Keiji Akaashi X Reader - Blog Posts

Reborn (Bokuto/Akaashi x Reader) ~Chapter 8~

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

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

A/N: Sup y’all, ik ik it’s been a long time and whatnot, but let’s be honest, my a/n ain’t what ur here for. Hope you like it, and sorry for the wait!

Taglist: @burntcilantro  @alloverbutterflies  @neonghxst  @zaejia  @momothepeachgirl  @black-veil-chemicalz  @bumblebeel  @blxkstar  @keigosbitch  @planetmae​  @rikorene  @idiot-juice-enthusiast  @cherriomilkmangos  @floriane4536  @shimy-deko  @lanceyfancypants  @asteroikawa  @bokutowo  @ichiraku-verse  @samie-babie  @astro-anomaly  @hq149  @pagan-and-gay​  @erinoikawa  @missbuwan  @drunken-dreams @prettyinblack231  @franko-pop  @artisticamore  @bokkubeam  @bokutosfeather  @autumnandhotchocolate  @tendo-sxtori​ (probably forgot some, it’s been a while :/)

Word count: 4620

        “Do you think she’s okay?”

        “For the fifth time, Bokuto, she’s fine. I told you I’ve already checked and made sure.”

        “Yeah, I know it’s just are you really sure?”

        “You’re pushing it, Bokuto.”

        “All right, all right.” 

        Silence fell as your eyes fluttered open. 

        “But are you certain?”

        “Boku-”

        Akaashi’s voice was cut off by a cry, and before you knew it the sun flooding your eyes had been replaced by Bokuto’s face. 

        “YN, YOU’RE ALIVE!”

        “Bo,” you croaked, leaning up onto your elbows before pressing a hand to your temple, “it’s too early for that volume.”

        “Afraid not, my love,” Akaashi rose from his seat on a stump a few feet away and moved to kneel by your side. “According to the sun, it seems you’ve slept more than half the day away.”

        “Oh,” you glanced around, observing the spanse of dirt and trees before you. The sun sat directly above your head, unencumbered by clouds and backdropped by shades of blue. Birds chirped high and far in the trees, and a gentle wind cooled the sweat that had been beading at your forehead. “Looks like my kind of morning, if I’m honest.”

        Akaashi scoffed with a smile, rising to his feet before offering you a hand as Bokuto clambered away in search of something. “Trust me, I know.”

        You sputtered at the jab before taking his hand, almost losing your playful air at the contact. His hands were soft to the touch, gentle and warm. So warm. 

        It finally occurred to you that this was the first time in weeks you’d been relaxed enough to truly revel in the comforting touches Akaashi always provided. The heat flowing from his form thawed the frozen limbs you’d generated from sleeping on the forest floor for hours. When it reached your chest, a feeling akin to finding something long lost embraced you. 

        “A little lie here and there never hurt anyone, you know.”

        “Sometimes it does,” Akaashi’s face fell into seriousness, a fitting but usually undesirable look for him. 

        Wanting to return the atmosphere to buoyancy, you opened your mouth to take back what you said, but not before clamorous footsteps behind you drew both of your attention. 

        “Darling, I caught and roasted a squirrel for you to eat!” Bokuto finally returned to the clearing where you had all settled for the night, holding what appeared to be a stick with a disturbingly charred creature on the end. 

        Your stomach growled.

        Akaashi glanced down at you, half-shocked, half-concerned. Your gaze was still locked on the burnt animal, however. 

        Maybe it was the fact that you had only been eating berries and suspicious leaves for the past few days, or maybe you were truly losing your mind. 

        But damn were you hungry. 

        For modesty’s sake, you accepted the skewered squirrel with pursed lips and blank eyes, but deep down you were all but ready to swallow it whole. 

        “Thank you, Bo,” you trailed off, trying to keep a straight face as your mouth watered. 

        Akaashi’s hand settled on your shoulder. “My love, you don’t have to-”

        “No, no, it’s fine.” Shrugging his hand off, you moved to claim the stump he had sat on earlier. “Can’t wait.”

        Both boys watched you with conflicting gazes, one distressed and anxious in a way you’ve never seen before on him, and the other overjoyed. 

        Judging by the way the thin tail had flaked off at your touch, it was well-done.

        This is supposed to be disgusting. This is supposed to be gross. You don’t want to eat this, YN.

        You gulped, still observing the squirrel from every which way to see where to start. 

        But I’m so hungry.

         By the time you were finished with your breakfast, Akaashi’s face had turned pale and Bokuto’s had broken out into a smile. 

        “Did you like it?”

        “Loved it.”

        With a deep dismay at yourself, you knew you spoke the truth. 

                                ~~~

        “I say we go west.”

        “That’s the way we came, YN.”

        “Oh.”

        You’d been in the woods for what must’ve been three days, maybe more during your long rest after escaping Kuroo. Bokuto said you were out for forever, and you weren’t exactly sure how to convert that into a measurement of time. 

        Said vampire stood next to you, holding and swinging your hand with his while waiting for Akaashi to determine the correct way to get home. 

        Earlier, Bokuto had plucked a dandelion and placed it behind your ear, adding more to the collection whenever he got the chance. 

        Right now, he’d had plenty of time, collecting so many that he’d given up on your ears and placed them atop your head. “I don’t know how to make one of those crowns,” he’d said sheepishly. 

        “Akaashi, can’t you just whip up a spell and find out where we are?” you groaned, taking a flower off your head and setting it behind Bokuto’s ear. His face flushed from the force of his smile. 

        “I don’t have any ingredients at hand, my love,” Akaashi spoke, gaining your attention once more. 

        “What happened to you being able to just, like, poof it out at any time?”

        “Using magic to attack an enemy is different from using it to escape a miles-long forest. And I suppose we should continue heading east.” 

        Akaashi set onto his chosen path, dodging moss-covered rocks and dangling twigs with you and Bokuto at his heels. Every few minutes he would glance back at the two of you, dandelions behind your ears and hands held before he trekked on ahead, back straight and stiff.

        Guilt and shame filled your chest at his obvious discontentedness, and when you murmured his name, he didn’t turn around. “Akaashi,” you repeated, much louder than before. 

        He halted in his tracks and turned, face a perfect mask of placidness as he responded. “Yes?”

        You dragged Bokuto up to him before grasping the wizard’s hand, interlocking your fingers tightly. “Much better,” you grinned, a weight dropping off your shoulders the second his eyes lost their dejection. 

        “If you think so, my love,” Akaashi whispered, raising your hand to press a kiss to your knuckles. 

        “Wait!”

        He froze, brows furrowing. 

        Uncurling your hand from his, you ignored his heartbroken look and tugged a yellow flower from behind your ear, placing it behind his own and ruffling his hair along the way. A chuckle worked its way from his lips, affecting you much more than was appropriate as you grasped his hand again. 

        “Okay, now we can go.”

                                ~~~

        Three months? A year?

        As you lay on the ground, only the moon to keep you company, you ponder how you’ve come to be where you are. Among the arms of two supernatural creatures, ones anyone else your age would have laughed at the idea of even existing. 

        You had a whole life behind you, one that would never be the same if you dared to return. If you were allowed to return.

        The men that lay at your sides, one completely wrapped around you while the other only grasps your hand, don’t make a sound that doesn’t convey absolute slumber. 

        Only days--weeks?--ago had you told them that you loved them. In the heat of the moment, the word had just slipped out, out to the men who catered to your every whim, every want and need. I love them. I love them.

        I love them…

        Right?

        You loved animals. You loved rainy days. You loved the scent of your favorite fruit and the feeling of stretching first thing in the morning. 

        All these things felt so easy to define aloud, to say affirmingly “Yes, I do love these things. I love them with all of my heart.”

        But loving or simply saying you loved Akaashi and Bokuto had a different effect on you altogether. It felt… revealing. It had the same emotional impact as those dreams of going to school naked. You were bare, leaving yourself wide open to enemy attack.

        But these two men weren’t your enemies. They wouldn’t dare to hurt you in such a way. Countless times have they revealed your feelings to you, told you about how you made them feel deep down inside their hearts. You were the love of their lives, and they’ve told you so, verbatim. 

        Is that what you were feeling then? Love? 

        When Bokuto nuzzled against your neck in that moment, forcing your chest to thump, was that love? Was it the feeling of calm that settled over you when Akaashi ran his thumb over your knuckles? Was that love?

        “Keiji?” you whispered, glancing to your right to see if he had stirred. His hand tightened around yours, leaving your heart stuttering. Though his eyes were shut, lashes gently brushing the tips of his cheeks, his lips tilted into a soft smile. 

        “Yes, my love?” A single eye fluttered open, carefully revealing a deep blue iris that scanned over your face. You were hesitant to ask, afraid to sound like a child asking a juvenile question. But you so dearly wanted to know. 

        “What does love feel like?”

        The question hung in the air as you felt Akaashi stiffen beside you, his hand pausing in its caresses along yours. You lay beside him a bundle of nerves, wondering if somehow you managed to press the wrong button in so few words. 

        “W-what I meant to say was-was that, umm, you know, is there like a criteria, or… or, like a checklist-”

        Akaashi chuckled, effectively cutting you off and forcing a blush onto your face. Shame filled your chest and you lightly pulled your hand from his grip, returning your gaze to the moon. As his laughs faded away into the night, you watched in your peripheral vision as he sat up, leaning back on his elbows as he crossed one leg over the other. Of course, your actions escaped none of his attention. 

        “My love, I’m sorry. I did not mean to laugh.” He ignored your scoff and continued. “It is just… all of these times I have met you, fallen for you over and over and not once have you ever asked for my criteria of love.”

        “Good to know I’m especially stupid this round.”

        “No, that is not what I meant,” he shook his head, shifting into a cross-legged position before nudging you to face him with a finger on your chin. “What I mean is… you are so different this time. In a good way. For the first time in so many reincarnations, I feel as though I am learning a side of you, a side of YN I have never known before. It’s endearing.”

        “That,” you swallowed, glancing away as a sudden feeling of breathlessness washed over you. In the pit of your stomach sat a comforting warmth, threatening to overtake you and make you shiver. “That doesn’t really answer my question.”

        “I know, love, so here is my answer: I do not know.”

        Your jaw dropped. “Seriously? You’re kidding me, right?”

        But a sincere smile, carefree and so, so unexpected out of Akaashi made you wait to hear an explanation. Boohockey.

        “It’s true. Each time I fell in love, every single time was different. I just knew.”

        “Surely you’ve gotta know how that doesn’t help me at all.”

        He laughed again. “Yes, I know. But, if it helps at all, I didn’t know it in here,” he trails his index finger gently along your temple, “I knew it in here.” When his hand drops to the middle of your chest, your heart jumps.

        “That,” you gulp, “must have been quite the surprise for a wise old wizard like you.”

        “It was,” he amusedly hums, looking away from you only so he can resituate himself on the ground. He returns to holding your hand as he settles back onto his side, facing you. “A pleasant surprise.”

        The night falls into silence once more, only occasionally broken by Bokuto’s natural mumbles. 

        Did you feel it in your chest? Not just the heart racing, but actual love that came from them, for them? 

        When Akaashi’s thumb ran over your knuckles once more, uncertainty was washed away and replaced by contentment. You were calm, at peace, and possibly…

        “Oh, and, my love?”

        “Hmm?”

        “Please, do start calling us by our personal names like that more often,” Akaashi murmured, lips pressing against your hair. “We would so adore it.”

        Definitely in love.

                                ~~~

        The next time you wake, it’s not to the pleasant sound of one of the boys stirring you or whispering your name. 

        Instead, it’s to the sound of a cracking twig. Leaves rustle in the trees far too insistently to be only the wind. And when you hear distant, unintelligible mumbles, all of your worries are confirmed. 

        Somebody’s out there.

        It’s barely morning, the sun just beginning to paint the sky a gentle blue as the stars finally disappear from sight. Your face feels frozen and stiff, it having been the only thing Bokuto and Akaashi hadn’t covered with their forms throughout the night. Your body is stuck within a tangle of limbs and you can’t quite tell which ones are yours and which aren’t. 

        Again a branch crackles and your eyes narrow, surveying the towering treetops above you for the source of movement. You suck your bottom lip in between your teeth and gnaw.

        Neither of the men beside you have even twitched, both completely unaware of your fraying nerves. 

        How can they not hear that?

        You move to escape the jungle gym that is Bokuto and Akaashi around you, unhooking the leg curled around your hip and carefully unclasping the hands wrapped around your waist. Brushing off the dirt and rocks that had stuck to your skin during your sleep, you take a peek down at them. 

        You’re only half surprised they’re still asleep when you catch a glimpse of their faces. Bokuto’s face looks relaxed for the first time in weeks, brow completely unfurrowed and nose twitching as he mumbles in his sleep. Akaashi, on the other hand, has dark circles you’ve only now noticed, creating sagging skin underneath his eyes that made him seem like a different person entirely. 

        It’s been months and yet just here and now are you realizing how the events that have transpired may have affected other people aside from you. As much as you cared and worried for them, locked up and left to die in cages, they cared and worried for you. 

        You, the one who’s been kidnapped by their worst enemy.

        You, the one they’ve dedicated their lives to protecting. 

        You, their soulmate. 

        Suddenly, your shoulders sagged. Here you were, thinking they were still coasting on the high of finding their reincarnated love, thinking that all of this adventure, all of these miserable events were just a regular Tuesday for them. 

        He finally found you, they’d said, back when they’d taken you away from your college and back to their home.

        In all of the centuries they’ve been tracking reincarnates like you down, only this time did Kuroo find you too. 

        The thought of the werecat leaves a twinge in your side, but you’re dragged out of these thoughts by the sound of yet another rustling branch. With one last glance down at the men, you purse your lips and sneak away to investigate. 

        Due to the sun only just now appearing, the dirt under your shoes is hard and unforgiving. Morning dew on the occasional blade of grass and fallen leaf beads and trails down the plant life, soaking into the forest floor like a daily tradition. Some drops patter down onto your head after dripping off the tree limbs soaring above you. 

        It’s quiet, peaceful, and for a moment you completely forget why you’re even out there. 

        And then you spot them. 

        Two creatures, hundreds of feet above you. Somehow they’ve found a sturdy branch to rest on at such a height. You can only see their outlines, black and human-shaped. 

        And yet not human at all. 

        Breath speeding up, you try to back away slowly, as quietly as it seemed you’d come. Your hands wave around at your sides in effort to make sure you won’t back up into anything-

        Crack.

        Wonderful. 

        Their whispering stops, and the creatures’ outlines move in such a way that you’re sure they’ve just turned and spotted you. 

        Shit.

        Your head pounds, shouting at you to run or yell or something, but your feet feel frozen to the floor. Cold panic strikes your heart. 

        The only thing that finally urges you to move is the sight of wings sprouting from the creatures’ backs. 

        “Cr-rap,” you whimper, just before turning around and bolting. 

        You hurdle over fallen branches, kicking rocks up behind you as you avoid bumping into trees and tripping over uneven ground. Blood roars in your ears now as you sprint, muscles still sore and whining from the last race you’d run just days ago. But you don’t dare look behind you. 

        This cannot be happening!

        “BOKUTO!” you cry out. “AKAA- AHHH!” At the feeling of two limbs wedging themselves under your arms, you scream, pure, unadulterated terror seizing your chest as your feet unwillingly leave the ground. You kick your legs, trying to hit something, anything, that you might catch on to get out of the grip of the creature behind you. Instantly, you debunk this plan the second its grip loosens on you and you slip just an inch closer to the ground. 

        The ground that is now a few feet too many below you to land safely. 

        “I have a fear of heights, I have a fear of heights, I have a fear of heights,” you babble, hands waving around wildly and finding purchase in the upper arms that currently hold you. “I don’t wanna die, I don’t wanna die, I don’t wanna die.”

        Eyes practically bulging out of your skull, you try not to black out when the creature continues flying you higher, wings flapping forcefully behind you as its hot breath brushes your neck. The greens and browns of the forest blow past you in a blur, so fast that the second you surface above the trees, the blue sky blinds you and leaves your head foggy. 

        The creature finally stops, flapping its wings slower only to maintain its spot inches from the tops of the trees. You whimper when you feel your feet brush the pointed tip of a pine tree. 

        “Hinata!” it--he?--calls, tightening his grip under your arms as he struggles to hold your scrambling body still. “Hinata, call the others!”

        The trees below you crackle closer and closer until the second creature surfaces, looking not much like a creature at all. 

        In fact, he looks like a young boy, no older than sixteen with scruffy red hair and nervous brown eyes. He wore black shorts and a white shirt, one which you assumed was backless considering what was sprouting out from behind him.

        Wings. A human with wings.

        How…

        They were covered in black feathers and spread out as far as he was tall, each one the length of his entire body. 

        What…

        “Kageyama,” “Hinata” scratched the back of his neck nervously, wings still powerfully flapping behind him as he hovered across from you. Occasionally, his gaze would dance down to you before flitting back up at your… kidnapper- Shit, why does this keep happening? “Are you sure we should be doing this?”

        “What do you mean, dumbass?” the voice behind you snapped, deeper and angrier than his friend’s. “She’s an intruder on our territory, and this is our duty. Now call the others.”

        “But what if she-”

        “If it makes you feel any better,” you choked out, voice quivering as you tried to adjust your grip harder on the boy behind you, “I’m not intruding willingly. In fact, if you just return me to the ground--slowly--we’ll just leave you alone and be on our way.”

        The boy behind you tensed while his friend’s eyes widened.

        “‘We’?”

        A roar from deep below you sounded, angry and out for blood. “YN!”

        Even you shook in fear at the sound, nails digging into the boy’s arms harder. 

        “Who is that?” Kageyama barked out from behind you, but even his voice trembled slightly. 

        “Kageyama, I told you this was a bad idea!” the ginger pleaded, eyes flitting back and forth between his friend and the trees below. 

        You opened and closed your mouth, searching for words that wouldn’t get you dropped to your death when you heard a distant rumbling. 

        In a matter of seconds, the wind slowly began to pick up, blowing your hair into disarray as both of the flying men flapped their wings harder, struggling to steady themselves like surfboards in heavy tides. The sunny, clear day that was evidently forecasted disappeared in the blink of an eye.

        Grey clouds formed from nothing and grew darker and darker, growling with thunder as rain started to pour down on you. 

        Kageyama started lowering himself toward the trees with a cuss before barking at an open-mouthed Hinata. “Get lower, dumbass! You don’t wanna get struck!”

        The ginger quickly shut his mouth and nodded, following his friend’s lead and taking cover from the droplets amongst the trees. The second you all found home on a sturdy branch, however, lightning clapped and hit your very tree, electricity sparking it aflame in seconds. 

        Both of them yelped in shock while you screamed, the strike splintering the tree. 

        “YN!” Akaashi’s voice rang out and you dared to glance down at the forest floor, the sheer distance making you nauseous. He held out his hands towards you, his fingertips bathing in a dark red glow. You knew he couldn’t safely catch you from this distance, even with the pacing Bokuto by his side’s help. So what was he…?

        A particularly harsh gust of wind hit your split tree, forcing your branch and everyone on it to lean closer toward the floor. Akaashi’s eyes widened when you didn’t immediately smile in relief at the sight of them--in fact, you did quite the opposite and screeched in fear, scrambling backwards on the branch so you didn’t slip off. 

        When your back met the chest of Kageyama, he grabbed your shoulder and turned you to face him, blue eyes blaring. His black hair grew tousled in the wind while he sneered at you. “Who the hell are you here with?”

        Wind started blowing harder and rain drops hit you like bullets, pounding down on you as the sky rumbled angrily once more. The forest grew uproariously loud as tree limbs crashed against one another, snapping off and soaring through the wind only to collide with more trunks. 

        And with all this noise and distraction, none of you noticed the vampire crawling his way up the trees until he tackled you by the waist. One arm wrapped around you like a vice, crushing you against him while you shrieked. The momentum of his jump carried you both off the branch and into wide open air, which did nothing for your racing heart as you wrapped all your limbs around him and held on for dear life. You buried your face into his shoulder, almost breaking your nose against his collarbone when he, you assumed, crashed into a second tree and used his three free limbs to hang on. 

        “YN!” Bokuto called out, wind still whipping past both your ears. “Are you okay?”

        “Y-yeah,” you nodded, not even daring to lift your head. 

        “Good.” The hand wrapped around your waist moved to rub your back gently as he spoke. “I need you to hang on tight, okay?”

        “Mhm.”

        You tightened your grip around his form, humming nervously when he let go of your waist to utilize his second hand. “It’s okay,” he reassured you, and you began to realize the wind and rain had slowed. “Just hang on.”

        Bokuto climbed down the tree, you wrapped around the front of his chest like a koala as he mumbled calming words to you. 

        When you felt him stop climbing and heard rushed footfalls, you carefully raised your head and peered out around you, almost crying in relief at the sight of being on solid ground. The second you made a move to unwrap yourself from Bokuto’s body, however, his arms wound themselves around you and effectively halted any form of escape. Another solid form pressed into your back and you knew Akaashi had joined the party too.

        “My love,” kisses were peppered along the back of your neck and shoulders, “are you okay?” 

        You didn’t bother responding fully, instead just humming and nodding your head. You stayed locked in their embrace until your body and your mind cleared. The second a wave of warm tingles crawled up and down your spine, you let them know you were ready to be released by gently pushing away their forms. 

        A pouty whine escaped Bokuto’s lips as you pulled away and you breathed out a laugh. “I’m okay, I promise.”

        “But you’re still on our territory,” an entirely new voice spoke, strong and commanding. The responses in Bokuto and Akaashi were instant as they both whipped toward the new man, tense and ready for a fight. Akaashi’s hands were washed in a red mist and Bokuto released a growl, pushing you behind him as his eyes flashed red. 

        You were severely outnumbered, you soon realized, as Hinata and Kageyama had seemed to finally call for the others like they’d planned. 12 or so men, all winged and ready for a fight, stood surrounding the three of you. The leader you’d heard talk earlier stepped forward, brown hair and browner eyes looking more intimidating than they should as he looked over you all. 

        At each of his sides stood men, one with light, fair hair observing you all with furrowed brows while the other’s head was shaved completely, a sharp-toothed sneer focused on all of you. Behind the latter, you noticed, stood a cowering Hinata while the former helped a fallen Kageyama rise to his feet, obviously favoring one leg over the other. 

        “Who are you?” Bokuto stepped forward, shoulders curled forward as he eyed all of them down. He was obviously gauging his chances, and all but he seemed to know they were slim. 

        “Shouldn’t we be asking that question?” the bald one snarled, causing the vampire to take a step forward. When the winged man returned the favor, Akaashi placed a single hand on his shoulder before glancing back at you. Swallowing lightly, you slipped a hand forward, sliding it into Bokuto’s palm and softening your gaze when he squeezed it for a second. 

        Kageyama’s gaze dropped to the action for a second before raising back to Bokuto’s face. 

       “Calm down, Tanaka,” the leader turned his head, throwing the overexcited man a warning glare. When he turns back to the three of you, his back straightens. “My name is Daichi, and you’re in the Karasuno Crows’ territory. Now, who are you?”

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Reborn (Bokuto/Akaashi x Reader) ~Chapter 7~

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

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

A/N: Ayooo happy 2021 y’all! We fucking made it! I’m glad y’all are here to kick off the new year with me, and as a celebration (and a lil apology bc I’m gonna have to go on hiatus again), here’s the next part to Reborn! I wish you all luck and happiness in the new year, and, as always, enjoy!

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

Word count: 8155

        Some days you couldn’t stand to look at yourself in the mirror. When you’re feeling guilty after a buffet or just not wanting to face the music of an all-nighter. Maybe even after running over a squirrel on the road.

        The back of your mind whispered now was one of those times, but you ignored it. 

        Tears streamed down Bokuto’s face, flushing his cheeks and highlighting his golden irises. And yet, it seemed he still couldn’t find it in himself to meet your gaze. 

        “You’re a monster and I hate your guts,” you sneered, letting a foreign wave of fury wash over you. It was like your emotions had been hijacked and someone was pressing all your buttons at once. Your inability to control yourself made you even more pissed off. 

        Akaashi could only stand by and watch, pain and disappointment reigning on his face as Bokuto bawled like the baby he was. 

        You shifted your gaze back to the vampire and stepped closer to his bars. “Your head is emptier than the coffin in my grave. You always act all tough, but I know what you really are--a sad, old, lonely vampire clutching onto the only friend in his life while chasing after girls.” I don’t mean that. “And do you wanna know what else?”

        Like the prick of a needle, a headache stirred at the base of your neck and stretched to the top of your skull. Small jabs of pain dug under the superficial layers of your scalp and pierced the edges of your brain. Stop please. I don’t mean any of this.

        Just when you bit your tongue in effort to fend off the ache, Bokuto met your gaze for the first time in minutes. 

        Agony dominated his innocent eyes. His lower lip was drawn into his mouth and gnawed on enough to trail crimson down his chin. Each bone in his body appeared to tremble while his Adam’s apple bobbed every few seconds. But not once did he speak. 

        He didn’t beg you to stop or plead for you to take it all back. There was this aura around him that told you he was going to lie down and take this without even a hint of fighting back. No matter what you threw at him, he was willing to be your punching bag for however long you would let him.

        And that boiled your blood. 

        You stomped closer to his cage and shoved a hand through the bars, reaching out for him only to snicker when he dove away. 

        “Just as I thought.” You rolled your eyes and pulled away. “You’re a coward. Afraid to let me even touch you. Doesn’t that make you wonder how I felt after the last encounter we had?”

        He whimpered.

        “Exactly. I was terrified. You tore into me like roadkill. Like you wanted to kill me. How does that make you feel, Bokuto? Do you hate yourself for what you’ve done? Do you even feel bad? Or is it just that the beast you bury inside yourself finally took over and-”

        “That’s enough.”

        “Oh!” You simper at Akaashi. “Look who’s decided to join the party-”

        “That’s enough!” The wizard’s nostrils flare as he shakes his head at you. Voice lowered, he mumbles to himself incoherently while studying you like a hawk. “You don’t mean any of that, YN.”

        “Oh yeah? Does your light magic tell you that?”

        Akaashi’s eyes narrow at you. A million questions fly through his mind right before you while he reads every inch of your face. Then his lips part.

        “Does your stomach hurt, my love?” His tone is surprisingly gentle compared to the scowl he has carved into his features. You stumble back and furrow your brows. 

        “What?”

        “Do you have a headache? Do your toes itch?”

        “What the hell are you on?”

        His jaw irks and his shackles tap on the iron bars of his cell while he ponders. 

        Meanwhile, Bokuto sat crumpled on his knees, looking like his soul has torn in two. His head has lowered to his chest and dust stirs on the ground where his tears fall. Both hands lay curled into fists on his thighs, clenching and unclenching in an irregular pattern. 

        Frustration coils around your throat, forcing you to speak as you grow impatient. “Spit it out, Akaashi. What the fuck are you looking for?”

        Once more, the wizard’s eyes raise to meet yours head on as he studies you for a moment, looking stumped. “There’s got to be something… oh!” Standing up straighter, his cuffs clatter and clang as he gathers your attention, watching your every move. 

        “My love, how do you feel about us?”

        “Why does that-”         “Do you love us?”

        “W-what?” you exclaim, staggering back. In your chest, your heart jumps and stutters, gathering a zoo of butterflies in your stomach. For some reason, the question… excites you in a way. Not in an angry way, either, but more so a “now’s the time, just spit it out” way.

        Except you had nothing to spit. 

        Or, more precisely, you had nothing you wanted to spit. 

        Yes! Say it!

        Like your lips were sewn together, you force yourself to stay silent. No words seem to gather in your mind at Akaashi’s question. Wasn’t it too soon for something like that?

        Of course it was. And you… h-hated them anyway, right?... No?

        Fuck. 

        What was love anyway? Was it wanting to spend time around Bokuto and Akaashi? Was it wanting to be held in their embrace for as long as they would allow? Maybe it was wanting to have conversations about the dumbest things that slowly grow more serious and intense, or yell at sports games on television that you didn’t even know the rules to. 

        Surely it wasn’t any of that, because you wanted all of that. 

        “My love.” Even Bokuto had perked up to answer the question, head tilting just enough to glance at you through his lashes. Akaashi, however, seemed to read you like a book. “Please. Answer the question.”

        “I… y-... I… love… you.” You choked your way through each syllable, then the words came out as easy as a breath. “I love you.”

        A giant weight lifted off your shoulders and suddenly you could breathe again. The constriction around your throat lessened into nothing and your chest felt so light you could laugh. The freedom to have control over your emotions and your thoughts was almost as intoxicating as the dopamine flooding to your brain. 

        Akaashi looked like he could pass out in relief while Bokuto collapsed onto his back and starfished. “Thank fuck,” the former sighed. 

        It was only when weeps began to emit from the latter that you realized you were on damage control duty. “Oh God, Bo, I’m so sorry.”

        All he did was cry harder, body shuddering with every whine. Remorse tugged you to the floor and led you to reach for his outstretched leg, patting the top of his foot just enough to gather his attention. 

        “Bo please! Look at me.”

        He grew quieter, but only a touch as you struggled to catch his eye. You shook his foot hard, but it was only when you used all the strength you could muster to drag him toward you that he finally gave in and met your gaze. 

        “Bokuto… Bo. I… I’m so-” you bit your lip as a sob caught in your throat. 

        You loved these men--truly, you did. The thought of losing their smiles, their warm hugs, the care and gentleness they had only for you… it killed you. After today, you weren’t quite sure you could manage another second without them. 

        These two… powerful, tender, doting beings. They were prepared to risk their lives for you and more; you couldn’t help but feel yourself falling harder for them by the second. 

        “Bokuto, I love you,” you mumbled through a wave of emotion, “and I’m so sorry.”

        The words hit home and you could see the spiral it flung the vampire into. Love, anger, sadness, joy--each one passed before your eyes in his very own as he studied your face. 

        No one had ever looked at you like that. 

        And yet it felt like he’d been doing it for centuries. 

        One hard yank and you were tugged flat against the cell bars as Bokuto embraced you. 

        So warm. So, so, dreadfully warm and adoring that it stung the corners of your eyes. In his hold, you felt like you could face anything head on, because he-

        No.

        Because both of them would be by your side. The wizard and vampire before you were willing to take a bullet and more just to see you smile. A love like that was rare. 

        Destined.

        You owed them so much for how they’d loved you. 

        So you patted Bokuto’s back, running a hand through his familiarly calming hair just for good measure before pulling away and stepping back. 

        Akaashi’s hand fell from its place on your back and returned to his side before both men faced you. 

        A rush of responsibility ran through you like a bucket of ice, refreshing you for what was to come. 

        They had taken care of and loved you for so long, and now it was time for you to return the favor. 

        “I’m going to get you guys out of here.”

        Before they could argue, you dashed up the stairs and out of the dungeon, in search of the man who had started it all. 

                                ~~~

        As expected, the halls of Kuroo’s mansion were chilling to the bone as you stepped through the occasional moon’s ray in search of the cat. 

        Opalescent, marble floors absorbed and amplified your every footstep as you made your way through the halls, shoes squealing every few strides. In the heat of the moment, your grand idea to locate Kuroo’s room and steal the key to the cells was… overzealous at best.

        At worst, it had one too many holes. For one, you had no clue where Kuroo’s room was. For two, you had no idea where you were. Unlike Akaashi and Bokuto’s home, there was no atmosphere of familiarity and, more importantly, no vampire or wizard to direct and guide you around the place. Here, you were a fish out of water. 

        Though, you had to admit the supernatural must all have the same taste in interior decorating. Ancient-yet-creepy paintings of landscapes or figures seemed to litter the ruby walls and you barely managed to not stub your toe on the sporadically-placed vases and tables of the corridors. Emerald green vines framed each window that lit your path along with the single chandelier you found consistent with every high ceiling of the halls. 

        And yet, not a sound could be heard. Your feet began to twinge at the miles you felt like you’d walked in search of… well, you didn’t know what, exactly. If Kuroo found you, you had no idea what to say to him. However, you also had no clue on how to locate his bedroom either. 

        At this point, you were praying for a miracle while wandering the halls like a lost kitten. 

        Not a single soul had crossed your path, not even a lazing Kenma who’d barely found the effort to locate a couch before crashing to play his game. 

        Stuck in a labyrinth of ruby and white halls, you wanted to tear your own hair out for leaving the dungeon with a half-baked plan. Of course, you’d often thought of knocking on any one of the wooden doors you’d come across on your weary travels, but there was some apprehension that came with each potential interaction. 

        Though you were certain Kuroo had informed everyone that he’d okayed you going down to meet Bokuto and Akaashi, you were positive he wouldn’t be okay with you wandering the halls. Now was one of few times you actually wished you had supernatural abilities of some sorts so you could defend yourself should any one of the werecats housing the mansion find you. 

        “YN?” Like that one. 

        A hand settles on your shoulder, somehow scaring even more of the bejesus that had already fled from you when the voice had first spoken. 

        As you turn, the face that greets you is even less surprising than the smile that rests on its face. Kuroo drops his hand from your shoulder, leaving a burn in its wake as he steps closer to you. The distance between you two could violate the rules of not only basic personal space but also any high school prom’s as well. 

        “Reunion’s over already?” And there it was--that sly, devious glint in his glowing eyes that you so dearly wanted to smother. 

        For an instant, you feel like a rat just waiting for the trap’s mechanism to snap down on your neck and end your suffering. 

        However, something in you urges to not give up so easily. You still had a lot to fight for, and judging by the anticipatory look in Kuroo’s eyes, you weren’t caught just yet.

        But… just how could you worm your way out of this one?

        “I, uh…” Think YN, think! “Umm…”

        Cue the lightbulb.

        “I couldn’t stand to be in that damned room with them any longer!” you sneered uneasily. You mustered as much disgust on your face as possible, and with Kuroo right in front of you, such a task was almost too easy. 

        The corners of his mouth turned upward devilishly. “Good. So I assume that means you’re…?”

        Your brow raises before you realize and rush to finish his question. “O-oh, yes, yes! I am totally and completely… over… them. Boy do I really hate their guts.”

        Though you weren’t exactly up for a Golden Globe, it seemed anything you gave Kuroo right now he would lap up like a starved kitten. 

        It wasn’t hard to see that Kuroo was willing to try and get you over Bokuto and Akaashi by any means necessary, but him being so desperate gave you a way past the very own walls he thought he had built so well. 

        If this was chess, you were almost sure you had him in check. 

        You just needed to make one last move to really ensure such a swindle. 

        A breath escaped Kuroo’s lips easily when his jaw dropped at your hug. One minute you were across from him, giving your best impersonation of spite. The next, your arms were wrapped around his midsection and your face was pressed into his chest. 

        Cologne of sea salt mixed with sandalwood wafted up both your nostrils with one fell swoop, invading and fogging your mind. Though not altogether unpleasant, there was something simply too foreign and external about it that made it leagues behind what you knew. Any day would you rather take in Akaashi’s scent of lavender with hints of spices and Bokuto’s pine and leather. 

        Not that you were a serial man-sniffer though.

        Nudging yourself back to the task at hand, you waited until it seemed just safe enough to search Kuroo’s jacket pockets for anything key-shaped. 

        The man in your arms seemed too shell-shocked to notice. In the last minute, he hadn’t made a single sound nor movement to reciprocate the hug; instead, all you could hear was the expected mouth-breathing of a dropped jaw. 

        Ever so slowly, you run your hands along his jacket in what you hope seems like an adoring motion, and yet there are no suspicious lumps--anywhere, thankfully. 

        No little bumps along the polyester, crimson fabric that seemed to resemble anything but a candy wrapper. Part of you wanted to search the pockets of his shorts but logic told you touching anything lower than the waist for a hug would definitely not end in a hug. 

        In any case, it seemed your internal debate on whether to cop a feel of Kuroo’s pants’ pockets or not was no longer the biggest issue. Kuroo finally came back to reality and returned the embrace. 

        It was obvious this was no friendly hug to him; he believed it to mean so much more than that. Long, athletic arms wound around your waist and tightened to the point where you struggled to inhale more than a gasp. Black locks tickled your neck the instant Kuroo dropped his head onto your shoulder with a smile so large you could feel it through your sweatshirt. 

        He was happy, so, so happy to finally have you in his hold. From what you could feel, even his own hands were shaking at the thought. 

        “God, I-... I’ve missed you so much, kitten.” He nuzzles deeper into your neck. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to have you in my arms again.”

        Kuroo was in love. Even the blind could see it. Over the centuries, he had fallen for you so hard he was actually shaking with joy from getting to hug you again. 

        The man before you was lonelier than you ever thought. He was a king without a queen, a man without his woman.

        A husband without his wife.

        Oh right. He-... We were… married.

        Centuries ago. Many, many centuries ago. And yet, Kuroo still believes that bond can be mended. He wanted that girl… you back, and now…

        Now you’ve just resparked that hope that he could have you again.

        But he couldn’t. The hug was just a ruse; it was just some way for you to get back with your real soulmates. 

        This poor, rejected cat before you would be left behind yet again. 

        A horrible, terrible ripping scratched at your heart. Isn’t he innocent in all this?

        Akaashi’s words, muddled but still clear in their purpose, came back to your mind all at once. 

        “He went mad without his queen. Many supernatural species perished under his tyrannical reign, and as a result became extinct. In the remaining villages, he hung posters of you. Wanted, dead or alive.”

        As kind as he was, he was still one of the main reasons children are scared to leave their beds at night. Monsters, vicious and uncaring, will attack just for spite. Supernatural beings are no different. 

        Perhaps, somewhere along the way he had changed. But you couldn’t place all your hope on a maybe. 

        This was still the man who held the ones you loved locked up under your own two feet. He was still the one who ordered his soldier to shoot when he’d first found you so many years ago. 

        Kuroo was still the man who’d made you become cursed. He was still the one who’d started it all. 

        “Kuroo?”

        “Hmm?”

        “Can I sleep in your room tonight?”

                                ~~~

        His room was, of course, in the deepest, darkest end of a corridor in one half of the mansion you completely forgot existed. Naturally. 

        As if you would disappear any second, Kuroo kept his hand interlocked with yours the entire duration of the walk to his room, and he didn’t dare release it now that you’d arrived. 

        When the lavish double doors open, it’s like you’ve stepped into a larger version of your old apartment. At least, it was easily double the size. 

        Directly across from you is a balcony of marble white and rose gold. Flowers bloom along the railing and lead downward just out of eyesight from the glass doors that trap it outside. Inside, meanwhile, there’s a four poster bed large enough for ten with a frame that reaches just up to the ceiling, covered in black curtains, black sheets and crimson pillows. A plush carpet rug leads to steps up to the enormous bed and the two wooden nightstands on the side of it. Directly opposite of it is a flat screen no doubt visible from space and sitting on a cherry red console. To the left of the TV is one black door and to the right is another. 

        Kuroo leads you inside before you can ogle the room anymore. “You like it?”

        Bitch-

        “Are you pulling my leg right now?” You breathe out, eyes still trying to take in the sheer vastness of the room itself. “Like… holy shit.”

        “I’m glad you like it,” he snickers. “I like seeing you breathless.”

        And, of course, the pervert had to ruin it.

        His comment sobers you up and makes you realize something--searching for that damned key is going to be worse than looking for a needle in a haystack. Fuck me.

        Just as you start inspecting the room with what little time you’ve had inside it, Kuroo spins you to face him. “So…”

        “So…”

        The grin on his face turns soft as he reaches a hand up to caress your face. The touch, however loving, feels wrong. Like “he’s just wiping his germs on your face” wrong. Deep down, you’re thankful the connection between you and your boys is so strong because otherwise you were sure Kuroo’s charm would have worked wonders on you by now. 

        The room was beautiful and Kuroo was being so sweet, but now was your chance. You needed to find that key and get out of here.

        Kuroo’s face leaning in closer to yours drew you back into reality. “I’m glad you like it in here. You can stay as long as you like.” His pupils enlarge, giving you warning signals like no other. 

        His head lowers just a bit closer, lips parted, and just when his eyes flutter closed… 

        Smooch.

        Eyes wide, you watch the floor as Kuroo’s lips press against your cheek. “Can you go get my clothes?”

        Instantly, he pulls away and presses a finger to his lips, gaze shocked and locked on your face. 

        “...From my room, please?”

        “Y-yeah.” He clears his throat. “Yeah, of course. I’ll go… do that.”

        Never before have you seen Kuroo so flustered and if the situation had been less serious than you were sure you would have laughed. Instead, you felt just as antsy as Kuroo, but for an entirely different reason. 

        Without so much as a farewell, Kuroo hastens to leave the room, closing the door behind him and taking what must have been a brisk jog down the hall to cool himself off. 

        You wait until thirty seconds have passed after his steps turned inaudible before you hop to it, foraging every visible inch of the room before going deeper. 

        “It’s okay,” you whisper to yourself as you yank up the carpet, observing a concerning amount of dust. “Just don’t tell Bokuto and Akaashi and there won’t be a problem.”

        Lord knows one of them could probably smell Kuroo on you. You just hope they’ll save the questions for a later date. Like never. 

        No key anywhere. Not in the console, nor the nightstands. Not under the heavy-ass mattress nor behind the curtains of the balcony. Nothing. You even searched in the reading corner that had somehow passed your first survey of the room, on the bookshelves and under the two sofas. Nada.

        Summoning the patience to confront whatever was behind the two doors, you opened each one and, for lack of surprise, observed an abnormally large bathroom and a walk-in closet. 

        For a centuries-old werecat’s closet, it was surprisingly bare. One side was completely empty save for hundreds of hangers on a single metal bar. The other side was only half-full with t-shirts, coats, and suits hanging while jeans and shorts sat gathering dust on the floor. Judging by the look of things, you wouldn’t be surprised if Kuroo came back with more than just one pair of clothes for you.

        Hopefully, by then you would be long gone. 

        The bathroom, however, was much more of a challenge. About twenty cupboards each had their own stock of individual toiletry supplies, and yet not a single one held a key. You even had to perfectly restack twelve packages--not rolls--of toilet paper in the same, annoyingly perfect pyramid shape. He even had feminine products, but you supposed there should be no surprise there. 

        Obviously, he’s been preparing for you for quite a while. You’d be touched if you weren’t so creeped out by the sight of it altogether. 

        At last, you slumped out of the bathroom with sore arms and legs. Standing on your tiptoes and reaching up into cupboards took a lot more out of you than you thought. Such pain, and all for nothing. 

        Especially when you noticed a glint of something sparkling just above the carved doorway to Kuroo’s room. 

        The key. 

        It had been sitting in plain sight this whole time. However, spotting it wasn’t the issue. Reaching it would be. 

        Regarding the doorway, it was polished wood carved into a perfect arch to fit both doors, and at the top sat the sculpted head of a roaring lion. Just at the top of his dusty mane was the key, and no matter how high you jumped, you knew you wouldn’t be able to reach it. 

        It was high--almost three-of-you-stacked high. The bed was too far away to try and launch yourself, and neither nightstand looked sturdy enough to hold you. So what could…?

        The sofas!

        They were huge and a long ways away. Not only that, but you figured with the amount of time Kuroo had been away that he’d found clothes for you to “sleep in” tonight about a hundred times over. What was truly concerning was that he hadn’t shown up yet.

        Counting your blessings, you didn’t bother wasting any more time. Quickly, you dashed over to one of the black leather sofas and started to push it with all your might.

        Uh oh.

        No, not “uh oh” it was too heavy; in fact, the chair was actually seated on sliders to make mobility easy. 

        What was “uh oh” was the heavy steps finally making their way back to this room. 

        Speak of the goddamn devil.

        The steps weren’t patient or slowed either--it was clear Kuroo was done being away from you for so long. 

        Now or never. 

        If you got caught, you weren’t quite sure you could handle the consequences, so you stopped considering them altogether and moved. 

        You shoved the sofa past the carpet and across the wood floor, catching onto the occasional rock and leaving a scratch in its wake--nothing an all-too adoring werecat would notice. 

        You barely avoided crashing into the doors themselves and hurried to clamber onto the sofa. 

        Move, YN, move move move.

        Barely keeping your balance, you reached for the head of the lion, only to hold back a cry when your fingers barely brushed it’s jaw.

        Fuck, YN he’s getting closer. Think!

        Kuroo’s footsteps were loud, but not as loud as your heartbeat pounding in your ears. 

        Shit, shit, shit!

        You couldn’t reach any better from the arm of the chair, instead just skimming its pointed ear. A sob built in your throat in frustration.

        Please!

        Your only chance was standing on the head of the chair, but according to every physics law ever, that would be fucking impossible. 

        The steps were just outside the door now.

        With one more nervous glance, you pushed all of your weight to lean on the wall just beside the door, stepping one trembling leg up onto the top of the chair’s back.

        The doorknob twisted. 

        NO!

        The door cracked open just as you pushed all your strength onto your lifted leg, propelling yourself up and-

        You missed.

        The door cracked open. 

        “Kuroo!”

        And it stopped there. Another pair of footsteps made their way over to the door and you tensed when the door shifted open just a tad.

        Then it shut completely. 

        The knob twisted back into place and two pairs of footsteps receded just a couple yards away. 

        Kenma’s voice pipes up and Kuroo’s voice whispers back but you don’t spare another second trying to decipher the conversation. 

        Swiftly, you step back up onto the back of the chair and propel yourself up one more time, stretching every ligament in your arm so taut you swear you felt something tear but you don’t mind. 

        The key is cold and made of brass, but it sits between your two fingers all the same. 

        Eyes bulging in effort to hold back a cheer, you’re quick to climb back down and push the chair all the way back to the reading corner just when the conversation in the hall ends. 

        Collapsing into the sofa, you grab a random book off the shelf and tear it open, smoothly inspecting a random page just as the door opens. 

        “YN?” Kuroo steps in and glances around, lips curling into a smile when he spots you in the corner. “Ahh, the mini library. I figured you would like that.”

        “Yep,” you nodded, allowing yourself just the smallest smile of victory so you can wear it as a disguise. “I’ve got myself acquainted here with…” you squint at the page, before pursing your lips and turning the book rightside up, “Gandalf and Bilbo.” 

        “Upside down?”

        “It’s a talent I’m working on. I’ll show you later.”

        Kuroo chuckles before closing the door behind him, dropping an armful of clothes on the bed. 

        “So I wasn’t sure if you wanted the blue sweatshirt or the black one so I brought both. And that same philosophy applied to just about all the other clothes I dug through so,” he gestured to the pile, “go nuts.”

        Setting the book back on the shelf, you rose and stood to observe the clothes. Sadly, the bed was too large for you to stand directly across from Kuroo to dig through them, so you accepted your fate and sidled up beside him while he watched your every move.

        “...YN?” His tone was curious and careful as he narrowed his eyes at you.

        You kept your eyes on the clothes and urged your voice to keep steady. “What’s up?”

        “Why are you so flushed?” His hand runs down your cheek, gathering droplets of sweat that had formed from your stress earlier. “I don’t suppose you worked out or something while I was gone.”

        Though his proposition would have been a great excuse, you weren’t exactly the person to spend your spare time working out for the hell of it. Anybody knew that.

        “Pfft, no,” you waved a hand nonchalantly, “reading upside down is just really hard. You’re lucky you came in when you did or I might have just passed out altogether.”

        Kuroo studied you for a moment longer, leaning just a bit closer before humming. “All right. Then I’ll just say you’re welcome.”

        “Thank you.” Rummaging through the collection of pants and sweatshirts once more, you struggled to think of an excuse to get the hell out of here. 

        Kuroo’s hand moved to rest on the small of your back and suddenly all precaution flew out the window. 

        “K-Kuroo.”

        “Hmm?” The hand never retreats, and instead Kuroo turns toward you expectantly.

        “I… uh… don’t think I’m ready to sleep in the same bed with you yet.”

        Wonderful topic change, YN.

        “And why’s that?”

        “It’s not anything against you!” You scramble to find the words, turning toward him and wetting your lips. “I just… I think it’s too soon. For me, at least. I mean, I know it’s not too soon for you! In fact, I’m sure you think it’s overdue or something, but I’m just not that… comfortable yet…” you decide to trail off with your rambling and instead assess the hole you’ve just dug yourself in in silence. 

        Kuroo does the same, pressing his lips together and meeting your gaze head on. You knew he was searching for something, and you almost let out a sigh of relief when he finally nodded. “Don’t worry. I understand.” And then you notice his hand is still on your waist, but only because he’s placed the other one on your other hip. Then, ever so carefully, he leans down and presses a kiss to your forehead. “One day, kitten.”

        Suddenly feeling dirty, you nod and pull away completely. “Of course.”

        Now how do I get out of here?

        Kuroo lets his hands fall back to his sides and his eyes drag down to the clothes still sitting in a clump on the bed.

        Bingo.

        “Oh, damn,” you hiss, picking through the clothes. “These ones are really uncomfortable. You didn’t get my favorites.” What you lack in acting skills you hope you make up for with swiftness. “Just wait here, I’ll go get them from my room.”

        Kuroo’s gaze shifts ten times more serious in an instant. Like a snake, his hand snaps out from his side and snags onto your wrist, effectively holding you in place just as you turn to leave. 

        Swallowing the fear in your chest, you spin back to Kuroo like he gestures. Slim fingers grab onto your chin and tilt your head to face his, forcing all your attention onto him.

        “You’re not going to do anything stupid, right kitten?”

        You kept a steady gaze and refrained from nervous shifting of any kind. You were too close to give it all up now. “Of course not. I just wanted more comfortable clothes.”

        With a pause, Kuroo narrows his eyes, glancing your form up and down before nodding. The bruising grip on your chin is released and you bite the inside of your cheek to fend off a whimper. 

        That son of a bitch was going to leave a mark.

        “Don’t keep me waiting long, YN.”

        Not bothering to stick around longer than necessary, you exited the room without another look at Kuroo and shut the door with a whoosh. The roaring blood pumping in your ears blocked out any other sound as you dashed down the halls, flying past tables of antique knick knacks and curtainless windows. 

        Soon, your mood shifted from a state of uncertainty to absolute pride. You did it. You got the key, and now you would get everyone out safely. Your one-man party would have to wait until you actually found out how to get out of here, though. 

        Unlike before, you weren’t exactly lost. The occasional painting was actually familiar and you thanked your past self for doing a little sight-seeing while being stranded in the halls. 

        When you spotted the very first painting you remembered appraising--a lone tree surrounded by thundering clouds--you almost yelped with glee. 

        I’m almost there, guys. Don’t you worry. 

        By now, there was a faint tint of sky blue just reaching the horizon outside the window. The moon and stars were soon to be long gone, and you and the boys would have the bright sun to guide you away from this hellhole. 

        At last, you found the corridor you’d entered twice before. Bare as always, it was a sharp contrast from the rest of the house in terms of its flooring. Here, there was very little money spared; unlike the polished marble surface of the rest of the halls, this one was a simple concrete, leading to scuffs of your tennis shoes rather than the previous squeaks. 

        Nonetheless, you sprinted to the end all the same, making it entirely through the house undetected. You counted yourself lucky that Kuroo actually believed you remembered where your old room was. At this point, you could barely tell left from right without performing the classic “L” trick with your hands. 

        Biting back a smile, you struggled to remind yourself that you weren’t exactly free and clear just yet; there was still the issue of finding the main exit--or any sort of exit--now. While Kuroo was miles away in his room all the way across the house, that didn’t mean the other werecats infesting the place weren’t on the lookout for you. 

        Especially once Kuroo realized you weren’t coming back. 

        You made quick work of the creaky stairs, skipping three at a time before taking one final leap and crashing through the wooden door. Sucking in a breath through your teeth, you hoped the slam of the door wasn’t as loud to the rest of the house as it was to you.

        Yet, such fears soon didn’t matter. Bokuto and Akaashi’s heads both lift at the sound of your entrance before both men jump to their feet.

        “Darling, you made it!”

        “YN, are you okay?”

        While their voices clashed, you waited patiently until you had their full attention before brandishing the key with a wide smile. 

        Bokuto cheers as quietly as he could manage while Akaashi’s brows rose. 

        “How did you find it?”

        “Uh,” Ah crap. “I’ll… tell you later.”

        Not wasting any more time, you scamper over and unlock each cell, tensing up when you see Bokuto prepare for a classic tackle hug. Except it never comes.

        Instead, while Akaashi fiddles with his shackles, Bokuto lets his arms fall to his side and he backs away from you, suddenly appearing forlorn. The memory of your last meeting down here comes back and hits you like a freight train.

        “Bo, if this is about what I said-”

        “It’s not!” He glances away with a crease in his brow, busying himself with snapping Akaashi’s cuffs in two like they were made of nothing. “It’s just…”

        “What?”

        Neither man dares to meet your gaze, but Akaashi’s reason seems more for being on the lookout while Bokuto’s is out of shame. 

        “You didn’t see the fear in your eyes when I bit you.”

        “Bo…”

        “No, YN, you looked horrified. It was like you said. I’m a mon-”

        Slamming a hand over his mouth, you throw a dirty glare his way. “Don’t ever call yourself that. You’re not a monster, Bokuto. Would a monster bake-er… try to bake my favorite breakfast every day? Would he want to watch magic shows with me or hug me when it’s cold outside?”

        He mumbles behind your hand with downcast eyes and you shake your head. “No, Bokuto. You’re wrong. You’re not a monster, or anything of the sort, to me. I don’t care what you say.”

        With that, you release his mouth and yank him into a hug, blindly reaching for Akaashi to do the same. When you make contact with the wizard’s T-shirt, you pull him into your arms as well, sighing in relief at the feeling it gives. 

        This was right. This was warm and safe and so, so right. Fuzzy little feelings bumbled around in your stomach as you sank deeper into their arms, dropping your chin on both men’s shoulders. There was no guilt or betrayal that came with this hug because these men, no matter how little you knew them, felt like home. 

        For the past few weeks, you’d felt so lost and alone, and feeling them around you now was heartwarming. The world seemed to stop turning and whatever stressful situation you had been focused on before seemed to ebb away in their hold. This was what pure security, pure devotion, and pure love felt like. Two pairs of arms wrapped around your waist, ready to help you face anything from this point on. You weren’t stuck alone anymore. You weren’t unhappy anymore. You were just lost in the embrace of an attachment that had formed over centuries, and would continue in just that fashion. 

        “I’m glad you guys are okay.” The words, though sounding simple, had been sitting on the tip of your tongue for days now. And you meant every one of them. “It sucked being away from you all that time.”

        A soft smile formed on Akaashi’s face as he pulled away just an inch to see your face. Carefully, he unwound an arm from your waist and brushed a strand of hair behind your ear. “And we feel the same, my love.”

        Bokuto’s arms squeeze you tighter just for a moment before releasing altogether, allowing his golden gaze to reach yours. A grin larger than life itself almost blinded you, fangs twinkling in the light of the sunrise. “We missed you so much, darling. Being away from you is torture.”

        Involuntarily, your lower lip began to tremble as you glanced at both of them, hating how your heart skipped a beat at each sight. Maybe it was fast, and it certainly wasn’t expected, but you did love them. And there was so much more time for you to get to know them better, but now…

        “Oh shit, we have to get out of here!” Shaking yourself out of your daze, you pulled away completely, shivering at the cold that nipped your skin in seconds. 

        Both men snapped themselves out of the haze as well, one snagging your wrist while the other led the way up the stairs. Soon enough, each man had a hold on either of your biceps, both protecting your sides and leading you through the halls. 

        Initially, you wanted to announce that you might have a better idea of how to navigate Kuroo’s mansion, but you soon swallowed your words when you noticed Akaashi’s calculating gaze as he directed all three of you around. “This way,” he mumbled, jogging at a pace just slow enough that you weren’t completely left in the dust. 

        The sun was reaching higher in the sky, you noticed, just half of it reaching over the horizon and lighting the sky a dusty orange. The maze of halls and stairs was much more manageable now that you could actually see them with natural lighting. 

        At last, the three of you reached a foyer. One glass staircase led directly down to the middle of a large entryway, and just a few yards from where the last step met marble stood a pair of wooden double doors. The slaps of your footsteps sounded like thunder compared to the elegant pads of both Bokuto and Akaashi’s feet, but being so close meant no time for precaution.

        “Oh YN, surely you didn’t think I was that gullible.”

        So close, and yet so far. Just as your hand had touched the curved door handles, Kuroo’s voice stopped you in your tracks and chilled you to the bone. 

        Caught, trapped, cornered--whatever you wanted to call it. To put it simply, you were screwed. Spinning on your heels, you took in the sheer number of werecats. With no time to count, you estimated there were about ten transformed cats in all, each ready to pounce. Kuroo stood in his human form with folded arms, shaking his head in disappointment. 

        Oh yeah. We’re fucked.

        Bones crackle just to your left and where a silent Bokuto used to be, a hissing creature now stands at the ready. Still human-shaped, each muscle in the vampire’s body now appears doubled in size as viscous claws extend from each finger. Elongated fangs sharper than needles pierce through his gums and a glowing red takes over the deep auburn of his eyes. 

        On your right, Akaashi’s hands, now completely free of cuffs, radiate a maroon smoke, both pointed toward the crouching enemies. A line forms between his brow as spells wait to be cast on his lips. 

        While the odds weren’t looking good before, both transformations your boys had undergone make you feel just a little bit better about the results of this battle. 

        Akaashi reaches out a smoldering hand to push you behind them, closer to the door. “You’ll be okay, my love.” He glances back at you with a small smile. “I never lie to you, remember?”

        You nod and step back farther, hoping that promise wouldn’t be his last. Only one thing was for sure, and that was that nobody was coming out of this unscathed.

        Across the room, Kuroo’s teeth bare at the action and the black ears that had formed on his head flatten. “Don’t touch her.”

        And with that, he pounces. 

        The room that had been so tense and quiet just seconds earlier explodes into pandemonium. Hisses, catlike and vampire-like both travel around the room as you quiver against the door, fighting back the urge to flee. 

        A foreign language slips off Akaashi’s tongue in a rage as red mist envelopes the room, paralyzing three cats right in their place. Two others pounce on him and just like that, they are slammed into the wall with a swift wave of his hand.

        Bokuto, on the other hand, is drowning underneath a pile of cats. Flexed claws tear into every inch of skin, but he gives just as much as he gets. One cat yowls and flees after receiving a dagger-like fingernail in the eye while another drops to the floor with a kick against its head. 

        Part of you wanted to help in some way while the other urged you to flee from the house completely. As an unofficial compromise, you stood glued to your spot, unsure if you could move even if you wanted to. 

        Cougar-sized cats go flying with another flash of red from Akaashi’s hands, one crashing right into the staircase and you cringe at the crack that echoes with it. Blood spatters to the floor and soaks into your pant legs as Bokuto sinks his teeth into the throat of a pure white cat, tearing away and spitting out a solid chunk of flesh. 

        All the sights and sounds are macabre, but like a car crash, you just couldn’t look away, completely enraptured in horror. Even the scent of blood flooded your nostrils at this point, forcing you to gag and turn away just when a cat is kicked into the wall directly by the doors. 

        It howls in pain, but the proximity between you and the slumped, bleeding form goes completely unnoticed until you feel a pinch in your side. 

        No. Not a pinch. The cat’s jaw has unhinged and enveloped your left hip completely, digging in hard enough to meet bone. Tears spring to your eyes and your jaw drops in a silent scream. Shock does nothing to fend off the pain as it forces you to your knees. 

        The cat scampers away just when you find the strength to release a small moan. Hands grab at your side, and you don’t realize they’re your own until you cry out at the sheer amount of red drenching your hands. 

        Blood is everywhere, soaking into your shoes and socks. Pooling onto the floor around you. And yet, when you reach to cover the wound, you can no longer feel the large punctures it had left. 

        “YN!” Twenty feet away, Akaashi throws a hand out toward you while another helps Bokuto to his feet. The door behind you flies open and you drag yourself to your feet, hanging onto the doorway for support as you step outside. 

        Fresh air never smelled more sweet, and when you reach down to feel your wound once more, you almost choke in disbelief to feel damp yet completely unruptured skin. 

        What the hell? WHAT THE HELL?

        Two hands grab your waist and throw you over a broad shoulder, leaving your head and arms to sag against what appears to be Bokuto’s lacerated backside. 

        “You’re gonna be okay, YN, we’re getting out of here!” Bokuto shouts over the wind rushing in your ears. The speed the forest floor passes by your eyes is inhuman as the vampire weaves in and out of trees, Akaashi keeping in perfect stride just to the side of you both. 

        An overflow of blood rushes straight down into your head, forcing you to lift your skull just a little to fend off the dizziness. In the distance, Kuroo’s mansion of black and red brick grows blurry, and yet does nothing to obscure the sight in the doorway. 

        Two glowing green eyes peering from within the darkness. 

        Neither Akaashi nor Bokuto has noticed, but the sight of it has caused you to tense up and go still in the latter’s hold. 

        “Don’t worry, my love,” Akaashi grunts out as both men begin to slow to a stop. Bokuto shifts his hold on you, now gripping the backs of your knees and your shoulders. A hand, Akaashi’s, glows a gentle pink before he brushes through the hair on the top of your head. “We’re going home.”

        A wave of exhaustion washes over you, forcing your eyes to droop closed. 

        “You can rest now. We’ll keep you safe.”

Previous  Masterlist  Next

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

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

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

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

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

Word count: 4500

        “YN.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

        “Akaashi-”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        “Then why-”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        “Bokuto!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        But nothing happened. 

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

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

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

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

        “Akaashi…”

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

        “I-”

        “Darling.”

        “Yes?”

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

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

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

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

        Bokuto’s hand wrapped around your throat the next. 

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

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

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

        Stop, please. It hurts.

        Oh God, please let me go.

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

        Two knocks at the wooden door.

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

        “Am I interrupting something?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                ~~~

        “How’s your steak?”

        “It’s fine.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        It was a tad too raw.

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

        “Doesn’t everybody?”

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

        You almost choke on your drink.

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

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

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

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

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

        “They didn’t-

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

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

        “Do you care for me?”

        “Fuck you.”

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

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

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

        Nostrils flaring, you take another indignant sip of wine.

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

        “Please no.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

        “So?”

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

        “Why are you telling me this, Kuroo?”

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

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

        And then the bubble burst. 

        Burp.

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

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

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

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

                                ~~~

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

        Something was terribly wrong. 

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

        Or whatever was going to happen. 

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

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

        “We’re here.”

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

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

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

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

        What a delightful guy. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

        Well that didn’t last long. 

        And with that, you opened the door. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        Fuck that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        “Bo-”

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

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

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

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

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

        “I hate you.”

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You Accidentally Confess Over Text (Haikyuu!! Fake Texts)

(Bokuto and Akaashi Version)

A/N: I AM ALIVEEEE✨✨yalllll it’s been a fat minute, how’ve u been?? How’s school and all that Jazz? Mine is a goddamn nightmare, and its like even with the hybrid, I’m gettin claustrophobic🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ anyways, I had the day off and about five minutes to myself, so here’s a lil thing to “check in” I guess. Thanks for 2.1k guys, and enjoy!

akaashi cheater au :( with the song rose by jereena montemayor pls pls make it super angsty 🥺🥺

Rose of Thorns (Akaashi x Reader)

*GIF not mine*

Summary: Akaashi was much like a rose. He was beautiful, soft and enchanting. But he also had many undeniable thorns. (Based on “Rose” by Jereena Montemayor)

A/N: I’m really sorry I waited so long on this request!! I just haven’t been in the mood to write angst in a while, but I swear I’m working on it! Also, I should’ve focused on the cheating aspect in this fic, but eh. I tried. Mega angst, so watch out. Side note: good lordy that song put me in my feels GODDAMN! Hope you like it!

Word count: 1285

        You loved him.

        You loved him so much. 

        But you knew what was happening too. 

        He was drifting away from you, bit by bit. Every day, he seemed a little more out of it with you. A little less passionate with his words. A little less adoring with his eyes. 

        They were filled with more guilt than anything. 

        Every time you kissed him, told him you loved him, hugged him after a long day, his responses always seemed a bit slower than the time before. He was slipping through your fingertips day by day, but you didn’t want to lose him. 

        It started with a kiss, as it always does.

        Akaashi’s team won the game, and after lining up to shake the other team’s hand, Akaashi’s eyes skimmed the crowd. You were smiling and cheering and waving at him, but they didn’t reach you. 

        No, instead they stopped on another. She was beautiful too. Her hair looked softer than yours. Her legs were longer, more slim and toned. Her large eyes were enchanting as well, even you yourself could understand how one could get lost in them. 

        You didn’t know her name, all you knew was the pain that stabbed through your heart. Every beat seemed to drain you of life. 

        Oh.

        Then Akaashi’s eyes finally drifted to you in the crowd, and the blue orbs were pouring with guilt as you made your way down to him. 

        Like normal, you hugged him and smiled, muttering a congratulations. But it was all lifeless and soft. He knew you had seen it, and his face seemed to twitch nervously. 

        Akaashi was always composed and calm, so maybe that was how he recovered from the shock so quickly. His hands soon cupped your cheeks, and a gentle, loving smile soon encompassed his face, causing you to instinctively relax and return the gesture. 

        He leaned in and pressed his lips to yours. 

        Oh God. 

        It hurt so much to feel how little passion was in it. By definition, it was a kiss, but you knew it was so much more. It was a brush of lips, so light and compulsory, like an obligation to keep up a lie. 

        “I love you.” The words tickled your lips thanks to his proximity. His thumbs caressed the tips of your cheeks gently while he leaned his forehead against yours and stared into your doting gaze. 

        “I love you too.”

                                ~~~

        A rose sat on your desk in your room. Homework laid forgotten underneath it, and you hugged your knees to your chest and wept. 

        Your eyes hadn’t left the flower once. Like Akaashi, it was beautiful, gentle and soft. But thorns ran along the stem like vicious pricks of reality. 

        He was the one who had given it to you too. After all, it was Valentine’s Day. But where was he? 

        Doing homework, stuck at practice with Bokuto, spending time with his family. Any number of the excuses he had texted you in the past few days. 

        God, I love him so much.

        Of course you didn’t want to. Who wanted to be in love with a cheater?

        With an outstretched hand, you shakily picked up the rose, careful to avoid the thorns. One pricked you anyways, no matter how much you thought you avoided it, but you only whimpered at the pain. You didn’t drop the rose. 

        You held it closer to your face, finding small waves of comfort in its flowery scent. The rose was alluring, spirals of petals enticing you to come closer, to embrace the soft touch of each blood red petal. 

        But at the end of the day, it was just a rose. 

        Your phone buzzed, but it was just one of your friends in a group chat. No, nobody was talking to you personally. Your boyfriend was somewhere else, with only the physical, basic show of affection left in your hands to remind you of him. 

        The screen lit up your dim bedroom and stung your bloodshot eyes. And the background picture came clearer as the notification finally faded. 

        It was you and Akaashi. You were draped over his shoulders with a large smile on your face, beaming like the sun. His eyes were rolling at the dramatic act, but a hint of a grin was displayed through an upturned corner of the mouth. Adoring. That’s what he was. 

        Was. 

        Gulping, you grasped the phone in one hand and opened it, entering your photos. All of it was there. Pictures from the beginning of your relationship all the way to the end were in albums, dating back a year. 

        You clicked on the very first one that held him. 

        Akaashi was holding a sign, his cheeks burning bright red. One of his arms was draped around your shoulders, and your own were wrapped around his waist in a tight hug. His gaze was locked on you, but you were smiling brightly at the camera. He had asked you to prom, and you distantly remember your first dance. 

        “You look gorgeous.” 

        You hadn’t felt like you did until that moment. Until that beautiful man himself looked you in the eyes and truthfully told you how captivating you were. Nobody had ever told you that before….

        Pluck. 

        Tears trailed slowly down your cheeks as you slowly dropped the petal into the trash can beside you. Knees wobbling, you relocated to your bed and sat criss-crossed on the mattress. You set your phone in your lap and held the rose in your hands. 

        The bedroom was cold. You almost shivered, your tank top and sleeping shorts barely keeping you warm, but it almost didn’t bother you. At least, you weren’t distracted by it. 

        Your phone screen lit up your whole room with another picture as you swiped your finger along. 

        Akaashi was pecking your cheek while you hugged him tightly after winning a volleyball game. 

        Pluck.

        Akaashi was kissing you in the rain after your one month anniversary. A new necklace glittered around your neck, the one currently sitting at the bottom of your trash bin. 

        Pluck.

        Akaashi was trapping you tightly against his side, holding you under an umbrella and affectionately scolding you about not wearing warmer clothes. You were wearing his sweatshirt. The one that still sat in your closet, waiting to be washed even though you cherished the scent it held. 

        Pluck.

        Akaashi was staring at you in amazement as you stepped down the stairs in a floor length dress. Heels made your legs seem endless, and they only appeared every couple steps thanks to a sultry cut on one side of the skirt. “I don’t deserve you, angel” he had mumbled against your lips.

        Pluck.

        Akaashi.

        Pluck.

        Akaashi.

        Pluck. 

        Pluck. 

        Pluck.  

*Are you sure you want to delete these 105 photos? This action cannot be undone.*

*105 photos deleted.*

        Maroon petals littered your bed. You tossed the bare rose stem into the trash can, now only consisting of green thorns. 

        Your cheeks were damp and your eyes felt heavy and tired. 

        I loved him so much. 

        You only had one thing left to do. 

You: We need to talk. 

*Message sent*

uhh hi again 😅 im sorry for requesting again hdhd but is it ok to request another akaash papercrane au? where him and the reader are friends and akaashi believed that if he folds a thousand paper cranes the reader who is sick would get better but in the end when his wish came true his life was taken in exchange for his wish.

Paper Cranes (Akaashi x Reader) 

*GIF not mine*

Summary: A thousand paper cranes led to one wish. Or at least that’s what the legend said. Akaashi never wanted or even minded if it was true. At least, not until you came along.

A/N: I’m just out here wondering why y’all wanna be hurt. Like wtf. Anyways, this bitch angsty. Like I seriously hope y’all cry at this, bc boy did I want to. So like, pls feel free to tell me if you did cry, bc then I would feel accomplished. Aight, hope y’all enjoy!

Word count: 3725

        There was a… legend, of sorts. 

        If any one person could fold one thousand paper cranes, he or she would be granted a wish. 

        Akaashi had heard this story from his grandmother at a young age, and since then scoffed at the idea. What’s a wish gonna do? And why would he need one?

        He never truly believed in fate, destiny, or any other mystical mumbo jumbos. At least not until he met you. 

                                ~~~

        The swings are the loneliest place on the playground. Only one person can enjoy the ride at the time. If you have someone to push you, you only have a split second every time you swing back toward them to talk or laugh or enjoy each other’s companies. 

        Akaashi found himself there often. He was the quietest kid in his kindergarten class, and though his appearance did make him popular in crowds, he preferred the solitude of the swings. 

        The swings didn’t expect him to be funny. They didn’t expect him to be smart. They didn’t expect him to be perfect. 

        “Hey, can I swing with you?” 

        The swings didn’t- wait, what?

        Akaashi slowed his back-and-forth swaying, lowering his dusty tennis shoes to the bark of the ground to observe who had spoken. 

        It was a girl. A girl he had seen in his class often. The rays of the sun glimmered in her eyes, making them seem magical and kind. Her hands were folded behind her back shyly, and she scuffed the toe of her plastic sandal against her other heel while awaiting his answer. 

        Being confronted by his classmates was nothing new. All the time they came up to him and chattered like mindless lemmings. But Akaashi couldn’t help but gape at this girl in shock. 

        She was the first person to ask. 

        “S-sure.” 

        The young girl gave him a wide smile and crashed down into the swing beside his, already propelling herself to and fro with a kick of her feet. 

        A feeling awoke inside Akaashi in that moment. Competition. 

        Quickly, he bent and locked out his knees, trying to catch up to your pace though you were quite a bit ahead. You giggled and squealed when he swung ahead of you, and cheered victoriously when you blew past him. 

        Breathless. That’s how he felt. There was a glow in his chest, and suddenly he understood why so many other kids enjoyed being around their fellow classmates. 

        Having a friend who enjoyed the same things as him was fun. 

                                ~~~

        “YN!” Akaashi groaned, grimacing at the sight of you dancing victoriously above him. 

        “Look at all this money, Keiji!” You threw the Monopoly dollars in the air, waggling your hips and whooping. “How does it feel to SUCK?” 

        The black haired boy only folded his arms and pushed himself deeper amongst the blankets of the pillow fort. A pout carved onto his face when you began rubbing the fake bills against your cheeks. “Ahh, to be a millionaire. By the way, how’s your bankruptcy?” 

        “Shush, you,” he sulked, grabbing a stray pillow and tossing it at your head. You only dodged and laughed, crashing onto the floor beside him with a large oof. 

        “Ahh c’mon, you know you love me twerp,” you poked the side of his cheek as you laid on your back with a grin. 

        Shaking his head, Akaashi turned his face the other way and hid a small smile. “I can’t believe you were my first friend.”

        “Only ‘cause you sucked at swinging too.”

        “How does one suck at swinging?”

        “I don’t know! How do-”

        “Kids!” Akaashi’s mother interrupted, peeking her head into the fort with a quirk of her lips. “You better get to sleep. It’s almost ten.” 

        “Okay, Mom,” the boy nodded, discreetly jabbing your stomach as soon as she disappeared outside once more. 

        “OW!” you squealed, ruffling his hair in return. 

        The living room grew silent as you both settled in to sleep five minutes later. The excitement had calmed down, and now Akaashi was huddled in a blanket just a few inches away from your own. 

        His heart raced at the idea, and many thoughts flitted through his head. One being… 

        “Hey YN?” 

        You fake snored loudly and Akaashi scoffed, pulling a lock of your hair. 

        “Geez dude, why you always gotta hurt me?” You rolled over, incidentally getting even closer to your friend, and opened your eyes to face him. Akaashi was almost choking at the proximity. 

        With a purse of his lips, he lifted himself on one elbow and scratched the back of his neck. He avidly avoided your gaze as his cheeks tinged pink. “Sorry, I just….”

        You raised a brow. “Yeah…?”

        “We’re gonna stay friends, right? Even when we go to middle school? And even high school?” 

        Akaashi held his breath while you tapped your cheek thoughtfully. “Well, I was actually kinda hoping I could replace you with Godzilla once we got there, but if that doesn’t work out, then I guess so,” you shrugged. 

        He rolled his eyes and licked his lips. “Come on, I’m being serious.” 

        “I am too.”

        “Come on.”

        “All right, all right!” You lifted your hand out from under your blanket and poked him in the cheek once again, a new, nervous habit of yours. “Of course, stupid. We’re gonna be best friends forever. I promise.” 

        You held out your pinkie with a grin, and Akaashi stared at it hesitantly. 

        “Forever?” 

        You nodded, and he gave in, interlocking his last finger with your smaller one. 

        “Yeah, Keiji. Forever.”

                                ~~~

        Volleyball became a huge part of Akaashi’s life in middle school, and even on into high school. 

        “Hey, hey, hey Akaashi! Pass it to me!” 

        But not once did your friendship stray. 

        “It’s yours, Bokuto!”

        Every few seconds, he caught a glimpse of you in the stands. A large grin adorned your face, and you held a personalized sign just for him that you waved frantically any time he scored a point. 

        “GO AKAASHI!!!” Your voice, almost impeded by the overall clamor and volume of the gymnasium, was still fine-tuned in his ears. They perked at the cheer like the first melody of a bird on a bright morning. 

        A quirk of his lips accompanied the call, and he had to shake his head to stay focused on the game. 

        Block this guy’s spike.

        Send the set directly above the net so Bokuto can get a cross-court shot. 

        Where’s Konoha?

        I better send this one to-

        His never ending train of thoughts faltered for a second at the sound of a collective gasp. Nothing amazing had happened on the court, at least not from his point of view. So something must’ve happened in the crowd. 

        Hollers and cheers shifted to low, concerned murmurs. 

        The team on the other side of the net watched the audience in complete shock. 

        What is…

        Akaashi turned around with a crease in his brow and instinctively searched for you.

        You were gone. 

        Nostrils flaring, he slipped under the net to the other side of the court for a better vantage point. The sight shot his heart to pieces. 

        There, on the second level of the gym, collapsed against the plastic bleachers, was your unconscious form. 

                                ~~~

        The fluorescent lights on the ceiling of the hospital buzzed almost silently. And yet, for as long as Akaashi had been there, it was the only sound he could hear. 

        He stood outside your room like a guard dog, keeping his gaze locked on you at all times. 

        Through the glass windows of your room, he watched as your parents hugged you with tear-stained cheeks. You, on the other hand, were emotionless. Your eyes were unfocused, and you didn’t seem to be tuned into reality at the moment. 

        A half an hour passed. Your parents finally let him into the room, and he stepped in almost unwillingly. 

        “Mom, Dad, can… umm… can we have a moment alone?” 

        Your mom almost screeched in denial, but your father swiftly nodded and grabbed her hand, tugging her out of the room. “Of course, sweetie.”

        As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Akaashi gnawed on his bottom lip nervously. “So….”

         You seemed to snap out of it and turned to him with blank eyes. Your form was slumped back against the pillows of the hospital bed and you fiddled with the white cotton blanket. A thin, white nightgown covered your body, but it seemed to tremble every few seconds. Or maybe that was you. “Keiji.” 

        He took the cue and scurried to your bedside, grabbing your IV-plugged hand in his own. The pads of his fingers ran over your skin in a comforting manner, but he wasn’t exactly sure if it was helping any. “YN… what-”

        “The doctor said I have like a year.” You sounded so distant, locked away deep inside yourself. Almost confused at what was happening, but you also knew your fate. 

        Akaashi couldn’t breathe. His eyes watered and his brows furrowed and he almost grew angry at your dismissive state. But he couldn’t be mad at you. It wasn’t your fault. 

        “What,” he shakily whispered, whole body rigid, “YN, what happened?”

        “I don’t know,” your voice cracked, and suddenly the facade fell. Or maybe reality finally set in. “They said I’m sick or something and it’s incurable and I’m going to die! Oh God, I’m going to die, Keiji!” You wailed and bawled and cried as much as you could, and Akaashi let his tears flow too. 

        “I don’t wanna die!”

        Akaashi nodded, grimacing and clenching his eyes closed while he sat on your bed and hugged you. 

        “Please, I don’t wanna die!” 

        Your body convulsed in his grasp as you heaved out sobs, afraid of something you couldn’t fight. This was a battle no one could win. This was fate. 

        Akaashi cursed under his breath as he rocked you back and forth, running a hand through your tangled strands before whispering soft reassurances to your deaf ears. 

        You began to cough and hiccup, shoving your face deeper into his soaked shoulder. 

        Nothing could be said. Nothing could be done. 

        The room was tense, filled with utter, uncontrolled fear. 

        Nothing could stop this.

        “Please don’t let me die.” 

        Akaashi’s bloodshot eyes opened in the slightest as an idea hit him. He squeezed you tighter as your sobs slowed to whimpers, and shook his head. I won’t let that happen.

                                ~~~

        “Do you have an eight?”

        “Go fish.”

        “Fuck.”

        “Do you have a king?”

        “...No.”

        “YN.”

        “FINE!” You threw your cards down on the bed with a pout. Akaashi chuckled and gathered up the cards, giving you a smug glance. 

        “What is it you said to me when we were kids? ‘How does it feel to suck?’”

        You stuck out your tongue and batted his teasing hands away before folding your arms. “Shut up,” you muttered. 

        The hospital room was becoming more and more your own. Flowers decorated the windowsill, a couple books sat on the nightstand, and you even had a few folded cranes of Akaashi’s on your headboard. 

        Months had passed, nine to be specific, since you got the diagnosis. Time was running out. 

        “Well, YN, I brought your homework.” Akaashi dug around in his bag before pulling out a stack of assignments. A bright yellow sticky note sat on the top with your name scribbled haphazardly. 

        “You know, Keiji, it’s funny you think I’d actually spend my time doing that instead of, oh I don’t know,” you playfully shrugged, “having fun the rest of my life.” 

        Akaashi gulped but forced his smile to remain steady on his face. For you.

        “I think you should still do it, YN. It’ll keep you smart.” 

        “What smarts am I gonna need when I’m-” 

        “YN please.” Akaashi winced at your recent lax in self-respect. A muscle in his jaw irked at the thought, but his eyes stayed locked on the cranes just above your head. 

        You nodded and softened your gaze. “Sorry, Keiji.” You held out your hands and accepted the papers he handed you. “I’ll try my best on them.”

        “Thank you. And don’t forget to use my notes,” Akaashi added.

        “How could I,” you scoffed. “Half of ‘em are done in glitter pens.” The corner of Akaashi’s mouth quirked up at the thought. 

        “Only ‘cause I know you like them that way.” Akaashi leaned in to give you a hug, pressing a kiss to your hair that he knew you couldn’t feel. Your warmth, the warmth you filled his heart with, made him never want to leave. But he had to. 

        “All right, I have to go, but before I do,” Akaashi dug around in his bag for a second before locating his gift with a sparkle in his eyes. “Here.”

        A blue paper crane was set in your palm, and his fingers brushed yours before he pulled them away. Your body wiggled in happiness at the new addition. 

        “Yay! Another one! How about I call this one…” you trailed off, tapping your chin in thought. Then you pointed your finger in the air in glee. “Perry! What do you think, Keiji?” 

        You reached up and set the crane along with the others while Akaashi nodded in agreement. “It’s perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow, YN.” 

        Just as Akaashi stepped away, you grabbed his hand and tugged it to gain his attention once again. 

        “What’s wrong?” 

        You scrutinized his face with narrowed eyes, reaching your hand up and brushing your fingers just above his cheeks. “Keiji?”

        “Hmm?” His eyes were almost closed in bliss, enjoying every spark of exhilaration that came with your touch. He flinched when you patted his cheek roughly. 

        “Get some more sleep at night. You look like shit.” 

        Blue eyes flickering open, he covered your hand with his own and delivered a soft kiss to your palm. “Not in a million years.”

                                ~~~

        Everything around him was fuzzy and blurred. The room was so dim and warm. A wave of exhaustion hit him every two seconds, leaving his head reeling and his ears thumping. 

        And yet, he wouldn’t move. 

        No, not if he couldn’t help it. 

        Papercuts littered his fingers. Scraps and scraps of paper, all shapes, colors and sizes, laid out in front of him, along with one lone whiteboard and marker. 

        The sun was just beginning to rise outside his window, and birds began to stir in their nests. 

        Fuck, he was so tired. His body pleaded with him to close his eyes just once. 

        No. 

        Shuffling of parchment became his new white noise. The pads of his fingers were on fire with every fold and every crease. 

        Then he set the new crane behind him, uncapped the marker and drew a single tick mark. 

        “Eight-hundred and seventy-four,” he muttered with a sigh. 

        Another.

        He grabbed a new page with sore, pained arms, resisting the urge to yawn and starting anew. 

        Fold. Crease. Fold. Crease. Fold. 

        “Eight-hundred and seventy-five.”

                                ~~~

        “Ughhh yesss,” you moaned, licking the sweet stickiness off your fingers. “It’s been too long since I’ve had ice cream.” 

        Akaashi smiled at the sight. Your face had glowed with pure joy when he showed up with your favorite flavor, and you had deadpanned “I love you.”

        It was enough for him. He chuckled into his own bowl before swallowing another spoonful. “What, is the Jello not any good here?”

        You flipped him off and continued downing your cold treat. “Next time they try to force that gelatinous shit down my throat, I’m just gonna hop out the window.” 

        “From the fourth floor?”

        You shrugged. “Why not? I could make it! I’ve seen it in the movies, all you have to do is roll.” 

        Your dark haired friend scoffed at the thought. “Yes, please ‘roll.’ It will be much quicker travel than limping on two broken legs.” 

        You busted out laughing. “See? Now you get it!” Your face was frozen in pure joy as you held your ice cream. 

        This moment made it all worth it. You were beautiful. Completely happy and carefree for the first time in a year. Akaashi didn’t want you to worry anymore. 

        He would only hope that you could find someone to make you laugh like this again once he was gone. He didn’t want you to be alone like he had been before you. You were the light of his life. You made him discover a purpose for living, and you lead him through it. He would follow you to the ends of the Earth if need be. And now was the time to repay you.

        His bag was empty this visit aside from a single slip of paper. It was blue, your favorite color. “It reminds me of your eyes, which are really hot, by the way,” you had said.

        “I did my homework like you asked.” You nodded with complete self-assurance and even held up the assignment. “I might’ve gotten number three wrong though….”

        “That’s okay.” Akaashi set down his bowl and stood up, approaching your bedside with slow, purposeful steps. 

        You were breathtaking at this angle. The sun shined just barely through your room’s window, and lit up your entire face with a single ray. It emphasized the natural glow of life you already had. 

        Yeah, he could do this. For you, he would do anything. 

        When he stopped at your bedside, you shifted under your blankets until your legs hung off the side of the mattress. Completely facing him, you threw him a questioning glance. “What’s up?”

        “Can I kiss you?” 

        He had to at least try. If only once. 

        You stopped breathing and your heart stuttered in your chest. Akaashi could read it all over your flushed face that-- Thank God-- you felt the same way he did. 

        It was a mixture of euphoria and anxiousness that flooded his stomach when you nodded. A shy smile covered your face, and it grew larger the closer he leaned towards you. Then finally, your lips touched. 

        The kiss was soft and slow, with Akaashi’s hands landing on the bed around you to support himself. Your lips were plush and tasted like sugary sweetness, and he snatched up your chin the second you tried to pull away too soon. 

        This second kiss was more passionate, rushed and intoxicating. The fervor of it left you feeling light-headed and breathless. And loved. His lips smashed against your own in a desperation of showing how he felt. It was as if he was making up for lost time, or something opposite of that. 

        And then he pulled away, gasping for air and not regretting a thing. His hand slowly dropped from your chin and fell to your thigh, barely covered by the thin hospital gown. His fingertips, rougher than you remembered, gently massaged your skin, leaving you to sigh happily. 

        His forehead pressed against your own, and smiles were permanently etched on both your faces. 

        “I love you,” Akaashi finally whispered, eyes staring honestly into your own.

        “I love you too,” you pecked his lips once more and he returned it with ease. 

        You stayed like that for so long, just enjoying the feeling and proximity of one another. The air was clear. You loved each other. 

        But now, one of you had to let go.

        Akaashi pulled away slowly with one last peck. While you sat with affectionate eyes watching his every move, he dug in his bag and pulled out a slip of paper. 

        “You write me a letter or something?” you teased. 

        “This is better than any letter I could write you, love, trust me.” Akaashi threw you a soft smile before settling onto the bed beside you. 

        You watched in utter fascination as folded and pressed the paper with skilled fingers. 

        “Wow, Keiji, you’re so good at that!” You let a hand hover over his own and stop the process for a second. “How long have you been practicing?” 

        Akaashi froze in an instant, but quickly rolled his shoulders and relaxed his form, leaning himself closer to your presence. “Quite a while now, but I did it for you.” 

        You beamed at him, tears pricking your eyes. “Keiji….” With a small, disbelieving shake of your head, you pressed your lips to his own just one more time. This time as a thank you. 

        Then you urged him to continue with a slight wave of your hand. 

        And he did so. 

        Fold. Crease. Fold. Crease. Fold. 

        And at last, the final product. A single paper crane of gorgeous blue, just like his eyes. 

        “YN.”

        “Hmm?”

        Akaashi hands you the crane and stares deeply into your eyes. “I love you.” 

        “I love you too.” 

        “And I wish for your life to be spared. At the expense of my own.” 

        “What?” You giggle in confusion, growing more and more concerned as Akaashi’s eyes seem to flutter. 

        Then they close for one last time. 

        “Keiji?” 

        His body slumps back, falling like dead weight to the mattress of your hospital bed. 

        “Keiji?!”

        You were afraid. So afraid. 

        “Keiji, what did you do?” you mumble breathlessly, wide eyes locked on him. On his body. 

        “WHAT DID YOU DO?!” 

        Gut-wrenching sobs tore through your chest, leaving your whole form trembling. 

        “KEIJI!” Your blood-curdling screams led crowds of nurses to your room, but they could never pull you away. You, keeled over Akaashi’s lifeless form, refused to move even an inch. You hugged him close, wailing and wailing against his unmoving chest. Incoherent moans scratch your throat as you rock him back and forth, whispering I love yous one last time.

        The legend was uncomplicated, but so painfully real.

        A thousand paper cranes. One wish. 

        And Akaashi’s wish was simple. A life for a life. 

        Him. For you.

hi,,, do u still take requests? if so uhm :( can u write an akaashi x reader au based on burn fr0m hamilton?

Burned Promises (Akaashi x Reader)

*GIF not mine*

Summary: Every letter he wrote you was useless now. After he cheated, they were filled with  nothing but lies, and what was the point of keeping lies lying around? (Based on Hamilton song “Burn.”)

A/N: Requests are open :)! I’ve never watched Hamilton, so… let’s just hope this is what you wanted. BUT I DID MY RESEARCH. Now it’s not this whole Hamilton/Haikyuu rewrite, but I did take the gist of the song and write it for Akaashi, so I hope you like it! Enjoy!

Word count: 1217

        When you had first met Akaashi, he had enchanted you. The way he spoke so eloquently, how he held himself so purposefully. His looks had struck you first, with black locks tussled so perfectly atop his head and gunmetal blue eyes that struck your heart. 

       He had bewitched you. 

       Since the day you met, it appeared you had captured his attention as well. He wrote you letters, and much like the way he delivered his words by mouth, he delivered them through pen potently. 

       Every paper you received filled you with euphoria. Seeing your name scripted in personalized swirls of his hand lit your love aflame. But it was the sentences, the paragraphs he crafted so passionately that kept you entranced.

       “My angel, every second I spend away from you is a second of my life wasted.”

       You felt the same.

       “Unlike what others say, your love has strengthened me and filled me with purpose.”

       You felt the same.

       “My angel, we were meant to be. Every thought in my consciousness has been overtaken by the image of you.” You felt the same. “Bliss floods my heart when I receive mail graced with your devotion. I devour your every word like a man starved the longer we are apart. Please, my angel, send more to me. Each piece you send me fills the whole your parted presence has left. I am yours, and your cherishes will fuel me till the end of time.”

       You felt the same. Or apparently you felt some way. 

       In the streets of your own town, on some random day, you began to feel like an outcast. People observed you with pity and sorrow. 

       “Poor girl.” 

       “What a shame.”

       “No one deserves that.”

       What were they talking about?

       It didn’t take long for news to travel one step farther. Your friend enveloped you in a hug and rubbed your back soothingly after you had shown up on her doorstep in tears. 

       “I should have listened to you.” 

       She had warned you months ago to watch him, be careful around him. She had said that one day, he would hurt you, and she was right. 

       After months and months of letters exchanging affection and tenderness, Akaashi had broken your heart. He cheated with another woman and hadn’t even had the gall to tell you first. 

       No, you had to learn from others. People who barely even knew you told you that your relationship had fallen apart. 

                               ~~~

       That night, Akaashi slipped into the house with a grimace. In search of you, he followed the sounds of a crackling fire and entered the living room. You were seated with your back to him, facing the chimney with your knees on the hardwood floor. Your entire form slumped as you settled back on your heels. 

       He hesitated to enter, instead clenching his jaw and standing in the doorway. 

       “Angel…”

       “Don’t.”

       Your voice was quiet and scratchy as you spat the word. From what he could see, your hands were laid out in your lap, holding something. 

       The flickering flames were the only thing lighting the dark room, hissing and battling each other to grow stronger. Silence overlaid the tense atmosphere, and Akaashi found himself unable to breathe. His hands twitched by his side, the hands that had touched another woman. 

       He wanted to hold you, comfort you if possible. But that wasn’t going to happen any time soon. 

       You heaved a sigh and lifted your head, previously dropped low, and stared into the burning heat. With all the composure you could muster, you unlatched the fireplace door and pulled it open, letting your eyes water at the increased light. 

       And then you threw one in. His first letter. 

       Akaashi inhaled swiftly at the sight but he didn’t move a muscle. 

       He had meant every word he had written in those letters. Things had just… gotten messy and grown to be too much at one point. 

       At least, that’s the excuse he told you. 

       “I don’t care,” you muttered in response, observing another letter with a snarl before feeding it to the crackling flames. The parchment was engulfed in seconds, and every sentence that had ever made your heart twinge scorched up with a tsss.

       The pile of papers dwindled down to one, and you scanned it over for a split second. 

       “I will always be yours.”

       It charred into smoky flakes just as quickly as the others. 

       You wiped away a wave of tears and closed the door to the chimney before smoothing out the skirt of your nightgown. Then you rose to your feet and closed your eyes, taking one long, deep breath. 

       The peace didn’t last long.

       Your gaze flew open at the feeling of a hand settling on your shoulder. 

       “YN, I still love y-” 

       You threw off Akaashi’s grip and whipped around, giving him a fierce glare. 

       “I hope you burn in hell.” 

       His eyes dropped and his cheek twitched at the words. 

       After a few minutes, you could no longer stand the sight of him. Your heart ached to think that he could betray you in such a way. He said he was mine.

       You wished you could forget it all. Not only what he had done, but everything before. The first kisses, the first touches, the first anything.

       You wanted to forget the strong arms that had caressed you to sleep at night. You wanted to forget the long fingers that had combed through your hair. The soft smiles, only for you. The flicker in his eyes that spoke volumes. The tenderness of the lips that had kissed you, brushed over every inch of you. 

       Akaashi wasn’t yours anymore. And God how you wish that wasn’t true. 

       With a shake of your head, you made your way out of the living room, pausing only in the doorway to glance back at him.

       He stood with his head hanging low, but, as if he felt the weight of it, he looked up to meet your gaze. 

       His eyes, pools of deep indigo with the occasional fleck of cyan, stared at you deeply. They glimmered with hope. 

       You wouldn’t be so cruel as to feed it. 

       You turned away with a trembling frown and continued on your trek up the stairs. Footsteps attempted to follow you to the bedroom, but you threw a halting hand over your shoulder and shook your head. The strides slowed to a stop behind you, and you could swear you heard a silent whine. 

       He was broken over what had happened too. But that didn’t mean you forgave him. 

       You couldn’t face him as you said it, but one half of your bed would be empty for a while. 

       “Sleep on the couch for now, Keiji.” 

       God, I hope he burns.

Reborn (Bokuto/Akaashi x Reader) ~Chapter 5~

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

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

A/N: Bro. Bro. Bro. Okay, so y’all are either gonna love me or hate me for the end, but that’s okay. I’m really sorry I haven’t updated in a while, but I promise the story is gettin’ good! Once again, I hate to use this excuse, but life has gotten surprisingly hectic in the last week, so I hope you’ll excuse my lack of updating. Nonetheless, please enjoy!

Tag List: @burntcilantro​  @alloverbutterflies​  @translucentthoughts​  @zaejia​  @momothepeachgirl  @black-veil-chemicalz​  @miigoth​  @blxkstar​  @keigosbitch​  @actual-smol​  @rikorene​  @idiot-juice-enthusiast​  @cherriomilkmangos​  

Word count: 4364

        “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” 

        When you were younger, you used to play at your neighborhood park with another boy around your age. His name was Kenma, and he was one of your first friends. And right now, the man currently unlocking the cuffs around your wrists looked like his spitting image, just a decade older. 

        “Give us some privacy, Kenma.” Well damn.

        The blond man only nodded in acknowledgment and left the room. It looked a lot like your bedroom back at Akaashi and Bokuto’s house. There was a large bed up against one wall, and you currently sat on it while Kuroo pulled up an armchair in front of you. A chandelier hung from the high ceilings, and it buzzed with artificial light. The only art in the room was ancient and weathered, depicting either roses or oceanic views among the cream-colored walls. The remaining furniture was a simple, carved wooden closet across from the bathroom’s entrance, and a long, velvet sofa opposite a mounted television. 

        The only difference was the atmosphere. It wasn’t friendly or loving, no matter how many times Kuroo smiled reassuringly at you. At a certain point, you lost your patience. 

        “Go to college, they said,” you lean back on your hands and sneer at the man. “You’ll be fine, they said. You won’t get kidnapped twice in the same fucking year, they said!”

        “Language.”

        “ENGLISH!” 

        Kuroo chuckled, less than impressed with your manic temper. You could tell he wanted to sit closer to you, but he respected your space. Every few seconds, his eyes would fall to the empty space on the mattress next to you, but they would flick back up to yours just as fast. His arms stayed glued to those of his chair to keep him in place. 

        “You need to calm down.”

        “I don’t need to do shit,” you snarled. “Once again, I’m locked up in another…” you waved your arms around wildly, “ancient, supernatural freak’s mansion, which I don’t even know how you guys can even afford this shit!” 

        The black-haired man raised his brow and pressed himself deeper into his seat. “I was the king of an entire kingdom, you know.” 

        “Yeah, like a thousand years ago,” you nodded, lip curled back in vexation. “What, did you pay with doubloons, or with gold coins?” 

        He only snickers and shakes his head, leaning forward while you tilt back on your palms. Your legs still hang off the edge of the bed, though, and Kuroo seems about two seconds away from fondling your kneecaps. “Kitten, you don’t have to be afraid of me-”

        “Thanks, kidnapper.”

        “-because I won’t treat you like they did.” Your nostrils flare at this. He was talking about Bokuto and Akaashi; he had to be…. 

        Were they okay?

        “Are they…” you trail off and clear your throat. The skin of your thighs seemed very interesting at the moment. “... Did you hurt them?”

        “They don’t matter right now, Kitten.” 

        “Of course they do!” You rear back and narrow your eyes at him in an instant. “What did you do to them?!”

        “They abducted you and held you in a cage for months, YN!” Kuroo finally snaps, his teeth baring with his desperate tone. “I won’t treat you like they did.” Your speed didn’t matter. He still managed to snatch your hands in his and hold them in a death grip. Thumbs ran over your knuckles in what was hoped to be comforting, but actually ran a chill up your spine. “You’re not some prisoner to me.”

        His touch, it felt so wrong. Unlike the wizard, it wasn’t gentle and calming. Unlike the vampire, it wasn’t adoring and playful. It was… you didn’t know the word, but you did know it was just plain wrong. But his words… were they right? You mulled them over for a minute, but a million memories, emotions, feelings, they all crashed against his one argument in an overpowering wave. 

        “No,” you drop your face and set your jaw. “I wasn’t a prisoner to them.” 

        “Months, YN,” Kuroo sighs, “you sat in a cell for months.”

        “They had to!” 

        “Why?” His voice lowers and he gazes deep into your eyes. The intensity makes you shift and squeeze his hands subconsciously. 

        “I-I don’t-” you stutter for an answer, but come up empty. You’re at a loss. Lower lip trembling, your eyes dart around the room as you scour your brain for anything. They said they loved you. Cared for you. Would never hurt you. 

        So then why was I trapped in a cell like that? 

        Your eyelids lowered in defeat, and you let out a shaky sigh. 

        Kuroo was a smart man. He knew when a battle was won. 

        A small shuffle signals his movement, and the comforter under you dips with the weight of a second presence. Only one of your hands has been let go; the other has intertwined with his and adjusted to his change in position. You were cold and abandoned; your thoughts left you feeling cheated. 

        Why did they hold me in a cell like that? You were only a young college student. You couldn’t have harmed them. 

        But they were so kind yesterday! So loving and wonderful and-and….

        They were your soulmates. The mark on your wrist, on the wrist Kuroo brushed against, told you so. Every mental image of them left you feeling fuzzy and warm. 

        But thinking about how they had held you like that? They shouldn’t have treated me like that. If they loved me, that wouldn’t have treated me like that. Like an-

        “Like an animal.” Kuroo’s smug voice interrupts your downward spiral, but when he turns to face you, he is the spitting image of utter sincerity. A large palm cups your cheek, and in your scrambled state, you lean into it, yearning for some form of comfort. No matter how wrong it felt. 

        “YN,” he continues, “I saved you. You needed to be saved from them.” 

        No I didn’t. They were so kind and gentle with me. They never tried to hurt me on purpose, or lie to me. Everything they did, they did so they could keep me around. Because they-

        “I love you.” Kuroo himself seems surprised at the admission, but he gulps and keeps going. “I have loved you for centuries, and I would do anything to keep you safe.” His fingertips run along the side of your face and push a strand of hair behind your ear. His hazel orbs, round ponds akin to pure gold, are so enchanting. You find yourself lost, willingly. Because losing yourself in someone else felt a lot better than crumpling deep inside on your own, wondering if you ever should have fallen in love with them. 

        Was that how fragile the love between the three of you was? So easily undermined by a black cat with an arrogant smile? Of course not. 

        “No.” Your heart swelled up to your throat, and your eyes slipped down to the mark. The spiral of three arms. And not a single one of them were disconnected. The bond between you and the others was something that should never be underestimated. Akaashi had told you that. 

        “Excuse me?” Kuroo draws back, his hand hovering over your flushed cheek with surprise. 

        They loved you too. They would do anything to keep you safe too. You just had to trust them. Bokuto had told you that. 

        “They’re here,” you hissed, narrowing your eyes. “Bring me to them.”

        The cat’s gaze hardens, and the proud look falls from his face. “YN, I’ll let you leave the house. I won’t treat you like an animal. I won’t lock you away!” 

        “I don’t care!” you shout, snapping up on your feet and towering over him. “Show me where they are!”

        “No!”         “Why not?!”

        “Because you don’t need to see them!” He rises as well, and his more intimidating presence almost makes you falter. 

        Almost. Your gut tells you to not back down. To fight. 

        To find them.

        “Yes I do, Kuroo,” you snarl, standing your ground when he stomps a foot closer. Hot breaths puff against your face angrily, and you flare your nostrils in defense. 

        “Let them go, YN!”

        “No!”

        “Just give up on them!”

        “Never! Bring me to them!”

        The banter continues for a while. You won’t take no for an answer, and neither will he. Your face grows redder and redder as time passes, and Kuroo’s pupils slim into feline-like slivers. 

        Then finally, his patience slips. With four swift strides on his long legs, he makes his way to your bedroom exit, whipping open the door. 

        In one last turn of his head, he mutters three words that break your heart. 

        “I killed them.” 

                                ~~~

        Bokuto is a fighter. He stays headstrong in his ways, loves to the max, and never falters in his beliefs. You could always depend on him to cheer you up, or encourage you. On days where you felt down, he would always sit by your side on the sofa and watch a sappy sitcom with you. He is your sun.

        Or he was.

        Akaashi was almost the polar opposite. While he wasn’t the best to confide in for comfort, he was always willing to help. The wizard was selfless, almost like a mother. If you wanted to learn how to cook, he would oversee every move you made and provide small tips. He kept you safe when you were less than careful, and showed his love more through actions rather than words. He is your rock. 

        Or he was. 

        You didn’t truly know how much time had passed since Kuroo had broken the news. Much like when you had first met your soulmates, you felt trapped. The bed-headed man had given you free reign to the world. Your door was unlocked, and you could leave at any moment. But you didn’t. 

        No, instead you wallowed in self pity. What could have been would now never be. You didn’t want to believe it. Your gut told you so. But the fact was that Kuroo had spat those words with complete and utter hatred. Hatred… and honesty. An angry man will say anything to feel better about himself, but the next day, when Kuroo re-entered your room, he spoke a truth you couldn’t deny. 

        “What purpose would I have for keeping them alive?”

        Those words struck your heart worse than the first time you had to face his facts. Before, you could hold onto the small sliver of hope you had. He could’ve been lying through the pain. 

        But now? Now, there was no hope. 

        Poison coated your tongue. You didn’t want to eat, no matter how much your stomach begged. A constant ache settled in your chest. You didn’t know how to solve it, and you didn’t know how to move past it. Could you?

        Every hour that passed, you huddled deeper into your cocoon of self-deprecation. You shouldn’t have doubted them before. You should have loved them better before you lost them. You should have-

        “All right, YN. It’s time to stop moping.” Your door slammed open, and surprise surprise, in walked Kuroo. Under one arm, he lugged a pile of clothes. In the other, he balanced a tray of pancakes and other morning delicacies. The meal, no matter how ordinary, still made your eyes water.

        He plops the food right down on your lap just as you peek out and hiss, “You have no right to tell me what to do.” 

        “Don’t test me, Kitten.” A playful glint his eyes previously held darkens. The outfit in his grasp also falls onto the bed, directly on your toes. It’s the same kind of clothing you would wear to your college, scrambling around campus and fumbling with your homework. 

        That felt like so long ago. You had almost forgotten you lived a normal life. You used to be human. 

        “We’re going back to school!” The words leave you frozen in shock, and you snap your head up to face him.

        “What?! Why?!” Kuroo sniggers and pats the top of your head patronizingly.

        “You’ve missed so many assignments, Kitten. But don’t worry, I’ll catch you up. I was very attentive while you were away.”

                                ~~~

        It’s harsh to be thrown back into the real world after feeling like your own has broken apart. Nobody around you knew what you had been through. They didn’t know you’d loved. They didn’t know you’d lost. All they knew was that you were back and alive. 

        Your old, fellow students surround you like fans with a backstage pass. Someone even snapped a photo of you. 

        Well, of you and Kuroo. He hadn’t left your side once since popping into your “new” bedroom approximately forty minutes ago. You had always assumed both your soulmates and Kuroo had their mansions (rich bastards) miles and miles away from Tokyo, when in fact it was only about a ten-minute drive. They didn’t seem to be too worried about being found by the authorities any time soon. 

        Or, at least Kuroo didn’t. 

        The sheer volume of people around you was intimidating, and you couldn’t help but default into Kuroo’s form. Claustrophobia. Wonderful, just another perk from your kidnappings you couldn’t wait to test out in society. 

        So far, it was a trainwreck. 

        Your heart hadn’t stopped hurting, but the heat gathering around you made its pace quicken. Every chatter among the crowd pecked your ears, and you struggled to contain the occasional whimper. 

        A few faces you recognized among the group, but none that seemed to care about your well being. Instead, they were all excited. 

        “Where have you been?”

        “How was your vacation?”

        “Did you really leave with Mr. Akaashi and return with Kuroo? Ugh, slut.”

        The name leaves your mind in shambles. Not once had you heard it aloud since… well, you didn’t really know. But as soon as it fell from that girl’s… Sakura’s lips, you couldn’t think straight. 

        With one arm wound through Kuroo’s, you gripped his bicep harshly in warning. Get me out of here, your eyes pleaded. The black-haired man dropped his attention to you and nodded in understanding. 

        Sadly, his definition of escape was much different from yours. While you would’ve preferred his house or, if you could be picky, Paris, Kuroo was much more realistic. “Escape” was up twenty in-classroom steps and placed in your old seats. 

        As you settled down behind the desks, the cat stayed by your side, constantly brushing up against you when given the chance. You could breathe up here, but barely. The fluorescent lights buzzing in the ceiling grew less and less blurry, so you counted it as a small win for now. 

        In your seat, you laid out all the necessary tools for learning. Pencils, pens, scratch paper and a notebook, all neatly organized and generously provided by your new kidnapper haphazardly in a backpack just before stepping into the classroom. Their perfect placements felt like the only thing you could control right now, so you moved them around with trembling hands. 

        A smooth tune whistled behind you while you fondled your number two pencils. Then a heavy weight fell on your shoulders. Literally, of course. Kuroo’s hand massaged the skin of your upper arm, thankfully protected by thick sweatshirt material, and he grinned when you threw him a glare.

        “Don’t worry, darling, I’ll keep you safe.” 

        An involuntary gasp slips between your lips. No. No! How fucking dare he?! Without a second thought, you grab his bicep and rip his arm away from you, leaving a trail of red lines in your nails’ wakes. 

        “Don’t call me that.” All emotion has slipped from your face, but the tone in your voice speaks volumes. It’s hard and stiff and angry and loud. And he had no right to throw that shit in your face. 

        Your pupils hesitantly glance back at the outburst, but Kuroo is unfazed. His eyes flicker with something, but it’s gone before you can gather the will to identify it. 

        The classroom door opens and closes, and you suck in a breath at Akaashi’s substitute. He’s about ninety years young, wearing corduroy pants attached to suspenders that strap him into his crisp, button-down shirt. There’s not a wrinkle in sight, but every two minutes he pushes up his glasses and smacks his lips together. 

        “I think he’s just trying to keep in his dentures,” Kuroo whispers in your ear. 

        The old you would have snickered, maybe even added to it. You still could. After all, his lenses were thicker than you would ever be. But you couldn’t muster the energy to speak. 

        Because you just… you couldn’t stop picturing him up there. Back when you were just his student. You could’ve noticed his lasting glances, his gaze staying on you for just a second too long. The quirk of his lips anytime you finally found the courage to raise your hand, to answer his question. 

        Suddenly, your chair grows ten times stiffer. You can’t stop licking your cracked lips with your dry tongue. Your fists curl and uncurl against your tense thighs, and your knees bounce against the desktop. 

        It’s so hot in here. You feel like you’re on fire, but you don’t want to try and get out of the sweatshirt. You want to stay hidden. 

        If they were here, they would know what was happening. They would sense it, and they would help me.

        But they could never be there anymore. 

        Your breathing quickens and shakes. Sweat dribbles down your temple as an ache focuses directly behind your forehead. 

        Bokuto would notice right away, and give me a comforting hug. Akaashi would hold my hand, and not hesitate to take me home. 

        But they couldn’t save you right now. They were gone. 

        Oh God.

        Oh God.

        They’re gone. 

        You can feel sweat festering everywhere. Even your palms clam up enough to secrete liquid. Is that even normal?

        Kuroo relaxes in the seat next to you. The occasional pink bubble appears between his lips and pops noisily before chomping back into his mouth. His eyes are dull and bored as he zones out. 

        Your own are locked on the front of the classroom, twitching and darting around. 

        He should be up there. They should be by my side. But they aren’t. They’re gone. 

        You can’t stand it. You needed to get out of there. In a dead panic, you snatch up all the utensils on your desk, scaring the life out of the cat beside you. The scrambling is quiet enough to leave the rest of the students undisturbed, but Kuroo snaps straight up and hovers his hands over your frantic arms. 

        “Are you okay?”

        Your cheeks feel green, and your throat seizes up. After everything seems to be carelessly crammed into the small backpack, you finally take one deep breath and zip it closed. Then you turn to face him with begging eyes. “Please take me home.”

        You weren’t prepared for this. You weren’t ready to be shoved back into the outside world. Just five days ago, you were happy and in love. And now, you were broken and in pain. 

        Kuroo complies with ease, his eyes glowing in delight. “Anything for you.”

        His response accompanies a smirk, something you would never hope to see in your state. It’s devious and cruel, and you feel tortured like a plaything. The words themselves break your heart. You wished they were in another voice, falling from another’s lips. 

        But they weren’t.

                                ~~~

        Kuroo has no chance to get another word in as you aimlessly sprint to your room. You just barely remember your way back from this morning, but after twenty minutes of a headless chicken imitation, you finally find your way. 

        The room is colder and emptier than you remember somehow, and its unfamiliarity breaks your walls. Tears trail down your cheeks as the door clicks to a close behind you. With stumbling footsteps, you kick off your tennis shoes and crawl into the bed, falling into a restless sleep.

        At some point in your forced nap, Kuroo tries to shake you awake, but you clench your eyes shut and bite your lip, feigning unconsciousness. After a few more pointless attempts, he leaves and allows you some alone time with a sigh, but not before a clang signals he’s left you something on your coffee table. You ignore it.

        After lying motionless for hours on your colder mattress, you give up on your dreamless sleep. By now, the sky outside your window is pitch black and sprinkled with minuscule circles of pure white. Your cheeks are stiff and the corners of your eyes are crusty from your breakdown. 

        Hesitantly, you wipe the remnants of sleep away from your eyes before worming your way out of bed. Your muscles are sore, and your clothing feels disgusting, doused in dried sweat. On wobbling knees, you clamber off the mattress and scuff your feet against the floor until you find it. Your toes make contact with a light pile of silk, and in a last ditch effort to keep them alive, you change back into Akaashi and Bokuto’s provided nightgown. 

        A wave of calm washes over you, its familiarity leaving you comforted and reassured. You squint your eyes and allow them to adjust to the darkness of your room. There, on the coffee table, is what you assume was Kuroo’s gift. Dinner. 

        A plate with cold, steamed broccoli and a grilled cheese sandwich. 

        “Wow, they really go all out here,” you mumble bitterly. Slumping onto the carpeted floor, your thighs raise goosebumps at the shift in temperature as you pick through your meal, chewing and swallowing thoughtfully. 

        You seem to have lost all self-control at this point. Not even two seconds later, tears cloud your eyes. You couldn’t help but think about them. 

        I wonder if they’re-

        Your heart thumps in your chest harshly, startling you. It speeds up for no apparent reason, even as you search through the dark for anything that might have scared, well, your body. 

        Then it hits you. This must be what happens when soulmates die. 

        The thought hammers in the final nail in your coffin of grief. More tears, just when you thought you ran out, trace paths of anguish down your face. Then your heart thumps again, almost shifting your whole weight forward. 

        What the hell?

        The pumps grow harder and harder, each more powerful than the last as you jolt forward, dropping your food and pushing up to your feet. 

        Your heart. It’s pleading with you to move. To do something.

        All you can do is follow as it smacks frantically against your rib cage. It doesn’t hurt, but as you move in the direction of your door, a rush of fuzzy feelings flow through your body in response. 

        When you place your hand on the knob, it beats encouragingly, directing you out into the silent hall. Not a sound can be heard as you play a game of hot and cold with your body. There is no drawback, only rewards in the form of pure jubilation setting your body aflame. Tiptoeing down the hall, you follow the excitement, padding your bare feet against the hardwood floor as softly and swiftly as you can. 

        You hold your breath and let it out in small streams through your stuffy nostrils, knowing that even the smallest noise could awaken the hypersensitive werecats around you. The halls are much more bare than Akaashi and Bokuto’s, and you're thankful that there are no vases to stub your toe against this round.

        The irregular bursts of elation lead you down a banister of marble stairs, past the large front entrance, and through a dark, forgotten hallway you had never seen before on your two adventures throughout Kuroo’s home. There is only one door, and it’s at the immediate end of the dusty corridor. While gnawing on your bottom lip, you creep closer and closer, finally reaching it with a relieved sigh as one large wave of endorphins hits you like a freight train. 

        In here.

        Past the rusty door is another staircase, leading deep into the basement of the mansion. The walls are covered in unidentifiable gunk, and you try not to gag as a slimy feeling brushes your forearm on the railing. The smell is less than desirable, almost akin to rotting meat, but your heart doesn’t want you to stop anytime soon. Finally, finally, you come to one final door at the bottom of the stairs. 

        Pushing past its splintered wood, you slip inside and involuntarily smile as a wave of pure joy wracks through your body. The room is large and freezing cold, with concrete floors and red brick walls. The light of the moon shines through a single window directly across from you, split in half by a row of metal bars. 

        There’s two cells, empty only for two hunched over forms. One breathes out visible clouds of air while leaning against the wall, asleep on the musty floor. In the other cell, a body with wild hair is curled into a ball, hugging its stomach and letting out the occasional whimper. The sight was the definition of miserable, but your heart loves it nonetheless. It rewards you for winning the treasure hunt with one heavy surge of euphoria, leaving you breathless and holding back a squeal. 

       Bokuto and Akaashi. They were alive.

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Reborn (Bokuto/Akaashi x Reader) ~Chapter 4~

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

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

A/N: Holy shit, y’all, I am so sorry for the inactivity, but here’s one mega-long ass chapter to make up for it. Life has been hectic lately, so I hope you’ll forgive my slacking. I seriously hope you guys enjoy this one, though!

Tag List: @burntcilantro​  @alloverbutterflies​  @translucentthoughts​  @zaejia​  @momothepeachgirl  @black-veil-chemicalz​  @miigoth​  @blxkstar​  @keigosbitch​  @actual-smol​  @rikorene​  @idiot-juice-enthusiast​  

Word count: 8233

        “YN GUESS WHAT!”

        Bokuto was… nice. Most days, he was a little too energetic for your taste, but you were slowly growing used to his wild actions. Everything he did, he did with a smile, and you liked that about him. Except he had a habit of barging in on you at the most unsavory times and proceeding to act willfully ignorant to his mistake. Exhibit A: you were in the shower.

        “GET THE HELL OUT BOKUTO!”

        “But YN-”

        “GET OUT!”

                                ~~~

        Lately, your feelings for the boys have grown. Although you still had your doubts, you still accepted any offer of affection they had. Akaashi was more of the discrete type, with his nightly cuddles and his small smiles. He even introduced you to the rose garden outside your balcony, and helped you in watering them any chance he could. 

        Bokuto, on the other hand, was much more erratic. Instead of peaceful midnight snuggles, the vampire chose to mount you in your sleep and shout in your ear until you woke up. He was like a petulant child who needed constant attention, but after months of being trapped in the mansion with only him and his wizard companion, you gave into every whine and beg he shrieked. If he wanted to watch the sun rise, you dragged your butt out of bed and sat on the roof of the house with him. If he wanted to bake a five-layer cake at the asscrack of dawn, you stood alongside him in the kitchen and only helped when he would accidentally splatter ingredients on the walls. Every time Bokuto did anything around the house and wanted you there, you would be, but only because he was whiny. Oh, and also you’ve been bored out of your mind.

        Today seemed to be your lucky day, though. 

        “F-U-N! FUNLAND!” the vampire sang ear-splittingly, pumping his hands in and out against his chest with every beat. 

        “F-U-N LAND! FUNLAND!” you chanted with him, mocking his moves and wiggling your hips excitedly. Akaashi had the expression no different than that of a worn-out parent as he stood between the two of you, occasionally getting hip-checked and booty-bumped.

        Where were you, you ask? Oh, only the happiest place on Earth!... Or is that copyrighted? Whatever, who cares?!

        After however many months of being trapped in that joy-sucking mansion, Bokuto and Akaashi finally let you outside, and it was to go to the local amusement park. There had been many ads on TV displaying just how magical the park was, but you never got to see it with your very own eyes until right now. Also, their theme song was catchy. 

        “FUN… LAND!” you and Bokuto finished on a high note, smacking your hands together in a high ten with smiles on par with the sun. People in the line behind you groaned at your fiftieth cover of the tune, bitterly groaning and grumbling in the day’s humidity. 

        While you and your singalong companion bounced on the tips of your toes at the front of the hoard, Akaashi handed the workers your tickets before leading the way into…

        “FUNLAND!” You two screeched once more, snapping your mouths shut after Akaashi served you the dirtiest look. 

        People were right to complain. The heat from the sun was palpable enough to dampen your skin in seconds. Sunburns were expected, and a little looked forward to, but the wizard, ever the careful parent, doused both you and the vampire in gallons of sunscreen. 

        “Shouldn’t you die under the sun?” you had asked Bokuto this morning.

        “No, Akaashi cast a spell on me years ago. No setting on fire for this vampire!” he had replied, snatching his friend up in a hug.

        All around the park, people ambled about like ants, chattering with each other and touring the park. Screams were audible from the many roller coasters and other fun rides around you, though it was difficult to tell if it was from fear or joy. A small breeze blew past every few seconds, just barely ruffling the bottom of your flowing, blue sundress and cooling your bare legs. You sniffed the air greedily, enjoying the scent of sugary, fried delicacies and coconut sunblock. 

        Most others, much like your two companions, wore shorts and t-shirts, smiling under sunglasses and making their way to the many attractions offered. Akaashi glanced around at them before making his way to a thick post holding maps and other advertisements for the park. You and Bokuto trailed behind him, barely containing your excitement as your eyes greedily ate up the scene before you both.

        “All right, you two,” Akaashi spoke up, scrutinizing the map from behind his shaded lenses, “where do you wanna go first?”

        “Bumper cars!” you piped up first, laughing victoriously at Bokuto’s disappointed huff. 

        “Are you sure?” the wizard asked.

        “No!” Bokuto whined. “We should do-”

        “Bumper cars it is!” You grab both their hands swiftly and drag them through the crowds, pushing past the occasional crying baby and scuffing your sandals against the paved ground. 

        When you spotted your game of choice, you cheered in delight. 

        “Whoo!” You made your way up to the short line, hauling them both in behind you. Fake horns honked and tiny tires squealed against the floor as you shifted on your feet. Seconds later, the round in front of you finished and you bounced on your feet, quickly pulling both men forward behind you.

        “Sorry, looks like one of you will have to wait till next round.” The teenaged operator forced on a sympathetic smile and fiddled with his cotton, park-themed t-shirt while you groaned in despair. 

        “Oh c’mon,” you turned around to face the boys with a pout and Bokuto shared your look. Akaashi, on the other hand, shrugged and stepped under the tied rope representing the line area. 

        “You two go ahead, I’ll watch from over here,” he gestured to the metal gates surrounding the court and folded his arms against it, leaning leisurely while nodding at the two of you to go ahead. With a swift turn to your vampiric friend, you narrowed your eyes and slowly stepped backwards onto the battlefield. 

        “It’s on,” you smirked, rolling your shoulders and cracking your knuckles.

        “Oh, it is so on!” Bokuto yelped, and with that you both sprinted to your cars, him taking a yellow one and you taking a green. 

        “Thank you for deciding to play Funland’s Wonderful Bumper Cars today,” the operator droned monotonously. “Please keep your hands and feet inside your cars at all times. Please don’t exceed the marked speed on the vehicles. Please don’t-” 

        “Game on, you owl-haired freak!”

        “You’re goin’ down, darling!”

        And with that, the game began. You screamed out a “charge” and pressed your gas all the way down to the floor, making a beeline for Bokuto. He does the same, scrunching up his face and yelling aloud as well while speeding up towards you. 

        Crash!

        You and Bokuto collide and rebound off each other, both whipping back and forth in your seats from the force. The contact causes you to ram into the other cars, and the children around you scream in terror at your viciousness behind the wheel. 

        You circle your enemy rapidly, making yourself dizzy as you spin your wheel around the court. 

        “Come at me, wuss!” you taunt, sticking out your tongue at the vampire. He takes the bait and floors it, taking an angle to intercept you at the perfect point in your circle. You react just in time pressing on the brakes fast enough to stop just before he hits you and cackling mischievously as Bokuto slams harshly into the wall, flying forward and ramming his gut into his wheel. 

        “This isn’t over, YN!” he groans, holding his stomach while you slowly push your car into him, cursed with the hindrance of not being able to reverse. 

        “Yeah, yeah.” You ruffle your hand in his hair as your car squeals against his, slowly leaving friction marks against the side of his own vehicle. You whip your wheel around in an instant, targeting other children while Bokuto is trapped against the wall. While you savagely bump against the others in the court, you occasionally catch a glimpse of Akaashi, who watches you with bright, humorous eyes behind the fence. 

        You give him a small wave before releasing another ferocious war cry, directing your car towards Bokuto and bashing into him once again just after he freed himself.

        “Why?!” he screeches, bouncing off the wall and jolting in his chair. 

        “You can never beat me!” you grin, revving up your imaginary engine and spinning to face him again. You prepare to give one final blow, pushing past terrorized children who hurriedly drive out of your way before taking aim. 

        “It was nice knowing you, Bokuto!”

        “YN, don’t do this!” he pleads. Akaashi stands just behind him and quirks his lips at the sight. 

        “I’LL SEE YOU IN HELL!” You press your gas all the way down to the floor and tense your body for the crash, but the cheap plastic only bumbles along the court, leaving you hunched over your steering wheel and pursing your lips in confusion. You slowly bump into Bokuto with a thump before casually rolling to a stop just a few inches away.

        “You two!” The operator points an accusing finger at you and your opponent. “Get out right now! You’re scaring the other riders!” 

        The “other riders” are a fearsome age of six through nine, and every one of them gives you a pouty glare as you exit your bumper cars. 

        “Sorry,” you and Bokuto mumble to the worker, stepping out of the gate that he slams to a close behind you. 

        While you walk side-by-side away from the warzone, Akaashi walks over to greet you with a hand over his mouth, clearly disguising a smug grin. 

        “Nice job, you two. You managed to get kicked out of a ride in the first twenty minutes.” 

        “Whatever, let’s just go play mini golf now.” Bokuto trudges over to the highlighted sign, you follow closely behind and Akaashi becomes the smug caboose to your pain train.

        “I’m definitely gonna kick your ass this time,” you mutter under your breath, just loud enough for the vampire to hear. 

        “Oh yeah?” You can hear the smile return to his voice. “It’s on, darling.” In a mad dash, you both leave Akaashi in the dust once again while racing towards the air conditioned building. 

                                ~~~

        After ten holes and ten simultaneous losses, Bokuto barely has enough dignity to pout. While his hair lights the way for you all in the black-lighted room, you victory dance your way to the final course. 

        Akaashi goes first, and like all the rounds before, he gets a hole in one. He’s been claiming it’s skill, but you know for sure he’s been using some good-old wizardy to kick both your asses. Maybe he was still a little salty about not being able to play bumper cars. 

        Bokuto goes next, and whimpers when his neon pink ball bounces off the windmill, getting knocked off into the flowing moat never to be seen again. 

        You finish last, winding up barely enough to tap the ball through, taking a deep breath and waiting for the perfect moment. Suddenly, a presence creeps up behind you.

        “My love, you’re aiming way too hard,” Akaashi whispers, pressing his solid chest to your back. His arms wind around your rigid form and his hands encompass yours on the measly golf club, carefully guiding you back and then forward again, tapping the ball just perfectly enough that you, much like him, get a hole in one.

        “It’s just mini golf,” Bokuto grumbles from the other side of the course. 

        “Keep telling yourself that.” Akaashi pulls away and you finally suck in some much-needed oxygen, standing up straight and gripping the club tightly. 

        “AKAASHI!” They both argue back and forth while leaving you behind with a muddled mind. Your skin skill tingles from his touch, but you swiftly catch up to them before your thoughts run rampant. 

        The humidity is the first difference you notice when you exit the small building. The sharp contrast between the previous dark room and the burning sun pains your irises, and Akaashi lowers his sunglasses while pulling out his map. 

        “Okay, you two. What’s next?” he asks, raising his voice over the loud babbling of those around your tiny group. 

        “Roller coaster!” Bokuto lifts his hand up over his eyes and gawks at the elaborate ride before him. It’s called Big Bertha, and you don’t even want to think about getting on it. It lives up to its name, with about eight loopty-loops and even more tracks that spin you upside down, then rightside up in stomach churning-intervals. The typical screams and squeals you hear make you gulp and flare your nostrils. Even its height is making you dizzy. 

        “Sounds good, let’s do it.” Before you even have a chance to veto their idea, they’re already dragging you to the line, one of their hands on each of your wrists. Your voice is caught in your drying throat while you stare down the four-seated death sentence.

        In what felt like seconds but was actually twenty minutes, you’re shoved down into the front row seat, Bokuto sitting on your right while Akaashi settles in on your left. One last seat is left open, but with a fierce growl from the vampire, the final rider on your twelve-row horror show decides to wait for the next round. 

        Your whole body is shaking while you repeatedly swallow down your fear, clenching and unclenching your fists repeatedly while observing the track before you. It’s a forty-foot climb, leading to a soul-departing drop that you know, you just know you won’t survive. Akaashi pulls down the foamy bar over your shoulders as per request of the ride operator, giving you a curious look at your awkward appearance. 

        “Are you okay?” He places his hand on yours in attempted comfort, but you’re too far gone to feel it. 

        “Mhm,” you squeak back, keeping your eyes locked on the bar in front of you while gripping your restraint with white-knuckles. Akaashi gives you one more uncertain look before nodding and facing forward, placing a reassuring hand on your bare thigh. As if reading the room, Bokuto does the same and squeezes the flesh with excitement. 

        “YN, this is gonna be so fun! Why do you look constipated?” His normal, overjoyed grin almost blinds you into submission, and you whimper when the whole car jolts forward with a squeal before chugging up the track. 

        Your breath escapes you as gravity pulls you against your seat, forcing you to look up at the clear blue skies of the wonderful day of your end. Oh God, I’m gonna die here!

        Slowly, ever so slowly, you inch up the track, climbing higher and higher into the air as your brain begins to ache with pure fear. Your whole body is trembling uncontrollably, and Akaashi gives you another curious glance just as you reach the top. 

        “All right, YN, tell us what’s wrong. Are you okay? Are you feeling sick?” How is he so calm right now?! 

        You try to focus on your breathing, in and out, in and out, but nothing distracts you from the drop. Farther and farther, the tracks lean you to face straight down, and the people from here all look like squirming ants. The trees look like green toothpicks, and you? Well, you’re just plain green. 

        “Hey guys?” you whisper hesitantly, heart rate speeding up at the imminent drop.

        “Yeah?”

        Nothing.

        Nothing.

        And then…

        “I have a fear of heights.”

        You drop. 

        Every mistake you’ve ever made haunts you as you scream for dear life, slapping your hands down onto the ones on your thighs and digging your fingernails into their arms. Air whips past you as you’re pulled back and forth, up and down. The world flies past you at unstoppable speeds and you can’t even think straight. 

        Your heart is beating so fast as the ride slows, only to climb another hill before dropping you suddenly once again. You clench your eyes closed in fear this time and grab Bokuto and Akaashi’s hands in your own, feeling their bones and tendons and just how much you’re crushing them at the moment. The only audible sounds around you aside from the wind whipping past your face and pulling your hair is both men’s laughs. You carefully open your eyelids and glance to your sides.

        Bokuto. He’s smiling and laughing and cheering and throwing his arm in the air and it’s beautiful.

        Akaashi. He’s doing the exact same, and never before have you seen him so happy and carefree than in this moment. 

        They were gorgeous, and joyful, and so euphoric in this moment that you never wanted it to end. 

        These men… are they really my soulmates?

        You so wanted them to be, if they could look this happy all the time. If you could make them look like that all the time. And you so wanted to do that.

        Suddenly, that roller coaster didn’t seem all that bad, and as it came to one final drop, you closed your eyes and giggled with glee, embracing the fall and the heart tremors it gave you. 

        Then it slowly rolled to a stop, and the only noises around you were the excited chitters of the riders behind you. Smile still plastered on your face, you breathlessly open your gaze and listen to the pressurized air releasing as your restraints push up and over your head. 

        Your chest is thumping and your ears are pounding as you pat your cheeks to get the feeling back in them. Then you glance at your partners. 

        Both supernatural men seem stumped at the sight. Their mouths are wide open and gawked at you. You freeze up under their gaze, but push their foam bars up and over their heads nonetheless. 

        “Uhh, guys? I think we have to get off now.” You stand and gesture for them to do the same. They do, and trail behind you with delirious gazes as you lead them out and away from the ride. Now that you realize it, women have been gawking at the men following behind you all day. You pass girls your age, younger, and older, and every single one stops and stares, giving yearning looks to your soulmates. 

        You glare back as you lead them both to the lunch area, obeying the growls in your stomach while you seat them at a bench-table across from you. 

        What a bunch of-

        “My love,” Akaashi licks his lips and earnestly shakes his head at you. “You are beautiful.” 

        Your eyes widen at the words and you go rigid in your cedar placement. Where the hell did that come from? 

        Bokuto is still gaping like a fish, but abruptly snatches your hand on the wooden presses his forehead against the back of it while groaning. “God, darling, how are you so perfect?” 

        “Umm, guys?” You shift in your seat, anxious under their serious gazes.

        Akaashi’s eyes darken at the familiar words and a muscle in his jaw twitches. “Speaking of, why didn’t you tell us you were afraid? Even though-” he pauses and wordlessy shrugs towards the roller coaster, “-that just happened,” he shakes his head, “we still wouldn’t have gone if we knew.” 

        You raise a brow. “Mind telling me what just happened?”

        “You looked like an angel, darling,” Bokuto presses a kiss to your fingers before letting you go. “So fucking perfect. And all ours.” He smiles at you, a loving, adoring smile that gives you whiplash when compared to his possessive words. “Now, how ‘bout some lunch? I really want one of those big Pixie Stix!” Oh wow, that’s a mind fuck.

        “You’re gonna get sick if you eat that,” Akaashi scolds, rising up out of his chair and walking towards the food stands. Bokuto does the same and pouts at his companion. 

        “Oh, come on Akaashi! I promise I’ll be fine. Just let me get one, please?” 

        What kind of mind games are these two playing?!

        While they both make their ways to the concession stands, women of all ages watch the men with lovey-dovey eyes. They giggle and point, and some closer to your range push each other forward with encouraging whispers to shoot their shot.

        “Darling, are you coming?” Bokuto’s call draws you out of your jealous thoughts, and you nod along dazedly. In a split second, you walk over to join them, puffing up your chest and keeping your gaze forward to ignore every nasty glare the thirsty females serve you. That’s right, bitches, they’re mine-

        “My love,” Akaashi interrupts with a pointed look, “could you please tell Bokuto that if he only eats the tube of sugar, he’s going to make himself sick?” He jabs a thumb at the vampire accusingly before gesturing to the menu. “Just pick something else.”

        “How about an elephant ear-”

        “No.”

        You breathe out a laugh and drop your hands on your hips. “Akaashi’s right, you know,” you nod to the wizard, but Bokuto only nods while staring at something over your head. 

        “Mhm sure.”

        “Come on, you are going to-” You get cut off abruptly by him simply humming and walking away while licking his lips. The act almost hurts you, like you had just been completely ignored by your significant other. Like.

        “Don’t take it to heart, my love,” Akaashi grasps your hand and squeezes reassuringly, and you know he had seen the pain on your face. “He’s not one to so easily dismiss you. I know he’s bringing you something too. It’s the only explanation.”

        You only nod and purse your lips, taking a small comfort in the fact that his fingers rest perfectly against your own. He smiles softly at the feeling of your thumb brushing over his knuckles, and presses a quick kiss to your cheek before pulling you to the open counter. 

        “What would you like, my love?” he whispers into your ear, chuckling quietly when your body goes rigid against his own. 

        “U-umm, you order first,” you shrug nonchalantly to brush over the quietness of your voice. “I don’t know yet.” Eyes glinting, he nods and turns to the woman behind the counter. 

        “I will have a…” his order fades away as you narrow your eyes at the girl’s actions. There’s something… arrogant about her. Her eyelashes flutter like she’s trying to flick dust out of her eyes, and her lips pucker like she’s about to hop over the counter and jump your- erm, Akaashi. 

        “Mhm,” she hums seductively, biting her lips, “anything else for you, babe?” 

        Your nostrils flare at her attempts to woo him. You know your kidnapper would never go for this woman, but a part of you still wants to wring her neck like a wet towel. 

        “Yeah, just a bottle of water.” 

        “I’ll go get a cold one for you,” she winks, “I know it’s pretty hot out here.” Running a sensual hand through her hair, she sighs dramatically before making her way deeper into the food stand, bending low to give your wizard a nice show at the only thing she has to offer while she grabs his water bottle. You grit your teeth at the sight and muster the most enraged glare anyone’s ever seen.

        “Are you all right, my love?” The pet name reassures you, but the arrogant tone of Akaashi’s voice drives you up the walls. 

        “Of course,” you hiss, eyes still locked on the… nice woman behind the counter. “Why do you ask?”

        “Because if you grip my hand any harder, I fear I might just lose all feeling in it for a while,” he simpers, holding your white-knuckled hand up to your tunnel vision. 

        “Oh, sorry” you seethe, attempting to yank your hand away only to have Akaashi hold it in place. He still intertwines his long fingers with your limp ones, but you don’t have enough pride to reciprocate. 

        “My love,” he coos teasingly, “are you jealous?”

        “Fuck no!” You scrunch up your nose and bang your free hand on the counter just as the woman returns with Akaashi’s order. 

        “Do you want the same thing as me?” he asks, grabbing his hotdog and water in his free grip. The thought for some reason makes your stomach churn, and in your bitterness, you decide to play it petty. 

        Turning towards the woman, you ignore Akaashi’s question and spit, “I want an elephant ear.”

        “YN-”

        “And a chocolate shake. And that’ll be all, babe,” you sneer at her. The woman raises her perfectly plucked brows, unimpressed, but you don’t have the time to care what she thinks.

        Akaashi sighs from beside you, and a minute later you return to your table with all the sugary goodness you could think of in the heat of the moment. Bokuto is already seated, and when he smiles at your lunch, the entire inside of his mouth is tainted blue. 

        “Woah, YN, that looks great!” The hungry vampire sidles up beside you, taking up the only room for another person on your side of the table as you plop down with a humph.

        “You want some?” you offer with a smirk, tearing off a piece and chomping on it with an emphasized moan. “It’s delicious.” 

        “Definitely,” Bokuto nods and takes a bite of the chunk in your hand, his lips brushing your fingers before he pulls away. “Wow, that’s good! Akaashi, you sure you don’t want some?”

        The wizard only shakes his head and takes a bitter bite out of his hotdog. Bokuto furrows his brows at the tense atmosphere of the table, then snaps his fingers and gasps excitedly. 

        “Darling, I almost forgot,” he snags something out from under the table and hands it to you, “I got you something!”

        It’s a cherry-flavored Pixie Stix tube. Sixteen inches of pure sugar and diabetes fuel, but it was your favorite flavor, so who were you to deny?

        “Aww, thanks Bokuto!” You peck his cheek in thanks and try not to blush at the abnormal action. You were still growing used to showing them affection as well. 

        “You’re welcome! I had blue raspberry, so now we can make purple!”

        Akaashi choked on his hotdog.

                                ~~~

        The day was only half-over, and after lunch, Bokuto had an ingenious idea of going to the Tilt-a-Whirl teacups. Yep. Genius. 

        Your stomach tremmered and gurgled with every movement, and you could almost feel all the sugar you had consumed fighting back. Still, it gave you quite a rush, and you had a bounce in your step as you made your way to the next ride. If only you knew it was going to be the worst decision yet. 

        “You’re gonna throw up,” Akaashi murmured from your side, waiting patiently alongside a contrasting Bokuto who vibrated with excitement. 

        “No I’m not.” You discretely fold your hands over your stomach, trying to soothe the growing ache. 

        “I told you not to eat so much sugar.”

        “I’m not gonna throw up!”

        “Our turn!” Bokuto cheered, pushing past the person counter and scrambling into the first teacup. You and the smug wizard both clamber in after him, settling into the plastic benches hidden inside the ride. 

        The signature music begins playing and Bokuto wastes no time, instantly dropping his hands down onto the wheel in the center and twirling it as fast as he can. 

        “WHOOO!” 

        The trees and other attractions of the park begin to blur, and at first you enjoy it. Wind whips past your face as your hair flutters behind you. The force of every twist and turn tugs you back and forth in the most curiously exciting way, and you begin to uncontrollably giggle at the feeling of pure joy beaming in your chest. Even Akaashi finds it in himself to smile as the vampire beside him whips the wheel faster, cranking it to the left and right with his enhanced strength. 

        While the black and white haired man hoots and hollers with delight, you grip the wooden bench below you tightly, trying not to go flying straight out of the teacup. The muscles in your cheeks ache from the constant grin, and everything feels just so right.

        “YEAH, WOO-HOO!”

        Then it goes horribly wrong. 

        Your stomach begins to churn and burn at the constant twisting, and a wave of nausea hits you, desperately trying to climb up your throat. Ever so elated, neither man notices how your face abruptly falls, and you puff up your cheeks in effort to hold back a gag.

        Oh no. There’s the elephant ear.

        The bottom of your throat stings at the feeling of your stomach acid relocating, and you almost cry tears of joy when the ride stops lurching violently with a loud beep. Your head spins while your vision grows unfocused. The only thing you comprehend is the fact that the door to your teacup has just opened, and you can finally make your escape. In a reckless sprint, you scurry out of the enlarged drinkware and launch yourself off the ride’s platform.

        “YN?!” Both men call after you, but you don’t have time to spare. Frantically searching the area, your eyes dart back and forth for the nearest trash can to empty your stomach contents. 

        At last, you spot and dart towards it with one wizard hot on your tail. He pulls your hair away from your face just in the nick of time as you toss cookies into Funland’s Funtastic Waste Disposal. 

        “Oh, YN,” Akaashi hums, rubbing your back comfortingly, “I told you this would happen.”

        “Shut u-” you break off to cack into the bin once more, closing your eyes and groaning bitterly at the ringing in your ears. The black-haired man massages his palm up and down your spine while a depressed vampire paces behind you.

        “YN, I am so sorry! I am so, so, so sorry!” he cries out in despair, hands hanging limply by his side as if he doesn’t know what to do with himself. 

        “No, Bokuto, I swear it’s not your fault-” you can’t hold back another gag, or finish a sentence to save your life. One last wave of nausea climbs up your throat and you lose the final bits of your lunch for the day. The anxious man whimpers at the sound as Akaashi grimaces, taking one for the team and handing you the last of his water while you wheeze against the can. 

        With a heavy sigh, you gargle some of it in the back of your sore throat before spitting it out, wiping your mouth with a napkin also provided by the wizard. After taking a few minutes to catch your breath, you peel away and let out a deep sigh, rubbing your eyes with the back of your hands.

        “Hey guys?”

        “Yeah?” they chime.

        “Let’s skip out on rides for the rest of the day, okay?”

        “Of course.”

                                ~~~

        Two teddy bears, three pink flamingos, eight multi-colored dogs, five Pikachus and one big llama. Those along with about fifteen other stuffed animals you couldn’t identify were all stock-piled into your hands as a gesture of repentance. 

        After you greeted your guts in the nearest trash can, Bokuto had compiled enough guilt to frighten the Titanic. Akaashi had nothing better to do than play the amusement park games as well, and this only increased his companion’s competitiveness. 

        Bokuto excelled at the games of strength and skill. Basketball shooting, darts and balloons, bottle rings, he even broke the mallet at the “Ring the Bell” game. And the bell. But you did get a big, fluffy unicorn out of it, so no harm, no foul. 

        Akaashi, unsurprisingly, had much more success in games of chance. Every time, he knocked down all the bottles, chose the rubber duck with the highest number, hit every moving target with his water gun, and won you a goldfish with a ping pong ball. You didn’t exactly have the capability of handling a fish at home though, so you had to give little “Hinata” back. Shame.

        “My love, I just won you a blue penguin.”

        “Awe, thanks Akaashi!” You awkwardly squatted to allow him to add it to the top of your collection, and slowly raised back up, keeping a close eye on the precariously-balanced bird.

        “You totally stole that win from me!” Bokuto accused, tossing a smaller penguin on top of your pile. 

        “It’s called being skilled, Bokuto. No cheating necessary from me.”

        Bullshit.

        “Hey guys?” you panted, carefully following after them while watching your toys like a hawk. They didn’t pay you any mind, instead choosing to continue their petty argument.

        “Guys?” Nothing.

        “Hey! Guys!” Nada.

        “HEY DIPSTICKS!” Everyone within a thirty-foot radius averted their gazes to you at your shout, and you drop your rainbow-themed assortment of creatures on the ground with a huff, ignoring their eyes. You were used to being watched constantly anyway.

        “Yes, darling?” Bokuto smiled proudly, observing his and Akaashi’s impressive gathering like a devoted hunter. You wipe the sweat off your brow and gesture to the toys. 

        “I really don’t need all these. What if some children want them?”

        “Our children can have them.”

        “What?”

        “What?” they both pipe up. Not even a second later, they gather up the stuffed animals in their hands and stack them back up in your arms, completely ignoring the conversation that had just happened. A conversation you sincerely wanted to expand upon. 

        “They’re for you, YN,” Akaashi declares, setting a flamingo on your shoulder. 

        “We only want you to have them, no one else,” Bokuto adds, innocently placing a monkey under your chin. “We want people to know that we won them for you.” 

        Their expressions seemed pure and innocuous, but the prideful twinkles in their eyes revealed the opposite. Like wolves marking their territory, they loaded you with gifts and surrounded you protectively, hiding your form while simultaneously showing that you were taken. 

        Was that true? Were you actually stuck with these two men for life? On the surface, the thought made you cringe. You never liked the idea of other people seeing you as property to be owned. Deep down, however, you knew you were more than that to these guys. Your heart fluttered every second you were around them, and your stomach filled with butterflies every time their skin brushed your own. No, you didn’t want to be claimed like a stray cat. 

        But maybe…

        “Hehe, Akaashi look,” Bokuto chuckled and pointed out a neon sign overhanging a large, white building, “there’s a magician at the park.”

        “Ugh, how humans always think they can perform magic disgusts me.” The wizard sneers at the sight and attempts to walk past without another glance, but you lag behind, enraptured at the thought. 

        Real magic and fake magic. Huh. Wonder how he would actually react?

        After ten minutes of begging from you, and thirteen minutes of begging from you and Bokuto, Akaashi snapped like a twig and folded. 

        “Fine!” he hissed under his breath, not so subtly stomping towards the miniature arena. “We’ll go, but we’re not staying the entire time!”

        “Hell yeah!” you and Bokuto cheered. The vampire went in for a fist bump, which you awkwardly pressed your forehead against because, you know, your hands were kind of full. 

        While the sky had grown darker and darker as your two companions were stuffed-animal hunting, it wasn’t as dark as the inside of the magician’s building. With a warning from Bokuto, all three of you settled into the back row of the show, closest to the exit and farthest from the younger viewers whose ears could be tainted with Akaashi’s irritation.

        It was a smart choice, because as soon as the stage lit up and the magician appeared in a cloud of smoke, the wizard immediately had something to say. 

        “They just had a secret hatch on the stage, you know,” he grumbled under his breath. 

        “There’s two people in that box.”

        “He hid the card up his sleeve.”

        “There’s actors in the audience.” 

        Five minutes in, and it was like you were listening to the podcast remake of Breaking the Magician’s Code. 

        “Oh, come on, Akaashi!” you groaned quietly, lowering your voice when the people in front of you delivered viscous glares. “How is that woman floating other than by pure magic?!”

        The wizard smirks. “There’s a machine behind the magician.”

        “But the hula hoop-”

        “Works around the machine.”

        You pause for a second, scrutinizing the fakers on stage and gnawing on your lip, debating the odds.

        “Goddamnit, Akaashi.” With a final scoff, you stand up from your seat and collect all your stuffed animals in your arms, submitting as Akaashi snickers. He rises as well and proceeds to help you gather your things while Bokuto stays seated with golden eyes still locked on the stage.

        “Where are you two going?” he whisper-yells, not glancing away once while gasping in amazement at the show. The vampire claps erratically when the “floating girl” lowers to the floor and bows to the audience. 

        “C’mon, dude, it’s all a sham.” You huff and hug your stuffies closer, glaring at the wizard who ruined your fun. “Let’s get out of here.”

        “How can that be a sham, YN?!” He points at the stage with all seriousness and childlike wonder. “It can only be magic!”

        “It can only be a machine.” You roll your eyes and nod your head to the exit. “Now let’s go. Mr. Grumpy Pants here decided to reveal all the secrets.” 

        Bokuto blows a stray strand of hair away from his face with a pout before dragging himself out of his folded chair, following you and Akaashi out the door like a sad puppy.

        Outside, the sky is now a navy blue as the sun sets in the west. Parents and children are still roaming the park, but their voices have lowered as the streetlamps light their faces. The scent of ash and heat still hangs in the air, and you don’t hesitate to ask why.

        “There’s a firework show tonight,” Akaashi answers, checking out a glowing souvenir shop. “We’re gonna stay and watch it.” 

        “Umm, all right, but nature calls, so lemme go to the bathroom real quick.”

        “Okay, we’ll find you later!” 

        You pass off your collection of toys to Bokuto, who hugs them to his chest and takes a large whiff of their scent. You choose to ignore how his eyes glow red for a split second, and walk off with a wave over your shoulder to find a restroom.

                                ~~~

        “Gross, gross, gross, gross, gross,” you sing, shaking your hands frantically to air-dry while backing your way out of the women’s room. The door slams shut behind you as you squint in the night, searching for either of your kidnappers through the darkened park. 

        “Darling!” A bulky, white blur of a figure calls out to you in a familiar deep tone, and you jog over to Bokuto as he waves his arms. Barely avoiding tripping in your sandals, you slow to a stop in front of him, inhaling quickly at the small setup he and Akaashi must have created. 

        It’s a blanket with Funland’s logo laying on the forest floor in a secluded area of the park. The only life around you is the trees whishing in the warm wind, and the moon provides the only light, save for a small, floating candle Akaashi levitates from his seat on the green and purple fabric. Stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes surround the rectangle like a barrier, and the wizard pats the space beside him while Bokuto settles in on the other end of the blanket. 

        A soft smile creeps onto your face, and you wordlessly plop down between them, snatching a few pieces of popcorn from the bucket your vampire holds. The buttery goodness bursts with flavor in your mouth and makes you hum in delight. 

        Crickets chirp and owls hoot from within the woods that border the amusement park, the woods you currently relax in. Both men have content expressions on their faces, but Akaashi stretches out his legs in front of him, folding one over the other. Bokuto, same as you, is sitting crisscross with the treat in his lap, occasionally snagging a fistful and chewing without a care. 

        The atmosphere is peaceful and calm, almost romantic as the wizard leans back on one hand, using the other to slowly lower the candle to the ground before he turns to face you. 

        “My love.” His tone is smokey and guttural, enticing a flicker of heat in the pit of your stomach while his gunmetal blue eyes pierce through your heart. “Would you like to see some real magic?”

        A scoff almost chokes out of you, but in effort to preserve the tender mood, you disguise it with a bite of your lower lip. “I would love to, Akaashi.” 

        At the sound of his name falling from your lips, his pupils flare and a corner of his mouth quirks up. He nods to the fluffy barrier and waves his hand over their presence, allowing a maroon mist to wash over them. 

        Nothing happens for a second or two. Then, one by one, they twitch to life. Rainbow unicorns stomp their hooves against the floor. Rosy flamingos stretch out their limbs and flap their wings. Dogs shake out their pelts. Cats lean back deeply on their haunches and wiggle their tails. Pikachus crackle with artificial snaps of electricity. And finally, as the last of them grow accustomed to their newfound abilities to move, they begin to parade around the blanket like a miniature marching band, circling all three of your forms in perfect harmony with one another. 

        You can’t speak, you can only watch with childlike wonder as they play with each other. Kittens pounce on puppies, penguins hop over turtles, and every other creature putters along with silent steps on the forest floor. Your face softens in amazement, and you exhale lightly at the sight.

        “Wow, Akaashi.” Your voice is breathless, and your vision goes blurry thanks to your overgrown smile. “This is amazing!” You don’t dare grow any louder than a whisper, fearing that you might scare them away. It doesn’t really occur to you that they are all enchanted, and wouldn’t flee anyway.

        “Better than the magic show?” he smirks. Air hitches in your throat, and you can’t help but lean closer to his face. His gaze is hypnotizing enough, no spell required to draw you in, and you don’t even stir when a different hand, a rougher, larger hand from the other side of the blanket lands on your bare thigh. Your warm breaths brush past his lips, leading to him drawing in the lower between his teeth, sucking on the plump flesh alluringly.

        “Much better,” you nod, eyes locked on his entrancing actions. The hand on your thigh squeezes harder as a form leers closer to your back, hot puffs hitting your neck. 

        Close. They’re both so close. And somewhere deep down you want them even closer. You want to feel them. 

        Akaashi’s lips brush yours, and Bokuto’s run across your neck, and then-

        BOOM!

        Fireworks crackle in the sky and you jump away from them both, pressing a hand against your chest to calm your racing heart. 

        “Holy shit!” you shout, then begin to laugh at the perfect timing of the fireworks show. Just wonderful. 

        Red, green, and blue spades of fire crash and collide in the air. Cheers and whistles echo in the distance, and you can’t help but think what the fuck just happened?

        “Hehe, wow,” Bokuto chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck, “guess the show started a little late.”

        “Yeah,” Akaashi responds gruffly, a vein popping in frustration on his forehead. Both men sound just as out of breath as you, but you don’t dare remove your eyes from the sky. Maybe you were afraid something would actually happen if you did….

        Or maybe you were afraid it wouldn’t. 

        “Darling!” The pet name almost floors you. “Catch!”

        You hesitantly glance at Bokuto in confusion, chest pumping, and your heart skips a beat when you catch sight of his flushed cheeks. 

        Then you get hit in the forehead with a kernel. 

        “Aww,” he pouts. “Open your mouth this time, darling!” 

        You do, and his Adam’s apple bobs before he tosses a piece, landing it perfectly on your tongue. Pressing your lips together, you chew on it with a relaxed smile, pleased at how easily Bokuto could thin out a tense atmosphere.

        “Mm, my turn, my turn!” you cheer, grabbing a handful of ammo and aiming at Bokuto’s wide grin. 

        “Hell yeah!” you cheer when you hit beginner’s luck, giggling when Bokuto gestures for more instead of eating the one. 

        You toss more and more, Bokuto does the same, and, at some point, Akaashi winds his arm around your waist calmly. The night grows darker, the moon rises higher in the sky, and soon, your eyes can barely stay open. 

        You yawn and recline back on the blanket, laughing breathlessly when a stuffed puppy boops your forehead.

        “Let’s go home, my love,” Akaashi softly smiles down at you, brushing a strand of hair from your face. The touch leaves a trail of sparks, much like the last fireworks dying in the sky. 

        “I’m too tired to get up, though.” With fluttering eyelids, you struggle to stay conscious as you reach your arms up lazily. “Carry me home.” 

        The wizard’s gaze darkens, still glued to your peaceful face while his jaw twitches at the sight. Then he glances up at Bokuto, who nods frantically just before your vision goes dark. 

        The last thing you feel is someone lugging you up on their muscular back, locking your ankles at their stomach and winding your arms around their shoulders while you doze off against their nape. 

                                ~~~

        Rain splatters against your balcony, and you sit up on your bed with an easy smile on your face. With a quick, euphoric stretch, you pat the cold mattress around you, searching for your nightly visitors only to come up empty. 

        “Bokuto? Akaashi?” 

        No response. The rest of the room is dead silent aside from the weather outside. Yawning, you throw off your covers and purse your lips at the nightgown you wear. Yes, you were falling for them. There, you admitted it. But that didn’t mean you liked how they would undress you while delirious. 

        Soft feet pattering against the hardwood floor, you stifle a snort at the sight of the stuffed animals thrown haphazardly around your room. Opening the door, you call out into the hallway, “Oh, come on, guys. You could’ve at least been gentle with the penguin.”

        Your voice echoes, but it still remains the only sound in the house. 

        Hours pass, and you still can’t find them. You’ve searched every hallway, every room, every goddamn nook and cranny in the house, and nothing. You even went out into your rose garden, where Akaashi had taught you how to water and care for them. 

        Nothing. 

        “Akaashi?! Bokuto?!” Your voice grows more frantic as you sprint through the house, eyes darting back and forth in search of any hint of where they’ve gone. 

        You only come to a halt at the one spot you haven’t checked. 

        The front doors.

        They were usually locked, trapping you inside and keeping everything else out. But maybe just this once they weren’t. 

        Hesitantly, almost reluctantly, you push down the handle with a bated breath. The gears grind within the ancient wood carvings, and you furrow your brows in concern when it opens.

        “A-Akaashi? Bokuto?” 

        Rain gathers in puddles on the front steps as you peer down the driveway. Still empty, still bare. No sign of your boys. But you still call out their names, and dare to wander farther out. 

        “Guys?” You step over and observe the hedges that line the mansion. 

        Swift footfalls scuff the pavement behind you, and you breathe out a sigh of relief. 

        “Oh thank God, I thought you guys went missing or someth-” 

        Fabric falls over your head, blocking out the light of the sun and easily dampening in the rain. A bag. You don’t miss a beat, and let out a loud scream of pure terror.

        “Let me go!” You struggle against the hands caging your wrists behind your back. One sneaks away to sensually stroke your left hip, barely protected by your thin, black silk nightgown. 

        A familiar cackle rings through the air, leaving your stomach to churn.

        Oh no.

        “I finally found you-”

        Oh God.

        “-Kitten.”

        Kuroo.

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Reborn (Bokuto/Akaashi x Reader) ~Chapter 3~

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

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

A/N: Can I get a waffle? Can I puh-lease get a waffle?? Ugh, anyways, I hope y’all are ok with this chapter, cuz it’s a lil… ugh. I just wanna binge Once Upon a Time, but whatever. Hope you enjoy!

Tag List: @burntcilantro​  @alloverbutterflies​  @translucentthoughts​  @zaejia​  @momothepeachgirl  @black-veil-chemicalz​  @miigoth​  @blxkstar​  @keigosbitch​  @actual-smol​

Word count: 4900

        Bokuto just wouldn’t leave you alone. 

        All you had done was let him drink your blood, and now he followed you around like a lovesick puppy. 

        “YN! Can I get you anything?”

        “YN! Are you hungry?”

        “YN! Do you need help with something?”

        “YN!”

        “YN!”

        “YN!”

        Every five minutes, he popped into your room with a bright smile and a need to please. He even crawled into your bed at nights while you were sleeping! Always slipping under your covers and wrapping his arms around you from behind, it scared you half to death. It was a shame he never stuck around to get a lecture, though. Just before you wake up, he always manages to sneak away. Once, you even felt Akaashi join the party, and woke up to two people spooning you with the temperature of a thousand suns. 

        They almost gave you a heat stroke. 

        Since then, it’s always been Bokuto, except today you had the pleasure of waking up before him. You had spun in his tighter-than-normal grip around your waist and delivered a quick shove to his chest. “You’re too warm, get the fuck out,” you had muttered with a yawn, and his body flopped onto the floor shortly after. 

        And now, as Bokuto popped into your room for the fiftieth time today with something actually worth talking about this round, you couldn’t help but grimace at your television. 

        “YN YLN is still missing. If you have any information on her or her whereabouts, please contact the police at…” you didn’t care to listen to the rest. Clicking off the TV, you slumped down onto your sofa and hugged a pillow to your chest. 

        “Can’t believe they used that ugly-ass picture,” you grumbled, still glaring at the black screen. 

        “YN!” There he is. “We brought you dinner!” 

        “Is it poisoned?”

        “NO!”

        “Damn.”

        “Don’t talk like that,” Akaashi glowers, handing you a tray of food before snapping his fingers. Three cozy dining chairs and a wooden table manifests from thin air between your bed and the glass doors to your balcony, and he holds out a hand to guide you to the new furniture. 

        “What’s this?” you ask warily, waving away his offer and proceeding to take your new seat without assistance. 

        “We haven’t dined together in a century,” Akaashi sits across from you and levitates a pitcher of water, filling your glass. “Bokuto and I want to make up for lost time.” 

        Said man nods his head excitedly and claims the final chair between the two of you, leaving one side empty at the rectangular table.

        The menu for tonight consists of a medium-done steak for each of you, alongside some appetizers of various vegetables and a basket of buttered rolls. The centerpiece is a small, silver candelabra, which soon becomes the only lighting for your meal as the light bulb in your bedroom flickers and turns dark. 

        “Damn,” you chuckle nervously, picking at your intricately-crafted dining utensils, “didn’t know you guys treated your captives so well. Does everyone get this royal treatment?”

        “You’re so much more than our captive, my love,” Akaashi simpers. 

        You purse your lips, growing more and more uncomfortable by the second. You hypothesized this elaborate dinner had something to do with you finally giving in and wearing a black, slimming mermaid dress from your ancient closet. Disappointingly, it was the most casual outfit in there, although the bedazzled sweetheart neckline drew a little too much unwanted attention from the vampire to your right. 

        “Who even are you guys?” you scoff.

        “The loves of your lives.”

        Akaashi’s response left you busting a gut, and Bokuto nervously made eye contact with his friend. “Oh, come on,” you snort, hiding your grin behind a hand out of habit, “quit tooting your own horn. First of all, ‘love’? Don’t kid yourself. Second of all, what the hell do you mean by ‘lives’?”

        Neither man appreciates your words, or your reaction. Akaashi narrows his gunmetal blue eyes at you, nostrils flaring with distaste. Bokuto’s golden eyes flicker to pure red for a split second, and his hands reach up to grip the table’s edge with white knuckles. 

        “It’s still too soon to tell you,” the wizard seethes through clenched teeth. Your laughs slow, but when Bokuto snatches up his knife and slices into his steak swiftly in the blink of an eye, you sober right up. With a nervous nibble on your bottom lip, you discretely slide your chair a few inches to the left and avoid the black and white-haired man’s burning gaze. 

        “Look,” you draw your attention away from the massacred hunk of meat, “since I’m kinda like your guys’ friend now-”

        “We’re more than friends!” Bokuto barks, chomping on his meal bitterly. Akaashi nods in agreement and you roll your eyes at the action.

        “Easy, you two. I was iffy about even calling us ‘friends.’” 

        “Then what would you call yesterday?” the vampire pouts slightly. You had let him feed off you again, as he seemed to be on the verge of another carnivorous outrage. It still felt similar to getting, you know, stabbed in the neck. Twice. But you just couldn’t stand to see him go hungry again. You were feeling generous. 

        “Reciprocity. Even wild animals in nature do it. You saved my life, so I… did that thing.”

        “Didn’t feel like reciprocity when you moaned ‘don’t stop’ in my ear-”

        “Enough!” The table wobbles and the dishes clang together with the force of Akaashi’s palm smacking the surface. His head is lowered so you couldn’t see his eyes, but the strain of his voice was enough to clue you in on his irritation. That and the glass of water he had to catch in midair with an extended pinkie. “YN,” Akaashi continues tightly, raising his gaze to face you. Their mixture of emotion made your heart skip a beat. “What did you want to know?”

        You gulp, and unlike normal, Bokuto doesn’t glue his eyes to the movement. Instead, he pushes around the broccoli on his plate. “Why am I here?” you finally find your voice, watching them both with confusion. 

        The black-haired wizard sighs and picks up a spoon in a dish, slowly serving himself while shaking his head. 

        “Let us eat dinner first. Then we’ll answer any questions you may have.” 

                                ~~~

        The bed is crowded. After the tense meal, Akaashi had directed you all to your mattress while the elegant set up disappeared with a flick of his wrist. 

        You sit with your back against the headboard, and your fingers gently comb through Bokuto’s hair. The vampire’s head is on your lap, his hands folded on his stomach while his legs hang off the edge, kicking occasionally. It wasn’t the most appropriate position for a kidnapper-kidnapee discussion, but Bokuto was always touchy-feely nowadays. You didn’t exactly mind it, though; his hair was surprisingly soft. Meanwhile, Akaashi sits at the end, cross-legged with a straight back, although he drags his touch over your calves and ankles every-so often. The feeling tickles, but the atmosphere is so serious you don’t dare make a sound. 

        “All right,” the wizard pipes up, tracing small circles against your skin, “would you like me to start from the beginning?” 

        “Yep.”

                                ~~~

        “Ladies and gentleman, thank you for gathering tonight to celebrate the wedding of my daughter and Tetsurou Kuroo! Now, enjoy the ball!” 

        Your father clapped adamantly and the crowd followed the silent order like compliant minions. 

        You, on the other hand, irked your jaw before standing up from your throne. Kuroo followed dutifully, still wearing his signature smirk. 

        “Wait, hold up. Kuroo?!”

        “Yes, but just wait.”

        “Would you like to dance, my dear YN?” 

        “Not in a million years, Kuroo,” you scoff, rolling your eyes at the offer. He waggles his finger disappointedly at you and clicks his tongue. 

        “Now, now, kitten, no need to be hostile. We are, after all, man and wife.” 

        You bare your teeth at him, flashing your fangs before your father discreetly grabs your upper arm in a death grip. 

        “YN, how dare you? This arrangement is for the benefit of the kingdom, quit acting like a spoiled brat,” the king hisses. 

        “Father!” you gasp, and he rips his hand away from you. 

        “Be quiet!” Your father, the ruler of all vampire-kind,  swiftly makes his way onto the floor to chat amiably with other royals from the area. 

        The glittering, golden room, was crowded elegantly-dressed people of all kinds of nature. Vampires and werewolves, wizards and fairies, hell even a few mermaids had swam their way into the party. The unification of the century.

        In the late twelfth century, werecats had become a force to be reckoned with in the blink of an eye. They had monopolized almost all supernatural land with their powerful army, slaying everybody and anybody who attempted to sway them from absolute control. In a last ditch effort to make peace, your father had offered you into an arranged marriage with the prince of werecats, Tetsurou Kuroo. You were a savior, the key to harmony for all, simply by becoming his queen. The title contained a lot of weight to bear.

        Your father was the one who gave you no choice in the matter. Any other princesses of the varied species on Earth could have been offered, but the King of Vampires was greedy. You would be the one to rescue all living creatures, simply by marrying into a loveless alliance. Kuroo was not an evil man. You had met him, chatted with him, even become a friend of his enough to know. He was kind and loving, but you just couldn’t find it in yourself to return his affections. 

        “Akaashi’s just kidding. Kuroo’s the worst.”

        “Silence, Bokuto.”

        Nonetheless, you had become engaged, and then you were married. Somewhere deep down, though, you knew there was something else out there for you. Or someone. Someone… outside the window and in the garden. 

        There, among your treasured roses, were two men. One with black hair, and one with white hair, riddled with dark streaks. Their presence, though a bit unwelcome in your private utopia of flowers, was alluring. 

        “Kuroo, please excuse me,” you mumbled distractedly, eyes still locked beyond the glass pane. “I need to adjust my corset.” 

        “Don’t keep me waiting too long, kitten. People are still expecting our first dance as a true couple.”

        “Yeah, yeah, whatever douchebag. I see some hotties, so I’ll catch you later.”

        “Bokuto, quit interrupting!” 

        “Sorry Akaashi.”

        “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” you sneered, squeezing his cheeks in effort to appear loving. 

        “You’re not my grandmother, just finish your business so we can get this dance over with.” Kuroo ushered your hands away, but his cheeks were still stained pink even after you disappeared down the steps behind your thrones. 

        Slipping into the hallway, you hid behind vases and under clothed tables to dodge security knights, and finally escaped outside to meet the pair of mysterious men. 

        “Ugh, Akaaaaaashi!” You peered from behind a wall of bushes gathered against the sides of the castle. They both stood near your cherished flowers, and the one who had spoken regarded them with childlike curiosity. “Why are we here again?” 

        “I felt us drawn here for… something. I’m not sure. But I’m not leaving until we get caught. Or until the night ends. There’s just something here for us, I promise.” 

        You held back a giggle when the bulkier man pricked his finger on a rose thorn, letting out a horrendous screech. 

        “Silence, Bokuto.” 

        “Well, I see you haven’t changed much.”

        “Silence, YN.”

        “Wait, Akaashi. I smell something.”

        “I told you not to eat that flower-”

        “Not that!” The taller man rose from his squat near your plants and sniffed the air. “It smells like… my grandmother’s cinnamon bread!” He raises his nose and sniffs again, walking toward the scent. Walking towards you. “It smells so good!” he exclaims, wiggling with excitement as he draws nearer to your cowering form. 

        “It’s… It’s…”

        “It’s Brittany, bitch.”

        “Goddammit, YN, you’re beginning to act like Bokuto. That’s a bad decision.”

        “Hey!”

        “It’s a girl!” The man points at you with a wide grin, baring his fangs instinctively. You jump at the sight and widen your eyes at how he had spotted you. The dark-haired male glances up from the ground with surprise, and his blue orbs sparkle when they meet yours. 

        “Umm, hi,” you swallow nervously, stepping away from the wall. 

        “Oh wow, you’re beautiful!” The larger man’s comment makes you flush bright red. 

        “T-thank you.” You glance away and hide your cheeks in your silk-gloved palms. “I can’t help but notice you’re in my garden.” Smiling nervously, you gain enough courage to gesture to the plants around you. 

        “Yes, my princess,” the man with dark hair pulls his friend backward by the collar and tugs him down in a bow, “we are so sorry for intruding. We will leave immediately.”

        “No!” you cry out, holding out your hands to stop them. “Please… don’t. I could use the company.”

        “Oh.” 

        “S-so, um, what are your names?” Avoiding their shocked gazes, you pick at your flowing, purple dress anxiously. 

        “Keiji Akaashi, and this is my friend Koutarou Bokuto.” 

        “Is Akaashi even your real name?”

        “Has been for the past millennia.”

        “And you?”

        “I’ve been Koutarou Bokuto for one and one-tenth of a millennia! I found lil’ baby Akaashi here stranded in the middle of the woods.”

        “And yet I’m the one who has to take care of you now.”

        “You’re so mean, Akaashi!”

        “Nice to meet you,” you grin, outstretching your hand for a shake. Akaashi stares mystified at the act, but slowly accepts. Just as sparks begin to flow through your body from the ounce of contact, Bokuto eagerly shoves his companion out of the way and shakes your hand as well, doubling the amount of adrenaline pumping through your body. Your breath hitches and your eyes widen while you stare at your hand in surprise. It tingles, but in a good way. In an amazing way. Then your wrist starts to burn, and you hastily tug off your glove in an attempt to stop whatever causes the twinge. 

        A single dark spiral with three legs has forged itself into your skin. A small gasp comes from in front of you, and you glance up to see Bokuto beaming at his own wrist. 

        “Akaashi, is this-”

        “Yes.” His shorter companion nods with a barely visible quirk of his lips, eyes also locked on the mark. 

        “What is this?” you pipe up, rubbing over the symbol with a wet thumb in desperate attempt to remove it. 

        “It’s a sign.”

        “For what?!” you plead in a panic. 

        “That you’re meant to be with us. You’re ours.” The world stops turning for just a few moments.

        The rousing words, their adoring gazes, even their proximity to you is enough to have your heart racing. You’ve always been someone else’s though, whether it was your father or Kuroo, and neither time was it pleasant for you. You don’t exactly mind the thought now, though.

        “I can’t stand it here,” you start, flaring your nostrils at the castle. 

        “Well, we can help you!” Bokuto blurts out, grabbing your hands and squeezing them encouragingly. Your heart stutters at his grip, but speeds up at the offer.

        “Really? You can get me out of here?”

        “Definitely!” 

        “Yes,” Akaashi nods. 

        “Oh, thank you!” You wrap one arm around each boy’s neck and tug them in for a group hug. It doesn’t take long before you grow addicted to their comforting warmth. You pull back reluctantly and look into their eyes. “So where are we going?”

        “Not gonna lie, that sounds like something my dumbass would do with two hot guys. Just yank them into a hug on the spot.”

        “You can still do that, you know. Even better if you let us kiss you. I don’t know about Akaashi, but I wouldn’t mind-”

        “S-shut up!”

        After you escaped, the fragile balance of peace between all creatures crumbled, and Kuroo went mad without his queen. Many species perished under his reign, and became extinct as a result. In the small number of villages that remained, he had posters hung with your drawn face and an offer of a hefty reward for any information of your whereabouts.

        It took them twelve years to find you. 

        “Akaashi, I’m going to go pick some berries.” You cinched your riding pants just past your hips and tucked a leather pouch into a belt loop. Arms slithered around your waist and pulled you backwards into a familiar body.

        “Okay, be careful. And can you tell Bokuto to come inside? He’s gonna get hypothermia if he stays in the lake any longer.” He presses small kisses up your neck, brushing over the bruises from the night before. 

        “Sure,” you turn your head back and peck his lips for just a second before smiling at him. “You’re handling dinner, though, right? I’m not choking down another crispy rabbit of his, no matter how much I love him.”

        Akaashi chuckles and shakes his head, squeezing your hips slightly. “Yes, I’m making dinner.” 

        “Good,” you snicker, pecking his cheek one more time before exiting the small cottage. You all had built the house with your bare hands, and every time you saw it, you beamed with pride. It took years to build the walls, but only your love combined made it a true home.

        Birds chirp in the sky high trees around you and you kick a couple pine cones on your way to the lake. You can hear him before you see him, and you hop over your miniature garden of roses to get closer to the sounds of splashes. 

        “Darling, look!” Bokuto doesn’t even have to spot you before waving an innocent salmon around victoriously. They’ve both grown hypersensitive to your presence, and it never takes long before you capture their attention nowadays. “Look what I snagged!” He’s floating in the middle of the water, grinning like no tomorrow while the poor fish wiggles frantically in his hand.  

        You stand beside his forgotten clothes and flash him a thumbs up, chuckling under your breath at the sight. “Nice catch, Kou. But Akaashi says you gotta get out now.” 

        “Aww, but why?” he pouts, glancing at his new friend before returning his disappointed gaze to you.

        “Because you might get sick and-”

        Oh no. 

        A pointed object rips through your back to the front of your chest, blood dripping from the tip. Knees wobbling, you can only whimper at the sight.

        An arrow. Slowly, you turn to find your attacker and spot a knight in the distance, lowering his bow. On his metal chestplate, he bore the symbol of the Werecats.

        “YN?!” Bokuto shouts, diving into the water and appearing at your side in under a second, catching you before you fall back. “YN!” he cries out in a broken sob.

        It hurts to breathe. It hurts to move. It hurts to speak. Your heart… oh God, you heart was pierced through completely. Nothing… not a fucking thing could save you. 

        “AKAASHI!” Bokuto calls out, cradling you in his arms and collapsing to his knees. A liquid more metallic than copper dribbles out from the corner of your mouth. Blood. It clogs your throat and your ears and your eyes. 

        You were going to die. 

        Oh God, you were going to die!

        Someone kneels on the ground beside you, and you can barely open your eyelids enough to see them. But their presence doesn’t require vision to be noticed.

        “Akaashi,” you wheeze with a slur. More blood gushes from your mouth at the taxing action. 

        “Oh God, no, please! YN, my love, stay awake!” Your hands quiver as you reach up to touch both of their damp faces. They lean into your touch instinctively, peering down at you with their foreheads just a hair’s length away from each other. Their emotions were painted on their faces like mirrors. 

        Fear. Pure, unadulterated fear.

        You were going to die.

        “Bokuto-” 

        “Don’t speak! Please, just don’t speak, you’ll be fine!” It was the first time Akaashi had ever lied to you. And it was the last. 

        The wizard’s palms glowed a dark maroon as he held them just over your heart. Bokuto tucked his face into your neck and sobbed, wails ripping their way out of his throat as he clenched his eyes shut. 

        “I love you both so much,” you whispered, pressing a bloody kiss to Bokuto’s scalp.

        “No YN!” Akaashi bit his lower lip furiously, clenching his fists before trying again, creating another aura of red around your wound. 

        “I’m not gonna make it…” Your breathing slowed and your eyes grew dim. You were so tired, so exhausted, so in pain. A nice, long nap sounded… so nice. 

        “NO! YOU’RE NOT LEAVING US!” Akaashi screamed, clenching his eyes closed and holding his hands higher above your chest before slowly dragging them up and down as he whispered words in an ancient language. 

        A spell. He was casting a spell. Or a curse.

        As you took your last breath, a puff of air fell from your lips akin to a wisp of smoke. The wizard watched in horror and amazement as the wave of fog disappeared through the forest, in the shape of a human body.

        “Find me,” it had echoed. Bokuto hadn’t raised his head once, only whimpering against your neck as his tears watered the earth. 

        “She’s gone,” he choked out. He grasped your hand and ran his chewed-raw lips over each finger. “She’s gone forever.”

        “No,” Akaashi shook his head, slowly rubbing a thumb against your cheek. He made sure that would never happen. A wave of tears at last crashed through his sturdy walls, and he softly smiled down at you as they carved salty trails down his cheeks. “She’s not.”

                                ~~~

        You raised your brows at the wizard and pursed your lips.

        “So… let me get this straight.” 

        Bokuto’s eyes were closed on your lap, but you knew he wasn’t sleeping on account of the single tear that escaped the corner of his eye. You still brushed your fingers through his hair comfortingly, but just a tad slower now. You still… well, you still had some disbeliefs.

        Akaashi nodded at you to continue, but his eyes were locked on your balcony door like he had been watching the memories as a movie. 

        “You cursed her as she died?”

        “As you died, yes.”

        “And then she-...” you gulped anxiously, “I get reincarnated every century?”

        “Yes.” 

        “Hmm.” You nod and twitch your cheek while pulling your hands away from Bokuto’s scalp. “So you wacknuts think I’m this girl’s reincarnate.”

        “We know you are.” Akaashi swivels his head to face you. His blue eyes, though teary, burn straight through your soul. Not a single doubt is found in his face. 

        “... You’re fucking crazy,” you mumble, avoiding his gaze.

        “Excuse me?”

        With sympathetic eyes, you huff a small sigh. “Look guys, I’m not some vampire queen, I’m not your mate, I-I’m not even a straight A student!” Akaashi stands and moves to sit by your side. With great effort, you try not to flinch away from his tight grasp on your hand while he gives you a pleading look.

        “YN please.” 

        “Akaashi, come on!” You wrinkle your forehead and bite your lip. “I’m not the girl you’re looking for. I’m sorry.”

        His nostrils flare and he releases your hand with a spasming jaw. Bokuto sits up from your lap, pressing one hand outside of your thigh. Akaashi catches on and mocks the position on your other side. 

        “Look into our eyes and tell us that you don’t even feel the smallest inkling that you’re meant to be with us.” It’s the first time you’ve seen Bokuto so dead serious. His gaze is unwavering as he stares deeply into your eyes, a hypnotizing shade of gold while Akaashi does the same. 

        “... I can’t do that.”

        “Ah hah! Because we are your mates!” The vampire grins victoriously.

        “No! It’s because I can’t go reverse cross-eyed!” The smallest ounce of hesitation still swims inside you because… can this really all be real? Two highly attractive men have kidnapped you, and say that they want to be with you for the rest of their immortal lives. Oh, and you supposedly rule all vampires as a queen. Yeah, no shit you still have doubts. Though there is a small place in your heart for them for them, you don’t want to give them false hope. 

        “...You can’t?” Bokuto asks, then proceeds to attempt his request and fails miserably. Shaking your head, you disguise a giggle behind your hand. Although, you still had one small question rattling around in the back of your brain.

        “So,” your confused voice captures their attention instantly as both heads turn to you, “you’ve kidnapped, like, five other me’s?” 

        “Six, but yes,” Bokuto shrugs.

        “And they’ve all been okay with it?” 

        “Well, usually we take more time to become acquainted with you, but Bokuto got antsy,” Akaashi mumbles with a flicker of judgment on his face. 

        “Why?”

        “That fucking, smug-ass cat! He found you after eight-hundred Goddamn years!”

        “Oh” is all you can say. Your attention travels down to your hands as you twiddle your thumbs nervously, but a sight makes you pause and go rigid. 

        The spiral, just as Akaashi described it, sits as three interconnected swirls on the center of your wrist. It hadn’t been there before; not until now, when Bokuto quickly snatches up your forearm and gasps at the sight.

        “Thank God, I was worried it wouldn't show up for months yet!” he cheers, tracing over the symbol like a nervous habit. The contact leaves the hairs on the back of your neck standing at attention, and you bite your tongue harshly to stay silent. Akaashi’s mouth curved up into a smile, and he carefully drew his eyes up to yours, giving you a nod.

        “Yes, I’m glad it’s shown up as well, but Bokuto, let’s give YN some time to think, yeah?”

        The vampire whines at the thought and reluctantly releases your arm, rising off the bed and finally giving you enough room to breathe. Akaashi copies his act, but not before brushing your thigh with his fingertips, and leads the way out of your bedroom. 

        While you did need time to think, you knew that the amount provided would be significantly low thanks to Bokuto’s new nightly habits. With a small, inaudible curse, you hastily scramble off your mattress and snag his wrist just before he disappears into the hall with the wizard. 

        “Bokuto, wait.” He turns back to you in confusion, but a lopsided grin crawls onto his face. The action almost makes you blush, but before you can berate yourself for even thinking of the idea, you allow your mouth to run. “If you’re just gonna come in later and wake me up like usual, why don’t you just stay now?” With a small shrug at the end, you mentally praise yourself for sounding so casual. Bokuto’s response is quite the mind boggler, though. 

        First, his brows raise and he scratches his head at your words. Then he asks, “What are you talking about?”

        What? “C’mon, you know! Like when you crawl into my bed and wrap around me like a koala every night. Just stay here now so I don’t have to wake up, I really don’t mind.”

        “Umm, YN, the only times I’ve ever done that was this morning and a couple days ago when Akaashi was already in here.”

        “...Oh.”

        Huh.

                                ~~~

        The nights always seem to be cold before he climbs into your bed, and now is no different.

        As you shiver and burrow under your cozy comforter even more, the door to your bedroom slowly creaks open, then closes just as quietly. Tiptoed steps trail all the way to the edge of your mattress, and the tulle curtain shifts aside to allow him entrance. Your back always faces the door, so he slips under the covers behind you without an ounce of visibility on your part. 

        His long arms are just the tiniest bit slimmer than his companion’s as they wrap around your waist and pull you into his solid chest, but he’s just as warm. While he settles in behind you, intertwining his cooler legs with your own and resting a knee between your thighs, you hum tiredly and tip your head back under his chin.

        “Mmm, goodnight Akaashi.”

        He tenses behind you and his arms tighten around your hips while you hear a pause in his breathing. The wizard laughs noiselessly at being caught red-handed and snuggles his face into your hair, pressing a kiss to your rose-scented scalp. 

        “Goodnight, my love.”

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Reborn (Bokuto/Akaashi x Reader) ~Chapter 2~

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

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

A/N: Here’s another part (finally:)) Lowkey proud of this mf. My god, I’m so happy y’all like this series, and I seriously hope you enjoy this part!

Tag List: @burntcilantro​  @alloverbutterflies​  @translucentthoughts​  @zaejia​  @momothepeachgirl <-this tag doesn’t work😔 @black-veil-chemicalz​  @miigoth​  

Word count: 6200

        “Let me go.”

        “No.”

        “Let me go.”

        “No.”

        You had been stuck in that damned cage for two weeks now. The blood red walls of the room closed in on you more and more every day, and the only sources of light you could treasure came through the window and played on the television outside of your cell. Since they had captured you, they fed you every morning, midday and night, on a schedule no different from a zoo animal. You no longer held the fuzzy feelings for them that you’d had before they kidnapped you, but for some reason you couldn’t hate them. Besides, they haven’t hurt you yet, so it wasn’t likely they ever would. 

        “Let me go.” Akaashi sighed and threw you a dirty look while locking your cage. 

        “Dear God YN, for the last time, we’re not letting you out!” His calm voice never raised more than necessary, but the heightened brow he gave you spoke enough of a threat. Never gonna happen. 

        After tucking the key into his pocket, he tugged on the bars to test if it was actually locked before taking a seat on the new, leather addition to the living room they trapped you in. You figured since your makeshift bed was made of the cushions from the old couch, they kind of had to adjust to the room’s new centerpiece. You. Anyways, Akaashi had just returned you from a bathroom break he and Bokuto would occasionally allow you. It was a minuscule amount of freedom you got to be away from their sight, but it was limited to five minutes each, excluding emergencies. 

        “Geez, Mr. Grumpypants. I just asked a little question.” He narrowed his blue eyes at you and you sneered back.

        If they were going to drive you crazy, you would do the same. 

        The only thing keeping you from truly going insane was the TV you could never reach. It wasn’t much for size, but it drawled peacefully with the news channel. It was the only way you could see the outside world, other than the room’s window, which only showed a forest anyway. You figured you were in the life-sucking, second-floor living room of some well-kept but forgotten mansion.

        Nothing decorated the maroon walls aside from one wilted, framed painting. It was dusty and wrinkled, but held three figures: you and your kidnappers. Dressed in an elegant, royal purple ball gown, you sat in what appeared to be a throne while each man stood behind your bare shoulders, Akaashi on the left and Bokuto on the right. The former wore his signature frown while his erratic companion had a wild grin. You, on the other hand, only smirked, but something akin to pure joy gleamed in your eyes. Maybe it was the lighting. 

        You constantly reamed the freakshows for getting a professional painting done of you and them in love, but they always dismissed the topic, saying it was “for another time.”

        Like hell it was. 

        “Hey dumbass,” you suddenly piped up, dropping cross-legged onto your “bed” and leaning back against the bars to relax. Akaashi only hummed in response, but his eyes had been on you the whole time you were deep in thought. “How did you douche canoes get a picture like that?” Your insults grew worse the more you stayed in captivity. 

        “You’ll find out soon, my love.”

        “Oh come on, how long is ‘soon’?”

        “Soon.” You roll your eyes. 

        “All right then. Can I be let out soon?” A muscle in his jaw twitches at the question while his eyes slowly narrow at you, leading you to throw in the towel. 

        “Fine, fine,” you rush out, avoiding his burning gaze. “Can I at least take a bath? I smell like century-old roadkill.” You sniff instinctively at your words and immediately regret the action. 

        Akaashi, however, seems to adore your idea. 

        “Oh, my YN,” he coos, standing and approaching your cell with a rare show of deviousness glinting in his eyes. “We would love to bathe you.” 

        You blanch and gulp at the suggestion, nostrils flaring. 

        “On second thought, I think I’ll keep stewing.” 

        Akaashi hums and draws closer to the bars, leaning against them with a smirk. “Are you sure, YN?” The way he says your name makes your heart skip a beat, the low murmur barely audible from your place on the ground.

        “Positive,” you snarl, remembering that now matter how attractive the man before you was, he was also your kidnapper. After you open your mouth to spout another retort, Akaashi suddenly pulls back just as Bokuto barges into the room, hands loaded with a tray of food. 

        “My love! I made you breakfas-” His ecstatic smile drops in an instant. As soon as his eyes lock on you, they change. Their color shifts from his normal gold to an intimidating red. Blood red. The sight wasn’t familiar, but it struck fear into your heart like no other, and you couldn’t help but tremble under his… depraved gaze. Something about it exuded desperation and hunger.

        You swallow nervously and his eyes dart to your throat, watching the act. A low rumble begins to echo through the bare room as Bokuto approaches you ever so slowly. The tense atmosphere of the room grows thicker as you wait for an attack, frozen in your position on the floor. 

        His lips peel back, and just as you catch a glimpse of his fangs glistening in the sun’s light, his body is thrown back out into the hall like a sack of flour, tugged by an invisible string. Akaashi levitates your breakfast tray in midair with one hand while he waves the other, causing the door to close with a slam. With a flicker of his fingers, the lock clicks and your food carefully lowers to the floor, sliding under the cell’s iron bars with practiced ease. 

        “Ignore that,” he mutters, blue eyes still trained on the entryway with a hidden display of disease. You struggle to follow his orders blindly, still shaken by whatever the hell had just happened. 

        Deep in thought, you carefully tear off small bits of the cinnamon roll Bokuto had made, chewing on the sugary goodness with chattering teeth. You were too frightened to even focus on the flavor, even though it was by far your most favorite prison food. Finally, you submit to your curiosity. 

        “Hey.” No response.

        “Hey!” Ignored.

        “Hey Akaashi!” Nothing. For two minutes you try to grab his attention, yelling his name and obnoxiously clanging against the bars with your fork, but nothing happens. Try me, buddy.

        The only source of protein Bokuto had provided for today’s breakfast was a hard-boiled egg rocking back and forth on your metal tray thanks to your frantic movements. You don’t hesitate to grab it and chuck it at Akaashi’s head. 

        Mission failed. We’ll get ‘em next time. 

        Your evil professor from two weeks ago throws up a measly hand and suddenly the egg hits an invisible wall. It falls to the hardwood floor with a dull thump while he rolls his eyes at you. 

        “Seriously?”

        “Oh c’mon Akaashi!” you gesture to the door with a nod of your head. “What the hell was that?”

        “I said ignore it,” he hisses through clenched teeth. The raven-haired man exits the room with a bang, leaving you to collapse back onto your bed and try to fall asleep again. Nothing worked though. Bokuto’s glowing scarlet eyes were burned into your retinas, and you highly doubted you would be getting good rest any time soon.

        “What the hell was that?” you repeat under your breath. 

                                ~~~

        More time passes, and you don’t even have the energy anymore to count the sunrises. You haven’t seen Bokuto in a while, but guessed that was mostly the last encounter’s doing. Hate no longer encompasses your brain when you see or think of them, although all of your feelings have grown dull at this point. You haven’t felt excitement, rage, worry, or happiness in too long. You couldn’t even force a glare anymore. Sitting in an empty cage, surrounded by nothing and no one was really getting to you. Scientists were right when they said humans were social creatures. You were dying, slowly from the inside-out. 

        Your hair felt greasy and dead. Your cheeks felt sunken and sullen. The only thing you could do in captivity was lie down and sleep. So you did. 

        You sat with your head propped up on your elbow, boredly watching the day's weather forecast instead of searching directly outside the window at it. It was sunny and hot, just like always, and yet you couldn’t even feel it. 

        A loud groan of pain outside the door causes you to jump. 

        “I can’t control it, Akaashi!” Another agonized grunt. “I need her! Your potions aren’t working anymore!” The hall is silent for a second, presumably thanks to Akaashi’s quieter tone. Then Bokuto speaks once more. “No, her scent is too much! I can’t!”

        Nothing happens for a solid ten minutes. There was a clock on the news channel, and you’d been checking it once every few seconds in between watching the door leading to the hall. Absolute silence for ten minutes after that shocking outburst. 

        Without warning, the entrance to your room blasts open and a table chock-full of colorful glass bottles and bubbling chemistry equipment floats in, one foot off the ground. A small bookcase follows, only containing titles in a foreign language that, you were pretty sure, was ancient and dead. At last, Akaashi trails in as the caboose to the furniture express, his arms raised in the air and pointed at the newest additions to the fun room. 

        “What’s going on?” You push off the ground and clasp the bars of your cell, leaning as close as you can to watch Akaashi perform his magic. With squinted eyes, he gently sets the floating furnishings on the floor, pushing them against the wall before snapping his fingers and producing a spinny chair in front of the table. 

        “Bokuto’s going wild, and I need to keep an eye on you from now on while I work.” He doesn’t dare make eye contact with you, and instead focuses on transporting in a new cabinet from the hall, carefully placing it between the books and the desk. Its shelves are filled to the brim with labeled jars and locked boxes, some glowing and some creating curious clouds of fog. 

        “Why?” you ask restlessly, gripping the iron tighter. “What’s wrong with him?” 

        At the question, Akaashi halts his movements and hesitantly turns back to you. His blue orbs drop to your neck before flicking back up to your face. “He’s keeping his promise.” 

        His promise? His promise?! What promise? You dig through your memories of every time you’ve ever interacted with Bokuto, and there was only one promise you could think of. 

        “Next time, I promise I’ll wait until you let me!” 

        It was after you found out he had bitten you. After you found out he had drank your blood. 

        Is that really what caused this? His whines out in the hall had been disturbingly pained, and every word he spoke had sounded forced through bare teeth. 

        Suddenly, his red eyes from a few mornings ago made a lot more sense. 

        He was thirsty, and you were the only juice pouch he wanted. 

        “Akaashi,” you shift on your feet and rub the back of your neck awkwardly. “Why doesn’t Bokuto just… umm…” you trail off, not exactly sure how to phrase it without sounding insane. From inside your cage. Where you had been locked in by a vampire and a wizard. Maybe you should just quit trying to sound sane from now on; it was quickly becoming a useless habit of yours.

        “Yes?” His back is still to you, but he turns his head in effort to show he’s listening while he fumbles with radiant tonics at his new work station.

        “Why doesn’t he just, like, drink from another person?” 

        The black-haired man’s posture goes rigid, and his head slowly raises to face the wall in front of him. The bottled liquids are left forgotten on the desk while he grips its edges with white knuckles. A bitter chuckle leaves him, and it shakes you to the core.

        “Oh, my love, you have so much to learn.” 

        “Do I?”

        “Yes,” he smirks. “For now, just know that the only one he willingly drinks blood from is you, and you alone.”

        The thought makes you nauseous. You hadn’t even been conscious the first time, but you already know you don’t look forward to another blood-sucking experience. “Wonderful,” you mutter bitterly, folding your arms and stepping away from the bars. 

        You don’t speak for the next hour, only watching Akaashi work with wide eyes. Every few minutes, a puff of steam or a crackle of sparks would arise from his movements. As if on repeat, he constantly switched between trailing his finger over a page of an open book, shaking random glass bottles until they had a reaction, and plucking various jarred items off the shelves to add to his mysterious concoctions. As someone who had never believed in magic or storybooks, you were mystified. 

        “Hey Akaashi?” you piped up, eyes still locked on his hand’s twirling motions as he read from the book. 

        “Yes, my love?” You still kind of hated that nickname, but in a way it was growing on you. 

        “Can I do some of that... stuff?” 

        “Absolutely not,” he responded in the same, domestic tone. 

        “Oh come on, I’m dying in here, bro!” 

        “Well, bro,” he spat out, obviously not a fan of your own name-calling, “it’s even more deadly out here. You can’t touch any of this stuff unless you want to lose your eyesight.” 

        “Well, I’d have to look at you less, so maybe it’s worth a shot, hmm?” 

        He doesn’t answer, instead choosing to let out a deep sigh and roll his shoulders back. You weren’t done, though, and decided to complain until his ears bled. 

        “Oh my God, I’m so bored.” Zero acknowledgement from your pal, but no matter. 

        “Akaashi, my dude, I’m like really bored in here.” You tap your nails against the metal lockspace, causing annoying little clinks to reverberate around the room. 

        “I’m not your ‘dude,’” he whispers, so faint you can barely hear it. 

        “My dude! I’m really bored. I could literally die of boredom right here, right now. You wanna know how bored I am?-”

        “No.”

        “-I’m so bored I could-”

        “My love!” he barks, spinning to face you with a glare. “Do you mind?” While his eye twitches and his teeth gnaw, you only shrug your shoulders with pursed lips.

        “No, not really. You’re fine.”

        Akaashi’s deep blue eyes observe you in annoyance and he finally gives in, stomping close enough that you can see each one of his long lashes. “What. Do. You. Want.” 

        “To do something, Akaashi!” You throw your arms in the air exasperatedly and spin around. “Do you know how much it sucks to be in here?” His face darkens with guilt as you give him a pleading look. “Please,” you fold your hands and pout, “please just let me do something, anything.” 

        Ashamed, Akaashi brushes a hand through his hair and bites his lip, trying to come up with an idea that won’t require you to leave the cage. At last, his gaze brightens and he snaps his fingers.

        Something crashes to the floor behind you. You spin around and gawk at the sight. 

        “Books?!”

        “Go nuts, my love.” 

        I’ll try.

                                ~~~

        “What’s the difference between eggshell white and white white?” You furrow your brows and squint at the phrase in the novel.

        “Eggshell is softer.” 

        “Really?!” Your eyes widen in excitement and you begin to wiggle on your blanket pile. “Wow, that’s so amazing! God, aren’t words just so interesting Akaashi?”

        “Are you being serious?”

        “Fuck no.” The grin drops off your face and you toss the book back behind you. Good news: Akaashi had given you a bookshelf. Bad news: every single one so far had been mind-numbingly dull. Or maybe it was the atmosphere. 

        Life seemed to be just a little more stale each day you sat in that room without Bokuto’s interrupting presence. You missed the times when he would barge in with a “Hey hey hey!” and slide your food into the cell before plopping down cross-legged and telling you stories. It didn’t matter what they were about. Sometimes it was about a dog he got to pet at the grocery store. Other times it was a bird he saw while running around in the forest. It wasn’t until now that you realized how much you actually missed him. You legitimately missed your owlish kidnapper, who had bitten you without consent.

        Somewhere deep in your mind, you guessed he was still just the same old diner customer who occupied most of your shift, then made up for it with a generous tip. But maybe, just maybe you saw him as more than that.

        “Akaashi,” you sigh, rolling over onto your stomach and resting your chin on your folded arms, “is Bokuto okay?” 

        He doesn’t respond for a minute, and the air in the room grows a bit harder to breathe. “I don’t really know, YN.” His answer, at last, isn’t exactly what you wanted to hear, but neither was the agonized roar that followed. 

        “AAHH!” 

        You scramble to your feet while Akaashi drops a glass in surprise. The glowing liquid splatters everywhere, but he pays it no mind even as it sizzles against the hardwood.

        “What the hell was that?” you whisper in terror, wide eyes watching him for an explanation. The shake of his head along with a shrug didn’t exactly comfort you. 

        Abruptly, another howl of pain cuts through the air, breaking the nervous tension like a knife. Then a scream sounds. Bangs and cracks rumble the floor beneath your feet as Bokuto, or what you assume is Bokuto, cries out in absolute torment. 

        You flinch every time he makes a noise, and frantically reach for Akaashi when he begins to walk towards the door. 

        “Akaashi, no-” He silences you with a finger against his lips and nods reassuringly before cracking open the door and disappearing into the hall, locking it in his wake. 

        One minute passes. More screams, but nothing worse.

        Two minutes. 

        Three. 

        Four. 

        On the fifth minute, or the three hundred seconds that you had counted Mississippi-lessly, Akaashi crashes back into the room with wide, panicked eyes, slamming the door behind him. 

        He sprints towards your cell with a heaving chest and waves his hand, causing the bars to fly open. Your heart rate speeds up at the sight. I’m free.

        “We have to go,” he sputters, grabbing your hand and tugging you out of the cage. His fingers clench your own so tightly, and his palms are clammy and twitching as he drags you out of the room. 

        The halls are dark, but colored the same maroon as the walls of your cage-area. You barely have enough time to comprehend all the tapestries you pass, every vase and statue and stained glass transforming into a blur as Akaashi speeds up his longer stride. Your legs burn as you try to keep up with him, and your heart races in excitement. 

        I’m free.

        Every twist and turn he leads you through gives you whiplash, and you only now know that you’ve been living in a friggin’ labyrinth for the past month or so. Each corridor has a window, and each window displays the full moon outside. It’s the only light that shows Akaashi the path he needs to take. 

        Your arm begins to ache from his straining grip, keeping it constantly extended as he flies ahead of you in a dead sprint. The burn only lessens when Akaashi slows to a stop in a large foyer. Two staircases lead down to one main entrance of the mansion. 

        I’m free. 

        You’re so close you can practically taste it. And finally, your blood rushing in and out of your eardrums, becoming so quiet that you can finally hear it. A low growl coming from the hallway just behind you. 

        “Come on,” Akaashi shouts to you, snatching your hand once again and trailing you down the steps of the right staircase in a mad rush. He pulls you out the main entrance and slams the two large doors closed behind him. The lion-faced metal door knockers clang loudly as it shuts, and Akaashi mumbles foreign words under his breath while releasing his grip on you, waving two blue, glowing hands over the crease of the doorway.  

        What was the strongest bone in the body again? 

        “This should give us enough time to escape. Then we’ll figure out how to fix him once we’re far enough away,” Akaashi chokes out, gulping down air while he watches the mansion’s entrance warily. 

        “Oh, good.” In a split second, you throw your elbow into Akaashi’s forehead, effectively knocking him unconscious. “Guess I’m still a little pissed off about being locked up though, dickhead.” You deliver a swift kick to the side of his body while leering over him with a smirk. Then you swivel back and observe your escape routes. 

        There was option one, which was a paved path that presumably led to the real world once more. Both Bokuto and Akaashi, when he woke up, would easily spot you running down this trail. 

        Or there was option two, which was the dense forest that you could barely see from the large patio of the mansion. It would be less easy to find you or track your scent, but you would have to travel slower on account of not tripping and being wary of wild animals. 

        You decided to take your chances and tore cheek towards the forest. Your legs were about to give out thanks to the marathon inside the house, so the only thing fueling you right now was pure adrenaline. You had done many amazing things with adrenaline, so you figured it could help you out now too. 

        Every rock and twig on the forest floor seemed to be out to trip you, so you attempted to hop over them with all the grace you could muster. What you hope looked like an elegant gazelle galloping on the great plains actually appeared to be a newborn giraffe bumbling around on spare strands of hay. You twisted your ankles like twenty times, but the pain only drove you harder. 

        I can make it!

        I can make it!

        I can make it!

        Wind whipped past your face and blew your hair into your mouth, but you had to settle for choking on it because every time you spit it out, it thwapped right back into your eyes. Your lungs pleaded for a break while your knees began to wobble, and the time you finally decided to give in to their whining was about the time you tripped over a fallen log and face-planted directly adjacent to a pile of what you prayed wasn’t any sort of excrement. 

        I can’t make it.

        “Fuck,” you wheeze, wiping the dirt and hair off your face before butt-scooching to lean back against a tree. Tenderly, you rub your ankles and try not to cry out at the pain. Tears stung your eyes while your muscles throbbed with soreness. Your heartbeat was tangible even in the palms of your hands. Every little thing that could hurt in your body did hurt. Places you didn’t even know existed twinged every few seconds, and you couldn’t help but rue the day you quit the gym. 

        “Shit,” you whimper quietly, biting your lip as wetness begins to pain your cheeks. How were you even supposed to return to real life normally after this? After being kidnapped by your teacher and a man who knows where you worked? Would the cops put you in the Witness Protection program? Would you ever get to see your family again? Most importantly: would you even make it out of these woods alive?

        The low growls that slow began to resound around you certainly increased the severity of that question. Your breathing hitched as you spotted something, or some things, about thirty feet away from you. Mountain lions, but twice as big, and of different colors. And from the sound of it, they were also behind you as well. 

        As a pack, they circled you, and ever so slowly, they creeped closer and closer. The one directly in front of you was nearest, and you cowered away with silent snivels of fear. It appeared to lead the group with every step it took, with its massive, black paws pressing soundlessly against the forest floor. It was barely visible thanks to its fur color, which was as dark as the night sky. It was by far the largest of them all, none of the others in your line of sight even came close. 

        As you hugged your knees to your chest and dug your back into the tree behind you, the leader loomed nearer. Finally, it was practically two feet from you, and sniffed you curiously while the others stayed perched and ready to attack. Then you got the weirdest feeling from it, like the wild feline was smirking at you. 

        What the hell? You furrow your brows and stabbed your nails into your legs, trying to stop yourself from making anymore sounds. Even the smallest reaction on your part might cause them to attack. But then a surprised mewl sounded behind you, followed by a whimper. Then another, then another until you realized that something… or maybe someone was picking them off one by one. 

        The leader in front of you huffed out a warm breath that hit you in the face as it snarled. This caused you to cry out in instinctive fear, and a loud growl echoed in response. 

        A flash of white latched onto the flank of the wild cat beside the leader, who whipped around with a hiss and a swipe of its meaty paw. The tackled feline went flying behind its attacker, then its friend was tossed away with inhuman strength as well before all that remained was the black cat in front of you. The pained mewls of the rest of the pack finally died out, and the leader whipped his tail up into a frenzy as he charged the glob of white you squinted to see. 

        Screeches, growls and grunts arose as one large clamor while you clenched your eyes closed and prayed that you would make it out alive. Large thuds and smacks were audible before it all stopped in a dead silence. You heard the telltale thumps of multiple felines fleeing the scene, and hesitantly opened your eyes to see flashes of black, orange and white all fade into the distance of the dark forest directly behind the white creature in front of you.

        The only thing you could hear was the wind whistling and the heavy panting of the animal in front of you. The woods were so dark, but in an instant, two glowing red orbs were visible on it. On him. 

        “Bokuto,” you mutter under your breath. He growls deeply in response, carefully padding closer on bare feet to you. He was covered in the tatters of a black and white t-shirt and basketball shorts. His wild hair was in disarray, and you found small, bloody scratches here and there on his body, which grew smaller and smaller by the second until they healed over as smooth skin. 

        “YN,” he grumbled tightly, dropping to his knees and slowly surveying you up and down for any damage. With clenched fists at his sides, he leered over your body, breathing heavily while his eyes finally found home on your neck. Deep in his burning eyes, you saw two conflicting emotions: hunger and shame. His lips peel back to reveal two sharpened fangs, glinting in the moonlight. You can’t help but whimper at the sight and recoil, letting out a shaky breath when he stops at the noise. 

        “YN,” he repeats, his voice needy and guilty all at the same time. His hand slowly unfurls from his side and weakly brushes a hair out of your face. You wince at the feeling of his touch and he cringes at your reaction. “YN, I-” Bokuto rears back with a whine and bites his lip, easily drawing blood with his tooth-like daggers. 

        “AKAASHI!” he suddenly shouts, red eyes flaring as he avoids your gaze. The abruptness scares the life out of you for the last time, and your brain decides it needs a break from all the recent excitement. Bokuto calls out for his partner in crime once more as your vision goes fuzzy, and with an involuntary sigh of relief, you pass out against the rough tree behind you.

                                ~~~

        “Here, my love, drink this.” Akaashi settles onto the couch beside you and hands you a cup of tea with his own magical kick. You’re finally in a new room, no more cage even though you KOed one of your captors. It has a four-poster, royal purple bed with see-through tulle hanging down around it like a protective curtain. There’s a television directly across from it, sitting on top of and in between bookshelves, stacked with stories much more interesting with the ones Akaashi had previously provided. Instead of your old window, you now have a glass sliding door leading to a balcony, which has a staircase down into a gated off garden, chock-full of every kind of flower imaginable. 

        There’s a closet filled to the brim with clothing from all different centuries, most of which you refuse to wear. And last but not least, there’s a couch right next to your private bathroom, upon which both you and Akaashi are sitting. 

        “Thank you,” you mumble, accepting it with a soft smile and reveling in the warmth it provides for your fingers. 

        After you fell unconscious deep in the forest in front of the mansion, Bokuto had Akaashi carry you home to get some much-needed rest. When you awoke, the black-haired male helped you get undressed and into a bath, and you were too worn and traumatized to care if he saw you in the nude. 

        “I’ve seen it all before anyways, my love,” he had said. You didn’t bother to ask for more information, too wrapped up in releasing the tension of every muscle in your body. 

        And now, he served you a tea like a good little butler, while you sat wrapped in a warm blanket in your new cage. It was much cozier than the last one, you had to admit. 

        “Is Bokuto okay?” you whisper, still staring into your cup of tea while biting your lip. Akaashi’s arm around your shoulder tensed for just a second, then relaxed as he pulled you closer. You give in, enjoying some form of comfort after last night’s events. 

        “He’s seen you. And I don’t know if that’s made him better off or worse.”

        “Can I see him?” Your question causes Akaashi to shift in his seat, facing you with wide eyes and a blanched face. 

        “YN, he might hurt you.”

        “That’s okay.” 

        “Excuse me?” He raises a brow and gently grasps your chin in his hand, turning you to face him seriously. 

        “Let me see him.” Akaashi shakes his head.

        “YN, he’ll-”

        “I don’t care,” you interrupt more forcefully this time. “Let me see him. I just wanna say thank you.” Akaashi licks his lips nervously and clenches his eyes closed in contemplation. 

        “All right, fine. I’ll go find him. But don’t say I didn’t tell you so.” Your lips quirk up at his fold, and you grab his hand just after he stands. 

        “Thank you.” Your eyes sparkle in the lightning, and you’re not sure but you’re also almost damn positive Akaashi just blushed. 

        “Just be careful,” he grumbles, squeezing your hand before pulling away and leaving the room. 

        About half an hour passes, and after a pat on the back for your personal ability to assume how much time has passed, the door to your new bedroom opens just a hair. 

        “YN?” Bokuto whispers through the crack. “Akaashi said you wanted to talk.”

        “I do. Please come in.”

        “I-I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

        “Please just come in.” Your beg works, and Bokuto hesitantly pushes his way inside, closing the door softly behind him. He hasn’t opened his eyes once since he entered, and you smile softly at the sight. Silent as a mouse, you rise up off the couch and slowly approach him. 

        “Y-YN-”

        “Bokuto, look, I know what’s happening to you,” you pause and wrinkle your forehead. “Well, I kinda know what you’re going through. But you helped me through all of it, and you didn’t hurt me even once. Thank you.” You cup his face gently and he inhales deeply at the affection. 

        “Can I see your eyes now?” you ask carefully. His hands trail up your sides and over your arms, all the way up to your own as he cups them closer to his cheeks. 

        “YN, I don’t wanna hurt you.” 

        “Bokuto, I trust you now.” You trail your thumbs up just under his eyelashes before returning them down to the apples of his cheeks. “Please, just let me help you.”

        After a long moment of silence, his eyelids flutter open, displaying beautiful golden orbs that shift to bright red in an instant. Bokuto swallows nervously and grips your hands tighter, his gaze constantly flickering down to your neck while a slow rumble starts to sound from deep in his chest. 

        “YN…” 

        “Come on,” you take a hand of his in your own and lead him to the couch, sitting and dragging him down next to you. Slowly, you release your grip and pull your hair back and away from your neck, tilting your head slightly to display what he needed. 

        “YN!” Bokuto growled, instinctively leaning closer before pulling back just as quickly. “I don’t wanna hurt you!” 

        “You won’t.” Your heartbeat pounds in your ears, and you wonder if he can hear it too. Without a second thought, you grab his hand once more and place it against your neck, cringing at the uncomfortable feeling already. Maybe I can’t do this. 

        “I can’t, YN. You need to know I can’t stop if I start.” 

        “You won’t kill me.”

        “Never,” he exclaims, scandalized at the thought. His hand twitches against your neck. “I just… I’m not sure if I can stop when you do feel it. God, I need it so bad, YN. I know I won’t stop.” You were ready for this like an hour ago, but now you’re beginning to feel doubts. That’s no bueno. 

        “Fuck, Bokuto, just get on with it already!” As fast as you can, you dig your hands into his hair and yank him down into your neck. 

        Your first thought was Oh, ouchie.

        Your second thought was OW FUCK, SON OF A BITCH!

        Apparently, he had a little less resolve than he knew, because that motherfucker dove right in like a rat on a Cheeto. As soon as his fangs pierced the delicate skin of your neck, you couldn’t even speak. It was like when a cat accidentally gets their claws caught in their owner’s skin, but instead of one small flinch of pain, it was hours, times like a hundred. 

        It was like getting your blood drawn, except by a human… ’s mouth. Yeah, no shit.

        It hurt, god it hurt so bad. The noises he made as he drank your blood, sucking it straight out of it’s most vital vein, were so vulgar they made you want to plug your ears. One hand of his was in your hair, not yanking harshly, but just gently leaning your head back while the other held you in place with his hand on your hip. 

        The constant stabbing feeling pulsed right through your whole nervous system with every gulp of his mouth. At first, you had attempted to thrash wildly against him, desperately trying to get away from the agonizing pain. Then, as your body and mind began to feel more tired, more drained, you could only bunch his shirt up tightly in your hands while you whimpered. 

        Every noise you made, Bokuto responded with a small groan or grunt, but his grip never let up, and eventually you couldn’t handle it. For the second time in a span of twenty-four hours or so, you submitted to your aching body and slumped in the vampire’s grip.

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Reborn (Bokuto/Akaashi x Reader) ~Chapter 1~

(Supernatural/Soulmate AU)

*GIF not mine*

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

A/N: This is gonna be a series if y’all want it, or it could die right here right now. Either way, I hope y’all like it!

Word count: 5771

        You were just as beautiful as when he had first met you eight centuries ago. The too-small apartment you bumbled around in was just outside the university’s campus so you could get to your early morning classes, and resided about two miles away from your horrible job so you could travel to work easily too. 

        Through your window, he could see you singing a tune shyly under your breath, still new enough to living in an apartment that you didn’t know whether your neighbors could hear you. The clangs from the dishes you placed into your cupboards hurt his ears, even though he was a few hundred feet away on another complex’s dusty rooftop. There was a gentle smile on your face that sped up his heart, and a lively glow in your eyes that made him hold back a giggle. Your skin looked so soft too-

        “What’s she doing?” A dull voice hummed behind the older, more energetic man. 

        “The dishes, just like every other Thursday,” he responded cheerfully, peeling his gaze away from the telescope and swiveling to his friend. “She’s putting away the knives.” 

        “She’s gonna hurt herself.”

        “No way,” the older shook his head, “she handles knives just as well as she has in her past lives.”         “Yeah, but this round she’s seriously clumsy. It gives me a headache.” The black-haired male shoulders past his companion to glance through the spyglass. He sighs at the event he witnesses. “There, see? She just cut herself.” 

        “Oh shit, let me see!” The erratic man pushes his aloof friend aside to watch you, scared you had been seriously injured. It doesn’t take long before the sight of you takes its effect, and he feels his canines piercing through his gums. You were bleeding.

        Inside your apartment, you hiss against your teeth while gingerly dabbing a tissue against the finger you had sliced open. Anxiously, he gulps before pulling away from the scope and turning to his friend. 

        “I guess we’ll just have to watch over her even more this time.”

        “No kidding.”

        Both men loved you. Both men needed you. And soon, both men would have you. 

                                ~~~

        University, you decided, was going to be a blast. You had a wonderful job at a little diner, many classes that interested you, and a cheap apartment that cost almost nothing compared to how wonderful the size and interior of it was. 

        There was only one small downside: everywhere you went, it felt like a pair of eyes was constantly watching you. While you did your homework, while you slept, while you traveled to class, it was terrifying. Someone was watching you; the only question was who? 

        “YN!” A voice frightens you out of your daze and you turn to find the voice. It’s Sakura, the only friend you’ve made since you’ve been on campus so far. Her long, black hair tumbles down her shoulders in wavy locks, and it brushes the waistline of her drastically-mini skirt. Most of her toned stomach is showing, but the neon orange crop top she’s wearing isn’t really doing her any favors. In a word, Sakura was… voluptuous, even though she stood about a petit four inches  below you. She certainly knew how to flaunt her assets, anyway. 

        You, on the other hand, accepted your collegiate fate instantly. Hiking your hefty backpack up higher on your shoulder, you tried not to feel like a potato sack standing across from her in your plain, maroon sweatshirt and black yoga pants. While she stood on the most popular Vans of this decade, checkered and all, you settled for your black and white Adidas, which were way past their prime. Your budget couldn’t afford it anyways, so there was no point in a comparison. 

        “Hey Sakura!” you waved shyly and tensed when she joined her arm with your own. “what’s up?” 

        “Oh nothing,” she rolled her eyes playfully before skipping on her feet beside you, “I’m just freaking out over getting to meet the new, hot teacher!” Squinting your eyes at the screech, you press your heels into the ground to stop her trek. Sakura glances back at you curiously.

        “New teacher?” Her jaw drops at you.

        “You didn’t know?!” You flinch at her high-pitched exclamation once more before shaking your head.

        “No…?”

        “Oh my God, YN!” she drawls and smacks your shoulder playfully, “you need to get in the loop around here! You’re a student too, you know.” 

        “Oh, trust me, I know.” You roll your eyes and let out a huff. “Now tell me more about this ‘hot teacher’ you’re so excited to meet.” She squeals with delight and latches onto your upper arm, dragging you inside the school’s main building. 

        It looks much more sleek on the inside than on the outside. While the exterior of the school was made from old, mossy bricks and had spire-like architectures to resemble a castle, the interior had pure white marble floors and walls covered in glass cases holding trophies. More awards than you ever thought existed lined the bright halls of the university, each adorned with a picture of a smiling alumni. Distantly, you wondered if you would ever accomplish something as special. 

        “So Brittany told me that Alex said that Jennifer heard…” Sakura’s gleeful chitters echo down the endless corridors, trailing off as you fall deeper and deeper into a worry-filled rabbit hole. What if you failed right on the first day? What if you never even came close to winning any kind of important awards like the people who had come here before you? 

        A headache grew not only from the bitter scent of Windex in the air covering every glass surface around you, but also from the flurry of thoughts in your head. You barely even comprehend when Sakura drops your arm and gasps at something, and you only shake out of your daze when it’s too late. 

        “Oof.” You slam into a sturdy, bulky chest and fall with a thud to the marble floor. With a hiss, you rub your aching backside and groan lightly. “That kinda hurt.”

        “Oh, I’m so sorry, are you all right?” The voice is deep and throaty, but there’s a certain giddiness about it that makes you wonder if his bumping into you was really an accident. Huffing, you glare up at the man, only to freeze at the sight. His hair looks like a black and white explosion, and his golden eyes are lit up with childlike excitement. Everything about him screams “powerful,” and even though his mouth is hidden behind a black facemask, you could almost swear he was beaming at you. Suddenly, a hand is waving around in front of your face.

        “Are you okay?” he asks again, eyes still narrowed arrogantly while he offers you help to your feet. 

        When you accept, a spark trails from his fingertips to yours and travels through your whole body at lightning speed before settling in the pit of your stomach. Involuntarily, you shiver and your fingers squeeze his large, rough hands. He lets out a small hum and closes his eyes at the action before whipping them open not even a second later. The pupils, black and glittering, have taken over the majority of his irises, and the man takes a small step closer to you. 

        “Thanks,” you whisper, unable to detach yourself from his enrapturing gaze.

        “Of course, YN.” The skin just under his eye twitches as he leans closer to you, and your breath hitches at his growing proximity.

        “Ahem!” Someone clears their throat loudly behind the wild-haired man and he instantly pulls away from you at the sound. It was like you had burned him, but before you could ask if he was okay, he mutters an apology over his shoulder and twists away from you, but not before giving your hand a quick squeeze. With a wink, he disappears into another hallway, leaving you with a tight feeling in your chest and a racing heart. 

        “YN!” It’s at that moment that you realize Sakura had witnessed all of that. “What the hell was that?” she whisper-yells at you with wide, mystified eyes. Still flustered yourself, you can only shrug and clench the straps of your backpack tightly.

        “I don’t know.” 

        “Well it doesn’t matter,” she scoffs before grasping your forearm and discreetly gesturing to a man in front of you. “Look,” she whispers enthusiastically, “it’s the hot teacher.”

        Oh, so that’s why she had gasped. And not without reason, too. The guy standing in front of you stole your breath away, and jump-started your heart just as it was about to settle down. 

        He had gunmetal blue eyes that seemed to narrow at everything, and messy black hair you desperately wanted to run your hands through. Though he was less built than the man you had just run into, there was still a hint of muscle under his clean, dark blazer. He was decked in a suit and tie, and looked more like James Bond than your new English teacher. Not that you were complaining. 

        “You ladies must be new students in my class.” His tone, albeit flat and bored, still set a fire to your nerves, much like the boy from earlier.

        “Yes, professor, we are!” Sakura nods frantically beside you and bats her eyelashes. “We are so excited to be in your class this year!” While she puckers her lips discreetly, you shift on your feet and bite the inside of your cheek, trying to restrain a blush. When his gaze shifts to you and the corner of his lips quirks up, your plan goes down the drain. 

        With a light chuckle under his breath, the professor nods approvingly at the two of you, and an emotion flickers through his eyes for a fleeting second as he stares at you once more. You barely catch it and can’t identify it in the small amount of time before he says, “Well, my room is right here. Class doesn’t start for another fifteen minutes, but you’re not the only ones to arrive early, so go ahead and find a seat.” 

        He gestures for you to follow him inside, and the door closes with a whoosh behind you as you enter the classroom. While the professor, Keiji Akaashi from what you can read off his nameplate, takes his seat at his large wooden desk, you peruse the space around you. 

        Students are chattering about in the lecture hall. Some are gathered in large clumps peering down at phones and giggling, while others are alone with headphones on, relaxing before the first class of the day. Sakura foolishly attempts to seat you both at the bottom row, closest to the teacher’s desk. Although you appreciated her reasoning, something always drew you to the back of the classroom, the very end of the space. Normally, what led you to covet this mostly hidden area in the dimmer part of the luminescent room was the idea of solitude and sparement from cheating, but today it was something more. 

        There was a boy, yes another one, lounged in the farthest row. With feet kicked up and crossed one over the other on his table space, he leaned back and watched you just as you watched him. His arms were folded behind his head while he served you a smug smirk, running a slow hand through his dark bedhead before waving teasingly at you. The cheeky act made you squeak in surprise, then a sudden growl rumbled around the room. 

        “Ms. YLN, please find a seat. Preferably one where you won’t be distracted.” Mr. Akaashi grumbled, observing you with narrowed eyes. 

        “Yes sir.” With a frantic nod, you dash up the steps to the last row of desks and plop down in one, Sakura long forgotten in the front row. She’s already made a few friends who seem just as thrilled as her to be in this class, so you weren’t exactly worried. You drop your bag to the floor beside you and pull out your phone to distract from your lonesome, but it doesn’t last long. A warm body approaches you and collapses into the spot right next to you, relaxing back into the same position you had seen him in two seconds ago. 

        “The name’s Kuroo,” he grins at you, opening only one eye to look you up and down. 

        “I’m YN,” you sputter out, dismissing formalities. “Nice to meet you.”

        “I know,” Kuroo simpers, and you can’t help but scoff at his response. The confidence he oozes is contagious, and so is the smirk he wears. 

        “Oh wow,” you laugh with a nod, “all right, smooth guy, calm it down.”

        “What,” he raises a brow playfully, “is it not nice to meet me?” 

        You bite your lip and shake your head in disbelief. “Oh, I don’t know,” you slump down into your chair and mock his posture, kicking your legs up onto the desk and crossing your arms, “you tell me.” 

        Your desk buddy cackles at this and you giggle with him. His laughter is just as infectious as his attitude. In your head, you knew this was going to bloom into a fun friendship-

        “YLN, Kuroo! Class is about to begin, so settle down!” Mr. Akaashi looks like he is about to blow steam out his ears, and his jaw twitches while snarling at you two. The sight sobers you right up, and you hurriedly sit straight up at your desk while muttering an apology. 

        For the rest of the period, Kuroo whispers the occasional joke into your ear that makes you want to crack up, but you’ve already had enough of your teacher’s scowl to know that would be dangerously thin ice. It ends with Mr. Akaashi dismissing you all and handing out a rubric for your first assignment as people exit the doorway. As you scramble to gather your notes and pens for your backpack, your new friend stays behind to keep you company. 

        “I’m telling you, YN, you’re only gonna cry at the end if you watch it!” Kuroo insists while handing you a textbook. 

        “Why would I?”

        “Because they shoot the dog!” You pout at him sadly while he furrows his brows and starts to continue. “At least, you really shouldn’t watch it alone.” 

        “Mhm.” He follows you down the steps of the lecture hall and to the doorway where Mr. Akaashi waits with a withering glare. 

        “Maybe we could-”

        “YN,” your professor interrupts with a blank stare, handing you a paper. His long, roughened fingers brush your own as he does and the touch leaves a spark, “have a good day. Mr. Kuroo,” he directs his darkening gaze to your chatterbox companion and slowly bares his teeth. “A word, please.”

        The door slams behind you thunderously as you stumble out into the hall from the force. 

        “What the hell was that all about?” you grumble, hiking your bag higher up your shoulder before leaving the university building. 

                                ~~~

        The diner was never as wonderful as you wanted, but it paid the bills. Of course, there were always the usual creeps, who showed up at around five, and then there were the occasional newbie creeps, who always shot their shot while they had the chance. Thankfully, and you suppose not-so thankfully, you weren’t the prettiest girl on the job.

        Although they paid you mostly to drop enough dignity to wear a short skirt with an apron, you weren’t the one with the most assets to flaunt. That job was also incidentally how you met Sakura, who had plenty to show off. You had become good friends when you had the same shifts, but you had become great friends when you helped her fend off a fresh pedophile from out of town. 

        Since then, she stuck to you like white on rice whenever you clocked in, and always jabbered about the most important things in life when you had time to talk. Today’s topic: the hot, new teacher.

        “Oh my God, YN, you should have seen the way he looked at me!” She bit her lip and clenched her eyes shut excitedly, wiggling with happiness. A miniature wave of jealousy flowed through your veins at her words, but it was gone before you could question it. 

        “Really?”

        “Yes! God, he has the most beautiful eyes!” She sighed dreamily while wiping down the counter. “And that hair! Ugh, don’t you just wanna run your fingers through it?” Yes.

        “Umm, sure.” You pick up the stray menus while nodding distractedly. 

        “And don’t even get me started on his smile. He has the most amazing teeth! Did you see his teeth?!” 

        “Yep.” 

        “Oh, don’t you think he has just the most wonderful-” The bells along the top of the restaurant’s entrance chime, signalling a new visitor, and you don’t wait to scramble away from Sakura. 

        “Welcome to-” Oh.

        It’s the man from earlier, from before your class, except this time he’s missing his mask. Judging by his reaction, you’re guessing he heard your slight gasp. Even from behind the counter, you can see his blinding smile, and the almost sharp teeth that come along with it. 

        “Hey YN!” he waves and takes the stool directly in front of your awestruck form. 

        “H-hi.” Your meek response makes you grow many shades of red from your neck all the way up to your hair. With a gawking mouth, you blindly feel for a menu and lay it in front of him. 

        “Thanks!” 

        “Yeah.” Your breathing falters at the wink he throws you before scrutinizing the laminated pages before him for his dinner. It only takes a few more minutes of awkwardly gaping at him before a realization hits you. 

        “Wait!” you announce loudly, capturing the attention of the whole diner. The room silences and you tense with wide eyes before waving your hands dismissively to return the patrons to their normal chatter. It’s not quite as pleasant and rowdy as before, but it’s enough to please you. Returning your gaze to the wild haired man from before, you flinch to see he’s already watching you like a hawk. Or maybe like an owl, according to his hyper focused, expectant stare. 

        This time, you make sure to lower your voice as you whisper, “How do you know my name?” The man before you stiffens and his Adam’s apple bobs. 

        “Umm, I… I…” he avoids your eyes as his own dart around the diner nervously. “I heard your friend say it!” he exclaims with an assured nod. “Yes, yes I heard your friend say it.” He points at Sakura who is chasing down a customer’s toddler running rampant around the other tables and chairs. 

        “Okay,” you nod slowly, still scrutinizing his face with narrowed eyes, “I guess that makes sense.” 

        “Yep.” He grins complacently at you before dropping his face down onto the menu again. 

        “All right,” you repeat, bobbing your head still. “All right, so if you get to know my name, doesn’t that mean I get to know yours?” 

        “Yes!” His eyes sparkle with happiness as he practically breaks his neck to face you in a split second. “My name is Koutarou Bokuto!” He shoves a hand over the counter and you gingerly accept it, shaking it politely with your own. It causes more fireworks along your nerve endings and forces a slight huff out of you. 

        “Nice to meet you, Bokuto.” A small smile had crept onto your face during the handshake, and your gaze on him softens. 

        “Aww, c’mon, call me Koutarou!” He pouts and shoves his chin into his hand, slamming his elbow down onto the counter indignantly. You disguise a giggle behind your fingers and his dramatic facial expression lets up a bit. 

        “No way, we don’t know each other enough,” you laugh, pulling the notebook and pen out of your apron. “Now do you want to hear the specials?”

        “From you? Hell yeah!”

                                ~~~

        A couple weeks have passed since your first class, and within that time you seemed to have become a teacher’s pet. Apparently, according to Mr. Akaashi, you were the only student who actually tried or paid attention in his class. At a certain point, you wanted to correct and reassure him that no, you barely paid attention, you just really liked English and studied on your own time. But as time went on, you began to appreciate his comments on your abilities. Plus, you supposed he wasn’t exactly wrong; most people were either entranced by your professor himself or stuck in a daze while staring outside the convenient, twenty-foot high classroom windows. They were quite the aesthetic, which also made them a conducive distraction. 

        In this spanse of time, you had also received more visits from Bokuto at the diner, and you spent more time out of the classroom with Kuroo. Through those hours with them, you grew closer to both, each of them gaining the title as your friend. Lately, however, a large majority of your time was spent helping Mr. Akaashi grade papers. He had inquired you a while ago to become his student assistant, and you didn’t mind helping out. 

        When he had asked, though, was when you lost favor with just about everyone in your class. 

        “YN, could you come down here for a second?” He had just dismissed them all, and singled you out just as you began to pack your things. With a curious glance from Kuroo, you shrugged and trudged down the steps, nervously standing in front of his neatly-organized desk while students filtered out behind you. 

        “Bitch.”

        “Attention whore.”

        “What a slut.”

        You glowered at the names and slumped your shoulder, practically hugging your bag like a safety blanket at this point. Mr. Akaashi only rose from his chair and slammed the door closed after them angrily, Kuroo being one of the last to leave. 

        “I’m sorry about that.” You take in a breath and wave your hand dismissively. 

        “No, no, it’s okay. People are just stupid.” Akaashi purses his lips and nods at your words, but a muscle in his jaw twitches nonetheless.

        “All right,” he sighs, standing across from you and placing his hands on his hips. The action causes his suit jacket to shift back and the front of his pristine, white undershirt to tighten against his chest, showing off its toned muscles. You swallow at the sight and unwillingly drag your gaze back up to his. For just a second his eyes darken, but you blame it on the lighting, no matter how stable it is. 

        “Anyways,” he continues gruffly, “I wanted to congratulate you. You did well on the last assignment, and I’m proud of you.” His praise shoots deep into your stomach and you bite your lip to fight off a full-blown grin. 

        “Oh, um thanks.” You were flattered mostly, but a small part of you would mourn the way your classmates used to ignore your existence. 

        “Of course. I can also tell, by your assignments, that you’re quite ahead of the others.” God, he just never stopped. The apples of your cheeks were Rudolph red at this point. “And I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind helping me grade some of the others’ papers if you have the time.” 

        The proposition made you pause at first. He later explained that it would only be a few hours a week after school just around the time the sun began to set, and that he would really appreciate the help. 

        … Who were you to say no? 

                                ~~~

        You should have said no. 

        In some weird way, you enjoyed scrutinizing the stupidity of your peers. Especially after the assholeish way they had been treating you recently. Even Kuroo’s essays on topics that weren’t even assigned were fun to read, as he usually would type up a five-page rant about why a certain cartoon character was an idiot, instead of about why Romeo and Juliet killed themselves. 

        However, there was a small factor in the process of helping Mr. Akaashi that you had accidentally mulled over. 

        He was hot.

        Already, there was nothing more distracting than your hot professor sitting across from you at his desk with his overcoat abandoned and his sleeve shirts rolled up to display his impressive forearm muscles. No, he made it worse, because this bastard forgot to mention he wore glasses. 

        Every few minutes, he would feel your gaze on him and glance up at you over the frames with a small smirk. The minuscule act was devastating on your focus. 

        Today was no different, although, something weird had happened. You had mistakenly walked in on him arguing over the phone with someone. 

        “You’re too stupid to be in my class. Plus, that dumbass cat is in it, and I know you won’t be able to hold yourself back around him.” Mr. Akaashi hissed into his phone. You couldn’t exactly hear the person on the other side, but something about their tone seemed… familiar. After that, he had spotted you and quickly hung up. 

        Now, you sat across from him at his desk with a chair you had pulled over from the corner of the classroom, and yawned behind your hand while reading a fellow classmate’s essay. 

        “YN?” He slowly set down the paper he had been marking with a red pen and peeked at his watch. “It is a little later than when we normally finish. Would you like me to walk you home?” 

        The offer was tempting, and although you did have self-control, your professor was really pushing it with those glasses. 

        “No, I’ll be okay.” You stand up and grab your bag, smiling shyly when he helps you put on your coat. “Thank you,” you mumble.

        “Of course.” A twinge of happiness leaks into his voice behind you and you have to glance back to make sure it’s still the same guy. He’s not grinning abnormally like you expected, but something akin to excitement glows in his eyes. 

        “Okay,” you rush out, a little flustered by his bizarre display of emotion. “I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess.” With a wave over your shoulder, you don’t even dare to look back, too afraid that you might hop on him like a wolf in heat. Something about Mr. Akaashi always made you want to stay longer than necessary, but you never did. Damn self-control.

        The sun had set hours ago, you could tell that by the way that you couldn’t even see your own feet. 

        “Goddamnit,” you groan, snatching your phone out of your pocket and turning on the flashlight. It was about a half a mile walk to your apartment, and you weren’t sure if your thirty percent battery could handle it. 

        “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” you hiss. Not only was it dark, it was also freezing, and you puff warm air on your fingers to fend off the cold. The streetlamps on the campus sidewalk buzzed and stirred with moths. A particularly cold wind nipped at your nose and threw your hair into your face. You could only spit it out with a “plugh” while you hugged yourself tighter. Crickets chirped and signalled they were the only sign of life in the area. Well, except for whatever had just snapped that twig behind you. 

        “Who’s there?” you yelped, whipping around and flaunting your flashlight in front of you. Nothing responded, and all you could see on the frosted concrete was a broken, wooden stick. There wasn’t even a footstep. By now, your whole body was trembling from fear and cold, but you kept on your way, speeding up your pace to a power walk while hastily trying to not trip over something as well. 

        A shiver rolled up your spine as a familiar feeling returned. Someone was watching you. Their gaze was tangible, like two fingertips jabbing against the back of your head. The hair on the back of your neck stood at attention as you started to jog, dismissing the possibility of a fall. 

        Adrenaline rushed through your body and you could hear your heartbeat pounding in your ears, along with the heavy breathing of someone behind you. Oh shit! 

        They were right on your tail, and you sped up into a sprint for your life. The flashlight on your phone flickered, then flickered some more when you smacked it with a frustrated “C’mon!” before finally turning off completely. 

        The university’s street lamps were long gone, as tonight you had chosen for a quicker back way so you could get to sleep earlier. Damn your need for beauty rest. 

        Your lungs pleaded for air as your legs burned. They wiggled from underneath you, now only fueled by your fight or flight hormone, and right now you were flying.  

        And then you weren’t. 

        With a horrified screech, you tripped over a stray rock on the concrete and tumbled into the grass near the sidewalk. Your stalker let out a small chuckle and straddled your screaming form. 

        “Help! Oh God, help me! Help m-mmpf!” A cloth slammed over your nostrils and mouth, and in your panicked state, you breathed. You couldn’t see the man above you, only a faint form of him, but you could tell from his weight that he was big. Well, not big. Muscular. 

        “Sshh, YN, we need to take care of you now. Just breathe it in, then we can take care of you forever.” 

        Tears pricked your eyes as you let out more muffled screams. Your heart was in a frenzied panic, and skipped a beat when your head began to grow woozy. 

        “Good job, YN.” Oh God. “You’re doing so well, darling. Just you wait.” Was that… “We’ll take care of you, and we’ll love you forever. Just like the old days.” Bokuto. 

        You were so tired, so very tired. You just wanted to sleep, to close your eyes. 

        So you did. 

                                ~~~

        Pain overtook the sides of your brain as you woke up. With a pained groan, you peeled one eye open, then another before glancing around. The room was relatively large, and you observed your surroundings as you sat up off a wood floor, wrapped only in a blanket and sitting on three couch cushions with a matching pillow. 

        The first thing you noticed was that you were in a cage. Metal bars surrounded you and grouped together so tightly you could barely fit your full forearm through. There was only about a foot of space left around your makeshift mattress, and the metal bars led all the way to the ceiling. A lockspace for a key was directly in front of you, and past it was a door to the entire room. To your left was a couch, de-cushioned for your benefit, and to your right was a TV, softly playing the day’s weather forecast. Behind you, there was a window, with the curtains pulled back to show a forest, the sky, and nothing more. Birds chirped from outside, signalling that morning had just started. 

        “What?” you whispered brokenly, scratching your already abused throat from yesterday’s screaming match. 

        “YN?” The door opened, and in an instant you stood and crashed forwards into the metal bars, reaching for whoever it was. “YN, are you awake? I brought you breakfast.” 

        The voice triggers a pain in the side of your neck, and you hiss while pressing your fingers against it. Then you whimper at the feeling. 

        There, on the side of your neck, equally away from your collar bone and your ear, were two scabbed puncture wounds about the size of pencil eraser tips. 

        “Oh my God,” you whisper, trembling with fear and pain. “What did you do to me?”

        “Good morning, my love,” Akaashi purses his lips and draws closer with a metal tray. It holds plates with pancakes, sausage, eggs, and anything else for breakfast that would normally make you drool. It’s well-made too, but too bad you feel more like hurling than anything else. 

        He sets it down and nudges it under a small space between the cell bars and the floor, just barely making it untouched into your cage. “My apologies,” he soothes with a gesture to your neck, “sometimes Bokuto just can’t help himself around you. I assure you he only tasted a drop though.” 

        With a strangled sob, you fall back to the ground and cup a hand around your bruised neck, weeping silently and hugging your knees into your chest for comfort. The sudden action causes Akaashi to jump, slamming up against your cell and clenching the bars with wide eyes. 

        “My love? Are you okay?” The door slams open behind him.

        “Well, is she awake?” The sight of him makes you moan in despair while tucking your face into your legs. Another clang against your cage is heard and you peer up to see Bokuto grabbing the bars as well, watching you with fearful eyes. 

        “What did you do to me?” you hiss angrily, tears oddly drying up in an instant. Your bloodshot eyes remain as you bare your teeth, and rage takes over you. The petrified state has passed and you’ve moved onto the next level. 

        “What the hell did you do to me?!” you shout, still pressing a hand against your neck. As if that could eliminate the mark he left. 

        Bokuto huffs and puts on a small pout, pressing his face dangerously close to the bars as he whines. “I’m so sorry, YN, I just couldn’t help myself! Next time, I promise I’ll wait until you let me!” His words ignite a flame in your chest. Your emotions are so up the roof in this moment that each one takes over on a whim.

        “‘Next time’?! ‘Let me’?!” You stand and charge the bars, reaching out to strangle both nutjobs only to smirk when they step back hastily. “I’m gonna kill you motherfuckers!”

        Both men stay silent and observe you hesitantly. Akaashi wonders if you might just go batshit enough to break out of the cage. Bokuto wonders how soon he will be able to get a taste of you again. After all, this time you taste even better than all your past reincarnates combined. It’s addicting.

        You wonder- oh fuck it.

        “Where the hell am I?!”

Masterlist  Next

Language of Love (Akaashi x Reader)

*GIF not mine*

Summary: Speaking French in front of your crush was not as discreet as you originally thought. Maybe you should just start texting from now on… 

A/N: I’m so thankful for the growth that has happened to my account in the small span of 48 hours! Here’s a short imagine that I got an idea for from this prompt by @writ-ing-promp-ts​. Akaashi is really OOC, so I’m sorry. And I also kinda rambled on too long in the first part, but oh well, I’m a lil tired. Enjoy! :) 

Word count: 1240

        The courtyard of Fukurodani was beautiful, to say the least. It was springtime, and you sat just below a freshly-bloomed cherry blossom tree. The pastel pink petals surrounded you either on the grass or floating with the wind. The flowery scent you inhaled was barely noticeable over the cold breeze it accompanied. The sun shined, birds chirped, bees buzzed, and you… well, you were jabbering in French to your sick best friend over the phone. You were sweating like a pig thanks to the topic of conversation, and occasionally flapped your arms up and down like the chicken dance just to dry off. Gross, right? Yeah, you thought so too. But the anxiety of talking about a crush in any language was enough to provoke undesirable side effects. 

        Setting down your phone to take off the hot blazer that was just making everything worse, you whined into the microphone, “Il est tellement attirant que je pourrais mourir. (He is so attractive that I could die.)” Your hand caught in a sleeve, so you began screeching at the jacket you were currently wedged in and attracted some unwanted attention. You nervously smiled at your fellow classmates before laughing and shrugging at your own predicament. Giving you sneers, they exaggeratedly stepped away from your general area before  exiting through the school’s gates while whispering among themselves. The smile on your face dropped into a snarl as you pulled with all your might on the stupid mandatory blazer. 

        Not realizing you were currently busy, your ever-so-sympathetic friend replied, “Arrête d'être un bébé et avoue déjà. Tu es trop dramatique. Il ne te mangera pas. (Stop being a baby and confess already. You are too dramatic. He won't eat you.)” Letting out a loud “Guh” as you finally escaped the human trap, you threw the evil jacket away from you and pouted. 

        “Je ne suis pas trop dramatique. (I am not too dramatic.)” You slumped back onto the rough bark of the tree and exhaled heavily. 

        “Alors arrêtez d'être un tel wuss et dites-lui! (Then stop being such a wuss and tell him!)” your friend demanded, and your phone shook at her volume. You understood her impatience; after all, you had harbored a crush on Akaashi for the past year now, and the only person who stood to take earfuls of your gushing was her. Overall, you were thankful, but that didn’t mean you weren’t shy. 

        “Mais que dois-je faire si Akaashi me rejette? (But what should I do if Akaashi rejects me?)” you mumbled softly, fiddling with the edges of your skirt. Your friend sighed heavily, but you were surprised at the gentle tone in her response. 

        “Tu fais ce que tout le monde dans le monde a fait. Tu t'en remets et trouvés quelqu'un de nouveau. C'est la seule solution. (You do what everyone else in the world has done. You get over it and find someone new. That's the only way.)” Her logic had always pissed you off anyway. Scoffing at the blatant statement, you began to pick at the dirt under your fingernails. Your eyes were saddened, and your shoulders slouched while you bounced your knees up and down in front of you. What ifs, all the what ifs ran through your head, and your heart pained in imaginary sadness at the scenarios. Your friend’s voice dragged you out of your thoughts once more.

        “YN, l'aimes-tu? (YN, do you like him?)”

        “As-tu vraiment besoin de demander? (Do you really need to ask?)” 

        “Alors c'est la seule raison pour laquelle tu devrais lui dire. Ne continuez pas à y penser pour toujours, faites-le. (Then that’s the only reason you should tell him. Don’t keep thinking about it forever, do it.)” Her words carried in the wind like an echo, and a breeze blew past your face, brushing away the stray hairs. Tapping your finger on your chin, you thought it over. It had been months, and you really did like him. He was always nice, and his bare-boned humor made you laugh. And no one could deny that he was truly attractive. 

        Hesitantly, you agreed, “D'accord. Je le ferai. Je vais lui demander de sortir. Souhaite moi bonne chance. (Okay. I will do it. I'm going to ask him to go out. Wish me good luck.)”

        “Bonne chance mon amie. (Good luck my friend.)” She sounded smugly victorious, but ended the call before you could berate her about it. Sighing exasperatingly, you dropped your head back harshly onto the base of the tree. Your hands dropped to your sides and nervously picked at grass while peering up at the pink branches above your form. 

        “Hey YN. You were speaking French just now, right?” Oh crap. Akaashi. A woozy feeling erupted right in the center of your head after you stood up too quickly to face him. Refraining from rubbing the pain away, you settled for a hasty nod at his question, not trusting your voice at the moment. 

        “That’s cool, you sounded pretty fluent too.” His voice was flat, but you had never heard it any other way, and that fact had never stopped the blush that rose on your face in his presence. It certainly didn’t stop the flush now. Suddenly, you remembered your friend’s words. Do it.

        “Well, you know, I-I could teach you some time,” you stuttered out. Hiding your shaking hands behind your back, you apprehensively smiled at him, but faltered when the corner of his mouth quirked up. His eyes glimmered at your suggestion while he suddenly grew smug. Your brows furrowed after he rolled his shoulders and placed his hands in his pants pockets, while his chest seemed to puff out. Was this really Akaashi?

        “That’s okay,” he retorts, “I already know French.” Excuse me, what?

        Your eye began to twitch and the smile on your face dropped. Blanching at his words, you hesitantly asked, “W-well, um, how much did you hear?” 

        “Enough.” He smiled softly at your amazed expression, chuckling behind his hand. Who the f**k is this guy?!

        “Oh. Ohhhh. Look, you might have misunderstood a couple of our words,” you sputtered. Akaashi was different today, it seemed. He was showing emotion, a lot of emotion. You choked on air when his own cheeks pinked as he stepped toward you. Staring at the petals he had crunched under his shoes, you mumbled, “We don’t really know the language that well, so you might have misheard a sentence or two. We definitely weren’t talking about you, that’s for sure-”

        The rest of your anxious rambling died on your tongue when he suddenly grinned at you. Ever so slowly, Akaashi caught a lock of your hair blowing in the wind and curled it around his finger gently. He was nervous too, you realized. But your breath caught in your throat when his gaze suddenly shifted and intercepted your own. Softly, he whispered, “Je t’aime bien aussi. (I like you too.)”