Exploring good traits gone bad in a novel can add depth and complexity to your characters. Here are a few examples of good traits that can take a negative turn:
1. Empathy turning into manipulation: A character with a strong sense of empathy may use it to manipulate others' emotions and gain an advantage.
2. Confidence becoming arrogance: Excessive confidence can lead to arrogance, where a character belittles others and dismisses their opinions.
3. Ambition turning into obsession: A character's ambition can transform into an unhealthy obsession, causing them to prioritize success at any cost, including sacrificing relationships and moral values.
4. Loyalty becoming blind devotion: Initially loyal, a character may become blindly devoted to a cause or person, disregarding their own well-being and critical thinking.
5. Courage turning into recklessness: A character's courage can morph into reckless behavior, endangering themselves and others due to an overestimation of their abilities.
6. Determination becoming stubbornness: Excessive determination can lead to stubbornness, where a character refuses to consider alternative perspectives or change their course of action, even when it's detrimental.
7. Optimism becoming naivety: Unwavering optimism can transform into naivety, causing a character to overlook dangers or be easily deceived.
8. Protectiveness turning into possessiveness: A character's protective nature can evolve into possessiveness, where they become overly controlling and jealous in relationships.
9. Altruism becoming self-neglect: A character's selflessness may lead to neglecting their own needs and well-being, to the point of self-sacrifice and burnout.
10. Honesty becoming brutal bluntness: A character's commitment to honesty can turn into brutal bluntness, hurting others with harsh and tactless remarks.
These examples demonstrate how even admirable traits can have negative consequences when taken to extremes or used improperly. By exploring the complexities of these traits, you can create compelling and multi-dimensional characters in your novel.
Happy writing!
@bubblinekiss I'm your secret santa for the @mlsecretsanta exchange!! đ đ Happy holidays, enjoy some sapphic lovesquare (feat. transfem adrien)!!
1x09/4x09
When your old besties are back from the dead and they're angry you got character development
"After everything you have done. How will you sleep at night?"
"Next to my wife."
Its so me I love spooky Hawks <3
ŕŞââ´ âwhat are we?â event masterlist
synopsis: he's a symbol of everything you oppose. loyalties drawn, paths setâstill, there's an unspoken understanding, a reminder of what you might share.
pairing: hawks x f!reader
the city hums beneath you, the distant sound of sirens and hurried footsteps filling the air as night slowly creeps in.
you stand atop a rooftop, the cool breeze lifting your hair, your gaze scanning the streets below. tonight, you're here on business, but thereâs always something more when it comes to himâhawks.
itâs been a while since you last crossed paths.
each time you do, it's like a game of cat and mouse. he thinks he has you cornered, but you always manage to slip away.
not out of fear, but because you know how to play the game better than anyone. after all, youâve spent your life outsmarting heroes like him.
and yet, tonight, something feels different.
you can feel the shift in the air before you see him. the familiar flutter of feathers, the sharp sound of wings cutting through the night.
heâs here, and he's getting closer. the irony of it all isn't lost on youâthe fastest hero in the nation, always chasing you, yet never quite able to catch you. heâs good, no doubt about that.
but you know his moves, his habits, better than anyone.
he lands gracefully on the rooftop opposite yours, his wings folding behind him.
you look over your shoulder, eyes narrowing, sensing the tension in the air. thereâs something about this encounter that doesnât feel like all the others.
âstill running, huh?â hawksâ voice breaks through the quiet, a smirk evident in his tone as he takes a few steps forward.
his wings twitch slightly, as though itching to launch himself toward you.
you canât help the smirk that tugs at your lips.
ârunning?â you say, stepping out of the shadows, your gaze locking onto his. âIâm not the one chasing after someone whoâs always a step ahead, am I?â
his eyes glint, and there's a flicker in his expression. you wonder if itâs because of the way youâve been evading him, or if itâs something more.
but you push the thought away. youâre not here for introspection. youâre here to keep him on his toes.
âyou make it too easy,â he says, his voice holding a mix of annoyance and amusement.
âyou know, most villains wouldâve been caught by now, but youâŚyouâve got this annoying habit of being unpredictable.â
you tilt your head slightly, taking a step closer to him.
the moonlight casts a soft glow on his face, and for a brief moment, you find yourself distracted by the sharpness of his features, damn him for being this good looking.
âyou think Iâm a villain?â you ask softly, your tone almost teasing.
âmaybe Iâm just someone who understands the world a little better than you do. someone whoâs not afraid to take risks while you hide behind your hero facade.â
he falters for just a moment, the flicker of doubt in his eyes quickly hidden. âmaybe. or maybe youâre just scared. hiding behind all that power because you know the truth deep down.â
you scoff, crossing your arms. âyou really think you have me figured out, donât you?â
âI know I do,â he replies smoothly, stepping closer. âitâs not hard to figure out someone whoâs always one step ahead of the law.
but what I donât getâŚis why you never just accept whatâs coming to you. why run? why keep fighting when you could stop? you could make things easier on yourself.â
the question lingers between you, pulling at something inside. itâs the same question heâs asked every time youâve faced offâwhy do you keep fighting, when you could just give in?
the truth is, itâs never been about winning or losing. itâs always been about the chase.
about the thrill of outsmarting him and playing this game, where both of you know the stakes are high but neither of you wants to stop.
for a moment, youâre quiet.
the only sound is the wind rustling through the night air. you glance at him, his eyes locked on yours with an intensity that almost makes you second-guess yourself.
âyou want to know why?â you ask softly, your voice barely a whisper. he leans in, curiosity in his eyes.
âbecause,â you continue, taking a slow step closer to him, âyouâre always so sure of yourself, so confident. and Iâve always wanted to see just how far that confidence will get you when it comes to me.â
hawks smirks, the challenge in your words clearly not lost on him. âyou know, thatâs not a bad answer,â he says, his voice suddenly softer. almostâŚwarmer.
âbut, for the record, Iâm not going to stop coming after you. no matter how many times you think youâve outsmarted me.â
you laugh, the sound light and almost melodic. âmaybe thatâs what makes it fun.â
as you disappear into the shadows, leaving hawks standing in the middle of the empty alley, he canât stop the small grin from tugging at his lips.
he adjusts his feathers, his eyes lingering on where youâve vanished for a moment too long.
âfun, huh?â he mutters to himself, shaking his head as he launches into the air.
the wind whips against his face, but it doesnât do much to clear the warmth lingering in his chestâor the ghost of your laughter still echoing in his ears.
by the time he makes it back to his apartment, hawks is still replaying the interaction in his mind.
he tosses his jacket over the back of the couch and paces the room, trying to shake the nagging feeling thatâs taken root.
something about you always lingersâlike the faintest melody that refuses to leave his head.
slumping onto the couch, he runs a hand through his messy hair, staring at the ceiling. âwhat is it with her?â he mutters, the question more to himself than anyone else.
his thoughts drift unbidden to your teasing smile, the glint in your eyes whenever you throw a challenge his way. heâs met plenty of people who are clever, who enjoy the game, but you?
you arenât just playing the gameâyouâre rewriting the rules every time he thinks heâs got you figured out.
he groans, covering his face with his hands. ânope, nope. this is bad. really bad.â
it isnât just your sharp wit or the way you keep him on his toes. itâs how, even in the midst of a chase, you feel like something more.
like a spark that makes him forgetâfor just a momentâthat youâre supposed to be on opposing sides.
his hands drop from his face, and he leans forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor like it holds the answers.
âsheâs gonna be the death of me,â he mutters, his voice half exasperation, half awe.
hawks isnât used to being thrown off his gameâhe thrives on control, on always being one step ahead. but with you? he feels like heâs chasing more than a target. and it terrifies him.
because the truth is finally starting to settle in, whether he likes it or not.
he doesnât just enjoy the chase. he doesnât just admire your wit, your skill, or the way you always manage to slip through his fingers at the last second.
he likes you. really likes you.
âdamn it,â hawks mutters, rubbing the back of his neck as heat creeps up to his cheeks.
the realization hits him like a ton of bricks, and for the first time in what feels like forever, keigo takamiâpro hero hawksâfeels completely out of his depth.
the thought of seeing you again, of hearing your laugh, sends a wave of excitement and dread through him.
because liking you isnât just riskyâitâs downright reckless. but even as he tries to rationalize it, to remind himself of the impossibility of it all, he canât stop the smile tugging at his lips.
âguess Iâm really in trouble now,â he murmurs, leaning back on the couch and staring up at the ceiling.
the days that follow the encounter feel different.
it isnât just the heat of that moment between you and hawks lingering like smoke in the air; itâs the unspoken tension that still hums beneath your skin.
there are still barbed exchanges, the usual teasing and back-and-forth, but something has shifted.
you notice the way he looks at you when he thinks you arenât watchingâsoftened, almost as if heâs studying you.
and when you lock eyes, the challenges are still there, but now thereâs something else. something delicate.
you try to tell yourself that itâs nothing. that this is just another phase in your endless battle, another game between the villain and the hero.
but itâs harder to believe that now.
there are even times when he shows up when you least expect itâjust to talk, to exchange words that arenât about missions or plans or orders. small thingsâlike him telling you to be careful, or when he asks if youâre okay.
you scoff, of course, but the warmth in his voice, the underlying sincerity, is something you canât deny.
you arenât sure how you got here, where you find yourself questioning the motives of the person who, up until recently, has been your enemy.
maybe itâs because you start seeing him as something more than just a heroâa perfect, untouchable figure of righteousness. or maybe itâs because he isnât what you thought he was.
you try to keep your distance, you truly do, but every time you see him, every time you hear his voice, itâs like heâs chipping away at the walls youâve built around yourself.
and it isnât just the things he says. itâs the way he says them. itâs the look in his eyes when he thinks you canât see it.
the way he hesitates before leaving, like heâs waiting for somethingâŚwaiting for you to say something, anything. but you canât say what you need to say. you canât even admit it to yourself.
weeks pass, and the line between enemy and ally grows thinner.
there are moments when you find yourself sitting in the same room as himâno fighting, no tension, just silence hanging between you like a fragile thread.
you can hear his breathing, steady and calm, and you force yourself to focus on anything but the heat rising in your chest.
still, you fight it.
but then, one night, everything changes.
itâs supposed to be just another mission.
but the battlefield is charged with an unfamiliar tension, thicker than the usual chaos. and hawks is there, too. and this time, he isnât just another target. heâs in the way.
more specifically, one of his alliesâthe one youâre assigned to hurtâis standing directly in the line of fire. theyâre a crucial part of the mission, and it isnât something you can afford to back out of.
the moment your eyes meet hawksâ, you know this wonât go as planned. his gaze is sharp, unwavering, and brimming with something you canât quite placeâdetermination, yes, but thereâs something else buried beneath it.
he sees through you, understands the weight of your missionâhurt, not just steal or takeâand itâs clear he isnât going to let you succeed.
not this time. the ally youâre supposed to harm stands behind him, and you can see it in hawksâ stance:
if you want to get to them, youâll have to go through him.
the fight is a danceâa deadly one that the ally exploits to escape.
your body moves on instinct, dodging, attacking, countering, each movement honed by months of training, and yet each blow you land against him is softer than it should be.
your heart is racing, but not from the fight. no, itâs the connectionâthe undeniable pull you feel whenever your eyes meet.
you canât explain it, but you feel it in the way his every movement seems to hesitate just a moment too long, in the way his eyes follow you just a second longer than they should.
and then, suddenly, it happens.
in a flash, you find yourself on the ground. his wings, the great feathers that could easily crush any enemy, are now spread wide above you like a barrier, trapping you.
your chest heaves with each breath, but you canât move. his feather is aimed directly at your throat. the cold steel of it presses against your skin, and for a moment, time seems to stop.
you can feel the heat of him so closeâhis breath warm on your face, his eyes dark, intense, full of conflict. this isnât the man youâve faced in battle before.
no. this is different. this is a hero. and you...you are still the villain. the one he is supposed to end. the one he has every right to kill.
your heart thunders in your chest, not with fear, but with an aching sorrow. a desire for something youâve long buried.
for a fleeting moment, your guard is down, and you let the raw truth of your emotions flood your mind. you are at his mercy. and, maybe, for the first time, you donât want him to kill you.
âdo it,â you whisper, the words barely escaping your lips. your voice cracks, the edge of vulnerability cutting through the usual strength you wear like armor.
you donât recognize it at first. how weak you sound. how resigned. but there is a quiet hope in it too. you are giving him an out, a chance to end this.
but hawks doesnât do it.
instead, his hand wavers, trembling slightly as it hovers above you. the feather, once so steady and deadly, waversâits tip brushing against your skin, but not with the force of death.
no, there is something else in that touch. the hesitation. the uncertainty. his eyes, usually so determined, are clouded.
you lock eyes with him. in that moment, there is no mission. no sides. no enemies. only the two of you. and everything that has been building for months comes crashing to the surface.
the connection you tried to deny, the feelings you buried deep down, they all come rushing forward.
the world around you spins, a cyclone of emotions, of truths unspoken, of desires too dangerous to voice. and then, finally, he speaks.
âI canâtâŚâ his voice breaks like glass, and you can hear the agony in it. it shatters the silence, the weight of his words settling heavily between you.
the feather above your throat drops. his grip on it loosens, and the sharp tip that had once been poised to kill now quivers in the air.
his wings fold, the powerful appendages that could level cities now hanging limply at his sides.
and in that momentâjust when you think the world is going to end, just when you think he is going to end youâhawks collapses.
he falls into you, his chest heaving with emotion, his face burying itself against your shoulder.
you donât know how to respond. donât know what to say. but you feel the tremors in his body, the weight of everything he is carrying.
it isnât just exhaustion.
it isnât just the fight.
itâs something that has been growing inside of him since the moment you first crossed paths. something that both of you have tried to bury but can no longer deny.
you hold him close, your own body shaking now, from the quiet, painful realization that neither of you can keep pretending anymore. neither of you can keep hiding from what you have become.
hawksâ arms tighten around you as if he could shield you from everythingâyour choices, his duty, the impossible chasm between the two of you.
his breath is ragged against your shoulder, the weight of unspoken truths pressing down on both of you.
âthisâŚâ his voice is hoarse, cracking under the strain of everything he isnât saying. âthis doesnât change anything, does it?â
you close your eyes, a helpless laugh escaping before you can stop it. âno. it doesnât.â
the reality of it hangs heavy in the air. no matter what has passed between you, no matter how tightly he holds you now, the world outside wonât care.
you are still on opposing sides, trapped in a war that doesnât allow for feelings like this.
âthen what are we doing?â he asks, pulling back just enough to meet your gaze.
his golden eyes search yours, filled with a mixture of frustration, confusion, and something that looks dangerously close to hope.
you hesitate, the answer caught in your throat. âsurviving,â you finally say, your voice quieter than you intended. âeven if itâs just for this moment.â
his lips press into a thin line. âyou know we canât keep this up. sooner or later, one of us will have to make a choice.â
the truth of his words stings, but you refuse to look away. âI know,â you admit. âbut Iâm not ready to make that choice yet.â
silence falls between you, heavy with everything you canât say. the warmth of his touch jars with the cold reality of your situation, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world has faded away.
but it hasnât. it never will.
âI wonât stop trying to bring you in,â hawks says eventually. âI canât just ignore everything youâve done, everything you might still do. butâŚâ
he swallows hard, his voice softening. âthat doesnât mean I want to lose you.â
you let out a shaky breath, your hands tightening in the fabric of his jacket. âand I wonât stop doing what I have to. but that doesnât mean I want to fight you, keigo. I never have.â
his name on your lips seems to cause a light blush to cover his cheeks, before he coughs. âso, what does that make us? enemies with...feelings?â
a small smile tugs at your lips. âsomething like that.â
â you've got a new message!
kofi â navigation â masterlist
do not copy, translate, or plagarize
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Bullet Train Hawks au?
Bullet Train Hawks au.
I love how irresponsibly fed up his expressions turned out.
i will sell my soul to you YES PUH LEASE
I have barely watched any MHA, only seen some with my younger brother and every scene with this man but I love Hawks? Such an interesting character. I am half-tempted to write an X Reader or an X OC series on my AO3 (like I did when I was like, 14) where the reader is an undercover journalist/private investigator (maybe considered a vigilante but they just release sensitive information about corrupt organizations) who's trying to seed out corruption in the Hero Commission and publish it and goes to Hawks since he's like one of their inside men? Idk, I would have to actually watch the show but it sounds goofy lol
" what can i say? i'm optimistic to a fault ,,artist / đłď¸âđ
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