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Book recs!! ✨

Hi! So a bit ago, I met a lovely amazing anon on ao3 (who is a BLESSING compared to the other mean anons commenting out there, thanks Kat, you make mine and im pretty sure other author's days too). So we got into talking about books and I offered to make a list for her and post it on tumblr so other people too can scrounge through so here we are lmao.

I gathered this list from the personal notes I had made to myself to add these books to my bookshelf when i move out and also from another list i made for my little siblings because no way are they gonna not read the good stuff I found. It's like a rite of passage now.

Just a note: I don't read romance. But since books don't have the very convenient tags we get on ao3, I end up getting to romance-y parts. The only romance books I have read are middle school level romance lmao XD Nothing except kisses and stuff lol.

Let's go!

The Maze Runner series

Maze Runner

I love this book. This series. Ngl, one of the first books where I felt that heart-clenching feeling of hurt. Love the characters, the world-building was in the fandom for a brief while and I love the plot too. Better than the movie plot anyway XD

Mare Runner: Scorch Trials

Second book in the series, also very good. Literally an adventure. So many twists and turns. Once more, the characterization is also amazing!

Maze Runner: Death Cure

Third and last book in the series as a main. Heartbreaking. Did shed tears. Page 250 still kills me. O u ch.

The Fever Code

Also in the same series and OUCH. It's the characters before the whole drama happened and they're kids and higehrfwb 😭 No kidding I was squealing and nearly threw the book multiple times out of excitement. It solved a couple plotlines too. I adored it. Plus, it gave me some closure from the many many (inevitable) deaths.

Crank Palace

It's a novella, but clears the mysterious gap that was in the third book. Plus, it gives much much more closure but I'm still crying so do what you will with that information. I love the new "OC"s here too.

Trials of Apollo

The Hidden Oracle The Dark Prophecy The Burning Maze The Tyrant's Tomb The Tower of Nero

Listen- listen- I know this is kinda obvious and you might be asking "where's the rest of the pjo series?" but that's a given. My personal favorites are the pjo, hoo and toa series, but toa somehow spoke to me more because the main relationship wasn't a romantic one like all the other teen books I read. I also adore Apollo/Lester's character development? Like, at first he was this carefree god, then at the end of the series, he transformed into a person who cared so much and so deeply and was willing to die for others. That is peak character development and if I hadn't read toa, I would still be blundering around and confused with my multi-chap fics as to how characters actually develop. Because you can see that journey so clearly in toa.

Jinx series

Jinx: The Wizard's Apprentice Jinx's Magic Jinx's Fire

I love this series so much??? I am a sucker for fantasy novels and this was so so good. I love the storyline and-

AND I ESPECIALLY LOVE THE FOUND FAMILY ASPECT HERE. THIS. IS LITERALLY RELUCTANT MENTOR-FATHER AND HYPER AND KEEN MENTEE-SON. AHHH.

Anyway, this was my first found family novel. I loved the whole storyline too, this was also the series where I was first introduced to the concept of whump (without knowing what whump actually was).

The Mapmaker Chronicles

Race To The End Of The World Prisoner Of The Black Hawk Breath Of The Dragon

These were also some of the first whump books I read. And I especially loved this because the plot was it. A smartass scrawny boy who accidentally turned into a hero? Hmmm, I wonder who that reminds me of. (Tim Drake. It reminds of Tim Drake)

But the characters are also special to my heart. There is minimal romance in here. Any romance is to move the plot forward.

Also a mentor-mentee relationship here. Not so much found family to the heart seeing as the main character already has family back home, but the whole crew definitely is a family of their own. I especially adore Ash! Ahhh! She's lovely and amazing. Oh and Zain- *sighs* he is the perfect mentor figure to scrawny li'l Quinn. And the hateable characters are so perfectly hateable!! The author truly is talented at stories.

Although the second book could do with more whump

Nevermoor series

Nevermoor

This book was described in the reviews as "Harry Potter meets Alice in Wonderland" and it stayed true to its description. It had beautiful and amazing characters, and an evil-mentor & reluctant hero-mentee relationship (though not at first) and I am a sucker for that. Also, I just love the character herself. Morrigan is a very good and fleshed out character and I will love her forever.

Wundersmith

We explore more of the evil-mentor & reluctant hero-mentee relationship. But Jupiter, Morrigan's actual caretaker, is the PERFECT uncle/caretaker for her and he's so protective of her and i just-

*sobs* I stan.

Hollowpox

Here we discover some of that delicious power upgrades. I also love all the friends! HAWTHORNE IS MY FAVORITE AND WILL ALWAYS BE I LOVE HIM. Stunning characters here 💫 Also some wise comparison of the different isms and phobias (as in homophobia, racism etc.) here in terms of fantasy.

The Mysterious Benedict Society series

The Mysterious Benedict Society The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Prisoner's Dilemma The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Riddle of Ages

This... was one of the first mystery books I had ever read (my actual first was Sherlock Holmes cuz I found it on my grandparents' bookshelf and read it cuz I had read every other book they owned which wasn't a lot). I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. It was calm and just- a bunch of kids going on a perilous journey to solve a mystery to save the city. Those kind of vibes. But the vibes were so good. So enjoyable. Every time I hear about this series, I just sigh in contempt.

There are very, very interesting characters here too. The characters are what made the story so good. All of them have unique quirks which they use to crack clues and form conclusions and dive into actions. Such good characters. 10/10, honestly.

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

This is part of the Benedict society universe, but it takes place years before the main events. It has adventures of the leader of the group in the main series as a kid. This book has a special mention because the storyline was different to the style of the main series and it had tropes. Just- the friend and the character itself and- dnfhbevbiluw

Okay, I admit, Benedict here does remind me of Tim (my fav character in DC). Like y'know smol Tim with the camera? Those kind of vibes. Very strong vibes. I read this way before I discovered Tim even existed so maybe this book plays a part in my favorites?

Jessica Brody books

The fact that I put the actual author's name here should tell you something.

Addie Bell's Shortcut To Growing Up

This book... brought me to tears. This was the second book that prompted salt water to slip out of my tear ducts. It was a strange feeling. Cuz I was not used to crying for books and movies and shows.

The plot just hit hard. A 12-year-old Addie magically time-travels to when she's 16 and experiences life as a teenager. The plot gives more than you expect. There are boys, yes, but that is a side plot, not a main plot. Which is why I love the book so much. Addie wants to be one of the "girly" girls who talks about boys and stuff and goes to parties like her older sister, but then as she lives the life of a teenager more and more, she realizes just how much she lost. Friendships, family, her personality, her interests, herself.

The part that made me cry was her missing her sister. Cuz, well, I'm an older sister. And my sister who is the oldest after me has the same age difference as Addie and her older sister. It wasn't just her missing her sister in that scene, it was everything crashing down on her that moved me to tears. Amazing book. If anything, I recommend you either read this or 'Better You Than Me' if nothing in this list goes towards your liking.

Better You Than Me

This was the first book that made me cry. It has two characters, one in middle school, the other who is an actress, swap bodies. So the typical middle school kid gets to live as a famous actress, and the famous actress gets to live as a typical middle school kid. Of course, neither of them end up liking their new life very much, but that only teaches them two important messages: appreciation and communication. God, I learnt so much from this book. I was like 13 or something when I read it and it resonated within me enough to make me cry. I adore this. SO much.

I Speak Boy

I actually have a library-borrowed copy with me right now XD It's about a middle school girl, Emmy, being very confused with the opposite gender. (Very much hetero, no homo despite it being published in 2021). But, once again, the reason I love this book isn't cuz of the romance (though it is kinda satisfactory but also a bit cliché). It's how the main character realizes that boys aren't everything. Just like in 'Addie Bell's Shortcut To Growing Up'. It's a lot about friendship.

The reason why I like these books by Jessica Brody (I haven't read the others yet) is because of the Bechdel Test factor in it.

S. K. Ali books

Again you have another author's name. This time, it's Muslim fiction!

Love From A To Z

The first Muslim fiction book I've ever read. And yes, it is a romance book. But it does not have any touchy-touchy stuff (except in the Epilogue and a couple dream scenes, very vague though and only kissing). As in, the main characters follow mainstream Sunni procedures and do not touch each other as they're not married. Which just leaves room for a ton of emotional romance.

I adore this simply because I'm a Muslim Hijabi myself and I am very much biased.

It deals with so many aspects of romance though, like personality first, lust last, and whether they are the right fit or not and whether they actually like each other or the idea of each other and how families play into this and online hate and emotion control and of course, the marvels and oddities of life. It is packed with so much. And when I finished the book, I had a good long cry. This is the first book that made me cry the longest. Because- because I was starved for representation! And this book did it so well! I just- love this so much.

The author has published a sequel, Love from Mecca to Medina, I have yet to read it because I'm waiting for it to be in a library. I prefer physical copy books.

Once Upon An Eid

Okay, this is very Muslim-based, but if you treat it like Muslim Christmas, everything becomes clear XD Also, Ali wrote only one story here. This book is actually a collection of stories by different Muslim authors. And each story is so special. Many people don't really know how Muslims celebrate Eid or why it's so special (besides spiritual reasons) and what it looks like. This paints an accurate picture. And it contains most, if not all, types of Muslims celebrating Eid. Sunni, Shia, refugee, African, American, revert/convert, South Asian etc. So really diverse.

Saints and Misfits Misfit In Love

Very much love-centred, but also has very vague mentions of sexual assault/rape/non-con. Yes, in a Muslim community. It exists. A lot actually. But it's hidden and hushed down. Disgustingly.

But the first book addresses it and how a Muslim girl battles it. She's in love with a white boy, yes, but she doesn't give in to her white boy desires. Neither does she fall to a non-white boy, at least not fully.

Which is why I recommend that if you're reading the first book, you definitely, definitely read the second one along with it. Because I felt even though the ending of the first book was satisfactory, it wasn't satisfactory to me. But the second book was! Because at the end of the second book, Janna (the main character), comes to the conclusion that boys aren't everything. And even though there is a very perfect boy that fancies her and she fancies him too, she takes a breath and says that she isn't too focused on that. And I adore that. But she only comes to that conclusion after falling in love with many, many, many boys. I did get a bit uncomfy cuz romance just in general makes me uncomfy, its a personal thing, but I kept reading it cuz... Muslim fiction! Anyway, good book series. But I like Love From A To Z better.

Now, those are... a lot of books. And a lot of me talking. And there are still so many more. So I'm just gonna go through some quick filtering and put the titles and authors of the other books here in dot points.

London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (my first novel, Kat knows about this lol)

Skyfire series by Michael Adams

NERDS series by Michael Buckley (it's an acronym that stands for National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. It's weird but I laughed a lot so)

Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens

Mallory Towers series by Enid Blyton

Naughtiest Girl In The School series by Enid Blyton

Scarlet and Ivy series by Sophie Cleverly (fuck- I forgot to add this to the main list, but this book is hella hella good and I recommend it very much)

Bounce by Megan Shull (life lessons in here)

Sick Bay by Nova Weetman

The Adventurer's Guild series by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos

Luck Uglies series by Paul Durham ("DADDY ISSUES!" screams Quo. "I love this book because I have daddy issues among other issues and that is all.")

Time Hunters by Chris Blake (it is very much a children's book, not even middle school, but I read it because it has an intriguing storyline and interesting historical facts that had me raising my hand in every history lesson)

There are no classic books here because that will need its own separate post.

And that's it! Thank you very much!

mathematicats bkdk fic recs 2: canonverse edition

Time for another round of mathematicats’s bkdk fic recs!

I compiled this list way back in Nov and never posted it. Honestly, I had a lot of trouble this time around, because Katsuki is such a dynamic character that he’s become OOC in so many of these fics in light of last year’s development. I kind of lost steam in finishing this and haven't added more recent reads but I figured something is better than nothing, so here you go! All of them are complete unless otherwise noted.

Separated into canon universe pro heroes, UA, and alternate universes again.

AU edition here

Canon Universe - pro heroes

Worth a Second Shot by cinnabee

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23909569

13k, hurt/comfort, heavy on the hurt. Warning: a lot of blood.

Something goes wrong at Katsuki and Izuku’s party.

Well-written and super in-character, a ton of tension that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat the whole ride. Protective Bakugou “I’d burn the whole city down for you” Katsuki.

all the things beyond one’s control by aideyn

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29353788

7k, h/c heavy on hurt. A villain takes control of Izuku’s body and tries to hurt Katsuki. Super established relationship (they know each other so well and care for each other so much).

One Day The Only Butterflies Left Will Be In Your Chest As You March Towards Your Death by edema_ruh

https://archiveofourown.org/works/28020690

49k, h/c heavy on hurt. “Bakugou and Midoriya are in a plane crash. Bakugou has to take care of Midoriya and help him survive.” CW: field amputation.

when we’re finally alone, darling you’re my home by yabakuboi

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19824649

4k, h/c. A speedrun through bkdk’s post-UA ambiguous but reciprocal relationship. “Katsuki falls in love, falls in love, falls in love with Izuku wherever they are.”

it's the way that we rotate (that makes me feel ok) by w0nderlei

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25228675

4k, h/c mostly fluff. Long-distance relationship bkdk from an insecure Katsuki’s POV. Lovely words.

new collagen fibers by w0nderlei

https://archiveofourown.org/works/28605492

1k, fluff. Established bkdk share a soft morning with some scar-touching.

throw your heart to me (let it fall and hit the ground) by w0nderlei

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31300664

3k, fluff, getting together.

Izuku and Katsuki take a walk home after a night out.

So soft...so canon...so in-character. Palpable romantic tension and tender hand-holding, all described in very delicate words.

Apartment 310 (and they were roommates!) by Azureflowers

https://archiveofourown.org/works/35253994

8k, fluff. Warning: will warm your heart and make you crave more queerplatonic bkdk

Roommates to lovers trope. Sweet domestic bkdk with funny moments and a great (perfect, imo) take on the nature of their partnership. This author is so good at everyday energy and realistic portrayal of Japanese culture.

high school lover, favorite flavor by allwyf

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18521179

8k, fluff, roommates (idiots) to lovers trope.

My favourite dynamic of silently pining Katsuki + oblivious Midoriya “omg I just realized I love Kacchan” Izuku.

Whiplash by Flarewrites

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23605336

29k, fluff, Idiots to lovers, pretend-relationship trope.

Another pining Katsuki + oblivious Izuku get-together.

Bkdk get engaged for the media and Izuku discovers his feelings. It’s funny and I lost my mind when Katsuki said De-Izuku (this was written a whole year before ch 327!)

You Got a Boyfriend? By thatpinkbetch

https://archiveofourown.org/works/33346276

2k, fluff. “In the middle of a bar, Bakugou’s out with his friends, drunk as fuck, and head over heels in love with his childhood friend (aka, his husband) and he’s about to make that everyone’s problem.” SUPER CUTE.

give me a sign by nymphorical

https://archiveofourown.org/works/34450513

4k, angst. Not-really Eraser/Bakugou, one-sided bkdk, and established IzuOcha.

Katsuki is sad and alone at the bar and seeks validation from Aizawa.

song on a policeman’s radio by ohwickedsoul

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27714947

7k, pure angst, established relationship. For when you want to read about Katsuki grieving dead Izuku from an impersonal POV.

Canon Universe - UA (& younger)

Sneku by cinnabee

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24363238

41k, h/c mostly fluff.

Izuku gets turned into a snake and Katsuki takes him in. So indulgent...

(in the best way) by stardust_rust

https://archiveofourown.org/series/1931812

This is a 2-part series, 7k and 15k respectively, fluff. 7k of Kacchan-simping from Izuku’s POV, followed by 15k of birthday-party-planning from Katsuki’s POV.

Spot-on character study+canon manga themes, SO funny, great interactions with side characters (hilarious Todo-Baku dynamics), and so many details that make the story come to life. So many fics from this author have at least one moment that leaves me absolutely shooketh, and this is one of them.

the bittersweet between my teeth by stardust_rust

https://archiveofourown.org/works/34655239

20k, h/c. Deku is hit with a vampirism quirk

love came with all that it brings by blossomshed

https://archiveofourown.org/works/28793679

6k, fluff. “They become best friends as well as rivals, but along the way, Katuski falls embarrassingly in love. To everyone else, Deku included, they've been dating for months.”

It’s Enough by onlybylaura

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15952886

2k, fluff. Five times they kiss. So soft.

ashes to ashes and back again by ladyofsnails

https://archiveofourown.org/works/33102286

3k, angst with a h/c filter. Set centuries after canon story and from a reincarnation’s POV, with bkdk only mentioned through an old news report. The art that inspired this fic is also beautiful.

Crack

Big Protein by Mysecretfanmoments

https://archiveofourown.org/users/Mysecretfanmoments/pseuds/Mysecretfanmoments

14k, canonverse pro-heroes. Pervy Deku’s Kacchan-doujinshi-stash is revealed to the whole world and Katsuki has a sexuaI awakening.

Number One Nemesis by heartsinhay

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27861262

32k quirkless “villain” Deku and pro hero Katsuki have the hots for each other. 2 chapters of high quality hilarity and then it hits you right in the feels.

Non-bkdk

Permanent Ink by Maxine

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25576375/chapters/62069245

99k, h/c, unfinished. Endgame BKDK but the KamiBaku is SO STRONG in this fic, I was rooting for them instead of bkdk so I can’t rec this as a bkdk fic in good conscience.

Reblog the writers’ fortune cookie for luck!

tainted angel 🪽 MASTERLIST

ෆ pairing: Dabi x Hawks’ little sister

ෆ Synopsis: While stalking Hawks and trying to find out more information about him, Dabi comes across his little sister, a sweet angelic thing that welcomes him inside her house with a bright smile on her face. Dabi can’t help but get obsessed over her, the sudden urge to make her his takes over him entirely, maybe to have Hawks under his control while he enjoys his little sister, or maybe he really does like her. Nevertheless, she does not know the danger she just involved herself in, nor does she know that her brother’s handsome “friend” is in fact a dangerous villain who has sick twisted intentions.

ෆ cw‼️: smut, yandere themes, corruption kink, dubcon/noncon, mixed feelings, Dabi being a flirt and a pervert, stalking,

ෆ A/N please read before going further: This multichapter fic is written in Dabi’s POV mostly, it’s written in first person. You will come across Dabi’s thoughts and feelings, how he perceives things. He calls Keigo’s sister “angel” instead of the famous Y/N label, so I’ll be calling her angel too. Sometimes I include angel’s POV too (which you can totally insert yourself and imagine being her. As I write this fic I also imagine myself being the sister as well). Due to her being Keigo’s sister she might have specific descriptions such as hair color, eye color, skin, wings etc.

CHAPTER 1

During a boring rainy day of wandering around, Dabi gets a call from the men he hired to get more information on Hawks. They had found his old house, where supposedly his mother lived. Dabi decides to pay her a little visit, not knowing the surprise that was waiting for him: the little angel Hawks used to keep hidden from the public.

CHAPTER 2

Hawks threatens Dabi to not get close to his family, specifically his sister. But Dabi definitely has other plans the moment he got her number, deciding to call her late at night.

CHAPTER 3

Angel continues to secretly interact with Dabi despite Hawks warning her not to. She is entirely captivated by his charm and mysteriousness. Dabi decides to pay her a little visit and leave a small gift.

CHAPTER 4

She finally agrees to meet Dabi behind an alleyway, late at night. They both head to an empty park, where Dabi decides to make a move and savour her. From that moment things get heated up.

CHAPTER 5

Hawks is worried that his sister was out so late at night. He starts doubting her words, wondering if she is even telling the truth. He is not pleased with what he sees once she comes back.

CHAPTER 6

As Dabi refuses to elaborate on who he is and what bad things he has done, angel starts getting more paranoid. Especially knowing that he might’ve possibly entered her house at night or stalked her. As much as she enjoyed his company, she doesn’t feel safe, so she decides to listen to her brother’s warnings and stop talking to Dabi. Though Dabi is anything but pleased with her decision.

CHAPTER 7

She has been keeping watch for a few nights in a row by now, anxiously waiting just in case Dabi decided to appear again, living in constant fear. Strange dreams appear in her sleep, of him being so close to her, touching her body in ways she begs for more. But is this really just a dream?

CHAPTER 8

.

.

Divider credits @cafekitsune

🏷️current tags on this fic: @mostlyheinous @dabihawksluva @scariusaquarius @syrenkitsune @touyalove @awalkingshame @dabislittlebeaniebaby , if you want to be added in the taglist and get notified when a new chapter drops, let me know!

SAGAU Series Masterlist

Completed: 06-29-2023

Bring Back What Once Was Mine

Synopsis: It’s been five hundred years since the people of Teyvat celebrated the return of their Creator. Oh what a joyous day that was! However there was something off with the Divine One, had they always acted like this? Not only that, being in their presence didn’t bring the same warmth it did all those centuries ago, but to go against their creator is the highest form of treason they could commit. So when another shows up sharing the exact face as the one on the throne, many are conflicted on who to follow.

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight (COMPLETE)

Last Updated: 09-29-2023

Trial By Combat

Synopsis: After being declared an imposter, you decide to duel to defend your honor rather than stand trial.

One Two Three Four

forever may you stay.

premise: you and lyney are friends. just friends? maybe. definitely. after all, if not friends, what are you?

notes: gn!reader. canon compliant kinda, childhood friend trope, mutual pining. small tw of blood since you get injured. is this ooc? idk tbh it's lyney and i ran with it. thank you for almost 200 followers! reblogs are appreciated.

wc: 7.4k (dear god)

"...This way, I'm sure they slipped away here…"

"...Assessing potential places of interest. Please wait for confirmation of order…"

The two voices from just a few metres away from you speak in fragments, one faintly mechanical and one frantic and you can only hide from their purview. You had just finished the easy work, infiltrating and getting the needed information. Now, the hard part was escaping. Ever since the incident with the Primordial Seawater and for Lyney and Lynette to blow their cover and be publicly revealed as Fatui — the missions entrusted to you have been harder to fulfill as of late, as the Gardes had increased their surveillance. Can't have Fatui lurking around after all… but you still had to fulfill the task sent over to you. However, you had been too careless, and one of the surveillance Meks caught sight of you, leading to a breach of alarms.

In the midst of the search for you, you find your thoughts wandering to Lyney. You wonder how they're holding up now. Him and Lynette had been scarce after the trial at the opera house, preparing for the arrival of Father due to Lord Harbinger Childe's strange case of arrest. The entirety of the House of the Hearth was. Hence why you were slinking around here to gather information in the first place.

A slight twinge of displeasure courses through you as the voices of the Gardes and automated Mekas veer just a bit closer to you and you shift silently. Focus, focus. You don't listen to yourself though, so your thoughts get back to where you started.

To you, Lyney has always been the one person that has been part of your world; part of the little comfy space you open up a slot for to so very few.

Lynette, Freminet, all the children in the House of the Hearth — Father, as well. But Lyney… Lyney was ambition and enthusiasm; solemnity and silence. Caring, steady yet cautious, so close yet so far. You had been among the many orphans of the House of the Hearth gifted a new life by the grace of Father and you met him that way. Lyney, Lyney. Him and Lynette were the first to welcome you there due to your similar origins of narrowly escaping a noble's filthy desire of wanting you due to your quick wit and innate ability of stealth and illusions.You had both developed a particular closeness to each other from said similarities. To you, they were family, close friends the next, people you could be with to endure the work of the Hearth. But in a(n) (un)surprisingly twist of fate, that closeness had only branched out to a deeper level with Lyney. To the point of something even almost akin to deep care for him.

(Deep care was putting it lightly, if you would ever admit it. You knew by that point that the care you felt for him extended past the boundaries of friendship for a long time now.)

After all these years of knowing him, the feelings that well up inside you are pushed deep, deep down your heart lest it shatters the careful and delicate foundation of trust you and him have built together not unlike a beautiful pyramid of cards.

(Its in the way you want him to sweep you up in his tirades of warm smiles and facades of multiples as you are shown the side of him others do not get to see. In a way, it is your little secret, proof of your trust and desire.)

Lyney is the embodiment of magic, you think. His work and profession needs the tone of illusions, the charming of the masses and to put up a front for the audience to be satisfied. Skillfully balancing the lines of truth and lies, weaving them into a tapestry of vivid colors you can't help but be awed of. Sometimes, you can't help but want. To wish. Wishing to pass through the barriers he sets up on his heart, that distances him from the world he so tirelessly deigns to please. To see him underneath all else, not as the Great Magician, not as Father's trusted, not as anything else. For you to be shown that side without any reservations. To you, Lyney being just Lyney was everything.

The moments you shared with him as you both grew into the people you knew today — the days you cherish greatly. Would it be so difficult for him to show you that part of himself you know that he's never wanted to show to anyone? The times he shows the barest amount of his true self are the ones you desperately cling to; and the peculiar nature of your relationship is put to the test whenever such a thing happens.You snap yourself away from your thoughts, as you hear the mechanical clink of automaton limbs and the cock of a gun and your pursuers get closer once more. You get to work, on alert, reaching for your weapon. You were no vision wielder like him nor Lynette, but for the goals of the House, you had to level the playing field. It was time to stop thinking about foolish things.

To you, Lyney is so close, yet so unreachable.

── ➶-͙˚ ༘✶ ──

"What are you reading?" A girl asks you when you're curled up in the makeshift nook you made for yourself in the lounge room. It has been approximately 45 hours since you've been put in this unfamiliar place, packed to the brim with children you don't know. This is the first of them that don't look at you with distrust or hatred.

"The Complete History of Fontainian Civilizations," You reply, as you don't look at the two children staring at you in your little corner. You didn't want to deal with people's eyes anyway, so you were reading to pass the time. "If you want to spend time with someone, don't come to me."

"Still, it's not good to be lonely." The boy beside the girl with feline ears says to you a bit too loudly, leading you to turn your head to meet their curious stares. There is a slight frown on your face as you pause at his words. They have really pretty eyes, you think. In your line of sight, you look quite captivated by the sight of the girl with cat-like ears and then look back at the boy with light purple eyes. At your inquisitive stare and tilt of the head, you miss how a flush creeps up the boy's cheeks.

"I'm perfectly fine," you stubbornly say to them as you turn back to your book. "I'm not lonely." You thought they would leave you alone after your words, but from the corner of your eye, the boy stiffens when the girl (his sister, you assume. they looked almost identical.) nudges his elbow and whispers in his ear and you hear the faint sputter in his voice as he replies back to her.

"...at, no!"

"You were the one who wanted to get their name…."

"But…."

"...on't tell me you're scared to ask it. What happened to earlier when you said…"

You felt irritated now as it felt like they were talking about you, and due to your apprehension in this unfamiliar environment you've just been placed in, you were more than on edge at their secrecy. You put down the book and cross your arms at them, defensive.

"If you wanted my name, just ask." you say to the boy, as he flushes crimson even more. The girl looks at him, as she puts a hand on the boy's shoulder. His eyes dart back to her and you, before he clears his throat. "I'm Lyney. This is my sister, Lynette. And I'm sorry if we disturbed you," he says, before his sister corrects him by saying 'not we, but you did' to him, which makes him shush her, embarrassed. This makes your lips quirk up a little, as you raise your brows and the boy turns back to you, a little sheepish. "But um, I just thought it would be nice to talk a little."

Cute, you think. But then you widen your eyes a fraction at your own thoughts. Why would you think that? You drive your thoughts away at the boy, no, Lyney, and you narrow your eyes a little before you speak.

"[Name]." you say, as Lyney's eyes sparkle when you respond to his inquiry. "And there's no need to apologize. I'm still new here, so it's a little difficult to talk." you finally let your guard down just a little bit, speaking just a tad softer. Lyney and Lynette look at each other and Lyney's the one to speak up first, and you pick up the enthusiasm in his voice before he schools his expression.

"It's no problem at all! We understand that feeling too… If you want, I can– I mean, we can show you around!" Lyney says to you, and you don't miss how he seems eager for your answer. Lynette seems to say something under her breath that only he can hear, and he flushes again at what she said, tearing his gaze off of you as they talk to each other in hushed tones.

This place was different from what you're used to, but perhaps a little socializing would be okay? The two siblings who approached you seemed like decent company…. you think to yourself as you watch them. They seem to know that you were observing them, and Lyney immediately stops whatever mini discussion him and his sister were doing earlier as he looks at you hopefully.

"Um… about my, I mean, about the offer? You don't have to if you don't want to, of course!" he immediately says as he looks away from you until he hears a little chuckle escape your mouth and he widens his eyes again. Yes, maybe these twins wouldn't be the worst company. You nod at them both, as you speak.

"Sure then. You can show me around," you say, and you give them a small smile. Lynette's ears twitch at your words, as you begin to put your book away and face away from them for a while, hiding your smile. You try not to laugh again when you hear Lyney's exclamation of a 'yes!' — when you turn back to them, he tries to act nonchalant as you face them. Quite endearing. You look at the both of them, before your eyes settle on Lyney.

"I'll be in your care then." Lyney nods without hesitation at your words, as you begin to walk with them. Unbeknownst to you his cheeks don't lose their rosy tint, and Lynette's tail swishes as you three conversed, a sign of interest at her brother's behavior right now.

You brushed off the slightly different beat of your heart as Lyney tours you around with Lynette. You thought of it as nothing.

Little did you know, it was going to be something.

── ➶-͙˚ ༘✶ ──

Lyney almost always forgets to breathe whenever he gets close to you. He rushed here as soon as he heard from Freminet about your task going almost haywire. He doesn't care that you fulfilled the task; not when it came at the cost of you getting in harm's way. His thoughts flash to a time he doesn't want to remember, as he opens the door to your room at Hotel Debourd and he spots you near the vanity next to your closet.

You jump a bit, but you give him a weary gaze of playful irritation. He doesn't pay any mind to it, rushing straight to you.

He hears the hitch in your breathing when he brushes the tips of his fingertips onto your forearm; his gloved hands which then touch the wound on your shoulder. He doesn't miss the way your face twists in pain from the faint prodding. Lyney has always been so good at cleaning up the things people wouldn't want to see on themselves — to cover up the bruises to wounds one wouldn't want to show. His softly colored lilac eyes trail over the injury. The mirror behind you glints, as the silence between you two feels almost alive; its breath held in deep anticipation.

You're seated on the countertop, as Lyney trails his gaze to your body, to the injuries littered on your person. Shamelessly, he tries to fight the urge to stare at you (like always). His eyes felt like a force pinning you down in place, getting closer to you as you gave him the cotton and cloth you got so he could patch you up. The barest movement of your fingers making contact makes chills run down his spine as his eyes flit back and forth to your face your lips and to your arm.

His eyes never lied when it came to you. To Lyney, you were something he wanted to reach for, but couldn't. Shouldn't, he thinks to himself. But his worry seeps through anyway as he patches you up. You had gotten into a scuffle in the mission; an aftermath of contending with the Gardes pursuing you, according to Freminet. This was quite the high-risk task assigned, so the fact that you came out relatively unscathed save for the deep wound on your shoulder and some minor injuries relieves him. The thought of you getting more than that makes his throat dry and the words that usually effortlessly spill from his mouth cease. Try as he might to stamp the thought, he knows the worry he feels for you is different from the rest.

(He knew it back then, and even now. He knew it since the day he approached you, since the day he saw you reading that book with a title too long for him to remember.)

"You were careless this time, [Name]." he tuts, his hands gingerly dabbing at the sound, a blossom of blood erupting from your wound, wincing a little at it. He was then cleaning up the small scratches, his breath not faltering. His eyes didn't look up at your face, but you felt his gaze all the same. The silence in the room envelopes you two, as you take time to rest from your mission. It has always been a habit that Lyney tended to your wounds. Whether in training, missions, or wounds from playing in the courtyard. He did this back when you were children, along with Lynette; and it continued even now.

(He always hopes you don't hear his rapid heartbeat when he tends to you.)

Instead of acting like a tongue-tied fool, you scoff at his words. The proximity between you two can drive you (and him) mad. If the eyes were the window to the soul, you knew damn well that yours was a window so open that even he could see through you (can he?). Yet you catch yourself, not daring to slip up. Lyney feels the heat creep up to his neck as you look at him, contemplative. The curve of your jaw and the slight tremble of your lips makes him feel overwhelmed; the air thick with unspoken words and brushes of your arm and his hands that friends certainly wouldn't be sharing, as the lines tiptoe between the shores of affection. Has it always been this warm in the room?

Well, the both of you never really cared for defining what it was you both had, so that was besides the point.

"You're always so lenient with Lynette when she's injured. Why not me?" you say to him, smiling weakly.

He hums, his voice a sound that makes your bones quake with yearning as he gestures for you to turn around so he could inspect if there were further damages to your body. "Lynette is a vision-wielder. It's not that I don't trust your skills, but…" he immediately corrects himself when he says the last part. And maybe you were deluding yourself, but for a second you could see his normally confident expression falter, a little flustered. A little glimpse of the Lyney of before, from before he's put up a wall around others, even to his most trusted. "I can't be calmed if my dearest friend would be harmed, no? Also," he continues, winking a little at you as his gloved hands gently patching you up. You don't notice how he looks away from you, a flash of pink coloring his face.

"You tend to be reckless. It… it worries me." Hearing him admit it outright makes warmth bloom in your chest. That's true. Lyney knows you had always been quite headstrong in your endeavors in the House's duties. He can only sigh, and your brows furrow even more at his continued silence as you finally tear your gaze away from his face, as you look to your injury. Whether you felt the way he lingered on your wound as he touches your arm more than he should, you don't point it out.

(He's glad you didn't, honestly. He's never been able to find a way to truly hide his emotions from you. Lynette deemed him as mysterious as Charlotte asking for an interview with them whenever it came to matters of you, after all. It's always been like this though.)

You lock eyes with him again, and you hesitantly brush your free hand to his. Lyney tries not to let the feeling of your touch consume him, as your eyelashes flutter he tries not to let himself imagine running his hand over your face — your mouth pursing he can't help but swallow when he gazes at your lips as Lyney can only follow your touch with his eyes when you remove his gloves. You've never really liked the feeling of his covered hands, anyway. Neither did he. It was as if the tables turned, and it was him that needed fixing. Perhaps fixing his heart, maybe. A brief pause in your motions, before you intertwine your hands together. His breath seems to stop at that, as your thumb makes little circles in his palm.

"You know I'll be fine." you say, as you squeeze his hand. "You've always been quite the worrywart after all." A slight laugh. The intimate gesture is different from before. Why you were bold enough to act something you normally never would, you don't know. But you needed to or else the way he just looked at you would make you break apart.

Silence ensues once more, but this time, its not as unbearable as before. The way your hands make no motion to get out of his grip makes him lose his composure slightly. Though they were just innocent touches of comfort (were they truly?) he can't help but wish it was more (it was).

He finishes patching you up, and he mourns the loss of your hands on his own, your touch leaving like a light feather in the wind, as you move your shoulder a little to see if you would be fine.

"Thank you." You tell him, sincerely smiling this time. He coughs, as he looks away from you when you remove yourself off the countertop. He looks back at you, his eyes searing with the weight of his own emotions. If only you knew how much he wishes for you.

"Anytime." He says back, and you hesitate. You bring his hand to yours again, an action he widens his eyes at, and in a moment the comfortable tension peaks and all he remembers is Father's words of how emotion was being weak and foolish and how the way he felt consumed him and terrified him to the core and before he knows it, he moves his hand away from you with a jolt. He shouldn't, he shouldn't, he… It pains him to see your expression crumble, as you look at him once more.

Your eyes reach his own, but he turns away. Lyney can only see the faint bite of your lip, the squaring of your jaw when he pulls away from you. In the corner of his eye, he sees the rise and fall of your chest. Waiting. He brings his eyes down on the floor. A moment passes before you leave. When he looks back, the door is left ajar.

To Lyney, you were the one thing he wishes for; the one thing he's too scared to reach.

── ➶-͙˚ ༘✶ ──

You were both stubborn all right. It's been a week, and truthfully? Lyney doesn't know how much longer he can take with your radio silence. You were avoiding him and he hates it even though he knows he deserves it. Why did he have to do that to you? He's wallowing in his own self-hatred — Why did he turn away? Did you want to hint at something? He knew that maybe there was a chance you felt something more… that maybe his shameful attraction to you, one of his oldest friends (just friends?) could at least be reciprocated. He knew there's been something there for a long time now.

He grimaces at the way he acted when he patched you up. Was that a glimpse of what could be between you two? The domesticity of it makes him feel light-headed, the possibility of sharing even more moments like that if he hadn't stopped you from holding his hand drives him to a spiral.

If he stepped and tore down the already blurred lines of your bond… was that how it would be? The thought terrifies him and also makes a fire light up in his heart. His mind is a jumble of thoughts right now, drowning in the little signals you might be giving him, and the little signs he's been giving you.

"Lyney."

Lynette gets his attention, as said magician can only return back to reality when she snaps her fingers. His brows quirk upwards as he tries to cover up his thoughts of the moment you both shared from a week ago. "What is it?" he replies, not all there yet.

"..." Lynette stares at him. "You're unfocused. What happened?" She was still his twin after all, nothing escaped her eye. Especially when it came to Lyney. "And don't try to make excuses. I know [Name]'s been avoiding you."

The mention of your name makes him shy away from his sister's gaze. Perhaps she already had an inkling of what transpired between you two. Lyney can only look away from her a little shamefully, his top hat being pulled down just a bit. That's enough confirmation for her. At her brother's self-inflicted pity party, she can only sigh. And then, she flicks his forehead hard. That's enough for him to look at her with disbelief in his face.

"What was that for?!"

"Sorry, but for someone who frets at every possible problem, you can be so narrow-minded sometimes." she says, drinking from her teacup. "This will-they won't-they thing you have going on with [Name] won't last forever, you know."

He knows that, he knew that very well, but he can't just bring himself to acknowledge it. He wants to tell you, to tell Lynette about his thoughts, his feelings, but it's hard. So, so very difficult. He's always been the performer, the actor. He's used to illusions and burying his true feelings and now he can't forget the way you touched his hand and the mere action of it made him want it, crave it. It made him want more than he deserves. Nevertheless, he looks at Lynette to hear her out. She sighs once more, as she sets the teacup down and puts her hands on the table, waiting for him to talk.

"I know that." he admits, a little embarrassed. Lynette has always known about his little crush turnt whatever-he-feels-for-you-right-now since the beginning. Truthfully, if he knew his sister, he was sure she was getting a little tired of how he internally battles with his mind when it came to matters of you. He's prepared for her banter, and he's prepared for his vehement denial of his feelings. Not this time though.

"What are you so afraid of, Lyney? Why do you not want to act on your feelings?"

"...You know better than anyone the reasons why."

"Dumb reasons, really."

"Lynette!" he exclaims at her bold remark, and he feels like a cat brought to a corner at his own sister's words. She only shrugs. "It's true. They clearly feel the same. What's stopping you? You two should just get a room already." his face burns at that. Was he really that obvious? He looks away from her again. This time, her eyes soften. "[Name]'s been with us and sees us. Even the parts we try to hide. They've been there for everything. You know that. If you're hesitant right now, you'll only regret it in the end." Ouch. Lynette's still as bitingly blunt as ever. His sister definitely has a point. "Still…" Lyney mutters.

"Lyney. Look at me." Lynette tells him, and he does. She's always had a good poker face, but this time there's a bit of exasperation on it. "If [Name] were to be swept away by some other person enamored by them, what would you do?"

The thought makes him unapologetically glare at her teacup, envisioning whatever hypothetical person his sister is talking about. How hypocritical of him, he thinks. He wants you, but at the same time he's too afraid to take that step. For all his playful banter and teasing between you two, it is him that cannot accept it; should you be in another's arms. Again, he feels his stomach drop and feels the guilt and self loathing swallow him up. Lynette only tilts her head, raising her eyebrow in a knowing look.

"See? This is the problem. You're already giving up before trying to look past the surface. If you don't try, how do you know it'll end wrong?" She tells him. "Sometimes, it's good to be a little selfish. It's good to want for the heart, not always adhering to your mind."

It's good to be a little selfish, huh…

Lyney has always been so very guarded. Even with his sister, there are things he wishes to keep away from her knowledge, for her sake and his as well. If he takes that step, if he breaks past his difficulty in showing you all his problems and just reach, will you grab him? Will you still think of him the same way? You both have been raised under Father's tutelage, taught to protect all those dear to you. Will you hold him when he thinks what he's doing is too much? Will you tell him to rest whenever he feels the weight of his lies overtake him? Will you kiss his thoughts away and comfort him like he desperately wishes you to?

When he looks at Lynette, she just stares back. "Done with the overthinking now?" Lyney can't help but release a dry scoff at that, as he pulls his tophat down again, not letting her see his flushed cheeks. He had never been good at leaving his feelings open to his sister. Maybe she already knows the conclusion he's reached.

To Lyney, you were something he wishes for, but couldn't reach. Shouldn't reach for. He wants to fall so deep in your arms, lose to the temptation of you.

His only wish?

That you would catch him in the fall.

── ➶-͙˚ ༘✶ ──

One week and two days. A whole week without his playfulness, his flirtations that make your cheeks color scarlet. You were avoiding him, and was doing a good job at it until now. Right now, you're trapped. The reason? None other than Lyney, of course.

Why now? Why did he have to show up now? You were just patching yourself up in the same place he tended to you, sitting on the countertop — from the mirror, you see a figure and that's all it takes for you to whirl yourself to a combative position until you relax when you see that it's Lyney putting his arms in surrender. He laughs, amused. That only makes you more irritated. A week of avoidance and this is how he appears to you? With a slight pang of pain, you begin to plant the thought that maybe he thought that your touch on his hand from a week ago was nothing. That what you were trying to hint at was a mistake. That thought is only solidified when he puts a hand on his chin, eyes twinkling with mirth as if nothing ever happened.

(Unfortunately, you seem to miss how his eyes look longingly at you from earlier.)

"Relax, it's just me. Why, what were you going to do?" he says, grinning. You're not impressed though, and you look at him unamused. It's petty because you were the one that avoided him, but really, you were past caring. "I would think you're trying to murder me and I'd try to stab you with this," you say, voice flat as you hold the scissors you were going to use to cut your bandages. He only laughs further, the sound earning your annoyance. He knows it's an empty threat, for you'd never hurt him. Probably.

"Then I suppose it'd be an honor for me." he replies, and your brows furrow even more. What is he playing at?

"You'd want to die under my hand?"

"If I get to see you tackle me onto the ground, sure. As the books say, 'there is no greater honor than to die by the hand of the beautiful.' Well, romance books do."

"No book says that." you deadpan.

"But I do. Or maybe it's just because you read the wrong kind." The nerve….

"And here I thought you weren't one for fictional tales."

"Creating the impossible and swaying the hearts of my audience are my signature trademarks. Fiction and magic both make use of charming the audience with pretty words and theatrics. They're not that too far off." a shrug of the shoulders from him, tone light.

"Mm. Color me surprised. I should really take notes from you then, Great Magician. Still doesn't really answer my question though. You'd have to be messed up in the head at least to want me to stab you with scissors like this." sarcasm ebbs around your words, as you begin to feel a riled up at how he's dancing around the subject of your avoidance. Said magician has the nerve to look bashful, before muttering in words only you can hear.

"If it's you, I don't mind whatever you want to do to me."

"Lyney." a warning as you blush from his words, flabbergasted. You see his expression turn to a more sheepish one at your tone of voice and expression; and he clears his throat. The hand on his chin goes behind his head to rub at his nape. Was it you, or was he more shameless than usual? You were used to his smooth-talking and romanticism, and frankly? You couldn't deal with it right now. Not when the way he looked at you felt determined, and no, you didn't miss the way his eyes lingered on your lips when he said those words.

"Sorry, too much?"

"Why are you here? What are you…" you cut to the point, trailing off and you watch his gaze turn flustered at your query. For a moment, you can't help but notice the way his gloved hands stop. He doesn't answer, only taking the scissors in your hands before he cuts away at the bandages on your shoulder. You're still sitting on the countertop. It's like a repeat of what happened a week ago, and you can't help but feel the irony. His gaze trails over to you. "How's your shoulder doing?" Changing the subject as always, huh.

"Decently, as you can see," at least you don't make any movement to remove your shoulder, Lyney thinks. "It'll be fine in a few days." Two can play at that game. Fortunately, he doesn't speak again.

"You've been quite easy to miss lately." so he did notice your avoidance. It's you who hums this time, as you look at him renewing the bandages on your shoulder. "Why, don't tell me you missed me?" is your reply back. If he was going the long way, then you were too.

"...And if I did?" Huh? You feel your eyes snap back to his face, shocked. He doesn't seem to acknowledge how your stare is burning holes at his hat, when he's focusing on wrapping your wound securely. "What would you do then, [Name]?" he finally looks at you. The way his eyes soften drives you insane; just a bit more and you would top over the edge and do something so very stupid. Either Lyney was horrible, or he just wanted to mess with you. Again, he looks at your eyes, right first, then left, before dropping them to gaze to your mouth. Archons, did he even know what he was doing?

"Beats me." you say, voice cracking you think you couldn't be any more obvious and trying not to let your face betray your inner turmoil. He's done patching you up, but he doesn't let go of your shoulder. You look away, his gaze something you couldn't handle right now. A sense of dèja vu fills you, this situation playing out all too similarly once more. But this time, it feels more urgent, more serious. You have a feeling it won't end the way it did last time.

As if the way you'll respond to what he would say will determine his actions. Will answer that irritating question you and him have been trying to figure out for gods knows how long.

"Can't you tell me?" his words are a siren's song, so easily capturing you under his thumb. Gently, carefully, he takes your chin and gently turns you to face him. Your eyes lock, and the room seems to burn a thousand degrees hotter. You're lucky he has his gloves on. It's so unfair, how he could be so unpredictable that it throws you in for a loop. You've known him since forever, but it feels like now everything you've known about him falls short at how he's looking at you like you're the only thing he wants to see.

"Tell you what?" Your words are hollow, poking at whatever stupor he's under in. Lyney doesn't miss the way your lips tremble. Try as he might, he can't stop the nagging feeling of wanting to capture them in his own. Would they feel as soft as he'd imagined? Would you push him away like he did last time? He has to be careful about this. The fact that you asked about what he's doing means that you still aren't over how he pushed you away. Something he'll change in a bit. After all, a magician's greatest asset is the art of charm. He'll go through this step by step, in Lyney fashion. He just hopes that the outcome would be what he'd envision, though. He can't afford to slip, lest his grand finale wouldn't be up to par with his standards. He still has your chin in his hand. He waits for a pushback that would never come for you to react.

If you would tell him to stop right now, he would. He would recognize that this thing hovering between you two will never be anything more than longing glances and coy remarks that will never escape the threshold of unspoken affection. But you don't, so he takes that as a win.

"[Name]."

"Lyney." you breathe out, but you make no move to remove your chin, just looking away from him with pink coating your cheeks, your eyebrows scrunching as you look at him, the different feelings overwhelming your senses. "You can't just say that. Not after…" he sees your hands clench to fists, and guilt overtakes him for a moment, before he pushes himself. He can't back out now, not if he can help it.

"I know what I did. It was stupid. It was my biggest mistake, when you were already trying to get me to open up to you. What I wanted was right there, and all I had to do was just take that leap. [Name], please."

"What do you want? What do you want me to say, Lyney?"

"Tell me to stop."

"..."

"Tell me, [Name]. Tell me to stop myself. Tell me I'm wrong, so I won't have to resort to this. To continue feeling like this for you." this time, his free hand brushes against your lip with his thumb. He's sure that the flustered expression you wear right now is an exact mirror to his own face.

"Lyney." you tell him plainly.

"Push me away," you feel yourself being pushed to the wall of the countertop, as each boundary you both have long decided to ignore starts to truly feel gone. "Tell me we're just friends," he murmurs, his hand slipping to your clutch your waist this time — but his thumb lingers on your lips. Lyney looks at you, and then you see it. "Tell me that's all it'll ever be."

(That'll never be all it would be. Both him and you knew that. Friends have never looked at each other the way you two did, anyway.)

His eyes. It bleeds, it screams. It tells you the complete opposite of what he's saying right now. It's loud in all the ways it isn't. You see his longing, his desire, the words he wants to say; his eyes reflect the depths of his soul, reflecting your image. As if to him, you were the only thing that mattered right now. To you, Lyney was someone so close, yet so unreachable.

But now? When his eyes go half-lidded, drunk on the feeling of being so close to you? This distance that seemed insurmountable seemed bridgeable in an instant. Your hands grab at his sleeve.

"Lyney." your voice is so alluring. He stops, as he lays his head on your shoulder, breathing in deeply. His hands go through your waist, and before you knew it, he was embracing you. Your eyes widen. You notice that his hat slips off of his head, tumbling gracelessly to the floor.

"Lyney, your hat…" you say, voice devoid of any edge. You gently rub circles onto his back, something he greatly enjoys.

"Let it fall. I'll get it back up later. Right now, just– just let me do this." Silence for a few moments fills the room, before you speak.

"Why the change of heart?" Lyney tenses a little from his spot on your shoulder. "Last time, you were–"

"Like I said, I was foolish and stupid. I'm sorry, [Name]." he says to you, removing his head off of your shoulder. His weary gaze and earlier desperation numbs a bit, but it's still there. "I'm sorry if I wasn't clear about it earlier. I'm sorry it's difficult for me to want… to say that I want you."

"....Want me?"

Lyney nods, his hold on you loosening a little. "I think I've always known the feelings were mutual, but I was scared to act on it. I hope you can forgive me for that. I was constantly thinking about my actions, how if I would spout lies to you and ruin–" his voice lowers down a little, as you feel him tighten his embrace again. "I thought that if I would act on it, I would go past the point of return. If I reached for you, I know I would be a goner. I wouldn't know what to do with these feelings and thoughts of you and unintentionally harm you, So I just felt like Father's words of emotion being a sign of weakness were true and I just… pushed you away. I also didn't want to let go of our friendship, selfish as it could be." he muses, as he uses one of his hands to caress your cheek. When you look at his hand on your face, before leaning into it, it makes his heart soar and his cheeks burn even more.

Then, you remove his hand off of your face gently, and he can't help the drop in his stomach and the spiral into self-critique. He looks away, suddenly afraid of your judgment. Yeah, he was too forward, his apology too shallow, too–

A soft press of something on his lips. You. It's you. It's you and your lips pressing to his own. You're kissing him, and all Lyney can think about is how your mouth feels so right against his, his hands hesitantly wrapping around your waist firmly. Your eyes are closed, and from the corner of his eye he sees the reflection of you both on the mirror of the countertop table, but doesn't pay any mind to it. Just like that, the waves of thoughts that keep him up at night get silenced under the heavenly feel of your lips. His mouth slants against yours, and he's never felt such hunger for someone this badly until now. The kiss lasts for a few long moments, before you pull away (much to his chagrin) and flick his forehead.

"You're an idiot for thinking that way then." you say, but the bite in your voice is half-hearted. Lyney rubs his forehead, slightly disgruntled with furrowed brows. Was this something you and Lynette shared in common? Chiding him for his rightfully deserved, don't worry actions? Lyney tries to come up with a remark or even try to pout, but at the bashful smile on your face, he can't really say anything back.

Not when you look absolutely radiant, so breath-taking right now. The smile you gives him can't compare to anything else he's seen on you. It was magical. All he can do is look away from your allure, using his gloved hands to hide his blush.

"....I assume that's not all you have to say to me? Otherwise, you might break my heart if you'd continue barraging me with such harsh words." he laughs nervously, trying to compose himself, but you only smile knowingly, and just like that, Lyney falls.

"You definitely need it. Not when your reason for trying to do what you did a week ago isnt even a good reason at all." you laugh, and if Lyney could store its clear and lovely sound in his magic pockets and play it whenever he could, he would. "Hey now, you can't blame me for that!"

"It's still a stupid reason though," you say, as you put your arms around his neck. "So, tell me, Great Magician Lyney, how do you plan on compensating for that?" your voice drops, low and breathy as your lips ghost around his own. Lyney can only chuckle. You had a point. You did need compensation. Both of you did, really. For lost time and foolish misguided assumptions of the inevitable.

So Lyney does what he does best. He winks, and takes one of your hands to bring to his lips, pressing a kiss to your knuckles, before his eyes are filled with mirth. "Have patience, chérie. I'll definitely compensate. All you have to do is keep your eyes on me," he says, as he intertwines his hand with yours, before he captures your lips once more in a flash.

"I'm sure you know this already, but try not to blink–" he murmurs in between kisses, as you can smile in between them, "because if you do, you might miss it."

To Lyney, you were something he wished for, but couldn't, shouldn't reach. But now? He knows better. It's better to reach forward even if it'll be difficult, instead of ending up in regret.

── ➶-͙˚ ༘✶ ──

"Freminet, I think it's best we leave [Name] alone for today." Lynette tells the timid young man. At her words, he's puzzled. He knew you were avoiding Lyney, and the sweet young soul he was, he was hoping he could at least try to get you both to talk it out. But Lynette stopping him? That was very odd, really. He asks her why, and she just smirks. She just gestures for him to sit next to her as they sit down one of the tables near the hotel lobby.

"Those two can handle themselves. And, I think they wouldn't want any interruptions, really."

"Oh, you mean…"

"Yeah. By the way, our bet still stands. Tomorrow we'll have the results, you know that, right?" she just bites into the juicy fillet of fried fish, her tail swishing and ears twitch in satisfaction. Freminet knows what she's talking about, but he's still worried.

"Still, what if they don't?"

"Ah, then I'll just implement a few tricks up my own sleeve. But that won't be happening, so it's fine." Lynette says plainly.

Yeah, she's going to win quite a lot of money from this. You were both a long time coming, after all.

© 𝐦𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐞𝐞𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 : do not repost, copy, or plagiarize my work on any other platform save for Tumblr.

꒰ఎ𝐂𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐋𝐔𝐓໒꒱

i’m so brain dead for c♡ck, i cant even get through the day without imagining how a big strong man will molest and force me into taking his <3 after all, what am I good for if not for being your disposable fl♡shlight?

Just took a nap and now I'm lying here with no panties on, just begging to be degraded. Won't someday help a slut out??

(Asks and DMs are open).

i’m such a needy little bitch. the hole between my legs is so wet and drippy and drooly. slicks running down my thighs. i’m so so desperate for cock in any of my three holes

all i am is walking holes. spread me open, bend me over. use use use use use me i’m your fleshlight fucktoy waiting to serve you whether i want it or not

I want to be held down by my back or hips and mercilessly pounded into the sheets one day until all I can do is moan like a bitch.

I want my legs to be pushed open as far as they can go as someone shows me what it's like to cum from penetration...

I want someone to find my strap or vibrator and tease me with it because I left it in such an "obvious spot" and it was "like I wanted them to find it"... Obviously I did, but I'd still cry and squirm in embarrassment. I want my vibrator buzzing roughly against my clit as I'm fingered, forcing me through orgasm after orgasm. I think I'm very normal and my thoughts have been so normal recently. 👍

daydreaming at work rn - imagine i get a customers drink order wrong, so they lift me onto the counter and fuck me as punishment until i turn into a helpless babbling mess 😵‍💫 maybe if im extra good they'd leave a tip 🥺🩷

...

...

Coming tomorrow in Patreon, PROMISED

Katsuki's village sees the arrival of a new healer: Midoriya Izuku, an omega who comes promised to be mated to Kirishima. As seasons change, Katsuki finds himself struggling with his feelings for Izuku, his duty to his tribe and his loyalty to his best friend Kirishima.

daisy, masterlist

Summary: after getting accepted into a prestigious private school, Steve finally decides to tell his best friend how he feels.

Warnings: Steve Harrington x reader, private school!reader, perv!Steve, friends to lovers, all characters are over 18, innocent!reader, explicit sexual content, truly just a lot of porn, total word count is 23,5k

masterlist | join my taglist

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

; ! bonus blurbs ! ;

steve + ace + eddie thought

halloween with ace and steve

; ! bonus nsfw twitter links that have steve and ace energy ! ;

vol. 1

vol. 2

vol. 3

vol. 4

vol. 5

© 2022-2023 thyme-in-a-bubble

Masterlist - BNHA fan fic recs

Hello and welcome to my bnha fic list that nobody asked for! Because Im an idiot, I felt the need to share my embarrassingly long google doc list with the world. You can only guess the state of my grades. Hope y’all enjoy!

Here are the links for Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six & Part Seven

For reference:

L - long fic (100,000+ words)

O - One shot

H - on hiatus

! - really good

!! - one of my favorites

& - ongoing

# - Complete

Okie doke, with that out of the way lets get this show on the road!

WARNING: Manga spoilers are in many of these fics

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Angsty Stuff -

Honesty’s The (Best?) Policy  — O #

Something Wicked This Way comes — & L 

A Deadman’s Gun — #

Dekusquad vs Flashback — # O

Why the Good Die Young — # O MC Death i cri

! Presumed Dead — #

Viridian: The Green Guide — & L vigilante Izuku + fan art

Pulling the Wires — # L forced villain Izuku

! Silent Shadow(series) — & + art

! Even When the Dark Comes Crashing Through — #

Monsters Made Human — H shindeku

! The Unwilling Child — # dad for one

no way out (but down)  — #

! Bloom in Winter — H 

Of Twisted Arm and Bended Knee — & 

Careful What You Wish For — H  Villain Izuku

Forced Memories — # O

Project: Disaster — H dad for one

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

BAMF Izuku - 

Verdant revolution — & L

Net Neutrality(series) — & 

Local Teenager Breaks The Laws Of The Universe As Easily As His Bones — # O

! Words as Weapons — & dad for one

!! Internet Friends — & 

! It’s Spelled ‘Trader’ Not 'Traitor’ — #

thank whatever gods may be (for my unconquerable soul) — # O

!! A Difference of Perspective(series) — & 

Society is a Trainwreck (and My Student is a Doctor?) — # O

! The Way The Sky Bends — # 

! Private Hero: Berserker — & LL ( like super duper long)

!! Anyone — & L Villain/vigilante deku dad for one

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Magical Vibes - 

!! Complicated Creation — # L

Hold you’re breath as you cross — # O

!! but the entrails are the best part!  — # O bakudeku

tread softly as you go  — # O

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Stuff to lift your mood - 

! Better than fiction — # O tododeku

Drunk History: HEROES — # O

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus — # O pure crack + art dfo? bio dadmight???

Fun At Hero Con — # O

Looping Back to the Beginning — # O time loop

! another face in the crowd — # O

Accidental Hero — H 

It’s The Little Things (That Make You Break Out of Prison Without Thinking About the Consequences) — # O dad for one

!! stolen pencils, tiny footsteps — & + fan art

! Tickets to the Todoroki Trauma Drama Are Buy 1 Get 1 Free — #

! Long Night in the Valley — & ofa is haunted

! hypnic jump — # O

Blood Typos  - # O

that one guy — # O izuocha

My Hero Wikipedia. — # O

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Class 1A Shenanigans - 

!! Quirk’s Haunted — # O

in the shade of a sunflower — # O

! Everyone Snaps at Some Point — # O

!! The Mystery of Student No.18 — #

Second Chances — # O 

5 Times Midoriya Taught Class 1A about Memes and 1 Time they Found a Villain that Understood Them — # O

Optimistic Friend Association — # O Shindeku

My boyfriend’s delirious — # tododeku sickfic

count your blessings, not your flaws — # O tododeku

no rest for the wicked — # O

Try Me — # songfic chapter 5 is so sweet, i swear

Of Bias and Bravery — # O

Sleepytime Hotline — # O Shindeku

You’re joking, right? — # O

it was a grave yet bore no stone — # O ofa reveal

The grapes of friendship — # O

The Struggles of a Modern-Day Vampire  — # O

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Time & Dimension travel - 

! once forgotten, twice removed — # 

throw me a goddamn rope - just enough to hang myself with — & big bro Aizawa baby Deku

!! a lesson you should heed (try, try again) — # O

! Viridian — & L nomu apocalypse vigilante Deku + fanart and animatics

Be Careful What You Wish For — H death quirk time loop

! Indefinite — # L + fanart and animatics

! release the dogs of war  — # + art

Omniscience - & L

! Ignite to the Call  - & L

Loop-de-loop — & 

! From here to 10000 — H 

!! Again. — & 

what it’s like to be a zero — &

! burn the (other) world down — This fic got deleted but i liked it and i want to remember it’s existence so it stays

New Game Plus (Ultra!) — &  morally ambiguous Midoriya Izuku

Dreamverse — & 

The Dust We Breathe — H

! Malware — &

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

Spooky Izuku - 

!! Maudlin Murmurs — & H

!! Eternal Will of the Quirkless — H Shindeku

Persephone — # 

I can’t stop giving izuku death quirks, and now look where i am(series) - # 

bigger than your body — # O

!! Between — & Asui Tsuyu/Midoriya Izuku + art

Lilacs and Lilies — & zombie apocalypse

perchance to dream — &

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Miscellaneous - 

! the devil called a cease-fire - # dad for one

Save Me, I’m Drowning — #

! Izuku Is (Afraid) — #

A Little One — # O de-aged Izuku

Compass — &

!! Dial Tone — & L Shindeku

Half-Cold, Half-Warm Bodies — H tododeku zombie apocalypse

May Fate Guide Your Way — H 

Of Father Figures and Formal Wear — # O dad for one

Something Still Remains — # O Aizawa centric Shirakumo Oboro 

! Friends in Dark Places — H  Ghost Shinso Shindeku

too much at stake but too late to change + [Podfic]  — #

I’m home — H dad for one

Everyone Is Important — # O

Thank you to the lovely authors for writing these! I honestly can’t believe that theses are all free to read.

DOES HE? - BAKUGOU X READER

DOES HE - BAKUGOU X READER

Again, you don't exactly know what I have in mind, but here's a half-idea giving preview-

Your life had always been downed in darkness and loneliness. You had never expected it to get any better but you didn't mind it anymore. Not until the only person you had left to love broke your heart. At first, it hurt but then you realized what all this had given you-friends, family, your dream of being a hero, you had got everything back because of him. You could give on him and focus on what you had, right? Because....Bakugou doesn't love you, does he?

Anyone who kins the Aizawa family? This is your gold.

INDEX -

Chapter 1 - AFTER SO LONG

Chapter 2 - From a Hero to a Hostage

Chapter 3 - Not what I wanted

Chapter 4 - Everything I Wanted

Chapter 5 - First day at U.A.

Chapter 6 - Messed Up Bad

Chapter 7 - Aftermath

Chapter 8 - Aftermath of an Aftermath

Chapter 9 - A Clear Out

Chapter 10 - Settled

Chapter 11 - The Weight

Chapter 12 - You

Chapter 13 - Eating the Frog

Alright… pinned post. My bkdk 🔁 dkbk fics/threads

Ongoing Long Fics

Rhapsody (rating M for now): Band AU, angst, Izuku and Katsuki are in a band together, they have a very on-again, off-again relationship. Then Rody shows up in Izuku’s life, will Katsuki realize his mistakes in time? AO3 link (it’s also on twitter).

I’m not boring!! (rated a hard E): College AU, professor Midoriya, baseball coach Bakugou, bkdk dynamic, this one is pure smut that is slowly developing a plot. Sex comedy. Tissue-use is not because anyone is crying. Two idiots banging their way into a relationship. AO3 link

Six months to make you love me (rated M): time travel quirk accident sends Katsuki into the future where he sees he’s in a relationship with Izuku and then back to the past. He’s forced to recreate future events and falls for Izuku along the way. Comedy. Fair warning, temporary hiatus until I finish Rhapsody & Precision. AO3 link

Precision (rated T for now): Izuku and Katsuki are rival volleyball players, forced to play on the same team. This story jumps between past and present, diving into their complicated history. Angst, enemies to friends to lovers, sports AU, bullying AO3 link

Complete Long Fics

The Servant (rated E): Fantasy AU, historical, Izuku is the personal attendant to the Crown Prince sent on a mission to the northern kingdom on what appears to be a suicide mission. This one is full of action, adventure, gods, smidge of romance, enemies to lovers. The southern empire is loosely based on ancient china and the northern kingdom is loosely based on vikings (so you get your barbarian Bakugou). ~172k words. AO3 link

Undercover (rated E): canon-verse, Izuku takes on an undercover assignment right after graduation that’s supposed to only last three months. He’s gone for a year. When he returns, he’s not the same and it’s up to Katsuki to get to the bottom of things. Angst, hurt/comfort. I really poured my heart into this one. (They are only apart for a few chapters, I’ve had some people tell me that’s why they won’t read it). ~260k AO3 link

Complete One Shots/Threads

Under the bright lights (rated T): actor AU, omegaverse, Alpha Katsuki, Omega Izuku; an exchange fic, Izuku is a C-list actor on his first major film set. He runs into an old rival who triggers some old memories among other things. AO3 link

Takeover (rated T): mafia AU, they’re rival gang leaders and one of them decides it’s time to take the other one out. AO3 link

Of all the bars in all the world (rated M): sex worker AU, angst, Izuku is a sex worker who tries to make a pass at pro hero Katsuki. It does not go well. AO3 link

Don’t piss off the yakuza (rated E): Pro-hero Katsuki has a run-in with his dangerous yakuza boyfriend (Izuku) at work. A smutty dkbk exchange gift for BakuDeku Secret Santa 2022! AO3 link

Winter AU collection (rated T): various winter AU threads (bkdkbk) that I wrote for an event week on twitter. AO3 link

Deep Space Mine (rated T): Toga Himiko x Uraraka Ochako. Ochako is a starfleet officer and pilot of the starship Yuei. Toga is Q (for those not familiar with Star Trek— basically an unpredictable, all powerful being). Toga harasses Ochako, who’s just trying to do her job. One shot. AO3 link

Threads (all G or T): I’ll link them here as I repost them on tumblr.

Alright… pinned post. My bkdk 🔁 dkbk fics/threads

Ongoing Long Fics

Rhapsody (rating M for now): Band AU, angst, Izuku and Katsuki are in a band together, they have a very on-again, off-again relationship. Then Rody shows up in Izuku’s life, will Katsuki realize his mistakes in time? AO3 link (it’s also on twitter).

I’m not boring!! (rated a hard E): College AU, professor Midoriya, baseball coach Bakugou, bkdk dynamic, this one is pure smut that is slowly developing a plot. Sex comedy. Tissue-use is not because anyone is crying. Two idiots banging their way into a relationship. AO3 link

Six months to make you love me (rated M): time travel quirk accident sends Katsuki into the future where he sees he’s in a relationship with Izuku and then back to the past. He’s forced to recreate future events and falls for Izuku along the way. Comedy. Fair warning, temporary hiatus until I finish Rhapsody & Precision. AO3 link

Precision (rated T for now): Izuku and Katsuki are rival volleyball players, forced to play on the same team. This story jumps between past and present, diving into their complicated history. Angst, enemies to friends to lovers, sports AU, bullying AO3 link

Complete Long Fics

The Servant (rated E): Fantasy AU, historical, Izuku is the personal attendant to the Crown Prince sent on a mission to the northern kingdom on what appears to be a suicide mission. This one is full of action, adventure, gods, smidge of romance, enemies to lovers. The southern empire is loosely based on ancient china and the northern kingdom is loosely based on vikings (so you get your barbarian Bakugou). ~172k words. AO3 link

Undercover (rated E): canon-verse, Izuku takes on an undercover assignment right after graduation that’s supposed to only last three months. He’s gone for a year. When he returns, he’s not the same and it’s up to Katsuki to get to the bottom of things. Angst, hurt/comfort. I really poured my heart into this one. (They are only apart for a few chapters, I’ve had some people tell me that’s why they won’t read it). ~260k AO3 link

Complete One Shots/Threads

Under the bright lights (rated T): actor AU, omegaverse, Alpha Katsuki, Omega Izuku; an exchange fic, Izuku is a C-list actor on his first major film set. He runs into an old rival who triggers some old memories among other things. AO3 link

Takeover (rated T): mafia AU, they’re rival gang leaders and one of them decides it’s time to take the other one out. AO3 link

Of all the bars in all the world (rated M): sex worker AU, angst, Izuku is a sex worker who tries to make a pass at pro hero Katsuki. It does not go well. AO3 link

Don’t piss off the yakuza (rated E): Pro-hero Katsuki has a run-in with his dangerous yakuza boyfriend (Izuku) at work. A smutty dkbk exchange gift for BakuDeku Secret Santa 2022! AO3 link

Winter AU collection (rated T): various winter AU threads (bkdkbk) that I wrote for an event week on twitter. AO3 link

Deep Space Mine (rated T): Toga Himiko x Uraraka Ochako. Ochako is a starfleet officer and pilot of the starship Yuei. Toga is Q (for those not familiar with Star Trek— basically an unpredictable, all powerful being). Toga harasses Ochako, who’s just trying to do her job. One shot. AO3 link

Threads (all G or T): I’ll link them here as I repost them on tumblr.

Disabled/Sick BKDK Recommendations

Note: these stories contain a variety of disabilities, physical and learning. And when I say learning I mean things like adhd, dyslexia, or autism. Some of these can get sad or have smut, so please check tags! Have fun reading!

Autistic!Izuku/Bakugou:

You don’t always have to speak to be heard by decidueyestan

Sun doodles by  CyberNebula

Secrets Best Kept by Izuku by strawberry_bs

Hidden Moments by havenshereagain

Oh, I'm Crying Now, Authentic Tears by coleopterology

Deaf!Bakugou:

Bunny Support Hybrid Izuku Midoriya by loveatfirstsight

I can see your voice by mcaali24

everything you (n)ever wished for by symbolofsimpery

Illness/Sickness:

cause the hardest part of this (is leaving you) by depressioncafe

Space Heater by danikatsukishima

Watershed by paperwetwithink

Sickness is not Weakness by Pi_Cloud

Reblog the writers’ fortune cookie for luck!

I have yet to come across a bkdk enemies/friends/strangers to lovers in a college roommates au

Bkdk lovers please send your recs 🥺

A list of bkdk djs that have been sitting in my notes app for awhile ! all are on myreadingmanga and in english (the website does have p*rn ads on it, so please be cautious!)

NSFW :

[yazaki] Stay Stay

[kase] How irrational can you be!

[Kuranosukee (Kase)] Ideal Body

[Fujii Niya] WILD LIFE

[dokosahekisaensan (aroe)] PLEASE YOUR HEART

[kuroi] NO MORE Quirk Thief

[Kometsubu] most disliking

[henjen69] HUG me! KISS me! LOVE me! Darling

[kuroi] NO MORE Quirk Thief

[Bakuchi Jinsei SP (Satsuki Fumi)] Boku no Osananajimi ga Seishintekini Osanaku Narimashita

[Bakuchi Jinsei SP (Satsuki Fumi)] Boku no Hero Academia dj – Crazy Crazy Sideshow [Eng]

[yuka] All Night Long with Kacchan

[unomaru] My Sweet Strawberry

[Marushiru (AKITO)] T shōnen to K shōnen no

[yazaki] The Passing On of Light Particles

[usopyon] The Dramatic Before and After – Deku ver.

[lapin] The Fork in the Road

Funny (and cute lol) :

[yanuyanu (OOP)] our sweet home – (One of my favs it’s so cute ><)

[Traumerei (vis)] Boku no Hero Academia dj – Love Complex [Eng]

[tuno_maruta (Tsuno)] REC

[Kometsubu] The future us are lovers!

[Korosuke] Married as a disguise, but Kacchan

[lapin] CALL YOUR NAME

Fantasy :

[dokosahekisaensan (aroe)] tabi ni deruno ha sorekara

[cai] For You

If you have any more suggestions pls lmkk!! :))