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soamericn · 22 hours
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𝜗𝜚 𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐄
🐰ྀི₊˚⊹ ‘ truth, dare, spin bottles you know how to ball, i know aristotle. ‘
𝜗𝜚… summary , ( f!verstappen!y/n x lando norris ) y/n is the younger sister of world champion max verstappen and an author known for her young adult romance novels despite never being in a relationship herself. lando norris is a formula one driver and is secretly an old friend and a fan of her books since 2020.
𝜗𝜚… faceclaim , brooke flecca
𝜗𝜚… triggers , none I don't think
𝜗𝜚… authors note , listened to so highschool this is the product of that
🐰ྀི₊˚⊹ masterlist ( intro post )
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𝜗𝜚 ‧₊˚ ⊹ yourusername posted
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liked by thebookleo, landonorris, lynnpainter and 634,450 others
yourusername ‘ the one ‘ is officially going on sale tomorrow! thank you so much for the support and all the pre orders hope you love it!
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user93 EEEE IM SO EXCITED 🥳🥳
↪️ user92 the blurb has me so worried im gonna cry I know it 🫣
user91 i just know you’re gonna capture our hearts again
user86 i’m still not over waiting room 😭
user85 she’s beautiful and she can write!!!?? 🤭🤭
↪️ user70 what can she not do tbf
maxverstappen proud of you! 👏
↪️ yourusername prouder of you 🫶
↪️ user71 how did i forget she had a brother
landonorris already preordered 😁
↪️ user72 ARIANNA WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
↪️ user73 LANDO?? 😭😭
user74 my gf is a best selling author everyone! 🏃‍♀️
↪️ user75 think she’s my gf actually 🤓☝️
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𝜗𝜚 ‧₊˚ ⊹ yourusername posted a story
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seen by charlesleclerc, aymansbooks, landonorris and 645,765 others
landonorris replied to your story
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𝜗𝜚 ‧₊˚ ⊹ yourusername posted
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liked by redbullracing, maxverstappen, carmenmundt and 875,438 others
yourusername australia you are good to me! 🤭🇦🇺
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user81 in her active era I see 🫣
↪️ user80 never cheered more 🎉
redbullracing we’re happy to have you 🫶
user79 y/n finally going to gps again has cured my depression
carmenmundt you need to come to races more often 😊💕💕
↪️ yourusername i will just for you 😘
user78 new book and she went to a race?! we’re being fed this week
↪️ user77 mother is taking care of us
user76 her and lando was something i didn’t know i needed
landonorris i know a mclaren fan when i see one
↪️ yourusername we can’t tell max 🤫
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lando 🫶 sent you a text!
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𝜗𝜚… tags , @whitcferrari @cedarbcws @c-losur3 @lclitaa @forurforeverwinter
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wwditsdaily · 3 days
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WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS 4.06 "The Wedding"
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Winter's King 10
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No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.
Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, cheating, violence, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.
This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.
Summary: You are a maid to the Duke of Debray, a lord of the Summer Kingdom. That is, until the king of Winter appears with his particular air of coldness. (Medieval AU)
Characters: Geralt of Rivia
Note: have a wondeful thursday.
As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.
Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.
I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖
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Queen Jazlene slumps against her chair. She’s barely awake as her eyes glaze over. Despite your deflections at serving her, she’d drunk herself to excess, swiping away goblets that weren't hers. Her constant imbibition has not been missed by her husband. Slanted looks and gristly whispers did little to deter her, your own gentle girding only fuelling her irritation. 
The king stands, stepping forward to overshadow his slouching queen. He raises a hand to the remaining crowd; the clumsy and drunken dancers, the chittering ladies, and the boasting lords. They turn their attention to him and hush. 
“So I must retire for the night, I bid you all a hearty rest,” he pronounces, “and may tomorrow see a brighter sun shine upon us all.” 
A hurrah is sent up in return and the king waits until the large hall falls back into its previous din. He turns slowly, his head down, and flares his nostrils at his queen. His golden eyes skim up and down the table. 
“Come,” he takes her hand, “let us get you abed.” 
Jazlene yawns and hiccups. She does not resist as he tugs her to her feet, though she teeters once upright. He swiftly hooks his arm around her, keeping her away from the view of the hall. He huffs heavily and ushers her around the bench. 
“Maid,” he demands over his shoulder. 
You follow as he carries on, finding a door behind the high table. The dimness of the corridor fogs around his figure as Jazlene’s slippers begin to drag. She babbles and gurgles. 
“I warned you not to drink so much,” he mutters, “why can you not obey? Why can you not just do what is best for you?” 
You tread behind them silently. The king falters and grunts, scooping up his wife before she can slip further down his arm. As he lifts her, her head lolls back over his thick bicep. He growls and presses onward. 
As he reaches her chamber door, you come around to open it for him. He doesn’t say a word as he enters and you wait near the entrance as he lays Jazlene down on the bed. She is very silent and still, only the subtle rise and fall of her chest suggesting a glimmer of life. 
You peer around as the king looms over her, his hand on the post of the bed as he simmers at her. His other arm bends as he rubs the bridge of his nose. You go to the vanity and take the now cool basin of water. You reach into your apron pocket as you hug the large bowl and cross to the bed. 
You pull out a cloth as you sit on the edge of the mattress and balance the bowl against your bent leg. You wet the fabric and lean over the queen to wipe her face. The kohl around her eyes has begun to smear and a sheen of sweat layers over her rich skin. You sense the king watching your deliberate tending. 
“You are good to her,” he remarks. 
“She will not feel well in the morning,” you say, “I will make sure she has water to drink and a warm compress when she wakes, your highness.” 
He’s quiet as he considers your words, “you will stay with her?” 
You wring out the cloth and fold it over the edge of the basin before moving it back to the vanity. You face the king and clasp your hands over your apron, “she cannot be alone when she has drunk so much. Once...” you shake your head and let the statement taper out, “your highness, she will need me.” 
“Hmm,” he pulls his hand off the post, pacing around the end of the bed and turn towards you, “once what?” 
“Nothing, your highness. It was only a memory I had. It doesn’t matter now.” 
“I would like to hear it,” he insists. 
You swallow down the dryness in your throat, “your highness, well, her mother, the duchess, she is the same about wine. Once she drank overly much that she did not wake when her stomach revolted. If we’d not been there to watch over her, she might have choked on it.” 
“Ah, yes,” he stops, just a step away, “that would be unfortunate. I will thank you then for keeping a close eye on my lady wife.” 
“As is my duty, your highness.” 
His eyes blaze down at you and he shifts on his feet, “but will you sleep?” 
“Me? I rest in the cart--” 
“We will not leave on the morrow, I have business yet in the capital,” he explains, “when the lady is awake, you will make certain she is conscious, then you will go and seek rest of your own.” 
“Your highness, how generous, but she would need to break her fast, and dress anew, perhaps bathe--” 
“There are other maids in this castle. I am commanding you to retire for the day. You will need strength for our pending departure,” he bids, “to serve your queen upon the road.” 
You bow your head, apologetic, “your highness, I did not mean to argue. Certainly, I will do as you say. Thank you for minding me.” 
He inches forward and your shoulders slant as you shrink for his closeness. You see his thick fingers twiddle at his side and his hot breath blasts over you like a brazier. He cautiously bends his arm and touches the front of your apron. You quiver as you watch his calloused hand climb up the stained fabric. He pauses and shudders, pinching the loose thread poking out from the belt. He pulls it loose and rolls it between his fingertips. 
“You will have new clothes,” he backs away, feeling the thread, twisting it, “you are a queen’s maid now. Not some castle sweep.” 
You squeeze your hands tighter as you stare at his tunic, “yes, your highness. Thank you anon.” 
He turns on his sole reluctantly and looks upon the bed. You follow his gaze to his subdued wife. He hangs his head and puts his back to you before he pivots toward the door. He stalks toward it and pulls it open with enough strength to make the hinges whine. 
“Good night, little maid,” he drawls just before the door snaps shut in his stead. 
You raise your eyes completely and stare at the heavy wooden slats of the door. Your chest is knotted so tight you can hardly breathe. The king’s displeasure lingers even his absence. Is he unhappy with his inebriate wife or is it you? You quickly dismiss the latter. You don’t matter so much. No, his marriage is not an easy one thus far. 
⚔️
You only know Queen Jazlene is awake as she spits bile onto the floor. Her head hangs over the side of the bed as she wretches and spews, coughing and gagging until she goes limp and groans. The acidic smell permeates the chamber and you come forward to clean it away with a cloth. 
Once you’ve sopped up the mess, you leave her to dispose of the smelly rags and return with a cool, fresh basin and a new cloth. You help her onto her back, propping her against the pillows and clean her face anew. She moans as she keeps her eyes closed, a ripple in her forehead. 
“Too bright,” she mutters. 
“I will draw the curtains, your highness,” you assure her as you rescind the cloth and rise to do so. 
She winces as you pull the heavy drapes together and groans, “my husband... did he not see back to my chamber?” 
“He carried you here, your highness,” you explain, “you were not feeling well.” 
“Mm, I still do not,” she decries. 
“Shall I call for a bath?” You suggest. 
“Do what you will but be quiet,” she hisses as she shades her eyes beneath her long fingers. 
She gurgles as she sinks down and rolls upon her side. She curls up and you stare at her back. You go to the door and ease it open. You emerge and pass between the guards without. You are no more than a draught to them. As you approach the stairs, your name is called from ahead. You peer down the next corridor. 
“Eh, there you are,” Bryce approaches. You can tell by the shine in his hair that he has bathed, “and what mission has you so intent?” 
“I am to fetch lemon water for the queen. She has a sour stomach,” you say and turn back to the steps.  
The soldier descends apace with you and chortles, “as she would. She can drain an ewer like no other I’ve seen.” 
“Mm,” you hum grimly. 
“Ah, pardon, I do not mean to be cruel,” he says, “it is only... often we reap what we sow, yes?” 
“I suppose,” you allow. 
“Speaking of, mouse, it is your turn to reap,” he spins and stretches his arm across your path, “king’s orders.” 
You shake your head in confusion. 
“The queen--” 
“I will send another for her lemon water. But our dear liege and lord has bid that you rest your head. And I do concur. You are only mortal, little mouse.” 
“But I must--” 
“Obey your king,” he insists and rescinds his arm, crossing it with his other across his chest. “I’ve been given leave to treat you as prisoner if ye resist but I do not wish to go so far.” 
You frown. You recall the night before. The king’s orders are not forgotten but you thought perhaps they mightn’t be standing. You bow your head and press your palm to your stomach, another memory flitting through your mind. The king’s hand brushing along the belt of your apron. 
“I’ve acquired you a fine chamber,” Bryce says. “Gods, how could one ever be so glum about a bed of their own?” 
“Sir, I am not unhappy,” you counter. “I am...” you lift your head, “tired.” 
“Oh, how the fates align,” he quips, “come then. There is a bath and new dress too. I was too kind to mention it but you were starting to smell a bit too close to Daisy.” 
You can’t but laugh and snort, “hey!” 
“May as well take benefit in staying still,” he says, “now, let us hurry before the water is cold.” 
You acquiesce and follow him away from the kitchen. You hope Jazlene is not discontent with your straying. You walk along several corridors and up to the second floor again. You do not expect to stop at one of thick doors meant for nobility. 
“In here,” Bryce takes out an iron key and unlocks the door. He pushes it open and steps back. “I will come in an hour to look in on you but I trust by then you will be abed.” 
“Yes, sir, thank you,” you affirm. 
“Be certain to have some of the food,” he orders you, “much better than the goat meat I’ve been chewing on.” 
You thank him one last time and enter on your own. He closes the door behind you and you hear the lock twist. The loud grind of cogs does not unsettle you. It’s rare you ever have a moment of solace, though often you feel alone. 
You look around the chamber. It is much too grand for you. There is a wide bed at one end with a long canopy. The window lets in a warm breeze as the steam coiling from the large tub dampens the air. The furniture here is just as fine as that in the queen’s rooms. 
You meander around and stop before the covered tray on the round table. You lift the lid and reveal an assortment of fruit and cooked oats drizzled with honey. Your stomach roars and clenches painfully. Without a thought, you sit on the stool to gulp the porridge from the brim. You empty near half the bowl before you stop to catch your breath. 
You pluck at the citrus and devour the fruit with delighted purrs. When you have glutted your hunger to the point of discomfort, you lick your lips and rise. You near the tub as untie your apron. Your body aches for the heat of the water. 
You leave the layers of your filthy garments on the floor and step into the depths. You sigh as you lower yourself in. Relief seeps through your flesh and enshrines you. You lay back for a time and bask in the calm. Before the water can cool, you sit up to scrub yourself clean. 
When you finish, you climb out and pull on the shift folded on the top of the stack; a dress, and apron, stockings, and even shoes. There is no cap. You fish around your disposed clothing and retrieve your own. You soak it in the bathwater, wringing it out until it’s not so browned. 
A knock comes at the door. You sit on the edge of the mattress and call to the visitor, “hello?” 
“Eh, it’s me,” Bryce’s salty timbre comes through the wood, “you sleep now, mouse.” 
“Yes, sir.” 
He taps the door and you hear his footsteps fade away. You recline across the bed and stare up at the canopy. You close your eyes but your stomach is uneasy. You don’t know why. The bed is too soft, the linens too fluffy. 
You puff and sit up. You get to your feet and circle around the bed to the short bench across the foot of it. You tuck yourself onto the barely cushioned wood and bend your legs to fit. You fold and arm under your head. Much better. 
It isn’t very long before you succumb to your fatigue. You don’t realise how tired you truly are until you’re buried in sleep. Heavy and dark, almost suffocating. 
Behind your eyelids, you see streaks of colour, curling and rolling into visions. Shadowy forests and endless roads, the clop of horse hooves, the rattle of axles, and the crunch of boots in the dirt. The preening whine of the Queen as she splashes wine across your face. You gasp through the acrid sprinkle and fall backwards into air.  
You land on a heap of hay. You’re back in Debray, in the barn where you would flit away with Merinda to eat or even steal a nap. She would watch at the window and you would doze or nibble. You look over but do not see her. Instead, another stands at the opening.  
The king’s silver white hair hangs in waves down his muscled back. He wears only breeches as he stares off into the distance. The window greys with a storm beyond, pulsing from shades of dove feather to harrowing black. He faces you and his golden eyes glow like a wolf’s. 
You sit up and whimper. He prowls closer and closer, thunder crashing as a great gust blows through the barn. Then all at once, the tempest subsides and the wooden walls turn to stone. You’re trapped beneath something unbreakable, like iron, wrists bound. You look at your arms, pinned by large hands. You look above you and find yourself straddled beneath the king. 
He leans in, closer and closer, his fiery breath razing over you. 
“Little maid...” 
His growl snakes around your neck and you wake with a start. The bench teeters as you sit up, your hand gripping your forehead. You blink and look around, clearing the haze from your sleepy eyes. 
Just as in your dream, you are not alone. 
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fanfrelon · 2 days
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Christian James & Cody Christian in All American
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Bucky Barnes | Series | Loose
Part two of the Rebellion Series
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader
Plot: You and Bucky have no idea whether you can trust each other. There is an understanding, but you're not sure of what that understanding is and why it seems to run so deep.
Warning: Angst, violence and fluff (?)
Words: 4,1OO
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It is hard enough already for Bucky to fall asleep at night. Yes, it has gotten better in recent years, but there will always be that part of him – awake and aware – that registers every sound and movement, even when he should be knocked out. Though he wouldn’t admit it, that part of him sat more alert ever since you had joined the building. Perhaps because Bucky still wasn’t so confident in your allegiance.
He can’t stop overthinking it. He has seen what you’re capable of. Would you be capable of even more if people cornered you? If you felt like you had no other choice but to manipulate and kill your way out? After all, wasn’t it possible that you felt like you had moved from one prison to the next?
You’d been a delight at dinner two nights ago, but Bucky can’t turn off his brain. This is the part that made you win people over. The way you’d gotten along with Natasha like a house on fire, the way you’d shared stories like you and his team had been friends all along… Yet you had no trouble letting a side of yours slip through the cracks that tantalised Bucky beyond belief. The way you had looked at him, teased him–
The faintest rustle has Bucky shooting back to his current place in time. Lying in bed and staring at the ceiling. He holds his breath in an effort to hear better.
Nothing.
However, something doesn’t sit right. Something is off. He’d learned that hypervigilance was a side effect of his trauma, but he had a hard time believing his intuition would betray him like that. Not when he had relied on it so successfully for years.
“F.R.I.D.A.Y.?” he whispers to the dark ceiling.
“Yes, sergeant Barnes?”
“Is everyone in their respectable rooms?” he tries.
“I cannot divulge that information,” the voice sounds and Bucky sighs. He musters up some strength and swings off his duvet before climbing out of bed.
Yeah, he doesn’t trust you for a second.
Your heart is pounding in your throat. This isn’t part of your skillset – the escape and combat. Though perhaps if you do the former correctly, you won’t have to resort to the latter. Escaping the compound had been surprisingly easy, which strangely made your chest hurt. It was way too easy to escape. But it made sense. Steve had told you that you weren’t being held captive and you being here was all in good faith.
Faith you just broke by making your escape.
You probably should have been more patient. Winning their trust a bit more and then making an escape, make sure they really don’t see it coming. But the dinner had made you antsy and impatient. You had to get out.
If you’re entirely honest with yourself, you know that getting attached to a new group of people and deciding to escape then – or worse, leading them into their demise later – would be worse than getting away now that no one has attached themselves to you. Or you to them…
Breaching the edge of the surrounding forest, you finally let go of the breath you’ve been holding. You did it. Out of sight, out of mind. You’re free. No more captivity, no more expectations. All you need to do now is leave the country, change your name and possibly dye your hair. Sounds easy enough. A bit dramatic, but not impossible.
That is, until you get dragged backwards by a hand over your mouth and you lose your footing. The hard body behind you is the only thing keeping you from tumbling to the muddy forest grounds. Your breathing is ragged as your hands both fly to grab the forearm attached to the hand covering your yelp.
The metal forearm.
“Rule number one of making your escape: never assume you’re in the clear,” Bucky’s voice rumbles through the night air, his mouth so very close to your ear. “Shouldn’t have dropped your guard when you reached the edge of the forest.”
His gloved hand removes itself from your mouth, but you know better than to make a run for it, or to scream. He twists you by your shoulders and you muster some playful guilt to your face, masking your disappointment. Disappointment… but you feel strangely relieved. Maybe the largeness of finally being free felt somewhat overwhelming. Move to another country and change your name? It’s ridiculous. And that, when the people here have been so patient and kind to you…
You let out a soft laugh, “Worth a shot, no?”
Bucky studies you intently and something in your gut stirs at it. Not even Natasha seems to have as good of a read on you as Bucky does. It makes you feel naked. Makes you feel like all of your carefully crafted plans are flimsy and no good. Makes you feel like you have to stay far, far away from Bucky. Like you need to run. Now.
And how the hell did he manage to figure out you were making your escape?
You wait for him to tell you off, preach against your indolence and call in backup to shove you into something more similar to a prison cell. But Bucky sighs, disappointed and tired.
He seems so, so tired.
“Let’s go back inside,” he says and you furrow your brows at him.
His defeat has your chest clenching tightly. You want him to punish you, scold you. At least show that he cares. Why? You’re not sure. Maybe you need to know that the relief you felt from being caught is somewhat mutual in a sense. That the people here don’t just see you as a weapon, despite the burden, but that you’re someone worth saving. Worth keeping around.
Worth healing.
“That’s it?” you ask. “No scolding or punishment?”
Bucky scoffs humourlessly. “You get a kick out of punishment, darling?”
You roll your eyes. “Seriously.”
“I’m not your fucking baby sitter,” he mutters and starts walking back to the building, rightfully assuming you’ll follow. “If you want, I can ask Steve to tell you off in the morning. He’s better at that sort of thing anyway.”
Some pathetic part of you wants to sulk at his response like an ill-tempered child. “Then why come after me?”
It stays quiet for a second as you cross the field towards the compound. “I couldn’t let a poor escape plan be successful.”
You can’t help but snort at that answer and decide that fine, you’d play along for now. But you wonder if the curious Bucky you’d seen a few days ago had completely vanished since that dinner.
The next morning, Bucky gets cornered by you after breakfast. He looks down his nose at your defiant face.
“You didn’t tell anyone about last night?” you ask him and he raises his brows, unimpressed.
It had surprised you that no one at breakfast mentioned anything or gave you even so much as a dirty look. Clearly, none of them are aware that you tried to make your escape last night. And you cannot for the life of you figure out why Bucky is taking it easy on you. Is he smart enough to assume that your own guilt will do more damage than he ever could? Is this part of some bigger scheme of his? Perhaps he is actually as tired and unbothered as he looked when you saw him in those woods.
“What happened last night?” he asks with a telling smirk. The current look on your face is worth the lack of sleep he had tonight. It’s too easy to rattle you. You roll your eyes and Bucky smirks even wider at that. Is he… flirting?
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” you try again.
Bucky remains quiet and fights to keep a straight face. He did expect your question, but why didn’t he tell anyone? Because he thought you and him would get along after those tiny moments during that first dinner. Because the team would have let you walk away. Because Bucky doesn’t want you to go. Because he thinks he can help. Help the world. Help you. He thinks he can help you. And you can help him. And–
“Want me to tell them now?” he says instead.
He barely notices the flash of panic in your eyes before you cover it with an annoyed scoff and turn on your heel to walk away. He watches you. Every step until you are out of sight.
“You said she trusts you,” Steve’s voice sounds from behind him and Bucky schools his face back to bland interest before he turns to Steve. “That doesn’t look like she trusts you.”
“It’s a work in progress.”
Steve frowns pensively. “Well, speed up the process. We have an important mission and we need her for it.”
“What?” Bucky almost loses his restraint, his body flaring in alarm. “Steve, she hasn’t had any training. She was locked up for months. It’s too big of a risk–”
“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate, Buck,” Steve tells him regretfully, but instantly notices that Bucky isn’t buying it. “This is the thing we needed her for.”
“She isn’t some kind of weapon!” Bucky exclaims and he notices Natasha turning away from her conversation in the nearest common room to see what the commotion is about. He gives her a warning look, then lowers his voice. “Steve. This could’ve been me,” Bucky breathes. And there it is. Recognition flickers in Steve’s eyes. “We can’t use her like this. She’s all alone.”
Steve looks past Bucky’s shoulder as if you’re still walking away from him. Angry frown, uptilted chin and swaying hips– Bucky almost looks. Then Steve sighs and looks back at his friend. “Take all the time you need. If she’s ready, I’ll explain the mission to her. I think she might want to help.”
Bucky reads over the file until his eyes turn bleary. Steve was right, you will want to help.
He thinks you can handle it, but… what if you encounter a trigger on the way? What if it all becomes too much? Bucky realises he isn’t nearly close enough to care this much, and he doesn’t, but who else but him is going to care whether you live or die? Sometimes Bucky wonders if even you care whether you live or die. What would have happened to Bucky if everyone had given up on him? He knows damn well that he’d be long dead if not so many people found him useful.
But that’s the thing, isn’t it? Bucky never had a choice. So he finds himself knocking at your door at 10pm with the file in hand.
After opening the door, you barely manage to get a word out before Bucky extends the folder towards you. “Steve needs your help on this. It should be fine, but the choice is up to you.”
Quick. Brief. He’s just the messenger and the decision is all yours. Bucky turns and makes to walk away – before you can spot all of the thoughts crossing his mind – but your voice stops him.
“Will you be there?”
The question takes him by surprise. Turning back towards you and slowly walking to the doorframe you’re standing under, he creases his brows together. “You need me to come along?”
You shrug abashedly. “Will you?”
Bucky studies your face intently. “Yes,” he lies. He’ll figure something out with Steve.
“What if I can’t do what you need me to do?” There it is again. He doesn’t get why this vulnerable side of you keeps surprising him so much.
“You’ll be useful,” are his terrible words of comfort. He wants to palm himself in the face.
The suppressed smile you give him heats his face and he’s sure you’ll call him out on his horrible people skills, but you stay quiet. The silence grows and grows and Bucky starts to shift nonchalantly, wondering if he should walk off and let you read the file in private.
“Okay,” you say softly.
“You’re coming?”
“Yes,” you affirm and look up at him, handing the file back. “Do you not want me to go?”
“It’s your choice,” he tells you and gently takes the folder.
“That’s not what I’m asking.”
Some wall snaps up inside of him at that tone – at that hopeful look in your eyes. “You could use the mission to make your escape,” he says with a shrug and makes to turn away from you again. “I won’t stop you this time.”
He walks away, leaving you to gape at his retreating form.
The mission was simple enough.
Sam, Natasha, Bucky and you would be attending a gala. Supposedly, there is a certain divide between the guests in attendance. Your job is mainly to feel out just who will be willing to join your cause. What goes unsaid is that you’re also required to butter them up to spring into action when your team would deem it necessary.
The party is in full swing and everyone is finally losing their mask of formality and enjoying their evening. You just hit the sweet spot of their susceptibility and you sweep into casual conversation about politics. Seeing who keeps quiet, who isn’t scared to speak up, whose faces harden at the prospect of change, etcetera. All of your antennas are on and when you know people have stopped paying attention to you, that’s when you dare a glance across the room where you know Bucky is standing.
All dapper and handsome, wearing a very expensive suit.
All of you have taken thorough action to look exceptional and to blend in perfectly with the high class crowd. Being charming is easy enough, looking it was a necessity – yet, all of it does still feel very far removed from yourself. Like a betrayal to the woman who was locked up mere weeks ago. However, being a true professional, you don’t allow your thoughts to linger too much and channel back to the matter at hand.
Then you feel it.
The searing heat that starts at your legs and spreads all the way up to your chest and cheeks. Like a virus burning over your skin. And you know what it is – know who it is. So you look back in the direction of Bucky, if only to catch him in the act.
But he’s unbothered. Brooding and observing from the bar in the shadow of the room, somehow alone and undiscovered by most of the crowd (a skill you assume he has acquired over the years). And his eyes are still on you. They glide down and back up for even more emphasis and you swallow away the dryness in your throat.
Gliding a sensual hand over the arm of the man next to you, you excuse yourself with a warm smile and slowly stride over to the culprit. Bucky waits patiently, and you swear you see a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as you walk over. He hands you a spare glass of champagne and turns his back to the room when you’re close enough to hear him.
“It’s working,” he says and you swear he sounds slightly impressed.
“Did you assume I’d fuck up?” you taunt and lean over the bar, sipping at the glass flute between your fingers. Bucky turns to you and his eyes sweep over the curve of your partly exposed back, the hollow of your spine and the curve of your ass. Then he holds his breath for a moment.
“Wouldn’t be mad if you did,” he tells you and his tone sounds gentle. You know that’s why he’s here, even though neither of you said it out loud, you know he’s here to stick up for you if you can’t get it done yet. If you’re not ready to be that person again.
Just like he probably knows that you’re here because the guilt of trying to escape from your saviours was eating you alive. And you didn’t want to prove Bucky right by escaping. You had glanced at the exits a few times and debated it, yes, but then looked at your team and thought against it. Looked at Bucky and–
“We’ll leave in five minutes,” Bucky murmurs as he finishes his glass. “I noted down all the people you signed as potential allies and who definitely isn’t.”
“There’s a few we can convince to help,” you cut in.
“What? The woman who runs that capitalist shitshow?” Bucky frowns. “Nah, she’s only motivated by money.”
You smile at him knowingly. “Money is a great motivator and our movement could benefit her greatly, so you just have to nudge her in the right direction.”
Bucky studies your face then and you might have found it less penetrating when he looked at your body with that stare. That intrigue. “And you already have a plan to tip her over to our side,” he concludes.
“You chose me for this for a reason, did you not?” you ask.
His eyes drop to your mouth. “I like a woman who takes her job seriously.”
You have no idea where that came from, but decide to go along with it anyway. You smirk and empty your flute, gently setting it down on the bar after. “Here I was, thinking you didn’t like anyone,” you purr and saunter off to find your other teammates and round up today’s mission.
You turn around when you hear Bucky yelling out your name, but then the room spins and debris flies everywhere. You’d cry out if the wind didn’t whoosh from your body and your ears don’t hollow out. You want to voice your discovery, as futile as it is, but the scream dies in your throat.
Someone just blew up the building.
It feels like there’s ash in your mouth. And throat. Your body bleats in pain, but nothing too severely. Maybe you’re in shock. Maybe you can’t feel a limb that’s no longer there. Maybe–
The room is dark except for an orange hue that travels over the ceiling and walls every few seconds. You’re slumped in a velvet chair and your fingers pluck softly at the fabric. One by one, your senses weave together and you hear the soft sounds of someone working on something. Paper ruffling, some gentle work, someone who’s trying to be quiet. You rasp in a raw breath and see a shadow at the bottom of your vision. But your body is relaxed. Or… Well, as relaxed as it can be.
There was an explosion.
“Have some water,” Bucky offers from his kneeling position between your legs and nudges his chin to the glass at the small table next to your chair. His voice is soft, raw. And when you squint at him while you blindly reach for the glass, you see soot on his face, dust on his suit.
“Are you alright?” you ask and your voice reminds you to take the drink. The water feels like heaven in your throat and you nearly gulp down the whole glass.
Bucky pauses at your question and surely he didn’t expect that to be your first question. “I’m fine,” he grumbles and focuses on the task at hand. Which, you quickly realise, is cleaning up the wound on your thigh.
Next to him, there’s a small container with small shards of glass in there and a used pair of tweezers. You feel the prickle of the wound at your thigh and observe closely as he presses some gauze to the puncture wounds. His hands are firm and steady as he wraps a bandage around your thigh to secure the gauze. His calluses scrape against your soft skin and you almost swear he takes more time than he should securing the bandage.
You heave a deep sigh and straighten up in the chair. “Natasha and Sam?”
“Natasha was sent to hunt down the ones responsible and needed an aerial patrol, so she took Sam.” Bucky clenches his jaw and you have a feeling it took some convincing to get Bucky to not go after the bastards himself, to let Natasha handle it instead. “There were deaths, lots of wounded.”
You flinch at that.
Bucky notices it. The glaze over your eyes and the tightening of your fingers into the soft fabric of the chair. He barely allows himself to hesitate and he cover your left hand with his right one, taking your fingers and stroking his thumb over your knuckles. “We got out as many as we could, no one saw the explosion coming,” he explains and hopes the information brings you some peace. He’s desperate to take that haunted look off your face, but doesn’t know how.
He gives you time then. Allows you to sort through your memories and shush them. He strokes his thumb gently and squeezes your fingers every once in a while to anchor you to here, to being safe. Your breaths go from shallow to deep as they slow. He hears your heartbeat steady and watches clarity fill your eyes again.
Fuck him. Those eyes.
“Tomorrow, we go over your list and see what we can do. Let’s get some rest for now.” He pushes to a stand and moves to remove his hand from yours, but you hold onto him.
“I’m sorry for trying to escape,” you rasp and Bucky tenses at that. He did not expect that confession. Didn’t expect an apology either – he didn’t think one was warranted.
You slowly push to a stand and Bucky’s heartbeat spikes as you wobble on your legs before you steady yourself. His eyes search your face frantically and he tries not to linger at your lips for too long. You gently stroke a hand down his arm before brushing past him in thanks, and Bucky has to take a deep breath. A flash of you doing the same thing to one of tonight’s guests comes to him and jealousy hits him, a little too viciously. Just like it did when he saw it earlier tonight.
He turns around and watches as you walk up the small bag he packed for an instance like this. You pull out some clothes and Bucky shamelessly stares while you do it. He almost sighs as the sight of that orange hue travelling over your form, most of the sleek dress still intact and definitely still doing its job of making you look good enough to eat.
“I’m glad you’re alright,” he blurts. But he stands still as he watches you freeze. You slowly turn to him and tilt your head at him curiously.
Then, a slow smirk spreads over your face and your brows raise playfully. Bucky frowns as he tries to read the expression on your face, even if the lightness of it makes him want to drop to his knees in relief. This is much, much better than that haunted look that was there mere minutes ago.
Until one of your hands lifts from the bag, a small scrap of lace dangling from your fingers. “I am never letting you pack our getaway bag again.”
Bucky matches your smirk and strides over to you, close enough that you have to tip your chin up to remain eye contact. “You can choose not to wear it,” he shrugs and the nonchalant gesture makes your legs weak. Slowly, he starts unbuttoning his own pants and shirt, stripping himself of his clothes and tempting you to break that eye contact. “But we’re sharing a bed, so you decide what is less tempting for me to look at.”
It takes everything inside of you not to balk at this… flirtation. But it’s nice – so fucking nice to deflate that balloon of tension after a mission like the one you had tonight. To have banter and humour and perhaps a little friendship.
“I better not catch you looking at all,” you snipe, but have a hard time keeping the smile off your face.
Bucky smiles too then and gives you a wink powerful enough to set your clothes aflame. “Too bad. You can’t ask that of me and look like that.”
That does render you a bit speechless and Bucky takes his win as he strips himself to his boxers. Climbing under the sheets, Bucky’s powerful body shifts and ripples with movement.
This is going to be a long night.
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padfootagain · 1 day
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Only An Almost (V)
Chapter 5: Doubting
Hello!! Here comes a new chapter! There are mentions of sex in this chapter, so a little reminder that this series is not meant to be read by minors. Thank you!
I hope you’ll like this chapter! Please, tell me what you think!
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Pairing: Hozier x fem!reader, friends with benefits AU
Warning: No explicit smut or nsfw content, but there are sexual themes and heavy make-out sessions (it’s a friends with benefits AU, I can’t really escape it), so 18+ only!
Summary: Andrew has been in love with you for years, and yet he has never confessed his feelings. But a night out celebrating the engagement of his best friend changes everything. However, you don't seem ready to be with him just yet. You make him an offer that he can't refuse... but will certainly regret.
Word Count : 2435
Masterlist for the series – Hozier’s Masterlist – Main Masterlist
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Three weeks passed. You had spent twelve nights together.
Now, Andrew knew every detail of your face as you reached orgasm, the beauty spot on your back he loved kissing, the perfect place across your neck to kiss and nip that made you squirm in his arms, the way the most intimate parts of you tasted, how your legs shook when his fingers touched that spot, how you smelled when he held you close after you were both content and happily floating above the room. He knew you liked to hold his hand right after sex, that you loved when he stroked your back or your cheek to help you ease down into the mortal world, that you took your showers way too hot, that you didn’t like when his beard brushed that part of your ribs because it tickled too much. He had mapped every inch of your body with his eyes, his fingers, his lips, his tongue. He knew how to pleasure you precisely by now, how to read through your breathing what you needed him to do to feel as good as possible, how to worship your body the way you deserved.
And judging by your gestures, you had spotted too that he adored when you kissed his collarbone and his chest. That he had a weak spot at the base of his neck, that he was ticklish right behind his knee, that he melted whenever you dragged your fingertips across his spine, and you tugged on his hair the perfect way nor too harsh nor too soft but the ideal strength that turned him on to no end. You had touched and kissed all of him too by now.
Despite this new intimacy, despite the tenderness with which you held him in your arms as he struggled to find back his breathing, the way you whispered his name in pleasure as if in a prayer, the way you showered him in gentle touches and kisses… you still acted the same as always outside the bedroom.
You talked the same, stood next to him at a perfectly respectable distance, asked him about his day and his mom and his bees the way you had always done, as if… as if there was nothing abnormal. As if he had not heard you shout his name in pleasure the night before. As if you could truly spend nights making love to him and act like nothing had changed, when… everything had changed.
Perhaps he just needed to be patient. You would come around. You would love him, eventually. Besides, he was probably not even the problem at all! You had told him that you didn’t want a relationship, with anyone. The fact that you were still sleeping with him showed that you liked him enough to blur that boundary, despite your decision. Yeah, it was an encouraging sign. If he just… if he just waited, and if he made efforts to make you happy and…
“Andy? You’re alright?”
“Hmmm?”
“You’re okay?”
He blinked back at you. You had put on an old t-shirt again to cover yourself, but he had nothing on. He felt naked, vulnerable, self-conscious. He drew the covers higher across his chest.
“You want some coffee before leaving? It’s pretty late,” you offered, and if there was kindness in the offer, it still broke his heart.
“I… I don’t know. I’m not sure I can drive,” he answered earnestly.
“You can sleep in the guest room, if you want.”
He looked away to hide the tears that gathered in his eyes.
He was inside you ten minutes ago, he had tasted you, touched you, made you unravel under him several times this evening… and all you could give him was the guest bedroom?
It wasn’t just heartbreak, he realized. It was more vicious than that. You made him feel terrible about himself. Did he not mean more to you than that? You could let him do all these things to you… but you couldn’t fall asleep in the same bed? Really?
“No, no, no… it’s okay, I can drive.”
“It’s late, stay the night. You’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s dangerous, Andy.”
“I said I’m fine.”
You frowned at the harshness of his tone.
“What’s wrong? Did I… Did I do something wrong while we were…”
You left your sentence suspended in mid-air, as if you couldn’t say it. Couldn’t say that you had just had sex with him. What the fuck was wrong with you?
“Sex was amazing, that’s not the problem.”
“What’s the problem, then?”
You seemed to truly have no clue. You seemed genuinely concerned, worried even. Like you cared. Like you cared so fucking much for him. And yet, he was worthy of a moment of pleasure, and the guest bedroom…
“Nothing, I’m sorry. I’m not tired enough to stay, don’t worry. I can drive home.”
“Can you text me, then, when you’re home?”
“Don’t worry…”
“It’s two in the morning, of course I worry.”
He didn’t argue, merely nodded.
He gathered his clothes, got dressed, left without trying to kiss you, he knew you wouldn’t let him.
No kissing without sex.
He was about to fall asleep after mere minutes behind the wheel, so he stopped on the first parking spot he saw. He waited for a plausible time, and texted you.
I’m home.
Your answer buzzed in his pocket right when he was about to fall asleep.
Good to hear. Sleep well, Andy. Xx
He couldn’t keep on doing this for long. Making love to you, and then feeling like shit about himself because you couldn’t bother letting him fall asleep in your bed. Or hold you close. Or kiss you before leaving.
He closed his eyes, unable to decide on what to do next. Should he just call it quits, already? Stop everything and save himself from suffering… but he would stop having you like this too…
His breathing deepened as he finally surrendered.
Sleep well, Andy…
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Rugby night at the pub had turned into Sam freaking out about his wedding, and Andrew taking notes about things he needed to help planning.
Luckily, there was no touring planned, no album to be released before the wedding. He had some charity work to be done, Mavis had called for a concert and he couldn’t refuse the woman anything… all in all, there wasn’t to come. Workwise, Andrew was in a writing phase, shutting himself up into his house for hours was most of what would happen in the coming months. He could help to plan the wedding, he had time for it. And considering the level of stress Sam was under, Andrew’s help wouldn’t be too much…
“Daphne started to mention appetizers yesterday… there are like… so many of these… How am I supposed to choose that? I didn’t fucking know there could be so many appetizers?!”
“Sam, calm down, for Christ’s sake! You’re this far from having a stroke.”
“Easy for you to say, Andy! You’re not the one getting married!”
“You have five months, Sam… Five months. There is plenty of time for you to choose your appetizers.”
“Add it to the list. How many things do we have to plan?”
“Hmmm… I think I’m up to twenty…eight. Twenty-eight things.”
“God… why did I ask Daphne to marry me…”
Andrew opened his mouth to offer a joke, but Sam shushed him with a raised finger.
“Rhetorical question. Don’t.”
“Come on, relax, Sam. You’ll be perfectly fine. Everyone else manages to plan a wedding, you can too.”
“Not everyone else… don’t you remember the fiasco that my uncle’s wedding was?”
“I sang at that wedding!”
“That was the only decent part in the entire day.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
“You were seventeen, don’t get ahead of yourself, you were still pretty shite.”
“Ha, there you go. I thought someone had replaced you with some weird doppelgänger stuff. Or a clone, even.”
“Android?”
“Or organic.”
“Did I grow in a tube?”
“Yeah… with the disgusting liquid.”
“Nice…”
The two friends exchanged a smile.
“Please, stop being so worried. Your wedding will be amazing. Besides… who cares about appetizers? The important part is you marrying the love of your life.”
“I know that this comes from a very romantic point of view, but that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You’ve met my mom. God, you’ve met Daphne’s mom… anything goes wrong, it’ll be the bloody apocalypse!”
“We’ll find your body somewhere in Wicklow…”
“In the bog.”
“Tragic. I can see the headlines already…”
“I’m sure you’ll have a lovely speech for my funerals, though.”
“Absolutely not. I’ll reveal my true feelings about you, gobshite.”
Sam couldn’t keep the act up any longer, and both him and Andrew exploded with laughter.
“I’m picturing your mother just… shouting at you about appetizers,” Andrew laughed, choking and tears pearling at the corners of his eyes as he doubled over.
Sam was barely breathing at this point, throwing his entire body backwards against the chair.
It took the two of them a moment to calm down. When he looked at his friend again, Sam’s gaze was full of fondness.
“I’m sorry to bother you about that while we could be watching rugby with the rest of the lads.”
“It’s alright. You’re stressed. Besides, I don’t have a real job, plenty of time on my hands to handle your nervous breakdowns.”
“True! You parasite.”
“Absolute junk of our society.”
“Nothing productive coming from you, that’s for sure.”
“I shout very loudly though, it ought to be worth something.”
“Well, apparently, it’s worth millions.”
“Do you want me to shout at your wedding?”
Sam’s lips curled into a smile.
“Aren’t you too expensive for a poor lad like me.”
“Undoubtedly. But if you promise to quit freaking out about appetizers, I might yield.”
“It would be amazing. Thank you, Andy. I’d love for you to sing. Actually, we’ve been talking about it with Daphne… could you do Work Song for our first dance?”
“It would be an honour. Of course, I can.”
“We were hesitating with Cherry Wine…”
“Don’t do this to me, Sam.”
They both exploded with laughter again.
“Don’t do this to me. I will never understand…”
“Don’t people just… listen to the lyrics?” nodded Sam.
“I don’t know, man…” Andrew heaved a sigh. “Sometimes they just kill me.”
His phone buzzed, and there was your name on it. Printed there in the pixels. He didn’t check your text, even though he wanted to.
“Andy?”
“Hmm?”
“What’s going on between you and Y/N?”
Andrew averted his gaze, drank some of his beer. On the screen at the back of the pub, Ireland was earning three points with penalty kick. People were shouting, and it was loud and merry.
“What do you mean? Nothing’s going on,” Andrew answered, a terrible liar.
“You’ve been weird.”
“I’m always weird.”
“True, but not the usual weird. You’re not on the ‘I love her and I’m too much of a fool to tell her’ kind of weird, you’re on a ‘I feel like shite’ kind of weird.”
“Both miserable situations…”
“True. But then, you’re a moron, it doesn’t help.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Andrew heaved a sigh.
“I can’t tell you about it. She asked me not to tell you about it.”
“So… something did happen between you and Y/N.”
There was a pregnant pause.
“You can’t tell anyone about this, Sam. I’m serious.”
“Of course, I promise.”
“Not even Daphne.”
“Don’t push it. There are no secrets between us.”
“Sam… please… it’s not your secret, it’s mine.”
He heaved a sigh, but Sam nodded anyway.
“What’s wrong then?”
Andrew struggled to swallow when he lifted his glass of Guiness up to his lips.
“Y/N and I, we… we’ve slept together.”
Sam’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
“What?! But… that’s amazing!”
“Is it?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” retorted Sam, taken-aback.
Andrew heaved a painful sigh and rubbed his eyes.
“Because she doesn’t want to be in a relationship.”
“Oh.”
“So, we’ve agreed on some kind of… friends with benefits situation. And I… I’m starting to regret it.”
“You bet. Damn… why the fuck would you agree to something like that, though? You’re crazy about the woman!”
“I know, I know… I thought… I thought that she would… I don’t know what I thought. It was that or nothing, and I guess I imagined that having a part of her was better than not having her at all. I was wrong. This is fucking killing me.”
Andrew buried his head in his hands.
“What the fuck did I do, Sam? What did I do? And what the fuck do I do now?”
“Do you want this to go on?”
Andrew shook his head no, face still in his palms.
“Then, tell her you want it to stop.”
“I don’t want this to stop. I don’t want… not to have her. I want to date her.”
“Tell her that then.”
“She explicitly told me that she didn’t want to date anyone. If I say that, she’ll just… leave. She won’t say yes.”
“You need to speak to her. It won’t end well for you, Andy. What if she feels the same?”
“I’ll wait for her,” Andrew answered without a hesitation. “I’ll wait as long as she needs.”
“Then tell her that.”
But Andrew blinked back some tears as he painfully rubbed at his palms.
“What if she doesn’t feel the same?  What then?”
“Then… you’ll move on. It will only mean that she isn’t the one.”
Andrew slowly nodded, resting his chin in his palm and his elbow on the table, but he didn’t seem convinced, and indeed, he wasn’t. What if he lost you for good then? What if you never wanted to see him again? Was it worth it?
“You’re going to do something stupid, I can feel it,” Sam sighed with a shake of his head.
“No…”
“You’re going to ignore my advice.”
“No, I… I’m weighing the pros and the cons.”
“And?”
“And I agree that I can’t handle my relationship with Y/N being just about sex. But I am also terrified at the thought that she will reject me for good. Cause I… I don’t think I could still be her friend. Not after… knowing her that way.”
“Can I be brutally honest?”
“As if you aren’t always…”
“You’ve seriously fucked up accepting this situation with her…”
“Don’t I know it.”
Sam stared at his friend for a moment.
“You really do love her, don’t you?”
Andrew settled an empty stare on his beer.
“Yeah… Yeah, I’m afraid I do.”
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Robin and Steve applying for a job in s5
Comment down below your other answer this is not canon for fun only
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xuperjr · 19 hours
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2. ⟣ Toddlers In Training ⟢
Stray Kids x Platonic!Reader
Skz Family!AU | SMAU | Written | Humour
As I.N’s best friend Y/N knows the whole family pretty well, she’s asked to babysit Chris and Lixie quite often - which she couldn’t refuse having a large soft spot for the kids, this story follows her “adventures”as a babysitter and the madness which is the Skz Family unit…
(1393 Words)
⟣ Toddlers In Training ⟢ Masterlist | Main M.list
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Chapter Two: Sooooo Cute 🥰
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Knocking on the door, Y/N sighed - she had a great time on her bus journey over to Lina's home (note the sarcasm) and had just barely got to the door at five minutes to six. The door swung open, Lina had a bright smile on her face.
"Hey Y/N. Come in!" Y/N smiled back at the older woman, stepping through the door and removing her coat and shoes.
"Hey, sorry I wasn't here earlier. The bus took forever to get to my stop." she whined as Lina laughed,
"Oh, no worries, darling. It happens to the best of us!" the pair walk into the living room where an adorable scene took place.
Seungmin had Lixie in his arms, talking to her about where they were going and what was happening - Lixie was listening intently to her dad. Meanwhile, Hyuna and Han were talking with Chris who seemed to be in the middle of a little tantrum. They were both holding him as they spoke and he seemed to brighten up at little as his dad tickled him on the sides. Lina walked over to her sister who was sitting on the sofa, very engrossed in whatever she was doing on her phone.
"Innie, it's time for us to leave." the girl looked up from her phone, nodding before loking over towards Y/N,
"Oh hey, I didn't hear you come in." Y/N smirked before saying,
"Well, you were probably to busy thinking about your little boy toy." the teasing remark caused Innie's ears to go red as her older sister looked around towards her,
"Innie, do you have something to tell me?" the smirk on her face, showing she was teasing, Innie's ears got impossibly darker as her sister started to laugh. This caught the attention of the others in the room, Chris and Lixie squealed as they spotted thier favourite person in the room.
"Y/N!" Chris yelled jumping off of the sofa and running up to the girl, Seungmin also put Lixie down so she could say hello.
"Y/N! Y/N!" the small girl cheered, Y/N crouched down and opened her arms for the kids to run into,
"Oh, hello little ones! Are you excited for tonight?" both children nodded at her words.
"Okay babies, come and give us a hug before we leave." Hyuna spoke up, smiling at the scene. The children ran over to Hyuna and Han giving them a hug before running to Lina and Seungmin doing the same.
"Okay, you guys be good for Y/N and Innie!" Lina spoke, walking out of the door,
"Oh, Y/N, Binnie will be here later on to pick up Chris - though I don't know what time." Hyuna called as she was pushed through the door by Han.
"Okay! Have a good time guys, say hello to your parents for me." the babysitter called as she waved them off. Walking back into the house she saw Lixie and Chris sitting either side of Innie on the sofa.
"Right... what do you guys want for dinner?"
It didn't take long for the kids to set themselves up at the dinner table, colouring books and crayons infront of them keeping them quiet for now...
Y/N and Innie were preparing the meal while gossiping about what had happened since the last time they saw each other - which was like two days ago but the tea is always hot with those two, especially if Binnie's huge tiny crush on Innie was involved.
"He came into work, with two of his friends - I don't think he realised I was there at first and then they got to the counter. His friends were ordering, everything was fine and then it was his turn." Innie paused, leaning in so the kids couldn't hear, "and I kid you not, he looked at me, froze, unfroze, turned around, and walked out. His friends were like, what the fuck!" Innie giggled,
"No way! I can't belive he did that!" Y/N spoke, giggling as the image of Binnie running out of the coffee shop,
"Literally! His friends were whispering about something while they waited for thier drinks, they kept looking over at me - so like I don't think he actually speaks about me to them."
"Wait! No way... he has to speak about you?! He's literally obsessed with you!" as Y/N finished her sentence the front door opened, the girls looked at each other in concern before they heard a voice call out,
"Hey, its Changbin." the girls looked at each other with wide eyes before giggling quietly,
"Hey Binnie, we're nearly finished with dinner. Come and sit down." Y/N spoke out to the boy, while looking at Innie with a cheeky expression. Binnie walked in as Chris jumped up to go hug his older brother, his hero Y/N found out once - which she found incredibly cute. The older boy bent down to hold his baby brother as he looked up, expecting only Y/N but spotting Innie behind her, he froze.
"Uh, hello… girls." he stuttered out, unsure on what to do. They pair smile down at him with knowing looks. Lixie seems to finally notice her big cousin, jumping down to greet him - taking his attention away from Innie.
"Hey, Lixie. How are you little one?" the three cousins started to talk as Y/N and Innie plated up food, Innie lent over towards Y/N once again,
"I have to admit that was sooooo cute." Y/N giggled, nodding.
"Bets on him flirting with you in the next ten minutes?" she teased, eyebrow raised at her bedt friend.
"Ain't no way am I taking a bet I have no hope in winning." Innie challenged, Y/N laughed before picking up some plates.
"Hey, the least you could do for him is flirt back!" she turnt towards the table, but not before catching the embarrassed look on her best friends face.
After dinner, the kids were allowed to play for a little longer, Innie went to play with the kids as Y/N and Binnie tidied up.
"How's life at the moment, Bin?" Y/N spoke first, she had known Binnie as long as she had known Hyuna and Han but never really had full coverstaions with the guy.
"Uh, yeah, it's good. Uni is kicking my arse but other then that lifes good. How about you? I hope Chris has been good for you." Y/N smiled, humming before responding,
"Uni is a pain, I understand completly. Chris is an angel ninty-nine percent of the time." the pair laughed at that, his concern about his little brother made her think about the age difference between them and how shocked Y/N was at first. Until, Innie had explained the difficulties that Hyuna had getting pregnant and the many miscarriages that she had gone through - it almost caused a huge rift between her and Han because Hyuna thought he would eventually leave her, or worse cheat on her to have another child. Luckily, Han managed to calm her down and they worked it out. Two weeks later they found out that they were expecting once again - Han literally waited on her hand and foot, making sure she was never stressed about anything and thats when they had Chris - a baby most definitly born of love and adoration. The story made Y/N cry, thinking about having a love like that was almost impossible at her age.
The pair finish the dishes in silence. Walking into the lounge, Binnie spoke,
"Hey Chris, we've gotta go buddy. It's time for bed soon." Chris pouted but got up to get ready. Y/N helped him with his coat and shoes as Binnie said goodbye to Lixie and Innie. Lixie came running out to also say goodbye to Chris, who was a little off put by the hug but reciprocated anyway. The brothers walked out the door with a wave.
Soon after Lixie was put to bed, Lina and Seungmin walked through the door. Y/N and Innie were quick to greet the couple, who sent them on their way with payment and making them promise to message once they got home. The girls left, deciding to have a sleepover at Y/N's, instead of going their seperate ways in the dark.
————
⟣ Toddlers In Training ⟢ Masterlist | Chapter Three
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(Warning: I don’t actually ship idols/band-mates together, it’s just for subplots!)
Author’s Note: I hope you enjoyed this part of Toddlers In Training! I’m trying to post one part every 5ish days but as assignments and exams are coming up for uni idk how good I’ll be sticking to that!
If you like this, check out my other Stray Kids SMAU:
Oh To Be A Cat In Love <3 (Lee Know x Fem!Reader)
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wwditsdaily · 11 hours
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The universe: You will literally die if you go out in the sun Laszlo and Olaf: Watch this
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the girl next door 1
Warnings: this fic will include elements, some dark, such as age gap, manipulation, chronic illness, noncon/dubcon, coercion, and other untagged triggers. Please take this into account before proceeding. It is up to curate your online consumption safely.
Summary: A new neighbour moves in and upends your already disarrayed life.
Author’s Note: Please feel free to leave some feedback, reblog, and jump into my asks. I’m always happy to discuss with you and riff on idea. As always, you are cherished and adored! Stay safe, be kind, and treat yourself.
This lewk but silverfox
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“Mom, we should get going,” you say as you check your bag.
Your mother sits at the table. It’s cluttered as always. You can see her inhaler amid the mess. Wait, there’s another one. You cross the kitchen, only two steps, and grab both inhalers. You feel the subtle difference between them.
You take both, putting the full one back in the medicine cabinet and the other in the disposal bin. The doctor said the inhalent would help with your mother’s dopamine levels, balances her out a little, but the new treatment only seems to be another symptom of her disease. She hates doing it, she hates all of it, but you can’t blame her for that.
“We can’t be late for the consultation. We’ll be waiting another six months,” you come back to the kitchen.
She looks at you as she wobbles slightly. The tremor is more prominent than before. Each day you notice it more. All the little things changing about her. She’s a bit slower, her words don’t come easy or always clearly, and her mood grows grimmer and grimmer. So does yours.
You grab your purse and the keys. You’ll clean up when you get home. It doesn’t take very long for living to pile up though. Especially when you’re the only one to keep it in order.
Your mother grips the table and stands up. Getting her dressed was a battle already won. Her posture is slightly crooked as she shuffles around the table, “I’m moving.”
You step back, waiting patiently for her to round the table. She grumbles. Your mother was never bright and bubbly but ever since her diagnosis, she’s lost any glimmer of warmth. It’s like she’s living in a fog, just slowly wading through.
You walk down the hall ahead of her and pick out your shoes from the rack. As you kneel to tie your sneakers, she leans on the wall and slides her feet into the orthotic flats. She’s not very old yet. Neither of you expected her to decline so quickly.
You stand and open the door. You back up though the screen door and hold it for her. Her steps get a bit smoother the more she moves around. The permanent scowl sinks into the lines of her face as she comes out onto the porch. You lock the door behind her as she grunts and leans on the railing, stamping down each step to the walkway.
You follow behind her. That’s another problem. The lawn. The old mower broke. You haven’t been able to replace it.
As you trail your mother to the car, she swats you away. Sometimes you try too much for her. You know she must feel helpless. You back up as she sits heavily in the passenger seat and your eyes skim around the neighbourhood. The white sign on the lawn next to yours catches your eye.
You remember the finely dressed woman, her very image on the sign, and how she grimaced at the weeds and grass. If she’s going to sell the property, the neighbours shouldn’t be living in a jungle. You heard her say as much over the phone as she paced back and forth on the porch.
You mother pulls the door shut but it doesn’t click. You give it an extra push to secure it and round the hood. You get in the car and turn the key, rolling down the windows as the early summer morning crowds the tight space. Your mother mutters and wipes her forehead with a shaky hand.
“Let’s just go,” she sneers, “waste of my time...” she bends her arm over the open window, her fingers quivering, “damn doctors said it enough. Nothing they can do. Charlatans.”
“Mom,” you chide gently, “the surgery could help. If you qualify--”
“I heard ya last night,” she snaps. “Just drive.”
You nod and snap your mouth shut. You shift into reverse and back out of the drive. You know better than to talk too much. Your mother never liked hearing anything she didn’t want to hear. Facts are just an attack on her.
You steer down the street slowly, following the curve of the suburban street. The green lawns and white picket fences are palatial at first glance. It’s a 1950s fever dream implanted in the twenty-first century.
Your house is the black stain on an otherwise pristine canvas. The HOA must curse your grandmother for her leaving a perfectly nice home to a pair of beatnicks. You don’t blame them. You’re the puzzle piece that doesn’t fit, leaving a gaping hole in the picture.
The radio crackles on and you wince. Your mother struggles to turn the knob and the volume pendulums up and down. You reach to help her and she smacks your hand, only softly as she has little strength behind it. You retract and grip the wheel, listening to buzzing struggle of her unsteady. You just hope the appointment goes well.
🏠
Your mother hasn’t said much since the appointment. That worries you. What should be good news is just another dark cloud over her.
She sits as she often does; half-reclined in the chair by the window, watching the neighbourhood just outside the pane. She’s just a resentful of the picture-perfect neighbours as she if of everything else. As she is of you.
You tidy the kitchen table as the unsaid dangles in the air. You know better than to bring it up. She barely acknowledged it when the doctor said it. She’s a good candidate for surgery but it isn’t a cure. It will help with the symptoms but not stop them altogether. It’s not good enough for her but it might just be her only hope of relief, even if temporary.
“Bring me a coke,” your mother calls through and you hear the hollow tin clatter of an empty can.
You bring the dirty dishes to the sink and set them beside it. You go to the fridge to grab a red branded can and let the door shut on its own. As you enter the living room, your mother sits forward, the recliner snapping forward with her weight. She leans on and elbow as she squints through the window and cranes over the armrest.
You pick up the old can and put the new one on the small table by the chair. She sits back and takes the Coke, trembling as she struggles to crack the tab. You know better than to help her. The curl in her lip warns you better.
“Someone’s looking at the place next door,” she says.
“Oh?” You move behind her chair and try to the next house. You can only really see the edge of the porch from here. You could open the side window but that would give more than a view of the siding and might be too obvious. “New neighbours.”
“Eh, if it sells. Could do better without these stuck-up prissy bitches running around measuring grass,” she growls of the Home Owners’ Association.
You nod. She’s right. You’ve had to deal with that nosy blonde too many times.
“We’ll see,” she mutters as she finally gets the can open and slurps. “Just hope it’s not another bitch.”
You cross your arms and step closer to the window. You sense movement just beyond your vision and the realtor in her pantsuit comes down the front steps of the neighbouring house. She turns back to face someone you can’t see and speaks to him. Their words are garbled by the barrier of window and wall.
The woman smiles and spins to strut down to the sidewalk. A man follows after, a slow stroll in his long legs. He turns to face the house again and puts his hands in his pockets as he looks up at the facade. His eyes narrow as he considers it.
His gray hair is streaked with remnants of its former blond. If it wasn’t for the colour of his locks, you might not have guessed his age. He’s tall and his shoulders are broad. He’s built finely for any era.
Your mother leans forward again, “heh, lookie there,” she slurs.
She leers through the window as you stare blankly out. A new neighbour just means another person to complain about the lawn; or another person for your mother to complain about. The man pivots on his sole and pauses, his gaze set in your direction. You don’t think he can see you, not with how the sun reflects off the square panes. He stalls for just a moment before he turns complete, striding up towards the realtor.
You back up and retreat toward the kitchen. You mother hums as she continues to snoop through the window. The recliner squeaks beneath her as she shifts in the seat.
“Bit old for a family man,” she tuts.
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fanfrelon · 3 days
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Cody Christian as Asher Adams in All American
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mustainegf · 3 days
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— Masterpost
— Chapter 1
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the quiet streets of Downey. I pulled my hoodie tighter around me, the fabric worn and comforting against my skin. The weight of my thoughts pressed down on me as I walked, each step echoing in the silence. The path to the lake was familiar, worn down by countless journeys taken in search of solitude or escape.
My sneakers scuffed against the gravel, sending small stones skittering across the ground. I kicked at a particularly stubborn rock, watching it bounce and roll before coming to a stop near the edge of the path. A sigh escaped my lips, a small puff of air visible in the crisp evening air.
The houses along the way were quiet, their occupants hidden away behind closed doors and drawn curtains. I felt a pang of envy, wondering what it must be like to live a life untouched by doubt or uncertainty. My family's beliefs loomed large in my mind, a constant reminder of the expectations that weighed me down.
As I approached the lake, the sound of water lapping against the shore grew louder, a soothing rhythm that eased some of the tension in my shoulders. The lake itself was a peaceful oasis, its calm waters reflecting the colors of the setting sun. Ducks floated lazily on the surface, their movements graceful and unhurried.
I made my way closer to the shore, the sound of the water became more pronounced, a gentle melody that filled the air. The familiar scent of the lake, a mixture of earthy dampness and fresh water, surrounded me, comforting in its familiarity when something caught my eye.
There, partially hidden by tall grasses swaying gently in the breeze, was a girl sitting on the sand. The setting sun cast a golden glow around her. She was engrossed in her own world, fingers dancing playfully over the strings of an acoustic guitar cradled in her lap.
I hesitated, unsure whether to approach her or to retreat quietly and leave her to her music. But something about her kept me watching, holding me rooted to the spot.
I watched her for a moment, mesmerized by the way her fingers moved with practiced ease over the fretboard, coaxing beautiful melodies from the guitar. I didn’t think I’d meet a girl who could play like I could.
What was she doing here, alone by the lake at this hour? Then again, why was I?
I felt a sudden rush of nerves as I looked down at my feet, the soft sand cool beneath my sneakers. My fingers brushed against a smooth stone buried in the sand, and I instinctively picked it up, feeling its weight in my hand. It was a simple, ordinary stone, worn smooth by the relentless action of the waves.
Drawing a deep breath to steady myself, I tossed the stone into the water, watching as it skipped gracefully across the surface before finally sinking beneath the ripples. The sound of the splash echoed in the silence, a fleeting moment of disruption in the tranquil scene.
Turning my gaze back towards the girl, I found her looking at me, her eyes curious and attentive. The music from her guitar had ceased, replaced by a tension that hung in the air between us.
"Hi," I managed to say, my voice tinged with awkwardness. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing loudly in my ears as I struggled to find the right words.
She bore the faintest, one that could easily go unnoticed, but I could see it. "Hi," she replied, her voice soft and welcoming, breaking the silence that had enveloped us.
As her fingers resumed their dance over the strings of her guitar, I hesitated for a moment, torn between the desire to retreat and the curiosity that compelled me to stay.
Taking a deep breath to steel myself, I approached her, my footsteps soft and hesitant on the sandy shore. Gently pushing aside some of the long grass that obscured my view, I watched her play for a moment, captivated by the fluidity of her movements and the beauty of the music she created.
Her face was a study in concentration, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes focused intently on the strings as her fingers moved with practiced precision. The golden hues of the setting sun cast a warm glow on her features, highlighting the delicate curve of her cheekbones, the softness of her lips, and the graceful line of her neck.
There was something familiar about her, something that tugged at my memory, but I couldn't quite place it. It was like trying to grasp at the remnants of a dream upon waking, elusive and just out of reach.
Interrupting her playing, I found my voice, my words tinged with curiosity and a hint of embarrassment. "What's your name?" I asked, my gaze meeting hers as I awaited her response.
She paused, looking up at me, her eyes searching mine for a moment before a smile graced her lips. "Felicity," she replied, her voice soft and melodic, a gentle reminder of our earlier introduction.
As she said her name, a flash of recognition sparked in my mind, the pieces falling into place like a jigsaw puzzle. Felicity.
And then it clicked. Memories flooded back, images and moments from early elementary school flashing before my eyes. Felicity and I had been classmates, our paths crossing in the hallways and classrooms of our small school.
But we had never been friends, just mere classmates who shared the same space but never truly connected on a deeper level. And then, one day, she had stopped showing up at school, her absence leaving a void that had gone unnoticed until now.
A pang of regret and curiosity stirred within me as I recalled those days, wondering what had happened to her, where she had gone, and why she had suddenly disappeared without a trace.
"We went to school together, didn't we? I remember you." I said slowly, watching her hair blow in the slight breeze.
Her eyes widened in surprise, a smile spreading across her face as she nodded, the pieces of our shared past falling into place. "Yes, we did," she replied, her voice tinged with nostalgia and curiosity. "You’re..." She paused for a moment. “James, right?” I offered a small nod.
I felt a mix of anticipation and uncertainty as I sat down on the cool sand, the grains shifting beneath me. We remained locked in a momentary silence, our eyes meeting and holding, a silent exchange of understanding and curiosity passing between us.
"I thought you moved or something," I finally broke the silence, the words escaping in a quiet, hesitant whisper. The memory of Felicity's sudden absence from school still lingered in my mind, a puzzle piece that had never quite fit into place.
Felicity's smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of contemplation as she shook her head gently. "No, I never moved," she replied, her voice soft and reflective. "Life just happened."
Confused and curious, I searched her face for clues, for any hint of understanding that might shed light on her cryptic statement. Her eyes held a depth and intensity that drew me in, revealing glimpses of the experiences and emotions that had shaped her journey.
I found myself wanting to know more, to understand the stories and moments that had led her to this place, to this moment beside the lake where our paths had unexpectedly crossed once again.
“What does that mean?” I asked, raising a brow at her. As I looked at Felicity, I noticed the subtle changes in her appearance; the maturity in her features, the wisdom in her eyes. Her hair had grown much longer.
She gave me only a mere shrug, leaving me with more questions than answers.
"Were you homeschooled?" I asked, my voice carrying a note of curiosity.
Felicity nodded, her eyes meeting mine once more. "Yeah," she replied simply, her voice soft.
"Why?" I asked, my voice blatant. Felicity's eyes met mine, a hint of contemplation in her gaze as she considered her response. "It was a choice my family made," she began, her voice soft and measured. "Doctor stuff."
Her answer only deepened the intrigue, leaving me with a desire to know more.
"My mom doesn't like doctors," I found myself saying, my voice tinged with a mixture of frustration. "I've never been to one before."
I went on, probably sharing more than I should’ve. “Mom says the only real medicine is prayer,” I rolled my eyes, thinking back to her nonsensical words.
The words felt heavy as I spoke them, revealing a part of my life that I had often struggled to reconcile with the world around me. Growing up in a household with strong religious beliefs had shaped many aspects of my life. I hated the way I was alienated.
Felicity's soft reply, a simple utterance of "lucky," seemed to hang in the air between us, carrying with it a depth of meaning that I couldn't quite grasp.
As I watched her play with the sand, her fingers tracing patterns in the soft grains, I felt a little guilty. A part of me wanted to ask more questions. But another part of me hesitated, cautious of probing too deeply or reopening some sort of old wound.
I decided to switch the subject, lighten the mood a bit.
"You play pretty good," I began, my voice carrying a note of admiration. "I play a bit too, actually."
The words felt natural as I spoke them, a genuine expression of interest. I watched as Felicity looked up, her eyes lighting up with curiosity and surprise, the playful glint returning to her gaze.
"You do?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement and intrigue. "That's cool, What kind of music do you like to play?"
As I thought about her question, memories of my own guitar playing and the songs I enjoyed began to surface.
"I enjoy most of it, mainly acoustic and rock," I replied, offering her a sweet smile.
As I spoke, I noticed Felicity's eyes brighten, her curiosity piqued by our shared love for music.
"I'd love to hear you play sometime," Felicity said, her voice warm.
Our conversation continued on effortlessly, flowing like we had been friends for years rather than just speaking for the first time.
"Do you want to meet here at the same time tomorrow night?" Felicity asked, her tone of voice still soft and light. "We can play together."
Her invitation excited me, already anticipating our time together. "That sounds cool," I replied, my voice painted with enthusiasm. "Sure."
Felicity's smile broadened, her eyes shining. She nodded slowly, "I'm looking forward to it."
Felicity quickly gathered her guitar, her movements graceful and swift, a sense of urgency in her actions. "I have to go," she said, her voice tinged with regret. "But I'll see you here tomorrow night, right?"
I nodded, a little taken aback by her sudden departure. "Oh, uh- yeah," I replied.
“Goodnight, James,” She waved warmly before she hurriedly walked off. As I watched her go, I felt an odd cold feeling, left alone once more, and I was left to wonder why I had come here in the first place. But I’m glad I did.
I picked up a smooth, flat stone from the ground, its cool surface fitting comfortably in the palm of my hand. With a practiced flick of my wrist, I sent the stone skipping across the water's surface, watching as it danced and skipped before sinking beneath the calm waters.
Thoughts of Felicity lingered in my mind, Her hair, longer and more vibrant, catching the golden hues of the setting sun. Her eyes held a depth and intensity that drew me in, revealing glimpses of joy. Her smile, genuine and warm, stained in my thoughts.
As I continued to skip rocks into the water, lost in the gentle rhythm of the waves and the beauty of the setting sun, I found myself reflecting on the possibilities and potential that lay ahead.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting its final golden rays across the water.
With a final skip of a stone across the water, I gathered myself guiding my steps as I made my way home, my mind still stuffed with the memory of the girl who once sat by my side.
She wasn’t very much like how I remembered her but, I guess that was years ago now. It had probably been close to 8 or 9 years. Either way, I found myself enjoying being around her, looking forward to tomorrow when I would see her again.
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michaelcerasource · 8 months
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Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, an all-new original series starring Michael Cera & the rest of the Scott Pilgrim cast, releasing November 17th only on Netflix.
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somos-deseos · 10 months
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Yo en este momento
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