#rainynight

[darkpagesworld]

[2k115]

THE CITY NEVER FORGETS.#Cyberpunk #NeoNoir

[athenanfaymont]

The Truth ☀️🦇

Chapter 12

13. The Shape of Truth

Location: Clark’s apartment, Metropolis. No more places to run. Time: 2:13 a.m. State: Desperate after a week.

Clark hears the window before he hears the boots. Not because Batman is careless—Batman never is—but because Clark has spent an entire week listening for him and his heart has been racing ever since he heard him cross the bay.

The cape moves first in the darkness. Then Bruce enters the apartment, clad in black armor, shoulders rigid. A statue barely daring to set foot on the generic living room-kitchen floor.

Clark slowly puts down the book in his hands.

Neither speaks immediately. The rain taps softly against the windows.

Bruce looks exhausted.

Clark stands.

Clark: Hi.

Bruce clenches his jaw.

Bruce: I need to say something before I lose my nerve.

Clark feels his chest tighten instantly. Because Bruce never says things like this, and he wonders if it’s because normally he doesn’t feel them and is now in a crisis—or if he always does feel them but hides it, unnoticed by anyone.

Clark nods once.

Bruce doesn’t move further into the apartment.

Bruce: I owe you an apology.

Clark blinks.

Clark: An apol…?

Bruce: Let me finish.

The words come out rough, unmodulated.

Bruce: I’ve spent weeks trying to avoid this because I thought… because I believed it would taint something important.

A sudden chill runs through Clark.

Bruce: You’re my friend. My partner. The person I trust the most. And I…

His voice almost breaks.

Bruce: …I’ve tainted it.

Clark’s heart cracks a little. He steps forward immediately.

Clark: Bruce, no…

Bruce finally looks at him. The white eyes of the cowl, but even covered and in darkness, seem terrified.

Bruce: I constantly desire you.

The room falls silent. Bruce breathes once, and a human could have heard it. Bruce, who is shadows.

Then it all begins to spill out of him, as if truth has finally broken a dam.

Bruce: I think of you when you’re not here. I wait for you. I feel calmer when you’re near. I trust you with things I trust no one else with. Sometimes I hear or think something and wish you were there to share it with me. You make rooms feel safe. You make me feel safe. Me.

Clark checks that his mouth is closed. Bruce clenches his fists at his sides.

Bruce: I love your kindness. Your ridiculous hope. Your self-control. I love the way you look at people, as if they deserve to be saved. I love your voice. Your laugh. I…

He swallows hard.

Bruce: I think I’ve loved you longer than I know now, because I appreciated many of these things before the Rann mission, but I couldn’t admit it to myself because I wanted to feel there was something I hadn’t poisoned or ruined.

Silence.

Then Bruce looks away abruptly, embarrassed that these words exist outside of him.

Bruce: I’m sorry. The outburst and… I’m so sorry for loving you, Clark. You deserve better.

Clark crosses the room before he can think. He gently takes Bruce by the arms.

Clark: Better?

Bruce freezes.

Clark smiles, helpless, warm, face unmasked by relief.

Clark: Bruce… I love you too.

For a moment, Batman seems completely vulnerable.

Carefully, Clark releases one of his arms and reaches up to pull back the cowl. He’s never as handsome as with his hair mussed and stuck, his huge gray eyes.

Bruce blinks once.

Clark stares at him. A moment passes.

Clark: I’m going to kiss you.

Bruce breathes in, unable to speak, only nods like a starstruck teenager.

It’s a soft kiss at first and at the end.

Bruce’s gloved finger brushes Clark’s cheek as they part, staring without blinking.

Clark: Tell me the sky is red. Or that you voted for Mayor Hill. Or that… or that you don’t love me.

Clark’s voice is fragile. Bruce opens his mouth, ready to say any lie except the last one.

Bruce: It’s… it’s…

And he can’t.

Clark’s face falls, but Bruce just presses a little closer.

Bruce: Don’t be sad. It’s okay. At least you’ll never doubt what I’ve said.

A scant consolation, in Clark’s opinion.

Bruce exhales, exhausted, over Clark, as if he’s finally laid down the pillars of the Garden of the Hesperides.

Bruce: Diana was right. It’s a relief.

That’s a better consolation, if you ask Clark. So he laughs softly against Bruce’s hair, hugging him tighter.

The end.

Extra 1

[echocircuit]

𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘.𝚗𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚎 → 𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜: 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝… 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗: 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚢… 𝚗𝚎𝚘𝚗_𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢: 𝚘𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚕.

[siringadev]

Cute Arachnero (my spider-Nero_AU from FF7) and Weiss under a rainy city night. It's an indescribable feeling when time flows differently.

[zaraafff]

The Dinner That Waited

Kageyama Tobio × Reader | Haikyuu!! | Timeskip | Established Relationship | Domestic Fluff | Hurt/Comfort

Word Count: ~2,900

Summary:

After an exhausting national team training camp runs hours longer than expected, Kageyama returns home carrying more than physical fatigue. Convinced he's ruined the dinner date the two of you had been planning for weeks, he prepares himself for disappointment—only to find you waiting with his favorite homemade meal and the same unwavering smile that's always been his safe place. What follows is a quiet evening of heartfelt apologies, grateful kisses, shared dinner, and sleepy cuddles that remind Kageyama that home has never been a place... it's always been you.

Warnings: Pure domestic fluff, established relationship, hurt/comfort, soft and affectionate Kageyama, rain ambience, emotional reassurance, kisses, hugs, cooking together, cuddling, praise, sleepy intimacy (non-explicit), comfort food, happy ending.

—————————— ♡ —————————

The rain continued its steady drum against the window, but inside the kitchen, the atmosphere shifted.

Kageyama stood by the stove, the spatula held loosely in his hand as he stared down at the sizzling rice. Despite his focus on the food, his broad shoulders were visibly tense, slumped with a heavy, exhausting weight that went far beyond physical fatigue.

He hadn't just been pushed to his limits at camp; he was carrying a quiet, frustrating guilt that had been eating at him all the way on the train ride home.

"Tobio?" you asked softly, leaning forward on the barstool. "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer right away. He turned off the burner, slid the pan onto a cool grate, and stood there for a second, staring at the floor. When he finally turned to face you, his dark blue eyes were clouded with an intense, troubled look.

"The training camp," he said, his voice lower and rougher than usual. "They extended the final scrimmage block by four hours. We didn't get dismissed until late evening." He stepped closer to the island, his hands clenching into loose fists at his sides. "I missed the dinner. I missed the whole date. We planned it for three weeks."

He looked incredibly frustrated—not at the coaches, but at himself, as if his dedication to volleyball had somehow let you down. He was braced for you to be disappointed, or at least a little lonely.

Instead, you just smiled, reaching across the counter to grab his hand.

"Tobio, I'm not upset at all," you said gently, squeezing his calloused fingers. "I was watching the live updates from the scrimmage. You played incredibly well. I'm so proud of you."

Kageyama blinked, momentarily stunned. The intense, worried line between his brows began to soften. "You... you aren't mad?"

"Of course not," you laughed softly, sliding off your stool. "In fact, I figured you'd be starving when you got back. So..."

You walked over to the counter and pulled a small towel off a large, covered ceramic dish, revealing a beautiful, freshly prepared spread of hamburg steak—his absolute favorite—complete with a rich glaze and perfectly cut vegetables. "I made this for you so we could still have our dinner together, even if it's late."

Kageyama stood entirely still.

He didn't move, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the kitchen floor. He stared down at the beautifully glazed meal you had painstakingly prepared for him, and then his eyes slowly drifted up to meet yours.

He didn't speak. He just looked at you—intently, quietly, with an intensity that made the rest of the room fade away. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his mouth opening slightly as if to say something, but no words came out. He was completely stuck, overwhelmed by the sheer warmth of finding you here, waiting for him, entirely unbothered by his mistake.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, he reached across the kitchen island. His large, calloused hand slid over the counter, his knuckles brushing against yours before his fingers spread and closed tightly around your hand. He squeezed—firm and grounding, a silent apology and an immense thank you wrapped into a single physical pressure.

"Tobio?" you murmured.

He finally moved, stepping around the island until he was standing directly in front of you. He didn't immediately lean in. Instead, he slowly bent his knees, lowering himself until he could gently rest his forehead right against yours.

His eyes closed. He just stayed there like that for a long, quiet moment, his cool skin warming against yours, his deep, shaky breath fanning across your cheeks.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice incredibly raw. "And... thank you."

Before you could reply, his arms wrapped around you. He pulled you in with a desperate, unyielding strength, burying his face in the crook of your neck. It was a long, heavy hug—the kind where he let his entire weight relax against you, holding you so tight that you could feel the rapid, steady thud of his heart against your chest. He held you as if he were memorizing the exact feeling of having you in his arms after three long days apart.

Only after a long, silent minute did he slowly pull back. His hands slid up to gently cup your cheeks, his thumbs tracing your cheekbones, his gaze locked onto your lips.

And then, finally, he leaned down and kissed you.

It wasn't his usual quick, shy peck. This kiss was warm, heavy with gratitude, and sweet enough to make your knees go slightly weak. His lips were soft against yours, parting slightly as he poured every ounce of his relief and love into the kiss. His hands pressed firmly into your lower back, holding you close as if he couldn't believe how lucky he was.

When he finally pulled back just a fraction, his forehead rested against yours again, his breathing shallow. He leaned down and kissed you again, a quick, lingering press of his lips, then another on your cheek, and one more on the crown of your head.

"Let me help," he murmured, refusing to let go of your waist entirely.

What followed was a chaotic, sweet blur of kitchen fluff. Kageyama, still clinging to your side, insisted on holding the plates while you scooped the rice. Every time you reached for a serving spoon, he would lean down to press a soft kiss to your shoulder, his damp hair brushing against your neck.

"Tobio, I can't scoop the gravy if you keep kissing my cheek," you laughed, though you didn't make any move to stop him.

"Just one more," he mumbled, his voice sleepy but stubborn as he pressed his lips to the corner of your mouth, lingering there until you let out a quiet sigh of defeat.

Eventually, you managed to get the food to the table. You ate together in the quiet, warm glow of the kitchen, Kageyama practically beaming with every bite of the meal you had prepared. The guilt that had weighed his shoulders down was completely gone, replaced by a relaxed, content comfort.

Once the plates were cleared—which Kageyama insisted on washing himself, though he let you dry them just so you could stay close—he carried you, quite literally, down the hallway to the bedroom.

The moment you both hit the mattress, Kageyama pulled you into his arms, burying his face in your hair. He wrapped his long legs around yours, completely anchoring you to his side.

In the dim light of the bedroom, he looked down at you, his eyes heavy with a deep, peaceful sleepiness. He reached up, his large hand gently cupping your face, his thumb sweeping over your bottom lip.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice a soft, raspy murmur. "So much."

"I love you too, Tobio," you replied.

He leaned down, kissing you one last time—a slow, tender, sleepy kiss that tasted like home and quiet rainy nights. He tucked the heavy blankets securely around your shoulders, pulled you close against his warm chest, and let his eyes finally drift closed, his heart beating a steady, comforting rhythm against your cheek as you both drifted off to sleep.

Fluff Masterlist

[twin-wxngs]

Woah, these are really creative and interesting ships! Like in a very good way, ofc, I haven’t seen much on these.

Sooooo….

What’s your thoughts on the trio (Dogday x Simon x Allister), Catnap x Toullie and Poppy x Bunzo?

Dude. Thank you, first of all, for sending this and being genuinely curious. Second of all...

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU WILL HEAR ME YAP.

1. Poppy and Bunzo! Okay, so at first when I was thinking about them, I was thinking of them as something platonic right? You know the whole deal with kids shows and having an animal companion, namely Dora with Boots, her cousin Diego with that Baby Jaguar, etc. But the more I thought about it the more I took a look at them aaaaand...

Thoughts of Jessica and Roger Rabbit came into my head. All because Poppy and Jessica are redheads. But using that lovely romance as a base, made me think the reason they work together is that Poppy would constantly stress herself out in my opinion. Bunzo however would see this and do what he's known to do, and make her laugh.

He's probably the only one that can tone down her seriousness and help her calm herself because she's busy worrying. It'd be this fun loving prankster that'd teach her how to look at the bright side of things. He makes her laugh, as Jessica would say. But I think Poppy would say that too and genuinely care and appreciate him for it.

And in Bunzo's case he probably did take one look at her and had an awooga moment, but instead of needing to impress her, which probably weirded her out, she just plainly tells him when they do start as friends that he just needs to be himself. And well, I can see it working out.

2. Catnap and Touille! Two tropes: Cat and Rodent. And then.. Yapper and Listener. I blame this guy for making me like it! @smilingcrittersthingig

But more on that, I like to think the part of Touille's character is that he's street smart and knows obscure things the others don't know, hence he's Bubba counterpart in that department, as they're both exceedingly knowledgeable in their own way. But the problem with Touille, like Bubba, tends to go on for a bit too much, that he never gets to talk about the things he likes around them and refrains from it.

But I can see Catnap being not only patient with him, but one of the only people that would actively listen to his rambles because he's heard it from Bubba. Unlike Bubba though, it would be different from what Catnap is used to hearing because it's not something that's brought up every day, especially if it's about your not too typical, obscure thing that can be used in an unconventional way, but still works. Touille has a collection of junk that he treasures in that regard that he doesn't show anyone, but I think he'd show Catnap.

Though I like to also think they started as enemies since they're in different groups, with Touille being a bit scared and attracted to said cat at the same time. But I can see Catnap thinking it's cute that he's scared too. He's a mischievous cat after all, and they like to "play with their food". So while he does scare him from time to time, it's ultimately lighthearted and he loves his little rat boyfriend.

3. THE POLY. LISTEN, I love all three of them. It originally started as SunCross and I still love SunCross a LOT, thanks to this idiot. @smilingcrittersthingig

BUT I FIGURED I'd throw a curveball. The reason being is that of Dogday's nature in comparison to the two Nightmare Critters. My thought process for this is Simon's greedy and selfish nature, compared to Allister who's laid back and lazy. I feel like Dogday would unintentionally get them both attracted to him when he decides to help them both get through their bad habits.

What attracts them is the way he acts. He has to be a leader, but people mistake this as him only being nice, but that's not the case. He's firm, he's to the point, and has to look out for everyone in the Smiling Critters as the Everyman, meaning he acts more serious than friendly. He's respectful, not friendly, but has a big friendly side. That soft side of his that helps the two slowly improve is what attracts them to him. And on top of that, it's how they treat Dogday that really puts the poor doggo in a chokehold.

Simon would proudly take him wherever he wants to go, buy him whatever he wants, and make it clear to everyone that this is his boyfriend with no shame, showing his love through material appreciation, but still meaning every word he says along with it, because what's the point of money if the one thing you want isn't made of money? At that point, it's something to be used to make that person happy. Although Dogday says money isn't everything, Simon at least thinks money can be used for something.. and if it can be used to make Dogday his, then he will do it. And upon him seeing him using his money for someone else other than himself would really make him appreciate it..

Allister meanwhile had a problem with his lack of effort and motivation, but I like to think a date would be where he tries to put everything he can into it, even if it's not much. He doesn't like all the attention, would pick a location just for him and Dogday to be alone. He'd prepare everything with a little help from say Bobby and/or Rabie to see what he likes, and would even get him a gift. And even though it's not much, he tried. The effort is there, and the doggo would wholeheartedly appreciate it. Although he didn't do much, he's trying. Dogday sees that and ends up just blushing hard.

So when it comes to choosing between Simon and Allister, he hits them with the "I choose both" and lets him hear him out on it, explaining that he can't imagine his life without either of them, because the two also taught him how to be himself, take breaks and relax, and share the obscure things he likes and knows how to do that he didn't get to show with the Smiling Critters.

And overtime, his love of the two would rub off on them and see the merits in the others (opposites attract yay!), with the three becoming a polycule. As a friend did say..

Simon with his two trophy boyfriends, Allister with the two people that he thinks are way too good for him, and Dogday with the two people that he helped improve, but helped improve him too.

[stable-mya]

Rain-soaked cyberpunk goddess glowing in the London night. Neon running down her skin like liquid fire. Wet. Dangerous. Addictive.