#also unedited

[aliettali]

field trip— a short story you can read on my website! [CONTENT WARNINGS: overdose, suicide]

[gluion]

minors dni. snippet for the smut under cut

[burning-academia-if]

I saw that RO ask and wanted to know if you can do another one because I like fluff, TO’s in crushing stage overhearing MC Talking to another student about how much they likeRO and wanna ask them out?

Somehow, this is x2 longer then the first one I think LOL

Also sorry, angst is just baked into Rook but the rest are a lot more on the fluff side!

Rook:

Normally, Rook is always at the wrong place at the wrong time. This time, lady luck has given him a break. The two of you had made plans to hang out, and for once Professor Miller let everyone out a little early. As he rounds the corner to where the two of you agreed to meet, he hears you before he spots you.

“I really want to ask him to go somewhere with me, but I’m nervous I’m going to scare him away.” He stops, searching for you just a little bit away. You clearly haven’t seen him yet, and on instinct he ducks back around the corner. He steels himself, searches his memory for anyone you might have mentioned being interested in, before he decides to stop being weird and just approach you.

But then your friend says, “I know Rook’s always been…Rook, but you guys normally hang out right? Maybe invite him out casually and test the waters to see if he’s more willing now to take things further?”

Like a dying star collapsing, his insides implode. It’s a symphony of feelings, all spilling out and biting at each other. The unbridled joy that, somehow, you want more despite everything. The headiness of wanting, tinged with the bitter aftertaste of knowing the fine line he’s forced to walk with you.

It takes a moment, a breath, to calm himself. Maybe this time he’ll be strong enough to take the leap. Maybe this time, he can allow himself a little hope.

For now, he pockets the moment inside like a lucky charm, before he fixes his smile into place and walks out to greet you.

Beck:

Beck’s surprised to get a text from one of your friends, asking him to join your guys study group. It’s half a plea and half a bribe, with a picture full of snacks and drinks attached as though they needed to do anything more than ask.

‘yea of course! just give me a sec where at?’

‘MC’s dorm!’

He finishes up what he’s doing before heading over. As he stops at the door, it opens up before he even has a chance to knock. There is something alight in their eyes that makes him wary.

It doesn’t stop him from giving his trademark polite smile and a tilt of his head, “Sorry I’m late.”

“No, you’re just in time.” They practically push him in before closing the door behind him. As he takes in the small living area, he realizes you’re not that, and based on the sounds, everyone’s hanging out in your actual room.

“—stop teasing me.” Your voice echoes, and Beck feels something in him go sharp. As his eyes slide back towards said friend, they dart away, and before he can ask you continue talking. “I honestly don’t know where I’d invite Beck out to. And you know how he is. He’s so nice to everyone I don’t know if I’m misreading the signs…”

There’s a round of voices all teasing, and Beck’s voice is as sweet and lovely as belladonna, “I’m hoping this wasn’t planned.”

“No! It was just perfect timing—”

Obviously, the others can hear the both of them. Beck tries not to sigh as he gives a light knock on the doorframe and peeking inside. You sit on the bed, surrounded by various books, notes, snacks, and other study essentials, with eyes as round as the moon. From mortification, surprise, or a mix of both is hard to say.

“Oh…hi Beck.” You look torn between looking away and maintaining eye contact. “Did…did you hear all that?”

 “Just the important part, I think.” He can’t tell if the other two friends with you were also in on this. By the looks of it, they seem equally as surprised. He decides to ignore them. “If it helps, we can start with going out to lunch first and figure things out from there.”

The resounding chorus that comes from his statement is one he thinks you’re both going to remember for a while.

Rhea:

Rhea sighs as she makes her way back to the Student Government room. They’d just finished their SGA meeting and she’d accidently forgotten her phone. Although she can sometimes be forgotten, she can’t help but feel like she’s been extra scattered brain lately.

Maybe it’s because you were there. Being President meant she had to focus, but the whole time her eyes had kept glancing back at you. You’d sat a little away from everyone else, eyes unfocused and staring out the open window as morning light bathed you in gold. It didn’t help that affords you’d said you needed something and it wasn’t something she could help with.

That hadn’t stung in the slightest.

Another sighs makes it’s way out of her as she finally arrives back to the meeting room, she opens the door without a second thought, only to be greeted with “—You have to know where Rhea might like to go on a date—”

Your voice cuts off and she stands there for entirely too long as the words you just said get decoded from nonsense to reality. Her ears tinge red and she feels the heat try to claw at her as it works it’s way through her head. A date. You were asking her Vice President on advice for a date. With her.

“Sorry for interrupting.” Her voice sounds cooler then the mess in her head.

Eloise, her Vice President as the biggest grin on her face which only grows wider as she looks back at you.

You only stare at Rhea, clearly at a loss for what to say, “No, it’s fine.”

“Right. I just forgot my phone.”

“Right.”

“My God you two,” Eloise snaps, but there is clear warmth underneath her tone, “Just go on a date already.”

Her fingers are trembling, and she straightens her back and clasps her hands behind her back. Her voice stays even, “Well, if you’ll have me.”

A smile warms your face, “Of course.”

“Ok, well. I have things to do, but we’ll talk about the details at a later date.”

“Ok! I’ll text you.”

By the time she grabs her phone and leaves the room again she is practically walking on air. It takes everything she has not to squeal in delight the minute she’s out of your sight as though she’s back in grade school.

The sun is bright, the air is warm, and Rhea can’t think of a better day in her life.

Zoe:

The thing about libraries is that people really shouldn’t talk in them. It’s not the inherent rudeness of distracting people trying to focus, or even the obvious disregard for other people. It’s that, even when you were trying to be polite and keep a conversation down to a whisper, people could still hear you, and you never know who could be listening.

In this case, it’s Zoe. They’re boxed away in the study booth, and they don’t dare to turn around and even look for you. They can hear your voice, and they didn’t only register it because they’ve memorized even the slightest of inflictions it takes on, but because you’d said their name. Multiple times.

“I’m still torn between an art exhibit or a museum. Or maybe a botanical garden? Those are all quiet, and I know Zoe doesn’t like noise.” It probably would have been best to make their presence known the moment they heard you, but at this point it’s well into the awkward zone.

“Hmm, a botanical garden might be too far but I heard there’s a good art exhibit the next town over.”

“Really? Maybe I’ll do that then.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh-huh. So are you going to text them before you back out?”

They sunk low in their chair, fingers tapping against the old wood of the desk and their concentration long since lost. A few minutes later, the light of their phone screen appears and they try their best to act normal and not give themselves away.

The text from you sits pretty on their screen, and they barely even need to read it to know what it says.

‘hey, I heard there was an art exhibit not too far from here and was wondering if you wanted to go?’

Even though they knew it was coming, their heart still did a strange little flip. They attempt not to think about it too much.

‘sure when?’

A minute later and they can hear your friend squeal and your desperate attempt to keep them quiet. They pray you never find out about this, for both your sakes.

‘whenever you’re free!’

‘I’ll lyk’

They flip their phone over before they can see the next message, press a hand to their face, and try to focus on their work again instead of the pleasant embarrassment still pumping through their bloodstream.

Lars:

The thing with Lars is, he’s never been good at keeping his mouth shut. He’s also never been the best at staying out of your business, even with how badly he wanted to at first. It’s why, as he’s heading to class, he hears your voice coming from somewhere below.

“Asking him out is a bad idea, right?” You say, and he stops and glances down on where he is on the raised walkway. He catches you with one of your friends, and you look like you’re in deep concentration.

“Considering you won’t even tell me who it is, I’m going to go with a ‘yes.’” You flinch slightly, and they lean forward. “Come on, it can’t be that bad.”

“I mean, he has his good parts! I just know he’s not always the best.”

Your friend narrows their eyes, “Who is it?”

“Well…”

“MC…”

“It’s not important.”

“Oh yes it is.”

“But—"

“Just say who the lucky guy.” He cuts in, leaning against the railing, one arm hanging over it. A picture of nonchalance.

“It’s Lars—” You snap finally, only to cut yourself off as you spin around and realize just who had asked.

His toothy smile was the equivalent of predator just finding it’s meal. Whether you withdrew because he never smiled or because he’s standing here at all was a mystery, but it only made it grow wider, “Friday at 8?”

“I—That’s—yeah.”

“Great, I’ll see you then.” He shoves himself off the railing, and continues on his way. Your uncomprehending gaze follows him all the way until he’s out of sight.

???:

“You must be interested in someone.” Your friend says as you walk back to the dorms together. “I swear you’ve hinted at it before.”

Anxiety slithers down your spine and you try to quell it, knowing it’ll only summon the one person who you don’t want to hear this conversation, “I mean, I am. But my romantic situation is a little…complicated.”

That’s to say, it’s hard to take the next step with someone when said person is a voice inside your head who won’t even share their name. Still, the longer the two of you were connected the more you felt a real connection instead of the manufactured one that had spontaneously occurred between you two.

“Ah, one of those.” Your friend gives you a sympathetic pat on the shoulder and you try not to let it get to you. “I’m sure things will work themselves out and if not? It’s not meant to be, right?”

“…yeah.” Perhaps sensing your feelings on the matter, your friend moves on, but your thoughts don’t. It slowly turns into a cloud around you and by the time you’re back to your dorm, it’s stuck in your head.

How are you supposed to even have these feelings towards the Voice when you couldn’t even be sure if they were corporal.

 ‘Don’t worry about too much, little moon.’

You jump, tugging at the connection, “You were there the entire time, weren’t you?”

They give a light laugh, ‘I try not to listen in, but when those feelings are towards me, it’s obvious I’d feel them through the connection.’

“Oh.”

‘I promise you this. One day we will meet and when we do, if those feelings remain despite everything, we can be with each other.’

“I’m willing to wait.” Warmth spreads through your chest and they’re feelings for you and your feelings for them become impossible to tell apart.

‘And I’ll be waiting for you, too.’

[high-on-the-dying-sun]

can I request a viktor x reader where what if it’s his s/o who ends up getting terminally ill. So he’s doing everything in his power to keep them alive.

All for us

They were getting weaker by the day Viktor noted as he walked to your bedside to replace the dying flowers. You've been like this for a while but he's not gonna let you go, Viktor thinks to himself. Your eyes flutter open, Viktor looks at you and smiles slightly “good morning lovely” Viktor says to them softly. They need a minute to respond to him. "Hello Viktor” they weakly reply. It seemed to take lots of energy out of you to even respond to him. Viktor took a seat at the foot of the bed. He brushes the hair from their eyes. They looked dejected. He scrunched his brows together. He was hell-bent on finding a way to keep you alive even if it was the last thing he would ever do. Viktor sighed "Y/N, I'm sorry to inform you this at such a short time but I'm going away for a few days” "Oh, well if you have to, but hurry back” "I will” Viktor grabbed their hand and kissed the back of it.

Viktor stood up from the foot of the bed and headed back to his apartment. Viktor put on a change of clothing, something old and worn down. And with that he sets off to the undercity, where he knows of a drug that could save you. It could keep you alive. He was doing this for you, he was doing it for love. Viktor steps into the rickety elevator shaft and flips the switch. Within a few minutes he reaches the level of the undercity. After stepping out of the elevator Viktor could feel the eyes on him. It could be that they have recognized him from his work with Jayce or they are suspicious of the unfamiliar face. The undercity changed for sure. It was bustling and full of shimmer. And luckily for him that was what he needed. Yes he saw what it did to Rio but if there's a chance it would keep you alive he was gonna take it.

The way down to Singed's old lab was long but after getting there he saw Rio still alive. Singed turns around and stares at him. “I understand now, '' he emitted to singed. “You do?” Viktor peered at Rio “yes.” he started trying to bury all his emotions; they wouldn’t help him or you. Singed moved around his lab grabbing a small pouch and putting something else in it. "Is this shimmer?” “A variant. One that will work on people.” “how-” “I know the look of a man that is about to lose everything." he admitted. Viktor grabbed the pouch and walked off not even bidding Singed a farewell. Viktor had a feeling that this wouldn’t be the last time they see each other. 

Upon his return topside, he followed the same route he had used earlier. Going back to his apartment changing into different clothing. Viktor moved around his apartment and put things back in place getting rid of the clothing he wore to the Undercity. If someone had seen him and came to Piltover they would never find the clothing idioms he wore leaving no trace that he was there. Viktor grabbed the tiny pouch that contained the vial of shimmer and walked out of the door.

It didn’t take a long time to get to the hospital. When he did get there he would insert the drug via the iv bag that was inserted in your arm. Viktor walked the hallways of the place making twists and turns to get to your room. When Viktor finally got to your room Jayce was standing there the door closed. He looked panicked sad even. “Viktor i-” his voice cracked with a sad sob. No. “Jayce, where is Y/N?” “there gone viktor, there gone.” you were dead and he was too late “when?” he asked maybe he could bring you back “a few hours after you left.” he should never have left you.

[hansols-yoda-boxers]

Camp North Star - August 26th

[12:41]

“Come on,” Kevin hissed. “I bet if you go in the thick part of the woods we’ll find it.”

“Guys,” Mark whined, looking behind them with the flashlight. “I really don’t think this is a good idea.”

“It’s fine,” sighed Kunhang. “And Kevin is right we gotta go deeper.”

Kevin chuckled. “That’s what she said.”

The two of them laughed but Mark stayed silent. His stomach felt sick and he was jumping at everything. He hated this. It was freaky in the woods at night and they didn’t know what was out here. There could be animals too. He wanted to go back but if they at least proved they were out here Ellie might just think he was cool. 

He just wanted to be cool.

“This way,” Kevin said, leading them between some bushes.

“Dude, if we lose the trail-” Mark started.

“If you’re gonna be a baby you can leave,” Kunhang sighed.

Mark fell silent. He didn’t like the idea of getting lost but what choice did he have.

The three walked for a little while, going off the trail and deeper into the woods. Mark’s brain was plagued with thoughts of what could be out here, hiding in the woods for them, with the fear that they wouldn’t find their way out and he’d be stuck here all night. He didn’t think sleeping out here with the god knows what that lived in the woods was a worthwhile thing to seem cool.

Out of the corner of his eye something moved and Mark whipped around, shining his flashlight towards it.

“Did you guys see that?!” Mark exclaimed.

“No?” said Kunhang.

“What was it?” Kevin questioned.

“Something, it moved really fast it looked like a shadow.”

“Let’s go look,” grinned Kevin, head in the direction Mark’s light was pointed. Mark held in his whine as he followed. He was freaked out beyond belief but he would get lost on his own for sure at this point.

Out of the corner of his eye something moved again, very fast. He could hear the rustling of the leaves as something surely passed.

“Oh I saw that one!” Kevin exclaimed excitedly.

“Let’s chase it!” Kunhang added. The two took off after it and Mark followed closely. They only made it a little bit before stopping in a clearing. The wind blew past quickly as they looked around, trying to find the way to go. Kevin and Kunhang started to decide until something until something dark moved in the bushes.

“There,” whispered Kevin. He took a step closer and Mark felt his heart racing as twigs started to snap and Kevin took out his phone, recording into the darkness.

“Come on,” he muttered. “Let me see you.”

From the darkness in front of them a deep, threatening growl rumbled through the air.

Ice ran through Mark’s veins as fear gripped him. The three of them stumbled back. A snarl ripped it’s way through the air they all started to run, screams ripping their ways from the boys throats as they tore back to camp.

[ajaxia]

dying in zhonglis arms

pov: after fighting enemies you weren't ready for, zhongli isn't able to reach you in time

TW: blood, injuries, self harm

taking the commission was a mistake. Leaving without Zhongli was a mistake. fighting the lawachurl was a mistake. thinking you could fight a cryo mage with a cryo vision was a mistake.

your arms ached, the polearm in your hands growing heavier by the minute. your clothes stained, with blood from the lawachurls claws. your body was cold, the ice refusing to leave.

reaching the edge of the cliff you stumbled, hitting a stone and landing right next to the edge. laying there you tried getting up but your body seemed to deny you of any movement. letting go of your your polearm you curled in on yourself, trying to preserve a little more body heat. whimpering you wondered whether Zhongli would come. you wondered whether he would show up before the ice crawling up your legs took over.

--

"Childe?" Zhongli asked in between a sip of tea.

"hm?" the harbinger raised an eyebrow as he carefully crept closer to the small black cat licking its paws. staring at the creature Zhongli couldn't help but be reminded of you. the way the animal held itself with such superiority, but as soon as it was offered company, it melted.

the cat's eyes turned from Childe to Zhongli, and as the two looked into each other's gazes, Zhongli wondered why you hadn't shown up for tea today. it was a ritual that the two of you loved, as Childe made sure to cover the costs.

Childe snatched the cat up, cradling it as it protested indignantly. Zhongli frowned and crossed his arms.

"don't torment the poor animal."

"why? will you tell me another story about some other great big battle if I don't?" he grinned and Zhongli sighed.

"no stories. right now we need to figure out why she didn't show up."

"don't fret old man," Childe grinned, "she accepted a commission today, didn't she tell you?" After a moment he laughed, "by the look on your face I'm guessing she didn't."

"she told you?" Zhongli began to contemplate your reasons for leaving him in the dark on your commission.

"oh no I just keep tabs on her for you. the Fatui here in Liyue are growing lazy and need more things to do."

"i offer my utmost gratitude."

"stop with the formal talk you geezer, but surprisingly she offered to go fight a lawachurl."

"where? the only one close enough for a short commission is in Lingju Pass where the abyss mage is."

"yea that mage did propose quite a challenge, those ice shards sting. but, doesn't she have a cyro vision?" Childe asks, a bit confused about your decision-making. it was common knowledge where the abyss mages hung out, and wouldn't you have remembered?

"that fool," Zhongli mutters. out of all the places you had to accept a commission there. as his heart began to speed up, Zhongli's tea was abandoned and he was running out of the city.

--

in a matter of minutes, Zhongli was at Lingju pass. his eyes raced around the area trying to remember the location of the mage.

"the mage's that way. now go, there's no doubt our little comrade needs you." Childe came up behind him pointing to the small cliff where the mage could be found.

Zhongli simply nodded in gratitude before rushing away.

--

as he reached the cliff, Zhongli gripped his polearm keeping it by his side as he waited for an attack.

that all changed when he saw you.

the polearm clattered to the ground and he raced towards you. dropping down to the ground he pulled you into his lap and let your head lay in his arms.

"Zhongli," you muttered. there was a deep cut on your neck and he could tell the blood was going places that would end up hurting, and the ice on your legs had crept up to your stomach. your skin was cold to the touch and Zhongli realized.

it wasn't his job to save you.

"your vision." he whispered, cradling your cheek with his hands. "it caused this."

"it was hit by the mage. the magic swirled out, it was beautiful." you looked up at him, tears in your eyes.

"i cant feel anything. it's all numb." the desperation on your features began to show. "do something. anything."

"you're beyond saving. i can't fix this." he closes his eyes and pulls you closer.

"i don't want the ice to overtake me. i don't want to bleed out. remember our promise? i thought we both agreed you wouldn't have to watch me die through battle."

"that is the one wish I cannot grant." he snaps, then softens. "i would never hurt you."

"our promise?"

"after giving up my role as the god of contracts, i'm not bound by them anymore." he mutters, now armed with the full knowledge he had no intention of ever listening to your words you mentally break.

it pushses you over the edge. "you're hurting me right now." you sob. "i don't want to end like this. it's either by my hand or yours." your breathing grew heavier and you stiffened. softening your voice you look back to Zhongli. "take my polearm."

hesitantly the archon reached for the discarded weapon. He knew where this was going and didn't like it, but he could never go against your wishes. at your slow instruction, he broke the tip off and handed it to you. as he wraps his hands around yours, you weakly smile to convey your gratitude.

you slowly open your mouth to say more but by then the blood had begun its way into your lungs and it was getting harder to breathe.

remembering how much he hates goodbyes, you simply force a smile and pull the weapon down into your heart. his warm rough hands surround yours and as you black out you see him whisper something but can't quite catch it.

gripping your hands Zhongli closes his eyes, bowing his head and mourning with a single tear.

--

thanks for reading! this technically doesn't need a part two but i will still be writing one about how zhongli deals with the death

[gecko-sims]

Coming soon...

[wildler]

Happy Valentine’s to my OCs ❤️

I rounded the open bonnet to find Zaphron fiddling with a bunch of wires in the battery bay.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to be playing with electrics in the rain,” I said, peering at the car’s innards—and definitely not noticing how Zaphron’s white shirt had gone transparent in the downpour.

“While I appreciate the safety lesson,” he said, his wet hair hanging in his eyes as he glanced over his shoulder. “It’s the only option if we’re going to get out of here.”

I bit my lip and watched him fiddle with the wiring a little longer. His clothes clung to him in the rain, every movement of his shoulders and chest visible under the soaked weight of his shirt.

Focus Astrid. Stop the guy from frying himself on engine wires.

“Zaph.” I reached out and put my hand on his forearm. His skin felt warm despite the chill of the rain and I nearly retracted my fingers in surprise. “Just leave it. Until the storm passes at least.”

He stopped what he was doing and cast a pointed look in my direction. “There’s a reason no one stuck around here after the weather warning. It’s not safe.”

I let go of his arm and rolled my eyes. “It’s got to be safer than willingly making yourself an electrical conductor.”

He sucked his bottom lip between his teeth to cover a grin and turned away. “Alright.” He closed the car bonnet, leaning back on it casually—as if rain wasn’t hammering down on both of us. “I guess we’re staying here then.”

“Um.” I motioned wildly to the cabin. Droplets of water were clinging to my eyelashes and beginning to run down my neck. “Can we go back inside then?”

“Sure,” Zaphron said, getting slowly to his feet. “But it’s not like either of us could get any more drenched.” He tugged at his wet shirt and gestured to my clothes, which were now just as clingy as his. The weight of his gaze lingered on me a moment longer than necessary, lighting a firecracker in my stomach.

I swallowed, watching the water dripping from his hair, rolling down his face in rivulets. For the briefest moment I had an overwhelming urge to disrupt the tiny torrents with my fingers and sweep his jet-black fringe from his eyes. Would he want me to?

The moment passed quickly as Zaphron’s eyes drifted over my shoulder. All hints of his bitten-lipped smirk disappeared. I followed his gaze, letting out an involuntary gasp.

The storm front was perfectly visible out to the east. A mile-high tidal wave of angry purple-black cloud was advancing on grey skies. The flicker of lighting and distant rumbles of thunder were ominous.  

I sank down into the sand, rubbing my temples. Spinifex whipped against my shoulders in the wind. “That’s not very motivating,” I said, glancing up in time to meet his eyes before he directed them back out to sea. “You’re telling me if I were to lay down and do nothing for the rest of my life, that would be the way it was always going to be?”

“If that’s what you did, then I guess so,” he answered with a shrug. “But you would be making that your future.” He sank down in the dune beside me, his shoulder grazing mine. “Wouldn’t you want what comes after this to be built on you doing your best?” His gaze caught mine and for a tiny moment my breath froze in my throat, tears spontaneously welling in my eyes.

My emotion made his gaze intensify and he cocked his head to one side, wiping a tear from my jaw with his thumb. A confused smile dimpled his cheek. “Why are you crying?”

I sobbed a laugh and closed my eyes, burying my face in my knees to stifle a loud sniffle. “I think I’ve need to hear that for a while now,” I said, my mouth muffled against my jeans.

“Block Universe Theory?” Jet’s voice gave away even more confusion and I laughed, lifting my head to look at him through subsiding tears.  

“Yeah, something like that.”

“I was,” I said, rolling my tongue over my teeth. “Engaged, I mean. A while ago.” 

The steam of Dom’s chuckle plumed in the frigid night air. “The woman who doesn’t believe in marriage was engaged? What happened?”

I took a massive gulp of my drink and let out a sigh—watching it cloud in front of my face. “He cheated on me.”

Dom’s expression faltered, the smirk sliding off his lips entirely.

“More than once,” I continued, matter-of-factly, “with his best mate’s sister.”

“Jesus.” Dom’s voice dropped low; its usual authority gone. It sounded wrong. “That sucks.”

“He was a fucking cretin,” I said, shrugging. “But what really got me was how many people knew about it while it was happening—and not one of them told me.”

Dom’s dark eyes met mine and something significant shifted in his expression. “That’s why you do it then?” he said, more like a musing than a question he wanted me to answer. His pupils were bottomless in the pub’s limited outdoor lighting as he inched closer, trying to read my face. The rabble inside faded to a distant buzz. We were so close I could make out the dark dots of stubble on his cheeks. The smell of his citrus cologne laced each of my breaths.

Step away Elle, he’s your boss—and not your biggest fan.

I took one last heady breath of him and leaned back, chugging the last of my drink in an effort to break eye contact. “Everyone deserves the truth,” I said, using my thumb to wipe a drop of red wine from my lip. “And I make sure my client’s get it.”