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mxrcayong · 4 years

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spite - the avatar series (02.01)

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chapter one

Ever since two members of the now internationally renowned pro-bending team praised the coffee from “Iroh and Me”, business has been booming. It didn’t help that these two members, namely “The Osaka Prince” and “The Mouse”, are among the top pro-benders and are heartthrobs everywhere they go.

What once was a quiet café in the isolated part of downtown Sooman was now a booming social space, with the owners even being pressured into expanding their small café into a chain restaurant.

Thursday afternoons were always the busiest. People wanted that extra boost of coffee or bubble tea to push them through the week, most likely trying to complete their work by the end of Friday so they could finally be free. Despite the fact that only an hour ago they had a line down their block, Tari glided around the café effortlessly with a rag in her apron pocket and her tray with dirty dishes in hand.

“Someone’s chirpier than normal today,” Hendery commented as Tari slid back behind the counter, where Hendery placed the last customer’s drink in the line on the counter. “You don’t normally hum.” His eyebrow raised inquisitively, “Does this mean it’s easier for me to convince you to let me go home early tonight?”

The new manager of the café rolled her eyes, chuckling. “Quite the opposite actually. Do you think you can close tonight?” She unconsciously grinned as she thought of the reason she’d be going home early.

Hendery jokingly groaned, dramatically throwing his arms on the bar counter and slamming his head onto his arms. “I don’t know if I like you being corrupt with power.”

Her eyes widened before she playfully pushed him, just strong enough for him to fumble over his own feet. “You say that as if I haven’t let you go home early normally!”

As dramatically as he can, he let out a scoff and rested the back of his hand on his forehead. “It’s never enough for you!” Tari smiled, feeling grateful to have Hendery work with her. “What’s tonight then? You never go home early these days.” He practically sang, jumping onto the stool they have behind the bar counter as they waited for tables to bust.

“Do you remember Sonan and Kilari?” Tari inquired, although she is certain that over the four-year period of working together, Hendery met them. He nodded, also keeping in mind the fact Tari mentioned they moved out of Sooman. “Well, Kilari is finally a fully-pledged Fire Sage and Sonan is visiting to celebrate.” Not completely the truth, Tari thought, but it’ll do – it’s not lying.

It really isn’t a lie. For one, Kilari’s last six months in becoming a Fire Sage required her to ‘disconnect from her world’. She quite literally hasn’t spoken to anyone else but her fellow pledges for the last six months. Unfortunately, six months ago happened to be the anniversary of Amon’s incarceration. They all planned to meet up, but unfortunately – Yuta and Jisung had a qualifying competition and Kilari had to start her ‘disconnection’. Therefore, Sonan didn’t come to visit and it was just Doyoung, Johnny, and Tari.

Now, that Kilari is finally done with her disconnection and the boys have a break before the world cup – Sonan is coming back. It was such a big occasion that Johnny even decided to leave his journalism retreat early. Therefore, tonight was a celebration of not only Kilari’s success but a delayed-one-year-reunion for saving the world. Not to mention, it was also Tari’s one year anniversary with her boyfriend.

Basically, tonight was going to be a big night.

“So big night, huh?” Hendery seemed to read her mind, making Tari chuckle and nod. A ding of the door signified someone has left their table. Tari, almost unconsciously, was quick to stride over and clean the table like clockwork. “And I wasn’t invited?” Hendery scoffed in fake offense, just loud enough for Tari to hear but not loud enough for people to complain.

Tari’s coworker, however, noticed how the one person in the corner seemed to be interested in Tari’s plans – their movement slowing down at the mention of Tari going out. Her co-worker, yes, is a part time model – but he isn’t just a pretty face. He has noticed the same person wearing the same get-up, taking the same seat in the back corner, and just barely getting enough food or drinks to avoid being considered a loiterer.

“Dude, I literally invite you to everything!” She exclaimed, laughing as she returned to the counter with her tray of a plate and coffee cup. “It’s like a reunion as Kilari had a goodbye party with us last year too.” She excused, telling a partial truth again.

Another two tables disrupted the conversation, the customers leaving the café with a distant ‘thank you’ being shouted at them. As if choregraphed, Tari maneuvered her way around the counter to start collecting the dirty dishes, Hendery hot on her tails.

Hendery, however, continued to notice how the person in the corner’s attention seemed to always snap back at Tari. He’d think it’s just another customer attracted to Tari, but it was too…common. Her co-worker made a mental note to ask the bosses for security footage of that side of the café to see how many days this customer has been watching Tari.

He furrowed his eyebrows, approaching Tari to whisper to her. “I think they have been here all day. Can we kick them out for loitering?” He wasn’t sure if Tari was aware of how often the same person shows up, or how attentive this customer was to her, but he didn’t want to cause alarm.

Tari sighed; her heart beat slowly increasing. Since she noticed them two months back, she’s been feeling like there’s been eyes burning holes in the back of her head. For this reason, she’s been asking Doyoung to pick her up from work – which wasn’t particularly out of his way. It’s actually the reason Tari stays behind for closing as Doyoung’s work ends later than usual. She only voiced her specific concerns to Doyoung (rather than her normal excuse of not wanting to be lonely), when he practically forced her to tell him during their movie night.

“Not allowed.” She sighed, remembering company policy. The person was a customer – they had a drink in front of them and Tari can attest to taking their order. “It’s fine. But yeah, is it okay if I leave in an hour?” She swapped the conversation back to something lighthearted.

“Of course.” He grinned, trying to suppress the bad feeling in his gut as he started trying to embrace Tari – a dirty rag in his hand. “Anything for my favorite manager.”

Tari pushed him away, trying to avoid getting dirtied from his rag as she squealed; “I’m your only manager.”

“Exactly!” Tari scoffed at Hendery’s response.

Tari’s concerns about her stalker didn’t subside even when Doyoung picked her up from the café. It didn’t subside as she gave him his usual coffee and the two left. Because in the corner of her eye, she could sense movement from the same person who has yet to leave their seat other to order.

But she felt safe. She was with Doyoung, who quite literally has been with her through the worst of times. “Do you think we can take a lot of turns?” Tari whispered, despite the impossibility of the person seemingly following them hearing them.

Doyoung smiled slightly, “Already one step ahead of you.”

Moments like these remind Tari of how much, despite teasing him all the time, she appreciates Doyoung. It was always like this, ever since she moved to Sooman and met Doyoung. The two of them against the city, not caring about the weird stares they get and protecting each other.

The way to the train station from the café involved some twist and turns anyway, but Doyoung made the way to the train station a maze. Tari wasn’t even sure if she could track the path the two of them took. Although she was insanely confused about where she was – especially as Doyoung distracted her with conversation, but she was filled with relief when she turned around and saw the unidentified figure was gone. Despite being completely unsure of where she was, she knew she was with Doyoung and that’s all that mattered.

Eventually, the train station came to sight. The statue of Fire Lord Zuko wearing his armor marking the transportation hub. It wasn’t among Tari’s favorite places – always too crowded and bustling with life, but she saw how gorgeous it was. Central City Station had humongous arches and intricate details inside. No matter how crowded it was, the high glass ceilings made the building felt spacious.

“I can’t believe we’ll all be in the same place again.” Tari breathed out, excited but noticeably anxious. In her eyes, this was the one family who she has never left behind and who (although are across the world) never left her. She was anxious about any potential awkwardness it may be to have everyone in the same room after so long, having to catch them up on life and hoping everyone still merged well together. Oh shit, she realized, I don’t think Sonan knows about me and –

Doyoung threw his arm over Tari’s shoulder, sensing her anxiety. “We can always host this on the weekend. Sonan will be leaving Tuesday anyways, after Yuta and Jisung’s finals.” Tari shook her head insistently, pushing herself to face her anxieties and not accept the tempting offer. “We can always just let you celebrate your anniversary properly toda-“

“No, it’s rude for us to cancel so last minute.” Tari insisted, although she had to force the words out. “Plus, I just really want to see everyone.”

The air bender then quickly abandoned his serious tone and started enthusing about the event himself. “You know, I can’t promise Johnny and Yuta won’t eat all the pizza.”

“I think Jisung will scarf it down before you even notice the pizza was there.” Doyoung raised his eyebrows, as if doubting Tari. “Don’t forget how tall he’s gotten!”

“Wait, whose taller?” Doyoung asked as the two stopped in front of the arrivals board, waiting for Johnny’s train. “Johnny or Jisung?”

A voice from the side startled them. “Definitely me.” Johnny’s cheeky grin hasn’t been seen by the two of them in a week, but for Tari – it felt like months. She stood frozen, grinning like she was a starstruck fan, as she stared at Johnny. He was wearing one of the outfits he knew Tari loved on him – something he normally would wear when he has to look formal but not too formal. He rolled his eyes and dropped his duffle on the ground, the plop seeming to echo in the station.

This felt like a movie. It felt like the whole world around Johnny was in slow motion as he widened his arms. Doyoung had to push Tari to make her move towards Johnny.

However, one she started moving, she had to hold herself back from leaping into his arms. But Johnny refused to not spin her around and lift her – it’s all hes been wanting to do for the last week. He pulled her into a suffocating hug before lifting her above the ground, spinning her around. Her arms automatically wrapped around his neck, keeping her safe as he spun and she laughed – until he eventually placed her on the ground. As soon as her feet touched the ground, Johnny smiled sweetly before pressing his lips against hers.

As disgustingly cute as they may be, Doyoung knew that this wouldn’t have been different a year ago today – just less kissing. Overall, he was just happy to see his two friends so ecstatic and glowing.

“I’ve been waiting for that for the last week.” Johnny murmured against the kiss, “Especially because someone didn’t kiss me goodbye.”

Tari’s eyes widened in offense. “I did!”

Johnny quirked a single eyebrow, “Excuse me? The last words you said to me before I left was ‘Get on the train, you dumbass’.”

“You were going to be late!” She excused, stepping back from his embrace and letting Doyoung come closer without feeling too much like a third-wheel. Johnny playfully rolled his eyes before giving Doyoung a quick hug.

As soon as the pleasanties got out the way, Johnny laced his fingers with Tari’s and the three left the station. “How was your week without me? Boring? Lonely? Sad?”

“Like you never left.” Doyoung groaned. “Straight up, because of you two visiting last week, all of the gym trainers are asking me how to work out my calves.” Johnny burst out laughing and Tari felt her heart leap, despite having heard him laugh a million times. If she could hear anything for the rest of her life, she’d want it to be Johnny’s laugh.

“Your turkey calves?” Tari clarified, leaning into Johnny’s shoulder as she looked over at Doyoung on the other side of Johnny.

Her best friend scoffed in fake anger, “Listen, I need to salvage as much dignity in that place as I can. You two completely ruined my reputation.” Tari laughed at the memory; she visited to give Doyoung coffee and Johnny had went with her. While Tari dropped off coffee at Doyoung’s personal office (yes, Doyoung is now one of the managers of the gym), Johnny decided to tell Doyoung’s fellow trainers about not only his obstacle course of a room, but his nickname of ‘Calf Monster’.

At this moment, Tari couldn’t care less about her stalker. All she cared about was having her two boys with her and seeing her chosen family in a few hours. “I mean,” Johnny started over exaggerating and grossly bit his lip as if he was checking out Doyoung, “look at those calves.”

“I liked it better when you weren’t dating.”

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captainkirkk · 5 years

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✩ Weekly Fic Round-Up ✩

A collection of fics I’ve read (/reread) and thoroughly enjoyed in the past week-ish from all kinds of fandoms and genres.

The Hollow

✩ Hollow Outside by GuardianKarenTerrier

They've won the game. It's all over now, to their relief.

That relief doesn't last long when they find themselves catapulted from one trap to another.

It doesn't take long for Adam, Kai and Mira to realize that they're still in just as much, or more, danger, and the only thing in the world that they know they can count on is each other. Now, they're going to need that bond more than ever.

Brooklyn Nine Nine

Out of Range by hoperise

What does Jake do while undercover, injured, and cut off from his support network? Annoy Santiago with anonymous text messages, of course.

BNHA

put a bullet (where I should've put a helmet) by canlah

Midoriya Izuku has a very high pain threshold. It's useful, until it's not.

It isn't until Izuku reaches his breaking point that he realises he doesn't have to carry this pain by himself.

Bunny by Undead Artist (UndeadArtist)

He’s twelve when he realises, from notes and scribbles and an unsteady conversation with the vigilante Stain, who speaks with him as if they’ve met before, that dying picks at his brain – erasing bits and pieces of his memories and leaving his mind in a shoddy patchwork of a mess.

At that point it’s already too late – whatever he’d been before he was Deku is completely gone, dissolved from his mind with only a vague idea of a woman who’d meant something.

Izuku's Project by bitchy

Now that he finally has a moment to reflect on what Todoroki told him during the Sports Festival, Izuku realizes there's only one way to take down Endeavor.

Research to Rescue by KingofPillows

Shouta Aizawa is an underground pro hero. Taking a mission to go undercover in Japan’s biggest mafia was one of the worst things he could’ve done. Then he learned someone he thought was his biggest threat was anything but. Discovering what bound a big-hearted child to a life of evil was what turned this job as a mole into a rescue mission.

Izuku Midoriya, a Quirkless and weak child, had always wanted to be a hero, ever since he was a kid. With orders from his father, he was now the Rabbit. A well-known assassin for Japan’s biggest mafia. Saddled with two and a half Quirks of his very own, and a long list of sins on his back, he knows he’d never be someone worth being called a hero.

Then someone tells him he's worth something and it all falls apart.

Avatar The Last Airbender

The Fountain of the Jasmine Dragon by ishouldwritethatdown

Zuko takes Izumi on a father-daughter outing to the Jasmine Dragon while in Ba Sing Se to ask Iroh for help with something that requires his critical and undivided attention. The health of the crown princess of the Fire Nation is nothing to be left to chance, after all - yes, it might be just a cold, but you can never be too careful.

Never Look Away by WinterSky101

Iroh learns quickly that raising his voice doesn’t work very well with Zuko.

Dragon's Brood Series by FeatherQuilt88

Iroh & Zuko post-canon, plus a very small adopted addition to their family

All for the Game/The Foxhole Court

Saturday Sun by bamboo_astronaut

Jean Moreau arrives at USC bruised and battered, and Jeremy Knox is determined to help him heal from his painful past and welcome him to the Trojans with open arms.

failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged by seaworn

Jeremy talks to Jean like his entire existence isn’t a neatly wrapped tragedy.

Miraculous Ladybug

the cost of being a superhero by flowersandsunshine

when gabriel agreste is revealed to be hawk moth, elena secoureur immediately decides to check in with adrien the next morning at school. she expected him to be upset. what she didn't expect was to quickly find out the identity of every superhero in paris, and to be the guidance counselor of all five of them on top of it all.

well, she wasn't going to let those startling discoveries stop her. no, indeed. she was going to be the best counselor they could ask for. after all, someone had to help those kids. it might as well be her.

Adrien's Last Resort: Clothes of Revenge by Maniyak

Let's just say Adrien keeps his tools of revenge at the back of his closet until he needs to use it. Normally he uses one or two pieces of it. Today, he needs it all.

Girls Night Out by LNC, Squabbler

The fate of Alix Kubdel's birthday party rests in the pants of one Adrien Agreste.

by my side (when the rain comes pouring in) by SailorChibi

Two years after Marinette got her miraculous, she meets Adrien Agreste for the first time. In spite of an initial gum-related bump in the road, they become fast friends thanks to their shared interest in fashion and design. But there's something funny about Adrien. He seems to suffer from terminal clumsiness just like Marinette, frequently sporting sprained wrists and ankles, new bruises, and other injuries. Injuries which look suspiciously similar to the ones that Ladybug's beloved partner has...

Chat Noir's Convention Cosplay Crisis by silveradept

Chat, chilling, taking selfies and admiring the cosplayers at convention, where he's one Chat among many.

Marvel

Saviors of the Universe by LoopyLiesey

SPOILERS FOR ENDGAME

Group chat/Twitter fic post-Endgame

Kick names, take ass @PeterParkour I just realised I have 5 years of memes to catch up on

Be Still, My Child by ambivalentlangst

Peter wishes he had stayed as dust. Dust belongs to nobody but the cosmos, infinite in its intricacies. Dust is not forced to stay still with a flex of bejeweled fingers. Dust is not forced to be anything, least of all a child, but Thanos will watch the sun rise with one at his side.

#maybe longer than a week and some of these were technically rereads but!! still #this was a lot of fun i should definitely do this again #fic recs #weekly fic round up #my posts #long post /#marvel recs #ml recs #aftg recs #atla recs #bnha recs #b99 recs #misc recs

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