MISSION 2: BITES OF BITTERNESS
taglist: @lunavixia @143-ilyuu @mei-simp @fandomfan-102 @keiiqq @blvdmrcnry @budijojo @viinlz @ashyiiy @swivi @irenedoesthings @koenki @mshope16 masterlist
The night air was thick with tension as the Green Ghost swung through the dimly lit city streets, his senses alert for any sign of danger. The city below was quiet, the usual noise of traffic reduced to a distant hum. He had just saved another citizen from a potential disaster—a car crash that could have ended in tragedy—but there was no time to rest.
A low growl echoed from a nearby alleyway, stopping him in mid-swing. His heart raced as he landed silently on the rooftop above the alley, scanning the shadows below. The source of the sound emerged—a hulking, grotesque creature, its skin mottled with scales and oozing a thick, black sludge. Its yellow eyes glowed faintly in the dark, locking onto the hero with a predatory gleam.
The Green Ghost narrowed his eyes behind his mask, feeling the adrenaline surge through him. This wasn’t the first time he’d come across one of these monsters. In fact, they were becoming more frequent and more dangerous with each appearance. He knew this fight would be brutal, but he couldn’t let it roam the streets unchecked.
With a swift motion, he leapt from the rooftop, flipping through the air with precision and landing directly in front of the creature. It roared, its powerful arms swiping at him with surprising speed. He dodged the attack with a roll, immediately following up with a sharp kick to its side. The impact reverberated through the monster’s thick hide, but it barely flinched.
The creature lunged again, this time faster, its claws slashing through the air. The Green Ghost barely avoided it, but the force of the attack sent him stumbling back. He regained his footing and shot out a web, aiming for the monster’s eyes to blind it. The sticky webbing splattered across the creature’s face, momentarily disorienting it.
Taking advantage of the brief opening, he rushed forward, landing a series of rapid punches and kicks, each blow landing with the precision of a trained fighter. The creature snarled in frustration, swiping wildly at him, but the Green Ghost was always a step ahead, dodging with acrobatic grace.
Just as he prepared to go in for another strike, the monster caught him off guard with a swipe of its tail. The blow struck him squarely in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Pain shot through his body as he stumbled backward, clutching his side. He glanced down and saw the blood trickling through his fingers. The hit had been worse than he thought.
He grated his teeth, refusing to let the pain slow him down. The monster, sensing his momentary weakness, charged forward with a deafening roar. The Green Ghost barely had time to react, throwing up his arm to block the next attack. The force sent him flying backward, crashing into the wall of a nearby building. He gasped, feeling the shockwave of pain from his already injured stomach, but there was no time to rest.
The creature lunged again, and this time he was ready. With a sharp breath, he somersaulted over its head, landing nimbly behind it. He shot out two webs, securing the monster's legs to the ground before delivering a powerful kick to its back. The monster roared in anger, thrashing against the webbing, but the Green Ghost had already moved again.
But with every movement, the wound in his stomach throbbed, slowing him down bit by bit. His vision blurred momentarily, and he had to lean against a wall for support. The creature was breaking free, and he knew he had to finish this quickly. Summoning the last of his strength, he swung forward, feet first, delivering a devastating blow to the creature’s head.
The force of the attack sent the creature crashing to the ground, its body limp and defeated. The Green Ghost landed in a crouch, panting heavily. His side screamed in pain, and he pressed a hand to the wound, feeling the warm blood seeping through his suit.
But before he could catch his breath, the sound of sirens in the distance caught his attention. He couldn’t stay here. Not in this condition. With a final glance at the unconscious creature, he shot a web to the nearest building and disappeared into the night, the pain in his stomach growing worse with each swing.
Kinich landed in a dark, narrow alley, the sound of his boots hitting the pavement echoing faintly in the silence. His breath came in shallow gasps as the pain in his stomach flared with each step. He reached for his mask, pulling it off with a shaky hand, and in an instant, the familiar green suit faded away, leaving him in his school uniform, his face slick with sweat. The wound pulsed under his hand, and he grimaced, feeling the warmth of the blood still flowing through his fingers.
Gritting his teeth, he leaned heavily against the cold brick wall, clutching his side tighter. "Damn it," he hissed under his breath, cursing both the monster and his own carelessness. His vision swam, but he blinked rapidly, forcing himself to stay upright. He couldn’t afford to pass out here, not when he had to make it back in one piece.
As he took a moment to steady himself, a familiar, high-pitched cackle echoed through the alley, grating on his already frayed nerves. "Ah, what a pitiful sight!" the voice sneered, the sound slithering around him like a snake.
Kinich’s jaw clenched as he ignored the voice, focusing instead on keeping pressure on his wound. His hand was sticky with blood, and each breath was becoming more labored. But ignoring the taunting presence wasn’t easy, especially when it came from him.
From the shadows, Ajaw slithered forward, his pixelated, dragon-like form flickering with a sickly yellow-green glow. The creature hovered lazily in front of Kinich, its glowing eyes narrowing in mock sympathy. His appearance was like something out of an 8-bit nightmare, with jagged edges and blocky lines, making him look both out of place and menacing in the modern world. His serpentine body twisted and coiled in the air, and his oversized, toothy grin only added to the malevolent aura that surrounded him.
“You look like you're about to bleed out any second now," Ajaw crooned, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. His sharp and shrill laugh cut through the quiet alley as if relishing the scene in front of him. "Perhaps this is the end for you, little hero. I’d say it’s about time someone else took over—someone with a bit more... resilience.” The last word was spat out with a taunting emphasis, as Ajaw circled Kinich like a vulture waiting for its prey to give in.
Kinich exhaled sharply, pushing off the wall slightly to regain his balance. His eyes glinted with defiance despite the pain ravaging his body. He glared at Ajaw, refusing to give the creature the satisfaction of seeing him break. "It's way too early for me to die," Kinich spat, his voice rough but resolute. "I’ve still got unfinished business. And I’m not about to let you decide when I’m done."
Ajaw’s eyes narrowed into slits, his smile growing wider. “Oh? Still clinging to that pitiful hope? I expected more from you,” he sneered, though his amusement didn’t falter. He coiled around Kinich like a viper, leaning in closer. “You’ve cheated death for now, but how long until it catches up to you? How long until you fail?” The dragon’s voice was venomous, every word calculated to undermine Kinich's confidence.
Kinich ignored the bitter sting of Ajaw’s words, using the wall as support as he pushed himself upright. "Not today," he muttered under his breath, brushing off Ajaw’s taunts as best as he could. His vision swam again, but he clenched his fists, focusing on steadying his breathing. He knew he couldn’t show any weakness, not in front of Ajaw. The creature thrived on fear and doubt, and Kinich wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing either.
Ajaw huffed, his form glitching slightly as he pulled away, a look of dissatisfaction crossing his jagged features. "We’ll see about that, hero. We’ll see.” His voice lingered, echoing in the alley as he flickered and vanished into the shadows, leaving Kinich alone once more.
Kinich exhaled slowly, his body sagging slightly now that Ajaw was gone. He felt the sting of exhaustion creeping in, but he knew he had to keep moving. The wound in his stomach was bad, but not fatal—at least, not yet. He had to get to safety, somewhere he could rest and patch himself up before anyone noticed.
"I can't believe he’s not here today!" she whined, her voice full of exasperation as she walked through the courtyard behind the school. Sethos was trailing slightly behind her, hands stuffed in his pockets, listening to her complaints. "I was going to bug him all day, y'know? Make him squirm and roll his eyes. It was going to be fun!"
As the adrenaline began to wear off, the full weight of the pain crashed down on him, but he refused to give in to it. He had been in worse situations before, and he wasn’t going to let a monster—let alone Ajaw—bring him down. Gritting his teeth, he took a shaky breath and forced himself to walk, each step more painful than the last. But he had survived for this long, and he wasn’t about to stop now.
The next morning, as the bell rang, signaling the start of break time, [Y/N] dragged herself out of the classroom, her lips twisted in a pout. She had been looking forward to seeing Kinich all morning, but her hopes were dashed when one of their classmates nonchalantly mentioned that he hadn’t shown up to school today because he was "sick." The word felt off, making her question it for a moment, but her disappointment took over.
She sighed dramatically, her steps slower than usual as she walked next to Sethos. Unable to contain her need for comfort, she grabbed onto his arm, clinging to him like a lifeline. Sethos blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Despite her whining about Kinich, the fact that she was holding onto him felt... nice.
"Well, I’m here," Sethos said, trying to sound nonchalant, though a part of him was secretly thrilled. "I’ll let you bug me all you want." He gave her a playful nudge with his shoulder, trying to lighten her mood.
[Y/N] glanced up at him with a soft grin, but her mind was still on Kinich. "Yeah, but it’s not the same," she muttered, sighing again. "Kinich is all serious and grumpy, you know? I like teasing him because he gets so flustered. You’re just... you. You don’t mind."
Sethos bit back a laugh, amused by her casual dismissal of him. "Gee, thanks. I’ll try to be grumpier next time just for you."
Still, as much as he joked, the moment was a rare one. With Kinich out of the picture for the day, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. For once, he had [Y/N] all to himself and no one to split her attention with. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her a little closer as they continued to walk behind the school.
"I guess you’ll have to survive without bothering him for one day, huh?" he teased, but underneath, his heart pounded slightly faster. "But hey, I’m here to keep you company. We can do whatever you want. I’ll even let you tease me—just not too much."
[Y/N] groaned in playful defeat, leaning more into his side. "Fine, I guess you’ll have to do for today," she said, her voice dripping with mock resignation.
Sethos smiled, knowing he was the one she was stuck with today—and for now, that was enough.
"That's my girl," Sethos grinned, his voice full of warmth as he playfully pinched her cheek with the arm slung around her shoulder. He straightened up slightly, his expression shifting to one of exaggerated importance. "Now, where does the princess want to eat? Whatever you want, I'll pay for it." His smile widened as if the offer were a royal decree.
[Y/N]'s face lit up at his words, a spark of excitement flashing in her eyes. "Ramen!" she exclaimed almost immediately, her mouth practically watering at the thought. "I haven’t had ramen in ages!" Her enthusiasm bubbled over as she clutched his arm tighter.
Sethos chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as he watched her salivate over the idea of her meal. "Ramen it is, then," he agreed with a grin. "How could I deny the princess her favorite food?" His teasing tone was laced with genuine affection, and although it was just lunch, he couldn’t help but enjoy how easily she smiled when he was around.
They changed direction, making their way toward the nearby ramen shop. Sethos watched her excitedly chatter about what toppings she was going to get, the way her eyes sparkled with each detail. He allowed himself a moment to soak in her happiness, knowing today was a rare day where he didn’t have to share her attention with Kinich.
Once inside the ramen shop, the comforting aroma of broth and spices filled the air, and [Y/N]'s stomach growled in anticipation. Sethos gave her a playful nudge. "Go find us a seat, princess," he said, grinning. "I’ll handle the ordering."
[Y/N] paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow. "Do you even know my usual order?"
Sethos rolled his eyes with a smirk. "Of course I do. Been eating with you long enough to have it memorized by now."
Satisfied, she flashed him a thumbs-up before heading off to find a nearby booth by the window. She sat down, pulling out her phone and tapping into the Messenger app. Without hesitating, she typed a quick message to Kinich, filling it with cute emoticons as if trying to cheer him up from afar: "Why didn’t you tell me you were sick, Kinich?? 😠😢 Get well soon, okay? I miss annoying you! 🥺"
As she waited for his reply, she rested her chin on her hand and looked outside, watching people walk by and listening to the clattering of bowls and chopsticks in the shop. A few minutes passed, and her phone buzzed. She quickly unlocked it to see Kinich’s response:
"Sorry for not telling you. It was unexpected. I was too weak to mention it earlier. I’ll be fine soon."
The message was short, formal, and to the point, just like him. But something about his tone felt distant, and [Y/N] pouted slightly at the screen. "He could’ve at least said he missed me too," she thought, sulking as she reread his message. But knowing Kinich, this was as much as she could expect from him—detached yet always sincere.
Before she could reply, Sethos returned, placing their bowls of steaming ramen on the table with a satisfied grin. "Here you go, your highness," he teased, sliding into the seat across from her. "Just the way you like it."
Distracted for a moment by the smell of the ramen, [Y/N] smiled and put her phone down. “Thanks, Seth. You really do know me well.” She was still thinking about Kinich, but right now, she had Sethos and a hot bowl of ramen in front of her to take her mind off things.
She picked up her chopsticks, skillfully separating them with a crisp snap before swirling the noodles in her bowl. The rich, savory broth coated the strands of ramen as she gently lifted them, steam curling into the air. Without wasting another moment, she took a large bite, her eyes fluttering closed as she moaned softly in satisfaction.
“Oh my gosh, this is so good,” she mumbled through her mouthful, completely absorbed in the delicious warmth of the meal. The flavors danced on her tongue, and she happily slurped another bite, clearly enjoying herself. It had been a long time since she’d indulged in a proper bowl of ramen, and right now, it was absolute bliss.
Sethos, sitting across from her, hadn't even touched his own bowl. Instead, he leaned back slightly, his arms crossed as a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He wasn’t focused on the ramen—he was watching her, savoring the moment in a way she didn’t notice. The way her nose crinkled when she took a particularly hot bite, the small satisfied noises she made between slurps, the pure joy on her face. She was completely herself, carefree and unguarded, and he loved watching that side of her emerge.
For a moment, Sethos forgot about everything else—the teasing, the playful banter, even his usual quips. He was simply caught in the quiet charm of the scene unfolding in front of him. He’d always known [Y/N] was special, but moments like this, when she was just enjoying the little things in life, made his heart swell with affection.
She was his best friend, sure, but there was something more—something deeper. He couldn’t deny the way his chest tightened as he admired her, the way his heart raced when her smile lit up her whole face. There was an almost magnetic pull between them that made it hard for him to look away.
"You're staring again," [Y/N] said suddenly, breaking the silence as she glanced up, noodles still hanging from her mouth. She blinked, half-amused, half-curious, and Sethos quickly snapped out of his daze, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
“Am I not allowed to admire a princess enjoying her royal feast?” he teased, raising an eyebrow as he finally picked up his chopsticks, twirling them between his fingers.
[Y/N] rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. “You’re such a dork, Seth.” She gave him a playful smirk before turning back to her ramen, still blissfully unaware of the depth behind his gaze.
As they sat there, sharing ramen and playful banter, Sethos couldn’t help but wonder how long he could keep this up—being the supportive best friend, hiding his feelings, and watching her look at someone else. He wanted to tell her the truth, but he was afraid of ruining their friendship. So for now, he would continue to cherish these moments with her, even if it meant keeping his feelings a secret.
As [Y/N] slurped down her noodles, savoring the rich, salty broth and tender pork slices, Sethos leaned forward, his chopsticks idly stirring his own bowl. His eyes flickered toward her, watching how she was fully immersed in her meal, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Hey,” he began, his voice casual, “are you free during the week?”
[Y/N], mid-bite, raised her eyebrows but nodded, still chewing her food. She swallowed before responding, “Probably. Why? What’s up?”
Sethos leaned back in his seat, playing it cool, though his fingers drummed nervously against the side of the bowl. He couldn’t help but feel a little eager, but he masked it with a laid-back tone. “So, I’ve got another basketball match coming up,” he explained. “It’s against one of the top schools in the area. Anyway, they’re giving us extra tickets for our family or friends, you know, for support.” He paused before glancing at her meaningfully, the corner of his lips curving into a small smile. “And, well... since my grandpa’s too busy with work, I figured I’d give the ticket to you.”
[Y/N] looked surprised for a moment, then smiled back at him, her expression teasing. “Aww, are you asking me out, Seth?” She nudged his leg playfully under the table.
Sethos laughed, shaking his head as if she had missed the point, though the way his heart skipped at her teasing didn’t go unnoticed. “I mean, who else would I ask?” He shot her a grin. “You’re always at my games, cheering me on like you’re my personal cheerleader.”
At that, [Y/N] groaned, immediately reminded of the time she had, without thinking, yelled at the top of her lungs during one of his previous games. "Go, Seth! That’s my boy!” she had screamed, her voice echoing through the entire gym, making heads turn. She had been mortified when the entire crowd went silent for a split second, only for laughter to ripple through the stands. Sethos had looked up from the court with a huge grin, flashing her a thumbs-up, clearly unbothered by the attention she had drawn to herself.
Her face burned as she remembered the teasing she had endured from him afterward. “Ugh, don’t remind me of that!” she whined, covering her face with her hand, her cheeks flushing pink.
Sethos couldn’t help but chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Hey, you were cute! I didn’t mind one bit,” he said, giving her a playful nudge. “Honestly, your cheering was the highlight of the game.”
She slapped his arm playfully, though her embarrassment was evident in the way she was avoiding his gaze. “Yeah, well... you owe me for making me look like a total dork in front of the whole school.”
Sethos just smirked, leaning closer. “Dork? Nah. More like my good luck charm. How could I win without you screaming your head off?”
[Y/N] groaned, but a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She couldn’t stay annoyed at him for long. “Okay, okay, fine. I’ll come to your game. Happy?”
“Very,” Sethos replied, giving her a warm smile, his voice a little softer. “It wouldn’t feel right without you there, anyway.”
As she giggled at his response, a thought crossed her mind, making her perk up. “Hey, do you think Kinich could come too?” she asked, already imagining the three of them hanging out together. “It’d be fun if all of us were there. You know, like old times.”
Sethos’s expression faltered for the briefest moment, and a twinge of jealousy flared up inside him, though he quickly masked it. Of course, she’d want to invite Kinich. It was always about Kinich. Even here, even now, when he was trying to have a moment with her. The thought of watching them together, of seeing the way her eyes would light up around Kinich, made his stomach twist.
But he wasn’t about to let her see that. Instead, he shrugged nonchalantly, pushing the feeling down as best as he could. “Sure,” he muttered, his voice casual despite the slight edge. “It’s up to him, I guess.”
[Y/N] was already pulling out her phone, tapping away to text Kinich about the game. Sethos watched her out of the corner of his eye, forcing himself to focus on his food as he lifted his chopsticks. He twirled the noodles absently, suddenly feeling a little less hungry, but he took a bite anyway, the rich flavor now tasting somewhat bland. As [Y/N] waited for Kinich’s reply, her face lit up with excitement, and for a moment, Sethos let himself simmer the bitterness of jealousy that threatened to bubble up inside him.
He leaned forward, lightly tapping his chopsticks against her bowl of ramen, catching her attention. "Hey, princess," he said with a teasing lilt in his voice. "Eat your ramen now, text later. It’s going to get cold if you keep staring at your phone."
[Y/N] blinked, realizing she’d been so wrapped up in texting Kinich that she’d completely forgotten about the food in front of her. “Oh! Right,” she replied sheepishly, putting her phone down with a guilty smile. “Can’t let this deliciousness go to waste.”
She picked up her chopsticks again and swirled them into the ramen, lifting the steaming noodles to her lips. Sethos watched as she eagerly resumed eating, and a feeling of satisfaction settled in his chest.
"That's more like it," Sethos said, grinning as he finally started eating his bowl. "Can’t let your favorite ramen be ignored, now can we?" He watched her from the corner of his eye, savoring her enjoying her meal, momentarily forgetting the text she was waiting for.