Crying, Literally Sobbing. Chapter 441 Is Just...I Can't Believe That He's Dead!!! （ ＴДＴ）

small snippet from my WIP

Shards and Splinters | Weeping Embers

Dried leaves fluttered in the breeze, crunching amongst each other as if whispering secrets into the wind to be carried away. The streets lay abandoned, everyone still asleep tightly in their warm beds awaiting the dawn of yet another day like any other before. But today wasn’t going to be a usual day.

From the moment his eyelids opened, and he jolted out of bed breathing as if he had been chased around the whole world by an army of demons Archer Uberto could tell there was something different about today. The sun rose to the skies just like every other morning, drowning the world in light and warmth as it had done perhaps trillions of times before, yet still, the boy could not shake the feeling something was out of place. It wasn’t anything obvious, else he would have noticed by now, like how you’d know if someone had moved your socks from their rightful place, but not if a splinter was missing from your desk. The feeling, although persistent did nothing to deter him from entering back into his routine almost robotically, forgetting about the dream that had startled him awake, or of the pungent smell of creos in his home...

Archer paused repeating the thought that had just passed through his mind. Creos? What even were creos and why did he think of that? A puzzled expression flashed on his face before the shrill ringing of his phone broke his line of thought, pulling him back into reality harshly. His body moved on its own, traversing the neat and clean room all the way to the small bookshelf adorning the whole left wall of his room before turning off that blasted noise, so he could once more rejoice in the softer morning sounds.

A crow stood atop one of the branches that neared his window, silently observing the teen as he exited the building dressed in an old baseball shirt and dark green jeans. It cawed out twice before taking off into the mushy clouds in search of its morning meal.

The sudden flapping of feathers alerted a nearby mouse and sent it scurrying back beneath the dumpster it had crawled from, the dark feathered bird now taking its place, atop the lid that rested on the wall behind it. From there it had a clear view of the lanky teen as he scurried into the backroom, before coming out with a green apron and getting behind the counter, just as the doors of the cafe opened to let in a stream of groggy and grumpy customers who couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries at such an early hour.

Archer sighed in relief upon hearing the bell hung above the door ring one final time that day, the last customer exiting the small Starbucks, coffee in hand. With a sudden sense of accomplishment, the boy grinned to himself, returning to the backroom. He greeted the rest of his colleagues politely and made a bit of small chat before changing from his uniform back into his soft dark jacket and exiting the building while humming a soft tune and swinging his arms in

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the air as if he were conducting a band of invisible musicians. There were barely any people on the streets at the time to judge him, and even those who saw him as mad he could not be bothered to pay attention to.

Upon crossing the street, he stopped in the middle, waiting for someone to come out of nowhere and run him over, but after a few minutes and not even the sight of a bike, he let out an exasperated sigh and continued on his journey back to his warm bed and fluffy pillow. Perhaps next time he would have more luck, Archer pouted jokingly while swatting a few stray strands of mahogany hair out of his eyes, only for the evening breeze to blow them right back into his face, blinding him momentarily. And it was all it took, just that one moment, he smelled that same scent his room had that morning, and that feeling came back over a thousand times stronger.

He whirled around clutching his sides, as a stinging pain bloomed right where his ribs caged his lungs and the wind picked up, raising clouds of fallen and dried leaves into the air and surrounding him. Archer clenched his eyes tightly, burying his head into his chest, now fully aware that that feeling of something being awfully wrong had not been only in his tired mind.

“There’s no way I’m going to die to a cloud of leaves today” he screeched, before choking on something and falling into a coughing fit, his eyes watering and his ears ringing.

We have seen enough fem! Danny but what about fem!Jay?

And its Danny's first time seeing jay as a female.

Danny sucked in a sharp breath as his eyes fell on the figure next to the window and his heartbeat quickened. He desperately tried to cover his blush with one hand while the other suddenly felt clammy and slippery around his backpack's strap. Oh, gods if I really died this time I hit the jackpot in heaven!

His beloved looked so pretty as a woman he almost had a heart attack just by laying eyes on her. Jay's luscious blonde hair fell in waves over her shoulders and the bangs covering her eyes made her lips look even more delectable. She wore a pretty white skirt with a flower pattern that gave the boy full access to her long slender legs that made him gulp. He traced her splendid curves reverently as if gazing at a masterpiece of a genius artist and sighed in his heart longingly. Danny could bet that she would fit beautifully in his arms, just as her male counterpart did, and complete him in ways he could never describe.

"Hey, Jay." He greeted, making no effort to hide his blush now. It was only natural that she knew how the mere sight of her could bring him to his knees! He wouldn't dare hide his adoration from her and deceive her about his feelings. She should know that he was hers and hers alone, regardless of the insects that kept buzzing around him.

The time-looper was awarded with a smile that made him go beet red all the way to the tips of his ears and practically melt into a puddle of goo beneath his desk. He wasted no time in mirroring it and entering a seemingly one-sided conversation with the elegant beauty.

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"I don't know how I did it, but I've never felt happier!" Danny would later confess at lunch, holding Jay's dainty little hand in his like it was the most precious jewel in the world.

"You don't know how you got her to agree to date you?" Zack looked up from his lunch and stared quizzically at the pair.

The way he saw it they had been crushing hard on each other since Daniel had first transferred and now he had finally grown the balls to ask her out. Then the boxer thought back to his own crush and the realization dawned on him that sometimes he also couldn't put into words how much he loved and cared about her. He shot his friend a look of understanding and Vasco gave him a thumbs up, too busy stuffing his mouth with rice to verbally congratulate the new couple.

Danny was grateful for their support and nuzzled into Jay's nack, eliciting a soft gasp from the blond that almost sent him into very dangerous territory. Later, he told himself, when it's only us two and she wants to share that kind of intimacy with me! He could wait.

For Jay. Anything.

[Short and sweet. Sorry I couldn't write more, I'm in a bit of writer's block currently but I hope you liked it, nonetheless! <3 ]

Zack: Where are you going? Danny: To get ice cream or commit a felony, I’ll decide on the way there

#3

Forget politeness, Danny was just downright feral. Simply put, he had woken up and chosen violence.

He made his way to school like he owned the place. Bought himself at the Slave Auction like it was nobody's business and went off into the sunset with a baffled Jay in his arms, being held in bridal style. Then he came back because he had forgotten that he had to sing with Duke and put the blonde back down remorsefully before making him promise to watch his concert.

Somehow, and because the universe was a bitch he had once again ended up in the parking lot with Crystal and Gun staring at him. Before he could walk away the girl opened her mouth and began berating him for "judging people based on their looks".

"I'm gonna stop you right there" He cut her off, something no one had ever done before judging by her gobsmacked expression. "I don't know you, nor do I care to so you should keep your hypocritical view to yourself, okay miss?"

Unfortunately, Crystal managed to recover before he could book it out of there.

"Just who do you think you are? Calling me a hypocrite?"

Daniel regaled her with a thoroughly unimpressed stare before opening his mouth.

"Siri, could you please tell me the definition of hypocrisy?"

"a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel" The robotic voice came from his back pocket, echoing through the empty parking lot.

Gun had a mysterious coughing fit that ended with a pointed elbow in the ribs from the smaller girl, though even that didn't manage to wipe the grin off his face. He eyed the boy more closely, feeling suddenly intrigued about whether he had the skills to back his cheeky attitude.

"You judge people based on how they look. I saw how you looked at one of the other girls in the crowd." Crystal continued to press on stubbornly.

"And you don't?" He retorted without missing a beat. "Besides, the girl I was looking at was Lala Kim, and she's notorious for how badly she treats the dates she buys at the Slave Auction."

That at least seemed to have gotten his point across.

"But you still act like you are better than anyone else."

Spoken too soon.

"I am better than everyone else!" His cocky reply seemed to only infuriate the beautiful girl more.

"Prove it!"

"Sure!"

They were now shouting and so close to each other that it was just one shove away from ending up really awkwardly between them. Daniel didn't let his confidence waver when she suddenly revealed a sharp smile that promised pain and humiliation, instead, he gave her his own taunting smirk and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Gun, fight him."

If the command surprised the bodyguard, he didn't show it. In one swift move, he took off his sunglasses, revealing the black sclera of his eyes and plastered on his infamous insane grin. Crystal moved out of the way and Daniel squared his shoulders but didn't wipe off his mocking expression.

Before he could blink an all-too-familiar kick began heading his way and the boy slipped into his fighting mindset. He blacked the click with his own leg using a basic movement that made it seem ridiculously easy. Gun's eyes widened as well as his smirk.

"You're pretty interesting, huh?"

A fist flew towards his face.

"Uh, Daniel."

The boy in question dodged the blow and caught his attacker by the throat, lifting him in the air.

"Hm?" He hummed inquiringly, turning to see the cowering form of Jinho looking at him like he was a monster.

He let go of his opponent, whose body hit the pavement with a muffled thud and made his way toward his smaller classmate.

"Uh-uh, Duke's looking for you, he-he asked me to-to get you." Jinho stuttered, eyes glued on the predator before him and knees trembling.

"Oh right, the concert, I almost forgot!" It was like a switch had been flipped and Daniel's cold facade melted back into a friendly smile. "Thanks, Jinho."

The boy nodded so fast he almost knocked his glasses off his face and scurried back.

"Ah, sorry, we'll have to continue this another time." He told the pair who were still frozen in shock, either at his skill or his quick change in attitude, he found that he didn't care much either way.

Shooting them one final sharp grin Daniel jogged back to the school festival, ready to perform for the beautiful blonde who would be watching him. Once he was out of sight Gun's posture finally loosened and he leaned onto the side of the car, pulling out a cigarette. A drop of cold sweat trickled down his forehead and he absently brushed his fingers over the already-forming hand-shaped bruise on his neck.

"He could have broken my neck without breaking a sweat." He mumbled and Crystal blanched at the thought.

"That boy...", the fighting maniac took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke slowly, "could've killed me if he wanted to."

The pair shared no other words as they left, both slightly trembling, though due to different reasons. Daniel Park was a real beast and they were lucky he had been interrupted when he had. Gun massaged his neck again as he drove, an impossibly large smile on his face.

Daniel: If Vasco and I were drowning, who would you save? Zack: You two can’t swim? Daniel: It’s a hypothetical question, Zack! who would you save? Zack: my time and effort. Vasco: 😢

#17

Danny had avoided thinking about it because, frankly, he didn't want to. At first, it hadn't occurred to him that any of his friends could possibly die before him. The time loop usually made sure of it. It never lasted long enough for him to reach past 30, and even then it had been a stroke of luck that he didn't much care to repeat...(Ugh, taxes.)

Then he killed Eli and watched his family and friends mourn him, from afar. They didn't know it was him who had done it, but all the same, he couldn't bare look them in the eyes. Not when they sobbed at his funeral. Not when little Yenna was constantly searching for her father and waiting for him to come back from "the nice place". He had willfully blinded himself with the excuse that "it wasn't permanent", and "the next loop he would be fine". Daniel Park was below scum.

Then Robin had come along a few loops later. Poor, kind, patient Robin, who had taken him to the deepest, darkest parts of his consciousness and had still sought to bring him redemption. She, who had glimpsed at the murderer in juvi uniform and still saw something...something worth saving...something good.

The process had been long and grueling, with many violent episodes and tearful breakdowns, but in the end, Daniel Park had emerged a different man. A man who could once again look people in the eye and didn't shy away from mirrors and sleep. A man who had understood his mistakes and who would strive to do better, to be better.

That was what he had told himself.

That was what he had lied about to everyone.

Daniel was not better. He wasn't good. He wasn't kind. He wasn't patient and forgiving and good! He wasn't...good. In his memories, the boy who had been willing to befriend those who had once wronged him and attempt to redeem them was dead.

It only took one hit to prove him right.

One blow towards his Jay's already unmoving body...

He had snapped.

It had taken him three loops and a bit of the fourth to stop. His anger had only partially been quelled by the bloodshed.

That's why he was here. In front of that same crisp white door with a little metal plaque on it. Danny tried to steady his breath and rose a trembling hand to the door. Knock! Knock!

"Come in!" Dr. Robin Lim's voice sounded from the other side.

(Robin Lim)

Zack: Well, Mira and I finally did it! The rest of the squad: *gasps, shocked expressions, etc.* Zack: That's right... We kissed!

Danny: You call yourself my soulmate, but where were you when my meme only had four likes? Jay: Making four accounts. Danny, tearing up: Really…?

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 외모지상주의 | Lookism Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Underage Characters: Seong Yohan | Johan, Park Hyung Suk | Daniel, Seong Yohan | Johan's Mother Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Timelines, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Character Death Summary:

Even in another universe, God Dog's fate is cruel.

Danny: Sorry I’m late, I was doing things. Jay:[in jaynese] Hi, I’m ‘things’.