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Operation Breakup Backfires (Bakugou x Reader)

*GIF not mine*

Summary: What’s the harm of a little breakup prank? It doesn’t even work anyway….

A/N: There’s no shortage of Bakugou ideas in my brain, I swear. Also, this might be the first of a little prank “series” I’ll be writing for multiple characters, idk. It just depends if I get more ideas. Hope you enjoy!

Word count: 1236

       “I’m gonna do it.” You knew it was mean, but you really wanted to see how your explosive blondie would react. 

       “Okay, yeah that’s great,” Kirishima says, “but you know he’s gonna spontaneously combust, right?” You click your tongue. 

       “Oh c’mon, it won’t be that bad.” Crossing your arms, you relax deeper into your assigned seat while Kirishima shakes his head frantically, his palms slamming against the surface of your desk.

       “You’ve met Bakugou, right?” 

       “Yes, I’ve met my own boyfriend,” you scoff, jaw twitching. 

       “Then you know how stupid of an idea this is. The Baku-beast is gonna come out of hibernation if you do this!” Was it ever in hibernation? You shake the thought away and wave your hand dismissively. 

       “I won’t let it go that far, I promise.” Kirishima raises his brows at you.  

       “I don’t believe you. This is gonna be a nightmare,” he mutters with wide, anxious eyes. 

       “He’s not gonna hurt me!” The redhead nods. 

       “Oh, I know that. What’ll happen is he’ll take it out on the rest of us and it’ll be a bloodbath!” He nervously rubs the back of his neck while mumbling, “My throat never looks good post-Baku-strangle.” The phrase mystifies you.

       “Ok. First of all, you have a name for that?” You shake your head, baffled. “Second of all, quit being a wuss.” He grows offended at your words, holding a hand to his chest. 

       “I’m not being a wuss, I’m being logical,” he corrects you with a confident head nod. You roll your eyes at the act. Ever so discreetly, you cough out a loud “Wuss!” while mockingly covering your mouth. Kirishima hurls a withering glare at you. 

       “I am not-”

       “Shush!” You cover your lips with a finger and nod your head towards Bakugou stepping through the doorway. The redhead huffs out a breath and walks away. 

       “Mum’s the word!” you call after him.

                               ###

       The common room is empty aside from you, waiting anxiously in a chair for your boyfriend. You had texted him that you wanted to talk after school, and got a “K” in response. It was enough for you. The doors behind your chair slam open loudly and you take a deep breath before popping up and taking on a solemn face. 

       “What did you want to talk about?” Bakugou asks with pursed lips. His tone is sharp and impatient, but you’ve never heard it any differently. Sighing, you slowly approach him and bite your bottom lip, softening your eyes. 

       “I want to break up.” 

       Silence.

       Bakugou’s face doesn’t change. Not a single twitch in his body, or a widening of his eyes. He seems… unaffected.

       “No.” 

       No? No?! He just rejected your breakup, tackled it and slammed it down like a pro-wrestler before suffocating it with a pillow using one word. ‘No.’

       “Katsuki,” you lick your lips and he tenses at the action, “I just don’t think we’re working out-”

       “We exercise all the time, YN, I think we’re fine.” His voice is rough and guttural, and you notice his hands curling into fists. 

       “You know that’s not what I meant.” You drag your gaze back up to his face, giving him a pleading look and desperately trying to sell your prank.

       “I don’t care,” his jaw clenches and he narrows his vermilion eyes at you, “we’re fine.” The hiss makes you flinch as he stares you down threateningly. Oh shit, he’s fucking scary. 

       You were conflicted; you wanted to be agitated at the fact that he wouldn’t let you break up with him, even though you didn’t really want to end things with him, but you were also touched at the way he wasn’t willing to let you go. However, when his feet stomp loudly against the floor as he approaches you with dilated pupils, fear takes the lead in the race of your emotions. You stumble back at his sudden advancement.

       “Yeah, no, you’re totally right,” you hurriedly agree with him, nodding your head frantically, “I’m good, you’re good, it’s all good.” You give him finger guns and a cheesy smile but his expression never changes. You want to crawl into a hole and die just to avoid his intimidating gaze. 

       “So, um, I’m gonna go to my room now.” 

       “Okay.” With his approval of your release, you hightail it down the hall, barging into your dorm and slamming the door behind you before deflating against it. Hands pressed against your flushed cheeks, you trudge into the bathroom and stare at yourself in the mirror. 

       “What the fuck was that?” you whisper to your reflection. It doesn’t respond, thankfully. The faucet pours cold water that you splash onto your burning face. The beating in your chest is racing so fast it hurts, and you press a hand harshly against it, feeling the swift buh-bumps under your fingertips. That, what had just happened down there, was indeed a failed prank. And now you knew for a fact you were stuck with him. It’s not like you minded that but shit, he was scary! Nope. Never again. No more pranks on Bakugou. 

                              ###

       That night, as you lie in bed beside him, he slowly rolls over to face you, gently dropping an arm over your waist. 

       “Did you really mean it?” he whispers. The room is too dark to spot any emotions on his face, but his words are hesitant. Gulping loudly, you rest a hand on his cheek and throw a leg over his hips. 

       “No, it was just supposed to be a dumb prank.” At your confession, he purses his lips and you start to trace random patterns on his face to ignore your growing blush, ashamed at your actions. 

       “You could’ve just dumped water on me or something,” he gruffly responds, hand pressing into the skin of your back firmly. 

       “Y-yeah, maybe I’ll try that next time.” You look away with a nod and clear your throat. 

       “Just,” he continued, eyes intently focused on the wall to avoid your gaze as well, “don’t ever do that again. I don’t think I could handle it.” Bakugou leans his head into your touch but doesn’t say another word. 

       If you didn’t know any better, or perhaps if you didn’t love him, you would have smirked or snickered, or maybe even pointed out how abnormally gentle he was in that moment. But you weren’t cruel, and you didn’t want to lose the warmth by your side at night. Or the grip around your body during the day. Or his comforting presence every living moment. He was it for you, and you seemed to be it for him. 

       A smile grows on your face at this realization and you run your thumb over his cheek adoringly. The corner of his mouth twitches before you press a kiss against his lips and tuck your face into his chest. 

       “I won’t leave you. Ever.” He smiles into your hair.

        “Good, ‘cause I’m not letting you go.” 

       Yeah, your prank kind of backfired. But hearing him say that made it all worth it.

Reborn (Bokuto/Akaashi x Reader) ~Chapter 6~

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

Summary: How do normal people react when they get kidnapped by a vampire and a wizard claiming to be their soulmates? Because you try to choke them out with their own breakfasts. But maybe that’s just you. 

A/N: Ayeee, so it wasn’t like riding a bike and maybe just maybe this chapter sucks ass, but here we go! The long awaited part 6 of Reborn! I’m so happy y’all are liking it so far and I can promise you this won’t be the last chapter of *this year.* Winter break’s not over yet, so don’t lose hope now! Merry Christmas from me to you and, as always, enjoy!💜

Tag List: @burntcilantro  @alloverbutterflies  @neonghxst  @zaejia  @momothepeachgirl  @black-veil-chemicalz  @bumblebeel  @blxkstar  @keigosbitch  @spicyiwa  @rikorene  @idiot-juice-enthusiast  @cherriomilkmangos  @floriane4536  @shimy-deko  @lanceyfancypants  @asteroikawa  @bokutowo  @ichiraku-verse  @samie-babie  @astro-anomaly  @hq149  @paganandshit  (some don’t work 😔)

Word count: 4500

        “YN.”

        Bokuto stirs on the ground, whimpering your name just once more while he stutters out a breath. Behind his lids, his eyes stir rapidly but not once does he wake. 

        The sight warms your heart just as much as it pains it. They’re alive, but at what cost? It was clear Kuroo hadn’t bothered to feed them in the week or so that they had been left in the cages, leaving both their bodies to wither to breathing skeletons. 

        Akaashi’s cheekbones jutted out in the moonlight as his head leaned against the wall. His lashes gently brushed the skin just under his eyes as he slumbered but he still looked ready to startle at even the smallest of noises. 

        One of those being your footsteps brushing the concrete of the basement. 

        They fluttered and slid open, revealing those gunmetal blue eyes you adored so dearly. Even though the dank scent of decaying meat stung your nose, you still inhaled when Akaashi seemed awake enough to notice you. 

        “YN…?” he mumbled, sleep and exhaustion gruffing his voice. Your heart jumped at the familiar tone and you bit back a whimper. 

        “Akaashi-”

        “YN!” Akaashi sprung himself up from the dusty floor and crashed into the iron bars, shackled hands clanging against the metal. “YN, oh God, please tell me this is real.”

        “It is,” you nodded, tears gathering in the corners of your eyes, “it is, and thank fuck you’re okay.” Carefully, you reached out a hand and cupped his face, releasing a breathless laugh when he kissed your palm before leaning into the hold. 

        Even the smallest touch felt like pure euphoria as Akaashi’s cheek brushed against your fingertips, lighting up a million tingles all throughout your body. A shiver works its way deep through your bones, bringing goosebumps and a haunting reality along with it.

        “Kuroo,” you swallowed, observing as Akaashi’s gaze grew hard, “he said you guys were dead.”

        His jaw twitched but the wizard kept silent, taking the smallest of glances back at Bokuto through the bars of his own cell. 

        The action makes you pause and panic, your hold on Akaashi faltering as you too look at the vampire collapsed on the floor. “Wait, Bokuto, is he-” you glance back at the wizard as he shakes his head, reaching a single hand up to press your palm back against his lips.

        “No, my love, he’s okay. I promise. It’s surprisingly hard to kill the supernatural.”

        “Then why-”

        “Trust me, YN, it’s better if you don’t wake him.” Akaashi’s hold on your wrist tightens in warning, but there’s more concern in his eyes than anything. “You don’t want to see him like this.”

        “Akaashi,” your voice softens as you brush a hair from his forehead. It’s cold to the touch, a disturbing fact you struggle to shake away before you continue. “I’ve seen him through this phase before, and even then I could trust him. Let me try.”

        “My love, forgive me, but you’re wrong.” Your brows furrow as the wizard gazes into your eyes unflinchingly. There’s a concern you’ve never seen before that stuns you for a split second.

        Even Akaashi himself seems haunted by what’s happening to Bokuto just a few feet away. You can still hear his whimpers and see his body tremble, but the younger man was right--there was something feral about the vampire’s movements now. 

        Every twitch jolted his body like a strike of lightning and every moan had the smallest of rumbles layered beneath. His form was curled in on itself, but it seemed like the days he had been in captivity had only stood to make him grow larger. In a single ray of the moon, you could see his hands now.

        His nails had grown sharper than knives and each tip was doused in red. 

        “What happened to him? What changed?” With struggle, you tear your uneasy gaze away from the ecstatic boy you had grown to know. “It’s only been a week--I know he’s gone for longer without… my blood.”

        “Yes, when he knew you were safe. Now, it’s been one week and he hasn’t heard or seen a single thing from you.” The wizard stole another glance at his longtime friend. “Things are different this time. He’s changing and losing control of himself.” 

        Guilt tore at your heart now because, deep down, you couldn’t help but feel this was your fault. Bokuto was in pain because he was worried about your well-being. Back when you were in the mansion, he would constantly check up on you however often he could. When he couldn’t, Akaashi was sent to be the messenger. 

        Now, he’s had no one to reassure him of your safety. Kuroo could have killed you for all he knew and no doubt that thought had been eating at him for the past seven days while he was stuck in this cell. 

        That’s exactly why you needed him to see you now, so he didn’t have to worry anymore. 

        “Akaashi, I can’t just let him stay like that.”

        “YN, don’t!” Akaashi’s eyes widened when you twisted out of his grip and moved towards Bokuto’s cell. The wizard reached for you in a panic but only groaned when his shackles once more clanked against the iron bars like a warning. “YN, please, even I don’t know how he’ll react right now! He’s too dangerous!”

        It didn’t matter. You had left him to suffer like this and you couldn't stand the thought of just leaving him in there without ever letting him see you in return. 

        It wasn’t fair, and in your heart of hearts you knew you wanted to feel his touch just as much as you had wanted Akaashi’s. 

        “Bokuto,” you called out as loud as you thought was appropriate. There was still the variable of you being in what you hoped was a soundproof dungeon to be considered, and you held onto that hope as you tried to get the vampire’s attention. 

        “Bokuto!”

        Nothing. Just another stir of his body and another whimper of your name.

        Akaashi was still reaching for you, warning evident in his voice as pleaded with you in any way possible to stop. 

        “Please, YN, what if he hurts you? I’ve never seen him like this. He could snap, for all we know.”

        You stayed silent, letting the thought of being hurt by Bokuto roll off your back. Even if he did, which you doubted, you didn’t want your finding them to be in vain. 

        If Kuroo were to ever discover you had found them tonight, you at least wanted to see Bokuto one last time and vice versa before the cat undoubtedly took you away.

        However, nothing you whisper-yelled seemed to stir the slumbering vampire. In a last ditch effort, you glanced around the room for something--anything, really. Like… that pebble that just so happened to be inches away from your freezing toes. Perfect.

        “YN, don’t even think about-” Too late.

        The pebble ricocheted right off Bokuto’s temple and onto the floor inches from his face. 

        For a few seconds, you and Akaashi both held your breath as the atmosphere of the basement grew ten times thicker. 

        But nothing happened. 

        In fact, all Bokuto did was stop snoring and even making a peep, and you figured you had found his secret “Silent Mode” button. His body stopped twitching and shivering, and after a couple seconds, Akaashi rolled his eyes and let his shoulders fall to their original place. 

        “Well done, my love. If I had known all I needed to do was throw a rock at Bokuto’s head to shut him up, I would’ve done that the second day we got here.”

        “Akaashi!” you chided, huffing at your failure of a plan. What more could be done that couldn’t wake up the entire werecat clan? 

        The wizard only shrugged. “My love, I know you wanted him to see you, but it was too much of a risk. Neither of us know how he would’ve reacted. Count your blessings and return back to your room before that cat finds you’ve escaped.”

        “Akaashi…”

        “I’ll let him know you were here and you were okay,” he gives you a soft smile before nodding to the creaky door you had entered just twenty minutes ago. “Be safe.”

        “I-”

        “Darling.”

        “Yes?”

        The voice hadn’t startled you in the slightest; it was only the look of shock on Akaashi’s face that had made you realize oh shit, that was Bokuto.

        You swiveled back to the second cell so fast you gave yourself whiplash, your head growing woozy but that didn’t stop you from sprinting back in front of your vampire. 

        His eyes were open now, his back no longer facing you. A shadow was cast on his body when he had rolled over, however, and now all you could see in his dim, molded cell were his glowing red eyes. 

        Two flaring orbs the color of fresh-spilt blood pierced your soul from twenty feet away one second.

        Bokuto’s hand wrapped around your throat the next. 

        Fangs bared, you couldn’t even brace for impact before the shock hit you like a freight train. It numbed the pain you were so used to for what must’ve been a minute as you stood there, a statue of horror. 

        Finally, your brain caught up to the action and you cried out, pushing against Bokuto’s chest as a burning sensation festered against your throat. A loud thumping pounded against your ears as you whined, feeling his teeth dig deeper in than they ever had before. A fogginess took over your eyesight as your knees grew weak; suddenly, all you could do was let your jaw hang open as oxygen lodged in your throat.

        “Bokuto, stop, you’re hurting her!”

        Stop, please. It hurts.

        Oh God, please let me go.

        Muffled under the sound of your blood sloshing against your eardrums, you can hear Akaashi’s yelling and then-

        Two knocks at the wooden door.

        The pressure and pain around your neck all release at the same time and you collapse to the ground, trembling while pressing a hand to your neck in despair. A cry rips its way out of your throat just before the door squeals open. 

        “Am I interrupting something?”

        Kuroo slips in through the doorway, observing the scene with pursed lips. When his gaze lands on you, his dark eyes flash for a split second before he produces a pristine, white handkerchief from the pocket of his basketball shorts. 

        “YN,” the werecat presses a hand against yours on your neck, urging it away before replacing it with the cloth, “did he hurt you?”

        You don’t make a sound, still focusing on trying to steady your breathing while Kuroo crouches by your side. Before you know it, his lips are pressed against your damp forehead and, of course, the reaction is instant. 

        “Don’t touch her!” Akaashi sneers at him, wrapping two fists around his iron bars tight enough to leave his knuckles white. “You have no right to lay a finger on her.”

        “And you do?” Kuroo laughs bitterly as he pulls away, still keeping one hand against your back to keep you upright. “Look what happens at just a little touch.” He gestures from your blood-soaked nightgown up to your shivering shoulders. “She gets hurt.”

        You don’t bother sparing enough energy for a rebuttal. Even an ounce might leave you unconscious any second, so instead you stay silent and observe. 

        Akaashi’s face is guilt-ridden as he stares at you, his eyes just as broken as his heart. Bokuto, on the other hand, is facing away from you entirely. His back is curled over his entire form as he crouches in the darkest corner of his cell, but you can hear the smallest of wails as he does so. His shoulders shiver and shake as he hugs himself, whispering incomplete thoughts littered with “monster,” “kill,” and “YN.”

        “No excuses now, are there?” Kuroo sighs and shakes his head. “You were the ones who hurt her. Can you accept that, or are you so selfish that you still want her to crawl back to you?”

        Akaashi flinches like he’s been slapped, cringing as he avoids complete eye contact with you. Instead, all he can do is stare at the rag slowly gathering more and more blood at your collarbone. 

        At that point, you think the exertion is worth it to defend them, but before you know it, Kuroo’s whisked you up into his arms and carried you all the way through the door with a slam. 

        “Don’t worry, kitten. I won’t let an incident like this ever happen again.”

                                ~~~

        “How’s your steak?”

        “It’s fine.”

        “Too raw? I know you don’t like that much pink in the middle.”

        “It’s fine,” you repeat, sliding the knife back through the meat without so much as a glance towards Kuroo. 

        You know he’s been growing frustrated at your lack of a response lately, but you weren’t quite sure what else to do. It’s been three days since Bokuto attacked you and you still can’t shake it from your mind. 

        Nightmares haunt you, chasing after you with glowing red eyes. As always, you try to run but your feet feel like they’re trapped in quicksand. You’re never fast enough, and then--bite. 

        The bandage on your neck is useless at this point; you know it because you’ve had experience in the neck-wound area. Bokuto’s bites, no matter how hard, only take a day and a half to heal. Only after your first bite was there the lasting effect of trauma and nightmares--now was just another exception. 

        That’s all you wanted it to be, at least. You hoped it was just a little accident (as easy as it is to say after having time to get over the pain). And yet you knew it was hurting the boys trapped deep down in the basement. 

        Sometimes, you still think you can hear Bokuto crying out your name. 

        Most of the time, you blame it on your imagination. 

        “YN.” Kuroo’s snap draws your attention back to him, reminding you that you still had to play nice with him. “Lost up there, huh?”

        “Uh, yeah,” you return to chewing on another bite of steak. “Just thinking.”

        It was a tad too raw.

        “You’ve been doing that a lot lately.”

        “Doesn’t everybody?”

        Kuroo chuckles, watching over the rim of his glass as you swallow a gulp of wine. “There’s that fire I love.” 

        You almost choke on your drink.

        A sly look appears in his eyes as he stares you down, setting his own utensils on the table to prop his elbows up and fold his hands. From there, he sets his chin down on his knuckles and tilts his head. “You’re thinking about them again, aren’t you?”

        Hmm, play dumb or be honest, play dumb or be honest…

        “Don’t try to play dumb with me.” Damn. “There’s not much you can hide from me anymore, YN. I’ve known you too long.”

        This pisses you off. He didn’t know you. No one really knew you. The only people who knew you were-

        “Bokuto and Akaashi hurt you, YN, and yet you still want to be with them. If that’s not blind love, I don’t know what is.”

        “They didn’t-

        “How’s that bite doing, by the way?”

        “Don’t,” you hiss, throwing him a nasty glare. “Don’t pretend you know shit about how I feel or who I care for.”

        “Do you care for me?”

        “Fuck you.”

        “That’s not an answer,” Kuroo simpers.

        “Maybe try that ‘thinking’ thing and you’ll find one.”

        His face falls and his jaw clenches. “Fine. I relent,” he holds his hands up as a gesture of peace before picking up his knife and fork once more, digging back into his dinner. “That topic of conversation makes me lose my appetite anyway.”

        Nostrils flaring, you take another indignant sip of wine.

        Kuroo eyes you as you do so, lips twitching as you set down the glass. “Let us talk about something else, kitten.”

        “Please no.”

        “What did sweet little Akaashi tell you about magic?”

        His question actually prods your interest for once and you sit up a little straighter. What did you remember? Only that he didn’t want you to mess with it or you would die… or something along those lines. 

        “Judging by your curiosity, I’m guessing it wasn’t much.” Kuroo licks his lips. “Though, might I add having your full attention is thrilling, if I do say so myself.”

        “Get on with it, jackass.”         “At least I get a nickname. One point for me,” Kuroo snickers. You roll your eyes and empty the rest of the wine glass, but that only seems to excite him more. 

        “Kitten,” he finally begins, “magic can be wielded by anyone. Spells and such can be cast by your average Joe.”

        Anyone? Kuroo’s point in all of this was still beyond you, so you urged for him to continue. 

        “So?”

        “So, wizards only exist for the simple reason that they are the only people powerful enough to use and create light magic. ‘If the soul is pure’ and all that other bullshit.”

        “Why are you telling me this, Kuroo?”

        “Because, kitten, dark magic can be wielded by anyone--though, using it is… severely frowned upon.”

        At that moment, you felt a twinge in your stomach. A small churning that lifted up, up, up into the top of your chest and expanded until you almost felt it hard to breathe. 

        And then the bubble burst. 

        Burp.

        “Oop, excuse me.” You cleared your throat. “Anyways, fascinating story, Kuroo, but what does this have to do with, oh, I don’t know, anything?”

        A glint of something sparked in Kuroo’s gaze but disappeared just as fast. “Nothing, kitten. Just thought you would have liked to know. And now, something you might be more interested in.”

        “Yes?” Like you were on the edge of your seat. 

        The werecat huffed, his irises growing thinner. “I’ve decided to allow you one visit to those scumbags, but don’t expect me to be this generous again.”

                                ~~~

        Walking down the same hallways you had followed just days ago felt… bittersweet. You wanted to feel excited about seeing Akaashi and Bokuto again but it felt like a boulder had been dropped in your chest, shoving down any ecstatic emotions you’d expected to have. 

        Something was terribly wrong. 

        Kuroo wasn’t being any too discreet about the situation either. A forced frown but glowing eyes told you to be wary of whatever you were going to find in the basement. 

        Or whatever was going to happen. 

        You knew you would have to confront what had happened with Bokuto. What he’d… done to you. As you followed the marbled paths of Kuroo’s home with two werecats just on your tail, you couldn’t help but feel the urge to curl up in a hole and hide rather than discuss that. 

        You’d rather eat bugs. You’d rather bungee jump and break the string. You’d rather-

        “We’re here.”

        The boy you’d assumed was Kenma--and rightfully so--lackadaisically gestured towards the door, not even bothering to open it for you before walking off with his friend.

        “Wait!” You held out a hand to stop him, “You’re not… like, supposed to come in with me?” Not that you wanted him to, but you figured Kuroo would want some sort of visual on you while you talked to your soulmates. 

        “Do you need me to wipe your ass too?” the blond man sneered, one hand on his hip while the other clutched a phone at his side. “Just hurry up before I leave you to find your way back to your room.”

        With that, he dropped to the floor just outside the hall, legs laid out flat in front of him while he began tapping away on the glowing screen. 

        What a delightful guy. 

        Huffing a sigh, you hugged the sweatshirt around your body closer to your stomach, remembering just how cold and miserable the room had been the last time. Though the horrifying end of the reunion just three nights ago had shocked any thought of temperature from your mind, you still remember returning to your room that night with blue fingers.

        Just the thought made you wonder how Bokuto and Akaashi were even still alive in there. 

        Swallowing all your anxiousness, you tiptoed your black sneakers all the way to the oak door at the end of the hall and hovered a hand over the chrome knob. 

        Even in the flickering light, you could see your warped appearance. Thick, dark circles framing red-stained eyes served as a heavy reminder that you hadn’t gotten a solid night’s sleep in a week. You could feel your own mouth draw into a natural frown and couldn’t bother to put in the effort to smile. 

        You knew this interaction was going to suck, but it was the not knowing of how much that made you refrain from even turning the handle. 

        Just when you made the conscious thought to cover your nail-bitten fingers with a cotton sleeve, you heard Kenma rise from his position on the floor and walk away. 

        Well that didn’t last long. 

        And with that, you opened the door. 

        The staircase was more haphazard and creaky than you remembered. Each step squealed under the slightest pressure, making every move you made sound like rat torture. There was a distinct scent of bleach and body odor that wafted up and singed your nose hairs as you crept down the stairs, a held breath bubbling your cheeks. 

        Like night and day, the room you now entered had a depressing atmosphere about it. Or, at least, that’s what it gave you. This time, there were no waves of excitement arriving with thumping heartbeats in your chest. This time, you knew exactly what you were getting into.

        Starting with Akaashi, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor. 

        Unsurprisingly, Bokuto was curled up in the same corner, but it appeared like he hadn’t moved since the last time you’d come down. 

        Part of you was thankful you didn’t have to be met with those glowing red eyes again. 

        Akaashi’s eyes cracked open the second he heard you scuffing along the floor, and he rose from his position with extreme care. Cautiously, he held up his cuffed hands and approached the bars. He was trying not to scare you away. 

        “YN.” He mumbled your name with a tenderness you would find in a mother consoling her child. “Are you okay?”

        Anger bubbled at the words. Surely he was patronizing you? In the back of your head, you felt a voice scratching at you, trying to tell you that this was Akaashi. You cared for him as he cared for you, and he didn’t deserve a lick of mistreatment. Neither of them did. 

        Fuck that.

        “Am I okay?” You scoffed, throwing him a bitter smile. “Oh, I don’t know, Akaashi, do I look okay? Does the bruise around my throat look okay? Does my bleeding wound look okay? You tell me if I look okay!”

        Fury lodged itself in your throat as you charged towards his cell, sneering when he backed away just out of reach. Your hands wrapped around the bars and tightened just enough to satisfy your urge to strangle. 

        “My love, calm down.” Akaashi looked you over, head-to-toe, with a concerned gaze. “Something’s wrong, just tell me.”

        “Aww, of course sweet little Akaashi wants to make everything better,” you pouted, puppy dog eyes on full display. “What are you gonna do? Curse all my pain away like last time?”

        The wizard flinched at the jab, furrowing his brows before setting his jaw. “This isn’t you, YN. Kuroo’s done something to you.”

        “That’s where you’re wrong, my love,” you spat. “This is me finally being honest with you. Doesn’t the truth hurt like a bitch?”

        He pursed his lips, forcing himself to stay silent while observing your every move like a hawk. The feeling of his eyes on your skin only helped to piss you off more. With an indignant huff from your nose, you released your iron-grip on the bars of his cell and stepped back, lifting your chin to stare down at him. 

        “All right, Akaashi. Hide that anger like you always do, but I won’t hold back. And you know who else won’t hold back?” You drag your gaze to the right, trailing along the musty room until finally landing on the slumped form in the corner of the only other cell. A perfect target. 

        Akaashi didn’t even bother to follow your gaze before shaking his head. “Please, YN, whatever Kuroo’s done to you, don’t take it out on him. Bokuto’s already punishing himself enough for what happened.”

        “No, Akaashi.” At last, the wet blanket spoke. “I deserve whatever she has to say.”

        “Bo-”

        The vampire cut off his friend by rising abruptly, joints cracking with the movement as he stumbled over to the bars of the cell to face you. 

        Seeing his face made you pause in your agenda. The last time you had seen him, you never really got to study his face--especially with all the biting that was happening. Now, you finally noticed. 

        His eyes were back to their signature golden, though they may as well still have been red considering how bloodshot they were. The skin of his cheeks were damp while his lips were bitten and bleeding, and all you could focus on was just how much love he still held in his gaze. It was disguised as regret as he slumped his shoulders in so much he could’ve caved in on himself any second. 

        You loved it. He had become so broken like an empty shell of himself that he couldn’t even bear to look you in the eyes and confront his mistake. The guilt wafted of him in waves and you drank it right up. 

        The nagging voice in the back of your head fought back full force and stole the glare right off your face, but it never stood a chance against the words that slipped out of your mouth. 

        “I hate you.”

Previous  Masterlist  Next

Is oreo your kitty??? THEY'RE so pretty... I think I'm in love

Yes🥺 he is my floofy little chonker and I love him with all my heart😊💖

Sorry I can’t add another pic of him tho, scared of online creepers and all that😔 but I promise he loved your praise🥰🥰

No context just oreo. <33

Oop😳

Oreos really do make the best pets tho😌😌

Ps he’s laying on my stomach rn sos I can’t breathe

Yan!bokuto would be breathing down your neck, wanna go out with friends? He'll be with you not letting you meet them without his supervision. Wanna go the bathroom? He'll go too. He's super possessive and easily jealous. 😳😏

Yessss. Just imagine the one damn time you get to go to the bathroom alone and he’s just leaning against the door when you open it. He falls on his ass but scrambled to his feet just so he can tackle you in his arms.

“You took so long, baby! I thought you got away or something!”

Shit, tho, is there really a point in asking him for some time alone? “No, YN. Not happening.” “But Bokuto-” “Dont even fucking think about it. I need you by my side so I can keep you safe. You’re never leaving me.”

Pspspsppspspspspspps hiii how have you been?? Bestie, drink water and stay safe and healthy <33

Also,,,, If it's alright to ask; I have been reading your reborn series and I liked it alot!! Is there any close date or sm where you are planning to post the new chapters? (Sorry I don't wanna sound rude)

You didn’t sound rude at all! I’ve been fine, and u better be drinking water too😤😤💜

Happy you like it, and I’m for sure thinking of updating it some time around the beginning of summer. No promises on any certain date, but the new chapters have definitely been planned🥳

Yandere Zuko Headcanons

*GIF not mine*

A/N: Short little thing for the night bc why tf not. So I finally finished ATLA and holy shit it’s fucking amazing. I definitely recommend. Sadly, there’s a severe lack of Yandere Avatar imagines, so I hope this’ll encourage better yandere authors to get somethin’ goin’. Hope you enjoy!

Word count: 886

Let’s get one thing straight before we start. This mf is possessive.

We all saw the beach episode (yah, that’s some anime shit right there), and we all saw how he went nuts over Mai.

With you, it’s more.

As the Fire Lord, you bet he’s gonna use his authority to kick out any guards of his who stare at you for a second too long. 

He has his most trusted adversaries follow you whenever you travel into town, or just straight up follows you himself (he got them Blue Spirit skillz)

Craves your attention 24/7 like a true momma’s boy

“YN, come here!”

Emotionally Unstable™

He always, always throws fits whenever you talk to someone

Like he’ll get angry and his hands light aflame without him even trying

Then he’ll walk up behind you and just stand there glaring at the other person.

You can feel the heat against your back, but you dismiss it. Meanwhile the other person is about to shit themselves. 

It’s not surprising that they run away mid-sentence

Moving on, lemme just say Zuko is never controlling of you. 

No, not of you. But the people around you... now that’s a different story. 

He may be awkward as hell, but he also knows how to threaten people (let it be known that this fucker was only an official good guy in the last five episodes)

Let’s hop into a lil story, shall we?

Okay, so first of all, you were part of the Gaang, and you were very accepting of him from the beginning. After all, your past wasn’t that squeaky clean either

Anyway, he meets you and you’re all snarky with him but kind when it counts and it’s all like bu-BAM. Obsessive mode engaged.

Any encounters you guys have with enemies like Fire Nation soldiers or the Dai Li or smth, Zuko always shoves you behind his back and protects you at all costs. 

You bitch him out about it afterwards, but he just zones out and nods along, admiring every inch of your face and body.

After Fire Lord Ozai is defeated, you’re helping Zuko prepare for his ceremony, exchanging the occasional kiss while helping him slip on the robe and tie up his hair. 

You leave to finish up getting ready yourself (even though he would prefer if you stayed in your bra and panties forever, holed up in his room) and that’s when Mai returns. 

“Mai!” Zuko is surprised (and lowkey pissed) at the feeling of her cold hands on his body. 

She’s all up in his face, ready to slap a smooch on his kisser, and of course that’s when you return to ask whether you should wear jewelry that matches his eyes or not (ofc, y would u even ask?🤦‍♀️)

He pushes Mai to the ground in an instant, but it’s too late. You’ve already stopped in your tracks, the contentedness on your face long gone.

“YN IT’S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!” 

It’s really not, but the fact that he said that makes it look like it is.

Your eyes tear up but you force on a smile and shake your head. 

“No, no, I understand. I was just a replacement.” Your voice cracks along with Zuko’s heart. “I-I’ll leave you two alone now.”

You run out and of course Zuko’s gonna chase after you. He would track you to the ends of the Earth bc you know he’s got experience in that area

He tackles you in the middle of the hallway and just hugs you so tightly you can’t even breathe. Just the idea of losing you almost drove him mad in an instant. 

You struggle in his arms and tense up when you hear him begin to cry. 

“Don’t leave me. Please please don’t leave me.” 

He’s pressing kisses across your bare skin, up your neck and on the apples of your cheeks while his own tears begin to paint your skin. 

“Mai means nothing to me now. YN, you’re the love of my life. I won’t lose you.” 

The tone rattles you a little, but you still hug him back and nod. 

“Okay. I won’t leave.” 

“You’re my Queen.”

“Okay.”

“I love you so much.”

“...” It was a little too soon for you. “...o-okay.”

Just your agreement was enough for him, and soon he drags you all the way back to his bedroom, asking you to continue helping him get ready with a serene smile on his face like nothing ever happened wtfff

Mai’s disappeared, and little did you know that would be the last day anyone would ever see her again. You always try to ask Zuko, but he brushes it off with an insistence that it was “pointless to worry about” or that it was a “private, sensitive matter”

Overall, he loves you and would never hurt you. But the second your eyes aren’t on him or you’re not attached to his hip, you best believe someone’s gonna pay. 

Misery Loves Company (Garou x Reader)

*GIF not mine*

Summary: Garou was falling for you, ever so slowly. It only takes a small bath with you for this to settle in. 

A/N: I thought I tried to make it pretty cute, but it ended up a little too meaningful to be fluffy. Nonetheless, thanks for all the love recently, and sorry I haven’t been writing as much! I truly am grateful you guys, anyone on here who is supporting me, so thank you. Please enjoy!

Word count: 1867

        The chair was uncomfortably hard, but every time Garou mentioned that, the nastiest stink eye was thrown his way, courtesy of you. 

       “If you don’t like it so much, then don’t come crawling to me next time you rub blood into your hair.” You were right, it was a bad habit of his. Your hands were stained orange as you combed through his paling strands. His neck was growing stiff too from leaning back into your sink, but he was too afraid of your reaction to mention it. Besides, he was rather occupied purring at the way you gently massaged your shampoo onto his head. 

       “Is that,” Garou sniffs the air scrutinizingly, “strawberry scented?”

       “My home, my shampoo.”

       “Right,” he nodded, pressing his lips together to prevent you from stopping the ministrations. Your bathroom was quiet aside from the sound of the sink running and the soap bubbling. The light on your ceiling was slowly burning through Garou’s closed eyelids, but he could care less. Right now, he was too focused on keeping his breaths light and soundless. He didn’t want you to notice how much your nails gently scratching on his scalp affected him. At first, the silver-haired man thought you were simply focused on the matter at hand, until….

       “Garou,” your fingers paused momentarily, and he had to hold back a whine, “you’re gonna get seriously hurt one of these days.” You were concerned. You, a regular, powerless human, were concerned over him, the Hero Hunter. God, you were perfect.

       “I can handle myself, YN.” His golden eyes flashed open and observed your face smugly while his mouth grew into a lopsided grin. You tensed and subconsciously tugged at his strands, causing him to hiss. To avoid his strong gaze, you turned your head away, flushing and nervously nibbling on your bottom lip. He was always able to get past your walls and under your skin, and that fact infuriated you. Sort of.

       “What if you die, what then?” You regained the strength to argue. “I’m not some… revivaler who can raise you from the dead!” Anxious to move, you quickly massage your fingers back into his now-clean hair, biting your tongue when he groaned silently at the sensation.

       “I think the word you're looking for is necromancer-”

       “Shut it.” He snickered, but kept silent otherwise. While you cupped your hands and collected water to wash his hair with, Garou lost himself in his thoughts. Ever since the beginning, when he had first met you, you were always worried for him. You knew he was a wanted criminal, and a powerful, almost unstoppable fighter, but you still cared for him. It was new for the young man, but he enjoyed it. He reveled in the tender way you treated him, as though he wasn’t as dangerous as the world thought. You were wrong on that end of course, but that wasn’t the point. You were just so…

       “I’m done,” you announced suddenly, turning off the faucet and handing him a small towel for his freshly-washed, strawberry-scented hair. Hesitantly, he sat up and began to rub his scalp, only to yelp at a new twinge in his side. Garou was shirtless, so he could easily see where he had just reopened a fresh laceration courtesy of the last hero he fought. 

       “You okay?” 

       “Of course. I’ll be fine.” It was the truth, but you never bought it until the wound was nothing but healed-over skin. Scoffing, you started the water in the bathtub.

       “You need to clean your injuries. Strip.” The blunt statement flew over your head completely until your criminal companion had something to say about it. 

       “Wow YN, I’m glad you finally came to your senses,” he teased. You almost choked on the oxygen in your lungs while you attempted to whip out an excuse, but it was too late. After you turned around to correct yourself, Garou approached you, shamelessly naked and utterly self-satisfied. Every outline, indent, and vein screamed at you to stop and stare, but you were stronger than your urges. For once in your life. 

       “Just get in the tub.” Your back faced him and your heart stuttered when you felt his presence beside you. The hot water dribbled over the edge as Garou sank into the porcelain, his jaw clenched at the feeling of every scratch on his body stinging in pain. He thought he hid it well, but you peeked over your shoulder in unease at his complete silence. If he was not hurting, he would be throwing suggestive offers your way. The sight of his bareness made you blush, but his snarl made you more concerned than anything. 

       “I know it hurts, but your wounds will heal faster, I promise,” you assured him softly, kneeling beside the tub with your hands on the edge. Once again, Garou’s heart skipped at your words. You actually gave a damn if he was injured from a battle with a do-gooder. What more could he ask for? Slowly, the young man’s body loses tension as he sinks lower into the water, pleased with the feeling of your eyes watching his every move worriedly. His own glowing orbs flicker open and meet yours in an instant. 

       “Join me.” Your jaw almost dropped through the floor. “Please.” Maybe he got a concussion from the fight, because his whole demeanor had changed in an instant. His eyes weren’t suggestive or hungry, and his brows didn’t quirk up like they normally would. Instead, he was sincere and almost desperate while his arms rose out of the water in offering of an embrace. You followed the droplets that trailed down his biceps, lucky bastards, and returned to the rest of the bath. 

       You liked him too, you always have. You wanted him too. Even though he could drag you into some deep shit if anyone ever found out he was in your house, you actually wanted to be with him. He held values and beliefs that defied many others, and his strength to deny society’s will interested you, not to mention small moments like these. You both liked each other, and you knew it too. You sucked with words though, so you figured this action could make up for your vocal slack. 

       “Don’t look,” you declared softly, and he nodded understandingly, ducking his drying head while his arms remained up in the air enticingly. The sound of clothing hitting the floor almost made him deny your wish, but he didn’t. Not even a peek. Go him. 

       Just as your foot dipped into the water, however, he stretched up and tugged you into his chest, water splashing everywhere. You squealed in surprise and he chuckled playfully, pulling your exposed figure impossibly closer. “Stop, I’m laying on your bruises! I don’t want to make them worse!” He ignores your exclamation and settles his chin on your shoulder. His hands mindlessly draw small patterns on your stomach. Tingles flow from every shape he creates but you don’t say a word; you only tightening your thighs closer together while your breathing stutters.

       “I don’t care, I don’t want you to see my hair when it’s down.” Garou notices how you relax at the playful response, and he’s glad. He loves when you’re flustered around him, but he would hate if you tried to close yourself off now, while you’re completely bare-skinned with him in a tub. The glowing in his chest almost bursts out with pride when you laugh easily, and he preens when your muscles relax into his own. 

       “You don’t think it’s a little too late for that?” Your head leans back to rest on his own shoulder and you begin to play with the bubbles on the water’s surface lazily. He smiles at the act.

       “I was hoping you were too charmed by my big, strong muscles to notice,” he shrugs, ever so slowly reaching up and running a hand along your right arm. You smile while continuing to collect and blow away the suds. 

       “Mmhmm, well they are pretty distracting,” you pat his cheek next to your head reassuringly, “but they definitely aren’t that distracting.” 

       “What’s that supposed to mean?!” You giggle and his movement halts at your wrist, caressing the skin there as he holds your hand against his warm jawline.

       “I’m just wondering how much hair gel you use in a week.” He pinches your side at the jab and you let out an adorable squeak- God, he was whipped.

       He was almost positive he began falling for you when you first met.

                               ***

       “Is it too tight?” You stared into his eyes with concern. Who the hell is this girl? After having passed out on the street post-brawl, he woke up in a strange apartment. Later, you approached his side, handed him a sandwich to eat and began to wrap his wounds in tape, all while he kept asking you the same question. 

       “Why?” Why did you care if he was hurting? Why did you not call the cops when you first recognized him? Why did you seem to care about him, the monstrous Hero Hunter? Throughout the span of time you worked, he kept eyeing the window over your shoulder. A clean escape. But you were a curious one, different enough to make him stay. 

       “Everyone has their reasons,” you muttered. Your deep eyes stared into his own, strong and intimidating, while your words rattled his brain. You listened to his side of the story after that. You sympathized with him, comforted him, understood him. You made him feel like he wasn’t alone that day. Thank God he didn’t jump out that window when he had a chance. What a mistake that would have been. Now, he had you.

                               ***

       Unable to hold back any longer, Garou carefully pressed a kiss against your shoulder, his grip on your wrist tightening after you gasp. He didn’t stop there. You gulped as he trailed his lips all the way up your throat and ended just under your ear. 

       “I think I love you,” he whispered just loud enough for you to hear. He didn’t know for sure. No one had ever treated him the way you did, but he didn’t want to scare you away either. But as you took a deep breath and responded, his heart warned him that his assumption was correct.

       “I think I love you too.” Your face grew red at your own words, and you were frustrated with yourself at how bashful you suddenly became. Meanwhile, your hands subconsciously gripped his own comfortingly, and he beamed against the side of your face happily. 

       You never wanted him to change, and you accepted him for him. You didn’t want him to stop being himself, or become something he wasn’t. You just cared about him, loved him for what he was. And suddenly, he didn’t feel so alone anymore. 

Heyy are you still taking requests?

Yepp, requests are still open!

Betrayal (Garou x Reader) *Request*

*GIF not mine*

Request: Uh hi I don't know if I had already asked this but I was wondering if you could do Garou with a s/o who is Bang's granddaughter who knows the same level of martial arts that Bang does.

Summary: You were interested in Garou ever since he stepped foot into your grandfather’s dojo. But after he attacks the others and gets expelled, you have to try and forget every emotion that’s ever festered for him over the years.

A/N: Sorry, I went a little overboard. But I loved this idea so much, and thank you for the request! Dear God, I hope and pray this one posts. (Edit: GUH I dont know how to post thisssss) Anyways, hope you like it!

Word count: 3145

       You’ve watched him for years, and over that time you had grown to admire him. Grown to admire his ambition for power.

                             ***

      “Teach me how to fight!” the white-haired boy demanded. He was roughly your age, maybe a year older, but as you watched from behind the sliding door of your grandfather’s dojo, you couldn’t help but gasp at his words. Bang, however, only smiled.

      “Okay, you can train alongside my granddaughter in the back during classes. She can teach you many things, and help you when necessary.” You preened at his praise and stepped into view, only to flinch at the snarl the new boy threw you. Well he’s mean.

      The next day, whenever you commented on his amateur form, Garou would sneer at you and deny your words. After Bang had backed up your claims several times following this, however, the boy began to lower his walls, only slightly, but enough to trust you.

      Months after that, the two of you became great friends, and harbored elementary crushes on one another like most at that age would.

      “Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” you both shouted, Garou squealing after you smack him on the head viciously.

      “That hurt, YN!” You giggle.

      “It’s supposed to!” He glares at you playfully before attempting to tackle you, only for you to kick him back harshly into the dojo walls mid-laugh. The crash causes everyone in the room to freeze and watch Garou wiggle himself out of the indent it had created.

      “YN!” Bang’s shout causes you to jump up and stand at attention. “What have I always taught you.”

      “Restrain and control are necessary for peace,” you recite like a prayer, keeping your eyes low in an attempt to ignore your grandfather’s disciplinary gaze.

      “Good, now go help Garou wash up. And apologize.” You nod hastily and grab your friend’s hand, leading him out of the room.

      “I’m not sorry, you know,” you smirk at him with mischievous eyes. The boy copies your expression with willing ease and chuckles.

      “Are you ever?” he asks, and you proudly shake your head in response. “Oh, YN, what would your grandpa think if he knew?”

      “Don’t be a snitch, Garou,” you scold, leading him into the bathroom and gesturing for him to give you his uniform to wash.

      “I would never betray you, YN. But seriously, you gotta teach me that kick one day, it’s super powerful!” He trembles with excitement while shimmying off his karategi and handing it to you.

      “I-I don’t know. My grandfather has been teaching me since birth, I wouldn’t know where to begin with you.”

      “Ugh,” Garou huffs irritably, “that old man has never been willing to show me anything more than the others. How do I-...” he trails off while staring at you, obviously plotting something.

      “I don’t like it when you think, Garou, it usually ends badly.” His lips slowly curl up into a sly grin.

      “YN,” he drags out your name with a pleading expression, “could you be the best girl in the world and ask your grandfather to help me get stronger?” You raise your brows at him and cross your arms.

      “Garou, you know we practice restraint here. It’s all about using our opponent’s strength against them, not always using our own.” His Adam's apple bobs before he nods his head frantically.

      “Yeah, that’s what I meant. I want to learn to get better at… you know, that stuff.” He was your best friend in the dojo, and you always had a soft spot for him. You suppose it wouldn’t hurt to ask Grandpa Bang to help him. Plus, his puppy dog eyes were killer.

      “Ugh, fine!” You wave your arms at him before dropping them at your side, giving in. “I’ll do it-”

      “Thanks YN, you’re the best!” Garou engulfs you in his arms and squeezes you tightly, choking the air right out of you. But he was so warm, and you couldn’t remember the last time someone had hugged you. So you didn’t resist his grip.

      “I am the best,” you grumble, and Garou laughs before holding you tighter.

                              ***

      Unconscious bodies of people you had known since you were a baby were scattered all over the dojo floor. Your friends. As you returned to the training room of the building, you gasped at the sight of them all, and whimpered at the figure standing in the center of it all.

      “You’re all so weak,” Garou kicked the body next to him away before observing the rest. “To think I ever had to train at the same level as you numbskulls.” He sneered cruelly at every single one of them, not minding to step on a few hands on his way to the exit.

      “I’ll never get stronger here, learning restraint and all that other bullshit.” He whipped open the doors before stopping at a small voice.

      “Garou,” you whispered, tears streaming down your face. At some point in the ten years that you had known him, he had changed drastically. He had grown mad with a hunger for power, and every spar session he had with the others became serious and bloody. It seems today he had finally snapped.

      “What have you done?” Your vision blurs as your cheeks dampen. Your whole body is trembling, not only with fear but with utter, complete betrayal.

      Garou doesn’t say a word. The lines on his forehead deepen and his eyes sadden, looking away to avoid your wounded gaze. In an instant, his form disappears out the door, and at the same time a presence arrives behind you.

      “He became corrupt,” your grandfather solemnly states behind you, setting a comforting hand on your shoulder. “He grew obsessed with gaining power, and now he is expelled from this dojo forever.” You blink rapidly to dry the wetness of your eyes, but your cheeks are still stained. How could he? You scrunch up your nose to hold back another flow of tears. Why did he have to do this? Your efforts fail.

      “I’m sorry, YN.” Bang has always been a strict grandfather. Never showing physical affection, always done through praise of your abilities and gentle smiles. So when he pulls you into a once-in-a-lifetime hug, you can’t help but break down into convulsing sobs in his arms.

      Why wasn’t I enough to stop him?

                              ***

      Power had always come easy to you. It flowed through your blood, literally. Your grandfather’s genes had influenced you to become a strong, capable person. But you didn’t care to nurture that power after what Garou had done. From that day forward, you took one section of Bang’s guidance and transformed it into a future job prospect. You wanted to be a teacher, but not in the dojo.

      However, you were still only in high school, so you held onto that dream and began a job as a babysitter.

      “Tareo!” You searched high and low for the child. Every inch of that playground had been scoured by you.

      Where is that little bastar- I mean, wonderful little biscuit.

      Using rude names in reference to others was a hard habit to break, but necessary for how often you found yourself around children. You had gotten it in your time around him, always hating on others and being distrustful of them. In the time that Garou had left your life, you realized how much of an effect he had on you in your younger years. He had been, after all, your only friend.

      “Tareo, where are you?!” you shouted, checking under the slide for the third time. You groan aloud when you come up empty, receiving weird stares from the rest of the park’s patrons.

      “I’m not a bad babysitter, I swear,” you laugh nervously to the crowd of parents and kids, “the boy is just a little rat-” you cough awkwardly, “I mean, fun child.” Smiling sarcastically, you walk past the families who jump out of your path dramatically and try not to flip them off.

      Maybe he was right. Humans are soft. Bunch of sissies can’t even agree out loud that kids are a pain in the-

      “...and this one shoots bullets using a slingshot!” Tareo! You finally found him!

      “Mmhm, interesting. Can I see the book?” A random man hanging around the child you’re supposed to be surveilling! Fucking wonderful!

      “Tareo!” you push through the bushes and try to ignore the fact that there was a sidewalk five feet away, dusting off the leaves your sweater had collected. “Where have you been, kid? I’ve been looking all over… for… you.” Your semi-pleased tone dies off when you notice the man next to him. Your whole body tenses, rearing for a fight while you clench your jaw angrily.

      “Aww, and we just got to the good part too!” He spoke, smiling pleasantly at you. On the other hand, his eyes held an emotion you didn’t care to identify in the moment. You were trembling under his gaze, not with terror, but with rage.

      “Tareo, we have to go right now,” you seethed, curling your hands into fists while you stood frozen in place.

      “Or you could join us, YN,” Garou suggested, relaxing a strong arm along the bench behind the child.

      “Tareo, now!” you ordered, practically erupting with fury. The kid only sighed.

      “Sorry, old man, I gotta go. See you next time!” Tareo cheered, hopping off the public seat and stepping in your direction.

      “Bye bye, twerp.” Garou smugly waved and you sneered at him, snatching Tareo’s hand and dragging him away. “Good to see you again, YN!” he called after you. This time, you didn’t hesitate to show him the bird, much to the horror of the parents around you. Gasps mingled with Garou’s chuckle in the distance, and you tried not to revel in the nostalgic sound.

                              ***

      Grocery store sales attracted you and your grandfather like a fly to a piece of crap. Sadly, Bang had to stay behind today to teach a class, but said you were free to go without him. Occasionally, you would help him train the younger students at the dojo, but you tried to avoid doing it for too long, not wanting to remember a damn thing about him.

      “Ooh, Genos look! Eggs are on sale for cheap!” You tried not to stare at the bald man and his cybernetic friend beside you while you grabbed your own carton and tossed it into your basket.

      “Excellent find, master.” Master? “Eggs also promote healthy hair growth.” Oof.

      “I didn’t say it was for my hair!” You snickered all the way to the checkout line, hoping the bald one hadn’t heard you. You were dreaming big, because when you had first heard the robotic blond’s comment, you had choked on your own spit.

      “Twenty-seven, thirty-five is your total.” The cashier smiled good-naturedly at you, but her empty eyes whispered “kill me.” Giving her an awkward, apologetic smile, you held up the cash, only for a hand to reach in front of your own and hand her a fifty.

      “I got it,” a deep voice sounded beside you. Son of a bitch! You glared over at Garou and gave him the most disdainful sneer you could manage. “And just my strawberry yogurt too.”

      He followed you out of the store, ignoring every dirty look you threw at him.

      “Not even gonna thank me for paying? Where have your manners gone, YN?” He shook his head and pursed his lips. All right, you could play along.

      “I thought you hated strawberry yogurt,” you monotonously say, itching to sucker-punch Garou every passing second.

      “Well, I did, but recently, it’s been uh… growing on me.” He gave you a sweet smile that almost stopped you in your tracks. Faltering, you return to your earlier pace and spot a dark alley up ahead. The sun was beginning to go down, so now was as good a time as ever.

      “Cool. I like it too.” You speak distractedly, waiting for the perfect moment.

      Garou sighs deeply. “I know, that’s why I started-” Now!

      Nobody was anywhere in the nearby vicinity, so you swiftly upper-cut Garou with enough force to knock him into the dead-end alley. Tossing your broken bag of groceries aside, you clash with him just as he returns to his feet, blocking your punch in the nick of time.

      “You son of a bitch!” you scream, delivering rapid kicks and punches wherever you can find an opening. “You evil bastard!” Blue mist begins to trail after every blow you deliver, and this encourages you to go faster.

      “YN-” he blocks a rather sudden jab to his face, only to receive a kick in the no-no square. He keels over and groans painfully. “Fuck,” he mutters breathlessly.

      You step back and gather enough momentum to deliver another roundhouse kick directly to the side of his head, watching as he goes flying into the brick wall of the side-alley.

      “Rot in hell, you dickhead!” Your voice cracks and your eyes water. You hadn’t realized you were crying the whole time until you felt your soaked, puffy cheeks.

      Garou, on the other hand, is twitching on the ground, fists digging into the asphalt to find enough support to rise once more, only to flop back on the ground like a dead fish.

      “I certainly don’t miss that move,” the white-haired male chuckles, turning his head to spit out a loogie of blood. He lets out a loud groan before rolling onto his back, breathing heavily and letting out a small laugh every few seconds.

      “Why did you do it?” you whisper, head ducked and staring at your shoes, “Why did you attack them?” Your words are shaky and unstable, much like your emotions in this instant.

      “I never wanted to hurt you, YN.” He lifts his head to observe you before dropping it back down once more, losing energy instantly.

      “Then why did you do it?!” you roar, eyes wide and watching him with pure, uncontrollable rage.

      “Because,” he laughs bitterly, spitting out more blood before making eye-contact with you. His pupils are dilated wildly, almost completely blocking out the beautiful yellow that was once there. “You had it. Bang had it. His old brother, that bastard had it too.” He comes up to his elbows, leaning on one to run a bloody hand through his hair. “The power.”

      “What are you talking about?” you beg, knees beginning to grow weak. God, you were worn out, not only from the fight but also from the conversation, both wreaking havoc on your emotional stamina.

      “Water Stream, Rock Smashing Fist,” he wheezes out through crushed teeth. “You can take anybody’s power and use it against them.”

      “Garou,” your voice trembles again, “you already have that. Why do you want more? What else is there?”

      “You don’t know your own limits, YN! I don’t know mine either. Because we don’t have any.” You scoff brokenly, shaking your head and backing away.

      “Garou,” you swallow around the lump in your throat, “your search is only gonna bite you in the ass one day.” With a bitter smile, you back away and leave the alley, not wanting to look at his bruised face for another second.

                              ***

      Only a month had passed since you had beaten the shit out of him, and a lot had changed in that time. Garou had tracked you down to your own house, begging, pleading for something you don’t even remember. Maybe he wanted forgiveness, or comfort, or help and healing.

      That night, you provided it all. And he hasn’t left your side since.

      “YN! You’re home!” you smile at the white-haired man jumping up from your couch and rushing to greet you with a warm hug.

      “Yep, and you’re still here. What a shame.” You jab at him playfully and he sticks his tongue out at you before licking the side of your cheek with it. The reaction is instant.

      “Gross, dude!” you push away his face and scrub your own frantically, “What are you, a dog?”

      “I followed you around like a lovesick puppy for most of my childhood, what did you expect?” He nuzzles his nose against yours, pulling you closer via your hips and brushing a strand of hair away from your face. Every touch he provides leaves a tingle you find pleasure in easily.

      “True,” you mumble, staring deeply into his eyes while he walks backwards, still holding you. You yelp as he falls back onto your couch, taking you with him. Giggling against his chest, you try to scramble out of his grip, but he squeezes the breath out of you to prevent an escape.

      “Don’t leave yet,” he whispers against your neck, “I want to cuddle you. I’ve missed you.” You sigh happily at the feeling and relax in his hold, slipping your legs around his own to straddle him before resting your head on his warm chest.

      “I was only gone for two days you know.”

      “I’ve been missing you for much longer than that.” You rest your chin on his chest and stare up at him while he looks down at you. Your arms reach up and into his hair, combing through the white strands gently while his eyes flutter closed.

      “I know,” you whisper. Your heart pains at the thought of losing him again, even after all the terrible things he has done. The truth was, however, that deep down he was still the boy who came into your grandfather’s dojo asking for revenge. He was still the boy who fell for you, and you were still the young girl who loved him at first sight. Even though he was kind of an asshole. “I missed you too,” you whisper hesitantly. Garou smiles with his eyes still closed, and he reaches down to brush his lips against your forehead tenderly. The soft caresses of his fingers up and down along your back contrast wonderfully with the firm muscles you’re lying on and running your hands over. Every divet of his begs to be memorized by you, so you listen in the silence of the room. One of Garou’s glowing, yellow eyes pop open, this time dilated from love rather than pain.

      “You’re not gonna become one of those annoying heroes, are you?” You laugh whole-heartedly and turn your ear down onto his chest, listening to the quick thumps of his heart.

      “I just might if I get to kick your ass again.”