Late Bloomer II W/ Gepard .

late bloomer II w/ Gepard .

desc. : Ain't no way that I'm projecting, look me in the eyes and tell me he wouldn't be an emotional wreck before he managed to ask you out (wc : 2.1k)

tags / cw : sfw, afab!reader, use of she/her pronouns, just fluff, more of Gepard's emotional well-being, he actually asks you out in this one, edited post-release

index : part I

Gepard's newfound infatuation had taken hold of him like a whirlwind, sweeping him into a realm of emotions he had never experienced before. He found himself working less overtime, opting to spend his free time cooking or tending to flowers instead of training. Somehow, he even managed to keep his plants alive this time, but it was probably because of him actually watering them instead of disappearing for nights on end to work. Still, he liked to think the meaning was deeper than that. 

Despite his growing fondness for his hobbies, intrusive thoughts of the girl he had met wormed their way into his mind. Gepard wasn't as secretive about his crush as he had thought he was either, and nearly every one of his soldiers could tell that something was up with the Captain. His usually steady hands shook ever so slightly, betraying the storm of butterflies that fluttered about his heart. He seemed to have a permanent flush dusted across his ears, often heard humming to himself in his office when he thinks he's alone. His leg even continued to bounce in annoyance while he rushed to finish his paperwork. Everyone knew that something (or rather, someone) had captured the Captain’s heart, even if he didn't openly confess to it himself. 

He’d caught glimpses of her a few times since their accidental encounter, witnessing her traversing to and from Qlipoth Fort. With each passing sighting, the bandage on her head grew smaller, and the memory of their first meeting began to fade into the recesses of his mind. Yet, despite his longing to speak to her, Gepard found himself paralyzed by a suffocating shyness that consumed him from within. He couldn’t help but gaze wistfully while the butterflies and rose petals consumed his guts from the inside.

It was almost sickening, how lovestruck the poor boy had become, but he couldn't shake the grip it had on him. But Gepard's fear stemmed from the awkwardness of their initial encounter. He dreaded the possibility that his mere presence would reignite those uncomfortable feelings, further solidifying him as an intimidating figure in her eyes. Except, the way he stared her down from a distance didn’t help one bit, and she was fully aware of his piercing gaze on the back of her head. 

Lost in his confusion and yearning, Gepard found himself seeking solace once again at the Neverwinter workshop. The fear of losing his own sanity pushed him to visit his sister's sanctuary after work, oblivious to the curious glances he received as he marched through town with a purposeful stride that bordered on madness. But who could blame him? His once orderly life had been turned on its head by a chance encounter with a girl. As he entered the workshop, he hastily shut the door behind him, having piqued the interest of Serval stationed behind the counter.

"Oh? And what's got you in such a hurry, brother dearest?" She inquired, a hint of mischief laced in her tone. Serval sets down her tools, raising an eyebrow at Gepard's continued silence. While he looked confident on the outside, he was melting down inside. It took him a minute to swallow the lump in his throat before he could speak, his voice trembling slightly. 

"It's her," he admitted, awkwardly clearing his throat before continuing, "The girl I told you about, I can't stop thinking about her…" Gepard sighed heavily in defeat, and the warmth creeping up his neck at his embarrassing revelation urged him to tug at his collar. Suddenly, his shoes seemed very interesting to him. 

Serval’s eyes widened momentarily, before a knowing grin spread across her lips, "Ah, the mysterious girl who shook the unshakeable Captain. You've been thinking of her all this time?" 

Gepard nodded, blush creeping higher up his cheeks. "I've been considering, well… Talking to her again. But it's not easy for me, you know that." 

Serval’s expression brightened. "You should know better than to doubt yourself like that," she chirped, making her way around the counter to stand in front of him. "You can do it, Gepard. You talk to people all the time! Just don’t treat her like a fugitive and you’ll be fine," she assured, hand playfully mussing up his hair.

"Thanks…" he uttered, gently swiping her hand away. “You don’t always have to treat me like a kid, you know…”

“Yeah…” Serval sighed, a cheeky little smile playing upon her lips, “But other big sisters got to tease their little brothers about their crushes too, so it’s my turn now.” She chuckled, placing both hands on her hips, “Tell you what, next time you see her? Just go talk to her. Don’t even think about it.”

Gepard let out an internal sigh as he bid farewell to his sister and stepped out of the workshop. He couldn't help but find Serval's advice both frustrating and thought-provoking. Deep down, he knew she was right. Perhaps he was overcomplicating matters with his hesitation. Walking through the bustling streets of the town, he allowed his thoughts to wander. The complicated swirl of emotions that gripped his heart couldn't be easily dismissed or resolved. It was true that he was inexperienced in matters of the heart, but he had to start somewhere. He couldn't continue to hide behind his shyness and reluctance. 

Gepard reached a turning point, realizing that wearing his heart on his sleeve was the only way forward. He needed to confront his feelings head-on, even if it meant risking rejection or embarrassment. The thought of continuing to dwell in uncertainty and missed opportunities was no longer tolerable. It was time to cast aside his reservations and let his feelings be known. The road ahead was uncertain, but Gepard was willing to embrace the journey, no matter the outcome.

Yet, his steps faltered as he turned the corner at Qlipoth Fort, his resolve crumbling like a fragile facade. There she was, standing at the bottom of the steps, engrossed in conversation with another soldier. His heart leaped into his throat, and he could feel the familiar fluttering return. Despite catching a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye, she seemed oblivious to his presence, focused on her task at hand. After handing the soldier a stack of papers, she turned to pick up some boxes and set off on her way again. 

Watching her retreating figure, Gepard felt the desperate pull of his heartstrings, urging him to pursue her before she disappeared from his sight again. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he closed the distance between them. With each step, Gepard's mind raced, searching for the right words, the right approach. He couldn't afford to be shy or hesitant anymore. This was his chance to bridge the gap between them. As he drew near, Gepard cleared his throat, his voice steady. “Excuse me,” he said, catching the attention of the girl. 

She turned her head suddenly, eyes blown wide at the sight of him. “Captain? A-Are you here to arrest me?” She inquired, a hint of shock and disbelief in her tone. 

Gepard’s heart immediately sank to his boots at the thought of her fearing his presence, and he quickly shook his head, voice filled with reassurance. “No, no, not at all! I’m not here to arrest you,” he replied, tone gentle yet earnest. “I actually…” He trailed off, eyes struggling to meet hers, “I wanted to talk to you. If that’s alright.”

Her guard lowered a little, a mix of curiosity and confusion flashed across her features. “Talk? About what?” she asked, her tone cautious.

Gepard shifted his weight anxiously, but he tried his best to maintain eye contact, conveying his sincerity. “I wanted to see how you’re doing. And… Well,” deep breaths, Gepard, “To apologize for our last encounter. It was a complete accident, and I didn’t mean to startle you. I hope you’ve recovered well from your injury.”

Her expression softened, and she seemed to relax a little, releasing a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “Thank you, but it’s me who should be apologizing. And I appreciate your concern, Captain, I’m doing much better now. It was just a small injury.” 

“I’m glad to hear that,”  Gepard mustered a small smile, relieved that he had broken through their awkward barrier. “If it’s not too forward of me to ask, I was wondering…” his gaze flickered down to the boxes she was holding, “Would you like some help with those boxes? It would be my pleasure to assist you.”

She hesitated for a moment, unsure of his intentions. He was the Captain of the Silvermane Guards, after all. Who would she be to steal his time? But he was the one offering his assistance. “I would appreciate that, actually…”

Gepard stepped forward, carefully taking one of the boxes from her hold. “You can call me Gepard, by the way. No need for formalities,” he said, his voice warm.

Gepard let her lead the way, and this time a comfortable silence filled the air. It wasn’t suffocating like their last meeting, and definitely not life-threatening in any way. If he was being honest, every moment spent in her company made Gepard feel like his heart was about to beat out of his chest, but he managed to keep himself cool. Just about. Gepard's shyness gradually gave way to genuine curiosity and a desire to know more about the girl before him. Conversation flowed naturally, sprinkled with light banter and the casual joke here and there.

Eventually, the conversation was steered towards work-related matters, and Gepard became curious about her profession. Although her responses were initially guarded, she quickly became heated with frustration the more she spoke about it. She revealed that she worked for the government, and that the recent stir with the new Supreme Guardian had caused her quite the headache, in terms of paperwork. The archives had to be updated, and every piece of official documentation needed to be copied and filed accordingly. She explained the long hours and demanding responsibilities that came with her position, mirroring Gepard's own dedication to his duties.

Outside of work, both of them didn’t have time for personal pursuits or social interactions, engrossed in their respective responsibilities. Gepard even shared his own apprehensions about his job, going as far as telling her some of the strange things his soldiers had gotten up to. His heart fluttered each time her laughter chimed through his ears, and he felt it sinking deeper and deeper into the fluffy, petal-ridden, butterfly-warzone of his chest. When he noticed her steps began to slow down, he too changed his pace.

The girl paused, and Gepard noticed they had arrived at her doorstep. As she moved to unlock the front door of her home, he couldn't help but feel a wave of nervousness crash down on him. She placed the boxes inside and turned back to face him, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you for your assistance today, Captain," she beamed, but then corrected herself, "I mean, Gepard."

Gepard smiled, trying to swallow down the fluttering of butterfly wings that filled the expanse of his chest. One wrong move and it felt like they may have flown from his mouth as he spoke. The love that consumed him threatened to overflow, but he managed to keep his composure. He didn't want to overwhelm her (or himself, for the record) with his feelings just yet. "It was my pleasure," he replied, tone laced with sincerity.

After exchanging greetings, they found themselves standing on the threshold of her home. As she began to close the door, Gepard felt a sudden surge of courage that took him by surprise. Every fibre of his being yelled at him to go for it. “Wait,” he said, hastily putting his hand up to the door before she could close it completely. Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she reopened it, tilting her head inquisitively.

“Uhm, yes?” She asked, eyes widening with anticipation. “Is there something else you need, Captain?”

Gepard took a deep breath, attempting to still his racing heart and shaking hands. With each passing moment, his face grew warmer as he struggled to find the right words. Finally, he mustered enough courage to ask, “Would you like to… Get a coffee with me sometime?”

Her eyes widened in surprise, but a gentle smile soon graced her features. “I would love to,” she replied, warmth blooming in her chest. As she watched him shuffle so innocently on her doorstep, face flushed with a rosy hue, she couldn’t help but see him in a different light. Perhaps the tall Silvermane Captain wasn’t as scary as she first anticipated after all…

my brain is so mushy after writing all dis n my exam was all long questions... i mentioned butterflies so much can u tell my exam was abt insect diversity siigghhh... heart eyes for geppie rn ♥︎

OP, u are so right and u should say it.

Clay Puppington and Cameron Campbell vs. Endeavor : Why I Like Their Character Writing and Not The Latter's

Clay from Moral Orel and Campbell from Camp Camp are from opposite ends of my Shitty Person Character spectrum.

My spontaneously-made scale for these characters include Disgusting But Interesting - Sympathetic (The Golden Area of my Morally Gray Characters) - Entertaining Scumbag.

Disgusting But Interesting

Clay is about as realistic as abusers come. He wasn't born evil, he isn't some spawn of hell, but he's definitely portrayed as a monster. The thing with Clay is that he's an abuse victim. His childish act of rebellion caused his mother to have a heart attack and since then his father resented him for what happened. His substitute for love is physical abuse. It's how he grew up, it's how his brain coped. And he knows this. He knows he's fucked up, he said so many times throughout the show, he's very aware of what his issues are and how to stop it.

You would think a character like Clay (sympathetic, realistic, self-aware) is a prime candidate for redemption and reconciliation with his family, esp Orel, his kind and forgiving son, yes? No. The ending, while somewhat rushed gave me such a good feeling. Orel didn't have to keep his father in his life to be "a kind and forgiving" person. Orel got to live happily ever after with Christina and break the long cycle of abuse which neither Clay nor Bloberta (the wife) broke once they got out of their abusive households. Orel honored his parents by keeping their photos in the new house, next to photos of his brothers who were equally abused and went on to be good people.

That's the main point with Clay, the conclusion to his and Orel's relationship, because this father-son dynamic is the main plot of the show. Anyway, back to Clayduring the entire show's run. Season 1 put a bit of a comedic spin on the scenes where Clay was threatening to beat Orel while he was drunk, to reflect how Orel saw the situation and the world in general, his mind wasn't registering the awful shit going around him yet, esp about his father. As the show goes on, the abuse dawns on Orel eventually. But we as the audience were always supposed to take the punishments very seriously, to see the alcohol, the belt and the twisted lectures Clay gave and immediately think "Abuse". None of that "Twisted form of care/love". None of that "It's a mistake". None of that "It's just how he is." The show makes it clear that this is abuse and this is a choice and he knows it.

Which is why he was never redeemed.

Entertaining Scumbag

Cameron Campbell doesn't really have a sad backstory like Clay but he gets to have a chance at a redemption arc in Season 3 and 4. I just find him to be entertaining as a side character. His list of crimes mean little in a show that's full of very violent or selfish characters (most of which are kids). The characters talk trash about him too. Only one of them really gives him a chance to change (Yes, the kindest of characters, my favorite, David). They even make it a point in the episode "Keep the Change", Campbell would never be able to change for the better because he's selfish through and through. Was Max (the protagonist) right about his assumption?

Well you see, Campbell in that episode when repeatedly urged by David to do good, he kept slipping back into his selfish and narcissistic ways. Like wanting to only give to charity for adoration and fame. All that. David rightfully calls him out for that. That's another thing, they repeatedly give him shit for the things he say or do, to make up for the lack of legal consequences for his crimes.

(One day I hope the thing with Jasper gets resolved though. It was an accident but the fact that Campbell was being negligent was another thing. That being said, another kid died in Gwen and David's care too. Talk about off-screen negligence.)

Anyway, "After Hours" shows Campbell for the first time without Gwen or David telling him what to do or how to run his own goddamn camp. The first glimpse of him doing nice things without thinking much about them. The plotline with Campbell ends with this cute scene here.

When David saw them and woke them up, he was likely about to compliment Campbell about how good he handled the situation or whatever, but Campbell cut him off and started complaining about the campers and grumbled about getting some sleep. Good, I don't want to hear another sappy speech about Campbell! It was a nice episode overall. :)

So that's the main point about Campbell. How the characters act around him.

Now about his backstory, as a contrast to Clay's. Campbell is selfish. Greedy. Self-absorbed. An asshole. Campbell used to have friends, a girlfriend, and a stable job. He was so good at his job that he was eligible for a Camp Corporation(?) Magazine at some point. Point is, he had it all and his greediness made him lose all of that. And he definitely wasn't getting any of that back.

The fame went to his old friends, Camp Corp. founders the Campwells, since he was always in hiding because tax evasion and other crimes. He can't have his camp back because he went to jail and his new punishment is to surrender his funds and services to David, who he wasn't respecting before being knocked down a few pegs. Lastly, when he and his girlfriend reunited and he asked if they could "pick up where they left off", she rightfully called him out for that being such a shit thing to ask after 17 years apart. They banged in the end of that episode but the rest was up to interpretation until maybe Season 5 (if ever).

So his redemption is funny and definitely not giving him things easy since it's not like he has the things he always wanted: Fame, Money, and Control.

Endeavor and Why I Just Hate Seeing Him On Screen and Why The Decision to Redeem Him is Ridiculous and If He's Simply "Atoning", then everything else surrounding this plot is Confusing

I think a lot of you already know this by now but I'm Filipino and from an abusive household. Our culture is all about community. The majority over the individual.

Abusers get away scot-free unless... you broadcast it to everyone. The radio, the television, to anywhere and everyone who will pay attention. What Dabi did was the only way to give his abuser some semblence of repercussions since his family surely wasn't going to do it. Because here's the thing, E slur wasn't just some random jackass breadwinner. He is an authority figure, with wealth to top it off. He had everything in his disposal to manipulate things in his favor.

Like bro, even then, even when everyone in the neighborhood knows your situation, no one is still going to step in because the decisions ultimately lie within the family. And they (my family) sure aren't going to do something because "This is just how things are" "This is how the matriarch is" "This is how our family deals with it"

I wouldn't be upset with E slur not getting legal repercussions if it's clear that the entire family straight up hate his guts and not even bother to associate with him in any way. None of this forced family dinners, none of this getting the family to talk to him. None of this Rei and Fuyumi giving him a chance. None of this invasion of space and boundaries (like hugging Natsuo or acquiring Shouto's number from Fuyumi, and if she gave it willingly, I find that uncomfortable).

Sometimes, we just live in resentment and no one here is happy because we simply can't. How can you when your entire existence revolves around a dream your parents never got or a life they never lived? Who can forgive when your very life hinges upon how useful and cooperative you are? That your presence only matters when you're not a burden? Because I sure can't. I can't get over it. She didn't have to tell me but she did. The only reason why I'm even alive rn is because her son didn't amount to anything they wanted and I'm just a safety net. If I don't succeed in life, they'd be very disappointed.

That alone is awful. ^-^

I can't imagine if they were actual authority figures that will double the pressure on you because they have the media monitoring your entire family~

So how about the opposite? What if the family is indeed willing to give the selfish, extremely abusive, egotistical asshole a chance? (Not Natsuo, never him) Then why not have the media absolutely hound him. Have his coworkers scorn him, yes even Hawks who looked up to him and supported him. Have the entire world look at him and his entire posse with distrust, all of them. And the end of all this? Lose his hero license.

He can't have both.

Hell, he doesn't deserve either.

But if the narrative insists, then I'd rather he be a social outcast, esp by his own family.

Now about how he's treated within the story, you have all these characters pointing out how he's better, less of an asshole, "a changed man". Camp Camp did this for ONE episode. Because this is annoying. The man doing the bare minimum is so laughably sad. Especially all this was before the reveal of the abuse. And after the reveal, nothing. Crickets from the people who know of it. Those who do talk help nothing for this plot, like Hawks for example. 😬

It's important to note that Campbell is to David like E slur was to Keigo. Except Campbell and David did meet 14 years ago when he was 10.

The thing is though, that David grows out of this parasocial relationship with Campbell throughout the seasons. Hawks lately is Endeavor-san this Endeavor that, shut up. Jesus Christ. Like I know admiration. I know obsessive. It's not a cute look when you're 23 and supposed to be self-aware it is painful to watch unfold. Because I think a reveal like your idol (not even a friend) being such a scumbag can't have a Denial/Slow Burn Breakdown Reaction. And if the "It may be true but...I'm sure it's not like that anymore." is the final reaction/acknowledgement then 1) I've heard that before from irl 2) How are you SURE? Some random not-even-close-with-any-of-the-victims outsider? 3) Beyond underwhelming.

😬

Back to E slur, they never should have tried to give this man attention of any kind. He doesn't have a sympathetic background (not that I'd want him to) so he doesn't have anything to relate to. Yes, the """"inferiority complex"""" maybe but not everyone has the wealth and power at their disposal to buy a wife and coerce her to make children-

So he's not relatable, he's heinous, we're supposed to take his crimes seriously, so he's not even entertaining what else? He's doing a good job of atoning for his mistakes? He's a massive invasion of boundaries and that is uncomfortable.

1) Him giving Rei her favorite flowers.

My brother gave me a nice gesture once. Made me cry and everything. Wanna know why? Because this is the same dude who used to beat me with a broom stick! :D

Yes, abusers can do nice things omg shocker, do they deserve to get within 10 feet of you and then leave you presents, maybe even at an attempt at asking for forgiveness? Hell no. God that's spine-chlling. Because it could be genuine, and no one deserves to feel like they owe someone that kindness and forgiveness.

2) Him suddenly hugging Natsuo without regard for how Natsuo would react.

This is after years of neglect and subjecting him to domestic violence. This is him touching him just because, what, he was "scared of losing him"? Your child was just as likely to die from getting neglected or sheer stress and you're only worried now? Laughable and quite pathetic! I personally don't like getting grabbed without my consent, esp if it's someone who's hurt me before. Mother may have never hit me but I know what it feels like to be threatened. She gets mad when I get mad at her for suddenly grabbing me every now and then. I explicitly told her I hate getting physical. I'd hate to think how E slur would have reacted if Natsuo had the reaction time to flinch or shake him off. Again, uncomfortable.

3) Getting Shouto's number then bombarding him with messages.

If your kids don't want to talk to you, maybe stop pestering them? Maybe stop being such a nuisance? Maybe stop inserting yourself in their life whenever you can because you feel entitled to a chance? Or maybe get to know your kid first and that being he doesn't talk much to begin with so knock it off.

Again, if they never should have made him try. And if they insist, not like this.

Aight Im tired. Goodnight.

Thinking about Gepard (oh god, no way ? wow that's crazy dude...) Thinking about how he likes to garden and has flowers..

In casual conversation, you tell him about your favorite flowers, the colors you like, how happy the flowers make you when you see them. And he is intently listening, writing down all these notes in his mental notebook.

A few months go by, you haven't thought about that conversation since that day. But Gepard has thought about it a lot. So much so that he surprises you one day, knocking on your door with your favorite flowers in hand.

You can't help but be happy, they are your favorites of course. And just the right color too! Turns out that ever since that day, Gepard had planted your favorite flowers in a garden he knew you wouldn't be able to find, tending to them every day.

And just as the flowers for you bloomed, so did his love for you.

PSA Regarding Hateful Anons

Tumblr recently made it a requirement for you to be logged in to send asks anonymously. If you receive a hateful ask, don’t publish it - report it to Tumblr. It can be traced back to the user that sent it and with enough reports that person’s account will be suspended.

Share to raise awareness but also to make the clowns who think this behaviour is acceptable think twice before acting brave behind the guise of invisibility.

So you know how people categorise characters as either A or B:

Well, I firmly believe that every TWST!boy is B. Like, even the shyer ones will start punching the air the second they’re in the privacy of their room

I love them 🥺 u did so well.

a vow that can never be broken…

❀ also happy international women‘s day to all the ladies out here!!! ❀

moreover i gotta thank @afinemochi for feeding me with headcanons jhdsdshj <3