i tried to make sure new readers could understand the situation, but you can read his intro here for context if you'd like.
(cws: stalking, yandere shenanigans, reader has been bullied by the yan in the past and struggles with some trauma from it)
you’ve been stalked for a while by someone from your past. and to your horror, he seems to be finally making the move to approach you…
you aren’t doing so well. every day you feel your skin crawling, feeling someone’s gaze on you.
you’ve always had issues with feelings of anxiety ever since high school. for a long time, you’ve been skittish and untrusting of people, especially men. you know that you can take something small and your mind quickly spirals, turning a small problem into something huge in your mind.
and initially you were concerned that this was what was happening now. that your brain was connecting small things from your life together into something a sinister pattern.
unfortunately, this time… you think you are right to be afraid.
lately, every once in a while when you look behind your back you can see someone following behind you in the distance. someone with their face hidden in a scarf or wearing a dark hoodie. at first you think its just a coincidence... but, the person is always looking in your direction. and in some way or another, they’re always disguised.
later on, you check your mailbox, and there’s always a letter there waiting for you.
you knew it was from your stalker. you didn't really have any friends, and nobody in your family had that kind of handwriting you saw on the envelope.
you didn’t read the letters at first, afraid of what could be in them. in your mind, it would only solidify your fears of what was happening. you could deny that you were being stalked, chalk the person following you as just a coincidence- but seeing it written out in front of you would make it all feel real.
eventually, though, you decide that you need to read them. when you did, you realize with a sinking feeling that your stalker was the very person you wanted to avoid the most.
it's tanner- the person who made your life at school a living hell for you. all of the details and context that he’s sprinking in make that very clear that it’s really him.
it's hard to read, and not just because you feel disturbed by them. they're almost incoherent, his handwriting nearly chicken scratch as he is clearly writing them quickly and desperately. the letters themselves also seem to be just stream-of-consciousness too. from what you can make out of it, it’s absolute insanity- ramblings about how he could hurt himself if it pleases you, desperate pleadings for you to please, talk to him.
you think he's likely trying to mock you or scare you with his words of praise and obsession. you doubt that he's genuine in his intentions- though you don't doubt at all that he's obsessed with you. he’s taunting you by letting you know that he knows, you’re sure of it. his letters are simply too well timed- and have too many… ‘coincidental’ questions that relate to what happens in your life. you feel nauseous with fear thinking of him coming back into your life and tormenting you once again.
you try to go to the police with what you've seen, but nothing happens. no matter what you say, the police seem to not be willing to hear you out. to them, you sound paranoid… even though you tried to show them the letters, they still didn’t think it was worth their time. "well, he hasn't hurt you yet, right?" they would say. it would take you being kidnapped or dead for them to care, you realize.
you tried your best to ignore the pit of fear and uneasiness growing in your stomach and simply went to work.
your shift at work felt long. despite trying to calm yourself down and think of other things, you still kept thinking about tanner. your mind reminded you that you probably would not even be able to recognize him from all the years it’s been since you’ve last seen him- memories tend to distort and fade after time.
what if he wasn’t only trying to stalk you from afar, but he was actively trying to get close to you? it could be possible, your mind reasoned. he could’ve been the grocery store cashier, the neighbor next door who said hello to you, anybody. he could be any number of the customers you see walking into the store you work at.
all throughout the day at your workplace whenever a customer surprised you by walking too close behind you, or tapped you suddenly on the shoulder, you were certain that it was going to be him.
but, in the end, nothing happened. and just as you did every day, you needed to head back home.
it's pouring outside, and you're walking back out of the subway station. you look behind you, and someone in a black raincoat is walking quickly behind you. he turns his head a bit to the side and you see a flash of blonde hair sticking out of his hood.
you start walking faster- it has to be him.
just like you remembered- blonde hair, tan skin, tall, and lanky.
he’s closer to you than he’s ever gotten, and you don’t like that he feels confident enough now to change up his routine.
you walk quicker, turning left. but he's still right behind you, walking close behind.
you see someone close by your apartment stairs, a tall man with a shaved head wearing a long coat over a suit- you rush near him, hoping that the prescence of another man would deter your stalker.
it does not work, it seems- he keeps looking at you with some sort of strange desperation in his eyes.
you grab the stranger in the suits arm. you look over at his shirt- seeing a badge for the nearby bank on the front of his shirt. a security guard who just got off work, you think- he’s perfect.
the man in the raincoat gets even closer to you now, his brows furrowing. he opens his mouth as soon as he sees your hand on the other man’s arm.
"you're the person who lives in room 509, right? i need to-"
"hi, honey- did you wait long?" you ask, looking up at the man in the suit with a nervous smile.
he freezes, looking at you with wide eyes. in a few seconds though, he calms down and returns your smile.
"no, i didn't," he says, looking down at you with a sweet look.
he turns and looks at the man in the raincoat with furrowed brows, his voice immediately dropping. "is this guy bothering you?"
you freeze, not expecting him to address him directly. but you simply tug on his arm, trying to direct his attention away from him.
"don't worry about him, honey, just come inside."
he gives you a warm smile and opens the door for you, closing it quickly. he laughs softly at an alarmed sound coming from outside the door. you drop your shoulders, relaxing now.
once you’ve calmed down you feel a bit bad that you don’t recognize him- you haven’t been the best at being friendly to your neighbors.
you give the man in the suit an appreciative smile, wanting to show that you’re grateful for him playing along with your story.
“thank you for helping me! i don’t know what i would’ve done if you weren’t there.”
he looks down at you and gives you a confused look, but he smiles brightly.
“you're a sweet girl. no need to thank me for anything.”
he moves towards the elevator and you follow him. he presses the up button for you, and looks back at you with a bit of a blush on his face.
you look down where he was looking, and you blush as well. you didn't realize that the rain had soaked through your shirt, causing it to cling to your chest. you adjust your jacket, buttoning it up.
you two wait for the elevator, and he shifts a bit closer to you.
“what happened, by the way?” he says softly, looking at you curiously. “you seemed shaken up. did he ever do something to you?”
you nod, hesitantly.
“something like that,” you say, a bit bitterly.
he looks down at you with a concerned frown, and you two walk into the elevator together. you press the “5” button on the keypad.
"you should be careful. he lives in the floor above you. room 609," he says to you, his voice dropping a bit, becoming low.
he puts his hand on your shoulder, and you flinch a bit instinctively.
“do you need me to do anything to him? maybe... pay him a visit?”
you look at him with wide eyes, becoming uneasy. you slowly shake your head.
"no... you don't have to do anything."
“no, y/n, i do. if anything happens to you, it’s my fault.”
you freeze, taking a step back instinctively. there isn't much room for you to move- your back hits the back of the elevator.
you’ve never told him your name.
“… your fault?” you say, warily.
“i should’ve been more careful. i don’t know what he did… but i should have been there. he must’ve gone after you after he got my letter to you by mistake. it’s my bad handwriting that got you into this mess.”
you remember now that the address of the letters… the messy “5” he wrote for your room number looked awfully like a “6.”
the elevator door opens, and suddenly the man- tanner, you realizes, turns to you. his guilty frown turns into a small smile.
“well, anyways, no need to worry about him. it’s a good thing that i was there that time, right, honey?”
(cws: violence, mentions of bullying, mention of dysfunctional/abusive family dynamics, stalking)
Affection: How do they show their love and affection? How intense would it get?
starts out with verbal affection, praise and compliments- which are very intense off the bat, and he won't really scale it down. in his mind, you need to know exactly how he feels about you and why you are important to him. especially if you are not physically in his life... which is pretty likely. he'll also express his affection to you through acts of service- getting you glasses of water, food, etc. or, he'll try to "make you feel safe" by being around you so nobody dangerous can get to you.
to him, he can prove himself to you being nice to you and treating you well- so he's likely to come off as intense as he's very fervent in his effort. if he thinks his darling is more willing to be with him, he'll calm down a bit after a while.
he'll also express his affection to you physically with hugs, kisses, etc, but he'll keep that to when he thinks you are okay with it. he’s not good at reading his darling and he’s somewhat aware of that, so he’ll often mirror things you do to him to you thinking that you’ll be more likely to like it (like using the same pet names, kissing you in the same places, etc.)
Blood:How messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?
he understands that practically speaking, his darling could very well get upset or afraid of him if he really hurts people like he wants to. so unlike other yanderes he won't kill anyone behind your back. he might snap and hit people/beat people up, but that's as far as it goes.
however if his darling requests it, he can get very messy! he doesn't really have care at all for anyone other than his darling. so, if you ask him to kill anyone- including his friends- he will do so, easily. his only limit is that he won't want to kill his brother, and he'll likely become emotionally distant from you for a while if you ask him to do so.
Cruelty: How would they treat their darling once abducted? Would they mock them?
i think tanner is much less likely to straight up kidnap you. once he's reached a certain breaking point, he's more likely to just break into your house and just... not leave.
he'll only kidnap you if your living situation makes it impossible for him to do this without him being caught (such as if you have a roommate) or if your living situation is physically unsafe in some way.
he wouldn't straight up mock you though, he's really trying to avoid doing so. he wants to show you how much he's changed and how nice he can be for you! but he might show his impatience and irritation that you still aren’t hearing him out. he wouldn’t yell at you, but he would be blunt and passive-aggressive in some circumstances.
he can come off as cruel and insensitive though as sometimes he can be rather blunt without thinking. like, "why did you date that guy? he's such a little bitch." this side of him comes out more often if he's jealous.
Darling: Aside from abduction, would they do anything against their darling’s will?
not intentionally, but practically speaking that's often how it turns out (see "Affection" above- he's not good at reading or predicting his darling.) probably ends up hugging and kissing before his darling would prefer, as he genuinely thinks that his darling is likely ready for him to do so.
he's less cautious about this if he thinks his darling is willingly in a relationship with him of their own free will... which, likely isn't what's happening. but, he will quickly back off with physical contact if asked.
he's a lot more blunt about asking consent for anything sexual though, and will likely just wait until you bring it up of your own volition. he's too worried about messing up your first time with him to risk anything.
Exposed: How much of their heart do they bare to their darling? How vulnerable are they when it comes to their darling?
one of his insecurities is being seen as "soft"- it's why he became a bully in his youth in the first place, due to his deep seated insecurities with himself. he wants to be seen as a tough guy, like your guard dog or something. he wants you to think he's strong, and someone to rely on.
he also wasn’t the best in school, and struggles sometimes with things. so he also doesn’t want you to think of him as “stupid.”
he doesn't really want to be vulnerable, to show you that he's upset if it's not to show you that he cares about you. he'll say things like "i missed you so much" or say "i'm hurt that you did that" for instance, but will try to hide anything like him crying, nightmares, etc. basically to him, if it's not related to you? you don't really need to know about it.
his darling probably can guess as to what is going on a lot of the time though, as he can often drop disturbing facts about his childhood in casual conversations without realizing (as he genuinely doesn't understand how bad his upbringing really is.)
he also may act weird about some things and not tell you why- like huffing a bit in frustration if you offer to pick up something heavy for him or to calculate the tip on a bill for him and not explain why, which probably signals to his darling that something is up.
he'll close himself off a bit if you try to talk to him about how he feels about his childhood or any insecurities though. it takes him a long time to actually be vulnerable with you.
Fight: How would they feel if their darling fought back?
sad :,(
he'll be obviously visibly hurt but, to him this isn't very surprising. he expected this as a possibility. he lets you know that you can hurt him as much as you like if it helps you feel better! (this doesn't work the way he had hoped it would.)
he wouldn’t stand for being continuously hit over a long period of time though. then, he’d get impatient, as he wanted to get your trust in return the first few times. if he doesn’t get that, there’s no real point to it for him. it’s less that he’s concerned about his safety, moreso that he has his limits with his patience.
Game: Is this a game to them? How much would they enjoy watching their darling try to escape?
not a game at all, he would not enjoy watching his darling escape. his goal is for you not to be afraid of him after all.
especially if he actually abducted you to his house or a secondary location- since he'd likely only go for that route if he deems your usual lifestyle too unsafe or something. do you really hate him so much that you'd go back to your previous life, even though he'd do anything for you??
Hell: What would be their darling’s worst experience with them?
well, the whole concept of his character is that he's his darlings former bully- so, it could very well be him bullying them as a child. he isolated them from getting friends when they were younger and made their school life unbearable.
aside from that, i think the worst case scenario would be a darling who already has a significant other. that would really cause him to snap out much faster than he would normally. possibly even before he really reconsidered what his relationship to his darling in the past was like, which would make him far less considerate to his darling.
tanner is a bit willfully deluded sometimes, and sees things in a certain light due to paranoia or jealousy- so he's likely to freak out from just minor signs that you are unhappy, and pin that on your partner mistreating you. he then used that as an excuse to threaten them and hit them.
even though he usually lets you go anywhere you please, he also might be more likely to kidnap and isolate you if you already have a long term partner you are living with. though just for a bit- his goal is that he wants you to forget about them.
to have a partner that the darling loves and feels safe with, only for that person to basically be terrorized by tanner enough for the partner to leave the relationship and then subsequently be forced to be around someone they fear and hate... that would probably be the worst experience for the darling.
Ideals: What kind of future do they have in mind for/with their darling?
when he was younger, his older brother had given him little tips on what to do in a relationship- and it was geared towards him dating a woman. hold doors open for a date, carry your date’s bags, walk your date home... etc.
due to this, he has a specific view on how he wants a romantic relationship to be. he wants to take a typically masculine, provider type of role. he doesn't particularly care how his darling presents themself or what their gender is, he just wants to treat them a particular way, especially if they're in public.
(although, if your condition of being with him is that YOU take that role instead... he may be willing to reconsider his ideas ;))
does want to get married and live with you in a mutual, loving relationship where you feel protected and safe with him- that's his ultimate goal for the future.
Jealousy: Do they get jealous? Do they lash out or find a way to cope?
yes, he gets jealous. he'll often lash out against the person (not the darling.)
in very mild cases, he might just grumble and be blunt/passive aggressive with how he talks about that person around his darling.
Kisses: How do they act around or with their darling?
depends on the situation!
if he thinks you feel safe around him/are willingly choosing to be around him? very sweet, nice, and a bit flirty and affectionate.
if he thinks you dislike him? he's very desperate, clingy, trying to show you how good he can be for you.
Love letters: How would they go about courting or approaching their darling?
literally, with letters lol. he wants to let you know just how much your mind, and is all too honest in how he expresses just how obsessed he is with you. phone calls too until you block his number.
likely keeps to sending you letters and stalking from afar- until he thinks that you are hinting at him that you want him to approach you. in which case, he'll try to arrange a meeting through the letters he sends you.
although, if he thinks that you may need him being around closer for one reason or another (generally if he believes your current lifestyle to be very unhealthy/unsafe) he will not wait that long and may just... break into your house and not leave, so he can be there to supervise you a little.
Mask: Are their true colors drastically different from the way they act around everyone else?
yes, lol. due to a combination of what i said earlier re: his insecurities with being seen as "soft" and him just generally not caring about people other than his darling... he acts VERY different with his darling in private than he ever would around anyone else.
at his job he's not smiling, he's very straightforward and isn't really friendly with anyone. he keeps himself from straight up mocking others (so he doesn’t lose his employment) but he doesn’t reign in his expression or tone much. he'll be clearly annoyed if anyone wants help or asks questions. around you, he's bright and happy to spend time with you, doing whatever you ask him to do.
Naughty: How would they punish their darling?
not the type to punish his darling! he's more the submissive type. if he's upset with you he may be passive-aggressive or distance himself from his darling for a little bit. if it gets really bad he'll get a bit catty and talk to the guys he works with about you behind your back. but he wouldn’t punish you as he doesn't think it's his place to do so.
Oppression: How many rights would they take away from their darling?
generally he lets you do whatever you want! it's just that a lot of the time, whether you know it or not... he will also be there. lol.
if in the extreme circumstance he kidnaps you, he's already on edge and nervous that this will cause you to hate him. he's not likely to do much other than to not let you outside or talk to others. but that’s for practical reasons, so you won't alert anyone to your current situation.
Patience: How patient are they with their darling?
sometimes he gets impulsive and emotional and breaks some of his darling's boundaries. but otherwise he's pretty patient! he's trying to be, he just gets caught up in his own feelings sometimes.
he can be a little easily agitated, though, even with his darling. he more or less is expecting you to have a grudge against him, but you repeatedly insulting him or yelling at him would make him a little irritated. he’d feel like you aren’t giving him a chance to redeem himself. he’s more soft when it comes to his darling being afraid of him, though.
Quit: If their darling dies, leaves, or successfully escapes, would they ever be able to move on?
absolutely distraught and devastated if his darling died... he would be in a state of regret thinking he could have done something different for a long time, likely not doing anything to move past the situation for basically the rest of his life.
if his darling escaped though, his reaction would be much less drastic. he's upset, and he's going to put as much effort as he can to try and find you again, but he's not nearly as depressed.
Regret: Would they ever feel guilty about abducting their darling? Would they ever let their darling go?
if he realizes that you are scared of him?? VERY guilty, deep regret. he doesn't like doing things that make you upset!
there really isn't any circumstance where he would willingly cut contact with you all together, though. is he aware that that would be for the best? sure. but he's way too far gone for that. to him, you're the only reason he has to be happy.
closest thing he'll do to that you space for a week or so (like, if you brought it up as an ultimatum.) after the week ends he’ll go back to you immediately afterwards acting needier than he was before.
Stigma: What brought about this side of them (childhood, curiosity, etc)?
poor childhood upbringing, mostly. his parents were neglectful to the point of being abusive, and he was basically raised by his older brother, who was also a troubled teen himself and treated him poorly.
since he never really had a place to feel safe or appreciated, he wanted to be seen as the "toughest" guy in school as a kid. he wanted to feel powerful. this is what caused him to become a bully and fixate on you strongly- you likely seemed to be an easy target.
his lack of a proper upbringing also caused his yandere qualities later in life when he realized he wants you as a lover. he has a very black and white thinking due to a poor childhood- it's either you, or no one else. and, since he often feels like what he cares about has often left or been taken away from him- he is very obsessive over you, as you are one of the few things in his life that make him feel things this strongly. he generally feels like he has to "earn" a persons respect that is important to him, because that's how it was with his older brother.
Tears: How do they feel about seeing their darling scream, cry, and/or isolate themselves?
upset :( he doesn't like seeing you like that! it's a little unnerving watching you break down like that, he's going to try to be desperate to get on your good side.
if it's just isolating themself, though, he's not as worried. he just thinks that the darling needs some time alone and doesn't really think much of it. unless the darling is missing meals or something, he's not going to say anything.
Unique: Would they do anything different from the classic yandere?
yep! he's pretty carefree about what his darling does, more just wanting to be around his darling rather than control them. you can have a job and a regular life for the most part.
Vice: What weakness can their darling exploit in order to escape?
well, he can be impulsive if he's caught up with his emotions- this causes him to make some obvious mistakes that his darling can then use to their advantage.
for instance, it's pretty clear that he's stalking you through the letters he sends you, and he's honest about many things if you just ask him. he also offers to kill people for you... which, if you play your cards right, could lead him to going to jail.
also: very easy to manipulate. it’s really not that hard to engineer opportunities for you to be left alone so you can prepare for an escape.
Wit’s end: Would they ever hurt their darling?
he's really trying hard not to, especially physically. he doesn't want to risk scaring or upsetting you at this point. the only thing i could see him doing is grabbing his darling's wrist too hard if he's pulling them- but he would have to be very caught up in his emotions for him to do that.
Xoanon: How much would they revere or worship their darling? To what length would they go to win their darling over?
he very much worships his darling and puts them on a pedestal. to him, you are kind, mature, and well-adjusted... regardless if you really are those things.
he's willing to do ANYTHING to win his darling over- and he's very insistent they give him the chance to do so.
Yearn: How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?
depends on a few factors. if the darling is already in a relationship? very quickly, maybe after just a month of stalking and seeing what the dynamic is between the darling and their significant other.
if the darling is in an unsafe environment or is extremely neglectful of their health, it would take even less time. maybe even less than two weeks- which isn't good for the darling, because he hasn't fully processed how he feels about the darling at that point, and will likely be much less patient or kind with them as a result.
but, generally speaking, it takes about about a year or so of him stalking you to get to the point where he feels like he needs to send the letters to you.
Zenith: Would they ever break their darling?
pretty unlikely, actually. they might have breakdowns and definitely don't appreciate him being around, especially at first. but he's not likely to emotionally break them to the point where they don't act anything like themself, he’s not a cruel type of yandere to his darling. if they are so upset that it's extremely obvious to him, he will try to be nicer to them in some way or another.
omg hiiiii i love ur writing smm <33 could i ask for a scenario of tanner x male reader where reader was super shy when he was bullied but years later tanner finds out he's somehow become a badass gang leader who wouldn't hesitate to beat his ex-bully up... i wonder what tanner's reaction would be to that hehe
also can i be 💖 anon? once again thank u <33
how sweet of you to say, thank you!! and to both your questions- yes, you may :) 💖 anon you shall be!
i will say, in his intro, seeing his darling act so reclusive and anxious after high school was what triggered him to rethink his actions- he wouldn't be quite as submissive towards him at first with his darling if he didn't go through that revelation. so tanner is a bit bitchy here since the "why is y/n acting like that"-> "oh no i've hurt him bad haven't i"-> "i'm in LOVE with him" process hasn't happened here.
thus, tanner is still in denial here :p and not as patient with his darling as he typically is
---
yandere ex-bully x gang leader male reader
(cws: violence (not against reader), organized crime, bullying, yandere is victim blaming, stalking)
tanner thought about you more often than he would ever care to admit. the shy, nervous boy he met in school who would cower from him like a scared puppy. something about you just made his hackles rise- he felt strange every time he'd seen you mumble and blush around him.
the strange feeling was annoyance, surely. you had been asking for attention, looking and acting the way that you did. you were always so shy and deferential around other people, always going along with being the butt of the joke. it was only natural that you were picked on a little.
but he'd matured since high school. he knew that bothering people and playing pranks on them was immature, no matter if you were basically asking for it. and if he'd seen you now he's sure you two would be polite and civil. you'd simply laugh and agree with him that he was a dick, and then you two could be best friends.
... or something. it wasn't like he thought about what meeting you again would be like.
and it was normal for people that went to the same high school to want to be curious about what their fellow past classmates had been up to, so he'd done some simple digging on you out of curiousity. nothing out of the ordinary. but you'd seem to have gone completely off the map, he'd not been able to find anything about you.
he was agitated that he couldn't learn more. he was worried for your safety, was all. i mean, you never posted anything online. for all he knew you could be dying or something. it was natural that he'd feel anxious right now.
but, he simply had to give up. he'd been trying to approach it from different angles, but he'd accepted that he'd reached a dead end.
except... until now. he was idly slouched over on the couch in front of his television, the news on as background noise. then, he perked up when he saw a familiar face come up on the screen.
it was your face that was glaring into the camera with a look of pure hatred, one that you certainly didn't have when he knew you.
good lord, what the hell happened to you?
"suspected gang activity in eastcliff- residents beware," the graphic read at the bottom of the screen.
he rushed to his laptop, wanting to check the arrest records for your shared state. he hadn't even considered this when he was looking up where you had been, it would have never have occurred to him that you would have gotten yourself in that much trouble.
and once the full report had loaded up? yes, it seemed that you actually were a criminal. you were arrested on a few charges but they got mysteriously dropped due to "unforeseen circumstances."
you hadn't been convicted of any felony charges yet, but he could tell that you were indeed involved in organized crime... somehow. and quite awfully high up in it, if you had corrupt police officers helping you escape any justice at all. it would have seemed like a laughable idea to him before, but he couldn't argue with what was right in front of him.
tanner scrunched his face up, his mind feeling blank from shock. how could this have happened? how could someone like you end up with such an... exciting life? how could you have turned out even more dangerous than him? his mouth felt dry, as a sense of bitterness seeped into him.
he didn't even know how to see what you were up to, to see why you turned out the way you did. surely you must have been forced into it. you couldn't have changed so much so fast otherwise. you were just a puppet with a nice face for the real people on top, obviously.
he felt a bit of bitter agitation, and tapped his leg as he thought. he couldn't live his whole life in mystery. he needed to know more about you.
there was one thing he could try...
---
it seems that his gambit to getting information about you had got your attention.
though, nothing could have prepared him from seeing you in front of him. you glared at him fiercely, your face so close to his that he felt your hot breath on his skin.
the eyes that used to be wide and quivering when you were younger were now narrowed and sharp. all he could see was the ice cold rage on your face. it was disorienting, to you someone shift into such a completely different person that you were nearly unrecognizable.
from a little puppy of a boy... to a fearsome wolf.
"of all the things you could do, tanner, you called my mother? don't you dare fuck with her," you growled at him, tugging hard at his shirt.
since when did you get balls? he felt that bubbling uneasy feeling he used to get whenever you were around him... only this time, it was stronger. he didn't like how this new you was effecting him.
you seemed much more dangerous than he was... and he didn't like it. wasn't it him who used to intimidate you? whatever happened to that?
he tried to laugh back at you, trying to stuff away any strange urges his brain was throwing at him.
"oh, come on- y/n, fuck with her? you're acting like i was trying to hurt her or something. i just called her. listen i know i was kind of a dick but really, you're making me out as the bad guy here and-"
you clocked him, hard on his temple. tanner stopped rambling and let out a small groan, the sharp throbbing pain causing him to fall down to one knee.
he opened his mouth to talk, but before he could say anything, you were already leaning down in his face.
"i don't want to hear from you ever again, you piece of shit. don't call or talk to me or my mother if you want all of your limbs intact. you may not know this, but i'm a big deal around here now. do not fuck with me," you say, your voice thick with anger.
for some reason... it felt like sparks and butterflies were running through him. something snapped inside his brain, connecting things. it occurred to him sudden why he had always felt so strange about you, why he was so obsessed with you.
you were hot. and this new you? strangely, he didn't dislike it at all.
(cws: unhealthy relationships and dubcon kissing (reader is afraid of him still), stalking, violence)
tanner winced slightly as you dabbed his bloody knuckles with disinfectant. you looked up nervously, your instincts telling you that he'd yell or insult you. instead, he gave you a toothy grin.
"oh, don't worry babe. i can handle a bit of pain."
he was sitting on a chair in front of you, looking down at you with fond eyes as you tended to his bloodied and bruised hands. it was a strange predicament you'd found yourself in, touching a man you feared- but, you could only blame yourself.
when you had first gotten a letter from tanner and figured out that he was stalking you, you were terrified and filled with rage. you didn't want anything to do with him.
but, it was also clear from those letters that he was deeply desperate to get your attention. you jumped on the opportunity, thinking this could be a way to get him to do something for you that you've always been too afraid to do yourself. some part of you wanted closure for how terrible your teenage years were, and the only way you thought you could get it was revenge.
you cut a deal with him. you offered to start dating him if he'd beat up his "friends" who helped bully you in high school. which he agreed to, eagerly. he came to your house soon afterwards with pictures of his former friends badly bruised and beaten, looking barely alive.
your stomach twisted... and you did not feel the pleasure from seeing them in pain like you expected to. you could only feel the empty feeling inside you growing.
and, of course, now that he's fulfilled his end of the deal? you have to fill yours. he's never said as much, but you're too frightened of what he'd do if you don't. after all, from the photos he's shown you, he's perfectly willing to get violent if it helps him get what he wants.
and, although you'd loathe to admit it, you felt like this was one of the only ways you'd be able to have someone treat you like a boyfriend.
the last few times someone had asked you out, you had completely frozen up. you couldn't trust strangers at all, fearing that they'd turn on you and turn everyone you knew against you.
tanner on the other hand was certainly still frightening to you, but at the same time, he was a known fear for you. you knew not to trust anything he said, him turning on you would be more than expected. he was the devil you knew, and that was good enough for you.
at the moment, he had just beaten up your co-worker for having a "crush" on you. he'd only asked you out for dinner, but tanner saw that as a challenge to your relationship with him. even though you weren't even sure if the your co-worker even liked men at all. you regretted telling tanner about your day at work when he asked yesterday.
"are you thinking about something?" tanner asked, looking down at you as you wrapped bandages around his hand.
"just thinking about what happened with derek," you mumbled.
"oh, yeah well, of course you're thinking of him. he was so annoying to you, right? i can't stand guys like that who can't take a hint. god, he's so fucking stupid..." tanner said.
you wisely didn't comment on his hypocrisy.
"my guy deserves better than a weirdo like him. you like macho, strong guys like me better anyways, right?" he asked.
he angled his face closer to yours, trying to make eye contact with you, eager for you to respond. you flinch a bit as his face gets closer to yours.
he sees this and his eyebrows furrow. he leans back with a frown on his face, biting his lips as he looks away from you. he's clearly thinking about something, and you're nervous about what he's going to say. when he turns to you, he looks at you with sad eyes, looking at you like he's a stray dog pleading for food.
"baby... are you still scared of me? have you not fully forgiven me yet?"
you freeze in place, nervous, and you keep your mouth shut. your heart is racing, thinking that he'll lash out at you no matter how you answer. he'd promised you many times before that he'd never hurt you, and you worried that showing any signs that you didn't believe him would make him change his mind on his promise.
"i can kill those losers from high school if you want even more revenge, you know. would that be enough for you to trust me? would you love me if i did that?" he asked you, his tone somehow sounding sweet despite the horrible things he was saying.
nervous and wanting to distract him, you press a peck of a kiss against his lips. his frown turns into a dazed smile, his eyes wide and looking down at you with pleased surprise.
"aw, baby... you do love me!"
he smiled and angled his face down to kiss you as well. for better or for worse, you knew how to calm him down now.
reaction to their darling accidentally saying "love you, bye!" on the phone
yandere nun
temperance was calling you to see if you want to make a donation to the church. she does this way too often- so you're trying to get out of the conversation quickly. you politely say that you aren't going to make a donation. after an awkward silence, you decide to say goodbye.
"hm. well. anyways, love you bye!"
there's a strangled gasp on the other line and a loud clanging sound. … did she drop the phone?
"i'm sorry i didn't mean-" you try to say, but she hangs up.
bully yan
tanner gives up and calls you. he's tired of you avoiding his letters, and wants to hear your voice again.
but once you realize who it is, you get fed up.
"i'm not going to talk to you."
"just listen, please-"
"no. love you, bye."
there's an awkward silence, both of you processing what you said. then he starts talking quickly, desperately.
"…wait, please, can you please say that again, just one more time-"
- temperance wouldn't really trust mischa and find his teasing and weird behavior to be confusing.
- plus, she’s weirded out by how much he asks you for things and is so needy with you- shouldn’t you have someone like her who could care for you instead?? she can clean and cook for you but instead you’re doing it for this guy who doesn’t even deserve it??
- and what's up with those mind games he's playing on you? she wouldn't do that! (though, actually, she probably would if she knew how to manipulate people like he does . . .)
- she doesn't like his influence on you, but he very likely has some form of blackmail over her. after all, she does not hide her dark inclinations well, and has a lot to lose.
- mischa also (hypocritically) does not like her stalking you- and would send her pictures of her following you, in order to basically try to bully her into stopping. he also sends her photos of himself and you together, staged like the two of you are dating to get her jealous.
- due to this, mischa probably appears highly killable to yandere nun, as he would appear to be a bad influence on you as well as a significant romantic threat. he is likely in imminent danger if he does not give her a reason to believe his blackmail on her will release even if he dies.
- you are probably not having a good time with two needy, selfish yanderes fighting for their attention.
bully yan (tanner) and femboy yan (mischa)
- mischa is someone that i don't see killing people under any circumstances- so he is one of the very few yans that would not immediately kill tanner once he knows about his past history with you.
- although mischa is generally very selfish, he would be pretty irritated about the thought of anyone hurting you that deeply. he also doesn't really like that he sees a bit of that behavior in himself- which makes him absolutely despise tanner.
- if you were in a relationship with tanner, he'd absolutely try to manipulate you into leaving, pretending he's just a concerned friend. isn't it kind of a red flag that he bullied you?? you shouldn't get together with him. you should definitely leave and ghost him and get together with him instead-
- tanner does not kill people without your approval, so even if he’d very much like to kill him, mischa is only in danger of getting beat up or punched. unfortunately, though, he would definitely be acting very punchable.
- chances are you see them fight from time to time, and tanner brings up at every opportunity how things would be easier if “your weird friend” mischa was dead.
undead yan (leon) and femboy yan (mischa)
- another situation where mischa is, unfortunately, in danger. leon sees him as an annoyance and will try to distance him from you.
- mischa will be somehow even more clingy and needy in this if he knows about leon, as he's very insecure about the idea of you having such a close friend. so, he'll also be trying to guilt you into staying with him instead, trying to talk to you nonstop so you won't have any time to talk to leon, etc.
- leon i see someone who is not morally against murder, but generally tries not to kill people you know personally if he believes he can avoid it. if mischa and you are already very close to each other or in a relationship, he will try to manipulate the situation to put as much distance between the two of you as possible, and will try to kidnap you and isolate you from him first.
- there are many scenarios in which leon will kill him- if mischa is successful in his attempts to distance the two of you, he'll be much more likely to kill him out of sheer annoyance if he's at a breaking point.
- you are going to be much more aware of leon’s normally hidden darker side in this scenario.
FUCK😭 I love your writing so much, I always get giggly when I read any Tanner post, the dynamic of him with reader is always interesting. What if the reader is not all that morally good like in the other post and they only use Tanner as an obedience tool to beat people up? Would Tanner notice?
aw thank you :) i’m very flattered to hear that!
to answer your question…
i think he probably doesn't notice for quite a bit xD he often has rose colored glasses for his darling, but he's also just not the best at reading people or understanding why they do things.
i think that how he would react would depend on a few things...
whether or not tanner is guilty about how he treated you in the past or not would affect things significantly. if tanner was able to see that his darling was an anxious, traumatized person and just also happens to be a sadist, there could be a situation where tanner felt regret about his past with you but is also being used by you.
if that's the case, part of him is just glad that you’re keeping him by your side and giving him your attention. he just doesn't like that he's now further back in his progress than he thought he was.
i also assume since reader is just using him, they may not have any feelings at all for him (or actively dislike him) and thus probably are avoiding showing him physical or verbal affection. that, and the sense that the reader doesn't actually like tanner as much as he thought they did would affect him a lot more than the aspect of them using him.
after all, tanner is pretty much expecting you to use him… he quite literally asks you to do so. he wants you to let him show how strong he is and show what he can do for you, so he likes having you treat him like a ferocious guard dog on a leash that you can show off.
for him its fine if the relationship is unequal, but he does want you to actually be in love with him. so, he'll try to get you gifts or lay on the compliments more, in the hopes that that will work to get you to like him more. clearly, what he's doing now isn't working too well if you aren't already in love with him. in his desperation, he's going to become more clingy once he has a general sense of what's going on, and may try to do more impulsive things to get closer to you.
now, on the other hand if the situation is like that of the gang leader reader post, where tanner didn't really have any reason to reflect on his prior actions- then i think that he'd be a lot more impatient with the reader, and a lot less willing to follow along with whatever his darling pleases, since he's still in denial about how he acted in his past. if there's no guilt involved in how he sees you... he's going to treat you differently.
if you try to get him to act as a tool for you and you seem like you're flirting with him, he's going to be whiny when you don't initiate affection afterwards. if you ask him to do something like that again, he's just going to straight up tell you that he'll only do it for a kiss.
if you are actually verbally & physically affectionate in order to get tanner to do what you want... so long as you don't cheat on him, he may never be able to tell what you’re really doing.
Kinda obsessed with Tanner a lil bit, he seems to be not have a problem with being a good obedience object to prove himself to his darling
What led to that? Is that how he redeems himself to Darling?
Also it's funny I thought he would be the kind to show you off like a trophy wife but instead he actually wants to be a guard dog for you to show off
LOL yeah, i can see why you'd think that at first. he'd be pretty happy if his darling was willingly with him, so i do think in those circumstances he'd also show you off a bit too. he can be a bit of both!
to answer your question: it's partly that (desire to redeem himself to his darling) and partially also due to a lack of trust in himself. realizing that he did something bad made him feel like he doesn't know himself very well, which scared him. so i think he feels more comfortable with himself when his darling is in control.
