𓂃 Warnings: None, fluff, reader is female, not proof read, probably oc idk, drabbles
𓂃 Author’s note: I’m currently on my period (which sucks btw, do not recommend) and I had some thoughts about atla men especially after the movie✋😩 it’s my first time writing for them, hopefully it’s good!
Enjoy!🫶❤️
Main masterlist — ATLA masterlist
Zuko doesn’t know much about periods, not really and not at first but he pays attention.
He notices the way you tense, the way your expression shifts when the cramps hit. And remembers what helps.
He remembers you like it when he places his warm hand on your stomach, so the next time he sees you wince, he’s already there, hand gentle but steady, warmth seeping into your skin.
And when it gets worse he wraps himself around you without a word.
His body radiates heat, comforting and steady and you find yourself melting into him. The tension slowly leaves your body, your breathing evens out, and before you know it, your body goes limp, pain disappearing completely and sleep takes over.
He makes sure there’s always a servant outside your chambers, ready the second you call. He makes sure they have warm tea, your favorite food and whatever else you need prepared.
If a servant ever comes to tell him you’re asking for him, he doesn’t hesitate. Even if he is in the middle of a meeting or not, he’s gone in an instant, already halfway to your chambers. Ignoring the whispers and complaints of the council members.
He quietly panics every time you burst into tears, not sure what to do with himself. Hands hovering nervously around you, not knowing where to put them.
Later, he studies. Does more researches because he just wants to be better for you next time it happens.
Aang is… completely lost at first.
He grew up in a temple with not so many girls around, so he didn’t have the chance to truly learn any of this. And now you’re suddenly crying over something small, pulling away when he tries to hug you or just initiate any type of physical contact and he has no idea what he did wrong.
He hovers. Paces. Tries again, only to hesitate halfway through.
Baby boy is so concerned if he had hair he would have pulled them from the stress.
“Did I… do something?”
You will have to explain everything to him. What it is, why it happens and how it feels like. And he listens, really listens, fully.
The moment the second time comes rolling around, he’s definitely more prepared.
You wake up to warm tea already waiting for you. He sits beside you, gently rubbing your back, or your feet if you ask. He tries to help however he can, even if he’s not sure it’s enough.
Momo is always curled at your side, sleeping peacefully beside you, so calm and still, a total contrast to his usual self.
You don’t see Appa as much since you prefer to stay inside but Aang tells you that the soft giant does seem to miss you as well. Nuzzling into Aang’s hand, where your scent lingered.
And when the pain gets bad, when you curl into yourself and start crying, he feels a deep ache in his chest.
He feels helpless.
He tries using his bending abilities to warm you, soft currents of air shifting temperature just enough to bring a bit of comfort in the room. Warm arms wrapped around you, his hand resting on your back, the heat that radiates from them was enough to relieve some of your back ache.
Even if it doesn’t last long, he keeps trying anyway.
You best believe that the next day he shyly seeks help from Katara.
Sokka does know.
Growing up with Katara taught him that there are certain days where pushing her buttons is basically a death wish, and he certainly learned that the hard way.
He isn’t an expert but he has the basics covered.
He tries to cheer you up. To make you laugh, throwing jokes your way like it’s a strategy.
Sometimes it works. You end up laughing so hard your stomach hurts for a different reason.
Other times you just stare at him, unimpressed, before turning away.
It’s a gamble, really.
So he turns to what he can control: fixing the problem by building things that could help easy your suffering.
The first heating pad he made almost exploded. The second one smoked a little and was too hot to be placed anywhere near you. But the third? Absolutely perfect.
…Maybe a little too perfect, considering you now prefer sleeping with it instead of him. (He is not bitter. Not at all.)
He also made you a small bell to keep by your bed, something you can ring whenever you need him. He insists it’s efficient.
But when you’re curled up, quietly crying from the pain?
None of his inventions help with that.
And he hates it.
So, reluctantly, he turns to Katara for help.
Because if there’s one thing Sokka knows, it’s that when and if he can’t fix something she usually can.
(Dear lord please please please give them to mee🙏)
A/N: yall thought I’d leave my boy outta the fanfic fun, absolutely not. This is just a quick little fluffy meet between you and Waterboy nothing crazy. I also have to learn how to write this nervous man and his stutter.
Enjoy!
Word count: 1.3k
Warnings : None
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You were a hero working for SDN. Well… hero was a bit of a stretch, you were a reformed villain turned worker for SDN, a “Phoenix” if you will. You were placed on a team with several other reformed villains, none of whom wanted to be there but all of them needing a job, just like you.
You didn’t really cause many problems, you got your job done as best you could in a timely manner then made your way back, rested then got sent out again. Your dispatcher, Robert Robertson, at the very least seems to appreciate your lack of issues. It wasn’t out of respect for him, just simply couldn’t be bothered.
Today was a day like any other, you had helped a woman get her cat out of a tree and made your way back to SDN’s break room. You swung the door open rather hastily until you heard a loud “Oof-“ and the clambering of several things falling. You quickly moved into the room and closed the door to see what had happened to find you had knocked Waterboy into the vending machine and knocked over some of the items from inside.
“Oh shit- I’m so sorry.” You apologized quickly, offering him a hand up as he sat pitifully before you.
“No no, it’s- I’m fine. I don’t think I- you wouldn’t want to take my h-hand.” He stuttered, causing you to look down at him with confusion.
“I just knocked you over, the least I could do is help you up.” You insisted, holding your hand out still. His eyes darted from your hand then to your face then back down towards your hand as his face flushed slightly.
“You see my thing- my power is I make things- I cause things to get wet.” He explained, albeit a bit awkwardly, as he began to help himself up. “I wouldn’t want to make you- get your hand we-wet.” He continued to which you finally relented and put your hand down.
“Right. Sorry, again. I didn’t realize anyone would be in here.” You said, rubbing the back of your neck out of embarrassment as you looked towards him. He clambered to his feet, standing at his full height. He was built like a giraffe in human form, and sure enough the closer you looked at him, the more soaked he looked.
“It’s oka- fine. It’s fine. It wouldn’t be- it’s not the first time.” He said with a sheepish shrug as he held the washcloth in his hand, wringing it out absentmindedly as he watched you nervously. You tilted your head at him, trying to understand him. He sounded as if he had a stutter but he wasn’t exactly… stuttering. He was more just changing his sentences after he had already started them. You didn't say much about it though, you found it kinda cute in a way. You looked down towards the vending machine opening and found a few bags of chips that had dropped due to him bumping into it.
“Hey, I’ve seen you arou- I know you don’t I?” He asked, Which caused you to look back towards him. “You’re on the Z-Team, right?” He continued, not breaking eye contact. For such a nervous guy he was really good at keeping his eyes on you.
You nodded, a slight smile coming to your face.
“Yeah. What about you, what do you do here?” You asked to which he finally took his eyes off of you, now looking towards the garbage can not too far from you both.
“I’m the help- janitor. Helfpul janitor.” He said, struggling a bit to say the words. You couldn’t help but watch him with interest, you looked over his outfit. He wore goggles and what looked like a latex suit due to the shine but you couldn’t tell if it was actually latex or just soaked. His hair of course was soaked, slightly falling in front of his face to which he fidgeted slightly, scraping it out of the way. You then looked to his chest and saw a nametag which you assumed was supposed to say his name but it had been smudged away due to, you guessed it, being soaked.
“Have you ever thought about joining a team?” You asked him, moving past him to grab the bags of chips that had been left in the vending machine and sat down at the table to munch on them for a little before looking back at him as he fumbled a bit with the refrigerator door and opened it.
“Me? No- no- yeah. Yes. I have.” He answered finally before throwing something out into the garbage then reaching in again to grab something else. “But I am more than content- happy to be a clean- janitor.” He said before standing up to his full height again, trying his best to look proud but it came off awkward no matter how he stood. Still, the effort was there and you smiled at him.
“Well here, have these to show no hard feelings.” You said as you reached down and tossed him a bag. He fumbled with the bag in his hands before finally catching them.
“Thanks- thank you.” He said, his eyes brightening noticeably as he looked down at the bag. The gesture of kindness, though small, seemed to not be lost on him before his face flushed once again for a moment. “Eh, I can’t actually- I can’t eat these.” He said as he placed the wet bag down on the table near you again. “I’ll get them- I’ll make them too soggy.” He said with a pathetically sad face.
This then gave you an idea. You opened the other bag anyways and stood up, walking over to him with the bag in hand.
“I can help.” You said confidently as you stopped in front of him.
“W-what? How?” He asked, confused, unflinching despite your sudden closeness to you. It was almost like his brain didn’t take anything past face value. It was cute.
“Open.” You said as you held the chip out for him. He looked from you, to the chip, then back to you. Beyond confused before it clicked and he hesitated for a moment.
“Are you- you’re sure? I don’t need to eat these I can just- I’ll just eat when I go b- when I go home.” He said with his hands up as if feeding him this bag of chips was such a hard task that took a lot of effort. You simply tilted your head at him and gestured the chip a little closer to him, showing you were sure. With that, he opened his mouth without another question.
One by one he ate each chip you held out for him without a second question. If he had nothing else going for him at least he knew how to follow directions really well.
The bag was finished not too long after as you crumpled it up and tossed it away.
“Thank you. I didn’t need- you didn’t have to do that.” He said, looking at you with a sheepish smile.
“Consider it an apology for knocking you over earlier.” You said with a smile back at him before hearing a monotone voice over your com.
“Hey, can you head out for one more mission before lunch? You’re the only one not injured right now. Everyone else can’t get their shit together and keeps sabotaging each other.” You heard Robert say which earned an eye roll from you.
“Right, I’m on my way.” you responded before turning to Waterboy.
“Well I have to head out.” You said as you turned back to face Waterboy, who once again, had a pretty pathetically sad face on him again. “Maybe next break you can try out a different flavor.” You said, slightly teasing, as you turned towards the door.
“That sounds- that would be fun.” He said with a smile as he watched you walk out the door.
“Thank you!” You could hear him call out to you from behind.
finally finding what seems to be a well written x reader fic about your character only for y/n to wear thigh highs, pig tails, be 4'9, have hands so small they should be a genetic anomaly, tagged 'size difference', and fav character intimately speaks ONLY to them in eye dialect that sounds suspiciously like baby talk, such as 'do it f'me' ... i know what u are fanfic authors in 2025. we all know.
that's not something to worry about, eddie knows that your on time is always ten minutes behind, he's gotten used to telling you wrong timings to account for this, but it still makes his pulse spike every time you're not exactly where you promised to be at exactly the time you promised to be there. he's been through enough spooky shit in the last year and he doesn't need you disappearing on him too. where would he be then.
he is starting to wonder now. it's been half an hour since you were meant to arrive, accounting for the lateness- eddie loves you but he has zero faith you can change- and he can feel his leg starting to jitter. he'd checked the machine and there was nothing, no sound of your lilting voice over the receiver. you were definitely coming.
there's movement by the door suddenly and he's up in a flash, practically tearing the door off it's hinges to reveal you standing on his doorstep, shoes bunched up against your chest, blood trickling it's way down your legs.
"sweetheart," he coos, reaching out to you as you beam at him. "what happened to your legs?"
"i fell off my bike." is all you say, smiling still as you place yourself on the porch, watching as eddie follows you, kneeling on the step in front of you and taking you leg gently in his hands. he brushes his fingers over the back of your legs, gentle in his ministrations as he assesses you for other injuries.
"why are your shoes off baby?"
"i didn't want to get them dirty with blood." you say it like it's obvious. "these are the ones you got me for my birthday, i love them so much and i wanted to show them to you cause i finished the embroidery i was telling you about. i didn't want to ruin them."
eddie smiles because of course that's why. you're so nice it makes him want to cry, always thinking of him even when you're hurting.
"that's sick sweetheart but let me patch you up yeah? tell me all about it when i'm convinced your legs aren't gonna fall off."
you laugh a little, watching as he stands.
"they're not gonna fall off. i didn't hurt them that badly. i hardly noticed until they started bleeding. that's when i had to take my shoes off."
eddie's listening to you, he promises he is, but he can't take his eyes off the steady trickle of blood working it's way down both your legs. he's worrying that you've been bleeding for a long time, that you'll loose too much blood and then he'll be in trouble. but you seem fine so he smiles, reaches out to touch you, grinning as you lean into him like a cat, before retreating back inside.
"i'll even bring out the fun bandaids." he says, crossing out onto the porch again just in time to catch you standing up to find him. he scowls at you, using a gentle hand to manhandle you back onto the front stoop. he's in front of you again, taking you into gentle hands as he tries to focus on what you're saying.
you're describing the journey to the trailer park. it's a journey you've taken about a million times over the four years you and eddie have been friends, and the nearly two you've been dating but you manage to make it different every time. you used to walk the twenty minute drive between your two houses until you got a reliable bike when you were 16. eddie reminds you every time that you can drive, or he could come and pick you up but your answer is always the same. you wanted to see things, which was probably the reason why you'd taken your tumble today. eddie was waiting for you to get to that part.
"alright lovely girl you're all clean, pick your shield." he says after about ten minutes of gritted teeth and silence as he cleaned at the surprisingly deep cuts on your knees.
you cheer a little, reaching out for the pot of bandaids he passes to you, watching as you rifle through its contents.
"these ones please good sir." you hand him two brightly coloured bandaids with little superman symbols all over them. eddie smiles because goddamnit he really did fall for the girl version of himself and takes them from you, covering your exposed wounds softly before slapping his hands on your thighs, smiling at you.
"there. feeling better?" he asks as you stand, bending and stretching your knees to test the flexibility of the plaster.
"yeah, these are cool." you grin up at him. "wanna see my shoes now?"
eddie laughs, leading you inside, hand resting at the small of your back because he loves you and doesn't want you to fall again.
"yeah baby i wanna see your shoes."
he's a lot more relieved now that you're smiling properly again. you're tough (probably because you fall over all the time) but there was a wobble in your lip that he didn't like. now that it's gone he feels a lot more at peace.
you curl up into your usual spot on the couch, sitting with your shoes on your lap as eddie joins you, pressing play on a movie you're both probably not going to watch anyway. you smile, noticing the signature dark crystal music playing softly from the tv.
"that's my favourite."
"yeah." he slings an arm around your shoulder, pulling you into him in a way that's stimulating movement rather than actual manhandling. neither of you are complaining.
"you're the best." you press a kiss to the underside of his jaw and settle yourself against his side, shoes forgotten under the joy of being loved. eddie smiles, squeezing you just a little tighter, pressing a kiss to your hair. he could smell the grass on you, most likely from the fall, and can't help the grin that spreads across his face.
"i can feel you smiling up there." you comment, wiggling in his arms to look up at him.
"i'm not doing anything." eddie replies, brushing two fingers over the expanse of your cheek. "just thinking that i wouldn't want you any other way."
you smile, leaning up a little, and he's already meeting you there, pressing a soft, smiling kiss to your mouth. he sneaks his way up the side of your face until your giggling, peels of laughter filling up his chest in a way he never though he'd be allowed to have. something he always thought was too fragile for his hands to hold. but you smiling at him, lips going rosy from his kisses, and eddie thinks maybe he's the luckiest guy in the world, being given a girl like you.
"what did i do to deserve you?" he whispers against your temple, placing soft kisses there.
"you patch my knees up."
eddie laughs like it's the most obvious thing in the world
Synopsis: She moved to a small town to be a reporter, wanting to make a name for herself. Immediately the towns people informed her of a large house at the edge of town to steer clear of. All having wild accounts of occurrences there. What will happen if she doesn't heed their warnings? Will she regret it or find something she had been searching for all along?
Warnings: Use of she/her pronouns, light use of language, blood, animal death
Word count: 2.6K
Chapters: two
Chapter One- The Normal Valley Monster
"For the record, prejudices can kill, and suspicion can destroy and a thoughtless frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own for the children, and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it all is that these things cannot be confined to the Twilight Zone."
-Rod Serling
The fog blanketed this town. Seemingly never ending from the moment she moved in. Living in a tiny apartment amongst the normal residents, she stuck out like a sore thumb. She had more color to her, where everyone else seems to be various shades of grey, beige or an off blue. Residents here were nice enough, but they stared, gossiped, and always had something to say.
Being a reporter she wanted to make it big. Always wanted to bring people stories with hard facts, fighting for the truth, cutting through the bullshit spun stories that made headlines. When she was sent to this new town she had her doubts of writing any stories at all. People here, to her surprise, had plenty to say. Plenty stories to give.
One thing she had repeated to her over and over again was to stay away from the house in the woods. The trees hid it well, but from a distance you could make out the castle like roofing. Any time she pressed for more information, the people would tell her wild stories.
"Last week we heard howling in agony, we nearly called the cops..."
"A freak lives out there... probably a devil worshipper..."
"I'm too scared to go out there... especially at night... it's like there's shadows watching us..."
"I think it's a man... least that's how he disguises himself... he's clearly a monster..."
Every time an adult man or woman had something distasteful to say, they'd never give any information beyond that. A narrative seemingly driven by fear. Even when she pressed, she could never get more out of them besides warning her to stay out of the woods. Nothing being seen with their own eyes beyond their brain trying to make sense of their fears. Naturally of course this peeked her curiosity. A seemingly normal town, full of normal people, fearing a mysterious man in the woods.
Two weeks had passed, she got comfortable, got into the swing of things at work. Reporting on the small town happenings. It was honest work, but despite the towns peoples warnings, she craved a deeper story. Maybe something to disprove all their speculative stories, or shine light on the potential evils in the woods. To her surprise, the adults were the only ones seemingly affected. She found when she asked the kids in town, they always had something positive to say.
"Oh him? He's really nice! Helped me find my lost doll..."
"He shows us really cool magic tricks! He's really fun!"
"No! He's not scary at all! He makes silly faces at us to try and scare us, but they're not scary at all!"
What was really going on here? How could the adults fear what the children didn't? Was it just a misunderstanding or a manipulation tactic? If the towns folk really feared him why hadn't they done anything about it?
Tonight, she was up late working on stories from the past few days. Yet she kept looking out her window in her little apartment. Looking out to that large house past the trees. Wondering who really lived up there. Were they alone? What was he really like? She bit her lip thinking it over, wondering if she should go against the townspeople's warnings. It might be a risk she'd have to take if it meant getting a story more raw than Margret's surprise birthday bash in town square.
A high pitched whistle rang in her ears, starling her back to reality. Quickly moving to pull the kettle off the burner to finish making her tea. At this point the curiosity was killing her. She needed to know who lived in that large house. She needed to know if it was all smoke and mirrors or if there was truly something wicked going on. Finally she decided, by morning she'd make her way into the woods.
It was 5am, she was up and gathering her things. Jacket, boots, camera around her neck, plus a pen and notebook in her bag. Last minuet she shook a small can of pepper spray... just in case, stuffing it in her back pocket before heading out. Stealing herself a breath, she locked up her place and made her way to the woods. The town was quiet this early in the morning. The normal people still sleeping.
She kept her head down, watching her feet move over cobble, marching forward. Wind blowing her hair back, hands shoved in her pockets to shield from the cold. The moment she looked up, right at the entrance of the woods, she sees a hooded figure. Her breath stills, eyes widening, trying to process what she's seeing. Blinking a few times, the figure was still there. Soon, pale hands came up gently pulling back the hood on what she realized was a long black clock. Blinking again, her eyes laid on the face of a man she could only describe as beautiful. Ridiculously so. Fair skin, especially when the sun was barely up, long black curly hair, a mix of coils and waves. A couple strands over his forehead. He had sharp features and deep brown eyes. She felt as though she'd be sucked into them if she stared too long...
"Where were you off to, hm? You're new here right? I remember hearing the fuss when someone new moved to town... they take some getting used to don't they?" He chuckles warmly, smiling, teeth a brilliant white. His voice soft and full of warmth, though he sounds... guarded. Yet she couldn't look past the fact that everything about him seemed nearly too perfect. Her mouth parted, hanging opening just slightly. Starting, unsure how to really respond. Was this him?
"I-uh... I was heading up to um... take pictures of the wildlife here... wanted to do a piece on the woods inhabitants..." Would that lie suffice? His smile falters slightly, but doesn't disappear entirely. His eyes flick down as he takes measured steps forward. His shoes gently clicking on the cobble. Her hands automatically pulling from her pockets and balling into fists at her sides, one moving back to the pepper spray in her back pocket.
"There's not much to see... maybe a bird or squirrels here and there... but I promise there's nothing more... you'd be better off photographing plant life... the garden in town is quite beautiful." Her head cocked just slightly. Is he trying to keep me out of the woods?
"True... but plants growing straight from earths hands are always more beautiful... so, if you don't mind." She try's to side step him and he blocks her path, smiling once more.
"I'd have to agree with you... but the soil here isn't the best... please. I insist." Tone polite with a hint of sternness. The man's eyes lock with hers, looking down at her intensely. She felt like he was looking straight into her soul, not casting judgment, but compelling her to agree with him. With as bullheaded as she is, to her shock she found herself backing away. Agreeing quickly as her heart raced. Nodding she turns back to head towards her apartment. Not even glancing back, her feet mindlessly carrying her.
Back in her home she leaned back against her front door. What was that? Who was that? He did in fact seem like a normal man... but there was something about him. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. It enticed her, but deterred her all the same. Her fingers ran back through her hair, and she found herself looking out that window yet again.
Next time, she'll make it into the woods. Next time she'll see what that man is hiding.
~A Few Days Laters~
The cafe she sat in was quiet enough. Clinking of glasses, idle chatter, silverware clattering on table tops. She sat there drinking coffee, leaned back, staring out the window. Her eyes heavy from lack of sleep. The mysterious man's eyes constantly branding themselves into her dreams. They were intense... deeply brown and full of something that almost seemed... vulnerable. It was odd. He was a man, an intimidating one at that... he played the part but he almost looked like he was begging to not to be hurt...
Then, some nights when his eyes were absent... all she could see was the trees. His black cloak, and she could hear the sound of mutilated whaling. Why is this affecting her so much? She usually braved most horror narratives... enjoyed them even. She only encountered the man once. Did the townsfolk gossip really get to her that much?
A gentle hand soon places on her shoulder, an older woman, startling her back to reality. "Oh I'm sorry, dear... didn't mean to startle you." The woman's voice was as frail as she was. Skin fair, wrinkled, eyes a blue grey, hair white and pulled back in a low bun. She looked like your average grandma.
"No... that's alright. I was lost in thought... are you alright?" She said, eyes coming back to focus on the old woman before her.
"Yes, yes... well as good as I can." She chuckles. "I just know you're a reporter, my son told me all about you... he told me that I should tell you about what I heard in the woods last night... I wanted to brush it under the rug but he insisted..." That, caught her attention. Sitting up, she flipped open her notepad and clicked her pen alive.
"Alright, I'm listening. I've heard some others report of strange sounds coming from the woods... was this something similar?"
"Oh... maybe... I don't know... some of these youngins like to exaggerate." Shakily she sits down on the opposite side of the table. "But last night... it was something awful. I almost called the police... but I didn't want to waste their time." Okay... logical, clearly.
"Okay, then what did you hear?"
"It was this awful whaling... like a young woman being harmed... it only lasted about a minuet... but it had even my cats spooked..."
"Where were you when you heard this?" She begins to write down what she was being told.
"Oh I was home... but I live close to the woods... my son keeps telling me to move. Especially when that man moved in that house out there... but I've lived here 30 years... I don't give in that easy..." She nods in understanding.
"Do you believe someone was harmed last night?" The old woman's hums.
"Hard to say... it's possible... you know the police work so hard. Keeping us safe. I'd hate to make a false report." Sure... that's why they never seem to be around during these accounts... clearly hard at work.
"I see... well thank you for sharing what you heard with me. If I have anymore questions for you I'll come and find you."
"Thank you, dear, I really hope no one gets hurt. I know God will protect us either way... have a blessed day." The old woman shakily gets up and hobbles away. She smiles and nods, being polite. Unfortunately though, she had her doubts if god still oversaw this tiny little town...
Later that night, while she sat at home. She complied everything she knew about the mysterious man. Everything she was told and everything she saw for herself. None of it was enough for a story, let alone to convict the man of anything. For all she knew he could be just as normal as anyone else here. Though, she knew in her gut that wasn't the case.
Staring at her short list she jotted down, she knew she needed more, and she needed to get into those woods. Tonight, she'd go late and make sure she didn't leave without something to write about. By midnight that night, she was off again. Same gear, but tonight she wore a black cloak of her own. Trying her hardest to blend in.
The woods are eerier than she thought they'd be. It was dark, cold, and the fog was thicker than ever. Her foot steps thankfully quiet over the wet mulch of the ground. She watched her step and eyed her surroundings. The house was a ways out still, but the man himself could be anywhere out here. She felt eyes on her from every corner, but she chalked that up to her nerves.
A twig snapping and leaves shaking somewhere off to her left makes her jump. Stilling in place as her heart thrummed in her ears. Holding her breath to try and listen. Nothing, it was quiet once more. Only an occasional cricket could be heard. Taking a breath, she pushed forward once more. Pushing past over grown branches and bushes, she nick's herself on a thorn. Hissing, she brings the wound to her mouth. Salty iron, the wound only a pin prick but enough to draw blood.
Seconds pass and a chill runs down her spine as a shrill whaling sounds not too far from where she was stood. Her heart pounds in her chest once more and she finds her feet moving on her own. Almost like a mother running to her crying baby. She's running now, nearly tripping over her own feet. Pushing back to the trees until she gets to a clearing. Panting as her eyes lock onto a fawn. Cowering behind its momma as their eyes are locked onto what she nearly missed. A dark mass, hunched over a fury salt and pepper pelt. Moonlight surprisingly bright in the little clearing.
The woman stood frozen in place, trying to make sense of the scene before her. Soon, the pelt starts to move and she can make out paws and a tail... a wolf. The moment it moves, a crunching noise can be heard, the sound of bones breaking. It yelps then goes still once more. Her breath catches, without even thinking, she pulls up her camera and snaps a picture. The flash instant and loud in the woods, but she could hardly hear it from the blood rushing in her ears now.
The black figure however, heard it loud and clear. Head snapping back, locking onto her in horror. Mouth bloodied, fangs on full display. His deep brown eyes looked hungry, blood shot even... but the bridge of his nose crinkled and he soon looked full of sorrow. He let go of the wolf, dead on the ground, and stood. Looking taller than he had on their first encounter.
She looked at him wide eyed, frozen. The moment he took a step she gasped and bolted. The mace, yet again in her back pocket, was nowhere near the forefront of her mind. She ran, tripping, stumbling over her feet and tree branches. It was barely seconds before he was chasing after her. He was scary fast. With a yelp she trips once more, her camera shattering from the fall, her head hitting a stump. Just as she was about to attempt to get up once more, she felt a quick thump to the side of her neck and she was out.
Her vision went in and out was she felt herself being carried off. Too out of it to comprehend where.
~
He tsked, pulling leaves from her hair, wiping the dirt from her nose. His own not daring to draw in air, the blood on her head making his eyes dilate. Fire crackled in the fireplace, making the room glow warm. He sat on the edge of the queen sized canopy bed beside her. The camera sat cracked, lens shattered, on the nightstand. His fingers soon rung out a rag, carefully bringing it to cleanse the wound. Feeling how warm her skin is... how soft... how full of life...
"What am I to do with you, little one..."
A/N: Thank you for reading! I originally posted this on Wattpad and wanted to see how it does on here. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, hope you enjoyed. Currently working on chapter two now, so if all goes well it will be up in a couple days! Bye bye! 🥰
Genre: My Hero Academia Fantasy AU Bakugou x fem!reader
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Note: ‘Italicized parts with single quotations are your thoughts.’
“Italicized parts with double quotations are the other character’s thoughts.”
・・・・・ signals a flashback
For almost a decade, your days started and ended in the same dizzying, monotonous rhythm. After struggling awake, you ventured into the village and worked your hours away at The Star Anise apothecary shop. You tended to your regulars, the elderly, and an unfortunately sick infant. After you closed up, you spent your evening trading and scouring the enchanted forest for new ingredients—arsenic, rabbit's foot, witch hazel. This was a particularly good day because you had traded a rare charm for a piece of Bezoar. As the moon peaked, you headed home to the most hidden center of the enchanted forest, ready to spend your night the same as always: peacefully alone, brainstorming your own various witchcrafting ideas and noting them down in your spell book. One day, you hoped, witchcraft could be seen as good. You often daydreamed of being a hero and contributing some good to the world. But that was all it was — a simple daydream, unable to materialize.
Gazing into the dotted sky through your bedroom window, your mind stirred, bouncing from constellation to planet. Apt in your peace, this neverending mundane life seemed maintainable. It was a waltz of easy days and simple struggle, your only opponent being your mind.
An important concept to remember, however, is the first principle of witchcraft: the mind is a most powerful force.
An abrupt thrashing some marks into the forest pulled you out of your mindless trance. Your trained hands flew to cast a spell that could answer your piqued curiosity. Forming a circle with your fingers, you brought your hand to a closed eye and cast a spell that could see miles forward.
A curious, sizable red sight greeted your prying eye.
“A dragon?” You squinted and let out an amused scoff, “That’s quite a big dragon, as well. I wonder what business that dreaded dragon society has with my forest.”
To the left of the crimson-scaled beast stood another figure—a young man with spiked blonde hair and a lit torch in his hand. He had a distinctly arrogant and irate nature that showed through his defensive stance and lifted chin.
The thing that caught your eye was his uniquely garish barbarian garb, which was typical of someone from the Dragon Kingdom. He donned a striking red cape with a fur accent, paired with tribal tattoos and practical gear. His layered necklaces were fashioned with dragon teeth that shone under the warm glow of his torch.
“Not my typical customers…” you muttered under your breath.
This was the perfect chance for you to have a bit of spontaneous fun, an allegro for this repetitive waltz. You cast a simple spell that could alter your voice and allow it to travel a remarkable distance.
“Who goes there?” Your deepened voice echoed across the clearing where they stood amidst towering trees.
The barbarian and his dragon perked up and whipped their heads around viciously.
“Katsuki Bakugou,” he spat out, drawing his sword with ferocity, “Dragon Chief of the Dragon Kingdom! I command you to show yourself at once!”
A grimace crept onto your face. Did someone send a scout to hunt “the fabled witch” of this forest? But you couldn’t grasp why a chief of a renowned kingdom would do simple bounty hunting. You hadn’t committed any crime… that anyone should know of.
“What business would your title have in this enchanted forest? In the dead of night? It’s hardly safe here, no matter how stro—”
“You dare doubt my strength!? Your pathetic forest holds nothing to me! Heed this, wizard, I’ve come looking for you. Make this easy or I’ll blow you to smithereens!”
A heavy sigh left your lips. ‘So he simply wants something. He doesn’t know who I am.’ It wasn’t unusual for a noble of some sort to come looking for service from a witch—or wizard.
“What business have you with I? A charm? A potion? A spell?”
“It’s hardly business. I, Katsuki Bakugou, command you to join me!”
The last answer you expected.
“Uh, what?”
“I’m not repeating myself, wizard! Eijirou!”
The towering dragon standing mightily at his side began morphing into the form of a young man with a daunting red mane. He, too, drew his sword, and you felt a bead of sweat gather above your furrowed brows.
“Calm yourself. You really expect one to join an unfamiliar, ear-splitting barbarian blindly? State your purpose or I’ll have no choice but to defend myself.”
Even more rage accumulated on his face as he strained, “The Legion. Of Heroes. I assume you know of All Might. He sent me here. Said a powerful wizard’s descendant lives in this hideous forest.”
‘The Legion of… Heroes? Led by All Might? The one who struck the Demon King into dormancy years ago? Does he really think I would believe him?’ This went beyond simple fun now. It was all too sudden, too abrupt, too disruptive.
Katsuki stood impatiently as he awaited another eerie response from the abyss of the dark forest. He was already peeved enough to be personally sent by All Might on such a mundane mission. The Katsuki Bakugou, reduced to a recruiter. Seething internally, he recalled the feeble green-haired boy who somehow gained the recognition of All Might.
The dragon-hybrid filled the silence this time. “Do you think he ditched us…? HEY! Come out already! Don’t be a coward, damn it!”
After pausing to mull over the risks, you finally settled on leading them to your home for a civilized conversation. ‘If they’re lying, I’ll just kill them.’ A small pink fairy circled around them at your command, its pink incandescence cluing them through the dark and foggy forest. Katsuki waved the flames off of his dimming torch and left it behind. They glanced at each other curiously and began to follow it, swords drawn.
After trudging through a dense curtain of enchanted tree and vine, they were finally met with your residence, a towering house befitting of a witch. It was crafted with pointed roofs and a stone path, dimly lit lanterns and charms strewn across its exterior. Although aged in stature, it stood youthfully among the ancient forest carved with age-old secrets. A whisper of damp fog brushed against their chilled skin as they strode vigilantly toward the structure. With the wave of a finger, your front door creaked open, inviting the unusual customers inside of your darkened home.
“Stay alert. We don’t know what his motives are,” Katsuki warned Eijirou, who nodded tensely in return.
The floor creaked beneath them as they ventured deeper into the dark unknown, fog trailing behind them. You smirked to yourself as you stood in your kitchen, casting a night vision spell on your eyes. Your favorite strategy to gain the upper hand is to create fear and uncertainty. Lest they fight you, you can at least spook them into hesitation. It was admittedly underhanded, but witches aren’t exactly known for being angels. At least, in this case, they believed you were an evil wizard. You slammed the door behind them, earning a satisfying jump from the dragon-hybrid boy.
“Show yourself already, you unmanly coward! We aren’t here to fight!” Eijirou blurted out.
After a beat, you let out a low cackle.
“That’s nice to hear. Fighting at this hour isn’t exactly ideal. It’s already half past one. Can you believe it?”
You watched their faces fall into confusion as you spoke. They looked around in the pitch-black darkness frantically for the source of the unfamiliar woman’s voice. Katsuki was beginning to regret leaving his torch behind. Unbeknownst to them, you were standing in the kitchen doorway right in front of them. You waved your finger once and lit the hanging chandelier above them.
The dragon-boy flew backwards with a yelp once his gaze met yours, while the barbarian flinched with a strange noise before regaining his composure.
“Boo. I’m a witch. I’ll brew you into a potion and have you with some bread,” you mused unenthusiastically.
Katsuki’s enraged eyes pierced yours with swiftness, his brows ever-furrowed. Those of the barbarian class have lofty and built physiques to accompany their almost inhuman strength. Now that this one was in front of you, he seemed just a bit shorter than average. Still, he towered over you with palpable rage.
Despite his aggression, he assessed your form with a deliberate gaze. Hotheaded as he was, he still possessed an analytical nature and sharp intuition. “Not a wizard, but a witch…? Why would All Might give us the wrong details!? She’s a commoner, but she may prove formidable… no, she has too many chickenshit tricks!” he thought to himself. He felt a small tickle of warning when his bright glare met your thick-lashed, mischievous leer.
“Do you want to fight… or talk?” he gritted through his clenched teeth, trying to muster any amount of civility.
You paused as if to genuinely think. ‘Obviously not fight. Fighting a barbarian this close might be my end. But it’s better to bluff, just in case.’
“Let’s talk,” you gestured towards your quaint dining table with three wooden chairs. He sighed with annoyance, and they sat on opposite sides of the table.
You walked towards a large cabinet with a ridiculous amount of drawers. “Would you like some tea? I’ve many. Witch hazel, hazel, hazelnut, earl grey, chai, saffron, pig's blood. Just kidding.”
“Enough with your stupid tea!” the blonde barked, earning a smug look from you. You wouldn’t say it out loud, but you were trying to irritate him on purpose, just for fun.
“Saffron, if you will,” Eijirou chirped.
Katsuki’s head snapped threateningly towards Eijirou, who shrugged in response.
You brought an empty cup with a tea bag and pointed a stream of steaming water through your finger—a simple trick for lazy witches—to which Eijirou made a frightened and slightly disgusted expression. He set it aside while you sat at the end of the table, staring at him expectantly.
“Uh, so… All Might sent us here in search of a wizard. Er, witch. ‘Scuse me. He needs new, strong members for the Legion of Heroes!”
“Your name?”
“Oh right, sorry,” he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, “my name is Eijirou Kirishima! Dragon-hybrid duelist and a knight of the Dragon Kingdom.”
Your fingers played with the lace table cloth donning your spruce table. “Right. And why would All Might know of me?”
“He told us about his old comrade, a great grand wizard, who is supposed to be your grandfather…? All might said he gave him a tip a while ago on where your whereabouts might be in case the legion ever needed a talented wiz— witch,” Eijirou explained.
“Right. What you say sounds true, except for one… minor detail."
“And what would that be?” Katsuki glared.
“…my grandfather was not a wizard. My grandmother was a grand witch. I know she worked with All Might.”
The two men glanced at each other with puzzled expressions. Your suspicions grew as your trust fleeted. ‘Are they lying? Why did All Might lie and say she was a wizard? I suppose the climate around witches really has become worse in common society.’
Eijirou’s hands flew up with unease as he spoke, “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m telling you exactly what he told us. Maybe he lied because witches are kinda… well, they can be… y’know…” his sentence faded as he gulped awkwardly. He thought to himself in a panic, “Yikes, we’re really messing this up. She’ll never join us at this rate… jeez, All Might, why’d you hafta lie about her grandma!?”
Your eyes closed and you waved your hand dismissively. “Right. No, no, I know. Witches are ‘enemies of all things pure,’ as they say. I keep my true occupation a secret from this village, too. Being burned at the stake is a very real danger,” you sneered, your stare ricocheting between them with heaviness.
Katsuki sighed again and stared daggers into you, “Would you make up your damn mind already!? I don’t have time for this!”
“Oh, am I not worth your time? Well then, I’m not sure why you came,” you spoke snidely, “I know there are many lingering issues in the world due to the Demon King. Even I, deep in this reclusive forest, have been affected. But I, too, have a much important duty. I’m an apothecary by day, and those villagers rely on me for their good health. If my identity as a witch is revealed, I could be hunted. I’m afraid I’m simply unavailable.”
And that was it. The end of that buzzing ambition lingering inside of you. You knew it couldn’t happen. Your life was set in stone. You couldn’t abandon what was stable for a naive pipe dream. You’re simply not that kind of person. You weren’t the type to spring into action anymore.
After a moment, Katsuki spoke, exasperated, “So!? You’re fine with just sitting here until someone else solves all the big problems? You don’t want to go out and fix things your damn self!?”
Your shoulders tensed. “...I’m aware of the Legion of Heroes. I even thought of joining at some point. But you could be bounty hunters tricking me, or—”
The barbarian slammed his heavy fists on the table, causing the cup of tea to clatter violently. “I’m a chief of the Dragon Kingdom! Is that not enough proof!? Ask anyone and they will tell you my name!”
Your eyebrow twitched. ‘What kind of adult slams their fists on a table?’ You sighed and pinched the bridge of your nose.
“...Give me time to think. Sit here. Do not move. Do not touch anything. And do not dare open a single door in this house. If you do, I’ll turn you into an amphibian. I’ll be watching.”
With that, you used a vanishing spell to return to your bedchamber. A long groan echoed below you from a certain blonde downstairs. ‘I’ll give them the slip. Make them wait until they get fed up and leave. Surely they aren’t that desperate.’ A sigh escaped as you collapsed onto your bed, thinking of how you’ll wake up for work tomorrow. ‘Maybe I’ll take a sick day. Can I do that? Well, I am my own boss.’
Meanwhile, Katsuki’s leg bounced ferociously as Eijirou peered warily into his cup of strange tea.
“I’ve had it! I’m going to look for the witch. All Might told me I had to recruit her! I’m not leaving without a fight. Come if you want,” Katsuki slammed his feet on the ground as he stood.
Eijirou gripped the edge of the table, “Hold on, what if she turns you into a frog!? Witches are definitely known for that!”
“I’m not afraid of some silly bluff! That was an obvious lie if I’ve ever heard one!”
“Great, I was definitely thinking the same thing. Let’s go.”
Of course, their noisy chat could be heard from your room. Your eyes rolled as you put both of your hands onto a drawn spell on your bedroom floor. A clever protective measure against intruders; this spell could transform your house into a labyrinth of doors, confusing anyone inside without notice.
Katsuki began opening doors cautiously, his knight tailing behind him. He quickly realized how big your house seemed compared to the outside. “How many damn doors…? This hallway seems the same as the last.”
Each door he passed he took careful notice of, and soon he noticed a pattern of wooden doorknobs, alternating between old spruce and polished oak. Minutes flew by as he thrust onward, growing more agitated with each door. He came to an abrupt pause as he stared at a certain knob with a flower shaped chip that seemed to be on every third turn.
It finally clicked, much to his chagrin, and he began to blow through every door with further ferocity. “Chickenshit tricks!” he roared in his head.
Suddenly, he came to another pause and looked around. “…Why is it so damn quiet?”
Eijirou was nowhere to be found. Katsuki facepalmed so hard his nose could’ve bled and he growled with barely contained aggression.
“Witch! Come out! What the hell are you so afraid of!?” he called out.
Upon hearing his roar, you threw your head back onto your pillow and turned over with a sigh. ‘That barbarian won’t figure it out. If he does, perhaps I’ll listen.’
Katsuki continued to move through the dizzying hallways, dimmed with the same warm lighting. This time, he moved with precision. Determination flooded his veins as he recalled every path he took. He paused in the middle of the hallway and closed his eyes with focus. A violent exhale left his lips as he walked backwards, opening the door behind him with hesitation.
Before him was an unfamiliar hallway, the hallway of your bedchamber, fashioned with a long maroon rug and a small chandelier. His eyes rounded as he took notice of the single door with a polished silver doorknob. His heavy footsteps rumbled through the plank floor of your room as your head snapped toward your door.
‘Lovely. He figured it out.’
His mind emptied as he lunged to your door with a fierce tenacity. Before he could feel his fingers grasp the cold metal knob, you creaked it open instead. He stumbled back in surprise, steadying himself as you studied him with poorly disguised irritation.
He spoke first through puffing breaths, “You done hiding with your stupid magic spells? You’ve got nerve, pulling that with a chief of a kingdom.”
“I wasn’t hiding. I told you to wait. You didn’t listen to me,” you frowned.
His scowl intensified, “Yeah, right. Tell me where my right-hand man is.”
“Taking laps. Why are you so persistent in asking me to join you?”
“‘Cause All Might personally requested you.”
You scoffed, “And you think that means something to me?”
“You don’t know what the hell I’m thinking! I don’t know a damn thing about you.”
Pensively, your eyes darted between his crimson eyes as he continued staring you down. After a moment you creaked the door open further, inviting him into your bedchamber.
“...Come sit,” you grumbled, gesturing to your seating area beside your bed.
It was a quaint scene of two rickety armchairs, a spruce rocking chair, and a hand-woven rug. Your room was dimly lit by strings of lanterns and your brick fireplace, adorned with various charms and plants. He walked in with caution, each careful step resounding from the weight of his dense boots. He sat down with an air of dominance, as if every seat was his throne. You crept into the other armchair and crossed your legs and arms tightly. Every move either made was a deliberate, calculated tactic broken down by the other’s watchful stare. In the short moment, time seemed long as you studied each other, daunting silence filled by the piercing crackle of fire. Your heart beat through your chest while his face remained hot with anticipation.
After moments, you spoke, “How long has it been? Since you joined the legion, I mean.”
“A month. But I always knew I would be a hero.”
“Really? You don’t strike me as the type to be into heroics,” you smirked.
“And you don’t strike me as the type to hole yourself into your house like a hermit! But here we are!”
“How perceptive. I can admit, I don’t quite enjoy the way that I live. But not everyone can afford to achieve their dreams,” your voice lowered to a mutter, “for some, dreams can only be fairytales. Our biology betrays us. Our situations betray us. For some, the mind is simply too powerful a force. I would like to say I can achieve anything I set my heart to, but the time has passed.”
His face twisted with disbelief as his arms crossed. “There is no way this runt is older than me. Or perhaps… did she use a spell to conceal her age?” he thought. “How many years are you?”
“...Twenty. As of this year.”
“Wh—You’re younger than I am! What time has passed, other than inside of your own head!? What momentous thing is stopping you from joining us?” he gripped his knees as he sat forward.
All you could do was clench your jaw. ‘My way of thinking sounds much more pathetic when I verbalize it.’
“I’ll just show you,” you sighed.
He looked at you suspiciously as you arose from your seat and turned your back to him. You slipped down the draping cloth across your back, revealing a jagged, deep scar.
“My grandmother was an excellent grand witch associated with the legion, heroic to a fault. She accompanied All Might when he fought the Demon King. Around a decade ago, she fought one of his lackeys. I was there by chance. She told me to flee,” you covered your scar and turned to him again, ”And I ran, like a coward. When I looked back for a moment, she had been felled already. Even after running like a dog with its tail tucked, I still took this scar with me and saw death.”
Katsuki’s eyes widened slightly as his hand rubbed his chin. He’d heard of villain forces increasing in strength, but he hadn’t encountered any of Demon King’s forces firsthand yet.
You loomed over him with a disparaging expression. “I don’t think the Legion of Heroes realizes just how powerful evil has become in this world. A seasoned grand witch lost to a mere commander in moments. What makes you think you can do this? What makes you think you can be a hero?”
The Chief Barbarian of the Dragon Kingdom had battle feats beyond his years. At 21 years old, he’d slain several rogue dragons and quelled a dozen villains. He was Katsuki Bakugou, born with vigor and talent. He had no doubt in his ability to become a hero and emerge victorious from a fight. To be a hero is to be victorious. That was what he told himself as he scowled at the mental image of his rival that he couldn’t quite shake off of his back.
Still, he wasn’t blind to your logic. Only an idiot would rush into battle without ability. However, he saw that you had the internal motivation to join the cause.
After a beat, he answered, “If we don’t fight, who else will?”
Your lips parted and closed as if to say something never spoken, eyes wandering in place of words.
‘I’m not a hero. Why would I fight? How could I? I spent so long chasing peace. Chasing the mundane to outrun twisted memories. I’m lost in life.’ Wistfully, you gathered a breath and met his focused eyes. Your brows knit together as you forced out words your mind never dared to picture.
“I… I wanted to be a hero,” you whispered, “to save those who weren’t sure if anyone else would. Hell, I dreamed of it every night. But in running away, I abandoned those dreams with her. How could I ever pretend to be a good witch, a good hero, after living this life of cowardice?” you breathed out, each word new ink to your stifled thoughts, “How do you plunge into action? How do you stay in motion? And… how do you feign bravery in the face of fear?”
Katsuki carefully rose from his seat, stepping forward until he cast a shadow over you. You fixed your gaze on him, eyes now filled with shame. He felt the same unsettling prickle from when he first met eyes with you. He kept the same arrogant expression, now laced with a delicate whisper of buried understanding.
“I tell myself losing ain’t an option. I’m going to be a hero, no matter what. I know that because I’m strong. You can be a hero too, if you believe you can get over your fear.”
Thoughts coursed through your mind like a flooding river as your lips curled, his eyes refusing to break away from yours. That previous excitement you had only allowed to brush your shoulders began to wash over you in a cold wave — a waltz, turned staccato.
・・・・・
You sat on the hard oak floor of your old bedroom, cloth woven through your aching fingers. A soft scent of pine wafted through the humid summer air, gentle winds lacing through the stained glass windows. The sun painted the room with rays of dancing hues, the warmth of its beams caressing your small back. Your needle clinked gently on the plank floor as you heaved a long sigh.
“Grandmother? What’s the point of embroidering these endless cloths? I’ve poked my thread so many times, my hands are fusing with my needle!”
Her silver hair bloomed under her broad hat as she twinkled with passion. She crouched down with a deliberate slowness, careful of her fragile knees. The smell of jasmine hugged you as her kind lips curled into a gentle smile.
“That, my dear, is it. Fuse with your needle. Let it become an extension of the self. That is when you know you have done it right,” she whispered, her voice velvet with age.
You paused to articulate what you interpreted. As you thought to yourself, you giggled. She always spoke in the most amusing puzzles.
“So… to cast a spell with heart, I must understand what I act with?” you whispered back hesitantly.
Her teeth glimmered under the sun as she grinned, patterns of wrinkles cascading gently across her bright face.
“Precisely. And what does a good witch act with?”
You beamed out with confidence, “Generosity, grace, and goodwill!”
Petals of laughter bloomed from her lips as she mused. Her hand reached out to stroke your hair, its warmth traveling through your being. The skin of her hand creased into a soft story as she touched you with an unreplicable tenderness.
“You will grow to become the hero you dream to be, my dear. Do not fret.”
・・・・・
After seconds, you let out a tense exhale and took a few steps back. You allowed your chest to calm as the decision hung before you. After more pensive silence, you eyed the barbarian slowly.
“...Okay. I’ll join.”
His brows twitched up in shock for a split second before he narrowed his gaze once again.
“Finally,” he scoffed, masking a faint feeling of triumph.
The thick silence that followed was broken by your door slamming open. You were so overwhelmed with the moment that you released the protection spell without noticing. You and Katsuki both whipped your heads towards a panting Eijirou.
“Gods, I finally found you two!” he huffed, attempting to catch his breath, “Good lady! Just how big is your house!?”
