#guess who forgot another chapter cover...heh...

[everymangatenshinhan]

[pixelbattt]

Give me a Reason: Chapter 7 - "Banter"

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

In homeroom that morning, Uzi was bored as per usual, an earbud in one ear as Mr. Brown stood at the front of the class, looking over the 20 or so heads that made up the classroom. The bell would ring any minute and Uzi glanced at the still-empty seat next to her.

Where was he? It wasn't like she cared, really. But N didn't seem to be the kind of person who was late for school. That was more her thing. She took a glance at the clock; 7:59.

Like the thought of him summoned him, he came through the door looking like he'd run here, hair slightly disheveled and breaths coming out in quick pants. He just caught the bell, his body passing the threshold of the door just as the bell rang.

Mr. Brown looked up at him, being the only student still standing, Uzi saw his face turn a bit red at the attention. But that wasn't the only thing on his face.

A large adhesive bandage covered his cheek, just below his eye, the area around it slightly red. It didn't seem to be hurting him that much though, not when he gave her a thousand-watt smile and sat down next to her.

“Mr. Elliot, please be in your seat before the bell rings. There are teachers in this building who will not be so lenient.” Mr Brown scolded, making N immediately scrunch up into a ball and avert his eyes, a lot like a dog who knew what they did was wrong.

“S-sorry, Mr. Brown.” He mumbled, and the teacher only nodded his head breifly as he took attendance, Uzi's eyes were still trained on N, maybe for a little longer then nessisary. Because he noticed and turned to her.

He blinked before his eyes flickered to the bandage on his cheek, and he gave her a smile, though not as big and bright as the ones she'd come to expect from him.

“Oh! It's nothing, I fell on the steps in front of my house when I got home. Got too excited I guess.” He ended the statement with an amused huff, like he was embarrassed of himself, and Uzi turned back towards the front, though she could still see him.

“You uh… didn't break your face too bad?” In a roundabout way, she was asking if he was okay without asking if he was okay. The size of the bandage implied either something deep, or something large, and neither were good in her experience.

“Nah! I'm kinda used to hurting myself… I'm kinda clumsy.” He admitted, scratching the back of his head, before his eyes seemed to light up and in a single quick movement began to rummage around his backpack.

“Here! I forgot to give it back yesterday!” She backed up slightly as his hand was suddenly way closer then it had been a minute ago, before she realized he was giving her back her pencil from yesterday, she half expected it to be empty or broken if she ever got it back at all.

She handled it, noticing a slight difference in it's weight and screwing off the eraser to look inside.

“You refilled the lead?” She asked, almost incredulous.

“Oh yeah! I did do that… heh, you were almost out so I just refilled it. Take it as a thank you for letting me borrow it!” Then, another sunny smile, and this one rubbed off on her, a small smile invading her face without her permission.

“It's just a pencil.” She quipped, the knee jerk reaction being to just wave off his small act of kindness, but then she sighed and took a glance over at him, his smile had faded slightly. “But, thanks.”

Another smile, brought back by her gratitude. And she found herself amused by it, this boy was so easy to make smile.

The bell rang for them to go to their first class, and N looked almost a little dissapointed before he turned to her.

“Aw, dang… I'll see you at English!” He hopped up, and Uzi could see that he was about to leave his backpack… again. But this time instead of saying something, she grabbed it out from underneath his desk and smacked it gently into his chest.

“Don't forget this again.” She grinned at him, a smug smile on her face as he was taken a little bit by surprise, this time his face turned a little red as he grabbed it from her.

“Heh… maybe I need you in all my classes just so I don't forget it.” He suggested, making her face heat up as well, it wasn't really a compliment, but the soft way he said it almost felt like one.

“I'm not your keeper, if it happens again I'm letting you leave it.” She tried to bite at that weird, warm, stupid feeling prickling on the back of her neck and her ears, but instead all she sounded like was playful.

“I'm sure you will.” He laughed as he walked out, leaving her with a goofy smile thar somehow made the heat worse. She grumbled and shook her head.

Whatever, he wouldn't stick around for long anyway.

Give me a Reason: Chapter 8 - "Bonding with Cheese Rolls" An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Wor

[starry-night333]

Posting the rest of the story since I forgot to post chapters

Warning:mistreated ghouls, injury from hounds, somewhat graphic description

I was laying on a bunch of blankets that was making the bed more comfortable when I hear two people coming to my cell. I recognize one as phantom but the other was a ghoul like me, only they where fresh water. I set up a bit still hiding in the small blanket nest I made. When they enter I growl at the new comer, my eyes glowing through the small hole in the blankets. “It’s ok, he’s here to help, um, storm, meet rain?” Phantom was trying his best to keep things from getting bad. I shaking the blankets off my long curls getting even more matted and tangled. I stand the best I could being chained to the bed, rain and phantom walk closer to me, rain holding a bucket and phantom holding a bag. “Alright, storm, imma need you to sit down, ok?” Rain says to me, I huff at him and grab phantom to pull him down with me. “Oh- um, I guess I’m also sitting down heh” phantom laughs a bit, rain looks at him with a look of curiosity. After that rain sets the bucket down and pulls a towel out ringing it out a but before handing it to phantom “hold it up to their gills but dont push down to hard, the water needs to get in but not to much at one time.” Rain tells phantom as he grabs another towel. Phantom nods starting to move the towel to my neck, I flinch a bit but my gills flutter a bit to the salty water that reminded me of home. I start to breath through my gills more relaxing a bit, it felt nice and refreshing. Phantom moves to sit behind me holding both wet towels to my gills as rain gets something out. I watch rain carefully now, wondering what he’s doing, I watch as he pulls out a pocket knife and a can. He looks to me before speaking “are you ok with freshwater foods? Or would you rather I look to see if we have any salt water?” He asks me, I only nod my head a bit, I didn’t mind, as long as it was a sea creature. Rain opens the can with the pocket knife, he was very careful as he did so. He sets the can down in front of me, I reach in and grab a small fish out, it wasn’t fresh but it was food. I sniff it, making sure it was still good, then I bite the head off crunching the bones. I felt phantom jump when he hears the bones crunching, rain snickers lightly to his reaction as I eat the rest of the fish. I look over to phantom seeing how he was surprised, “I should have said something, sorry” I spoke softly to him, he calmed down looking at me as if I was something he loved, I didn’t understand why so I just went back to the canned fish snacking away.

It had to have been half a month of being locked in a cell supposedly left to starve and die, Im pretty sure that there was one more person who knew of me being friendly and was working hard on getting me out. This day though, I’ll never forget, it was when everything went down farther then hell. It was early one morning I was having a hard time sleeping that night feeling nervous and lonely. I really missed phantom and wanted to be out in some water having fun. I was snapped out of these thoughts when I heard growling and barking, on top of that yelling and fighting. One voice was a strong Italian accent the other was a woman’s voice, the same one from when I was first summoned. I try to pull the covers over me and hope the blankets over my cell with keep me hidden. I then hear the sound of the cell door opening and starved hounds ready for their breakfast, which was going to be sea food by the sound. I growl under my blankets being scared, the woman lets go of the hounds and I hear the man make a very worried sound. I attempt to lunge out at the hounds to attack but the chain on my leg makes me crash to the ground. I had no Time to recover before a hound jumps on me, I trying to scratch it but its not vey effect by my weak attack. I wasn’t strong at all, but I didn’t want to die, the other hounds jump in biting my legs and arms and chest, anywhere their teeth could get. I was in so much pain, I could smell my own blood making myself light headed. I force my eyes open, seeing blurs moving as one seemed to be attacked. Everything happening around me sounded so distant, I fight to stay awake, feeling everything wanting to fade. I feel the weight on me go away as I sense two familiar ghouls, one I could tell by scent was phantom, I feel him move me to his lap holding me.“St-storm…please…please be alive, storm, please! Stay with me please!” I could hear phantom plead, my body hurt so much I couldn’t move much even if I wanted to act ok. I lean against him as other voices start to ring into my mind as things are fading to a calming black.

“Hey, ant its ok, I promise they will be ok, just let me look at them ok?” Aether asks me, we had gotten them to the infirmary and I didn’t want them to be hurt anymore. I move to a chair close to the bed storm laid on, I would do what I could to help if I knew anything about healing, but for now ive just got to sit down and hope. “Hey bug…I brought you some food, you need to eat something ok?” Mountain walked in holding a small bag with what looked to be my favorite sandwich, I’d usually be happy to have this for lunch but now I couldn’t even think of eating. Storm was maimed and mauled badly, and I was so stressed over if they where ok. I looked to mountain and tried to smile “thanks, but I-I don’t feel like eating right now Mounty” I said and he gave me a look putting the sandwich on a table. “Please bug, eat soon, you need to ok?” Mountain told me, I nodded to him and he left. Hours passed and I had fallen asleep in the chair, Aether woke me up and made me eat something along with trying to send me to my room. “Please ant, go to bed, you need to sleep and not wake up in pain, you have practice tomorrow.” Aether begged me, I just shook my head staying in the chair ive been in for hours “fuck practice! I wanna be here when storm wakes up.” I state with a pout. Aether sighs and thinks for a second, “ok, you can stay but if you do you’ll have to help me with other as well, if you skip practice you can get out of trouble saying you where helping me.” He told me I nodded quickly “alright, will do!”

I woke up in a bed, it was a lot more comfortable then what I had slept in before, plus it was heated. It was very nice, but the lights where very bright and hurt my eyes so much. I groaned loudly in pain between my eyes hurting and the general pain of all my wounds. I heard movement around me and the lights turning off, as I woke up more I could tell it was phantom in the room. I opened my eyes again to look at him and what’s around me. “Storm? How are you feeling? Do I need to get you anything?” Phantom asked me, he sounded tired and like he’s been worried. “Wh-what’s wrong?..” I asked him, He seemed confused for a moment but it hit him “oh, yeah I’m ok, ive been worried about you-“ “why?” I asked him “what?” He was confused, “why where you worried for me?” I said to him. He looked shocked at first thinking, “storm, your the most beautiful ghoul ive ever seen, not just that but the sweetest, and so many more good reasons, your my friend-“ he was cut off from his sweet little motivational by aether “he likes you, dont you ant?” Aether laughed as phantom turned to him “wha- hey! No! N-no I dont- I mean, your very handsome but-“ phantom stuttered out, I laughed lightly at this, honestly It was cute to me. He was so handsome himself, “your handsome to, a-and you’re as cute as the bats you told me about” I said to him. Aether busted out laughing seeing how purple phantom turned, I smiled softly trying to set up. I look at myself before getting up, “ah-ow, mph!” I fell towards phantom, aether was walking over as phantom turned and caught me, “woah! Gotta be careful, your legs where pretty badly attacked there little fishy” aether said trying to check on me. I felt phantom growl when aether got to close for phantoms comfort, aether backed off a bit “hey, watch it Romeo, your Juliet is ok” he joked with phantom earning himself another growl. I giggle a bit propping myself up on phantom, “ant if you want you can take them to the ghoul den but its not very dark in there” aether told phantom, “I dont mind being blind if it means being able to lay on something comfy” I said and I felt phantom instantly pick me up and start walking, I giggle a bit closing my eyes.

“Once we where in the den phantom laid me down on top of himself, I curled up on him finding it comfy. Some others had walked in and teased us but I fell asleep pretty fast so I don’t remember the rest” I said to the kits that where in the den, its now been years since that all happened. I went on tour a few times but it was towards the end of impera era, now I stayed in the abbey looking after the other ghouls kits with phantom. Me and phantom where mates now, he was sat next to me half asleep. “Mister storm, do you ever plan on having kits?” One of the small humans asked, I laughed softly which woke up phantom. “No dear, me and phantom can’t, even if we wanted sadly.” I told the kid, “mh- that’s not truee..” a very sleepy phantom told me. “Oh? Then why haven’t you said anything before? Hm?” I asked messing with him. “I was waiting to find out if you wanted to, plus we needed to get your glasses fixed, now can we go? I wanna take a nap..” He said, I laugh lightly and nod getting up with him and waving goodbye to the littles as a sister walked in.

[go-dark-turtle]

(The request for @thisbloghasnoaesthetic for winning the item from Hamon Daze Chapter 3. I hope you enjoy it my dear 😏😘)

A night of Stardust lust

Part 3 Jotaro (aged up) x fem reader fanfiction

Sweet N Saucy edition

You all had arrived in Egypt, you stayed with Jotaro and Joseph as they made a call Suzie. You smiled and admired Jotaro standing with his hands in his pockets. Since you joined them on their quest to stop Dio you couldn't help from developing a little crush on Jotaro. When he spoke to his grandmother you couldn't help love his low and soft voice, he certainly was a man of little words but my god, his voice was like velvet.

You all fought against countless minions of Dio and now you all arrived safely in Egypt.

"Alright Honey Muffin, we need to go. Yes, I know. We will. Okay, love you too. Mwah. Bye~" Joseph made kissy faces on the phone as he was hanging up.

You smiled as he came off the phone standing next to Jotaro you couldn't help but admire him so much. You all heard a car horn go off and it grabbed your attention.

"Oi Mr Joestar, we got the car hurry before the sun set. Let's hit the road" Kakyoin called out.

You all got into the car. Joseph sat in the drivers seat on the left, Avdol was on the right in the passenger seat, in the back seat Kakyion sat behind Joseph, Jotaro sitting behind Avdol and you and Polnaraff squished in the middle. You were sitting in between Polarneff and Jotaro, on your right was Jotaro and your left was Polneraff. You and Jotaro had shared an earphone bud each and listened to Joseph's cassette tape of the Beatles. Jotaro was asleep leaning his head against the window and you looked out at the beautiful sunset as you drove across the desert.

"Oi Y/N, do us a favour and pass me the sunscreen my shoulders need some coverage." The frenchman pointed to the seat pocket in front of Jotaro.

You sighed leaning forward, Polanerff grinned and grabbed the small tube of sunscreen and rolled your eyes as you passed it to him "Here. I don't get why you didn't cover your shoulders beforehand."

"I forgot.." He shrugged. He squeezed the tub as he took it from you and a tiny amount shot out and landed straight on Jotaros lap "Oh whoops." He leaned in close to you and whispered " Hey Y/N, you better clean that up otherwise everyone will think you made him..."

"KNOCK IT OFF!" Your face lit up, your cheeks went bright red. You nudged him, you turned to Jotaro and saw he was still asleep and back to Polnareff. "Look what you did! You did that on purpose!"

"Ha ha ha, Y/N should be thanking me. Here use this and wipe it from Jotaro's lap" He smirked, wiggled his eyebrows and handed you a handkerchief.

You snacthed it from him and gritted your teeth and gently rubbed the sunscreen off Jotaro's lap. You looked back to Polneraff and he smirked and rubbed the sunscreen into his shoulders. His smirk turned into a grin and pulled out a camera and took a photo of your hand still on Jotato's lap.

"You ass! You think this is funny?" You pouted at him.

"Oh! Y/N, I am shocked, whatever do you mean? I'm SO sorry I squeezed the tub too hard.." Polnareff raised his eyes and pretended to be innocent and hid the camera in his pocket.

You threw the handkerchief at him and he ducked and it smacked Kakyion, (who was looking out his window minding his own business) right in the face. He pulled it off his face and looked at you annoyed.

"What the hell Y/N!" the red headed young man wasn't a happy bunny.

"Sorry Kakyion, if Pol Pol wasn't being a total asshole.." You started to crack your knuckles.

"Oh shit! Kakyion save me!" Polnareff cuddled into Kakyion his eyes widened, the red headed young man looked at him annoyed and rolled his eyes.

"Oh don't think Kakyion is gonna save you Pol Pol...." You rolled up your sleeve and he screamed in fear.

"CHILDREN! CHILDREN! Behave yourselves. We are almost there please settle down. Mr Joestar is trying to concentrate." Avdol turned around and waggled his finger at you all. "I thought you would be all mature by this point, now stop acting like children and make up..."

You folded your arms and looked at him, Polnareff smiled at you and rubbed your shoulder.

"Awwww don't be like that Y/N~ You know I was only teasing you..." He smiled and laughed. He leaned in closely "I know you have the major hots for Jotaro, I've seen the look in your eye."

Annoyed with Polnareff you looked out the window on Jotaro's side and huffed, you couldn't look him in the eye, he was right you did like Jotaro, but you felt like you had no chance with him. you sighed in defeat and admired the sunset once again.

About half an hour later Joseph parked the car and suggested setting up camp for the night in the desert, you all got out of the car and you followed Avdol and Joseph to set up the tents. As for Kakyion he went to get some water by the river. Meanwhile Jotaro and Polnareff went for a smoke by the rocks overlooking the river.

"By the way Star saw everything you did in the car.. "Jotaro flicked his cigarette bud away and glared at him.

"Oh... you know I was only playing. Y/N cleaned your trousers.. So it's all good right? Right?" Polnereff grinned "Heh you know she totally likes you"

"Again I saw that too." He huffed

"Yeah but" He gripped his cheek and turned his head to you helping Kakyoin with the large jugs of water to the campfire. "Y/N really admires you, You would be silly not to ask her out."

Jotaro gripped his wrist and summoned Star Platinum and ORA'D him into the air and joined you all, while he landed in the sand with a dizzy expression.

An hour later you all sat around the campfire and enjoyed some scrambled eggs and baked beans. You couldn't help but look at Jotaro when he talked to the others, he was right next to you, the soft glow of the campfire made his face look even more beautiful. You started to shiver with the night air kicking in.

"Here, have this you are cold." Jotaro smiled at you and wrapped his jacket around your shoulders.

"Ah thank you Jotaro" You smiled and felt such comfort from his jacket, the scent from him rubbed onto your shoulders.

Polnareff was about to make a statement but you both glared at him and he shut his mouth and smiled nervously. Jotaro rolled his eyes and stood up.

"Y/N, come join me." Jotaro nodded to you and held out his hand. "I'm going for a smoke and I thought you would like a breather."

You nodded and blushed as he took your hand in his, your hand was so soft and small compared to his. He walked beside you to the rocks where he had his smoke break before, not once letting go of your hand. Your mind raced and your cheeks started to flare up.

Once you were behind the rock Jotaro let your hand go and reached into his pocket rummaging about for a cigarette. He leaned against the rock and you squatted down and enjoyed the peace and quiet from everyone else.

"Hey Y/N, is it true what Pol Pol said in the car?" Jotaro looked down at you starting to smoke.

"Huh? You heard that?" You blushed more.

"Y/N, Star was awake the whole time" Jotaro flicked his cigarette away and folded his arms. He wanted to know the answer.

"Oh... so you saw the whole..." You started to become nervous

"Just answer me Y/N, is what he says true or not?" He placed his hand by the rock next to you almost trapping you in place.

You looked up and saw his sapphire eyes locked down to you, you swallowed hard and nodded softly.

"I want to hear you finally admit it to my face" Jotaro leaned closer.

"Okay, Okay I admit from the day I started to travel with you all, I started to have a crush on you. Yes, I like you alot. Oh god." You covered your mouth from spilling everything out at once.

"Glad my gut instinct was right then" He pulled your hands away.

He held your hands and gently placed them on his hips as he leaned more in his hands trapping you in place, he closed his eyes and gently pecked your lips. He pulled back and saw your face go bright red. He smirked and leaned in for another, you felt like you were in dreamland, but this time round you placed your hands to his chest and kissed him gently, he was surprised but glad you got the hint and deepened the kiss. your bodies tingled with excitment, your tongues danced, it felt like your body was having a party.

"Jotaro?!" You gasped for a breath "I had no idea you liked me back."

"You didn't ask and the whole time you were admiring me I guess I did it back, I didn't want to jump to conclusions but I'm glad my gut was right." Jotaro sighed with relief.

"Jotaro, I'm sorry I kept it from you. I thought you wouldn't like me back." You looked down and smiled

He cupped your chin " A gorgeous girl like you, nonsense, only a fool would say no to you."

(Sweet N Saucy warning)

You both couldn't get enough of each other and started to kiss and cuddle more sliding down the side of the rock he pulled off his tank top for you to admire his bare chest. You gasped and smiled and did the same for him, showing off your naked breasts for him to marvel at.

" Please may I?" Jotaro rubbed his hands on your sides.

"Please Jotaro I'm all yours." You couldn't contain yourself around him anymore.

He placed his big hands to your chest and gently squeezed them and planted a kiss on each of them, in turn you leaned forward and kissed down his chest. He started to get excited and cupped your chin again and crashed his lips into yours. You softly moaned into his smokey kiss, his scent drove you wild and ran your fingers through his hair. He gripped your ass and pulled out the kiss with a growl.

"Y/N, I can't help myself." Jotaro blushed and started to pant hard

"Don't hold back please, Jotaro I'm all yours." You held his hands gently

"Y/N, lean over for me." Jotaro pointed to the rock for you to rest your hand on.

"Okay" You loved the lustful look in his eyes and did as he asked and leaned over holding onto the wall.

Jotaro shifted himself in front of you, looked down at you and smiled "Hmm you deserve a little reward but first, Star please if you don't mind."

"ORA!" Star was summoned on the spot.

The purple stand turned your face and kissed you gently, his lips felt like static and it drove you crazy from his kisses. As you were having wild kisses from Star.

Jotaro growled with excitement and pinned you down to the ground covering you in kisses. He slowly got off you and kissed your cheek.

He sat on his jacket and patted his lap ushering you to join him "Y/N, come sit here for me."

You crawled over to him not once losing eye contact. Once you reached him you kissed down his neck and ran your hands down his body. He bit his lip and moaned softly, he loved the feeling of your soft lips against his muscular body. He gripped your hips and slowly lowered you down on him, you held onto his shoulders for support.

You moaned softly as he entered you, he growled and licked and nipped your neck leaving soft love bites, you rolled your hips back and forth feeling him inside pressing further. You were in pure bliss, you bopped up and down on his lap, he leaned back and moaned loudly. He loved your warm insides clenched against him. Your ass slapped against his thighs everytime you thrusted downwards. Both of you started to shake, your breath heavy.

"Jotaro...I can't..." You called out to him

"Do it Y/N" Jotaro growled in your ear. And at that moment you both clenched your eyes shut and unleashed your lustful waves against each other.

You both layed there panting and Star gathered your clothes and gently got you both dressed, you both cuddled into each other and closed your eyes falling into a deep sleep. Star smiled down at you both and placed Jotaro's jacket over you both.

The next morning you stirred awake to the sound of giggling.

"Huh? Wha? What's going on?" You rubbed your eyes.

"Well you two certainly had a wild night didn't you? And we have this picture to prove it." Polneraff grinned and waved the photo of you both cuddling and started to back away

You clenched your fists and darted after him "You! Get your ass back here and don't you dare show that to anyone!"

"OOOOHHHHHHHHHHH~ So it's true you and Jotaro like each other oooooh smoochy smoochy. oh shit..." Polnereff started to see you race after him.

He appeared and glared at the panicked Frenchman

"Now Y/N we can talk about this.." Polnareff nervously grinned

Jotaro stood behind him and grinned "What seems to be the issue here Pol Pol?"

The Frenchman dropped the camera and ran for it "SHIT!"

You both chased after him with his stand repeatedly launched him into the air, you both laughed as he landed. He knelt down and swore not to tell anyone and scampered back to the tents, you both stood in the open desert and admired the morning sun and he wrapped his arm around you.

"I love you Y/N" Jotaro softly whispered in your ear.

"I love you too Jotaro" You snuggled into his side.

You both cuddled as you looked at the sunrise and both of you couldn't be happier.

THE END!

[storysofmyown]

Seven stages of love Chapter 3: Ludus

Summary: Ever since the Celestial War, since they all fell, Asmodeus has  dedicated himself to his sin. Not caring about anything else, but  drowning himself in the pleasure and ecstasy of it all. But not anymore,  now he cant even handle the idea of it. But, what else is there to want? After so long of having indulged in his sin, what is there than  Asmodeus is looking for, something that will fill him, and that wont  drive him to destruction? Perhaps his brothers can help him with that. Warnings will appear in each chapter.

Trigger Warnings: Self depricatement (?), anger, mentions of exhaustion. Please tell me if I forgot to add one.

Word Count: 3278

Read on ao3

It had been at the very least an hour, and Asmodeus eyes had yet to focus on the damn page in front of him. His eyes were looking at the words. He was reading and he knew what each word meant, but it all felt like his brain refused to understand what was in front of him. He read the same word over and over again but in his mind all he could think about was Leviathans words and what it all meant to him. His heart rate had been calmer than ever before, but that didn’t mean it was good. That only meant that he was in such a state of confusion he had to look up from the book to realize he was in Satan’s room. A faint memory came to mind of him waking up in the middle of the day and making his way here. But…it was all fuzzy. Perhaps the best way to describe it would be to say it felt like his memories were submerged underwater. There was a faint recognition of things, words, and moments, a faint recognition of his own feelings…of the things that had presented themselves, and how distant they felt to him.

But, it all just felt so out of place. He knew his body was somewhere in the House of Lamentation, but his mind was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Almost as if it was traveling through a cosmic place with all the answers he could ever need; to all the questions he could ever ask. But instead of looking at the answers, he was in the middle. Just starring at the everything of the world through the eyes of an spectator, and not through the eyes of someone that had his own live. Perhaps, if he just reached out into the overwhelming darkness of the water that submerged his entire being, he would feel better. But how to reach out to the unknown? What if what laid on the other end was worse than what he knew now? In the end he let out an audible groan and set the book back on the stand, a pout on his lips.

“This is impossible!” He was incredibly tired. His eyes heavy and mind completely gone as he yawned and turned to Satan who was smiling foolishly at his book. That’s right, Satan had stayed in the room as well, but it’s not like either of them had registered each other’s presence. He had tuned out of the world entirely, and he was sure Satan had done the same. Speaking of which, the blond demon had muttered something under his breath, before proceeding to chuckle.

How in the world did he manage to pay attention to something for so long, Asmodeus wondered, before a sigh escaped his lips as he decided he should just give up this meaningless search that had become his life. Maybe it was time he finally accepted that there was no way he would ever understand the yearning that had kept him awake for so many years in the house. The aching to be simply hugged by someone who wanted to hug him. Perhaps that’s how he was meant to be for eternity. Had his father made it so he would end up as the Avatar of Lust as a punishment so that Asmodeus never felt that?

“Please, you don’t believe him, right?”

Satan spoke once again. Making Asmodeus raise an eyebrow at him as he decided it was enough self-deprecating for a day. Leviathan had made him question his existence enough the other day. And so, he proceeded to approach Satan, standing behind the demons couch and looking over his shoulder at the pages of the book.

“What are you reading?” Satan jumped, hitting Asmodeus in the face with his book, making the lustful demon groan a little as his hand flew to his face, tears burning on the corner of his eyes as he glared at Satan.  “What was that for?!” His comment effectively making the wrathful demon glare.

“Why were you reading over my shoulder?!” He snapped, glaring harder at Asmodeus which only made him scoff.

“I just wanted to know what you were reading, you jerk!” Satan stared at his brothers in confusion for a moment.

“…I thought you had gone back to your room already.” Satan’s sighs as he calms down, sitting in his original position.

“Well,” Asmodeus walked around the couch before propping himself on the other end of it. “you can be quite scary when we barrow your books. Hence why I was going to read it here and then go but…”

“But?”

“…I don’t know. I guess I just don’t have the attention span to spend hours reading.” Asmodeus shrugged, sitting on the couch before resting his back against the armrest, letting his head fall back as he stared at the ceiling. Breathing slower with each passing second, eyes drifting closed.

He was exhausted.

His eyes were heavy. He wasn’t hungry at all even if he had yet to eat anything since waking up. He was so incredibly tired, but during the night he couldn’t sleep. Part of him felt like it had been carrying with the same weight as Beel carried for hours on end, simultaneously feeling  like his legs wouldn’t be able to take him anywhere. It didn’t help that his brothers had been acting so strange with all the space…but perhaps it was his fault for worrying them. After all, Belphie and Levi probably already had told the rest of their findings. Satan was the only one that still treated him with some degree of normality. And even so he knew he was trying to act…gentler with him.

“…you wanted to know to what the book was about?”

Heh, another confirmation of his suspicions. Satan’s voice made Asmo sit up, looking at his brother with a raised eyebrow before nodding. He might as well try to act like his whole world had not fallen apart a few nights ago and unlike each passing day was eating him alive to the point where even the simplest task would make him go into a frenetic state. Oh well, might as well try to keep up the act. He looked at Satan before nodding, the demon not letting go unnoticed the lack of usual spark his younger brother had.

“Yes!”

“Well, in that case” Satan sighed, closing the book and looking at the back, examining it for a few seconds before nodding once more. “Very well, the story is about those two strangers.” He starts, looking at Asmodeus. “Two strangers that become the most important thing the other has.”

“Eh?” Asmodeus answered involuntarily. Shifting in his sit as he looked at Satan properly now. It was a…interesting concept.

Two strangers. They meet in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by everyone yet no one at all. The voices are echoed by how confused and lonely they are. But then…then they see each other. Satan said that they didn’t necessarily feel the sentiments that that word imply. That word...the one that kept coming back to him and placing itself against everything Asmodeus knew. That same word was plastered all over the book, in each page, and even in the cover. But even so, Satan stated the book claimed to not be that. He said…it was about some kind of…superficial sentiment. Some kind of crush they had. A brief moment of passion the two shared for one another after just that one moment.

Satan went on to describe their journey. And how as they slowly got to know each other they started to actually fall into a more intense feeling. But, to be fair, Asmodeus had stopped listening the moment Satan had said the first few sentences. Two strangers. Two complete unknown persons, and yet they managed to feel a certain type of affection towards one another. From all the people he had met, to all those he had merely shared a bed with. No names exchanged, no number, no way to see each other again, to those recurring visitors whom he had even their birthmarks memorized…he didn’t feel like that with any of them.

Were there people that could actually experience that type of devotion? Perhaps it was all just made up. Yeah, there was no way that existed. Have a sudden romantic infatuation for one another? Just like that?! No, Asmodeus refused to believe something like that could happen. It didn’t make sense at all!

“…are you even listening?” Satan’s voice finally registered as he sighed, closing the book and setting it down. “You are free to leave if you are that bored-“

“I don’t understand.”

“You weren’t listening to me. Of course you wont understand.”

“What? No, that’s not what I mean!” Asmodeus protested, half glaring at Satan now. Damn it, he was so damn confused. First Leviathan told him there was an entirely different kind section of that word, which was reserved for friendship, and platonic relationships. And now Satan told him that it was possible for two people to fall in adoration with one another although they were complete strangers?! He could have sworn that each time he learned something new it just helped to…to make him despise his sin even more.

Asmodeus took the book from Satan’s hand, the bookmark he had placed neatly between the pages falling, the page being lost as Asmodeus opened the book and scanned the first page, almost immediately devouring the content of the book like Beel would do with a restaurant if not stopped.

“…I was reading that” Satan protested, glaring at Asmodeus as he got to take the bookmark from the floor. The demon turned to place it on a table, before looking at Asmodeus. He had bag under his eyes. Something his brother would have never let be shown in the past, or let it be seen by anyone at the very least. Be it by an extensive amount of makeup or by his hour-long beauty regimen, it was strange for Asmodeus to let show anything that he deemed a “flaw” in his skin. And the way he was reading the book…he was desperate. A desperation Satan had certainly never seen in any of his family members to this day. “…you can give it back once you are done.”

“Mhm, yeah” Asmodeus answered briefly as he got up and walked over to the door, hitting the wall on his way out as his eyes refused to leave the page.

For the next 4 days, Asmodeus did nothing but be enthralled on the pages of the book. To be fair, he had finished it on the second day, but he had been rereading it. Over, and over again. Each time more vigorously than the last, his eyes jumped entire paragraphs he knew gave no useful information to the questions he needed answers to. How could two strangers fall in such a way for one another? How could it be that two complete strangers could experience more feelings on their first meeting than he had on his long life?! From the celestial realm to this very moment, the only feeling he could remember was that of lust and perhaps pity…sadness. No other feeling had ever made its way to him in the nights before, but now, now it was different. He felt something, and he wanted a certain feeling.

To him it was almost a lie. From all his experiences, never had any of the demons or demoness he had been with looked at him with something other than lust. They never sought to make a conversation that went past the names and the “where are we doing this?” In his mind it was impossible that a feeling so deep be felt so easily. Because if it did…then what would that say about him?

On the fifth night, as the dusk hit the Devildom, under what was the bleak light of the stars coming through the window, Asmodeus finished the book for the third time. His eyes focusing on the very last line. Those words. Those three simple words being muttered from one person to another. And no more words. Not an explanation, not a reason, not even a damn hint of why they felt like that on that very night. Asmodeus could feel some tears burning on his eyes as he glared at the book and threw it on the nightstand beside his bed. The stupid book had only left him with the same exact question that had been plaguing his mind from the night of his revelation. He hid under his covers, ignoring the ache of his heart, and went to sleep, only to dream of his inner broken, soul, and the void.

The next day, he went to Satan’s room to give him his book back. Praying to the father that had hurt them for the demon to not be on his room and he wouldn’t need to even mutter a word. But of course, that wasn’t the case.

“Ah, Asmodeus, I’m guessing you finished the book?” Satan’s voice was heard, prompting a sigh from Asmodeus as he fully stepped onto the room. The demon was on the high end of a stepladder, reaching for one of the top shelves.

“…yeah.” He spoke on a defeated tone.

“Did you enjoy it?” Satan asked, looking at one of the books, taking it out of the shelve and dusting it off. Asmodeus thought for a second. Had he enjoyed it? Well, its not like he was all that invested in the story. His focus was more on finding answers than it was on indulging into the story. And so, he couldn’t even recall the name of the characters, or the name of the book. Much less if he had enjoyed its content. But if he had to give an answer… “Asmo-?”

“No” They spoke at the same time. Setting the book down on the table, just as Satan looked down at Asmo, raising an eyebrow. He was about to ask why, but it would seem Asmo beat him to it. “How can two complete strangers feel something like that?!” He spoke, not even having given his brother another look, passing around the restlessly . Asmodeus tone increased slightly as he walked around the couch, hands moving and gesturing to the book. “Isn’t that sentiment supposed to be worked and developed with time as you get to know the person?! Isn’t it supposed to take years for people to finally realize the extent of their true feelings for another person?! It can’t be that simple! It can’t be as simple as walking into some place and making eye contact and just…and feeling it!”

“You don’t have to shout!” Satan spoke louder as well, before sighing as he watched Asmodeus shoulders drop and look away. For a moment Satan stayed silent as he analyzed Asmodeus words, thinking back to what he had read of the book before finally speaking. “…they didn’t fall for each other. At least not at first.” He states, starting to go down the steps of the ladder.

“Eh?!” Well that was a lie, Asmodeus thought. “Yes they did. The book describes it the first time they meet! They-”

“And upon their eyes meeting it was like the music faded. The bodies dancing around became shadows, all surrounded in black like the rest of their lives, only for the still barely noticeable grayish color the other made them see. With each step they took towards the other, the color became more vibrant, bright. They were like fire on a pitch black room for the other, and they smiled. For the first time, it wasn’t a calm or sweet smile. It was a nervous awkward smile, as they barely managed to announce their names. As they barely managed to exist close to the other.”

Satan finished quoting the book, making Asmodeus stare blankly at the demon as he frowned.

“Show off...” he remarked under his breath, just as Satan reached the last step, sighing. Instead of hopping onto the ground and walking over to Asmodeus he sat down, giving Asmo a look that made him step closer.

“The way it was described, the nervousness and awkwardness…I don't think they fell for each other, at least not in that very moment. Sure, they wanted to meet and get to know the other. And they found the other interesting, and upon that conversation is that they became important to one another…but I don’t think it was as intense as you think it was. It felt more…innocent.”

Innocence…that was something Asmodeus used to be familiar with. But he had lost touch with it the moment his body hit the grounds of the Devildom. Once he discovered this new world and all the things his body was capable of…the things his body wanted, he become detached from that part. Never did he imagine he would be missing that side of him. The side that didn’t need to be touched to be validated, and simply spending time laughing and talking would be enough to make him feel important. He wished he could go back to the moments where he wasn’t aware of anything at all. He missed not being himself. How cruel of the universe. To put right in front of him the description of what he had felt during those first encounters…the feeling he no longer experienced. The feeling of being alive as his skin was set ablaze by the wonderful sensations now he would hid from.

“…how cruel.” Asmodeus whispered, as he proceeded to sit beside Satan on the same step, resting his head on his brothers’ shoulder without thinking, their shoulders bumped together as Satan looked carefully at his brother.

“Cruel?” He raises an eyebrow.

“So…at first…they really didn’t feel anything for each other?”

“…I wouldn’t say that. They certainly felt something…but it isn’t the type of sentiment you thought it was. Truth be told…I think those two were so desperate to feel happiness and desired…that they fell in **** with the idea of a relationship and being wanted…and then it slowly morphed into what they had at the end. True, absolute devotion.”

Asmodeus stayed quiet at the mention of the word. But on his mind, there was such a turmoil that only grew with each passing moment. He didn’t know what he was missing. But he knew that when he found it, he would feel…whole. But each time he went to try and find it, he only came back with a bigger puzzle to resolve and with barely any pieces to put it together. With barely any grasping understanding of the subject that was torturing him night after night.

“…I still don’t understand.” He pouted, making Satan chuckle as he leaned back, resting his weight on his elbows as he tilted his head back, looking at the ceiling.

“Yeah, I think that’s the point. It isn’t something that we are ever going to understand. Not fully, at the very least, it’s just…it’s just something that is.” Satan sighed, before looking back at Asmo who still had the same expression. A lost one. “…but that’s better. In my opinion, at least. What fun is there to have in a question that is so easily answered?” Satan merely got a hum out of Asmo this time.

But the demon was listening. And he was wondering. Perhaps his brother was right…but he was not about to give up finding a concrete answer. After all, it was the only thing driving him at this point.

Ludus: Flirtation, playful, lively. The discovery of a crush, its rooted on having fun.

****

Hello~, I hope you all had enjoyed this chapter. This chapter was so hard to write, honestly. Mainly because I didnt know how to have Satan make the connection and explain it to Asmo, but here it is, and I really hope you all enjoyed it! next chapter will be published on Saturday like usual, until then!

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[thedumbguywithaheart43]

Boomlord weird adventure

Chapter 8 what time is it?

It was early morning in the omnispace void. Boomwood had gotten to the kitchen to start brewing coffee as the footsteps of a yawning purple hair woman enter the room."morning Twilight."Twilight mearly gave him a wave before sitting down. Looked at her noticing the look on her face. To be honest she looked exhausted.'ah shit'he quickly poured a shot glass of the Cuban coffee and handed it to her. She stared at the coffee for a minute."I appreciate the gesture but I doubt this is going to do much for me."good Lord gave out a chuckle."Twilight trust me this is Cuban coffee any more than this and you'll be wired."He gave out a chuckle before Twilight downed the shot, unsurprisingly her face scrunched up. This was probably the most bitter thing she ever had."bleh! Why would you drink something so bitter!"Boomlord shrugged."honestly I only drink it for the caffeine. If it helps I think I have some orange juice in the fridge."Twilight just looked down rubbing her head . Not long after the other girls walked in each of them heading into the fridge grabbing various fruits mostly apples. Pinkie pie was the only one who grabbed something else, looks like she found the flan and was in heaven."oh my Celestia this tastes so good!"At least she wasn't breaking the fourth wall again.

2 After everyone ate they all headed to the living room again."ok girls this is it we are heading to the next world. Now before I go this mission is not meant to be dangerous however the world we're entering can be a bit chaotic so be prepared for anything."The rest of the girls nodded they likely had assumed as much from the previous conversations."so where are we going anyway"dash blurted out as boom pulled out his pen."yeah I'm with Dash partner id hate to go in blind."Aj took a step forward to make her point."we're going to a place called ooo I spent a lot of time there and it's the only place I can really say I have friends anymore...."booms voice got deep as a sorrowful look overtook his face for a minute. This was enough to make Applejack back off. Twilight in particular took a mental note of this.'guess friends are a touchy subject for him.' boom grabbed his notepad An drew another circle, in the center he wrote °adventure Time 1°as always the golden electrical ring formed with a blackened middle. Boomlord jumped into the portal and when he landed his feet were on solid ground. Solid green grassy ground. He surveyed the area around him noticing he was in a grassy clear field however the ends of what looks like old nuclear bombs stuck out overtaken by the grassy plains. The girls enter next each of them still in their same outfits however 4 of the girls had notable changes to them . Twilight and rarity each had a sword at their side. Twilight sword with a sleek and purple short sword with her cutie mark on the hilt. Rarity sword on the other hand looked as if it were made of blue crystal with a white metal hilt her cutie mark also on it. Fluttershy and rainbow Dash had also had the return of their wings which Dash took this opportunity to fly up into the air a bit doing a few loops and swirls."Hell yeah I missed this!"boom couldn't help but smile."Real fly girl up there."a few of them awkwardly smile."so where's our destination?"Twilight asked giving him a quick grin knowing that he's trying his best to make everyone feel better about being in a strange world."we're going to see princess bubblegum at the Candy Kingdom."and just like that he found himself lying on the ground being pinned by pinkie pie."DID YOU SAY CANDY KINGDOM! A KINGDOM MADE OF CANDY IS THIS PLACE PARADISE O.M.C O.M.C."Twilight practically had to pry pinky off of him ."yes the entire Kingdom from the trees to the ground is made of candy including the people."He started to brush himself off as pinky smile only widen."but please don't eat the Candy people or I will probably have to stop you"pinky reluctantly nodded.

3"rainbow do you mind taking an aerial view try to find the place that looks like it's surrounded by Pink cotton candy trees.... Well because it is surrounded by Pink cotton candy trees."boom called out before stopping looking at the ground a large Shadow now loomed over them. It was Spike. All the ponies turn to look back in both shock and horror. Spike mostly remain the same with one slight difference... He was absolutely Giant. His whole body in total was about the size of a two sorry house and his wings could probably cover all of them with ease."oh yeah I forgot dragons are huge here but at least he still looks different from them normally they're just Giant tube dragons with big ass butts."The ponies/girls stared for a moment but in silent agreement they chose not to address it not that Spike would mind he was too busy checking himself out."oh crap I'm HUGE you guys look so small from up here!" It was the most adorable giant grin in the world. Rainbow decided now was a good time to take him to the air as she being flapping her wings disappearing above the clouds. Surveying the land below she was able to make out what looks like pink trees and a large structure that looked somewhat like a castle."guess that must be what I'm looking for."she kept looking around noticing in One direction was a rather large tree that almost looks like it had Windows in it and in the opposite direction she noticed tall mountains made entirely of ice."heh heh heh what do we have here"a voice from nowhere stated in a malicious tone from behind her. Is she turned to look behind her she saw a giant monster with a bat like face and long blue limbs with crooked nails.'OH SHIT'at this point rainbow Dash started nose diving down towards her friends with the creature in pursuit who was maliciously chuckling the entire way down. The rest of the group saw the creature and the girls had various reactions. Applejack rarity and Twilight look like they were getting ready to fight with rarity and Twilight pulling out their swords. Fluttershy and Pinky had decided to stick near Spike who is now using his wings to shield them.Then there was boom standing out in the open as dash passed him and he just smiled. Apon seeing him the creature stopped a look of surprise on our face."hey Marceline it's been a while"the creature began to shrink taking on a human form she had pale white skin and incredibly long black hair which reached down to her feet a simple jacket and jeans and her ,guitar-axe strapef to her back and a nice big floopy hat which covered her in a shroud of darkness. She give out a wide smile revealing her fangs before wrapping her arms around boom giving him a hug."holy glob dude!your back it's been like 4 months!"he returned the embrace from his old friend as the rest of the girls started to calm down noticing that whatever that thing was it seemed friendly at least now it did."oh that's right."he turned to the girls and dragon."everyone this is my old friend Marceline... The vampire queen"a few of the girls jaw started to drop."your freinds with a literal blood sucking vampire?"Marceline shrugged at Twilight comment."actually it's just the color I'm after."Marceline started floating on her back around them."so boom what brings you and your new friends back to ooo."Boomlord got quiet."I found it Marcy.... I found the Rose fire and they're here because Twilight here"pointing at the slightly flustered purple pony girl."is the key to everything."Marceline stopped moving for a moment the words settling in her mind."oh we need to get to the Candy Kingdom right away then."then without word Marceline started floating off towards the direction of the Kingdom and boom followed along with the girls and the giant dragon...... Yeah that might be a problem.

4 After a few hours of walking they all managed to reach the candy kingdom with Spike deciding to hide in the trees to avoid unwanted attention. Pinkie pie look like she was about to go crazy or more crazy."o.m.c so m-much candy!"she was practically foaming at the mouth."look pinky just eat the sidewalk or something just please don't start eating random people I don't want to deal with any drama today especially because we need the princess's help."the pony started walking forward into the rather nice town and to boomlord credit every building and every person was made of candy, And many candies citizens passed by. Mr cupcake crunchy punch bowl guy."wow this is actually really fascinating I can't help but wonder what they're DNA is like how do candy people procreate do they need to breathe or eat its quite fascinating"Twilight then begin rambling about a whole bunch of science jargon that boom did not know but he found himself listening to every word she spoke it wasn't until arsenaline tapped his shoulder that he snapped out of his trance."I see you found a real good friend~"she whispered in a teasing tone."w-what no she's just um cool you know for someone who was a horse the other day."Marceline rolled her eyes."horse or not you always did have a thing for a Smart ones~."boom felt his blood pump. "Oh you're one to talk."Marceline then backed off she knew how far she could go before boom would made her regret it. After a while of walking the group then found themselves at the castle as a pink cared and pink skinned princess in a long pink dress noticed them."oh my! Boom you have returned and with.. many female companions huh"princess bubblegum gave a smirk."oh don't you start now too!" Boom was probably going to say more before pb gave him a warm hug."so I assume this has to do with the rose fire."bubblegum look down at him and while she kept a smile her face was full of worry."yeah Twilight here um it's kind of a long story."bubblegum nodded."it always is."about an hour had passed after this meeting and boom had explained to Marceline and bubblegum how we came to meet the girls and discover the fire leaving out the parts where he burned himself or threw a skillet at Twilight."interesting I'll probably have to run a few scans on Twilight then with her permission."Twilight nodded."good we'll start by using the rejuvenation tank to monitor your body and vitals while I conduct a few scans"boom notice that she was pointing to the large tank filled with water and knew that this meant that Twilight was going to have to strip down which he then took his cue to leave. "I'll be back soon gonna check on stuff."and before anyone could say anything he left the room.

(oh and before I forget I'll be opening asks for boomlord and Friends so if they appear in the story feel free to ask them a question ask box is officially open)

[chromatic-lamina]

rascal: law and robin brotp fanfic

I have a lot of brotp Law and Robin in my fics, and one fic with them as a couple. I like the brotp interaction. Two cynical and supportive friends, but the writing is mostly in my multi-chaptered works, which are dark or canon divergent or both.

Anyway, I’m going to include an excerpt below. Robin’s painting Law’s toenails while they both chat about current and past loss and love. It’s from a three-chapter work that I don’t think will make much sense without knowing the rest of the world that it comes from, but hopefully this interchange can be followed and strikes a chord with some. I know the LawBin fans are thirsty. Post canon with canon-verse history and elements. This is an older piece.

🐞

Law sat back in the garden recliner in Robin’s backyard, a book over his face. He wasn’t in danger of burning easily in the late morning sun, but had no intention of making himself prey to melanoma. Robin perched on the edge of the recliner, holding one of Law's feet.

He'd spent the night at Robin’s in anticipation of the tea-towel convention they'd be visiting today. She’d spent the night trying to share his enthusiasm as he sat, tattooed arms spread on the table, poring over catalogues. His inked hands pointed out designs featuring disproportionate tulip-ensconced windmills, and disembodied body parts that had less to do with Dali and more to do with morticians.

She assumed all the creators were outliers. Commemorative tea-towels hadn’t quite taken the art world by storm yet, but they did remind her a little of Ryuunosuke, the very cute but badly drawn dragon that had struggled and succeeded in taking them all to the top of Zou. 

That was last night though and now, soon, they’d head off to gossip and gander with the convention organisers, the Dishcloth Dames, once she’d made Law pretty.

“These are so cute.” She pulled at the few black gnarly hairs curled on Law’s left big toe.

“Freak,” Law mumbled, moving his foot.

Robin laughed, righted Law’s foot and wiped the brush over the nail of his big toe.

“When did you last clip these?”

“What’s it to you? You’re the one who wanted to dress me up.”

“You’re the one who’s letting me. You’ve got old man’s feet, by the way.”

Law arched his bridge and Robin slapped it, held it down.

“The sexy surgeon’s pedes don’t please? You said they were cute?”

She studied languages. She had no difficulty with Law’s fancy Latin terms.

“Mmm. I wouldn’t go that far. But I guess you got those tattoos to distract from your tootsies.”

The ink on the bridges of his feet matched that on the back of his hands. She felt the arc of the bone against her palm as she admired the designs, although it was one of the more simple ones to adorn Law and, historically, definitely not his favourite.

“And yet, there you are, making them all presentable and shit.”

“Does Marco like them?”

“He’s got his kinks.”

“And . . . ?”

“They remain in the bedroom,” Law grinned. At times he thought the Phoenix liked every part of his body, though they’d never had a deep conversation about those particular extremities.

“Ah, you’re no fun.”

“I’ve been told.”

Law felt her move to the next digit.

“What colour are you painting them?”

“Tch.”

As if it could be anything but black.

“Well, you sent Chopper out for the colour once,” Law said to her silence.

Bubble gum. Robin snickered, remembering. Law peered at her from under his book, her shoulders rose and fell with laughter. He liked that violet t-shirt.

.

Law seemed so disinterested, and therefore, Robin guessed very trusting, when she or anyone else painted his nails. He usually paid little attention to the colour, or even the action. It was something that pleased those who found it amusing to decorate him. Just so long as they let him read whatever he was researching, he indulged them. A small compromise for a larger gain.

No way in hell could someone he didn’t trust do this, though it had been done. Robin knew that trust was hard won. Law told himself that he let them all think he was vain this way so he could go for their jugulars some other time. Plus, he liked giving the Dishcloth Dames even more to gossip about.

.

Thinking of Chopper, Law laughed as if the sound was rationed—a clipped exhalation. The tanuki reminded him of his navigator.

“Bepo. Lord, Bepo got it into his head once to paint me. Maybe he wanted to practice so he could surprise some lucky Mink in the future, and who better to be his chump than his ferocious captain?”

Robin turned to him for a second, curious, before proceeding to the next toe. Her extra hands manipulated Law’s foot for the best access. Law’s own hand kept the book in place. She liked that silver band he sometimes wore on his wrist—a solid link—a flash of sky reflected in the metal.

“His fine motor skills aren’t the best. You’ve seen his maps. Shachi and Penguin thought I’d amputated my own toes without the benefit of a Room.” A rumble lifted Law's chest and then dissolved. He smiled easily. The book didn’t cover all of his face.  “He even dabbed a paw print on my heel.”

“He chose red?” She loved that flash of teeth.

“Mmm. So. I guess it’s black?”

Robin finished the last toenail and told him not to move his feet about for a while. She then drew up the recliner next to his, lay on it, leant on her side and looked across. Law could be asleep for all she knew.

.

“Oi, talk to me endling. Of course it’s black.”

Law’s lips twitched. Only Robin could get away with that.

“So needy, terminarch. How am I meant to do that without moving?”

They may as well have just called each other Flevance and Ohara. They did at times, but neither could be feeling too off-colour when they did, or the devil fruits would come out to play. The town names as nomenclatures were off-limits to anyone else.

“Take that book off your face at least. I know you can’t read it like that.”

“Your makeup bag’s not nearby, is it?”

“Just the toes today, Dr. Death.”

Good. He was only happy for modification to go so far. He sighed, grumbled, but lifted a hand and picked the book up by its spine, and rested it—still spreadeagled—on his chest. He blinked into the sun, then tipped his head her way. Not the most comfortable of positions.

“Can I sit up?”

The grey of Law’s irises were sometimes shot through with gold. She wondered what his parents had looked like. “Give it a few.”

He turned his face skyward again, his arm over his shut lids.

.

“How about Luffy?” she asked. Luffy was before island living, before Law’s casual feet days. If they’d ever played around with nail polish, she’d never seen the results.

Law groaned.

“He approached my nails as if they were made of seastone, his hand was that shaky.” The softness in tone betrayed the annoyance in his words. “For some reason he thought a pearly pink would suit? Maybe it reminded him of marbled steak or something? Of course, he had absolutely no patience.”

Law scratched at his sideburns with his spare hand.

“He slapped it on, forgot to cap the varnish, jumped on me, bringing the sheet with him, or whatever we were lying on, wherever we were. It smeared over everything; our clothes, or more accurately, my clothes. You know, Luffy somehow always escapes his own chaos—and then he declared the whole thing stupid and boring, as if I’d dreamt up the activity and forced it on him.” Incredulity hissed through the back of his teeth.

He tapped his earrings. "Somehow the polish even managed to get on these. Nami-ya probably talked him into the whole thing for a bet."

“And you let him?”

Law didn’t need to look at Robin to know her expression; amused and bemused.

“You choose your battles.”

“Mmm.” Her captain could be quite domineering. She wondered if they were the same earrings. It wouldn’t surprise her. She’d kept the same jewellery over the years, but added to her collection with each pirates' haul. The ones that Luffy didn’t somehow swap for food.

.

She sat up and twisted her neck. They needed to get going soon.

“Phoenix?”

“Still trying to unearth his kinks?”

“Now that you bring it up.”

Law’s smile, the one Robin and only a few others ever saw, made her lips curve.

“I paint for him at times. I mean, my own nails. He’s got a lapis grounding stone, and his flames are blue when he’s in Zoan form. I try to match those shades—a balance between the two. Other times, I paint for myself.”

“Does he notice?” Marco had a grounding stone? But then again, they all had their talismans.

“Sometimes.”

“You don’t tell him?”

“Not always. Other things are more pressing.”

“Does he know you’re a freak?”

“I thought that was you.”

.

Law paused for a second. He tipped his face Robin's way again, his hand still protecting his eyes. How come she got to sit up?

“The dogs have never liked it. And you know, all that waste. It’s not really hygienic in the clinic either.”

“You operate with your toes?”

Law laughed. “When I do my hands . . . It’s not hygienic.”

.

Robin cast a glance at her back yard – the trees that offered privacy from the neighbours, the small pond. She enjoyed life in the New World now Luffy was pirate king.

“The dogs don’t like it, but Bepo can handle it?”

“Well, he’s a freak, too. Minks wear makeup, right?”

Robin nodded. “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”

“Makeup?”

“Being a freak.”

“To the contrary, some of my best friends are freaks. You can’t all be Chopper.”

Law calls Robin a freak and gets away with it. heh. Perhaps. Anyway, I’ll put the link to the AO3 story as the source (just edited it in. This post has been up for long enough).  It’s actually about dogs and links back to another story, and is kinda sad, and features Robin, but is about Law and Marco, and there’s plenty of humour too. If you want to read it, be my guest. It’s an older one, written a few years ago. T-rated.

[shy-badger]

A Strange Moment in Time  Ch5

Ok so I'm human and suck at descriptions, so I didn't include any mention of Runaan's arms. I will touch more on it when he is in another chapter, but Runaan has only one arm. The assassin band removed his left arm as promised. now, enjoy the rest I guess.

Viren’s head throbbed as though the weight of the world sat on his temples. Reaching up to hold his head only brought an uncomfortably loud racket causing him to wince. Finally he opened his eyes to investigate the source of this metallic clanging coming from his wrists. Chains. Viren was chained to the floor.

The dungeon? Why am I here? Viren thought, already recounting the events that led up to this.

The elves were attacking, one of them ran off, I had the other one on the ropes, then I was trapped in ice by…  the mage. He was a human mage! Why would a human help those bloodthirsty elves? And how did that land me here?

Viren scanned his surroundings. He was in the castle’s public dungeon, not his own hidden cells. The bed he lay on, hardwood with no covers, typical for a prisoner. The light coming from above was a soft purple, indicating that dawn was only an hour or two away. This however made seeing farther than five feet away difficult. His robes seemed to be all that was left on him. No pouches on his belt or ingredients in his pockets making him feel almost naked. 

“My my, what a sticky situation we have here.” a deep voice almost sang from the darkness.

Viren bolted up, trying to look as battle ready as possible with his hands bound.

“Who is there? Show yourself!” Viren commanded.

“But, of course. I am always here to help you Viren.” came a smooth, almost amused reply. From the shadows just beyond the bars of his cell, a figure appeared, a translucent being that felt almost ancient, and ethereal. The robes it wore were covered in a starry pattern extending to its drawn hood, which seemed to be covering some large headdress. “Past, present, and future.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Viren asked, gaining an ever increasing feeling of dejavu. 

“I assume by now you have figured out that something is off, that you are not where you’re supposed to be. Well my dear Viren, that is because I have brought you to a new and interesting time, specifically somewhere around thirty two years in the future. This may sound crazy I know, but I assure you, it’s possible.” The stranger explained, matter-of-factly. 

Viren stared at him for a minute, before deciding that this was all in his imagination, probably from being hit in the head, and layed back down on the bed.

“Come now, I assure you this is real. I am bound to you Viren, through space and time. And through this bond, I have called you to me, through all these years, so that I can finally ensure that your will is done.” The stranger almost pleaded with him.

“And what is that exactly? And why should I believe you? I don’t know who or what you are.” Viren huffed.

“I am your humble servant. You wish to secure a bright future for all of humanity. I seek only to aid you in that endeavor. I have earned your trust before, and I will do so again. You need your freedom first. Then I believe some pesky elves should be removed.” The stranger grinned.

Callum fidgeted with his scarf as he climbed the stairs. He said he wanted to talk to his mom, and he did, but now he had no idea what he wanted to ask. The urge to talk to her for hours had welled in his chest, however he hadn’t even started and was drawing a blank on what to say. He was running out of stairwell to climb and still no closer to a conversation starter, when he was interrupted by Queen Sarai herself. 

“Callum! It is still no stranger to see you fully grown today than it was yesterday. But look at you! An early riser, with a healthy lifestyle. I’m so proud.” Saria practically beamed.

“Oh… um.. Thanks. I mean most days I still try to sleep in. But I’m a dad you know. I’ve got to set a good example. I mean, you know. You’re a mom. I mean of course you know you’re  a mom. How wouldn’t you know? Heh heh.” Callum couldn’t stop the word vomit spilling from his mouth. “You were a really good one too. I mean ARE a good one. I’m sorry. I don’t know if that’s rude. I’ve never talked with someone from the past before… Sorry.” Callum sighed, trying to reign in the thoughts racing through his head. 

“Honey, it’s ok, take a breath. Are you ok?” Sarai grabbed his shoulder, concern flooding her face.

“Sorry, yeah I’m ok. It’s just weird having you back.” Callum said.

“How long have I been gone?” Sarai’s tone softened, looking directly at her son.

“Um… About thirty… one, thirty two years. It’s been a while.” he said.

“It’s ok that you’re nervous. If my dad suddenly showed up I would be too. Come on, Harrow is checking on the kids, why don’t we get something to snack on before breakfast?” Sarai offered.

“Well Barius usually has some jelly tarts ready for Ezran early in the morning.” Callum suggested.

“I knew I liked that man.” Sarai smiled.

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Ezran shuffled towards the castle kitchen, desperate for a sugary boost to his morning after the near all-nighter he just pulled. As he rounded the last corner, voices caught him off-guard enough to bring him to attention. It was Callum and Queen Sarai talking softly to one another, their voices packed with emotion. Ezran ducked behind the door frame and listened as well as he could.

“It wasn’t easy growing up without you after that, no. I tried so hard to grow into the man I thought you wanted me to be.... But at some point, I was so busy just trying to survive, or do what was right, that I forgot to be what you wanted of me. I guess that just made me think I failed you.” Callum sounded like he was about to cry.

“Sweetie, I promise you, that you haven’t failed me. All I wanted for you is to grow up happy and healthy. The last thing I want is for you to try to be something you’re not just to please someone else. And look at you! You’re High Mage, have a happy family, you stay active and just. You’re everything I ever hoped you would be. I love you Callum. I always will.” A ruffle of clothing made Ezran think they were hugging.

“Thanks mom. It’s really good having you back.” Callum sniffled a little as he said that. “Come on, we should get out of here before Ezran finds out we ate all his jelly tarts.”

“YOU WHAT?!” Ezran shouted as he jumped out of the doorway.

“EZ!” Callum jumped to his feet, clearly shocked to see Ezran catching them in the act of stealing his precious morning tarts.

“Aw I needed those after staying up all night….” Ezran’s anguished cry petered out almost immediately as a familiar sensation exploded from within. The smile that spread across his face instantly inspired confusion in Callum and Sarai.

“Zym’s almost here!” Ezran shouted as he bolted for the courtyard to greet his winged friend for the first time in a year.