other man shake his head in response.
You rolled your eyes at the other man before you turned your attention back to your breakfast, completely missing the yearning look Bucky sent you.
~~~~~
“You should rest.”
You looked up from your laptop to see Bucky hovering next to your bed where you were sitting and working.
It’s already the third week of your stay and you’ve become accustomed with his constant need to stick by your side that you didn’t even flinch when you suddenly saw him next to you.
You glanced at the time on your screen and shrugged. “It’s only half past eight, I think I’ll be fine. I just need to finish this draft and I’ll send it to Tony.”
You hear Bucky sigh before feeling the spot next to your bed shift, the other man taking a sit.
“You’ve been working nonstop ever since that meeting with Wenwu.” Bucky tells you with a soft tone, making you huff.
You gave him a glance and shook your head. “Well he ripped me a new one. You saw what happened, you heard what he said. My pitch didn’t work and he basically said I was pathetic.”
“Your pitch works just fine, you’ve managed to sail through all the other meetings. Wenwu’s just a hardass. You can’t let one man’s opinion take you down when you’ve accomplished a lot more on this trip.” Bucky replied.
You rolled your eyes at his response. “A pep talk from my security guard, that’s where I’m at apparently in my life.”
Your snarky comment causes Bucky to snatch the laptop from you, making you squawk offendedly at him as you immediately got out of bed to take it back.
Bucky was taller than you so you had stand on the tip of your toes to try to get your laptop from him but the other man simply dodged your hands by raising his higher and away from you.
You were annoyed at first but you eventually started to giggle when you were practically jumping on Bucky to get your laptop back.
“Bucky, come on!” You whined while jumping.
Bucky smirked. “Try harder, sweetheart.”
One particular jump causes you to land wrongly on the floor, making you trip backwards as you gripped on the front of Bucky’s shirt for support.
Bucky gasped falling along with you, throwing your laptop to his bed before turning your bodies so that he could cushion most of the impact from the fall.
Luckily the both of you fell on top of your bed, your body landing on top of Bucky’s, the other man letting out a grunt with you on top of him.
You froze for a second before bursting into a fit of giggles at what just happened, hiding your face on Bucky’s chest as you continued to laugh.
Bucky rubbed your back soothingly, chuckling along with you. “Feeling better?”
You raised your head from his chest and nodded, smiling softly down at him.
“Yeah, thanks.” You sighed, biting down on your lower lip. You caught Bucky looking down at your lips and the energy in the room immediately changed.
The side of Bucky’s mouth twitch in amusement, his eyes still focused on your lips. “You wanna get off me, sweetheart?”
“Depends, do you want me to?” You challenge Bucky, the man’s eyes flicking up to meet yours.
Bucky shook his head with a smile. “Not really, no.”
You grinned, looking down at him before leaning in slowly and hovering your face close to his. It makes the other man let out a noise that you’ve never heard before.
“Don’t tease me, sweetheart.” Bucky begged, the sound of desperation in his voice causes a thrilling chill up your spine.
You leaned in and locked your lips with his in a soft and slow kiss before pulling back and seeing a dazed look on Bucky’s face.
The man then surges up, reconnecting your lips with his before turning your bodies around so he was on top of you as he deepened the kiss.
You felt Bucky’s tongue prod on your lips causing you to open your mouth and let his tongue slip in to tangle with yours. The both of you moaning simultaneously.
Bucky then backed away before his lips found your jaw, kissing along the hinge of it as he continued to travel south to your neck.
You let out a breathy sigh when Bucky’s teeth nibbled on the pulse point of your neck before he soothes the pain with his tongue, causing you to grasp the back of his head with your hand before you tugged on his hair so you could bring him up into a kiss again.
You broke the kiss again, getting an annoyed huff from Bucky that made you smile. “When?”
“The first time I saw you at the airport, I thought you were cute and then again when you ran away from me laughing like a maniac because you wanted a cheeseburger.” Bucky replied, making you laugh before you felt your stomach rumble.
Bucky’s eyes dropped to your stomach before looking up in amusement at your reddening face as you let out a nervous chuckle.
“I know we’re in the middle of something but I’m kinda craving a cheeseburger.” You timidly told Bucky, getting a chuckle from the other man before he rolled off you to stand up.
Bucky helps you get up before pecking you on the cheek. “Okay, sweetheart.”
You blushed at how soft and sweet Bucky’s voice was, now that the both of you had broken the somewhat professional boundary into new lovers.
When the both of you walked down the streets to get to the restaurant, Bucky had casually slipped his hand into yours. It made your stomach flutter at how your hands fit like a perfect puzzle piece.
Bucky even lifted your hand up to his face so he could kiss your knuckles before continuing the journey to the restaurant, you couldn’t help but roll your eyes and giggle at his romantic gesture.
~~~~~
“Sweetheart…”
Bucky let out a low moan as you took more of his cock into your mouth, your tongue swirling around his impressive length before you raised your lips to suckle on the tip of his cock.
Bucky’s hips jolting in response to your teasing, making you chuckle around his cock before you went down on him again by bobbing your head enthusiastically.
Bucky lets out a short cry when you deepthroated him, burying your nose into the hair of his pelvis.
You felt Bucky tug on the back of your head, forcing his cock out of your mouth before he captured your lips with his while you continued to stroke him with your saliva as lube.
“Get on the bed.” Bucky muttered against your lips before you manoeuvred yourself so you could lay the top half of your body on the bed.
Bucky’s hands squeezed your ass cheeks, making you whimper before you felt him pull your cheeks apart to blow on your hole and it makes your body jolt in surprise.
You let out a loud sigh when Bucky then pushed his tongue into your hole, the sound of the other man’s hungry groans accompanied by the slick of his tongue as he fucked it into you.
You let out a cry against your pillow when Bucky latched his lips over your hole and while his tongue was still in you before he sucked, the suction causing you to roll your eyes back into your head.
Fuck, Bucky and yes were the only three words you could repeat as Bucky continued to eat you out before he pulled away with a light spank on one of your cheeks.
Bucky then turns you around so you were facing him, slotting himself between your open legs before leaning down and kissing you again.
Bucky lined his cock up with your hole before you felt the head enter, making you grunt against his lips in slight discomfort.
Bucky kissed you softly, distracting you from the pain as he continued to push himself in with every nod you gave him.
When Bucky finally bottomed out, he didn’t move. He waited for you to adjust to his size, peppering your face with kisses while your hands grabbed onto his back.
“I’m okay.” You murmured softly in Bucky’s ear, getting a hum in response before gasping when Bucky pulled out slowly and pushed himself back in.
Bucky started out slow, falling into a comfortable rhythm as he fucked you. His gaze fixed on your face, making you smile at how careful he is with you.
“You feel so tight and warm, sweetheart. You’re driving me crazy.” Bucky panted out, his hips moving a little faster.
You connected your lips with Bucky’s, biting the bottom of his lip as you pulled back. “Harder, please.”
“Of course, sweetheart.” Bucky replied before thrusting harder and faster into you, capturing your lips with his as he greedily swallowed all the moans and whimpers that you gave him.
Bucky adjusted his hips while thrusting and you immediately wrapped your arms around his body, making the other man chuckle against your lips.
“Looks like I found your sweet spot.” Bucky chuckled, thrusting harder into you and making you let out more whimpers and cries as his cock was constantly hitting your prostate.
You felt a familiar tug in your gut, making you whimper. “Bucky, I’m gonna cum.”
“I haven’t even touched you sweetheart and you’re already damn close just from my cock? You’re so sensitive.” Bucky teased you before a particular thrust made you see stars as you came in between your bodies.
Bucky lets out a guttural moan when your hole squeezes his cock so hard from your own release that he couldn’t help but spill his seed into you.
You cradled Bucky’s head, giving him soft kisses as your hole continued to milk his cock. Bucky shuddering with a whine every time you squeezed his cock inside you.
When Bucky pulled out, you let out a moan when you felt some of his seed trickle out of you. The other man immediately rushing to the bathroom to get extra towels to clean you up.
“How about we take a shower before we sleep in my bed tonight? I’ll get room service to change your sheets.” Bucky softly told you, making you smile up at him before he helped you out of bed as the both of head to the bathroom to wash up.
The night ends with you curling up into his arms, Bucky’s fingers caressing your back before sleep overtakes the both of you.
~~~~~
“Let me get this straight, you and Matt go to London with your security detail that I picked out and the both of you respectively came back with boyfriends from said security detail?”
You shrugged at Tony’s exasperated expression. “I don’t know what to tell you big brother, you must have some kind of magical cupid energy within you.”
“Oh little brother, don’t get me wrong I am very happy for you but you know this means I’ll be expecting a family dinner with the man that has captured your heart right?” Tony gave you an expectant look that made you laugh before you ran around his desk to drop a kiss on his cheek.
Tony playfully pushed you away. “Okay, enough. I’ll text you when and what time.”
“Okay, Tony.” You grinned at your big brother before you ran out of his office to find Bucky waiting for you outside.
Bucky’s fingers immediately intertwines with yours before he drops a kiss to your knuckles. “How was it? Judging by your expression, I’m guessing Tony took it well.”
“Pretty good actually but we have to go to dinner with him, I’m sure he’s going to play up his overprotective older brother act so just be prepared for that.” You replied, rolling your eyes.
Bucky chuckled, kissing the side of your head. “I think I can handle another Stark in my life.”
“If you break up with me to be with Tony, I will punch you in the nuts.” You threatened Bucky, making the other man laugh.
Bucky shook his head before kissing you. “I only want you in my life, sweetheart.”
*****
Author’s note:
Well that was a fun AU, I definitely had more ideas of what to write considering the one month timeframe in the story but it was better to just get straight to the point
I have missed writing for Bucky and I’ll probably start doing more since he’s my comfort character of all time and I feel like I need that right now in this time of my life
pairing: jason todd x gn!reader
synopsis: getting out of bed in the morning is never easy with him...
cw: none, fluff, established relationship, jason being clingy
wc: 600
a/n: wrote this half asleep, so it's ass but idc
art creds: the talented @ciricearts!
Jason masterlist
You slam your palm against your alarm before it can ring a second time—a habit you’ve developed out of your hatred for it.
You take a moment before stretching and yawning. The heavy arm draped over your waist twitches before it tightens its grip on you. You let your head fall back and sigh.
Not again.
He nuzzles closer, slotting his face right in the crook of your neck.
“Baby?” You whisper.
No response.
“Jay,” you mutter, a little louder.
He stirs, his eyes fluttering open. He lets out a groggy groan.
“‘S too early… go back to sleep,” he mumbles, his words slurring together as he speaks against your neck.
“No, it’s not early. I have work in two hours. So could you please get off me? I need to get ready.”
“Don’t go, stay with me.” He finally pulls away and looks up at you with those hypnotizing green eyes.
They’re dim and half-lidded from sleep, and his hair is sticking up in all directions.
You smile at the sight. He always made it hard to get out of bed.
“I can’t, you know that.” You lean down to kiss his forehead.
He seems to take that as an invitation because he immediately props himself up with his arms and moves to loom over you, before peppering your face, jaw and neck with lazy, sloppy kisses.
“Jason—“ you click your tongue in annoyance.
“Yes?” He asks in between pecks.
“We’re not doing this again— get off me!”
He pulls back to stare down at you with a serious expression, as if this were life or death to him.
“Just gimme a minute,” he mutters before leaning down again, this time meeting your lips with his, effectively stealing the air right out of your lungs.
He breaks the kiss for just a second to stare at you, before diving back in.
You turn your head to the side, making him miss his target, but he instead just resorts to pressing a tender kiss to your cheek.
“I’m gonna be late!”
“Jus’ one more, please.” He mumbles, chasing your lips and splitting them apart with his tongue. He swallows the little gasp that escapes you.
You kiss him back, letting him have this one. When he's finally done, you speak again.
“Satisfied? Can I go now?”
He looks down at you, eyes foggy and face blank. “... fine." he releases you, and you take the opportunity to quickly get up before he can change his mind.
He slumps against the mattress again, face smooshed against the pillow.
You make your way to the bathroom to shower and get ready.
Once you come back out, you rummage through the dresser and find your clothes.
Finally done, you make your way back to his side of the bed. He's still half asleep.
"Jay," you whisper.
He lets out a small hum, his eyebrows lifting, as he opens one of his eyes to look at you.
"I'm gonna go now, okay? Leftovers are in the fridge." you brush his hair out of his forehead, and cup his jaw, before landing a soft kiss on his lips.
You try to pull away, but his arm has already snaked itself behind your neck, keeping you close to him. His other hand finds your hip, and he tugs you back down on the bed with him.
You gasp, and try to get out of his hold but it's no use. "Jason, I have to go!—" you mumble against his lips.
"I know, just give me a minute," he breathes out.
You giggle despite being mildly irritated, unable to help yourself.
Maybe you should make him sleep on the couch from now to avoid having to deal with this.
⚣😒 A/N → Think I'm coming down with a new favorite outside of Conner, and it's our resident Lightning Wizard. Someone pointed out my affinity (problem) of being attracted to big, strong, moody & grumpy men, and I fear they may be correct. I'm possibly planning to make this a series starting with this one (may remain Y/N or become an OC), BUT I MAKE NO PROMISES! YA HEAR ME?! Also, this and Charged Murder are not cohesive with each other. CM was me getting my toes wet in writing for this fandom. Anyways...on to the warnings.
WARNINGS: Angst & Fluff | Canon-Typical Violence | Mild Explicit Language | Second Chances | Forgiveness | Laxus starts off still expelled from Fairy Tail | Arguments | Oblivious Idiots | So much tension, you could cut it with an axe |
⚣😒 Summary → How are you supposed to forgive someone who betrayed you in the cruelest way they knew how? Despite your history, despite your friendship, despite the trust they once swore they'd never break, they went through with something that they'd ultimately known would hurt you? How does one come back from such a thing? Does time really heal all wounds? Where does Laxus even begin to make amends? Can he even?
⚣😒 Word Count → 21.8K
REBLOGS & replies are greatly appreciated, please! 💛
⚣ ENJOY 😒
So Laxus was back?
Guess everyone should rejoice and sing praise to the skies above at his convenient timing, right?
…Yeah, not exactly.
Unlike everyone else who had been present on Tenrou Island and lit up at his return, Y/N wasn't thrilled in the slightest. Grateful, maybe—Laxus had shown up, saving Natsu from having to reunite with Igneel as a spirit at the very last second. For that? Fine, he'd give credit where credit was due.
A participation sticker. No trophy. Trophies were for people who showed up on time and not at the very last second.
But the battle against Hades had been brutal—worse than brutal. Y/N, Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray, Wendy, and everyone else knew it. With the Tenrou Tree destroyed, their strength had waned, each of them weakened by the mark that bound them to Fairy Tail. Except for Laxus. He had been expelled after his coup, his mark removed, so his power remained unaffected.
Lucky them, right?
Laxus's ego had gotten the best of him back then, and now his recklessness had turned out to be their saving grace. Whoop-tee-doo…
Guess they should all be grateful he once put the entire guild—and Magnolia itself—on the line just to prove a point.
Again… not exactly.
Y/N hadn't even been there that day, at least, not in the beginning. Gramps had sent him out of town for an errand before the festival, a trip that took two days. Of course, he returned just in time to see Natsu and Laxus tearing the sky apart, lightning and fire crashing in a storm above Kardia Cathedral. Below them lay the guild: his friends, his family, strewn across the streets, bruised and broken.
All because of Laxus.
And then, the news about Gramps. Even worse, hearing Laxus’s words, the Thunder Palace he unleashed, and the fact that he had attempted to invoke Fairy Law against his own guild—against what was supposed to be his family—was utterly reprehensible. Apparently, the spell did not affect anyone. Laxus had overlooked a crucial detail: his magic could see what his ego couldn't; his true feelings and sentiments about the guild. Since Fairy Law only affects those the caster sees as their enemies, and everyone remained unharmed by its radiant light, the truth became all the more evident.
Nothing can hide from the light. Y/N knows that more than anyone, of course.
But it didn't change the fact that he'd tried. Y/N could still remember the sting of it, the feeling of betrayal when he realized the familiar buzz to his magic, and the bright light he could see from the cathedral as he made his way back into town.
Fairy Tail was more than just a guild; it was family. Gramps had filled a role left empty for so many of them, Y/N especially. Laxus knew that. He knew Y/N's story, what he'd been through, what kind of scars he carried from his struggles. He comforted and helped him through his pain once upon a time. And yet… he still went through with this ridiculous plan, even after Y/N had warned him what would happen if he did. He was willing to let his own grandfather die, willing to spit on every bond they'd ever built.
All because he didn't want to be overshadowed by Makarov's legacy? All because he was pissed about his dad? All because he wanted to prove some fucking sick point? That he was the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail?
Unforgivable.
Just the pure fact that he seems to have forgotten Gildarts is still a part of the guild, even if he's been gone for three years. Or what his own grandfather said about Y/N's magic, but truthfully, he doesn't care to have the title of Fairy Tail's most powerful, nor does he want to be. He just wants to live and enjoy life with the people he cares about. At one point, Laxus wanted the same thing.
But that version of his friend, of his– never mind.
The point is, not only had Laxus changed, but he also revealed his true colors. It wasn't something Y/N would be willing to look past so easily, not anymore, at least.
So, sure. Y/N could admit Laxus's arrival against Hades had been convenient—Natsu probably owed him his life. But joy? Relief? Celebration? Not from him.
Everyone else noticed it—the way Y/N ignored Laxus during the quiet moments after the battle, his silence colder than any words. And Laxus definitely noticed. The way he was barely even trying to hide the fact that he kept looking towards Y/N, watching him from afar—oh, he noticed.
Of course, the Thunder Legion was ecstatic to see their esteemed leader again.
Fried couldn't stop crying—typical—Bickslow grinned from behind his helm, his usual manic energy dialed up to eleven, and Evergreen wasted no time fluttering her lashes and teasing Elfman, tossing half-flirtations and half-insults like confetti.
Y/N never had much patience for Evergreen's pompous, vain attitude, but even he could admit her antics were a little funny. It was obvious they thought Laxus showing up meant he was back for good. A sweet sentiment, misguided at best, flat-out delusional at worst.
Did they forget Laxus hadn't left Fairy Tail? He'd been kicked out.
Or maybe Y/N's head was still scrambled from the endless fights with Grimoire Heart and Hades. Either way, the truth didn't change: Laxus wasn't coming back. Not anytime soon.
Sure, the Master probably planned to punish his grandson, but Y/N had no doubt Makarov's heart would eventually soften. The man was sentimental, almost to a fault. Laxus would get another chance—if he learned his lesson. Big if.
That ego of his needed divine-level intervention.
Still, Y/N couldn't help but smirk as Gildarts—wherever the hell he'd just appeared from—started teasing Laxus for getting kicked out by his own grandfather. Watching the Lightning Wizard bristle under Gildarts' good-natured mockery was pure entertainment.
Note to self: bake Gildarts cookies when they get home. Maybe get him a new cloak, too. No, not maybe—definitely.
His amusement switched to fondness when his gaze drifted toward Wendy. The young Sky Dragon Slayer busied herself with healing injuries and wounds for her guildmates with determined focus. It was sweet to watch—at least until Erza swooped in wearing a nurse outfit and wielding a clipboard and a gaze that promised something Y/N didn't feel was appropriate to name.
That woman was an unseriously level of serious, which was kind of scary at times. And not for the obvious reasons.
"Stupid boys!"
Carla's shrill voice cut through the chaos, and Y/N turned to see the commotion. Erza had apparently stolen Wendy's patients and now had her own line—a line that, naturally, included both Master Makarov and his grandson.
Typical.
Another day, another reason for Y/N to question his unfortunate membership in the male species. What would life be like if he weren't grouped in with a bunch of idiots whose brains ran on half power most of the time, and said power was coming from their lower head instead of the upper one?
He considered firing off a blast of light in retribution for Wendy's sake, but knowing this crowd, he'd just end up giving Nurse Erza more patients. And no one needed that.
Levy tried to cheer Wendy up, though her attention quickly drifted—along with Juvia's—to Erza's "treatment" of Gray and Gajeel, both of whom looked one step away from fleeing.
Y/N might've found it funny if not for the intrusive thought of Erza turning her "medical expertise" on a certain blonde.
Speaking of which… just where had he gone?
"Are you okay?"
Instinct took over before reason could, his ears not registering the deep voice that he was quite familiar with. Light surged through Y/N's hands, flaring bright enough to cast long shadows across the clearing. His heart slammed against his ribs as magic snapped and hummed around him—until his eyes registered who it was.
Laxus.
For a heartbeat, Y/N's body refused to relax. Every muscle stayed drawn tight, adrenaline burning off the edges of fatigue. The last twenty-four hours had been some of the most brutal of his life—Hades, Grimoire Heart, the Tenrou Tree's fall. Even now, surrounded by laughter and the comforting sound of his guild breathing and laughing, he couldn't quite let his guard down.
So yeah, he could forgive himself for nearly vaporizing someone. And if he had to blame someone, he'd blame Laxus for sneaking up on him, cause… well, that was just wizard math.
"Fucking hell, Laxus," he breathed out, letting the glow fade from his fists. His stance loosened but didn't fully relax—arms crossing over his chest, a defensive echo of the Lightning Wizard's own posture. Gramps used to tease them for that, saying they mirrored each other like a pair of stubborn reflections. The memory soured the corner of Y/N's mouth into a frown, though not with much bitterness as he'd like to believe.
"Sorry," Laxus said, his tone gruff, shoulders easing. "Didn't mean to scare you."
"Okay, well," Y/N replied sharply, "maybe don't sneak up on people next time." He scanned him—no injuries, no sign of strain, same old arrogance sitting in his eyes like a dare. "What are you doing?"
"I was coming to ask if you were okay? Is that a crime?"
"No, I mean, what are you doing here, Laxus?" Y/N replied, ignoring the Lightning Wizard's smart ass remark. "Only members of Fairy Tail are allowed on Tenrou Island."
Laxus's stance now began to mirror the Light Wizard's, his head turned up with an annoyed look, "What? Just because I got kicked out means I can't pay my respects to Master Mavis?"
"Laxus."
He sighed through his nose, his mask slipping as his arms dropped back to his sides. The Light Wizard's harsh gaze also nearly slipped, as his sight got caught on the flex and stretch of the blonde's muscular physique that was exposed from his torn shirt, but he caught himself.
The audience will pretend it never happened if they know what's good for them. Who the audience in question is… okay, look, it's been a long twenty-four hours.
"I knew you guys were in trouble—"
"How?" Y/N snapped before the Lightning Wizard could finish.
"Jeez, what is this, an interrogation?" Laxus shot back, irritation sparking under the surface. "You were in danger, so I showed up. End of story. Everyone else seems pretty happy that I did, besides you and the old geezer. And from what I saw when I got here, you definitely needed it too. What's the issue?"
Y/N held his stare for a moment, silence stretching taut between them. His magic still tingled at his fingertips, restless.
"Hm. Typical," he muttered.
The blonde frowned. "What? What did I say? Y/N—"
But Y/N was already walking away, boots crunching over the forest floor, not once turning to look behind him at the confused, and though he'd never show it, hurt Lightning wizard.
The others, ever the nosy bunch, tried—and failed—to look busy. Their glances flicked between the two wizards, pretending they hadn't just witnessed the entire exchange. Still, no one missed it: that fleeting, unguarded moment when Laxus's shoulders dipped, and all the fight and prowess he's usually known for seemed to drain from him.
For many of them, it was the first time they'd ever seen the Lightning Wizard look so… defeated. Even when he'd been sprawled on the ground after Hades beat him into the dirt, Laxus had still carried a spark—some stubborn crackle of pride refusing to go out.
But now?
Now, he looked like a storm that had lost its lightning entirely.
Someone really needed to redefine that old saying about how time flies. It doesn't just fly—it quietly disappears when you're not paying attention.
After Acnologia's attack on Tenrou, everything was a blur—and that was putting it generously. One moment, they were all standing around holding hands, staring into the jaws of a dragon; the next, they were waking up on the island as if no time had passed at all. No wounds, no destruction, just a heavy, disorienting stillness that made the whole world feel… off. Like something had changed.
Boy, were they in for a surprise.
Their confusion only deepened when Alzack, Bisca, Jet, Droy, Max, and Warren appeared on the island, claiming it had been seven years. Seven years since the S-Class Trials. Seven years since Grimoire Heart. Seven years since Acnologia's roar nearly swallowed them whole. At first, it sounded like a terrible joke—an elaborate prank Fairy Tail would absolutely commit to if given the chance. But the older faces, the new scars, Bisca and Alzack's whole married energy they had going on, and Droy's… drastic change in physique were hard to brush off as stage makeup.
The truth didn't fully settle in until a girl with impossibly long blonde hair appeared from nowhere on a steep above them—Mavis Vermillion, the First Master and Founder of Fairy Tail herself. She explained how they'd survived: Fairy's sphere, one of the Three Great Fairy Magics, had activated at the moment of Acnologia's attack, trapping them in a protective stasis for seven full years until the spell finally began to weaken.
It was that sudden release of magic from the spell wearing off—spiking like a beacon—that caught the attention of Blue Pegasus and drew them out over the Ethernano Waters in the first place.
Of course, after they all returned from Tenrou Island, Laxus took off again. And neither Master Makarov nor Y/N tried to stop him. Some others felt differently. Laxus had come through for them when it mattered, and that counted for something, right? But the two Light Wizards, especially Y/N, weren't so quick to forget all the other times Fairy Tail had needed help and Laxus was nowhere to be found.
Y/N remembered one moment in particular: the war with Phantom Lord. The day they found the guild hall had been reduced to an iron mess, where they discovered Levy, Jet, and Droy after they'd been attacked, and Lucy had been abducted. Laxus hadn't realized Y/N was in the room when Mirajane called him for help—when she begged for help—only to be met with his arrogant dismissal, his crude comments about Lucy and Cana. Y/N had watched Mira swallow her pride and risk her life impersonating Lucy, only to be captured by that monstrous mechanical fortress.
He'd seen Makarov on the brink of something that could prove fatal—only for Mystogan to be the one to save the Master's life, not Laxus, his own grandson.
Unforgivable.
So imagine Y/N's reaction when people thought he could be convinced to plead Laxus's case to the Master—to talk Makarov into forgiving his grandson and letting him rejoin the guild. They overestimated both his influence and his patience. One thing he understood alongside Gramps was that Laxus had a lot more to answer for than just his actions that day during the Harvest Festival. And Y/N was in no place to disagree with him, seeing as he felt the same way.
Yet, people tried to convince him—particularly the Thunder Legion.
Y/N, among the younger generation of Fairy Tail, was one of the longest-standing members after Laxus. The two had known each other for years, and under Makarov's guidance, he'd grown and honed his own magic, which helped him become one of the guild's few S-Class Wizards alongside Gildarts, Laxus, Ezra, and Mirajane.
The growing part, however, seemed to be a popular debate amongst the guild, considering Y/N didn't really need help in that department—his magic had never been ordinary to begin with, given its origins. But that was a story for another day.
People were aware of his and Laxus's bond, especially the older members, such as Gildarts, Macao, and Wakaba, even if it wasn't often spoken about. They'd grown up together, trained together, shared an unspoken understanding that only deepened with time. Laxus had also always been protective of him, sometimes to a fault. And Makarov had taken to Y/N like another grandson, which only strengthened the tie between the Light and Lightning wizards.
Y/N had been there when Ivan Dreyar was expelled. He'd watched the boy Laxus used to be—kind, spirited, eager to impress—harden into the prideful, jaded man everyone knew now. Through all that change, Y/N had remained one of the few people Laxus never turned his temper on.
Still, over the years, even Y/N's patience had thinned. He and Makarov had spent too long trying to rein Laxus in. And when Y/N wasn't around, things often got…volatile. The Light Wizard had not only been dismayed but also disappointed to learn that his absence tended to make the guild uneasy. If Laxus returned from a job and Y/N wasn't there to check him, tensions rose fast.
That was why, when Laxus was finally expelled, so many believed Y/N alone could sway Gramps into letting him back. He not only had the Master's ear, but he knew Laxus better than anyone after all. Surely if Y/N spoke on Laxus's behalf, it would mean something.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
"And just why would I do that?" was his only response when they asked.
He knew many of the others, especially those who'd fought on Tenrou Island, felt Laxus had earned his redemption. Even Erza had gone to the Master to inquire about his return—something Y/N was not at all happy about and tried to talk her out of—yet, she remained unswayed as she went to speak with Gramps, her voice soft with what could only be assumed as sympathy.
Y/N wasn't surprised. But he knew better. And apparently, so did Laxus.
"So your position is firm, is it?" Erza asked the Master, her tone glum.
"Of course it is," came the deep, gravelly voice from behind her. Laxus. He stood with his arms crossed, his head turned their way, expression unreadable. Y/N, standing beside Erza, folded his arms too—realizing too late that his posture mirrored Laxus's. He ignored the Master's knowing side look at him, sneaky old man.
"That's how the guild's stayed strong over the years," Laxus continued. "You can't buy your way in with a single good deed. It takes a lot more."
"That's true," Erza nodded. Y/N just huffed. Typical Laxus—too proud to beg, too stubborn to show remorse, yet not wrong either.
Then, Acnologia came. And after that, seven years vanished like dust in the wind.
Watching Laxus fight the dragon had stirred something in Y/N, something dangerously close to nostalgia. The spark, the defiance, the fierce protectiveness… it reminded him of the boy he once knew. The one who used to step in front of him when trouble started, claiming it was just him being nice, while others claimed to know better.
What was it they claimed to know better? Y/N had no idea, or at least, that's what he'd claimed if asked about the subject. In fact, for legal reasons, Y/N will no longer speak on the subject. Actually, just forget the entire thing and pretend this conversation never happened… or else.
Ahem… anyway, maybe that's what the others were hoping for—that seeing Laxus's efforts would soften the Master, or that Y/N's history with him might spark some forgotten fondness. Maybe they thought sentimentality could rewrite what pride had ruined.
Neither was true.
Memories didn't erase the damage. One good deed didn't balance out years of betrayal.
"It's flattering, really," Y/N said when the Thunder Legion pressed him again later, "that everyone seems to think I have this kind of influence over the Master. I don't, by the way. But, even if I did, I agree with him. You don't get forgiveness just because you showed up when it was convenient. And just because you all may have forgiven him," his gaze swept over them, "doesn't mean I have."
While others may have been surprised by Y/N's words and the exasperated tone his words held, Laxus wasn't even in the slightest. He knew better than anyone how long Y/N could hold a grudge. He'd been on the receiving end of that stubborn attitude more than once—when they were younger, and even more in recent years.
This time, though, he knew it would take far more to bridge the gap he created between them. If he wanted to make amends, he was going to have to make some changes. But, as another old saying goes, change is never easy.
It didn't take long for the usual chaos that came with being part of Fairy Tail to settle back in after their return from Tenrou Island. Adjusting to life seven years in the future was… a process. A bit crazy to think how even vanishing off the face of Earthland for nearly a decade did absolutely nothing to stop the bills from piling up.
Just ask everyone who came back to find out how much in the hole they were after their little catnap. Lucy's apartment rent had accumulated into a financial nightmare, while the residents of the Fairy Hills were met with overdue notices stacked higher than Natsu's appetite. And Y/N—while grateful his home hadn't been looted, sold, or converted into a storage shed—returned to find his own lovely, towering stack of envelopes waiting patiently for him with an unpleasant "welcome home."
Sometimes, being an adult felt like the biggest scam in the world.
With the amount he owed, he'd need at least a month's worth of jobs just to break even. And to make matters worse, Fairy Tail's reputation had plummeted during their absence; the guild was barely getting high-paying requests, even for S-Class wizards. So Y/N had to take whatever he could get until things stabilized—which, knowing Fairy Tail, wouldn't take long. Sure enough, it only took a couple of weeks after word of their return spread for better jobs to start rolling in. Makarov's… tactful visit to Twilight Ogre with Erza and Mirajane to "discuss" outstanding debt may or may not have helped that process along.
Y/N nearly went with them, but in hindsight, it would've been unnecessary overkill. Instead, Makarov sent him around Magnolia and the neighboring towns on errands—yes, to gather supplies and help the guild get back on its feet, but also to subtly broadcast the message that Fairy Tail's full strength had returned.
Whether Y/N liked it or not, he, along with several others, were already public figures even before their time in stasis. A clear example of this was Erza, widely recognized as “Titania, Queen of the Fairies,” or Mirajane, the “She-Devil,” whose modeling career had also earned her the title of Fairy Tail’s “drawing card”—whatever that meant. Natsu, the infamous “Salamander.” Numerous others had their own reputations brewing as well.
Y/N wasn't exempt, either. Known throughout Magnolia, among allies, enemies, and readers of Sorcerer Weekly, as the “Fairy of the Sun.” A bit cheesy and dramatic, but fitting and endearing nonetheless. The others certainly had a great time making fun of him when that nickname started spreading like wildfire, at least until they were reminded just why it came to be in the first place. Elfman still jumps at the slightest glimmer of light that manages to sneak through the windows of the guild hall to this day.
Fairy Tail was iconic—loud, chaotic, impossible to ignore—so it only made sense that the world knew their names. Still, no name carried more weight than that of their Master, Makarov Dreyar, one of the Ten Wizard Saints.
And by extension, of course… there was Laxus.
The Lightning Wizard had once been proud of his reputation, relished it even. That changed after his father was expelled. For a long time, all anyone could talk about was how the Master of Fairy Tail had kicked out his own son, and Laxus was shoved even further into the background because of it.
That was when Y/N remembered the shift. The moment Laxus went from the kind, caring boy he'd grown up with to someone he barely recognized. As nice as it was how Laxus focused on growing himself, his body, his power—his body—it felt like Y/N had lost the boy he once knew, once…
Y/N was on his way back from yet another errand the Master had sent him on—paired, conveniently, with a job on the side. A guy had to make do somehow. Thankfully, the location Gramps had pointed him toward just so happened to overlap with where the client needed help, so at least that headache worked itself out.
The walk home was quiet. Peaceful, even… too peaceful.
His thoughts drifted lazily as he made his way along the path, the hum of magic in the air familiar and comforting, until the sky was suddenly split apart by the unmistakable sharp crack of lightning, a surge of power tearing upwards like a message being sent to the heavens.
Laxus.
Y/N stopped when the lightning split the sky—only for a second. Then, he scoffed under his breath and kept walking. The Lightning Dragon Slayer and whatever he was doing wasn't his problem anymore. He'd made his choices, crossed lines that couldn't be uncrossed, and paid for it by getting himself kicked out for doing something so monumentally stupid, it still made Y/N's jaw clench just thinking about it. He was done chasing after someone who couldn't stop tripping over his own damn ego.
So he turned back toward Magnolia. Toward the guild hall. Toward the noise, warmth, and familiarity he knew how to handle.
The path stretched out ahead of him, serene and faintly glowing beneath his steps. Moonlight—or what passed for it tonight—washed over the ground, but Y/N could feel something warmer threading through the air. Light answered him the way it always did, subtle and obedient, drawn to him as naturally as breath. It clung to his skin, hummed in his veins, stirred with a quiet intensity that spoke of something vast and patient above the clouds. And yet… it wasn't alone.
Threaded through that warmth was another presence, still crackling in the atmosphere like an echo, brushing against how own magic. Yet, they weren't opposing each other, weren't clashing, but instead almost aligning as if the two forces had always known how to move around one another.
Y/N's jaw tightened.
"Double Solstice!"
As if they could ever catch a break.
Just moments ago, the island had been bathed in quiet. The worst was over—or so they thought. Everyone had begun to breathe again, to laugh, to sit without flinching. Wounds were being mended, spirits were lifted, and preparations were underway for the ship’s return to Magnolia.
Then… something shifted.
The air turned wrong—thick and dry like something sacred had been burned away. Y/N suddenly felt on edge, as if a dark shadow had suddenly fallen over Tenrou, and all the light surrounding it was being swallowed with an unnatural weight. Laxus was the first to notice the shift in his demeanor and was about to come check on him when suddenly came the roar.
A sound that shattered the heavens, cracking through bone and soul alike.
Acnologia.
The Black Dragon had come to Tenrou, the same dragon that had nearly made minced meat of Gildarts, Fairy Tail's strongest wizard. Why, none of them could explain. There was no warning, no explanation. Only pure, ancient wrath.
If Gildarts—Gildarts—was telling them to run, there was no debate. That was basically an order from the universe itself.
At least… they tried to run.
Exactly how one outruns a dragon had yet to be discovered by science. And Fairy Tail was now finding itself as the unfortunate research group tasked with testing that very hypothesis. So far, results were… not promising.
The moment Acnologia let loose another roar, shattering the earth and vaporizing the forest completely, the full magnitude of their situation slammed down on them like a hammer.
Y/N had no time to think; he had to move.
Light enveloped his entire silhouette as he vanished, streaking across the terrain in pulses of golden radiance. He shielded, deflected, redirected, and saved. Fried and Bickslow had nearly been flattened under the dragon's head before Y/N snagged them out the way just in time. Evergreen had put her wings to proper use for once, catching Elfman mid-flight after the dragon's tail smacked him halfway into orbit.
But it wasn't enough.
Y/N darted through the air again, a comet of golden luminescence, doing everything he could to keep the dragon's attention away from his friends. And it worked—a bit too well. Acnologia’s gaze locked onto him, piercing and knowing, as if it recognized something in him—something it didn’t like.
The sky cracked open with another shriek, and a swirling column of destruction bore down on him from above. Y/N pushed more magic into his limbs, thankful this bastard at least had the courtesy to attack during the day with clear open skies, the sun's radiance keeping him restoring every bit of light he pushed out of his body. His heart beat like a drum inside his chest, the gleam around him flaring like armor in reflex.
But he was just a fraction too slow.
Acnologia's roar hit… or, at least, it should have.
In the instant between breath and run, a second force slammed into him from the side, knocking him clean out of the blast's trajectory just in the nick of time.
Lightning.
He could feel it before his body registered the rest. The buzzing snap of electricity, wild and alive, curled in the air around him. But more than that—arms, secure and strong, wrapped around him, not allowing any chance of him slipping out of their grasp, from how tight they wrapped around him. There was heat, there was muscle, and a strength that didn't tremble, not even under the weight of the sky falling.
Laxus.
Even amidst chaos and knowing the Light Wizard’s intense anger and the lack of friendliness or hospitality he showed him before, Laxus held him as if nothing else mattered but ensuring his safety. Just like the many times in their past, growing up together in the guild, this moment wasn't too different from the others, as the Lightning Dragon Slayer once again stood in as someone the Light Wizard could hold on to, when there was no one else around.
Y/N was still alive, still breathing, because, just like with Hades and all the times before, Laxus got there—to him first.
They hit the ground hard. The crash sent a tremor through the forest—and their bodies— grass and ground dirt splitting open from their descent. Dust and dirt exploded upward in a wave, swallowing the light for a moment.
The world blurred—light, heat, sound folding on itself—but Laxus didn't let go. Just before impact, Laxus had twisted their bodies midair, tucking Y/N close while turning his own back toward the unforgiving earth.
Laxus grunted against the force, arms still locked around him like steel bands. His broad frame absorbed the worst of it, taking the full brunt of the fall. The tension in his muscles didn't give, not even for a second. He'd shielded Y/N completely, like it was instinct.
When the dust settled, Y/N found himself pinned beneath the larger man's frame, caught between earth and thunder. Laxus's warm breath brushed against his temple, sharp and shallow, but steady.
"You really don't know when to quit," Laxus muttered, voice low and tight from exertion, though his grip didn't loosen as another thunderous blast rattled the horizon.
Y/N blinked up at him, glimmers of his magic still flickering faintly across his skin. His heart was hammering—but it wasn't from fear. At least, not anymore. Now, it was something that Y/N dared not name, for the sake of his dignity and the fact that he's still supposed to be angry with this man.
"Neither do you," Y/N shot back, breathless—but grateful. Not that he'd say it.
Laxus, though silent, remained rooted around Y/N, his arms steadfastly holding him in place. He held him as if letting go was impossible, for deep down, he understood that if he did, whether due to the dragon or not, Y/N would not remain with him.
"Wait, hold on!"
The shout snapped Y/N out of his spiraling thoughts like a slap to the face. One blink, and just like that, the memory haze evaporated. He wasn't standing outside the guild hall. Hell, he was still barely even in Magnolia.
No, he was standing at the edge of a clearing, familiar trees casting jagged shadows across the earth as the early evening light began to dim. And just a few paces ahead, he saw Wendy—clearly panicked— standing outside the gathering of Natsu, Gajeel, the Thunder Cronies, and…him.
Laxus.
Of course.
Y/N's gaze immediately jumped to the telltale hum of magic between the three dragon slayers, watching as Natsu and Laxus stared each other down like they had nothing better to do than fry each other into the dirt. Magic pulsed off their bodies in thick waves. Natsu's fire crackled and sparked wildly in his fists, while electricity danced over Laxus's body in golden bolts, whispering along his skin like snakes waiting to strike.
Y/N's frown deepened.
Because, of course, these two were going to fight. Why did he expect anything else?
"Really?" he muttered under his breath, arms crossing tight over his chest.
The moment his voice stirred the air, Laxus's eyes snapped to him—like he'd known he was there the whole time. That instinctual awareness between them hadn't dulled in the slightest, it seemed.
Y/N didn't flinch under that gaze, even if something low and familiar curled in his chest at the sight. Laxus was trying to look unreadable, like always, but that faint flicker of something behind his eyes betrayed him.
Natsu turned to Wendy, looking thoroughly confused. "What for?"
Wendy, still flustered but holding her ground, shakily and hysterically, but still holding it, responded, but it wasn't clear if she was trying to prevent this fight or prolong it. "If you guys are really gonna go through with this, you make sure it's a special occasion!"
"I don't follow," Natsu responded, still looking confused… shocker.
"What are you talking about?" Gajeel questioned with his arms crossed as usual.
"The match will take place tomorrow!" Wendy jabbed her finger forward, pointing at the three of them like she was delivering a royal decree, clearly hoping that putting it off might make them forget the whole thing altogether.
Y/N couldn’t help but smile—an involuntary quirk of the lips. Poor Wendy, still clinging to the notion that reason held sway in this guild. She’d eventually learn the truth. She reminded the Light Wizard of another young wizard in Fairy Tail who shared a similar demeanor.
Ugh… someone was still staring at him.
Y/N didn't even need to look up to know who it was, as the perpetrator hadn't looked away once. Even now, as the others argued over time and place, his gaze remained fixed on the Light Mage.
Y/N met it for a moment longer, but the flicker of his former smile vanished just as quickly as it came. That familiar weight in his chest—the one that only ever seemed to flare around him—settled low again, unwelcome. Once, that stare used to pull a laugh and smile from him. Now, all it pulled was exasperation and tiredness.
He turned away.
"Okay, if you insist, have it your way," Natsu relented, turning back to Laxus with that same reckless grin. "I can wait one more day to kick his butt. Meet me tomorrow under the big solar tree in SouthGate Park!"
"And when he's done, it'll be my turn," Gajeel added, popping his knuckles with a toothy smirk.
A tense beat of silence passed.
Laxus didn't respond immediately. He just stood there, expression unreadable—at least, to everyone except Y/N.
Then, Laxus's eyes flickered toward him once more.
And just like that, he stepped back. "Actually… I'm good," he said, almost lazily, brushing nonexistent dust off his shoulders. "Got better things to do."
That earned an entire wave of shock from the others.
"Seriously?!" Gajeel scoffed. "Don't tell me the big, bad Thunder Boy's scared."
Wendy, on the other hand, looked downright relieved.
The Thunder Legion, however, looked… confused.
"But Laxus—!" Evergreen started.
"You never back down from a fight!" Bickslow stuttered.
Fried frowned, though he didn't outwardly object, looking between his team leader and the lingering Light Wizard no one else noticed behind them. "Are you sure?"
Laxus didn't answer. He just kept his hands in his pockets, muscles in his arms bulging out on display with his sleeveless sweater. His eyes kept flicking—just for half a second at a time—toward a certain someone.
That didn't go unnoticed. Gajeel finally glanced over his shoulder, tracking the Lightning Wizard's gaze—only to blink when he saw Y/N standing there, expression unreadable.
"Well, well," the Iron Dragon Slayer drawled with a grin. "Look who's joined the party, didn't see you there, Sunshine. Aren't you sneaky?"
Y/N rolled his eyes. "I wasn't sneaking, Gajeel. And tone it down on the creepy smirk; otherwise, your face will get stuck like that. Then again, given its current state, it'd be an improvement."
The jab was smooth and disinterested, like swatting a fly. But Laxus's brow twitched, subtly.
Natsu, ever the chaos bringer, perked up. "Y/N, perfect timing! You and me, tomorrow at SouthGate, tomorrow too. I've never had a one-on-one with you before, and I'm itching to see if you can beat me."
Wendy, once again, looked like she was about to bite her nails off at the prospect of another unnecessary fight.
"No," Y/N replied flatly, not even blinking.
Once again, the Sky Dragon Slayer's obvious relief was nearly comical in nature.
"Oh, come on!" Natsu groaned. "What are you afraid I'll wipe the floor with ya? One quick spar—!"
"I don't waste my time, nor my power, on ridiculous ego-brawl contests. Also, I've already done my charity for the month."
Gajeel cackled. "Damn, he called you weak, Salamander."
"What?! I did not—!"
"Sounds like it to me."
Y/N didn't even bother defending himself. He just turned, clearly prepared to walk away. And that was when Laxus suddenly stepped forward again, the weight of his boots grinding into the dirt. "Alright," he said gruffly. "Fine. Let's do it."
Wendy deflated like a balloon. "Oh no…"
The Thunder Legion lit up, proud to see their leader not backing down and showing himself to be the strong, capable Wizard they knew him to be.
But Y/N turned back slowly, gaze settling on Laxus once again. There was nothing triumphant in his expression. No smirk, no baited pride. Just… disappointment.
Laxus could see it, feel it too. Like a gloomy, thunderhead cloud suddenly floated above him, threatening to strike him down at any moment.
It hurt more than he'd ever admit. Yet, somehow, it made him want to win.
As stupid as it was, maybe tomorrow could be his chance at showing he was deserving of another chance. Not for the sake of glory or pride.
But for him.
"Laxus!"
Y/N stormed down the corridor of the boys' dormitory, boots slamming against the wood, his entire aura radiating a barely retrained fury. Anyone in his way had the good sense to move.
Word had reached him—too fast, not fast enough—about Laxus's latest outburst at the guild. The nerve of him! Not only had he failed to show up during the assault from Phantom Lord, deliberately at that, considering he's not aware that Y/N heard every little bit of his disgusting tone when Mirajane called him, but he now had the audacity to brag about it? As if that entire war hadn't left the guild bloodied, broken, and grieving. Gramps had nearly died, Erza and Mira both nearly put their lives on the line, and everyone else.
And yet, Laxus, in all his arrogant, self-righteous glory, thought he was in any position to throw blame? After the Master specifically said no one was to be held accountable, including him. But, here he comes, pointing fingers at Lucy, disrespecting Jet and Droy as if it was their fault Phantom chose to target them.
Y/N's fists were clenched so tightly, they glowed.
If Makarov hadn't stopped and talked Y/N down from his initial plans to knock some sense into that boy, let's just say their guild would've been down one resident lightning wizard. But the Master forbade any punishment of that extreme level… lucky bastard.
Funny how their roles had reversed this time around. Y/N always was the one calming Makarov down, defending Laxus after he put his foot in his mouth—again. But this time, the old man had too much on his plate: with the looming pressure of the Magic Council following the aftermath of their fight with Phantom, and thus, Fairy Tail's fate had yet to be ruled on. Just the stress of that alone was exhausting on the Master, so he didn't have time himself to reprimand Laxus. Thankfully, he didn't have to.
He had Y/N for that.
Outside of the Gramps, the guild was basically run by both Mirajane and Y/N. In fact, she was the only one who really understood just how much Y/N did for Makarov behind the scenes. And not because the old man ever asked. Just because Y/N felt like he owed him.
No matter how old he would get, he'd never forget what Makarov had done for him–taking him in as a child with no questions asked, even under difficult circumstances, he never felt the need to without good reason. And that good reason only being his very overwhelming power, which Makarov helped him to master, seeing as they both shared the capabilities of Light Magic. Only Makarov hadn't seen a magic as potent as Y/N's before. He never spoke of it aloud, but he knew that with power like Y/N's, he'd easily earn a title as a Wizard Saint, if not, the top spot.
No one, outside of Makarov, though, knew the levels of Y/N's magic, for various reasons. Due to things from his past and other factors, it was best that the depths of Y/N's power be kept a guarded secret, something that only they knew, except for Laxus.
The three of them—Makarov, Y/N, and Laxus—would train together when the two younger boys were just kids. Light and lightning, nearly inseparable and learning side by side.
Makarov always said he thought of every guild member as his child, but with Y/N, it was different. He had always seen the boy as another grandson, a second chance to raise someone right after the disaster of his own son. And Y/N, in turn, had grown into that role with pride, treating Makarov like a father—and Fairy Tail like a home he'd fight tooth and nail to protect.
Which was exactly why this—Laxus's little dramatic return, conveniently timed after Mira reopened job requests—sent him over the edge. The blonde electric dunderhead wasn't as clever as he'd like to think, timing his visit when he very well knew Y/N would be spending the day coordinating with vendors, helping to rebuild the guild, negotiating contracts, and scheduling deliveries for supplies… thus, choosing that moment to coincidentally drop in and start a fight?
On top of that, he thinks he can threaten people with kicking them out of the guild?
No. Not today. If he really wants a fight, then, dammit, he's gonna get one.
The door to Laxus's room slammed open without warning.
"You really thought I wouldn't find out?" Y/N's voice cracked like a whip through the space, fury radiating off him in waves.
Laxus looked up from where he'd been sitting casually on his bed, shoes off and legs stretched out, while his arms were folded behind his head, his spiked earphones pumping out what was probably classical rock. Though he wasn't surprised at all by Y/N's arrival, not only able to sense his magic approaching the moment he stepped into the building, but also just because this was usual protocol whenever Laxus did something "bad."
On the other hand, he wasn't expecting his door to nearly be blown off the hinges by a ray of golden sunbeams. That… was a new development. Either way, his familiar smirk slid right into place at the sight of his long-time friend and… other things.
"Took you long enough," he drawled, standing slowly to his full height. The room suddenly felt smaller with him upright, shoulders brushing close to the doorframe. "Who snitched on me this time? Was it Mira? Erza? That little pipsqueak Max?"
Y/N slammed the door behind him with a sharp click. A faint shimmer of light danced beneath his skin, not yet blazing, but alive and restless, just like the sun that streamed directly through the window, illuminating the wizard and his power even more.
Laxus was almost scared.
Almost.
"Oh, so you do know your guildmates' names," Y/N said coolly, arms crossed, an unimpressed brow lifting. "So the little stunt with Jet and Droy was just for show then?"
Laxus tilted his head, lips twitching.
"Who's Jet and Droy?"
Y/N blinked once.
He was going to kill him.
"I swear to every god in existence, Laxus—"
"Relax." Laxus's smirk widened as he leaned against the wall, arms lazily crossed in front of him like he didn't have a care in the world. Suddenly, Y/N was getting a very vivid flashback of a moody teenage Laxus; unfortunately, both excelled in getting on his last nerve. "You know, it's cute how easy I can rile you up still."
Y/N's eye twitched.
"I'm not in the mood today," he bit out, pacing now to keep himself from throwing something—namely, the Lightning Wizard—out the window. "You know I've been swamped helping rebuild the guild hall, and this is how you decide to help? Showing up just to piss everyone off?
Laxus shrugged lazily, watching him move like a cat stalking prey. "You were gone. The guild was too quiet. I got bored. It wasn't like there was anyone else to keep me entertained."
"So, to keep you from causing trouble, you, as an adult, need another adult to babysit you? Just how old are you again?"
"What? Nothing wrong with stirring the pot up a little bit."
Y/N stopped, turned to him with an incredulous glare. "So you walked in, insulted pretty much everyone in the room, and started throwing blame around like confetti—at Lucy, of all people—just because you were bored?"
Laxus pushed off the wall and took a slow step close, the spark of amusement never leaving his eyes. "Did I lie? The whole reason Phantom came after us is because her daddy wanted little Miss Princess to return home."
"Funny how you use the word 'us' when you didn't even show up, and… you just told Mira earlier that the fight had nothing to do with you," Y/N snapped, squaring his shoulders, "And if we're pointing fingers, I've got a great candidate standing right in front of me. Tall, blonde, full of lightning, and an ego big enough to crack the foundation we just laid."
"Aw, don't flatter me," Laxus murmured, voice low and teasing. "You make it sound like you think about me when I'm not around."
Y/N stared while the Lightning Wizard grinned.
"I will incinerate you."
"You'd miss me too much."
The silence that settled between them wasn't peaceful—it was something else. Thick with something unknown, or even more, something that refused to be named, but both were intimately familiar with. Laxus's smirk lingered like a challenge, sharp and deliberate, but Y/N could see the way his jaw ticked, how he shifted his stance slightly forward, like he was waiting—bracing—fr something more.
That ever-present cockiness was a mask, and Y/N knew it. He knew what was underneath it, what it was covering, what it meant when Laxus got like this with him. The arrogance, the teasing, the way he leaned in too close—it all felt like a game, one Laxus never played with anyone else. Just him.
And that was the problem.
Y/N pulse was far too aware of the heat radiating off the other man, the storm simmering just beneath his skin that was hidden by those atrocious clothes the man dared call fashionable.
Everyone was entitled to their opinions. Thankfully, he had a body that made the clothes work. Not that Y/N paid attention to that sort of thing, because of course not! Why would he ever pay attention to something like that? Shut up.
…
Anyways… it always threw him off, this stupid magnetic thing between them—the kind that made him lose time, lose sense, lose himself in ways he shouldn't. His eyes flicked up to Laxus's, catching that glint of amusement wrapped in something darker, something unspoken. Something like want.
No. He reminded himself why he was here, why he stormed down that hallway in the first place. This wasn't about games, or tension, or whatever unresolved mess stretched tight between them like the fraying edge of a spell. He was here because Laxus had gone too far… again.
"You didn't show up," he said, his voice low—each word falling like a gavel. "Phantom Lord tore our home apart. People were bleeding and injured. Erza, Mirajane, the same people you dismiss as 'weak'—risked everything to protect the guild. Your own grandfather was nearly killed, and you didn't show up."
Laxus scoffed, the sound full of dismissive thunder. "Last time I checked, the old geezer's still breathing, so what's the problem? No one died, and you handled it, like you always do." He took a step closer, letting his shadow stretch over Y/N. "And that's exactly it, isn't it? You and me—we carry this guild, always have. The rest of them?" He waved a hand vaguely, eyes narrowed. "Dead weight. If half of them were as strong as us, maybe they wouldn't get chained to trees or knocked out in one shot. Fairy Tail's gotten too soft. Too many weak links."
"Erza tanked a direct him from that damn Jupiter cannon and took down one of the Element Four with a single strike, by herself," Y/N snapped back, nostrils flaring. "She wasn't even at her full power because of the previous fight. I wouldn't call that weak."
"And yet the guild hall still got blown to hell," Laxus said flatly, shrugging. "And she nearly got herself killed. Whoop-tee-doo."
Y/N let out a dry, humorless laugh. "You're unbelievable." He turned on his heel, already halfway toward the door, sick of the sound of his own voice in this never-ending argument. "Why am I even wasting my breath? You didn't even show up, and you think you get to decide who's weak? Who belongs in Fairy Tail?" He paused just long enough to glance back over his shoulder, voice sharper now—cool and final. "News flash: you're not the Master. And just because you're his grandson doesn't mean this guild is yours by default. Not yet, at least. There are rules—standards—and you'd do well to remember your place."
He nearly made it to the door before something had him pausing in his tracks. Laxus, in a flash, closed the distance between them and grabbed Y/N's arm—tight, heated fingers curling around his bicep with just enough force to halt him mid-step. It wasn't painful, but it was deliberate, sort of possessive to. Like a line was being drawn.
Y/N stilled, pulse ticking against the grip. "You wanna talk about my place?" Laxus growled loudly, voice rough around the edges now. "Then don't forget yours."
The calloused heat of Laxus's palm burned through the sleeve of his jacket, thumb pressed against the inside of his forearm—just enough pressure to keep him there. It was a stark reminder of exactly how strong Laxus was. The dense muscle behind that grip, the raw, effortless power in Laxus's frame, radiated through every inch of contact.
Y/N turned to face him.
He didn't flinch, didn't cower. Even pinned where he stood, his expression was steady, defiant. He knew what Laxus was banking on. That he wouldn't retaliate, that he wouldn't escalate. That he'd keep swallowing his anger and just smooth things over.
Laxus had already burned through that patience.
"I know who's weak," Laxus said, eyes flashing as his gaze dragged over Y/N, slow, assessing, but not dismissive, not like towards the others. "You're not one of them, but don't make me have to include you with them."
The admission was subtle, but Y/N caught it instantly.
"Oh?" he asked quietly. "I don't know about you, but where I'm from, most people would consider that a threat."
Laxus's jaw tightened. "It can be. I'm doing what the old geezer won't. What you won't," he snapped. "Fairy Tail could be unstoppable if we stopped pretending everyone deserves to stand at the top."
"You don't get to decide that," Y/N shot back, stepping forward despite the hold, forcing Laxus to release him. "You don't get to burn everything down and call it progress."
Laxus moved before the words fully settled.
One moment, Y/N was standing his ground—the next, a heavy palm slammed into the wall beside his head, the other hand wrenching his wrist behind his back. Laxus pressed in, all muscle and thunder, and barely restrained fury, pinning him effortlessly.
"You're acting like you want to hit me," Laxus murmured near his ear, voice low, intimate in a way that made Y/N's stomach twist. "I know you won't, though. You never do."
"Won't I?"
The words were soft in response… the actions weren't.
Laxus leaned back, his expression a mix of confusion and surprise. The room crackled with energy as light flared. Y/N’s body began dissolving into blinding rays that slipped free of his grasp. By the time Laxus turned, Y/N was already behind him. Two sharp beams of light shot forward, locking around his wrists and slamming him into place with an unyielding force.
Laxus sucked in a breath, eyes widening despite himself.
"Don't," Y/N warned, voice steady, lethal in its calm. His irises burned gold-white now, sunlight pouring in from the window behind him, framing his silhouette in a radiant halo. "I'm done cleaning up after you. This is your last chance, Laxus."
Silence stretched between them. For a moment, something cracked. Laxus looked at him—not over him, not past him, at him. The arrogance faltered, just a hair.
"I'm warning you," Y/N continued, unwavering. "I won't tolerate your blatant disrespect towards this guild or its people anymore. I'd say your grandfather, too, but that is where I'll remember my place, and he's more than capable of handling himself. You're free to have your opinions—but learn to keep them to yourself. And if you do anything against Fairy Tail—anything at all—I won't defend you. I'll be the one standing in front of Gramps, telling him you should be expelled."
Laxus froze. He didn't fight the restraints—not that he had been before. His eyes went wide, breath hitching as the weight of it hit him.
"…You really think I'd take it that far?" he muttered.
"Yes," Y/N said without hesitation. "Because you already have."
For a long, charged moment, Laxus didn't move. His jaw clenched, the storm behind his eyes threatening to snap loose, but it didn't. Not this time. Because the truth was, he hadn't expected any of this.
Not the light restraints, not Y/N's voice like steel, not the ultimatum, delivered with the kind of finality that made something twist sharp and ugly in his chest. He hated his feeling of being caught off guard, of being outmatched not just in strength, but in control.
And worst of all, it was Y/N doing it. The one person he never wanted to be on the other side of a threat from. For a moment, pride roared to fight back. But it passed, because deep down, he knew—this situation was already spiraling, and if he pushed again, he wouldn't just lose the argument. He'd lost him. So he let out a breath, low and frustrated, shoulders dropping as he finally conceded.
Laxus exhaled sharply before speaking. "Fine, whatever. Drop it."
Y/N did. He dropped his spell and released the wizard, who immediately went to rub his wrists, even though there was no injury there, cause just like the Lightning Wizard, he was firm, but he wouldn't go there, not with him.
He turned to make his exit for the door, his back to the Lightning Wizard now, who made his way back toward his bed.
"They're weak," Laxus threw over his shoulder, almost casually. "Most of them, you know it."
Y/N's expression hardened. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'll tell you this…"
Laxus glanced back, brow lifting.
"Erza's strong because she recognizes the strength in others. Despite how much of a powerhouse she is, she always recognizes that everyone has the potential to become stronger, and never assumes herself as the stronger one just because she's powerful.
Laxus merely scoffed.
Y/N continued. "Mirajane… if she ever regains what she lost after Lisanna, she'd be a nightmare for you, and anyone else who got on her wrong side, and you know I'm not wrong."
Laxus's lips pressed thin. "Oh yeah, who else?"
"Natsu."
The room shifted, Y/N choosing not to acknowledge the clenched fists with static electricity soft dancing around them.
"You think that little punk is tougher than me?" There was quiet venom slipping into Laxus's tone, something ugly and raw beneath the surface as he marched into Y/N's space, staring him down.
"See," he responded quietly. "That reaction? That's exactly what I'm talking about. Letting your ego rule you is what will be your downfall… just like your dad.
Laxus froze. Their faces were inches apart, breath mingling, lightning and light humming in near violent harmony. For a split second, Laxus looked like he might say something—before pride slammed the door shut again.
"Get out," he snapped. Y/N straightened his shirt, eyes never leaving him.
"I won't stop you next time," he said. " And when everything comes crashing down, don't look for me to pull you out of it."
He paused at the door.
"…I don't want to lose you," he added, softer. Then he left.
Laxus stood alone, lightning crackling wildly around him—
And for the first time, unsure whether the strength he was chasing was worth what he was about to destroy in return.
~~~
Everyone was gathered in their sad, cramped excuse for a guild hall—Y/N was trying to be grateful they even had one, but damn, this place was a dump. A temporary dump, he was sure of, but still. He missed the height, the history, the warmth that made their old guild hall feel like home. This… felt like a glorified shed.
Master Makarov had just finished making his announcement—the one no one wanted to hear: he was stepping down as Guild Master. The air inside dipped the moment the words left his mouth, every face shadowed in some form of quiet grief.
Y/N shared in the sentiment. Makarov was Fairy Tail, in many ways, for them. A father figure. A grandfather. A stubborn, loud, compassionate anchor to those who had none. For those with complicated family pasts—himself included—Makarov was more than a Master. He was what made this guild a family, made it home.
His gaze swept the room. A few key faces were missing—Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Wendy, Carla, and Gray were still out. They'd be in for a surprise when they got back.
Speaking of surprises…
Y/N's eyes landed on someone he didn't expect to see—Laxus.
Standing closer to the back of the crowd, his thunder minions surrounding him, shoulders squared, expression unreadable. Y/N's brows drew together. He had no idea what Laxus was doing here, especially considering he still wasn't technically part of the guild. That fact didn't change and wasn't changing, no matter what anyone believed, thought, or felt.
Besides, it wasn't like Laxus gave them any reason to believe he changed or learned his lesson. Not after that little spectacle he pulled with Natsu at SouthGate Park.
Y/N remembered that day clearly. Standing just behind Makarov, who'd looked thoroughly unimpressed when he found out about the fight secondhand—thank you, Wendy. They'd watched from a distance, the two Light Wizards, the Sky Dragon Slayer and her Exceed, bearing silent witness as the so-called "duel" between Laxus and Natsu ended before it started.
The rest of the crowd watched in silent shock before hurriedly scrambling off in search of Gajeel, like eager little bloodhounds after the Iron Dragon Slayer had quietly escaped what was certain to be a similar fate to Natsu’s.
The air had been thick with tension. And Y/N—though he didn't want to admit it—could see something unfamiliar in Laxus's face as he stood in the aftermath, gaze tilted toward them. Not anger, nor arrogance. Something smaller—regret.
But—true to form—he said nothing. No apology, nor any type of semblance of an explanation, even though Y/N didn't need one since he knew everything that led up to this, and surely had already given Makarov all the necessary details. Laxus didn't even attempt to reach out or even try to fix things. He just walked off, like he always did.
Bickslow was the only one surprised at this—not much surprise there, though—while Evergreen pleaded for him to come back to Fairy Tail. Fried tried to even confront Makarov directly, requesting that the master take Laxus back, citing that his expulsion from that guild had lasted long enough.
Y/N had barely stopped himself from laughing out loud. Really? Seven years may have passed for them, but Laxus sure as hell hadn't lived them. That expulsion still stood, and time frozen in a stasis bubble didn't exactly count as growth.
Not that Fried dared with him.
One look at the flat, unreadable expression on Y/N's face told him exactly how that conversation would go. Y/N had nothing to say to Laxus.
Not yet, at least…
Besides, Laxus didn't deserve it anyway.
"Without further ado, the fifth Master of Fairy Tail… Gildarts Clive!"
An awkward silence fell across the room.
All eyes turned to the space behind Makarov, where Gildarts should have been standing—except he wasn't. Instead, it was just Mirajane and Y/N, standing side by side in what was supposed to be the grand handoff moment. Makarov blinked, confused.
Mira smiled, clearly enjoying the irony of the moment just as much as Y/N was.
"Where the hell is Gildarts?" Makarov questioned.
"I'm not sure, but he left us a note," Mira answered, before handing over the envelope.
As Makarov read the contents aloud, his brow twitched.
Chuckles and giggles muttered across the room as everyone listened to Makarov reading, almost as if they could hear Gildarts's husky bass themselves. Eventually, everyone had caught on to the fact that Gildarts had resigned from the position before the weight of it could even remotely drop on his shoulders.
Y/N fought back a grin, only just managing not to look too smug. He'd seen this coming from a mile away—especially after the strange little chat he'd had with Gildarts earlier that day.
"You think we're missing something?" Gildarts had asked, arms crossed as he leaned. against the cracked wooden bar of the guild hall. Man, this place was sad.
Y/N paused. "…Not really. Maybe our pride. Our name's been dragged through the mud these past few years, but that's not permanent. We'll earn it back—just maybe with a little less collateral damage this time."
Gildarts gave a low hum. "You really think we can bring it all back? After everything that's happened?"
"If I didn't believe broken things could heal," Y/N said, eyes warm but steady, "I wouldn't be a light wizard."
"What about trust? Reputation's taken quite the hit. Lost a lot of favor with the people."
"Everything can be restored, with time."
That earned an amused hum from the Crash Magic Wizard, Gildarts's gaze lingering a bit longer than usual, thoughtful and… something mischievous.
Now, standing in the crowded guild hall, Y/N knew exactly what that mischief had been about.
"I hereby reinstate Laxus as a member of Fairy Tail."
…What?
Y/N stiffened, the amusement in his chest fizzling out. His eyes slid toward Makarov, whose temples were already beginning to pulse. The letter trembled slightly in his grip.
"He's got some nerve…" Makarov muttered under his breath, veins bulging.
"No way…" Laxus mumbled, clearly just as surprised.
But the guild didn't hesitate.
"Welcome back to the fold, old buddy!" Bickslow cheered.
"This is wonderful! The Thunder Legion is back!" Evergreen added, while hugging onto Laxus's sleeveless, muscled arm. That earned another dark feeling to the usually irradiant wizard, plus a violent twitch in his eyebrow…and fist.
Fried, ever the emotional one, cried tears of joy. "Thank you, Gildarts. This is a blessed day."
Makarov sighed heavily. "Hmph. Well… if that is the Master's wish, then so be it…" He grumbled, but didn't beat on it any further. Of course, the next line in the letter made him choke.
"And second, I hereby appoint Makarov Dreyar as Fairy Tail's sixth master."
"But I just retired!" Makarov nearly tore the paper in half, while a new round of laughs and cheers filled the guild hall. A new dawn was approaching for Fairy Tail.
The energy in the hall shifted—celebratory, bright. Natsu, Lucy, and the rest of their team came bursting in shortly after, swept up into the buzz of excitement over Laxus's reinstatement and the Master's very brief retirement.
But not everyone was celebrating.
Mira noticed it first, considering she was standing next to him, and then Erza. The storm in Y/N's eyes was impossible to miss. His posture stiff, jaw set, the light shining around him almost looking as if it was losing luminance. The glowing calm he usually carried was gone—replaced with something both distant and cold.
And then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
A pulse of light, and he vanished from the hall entirely, leaving only the faintest shimmer behind him. Mira exchanged a glance with Erza, who looked ready to follow after him—but stopped when the flicker of movement at the far edge of the room caught her eye.
Laxus. His head had turned toward the door, almost the exact moment Y/N disappeared. His expression was unreadable, but his focus was clearly on… something.
Of everyone in that room, only he had noticed the moment Y/N left.
And unlike everyone else, cheering and getting into the spirit of celebration, Laxus didn't smile.
Not once.
The celebration was in full swing. Laughter, clinking mugs, a few too many songs being sung off-key. Inside, the guild hall was spilled over with joy at every table. So, for everyone's sake, Y/N found it necessary to step outside.
He didn't want to ruin the mood. The others were ecstatic, and understandably so; after all, Fairy Tail had one of their strongest back, their prodigal lightning brat. Even he could admit it was something worth smiling about. Still, the others could tell he, along with Gramps, wasn't exactly thrilled with Gildarts' "bold" decision.
Honestly, he was still trying to calm the urge to hunt that ragged, cape-wearing thickhead down and give him a piece of his mind—or a well-aimed barrage of light arrows. It might've been nighttime, but the moon was full, hanging bright and heavy over Magnolia, casting the sun's reflected light over it like a homing beacon. Finding Gildarts wouldn't be difficult.
He exhaled through his nose, tilting his head up toward the stars. He couldn't believe the man—just letting Laxus waltz back into the guild like nothing had happened. Sure, Gildarts technically had the title of Guild Master, even if it was short-lived, and yes, that meant he could reinstate Laxus. Fine, whatever.
But as Master, even if temporarily, he should've considered more why Laxus was expelled in the first place, or at least asked about it, since he likely didn't know all the details. Did he even bother asking? What he'd done wasn't something you could shrug off with a grin and a "oh well." It had been so bad, so deliberate, that even Makarov—who has forgiven and given grace in many situations where he would've been considered crazy for doing so, and has been—had no choice but to kick him out. And Y/N… had stood there, watching, not even blinking when finding out what the sentence came down to, because he'd seen it. The tail end of it at least, plus the aftermath. That kind of betrayal you don't forget, let alone sweep under the rug.
There had been a lot Y/N wanted to say and do—especially after Gramps read that letter. One of them being hunting down Gildarts. But what would've been the point? What's done was done.
To everyone else, the "Battle of Fairy Tail" was ancient history. For those that were trapped on Tenrou, though, it still felt fresh—something that had happened not seven years ago, but earlier that year. He had to remind himself that time didn't stand still for everyone. The world had moved on, and so had the guild.
Many had already forgiven Laxus. Even some who were there on Tenrou seemed content to let it go. They were happy to see him, happy he'd shown up to help. Y/N couldn't believe it—but hey, if they wanted to be gullible idiots, that was their problem. He wasn't about to let himself get played like one again.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, letting his eyes drift toward the sky. The air outside was cooler, cleaner, and quieter. Inside, the chaos of Fairy Tail thrummed like a heartbeat—mugs clinking, chairs scraping, voices overlapping in half a dozen drunken conversations. The sound was comforting in its own way.
Still… this hall didn't hold a candle to their old one.
When would they finally get it back? Gramps had mentioned it wouldn't be long now, but who knew? Not that Y/N wasn't grateful for what they had—especially after hearing what the rest of Fairy Tail endured while he and the others were stuck on Tenrou for so long.
Seven years gone. Seven years of missed laughter, growth, heartbreak, and change. He'd blinked, and it had all disappeared.
People liked to joke about how fast time flew, but for him, it wasn't a saying. It was a fact.
He could feel it—the way some parts of him had shifted, while others clung stubbornly to the past. The world around him had changed—continued to change. And he had too, but the parts of him that stayed the same were the ones still holding on to something—someone.
He remained motionless when the door creaked open behind him, but the distinct thump of boots on dirt revealed the identity of the person who had followed him outside. The soft glow of the night light only confirmed his suspicions.
"Hey…"
Y/N turned, already half-annoyed, only for his eyes to land on that ridiculous outfit. Fur-lined collar and sleeves, except the sleeves in question don't exist, as if he were trying to model winter wear for bodybuilders. Honestly, what even was this style?
"Have I ever mentioned that outfit makes you look like a crime boss whose mommy finally let him shop for his own clothes?" he asked before he could stop himself.
Laxus blinked at him. "That supposed to be a compliment?"
"No," Y/N deadpanned, though the corner of his mouth did twitch—against his will. "But it could be, if you stopped dressing like a cosplayed villain from Sorcerer Weekly."
Laxus huffed, his version of a chuckle, before he took a subtle look down at himself. "Do I really?"
"Now? No," Y/N replied coolly, eyes flicking up and down Laxus's frame, "but only because you're not wearing that damn coat like it's some cloak."
Laxus frowned, arms folded over his broad chest. "What's wrong with my coat?"
Y/N gave him a look so dry it could have withered a flower. He gestured vaguely at the blonde's ensemble. "The fact that you wear it like a cloak, for one. Unlike that shirt–… sweater, vest, whatever you're wearing, the sleeves exist on your coat for a reason. They're not just there for decoration."
Laxus glanced down at his bare arms, as if he was genuinely considering the critique. Then he shrugged, the fur-lined fabric shifting on his shoulders with the motion.
"Freedom of movement," he said simply, like that explained everything.
Y/N snorted under his breath, turning back toward the open sky. "Right. Because lightning wizards are known for being constrained by their jackets."
There was that huff again, Y/N understanding its meaning perfectly. The big lug wasn’t offended by his comments. In fact, this was the most normal conversation they’d had in a while, a nostalgic feeling blooming…at least until his memory had to go and ruin the moment, remembering exactly why he was out there in the first place. Then, it all went sour again.
He shouldn't be joining with him right now, and he definitely should be letting his guard down. Because now, that Laxus was standing this close, face half-lit by the moon, something about him looked… different.
First off… when did he even manage to get this close?
"Why are you out here? Shouldn't you be inside celebrating with the others? It is your 'Welcome Back' party after all."
The usual sharpness in his expression was still present, but it had softened around the edges. He appeared exhausted. Not physically, of course—he still looked capable of lifting a tree with one arm—but emotionally. His demeanor was quiet and even hesitant.
"It was getting crowded," Laxus said finally, his tone low. "Needed some air."
Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Or you could just admit you saw I left and couldn't resist coming out here to pester me."
Laxus refrained from arguing, which was the most frustrating aspect. Why would he do so when he was aware that Y/N was correct?
Instead, he just looked at him—really looked at him—his jaw working like he was chewing down every instinct screaming at him not to speak. His voice came low, rough around the edges, like each word cost more than he'd ever admit.
"Alright… I admit I didn't come out here expecting a warm welcome. I just wanted you to know that I was just as surprised as you were. I didn't have anything to do with it, and I didn't know Gildarts was planning it."
He shifted, fingers flexing slightly at his sides, like he didn't know what to do with his hands now that they weren't clenched into fists.
"Okay… your point? You're talking like I accused you of something. Is this supposed to be some sort of 'Not Guilty' plea?"
Y/N could tell Laxus wanted to roll his eyes, but refrained, ignoring the remark and continuing, "I know you're not happy I'm back. I get it. You've got every reason not to be. But…" His gaze flicked away for a second, then returned—steadier. "I just… I know I've got no right to ask anything of you. And I'm not asking. I just wanted you to know—this means nothing if it doesn't mean something to you, too."
Suddenly, Y/N was not only witnessing a side of Laxus that had been absent for a long time, but also a side that the rest of the guild rarely—if ever—had the privilege of seeing. It was the softness, a rare occurrence that only emerged when Laxus was at his most genuine. His uncanny and unspoken manner of expressing his feelings, without uttering a single word, conveyed the profound depth of his affection, hanging heavily in the silence that enveloped them.
Maybe, just maybe, if this had been years ago—the time jump still fucks with his head—if things hadn't happened the way they did… if certain bridges hadn't already burned, Y/N might have softened too.
But it wasn't years ago, and everything had happened exactly the way they happened. That right there, thinking Y/N could see past all of that because they were here now? That was his mistake.
"What do you want, Laxus?" Y/N asked finally, his tone flat, eyes flicking back toward the lights of Magnolia. "I'm not in the mood."
Laxus hesitated, shifting his weight like he wasn't sure whether to stay or go. The sound of celebration drifted faintly behind him—distant and warm, everything that the space between them wasn't. He didn't move at first, the silence stretching between them, thin and humming, broken only by the muffled laughter and music leaking from the guild's doors.
The faint scent of oak and rain-soaked stone carried through the air—the night suddenly feeling heavier, and the air felt too thick to breathe. Fireflies drifted lazily over the grass, their glow flickering like half-formed memories.
He stood there in the moonlight, broad shoulders tense beneath his fur-lined sweater, his usual confidence dulled into something quieter, uncertain. For a man who commanded lightning, he looked afraid to make a sound.
When he finally spoke, his voice came low, rough at the edges, stripped of its usual arrogance. "You know," he spoke lowly, eyes flicking briefly toward Y/N before falling to the ground, "if the old man hadn't sent you out that day… I wouldn't have gone through with it."
"So what?" he said, voice flat, though it carried a tremor that didn't quite belong to anger. "You're saying I'm to blame for you making our guild—all our friends—fight each other just to prove a point?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying! I—"
"—said something really stupid. Then again," Y/N's mouth curved without humor, "why am I surprised?"
The blonde's jaw tightened. He leaned forward slightly, the lamplight catching the faint tremor of frustration in his hands.
"Come on," Laxus said, his voice lower now, stripped of its usual edge. "Would you please just talk to me?"
Y/N scoffed softly, not even bothering to look at him. "I thought I already was. And what a spectacular waste of time that's been."
Laxus hesitated before trying again, "I—I said I was sorry," he insisted, the words coming out rough, like they'd been dragged from somewhere deep and unwilling. "I'm trying here, damn it."
"Really?" Y/N's voice rose—not a shout, but firm enough to still the muffled noise behind the guild hall's doors. "Would you like to give me a play-by-play of when this apology took place? Because I don't remember being present for it. In fact, I'm certain you've done everything else except apologize."
Laxus's frown deepened. His pride and guilt waged a silent war behind his eyes.
"What did you want me to do? I was already kicked out of the guild. Didn't seem like apologizing would do much good."
"Of course." Y/N let out a humorless scoff. "And there it is. Once again, you show how you can't think past your damn ego. An apology might not seem like much to you, but it's a start. A sign that you actually feel something for the damage you caused. Or was your little speech about 'one good deed' just for show, too?"
Unbeknownst to them, they'd already attracted the attention of their guildmates, who were creeping out of the hall one by one to watch what was shaping up to be a show certainly. Only the newer members—relatively new, anyway, again considering the time gap that had passed while the Tenrou group was frozen in time—looked genuinely uneasy. And honestly, they had every right to be. Watching two of Fairy's Tail's most powerful go at it was never a situation for the faint of heart… especially with this guild's reputation.
"Umm, should we step in? This looks like it could get out of hand," Lucy murmured, clutching her face while staring at the Light and Lightning wizards argue… like a married couple.
Who said that?!
"Trust me," Cana said without looking up from her drink, "the last thing you want is to get between those two right now—especially when Y/N's in that kind of mood."
"But they shouldn't be fighting," Wendy said softly while clutching Carla. "Laxus just got back into the guild. We should be celebrating."
"Oh, child," Carla sighed, looking up at her Dragon Slayer with that typical scolding look someone would think only an actual parent would be capable of. "Don't be so foolish. Clearly, there's more to this situation than meets the eye. I take it this has something to do with why Laxus was expelled in the first place?"
"Pretty much," Cana added dryly, sipping from her barrel. "Laxus might've just gotten back in thanks to circumstance, but he's not in the clear yet. This was bound to happen. Gildarts knew it too. Bet that's why he hightailed it out of Magnolia so fast."
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked in reply.
"Laxus and Y/N have always had a 'special' relationship," Mira chimed in from behind. "For all his bravado and bluster, Laxus has a soft spot, even though he'd probably never admit it—and it's got one name written all over it."
"Before he got kicked out, the only one who could ever rein him in—besides Gramps—was Y/N," Macao said.
"Bit of a touchy subject for the old man to," Wakaba added, lowering his voice. "Even our esteemed Makarov had trouble keeping Laxus in line. But Y/N? One word from him, and Laxus listened."
"After the mess that was the 'Battle of Fairy Tail,' Gray muttered, "everyone thought Y/N would rip him to shreds the moment he could. But, he never did. In fact, this is the most I've seen Y/N talk, let alone look Laxus's way since that day."
"If you ask me," Cana said with a smirk, "Laxus took being ignored by Y/N harder than getting kicked out of the guild."
Some distance in front of them, Y/N and Laxus stood facing each other, either ignorant of or ignoring the presence of their guildmates as the Lightning Wizard attempted to defend himself against the Light Wizard's verbal scolding.
"Okay, I messed up! You happy now? You wanted me to admit it so bad—there, I said it! I screwed up. So, can you just let it go? It was seven years ago."
Y/N face held many expressions, but one that was clear as the moon in the sky, even to the nosy guild members listening some distance away, was one of pure indignation.
"Don't you try to use some time gap we weren't even here for as an excuse. You were frozen on Tenrou Island, the same as the rest of us. We woke up not knowing how much time had passed. So no—seven years ago doesn't mean I can just 'let it go.' That's a bullshit ass excuse, Laxus, and you know it."
A beat of stunned silence followed.
"Oh, yikes…" Lucy whispered.
"Does he have to use such crude language?" Carla muttered, frowning. "He's aware there are children present."
"Yeah, but once Y/N gets going," Cana said lazily, "it's hard to stop him. And trust me—he can get a lot worse."
"I think Y/N's being unfair," Fried said. "Laxus suffered plenty during his expulsion. He's served his punishment."
"Yeah, he needs to lay off," Bickslow added,
"Honestly, the man's been through enough," Evergreen huffed. "Y/N's just making a scene to draw attention to himself."
Erza turned, her eyes narrowed with dangerous mischief.
"Oh, really? I guess that means you're all prepared to step in and defend Laxus's honor since you feel so strongly on the matter, hmm?"
All it took was one glance at Y/N's face as he went back and forth with their esteemed leader. Somehow—despite the obvious physical difference between the two wizards—Laxus looked like the smaller one in the confrontation. And with the light from the moon swaying around Y/N, like a leaf in the wind dancing around a tree, it was clear, even at night when the Light Wizard was supposedly at his weakest, how much power he radiated. Erza had never seen a demeanor change so fast.
"Oh, don't be silly, Erza," Fried said quickly.
"Yeah, no, I'm good," Bickslow added, taking a long drink.
"Uh—Laxus can handle himself," Evergreen muttered.
"Bunch of wimps," Natsu said, making all three of them snap their heads toward him with lightning fury.
"Would you shut it!"
Everyone's heads turned back to the bickering pair.
"Out of all the egotistical, idiotic nonsense that's ever come out of that one spark brain of yours, that stunt—your Battle of Fairy Tail—takes the damn cake! You could've killed someone, Laxus!"
Laxus's eyes burned, anger flickering with something more fragile beneath.
"Okay, but I didn't. You're acting like I actually did!"
"No," Y/N bit out, "but you certainly tried, didn't you? Do I need to remind you of the Thunder Palace?" He stepped forward, the air between them snapping with tension. "You put all of Magnolia in danger—for what? Some sick, twisted game? Innocent people, children, all just so you could prove a point?"
Several members of the Fairy Tail guild unconsciously shuddered, their bodies remembering what their minds wished they didn't—the electrifying pain they'd endured dismantling those chain lightning orbs. Seven years may have passed for some of them, but that memory was still sharp enough to sting.
"Or how about when you had Evergreen turn our guildmates to stone," Y/N continued, voice tightening, "and you threatened to shatter them if they didn't play by your and Fried's rules?"
Evergreen and Fried both stiffened, their expressions darkening with guilt. They didn't look at each other, nor at anyone else; the reminder of their own complicity settled heavily on their shoulders. Laxus didn't look much better—but Y/N clearly wasn't finished.
“I suppose we should express gratitude in part, though, since your little plan in ordering your Thunder goons into face-offs with our guildmates inadvertently aided Mira in regaining her power—after Fried nearly attempted to kill both Elfman and Juvia!"
Fried barely had time to process the insult to his team’s name when he was reminded of the painful memories associated with Cana, Elfman, Juvia, and Mira. Despite his loyalty to Laxus and his attempts to hide his feelings, one of Fried’s deepest regrets was ever considering following Laxus’s plan for a coup against their guild.
Laxus’s predicament was no better. As Y/N laid bare his arrogant and misguided intentions, he couldn’t help but feel increasingly ashamed. It was safe to say that the party mood—not that the Lightning Wizard was in much of one despite his would-be justifiable reasons—had been sullied.
"Wait, no, I actually think I’ll keep it since I just recalled one of those fights nearly resulted in Lucy being turned into one of Bickslow’s atrocious little tiki demons!”
Bickslow, also not even taking the time to feel properly insulted at the Light Wizard's jab, felt nothing but guilt crawl up his spine after meeting Lucy’s gaze, even suddenly feeling subsequent relief at the fact that Lucy managed to win that fight. But, he barely had time to ponder that thought as he, along with everyone else, grew increasingly uneasy at the unmistakable signs of the prodigy Light Wizard and his formidable power, which seemed to intensify with each passing moment of anger; the act of detailing every single one of Laxus’s transgressions seeming to be the catalyst for that effect.
"Ooh!" His voice sharpened. "I know. Maybe you remember Kardia Cathedral."
He took another step, the sarcasm in his voice frigid and humorless. "How about when you and Natsu were beating each other half to death, and you slammed him straight into the roof of the church. That one I had the pleasure of witnessing myself. What was it you said again?" His tone dropped to a low, cutting echo. "'Why won't you just die?' Or was I just hearing things?"
There wasn't much that could shake the Fire Dragon Slayer, but even Natsu grimaced at the memory—the pain, the casts, the bandages, the way laughter alone had hurt for days afterward. Meanwhile, Laxus had walked away from that fight with fewer bandages despite losing.
The words lingered in the air like smoke, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Y/N’s face, unnervingly dark, stared the blonde man down, daring him to argue back. His expression alone was unsettling, a stark contrast to the kind and genuine boy everyone in Fairy Tail knew Y/N to be, even despite his legendary temper.
But it wasn't the wounds or the loss that was hitting Laxus the hardest now. It was everything Y/N's words were stirring up—memories he wanted to bury, memories he'd deserved to be haunted by.
Including one he wished he could forget more than any other: packing his things after the verdict, the guild hall silent as they prepared for the Fantasia parade, and having to walk past Y/N on his way out. Seeing that look on his face—disappointment and contempt so raw and cutting it felt like a blade.
Much like how Y/N was looking at him now.
"Do I even need to mention your vile and abhorrent misuse of Fairy Law?" Y/N hissed, eyes narrowing. "Did you really think I wouldn’t notice it being invoked even if I wasn't already on my way back to Magnolia?"
A few confused and surprised glances were exchanged among the others.
“Hold on—does that mean he can use it too?” Gray whispered under his breath.
Makarov closed his eyes, letting out a sigh that held the weight of years. Beside him, Erza and Mirajane exchanged quiet glances, neither surprised.
"I warned your sorry ass, Laxus," Y/N said, voice sharp as glass—and just as cutting. "I told you—explicitly—that if you ever pulled anything against this guild, I wouldn't be the one standing between you and the consequences. And believe me, the only reason you're still standing there with that smug look and not buried under the weight of your own arrogance is because your grandfather—our Master—was far more gracious and merciful than I was, considering he'd just been nearly on his deathbed. You have him to thank for saving your hide by expelling you before I could get my hands on you.”
Gramps could sense the eyes on him, and he understood the reason behind it. As Gray had mentioned earlier, everyone was practically anticipating the moment when Y/N would inevitably lash out at Laxus the moment he had the opportunity. Consequently, after waking up, before even speaking with Laxus, he addressed Y/N and instructed him to stand down, assuring him that he would handle the situation.
Furthermore, the last thing he needed was having to control one of his more formidable wizards after dealing with the catastrophic event involving his own grandson. The last thing Fairy Tail and Magnolia needed, apart from Fairy Tail's usual chaos, was Y/N exercising no restraint.
Heavens know that boy’s temper is far more volatile than Laxus’s tenfold…
And now, his poor grandson was experiencing a small taste of it—something he wasn’t unfamiliar with. Didn't mean he enjoyed it, though. Even now, standing taller, stronger, trying to rebuild what he broke, the tension in his jaw betrayed what he wouldn't say: that Y/N's fury wasn't just righteous, it was earned. And if he really did decide to unleash it on him… it would be justified.
"Honestly, at this point, Laxus, I could go on—but the more I do, and the more I look at your stupid face gawking at me with that pitiful expression, the more pissed off I get. And the more tempted I am to light your ass up like the Fantasia parade. So, unless you want Gramps to officially be grandchildless, I suggest you get away from me."
A soft gasp rippled through the onlookers… well, those who hadn't seen this kind of thing before.
"Oh my…" Carla whispered, wide-eyed.
"Told ya he could get worse," Cana muttered, taking another swig from her barrel. "That scolding Laxus got from Gramps back on Tenrou? Slap on the wrist compared to Y/N."
Laxus stretched his fingers once, a habit when the Lightning Wizard was stressed, nervous, or generally uneasy—Y/N knew it.
"Y/N…" he said, voice low, not defensive but…
The Light Wizard wasn't having any of it, though.
"I offer you my congratulations," he said, each word clipped. "Welcome back to the guild. Not like you deserve it. Guess you're lucky Gildarts took pity on you." His jaw flexed. "He's lucky I don't go hunt him down and drag his ass back here by that ragged cape of his. Pretty ballsy of him either way, considering he knows if he's anywhere light can reach, I'll find him easily enough."
Laxus's shoulders tensed. "What? So I don't deserve a second chance?"
"You've had multiple chances!"
The way Y/N snapped, his hands flying out in exasperation, the shock of his outburst so raw, it seemed as if nature itself had quieted down just to observe the moment happening between the two wizards. Everyone chose to pretend they didn't slightly jump in anxiousness fear seeing the Light Wizard nearly lose his cool.
Oddly enough, it appeared as though the moon’s brightness increased, its reflected light shining down on the two wizards more intensely, as if it were glaring alongside the light wielder who commanded its rays. Cana, Erza, Mira, and other guild members who had witnessed and observed Y/N’s relationship with Laxus evolve into its current state and history, prior to the Lightning Wizard’s ego taking over, were taken aback by this outburst. Even they underestimated how angry Y/N truly was with the Master's grandson.
"Laxus, you've had more chances than I've got fingers and toes. I don't know how many times I had to go plead your case to Gramps after you did something stupid—again!"
A few looks were exchanged—that part, they absolutely hadn't known.
"Is that true, Master?" Erza asked Makarov, who was also busy observing the interaction between his grandson and protege. If it was, then suddenly, it made sense now to Titania why her S-Class colleague and friend would be upset at her attempting to speak or advocate on Laxus's behalf with their Master following the battle with Hades.
As for Makarov, a look of something no one could decipher washed over his face as he watched Laxus get the raw truth shoved into his own.
"Imagine me," Y/N continued, speaking with his hands now, too riled to stay still. "ME—having to talk your grandfather down from harsher punishments because you wanted to act like some snotty, arrogant, spoiled brat. You were ready to throw this guild, everyone in it, and everything it stands for away just because you couldn't handle your pissy-ass anger about your dad, and having to live in your grandfather's shadow like a grown man!"
"Ouch," Bisca winced.
"Oh, he's really laying it on," Jet whispered.
"Okay, maybe we should break this up—" Levy started, echoing Lucy from earlier.
Elfman held out an arm. "I wouldn't if I were you. Even a real man knows when it's best to stay on the sidelines—where it's safe."
"Don't worry," Mira said softly, watching the two closely. "Y/N may seem like he hates Laxus's guts right now, but that's not the case. Plus… you haven't seen one spark of lightning come off Laxus yet, have you?"
A collective realization rippled through the crowd. "Yeah," Gray muttered. "If any one of us had said all that to him, we'd be lightning rods by now."
"I still think they should just fight it out," Natsu said.
"Natsu, please." Lucy groaned.
"Master, aren't you going to say something?" Wendy asked.
Makarov stayed silent, still watching the scene unfold with a look that was impossible to read.
"After your dad got kicked out, you turned into this arrogant, mean, selfish little mongrel that treats everyone like garbage—like they don't deserve basic human respect if they don't meet your standard of 'powerful.'"
Laxus's composure cracked. "I never did that to you, did I?!"
"This isn't about me, you thickhead!" Y/N barked. "Do I need to take one of these tree branches out here to that dense ass skull of yours so a thought can get through, or are you just as brainless as Natsu?"
"HEY!" Natsu protested.
"He's got a point," Gray snorted.
"What'd you say?!"
Y/N wasn't slowing down. The dam had burst.
"Where were you when we were fighting Phantom Lord after they abducted and tortured Lucy?" he demanded. "Mirajane nearly lost her life after begging you to come help us—and what did you do? Act like a pig and demand something in return just to help your guildmates in their time of need?"
It wasn't obvious, but people could see Gajeel and Juvia shift on their feet at the mention of their former guild. The same one that had attacked Fairy Tail and destroyed their old guild hall.
"As a matter of fact—" Y/N's voice cracked like a whip, sharp with fury, "—I remember having to cuss your ass out—again—after you were being an arrogant jerk—again—during the rebuild of the guild hall! Screaming that the fight with Phantom had 'nothing to do with you,' right after another one of your useless tirades about how everyone was beneath you!"
The energy around him shimmered dangerously, radiant and volatile. His irises flared gold, catching the torches lit around outside the building like twin suns, heat radiating off his skin pulses. He took a step forward—then another—until he was practically standing chest-to-chest with Laxus.
Even if it meant he was still looking up at him, but that's not the point…
Laxus didn't move. Couldn't. The sheer force of Y/N's presence paralyzed him, every instinct screaming not to provoke him further. But that didn't save him.
Y/N shoved himself into Laxus's broad frame, his fist jabbing into the man's hard chest with a brutal thud.
"I defended you!" he snarled, his voice rising with every word. Jab. "I vouched for you!" Jab. "I stood between you and Gramps more times than I can count, always making excuses, always believing there was still some part of the friend I knew left in there!"
The glow in his eyes grew brighter, matching the righteous fury etched into every line of his face. His next strike wasn't a punch, but a flat-handed shove against Laxus's collarbone—hard enough to make the larger man stumble back a step.
"And still, you ignored me. Still, you spat on everything this guild stands for. No matter how many times I told you to stop disrespecting our guild and everyone in it, you never listened!"
Laxus stood there, breath caught in his throat, visibly shaken. Not by the force—he could take a hit—but by the words. By the truth behind them. His jaw clenched, but he didn't interrupt. He couldn't.
Not with Y/N's light pouring from every inch of him, every syllable burning with the weight of betrayal and heartbreak.
And for the first time in a long, long time… Laxus looked small.
No one seemed to notice—too caught up in the storm of Y/N's fury—but Makarov, standing silently with his arms crossed and a neutral expression, was actually thoroughly enjoying the show.
This was better than anything he could've dished out himself, and he didn’t have to lift a finger. That's why, after the dust had settled during the Harvest Festival and all its festivities, he'd said little more than the speech he did before delivering Laxus's final verdict.
Why bother when he knew his future grandson-in-law would handle the hard part for him?
…Oops. He didn't say that out loud, did he?
"But I guess you're implying that if it had been me who Phantom took, then you could've been bothered to show up?" Y/N shook his head, furious disbelief written in every line of his body. "That's the problem, Laxus! Because if it had been you, or Lucy, or Bisca, or Gray, or Levy, Happy—anyone—I would've shown up. No matter who it was. And I did show up! Because that's my family."
Laxus flinched once more. The others watched in disbelief as they had never seen the electric magic wielder reduced to something like a small child undergoing the disciplining of their life.
"And you," Y/N pressed, voice roughening, finger jabbing into the hard muscle of the Lightning Wizard's chest, "couldn't even be bothered to save your own grandfather when he had his magic siphoned out of him and scattered all over! Mystogan, of all people, had to be the one to save him. Sure, you showed up on Tenrou—whoop-tee-freakin'-doo. One time." He scoffed. "I don't recall seeing you helping us with the Infinity Clock either. Yet from what I've heard, you've been staying on the outskirts of town."
"Sorry for not wanting to hang around a place I wasn't welcome," Laxus muttered.
"And there goes your ego again!" Y/N snapped. "Gosh, I don't know why I even bother because you're clearly incapable of getting it! It's not about being welcomed, or repeating 'I'm sorry' until your throat gets sore. If you want to be better, then be better. If you want to make amends, then start by actually acting like a Fairy Tail member. You kept going on about blood ties, yet every single person over there—who I've been hearing loud and clear, by the way—has fought for each other, whether they're blood or not."
Everyone pretended they didn't see Fried, Bickslow, and Evergreen each shuffle a few steps back, while the rest of the guild awkwardly shifted as if their half-baked attempt at not eavesdropping would suddenly become convincing—even though they'd been standing outside watching for the past ten minutes.
"Natsu—impulsive and idiotic as he is—has more spark and heart in him than I've seen from you in years. He'll fight tooth and nail to prove he's stronger and to protect his friends, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, you've only ever fought for the first thing."
Laxus, feeling the heat of Y/N's glare burning into him, flicked his gaze to the side, and there Natsu stood, staring right back at him. There wasn't even a hint of disagreement in his expression—a bit ironic considering the first part of Y/N's description of him—because it was true. Everyone knew Natsu, for all his chaotic nonsense and frequent lack of brain cells, was exactly the kind of friend and guildmate anyone would want.
"You act like you're the only one who's been through something traumatic, when every single one of those people over there has been through something. A lot of it in under one damn year that you were barely present for, might I add."
Laxus' gaze traveled from Natsu to the rest of his guildmates, all looking back at him, not with the same malice and anger as Y/N was, but something that didn't disagree with the Light Wizard because it was true. Something his grandfather had been trying to get him to understand for years, who was also looking at him with a look he could easily recognize, and knew no one else would, well, except for Y/N.
"Erza was a slave in the Tower of Heaven before she came to Fairy Tail—and nearly lost her life when she got dragged back into its nightmare all over again. Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy were abandoned by the only parents they ever knew as children. Gray lost his whole family—then his master—to a damn demon. Lucy's freakin' dad died while she was trapped on Tenrou for seven years, only to find out he died a month before we all were finally set free. Only to then, nearly lose her life after being absorbed by some doomsday clock!"
Every single person Y/N named, even the ones he didn't name, carried that same shadow in their eyes—pain, loss, memories that never really left them. It was something the Lightning Wizard was now being forced to open his eyes to, no thanks to himself.
"Do I even need to bring up what Mira and Elfman went through in those two years they thought Lisanna was dead? You've seen for yourself how much Mira changed after that day." Y/N's voice wavered only in fury, never emotion. "And yet, both of them have risked their lives for this guild over and over again since then. All of them have. Because they're a family, this is their family. Fairy Tail is their home, and you—" his voice sharpened, cutting clean through the air—"you tried to take it away from them."
Once again, he wasn't wrong. Laxus remembered it clearly. They both did—standing there the day the guild learned Lisanna was gone. Watching Mira unravel into someone quieter, softer, almost hollow for some time, while Elfman practically broke apart under the guilt. Two long, brutal years. And still, they showed up for Fairy Tail every single day, no hesitation, no conditions, no ego.
He took a step back, chest rising and falling sharply.
"If you don't get that now… then this whole party was for nothing, and I think you'd be better off finding another guild."
A gasp, then complete, shocked silence followed that, no one knowing what to say. If there was any confusion before about how Y/N felt with Laxus coming back into the guild, there certainly wasn't anymore.
"You wanna make amends?" Y/N finished, voice tired but steady. "Then quit acting like everything is about you."
He turned on his heel and stalked off into the trees, leaving the guild frozen in stunned quiet.
"Welcome back to Fairy Tail," he threw over his shoulder. "Enjoy the rest of the party without me. I'll be off in the forest trying to stifle my urge to hunt down and castrate Gildarts. No offense, Cana."
"None taken," Cana said, lifting her drink. "I almost encourage it."
The courtyard behind the guild hall was quieter than usual, the usual raucous shouting and spell-induced chaos dulled to a distant hum inside. Afternoon light filtered through the leaves, golden and soft, as adolescent Laxus jogged past the stone path toward the small garden leading to the courtyard. He was grinning, excitement lighting up his face in a way only a kid with something cool to show off could wear.
He'd just shown his grandpa his move that he would do for the Fantasia parade, something special since his grandfather wouldn't be participating in the show this year. It was going to blow everyone away, especially Y/N. It would be his first parade since joining Fairy Tail, and Laxus wanted it to be unforgettable. Maybe they could brainstorm together and create a special handshake or something. Something only they could pull off.
"Hey, Y/N! Guess what, I came up with this new move… why are you crying?"
But as he turned the corner near the garden wall, the grin died on his face.
Y/N sat hunched beneath one of the flowing trees, knees drawn up, hands fisted in the hem of his shirt. His shoulders were shaking, and the sounds of sniffling and crying were suddenly louder than the rustling of leaves in the wind.
The blonde kid froze, confusion and concern tangling in his chest. Y/N never cried, at least he'd never cried before since they'd met each other earlier that year. Not even that time they got caught trying to sneak away on a job with Gildarts and Gramps chewed them both out.
He stepped forward, more cautious now. "Hey… what's wrong?"
Y/N raised his head but didn't look up, hiding his red eyes as he swiped at his face. "N-Nothing. Go away."
"Why would I do that?" Laxus plopped down beside him without asking, arms draped across his knees. "You're crying. I'm not going anywhere."
Y/N hesitated, as if weighing whether or not he should say anything. But Laxus didn't look away. He didn't press him either, just waited for the moment his friend was ready to talk. Somehow, it made it easier for the young light wizard, who'd finally looked up at the blonde boy.
"There were these mean older kids earlier… they said I don't belong here," Y/N muttered. "That I'm weird, and a stray off the street. That I'm not really one of you, a real member of the guild. They called me weak and said the Master only let me in out of pity."
Laxus's jaw clenched. "Who said that?"
"It doesn't matter." Y/N sniffed and stared down at his hands. "They're not wrong. I don't have a family. My parents didn't want me… I don't have anywhere else to go. I don't… belong anywhere else. They're right, if the Master decides to kick me out, I've got nothing.”
A new round of cries started, followed by the sound of the tree branches rustling in the breeze. Besides the sounds of a poor kid's sobs, the silence that sat between them felt heavy, far too heavy for boys their age. Laxus didn't speak right away, chewing on his bottom lip. But when he did, his voice was soft—softer than most people would ever hear from him again.
"You do belong here." He nudged Y/N's knee with his own. "You belong in Fairy Tail more than those jerks. You work harder than any of them, and you're way stronger than they are. Grandpa didn't bring you here out of pity. Everyone in Fairy Tail is family, including you.”
Y/N glanced at him, skeptical, eyes still glassy."
"And if you don't have anyone else…" Laxus didn't hesitate, sitting up straight, before pointing a thumb at himself. "Then you've got me. Okay? You'll always have me."
Y/N stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, he nodded, wiping his face with the back of his wrist. "Okay."
"Good." Laxus stood and offered a hand. "Now come on. I've got this new move I came up with that I want to show you for the parade.
Y/N blinked up at him, surprised, before smiling and taking his hand.
~~~
After a grueling day before, everyone was filled with cheer and happiness. Things were mostly back to normal, except for the Master, who was still recovering. The mayor of Magnolia decided to postpone the Fantasia parade by a day to allow everyone to rest and regain their strength. He wasn’t fully informed about the events that had transpired, but he was convinced that postponing the parade was necessary.
Many people, due to their injuries, wouldn’t be able to participate in the parade. Consequently, more of the newer members, such as Lucy and Juvia, would be participating. As everyone engaged in conversations and laughter, the hostility they had harbored towards each other just 24 hours earlier vanished into thin air, as if it had never existed. The atmosphere was once again filled with happiness and peaceful chaos. Their family was back to normal.
However, this tranquility was shattered when ominous footsteps echoed through the guild hall. Everyone turned to see Laxus entering, his coat draped over his bandaged and bruised body. His steps were slow and quiet, a stark contrast to the thunderous footsteps he once made.
The air was still, yet charged with tension. Eyes locked on him, some braced themselves, prepared for another fight if necessary. However, this time, they all shared a common enemy. Laxus wasn’t oblivious to their thoughts either; he understood their apprehension, and he didn’t blame them.
They began shouting at him, either demanding his departure or threatening him after he inquired about the Master’s whereabouts. It was understandable. After everything that had transpired and the hardships he had inflicted upon them, why wouldn’t they be wary of allowing the person responsible for all their troubles near their Master?
“Quiet everyone!”
Erza’s stern voice echoed through the guild hall, causing everyone to turn to her in confusion.
“The Master is in the infirmary,” she simply stated, addressing the Lightning Wizard.
Jet turned around, seemingly bewildered, and didn’t even hesitate to ask if she was nuts. Laxus began walking, waving a hand after Natsu finished babbling—whatever he had said—under those bandages. According to Gajeel, it was a promise not to lose to him during their next confrontation, and that he would kick butt and blah blah blah…
Typical Natsu nonsense…
He was fine, passing everyone else, all watching him with thinly-veiled mistrust. Until—
Y/N.
Standing by the bar, arms crossed and expression unreadable, Laxus slowed down, waiting—hoping—for a glance. He yearned for a movement, a twitch, anything that would indicate the Light Wizard’s acknowledgment of him.
However, Y/N remained oblivious, not even moving.
What the Light Wizard had said before wasn’t a threat; it was a promise. And one that he clearly wasn’t going to break. The weight of that realization hit him harder than any spell he had encountered before.
~~~
He'd left the infirmary with almost red eyes and a hollow chest.
He hadn’t anticipated forgiveness, not even a glimmer of it. In the end, he wasn’t truly surprised, but to hear the words—“Laxus, you are hereby expelled from Fairy Tail”—pierced him even more deeply than he had anticipated. His feet felt like lead as he descended the stairs. The building was mostly empty now. Everyone had gone off to prepare for the Fantasia Parade, except for…
"Of course," Laxus muttered, pausing near the entrance.
There was Y/N again, sitting near the edge of the bar, facing away. A quiet sentinel.
Laxus took a few steps closer. "You're not with the others," he tried, voice low, almost shy.
"I'm heading out now," Y/N said without turning. "Didn't want to ruin the mood by showing up angry."
Laxus swallowed, then dared another step.
"I'm leaving. The old man kicked me out."
"Okay. Were you expecting a tearful goodbye?" Y/N snapped.
Laxus winced. "I just wanted you to know that I never wanted you to get caught up in any of this. I just wanted to make things better, stronger, for the guild… for y—"
Y/N finally turned, the movement abruptly cutting off Laxus's words before he finished. Usually, Y/ looked radiant, full of energy, always as if he could make sunshine out of a rainy day. But now, he just looked tired, his eyes lacking the lustrous glint that Laxus unknowingly always found comfort in. Now, they… he just looked tired in a way that made Laxus feel ten years older. "Don't put this on me."
"I'm not. I just—"
"No," Y/N cut him off, standing. "You don't get to just anything right now."
Laxus stayed quiet, gaze locked on him.
"I warned you," Y/N said, voice firm. "I told you if you pushed too far, I wouldn't be the one to clean up your mess. That if you went through with this, I'd be done." He stepped forward, close enough to make Laxus feel small, despite their difference in height. "And I meant it."
The ache in Laxus's chest expanded. He hadn't realized until now how much he'd loved to hear Y/N's voice, even if it was filled with venom.
Y/N turned to leave, then paused.
"You know," he said lowly, not turning back yet. "When I was younger, there were those kids who made me feel like I didn't belong. Called me weird, a stray. Said I'd never be anything. And I believed it—until I got to know the real Fairy Tail. Until I met you."
Laxus stiffened.
"But now? After everything you did…? You're no better than them. You became the very thing you promised I'd never have to face again." He turned, and this time, his gaze met Laxus's with a piercing and devastating look. "I guess they were right in the end, and you were wrong. Without Gramps and Fairy Tail, I've got no one or nowhere to belong to. Thanks for reminding me."
He walked off, footsteps echoing louder than one would think normal, his light already gone before Laxus could find the words to stop him.
…
Laxus watched from the alleyway as the city of Magnolia came to life with lanterns, fireworks, and magic lighting up the night's sky. A small feeling of content fluttered over him, watching his now ex-guildmates roll by on their various floats, performing their routines and magic sequences for all to behold.
It wasn't long before his float came by, Y/N in the center of a radiant, glowing sun, clouds, rainbows, and shimmers dancing all around him, as if he were in his own palace of light. His magic illuminated the entire sky, at some point, creating the illusion as if it were the middle of the day, the sun at its highest point in the sky, cascading swirls of radiant light all around the cobbled streets and the people who stood amongst it. enraptured by the irradiant display.
People gasped as the rays and prism illusions danced above the crowd like celestial ribbons, children laughing and cheering with awe in their eyes, as pure sunlight broke into a thousand golden fragments and reformed into images of stars, birds, and even a phoenix mid-flight, before it all reformed into Fairy Tail's gleaming sigil.
Laxus couldn't breathe. Y/N looked… alive. As if the smiles and happiness around him replenished his own that were wavering from earlier events.
After that came his grandfather's float, and of course, the Fairy Tail's ever-silly Master couldn't help but dance around like a happy old fool. It made Laxus happy as he could be to see and know that his grandpa would be alright. Fairy Tail would be alright.
As he turned to leave, heart heavy—something made him glance back.
One by one, the guild members of Fairy Tail on all of their floats began lifting their hands, thumbs and index fingers raised, the rest curled in.
The sign… his sign.
And there, standing beneath a shimmering arch of light, was Y/N—his hand raised in the same gesture, golden magic wrapping around his fingers like sunlight itself.
Laxus froze.
His throat tightened, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop the tears. They fell silently as he lowered his head, shielding his face from view.
But before he turned to go, he looked one last time—at Y/N.
The message conveyed through the hand signal, the same one he had taught him after he had helped him feel better in the courtyard that day, seemed to burn brighter than all the mistakes he had committed before, let alone the past 24 hours.
"Wherever you are… I'll always be watching over you."
Laxus walked off into the shadows, holding that light close like a promise he refused to let go.
~~~
The forest was still, dimly lit by patches of moonlight that broke through the leaves. A gentle wind tugged at the branches, but beneath it, everything was quiet—almost reverent.
Y/N stood there, knuckles trembling against the bark of a nearby tree. His shoulders trembled as ragged breaths escaped him, each one shuddering like it fought its way out from somewhere deep. Silent tears tracked down his cheeks, warm against the cold of his skin, pooling at his chin before dropping to the soil below.
He didn't know what he was angrier at—the world, Laxus, or himself. Maybe all three.
The truth was, he wasn't sure how many more years he could keep carrying all this weight in his chest. All the anger, betrayal, the loyalty that never died when it should have, a long time ago. He had walked away because he had to—because every time Laxus said one more arrogant word, it was like watching the same beautiful thing get ruined again and again.
He wiped his face with the sleeve of his jacket, muttering, "Damn him…" But the shaking didn't stop.
A rustle of leaves behind him. He didn't need his magic or even have to look up to know who it was.
"Don't," Y/N said sharply, voice cracking under the strain. "Don't you dare say or walk another step closer to me."
Laxus didn't speak. His shoes crunching against the grass as he stepped closer anyway. Y/N whirled on him. "Are you deaf? Or just as thickheaded as I've always known you to be?"
Still, Laxus didn't speak.
“Oh, so we’re back to that? The brooding, silent act?” Y/N stepped forward, tears still streaming down, but no less furious. “You can never just take a hint and leave me alone, can you? Just go away when I tell you to! You always have to follow and provoke me, don’t you? Can’t you just leave me alone for five seconds? Why are you even here?!”
Laxus stared at him, expression unreadable.
Y/N’s voice cut through the air like a knife, sharp and unyielding. “You really believe that just because you got a slap on the wrist tonight—because people clapped and welcomed you back—that you can waltz back into everything like nothing happened? That I’m just going to sit quietly, nod along, and pretend everything’s fine? Is that what you think? Answer me, damn it!”
Laxus gazed down at him, the Light Wizard unaware that his intense, sultry eyes were drawn to the tears glistening in his own captivating irises. Tears had no place in eyes that sparkled like Y/N’s, especially when they were the Lightning Wizard's fault.
“Oh, I understand now,” Y/N snapped, stepping closer and jabbing a fist into Laxus’s chest. “You’re still too arrogant to use your words like a decent person. You’re just going to stand there like some statue—what, am I supposed to get down on my knees and beg you now? Are you going to flash a smirk and say something arrogantly charming so I forget how badly you messed up? How badly you hurt everyone?”
Laxus blinked slowly.
"You done?" he asked, voice low.
That did it.
Y/N’s hand instinctively recoiled, radiating an iridescent light from his clenched fist as his body had already moved before his mind could comprehend the last five seconds. “Why, you little—“
But Laxus caught his wrist mid-swing.
Y/N struggled for a second—maybe less—but Laxus was already stepping forward, pulling him in. Before Y/N could register what was happening, the two of them collided—chest pressed tight, limbs tangled.
Y/N froze.
Then came the whisper: "I'm sorry."
It wasn't barked, wasn't shouted, it was spoken with quiet desperation—just enough to stop Y/N's heart. He looked up, and that was all Laxus needed.
The kiss landed fast—but not rough, firm. It was steady and sure, with a current running through it, like something electric, but also fragile all at once. Y/N didn't kiss back at first, too stunned to even breathe—but his resistance faltered, melted, and then collapsed entirely. He sank into it.
It was everything he hated himself for wanting—and everything he'd always known was real.
When they broke apart, both breathless, neither spoke.
Laxus didn't let go, his arms staying wrapped tightly around Y/N's smaller frame, like if he let go now, everything would fall apart, and Y/N would leave him again.
"I mean it," Laxus whispered against his forehead. "I'm sorry. For everything."
Y/N's lashes fluttered, for the first time, not daring to speak while he stared up at the Lightning Wizard.
"I was arrogant," Laxus went on, voice thick. "Selfish. Thought I knew better than everyone, including the old man. That if I acted like I was above it all, maybe I wouldn't feel undeserving or overshadowed. Wouldn't feel like a fraud, like I didn't belong either." His hands tightened slightly. "But I was wrong. About the guild, about myself, and about you."
A beat of silence.
"And I know I've got years to make up for," Laxus murmured. "I know I don't deserve it—not yet—but I meant what I said back then. If you've got no one else, you've got me. Always."
Y/N exhaled softly, his forehead gently resting against Laxus’s chest. The warmth and electrifying energy of Laxus’s lightning magic flowed into him, pulsing faintly beneath his skin, as if the magic itself was marking him.
"You've always belonged with Fairy Tail," Laxus said, "You belong with me, and I belong to you."
Another beat of silence followed by a long pause.
"I want to believe that," Y/N whispered, "but belief doesn't erase the past. You broke something, Laxus. I don't know if it's ever gonna go back to the way it was."
"I'm not asking you to forget," Laxus said. "Just let me try."
Y/N pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. Here was the man he had known before—not the petty, arrogant, and insufferable one he had reluctantly come to know over the years, the one who had grown out of spite, jealousy, and something akin to hatred.
This was the boy from all those years ago who had stopped and helped him feel better when he found him crying in the courtyard. This was the boy he had fallen for.
Y/N brought his gaze down, pressing his face into the sturdy shield that was Laxus's chest, clothed underneath that ridiculous sleeveless sweater… didn't mean he was complaining on the view it gave though.
Who said that?!
Laxus looked down at him, heart twisting in a way that felt dangerously close to relief. There was something quietly sacred about the way Y/N leaned into him now, seeking warmth and steadiness the same way he used to when they were younger—back when things were simpler, when trust hadn't been cracked and rebuilt a hundred times over.
It felt right, familiar. Like slipping back into a rhythm his body had never forgotten. Pride swelled softly in his chest—not the loud, ugly kind he'd once clung to, but something gentler. Something earned. He let his thumb brush lightly against Y/N's back, slow and absentminded, as if afraid that too much pressure might make the moment disappear.
Still, beneath that calm, nerves crackled through him like unstable lightning. His magic hummed restlessly under his skin, betraying what he tried to hide. He held his breath without realizing it, every sense fixed on Y/N, waiting for his answer like it might decide the shape of his future. Whatever it was, he'd take it. He would. But even as he braced himself for rejection, something inside him refused to yield. No matter how long it took. No matter how many times he had to prove himself. He wasn't walking away again. Not from this. Not from him.
“No more outbursts or speeches about power, strength, and all that other nonsense,” he warned. “No grand, heroic stunts. You still have a lot to make amends for, and I won’t be swayed by romantic nonsense either. Just as you’ll earn your place back in this guild, you’ll earn your place back in my life.”
Laxus nodded solemnly.
"And for the record," Y/N continued, flicking his gaze up toward the sky with mock thoughtfulness, "I'm still done covering for you. You screw up again, I'm not shielding you from the consequences."
"I wouldn't expect you to," Laxus said quietly.
The tension hung between them, softened by something gentler now. Trust? No… not yet, at least. But something like it.
Laxus dipped in for another kiss, but Y/N placed two fingers over his lips. "You get one," he said, tone clipped. "And only one. Until I decide you've earned another."
Laxus huffed a breath through his nose—a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "Fair," he said. "I've never been scared of a challenge."
"You never learn," Y/N muttered with a roll of his eyes.
"Neither do you," Laxus replied, pulling him back into his arms and resting his chin atop his head.
Surrounded by trees, under the moonlight and silence, everything they’d been too stubborn to say before—it was enough.
They’d endured a lot as lightning and light, from broken trust, bonds, betrayal, and hurt. They’d faced everything you can think of.
Feathered wings behind his ears and a halo behind his head, colored in white and gold, complemented his fair skin. Before you stood a vision of ethereal beauty, radiating tranquility from his serene expression and graceful posture. Yet, despite the divine light that enveloped him, the chains binding him were obvious.
He was a stunning bird with clipped wings, unable to soar through the sky he longed for. Confined in a thorn-adorned golden cage, the delicate bars contrasted with his beauty, trapping him with a distant dream. You yearned to be the one to unlock his cage, helping him experience the true meaning of freedom— paradise.
You had pure intentions— to simply free a bird. With your keen perception and ability to see through the illusions that shroud reality, it was hard to overlook. After all, you were an angel, a high-ranking one at that, destined to protect and nurture these beings. However, shouldn’t a divinity be as pure as the others?
Why do you seek to confine him within the cover of your wings?
…
He was not pure either, so why should it matter if those pure thoughts turned impure the moment he fell from his stage? Why should it matter if he seeks refuge in the confines of the Astral Express or in your room? Why should it matter if he is on your sheets, bent over the bed with your cock slamming in and out of him?
Gray wings were formed from your back, their muted tones contrasting sharply with Sunday’s pristine white ear wings. Perhaps this is your punishment, and you wondered if these striking wings, once symbols of beauty and divinity, would soon succumb to decay, their delicate plumes drifting away like whispers in the wind. You wondered if the act of giving in to pleasure, entwined in the arms of another, would corrupt every inch of your essence to the point of no return. You also wondered what force could have pulled you away from the divine serenity of the heavens, plunging you instead into the murky depths of desire and temptation, as your larger hands tightly held the other man’s wrists behind his back.
His skin was a flawless canvas, fair and smooth. Pink hues highlighted his cheeks, contrasting starkly with the glistening tears that flowed like tiny rivers down his face. His mouth wide open as a series of moans and whimpers escaped his lips like a harmony that stirs your deepest passion, all while you fucked him through submission and corruption. As if you weren’t divine to begin with.
So pretty. You thought. From his silvery soft gray hair and his teary golden irises down to his glistening body, covered in both his and your cum, a warm hue of red across his skin, and the notable bite marks imprinted on his skin. These marks, heavy on their meaning, painted his skin as a symbol of ownership.
He was yours. In and out.
You have finally locked him in your cage.
“Beautiful,” you murmured, your fingers which held his waist tightly moved upward to his chin, and grabbed it firmly. You tilted his face up, forcing his gaze to the mirror that reflected both your images, ensuring he could see how thoroughly ruined, tainted, and fucked up he’s become.
He whimpered in response and your hips brutally snapped once again, causing him to let out a loud moan and orgasm harder than the previous as your cock hit his prostrate one last time before halting, your cock swallowed deep into his once virgin walls. Then, you came hard, spurting your seeds into his hole until it could no longer keep them inside, forming a circle as it spilled with your cock still inside. As soon as you two came down from your high, you shoved your fingers into Sunday’s mouth, forcing him to choke on it while your other hand moved down to hold his already hard, leaking cock.
“One more time,” you said, a smile forming your lips as your gaze met his hazy ones in the mirror, face thoroughly fucked out as tears stained his pink cheeks and droll escaped his lips. “Please,” you continued with a whiny tone, and that alone was enough to earn you a nod despite the fingers that choked him, even though he had been overstimulated for quite a while now.
“Thank you,” you said before pulling your fingers out and grabbing his hips with both hands, once again fucking him into a pit of lust, with no regard for your divine identity nor punishment.
It’s fine. You thought.
Heaven is with me. You thought.
“Heaven is under me,” and you whispered. Now you wonder— can the saint save the tainted?
⚣⚡️A/N → There is a very specific line in here inspired directly from SpongeBob. The first one who points it out gets a prize. Don't ask me why I included it; it made me laugh while I was writing. Anyways, y'all know the usual drill. Writing something else, got inspired to write this, and here we are. Are we surprised?
WARNINGS: Canon Typical Violence | Mentions of Blood | No Actual Murder, only mentions | Fluff | Arguments | Laxus Is A Smug Bastard |
⚣⚡️ Summary → What is Laxus's deal? First, he acts like Y/N's some powerless scum, now, he's all protective and on him like white on rice? And why does everyone seem to be amused by it? Especially Cana?! He's about to catch a murder charge real soon.
⚣⚡️ Words → 5.3K
REBLOGS and replies are greatly appreciated, please! 💛
⚣ ENJOY ⚡️
Laxus could be such a pain in the ass sometimes.
Even after being welcomed back into Fairy Tail—after his little "journey of self-reflection" and supposed growth—he was still an egotistical thorn in Y/N's side. Y/N had joined the guild around the same time Lucy did, which meant, unfortunately, he'd been present during Laxus's little coup attempt, when he tried forcing Master Makarov to surrender the guild over to him.
He'd been a colossal ass then, and clearly, despite his grand redemption arc, he was still one now. Everyone else seemed to fall for his nice-guy act, but Y/N wasn't buying it. Not when the only person Laxus still went out of his way to antagonize was him.
Strength this, training that, power, power, and more power! Ugh! That was all Laxus ever yammered on about. Sure, when you joined a guild, you had to prove yourself—that was fair. Y/N had taken his fair share of ribbing at the start, but after a few successful jobs—and managing to put Natsu and Gray in their place during one of their ridiculous squabbles—they'd earned the guild's respect. Even Erza had acknowledged him. And getting a nod from Titania herself was no small deal.
(Though, to be clear, she still terrified the living hell out of Y/N. Respect and fear could coexist perfectly well.)
But Laxus? He never let up, well, sort of. Before his expulsion, he'd more than gone out of his way to mock Y/N—calling them a helpless runt, a weakling, a step above a damsel in distress. He'd given Lucy less grief than Y/N, which was saying something. But, even after his glorious return and all his supposed "growth" and "discipline," he still treated Y/N like something that constantly needed saving.
Lately, he'd even started tagging along on Y/N's jobs. Uninvited, insisting Y/N needed someone to "guard his back." Whatever that meant—unless it literally meant guard his back, which, in that case, no thank you! Everyone else found it funny, especially Cana, who never missed an opportunity to toss in a quip or two at Y/N's expense. He still didn't get the joke.
But after today? He'd had enough.
The latest argument had blown up on the road back to Magnolia—same old crap, Laxus defending his decision to keep treating Y/N like some damsel—no—dude in distress. After some time, Y/N had finally stormed off, ducking into a pub to cool down and leaving the blonde egomaniac to stew on his own.
What grated most was that this particular mission had been going perfectly fine before Laxus crashed it. Y/N had been tasked with protecting a political figure from dark guild assassins, a kind of job that typically would have been reserved for an S-Class Wizard or Fairy Tail's strongest team. But Gramps had sent Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Erza on something else, and handed this one to Y/N. Rumor had it that the Master was even considering promoting Y/N to S-Class after all his recent successes.
Though, Laxus ckearly hadn't gotten the memo. The moment he got back from his own mission and heard Y/N was out, he'd ran right back out like some overgrown storm cloud and inserted himself into the Light Wizard's business.
A few hours of his company were bad enough. Days? Days were torture. The assassins would soon not be the only deadly presence in that town, considering Y/N's patience was hanging by a thread. And one more smirk from Laxus might just be what pushes him to the point, Y/N would cause job requests to go out asking for someone to deal with him.
Honestly, Y/N had no idea how Master Makarov had managed to tolerate his grandson all these years. The Light Wizard had only dealt with Laxus for a fraction of that time, and he was already weighing the pros and cons of life in prison after being charged for murder via spiked earpieces, even though Laxus didn't wear them anymore.
It's fine, Y/N was resourceful.
Heh. Charged… murder. He made a funny.
The cruelest part, though? Beneath all the arrogance and insufferable ego, Y/N couldn't deny an attraction to the Lightning Wizard. It was maddening. The bastard was handsome—chiseled jaw, broad shoulders, muscle stacked on muscle. If he ever learned how to wear a coat properly, he'd be the full package.
Well, after he grew out of that unbearable superiority complex. Baby steps.
Y/N slumped against the table in his corner of the pub. Nursing his mug like it was the only thing keeping him from throttling a certain blonde Lightning Wizard.
"Strength this, power that. Guard, protect, blah, blah, bleh," he muttered into the beverage, mocking Laxus's deep, self-important tone. "If he says one more word about protecting, or strength, or power, I'll electrocute him myself. Whether it's with my magic or his, whatever, I'll find a way."
A few other patrons glanced over at him, either amused or concerned. Honestly, the expressions were hard to tell apart as they sort of blended into the same look. Y/N ignored them, swirling the last sip of his drink. He ran through the argument again in his head, sharper and wittier this time, imagining himself saying all the things he wished he spat in Laxus's smug face.
Not that he didn't already say a full boatload of things before. But those were on the spot; these he'd been sitting on, so they had even more pizazz to them.
"And another thing," he grumbled, pointing an accusatory finger at no one in particular, "if you think I need saving, why don't you save me from your personality first, huh?"
There just wasn't that much pizazz in the world.
The pub's door creaked open, letting in a gust of cool evening air. Y/N didn't bother to look up—until a few bodies approached his table.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
He blinked. A group of five men stood around him, all cloaked in the unmistakable grime of dark guild riffraff. They were all jagged smiles and sharp shoulders, and the way they spread out, taking up enough space in the pub that it made the other patrons shift uneasily in their seats.
One of them, tall and scar-faced—though not that scar, not the one that was constantly lingering in his mind—locked eyes with him and grinned.
"Fairy Tail, right? Recognize that mark anywhere. You're one of Makarov's little brats."
Y/N sat up straighter, shoulders squaring. "Yeah. And what about it?"
"Oh-ho, feisty." The main's grin widened, showing yellow teeth which sent a curdling feeling deep in Y/N's stomach. Did this man ever brush his gums? "Bit far from home, aren't you? Heard some friends of ours ran into trouble a couple of towns over. That wouldn't happen to be your doing, would it?
Y/N tilted his head, unimpressed. "Maybe. Maybe not. Again—what about it?
That earned him a chorus of laughs. Some had mischief gleaming in their eyes, others wore the kind of sneers that promised violence. Another stepped forward, nudging Y/N's mug off the table with the flat of his hand. It clattered to the floor and spilled what little was left.
The other patrons weren't laughing. They sat frozen in their seats, nervously clutching mugs and cutlery, all silently cursing their choice to stop here tonight. Nobody in their right mind would be within five miles of the vicinity when opposing guilds decided to clash.
"Where's your little fairy friends, huh?" another one of the thugs cut in, his voice thick with mockery. "Don't tell me they left a little runt like you all alone."
The scar-faced thug leaned closer, breath hot with something that wasn't minty, his grin widening as if Y/N's mark alone was an invitation to break bones. Y/N resisted the urge to tell the guy how he smelled like someone bottled up "bad life choices" and decided to sell it in a life-sized version of him.
"Makarov must be low on recruits, " the man drawled, clearly savoring the mockery, "sending out little brats to do heavy work. Don't tell me they ran out of real wizards."
Y/N barely could hold back his eye roll. Anyone who thought they could cut through him with just a few little sandbox insults clearly never had the pleasure of spending one afternoon with Laxus Dreyar, let alone 72 hours.
'Oh, fantastic. I always dreamed of being bullied by bargain-bin villains in a third-rate tavern. Fairy Tail really knows how to treat its talent.'
Y/N let a small smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. "Funny thing, your buddies probably thought the same thing. At least, right before I sent them limping home."
That earned a dangerous stillness. Chairs creaked in the ominous silence as the rest of the dark guild shifted, encircling him like vultures eyeing a meal. A few chuckles rumbled, low and threatening, but not one of them was laughing with him.
The bartender, wisely, ducked behind the counter. The other patrons stared down into their mugs with the kind of intensity usually reserved for some type of prayer.
"Bold words from someone drinking alone," the scarred one sneered. "Too bad you don't have that fire freak or celestial cheerleader to back you up."
Y/N clenched his jaw. "Grew out of needing a babysitter when I was 11. And trust me— you're not the first trash from some lame named dark guild to test me."
Scar-face clicked his tongue. "You've got a mouth, I'll give you that. Let's see if you've got anything else worth keeping."
He reached out, a meaty hand grabbing for the Light Wizard's collar, but Y/N slapped it away, standing smoothly. Specks of magic flickered and danced faintly along his skin, like light bending through glass.
"Touch me again," Y/N warned, "and I'll show you what happens when this 'runt' gets annoyed."
'Gods, that sounded way better in my head. Please be intimidated. Please be intimidated. Please–'
Instead, laughter erupted, ugly and mean, filling the entirety of the pub. Scar-face leaned down again, eyes glinting. "You're spunky. I like that. Shame it won't save you."
Y/N swallowed, jaw tightening. 'Alright. Little outnumbered, not ideal. Totally fine, though. I've been in worse… probably. Maybe? Yeah, no, this is bad.'
His hand tightened on the table's edge, magic humming just beneath his skin. He was ready to strike first, buy himself a silver of space. He let his palm glow faintly, a shimmer of light flaring at his fingertips. The pub's dim interior brightened for a second, enough to make the crowd murmur. For a moment, he felt that familiar confidence surge back.
But then, two more of them moved in behind him, one gripping his arm, another shoving him back down into his chair by his neck, the spikes on his wrist chain catching a bit of skin. Y/N tried to twist free, but a pulse of hostile magic pressed against him, and suddenly it wasn't looking so favorable.
"Easy pickings," one of them chuckled. "Makarov's little runts mean all the more fun for us."
Y/N grit his teeth. He could get out of this—he could. It was just… not going quite as smoothly as he wanted.
Then, the air shifted.
A crack of static danced across the room, sharp and violent, rattling glasses on the table. The pub went quiet a split second before lightning tore through the doorway, the force of it throwing one of the dark mages into a wall.
Y/N didn't even need to look up. His eye roll and sigh combo said he knew exactly had arrived.
"Told you," Laxus's voice drawled, heavy with somethong, probably smugness, "you needed someone to protect your back."
In an instant, the dark guild thugs weren't laughing anymore, knowing exactly who this new contender was and the deep shit they were in. Laxus stepped inside, towering, electricity snapping across his fists.
"Funny," Laxus rumbled, gaze sweeping the room, "I thought I told you dark guildies to stay out of Fairy Tail's way."
One of the men hissed. "This isn't your fight, Lightning Bastard."
Laxus's lip twitched in something that wasn't quite a smile, gaze zeroing in on the hand gripping Y/N's arm. And, when said owner of hand realized it was he who had the Lightning Wizard's attention, he yelped and let go like he'd touched hot iron.
"You put hands on my guild. That makes it my fight."
Before anyone could blink, the room exploded with motion. Lightning arced wild and merciless, Y/N barely having time to throw his arms up, the flashes painting the insides of his eyelids white.
The fight was less of a fight and more of a massacre. Laxus didn't even break a sweat as he dropped them one after another, his strikes efficient and brutal, lightning splitting the floorboards and sending the pub into chaos. In seconds, it was over—the dark guild scattered across the floor, either unconscious, smoke coming off their butts, or both.
And Laxus? He stood there, calm as ever, dusting his coat off like he'd just swatted a few flies. He turned, gaze pinning Y/N where he sat, his expression softened just enough to be noticeable—just enough to make Y/N's chest tighten in ways he hated.
"You alright?" His tone wasn't teasing—yet—wasn't smug, yet. It was low, steady, concern buried under gravel.
Y/N blinked, forcing himself upright. "I had it handled."
Laxus's jaw flexed. He didn't believe him; he never believed him when it came to this. His eyes flicked to the faint bruise already blooming on Y/N's neck where one of the thugs hand grabbed him.
Then, he stepped closer. Boots heavy against the scorched wood, shoulders filling Y/N's view until there was nothing else. The pub's remaining patrons shrank back, but Y/N was rooted in place, pulse hammering.
"You call this handled?" Laxus's voice dropped further, almost a growl. His height forced Y/N to tilt his chin up, eyes locking stubbornly on the lightning wizard even as heat crept into his cheeks. "You let them lay hands on you."
Y/N hackles rise. He shoved his arms across his chest, forcing bravado where his pulse betrayed him. "What was I supposed to do, take on five of them at once? I was waiting for the right opening."
"They shouldn't have gotten close enough to touch you in the first place." Laxus leaned forward, his broad shadow swallowing Y/N whole. His eyes burned hotter now, the protective edge fierce enough to be suffocating. "Not you."
Y/N opened his mouth, ready to argue, but the words stuck in his throat. Not you. The way Laxus said it, like Y/N was something too valuable to bruise, like the idea of him being hurt was personally unbearable, left his stomach in knots to the point he didn't trust his own voice.
"Whatever," Y/N muttered, rolling his eyes. But he couldn't ignore how Laxus's gaze kept trailing down, scanning his chest, arms, and shoulders, checking for any other marks. And gods help him, there was something almost tender in that ferocity, like the man was memorizing every inch of him to make sure nothing else had been touched.
"Mm." Laxus's eyes flickered to the overturned mug, the chair scuffed from where Y/N had been shoved back down. He didn't argue—yet—but the displeasure was etched plain into the set of his jaw.
"Don't give me that look," Y/N snapped, glaring up at him.
"What look?"
"The one that says 'you're lucky I got here in time.'"
Laxus's mouth curved—just slightly. "Maybe because you are."
See! There it is!
Y/N froze, cheeks burning hot enough to rival Natsu's flames. The entire pub was staring, whispering into their drinks, and Y/N just knew Laxus was enjoying every damn second of it.
And then, as if to prove him right, that infuriating smile spread across Laxus's face. He looked down at Y/N—down, because the bastard was all broad shoulder and stupid height—and murmured, "Cute."
Like the word was some private joke only he understood. Or worse, only he and Cana understood. That drunk little twat. Oh, it's so on when he gets back to the guild hall.
"Real cute," Laxus went on, his voice dipping lower. "You looked like a proper damsel—sorry." His eyes sparked, almost daring Y/N to argue. "Dude in distress."
Heat flooded Y/N's face, puffing into his cheeks like he'd been inflated with hot air. "Why you little— ugh! I said I had it handled!"
"Sure you did," Laxus mused, stepping closer. Close enough that Y/N had to crane his neck even further back to glare at him properly. He offered his hand down, palm broad, steady. "You're welcome."
Y/N slapped it away, moving from the chair he had previously sat in, though the movement forced him right into Laxus's space—close enough to smell the ozone still clinging to him, close enough to feel the static bite along his skin. Gods, he hated how much it made his pulse trip.
"I didn't ask for your help," Y/N bit out, staring up at him from much too close. "I never ask for your help."
"Doesn't mean you don't need it," Laxus shot back, voice low, laced with that maddeningly unbearable mix of amusement and something heavier. Something that made the air between them hum.
Y/N's throat went dry. 'Great. Fantastic. Add 'secretly enjoying Laxus's protective streak' to the list of reasons I'm going to die young.'
The pub was murmuring again, the sound swelling, a room full of witnesses pretending not to eavesdrop. Y/N clenched his fists, pride screaming not to give even a shrewd of gratitude. And yet, looking up at Laxus, all height and muscle and electricity, standing so close the air felt charged—something twisted traitorously in his chest.
'Gods, damn him. How does he get to look hot and smug? That's just unfair!'
"Hey, get a room, you two!"
"Who said that?!"
The shout had cut through the tension like a blade, and Y/N's eyes were menacingly wide, glowing white like light, while his teeth were something sharp like a shark's. His head snapped toward the crowd, radiating threat, scanning for the culprit.
"Was it you grandma?!"
While Y/N was glaring down some innocent old lady, beside him, Laxus's chuckle rumbled low and satisfied, like the bastard was enjoying this way too much. His hand lifted, brushing against Y/N's shoulder, not forceful—gentle. The heat of it lingered, sending an unwanted shiver down Y/N's spine.
"Come on," Laxus said quietly, but the softness in his tone was threaded with iron. "You don't drink in places like this alone. Not while I'm around."
Y/N froze again, before even managing to take a step. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
The answer pressed at the back of his mind, obvious and heavy. Suddenly, a bunch of Cana's corny jokes were echoing in his head. But he shoved it all down, quickening his pace to the door before his face betrayed him.
Laxus followed in a slow and confident manner—as if the night, the fight, and Y/N himself all belonged within the reach of his protection. Before they left, though, Y/N turned back to drop some of the money he'd earned from the politician to cover the damages they—Laxus—caused. The last thing he wanted was to be the reason the Master had another meltdown after receiving another formal complaint and demands for compensation.
The pub door slammed behind them, and the murmur of laughter and whispers cut off with it. Cool night air rushed Y/N's lungs, and he welcomed it—anything to cool the heat in his face after that humiliating scene.
He stormed down the dirt path, boots crunching sharply in the quiet. Laxus followed behind, still unhurried, his longer stride swallowing the distance Y/N tried so desperately to put between them.
"Quit following so close," Y/N snapped, glancing back at the mountain of a man shadowing him.
"You're walking in the dark," Laxus said, tone infuriatingly casual. "Not letting you get jumped twice in one night."
"I wasn't jumped," Y/N shot back, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I was… surrounded by some idiots. Big difference."
"Big difference," Laxus echoed, drawling the words. He didn't sound convinced. His gray eyes flicked over Y/N, sharp and assessing. "You're bleeding."
Y/N startled, hand flying to his collarbone. His fingertips came away with the faintest smear of red from where that spiked jewelry had likely nicked him. He cursed under his breath. "It's nothing."
"It's not nothing," Laxus countered, voice edged like steel. He moved faster, closing the space between them until his shadow draped over Y/N completely. "Next time someone touches you like that—"
"There won't be a next time," Y/N cut in, glaring up at him. "Because I'll handle it before you get the chance to swoop in like some overgrown bodyguard."
They stood locked in the middle of the road, Y/N forced to tilt his chin up again just to keep meeting his eyes. The space between them buzzed, alive with something sharper than magic.
Laxus leaned down slightly, enough that Y/N could feel the static kiss of his breath. "Don't care if you can handle it. I don't want anyone laying hands on you but me."
"Y-You—" he sputtered, stepping back too quickly, only for Laxus to follow right in suit. It was like the bastard was herding him, step for step, his towering presence pressing closer and closer. "Gods, your ego's unbearable."
"So you've said before."
"And I'll keep saying it until the truth finally seeps through that thick skull of yours. "Y/N jabbed a finger at his chest, not that it did much good against that slab of muscle. "Good grief, you are infuriating!"
"Oh, yeah?" That smug tilt curved Laxus's mouth. "What else?"
"Oh, I can give a soliloquy of all the things you are, mister!" Y/N snapped, backing up another step without realizing it. "You're an agonizing, egotistic, big-headed oaf who thinks brawn and power are the keys to everything. You may have fooled everyone else with your whole "redemption journey," but not me. Because you haven't changed one bit since coming back into the guild."
"Who says I was trying to fool you?"
"Oh, please. Like I'd believe anything else. You treated me like scum beneath your shoe when I first joined, calling me a weakling, a runt, and all other sorts of things."
"I don't call you those things now, do I?"
"Maybe not, but it doesn't mean your actions don't scream it. You didn't give Lucy that much grief when she joined, and the obsessive attention you give me, you don't give to her." Another step back. Y/N's heel scuffed the dirt, brushing against roots. Laxus didn't stop advancing. "I don't care what you feel or how you see it. I'm perfectly capable of protecting and handling myself."
"So why didn't you back at the pub?" Laxus's voice dropped lower, rumbling through Y/N's bones.
"I didn't get the chance!" Y/N practically shouted, throwing his hands up. "Yes, I was a bit taken aback and cornered, but did you consider that I was considering that the pub was full of innocent civilians who I'd rather not get caught in the crossfire of a five-v-one? Then, here you come, breaking down doors, destroying property, and zapping people on the ass without a care in the world–"
"They touched you."
"Who cares!" Y/N's back hit something rough and solid, and he realized too late Laxus had been steering him all along. Bark dug into his shoulders, the trunk of a tree, wide and immovable, preventing any further steps backwards. His breath hitched, caught between fury and something far more dangerous.
"Bad guys are going to try and touch me, especially when they're trying to hurt me!" Y/N's words tumbled faster, desperate now. "But let's not even forget the fact that I had to pay part of my reward money to cover the damages you caused, so the Master doesn't get into any legal trouble, especially with the council.Money, I need to pay rent and bills, Laxus! I wouldn't have even stopped in that pub had you not come along and annoyed me to the end of the world."
"You shouldn't have gone alone in the first place." Laxus's arms bracketed Y/N against the tree, his presence overwhelming, the air between them sparking faintly. "That job was—"
"Assigned to me by Master Makarov, our guild master, and your grandfather," Y/N snapped, chin up. "If he felt I was ready for the job, who are you to tell me I'm not? This is exactly what I mean! You may not call me weak or runt anymore, but you might as well since you act like I'm not capable of taking care of myself, like some damsel in distress!"
"Dude," Laxus corrected softly, lips tugging into a grin.
"Whatever! And where did this damn tree come from– mmph!"
Y/N's shouts died as Laxus's hand shot up, calloused and hot, gripping his jaw firm with certainty. His palm cupped Y/N's cheek, thumb grazing dangerously close to his lips before pulling his face up, up into him, crushing their mouths together.
The kiss was fierce, unyielding, like the strongest flashes of lightning lighting up the night sky. Laxus kissed like he fought: unapologetic, relentless, powerful. Sparks practically—and maybe quite literally—danced across Y/N's skin where their mouths met, tingling, biting, and somehow achingly sweet all at once.
Y/N's fists clenched uselessly against Laxus's chest, meaning to shove him back, but gods, he was solid—stone wrapped in heat. His lips burned with every movement, teeth nipping, tongue pushing past Y/N's parted lips before he could stop it. And the double-crossing part? Y/N kissed back, body arching into the heat even as his mind screamed at him to stop, his eyes slipping closed as the surprise left his body.
The world narrowed down to the strength of Laxus's grip on his jaw, the iron band of his arm wrapping tight around Y/N's torso, dragging him flush against a chest that felt like stone under fire. The press of muscle, the heat of him, left Y/N gasping into the kiss as sparks leapt across his skin—sharp, biting, electric. His heart thundered against his ribs like it was trying to escape, but there was nowhere to run, not with Laxus holding him so close.
The scent of ozone wrapped around him, sharp and dizzying, until all he could taste, all he could feel, was Laxus.
When he finally tore his mouth free, it wasn't gentle. Laxus broke the kiss only far enough for breath to slip between them, both of them panting, lips raw and tingling. That arm cinched tighter around Y/N's body, pulling him in hard against the breadth of his chest, until Y/N swore he could feel the pulse of lightning itself humming beneath his ribs.
Gray eyes gleamed down at him, molten and fierce, daring Y/N to deny what had just happened—daring him to say he hadn't wanted it just as badly.
"…You're insufferable," Y/N croaked, voice hoarse, face on fire.
Laxus's grin widened, slow and wolfish. "Maybe. But, you kissed me back."
Y/N wanted to sink into the earth. Damn him.
When Magnolia's lights finally twinkled on the horizon, Y/N released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Finally," he muttered. "I can ditch you and pretend this night never happened."
"You can try," Laxus said, voice dipping low with amusement—and something warmer Y/N refused to name. "But you'll remember it. I will."
Y/N's heart lurched, and he shoved his glare at the cobblestones ahead. 'Damn him. He's going to be the death of me—one way or another."
Laxus walked him all the way back, unhurried, clearly determined to see him safe despite Y/N's constant protests. His lips still tingled from that kiss, still swollen enough to remind him every second of it. What he needed was space—to breathe, to think, to convince himself it hadn't scrambled his head and set his body on fire.
Y/N tried to avoid the guild hall the next day, but he knew Gramps was waiting for his job report, so he anxiously made his way through town. He'd barely stepped inside before Master Makarov was waving him over.
"Ah, there you are! Well done, Y/N. Very well done," the old man boomed, loud enough for half the hall to hear. "I've had word back already—you performed admirably. In fact…" He leaned forward on the table, lowering his voice just slightly. "I think you're ready."
"Ready for what?" Y/N asked warily.
Makarov's grin widened. "An S-Class quest."
The words dropped like a thunderclap. Heads turned at nearby tables, conversations dying mid-sentence. Y/N felt his stomach plummet.
"A… an S-Class?"
"That's right. You've earned it," Makarov said firmly. "But as you know, regulations demand you take one of our S-Class wizards as a supervisor. Just until you've proven yourself and earned the rank."
Y/N nodded quickly. "Of course. I can ask Erza then. She's perfect—"
"She's still away with Lucy, Gray, Natsu, and Happy."
"Oh. Right. Then Mira, she's—"
"Busy with her own obligations."
Y/N swallowed. "Then who…?"
A shadow fell over the table, and once again, Y/N didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The faint prickle of static in the air gave him away before Makarov even spoke.
"Laxus." The Master chuckled, looking a little too amused as he raised his glass. "And it seems he's already volunteered."
Y/N finally glanced back, only to see the smug lightning wizard in his fashionable—and yes, that was said with snark—attire behind him, arms folded, mouth curved in that insufferable grin that said he'd been waiting for this exact moment.
Y/N felt a faint tingle over his lips from last night.
"…I hate my life," he muttered.
"You love it," Laxus murmured, low enough for only him to hear.
A snort cut through the guild's chatter, pulling Y/N's attention toward Cana and her ever-present barrel of booze. She lounged against the bar with an infuriating smirk. "Isn't that just adorable?"
Y/N narrowed his eyes, cheeks heating as Laxus chuckled at his side, clearly enjoying this too much.
"Oh, I'll show you adorable, Cana," Y/N shot back, fists already sparking with light.
That was all it took. Chairs scraped, mugs toppled, and within seconds, the guild erupted into its usual chaos—brawls breaking out left and right, screams and laughter—mostly screams—booming louder than the sound of fists hitting tables.
Gramps sighed into his drink, his pride at Y/N's progress toward his promotion swiftly drowned by the familiar headache of yet another all-out guild fight.
Y/N ducked a flying plate, lunging at Cana with a growl, though the corners of his mouth betrayed the ghost of a smile. Sure, he might have… complicated feelings about the smug blond lightning rod standing beside him through all this chaos, but that didn't mean he'd make life easier for him.
Especially not when everyone and their drunk aunt seemed to be in on some joke besides him. Even Gramps looked to be in the know!
But, if Laxus didn't drive him mad with his overprotective nonsense, Y/N was definitely going to be charged with murder one day in the future.
⚣👓 A/N → Therpist BatBro makes his debut. The second pic is honestly what I feel a therapy session in the Wayne family would look like. This is from another request I got from my previous account.
⚣👓 Summary → Your family isn't pleased with your new hobby or group of friends. But, somehow you've made it a business. Gotta respect the hustle at least.
⚣👓 Words → 2.3k
REBLOGS and replies are greatly appreciated, please! 👓
⚣ ENJOY 👓
The way I see it, you're either a vigilante with the fam and all the villains just seem to like you for some reason and ask where you are during a battle OR you're not a vigilante and you volunteer at Arkham (which would be absolutely insane but it's Arkham so it breaks even) and everyone there is cool with you. Even the Joker (which won't fly well with Jason at all).
We're going to go with the second option for this one.
So, since Bruce was adamant about you not joining the family business as a vigilante since you were the youngest and he had an unyielding urge to protect you and your childhood innocence, you needed to find something to do in your free time.
What better than to volunteer at a crazy house for psychopathic murdering villains?
Of course, considering Arkham was filled mainly with criminals your father had put there along with your siblings, it probably wouldn’t be wise to do that since they’d obviously wouldn’t approve.
SO, you did it anyway and just didn't tell them.
BatBro contemplating...
Duke was the first to find out. Batman had supplies Arkham needed but since he was at work and Duke always took the day shift as everyone liked to joke, who better to drop it off than him? Imagine his surprise when he finds his baby bro in there serving ice cream to Mr. Freeze.
"Here ya go Fries, my man. I sprinkled some ice shavings on there to make it a little tangier for you..." You said handing him the cone.
"Ha ha ha, aren't you hilarious." Victor Fries replied with a genuine smile. As far as The Signal persona knew, he was only capable of smirking or mean-mugging the shit of people, with the exception of an occasional shivering face while mocking someone for how cold they were.
'Oh, they're not gonna believe this...' Duke thought, racing home right after. The way he left the institution, the guards almost thought there was a breakout or a fight going on. Nope, but there might be when he told everyone.
Of course, no one believed him at first, just staring at the dude as if he just said the craziest thing in the world like Bruce being an emotionally available parent.
When you came home that night acting cagey and weirder than normal, they figured something was going on and maybe you were at Arkham but for something completely different than what Duke thought it could be. Because, there would be no way Bruce Wayne’s, aka Batman, own son would ever even consider fraternizing with criminals, let alone his enemies. Right?
So, like any other sane, normal family who responded to distressing situations with maturity and rationality... they spied on you.
Damian, Tim, & Cass followed you the next day. Tim was understandably distraught but also curious how you could have managed to form a friendship with Gotham's criminally insane.
Like...THEY WERE INSANE. But, when he really thought about it, considering the family you came from...yeah, okay. He can see the correlation now.
Damian, however, refused to believe his little brother could be so stupid and dense. How could you form relations with the enemy like that? It was stupidity. Plain idiocy at its finest. It was betrayal!
On the other hand, it was a smart move looking from an assassin's point of view. You know the whole keep your friends close and enemies closer deal, but that was his thing. Not yours! So you'd be getting extra noogies and brotherly beatdowns when you got home. In the name of camaraderie and righting your careless decisions.
Cass thought it was fucking hilarious.
Upon their arrival and finding you trading riddle jokes with Riddler, their jaws all collectively dropped to the floor.
"Okay, okay okay..." You breathed, calming down from your wheezing laughter. "Riddle me this...I'm neither a man nor a woman but don't hurt my wittle feelings cause I'm still a person. I'll kick you and scream at you, even both during a tantrum. My ego's bigger than my head but shorter than my height, who am I?"
Riddler took a moment to think about it before the metaphorical lightbulb appeared above his head, "Boy Wonder!" He pointed.
"Which one?" You immediately responded.
"The fourth one!"
"Yes!"
Tim and Cass both had to think about it before they realized the clues in the riddle. They're eyes went wide when they realized who you were talking about, and turned to see Damian who looked ready to tear your head off with his teeth.
"He's in for it when he gets home..." He growled through his grinding teeth.
Damian pissed (Left) | Tim & Cass (Right)
Everyone was mildly concerned when they came home that night and asked them how everything went only for Damian's immediate response to be that he was going to get his revenge sketchbook.
Why Damian has a revenge sketchbook, no one knows. But, everyone was just the right amount unsettled by it.
That night at dinner there was a bit of a tense air as Damian had to be placed between both Bruce and Jason to keep him from lunging at you with his salad fork. Usually, you were used to Damian’s somewhat murderous tantrums, but this was on another level.
He almost looked like he would grow horns out of his head at any moment, which would actually be somewhat fitting. Considering he was the grandson of the Demon and all.
You also noticed how Tim and Cass kept weirdly staring at you. Neither of them said something, which was odd(well except maybe for Cass), but you just ignored it and ate your dinner.
That night, you put some of your old booby traps from when you first moved into the manor back into place. You needed some sort of reassurance and protection to help you sleep. At many points throughout the night, you shot out of bed and grabbed one of the many random weapons you had hidden around you when you thought you heard someone trying to sneak into your room.
Damian definitely tried but had learned his lesson after the last time he got caught in one of your traps. You took a lot of inspiration from movies like Home Alone and The Parent Trap.
The next day, Dick and Steph went to check out the mental institution insane asylum.
Steph also thought it was funny like Cass but in a more ironic type of way. She’d rooted for you to get your own vigilante identity and join the family business. So this was like the ultimate petty revenge and she was here for it.
But Dick just couldn't imagine you in a place like this. His sweet adorable baby brother, in this horrid mess? He was calling it, either blackmail or manipulation. A rude awakening was awaiting him around the corner.
They looked to see you in the middle of practicing a handshake with Bane.
"No Bane, fist bump, then the arm wiggle..." You said, showing him the move for the 4th time.
"Oh sorry buddy," He replied.
"No problem man, let's try again."
They watched you go through the whole routine, Steph taking a video on her phone while Dick looked in surprise and jealousy. How come you and him didn't have a handshake like that? Every little brother should want to have a cool handshake with their cool big brother! Was he not good enough?!
Steph laughing in petty (Left) | Dick breaking down (Right)
When Dick stormed into the manor later muttering about showing you a real handshake, Bruce only raised an eyebrow when Steph walked in looking thoroughly entertained like she just watched the funniest show of her life. It certainly felt like it.
That afternoon, Dick gave you the cold shoulder all day. He even canceled your weekly brother movie night, which shocked everyone, especially your dad. What could have been so bad that would cause Bruce’s first protege to treat his kid brother like this? The same kid who he’d absolutely lose it if they went to anyone other than him for advice or would pout if he didn’t get the first hug from him when in a room full of people.
Of course, he still cracked when you gave him the hurt puppy dog eyes (a trick you learned from Jason that he used to use on Bruce all the time when he was younger). Dick caved and you guys ended up watching a movie, though you were mildly concerned whenever your oldest brother paused the movie and took the time to highlight the friendship and connection between two characters, especially if they were siblings.
Something like a special code, an inside joke, or even maybe a HANDSHAKE. What does it say about a big brother if his little brother doesn’t want to have a cool special handshake with him?!
Subtle.
You just nodded along, making a mental note to avoid any family-oriented films for your next movie night.
But, after this incident, you’d fully managed to get Bruce’s attention. He knew that Dick out of all his children was usually the least likely to get irate over something that wasn’t serious. So the fact that he did, despite how unserious it may have seemed, but it was settled.
Something was going on and your dad, no…Batman was going to get to the bottom of it.
Jason decided to come along with your father, fully prepared to drag you out of the building by force if he had to. He even went as far as calling your boyfriend Conner Kent, aka Superboy, who he and Bruce had a love/hate relationship with because they couldn't really threaten the boy like they wanted to if he hurt you.
Well, Jason couldn’t at least.
Bruce had more than enough kryptonite in multiple storages across his warehouse and had no problem showing it to the half-Kryptonian as a warning.
Conner was more than a little peeved, try fucking pissed when he heard you'd been hanging out with supervillains. And he as well was ready to sling you over his shoulder if he had to. But, probably not in front of your dad who kept throwing pointed glares his way as they moved through the building.
When Batman showed up demanding to see where the volunteer by your name was, they quickly rushed to show him to your location. He couldn't fathom this. The mere thought that his youngest child, his sweet, innocent (on a good day) good-natured son, would be hanging around all his enemies, laughing with them like they were good ol pals?
He'd sooner believe Joker was going to therapy.
The shock of his lifetime was also waiting for him around the corner.
They came around to see you through a window sitting in an office room in business casual attire, holding a clipboard and writing down notes while Joker was laying on a couch with his cuffed hands resting on his chest, venting out his emotions.
"And sometimes, I do feel like I go a bit far. But, I can't take all the blame. I mean, everyone paints me as the villain, but Batsy plays into our little game just as much as I do. Why does he get painted as the hero and me as a crazy clown? Well, you know, besides the clown face, HAHAHA!" He vented, ending with his usual eerie cackle.
"Uh-huh, and how does that make you feel?" You asked while scribbling a few notes on your legal pad and adjusting the fake glasses on your face before turning around at the sound of the door opening.
You felt your heart drop in your stomach when you saw your father, brother, and boyfriend all staring at you with very unhappy looks.
"BATSY! Oh, do come in! We were just talking about you. I think it's about time you and I got some relationship counseling." Joker exclaimed.
Not one word was said while Conner grabbed you by your wrists, (gently of course because he's caring like that) and dragged you out of the room, Jason not too far behind, ready to tear you a new one. Batman held his shoulder, while Joker just watched in amusement, "Guess my hour's up."
You, Bruce, and Jason arguing (Left) | Joker enjoying the show (Right)
You were immediately brought home after getting an earful from Jason to which you offered him his own free session.
He agreed.
Bruce demands to know why you would even consider going there, socializing with those people.
"Well, seeing as how I can't join the family business, I figured I could do some good in some way. And villains or not, they've got good in them! Just you know, when they're not trying to murder people." You answered.
You were interrupted by your other siblings appearing before you felt an arm forcibly turn you around which Conner raised an annoyed eyebrow at, but he kept his mouth shut.
"What does Bane have that I don't? Am I not good enough as an older brother to have a handshake with?"
You sighed, "Is that why you were so upset the other day?! Ugh, would you like to create a special handshake with me, Dick?"
" Yes! Super secret too! You can't have any handshakes with anybody else!" He hugged you while you patted his back.
Brothers could be so needy sometimes.
You could see your boyfriend eyeing you both with the strangest look. In your defense, he had plenty of warning of how weird your family was.
Before things could calm down too much though, everyone heard a shrill voice screaming your name from the top of the staircase.
"Y/N!"
"Fuck..." You muttered under your breath, before turning to see Tim and Cass giving you nervous looks.
“You were there with Riddler, weren’t you?”
They could barely look you in the eye as you turned to see Damian standing on the banister, holding one of your slippers in his hand.
