Tags: Friends to lovers, angst, jealousy, mutual pining (but they’re both dumb)
Hawks and Rowan became friends a couple of years ago after the Safety Commission sent him to try and get her to enter the Pro Hero career. He failed his mission, but they became friends despite this, and have been inseparable since. There’s always been something beneath the surface, but neither of them have had the courage to acknowledge it.
When Hawks is exposed by the paparazzi for hanging around Dabi, the Public Safety Commission takes matters into their own hands. They inform Hawks that since the public’s trust in him has been compromised, he’ll have to enter a public relationship with a hero that has high ratings and is adored by the public: Mirko.
While it’ll only be for a few months, the PR stunt has put a surprising strain on Rowan and Hawk’s relationship. Will they be able to keep pretending there’s nothing between them, or will it all come to light?
One ||
Same Coin
Tags: Rivals to lovers, angst, forced proximity
Pro Hero Dynamight and Kasey (Hero name: Cyclone) are constantly butting heads. Dynamight is the number two hero, and Kasey is right on his tail. They’ve been competing for the number one spot for years now, and neither of them are humble enough to let it go.
They’re always on patrol for the next villain, the next civilian to save, and refuse to back down. If they happen to come across the same criminal, surrender usually comes without hesitation. They’re a dangerous whirlwind of fire and wind together, but they make a damn good team.
When the public is threatened by a new up-and-coming villain that reminds Japan of All for One, they have to work together to make sure the damage is minimal and devastation is nonexistent. Will they end up killing each other, or will they finally realize they’re not as different as they once thought?
One ||
If you would like to be tagged for either of these when I start posting, let me know!
a/n: We're about to get to the juicy stuff (lots of pining and denial hehe)! I hope y'all enjoy this chapter!
Tags: Rivals to Lovers, angst, forced proximity, they're both stubborn and stupid
Word Count: 1,361
Pairing: Timeskip!Bakugo x Kasey (OC)
Warnings: Minor description of violence, blood, and death
One ||
It was way too early for Kasey to be up. She’d gotten a call from the Safety Commission, saying that all heroes in the top 20 needed to report to headquarters for a briefing. Kasey almost told them to fuck off, but they didn’t call in the 20 top heroes for nothing.
So, here she was, walking into the tall building, hot coffee in hand, eyeliner sharp and eyes tired. She kept her chin up, but no one dared to keep eye contact with her either way.
Once she entered the conference room, she noticed she was one of the last people to arrive despite being almost twenty minutes early. Her eyes scanned the chairs around the table, and she immediately wished she could turn around and leave without some kind of repercussion for it.
“Great,” she muttered as she made her way to one of the chairs. Either one she chose would be a nightmare, seeing as how they were both next to none other than Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight himself. His arms were crossed, his foot tapping against the floor impatiently. His gaze flicked towards her as she pulled the chair back, a quiet tch following close behind.
“Cutting it close, Grey.” Katsuki muttered under his breath, that vein starting to form in his forehead. She sent him a sharp glare, setting her cup of coffee down a little harder than necessary.
“I’m twenty minutes early. Not my fault you’re all a bunch of early rising kiss-asses.” She leaned back in her chair, her eyes falling to the table in front of her as she continued to make the effort to wake up fully.
“Keep that attitude, Grey. I’ll secure the number one spot in no time.” He smirked, which made her resist the urge to shove her fist in his face.
“In your dreams, sparky.”
His head whipped towards her, his teeth grit as he prepared to either threaten her or insult her. He was cut short by three more people arriving, which were three Committee members. Kasey winked at him, then grabbed her coffee before turning her attention to the Committee heads. Keigo Takami motioned for the other two members to sit before setting a thick file on the table. He cleared his throat quietly, then swept his vision over every hero in attendance.
“Alright. All of you already know I’m not one for small talk, so I’ll get right to it. There’s a new villain starting to make a name for himself in Tokyo, goes by Mindscaper. He has some kind of psychic quirk that can cause hallucinations, manipulate emotions, and create false memories. I’m sure you already noticed that the number one hero, Lamillion, isn’t here. Due to rather unfortunate timing, he’s across the world helping America with their own problems.”
Keigo then turned his attention to both Katsuki and Kasey, his gaze flicking between the two.
“Which means we need you two to team up and make up for his absence.”
Katsuki visibly stiffened, and Kasey almost choked on her coffee at the declaration. They both wanted to immediately protest, as did a few of the other heroes due to their reputation together, but Keigo held up his hand in a silencing gesture.
“Yeah, I know you two hate each other. Trust me, the recon budget alone tells me everything I need to know about you two working together. However,” he nodded towards one of the other committee members, who stood and placed a projecting device in the middle of the table. The other flipped the lights off, and the device lit up. It showed surveillance footage from a few days before, the scene seemingly normal.
“Mindscaper has already done irreparable damage. He’s been targeting suburbs, normal people.” The video started to play, showing at least one person from each house visible leaving their homes. They seemed out of it, like they were physically there but mentally absent. Then, in an instant, they started attacking each other. Blood splattered, eventually pooling into the streets, and no one was spared.
The table watched in silent horror, some turning their heads as the screams of children could be heard. Keigo glanced around the table again, then blinked once the lights came back on. The hologram disappeared, and he sighed with exhaustion.
“From what we know, this was just a way to get our attention. The local police departments can’t make heads or tails of it, and we’re actively working on both capturing him and figuring out what his motive is. From the intel we’ve gathered, we know that his quirk can only activate within fifty yards of him, so we’ll have to focus on long-ranged quirks. Which is where you two come in.”
He looked at Katsuki and Kasey again, who were both stoic but shaken by the footage they’d all just seen.
“It’s important that you two forget whatever issues you might have with each other. We need you at your best, especially since we don’t have Lamillion here right now. Do you think you can put a lid on it until our civilians are safe?”
Kasey glanced over at Katsuki, who kept his face forward. His hand clenched into a fist on top of the table, but he nodded. Kasey nodded as well, looking at Keigo again.
“I can.” Kasey said, leaning back in her chair. Keigo nodded at her, then looked at Katsuki.
“You?” Katsuki gritted, annoyed that his nod wasn’t answer enough. He then nodded again, huffing quietly.
“Yeah. Fine.”
Keigo nodded, then stood up a little straighter.
“Good. Until we come up with a solid enough plan, I want everyone to train as hard as they can and continue their hero work as normal. If you have any suspicion that Mindscaper is in the area, call us immediately and we’ll send reinforcements.”
The meeting ended soon after, the soft buzz of the heroes almost drowned out by the tension slowly starting to simmer between Kasey and Katsuki. Neither of them said a word, but they shared a look that said everything they refused to in that moment. Kasey stood from her chair, grabbing her cup and heading towards the door after everyone else other than Katsuki had left. Before she got to the door, however, his voice called out to her, his annoyance clear in his tone.
“Oi. Grey.” Kasey stopped, then turned slightly to glance back at him with a raised brow. He stood from his own chair, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked at her with a furrowed brow, his voice slightly strained when he spoke again.
“We might have to be a team for now, but don’t think that makes you my equal.” Kasey’s expression immediately heated into ire, her body turning to fully face him now.
“You really need to remove whatever stick is up your ass.” She spoke with exasperation, their gazes locked with a tense insistence. “This is never going to work if you keep that attitude up. This isn’t about you versus me right now, this is about doing our jobs and keeping people safe.”
He didn’t respond right away, nor did he make a move towards her. He just stood there, arms still crossed, but his expression changed just enough for her to notice. It was contemplative, like he was considering her words. The silence stretched for what felt like forever, and she was about to turn and walk away when he spoke once again.
“Meet me for training in two hours. We need to put some actual muscle mass on you so you can keep up with me, then figure out how to work as a team.” He finally moved, brushing past her on his way out. She watched him go, lips parted slightly in offense at his insinuation. She scoffed, ready to decline and insult when he glanced over his shoulder at her and sent her that shit-eating grin he always had when he was trying to piss her off.
“Asshole,” she muttered under her breath before heading towards the entrance of the building. She hoped they’d get to spar so she could hit him in the face.
a/n: I still don't have a set schedule for these stories, but I'm trying to be semi consistent. I hope you enjoy!
Tags: Friends to lovers, angst, jealousy, they're in love (but both are kinda dumb about it), cc x oc
Word Count: 1,943
Paring: Hawks x Rowan (OC)
One ||
Everything happened faster than Rowan had expected. Just two days before, Keigo had told her about the whole PR stunt with Mirko. She’d barely had time to register that it was real and start to internalize what that feeling that had appeared when he told her about the photoshoot.
Now, she was in a studio, filled with frantic people freaking out about how the lighting looked. Apparently, today was the day they got the portraits taken and an interview to announce the relationship. Rowan had overheard that it wouldn’t even be aired for another few weeks because Keigo and Mirko have to do some crime fighting together. Something about stirring up rumors first to build anticipation.
Rowan was sat by a crate, legs crossed and eyes trying to focus on one thing at a time. It was difficult when there were at least twenty people in this small space, most of which were just planning poses. Rowan usually felt out of place in public, but this was a whole new ballgame. It reminded her of why she refused to be a pro in the first place.
___
“Come on, you’re telling me you’ve never wanted to be a pro, Rowan?” Keigo asked, glancing over his shoulder at a very overstimulated Rowan as they walked down the street away from his apartment. Her shoulders were so tense they were almost by her ears, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jeans. She shrugged loosely, her eyes never meeting his.
“I don’t know. It just never really…appealed to me, I guess. I don’t like to be perceived, and that’s all the pro career is. Constant cameras, attention, and pressure.” She frowned lightly, making sure to keep at least four feet between them. He chuckled, but it didn’t quite sound genuine. Her gaze flicked to him for a fraction of a second, immediately looking elsewhere when their eyes met.
“Yeah, it can be a bit overwhelming at times, that’s for sure. But you get to save people and be an inspiration for others to help as well. Doesn’t that count for something?” Rowan shrugged again, looking up at the tall buildings that surrounded them.
“I mean, sure. But why not just be a thankless hero instead of some corporate good guy? Wouldn’t it feel better if you did it for the hero aspect rather than the monetary appeal?”
Keigo’s steps slowed a bit, and she noticed right away. She made sure to slow her own pace, not wanting the flow to be further interrupted. He didn’t answer right away, instead turning his head to look up at the sky. His feathers shook lightly, as if they were contemplating her question.
“Fair point.” He slowed his pace again, and Rowan tried to match it, but he ended up walking in stride with her hesitant footsteps. They were now side by side, and Rowan felt her chest tighten. He was perceiving her, and she hated that.
“Is that why you do it?” She asked, daring a glance over at him. He didn’t meet her eyes, instead keeping his eyes forward. She noted the look on his face, like she’d actually made him think instead of just spouting some pre-written company line.
“No.” He shook his head, his answer simple and so much heavier than she could have imagined. He met her gaze, a faint and almost sad smile tugging on the corner of his mouth. “I just do what I’m told, Rowan.”
That made her stop in her tracks. She’d expected another lame answer, something about how amazing hero work is. She didn’t think he’d just…admit something like that. He stopped too, his hands sliding into the pockets in his jacket.
“Don’t get me wrong. Saving people is great, and makes you feel like you’re actually worth something. But the part the public doesn't see? The people pulling all the strings in the shadows?” He scoffed softly, the sound devoid of any humor. “Really kills the excitement. I don’t blame you for not wanting to do it, even if your quirk is pretty cool.”
Rowan raised a brow, crossing her arms.
“You know about my quirk?”
He chuckled, nodding.
“Well, yeah. You did register it, though way later than people usually do.”
“In hopes of avoiding this happening,” she gestured vaguely between them, and he understood immediately. She didn’t want the sell, the glitz and glamour, the lies.
“Yeah, well…At least you got the most handsome salesman.” He grinned, his eyes softening as he watched her cheeks flush a pretty pink. Something about the sight made his pulse jump, and he knew in that moment that he had to see it again.
“You always so egotistical?” Her brow quirked up, and that simmer in his chest blazed. He smirked, taking a step closer to her.
“You always blush when a guy calls himself handsome?” He watched her expression, which had been nothing but stoic and hard to read up until this point, falter. Her eyes widened just a little, her lips parting as if trying to defend herself, though no words came out. She shrank into herself a little, her brows furrowing slightly as she averted her gaze. He couldn’t stop himself from chuckling quietly, his gaze softening as he watched her.
“You’re annoying.”
“And you’re adorable.”
___
“Rowan?” Keigo’s voice called, snapping Rowan back to reality. The memory faded in a flash, her gaze quickly finding his. She stood, her brows knitting with concern as she took in his expression. It was subtle, but she’d spent enough time looking at him to know when he wasn’t okay.
“What’s wrong?” She took a step towards him, the drop in his shoulders almost imperceptible as she did. He nodded, though she didn’t quite believe him.
“I’m just…still not feeling great about all of this. I asked the director if you could be closer when they actually take the pictures.” She tilted her head slightly, her expression overtaken with confusion.
“Why?” His hand raised to rub the back of his neck, his gaze leaving hers for just a moment. She kept looking at him, waiting for him to speak.
“You just…make me feel less anxious, I guess.” He cleared his throat quietly, then nodded towards the set where they were setting up for the poses. “Anyway, they said you can be right behind the camera. Just try not to get in the shot, they’re cutthroat in here.”
She nodded, then watched as he turned to walk back towards the set. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of white and purple, and immediately felt her stomach drop. She turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on Mirko.
Even though she looked a bit annoyed, she was still beautiful. Rowan couldn’t stop herself from admiring the woman walking towards the set as well. Confident, gorgeous, and genuinely heroic. Three things Rowan couldn’t imagine ever being.
“Alright, let’s get this over with. I have some actual work to do.” Mirko gritted, making her way to the set, which was finally done. It was a simple set, way too simple to have taken two hours to get together. The lights were bright, no shadow to be seen on the white backdrop.
Rowan hesitantly walked towards the camera, making sure to stay out of anyone’s way. She stood a couple feet from the photographer, her eyes trailing Keigo as he stepped onto the set after Mirko. The director immediately got to business, telling them where to stand and how to look.
The flash of the cameras and buzz of the employees behind the camera were immediately overwhelming. Rowan couldn’t fathom how pros were always so calm and composed around all of this on top of fighting crimes. Her gaze flickered around the room for a moment, her vision spotted with the residual flashes, until she looked at Keigo again.
This time, he was looking at her. It felt like the moment was suspended in time, and both of them could tell how the other was feeling without saying a word. She could see the small tell in his brow, the slight furrow that told her he was irritated but trying to keep face. As he studied her features, he could see the subtle way her eyes widened as the camera flashes flickered against both of their faces. It was one of her very few facial tics, the one that told him she was overwhelmed and moving towards panic.
But the longer he held her gaze, the more he could see her shoulders relax. As he looked into her sapphire blue eyes, he could feel his own heart start to slow, and he had to fight the urge to tell the director to fuck off so he could go to her.
“Hawks, focus,” Mirko hissed in his ear, tearing his focus away from Rowan. He glanced at her, and the impatience was clear in her glare. He knew she’d been roped into this, just as he had, and he could tell she wanted this to be over just as much as he did. He muttered a soft apology before getting back into the pose they’d told him to, which was just behind her.
His eyes flicked to Rowan again, and he hadn’t noticed until the director called him out on it.
“Alright, since you seem so adamant to look anywhere but the camera like I asked, let’s do this instead. Both of you look in one direction and look like a team. Mirko, please smile for this one. And Hawks, why don’t you put your hand on her arm? That way it’ll look like you're not only a hero team, but a couple.” Mirko huffed softly, getting into position. Keigo followed her movement, his eyes finally finding Rowan’s again. He felt a little more at ease now that he could just keep his eyes on her instead of sneaking it, but the look on Rowan’s face made his chest ache.
Her eyes immediately locked in on his hand as it rested against Mirko’s arm, that unfamiliar and sharp feeling shooting through her again. She swallowed thickly, thankful that the sound of the camera's clicking and idle conversation in the background was enough to drown it out. Her eyes met with Keigo’s again, and she felt that sting subside just enough to breathe.
The rest of the shoot went by in a blur, their eye contact never seeming to cease until the director said they were done. He immediately walked over to stand by Rowan’s side, the tension in his shoulders slowly starting to melt away the closer he got to her.
“So? You regretting your choice to not be a hero yet?” He asked, his voice slightly lilted with humor, already knowing her answer. She laughed softly, the sound more of a huff as she shook her head.
“Definitely not. This whole thing was a nightmare, and I wasn’t even really involved.” He chuckled softly, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him slightly, the comforting scent of him washing over her. She turned her head to look up at him, her gaze softening as she saw his genuine smile finally show after hours of forced enthusiasm.
“Agreed. Let’s get out of here. I need to work off some of this built-up tension.” He tilted his head down to meet her eyes, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. She felt her face burn, but forced herself to keep his gaze so he didn’t get too much satisfaction from her reaction.
She knew he was only saying it like that to mess with her. Nothing else.
a/n: Y'all have no idea how angsty this is about to be fr (I'm back in my comfort zone hehe), lmk if you want to be tagged in the next part!
Tags: Rivals to Lovers, angst, forced proximity, they're both stubborn and stupid
Word Count: 1,359
Pairing: Timeskip!Bakugo x Kasey (OC)
The night sky settled above Tokyo with a calm ambiance, the stars glittering and the soft glow of the city lights a stark comparison to the chaos unfolding underneath. The unmistakable sound of explosive blasts and triumphant taunting could be heard, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what was unfolding.
The local police department had gotten a call about someone breaking into a convenience store and stealing alcoholic beverages. Normally, it wouldn’t be something they needed to call a pro for, but this particular thief had been connected to a string of similar crimes in the last week. The only reason they hadn’t been caught yet was because they had a quirk that allowed them to daze whoever they touched, so they kept evading arrest.
That’s when the police department contacted the number two hero, Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight, and asked him for help.
“You’re telling me you couldn’t cough up enough change to just buy the beer?” Katsuki growled as he sent another blast towards the criminal, making sure to keep his distance from him so he didn’t get dazed. He tch’d, a menacing grin tugging at his mouth as his red eyes stayed focused on the other man. “What a loser.”
The man, who’d apparently given himself the street name of Greatest Thief Alive, jumped out of the way, bracing against a nearby wall with a wheezing breath. He clenched his fists, looking at Katsuki with furrowed brows, the stolen beer forgotten as it rolled out of the cardboard carrier and onto the street.
“Loser? I’m going to be a legend one day! Especially after I get away from the number two hero tonight!” The man claimed, pointing up at Katsuki with a serious gaze. “The world will know the name Greatest Thief Alive after tonight, when I make you look like a fool!”
Katsuki paused, his crimson eyes narrowing as he processed the proclamation. That trademark vein in his forehead suddenly made an appearance, and he could feel his head start to throb a little.
“Greatest Thief Alive?” He asked incredulously, his tone disbelieving as he looked down at the petty criminal with an ego that almost rivaled his own. “You named yourself Greatest Thief Alive?” Sparks started crackling around his free hand, his voice suddenly loud and slightly rasped as he yelled. “What the hell made you think that was cool? I should arrest you just for that!”
What Katsuki failed to notice as he ridiculed the man was that there was an opening, a chance for the criminal to grab him. And Greatest Thief Alive took the opportunity. Before Katsuki could register it, Greatest Thief Alive was racing towards him. Katsuki growled, the man’s audacity to try and grab him pissing him off almost as much as his stupid name did.
Before Katsuki could send a huge blast towards the man, the wind gusted sharply, sending Greatest Thief Alive soaring into the air. He crashed into the wall he braced against moments before, all of the air in his lungs being forced out as he landed on the unforgiving sidewalk.
“What the hell?” Katsuki rasped, glancing around until his gaze landed on her. His vein immediately became more pronounced, and a huff quickly escaped his mouth.
“Don’t worry, I won't let the big bad get you, Dynamight.” Kasey’s smooth, relaxed voice grated against his ears. He clenched his fists, watching as she slowly descended down until her boots landed a few feet away from him.
“Dammit! I don’t need any help, Grey. I had this frathouse reject handled.” Katsuki gestured vaguely at the crumpled man, his narrowed eyes never leaving her. The corner of her mouth curled upward in that signature smirk of hers, which just made his blood boil even further.
“Really? ‘Cause to me, it looked like he was about to grab you and turn you into a mannequin with bad hair.” Katsuki finally turned away from her, walking towards Greatest Thief Alive to handcuff him for the police department.
“Shut up,” he growled as he kneeled next to the incapacitated man, clicking the handcuffs around his wrists before standing again. “What are you even doing here? Don’t you have a job to do, Cyclone?”
“I was patrolling, then I heard screaming and property damage. Figured you might need some help.” Katsuki turned to look at her again, her icy eyes seeming to look right through him. He raised a brow, a mischievous smirk pulling at his lips.
“So you were patrolling this area, but they called me in for this guy? You’re either terrible at your job, or they preferred to have the runner up for number one take care of it. Silver’s better than bronze, isn’t it?” He watched her face closely as he spoke, a sense of satisfaction rolling over him as he saw her smirk falter and her shoulders tense. She quickly recovered, but he’d seen it, and that’s all that mattered.
“Or,” she lilted, shrugging lightly. “They left the important crimes to me while you handled the loser with grandiose delusions. They probably figured you could outmatch him and take him down.” Her smirk slowly grew into an amused grin, which made his own smirk drop. He took a step forward, slightly closing the distance between them. Kasey watched him step closer, not backing down.
“Delusions suggest there’s no truth to it.” He took another step closer, his gaze on her never wavering. “And we both know that’s not the case. I’m number two for a reason, Grey. Don’t take your insecurities out on me just because you can’t handle the fact that I’m better than you.”
Kasey chuckled, but there was no warmth to it. She stepped closer as well, the space between them quickly becoming scant.
“What, exactly, makes you better than me, Bakugo?” Katsuki grinned in response, his eyes searching her face as she stepped closer.
“Everything.”
The sound of the lively city and Greatest Thief Alive groaning from the ground was the only sound around them, their gazes securely locked. She could see every inch of that smug satisfaction on his face, from the quirk in his brow and the slightly crooked line of his mouth. She hated it.
He could see every minute crack in her armor, the subtle furrow of her brows and the tension that never seemed to leave her shoulders when he was around. He loved it.
The suffocating air between them seemed to evaporate in a matter of seconds, both of their communication devices going off at the same time. Their gazes wavered for the first time since she arrived, Kasey exhaling a breath that was suspiciously close to relief, Katsuki tching as he listened to the police chief ask something in his earpiece.
“Guess we’ll have to continue our anything you can do, I can do better dance later.” Kasey feigned disappointment as she read the message on her watch, not noticing Katsuki’s gaze as it focused on her again.
“No point, I won. As always.” He shrugged nonchalantly, watching as she looked back up at him with narrowed eyes.
“Let me know if you need saving again, Dynamight.” She could see the familiar fury start to rise in him again at her simple statement, the air around her already starting to whirl around her and lift her in the air.
“You didn’t save me, dammit!” She laughed, sending him a two-finger salute before soaring off into the night sky, leaving him to wait for the police department with Greatest Thief Alive. He watched the spot where she disappeared for a moment before focusing back on the criminal still on the ground. Greatest Thief Alive lifted his face, his eyes watery and his body still folded into itself.
“You two mind getting a room next time? That was almost as painful as hitting this wall.” Katsuki grunted, feeling a very strong urge to kick the man, but holding back to avoid any repercussion.
“Shut up, dumbass. You have no idea what you’re talking about. Now sit there and wait for the cops, don’t say another word unless you want to add another bruise.”
a/n: kinda nervous, this is my first post of an actual story in like, three years??? Wild. Hopefully I'm not super rusty lmao (if you want to be tagged in the next part, lmk)
Tags: Friends to lovers, angst, jealousy, they're in love (but both are kinda dumb about it), cc x oc
Word Count: 1,956
Paring: Hawks x Rowan (OC)
The city lights sparkled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Keigo’s penthouse, the quiet darkness outside providing a gentle calmness through the glass. The quiet footsteps of Rowan’s socked feet padded through the large living room, steam curling up from the two plates of food in her hands. She circled around the large sectional, setting them down on the coffee table before all but collapsing onto the cushions. It was somehow graceful, even as the padding dipped underneath her weight.
Keigo’s golden eyes flicked towards her, his visor long forgotten as they rested atop the end table near the front door. One side of his mouth quirked up at the sight of her, his unexpected yet closest friend in a long time moving so casually.
“Well, look at you, making yourself at home. I remember a time when you didn’t even want to walk through my front door, and now you're plopping onto my couch like you own it.” He smirked, the teasing tone in his voice undeniable. He wondered which reaction he’d get. He knew it would either be narrowed eyes or a dismissive wave, since those were the usual reactions she had to his goading.
Personally, he hoped for the narrowed eyes, that way he’d be able to see her nose scrunch. It was one of his favorite things to witness on her usually stoic face.
Rowan met his gaze, her brows knitting together just slightly, eyes narrowing playfully at him.
There it is.
“Keigo, don’t start.”
He couldn't stop the triumphant grin on his face from growing, his hands raising in a surrendering motion.
“I’m not starting anything, Ro. I’m just saying you’ve come a long way, and it only took two whole years of persistence to get here.” He chuckled softly, his hands slowly lowering until his palms rested against the fabric of his pants. “You should be proud of yourself, Stardust.”
Rowan had to use all of her inner strength not to groan at his statement, the truth of it causing memories of her first time coming over to flash across her mind.
“Stop trying to distract me with cringeworthy moments.” She leaned forward, grabbing his plate before pushing it towards him. He took it, watching her every movement as she did the same to retrieve her own food. She settled further into the couch, crossing her legs to balance the plate there. He mirrored her movements, though his were a bit more stiff, which she noticed immediately.
“Distract you? I would do no such thing, and I’m offended you would even suggest it.” He huffed dramatically, grabbing the chopsticks that she’d carefully placed on the side of his plate. He looked down at the food, the aroma usually so enticing now just making his stomach twist. Rowan continued watching him, that usual observing demeanor she could normally drop around him now in full swing.
“Right. That’s why you’re actively avoiding whatever conversation you asked me to come over to have.” She reached over, playfully pushing on his arm. He huffed a soft laugh, but it was breathier and more nervous than he’d meant it to be. He then cleared his throat softly, turning his head to look at her again.
“I’m not avoiding it. Just…procrastinating it a little. I was hoping we could just enjoy the normal for a minute before everything gets all…different.” Rowan’s stomach dropped a little at the seriousness in his voice, her shoulders lowering a fraction. She then looked down at her food, grabbing her own chopsticks.
“Sounds serious. We don’t have to talk about it right now, Keigo. Just whenever you're ready.” He felt the ache in his chest ease up just enough to breathe, grateful that she didn’t push it. She never did.
“Thanks, Ro. Now eat.” he gestured at her plate, trying to give her a reassuring smile but falling just short. “Those are the spicy garlic noodles from that place you like in Naruhata.” Rowan blinked, turning her head to look at him again, her brows slightly raised in surprise.
“You went all the way to Naruhata to get garlic noodles?” She shook her head, a faint smile on her face as she started grabbing some of the noodles with her chopsticks. “Man, this conversation must be bad.”
He didn’t answer, instead just started eating his own food. His silence was answer enough for her, and she decided to just eat and wait.
It felt strange, eating in silence like this. Usually, she preferred it to be quiet when she ate, maybe a show or something playing quietly. But eating with Keigo was always different; fun. He’d always try to say something to make her laugh, have a silent competition to see who would eat faster, or they’d steal each other’s food off their plates.
But this?
The silence?
Suddenly didn’t feel like comfort anymore.
The minutes that passed felt like an eternity, the sound of their plates gently clinking against the table the only sound in too long. Rowan then pulled her legs up onto the couch with her, wrapping her arms around her knees as she waited for him to speak. She figured if it really was bad enough, he’d bring it up.
“So,” he started, his voice coming out more strained that he’d meant it to. He cleared his throat quietly, hoping he wouldn’t sound as nervous as he felt when he spoke again. “You know about the whole…papparazzi seeing me with Dabi thing.” He rested his forearms on his knees, his wings twitching slightly as the whole ordeal replayed in his head.
The outcry from fans, people bringing his integrity into question, and the Safety Commission's panic to try and cover it up without taking responsibility. He could see Rowan’s long hair move as she nodded, his eyes flicking towards her before he continued.
“Well, obviously people aren’t happy about it. And the Commission doesn’t want my numbers to go down.” He exhaled sharply, the sound not quite a laugh. He looked away from her again, instead looking down at his hands. He didn’t know if he’d be able to say it if he was looking at her.
“So, they came up with this genius idea for a PR stunt, something that’ll supposedly ease the public’s feelings about me and keep my numbers manageable.” He paused again, his heart starting to thump against his ribs. Rowan sat still, letting him collect himself, build up courage, whatever he needed to do to get it out. She wasn’t sure if she should reach out to him, or just leave him be.
She decided on the latter.
“Basically, they think if I get into a fake relationship with a highly regarded hero, civilians won’t hate me as much.”
And there it was. It was out, and the air in the spacey living room suddenly felt like a cage. It felt like a physical weight on his chest, and the intensity Rowan felt inside of her body was unrivaled. He could almost feel her tense up, her breath seeming to stop altogether as she processed the new information.
The silence between them felt even longer than before, when the only thing between them was anticipation. Now it was almost like dread, a new tension that had never been there before taking claim.
“Oh.” Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, as if she didn’t know what else to say. She dared a glance at him, relieved that he wasn’t already looking at her. She quickly averted her gaze, then spoke again.
“Do you know who yet?”
“Yeah. Mirko.”
The sting Rowan felt shooting through her body was new. It wasn’t something she’d really ever felt before, and she wasn’t sure how to deal with it. It was like she could feel it physically wrap around every organ in her body and sink its claws in as deep as it could. Keigo finally turned his head to look at her, but she didn’t meet his gaze. Not right away.
“Could be worse, right?” She tried, managing to meet his gaze for a torturous few seconds. She offered a faint smile, but he could see it. The tightness, how quickly it dropped.
“I don’t know how, Ro. This whole thing is just…it feels wrong. Like I’m…”
Betraying you.
“Like my feelings about it don’t even matter. Like they’d rather put me through more hell rather than just fess up. The only reason I was with Dabi was because they told me I had to be.” He stood from the couch, running a frustrated hand through his golden locks. Rowan watched him, a frown starting to appear on her face.
“I know that.” She slowly stood up, her hands nervously fidgeting with each other. Her head felt like a whirlwind, her body practically vibrating with nervous energy. But she knew she had to push through, that he needed support more than she needed clarity in this moment. She took a step towards him, then another.
“I don’t want to do this. Fake smiles, holding hands, photoshoots.” He sighed sharply, turning to look at her. She looked up at him, finally reaching out to rest her hand against his chest.
“I know you don’t. But I also know you will, because you don’t know how to say no.” She half-smiled, but he didn’t return it. Instead, he just kept looking at her, like she was the only thing in the room. His hand raised, covering hers above his heart. He let out a shaky breath, leaning closer to her.
“Yeah. That’s the worst part.” Rowan then moved, wrapping her arms around him in a gesture that surprised them both. He froze for a fraction of a second before melting into her, his wings fluttering, then craning as if to shield them from the world. He let his head fall to her shoulder, his arms wrapping around her, fingers curling slightly into her shirt as if he was clinging to her. Her cheek pressed against his shoulder, the suffocating air that had surrounded them thus far finally easing up.
“If I’m allowed to, I can be there. You know, for the photoshoots and interviews. Somewhere in the crowd, but there nonetheless. And you know you can always come by my place to complain about whatever happened. Just give me a heads up so I can clean up my gaming cave.” His breath hitched, the sound between a laugh and a surprised noise.
“You’d do that? Even though you think PDA is cringe and hate the public?” She laughed this time, the sound making him melt further into her embrace.
“For you? Absolutely. Anybody else and I’d send thoughts and prayers.”
They both laughed now, the tension fully gone and replaced with that normal warmth that followed them everywhere. He pulled back just a little, only enough to look at her. His hands slowly pulled away from her back, instead gently cupping her face. Their foreheads were barely an inch apart, her hands falling to her sides as their gazes met.
“You’re too good to me, Stardust.” She felt her breath catch in her throat, as if she forgot how to breathe altogether. His eyes searched her features, lingering on her mouth before he met her eyes again.
“Somebody has to be, Birdman.” He grinned, then tilted his head up to press a kiss against her forehead. After a few seconds, he pulled away completely, and she let out the breath she’d unintentionally held a little too long.
“Alright. Now that that’s out of the way…” He grinned, nodding towards his entertainment system. “What do you say I kick your ass at some Mario Kart?” Rowan grinned in response, her brow raising challengingly.
Kasey Grey was born a military brat, whose only expectation in life was to be the “perfect soldier”. Her father, Lieutenant General Grey, was a decorated veteran that had many stories infamous in any military branch. After he lost his wife when Kasey was three, he made sure he would do whatever he needed to do to guarantee his family’s future comfort and success.
Once Kasey was old enough to walk, she started her training. He didn’t hold back, especially the other she became. She learned to throw knives without missing a target at the age of eight, how to get out of zip ties with minimal damage by ten, and built her own emergency kit by eleven. She strived to make her father proud, even though he never seemed to regard her safety or mental wellbeing.
As Kasey grew older, the anger she’d festered since the training started had finally reached a point where she couldn’t contain it. She moved around a lot; new schools, new people, new challenges. She always made sure to keep her grades up, but the social aspect was something she couldn’t seem to grasp. People quickly learned not to mess with her, as she had no problem taking down a quarterback at some school in Austin one semester. She then started to make herself as intimidating as possible, that way there was no chance of people trying to talk to her and causing any issues. She was then known as the “Ice Queen”, too scary to approach and too mean to try to be friends with.
Once she turned fifteen, she started to get into motorcycles. She had to learn it all herself, since her father was always away on some mission or deployment. Anytime he was home, he’d just drink and ignore her anyway. So, she learned as much as she could, going to local shops and asking questions, making money to buy parts herself, until she built her very first bike. It was her proudest achievement. It was a sleek, black bike with all modified parts. She called it her Widowmaker, and she rode it everywhere.
When she was seventeen, her father came home and destroyed it in his drunken stupor, saying she needed to focus on being a soldier, not some Hog. This made her so upset, she finally fought back. This ended up with her being committed and evaluated, where she was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder.
To her father, this meant she was a lost cause, and that all of his hard work was for nothing. He called her a disgrace and told her to be gone by the time was back from his upcoming deployment.
From that day, Kasey vowed to prove him wrong, and to never allow anyone to ever get close enough to her to have power over her emotions. She then rebuilt her bike, constantly maintaining it and using her Military Benefits to get a place of her own.
Love Language(s): Acts of service, Quality time.
Likes: Working on her bike, training, being alone.
Diagnoses: Bipolar 1, C-PTSD.
Fear(s): That she’s too much like her father, that she’ll never let someone close enough to see the real her, that she’ll let someone too close and they’ll see her, hurting people she genuinely cares about.
Trope(s): Enemies to Lovers, Angst, Hurt/Comfort.
Appearance: Black hair, icy blue eyes, always wears sharp eyeliner to accentuate them. Her muscle tone is impressive, and is obvious when she wears tank tops. She always has her leather jacket on, jeans, and boots. When she doesn’t have makeup on, the freckles across her nose are visible. She tries very hard to not let anyone see her without makeup for this reason.
Personality: Kasey comes off as rude, standoffish, stubborn, and uncaring. She makes sure to keep this up, only ever softening (even if very slightly) if the person was persistent enough to break down the walls a little. She shows affection by lightly teasing, but will split if she feels attacked. Her outbursts are always destructive, whether physically or pertaining to the relationship currently at hand. She always feels guilty afterwards, and tries very hard to swallow her pride enough to apologize.
Deep down, she’s just a girl that wants someone to care enough to stay and love her anyway.
Sophie Grace was born in a small town in Georgia named Alverton. It was a small community filled with religion and seemingly close-knit families. It was a town where the peaches seemed to be the sweetest and the heat always came with a vengeance. The kind of place that always had a pie in the windowsill and your neighbors always said they had your back, but secretly gossiped in the same pews they worshiped God’s words in.
Sophie’s mother, Deanne, had Sophie out of wedlock with a youth pastor that had come into town on a faith mission. Deanne herself was only seventeen, and had thought she’d found the man she was going to marry. Once she found out she was pregnant, she ran to him thinking he’d do the right thing, since was a man of God. But, he instead shamed her for being a heretic and betraying the word. He left on another mission soon after, leaving Deanne to fend for herself and this new baby she’d have soon.
Deanne’s mother had condemned her when she found Deanne lying on the bathroom floor, sobbing and covered in blood. She told her she was unsavable, and that God would punish her for the rest of her life for not only having this child out of wedlock, but for trying to get rid of it.
The day Deanne found out that she was pregnant solidified Sohpie’s tortuous life. As soon as she was born, Deanne looked at her with displaced hatred. She didn’t see an infant, she saw the reason the man she loved left her and the man she loved himself, all in one. Sophie was born with his unmistakable brown eyes, and an innocence that Deanne didn’t believe she deserved.
Growing up, Sophie was whipped and tortured into being as obedient as a human being could be. Deanne made her read the Bible as often as she could, making her recite passages and testing her on them. She was only allowed to go to church, and when she was old enough to go to school, it was only church and school. She was made to wear overly-modest clothes, Deanne insisting that any unnecessary skin showing meant she was sinning or planning on doing so. She wasn’t allowed to have any friends, insisting that friends only lead to heresy and defiance.
If she broke any of Deanne’s rules, like missing a word while reciting, or talking about someone from school, or taking too long in the shower, she was punished without mercy. Deanne’s most common form of punishment was locking her in the hallway closet with no light, just a Bible and dust. Sophie would never know how long she’d actually be in there, and she learned that crying would only prolong the sentence. If Deanne didn’t find that the closet was enough, she would strike Sophie across the back with anything that would hurt while she recited whatever passage she felt was fitting until Sophie did it without stuttering. If you asked Sophie, she would say the worst punishment was when her mother found her copy of “Lord of the Rings” that she’d hidden under her mattress, above the boxspring, and “cleansed” her with a pot of boiling water, leaving her with a burn scar that went from her right shoulder all the way down to her wrist.
Sophie only had solace in gardening and baking, since it was the only activity other than reading the bible she had. She found peace and a semblance of therapy in these. Something about being free to get your hands dirty and getting something beautiful out if it was satisfying. And when she started bringing her baked goods to church gatherings, someone said she could open her own bakery one day.
And for the first time in her twelve years of life, she had a dream.
Sophie always made sure to do her best to follow her mother’s rules, but now, she did it with purpose. Telling herself that as long as she worked hard enough, God would help her pave the path to her freedom. She sold her baked goods to neighbors, to the kids in the town, to any shop that wanted them.
When she turned 24, Sophie had finally made enough to buy her own bakery and move far, far away from her mother. She didn’t tell her mother anything, just left with nothing but a small bag of clothing and determination. She wasn’t sure where she was going yet, or how to navigate anything in the world beyond her own prison, but her trust in God to take her wherever she needed to go and keep her safe was all she needed.
Love Language(s): Gift giving, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service.
Likes: Experimenting with flavors, making people smile, seeing the world, lemon squares.
Diagnoses: C-PTSD.
Fear(s): Turning into her mother, that she’ll never achieve her dream, not being able to make a friend.
Trope(s): Sunshine x Grump, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Slight Angst.
Appearance: Short, almost frail looking. She has long, very light blonde hair and big brown eyes. She has a beauty mark just above her lip on the right side. She has scars across her back and a large burn scar that goes from her right shoulder down to her wrist. She wears long sleeves, long skirts, or pants that aren’t too tight. She always has a silver cross necklace on, the chain thin and the cross not too large.
Personality: Sophie is very sweet. She doesn’t like when people speak crudely, and curse words make her sweat. She trusts people at face value, and hasn’t quite got the whole “sarcasm” thing down yet. She flusters very easily, and blushes embarrassingly often. Her philosophy in life is that any good food and some care can fix anything that’s wrong.
Rowan is from Brattlesboro, Vermont, born to Daniel and Rhiannon. Her parents are both art collectors and artists themselves, having moved to Brattlesboro shortly before Rowan was born. They are very free-spirited and don’t believe that a high education and consistent pressure to be successful is the way to true spiritual happiness. They made a name for themselves as artists and constantly travel around the world to sightsee as well as sell their own art. They used to take Rowan with them until the age of eleven, when she started to ask if she could simply stay home instead.
Since her diagnosis with autism at the age of five, they made sure not to force her into situations that cause her unease or overstimulation. They tried to encourage her to come along, but never pushed after she would refuse the first time. They have always been very supportive of her differences, even allowing her to switch to home-schooling at thirteen and paying for her interests as well as hobbies by getting a credit card in her name.
But, it eventually went from constant support and communication overseas to isolation and unintentional abandonment of their only daughter. Their trips started to become longer, or something would delay their stay until it became months of absence. They made sure to keep her card stocked up on more funds than a teenager needed, but she was always left to fend for herself otherwise.
To cope, Rowan found solace in video games, caffeine, and learning how to hack. It started with small stuff, of course, but it eventually turned into hacking government files for fun. She's notorious in old gaming lobbies, sending cold shivers down the spines of her enemy teams when her handle came into view. She very much enjoyed being mic’d up as well, so she could hear teenage boys absolutely lose her shit when their entire team got annihilated by a girl.
Though things like this do keep her entertained and distracted enough to forget how lonely she truly is, it always creeps up into those small, seemingly insignificant moments. When she realizes she’s about to bust, or her stomach twists with an angry hunger and she remembers she is, in fact, a human being who has to go eat. It’s only then does she realize that she hasn’t said a single word to anyone physical in months. Or that she has no one to share her victories with. Her parents, when they do answer, always just say the same thing.
“That’s nice, Rowan.”
“What’s a KD ratio again?”
Rowan was never any good at social situations. Body language was never really her strong suit, either. When she was in school, all of the other kids said she talked “like a robot” and even her teachers would say she would never succeed in the real world if she always asked to do her projects alone. School always felt like a place where she had to put on a mask to assure the comfort of others, even if it meant she was absolutely miserable.
Sometimes she wonders if her parents hadn’t allowed her to be homeschooled by a screen if she’d be able to face the public without feeling like she was drowning. Or if she’d just buck up and go outside to get food instead of counting on delivery services (“Leave at my door” was one of the few good things to come of COVID, she believed), maybe she’d know what it was like to have a real friend that wasn’t some video game UI or AI. She refused to use any kind of generative AI, so that was off the table.
She hopes one day, she’ll find an opportunity to get a real job that involves her actual skills and interests instead of draining her soul because of people and rules that were only put into place to benefit the rich and torture the working public.
Love Language(s): Acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time, gift giving.
Likes: Asian food, being alone, astrology, making “Alpha Males” cry.
Trope(s): Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Angst, Hurt/Comfort.
Appearance: Sapphire blue eyes, wolfcut hair, has a “soft goth” makeup style. She doesn’t have much muscle tone, some people describe her as lanky.
Personality: Awkward, unintentionally funny. Has a strong sense of justice, will stand up for someone being mistreated but will never stick up for herself. Has the tendency to fixate for weeks, sometimes even months, on random things. She rambles when she’s nervous, gets quiet when she’s overstimulated. Her common stims are fidgeting with her hands, with loose fabrics, and shifting her weight. She mostly speaks with a monotone voice, but is actively working on it.
Man, it's been a super long time since I've been on this account. It's been about the same amount of time since I actually wrote anything that wasn't cringey and sad poetry (lame).
Without going too much into detail, I lost my mom in 2019, and then got into literally the worst relationship I could have imagined for FIVE YEARS. All of my inspiration and drive to create just kinda...left. I wasn't even reading fics anymore. I was just chillin in the void, I guess.
BUT!
I'm in a very healthy and supportive relationship now, and my lovely fiance said I should try to write again when I told him I think my spark might be back. Just a little.
So, I wanted to try something new, something I've never done before since I started uploading fanfics in the fanfiction.net days.
CC x OC. I know, it's wild. For me, anyway.
I might still do x reader stuff, but for now, I want to kind of ease into it and see how I feel.
So, I'm gonna upload some character sheets (I guess?) and another post about some ideas I have for cannon characters I'd want to write them with. Maybe update my fandom interests. They haven't really changed too much, but there's some new ones.
And I might change how my page looks. Maybe even my username.
Anyway, glad to be back! Hope we can make some good shit and have fun adventures again. Much love!
Would anyone want to read a Thor x Reader? I have an idea and I was curious if anyone would be interested. It’ll be a slow burn, set in the time when Thor first came to Earth :)
Reader is a normal, hardworking person who ran away to New Mexico to get away from a previously abusive relationship. Thor is, well Thor and he comes to earth, immediately causing mayhem. Reader takes Thor in when she realizes he has nowhere to go and starts to teach him about her world and how to survive. When he seems to start getting acclimated, S.H.I.E.L.D comes in and gets Thor to join the avengers, but he doesn’t go without Y/N. Can she change her life and be a part of the team or will she run again when things get a little too uncomfortable for her?
Okay guys, I recently just binged The Walking Dead up until the middle of season 9! Imo there isn’t enough fanfic for the show so I really wanna start writing for it. I have a series in mind already, but I want to write a one shot in the meantime.
The only problem? I can’t decide between Negan or Daryl. Let me know who you guys would rather see 🖤
🍉 Do you prefer to write short fics or long fics? Multichaptered works or single ones? Why?
🍓 What’s a fic you’ve written you feel is underrated?
🍎 Is there anything you straight-up won’t write?
🍒 What’s your favorite character dynamic to write? (Can be romantic or platonic, specific or general!)
🍊 Who’s a character you don’t write for that often, but keep meaning to write for more? (They’re so interesting! But maybe you have trouble pinning them down, or keep getting distracted by another blorbo…)
🍑 If you could make a connection between your favorite character and another work you care about (whether a crossover/fusion or a wonderfully “pretentious” literary reference) what would it be? How would it work?
🥭 Rank from most enjoyable/fun to write to least: Fluff, Smut, Angst, Crack.
🍍 What kind of AUs do you like? Are there any AUs you hate or just generally have beef with?
🍋 What’s your favorite spicier trope to write?
🍌 In your opinion, what’s the funniest joke/reference/pun you’ve made in a fic?
🍏 Is there something you overuse, whether it’s a certain phrase, trope, or piece of punctuation?
🥝 What’s your favorite trope/AO3 tag to write?
🍐 Is there anything in canon that you absolutely hate and love to fix in fics? A wrong choice made, a fuck-up in characterization, a misunderstanding never cleared up, a conversation never shown onscreen, etc…
🍈 Who’s your blorbo and what are some of your favorite headcanons/ideas about them that repeatedly show up in your fics? Free pass to rant about blorbo opinions.
🫐 What’s your favorite underrated thing in your fandom? (A ship that only you seem to write for, a character there’s almost no fics about, a trope that criminally hasn’t been written yet, etc.)
🍇 Is there a particular scene/episode/book/etc that you want to just write a million fics about, over and over? Which one?
Summary: Getting caught tied up with a ball gag in your mouth should be something shameful. But when Dean gets back to the bunker in the middle of your little alone time with Sam, you discover your sub might enjoy the danger of being caught a bit too much.
Pairing: Sam Winchester x gn!Reader
Rating: 18+
Word Count: 1366
Warning: BDSM dynamic, Sub!Sam, Dom!gn!Reader, ball gags, tied up Sam, vulnerability, being aroused by the danger of getting caught, almost getting caught, overstimulation
Square filled: Ball Gags for @spnkinkevents
A/n: This was also a request by @ilycxss that asked for Sam Winchester as a sub! Hope you like it! No gender is specified for the reader!
