Dying Under A Rock

Your mornings always begin at exactly the same time. You wake up at 6:15, finish breakfast by 6:35, and leave the house at precisely seven o'clock with your clipboard tucked beneath one arm and your favorite pocket watch safely tucked into your pocket. Your parents often joke that if every clock in Foothill Town suddenly stopped working, the townspeople could simply watch your daily routine to figure out the time. You take the compliment very seriously.

Foothill Town sits comfortably between Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy, thriving on the constant flow of students, merchants, and visiting families. Small cafés line the streets, shopkeepers greet their regulars by name, and apartment buildings remain full year-round because everyone wants to live near the prestigious schools. Your family owns one such complex, and helping maintain it has been one of your responsibilities for as long as you can remember. Collecting rent, checking fire alarms, and organizing maintenance schedules are all perfectly respectable tasks that suit your love of order.

Most importantly, your life has absolutely nothing to do with the main story.

Because, unfortunately, you know exactly what kind of world you live in.

An otome game.

The realization had come years ago, accompanied by memories that never belonged to this life. At first, you had panicked, convinced that you would somehow become entangled in dramatic romances and dangerous adventures. Then you remembered the most wonderful detail imaginable: you weren't the heroine. The protagonist attended Night Raven College, surrounded by handsome love interests and exciting plot developments, while you lived peacefully in Foothill Town collecting rent money and worrying about whether the building's emergency lanterns needed replacing.

It was perfect.

The heroine had a job to do.

You did not.

This morning is the third Tuesday of the month, which means rent collection day. Your schedule has already been color-coded, checked twice, and arranged down to the minute, leaving absolutely no room for unexpected interruptions. Professor Crewel's apartment is your final stop before returning home, and you can't help smiling as you glance down at your pocket watch.

Seven thirty-two.

Right on schedule.

You climb the stairs toward Apartment 3-B with a light step, enjoying the familiar sounds drifting through the building. Someone downstairs is playing soft music while cleaning, the scent of fresh bread from a nearby bakery lingers in the morning air, and sunlight pours through the hallway windows in warm golden strips. Everything feels ordinary.

Then a glowing screen appears in front of your face.

You stop so abruptly that your shoes squeak against the floor.

[𝖲𝖸𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖬 𝖤𝖱𝖱𝖮𝖱] 𝖯𝖱𝖨𝖬𝖠𝖱𝖸 𝖧𝖤𝖱𝖮𝖨𝖭𝖤 𝖮𝖡𝖩𝖤𝖢𝖳𝖨𝖵𝖤𝖲 𝖥𝖠𝖨𝖫𝖤𝖣. 𝖱𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗅𝖼𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀…

Your rabbit ears shoot upright.

The message remains floating before your eyes.

Slowly, very carefully, you blink.

It does not disappear.

"...What?"

The System has never spoken to you before.

Not once.

Another notification immediately follows.

[𝖲𝖸𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖬 𝖭𝖮𝖳𝖨𝖢𝖤] 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖺𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗍𝖾 𝗈𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌. 𝖱𝖾𝗉𝗅𝖺𝖼𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝖽𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗍𝖾𝖽. 𝖲𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀…

Your stomach drops.

No.

No, that doesn't make any sense.

How do you fail an otome game? More importantly, why is the System telling you about it? The original heroine attends Night Raven College, and you've never even met her before. Whatever catastrophe she's caused over there should have absolutely nothing to do with your peaceful, carefully scheduled existence.

You decide that this must be a glitch.

Yes.

A strange magical bug.

That explanation is significantly better than any alternative.

Determined to ignore the increasingly horrifying windows floating in your vision, you straighten your shoulders and knock on Professor Crewel's door exactly on time.

The door swings open almost immediately.

"Well, well. If it isn't my favorite little rabbit," Crewel says smoothly, one hand holding a coffee mug while the other extends an envelope toward you. Even this early in the morning, he looks impeccably put together, his expression carrying the familiar amusement he always seems to reserve for you. "Prompt as always. Good."

"Of course, Professor Crewel!" you reply, accepting the envelope with both hands. "Punctuality is extremely important. I couldn't possibly arrive late for rent collection."

"Hah. That's why I like you, pup. You understand that clocks exist for a reason."

Relief washes through you.

Normal conversation.

Normal morning.

Normal life.

You carefully note his payment on your clipboard and prepare to leave, only for Crewel to casually lean against the doorway.

"Oh, that reminds me," he says. "Your father spoke with me yesterday. He asked whether I knew of any part-time work opportunities that might suit you."

Your entire body freezes.

"...Part-time work?"

"Mm. Apparently, you're looking for something to do outside of helping with the apartments." His smile widens ever so slightly. "Conveniently enough, our benevolent Headmage announced this morning that Night Raven College requires another tutor. Naturally, I recommended you immediately."

The world goes silent.

At that exact moment, the System returns.

[𝖲𝖸𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖬 𝖭𝖮𝖳𝖨𝖢𝖤] 𝖭𝖾𝗐 𝗈𝖼𝖼𝗎𝗉𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝖼𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖽: 𝖭𝖱𝖢 𝖳𝗎𝗍𝗈𝗋 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗍𝖺𝗀𝗈𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖿𝗎𝗅𝖿𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽.

Your breathing stops.

No.

Absolutely not.

You are a background character.

You have always been a background character.

The screen flickers again.

[𝖲𝖸𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖬 𝖭𝖮𝖳𝖨𝖢𝖤] 𝖯𝖱𝖨𝖬𝖠𝖱𝖸 𝖧𝖤𝖱𝖮𝖨𝖭𝖤 𝖲𝖳𝖠𝖳𝖴𝖲: 𝖥𝖠𝖨𝖫𝖤𝖣 𝖱𝖾𝗉𝗅𝖺𝖼𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖧𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝖠𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽: [𝖭𝖠𝖬𝖤] 𝖯𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗎𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗀𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇.

Your clipboard nearly slips from your hands.

Professor Crewel immediately notices the change in your expression, one elegant eyebrow arching as he takes another sip of his coffee. "Something the matter, pup?" he asks, his voice carrying the same casual confidence as always. "You look as though you've seen a ghost."

A ghost would have been preferable.

The original heroine had failed. Somehow, somewhere on campus, she had completely derailed the story that was supposed to happen, and now the System was searching for someone else to fill the empty role. Out of every person on Sage's Island—every student, every magician, every ordinary citizen—it had selected you. The very person who had spent years feeling grateful that she had been born safely outside the plot.

One final notification appears before your eyes, brighter and larger than all the others.

[𝖲𝖸𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖬 𝖭𝖮𝖳𝖨𝖢𝖤] 𝖳𝗎𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝖢𝗈𝗆𝗉𝗅𝖾𝗍𝖾. 𝖶𝖾𝗅𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾, 𝖧𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗂𝗇𝖾. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝖺𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝖻𝖾𝗀𝗂𝗇.

Your heart sinks straight into your stomach as reality finally settles over you. This wasn't a glitch. It wasn't a magical error or some temporary malfunction that would fix itself by tomorrow morning. Professor Crewel had already recommended you for a position at Night Raven College, the Headmage apparently needed another tutor, and the System had decided that those circumstances were enough to drag you directly into the story.

You had spent your entire life believing that the heroine's job belonged to someone else.

Apparently, the heroine hadn't been doing her job.

And now, disastrously, it had become yours.

MASTERLIST , CHARACTER PROFILES , CHAPTER 01

taglist : @moto-cho , @aurorab-0-realis , @regaliaofchaos , @siriusthesleepy , @sinclaironestrogen , @inojinieeee , @kogane-twst , @friesareyummy101 , @mxvoid26 , @yuki--hoshizora , @lotsoflovelumi , @dollyhrtzzs , @fromsaltandsea , @tragicfiend , @vanillaadots , @kitrine14 , @carrot-1

You wonder if entertaining him with an answer is enough. He asks these kind of questions when he's sober, but DRUNK Follo is a whole other breed of needy!

"Oh my dear, I love you with my whole being" before he can even cry about you being a liar, you kiss him with passion, running your fingers behind his already red ears. When he doesn't pull away you roll your tongue over his lips before he cries and finally does, with steam practically coming out of his ears. "Don't ask dumb questions Foll or I'll have to do something about it!" He's practically worthless in his own mind, the sheen of spit covering his swollen lips has his knees shaking and his mind even more foggy.

"Again, p-please...!"

Tamsy

He won't get drunk until everyone else has taken a sip, and yes, including you. If he's slirring his words, you are too. "Tamsy, have you always looked so stunning in the moonlight...?" He is smitten with your compliments, doubling the kisses from him after every praise from you.

"You're like an angel..." You whisper, reaching over his shoulders to undo his long blonde hair from its confinement. A shiver runs under his skin, watching you put the clip down on the table. He smiles into your bruised skin, his previous attacks on full display over your neck and face. "Only yours, right?..." The achohol was getting to him. He cursed under his breath feeling himself slip up.

He knew how you felt, the alcoholic breath being exchanged between you two. He whined into your ear, with a smirk. As you play with his hair, still fondling it in awe at its silk feeling. "Don't you want more from me?" You freeze at his words and he looks at you through his lashed.

He reaches for your hands and guides them down his chest and up the sides under his loose dress shirt. You giggle, feeling a twitch of his fingers on the back of your now warm hands, "I like it when you're tipsy, Tamy." He bites his lip before removing his hand and leaning back, tilting his head to the side. "You excite me is all." His hair now flowing over his face slightly, maybe it's just the alcohol but you feel as though there's a tug at your back, like he's pulling you in. Making you want more of him.

August

Probably the loudest, I know shocking.

But not with you, atleast right now. He's just staring at you with a wide smile, looking you up and down with his fingers on his chin. Even though he has his big red glasses on, you knew he was staring holes into you.

"...August, are you alright? You're awfully quiet." You put your third cup of the night down at the table infront of you, crossing your legs.

"I couldn't be more okay!" He removes his hand from his chin and extends his arms out in excitement, embracing you with a strong squeeze around your shoulders. "Really? *hic* tell me!" At your words he let's you go but keeps his hands on your shoulders looking down at you. "I have an idea for an outfit and only you will look good in it!" He's definitely had more drinks than you, his cheek were almost the same shade as his glasses, all the way up to his red ears hidden behind his hair.

Before you could answer he grabbed the collar of your shirt, trying to unbuttoning it. Your breath is caught in your throat but your still conscious enough to stop him before he can fully remove it. "Right now?!" He nodded excitedly and leans into you with his eyes closed. "...m-maybe later..." he grabs your arm and helps you out of your seat. "RIGHT NOW!" Okay now he's getting loud. You look back and see people staring, so you just follow him back to his room.

Fu

You accidentally got him drunk. You told him he should "loosen up a bit," and he took that way too seriously. Now you have a fu who's laying on your lap, arms wrapped around your abdomen mumbling into your stomach. "Just relax Fu, here, drink this." You lean over and grab the water cup from the nightstand and hand it to him. Without hesitation, he grabbed it, so fast some of it spilled.

You sigh, "Careful." He whined an apology and gripped your shirt before slowing, bringing it to his lips and drinking the rest of it before reaching over and setting it back down. Going right back to hugging your waist tight, "Good boy." You smile and put your hand on his head, rubbing circles on his shoulder. His brows furrowed, and he gripped the waist band of your sweats,

"im trying to relax like you said, s-stop distracting me with your words..." You just hug him with a nod. Trying to stay quiet and not laugh at his hiccuping- but he hears you, dragging you down to his level and putting his arms around your chest. His face beet red. You mumble an apology and he finally relaxes.

Requests open!

August

✦ ── August gifts you so much stuff it's hard to keep track, though more often than not it's clothes. You find the knitting needles yourself in his workshop, and when you mention wanting to try knitting, he shows you how and encourages you to keep them!

✦ ── He tried knitting, but it required too much patience and was far too easy to fuck up, so they were just gathering dust anyways. Seeing you knit in your little corner of his workshop brings him joy, too!

✦ ── Even when you're off on missions as a supporter, you bring them along to work on your project during the long drives or stops between locations.

✦ ── That's why, when your team is outnumbered and you're moments from being trash beast food, you have them on you. Suddenly the little needles are giant pins that skewer the trash beast like a knife through butter.

✦ ── Oh yeah, that's so fucking badass! Now August is begging to see them in action, even if it's dangerous! He wants to see you put those needles to work, babe!

"DO YOU LOVE THEM MORE THAN ME!?" He was clinging to your waist, wide eyes staring down at you through orange lenses.

Despite his accusation, he had a large grin on his face.

"Of course not, Auggie! I love them so much because you gave them to me!" Your hands were waving frantically, playing along with him.

"I know! Just wanted to hear you say it!" The low chuckle he gave was unlike his usual boisterous laugh; it would have been alarming if it weren't coming from August.

"THIS MEANS I GET TO MAKE YOU A GIVER UNIFORM! WOO!!"

Eishia

✦ ── It was an old tool of hers, a simple stethoscope that was a little worse for wear. She had just gotten a new upgraded one, and she knew you had fun playing with it, so she gifted you her old one!

✦ ── Eishia knows you best, because you're always using it on anyone who lets you (mostly her) or on random surfaces to see what it'd pick up.

✦ ── It becomes pretty commonplace to see you wearing it, which warms her heart. She's glad you put the old thing to good use, even for silly purposes.

✦ ── During one mission you get separated from the rest when a Raider attacks. It's life or death when they rip your stethoscope away from you. It just so happens the chestpiece makes contact with their skin.

✦ ── Suddenly you can hear everything they're thinking and feeling and how their body is reacting. You're able to discern their instrument's weak point from their thoughts and use it to beat them.

"My gift...saved your life?" After you'd been healed from minor injuries, she'd taken the time to listen to what happened.

"Yeah! I was moments from being killed, and then boom! All these thoughts flooded me. So, thank you, Eishia!" Your hands were holding one of hers, keeping it close to your chest.

She was still staring at the stethoscope around your neck.

"I really didn't do anything. It was just a little gift..." Her stammering took over as she lowered her voice. "...but I'm really glad it helped you."

Enjin

✦ ── It was a stupid joke, is what it was. He got you a stopwatch because you were the slowest runner on Akuta and wanted to 'fuel your rage' during your training runs.

✦ ── It worked, albeit a bit too well. You used it all the time and maintained the habit of trying to break your own speed record. He'd always be there to cheer you on and watch as you steadily beat his own speed.

✦ ── One day the two of you go for a run around town, except halfway across the street a car comes barreling towards you and Enjin.

✦ ── One second he's bracing for impact, and the next he's safely on the sidewalk without having moved a muscle. You're clearly out of breath, but your eyes are glowing, and so is the stopwatch.

✦ ── Absolutely baffled at the absurdity of it. People spend their whole life trying to become a giver, and you did it with one gag gift and a shitty driver. Yeah, you're fucking amazing!

"FOR REAL!?" The walk back to HQ is filled with his baffled shouts and your laughing.

"I mean, I guess it makes sense. I've been taking good care of this lil guy." You were looking at the stopwatch again, which seemed to be able to slow down time.

You'd have to test it out some more before you knew exactly what it did.

"Damn, I should start gifting shit to more people. Cleaners could always use more givers." If only it were that easy.

Follo

✦ ── When he and the others head to town to get artificial flowers for Zanka, Follo gets the bright idea to buy you a bouquet for your date later that night.

✦ ── It's full of your favourite flowers, colours, and foliage that support the entire aesthetic. The stems are neatly tied with a ribbon, and they'll never die since they're fake!

✦ ── He's super happy you cherish them, to the point where you always wear at least one of the flowers in your hair or somewhere on your person.

✦ ── One day while the two of you are out on a mission, supporting the combatants, a trash beast gets way too close to trampling Follo.

✦ ── The flower you're wearing comes to life in a blur of panic. Suddenly the trash beast is completely ensnared in reinforced artificial vines until it's crushed to death.

"Your flowers? The ones I gave you?!" The post-fight rush is long over, and suddenly Follo is all over you, making sure you're uninjured.

Ironic, given he was the one in danger.

"Yeah! I guess I loved them a little too much, huh?" Follo was inspecting the flower you twirled between your fingers.

"That's so...so...gah!" He pulled you into his arms, mostly so he could hide the tears welling up in his eyes. Wanting to be a giver was one thing, but knowing he helped you become one was already an honour.

Jabber

✦ ── You were like...an honorary Raider. Being a non-giver, you mostly just helped Jabber with whatever missions he had when possible.

✦ ── Of course you couldn't go on all of them, which meant you were alone a lot. Jabber didn't like that, so he brought you the first weapon he could find: an axe!

✦ ── You, alone, bored, and an axe? Well, you may as well practice with it! And so you hone your skills at fighting with an axe, testing it on makeshift piles of trash and drawn targets.

✦ ── It's when some trafficker finds you alone that you first bother to use it against anyone. He gets the jump on you, but it's only moments before you've chopped the guy's hand off.

✦ ── Except your axe is blazing hot, and it cauterizes immediately. He won't bleed out, so you restrain him for the Raiders to do as they please later.

"Damn! That was totally nasty!" Jabber stuck his tongue out to accentuate his 'disgust' at how you'd pretty much tortured the guy.

"It's not like I knew it'd do that!" You gave an exasperated sigh, still clutching the axe you'd used hours prior.

"You should have known! You're obsessed with me and any gift I give you, right? Of course you'd become a giver!"

"I don't think that's how it works..." You weren't certain he was listening.

"We're a perfect little torture duo, though, don't you think? Non-lethal poison and non-lethal limb detachment." For whatever depraved reason, the thought brought a blush to his cheeks.

Rudo

✦ ── It was just something he'd found in one of the no man's lands, a little trinket he'd repaired and cleaned up because he thought you'd like it: a skateboard.

✦ ── You were always talking about how bored you were at base when you were done with front stuff, so why not give you a hobby to try? And it seemed to work!

✦ ── In fact, it became your main hobby. He would always go for small trips with you to find abandoned buildings, taking the time to build ramps and obstacles with you.

✦ ── When he's away on missions, you like to visit the little ramp parks on your own. Only, this time there's a horde of smaller trash beasts there.

✦ ── Usually your skateboard wouldn't work so well on the uneven soil, making the quickest path out of there, but suddenly your skateboard is levitating, and wheels simply don't matter!

"This isn't a joke, right?" Rudo was side-eyeing the skateboard currently leaning against the wall. He'd just gotten back and was filled in on your encounter.

"Dead serious! Thank you, Rudo!" Your hug caught him off guard, though he eventually managed to offer it right back.

"Huh? Thank me? Why?" His pale face is now a burning crimson.

"I was saved because of your gift, and it's special to me because you fixed it up for me! So, thank you!"

Semiu

✦ ── Since you're always sitting by her desk during your free time, she gifted you a nice Rubik's cube to keep your hands busy and away from messing with her paperwork.

✦ ── Now you're crazy fast with it! You ask other cleaners to scramble it for you, and you can solve it in under thirty seconds. You're distracted, and Semiu gets your company while she works.

✦ ── One day some no-good lowly group decides to try and infiltrate cleaner HQ through the back exit tunnels. Naturally you follow Semiu because you want to see her badass fight!

✦ ── There you are, mindlessly toying with your Rubik's cube, when you overhear one of them call her all sorts of obscenities. No weapon has been drawn, the fight hasn't even started, and suddenly the whole tunnel is upside down.

✦ ── You're furious, cussing them out and twisting the Rubik's cube. Every time you turn it, the gravity in the tunnel shifts, which Semiu has no trouble adjusting to. The criminals, however, fall without grace countless times.

"Seriously? I didn't think you liked that little toy so much."

"I like it because of you, Semiu. You gifted it to me, and it allows me to spend more time with you." Of course she knew that already, but she enjoyed hearing it come from you directly.

"That's plain adorable, babe." Seeing you enjoy a gift so much to the point of awakening as a giver was both an honour and a huge addition to her ego.

Tamsy

✦ ── It was an innocent gift. He got roller skates to try them out; you showed interest, so he thought you might use them more than him. He even goes out of his way to help you get used to wearing them!

✦ ── The laces were also replaced with some of Tokushin's yarn, since the originals had rotted. Overall, the personal touches he provides in fixing them up for you make it extra sweet.

✦ ── It's one evening when you're minding your own business, roller skating along the nearby town's sidewalks while Tamsy walks alongside you, that someone is crossing the road and fails to notice a car moments from hitting them.

✦ ── You're far, impossibly far, and yet your feet carry you faster than what should have been possible. You've swooped the person out of the way just in time to miss the car.

✦ ── Amazed? Of course! Impressed? Absolutely! Smitten? Of course he is; what an absolute ego boost that you became a giver thanks to his kindness.

"Rollerskates, hm? My distaff is much cooler." He was already teasing you on the walk back.

Walk, yes, because you now clutch the skates in your arms. Adrenaline is still racing from the ordeal and you're terrified you'll accidentally activate them again.

"Is teasing your way at getting me to calm down?" You looked up from the sidewalk to eye him.

"It's working, isn't it?" Of course it was, but you'd never tell him that. He was already too cocky, knowing your instrument was his gift.

Tomme

✦ ── Since you and Tomme were both supporters, you got split up a lot. That meant she always wanted to hear about what kind of trash beasts you saw during your missions so she could write about them!

✦ ── Of course, you're busy fighting for your life, and she understands you can't always be taking notes. So she gifts you a camera and requests you try to take photos of them instead—when convenient—so she can add them to her journal that way!

✦ ── And you seem to really enjoy taking photos. You take great care of the camera and are always sure to bring back something for her. It's during one encounter that you nearly die to the very trash beast you're taking a photo of, when it turns out a little...different.

✦ ── The photo has a looping animation, and it already has a caption in your handwriting detailing the encounter!

✦ ── Tomme thinks it's a super badass power and is crazy excited to use some of these special polaroids in her journal. But she is also moments from smacking you over the head for endangering your life!

"I still can't believe you'd risk your life for my hobby, though." She's shaking her head, which now rests in her hands.

"But the shot turned out great, and now I'm a giver! That's a double win." Regardless of your confidence, your smile is still sheepish.

Tomme lifts her head, using a free hand to flick your forehead.

"Don't risk your life, no matter how cool it may seem!"

Zanka

✦ ── Gifts were rare from him. He was more of an experience person who wanted to spend time with you. When he does give you a gift, it's something extremely well thought out.

✦ ── Such as the little music box with a dancing ballerina in it. It was purchased from a collector and a vintage find. Not only that, but the song it played was a lullaby he heard you hum countless times.

✦ ── Whenever you struggled to rest or anxieties came to haunt you, you'd pull out the little box and watch the ballerina 'dance' to the little tune. It was great for when he was away, too.

✦ ── During one of your missions, you and a few supporters are cornered by two Raiders. Without any combatants you're no match, and it isn't long before most of you are injured or bleeding out.

✦ ── Your music box falls out of your pocket and opens, and once the little melody starts playing, both the Raiders fall completely limp to the floor.

"I'm just glad you're okay." Zanka is sitting on the side of your hospital bed, having stayed by your side since Akuta found you and the other supporters.

"It's thanks to you, really. Your sweet gift saved me." Your hand was intertwined with his; the music box sat on the side table where you could give it a glance.

"You're the one who used its potential, not me. But..." Zanka was avoiding eye contact, though you could see a blush peeking through the hair obscuring his face.

"I'm glad it means that much to you."

Author's Note ── I actually got this as a request, but it was only for Zanka/Tamsy, and they asked for a oneshot (which I don't do upon request), so I just had fun with it since the prompt was so fun!

Tamsy

You were just about done with your chores when you suddenly felt a warm hand rest on your exposed shoulder, you looked back with an unsure smile. Being taken aback by an unpleasant tamsy. And even though his eyes were closed and a smile graced his lips, you could see the confusion and betrayal written over his face.

You stand up straight and face toward him, "Shouldn't you be going out?" He slowly removes his hand from you and puts it on his chest dramatically, "Aren't you forgetting something?" It was less a question and more of a-

how dare you.

But you challenged anyway, "You seemed in a rush to leave, so I got to work before you." He sultered up close to you and put his face impossibly close to yours "I have the time, don't worry about that again." His nose almost touches your cheek. "I wasn't planning on i-" he suddenly grabbed the hem of your shirt, swallowing your words with his impossibly soft lips. But before he could deepen it, you put your hand over his mouth, your other hand resting over his that was still gripping your shirt. "You should get goin' Tamsy." It looked like he had something to say, but he refrained.

"And yes, we can continue this when you get back."

Enjin

You could feel his eyes burning into the back of your skull.

Even though he liked a little game of cat and mouse with such a hottie like you, this was different. He was feeling a little off today, more needy than usual. And of all days THIS is when you decide to be distant?

Unbelievable

He thought while leaning against a wall by the door he entered from only moments ago, huffing like a bull with his arms and legs crossed.

"You look like a sad kitten over there enjin."

He smirks and looks away toward the door. You turn and follow his eyes to the floor infront of the door and sigh, walking over to him with your arms crossed.

"Enjin."

He doesn't turn his head but looks in your direction. "Tell me what you want, hmm?" He taps his tattooed finger on his forearm, before reaching toward you and grabbing your jaw. Giving you a quick kiss then crossing his arms again. "Good man." You hush before grabbing his shoulder and giving him another quick kiss.

"that's a welcome back."

Follo

Honestly he was taking this very well, he never said a word.

Well, until you feel arms wrap around your hip tightly. Holding you as he'd never let go, "please say you'rere not mad at me..." you were surprised to say the least. His head resting on your shoulder, you put your hand on his head gently. "What's wrong?" You whisper, so gently he could barely hear you, picking his head up off your shoulder he looks you in the eyes with uncertainty. "So is that a no?..." "Of course not," you chuckle before sliding your hand down to his wrist. He sighs before leaning in closer, his breath fanning against your lips. "Then, please kiss me." You huff out a laugh before cupping his jaw with your cold fingers pressing a kiss to his lips. He shivers at the contact. After you pull away, he catches a breath he didn't even realize he was holding in.

"Well now I feel silly."

Zanka

First, he was confused; now, he's irritated. Not at you, but at the fact that he was so unfocused the whole damn mission. He even tripped on a rock on the way there! Do you know how embarrassing that felt? Knowing he can't even concentrate after a slight change in his routine with you?

Walking through the door, he was greeted by you, who only stood there in silence for a moment at his dirty and disheveled state. "What happened here? Are you alright?" You raised a brow before brushing the dust off his cheek. He falls into you almost instantaneously. catching him by the shoulders with a loud thud before he began kissing you harshly with a desperation you haven't seen from him. "There, now I'm fine." He pulled away before waiting for you to resume dusting him off. You laugh, thinking he just had a rough day, not knowing his whole mood rests in your hands.

Requests open.

Zanka

Zanka is very vocal about disliking you.

“You’ve got a nasty attitude,” he snaps once.

You smirk as you retort, “And you’ve got a fragile ego.”

Perfect enemies. Loud. Constantly at each other’s throats.

So when Zanka sees you at the formal event, his brain refuses to cooperate.

He stops walking. Stares. Looks away.

Looks back again just to be sure.

There’s no way that’s you. You’re dressed up, composed, devastatingly confident. The kind of presence that makes his chest feel tight and his palms sweat.

She’s doing this on purpose, he thinks. She’s trying to mess with me.

You walk up to him and immediately prove it.

“Wow,” you say, glancing him over with a casual tilt of your head, “You clean up… well enough.”

His face goes bright red. “D-DON’T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“LIKE- LIKE YOU LOOK LIKE THAT!”

He turns away, arms crossed, fuming. “That outfit doesn’t suit you. Don’t wear it again.”

He manages to dodge the punch you throw his way-

The problem is, he can’t stop looking. Every time you laugh, every time you smile at someone else, his stomach twists in a way he hates.

By the end of the night, he’s pacing in circles, muttering under his breath.

“She’s annoying. She’s rude. She’s… why did she smile at me like that?...”

From that point on, Zanka is doomed.

Extra reactive. Extra jealous. Extra flustered every time you tease him.

He still insists he hates you.

But his heart disagrees.

Rudo

Rudo keeps his distance from you. You’re blunt, sometimes mean, and he’s already used to people looking down on him.

It’s easier not to care.

So when he sees you dressed up, his body reacts before his mind does.

He freezes.

You look… different. Calm. Dazzling. Beautiful in a way that makes his chest ache. For a second, he doesn’t recognize you at all.

Then you speak.

“What are you staring at?”

His eyes widen. He immediately looks down. “S-Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

His heart won’t slow down. He hates that. Hates how aware he suddenly is of you standing there, of how close you are, of how much he wants to look again.

Dammit why did he want to look at you again-

You scoff lightly. “Relax. It’s not that serious.”

But it is to him.

The rest of the night, Rudo steals glances when he thinks you’re not looking.

He wonders when you became someone capable of making him feel like this.

Or if you always were, and he just never let himself see it.

After that, he’s quieter around you. Gentler. Still guarded, still awkward, but something has shifted.

When your eyes meet now, there’s confusion there. And something warm.

Something he doesn’t know what to do with.

Thank you so much for reading! ♡ And thank you to the anon for this idea! I loved it!!!

Amo

✦ ── The moment Amo meets you, she senses that you're someone who would protect her. She gets really clingy right off the hook and sticks to your side wherever you go in HQ.

✦ ── Please treat her like your own, because she loves it! Anytime you take care to brush her hair, fix up her clothes, or fret over her health, she feels really nice and adored.

✦ ── In return, Amo is really protective of you. If someone says something mean, then she is prone to lashing out. She holds grudges until they apologize to you, too! God forbid someone try to hurt you.

✦ ── You owning apart of the Watchman series just means you two are a lot alike! Clearly you have some missing pieces like she does, so she knows you understand how she truly feels.

✦ ── It isn't likely that she would realize you manipulate your way into keeping her or others safe. If someone ever brought it up, she wouldn't be upset. You never did it to hurt anyone, so what does it matter?

"Amo really likes this hairstyle!" She did a quick twirl, the ends of the bow ribbons in her hair following her movements.

You'd just finished brushing it out and styling it for her, since it seemed to keep getting in her face.

Her hand moved up to one of her now detangled strands, curling it around her finger to feel how soft it was. You'd really outdone yourself! She felt like a real princess.

"Okay! Now it's Amo's turn to do yours!"

Enjin

✦ ── If he's the shitty adoptive father doing his best, you're the perfect image of a caring mother who can't seem to fail. Honestly, he's envious of how much the others respect you. Why don't they treat him that way? Damn brats.

✦ ── But all that jealousy easily turns to pride because you're his partner. His amazing, insanely talented, and wonderfully beloved partner. Damn right everyone likes you!

✦ ── Seeing you all cutesy with the kids, especially those on Akuta, makes him melt. They all trust you a lot, and you care for them in ways he isn't really sure how to provide—mainly emotionally.

✦ ── Does it worry him that you own apart of the Watchman series and he still doesn't know what it does? Yes. But he trusts you with its power, whatever that may be.

✦ ── When he does find out your instrument allows you to manipulate and sway people, he is a bit uncomfortable with the idea. But after seeing it in use, at his request, he understands you would never abuse its power. Still, he urges you to rely on it less. You're good at what you do without it, anyway.

"Tch. Damn brats." Enjin scoffed under his breath, watching as Riyo and Rudo walked away from you. They'd interrupted your date just to see you and didn't so much as spare him a glance.

But seeing you so giddy, even after they left, made him forget any frustration bubbling up.

His frown turned to a grin when you shot him a look, scratching the back of his head. Shame? Nah. He wasn't afraid to let you know it bothered him.

"I'm locking the damn door. No more interruptions."

Rudo

✦ ── Any act of affection you show him overwhelms him. From anything small, like bringing him snacks when he hasn't eaten yet, to washing his gloves for him so it doesn't hurt as much, it all leaves him speechless.

✦ ── Lashes out at pretty much everyone except for you. More often than not he's staring at the floor and mumbling when you talk to him because he's worried he might scare you away.

✦ ── But he warms up eventually the more you talk him into it. He's more than willing to talk about his missions with you and goes to you for advice on reaching out to others a lot. When he isn't sure what to say to someone, he tries to think of what you'd say.

✦ ── You having apart of the series is both an opportunity for him to learn something about his own gloves and to have someone who can actually guide him through their use. He's really thankful he can go to you for help understanding the series—even if your knowledge is limited, too.

✦ ── Never suspects you might be manipulating others, and wouldn't believe anyone who claimed it. He dismisses those things quickly. They're just upset that you're well-liked and give such amazing advice.

"Thanks again. Y'know, for encouraging me to talk to them about it." Rudo had caught you in the hall and was now helping carry some of the books you were returning to the library of HQ.

Helping you, especially with stuff like carrying heavy things, made him feel stronger.

Even after you'd finished dropping everything off and began your next task, he stuck by your side. Mostly silent, listening to you talk to others and fidgeting with his gloves.

Words weren't needed. You'd look back at him like you expected him to be following you, and that was all the confirmation he needed to know you weren't annoyed by it.

Tamsy

✦ ── Your constant doting on others is certainly a draining task, and yet it never seems to affect you. For that, Tamsy is impressed. Though he doesn't much appreciate how you undo a lot of his work on Rudo (who he now tries to keep away from you whenever possible).

✦ ── When it's aimed at him, however? Oh, does he ever melt. Being the centre of your attention is an honour. He doesn't openly flaunt that he is your one and only, but he does act pretty smug about it when it comes up.

✦ ── Especially enjoys how much intel on others you have. You don't often share anything overly sensitive with him, but he still learns a lot about the other Cleaners from you, especially those that don't like him as much.

✦ ── Your vital instrument being among the Watchmen series is certainly a shock. Since you keep it a secret and only tell him, he promises not to share that information. He's just glad you own it, of all people.

✦ ── You? Manipulating? Of course, he knew all along! But you do it out of love and care, which he understands. Though he knows you have nothing insidious to hide. It's clear you genuinely want the best for others.

"Would you like a hand with that?" He seemed to magically appear at your side whenever you needed him, anticipating your needs before you.

The beads wrapped around your waist several times over kept tangling and snagging on your shirt, which made it much too obvious you were wearing them to begin with.

The watchman logo painted on the inside of every tiny little bead wasn't too obvious, but you rather keep it hidden than not.

His hand got to work, plenty skilled with detangling his own yarn. The blond took his time on purpose, allowing his hands to graze your skin more than needed.

"There we go, all better." You were always so busy caring for others; it was the least he could do considering what you'd sacrifice for him.

Zodyl

✦ ── You are total opposites. His stoic, almost absent-minded nature contradicts your open, engaged self. But that is why he has you on the Raiders; you supply to the team what he cannot.

✦ ── Be gentle with him all you like. He doesn't outwardly respond to a lot of it, but that is evidence enough that he enjoys it. He lets you touch his hair, hell, even his jacket, without a word or movement of complaint.

✦ ── He does think you are a bit too nurturing to the softer souls, such as Fu. If it weren't for you, he'd throw the kid into more head-on danger to try and scare him into action. Regardless, your methods may be slow, but they are still effective.

✦ ── Of course you have a piece of the Watchmen series; it was one of the many reasons he sought you out. It's also what allows you to get close to him in the first place. He needs you for his experiments, and now he's learned to need you for purely selfish reasons.

✦ ── Manipulate away. He had an inkling you were doing it, but he never bothered to give it much thought. Your methods support the Raiders and him, so why would it matter how you do it?

"What are you doing?" His lulled voice broke the silence, though he didn't move a muscle and kept his eyes trained forwards.

All he caught was your sheepish smile and shrug from the corner of his eye. You were adjusting the ties around his jacket sleeves. Admittedly, it felt a lot more comfortable.

When you mumbled something about his awful blood circulation, he looked away.

"It feels better, yes."

Author's Note ── 'Tamsy if possible' ALWAYS. ALWAYS POSSIBLE. I LOVE HIM.

Thank you for requesting! I hope this suited what you were looking for <3 I think you really picked up on what I write best; this is way up my alley!

Leona Kingscholar

Azul Ashengrotto

Jamil Viper

Vil Schoenheit

Idia Shroud

Malleus Draconia