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#but i always had to wonder if he'd ever dream of being free from that burden
Pity Party.
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Synopsis - Carmy just wants to see you treated the way he thinks you deserve. He decides to take matters into his own hands.
Pairing - Carmen Berzatto x Female Roommate Reader
Word Count - 3k
Warnings - smut. cursing. alcohol mention. carmys filthy mouth.
Age Rating - 18+
Author's Note - hello hello hello!! i am back!! i had a wonderful vacation soaking up the sun, and i am feeling refreshed and ready to go. i have had so many ideas over the past few weeks, so i'm excited to get some of them written asap!! this was a fic that came to me randomly, as i was thinking about roommate!carmen and how much of a menace he'd be if you ever talked about other guys. this was written as a part of my carmen roommates collection. it doesn't follow on from Finders, Keepers or Sweet Dreams, but it does exist in the same universe - so you can decide if this takes place before or after!! as always, feel free to send me any ideas or thoughts or burning desires you have. so much love <3
as always, reblogs, comments and feedback (even anonymous feedback) are immensely appreciated!! your reblogs are the only way to circulate my fics, which keeps me going <3
Series Masterlist. Masterlist. Inbox.
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"You're back early."
Carmy had swung the door open, expecting to come home to an empty apartment. Instead, he's met with the sight of you, sitting on the couch, undoing the straps of your shoes.
"Fuckin' disaster," you mutter, loud enough for him to hear.
He breathes out a chuckle at the stormy look on your face. Carmy thinks you're cutest when you're angry. He aches to smooth the crease between your brows with his thumb.
"That bad?" he asks, taking a seat next you and kicking off his sneakers.
"You wouldn't even believe."
He rises and makes his way to the kitchen, filling the tea kettle and placing it on the stove top. Grabbing two mugs, he casts a glance over his shoulder at you, frowning at your body language. You look defeated.
Carmy steeps two cups of tea, placing one of them carefully into your waiting hands. He resumes his seat on the sofa, pressing his thigh against yours and turning to face you.
"You wanna talk about it?"
You think for a moment before replying.
"You're gonna laugh at me."
His face instantly crumples, confusion written all over it.
"I'll never laugh at you. I'll laugh with you, sure. But never at you."
He nudges your shoulder with his, urging you to go on.
"Okay, fine. The actual date was pretty good. He took me to that Italian place downtown-"
"Dolce Vita? Did you get the truffle pasta I told you about?" Carmy interrupts you before you can continue.
"Yes, oh my God. It was incredible. Do you think you can recreate it sometime?"
"Fuck yeah. They're pretty secretive with their recipes, but I think I can figure it out. You can help me if you want - I'm gonna need a sous chef."
He pulls a reluctant laugh from you, the sound echoing off the ceramic of your mugs. You both know that being the sous chef involves you sitting on the counter drinking wine while Carmy does all the work.
"Of course. I'll always be your sous chef."
"I'll hold you to that."
You smile at him gently, a little taken aback by the sincerity in his voice.
"Anyway. The dinner went great. He seemed super interested in me, asked me questions, told me about his job, his hobbies, his dog. He was hot, and good to talk to. I thought I'd hit the jackpot."
"And then?"
"And then we went back to his apartment. And it all went to shit."
He chuckles, blue eyes glinting in the moonlight.
"Tell me more."
"You really want to hear about all of this?"
It's not like you and Carmy aren't close. You absolutely are. It's just that there's always been this unspoken connection between the two of you. A bubbling, fiery attraction that you both shut down repeatedly, screwing the lid on tight whenever it rears its head. So, you tend to avoid talking to Carmy about dating. You're scared you'll accidentally blurt out the truth - you compare every single date to him.
"Of course I do."
His answer is so genuine it makes you ache. You continue, hesitantly.
"Well... things got a little... heavy. He wasn't a bad kisser, I guess... he just wasn't... a good one? He kept biting my lip super hard and it kinda hurt. Then he pulled my clothes off like a high schooler, and he's on top of me, and I'm waiting for him to sort of... do... anything? And then he's finished. Like, completely done. And then he has the nerve to ask me if I finished."
Carmy's mouth has fallen open, shock etched across his face. After a long, heavy pause, he speaks.
"What the fuck?"
You look at him for moment, before bursting into contagious laughter. He joins you, both of you with your heads thrown back, giggles reverberating around the lowlit room.
"I mean, seriously," he pants, still laughing. "What the fuck?"
"I didn't even answer him. I just put my clothes on, grabbed my bag and left without saying a word."
Every time you try to stifle your laughter, a giggle escapes. The situation wasn't funny at the time, but looking back, it's hilarious.
All of a sudden, you both go silent. You're deep in thought, reflecting on the seemingly never ending stream of bad dates that you've endured. Carmy is watching you intently, ocean blue eyes glued to your face.
"Fuck," you breathe. "This is kinda pathetic."
Carmy inhales deeply, and turns his body so it's facing yours on the couch.
"The way I see it," he begins, "you have two options."
You quirk a brow in confusion and stay quiet, waiting for him to explain.
"You can sit here feeling sorry for yourself, or, you can let me fuck you the way you deserve."
Your mouth falls open in shock at the exact same moment your brain seems to shut down. You can't think. You can't process his words. All you can focus on is the way he's staring at you. You suddenly feel hot under his gaze, the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. A shiver runs down your spine, and you have to remind yourself to breathe.
"Wh-... what?" you choke out.
"You heard me, honey. You can wallow in your little pity party, or you can let me show you what it's like to be with someone who can actually make you come. Your choice."
His voice has dropped an octave lower than usual, the tone warm and honeyed. He's still staring at you, blue gaze unrelenting.
"Is this gonna fuck everything up between us?" you whisper hesitantly.
Carmy reaches out and places a gentle hand on your cheek, thumb stroking careful circles into your skin.
"I don't think anything can fuck up what we have," he murmurs. "You're the only thing in my life that makes sense."
His confession seems to sober you up, the honesty in his words snapping you back to your senses.
"Okay."
He almost does a double take at the sureness in your voice.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Put your money where your mouth is, Carmen."
"There she is," he chuckles. "You scared me when you went quiet for a second there."
"Well, if what you say is true, you're not gonna be able to shut me up for the night."
He laughs darkly, and slides closer to you slightly.
"Oh, honey. You're gonna wish you hadn't said that."
He tucks a strand of hair behind your ear, tracing the journey of your neck with his fingertips. He rests his hand lightly at the base of your throat, the heavy weight of it making you pant.
"If there's any point where you don't like something, or you want me to slow down, just say so. Okay?"
You nod your head, entranced by the sudden dominance he's displaying. You've never seen this side of him before. You can't believe he's been hiding it this whole time.
"Words, pretty. Need to hear you say it."
"Yes. I understand. I'll tell you, I promise."
He doesn't say anything in reply, just smirks. He lets you sit in the silence for a moment too long, the anticipation slowly killing you.
"Please, Carmen," you breathe. "Please."
"Fuck," he groans, shuffling closer to you. "You sound so pretty when you beg."
Carmy leans in and kisses your cheek gently, testing the waters. He presses a kiss to your other cheek, and pulls back to watch for your reaction. When he's happy, he tilts forward and leaves a careful kiss on your chin, then your forehead, then both of your closed eyes, before kissing you on the side of your mouth. His closeness makes you whine, desperate for him to give you what you want.
Finally, he connects his lips to yours, starting off slow and tender. When you tangle your fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck and try to pull him even closer, his resolve snaps. His tongue sweeps into your mouth, exploring eagerly. You clamber over him and climb into his lap, straddling his hips and pressing yourself into his body.
Carmy can't decide where to put his hands. He's grabbing at your waist, running his fingers up your back, pulling you into him by your ass. You're both groaning into each others mouths, enraptured by the other person and the all consuming way they kiss.
"Can I take this off?" he asks lowly, pulling at the hem of your dress.
Instead of answering, you pull it over your head, throwing it onto the floor in front of you.
"Fuck," he murmurs. "Most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
His hands are roaming all of your exposed skin, as if he can't get enough. He's terrified he won't ever get to see you like this again, so he's not going to waste a second.
You grind your hips down into his, eliciting a groan from the both of you. His hands tighten their grip on your waist, as he leans up to press open mouthed kisses to your jaw. Your fingers fly to the hem of his t shirt, pulling it off swiftly. You manage to shove his jeans down and off, before attempting to pull off his underwear. Carmy stops you in your tracks.
"Nuh uh," he tuts. "This is about you. Not me."
He pulls you off his lap gently and shuffles so his back is resting against the couch cushions. He spreads his legs wide, and gestures for you to sit between them. When you don't move, he looks at you carefully.
"Give me a color, pretty girl."
You take a deep breath, and smile at him softly.
"Green, Carmen. Promise."
You manoeuvre sideways, so you can place yourself with your back to his chest. He wraps his arms around you for a moment and holds you tightly, as if he's scared you'll disappear any second. You relax into his embrace, all the tension leaving your body. You have nothing to worry about. It's just you and Carmen, in the place you call home.
You drop your head back into Carmy's shoulder, and allow yourself to get lost in the feeling of his hands on your skin. He's begun tracing patterns down your arms, your sides, your stomach, until he reaches your underwear. He plays with the band, dipping his finger underneath in a feather light touch. Goose bumps rise across your body and you shiver, practically vibrating with need.
"Carmen," you whisper. "Don't tease."
"But that's half the fun," he murmurs into your ear, and you can hear the smile in his voice.
You can picture it perfectly, too. The way his eyes crinkle, the way his mouth curves, the way he bites his lip to stifle it. The image in your mind makes you melt into him further. You want to be as close to him as you physically can be. You'd completely disappear into him if you could.
He brings you back to reality by cupping you over your underwear, groaning when he feels the saturated material.
"Oh, pretty girl. Is this all for me? Fuck."
Suddenly, his game of teasing has lost all its fun. Carmy twists his fingers into your underwear and pulls them off in one swift movement, throwing them in the general direction of your dress on the floor. He places a hand on each of your thighs and spreads them apart, hooking them over his legs.
Carmy starts off slow, careful. He caresses over your skin, gentle and almost apprehensive. When he gets to your core, he swipes a finger through, testing the waters. When you buck your hips into his hand, he knows you're both on the same page.
"Just relax, okay? Gonna make you feel good."
His deep, smooth, whiskey like voice is doing nothing to help the heat bubbling in your stomach. You only whine in response, wiggling your hips to urge him to keep going.
Carmy throws one arm around your stomach, keeping you plastered to his body. You can feel him hot and hard against your back, and you so desperately want to feel him that your mouth is watering. You grind back into him, and he reads your mind.
"Not yet," he whispers. "This is about you, remember? Need to show you what you've been missing."
With that, he circles your clit with two fingers, slowly but surely. He revels in the noises you elicit. They're making him dizzy, disorientated. He never thought he'd be the one to pull a sound like that from you. He's quite convinced he's dreaming.
"Let me hear you. Don't hold back on me, okay?"
You nod your head frantically, willing to give him whatever he asks if you get what you want.
Carmy slips a finger into you slowly, moaning under his breath at your warmth. When he thinks you're ready, he adds a second finger, and sets a steady rhythm, trying to figure out what you like.
After he's set his pace, he starts to curl his fingers on the up stroke, grinning to himself when he finds the spot.
"Yeah? Right there? That's it, isn't it?"
You're nodding and shaking and pawing at his forearms, trying to tether yourself to reality in any way you can. You think you might be floating, on cloud 9, in some sort of euphoric trance. You can't believe no one's ever made you feel like this before. You're convinced no one ever will again.
Carmy quickens his pace and basks in the glory of your moans. He thinks this might be the most beautiful you've ever looked, spread out completely for him. Every inch of your skin is touching his, and it makes his heart skip a beat for a second.
He presses a kiss into your hair and keeps his mouth there, murmuring honeyed praises into your ear.
"Doin' so good for me."
"You got it, honey, that's it."
"Atta girl. Keep going. Almost there."
"You look so fuckin' pretty like this. Fuck. Gonna be thinking about this forever."
"I'll ruin you, baby. Nothing's ever gonna compare to this, to what we have."
All you can do is moan in response, his filthy words pushing you closer and closer to the edge. You're almost there, but something is stopping you. You whine in frustration, tears welling in your eyes. Carmy feels the tension suddenly grasp your muscles, and leans down to mutter to you softly.
"What is it, sweet girl? What do you need? Just tell me. Anything, and I'll give it to you."
You're not sure how much you trust your voice right now, so you decide to show him instead. You take the hand that he's using to hold you to him and move it up your body until it's resting against your throat. You tighten your fingers around his, and moan in response to the pressure.
"Oh, baby," he coos. "Filthy fuckin' girl. Here I thought you were so innocent, and this whole time you wanted to be choked like a whore?"
The way he degrades you so lovingly makes you mewl. You'd never ever trust anyone else to speak to you this way in such an intimate moment - but with Carmen, there's no hesitation. You know he's just telling you what you need to hear in the heat of the moment. And you love him for it.
"Fuck, Carmen," you manage to choke out. "Keep going. Don't stop, please."
"I'll do anything you want if you keep saying my name like that," he whispers.
"Carmen," you moan in response. "Carmy Carmy Carmy Carmy Carmy."
You're chanting his name like a prayer. He's rutting into your back, hips grinding and circling in time with his fingers that are maintaining their steady rhythm. His fingers tighten around your throat as he crooks his digits just right, and the result is a devastating moan from you that Carmy wishes to have on repeat for the rest of his life.
"So close," you whisper hoarsely. "Harder."
Carmy uses his thumb to circle your clit with one hand, other hand pulling you by your neck back into him tightly. He grinds his hips dirtily into you, and the feeling of him so silky and warm against you is what sends you over the edge. The corners of your vision go white as you arch into him, head thrown backwards into his chest. The sounds you're making are so melodic, so borderline angelic that Carmy almost cries. Heaven, he thinks. This is salvation.
Carmy finishes with you, climaxing onto the soft skin of your back. You both relax simultaneously, chests heaving and panting. He removes his fingers gently and wraps both arms around you, pulling you into him tightly despite the mess. He reaches to brush the hair out of your face, and the gesture is so tender it makes your lip quiver.
"Thank you," you whisper after what feels like hours of comfortable silence.
"Sorry I called you a whore," he murmurs back.
You let out a surprised laugh, vibrating with amusement in his arms.
"I know you didn't mean it."
"I mean I did give you the best orgasm of your life, so... call it even?"
"You're forgiven," you chuckle. "Completely forgiven."
You trace gentle patterns over his forearms with your fingertips, following the black ink of his tattoos. He sighs in contentment and places a kiss into your hair, relaxing further into the couch.
You sit together like that for a while, neither of you too concerned with the time. It's not often you see Carmy so relaxed, so serene. You're enjoying it for as long as you can.
"We should clean up," he says quietly, eventually. "Sorry about the mess."
"It's okay. Worth it," you tease, pinching his thigh. He pinches your side in retaliation, which makes you jump.
"Come on, trouble."
He stands from the couch, never letting go of the grip he has on you. You have no choice but to stand with him, yelping as he half carries you through the apartment towards the shower.
The sounds of both of your laughter bounce off of the abandoned mugs of tea still sat on the coffee table, melodic and joyous. The moonlight seeps through the windows, illuminating the beginning of something special in the living room of your shared apartment.
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milswrites · 1 month
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The Bat Boys X Bookworm!Reader
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Summary: What the Bat Boys (and Eris & Lucien) are like with their bookworm partners
Warnings: Lil smutty and nsfw (not too much just want to cover myself) so 18+ MDNI
Notes: Just a bit of fun really, it's different to what I usually write but I hope you guys like it!
Rhysand
Rhysand loves you
And if loving you means that he has to feed your obsession with buying books?
Then he would happily clear out all the bookshops in Velaris if it meant getting to see you smile.
Rhysand is rich-rich.
Which means if there's something you want? He'll buy it for you without question.
You once mentioned about how much you'd love your own library one day.
So of course by the end of the week you had your own little haven inside Rhysand's house with more books than you could ever dream of reading and your own little ladder to reach them all.
But he didn't stop there.
For your mating gift he purchased you your very own library in Velaris
In which Rhys may or may not have enacted his fantasies of sleeping with a Librarian.
Whilst Rhysand does like to read, his taste in books is very different to your own.
But even though he doesn't read the books you do, he's more than happy to sit and listen to you talk about your favourite ones for hours if that meant being able to see your eyes light up as you talked about something you loved.
But no books nor libraries could top the best gift he had ever given you.
A hand-written book containing the story of your relationionship.
Complete with crude little comments and drawings the High Lord had scribbled down in the margins.
Rhysand loved history.
So what better way to preserve his undying love for you than in-between the pages of a book which would last forever.
Cassian
Cassian had never been very interested in books.
He'd much rather experience the thrill of real fighting and action in person than spend his time reading about it on some dusty old pages.
In fact the only time Cassian had been in a library he had the terrifying encounter with Bryaxis.
Safe to say that the trauma he experienced was the perfect excuse for never stepping in one again.
Until he met you.
Cassian has always been the type of guy who's all in or nothing.
He discovers the person he has a crush on likes reading?
You know he's going to be walking around with books he's never even opened pretending like he is a well-read Illyrian.
Citing quotes he doesn't even understand just to try and impress you.
And once you're together?
You show Cassian exactly what he's missed out on when it comes to reading.
Especially when it comes to getting tips for your bedroom activities.
For months after you revealed to him the wonders that are smut books, Cassian would spend his free time delving through the pages looking for new ideas on how to spice up your sex life.
Claiming his increased interest in reading was due to 'research purposes'
Cassian is 100% down to roleplay characters from your novels
He loves being the big strong hero to your damsel.
Whenever Cassian catches you reading, happily curled into the comfort of your sofa, he'll approach with a smirk on his lips
"Any new tricks you'd like to try out? I think page 69 is worth a shot."
Azriel
Azriel's a busy guy.
He's always away on missions for Rhysand or working in the dungeons of the Court of Nightmare's
So he can be forgiven if when he comes home, reading is the last thing on his mind.
But what he does enjoy though, is when you read to him.
He can lay with his head in your lap for hours.
Humming along to whatever tale you tell whether it's fantasy, romance or a good thriller
Sometimes he'll even offer his input. Laugh when something especially funny happens or shed a tear whenever a character he likes died.
Azriel loves the sound of your voice
Enjoying the way you put on voices whenever a character is speaking.
He's grown to like the sense of domesticity that he feels whenever you read to him. Allowing himself to imagine you doing this to two little Illyrian babies of your own.
Reading to your wide eyed children as they are gripped by the tales you're telling
Azriel is also a gentleman.
Need a hand with carrying the books you're choosing whilst you shop?
He's there
Hands willingly taking everything you stack on top of him, trailing after you with your selections like a lost puppy.
And when you get to the till?
Azriel had already spoken to the shopkeeper upon entry and added anything you chose to his account. Claiming the books were just as much his as they were yours if you were going to read them to him.
Azriel is definitely the type of male who likes you to read your smut to him as he pleasures you, acting out the words on the page until you're unable to speak anymore, leaving the rest of the chapter to your own imagination.
Eris
Eris is a reader.
He loves nothing more than to settle down after a long day with a good book in hand and a steaming tea.
You can't tell me he doesn't find it the hottest thing ever when he discovers you like to read too
The two of you have your own little book club
You'll each read the same book and then have a little meeting when it's over to discuss what you thought of it.
He can also get really emotional and intense about them.
God knows the amount of times you've had to calm him down when a character has made a choice he didn't like.
I think Eris definitely likes to write too
Not seriously, but it's a good way for him to get his thoughts out and to escape from the day to day of his reality.
And he loves to have you read his work
To see the way your face lights with joy as your eyes flick through his beautiful prose.
A small smile upon his lips at the knowledge that the muse for his writings was you.
Lucien
Lucien also likes to read.
But the way you read?
It terrifies him.
The way you obsess over the characters from your stories.
Your passionate opinions on their decisions and the plots.
God forbid Lucien says something about them that you don't agree with.
Lucien finds you positively feral when it comes to the stories you like.
But that doesn't stop him from wanting to show interest in them too.
Lucien likes to read all your favorite books and leave annotations of his thoughts in the margins.
This was exactly how the two of you had gotten together, the male having gifted you with a copy of a book he had noticed you reading.
The pages filled with scratchy comments and opinions on everything that happened.
Lucien pours his soul into his annotations and you love that.
Lucien is also a poetry man.
He loves to recite verses to you which stick out to him
Sometimes they were romantic, making your heart stop in your chest and breath catch in your throat.
But Lucien was also a fan of satirical poetry
The most ridiculous, corny things you have ever heard.
He'll come find you as you're going about your day and recite his latest read to you - your eyes rolling to the back as you did so, yet you fail to hide the smile which crosses your face every time he does so.
He has also tried to write you poetry before, express the depth of his feelings towards you. Safe to say his lame attempt of a limerick earnt him a scoff and had you hiding all his poetry books from him for the next month.
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hannieehaee · 5 months
Note
omg first of all i want to say that i love your writing, you’re amazing 😫
secondly, i saw that you opened your request for 1k followers, so i was wondering if you could do and angst-to-fluff reaction including hip hop unit? the specific one i had in my mind was about finding out that you’re pregnant and some initial anger/shock/disbelief coming from the boys, but i totally understand if you won’t do it, because i know not everyone may be comfortable with this topic. if so, feel free to ignore it or do whatever else you want 🫶🏼
lots of love, anon 🥰
finding out you're pregnant - hhu
hhu, vu, pu
content: mentions of pregnancy, mentions of marriage, established relationship, initial negative reactions, fluffy outcome for all of them.
wc: 635
a/n: thank u so much for ur kind words anon T-T and tysm for requesting!! sorry i took so long ;-; it was a lil hard for me to gauge a negative reaction out of them tbh i like to assume theyd be supportive straight away but i hope u liked what i came up with anyway <3
masterlist
seungcheol -
he had always wanted to be a dad. it was one of his biggest dreams ever since he could remember. the moment he met you, he was sure he wanted to be the father of your children, often even daydreaming about it whenever he'd see you play family with him and kkuma. he was unsure as to why his first reaction upon you skeptically telling him you might be pregnant was to ice you out. he felt like a total asshole, not knowing how else to react to such life-changing news. he knew it was just the initial shock of it. he did want kids. he was ecstatic. he was just too shocked to react properly, hurting your feelings in the process.
it would take him a lot of apologizing to get you to forgive him for bis stupidity, having grown terrified that he mightve been mad at the news. he'd reassure you that he was happier than ever, almost crying at the thought of a daughter to raise with the love of his life. would eternally feel guilty he had made you doubt how much he'd love a family with you even for a second.
wonwoo -
this was all he had ever wanted ever since the two of you got together. he had immediately envisioned a family with you, a house, a long future together. he would've unfortunately reacted a bit too shocked at the news when you had first broke them to him. it was just .. you hadn't planned it. yes, he wanted it, but he didn't think it'd come this soon in your relationship. he would be initially too shocked to show any genuine happiness at it. in no way would he express disappointment or any negative feeling, but his lack of enthusiasm would have you rethinking things.
it wouldn't be until later in the day when he'd snap at himself, realizing how good these news were. would uncharacteristically begin getting emotional from how happy he was at the prospect of starting a family with you, apologizing for not showing his true emotions to you immediately after hearing the news.
mingyu -
he'd enter a state of shock, which was very out of character for the usually excitable man. his immediate lack of reaction would have you retracting, feeling like you'd somehow done something wrong. he'd immediately feel terrible about it, lightheartedly reassuring you that he was happy about it and that he'd support you no matter what.
i feel like he'd be the type to ponder over it for a few days, probably even coming to the conclusion of proposing to you if he knew you decided to have the baby. at that point he'd be happier than ever to know he was now starting a family with you.
vernon -
he was still so young. yeah, he wanted to be a dad, specially to your children, but he was at the height of his career, meaning that the time he was home was already limited as it was. he had always assumed he'd get to have a few years off after being an idol for as long as he was, allowing him to lock himself away and start a family with you. this was not how he planned it, something he had stupidly let you know when you told him the news, completely forgetting to tell you how incredibly happy the news of starting a family with you made him.
he'd feel devastated at the dejection in your demeanor after his stupid reaction, immediately backtracking and telling you how happy he was, how badly he wanted to start a family with you. there would be a lot of hurdles considering his life, but he would be willing to go through all of them if it meant building a family with you.
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marieracingteam · 8 days
Text
Till then I will forever miss you – sv5
Sebastian Vettel x reader
word count: 1588
summary: In which Sebastian Vettel knew he couldn’t be friends with his ex-partner until he got his priorities straight.
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The news about Sebastian Vettel’s retirement was out and everywhere. His video has already been shared more than a million times in the few days it has been out. So he guessed anyone with a minor interest in the sport knew who he was and what the future looked like to him now.
Or at least what they imagine his future would look like.
The reality is that not even Sebastian knew what life had in store for him.
He was a divorced thirty-something, with three daughters who lived away from him most of the year and an apartment that made him feel like a caged animal. He had 4 world championships and a full passport, but he also had 35 years behind him in which he felt that he had achieved nothing in his personal life.
He could try and blame his fast-paced professional life for his half-hearted personal life, but he couldn't deny that he was mostly to blame for his failed marriage to a wonderful woman, his poor parenting of wonderful daughters who adored him, and his too-modern home in a city he hated.
Since his divorce, he had dedicated all his energy to racing and fast cars, but he quickly discovered that his heart wasn't in it either. So he obviously knew that he should retire and leave that seat free for someone whose heart was at the wheel.
The worst thing was that Sebastian knew where his heart was, he just didn't know how to get to it. It just had been lost since 2015.
Without it, he had been floundering ever since. He had moved, he had pursued a different lifestyle, he had gotten married, he had even changed teams trying to find it, but he always knocked on the wrong doors only. The truth was that the closest he had been to happiness had been when his daughters were born, but by then he was no longer the man he wanted his daughters to learn from.
But now, he thought. Now he was free of the chains to which he had bound himself. Now he was finally starting to realize his mistakes and taking the right steps to correct them. Now he was ready to be the man he wanted to be, for himself and, most importantly, for his daughters.
After the last race of the season, Sebastian took the first flight to his native Germany and completely left behind his past life and the mistakes he had carried in it.
He bought a house in the country as he had always dreamed of and painted rooms with children's motifs for small beds and toys. He adopted a dog as his psychologist had recommended. And he dusted off the old cell phone that he always carried with him.
It was a long shot and he knew it, but it was the only thing he could think of to find peace and happiness.
In those long eight years, there was a good chance that she had changed her number or blocked him. Maybe she too had gotten married and had a life away from him, probably better than the one he could offer her.
Maybe she had forgotten him. Maybe he should have forgotten her.
But there was no chance, however remote, that he could live in a world in which she did not occupy his thoughts at all hours. He'd been a stupid kid when he'd let her get away thinking he could do it.
He had promised her father that he would do right by her and that is what he had tried to do all his life since he met her in school. His problem had been thinking that he was doing it when he let her go so that she could find happiness away from his chaotic life when she wanted to start a family and he could only think about lifting the championship cup with the red team.
He had been a fool thinking a trophy could give him more than a life with her and even more so for believing that she could be happier away from him.
And all for what? To end up forming a family far from hers? To have his heart searching for something that he knew he would only find with her? He was a fool and he had paid for it by being miserable for the next few years, thinking that his repentance was not enough to deserve her back.
Now, something about him had changed, although he wasn't sure what at the moment. He knew now. It had been the robbery he suffered during one of the Grand Prix he raced in which he lost the photo he kept of her in her wallet. He had hundreds more hidden in his house, but that one was special. That had been a gift from her after graduating from school, a photo that her parents had taken of them to remember their last day as classmates, and that she had wanted him to have to remember her if they were not classmates at high school.
Losing that photo had been the last blow he needed to get her life back in order. When he retrieved the empty wallet he could only kneel on the ground and cry for the life he had lost. And when he found it after hours looking for it in all the garbage containers in the city he knew to do something, even if it was for nothing.
Less than a year later he was a different man. What remained to be known is whether she was also a different woman. And what that meant to them.
After breaking up their relationship, they both accepted that they couldn’t be friends. Not when they knew what it felt like to be more. Not when they had never been friends.
Since they were six years old they had been best friends, lovers, confidants, each other's other half... but never friends. Now they were nothing, not even acquaintances who follow each other’s lives on social media. Despite having let her be free to find happiness elsewhere, Sebastian knew that he couldn't bear to see her happy away from him.
He thought he was sacrificing himself for her when in reality he had just condemned them both.
However, now he wanted to change it and his only asset was that old phone that he had kept as his most precious possession.
The only number still saved there was the one he used to call at all hours and that he still had memorized.
By the fourth ring, Sebastian was convinced he had lost his last hope. But she had always told him that a fifth championship awaited her. And there was no better victory in his eyes than that fifth tone that she cut to make way for the voice that always accompanied him.
“Hello?” she whispered in German.
“Hello” he whispered back and he felt like coming finally home “I didn't know if you had changed your phone number”
“I did” she confessed “but I kept the phone in case you ever called”.
Sebastian completely forgot the paper he held tremblingly in his hand with everything he wanted to say written down when he heard her.
“You did?” he dared to ask.
“Of course,” she said “who could I not?”
“I didn’t hope you would wait” It was difficult to hear her with her racing heartbeat in his ears, but Sebastian did his best to memorize every one of her words.
“I have always waited for your love, Sebastian”
At that he couldn’t hold any longer the tears that begged to break free from his eyes. A sob left his mouth. What had he condemned them to when he chose for her?
“Everything's fine. We have a lot to tell each other, it's fine. It was difficult for me, but I understood why you did it. It wasn't our time, we didn't know how to align our dreams. But I felt your love in your sacrifice. Everything is alright.”
Sebastian could only nod even if he knew she couldn't see him. Words could not come out of his mouth with his body paralyzed in the only chair he had for now in his new living room. That photo that she almost lost on her knee staring at him.
“I’m back” he gathered the strength to say.
“I know” he answered.
“I came back for you” was his time to confess.
She laughed timidly at that and more tears escaped his eyes. “I know”.
“Can I see you?” he begged.
There was a lot he hadn't asked. He didn't know anything about what his life had been like in those eight years, so he didn't even know if he could ask that question. But he had to do it now that he had worked up the courage to do it.
“Sebastian... I also tried to look for you elsewhere” she whispered again, probably afraid of what those words could mean for both of them.
“I don’t care, liebe. There's nothing you can say that will make me love you less”.
“I have my two boys with me till next month” she said.
“I have my daughters with me next week for a month too”.
She laughed again and he knew she also felt it. He knew that she felt that everything was fine now, that everything was finally falling into place.
They will be fine.
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shantechni · 8 months
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Leo the Leader vs Leo the Learner
I know almost every iteration of TMNT emphasizes that the boys cannot properly function as a team without everyone there, especially without their fearless leader.
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In terms of cartoons and movies though (as much as I've had time to watch/rewatch), the '03 and '12 series are my personal favorites, with Rise and MM tying for a very close second, because they both acknowledge issues in the team that the characters work to fix. '03 Leo and '12 Leo both struggle to lead the team at significant points in their respective stories, but the manner in which they struggle and what they struggle with differentiate, in a good way mind you.
In the 2003 series, the very first episode opens with Leo already being in the leading position as he tries to keep his brothers from going off script or doing something irreparable while they work to find Splinter. And when they do eventually find themselves in trouble, he's the one to lead them through it and make it back to Splinter in one piece. We see this formula more or less repeat for almost three seasons with a few different variables to spice things up; the brothers look to Leo for guidance, think of a plan of action with their combined efforts, and go from there.
Until the S3 finale.
The boys had times where they wondered if they'd make it out alive, but this was the first where it genuinely seemed like the end for their little family, and Leo could do nothing but watch as they execute their plan to blow up with the starship.
Of course they survive, otherwise we wouldn't have another four seasons💀but that short amount of time was more than enough to scar Leo, physically and emotionally. When he begins closing himself off from everyone, April's the only one to get him to open up and he lays it all out: He feels like a failure of a leader. He wasn't strong enough to protect his family or stop the Shredder, their last resort was going out with a bang, and they had to be saved by the Utroms. It doesn't feel like they won and he doesn't feel like he accomplished anything.
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His fears and frustrations manifest into an ever present anger, slowly going from cold to hot, that chooses its target at random. His brothers don't know what to do since they don't seem to know why Leo's behaving this way, nor have they ever seen him like this. And dear Mikey says something that so accurately sums up their team: "...it can’t be fun always being the responsible one, and we’re the ones who really benefit. Raph’s free to not think ‘cause Leo does all the thinking for him. Don’s free to dream, and I’m free to take it easy, all ‘cause Leonardo is busy being responsible enough for all of us."
Mikey knows Leo is cracking under the pressure of his role partly because they've become so comfortable in their own roles, and no one refutes him. They didn't intend for Leo to translate this dynamic into, "everything is on you," but that's how it inevitably turned out over time. One could even argue that them not knowing how to handle this new Leonardo is yet another downside to them getting too comfortable, and it doesn't help that Splinter is the only one (aside from Usagi on one instance) who attempts to help Leo, even when the young turtle is pushing him away.
Things finally boil over when Leo pushes a little too hard though and harms Splinter during training, a regrettable action that clears away the steely air he had around himself for so long.
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It's not until Splinter sends him off to see the Ancient One that Leo finally pulls himself out of that bubble of negativity and he accepts that there was nothing more he could've done in their final fight against the Shredder.
He did all that he could, and he can continue doing all that he can for his family.
In a weird way, Karai's violent eviction notice was exactly what everyone needed.
Leo was told his family likely hadn't survived the attack, something he'd spent countless days trying to prevent through relentless training, but he believed they were okay and ultimately found them alive. He wasn't there to protect them, but he sees for himself that they made it out without his help, and this was also a learning experience for the others if you think about it. They've already been shown to be capable of handling situations on their own or in pairs, but this was the first time they had to deal with a huge confrontation as a team without the comfort of their leader behind their shells.
Raph is the one who takes the helm for a brief few seconds and dishes out instructions amid the chaos, telling everyone to split up, find their way out and meet back up on the surface, with one last demand for them to be careful. And when Leo finds him, his distress is palpable; he couldn't find the others and therefore had no idea if they were okay, let alone alive, while he kept himself hidden from Karai's forces. Before this, we see that Raph is willing to make his own plan of action in this series' version of City at War when he doesn't go with Leo's word. But this time, in Leo's absence, we see he's willing to fill in as leader when the situation calls for it, and he realizes he isn't quite cut out for leadership like Leo.
We don't see any significant shift in team dynamics after this, mainly because Leo's inner turmoil from their fight with the Shredder is what caused problems with the team in the first place, but that goes to show that outside influences are what gave birth to the team conflict. Despite me pointing out earlier how Leo shoulders quite a bit not just because of his role but because of his brothers' roles as well, we can see throughout the series that Leo doesn't buckle from the pressure until they're in a situation where he can't effectively perform his role to his satisfaction.
As I mentioned in the beginning, Leo had been a leader in essence and in name for many years before their first home was raided by the Mousers. It makes perfect sense for him and his brothers to be accustomed to it by now.
2012 Leonardo is not used to being a leader. He may undeniably be a leader in essence, and had the drive and desire to be one, but he definitely wasn't a leader in name. The very first episode doesn't even open up with Leo being a leader, let alone with the turtles being a team. Their first time fighting together is a train wreck, and rather than Leo's strong sense of ethics and honor being the catalyst for his recruitment (not at first at least), it's the beginning of their long battle against the Kraang that convinces Splinter to officially deem him the leader of a newly formed team.
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Being leader doesn't automatically mean the team will follow or respect you, which is something Leo learns right away thanks to his brothers, with Raph in particular challenging him when they butt heads over their opposing plans and ideals. It's touched upon in Rise of the Turtles Part 2, but Raph's desire to lead isn't a major plot device until New Girl in Town where he gets a taste of how Leo feels everytime he's responsible for his brothers and their wellbeing. However, Raph makes it known that even though he's resigned himself to not being the leader, he still doesn't like being told what or how to do something. Even Donnie challenges Leo when they can't agree on the best course of action in preparation for the Kraang, but Donnie realizes arguing was pointless as the invasion begins without warning and makes the idea of a second base the more favorable option.
His brothers aren't his only test of will though, as there are a handful of times where Leo questions his ability to lead and wonders if Splinter chose the right turtle for the job. Throughout all of that though, the boys ultimately rely on Leo and follow his lead when all is said and done.
Where this Leo truly differs from '03 Leo is that he not only struggles with leading a team that isn't so keen on being led, but he also struggles to grasp that he leads a team.
There are many times in the series where Leo runs off on his own or makes the decision to tackle something himself rather than with help, and that's not out of the norm, especially in comparison to his own brothers and '03 Leo. The problem is that '12 Leo's solo decision making more often than not leads to trouble (we all know the tale of him trying to turn Karai to the good side without informing the team about her). One of the first major examples of this though was in the S1 finale when he takes Splinter's words a little too close to heart and gives his brothers the scare of their life. Granted, him holding back Kraang Prime kept it on the sinking Technodrome, but you get what I'm saying.
His family actively calls him out on this behavior on two separate occasions during S4.
After they'd spent six months with the Fugatoid fighting the Triceratons and racing to collect every piece of the black hole generator before them, Fugatoid reveals that he was the one who made the world ending device, a reveal that lights a flame of betrayal in everyone, especially Raph and Leo. Believing that they're being used by Fugatoid, Leo rides off in a stealth ship on his own and nearly gets himself killed, a move that has his brothers scolding him, with Raph being the most vocal about Leo's idiotic decision: "Leaders are called leaders because they're supposed to lead a TEAM!"
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The moment isn't lingered upon for long, but they all make it clear that they're tired of Leo's one man missions. They're a team, so they should plan and function like one.
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Then, in Broken Foot, Leo starts doing missions with Karai and Shinigami in secret to aid them in taking revenge against the Shredder, but, in an attempt to find out what Leo was hiding from them, the other turtles get caught up in their plans and Donnie gets hurt. Leo immediately abandons Karai (who later apologizes for what happened) and Shinigami to check on them and come clean.
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He explains to Splinter later on that he didn't fill anyone in on the situation at first because he knew no one would've agreed to help Karai get revenge, and he acknowledges that it was stupid of him to think he could control the situation. Splinter expresses his disappointment, and April reprimands him for once again not trusting his own team enough for them to help him.
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Leo apologizes to Raph and Mikey afterwards, even going so far to say he probably doesn't deserve to lead the team after this, something Raph just harumphs at while Mikey remains silent. He pleads for their help in stopping and eventually aiding Karai and Shinigami, and they go along with him to fix things as a team.
We no longer get any one man missions from Leo in S5 (there surprisingly weren't any in S3 lol), likely for a whole list of reasons ranging from leading in Splinter's absence to learning from his mistakes over time. But he makes sure that whatever they have to do gets done together, and he does his best to keep his brothers in line.
I suppose one could say that '03 Leo remembered what it meant to be a leader, while '12 Leo discovered what it meant to lead.
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merakiui · 11 months
Note
MERA!!!! MERA MERA MERAAAA!!!! hear me outtttt!!!!!
yandere!idol!scara! imagine being one of idol! scara's biggest fans , having bought all his albums and merch, unaware that your oshi/bias is stalking you in the shadows. you are completely oblivious to the fact that your favorite idol, your very own oshi, is more obsessed with you than you are with him ... eubeheheheheheheheheheheeeee
it's important to note that he's the eldest son of a CEO, so he'd have all the money and status to keep your mysterious disappearance under wraps. just listen to him and you'll be fine. after all, isn't he your oshi?
AAAAAA YES YES YES ever since I saw this oshi no ko parody of Scara idol!Scara has been rotting my brain. Your concept feeds me so well omg!!!! <3
Imagine being such a dedicated fan, always using most of your paychecks to purchase merch and albums and even concert tickets. You adore him. He shines so brightly when he's on the stage, and his voice is the most beautiful melody you've ever heard. You memorize all of his songs, you try to follow his routines for exercise and eating well, and you've even had the blessing of attending one of his handshake events!! Even if it was only a few seconds, being able to look him in the eyes, shake his hand, and greet him in such an intimate proximity meant the world to you. You were so happy following that day that your coworkers were left wondering what happened for you to come to work in such a bubbly mood.
Unbeknownst to you, your idol makes it a mission to search for you amidst the crowd, even if he knows it may be impossible to spot you from afar. The day he shook your hand was also a special moment for him. He's only ever watched you from the shadows, admiring you as you go about your daily life, so being able to touch you, to see you so closely, to hear your voice as it addresses him and only him... You make him so happy and you don't even know it! One of his songs was even written with you in mind. You inspire him, you give him life, you give him feelings he's never known he was capable of feeling before. He's hopelessly, dangerously in love with you, his fan, and you're hopelessly, adoringly in love with him, your idol.
Scara doesn't shine so brightly behind closed doors when he's following the whims of his obsession. On the stage, he's Scaramouche, a star who can effortlessly charm with his beautiful vocals and sweet smile. He's a great actor, enthralling the crowd with a wink or a twirl or well-calculated sarcasm. Fans adore it. They love the divide between sweet and sour, and he does both so flawlessly. But beyond that, he's just Kunikuzushi, eldest son of the business magnate Ei. With so much wealth and success, one would think he'd be in paradise. But Kuni's always so hollow inside, so lonely and sad. He pushes these feelings away and tells himself he's better off alone, but when he's following you home late at night he feels so whole. Suddenly his lonely life doesn't feel so terrible when he knows you're in it. Suddenly he thinks it's okay to be alone as long as he's alone with you and only you.
Ei never polices what he does. It's much the same for his sister Raiden. They're free to do as they please, as she's too busy running such a large, expansive business with her Vice President Yae Miko and secretary Kujou Sara to bother with the lives of her children. But Kuni doesn't care. He doesn't need to be coddled or loved. He just needs to drown in you, in your life, in your interests and hobbies. He's certain that, if he were to steal you away for himself, you wouldn't mind it because you're his fan. You'll forgive him because you love and support him, won't you? After all, it's every fan's dream to be recognized by their idol.
He won't subject you to a terrible life either. He lives in a very expensive penthouse on the highest floor, and it has all kinds of luxurious, comforts. It overlooks the city; he's almost like a god when he peers down at the streets below, where people are free to look up but can never reach his level. You can live up here with him, isolated from the world and its horrors, and only know of him. He's all you'll need because he can provide for you in ways normal people can't. He's so certain you'll accept this way of life, and even if you don't it's not like you can go anywhere. Not that he cares much for reputations, but his entire career will shatter if you escape and try to get him in trouble. He might even be taken away from you, and that's more scary than a reputation in shambles.
Besides, he has more money than he knows what to do with. And for the right price, he can control anyone, even the authorities you seem to have so much faith in. :)
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future-island-egghead · 4 months
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Man I have so many thoughts on the Seraphim and since it's been over a year since their introduction I've had a lot more of them but overall I kinda.. feel bad for them, more than anything else?
No matter how powerful or scary or cool they are, one thing always remains the most important and unforgettable aspect of them.
They're sentient. They're sapient. They're aware and alive. They're people.
Not just people. But children.
They're just children.
And they have to grapple with being the crossover of two terrible things to be.
A clone of someone else, who's life has already been lived and decided by their own terms, and forced to follow it to the letter, and having no fundamental identity independent of them. only footprints of memories that aren't even their own, purely for the purpose of making them better fighters. How can they be anything more than simple variations or derivatives of "real" people? Can they even consider themselves "real"?
A pacifista. A human weapon. No agency. No humanity. Stripped of everything from will to dreams to freedom to even self-expression and forced to follow commands and never ask questions. Like a soldier. Like less than a soldier. Like a tool.
Like a gun.
Vegapunk said that Kuma's lack of free will would force him to obey, even if they asked him to murder a child. But he originally had free will to begin with. Kuma's life as PX-0, a sentient being with no will of his own, nothing more than a passenger in his own body is a nightmare. S-Bear has known nothing but that nightmare since birth.
People said that Doflamingo was born evil, but in reality, his life was shaped by the events he lived through more than anyone in-universe wants to admit. I wonder how S-Flamingo must feel, forced to carry on Doflamingo's legacy as a monster to the core, regardless of how monstrous he himself might or might not be. i wonder if the pressure of being the clone of a demon will cause a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Hancock's worldwide status was one even she did not want. It was a curse she herself learned to turn into a weapon. S-Snake does not even get the privilege of encountering OR weaponizing the curse herself. Already forced into the limelight without warning, and the eyes won't leave. Everyone already treating her like a celebrity, without a chance to even know what it was like to be a person first.
All she can do now is follow the same government that traumatized her origin and forced her to destroy her home.
Similarly, what of S-Hawk? Moreso than any seraph, any creation of the World Government, surely all eyes are on him to succeed. to be the strongest of the Seraphim and a symbol of total global safety. The world's strongest swordsman, new and improved, right? And what if he isn't? What if he's not as strong as Mihawk? What if he never is? What if he can't do it?
And what if he does? What if he ends up even worse than his origin: a bored god sitting on an empty throne with an empty title, with no one left to challenge him?
Jinbei wanted nothing in the world more than discrimination towards Fish-Men and Merfolk to end, to the degree he'd stake his life on it without hesitation. I wonder how S-Shark, a tool of the World Government, partly born from a race nearly extinguished by them, and forced to uphold their fascist, discriminatory rule against his will feels.
If Crocodile's secret is indeed his transgender identity, then what does that mean for S-Croc? At least Crocodile got the opportunity to keep it under wraps, even if some people do know. S-Croc will never get that opportunity, ever. the whole world on him from birth. Will they even let him be.. him? or will they force him to live in a body and identity that not only isn't even his own, but isn't anybody's at all?
and if it isn't, sure! I suppose he won't have to worry about that. but what of his intelligence? his own ambitions? It's said that Crocodile's greatest attribute was his mind, but the seraphim aren't allowed to break from the orders of others or formulate strategies, so S-Croc would be forced to take orders from people less experienced or intuitive. The footprints of a forgotten dream of wealth, fame, power, and freedom still sputter in his chest. A natural-born leader, forced into the role of lowly weapon, emptily paraded as a hero. How pitiful.
And S-Gecko? Always the runt. The last one. The weakest of the bunch. The world government never cared enough to hide their disdain and contempt for Moria. I can't imagine this won't bleed into how they treat S-Gecko. No matter how hard he works, being treated as nothing more than the worst of the best. Being equated to nothing but failure because his origin was one and constantly put down as "obligatory" and only existing at all because they couldn't get a better warlord to clone instead. Sure, he's not traumatized by the loss of his crew like Moria was.
But at least Moria had a crew.
The Seraphim are scary, and they're powerful. They're not naturally-born organisms, and they're programmed to follow the words of the World Government, even if told to kill in cold blood.
But they're still people.
They're still alive.
They're just children.
For the love of Nika, they're only children.
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lilacqiqis · 3 months
Note
Hello! I'd love to see Naruto with a single mama(kid could be hers or she was the baby's Godmother and adopted the child after the parents passed.)
I think he would be such a fantastic papa around little kids. If I could request the kid calling him papa for the first time. 🥺😭🥰 please and thank you!
A/N: Thank you for the request dear <3 Ahh first Naruto request I'm super excited to write this ^^ I'll be going with the second option for this req, I also didn't know if you wanted a fic or headcanon format so I went with a slight combination of both? Idk how to explain lol I'll put it under headcanons tho. so sorry if this isn't up to your expectations i'm super tired rn everyone feel free to request anything- Mod Lilac
Character(s): Naruto
Scenario: Naruto with a single mother S/O and the child calling him "papa" for the first time
TW: Brief mention of death, fem!reader
Naruto with a single mother S/O
more under the cut
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Raising a child on your own was hard, of course you had help along the way but for the most part you were winging it with very little experience. You, the godmother of your now adopted child, was the only person who could take them in as the deceased parents had no other connections or relatives who could. It was a large burden to carry as a teenager back then, but you grew past it and pushed ahead.
There were harsh times where it was difficult to even feed the two of you, but you managed to get past and live a rather comfortable life in your small cabin.
Across the time you were caring for the child, you happened to meet a certain gutsy ninja with a rather childish attitude. He was fun, your child immediately gaining an attachment to him. You'd soon realize that it wasn't just your child who had gotten an attachment to Naruto, but you yourself as well.
Naruto admired you. He couldn't ever imagine being a single parent and knew how difficult it could be, so the boy took it to himself to help you as much as he could. Babysitting, teaching, or just general hangouts, he'd always be there to help out and bring joy to the two of you!
Soon, you three were already like a little family. Inside your child's head Naruto was practically their father, and you noticed how clingy they'd get when Naruto had to leave.
He's the sweetest and you can find yourself wondering what if you three were really a family? Naruto coming home from work to greet the two of you... Family trips... Just a thought. Would Naruto be okay with that? Imagining him as your husband...
Of course, Naruto was more than willing to marry you, but he'd never tell you that! Not yet, at least. It's also a dream of his, being able to hold your hand and raise the little one with you. Your child tells all their friends all about Naruto, isn't it just endearing?
So imagine how happy Naruto is when he gets called "papa" by this kid who he saw as his own child for the first time. The boy is grinning his head off as his attention is turned to the small human. You're there watching too, of course, and it warms your heart to no end.
Things move smoothly and naturally once you two finally decide to get together, and your child is more than ecstatic to live with their father figure. Naruto's always been so kind and endearing, so you have no mistake in marrying him <3
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Text
A Duplicate of Earth
When Skies Are Gray, Chapter 1 
Series Masterlist           Next Chapter
pairing: Frank Castle x fem!reader 
summary: Frank’s life has reached a crossroads: he can either continue to seclude himself and pursue a dark, lonely future, or he can open himself up to connecting with someone again and maybe achieve happiness. Being the grump that he is, Frank has already committed to the lonely path, but his curious new neighbor might just turn that around. 
Warnings: minors DNI, swearing, implied depression, implied eating disorder (the reader is going to be in recovery in this fic, if it gets graphic I will absolutely warn y’all. This is mostly therapeutic for me lol). 
a/n: This fic was so fun to write!! I love grumpy Frank with all of my heart and I think he deserves to have someone teach him how to feel joy again. So this is my attempt at that. It is loosely based on the poem "A Myth of Devotion" by Louise Gluck at the beginning of the chapter (which is SO Frank!Coded imo, like absolutely fits his fears and self-deprecation) and the myth of Hades/Persephone.
Lastly, a HUGE thank you to @saradika for the beautiful free divider I used in this fic!
w/c: 5.4k (poem not included, this is 17 pages y’all)
When Hades decided he loved this girl he built for her a duplicate of earth, everything the same, down to the meadow, but with a bed added.
Everything the same, including sunlight, because it would be hard on a young girl to go so quickly from bright light to utter darkness
Gradually, he thought, he'd introduce the night, first as the shadows of fluttering leaves. Then moon, then stars. Then no moon, no stars.
Let Persephone get used to it slowly. In the end, he thought, she'd find it comforting. A replica of earth except there was love here.
Doesn't everyone want love? He waited many years, building a world, watching Persephone in the meadow. Persephone, a smeller, a taster. If you have one appetite, he thought, you have them all.
Doesn't everyone want to feel in the night the beloved body, compass, polestar, to hear the quiet breathing that says I am alive, that means also you are alive, because you hear me, you are here with me. And when one turns, the other turns—
That's what he felt, the lord of darkness, looking at the world he had constructed for Persephone. It never crossed his mind that there'd be no more smelling here, certainly no more eating.
Guilt? Terror? The fear of love? These things he couldn't imagine; no lover ever imagines them.
He dreams, he wonders what to call this place. First he thinks: The New Hell. Then: The Garden. In the end, he decides to name it Persephone's Girlhood.
A soft light rising above the level meadow, behind the bed. He takes her in his arms. He wants to say I love you, nothing can hurt you but he thinks this is a lie, so he says in the end you're dead, nothing can hurt you which seems to him a more promising beginning, more true.
Tracing his fingers along the page, Frank reread the stanzas. He was not quite sure what kept drawing him back to this piece. He’d never been a fan of modern poetry, more drawn to the subtlety of the Victorian era. Yet every night this week, when his sweat-soaked body bolted upright with a gasping breath, he read through this piece while his heart rate slowed. 
He has a blurry memory of the story from his childhood. Studying the Greek gods in school, reading excerpts of the Iliad or whatever. He has always been drawn to this specific myth, for whatever reason. Hades and Persephone, darkness and light. But he doesn’t remember it feeling so…corrupt. 
The story he had learned was one of great romance: two unlikely lovers fighting against the odds, reshaping the earth to remain together. But the way Glück illustrates the story illuminated a more sinister interpretation. One night, in an insomnia-induced haze, he’d read page after page about the two gods, trying to find a definitive answer to the question that bounced around his mind. Did Hades ruin poor Persephone? Was their love itself ruinous?
Glück sure seemed to think so. Maybe that was what sparked his interest in the piece. The idea that love could tarnish something so pure—Frank sure had a fair share of experience with that. 
With a hefty sigh, he closed the book, glancing at the clock. 4:05 am. Digging the heels of his hands into his eyes, he weighed his options. 
“Up for a jog, Max?” Frank murmured, looking to the canine who was curled up in his crate. The dog just snored. “Suit yourself, bud.” 
Slipping into a pair of athletic shoes and a light sweatshirt to accompany his sweats, he stepped out the door and towards the stairs, almost colliding with a young woman frantically darting down the hall. 
“So sorry. Have a nice day!” The figure whisper yelled at him as she ran past. 
He takes a second to regain his bearings, before plastering on a scowl and heading off on his run. 
The outing was refreshing to a degree, but his mind was still plagued with thoughts of his wife and the darkness that had consumed her, just as it had Persephone. 
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Curtis let his eyes follow the pacing form in front of him as he let out a sigh. Having been a friend of Frank’s for some time now, he wasn’t a stranger to moodiness or the other man’s incredibly fiery temper, yet Frank had been worse than usual lately. It seemed like the drop of a pin could set him off these days, and Curtis could practically see a cartoon storm cloud following him around with the way he’d been glowering lately. Curtis had hoped David would be able to shed some light on the cause of the behavior, but the technician was as clueless as him. 
They (they is a term very loosely used, given that David was overtly opposed to the idea,) decided to ask Frank about it the next time he visited Curtis. So, here they both were, watching Frank stomp across the floor and waiting for him to explain himself. Finally, Frank turned to them. 
“You gonna keep starin’ at me like I’m a goddamn explosive or are ya gonna ask me your fuckin questions so we can move on?” Frank’s growl made David flinch. 
“Hey, easy there, big guy. This isn’t an interrogation.” David pleaded, trying to wipe off the coffee he had inadvertently spilled on himself. 
“We’re here to help you, Frank. Same as always. Something’s been eating you away recently and we wanted to check in.” Curtis reasoned, looking between David and the marine. 
“M’ fine.” Frank grunted, draining the rest of his own coffee and stalking over to the machine for a fresh pour. 
David rolled his eyes, gesturing to Frank pointedly. “Told you he wouldn’t want to talk about it.” 
Apparently this was not the right thing to say, because Frank stilled with the pot of coffee in his hands. “You two are talkin’ ‘bout me now? Am I entertainin’ enough for ya? Jesus.” He slammed his cup down, grabbing his jacket from the seat next to Curtis and heading for the door. 
“Oh, I’m sorry, did you have somewhere else to mope?” Curtis asked with a raised brow, almost amused by how childish Frank was being. 
“Anywhere but here would be nice. That way I’m not interrupting your fuckin’ drama club.” Frank snapped, twisting around to face Curtis. “You wanna make me your pet project? Fine. Keep doing it when I’m not fuckin’ here.” 
“Frank, we weren’t—we were just worried about you, that’s all. You’ve been really…down lately and—“ David struggled to reason with the furious man. 
“Oh, have I? So sorry to be such a goddamn stick in the mud, Lieberman. We all know life has been real nice to me so I should be more grateful, ‘s that it?.” Glaring at the pair of men before him, Frank threw on his jacket and walked out, slamming the door behind him. 
Curtis sighed, sipping his coffee and turning to David. “I should’ve known better than to think he would talk this out. He says he’s fine, we treat him like he’s fine. He’s a grown ass man who can work up the balls to ask us for help if he needs it.” 
David barked a laugh. “We both know he won’t though.”
“Yah…you’re probably right about that.” 
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Frank was still fuming as he trudged through the city streets at sunset. His mood had been worse than usual lately, but his friends’ inquiry just made him feel guilty and stupid for not knowing why. Things hadn’t been too bad recently. The past few missions he’d taken on had gone smoothly—to the point where it had been over a month since Curtis had to help stitch him up, and that had to be a record. Not to mention, he’d stopped an international arms dealer last week while on his own job, putting him on Madani’s good side for the first time in his miserable life. 
His fist clenched around Max’s leash, but the dog seemed entirely unbothered by his irritation. Happily trotting next to him, gazing up with adoration every once in a while. 
Frank sighed as they reached the entrance to his building, stopping his brisk pace for a moment to give the dog a scratch. “I’m sorry I’ve been out so much, bub. We’ll do this more, promise.” 
Max simply spun away from him, sniffing the air. Frank gave a weak chuckle, shaking his head at the dog’s ambivalence. The pair started up the stairs towards their floor, Max pulling harder than usual. When they reached the landing, Max froze as Frank headed for his front door. Stumbling backwards briefly, Frank tried to start moving again, but Max held firm—letting the leash grow stiff between them. 
“Max. C’mon, bud. Le’s go.” The pit bull simply gave Frank a piercing look, before abruptly jerking backwards, wriggling his head. 
“Max, what the hell, stop that!” Desperately, Frank tried to grab his dog, but Max was too quick. Within moments, he’d slipped free of his collar and taken off. 
Frank sprinted after him, heart sinking as he realized Max was beelining for an open apartment door. The last thing he needed was a goddamn dog-induced injury suit. 
Reaching the doorway, Frank saw Max sniffing around a young woman happily—the same woman who had almost run into him this morning. To Frank’s disbelief, she laughed. The sound was surprised, but bright and it pulled at his heart in a way he did not have time to unpack. 
“Hey, big guy!” You held your hand out for Max to sniff, which he did enthusiastically. “You lost?” 
Max gave you a few exuberant licks before sticking his nose back to the ground and snuffling around your kitchen, clearly looking for something. 
Eventually, Frank unfroze from his stupor and spoke. “I am so sorry, ma’am. He’s never gotten loose like that before. Max, c’mere.” 
Seemingly through with his rebellious phase, the dog sauntered up to Frank, tail wagging, before turning to allow Frank to reattach his collar. 
Standing in front of Frank, you gave another beautiful laugh, beaming up at Frank from where you were standing before him. “That’s quite alright. I’m never opposed to a new friend. Besides, my kitchen is quite literally filled with dog treats at the moment, so I can’t exactly blame him for his actions. Still smiling, you pulled a tray of dog biscuits from the counter next to you, giggling as Max sat down expectantly. 
“Can he have one? They’re chicken flavored, if that’s an issue.” You looked at Frank, questioningly. Still mortified by his dog’s outburst and quite honestly shocked that this gorgeous woman was still talking to him, he stammered. “Uh—yah, that’s. That’s fine.” 
Your smile widened as you grasped a few treats. “Here, bubba.” Max snatched the treats from your hand, greedily gulping them down before moving closer to you and holding up a paw. 
Laughing again, you set down the tray and crouched to shake his outstretched paw. “Well aren’t you a talented pup. What’s his name?” You turned to Frank, one hand scratching behind the dog’s ears. 
“This is Max…And I’m Frank.” His vocal chords seemingly operating on their own, Frank cursed himself for the honesty. Why on earth did he feel compelled to give this woman his life story? 
“Nice to meet you, Max!” You ruffled the fur on the pit’s head, chuckling as he kissed your arm. “And you as well, Frank. My name is-“ and your name tumbled off your lips. You held out a hand to him. Frank gave a small grimace of a smile, grasping your hand and repeating your name back to you. It was beautiful and more than suited you. 
“It’s very nice to meet you ma’am. I should, uh, we should go.” Frank said lamely, tugged on Max’s leash to exit your apartment. 
Grinning at him still, you waved goodbye. “Have a nice night, Frank. Stop by anytime” 
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The next time he saw you, you were struggling to lug massive cardboard boxes into your apartment. It had been a few days since Max made your acquaintance and he’d been avoiding damn near everyone, which had only worsened his bad mood. 
As he took a few steps towards his front door, trying incredibly hard to not stare at your beautiful figure in the low cut sundress you were wearing, a loud crash caught his attention. 
“Shit!” You cursed, jumping back quickly to avoid smashing your foot underneath the box you’d dropped. 
“You, uh, need a hand?” Frank grumbled, shuffling closer to you. 
“Oh, hi Frank! Sorry I was so focused on this thing that I didn’t see you.” There was that beaming smile again. Frank shied away like it would burn him. 
“Ain’t a problem. So…you want help?” He asked again, rubbing at his nape as he blushed. Why on earth would you want his help when he acted like he’d never met another human before? 
“That would be amazing. This bed frame is way heavier than I was prepared for.” You kicked the box lightly, glaring at it. 
Frank shifted it up into his arms with ease. “Where would you like it?” 
“The room to your left please!” You chirped, pointing him in the room’s direction. “Thank you so much for your help.”
Frank set the heavy box down, turning back to you. “Looks like you needed it. You ain’t exactly dressed for lifting this.” Frank scoffed, before realizing in horror what he’d just said. 
“You don’t like my dress?” Your voice was soft and you looked at him with round eyes. He cursed himself for being born. If the world was fair, no one would ever make you look like that. His darkness was all consuming. 
“Oh, shit, I wasn’t thinking. I—“ 
You bit your lip, a sly grin spreading across your face. “I’m teasing you, Frank. I came right from work and didn’t have time to change. It’s a ridiculous outfit for building furniture. Please, sit! I have something for you.” You ushered him over to your couch. 
Frank tilted his head ever so slightly, surprised that you weren’t immediately put off by his harsh demeanor and towering stature. After a moment of thought, he practically collapsed to the cushions, the exhaustion of the past few weeks crashing over him. He was acutely aware that he hadn’t been sleeping well, but he hadn’t realized the ache that had settled in his bones until now.
You retreated to your kitchen, pulling a tin of cookies out of your pantry and offering them to Frank. “As a thank you for your assistance: my world-famous chocolate chip cookies.”
Gently lifting the tin from your hand, Frank felt the corner of his mouth quirk down at the thought of mooching off of you when you’d just met. “It wasn’t any trouble. I don’t want to take your food.” He grumbled, eyeing the tin for a moment before you groaned. 
“You’re killing me here, Frank. Indulge me, please!” Your eyes flickered between the tin and his grumpy face pointedly. He rolled his eyes, pulling a cookie from the box. 
The cookie was truly one of the best things Frank had ever eaten. Soft and buttery with a sprinkle of salt on top. He finished the treat in three bites, licking his fingers before your giggling reminded him that he was being observed. 
“So…are they sufficient payment?” A shit-eating grin appeared across your face and Frank felt his mood lift even further despite his brief embarrassment. 
Popping his thumb out of his mouth, he felt himself flush. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
You waved a hand, brushing aside his embarrassment. “Oh please, I’m just glad you liked it! Half the reason I bake for other people is for the compliments.” 
“You deserve them. That was…a damn good cookie.” Frank rubbed a hand over the back of his neck but you seemed completely unphased by his stiff social skills. “What’s in that box?” He nodded to the opened one in front of your couch, snatching another cookie from the tin. 
“Well, I moved in a few weeks ago and didn’t have the foresight to order my furniture in advance. So,” you spread your arms, gesturing to the myriad of tools and wooden pieces on your floor. “Tonight is night one of furnishing my apartment.”
“That seems…like a real chore.” 
“Oh it is. But I’ve been sleeping on a mattress on my floor for three weeks, so I sort of need a bed frame. Like ASAP.” You narrowed your eyes at the box in the other room like it had bested you in a fight. 
“Did ya, um, did ya want some help with…” Frank trailed off, gesturing to your inanimate foe. 
“Oh gosh, I couldn’t ask you to do that. I wouldn’t wish IKEA furniture on my worst enemy.” You laughed, shaking your head. 
“Ain’t a problem, if you’re ok with me snackin’ on those miracle cookies while I work.”
“Ok, one:” You began, holding out a finger. Frank bit a lip to keep from laughing. Bossy little thing, aren’t ya? “You can eat all of those cookies if you help me build that motherfucking thing.” A boisterous laugh burst out of Frank at your pretty mouth cursing so openly. “And two: you will be snacking on them while we work because I would actually be the devil if I made a sweetheart like you build the hellscape that is the ‘Songesand’ all on your own.”
“Trust me, I’m no sweetheart.” 
You grinned at him. “We’ll see about that, sweetheart.” 
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Hours and an empty tin of cookies later, you were ready to call it quits. 
“If this bolt doesn’t tighten all the way, I swear to God I am going to lose it.” You pouted dramatically, dropping the pieces you were attaching to the floor with a clatter. 
Frank huffed a tiny laugh. “Lemme see.” Inspecting the piece, he unscrewed the bolt a tad and tightened it with ease. You groaned. 
“I swear it was broken a second ago. Are you a witch or something?” You flopped to the ground with a sigh, looking up at him through thick lashes. 
“Nah. Just good at building things, I s’pose.” 
“Well, I really appreciate your help. Can I cook you dinner? As a thank you?”
“I don’t wanna overstay my welcome…” Busying himself with the furniture in front of him, he avoided your studious gaze. 
“It’s not a big deal. And it would actually encourage me to eat today.” 
Frank whirled to face you. “You haven’t eaten today?” 
You shrugged, “Yah, I tend to get distracted.” 
“That ain’t good for ya.” Frank sighed, trying to decide what the priority should be. “A’right. If it’ll make ya eat, ya can cook for me.” 
You smiled, your eyes catching his with a soft gaze. “That’s so sweet of you.” And, with that, you bustled away to start dinner. 
Throwing himself back into the task at hand, Frank had your bed frame assembled and was pulling your mattress onto it in no time. Brushing his hands together, he returned to the living room, tidying up the scraps of cardboard and styrofoam littering the ground. 
“Frank, please sit down! You’ve just saved me hours of work, I can clean up.” You raised your voice so he could hear you from the kitchen. 
“It’s no trouble.”
“Dinner’s ready anyway. Sit, please!” You encouraged, handing him a bowl of some delicious smelling pasta. 
Eagerly digging in, Frank almost moaned at the first bite. “How are you so good at this?” He asked, stuffing another forkful into his mouth. 
You giggled, “Culinary school, and years of practice.” 
“Culinary school, huh?” 
“Yah…” You laughed a little sadly, moving the pasta around in your bowl. “I’ve always liked cooking and I had this crazy dream of opening a bakery a while ago.” 
Frank swallowed, forcing himself to continue the conversation even though he could feel himself blushing at his inability to talk like a normal fucking person. “You’re really good at it. What happened?” 
Stiffening slightly next to him, you waved off the question. “Oh you know, killer capitalism and all that. But, I work in a cafe which means I get to bake to my heart's content without all the nitty gritty business stuff. Like taxes.” You made a face at the thought and Frank snorted. 
Finishing his dinner, he noticed you studying him again. It had been a while since someone had shown such genuine interest and care towards him. His heart fluttered in a way he hadn’t felt in years, and it struck a nerve. Minuscule grin falling from his face, he stood abruptly. 
“I gotta go.” 
“Oh, ok.” He didn’t dare look at your face and risk seeing it fall. 
Pacing to your doorway, he turned towards you marginally. “Thanks for the food.” 
“Thank you for giving me a platform to sleep on tonight. You’ve saved my hips a world of pain.” Your smile was small but genuine. You seemed almost…hesitant. As he was about to tread down the hallway to his own place, you wrapped him in a sudden embrace. “Have a goodnight, Frank.” 
His heart tugged, insisting that he return the embrace, but he couldn’t risk it. Instead, he squeezed your shoulder and quickly headed home. 
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After another night of restless sleep, he woke up in an even fouler mood than before. Yanking the door open on his way to work, he almost stomped over a package sitting on his doorstep. Given that it was just past 5 in the morning, he was a little suspicious of the bag at his feet. Gingerly picking it up, he turned it around and, despite himself, broke into a small smile. 
The brown paper bag had a handwritten note, “Don’t be a stranger, Sweetheart” with your signature and phone number underneath. Stapled to the present itself was a brochure for one “Rainy Day Bakery”, complete with pictures of your smiling face surrounded by other employees. Feeling his shitty mood melt away, just a little, he opened the bag and found a short stack of fresh chocolate chip cookies. He sank back against his door, closing his eyes. 
Screw it.
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Twirling around the kitchen, softly singing the lyrics to the song playing overhead, you placed your tray of bread into the oven. 
“God. You’re worse than usual today.” Your coworker, Stacy, groused, hefting a giant sack of flour up onto your prep table. You laughed at her, nudging her shoulder. 
“It’s a great day, Stace! It’s beautiful outside and we’ve had steady business all morning. Plus, Janet is letting me try out some new flavors this week and I am stoked!” You squealed. 
“How did I ever become friends with morning people,” She fake gagged and you smacked her. 
“You love our exuberance, don’t lie.” 
“Yah, yah. Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. 
“Did someone call for a morning person?” Your other primary coworker, Leo, entered the room with a dramatic spin. 
“The only thing worse than one of you, is both of you. I’ll take the counter.” Stacy mumbled, stalking back out to the front of the store. You and Leo giggled after her, knowing she was hiding a smile. 
“So, what’s on the docket for the rest of the day, princess?” Leo positioned themself at the stainless steel bench next to you, looking ready to take on whatever weird ideas you threw their way. 
“I’m thinkin’ more classic cheesecakes, those did well last week. Then maybe lemon meringue bars or key lime minis? Something citrusy. Thoughts?” You tilted your head, awaiting their response. 
“Let’s do the lemon pie shortbread bars. Those are always popular. You want to prep the dough, I’ll start juicing?” 
“You read my mind.” Whipping out the ingredients, the two of you danced around each other in a practiced waltz. You’d been friends since culinary school and had pretty much been a package deal for every employer afterwards. You acted as a well oiled machine, and the cafe was booming because of it. 
As you gently pressed large wads of shortbread into pans, Stacy poked her head back through the staff door, breaking your focus. “Someone’s here for you, princess.” 
Scrunching your brow, you shouted over your shoulder. “I told her I didn’t have time to grab lunch this week.” 
“It’s not your mom. It’s some guy. Says he’s your neighbor?” 
Your hands stilled. “Yah, ok, I’m coming, Stace.” Scooting past Leo—and their eager, teasing grin—you gave them a pointed look. “Stop it.”
“He came to visit you. At work.” Leo singsonged. 
“It might not even be him.”
Leo rolled their eyes back to the pot in front of them. “It’s him.” 
Traipsing after Stacy into the customer portion of the cafe, your face broke out in a massive smile as you saw Frank at the register. His arms were crossed and he looked nervous, eyes shifting around, trying his best to avoid Stacy’s cold gaze. 
“Hey, Frank! Welcome to Rainy Day! What can I get ya?” You placed your hands on your hips and looked at him with excited expectation. 
“Coffee?” You giggled at his simple response which made his blush deepen. “I uh, shit, that sounded stupid. I don’t know…”
“It didn’t sound stupid, sweetheart. I was just thinking about how nice it is to not have to make a super complicated drink. Stace can you get me a large cup of the dark roast. I’m assuming hot and no cream or sugar?” You looked at Frank, waiting to see if your prediction was correct. 
“Fuck, am I that obvious?” He groaned, his face beet red as he avoided your eyes. 
“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the simple things, Frank.” 
Stacy passed over the drink. “2.50.” She stated with no emotion, feigning disinterest in the conversation. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw her giving Frank a subtle once-over. 
Frank passed over a ten. “Keep the change.” 
“Aw, that’s so sweet! Thank you,” your lopsided grin was a permanent fixture whenever he was present. It was going to be the death of him. He’d do anything to make you keep that smile. 
“I—um, wanted to visit your cafe, since you asked me to, I mean—“
Your smile softened as his nervousness peaked. “I appreciate the visit, Frank. Come by anytime. Oh! Before you go, actually,” You fluttered off, daintily grabbing a pastry from the case to your left. You handed him a beautifully decorated confection, but your signature smile held a tinge of anxiety. You clearly cared about his opinion, he wasn’t really sure why. 
“I, uh, didn’t order this.” Frank announced gruffly, holding the pastry in his hands as if it was trying to bite him. 
Rolling your eyes, you laughed cheerfully, “I know, silly. You think I’m going to let you leave without breakfast?” Hands back on your hips, Frank felt a familiar warmth bloom as an almost imperceptible smirk flickered across his mouth. Bossy. 
“Are you really chastising me for skipping a meal after what you said yesterday?” He quirked an eyebrow. 
“Do as I say, not as I do.” You shrugged, looking between him and the pastry. “Well? Don’t leave me hanging!” 
“Are you always this demanding?” Frank scoffed with a slight twinkle in his eyes. 
“Yes.” Stacy and Leo called in unison, making you gasp in false betrayal. 
“Fine, I’ll eat it myself.” You held out your hand to retract the pastry, but Frank drew it closer to himself. 
“Never said I wouldn’t try it, Sunshine.” Your exaggerated pout nearly disappeared at the nickname. “Pretty sure you’ll pop your lid if I don’t.” 
He took a bite of the pastry, savoring the incredible combination of flavors. “‘S real good, what is it?” 
“Baklava inspired croissant. It’s something new I am trying and you strike me as someone who wouldn’t be satisfied by my whimsical ideas alone. You’re…honest, it’s nice.” 
Taken aback, Frank hesitated before swallowing his mouthful. “I…uh—thanks.” His voice was soft. He wasn’t quite used to receiving compliments about anything other than his ability to end a life. 
“Sorry if I was too pushy, a lot of the people who come in here are more concerned with their hipster image than truth. It’s nice to have someone who gives their actual opinion on my work, is all.” You bit your lip, eyes trained on his. 
“I was just teasin’, Sunshine. You can boss me around whenever you want.” 
You grinned. “I think I’ll take you up on that, Frankie.” You winked, making him chuckle. 
“Oh, you’re a handful, aren’t ya?”
“No turning back, Frank. You’re my friend now. Ask my coworkers, I’m not easy to get rid of.” You batted your eyelashes at him and he shook his head, looking to Stacy and Leo behind you. 
“Trust me, I’ve tried.” Stacy gave a tremendous sigh and Leo shoved her. 
“Well, thanks. For the…coffee and stuff.” Frank ended with, lamely. 
“I’m glad you liked the pastry! If you ever want to be my guinea pig, let me know. I’m pretty sure my friends are tired of me asking.” You chuckled, looking sheepishly at Leo and Stacy who gave dramatic nods. 
“I’d uh…I’d like that.” 
You beamed. “You’re a lifesaver, truly. Just text me if you’re ever up for trying things. You have my number now.”
“I do. I…uh, gotta run but…thanks again” Frank gave a curt nod to the three of you. 
“Have a good day, sweetheart.” You waved him goodbye. 
You were definitely going to be the death of him. 
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Your phone buzzed, startling you out of your post-work tv-induced trance. 
Unknown: Hey. This is Frank. In case you need my number or whatever. 
You: Hey Frank! Haven’t talked to you in forever 😉
Frank: Sorry to bother you
You: Don’t be silly. You could never bother me. 
You: Are you hungry?
Frank: I guess? Why?
You: There’s a cute little Persian place that just opened a few blocks from here. I’ve been dying to try it but was too embarrassed to go alone. They allow dogs on the patio, if you and Max are interested?
Frank: Sounds good. Be over in a sec. 
Your heart spun around in your chest. Dashing to your bathroom, you fiddled with your outfit and hair, reapplying makeup and adjusting your floral patterned dress. Catching your own eyes in the mirror, you scolded yourself. Frank wasn’t fully a stranger anymore, but you didn’t know much about him. He didn’t wear a wedding band, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t involved with someone. You were getting ahead of yourself. The knowledge that your efforts might be futile weren’t enough to make you wipe off your fresh coat of lipstick, though. 
A knock at your door broke you out of your thoughts. Rushing to open it, you were spellbound. Frank had cleaned up, probably not for you personally, but your naive little heart couldn’t help but hope. His wavy hair was pushed away from his face and his beard had been trimmed. Wearing his signature dark jacket, he looked…marvelous. 
Prying your jaw from the floor, you smiled at him. “You look really nice, Frank.” 
“So do you, sunshine. Max was napping and refused to get up. Is it alright if it’s just us?”
“More than.” You grinned up at him sweetly. 
“Lead the way, Sunshine.” His deep voice rumbled. You grabbed one of his large hands in both of yours (which definitely did not make him blush) dragging him to the stairs. 
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Frank knew he was treading a dangerous line. This was the 4th time in a week he’d seen you, but he couldn’t get enough. Your smile was intoxicating and your bubbly yet demanding personality was goddamn enchanting. For fuck’s sake, his hand that you had held still burned with warmth and he never wanted it to fade. He knew his darkness could ruin you, but he was defenseless to your lilting voice and endless optimism. 
Which is how he found himself across from you in a quaint little spot a few blocks from your building. Strings of colorful lights spanned the perimeter. Apparently you knew one of the chefs because the kitchen had prepared a tasting menu of sorts for the two of you, and Frank was not above reaping the benefits of what you’d sown. 
Dish after amazing dish was placed in front of the two of you and Frank was putting them away, you were eating less but seemed to be enjoying everything just the same. As you both moaned around a bite of a sort of lamb stew, your eyes twinkled. 
“So, Frank, how was your day?” The question was eager and genuine. He was still taken aback by your desire to know him, to care about him. 
“Fine. Yours?” 
“My day was lovely! I made a couple of my favorite recipes and had a handsome visitor at the cafe. Now I’m having a fantastic meal. I’m a lucky gal.” Eyes still sparkling, they scrunched as you smiled. 
“A handsome visitor, huh?”
“Oh you’d like him. He’s all tough and brooding, but I just know there’s a good man underneath all of that.” 
“Ya just know, huh? What’s hiding underneath all that happiness of yours then, sunshine?” 
“An overwhelming sense of curiosity.” You smirked at him. Your flirty tone traveled straight down in his being. Giving a breathy laugh, he deflected. 
“How are you so…peppy all the time?” At his question, your seductive gaze faded to a much more solemn one. 
“I don’t know, I guess it just became a habit… My, uh, my dad died. When I was young. My mom didn’t handle it well. So, it started as a defense mechanism? I suppose? But now…now it’s just who I am.” You averted your eyes, picking at the dish in front of you. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a downer.” You forced a small laugh. 
“Hey,” Frank’s firm yet gentle tone forced you to look at him once again. “You’re not a downer. Anything ya wanna tell me, I’ll listen, yah?” 
You nodded, smile coming back to the edges of your lips. “Thanks, Frankie.” 
“Can I ask you another question?” When you nodded, he continued. “Do you put, like, crack in those cookies of yours? I swear you gave me an addiction, sunshine.” 
A laugh escaped you and his heart soared. There’s my girl. 
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Taglist: @cheshirecat484
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gachagon · 6 months
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Hiori's ego is really fragile glass
and it's really fucking cool, I adore the imagery they used for this reveal. In Blue Lock there's always this big moment where the characters come flying apart in strange fragments, either in puzzle pieces or weird black "monster goo" etc which is supposed to be representative of their ego. And we finally have Hiori's ego!
When I first saw it I thought that maybe it was just random shards not meant to really represent anything but this panel where he and Isagi are both thinking at the exact same time about the same play let me know that this is him showing his ego off proudly, and I think Hiori's ego is super cool in a unique way.
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Often times, when we think about glass or mirrors, we think about how easy they are to break. How fragile they are, and when mirrors are broken you can't exactly see the reflection in them clearly anymore. That is exactly why Hiori gets paired with glass shards as his ego, because seeing everything all at once was the thing that was holding him back. From Hiori's perspective, whenever he would play, he wouldn't do it for himself but for the dreams of other people. His parents expectations weighed heavy on him, and were the sole reason for him joining Blue Lock.
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When he's finally breaking free from the idea of playing for others, the moments on the glass shards are from his childhood, times where he had played soccer just for the benefit of his parents and nobody else. So in a sense, Hiori is breaking apart but in the best way possible because now he's playing for himself and making choices he wouldn't have thought about making before. He's not seeing the "big picture" that his parents had forced on him, which is why he relies more on his instincts instead.
I really feel like this is an interesting subversion of the predator eye skill that has been touted in other chapters, because those characters all had this big revelation the moment they could use it. They all spaced out, and were awed at just how much thinking and brain power they had to do in order to fully use it on the field. But Hiori isn't thinking, he's just playing by ear for the first time in his life, and that's how he's able to use this new skill to his advantage.
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Breaking apart was the key Hiori needed in order to unlock his ego, because the thing that was holding him back was this constant anxiety and fear about doing things on his own. Being allowed to fail in life is such an important thing that people need to experience, and since he was never allowed to be anything less than perfect at soccer, he built this whole solid wall around himself when he played and would only rely on others to try and get ahead instead of truly playing selfishly.
He may have thought he was an egoist simply because he joined Blue Lock, but it's clear Hiori didn't think he'd ever have the possibility of being like the others, of truly being number 1 (because being the number 1 striker isn't even a dream of his, it's someone else's entirely).
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And what's also really neat about Hiori's ego being represented by glass is how it contrasts Isagi's puzzle pieces. One is a chronic over thinker who's always seeing everything all the time in his head, and the other just turns his brain off to do the sickest shit on the field with pure reflexes. Now it makes so much more sense as well why Hiori's backstory chapter included him playing so many video games, specifically shooters. Because those are games you play where you mostly have to rely on your instincts and reflexes. You don't have to see everything in front of you, you don't even have time to do that in those types of games.
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So it's cool to see how this little hobby of his was foreshadowing the way he'd use his skills in the upcoming match. The only thing left to wonder is if this will really be enough for them to win. If they don't score here Noa will be really upset by it since he let Isagi take a gamble with adding Hiori to the field. Part of me is optimistic, but I'm also convinced they'll lose because they've already won most of their games so far lol.
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juyomiao · 1 year
Text
take the chance - ricky
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ricky x gn!reader
genre: fluff !!! , best friends to lovers
word count: 791
warnings: ENGLISH ISNT MY FIRST LANGUAGE!! so theres going to be mistakes !!! , alcohol consumption but its barely mentioned , is it considered underage drinking if it'd only be considered as underage drinking in countries where the drinking age is above 18/19 ,, (i feel bad for u if u r from any of those countries fr)
note: first actually written work im kinda # nervous my writing skills r .. definitely writing !! this is cringe cliché and based on a dream i had like a month ago . yes im a lesbian yes i dream abt kissing ricky thats completely normal . (friends dont read this i want to disappear rn as i speak)
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You've been to countless parties since the half of the previous school year when your best friend Ricky became popular out of nowhere. You still don't know where that popularity came from, he's always been good looking, it's not like he had some kind of glow up.
Sometimes you think it's more of a curse than a blessing, with all the times you've been dragged to a party you were not invited to because Ricky, being the introvert he is, refuses to go anywhere without you and, consequently, getting dirty looks from everyone for tagging along and 'leeching' off of Ricky's popularity.
Even now, when people have more or less come to terms with the fact that you two are a package deal, you still despise parties, only appreciating a few things about them, like drinking for free and… nothing else, really.
It's not like Ricky enjoys them either, he'd rather stay home with you and watch some romance drama as you eventually fall asleep with your head on his shoulder. But it's not like he can reject every single invite thrown at him. So you two came to a compromise: one weekend at a party, one weekend at your house.
The boredom of awkwardly standing in a corner as you silently watch yet another drunk couple make out, careless of the countless other people surrounding them, soon gets to you, and you blurt out a question.
"Have you ever kissed someone?"
Ricky's calm expression falters for a second, his eyes widening. He just hopes the dimly lit room is hiding the blush creeping on his cheeks.
He's your best friend, how do you not know?
Well, Ricky is a private person and, even having known him for years, he barely talks about his romantic life, so you've never dared prying into it.
"Of course," he says, after composing himself "You?"
You shake your head, breaking eye contact with him. "And I don't think it's going to happen any time soon," you sigh. At this point, it's a hopeless mission.
Ricky is convinced if it wasn't for the loud music in the background, everyone would be able to hear the cogs turning in his brain as it processes this information.
His best friend – whom he has had a crush on since forever – has never kissed someone.
Ricky looks at you through the corner of his eye, wondering if he should take the chance and possibly change your relationship forever – for the better or the worse, he doesn't know.
To you, though, it just looks like he's side-eyeing you with his usual unreadable expression, and you think you fucked up. You assume he's judging you, because not only are you a complete, bitchless loser, but you brought the conversation up yourself.
"Forget it, I don't know why I said that, sorry, now you probably think I'm weird and…" you start rambling, and to Ricky, that's the cutest thing he has ever seen.
God, he's really that down bad.
Suddenly, an idea pops up in his head.
"Can I kiss you?"
The abrupt question leaves you speechless, your words dying in your mouth as you look at him like he has grown a second head.
"What?" It sounds dumb once you say it, but you genuinely think you misheard him. There's no way Ricky, of all people, would ask you something like that.
Ricky smiles, "I said," he turns with his shoulder leaning on the wall so he can look at you directly "Can I kiss you?"
You blink at him, dumbfounded "Wha- what? Did you… what? Did you actually say that? Am I hearing this right?"
Ricky nods, clearly amused by your reaction
"If this is a joke, it's not funny, like, at all."
"Why would I be joking?" Ricky's expression goes back to deadpan serious, he inches closer to your face "So? Is this a yes?"
You nod slowly, still trying to process what's happening. You shouldn't want this, you shouldn't be so tempted to kiss your best friend. But you are.
Before you can overthink it any further, Ricky closes the space between you two. He's hesitant at first, his lips barely brushing against yours, but when you clumsily try to reciprocate the kiss, he takes the lead.
It doesn't feel special, or magic, or like anything else people have described their first kiss as. It's just two best friends who realized their feelings for each other. And to you, that's perfect.
"So… now what?"
"How about we get out of here and go on a date?" You sigh, shaking your head, "Ricky, it's…" you check your phone "1 AM, where would we even go?"
He seems to genuinely think about it for a solid one or two minutes "McDonald's?"
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note 2 bc i cant stfu : WHY IS THE ENDING SO RUSHED I WANT TO SCREAM.. but i've wanted to post this for like a week now so im posting it anyways , pls leave some feedback if u liked it 🫶🏻
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writingsofwesteros · 1 year
Note
hey!! Saw that requests were open! Can I get one for Alicent x Daemon? Like when he returns from Stepstones, the two kinda hangout and begin to like each other so instead of running around with Rhaenyra, Alicent convinces him to become mature and the two start an affair? Like this time, it's Daemon being team Green because he loves Alicent and because I feel like Alicent would be much more comforting and sweet and Daemon would appreciate a kind soul very much. He'd wanna pamper her, give her the attention and pleasure she SO deserves and she'd treat him with appreciation and softness that he clearly seems to crave. Maybe, Aemond and Daeron are Daemon's kids with her? And it explains why she loves Aemond the most? I love Daemon and Alicent! Them both finally getting to be happy and feel accepted is very special to me!
(P.s. its not exactly reader a.u so feel free to ignore.) It's just my dream idea because I really don't like the way Viserys and Rhaenyra treat Daemon who genuinely tries to defend and love them only to be pushed away whenever they feel threatened by his strong emotions. And don't get me started on how Alicent was treated by those two.
But Alicent I think would make Daemon more mature and appreciate his strong love and emotions and she'd make Daemon feel wanted. Like she's a dependent person and all Daemon wanted was to be needed by someone. Its perfect honestly and they're my crack ship too!
AN: Thank you so much for the request - I loved your thoughts on the pairing and I hope you like it x
NSFW
Alicent had not expected the rogue Prince to agree with her idea to see the tapestries. The Queen had only tried to be polite; it was all she had always tried to be. The laughter of Viserys cut her deeper than she’d ever like to admit and it was hard to miss the slight curve of Rhaenyra’s lips.
It had her heart dropping; Alicent had hoped to mend the relationship but it seemed the Princess had her mind made up. “I would like that, my Queen.” Daemon hummed. It was the first time the Prince had spoken of her title and the surprise must have moved through those big, brown eyes of hers as he only smirked.
It seemed it was a shock to the other two in their presence as Viserys’ amusement dropped. “I hope you are not too tired from your travels.” Alicent whispered; biting down on the gasp threatening to escape her as the rogue Prince gently linked his arm with hers. A notion Viserys had never done.
Daemon did not know why he had agreed; he was always impulsive but the conversation only had him softening. The Queen was the first person to ask about his well-being; even his precious Rhaenyra had not done so. A part of him wondered if Alicent was sincere but he would take it.
Alicent began to play with her fingers; the rings adorning them as she guided Daemon towards the quiet corridor. The guards and ladies of the court alike all in the courtyard for the celebration. “I am well now.” Daemon finally answered as the Queen’s eyes moved over the wall in front of them.
A soft smile tugged on Alicent’s lips but soon she was ducking her head. “I heard that you had given my brother two children.” Daemon couldn’t stop himself. He shivered at the mere thought of Alicent beneath his seemingly rotting away brother. For a moment, he wondered why he cared. 
“Yes, they are precious..” Alicent whispered. It was the words she was supposed to say but somewhere deep inside she knew they were wrong. She must be wrong. “You are very young to have such a number of children.” Daeon prodded at the reality as the two of them finally came to a stop. 
“It is my duty.” Alicent hummed the words she was supposed to say once again and this time the rogue Prince stepped closer. His body brushed against hers only slightly but it was enough to have her heart skipping. “I see I was looking in all the wrong places before.” Daemon whispered into her ear. 
“I do not understand.” Alicent hummed. Her body nearly shivered at his closeness as her fingers brushed over each other; digging into her soft skin. A moment later; Daemon’s hands gently collected her own. “You smell so good.” He purred. Gods, was she always this soft and beautiful? Had he truly been so blind?
“Daemon…what are you doing?” Alicent softly asked; slowly moving from him but the rogue Prince followed. He was near obsessed as his intense emotions drove his actions. “It seems I may have made a mistake.” It was the only answer the Queen was given before she was gently pushed into the royal library.
His lips were soon on Alicent before both of them could figure anything else out. Daemon watched in amusement as her wide eyes stared up at him in shock. His hands moved down her sides. ”Daemon..” She softly gasped out as he gently pushed the Queen against the wall behind her. 
He only hummed as her delicate hands brushed onto his chest; pushing him away because that was the right thing to do. Gods, she had never felt this before. Her body seemed to hum for more. “Shh, you deserve this.” Daemon hummed, “Let me give you this.” He continued to whisper as he slowly moved to his knees.
“Wh—what are you doing?” Alicent whimpered; her hands moving to the desk to keep herself steady. Daemon only chuckled; enjoying the idea of ruining the pretty Queen just as she deserved. Slowly, his hands moved up her inner thighs. He pushed that stunning gown to her waist before disappearing under it.
“Daemon..” She whispered as he pressed soft, open mouthed kisses up her thigh until he got to her pussy. Her wetness was beginning to make itself known and he couldn’t help but smirk. “Good girl..” Daemon purred and watched the Queen shake at such praises. Oh, she liked that then.
His tongue slowly moved her weeping pussy, giving her a taste. “Oh —oh gods..” Alicent was loud and responsive; damn near adorable as he harshly began to suck on her clit now. He wanted to hear more. His own cock was hardening and just begging to be touched but for now; it was all for her.
Her body arched from the desk as all thoughts of how wrong it was disappeared from her mind. His tongue slowly moved inside her. This time; nothing hurt. Her toes were nearly curling in pleasure as she gasped out. Daemon’s hands moved to her waist and kept her firm against the desk.
He began to kitten lick her clit; the movements caused the Queen to jolt in pleasure. An affair of intense passion and growing love started here; with far reaching consequences for all.
~
“He is beautiful.” A lady in waiting whispered as the Queen cuddled her second son to her chest. “He is.” Alicent gently stroked his hair with warmth that had never existed before. Her whole heart was for him, she realised as she brought Aemond into an embrace she never wanted to part from.
Alicent brushed her hand over her collar bone; her fingers finding the bright rubies adorning it. A gift from her lover. The thought alone brought a soft blush to her face. “Brother, come meet your new nephew.” Viserys’ voice was heard and those big eyes of hers flashed open. Alicent kept Aemond close as she finally turned around.
Their eyes caught each other but the rogue Prince was able to mask his face perfectly. “He is named Aemond.” Viserys announced; a wide smile on his face as Daemon locked eyes with the Queen. His own eyes widened for a moment before he stepped closer. “I thought after you.” Alicent whispered oh so innocently and nobody knew any better.
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Text
Echoes of Two Worlds | KNJ
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Pairing: idol! Namjoon x cat hybrid! fem! Reader
Summary: Trust is gained in drops but lost in buckets. Or in which you open up to Namjoon and he was left to dream that you'd want him forever. Singing a song only you two could hear, repeating the echoes of the two worlds that separated you yet united you at the same time.
Warnings: fluff, a bit of angst is you squint, implied trauma, trust issues, love, (let me know if I missed anything)
Word Count: 1.2k
~Prompt 6: Warming your hands by holding theirs
~Snowflakes divider by @samspenandsword
~Prompt list by @flightlessangelwings
A/N: A soft and cute one for my darling Namjoonie! Let me know your thoughts in the comments please!
☕Caffeinate me so I can keep on writing! ☕
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It had been three months since you had gotten a proper home. Three months since you began living with Namjoon. Three months since you had been at peace.
Three months since you had had a home.
Namjoon had adopted you, taking you into his care after you became awfully attached to him after a photoshoot. The company had made the members take pictures with different kinds of hybrids to promote hybrid adoption and equality.
He disliked wondering about your past, knowing that it must have been traumatic given that you didn't talk much, your soft cat ears constantly moved with every single noise and you always made it to be close to him in a certain way yet you never touched him. Not even your hand found home in his much larger one.
You were currently walking next to Namjoon in a local park. It was cold outside yet snow hadn't fallen from the sky and you were -lowkey- kind of eager to see snow for the first time. Your time in previous shelters had prevented you from living such an experience, something you deeply hoped you'd be able to gaze at with Namjoon by your side.
Your hands were tangled in the front pocket of your oversized hoodie. He walked next to you at a slow pace, enjoying the moment, the silence, the peace he shared next to you.
"Are you cold? Do you want to get back to the flat?"
He looked down at you, noticing your ears flick towards him before your gaze found his own. You shook your head and he smiled at your cuteness, his hand itching for him to put his arm around you and pull you to him.
However, Namjoon knew how much you despised physical contact. He had never asked why, had never pestered you to give him a reason or an explanation, he simply respects your boundaries and allows only completely necessary contact with your consent first. Always explaining why it was important for him to touch you in any different way.
Like that one time you climbed on the counter trying to reach out for some snack and then couldn't get down on your own, he had to place his hands on your waist and gently set you down on your feet only for you to scurry away a second later.
Or that other time when your softail got tangled with one of your toys and he spent half an hour explaining why he had to gently touch your tail to free you from your toy and for you to not hurt yourself.
Any kind of physical touch between you and Namjoon had been limited to needed occasions but never had you ever initiated anything. And he was fine with that. As long as you felt safe and secure by his side, he didn't mind it. He'd love you just the same.
Your life had changed so much since Namjoon came into the picture, from teaching you how to live on your own terms to actually enjoying being in his company, you had changed a lot as well.
"You know, I saw a new coffee shop open down the street the other day, do you want to go now?"
With wide eyes, you looked up at him. He had to stop himself from kissing you right now. You looked so cute, so innocent, so beautiful. So you.
In all your simplicity and complexity. In all your glory and shadows. In all your fears and goals. You looked pure at that moment.
Genuine.
"Do you think it'll be too crowded?"
You asked. Your voice was soft like a summer cloud. Harmonious. Sweet.
"Perhaps, given that it is a new store. We can go another day if you'd like. No pressure at all, kitty."
You lowered your head in an attempt to hide the blush tainting your cheeks, your tail behind you moving softly with the butterflies swimming in your stomach at the nickname.
But then you looked up at him again, a soft smile over your lips as your tail moved from side to side.
"I want to go. I want to go with you, Joonie."
He smiled, dimples on full display as he went to grab your hand and lead you to the shop; however, he stopped himself just in time. His arm dangled by his side as he spoke once more, his voice ever so calm and delicate.
"Very well, let's go then."
Namjoon began walking in the direction of the coffee shop, his heart thumping wildly in his chest, you on the other hand were happily walking by his side. Feeling proud of yourself for wanting to spend time with him other than in his flat or the park at night.
This was definitely new for you and you'd be lying if you said you weren't nervous. A sudden breeze made your hair blow softly as your ears fell back in pure instinct. A shudder travelled up your spine as you inched closer to Namjoon.
He nearly halted in his steps when your hand clasped his own. With surprise, he looked down at you. His eyes met yours in a sweet dance of emotions.
"I trust you, Joonie."
Your words meant the world to him. After three months of proving to you that you were finally safe with him, of teaching you there was nothing to be scared about when he was with you, of giving you your space; you had finally opened up to him. You had finally allowed him to be close to you in more ways than any other person wouldn't understand.
"Don't break my trust, please."
He nodded at your request. Something simple yet complex. something easy yet hard. Like an echo of a voice he once heard. Like the melody of a song he couldn't forget. It made his insides burn for you, his heart soared to life with the gentle touch of your hands in his larger one.
"I promise, (y/n)."
You smiled. That smile that melted his heart. That smile he'd die for. That smile that meant the world to him.
Namjoon continued walking towards the coffee shop with your hand in his own hold. There was a smile on his face, a thumping in his heart and a desire in his mind.
But for now, he was just happy. Satisfied that his patience had been worth it. You had come to him, trusted him on your own time under your own terms. He could only hope that this was the beginning of something he would surely treasure with his whole soul and heart.
Because he loved you and you loved him.
Even when you both belonged in different worlds, there was a song only the two of you sang together. There was an echo only you heard and a future he dreamt to share with you and only you. His darling, his kitty.
His love. 
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December/28/2023
☕Caffeinate me so I can keep on writing! ☕
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haleyhunwritess · 1 year
Note
hiiiii!!!!!! i am recovering from anorexia where i had to get hospitialized cuz i wouldnt eat i was wondering if you would be able to write something for me i love your writing so so much i hope you have a amazing day tommorrow or to night or when ever you read this
LOVE YOU SO MUCH=(^.^)=
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You're Enough.
a/n: Oh no, love. I'm so so sorry you had to go through that. Please feel free to message me if you want to! It took me a very long time to write this because it hit a little close to home and while I haven't been diagnosed with an eating disorder, I've noticed for the past two years that I've been starving myself in a very unhealthy way, and my doctor said I show signs of body dysmorphia, so it took me a while to write this and it may not be what you wanted so i'm so sorry but i really tried my best to write this. I really hope that you're doing better now<3
warnings: angsty, implication of an ED, stressed!reader
“I know, baby, I know.” Bucky sighed listening to her cry on the phone.
“M-make it go ‘way…I have so much work left...” She mumbled as she tried to sit up. She quickly laid back down when her stomach started to hurt even more.
“Bubba, I really wish I could.”
“Why can’t you make it better,” She continued to cry loudly, “You always do.”
He could feel his heart breaking as he listened to her cry, beg him for help, “Sweetheart, I would love to help you, I just don’t think I’m close enough to do that right. I wish I was there to take care of you…”
He felt guilty for leaving her. He didn’t have a choice in but it still pained him to listen to her crying because she was in so much pain. If Sam wouldn't have called him for help then he would’ve stayed with her.
She was still in school but she's supposed to graduate next year. She'd been dreaming about going to graduate school to get her masters. But lately, she felt like she was suffocating trying to get good grades. She'd been trying her absolute best but sometimes it felt like it wasn't enough.
Last year, she failed two classes, and almost failed a third one. She couldn't figure out why it happened until she got diagnosed with ADD. Her doctor talked to her about taking medication and getting treatment. She explained neurodiversity, and how late diagnosis like this often affects your grades and work.
During summer, she tried to make up for it all but she got a little obsessive. One time, she nearly went 3 days without eating anything because she was too focused on an essay that was due soon. Her stomach hurt so much on the fourth day, so she tried to eat something but ended up getting sick and throwing it all up. She drank some water and got back to work. She was at her desk for hours until Bucky finally forced her to take a break.
As soon as she got up from her desk, she nearly passed out in his arms. He had to hold her up while her head was spinning. He'd been so worried, so scared. He helped her to her bed before getting her something to drink. She took a few sips before confessing that she hadn't had a thing in days.
She'd been doing much better with his help lately, but every now and then, she struggles to have even one meal a day. She'd always had a complicated relationship with her body and food. But it felt like it had been getting worse lately.
If she was in this much pain before Bucky left, he never would’ve left her alone. But now there’s not much he could do besides try to cheer her up with sweet words of encouragement over the phone.
“Hate being alone like this…hurts so much…” She mumbled, pulling the blanket over her head before bringing her phone back to her ear.
“Bubba how about you get some rest and I’ll try to figure something out so you’ll feel better in no time, yeah? How does that sound, baby, is that okay?” Bucky had a plan that might help her feel a bit better until he comes back.
She mumbled a quick yes before hanging up the phone and slowly falling back asleep.
After a while, she woke up to someone gently stroking her hair. At first she leaned into their touch but then she realized that Bucky wasn’t supposed to be home yet. She quickly pushed the person away and sat up in her bed to see who it was.
“Hey, it’s just me! Don’t panic, sweetheart, Bucky called me and said you weren’t feeling too well?” She relaxed when she realized it was just Steve. She slowly nodded, lying back down and curling in on herself. The pain had only gotten worse.
“Poor baby, it’s alright, everything is going to be okay! I brought you some food and something to drink so you’ll be feeling better in no time.” She quickly shook her head, and covered herself up with the blanket again. The thought of eating anything right now was enough to make her feel sick.
“Bubba…you know you have to eat, love. I know you’re very cozy right now, and I promise we can cuddle soon, but darling you know food is very important too.”
She quietly sniffled at his words, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She knew he was right. She didn’t enjoy feeling this way, she knew how unhealthy this was for her. But her brain wouldn’t allow her to agree so quickly. She just started fidgeting with her thumb instead of answering him.
He gently lifted the blanket up, “Look I brought you a few snacks and some drinks. There’s all kinds of different things, bubba, even some chocolate! We can start small, like something to drink first. Your throat must be pretty sore, bubs.”
She thought about it for a second. It couldn’t hurt to drink something. It would help her feel a bit better. She slowly nodded and got up, her back against the headboard.
Steve smiled at her, and opened up the bag he brought with him. He dumped everything onto her bed, making her eyes widen at the amount of food and drinks he’d gotten for her.
He noticed her reaction and decided to put a few things back in the bag, “Don’t worry, sweetheart. These are for you and I to share, don’t have to finish it all by yourself. Plus I just wanted to make sure I brought you a wide selection of snacks and drinks to choose from.” He knew she had some sensory issues, especially when it came to food. She wasn't exactly picky but some textures just didn't feel right in her mouth and she preferred to steer clear of them.
She nodded and looked down at some of the drinks that were on her bed, along with the snacks. She tried to tell Steve which drink she wanted but her throat was so sore, she couldn’t get the words out. She decided to just point at one of the juice boxes and mumble a ‘please’.
“It’s okay, bubba, you don’t have to talk. I know it hurts. It’ll be okay soon.” He popped the straw into the juice box before handing it over to her, “Alright you get started on that juice box, I’ll find a movie for us to watch.”
He took his laptop out of his bag and turned it on. He quickly turned on one of her favourite movies, then placed the laptop next to her.
“Alright I’m gonna have a snack, bubs, I’m feeling a bit hungry. Would you like to share one?” She shrugged, not sure what to say. He grabbed a sleeve of cookies, before moving over to sit down next to her, “It’s okay if you don’t want to, bubba, you can still have a little bit if you’d like though?”
She watched him open up the package and take out a cookie, offering it to her first. She quickly shook her head and turned her attention over to the movie. He kissed her forehead before taking a bite of the cookie, “Oh bubs, these are really good. Are you sure you don’t want some? I can split this one if you’d like?”
She thought about it for a minute before hesitantly nodding her head. He smiled and split the cookie into two, making sure he didn’t get any crumbs on the bed. He handed her the other half, watching her take small bites, “You're doing great, love. Bucky loves you, you know? I know he can’t wait to come back home and see you.”
She smiled at the thought of Bucky coming home soon, while finishing off the cookie. Her throat felt a bit dry from the cookie, so she took a few sips from the juice box before putting it back down.
She moved closer to Steve, resting her head on top of him. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him, “How are you feeling now, bubs? Stomach still hurts?”
“A little bit…” She mumbled, smiling every now and then at the movie.
“What if I cut up some fruits for you in a little bit? How does that sound? Maybe some strawberries for my sweet girl?” She blushed at that but nodded her head, “Alright then, I’ll get that for you in a bit.”
“T-thank you.”
He smiled, giving her a kiss on her forehead, “Come on, get comfy, love. Everything is gonna be okay.”
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imarvelatthestars · 10 months
Text
For The Heart
Pairings: Tai (Daiyu Veteran) x Reader
Warnings/Content: references to o66 & ptsd; brief mention of past sexual activity but no explicit content in chapter; demiro/demiace Tai is canon to me; cuteness at the end!
Word Count: 3.2k
Notes: I borrowed @littlemissmanga 's matchmaker, Yen, for this one.
part of the clone matchmaking universe by @tcwmatchmakingau
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The war is over. That's what everyone keeps saying, but he's not sure how he can believe it. The war is over and the Republic is saved. The Chancellor is dead. A new Chancellor is in office. Tai doesn't even know who it is, he's not sure if he's supposed to care.
The war is over and clones now have rights. No longer are they Kaminoan property, to be poked and prodded at the will of the long necks and their scientific whims. They have legal personhood, pensions, actual medical, psychiatric, and physical care that they don't have to pay for. They're free. They even have legal representation in the senate, a couple of the boys from Windu and Secura's company, apparently. They have political allies, Organa and Chuchi, and he's hearing now that Chuchi's involved with a clone herself.
It's... a lot to take in all at once. But the hardest thing for him to grasp is the fact that it's been three years since the Clone Wars ended. Three years of wandering the deserts of the galaxy, hunting down traces of Jedi, searching for purpose where purpose never really was. Three years after something switched in his head and he stopped feeling human and more like a soldier, like a killing machine. Three years of following his big brother into battle, chasing the rumors of Jedi and Force sensitives, being a good soldier and following orders, until the remnants of Vader's Fist found themselves huddled in a pathetic little pile of hungry, glassy eyed men on Daiyu's dirtiest street corner. He doesn't even know who Vader is.
They put chips in our heads, Fives had said. Made us complacent, made us kill. We'll have to take your chips out, too. Tai wonders if that's why he had nightmares every night for three straight years. Maybe the chip that told him to shoot younglings is the same thing that made him dream of a Sith lord with a bloody saber, made him want to hunt down every Jedi in the galaxy.
But the dreams are gone now. So are the chips. He has an apartment on Conruscant's mid-levels and a job and a monthly pension to make up for his years of unpaid service. He has everything he never thought he could have. And it's strange to wake up and not put on armor every morning, to not choke down GAR regulated grub, to not head for the barracks and work on his target practice, but it's okay. He has free will now and that's... that's okay.
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"Did you hear about the Commander?" "Which one?" "I heard he's head over heels. Totally lovesick." "Which one?" "The last eligible one, di'kut!"
He always overhears something strange at the VA's office. The last time he overhead a couple of the younger boys gossiping about Secura and Bly finally having their first kid. Now they're going on about some kind of -
"-matchmaker, but I dunno. If they can find someone for Appo, they can find someone for anyone."
That makes his ears perk up. There's at least fifty different O'Niners and Niners and Alphas in the whole GAR, but as far as he knows, there's only one Appo. He tries not to sound or look too interested, buries his nose a little further into his pad and pretend that he's found some highly fascinating article that he simply cannot look away from.
"Saw him and his beau out at Monument Plaza the other day. I don't think I've ever seen him smile before."
Tai's not sure he's ever seen it either and they were batchmates, were kriff's sake. Not that that apparently means much to either of them now. He hasn't heard from his vod in months. He'd just assumed the PTSD was hitting him hard again and maybe that's true, but it seems there's a little more to it than that. A boy, maybe, or not a boy. Someone. Not that it matters. His vod is finally happy.
One of the boys - and boys they must be because they look like shinies, they can't have seen much of the war - starts going on about some of the other 501st troopers and Tai shifts a bit in his seat. It's really weird to hear other clones talk about his legion when he's sitting right there, but he supposes that's his own fault to a degree. He never went and got a tattoo, never dyed his hair obnoxious colors or got any piercings, he never felt the need. His first and only duty was to the Republic and his men. He knew he was a clone and he made peace with it, no need to try and set himself apart when he knew in his heart that he was his own man. Now, though, he feels out of place without anything to outwardly determine himself by. Clones are noticed now. They're allowed into high end establishments and welcomed into every class and sector. Now he's another face out of millions and no one can tell him apart and it actually matters.
He really hopes it isn't obvious when he starts typing in 'coruscant clone matchmaker' on his pad. He hopes it's not obvious that he spends the rest of his wait time thinking about the results on his pad, that he thinks about it during the meeting and after it, on his way home, during dinner. He hopes no one can tell that he might want this, whatever this is.
The tab with his holo search results stays up on his pad for a solid week. It haunts him. It's there when he goes to bed, when he wakes up, lurking in the back of his head during his shift. If Appo could meet someone, Appo the stern, silent, far removed commander, Appo with the stick up his ass, then couldn't he meet someone too? He wonders what that would be like.
All the holoroms he's heard of or seen show generic Coruscanti couples in their generic upper-level homes, living generic lives and having a generic romance. That's not what he wants. He wants the things he's heard whispers of over the years. What Bly and Secura have, what Appo has - someone who loves him not as a brother, but as something more. He wants to know he means something to someone, that he's worth something. He wants to know if there's something more to life than eating, sleeping, working, and jerking off when he's bored.
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The matchmaker's been skimming his application for the last minute and he's about ready to crawl out of his skin. This was stupid, he tells himself. I'm three years too late. What am I doing here?
"You can relax, you know," she says with a sly glance from the corner of her spectacles. "I'm just reviewing your information before we start chatting."
He nods, but it doesn't stop his fingers from trembling. He tries rubbing them into his thighs, but that doesn't do anything, so he settles for crossing his arms instead. All the extra anxious energy goes flooding into his legs and his knee starts bouncing without him even realizing.
"There's nothing for you to be anxious about, trooper. You have an excellent profile. Steady job, your own place, and good references from your brothers."
"Thank you, ma'am."
She taps her nametag with a very sweet and patient smile. "Yen, please."
"Right." He really needs to settle down. He feels so jittery that it's making his stomach hurt and he doesn't even fully understand why! "I've never done this before."
Yen nods at him. "Many of your brothers were in the same position when we started this place. It's nothing I haven't seen or dealt with before. In fact, it'll probably work to your advantage."
Oh? Tai's not sure why - don't people want someone experienced?
"Not necessarily," she says once he voices his confusion. "Especially with some of our ladies and gender non-conforming folks, they prefer partners that are more down to planet than, say... Fives."
He actually barks out a laugh, it takes him so by surprise, and the tension that's been weighing down the room lessens considerably. "No chance of that, ma'am. Closest I ever got to Fives' level was when a civvie got dared to kiss me on a round of spin the bottle."
This seems to catch the matchmaker's attention because she leans back in her chair and quirks an eyebrow. "Tell me?" but it doesn't come out judgmental or like she's going to laugh at him. He's not sure he feels comfortable enough to share, but he still gets the feeling she's being genuine in her interest.
"Eh, not much to tell. It was early in the war."
"Did you like it, the kiss?"
The memory is so far back, it's difficult to recall. But he does remember the taste of liquor on her lips and the heat of her skin. She was sticky. It wasn't the best kiss, it wasn't the worst, but it was his first. His first trip to 79's. Maker, it seems like eons ago. He was another man back then, still a shiny.
"I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, Tai, I'm sorry. I'm simply trying to gauge where you're at."
Tai shakes his head. "No, uh, it's alright, ma'am. Yen." He scratches at the patch of scruff that's growing in along his chin and pretends to read one of the pamphlets on her desk so he can gather his thoughts. "Truth be told, I never did much of the stuff my brothers got up to. I tried at first, but it wasn't for me."
"Why's that?"
He's not sure where his answer comes from, but it comes out of him all the same and he knows it's the truth. "Never felt right. Never felt close to any of the civvies I met. They were all there for a good time, but I wanted something different than that." He sighs. "That and I was too busy being a soldier to be a man."
The room goes quiet save for the soft ticking of Yen's chrono, somewhere on the wall behind him. He has flashes of strobe lights on the dancefloor and a girl in a sparkly dress with her hands down his trousers, he remembers she was pretty and flirty and she made his dick hard, but after they got each other off in the storeroom, he still felt sort of empty. He doesn't want that to be what happens this time.
"Are you sure this is what you want, Tai?"
Yen is a striking woman. She's very beautiful in a normal sort of way and very professional, he can tell she's smart and capable, but there's a softness to her that takes him by surprise when he properly looks her in the eyes. She cares.
"I want... someone," he finds himself saying. "I want to try again. Not for the- the sex, if you'll excuse me." After all, she is a lady. He won't be crass.
She smiles again. "For the heart?"
That's a romantic way to put it, he supposes, but she's a matchmaker. Sure. For the heart.
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You have Yen's last message on constant repeat in your head and when it's not repeating, you're logging back into the app to reread it so you can starting repeating it again. You're so fidgety right now that you can hardly sit still, the backs of your ears are sweating, and your chest is all tight and pitter-pattery. You've been on plenty of dates thanks to Yen and the matchmaking service, this is nothing new, but none of them have really panned out and you're so eager for this one to work.
First there was Boil (you weren't a big fan of the moustache/beard situation he had going on, but he was nice), then there was this tall, lanky clone who hardly looked like a clone at all (Crosshair, you think his name was) and he was a sourpuss the whole evening. There were others, some were outgoing and bubbly, some were grouchy or reserved, a few seemed more interested in drinks and where the night might lead you rather then the actual date you were on, and it wasn't that you weren't trying or you didn't like them, but you just couldn't find that spark. You weren't clicking with any of them. After a while you sort of gave up; most enrolled clones had found their partners after a year and the incoming trickle of younger clones were a bit too young for you. You just figured you'd missed your chance and that was that.
Now you're at a nice Pantoran restaurant. They've been increasingly popular among clones after Senator Chuchi's fight for the CRP act and they tend to be just classy enough that you don't feel weird about having a single drink and you don't feel forced to drink more than that. You're waiting for your date and you're hoping he shows, wondering if maybe he won't and brainstorming holo options for if you go home early.
He's a slower kind of guy, doesn't want to move fast. And very respectful. You'll like him.
You hope you do. You hope he's as nice as Yen says. You hope he doesn't mind that weird mole of yours or the color and cut of your clothes or that you've already eaten all the breadsticks.
Somewhere in the front half of the building, you hear the door chime go off and your heart skips a beat. It could be him! He might be at the service desk right now! Or - your pessimistic side rears its head - it could be some happily married couple. They'll probably sit in the booth next to you and canoodle all night. Great.
Your head dips as you take a sip of your ice water and your mind starts to wander. There's a new holoshow that's airing right now and you've been thinking of starting it, you could queue it up when you get home and - boots. There are boots by your table. Two pairs of boots, actually. One of them is all shiny and polished and distinctly Pantoran made, but the other... they're work boots. There's no way. Is he really here?
"Pardon me, miss, your date is here."
Oh. The boots lead to legs lead to broad hips and a broader chest, then a neck, a neatly trimmed beard, a face. Oh no. He's handsome. They're all handsome, of course, but he's different somehow. Your entire face flushes with heat.
Your date swallows audibly, he flashes you a tired smile, and he bows his head just slightly. "Ma'am."
Oh no. Something about the timbre of his voice and the implied respect behind that one simple word has your heart about to beat right out of your chest.
"Hi." It's somewhere between an exhale and a squeak. Maker, this is already getting embarrassing. Get it together! "I mean, hi, uh, it's good to meet you."
You start to clamber out of your chair and offer him your hand, and you realize you're trembling again. But he's a gentleman, just like Yen said. He doesn't squeeze you too hard, doesn't shake you too vigorously, he applies just enough pressure for you to remember that he's there.
"Likewise. I hope I'm not too late?"
"No, no, I got here early. You're fine." His eyes dart to the empty bread bin and you immediately duck your head in embarrassment. "Maybe a little too early, I might've gotten hungry."
His laugh isn't fully realized, it's a little bit reserved, but there's genuine humor in his eyes and you notice they crease a bit at the edges. Cute.
"That's alright," he assures you in that rumbly voice of his. You don't remember clones having such deep voices, but you're not complaining. You're so not complaining. "Won't see me turning down a warm meal."
"Me neither."
This is where it gets tricky. Small talk is always awkward, first dates are always awkward, trying to figure out how you and a stranger mesh is always going to be awkward, there's just no way around it, but damn do you hate it. You're so sick of trying to chat about the weather (it's Coruscant, the weather's artificial) or politics (everyone's glad Palpatine's gone, it's old news now) or whatever obscure sports fad has taken over the clone community lately.
Your date - shit, what's his name again? - is browsing the menu when you speak up. His eyes shift over the top of the flimsi. "Look, I'm not really good at the whole small talk thing. I never know what to say and sometimes I can't tell if the other person is bored of me or not, so I just wanted to say that I'm genuinely happy you're here, I'm just a little awkward at first. I hope that's okay?"
Tai! That's right, you remember because Yen made a note that it rhymes with sky and not gray. Something changes in Tai's face then that you can't explain. His eyes, dark and brown like fresh kaf and cinnamon, can't find a spot to settle, but they seem drawn to yours. The little wrinkle above his brows smooths out after a moment and you see his shoulders relax a hair. There's something weary about him that peeks out behind the neatly pressed dress slacks and the scars on his knuckles, it weighs on him.
"May I speak freely?"
He sounds so unsure of himself, like he knows he's speaking too formally but doesn't know how else to verbalize it. But you encourage him to continue. You smile. You want him to be himself.
"I'm not very good at all this." He gestures to the menu, the bread bin, you. "Didn't get much dating in before the war and didn't get much in after it either. I'll probably stick my foot in my mouth."
"That's okay, Tai." You pause for a moment when his breath catches, you hope that was okay, hopefully you said it right, but his gentle nod gives you the confidence you need to continue. "I'll probably do the same. I'm under the terrible impression that I'm funny."
The corner of his mouth curls into a vague approximation of a smile. "Hm. Unfortunate."
"You're telling me! You're only my second date to actually look somewhat amused by that."
Tai seems to be considering his next words. You can see him start chewing on the inside of his mouth as he scratches along his jaw. It's a nice jaw, from what little of it you can see. His beard looks nice, very dark and recently combed and if there's a little whisper of gray by his chin that makes your head feel dizzy, that's no one's business but your own.
"I must be one of the only people under the impression of a sense of humor then."
You like him. He has good vibes, as you've heard the younglings say. He's trying and you're trying too, and that's all that really matters.
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tai taglist: @moodymisty @rain-on-kamino @dystopicjumpsuit @temple-elder @wanderer-six @jambolska-grozdova @bambambunny @andrakass2 @bobaprint
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mvrtaiswriting · 1 year
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Hiya!
I saw your kissing prompt and I'd love to see Prompt 1 with Luffy 👀
Just imagine how much he'd enjoy the kiss and when it stopped, he's sort of in a daze because of how good it felt 🥰🥰
I even bet he would whine for another ❤️❤️
Have a great day/night! You're doing amazing but make Sure to take enough breaks
Luffy x prompt 1: being unable to open their eyes for a few moments afterward
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heyyy! first of all, thank you for you sweet words and sorry for the late reply. I am trying my best to take enough breaks - but at the same time, I really don't want to disappoint you guys! I'm trying my best to balance everything out, but not gonna lie: life is kicking my ass right now. and this request just gave me an excuse to escape reality and enjoy this little tooth rotting bubble of love with luffy!! I hope you enjoy it dear. x (ps: have a great day/night too!)
gender neutral! sfw, super fluff.
feel free to reblog, like, and leave a comment. i would very much appreciate it. if you enjoy my works, click here to read more or buy me a coffee.. - from this event.
Resting your feet in Luffy's lap, you rested your back against the Sunny's railings, enjoy the quiet, peaceful night you and the crew finally got to enjoy.
Luffy was more silent than usual, too. Gently caressing your legs, he let his slender fingers run up and down your skin drawing imaginary circles, leaving a pathway of goosebumps behind them. He always tried to savour these little moments between you in the best way he could - even if that mean being his quieter self, letting the ocean's waves serenade to you and doing the rest of the work, speaking about his emotions better than he ever could. This was all he wanted, after all. What's a king without a kingdom? What did it matter if he sailed every ocean but never got you? He wanted all of you; your sadness, your triumphs, your fears. You were an island he had yet to discover, the most precious treasure he could ever find. What if this was everything the biggest treasure of the world was about? All these questions crowded his head. He didn't want to give up on his dreams, he never would - but he didn't want to lose you either. What if you fell with someone else whilst he was busy playing the super-hero?
"What's up?" you asked, flicking his straw hat.
Smiling at you as brightly as always, he whispered "it's nothing." reassuringly, before putting his signature hat on your head. Sometimes he wondered if you could read his mind, if there was an hidden talent of you he hadn't yet discovered that allowed you to understand him in ways no one ever did. Luffy enjoyed your company more than anything else - with you, he felt safe. He was still your captain, but somehow, he felt like he could just let his guard down. There was no need to pretend, no expectations towards him being as cheerful as a 5 years old all the time. To Luffy, you were like a big breath of fresh air, a good nap after a long, exhausting day - like coming home, shutting everything else outside. He simply loved the comfortable silence between the two of you.
Turning yourself around, you snuggled closer to him, your head now resting on his thighs. Laughing at you, Luffy lightly pinched your cheek.
"Hello?" he said curiously, watching you adjust on his body. "What was that for?"
"I was tired of the water splashing on my back." you replied smiling. "Plus, I like the view from here." you hinted raising an eyebrow, trying hard to refrain from smirking.
"Oh shut up." he replied, dragging the hat on your face whilst he felt his cheeks almost combust.
"Make me then, captain." you reply, moving your straw hat back to your head again and lifting yourself up slightly, getting closer to his face. By now, Luffy's face was completely red.
"Say it again." he gulped. What was that? He never thought you'd be so bold to ask something like this - he didn't even think he'd reply like that but trepidation was building up inside him, second after second.
You shook your head laughing, resting an hand on his neck and pulling him into a soft, timid kiss. His lips felt soft as they explored yours, kissing you as if life depended on it.
Breaking away from the kiss, you brushed your nose against his. Luffy followed your movements, his eyes still closed from the kiss. He was trying to elaborate what just happened, to understand why it felt like he just discovered a whole, new land to explore.
"Why did you stop?" he asked, before leaning towards you and kissing you once more. A weak moan escaped his mouth as he welcomed the taste of your lips once again. Maybe this was the promised land, the secret treasure.
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