He loves it, absolutely adores lying on your lap while you pet him, not caring at all when the smoke from his cigarette is blown straight into your face.
"Doll, can we order a pizza?"
"Of course, sweetheart, I’ll do it now."
He’s so obsessed with your affection, he loves your pampering and how you indulge him without hesitation, letting him have whatever he wants. He becomes shamelessly dependent on you: he won’t lift a finger if he knows you’ll do it for him.
Zanka Nijiku
He refuses to admit it, but he loves it; he stays completely still when you touch him, as if any movement might ruin it. Even so, he keeps his pride, acting uninterested.
"You can stop now."
If anyone else sees him like that, his expression hardens instantly.
He becomes protective and territorial toward anyone who dares interrupt that perfect moment.
Riyo Reaper
She’s not big on physical contact, but when it comes from you, she openly loves it and doesn’t hide it at all; she sticks to you like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
"Can you stay like this a little longer?"
Riyo always returns your affection, more than she receives. Long hugs, constant contact, watching you while you do it.
If you spoil her too much, she starts anticipating your gestures: tilting his head, seeking your hand, moving closer first.
Rudo Surebrec
At first, he doesn’t understand why you do it, but he doesn’t stop you either; he goes stiff and silent when you touch him, yet never pulls away.
"I don’t need that."
Even so, he doesn’t move, and over time he starts leaning into your hand without realizing it.
If you stop, it takes him a few seconds to react, then he looks at you, confused, thinking he did something wrong.
Your affection calms him more than he’d like to admit, easing that constant tension he carries.
Follo Tunito
He stays calm while you pet him, as if it’s just part of his routine. He enjoys it completely. Sometimes he takes your hand to adjust it better.
His gaze softens around you, his movements becoming slower and more relaxed.
August Stilza
He becomes dramatic about it and completely spoiled.
"So you don’t love me anymore or what?" if you stop pampering him for a few seconds.
"And what about me, popcorn?" whenever you give attention to someone or something else.
He loves showing off how much you spoil him in front of others. If you ignore him, he gets insistent, almost childish.
Jabber Wonger
He’s chaotic and an absolute brat who asks for everything with no filter.
He might laugh, make weird comments, or provoke you while you’re pampering him. Sometimes he lightly bites your hand just to annoy you.
"Hey, pretty thing, keep going."
"Slap me, come on, don’t be like that."
He becomes way too clingy, following you everywhere, demanding you feed into his masochism because he knows you’ll give in.
If you stop, he complains openly without holding back.
Fu Orostor
He closes his eyes while you pet him, completely tense but with that loyal, puppy-like smile.
He doesn’t ask for anything, doesn’t even speak unless you tell him to.
You gave him a rule: whenever he wants affection, he has to ask, and even though he never knows when he wants it, he usually asks when you’re alone.
"Master, could you…?"
Bro Santa
He adores it and starts actively seeking your closeness. It helps him calm down after dealing with chaotic kids all day.
"Come here." he says, wrapping you in a full embrace afterward.
He’s warm, affectionate, and very physical in how he shows love, always returning double the contact.
With you, he becomes a refuge, and he also seeks refuge in you.
Zodyl Typhon
He’s not used to it and insists he doesn’t care or need it, but he still makes you pamper him anyway.
He approaches silently when he wants affection and stays still while you do it.
"Give me that cockroach," he demands.
"What?"
Arkha Corvus
A gentleman and a very busy man, he loves being babied and spoiled by you, but he would never use it as an excuse to stop being a gentleman; he won’t let you do things for him.
He leans slightly into your touch, almost unconsciously.
"Do you need anything, dear?"
With you, he allows small weaknesses he shows to no one else—and he likes it far more than he would ever dare admit.
Semiu Grier
She loves it, and although she never forces you, she takes every opportunity.
"I need to go to reception, stay by my side."
She always returns your affection, in a way much more sensual than you’d ever expect.
She seeks your closeness often, without any shame.
Gris Rubion
He doesn’t react much, but he never pulls away, because he enjoys relaxing under your touch.
After you noticed he was tense after missions, you offered to give him a massage. He liked it so much that now he acts tense just to feel your warm hands relaxing him.
"Will you give me a massage today?" he asks, his head resting between your legs while you stroke his temples.
Rudo ist knew to something like that and since that girl at the beginning betrayed him is he more careful about something like that
He is shy.Before you were in a relationship and in the relationship is he blushing like a little tomato
When you would sleep the first time in the same bed is he literally on the edge off the bed nearly falling down and blushing.But in the morning will you probably see how he cuddled up to you like a baby.But it happened when he was already asleep so when he wakes up is he extrem embarassed.
He secretly loves it when you pat his head or play with his hair but he would NEVER say that out loud.
He wouldn't use pet names but if you do he blushes and say it's stupid but he likes it(He has probably called u one time a let name like sugar,candy but felt really embarrassed about it)
He is the jealous type just so you know.But he is not a yandere.There is a difference.If you talk with another man would he just listen to the conversation and maybe ask you later who that is.Maybe is he staring at the man like an angry dog
If you have long hair then he would sometimes play with the ends of your hair so you don't know that he does this.But if you catch him doing that will he just say no I didn't do that(He's a bad liar)
If somebody hurts you than you know this person will never bother you again.Rudo would do anything for you.
If you do you're make up in front of him will he look confused at you because he already thinks that you're beutiful.And he will ask by every product what that is and for what it's for
In a world massively affected by the overconsumption of the Sphere, you and Rudo had your ideas (and also two jars). (2.0k words)
.✦ ݁˖
"Eh? Aren't you worried you'd get the grains in your face...?"
"? I've always fixed things like this," Rudo tilts his head in confusion, red eyes following how your hand takes his jar and gives him a respirator and goggles instead.
"We're kind of doing the opposite of fixing it," you chuckled while Rudo looped the straps of his respirator to fix on to his head, briefly constraining his white hair before it returned to its fluffy self like a splash of water.
August was nice enough to let the both of you occupy a corner of his workshop today, which was currently absent with the maniacal yelling that squeezed between your and Rudo's sentences, if not completely overpowering them (at least he was nice enough to try and let the both of you get your words out.)
Allowing the lull in conversation to continue, you continued to sand down the edges of the fish-bowl like jars. The necks of them were previously cut off and placed in the bin August had nearby, which was where you and Rudo were currently hunched over.
There was something about Rudo that made it easy for others, including yourself, to tell what he's thinking now that he's been acquainted with most of the Cleaners. You didn't even need to look at him to know he was burning holes into your fingers, the energy coming out of him in waves was enough. The intervals of the scratching sound in his direction from the sand paper between silence (presumably from following your lead) also made that obvious.
Sanding down the beheaded neck of your jar didn't take you too long, and after a brief swipe of the rim with your gloved index finger, you looked toward him. "Can I see yours?"
"Sure," his eyes widen slightly, since he was pretty sure he hadn't finished his own sanding yet.
You looked over it, performing the same inspection as you did before. The rim was still a little jagged, running rather sharp beneath your gloved finger, but you could say that at least it wasn't the same consistency when you had knocked the neck of your jars out.
"You're being too careful with it," you smiled, handing back his jar and waited for his thick gloves to engulf it. "It's glass, sure, but it won't destroy in your hand with a little bit more elbow grease."
He looks at the jar now returned to him, squinting his large eyes.
"We're still making use of the jar, y'know, just not exactly for its intended purpose. I think you should be well aware kc that as a Giver," you gesture to the bin the two of you are camped around. "It has a little bit more destruction to it than usual, but August is great at using this stuff."
Rudo hummed in response, hoping that your advice comes to fruition once he successfully sands down this jar.
He tightened his grip a little, then stretched his neck as if he would get a better angle for smoothing the rim out. Did the jar feel pain whenever he rubbed at the jagged edges? Or is it like bandaging his hands, where it feels only the slightest better once the pain is constrained? Maybe it's like a haircut instead?
It didn't mold to his whims like clay, but after a few minutes, it might as well have. With the barrier of the sandpaper between the glass and his gloved hands, it definitely felt smoother, even with the slight grooves to it.
"Can I see again?"
Without a verbal go-ahead, he said extended his arm.
"...Good," You nodded, placing down your sandpaper and clattering about away from Rudo's peripheral vision. Before he had the chance to look, you already pulled a drill gun.
If scraping the jar smooth was a hair cut, Rudo didn't want to know what spraying the jars in water and drilling at its round bottom was (a more intense hair cut...?) Fortunately for your convenience and your creative partner's imagination, you didn't take too long.
"Basically perfect!" You exclaimed, and Rudo was pretty sure that the darker corner of August's workshop lit up briefly before you started using a towel to dry the jae. "Y'know diamonds sometimes rain from the Sphere? We managed to find one so we can tip this drill gun, since normal drills usually shatter the whole thing."
"What does August usually do with this left over glass?" He asked, a little distracted by looking at the carcasses of panels and bottles alike of the past.
"He usually melts them down," You respond as the drill gun you were holding lands on the table nearby with a small thud, ignoring his somewhat spooked voice. The towel doesn't even make a noise, and Rudo kind of assumed that you were just clattering about again while he examined the broken down glass. "I think he's trying to experiment with jewelry for his brand...? Something like that."
The clattering stops, and this time he managed to catch a glimpse before you pulled it between the two of you.
"Now for the fun part! ...Sort of," you held two paint brushes on one hand, a small box of assorted paints, and a cup of water. You offered the brush hand toward him.
However, he looked like you just asked him to draw lots in order to head to war.
Your and Rudo's respective paths don't really run into each other very often, and technically the two of you only got acquainted when you saw him sorting through the garbage pile outside of headquarters.
He seemed so in the zone, carefully lowering items with usually a "clunk" to the concrete. To be honest, it almost seemed like he was just taking items out rather than sorting through them.
In impulsive curiosity, you started rummaging through the thrown items beside him: to your knowledge, it wasn't like he particularly cared or noticed.
Then, there it was: the fated two jars that were shaped like fish-bowls that were almost perfectly in-tact despite falling who knows how high. You tapped at his shoulder, holding up one of them. Rudo was right there, after all, and the worst that could happen after exhausting the rest of the Cleaners you've befriended is you end up working alone. "I'm gonna try making something out of these. You wanna come with?"
His eyes darted down to what seemed like a calculator he was holding, then to your jar, then to your face, and cycled through at least three times before, "Sure."
For some reason, that came with your personal assumption that he was in any way creatively competent.
"PFFT—" You cover your mouth mostly to avoid the slobber from escaping once you caught a glimpse of Rudo's handiwork. Hiding your laugh was just impossible.
To be fair for Rudo, the craft required to paint inside the jar rather than outside so the paint was more protected against the elements. Hell, you weren't even at your highest creative potential, with the inverted way of painting the wind chime. That said? it didn't make the disfigured lines and splotches of color on Rudo's any less amusing, though.
"Sor—hah—sorry, sorry," Try to compose yourself! Even through difficulty, prevail! "What are you painting?"
He pressed his lips thinly as he held your gaze. "A dog."
Now that your face didn't feel so stretched by barely containing a grin, you calmly observed his wind chime. You could make out the pointed ears that made it almost look like a cat, its dark nose, and what seems like a smile.
"They seem to smile more here than in the Sphere," He muttered, going over the paint layer he just applied. Naturally, it ended up displacing the paint that was already there since it wasn't dry, so he gave up after a few seconds. "Maybe it's because they know there's nowhere else to get thrown away again."
He dips his paintbrush into the water, following your earlier demonstrated technique of tapping at the rim to get some of the excess off.
A quiet snuck between the two of you, though it was established that there wasn't any more painting to be done. So, Rudo follows up with, "...What's next?"
"Ah," You blinked, and you twisted your torso to reach backward and start your clattering of supplies again. Time passes swiftly, and with a flick of a wrist, he sees you have what looks like metal tubing, string, and paper. You gesture for him to switch workspaces toward the table pulled up near the two of you.
You drop all of what you had in your hand, making sure to prevent four beads from falling from the other side of the table. "We'll let these dry now, and while we wait, we gotta finish the penultimate part!"
"Penultimate...?" Rudo curiously picks up what he thinks to be a metal straw, only to notices that his creative partner was already stringing through the "straw."
You began folding the string in two to form a loop at the end and pushing through a large bead. You tied a knot so the bead wouldn't slip through at gravity's wishes, then slipped the tube through.
"I've seen these wind chimes before when I was on a mission very, very close to Zanka's hometown, actually," you mused. "Even through the walls, you could hear the jingle of them carried by the wind. I actually stopped by a craftsman's shop to watch it in action."
A bead followed close with the "straw" and you tied another knot, eyeballing the decorated jars nearby and guessing the length needed so the tube could make the desired sound. You pointed to the tube, "These are called clappers, and they make the sound... whoops."
You forgot the established idea that Rudo wasn't the best with these activities, as he was trying to pull the tiniest edge of string out from the other side of his clapper after what seems like him bunching it up. Only a laugh spilling from your mouth was enough to snap him out of his focus.
After helping him out, the two of you found yourselves cutting a piece of thick paper and puncturing a hole near the top. As per Rudo fashion, you can feel his grimace once you dipped your brush into paint.
"Hey, it's completely optional!" You waved your hands around, smiling in spite of his deep frown and even more when he sighs in relief.
"Thank you," he huffed, having enough intuition to tie the remaining loose strands of his string around his blank slip of paper. His thick gloves made it a little difficult, but he managed to emerge victorious over the string.
"I think I'll let it dry when we take them outside," You hummed while you did the same as Rudo and tied the finishing touch to your clapper. You reached over to get his jar, and much to his surprise, got up from your chair and started sprinting out of August's workshop before he could finish the first stop.
"Wha—hey!" He yelled out, scrambling to get his jar and chasing after you.
When he was younger, Regto, as much scolding he had done for Rudo scavenging through trash, laid one of many ground rules which was never to run with glass.
Sorry, Regto, he thinks, but he didn't have to leave that in his mind for long. One turn of his head, and he realized that you were only in the hallway, opening one of the windows.
He slipped his clapper through the drilled hole of his jar, then walked up to you, observing how you reached your hand clutching on to the loop of your wind chime outside.
And then he heard it.
The air was generally contaminated enough in the Ground that it was easy to tell when it was windy with all the dirt and flakes traveling miles from piles upon piles of garbage. Only a small portion of those winds push against the slip you've, but it was enough to create a melody as it swings from your fingers.
Rudo quietly joins your side, doing the same. Without hesitation, his wind chime joins in a duet with yours and contributing a crisper sound. He wasn't sure why you didn't seem so afraid of dropping it, so confident that the sweet notes wouldn't rest.
Could you make a scenario with Rudo x Reader? Reader is a wheelchair user, the wheelchair is also their jinki that can transform into a spider-like chariot, they are childhood friends with Rudo and fell alongside him in the pit, they are pretty defensive and wary towards people except with Rudo, they are more gentle but also stern with him, they used to accompany Rudo to search the trash for parts that they could use for maintenance in their wheelchair, they are a skilled engineer
Thank you for the request!! Sorry it's super late but I hope you like it!! :"D
Content: wc: 4.3k, A lil angsty at the start BUT THERES A LOTTA GOOFINESS, gn!reader
“SEND THE FILTH TO THE PIT!”
No…
“SEND THE FILTH TO THE PIT!”
This isn’t…he…
The shouting was suffocating, surrounding you like thick smoke, and rivalling the thunderous pulse of your own heartbeat. This had to be a joke— a twisted joke!
Rudo…he wouldn’t have killed Regto, right?!
“SEND THE FILTH TO THE PIT!!!’
No! He couldn’t have! He would never kill his father. You refused to believe it!
Rudo wasn’t a murderer! He wasn’t cruel or heartless, and he for sure wasn’t someone that should be discarded like waste! He was your friend, your family, and the only one you had here!
So why…
Your nails dug into the weathered leather arm rests of your wheelchair, leaving harsh crescent imprints. Your guts churned and nausea threatened to overcome you, but you shoved it down before everything in your being snapped like a frayed thread.
“STOP IT!” You cry out, desperate as you try to push your way through the crowd. Your eyes never left Rudo through the glimpses you could get between the looming Tribesfolk, still shouting their chant like a mindless mob.
“RUDO! Let him go, you bastards!!”
Your words were drenched with fear and rage, eyes burning with an onslaught of tears.
Too far…he’s too damn far! I’ll never reach him in time!!!
You grabbed and shoved the people in your way but every move and every pleading word that was ripped from your mouth seemed utterly useless. Up ahead Rudo thrashed in his restraints, cursing the crowd with bared teeth and blistering fury. Your heart cracked at each word, at seeing him at the mercy of these monsters- no, even that didn’t seem like an adequate enough word for these savages. How could they do this to him?! These barbarians…these ruthless sons of—
SNAP!
In an instant, Rudo’s body dropped in a flash of white, consumed by the darkness below. No no NO!
You surged forth as fast as you could. There was no reason, no method, no thoughts inside your head besides his name as you rapidly closed the distance between yourself and the edge into nothing. And in one move, you plunged down into the depths below.
…
You awoke with a startled gasp, air rushing into your lungs and cold sweat dripping from your temple down to your neck. Your eyes darted around the room.
A workbench before you, scattered with tools.
A lamp illuminated the dim bedroom with a soft, warm glow.
Your bed was nearby, sheets rustled from when you got out of them this morning.
Just a nightmare. You’re not in the Sphere anymore. You’re in the Ground, in the Cleaners Headquarters. Safe…
Rubbing your hands over your face you sighed, relieved, but your heartbeat continued an unsteady rhythm. You leaned back in your wheelchair and looked over it just to let something ground you to the present.
It looked much nicer compared to how it was back in the Sphere, and frankly, it was a miracle it hadn’t been demolished in the fall to the Ground. The old materials were replaced with comfortable ones, many sourced by Rudo, who spent hours trying to help you tinker and perfect it for maximum efficiency and comfort. In his searches, he also grabbed spare mechanical parts for you, just in case you wanted them since after coming to the Ground and seeing all the unfamiliar technology, an interest in engineering sparked within you.
Despite everything that happened to him, having to navigate an unfamiliar world and in a relentless pursuit to find Regto’s killer, he always made sure to care for you while doing so…
The memories of all the times you accompanied him to various towns and abandoned buildings to search for parts remained clear in your mind. It was basically routine whenever free time opened up during the first weeks here, and during one of those trips, you happened to become an official member of Akuta by awakening as a giver.
A small grin tugs at the corner of your lips as you recall the memory. The first time you used your jinki would always hold a special place in your heart, despite the interesting circumstances it occurred under…
⋆˙⟡~
A few weeks ago…
“SO. MUCH. TRASH!!!”
“Rudo! Don’t just jump into it! You might cut yourself on something!” You groaned, though the plea fell on deaf ears as you followed Rudo to where he was already rummaging through a heap of random items like an eager raccoon.
The two of you were at a warehouse, located on the outskirts of a safe zone. The rest of Team Akuta were temporarily staying in a nearby town. And while the others were pretty exhausted from an encounter with some difficult trash beasts, Rudo still had energy to go out and scavenge for parts both for you and to use with 3R, so you decided to join him.
But about an hour into your scavenging, a loud bang rumbled in the distance. Then another and another. Not like a gun shot or a firework, but heavier, louder…
“The hell?” Rudo set down an old compass to peer out a crack in the warehouse, only to see the sky covered with thick clouds that rained debris which plummeted to the ground mercilessly.
You followed, and a clear sense of urgency fed into your system once you saw the scene. “A trash storm? I don’t remember there being an announcement…”
You watched, momentarily petrified, as more garbage crashed in the distance, kicking up dust into the air. You were snapped out of it when your companion pulled away to glance around the old rickety walls of the warehouse.
“This place isn’t going to do crap for shelter!” He dashed towards the nearest pile of scrap, sifting through to see if there’s something suitable to use 3R on to protect you both.
“Gotta be somethin’…”
He’d barely gotten through a few items when a clang rattles both of your ears and a hole rips through the worn ceiling of the building. A hefty washing machine crashed down a few feet away from Rudo, who jumped away from it, his heart pounding harder in his chest.
Shit this is getting bad fast…Got to get us out of here…but how?! This place is going to collapse and I have to get Y/N to safety!…damn it!-
Then your shout, and a mechanical whirring sounded behind him.
“Rudo!”
He whirled around and lost his footing, stumbling back and falling into a mound of trash when he saw you. You were still, well, you — but the wheelchair beneath you was shifting, transforming with a glow. In an instant, it was far from recognizable: the seat beneath you had widened, enough space to fit one or even two others, and the frame had contorted into a chariot-like structure around you. But now instead of wheels, the chariot was supported by eight large creaking metal legs, four on either side like a huge spider.
“YOU- YOU'RE A GIVER?! SINCE WHEN?!” Rudo sputtered, gesturing to your jinki wildly.
“SINCE NOW!” You yell over the increasingly loud storm, just as baffled as him but forcing yourself to focus on the bigger problems at hand. “Hurry! Get in!!!”
Rudo snapped out of his shock and scrambled to his feet to jump in beside you. You didn’t waste a second after he was in: the chariot launched forth out the doors with a loud BANG and started scurrying across the land, swiftly avoiding any obstacles or bumps in the road…well at least that's how you meant for it to be. It wasn’t as well executed as you had planned: you two were jostled against each other relentlessly when the chariot made a sharp turn or went over uneven ground.
“HEY! CAREFUL!!! I’M GONNA FLY OUT AT THIS RATE!” Rudo shouted, gripping the chariot’s side tighter.
“I’M DOING MY BEST! NOT MY FAULT THIS PLACE ISN’T ALL GLORIOUS PAVED ROADS, RUDO!!”
“YOU DRIVE LIKE ENJIN!!!”
“EXCUSE ME?!”
You were going to retaliate, defend yourself from being compared to your leader’s…less than savory driving skills, but you had to swerve the chariot once again to dodge more trash from the sky. In the distance, you could see where the cloud seemed to end, the finish line to safety was near!
Just a bit further!! C’mon!!!
The spider legs beneath you pattered harder as you crushed the remaining distance and zoomed out from underneath the clouds' border. You continued for a few more rushed meters, confirming you were safe from the storm before abruptly stopping the chariot, which you immediately regretted once you launched yourself into the front of it with a smack. And as for poor Rudo…
THUD!
You peeked up and saw him lying face down, groaning before he flipped over on his back to give you a disgruntled look.
You awkwardly wince and move the chariot over to him. Don’t hit the brakes so hard next time, duly noted!
“We’ll have Alice check you out when we’re back. Uh…you can stand, right?” You ask, concern seeping into your voice.
“Yeah,” Rudo finally sat up and shook some dust off his hair, but his next muttered words didn't miss your ears. “Worse than Enjin’s driving…”
You scowl and point. “I could leave you here to walk back to town by yourself, you know!”
He perked up, eyes wide as he fumbled to his feet. “Wait! Don’t you dare!”
He didn’t think you would actually leave him there, but he really didn’t want to take any chances. Just when he started climbing back in, his choker beeped.
“Hey, where the hell are you guys? We’ve been looking all over for you!” Enjin’s voice came through.
“Uh…” Rudo shared an uncertain glance with you. “We’ll tell you when we get back.”
…
“SIIIICK!!!” Enjin and Riyo marveled in unison when you showed them your vital instrument.
“I can’t believe you two almost got taken by the damn storm. Were ya two not payin’ attention durin’ breakfast?” Zanka grumbled, crossing his arms.
“But hey, they’re alive! And Y/N awoke as a giver during it!” Riyo chimed in, crouching to inspect the spider-like legs beneath it with a fascinated grin. “These look real sharp!”
Enjin took a puff of his cigarette, breaking his focus from the new jinki to you and Rudo. “Sphereites man, are they always this unpredictable?” He let out a small chuckle. “I should probably scold you or something,” your leader began, his smirk turning wider as he patted the chariot, “but I’m more interested in how fast this baby can go!”
You huff and deactivate your jinki at the eager sparkle in his eyes. “No joyrides right now. We just got back from nearly being smashed to bits!”
“Aw come on!-”
“No!”
Ignoring Enjin’s dramatic frown, you look over at Rudo, expression softening slightly. “Come on, let’s get you to Alice...”
⋆˙⟡~
And other than being a convenient mode of transportation, you found that your precious jinki was also good for other uses: pest control.
⋆˙⟡~
“What do you mean Rudo ran off?!” You questioned Guita, looking around the busy streets of the town you were in.
“He said he smelled sweets! He disappeared before Dear and I could catch up to him!” Her voice was enthusiastic as usual, a stark contrast to the trepidation already bubbling in you.
You exhaled sharply, rubbing your temples. That boy- he’s like a damn hound for sugar!
“Ok uh, Guita, where’s Bro and Enjin?” You inquired.
“Playing cards!” She pointed to the inn you all were staying at for the weekend. “Enjin said something about ‘winning big money!’”
“I- of course he’s gambling…”
“Ooo! Should I go kaiju mode to help search for Rudo?” Her round eyes sparkled with glee but you frantically shook your head.
“No, no! The townsfolk would probably be thrown into a panic..Alright just…go tell them that Rudo ran off god knows where and that I’m going to look for him. I’ll be back!”
“Aww okie dokies, captain Y/N!” She cheered, waving as you turned to head off.
Surely Rudo will be fine, right? He’s not going to scare some vendor into forfeiting their treats or get into some stranger’s van because it’s filled with chocolates or whatnot, right?
You screeched to a halt when you remembered that time Remlin had told you about their Canvas Town field trip.
“OH YEAH! Rudo was crazy! He…he…” Remlin had begun, but broke off into uncontrollable laughter, clutching their stomach as their eyes brimmed with tears. “He was going feral at the candy shop! We were trying to hold him back, but then this kidnapper-”
“KIDNAPPER?!” You interrupt, not even trying to keep the bewilderment out of your voice. Your eyes shifted between a furiously blushing Rudo and the young ones of Team Child.
“Yeah! The guy was saying how he had lots of candy! But Rudo could tell he was lying cause he didn’t smell it on him! And then he-”
“Rudo gave him the nutcracker!” Guita finished and joined Remlin in the flurry of giggles. “It was really funny!!”
…
…..
……
Rudo may have stopped that idiot, but…if someone comes up to him and he smells sugar on them…
Oh crap- What if it’s like some kidnapper that’s a baker or something?! Would he fall for it?!
No time to waste! You activated your jinki, ignoring the startled gasps of nearby passerbys, and began rushing through the streets, looking around for any sight of messy white hair. At least it wouldn’t be as big and imposing as Guita’s form could be…
“Rudo!! Rudo, where are you?!”
You abruptly stopped after you turned a corner, eyes wide when you see Rudo who’s…literally in the open trunk of a van, scooping sugary desserts into his mouth like a damn squirrel prepping for winter!! Next to him stood a man just radiating suspicious vibes. Scorching wrath flooded your system when the man stepped closer to your friend.
Seriously… for as strong as Rudo is, he’s way too easy to trick when it comes to treats!
“Heh, they’re good right? I even have macaroons if you want some, kid! They’re just a little bit further in the—huh?”
The man’s voice and Rudo’s frenzied munching came to a pause as a large shadow draped over them. Right behind them, you were staring down with a piercing, menacing gaze. Your chariot had morphed into a larger version of itself, the spider legs alone towered above the would-be kidnapper's head.
“Do….do you want some sweets too?” The now wide-eyed man quivered, his legs trembling like a newly born doe.
You glanced once at Rudo, who for some reason looked just as panicked as the man, probably sensing the incoming scolding he’s going to receive. Thankfully, he was just fine, no harm done. You redirected your attention to the man, who was now sweating bullets.
“You filthy kidnapper…” You hissed, voice low as the chariot carried you closer.
“Kidnapper?! I- haha, no I’m not- I wasn’t- I’d never!-”
CLANG!
The man let out a high pitched scream as one of the front legs of your chariot swung itself right between his legs. He was launched a few meters back into a pile of trash (right where he belonged!), the breath knocked out of him. With the danger taken care of, you snapped your head back to Rudo and shrunk the chariot to its typical size, but your disapproving glare didn’t soften.
He awkwardly held out a lollipop to you like he was trying to appease a furious god. “You uh…want some?”
You took it…then smacked the top of his head with it.
“You fool!! You could’ve gotten taken!! What were you thinking?!”
“Ow ow ow! Hey! Stop that!!”
With a final bonk you threw the lollipop at the forehead of the man still lying on the ground for extra salt on the wound. Then you slapped a hand onto the spot beside you with a demanding thud.
“Get in. Now!”
“Y-yes Y/N,” Rudo muttered. He glanced at the treats scattered in the open van for a second, but one scowl from you was all it took for him to break away from the temptation and scurry to his spot.
(That incident, however, gave you inspiration for a contraption that you gifted Rudo a few days later.)
“What the hell does this do?” He muttered, looking over the object in his hands. It was shaped like a rifle but slightly bulkier, though not too heavy either.
“Just point it at Enjin over there. No, no, a little lower,” You corrected. “And then press the trigger.”
Enjin looked over at the mention of his name, confusion evident on his face before he coughed and doubled over when the contraption launched a hard ball — no, a walnut!— right for the family jewels.
“OW!! What the hell?!”
Rudo looked mortified before he glanced at you. “Why the hell did you make this?!”
“Just in case some creep tries to capture you.”
“And why did you use me for it?!” Enjin wheezed from the ground.
You simply shrug, looking satisfied with your creation. “You were closest!”
“You- you used Enjin as a test dummy?!” Zanka, standing in the doorway, looked absolutely livid. He marched over, but Rudo aimed and shot right at Zanka. Another of the Akuta men went down with a yelp.
“I’LL END YOU FOR THAT, SCUZZBALL!” Zanka growled from where he lay next to Enjin, though it was hard to take the threat seriously in his current state.
You could almost see a hint of a grin on Rudo’s face as he inspected the nutcracker rifle and then the Nijiku squirming before him. “Guess it’s not too bad after all.”
⋆˙⟡~
“Where is he anyways?” You muttered to no one in particular, rubbing away sleep from your eyes as you pulled away from your cluttered desk then headed for the door.
…
Rudo wasn’t in his room, nor the lounge, mess hall or even the training area.
You tried not to let the creeping anxiety claw at your thoughts, the remnants of the Sphere nightmare clinging to you. It wasn’t too often, but now and then you’ll have nightmares like that or similar ones where in the end, you ended up losing Rudo and failed to protect him. The only thing that soothes your worries is seeing Rudo in the flesh again.
Now you were heading towards the lobby to ask Semiu if she knew of Rudo’s whereabouts, but as you neared, you heard the front doors clang open and a crowd of footsteps and chattering voices filled your ears.
“Ya nearly got yerself smashed to bits, dumbass!”
“Tch, you’re overreacting! The damn turdface didn’t even get that close!”
Your breath hitched when you finally heard Rudo, and you hurried over to the lobby where a group of Cleaners had just returned from a mission. And amongst them was your companion bickering with Zanka.
There he is…
You sighed and approached, though you noticed how much more disheveled your fellow Sphereite seemed compared to the others. Dirt smudged on pale skin that was adorned with scratches, and his right arm’s bicep was wrapped in several bandages, a red tint seeping through the cloth. The unease that had just left returned with a vengeance.
“What happened, Rudo?” You questioned, voice tight as you closed the distance and grabbed his arm, firm but careful not to hurt the wound as you inspected the rest of his form for injuries. Rudo’s previous scowl at Zanka shifted into momentary shock, then eased into a too casual expression for your liking.
“It’s nothing, just stupid trash beasts.” He deflected, not quite meeting your gaze.
Your brows knitted together at the dismissive response, but Zanka cut in with more details.
“This scuzzball,” the blonde hissed pointedly at your friend, “got distracted by some junk and almost won a one way ticket into a trash beast’s stomach!”
“It barely nicked me!!” Rudo protests, fists clenched within 3R.
“We had to have Tomme patch you up! The hell do ya mean barely?!’”
“I would have been just fine without-”
“Rudo.” Your voice was a clear warning before you huffed and turned to swat at Zanka’s arm. “Don’t call him a damn scuzzball! And you,” You jab a finger Rudo’s way, “we’re going to Eishia.”
You wasted no time in ushering Rudo towards the infirmary, ignoring some irked comments from an appalled staff wielder as you left.
Eishia was swift in taking care of Rudo, but when she removed the bandages, you couldn’t help but feel a bit sick at the sight of the wound, which was deeper than you had anticipated. The young doctor was quick to scurry off after finishing her job, seeing the stern look you were giving Rudo.
As soon as you two were alone…
“How?” You asked simply, expecting him to confess any information that he’d been withholding.
Rudo subconsciously rubbed the now healed spot, looking at the tile floors. “Well, Zanka pretty much explained it…”
“I- You really got distracted in the middle of battle?”
“It was for a good reason! And I swear, that trash beast came out of nowhere!- Argh- can I just show you?”
A sigh.
“...Alright…”
The two of you traveled through the halls of the headquarters and out to the vehicle parked out front. He brought you both to the trunk and popped it open.
And the object within was a… wheelchair. Not nearly as good as yours, no. It was battered in some places but…
“Your foot rest got damaged the other day, and this one is still in good condition,” Rudo explained as he hauled it out of the trunk, making sure to be careful. “And I know there’s been some other crap that needs fixing like one of your wheels, so I thought you could use this one for better parts.”
You found yourself at a loss for words. The tension in you started to fade away, replaced by surprise. He got caught off guard by a beast because he was getting this for you. Damn it…
You tuned back in when he was mentioning switching the parts by himself later, and you shook your head.
“No… we can do that together. Thank you, Rudo. I appreciate it, but...” You reached up to pat his shoulder.
“But put your safety first next time, ok?” You pinched his cheek, partially to get back at him but also to distract yourself from the fact he got injured. It never sat well with you, no matter how big or small the injuries were.
“I worry about you…”
You heard the vulnerability in your voice as soon as the words left your mouth, and your face burned in embarrassment. You flicked his forehead and added, “I mean, you’re kind of a dummy sometimes so I can’t help it you know?”
“A DUMMY?! I- YOU-” Rudo’s mouth hung open for a moment and he grumbled at seeing the grin on your lips. “I’ll be more careful or whatever…”
“What was that?”
His shoulders tensed and he straightened at the tone of your voice. “I will be more careful!”
.
.
.
“All good?” Rudo asked, putting the rest of the tools away in your toolbox. You looked over the fixed parts of your wheelchair.
“Perfect! Thanks again, Rudo,” you stretched your arms above your head with a yawn.
He stood up and put the supplies neatly on your desk. “Do you need to sleep? I can go if-”
“Nope!” You interrupted with a wave of your finger. “I have to return the favor for the new parts!” You grinned at the confused tilt of his head before your eyes glowed and you activated your jinki.. “Late night dessert run?”
…
“Y-you’re going too fast!” Rudo stammered as the chariot shot through dusty paths, making a beeline to the closest town.
“It’s an important mission! Don’t you want some chocolate ice cream? Or strawberry? Or maybe we could go get some donuts instead!”
There was an audible growl from his stomach as you listed off the different treats and you stifled a laugh. “You’re like a bottomless pit!”
“Am not! I’m just uh…” Rudo’s protest trails off and he huffs in annoyance at failing to find the words to defend himself.
“Just don’t eat too much. We wouldn’t want you to scare Zanka again with your balloon form!”
The tease made Rudo bloom an angry red, but his will to argue dissolved on his tongue when you arrived in town and the chariot slowed its pace. His ruby eyes immediately locked onto the ice cream parlor that was open even at these odd hours, hungrily eyeing the different flavors, even if he’s tried them all five times over already.
First was ice cream, then came a slice of cake, and a few baked goods and then candied stuff. Both of you went a bit overboard…
…
“Look at them, couldn’t even make it back to their rooms. Are those- why do they have crumbs all over them?” Zanka squinted his eyes, the morning light filtering through the windows and shining on the two Sphereites that had passed out in the front lobby. You were slumped against Rudo’s side, head resting on his shoulder in a deep sleep. “And how the hell can she keep her jinki active while asleep?”
“Beats me,” Enjin shrugged, “but I’m definitely teasing them about it later.” He snickered and took a camera that Semiu handed him.
Click!
“They’re practically inseparable,” The receptionist hummed as the leader of Akuta waved the photo and waited a moment for it to process. When it did, he grinned wide, showing the other two before he placed it on your lap for when you wake up.
“It’s good though,” Enjin turned to walk off with Zanka and Semiu, glancing once more before the trio disappeared down the hallway.
“That kind of care and loyalty is just what the Ground needs.”
💜A/N: R.I.P. Zanka and Enjin, slain by the nutcracker (ENJINLINGS AND ZANKALINGS DONT ATTACK ME I LOVE THEM TOO IT WAS FOR THE SAKE OF THE SILLINESS LMFAFOAOJGWQJOGAW)
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HALLOOOO!! Can I req for a M! Or GN! Reader that have so much similarities with a cat? Maybe like a bit touchy with someone they're most comfortable with, or idk- cat things?(Team akuta) A head cannon or a short fic is fine. <Reader is 16-17 in my head. And I don't know if you write for M! Or not, so please ignore that..)
This is so random, ily enjoy
Cw: masculine presenting reader, READER AGE IS UNSPECIFIED (sorry) but you can imagine anything
F: rudo,zanka,enjin,riyo
On missions, the team doesn’t even really notice when you disappear anymore. One second you’re there, the next you’ve slipped out of sight like you were never part of the team in the first place. Then, just as quietly, you reappear, often right before anyone can comment or decide to go looking for you.
Sometimes it’s something small: a quick hand darting out to snatch an object and tuck it into your pocket or bag before anyone can react.
“No, I saw you put something in your pocket. What was that?”
You’d hear some version of that at least once per mission, from just about everyone.
And just as consistently, you rarely answer. If you do, it’s vague. If you don’t, it’s like the question never reached you.
By the end of each mission, whatever you’ve collected ends up back in your room, added carefully to an already enormous junk pile. Nobody is allowed to touch it, at least not when you first arrive. It isn’t treasure in the traditional sense. You don’t go after shiny or valuable things. You collect fragments of the world instead: broken buttons, bent nails, bottle caps, odd gears, scraps that most people wouldn’t even notice twice.
One day, Rudo ends up in your room.
At some point during his visit, he goes quiet. You’re sitting nearby, listening to him talk to himself as he pokes around the space, when you notice his attention drift toward the farthest corner of the room, a large, dark mass of stacked and scattered objects.
“Woah… can I look through that?”
He turns back to you, practically glowing with curiosity. But the moment he catches the faint glare in your eyes, he hesitates.
“…uh p-please?”
A pause.
“Sure.”
He’s honestly shocked you agree so easily. You’re usually so reserved, almost closed off with everyone. Especially with that look, you always seem like you’re weighing whether someone can be trusted. He assumes that’s exactly what you’re doing now.
Still buzzing with excitement, he gets up and starts digging through the pile.
After a moment, he glances back, just to make sure you’re still there.
You are.
In fact, you’re much closer than before.
Rudo stiffens slightly when he realizes you’re now right behind him, practically pressed in, peering over his shoulder with intense focus.
“You can have that,” you say suddenly.
He blinks. “Huh?”
He follows your gaze to what you were looking at: a rusted microwave tangled in black wire, half-buried like it had been swallowed by the pile.
“I saw you staring at it,” you add. “You can have it.”
For a second, he just stares at you like he didn’t process the words properly.
Then something in him lights up again, not just excitement, but understanding. Like he’s been let into something quietly important without being told what it is.
From that point on, Rudo starts showing up more often.
When the rest of the team goes out, he sticks around sometimes, helping you pick through scraps that might be worth keeping. In return, he brings you things he thinks you’ll like, odd pieces, forgotten objects, things with potential you didn’t have to explain.
And instead of saying thank you, or showing it in obvious ways, you just give him the slow, deliberate blink of a cat that has decided you are acceptable company.
Honestly, Zanka was probably your favorite. Maybe because he was so quiet and easy to read. Since Zanka is someone who values directness and competence, on those days where enjin puts zanka in charge, you would hear an order from him and responds with: "Maybe."
You disappear when people need you and then magically show up exactly when you're useful.
.
You absolutely poke at Zanka's temper for entertainment. One day you show up after days of absence, no one could find you and they were getting worried. Zanka would be the first to call just so he could be the one to tell you to come back.
That's when he was startled to hear your voice behind him, and turning around to see you standing there with a grin on your face.
"Where were you?!"
"Busy."
"...Doing what?"
"Thinking."
Before he could scold you, you just lean in and wrapping your hands around his slim forearms. "I got you this since I knew you'd be mad at me." You grab his hand and set multiple full bandage wraps in his hand, the confusion on zankas face was apparent.
"It's for assistaff." You watch his eyes narrow slightly, "Or you could keep it on you during missions, I know how much you like getting hurt." You couldn't help but smirk waiting for his response, it wasn't true, you knew he just had bad luck. But seeing his face bloom red slightly from embarrassment made you laugh internally.
"Thank you."
'...um yeah, no problem."
After that strange interaction with you Zanka couldn't help but overthink.
Maybe you're just easy to read.
How did you know he would like this? Do you just rummage around hoping to find this stuff? Was it just a coincidence?
Enjin had such strong hands, the first time you ever noticed was when he saved you out in the wasteland, or when you would get injured, carrying you by the shoulder. And you loved it, his hands were something you wanted to be touched with constantly.
But he was someone that took a LONG time for you to trust, and get to that point.
But on those random nights where you would go missing for days, he would wake up in the morning to feel you hugging his side tightly. No marks, no injuries, nothing. When he would ask you where you were, you just shrugged and tightened your grip on his waist.
He wasn't very fond of your clinginess, but that only made you want to cling to him more.
After a while he'd just let you hold into him when you felt like it.
"You know, for a dude you act alot like a desperate girl." He sighs looking down at your hand gripping his. "Is that something you want?" When your eyes meet he just looks at you and scoffs like that was a stupid question, "nah, I think I prefer you anyway." He smiles at you.
A slow blink, what does that mean again?
Ehh, probably nothing important.
You didn't like Riyo very much at first, mainly because it felt like she was always trying to pry into your business. Every question made you suspicious, and you couldn't tell whether she was genuinely interested or just being nosy.
Over time, though, you realized she was actually pretty chill. More importantly, she respected your boundaries once she understood them.
One day, while passing by, she casually patted you on the back. The moment her hand made contact, she felt you instantly stiffen like a startled cat.
She quietly took the hint.
Never again.
Riyo never brought it up or made a big deal out of it. She simply adjusted. Instead of trying to be physically affectionate, she stuck to compliments, small conversations, and letting you approach her on your own terms.
Honestly, that worked out much better for her.
The more she respected your space, the more comfortable you became around her. What started as cautious tolerance slowly turned into genuine trust.
Nowadays, it's almost funny how much things have changed. Riyo will be in the middle of working when you casually pat her on the shoulder as you walk by, or sit down beside her without a word. Sometimes you're even the one throwing compliments her way, earning a surprised smile before she thanks you.
Riyo never pushed. She just gave you the room to decide when you were comfortable.
And somewhere along the way, you decided you were.
Happy Pride Month, guys! I had no clear injury in mind tbhhh, like, I was thinking a severe one, but maybe just mild for what I wrote bc my mind changes throughout ... just think of both </3
-
Rudo, Riyou, Enjin, Zanka, Jabber, Fu, Semiu, Tamsy, August, Arkha and Zodyl are included.
જ⁀➴ Rudo !
He tries to act calm about it, like he has everything under control and he's not panicking. But really, he is panicking so much and is very worried once he sees how bad it is.
He'll try to keep you calm, as well as himself, by saying things like 'it's okay' over and over, hoping the words would be true… He will not let you do anything by yourself while you're still healing up, though.
જ⁀➴ Riyou !
She tries to make jokes while also treating your injuries because she's worried, and yk, that's how she copes.
She does make sure to try to be as gentle as possible, since she doesn't want to make you feel any more pain than you're probably already in. Afterwards, she might try to give you a hairstyle or something to make you feel better.
જ⁀➴ Enjin !
He knows what to do, and like, he's worried but also knows that he should treat it before he starts panicking or something. He watches over the area too, if it needs rewrapping or anything.
If he sees that you are a little stressed or upset from it, he tries to make jokes or yk, say stupid things on purpose to get you to lighten up a bit
જ⁀➴ Zanka !
He panics. You can literally see it in his eyes while he tries to patch you up. But, even if you ask him, he will just say he isn't, and he knows what he's doing.
He tries to get you to sit down, and not move around too much, but he also doesn't want to make you feel like you're unable to do anything… So he'll let you get up, like once or twice, and of course he's there.
જ⁀➴ Jabber !
He's probably not the best person to get help from, so he tries to patch you up, but it's very awkward because he's kind of putting the bandages on incorrectly, but, yk, he's trying his best to help you.
Genuinely actually concerned for once, though; once he's sure you're going to be okay, he lwk makes jokes about it, hoping to also make you laugh in the process.
જ⁀➴ Fu !
He's panicking, scared and literally every emotion that could express worry. He's patching you up a little wonky, but he tries his best, even while he's mumbling frantically under his breath… It's wonky because his hands are shaky </3
He brings you things that you need and constantly asks you if you need anything. He keeps thinking and worrying about you, though.
જ⁀➴ Semiu !
She just stays with you the whole time. While she patches you up, she doesn't ask you much, unless it's about what happened so, yk, she can understand. But other than that, she doesn't want to force you to talk, because you're probably tired.
She makes sure she's nearby in case you need anything. But she wouldn't want to make you feel like you're being babied if you don't like it.
જ⁀➴ Tamsy !
He patches you up quietly, for the most part, since you're hurt, and he wants to make you feel better right now. So, eh, doesn't really say anything.
Once you're all patched up, though, he kind of realized he actually liked tending to your needs, cs that meant that you needed him… So he might say something teasing, like about how much you needed him, and if he wasn't there
જ⁀➴ August !
He has leftover supplies, so he starts patching you up, no problem, and is mainly calm for the most part to keep his hands steady so he can patch you up correctly.
He does stay beside you; in case you need anything more, he can get up and do it. He even stays with you while he finishes commissions that are overdue. He does keep asking if you need anything every hour.
જ⁀➴ Arkha !
Once you're all patched up and stuff, he makes sure he gets most of the things you would need and leaves them beside you so you don't have to keep constantly asking. Not because you're bothering him, but so that you rest properly.
He tries not to hover over you, but he does keep checking in on you at least like twice every hour
જ⁀➴ Zodyl !
He patches you up in silence, slightly a bit upset, though, since you're hurt, of all people. He'd probably ask how it happened.
He thinks about telling you this and that about being safer and ends up just telling you to be more careful next time bc it sounds too mushy for them. Still gets you the stuff you need tho and asks if you're okay every few bits.
procrastination will be the death of me </333
but i think it's over hopfully, cs i hate procrastinating, but like, idk it's hard not to lately </3
𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐂 who secretly yearns for your touch. he catches himself watching your hands and wondering what it would feel like if you reached for him first. when your shoulder brushes his, he stays still and pretends not to notice, even though he wishes the contact would last longer. sometimes, without realizing it, he finds himself moving a little closer to you, drawn to the comfort of simply being near you.
𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐂 who misses you while you're away on a mission. he tells himself he'll be fine without you for a few hours, but the longer you're gone, the more he notices your absence. everything feels a little too quiet, and he keeps catching himself looking toward places where he'd usually find you, only to remember you're not there. by the time you return, he's convinced himself he wasn't worried at all—though the relief on his face says otherwise.
𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐂 who misses you after an argument. he tells himself he's still upset, but being touch starved makes your absence feel ten times worse. he keeps catching himself looking toward the spot beside him where you'd usually sit, only to find it empty. missing your casual touches—the brush of your shoulder, your hand on his arm, your presence close to his lingers in the back of his mind all day. by the end of it, he barely cares about the argument anymore, he just misses you.
𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐂 who secretly looks forward to the daily kiss you leave on his cheek. he acts completely unfazed by it every time, but the one day you forget, he notices immediately. the entire day feels slightly off, and he can't figure out why until he realizes he never got his usual kiss. he doesn't bring it up, of course, but he keeps glancing at you more than normal, quietly hoping you'll remember before the day ends.
𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐂 who gets overly protective whenever you're on a mission together. he trusts you, but he's always keeping an eye on where you are and instinctively steps in whenever things gets too dangerous. if anyone points it out, he brushes it off as being cautious, even though everyone knows he's only like that with you.
𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐂 who always shares his candy with you. he isn't the type to give things away easily, but somehow it's different when it comes to you. whenever he buys candy, he automatically offers you some first, and if you steal a piece from his stash, he barely complains. it's one of the quiet ways he shows he cares, even if he'd never admit it out loud.
𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐂 who truly loves you, but spends a long time fighting those feelings because of his past. every time he catches himself falling a little harder, fear tells him to pull away before he gets hurt or rejected. he tries convincing himself that keeping his distance is the smarter choice, yet he always ends up seeking you out anyway. over time, he realizes that no matter how hard he fights it, his feelings never fade—they only grow stronger, until loving you feels far less frightening than losing you.
