Tumgik
#I just want to rejoice on having my favorite babies back together
lola-andheruniverse · 7 months
Text
Tumblr media
I know I know it's still october but 2024 will give us THE REUNION that will surpass Terminus because MELISSA IS BACK
she really is back I just can't believe that we actually got her back
crying tears of joy here for real I'm so fucking happy 🤗🤗🤗
75 notes · View notes
cherienymphe · 1 year
Text
Amnesiac X (Rafe Cameron x Reader x JJ Maybank)
Tumblr media
WARNINGS: eventual NON-CON, mentions of abuse, mentions of past assault, drunk driving, mentions of loss of virginity, underage drinking, drug use, non canon ages, kook!reader
➥ banner by @maysdigitalarts​​​ | divider by @firefly-graphics​
Tumblr media
Here is the much anticipated Ch. 10!
➥ series masterlist
summary: “There’s something wrong with your love story, baby…”
After a surfing accident leaves you with little to no memory of everything that happened before that day, you start to wonder if the blond in what little memories you do have is the same one who claims to be your boyfriend.
~
“Um…this is the best I’ve got.”
JJ was very awkward around you, offering the oversized t-shirt to you, lips pressed together. Your skin was still damp from your shower, practically scrubbed raw. You had spent over an hour in the shower, dragging your nails and the cloth over your body, paying no mind to the blood you drew. Even now, you could still feel Rafe on you, and under the spray of water, you had only wanted to get him off.
You shuddered, and you knew it had nothing to do with your damp skin and the cool air.
“Thanks,” you whispered, taking it from him.
He clearly didn’t know what else to say, and so he left you alone to get dressed. You glanced around, never having been to JJ’s house before. He’d made an offhanded comment that his dad wasn’t home, and you had been relieved about that for more reasons than one. You’d heard enough about JJ’s dad to know that was a man you never wanted to meet.
When you came out of his room, JJ had a small glass of water, and he cleared his throat.
“Here…”
You didn’t think you were that thirsty until you swallowed it all in one go. JJ didn’t hesitate to get you another, and you sank down onto the couch.
“Are you okay?” he wondered, standing over you.
“My best friend tried to rape me,” you dryly said, taking a sip. “What do you think?”
JJ nodded to himself, running his hands through his hair.
“Yeah, that was a stupid question.”
“No, it’s…it’s fine. I doubt you’ve been put in this position before,” you sighed. “Leave it to me to associate with horrible people.”
JJ made a noise in the back of his throat, and you looked up.
“This isn’t your fault.”
You looked back down, tightening your hand around the glass. You felt differently. Rafe was always an asshole, always so cruel to whoever he deemed worthy of it, and you had just accepted it as who he was instead of recognizing it as the very concerning personality flaw it was. Even still, all this time, you thought that Rafe was your friend.
“Thank you, by the way,” you told him.
JJ frowned at you before hesitantly sitting beside you.
“You don’t…you don’t have to thank me for that,” he said with a shake of his head.
“I mean…I know I’m not your favorite person.”
Rafe’s words still left you bitter, and you swallowed.
“So that means I’m supposed to let you get hurt?”
You ignored how JJ didn’t refute your statement, and you blinked back more tears.
“No,” you sighed. “That’s not what I’m saying. Just…thank you.”
JJ didn’t respond, and you watched him as he stood.
He reminded you of Rafe in so many ways, but nicer, and you wanted to laugh to yourself. So many times, you had imagined being alone with JJ, doing the most mundane things and just talking to him. You couldn’t even rejoice in this because of the circumstances, and you drank the rest of your water, looking around.
“I know it’s not what you’re used to on Figure 8, but you can sleep in my room.”
His words had you frowning at him, and you looked away, those final words from Rafe making more tears fall.
“I’m not some spoiled Kook princess!”
JJ seemed shocked by your outburst, and he raised his hands, mouth opening, but you continued.
“I’ve never been anything but nice to you and everyone else is perfectly fine with me, but every time I’ve tried to be your friend, you made it clear that you want no parts.”
“I didn’t-.”
“I know you think I’m this spoiled rich bitch who looks down on people from The Cut,” you said, standing now. “I know what you think of me.”
JJ shoved his hands into his pockets, preferring to let you finish.
“I long accepted it, but God do you really think I’d have the nerve to judge anything about you after what you did for me? You really think I’m that…terrible?”
As the silence stretched, it became clear to JJ that you wanted an actual answer. He at least had the decency to look shameful as he sighed.
“You’re right.”
You looked away.
“I was just trying to lighten the mood, but you’re right. That was unnecessary.”
“I’m a good person, JJ.”
He frowned at the way your voice cracked, and he stepped towards you.
“I know you are.”
“…but you treat me like I’m not.”
He looked like he wanted to say more but thought better of it.
“I’ll uh…I’ll take the couch,” was all he said, and you felt disappointed for some reason.
When it became clear that nothing else was going to be said, you made your way to his room. It smelled just like JJ, and for some reason, that made you cry again. You had thrown up everything in your stomach earlier, but when you thought about Rafe, you wanted to be sick all over again. You had been saved by the last person you ever expected, and you cried yourself to sleep in his bed.
Tumblr media
You heard someone gently calling your name, and you blinked.
The figure before you was blurry and familiar, and when the colors finally separated to paint a clear picture, you rubbed your eyes. Sarah stood in front of you with a deep frown, looking over you with a look you couldn’t place.
“I went by your house, and your mom said you hadn’t been by in a while.”
A while.
You wondered how many mothers would describe their daughter’s weeks long absence like that?
“Have you been here the whole time?”
You struggled to sit up, the alcohol in your system making for the perfect nap before Sarah woke you up. Sarah looked between you and JJ, the other blond leaning against his wall with his arms crossed over his chest. You supposed it was kind of a lie. You had been by your house to get some things, but seeing as you didn’t want to run into Rafe, you’d been hiding out here. Your mom just had no knowledge if it.
“Uh…yeah,” you sighed. “Things aren’t the best at home, so…”
You knew what Sarah was thinking as her nose scrunched. Why didn’t you crash at her place? Or Kie’s? Or even Pope’s? JJ’s indifferent attitude towards you was no secret, so for her to find you on his couch of all places was definitely odd.
“Wait, what?” Sarah knelt before you, worried. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t really want to talk about it.”
She blinked at that, glancing at JJ again.
“Are you sure…?”
The hurt in Sarah’s voice was evident, and you understood why. She was your best friend, and while she didn’t know what it was, it was clear to her that something was very wrong if you were sleeping on JJ’s couch. You slowly blinked, nodding.
At that, Sarah leaned in, looking at you more closely.
“Are you drunk? JJ is she drunk?”
“Sarah, I’m fine. I just had a few beers…”
It was more than a few.
Sarah looked like she wanted to say something else, but instead she left you, jerking her head at JJ as she went. He reluctantly followed, and with difficulty, you stood, moving closer to the door.
“She’s not okay. What’s going on?”
JJ was quiet for a while, and you worried that he’d tell her what you made him promise not to tell anyone.
“Home stuff. That’s all I know.”
“You’re lying,” she accused. “Even if it was just home stuff…Y/N’s never been much of a drinker. Never, and now she’s passed out drunk in the middle of the day?”
JJ sighed.
“Whatever’s wrong with her, that’s not going to help,” she hissed.
“I can’t make her do anything she doesn’t want to do,” he told her.
“Enabling bad coping mechanisms isn’t any better.”
Her voice was cold, and as the silence stretched, you knew that she had left on her bike.
You looked down as you thought about Sarah’s words, swallowing. The past few weeks were more of a blur than you wanted to admit, filled with more alcohol than you’d ever had in your lifetime. And JJ. Oddly enough, the blond had become something like a friend.
His dad was rarely home, something that both relieved and saddened you. He never pushed you to talk in detail about what happened, but sometimes you’d catch him throwing worried glances towards you. He talked to you more than he ever had, and part of you hated it because you knew it was only because he pitied you. On the other hand, the pathetic part of you didn’t care what the reason was.
“She’s mad at me,” you told him when he came back inside. “We tell each other everything…”
“She’s not-.”
“She is,” you slurred with a nod. “…but how can I tell her that her own brother tried to rape me?”
It was the first time you’d brought it up since that night, and JJ’s gaze was on you. You didn’t know if you just needed to cry after not doing so for weeks, or if it was the alcohol, but your eyes watered.
“Hey��” JJ moved closer, clearly seeing the emotion on your face. “You’re okay.”
You frowned, staring at the floor.
“He was my best friend,” you murmured to yourself. “…and when I didn’t like him back, he tried to rape me.”
JJ softly called your name, and you sniffed.
“…but I always knew he was an asshole. Why did I think I was so different?”
JJ was quiet for a moment before finally speaking.
“You thought he was your friend. That’s not your fault,” he told you.
“We grew up together. We literally grew up together, and did everything together,” you were rambling. “…and at the end of the day, I wasn’t his friend. I was just something else that belonged to him.”
You pressed your hands to the sides of your head, vision blurring and chest tightening.
“Why wasn’t it enough?”
JJ knelt before you now, trying to take your hands. He was calling your name again, but you ignored him, deep in your own head as insecurities you didn’t even realize you had started to surface.
“Maybe…maybe that’s all I’m good for.”
“Hey.”
“I’m not very smart, and I’m clearly a poor judge of character-.”
“Y/N,” JJ interrupted, moving to sit beside you.
“I’m a spoiled Kook who grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth, and I’m going to end up just like my mom…”
“Okay, stop it,” JJ took your face into his hands, a deep frown on his face.
“I am,” you sobbed. “That’s all I seem to be good for. To be on some asshole’s arm like a trophy, going to stuffy parties, and-.”
“Shut up,” JJ snapped, shaking you. “Rafe’s shitty, and just because he didn’t value you as a friend, it doesn’t mean he was right to.”
“…but…you didn’t value me as a friend either.”
JJ’s face fell at your words, and you shrugged.
“You barely liked me as a person,” you whispered.
JJ’s shoulders heaved, and he looked sheepish.
“I was judge-y…and you were a Kook.”
“I’m still a Kook,” you reminded him.
JJ chuckled.
“You’ve been slumming it with me for weeks,” he said. “I wouldn’t exactly call you a Kook anymore.”
That made you chuckle too, and JJ licked his lips.
“…and I was wrong for doing that,” he admitted, and you eyed him. “I always thought you wouldn’t stick around and go back to your side of the island for good.”
You played with your fingers.
“I don’t think I ever want to go back to my side of the island,” you told him.
You both knew that wasn’t possible, but you could dream. You felt JJ brush your face, wiping your tears away, and your heart skipped a beat.
“You should really tell someone what Rafe did. You should go to Shoupe.”
“Ward is the reason Shoupe has the job he does now,” you confessed, glancing up. “Nothing happens to guys like Rafe.”
“Y/N-.”
“They’ll just say I was drunk, or I lead him on or…because nothing sexual actually took place, what is there to prove?”
JJ looked sad for you, and you let out a bitter laugh.
“He gets to go on living his life while I’m stuck trying to heal mine.”
Your head fell to JJ’s shoulder, and you laughed again. He smelled so much like the ocean water to you, and as much as you hated Rafe for what he did, it had brought you closer to JJ, had made him your friend, something you had long given up on.
Tumblr media
For the first time in what felt like a while, you were actually sober.
And you were beyond grateful too.
JJ’s hand was on the back of your neck, holding you to him as he moved his lips against yours. His other hand was on your lower back, fingers brushing your skin as you sat in his lap. You used to dream about this, and just when you made peace with only ever being friends with JJ, thankful for even that, he’d said something that you thought you’d never hear.
“You’re too pretty to cry over assholes like Rafe.”
The words had shocked you, and the smile that he’d given you made your heart race. You hadn’t even meant to kiss him, your body taking on a mind of it’s own, but whatever worries you had melted away when he didn’t push you away.
“Are you sure?” he’d murmured against your lips.
You knew why he was asking, and to prove to him that you were okay, you wrapped your arms around his neck. Kissing JJ was exactly like what you thought it’d be. His lips were soft and sweet from his juul pen, and when you decided that you hated the way he was kissing you like you’d break, you pushed him towards the couch. His fingers kneaded into your skin, making you shudder, and he sighed into your mouth.
Your bliss was cut short when you both heard a noise outside, and it took you a moment to remember where you were. You were off of JJ and fixing your shirt just as Pope and John B. made themselves known, striding inside like they lived there.
“Sarah said you’d probably be here,” Pope commented, plopping down beside JJ. “I like killing two birds with one stone.”
“We’re chillin’ in the cat’s ass tonight,” John B said, lightly slapping JJ’s arm. “We rarely see both of you these days.”
Guilt ate at you, and you looked down. JJ was their friend first, and you were keeping him away because of your own bullshit. It felt so selfish once you were confronted with it, and you spoke up before JJ did.
“That’s my fault,” you laughed. “Stupid family drama, but yeah, I could use a night in a hot tub.”
You could feel JJ’s worried gaze on you, but you ignored it. Your life had to get back to normal at some point, and nothing seemed better to you than hanging out at the Chateau with your friends. Your real friends. You didn’t have a bathing suit with you, but you texted Kie because you knew she’d have an extra one.
“Are you sure about this?” JJ asked, sliding up beside you while Pope and John B. were talking.
“Yeah,” you said with a nod. “I can’t hide away from the rest of our friends forever.”
“You don’t have to force yourself,” he told you.
You knew that JJ was just worried, and you appreciated it.
“I promise. I’m okay.”
Your reassurance wasn’t in vain.
Being around the rest of your friends did make you feel better. They were filling you in on things you’d missed, Pope laughing as he recounted the first time he got high. You weren’t going to lie, you did hate that you missed that. You were perfectly okay…until Sarah brought up the one person you never wanted to talk about again.
“I swear to God, it’s like him and our dad are constantly at each other’s throats these days,” she said. “I mean, they regularly argue, but not like this.”
Your gaze was focused on the water, and you felt JJ’s fingers graze yours below the surface.
“Rafe is drinking more, partying more, and I’m afraid to think of how much money he’s wasted on coke.”
“Sounds like classic Rafe to me,” JJ mumbled, trying to dismiss the subject.
“Something’s definitely wrong with him,” she said, taking a sip of her drink. “I know you haven’t talked to him in a while, but if anyone would know, it’d be you.”
She was looking at you now, and all you could offer was a shrug.
“Rafe and I aren’t friends anymore, so I wouldn’t know anything about his life, right now.”
You said it so casually, and you ignored the way Sarah’s eyes widened, a frown on her face.
“What?” she said, a chorus of echoes going around the hot tub as everyone else had the same thought.
“You and Rafe not being friends is something that doesn’t make sense,” Kie said. “Although, I’m not going to pretend to be upset about it.”
She laughed, but Sarah didn’t join in.
“When did this happen, and why?”
You were beyond uncomfortable, and you didn’t really know what to say, but JJ spoke up for you.
“Who cares? Cutting Rafe off doesn’t sound like a big loss to me,” he mumbled.
Everyone else agreed, but Sarah was silent, looking between you and JJ with a small frown. Uncomfortable and wanting to let the subject go, you stood in the water.
“Does anyone else want another beer?”
Everyone raised their hands, albeit Sarah did lazily, and JJ offered to go with you.
His shoulder brushed yours as you both walked into the house. The air between you was tense for so many reasons, and you avoided his eye.
“She’ll let it go,” he promised you.
“Maybe…”
You grabbed the beers, and JJ grabbed a few from you, his fingers brushing against yours. You weren’t surprised to find his gaze on you when you glanced up, and you didn’t move away when he brushed his lips against the corner of your mouth.
Whatever this was between you and JJ was so new, and you didn’t know what it meant. You thought about JJ seeing you in this way almost since you first met, so you weren’t going to suggest stopping, but at the same time, so many factors were involved.
What if this became something that didn’t work out? How would it affect the friendship that had only just been formed? Not to mention what it could do for the entire group. Then there was the biggest problem of Rafe. Thoughts of him made you shudder, and you knew that if whatever was going on with you and JJ become public knowledge, your former best friend wouldn’t hesitate to let it be known how he felt about it.
“You okay?”
JJ pulled you from your thoughts, and you nodded at him.
“Just in my own head.”
His smile made you smile, and he briefly pressed the cold beer to your cheek.
“You should stop doing that so much,” he chuckled.
He guided you out with a hand on the small of your back, but when you neared the hot tub, it fell away, and you swallowed down a sigh of relief.
Tumblr media
You struggled to open your eyes, a splitting pain in your head that made you wince. Colors danced behind your eyes, and there was a roaring in your ears. The faint smell of smoke reached your nose, and you scrunched it, groaning to yourself as you struggled to lift your head. Your vision fully returned the same time your hearing did, and the sound of your name reached your ears.
You both heard and felt a door opening, and that was when you realized that you were in a car. Your forehead was resting on the steering wheel, and a hand slid in between them, gently pushing your head back. The voices around you were mixing together to the point where none of them were distinguishable. A hand was on your face, and lips were at your ear, calling your name.
“Get her out!”
The loud shrieking voice was so familiar, and as you blinked, you recognized it as Sarah.
“No, no, no, something might be broken.”
Pope.
A finger opened your eyes one at a time, and you groaned.
“Y/N, can you hear me? Does anything feel broken?”
You shook your head and winced at the action. Nothing felt broken, but something definitely felt sore.
“Okay,” the voice breathed. “Hang on.”
A hand unbuckled your seatbelt, and you had trouble sitting up as they pulled you out of the seat. As soon as your feet touched the ground, you crumbled, and you would’ve hit it completely if it weren’t for familiar arms. JJ’s worried face hovered above yours, blue eyes wide as he leaned you against the car.
“Get her keys out,” Kie told someone.
You reached up and touched your head, frowning at the wetness you felt.
“We need to call an ambulance or something,” Sarah shakily said.
“…so she can spend a night in jail for a DUI?” JJ wondered.
“We don’t have to say she was driving,” she argued. “She could have a concussion.”
“Shoupe’s not stupid,” John B. whispered. “…but someone does need to make sure she’s okay.”
You wanted to tell them to stop talking about you like you weren’t there, but you couldn’t get your lips to move. You couldn’t get your head to stay up, and it lolled, grazing JJ’s shoulder. While the other four argued amongst themselves, JJ lightly tapped your face.
“You have to stay awake,” he whispered. “Baby, you have to stay awake.”
You thought you said something, but it came out an incoherent mess.
“Your cousin!”
JJ paused before you felt him relax.
“Yeah, we can take her to Ricky,” he said, the relief in his voice evident.
JJ sat you down, and you finally kept your eyes open. You realized that you were at John B.’s house, and you turned your head to stare at your car against a tree. Your eyes watered, and past the alcohol buzzed brain, you remembered climbing into the car crying and panicked. A tear escaped just as JJ took your chin into his hand.
“What is wrong with you?” he demanded, the others none the wiser to this conversation as they were by Kie’s car by now. “You could’ve killed someone.”
You swallowed.
“You could’ve killed yourself.”
You didn’t remember ever seeing JJ so angry, and more tears fell.
“I’m sorry,” you mumbled.
His eyebrows rose.
“You’re so drunk you can barely walk, and you’re sorry? I thought you might’ve been dead.”
You blinked, looking past him.
Today had been a good day, surprise filling you at the desire to go home. It definitely wasn’t to see your parents, but to get some more things. Everything had been fine. Your parents hadn’t even been home, and it was so easy to get in and out without incident.
Then you’d walked outside and came face to face with a familiar truck.
You hadn’t even asked Rafe how he knew you were home. You didn’t want to know the answer. His apologies had fallen on deaf ears as you hurried to just get to your car.
“Stop and talk to me,” Rafe had screamed, grabbing your arm.
You had screamed back, shoving him away.
“Don’t you get that I want nothing to do with you? Leave me alone.”
“Your mom said you’ve barely been home in months,” he sneered as you put your stuff in your car. “Down on The Cut?”
“That is none of your business,” you threw over your shoulder.
“Are you with JJ, now? Hmm?”
You ignored him, getting into your car, but Rafe had prevented you from closing your door. You had yanked on it with tearful eyes, and Rafe glared at you.
“The only reason I’m not dragging you into my truck, right now is because of all your lovely neighbors,” he had told you, leaning in. “…but do not think for one second that you’re done with me.”
He had slammed your door closed for you, almost taking your hand off, and you sat in the car when he drove away. You couldn’t even remember how long you had sat in your car, crying and hating him for making you feel so helpless and scared once again.
You had consumed so much from your dad’s bar that you didn’t even remember getting behind the wheel. Let alone driving to The Cut.
After Ricky had looked you over and decided that you only had a small concussion, you had leaned against JJ in the back of Kie’s car. He hadn’t said much to you since he chewed you out, and you supposed that you couldn’t blame him. Sarah and Pope had helped you inside, keeping your body upright and guiding you.
When Sarah settled you down on John B.’s bed, she sighed.
“What’s going on with you?” she quietly wondered.
“Nothing,” you lied with a shrug. “I just had too much to drink.”
She was frowning, and you spoke again.
“Where’s JJ?”
Sarah’s face fell, and she bit her lip.
“You know that you can talk to me too…”
Her voice was quiet, and you swallowed, looking towards the ceiling.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
You felt bad, but you didn’t think you’d ever be able to tell her what Rafe did. He was her brother, after all, and even though their relationship was rocky, she still loved him. He still meant something to her, and you didn’t know if you could muster the courage to be the one to break that.
Sarah stared at you for a while before nodding. She squeezed your arm before walking out. You could hear her talking to JJ, and when he walked in, your eyes were apologetic. By the look on his face, he was still mad at you, but he still came to sit beside you.
“I ran into Rafe when I went home,” you told him.
His entire visage shifted, and he shuffled closer, hand resting on your forehead.
“What?” he breathed.
“He…he’s never going to leave me alone, and… I can’t hide out here forever,” you whispered.
JJ leaned over you, stroking your face. He looked angry enough for the both of you, and more tears fell.
“Did he touch you?”
Your silence was answer enough, and you watched JJ’s jaw clench.
“I hate him,” you cried, and JJ pulled your head into his lap. “I hate him so much.”
JJ’s fingers danced over your face, and your eyes rested on the necklace around his neck, fighting to stay awake.
Tumblr media
“I told my mom that I’ve been staying at Kie’s,” you told him, smiling into the kiss.
Your legs were wrapped around him, chest arching up into his. His skin was warm against yours, your shirts tossed somewhere you didn’t even care to remember. Months of stolen kisses and hidden moments had finally led to the inevitable, and you were eager to feel him inside of you.
“I doubt she believes you.”
You pulled back, frowning at him, and there was a small smirk on his pink lips.
“First of all, you’re the worst liar,” JJ laughed. “…and…I’m pretty sure she hears me sneaking in your window.”
You pressed your lips together. JJ reached up to play with the necklace around your neck, brushing over the shark tooth.
“She definitely knows its me you come to see.”
With your life getting somewhat back to normal, JJ didn’t like you being on Figure 8 without him much. He spent more days in your room than you’d care to admit, and the time you used to spend getting drunk were spent hanging out with JJ. If you weren’t talking then you were helping him work on his bike or he was pressing the most delicate kisses over your face.
At some point, it became clear between the both of you that this wasn’t some casual fling. Your feelings for him had never been casual to begin with, but you’d been prepared to get any part of him that you could. You had accepted that this whole thing might not amount to anything, and as much as it hurt to think about, it was better than not having JJ, at all.
Somewhere along the way though, JJ stopped acting like a friend who you’d occasionally kiss sometimes and more like a boyfriend. He started sleeping in his bed with you instead of on the couch. He’d stand behind you, arms around you as you attempted to make something to eat. Sometimes you’d just catch him staring at you, not saying anything at all, and when you’d ask him what was wrong, he’d just shake his head.
If you had any doubt before, it was gone the day he took off his black shark tooth necklace and put it on you instead.
“You’re always staring at it,” he’d told you when you asked why. “So, I want you to have it instead.”
“Thanks,” you had murmured, unsure of what else to say as you touched it. “…but you don’t have to. It’s yours. You’re always wearing it, so it means a lot and-.”
“…and you mean a lot to me.”
You swallowed the rest of your words at that, eyes widening.
“And I want you to wear it.”
He hadn’t said it in plain words then, but it was clear between you both what you were to him. Even if no one else knew.
As he kissed along your throat, you thought about just being open about your relationship. You knew your friends would support you both, and it would make everything so much easier. No more sneaking around, no more lies, and no more fear of being found out. However, you were a coward.
You tried to call it anything but what it was, but it was the truth.
Rafe terrified you beyond belief, and he was so unhinged that you didn’t know what he’d do if he found out you and JJ were dating. Not to mention, your mom’s disapproval was always enough to make you shrink in on yourself. Your parents would be furious, and despite the fact that you were eighteen, you just didn’t have what it took to stand up to her.
Goosebumps erupted over your flesh as JJ’s fingers ghosted over you, and you sighed when he nipped at your skin. You’d been too drunk to even remember your first time, and it was something you always regretted, but was relieved about in the same breath. Not remembering made it easier to pretend like JJ was your first. You would rather it had been him anyway.
“JJ.”
He hummed, climbing back up your body. He kissed you, touching his lips to your chin as you spoke.
“I told you that I wasn’t a virgin…”
His eyes met yours, and his expression softened.
“If you are, it’s okay. You didn’t have to-.”
“I didn’t lie,” you told him. “…but I don’t really remember it.”
He looked worried, now.
“It was with some Kook, and we were both really drunk,” you admitted. “Sometimes I wish that I had waited, but sometimes I’m glad that I can’t really remember.”
JJ touched your face, a comforting smile on his lips.
“Well…I’ll make sure you remember this time.”
You returned his smile, kissing him.
Sex with JJ was fun. It wasn’t that you thought you wouldn’t enjoy it, but you didn’t expect it to be so fun. Sometimes you’d find yourself laughing at the way his fingers danced over your sides, but then you’d immediately whimper at the feel of him thrusting into you. He held you so tight that it was a wonder you didn’t break, and he loved to watch you squirm, thumb brushing over you while stretching you out.
His breathing was heavy in your ear, blond hair brushing your skin, and he held you against him. Your legs were wrapped around his waist, ankles hooked behind his back, and your nails scraped along his sheets. You both had just come back from a swim, and the salt of the ocean rested on his skin whenever you tasted him.
Time didn’t mean anything to either of you, finding yourself in his lap and pushing yourself down onto him. He kept his lips at your throat, kissing you and trailing his hands over your back. You were so hot, but you didn’t even care, just wanting to be as close to him as possible. The shark tooth was cool against your skin, and you twisted your hand into JJ’s fair locks.
When you came around him for a second time, your face was buried into the crook of his neck. You shook in his arms, holding onto him tight as you told him how much you loved him. JJ shuddered in your arms at the sound, pulling you into a kiss as he told you the same.
Tumblr media
You were startled by a tap on your window, whipping around and holding your towel to you tight. You visibly relaxed when you faced JJ, and you hurried to slide your window up, helping him inside. As you did, something caught your attention, and your throat went dry at the sight of the ugly bruising on his arm.
“JJ…”
Your voice was small, and JJ’s gaze followed yours before he casually waved you off. He pulled you into a kiss before you could say anything else, your face in his hands. When he pulled away, he brushed past you, and you worriedly eyed him.
“I had to see you,” he told you.
His voice sounded off, and you slowly approached him.
“You know you can come by and see me anytime.”
He nodded, sitting on your bed. You both were quiet for a while, you watching him and JJ watching his feet.
“My dad found some of your clothes,” he finally admitted. “He knows you’ve been staying over a lot.”
You knew all about JJ’s dad, and you had a sinking feeling in your stomach at his words.
“Was he mad?”
Your boyfriend chuckled to himself, and it lacked humor.
“You could say that.”
Your chest heaved a bit, and you swallowed before finally kneeling before him.
“Let me see,” you said, reaching for his shirt.
“Y/N, no, it’s fine,” he argued, stopping you.
Your eyes met his, and yours were tearful. His were pleading.
“Why won’t you let me see?”
JJ sighed, taking your hands into his.
“…because I don’t want you to see that.”
Your heart broke, and as much as you wanted to fight him on it, you also wanted to respect his decision.
“You can stay here,” you said, changing the subject as you stood. “You have some things here anyway.”
You went to one of your drawers, pulling out a t-shirt he’d left over. You looked around, certain that there were some boxer shorts too.
“You should take a shower,” you told him, handing him his clothes.
He quietly took them, but before you could step away, he wrapped his arms around you, resting his head against your stomach. He was so quiet, and you ran your fingers through his hair.
“Come with me?” he mumbled.
You were literally still in your towel from your own shower, but you knew that he didn’t just want you in there with him. He needed you at his side, right now. You pulled him to his feet, walking him to your bathroom. You made sure that your bedroom door was locked before finally joining him in the shower.
When he faced you, you paused, sharply inhaling at the sight of fresh bruises on his torso. Your mouth parted, and your eyes watered, and JJ was the one trying to comfort you.
“I’m okay,” he reassured you. “Nothing I haven’t delt with before.”
“That doesn’t make it okay,” you choked out.
You had never had the urge to kill before, the closest thing being Rafe, but in this moment, you were sure you could dump JJ’s dad’s body in the ocean and not even blink. JJ pressed his lips to yours, and you weakly kissed him back.
You were sure that JJ’s favorite thing to do with you was shower together. He’d drunkenly told you once that he thought it was more intimate than sex. Then you had laughed at JJ saying the word ‘intimate’. He liked cleaning you and rubbing soap into your skin and drying you off like a cat afterwards. As you gently brushed soap over his bruised skin, you couldn’t pull your eyes away.
Before he could stop you, you leaned in and pressed your lips to the bruises. JJ flinched, but when you started to pull away, afraid that you had hurt him, he stopped you. You looked up, smiling at him as he touched your hair. When you were both done, JJ grabbed a towel that was big enough to be wrapped around both of you, giggling into his skin as he shuffled you both into your room.
You pulled on one of your old shirts, stopping him before he could do the same.
“I should put something on that,” you told him.
JJ quietly protested, but you ignored him. The smile he gave you was sweet, and he rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath and only wincing a bit when you rubbed some cream into his skin.
“I’ll kill him if you ask me to,” you murmured, glancing up at him.
“I would never ask you to,” he replied. “Just like I know you’d never ask me to kill Rafe.”
You pursed your lips at that, loathed to admit it. When JJ put his shirt on, you climbed into bed with him, turning off your lamp. You were cautious about laying on him, opting to face him instead. You always felt so much safer when JJ was around, paranoid that with him absent, Rafe would just climb through your window one night. You had no doubt that he would if he ever found out about you and JJ.
As if he read your mind, JJ finally spoke in the darkness.
“When are we going to tell everyone?”
It was a topic that had been brought up before, and it made your chest ache every time. JJ wanted to tell the world that you were his, and while you definitely wanted the same, he didn’t know that Rafe had threatened him and whatever relationship you had with him. You weren’t strong enough to stand up to your former best friend.
Nor your parents.
You knew they wouldn’t approve of JJ, and until you grew the balls to tell your mom to go fuck herself, you didn’t see the point in putting JJ through that.
“JJ…we’ve talked about that.”
He knew about some of your concerns coupled with a few lies.
“They won’t care,” he reassured you.
“I know they won’t,” you told him, referring to your friends. “…but I’m just really scared about making things weird.”
“Kie and Pope are dating.”
“…but we all saw that coming from a mile away. A year ago, everyone was convinced that you hated me.”
JJ chuckled at that, but it was the truth. Even John B. had commented on how JJ hadn’t quite taken to you, and you had never imagined a day where JJ would actually be your friend, let alone your boyfriend. JJ was a great boyfriend, and you didn’t want to lose him. Whether that be through your own inability to stand up to your parents…or Rafe.
“I’m happy with how things are, right now.”
It wasn’t the whole truth, and on some level, you were sure that JJ sensed that.
Tumblr media
Your chest was heavy as you trekked across the beach, your surfboard under your arm. The wind was picking up around you, but you paid it no mind, too focused on JJ and your last conversation with him. Your vision was blurry from your tears, and seeing as JJ made it clear he didn’t want to talk to you, you took it upon yourself to get your mind off of it.
It wasn’t like you had anyone to blame but yourself.
JJ was perfectly reasonable in asking to tell everyone about you two…and he was just as reasonable in not putting faith into your excuses.
“If you care about me as much as you say you do, then you’d believe that nothing about us could make anything weird with the group.”
It hurt to hear him say that, but he wasn’t wrong.
“You’re right,” you had told him. “You are, but…that’s not the only reason I’m not ready yet.”
Your parents had left on a cruise only a day ago, and you should’ve known that something was up when JJ didn’t even want to come inside, preferring to talk on your steps.
“What? Is it Rafe?”
You didn’t respond, and he continued.
“Did he say something else to you? Is he threatening you?” he demanded, and you could tell by the look on his face that if you confirmed that, he wouldn’t hesitate to track the asshole down.
You wanted both you and JJ to stay as far away from Rafe as possible. You didn’t want to give him a reason to get into another fight with your former friend.
“No,” you lied. “I-.”
“Then what?”
You pressed your lips together.
“Is it your parents?”
“JJ…”
“Are you ashamed of me?”
The question took you by surprise, and you blinked.
“What? No!”
“Are you sure that’s not it?”
“Why would you even think that?”
Now you found yourself getting more angry than sad, hurt that JJ would even think that of you. He spread his arms out, expectantly looking at you.
“What else am I supposed to think? Seeing each other in secret was fun at first when we didn’t even know what this was yet, but I love you, and you don’t even wanna tell our friends about us.”
You didn’t want it getting back to Rafe.
“I just need more time,” you weakly said, and JJ frowned.
“It’s been months…almost a year,” he quietly argued.
“I know that, but-.”
“But what? I have a girlfriend that I can even act like a boyfriend with in public,” he said more to himself.
The chuckle he let out lacked humor, and you stepped closer to him.
“Was I wrong about you?”
Your heart dropped.
“I thought you were one of us,” he said. “…and I thought you thought that too, but maybe you still see yourself as that Kook princess who really does belong on this side of the island with a boyfriend that her parents will approve of.”
You didn’t know how to respond to that, and you looked away, blinking back tears.
“Is that what you think of me?”
Your eyes had met his again, and you couldn’t tell what JJ was really thinking.
“I don’t know what to think, and you’re giving me nothing to go on, right now. Nada.”
“That’s not true…”
“Then what’s stopping you? Why am I standing here and begging my girlfriend to not sneak around with me anymore?”
When you didn’t answer, JJ shook his head, rolling his eyes. He shoved his hands into his pocket, and you walked towards him as he back up.
“When you are ready to tell people about us, whenever that is, let me know.”
“JJ,” you sighed, tilting your head, but he ignored you.
“Until then…”
Your face fell when he turned his back on you, and you followed him, calling his name. He didn’t turn around once, and with Rafe in the back of your mind, you knew you couldn’t give him the answer he wanted, right now. You watched JJ walk away, and as much as you wanted to force him to stay, his hurt had been obvious. Deciding to give him time to cool off, and give yourself time to really think about things, you had forced yourself to go back inside.
675 notes · View notes
min3tta · 1 year
Text
the wedding (part 1)
Engysis (marriage contract)   
“Prince Icarius,” Odysseus called as he followed the Spartan prince down a corridor of his grand palace. 
“Hm?” Prince Icarius responded and faced Odysseus. “What do you need from me, Ithacus?”
“... Your daughter’s hand,” Odysseus said with a grin. Prince Icarius looked confused.
“I thought you were here for Lady Helen, are you not?”
“I was … but your Penelope has captured my heart far more. Day by day, I am more captivated by her sheer beauty and cleverness, my lord. Lady Penelope is like a light that has brightened my life, and I never want that light to go out. I would be more than humbled to call her my wife, and I know that the people of Ithaca would rejoice that we would finally have a queen again. One to rule alongside me until my end days. My prince, I love your daughter more than anything I have known. I would be honored to call her mine. Prince Icarius of Sparta, please give me your blessing.”
Odysseus always had a way with words. 
Prince Icarius let out a long sigh. After a few moments of silence, he extended his hand to Odysseus, and Odysseus gladly took his hand and firmly shook it. 
“Thank you, my lord,” Odysseus said, trying to hold back tears, to not embarrass himself in front of his future father in-law. 
Prince Icarius’s hand let go of Odysseus’s grasp. “Take care of my Penelope. Protect her. She shall make you a worthy heir for your kingdom. This unity shall strengthen the alliance between Sparta and Ithaca.”
Odysseus couldn’t stop smiling.
“Come, follow me to the sitting room. The conversation can continue there.” Prince Icarius walked down the corridor to a large room with benches. Odysseus followed.
Proaulia (transition from child to bride)
Penelope sat in the dining room along with her mother, enjoying one last meal together in Sparta before her family made their way to Ithaca for Odysseus and Penelope’s wedding. 
“Oh, I am so nervous,” Penelope said to her mother as she took the last few bites of her favorite meal: roasted goose and legumes. 
“My love, you will be fine. Odysseus is a fine man. You said so yourself,” Periboea said to her daughter as she stroked her thick black hair. “Your father and I will be at the festivities, my dear. It’s normal for girls to be nervous before they join their husband. But, as a royal of Sparta, it is customary for you to join a man who can strengthen the ties of our kingdoms. Your marriage will do just that, I am sure.” 
“I know it will, mother,” Penelope said with a weak smile. 
“What a beautiful bride you will be. Are you ready for proteleia?” Periboea asked.
Penelope let out an exhale and nodded.
“Okay, I will grab your father and we will begin. I am so proud of you, my Penelope,” Periboea said and cupped Penelope’s cheeks in her hands. 
Proteleia (the bride’s nuptial sacrifice to the gods)
Penelope made her way to her palace’s shrine to Lady Artemis. Candles illuminated the intricately carved statue of the goddess, and all of Penelope’s dolls and childhood clothes were placed in front of the shrine as a dedication. 
“Penelope?” her mother and father walked up behind her as she observed the shrine. “Sit,” they said to her.
Penelope kneeled down in front of the shrine. She could feel her mother’s hands pressed on her head. 
She knew what was coming. 
Prince Icaruis kneeled down next to Penelope with a pair of shears and a small box in hand. 
He gave a small nod to his wife, and both started chanting prayers to Artemis. 
As they chanted, Icarius cut strands of Penelope’s baby hair from her forehead and placed them in the small box, then placed it alongside the other items, a sacrifice of Penelope’s childhood to the gods. 
Finally, at the end of the ceremony, Periboea placed a linen veil over her daughter’s face. 
Penelope knew that once Odysseus lifted the veil from her face the next night, she would be his.
Gamos (the wedding day)
As soon as the Spartan ship reached Ithacan soil, Penelope and Periboea were whisked off to a guest house, where a handful of slave girls were waiting to begin the bride’s wedding day process. 
First, Penelope was instructed to take a nuptial bath. It was unlike anything she had seen. It was almost like a ritual. Slave girls changed Penelope out of her chiton, undergarments and carefully removed her veil. Sacred, purified water from a loutrophoros was poured into a large bathing basin. 
Periboea stood, watching from a corner, as the servants guided her daughter into the water-filled basin and began to massage her skin with rose oil-soaked cloths. Lavish bottles of creams and ointments were rubbed on Penelope’s shoulders and then poured into the basin. As much as Penelope felt uncomfortable, she knew that it was necessary for a bride to be purified for her groom.
After a while, Periboea and the slave girls left the room and let the bride relax in her bath. 
Penelope felt the warm water calmly moving around her, the oils setting on her skin, the sun from the nearby window shining on her face. Ocean waves crashing and seagulls could be heard outside. 
She felt a calmness wash over her and closed her eyes. There Penelope laid, fully exposed in the basin, in her purest form, at peace, gathering herself for the most important moment in her life. 
“I am Penelope of Ithaca,” she softly said to herself, and smiled. 
Soon after, a slave girl, Melantho, came back in to help Penelope out of the basin and into a fresh set of clothes. Melantho pinned Penelope’s hair up into a braid, and new bracelets and necklaces were placed on her body.
“A gift from King Odysseus,” Melantho said as she adorned Penelope with fine jewelry. 
Lastly, she placed her veil back over Penelope’s head.
“My lady, an escort will be here shortly to bring you to the temple. The king will be waiting for you there.” Melantho said, and left Penelope alone once again.
“Finally,” Penelope thought to herself. She could hardly wait to see Odysseus. They hadn’t seen each other since he left Sparta a few months ago. She longed for him. Her husband.
Euchomai (prayers of a fruitful marriage)
After a short while, a man appeared in the doorway.
“My lady? I am Philoetlus, and I will be your escort to the temple. If you will follow me, please.”
Penelope followed Philoetlus a short distance to the temple. 
“King Odysseus is waiting for you inside. It is a pleasure meeting you, Lady Penelope. Please do not hesitate if you need anything.”
Penelope smiled warmly. 
“Thank you, Philoetlus,” she said, and made her way to the temple’s grand entrance. 
And there he was, handsome as ever.
Odysseus held his arm out to her, signaling to come join him before the shrine. 
Penelope made her way to him and took his hand. They both looked into each other’s eyes for a while, enjoying the intimacy. Odysseus broke the silence. 
“My love. You look gorgeous,” he said to Penelope.
Penelope could feel heat rising in her cheeks. “Thank you, my Odysseus. And thank you for the fine jewelry. It is stunning.”
“It’s nothing compared to your beauty, love,” he spoke softly, and placed a tender kiss on her cheek. “I am the luckiest man alive that I get to spend my life with you. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
“Nor could I,” Penelope breathed, and turned her attention to the large shrine to Athena in front of them, not letting go of Odysseus’s hand. “Now, let us give our prayers to the gods, that our marriage will be fruitful.”
Odysseus nodded and prayed aloud. 
“Lady Athena, hear our prayers. Ensure that Penelope and I’s marriage be one of unconditional love and friendship, one of respect and wellbeing,” Odysseus said to the statue of Athena.
“I will,” a voice said. Penelope jumped at the sound, but Odysseus was quick to calm her.
“It is okay, my dear,” he said to Penelope. “Lady Athena hears us.”
Just then, an owl flew through the window and landed on top of the shrine.
“I hear you,” said the owl.
“... Lady Athena,” Penelope whispered, and bowed her head. Odysseus bowed his head as well.
“Odysseus of Ithaca. Penelope of Sparta. I bless you and your marriage. Life’s roads may be arduous, but your love will never waver, and instead conquer through all.” Athena’s voice echoed throughout the temple. With that, the owl quickly flew away. 
28 notes · View notes
bemylord · 3 years
Text
what they are like in cuddles
♡ characters: sukuna, itadori, satoru, nanami, megumi.
♡ warnings: fluff, but sukuna? plus gender neutral
♡ note: it's only my opinion how would they cuddle you, and also abt sukuna. let's imagine sukuna hates everyone but you.
ɪᴛᴀᴅᴏʀɪ ʏᴜᴊɪ
friendly hug primarily. both of you, it was ok to give a hug whenever you sit on the couch or prevail the curse.
since time, itadori has gotten security of how and when he can do it. your initially 'matey' hugs turn into the 'lovely' hugs.
itadori will smile brightly and also would give pulsatile movements: squeeze you 'till your bones crunch, then unclench and do that again.
he's an overreacting boy so his cuddle would be quite the same. would switch from the 'give me a hug, sweetheart' to the 'let's have a competition who has a charming?' 'but.. how do we determine the winner?' 'who first fall asleep is a loser' you have that competition every sunday. in the morning, you wake up first, rejoicing that you are a winner and itadori has no choice but says yes. but one thing you don't know is that you are the first who fall asleep. not because you've got bad hugs, is because itadori saves your dream from the monsters.
ꜱᴀᴛᴏʀᴜ ɢᴏᴊᴏ
satoru doesn't care where he can hug you: among the people, in the city, during the fight (o_o, do know how much power has that man?) if satoru wants to cuddle, satoru gets your body no.matter.what.
gojo will estrange from you just to give a forehead kiss. if your cheeks will turn into pink color, satoru would smug as hell about it. 'am i embarrassed my baby? i didn't mean that, boo'
satoru creates his veil just both of you could have a cuddle day there. it's kinda weird, but nothing can stop him.
funny conversation throughout cuddling.
satoru would be the most sensitive among the boys when he receives a hug from you. he believes that when you're cuddling him from behind, it's a passionately gesture. he distances from whatever he did and has you in his warm and strong arms.
ɴᴀɴᴀᴍɪ ᴋᴇɴᴛᴏ
i've got a feeling that nanami could hoist you up, makes you wrap your legs around his torso.
you've an unspoken rule to cuddle nanami when he gets really into the work. i didn't mean you've to disturb him every second, but when he gets lost in the papers or when he watches overdose movies, you come from his back and wrap arms around his shoulders. 'i'm a little bit busy, bunny, i will-' 'you should take a break, my love, let me cuddle you in the bathroom'
bathroom cuddles his favorite one. nanami could enfeeble his tensed muscles in the warm water; he also deliriously in love when you give a back or shoulder massage. he pulls you closer, gives imponderable kisses on your neck.
despite of the way he uses to be courteous with you, he's dominant in the hugs. only big spoon.
ᴍᴇɢᴜᴍɪ ꜰᴜꜱʜɪɢᴜʀᴏ
man would deny he likes to cuddle you, though be demonstrate he's like it as hell.
megumi will come from behind, burying his face into your hair, wrapping his arms around your waist.
doesn't show his affection among the people or friends. although, will not hesitate to hold your arm if someone will cross the thin line between talk and flirt with ya.
he loves, but never tells, gives a morning hug and kisses you, when you still sleepy and adorable.
switch one. he loves to press your back against his chest and smells you, but when you throw your leg on his hip muddle together your feet while hugging him - captivatingly.
tranquilizing babbling about nothing, so you could fall asleep whilst megumi is talking. fondling your nape and press your face into his collarbone, so you could feel safe with megu.
ꜱᴜᴋᴜɴᴀ ʀʏᴏᴍᴇɴ
does he know that word? does he know that means being mild and caress with the partner? you will teach him if he permits you to cuddle him.
tremendously rough at the start, and i think he would go like: i don't need your fucking hands on my body, woman, leave me alone. then, sukuna will thieve you to his little world [domain] and would cuddle you on his lap.
he doesn't like showing someone his soft side of him, even you, bc he is a king of curses, got it? a king doesn't have a weak spot. but since you taught him to cuddles it's his weakness.
he waits 'til you fall asleep then steal you to his domain and press your sleepy body against his.
big spoon it goes. however, while he is spooning you, king will leave marks on your body, such as hickeys on your collarbone.
//~~//
:3
2K notes · View notes
swtki · 3 years
Text
HP Boys: Surprise Pregnancy Head Cannons
Summary: The HP boys and their reaction to their s/o (afab) being pregnant when its not planned.
A/N: This takes place post Hogwarts so all characters are 18+, though no real smut happens in this so its not an 18+ fic.
WARNINGS: UNPLANNED PREGNANCY, MENTIONS OF PRO CHOICE OPINIONS, MENTIONS OF SEX IN LITE TERMS, SWEARING, FLUFF, MENTIONS OF ALCOHOL, ALSO THIS IS SUPER LONG SORRY LOL
Draco
So everything is going great for the happy couple, you two just moved into a flat together and are working normal jobs, drinking wine like adults.
And sure, Draco knows he wants to marry you, but he knows you’re not ready to settle down like that so he just plans and dreams.
Due to poor choices, when you’re late by two weeks, you know what it probably is.
Draco doesn’t even notice that you ran out to the store and came back and hid in the bathroom for 10 minutes. CEO of minding his own business ig
You just kinda...walk up to him and hand him all 3 tests while your eyes fill with tears because what if he demands you get an abortion?
Or what if he fucks off to god knows where?
But instead he just looks at you with the most un-draco like smile. Like his face was soft and it looked like he could cry any moment.
“Oh my god,” He says, putting his hand on your belly, “I can be ready for this, but if you aren’t then we can you know...”
“No, I want it” then both of you rejoice bc yay baby!
Cut to 6 months later when your feet hurt so bad you have to lay down and watch while Draco fails to put a crib together.
He eventually gets it done tho.
And when the time comes, he’s built and arranged everything for your bundle of joy.
Harry
So you guys are probably already married, but with everything at the ministry going on, it makes Harry less than a family man.
You both agree that it’s probably better to wait so you can be home and yk...raise it.
Well smart man Harry forgets that to not have a kid you need to use protection.
So of course when your period is late you don’t think about it, until its four weeks late.
That night, you and Harry are laying in bed, and thats when you tell him.
“Harry..I’m late.”
“Late for what?” headass.
You: 😳😐
Him: 👁👁😲😲
He’s hesitant to say anything, because he knows its ultimitley up to you what happens with it until its out.
“I think I want to keep it...you know it wont remember much for the first year and a half so if things are stressful it will be okay and-“
“Love...Its going to be perfect”
Mf built the crib in like 45 minutes I swear.
And of course he forced you to keep up with your vitamins, pre natal care, and appointments.
Swear tho you’re about to kill him because cofFeE
But the way he holds your baby 🥺 its his most valued thing ever now.
Ron
Ron is iffy on the kid thing sometimes.
He does want them, but only later when you guys have lived and travled.
So no, you two haven’t planned nor is it even in the picture when your wedding roles around.
It’s in the early days of the marriage when you see his family at the burrow on the way back from the honeymoon.
And of course Molly knows
Because Weasleys are hyperfertile I swear.
She takes you into the kitchen and puts her hands on your arms, shes got that big Mrs.Weasley smile on too.
“I knew it!” She says and pulls you in for a hug, “How far dear??”
You’re just standing there like🧍🏻
“I can see it by the way you glow! Oh my you and my Ron must be so happy!” This woman doesn’t notice that you’re confused.
“Wait what? Mrs. Weasley what are you-?” Then you count the days, “Oh. Well I guess I just found out for myself”
Her face falls slightly, but then she tells you can make you a potion that will tell you if you are or not, stan.
The stupid potion turns green when you spit into it, so everything is confirmed.
That night, you and Ron are getting ready for bed in the guest room and you decide to tell him.
“Ron, sweetie. We need to talk.” He looks like he’s gonna start crying but sits next to you on the bed.
“Y/N...I know its scary but please, we just got married I don’t want to divorce quite just yet 🥺🥺”
“Ron I-“ you start smiling, “I’m pregnant you dufus.”
He just freezes, for a while. Not saying anything, he just looks at the wall with his mouth ajar.
So you get up and go to Ginny.
“Gin, I broke him.”
“Ew, I don’t want to know about how you and him”
“No, I told him that I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, yeah that would do it. Just I don’t know... Give him a minute?”
You give him several, getting a glass of water then heading back up to the room.
Ginny was right, he needed a minute.
“I don’t...I wasn’t...you were.?”
“You don’t have to stay, but I think we can do it. Plus, you would disapoint your mom if you left so...”
“Okay...we’ll do it. I’ll be the best damn Father you have ever seen.” He says, talking to your womb.
Well...he’s a father I’ll give him that.
Pro of having a Weasley baby: free crib thats already put together.
Even if it looks like a death trap.
“We’ll put some blankets over it don’t worry”
You know how some Dads hold their parters hand during the delivery? Yeah he got sick and was moral support from the outside.
To be fair, you weren’t screaming in pleasure by any means.
Scary. But beautiful.
He shows the kid to everyone, he might be more in love with the baby than he is with you.
Ron see’s the appeal of having kids now.
Neville
Moving in with your boyfriend is always fun, right up until you guys go at it so much you forget protection more than once.
You think about it, then move on with your day.
Until the doctor calls, then “oh fuck”
Romance Neville bf
“Why aren’t you having any wine? I thought it was your favorite?”
“I don’t think fetal alcohol syndrome is my favorite.” BRO HE SPAT
But he looks up with tears in his eyes, and runs over to you to grasp you in a hug.
“Oh my god! You’re pregnant! Oh my - We’re gonna be parents!! Oh my god we’re gonna be parents oh-“ Que you petting his hair till he’s calm again.
Lets be honest, this man probably swapped the herbology books for the parenting guides.
“Well I mean I’m just wondering if we should go with this color or this one”
“Nev, it doesn’t matter. Our baby will not care.”
“I read in my book that Infants actually can recognize mood in-“
He won’t let you do anything during your pregnancy.
Gotta love a man who cries because he loves you so much and you’re having his kid.
“I never had a father, what if I do it wrong? What if the baby hates me and runs away at seven?”
“We’ve got quite a lot of time before then.”
He was there during delivery, letting you crush his hand like a champ.
You can’t help but cry when you see him sleeping on the floor next to the crib, its so sweet.
Fred
You two most likely already had two kids, so you decided to wait a bit so your hands weren’t quite full.
Well...your body decided not to wait.
A test provides the two lines, another wild child.
The two toddlers already run around like thing one and thing two, only with red hair.
I think Fred would gladly make the family dinner, and wear an apron. He’d own it, as he should.
But mf gotta not drop the salad bowl when you tell him of the fetus inside you.
“Fred we are going to have a bee-ay-bee-why.”
Your five year old has just begun to spell 😐
He’s happy tho.
Like over the fuckin moon.
He buys the two kids big brother/sister shirts too 🥺🥺
He knows the drill pretty well, so he isn’t too worried about the future.
But its funny that he still freaks out about the crib and feeding chair since he gave it away, you know because you guys werent having another kid.
He packed a hospital bag and kept it in the trunk, counting down the days.
Hours of delivery (He just sat back and held your hand) only to end up with a room full of 7 Weasley family members.
Fred always said that 3 was his lucky number :)
George
You guys were taking it slow, no marriage until you both felt it was time. And certainly no children before that.
Well you know...things changed when the test was positive.
You slid it over on the table, tears pooling in your eyes. He was stunned and quiet, which made you burst out sobbing because you knew that neither of you planned on having a baby.
But to your surprise he starts to smile.
“I want whatever you want, I’m staying by your side no matter what.”
“I mean...would it really be so bad? A house, a kid, a dog?” He holds your hand as you think aloud.
You both give it a week to think it over and the virdict is to keep it.
Thats when he decides he has to marry you, asap because he loves you and will never let you go especially now.
He loves to gush about the carrier of his child, to him you are a godess.
He’s the Dad with a predestination complex.
“Y/N, I just see him being a star quiditch player”
“George, we don’t know if it’s a him.”
He rolls his eyes “Okay then I can see her being a star-“
He made Hermione take you out for a movie date so he could rearrange your bedroom, since you only had a single bedroom flat.
You come back to a new set up including a cot.
Damn pregnancy hormones make brain go 🥺😭😭
He freaks when your water breaks lol
ceo of driving like a maniac to the hospital.
He can’t hold your hand, he’s pacing back and forth, sweating and maybe crying though he’ll never admit to it.
You get the joy of watching him cuddle the baby while refusing to give your child to you.
“George I’d like to hold-“
“No, you need your sleep honey, don’t worry”
Hogging the child.
Cedric
Its no secret that Cedric wants a baby someday.
And he makes it clear your wedding will be spectacular too.
However, finding out you’re pregnant the week of your dream wedding was a shock.
A shock that made you bang your head into the wall because how could you be so stupid?? We had a plan??
So you decide to wait until after the wedding, that way it wont add onto the stress (happy stress) of the wedding.
Cedric keeps trying to fill your glass at the reception, to which you kindly refuse saying you want to remember the night entirely.
Yeah he’s like 🤨 mhm okay.
You can only pick at the dinner because ew salmon doesn’t sound like an option if you want to keep the contents of your stomach.
As everyone waves goodbye to the car, and you both set off into married life, he leans over.
“I may be out of my mind, but are you...?”
“Pregnant.” His face lights up, pulling you into a hug.
Finally, your car pulls up to a small cottage with lush garden scapes all around, putting a hand out, he walks you both from the car to the door.
“Ced, where are we?”
“Home.”
Somehow it was perfect with Cedric, even when it was rushed.
He loved talking to your womb, even if it was weird that he was talking about the babies future brothers and sisters.
“Cedric, slow down. We haven’t even had this one yet”
Basically he is father of the year before he’s a full father.
He’s there while you deliver, holding your hand and telling you how great you’re doing.
He doesn’t even complain when you insult him <3.
He updates you on everything.
If his eyes aren’t on that child, he’s either asleep or dead.
I think Cedric was meant to be a family man, because he loves everything about being one.
Taglist: @truly-insatiable @amourtentiaa @imdoingathingmom @annasdani @anchoeritic @mullthingsoverinthehotwater @cedricsyellowscarf @faeinorbit
652 notes · View notes
janetbrown711 · 3 years
Text
My headcanons about Queen Angelina II
Majority of these can be seen in this fic, so if you like the idea go check it out ;)
Also- a handful of these are shared with the lovely @madelynartz, who also has fantastic takes on her, so be sure to check out their post too
If you want me to draw/write any of these specific headcanons/moments, just send an ask and I’ll probably do it
I’ll (likely) be making another, seperate post for William when i feel like it
Update: I have
This is gonna be a long post-
Early Life:
Her parents weren't very loving or caring, only ever wanting her to work on her studies and singing
Her mother was worse than her father, as she was egotistical and always critical of Angelina II and always seemed to find problems with things and people that made her happy
Her mother also always went by her full name (You had to refer to her as Queen Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the First- she wouldn't let people shorten it)
Naturally- Angelina resented her mother and with that, her own name.
She hates it when people say her full name- "Just Angelina is fine"
But if she especially likes you, you can call her Lena ;)
Since the only thing her parents approved of was studying, she devoured the entire castle library as a child, which left her often more informed than her tudors, which left her bored during lessons and she quickly became a "smart-ass" as she liked to talk back and figure out the ways she could get out of lessons
She hated the idea of getting betrothed, and any time a suitor would come over, she'd attack his pride in any form she could think of to get them to hate her, and she was successful
One of the suitors was Prince Salazar
She hated Salazar the most
Despite her attitude being well known across several kingdoms, rumors of her beauty and wonderous singing kept them coming
Her father, King Harold the Eighth, died when she was 10, and she could hardly say she really grieved him, but it made her mother more distant and sometimes outright cruel
She met William when he was 15 in the royal stables when he was training to be a squire
He fell in love instantly, though Angelina wanted to get to know him first
They were the best of friends since they met, though it was obvious Queen Angelina I disapproved
However, after awhile Angelina just stopped caring about what her mother thought entirely and was much better off
She and William loved to garden together, and always planted new flowerbeds in the palace garden every spring
William proposed when he was 22 and she was 21
Obviously she said yes, but they had to keep it hidden from her mother, who would likely take William away
Luckily for them, Angelina I died a month after he proposed, and the two were quickly married.
Yakko:
Yakko was born 10 months after their wedding
Angelina fell in love instantly, declaring him to be the cutest baby she had ever seen
She's terrible with names, and never named her children until after they were born
She hated the idea of giving him a really long and convoluted name, or a name that was in her family (like Harold the 9th)
And so Yakko it was
She didn't expect motherhood to be so exhausting, but hearing Yakko's laugh for the first time made everything worth it to her
Yakko began babbling at a younger age than most, and he babbled constantly, even in his sleep. Angelina loved to just sit and listen to him try to tell stories in nonsense baby language
However, Yakko seemed to have a preference for hearing William give the bedtime stories, as when she tried to read he got fussy
Once he was able to explain he said "daddo does the voices" and that he preferred her lullabies anyway
It hurt at first, but she understood. William was an excellent story teller, though he did have a tendency to ramble at times
Yakko's favorite story was of how they met
She's very protective, and if he was sick or hurt, she'd never leave his side
Her hair used to be very, very long but once Yakko was able to grab things and kept yanking her hair, she chopped it all off and has kept it short ever since
Wakko:
Wakko didn’t cry or breathe when he was born, so for the first moments of his life, Angelina and William feared he was dead
He wasn’t dead though, and they rejoiced greatly, and cried a lot
Angelina refused to let go of him though, and they were only able to get Wakko away from her when she fell asleep from exhaustion
After about a week or so, she relaxed more, but she needless to say her protectiveness went to new heights 
“Lena, Yakko slept in a crib all the time, it’s fine-” “How do you know that?” “Lena, I was there.”
William did always have a way to reassure her though
However, the extra layer of protectiveness was kinda needed for Wakko, as he loved to bite and chew on everything and anything he could get his little hands on (including his own tail)
She eventually gained what William described as a “sixth sense” where she could just tell when Wakko put something he wasn’t supposed to in his mouth.
Wakko didn’t talk much when he was young, especially when compared to Yakko, though his brother seemed to get him to talk even more than his parents could
They didn’t mind though, whatever worked, worked
Wakko loved following Yakko everywhere he went the moment he could crawl. Angelina thought it was adorable.
Wakko had a tendency to hurt himself a lot (whether by tripping, crashing, bitting his tail too hard, etc.) which forced Angelina to learn that he’ll be okay, and not to overreact or panic, as he was most certainly not made of glass
Angelina had a tendency to be a worry-wart
Dot: 
Angelina became pregnant with Dot right before tensions with Ticktockia started to rise, but William was determined not to let that ruin their optimism about having another child that was hopefully a girl
Angelina really wanted a girl bc Yakko and Wakko didn’t like dressing up and she really hoped a girl would, though she knew there wasn’t ever a guarantee, but she hoped
Angelina went into labor in the middle of a meeting with an ambassador from Ticktockia, but forced herself to finish it bc she ain’t a quitter
Despite Dot being her third child, she took the longest to actually deliver (two days), likely due to the exhaustion from countless meetings with Ambassadors and the stress of trying to avoid war bc King Salazar decided past treaties suddenly didn’t mean anything
Angelina had originally been against giving her her name, as she still associated it with her mother, but William said that he only thought of her, and that she was a much better mother and person than Angelina I could’ve ever been, which changed her mind.
However, she had thought of the name Dot before she was born, and liked it to so she and William agreed they’d just call her that for short, and if you asked them “how is Dot short for Princess Angelina blah blah blah the Third, they’d reply “it just is”)
Though she wouldn’t tell Yakko or Wakko, Dot was most certainly the cutest baby of them all
Wakko and Yakko loved to just... stand over Dot’s crib and watch her do things
Wakko also didn’t grasp what a baby was, and would often try to make her do things, and when she wouldn’t he’d get upset and Angelina or William would have to explain why she can’t play with him with the toy soldiers
She’d often just ramble on and on to Dot as she slept while William watched the boys, talking about the new treaties going up, and how worried she was about what Salazar would do if he didn’t agree with the new treaties and deals. It made her feel better. 
To also ease her worries, she taught Yakko how to take care of his sister. How to burp her, how to change her, how to give her a bath, etc. She hated thinking about what could possibly happen, but knowing they’d survive somehow made her feel much better. 
Dot was three months old when the attack happened, and Angelina wished she had had more time with her before dying.
Misc. (bc I refuse to end on a bad/depressing note)
She had family portraits made after each of her kids were born bc she wanted to always remember how cute of babies they were
Her lullabies worked like magic in terms of getting the three of them to sleep
If you asked her, she thinks Yakko has her eyes, Wakko has her nose, and Dot has her eyes and face shape
In the space between her mother dying and their wedding, she met Hello Nurse, who was a childhood friend of William’s, and they hit it off quite well- so much so that Angelina offered her a job in the castle, but she refused, saying she had plans with some doctor in Acme Falls, which Angelina respected. 
She one time tried to practice knitting in hopes of knitting the kiddos a blanket, but she was  t e r r i b l e  at it, and gave up after a week of trying
William and her liked to throw balls at least once a year, and everyone agreed they were the best dancers out there (what they didn’t know was how much practice Angelina had to put in to get a sense of rhythm- she was a terrible dancer, and William’s natural grace when dancing far exceeded her own)
Despite others protesting, Angelina always suspected that the reason tension was growing with Ticktockia was because Salazar was jealous and upset that she married some random knight rather than him (a theory that was proven right to her right before her death)
Her favorite food was bananas
William was a huge cuddler, so they’d cuddle close every night
she personally tutored Yakko on things like history and geography, as she felt those tended to be the most boring classes, and she wanted to have some part in his education, as she hated all of her teachers when she was a kid
She often didn’t know when to shut up, which did end up costing her in the end, but she didn’t regret a single word she said before her death, as Salazar deserved every bit of it. 
178 notes · View notes
Fear Not, Fair Maiden
(Thank you @spielzeugkaiser for letting me write a story about your amazing art! This was so much fun and it’s so fluffy. I may have thrown in a little nonhuman-Jaskier as a treat but Jaskier doesn’t know so...)
Etheid is the baby green dragon that Borch rescues in “The Sword of Destiny” book. I thought I’d make that scene more interesting and less sad for everyone by sticking to the book canon version for this story.
---
Jaskier woke up somewhere warm and soft and definitely not wrapped in the raggedy blanket he’d fallen asleep with atop his worn bedroll. He groaned in confusion and rose into a sitting position on the soft feather mattress to better wipe the sleep from his bleary eyes. He was sitting on a beautifully carved mahogany bed with four posts and lovely hanging curtains made of pale pink gossamer.
“Where am I?” he yawned to no one in particular. 
In my tower, a voice echoed through his head. The bard leapt from the bed, suddenly alert and terrified of whatever had brought him here. The voice returned, slightly frightened in its own right and clearly looking to soothe. Don’t panic! I’m sorry! I probably should have introduced myself better. Come to the window, my sweet visitor, and let me say hello!
“You’re not going to eat me, right?” Jaskier squeaked. 
Of course not, Jaskier. You’re my guest. That would be highly indecorous of me.
“Monsters with manners. Finally some decent company.” Jaskier made his way confidently out onto the balcony surrounding the tower’s main room and glanced around. “Hello? How do you know my name?”
A large, scaly green head rose over the side of the balcony wall and Jaskier took an involuntary step back. A thin-slit reptilian eye blinked at him. Once. Twice. Then the rest of the dragon’s face and snout appeared. Do not fret, my dear. You are in no danger at all. I merely wish to see a performance.
“You want me to sing for you?”
That was not my purpose in stealing you, but I would not be adverse to some music later this evening. I’m sure your Witcher is already on his way here to rescue you. Jaskier swore he heard the dragon release a deep, dreamy sigh from its steaming nostrils. Ah, I wonder if he’ll climb the spiral stairs and try to avoid the traps or if he’ll fight me first and scale the outer walls. 
“Wait a second,” Jaskier held a finger up. The dragon paused its daydreaming and looked down at its tiny human captive. Well, mostly human from what the dragon’s senses could pick up. Perhaps a bit of dryad in there somewhere. The semi-mortal’s connection to nature was stronger than most; ancient in a way that drew the dragon to him in the first place. Well, that and the handsome, white-haired Witcher who kept the bard close to his side like a favorite puppy. “You kidnapped me so that you could watch Geralt rescue me?”
The dragon’s enormous snout bobbed up and down as it nodded. The bard leaned heavily against the balcony’s edge and released a series of hysterical giggles. Are you alright, Jaskier?
“How do you know my name?”
You met my godfather, once. Borch.
“Oh, you’re the baby green dragon!” Jaskier perked up. This was an old friend, then. “My, how you’ve grown.”
And my, how you haven’t, the dragon observed. If the bard didn't’ know any better it appeared as if the creature was raising its eyebrow at him. You don’t seem to have aged a day.
“Haven’t I?” Jaskier glanced down. “Perhaps I’m just remarkably well preserved.”
Magic, the dragon shrugged. Anyway that is not my purpose here. I’ve grown bored with my usual antics and wish for something better. 
“So you thought you’d make up some entertainment by bard-napping me?”
Correct.
“This is like a play, then? I’ve been given the part of Fair Maiden and Geralt has been cast as our White Knight? My Prince Charming, as it were?”
Yes, although you find Geralt’s animalistic tendencies and Witchery nature more alluring than any fairy-tale prince or wayward knight.
“Hey! Hands off my private, personal thoughts,” Jaskier cried, waving his arms at the dragon as if the gesture might sever their mental link. The dragon huffed out what may have been a laugh.
I cannot help myself, I apologize. My name is Etheid, by the way. So you can stop referring to me in your mind as Baby Dragon I Held Once.
“Sorry,” Jaskier shrugged. He laughed again, this time genuinely. “Do you think Geralt really loves me enough to come rescue me from an entire dragon? He knows you can’t be beaten with one or two flimsy swords.”
He is determined to find you, Etheid replied. He will be here in two days time. 
“So until he shows up do I just...sing for you, then? Is there any food? Oh, is there a bath!?”
You’re the most eager and friendly guest I’ve ever had, Etheid rejoiced. There’s food aplenty in the cupboard in your room. Wine, too. I also have bathwater ready at your request and I can heat it to whatever temperature you like. I even have costumes!
“Costumes!?” The bard beamed widely and clapped his hands together beneath his chin. He bounced up and down on the balls of his feet and even spun in a quick circle. “What kinds of costumes!? Is this going to be a tragic rescue? Is this going to be dramatic and romantic? You mentioned traps, what kinds of traps will Geralt be facing if he comes up the stairs?”
Eager to see your handsome Witcher again?
“Eager to make sure that he isn’t injured trying to save me from your lovely tower, here.”
He will be absolutely fine. These traps were made for squires to outsmart; he’s a Witcher.
“If he loved me as I love him,” Jaskier sighed wistfully, “Then this would be even more fun.”
Etheid considered telling Jaskier the truth about his Witcher’s romantic feelings for a moment but figured that it was Geralt’s job to do so, instead. The dragon could wait. The dragon could write such a fantastical scene that Geralt would have no other option but to admit his feelings to the jovial and kindhearted bard. 
There are dresses, of course, but there are some lovely robes as well. You can take whatever you like from the chest at the end of the bed.
“You’re going to regret saying that!”
Go ahead. Do what human things you must. I’ll heat the water and be on my way; dragons need to eat, too.
“No pesky villagers, please. Stick to wild animals so long as I’m your guest?”
I am not a heathen, Etheid scoffed. Deer only for now. The forest is fat with them.
“Excellent. See you after dinner and a bath, then. I’ll sing you some lovely ballads.”
About your White Wolf?
“I wouldn’t exactly say that he’s my White Wolf,” the bard blushed. “But yes, songs about Geralt.”
---
Geralt reached the base of the stone tower and squinted up. It seemed endlessly tall against the rocky mountainside and the blue of the sky. Jaskier was up there, though, and the dragon was probably nearby. The Witcher had chosen not to wear his armor for this particular rescue mission; it would only make him noisier and this was a battle of the wits. Dragons wanted to be outsmarted, not slain.
Geralt remembered Borch Three Jackdaws fondly, the golden dragon that had shown him such kindness and taught him that not all monsters were to be feared. Well, Borch hadn’t so much taught Geralt about the nature of monstrosity so much as he had reinforced a previously held belief. 
But that didn’t matter now. As he slid into the passage that led to the tower stairs his only focus was his stupid bard’s physical safety. 
No, Geralt, the Witcher corrected himself firmly. He is not your bard, he is merely a traveler who chooses to spend some of his free time dallying about with you. He likes writing songs about your adventures and that is all. 
He could hear the sound of a lute growing slightly stronger as he ascended, and kept his eyes peeled for any sort of traps or pitfalls. He sidestepped two swinging axes with ease and ducked beneath a flying crossbow bolt as simply as he breathed. This tower was for amateurs, not highly trained Witchers with unparalleled senses. Not the most graceful Witcher the Wolf school had ever turned out onto the path. Not Geralt of Rivia, Jaskier’s Witcher. 
---
Jaskier stopped singing suddenly and set his lute to the side, as planned. He laid himself out as Etheid had suggested, the white cotton robe pooling around his bare legs and spilling rather nicely off his left shoulder. He’d cinched a soft blue ribbon just so around the curves of his waist. His hair was ruffled just the way Geralt liked it; the way it was when he saw the Witcher’s gloved fingers twitch at his sides, clearly aching to touch him but too afraid to make a move.
He’ll have to make a move this time, Etheid said. Jaskier could hear the smile in the dragon’s words. Get in position! He’s nearly to your room, Jask!
“Jaskier!” the Witcher cried, bursting through the door only a moment later. The bard could sense Etheid just outside the window, hidden by a thin curtain that hung from the back of an ENORMOUS four-poster bed. Geralt was too excited to find his precious bard safe to care about the looming threat.
“Geralt! You came for me!”
“Of course I did,” Geralt rolled his eyes. “You’re always getting yourself into trouble.”
Ugh, you’re so right. He’s horrible with romance.
Jaskier stifled a smile but Geralt caught it anyway. 
“What’s so funny, bard?”
“My captor doesn’t find your rescue speech very romantic or amusing,” he said, pulling the curtain aside. Etheid’s large blue eyes were focused on the scene, waiting for something good to happen. The dragon had been bored for so long and he’d heard so much from Borch about this White Wolf and his loyal, loving bard. Jaskier whispered the next line as if Etheid wasn't’ supposed to be hearing it, “Perhaps you should make our little reunion more flowery?”
“Jaskier, I - uh,” Geralt swallowed hard and took a step forward. Might as well go for it, the Witcher thought. “I’m so glad that I made it back to your side in time. I’m so glad that you’re unharmed.”
“I knew you’d come for me,” Jaskier sighed, holding out his hand. Geralt stepped even closer, leaning down to press his lips against the petal-soft skin of Jaskier’s knuckles. The bard blushed softly and Geralt felt his own face heating up to match. “You always save me, even from the worst situations.”
“I always will.”
The Witcher had admitted his greatest secret aloud before he could stop himself and he watched the bard’s eyes widen even further. Geralt’s brand of gruff sincerity was unmistakable. 
“Geralt,” the younger man grinned, tears gathering in the corners of his perfect, cornflower blue eyes, “I knew you loved me back.”
“You mean...?”
“Of course, silly,” the bard laughed, throwing himself up off the mattress and into Geralt’s arms. “I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you brooding at that tavern in Posada!”
“Oh Jaskier,” the Witcher gasped. His lips found the side of his bard’s pale neck and out on the balcony Etheid released a happy, contented huff. “I would give anything and everything to know that you were safe.”
“My sweet Witcher,” Jaskier leaned back, cupping Geralt’s face between his hands. His weight was now being entirely supported by the thick arm wrapped around his waist and he reveled in the strength of his beloved before leaning up to kiss him. “Then you must know how I feel every time you leave me on a hunt. Or go to fight with Yennefer about something silly.”
The Witcher could only press their foreheads together and breathe in the happy, rain-shower scent of his Jaskier. “Hmm.”
Excellent, yes! I can’t wait to tell Borch and my friends about this! Etheid cheered. Congratulations, Jaskier! I’m so happy for you!
“Thank you,” the bard murmured. 
“Hmm?” Geralt hummed again, raising an eyebrow. Jaskier pulled his head away and shook it. 
“Don’t worry about it. Are you getting me out of here or not?”
“Can you walk in this getup? Will the dragon just let us go?”
Jaskier shot a curious glance towards Etheid, who nodded.
Tell him you can’t walk, though. I want to see him carry you off to his horse and ride away with the white robe flapping in the wind. Maybe he’ll even wrap his arms around you from behind to keep you safe. Like a real princess. 
“No, I can’t walk in this silly thing at all. Keeps getting tangled around my ankles; I’d probably fall down the stairs and kill myself.
Geralt swept the younger man up into his arms and grabbed his lute from its place on the floor. “Well, we can’t have that.”
“No, my Witcher,” the bard replied with a contented smile. “We can’t have that at all.”
---
And if one of Etheid’s curious friends kidnapped Jaskier a month or so later and three countries over then...oh well. More weird dragon friends for the both of them.
214 notes · View notes
bibuckbuckley · 4 years
Note
Born this way with Alex
I’m sorry this took me a few days but thank you so much for the prompt! Also, this did not mean to be so long. Oops. Anyways. Hope you enjoy :)
Warning: Mentions of past homophobia. 
                                                  ______
                                        Born This Way
                                                  ______
Alex was wandering in the hallways of Los Feliz HIgh School after supporting Julie on her first performance in her music class without them. The rest of the band had performed with her at her school a couple of more times after their first time for pep rallies and dances. The principal tried to book them as much as she could to show that the new breakout band, Julie and The Phantoms, who were now starting to perform at big venues, like the Orpheum, were discovered at her school. He always couldn’t help but be amused by that. 
For a big part of her final grade for her semester, Julie had to perform by herself. Reggie had been confused as to why she was nervous of singing solo in her high school class when she had already sung solo in the Orpheum of all places. But Alex understood. Not only did he have anxiety about practically everything, but doing things that had a lot of emotional weight to them even when you seemed to be getting passed them could be very nerve-wracking. And even though all three of them had the urge to perform with her, they knew that they couldn’t and that she’d completely kill it anyways. Which she did, of course.
After the class was over, Julie had her free period. But, instead of spending it with the boys and Flynn, she and Luke wanted some ‘alone’ time together. Meanwhile, Flynn had a marketing team meeting for the band, which now had at least eight members from the school and a lot more clamoring for the chance to be a part of it. And Reggie was so excited and happy for Julie that he couldn't help but want to tell Ray right away. And unlike before, Julie’s dad could now see them and respond back to him.
Whatever Julie did to save their souls from being obliterated into existence, not only made her be able to touch them all, but made them able to show themselves to lifers without just performing with her. Usually they had to be with Julie in order for lifers to see them, but if they had a bond with a lifer, like the guys did with Flynn and Julie’s family, then they could see them without Julie. But they still didn’t show themselves to lifers very much.
Alex especially didn’t.
He wanted to focus more on trying to figure just how this was all possible. He and Willie came up with different theories, but nothing too concrete yet.
Besides, he kinda liked being invisible. He could be his full self and still be in front of lifers without worrying about what they were thinking about him. Like Willie had mentioned that day at the museum, being a drummer had not only helped him with his anxieties and frustrations, but helped him feel confident and be his full self in front of an entire crowd of people. And being a ghost gave him that same freedom, they just couldn’t see him. And he was okay with that, for the most part.
It actually sorta liberated him in a way.
Alex could do whatever he wanted in front of someone and he didn’t have to worry about their responses. Like that time when he danced on stage with Carrie. He had felt so free, like he could do whatever he wanted and just be. Of course his band could see him when he did it. And even though he just knew Julie for a short time, he knew he didn’t have to worry about her and the guys judging him or seeing him differently.
Like his family had.
Even after apparently 25 years of being dead, it still was only less than a year for Alex when he came out to his family. And they never treated him the same since. He used to remind himself that he was lucky. They didn’t say anything demeaning to him and kicked him out or anything like that. Heck, they even still let Sunset Curve have their studio in the back of the house.
But they still acted differently toward him after that fateful night.
In retrospect, he supposed that having the guys there as support for him might’ve not been the best approach, especially the way his parents had looked at him and Luke sitting next to each other. But Alex didn’t care, because he knew that he wouldn’t have done it without the band. Maybe he would have later on, but given the fact that just six months later he would die of an oldsmobile street dog, who knows if he would’ve gotten another chance.
And Alex was glad that he did it when he did.
Of course it stung when his parents would treat him so...differently. It was sometimes hard to even explain it. Sometimes they’d give him these strange looks whenever they didn’t think that he was looking. Like he was this weird alien living in their house, and not the son that they had raised and loved for seventeen years. And they also stopped inviting him to places and family outings, even assuming that he wouldn’t want to go to church anymore. And even when he wanted to, they heavily implied that they didn’t want him to go, always using the excuse, “Don’t you want to practice more with your band?”
However, as he and the guys would always say, it was on them and not him for thinking anything of him any less than the same boy they knew who was anxious about everything and allergic to nuts. It wasn’t his fault that they had seen him differently just because they found out that he liked boys instead of girls.
Besides, he had his real family now.
And even though he was...you know...dead, after everything he and the band went through, Alex was happy.
And as far as ghosts went, he had a pretty sweet deal. Unlike most ghosts, he could still connect with lifers, and in the best way too. That connection he’d feel with the audience while he’d rock out on his drums as he and the band would play the best musical experiences? Priceless. But he also just liked being a ghost in general. He could be in a crowd of lifers and do what he wanted, not having to worry about their judgments or what they’d think of him. He also liked to watch people and make faces or do silly dances in front of them because he could. As he said earlier, there was a sort of freedom in all of it.
However, there was that part deep down inside of him that felt like part of the reason why he liked being invisible was because that way lifers couldn’t disappoint him by not appreciating who he was whenever he wasn’t rocking out.
Alex immediately pushed those thoughts away and continued to People Watch as he wandered the hallways some more. It really was a cool thing to be a ghost and see people during moments where they normally weren’t seen.
Suddenly, he heard music with a great pop beat start to play from one of the rooms ahead. Curiosity taking over, he poofed in front of the door, and saw that it was the dance room that Julie and Flynn had talked about before. It was empty except for one person in the middle of the giant space seeming to be dancing in freestyle.
It didn’t take long for Alex to realize that the person was Carrie, Julie’s ex-best friend turned enemy turned back to sorta friend now? He was a little confused and fuzzy on the details. All he knew was that her and Julie and Flynn seemed to be, or at least on their way of becoming, good with each other again. She also found out about the Phantoms being...well actual phantoms, but to everyone’s surprise, she promised not to say anything.
Especially considering who her dad was.
Carrie couldn’t see them without Julie being in the same room, so she didn’t notice Alex’s arrival. Instead she danced to the infectious beat that he couldn’t help but move his feet a bit to.
She then started to sing along to the voice of the song coming from her phone.
My mama told me when I was young
"We are all born superstars"
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
From his spot near the door, his legs and arms started to move with the music as well.
"There's nothing wrong with loving who you are"
She said, "'Cause he made you perfect, babe"
He stopped for a moment, struck by the lyrics.
"So hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far
Listen to me when I say"
The beat then started to get a little faster, making him start to move his body again, this time faster and more of actual dancing. Carrie then began to sing louder.
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself, and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way (Born this way)
A strange sensation formed within him as he danced to the rhythm and listened to the lyrics. It was mostly like the feelings he’d get when he found a new favorite song or jammed to an old favorite. But this. This felt slightly...different in a way. But a great different. One that made his feet and entire body move with the music, as he danced further into the room.
Don't be a drag, just be a queen, Carrie sang putting one hand on her hip and the other in the air, similar to how she did in her previous performances.
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Alex mimed her movement, feeling completely consumed by the song.
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be (Don't be, don't be)
The tempo then slowed just a bit, probably going to the next verse, he figured.
Give yourself prudence and love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M, hey, hey, hey
I love my life, I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (Same DNA)
Tears formed in his eyes at the words, feeling like the song was talking directly to him, considering what he was just thinking about with his parents. Alex then lifted his hands up in the air, completely feeling the moment. He continued to dance like no one was watching - and literally no one was.
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
Alex had started to sing along with Carrie and the beautiful voice on her phone, closing his eyes and completely letting the magic of the music consume him.
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself, and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way (Born this way)
Suddenly a loud shriek made Alex quickly open his eyes. Carrie was looking him straight in the eye through the mirror, one hand on her heart and one on her hip, anger seeming to simmer out of her.
“Hey, Casper, you can’t just sneak up on a girl like that!” She exclaimed with a hiss before rushing to get her phone that was in front of the mirror along with her bag. She then turned the music off, making Alex instantly miss it.
He put his hands up in surrender. “Sorry! I didn’t think you could see me!”
Carrie looked at him again and placed both of her hands on her hips this time, sending a deathly glare at him. “Oh. So you were just being a creeper who didn’t think you would get caught, is that?”
“No, no no!” Alex quickly replied, shaking his head and hands frantically. “It wasn’t anything like that, I swear! Trust me.”
She seemed to study him for a moment before giving him an expectant look. “Then what was it like?”
Alex shoved his hands in his pockets and then shyly told her, “I watched Julie’s performance during music class and was just wandering the halls when I heard the song you were playing.”
Her eyes immediately perked at that as a smile spread her face. “You like Gaga?”
He gave her a confused look, though the name sounded vaguely familiar. “What’s a ‘Gaga’?” He asked, using air quotes for the last word.
Carrie stared at him in disbelief. “You don’t know who Lady Gaga is? She’s an icon!”
“Is she some kind of royal who sings killer pop songs?”
She seemed to think about it for a moment before nodding. “Well basically yes. Just not in the kind of royal you’re thinking of. A much more important one.”
“So she’s like pop royalty?” He asked.
“Absolutely.” She then pursed her lips. “I’m actually kinda surprised that Julie or Flynn hasn’t introduced you to her yet. They both love her almost as much as I do.”
Alex thought about it for a moment. “Actually, come to think of it, I think they mentioned her before but I was too afraid to ask what in the world a gaga was.”
Carrie shrugged. “Well now you know.”
An awkward silence passed between them.
“So…” she began to say, breaking the silence first, “that was your first time hearing Born This Way or Gaga in general, right?”
He nodded.
“Did you like it?”
“It was amazing! I haven’t felt so connected to a song that wasn’t our band’s in quite a while.” He felt himself start to get a little emotional thinking about the lyrics and just the song in general, and how it made him feel. It was always an amazing thing when a song could touch your soul like that. Especially when it played right when you needed it.
Carrie smiled, seeming to have a knowing glint in her eye. “Yeah. Gaga can do that to you.”
“Yeah.” He smiled back. “I guess I was feeling it so much while singing and dancing to it along with you that it made you able to see me.”
“Damn.” She began to say in awe. “I knew Lady Gaga was powerful, but wow.”
Her saying that reminded him of the first song he heard her sing. “Hey, that reminds me. I like that song that you sang at that pep rally before our band sang for the first time. The one where you said ‘Wow’ a lot.”
Her eyes lit up again at that. “You mean “Wow”?”
“Yeah! And I like all of the other ones Dirty Candy sang too.” He then placed his hand around his cheek like he was telling her a secret. “But All Eyes On Me is my personal favorite.”
“You like my music?” She asked, pleasantly surprised.
“Absolutely! They always bring my inner ‘Dancing Queen’ out, as what my friends like to call it.”
She let out a small laugh. “Thank you.” Carrie smiled brightly at him. “You know, Gaga is one of my many influences. I listen to her as a warm up every time to help get me inspiration for my new song or choreo.”
“That’s so cool.”
“Wanna dance to her some more?”
He gave her a bright smile and nodded so vehemently that he thought his head was going to pop up. “Yes please!”
She clasped her hands together. “Great! Then I can give you a list of her songs that you have to check out first. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Carrie then went back to her phone and played where the song left off.
Ooh, there ain't no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way (Born this way)
They sang and danced with all the energy they had.
Ooh, there ain't no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Right track, baby
They both then sang at the top of their lungs, “I was born this way!”
***
A couple hours later, Alex met up with Willie, having a giant pep in his step and gave his boyfriend a giant smile that was even wider than usual.
“Hey, Hotdog! Someone seems more chipper than usual.”
Alex waved a casually dismissive hand, “Oh it’s nothing.”
He felt a little insecure about telling Willie about his latest music discovery and how much it helped him. Even though he knew that his boyfriend not only knew how much music meant to him, but would never demean things that made him happy.
“It doesn’t seem like nothing. What is it?’ Willie asked, giving him a soft and encouraging smile.
“Oh, it’s just that I found this new song and artist.” Alex shyly began to say.
His boyfriend’s smile grew. “Yeah?”
Alex shoved his hands in his pockets and began to kick the air in front of him. “Have you heard of Lady Gaga?”
Willie laughed, “Yeah I’ve heard of Gaga.” Instant fear shot up within Alex. “She’s great, right?”
The fear dissipated and turned into a sense of relief. He didn’t know why it mattered to him so much if Willie liked this Lady Gaga person. Hell, there were artists and songs that Willie liked that Alex didn’t and vice versa. And it was the same with his band, although they’d often end up having good-natured arguments about it. So why was this any different?
Alex nodded. “Yeah. I really like her songs I’ve heard so far.”
He gave him another encouraging smile. “Yeah, which ones?”
“Well, I like all of them. But Born This Way was the first one I heard and it’s my favorite.”
Willie’s smile brightened. “Yeah, mine too.” He then placed his hand on top of Alex’s. “Here follow me.”
Confused as to what was happening, Alex followed Willie, hands firmly intact, as they headed further down the boardwalk. They then stopped at more of a private part of the beach that seemed to be having some sort of event.  
“I heard that someone was having a wedding tonight and I wanted to take you.”
“A-a wedding? Why-why would you want to-to take m-me to a wed-wedding?” Alex stammered and mentally scolded himself for acting like such an idiot.
Willie chuckled. “Relax, Hotdog. I love going to weddings as a ghost.”
“To skate?”
“I do skate, yeah. But I go because I love to see all of the different kinds of people that attend and the drama that no one sees. But mostly I like to see what kind of music they have.” He waggled his brow mischievously. “And if it’s a DJ or DJ system I like to mess with the lifers and put on random songs to see everyone’s reactions.”
It was Alex’s turn to chuckle. “That actually sounds really fun.”
Willy’s smile brightened even more. “I thought you would think so. That’s why I brought you here.” He squeezed his hand three times, making Alex’s ghost heart skip a beat. “Let’s go!” He then pulled Alex with him further into the wedding reception.
They stopped in the middle of the dancefloor, where there were a few lifers slow dancing. Alex gulped, waiting for them to slow dance as well. Willie then pointed to the DJ setup and snapped his hand. Suddenly the beat of a song that Alex may or may not have listened to at least three times that day, started to fill the speakers.
Alex felt his lips spread into a giant smile once more and laughed when he noticed the shocked reactions on the wedding’s patrons' faces from the sudden song change.
“Thought you might like that.” Willy announced proudly, giving him a soft look.
They then noticed how the patrons were now starting to dance to the song, making even more people coming up to the dance floor.
Alex was the first to start dancing, WIlly immediately following right after.
There were some moments where they danced next to each other, and other where their hands would collide and they’d do different moves like swinging each other around. Sometimes they would go through the lifers or dance around them. But all the while they were singing at the top of their lungs as well.
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, cholo descent
You're Lebanese, you're orient
Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
Dancing next to each other again, they both then turned to one another, grabbed the other’s hands, and softly sang, “'Cause baby, you were born this way”
They then went back to belting it out at the top of their lungs.
No matter gay, straight, or bi
Lesbian, transgender life
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white, or beige
Chola or orient made
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave!
Alex shouted the last part as loud as he could, throwing an arm in the air.
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself, and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, yeah
They continued to dance and sing, having the time of their ghost lives.
Once the song was getting to the end, the two boys latched their hands together and started to sing the rest to each other.
Ooh, there ain't no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way (Born this way)
Ooh, there ain't no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Right track, baby
I was born this way
I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
They then leaned closer to each other for the last part.
I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I'm on the right track, baby
They sang softly to each other, their lips only a few inches apart.
“I was born this way, hey!”
And then their lips collided, their giant smiles remaining.
140 notes · View notes
ukiyo-jaem · 4 years
Text
Tumblr media
my timer didn't go off to post this at 0:00 i am so sorry~~
warnings: smut (it's tasteful), mean parents (??) that's about it. it's got fluff in here. NOT PROOFREAD
words: 4.1k (there's a plot, trust me)
domestic!mark lee ugh a fan favorite~
I listened to Fool for You by Zayn while writing so...yeah. alrighty, let's go~~
---------------
Fool For You
summer breezes and fresh flowers. the first big stretch when you first wake up that has you reeling back into the euphoric feeling of your warm sheets. taking a bite of your favorite dessert that reminds you of home. that scent that carries you away to your childhood of good memories and make-believe scenarios; where the worst disaster was your parents calling you in for dinner.
that's what it felt like to be in his presence.
the late night summer dates with Mark were what felt like true heaven. the nights where both of you would stay up till the early dawn holding each other so closely. the stickiness of one's skin from the morning humidity was beauty in his eyes. your natural form where no one could take you away from him.
"no matter how much i say that i love you, i will always love you more than that."
his words held so much depth when he spoke to you. he treated you like his queen and he truly was your king. he was the love of your wildest dreams. but he was way better...because he was real.
both of your families condemned this love and thought of it as useless and a waste of time. yet, it was all the time for both of you. you didn't need anyone else except mark and mark alone.
but every knife has it's point...and you've both been reaching it slowly but surely. the calls to one's family becoming longer and less loud.
"i don't want to go to dinner with your family though." your words were heartbreaking to his ears but he had made his decision. "i know. please. i know you hate them-" "i could never hate anyone, mark. it pains me but i'd never let it turn into hate" you said and his shoulders dropped. "you're so strong. just one night and i will never ask you to go near them." his eyes pleaded from where he was laying on the bed. your body positioned at the end of the comfy and warm bed.
your mind was lost in thought until you felt his hand grab yours. "pretty please?" he pouted and you groaned laying down. "that's so not cool to pout." you said turning towards him. "but i know it works." he comes closer to lay soft kisses all over your face, ending with a meaningful kiss on your lips.
"fine." you breathed after he finished his moment of passion. "and that is why you're the best." he grabbed your body and pulled you on top of him.
"we have to leave soon." you complained and he groaned. "you wanted me to go so bad and now you're gonna make us late." you said straddling his waist. "yeah yeah yeah." he held your waist and sat up.
you rolled off as he puckered his lips, leaving your boyfriend waiting. "what are you gonna wear, handsome?" you opened the closet. "nice shirt. blazer. pants." he listed off the most vaguest items. "well duh but what color?" you looked at your dresses. "black." he said and you wanted to bang your head on the closet door.
"okay tomorrow we're going shopping and i'm making you add some more color into your wardrobe." you said taking his blazer and dress shirt down. "yes dear." he dragged out.
"i'm going to go get dressed and do makeup." you waved him off and disappeared into the bathroom.
makeup was simple as you were left alone. yet, once you were starting your hair, mark thought it was an amazing idea to come in and try to dance the time away.
music had been playing for the past 20 minutes through the household speakers. it was a usual occurrence and a well loved routine. say you won't let go by james arthur had been sweeping through the house for the past couple of minutes.
his arms wrapped around your waist and his cheek rested against your shoulder.
"you look as beautiful as ever, and i swear that everyday you get better. you make me feel this way some how-" his soft voice carrying you away from the daily task.
"im gonna love you till my lungs run out, i promise till death to us part like in our vows-" his hands gripped yours, twirling you around in the small bathroom, ending up with you both pressed up chest to chest, slow dancing on the tiled floor.
"dont cry." he pouted as he saw your eyes fill with tears. He gently wiped them before they could fall. "then don't be so freaking cute." you pouted and his smile stretched across his face. "ugh you're so cute." he kissed your cheek ever so gently as to not mess up your makeup.
"and you're looking as dashing as ever." you brushed your hands over his dress shirt, the first few buttons still unbuttoned, his silver chain still laying on his exposed collar bones.
"want me to do your hair?" you asked and he didn't hesitate to sit on the toilet lid and wait patiently.
he always seemed so relaxed with your fingers running through his hair; the requests at 3 am after he awakes from an unpleasant dream never making you angry.
his hair was so soft and fun to play with. but with a little touch of magic and hair product, he would transform into his model-like man.
you finished up and let him go relax in the bedroom.
your dress hugged your body so nicely and flattered every curve you thought you never possessed. when paired with the jewelery mark had gotten you for your guys' anniversary, a goddess was being put together in human form.
"ready?" you asked walking back to the room to get your shoes. a whistle made you scoff lightly at the behavior. "ready to come home already and have you all to myself." mark sighed but you walked over to put your phone in your hand-purse along with extra lipstick and perfume.
he started to look nervous about the whole situation. "relax. i'm here for you and you alone. if you want to leave as soon as we get there? we'll just go to a different restaurant." you put a hand on his chest comfortably. "you got this." he smiled as you knew all his emotions at once.
"now let's go. i'm hungry." you kissed his cheek quickly and wiped away the mark of your lip color.
both of you walked hand in hand out of the house and to his car where he nervously drived you both to the restaurant.
"here we are." was all he said as he parked facing the restaurant. inside the window sat his parents and brother. his brother was with his own partner as they all laughed. mark knew he didn't have to worry about his brother not accepting his love. it was all his parents.
"let's go. try to look happy. they're your parents." you defended them. something he never understood about you. when facing backlash from his parents, you just let it go and never returned the hate. you were so loving while they did nothing but try to bring you down.
"but they're raging assholes to you." he turned towards you and you shrugged, wiping something on his cheek away and keeping your hand on the side of his face.
"and that's fine. but you're their baby. they just want the best for you. they'll never be happy with anyone." you tried to put it into perspective but it never helped.
he took your hand off his face and held it tightly. "tell me you want to leave. and we're gone." he said and you laughed lightly. "fine." you agreed and his smile made everything feel better.
"let's get this over with." he exited and ran to get your door like the gentleman he was.
he hooked your arm in his and lead you both towards the entrance.
"try to make memories. they're your parents. they love you." you reminded and he rolled his eyes. "yes, dear." he opened the door for you and didn't let you enter without a quick and cheeky smack to your ass. he acted innocent as he lead you to the round table.
"Oh, Markie!" his mom called drawing all attention to both of your presences. his parents hugged and pinched his cheeks as you greeted his brother and his brother's partner. "you look amazing tonight, y/n." his brother's partner smiled. "oh thank you so much. you look even better though! are those Cartier earrings?!" you rejoiced at their exquisite tastes.
"Only the best for them." Mark's brother smiled and you coo'd at the pure love.
"Here sit next to me." The 2 seats were next to Mark's father and Mark's brother's partner.
You gladly accepted the seat and Mark sat down not long after you. "We already ordered for you guys not knowing when you would show up, I apologize." Mr. Lee smiled at Mark. "Oh that's alright. What's on the menu tonight?" Mark asked, his hand finding yours underneath the white dining cloth. "Well I thought with all your work that we'd treat us all to steak." His mother smiled and you could hear a sigh come from the girl next to you.
"But I haven't seen y/n's figure in a while so I made the exception for a plain salad for you." Mrs. Lee forcibly smiled at you. Mark's hand squeezed a little harder than normal. "Oh thank you for the consideration and accomodations, Mrs. Lee," Her eyes squinted as what seemed like spite. "and might i add that you look amazing tonight." your genuine sincerity broke almost everyone's hearts at the table. "oh why thank you but i'm not one for meaningless small talk." she took a sip from her dark red wine.
"it's alright. i completely understand." you smiled and and she rolled her eyes. "of course you do." she muttered and turned towards her youngest son. "so, mark, what is new at the company?" her eyes held eagerness for conversation, something you'd wish to see atleast once.
"don't listen to the old bat." the beautiful woman said that sat next to you. "it's her baby. nothing is ever good enough for him." she rolled her eyes. "i know. i understand where her heart is." your fingers toying with the dainty necklace resting on your collarbones.
"you can have some of my meal when it comes. i didn't know what they were going to pull so i made sure to eat a burger before i came." you both giggled at the matter as someone cleared their throat. you both looked up to see Mr. Lee sending daggers towards your direction.
"i apologize." you said straightening yourself up in your seat. "what was so funny?" he asked sternly. "we were actually talking about her new line coming out in a couple weeks. something with one of the models. you know how that is." she swooped to your defense. "by the way, how is it coming?" she asked, takin a sip of the ice water infront of her.
"it's..uh..going very well actually. i have some investors coming to my fashion show to see if they'd be interested in investing. if they invest then i would be able to organize shows in other parts of the world. milan, london, paris, beijing, new york, tokyo-" "but are you going to go back to school for business or just dilly-dally until something goes wrong?" Mrs. Lee asked quickly.
"well my father and mother are both ceo's of their company so they help guide me in what i have trouble with." you smiled. mark's hand has become steel as he hasn't let go yet. the waiters brought out the food one by one with a small and plain side salad being placed infront of your body.
mark stared at the bare plate in front of you and wanted to hurl at that being the only food you were going to eat tonight.
"i'm fine." you leaned over to whisper in his ear. "eat so they don't ask you questions." you nudged his elbow.
"sharing food is prohibited." Mr. Lee cut everyone off. "we're not." mark muttered defeated. you swallowed your pride and ate a leaf at a time to try and curb your actual hunger.
mark ate a couple bites but you could tell he was taking his anger out with chewing; jaw clenching was one of his tell-tale signs of anger...and this steak didn't look like tough meat.
"markie. we went to church this past week and there is this lovely graduate student new in the congregation." his mother called as she ate her own food. you could see most of the people almost choke on their food but you remained steady in eating.
inside though, your tears were building up behind a wall that you would try to make stand till tonight when you were truly alone.
"yeah?" he asked, not knowing what else to say.
"yes. and she's not seeing anyone right now. her parents agreed to an arranged marriage if you weren't opposing." the killer was that mark didn't say anything. yet, you could hear his knuckles pop as he gripped his steak knife.
the wall was slowly crumbling as you suddenly felt full of the plain watery vegetable. you put your fork down and could only stare at your lap where a napkin laid.
"say something, dude." his brother coughed weakly.
"hell no." mark bursted and everyone could see him try to reel in his words again.
"excuse me?!" Mr. Lee bellowed, causing other dining patrons to look over.
"I'm not going to marry anyone except the love of my life." mark steamed, dropping his utensils.
"you don't know who that is yet, mark. you can't screw around with marriage and get it wrong. especially waste it on a-" mark interrupted his mother, "a what, mom?" he asked and she suddenly lost her words.
silence fell over the table as your napkin had a single ring of wetness appear suddenly. "oh no, not here. not here, sweetie," the gracious lady beside you got up "come on, we're leaving." she said to her husband and lead you out of the restaurant quickly.
as soon as you were out of eye sight, you immediately broke down in ugly tears. "don't listen to them. you are absolutely gorgeous and are a match-made-in-heaven for mark." she rubbed your back sweetly.
"you are so nice to them for no reason. you will be more of a better person than they will ever be-" "we should go. it's gonna get ugly really quickly." Mark's brother nudged you both.
you looked in to see mark and his father standing neck to neck. then as quickly as it started, it ended with mark being the bigger man and leaving. yet, a tearful mr. and mrs. lee following him at a distance.
he wasted no time in taking you in his arms and holding you as you tried your best to cover your cries. "we're going to go before dad follows. i'll stop by tomorrow and check in on you guys. get out of here before dad goes crazy." Mark's brother shouted from his car window.
mark took your hand and dragged you to the car. he put you in and got out of there as quickly as he could.
he was as angry as you had ever seen him. you didn't try to touch him or do anything on the silent ride home. yet, his hand quickly grabbed yours.
"i should have never brought you to them. im so stupid." he groaned as he hit his wheel. "no you're not." you fought with him and he didn't have the heart to go against you.
"you are the best thing that's ever happened to me." he said, a glaze setting into his eyes that you had never seen before.
"and i could never imagine life without you." he swallowed hard and you stayed there in shocked silence.
"you make me better." tears started to roll down his cheeks as he pulled into the driveway.
"please don't cry." yet your empathetic heart made your eyes spill. you both looked at eachother and laughed at the messed up states.
"then you stop crying." he defended and you looked to you lap again. he got out of his side and trailed to yours quickly.
"im gonna show you how much i love you." he said and this sparkle in his eye gleamed so brightly, everyone would've thought he was crazy.
"okay." was all you could respond with, a small smile gracing your perfect face.
he grabbed your legs and carried you all the way to the door. he crossed the doorway and it felt different. it felt more hot and flustered and more passionate.
he closed the door and immediately had you against it. the kisses were hot and filled with lust. yet, you could tell he was getting flustered and trying to rush things. the feeling of two hands on his face made him take a breath of fresh air. "let's just take it slower tonight." you whispered but he heard you loud and clear.
he picked your legs up and put them around his waist, taking his blazer off and throwing it somewhere in the living room. you dress hugged you so perfectly but you wouldn't be needing it anymore tonight.
he navigated the house as if it were you; the back of his hand. your back was now pressed to a cool matress. his hands were rough yet slow as he pulled the black fabric off of your body. his shirt was eventually off and nothing was left between your torsos besides skin.
the moonlight cascading through the window reflected off his chain and it was no longer the soft and loving without a care mark you were used to.
he was going to make you feel his love for you. from the way his fingers played with your clothed core slowly to the heavy breathing between kisses made the night air intoxicating.
his lips were against your neck making imprints of red and purple that were sure to last for a week. both of you rocked against each other in such a rhythm that would have the ocean asking for lessons on harmony.
he picked you up and situated your body at the top of the bed where he wasted no time in shimmying the dress off of your hips so he was met with nothing but you in your panties.
those were long gone as he grabbed and ripped.
"spit." he held his hand out. you obeyed and he wasted no time in running his hand up and down your already wet core.
the kisses were rushed and heated yet you both remembered to slow down as he trailed slowly down your body, kissing every part he could see and praise.
"so beautiful." he whispered, licking a bold stripe up your pussy. you gasped and tried to readjust yourself yet his strong grip on your thighs kept you ground. his arms were hooked around you upper thighs as his hands held your hips and waist down to the bed.
his dark eyes still held that shimmer in them that made you even weaker in the knees.
he wasted none of his time with teasing and gave you exactly what you wanted. "please don't stop." your hands getting lost in his hair.
his hips grinded into the mattress steadily. "im so close already." you whined as he continued his relentless pleasure. "let go for me, baby." he pleaded and if drove you so close to the edge. it made him even more excited as you were blissed out.
it was the perfect time to take advantage of your love, yet, he was going to take care and love you till both of you couldn't.
he took off the confines of his pants and met you at the top of the bed, where you were still completely gone in the euphoric wonderland he pleasured himself to sending you into.
he was slow at first but quickly got lost in this intimate feeling of being so close to you and feeling you in a way no one could relate to.
"faster." you whined but he slowed down. "no, babygirl. we're going to do this right." he cleared the hair from your face and quickly pressed your lips together in a heated kiss.
your leg now over his shoulder as he slowly pounded into you. the knot in his and your stomach felt so much more different and pleasure filled.
your fucked out moans were like angels singing in his ears as your jewelery shined in the moonlight. both of you got sloppier as you were so close to climaxing.
"please cum in me." you begged, grabbing his hand and interlacing your fingers.
he dropped your leg and got closer, sharing a kiss that left both of you breathless. then the explosion. it was as if a bomb of stars had gone off behind your eyelids as you could only feel your back arch with the unexplained feeling of being... full.
both of you laid breathless and sweaty as you tried to regain your composure and drift down to reality.
mark laid on your chest, listening to your heartbeat as he could feel his own match yours.
once he felt your fingers start to dance through his hair, he knew that he needed to be like this forever. he needed you and only you. he couldn't miss this opportunity on his soul mate coming to him from the beginning.
his arms hooked around your body as reality was hitting.
"i love you, y/n." he said and he could hear your heart begin to beat faster.
"not as much as i could ever love you." you pinky traced up his nose bridge as he slowly drifted into sleep holding the one he cares about most...so close.
~~~~~~
"mmmmm steak." he watched as your eyes lit up at the treat in front of you. "it wasn't even enjoyable yesterday. it's amazing today though." mark's brother admitted from right next to him.
his brother and his partner came over to check up and brought take-out steaks to treat everyone with. just a relaxing night at home with everyone he truly loves and can feel the love from.
he watched your happiness and was automatically taken away~
"she's nothing to you!" his mom yelled as you were lead away from the scene.
"she's everything FOR me." mark retaliated. "but we just want what's best for you." his dad pleaded. "but happiness is all I need. why can't you see that and how she makes me the most happy." mark was at his wits ends.
he needed you and was going to have you as long as you both were breathing.
"it's only going to be a problem in the end that we have to clean up." Mrs. Lee had tears coming down her face.
a brief silence plagued the table. "so are you going to show up to the wedding or no?" he asked and if pure shock could kill someone, his parents would have been 6 feet under.
"no." spoken of disbelief.
"i will not bless the marriage!" his father screamed and stood up, causing mark to chest up to his own father. "you don't need to. I am going to marry that girl out there whether it kills me or not." mark pointed to your crying being not even 100 feet away.
"you're a fool if you believe you actually love her. you're young. you don't know what love is!" Mr. Lee had Mark's collar in his hands.
yet mark broke his grip and straightened his collar.
"then I guess I'm a fool for her and her love." and with that he left to comfort you and try to rebuild you diminished character.
~~~
"earth to Handsome." he was shocked back to reality by your smile and everyone's concerned faces. "i thought you stopped breathing or something." his brother laughed as he saw you clutch your chest and laugh lightly.
"scared us there for a minute." his brother's partner laughed along with you.
"so what was so nice going on in la-la land?" you asked taking a bit from your steak. mark shrugged, taking a sip from his wine glass.
"just...thinking." he smiled.
"well don't do that again. you scared me, you fool." you laughed.
he didn't want to admit that he had been daydreaming of you walking down the aisle in the most beautiful of dresses; something that still could never compare to your beauty. but that will be for a later confession at a later date. one where you'd know his secret: there's an engagement ring with your name on it hiding in his dress shoes in his closet. waiting for the right time in the near future.
he could only smile at your cute expression in the moment.
"then i guess i'm a fool for you."
-fin-
**these are all my opinions on how i read the boys and how i watch them interact with others. this is my own personal opinions and are in no way facts unless cited to proof. thank you®
402 notes · View notes
Text
CHAPTER 1000 BABY
First of all, the hype, my heart, it's too much, the minks letting Luffy through is a testament of the true power he holds, getting allies and people on his side because he's cool. Marco gives me LIFE, he just grabbed King and Queen by the neck and told them to stop being bummers and let Zoro through, then, he proceeds to yeet Zoro into the distance, just like Team Rocket on every Pokemon episode, I love this pineapple turkey, i want to see him fight more.
There are only supernovas up there to fight Big Mom and Kaido, the other pirates might stay down to keep that fight isolated, it's a fight at night isn't it? It will be a nice new dawn on Wano, I don't doubt Luffy and company will win, first because it's Luffy, second because he has great friends and third he's the protagonist of a shonen, although one piece is atypical, Luffy wins for him and his friends, he faced enemies way stronger and won thanks to team work and his own will, the will of the fucking D and here I start talking about Yamato, wasn't that a nice transition?
Yamato is a national treasure, he's kept that old diary for so long and he's now giving it back to it's rightful heir. Toki must have protected the diary, or maybe Hiyori while escaping. Omg I completely forgot Momo was on both Whitebeard and Roger's ships, he was born on the first, and I also remembered that motherfucker Orochi, hungry for power, stabbing Oden in the back with such strength, I'm surprised his little arms didn't fall off, and the worst part is I'm SURE that piece of shit is still alive. RAYLEIGH KNEW WHO LUFFY IS, I mean he knows his significance, I shall re read one piece once it's over to rejoice on all that foreshadowing, when I fucking read it to my nephews and nieces I'll be laughing hysterically inside my head as I tell the tale.
I'm still salty about Ace, he ended up dying and was still a symbol of the old era of pirates as Roger's son, he just wanted a family, adventures and to make his existence valid, and he was so much like Roger, they get drunk all the same and Yamato is right, they'd have gotten along, Roger will have to get used to the co parenting thing with Whitebeard on the after life, and they both would have to get used to Ace favoring his mom. Someone tell me if there's fan fiction about this and I'll read it.
I'm super random today, anyways, it's confirmed both Luffy and Roger shared a dream and the will of, probably, Joyboy, my man, the legend, the myth. What the fuck is his dream, maybe to join all the seas? All Blue I'm looking at you, or to make an intricate system to rule the world in a peaceful way, under the watch of Meat McMeaterson, humanity's hope for law and order?
I adore Yamato, he has quickly climbed the stairs to my heart, he is just a nerd wanting to watch the end of his favorite book, his dream is to sail and go on adventures, and he's protecting the most important thing on Wano right now. I love how Oda shows that Yamato is the one who gave Ace his vivre sheet, he was hoping to sail with him in the future and I really hope Ace can fullfil that promise through Luffy, no loose ends in Oda town.
Kaido and Big Mom think they are so hot but Luffy is here to put them in their places, I love Luffy, he's the fucking sun and I'll follow him, go Luffy. They must defeat Kaido in order to open Wano's borders which seems to be the key to start the end, I think they'll have a stop at the island of giants since it was discussed all those chapters ago at Little Garden, how the fuck can I remember the names of islands I read years ago when I started one piece so easily and I can't remember what I ate for breakfast unless I try really hard, why. Anyways, I meant to say that Oden wanted to open Wano and knows that in order to do it Kaido must be defeated, he and Big Mom are remains of the will of Rocks who was also a D if I'm not wrong, although Blackbeard is the real threat here, he seems to be the final boss and the way he was foreshadowed during Oden's flashback, Buggy said he doesn't sleep at all and we know he was with Whitebeard all that time to find the yami yami no mi, he probably wants the same thing Rocks wanted, to be King of the World, and isn't it a fitting contrast to Luffy, he wants to be King of Pirates but not because of the title but because he thinks that the freest man on the sea is the one who holds that title, and let's not forget his real dream, Meat McMeaterson must ascend and become president.
Back to the story, Luffy just passed by those clowns as if it was nothing, power move, and the way Kin'emon asked for his help, that scene always happens and it always pumps me up, Luffy is helping them because they are his friends first, also he saw the horrors up close, he promised Tama she would never be hungry again, and it's so fucking beautiful, as I said Ace's promises are being fulfilled through Luffy. Look at Law receiving orders, good for him, if I remember correctly he doesn't appreciate being ordered around. Big Mom and Kaido shouldn't underestimate the supernovas, I mean both of them are probably stronger, but their abilities and TEAM WORK will save the day, for all the power they hold together they're not stronger, due to what we know about their story as crewmates in the past, they can't work as a team.
Luffy punched him right in the face, he had his power up during his stay in prison. All the flashbacks from all the suffering Luffy witnessed in Wano makes the whole panel come out beautifully, that punch was charged with the anger that was born in Luffy from all of these experiences, and when he turned back and told them right to their faces that he was going to be the pirate king, Luffy you're already King in our hearts.
I hope we get more revelations during 2021, Oda is no longer beating around the bush, he is finally revealing more and more, including that flashback with Oden which I can't wait to watch animated. I can't finish this rant without saying I'm blessed, Killer is here, hope there's a cure for smiles, maybe Law and Chopper will come up with something, but hey at least for now we have Killer, hope he gets to ratatattatatatata yeehaw slash slash both Big Mom and Kaido, go get them you beautiful bastard.
To sum up, all this lore will kill me, i just wanna know the truth, give me the truth Oda, I'm ready.
40 notes · View notes
suphoshi · 4 years
Photo
Tumblr media
TEMPERED GLASS | Park Chanyeol x female reader
Genre:  Angst, some fluff
Warnings: possible triggers for anyone with anxiety/panic disorders, a few bad words... can’t really think of anything else
Word count: 6,594
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast.
It is not proud. It does not dishonor others.
It is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered.
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
It always protects. Always trusts. Always hopes. Always perseveres.
Love never fails.
Love never fails. It doesn’t. It can’t. How could it fail? You have Chanyeol. You have him, so you have everything. So why are you empty? His body in the same bed as you, but where was his soul? Your tears filling the shower, answer-less prayers to feel his touch. Did he smile? Did he ever smile, or was it a dream? No, if anything it was a nightmare. He said he loved you. He did. Didn’t he? He said it before, you can remember his voice, down on one knee. Love never fails.
Right?
The voice in your head is too loud, and you just want Chanyeol to kiss you
-
Chanyeol used to be your favorite Sunday morning. Light streaming through the window, arm draped over your waist, soft snores in your ear. It was the best sound you had ever heard because it came from the person you loved the most on earth. You’d run your hands through his thick, messy hair and wake him up with kisses on his cheek. His dimples would sink in with a smile and eventually he’d pounce on you, kissing you everywhere but your lips. He tickled your soul in so many ways, made a home out of his heart just for you.
“I love you.”
You missed those days, where your biggest worry was making dinner, hoping he would like it despite the fact that you couldn’t cook for anything.
Now you worried about everything.
‘Will he come home tonight?’, ‘Is he working?’, ‘Has he eaten?’, ‘Who is he talking to?’, ‘Why doesn’t he smile anymore?’
The endless stream of questions barraged your thoughts from the second you woke up in the morning to the second you closed your eyes at night. It was maddening.
At first, he just got home late, always pushed it off as being busy, telling you he missed you. Always kissing you goodnight. Then the busy days turned to busy weeks. Then to busy months. You couldn’t remember the last time he even said goodnight, let alone kissed you.
You could feel your soul splitting day by day, a piece of you missing in every moment that went by where he didn’t speak to you. It felt like a punishment, the deafening silence he thrust upon you, but you didn’t know what you did to deserve it. Didn’t know when your Chanyeol became something that was no longer yours.
“I’m working late this week.” He said quietly, interrupting the ever-constant thoughts racing through your mind. You sat cross legged on the bed, picking at the chipped nail polish on your toes, looking up to find him pulling a hoodie over his head.
“Oh?” It’s all you could form over the sinking feeling in your heart, chest deflating at the thought of another night alone. It wasn’t any better than him being there, backs facing each other while you slept, no words, no warmth, but still. At least he was there.
He simply hummed in response before pulling a beanie over his head and grabbing his phone. He didn’t even spare you a glance, let alone a goodbye before walking out of the room. He used to lay in bed with you before work, holding you tight to his chest, milking every second he could before he had to leave. He’d tell you over and over how much he loved you, how he wished he could stay home forever.
The cold you felt around you now when you heard the front door open and close now was almost numbing. Almost.
You walked into the bathroom and somehow found the will to turn the shower on. The hot water was scalding, but that was okay because at least it took your thoughts away from spending another night alone. You stood under he steaming stream until you felt too dizzy to stand, then you sat until the water turned cold, tears mixing with the drops that pooled down your cheeks, fear gripping you like a knife when there was nothing left to distract you from the thoughts in your head.
‘Is my marriage over?’, ‘Does he hate me?’, ‘Will he leave?’
You pressed your hands over your ears and pulled your knees to your chest, sobs wracking through you like a freight train. Your throat grew hoarse while you sat there, crying to an empty house that didn’t used to feel so empty, body shaking until you felt hollow inside, your heart a rattling sack that pushed blood through barren vessels.
Chanyeol was supposed to love you forever.
“I got you a surprise, don’t look.”
You closed your eyes as if you could relive the memory again. Held out your hand in the shower like you did years ago when he asked for it. You could almost feel him placing the ring on your left hand and opened your eyes to see where it laid now, recalled every moment of that night like it was your favorite movie.
“You are the only person who can handle me. At my best and my worst. You love me like I love you. And I want to love you forever.”
You smiled at the diamond that you’d never taken off, the thought of his words alone causing a shiver to run down your spine. It broke your heart. You covered your mouth and bit back the next wave of tears that begged to take over, the ring suddenly feeling too heavy, too meaningless. ‘How can I make him love me again?’
“Marry me?”
His smile. Down on one knee in front of you, eyes glowing, heart racing. You couldn’t recall the last time you saw him smile like that.
Chanyeol was supposed to love you forever. The thought that he didn’t anymore broke something so deep inside that you wished to feel empty. Wished you could float down the drain with all of the water that trickled around you and never come back up, a single drop of water lost in an ocean full of wonders, a place where you could hide from reality, hide from the devastation that was your life.
Instead, you pulled yourself off of the shower floor, turned the water off, and stood in front of the mirror. You went through the motions of brushing your teeth, combing your hair. You touched your cheeks and pushed your lips up into a smile that immediately fell when you moved your hands away. ‘You can be happy this way’, ‘you can love him even if he doesn’t love you’.
You should have put clothes on and gone grocery shopping. Cleaned the house. Done the laundry. Read a book. You stared at your broken reflection in the mirror and wondered how easy it would have been to break the glass, something to match how you felt inside. Something to make you feel a little less alone.
No, you couldn’t find the strength to do anything but crawl into bed naked, will yourself to sleep, and dream of Chanyeol’s smile.
-
Mornings were pretty dull when Chanyeol stayed at the studio. Sure, you barely spoke anymore, but at least when he was home you would drink coffee together. Even if it was in silence, you preferred it to staring at the empty space in front of you.
You pulled out your phone as you poured yourself a bowl of cereal and texted him.
To; Chanyeol [ 08:45 ];
Are you coming home tonight? I was going to make tacos for dinner!
You smiled as you pressed send, remembering an old forgotten Tuesday tradition. Taco Tuesdays with Chanyeol used to consist of watching a movie and seeing who could eat the most before the end (winner got a back rub). It was the first time in so long that you got giddy about seeing him. The idea of curling up beside him on the couch while he put on some scary movie that he had already seen a billion times, but wanted to watch one more because he thought it was funny to see you afraid – it made your heart swell three sizes. You would sit on the edge of the couch gripping his leg, free hand plastered over your eyes even though they were cracked just enough for you to see every single stupid moment.
“I hate this. I hate this. I hate this. Why is she so stupid?! Why is she going in there?”
Chanyeol would laugh while you whined, hold you when you screamed. Sometimes, when the movie was quiet, he would grip your sides to scare you and you would turn around and hit him. He’d grab your hands and pull your lips to his, kiss your dramatic tears away.
“You’re such a baby.”
His deep voice resonating through your chest pressed against his. You’d pout your lip and he’d kiss you again.
“I love you.”
Your phone buzzed against the table and just like that, the fog of a happy memory was replaced by the all familiar cloud of disappointment.
Chanyeol [ 08:56 ];
Still have a lot to work on with the album. Probably won’t come home until tomorrow. Sorry
You slumped over the table and took three deep breaths, told yourself it would be okay, repeated it over and over like a mantra, as if you could speak it into reality. You told yourself that Chanyeol was just busy and it wasn’t you. Sometimes people can have space and still be okay and just because you didn’t see him every day, or kiss him every night, or touch him anymore, that didn’t mean you weren’t still his favorite person like you used to be.
‘Were you ever his favorite person?’
It was hard to breathe over the sobs that clawed up your throat, hand gripping your phone like you could get through to Chanyeol with that action alone. You wanted to shake him back to reality, show him what he was doing to you, but couldn’t he already see? Couldn’t he tell what he was doing?
You couldn’t control that anguish that gripped you as you sat up and stuffed a spoon full of Rice Krispies into your mouth, closing your eyes while you prayed away the sadness. Each bite you swallowed choked the tears back down, but blood still rushed through your ears with turmoil and betrayal like it never had. When you stared down at the milk that remained, all you could think of was the pieces of your heart that laid scattered around the too big house you were in, so many that you didn’t know how to put it back together again. You felt shattered. Damaged.
You’d never felt so lonely.
-
The next morning started like this – Chanyeol texted you an apology with no context.
Chanyeol [ 07:33 ];
I’m sorry
It was instant, the ache that settled in your bones and you immediately tried calling him, but it went straight to voicemail. Hands shaking as thoughts raked through your mind, anxiousness taking hold of your nerves and twisting them around like play-dough. You sat up on the edge of the bed and stared at the carpet, wondering what he would apologize for.
‘For not coming home?’, ‘For everything else?’
You shook your head and stood up, almost walking away to go to the bathroom when the text messages started flooding in. Your phone buzzed wildly on your pillow and even though the coward in you wanted to turn away, you couldn’t help but reach back for it instead. It was your sister, your friends. Your mom.
-Chanyeol broke up with you?
-Why is Chanyeol with another girl?
-What is going on with you and Chanyeol?
-Have you seen this article?
You were clicking on it with blind anger and fear, fingers shaking as you scrolled through picture after picture of Chanyeol with a girl you had never met. In his car, outside of his studio, her kissing his cheek, her hand on his arm while he smiled at her, something genuine that you hadn’t seen in so long. For a second, you forgot to be angry, simply happy to see that he could actually smile and it wasn’t just something you made up in your head.
But then the rage hit. Jealousy thrashed in your chest; how could he smile at her but not you? You stared at the girl’s hand on his arm and wished more than anything you could snatch it away, wanted to burn away her touch with your own, as if anyone could touch him like you did. Instead you dialed Chanyeol’s number again.
No answer.
You threw your phone at the wall and ran into the bathroom, bent over with your head between your knees to try and calm the panic you felt yourself surging inside. The world felt like it was turning upside down. Like you were being burned out of the life you built with Chanyeol, as if he had the right to leave when he was the one who said you meant everything.
“I want to love you forever”
You dropped into a squat and covered your face with your hands, so tired of crying, though the tears just wouldn’t stop coming.
‘How could he do that?’, ‘How could he lie?’, ‘How could he tell you he loved you and then lie?’
You screamed into the empty room and slammed your hands down on the floor, falling to your knees with more sobs then you could handle.
It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair… You pounded your fists into the linoleum as if you could smash the anger through the floor, bury it in the earth and leave it there forever. Your forehead pressed onto the cold surface beneath your hands and you begged for it all to go away. You just wanted everything to stop, you just wanted to breathe like you did when Chanyeol used to hug you.
An hour passed and you walked back to the bedroom, grabbing your phone off the floor (screen surprisingly unbroken). There were no missed calls. Only more text messages from people who were more concerned about your relationship than they were about your mental health.
You waited the entire day for some kind of follow-up to his apology. An explanation. Absolutely fucking anything. You waited for hours, sat at the kitchen table, hands balled into fists so tight that your nails dug small crescents into your palms. Eventually you moved to the living room, vacuumed to keep busy, mopped the floor, washed the dishes.
You were scrubbing the kitchen counter when he walked through the door. You threw the washcloth down and walked to him, ready to bring your fury down on him like a storm, but the second you saw his face, all of your anger disappeared.
The dark circles housed under his eyes had grown more prominent in the two days since you’d seen him. His hair was a mess, coffee stains on his shirt, looking smaller than he ever had. Defeated.
“Yeol?” You mumbled, standing up straight. His eyes met yours for barely a second, his hand reaching up to scratch the back of his neck, before walking to the fridge. He pulled out left-overs from a few nights before and threw them in the microwave before walking into the bedroom. You followed after him despite the voice in your head telling you to leave him alone, like he left you.
He peeled his shirt off and sat on the edge of the bed, eyes drooping like he was going to fall asleep right there.
You walked towards him and pressed your hand to his cheek. When he nuzzled into it and closed his eyes, your heart broke. You grabbed his hand and pulled him to stand up in front of you. It wasn’t sexual in the slightest, the way you pulled off his belt and unzipped his pants, pulling them down so he was left in his boxers. You guided him to the bathroom and turned on the shower, standing with his hand in yours beside you while you tested the temperature, only adjusting it slightly before turning back around.
He looked so tired and innocent, you couldn’t help but press a kiss to his cheek before you pulled down his boxers and ushered him under the water. You helped him wash from head to toe, ignoring the way you got completely soaked in the process and solely focused on making sure he was clean. Once you were finished, you pulled him out and dried him off, lead him back to the bedroom. You pulled a fresh t-shirt over his head and helped him step into a new pair of boxers before walking him back to the kitchen, sitting him down and making him eat the leftovers he heated.
You completely forgot about the pictures. The apology.
‘Tomorrow, it can wait until tomorrow’
He ate his food in silence and you had to nudge him three times to wake him up, but eventually, he finished everything. You walked him to bed, laid him down, pulled the covers up over him and ran your fingers through his hair, pressing a kiss to his forehead, then walked out to the kitchen to clean up.
It was only then that the ache settled in your chest. He was right there, one room away, and you missed him so much that it took your breath away. You wanted to cry again, scream, but instead you got in the shower, washed away the sadness and climbed into bed beside him.
You wanted to watch him sleep forever. Wanted to reach out and touch him, wrap your arms around him, kiss him, but you didn’t. You didn’t know how to do those things anymore without worrying. Wondering what the next day would bring.
You were just about to roll over when he reached out and wrapped his arms around your waist. You froze, scared he was asleep and that you would wake him up if you moved. It was the first time he had held you in months, you didn’t want to ruin that, even if it was unintentional.
“I love you.”
You thought it was your imagination, his words often echoing through your mind from past memories, but no. That was real. You looked at him with glassy eyes, wondering if he said it in his sleep, but then his eyes opened to meet yours.
“I love you.” He repeated. You bit your lip to keep from crying, but he kissed you despite that, then crushed you into his chest. Your hands gripped his shirt, holding onto him for dear life, as if he would disappear any second. You had to keep him there, had to fight for him, had to keep the Chanyeol who loved you because it was the only thing that made sense.
Sleep found you only minutes later, and you didn’t have to dream of his arms. Instead you dreamt of his voice.
-
You woke up the next morning to Chanyeol pulling his arms away from you.
Well- ripping them away, flustered and cursing, moving around the room too quick for your tired eyes to keep up with.
“Babe, what’s wrong?” You asked, sitting up and rubbing at your face.
“I’m late.” He snapped, yanking on a sweatshirt and pulling a pair of sweats on.
You sighed and sat up on your knees. “It’s okay, you can afford to be late one day, I’m sure.”
It was like the air was sucked out of the room with that one sentence, and he stood up straight, looking at you with such ferocity that you wanted to melt into the bed beneath you.
“You don’t have a fucking clue what I can and can’t afford right now!” He shot out, and your breath hitched at the harshness of his words.
Sure, you barely had real conversations anymore and you didn’t really kiss or smile with eachother, but Chanyeol was never mean to you. And he never yelled, not at you.
You wrung your fingers and swallowed the lump in your throat.
“Well, just… Calm down. Freaking out isn’t going to help.” You said softly and he rolled his eyes.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?”
He was grabbing his phone off of the nightstand and pulling a hat onto his head when your fears from the day before flooded into your soul again.
‘Who was she?’, ‘Why is he so mad?’
“Are you cheating on me?” You asked quietly and his head snapped towards you, eyes narrowing.
“What?”
Your blood was boiling. Skin itching with irritation. After how you took care of him the night before, despite all of the stories you heard, he was going to treat you like that?
“I said, are you cheating on me?” Your words were stronger that time, firm.
You didn’t expect the empty laugh that left his lips, the eye roll. The obvious annoyance.
“You’re so fucking stupid.” He mumbled, walking out the door and slamming it behind him.
The rage rolled through you in waves. Fire burned through your chest. Your arms moved on autopilot, picking up the wedding picture on the night stand beside you and throwing it at the door he had just left through, a frustrated cry coming out like a strangled scream as the glass shattered on the floor. You half expected him to come back to make sure you were okay but heard the unmistakable opening and closing of the front door and felt exactly like the glass that lay splintered on the bedroom floor.
It took you hours to piece yourself together enough to climb out of bed. Hours to stop crying. The life you were trapped in was so exhausting, and you were tired of pretending you could fix it. Tired of letting Chanyeol ruin you. The constant resentment he tossed around when you had done nothing wrong, the never-ending insecurities he let run through you like a stampede.
You were sick of trying to make him love you again.
“Marry me?”
You were sick of trying to force the memories of your love back into him, trying to make him remember that you were his everything once when he was still yours.
‘Were you ever his everything?’
The thought made you nauseous. It felt like your heart no longer belonged to you, tethered in Chanyeol’s palm by a leash that only he had control of. You just wanted to feel free again.
You stepped over the pile of glass and walked out to the front door, pulling your shoes on. You called your sister and told her you needed her, and she’s your sister, so she picked you up fifteen minutes later, let you sob for thirsty minutes total before driving to a nearby restaurant and parking the car, turning towards you with too much sincerity and pity in her eyes. You hated it.
“You need a drink.”
-
Chanyeol was never one to outright complain about you being drunk, but if he was honest with himself, he hated it. You were obnoxiously loud and touchy, whining about anything and everything, talking faster than he could keep up with about things that made no sense. It was annoying. And he really didn’t have time for it. At all.
It was a really big week, the album was so close to finished, but it wasn’t perfect. He needed it to be perfect, the group couldn’t afford to disappoint anyone. They were all working so hard, practicing every day, writing until their fingers bled, fighting with the company for direction. It was too important.
Still. You were his wife. When your sister called – “she needs you” – he couldn’t say no. Even after you had both fought that morning, and he wasn’t particularly happy to see you, he got into his car and said he would be there in thirty.
He watched from across the street, you sitting on the curb outside of the bar with your sister’s arm draped around your shoulders. She brushed your hair out of your face and you smiled at her like she was actual sunshine. He rolled his eyes and pulled his seat belt off despite the butterflies he got in his stomach and waited for a break in traffic before jogging across the street.
“Hey,” He said, signaling his presence and both you and your sister looked up.
“Sorry.” Your sister mumbled, and you looked at her with your eyebrows furrowed.
“Don’t ever be sorry, not ever to anyone. We don’t have to be sorry, never.” You said wrapping your arms around her head and hugging her to your chest. She laughed and patted your back, peeling your arms away. Chanyeol’s hands wrapped around yours and pulled you to your feet, your hands resting on his chest to steady yourself. He sighed as he grabbed your waist, holding you upright.
“Do you need a ride home?” He asked your sister and she shook her head.
“I’ll get a taxi. You guys go.”
He couldn’t help the annoyance that overtook him when he realized she stuck you with him on purpose. She gave Chanyeol an annoyed smirk, peering up at him through narrowed eyes.
“Don’t make my sister cry again.” She whispered for only him to hear and he nodded in reply. Your sister tended to be a pretty scary person, so he didn’t want to cross her. She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving him alone with you.
When he looked down, you were staring up at him with the dopiest smile on your face. You pinched his cheeks and he sighed. He was so cute. He wrapped his hands around your wrists and dragged you across the street to his car, helping you into the front seat. He reached across you to buckle your seat belt, ignoring the way you touched him, pressed kisses to his neck. He abruptly pulled away and you stared at him dejectedly. When he shut your door, you turned on the radio and adjusted your seat back, staring out the window.
‘He rejected me?’, ‘How do you reject your wife?’
You felt so stupid. Getting drunk on a Wednesday, so drunk in fact, that your own sister couldn’t stand to be with you. No one could stand you, not ever, and that thought broke your heart.
Chanyeol noticed nothing of it. In fact, he relished in the silence, completely not expecting it to the usual tirade you went on after drinking. He wanted to make it all the way home, just like that, hoping to avoid an argument at all costs. He preferred when you both didn’t speak because at least it was quiet. He like the quiet.
When he pulled into the driveway, a satisfied smile found his cheeks. He thought you must have been asleep, but when he moved to turn the car off and unbuckle his seat belt, he noticed your hand covering your eyes, unmistakable tears trailing down your chin while you sniffled silently, chest stuttering with sobs he had been deaf to.
He reached over to grab your hand, but you pulled it away, yanked off your seat belt and climbed out of the car before he could even touch you. You stumbled inside and threw your shoes off in the entry way, Chanyeol one step behind.
“Y/n-” he started, but you whipped around and pressed your finger to his lips while you shushed him, tears still falling freely.
“Don’t talk to me.” You said, eyes bleeding the anger you felt, stumbling back towards your bedroom without another word.
Chanyeol was speechless. For the first time in your entire relationship. He stared after you in the entry way, unsure of what to think.
You loved talking when you were drunk, yet the only words you said to him were ‘don’t talk to me’. Is that why he missed your voice all of a sudden? Why he craved to hear you speak again?
You were one step into the room when you remembered your fatal mistake, but it was too late. You never cleaned up the glass from that morning and multiple shards jabbed their way into your heel, eliciting a scream from you.
“Ow!” You stumbled back, tears immediately falling as you pulled your foot up. Chanyeol was there in seconds, immediately assessing the situation and lifting you into his arms. He carried you to the kitchen and sat you up on the counter, crouching down to look at your foot.
“Let me see it.” He said, fingers moving up to touch one of the smaller pieces that jutted out.
“Don’t touch it, please!” You yelled through a sob, pushing his hands away.
“Babe, I have to touch it, there’s glass in there, it could get infected.” He said softly, still looking at your foot and prodding at it, only causing more pain. You gripped his shoulder and shook your head vehemently.
“No, no, no, please. It’s okay, it’s okay, it won’t get infected, it’ll be okay!” You wiped the tears from your eyes in an attempt to prove to him it was no major wound, but you knew it wouldn’t work, the dramatics already displayed.
He looked up at you, serious. “So, if it gets infected and you die, what should I do then? You want me to just be alone?”
He stood up and walked towards the cabinet that housed the expired first aid kit you bought 2 years before when you moved in.
“It’s not like you’d care.” You mumbled, wiping at your eyes again with the back for your wrist. He looked up at you, confused, and chuckled half-heartedly, dismissing your comment with a roll of his eyes.
“I wouldn’t care?” He repeated, turning back towards you and going through the small kit.
You shook your head ‘no’ and he saw it out of the corner of his eye, still determined to find the tools he needed. “You don’t love me anymore, so you would be okay.”
That time he chuckled for real, caught off guard by your statement. “I don’t love you? What are you talking about?”
He turned back, tweezers in hand, and grabbed your ankle, but you barely noticed. He looked up when he realized you weren’t making a scene like he expected, watched your eyebrows furrow together while you wrung your fingers together, anxiousness and worry on full display. The sight of you broke something inside of him. The genuine tears that rolled down your cheeks.
“You don’t tell me you love me anymore. You don’t kiss me.” A small sob broke from your throat and his heart skipped a beat. “You called me stupid this morning, after I took care of you last night. And you don’t even feel sorry. And I had a right to be angry, I have a right to be pissed at you!”
He sighed and closed his eyes, unable to look at you like that anymore. He started picking out the pieces of glass one by one, listening to the soft sobs that escaped you, each one a blow to his chest he had never felt before.
“I don’t even know what I did, Yeol. I feel like I’m nothing to you anymore. That’s how I feel.”
He wanted you to shut up. To stop saying such useless, unimaginable things.
“And you’re seeing another girl! I can’t believe you were smiling with her; you never smile at me anymore!” You couldn’t stop now, ready to get everything you wanted out on the table.
He was wrapping your foot with gauze, annoyance reaching a boiling point as you flailed your arms around dramatically, pointing at him and yelling.
“If you want to leave me, then you should just do it. Okay? But don’t embarrass me by sneaking around with another girl. I’ll be fine, I am a strong woman, I don’t nee-“
Chanyeol cut you off, hands wrapped under your knees and pulling you to the edge of the counter, his lips against yours shutting you up effectively. It was so unexpected, the words he stole from you as if they were his own, claiming every bit of oxygen in your lungs with is tongue against yours, his hands on your thighs, skin against skin. You missed his touch more than anything. Your arms wrapped around his neck, letting him take every piece of you he wanted, teeth skimming against your lower lip, his cinnamon breath taking over all of your senses. You wanted to drown in him, all those tears swirling down the drain now nonexistent, the will to fight for him renewing inside of you.
You whimpered into the kiss and he smiled, wrapping your legs around his waist, and pulling you up off the counter. His lips never left yours as he moved back towards the bedroom, a constant you weren’t sure you could lose again, but you pulled away, looking back.
“Watch out for the-”
“Glass.” He breathed out, catching your lips again as he stepped over the pile in front of the door.
Every bit of you wanted him, mind finally silent from worry, heart content as he laid you back on the bed and climbed on top of you. He pulled his shirt off and kissed your neck, that space below your ear that he knew was so sensitive for you. The peppered kisses he trailed from your neck to your lips brought you home, for the first time in so long. Chanyeol was Sunday mornings again, his hands sliding up your shirt, your body melting with his like you were made for him. You bled for him, cried for him, the oxygen that carried through your veins was only his.
He pulled away for the first time in what felt like hours, eyes meeting yours with so much passion that you wanted to fall into him. You wanted to fall into his arms and let him hold you forever, this boy who had every piece of your soul.
“I love you.” You whispered.
Tears filled your eyes and he swallowed hard, eyes frenzied and confused.
“I need you.”
His words were whispered and rushed and not what you were expecting, but you gave him everything. You gave him every piece of the already fractured glass heart that you had left and let him build a castle for himself, a kingdom you weren’t sure he was ready to let you in. Let him ruin you from head to toe, mold you like you imagined Alexandros of Antioch molded the Venus de Milo, in the image he wanted, everything he needed. You wanted to be his everything again. You had to be.
-
The next morning, you woke up with your naked legs tangled with Chanyeol’s, his arm draped over your waist, head nuzzled into your hair. You felt so complete again, unlike the hollow shell you usually felt like, one who held the place of his wife. You felt wanted. You felt remade.
Time ticked by too quickly, the fear of him leaving for work nearly suffocating. So, you listened to him breathe. Distracted yourself with the soft snores that flowed from him like your favorite melody. Drowned out your never ceasing thoughts with the smell of his shampoo so close. You memorized the way his fingers felt against your skin, both soft and rough at the same time, so hard working and full of love.
The sound of his phone buzzing broke everything. You pretended to sleep when Chanyeol got up, turning back to grab his phone from the nightstand. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but birds chirped outside of the window. You wondered what it would be like to be one of them. He sat up on the side of the bed and answered the call.
You listened to him talk, listened to him whisper words of apology to someone that you didn’t know. Listened to him lie about where he was and wondered why he should have to lie. You were his wife. He should be lying to you, not the other woman.
“Mina, it’s nothing, really. I’m in the car, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Wait for me.”
Every piece of life was sucked out of you at the sound of her name.
Mina.
A name to the face who was stealing your husband. A name to the face of the woman who made him smile.
‘Wait for me.’
‘Did he ever smile at you like that?’
He sighed and stayed still for a few moments. You felt him look back towards you once. Twice.
‘Please don’t go’, ‘Please don’t go’, ‘Please don’t go’
Your eyes filled with tears, begging him to hear your heart, begging him to pull you back into his chest and not get out of the bed.
When he moved to push himself up, you rolled over and grabbed his hand.
His eyes down on you, so empty. How had things gotten here?
“Please don’t go.” You whispered.
His eyebrows scrunched together and he sighed, rubbing his face with his free hand.
“I’ll be back tonight.” He mumbled, and it felt like a shot to the heart. “I promise.”
You didn’t let go of his wrist. “Please.” Couldn’t let go. It felt like the end, and it was too real. It was all too real.
He looked at you and sighed, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead. “I promise.”
He muttered the words one more time before pulling his hand from yours and getting dressed.
It felt like you were watching a movie. A life flashing before you that you didn’t know. A man you had never seen. He walked out without a goodbye and you didn’t break. Tempered glass doesn’t do that. It shatters in spiderwebs, no ragged edges to fall apart, just broken pieces locked together that can’t be put back together again. A damaged piece of hardware no one could fix, not even Chanyeol.
The birds outside were chirping and again, you wondered what it must be like to fly away.
-
Chanyeol came home that night to the house dark. Every piece of you was missing; your clothes, your notebooks, the stupid clock you bought the year before that was in the shape of a cat that he hated more than anything.
He tried calling you over and over, but you never answered. Your sister refused to tell him anything - “I told you to stop making her cry.”
Your ring sat on his pillow; a note written beneath it that he couldn’t find the courage to read.
“I love you.” You whispered to him at some grocery store years before. He laughed and looked around.
“Why now?” He questioned and you rolled your eyes, shoulders shrugging.
“Not just now. Forever.”
The smile on your face, something he loved more than anything. He knew right then that he would die for you.
“Forever.” He repeated.
The house was empty, no longer a home since you were gone. Cold. Dark. Hell.
You were gone.
-
A/N: Guys!!!! My third fic!!! Let a girl know what ya think, I’m honestly really proud of this one and really really hope I can hear from you all about it ~~ SO SO SO much love, any feedback is appreciated!!!
P.S. i’ve got a part 2 kickin for this one :):):):):):)
251 notes · View notes
fvrxdrm · 3 years
Text
City of the Living Dead
Chapter 6
"September 28, 2:30 am... It's down to just me and 3 others. No weapons...no ammo...and too many skirmishes have drained us mentally and physically. We're not gonna make it... Officer Phillips once suggested we escape through the sewers. Apparently, there's a secret tunnel under this place left over from its museum days. I brushed her idea off before, but now, it's not sounding all that bad. Yeah, there's no proof there's even a tunnel or that the sewers aren't infested with zombies, but I don't wanna sit here and wait to die, either. It's a long shot, but I'm gonna try to find out what I can about that tunnel... Elliot Edward," you read, "Shit. Rest in peace, buddy." You placed the transcript back to where you found it and proceeded in scanning the room you and Leon were in.
It was an office of some sort with mahogany desks occupying the center, swivel chairs pointing towards every direction, some paperworks piled in a stack and some (or rather most) cluttered all over the tables and floor. It looked like a hurricane together with an earthquake and a tsunami clashed and crashed in the area.
"Leon, w-" your head twisted and turned as you looked for best friend and even called out to him when you found him just staring at something on the ceiling, his trembling lips pinned in between pearly-white teeth, eyebrows furrowed upwards, and eyes looking like a dam was about to breakdown because of too much pressure. You went towards where he was standing and followed his gaze. You gasped. He was looking at stringed triangle banners with letters printed out on each of them
WEL COME LEON
Your face began to mirror Leon's but a pained smile differentiated yours from his as a sudden rush of memory enlightened your brain. "Hey, look, the design's the same as the banner I surprised you with when we were 15," you said, raising an arm to point at the triangular flags.
Leon chuckled softly at what you said and nodded while a sneaky tear flowed down his cheek in a tiny stream. "Yeah."
"Come on, Leon! I worked hard for this." You hauled on your friend's wrist and led him towards his room with a strain as Leon's languor held him back.
"This better be good, Y/N. You fucking woke me up and I'm really close to fucking strangling you." His voice was a little hoarse from having just woken up right before you pulled him off of the couch and he was still lowkey tired because of the three-hour rest he had last night, but as much as he wanted to throw you out of his house and fall into a well-deserved slumber again, he was into surprises and was curious as to what you had in store. So, he went along with it even though he was pretty much a sloth still.
"I promise you'll love it." You chortled.
Leon sighed in defeat before loosening up and letting you pull him towards where you wanted to take him for this so-called surprise with a rub of his crusty eyes.
When a familiar door came into view in front of you, you covered Leon's eyes with one of your hands and twisted the door knob, revealing a bedroom with a banner hovering over Leon's messy bed, before lightly pushing him inside.
"All right, here we are," you spoke as you removed your hand from your face, moving right beside him to watch Leon's face as it shifted from being enraptured to crestfallen real quick. You guffawed in a boisterous way at his reaction and plummeted down to the ground whilst clutching your stomach in a joyful pain.
YOU SUCK LEON
"Really, Y/N? This-this is what you wanted to show me?"
"It's true though, you actually suck!"
"Come on, you know you only won in Street Fighter because I let you," he whined. You stood up from being laid on the floor before clutching onto Leon's shoulder for dear life.
"For 20 times? Really?" You laughed again, "nah, you just suck, bro."
Leon narrowed his eyes at you with lips pressing tightly in a thin line and turned towards you, his feet moving slowly in tandem as he approach you with a spurious anger, his hands closing into fists.
"What?" You asked with a nervous chuckle and feet backing up in rhythm with his laggard advances.
"You think I suck?" His voice imitated a dark tone. Had you not been slightly scared - which you hated to admit - you would've busted a gut at how ridiculous it sounded.
"I mean, yeah, it's already said in the banner, dimwitt."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Well, let's see who sucks now!"
Welp, that's my cue!
You dodged Leon's attack by the skin of your teeth, stumbling on a stupid pencil for a bit, before proceeding to run around the house to avoid Leon's "spider fingers" as you call it and making a tiny bit of a mess. However, your luck has gone away and he eventually caught you when you accidentally tripped over the leg of a chair, throwing you into his bed and tickling each spot that would make you squirm and and laugh.
"I still suck, huh?"
"N-no, fine...y-you don't...s-suck," you cried in between heavy breaths and hysterics. Satisfied with your remark, Leon stopped his fingers from moving and plopped down beside you, taking a moment to catch his breath before he pulled you closer to his body and spooned you. "You still couldn't win yesterday though."
"Yeah, well, I know a million ways to win your heart though."
"Fuck off, Le-le." Leon tsked at the nickname.
"Y/N, that sounds awful as fuck."
"Whatever." You felt his lashes kiss the nape of your neck as he closed his eyes to give them another four hours of rest, your own following afterwards when you heard Leon's muffled voice vibrate against your shirt.
"Hey, you wanna be my date for homecoming?"
"I thought you already asked Lexee to be your date."
"Dante already asked her out, so..."
"Okay, fine, I'll be your date." You squeezed his hand before intertwining your fingers with his and smiling when you felt him kiss your hair.
"Thanks, Y/N. Good night."
"It's 10 in the morning, dumba-"
"Shh... Rock-a-bye baby..."
"You do suck though." You light-heartedly nudged Leon's side and wrinkled your eyes in a grin, chuckling when he returned the gesture with a titter.
"I really don't," he retorted back.
"Sure." You took his hand in yours and gently squeezed it in a comforting way to ease the two of you before placing a feather's kiss on the back of it. "Come on, we still have a job to do."
*****
Leon S. Kennedy, we're putting you on a very special case for your first assignment. Your mission is...to unlock your desk! The key to your success is in the initials of our first names. Input the letters in order of our desks. There are 2 locks- 1 on each side of your desk. Make sure you get them both. Basically, your first task is to remember your fellow officers' names, but you figured that much out, right? Good luck, Leon. By the way, it might take a little work to get Scott to give you a straight answer.
Lieutenant Branagh
Scrawled in a corner between drops of blood on the paper was an additional note the lieutenant had written while he and his fellow officers were isolated and trapped, and it read:
Be glad you're not here, rookie.
"Remember your fellow officers' names..."
"I think that means the initials of my supposedly co-workers' names should be the password to open these locks on my desk." Leon stood up from where he was knelt down on the floor and casted around from desk to desk, unlocking the padlocks on his table and claiming the prize after accomplishing his "first assignment" - a magazine for his beloved Matilda.
You smiled when Leon pulled out the gun he's had since the beginning of his adult years, another retention reminding you of the peaceful days you once had before you started walking right into confusion.
Matilda was a gift Leon's father had given him on his 18th birthday, a few months before he died of cancer. He was happy about it, and knowing how his family had supported his decision on him becoming a cop, his heart fluttered inside and he couldn't be more grateful about it. Leon held onto it everyday, even becoming a bit hesitant about leaving it behind whenever he went to school. And when his father passed away because of said illness, he grasped onto the weapon the same way he did when his dad was still alive, if not more.
"Happy birthday, Leon. Happy birthday, Leon. Happy birthday, happy birthday... Happy birthday, Leon... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEON!"
Leon's cheeks stretched in an almost painful way as everyone erupted into cheers and confetti fell from the ceiling. Each person was wearing cone-shaped hats and the living room was decorated with different ornaments colored in his favorite hues. His family was there and so were his friends, and oh, how could he almost forget...
It was his 18th birthday!
"So, what do you think?" You spoke from behind him. He turned around to see you smiling like an idiot and tugging on the string of a party you picked up from the floor.
"This," he began. "This is amazing! Wh-"
"Well, son, the candle's almost melting. Wanna make a wish?" Leon's dad emerged from behind the small crowd with a three-layered cake balanced on top of his palms. The icing of the pastry was blue, edible police-related finishing touches garnished it with such perfection he almost didn't want to eat it for the sake of admiring and staring at the cake, and a single candle formed into the number 18 as an emphasis to his recent age was placed on top with a tiny flame dancing around in the air. Leon closed his eyes and wished for the best before blowing the candle, watching as the fire disappeared into a swirling smoke. Everyone rejoiced once again.
When voices had began dying down one by one, Leon's father called his name and picked up a box from underneath the table after placing the cake down where it wouldn't fall down.
"Leon, you're going to be attending the police academy soon and in the next few years you'll be the cop you always wanted. So, as a gift, I give you this gun." He opened the rectangular cardboard box where a gun laid and presented it to his child, Leon's eyes sparkling in delight at his very own weapon. "I know you'll be taking good care of Matilda."
"Matilda?" Leon asked in confusion.
"You know, like, Mathilda from Leon: The Professional," his dad replied. Leon chuckled in response before he carefully took the gun out of its container, still a bit iffy about touching it.
"I'll be taking good care of this, dad."
"I know you will."
"You still have that gun?" You spoke as you gestured towards his firearm.
"Yep, she still looks good as new. I didn't want to break my promise," Leon responded. He turned his gun around to show you just how much he kept it safe like a mother would to a child. Your E/C orbs twinkled in admiration, a feeling in your heart you had kept for a very long time flittering in a joyous manner for the first time since you last saw him.
"Nothing's really changed, huh?"
"I don't want to change anything for now...especially now that you're back here with me."
*****
So, I found this image on google and an idea suddenly popped into my head lmao.
Tumblr media
Anyway, WE'RE BACK! I was busy in school blah blah blah. I think yall know that already.
22 notes · View notes
laprincesaelena · 3 years
Text
EOA Discord Ship Appreciation Week Day 3: Growing Old Together
Tumblr media
a/n: hey everyone! sorry i’m a day late on this one, once i start writing something, i tend to like, not stop, and that’s what happened with today’s fic lol, it took me much longer than i expected! but, regardless, here it is! today’s fic is a bit different, focusing on a different couple (though, there are mentions of gabelena lol, but you could always fill in gabe’s name with your character of choice :) ), our beloved king raúl and queen lucía!!
basically, this fic is a what if. what if the king and queen of avalor’s story had gone slightly differently? what if king raúl and queen lucía hadn’t even left to work on the carnaval floats before shuriki arrived? in this au, raúl and lucía receive the happy ending they deserve, and they live to see many more family moments and milestones than they would in canon.
(also, for the sake of the fic, let’s just say in this au, avalor gains a new ruler once the heir becomes of age, not when the current ruler dies. okay? okay :) )
anyways, before i do exactly what i did while writing this and write wayyy too much, i’ll stop myself here. a quick thank you to everyone who’s been liking, reblogging, and leaving wonderful comments on my fics so far, you don’t know how happy they make me!! and a very special thank you to @procrastinateland , for providing the beautiful art to go along with the fic!! hope you all enjoy!!
fic is below the cut!
“Got everything, cariño?”
The queen of Avalor was busy packing the carriage with boxes full of colorful decorations to decorate their latest float for the upcoming Carnaval celebrations. Carnaval was Lucía's favorite time of year, and she always looked forward to designing, building, decorating, and of course, riding aboard the kingdom's infamous Carnaval parade floats. She and her husband, King Raúl, were headed to Castillo Park to check up on the progress of the floats, and to add a few touches to their own.
"Yes, yes, everything's here!"
One could barely see the king steadily walking down the steps of the palace, for he was carrying a stack of boxes that rose to practically over his head. Lucía couldn't help but shake her head as she turned to see this sight, and met him at the bottom of the stairs to help him out. She reached up to take the box at the top of the stack, revealing her husband's face behind it.
"Need a little help there?" she joked.
"I may have underestimated my balancing skills.." Raúl replied, beginning to place the rest of the boxes in the carriage. "But luckily, everything arrived in one piece!"
"We aren't even to the park yet, don't speak too soon!" Lucía responded.
"Have fun, you two!"
The royal couple turned to the sound of Luisa's voice, who stood at the door of the palace with her husband, Francisco, and Princess Isabel, who was waving goodbye to her parents. The two waved back, and Lucía blew a kiss to her youngest daughter.
"Thank you!" Lucía called to them. "We'll see you at dinner!"
Just as the king and queen were about to step into the carriage, the sky suddenly began to turn gray. Large clouds rolled in, some of them having a dark green hue to them. Raúl protectively wrapped his arm around his wife as they stepped back, trying to get a sense as to what was going on.
Suddenly, floating out of the green haze, emerged a figure. The closest royal guards rushed to step in front of the monarchs, their swords drawn, ready to protect their rulers at any given moment.
Lucía tightly held onto her husband, and noticed how his face began to grow pale. As the shadowy figure approached, Raúl instantly recognized their identity.
"Shuriki.." he whispered.
At the very sound of her name, Lucía could feel her heart sink. For the past few months, Avalor had been involved in various defenses alongside their allied kingdoms against the wicked sorceress. Thankfully, all of these efforts against her had been successful, and Shuriki had not been able to take over any of these kingdoms. But as it turned out, Avalor was the next target on her list, and they were gravely unprepared.
"Everyone, inside! Now!" The voice of the captain of the guard echoed throughout the courtyard as the royal family quickly made their way into the safety of the palace. But they knew a few troops were no match for Shuriki, she could infiltrate the palace in a matter of minutes. A plan had to be put in place, now, or Avalor didn't stand a chance.
For little Isabel, all of this happened in the blink of an eye. One moment, she was waving goodbye to her parents on the palace steps, now her and her family were running for their lives, having mere moments to reach a safe haven. A moment later, the princess had a sudden realization. Her abuelos were here, her mamí and papí were here, but one member of her family was nowhere to be found.
"Elena!" she called. "Where's Elena?"
Raúl had been calling out orders to royal guards and staff members as they rushed through the halls, but hearing his eldest daughter's name immediately shifted his strong demeanor. His Elenita was nowhere to be found, and was possibly unaware of the danger she was in. He frantically looked around for a moment, hoping Elena would miraculously appear.
"Elena!" he called, quickly checking in each room they passed. "Elenita!"
Lucía too, joined in on the frantic search for her daughter, but a moment later, she felt just the slightest bit of hope.
"The amulet!" she cried. "The amulet, the one we gave her for her birthday last year, will always protect her from harm!"
"But what if this sort of magic is an exception?" Raúl asked, fearing the worst. "Or what if she doesn't have the amulet on? We have to find her, Lucía!"
"Ay, don't put those thoughts in my head, cariño!" Lucía replied. "I hope we find her before we escape, I truly don't want to leave without her, but she has magical protection, we don't! Hopefully this will all be settled before we even need to escape, so we can-"
But before the queen could finish her sentence, a magical blast was heard from behind them. Shuriki was closer than they thought, they had absolutely no time to waste. The royal family picked up their pace, before they encountered their royal wizard, Alacazar.
"Come, come quickly!" he called out to them. "I have a spell to protect you! But we must perform it now, or it will be too late!"
The royal family had no time to decide on where their hiding spot would be, or where they would escape to if Shuriki did manage to take the throne. Their safest and fastest option was Alacazar's spell, so that would have to do. The wizard quickly explained that this spell would protect them inside of an enchanted painting, one that not even magic as powerful as Shuriki's could touch. As the family posed together for their 'portrait', Lucía couldn't help but think of her oldest daughter. In her final moments outside of the frame, she prayed for Elena's safety, that the amulet would protect her from harm, and that once Avalor was freed from the wicked sorceress, their family could be safely reunited. The Castillo-Flores family held each other close as the incantation was recited, and a moment later, a new family portrait, with one missing princess, was displayed on the wall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
41 years later...
"Tlahcuilolli apartad, tlahcuilolli apareced, tlahcuilolli vivid!"
Elena bit her lip and clasped her hands tightly together as she watched Mateo recite the spell that would hopefully free her family from the enchanted painting. She had missed her family so much being separated from them for forty one years, and so hoped that she'd be able to finally reunite with them.
A moment later, a magical haze encircled the painting, and soon, the silhouettes of her family were pulled out of the portrait. Once the haze had cleared, Elena saw her family, safe and sound, as if no time had passed at all. Tears of relief filled her eyes as she ran right over to her family, being met by a tight embrace by her little sister.
"Isa!" she cried as she held her sister close. "Oh, I've missed you so much.." Elena then pulled back, just to take in this moment that she'd been dreaming of for so long. Isabel was still the adorable, intelligent, and innocent little girl she had last seen all those years ago, even down to the dirt stains on her dress.
Then, Elena looked up at her parents, who looked just as relieved to finally be free and reunited with their family.
"Mamí, Papí!" she exclaimed, and pulled them both in for a hug.
"Oh, Elenita.." Raúl said, holding his baby girl close. He feared if he let her go one more time, he would never see her again.
Lucía too felt her eyes fill with tears as she embraced her daughter for the first time in decades. "We were so worried about you, mija.." she said, before cupping her daughter's face in her hands. "You're alright..you're safe..the amulet really did protect you!"
"It did.." Elena replied with a nod, placing a hand on top of her mother's.
Elena then wrapped her abuelos in a hug, she had missed all of her family so, so much, and it felt so good to finally be reunited with them. But, Shuriki was still on the throne, their fight for the kingdom wasn't over just yet.
After a short but sweet family reunion, Elena, along with the Enchancian and Avaloran royal families, made their way onto jaquins to join the revolution stirring in the villages below. With the help of the brave people of Avalor, the forty one year reign of Queen Shuriki was brought to an end. Avalor was finally free once again, and the royal family was reunited for good. It was the happiest day in all of Avalor, and kingdom would rejoice for weeks on end. That day, it seemed as if life couldn't get any better. But, the kingdom's most prosperous and happy years were yet to come.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Four years later..
Raúl and Lucía stood proudly beside the Avaloran throne, in a ballroom filled with dignitaries, family, and friends from all over the world. Their beautiful Elenita was turning twenty years old today, but that wasn't the only event the kingdom was celebrating. After four years of experience as Crown Princess, along with learning plenty about ruling from her parents and grandparents, Elena was finally ready to become queen of Avalor.
Trumpets sounded to announce the princess' arrival, as the chief of the castle announced, "Crown Princess Elena Castillo Flores, please come forward!"
The doors to the ballroom were opened, revealing the future queen. Elena was dressed in a breathtaking blue gown, with floral embroidery across the bodice and bottom of the skirt. A red velvet robe trailed behind her as she carefully walked down the staircase. As she made her way to the throne, Elena smiled at all who had come to celebrate this day with her. Though her stubborn sixteen year old self insisted she'd be able to rule all on her own from day one, she knew that she wouldn't be the ruler or woman she was today without each and every person she passed by entering her life.
But, who had supported and guided her the most of all through this difficult journey was her family. Elena would often think of if her family hadn't survived the ordeal with Shuriki all those years ago, and how she would have ever become queen without their love, support, and guidance. She was so, so grateful they were here with her today to crown her, she had no idea where or who she'd be without them.
Once Elena reached the throne, she pulled each of her parents in for a hug, before turning to face the crowd. She stood as regally as she could for her last few moments as crown princess. Armando gently handed the crown to the king, who would have the honor of crowning his daughter the next queen.
Holding the crown above her head, Raúl took a moment to look down at his daughter, so proud of the woman she had become. He then announced, "It is with tremendous pride, that I crown you, Elena, Queen of Avalor!"
The golden crown was placed upon the young queen's head, and the ballroom erupted into cheers. Elena lifted her head with a smile, she had worked so hard and been through so much to finally achieve this moment.
Raúl stepped back and wrapped his arm around his wife, who took his hand tightly in hers. The former king and queen looked over at their Elenita, their baby girl. Even though they had mentioned it hundreds of times that day, and they would certainly continue to, they were just so, so proud of their daughter. They had no doubts that she would be one of the greatest queens to ever reign, and that Avalor would continue to thrive under her rule.
The next part of the ceremony would soon commence, where the queen would choose a partner for the first dance of the evening. Elena stepped forward, and approached her three closest friends. She bestowed a new title upon each of them, even naming her younger sister the Royal Inventor. But, she still had not chosen a partner to dance with.
Elena paused for a moment, and pretended to be in deep thought. "Now, I believe I have a decision to make.." she said, before turning towards her parents, and reaching her arm out to her father.
"Papá, no one has helped me learn how to rule more than you. Would you honor me with the first dance?"
Raúl couldn't help but gasp, as he could've sworn Elena would've chosen one of her closest friends to dance with, or even her grandfather. Sure, he knew he had been a mentor to her on her journey to become queen, but this came as a pleasant surprise to him. And of course, he would accept. He placed his hand to his heart, and bowed his head to his daughter.
"Of course, mija." he said. "It would be my greatest honor."
Raúl approached his daughter and took both of her hands in his. He leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead, and looked down at her with the proudest smile possible. "I'm so proud of you, Elenita."
"Thank you." Elena replied with a smile. "I couldn't have done any of this without you. Now, about that first dance.."
But, before they could begin the first dance, or even before any music started playing, Francisco spoke up.
"Wait!" he cried. "I didn't stay up all night writing a song for everyone to play for you for nothing!"
Elena tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean, everyone?" she asked.
Then, Lucía, Isabel, and Luisa, along with Francisco of course, stepped forward, and reached their hands to the side.
"Guitars!"
Their guitars were then handed to them, and the quartet began to play a song written and composed specifically for the occasion.
Elena couldn't help but smile, she couldn't believe her family had gone through all the effort to write a song just for her first dance! But, said first dance hadn't begun just yet, what was she waiting for? She took her father's hands in hers, and the two of them began the first dance of the coronation ball.
By the end of the song, Elena and Raúl weren't alone on the dance floor. Just about every guest was dancing in their own ways alongside them, having a wonderful time. As Elena went over to dance with her friends, Lucía pulled her husband right over for a dance. The two of them laughed and smiled as they danced to the beat, they felt as if the golden days of Avalor were returning again. Brighter days were ahead for the kingdom, and they both knew that their Elenita, their shining light, would be a guiding light for Avalor.
¡Viva la reina! Our Elena! Our love will always shine so bright!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Approximately two years later...
In the kingdom of Avalor, every day is bustling, busy, and bright. Today was no different. But today, excitement was in the air for a very special reason. Villagers were lined up and down the streets of the city, waiting for the moment to arrive. Some had claimed their seats days in advance, either paying extra money for it, or by having a bit of a camp out on the sidewalk. Children waited eagerly with small Avaloran flags in their grasps, some even held up posters or drawings that they had made themselves. Their parents were quite tired, but they knew that being here was a once in a lifetime event. But, it wasn't only the village that was filled with both chaos and excitement.
Inside the palace, the staff was busy preparing the castle for this very special event. Rulers and dignitaries from all over the world would be visiting Avalor, so the venue had to look its very best. Every member of the royal family was busy getting themselves ready for the day, but Queen Elena's room however, was where the most activity was happening.
Lucía held back tears as she placed a veil over her daughter's head, her Elenita was to be married today. The moment she stepped back to see the bride's final look, her breath was taken away. Elena wore a strapless dress, with red and gold embroidery swirling across the bodice. The bottom of the dress was long and flowing, including small details of lace, with a six foot train trailing behind her. Her long, dark brown hair was rolled into a bun, one of her favorite formal styles. Underneath her veil was her usual tiara, the rubies casting a scarlet glow whenever the sunlight hit it. The young queen was the epitome of a beautiful royal bride.
"Oh, mija..you look absolutely beautiful.." she said, having to wipe a tear or two from her eye before they fell down her cheeks.
Elena couldn't help but tear up as well as she watched her mother's reaction. "Mamí, stop it, you're going to make me cry too!" she said.
"Oh, no, no..no crying until at least the vows, you can't ruin that beautiful makeup of yours!" Lucía replied. "You look absolutely perfect, Elenita." she added, taking her daughter's hands in hers.
"Thank you.." Elena responded with a soft smile. "I still can't believe this is actually happening.."
"Neither can I!" Lucía agreed. "It feels like just yesterday you were born, it was one of the happiest days of my life..and now look at that little princess! She's all grown up, she's now the queen, and she'll soon become a wife.."
"It only took me forty six years." Elena joked with a laugh, referring to the four decades they had missed while being trapped in enchanted objects.
Lucía laughed as well, she needed a quick laugh to distract her from how fast her daughter had grown up. "Well, I'm sure those forty six years were well worth the wait, right?" she asked.
Elena smiled and nodded at the thought of her soon to be husband. She was so thrilled to be marrying Gabe, she was the happiest woman in the world with him. Thankfully, her entire family had known him for just as long as she had, so he fit right in with the royal family, and Raúl had no hesitation on giving Gabe his blessing to marry his daughter.
Then, a knock at the door signaled that it was time for members of the wedding party to begin their journey to the cathedral, and that included Lucía. The former queen held her daughter's hands tightly and kissed her on the cheek.
"Good luck, mijita." she said with a smile. "I'll see you at the altar."
A few minutes later, Raúl entered the room to escort his daughter downstairs to the carriage that would bring them through Avalor City, and to the ceremony. He too had to pause for a moment to take in the beautiful sight that stood before him. He simply couldn't believe how his little Elenita had grown so quickly, into a strong, confident, and beautiful woman. Each and every day, he would be reminded of how proud he was of his daughter, and how far she had come.
"Elenita, you look simply breathtaking." he said as he approached his eldest daughter. "I changed my mind, I don't think I'll be able to let you go at the end of that aisle." he joked.
Elena couldn't help but laugh at the thought of that, even though she knew, if it were his choice, he probably wouldn't let her go, not wanting to accept how fast she had grown. "You should've thought of that before you gave Gabe your blessing!" she joked.
"I know, I know," Raúl said. "But I'm just joking, mija, I'm thrilled for you both." he added with a smile.
"Thank you," Elena replied, returning the smile. "I'm thrilled too, a little nervous, of course, but still so, so excited."
"I'm sure you are." Raúl responded with a nod. He then sighed, and looked his daughter over one more time. "I'm so proud of you, Elena." he said. "From the moment you were born, I always have been the proudest man in the world to have been your papí. As each day went by, I thought I couldn't possibly love you any more. But each new day, I was proven wrong. I am so incredibly proud of the young woman, queen, and now, well, almost wife that you've become. I love you so much, Elenita."
Elena wrapped her arms around her father and pulled him in for a hug. She was just so grateful to have such a loving and supportive family as she did, she wouldn't want anyone else by her side to celebrate this special day with her.
Once she finally let go, she turned to pick up her bouquet of poinsettias, perfect for her mid-December wedding. She then took her other hand and held her father's tightly. "Ready to go?" she asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Raúl replied with a proud smile.
Elena and Raúl walked hand in hand to the front door of the palace, where a carriage was waiting for them. The coachman opened the door with a bow, and both he and Raúl helped Elena to get inside. It was quite a task with her long train, but thankfully, everyone fit comfortably.
A moment later, the carriage began moving, and they were off. On the way to the cathedral, they passed the many villagers who had been waiting for hours for the queen's carriage to pass by. Elena waved to the people of Avalor with a smile on her face, and even gave a special wave to small children who were seated atop their parent's shoulders. After a carriage ride full of smiling and waving, they finally arrived at the cathedral.
Isabel smiled from the front doors, and began to walk down the steps to meet her sister. As the maid of honor, it was her job to make sure her dress stayed in perfect condition, which meant she was in charge of the long train on the way inside. The coachman opened the door, and Elena began to step out. With that came the cheers of the villagers who had managed to get a spot close by to the cathedral. Elena looked around and took everything in. The cheering villagers, the bells pealing, the thought that in just a short while, she would be Gabe's wife. Isabel took the back of her sister's train in her hands and lifted it up, and Raúl  began to lead her inside. Before she reached the entrance, she turned around and waved to the cheering villagers with a glowing smile. She took her papí's hand in hers and held it tight, as they began to walk inside.
Inside the cathedral, she was greeted by her wedding party, who were all in position, ready to walk down the aisle the second the music started. They all gave Elena a smile, and Naomi shot her a reassuring 'thumbs up'. Isabel made her final adjustments on Elena's dress, and began to walk to her place. Once everything looked perfect, and everyone was ready to go, Elena took a deep breath, and the music started.
The journey down the aisle felt like miles for Elena, tightly holding onto her father's hand as he led her closer to the altar. She smiled at each person she passed by, the joy and excitement of the occasion had spread to practically every person in attendance. Elena's smile grew even bigger the closer and closer she grew to her future husband, this still felt so surreal. But, this was a reality, and she couldn't be happier.
It was a bittersweet moment for Raúl once they reached the altar, especially as he passed Elena's hand over to Gabe. But, with a nod of approval and a warm smile to his son-in-law, he knew that his Elenita would be in the best hands. He kissed his daughter on the cheek before heading to sit beside his wife, but before he could, Elena pulled him in for a quick hug.
"I love you," she whispered to him.
"I love you too, Elenita."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eight years later...
"Abuelo! Abuela!"
Lucía and Raúl turned to the sound of their granddaughter's voices as they ran into the parlor. Six year old Catalina Blanca and Carolina Lucía were dressed identically, quite fitting for them being identical twins. They wore a dress of ruby red satin, with short puffed sleeves and an attached ribbon at the waist, tied into a perfect bow in the back. Along with the dresses, they wore matching paten-leather shoes, and a red bow headband to keep their long, dark brown hair out of their faces. Occasionally, even their abuelos had a tough time telling them apart, but the easiest way to differentiate the two was by their personalities.
"Oh, mijitas, you both look so beautiful!" Lucía said, as Carolina fell right into her arms. "You're going to be the best looking girls at the parranda tonight."
"You think so?" Carolina asked with a smile. "I think I'm the best looking girl every day!"
Lucía laughed softly and held her granddaughter close, Carolina was always the one to take pride in her looks. "I know so." she said.
"Abuelita, which songs are you going to play at the parranda tonight?" Catalina asked, already cuddled up in her grandfather's lap. Her and Raúl were particularly close, as Catalina was the heir to the throne, and would follow in her mother's footsteps to become queen one day.
"Oh, just the usuals," Lucía replied. "Let Love Light the Way, Hearts Full of Cheer.."
"I wanna play!" another little voice cried.
Three year old Luis Raúl poked his head into the room, and had clearly overheard some conversations about playing a song. He was absolutely enthralled with his family's love of music, and couldn't wait until he was old enough to learn from his bisabuelo Francisco, his abuela Lucía, or his mamí.
"Well, I do have my guitar handy, if you'd like play a song for us before we go," Lucía offered with a smile.
Luis nodded excitedly, and sat right beside his abuela as she reached over to pull out her guitar. Lucía placed their guitar in front of the little prince, and he began to 'strum' a song for his family. Of course, he played about as well as any three year old could, but to Lucía and Raúl, it was music to their ears.
Just then, Elena and Gabe made their way into the parlor, with two year old Marcelo Roberto in his papí's arms. Elena almost didn't want to interrupt this sweet moment between her children and their abuelos, but they did have a parranda to get to!
"I didn't know we were having a concert before the parranda!" Elena joked with a soft laugh. "Your guitar playing sounds wonderful, mijo, maybe you can lead the parranda next year!" she said to her son.
"Well, he will be learning from the best, won't he?" Raúl asked, looking over to his wife with a smile.
"Oh please, if that's the case, Elena learned from the best, and turned out to be even better!" Lucía replied.
"No, no, I think he should learn from his abuela, so he can grow to become a better guitar player than the both of us!" Elena suggested.
"Now that's more like it!" Raúl responded. "One day, I'm going to see this little one's name up in lights!" he added, reaching down to ruffle Luis' hair, which made him giggle.
"So, is everyone ready to go?" Elena asked.
With a unanimous yes, the royal family made their way downstairs to head into town to begin their annual Nochebuena tradition.
As the family made their way downstairs, a thought crossed Elena's mind. She had a gift for her family that she wanted to give them tonight, but by the time they came home from the parranda, the kids would be going to bed.
"Oh uh, wait!" she said, to catch everyone's attention.
The rest of the family stopped and turned around, wanting to know what may have been forgotten this time.
"How about we go and put the stockings on the mantel? We haven't yet, and by the time we get home, it'll be time for the kids to go to bed. Let's go!" Elena told them and motioned to her family to follow behind her.
Lucía raised an eyebrow with a smile. Her daughter had something up her sleeve, but she didn't know what. She glanced over to her husband, who shared a similar expression.
They soon entered the family room, which was decked with traditional decorations passed down from generations, and some that had been handmade by Elena and Isabel over the years. All of the children's stockings, which had been customized by Isabel, were laid on the table, and the kids rushed in to take theirs and hang them above the fireplace. Gabe helped to hold each of his children up one by one, so they were able to reach the metal hanger. Elena put up hers and Gabe's, but there was still one left on the table, one that was smaller than the others. Elena stood back and waited for a moment, curious as to who would notice it first.
Surprisingly, it was her youngest son, Marcelo, who toddled over and picked it up. He walked over towards his abuelo, not knowing what to do with it.
Raúl picked it up and looked it over. It was small, and it didn't have a name written across its top like the others. "Elena, what's this?" he asked.
Elena simply shrugged, and waited for her other children to make a guess.
"Do I get another stocking?" Carolina asked, hoping it would mean more candy for her.
"No, it's Marcelo's, they're both small!" Luis said proudly. That made sense, that had to be it!
"Catalina, do you know what it is?" Elena questioned. Catalina already seemed to possess logic beyond her years, so Elena was curious as to what her daughter would come up with.
"It doesn't make sense, we each have a stocking, with our names on it, and Luis, Marcelo has his own, so it can't be his, but I'm not sure who it belongs to!" she said.
Catalina was stuck. No matter how many situations she came up with in her head, none of them seemed right.
"Well, it does belong to someone, someone in our family.." Elena hinted.
Carolina's face suddenly lit up. "Is it abuela or abuelo's? They didn't hang a stocking yet!" she exclaimed, confident that she had solved her mother's riddle.
"Oh, we'll gladly take an extra stocking!" Lucía joked, pretending to reach over for it. "More dulces for us!"
Elena laughed and shook her head. "No one's gotten it yet!" she said. "Here, I'll give you another clue. This member of our family is not here to celebrate Navidad with us this year, but they will be here next year!"
Catalina was sitting in deep thought, putting all of the pieces together in her head. Not here this year, will be next year, a member of the family, no name, and the size of the stocking had to symbolize something. Suddenly, Catalina gasped.
"A new sibling?"
With that, Elena looked at Gabe, whose eyes were wide. All he could say in response was, "oh no..."
Elena laughed and smiled. "Yes!"
Catalina and Carolina held hands and jumped up and down in unison. Luis was also very excited, clapping his hands and smiling wide. Marcelo didn't truly know what was going on, but he knew it was something good. "Yay!" he shouted excitedly, though it sounded more like he was saying 'ray!', which made his reaction even cuter.
Lucía and Raúl were thrilled as well, they absolutely adored being abuelos to their four beautiful grandchildren, they couldn't wait to welcome one more.
"I'm so excited for you, mija!" Lucía said, wrapping her daughter in a hug. "You're certainly going to have your hands full, now aren't you?"
"I sure am!" Elena agreed with a nod. "But I've managed to survive with four, how bad could one more be?"
"Oh, I've heard that before, about three children ago." Lucía joked.
"And you two thought you had your hands full with this one, huh?" Raúl chimed in, as his youngest grandson reached up to him, wanting to be in his abuelo's arms. He picked Marcelo up and tossed him in the air, making the toddler screech in delight.
"Well, though our hands may be full, our hearts are even fuller." Elena said.
In the moments leading up to the parranda, Raúl and Lucía took in this moment surrounded by their ever growing familia. They couldn't help but wonder what would've happened on that fateful day over fifty years ago if they had left to work on the Carnaval floats even a moment sooner than they did. There was a good chance that they would've never lived to witness their daughter take back their kingdom and free Avalor from Shuriki's reign. Raúl may have never been able to place the crown upon his daughter's head to crown her queen of Avalor, or proudly walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. Lucía may have never been able to see how breathtakingly beautiful her Elenita looked moments before she was married, or witness the moment her daughter became a mamí. They thought of their four, soon to be five, beautiful grandchildren, who they never would've been able to meet. Becoming their abuelos was one of their greatest joys in life. While they couldn't help but wonder about if a single thing had gone differently, they wouldn't have wanted their lives to have turned out any other way.
17 notes · View notes
peanutxparker · 4 years
Text
A (very long) list of all of my favorite AJJ lyrics because why not
Candy Cigarettes and Cap Guns (2005)
“Well my great grand-dad he died of cancer, from smoking too many cigarettes. But I must confess that he did quite profess to being the coolest motherfucker I ever met.”
“And cocaine is essentially vegan and they don't give a fuck anyway.”
“And I can't help but miss him even though he hit me everyday.”
“So fuck white people! (fuck white people!)”
“Heaven is a special place in hell where you can watch the people you hate get hurt.”
“You find me quite charming and I find it quite alarming ‘cause I'm gonna take your life. You find me quite charming and I find it quite alarming and I'm sad you won't be my wife.”
“What makes you think you can be so pretty? And what makes you think you can be so great? And what makes you think you can be so intelligent? And what makes you think you can be so far away?”
“What makes you think you can be so wonderful? And what makes you think you can be so keen? And what makes me think I can be so hurtful? And what makes me think I can be so mean?”
“Sometimes I feel like a cigarette, I'm wrapped in paper and I'm suffocating to death.”
“I don't want to be a cigarette anymore. I'll go to hell in my self death all day and night, so please just put me out.”
People Who Can Eat People Are The Luckiest People In The World (2007)
“Rejoice despite the fact this world will hurt you. Rejoice despite the fact this world will kill you. Rejoice despite the fact this world will tear you to shreds. Rejoice because you’re trying your best”
“I'm afraid to leave the house. I'm as timid as a mouse. I'm afraid if I go out I'll outwear my welcome. I'm not a courageous man. I don't have any big lasting plans. I'm too cowardly to take a stand, I want to keep my nose clean. And it's sad to know that we're not alone in this and it's sad to know that there's no honest way out. In this life we lead, we could conquer everything if we could just get the brave to get out of bed in the morning.”
“And I give a thank-you to my father for not raising me, and I give a finger to my step-father for beating me, and I give props to myself for achieving, and god damn I’m glad that I survived, and god damn I’m surprised that I survived.”
“So I looked into your eyes and I saw the reflection of a coward you and I both hate very much and then I grabbed the knife and I let the blood out of your throat and I smashed those tiny mirrors inside of your skull.”
“If I don’t go to hell when I die I might go to heaven, might go to heaven. But probably not.”
“Just happy times and half assed rhymes and mimes because mimes are dears, but most of all I want no more tears.”
“No more racism. No more discrimination. No more fat dumb fucks keeping people out of our nation.”
“We’re all one big band across this land and we should sing in tune. Let us grow the balls to break the walls, we’ve got to do it soon.”
“And I hope our candles flicker and die so that our hearts don’t burn to the ground.”
“First we were babies, we're birthing and dying. Then we were children, we're playing and crying. And then we're teenagers and smoking and fucking. But now we're all grown up and we're sadly sighing.”
“And your manic depression, it comes and it goes. Your parasympathetic nervous system reacts and you're in fight or flight mode.”
“How's the world so small when the world is so large? And what made the world? Could I please speak to who's in charge? Everything is real but it's also just as fake. From your daughter's birthday party to your grandmother's wake.”
“I've tried to know which words to sing so many times. I tried to know which chord to play and I tried to make it rhyme. And I tried to find the key that all good songs are in. And I tried to find that notes to make that great, resounding din.”
“There's someone in your head waiting to fucking strangle you.”
“I've got essays, I've got finals due. I have got lots and lots of problems.”
“Welcome to this world, have as much fun as you would like while helping others have as much fun as you're having. Be kind to those you love and be kind to those you don't but for God's sake you gotta be kind.”
Can’t Maintain (2009)
“I wanna pick up the pieces and plant them in the ground. When a tree grows there I want to chop that tree down. Build it into a boat and float it in a lake. And with dynamite I will explode the thing that makes me make mistakes.”
“Sometimes I get so lonesome I can't breathe. Sometimes I get so scared that I can't speak. Sometimes I get so worried I can't hear my heartbeat. Anyway…”
“I wanna tear out my heart and give it away to a person more deserving one day. If all I see is the worst in everything that's all I'm gonna get, that's all I'm gonna get, that's all I'm gonna get.”
“And people freak me out. People make me scared. People make me so damn self-aware.”
“I get bronchitis twice a year at least. My lungs aren't the way they should be. And I smoke more than a mother fuckin chimney. I declare war on my body.”
“You will cough up crows that peck my eyes and I will do nothing but go blind.”
“We could live there together or I'll live alone, less happy but I'll live... unfortunately.”
“And no one will know how I truly feel ‘cause I can no longer differentiate between what is fake and what is real. I don't know how I feel.”
“And I will always appreciate bad days like this because they grant me a point of reference in regards to my happiness.”
“If the bridge that I was driving over collapsed while I was driving over it that may not be such a bad thing. I would finally meet my maker, I could meet the great creator, and I'd punch him for teaching me how to sing.”
“Don't know if I believe in god but sometimes I pray because the way I was raised keeps me afraid.”
“I hope I can forgive me for having the nerve to exist. I hope someone can help me make some sense of this.”
“Sense and sensibility and peaceful productivity, a pretty girl with broken wings is all that I desire. But there's so much hostility in all the things surrounding me. The awful glow of enmity is trying to stop my shine. So I try to look inwardly at all the things inside of me but sodomy and buggery keep bubbling to the top.”
“I met you once over the phone, you sounded sad and you seemed alone. You left me but I never left you. I never had the chance to.”
“If you spend all your heart on something that has died you are not alive and that can't be your life.”
Knife Man (2011)
“There's no one to blame. People are just fucking mean.”
“So if I see a penny on the ground, I leave it alone or fucking flip it. I'm a straight white male in America. I've got all the luck I need.”
“I've got a pile of broken mirrors and I'm walking under ladders and I'll spill a ton of salt because to me that doesn't matter.”
“You were dead by the time that I had found you. Your blood was spilled on the couch where we had first kissed. So I carried you west to the sea so I could wash you. Your body felt just like a back pack.”
“I hate whiny, fucking songs like this but I can't afford a therapist. Sorry guys, here's a solo.”
“Some days I feel like I'm the weakest and others the strongest. These days are the longest and I've got the weirdest feeling about this and I wanna go away for a while.”
“I wish I had a bullet big enough to fucking kill the sun. I'm sick of songs about the summer.”
“When you have no one, you are no one. Like I said, I used to work at the people pound. All these no ones clumped together, just like a human lost and found. If they left them all be someones there wouldn't be enough to go around. It's better for us all us if there are no ones. And I knew a lot of no ones round that time. They used to all be someones until something took their life and all their someones disappeared while they're stuck there waiting in a line. And for them now, no one seems to have the time.”
“They say ambition is an enemy of weakness and greatness is an enemy of fame.When I pick up my guitar and I try to write a song, I think of what my mentor used to say… “Who fucking gives a rat's ass Steve, just write a love song. Cus they'll keep your belly full and your wallet lined. Don't bother these nice people with your sad sack songs. If you ask me I think they're just a waste of time.””
“Inspiration is the best friend of my sorrow and sorrow is the best friend of my drink. Well I want to look myself in the eye tomorrow but I'm too worried of what other folk's will think.”
“And the troubles in my heart need to get let out. And the troubles in my heart need to escape. And I never liked writing poetry and I never liked doing pottery and God knows that I never learned to paint. So every now and then, I'll sing sad songs. Cus it keeps my spirit light and my conscience clean. And if you don't care to hear I don't mind if you go out for some air. Cus I'm happy that you're happier than me.”
“So I wish I had a cigarette for every time a perfect stranger asked me for a cigarette but I wonder what a cigarette will really do to help that person out. I wish to God I had some spare change for every time a perfect stranger asked me for some spare change but there's not enough spare change in the world to make such an empty gesture count.”
“You can hope it gets better and you can follow your dreams but hope is for presidents and dreams are for people who are sleeping.”
“You don't have it any better and you don't have it any worse. You're an irreplaceable human soul with your own understanding of what it means to suffer and that’s a huge bummer.”
“I'm afraid of the way I live my life. I'm afraid of the way I don't. I'm afraid of the things that I want to do but I won't. I'm afraid of God. I'm afraid to believe and I'm afraid of all the loved ones that I've made leave. I'm afraid that my dog doesn't love me anymore. I'm afraid of the social laziness that let Kitty Genovese die. And I'm afraid of the mob mentality that makes otherwise normal people go blind. I'm afraid of the way that the world works and I'm afraid of the words in my notebooks. I'm afraid that you all know that I am a pervert.”
“It's harder to be yourself than it is to be anybody else. I wish I were a little less of a coward but the big red bird that lives under the city doesn't give a damn about me and it dies every night. So I bought a knife. I am a knife.”
Rompilation (2012)
“I used to be a spiderman, I used to be a cowboy from hell, but not anymore. Now I'm just a clam and I live inside this shell inside this shell I am. God damn I hate my brain.”
“I'll dip my brain in medicine so that you can stand to be with me.”
“Give me your tired, give me your tired, give me your poor. When our government acts like this, I wonder what World War II was for and the rest of the country hates us more and more. Lady Liberty is not a whore.”
“This is not a protest, it's a tortoise slowly pushing through a race. I hope the tortoise keeps its patience while the hare continues to pepper-spray its face.”
“There is no enemy, there's only people that also love their families and they're scared that they won't have enough long after they are deceased. But how much money do they need? Love turns into fear, and fear turns into greed. There is no enemy, there's only dummies that also love their families.”
“And this is not a phase, it's just a matter of time, with diligence and peacefulness, you will reach them and you will change their minds. If you stay there long enough, they'll start to see you.”
“And when you pushed my face in shit how could that have made you feel like a man or like a monster. It's your fault that I can't tell the difference.”
“In the evening I try songwriting. I'm self loathing, but I love singing. I'll try escaping these evil feelings but they keep coming, they keep coming…”
“So the baby's gonna have a daddy, that's wonderful news. He won't be the greatest parent but neither will you! Gotta get out while you can, otherwise you're screwed. Your legs are broken and your eyes are black and blue.”
“And smoking is like hiring a hitman for five dollars a day, and as cool as that is, I don't wanna keep dying this way.”
Christmas Island (2014)
“Shoot him again ‘cause I can see his soul dancing.”
“If you give it to me I’ll give it back much harder. If you treat me like a son, then I’ll treat you like a daughter. Everyone has a future, everyone has a soul, everyone has a heart, they have a mind, they have control.”
“The Coffin Dancer dances like he has something the prove because he does. He sleeps a couple hours in the morning, hates the morning when he wakes up.”
“The Coffin Dancer dances like he wants to make a friend, but he does not.”
“Getting naked and playing with guns. There's a gerbil in the microwave, a baseball bat in everyone. Sharing kisses and building a bomb. We'll set it off like Microsoft in '94.”
“McDonald's PlayPlace before the Xbox, cake frosting, sweet talking, bedroom wall, covered in knives, touching God, burning shit. We'll make a wish and take a trip to Future Town like our daddy did.”
“Have you ever wanted to be, have you ever wanted to see someone better in the mirror? Have you ever wanted to go, have you ever wanted to know somewhere greener, somewhere cleaner. I bet you got something beautiful in mind.”
“I can’t handle astounding works of beauty. I think I like my pretty pretty ugly but the beautiful soul I witnessed in that movie was an entirely different kind of overwhelming. It was a dog that won’t stop barking. Like a cut that never stops bleeding. Arizona sunsets in the early evening. Or a grown man inconsolably weeping.”
“I am the Kool-Aid stains on the mouth of a kid whose name is most likely Cody. He had a juice box for breakfast and he carries a stick that he most likely found in the alley. Cody doesn't have friends and his parents hate each other and he wants to find a better way to love his family and after school he hangs out in the abandoned house behind the Arby's.”
The Bible 2 (2016)
“Oh, I love you cause I love you cause I can.”
“On your last night at Saint Mary's you were way too intoxicated to breathe. So I used your ribs as ladders and I climbed up on your chest and I jumped up and down just like a trampoline.”
“Confused and rude. Such a special kind of way to be cruel.”
“If I were one of the things, I'd be american garbage. The most beautiful thing. The most beautiful american garbage you have ever seen.”
“No more shame, no more fear, no more dread.”
“And if you don't want to feel the feeling, no one should ever make you feel the feeling.”
“I thought I saw you before I knew who you were.”
“I just wanted to rage but all I got was tired”
“I showed him all the books that I was raised on. Your Madeleine L'Engle(s) and D'Aulaires' Mythologies.”
“And his eyes became a beacon, an LCD projector, broadcasting all my memories in a clear and vivid picture. His tongue became a staircase, his uvula - The knocker of an ornate wooden door that lead me straight into my future. His throat became a hallway with a thousand baby pictures and I became forgiveness, I transformed into the closure that I lost when I learned about the tragedy of all of us. I lost it when I learned about the tragedy of all of us.”
Good Luck Everybody (2019)
“If you don't give it to them they'll starve to death and that's alright.”
“I've got the normalization blues, this isn't normal, this isn't good.”
“I'm detached and I'm distracted, all keyed up but unproductive, vacillating between being all excited and disgusted and then dozing lackadaisically in this bubble where I've made my mental home. Connection's more important now than it ever was, but I'd rather be alone.”
“And when we talk about the president, we're either pissed off or we're giggling about an atrocity he's committing or some stupid shit he's tweeting. He's a symptom and a weapon of the evil men who really run the show. The ones who melt down human beings into money like a cruel Sorcerer's Stone.”
“This is the golden age of dickotry, probably the last golden age of anything, and the ugliest word in the English language is anthropocene. Good luck, everybody. Good luck.”
“But before that, you'll be a doormat, for every vicious narcissist in the world. Oh how they'll screw you, all up and over, then feed you silence for dessert.”
“I'm sorry that you have to have a body, filled with infection, one hundred scabs singing in unison, eyes and hands, sometimes bullets, uninvited, passing through us.”
“Oh to be awake for such a shitty dream. A bullet in the head of every decent thing.”
“The lake of dead black children that America created is getting fuller than the founding Fathers even wanted. The ghost of great America was underestimated and now it rages like a cold sore on the lip of this dumb nation. Again we've slipped inside a pit of absolute despair. That's where we live.”
“Rewarding our worst cruelty, they destroyed our shared reality, and now they upsell us our dignity like some fucked VIP package.”
“There is no absolute, these days there's no such thing as truth and you don't need to be a dick about it.”
“I'm a burnout and a fool, oblivious to all I do. I move my lips when I read and breathe with my mouth open, wide open. Timid, meek, and cruel, this is the best that I can do. I need to speak my truth, yet here I'm broken wide, wide open. My resentment, big and strong, and all the things that I can't change. They'll buckle me beneath the weight. I will drive myself insane with all the things that I can't change. I hate all the things that I can't change.”
“You're a loudmouth and a tool, and as it turns out I am too, and you don't need to be a dick about it.”
“Because I know that you know what I need more than me and I know that you need me more than that.”
“For all the pussies you grab and the children you lock up in prison, for all the rights you roll back and your constant stream of racism, for all the poison you drip in my ear, for all your ugly American fear. I wrote you this beautiful song called Psychic Warfare.”
“I hate you with all of my heart. I hate you with all of my art.”
“I went back to the desert, little Midwest in me, and now I am colder than I used to be. I live in a fortress the shape of my body, and now there's a coldness, and it's shaped like me. Now I don't suffer any more bullshit gladly. Even though everything's bullshit now, here in 2019 and you can bet it's gonna be a bunch of bullshit too out in sweet 2020 or whenever this album's released.”
112 notes · View notes
lambourngb · 4 years
Text
he’s got a smart mouth but a good heart - Michael Guerin
It’s Day 2, celebrating characters, and much to my own surprise, at the end of season 2, Michael Guerin decided to move into my brain and take up residence. Obviously I still love Alex Manes (He lives first and foremost in my brain since 1x08), but there was something about how Michael buried his own pain about his mother to help everyone in season two that rang pretty true to my own life right now. I didn’t always like what he was doing in season 2 but I understood it.
Anyway, when I find a story that celebrates how complicated he is, I cheer and rejoice- so here’s a few of the stories that I have gone back to again and again.
Truck stop knives and other assessors of childhood @angsty-aliens (13,200) I can’t lie, I love a good trope story, and I especially love a good sci-fi trope story, so this story hits all of my buttons. It takes our two science nerds, Liz and Michael, mucking around, and accidentally creating a version of Michael- but not just any version, but the child who hitchhiked to Fosters ranch, completely over humans and desperate to find his family. The kid who was feral from neglect and abuse... he was the cutest thing and the most mortifying thing that ever happened to Michael to be displayed and shown. This story takes the de-aged trope and turns it on its head, and oh yeah, there’s a sweet backdrop to Michael and Alex getting together.
Implicit Memories of You by @ninswhimsy (3464) - So this is an amnesia story canon-divergent story set after 2x11 basically, where they use the mind erasing drug on Michael. I know, I’m reccing this about Michael characterization, but it’s so solidly him after all the memories are stripped away and he’s acting on instincts, locked in a room to torture Alex with before death. There’s so much going on in so few words, something that Nin is a master at, especially the ephemeral remembrances of his mother that Michael has- oof right in the feels.
Maybe this time (he’ll stay) by @hannah-writes​ (7700) This is a sequel to one of my favorite stories I recced last year, dealing in alternative timelines where in one world, Michael is lost and alone and has pushed Alex away, and in another world where Alex came home from Iraq in a flagged draped coffin. It answers the question, what about Mikey? Where’s his happy ending? The confirmation of the multiverse means there’s an Alex out there who needs him- and through trial and error, Michael finds him. The world building in both stories is top notch, because for every action, there’s a reaction and reason shaping Michael.
Constant as the northern star by celzmccelz (53,000) - don’t know the tumblr here - This is an Mpreg, and it starts solidly after 1x13 and goes AU from there. But what if in the 100 mile drive home from Caulfield, Michael and Alex share a grief-induced moment of insanity where they fall back into their oldest language- sex for comfort, and then Michael does everything he does in the finale, including turning toward Maria, what if there was a souvenir? Despite the trope of mpreg, this is just how I see Michael, deeply in love with Alex but unable to trust that Alex feels the same depth in return. The friendships in here are also top-notch, from Kyle being a baby-doctor, to Isobel having her own Max-related spiral unable to let go of her brother only to refocus on Michael, to Liz fucking off with Rosa for the first half of the story because she’s caught up in her own grief (which turned out to be canon!). And there’s a whole plot here! With Jesse Manes being the worst.
Leave the light on by @sabrinachill​ (36,900) - Confession time- I love fake dating as a trope, I know, shocked right? But I especially love it with RNM because Malex are exes by 1x03. Mattie nailed the dynamic of pining and the assumption of unrequited love so well in this story. Although the POV switches here a bit between chapters, (and Alex is fabulous) what I really really loved was how she wrote Michael, in love but convinced that he’s messed up too much for Alex. Aware of his faults but not in a sullen way, but an acknowledgment that he was in a bad place and Alex hasn’t always been the best remedy him in the past. It was a very mature take on the “give me another chance” trope in Malex reunion stories, where both sides had a share of blame. The plot was suspenseful and tight (how do people do that???) with a climax that honestly shocked me! I really enjoyed rereading it while I prepped my rec-sets, and I won’t be surprised if this story isn’t mentioned by everyone doing ‘Creators Week’. It’s worthy of all the love.
Temporary wounds by @prouvaireafterdark​ (7800) - How many times can I rec this story? Hopefully you’re not bored by my adoration of this Lynne.  So even though it’s set post-season 1 with the assumption that Michael/Maria will fizzle out while Alex/Forrest date- it’s actually perfectly set for season 3 (an author who is psychic??). As a rule, I hate jealousy as a trope, but this story has the only type of jealousy I want to see on screen- where Michael wonders what was missing inside of him that Alex didn’t want to be public during their long affair (even with the acknowledgment that Alex was too scared before)- like that type of sad pining is my catnip!
The first who ever did by nostalijinks (33,000) post season 1, but really it also stands pretty well after season 2.  There was an interview during season 1 I think that talked about how all Michael really wanted was to be a hero to Alex (the way he stepped in front of Jesse as a kid)  but he thinks he failed at it since Alex enlisted. That failure soured him in ways but he never stops trying, for Alex. This is a really well done 5 times plus 1 story, with an overreaching arc of reconciliation between Alex and Michael, starting as teenagers, then as adults while Michael is with Maria, then as friends, real friends, trying to support Alex as Alex dates. The whole emotional journey of maturity that Michael takes here is so well done, where there’s no real villains in the friend group. I just love it. I wish the author had written 100 more like this one, but as a standalone work it’s epic.
The person that you’d take a bullet for is behind the trigger by @iwontbeyourmedicine​ (25,000) Ly has a very large body of work, that you could spend days paging through on AO3 or tumblr, but this one hits two of my kinks hard- the amnesia story line and true love conquers all. So three fandoms ago I was huge into Steve/Bucky, that iconic moment in Cap 2 where Bucky breaks through the brainwashing has never left me. This story takes my love for that moment, and makes it Malex. Alex gets programmed by his family and set loose on his friends, on the aliens and it’s a shitshow bloodbath since he’s really fucking good at kicking ass. Michael is caught between keeping everyone safe and trying not to hurt Alex, and the tension is just top-notch. I love how it’s not an immediate fix either, the way they circle each other in the aftermath, wanting to come home, but home would be a totally new step for both of them. Just chef’s kiss good at joining action, angst, and romance together.
Into the palm of your hand by @haloud​ (5900) hal is a treasured friend, so I am admitting some bias here, but we both enjoy talking about how wonderful and sad Michael is and how desperately we enjoy poking at that softness and then wrapping him up with love again... so this story was written pre-shamegate (and if you know what that means, I’m sorry) but it matches my head canon of what the history of hiding does to someone. The internalization of believing maybe there’s a reason behind the hiding that has nothing to do with homophobic townies. Alex has an ex boyfriend come to town, and he doesn’t tell Michael. And omg the journey hal takes us on with Michael’s spiral and Brave Little Toaster act was so wonderful and painful and real. The communication between these two was top notch as they worked through a road bump from the past, and let’s face it, once we get our malex back, these things are going to happen, and it will either tear them apart or bring them closer together- I prefer to believe it will be closer together.
There is beauty in a failure by @jule1122​ (2400) There’s been a few Greg and Michael stories to pop up on my radar after 2x10, and this one was one of my favorites. This is a Greg who pulls no punches in exposing his brother’s past to Michael, but also gives Michael the space to work through what he wants. It’s an AU from 2x12, that allowed Michael to break up with Maria for basically the same reasons that Maria used on him in 2x13. The way Michael is able to what he wants and communicate it Alex in the end- so good! We can only hope to see something similar in season 3.
I don’t know what to think (but I think of supernovas) by @queersirius​ (3900) This story is a delight from start to finish- I mean frustrated cursing turns the console on into a hologram who then takes the most pleasing form to Michael’s eyes? SIGN ME UP for those shenanigans. I fucking loved how Isobel saw it first too. And then the comedy of Alex discovering it? And what happens afterwards? Oh it’s so delicious. Now of course, full disclosure, this light-hearted romp through the feels also inspired me  to think up a much much sadder version of Michael building an AI for companionship considering how isolated he ended up being at the end of Season 2 and we all know Michael needs friends, badly.
Innuendo by the Roswell anon (6000) written for @bisexualalienblast​  the roswell anon is my favorite treasure in this fandom, I could pretty much list all of their stories as examples of some very fine Michael Guerin characterization. This one was one of my favorite post-season 1 fix-it fics though, because it has some of the most real 28-30 year old guy dialogue I’ve come across- from the crude jokes, to the sharply self-deprecating observations- this is Alex and Michael stripped down, all edges but what’s left is fatigue and love. The resolution at the end, where Alex observes that yes, Michael has tried the last 10 years but this is their first chance to try together- to pull in the same direction? It just lays me flat on the ground with how true that is to canon.
Whenever You Want to Begin, Begin by @foramomentonly (3200) - this is a sequel, and the first story is dynamite- don’t get me wrong- but it moves from the hopeful side of an ending to legit Happily-Ever-After here, and I devoured every word. First of all, having Michael turn to photography as a way of self-improvement is fucking genius. Photographers are always at the center of every happy event, but never the focus, and that screams Michael to me, the way he lives on the outskirts of the 9-5 job and literal outskirts of town in his trailer. The other thing is photographers are revealed by their work, and that’s also something I head-canon with Michael just in the mundane- he’s good with his hands, he wants to leave a car better than he found. Anyway, this story is gorgeously written, moves a bit like a really good bottle of wine- heavy but soft, as you watch Michael become Alex’s friend, and even more importantly, Alex becomes Michael’s friend. Fantastic- I’ve read it about four times now since it was published.
68 notes · View notes
janetbrown711 · 3 years
Note
Maybe one where William tells Yakko his favorite story? The one where he and Angelina meet? Maybe could have some parallels to the scene in wakkos wish where yakko is telling dot her story, things like the nose snuggles 😖💕
Prince Yakko Warner wasn’t an exceptionally energetic three-year-old, but he still liked to stretch out his “awake time” as long as possible, especially if the day was special (such as a holiday or birthday). So, it was a nightly tradition for King William and Queen Angelina to have to go back and forth in settling the young prince down for the night. 
“Daaaaad tell me the storyyyy,” He pulled on his father’s sleeve as he set him into his bed. 
“The story? Which story?” William teased as he tucked him in, but Yakko squirmed right out and got on top of the blankets. Yakko frowned. 
“The story. About you and mommy,” He huffed. Angelina laughed as she folded his day clothes and set them aside. 
“Ooh, that story,” William winked playfully and Yakko giggled and nodded. William looked at Angelina and smirked. 
“You know, I don’t think I remember that one,” He said. Yakko gasped. 
“You have to!” Yakko pleaded. 
“Oh? And why is that?” William said, and Angelina shook her head.
“It’s my birthdayyyyyyy,” Yakko collapsed face down onto the bedding and William laughed.  
“Alright, because it’s your birthday I’ll remember it,” William said, and Yakko rejoiced, shooting right up again. 
“Well, I’ll leave you two to it,” Angelina said, giving Yakko a quick kiss on the cheek, but Yakko grabbed her arm. 
“Stay with me,” He gave her puppy dog eyes.
“R-really?” Angelina asked, not used to the invitation. Yakko nodded and patted behind him. She glanced at William, who nodded, and she scooped up Yakko and sat down, before placing him back in her lap. Yakko then snuggled in close and motioned for William to begin. 
“Alright now... let’s see...” He stroked his chin, before snapping his fingers. “There once was a man from Mantucket-”
“That’s not the story,” Yakko interrupted, and Angelina did her best to repress a chuckle. 
“It isn’t?” William tilted his head innocently. Angelina gave him a “don’t make this last too long mister, Yakko still needs to go to bed at a reasonable hour” look. 
“No,” He huffed. “You say ‘once upon a time there was a beauuuuutiful princess.”
“Right right right,” He agreed. “I remember now... let’s see...”
“Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess-”
“That’s you mommy,” Yakko looked up at her and Angelina smiled and nodded. 
“-whose name was Angelina,” the king continued. “She was beautiful, intelligent, wise, graceful, and everything a princess ought to be,” he said, glancing at Angelina as he spoke. 
“And there was a knight too!” Yakko said. Angelina rubbed his arms. 
“Let him tell the story dear,” She whispered, more so because he was getting too energetic again. Yakko nodded and zipped his lips before returning his attention to William. 
“Oh, but he was only a squire at the time,” William pointed out. Yakko nodded, memorizing the fact. “But yes- there was a squire too. He was bold and brave, but also optimistic and true, but he had a major problem and that was that he was terrible at talking to pretty girls.”
Yakko snickered at that. 
“So when he found out he had to live on the grounds of the Warnerstock castle for his knighthood training, he nearly panicked at the thought of having the chance of meeting the beautiful princess he had heard so much about.” 
“However, the squire kept his cool until-”
“Until his first day at the stables, where he met her,” Angelina winked at Yakko, who giggled more. William rolled his eyes. 
“Yes. It had been a long journey to travel to the castle. The squire had to travel over hills and valleys, across mountains and rivers, to finally arrive, and when he did he was put right to work with training. So, by the time he had to attend to his horseback riding lessons, he was already quite tired, but upon seeing the face of the Princess, a newfound sense of energy and purpose had filled his entire being.”
“Or in other words, the squire was instantly in love,” Angelina said. Yakko cuddled closer to her and smiled. 
“Oh yes, it was quite instant. In fact, it was so instant, that the squire instantly fell apart once she started speaking to him.”
“And all she had said was a simple ‘hello’,” Angelina snorted. Yakko then shushed her and she backed down. 
“That’s true. The princess had greeted him while getting off her horse. Her beauty so entranced the squire, that he didn’t pay attention to where he was going and tripped right over a bucket of water, which then went everywhere,” He and Angelina both laughed at that. 
“Of course, the squire apologized profusely for his error, but thankfully the princess was as patient as she was beautiful and she helped him up. She asked him about himself, and he told her willingly, but when he was called to his lesson, she stayed and watched. After the lesson, they talked more and more, quickly becoming very good friends.”
“But the evil queen didn’t approve,” Yakko said. William nodded, and Angelina gripped Yakko’s blanket.
“That’s right. She was mean, and didn’t like the young squire, or her own daughter for that matter,” he said, glancing at Angelina, who motioned for him to continue. 
“But the squire and the princess carried on anyway, knowing deep down no matter what happened they were destined for each other, it was written in the stars,” He said with a comforting smile. 
“And so every spring, they’d take walks in the gardens and plant new flowers together, and watch each other ride on horseback, and slowly but surely the princess fell in love with the squire too.”
“Knew it,” Yakko whispered to himself and Angelina kissed the top of his head. 
“And so they waited and waited for their time to come, planting countless flowers and singing countless songs as they waited, and one day the Evil Queen died, and the princess and the squire could finally be together.”
“Yay,” Yakko cheered and clapped, though a bit tiredly.
“No less than a month later, the pair were married, and the Princess became Queen and the squire became knight then King,” William explained. 
“And then what happened?” Yakko asked. 
“Well... a month or so later, the new King and Queen planted another garden, to celebrate their marriage and the beginning of their new life together and well... later came the cutest baby boy the kingdom had ever seen,” William said
“Who?” Yakko questioned with a yawn.
“You, silly,” Angelina chuckled, scrunching her nose against his. Yakko giggled. 
“You were the cutest baby the kingdom had ever seen, and the kingdom was excited to see they had a healthy heir to the throne, and everyone welcomed in a new era of peace and prosperity,” William said, moving to sit next to Angelina on the bed as opposed to across. 
“Was I really that cute?” He asked. 
“The cutest,” Angelina assured. 
“Oh yes, the Queen couldn’t stop crying upon seeing how cute the new prince was.”
“Oh, but the King wasn’t any better,” Angelina gave him a look. 
“No, no he wasn’t,” William laughed and admitted. Yakko smiled and scooted over to be in between the two. 
“So then what happened?” Yakko asked with a yawn. 
“Well... then they had to raise the new prince,” William stated. 
“It wasn’t easy at first, but with teamwork and just the right amount of love, they’ve done a pretty good job so far, if I may say so myself,” She kissed Yakko’s forehead and slowly stood up, and William copied the motion, the two carefully tucking him into bed. 
“Mhm,” Yakko agreed tiredly. “After that?”
“After that? Well...” Angelina glanced at William. 
“They started making plans for a new garden too,” William said, kissing Yakko’s forehead. 
“And then?” He asked again. 
“I don’t know. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” Angelina said, embracing his face with her gloved hand and rubbing his face with her thumb softly. 
“Awww,” Yakko frowned. 
“Goodnight Yakko,” William said. 
“What? I’m not tired,” he protested, right before yawning. Angelina rolled her eyes. 
“Do you want a lullaby too?” She asked. Yakko smiled and nodded, adjusting himself to be more comfortable in bed. Angelina shook her head softly with a smile. 
“Goodnight, goodnight, it’s time now to sleep,” She sang softly, pulling up the blanket to cover his shoulders. “the moon’s watching over, you and your dreams.”
“Goodnight, goodnight, my sweet little one,” She kissed his forehead once more. “Tomorrow your eyes, they will light up the sun.”
She then hummed the melody once more, and Yakko hummed along, a small smile on his face. 
“But goodnight, goodnight, sweet dreams for now.” She sat, keeping her distance. “Drift off to sleep, on your pillow of clouds.”
“Goodnight, goodnight, my sweet little friend. Tomorrow’s adventure, they will soon begin,”
“They will soon begin,” She practically whispered, as the prince was now asleep. She smiled. 
“Goodnight my dear,” She said softly, standing up and going to the doorway.
To her surprise, William was standing in the frame waiting for her. She closed the door softly, and the moment she turned around he pulled her into a much welcomed, but surprising kiss. 
“What was that for?” She asked, forcing them to move away from Yakko’s bedroom. 
“I love you, Lena. I really, really do,” William said with a soft smile. 
“I love you too William,” She smiled and kissed him back, before pausing. 
“Were you really serious about planting another garden?” She asked, her arms around his neck. William nodded. 
“Only if you want to as well, of course. I just... don’t see the problem with having more than type of flower,” He said, blushing. Angelina smiled and kissed him again. 
“We’ll see now won’t we?” She winked. William chuckled tiredly and together, arm in arm, they walked back to their bedroom, and tucked themselves in for the night. 
68 notes · View notes