#but she missed seeing the world...guess she got her chance just not how she expected dfgfd

[eternally-racing]

racer girl | lando norris

pairing: dad! Lando x wife! reader (+ their adorable little kiddo)

wc: 1.3k

genre: fluff

warnings: none

summary: Lando's more than apprehensive when his daughter wants to try karting for the first time, but luckily you're there to hold his hand through it all.

note: this fic is part of the racer girl collection but can also be read as a stand alone !

----- The request came on the list your daughter, Piper, wrote for Santa, and as soon as you saw it you ran to go show your husband, Lando. “Go karting” was written in scraggly letters.

You had anticipated it to be a joyous event in the Norris household. None of you ever put any pressure on your daughter to follow in either of your footsteps, but the image of your little girl in a racing suit just like her daddy made you smile. You surprised Lando with the when you both were cleaning up after dinner, but the reaction you got is nothing like what you expected.

“She’s not going karting. End of story”

“It’s what she wants, Lan, and I think it makes perfect sense.” 

“It’s TOO dangerous. That’s my little girl out there.” 

You’ve never seen Lando look this serious in his life. He’s not being overdramatic or overzealous, but there’s a fire behind his eyes that tells you that he’s dead set on this. 

“Do you think your mother was ecstatic when she found out her son was in love with one of the most dangerous sports in the world? Probably not, but she let you do it anyway. Because you loved it, and who knows, maybe Piper’s gonna love it like her daddy.” 

This is why Lando loves you. You're always realistic and you keep him grounded while he floats away into overthinking on situations like this.

“I guess I’m just scared for her,” Lando says more quietly, taking a seat on the couch and curling in on himself. You’re quick to join him and cuddle into his side.

“You’ve seen what I’ve been through Y/N - the training, the crashes, the missed birthdays and weddings, the mental toll, how can you still say you want her to do this knowing all of that?”  

You sigh as you take Lando’s hands in yours. You rub your thumb over the back of his hands while you ask him your next question.

“Looking back, do you regret anything, Lan? Would you give up racing entirely if you had the chance to start all over again?”

He shakes his head in denial instantly, and you can see the wheels turning in his head as you lay with one another.

“We’re not committing to her becoming a Formula 1 driver, babe. She just grew up seeing her daddy do this really cool thing and wants to give it a try, and I don’t think it’s the worst thing if we let her.”

Lando buries himself further into your neck and he mumbles his next words. “Our little girl is growing up, isn’t she?” 

You don’t reply back with your words, but Lando understands you perfectly as you cuddle further into his side. 

- - - - - - 

It’s a rare instance when Lando tosses you the keys to drive to the track. He protects his McLaren like it’s his second child, but from the way his knee is bouncing in the passenger seat you know that he’s in no state to drive. It’s a perfectly mild cloudy day, yet Lando is wearing these ridiculous wide rimmed sunglasses that you can only assume he found in a hurry while foraging through your shared bathroom. While you may not tease him much for it since you know they’re covering his teary eyes, your daughter is still just as merciless and cheeky as her father usually is. Lando teaches her the word “allergies” on the drive down as he’s coming up with excuses for his sniffly state. 

When Piper first gets a helmet, she runs right past you to get her daddy to put it on her. She’s serious when she tells him not to make it “tew tight”, but Lando’s hands are shaking so much that he can hardly get the buckles done up anyways. She barely spares you both a second glance and Lando has to pull her back to give her a quick kiss on the helmet before she goes off. You both wrap her in your embrace and give her a squeeze until she’s telling you it’s time to let go, and Lando only gets halfway through his dad talk of “we can leave at any time if you get scared and I’m gonna be standing right here supporting you” before she’s already dashing away again. Piper is barely going past a crawling speed in the kart but something about the sight tugs at your heart. You’re used to this feeling, watching half your heart racing away while you’re on the sidelines, but you realize this is the first time Lando’s been in this position instead of being the one in the car. You reach for his hand and hold it tight as you lay your head on his shoulder. You two had so many “firsts” with your daughter: first steps, first time you left her at home, first words, and so much more, but none of them compared to this feeling of watching her karting for the first time. 

The first time Piper bumps into a wall Lando says that he thinks he’s gonna throw up and you have to almost physically hold him back from running out there to her. Once you see a big thumbs up from your daughter to confirm she’s okay, the whole situation earns a little giggle from you and you reply back with Lando with “imagine instead of going into the wall at 3km/h it’s actually 313km/h and you’re watching the father of your children crash.” 

Lando’s never seen your point of view before like this. You spent years on the paddock as the worried girlfriend, then as the worried fiance, then as the worried wife, and then finally as the worried pregnant wife (probably the worst situation of all since you were already nauseous anyways). You never once pushed him into retiring for the sake of your family - you could see the joy the sport brought him and he always appreciated your respect for that. He thinks having to watch on the sidelines might be even harder than actually being on the track, and he looks at you with a newfound appreciation for your strength as you cheer on your daughter.

“Thank you.” Lando whispers to you with a little crack in his voice.

It’s more than a thank you for convincing him to let Piper do this - it’s a thank you for supporting him all these years, through all the ups and downs of his racing career. You only hold onto him tighter as a response, pulling out your phone too to capture the moment. Whether Piper continues in motorsport or not, you know this is a moment that you’ll both treasure forever. 

That night Piper begs for you both to put on the home video of Lando’s first karting win while she eats her supper. You’ve never seen your daughter this happy before, and you know from the look on Lando’s face that he thinks the same. It’s only after she retells her experience in karting from start to finish for the 4th time over that you’re able to finally bargain with her to go to sleep. Her one concession is that she sleep with her helmet in her bed, an action that brings the tears right back to the forefront of Lando’s eyes since that was something he did as a kid too.

“Our baby girl is going to be the first ever female driver in formula 1” he cooes as you both stand at the foot of her bed. “Typical Lando” you call out, not surprised one bit that he’s gone from banning his daughter from stepping foot into a kart to imagining her future in motorsport history all within the span of a couple of days. You have to slow him down before he starts going off on a tangent about the best places to train and the moments he can’t wait for her to experience in the sport. But at the end of the day you’re so happy that Lando came around on this (an “i told you so” or two sometimes slip out when the topic comes up), and you know that it’s going to be a fun journey being karting parents for as long as Piper wants to do so. 

----

author's note: this was such a fun one to write <3 you'll probably see a lot more dad! Lando on my page in the future! If you have any dad! Lando scenarios (or any scenarios really) that you want me to write, feel free to drop them in my ask box! Until next time <3 - Em

#lando norris #lando norris x reader #f1 fic #f1 imagine #f1 fluff #ln4 #lando norris fluff #lando norris x you #lando norris x y/n #f1 x reader #f1 fanfic #mclaren f1 #lando fluff #lando norris fanfic #lando norris imagine #ln4 imagine #ln4 x reader #ln4 fluff #formula 1 #lando imagine

[goldsbitch]

That second flight

part 4 to That one Christmas flight

summary: What happens when people stop lying to themselves? Sometimes, you get a good night out of it.

warnings: cheesy af, swear words and alcohoI guess, cliche probably, typos most definitely

Do not fuck it up, do not fuck it up, do not fuck this up.

Hey you? What kind of a message even is that? Ugh. She ruined it. Now she will have to move away and start her life again.

The weather forecast predicted high levels of overreacting for today.

He must have liked the cool girl vibe she somehow gave of on the plane. Y/N prayed for the gods of cool vibes to bless her again.

Lando was just about to start an interview for Sky Sports when he received her message. He imagined this was how it felt to win a podium. On the top of the world. He gave an absolutely charismatic, energetic and funny interview. One that would surely create lots of gifs on the socials. PR manager even high-fived him when they finished. To be honest, he could not wait for a moment of solitude so that he could reply.

"hey" he started. "so I broke the rule, ups" Her reply came instantly.

"I've noticed. But then again, you radiate speeding tickets vibe from miles away. So no surprise."

He smiled, well aware of how efficient the Italian ticketing was running.

"paid one last week, so you got me there" "so, how's your cool student life going?"

"Trying gain some wisdom, as people just feel free to call me dumb on social media these days."

"compliments come in a variety of forms, don't discriminate"

From now on, there was no way back.

//

The next few days consisted of constant texting. Joking around, sending pictures capturing their daily life - both of them keeping in secret that lots of the information shared was nothing new. They were careful, somewhat distancing themselves from any real deep topics. But, days felt like blur, waiting for the next text to come and somehow managing to live the real life in between that. Y/N stayed in most evenings, almost making her friends concerned.

It did not take long enough for famously patient Lando to getting sick of it. They had a week between the next three week round of races. It was now or never. He missed one chance by being mr. mysterious, so mr. direct it was now.

"so, lady. what are you doing this weekend?" he asked out of the blue.

"I dunno. Probably studying, I guess."

"well, you're smart enough, you can skip that. let's meet up."

Y/N pretended to herself that she was second guessing. She headed out, to the bar where her friends were hanging out before they planned on heading to some faculty party. She felt joining them suddenly. Sat quietly, listening to their usual chit chat. Her charade lasted about seven minutes.

"Yes. Let's." she texted and threw her phone deep down to her bag. She was nervous, heart racing and mind quite not catching up yet.

"I need to tell you guys something," she interrupted them and almost demanded immediate attention. Questioning looks followed. "Uh, so I met this guy on a plane. And I'm gonna see him again this weekend."

Saying it like that, she realized that it was all kind of real and that she probably could not explain it in words how bizzare it all felt.

"Aw, that's cute! Tell us more!" Teresa clapped excitedly, the whole weird vibe surrounding her friend making more sense now.

Y/N expected her friends to be more shocked. "Um, yeah. It's just this guy. I don't really know how it's gonna happen, but yeah."

"Is he coming here? Can we meet him?"

Y/N kept the information that they already did to herself. Just in case she is left stranded alone and disappointed.

"I don't...I don't know actually. Yeah."

"We will do as we always do - sharing location and staying by if needed, honey."

Y/N missed a text notification. "great. i'll fly you out to somewhere where we can be alone, not to sound too creepy."

//

She landed an hour after him. Lando sent a picture of him waiting at the airport cafe.

He booked the best hotel room he could find. Well, technically he booked two rooms. Just in case she wanted to keep her distance or if by any chance he fucked up so royally, that she would refuse to share space with him. At least, he could walk away from this like a gentleman.

Since she last him, she forgot just how hot this guy was in person. Seeing him, sitting casually sipping coffee and glued to him phone, she took a moment to study him. It was as if he was tailored specifically to her taste. His clothes covering his godlike body, not too muscular but enough for the sight of his arms sending her to different dimension. The origin of her audacity she had to be the first one to talk to him on the plane was unknown to her. There was no more panic left in her body, as she had done nothing but panicking the whole flight.

She walked and sat opposite to him.

"Hey," he smiled.

"Hey yourself," she replied. There was a moment of awkward silence. Turns out there was a bit of panic left in Y/N after all. Last week she though she'd never see this guy. And now she was staring in his eyes.

"Do you want some coffee?," he asked innocently. He looked her up and down, excited to see her. All of his worries he refused to acknowledge were gone. After all, she got up and flew here just to hang out with him. The reality of this filled him with confidence.

"Yes. A small tiny espresso with no milk."

"Great. Let's grab that and hit the road."

Lando's car might have as well run on butterflies alone present in his vehicle. There was absolutely no way for him to drive some random rental car, so he called up McLaren people to provide him one for the night. It came up in the same conversation when he requested personal time off. Both things came to a certain level of surprise, as he had never done this before. Y/N knew she had to work on a group project for one of her minor classes. Just like him, she had done something she would not have dared - and completely ghosted her group for this weekend.

"You look nice, btw," he commented casually.

"Well yeah, when you're not on an overnight flight across half of the world wearing airport attire, it makes thing easier."

"Hm, I would say sweatpants have some magic to them."

It was hard for Y/N to get the image of him out of her head.

"So, where is my lovely kidnapper taking me?"

They discussed prior to this that the vibe they would like out of this was a casual dinner and then finding the shittiest club possible and have some fun, trying to remain as private as possible yet within the vicinity of the small Italian city.

"My assistant found this lovely little place in the centre. Don't get mad, but I had him completely book it out. You know, the privacy thing," he said with more insecurity than one would expect.

Y/N picked up on that and tried to lighten up the mood. It seemed a bit excessive to do that, but he probably knew what he was doing.

"Your assistant," she gagged over dramatically. "Jesus, am I not worth enough for you to google on your own? Mr. Busy man. Was he also the one who found me online them?" she joked?

"I'm sure I'd have to hire a special person to that if I planned on outsourcing it."

"Creep."

"You love it."

And she did.

He parked in front of the restaurant, without a care for the world.

"So you're telling me we're making a big deal about keeping a secret that you're here, yet you decide to park like a proper asshole?" she remarked while he opened the door for her. Jokes were making her focus on something else than the fact she was falling for him too hard.

"Oh, you're going absolutely hate my plan," he laughed as they were entering the full on empty restaurant.

"Wow, look at that. I invited all my friends!" he whispered to her ear before addressing the owner.

"Hello, you must be Dario?"

This Dario person smiled brightly at him. "Ah, mister Papaya!" Lando nodded and Y/N rolled her eyes. Dario then started speaking Italian without a care of the world. Language wise deaf Lando did not count for the fact people just did not speak English in this part of Italy. A tiny crack in his plan. What was he suppose to do, call Carlos? But, Y/N having spend a good year or two studying there was there to ease the situation. She whipped out her B1 Italian and greeted the man. Dario's happiness filled up the room.

He seated them and immediately brought local red wine and giving a long talk about where this wine was from and how his grandma used to pick up the grapes herself and how the notes did this and that. Y/N tried to translate at the beginning, but Dario looked like was ready to give a TED talk. She started to loose the grasp of the story, which Lando observed. And like good gentleman he helped her out. No, of course not, when he saw her getting lost, he put on a super interested face and asked about seven follow up questions. Y/N was super annoyed. The kind of annoyed that creates a smile on your face.

When this showdown finally ended, Y/N nearly gulped the wine down. "So rude, Dario just said, you're suppose to sit it and let it roll," said Lando and with too much affect sipped his wine. "Aah," he took a deep breath and the bit his tongue. Y/N stuck her tongue out completely like a five year old child. "Yes, I can your red tongue, that's also one of the reasons why you sip it."

They sat, talked and laughed. He seemed genuinely interested when she blabbed a little bit too long about her latest projects. And then he asked her for a feedback on his latest merch, which by sheer coincidence included lots of photos of him. It was hard to admit how much he enjoyed the idea of her looking at him.

"So, um. I'm not sure I understood Dario correctly. But it looks like he insists on getting us the local speciality," she said hesistantly.

"Well, only if his grandma would approve. But why is this strange look on your face?"

"I must have gotten it wrong. Because burnt pasta just sounds wrong. If I wanted that, I could have stayed and have my roommate cook for us."

"Hm, that is an interesting idea." Lando pretended he did not know her roommate's name.

Once Darion brought out the burnt pasta, the couple had a hard time not to laugh.

"When in Rome...well not in Rome, but you get the idea."

"Why is this good?" Y/N proclaimed with her mouth full to the limit.

Lando laughed. "Ah, we have a lady at the table, I see. I mean yeah, I am not supposed to be having pasta now, but this is so weirdly good."

They finished their strange pasta and the bottle of wine. Said goodbye to Dario, Y/N tried not to think on how much it cost to close a restaurant down.

"Wait, what are we going to do about the car? We can't drive now."

"Not to sound like a complete asshole, but I'd like we remove the WE from any sentence including driving now at the beginning, if that is ok. And like I said at the beginning, you're gonna hate this."

"Go on, Lando boy. Tell me."

"Yeah, the car was provided by my employer. And they really need me, so I'm just going to leave the car here to get towed and inform them later."

"Jesus, why!"

"Well, I figured we'll get a taxi in the morning. I want to enjoy all the time I have with you. Dealing with the car is not on the menu today."

There was nothing for Y/N to reply. She was having too much fun to be thinking.

They found what seemed to be the shittiest bar playing 80's and 90's songs, weirdly colored lights swinging out of the rhythm and with people there consisting of old papas and few probably underaged kids. They brought their own wine bottle from Dario, Lando paid 100 euro for two glasses and for the bartender leaving them alone. It did not take long for Y/N to break out to the dance floor. Lando watched her clumsy yet somehow elegant moves for a moment, before he joined her. They danced, as if they were the only people there, laughing and completely ignoring the looks they were getting. And to the tones of remix of Brother Louis, they kissed again. And this time, they kept kissing until late hours, hand roaming around each other, as if they were two teenagers making out for the first time.

part 5

__________________________________________________

Tagged all those who like to suffer: @prudyhoo @anuksunamon @sagestack @esquerkaren @ushygushybaby @ilove-tswizzle @thehufflepuffavenger1  @superlegend216 @mehrmonga @lovely-blackinnon @mylifeihate1029 @lausdigitaldiary @tswizzleismother

#there will be more #lando norris #lando norris x reader #lando norris x you #lando norris fanfic #ln4 imagine #formula 1 #formula one x reader #f1 fanfic #f1 imagine #lando norris angst #meet cute #fluff #slowburn #slow burn fic #lando norris fluff #formula 1 fluff #formula 1 fanfic #ln4 x reader #i'm sorry #that one christmas flight #that second flight

[lambsouvlaki]

His Heart (Dad!Jason AU)

Character: Jason Todd x civilian! Fem!oc

Rating and Warnings: G, no warnings, besides sappiness.

Word Count: 1,390

Summary: Jason comes back from a years long mission in space, and finds out he's a dad.

Masterlist

Jason stepped into the JLA Watchtower. Earth glowed, vast, blue, and beautiful, through the giant windows. It had been almost two years since he saw it. Dorothy knew what she was on about, there really was no place like home.

He was so sick of sleeping alone in his bunk. Andy had just moved into his apartment when he got swept away, and it had just started to feel really right. 

Dick stood in the otherwise empty airlock in civvies. The furrow on his forehead was a little deeper than it had been last time, but his smile was just as wide and genuine. 

He stepped forward and wrapped Jason up in a hug. Jason hugged his brother back, far beyond pretending at coldness. Space was cold enough, and the two years on the front lines had taken their toll on him. 

“I wasn’t expecting a welcome party,” he said as they pulled back. 

“What were you expecting?”

“I dunno,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “Maybe a giant spray painted sign saying ‘And don’t come back!’”

Dick laughed. “Sure, if we wanted to see how long it’d take you to break into the tower.”

“Three minutes.”

“Well, you’re tired, we wouldn’t hold it against you.”

Jason scoffed. “I missed you, you asshole.” 

Dick flashed his winning smile. “So now what? I only saw your arrival by chance. Do you have plans?”

“Not really. I’ll probably slink home, see if it's still standing. See if Andy still… wants anything to do with me.” 

Dick blinked, his expression going blank. 

Jason’s heart clenched. Was there just an empty apartment waiting for him with a note that had been collecting dust for eighteen months? It would be exactly what he deserved, he thought with a bitter twist of his lips. 

“I guess I’ll settle in for a couple of days then go find her,” he said. Maybe just messaging her would be kinder? No, he was going to look her in the eye, even if it was just to say goodbye. 

“Don’t do that,” Dick said. He touched Jason’s shoulders urgently. “Go straight to her. I’ll take you, we’re going now. She deserves that much.” He turned and hurried through the hallways towards the zeta tubes. 

“Whoa, what? What are you talking about?” Jason caught up to him, grabbed his arm and dragged him back to a halt. “What’s happened?”

“Look, it’s not really my place to say.”

“You’re freaking me out, Dick,” he growled. “What, is she dying?” 

“No! No, Jason, she… she’s had a baby. Your baby.” 

For a moment the world stopped. The rotation of the vast planet out the window surely halted, same as the beat of his heart. 

“What?” Jason rasped. 

“Sophie. She turned one a few months back.” 

“She’s my–? Oh. Oh fuck.” 

The world rebooted, spinning anew but the axis had moved. Jason leaned hard against the wall. “Sophie,” he whispered. 

Dick patted him on the shoulder. “Congratulations, by the way. For a year ago.”

Jason laughed, frantic and broken. 

“Do you need a moment?” Dick offered. “We can go sit and–”

“No.” Jason pulled himself up. He marched towards the zeta tubes. “We’re going now. Straight to Andy and my– my daughter. Is she… how is she? Are they okay? Did the family help out?”

“Of course, Jay. That little girl has a whole circus’ worth of aunts and uncles who love her to bits. And a doting grandfather and great grandfather who spoil her rotten.” 

He hung his head as they reached the platform. “I should have been there. I should have been there. What kind of deadbeat am I?”

“Save that for Andy.” 

“Yeah.” 

---

They drove from the manor to the apartment by the river overlooking the Narrows. It was the same one he and Andy had shared for that halcyon four months before duty came calling. 

Dick dropped him off downstairs, saying he didn’t want to intrude but demanded Jason call him when he was settled in to plan some kind of family night. Jason didn’t hear a word of it. 

He made it to the apartment door without registering any of it. He dropped his bag of gear. 

He knocked. 

“Coming!” Andy’s voice called. Faint music was drifting out through the walls, something upbeat and light. The door opened, letting in noonday light to the dark hallway, shining around a smiling Andy. She was in loose workout clothes that were stained on the shoulders. She wore no makeup and her hair was up in a bun on top of her head, and her skin had a light sheen of sweat. 

Her expression stuttered at the sight of him. 

He had no words. 

“Jason?” 

He surged forward. She met him halfway. Her arms wrapped around him as tight as his did around her, and it felt more right than anything ever had before. 

He managed to get her name out, before he kissed her. Her hand grazed his cheek so tenderly. 

He pulled back and looked into her eyes. Had there ever been anything so beautiful? 

“Jason, I have to tell you,” she said, putting a hand on his chest. “While you were gone, I…”

“I know. Dick told me.” He looked around the entryway. Even if Dick hadn’t said a word the folded up pram, the tiny raincoat, and the row of little shoes would give the game away. The furniture had seen a change too, most things had been moved higher up.

His eyes caught on the shoes. They were so small. He couldn’t help his smile. 

“Where is she?” he asked. 

“Gaa,” a high pitched voice rang out from the living room. 

Andy’s lips quirked. 

Soft, slow footfalls patted on the hard flooring, heralding the new arrival. 

He stepped forward, out of the still open doorway. 

And a little girl toddled into view. She was wobbly but her face was fixed into a determined pout. She stuck her nappy-wrapped bum out for balance, and held her arms cautiously forwards. She wore a single sock and a yellow dress. 

Jason’s heart relocated itself. It no longer lived in his chest.

She had a wispy halo of black floppy curls and a chubby round face. She stared at him. 

He knelt down. 

“Sophie, baby girl, this is your daddy. Can you say daddy?”

“Mammy.”

“Daddy,” Andy repeated, her voice wet.  

Sophie hummed. She toddled closer, relentless despite some wobbles. She stuck out her lower lip and fixed her eyes to him with absolute determination. He held out his hand. She reached back, closer with every step. 

Jason held his breath. 

Her whole tiny hand wrapped around his crooked index finger. She laughed in triumph and then fell onto her bottom.

“Oom,” she said on impact. 

She looked up at him again, actually seeing him now that her quest was complete. Big curious eyes of sparkling blue stared at him. 

“Hello,” he said. He offered a shaky smile. His eyes were glassy. 

She stared back. She blinked.

“Da.”

His tears fell. “That’s me,” he said. 

“Da. Da. Da de da den dayaya,” she babbled and giggled at herself.  She lifted her arms at him.

He lifted her gently and held her to his chest. She was so impossibly small. He could feel her heart beat against him, so feverishly fast. But she was calm, quite happy to be held. He curled around the most precious thing in the world. His breath hitched as he tried not to sob. 

She hugged him back; chubby little arms wound around his neck. She was so unafraid. 

He looked up at Andy. She was smiling down at them through her own tears, her hand held over her mouth. 

He stood, lifting his baby up. He held his little girl in one arm and the love of his life in the other. The baby was the only one dry eyed. Andy kissed the downy top of her head. Sophie leaned her head against his chest with a little sigh, safely ensconced between them. 

“Uncy?” 

“Hn?” he queried. 

“No, baby, he’s not an uncle.” 

Sophie turned her head back, looking up at him.

“Uncy Da,” she said, like she wasn’t letting them trick her that easy. 

He gave an amused snort that almost covered the yawning gulf in his heart. “That’s what I get for not being here.” 

“You’ll just have to stick around and convince her otherwise.” 

“Yeah.” He took a deep breath. “I will.”

Next>>

#Dad!Jason #kid fic #jason todd #red hood #jason todd x oc #red hood x oc #jason todd x fem!reader #jason todd x reader #my fanfic #dc #fluff #lots of crying #give that man a baby

[hee0soo]

Ambassador of the Heart

PAIRING — Kim Hongjoong x afab!ModelReader

SUMMARY — An encounter at the Balmain Winter Show 2023 leaves you flustered...

GENRE — FashionAU

WARNINGS — none?, maybe racism if you squint

WORD COUNT — 1.3k

~Part 2~

March 2023

As a close friend of Oliver Rousteing and House Ambassador of Balmain Paris, it was a given that you were going to attend the presentation of the Balmain Homme 2023 Fall/Winter collection.

Excited to see what the head designer had come up with you were sitting in your hotel room, waiting for your stylist to put the final touches of make up on your face. The shimmery black and white dress which was put on a hanger, almost calling for you and you couldn´t wait to see it on your body.

The garment was a special creation from Oliver, gifted to you for your birthday not to long ago and so far, you had not had the chance to show it off, making this the perfect occasion to show once more why you were one of the faces of Balmain Paris!

“Aaand, you are done! The only thing missing is the dress!” Juliana said, gluing one last sliver rhinestone to the inner corner of your eyes to give them a little extra sparkle.

You looked in the mirror, baffled by how much a single gem could change the entire look.

“Thank you Juli, It looks amazing as always!”

Putting down the tweezers, the woman handed you the dress to change into, helping you zip it up and fix your hair one last time.

“It was my pleasure dear and now go and get your shoes. You got a show to attend!” she said, smiling proudly at the sight of her work.

The security guard hired for your safety, was standing outside the door, already waiting to escort you to the car.

What you were not expecting however, was the company he already had!

The blonde man, dressed in black velvet, with sun glasses sitting in his perfectly styled hair, looked at you curiously before saying something to, who you guessed was his manager in a language foreign to your ears.

“Mademoiselle! It is an honor to work for you while you are staying here in Paris! My team and I will be with you and Monsieur Kim for as long as you need us! Outside, there are 2 cars waiting for you. Mademoiselle, you will take the first one and Monsieur, the second one will be yours.”

So he would also be going to the presentation?

Having received an understanding nod from the both of you, the guard ushered you into the elevator and into the lobby.

You could hear the screaming of fans from where you waited for the securities go ahead which came just a few moments later.

Bowing your head ever so slightly to the good looking stranger, you said your goodbyes and went straight to your assigned car. The chance of getting to know the man who would be taking the second car, very slim, if not nonexistent!

It was sad if you thought about it. He seemed nice and you didn´t have many real friends as your job didn´t allow you to let your guard down with most people you met.

You always had to be careful of who you let into your life, too scared of getting used for the status you had as one of the most reputable models the fashion world had to offer!

The drive wasn´t very long and you once more were glad that your agent had picked a hotel close to your destination. The thought of you becoming motion sick, sending a shudder of disgust and horror down your back!

A soft sigh escaped your lips, eyes following the beautiful scenery of Paris.

“You´ve always loved France,” the manager teased.

“Why wouldn´t I? It´s a beautifully country,” was your answer, eyes locked on the man in the passenger seat.

The car was filled with comforting silence, thoughts drifting back to the handsome man that you had met in front of your hotel room.

“Who was that?”

The question has slipped out from between your lips before you could stop it.

“Who do you mean?”

“The man in the other car,”

You could see your manager shake his head. A scoff leaving his mouth.

“Nobody really. I think he is part of a Korean boy band or something, I honestly don´t think anybody really knows him.”

Something about the words spoken and the tone he used irked you greatly. It seemed that your manager was not really a fan of the other but you didn´t know why.

To you it had not seemed like he was as unknown as the man in the front seat made him out to be and from the very short interaction in the hotel hallway, he seemed like a good man.

You only hummed, not wanting to seem rude.

When the car pulled into the driveway and came to a halt in front of Hotel Place Vendôme, where the event took place, you registered how many young girls had come to wait in front of the venue this time around.

You didn´t mind and instead enjoyed the screaming and shouts you received as soon as you got out of the car.

Waving at the crowd, you made your way inside, barely noticing the noise from outside pick up just the slightest bit as the next guest arrived.

Meeting all the other guests, greeting everyone and taking pictures was something you knew a lot of your coworkers and fellow people of interest saw as a chore, brought you more and more joy the longer you spend in their company.

It gave you a sense of comfort to know that the attention of the night would not be solely on you!

You made another pose for the camera, playing with it as if it were a toy before waving one last time.

The presentation began and ended without a hitch.

In a quiet corner, Juliana touched up the makeup on your face and fixed your hair.

“Y/n my dear! Come join me!” came an accented voice from a little further away.

Your head whipped around at the mention of your name.

Oliver was standing there in all his glory, waving at you with a bright glint in his eyes.

“You can go,” Juliana patted you on the back only to step back and start a conversation with your manager who looked a little annoyed by the commotion around him.

Oliver met you half way, engulfing you in his arms.

“I missed you dear! How have you been?” He asked, genuinely interested in your well being and cupped your cheeks in his hands. You were used to the affection he liked to show you so this was nothing new.

“I´m fine, thank you for asking. The presentation was amazing as always, your work always amazes me!”

The tall man waved the compliment of and stepped away.

“Don´t try to flatter me you little devil! And now come, I’d like you to meet someone!”

Letting him take your hand, you followed.

“Y/n, this is Kim Hongjoong! Monsieur Hongjoong, this is my good friend y/n y/l/n.”

Now able to put a name to the stranger from your hotel, you watched as the man, Hongjoong, bowed his head and took your offered hand. Even if a little awkward, the other seemed genuinely happy to meet you properly.

“It is, nice, to meet you y/n! You look, lovely?”

You didn´t know what you had expected him to sound like but not like this. 

His voice was higher pitched than you thought but soft and clear at the same time. It was very pleasant on the ears if you were honest. The slight stutter and accent making it more endearing than you would like to admit!

“It´s nice to meet you too!”

You said, letting go of his hand and sounding a little breathless as you were still stunned by the beauty this man radiated.

His eyes lingered on you for another few seconds, smile never slipping from his lips before the moment got cut short by one of the photographers asking for a picture of the 3 of you.

It was almost like you were getting ripped out of a trance and you had to stop yourself from flinching in surprise at the sudden question by the man with the camera.

The pictures were snapped and you added searching for this picture to your to-do list for later.

#cromernet #ateez #kim hongjoong x reader #ateez hongjoong x reader #kim hongjoong imagine #hongjoong x y/n #ateez hongjoong #kim hongjoong #ateez fluff #ateez fanfic #kpop writing #kim hongjoong x y/n #ateez x reader #kpop x reader #hongjoong x you #hongjoong #divider by cafekitsune

[winchesterwild78]

Chance Meeting

This is my first ever fan fiction. I adore Jensen Ackles and have no hate towards his family. In this he’s single. I’m not sure exactly how to do this so any suggestions or feedback is appreciated. Please be kind and all mistakes are my own.

Please don’t take my work. 18+ Only!

Warnings: fluff, angst, smut (later on), Jensen being a sweetheart

———————————————————————

You guess in order to tell your story you have to start when you and Jensen first met. It was a chilly day in October. You were so excited about your first ever Supernatural Convention. You had been a fan of the show since it started and watched every single episode, several times over. Like everyone else, you have your favorites and of course like everyone your least favorite being the very last episode.

Anyway, you’re rambling. You tend to do that when you think back on moments where your world turned upside down. Like you said before, this was your first convention. You’ve seen videos on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, but nothing could have prepared you for being there in person.

You spent the money for the gold admission, because hey go big or go home, right? You had every outfit picked out for each photo op and panel you knew you were going to attend. You had paid for single photo ops of Misha, Jared, and of course the green eyed angel himself, Jensen. You’ve always been a “Dean” girl, and a fan of Jensen. Between his shows, movies and his music. Damn is he a talented man. You also had a photo op for Jared, Jensen and Misha. *swoon* The photo ops were all scheduled for Saturday as were most of the panels. You didn’t know exactly what to expect for Friday, but the air was electrified with anticipation, excitement and curiosity. You opted to stay at the hotel that was hosting the convention because you seriously didn’t want to have to Uber back and forth. Plus you wanted to come and go when you got tired or needed a break you’d head to your room then back down again.

You finally arrived at the check in desk and got my room key. The front desk clerk was super nice but gave you a weird smile and wink when she told you your room and floor. “You’re on the 7th floor, room 714” *grin and wink* Um, thanks you said as you grabbed the key and your stuff. As you waited for the elevator you heard some fans talking about the actors who were already there. One of them asked about Jared, Jensen and Misha. The first girl who was obviously a Dean girl by the look of her outfit said they don’t get there until late tonight so they shouldn’t expect to see them at all today. You laughed at the disappointment on their faces and put in your earbuds and turned on Radio Company to just relax. Something about Jensen’s voice just made you relaxed. Of course one of your favorite songs started right up and you couldn’t help but sing along. “Ain’t No Tellin” was playing as the elevator opened up.

*Ding* went the elevator and you stepped in. You couldn’t believe you were alone in the elevator. Or so you thought. You must have missed the man standing in the corner. In your defense he had on a dark pullover and a baseball cap. You continued singing this time louder because again, you thought you were alone. Then there was a tap on your shoulder and you screamed. The man standing in the corner threw his hands up apologizing for scaring you. It was then you realized you knew that voice. Oh my god! It was Jensen Ackles!! You pulled your earbuds out and told him you were sorry you screamed and you didn’t see him there. He smirked that half cocked smirk and said I figured since you started singing louder once you got in. Your face instantly turned three shades of red. He extended his hand and said “Hi, I’m Jensen, and you are?” You take his strong calloused hand in yours trying not to melt and trying to remember your name. Oh my god, my name, what’s my name?!?!? His beautiful green eyes staring straight into your soul. You felt his thumb rub circles on your hand and you suddenly remembered how to speak. You smile brightly with your y/c eyes and finally say My name is y/n, nice to meet you. Your hands held on just a few seconds longer before you both pulled away. Well nice to meet you y/n I hope you have a great time this weekend and I get to see you again soon. Yeah, thanks you too is all you could say with a smile.

The elevator stopped on floor 7 and you stepped out looking at the signs on the wall for which direction your room was in. You were talking to yourself when you heard that honey whiskey voice in your ear “Find your room yet?” His warm breath was on your ear and neck and it sent shivers down your spine. You spin around and you realize just how close you two really are. Damn his eyes are beautiful you think to yourself and those plump lips. Mmm I could get drunk off of those you thought. You manage to whisper out “yeah, I’m in 714, it’s this way.” Jensen smiles and nods as you walk away.

You make it to your room and go around checking everything before you start to unpack. You’re halfway through unpacking when there is a knock at your door. You sigh walk over and look out the peephole and see Jensen standing there with a grin on his face. You start to panic thinking you did something wrong. With a deep breath you open the door and smile. “Jensen, what are you doing here?” He looked at you smiled and asked if he could come in for a minute. You step aside and let him in before closing the door and locking it. This was a habit you picked up long ago being single and living alone. He came in and took a seat at the foot of the bed. You stood near the door trying to figure out what was going on. The silence seemed to go on for hours, but it was really seconds. Jensen told you he really enjoyed hearing you sing and he wanted to know if you would join everyone tonight for the Karaoke party and maybe sing something with him. I’m sorry what? Was all you could say. He chuckled and said it again. I don’t really like singing in front of people, if I knew anyone was on the elevator I wouldn’t have sang. You said and shyly smile at him. He stood up and took your hands in his. Y/N, please consider coming. I really would love to sing just one song with you. You look up into his emerald green eyes and look away. You take your hands out of his and sit in the chair at the desk.

“Why” you ask him in a very low voice. Why would you want me to sing with you. I’m nobody. Hell I don’t even look like the right type of woman to be standing next to you. I’m not a model, I have extra weight every where, stretch marks and I love chocolate. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Jensen sighed and bent down in front of you taking your hands again. Y/N please look at me. He spoke softly this time. You could smell his woodsy cologne and the mint gum he was chewing and it drove you wild. God he smelt like heaven and every time he touched you it was like electricity shooting through you. You kept your head down to hide the tears that pricked your eyes. You’ve never been beautiful in the eyes of the world and you’ve always carried extra weight. You’ve had your fill of insults and people judging you for your looks and you really didn’t want to stand up in front of a room full of strangers next to one of the most gorgeous men on the planet and judged. When you didn’t lift your head, Jensen slowly took his hand and placed it under your chin to lift up your face. He saw the pain in your eyes and you saw the regret and sadness in his. Hey sweetheart, don’t cry. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to push or upset you. If you don’t want to I’m okay with it. I don’t want you to feel pressured. I just wanted the world to hear that beautiful voice I heard. A single tear left your eye and you felt his thumb wipe it away. You looked in his eyes and you have no idea what or why, but you both started to move towards each other. Your lips were inches from his and he smiled. Jensen whispered “can I kiss you” and you nodded. He placed a sweet kiss on your lips then pulled away. You looked at him and smiled. As he walked towards the door Jensen turned around and said I hope to see you later y/n, even if you come just to enjoy the show. Then he turned around and left you standing in your room. Your head was spinning and you could feel the ghost of the kiss still on your lips.

You stood there for a few minutes trying to gather your thoughts. Did Jensen Ackles really just kiss me, and why? You had a decision to make, go to Karaoke or not. So many things running through your head. The loudest thing was how desperately you wanted to see and kiss Jensen again.

Next part coming soon

#jensen ackles x plus size reader #jensen ackles smut #supernatural convention #fluff #chance meeting

[scary-grace]

Enough to Go By (Chapter 4) - a Shigaraki x f!Reader fic

Your best friend vanished on the same night his family was murdered, and even though the world forgot about him, you never did. When a chance encounter brings you back into contact with Shimura Tenko, you'll do anything to make sure you don't lose him again. Keep his secrets? Sure. Aid the League of Villains? Of course. Sacrifice everything? You would - but as the battle between the League of Villains and hero society unfolds, it becomes clear that everything is far more than you or anyone else imagined it would be. (cross-posted to Ao3)

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Chapter 4

You think about Tenko more now, but you’re allowed to – he’s your patient, and if he was your patient at the clinic, you’d expect to see him for a follow-up on the four gunshot wounds you cleaned and dressed. You’re allowed to think about him, so you think about him. You think about him a lot.

The thoughts take two directions. One is just wondering about him – how he’s feeling, how he spends his days, what he’s thinking about, what he thinks of you, whether he’s thought about you at all. The other is thinking about the situation he’s in. His parents and grandparents and his sister are dead. He’s been missing for fifteen years. He’s got a quirk and he’s a villain, ambitious and strategic enough to target UA High and escape alive, albeit badly injured. His guardian is a cloud of mist in a suit with some kind of split personality. And there’s someone else in his world – two someone elses. The doctor he referenced, who wouldn’t help him, and the one he calls Sensei, who gave him his new name and a hand to wear over his face and set him up to fail.

You think about Tenko a lot, but you can’t think about him all the time, because now that you’re a nurse, you’re twice as busy as you were before. The doctors expect more of you, and so do the other nurses – and so do the MAs and CNAs and high school students who are starting their apprenticeships, since you now have three years’ experience to go with your reputation for smoothing things over with difficult patients. Your friends keep you busy, too. They might call Kazuo to find out if something’s wrong with them, but they call you to find out what to do about it.

“You need to get a scan,” you say to Yoshimi for probably the fifth time. “I know you don’t want to –”

“It’s weird!”

“Not any weirder than whatever Yoji does when the two of you are at second base,” you say, and in the background of the call, someone snickers. If you had to guess, you’d say it’s Mitsuko – she has the guts to bully Yoshimi into making the call, combined with the brass balls to feel comfortable eavesdropping. “It’s called a mammogram. You’d have to start getting them at some point anyway, just like we all do. It’s just to make sure there’s nothing weird going on.”

“Stop it. You’re freaking her out for no reason.” Yoji’s there, too. “It’s probably just an STD.”

You’re stunned into silence for a second by the sheer classlessness of saying that about one’s own girlfriend, but you bounce back fast. “First of all, they’re called STIs, genius. Secondly, there’s not an STI on the planet that gives you nipple discharge. Yoshimi, get the scan. I’ll go with you if you want. Just get it done.”

“Can I do it at your clinic?”

“Uh –” You glance at the Imaging queue. Things look quiet, but you can’t count on that to last – but if you report Yoshimi’s symptoms, which include soreness, nipple discharge, and what she describes as a weird rash, you’re pretty sure the doctor on call will bump her to the head of the line. “Yeah, come in now. I can’t stick around after my shift, though. I have stuff to do tonight.”

“Ooh, stuff. Let me see –” There’s some rustling, which you can only assume is Mitsuko grabbing the phone. “Is stuff tall, dark, handsome, way too serious, and currently working as a sidekick?”

“That would be stuff,” you admit. “It’s not a big deal. We’re just grabbing a drink after our shifts.”

For the first time since you and Kazuo broke up, you have a date, and it’s Kazuo’s fault. Or maybe it’s you and your friends’ fault, because you decided to throw Kazuo a twentieth birthday party and invited a few of his friends from UA. One of those friends is Sugimura Hiroki, who fits perfectly with your type of dark-haired boys who want to be heroes and who’s so painfully shy that it took him six beers and the entire party to talk to you. You were sort of weirded out by that. You’re not very intimidating, and you spent the first half of the conversation trying to figure out if he knew you were quirkless, since you learned the hard way that it’s something you need to disclose up front. But the two of you eventually worked your way around to the point, which was that Sugimura wants to get to know you better, and he tripped over his tongue so badly that you finally just asked him out to end the suspense.

It’s taken you a while to actually schedule the date, but tonight’s the night, and you’re sort of anxious about it. Luckily, work is busy enough to keep you distracted. Your lunch break ends while Mitsuko is still going into increasingly nasty speculations about Sugimura’s physical attributes, and you hang up the phone without saying goodbye.

There’s a message waiting for you on your computer, from the front desk. FOF. Can you take him?

It’s not Tenko. You know Tenko wouldn’t come here again. You send the same message you did when it was him. How F are we talking?

Jumpy, talking to himself, chainsmoking. He’s in costume.

“In costume” could literally mean that the patient’s wearing a costume, but it’s also code for when the front desk thinks the patient’s a villain. You’re used to dealing with villains by now. Send him back.

When the knock on the door comes, you’re ready and waiting, and the CNA ushers in a tall man in a black-and-grey bodysuit – so “in costume” was literal this time around – and a paper bag over his head. You’re momentarily transfixed by the paper bag, and more so when you realize that he’s bringing a lighted cigarette to his mouth while wearing something highly flammable on his face. The CNA shuts the door and bolts. You face your patient and introduce yourself. “Have a seat if you feel comfortable doing so. What brings you in today?”

“I’m not – whole.”

That’s concerning. “Are you injured?” Your concern grows when he gestures at his face. “It would really help if I could see the injury. Can you take the bag off?”

He shakes his head. Instead he reaches into his pocket and produces a torn full-face mask. You look at him, then at him, putting the pieces together. “How do you feel right now?”

He doesn’t answer – maybe can’t answer – so you default to the face chart you use when little kids aren’t able to express how they feel in words. Your patient points to scared, stressed, anxious, angry. Then he throws in happy, possibly to mess with you, or to distract you from the fact that the first four emotions indicate that he’s ready to snap at any second. “How about this?” you ask, after thinking it over. “I can ask the doctor to give you something that will help you calm down –”

“Please!” The patient bursts out. Drug-seeking? “No, I don’t need it, sister! I’m so calm it’s hard to believe.”

“Okay, then we’ll just have it here in case you decide you want it. As an option,” you say, keeping your voice smooth and calm. “Either way, this is a quiet place to wait. You’re safe in here with me. And if you want, I can sew up your mask for you. Would that help?”

“You can do that?”

“Easily,” you say. “Can I see it for a second? I need to make sure I grab the right thread.”

The patient hands the mask over, which is a good sign. You’ve established at least a little bit of trust. You examine the mask and decide that you’ll need the thinnest-gauge needle and thread you have. “I can definitely fix this,” you tell the patient. “It might look a little rough, but it’ll cover you up like it did before. And it should last until you get where you’re going.”

The patient nods. You stand up. “I’m going to get some supplies, and a little anxiety medication if you decide you want it. I’ll be right back, okay? Just wait here.”

The patient nods again. Given how labile his mood is, you need to be fast about this, and get back before he gets upset or decides to leave. You step out the door and shut it behind you, heading for the supply closet, but you’re waylaid on the way there by one of the doctors. “We need you up front. Now.”

“I can’t. I have a patient, and he’s –”

“I don’t care. We’ve got a hero coming to visit, and we need somebody to keep things calm,” the doctor says. Shit. “Figure out what they want, get them as little of it as you can get away with, and get them out of here.”

“Which hero?”

The doctor shakes his head. Great. “Just hurry.”

You can’t go just yet. “My patient’s got a lot of anxiety and he’s in costume. I need him to stay calm. Can you –”

“2mg diazepam. I’ll put it in the chart.” The doctor unlocks one of the medicine cabinets, extracts a prefilled dosage cup, and hands it to you. “Go.”

Diazepam is long-acting. Hopefully long-acting enough to keep your patient quiet while you get rid of the hero. You skitter back down the hall with the dosage cup and hand it over to the patient, along with a tiny bottle of water to wash it down. “I’ll be right back. Just finding the right thread.”

The patient downs the pill dry, which is both good and bad for you. You shut the door again and head for the lobby. You don’t make it there. A cloud of black mist boils up around you, swallowing you whole.

By the time your feet hit the familiar wooden floor of the bar, you’re already out of patience. “No. Send me back right now.”

“Shigaraki Tomura has need of you. You will assist him.”

“Not right now I won’t. You snatched me from work,” you say. You’re facing the wall and the All Might poster again, and you don’t want to turn around. If you see Tenko, it’ll make it harder to say no. “If I go missing, people will notice. Is he dying?”

“No,” Kurogiri says.

“Is he in imminent danger of dying?”

“No.”

“Then send me back,” you say. If Tenko’s asked Kurogiri to get you, it means he needs medical assistance – or follow-up. You’ve needed to follow up anyway. “I can come back later.”

“No, I need you right now!”

“How much later?” Kurogiri asks, ignoring Tenko’s protest.

You think it over. You can dispense with the hero situation quickly, stitch your patient’s mask, and sneak out of work early. They’ll have to give you the emergency time off. You’ve never asked before in three years of working there. “Ninety minutes.”

“That’s too long. Kurogiri, don’t let her leave!”

“Ninety minutes. I’ll be in the alley behind the clinic.” You ignore Tenko, too, in favor of focusing on Kurogiri. He’s the one who decides if you leave or not. “All right?”

The mist wells up around you again, which counts as a yes. You land on your feet in the hallway, reorient yourself, and head for the lobby again. Tenko wants you again – needs you, your stupid brain corrects – but he’s going to have to wait for you to sort this out.

The hero in the lobby is Uwabami, the Snake Hero, and she’s got two sidekicks with her. No, students. You recognize one of them from your limited viewing of the UA Sports Festival and feel a spike of guilt run through you. She’s from Class 1-A. The same class Tenko tried to kill.

You don’t need to think about that, and you don’t need to feel guilty, because you didn’t do anything to her. You force yourself to focus. Uwabami wouldn’t have brought high school students here if she was doing any kind of investigating, which means your patient and any others who might be nervous around law enforcement are probably safe. The question of why she’s here still remains. You step forward. “Welcome to Yokohama Free Clinic South. What can we help you with today?”

“We’re on patrol,” Uwabami says. “My interns gave some feedback that our patrol involved a little too much publicity –”

The students look unrepentant. Good for them. “So we’re engaging in some down-to-earth patrolling,” Uwabami continues. “Tell us about how heroes support your clinic.”

Heroes don’t support your clinic. Most heroes strongly dislike the free clinic network, and the feeling is mutual, for a bunch of reasons you’re more than willing to articulate. Then you think better of it. Picking a fight with a hero in front of hero students is a bad move if you want to get out of here any time soon, and if you’re going to keep helping Tenko, you need to stay completely off the heroic radar. You focus on the students instead. “You’re on internships, right? They’re supposed to show you what life will be like as a hero.”

“Yes,” the girl who’s not from 1-A says. “They’re supposed to.”

“We have a program like that here, too,” you say. You gesture for them to come forward, and they desert their supervising hero at high speed. “A lot of our nurses and techs started working here in high school. Let me introduce you.”

You’re on much more solid ground talking about this. This clinic and this program saved your ass – without their sponsorship, you’d never have been able to get around your quirklessness as a barrier to nursing school, and you started getting on-the-job clinical training while most other nursing students were stuck in the classroom. You catch yourself evangelizing a little bit, but you don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world to do. You’re proud of the work you do as part of the clinic. It’s nice to get to talk about it.

You clear the hero students out in half an hour, hoping you’ve impressed them even a little bit, then hurry back to your patient. The diazepam’s kicked in nicely, and he chatters away to you while you stitch the tear in his mask. You learn that his name is Jin, or Bubaigawara, or Twice, which you’d guess are his first name, his family name, and his villain name, in that order. He doesn’t say how his mask got torn and you don’t ask, but you send him on his way in a better mood than before. “Thanks, sister,” he says on his way out the door. “You could be worse. You’re a saint!”

Different tone, different pitch, completely different meaning between the first sentence and the second. It reminds you of Kurogiri. You know enough villains now that you can compare them to one another. You shake your head, bemused, then head back inside. Time to guilt-trip your boss into letting you leave two hours early.

Your guilt-trip is successful, mostly because of how you handled the hero situation, but as you’re trying to sneak out, Yoshimi arrives for her scan. After you cajoled her into the office, you can’t abandon her to some random tech. You do abandon Mitsuko in the waiting room, though – she says the words “nipple discharge” as loudly as possible, then starts picking on the scant amount of makeup you did for your date. You don’t feel bad at all for leaving her behind.

Yoshimi’s scan goes quickly, and just like you feared, it nets her a follow-up appointment at the main branch of the free clinic tomorrow. Tomorrow’s your day off. You promise her you’ll go with her – you, and not Mitsuko or Yoji – then talk the doctor into sending her home with a dose of a different anti-anxiety medication than the one you got for Twice. Then you check your phone for the time. Almost ninety minutes exactly. You race out to the alley.

The mist engulfs you almost the instant you set foot in the alley, and you’re in the bar a moment later, facing Kurogiri. Tenko’s nowhere to be found, and before you can ask the question, Kurogiri turns and sets off through a doorway, deeper into the recesses of the building. You follow him, wondering if this counts as being taken to a secondary location. Or maybe the bar counts as the secondary location, even though you’ve been here before. Either way, you’ve listened to way too many of Mitsuru’s true-crime podcasts.

Kurogiri leads you into an absolutely filthy room. The floor is covered – empty wrappers, empty cans, old newspapers and magazines, plastic cases for game disks and chips. You have a bad feeling about who lives here, and when Kurogiri clears his throat and speaks up, you’re proven right. “Shigaraki Tomura. I have brought the girl.”

The only semi-organized spot in the room is a desk with two monitors on it, a keyboard in front of it, and Tenko slumped down with his head pillowed on one arm. He looks up, and for a split second, you can see that he’s happy even behind the hand. Then his face turns bright red and his expression twists into a snarl. “I told you not to bring her in here! Get out!”

You don’t need to be told twice. You duck out the door and retreat about twenty feet down the hallway, listening as Kurogiri tries to placate Tenko. “You asked for her to be brought to you immediately, not for me to summon you when she arrived. I followed your orders to the letter.”

“I didn’t want –” Tenko breaks off, swears. Then he mumbles something, and Kurogiri chuckles. “Don’t laugh at me!”

You check your phone. You aren’t supposed to meet Sugimura until eight, but you’ve got no idea how long this particular encounter is going to run. You might need to tell him you’re running late. You’ve just sent the text and tucked your phone away when Kurogiri reappears. “We will return to the bar,” he says. “Shigaraki Tomura awaits you there.”

So Kurogiri warped him to the bar. You wonder what that was all about. Was Tenko embarrassed that you saw how filthy his room was, or just embarrassed that you saw his room at all? Or did he change his mind about wanting you here? The last thought upsets you. You follow Kurogiri back into the bar and find Tenko sitting at the counter. It’s an improvement from the last time you saw him, when he was sprawled out and bleeding from four gunshot wounds, but this time he’s got his arms crossed, clearly pissed about something. His face is still red behind the hand. There’s a bloodstained bandage taped to his right shoulder.

A pile of supplies appears on the bar as you come closer. “What happened this time?”

“It wouldn’t stop bleeding.” Tenko uncrosses his left arm to gesture at the wound. “This is the fourth one I’ve used.”

If he’s gone through four bandages, it must be pretty deep. “How long ago did it happen?”

“Two hours,” Kurogiri says. “Shigaraki Tomura sent me to retrieve you immediately.”

“Can you fix it or not?” Tenko snaps.

“I need to see it first,” you say. You come a few steps closer, sit down facing Tenko on the barstool next to his, and reach for the bandage. He doesn’t stop you from unwrapping it, and you detour to glove up before you start peeling the fabric of his shirt back from the wound. It’s oozing blood rapidly. It’s jagged at the edges, and deep – if you suctioned the blood away, you’d be looking at exposed muscle, and you’re so horrified by the fact that Tenko’s been badly hurt again that you ask a question you shouldn’t. “How did this happen?”

“Hero Killer,” Tenko says, and your stomach lurches. “I thought he might be useful, but he’s just like the rest of them. Obsessed with the precious Symbol of Peace.”

You don’t know very much about the Hero Killer, except that he kills or cripples heroes and he’s not in Yokohama any longer. Tenko’s still ranting. “Why can’t anybody shut up about All Might? Don’t they know –”

“That he’s not gonna fuck them?” you interrupt, and Tenko nearly chokes. “I guess they can dream.”

Tenko’s expression is contorting behind the hand. You’re pretty sure it’s not the result of your explorations of the wound, because you’re not touching it. You watch, concerned, as his shoulders shake and his mouth twitches, until awkward, rusty laughter finally issues from his mouth.

You always try to make people laugh. You’ve been in the habit since you were little. It’s an effective strategy for defusing tension, whether the joke is funny or not, and your jokes are usually at least kind of funny. But you always liked making Tenko laugh when you were kids. You were always just a little prouder of that than you were with other people. Tenko made people smile all the time. He deserved for somebody to make him laugh, too.

Tenko’s laughter is brief and uneven, because he’s trying to get it under control. “Stop it,” he finally snaps at you. His mouth is still twitching. “It’s serious.”

“Right,” you agree. But you can’t resist another joke. “It would be a novel strategy. If you can’t beat the Symbol of Peace, make him unfuckable instead.”

“I can beat him,” Tenko says, but his voice is strained to the point of snapping, and his shoulders are shaking again. “Can you fix my arm or not?”

“I can fix it,” you say, “but I’ll need a suture kit. And I’ll either need to cut your sleeve or you’ll need to take your shirt off.”

“I’m not taking my shirt off.” Tenko’s face is red again. “It’s ruined anyway. Just cut it.”

You cut his sleeve open from the neckline and peel it back, then go looking through the medical supplies. Kurogiri took your advice about additions to their supplies, and nothing turned up missing at work, which means they honored your request to steal from someone else. You’ve got local anesthetic this time, which is good, because you need it. You start numbing the edges of the wound, asking every so often if Tenko can feel what you’re doing. When he stops saying yes, you open the suture kit.

It’s a bit weird, but putting stitches in is one of your favorite parts of the job. You can get in the zone with it, even when the patient wants to talk. Tenko wants to talk. “People talk about the League of Villains out there. Don’t they?” he asks. You nod. “What do they say?”

“Um –” You’re not sure this is an answer Tenko wants to hear. “They’re wondering why the attack on UA happened.”

“What do you mean, why?”

“Like, if there was a message behind it,” you elaborate. You need to be careful, with the stitches and with this line of thought. “More than just killing All Might, because lots of villains want to do that. If there was a message, it didn’t get out. The police and UA haven’t shared much information – not even how the breach happened in the first place.”

Tenko scoffs. “They don’t have a clue. They won’t see it coming the next time we hit them, either.”

He’s planning something else. Your blood runs cold, and for a moment you’re torn about whether or not to ask. Tenko makes the decision for you. “What else do they say about the League?”

“Not very much, otherwise,” you say, and Tenko swears. “There are a lot of villains, just like there are a lot of heroes. People talk about the ones they see the most of.”

“Which heroes do you talk about?”

“I don’t really talk about heroes.” You tie off a stitch, trim the thread to the appropriate length, and take another. “One of my friends has this nasty crush on Endeavor, so we talk about him sometimes, but otherwise – no.”

“Your friend has a crush on Endeavor,” Tenko repeats.

“Like I said. Nasty.”

You’re conscious of Tenko staring at you, and you will your face not to heat up under his gaze. You don’t even know why he’s staring, and you’ve got stitches to do, so it doesn’t matter. Your phone buzzes in your pocket – probably Sugimura, probably confirming your date. A date you’re not sure you want to go on anymore. Did you ever really want to go on it? Or did you just say yes because –

“You look weird.”

You look up from the stitches, startled. “Huh?”

“You look weird,” Tenko repeats. “Your clothes are different and you’ve got stuff on your face.”

Tenko and Mitsuko feel the same about your makeup skills, apparently. “Sorry.”

“Why do you look like that?” Tenko presses. You tie off his next stitch. “Are you going on a date or something?”

You answer without thinking about whether it’s the smart thing to do. “Yes.”

It’s quiet for a long stretch of seconds. “Go on your date, then,” Tenko says. His voice is flat. “I don’t need you.”

It stings. You don’t want it to, but it does, and you look down at the cut on his shoulder so he won’t see it on your face. “You still need a few more stitches. At least let me finish them.”

“No. Get out.” Tenko jerks out of your grip. You barely have enough time to cut the hanging thread on your last stitch. “I don’t want you here. Kurogiri –”

“Shigaraki Tomura, I’m not sure that’s wise.”

“I didn’t ask you!” Tenko swats at you open-handed and you leap backwards. “Get out! I don’t –”

You don’t hear the end of that sentence. Kurogiri warps you away too fast, and possibly saves your life. He drops you back in the alley behind the clinic, holding half a suture kit and still wearing bloodstained gloves. You peel them off and dump them into the garbage, furious with yourself. You shouldn’t have said that. You shouldn’t have talked about your life at all, and above all else, you should have remembered that you were talking to a villain, not your best friend – that whatever’s left of your best friend isn’t enough. He’s angry with you, and he’s been having you followed. Just how angry is he? Angry enough to hurt you? Or angry enough to never talk to you again?

You’re sickened and more than a little scared to realize that you’re more frightened of the latter possibility than the former. It’s entirely possible that you’ve never been in less of a mood to go on a date.

But you do go on the date, because you said you would, and it’s – fine. There’s nothing to complain about, but there’s nothing to be excited about, either. You and Sugimura hug to say goodbye, and you promise to text each other about setting up another one, and then you walk home. Mitsuko texts you, wanting details, or DETAILS, but you’ve got nothing to share. It was just a date, and no matter how many times you try to tell yourself otherwise, you’re angry about it.

Not because of Sugimura asking you out, not because you agreed, not because you went. Because you told Tenko and gave him a reason to get rid of you. Why does this keep happening? Why do you keep finding him and losing him, over and over again? What is it going to take for you to hold on?

“So how was the date?”

The voice emanates from the alleyway on your right and you nearly jump out of your skin. Tenko’s there, hand down from over his face, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He hasn’t changed his shirt. “I didn’t think heroes were your type.”

“They aren’t.”

“Then why were you on a date with one?”

“He asked.”

“And you just go with whoever asks?” Tenko looks half-incredulous, half-disgusted. You shake your head. “Forget it. Come with me.”

You shake your head again and take a step back – away from the alley, closer to the street. Tenko looks frustrated. “Come with me,” he repeats.

“What, so you can kill me?” You take another step back, well into the glow of a streetlight. You see shock flicker across Tenko’s face. “I don’t have a death wish.”

“Well, I don’t want to kill you,” Tenko fires back. He looks surprised at himself for saying it, but only for a moment – then he repeats himself, with more conviction. “I don’t want to kill you. You’re supposed to be my sidekick.”

Your jaw drops. “You remember?”

“I don’t remember everything.” Tenko takes the hand called Father out of the back pocket of his pants and studies it for a moment. Then he puts it away. “I remember that.”

Some kids played a different game every day. You and Tenko always played the same one, with a rotating cast of classmates at your side. All the heroes in the world were working together to fight one big villain, the worst villain the world had ever seen, and Tenko could never decide which hero he liked best, so he played a different one every day. But no matter which hero he played, no matter who else was playing with the two of you, you were always his sidekick. You reminded him every day that you didn’t have a quirk, and he always said the same thing in response, no matter which hero he was pretending to be that day, even though he didn’t have a quirk, either: You don’t need a quirk to be on my side. My quirk’s enough for both of us.

“Come on,” Tenko says again. He holds out his hand, three fingers and his thumb folded down, his pinky finger extended towards you. “Are you coming or what?”

You’ve never seen the world in black and white, but some things are unmistakable: There’s a line here, not visible to others but clear as day to you. On one side of it is Tenko and the darkness that’s swallowed him, the evil that surrounds him, the terrible things he’s done and is planning to do. On the other side is everything else – your dreams, your friends, your family that’s always loved you but used you anyway, a world that’s punished you time and time again for being born without a quirk, the knowledge that the world is so much crueler to so many others. You don’t think Tenko’s planning to kidnap you, to never let you leave. You’ll come back here, physically. You’ll go home and go to sleep and wake up early on your day off to take Yoshimi to her appointment at the main clinic, but you know instinctively that if you cross this line within yourself, there’s no coming back. Tenko was your best friend when you were five years old. Is he worth it?

You hate yourself for asking the question. You leave the light behind and link your finger with Tenko’s. “Where are we going?”

The black mist rises and wells up around you both. “You’ll see,” Tenko says, and for the first time since you found him again, he smiles.

#shigaraki tomura x reader #tomura shigaraki x reader #shigaraki x reader #shigaraki x you #x reader #reader insert #shigaraki tomura #please hold

[fyotherat]

Fyodor Dostoevsky x Reader

A short scenario for a snowy day

Warnings: none

Note: english isn't my first language

Being together with Fyodor didn't allow you much freedom to go out as you pleased, he had many enemies and you would just be an easy target for them to use in order to get to him, he said.

He didn't enjoy taking away your freedom, and it wasn't like you were locked up inside, you two almost had a silent agreement with you understanding the risks and his intentions of protecting you.

It had been some time since you'd been out, and the sight of fresh snow falling at night made your urges of going out only stronger. After putting on a warm coat and gloves, you made your way to his office, knocking on the door before entering.

"What is it, Milaya?"

He spoke without looking up from his many screens, yet when he heard your footsteps approaching he took a glance which lingered a little longer than he intended as he saw you dressed up. Raising an eyebrow, he waited for you to explain.

"I didn't want to miss this chance to feel the first snow of the year, so I decided to ask if you'd be alright with me taking a walk in our garden? I didn't want to just go out and make you worry.."

Your curiosity and excitement for the snow made him chuckle softly, and after taking a glance at his monitors, he got up, walking closer to you.

"Very well, I shall join you."

These words made you smile softly as you rushed to get his coat and ushanka, Your excitement for going out was radiating in the dimly lit room.

He offered you his arm, and you gladly accepted, slightly leaning onto him.

---

It was freezing cold outside, yet the excitement of witnessing the first snow was keeping your blood rushing, therefore assisting you with the cold.

Fyodor was quietly enjoying the view alongside you, although his view was far better than yours, in his mind. How could it be not when he was witnessing your pure wonder about the world around you?

His amusement only grew when your arm slipped out of his, only for you to crouch down and take off one of your gloves. He watched with curiosity as you touched the fresh snow on the ground with a childish smile on your face.

"You'll get sick Milaya"

His actions were contradictory to his words as he joined you in feeling the snow with a small smile tugging on his lips.

"It's alright, Fedya."

She muttered as her other hand joined in touching the snow, she seemed focused as her hands, which were now getting red due to exposure to the cold, worked delicately to make a perfectly round snowball. She just looked at it for a moment, admiring the rounded bundle of snow in her hands. He was curious to see what she'd do with it, yet none of his guesses turned out to be correct when she just crushed the snowball, letting the crumbs fall back to the ground.

"Do you like the snow?"

She asked quietly, her gaze lingering on the shiny fragments.

"It's a reminder of where I was born, no matter how far, its smell carries a hint of nostalgia, though the snow in my homeland was never this forgiving."

"Did you get sick often?"

He chuckled at your curiosity.

"More often than I'd like to admit."

He expected you to chuckle along with him, yet your next action caught him by surprise for the nth time tonight.

You put your gloves back on, only to take both his hands in yours and wrap your coated hands around his.. bringing his pale fingers to your lips to blow some warm air.

"Then, we shall head back in.."

He froze at the sight of you, how your warm lips trembled against his cold skin.. how worried your voice was.. you were holding the hands that took countless lives.. that could be your own doom at any given moment.. with so much care.

He wanted to say that it's alright and he is used to cold.. but something inside him enjoyed being cared for by you.. so he nodded quietly.

"You're right, Milaya, we shall head back before one of us falls sick, I don't want to see my dearest in any danger, and that includes the cold."

#fyodor x reader #fyodor dostoyevsky x reader #bsd x reader #bsd fyodor

[nerdzzone]

Worlds Apart

Chapter Seven

Summary: Single mom, Bridget Clark, thought that she was fine by herself. Moving her son to a new town and out of the hustle and bustle of Boston, she thought that life would be quieter and simpler, but a chance encounter with a certain Hollywood actor only a week after their big move had her questioning everything. Bridget was faced with the ultimate decision of head vs heart, but would letting her guard down prove to be worth the risk?

-----

For most people that Bridget knew, driving to their childhood home was an experience that brought joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging. For Bridget, it brought anxiety, insecurity, and a feeling of inferiority Every time she went, she tried her best to go with a clean slate and leave any previous animosity in the past, but she was always quickly reminded of why that was a challenge and this particular evening was no different.

From the moment she’d arrived - when her mother had been surprised to see her despite her prompt RSVP to the last minute invite she’d received - Bridget had felt like she was intruding on a family event that she had no right to attend. Her mother was cold and distant, her father was apathetic at best, and despite her brother’s best attempts at dragging her into the conversation, her parents were unabashedly more interested in him, his wife and their two sons than they were in Bridget. She was just grateful that it was Landon’s week with his father and he wasn’t there to be ignored alongside her.

It was almost tempting to leave right after dinner - to sneak out without saying goodbye just to see if anyone even noticed that she was gone - but Gavin’s wife, Nora, had made a pie for dessert that she was really excited for everyone to try. Considering that she’d been one of the few people who made any attempt to be kind to Bridget that evening, she felt like she owed her enough to at least stick around until the meal was completely finished. She did, however, sneak out onto the deck in the brief break between dinner and dessert in the hopes that the fresh air would help her survive the rest of the evening.

She hadn’t been out there long when she heard the door open. She tensed - almost scared to look at who’d come to join her - until the welcome voice of her brother broke through the silence.

“I thought I saw you sneak off out here.”

“It’s nice to know that someone notices my existence,” Bridget sighed. “I just needed a minute to catch my breath.”

“I don’t blame you,” Gavin sympathized as he leaned on the railing beside her where she was looking out over their perfectly manicured backyard. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine, I’m used to it,” she shrugged. “I just don’t know why they’re always so surprised to see me. They invited me, I accepted the invitation, but when I got here Mom looked at me like she didn’t expect to see me and then practically ignored me all night like I’m intruding on some family event I don’t belong at. If they don’t want me here, I don’t understand why they bother inviting me.”

“They invite you because they know that it’s the right thing to do.”

“Then I guess a better question is that I don’t know why I keep accepting,” Bridget rephrased it. “I know they’re never gonna change, it’s like they hate me.”

“They don’t hate you,” Gavin argued. “They’re just…indifferent.”

His attempt at reassurance had a harsh laugh falling from Bridget’s lips despite the way it made her heart sink in her chest.

“I think that might be worse,” she pointed out. “It’s pretty bleak to think that my parents have no strong feelings towards me at all.”

The way that Gavin cringed told her that he knew she was right, but he still threw in one last consolation.

“Well, you’re not missing much. They’re not super supportive parents even to the kid that they do like.”

Despite how depressing that statement was, it put a smile on her face as she knew that his commiseration was pretty accurate. Their parents were more than happy to give support in the form of money, but their time and love were rarely given even to Gavin. 

“That’s true,” she agreed, shaking her head in disdain. “I really don’t know why they even had kids.”

“Because it would have been a crime to deprive the world of two people as wonderful as us,” Gavin confidently stated, shooting her a smirk before he changed the subject. “But anyway, enough about them. Before someone notices we’re missing and tracks us down, how’re you doing? How’s the small town life treating you?”

“It’s going really well so far. We settled in nicely, Landon seems to love it and now that the weather is nicer it’s amazing to actually have a backyard instead of just that tiny balcony we had at our condo.”

Her answer was honest and genuine, but she knew from the suspicious way Gavin was suddenly watching her that he knew there was something she was leaving out and she knew the grin that had slid onto her face was to blame. But she couldn’t help it. When she thought of her new life outside of the city, she immediately thought about Chris. And thinking about Chris always had her smiling and giggling like a smitten teenage girl.

“That’s great, I’m really glad to hear that,” he smiled before fishing a little more. “Any other exciting news?”

“I’m seeing someone,” she blurted out before quickly following it up with a slightly longer explanation. “For the first time since Landon was born, I think it’s going really well and he makes me really happy.”

“It’s about time!” Gavin laughed, earning an eye roll from Bridget despite the smile still stretching across her face. “What’s his name? Do I need to meet him and use my brotherly intimidation tactics to make sure he treats you well?”

Despite the way his concern warmed her heart as she appreciated any hint that she wasn’t as unwanted in her family as she often felt, a snort of laughter fell from her lips.

“Oh, please, I don’t think anyone I’ve dated has been intimidated by you since I was in high school when my dates were all teenage boys,” Bridget teased, shaking her head and smiling as Gavin scoffed indignantly at her claim. “Besides, Chris could definitely take you in a fight.”

Gavin was tall and broad shouldered but it was obvious that he spent too much time following in their mother’s footsteps as one of Boston’s elite lawyers to spend as much time in the gym as Chris. He was in decent shape, but his muscles weren’t quite at the superhero level that Chris’ were and he seemed offended by her claim.

“Really? Is ‘Chris’ some kind of tough guy?”

“No, and neither are you,” Bridget reminded him with a smile. “But he is very strong, his job requires him to be in really good shape.”

The information had slipped out before Bridget realized it would probably spark a follow up question that she didn’t really want to answer, but just as Gavin opened his mouth the door to the deck creaked open and his wife poked her head out, saving Bridget from the potential interrogation.

“I was wondering where you two wandered off to,” she greeted them. “We’re ready to start dessert now.”

“Okay, we’ll be right there,” Gavin assured her, flashing Bridget a smirk before looking back towards his wife. “Bridget was just telling me all about her new boyfriend.”

“He’s not…” Bridget trailed off as she realized that she wasn’t entirely sure what he was. Again, she found that her lack of recent dating experience left her unsure of what was typical, but it felt presumptuous to start throwing around a title like boyfriend without some kind of conversation first. However, he had questioned her use of the word ‘friends’ and they’d agreed that they were on the same page so she was fairly sure that they were exclusively dating each other. The sudden conflict she was feeling had her anxiety spiking and her tendency to overthink kicking into high gear, but the lingering eyes of her brother and sister-in-law had her forcing out an explanation. “We haven’t really defined things yet.”

“Well, that’s exciting,” Nora smiled, opening the door a little wider and gesturing for Bridget to go inside. “Come help me get some plates and tell me all about it.”

It was a simple gesture, but her sincere interest in hearing about the new development in Bridget’s life meant a lot to her. Gavin had tried his best to look out for Bridget over the years, but the thirteen year age gap had made it difficult. By the time she was six, he was heading off to university so their time together was minimal and their interests were drastically different. Their relationship was far different from that of siblings who were close in age and Gavin often felt more like a distant uncle to her than a brother. However, he was around enough to notice how disinterested her parents were in her and how lacking their effort at parenting her was and he always offered his support if she ever needed it. 

But he was busy and Bridget’s lonely childhood had made her independent enough that she rarely took him up on the offer so it wasn’t until her adult years - when the age difference was less jarring - that they’d really made an effort to get to know each other and form a bond. She always knew that he cared about her though - and that did Nora too - and the warmth she felt from them taking an interest in the changes in her life almost made up for the pain she felt from an evening surrounded by the coldness of her parents.

-

Despite how demoralising most of the evening had been, the pitstop that Bridget planned to make on her way home had a flicker of excitement rising in her stomach as she pulled out of her parents' driveway. The present sitting on the passenger seat beside her had made her nervous earlier in the day - like her, Chris hadn’t mentioned his birthday and she didn’t want to overstep - but it wasn’t anything extravagant so she was hopeful that he’d appreciate the gesture. However, the doubts crept back in when she pulled into his driveway and saw the many vehicles that were already parked by his house. 

It made sense that he would be having some kind of celebration, but she didn’t want him to think that she was trying to crash his party and force him to include her in something that she hadn’t been invited to. Considering that she’d spent enough time that evening being somewhere she wasn’t truly wanted, she was tempted to turn around and just stop by the following day instead when he was more likely to be alone, but she was there and the present was ready to go so she came up with a compromise and a plan to simply leave the gift beside the door for him to find when his guests left. 

She crept up the stairs of his porch and gently placed the gift bag beside his door, but just as she leaned down to fix the tissue paper and make sure it didn’t look too ruffled, the door in front of her swung open. 

Surprised by the motion and sudden light around her, she jumped back and looked up to see a man she didn’t recognize eyeing her up very suspiciously.

“Can I help you?”

His tone was harsh, but it was understandable as she was sure that anyone in Chris’ life would be unhappy to find a stranger skulking around his property at night.

“I was just leaving a present for Chris,” she explained, gesturing to the gift at their feet and hoping that the clear nerves in her voice didn’t make her seem even more suspicious. “Maybe you could give it to him for me? Tell him it’s from Bridget?”

Realization washed over his face as his concern shifted into something more like excitement.

“The Bridget?” he asked with a smirk. “I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Scott, Chris’ brother.” 

“Oh, hi!” Bridget smiled, happy to finally have a face to put to the name. “I’ve heard a lot about you too.”

“Don’t believe any of it,” Scott joked, opening the door a little wider and stepping aside. “C’mon inside.”

“Oh, no, I wasn’t-”

Before Bridget could even voice her protest, Scott turned his head and shouted, “Chris! Your girlfriend is here!”

He waited by the door for a moment as a commotion could be heard echoing from another room until Chris appeared, jogging down the hallway towards them as Bridget picked up the gift that was still sitting on the doormat.

“Bridget,” he smiled. “I didn’t even hear you knock.”

“She didn’t,” Scott informed him. “I was just heading out to get my phone charger from Carly’s car and I ran into her.”

“I brought you a present,” Bridget explained as Scott excused himself to continue his original task. “I promise I wasn’t trying to intrude or just show up uninvited to your birthday party.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Chris assured her. “I should have invited you anyway, but I knew my whole family was coming and thought it might be kinda intimidating. I didn’t wanna scare you off already.”

He looked a little sheepish as he spoke, but Bridget quickly waved him off.

“You don’t need to explain,” she insisted. “I get it and I’m not offended, but I just wanted to drop off your gift.”

Clearly relieved by her understanding, the look on his face shifted into one of suspicion.

“How did you even know it was my birthday?”

“Some of us don’t need to be told when someone’s birthday is.”

Her words were a teasing reference to his lack of knowledge about her birthday a few months earlier and Chris scoffed out a laugh before calling out the disparity.

“It’s a little unfair when I can’t just find out information about you on the internet,” he pointed out. “Did you Google it?”

“Maybe it was just my intuition,” she shrugged with a smirk on her face, but as Chris narrowed his eyes into a suspicious glare, she relented and admitted, “You were trending on Twitter all day, I eventually caved and had to investigate why.”

Chris chuckled and shook his head.

“That’s cheating.”

“Is not,” Bridget protested. “Anyway, you should have told me.”

“You didn’t tell me about yours.”

It was a fair counterpoint, but Bridget couldn’t hold back the roll of her eyes.

“We barely knew each other back then, it was different.”

Chris shrugged, but before he could offer any further arguments, Scott bounded back up the porch steps towards them.

“Oh my god, Chris, invite her inside already,” he teased his brother before doing it himself. “You should come and say hi to everyone, I’m sure they’d love to meet you.”

“Oh, that’s okay, I really don’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding at all,” Chris assured her. “They would love to meet you and I think they’re all heading out soon anyway, but there’s no pressure if you’d rather meet them another time.”

Knowing how close Chris was to his family made meeting them an intimidating thing, but thanks to Scott’s announcement she was sure they all knew that she was there and slipping away without saying hello might seem pretty rude. So, after taking a moment to work up a little courage, she flashed him a smile and nodded her head.

“I’d love to meet them.”

The grin that her answer put on his face had her relieved by her decision and her feeling of relief only grew when he grabbed her hand before leading her down the hallway after Scott. When they entered his living room, Bridget felt her nerves spike again as their presence immediately captured everyone’s attention, but she found comfort in the way that Chris slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close. It seemed that he was right about everyone leaving soon as they appeared to be gathering their things and slipping on their coats, but they all paused their actions as their eyes fell on her.

“Everyone, this is Bridget,” Chris introduced her. “And Bridget, this is everyone.”

He quickly gave her a rundown of who exactly ‘everyone’ was. She already knew Carly, but was grateful for the reminder of the other names as he pointed out his mother - Lisa - his other sister - Shanna - and her boyfriend - Mitch - and Carly’s husband - Rick. Scott - who she’d, of course, already met - lingered beside them as she tried to push her anxieties aside enough to muster up some charm.

“It’s so nice to meet you all,” she smiled. “Chris talks about you guys a lot.”

“Oh, does he?” Lisa raised an eyebrow, an amused look on her face. “That’s good to know because we were just debating why he was trying to hide us from his new girlfriend.”

“Yeah,” Shanna agreed. “Not inviting you to dinner, talking to you on his porch instead of inviting you inside. We were starting to think he’s ashamed of us.”

“Ashamed isn’t the right word,” Chris smirked. “But things have a tendency to get a little loud and obnoxious when we’re all together and I’m still in the process of tricking Bridget into thinking I’m normal.”

“You are?” Bridget giggled. “Then I hate to break it to you, but I’ve known pretty much from the start that you’re not.”

“What gave him away?” Carly chimed in. “Was it the incredibly unsubtle way that he showed up at my house when he knew you’d be there? Or the way he offered to paint your entire house just to get you to agree to go out with him? Or was it just his general personality?”

“Definitely just his personality,” Bridget joked. “I found those other things pretty endearing.”

“Endearing?” Scott scoffed. “Or creepy?”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Chris protested, shaking his head despite the smile on his face. “Keep it up and this will be the last time I suggest she comes to meet you all.”

“We can just organize it ourselves,” Bridget shrugged. “I have Carly’s number and I might get more secrets out of them if you’re not there anyway.”

Chris let out a dramatic gasp, but her answer had a chuckle rippling through the rest of the group.

“She’s outsmarted you there,” Lisa teased him. “But we would love to get to know you, Bridget. Maybe we can all get together for dinner some time soon, with your son too.”

There was a sincerity to her voice that made it clear the offer was genuine and not made out of any sense of obligation and Bridget eagerly agreed. They chatted for a little bit longer as Bridget asked how their evening had gone and they squeezed in a little more teasing of Chris - about his age and looming gray hairs - but as his niece and nephews started to yawn, the group decided it was time to say their goodbyes. Bridget hung back as Chris followed them to the door, but as she saw each person take the time to pull him into a hug and wish him a ‘happy birthday’ one last time, she was amazed by the warmth between them. She knew that her family were the exception more than the rule when it came to the low level of comfort they had with each other, but the closeness and love between everyone in Chris’ family was a stark contrast to her own after the long evening she’d spent in the closed off, standoffish company of her parents.

It also wasn’t lost on her that simply by including Landon in the invitation for dinner, Lisa had given him more thought than her parents had in months.

Her observations had a flicker of emotion rising in her, but rather than the jealousy that she usually felt when faced with the unavoidable fact that her parents were awful, she felt a sense of determination. Landon would never have to feel the way that she did. She would do whatever it took to make sure that their relationship was more like the one Chris and his mother had than the one she had with her own and she hoped that - like Lisa - she could build a family for him that made him feel as loved as Chris’ clearly did for him. The way they genuinely enjoyed each other’s company, their eagerness to all be together again soon, the strong bonds between them all that gave them such a sturdy, unwavering support system. That was what she wanted for her son, not the formality and complete lack of affection that she got from her own parents. She knew she was nothing like her own mother - she couldn't even imagine being so detached and uncaring towards Landon - but she wanted to be able to provide him with the experience of a big, loving family and if she was being entirely honest, she wanted that for herself too.

Once the group had left - and Scott, who was staying with Chris, had excused himself to call his boyfriend who was back in L.A. - Chris led her back to the living room, pausing to pick up the gift that she’d brought for him before they settled on the couch.

“Your family seems really great,” Bridget smiled as he sat close enough to drape his arm across the back of the couch behind her as she turned towards him and tucked her knees up to rest against his leg. “They’re very sweet.”

“They can be,” Chris agreed. “When they’re not trying to embarrass me.”

“It’s cute, and it obviously comes from a place of love.”

“It does,” he nodded. “And if I’m being honest, I’ve been just as bad when one of them has introduced us to someone they’re dating.”

His words had her thinking back to the conversation she’d had earlier with her brother and a word that Chris’ family members had thrown around quite casually during their conversation. He’d provided her with the perfect segue to broach the subject, but that didn’t prevent a knot from forming in her stomach as she cautiously tried to figure out the best way to ask him about what was on her mind.

“There was something I was wondering about that,” she started, earning a raise of Chris’ eyebrows that prompted her to continue. “I heard the word ‘girlfriend’ a lot tonight from your family when they were referring to me.”

It was a statement more than a question, but the ‘what are we’ conversation was one that Bridget hadn’t had to have in a very long time and she wasn’t entirely sure how else to initiate it. Chris hesitated - as if he was waiting for her to continue - but when she offered no more explanation, he asked her a question of his own.

“Is that okay?” His cheeks were noticeably more red as he asked and he continued before Bridget could reply. “It just seemed like the easiest way to describe you to them, but I know we haven’t had that conversation and I don’t wanna make any assumptions. I know you wanted to take things slow, I’m not trying to pressure you into anything.”

He seemed a little frazzled - a little too quick to reassure her - and Bridget couldn't help but smile at his flustered state.

“It’s okay with me,” Bridget assured him. “I just wasn’t sure if they were just teasing you or something and I didn’t want to just assume that you weren’t still seeing other people too.”

The look on Chris’ face at that suggestion spoke for itself, but she appreciated the immediate protest that slipped from his lips.

“No, definitely not. I haven’t seen anyone else since we met. Are you?”

“No, dating isn’t really my thing.” Bridget smiled before realizing how dismissive she sounded and adding, “And I wouldn’t want to even if it was.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Chris grinned as he laced his fingers with hers. “So, should we make this official?”

“I would really like that.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Chris pressed his lips against hers as she smiled into the kiss.

“See,” she murmured when she pulled away a moment later. “Your family’s teasing is good for something after all.”

“I guess so,” Chris chuckled before adding another admission. “I gotta be honest, when you showed up here all dressed up, I did wonder if you were seeing someone else too.”

Bridget glanced down at her outfit and could see how he’d come to that conclusion. Dinner with her parents wasn’t exactly a formal attire event, but she was certainly wearing nicer clothes than she would have if she’d come straight from work or from an evening alone at home. However, there was a slight flaw in his assumption.

“You really thought I went out with one guy and then stopped on my way home to drop off a birthday present for another guy that I’m seeing?”

“I was really hoping you hadn’t,” Chris smiled. “But you look really nice so I wasn’t sure.”

His curiosity was clear in his voice despite the lack of follow up questions so Bridget provided an explanation.

“Nah, it wasn’t anything like that. It was just one of my regular appointments to get every ounce of my self worth drained from my soul.” Her dramatic statement earned a look of shock from Chris that had a giggle falling from her lips before she clarified. “I had dinner with my parents for their anniversary.”

“Wow, and it was that bad?”

“It was pretty rough, but I got to see my brother and his family so that was nice,” Bridget shared, but the ache in her heart that always appeared when she thought about her parents’ behaviour had her quickly changing the subject. “But it’s all good. And today is about you, so why don’t you open your present?”

There was a moment of hesitation, but Bridget was grateful that he didn’t push the issue as he nodded and picked up the present from where he’d put it down beside him. If they were going to be in each other’s lives - a fact that she was fairly confident in now that they were ‘official’ - she knew there would be a time when she had to be more open about her struggles with her family, but they’d sucked away enough of her joy for one evening and she was happy to focus on Chris instead.

“It’s not much,” she warned him as he carefully pulled the tissue paper out of the bag. “But I assume that you buy yourself most things you need when you need them so I tried to think of something you might like but that you wouldn’t think to buy for yourself.”

“Interesting…” Chris hummed as he pulled the heavy book from the bag and Bridget watched his face light up as he read the title out loud. “The Hubble Space Telescope: Expanding Universe. Wow, Bridget, this is amazing!”

He quickly began perusing through the pictures of the coffee table book he was holding as his enthusiasm had relief washing over Bridget.

“You really like it? I saw it when I was restocking the shelves in the library and I immediately thought of you, but I wasn’t sure if it was actually something you’d want.”

“It’s really cool, I love it.” He paused his movement as he flipped through the pages and stretched up to steal another kiss before a gentle ‘thank you’ slipped from his lips.

“You’re welcome.”

Bridget let her hand slide up to scratch at the hairs on the nape of his neck and he leaned into her touch despite his obvious eagerness to finish looking through the pictures in the book on his lap. But just as his eyes drifted shut as he relaxed into her caress, they shot back open with a hopeful twinkle in them.

“Do you want to stay here tonight?”

The question caught Bridget off guard, but after a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly turned down the offer.

“I can’t,” she sighed. “I have an early meeting tomorrow morning.”

“You could go from here?”

“Dressed like this?” Bridget raised an eyebrow, gesturing to her fancy attire. “I’d look like I’m doing a walk of shame.”

“Well,” Chris smirked, stretching up until his lips were just inches away from hers. She tried to urge him closer with the hand on the back of his neck, but he stayed firm as he tried to entice her with a proposition. “We could make a real walk of shame if you’d like.”

The suggestion had her letting out a laugh, but it was quickly silenced when Chris captured her lips in another kiss and it suddenly became a lot more difficult to think of any reason why she shouldn’t spend the night. As his mouth moved against hers - his hand sliding up to her cheek, tilting her head so he could dip his tongue past her lips - the dizziness and heat that clouded her mind had her wondering if she even really needed a job at all.

In the end, sense managed to prevail and she slowly leaned away from his touch.

“It’s very tempting,” she admitted. “A little too tempting, but I really should get going.”

The smirk on Chris’ face was a little softer despite the fierce darkness that had spread in his pupils.

“Have I scared you away now?”

“Not at all,” Bridget assured him as a regretful sigh slipped from her lips. “I’m just trying to be a responsible adult and make choices that won’t lead to me getting fired.”

“They’d fire you just for showing up to one meeting a little overdressed?”

His skepticism was fair, but Bridget bit back a smirk of her own as she shrugged.

“No, but I have a feeling that if I stay then you’d do your best to keep me from going to my meeting at all,” she teased. “And I could get fired for that.”

A chuckle slipped from Chris’ lips as he shook his head at her claim.

“You’re making me sound like a creep again,” he warned her. “But if you really have to go then I guess I’ll survive…even if it is my birthday.”

He threw in a dramatic pout for added effect, but Bridget simply rolled her eyes as she dragged herself off the couch.

“Guilt trips don’t work on me,” she informed him. “I’m a mom, I’m very experienced at tuning it out.”

“Damn, well, it was worth a try,” Chris grinned. “But what about Wednesday night? Wanna come for dinner?”

Bridget felt a flicker of nerves as she wondered if agreeing to the invitation also meant she was agreeing to more based on their previous flirtatious conversation, but Chris had given her no reason to believe that he would rush her into anything so she nodded.

“That would be nice,” she agreed. “I do work on Thursdays when I don’t have Landon, but I get a later start so I won’t have to rush home early.”

“Perfect.” Chris smiled as he stood up as well, pulling her against him to steal one last quick kiss. “I’m looking forward to it already.”

There was something about the huskier tone to his voice that flooded Bridget with a nervous excitement that lingered even after they’d said their goodbyes and she was driving home. Other than the occasional breathtaking kiss, things had been fairly chaste between them and while she was eager for more - and was fairly certain that Chris was as well - the idea also brought up a lot of anxiety in Bridget. Her insecurities were running wild as her doubts threatened to damper her excitement, but the undeniable anticipation she felt as she thought of their next date was enough to keep her spirits high.

#chris evans #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans fan fiction #chris evans fanfic #chris evans fan fic #worlds apart

[piracytheorist]

OKAY

I think it says a lot about my job that I was able to concentrate on it today and completely forget we GOT TRAILER

It was a mistake to check tumblr first thing in the morning, before I even got out of bed, but in my defense, I didn't expect it would drop at such a day and time! But anyway I did jump off of bed, turned on my laptop and recorded my face as I watched it. I needed to have that memorized XD

So, spoilers about the trailer below, and my own predictions about what each scene could be for! Reminder that I'm anime only, but have read the chapter that the first episode (probably) is based on, so for the most part I know what's going on, but for the rest I'm very much NOT aware :D Don't spoil me please :D

FAKE FAMBLY IS BACK

Manipulative Anya at her best! We love our gremlin!

Oh he's looking good :D

I fucking love this image. Look at Twilight pouting in the background. He doesn't understand why a child finds news boring.

WE GOT BLOOD WE GOT THORN PRINCESS IN ACTION LET'S GOOOOO

your honour I love him. Why does he look like he's ready to cry!

Ok from a first hearing the OP song sounds super cool. I feel like it's got "Mixed Nuts" vibes and I love it! I gotta look it up later!

Jeez Loid. Woman just woke up. Is that how he honeypoted all of his other missions?

Yor having a meltdown in the foreground and Anya being cute waking up in the background <3 I love my fake fambly <3

... okay. That's how his honeypots worked.

Yellow roses, if I'm correct, symbolize friendship. Interesting.

This is going to be a disaster and I cannot wait. Also I'm spotting Anya and Franky doing a horrible job at hiding in the left pic XD

My heart skipped a beat when I heard Anya's voice say "Moja-Moja" :')

Very sneaky. Much hiding. Wow. There's no way Franky thought this was working XD

The way all of this could have been solved with a "I tripped down the stairs and fell on my butt and now it hurts to sit" but hey we're getting a funny date how can I ask for more

Also the way Yor says that line my god

I am so ready for more Yor you have no idea

I gotta say, showing this moment is perfect for anime-onlies who haven't actually read this specific chapter. Loid just looks worried and Yor looks enraged. So many feelings for this episode XD

Are those macarons? What were the fucking chances that yesterday I went like "Next morning I'm gonna pass by that bakery that makes macarons". I haven't had macarons in years, yet I see one (1) advertisement about that bakery and its macarons and I go like yeah why not. Macarons. And now this. The fuck.

GREMLIN ANYA IS BACK

Honestly, her face in official merch is always a :D face with an almost unnaturally big smile all the time that I've missed her silly little face.

AH I WAS SENT THAT AS A MANGA SCREENSHOT!

Are those playing cards she's throwing? And is she reading someone's mind? I don't even care if she's cheating, good for you girl

Yeah, buddy, welcome to the real world.

I remember that line from the end of the bullet-in-butt date chapter, and I gotta admit I don't really like it... but the way Eguchi delivers it makes me think he's not like "Women amirite" but more like "All my years of training did not prepare me for how people are like in their day to day lives because spy training has skewed my perception of day to day 'normal'" and that's perfectly valid.

But also what the fuck is happening here. What is that cat. Why is Yor about to Thorn-Princess it. What.

So Anya goes on a studying rampage, fails, and ends up crying on her penguin?

This only made me sad, what the fuck. It looks like Loid and Yor are looking at her failing grades, and Anya is disappointed in herself. I will don my clown wig again and say "If Loid doesn't go and reassure her so help me GOD"

I... don't like the ending theme song. But that's mostly a matter of taste, I guess.

Aw.

They dare throw this to anime onlies when they know we won't get romantic canon twiyor content until three to five business years from now at least

The assassin group... I'm supposing he means the one Yor works for? How long does "for a while now" mean? Wasn't Yor working for them since she was a teenager caring for Yuri?

In any case, wow that's a very intense visual.

omg omg omg

from the colour and the angle this looks like a vision Bond has. Loid and Yor are smiling and blushing but why does it make me feel sad!!

I don't know if it's because of what is said in that moment (they look like unrelated scenes since the line is being said by a woman who I'm guessing is a fellow assassin working with Yor or something) but then there's this

And we just don't see Yor like that often, if at all in the anime so far.

What is Franky wearing? It looks like a military jacket or something. I wonder if that's just stylistic choice or it's something more important.

*snorts laugh*

Gotta admit, from a few tidbits here and there it looks like Twilight is finally gaining some more understanding of himself and his situation... but the way he says that just makes me think that realization makes him more concerned than anything else.

So I can say with conviction this did fix something in me. Though I guess the first episode will be the bullet-in-butt date, so it will take me another week to go into new territory. But! Bullet-in-butt date in 12 days! And new cool stuff to look for later on! I'm so happy!

(Again, I don't want spoilers for any of these. Just let me have my fun speculating :D)

screenshots taken from the unofficially subtitled trailer here!

#sxf

[hazbincalifornia]

I like the thought of Verosika/Barbie where they meet in rehab and they're both just... assholes. Trying to detox sucks. Barbie reminds Verosika too much of Blitzo, and Verosika is just a rich, privileged, self-obsessed dick to Barbie. At first, they prickle at each other.

Barbie chased fame and it tore her to shreds, lost her her brother and her dignity as she fell into addiction while clawing to keep on top even as she sank under. Verosika has everything she wants, is looked up to, has a Crystal from Ozzie himself.

On Verosika's side, Barbie is a bitter, washed-up too-crass imp that spits swears like they're air, always sneaking in hits from somewhere and draped over the back of the center's couch like she's a cat on a windowsill, burnt by the world and hissing if anyone gets too close.

There are flashes of the entertainer she used to be buried underneath, though- she whips out jokes easily as breathing when there's the chance. She's whip-smart and agile as anything when soberish, seen on ledges more than the floor. When she gets attention, she positively glows.

Barbie wants the high of fame back, the chance to be something, be someone, and Verosika walks around with an air of being someone better than anyone else, and Barbie believes it. She blew her shot, and she blames the world the way her brother blames himself.

One day, she realizes nobody visits Verosika either. She only leaves when she's hired for a gig, which is still better than what Barbie gets, but she doesn't talk about missing anyone like some of the others do. (Many don't, it can be a weakness to tear at, but there are tells.)

(She was hired 'to lead their team' for Spring Broken, remember- those aren't her friends, her group. She might have known them, but they're not 'hers'. She's seemingly usually a solo act.)

Then, Barbie notices the tattoo. They'd never been in quite the right angle or this close before, and she knows exactly what that means. She doesn't know how to feel, but goes up to Verosika and says 'So, my dipshit brother broke your heart, huh?'

Verosika starts, staring down at her until Barbie hops up on the table and takes a swig of water like she wishes it was something harder. "Blitzo. He's my brother. He fucked off years ago. I'd apologize but I don't know what he did or if you deserved it."

There's a lot in those words, and Verosika's lips tighten. "He fucked off with my wallet and car, drained the cards on horse-riding lessons." Barbie wheezes with laughter at that, and it sounds so much like Blitzo that Verosika can't tell if she wants to smack her or kiss her.

"You know, all this time I've been picturing what I'd do once I got out of here, and taking you down a peg for being such a stuck-up bitch was on that list, but it sounds like he already did it for me." She has a lopsided grin, so very punchable.

Then it softens a little, and the growl in Verosika's throat dies. "Musta really fucked you up, huh? Everybody knows I haven't got jack or shit left at this point, but you had to like him enough to get his stupid name plastered right on your arm before he ripped you off."

Verosika considers for a moment, before giving a slight nod. "Yeah. He was an asshole. I thought we had something, but..." "He runs when things get hard. Fucking pussy." Barbie examines her claws, born with black polish. "Guess if he already fucked you up I don't have to."

"Oh, you're a doll," Verosika said sarcastically. "Because I have so much to fear from a washup nobody ever gave more than a half-hour's worth of a shit about." Barbie's fingers curl into a fist. She glares, and what Verosika sees in her eyes isn't as satisfying as she expected.

After that, it comes in bits and pieces. Slowly, Barbie sees that Verosika is still shuffled around like a talented pet and shoved back in order to keep her just sober enough to be useful. Slowly, Verosika sees Barbie as someone else who was hurt but never gets a second chance.

(The first time they kiss, it tastes of booze smuggled in through Verosika's chest and Barbie's boot, a little sweaty but a solace from the world that saw them both as tools, one still useful and one tossed away to rust.)

#helluva boss #verosika mayday #barbie wire #verbie #this was a twitter thread that turned out like 750 words oops #shadow writes stuff

[gladtobeagirl]

A New Year Message from Katie to All my Dearest Friends!

Firstly, please excuse me contacting you all this way rather than sending you all individual messages. If I tried to do that I'd still be writing them to you this time next year!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you all received everything your heart desired and that you spent your time surrounded by friends and loved ones.

We had a fairly quiet time. One of the hardest things we had to do before Christmas was to decide how to combine the very different traditions of a Swedish and British Christmas! Generally the tradition in Britain is that presents are opened on Christmas Day morning and that Christmas Dinner is eaten Christmas Day afternoon. In Sweden Christmas Dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve evening and then, after the meal is finished , everyone opens their presents! We compromised by opening our presents on Chrismas Eve and eating Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day.

It was the first time that Anna hadn't gone home to Sweden for Christmas, although she tried not to show it she missed her family very much. In an effort to make things as Swedish as possible we went to our local branch of Ikea and bought loads of Swedisn treats and bits and pieces. I'm sure everyone knows what Ikea is - it's a Swedish retail chain that has stores virtually everywhere in the world and sells Swedish furniture and household goods, has a restaraunt that sells Swedish food and also sells Swedish cakes, chocolates and drinks. Signage for everything is in Swedish and the language of the country the store is in. Nothing beats the excitement of a beautiful homesick Swede loudly reading the sign for 'fork' in Swedish! Anna became really excited when she saw a large stuffed toy that to me was just a gnome figure. Anna explained that it was actually a 'Nosse'. That's a Swedish mythological figure that represents an ancient Swedish farmer. He turns up at your house at Christmas and you have to give him a bowl of porridge. If you don't he will force you to dance with him until you drop dead of exhaustion! Great! It will be no surprise to hear that we went home with a very large Nosse which we left a small bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve.

We also took a lot of other Swedish bits and pieces home to add to the contents of a large box of Swedish supplies sent Anna by her family. The Nosse, who hasn't yet been named, now lives in the corner of our lounge.

Christmas Day here was dull and dismal. No snow. I spoke briefly to my parents and then started work on Christmas Dinner while Anna had a lengthy Zoom call with her family before helping me in the kitchen. We had invited my best friend Wendy to join us for lunch. She is a police officer and was working until 2pm on Christmas Day. She lives alone, so we told her to finish her shift and then make her way to us for dinner. When she arrived we stripped her of her uniform and boots down to her underwear (nothing kinky I promise you!), got her into one of my dressing gowns and thrust a large drink into her hand! We then spent the rest of the day eating and drinking too much and had a lovely time. Wendy wasn't working on Boxing Day so she spent the night with us. It was so good to be able to spend some time with her.

Between Christmas and New Year Anna and I travelled down to my parents and spent a couple of days with them. It was so lovely to see them both again. They have really welcomed Anna into the family, something they never did to the same extent when I brought boys home!

So, we are now home again and preparing to go out later to celebrate the New Year. We have tickets for one of the local clubs so we are expecting to have a good night - and who doesn't enjoy the chance to get really dressed up and to apply some serious makeup before hitting the town to see in the New Year with their friends!

Wherever you are in the world I hope that you have a wonderful New Year (although I guess some of you may have had it already). I just want to say I love you all very much and I really appreciate all the love and support you send to me. I am so proud to know you all and to be part of our wonderful transgender community. I love you all!! Happy New Year! Love, kisses and hugs Katie XXXXX

[yatorihell]

Noragami Reread Volume 14-17

Heaven arc in full swing and a lot of foreshadowing

Vol 14

52

'The world he sent her back to' final chapter line?????

Yato reaction to not knowing Hiyori's birthday, it's probably not something that would cross his mind since birth isn't a thing in his world

We never actually see what Yato does for her birthday party????

Kazuma forshadowing his betrayal to Yukine

Ebisu could've just called Kunimi when he got lost lol not a single thought in that head

Bishamon refusing to release Tsuguha is so stupid it's the only way to save her

'If I could just stay with Hiyori and Yukine that would be fine by me' hnnnn

God's exist for people vs Yato saving Hiyori at his own expense

People can only be truly saved by other people vs hospital arc vs recent chapter I hate this manga

Yukine sending Hiyori letters and Yato eating them

53

Just a fun little chapter, bit of Kazubisha and finding out the artist is actually Hiyori's brother at the end

54

Yato showing up to Masaomi and bynpinf into Hiyori after avoiding her for 2 months

'Just friends?' Yato what did you expect

For grandma Iki it's on sight she knows bad vibes when she sees them

Wonder if the Iki family can be like Father's lifeline for Yato

'Even one so immaculate and become bewitched by evil' Yukine downfall forshadowing

Grandma Iki asking will you protect my grandchildren vs recent chapter I hate life

'You've been my god of fortune for a long time' I'm so sad Adachitoka you make me so sad

55

Nora warning Yukine about Kazuma lol

Tsuguha breaking and that whole aftermath was... yeah

Saku suppressed his names with a spell but he's still out if it tbh

Kazuma be like lol I might be indebted to Yato but I'll still betray you

Vol 15

56

Time for Heaven arc

Yukine tells them Kazuma has betrayed them

Bishamon crying over surviving her shinki like babe she could've survived too if you released her

8 millions gods? Stop breeding

'I exist only for Viinas sake' get you a man who loves you this much

Yukine starting to have dreams about his past hnnnnnn

It must've been a ballache to draw the robes in heavens arc rip Adachitoka

57

It was a different shinki who got Ebisu, I wonder what form they take

Yato unsure of joining Heaven after Ebisu's death

Yato talks of defying heaven lol not foreshadowing at all

Then immediately asskissing to keep his god status

'I'd rather be a piece of shit' you are <3

Yato and Hiyori encouraging reconciliation between Yukine and Kazuma

Yato inviting Hiyori to heavens party

Tenjin didn't choose human guidepost because he knows they can betray you

Bishamon pissed Kazuma used resound on Yukine

Where's Suzuha's grave hmm I guess the cherry tree is it tbf since they visit it

Wish we saw more Bishamon and Hiyori

Yato as an obvious wolf in sheep's clothing

'To be blessed is to be buried' Yukine took it seriously

Foreshadowing of a god possessing a hafuri going rogue

58

I think this was the first chapter that released once I caught up with the manga

Everyone's so cute in their formal gowns, I like how Yukine's is blue and Hiyori's is probably red

Takemika being a little bitch to Ebisu

Popularity contest of the Gods and Stationmaster Tama appearing was such a nice touch

Matchmaking ceremony

Yato face when Kofuku says Hiyori's soulmate hsnbd

Yama is with her soulmate already that's cute

Hiyori literally watching her future being decided for her

It's so funny that all the soulmates are just like Yato

Oh Kofuku why did you tie it do you know what happened I'm so sad

Kiun vs Yukine

Hafuri sealed away foreshadowing

Takemika fight foreshadowing

Obtaining a hafuri requires an enemy which is why Takemika is so eager for a chance to fight

Bishamon gone missing and then it's like 2 years of stress

59

Hiyori wondering what it means that Kofuku tied thier plaques hhaaaaaa

Emishi bear god is so cute he won't kill you

Adachitoka working native gods in and their subdued nature with heaven, being happy to just live on their own land, being cultivated from reincarnation to make sure they don't defy again

After everything when asked his nature Yato still thinks of why he was born

Hafuri mono lore

Oh Kiun is so small circling Takemika in his little dragon form

Takemika needs to fuck off a bit no wonder you don't have a hafuri with that attitude

Yes Takemika you are pathetic whining for a hafuri

Oh no he's getting horny just thinking about getting a hafuri

Bishamon promising Heavens head to the hafuri

Marilyn Monroe moment for Bishamon I really love that dress

Shikki is such a look, our Batmon

Vol 16

60

Once again the serve on this outfit? Deadly

One year since they all met and it's Yukine's birthday (I'm ignoring what's about to happen)

Hiyori prayer to all be friends again hnn

Bishamon knowing how to track the Sorcerer from eye contact

Quick Father flashback, it's funnier knowing that he caused her death by driving her away

Heaven shows up so quick compared to the final arc lol

61

High treason declared against Bishamon

Ebisu trying to veto the subjugation order

Kofuku dead

Wonder what the other 7 unpardonable crimes are

Nora playing up to yukine to make sure Bishamon dies

Why did they change my balls are tingling

Ysto soft spot for Bishamon

Yukine having 50 aneurysms about yato revealing himself

62

Yatobisha dreams crushed they don't want a happing ending together

Yato can't reincarnate? Father stop gaslighting

Hiyori coming in with the steel chair on Father go girl

This is the most battle intensive we've been since like yomi

63

Hiyori showing up and fixing Yato's arm

Yato not abandoning Bishamon and wanting to live her innocence

Yukine crying because he wants to keep Yato safe

Vol 17

64

Kazuma offering to take Bishamon’s place for execution

Yato really is such a good fighter

'You aren't capable of truly loving people' Kazuma is self aware Bishamon doesn't feel that way (or does she)

'I will see him again' oh we didn't believe this for so long it took like 7 years

'He'll realise that he can't save anyone' vs recent chapter

65

Child Bishamon being punished by Father

Kazuma spell to help Yato and he's not even made up with Yukine yet

Bishamon god of calamity image

The Reveal that Nora knew her past already had us so shook

Nana past revealed and she was able to overcome it gave us so much hope for Yukine

Kazuma really thinks highly of himself lol of course they don't want a shinki to die instead of the traitor

66

Takemika being banned from lightning ad a child because of his nature

Mad how Takemika died from like a thousands cuts since the shinki slashed him to death along with the ayakashi

Takemika hiding his lightning and Kiun does it for him, they're such a good match

Yato Sekki bondage

Kiun puts himself in harm to make Takemika act and it works (not instantly)

Oh go crazy Takemika

67

What a form Takemika let him be a dragon

Yato shielding Sekki from the lightning because he's breaking a little

Once again the art is insane this entire arc

'I can't let Yato die no matter what' vs recent chapter

DO YOU THINK I'LL LET YOU TAKE HIM FROM ME

I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT YOU

Kazuma is such a psycho I want one

Damn kazuma stayed in human form for 5 years never being called

Bishamon asking for a pet name

Kiun stuck on the shinki are objects for the god narrative

Takemika got that female rage go girl

God remember when he cut Yato's neck and we freaked this actually reminds me of Yato and father

'But mine will always be on my side'

That line up of Yukine's eyes with Yato's face

Splitting the dragon in half

Kiun bowing and allowing Takemika to be who he is

[geekygee01]

Won’t you be (mine) Chapter 2- Boobs and Bitch Boyfriends

Series Masterlist

Pairing/s: Steve Harrington x Reader

Chapter Summary: As your visits to Family Video become weekly Steve finds his feelings for you only grow. As the weeks go on, he gets the chance to really know you (and meet your daughter), but now not only is there a fiancée in the way but he may have some more competition for your heart.

Steve can't seem to get you off his mind no matter how hard he tries. He's met and dated many beautiful and unique women but there's just something special about you. It's like a switch has been flipped inside his heart, that's set his whole world on fire and he doesn't ever want it to burn out. You consume his thoughts, he looks forward to every visit. He's even volunteered for my shifts, any extra chance to see you he will jump at it.

Robin tries desperately to lower his expectations and bring him back to reality, mentioning your fiancée and child over and over but its like it goes in one ear and out the other. He just cannot seem to let you go, all Robin manages to do is make his daydreams and infatuation painful. It hurts knowing how much he wants you but can't have you, he has nowhere to put his buckets of emotions.

It's another Friday afternoon when he next sees you. A van blasting heavy metal music peels into the carpark, parking in a messy way that has Steve rolling his eyes. What kind of miscreant is about to come in and ruin his peace and quiet. But instead of some drunk, tatted up emo he expecting its you that slips out of the passenger seat of the van. He takes in your flattering jeans, and admires the way they hug your hips as you lean through the van window to yell something.

When you turn around he almost dies that the low cut of your shirt, it's like you came right out of one of his dreams. You pull open the side sliding door and climb back into the van, for a minute he worries you're about to leave without coming in. But just as fast as you jumped in you're climbing back out. One arm has some films in it, the other is clutching a child.  Your child.

The bell on the door jingles as you walk through, and maybe he's just being extra delusional but he swears your eyes light up when you see him.

"Well hello there," Steve grins "did you enjoy the muppets?" he teases.

Instead of some funny sarcastic answer from you he's come to expect it's the little child in your arms that perks up "Yeah!" she cheers excitedly.

Steve grins at her near contagious joy. She's a cute kid (she must get that from you), though she doesn't really bear much of a resemblance to you looks-wise, she must take after the fiancée. Steve tries not to dwell on him too much.

"Well I'm glad you enjoyed it little miss..." Steve pauses as he realises he doesn't actually know your daughters name.

"Introduce yourself sweetie," you smile so sweetly at both Steve and your child.

"I'm Cynthia, I'm four," she tells Steve before hiding in her mothers neck.

"Don't be shy sunshine, this is mummy's friend Steve," you tickle your daughter softly in the ribs and she lets out cute squeals of laughter. Steve smiles fondly at the scene, you make a great mum, and the sight of that is really not helping his infatuation.

You walk up to the counter and Steve's hit with this odd mix of smoke, weed and... flowers? He must show some kind of reaction because you're quick to try and apologise "I'm sorry about the smell, Luce can't seem to go five minutes without a smoke. I though the perfume would kind of cover it but I think I just made myself smell worse."

"No! Don't be sorry, I didn't mean to imply you smell or anything. I guess I just got used to the stale air and the bland scent of mothballs and dust, you smell good." Steve freezes as soon as the words fall out of his mouth, he can't bring himself to make eye contact with you and is quick to try and change the subject, "so your returns"

You place the films down on the counter and Steve goes to collect them, but the second Cynthia sees Steve try to pick up the muppets she starts fussing "No! My movie!" she whines.

"It's not your movie sweetheart, we just borrowed it. And now we get to pick out a new movie while we're here," you placate her, she perks up a bit but continues to glare at Steve.

He finds it kind of adorable, the little furrowed brow and pursed lip, he can tell she definitely got that from you.

"Okay your returns are all sorted, you can just go ahead and pick your next movies," and if Steve waived your late fees again that's nobody's business but his own.

"Okay sweet girl, do you wanna go pick a new movie?" you place a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaning to put her down, the little girl in turn just clings harder to you and points at the counter.

"No thankyou, I want that one," she wriggles in your arms and points harder at the muppets film they just returned.

"We've had that one a lot honey, don't you want to watch a different movie?"

Cynthia resolutely shakes her head and points again. You let out a weary sigh "I guess we'll be taking that one again."

"Gremlins!" Cynthia pokes at your cheek and your eyes light up with recognition.

"Oh that's right, Luce wants me to get gremlins. Thank you sweetheart," you duck into the aisles to hunt down the movie. Steve's about to go offer you some help, try to spend more time with you when you reappear clutching two films.

Gremlins and Elvira. "Is Elvira for your friend too?" Steve asks as he scans them.

"Hm?" you hum "oh no that ones for me, there's just something about her, ya know?"

Steve doesn't quite know what to make of that but before he can say anything else you're looking down at your watch and cursing, before looking guiltily at your daughter and telling her 'do not repeat that'.

"Sorry I've gotta run, Richie comes home tonight and I need to finish cleaning the house and making dinner before he arrives," you grab the three films from Steve and he can't help but notice the shift in attitude, you seem a bit sadder and little Cynthia looks... worried? "Thank you so much." With a wave from both you and Cynthia you're out the door and Steve's left already missing you.

This Richie guy sounds like kind of a dick, maybe Steve actually has a chance, he could treat you so much better then any guy that demands this weird kind of housewife obedience from such a kind busy woman and seems to scare his own kid.

Maybe he could just give you his number, even as friends, you're the one who called him a friend, it couldn't hurt to try...

But as he's heading to the door he notices you yelling something into the van and suddenly the drivers side door opens and Eddie Munson spills out, sauntering over to a bin to throw away a cigarette before ambling back over to the van and taking Cynthia from your arms. Cynthia lights up and begins giggling when he tosses her up in the air and spins her around.

Steve glances over to you and notices the love in your eyes and the fond smile on your lips and he can't help but wonder about your relationship with this guy.

Even if you were to leave this Richie, would you just be running into Eddie's arms?

#stranger things #stranger things fanfic #steve harrington #reader #reader insert #steve harrington x reader #eddie munson #robin buckley

[animeloverskylarmoon]

Kenpachi Zaraki (Bleach) Chapter 5

“(Y/N)-san!!”

“It’s fine I got it.”

The hollow behind you looked pretty accomplished. You could see the fear on Kiyone’s face. It was a fast one. It moved in to attack, but you already drew your sword. It froze in place, because you hadn’t even turned around. You slid the blade in from under your arm. It struck right in its stomach. You spun around midair, locking your legs around its waist. It didn’t have a chance to react, because you pushed your sword upwards, slicing it in half. It faded in a matter of seconds, and Kiyone watched in awe.

“You really are amazing (Y/N)-san!!”

She’d looked pretty happy, and you couldn’t help but smile. It was weird, you never really cared for praise in the past. Now that you were being placed on more missions, especially in the world of the living, you felt like you were responsible. You weren’t even the superior assigned to this mission. Shinji appeared.

“Guess you guys dealt with the problem on this side. I think I got all of them.”

“We did too. What would you like us to do Taicho?”

“You guys can take a break. Kiyone-san volunteered to assist so I think she deserves a break. Especially with all the hollows she took down. “ She suddenly looks bashful.

“I-I only got two of them Hirako-taicho.”

“Still, good job. We’re not expected to leave until tomorrow. We can head over to Kisuke’s.”

“Hai Hirako-taicho!” Kiyone agreed happily.

“Actually Taicho, is it okay if I explore a little?”

“Of course, don’t stay out too late.” He gave a little wave, and they took off.

Your gaze moved to the cloudy sky. This wasn’t the first time that you came to Karakura Town. It just felt nostalgic today. It’s possible that the snow was giving you those feelings of longing. You couldn’t help but wonder what Kenpachi and Yachiru were doing at the moment.

You could almost hear Yachiru’s cheery voice as she called you.

“Spikey-chan!!”

It was so clear. Almost like she was right there.

“SPIKEY-CHAN!!”

“Eh?”

You were tackled midi air and you jest back when she dives into your chest.

“Y-Yachiru?! How are you here?”

“Ken-chan got us a mission. We got done super fast so we came looking for you but we got lost. We missed you.”

She’s laughing, and when you look up there he is. Maybe it’s the snow that’s dampening his hair, but it’s laying down on his shoulders a bit more than usual. The lights of the town cast a bit of a delicate light on his figure. For a moment, you do lose your breath.

“It’s boring back there, we needed something to fight.”

His eyes have that casual look to them as if he’s unbothered. But it sort of warms your heart to think they came all the way here just for you.

“Let’s go and look at the big wheel!!” Yachiru points off in a direction, and before you can say much she’s pulling you along.

“W-Wait!”

She’s going pretty fast with a smile on her face, and Kenpcahi follows at your side. You can’t help but take a glimpse at it all.

“I almost forgot what it felt like..to care about someone..”

You’d been alone for such a long time that it’s strange that you’ve so easily made these two unlikely friends. Given how your first meeting went, you can’t help but wonder if this was some kind of faith. The smile on Yachiru’s face gives you hope.

Something you’ve hadn’t felt in centuries.

#Kenpachi Zaraki #Yachiru Kusajishi #fluff #humor #soul society #cute #kenpachi x reader #sowrds #fights #missions #Karakura #love #family

[specialagentlokitty]

Hotch x Daughter!reader - never let you go

Could you maybe do an imagine where we are hotchs daughter and went missing and became a case of theirs. We are found alive and it’s a fluffy moment between hotch and the reader as they had the best bond after Haley died. Thank you <3 - Anon💜

You were supposed to be on a field trip with your class, it was meant to be a week long camping trip, but when Hotch got the call about a class going missing, he stared to panic.

For hours no one had any information on the class, it’s students or anything, and it felt like eternity.

Hotch tried your phone again and again and it always went to voicemail.

He guessed you could have just turned it off, or accidentally let it die, but it still did nothing to ease the worry he was feeling.

Finally, the files came through and he ran up to the interrogation room.

“Hotch…” Derek whispered.

“Tell me her name isn’t on the list.” He said quietly.

“Aaron…” Rossi spoke.

Hotch felt his whole world apart, he’d already lost his wife, he didn’t want to loose you as well.

Slowly sitting down, he placed his hands on his face and took a slow deep breath.

“You don’t have to do this.” JJ whispered.

“I have to, I have to find her.”

Everyone shared a look and nodded, but they made him swear that he wouldn’t go anywhere without anyone.

If they thought he was getting too irrational they all had the authority to pull him from the case and bench him.

To him, that was fair, he didn’t care. He just had to do anything to do anything to be able to find you.

Every hour that ticked by he felt his world crashing more and more and they weren’t getting anywhere.

“Damn it!” He yelled.

“We’ll find her!” Emily rushed out.

“What if it’s too late?! What if we can’t save any of them?!” He yelled.

“We will!” Garica yelled back.

Reid walked over to his boss, and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

“She’s smart, she knows what she’s doing. We’ll find her, all of them and they’ll be okay.”

Hotch didn’t believe a word of it and he left.

Another day slipped by and by chance they happened to find the unsub through a serious of cell phone connections over the past few hours.

It was as if someone was running around and leaving them in places, so that’s what they followed.

The campsite was the exact same, expect there were a handful student there all cowering in one tent.

“Is everyone okay?” Emily whispered.

“We don’t know where the others went…” one whispered.

“How many are missing?” Rossi asked softly.

“Three.” Another student replied.

Hotch noticed you weren’t there, and neither were the teachers.

They quickly rushed the students away and Hotch was forced to go with them while he waited for you to show up.

The students were rushed back to the police department and Hotch paced back and forth.

He heard noises, and he spun around to see Rossi and Reid eturn with two teachers.

“Where is she?” Hotch begged.

“Here.”

He looked behind them and there was Derek and JJ helping you walk while Rossi and Emily had the unsub in Cuffs.

Hotch as quick to rush over to you.

You looked at him for a few moments before tears started to look in your eyes.

“Dad…”

“I’m here sweetheart.”

He left you fall into his arms where you cried your eyes out, and he cried too, holding you tightly as he slowly tried to calm himself down.

He had never been so close to loosing you before, and now he never wanted to let you out of his sight.

And honestly, you never wanted to leave your dads side ever again

#criminal minds #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds x y/n #criminal minds imagine #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner imagine #aaron hotchner x y/n #aaron hotchner #aaron x reader

[vannahfanfics]

Yo, I'd love to see what you can think of regarding Zoro and Perona from One Piece. Give them pastel goth ferals a chance, they grow on you like pink and green fungus. Haha

Look, it doesn't take much for most pairings to grow on me like a fungus. XD I did enjoy writing this one, though, so I guess I've got some pink and green amidst all the other fungi growing on me LOL

Paradise

Word Count: 2,850

Fluff, Romance, 3Y2D

Summary: Kuraigana Island would be Perona's paradise… if it weren't for the fact that it's so boring! She's left all alone every day… but little does she know, someone has taken notice of her frustration.

“Kuraigana Island is such a dark, dreary, gloomy place,” Perona sighed to one of her ghostly companions as she lay splayed across the antique rug lining the floor of one of the many drawing rooms in the ominous Kuraigana Castle. She languidly rolled onto her belly, then crooned dreamily, “It’s a verifiable paradise! I couldn’t ask for a more perfect place to live.” Her expression just as quickly turned sour, and she slammed her fists down onto the hand-woven rug as she cried out in indignation, “Yet I am utterly miserable because it is so dreadfully boring!” 

Yes, Perona had initially been beside herself with joy when she had landed in the world of her lovely nightmares. Scraggly dead trees and dried grass, crumbling ruins atop rolling hills of scorched earth, a splendorous castle looming dark and foreboding on the fog-choked horizon… If Perona wasn’t highly attuned to the spiritual, she would have thought she’d died and gone to Heaven! Learning that she would be sharing the residence with Roronoa Zoro of the Straw Hat Pirates (who had oh-so-spitefully dethroned her hero, Gecko Moria) and, later on, the stoic Warlord Dracule Mihawk had done little to put a damper on her spirits. 

What did, however, was the realization that the spooky island had neither zombie servants nor cute animals to its name, only very rude and disobedient mandrills. How was a girl expected to haunt the premises under such conditions? What a letdown. 

To add insult to injury, the only two reasonable residents of the island—in comparison to the violent monkeys, at least—wouldn’t give her the time of day! All those brutes wanted to do, from sun-up to sun-down, was swing their stupid swords at one another. Perona could hardly go about her melancholy business, for she was too busy patching Zoro’s wounds day in and day out—and the moron would just turn around and earn himself more the very next day! Seriously, those Straw Hats were the most brainless lot she’d ever encountered—and Perona had spent the last several years surrounded by zombies!

She had been able to get by for the first week or so by creating ghostly companions for company, but she could only be entertained by them for so long. Even a woebegone bemoaner such as herself required the pleasure of human company at least once in a while! But no, Dracule had left at first light to go attend to some of his Warlord business or whatever, while Zoro had left not soon after to go fight the bloodthirsty mandrills yet again—leaving poor, pitiful Perona all alone in the castle’s dark, dismal halls. They were quite wonderful at first, but one could only admire the architecture so much before they began to get stir-crazy. 

“I miss Kumashi,” Perona simpered pathetically, rolling morosely around on the rug since she had nothing better to do. Her ghosts floated listlessly around in the air above her, too mindless to comprehend her lamentation. “If only that stupid long-nosed freak of nature hadn’t purified him back on Thriller Bark.” 

Her ghosts offered no form of sympathy or consolation, and that just aggravated her more. She banished them to the nether whence they came, then rolled over onto her back again. She stared at the cobweb-strung, dust-coated vaulted ceiling for several seconds, then abruptly pulled at her pink pigtails and released a frenzied scream. 

“Aaaaaaaaagh! I’ll lose my mind with boredom, at this rate! Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have a tea party with somebody—anybody!” 

“Yeesh! What’s with the screamin’?” 

Perona shot up with a gasp and found Zoro standing in the entryway. He was covering his ears while he scowled in annoyance at her, but she was so happy to see another living creature that it didn’t even faze her; blissful relief burst inside of her, and a giddy smile tugged at her lips. Perona had a reputation to maintain, however, so she quickly squashed it and forwent springing to her feet like she wanted to in favor of languorously rising to her feet and stretching her arms above her head. 

“Oh, you’re back? Is it really sunset already?” 

“Oh, don’t try to play it off. You were clearly counting down the minutes,” Zoro scoffed, prompting Perona to drop her arms so she could put her hands on her hips while she pouted moodily at him. He scratched his head and looked around, his scowl morphing into a contemplative frown. “Though, I guess I can’t blame you. You do sit in here all by yourself all day. I’m sure it is maddening.” 

“You’re damn right!” Perona snapped and stamped her foot. She had a reputation to maintain, yes, but she was so desperate for human interaction that she would abandon her aloof façade if that meant Zoro would entertain her for even thirty minutes. She quickly shifted gears from disguising her loneliness to weaponizing it, summoning forth crocodile tears and hugging herself with a pitiful sob. “Your mean ol’ crew mercilessly slayed my one true friend, and then that terrible Bartholomew Kuma banished me to this wonderfully creepy but deserted place, and now I’m being ignored by the only two living souls here… Boo-hoo-hoo…”

“Oi, you don’t have to start the waterworks,” Zoro grimaced at her. He rolled his eyes when she immediately ceased her fake crying to flutter her lashes at him with a hopeful, pleading expression. He rubbed at the back of his neck as he pondered something for several seconds, heaved a sigh, then averted his gaze to the ceiling while he grumbled, “I have a stinkin’ tea party with you if it’s really that big of a deal…” 

“Really?!” Perona squealed and zoomed right up to him, her eyes sparkling and her hands clasped in delight. She didn’t wait for Zoro to confirm before she jumped up into the air with a cheer, and she levitated herself so she could do a slow backflip, kicking her legs in glee all the while. “Oh, it’s been so long since I’ve indulged in a tea party! I’ll make this one extra-grand!” she trilled when she was right-side-up again, and when she looked back at Zoro, she was surprised to find him not scowling, but smiling with a considerable amount of warmth.

“Can’t wait,” he smirked, his voice soft and rumbling like a cat’s purr. Something about it made Perona’s heart thump in her chest and heat rise to her cheeks. Flustered by Zoro’s uncharacteristic—or maybe just yet-to-be-noticed—compassion, Perona just floated there in warm, fuzzy inertia instead of rushing to prepare the tea party. She only stirred when Zoro prodded her leg with the hilt of one of his katanas and regarded her with a raised eyebrow.

“Oi. How are we supposed to have a tea party without a table and chairs and, yanno, tea stuff? I’m not exactly an expert, but those are pretty basic requirements, yeah?” 

“R-right!” Perona squeaked when she snapped back to reality. She hastily turned her back to him to conceal the fact that her pale white face was flushing with pink, then took a second to regain her wits. She was just shocked at his sudden show of kindness! She totally wasn’t mooning over him—Roronoa Zoro, of all people! Nope, she was just a little stunned! That’s all!

Her fluttering heart endeavored to convince her otherwise. Perona ignored its insistent pitter-pattering by summoning a small legion of ghosts and then spurring them forth to scour the depths of the castle for all the things they would need for a tea party. Directing a dozen spirits at once provided just the right level of distraction from the feelings trying to surface within her… or so she thought. 

Perona was keenly aware of Zoro’s presence in the room; she felt him move from the entryway, felt the space shift around him as he walked across the room to plop in one of the nearby armchairs while he waited for Perona’s ghosts to assemble the tea party. Surely it was just her frazzled mind talking, but the way he brushed against her when he walked by felt… deliberate.

She had been so bored that it must have melted her brain, Perona concluded then. There was no other explanation for the thoughts that she was having. Harboring fondness for Roronoa Zoro? A ludicrous notion!

Ludicrous a notion as she wanted to believe, Perona’s heart skipped a beat and her mouth pulled into a bashful smile when she cracked her eyes open to see Zoro watching her with an unmistakable gleam of delight in his eyes. 

Perona’s specters swiftly gathered a small tea table, a myriad of cushions, a porcelain tea set, and several stuffed animals—one of which was a bedraggled patchwork teddy bear that Perona had stitched herself a few days before, having nothing better to do. Perona directed her ghouls to set the table in the middle of the rug, then arrange the cushions and stuffed animals around it, and finally carefully display the tea set so that every guest had a tea saucer and cup. Once they were finished, Perona dismissed them and drifted down to kneel on the lacy pink cushion that she had chosen for herself. Smiling shyly, she gestured to the tea set and looked at Zoro with eager anticipation. 

“Everything is ready. Shall we begin?” 

“Don’t mind if I do.” 

With all the languid grace of a big cat, Zoro rose from the armchair and strutted over to the tea table. That is where his sophistication started and ended, however; he slumped down onto his cushion, crossed his legs, propped his elbow on his knee, and plopped his chin in his hand with all the roguishness of a brutish pirate. Perona was sorely tempted to heckle him for his poor manners, but he’d appeased her in her desire to host a tea party, so she supposed that she could overlook his boorish tendencies once or twice. 

“Thank you for coming, everyone,” Perona said with prim elegance once Zoro had seated himself. With an elegant gesture at the set table, she smiled prettily and announced, “I now declare this tea party in session.” 

Without further ado, she picked up the teapot and began “distributing” the tea. Unfortunately, it would have taken too long to brew actual tea; additionally, Perona doubted that Dracule had any sweet morsels like cookies or cakes stowed away somewhere. A fantasy tea party like those of her childhood would have to do… but she was no less happy for it. A serene smile illuminated her face as she went around the table pretending to fill up her guests’ cups. When she reached Zoro’s, she couldn’t help but peer through her bangs at him. 

Her heart flip-flopped in her chest again, for he was smiling warmly down at her.

“W-what’s that look for?” she asked huffily and glanced back down at the cup. It ended up betraying her embarrassment; why would she need to pay attention to what she was doing when she was only faking that she was pouring tea into the teacup? Why was she embarrassed in the first place? These confusing reactions to Zoro irked her more than she wanted to admit, and her frustration with herself translated into her being rather aggressive with her miming, which made Zoro quietly chuckle. That, in turn, made her glance up at him again; if she were pouring actual liquid into the teacup, it would have overflowed, for the suddenly bashful expression on his face made her just sit there holding it aloft. 

“You think I sit in on pretend tea parties for the hell of it?” he chuffed, averting his gaze to the empty teacup as he spoke. “Well, the answer is no. I only agreed to this because…” 

“Because…?” Perona pressed after he trailed off. 

Zoro growled, seemingly in irritation at being unable to formulate words, then frustratedly scratched at the side of his head. 

“Because I’ve noticed that you’ve been really down in the dumps lately, and I wanted to make you feel better! Okay?” He snapped it like Perona’s gentle insistence was unjustified, but she was so stunned by his revelation that she ignored its brusque delivery. 

He wanted to make me feel better? she thought with a slow, surprised blink at him. I didn’t think him the type to notice… or care, for that matter. They shared the same space; that didn’t mean that they had to form any semblance of a meaningful relationship with one another. Yet, amidst all his intense training, Zoro had perceived Perona’s growing discontent… and, what was more, wished to alleviate it. Now that Perona thought back, she realized that Zoro had cast her lingering gazes and seemed to hover her over the past few days. Had he been trying to find a good reason to approach her and invite her to spend time together? 

The thought warmed Perona through and through and brought a soft, grateful smile to her face. But one question remained… 

“Why, Zoro?” 

“Whadaya mean, why?” he huffed as if it were obvious. When it became apparent to him that it was not—at least not to her—he rolled his eyes and continued, “It only makes sense for me to want to cheer up someone whom I know is sad, right? Besides…” he trailed off again, but this time only for a few seconds. A rosy hue grew in his cheeks and the volume of his voice dropped to a shy mumble as he went on, “You’re always patchin’ me up… Least I can do is have a tea party with you every now and then.” 

Perona didn’t think it possible, but Zoro’s words warmed her even more. A floaty, fizzy feeling like soda pop filled her to the brim, from the tips of her toes and the crown of her head, as she lifted her head to look at him with overwhelmed gratitude. The only person who had shown her such selflessness was her dear master, Gecko Moria. It made tears spring to her eyes—both the memory of her former commander and Zoro’s kindness. 

These Straw Hat Pirates… If all of them are like this, then maybe they really aren’t so bad. At least, not bad enough for living with one to be completely intolerable. 

Perona wasn’t ready to give a name to the feelings making themselves known inside of her just yet… but she no longer had any qualms about them being there. She could address them later. Now, she needed to focus on conducting her tea party… and thanking Zoro for his kindness. It was very much kindness, Perona could see, and not simple feelings of indebtedness—awkward as Zoro’s delivery might have been. Kindness wasn’t something that Perona was much used to, but, as she basked in the warm glow of Zoro’s bashfully tender gaze, she thought that she could get used to it. 

“Zoro… Thank you,” Perona murmured, then leaned across the small tea table to plant a small, light kiss on his cheek. It was just a peck, only a second at the most—but before Perona’s lips left his cheek, they felt the warmth of the blood that rushed to his skin. She plopped back down on her cushion with a giggle and watched as the sheepish swordsman pawed at the back of his neck and looked down at his teacup with a coy grin. 

“Oh? You’re having a tea party, and you didn’t think to invite me? I’m wounded.” 

Zoro snapped his head up in the split second before Perona whipped around—both of them directing their shocked gazes to the entrance to the room. Dracule strolled in with a dismayed sigh, though the twinkle in his golden eyes and the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed that he was far more amused than disgruntled. When his keen eyes flickered to her, Perona could tell immediately that he, too, had noticed her despondence as of late—and was likewise willing to partake in a make-believe tea party in order to lift her spirits. She could tell, but that didn’t make it any less astonishing, so she watched Dracule with a slack-jawed gape as he strode purposefully across the room so he could kneel in the open space between two teddy bears. 

“Well? I’m waiting,” Dracule demanded with a wave at the empty cup before him. 

“O-oh! Of course! My apologies!” Perona squeaked and hastily scrambled for the teapot. 

As she “poured” Dracule’s tea, she bit down on her bottom lip in a vain attempt to stifle her growing smile. It didn’t really work, and Perona didn’t really mind that it didn’t despite how goofy she must have looked with a cheesy grin plastered on her normally morose face. Kuraigana Island was finally shaping up to be the paradise she’d dreamed it to be. She had her doleful reputation to maintain, but she supposed she could allow the full breadth of her delight to show for such an achievement—especially in front of the man who’d helped make it so. 

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