Paws And Effect Blurb

Paws and Effect Blurb

Read the full thing on: AO3

Paws and Effect - A Ghost/Reader/Soap Hyrbid AU fic.

Blurb - 4k words, Full on AO3 - 16k words (18+)

Summary: Soap was convinced that Ghost was hiding something. He was dead set on a secret missus tucked away in some flat in London. Nothing could have prepared him for the truth. A cozy little farmhouse, far removed from the chaos of their world, and a… fluffy cat? The biggest shock yet? The cat’s true identity.

Soap was certain that Ghost had a missus back home. His first clue? Ghost’s uniforms. They were always crisp and well-pressed. Don’t get him wrong, he was sure the big man knew how to use an iron, but there was something suspiciously meticulous about the way his clothes looked when he would come back from leave. Pressed to perfection, not a single wrinkle in sight.

Not only were they clean-pressed, but there was that scent that drove Soap’s nose crazy. It wasn’t just your standard laundry detergent, there was something warmer, floral, something… homey. Soap had sniffed every brand of detergent he could get his nose on, but nothing quite matched the lingering fragrance that was on Ghost’s clothes.

He tried asking once, tossing out the question casually. “So, you got a missus waiting for you back home, Ghost?”

The man barely spared him a glance, shaking his head. “Just a cat,” he said. His tone was even, but Soap swears he could see just the faintest twitch of a smile under his mask.

What really got under his skin was how the rest of the 141 played along. When he pressed Gaz about it, all he got was a shrug. “He’s not lying, mate. He’s got a cat.”

Price wasn’t any better. “Sounds about right,” he said, offering nothing more. Soap wasn’t buying it though, because every so often he’d get another clue.

Like when he overheard Ghost chatting with someone on base. He kept mentioning how she was doing, whether she was planning to visit soon and no matter how hard he tried, Soap couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t a cat. It was always just vague enough to be brushed off, yet it gnawed at Soap’s curiosity.

The final clue was the phone calls. Ghost wasn’t the type to waste time on mindless chatter, but every now and then, he’d slip away with his phone, voice low and private. One night, Soap happened to walk down the hallway towards the rec room at the right time. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop… kind of. It just so happened that he could hear Ghost’s voice from where he so happened to be standing.

“Yeah… I miss you too.”

Soap nearly fell out of his pants. He finally caught him, but he couldn’t let him know. He needed something more solid and he had to find out just who this girl was.

Going back to square one, he decided to take another swing at asking questions. “So Ghost, what’s your cat’s name?”

Ghost barely looked up from his cards. Soap had figured the team’s weekly poker game was the perfect time to catch him off guard. It seemed like a solid plan so far, but Ghost was just as unreadable as ever.

“Callie,” Ghost answered simply.

Soap narrowed his eyes. “What kind of name is that for a cat?”

Price leaned back in his chair, gaze darting between Soap and Ghost. “Why do you care so much, Johnny?” he asked his tone a mix of curiosity and amusement.

“I don’t, I just-,” he huffed. “Look, I just know he’s full of shite, alright? There’s no way all he’s got at home is a bloody cat. And what’s worse is it that you lot seem to know it too.”

Across the table, Gaz snorted. “You sound jealous.”

Soap scowled. “I am not jealous. I just find it hard to believe.”

Before he could finish, Ghost’s phone buzzed.

The whole room went still.

Ghost barely reacted, checking the screen with his usual impassive air before typing out a quick response. Then, just as casually, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and placed his cards down with a satisfying ‘plap’.

“That was the cat,” he said flatly, revealing a full house. “Gotta make a call.”

Gaz nearly chokes on his drink, bursting out laughing. Price just sighed, leaning over to pat Soap on the shoulder. “Just give it up, mate.”

A month later, the task force was on the road, making their way back to base after a grueling week-long mission a few hours away. It was far too late for them to be out and exhaustion was starting to settle in. They had pushed to get back, desperate for their own beds, but the further they drove, the harder it was for everyone to stay awake.

“Why don’t we just crash at my place for the night,” Ghost offers, calm but firm. From behind the wheel, Price glances over, considering it for a second before nodding.

“Sounds like a plan,” he says, speeding on into the night.

Soap perks up immediately, practically bouncing forward to stick his head between the front seats. “Wait, we’re going to L.T.’s place?”

Ghost sighs, already regretting his offer. “On second thought…”

Soap playfully shoves his shoulder. “Aw, don’t be like that,” he grins.

“It’s been a while,” Price cuts in, his voice carrying a note of familiarity. “It’ll be nice to visit again. Bet a lot’s changed since I was there last.”

Ghost doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he turns his gaze toward the dark scenery outside. “You have no idea…” he murmurs.

Soap blinks. “Wait, ye’ve been before, Captain?”

Price nods. “A few times.”

From the back seat, Gaz casually raises a hand. “As have I.”

Soap reels back, scandilized “What?” he whines. “How come everyone else has got an invitation ‘cept me L.T.?”

Ghost cocks his head to the side, sizing up the Scotsman with an air of amusement. “You’re too rowdy. You’ll scare the cat.”

Price and Ghost exchange a knowing glance, only adding fuel to the fire in Soap’s burning curiosity.

Soap huffs, flopping back into his seat with exaggerated indignation. “Unbelievable,” he mutters under his breath.

He turns his attention to the window, watching as the darkness of the countryside stretches endlessly around them. The road was essentially empty with vast, open fields on either side. Every so often, a streetlamp would flicker by, offering the briefest glimpse of the world outside before swallowing it back into the shadows.

Yet, despite the tranquil scenery around them, Soap’s mind was far from resting. If everyone had been to Ghost’s place before, that meant that there was definitely something worth seeing, something he was hiding. He was determined to be right. Ghost had a bird.

Further into the drive, Soap catches glimpses of distant lights moving across the fields. They bobbed and weaved in a uniform rhythm, eerily synchronized for lights, flickering through the darkness.

“Farmer’s dogs are out,” Ghost comments, his voice low and unreadable. “Must be chasin’ something.”

Before Soap could get a proper look at whatever something was, the car veered onto a narrow side road, cutting off his view.

“You live near a farm?” he asks, watching as the scenery shifts.

Ghost grunts an affirmative, offering nothing more. Before he could press any further, Price turns onto a long, gravel driveway, the tires crunching softly against the stones.

Soap leans forward again as a modest yet charming farmhouse comes into view. A small porch light bathes the front of the house in a warm glow. It looked, cozy. Not how he would think one would describe Ghost’s home.

“That’s yer place?” he asks, heavy skepticism coating his tone.

Once again, Ghost merely grunts an affirmative. Then, with a slight edge to his voice, he adds, “Make sure you mind your manners.”

Soap smirks. “What, ye worried I’ll scare the cat?” Soap teases.

The joke earns him a hard glare from the masked man, the kind that makes it very clear that he is treading on thin ice. Price parks up close to the house before anyone can say anything further.

After stepping out, Soap takes a chance to look at his surroundings. The house was wrapped in lush greenery, flowers spilling over from well-kept garden beds and climbing trellises. It was once again a stark contrast to the man who owned it, comfy. And yet, it only fueled Soap’s suspicions.

They had barely grabbed their bags when a blood-curdling screech tore through the quiet night.

Soap froze, immediately on edge. “What the hell was that?”

A deep, guttural meowl followed and it felt long, drawn-out, and wrong. It echoes from somewhere near the tree line, making Soap’s pulse quicken.

Ghost barely reacts, simply glancing towards the forest. “Cat must’ve got out,” he mutters before heading toward the house.

Soap hesitates. That didn’t sound like any cat he’d ever heard.

Something about how Ghost said it so casually and dismissive sends a shiver down his spine. With a quick glance toward the others, he hurries after Ghost, not keen on lingering outside any longer than necessary.

Stepping inside, Soap was immediately hit with a wave of warmth and comfort. The living room was the exact opposite of what he had expected. Big, inviting couches piled high with plush pillows and blankets, soft lighting that cast a golden glow across the walls. Nearly every surface was adorned with plants, their vines spilling over shelves and trailing toward the floor in lazy curls.

And then there was the pet bed. It was huge, nestled in the corner like a throne. Soap stared at it, utterly surprised. “Just how big is your cat?”

Ghost’s answer dies on his tongue as another ungodly screech echoed from outside, this time followed by the unmistakable snap of jaws and a furious chorus of barking dogs.

Soap flinched, whipping toward the window in time to see three of the distant lights streaking past, tearing towards the forest with breakneck speed.

“Sounds like they caught whatever they were after,” Ghost says flatly, completely unfazed.

Soap turns to him, concern plastered on his face. Slowly, Soap takes a step away from the window.

“Right,” Ghost continues as if nothing had happened. “One of you will need to take the couch. Guest bed’s not big enough for three.”

Just as the words leave his mouth, a sudden noise comes from the kitchen. A faint but distinct shuffle, the sound of movement where there shouldn’t be any. Every head snaps toward the doorway. The team had faced enemy fire, brutal missions, and near-death situations. But after the week they’d had, their nerves were still wound tight, instincts sharp.

Suddenly, soft, quick footfalls break the silence, followed by a chorus of eager meows barreling into the living room. The team exhales, shoulders loosening as the true source of the “intruder” revealed itself.

“There she is,” Ghost says, his voice uncharacteristically warm as he kneels down.

A fluffy black cat, with a mosaic of white and orange splotches, practically launches into Ghost’s arms. Immediately a cacophony of loud, rumbling purrs fill the room as the cat chirps and rubs their head all over the masked man.

“There's my girl,” Ghost coos as he rubs a finger under the cat's chin.

Soap swears he can see the damn cat smile, purrs growing even louder as it presses into the touch, completely and utterly smitten with the masked man.

“She's looking nice and healthy,” Price comments, watching the affectionate display.

At the sound of his voice, the cat perks up, ears twitching as it twists out of Ghost’s hold and trots over to rub against Price and Gaz’s legs. Both men reach down to scratch at its soft fur, their hands easily finding familiar spots.

“I forgot how soft you were,” Gaz chuckles as it twirls between them, soaking up the attention. Then, as if suddenly noticing the extra presence in the room, the cat pauses. Its bright green eyes land on Soap, studying him with a quiet curiosity. It tilts its head slightly, ears twitching as it takes a hesitant step forward.

Soap freezes, glancing at Ghost who gives him a small nod.

“Let her sniff your hand,” Ghost instructs.

Frowning slightly, Soap peels off his glove and extends his hand, palm up. The cat looks to Ghost first, as if waiting for some kind of confirmation. Ghost turns his attention to the cat, cocking his head to Soap. “That’s Soap,” he tells it, low and steady.

At that, its ears perk, and its tail flicks before it closes the distance, giving his hand a few, careful sniffs. Then, as if making its final judgment, it presses its head into his palm, purring into the touch.

“Soap, this is Callie,” Ghost says simply. “Seems she likes you.”

Soap blinks down at her as she gazes up at him with wide, trusting green eyes. Any lingering suspicions, theories, or conspiracies vanish in an instant. Ghost was telling the truth. There was no secret missus waiting back at home.

Just this cat.

Callie.

“She’s a beaut,” Soap admits, scratching gently behind her ear.

Ghost gives a short nod. “Yeah.”

After another moment, Callie stretches lazily and trots back over to Ghost. She lets out a long, dramatic yawn before hopping effortlessly into his waiting arms, nesting into the crook of his elbow with a satisfied purr.

“Looks like she’s had a long night,” Ghost remarks, stroking her soft fur. “We’re gonna turn in, regroup in the morning.”

A murmur of sleepy agreements passes through the team. Ghost gave one last nod before retreating toward the downstairs bedroom with Callie still draped in his arms like a queen.

There was some lighthearted bickering over who got the couch, but Soap eventually ends up being the one collapsing onto the plush sofa. The second his head hits the pile of soft pillows and blankets, sleep takes him. For the first time in a long, long time, everything feels strangely peaceful.

The next morning, Soap stirred awake to the low murmur of voices drifting from the kitchen. The warmth of the blankets still clung to him, and for a moment, he considered rolling over and slipping back into his peaceful sleep. The tempting scent of fresh coffee ends up winning out and he stretches with a groggy yawn. He pushes himself upright, blinking blearily at the cozy living room around him before making his way toward the voices.

As he stepped into the kitchen, he was immediately met with two pairs of eyes watching him. Ghost and Price sit at a small dining table, mugs in hand, their conversation cutting off when they see him enter. There was something unreadable in their expressions, as if they were waiting for something.

Soap narrowed his eyes, suspicious. Then, movement out of the corner of his eye has him whipping his head towards the other side of the kitchen. When his head turns, his thoughts grind to a screeching halt.

A woman.

A stunning woman.

She turns toward him and for a moment, all he can do is stare, slack-jawed. She has warm, sun-kissed skin and striking green eyes that seem to glow under the soft kitchen light. Long, dark black hair cascades down her back, streaked with vibrant patches of orange and white. But that wasn’t what had him frozen.

It was the ears.

Perched atop her head were two pointed, fur-covered ears, flicking slightly as they registered his presence. Behind her, a long, bushy tail stood proudly, curling slightly at the tip. His eyes dared to dart lower.

She was dressed casually, wearing an old tank top that effortlessly hugged her figure paired with sweatpants with a cutout for her tail. But it was her feet that made his brain short-circuit. At first, he thought she was wearing oddly realistic slippers, but no, those were definitely not slippers.

They were actual cat paws.

Soap’s mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. His brain finally clicked everything into place and suddenly, it all made way too much sense. His expression lit up in triumph as he spun on his heel, jabbing a finger towards Ghost.

“A-ha!”

Ghost let out a long, exhausted sigh, bringing a hand up to rub his temples. “Please don’t yell.”

Soap ignored him, grinning like a madman. “You said you didn’t have a bird!”

“He’s not wrong,” Price mused, smirking behind his coffee mug. “She’s definitely not a bird.”

Callie grins wickedly. “I eat birds.”

Soap crossed his arms, doubling down. “You also said you didn’t have a missus.”

The woman let out an amused hum, raising a delicate hand. “Not a missus either,” she purred, lips curling into a sharp smirk as she turned to Ghost. “You were right, master. This one is funny.”

Soap’s brain screeches to a second halt.

“Master?!” he gawks, whipping around to face Ghost like he had just grown a second head.

Ghost exhales through his nose, reaching for his tea like this entire conversation was already giving him a headache.

Soap took another second to let things sit in, completely stunned. Of all the things he had expected to find at Ghost’s house, this was not on the list. “Right. Okay. Just, hold on a minute.” Soap pinches the bridge of his nose like that would somehow help process the absolute madness in front of him. “So, let me get this straight. Ye’ve been lying to me this whole time? Playin’ me for a fool while I went on and on about you havin’ a secret missus?”

Ghost gives him a look over his mug, eyes flat and unimpressed. “Never lied to you, Johnny.”

Soap’s jaw drops. “Oh, bollocks ye didn’t!” He waves a hand at the woman, who was now watching him with an amused gleam in her eyes. “What’s all this then?”

Ghost takes another slow sip of tea, dragging it out just to piss him off, Soap is sure of it. “Told you I had a cat.”

Soap gawks at him. He turns to Price, who is doing a terrible job of hiding his smirk. Turning to the woman, her tail flicks lazily behind her as she sips from her own cup, utterly unbothered by his existential crisis.

Finally, his eyes settle on Gaz, who walks into the kitchen. He takes one look at the situation before sighing.

“Finally found out, huh?” He turned to the woman with an easy nod. “Morning, Callie.”

“Morning, Kyle,” she responds happily.

Soap whirls on him. “You knew too?!”

Gaz snorts, grabbing a cup from the counter and starting to pour himself some coffee. “Mate, everyone knew.”

Soap threw his hands in the air. “What the hell is wrong with all of you? How is this normal? This is not normal.”

A soft chuckle draws his attention back to Callie. “Relax, Johnny,” she teases, stepping closer. “You’re acting like you’ve never seen a shifter before.”

Soap takes a step back, bumping into the counter. “A what now?”

She arches a brow. “A shifter?” At his blank stare, she sighs, setting her cup down before gesturing to herself. “You know… a hybrid. A morph. I think in Japan I’m known as a nekomata.” She flicks her tail for emphasis. “Any of this ringing a bell?”

Soap blinks. Looks at Ghost. Back at her. Looks at her tail. Then back to Ghost.

“That's what all that racket was last night,” she says with a huff. “Sorry about that, by the way, I hope I didn’t scare you. Had to shift into my bigger form to deal with this nasty fox that's been causing issues and eating my chickens. Finally caught the fucker, so I called the neighbor's dogs for some assistance.”

Price chuckles at Soap's pale face. “Starting to make sense now, isn’t it?”

Soap once again jabs a finger at Ghost. “You… yer dating a bloody cat girl and just didn’t think to mention it?”

Ghost shrugged. “Not my fault you wouldn’t drop it.”

Callie grins, stepping even closer to Soap, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Would it make you feel better if I purred for you?”

Soap blanches. “Do not.”

Ghost sighs and stands up to put a steadying hand on her head. “Stop winding him up, love.”

She huffs playfully, ears and tail flicking in satisfaction. “Fine, fine.” Then she leans up on her toes and gives Ghost a quick peck on the cheek, right over the mask. “But you do make it too easy, Johnny.”

Soap slumps against the counter, dragging a hand over his face. He needed a drink or a nap. Probably both.

Price stands up, clapping him on the back with a chuckle. “You’ll get used to it.”

Soap peeks through his fingers at Ghost. The same Ghost who could make hardened men freeze with a single look was letting Callie nuzzle into him.

The contrast was striking. His harsh demeanor softened as he ran a gloved hand down Callie’s back. The sight pulled something deep into Soap’s chest, something warm and unfamiliar. His initial resistance crumbled instantly, and the fight left him like air from a punctured tire.

And yet, what he’s most surprised to realize, isn’t his surrender. Rather, it’s the quiet tug of longing that settled in its place.

Despite how comforting the kitchen now felt, reality was quick to settle back in. Price was the one to break up the moment, clearing his throat to grab the boy's attention.

“Sorry to break this up, but we're going to be needed back at base today to give a debrief. Why don't we finish our drinks and be wheels up in 10?”

Soap pushes off the counter, glancing at Gaz, who is now determined to finish his coffee before they return to work mode. “I'll go grab my stuff.”

Callie, still tucked against Ghost's side, gives a small pout. “So soon? You boys just got here.”

Soap scoffs. “Aye, and I'm sure you’d love to keep watchin’ me lose my mind, but we do have jobs to get back to, lass.”

She smirks. “Fair enough. But don’t be a stranger, Johnny.”

Something in the way she says his name is light, a little teasing, but oddly warm. It makes his ears burn, and he quickly turns on his heel before anyone notices.

“It was really good to see you boys,” Soap can hear her say with a purr as he leaves the kitchen. “Promise you'll stay longer next time? Give me a chance to properly host you all?”

He hears the captain respond, but Price’s voice is too low to make out. A few minutes later, the team has their gear piled up in the living room, ready to head out. Ghost disappears into the downstairs bedroom while the others get things sorted.

Soap takes another slow look around the cozy space, trying to shake the weird sense of homeyness it leaves in his chest. He hadn't expected any of this, and he sure as hell didn't expect to feel… jealous? No, that couldn't be right. Whatever it is, it settles heavily in his stomach as he watches Ghost reappear, Callie trailing behind him with an easy grace.

As they step outside, the crisp morning air cuts through the lingering warmth of the house, jolting Soap back into reality. Ghost pulls the door shut behind them, lingering there for a moment. Callie takes the opportunity to lean up on her feet, brushing a kiss against the side of his mask. He murmurs something to her, too low for Soap to hear, before stepping back and heading towards the car.

Callie waves lazily as they load into the vehicle. “Safe travels, boys.”

Soap leans his head against the window as Price pulls away, watching as Callie stands in the driveway, tail flicking. She stays there until they disappear down the road.

Only then does he let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

Gaz nudges him with a knowing smirk. “What’s got you all quiet?”

Soap scowls. “Nothin’.”

Price chuckles from the front seat. “Give it time.”

Soap had no idea what he meant by that. But as he watches the road stretch ahead of them, the warmth of Ghost’s home fading into the distance, he has a sinking feeling he’s going to be thinking about this for a long time.

A/N: Thought I would post a little snippet of this story here on Tumblr since I've noticed that's where I'm finding a lot of other hybrid things. I think the full story might be too long to post here so I've got the full thing linked below! Thank you for reading! 💜

Completed story on: AO3 (18+)

Tags

writing ao3 ghost x reader soap x reader soap cod ghost cod ghoap hybrids cat girl ghoap x reader demihuman

Behind the Scenes: The Secret Omega CHAPTER 5 - The Morning After

AO3 Link

SUMMARY: The morning after and the start of their trip!

CHAPTER 5 - The Morning After

Kimi stirs awake the next morning when she feels the bed move. As her eyes adjust to the room around her, she sees Shouta stretching and making his way out of the room. Turning her head, she sees Hizashi lying down next to her, facing the other way. Admiring how peaceful he looks, she takes a moment to watch the rise and fall of his chest.

Eventually, her bladder bugs her enough to fully get up and use the bathroom. While in there, she takes a moment to look at her new markings. Hizashi’s on her left and Shouta’ on her right. Thankfully, there’s no redness around the marks, indicating some type of infection. They’re deep red, meaning they healed well. Pride fills her chest as she admires the varying shapes between the two marks. Her fingers lightly trace over them, enjoying the slight tingle it brings.

Curious about where Shouta went off to, she follows his path out of the room. Going down the hallway, she finds him in the kitchen talking on the phone. Noticing her, he starts to end his conversation,

“Yeah, I gotta go. No, I’ll fill you in later. Yeah. You too. Ok, bye.”

“Good morning,” she says once he’s ended his call.

“Good morning, hope I didn’t wake you,” Shouta says, voice a bit groggy.

“No, you’re fine. I just had to go to the bathroom and realized you were gone.”

Shouta hums in response and lifts his phone up.

“Nemuri had texted us last night and gave us a call this morning, checking up on us,” he comments, placing his phone on the island next to him. The name doesn’t ring a bell to Kimi, so she gives him a confused look.

“Midnight,” he clarifies with a smile.

“Oh! Wow, really?”

“Yeah,” he says, stretching and going towards one of the cabinets. “I wasn’t kidding when I said she was a close friend. Although, sometimes she can get too close.”

“Oh, how so?” Kimi prompts, curious for more details.

“She wanted to know all of the details from last night. Like everything.”

He rolls his eyes and then grabs a canister of coffee, putting it down on the counter.

“Oh, goodness,” Kimi remarks, a light dusting of pink tints her cheeks.

“Yeah, I figured you wouldn’t want us telling anyone so I tried to stave her off in the meantime.”

Shouta starts to prepare his coffee as he speaks, but Kimi takes the opportunity to jump in.

“Oh, do you mind if I make the coffee? I’d like to know how you do it so I can make it for you in the future.”

Grinning at her, he nods and pulls down some coffee filters. He walks her through how to make his coffee and her chest fills with pride as the machine starts to brew.

“Did you want some?” he asks.

“Oh, no. I’m good, thank you. I’m not supposed to be having caffeine,” Kimi declines.

“I thought that was only once you got pregnant?”

“No, the society has some other dietary ‘recommendations’ for me to make sure my body is in its peak state before I get pregnant. It’s supposed to ensure fewer complications during the pregnancy,” she explains.

Shouta gives an understanding hum. Not wanting to bore him with the details, Kimi glances at the selections of hot beverages in the cabinet in front of her. She spots a decaffeinated tea, so she reaches up to try and grab it but it’s just out of her reach. Shouta gives her an amused look before easily reaching up and grabbing the box.

“Is this what you wanted?”

“Yes, please,” she says, reaching for it again. Playfully, he lifts it out of her reach.

“It’s gonna cost a kiss.”

Blushing, she stretches up on her toes, wraps her arms around his neck, and kisses him. He smiles into the kiss and lowers his arm, letting her grab the box when they part.

Giggling, she takes out a tea bag and turns on the kettle that is sitting next to the coffee machine. Shouta presents her with a mug and she thanks him, putting her tea bag in.

“Do they have a lot of restrictions for you?” Shouta questions, wanting to know more about what she can and can’t have. Kimi gets nervous, unsure of how he’ll react to all of the guidelines they have in place for her.

“Um, sort of? There’s a lot less now that I’m in a pack, but they still want me to physically be at my best for you.”

“Hm,” he says, taking in her words. She can tell that he’s looking for more of an explanation so she carries on.

“I think they more or less wanted me to get used to the diet that I would be on when I’m pregnant so they want me to focus on consuming more vegetables and lean meats. But they don’t want me to eat anything unpasteurized, or anything close to being raw. So anything with eggs or dairy needs to be extra cooked. Also, they have some weird ones like no hard cheeses or raw sprouts.”

Shouta watches her intently as she goes through everything, but Kimi has a hard time reading whether or not what she’s saying is upsetting him.

“Then it’s the obvious no caffeine, no alcohol and they also really stressed preparing all my food myself. Not buying prepackaged food. I think that’s been the hardest thing just because it was hard to squeeze in time to cook with how busy my schedule was with school. Not to mention, I love sushi so it’s been tough not being able to have any for about the past year.”

Shouta takes a moment to absorb her words before asking,

“You’ve been doing this for that long?”

“Yeah,” her voice lowers. “I know that probably seems like a lot, but I wanted to make sure that I secured a good future. And now, I have you guys, so that just proves it was worth it.”

His expression softens and he looks at Kimi warmly.

“I’m glad you think so.”

She smiles back at him and they stand comfortably silent next to each other, waiting for their respective drinks to finish heating up.

“I’m sorry I was so harsh when I first met you. To be honest, with anyone else, I would still probably be very closed off. There’s something about you though that-” he trails off, thinking of the right words.

“It’s like I know I’m safe letting my guard down with you,” he finishes.

“I know what you mean. With both you and Hizashi, it feels like I’ve known you my whole life. It just feels-”

Kimi takes a few moments to try and think of the best word but the only thing that comes to mind is,

“-right. The awkwardness and shyness I normally feel in a new relationship weren’t there. I felt comfortable enough to be myself and you both accepting it warms my heart.”

Tears prick her eyes, but she’s quick to put her hand up to stop them.

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to get so sappy.”

The hot water starts to boil and Kimi moves forward to turn it off, thankful for the interruption. After pouring the water into her tea, she sets the kettle back. Arms wrap around her waist and she freezes. Slowly, Shouta pulls her against him, resting his head on her shoulder, right above his mark, sending sparks down her spine.

“I’m glad you feel the same way I do. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s ever anything wrong. You’re ours now and we’ll make sure to treasure that.”

Her heart feels like it flies out of her chest. She can only nod in response and Shouta slowly releases her. She watches as he pours his coffee into his cup and is surprised when he takes a sip.

“You drink it black?”

“Yeah,” he says, taking another sip. “Never been big on sugary drinks, that’s more Hizashi’s thing.”

Absorbing this information, she brings her mug up to her lips, blowing a couple of times before taking a sip of her own.

A series of small meows startles both of them.

“Mornin’ Sush’,” Shouta says, setting his mug next to his phone on the island. Kimi watches as he bends down and picks up the cat that greeted her yesterday.

“So cute. Good morning, Sushi,” she coos. She places her hand out for Sushi to sniff before he nudges it to make her scratch behind his ears.

“Seems like he’s taking a liking to you super quick as well.” Smiling, she moves her hand to pet Sushi’s chin, soaking in the purrs he’s letting out.

“That makes me so happy. I’ve always wanted a cat so I’m happy I get to have such a cutie now.”

“Did you have any pets growing up?”

“No,” Kimi answers, her voice a bit dejected.

“My mom was allergic to anything that licked itself and I couldn’t get anything when I lived with my grandma. Once I moved in with her, that’s when I started focusing more on school and my future so it seemed silly to get a pet I’d have to abandon.”

“That’s sensible,” he comments.

Slowly, he places Sushi back on the ground. The cat circles his feet for a moment before letting out a long meow. Shouta rolls his eyes before going into the pantry muttering,

“Ok, ok. Give me a moment.”

He comes back with a can of wet food and picks up a food bowl that sits next to the island.

“He’s always so demanding in the morning,” he sighs. Kimi giggles into her mug, enjoying the tea while she watches him feed Sushi. Sushi lets out a chorus of loud meows, excited that it’s food time.

“And he is also so noisy. I swear sometimes he’s louder than Hizashi,” Shouta remarks.

“Hey,” a sleepy voice says from down the hall. “I heard that.”

The pair chuckle as a sleepy Hizashi makes his way into the kitchen.

“Good morning,” Kimi sweetly coos at him. He comes over and wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her closer before nuzzling into his mark. She hums into his movements, enjoying the tingles that come from it.

“Good morning, honey,” he responds, voice dripping with exhaustion.

“Do you need to go back to sleep? You sound exhausted,” Kimi asks.

“Nah,” he grumbles, pulling back from her shoulder. “Mornings are always just tough for me. Plus, the bed gets cold when no one else is in it.”

“Aw, I’m sorry,” she says, kissing his cheek. “Would a hot drink warm you up?”

“Yes, actually,” he says looking to the coffee machine and kettle. “Did you already warm up the water?”

“Yeah, it just stopped a little bit ago so it should be hot still.”

“Looks like you’ve got a fellow tea drinker,” Shouta adds.

“Oh?” Hizashi says, looking into her cup. “Well, good to know! We’ll have to pick you up some more.”

“Ok,” she says with a smile. “As long as it’s decaf.”

“No caffeine? Already?” Hizashi asks, puzzled.

“Yes, or alcohol or, sprouts. Was that it?” Shouta asks her. Smiling, Kimi nods her head.

“Yeah, plus no prepackaged food.”

“That’s what it was,” Shouta says. Hizashi looks between the two of them, still lost.

“The Society has me on a prenatal diet before I get pregnant to help things go smoother,” Kimi explains.

“Oh dang,” he comments before moving to fix himself a cup of tea.

“She’s been on it for the past year,” Shouta adds, tone a bit upset.

“A year?” Hizashi asks, surprised. “Wow, princess. You’ve got more strength than I do. No caffeine for a year would have me goin’ crazy.”

“I’ll say,” Shouta agrees, taking a sip from his coffee.

“I’m surprised the packet they gave you didn’t have any of that.”

The two men look at each other before looking back at her, concerned.

“You know about that?” Yamada asks.

“Yeah, should I not?” Kimi asks, concerned. “My advisor told me they give the alphas of every match a packet with all of my information in it.”

“Yeah, but do you know what’s in that packet?” Shouta asks, tone shifting to one that’s slightly perturbed.

“Well, no, but - I thought it was just like my allergies and health stuff.”

The two men share a solemn look, furthering Kimi’s nerves.

“I mean, they do, it goes over your weight, your allergies, all of that, but -,” Hizashi trails off, looking to Shouta to continue.

“It also has things like your cervical health and details about your heat and other things that seemed a bit too personal for Hizashi and me to know.”

“So, we stopped reading and just decided we would find out together as time went on.”

Kimi blushes, embarrassed. She knew that the Society kept track of these things in her doctor’s appointments to make sure that she was being as healthy and responsible as possible, but she didn’t realize they would give that information to her future alphas.

“Oh, I didn’t realize they did that.”

“We figured,” Hizashi says, softly. “Which is why we stopped reading it when we did. Seemed like things we could figure out for ourselves.”

“Well, thank you,” she says, a bit touched.

A beat of time goes on between them where nobody says anything. Shouta takes the opportunity to interject,

“Well, now that we’re all awake and we have our drinks, why don’t we take a seat on the couch and talk about our plans for the next couple of days?”

“Ok,” Kimi agrees with a smile, happy to change the subject.

They make their way to the couch and start to discuss plans to go to a Society-owned onsen that Hizashi rented out for the next couple of days before coming back and going over daily life things. They mention a town that’s near the onsen they want to visit as well as plans to go into the city to do some shopping.

As they’re finishing up their planning, there’s a knock at the door. Puzzled, Kimi looked between her alphas to see if they were expecting someone. Shouta pulls his phone from his pocket and gives an exasperated sigh.

“It’s Nem. She’s here to see Kimiko.”

“Oh, let’s let her in,” Hizashi says as he stands to make his way over to the door. Shouta groans but doesn’t seem to stop him from going to open the door. Realizing she’s in her silk pajamas, she decides to quickly put on more decent clothes.

“I’ll be right back,” she says to Shota who gives her a confused look. “I want to put on better clothes really quick.”

He hums in response before requesting,

“If you wouldn’t mind grabbing me and ‘Zash a shirt too that would be appreciated.”

Nodding with a smile, she makes her way over to the bedroom, making sure she’s out of sight of the door before Hizashi opens it. She can hear Nemuri’s voice cascade into their home as she looks into her dresser for some quick clothes to put on. She decides on some loose-fit leggings and an off-the-shoulder long-sleeved shirt to show off her new markings. Pinning her hair up quickly, she grabs a shirt that she thinks is Shota’s and one that looks like Hizashi’s. Opening the door, she looks out to the living room.

Nemuri makes quick eye contact with Kimi and practically runs over to hug her.

“Oh, Kimiko. It is so good to see you!” Pulling back from the hug, she holds her shoulders while she locks on to the new mating marks. Emotion floods her face and her eyes start to tear up.

“Sugar, you look absolutely beautiful.” Her comment infects Kimi with the same emotions she’s feeling and her eyes start to water as well.

“Thank you,” she says quietly, trying not to let her emotions spill over.

Looking behind Nemuri, Kimi can see her two alphas looking at her with concern by the couches and four other men she doesn’t recognize all carrying various gift baskets and boxes standing in the hallway. Nemuri catches her gaze and places an arm around Kimi’s shoulder before leading her over to the men.

“These, Kimiko, are my Midnight boys. They’re my sidekicks who also help me with things around my agency. I just want you to know their faces so that if you ever need anything while at the agency, you can ask one of them. Oh, boys, go set those down by the couch and come back so she can see all your faces.” They follow her directions and come back, bowing respectfully in unison. Kimi respectfully does the same,

“It’s very nice to meet you,” she says, taking in their faces.

Kimi notices that they all look like idols or men you would find in dating games. They all respond positively and introduce themselves by name before Midnight turns back to her, letting out a happy squeal.

“Oh, I am just so glad you ended up with these two. You really are perfect for one another! I want to know all of the details, but alas, the real reason I came over so early is that I have to cover for some people while they’re away on their mating trip,” she sighs dramatically, looking at Shouta and Hizashi. “So I came to grab something but I figured I’d drop off some things for you all while I was here. I have to go now, but when you get back, we must catch up. I want to know everything .”

Giggling, Kimi responds, “Of course, Midnight.”

Nemuri squeezes her again, making Hizashi slightly bristle, before laughing and leading out the boys with a “Ciao!”

The house is still for a moment as they absorb the quiet that has now flooded the space. Kimi makes her way over to the boys, breaking the stillness.

She stretches out her arms with the shirts she’s holding. Hizashi reaches out and pulls her against him. Caught by surprise, she loses her grip on the shirts.

“You smell like her,” he says dejectedly. Shouta gives out a hearty laugh, clearly amused by his partner’s behavior.

“Dang, ‘Zashi, did she rile you up?” Hizashi squeezes Kimi a bit harder, before sighing heavily and releasing her.

“Yeah, sorry, honey. I don’t know what happened there. I swear I’m usually not like that.” Shouta places a hand on Hizashi’s back reassuringly.

“You’re fine, ‘Zash. You ok, princess?” They both look at her, scanning for any sign of discomfort.

“Yes, I’m fine,” she answers, a bit confused. “Sorry, did I do something wrong?”

“No, princess,” Shouta reassures her. “You’re fine. Nemuri just knew that she’d probably get a rise out of one of us by being all over you this morning. Guess it ended up being ‘Zash.” His sentence ends with a small chuckle that has Hizashi glaring at him.

Kimi wraps her arms around Hizashi, snuggling into his chest in an attempt to make him feel better. She feels him slowly pet her head before running his hand over his mark. She hums into the tingles it causes and pulls back to look back at him. He looks far less perturbed, making her feel proud that she could soothe him.

He gives her a genuine smile before kissing her cheek.

“Thank you,” he says softly. They share a smile before he seems to regain his composure. Kimi takes the opportunity to look at the gifts that Nemuri brought over. There are some traditional gifts, such as fruit and envelopes with each of their names on them. However, Nemuri also took the untraditional route of making a gift basket with various products you could find at her store. Kimi chuckles as she looks through them. Shouta watches from over her shoulder.

“She would make something like that,” he comments, making Kimi laugh.

“This was very nice of her. I’ll have to make her something as a thank you in return.”

“Just don’t go too far out,” Hizashi comments. Shouta playfully punches his shoulder again, making Hizashi smile.

“Well, I don’t know about you two, but I’m starved!” he says, rubbing his arm.

They’re all soon back in the kitchen, deciding on eggs and toast for breakfast. Shouta has Kimi sit at the chairs on the other side of the island and watch as he does the cooking, forbidding her from doing anything. Though she pouts, Hizashi keeps her entertained by talking more about the onsen and the town they’re going to be going to.

They all share smiles and giggles as they eat breakfast and talk some more about their plans. At one point, Shouta notes that he’s surprised they ended up all sleeping through the night. This prompts Kimi to ask about their sleeping schedule and she pales as they both inform her of their lack of one. Deciding to stay on top of things, she makes a group calendar so they can all stay on top of each other’s schedules. She secretly hopes this will allow them a better chance at getting more sleep.

After breakfast, they take some time to get ready for the day and pack their bags for the next couple of days. Hizashi plans some outfits with Kimi, grabbing some pieces for Shouta as well. He tells her not to worry about toiletries because the onsen has a bunch and starts gushing about them.

As she finishes getting everything together, it sinks in just how natural everything feels. She expected to still be so nervous on her second day, but she felt more calm and excited instead. Without realizing it, she stares at Shouta for a couple of seconds, lost in thought.

“Everything ok?” Shouta asks. She startles, looking away.

“Yes, sorry,” she responds, zipping up her duffel bag.

“I was just thinking about how nice it was that this all felt so natural.” He responds with a small chuckle.

“I agree. This is going way better than I expected.” Her chest slightly warms at his comment. Hizashi comes out of the closet with some shoes and various accessories and places them in his suitcase.

“Well, I think this is everything,” he comments, zipping up the suitcase.

“We could probably head out a little early then,” Aizawa says, looking at his phone. “We can beat the traffic and then get some lunch before we get there.”

“Sounds good to me,” Hizashi comments. Shouta calls for their ride as Hizashi and Kimi start to get their bags moved downstairs. A couple of minutes later, she’s taking a seat in the back of the SUV while Shota and Hizashi load up the back.

“Oh, I forgot something, I’ll be right back,” Hizashi says, a bit panicked.

“Ok, but hurry up,” Shouta tells him dryly before taking his seat up front.

Kimi takes the opportunity to check her phone, realizing that she hadn’t gotten a chance to yet today. There are some texts from her friends and grandma that she quickly responds to. They check in on her, asking if she’s ok and settling in. She responds that she is and that she’ll be out of town the next couple of days so she may not be able to respond. Just as she’s putting her phone away, Hizashi’s back and adds more things to the back of the car.

“Ok, that’s everything,” he says, a little breathless as he shuts the trunk and runs around the car.

“We’re good to go.” Shouta shoots him a deadpan look and Hizashi shoots him a pair of finger guns back while catching his breath. Once they’re all buckled up and directions are given, the SUV pulls out from the garage they’re in and onto the road.

The trip ahead of them is a bit long, so they continue their earlier conversation about schedules and add more things to their new calendar. Kimi starts thinking about meal planning, so the conversation eventually switches over to food the boys like and don’t like.

Some time passes by and they’re out of the city and moving towards the mountains. As Kimi watches the view outside, her eyes start drooping.

“Kimi,” Hizashi says to her quietly.

She slightly startles and looks over at him with a sleepy,

“Hm?”

He pats on the seat next to him.

“If you sit here you can lean on me while you sleep.”

She sleepily nods and switches seats. Her head rests on his shoulder and soon, she’s napping on his shoulder.

Hizashi’s smiling face stirs her awake a while later. They’re still on the road and she looks out the window, admiring the trees and mountain around us.

“Are we there?” she mumbles.

“Not quite,” Hizashi says with a grin. “We’re just going to stop somewhere to eat first.” She nods and stretches as Hizashi stretches his arm.

“Sorry, was I heavy?” she asks, concerned.

“Not at all,” he chuckles. “You were just out for a while so my arm fell asleep.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. You could have woken me up, I would have-”

Her rambling stops when Hizashi grabs her chin and pulls her in for a quick kiss.

“You’re fine, princess. It was cute.”

“Ok,” she says, voice small.

After getting lunch, they make the last 30-minute trek to the onsen. They pull up to a beautiful wooden structure that seems to just mold into the mountain and river that’s around it. Hizashi helps Kimi out of the SUV and she can’t help but marvel at the mountain and trees around them. There’s a stifling quiet that hangs in the air that complements the steady sound of the nearby river. Steam billows from behind the onsen, hinting at the hot spring that waits for them.

Walking to the main entrance, they’re greeted by an older lady who introduces herself as the owner of the onsen. She also introduces her staff who all politely bow to them.

“We want to thank you again for your incredible generosity, Master Yamada. We hope we’re able to make your stay exceptionally wonderful for you and your mates.” Kimi looks to Hizashi, a bit confused by what the owner meant. Catching on, Hizashi explains,

“I completely rented out the onsen for our stay so we don’t have to worry about other guests.”

“Oh, wow. Thank you,” Kimi responds, a bit shocked.

“Don’t let him fool you. He just wants to be able to be as loud as he wants,” Shouta says with a smirk. Kimi blushes and giggles at the insinuation while the two playfully banter.

“Well then, shall I show you around?” the onsen owner asks us, seemingly not bothered by the conversation.

“Please do,” Kimi responds with a smile. Smiling back, she leads them into the main building. Some of the staff members move past them to other parts of the building as the owner points out various rooms and features in the main hallway. Leading them towards the back, she shows off where the main male and female hot springs are. She goes on to explain that they aren’t prepped at the moment since the trio will have a private hot spring in the room they’re staying in.

As they move towards their room, the owner shows them a trail that follows along the river next to the building. She informs them that it’s worth it to take the small hike up the trail because it leads to a beautiful waterfall.

From there, they’re taken to their room. It’s a larger suite with a sitting area, a separate room for the bed and bathroom, and off the main room is the private hot spring.

“I hope you’ll find everything to your liking. There are soaps and other things in the bathroom for you all to use before you take a dip in the spring. Also, if you let us know when you’re going to be taking a dip, we can bring in some milk for you afterward. The hot spring itself has been loaded with some minerals that should help with sore muscles.”

The boys chuckle amongst themselves which has Kimi a bit confused but she decides against asking why.

“Well, I’ll leave you all to get settled then. I had my staff leave your suitcases in the bedroom so you should be all set. Dinner will be served in a few hours so you have time to explore if you’d like.”

“Thank you,” Kimi says with a polite bow. The boys also thank the onsen owner before she leaves. Kimi takes the chance to explore the room on her own, enjoying the decor and feel of the suite. She had never stayed in anything so fancy and felt a bit out of place, but she was still excited to see everything.

The hot spring itself has giant boulders and pebbles gracing its edges. The foliage that sits in between everything gives off a sense of serenity and she wants so badly to jump right in. She can feel the boy's eyes on her as she explores more of the room. The closet in the main room has robes for them to wear as well as three long, short boxes at the bottom of the closet.

“Why don’t we open these? I think you’ll like what’s in them.” Hizashi says from behind her.

“Ok,” Kimi excitedly agrees.

The boxes are slightly awkward to hold so Hizashi helps her carry them to the bed. Each one has a tag with their names on it so she grabs the one with her name. Opening the lid of the box, she’s greeted by a gorgeous kimono. Touching the fabric, she can feel the fabric is very high-quality and she gets nervous. She looks to Hizashi, who notices her hesitation.

“I thought they’d be perfect to wear while we’re here. I got matching ones for all of us.”

He opens the other boxes and reveals two plain-colored kimonos that match the color of the print on hers. Shouta grabs a handful of his kimono and hums, seemingly pleased by the feel of it.

“This is very nice, thank you Hizashi. Are you sure this isn’t too much?” she asks nervously.

“Not at all,” he says nonchalantly.

“One thing you should get used to with Hizashi is that he likes very high-quality things,” Shouta comments. Noticing the nervous waves she’s letting off, he adds,

“Don’t worry, it took a while for me to get used to it as well.”

Kimi releases some of the tension she was holding in, thankful that Shouta understands what she was going through.

“I just figure if I have money, I should spend it on nice things, not cheap things,” Hizashi huffs.

“That’s fair then,” she concludes. Her nervous waves subside as she allows her eyes to gaze over the fabric again.

They put the kimonos away for later and move into the main room. Hizashi and Kimi sit on the couch, snuggling into one another as Shouta sits in a chair across from them, a small smile on his face.

“It’s good to see you two get along,” he comments.

“Yeah, I gotta say, we’re a lot closer than I thought we’d be by now. But, not in a bad way, this is really nice.”

“I was just saying the same thing to Shouta this morning,” Kimi adds. “It’s nice to feel so connected so quickly.”

“Yeah. I’m not sure if it’s this string thing or what, but you seem to just fit in with us so easily.”

“I expected way more of an awkward phase,” Shota chimes in. “But it’s nice that we’ve seemed to skip by that.”

Kimi hums in agreement.

“If I’m being totally honest, I thought our first time together was going to be tonight,” Hizashi says.

“Oh, sorry-,” she trails off when Shouta gives her a pointed look.

“Am I moving things too fast?”

“Not at all, princess,” Hizashi reassures her by giving her arm a familiar squeeze. “I’m more happy that you’re settling in nicely.” She looks up at him and grins.

“Was there anything you wanted to do before dinner?” Shouta asks.

“I’d love to try out the hot springs if that’s ok.”

“Ok, but you heard the lady, it’s for sore muscles,” Hizashi says playfully.

“Yeah,” Kimi says slowly, a bit confused.

“So, we’ll have to make sure your muscles ache,” Hizashi continues, giving Kimi another squeeze.

“Oh. Oooh. Is that why you were both giggling?” she asks, his comment finally clicking. Her question earns her laughs from both of the men.

“Well, if that’s the case, I guess I’ll need some assistance with tiring out my muscles,” she teases.

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erasermic omegaverse a/b/o erasermic x oc

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djunkiejunk

2 weeks ago

anyway PRESENT MIC STILL DOES THE CHARACTER INTROS. PEACE AND LOVE ON PLANET VIGILANTES.

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djunkiejunk

2 weeks ago

me rereading a scene: omg why is she acting like that who wrote this? i wrote this.

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writing

1K notes View Post

djunkiejunk

5 months ago

My average writing experience:

"Alright I think I'm almost done actually-"

*Google doc grows second health bar and a choir starts singing in latin*

61K notes View Post

djunkiejunk

6 months ago

Killing the 'everything has to be perfect or your stalker will come threaten you again' trauma cop by listening to the shoulder devil that was my old art teacher going 'do it fast so you can't have time to fester on the details'.

That said, timed sketch, 27 minutes with 3 minutes to color and scream.

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djunkiejunk

1 month ago

i hate it when i cant even write a poem about something because its too obvious. like in the airbnb i was at i guess it used to be a kids room cause you could see the imprint of one little glow in the dark star that had been missed and painted over in landlord white. like that's a poem already what's the point

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djunkiejunk

11 months ago