For the month of January, we're encouraging the creation of "Gen" fanworks, or fanworks that do not focus on romantic or sexual relationships. As long as your fanwork fits this criteria, anything else goes. Fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, whump, the only limit is your imagination!
Incidental or background ships are okay, but if it's prevalent enough that you would need to tag the ship, then it's probably too shippy for this event.
You can create any type of fanworks you want. Fic, art, gifs, FMVs, crafts, again, the only limit is your imagination.
This is a multi-fandom event. Any and all fandoms are welcome. However, we will NOT accept any content known to be created in whole or in part by generative AI.
I deeply and sincerely apologize for the complete radio silence for the past couple of weeks. Let's just say there was a Life Event that sapped my motivation (I'm okay, don't worry 😌)
Over the next few days, I'll be adding your prompt fills to the queue in order to not completely lay waist to your notifications or flood everyone's dash. I'll try to have everything caught up within a week or so.
As far as late submissions go, I'll accept and reblog them through February, and the AO3 collection will remain open as well.
Thank you to everyone who's been participating through writing, reblogging, liking, and commenting!
Day 13 of the @genuary-prompt-month event. This story was originally labeled “Hot tub-kun.”
Summary:
“Happy birthday Atsushi-kun,” Dazai smiles, eyes bright. At one point, such a kind expression would be enough to melt Atsushi’s heart. But now, like Kunikida, it just gives him the beginnings of a stomach ulcer.
“My birthday was six months ago.”
You can read the full fic below and on AO3.
Atsushi’s shoulders sag with the weight of the world, or at least with the weight of forced overtime thanks to post-Fyodor bullshit. He dreams of arriving home for the weekend, taking a nice scalding hot bath, watching K-dramas with Kyouka, eating a nice dinner of ochazuke, and curling up with a good book before bedtime.
He allows himself to fantasize about his relaxing night, the peaceful thoughts carrying his throbbing, sore feet until the Agency apartment building appears over the horizon.
“Atsushi-kuuuuuuuun!” Dazai is waving to him, in front of not his dorm but Atsushi’s on the second floor.
At first his heart soars, seeing his sometimes irritating yet still beloved mentor finally back after his stint in prison. He’s just about to yell back, maybe even run dramatically, and imagines getting a hug and a head pat for his troubles.
But then he really looks, and beside Dazai is a massive cardboard box. One cannot overstate how massive this box is, almost taller than Dazai and nearly twice the width of Atsushi’s door that it's currently blocking. The box itself has seen better days, with the edges and corners beat up and frayed. It's also covered in a fuckton of stickers from various countries, like one would see in children's cartoons.
Atsushi's dreams of a quiet, restful evening after a heartfelt reunion shatter like cheap glass, the pieces dashed to the floor in a sad pile before him.
He briefly considers turning around and heading back to the office. Only the thought of poor Kyouka, trapped inside and having to deal with this alone, forces his hand.
He climbs up the stairs and approaches Dazai and the box with its own gravitational pull.
“Happy birthday Atsushi-kun,” Dazai smiles, eyes bright. At one point, such a kind expression would be enough to melt Atsushi’s heart. But now, like Kunikida, it just gives him the beginnings of a stomach ulcer.
“My birthday was six months ago.”
“Then Merry Christmas, Atsushi-kun.”
He sighs. “Why is this package here, Dazai-san?”
“Ah,” and the bastard was definitely waiting for this question. “Well you see, I did have a prolonged sentencing at Meursault, which let me tell you those tiny see-through cells are horrendous for my back. Soooooo, I decided, on my wonderful friend Ango-kun's dime, to order the perfect gift for myself. A hot tub!”
Dazai waves his hands at the package, as if Atsushi had been struck blind at that moment and somehow missed it.
Atsushi is suddenly filled with an uncharitable thought. As bad as he feels for Ango, he's grateful this man has most of Dazai’s true ire. There’s also a not insignificant part of his heart downright gleeful that the government is experiencing even a fraction of what they put the Agency through.
“But the staff at Meursault were so cruel, with questions like, ‘You can't have this, you’re a prisoner!’ ‘How did you order this?’ ‘How did this even pass clearance?’” He puts a hand to his forehead and closes his eyes. “Afterwards, they had the nerve to kick us out! Can you believe how awful they were? Rejecting us so coldly?”
“Us?”
“Myself and Hot tub-kun of course!”
Hot tub-kun.
“We've formed a camaraderie, you see. Two beautiful yet misunderstood souls against the harsh world.
“So after that, I decided we needed a lovely vacation at the dime of our benefactor, no expense spared. We traveled the world, Atsushi-kun, saw the most wonderful sights, and stayed at the most luxurious hotels.” He sighs, dreamily, hands to his chest. “It was perfect.”
Meanwhile, Atsushi just received a vital answer to a question he's been asking this entire month. And now he knows that while he's been worried to death for his mentor, Dazai has been traveling the world, with a hot tub, as everyone is forced to pick up his massive slack.
He should have stayed in that alternate dimension.
“Our benefactor decided to pull the plug on our funds—” which means Ango finally caught wind of what has to be the most horrific surprise bill in history— “and cut us off while we were in Italy. So now I'm in a completely foreign country, with a rather large item that I can't possibly carry on my own.”
“Why didn't you return the hot tub?”
He gasps. “How could you say such a cruel thing to us? Don't listen to him, Hot tub-kun!” He leans on the box and places his hand on two random spots that are its “ears.”
“....”
“I had to use the last of the money I stole—I mean liberated from that slug's personal bank account—” and now poor Nakahara is made to suffer— “to get us home. I thought, Atsushi-kun is always such a hard-working mentee, he could use such a kind and thoughtful gift. And so, I had Hot tub-kun sent right here for you.” He slaps the box for good measure, a grin stretched wide across his face.
Only the chirps of cicadas and faint noises coming from his dorm (his sweet dorm that has become as accessible as if he were separated by an ocean) can be heard between the pair.
“Goodbye Dazai-san.”
“Wait, don't go yet!” Dazai has to nearly climb over the box to squeeze past it and grab Atsushi’s arm. “I really could use your help setting this up. Please don’t abandon us in our time of need!” He gives Atsushi a pout and watery eyes that're supposed to be cute but it’s just disturbing on a grown man.
“I can't fit that in my dorm. Like, very obviously, it cannot fit in there in any way.”
“Hm, that is true,” as if Dazai hadn't lived in the same type of dorm for years. “Maybe we could set it up in the backyard, next to Kenji-kun's garden. A makeshift outdoor hot tub would be heavenly.”
“Did you even ask the President first?”
Dazai very visibly falters for a moment, most likely as the President's anger is one of the few things that he fears. “How does that saying go? It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission? I'm sure once he sees such an incredible sight in the backyard, he'll be raring to try it out!”
“I thought this was my present?” Not like he ever would ask for this… thing. But still!
“For shame! Are you saying you can't even share with your own boss?”
The last of his patience and mind frays and he's left with the realization that he's going to have to outplay Dazai to get out of spending his entire night digging a hole in the backyard that will, without a doubt, piss off the President.
Then he remembers a secret weapon, one cocked and ready, still at the Agency. Atsushi gives Dazai his brightest and sweetest smile. “Let me just call Kyouka-chan first, so she can help us out.”
Dazai clasps his hands, eyes downright glittering. “I knew you'd come around!”
Despite himself, Atsushi feels slightly guilty. Then he sees the box again and it all evaporates into the sunset.
He descends the stairs and, after ensuring he's out of earshot, calls not Kyouka but one Kunikida Doppo.
“Atsushi? What's the matter?”
“Dazai-san’s back and trying to install a hot tub in the backyard.”
There's a choking noise, most likely coughed-up coffee. Then a heavy exhale, then two, then three, as if Kunikida is a dragon revving up his fire-breathing. “I'll be there in three minutes and 54 seconds.” The line on his end clicks.
Atsushi shuts his phone and turns, giving Dazai a peace sign that he returns.
Ten seconds before the given estimate, there's a screeching of tires and the company car appears, parking very illegally on the front lawn. Barreling right out of it is the natural force known as Kunikida.
“DAZAI, YOU BANDAGED MENENCE!”
“Kunikida-kun! So glad you could make it! Did you come to witness the birth of Hot tub-kun's awakening?”
“Oh you'll witness the birth of these hands wrapped around your neck!” And he flies up the stairs, launching himself at Dazai, who tries to dodge but is trapped by the box.
Meanwhile, Atsushi wraps around the side of the building, using his Ability to scale the back and reach the second-floor window of his dorm.
Kyouka, bless her, is already packed with overnight clothes for both of them. She opens it and he gets her down first, then the bags.
“Did you call Akutagawa first?” She asks, ever polite.
“Nah, it's funnier if we drop by without asking.”
They haul ass, just as a few of the other Agency members peek outside to watch the absolute thrashing unfold.
Day 12 of the @genuary-prompt-month event. This is a prequel to Reunion, detailing how Akutagawa spends the remainder of the year before reuniting with his sister.
Summary: Akutagawa learns to treasure the seasons.
You can read the full fic below and on AO3.
“What’s your favorite season?”
An innocuous question from Kenji, who’s standing beside Ryuunosuke’s office desk.
Ryuunosuke takes a moment to consider it. Not because he doesn’t have an answer ready, but because he respects his coworker and wants to give his question the proper respect in turn. “I would say either Autumn or Spring, as the mild weather is more conducive to homelessness than extreme temperatures.”
Out of the corner of his eyes, Tanizaki winces. The boy is rather sensitive, as he recalls the first day they met when he was immediately uncomfortable upon learning the origin of Ryuunosuke's dislike for dogs.
Kenji taps a finger to his chin. “That does make sense. But,” and the bright smile returns to his face. “Since you're here with us, I hope that you can enjoy summer and winter now too.”
This gives Ryuunosuke pause. He’s never thought about that benefit before. The concept of being able to “slow down” and enjoy things is foreign to him.
But now that he’s employed with the Agency, he can have these new experiences and make new memories.
***
This is the first time Ryuunosuke has ever attended Tanabata. Beautifully lit lanterns glitter like stars pulled from the night sky, and stalks of bamboo are filled with papers the color of rainbows. Then there's the endless food and game stands. It’s all so overwhelming and yet so mundane.
A glimpse into a life that Ryuunosuke had never known before.
He’s pulled in every direction by the other Agency members. Kenji makes him sample nearly every food offered (the matcha kakigori and yakisoba being his personal favorites). Tanizaki and Naomi challenge him to goldfish and super-ball scooping and proceed to trounce him every round (then gave him an octopus plush doll anyway).
Kunikida-san and Oda-senpai compete in gun shooting, as the latter’s orphans cheer him on. Yosano-sensei sneaks behind him and slips on an Oni mask, then laughs with Ranpo-san as they walk away.
Ryuunosuke commits to more training with Oda-senpai to prevent future sneak attacks, but he wears the mask for the night’s duration as he clutches the plush.
***
New Year’s Eve in Yokohama Chinatown is a bustling mess, with massive crowds pushing around as they race to the temples in time for the countdown and lion dances.
The lanterns and multi-colored streamers, combined with the extravagant reds and golds of the Chinese architecture and guardian statues, are quite unlike anything he’s ever seen. Kenji and Tanizaki are, to his embarrassment, forced to guide him as he struggles to take in all the sights before him.
The Agency members take care to stay together in the crowd, eventually arrive at Mazu Temple. Naturally, it’s filled to the brim with people waiting to bring in the new year just as they are.
“Akutagawa-san! Remember what we taught you to say after you hear the final bell.” Naomi smiles, clutching Tanizaki’s arm.
Ryuunosuke nods, expression set in stone. “Understood, I’ll carry out my role without fail.”
“You don’t need to take it that seriously…” Tanizaki lightly elbows him, smiling as well.
Kunikida-san finishes writing in his Ideals, then adjusts his glasses. “Take care to properly time it. We must bring in the New Year in an orderly fashion—” Then one of Oda-senpai’s orphans jumps up and grabs his Ideals and Kunikida-san immediately gives chase.
Near them, Ranpo-san snacks on some mitarashi dango as he points and laughs. Yosano-sensei laughs along, her face flush from the sake she’s already partaking in. The President is also drinking, but much more modestly.
Oda-senpai stands next to Ryuunosuke and squeezes his shoulder, his placid expression holding a bit of warmth. “I hope the new year is an even better one for you.”
He's surrounded by the Agency members, people who took him in when he had nothing, and continue to help him even now. People who are his comrades, and whom he’s slowly coming to see as his family.
Someday, he’ll be able to share all that is precious to him with Gin too.
Day 11 of the @genuary-prompt-month event. This was the first prompt I completed! The idea slapped me in the face and wouldn’t leave me be lol
Summary: Akutagawa gets a truly wonderful birthday surprise.
You can read the full fic below and on AO3.
Ryuunosuke is slow to stir from sleep, his futon a warm bubble against the chill of early March. There’s a peculiar tension, a vibration in the air that he cannot place. Not until after his customary morning shower and breakfast of miso soup and rice, accompanied by green tea.
As he dons his trenchcoat, a stray glance at the calendar hanging on the wall near the genkan reveals the strange atmosphere.
It is March 1st.
A workday for sure (and he will never live down the time he showed up fully dressed to the office on a Saturday).
It is also his 19th birthday.
He clicks his tongue. Irrelevant. There is hardly much to celebrate. His work at the Agency with Oda-senpai continues and he hasn’t been to Kenji’s farm in quite some time.
Most importantly, he hasn’t seen his sister in six months, since his raid on the Port Mafia headquarters and the demise of the Man in Black. He’s even caught news of the Tiger and his sister Kyouka, still living in the orphanage together, but nothing on Gin.
Ryuunosuke thinks back to that moment, when the pair stood close together as they grasped hands. The bitterness returns, clenching his heart. There’s a lump in his throat now and he swallows it down, then exhales.
A foolish, fleeting thought flits through his mind. That if he could have any birthday wish, it would be to see her again. Rashomon responds, rippling through the heavy material of his trenchcoat, and he squashes the notion before the Ability can lash out.
His selfishness is what drove her away all those years ago, what drove her away six months ago. He must become a kind, worthy man full of human experiences before she would ever think to grace him with her presence again.
He slips on his loafers and swings open the door with far too much force. It narrowly misses the person just behind it, a slim finger just about to press the doorbell.
Her grey eyes are startled wide. Long black hair is tied back in a tight ponytail, half of it tucked into a thick winter coat.
Ryuunosuke’s world turns on an axis.
“Gin?” He whispers, his breath’s condensation a prayer in the wind.
Gin’s mouth twitches up, a ghost of a smile that just barely reaches her eyes. “Happy birthday Ryuu.” She nods, face set. “Can I come in?”
Ryuunosuke nods, the lump in his throat joined by a stinging in his eyes. He leads her back inside, head full of cotton as he takes her coat and hangs it in the closet along with his.
His sister. His sister is here. She’s come back. The sight of the pairs of shoes on the genkan overwhelms him and he’s forced to avert his gaze.
He offers her a seat at the low table in the living room, a modest zaisu with an armrest. While preparing tea in the kitchen, he sends a message to Kunikida-san that he’ll be calling off work for the day, then pockets his phone.
Ryuunosuke reenters the living room, the air between them a shard of cracked glass. He’s terrified he’ll be the one to shatter it to pieces like the brute he is, like what he’s done time and again to her.
He uses Rashomon to set the mugs of tea on the table along with a bowl of sugar cubes and moves to join her. Before he sits, she starts up and takes a step, then another, then wraps her arms around him.
His lungs stutter, as if punched, then he embraces her. She’s warm and her hair carries the faint scent of vanilla. He soaks it all in, savoring the moment, etching each detail into his heart. Even if she were to plunge a knife into his gut again, he would simply perish with a smile on his face.
But no sharp pain in his abdomen comes. There’s only the fluttering of his heart as it beats against his chest.
They stay together for a long while.
Just a little note: unlike the canonverse, characters in Beast are two years younger (which I think a lot of people tend to forget). That explains the ages here.
Summary: 100 words of speech and 100 words of prose/non-speech for Genuary's prompt "in my defense."
In which Team Mustang discovers that Edward Elric doesn't know what an iceberg is.
(Fic below)
“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Havoc said.
“What is an iceberg, anyway?” Ed asked without looking up from what he was writing.
All movement in the office abruptly stopped.
When nobody answered him after several moments, Ed looked up to find everyone in the office staring at him in shock. Even Mustang, who was hard at work in the inner office, had looked up from his paperwork to stare at him incredulously.
“You don’t know what an iceberg is?” Fuery asked in disbelief.
“According to the Official Amestrian Complete Dictionary, fourth edition — published in 1912 — an iceberg is a piece of ice that’s over 15 meters long that broke off a glacier,” Falman recited.
Ed flushed and looked anywhere but at his comrades as he hesitantly asked, “What’s a glacier?”
“A glacier is a slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles,” Falman said.
“How could you not know about the massive amounts of ice at the poles?!” Havoc asked, unable to believe that their resident genius didn’t know about something so basic.
“In my defense,” Ed said, “I dropped out in second grade.”
"He was in a trash bag," Al said with equal parts sadness and anger, tears in his eyes.
Click the Read More or read on A03
It was, quite possibly, the ugliest kitten in Amestris. Its eyes were too big for its head; its underbite and protruding teeth made its face look smashed.
But that didn't stop Alphonse from climbing into the dumpster behind a Central City apparent complex to rescue it.
He held it in his arms like a baby while Edward looked on incredulously.
"He was in a trash bag," Al said with equal parts sadness and anger, tears in his eyes. "Some heartless jerk just threw him out!"
Ed sighed.
There'd be no convincing Al otherwise this time. They had a cat now.
Day 10 of the @genuary-prompt-month event. Never written anything with Teruko before, but I love the Hunting Dogs so much so I’ll do my best.
Summary: Teruko adjusts to life after the end of the world.
You can read the full fic below and on AO3.
The world, post-Decay of Angels incident, is far too hectic for this nonsense. The aftermath left the Hunting Dogs without a Captain, and so Teruko shoulders the responsibility of becoming its new leader.
Which means, of course, that she has no time for sentimental weakness. The world needs their combined strength in both body and spirit and the team needs her to be strong for them as well.
She’ll admit that finding out her dearest Captain had been the leader of a terrorist organization was a hard pill to swallow. That he had been forced to forsake his morals to save the world from certain destruction, and that he alone shouldered that burden for decades.
But what she’s ashamed to admit to herself is that, if she had been a weaker woman, she would have fainted at the news that his sacrifices, the abandonment of his very ideals and of his closest friend (him abandoning her in the end when she’s forced to kill him), were for nothing.
Because the future war never fucking existed.
At night, when their shared flat is silent apart from the cicadas’ chirping, those thoughts endlessly swirl around, choking her with its finality. There’s a phantom sensation in her head, where that thing, Ame-no-Gozen it was called (because it wasn’t her dearest Captain, that’s for damn sure), stabbed her.
When those thoughts reach a fever pitch, her head pounds and throbs in response and sleep becomes impossible. And the resulting lack of sleep takes a toll on her, resulting in her being far more subdued in the morning.
Jōno has almost certainly noticed her bouts of insomnia and change in demeanor, with pointed looks in her general direction as she shuffles around, but he never mentions it. Tetchō treats her the same as always, but tries to get her to drink his “energy shakes” that smell like death warmed over.
Tachihara is the most sensitive to her changes and treats her with a softness that makes her ass itch, and she’s not afraid to tell him that over breakfast one morning. It’s the first laugh she’s heard from him in quite some time and the sound pulls a small smile from Tetchō and even Jōno’s crabby ass.
The Captain may be gone, and his legacy completely tarnished thanks to that bastard Fyodor, but Teruko is slowly growing to appreciate the family she does have left. Though she'd rather go through a 100 hundreds years of waterboarding before admitting to something so sappy.
These precious feelings can stay locked away in her heart, just for her to cherish when the haunting thoughts at night are too overwhelming.
Fandom: Digimon Adventure 02, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna
Pairing: Inoue Miyako & Yagami Hikari, Hida Iori & Takaishi Takeru
Word Count: 3,804
@genuary-prompt-month - Prompt 9: Calling out someone's name
Read on A03
AN: I've always wondered how Miyako and Iori react to finding out Takeru and Hikari were kidnapped, since I'm 90% sure they didn't get taken to Neverland, if they did, well, consider this some self indulgent canon divergence
"Yamato won't pick up", Daisuke said, lowering his phone from his ear.
"Maybe he is busy with something", Ken said. "Yes, considering what just happened", Iori added. Everyone looked around the street, the city wasn't totally damaged but it wasn't completely saved either. It would have been worse if it wasn't for them and their partners, but the fight was hard, seeing as all of their Digimon partners were cuddling together as they slept.
Those weird blue Digimon were hard to defeat, and it was even harder since Takeru and Hikari were answering calls either, so Aquilamon and Ankylomon couldn't Jogress-Evolve. "The least he could do was call us back after sending us on that mission", Daisuke said, putting his phone back into his pocket.
I wonder why he did it, and if it has anything to do with the Digimon we fought", Ken asked. "It is likely", Iori added. "Maybe there's something on the news", Miyako said. Everyone looked over to Miyako, and she quickly sat down on the sidewalk and opened her laptop. "If these Digimon attacked in Japan, surely someone has to be talking about it or some news company is already reporting on it", Miyako explained as her fingers typed on the keys.
"Good idea, Miyako", Daisuke said. "Yeah, since it's already happening here", Ken pointed out. Miyako kept her eyes on her laptop, but everyone else looked down the street, seeing a journalist and cameraman down the street as they recorded the destroyed part of the city. "I just hope everyone is okay", Daisuke said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
"I do wonder what all of this is, hopeful the others get back to us and know", Ken said. "I wonder the same, especially about that girl Yamato had us investigate", Iori added. "She has to be connected to this, right?" Ken asked, looking over Iori. "I believe so, she was smart and odd", Iori said. "I'm more worried about the others", Daisuke said. Iori and Ken looked over at Daisuke, who was looking down at the ground with his hand on his chin.
"They aren't answering, what if something happen to them? What if they Digimon or that women was involved somehow", Daisuke ranted. "Maybe those Digimon did something to them, maybe that women is their partner or something", Daisuke said, looking back up at the two boys. "Impressive conclusion, Daisuke, I am surprised", Iori said. "Hey!" Daisuke yelled, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm smart too", Daisuke said, glaring slightly at Iori.
"Daisuke, calm down", Ken said, walking over to Daisuke. Daisuke grumbled something under his breathe, turning away from Iori while Ken tried to calm him. Iori watched as Ken tried to calm Daisuke, said boy still muttering something. "I do not know why Daisuke is mad", Iori said, turning his head over to look down at Miyako. "I was impressed by what he said", Iori explained. "Well, you have a bit of a problem with saying something that's meant to be nice, but comes off as rude", Miyako explained, still looking at her laptop screen.
Iori hummed, crossing his arms over his chest, but soon after Miyako froze. Her arms going stagnate and her eyes wide as she started at her computer screen. Iori lowered his arms, "Miyako?" He asked, wondering why Miyako froze. Miyako said nothing, but in the quiet streets, Iori could hear her breathing speed up.
"What is it?" Iori asked, moving to walk around Miyako so he could see her computer screen. Iori couldn't exactly see what was on the screen, it looked like some sort of video but it didn't look like a new cast. Iori kneeled down next to Miyako to get a better look on the screen, his eyes going wide with what he saw.
It was Takeru and Hikari.
The video seemed to be paused, but a chat on the side was constantly popping up with new messages, not that either Iori nor Miyako were paying attention to them. They were both focused on their partners, the both of them tied to a chair with rope, heads lulled forward.
What was worse, was the name of the video. 'Which one next?'.
"Is that", Iori asked, not really believing what he was seeing. "Yeah", Miyako answered, her voice breathless. Both of them stared at the screen, not really knowing what to say or do. Was this what had happened over in Japan? Was this why Takeru and Hikari weren't responding to texts a calls? What even happened to them? Why were they tied up, why was it being recorded and put on the internet? Were Takeru and Hikari alright? Where their partners okay?
Miyako and Iori felt their hearts beat faster, and all they could think about were their partners. "This was posted hours ago", Miyako said, looking down at the corner of the video. "Are Takeru and Hikari okay?" Iori asked, looking over at Miyako. "I I don't know, no one is responding to anything so there's no way to tell", Miyako rambled. "What if", Iori said, not daring to continue his thought out loud.
Miyako looked over at Iori and they met eyes, both thinking the same thing. Miyako quickly changed her laptop screen to the Digital Gate, placing it on the ground as Iori got up as well. Iori and Miyako pulled our their D-3's, "Digital Gate, Open!" They yelled. "Uh", both Daisuke and Ken said at the same time, looking back at Miyako and Iori.
Light erupted from the computer screen, "Miyako-san!" "Iori!" Hawkmon and Armadimon yelled, all the Digimon awoken by the two Chosen's yelling. The Digimon ran to their partners, traveling to the Digital World with them before the light disappeared.
"Miyako! Iori!", Daisuke yelled, not being able to get to them before they went to the Digital World. Ken ran after Daisuke, staring at the laptop screen. "What's all the noise", Wormmon asked, waddling over to the two Chosen. "Miyako and Iori went into the Digital World with Hawkmon and Armadimon", Ken explained to the two Digimon.
"Why did they leave without us", V-mon asked, walking over to Daisuke. "I don't know, there's nothing on the screen", Daisuke said. Ken walked over to the screen, just seeing the now closed gate to the Digital World. "Maybe they saw something, Miyako was looking for news in Japan", Ken said. "Yeah, probably", Daisuke agreed. "But what did they see that they left without saying anything or telling us?" Daisuke asked. The two Chosen and the Digimon looked towards the laptop screen, wondering why their friends left.
And where they were going to.
- - - - - - -
Miyako and Iori had no idea where they were going.
The video didn't exactly give a location, and they didn't even try contacting them or any of the others before leaving. Yet, they still ran, Hawkmon and Armadimon on their partners tails. They had no idea where they were running, Miyako and Iori still ran.
They ran till they found the closest Tv, opening a gate and putting them in Japan. The Digital Gate dropped Miyako and Iori in Miyako's house, and both of them ignored her family as they ran out the door. They still didn't know where they were going, but they ran. All they could think about was Takeru and Hikari, their partners. They had no idea what was happening, why those Digimon appeared and why Yamato sent them to learn more about that women, but they didn't care about that right now.
All they could care about was their partner, where they were and if they were okay.
Miyako and Iori were worried, it was clear enough on their faces that Hawkmon and Armadimon noticed it, but when they tried to speak to Miyako and Iori they wouldn't respond. They were to busy running, to busy trying to find Takeru and Hikari to answer their partners questions.
Even if Miyako and Iori didn't know where Takeru and Hikari was, they still knew they were getting closer to them. Miyako and Iori followed their hearts. Ever since they first Jogress-Evolved, Miyako and Iori could hear Takeru and Hikari's hearts, feel them beat along side theirs. That's how Miyako and Iori knew where to run.
They didn't need to know where Takeru and Hikari were, all they needed to do was follow their hearts and they would find them.
Their hearts would pull them to their partners.
They didn't know how it worked exactly, but they didn't care. All they did care about were Takeru and Hikari. Following their hearts led Miyako and Iori to the doors of a hospital, which made them pause and look at each other. This just made them more worried for Takeru and Hikari. Miyako and Iori pushed the doors of the hospital open, finding themselves in the waiting room with a bunch of chairs and people waiting.
"Hikari!"
"Takeru!"
Miyako and Iori yelled their partners names, maybe a part of them hoping that they were just in the waiting room or if they were deeper in the hospital, they would hear and call back. Miyako and Iori didn't even notice that Taichi, Yamato, and Sora were in the waiting room, their eyes only scanning the room for their partners.
"Miyako, Iori", Sora said, sitting up from her seat and grabbing the attention of Taichi and Yamato, who didn't hear Miyako or Iori's yells. The three got up from their chairs, walking over to Miyako and Iori, who were still looking around the waiting room. Miyako and Iori looked at Taichi, Yamato, and Sora, who all noticed the concerned and panicked look on their faces.
As well as the confused look on their partners, and they were relieved no one has seem to noticed the Digimon. "Are you two okay?" Sora asked as she and the two boys walked closer to Miyako and Iori.
"Where is she?" Miyako asked, her voice urgent and panicked.
Miyako reached over to Taichi, placing her hands on his shoulder and looking into his eyes. "M-Miyako", Taichi said, confused and worried.
"He is here, I know it", Iori said, just to be met with confusion. "Takeru, I can feel it, he is here", Iori said to Yamato.
"How do you-?" Yamato asked, they hadn't told anyone about the fact Takeru and Hikari were here. "Hikari?" Taichi asked Miyako, guessing Miyako might be talking about Hikari if Iori was talking to Yamato about Takeru. "Yes", Miyako said.
"Where are they!" Miyako and Iori yelled at the same time.
"I I saw something online with them", Miyako started to explain. "They were tied up and looked like they were knocked out", Iori added. Taichi and Yamato looked towards each other, knowing exactly what Miyako and Iori were talking about. "We came here to find them", Iori continued. "And we know there here, are they okay, what happened, what has been happening?" Miyako asked, so fast that no one really understood what she said. Miyako and Iori just seemed to get more concerned, their panic increasing.
"Okay listen", Yamato said, putting his hand on Iori's shoulder. "You two have to calm down", Taichi said, placing his hands on Miyako's arms since her hands were still on his shoulder. Iori and Miyako just shook their heads. "Hikari!" Miyako yelled, pushing Taichi past to look down the hall way of the hospital. "Takeru!" Iori yelled, pushing Yamato's arm past his shoulder and looking down the hall like Miyako was.
"Miyako, Iori", Sora said, deciding to step in since Taichi and Yamato seemed to be failing at whatever they were trying to do. Sora's voice was soothing, it was calm and quiet, making Miyako and Iori lower their arms and look over at her. Sora placed on of her hands on each of the Chosen's shoulder, smiling at them to try and calm their nerves. It seemed to work, but it was clear that Miyako and Iori were still concerned.
Sora looked over at Miyako, "Hikari is in room 108", Sora told Miyako.
Sora than looked over at Iori, "Takeru is in room 107", Sora told Iori.
Sora removed her hands from the two's shoulders, and without saying a word they took off running down the hospital.
"Wait", Sora said, looking down at the two Digimon ready to run after their partners. "Lets leave them alone for a bit", Sora said. Hawkmon and Armadimon looked at each other confused before nodding and settling down on the floor. "Sora", Taichi said. Sora hummed, turning back to look at Taichi and Yamato. "Yes?" She asked. "We should have explained to them what happened", Yamato said. "And why Takeru and Hikari are even here", Taichi added.
Sora shook her head, "you could have, but something tells me they wouldn't have listened", Sora said. "They were to concerned about Hikari and Takeru", Sora added. "Yeah", Yamato said, looking down the hall Iori and Miyako ran down. "They were so panicked", Taichi pointed out. "I wonder why?" Yamato asked. Sora rolled her eyes at the boys, oh how oblivious they were.
Of course Miyako and Iori were worried, they were partners to Hikari and Takeru just like Tailmon and Patamon were. Sora might not understand Jogress, or now how and why it made Chosen hearts beat in sync, but she knew it was there. "We'll explain everything when they're done", Sora said, placing her hands on Taichi and Yamato's shoulders.
"For now, let them be with their partners", Sora said.
- - - - - - -
Room 107, Iori read.
Iori paused outside of the room, taking a deep breathe before opening it and walking inside. Iori didn't know what he could except to see, but he was relieved with what he saw.
Takeru was just lying on the hospital bed, turned away from Iori and the door of the room.
There were no tubes or machines attached to him, just a sheet laid over him and some bandages around his head. Iori sighed in relief, his heart slowing down a bit at the fact that Takeru wasn't really hurt. Well, he was in the hospital and had been tied up, but at least he wasn't really hurt. Iori shut the door behind him, but Takeru didn't move.
"Takeru", Iori said, finally getting the other boys attention.
Takeru turned around while leaning up slightly, "Iori?" He said confused as he full sat up.
Iori walked towards Takeru as he leaned up the hospital blanket fell, revealing that Takeru was in a hospital gown. It shouldn't have been a shock, but it still made Iori pause before continuing to walk towards Takeru. "Why are you here?" Takeru asked. Iori paused next to Takeru's bed, looking up at the boy. There was a bandage around Takeru's head, making some of his blonde hair stick out between the white bandages. There was an IV next to Takeru's bed, and when Iori glanced at his arm he saw a band aid on Takeru's arm, meaning he probably had an IV in.
Iori looked back at Takeru, before falling forward and pulling Takeru into his arms.
"Iori?" Takeru asked, shocked about the boys sudden affection. "I was scared something worse had happened to you", Iori said. Iori held Takeru tighter, tears starting to form in his eyes. "I saw you were tied up, and you weren't responding to anything", Iori explained. "I was so scared something bad had happening to you, and that I couldn't help you, and-", Iori wasn't able to continue as a cry escaped his throat.
Iori still didn't know what happened, and he was curious about it, when he saw Takeru tied up on the chair with his head forward, Iori was so scared. Iori doesn't think he was that scared ever in his life before, maybe when he thought Armadimon wouldn't remember him a years ago, but this was so much more.
Iori couldn't even begin to explain it. Iori was so scared that something happened to Takeru, that he wasn't able to save or protect Takeru. Iori cared so much about Takeru, if something worse happened to Takeru, Iori doesn't know if he would have been able to handle it. Iori was still a little scared, but knowing Takeru was alive and mostly safe calmed him.
His heart was no longer racing and his panic calmed, but he already knew his heart wouldn't let him leave Takeru's side.
Takeru's eyes softened, and he moved his arms so they were also wrapped around Iori, holding him as tight as Iori was holding him. "I'm fine", Takeru said. Takeru smiled at how much Iori cared for him, but he was upset that Iori was that scared in the first place.
Iori cried, and he leaned his head down so it was pressed against Takeru's shoulder, not caring that he was crying, just happy Takeru was okay. Takeru didn't say anything, he just started rubbing Iori's back in an attempt to calm him down, trying to keep his heart beat steady to calm Iori's racing one he could feel beat next to it.
Takeru knew that he had lied, at least partly.
Physically, he was fine, they said he could be realized in a day or two, but as far as everything else, Takeru was not okay. He couldn't tell Iori that though, not when he was already crying and upset. For now, Takeru would wait till this was over, the others could tell him, for now, Takeru just tried to calm Iori down. Being with Iori calmed Takeru anyway, it eased him just like it always does.
Besides, neither of them wanted to let go.
Miyako paused when she saw Room 108.
Miyako walked back a bit, opening the door so fast it ringed down the hall. "Hikari!" Miyako yelled. Hikari looked away from the window, shocked to the sudden intrusion and the fact Miyako as here. Hikari couldn't even get a word out before Miyako ran across the room, tears already falling out of her eyes as she latched herself onto Hikari.
Miyako held onto Hikari, her arms around Hikari's body as she held the other girl tight, as tight as she could. Tears spilled out of Miyako's eyes as she buried her face in Hikari's shoulder.
"Oh I was so worried about you", Miyako cried.
"Miyako?" Hikari said, confused and shocked about all of this and so much more.
"When I saw you all tied up I was so confused about why and so worried about what happened to you, and Takeru as well, but mainly you", Miyako ranted. Hikari's eyes went wide, and she wrapped her arms around Miyako as well. Miyako couldn't say anything else, too busy crying to voice her feelings.
Miyako prepaired herself for what she might find online, but she never expected to see what she found. Just seeing Hikari like that, knowing it was hours ago and Hikari could still be in that chair or worse, it sent shivers down Miyako's spine just thinking about it.
Knowing Hikari could be hurt and needing help and Miyako couldn't do so scared Miyako. She wasn't even thinking about anything else, just where Hikari was and if she was okay. Miyako's heart beat so loudly in her ears, and she was still shaking a little bit.
"It's okay, Miyako", Hikari said, her voice calm. Hikari ran her fingers through Miyako's hair, trying to calm her down and sooth her cries.
"I'm fine", Hikari said. "Are you?" Miyako asked, removing her head from Hikari's shoulder but not removing her arms. Miyako looked Hikari up and down, she was wearing a hospital gown but didn't seem to have any bandages on. There were no marks on her face, just a bandage on her cheek. "You were kidnapped, and tied up!" Miyako yelled.
Miyako wanted to find the people that did this and teach them a lesson, teach them what happened when anyone messes with Hikari when she's around. Yet, there was just something about Hikari that calmed Miyako. She didn't want to leave Hikari, worried something else might happen when she was gone.
"Yeah", Hikari answered.
Miyako nodded, but she wasn't convinced. Hikari seemed sad about something, and she kept getting this far off look in her eyes. Miyako was also curious about what happened, about that girl and those large blue almost butterfly like Digimon that attacked them. Miyako could ask, surely Hikari knew or one of the others in the waiting room did, but Miyako didn't particular care at the moment.
Miyako pulled Hikari close again, no longer crying but placing her head on Hikari's shoulder. Hikari smiled, staring to play with Miyako's hair to keep her distracted. Hikari knew Miyako was worried and wanted to know exactly what happened, but she would keep her lips sealed for now.
Miyako was already worried about her, she didn't want Miyako to worry more. Hikari didn't want to think about it anyway, not all that happened and all that was going to happen. It was so confusing, Hikari didn't even understand it enough to explain it to Miyako. So Hikari just held Miyako closer, laying her head on Miyako's shoulder as well, still playing with her hair.
Miyako calmed Hikari, and Hikari bathed in the sense of calmness and peace Miyako gave her. For now, Hikari could just pretend everything was okay.
She didn't want to leave Miyako anyway, and she knew Miyako felt the same.
- - - - - - -
Iori and Miyako didn't move.
Even as time passed, even as nurses came to check on Takeru and Hikari, even as their brothers came to see them, Iori and Miyako didn't move. Even as they had to remove themselves from their partner, they stood right beside them. Iori and Miyako sat down, talking to their partners and just being with them.
Iori and Miyako were still curious, about how and why Takeru and Hikari were kidnapped and those blue Digimon that attacked, but they couldn't find it in themselves to care. Not when they thought their partners were hurt, not when they were so worried about them even when they knew they were fine.
So Iori and Miyako would stay with Takeru and Hikari, they would talk to them and comfort them just as much as Takeru and Hikari comforted them. Iori would hold Takeru's hand as they talked, and Miyako would lay her head in Hikari's lap as they talked.
Because they couldn't leave, but when their hearts will still calling out to them.
Even though they were right next to their partners, Iori and Miyako's hearts still called out to Takeru and Iori. So they wouldn't leave, even as the sun started to set and the room got darker, as visiting time started to come to a close and even Taichi and Yamato left.
Iori and Miyako would always stay, right by their partners sides.
Genuary Prompt Month Day 9 - Calling out someone's name
Day 9 of the @genuary-prompt-month event. My take on that scene from manga Chapter 88: As Though Tumbling Down, combined with a post-Decay of Angels micro plot.
Summary: Atsushi is reminded of one of the worst moments of his life.
You can read the full fic below and on AO3.
There’s an earth-shattering boom that echoes throughout the abandoned building. The blast from the bombs’ explosions carries a sudden, strong rush of air, which nearly knocks Atsushi off his feet.
“AKUTAGAWA!”
He only barely dodges crumbling support pillars and walls while dashing through on transformed limbs. He tries to avoid inhaling the thick dust kicked up, though it still coats his throat and waters his eyes.
Panic rises from his chest and slowly chokes him. He can’t find his partner in the rubble.
“AKUTAGAWA!”
Blood bloomed from Akutagawa’s neck as a dozen red roses. He gave Atsushi a beautiful, tragic smile as he implored him to escape the ship and Fukuchi’s wrath.
As he crawled from the submarine and recounted the events and Kamui’s true identity to Ango, that same scene replayed in his head over and over.
His voice always cracked on Akutagawa’s name as he watched his enemy-turned-partner perish right before his eyes. The despair threatened to crush him. A black hole; his chest a cold, hollow void.
That very scene replays in his mind, tormenting him with the possibility of his partner’s fate on that ship in the quickly collapsing building. His heart hammers his ribcage as he screams again, stretching the Tiger’s hearing and sight as far as it can go.
Atsushi’s gearing to stress his already abused throat with another scream, ruby blood spilling before his eyes.
A large chunk of wall is lifted up, then tossed away by a black tendril. A figure slowly rises and coughs, brushing off dust from their black trench coat with a scowl on their face.
Atsushi gasps, then coughs, grin threatening to split his face in half.
“AKUTAGAWA!”
Said man looks up and stares, startled. “Weretiger? I—”
The rest of his sentence is lost as Atsushi tackles him into a bone-crushing bear hug.
It was only partially Ed's fault that it happened. He was only slightly drunk, and the other guys started it. They should have been more understanding of the language barrier, really. He'd only been in Aerugo a week!
Luckily his traveling companions had his back when the brawl broke out in the middle of the bar. It was all a rush of fists and broken bottles that was over as quickly as it began.
But when Ed took a step, something felt wrong. He looked down and...
"Ah, shit!"
On the ground was his shin plate. In three separate pieces.
Day 8 of the @genuary-prompt-month event. I wanted to try something out in a second-person POV, which was really interesting and fun to write.
Summary: You are in the frail and tiny body of a seven-year-old boy, limbs thin and weak from constant malnutrition.
You can read the full fic below and on AO3.
You are in the frail and tiny body of a seven-year-old boy, limbs thin and weak from constant malnutrition. Of course, you don’t know what malnutrition means right now, though a trip to the library one day will certainly fix that and teach you much more. But for now, all you understand is that the staff, Matron, and Headmaster hate you and prefer to feed you as little as often, yet expect you to carry out all your chores without question or fail.
Your part of the cleaning requires you to walk a metal bucket to the bathroom and climb on the step ladder, then place the bucket into the sink and fill it with water. Once full, you must lift this water-filled bucket with your attenuated arms, step down the step ladder, and walk it back to whichever room you’re required to clean this week.
You are armed with a single bar of white soap and a cloth rag with which to scrub the floor and walls. Freezing water chills your skin and seeps deep into your muscles and bones, causing your fingers to turn pink and seize. You must keep scrubbing despite the cramps in your hands until the stone walls, floors, tables, chairs, and shelves are spotless.
Matron will inspect the room and either approve or reject your cleaning. If approved, you are rewarded with another room to deep clean, a process that repeats until nightfall. You are then rewarded with a filling meal of rice gruel and sometimes even miso soup, the salty broth of the soup cutting through the plain water flavor of the gruel.
If you don’t finish your deep clean properly, the beating you suffer is truly terrible, bruising your stomach, ribs, arms, legs, and chest. Sometimes you even get a black eye for your troubles. Or, in the case of last month’s punishment, the Headmaster will simply have a staff member pin your tiny body down on the frigid, grey stone floors of the common room, sending shivers down your spine. The Headmaster will then take a fire poker made scalding by the heat of the fireplace and approach you.
Before you can beg for forgiveness or for another chance, the fire poker is pressed into the side of your tiny body. Not much pressure is needed. The heat burns through your thin clothes instantly, the acrid smell of burning cloth quickly replaced by the nauseating stench of burning, then melting skin. Screams are ripped from your throat, a pain so thorough and all-consuming that you wish for death to claim you a thousand times over.
When the punishment is over, there are pieces of charred skin clinging to the poker, and your side is burnt through muscle and nearly to bone. The Headmaster’s eyes bore into you, expression impassive. Then he walks away and you’re taken back to your room to starve for the rest of the night. The weeks after are hell as the disgusting wound leaks pus and bleeds as it gradually recovers. The scars left behind are an angry, shiny red as the healing skin pulls with every movement.
You are still expected to deep clean every week, like clockwork.
Before the Elric house burned, Pinako saved a photo album.
Click the Read More or read on A03
Before the Elric house burned, Pinako saved a photo album.
The day her boys came home, she brought it down out of the attic.
She didn't show it to them yet. They weren’t ready.
She kept it in her room, flipping through it every night. Trisha and Van's wedding pictures, snapshots of Trisha at varying stages of pregnancy, baby pictures of both boys, some featuring Winry as well.
The pictures and the memories they brought back made Pinako smile. She felt warm remembering her family's happiest times, warmer still knowing there were many more happy memories yet to be made.
Ed and Al are finally coming home (in the flesh) and Winry is ready. She made apple pie and stew, hung streamers and a banner, and all that was left was to actually welcome them home.
One problem: she forgot how fragile Al is.
