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stae-yong · 4 years

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a dream in a bottle [j.jh]

genre: fluff, romance, fantasy word count: 11.4k

Year 2059.

Everyone has lost their minds finding solace in a world full of chaos. Dreams in a bottle are now being used like a drug in order to fulfill their wildest fantasies. Have you ever dreamt so good, you never wanted to wake up?

“You’re the dream I go to, every time I close my eyes.”

a/n: this is my first jaehyun fic, and the first fic i’ve written :> please understand if i’ve made any errors. i wanted to write this since i started stanning nct and i hope you guys enjoy!! oh and listen to this, it inspired me to write this story. hopefully it could set the mood as well.

“Happy birthday to me,” y/n said dully as she blew her candle. The smoke from her two and three candles went to her eyes which made her squint. For the past week, all she ever did was cry herself to sleep thinking how miserable she would spend her birthday this week ever since her boyfriend left her for ‘his future’ which she snorted at as she remembered how his arms were wrapped around her waist as he kissed this new girl and who just enrolled in his arts class.

She then started to arrange her gifts which mostly consisted of plain old birthday cards which her so called friends just gave to her at the last minute since her existence was forgotten due to the busy days of work. As she went through her gifts, she noticed another postcard from her parents that are probably touring around Europe. She scrunched her nose in disappointment, “What a good way to start my 23rd year of living on this planet,” she muttered. Y/N stood up pushing around all the teared pieces of gift wrap as she tried to navigate herself around the living room. As she moved, she accidentally kicked a box tas was buried under piles of garbage.

A white box with pink hearts decorated around it. On the side of a box, a sticky note was attached with a letter with handwriting that was too familiar.

Dear y/n

Happy Birthday! I’m sorry we can’t spend it together this year, you know how hard life is. But I do hope you enjoy the following days with my gift. I gave this to you to spice up your birthday. It’s definitely one of a kind, I hope you could forget your dickhead of a boyfriend with this. Call me once you try it ;)

Love,

Mei.

“If this is a box of lingerie or condoms, Mei can rot in hell,” Y/N grumbled. This definitely should be worth it. She peeled the sticky note, as a remembrance of the gift as she carefully opened the box. Inside were three small bottles of iridescent liquid that seemed like it had been mixed by a 10 year old playing with glitters and water. A small card was placed above the bottles with a note saying “The best dreams happen when you are wide awake,” with several instructions to only drink one bottle every night for good results. Y/N contemplated if she should drink from it now considering that its nearly 10pm. She spent her whole day moping around her room munching on junk food while thinking about how lonely and boring her life was. Maybe this potion is worth the try, and maybe, like what Mei said, it could spice up her life.

She took the bottle in her hands shaking it a bit as she watched the small pieces of glitter swirl around as if it was luring her to drink it. At first she tasted like vanilla, smooth and milky then suddenly it turned to taste like strawberry mixed with different other fruits. Soon after, Y/N fell on her bed as she drifted off.

————

Y/N felt as if she was thrown into a whirlpool as her head continued to spin. Bright light hit her face making her squint as she tried to slowly adjust to what she was seeing. Suddenly, people started to bump her as they made their way around the city. Y/N tried to make sense of where she was, it was a city that looked like it existed way back in the 1900s with the way people dressed. Women and men of all ages walked around the street as they clung unto their loved ones. Women were dressed in puffed blouses and below the knee skirts as they topped it with a trench coat to warm them from the cold. Men, on the other hand, were wearing top hand sand white button up with suspenders that were too old-fashioned for her liking as they paired it with trousers. As Y/N continued to make sense of what was happening, she passed by a shop where she saw her reflection, she was wearing the same thing everyone was wearing.

Great, how on Earth am I supposed to figure out what to do in this dream.

As she walked around, she noticed a long queue that led to a movie theater. Everyone seemed excited to watch this new ‘musical’ that only happens once every year and that is during the 23rd of Christmas, ‘The Impossible Dream’ was its title. She noticed that every poster posted on the streets had the same title written in cursive with a time, date, and location set. As she adjusted her coat that was wrapped around her, she noticed a ticket on her right pocket. “The Impossible Dream, 6pm,” she muttered. “I drink a stupid bottle of dream and now I have to watch a boring musical,” she added as she pouted remembering to message Mei that she won’t be drinking anymore of her gift. Her eyes wandered from the people around her to the buildings, she knew no one in this dream and the faces she see are not even close to familiar. The place itself looks like a 90s movie setting with all the broadway and lampposts hanging around.

“Excuse me, this is the end of the line, right?” Y/N turned to look around at a man around her age with caramel brown hair and smiling as his dimples poked out. She stared at him longer as she admired his features, okay, this is definitely a dream because no one else in the real world would look as good as this fine man standing behind her. “U-um, yeah,” she cleared her throat as she gave tight smile embarrassed as she was caught staring.

“Come on, you gonna pretend like you don’t know me now?” He said as he pouted. Y/N looked at him confused, never in her life did she encounter him, maybe this is a preset of the dream but she decided to play dumb instead. “Hmmm, I don’t think I remember,” she said as she tried to think of a name that matches his face.

“It’s Jaehyun,” he said as he poked her cheek with his index finger as he shook his head disappointingly. “Are you my boyfriend?” Y/N blurted out as she felt her cheeks heat up at her sudden question. Jaehyun felt flustered as his ears turned red. “Um, well, I don’t know,” he said nervously chuckling. Y/N nodded as she turned to the front once again, boyfriend or not it doesn’t matter but for sure the handsome guy standing behind her played an important role in her dream. She tried to remember if she knew any Jaehyun in the real world but no one came close. Heck, no one even looks like him. Was she really that desperate on moving on, she literally dreamed of having a boyfriend way better than her ex? Okay, maybe.

The line started moving as people made their way towards the entrance of the theater. “I didn’t know you were interested in watching musicals,” Jaehyun said as he stood beside her as they both made their way in.

“Well, maybe you don’t know a lot about me then,” she shrugged as she gave him a teasing smile. “We’ve known each other for four years and you forget my name?” He teased back as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder to move her from the people that were constantly passing by to get to their seats. Y/N felt her heartbeat speed up at the intimacy feeling his chest pressed against her shoulder as she muttered apologies to those passing by.

“Watch where you’re going,” he muttered under his breath as he looked at her. Y/N blushed as she looked up to him. The lighting in the room giving his visuals more justice as it surrounded her head making him look like he has a built in halo.

As she made her way to her seat, Jaehyun followed closely behind as they both sat together. The play started as the lights dim but Y/N couldn’t care less about what was happening in the play as she felt bothered by Jaehyun’s presence. How did he have this effect on her when he doesn’t even exist? It was also their first time meeting. She slowly shifted on her seat to face Jaehyun in a discreet way as she tried to steal a glance at him. Jaehyun noticed her shifting taking it as a sign of uncomfortableness, placing a hand gently on the area above her knee squeezing it lightly and giving her a look of concern.

Y/N froze in her seat as she looked back at Jaehyun who was staring at her worriedly, eyebrows furrowed. She looked away quickly as she cleared her throat, nudging Jaehyun’s hand away by accident as she shifted to face forward. Jaehyun chuckled as he continued to watch the musical smiling to himself. “What’s so funny?” Y/N said as she crossed her arms trying to concentrate on the show but finding it difficult with Jaehyun seated right beside her. “You should take a picture, it would last longer,” he whispered in her ear as she felt his warm breath brush against her cheeks making it heat up. Thankfully, the lights were dim and Jaehyun wouldn’t be able to see how red her cheeks were from the constant display of affection he was showing to her. She wasn’t staring, she was just trying to capture his face on her mind so that when she wakes up from this dream she could finally move on from her ex.

“I still haven’t forgiven you for what you’ve done,” Jaehyun whispers again, Y/N looks at him in confusion to see him leaning slightly to her side with eyes still focused on the show. “What have I done?” She said raising a brow. She has only been inside her dream for 20min, she barely got to do anything except stare at the piece of art seated right beside her.

Jaehyun looked at her in disbelief as he flicked her forehead earning a smack on the shoulder. “You left me in the rain, I told you to call me but you didn’t,” he said as he looked at her again. Y/N frowned, not really knowing what to say. “Sorry, I was busy,” At this point, making up stories would only be the solution to questions as it was only a dream that she may forget when she wakes up. Jaehyun continues to stare at her with an unreadable expression. He nods anyway and she gives him a small smile.

“Are you really watching this?” Y/N asks bored out of her mind as the main lead in the musical continues to cry as she longs for her love one who she only meets inside her dream.

“No, I’m just here because I like sitting beside you,” Jaehyun replies shooting her a smile, his dimples making an appearance as they always seem present when she looks at him. She scrunched her nose in disapproval, definitely too good to be true. Prince Charming likes her in her dream, her love life must definitely be fucked up for her to be dreaming about these things.

“We can get out of here if you’re bored,” Jaehyun shrugs as he took her hand gently. He jutted his chin toward the exit raising a brow, “Okay fine, but I’m not spending any money,” she muttered making Jaehyun laugh as he pulled her from her seat. She didn’t even know how she would able to live in this dream.

As they walked around the streets, Y/N tried to ask more about herself so that she wouldn’t have to lie all the time she entered this dream. Never in her life did she experience a dream so realistic, lately, she had troubles sleeping and if she ever got to dream, it would be long forgotten the moment she woke up. A warm hand wrapped around her cold one pulling her out of her thoughts, her gaze shifted from the street to Jaehyun who was grinning at her.

“Do you remember how we met?” She asked as he swayed their hands playfully while walking. “Of course, it was definitely my favorite day,” he chuckled as he recalled how they first met. It was the first day of university and Jaehyun was late. It definitely wasn’t a good first impression to his professors considering how he got into the university because of a basketball scholarship, he used to be a star player back in high school which led him to many offers from big schools that wanted him as the ‘face’ of their team. Although, Jaehyun chose the one closest to his home as he didn’t want to stray farther away from his family, at the same time, his friends attended the same university as him. He tried to discreetly make his way inside the classroom as his professor continued to scribble on the board. Sitting down on the farthest seat as possible, he tried to catch up on the lesson they were having

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” He heard a small voice say as he shifted his gaze. There she stood in front of him, wearing a yellow dress with her brown hair softly framing her small face accentuating her brown eyes that seem to hold the stars. Jaehyun gulped nervously as he shifted on his seat.

“No, you can sit here whenever you want,” he said a bit too excitedly as he continued to stare at her. The girl gave him a small smile as she sat slid on the seat beside him taking out her notebook and pen.

“I’m Y/N, by the way,” she whispered extending her arm which Jaehyun stared at a bit for too long, “Not that it matte-“ before she could put down her hand Jaehyun grabbed her hand firmly with a smile. “Jaehyun,” he said smiling which made her flustered. “Care to share why you’re late?” He whispered as he tried to start a conversation without getting caught by the professor. He didn’t even understand what was being taught anymore as all his attention was occupied by the girl seated beside him. “The traffic was too bad, why are you late?” She shrugged as she leaned closer to him with a teasing smile. Jaehyun snorted as he slightly bumped his shoulder with hers. They were close already despite the small amount of time they knew each other, “You’re watching me?” He teased as he raised an amused brow at her. Her nose scrunched as she bopped his nose with her pen. “No, I saw you make your way through the door earlier and decided to seat beside you,” she chirped making Jaehyun’s heart flutter. “If I knew better, I would say you stalk me,” he replied trying to brush off the tremble in his voice caused by the amount of flips his heart was making. “Just interested,” she beamed and diverted her attention back to the board. Jaehyun took a glance at her shaking his head at their exchange, silently taking note that he should definitely get her number after this class.

Y/N looked at Jaehyun with an unamused expression as he shrugged, “It’s true though! You tried to hit on me on the first day,” he said earning a punch on the shoulder. “I don’t think that’s how it went though!” She retorted blushing as she didn’t even know if Jaehyun made everything up. It was her first time meeting him, yet in this dream it seems that she’s been in it for years already. She did, however, like how straight forward she was based on Jaehyun’s story, maybe she did like herself better in this dream.

“You asked for my number, so basically, you hit on me,” she stucked her tongue out as she harshly tugged Jaehyun in what she feels like the direction of her house is. Jaehyun pulled her back as they stopped under a lamp post with the light illuminating his face in all the right angles. He leaned close until they were eye-contact level as Y/N tried to keep a blank expression even if her heart was basically going to burst from how close Jaehyun’s face was from hers as she tried to remember all the small details of his face. “You said you were interested first, so I guess I win this argument,” he said smiling at her. Y/N brushed it off as he pushed his face away with her index finger. Jaehyun then wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her closer making her grab his forearms for support at the sudden action. “What are you doing?” She said nervously as he started to sway from side to side as he looked at her making her blush at the sudden attention he was giving her. There was no way he couldn’t see how red she was right now. “Dancing, we used to do this all the time,” he said as he continued to sway to some tune he was humming. “I don’t know how to dance,” she muttered as she looked down trying her hardest not to step on his feet. “It’s fine, I can lead,” he said confidently as he continued to stare down at her making her stare at his chest as she couldn’t meet his eyes.

“Hey Y/N,” he mentions when he noticed how quiet she has gone. “Hmmm?” She replies looking up to him as she stared at the area between his brows, his eyes too much for her to take, afraid that if she looks at him she might as well just kiss him there. “I really like dancing here with you but do you mind?” He says as he looked down. Y/N followed his gaze and saw her shoe lace untied itself probably because she kept stepping on them as they danced.

“Oh, let me-“ as she tried to bend down to tie it, Jaehyun pulled her up lightly by the arm as he kneeled before her making her flustered she looked around for people as he basically looked like he was proposing to her. “I can’t have you fall for anyone else,” he grinned as he tried to stifle a laugh. Y/N huffed as she nudged him strong enough for him to fall backwards catching himself with his arms as he tried to stand up.

She walked quickly as she tried to go to what seemed like her house, with Jaehyun following closely behind her as he jogged trying to keep up with her speed. “You’re welcome,” he winked making her flustered once again as she crossed her arms. “I’m home now, aren’t you going?” She said though she really didn’t want him to go yet. She didn’t even know if that was her house but it seemed like it, somehow it just felt right to be there at that moment. Jaehyun chuckled as he took a step back putting his hands in his pockets.

“I hope you had fun today,” he smiled as he ruffled her hair. Y/N nodded as she entered her ‘house’. “Stay safe, Jaehyun,” she said softly as she took one last look at him. Before she could close the door, she felt Jaehyun stop it.

“Wait, before you go,” he held the door with one hand and the other finding the back of her head as his lips lightly touched her forehead. Y/N felt her heartbeat speed up as she closed her eyes at the feeling of his soft lips on her forehead.

“Meet me in your dreams,” he said as he smiled at her before finally closing the door.

——

Y/N jolted awake as she heaved heavy breaths. She felt as if she ran a marathon with how fast her heart was beating. She was back in her bedroom as she looked around. Nothing seemed to change, except the small box that was on top of her bedside table with now only two bottles of dreams. She sighed as she checked the time, she was out for about twelve hours already, although, in her dream only a small amount of time has passed. As she made her way out her apartment, she received a call from Mei.

“So how was it?” Mei asked enthusiastically as y/n could feel her interest on the other end of the line. Sighing she continued to walk down the streets in boredom, wasting time on finding something that would catch her eye.

“I didn’t know a dream could be realistic,” she muttered back. “And there’s this guy,” she added as she thought of this is really a great time to mention a character from her dream, especially to Mei, she woulld probably think she’s gone crazy. “What guy? Are you seeing someone?” The other responded, desperate to know if her friend has finally moved on. “What? No, I mean yes,” Y/N defended.

“It’s not about my ex, actually, there was someone in my dream.” She said. “I don’t really know if I met him before, but his features are very new to me. And you know what they say, that our minds can’t make up images, and everyone in our dream is someone we have met or saw before,” she added. There was no way she saw Jaehyun, if she did then she would probably remember him judging by how good looking he was. “Really? Well, you probably saw him in streets before,” Mei reasoned as y/n could only nod in response even if Mei couldn’t see her. “Anyway, you should really make that worth it. I heard the manufacturer of the shop closed down,” she mentioned as you made your way into a small coffee shop you saw across the street which seemed quite popular judging by the amount of female customers in there.

“Well, I only have two bottles left. I’ll call you when I finish it. Thanks for the gift by the way,” y/n replied as she ended the call

The cafe she entered was small, yet had a homely feeling to it. There was an amount of middle schoolers who look like they just finished school lining up as they perked their heads towards the counter. Y/N squinted as she saw the cute cashier and barista taking their orders. The cashier with white hair that for some reason seemed to match his big intimidating eyes and sharp nose and jawline. He wasn’t as big as the barista, but his body complimented his features as he smiled towards the group of girls who tried to catch his attention. The barista, on the other hand, was tall and had broad shoulders. His hair was dyed black, but he seemed really friendly despite his strong aura.

When it was her turn to order, she now understood why a lot of women in this city practically visited this shop everyday. From afar, she noticed how good-looking the staff were in the cafe, but now looking at them up close made her throat dry.

“I would like one iced latte,” she said shyly as the cashier smiled at her. She squinted her eyes at his name tag, Taeyong. Cute. “Are you new here?” Taeyong said as he pressed numbers on his screen for her order.

“Umm, I live around here. But it’s my first time in this cafe,” she mentioned as she looked around trying to distract herself from meeting his eyes.

“Cool, may I have your name?” He chirped as he smiled again towards her raising his brow. Y/N furrowed her brows as she stared back at him, “A-are you trying to ask me out?” She stuttered bewildered at the sudden question. Taeyong laughed as the barista behind him accidentally knocked a cup off as he turned around to look at her stifling a laugh as well. “What? Um, you’re cute but I need it for the cup,” he gestured raising a cup in his hand making y/n embarrassed as she heard the girls from behind whisper about how assuming she was.

“Oh, sorry,” she said lowly as she muttered her name quickly and paying as she moved to get her order.

——

Y/N sat on her bed holding the box of two bottles. Taking one, she shook it again as she saw the swirl of iridescent liquid calling her in. The whole time she mentally prepared herself for what was to come. To say she was excited to meet Jaehyun again was an understatement, she wanted to take the bottle again as soon as she stepped home but she remembered that there was only two left.

She took one bottle out deeply breathing in and out as she downed it all feeling the familiar taste touch her lips as she entered her dream once again.

When she woke up again she was in a garden, sitting up right as she felt something on her lap shift. Looking around, she noticed she was still in the same setting as before only, it was day and everything seemed bright as people continued to walk around minding their own business.

“You look beautiful from this angle down here, but I would appreciate it if you would look at me too,” a voice says as she looked down only to see Jaehyun lying down on her lap staring up at her with a small smile on his face. She blushed once again when she saw him, last night she thought he was breathtaking under the lamp post but under the sun he looked so much better with freckles scattered on his cheeks his eyes a lighter shade of brown and his dimples, ever so present, poking out.

“You were saying?” She says as Jaehyun stood up from her lap. “I’m starting to think you don’t pay attention to anything I say,” he complained as he dusted himself. Y/N stared right at him, wondering what they would do next.

“I need you to accompany me. I have this project going on and Johnny’s too busy to go with me,” he said as he took her hand. She wasn’t sure who Johnny was but she assumed he was his friend. Though she didn’t mind what his character would mean in her dream as he hasn’t showed up yet. She noted to herself that later on she would figure out who Johnny was and probably make the most of the second bottle she took. As they neared a building that look somewhat like a huge library, Jaehyun pulled her in a hurry as they made their way through old books.

Y/N groaned as she watched Jaehyun scan through the book once again trying to find the right thing. It was her dream, why is nothing interesting happening. “Jaehyun, what am I to you?” She asked as Jaehyun’s attention quickly went to her. His ears reddened as he rubbed the back of his neck shyly, “You said you weren’t my boyfriend. And you kissed me on my forehead, so who are you?” She asked as she hesitated mentioning that kiss as she felt herself become shy as she remembered how she woke up right after. Jaehyun nervously chuckled, to be honest, he himself did not know what their stand was. All he knew was that he wanted to protect her, and that he wanted to be with her always. It was all he ever knew since he met her, it was as if it was a role given to him by the gods to stand by her side no matter what.

“I’m not sure y/n, what do you want us to be?” He asks unsurely afraid of the rejection he might receive. Silently praying she won’t say ‘friends’. Y/N was taken aback as the question was thrown back at her. She didn’t know what they were supposed to be, nor did she know Jaehyun as much as he claims to know her.

Seeing the hesitation on her face, Jaehyun felt disappointed but decided to brush off the thought. “It’s okay, you don’t have to think about it.” He said as he gave her a pained smile which wasn’t unnoticed by y/n. “I can wait,” he said under his breath as he looked at her. Y/N looked at him in surprise, it was her dream. She could say whatever she wants, “I like you,” she blurted out as she waited for his reaction. Jaehyun’s ears, if possible, became more red as he heard her confession. He tried to stop the smile forming on his lips as he put back the book on the shelf.

“Well, that’s great because,” he said taking a step near her as he held both of her hands in his. “I am absolutely smitten by you,” he added ash he wrapped his arms around her shoulders pulling her into a hug. Y/N smiled as her cheeks hurt. She hugged him back, now this is definitely one of her best dreams ever. “Does that mean we can go on dates now?” She said as she pulled back. If she could live in a dream, then she would want to live in this dream forever.

Jaehyun grinned, “Lucky for you I booked us a date,” he said as he winked.

“Okay, maybe I don’t like you anymore,” y/n said as she made her way out of the library with Jaehyun laughing a bit too loud behind her.

————

As they made their way out of the library, Y/N found her hand once again wrapped around Jaehyun as he intertwined their fingers together. She smiled at Jaehyun’s affection. It was as if his hand automatically finds hers wherever they go.

As you both walked hand in hand, Jaehyun led you to a planetarium. “Have you ever been?” Jaehyun asks as he navigates his way through the streets. Constantly pulling you aside as you try to avoid people walking the opposite direction.

“I’ve never been to one actually,” you say wondering if you’ve ever been to one with your ex. To think of it, you really didn’t have enough time in the real world to explore the city during your past relationship. You were either curled up in your apartment or burrying your head in books. The dates you had previously were just last minute decisions as if he was just forced to take you out because you were together. But this time, with Jaehyun, it seems as if you actually got what you deserve. It may seem cheesy, but your heart fluttered when Jaehyun mentioned that he actually planned this date. It could be a preset in the dream, but that didn’t matter to y/n, all that mattered was that someone took the time to care for her and remind her how special she is. Even if that someone doesn’t really exist, she chose to ignore the thought. If there was a person who would break your heart again, you would be honored to have your heart broken by Jaehyun. And even with a broken heart, you would choose to love Jaehyun with all those little pieces.

“You should see the stars, they shine as bright as you,” Jaehyun added as they made their way through the planetarium. There wasn’t much people walking through, and everyone was speaking in hushed voices. As they walked through the planetarium, they entered a dark room with only the ceiling illuminated by galaxies and small celestial beings. Jaehyun looked at you with a small smile playing on his lips. He was fascinated by the way your eyes seem to shine even in the dark, like your eyes held the most beautiful stars as you admired the projected ceiling of light. Y/N then looked at Jaehyun who was still staring at her in awe. “You should take a picture, it would last longer,” she beamed as he scoffed lightly.

“So you steal lines now?” he said with an amused brow lightly applauding her sarcastically as you shoved him on his shoulder. “What else do I steal?” she said as they made their way around the room. “Probably my heart,” Jaehyun shrugged as he felt his ears turn red. He quickly looked up inspecting the ceiling as Y/N shot him a look of disapproval.

“If I wish on that star,” Y/N said pointing to a projected shooting star, “will my wish count?” you asked as you stared at Jaehyun whose eyes are still trained towards the ceiling as he looked at the constellations.

Jaehyun laughed as he put his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “Maybe,” he said as he looked up. Y/N closed her eyes as she clasped her hands together. She knew it was pathetic, to be making a wish in this dream. But her pleas and prayers didn’t seem enough to calm her desperate heart.

I wish I could live in this dream a little longer.

They both sat down in the middle as they continued to enjoy each other’s presence. No one was around anymore as it seemed like the whole planetarium closed. Y/N already lost track of time, she didn’t know what has already happened to her in the real world, but for sure she was sleeping for the whole day already. Jaehyun, on the other hand, was still deep in thought as he slowly laid down on the floor with an arm tucked behind his head as a pillow, the other resting on his stomach.

“Do you ever feel like somewhere out there, there’s another version of us doing the exact same thing we are doing now?” he mentions as he continues to stare into space. Y/N glances at him and copies his position as she adjusted herself to be laying down beside him. Not really knowing what to say, Jaehyun took it as a sign to continue.

“I feel like I’ve been living in a cycle. It sucks really cause everyone I know either forget me, or they space out. Or it was as if I never really know them to begin with,” he says, frustration clear in his voice. His eyebrows furrowed as he continued to stare into the black space displayed on the ceiling. “You know, the other day, Johnny acted as if he didn’t really know me. I don’t even know if he was playing with me but it was like it was his first time seeing me,” he added as he turned to meet your eyes that were just focused on him. “It’s like how we saw each other back in the theater, you both acted the same way,” he pushed himself up as he supported himself with his arms.

“It’s the same every fucking time. I meet someone knew, we get to know each other, then all of a sudden they forget who I am,”

“I feel like I’m a character in someone’s dream,” Y/N gulped nervously as she slowly sat up. Jaehyun still confused as he blankly stared at his lap. Y/N didn’t know what to say, she didn’t know how to tell him that he was right and he was just a figment of her imagination and that all of this was from a stupid bottle her friend gave her for her birthday. You were scared to say something, afraid that revealing the truth would mean that you would wake up and that meant that you only had one bottle left to be with Jaehyun. Y/N grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze with a smile, hopefully, assuring him that everything will be alright.

“Promise me one thing,” he says as he faced her seriously. You nodded in response as you waited. “Don’t forget me,” he says carefully watching her reaction. Y/N chuckled as she shook her head, “That’s easy to do, Jae,” she laughed as she shaked their intertwined hands playfully. “Promise me you’ll also stay,” he added seriously. Y/N froze when she heard his words. To forget him was hard, she could remember him everyday when she woke up. But to stay was another thing, how could she stay when she only had one bottle left? How could she stay when he was just a character in her dream? How could she stay with someone who only exists in her memory?

She looked back at him, and the moment she did, she quickly regretted her actions. He was looking at her with so much hope in his eyes. Noticing her silence, the hope in his eyes turned into grim acceptance as he felt her hesitation. Y/N squeezed his hand making him look back at her. She had no idea what came in her, but she decided if its for Jaehyun, she would try.

“I promise,” she said firmly, eyes burning with determination. After all, a broken promise is better than none at all.

——

Y/N felt dizzy as she tried to get up from her bed as she leaned towards the bed stand to get her phone. Her mouth fell dry, remembering the promise she made Jaehyun as she dialed Mei’s number. “Help, I need to do something,” she said as soon as the line was answered.

“What is it this time? Did you finish the bottles already?” Mei asked groaning in response as you called too early for her liking. “No, tell me where you bought the bottles,” she said as she tried to balance her phone between her shoulder and ear as she wore pants. “I need to find who made those bottles,” she added disappointed at the lack of response from the latter. “I’ll send them to you, but I don’t think they’re open,” Mei replied, y/n sighed. She didn’t know why she made that promise, or how she would fulfill it. Back in her dream, everything seemed possible but now, all that was left was empty words that she regrets saying. She didn’t even know why she had a need to keep the promise to Jaehyun, he didn’t even exist to her disappointment.

After she received Mei’s message, she quickly headed out to go to the said shop. Her heart pounded nervously as she drove to the address. It was in a secluded part of town, there was no residential area near it and it seemed like a place that no one frequented to judging by the lack of public transportation that went to the area. She had to take a cab, and the look the driver gave her meant that it wasn’t a place to be in in the first place. As she stared at the shop in front of her, she suddenly felt so alone as the cab quickly left blowing a gust of wind. The small bells tingled when she walked in. The store was small and cramped with only a small counter near the end as she tried her best not to step on any of the antique items that were for display. Ringing the small bell on the table, she tried to inspect the place a bit more.

Her eyes squinted as she spotted a familiar poster hanging on the wall between two large dream catchers. ‘The Impossible Dream’ it read as small details were printed around. Her eyes widened in shock. It was the same poster from her dream, could it be that the musical actually existed? Would that mean Jaehyun existed? Before she tried to move further to get a closer look a stern voice spoke from behind the counter.

“What brings you here? We are closed,” her head whipped to the direction of the voice. There stood an old woman who was smaller than her with her white hair tied neatly up in a bun, eyes narrowing towards Y/N.

“That poster, where did you get it?” You said pointing in the direction of it as you tried your best not to falter in front of her gaze that seemed too strong for you to handle.

“That poster was made years ago by my ancestors, does it look familiar to you?” The old lady replied. Y/N nodded in response still debating whether the possibility of Jaehyun existing was real or not. “You took the bottles, didn’t you?” The old lady pressed on as Y/N muttered a small yes. “That was a mistake, you should have never taken it in the first place. I suggest you go home and continue on with your life, dark magic is not to be played with,” she said as she made her way towards the door behind the counter.

“No! Wait, I have some questions,” Y/N protested as she tried to block the old lady from disappearing.

“Forget about it now, what you experienced is not real,” the old lady said as she tried to make her way around you. Y/N continued to block her way which made the old lady sigh. You really didn’t want to give her a hard time considering her age, but you didn’t want to leave without unanswered questions.

“You say the dream I had wasn’t real, but why does that poster exist?” Y/N said as she moved to grab the poster that was hanging on the wall. It was designed exactly like what she saw on her dream. “What is this? What is in those bottles?” She gestured desperately waiting for an answer. The old lady sighed, grabbing a small stool and sitting down. “Those are bottles of dreams, my grandmother and my mother used to make it when I was still a child, telling me that one day it would change the world and that people would go crazy to get a sip of what was in it,”

“These bottles allow people to live in their deepest desires, everything you see in your dream is just a figment of your imagination. The potion lets you have what you want,” she added as she gestured towards the poster. “Luckily for you, what you desire isn’t that bad. But for others, it became too much. I stopped selling the bottles because things could get out of hand,” she said sadly. Y/N felt like the weight of her promise was crashing down on her. There was too much information for her to handle, the fact that Jaehyun did not exist made her sick. “I know you’re sad, everyone does once they find out they can’t have what they desire. But if it makes you feel any better, I can tell you one secret,” the old lady says hesitating as she finds the hope in your eyes glint at her words. “This poster, I am guessing you have seen it before in one of your dreams?” She questions as she holds it up in the light. Y/N nodded, “I want to know if the person I see in my dreams is true, or perhaps, I am holding on to this impossibility that he is true,” she mutters as she remembers Jaehyun. She only had one bottle left, meaning it would be the last time she would see him.

“This poster appeared here two days ago, I don’t know how it got here but I assume it is something from a dream. Just like everything in this shop,” the old lady said gesturing towards the other antique items. Everything was so random, as if it was just dumped with whatever things people could find.

“I am not sure if your dreams are real, and if the people do exist. But judging from how everything keeps appearing in random, they might be somewhere out there,” she added. Y/N breathed deeply, there was no assurance of Jaehyun existing in this world, but the existence of the poster means that he would probably appear in this shop if he were to be created. The poster alone ignited her desire to find him. If he did exist, where was he?

“Thank you, if you see anyone appear here around my age. Tall, white, handsome, basically looks like a prince, please let me know,” Y/N says as she leaves her phone number. The old lady chuckled, “Isn’t that too childish for a woman like you?” She says amused at your desperation to find this boy. “He’s a dream come true, can’t let anyone get to him,” y/n replies as she made her way out.

When Y/N returned home, she felt exhausted. She didn’t want to take her last bottle just yet. It could be her last chance of seeing Jaehyun, if what the old lady said was false. But seeing how the poster showed up, as well as other things that were in the shop, it gave her hope that Jaehyun existed somewhere out there. Another thing that bothered her was the fact that if he was out there, where was he? She didn’t even know where to start finding him. She hoped that he lived in the same country for her, she didn’t have enough money to find him if he were abroad. Nor did she think she was willing to find a man who basically existed based on her imagination. Even if he did live under the same skies, it was still to difficult task to do.

What’s the most you would be willing to do for the person you love?

Y/N took the last bottle of dreams, determined to keep her promise to Jaehyun. Adjusting once again to the bright light, when she woke up, she was seated on a chair in what seems like her room in her dream. She was wearing a white maxi dress that hugged her figure in all the right places, long enough to pool on the floor while she sat down. Her hair flowed down her back with curls toward the ends as her face was dolled with light make up.

Taking a good look of herself, she was satisfied with how she looked. If this was the last thing Jaehyun would see, then she was happy that he would see her at her best. When the doorbell rang, she made her way towards the door with a heavy heart as she reminded herself that this was her last bottle. When she opened the door, she smiled as she took in the sight of Jaehyun infront of her. His hair was gelled back with a fringe curled infront of his forehead. He was wearing a plain black suit and tie with a white dress shirt under. He held up a bouquet of fresh daisies as his cheeks were lightly pink from the cold (he tried to convince himself). “For you,” he shyly said, dimples making an appearance once again, he handed over the daisies as he stared down on his feet shuffling as he felt flustered by your presence.

Y/N pouted, he was the man of her dreams. Literally. She hoped she only drank half of the bottle now, because she definitely wanted to see Jaehyun dressed up like this for the rest of her life.

“What’s the matter?” Jaehyun said worried as he saw your lack of response. Taking your hand lightly, he rubbed small circles in the back of your hand as his other took your chin beneath his thumb and point finger. “Stop frowning, you look beautiful in that dress,” he complimented.

“You’re too good looking, I don’t think I can go with you anymore,” you reply trying to play off the somber mood as you give him a reassuring smile. Jaehyun chuckled, “You should see yourself,”

Both entered the venue, to say that it was extravagant was an understatement. It looked like a greek god threw a party, out of a sudden, Y/N felt out of place with all the people passing by looking like they were raised with a golden spoon. Feeling Jaehyun’s arm snake around her waist pulling her closer towards him, she glance at him sending him a small smile as she tries to gain confidence. “It’s fine, we can leave once you feel uncomfortable,” he says as he guides her towards the entrance. “Who has the money to throw this party? It looks ethereal,” Y/N loudly whispers shooting a fake smile to the guards who welcome both of you. “Moon Taeil, he’s a friend of mine,” Jaehyun replies as he inspects the place. Y/N looks around as she admires the gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and tall white pillars around the place with gold vines wrapped around it.

“By the way, you look ethereal,” Jaehyun whispers close to her ear, his lips brushing against her earlobe making her flush. He leads her to their table and leaves to get the drinks which makes y/n snap back to her plan. Honestly, she really did not have a plan. She didn’t know how she should spend her last bottle, but for sure she had to act quickly. She thought of hugging Jaehyun or at least holding his hand tight enough for her to bring him to reality, but everything seems pathetic at this point. Looking around, she decided to go to the restroom to at least settle with a final plan. As she made her way through the hallways, she looks at the pictures hanging on the wall. It all looked like some portrait of a royal family, but one picture has caught her eye. Narrowing her gaze, she inspects a picture of a woman probably around her 20s with eyes set forward as if it was staring at her back.

“Where did I see this before?” Y/N mutters under her breath as she stared longer at the woman. Shit, it was the same woman from the shop, only a younger version. Her eyes widened, as she tried to find more pictures of the woman. Y/N slowly tried to reach for the frame, carefully touching it as she tried to find a trace of anything that could help her to bring Jaehyun to reality. Biting on her lip, she continues down the hall in desperation to find hints. As she neared the end, she felt a gust of wind blow towards her.

Turning around, she finds herself in the middle of the street. It was the same street where she met Jaehyun, the first time she appeared in her dream. She looks around and notices the same poster hanging around. Breathing deeply she turns around once again, “What the fuck is going on?” She asks herself.

“Excuse me, where am I?” She asked as she grabbed an arm of a woman who was walking down the street. The girl ignored her like a ghost as she shook her arm of and continued to walk as if nothing happened. Y/N tried asking different people but they all pretended as if they couldn’t hear her. She continued to walk down the streets, noticing a familiar building. The shop she visited, the one with the old lady. Y/N tried opening the door, continuously pounding on it with her fists. “Hello! I need some help, I’m the girl from awhile ago!,” she pleaded as she continued to pound the door with her fists. “Please help me,” she cried out as she shook the door handle. After numerous attempts of trying to open the door, she decided to go back.

“Jaehyun, where are you,” she said feeling her eyes water as she ran around trying to find him in the crowd. Closing her eyes, she tried to control her dream. “I am in the party, I am with Jaehyun,” she chanted, eyes tightly shut as she clenched her fists. Her cheeks wet with streaks of tears that have escaped her eye.

Opening her eyes again, she finds herself in a bathroom. Heaving deep breaths, she looks around her cautiously, afraid that she would lose herself in her dream. After wiping her tears, she made her way towards the party. She finds Jaehyun in the corner talking to a woman around her age her hair long and straight. She looked smaller next to his bigger frame and her eyes were sparkling, y/n was not sure if it was from the light or was it just really her. The woman laughed lightly at what Jaehyun says as she gives him a charming smile. She matched the princess in fairy tales looking as regal as Jaehyun could be. This made y/n sad, it was her dream all along, but if she couldn’t bring Jaehyun to reality then he might as well just live his happily ever after with this woman.

But she might be able to bring him with her, and she wasn’t going to back down without a fight. Y/N clenched her fists, I was gone for a while and this idiot didn’t even try to find me, feeling the green monster in her heart rise she huffed out loud stomping over to the both of them.

“What happened to drinks?” She said making Jaehyun jolt at her sudden presence. “I was just about to get it,” Jaehyun answers as he glances at Y/N. “This is Naeun, a friend of mine, and this is Y/N,” he says gesturing to the both of you. Naeun gives her a small smile raising a hand, while Y/N continued to stare at her blankly.

“His girlfriend,” you scoff as you glared at Jaehyun. “I didn’t know it could take you fifteen minutes to get a drink,” she mocked as Jaehyun looked at her with an amused smile. “I just got here, what are you talking about?” He replied. Y/N raised her brow, “I went to the bathroom,” she argued back. Naeun looked at the two, excusing herself as she didn’t want to get caught up between them. “I just sat you down though,” Jaehyun pouted at her response not liking that she was upset with him. Y/N was confused, didn’t she just get lost in her dream? Or did time just stop and everything continued to flow for her? She decided to drop the topic, sitting down on the stool next to him.

“Doesn’t matter, who is she?” She questioned jutting her chin towards Naeun’s direction as she took a sip from the Andy Player Jaehyun ordered from her directing her attention towards the front avoiding his teasing eyes. “Just a friend from high school,” he said taking a seat as well as he took a sip of his drink, his smiling growing wider at her reaction. Y/N rolled her eyes as she played with the liquid in her glass, “Sure, you seem happy to be reunited,” she mocked, jealousy coating her words. “Hmmm, are you jealous?” Jaehyun asked as he leaned one arm on the counter looking at her with a teasing smile she would like to wipe off his face because not only did he irritatingly looked too good to be true, the veins in his arms were also distracting. Fuck Jaehyun and his rolled up sleeves, Y/N found it unfair, he looked like God’s favorite.

“No, why would I be jealous?” She said defensively taking another sip of her drink. “I don’t care who you mingle with,” she dragged on with a tone as she stuck her tongue out. Jaehyun laughed, “Really? Cause I don’t remember asking me to be your boyfriend,” he added. Y/N chocked on her spit at his statement as she glared at him, “Forget I said that,” though she secretly liked how he seemed to be fine with that title. “To be honest, I really don’t want to,” he retorted. Y/N flushed as she felt herself shrink on her seat.

“I want to dance with my girlfriend, may I?” Jaehyun stated as he offered her a hand, smiling as he raised his brows making Y/N scoff. She really wanted him to stop, it wasn’t good for her heart that probably did a thousand of flips at every word he says.

She took his hand as they made their way towards the dance floor, Jaehyun’s arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer, his other arm guarding each of her hand to wrap around his neck as they found themselves back to her waist. Y/N felt bittersweet, remembering the first time they saw each other and how they were in the exact same position just in a different setting. Jaehyun hummed with the slow song that was playing, lightly mumbling the lyrics with his baritone voice, as his smile never left his face, “This feels familiar,” he says lightly chuckling as he guided her once again through their dance. Y/N this time, only looked at him, no longer looking at her feet. “I think I could get used to this,” she replies making Jaehyun’s smile grow wider, his ears turning red.

“I may have not told you this earlier, but you look beautiful tonight,” he said face serious as they continued to sway to the music. “I mean, you look beautiful everyday, but you look extra pretty now,” he added. Y/N’s face scrunched up in disapproval, never fond of compliments but ever so receiving when it comes to Jaehyun.

“You look handsome as always, Jae,” she said sincerely, lips quirking up slightly at the new nickname she gave him.

Y/N glanced at Jaehyun once more as he continued to guide her carefully through the dance, her heart heavy as it seems that the thought of him not existing in reality would not leave her alone. Hesitating, she looks one more at the smile he has on his face, she really doesn’t want to hurt him. I don’t think I have it in me to hurt you, ever.

“I lo-“

“Jaehyun, I have to tell you something,” she says cutting him off as he was about to say something. Jaehyun looked at her surprise but smiled understandingly, this can wait, I can wait, l just a little bit more, he thought.

They went to the garden, there were still people walking around but less compared to those inside. Y/N’s heart was beating too loud she could hear it in her dream, she has to risk it. She needed to tell him, she had to tell him. “Just let me speak, and I’ll answer all your questions later,” she says as he looked at her curiously. Jaehyun nodded in response, encouraging her to continue as he grabbed both her hands to help her calm down.

“You don’t exist, you’re a part of my dream,” she said as she looked at Jaehyun whose eyebrows just furrowed, pursing his lips as to stop him from asking questions.

“It was my 23rd birthday two days ago, my friend gave me a gift of bottles that contained dreams. I thought it was bullshit at first, but the moment I drank the first bottle, I met you. And I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re just a part of my imagination. It pains me to say it, but I don’t think I could hide the truth from you anymore. The next time I met you, it was when we were at the park, I remember you asking me how I spaced out and how I seem not to pay attention. It was because I wasn’t mentally present when you were speaking to me. All those times I met you, I fell in love with you because you were all I ever wanted, and it hurts me to think that I can’t even have you in my life,”

Y/N’s tears continued to roll down her face as she sobbed trying to gather her thoughts as Jaehyun looked at her with a mix of confusion and frustration. “This night, I drank my last bottle,” she says voice shaking as she felt Jaehyun’s hands stiffen under her hold.

“Remember when we made our wishes? I wished to live longer in this dream,” she says as he hugged her. Her tears drenching his suit, but that didn’t matter. This maybe her last moments with him, and her heart was hurting too much for her to take.

“Jaehyun, I love you,” she sobbed. She said it, without hesitation as she looked at Jaehyun with teary eyes. Jaehyun bit his lip, he didn’t even know where to start asking. He hugged her tightly as he felt his tears touch his lips, the taste salty as it continued to flow down his face. “I won’t tell you mine, because it won’t come true if I do,” he says as he puts a hand on his shoulder his face bending down to meet her eyes. His other hand brushed the stray strands against her face as she continued to cry.

“I shouldn’t be crying like this, we shouldn’t be doing this,” she said as she wiped her tears away trying to think of happy thoughts.

“Y/N, look at me,” Jaehyun said seriously. His hands with a firm grip on his shoulder. Y/N tried to hold back her tears as she saw the pain on his eyes, long gone the smiles he gave her earlier.

“Promise me, you’ll try,” Y/N nodded as she grabbed his face and pressed a firm kiss on his lips.

“Don’t leave me, please,”

“I won’t, I swear,”

—————

Y/N woke up, her cheeks still wet as she felt tears stream down her face. Everything felt so real, the kiss, the confession, the promises. Jaehyun’s words still echoing in her mind as if she could hear his deep voice whispering beside her.

The moment she got up she tried contacting the old woman, and going back to the shop only to find that it was closed already and was going to be demolished soon. It has been a week since she last saw Jaehyun, a week since she has drank her last dream in a bottle. However, the heartache she went through was still as fresh as it was when she woke up. She tried her best to find him. She visited different libraries, reading on books about what happened to her and if there was a way to reverse it. She even tried going to a planetarium in hopes of finding Jaehyun there, but all found nothing. Some people thought she was crazy, and that she was hallucinating everything, but they didn’t know her story.

She even found the same venue where they had the ball, but to her disappointment, she never found anything that could lead her to Jaehyun or vice versa. It was if he was just a memory she was to forget. But that was the problem, she couldn’t forget him. She promised him she would try, and she didn’t want to let him down. Sometimes, she wondered what he was doing. Was he also trying to escape her mind? Was he with Naeun now that she was gone? Does she get those cheesy pickup lines he tells her? What was he doing now? Did he love her?

There were times when she tried to dream of him, but it wasn’t real. All she got was an image of him, but it didn’t feel like how she dreamt of him when she had the bottle. She tried to widen her imagination, and picture him with her. But it was too tiring for her, after all, she only had three nights of dreams.

As she made her way down the busy streets, she walked quickly as she navigated her way towards the central park as she continued to avoid the people bumping her while they were walking the opposite direction. She stopped in front of the cafe, heaving deep breaths. As she made her way in she walked towards the table in the corner, her lips forming into a smile as she saw the familiar face.

“It’s been a while,” she said hugging Mei. Mei grinned back at her and gestured her to sit down.

“So, how’s life so far?” Mei asked enthusiastically as she sipped on her tea, crossing her legs as she leaned forward. Y/N shrugged as she took a bite of her banana cake, “Nothing much, it’s been boring lately,” she said as she stabbed the banana cake and stuffing another piece into her mouth. “You know you never called me after the second bottle,” Mei huffed.

“Nothing happened, I tried to find the manufacturer because I needed more but the building was demolished,” she replied bitterly. “Ohh yeah, but the dreams were good right?” Mei responded.

“Yeah, too good to be true,” Y/N replied dejectedly. “Do you ever like, want your dreams to come true?” She asked Mei curiously as she bit her fork. “Of course, why the sudden question?” Mei retorted. “I dreamt about this guy, and he’s wonderful. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted, and I just wished he was true,” she replies sighing remembering Jaehyun once again which made her feel bittersweet. It was like she was the only one who knew him inside out, he literally was the man of her dreams.

“I don’t know what you dreamt about but whatever it is, I guess those bottles really work then,” Mei shrugged. “Besides, attachment is the root of suffering,” she adds taking a bite of the banana cake and wiggling her brows.

As she navigated her way home, Y/N sighs once again. Was it really that hard to forget Jaehyun? He didn’t even exist yet here she is feeling broken hearted as if she was cheated on once again by her ex boyfriend. Moving towards a crowd she felt people bump against her making her scrunch up her nose in irritation, “Damn, can’t people watch where they’re going?” She muttered under her breath as she made hurried strides towards her apartment.

Before she could take a turn, she felt a body bump against her as she fell on her butt looking up squinting. Pair of hands helped her stand up as she dusted herself, flustered that she caused a scene in public.

“Thank you,” she muttered quietly to the stranger who didn’t seem to budge as she tried to make her way.

“You should really watch where you’re going,” a deep voice said. Looking up, her jaw slacked. There he stood in front of her, with a light smile in his face his hair still swept back as he was dressed in a plain white tee with denim jeans and white sneakers. Jaehyun. If he looked ethereal in her dream, then she didn’t even know how to describe how he looked as he stood in front of her as she continued to stare at him in awe.

“I didn’t know you were this clumsy, I think you need to get used to me guiding you everywhere,” he added shaking his head as he took her hand in his as his smile radiated. He chuckled at her noticing her lack of response. He placed a small kiss on her forehead as his arm wrapped around her shoulder as he pulled her towards the direction of her apartment.

“How did you find me? How are you here? Are you real?” Y/N asked hurriedly as she stared at him in shock. Everyone was looking at Jaehyun, who wouldn’t really? The girls around continued to stare at him with heart eyes but they didn’t matter to him as his arm tightly wrapped around your shoulder. They didn’t matter cause they weren’t you. Y/N was too bewildered to even glare at those girls as her mind started thinking of all the possibilities on how he appeared.

“My wish came true,” Jaehyun stated as he faced her grinning at her amazed state. “What did you wish for?” Y/N asked curiously as she looked at Jaehyun who was still smiling at her softly.

“I wished I could spend the rest of my life loving you,”

Y/N stopped walking as Jaehyun grabbed her shoulders and faced her towards him. “Why did you say that? Now it won’t come true,” she scolded him as she pouted. Jaehyun laughed at her response. “I’m not going anywhere though, you got me, you got me good,” he winked making her blush just like in her dream.

“Oh and Y/N,” he added as he bent down meeting her eyes as she looked at him with flushed cheeks and bright eyes.

“I love you too,”

#jaehyun fic #jaehyun scenarios #jaehyun au #nct fic #jaehyun imagines #jung jaehyun #jaehyun fluff #jaehyun fanfic

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asmileyoucouldbottle · 3 years

Text

Pink in the Night- Catradora

Word Count: 4491

Catradora high school AU. Best friends to lovers. Adora is the ever oblivious captain of the school's football team, The Horde, and Catra is just a gay panic crushing mess who's in love with her best friend.

***

“Hey Adora.”

Adora spun around, her hand still on the towel she’d just slung around her neck.

“Catra!” She beamed, and Catra felt a little stir in her chest. Adora was decked in her football attire, exposed arms accentuating her muscle definition. Refusing to get caught staring, Catra twisted her lips into a smirk, shifting her gaze up to Adora’s eyes as a blush began to blossom.

“How was practice?” She asked, shifting her weight and placing one hand on her hip. A defensive pose. Though the only enemy is my traitorous heart. Catra thought with poetic annoyance.

“Great! Though I might have a little bruise forming from a ball Lonnie didn’t aim too well, but it’ll be fine.”

“Let me see.” Catra stepped forward, and Adora brushed her off.

“I’ll get some ice if it swells anymore.” She promised, and Catra rolled her eyes.

“Any more? ” She repeated dryly, eyes roving for a raised spot.

“Catra I swear I’m fine!” Adora’s words were exasperated, but her eyes were fond when she met her friend’s gaze. Catra felt herself begin to soften as well, and an unbidden smile rising.

A heartsick pang only Catra could feel ruptured the peace, and she leaned back against the locker beside her, faking relaxation. “If you say so.” She lifted one corner of her mouth to prove she wasn’t actually mad, and Adora moved to take off her jersey.

Catra whipped out her phone to give her somewhere else to look, but she couldn’t help but peer over the edge as Adora stripped down to her sports bra and threw on a tshirt with the lettering “Etherian Horde.” The cheesy design wasn’t flattering on anyone, so why couldn’t Catra tear her eyes away?

Face practically on fire, Catra ducked her head, hoping to at least somewhat hide her cheeks.

Catra cursed Adora for having this effect on her, scrolling aimlessly through her instagram with her thoughts only on the girl in front of her. The stupid blonde with stupid mucles and a stupid adorable smile.

Actually, Catra had to admit that her own hormones were probably partially at fault too. They were also stupid.

“Ready to go?” Adora called her attention, helmet under one arm and gym bag in the other hand. Catra shrugged her own backpack, and reached forward to grab the water bottle from the blonde’s hands. Their fingers bumped, and Catra jerked back like shocked. After her mini gay panic attack at the lockers, physical contact was not optimal for recovery. And she was nothing if not dramatic.

“Catra? Are you okay?”

Fuck fuck fuck fuck- “Yeah of course I am, I just uh… muscle spasm.”

Adora gave her a funny look, and Catra shoved her shoulder. “Oh cut it out.” She scowled, and Adora burst out laughing.

“Muscle spasm?” She repeated in between giggles, and Catra felt her ears heating as she forced down a small giggle of her own with a frown.

“Yes! Now stop that.” Her voice bordered on whining, but Adora was merely set off again.

Groaning, Catra slid a hand down her face, peering at Adora through the space between her fingers. The slightly annoyed girl cleared her throat, and Adora gathered herself.

“If you’ve finished,” Catra started with emphasis, “want to go get a shake or something? I just got my paycheck yesterday, so I have money for the first time in two weeks.” Despite the fact that she hadn’t had spending money in two weeks, Catra didn’t regret anything. She had spent her last paycheck getting them both matching rune tattoos that read “Promise.”

To Adora it was probably some sweet nod to their promise of friendship as kids, but Catra held the vow close to her chest with an iron grip. Maybe she’d never be able to have this girl the way she dreamt of, but the word reassured her that Adora still wanted her… even if it wasn’t the same way that Catra wanted her .

No one except an obsessive linguistics nerd would be able to tell what they said, so Catra was safe from rumors as well. It was bad enough she’d had to survive them all throughout middle school, after one time a kid saw them holding hands. It hadn’t, and didn’t, stop Adora and Catra from holding each other close whenever they needed the other. With or without a crowd.

Even so, that was middle school. Middle schoolers were nasty little toes and always looking for someone to throw under the bus. Most of the highschool students were mature enough not to care, and if they were homophobic pricks, they knew not to mess with Adora. Not because she was threatening, rather, she was liked by everyone. But as the best athlete in this school, between both the boy’s and girl’s team, she practically had celebrity status.

That said, she also did have very big muscles.

Before she would do something stupid like loose all sense and stare at said muscles, Catra turned and stalked out the door, combat boots smacking the wooden floor. “Come on!” She called, and Adora hurried after her. It only took a moment for the blonde’s track shoes to line up with Catra’s own footsteps, so they were walking in sync. A smile came to Catra’s lips as she recalled memories of skipping together down the sidewalks, arm around each other’s shoulders while they struggled to match each jump exactly to the other’s.

As if on queue, Adora brought her arm to rest on Catra’s shoulder. The brunette scowled, as she did whenever Adora flexed the inches she had on Catra. Instead of shrugging it off, she saw her opportunity and jabbed her elbow, half playfully, into Adora’s side instead. Caught off guard, Adora yelped and stumbled before tripping and going heads over heels over a bench.

Catra peeped over to see her sprawled on the ground, head having landed on her backpack and feet sticking up in the air. Adora glared at her, disheveled but eyes bright. Laughing freely, Catra had to lean on the bench to support herself.

“Don’t just stand there, help me up!” Adora reached her hand up, a lock of hair hanging in front of her eyes that escaped her ponytail.

“Just give me a minute.” The sight of her messy hair unreasonably set her off again, and Catra held up a hand as she continued struggling to catch her breath.

Through her laughter, Catra hadn’t noticed the sound of footsteps before they were too late.

“Adora, what on Earth are you doing down there?”

“Shadow Weaver!” Adora sputtered and attempted to straighten, instead managing to hit her head again on the locker. “I was just uh, I tripped.” Catra muffled another laugh with a cough.

“You tripped.” The coach repeated, disdain filling her voice as she looked over at Catra. Despite herself, Catra felt herself stand a bit taller. Eyes narrowing, she continued, “I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself just as the season is starting to peak.”

It was clear Shadow Weaver knew Catra was to blame, and also that she had no sense of jest. That, plus Catra had the strange sense that Shadow Weaver just hated her. She suspected it had something to do with the lesbian flag in her locker.

“Of course not!” Adora’s breathy response drew both of their gazes to her, and Catra took pity, snorting again. Extending a hand, she ignored her jumping heartbeat and clasped the blonde’s grip in hers. She had a nice view of Adora flexing her arm to pull herself up, and despite struggling with the physical contact, Catra couldn’t complain.

Shadow Weaver glowered at Catra as if she could read her thoughts. It was all she could do not to stick her tongue out at the Head Coach.

“We’re going to be on our way.” Not relinquishing her hold on Adora’s hand, Catra pulled the football player behind her and away.

“Bye Shadow Weaver!” Adora managed to call before Catra made a sharp turn out of her sight.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Adora hissed, “Catra, what was that all about?”

“She was rubbing me the wrong way.” Catra huffed, continuing to march on.

“You were rubbed the wrong way? I was literally on my back the entire conversation!” Adora exclaimed, and Catra cackled.

“Oh how I wish I got a picture.” She paused to laugh, “and then when Shadow Weaver came and I didn’t help you up you should have seen your face. It was all like “ah no! Betrayal. ” Catra lifted her free hand up and dramatically twisted her face.

Adora sighed, her face melting from annoyance to a bemused smile at Catra’s reenactment. Her curved lips kicked off something in Catra’s chest, and she thought she would do anything to keep Adora smiling.

This time Adora tugged her hand as she continued her walk, and Catra looked down at their pressed palms with slight shock. She’d forgotten about taking Adora’s hand, they had fit together so naturally. Now it came rushing back, and she was frozen with not knowing if she should tear it away or let it be.

Settling for not doing anything and letting Adora take the lead, Catra knew she looked like an overenthusiastic kindergartener had taken a red stamp to her face. That is to say, a red flustered mess.

Taking an extra large step, Catra came up along Adora’s side. Adora fished around in her pocket for a moment, before retrieving her phone. Before Catra realized what she was doing, Adora had angled the camera at their joined hands and snapped a picture.

Ripping her hand away, Catra jumped back, cheeks burning. “What are you doing?!” She spat, and Adora looked at her with slight reproach, though if Catra wasn’t mistaking, she looked a bit flustered herself.

“I was trying to take a picture of our tattoos!” She stuttered out. Catra felt a pang of guilt. I must’ve freaked her out. Again.

“Well we don’t need to be holding hands to do it.” She grumbled, secretly wondering how she could get that picture. Hand feeling cold suddenly, she shoved them both in her pocket with a glower at the traitorous limb.

Catra looked up at Adora, an awkward silence stretching. Adora’s ears were pink as she looked at her phone, and Catra tapped her shoulder.“Sorry, I just…” There were a million ways to finish the sentence, but none that wouldn’t make this any more awkward. Opting to leave it open ended, Catra didn’t finish, instead stepping forward to push open the door with her shoulder.

“Ummm… did I tell you about how Kyle let the frogs loose in the science lab yesterday?”

The momentary tension dissipated as Catra continued her story, animated with grand gestures and facial expressions. She warmed as Adora laughed, the late afternoon sun making her face glow.

***

Catra kicked open the door of Mystacor Cafe, and made her way to their typical table in the window.

“Adora,” Catra turned her head, and frowned when her blonde wasn’t beside her.

“Adora?” She turned completely around, and wasn’t entirely surprised to see the athlete exchanging high fives and greetings with groups at other tables as she passed.

Glimmer waved in her direction. “Adora! I saw the pictures you sent me, I take it Operation Get the Cat-” Her face went stricken when she caught Catra’s eye, and the rest of the sentence was finished also as a mumble, “is going well.”

Completely confused, Catra looked over to see Adora glaring at Glimmer, cheeks flaming red. She was refusing to look back at Catra.

Operation get the Cat?

Adora still wouldn’t look at her, and went back to talking to the cheerleaders, who were beginning to look a little too flirty for comfort. Trying to shake off any tangles of jealousy, Catra sighed, dropping her bag as she slid into her chair. Propping her feet up on the table, she considered the rips in her jeans, deciding that they would look even better with another a little further up her thigh.

Tilting her head, Catra studied Adora. She would look good with a few rips in the sleeves of her jacket… just to spice things up.

“Hey, Brain-Damaged!” Adora turned her head, and Catra burst out in laughter, almost falling out of her chair.

“Did you actually just respond to ‘brain-damaged?” Catra wheezed. The group of cheerleaders who Adora had been talking with looked over at her with curiosity, and Adora crossed her arms, pink tinging her cheeks. “Well, you were talking to me weren’t you?”

“Yes, but still. ” Catra hopped up onto the table as Adora rolled her eyes. “It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve called me that.” She grumbled, and the brunette smirked.

“I think it suits you.” She announced, her voice taking on a teasing lilt. Adora seemed to be seriously considering marching over and pushing her off the table. Both to aggravate her further, and make sure Adora couldn’t literally shove her over, Catra stretched out so she was lying on her stomach. Head propped in her elbows and feet kicking, she concluded “along with idiot” with a wink.

“HEY CATRA!”

Catra started, making a noise akin to a hiss.

“GET OFF THE TABLES!” Glimmer called from behind the counter, where she was working.

“Oh, can it Sparkles!” Hopping off the table, Catra turned to acknowledge her friend with a stuck out tongue. She returned it before turning back to the coffee machine.

“Are you done tormenting Glimmer?” Adora sat down across from her, and Catra looked up at her. Bits of hair were falling out of her ponytail and sticking to her forehead, and there were a halo of flyaways. It looked damnably attractive.

“I wasn’t tormenting her.” Catra emphasized. “Actually, I was trying to bother you. She just had to spoil my fun.”

“I think she was more concerned about doing her job than ‘spoiling your fun.’”

“Whatever. By the way, I was thinking about customizing your sports jacket…”

Adora gave her a wary look, ““What exactly did you have in mind?” In response, Catra held up her long black painted nails with a wicked grin.

“Absolutely not.”

“ Ughh fine, you’re so boring.” She squinted, tilting her head. “It would look good with two little rips on each arm…” Leaning forward suddenly, she was about to slice, but Adora grabbed her wrist.

“ Catra.” Adora looked down at her sternly. “We are not ripping up my team jacket.”

Catra held her gaze defiantly for a few moments, and there was a shift in the air between them. She couldn’t say what it was, but suddenly she wasn’t looking at Adora’s eyes, but rather… in them. Her heart fluttered and her wrist went weak. The moment stretched, and they were only inches apart…

Adora blinked, and the spell was broken. She dropped Catra’s wrist in a rush, her eyes darting away as color bloomed across her cheeks. Catra felt her mouth fall open slightly in shock, though she didn’t know if it was belated shock from the moment or the fact that it had ended. Blood rushed to her cheeks as sat back, still in temporary mental paralysis.

Adora had just looked into her eyes, and then blushed.

But… she had also pulled away.

The mixed signals made Catra want to scream, but was there a possibility?

Adora stood up suddenly and gestured with her arm, turning her face away. “Come on, let’s go order.”

They went to the counter, ordering their usual milkshakes, chocolate for Catra and strawberry for Adora. Mere seconds after they’d sat down, Catra reached over and snatched Adora’s shake, holding it out of her reach as she “taste tested.”

Catra held it up and behind her head, leaning as far back as she dared while Adora reached over the table. “You- you pest!” Adora shrieked, and Catra laughed two times harder.

“ Pest?” She repeated, teasingly mocking. “Who says pest?!”

“Glimmer said it yesterday.” Adora huffed, continuing to reach.

“Actually, that is a very Glimmer thing to say, but not something I’d expect you to repeat.”

In a last ditch effort, Adora jumped out of her seat and lunged. Catra’s chair tipped back, and suddenly she was falling as the blonde reached forward to try and stop it.

It was like slow motion. Adora, moving in an attempt to stop Catra from tipped completely backward, stepped forward and onto a forgotten gatorade. The bottle rolled and her foot slipped out from under her, and then she was going down as well. Falling forward towards Catra while she backwards, Adora threw out her arms to stop herself from face planting into the other girl. Catra landed on her back with a shock, but whatever breath was left in her body left her lungs when she opened her eyes to see Adora’s face millimeters from her own.

A deep blush spread across Adora’s face, starting at her nose and working its way until the entirety of her cheeks and forehead were reminiscent of a cherry.

Neither of them made a move, and Catra’s heartbeat was beating so erratically she was certain she was seconds from a heart attack.

That would be a fun gravestone. “Cause of death: Gay panic induced heart failure.”

Her eyes traced Adora’s eyelashes, dark and full despite her blonde hair. The grey-blue of her eyes locked into hers, and Catra inhaled sharply.

Was there a heterosexual explanation for the way she was looking at her?

Blood rushing through her head, Catra froze as Adora’s face moved minimally closer to hers, lips tingling with anticipation, and thoughts whirring into white noise-

“Hey! Catra, Adora!”

Like a shaken soda pop, Catra jolted backwards, and Adora stood up so fast it seemed impossible. Breathing heavily, Catra tried to make up for the lack of oxygen intake from the last, what- minute? Five minutes? Ten? How long had Adora been there, face in front of hers, inching closer….

“Uh…. sorry.” Adora gave her a hand, and Catra pulled herself up. They were inches away again, and the brunette took a jittery step back. Her hand tingled from the contact, and she shoved them in her pockets, unable to look Adora in the eye.

Bow was looking between them, an unreadable look on his face.

“We fell.” Adora explained, breathless. Catra sneaked a look at her, and saw the pink was refusing to fade.

The possibility that Adora could ever like her back seemed so absurd mere week ago, even an hour, but now… Catra didn’t know.

Ridiculous.

But… was it?

Overwhelmed with thoughts and shaky nerves, she crouched to pick up the strawberry smoothie. It’s contents were all over the floor, and Catra was about to stand up again to get napkins when Adora crouched down.

“I’ve got it.” She started to clean up, paper napkins in hand. Their shoulders were touching, the blonde’s ponytail brushing her cheek.

“Uh, thanks.” Adora turned to Catra, and once again their faces were far too close.

Knees weak, Catra stood up and stumbled into her seat. Bow had turned it upright, and he was now leaning against the table.

“Sooooo…” He looked at her again, one eyebrow raised. Catra gave him a glare, and he raised his hands.

“So.” Adora plopped in her chair, her cheeks still stained slightly pink. Catra thought of the pink contents of the strawberry milkshake spilled on the floor, and Adora’s eyes meeting her own…

It was all too much to take in.

“I just remembered I have… uh… extra, er, calc homework. But I will catch up with you later!” Not even waiting to see their reactions, Catra slung her backpack over her shoulder and tried not to run out the door.

***

Scaling the tree alongside the house with ease, Catra came level with the second floor window and knocked.

She didn’t even have to wait a full two seconds before the curtain was pushed aside. Adora was wearing a black tank top and sweatpants, her hair up in it’s classic ponytail, though it was messy, as if she hadn’t bothered to redo it since this morning. Catra tried to ignore how the tips of her ears felt slightly warmer.

The window opened with barely any complaint, and Adora poked her head out. “What’s up?”

“I’m heading up to the roof if you want to join me.” Catra let go of the branch with one hand, so she was leaning out precariously.

“Show-off.” Adora mumbled, and Catra winked. The blond’s gaze immediately flicked away, and Catra felt a little jump in her chest. Adora turned to grab a blanket before starting to crawl out of the window with some difficulty, despite having done this regularly since they were kids. Catra leapt up the branches until the top of the house, where she transferred to the roof with ease. Adora came in her own time, and settled beside the brunette, shoulders touching as their legs dangled over the edge. The sun had just set, and a hazy dusk was settling over the town as they looked out.

They didn’t speak for a while, just sat with each other. For years they’d been doing this, and they had gotten to the point where silence spoke just as much as words.

But now, the silence was charged, and Catra’s mind was full. Full of Adora. The girl beside her, who had always been beside her. She who had bangaded scraped knees, laughed off mean spirited teasing, taught her how to ride a bike, sat with her when no one else would… all the way up until their relationship now. The person who was always there for her, whether it was to do something small like make fun of Shadow Weaver’s pretentious dresses, or provide a place to stay when her parent’s fighting got too loud.

Fueled by these emotions, Catra moved her hand to settle on top of Adora’s.

Adora started. Catra kept her hand there, frozen as she waited for Adora to make a move, waiting for rejection. Though the action itself was miniscule, Catra could feel how everything shifted.

Her hesitation was brief, but the time it took almost killed Catra. Instead of moving away, she flipped her own hand palm up and intertwined their fingers.

She felt a flutter as her breath caught. Feeling almost above her body, Catra turned to look at Adora. A moment later, the blonde turned her face as well.

The space between them was practically nothing, and the rest of the twilight fell away as she caught Adora’s eyes. There was something there, a wanting, as they searched Catra’s own.

Adora leaned forward, and Catra did the same.

The twilight fell away, as did her stomach. The kiss was tentative, and lasted only a moment, as if they were both uncertain. When they met each other’s eyes again, Catra moved back the tiniest amount.

“Do you really want this?” She asked, her heart and voice trembling with anxiety. This was the chance for Adora to back out and pretend it hadn’t happened, or admit that it was spur of the moment and unwarranted. She could end all of this with a single word. Dread slithered through Catra, but she remained firm. She wouldn’t take advantage of this if it wasn’t okay with both of them.

Adora took both of Catra’s hands in hers, and gave her a wide smile, one that sent Catra’s stomach whooshing and her heart floating. “Absolutely.”

Catra beamed back, full of light. This time, there was no hesitation. She brought her lips to meet Adora’s again, and put all that she had, years of yearning and wishing, into it. Though her emotions hit her with all the power of a comet, the kiss was tender. Sweet. Loving.

When they parted, Adora grinned, looking practically starstruck.

“Wow.” Her voice had taken on this sort of… dorky… quality, and Catra couldn’t help but giggle.

“You dummy.” She rested her forehead against Adora’s. “I love you.”

The words, spoken with sudden bravery, seemed maybe a little too heavy for someone who she had only kissed twice. Or was it once? Did it count as two?

Either way, Catra knew it was true. She’d known it was true for years, but she had no idea if they would ruin this beautiful thing they’d just created. So she tensed, waiting for the fall.

“You love me?” Adora repeated with slight disbelief, but not repulsed.

Catra laughed lightly. “You are such an idiot.”

“I love you too.” Catra turned to look up at Adora, her turn to be shocked. After the kissing, she was expecting her to like her at least, maybe a lot, but…

Love?

Adora’s eyes said it all, and feeling close to bursting, Catra responded by closing the gap once more.

With the knowledge that this actually meant something, it was even better. Catra brought her other hand around Adora’s waist, and they leaned into each other fully. A warm feeling spread throughout her, and Catra thought about how long she’d wanted this. To love Adora, and be loved back.

Adora leaned forward a little more, and every thought left her head besides Adora’s lips.

It was messy and warm, just like the two of them. Darkness was coming in on them rapidly, but Catra never wanted to leave this roof. Not if it meant she got to have Adora.

Breaking apart, Catra remembered that Adora was wearing a tank top, and she wasn’t too warm either with her fishnet sleeves. With slight disappointment, she reached over and grabbed the blanket that Adora had carried up. Adora took one side, and threw her arm over Catra’s shoulder, bringing her in close. Catra tucked herself into Adora’s side, contentment washing over her.

The sky was a shade of blue that couldn’t be described as light nor dark. It was dusky, and Catra noticed the first star. Nudging Adora slightly, she pointed. “Look.”

There was a moment of silence, before Adora asked, “What did you wish for?”

Since they were kids, they’d always come up here to watch for the first star and make wishes. And of course they’d always share their wish with each other, because the “bestest of friends” bypassed the rule about your wish not coming true. Instead, they had declared, if we told each other, the wish would be twice as strong. Because if Catra wanted something, Adora wanted her to have it, and visa versa.

Catra didn’t have to think too hard before finding a simple truth. “More nights like this.” She decided, looking up at Adora.

Her face melted into another smile. “Wish granted.” She declared, resting her head on top of Catra’s.

“What about you?”

Adora considered. “I actually think I have everything I want right now.”

“You sap.” Catra whined, but her words had no effect once she started kissing Adora again.

53 notes · View notes

seijurosempress · 3 years

Text

@shoichee I hope this meets your expectations✨ (Bc I refuse to tolerate any more bullying today. Also- Matchup under the cut)

First, I just want to say- I’m sorry. (but not really). I know our love for Hayama runs deep but the moment you choose violence with him, that’s it for you. RIP. It was nice knowing you 😔 But, remember when we first spoke and I asked you if you shipped yourself with Imayoshi and you refused to answer my question? Well- [Insert ‘Surprise shawty’ tik tok audio]

Best Match: Imayoshi Shoichi

Your subconscious knew what it was doing when you picked out your URL. The moment you said you related to Dazai and then proceeded to talk about socioeconomic issues revolving around globalization while we simultaneously talked about dumb stuff I knew there were only a few guys that could handle your energy and Imayoshi hands down tops that list

Even though Hanamiya out of all people might say Imayoshi doesn’t have the best personality, I actually think you two can balance each other out and understand each other in a way other people may not be able to

Honestly, right off the bat, y’all will probably bond over some form of teasing. Whether it’s making some remark aimed directly at the other, or one of you takes a jab at someone else and the other happens to overhear, it will be the start of a beautiful relationship

Gemini and Leo’s have really good chemistry so it’s no surprise you’ll manage to get along, regardless of your- argumentative natures.

You two are like the two sides of the same coin. While he presents himself as a kind and easy going person, speaking politely to others- until he inevitable shows them his real personality- you, on the other hand, can come off a little cold and critical, scaring people off when you first meet them even though you’re genuinely kind and easy going once you start to talk to them

If you guys meet purely by chance, maybe you’re in the same class, you’re introduced because of a mutual friend, or because one of you overheard the other, the moment you hear how the other carries themselves in a conversation will automatically peek your interest.

Have you ever seen that meme where they’re like “oh you wanna kiss me so bad”? yea, that’s you two. I can see you getting into the most amusing squabble, just trying to throw the other one off, Imayoshi smirking if and when one of his comments goes right over your head

You’re both pretty smart (I spent a solid hour trying to double check this and still failed but I’m like 80% sure his IQ is pretty up there) so I can see you two meeting because of that too

Scenario:

Imayoshi is just minding his business, checking the updated class rankings posted in the hall across your classroom. Why? He doesn’t know, if he’s being honest. It’s not like anyone could ever surpass him, he’s been at the top of his class each time since his firs- What’s this? He got bumped down? Who the hell are you? Wait no, he knows who you are. He’s heard your name before countless times, mostly followed by your voice as it traveled throughout the hallways, your laugh bubbling out of your small frame soon after in reply to whichever friend had just made a funny remark. Funny. You didn’t seem all that smart at first glance, could he have actually... made a mistake? His gaze flickers to the other side of the hall where he immediately found you, eyes wide and a small smile adorning your features as you listened to your classmate speak. A low hum escapes him as he analyzes your appearance once more. He notices the way your makeup highlighted your already attractive features, the small accessories added to your uniform making you look put together and stylish. Maybe he had underestimated you, he though as he saw you take your turn to speak, your answer leaving your classmate open mouthed with a baffled expression. He felt the slight tug on his lips, the beginning of a small smirk forming on his face as you smiled widely at the response you had gotten. However, the amusement only lasted a split second, his features falling in disbelief when you turned around, tripping over your own feet and falling face first into the open classroom door. “What are you staring at?” Someone, probably Sato, asks as he strolls up beside him. “Nothing” he sighs, adjusting his glasses on his face. Is it really nothing though? a small voice inside him asks just as a series of curse words and noises fall from your lips, eliciting his own to quirk up into an amused, lopsided smile. Even if it is “nothing” for now, don’t be surprised when both of you “coincidentally” find yourselves bumping into each other more often from now on as he tries to figure you out.

I can see him realizing he has feelings for you while you two are hanging out. Maybe you two will be studying after you asked him to tutor you in math since it’s his best subject, or well, attempting to study at least as you’re nearing half an hour of your 5 minute snack break. He’ll probably be doodling in his notebook while you scroll through Instagram, and it’s not until he looks up to see you so focused on whatever was on the other side of the screen, your fingers quickly tapping away as a smile pulled at your lips that he asks what you’re doing. Without a second thought, you absentmindedly tell him about whatever argument you’re getting into in the comments section under a random photo you came across before you’re back to focusing on the matter at hand.

His whole trademark is that he’s good at analyzing people, and as a Gemini, he is not an exception to his own skills. He’ll suddenly come to the realization that, while he enjoys pushing people’s buttons, he enjoys the thought of you two being a team even more. While you can be loud and social, making and laughing at jokes, you also know when to get serious and get stuff done, something that that he would appreciate considering he likes respectful and considerate girls.

The problem now is- he may be aware of his feelings...but are you?

He’ll probably try out multiple ways to hint at his feelings towards you but they’ll just go right over your head. In your mind, you can’t see anyone having any romantic feelings towards you and sure he may be acting a little weird, but you’d probably just shrug it off as it being all in your imagination.

Meanwhile the whole time Imayoshi is just standing there like- Is she serious? No one can be this oblivious???? but yet ✨here you are✨

Now it’s his turn to be frustrated by your conversations because you’re just not getting it? So he decides to try something more straight forward. Girls like pickup lines, right?

He could literally see the moment your brain stopped working. Your face flushed red as a nervous giggle bubbled out of you. All common sense left your body as you made finger guns at him, giving him a slight nod before turning around and walking quickly out the room

it would take you a few minutes to collect yourself, strolling back in the room 30 minutes later, leaning against the same spot you left him moments prior and giving him a pickup line of your own. *queue Imayoshi’s mischievous smirk* “Oh? Is that so?” (he’s such a little shit he’ll probably pretend like he didn’t say anything first to get back at you)

I can see this going back and forth for a while until he finally asks you out on a date, but this time he’ll make sure to do it in a way that will prevent you from escaping and leaving him alone and confused again

Your PDA is most likely kept to a minimum, partly because of your Venus in Virgo and partly because he doesn’t like spontaneity. Your outward relationship will consist of hand holding and pecks but that doesn’t mean your private life remains the same, just because you’re dating now doesn’t mean you’re suddenly immune to his habits or him to yours

You say you want to spend some quality time together? “How about a movie night?” he asks, his smile deceiving you long enough to trap you in his arms as a scary movie plays in his blacked out bedroom. “I don’t like scary movies” you whine, your body pressing into his and a pout pulling at your lips as he “innocently” chuckles, “Oh really? I must have forgotten”

You say you’re a bit cynical about relationships but I think it’s because your Neptune, Pluto and Lilith are ruled by air signs. This means you enjoy spontaneity and creativity in what you do and therefore always gravitate to doing things in which your outcome depends on yourself and not other people. Imayoshi is the kind of person that respects other people’s needs as we can see when he allows Aomine to skip practice if that’s what works for him. This will help you maintain a healthy balance in your relationship, allowing you to be able to feel more at ease and not trapped or like you have to be a certain way with one another

You decide to keep pursuing dancing? He’s proud of you, and will not hesitate to show off and boast about your achievements to the rest of the team

You had a rough week and you want to spend the whole day gaming with headphones on? It’s fine he’ll take the opportunity to relax and go fishing

On the other hand, you want to go shopping? Suddenly he’ll find himself walking hand in hand with you as you and his sister stop at every single store only to leave with more bags that you can carry.

At first, you would insist you could both take care of yourselves at the mall, but he soon found out that you two should not be left alone. She might be his sister but she’s younger and impressionable and she looks up to you? And you can be a bit scatterbrained so you lose track of her time so you always end up bringing her back really late, along with an armful of shopping bags that he’ll only have to go back and return within the week because being hasty runs in his family and his sister didn’t pay much attention to how much money she was spending

Overall- I think that what really makes you a good match is your ability to communicate with one another. Both of you are pretty honest and straightforward (although your executions are vastly different) which will help you navigate through any obstacles in your relationship

You keep each other on your toes and bring fun into your relationship while also settling down, talking about serious stuff and getting genuine advice from one another when you need it the most. The balance you maintain allowing a stable foundation for the relationship to grow and blossom. He did something hasty? It’s okay, you know exactly what to do to fix it. Someone keeps hitting on you insistently? He’s already walked over to intimidate him to go away. You want to spend quality time together but he wants to go fishing? There you are by his side, scribbling in your notebook and reciting your poetry to him as he listens carefully with a small smile on his face that you’ll definitely not tease him about later. You need help with your math again? he’ll tutor you in exchange for you making him a bento with his favorite meal. Until he learns that you somehow burned half the rice and left the other half uncooked. Perfect balance of give and take.

Bonus: Takao Kazunari

You are literally the girl version of Takao omg. (I literally JUST got your message about being the new Takao too smh I know I’m slow but let me finish this first)

You two are so alike and you would make the most chaotic duo but as much as I want to ship you two, I can just see you two being really good friends so I feel the need to include him in this

Midorima would be so done with your shit, he’d probably see you two together and immediately turn around and start walking the other way because he just KNOWS you’re bound to gang up and bully him

The first time you saw is lucky item you probably burst out laughing and thought he was joking until you saw his face flush red

After that, every time you ask about it he just grumbles out his answer, still salty about your initial reaction

Takao never fails to remind you either, trying to hold back his laugh whenever you try to make it up to Midorima but he ends up ignoring you, or you somehow just manage to make it worse

When it’s just you and Takao, you could be minding your business when suddenly one of you makes ONE singular little comment and that just sets off the other, adding onto it until both of you are crying with laughter

Honestly, the only time I can see you taking one another seriously is when you’re having discourse

He’s an optimistic person while you’re a realist which can set off some very interesting discussions between the two of you, your argumentative nature leading both of you to talk about anything and everything as you challenge the other’s ideologies

If you decide to try out a relationship, it’ll be filled with excitement and adrenaline, both of you needing very little persuasion to try out new things

You’ll be his partner in crime and he’ll be yours. You want to mess a bit with your younger neighbors? Why not? You want to go check out the new mall a few town’s over because they have a store you’ve been wanting to check out for months? He’s your man.

While the relationship is fun, you both can get a little ahead of yourselves, going with the flow and getting sucked into your own world; you’ll need someone to ground you

Usually, this role can be plaid by Midorima but it proves to be a bit problematic when he’s nowhere in sight

The amount of times you two have lost track of time or gotten caught up in something because you ran into some friends or even met new people and got lost in conversation, by this point Midorima has probably given up trying to keep track of your whereabouts when you’re together

I wouldn’t be surprised if you two ended up making your own language. He’s good with kids and bad at being quiet while you enjoy making new words and trying out sound effects which he would without a doubt find amusing. You’d probably go as far as to make children believe they’re actual words, could you imagine Midorima’s face when he goes over to Takao’s house and his younger sister starts talking to him in the made up words you taught her

Ultimately while your personalities are very alike, you tend to clash at the wrong points and it would take you working together to compromise to make a romantic relationship work

Both of you surround yourself by others, often finding yourself in the middle of everything, your personality constantly making other people gravitate towards you. This can prove conflicting when you’re together as now you’d have to learn how to share the spotlight, so to say

While you love fashion and makeup and shopping, the poor man just wants to enjoy his trading cards

Although you should use it to your advantage and make him drive you around in Princess Mia’s Midorima’s carriage.

Your might also find yourself more often than not at a crossroads, your realist point of view conflicting with his positivity which can lead to arguments between you two

Overall- a relationship with you would be exciting. There would never be a dull moment and you’d constantly encourage the other to have new experiences and make the most of your time. But moving into a more romantic territory would mean that you’d have to learn how to prioritize things in your life, knowing when to buckle down and get things down and how to successfully come to terms with and work out your differences.

Sidenote: I meant to make these a little longer but my brain cell only has so much KNB knowledge stored in her small little filing cabinet that may or may not be a single folder covered in dust and stuffed in some corner

#matchup request #[🏀].asks #i meant to have this ready early today #but i may or may not have fallen asleep #sorry #i'm slow #it really took me a whole ass week to write #but to be fair #i struggled a bit with your mans #bc I went strictly off what I could gather from the anime #which are CRUMBS

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calypsoff · 3 years

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Sixty Eight.

Robyn has no shame; Robyn can be loud with sex and I know she can be, but she has been terrible. She has been loud with no shame, knowing her mother is in this home “you’re banned from sex” I said as I fixed my dick in my boxers “me? Why am I banned from sex, you should be happy you are having any of it” pulling a face at her “your mother is literally down the hall and you’re wailing out, that is bad. You can wait till your mother is gone home” pulling my sweatpants up “oh whatever, I wasn’t even that bad. You are just being dramatic, she probably didn’t even hear us” staring at Robyn just laid out in bed “we have been having sex since she has been here, I feel she knows. Your family is here, and you don’t care, I do though” Robyn shrugged “I don’t though, they are chose to stay here. Anyways, shouldn’t you be preparing for your event, I don’t know why anyone works with you. You literally haven’t done anything” she has a point “well that is not my fault I have people that like me, I don’t have to do anything. I am not sure about you though” walking around the bed “erm, where are you going?” she asked, “it’s like very early, we just went to sleep?” Pulling my top over my head “to get breakfast for the family, they are here, and we have to impress no matter what. Also, I just need to see TJ” leaning down and pressing a kiss to Robyn’ lips “right, ok” she frowned “I am not joking, I know you said I haven’t done much for this event and it’s true, so I need to see TJ as he has been here and helping. He is trying to show he means business and that he means what he says when he says that he wants to work for me, have some rest” pecking Robyn’ lips again “mhmm ok” she is too tired anyways to care, pressing a kiss to her bump over the sheets before going.

I pointed at TJ confused “hold up” then pointed at the stroller “yeah, he has been helping Uncle Chris with his event, he has been in California with me since. It was my time to have him, I spoke to Seiko and she said take him, even though I said I would be here for a while. She didn’t care” I am shocked “oh wow, hey there you little Chinese white man” TJ hit my arm “nigga” dapping him and then hugging him “it’s good seeing you, I just wasn’t expecting the boy here, I won’t get rid of you. You know that right? I know you’re like trying to prove a point and whatever” TJ waved me off “hey there fat man, you looking fly as hell today don’t you. Man he is extra chunky, I want to bite him” he is so cute “he fat as hell this baby, his diaper stank as hell too” makes me laugh because TJ is skinny as hell and Seiko isn’t fat, so this baby is just extra big for no reason “I am glad you can come out, I don’t even know what is happening. Like y’all set this event up and I haven’t even took interest which of course I do but still” TJ and I started to walk off, we aren’t going anywhere in particular, just a quick catch up “bro, your friendship with Tyga and Drake has boosted the hype for this because Cena reached out to them both and they promoted the event today, it’s a open shop with all your shit there, we will be an Instagram live just counting down to the relaunch and then people can come in and buy your shit too and just have a good time, I think Tyga is coming he said he can but yeah, should be easy work. You got fans?” pulling a face “how?” I am confused “they love you, look with your eyes bro, you have” I don’t really paid attention like that.

TJ son is adorable, he just fat as hell and I like that. Adding a caption to the IG post of his son ‘Fat man came to see uncle in AM’ pressing send on the post “he can be my daughter’ bodyguard, I like the muscles. He can sit on them” TJ hit my arm “wait, what? Rih having a girl” nodding my head “yeah, I am having a daughter, but I would have liked a son. So they can protect their sister you know, I like that. With Tootie I couldn’t do that because I was young, so I would have liked it but it’s ok. I guess I am just going to do that. Imagine if she is her momma’ twin?” TJ’ eyes widened “bro, you got problems, but Camron would be there for her cousin, you know that. They about to be best cousins, but don’t call him fat. He gets a little sensitive like that” I laughed out “oh wait, do not say anything about it. Nobody knows about Robyn having a girl” I keep forgetting that “I won’t, promise. I am happy for you but it’s going to be stressful. Women be hard as hell and then imagine a teenage daughter, bringing some little nigga home that is from the hood” rolling my eyes “don’t, I am getting the shudders. If she is anything like Robyn she is going to have me around her little finger, I am not ready for that TJ” shaking my head “all good though, tomorrow is your big twenty six!” he placed his arm around me “man, I am excited. Big things for the both of us, you know I got you” I have a busy few days “yeah, what you doing for your birthday? You never said” I shrugged “bro, I am kind of in the doghouse about a lot, her family is at my home so I can’t do shit but smile” TJ busted out laughing.

Monica has been making breakfast every morning for us so I thought I would bring in some breakfast for the family, I kind of regretted it because it cost me a lot, it was cheaper buying the groceries and making Robyn cook it “thank you so much Chris” Monica thanked me “it’s ok, I wanted you to relax for today. You have been doing a lot, Robyn on the other hand” Robyn nudged me “what are you doing for your birthday? I remembered, I didn’t actually. Someone, well a fanpage put up that it’s your birthday so yeah, what is you doing about it? You have been so quiet” putting my fork down smiling “erm, well I can’t be doing anything really because you know yeah. So home really” chewing on my bottom lip “erm, why what the hell you want to do huh?” Robyn questioned “nothing dear, I just want to sit here with you” Noella snorted laughing “the sarcasm is funny, Robyn he is telling you that you are keeping him hostage. Blink twice if you need help” she joked, I blinked twice and busted out laughing “the only thing he is getting from me is a birthday card” looking over at Robyn, she is going to torture me “yay, happy birthday to me” I mumbled “I am your gift am I not?” licking my top lip “mhmm yeah, I ain’t say that. I am just saying” Robyn is going to go above and beyond to make sure I don’t have fun “have you not had enough fun?” nodding my head “I have, I am thinking of going VA actually” I added “no you’re not” I looked down at my plate “ok” I mumbled, she isn’t going to let me do anything.

Noella keeps laughing at me and I don’t blame her because it’s laughable “boring birthday for Breezy awwww” I gasped “you are getting me in trouble here, anyways. So who is coming to my little event, Robyn has clearly uninvited herself” Robyn scoffed “so you are uninviting your baby?” I knew she would say that, sitting back in the chair “nah it can come, I just need to take it out of your womb” I grinned “I planted the seed there so yeah” Robyn and I are just annoying each other “you two are terrible but I am coming, Monica is babysitting Majesty so yay” I smiled wide “I am glad I have someone there that is so supportive” crossing my arms across my chest “you both argue a lot actually, last night Robbie you kept shouting ass a lot. Interrupted my sleep” I snorted laughing “ah god, I swear it’s your daughter. She has been very violent towards me and then she is shouting at me late at night too” I sniggered “nigga please, I swear he is a liar. That is all I am telling you all, I am going to get ready anyways. I am going to my ex-husband event” watching Robyn get up from the seat “her ass is big, damn” I slapped it “you are totally getting divorce papers on your birthday, just thought I would warn you” she is annoying me, so I am doing it back.

I am a little sad that I can’t do anything for my birthday, I just think it sucks for me because I am in California finally. I can just invite some of the friends over, have fun but now I can’t. I will be here in the home, but I deserve it I guess so it is what it is “y’all ready” locking phone looking up seeing my wife has cut my sweatshirt “really?” you can see the bump too, she is showing skin “who knew about these comfy maternity jeans, my god!” she seems pleased with herself but both Noella and Robyn have both been playing around with my stuff “you know what, you both look beautiful. Ready though?” I asked, Robyn nodded her head “let’s go, mommy! We are going now” Robyn shouted, “let’s see this place then, you told Rich?” Robyn asked and I shook my head “why do we need Rich?” I questioned, we don’t need him for this “uh right, you will regret that by the way” pulling open the door “you look nice by the way, I like the stubble on you” Robyn loves me really “thank you” I grinned walking to the SUV, I love annoying her and she loves annoying me.

I regret not having no bodyguard, I didn’t think it would be like this. This is crazy, a whole queue to get in “this is on you Chris, now get us out of the car” I sighed out, opening the SUV door and got out “oh my god, Chris!” these girls started shouting, it’s me why they shouting at me “what?” I said half laughing “can we take a picture” chewing on my bottom lip, seeing security at the door and my smile grew. A whole store, this is amazing “oh my god” like I feel emotional “bro! aye!” TJ waved at me, I waved him over “get the guy to come over, I need to someone to walk with Robyn” TJ put his thumb up, looking back in the car “you hear that, my man got fans now” shaking my head smiling “come, be careful” she is pregnant so I want her to be ok, helping Robyn out of the car “poppa, thank you” opening the car door wider and the shriek of screams pierced my ears, they moved from the queue to me “listen, move back ok. Just move back” the security guy finally came over “move out! Now” TJ is also making them move back “back to the queue now” I swear someone’ phone near knocked my hat off too “you good?” Robyn nodded her head “I am used to it” holding her hand as made our way “baby this is amazing, I thought it was a party? A whole store?” I smiled ever so wide “I feel emotional, amazing right?” Robyn cooed out “I love it, oh my god” she is proud of me, that is what I want, to make Robyn proud of me “wow, this is amazing. You see this, this is my man’ brand right here” she said to the camera guy that is here.

I am in shock; I can’t believe this “a store?” I questioned; Cena dapped me “I told you that there is a surprise behind this. I believe in the brand and I thought we open store and have Black Pyramid and also incorporate Pink Dolphin with it, and honestly to see the crowd. It’s worked out for us” nodding my head smiling so wide “this is my wife” I pointed “hi, yes. Pleasure to meet the queen herself” I know they have been dying to meet Robyn for a while in person “nice to meet you” Robyn shook his hand “and this is Neima, she is his business partner” Deja’ eyes lit up, I saw her and peeped her reaction “nah, I got to compose myself. Like this is, oh my god” she is so dramatic “Deja, you’re embarrassing yourself, honestly” she turned away “I can’t, I can’t do it Chris. Oh my god” she is so funny, moving back “this is Deja, the pain in the butt” she turned around “you’re literally my childhood” she is actually crying, I can’t believe my eyes “I love you so much Rihanna oh my god” Robyn laughed “I been telling him these people only want to work for you for me, come here girl” Robyn hugged, Deja yelped out “oh my gosh, you smell like heaven. Help!” I snorted laughing “Black Pyramid! Nigga, wow!” turning “you made it out here” hugging Mel “you know I got you, bit late I think but I arrived” hugging her close “we just come out here anyways, I am just amazed by it all myself” this is crazy amazing.

I don’t do interviews and I hate it but here I am “this is Instagram live” I pointed, turning my snapback around licking my top lip “yes, and these are the questions here. Like there is so many” squinting my eyes, there is actually too much “ok, let me ask the questions. I will read them out, you step back” Deja pushed me back as she crouched down “I can’t see shit, like they words on there. You know before anything, thank you all for rocking with me on this live” I thought I would say that “sexiest country nigga I have seen” I snorted laughing “that ain’t a question, but thank you baby” Deja is stupid “I am just growing your head, ok so when are you going back to drawing? I miss that” that is a good question “erm, soon. I have been busy, real busy with a lot going on. When I get back to my right headspace I will be going back to that” clasping my hands together “when are you going to make some slides?” Deja looked at me “soon but there is slides you can buy, them Fenty slides. Fellas if you want to be on your good side with your girl, get them. Take it from me, spoil her” I am still in the doghouse “is Rihanna your buggest muse” nodding my head “for life, she is everyone muse. You can learn a lot from Rihanna, she ain’t just a singer and I think people will realise that too” I knew Rihanna questions would come up “someone put, I have to say it. How do you get on Rihanna good side? She has the world?” Deja has to ask “erm, wow. How do I keep this PG” I busted out laughing “erm, I can’t” I laughed “I am joking but there is things that I can get and give Robyn, she loves gifts that are thoughtful” I can’t just say what I want to say on this.

Tyga really came out, this is dope of him “my nigga” dapping him “it’s been a while, declining my parties now” I laughed out knowing damn well I won’t be going to any “too much trouble” shaking my head “appreciate you coming for me, you didn’t need too at all” Deja came up to me “come and take some pictures” looking up at where she is posting, oh them girls that were outside “me, why me? Since when did I have anyone like me, I will be back bro” hitting his arm before walking off “serious?” I questioned “deadass, they been asking about you. They like you” chewing on my bottom lip, this is wild “what’s good” I have no idea what to do with his “I ain’t ignore you outside, I had to make sure my wife was good first. You know, so which one wants a picture” she giggled “what is your name baby?” I asked “Neka, you are so damn fine. Like in person, wow. And you tall” laughing it off “y’all want a group picture or single?” I think it’s single “selfie please” nodding my head “sure baby, we can do that” placing my arm around her shoulder “my snapback is crooked as shit” fixing it on my head “aight go on” I smiled at the phone “can I ask you a question, like please” moving back “sure?” I questioned “please follow me on Instagram” letting out an oh “I can do that, leave it with Deja. I will do it, come here” waving over the next girl, these are some teenage girls. I swear if they were grown ladies then I wouldn’t be this nice or be even hugging them “I ain’t your assistant, this nigga” she might as well be.

Making my way to Robyn, she been quiet “Breezy, quick picture” this female said, oh she fine “uh yeah” placing my arms behind me as I leaned in “who knew you had that many freckles” I smiled as she took the picture “well now you know, thank you” seeing Robyn with Camron “aye, you holding fatty. Watch him, he is breaking backs” Robyn rolled her eyes “who knew you had so many freckles” she mimicked the girl “now” I said laughing “that was petty, I am being good” she is actually being petty “mhmm, but how chubby has he gone. I said to TJ I want him, I am sorry, but he is so handsome. Look at him, he likes me” rolling my eyes “poor guy” touching his cheek “so what can I have for free nigga?” Noella asked, she really don’t care “for you, anything. I don’t mind” dapping Rorrey as he came up to me “where you been hiding?” I swear he is late “I was around” chewing on my bottom lip and then saluting the cameraman that came around again “I just want to say thank you to the Black Pyramid team, this wasn’t anything without them. And thank you for everyone coming out, this is going to be worldwide. Thank you to my wife” placing my hand on her shoulders “she out here supporting me, my godson and the whole gang. If it weren’t for y’all I wouldn’t be where I am, I am a little tipsy, a little. Thank you, god bless” pressing a kiss to Robyn’ cheek, I better appreciate this cause my birthday about to be boring.

Robyn is awake a little later then usual “grumpy as hell aren’t you?” Robyn is being an ass because she can be, I fucked up so it’s my bad and I deserve it “not really, I am going to bed though” Robyn looked at the clock “you hear that ladies, he is going to bed at this time. Aren’t you staying awake for your birthday?” I got up from the couch “it’s just another day, and you’re being very annoying” it is annoying me “awww ok grumpy” I have to kiss her because if I don’t then she will have a face on with me “aww Chris don’t go” Noella said “nah, y’all have fun” pressing a kiss to her lips “goodnight y’all, thank you for coming out tonight for me anyways” I said saluting them “you really going to sleep?” Rorrey asked, nodding my head “I will sleep, trust me” walking out of the living room “you’re actually evil, how you going to do him like that on his birthday. Miserable” overhearing Rorrey say “he had his fun, so what. That ain’t my problem, he will get his cake and card, next time he will really learn” rolling my eyes dragging my feet up the stairs.

#chrianna ff #fanfic #chrianna #chrianna fanfiction #fanfiction #chriannaff

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talesofstyles · 5 years

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Mess Is Mine II

Hello, hello! I’m back again with the promised Mess Is Mine part 2! This baby is quite long (nearly 10k!) but it’s probably one of my favourite fics that I’ve ever written. This doesn’t have actual smut yet (I’m planning allllll the good stuff for part 3 so watch out for that one! These four @theasstour @always-jackedup @waitingfortwilight and @all-things-fic know what I’m talking about *insert those moons emoji*) but it’s not technically kid-friendly either towards the end so read at your own risk. Hope you like it!

Part I

Harry remembers.

The other day, when he took Anya for a play date with YN and her kids at the Heath, she mentioned that she always pick her kids up from school every Tuesday (her ex-husband every Thursday, and other days an Italian student she hired as an after school nanny who also teaches the kids some Italian—Harry managed to get the agency’s website and number from YN in case he needs to hire someone for Anya too when she starts nursery later in January). After school, YN always takes the kids straight away to Kensington Garden because the kids are obsessed with the playground.

And it’s Tuesday. Which means that YN will be picking her kids up from school and take them to the playground before going home. There is absolutely no reason for Harry to go that far down there because the playgrounds around his home are perfectly fine if he wants to take Anya to get her wiggles out before her bedtime routines start at 6pm. But he figures he should give it a shot anyway. He doesn’t want to arrange another play date just yet because it’s too soon, but knowing that there’s a high chance of him “bumping” into them at the park, he knows he can’t miss it.

He will never admit it to a single living soul, but deep down he’s just as giddy as Anya when he thinks about YN and her children. Ever since they came home from the playdate at the Heath the other day, the two of them have been talking about it non stop. Their daily conversation revolves around how funny Pippa was, how fast Finn could climb and how nice was YN. He doesn’t know why they’re feeling that way exactly. Maybe it’s the excitement of having new friends? And not just for Anya but for him too? Maybe. Maybe he likes talking to YN because they have something in common? None of Harry’s friends is a single parent (well he’s got some single dad friends but usually their kids live with their mums so it’s not quite the same) besides his own mum so he doesn’t get to talk about it to someone who truly understands the joy, the misery, the ups and downs as often. Or maybe it’s because when they’re around YN and her kids, he kind of gets a glimpse of how life is with a proper family? Nobody knows exactly.

Anya is two and a half, and if you ask Harry he’ll swear it’s the best age ever. It’s his absolute favourite stage. He says that at every stage but he just can’t help it, it just keeps getting better. For now, it’s the funny, most random questions throughout the day that Harry can’t get enough. Like the other day when she asked, “is the baby wearing a swimsuit?” when Michal explained to her that the baby in Gemma’s tummy is just swimming around in there for now. Or when he managed to get her to sit on the big potty and she asked where her pee went after she flushed it.

It’s questions like these that make Harry pause throughout the day and think about how crazy it must be just starting to figure out the world, spending your days pondering life’s great mysteries like why the milk spills when you knock over the cup, why running around naked feels exhilarating and why you can’t eat just ketchup for lunch.

When Anya was about to turn two, Harry was semi-terrified. Two-year-olds usually get a bad rap and there’s this thing called terrible twos that everyone seems to be obsessed with reminding him whenever he tells them about his daughter’s age. People say they have almost zero impulse control, their brains seem to think their bodies are far more capable than they actually are (and as Harry watches Anya try to button her own pyjama top, he realises they were not joking), they cry over spilt milk (literally) during breakfast and don’t you DARE not cutting their sandwiches right. But in between these moments of chaos and complete madness, Harry realises that she becomes his baby again just like that and want him to kiss her ouchie finger and rock her to sleep and it instantly makes up for all the other stuff. It’s like all day long they’re doing this delicate dance of wanting to fight for their independence but at the same time she still needs him oh so desperately and he’s just along for the ride.

Most days Harry spend half the day wondering where the hell did his baby go and when did she get so big and the other half sniffing her little head because it still smells like a baby. He’s amazed at the person Anya is becoming, mostly because he recognises parts of himself in her. Two and a half is that perfect short-lived stage between a baby and a proper child and Harry wants to wallow in the in-between as long as he could.

None of Harry’s friends has a child around Anya’s age and she doesn’t go to the nursery just yet so she didn’t have any friends before she met Pippa. That’s why Harry is so glad to see his daughter interact with kids around her age. Ever since she was born, he’s been so protective over her and he could count only with his fingers on one hand how many times he’s taken her to a playground, so he’s definitely lying if he says he’s not nervous now.

It’s in the middle of the week so Kensington Garden isn’t that crowded. And it’s after school so there are kids on the playground but not as many because it’s a bit chilly too. When Harry gets there, there are only about five other children playing around and Anya immediately runs towards the big pirate ship and Harry trails behind her as she walks through the wobbly bridge towards the ship.

Anya can’t stop giggling as Harry pretends to be the naughty crocodile and go around the ship to “scare” her. They’re both so into the pretend-play that Harry doesn’t even notice who just enter the gated area.

“Harry?” YN says, sounding more like a question as she walks towards the big pirate ship. She has been taking the kids to that playground for years and not once she had ever seen Harry in there before.

Hearing her voice, Harry immediately turns around to see her. “Oh, YN, hi!” He smiles and walks towards her, arms reaching out for a quick greeting hug. “You alright?”

“Yeah, you?” YN nods, smiling back at him. “Where’s Anya?”

“On the ship. Go get her!” He tells Pippa and Finn and they immediately climb onto the ship.

The kids are surprised to see each other again quite so soon, and they’re over the moon. It truly is amazing to see how quick their friendship blooms. YN and Harry watch them closely as they make simple conversation about their children. It’s not that they can’t think of any other topics, but it’s just when you have kids, they became the centre of your world and nothing else matters just as much anymore.

There’s a little cafe not far from Kensington High Street that YN frequents quite often. Sometimes just before she heads to work in the morning when they’re late and she doesn’t have the time to brew her own coffee at home. They have a quite wide selection of pastries and YN usually takes the kids there on Tuesday for their after school snacks. Today, she asks Harry if he and Anya want to go with them after the kids played on the playground and of course Harry doesn’t say no.

“Anya, what would you like darling?” YN looks down at Anya as she stares at the bakery display. She takes her kids quite often there, so it doesn’t take them as long to order their favourites.

“Tha’ one, please,” she says, pointing at the rows of eclairs on the display.

“Thank you for saying please,” Harry smiles at her.

Looking up at Harry, Anya smiles back and reaches out both of her arms. “Daddy, up!”

Harry sighs and rolls his eyes playfully before he bends down to pick his little girl up and brings her close to his chest. Anya rests her head on his shoulder instantly, her little hand grips the collar of his shirt and Harry nuzzles her head.

“Harry?” Pippa’s little voice calling him as she turns around and walks towards Harry who’s still holding Anya.

Harry smiles and looks down at her. “Yes, sweetheart?”

“Can I get a cuddle like Anya please?” Pippa requests innocently, seeing Anya resting her head in the crook of Harry’s neck. Ever since they first met at the studio the other day, the two of them behave pretty much like twins. Anya wants to do what Pippa does and vice versa. Whenever Pippa goes on the slide, Anya trails behind her. Whenever Anya hops on the swing, Pippa wants to as well. So it makes sense when she sees her friend being cuddled, she wants to be held as well.

YN turns around abruptly when she hears Pippa’s request. Her cheeks flush from embarrassment as she scolds her daughter gently, shaking her head. “Pippa.”

“Of course!” Harry answers happily, ignoring YN. His face beams as he crouches down to pick the little girl up before YN can stop him.

“Harry, you don’t have to- Pippa, darlin’, come with mummy. Harry can’t hold both of you, that’s too heavy,” YN reaches her arms out to take the three year old from Harry’s right arm.

But the little girl shakes her head boldly. “No, mummy. I wanna be with Anya!”

“S’alright, love,” Harry grins at YN and she looks down to hide the smile that’s creeping onto her face at the mention of the pet name. “M’a big lad. I can surely hold two little girls, can’t I? Weighs like cotton, both of ya.”

YN rolls her eyes and the kids giggle, before returning to the till. There aren’t that many people queueing but there are at least two other people before it’s their turn. “You can just go and find us a table.”

“No, I’ll get this,” Harry insists.

“Just go, I’ll get this. You can’t even get your wallet because you’ve got your hands full, literally,” she chuckles. “You can get your turn next time.”

Harry smirks. “Oh, so there’ll be next time then?”

“Unless you’ve had enough of me and my circus troupe,” YN shrugs playfully and Harry bursts out laughing.

“Never, darlin’.”

***

Harry and YN arranged another playdate for the weekend when they “bumped into” each other at the park the other day. They thought it would be nice for them to take the kids to Windsor Great Park to walk around and get some fresh air, and maybe even see the horses and the guards marching down to Windsor Castle.

James has to work on Saturday so they agreed to switch the day; YN gets the kids on Saturday and James will have them on Sunday then take them to school on Monday morning. After James moved out of their home nearly two years ago, he decided to get a flat not far from their home so he could still see the kids all the time and so far it works perfectly. Although separation is never easy, the fact that they’re civil towards each other surely helps. Of course, they went through a period of time where they couldn’t even face each other, but they know that they have two small children and they need to raise them together.

Luckily Harry is free on Saturday as well so they can still stick to their plan, and even better because they’ve got higher chance to make it in time before the changing of the guards begins. The ceremony is much smaller than the one in Buckingham Palace so they don’t need to worry about the crowd.

It’s 9am, Finn and Pippa are still eating their breakfast when Harry and Anya show up at their home to pick them up so they can go together. The kids are beyond excited and run to the front door to greet Harry and Anya before dragging them to the kitchen right away.

“Would you like something to eat before we go?” YN asks Harry as he steps into the kitchen. “Or something to drink? Coffee?”

“Coffee would be nice,” Harry smiles at her. “Thank you.”

“How about you, darling?” YN turns to Anya as she pours some coffee from the pot into a cup and hands it to Harry who’s leaning on the kitchen island.

“I want that, please,” she says, pointing at Pippa’s bowl of shreddies and milk. “Like Pippa!”

“Anya, you already had your breakfast at home,” Harry reminds her. “Are you sure you want some?”

The two and a half year old insists. “Yes, daddy! Like Pippa,”

“Okay then.” Harry gives up, taking a sip of his coffee. As he takes a sip of the coffee, his eyes widen and he turns to look at YN. “This is really good. I’m not just saying this because I have to, but this is really good.”

YN grins. “I’ve just got the beans the other day so it’s still fresh, and nothing beats freshly roasted coffee beans.”

“Didn’t know you’re a coffee snob, love,” Harry says teasingly.

“Hey!” YN protests. “I wasn’t like this before. I was perfectly happy with my jar of Nescafé but James always took the piss of them and introduced me to proper coffee. I can’t look back.”

“Nescafé, good Lord,” Harry laughs. “What’s the bean? I can taste a bit of caramel. S’really good.”

“Colombian,” YN answers as she takes a sip of her coffee. “It’s rich, a bit sweet and you’re right, you can taste a bit of caramel.”

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever bought this kind before. Definitely gonna get them,” Harry says. “Can you tell me the secret to make a coffee this good?”

YN chuckles. “There’s no secret.”

“Your techniques then. Have you got some fancy brewing methods or something like tha’?”

YN shakes her head, still smiling. “French press, pour-over, brew duration, water temperature; you can refine your brewing methods and techniques all you want, but at the end of the day, the coffee beans you use are going to have the biggest effect on the flavour.”

“Mummy! I’m done,” Pippa announces as she climbs down from the dining chair before taking her bowl to the counter next to the sink. Then she pushes the stool from the corner of the room towards the counter so she can put it in the sink.

“Wow,” Harry smiles at Pippa. “You put it in the sink on your own! You’re such a good girl.”

“M’a big girl,” the little girl smiles sheepishly.

***

It’s raining when they’re in the car, but as soon as they get there, the rain stops and the grey sky turns blue. The girls are mesmerised by the castle when they walk past by it from the car park to the Long Walk. Luckily they get there just in time to see a couple of horses and the guards walking around, although it’s a bit too early for the actual ceremony. But that’s certainly enough to make the kids, all three of them, jumping with excitement.

They walk through the Long Walk, then when the kids get bored from just walking, Harry and YN combine the game “IT” and hide and seek and run around the grass. The kids can’t get enough and they need a lot of convincing before they end the game and walk again to go for a pub lunch.

The Boatman is Windsor’s only pub on the river at the foot of Windsor Castle, overlooking Eton Bridge. They settle for this one for lunch because they promised the kids before they can see the boats from the floor to ceiling windows, and fortunately there are two boats right in front of the pub because otherwise they’re pretty sure that one of them would throw a fit for the lack of the promised boats.

The kids are happy because they can look at the boats from their seat as they eat. They eat their lunch without a fuss—probably because they’re hungry too after all the walk—and because Harry and YN are feeling like a cool mum and dad, they let the kids get some ice cream afterwards and they lap it up happily as they point and gawk at the boats.

“Daddy, I want some,” Anya says as she tilts her head at the chocolate mousse in front of Harry.

“Here you go,” Harry says as he takes the spoon towards Anya. Then he takes some more of the chocolates before bringing it towards Pippa who’s sitting next to Anya. “Do you want some as well, darlin’?”

Pippa nods and smiles sheepishly before she opens her mouth so Harry can feed her some of his chocolate mousse. “Thank you.”

“Don’t think I forgot about you, mate,” Harry smirks as he takes another spoonful of the chocolate towards Finn and Finn opens his mouth right away. “Is it good?”

He ends up feeding all of his pudding to the kids. The three of them waits patiently for their turn for Harry to feed them, and they giggle every time Harry drives the spoon into their mouths like an aeroplane, fire truck, race car, literally everything they can think of; they can just request and Harry’ll do it with no questions asked.

Seeing how kind and loving Harry is not only to his own daughter but to her children as well, treating the three of them equally and giving them just as much attention gives some sort of hope for YN. Maybe there really is someone out there who will love her children like his own. Maybe one day she can start again.

She hasn’t seen anyone else after she and James were done. Not even one bloody full date—she went on a date twice but she chickened out and went home halfway through the main course. Then she called James and they shagged. And James isn’t much better, he never went on a full date either. Never even took anyone out for dinner, only drinks. And after a few drinks, he usually makes up some sort of emergency and shows up on YN’s door, and they always end up in between their sheets.

A few months after James moved out, he begged YN to take him back. Feeding YN all the things she wished he’d say before all hell broke loose, but it was too late. She’s not the one to give second chances. For her, if he could leave them once, he’ll probably do it again. It took her months to stand back on her feet and she wasn’t going to throw that away for the same guy who made her like that in the first place.

Does YN still love him? Probably yes. At least a little, she won’t lie. But will she take him back? Absolutely not. Does she want to try and love again? Yes, but there’s got to be some perfect guy sent from Heaven for her to even open up just a little.

Harry fancies YN. Kind of. He’ll never admit this to one single living soul though, at least not yet. After Anya came into his life, he has never been on a date. Ever. He thought he had loved someone before, but after he saw Anya for the first time looking like a little pink sausage in a blanket, he doubted that he ever did. He liked some people, sure, but did he ever truly love them? At least one of them? He didn’t.

Anya instantly became Harry’s whole world just like that, and she still is. She’ll forever be. Going on dates and finding new birds seem like a whole different world to him and yes, sure, sometimes he craves that but when he thinks about it thoroughly he always backs down. Because now that there’s Anya, he can’t just think about himself. If he ever has another relationship, there’ll be three people in it; him, Anya and whoever that person is. He needs to find someone who’ll love his daughter like her own. He needs to find someone who’ll accept his whole package. And it’s not easy.

He also knows it could be nothing though. Maybe he doesn’t really fancy YN. Maybe it’s just because he never sees someone who talks to his daughter like she’s one of the sweetest, funniest, smartest, and the best little girls in the whole world. Maybe it’s the fact that YN is a mother and it’s the little things that she does—maybe without even realising—that fascinates Harry. The way that she brushed Anya’s fringe to the side so it wouldn’t cover her eyes when Anya and Pippa were dancing around in front of her. The way that she instantly pulled out some tissues from her handbag to wipe the kids’ faces when their faces were covered with chocolates. The fact that she hugs Anya just as often as she hugs her own children, kissing her cheeks, holding her hand as they walk around. And Anya is glued to her.

“Anya really likes you,” Harry says, looking over to YN in the passenger seat beside him before putting his eyes back on the road before him. The walk really knocks the kids out, and they’re all fast asleep not even five minutes after they got into the car.

YN chuckles. “Nah, she likes Pippa.”

“She does,” Harry lets out a chuckle as well. “But she really does like you. I’ve never seen her warm up to someone as quick.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she smirks.

“You should.”

“Pippa really likes you as well. Finn, too. Well, Pippa does like you a little bit too much m’afraid,” YN turns to Harry and Harry laughs.

“I really like her too, she’s the life of the party. The thing she says,” Harry shakes his head as he laughs. “How did she come up with those?!”

YN tries to stifle her giggles so she won’t wake the kids up. “I’ve got no idea.”

“Have you got other plans for today?” Harry asks.

YN shakes her head. “No. Why?”

“Should we go somewhere else?” Harry suggests. The tension shifts a little as Harry begins. “Going out today and the other day, it makes me realise that I’m a really shit father. I always get scared that there will be paps around and Anya will be in danger, so I never really take her out. Well, except on holiday somewhere secluded. But that’s only like what, once a year? That’s not enough. She deserves to go out and do fun things kids around her age do. Deserves to be a child.”

“Harry,” YN glances at him. “You are the furthest thing from a shit father, I’ve seen you with Anya. You’re only trying to protect her the way you know how.”

“Thank you,” he smiles at her. “Really. That means a lot.”

“Right. Should we go to V&A? There are usually a lot of fun activities for kids. Last time we went there, the kids were given backpacks called Agent Animal Bag, and they went on an adventure to find animals, explore sounds and textures. T’was really fun.”

“Oh, that sounds great!” Harry says excitedly.

“But it’s Saturday, it’s definitely gonna be crowded. Are you sure you’re comfortable taking Anya there?”

“Screw it. We’re going there.”

***

The kids were over the moon when they woke up and realised that they weren’t going straight home after lunch. Finn and Pippa excitedly showed Anya around the museum and although it was rather crowded, it made it even better because Harry could blend with the crowd. They stayed at the museum until nearly closing time, and Harry agreed when YN asked him if he and Anya would come inside when he dropped YN and the kids at their home afterwards.

“Stay for dinner?” YN asks, sounding more like a suggestion rather than a question, bringing a smile to Harry’s face instantly as he realises that maybe she enjoys his company as much as he enjoys hers.

Harry takes a sip of the tea that YN made for him, purposely holding the cup in front of his mouth even after he takes the sip to make it less obvious that he’s having a hard time trying to keep himself from grinning like an absolute idiot. “I’d love that, but I don’t want you to go to too much trouble for me.”

“S’nothing, really,” she shoots him a smile. “Tha’ a yes?”

“Tha’ a yes,” Harry answers. “But you have to let me help you.”

“Great. You’re on babysitting duty,” YN looks over her shoulder to smirk at Harry before walking towards the cupboard to get some pasta. “Go to the nursery.”

“Nooo,” Harry groans playfully. “I mean here in the kitchen. They’re alright there.”

YN laughs. “I don’t need help. Don’t expect me to cook some fancy shit because I’m a terrible cook.”

“Now you’re just being modest,” Harry disagrees. “What are you making?”

“Chicken and broccoli pasta, don’t laugh,” YN says as she tries to look at Harry seriously but the two of them bursts out laughing merely a few seconds after. “You’re not a vegetarian, are you? Any allergies?”

“Nothing that I know of.” Harry says as he takes another sip of his tea. “Tell me what to do.”

“Just sit there and talk to me,” YN tilts her head to where Harry is sat before she opens the fridge to get some chicken and frozen broccoli. “The chef could use some company.”

“I can do that,” Harry answers, tapping his fingers on the countertop of the kitchen island. “So, how did you and James meet?”

YN rolls her eyes and looks at Harry. “Really? That’s the best question you can come up with?”

Harry laughs. “Sorry, I’m curious. Not often I get to be the other side of this, y’know. You can ask me anything too if you’d like.”

“Oh, is this the grown-up version of truth and dare? Or spin the bottle only without a bottle?”

“More like 20 questions but we can do spin the bottle if you prefer.” Harry shrugs playfully.

This time YN laughs. “Fine. Glasto.”

“Ooh, cool kids,” he comments. “Did you go together? Have mutual friends? How old were you? How did you get together?”

“Goodness you’re full of questions,” YN says as she flips the chicken in the pan. “No we didn’t, didn’t have any mutual friend either. I went with some of my mates, he was with his. He was the only person who noticed that the drunk swaying people to my left kept on accidentally hitting my face with their hippie-wear. Several times he gave me direct eye contact and asked, ‘this is funny, but seriously, are you okay?’ And I just laughed and said I was totally fine. Then he asked for my number. The seven of us—my mates and his—ended up getting along and the following weekend he tried to get the group together but after that proved to be a logistical nightmare, he was like, ‘um, so basically I just wanted to see you.’”

“Aw,” Harry sighs. “How old were you two?”

“I was 19, he was 22. Got married two years later.”

“What?!” Harry nearly spits his tea everywhere. “So you were 21? Bloody hell.”

“Yeah,” YN chuckles. “Then we had Finn about three years later.”

“How long we-“

“Hey! S’my turn,” YN cuts him short. “Is it easy for you to go on dates after you had Anya?”

Harry shakes his head and smiles, “I’ve never been on an actual full date after I had Anya.”

“You joking?” YN looks at him in disbelief.

“No, I swear,” Harry shakes his head again. “I know I need to settle down. Can’t go the way I used to before I had her, y’know what I mean? I want to find the one but I don’t wanna rush things. M’happy with just the two of us.”

YN smiles at him. Before she actually knows him, she doesn’t see Harry Styles as the type to settle down before he’s at least 54, so to hear him confessing in her kitchen that he actually wants to settle down is a bit of a surprise. “I’m sure you’ll find the one.”

“How about you? Are you seeing anyone right now? Do you go on dates?”

This time YN shakes her head. “No. Just like you, I went on a date twice but I always left early. I wasn’t ready yet and I know that I don’t have to force myself so I haven’t tried again.”

Harry is about to open his mouth when Finn walks into the kitchen and walk towards YN. She pulls him for a side hug as she stirs the pasta in the pot and kisses the top of his head. “Y’alright, my love?”

Finn hums. “Mhm.”

“Did you have fun today, Finn?” Harry asks, smiling at the little boy. Finn is shyer than Pippa so Harry needs to work hard to crack him if he wants the little boy to open up to him more. “We did quite a lot, yeah?”

Finn smiles at Harry, his hands still wrapped around YN’s waist. “T’was really fun.”

“What was your favourite thing that we did today?” Harry asks him again. Being with Finn for the whole day kind of gives Harry a glimpse if he were to have a son one day and he absolutely loves it.

“When we played at the park,” Finn answers. “T’was really fun.”

“Ah, yeah, that was fun,” Harry agrees. “Quite a runner you are, eh. You were really fast, none of us could get you.”

Finn giggles. “Mummy says if I eat my veggies, my legs will get super long and I can run very fast.”

“Your mummy’s right,” Harry nods. “You’re really tall. Must be because all the veggies you ate, huh?”

“Dinner is almost ready,” YN says as she turns off the cooker. “Could you please get the girls and tell them to come down, my love?”

“He’s a really good boy,” Harry comments after Finn nods and disappears to get the girls from the nursery. “You’re so lucky.”

“Thank you,” YN smiles as she grabs a serving bowl from the cupboard. “He’s definitely my easiest kid.”

“They’re both wonderful, your kids,” Harry laughs. “Can I please at least help you set the table?”

“Fine,” YN answers. “The plates are here, there are utensils, everything you need,”

“Okay,” Harry exclaims as he begins taking the things that he’ll need to set up the table.

It has been a while since the last time YN had a company in the kitchen as she prepares dinner. Sure, James still comes for dinner sometimes before he takes the kids to his place or even in the middle of the week, but of course, now that they’re not together it’s different.

Having Harry in her kitchen, seeing him making his way to the cupboards as if he knows exactly what goes where and saying something funny or laughing really hard at something YN says, YN feels the warm tingling feeling inside her. She tries to brush it off almost immediately. It won’t be appropriate, will it? He is the father of her children’s new friend for fuck’s sake. But as she thinks about it more, well, she is single. So is he. There’s nothing wrong about it, isn’t it?

No, don’t be daft. YN thinks to herself. He is a multimillionaire Hollywood A-List (no, in Harry’s case the A does not stand for arsehole, he is one of the sweetest people she’s ever known). Even with a kid, he can still get whoever he wants. Supermodels, chefs, singers, actresses, musicians, gymnasts, circus performers—okay, we get it—he can have them all. Women throw themselves at him. Younger, hotter, spaghetti-legged women. He’ll never fancy someone like her, not in a million years. This playdate thing is just purely for the kids. Not more. And who’s YN anyway? Just one Notting Hill based pathetic divorcée who still occasionally shags her ex-husband with a boring job at a national television (okay, let’s hope her boss doesn’t read this because she actually loves her job. Mike? In case you read this, YN’s joking, okay? She’s just having a moment right now).

Halfway through dinner, YN thinks she has managed to brush the thought of her and Harry off her mind. That, until Harry grins at her and refreshes her water. Fuck.

“Thanks for dinner, love,” Harry says as he walks to the door, Anya asleep on his chest. “And for everything today. I had a blast.”

“Dinner was nothing,” YN smiles as she trails behind him, walking him to his car. “And thanks for today too.”

“Dinner was absolutely delicious, love,” Harry smiles back at her, his head poking through his car’s door as he buckles his daughter into her car seat. “Will we see you at Kensington Garden again on Tuesday?”

“Most likely,” YN chuckles. “Bye, drive safely.”

“Bye,” Harry waves before he drives away and YN walks back inside.

It’s half ten when Harry and Anya finally leave, and the kids are already asleep. The three of them fell asleep on the couch in front of the telly in the living room because YN put some film for them to watch together whilst YN and Harry cleaned up the kitchen. When they saw the three sleeping kids in the couch, they couldn’t help but laugh in victory because they knackered them out just enough for them not to fuss about bedtime. Yes, their bedtime routine is out of the window but there was no way in hell they were going to wake them up.

Harry helped YN to carry Finn whilst YN carried Pippa upstairs to their nursery and tucked them into their beds. The sight of Harry kissing her children’s forehead and whispered goodnight in their ears definitely did not help brushing that thought from dinner about them being together off her mind, in fact, her heart is beating even faster every time their hands accidentally brushed together. Or when Harry smiled at her as he closed the nursery’s door behind him.

Fuck, she says to herself. This is not going to end well.

***

In the span of eight weeks, YN and Harry had arranged twelve playdates. Not that she’s counting or anything (okay, this is a straight old codswallop, she’s totally keeping scores). And that doesn’t count some Tuesdays where Harry and Anya would “bump into” YN and her children at the playground in Kensington Garden.

Kew Gardens, The Zoo, Sky Garden, London Transport Museum, Golders Hill Park, Petersham Nursery in Covent Garden, Discover Children’s Story Centre (this was their favourite and they went there twice), some fancy kids event in Harrods that Harry managed to get them into, The Science Museum, It’s a Kid’s Thing in Earlsfield, Bramley’s Big Adventure and The Idol in Barking, and YN is pretty sure that they have ticked off most of the places to go with kids in London from that article in TimeOut.

It’s just another Tuesday, and like most Tuesdays, she bumps into Harry and his daughter at the playground again and YN invite them over for dinner. Now, the kids are playing with some puzzles in the living room while Harry helps YN to cook dinner for the five of them.

“Y’want some?” YN asks Harry as she pours some wine into a glass, and she doesn’t even wait until he responds before she pours some into another glass.

“Thank you,” Harry smiles as he takes the glass. They’ve just put the sausage and white beans casserole in the oven so they’ve got time to just chill and have a chat for the next 35 minutes. And Harry knows if he wants to talk, now’s the time.

Harry hasn’t felt this way for a while. This, whatever it is that he’s been feeling for the past two months, he hasn’t felt it in years. And even then he swore it was never this strong. He’s happy. The happiest he’s ever been. And he thinks he knows why.

The first four weeks after he met YN, he tried to brush his feelings off because come on, it’s YN. It’s the mother of his daughter’s friends. It wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? But then he starts thinking… why? Why wouldn’t it be appropriate? Both of them are single, aren’t they? And if there’s a chance, no matter how small it is that YN may be feeling the same way, he wants to know. He needs to know. He feels bad because he may be putting his daughter’s only friendship on the line, he knows that if YN doesn’t feel the same way then they will definitely grow apart and he’ll have to explain to Anya why don’t they go out with YN and her children anymore. But he doesn’t know how long he can keep it in. YN is bound to know sooner or later anyway.

In the next four weeks, Harry has been trying to find a way to tell her how he feels. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to. Every time, he either chickened out last minute or being interrupted. So now that their dinner is cooking in the oven and their children are playing nicely together in the living room, he knows that it’s now or never.

“So, uh,” Harry finally begins, taking a swig of his Chardonnay. Hoping he’ll find the courage that he needs from the drink. “This might be, um, weird. But, um, shit I haven’t done this in years bear with me,” he laughs nervously.

“What?” YN mimics Harry’s nervous laugh.

“You can absolutely say no. We can just forget it and pretend I never ask you this. I mean, I get it, you may think this is a little bit weird. But, um,” Harry clears his throat before he continues. “Would you like to go and have dinner with me sometime?”

“Harry, we’re literally making dinner right now,” YN deadpans.

“No!” Harry shakes his head. “I mean, just the two of us, without the kids. It’s a date.”

Out of YN’s possible reactions, this is the last thing Harry initially thought how YN would react. He’d imagined three different scenarios; scenario one would be YN grinning ear to ear and nods frantically as she jumps into Harry’s arms and Harry takes her to the bed—okay that was the one scenario that had the lowest chance to ever happen but a man can dream. Scenario two would be YN sternly saying “absolutely not, Harry” then proceeds to kick Harry and his daughter out of her house. Scenario three would be YN choking on her food when Harry asks her out halfway through dinner and they end up in A&E.

Harry’s mind is pretty wild.

His eyes widen in surprise when YN giggles. “Thought you’d never ask.”

“What?!” He looks at her, surprised. “So you knew? All this time?”

YN is clearly having fun with this. “Knew what?” She asks nonchalantly.

“You’re gonna make me say it, aren’t ya?” He says, his eyes twinkle in delight. “That I fancy ya?”

YN giggles again, folding her arms. “Well, you weren’t being very subtle but you weren’t straightforward either.”

“Tha’ a yes, then?” Harry grins, taking another slug of his wine.

YN smiles back at him. “That’s a hell yes.”

Harry can’t stop grinning ear to ear. “Can I kiss you?”

“Whoa,” YN lets a little laugh.

“Alright,” he says. “But you’ll let me kiss you after the date, right?”

“Who says I don’t want you to now?”

“So you do?”

“Just shut up and kiss me, Styles.”

***

“Say I am smart,” Harry says, asking Anya to repeat after him.

Growing up, Harry always thought too much of what people think and say about him. Especially early on in his career. That’s why ever since Anya was only nine months old, he has started doing affirmations religiously during bedtime. Harry always says Treat People With Kindness but with his own daughter, in addition to that, he also wants to teach her early from the beginning of her life that she needs to speak to herself with kindness too. Because he knows that when people grow, himself definitely included, they develop a habit of criticising themselves, harming their own self-confidence and lowering their resilience. With the affirmations, he doesn’t need to worry because he knows that a positive belief system has already been created from within his little girl.

“I am smart,” Anya repeats after him, grinning to herself in front of the bathroom mirror. She’s standing on top of the counter and her back is against Harry’s chest.

“I am beautiful,”

“I am beautiful,” she lets out a little chuckle as she repeats after her daddy.

“I am kind,” Harry smiles as he says the words and Anya repeats after him. “I am loved,” he says. “I am strong,” Anya repeats after him and showing him her little muscles, making Harry giggles. “I am brave,”

“Say I’m not better than anyone,” Harry continues. “Nobody’s better than me,” Anya repeats after him and shaking her head as she does. “I work hard.”

“What’s your name?” Harry asks her, wrapping his hands around her little body, hugging her from behind.

“Anya Marigold Styles!” She giggles as Harry tickles her sides a little bit.

“If you fall?” He asks her again.

“I get back up!” She answers proudly.

“M’best girl,” he squeezes her from behind. “Now gimme a kiss.”

He knows maybe it’s still way too soon to be thinking about it, but the thought of maybe giving Anya a mum (and two siblings at once!) really does warm his heart. Don’t get him wrong, he knows he’ll be just fine if it’s just the two of them together forever too. But he doesn’t want her daughter to sit on the playground and looking around at her friends with their mums and dads together and think “why don’t I have that?”

“That’s Roo’s mummy,” Anya says as she points at Kanga. Harry is reading one of her favourite bedtime stories in her bed.

“You’re right,” Harry hums before asking a question he regrets literally the second after. “D’you want to have a mummy?”

“I have a mummy,” says Anya nonchalantly.

“What?” Harry looks at her in surprise. “Who?”

“YN,” she answers.

“Um,” Harry panics. He swears he never tells Anya that. She comes up with that herself. “Why do you think that?”

“Because she blows my soup when it was too hot, daddy,” she explains. “And she kissed my ouchie finger and give me cuddles. And Pippa calls her mummy.”

“That’s because she’s Pippa’s mummy,” Harry reminds her. “Not yours.” Yet. He says to himself.

“No!” Anya protests. “She’s MY mummy too!”

“Alright, alright, s’time for bed, night night,” he says, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “Daddy loves you so much, alright? Sweet dreams, m’love.”

***

Harry takes Anya to YN’s home so Anya can stay with Finn and Pippa while Harry takes YN out on their first date. Alessandra, YN’s Italian babysitter arrived half an hour earlier before YN and Harry have to leave so Harry could make sure Anya is warming up to her first.

It’s not that Harry never trusts someone to take care of his daughter, he’s got an occasional babysitter back in LA, but it’s the fact that it’s the first time Harry leaves Anya not for work-related things. When he went on that disastrous date, his mum watched Anya so he had nothing to worry about. And he somewhat knew anyway that he would be home early because deep down he wasn’t ready.

Is he ready now? He thinks so. Aside from how Anya is behaving at home with the new sitter she has just met thirty minutes prior, he’s got nothing to worry about in his mind. Of course, he’s still a bit nervous. First dates are always nerve-wracking. But it’s YN and he likes her. And whatever is gonna happen, what matters the most to him is for them to spend some time together and really get to know each other.

Harry is taking YN to Margot, an Italian restaurant in Covent Garden. As soon as they walk inside, a woman in a grey dress shows them the cosy corner seat by the window that turns out Harry has reserved for them and presents them two large grey folders.

“Would you like to order drinks?”

“Yes please, and food, too,” Harry smiles at her before looking down to scan the menu and looks at YN. “What would you like?”

“Hmm,” YN hums. “I’d like a Negroni please, then the scallops and the tagliolini.”

“A gin and tonic for me,” says Harry afterwards. “Then the scallops as well, and the hake.”

The waitress moves away and Harry pours some water for both of them before taking a sip from his glass. “Y’know, I thought I was gonna be nervous. Well I am, a bit. But this is probably the most relaxed first date I’ve ever been on.”

“We went out for supper a lot of times already,” YN chuckles. “I could probably guess what you were gonna order.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” YN smiles smugly. “I know it was between the hake and monkfish. You wanted the fennel that came with the monkfish but you couldn’t say no to the Sardinian Fregola that came with the hake, so…”

“Wow,” Harry exclaims, impressed. “How’d you know?!”

YN just shrugs, the smug grin hasn’t come off of her face. “I’m just really good at this.”

“Okay, next time we’re definitely playing that game,” Harry says, taking a sip of his water. “I’m probably just as good. I just haven’t tried it yet.”

“Challenge accepted.”

Not long afterwards, the waitress comes with their drinks and a basket of complimentary bread. They both take a sip of their drinks and Harry pulls the bread to the middle of the table. “Bet I can guess your favourite,” he says, looking at the different types of bread in front of him.

“Go ahead,” YN smiles, taking a sip of her drink.

“Focaccia?”

“What?” YN asks, surprised. “How’d you know?”

“You’re not the only one with the talent darling,” he smirks at YN, taking the sourdough so YN can have her favourite. Harry knows this because he remembers that YN always takes the focaccia whenever they’re eating out with the kids. “You look beautiful by the way.”

“Eh, you’re not that bad either,” YN says teasingly. “Okay I’m joking, you look really fit.”

“Really?” Harry smiles smugly. “Thanks, love. S’a new shirt. Bought it just f’you.”

YN chuckles. “Did you, really?”

“Yeah, wanted to impress you,” he says as he refreshes her water. “D’you like it? I remember you told me the other day that you like men in black. Was panic last night when I realised that I didn’t have any black shirt so I bought it this morning on my way to the studio.”

“Oh my God, you shouldn’t have,” YN gives a snort of laughter and hastily stifle it. This is a posh restaurant and people are already looking at them. “Any other shirts would be just fine.”

“Yeah, but it wouldn’t be black would it? Wanna wear black f’you,” he adds.

“That’s really nice of you,” YN grins. “But I don’t believe that you don’t have a single black shirt. Bet you do, you just don’t remember where it is.”

“Okay, I’ll be honest here,” he says, taking another sip of his drink. “I have it but when I tried it-”

“Oh! Didn’t fit?” YN tries to stifle her laughter but she fails miserably.

“Oi! Don’t laugh, s’not nice,” he grumbles playfully. “Av got a bit of a belly now. Body’s not like when I was 21 anymore. Need to hit the gym again soon.”

“Don’t, I like it,” YN shakes her head gently. “Bit squishy.”

“Wanna make sure you’re the hot one between us, aren’t ya?” Harry rolls his eyes and YN let out a giggle. “Oh, I just remembered, before we get carried away I need to ask you something.”

“What is it? You’re scaring me.” YN’s brows snap together.

“No, don’t be, s’nothing,” Harry smiles at her reassuringly. “I just want to make sure that I don’t step on anyone’s toes. Especially James’s. I want to make sure that nothing is really going on between the two of you anymore because I don’t want to be the one that separates a family. I mean you’ve got children together. I really, really—and I can’t stress this enough—really like you but I’m okay to step aside.”

“Harry, I kissed you last night. In my kitchen. Wouldn’t have done it if I was still thinking about getting back together with my ex-husband, would I?” YN explains to him. “There really is nothing going on any more between James and I. When we talk it’s always about the kids or about the progress of our case. Just that. He tried, a few months after he moved out, but I didn’t want to. I don’t want to. I don’t give second chances.”

YN is debating whether or not it’s worth it to come clean to Harry now that she still shagged her ex-husband occasionally after they were separated and up to just until the night before she met Harry, but then she realises that it’s not really his business, is it? At least it wasn’t his business then so clearly he doesn’t need to know. Besides why on earth would she brings up her sex life with her ex on her first date with her new bit?

“Okay, good to know,” Harry says to her. The waitress interrupts them as she brings their scallops to the table and disappears after they both thanked her. “Also, noted.”

YN chuckles. “Write it in capital letters so you won’t forget.”

“Will do,” Harry joins her chuckling. “So, how long were you married?”

YN holds up seven with her fingers as she chews her scallops. “Wow, that’s quite long,” Harry comments before taking a bite of his starter. “Got any marriage tips?”

“Really, H?” YN rolls her eyes playfully as she brings a napkin to wipe the corners of her lips. “Asking for marriage advice from an almost divorcée?”

YN and Harry arrive at YN’s home five minutes before midnight. When they get back, the kids are all fast asleep in the nursery. Anya is sleeping with Pippa in her bed. As they walk into the house, Alessandra greets them with a smile.

“Hi,” YN greets her. “How was it?”

“Yeah, was everything okay?” Harry adds before he lets out a yawn.

“Everything was good,” she answers. “Anya was a little shy at first but she warms up quickly after you left. They’re all being really good. They finished their dinner and went to bed without a fuss.”

“Oh, that’s great, thank you,” YN says to her, pulling her phone out from her handbag to get an Uber for her.

“Thank you so much Alessandra,” Harry smiles at her as he digs out some cash from his wallet and he hands it to her.

“Uh,” Alessandra looks down at the cash in her hand. “S’too much.”

“You’ve got one extra kid to take care tonight,” Harry insists. “Also we stayed a little later than we told you.”

“Ah, your ride’s here,” YN says, looking down at her phone and taking bottled water from the fridge quickly before she and Harry walk Alessandra to the door. “Bye, have a good night. See you tomorrow!”

Harry lets out another yawn as they walk back into the kitchen. Stealing a sip of water from the bottle in YN’s hand before he slumps against the cabinet.

“You’re tired,” YN says. “Wanna stay the night?”

Harry turns to her in astonishment. Sleep is definitely gone from his eyes. “Really? Are you sure?”

“I am,” YN nods. “‘Sides Anya is asleep, don’t wake her up.”

“Okay then,” Harry grins.

“Y’look happy,” YN smiles, walking towards him. Their fingers intertwine as soon as they’re within arm’s reach.

“That’s because I am,” he says before he leans down slowly to press his lips against her forehead. “Y’make me so bloody happy, y’know that?”

“Isn’t it too early to be that soppy?” YN jokes.

“It’s midnight-“

“No,” YN laughs. “I mean, it’s only our first date.”

“Oh, that,” this time Harry laughs, taking her knuckles near his lips to press a kiss on it. “Don’t care. M’a soppy lad.”

“I had a great time tonight,” YN says, smiling as Harry circles her hands.

Harry’s grin widens. “M’glad. I had a great time too,” he adds. “So, we can do it again soon, then?”

YN nods. “Definitely.”

Harry responds by taking her chin and pulls her face close to his. As her face comes closer, he can feel his heart beating frantically as if it’s gonna jump out of his body. He knows he’ll never forget how she smells like roses and berries and with just a slight hint of vanilla. He knows he’ll never forget that one second right before he plants his lips against hers, when he just looks at her face and pause and think about how the hell did he get so lucky. He knows he’ll never forget the moment when he finally kisses her again. Right in that very same kitchen. Both of them smiling against each other’s lips.

The kiss intensifies. It goes deeper with the ticking clock. Harry swipes his tongue along her bottom lip subtly, causing her to part her lips. The kiss is demanding. He is kissing her as if he’s fighting for his life. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s been far too long since he had something like this. Or maybe it’s the fact that he truly likes her, and that to finally be able to kiss her, he can’t really put it down into words how happy and excited he is.

The kiss is soft, yet hot and breathy. It’s not about them trying to fight for dominance, but more about seeking closeness and intimacy that they’ve been craving for so long. Harry presses one long kiss against her lips before he pulls away, both of them trying to even their breath as they smile at each other.

Taking her hand, Harry begins walking to the living room and sat her down on the couch. She thinks he’s going to sit beside her and they’ll continue their snog session, but he surprises her when he stands up instead and walks towards the back of the couch.

“Where are you going?” YN asks, looking at Harry from her shoulder.

“M’not going anywhere darlin’,” Harry answers as he stops behind YN. He takes YN’s ponytail into his hand, moving it aside, leaving most of the back of her neck and shoulders exposed to him. He bends down and begins kissing the end of her hairline just above her neck, leaving a trail of little kisses down to her left shoulder, yanking the part above her shoulder from her dress aside. Then the trail of kisses go back up again towards her neck and up just behind her ear, causing her to let out a breathless moan and licks her lips.

This time he opens his mouth, letting his tongue dance around her skin. From the side of her neck, to her jawline, down her back, and the front side of her just above her sternum. Then he sucks gently, the top of her ear, the back of her neck. One of his hands roams around her back and the other squeezing her breasts through her dress. He grabs her hair again and gently pulls it to the side, leaving the other side of her neck open, giving the same amount of attention as he does to the other side earlier.

“Fuck,” YN whimpers. “Harry, s-stop. N-need to take it slow. Can’t rush this.”

“You’re right,” Harry immediately pulls away and stands up straight, trying to catch his breath. “We need to take it slow. I’m sorry.”

“Are you joking? What are you being sorry for? That was-“ YN breathes heavily. “It was- I can’t even. Where did you learn that?!”

Harry laughs at her. “Go get some sleep,” he says as he kisses the top of her head.

“You’re still staying for the night, right?”

“If you want me to,” Harry smiles at her.

“I want you to,” YN reassures him.

“Okay,” he nods. “Go upstairs first. I’ll just, uh, need to sort something out.”

YN looks at him confused for a second before something clicks on her mind. Oh. She looks down to confirm her assumption, and she was right. She snorts in laughter. “God, H, you could besiege a castle.”

“Oi!”

Part III

#harry styles #harry styles imagines #harry styles one shot #harry styles ff #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfiction #harry x y/n #harry x reader #harry styles fluff #harry styles smut #dad!harry #dad harry styles imagines #boyfriend!harry #single dad!harry #single mum!yn #harry styles drabbles #harry styles concepts #harry styles blurbs #harry talk

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measurelessdreamer · 4 years

Text

New Olivarry fic!

The impossible happened and I managed to write (probably) my last Olivarry fic and I’m actually proud of myself XD If you want, feel free to read it here or down below! <3

Coffee Beans And Cakes, It's You For Whom My Heart Aches

Summary: Barry Allen thought he was done with love. He had missed out all his chances and if love was supposed to be only unrequited in his case, then what the hell was the point? So he filled his life with routines and small pleasures to keep himself going and convince himself he was okay. He hadn't anticipated one of those routines would eventually sabotage him and turn his whole life around, but sometimes you just need to live in a lie for a while to be able to see the truth. Barry learned that the hard way.

Relationships: Barry Allen/Oliver Queen

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Fluff, First Meetings, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Slow Burn

Words: 13268

It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Barry finally turned off his computer and hurried out of his lab, waving both Joe and Eddie with a smile, silently dodging their offers to accompany him which they both knew were fruitless to ask. It was his habit to stop by Jitters for his favorite kind of coffee and spend a few minutes in solitude just sipping and relishing the bittersweet taste he knew so well and today was no different. Being already twenty-nine, it was only normal to have his life filled with small routines like this that ultimately were the sole reason why he was able to be himself and not just some kind of zombie, struggling to see the point in waking up in the morning. Don't get him wrong. Sometimes, days got rough and he was on the zombie spectrum more than he would actually like, but when that happened, it was small pleasures like this that got him back to smiling and simply enjoying what he was supposed to no matter how much other people considered it crucial.

Nothing new ever happened during his afternoon visits to Jitters. He just loved that where people were usually swarming inside like bees in their hives he could have a peaceful time and think. It was liberating in ways not many people would understand but he didn't care. He just knew he wouldn't change this routine for anything. As hectic as his life sometimes was, this was something he wanted to keep intact no matter what. Too bad destiny had other ideas.

As expected, there were only a few people inside. One man was standing by the cash register, strikingly aggravated by the debate he was having with the barista, which Barry supposed looked more like an argument despite how the man, probably in his thirties, was trying to stay calm. Barry moved to stand a few feet next to him in a queue he just created, patiently waiting for his turn. He absolutely didn't mean to eavesdrop, his parents and Joe had raised him better than that, but he was standing right there and it wasn't his fault the man was apparently losing his patience and raising his voice as the result. Besides, he couldn't simply leave his spot unless he decided to skip the coffee and go home, which in his mind was not an option. Not even some uptight customer would change that, thank you very much.

So he just stood there and listened because what else was really there to do?

"Sir, I apologize, but I've already told you that this cake is reserved for the couple’s menu only. Feel free to choose any other, though. Surely we can come to an agreement we'll both like," the female barista said, doing her utmost best to remain as polite as possible even though Barry could see her resolve was on the brink of despair.

"I don't want any other cake," the man stated. "It's my son's favorite, always has been. We have it every time we're here. It never was 'reserved for a couple’s menu only' before so why now?"

"It's our policy to include some desserts for only specific types of menus and I'm sorry, but I don't make these rules."

"I understand, but can't you make an exception just this once? You'll get your money either way. Besides, it's not like this place is filled with people fighting for this particular cake and you're gonna close soon anyway."

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do, sir," the barista sighed and looked genuinely sorry and annoyed by this stupid policy too, but her hands were tied. Her boss probably wasn't one of the kindest people on this planet.

"Of course," the man scoffed. "It's funny, though. Not sure when exactly love of couples started being more important than love for your own damn child." The venom behind those words was borderline outrageous, even more, when Barry noticed how it made the barista slump her shoulders in defeat and shame, but it was probably the thing that caused Barry's life to change so radically that day. While everyone else would most likely judge the man for being too harsh on the woman, Barry focused on this customer's reasoning and intentions that were definitely meant to be good and decided to help out. That was how he'd been raised after all.

"Actually," he spoke, causing the barista to look at him, "he's here with me." What happened next was downright comical as the man literally froze mere inches before the exit door and spun around to gape, unabashed, at this man he'd never seen before, claiming they were a couple.

As tempted as Barry was to burst out laughing on spot, he formed a smile and turned to the barista that was staring him down skeptically. She wasn't stupid. Of course it was obvious he didn't know the man that just made his way back to them, still gaping at him, but then again, it wasn't like they needed some license or document to show they were dating. They just needed to convince her to either believe them or take pity on them. Whichever came first.

"I'm sorry about him," he started again, motioning to the man next to him. "He's not much of a people person, but he means well."

"And he's your boyfriend," the woman summarized, not buying a single word, and glanced at the other man. "Why didn't you say so before? You must have noticed him coming here."

"We usually keep it quiet. He's a bit shy, you know?" Barry clarified, letting his eyes fall on the man and locking them with his on instinct, suddenly finding it nearly impossible to look anywhere else besides the magnificent shade of blue boring into his. He almost forgot he was supposed to make sure the barista bought his little act. "Darling, I told you, you should've waited for me. We would've solved this together and spared your nerves. As much as I like the grey strands in your hair, smiling suits you better."

At this comment, the man openly glared at him, but his eyes, those incredibly pretty eyes, were glinting with amusement that kept Barry's smile intact without him even putting real effort in it.

"I was waiting for you," the man joined in. "for full ten minutes even. It's not my fault you're always late, honey."

"Seems that supertardiness is one of my powers. Glad it didn't stop you from falling in love with me."

"Believe me, I'm questioning myself about this all the time," the man teased and smirked.

Barry couldn't contain the small chuckle escaping his lips and the absolute wonder that this whole charade was going so well despite them having no clue who the other person was. Barry was too old to believe in fairytales, but part of him never stopped being a dreamer. It was probably why this connection between him and the blue-eyed stranger seemed to be almost magical like it wasn't just random luck but a plan in the grand scheme of things. But that was just silly and he was the fool for imagining otherwise when he was probably the only one feeling this.

Once he couldn't face these thoughts without breaking off his act of a loving boyfriend, he glanced at the barista and found her looking at them with an odd expression. Some sort of mixture of amusement and intrigue, probably, but then again he was only skilled in reading criminals per se, so he could be wrong. He put the question of figuring it out later to the back of his mind before he broke the silence that was on the brink of becoming awkward. "Could we have the couple’s menu, please?"

The woman snapped out of whatever trance she was in and beamed at them without any trace of her previous embarrassment intact, taking in their coffee orders and asking for their names, for which Barry was more grateful than ever since it was the most subtle way of finding out who the man was he could hope for.

"Barry." "Oliver." They both said at the exact same time, momentarily stunning the whole party. Barry's eyes once again met Oliver's, already getting lost in them and their spellbinding glimmer as if he had nothing better to do that day than openly stare.

"You seemed to be in real sync," the woman pointed out as she was writing the names right into the huge red hearts decorating the cups that were most definitely ordered for the sole purpose of labeling everyone who proved to be worthy of getting the couple's menu. It was sweet, but all Barry could do was inwardly laugh about it when he noticed how Oliver glared at the cups. "Does this happen a lot?"

"Oh, yeah, all the time. We're practically the same person," Barry answered and saw the tiny smile playing on Oliver's lips from the corner of his eyes for what it was, ignoring how elevated it instantly made him.

"You're really lucky, then," the woman said and smiled so warmly Barry almost started regretting they were so openly lying to her. But only almost.

"Hear that, Ollie? You're lucky to have me," he teased and, for reasons he probably won't ever be able to grasp, bumped his shoulder against Oliver's. He had no idea where this boldness came from, but the man next to him didn't recoil or stiffen and he decided to take that as a good sign.

"You shouldn't encourage him," Oliver said to the barista, shaking his head. "He's insufferable enough as he is."

"Says the guy who wanted to burn this whole place down minutes ago," Barry countered. "Don't you think an apology is in order? You're the one that keeps telling me agreements and rules are here to be followed not broken every time I'm late."

This time it was Oliver who moved closer, not out of fake affection like Barry had, though. Not that it really mattered to Barry's hammering heart once he felt a strong arm hooking around his shoulders and spreading warmth through his whole body as he heard the blue-eyed stranger whisper: "You're playing with fire."

However bewildered Barry was from the whole situation, he didn't let this intimidate him. "Do you want me to tell certain someone we both know that it's okay not to apologize for being a bit of a jerk?"

"I was not-" Oliver began but his words came up short when Barry just arched one of his eyebrows at him. He was probably having too much fun with this, but after having such a boring day at work, this was exhilarating to the bone and he couldn't get enough of it. "Fine," Oliver sighed in defeat and aimed his next words at the barista, who was once again dedicating them that same odd look like before. She smiled after hearing Oliver's apology and waved with her hand, saying she understood Oliver's outrage at the policy she didn't see the point of either.

"See?" Barry remarked and smiled. "Wasn't so hard now, was it?"

Oliver merely chuckled and only then let go of Barry's shoulders, making him involuntarily wonder why it caused a small downfall to his mood not to be so close to the older man anymore.

The barista once again saved him from any more uncomfortable questions his brain was so fond of sending his way when she asked whether they wanted to have the cake packed or not. When Oliver confirmed the former option, she sheepishly asked for the name of his son and wrote down "William" on the pink box covered in numerous hearts of various sizes, which once again didn't fail to make Barry chuckle. He got a glare aimed at him in return, but something was telling him every time Oliver did that, the venom behind it got less and less serious.

Once they had the cake safely in the box and their coffees in their hands, Oliver proceeded to pay before Barry could even get his wallet out. Had things been any different, he would have argued about this, but he figured it made sense that only one of them would pay since they were "together" and besides, he understood it for Oliver's way of saying thank you since Barry was the sole reason he got the cake for his son in the first place.

Barry anticipated they would exchange vague goodbyes after that since the barista was already too busy with another customer to pay them any mind and be on their way back to their lives as if nothing like this happened with the only difference that they now had a hell of a story to tell, but no such thing happened. Barry proceeded to go sit down to his usual spot and Oliver followed, awkwardly asking whether Barry would mind him sitting there with him, to which Barry merely smiled and nodded.

"It's nice to meet you by the way," he said, not raising his hand for a handshake and risking the barista would see. "Circumstances could've been better, but it was fun."

"You made that abundantly clear," Oliver deadpanned.

"Hey, you got your cake, didn't you? So if anything you should be grateful."

Oliver shook his head but smiled at his strained tantrum and Barry felt warm all over because he knew that meant the man was as grateful as he should be and Barry didn't need to hear the words to know that. Somehow just seeing was enough in this case and send his heart skyrocketing for no valid reason yet again.

"Why did you do it, though?" Oliver eventually asked.

Barry could reply with another teasing remark, but he decided to go with the truth instead. "Because you were right. When you said that love between two people who are a couple shouldn't mean more than the love parents have for their child. I'm pretty sure they have a suggestion box here somewhere. We might let them know what we think."

"And see them ignore it and keep doing whatever the hell they want? No thank you."

"Are you always this optimistic or should I just consider myself lucky?"

"It's just been a hectic week for me."

"Central isn't to your taste?"

"Is it that obvious that I'm not from here?"

"Only to people who you're fake-dating," Barry teased. "You're visiting or?"

"I've recently moved in, actually. To stay close to my son."

Weirdly enough, only then did some trivial realizations dawn on Barry. After all, he knew from Iris that a certain person of her interest had moved from Star City to Central recently. "You're Oliver Queen, right?"

"We're already on the full name basis? Here I thought you were one of those people that would take things slow in a relationship."

Barry's eyes widened in amusement after hearing an honest-to-god joke from the man who seemed anything but carefree not so long ago. "I consider our relationship too special for that."

"In that case, you should know it's not fair I don't know your full name."

"Barry Allen," Barry replied, unable to fight off his smile. Exchanging names like this had to mean something, right? If Oliver planned to forget this day even happened, that they met in such a crazy way, he surely wouldn't go through the trouble of staying there, talking with Barry and possibly finding out more, would he? More importantly, what was Barry promising himself to get out of this? What was he hoping all this meant?

"I bet your son is gonna love the box once he sees it," he changed the subject to keep his mind in here and now. "Horrid pink with hearts all over. Who wouldn't love such a creative design?"

Oliver openly laughed at the comment which Barry stored in his brain for safekeeping on instinct. "He's gonna love the story behind it even more."

The conversation didn't cease any time soon after that. Sure, there were moments of silence between them, but they all felt as natural as the times their mouths were overloaded with words. Whoever walked past them, there was no way they suspected Oliver and Barry had just met. It was like the barista said, they were awfully in sync to be mere strangers to each other. Barry could muse about it in his head, but he knew that wouldn't get him anywhere he liked and so he just kept the conversation flowing as effortlessly as before.

They left the coffee shop together. Oliver thanked him again, with words this time, and after they exchanged goodbyes and smiles, that was it. Barry was on his way home, feeling like the world could collapse and he wouldn't notice because while his legs were moving, his mind had failed to leave Oliver's side just yet. Once he realized it, he chastised himself for keeping his hopes up when the odds of him seeing Oliver again were so close to zero it hurt. Not in a way how hearing Iris and Eddie were getting married did, of course, but it still hurt more than it probably should have considering everything. So he decided to stop thinking about it once and for all and just get on with his life, back to his routines and stability.

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To his utter surprise, he found out that it wasn't even remotely that simple when he walked into Jitters the next day and noticed Oliver waiting for his turn. He politely said hi as he passed by and was stunned to the bone when Oliver not only said it back but engaged him in the conversation before he could get too far. Just like that, they fell right back in whatever force was making sure they felt good in each other's company. And once it was their turn to order, somehow, without either of them confident enough to explain it, they just knew they were gonna drink from the cups covered in love again. It was a silent agreement between them. That day and every one that followed until it became another routine bringing joy to Barry's life.

Oliver rarely decided to take the cake currently on the offer with him home. Instead, he ordered just one piece which they both shared as they were sipping on their coffees and talking. Neither of them minded the charade they had to keep going in order to convince every barista that they were indeed a couple. It wasn't a matter of not wanting to risk someone calling them on their bullshit one day or not being able to live without having their coffees served in the horrid looking colors. The couple's menu was cheaper than getting all of it separate and while that shouldn't matter since the cheapest approach would be paying solely for their own coffees by themselves and not getting any cake, it made perfect sense to both of them when the possibility to spend the time together was on the table. Most of the baristas didn't care about whether they were telling the truth or not either. Only the woman from the first day did even though Barry was pretty sure she was fully aware they were only faking and just kept her mouth shut to keep the game going.

That was probably why Barry was doing it too. It was fun, exhilarating and yet so natural he didn't feel nervous or under any kind of pressure even when he forgot to watch himself and leaned maybe just too close to Oliver's personal zone. Then he remembered that he was supposed to fake they were in love after all and he leaned all the way in, using Oliver's biceps as a pillow or squeezing his shoulder and relishing in how it felt when Oliver returned the gesture.

It didn't take long before these moments in Jitters started being his favorite part of the day. He was no longer questioning the magical vibe between them. It was just warming him to the core that he had a friend who was so easy to talk to. With Iris being busy planning her own wedding, he had every right to miss such simple interactions that were about serious talk as much as it was about merely messing around. Two months of these regular meetings passed and he felt like Oliver could safely compete with both Joe and Iris about who knew him best and possibly come of it as the winner and from what he learned from Oliver, the feeling had to be somewhat mutual.

One day, however, turned out to be different after all when Barry entered Jitters and couldn't see Oliver anywhere inside the coffee shop. His face fell down for a split second before he realized he was being ridiculous, relying on a deal they never had in the first place. Oliver was his own person after all. He couldn't expect the billionaire to come there every day for the rest of their lives. Besides, it was probably a sign that Oliver had grown tired of their silly charade and this was his way of showing they needed to stop. Barry could understand that although he was definitely going to miss the cups where Oliver's name would occasionally be written with a small heart above the letter "i" instead of a dot. Even the mere thought made him smile despite how bitter he was still feeling.

But then the door to the coffee shop opened and there was Oliver with his blue eyes so bright Barry supposed all those magazines were rightfully going mad over them. Not that he'd read any of them, but he knew from all those times Iris' celebrity crush would be showing just a tiny bit too much.

Their eyes fell on each other, making Barry's heart leap in his chest when Oliver dedicated him one of his rare but immensely warm smiles. It was as if this one moment, however brief, was straight out of a romance novel, ending in the most horrid way ever when Barry noticed Oliver didn't come alone that day.

As soon as the blonde woman with glasses and a smile so charming Barry felt his stomach drop, leaving him utterly confused because what the hell, Oliver looked at her and Barry supposed that was that. He watched them interact, witnessing Oliver dedicate her the same smile, and fighting not to visibly squirm. She was really pretty and they looked good together. Barry should be happy for his friend because that was what they were. Friends. They were not together. Never would be. Not because Oliver wouldn't handle being in a serious relationship, Barry knew him well enough to know that was just bullshit the tabloids kept feeding to maintain interest among their readers, but because they were just pretending and that was okay. It was what they both wanted.

But then why did he suddenly feel so hollow?

He didn't get a chance to find out that day when he noticed both Oliver and the woman with him were making his way to him. Shit, shit, shit, what was he supposed to do? To say? What if they noticed him staring and thought he was weird? What if this woman was going to scold him for making the whole coffee shop believe he was dating her boyfriend? What if Oliver no longer wanted anything to do with him?

"No supertardiness today?" Oliver quipped. "Some special occasion?"

"If by special you mean Captain Singh was again in one of his moods, which was worse than usual and made me pretty much run away from there, then yeah," Barry replied, trying to be as nonchalant as possible and hoping to God it was playing off.

"Captain Singh from the CCPD?" the woman asked. "You work there?"

"As a forensic scientist," Barry confirmed and frowned. "And you are?"

"Oh, I'm Felicity. Smoak," the woman beamed and extended her hand. "I'm only asking because I'm applying for a job there."

"Barry Allen. And really? What kind?"

"Hacking. Not the bad kind, like stealing people's money or anything! Although I could do that, but only if it was meant to do good. Not that I think people should steal. They definitely shouldn't do that. Especially not when there could possibly be another way how to solve their situation."

"I think he gets it, Felicity," Oliver gently pitched in.

"Right, sorry! I'm just... I'm supposed to have my interview tomorrow and I thought I was fine, but now after hearing you talk about Captain Singh I feel like applying was the worst idea I ever had."

"Hey, it's okay," Barry said. "I'm sure it'll go fine. Besides, he's a lot nicer to newcomers even potential ones. Just convince him he needs you and you'll get the job."

"Wow," Felicity gasped and looked at Oliver, "you were right. He really does know what to say to make people feel better."

"I didn't say that," Oliver denied and if Barry didn't know him any better he would think he was blushing, but that was just a silly thought, wasn't it?

"Oh yeah, just like you don't come here every day at the exact say time, right? I wonder, is it because of the coffee or something else?"

"Actually, it's for the cakes," Barry joined and earned himself another glare that made him feel warm all over.

"Of course! I knew I wasn't imagining that there was something different about you. Now I know why," Felicity said, glancing briefly at Oliver's abdomen. But there was no harsh truth behind her words and they all knew it. She and Barry were just messing around. Oliver's torso, chest, basically everything definitely couldn't have been considered to be anything but dreamy not that Barry was picturing it or anything, but he had eyes and it was clear that Oliver was in good shape and that was that. It didn't have to go anywhere else.

"Well, I'm definitely not paying for either of you today, that's for sure," Oliver grumbled and turned to face the barista to order now that it was their turn.

"You're lucky we don't put up with you for your money, then," Felicity remarked, Oliver pretended he didn't hear it even though it was obvious he did and Barry could only stare at how carefree the whole situation was despite him almost bolting out of there mere minutes ago. Felicity's natural light just made it that easy to stay and have a good time. Oliver was really lucky to have her.

The billionaire didn't plan to order the couple’s menu that day, but before Barry could compose himself enough to make it seem like he didn't mind, which he really shouldn't anyway so what the hell, brain, yet again, Felicity cut the billionaire off and asked the barista to give him and Barry the couple’s menu, vouching for them that the man wouldn't find two people more in love in the whole city. Oliver rolled her eyes but let her have it her way, ignoring her every teasing remark about the romance-themed cups coming their way. Barry was too stunned to really pay them any mind as they were making a beeline for one of the tables.

Before they sat down, Oliver's phone suddenly buzzed, making him curse under his breath as he fished it out of his pocket. Barry figured it must be something related to his work when the billionaire just apologized to them, claiming he had to take it and marched outside with his coffee.

"Must be important," Barry pointed out sadly, remembering this wasn't the first time their afternoon got a bit ruined by Oliver's phone.

"He takes his job seriously. It wasn't always like that, but since he's had William, he's a changed man."

"You must be proud of him."

"More than anything."

"How long have you been together, by the way?"

Felicity almost chocked on her coffee. "Come again? Together as in being an item? Because we're not that. We might have been something before, but now we're just friends."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought-"

"I guess that makes sense. He's the guy everyone has a crush on and once you get to know him, it's even worse. I fell hard far too quickly and it was working for a while, but eventually, we both figured we were better off as friends. It wasn't meant to be for us."

"I'm really sorry to hear that." And he really was despite how his heart skipped a beat upon hearing the information.

"Don't be," Felicity shrugged. "It's better now. Really. He needs someone he has no problem to talk to. I wasn’t it for him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a place in his life. And what about you? Do you have someone like that?”

He should've known this topic would turn against him and he had no reason to be upset since his feelings had never passed the “unrequited love” stage. Felicity's obviously had. She'd gotten a chance with Oliver, they'd been happy for some time and then life had decided to take it from them. He'd had numerous opportunities to do something about his feelings and he hadn't. He had no one else to blame but himself. But maybe that was why it hurt so much even after such a long time.

"Nope, it's just me. I mean, I have family and friends, they are everything to me, but I don't have anyone... like that. There was this one person, but I... I never said how I felt and they're getting married next week so... it's just me."

"Oh, Barry, I'm so sorry," Felicity consoled.

"It's fine," he waved off and for the first time ever felt like these words represented the truth in his heart. Even if it was only remotely, he couldn't dwell on this for the rest of his life. He needed to move on sooner or later and it seemed like subconsciously, he'd already begun. "Just wasn't meant to be, but it's better to know that now than find out years later, right?"

"Yeah, it might not mean much right now, but I believe things like this don't work out for a reason. One day we'll both be grateful for it."

He smiled and nodded. "I think you might be onto something, Miss Smoak." His eyes then fell on Oliver who was still outside, talking relentlessly to whoever was on the other side of that call. In the chilly day of November, the billionaire looked barely as if he'd even registered the cold despite the visible puffs of air coming out of his mouth and reddened cheeks. He looked like he belonged there and Barry found it impossible to look away.

"What about Oliver?" he cleared his throat and looked at Felicity who was watching him with an expression he didn't dare to figure out. "Does he have anyone like that?"

Felicity glanced at her friend with a smile. "I don't think so. Not officially at least, but he's been different these past few weeks so I'd say someone has appeared in his life even though it's likely he hasn't realized it yet."

Barry wasn't sure how he felt about that. He considered Oliver a friend, one of the special ones even, so, of course, he wished to see him happy, but just imagining that one day the billionaire would come here to drink from love-themed cups and share one piece of cake with someone else, some beautiful woman probably, it... didn't sit right with him.

He probably got too used to having these meetings in Jitters as a constant in his life. With Oliver being the fundamental part of it. After Iris and Eddie got busy preparing their wedding and he found it goddamn hard to be in their presence, it really made sense that he would need someone new in his life. He had Cisco, Caitlin, Wally and Ralph he was thankful for it every day, but sometimes, you just need something new or to do things differently than you normally would to see everything from a new perspective and ultimately appreciate what you had all along.

His life just seemed so much easier with a cup decorated with hearts in his hands, an indicator that it's essential to find the time to mess around sometimes and to forget about everything else. It reminded him of the times he'd spent with Iris, those little moments when they would just put their feet up and talk about whatever till it was too late to even hope they would get enough sleep that night. And for the first time, he felt determined to reach out to her.

"You look like you just figured out something," Felicity pointed out. "Something good, I hope."

"Remains to be seen, I guess," Barry said but smiled with all sincerity within him.

"That actually reminds me... Are you by any chance free this Friday night?"

"Uh, yes? If this is about Captain Singh again, then I assure you that while he has bad days, he never made me work on Friday night."

"That's... good to know, sure, but it's not why I'm asking. It just so happens that I was supposed to go with Oliver and William to the movies this Friday, but something came up and I don't want the ticket to go to waste. You and Oliver really seem like you hit it off so the ticket is yours if you want it."

"Um, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Why not? You're Oliver's friend like me and if you're worried about William, he's thirteen and so basically, all he cares about is seeing that movie. He won't pay you that much attention and even if he did, just remember that he puts up with Oliver so you'll definitely be fine."

Barry wanted to say yes. It wasn't even his anxiety caused by meeting William for the first time holding him back from voicing out that one damn word. Oliver had talked about his son enough times for Barry to know William wasn't anyone to be wary of. He was into comics, movies, tv shows, and video games and Oliver was proud of him. It was apparent from every single word the billionaire uttered about his son. That counted for something. Had William been a spoiled brat, there would never be this spellbinding glint of content in Oliver's eyes.

So really, William was not the problem. But then what was?

He eventually settled for "I'll think about it," and maybe got a bit more relieved than he should have when Felicity flashed him a smile and nodded. They both noticed Oliver finally hung up and was now making his way back to them.

"Sorry about that," the billionaire said as he took his seat. "What did I miss?"

"Barry is going with you and William to the movies!" Felicity announced and watched both men gawp at her.

"That's not-" Barry started, but Felicity shushed him with a wave of her hand. "Oh come on, you were gonna say yes. You won’t regret it, I swear. Besides, it will make Oliver immensely happy if you come. Isn't that right, Oliver?"

Oliver stared at her hard, but seeing she wouldn't relent, he sighed and looked at Barry. "Yeah, what she said. But only if it's no trouble for you."

Barry didn't have any other choice than to cave in. Oh, what the hell, he thought, it was ridiculous that they hadn't met one single time outside Jitters anyway. "What movie are we seeing?"

"Ready Player One. Have you seen it already?" Felicity asked.

Barry had actually. The other day he went with Cisco, but it also didn't go unnoticed by him how the corners of Oliver's lips quirked into a tiny a smile as he agreed to go and he found himself ecstatic to see that movie again even though he was fully aware the motion picture itself had very little to do with it.

"No, but I always wanted to. I never pictured you to be into this kind of movies, though," he said to Oliver.

"You're implying I'm getting old?"

"N-no! Of course not! It's just that-"

"Relax, Barry," Felicity chuckled, "that's just your fake boyfriend making fun of you. There's no need to get all flustered for him. It doesn't do his ego any good."

Oliver narrowed his eyes at her and for a few seconds, Barry had the time to look away and at least try to figure out why today everything was so different. Why he was so flabbergasted when he should be just having a good time with Oliver like he always would. Felicity was nice and kind so there was no reason to even consider she had something to do with this, but something did. And why the hell couldn't he get to the bottom of it?

When Felicity and Oliver turned their attention back to him, he formed a smile, hoping neither of them could see how strained it was. It wore off quickly and soon he was back to talking with them like it was that easy. But then they were parting ways and Barry saw Felicity hug Oliver and he felt his insides churning and the bitterness was back. He needed to get his shit together before Friday would come. Leaving the impression he was weird shouldn't be the first thing he does in front of William, especially now when he really wanted to come and spend his Friday this way. So he told himself to suck it up and try to see the bigger picture here. It probably wasn't as big of a problem as he was making it out to be anyway.

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They had agreed to meet outside the movie theater and Barry was actually on time or at least that was what he first thought, but then the main entrance came to his sight and he stopped dead on his tracks. Because there Oliver and William were and he couldn't hear them. They were too far and the streets of Central were as alive as ever, but to him, there was no noise because the whole world fell silent. He just watched, surrounded by the imaginary tranquility, Oliver and William talking.

It looked like William was trying to explain something he considered amazing and Oliver was giving him his utmost attention. The billionaire must have understood something wrong, though, or at least pretended to because the next thing that happened was William shaking his head incredulously and soon falling into a round of laughter, which Oliver mirrored. He had definitely faked it, then, just to get his son to laugh like this. Before Barry knew it, he smiled at the scene before him almost feeling sorry he had to break it with his appearance, but after witnessing this little and yet meaningful interaction between the two, he felt much more relaxed than when he'd left his apartment that night.

"You're late," Oliver told him once he noticed him.

Barry innocently shrugged, not regretting his reasons for violating his punctuality that night. "I didn't want you to feel special, thinking I was trying for you. Your ego is already big enough as it is."

Before Oliver could counter the snarky comment, William snorted and all attention fell on him. "So this is the Barry you've been talking about?"

"He talks about me?" Barry asked, amused.

"Oh yeah, like all the time."

"He doesn't mean that. He's just trying to be funny," Oliver said and Barry smiled as their eyes locked for a brief moment. "I figured. Wonder who he got it from, though."

"Hear that, Dad? I'm just learning from the best like you taught me."

"Just get inside before I change my mind and we go home," Oliver replied, but the way he shook his head with an amused smile he couldn't fight was the only indicator they needed to know his threat wasn't meant to be serious at all. William looked like he wanted to say one more thing but chose to rather stay silent and go inside anyway with Oliver and Barry following behind. Once inside, he sent them to buy some snacks and drinks while he went to the washroom. Barry just found it endearing how Oliver rolled his eyes at his son being so bossy. Still having the moment between Oliver and William that was the reason he'd come late freshly on his mind, he was more than thrilled that he had come here in the end. Hearing Oliver talk about William was something he always enjoyed, it would always uncover this side of Oliver he doubted many people could see. But actually seeing them interact pushed it into a completely new level and he knew he would regret it if he didn't get to find out about that.

"He's cute," he said as they were waiting in the line.

"Don't let him hear you. He would never forget that."

"But it's true."

"He's thirteen. Saying he's 'cute' might as well be an insult to him."

"Oh yeah? And what’s your excuse? Because I remember you being bothered every time I called you cute in front of the baristas.”

“I wasn’t... bothered.”

“You calling me a liar, darling?”

“Nope, just delusional,” Oliver deadpanned and got away with it only because it was their turn to order. Once that was done the man behind the cash register looked at them and asked: “I don’t mean to intrude, but are you, guys, a couple?” Before they could answer he went on. “Because we have this offer going for tonight. We’ll give you a small bucket of chocolate covered cinnamon bears for half the price if you’re a couple.”

Barry had to chuckle at that because really what were the odds of two establishments having such a similar offer, but then another thing shocked him. Both he and Oliver remained silent, no longer trying to say that they were just friends hanging out even though that was the truth. Instead, they looked at each other, reading where they stood from each other's faces without any difficulty. What the hell, William was definitely going to be ecstatic about the extra snack anyway.

"Yeah, we're together and we'd love to have that bucket," Barry said, but there was something different about saying those words even though he had said similar ones so many times he'd already lost count. He saw Oliver smiling at him and that somehow caused the whole world to freeze and mute again, overwhelming him with an unfamiliar feeling of warmth. The next thing he remembered was Oliver handing him the said bucket with numerous brown bears inside and the two of them making their way to William who was already waiting for them in front of the entrance to the auditorium.

"You took your time," William concluded, clearly more intrigued than mad when he lifted his eyebrows questioningly.

"Yeah, that's on me," Barry said. "But we got you this, so all forgiven?"

William took the small bucket and beamed for a split second before he looked back at Barry, all serious again. "You're all good. This time. But I'll be watching you so you don't teach my dad your habit of always coming late. Like I said, he talks about you a lot."

"I believe what William meant to say was 'thank you', right, buddy?" Oliver mildly chastised his son.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," William said and rolled his eyes when Oliver arched his eyebrows at him expectantly. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Barry and Oliver said in unison, which made William snort before he took his drink from Oliver's hands and motioned for them to follow him. "We should get inside. It's gonna start soon."

Both men followed him and sat down at their rightful place with William sitting between them, exchanging the bucket with cinnamon bears for the one filled with popcorn with his dad, obviously saving that for later, which made Barry smile for probably the hundredth time that night. It wasn't like he minded, though, when it was making him feel warmer than he ever had. Even when the movie started, his mind didn't completely get the hint it was time to focus on the screen instead of the two people beside him. He was actually glad he had already seen the picture. That way it didn't matter how many times his eyes flew over to Oliver and William to watch them for a few minutes instead because he would still be up to date. He just couldn't help it.

It was clear the screening of Ready Player One was going to end for good soon. Most people had already seen it and thanks to that the auditorium was almost completely empty. Barry had never witnessed anything like it since he'd always been into movies and wanted to see them as soon as possible, but this solitude was really... nice. It gave Oliver and William the room to comment on what was happening on the screen without needing to worry they were disturbing someone else.

William would occasionally brag about how much more pop culture references he could spot than Oliver and no matter what, the billionaire didn't attempt to silence him, to put him down. He didn't get bored, he listened to all his son said and even looked truly immersed by the movie. The sight made Barry so spellbound he couldn't stop staring for several minutes and even when he eventually forced himself to watch the screen and not look away again, his mind stayed there in that magical moment. Everything he'd seen that night convinced him that Oliver was a good father, which was another thing tabloids never got right. Their loss, he thought and kept smiling till the end of the movie.

After they left the movie theater, William excused himself again when he spotted one of his friends from school to go say hi.

"I'm really glad I came with you, guys," Barry said once he was alone with Oliver.

"Even though you've already seen the movie before tonight?" the billionaire asked and chuckled when Barry's eyes widened. "Yeah, I knew the whole time. You might be an amazing forensic scientist, but that doesn't mean you can lie."

"I don't know if I should take this as a compliment or an insult."

"Take it as me showing my gratitude you came anyway, then. I keep hearing it's not one of my stronger suits."

"Oliver Queen is actually bad at something and openly admitting it? Has the world started ending while I wasn't watching or what?" Barry teased and chuckled when the billionaire rolled his eyes at him in that affectionate way he did with William. Then, however, Barry’s phone buzzed, alerting him of a message from Iris. Being reminded he had to attend her wedding and that he still wasn't completely okay with it, his mood fell down so radically Oliver would have to be blind not to notice.

"Hey, you okay?" he gently asked with nothing else but clear concern written all over his face.

"It's nothing," Barry lied, all too aware Oliver could tell and expecting to be questioned about this further, but the billionaire didn't say anything. He just nodded, seemingly content to let the silence stretch out and let this be the way of how this amazing night was supposed to end. Barry should've been grateful that his friend wasn't prying, but for some reason, he decided to clarify regardless.

"You remember how I mentioned two of my friends getting married?"

"Iris and Eddie, right?"

"That's them. And it's happening next Tuesday and I just...," he trailed off, not even knowing where he was going with this.

"You don't feel like you're ready yet," Oliver finished for him, obviously remembering all that Barry had willingly shared with him about his bitter experience with love. If the circumstances were any different, Barry would be touched that Oliver cared so much he listened and remembered all that had been said between them. But like this, he just felt embarrassed to the bone.

"Barry, there's nothing wrong with taking your time," the billionaire said and although Barry believed his words, there was just something odd about the way he said them. Or maybe it was about the special kind of sadness he could see in these piercing blue eyes before him. He couldn't decipher what it meant for anything and it was driving him mad because here he was, bothering Oliver with his problems when the latter could be possibly dealing with something much worse and just keeping it to himself to have this weight solely on his shoulders. Now that was pathetic and for a while, Barry felt speechless until he remembered what amazing time he'd been having every time he'd met with Oliver and an idea popped up in his head.

"Come with me," he said before he could think better on it.

"What?"

"To the wedding. As my plus one."

Oliver stared him down, obviously not buying he was being serious. "You want me to go to a wedding and pretend we're together in front of dozens of people?"

"Why not? We're already pretending and obviously doing a good job."

"You call fooling a bunch of baristas, people we don't know, a good job?"

Barry slumped his shoulders and let his head fall when it occurred to him how ridiculous he was being. Of course pretending in front of his friends and family would be different and honestly, he had no right to ask that of Oliver so what the hell was wrong with him? Was he really so scared of facing Iris and Eddie that he forgot he and Oliver were in this together as equals? Since when was he so selfish?

"You're right. I'm sorry. I don't know why I even suggested it. Just forget it happened," Barry pleaded and looked up only after he heard William making their way to them.

They said their goodbyes quickly after that, which made Barry hate himself immensely more. He just had to ruin a perfect evening like that, didn't he? He wondered what that meant for him and Oliver. Whether the billionaire was upset and would ditch their regular meetings in Jitters or worse, ditch him completely. He got his answer at least partly the next Monday when he went to Jitters and Oliver wasn't there. But honestly, he had no one else to blame but himself so he took the coffee with him outside, feeling the breath of winter embracing him mercilessly and taking it as the punishment for being such a fool as it was and he went home, already trying to prepare himself for tomorrow.

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Surprisingly, interacting with both Iris and Eddie wasn't as hard as he thought it would be. Somehow the bond he had with them found its way to work again despite his disbelief and talking with them felt easy. Even seeing them together, stealing glances, smiling and just being happy gave him this vibe that it was how it was supposed to be. They belonged together. It was as clear as a day when they were both glowing in the most beautiful way there was.

Barry felt happy for them as sincerely as he should have right from the start. It made him realize he had been even more of a fool all this time. He could have honestly enjoyed this wedding, but the way he'd parted ways with Oliver last Friday was all he could think of. He could deny it all he wanted every time someone asked him if he was okay, but it didn't make his pain disappear or him forget about it. The ceremony hadn't even started yet, but he already knew he had to fix this somehow or at least try. He would call Oliver after the wedding or maybe come to his apartment. What if Oliver wasn't home or refused to let him in? What if he didn't want to have anything to do with him ever again?

He was so immersed with what-ifs and maybes that he failed to realize everyone around him turned their attention away from wherever it was to openly stare at something. He got out of his trance only after the voice he knew all too well found its way to his ears.

"Seems that you're already rubbing off me," Oliver said with a smile. "But unlike you, I have a valid excuse for being late. I had to find out which wedding was the right one. Did you know there are two other weddings happening today? It's November. Who gets married in a goddamn November?"

"That'd be us," Eddie said cheerily as he and Iris appeared beside them. "You have to forgive us. We just couldn't wait any longer to make this official. Besides, we had no idea Oliver Queen himself would come by."

"It's such an honor to meet you, Mr. Queen," Iris babbled out and punched Barry on his arm, which finally made him overcome his shock of seeing Oliver there. "Why didn't you tell me you were bringing someone with you when I asked?"

"Actually, that's on me," Oliver claimed. "It wasn't the plan. I just changed my mind in the last second."

"You did?" Barry blurted out as the fool he was, still unable to believe this was really happening.

Oliver looked at him and smiled so warmly Barry thought his heart was going to burst and that was no longer normal. Even in his standards. He knew he was missing something, but figuring it out seemed still so out of reach. "You're gonna introduce me to your friends or not?"

"Right, sorry. Iris and Eddie, this is Oliver," he said, suspecting Oliver was daring him to introduce him as his boyfriend. Barry, however, said or implied no such thing and just left the introduction as it was. With a single look at both Iris and Eddie he could tell they saw them as the couple they weren't. He had no idea why he refused to tell them they were wrong, though.

"How long have you known each other?" Iris asked.

"Just a few months," he replied and somehow the conversation kept going until Iris and Eddie excused themselves to get ready and Barry finally had time to talk to Oliver alone.

"Why did you come? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but... when I didn't see in you in Jitters yesterday, I thought..."

"I'm not so easy to get rid of, Barry, don't worry. Besides, there's booze and cake for free. You know me, how could I say no to that?"

Barry laughed at that and squeezed Oliver's arm in the affectionate way they were both used to by now. "Thank you, Ollie."

Oliver dedicated him another smile and that was that. The two of them never left each other's side for too long during the whole event. They fell into a conversation with numerous people Barry knew, Joe, Cisco, Caitlin, Wally, Dr. Wells, Ralph, all of them obviously suspecting he and Oliver weren't just friends and yet Barry didn't correct any of them because he was having such an amazing time that he thought this would totally ruin it and he didn't want to do that the way he had the last time.

Being with Oliver just felt so refreshing and easy, he didn't feel like the stranger he'd been worried he would be all this time. He was bursting with gratitude and he wanted Oliver to know that because he was all too aware the billionaire had helped him to heal from his unrequited feelings and how they'd broken him. He thought the damage couldn't be erased or conquered, but thanks to Oliver that was exactly what had happened without him knowing all along.

This was what kept him smiling during the whole ceremony as he watched Iris and Eddie exchange their vows. His eyes fell on Oliver's hand right next to his and he had no idea what possessed him right at that moment, but the next thing he knew, he lightly stroked the back of Oliver's hand with the tips of his fingers and before he could freak out, Oliver turned his hand with his palm up and stopped his own hand from retracting. Barry relaxed and entangled his fingers with Oliver's, letting the all too familiar feeling of warmth by now spread and his heart go skyrocketing at the contact.

They didn't let go for the rest of the ceremony and Barry was pretty sure no one was watching them, trying to determine if they were together or not. This right there was just for them and only after they had to stand up and let go, it occurred to Barry to actually wonder whether he knew the answer to the one question of all those people staring at them. He'd been pretending all this time to be in love with his friend. Had it really gotten so out of hand that he failed to notice he stopped faking it somewhere along the way without taking any hint?

Suddenly, he felt like the whole world was going to collapse on him. Remembering all those times his knees went weak upon seeing Oliver smile or when a shiver ran down his spine upon standing so close to the billionaire their bodies were almost touching. Back then, he was too exhilarated that he could still make friends, that he had made a friend as amazing as Oliver and that after all this time he finally felt normal and content and... happy. He'd been healing all this time and he just didn't know, but now it all made sense and the realization was more than just dreadful.

Because how could he expect Oliver to ever feel the same? Oliver Queen whom every girl wanted, who was funny and much more thoughtful than anyone would expect him to be, who was an amazing father who cared about small things and would always do anything to make his loved ones happy. And who, most importantly, was straight. Barry inwardly cursed. He was so screwed he wanted to cry. How had he let this happen? Why couldn't he just stay out of the quarrel the day he'd met Oliver? Why couldn't he just stop going with this play of pretending they were in love so willingly?

Everything was caving in. The world suddenly felt too loud and his head hurt. He desperately needed to get out for at least a minute, so he marched towards the nearest exit, not giving even a tiny bit of damn that it was too cold to stand outside only in his suit. All he wanted was to think in silence and peace, but even that seemed to be too much to ask when he noticed Oliver came after him, all perfect and dashing, making Barry's body wanting to react despite him being all too aware Oliver was the last person he wanted to see right at that moment.

"Hey," the billionaire said with concern written all over his face yet again and Barry wanted to laugh at the irony that Oliver himself was partly the reason for it and just didn’t know about it. "Is everything alright? If it's too much for you to be here, we can leave. Just say the word."

"No, it's not that," Barry sighed, unable to look at him. "Everything's fine. I just needed to get some air and think."

"Alright. Then I leave you to it. Just don't stay here too long. I have a feeling Joe would blame me if you froze to death."

Barry didn't laugh as he was supposed to. He didn't even smile or look at Oliver who turned away to leave. But that was the thing, deep inside Barry didn't want him to leave. Not like he had last Friday and not like he was leaving now, which was why he uttered that question he couldn't let go no matter what. "Why did you come, Oliver? The real reason this time."

The billionaire came closer and spoke after letting out a huge exhale. "Just wanted to make sure you'd be okay."

Barry knew Oliver well enough to know it was true, but he also knew him enough to figure out it wasn't all Oliver had to say. "I was doing okay. You saw that so you could leave any time you wanted, but you stayed anyway. Why?"

"If you wanted me to leave, Barry, you should've said so."

"That's not what I meant."

"Then tell me what's wrong."

Barry took a deep breath, trying to make sense of the mess his thoughts were in and failing to find the right words, growing more agitated with every passing second because Oliver was waiting for him to explain what was going on with him and he so desperately wanted to but found it too hard to even say anything at that point.

"Everyone inside thinks we're together," he finally said.

"So? I thought that was the plan. The two of us, pretending and lying to your family and friends, or did I get it wrong?" Oliver said and Barry knew that was meant to hurt.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Oliver denied but sighed when it was obvious Barry wouldn't let go. "I just find it interesting that lying to those you love is comes easy for you. You could've introduced me as your friend and denied there was more between us, but you didn't."

"From what I gathered you didn't deny anything either."

"Well, maybe because I didn't want to deny whatever they were thinking in the first place. Ever thought of that?" Oliver almost growled or maybe that was what Barry's messed up brain was telling him it was because at this point he really wasn't sure anymore. It felt like the world was trying to fool him, daring him to fall for its tricks just one more time and come of it finally broken for good because there was no way he had just heard that right. Oliver couldn't have said any of that because it just didn't make any sense. Not that it mattered because Barry's brain completely shut down once he finally noticed how close they were standing, looking directly into each other's eyes, unable to look anywhere else.

Barry's heart was hammering against his ribcage, deafening any other sound and most importantly all his common sense from trying to bring him back to reality. He didn't know how to respond, what to say, he just wanted to know what it felt for at least one fucking second and so in a flash, he connected their lips in the most horrible angle he could have and let it all crumble on him, ceasing to care completely whether Oliver would rebuff him, shove him away and never speak to him again. He just needed to know it was real. That he hadn't imagined ever falling for his best friend again and that he didn't wish more than anything to stop pretending.

He got much more, though, because Oliver didn't break away from him at all. Against all Barry's expectations, Oliver fixed their angle like it was the easiest thing on this world and kissed him back as zealously as possible, making Barry feel he could burst any second with pushing it even further and biting on Barry's nether lip, requesting an entrance Barry granted on instinct and moaned at the sensation, feeling his pants rapidly getting too tight to his liking, but he wasn't ready to let it end just yet. It was a dream coming true for him. Who would want something like that to end?

"I knew it! I knew I wasn't hallucinating it," Cisco's voice suddenly came to the surface and broke the trance he and Oliver were in, causing them to jump from the embrace and Barry wanting to die right on spot.

"Cisco, what hell, man? What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you two. It's time to cut the cake and Iris wants you there. Although I'm pretty sure she'd be willing to let it slide if she knew you were this... busy. I mean, Oliver Queen? Common mortals like us weren't enough for you or what?"

"You do realize I'm right here and I can hear you just fine?" Oliver asked, openly glaring at Cisco who backed away immediately. "Right, sorry. I'm just gonna run from this not at all awkward moment and say you're both alright."

"We'll be right behind you," Barry promised and tried to pull off a smile which was probably more strained than ever before he turned to face Oliver with an unreadable expression on his face. "That was..."

"Close," the billionaire finished for him. "It's a good thing he caught us like this instead of us arguing. I can imagine you being questioned about having troubles in paradise is the last thing you want."

"Wait, what?"

Oliver let out a deep exhale and finally forced himself to meet Barry's eyes. "You should go inside before they get too worried. Tell them I'm sorry, but I had to leave early."

"Leave? What are you talking about?" Barry said and grabbed Oliver's hand before the man could get too far.

Oliver glanced at their joined hands and lifted his free hand to gently separate them. "You got what you wanted. They're not gonna doubt anything now. But I'm done." He briefly looked at the ground, clenching his teeth, before looking at Barry again. "This would be so much easier if it just stayed in that stupid coffee shop." And without any more words, the billionaire walked away, not stopping or looking back and making Barry hate himself for failing to prevent this from happening. He watched Oliver leave again and although it didn't make any sense to him at first, after a few more seconds of silence, he realized he was the only one to blame for this. Because Oliver thought Barry had seen Cisco coming and kissed him only to make sure everyone believed they were together and honestly, could he really blame him for it? When he was too chickenshit to say anything to prove him wrong?

He did go back inside after that, but feeling more hollow than ever before, he wasn't a joy to be around anymore and eventually ended up leaving early too, thinking of everything he felt during that make-out session and coming to the most dreadful realization there was. He was in love with Oliver Queen and he just let that man walk away.

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Oliver knew both Felicity and William were trying to make him talk about it, but it was pointless. He was already getting over it, he just needed more time. It wasn't like Barry had ever tried to fool him into thinking it was more than just pretense on his part. Oliver had only himself to blame for suspecting this and now he had to pay the price. It was fine, though. He knew how to handle rejection or... heartbreak even. It wasn't anything new to him despite everyone assuming otherwise considering who he was.

Several days passed since the wedding. Oliver hadn't gone to Jitters at all as the coward he was, knowing all too well the building alone would remind him of Barry enough to make the pain raw again and ruin his whole facade and that wouldn’t help him with getting over this, which was why he turned away the offer of the owner of Jitters himself after he got a phone call from him that night, finding out he had supposedly won some price even though he was one hundred percent certain he hadn't taken part in any competition in the first place.

The man eventually admitted he just made that up to make him come because he had a daughter who, again supposedly, was a huge admirer of Oliver Queen and would die for a photo with him. Feeling too tempted to tell the man to shove it and go to hell, it took Oliver several seconds of silence to overcome the overload of emotions inside and say he'd be right there, already regretting ever going with it the second he hung up, but there was no coming back from it. Besides, there was a chance the man was being honest and in that case, his visit to Jitters would be a good thing, but for some reason, he couldn't help but doubt the man's words. It didn't stop him from leaving his apartment in the end, though.

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It was way past the closing hours, but the coffee shop was still all lit up, leaving an odd impression with how empty it was. There were no... there was no Barry and that was the whole problem. And it hurt just like Oliver suspected it would. But he told himself to shove it and finally pushed the entrance door and stepped inside.

"Hello? Anyone here?" he asked, getting no answer, which was weird because he was expected after all, so what was happening? Was this some kind of prank or a crazy way to rob him?

"You're here," he suddenly heard and witnessed his heart skipping a beat as Barry appeared behind the cash register. He spun around, marching to leave on instinct because this was just too much to take for him, but froze on spot when Barry shouted: "No, wait! Please stay. I just want to talk."

They couldn't talk. They'd lost that ability after the kiss and just being in the same room felt too suffocating, but somehow despite that, the idea of him walking away after hearing Barry beg him to stay without holding anything back seemed... wrong to him. So he stayed and turned around to face the other man, folding his arms and looking anywhere else. "Then talk."

Barry slowly made his way to him, stopping soon enough to leave several feet separating them. "Remember how we were making fun of the owner for coming with the whole menu for couples in the first place? It turned out he's actually a really nice guy. Maybe a bit too trusting since I convinced him to lend me the keys for tonight so quickly, though."

"Where are you going with this, Barry?"

"Just wanted to tell you how much this place means to me. It's not about good coffee or cakes or the whole vibe I get from it, although I love all those things too, don't get me wrong. But there's more to it."

Everything was screaming at Oliver to put an end to whatever this whole thing was and leave this part of his life finally behind, but then there was this small voice nagging at him to stay and listen. Barry was his friend first after all. He owed him to be there and listen when it was required.

"Every time I hang out with friends, we end up going here and we look forward to it. We don’t find it weird at all," Barry went on and took one step forward. "I met you here." Another step. "Out of all the places, this was the one where I felt like I could relax no matter what." And another. "After the whole thing with Iris and Eddie, I thought I would never be the same again. That I was broken and there was no way to fix it. And it took time, but eventually, I healed and let go. Partly thanks to this place too." He took the last step, locking their eyes and smiling before he uttered his next words."And I've fallen in love under this very roof and I was more late than I've ever been to realize it. But I know now and I'm sorry I couldn't say something sooner."

Oliver wanted to believe it. It pained him how much he wanted to believe it, but what if Barry was just taking pity on him? What if he was meant to have his heart broken countlessly worse than he already had?

"You once said," Barry broke his train of thought, knowing him perfectly enough to suspect what was going on in his mind, "that I was a terrible liar and you were right. Then you told me that you couldn't understand why I found it so easy to lie to my friends and family. And, Ollie, you were right about that too because it's one of the hardest things anyone could ask of me. The reason why I made it look so easy is that I wasn't lying in the first place. I wasn't pretending anymore. The truth is I've probably stopped a long time ago and I'm pretty sure so have you."

"But what if it's not real? What if we're just fooling ourselves like we've been fooling others?"

Barry slowly placed both his hands on Oliver's cheeks. "I think it's been real the whole time. We were doomed right from the start. We just didn't know about it. I'm a terrible liar and you could've told me to go to hell the second you got that cake for William the day we met, but you didn't. You just went along with it like I did. All I'm asking is for you to go with it now too if it's what you want. Because it is what I want and I'm sick of getting everything in the way of me saying it."

Oliver smiled before he could stop it and he knew right there on the spot that there was no reason to question what this was between them anymore. He knew what he was feeling, what he had been feeling for a long time now, and he wasn't going to fight it when Barry was right there, promising happiness Oliver was certain he would deliver when he had been doing it the whole time they'd known each other. It was time to stop refusing it. It was time to embrace it instead. And so he did just that when he wrapped his arms around Barry's waist and sealed the deal with a kiss, letting it serve as his yes to the other man's question. Now and every time anyone would ask him again. Because it felt real. Getting another taste of Barry's lips, he couldn't be more certain he was right where he belonged and it no longer mattered to him it had taken him so long to realize it and accept it. He was now convinced he wouldn't let Barry go for anything and that was what was mattered.

"I take that's a yes, then?" Barry asked once their lips parted and they could catch their breaths again.

"What, you didn't find that convincing enough?"

"I'm not sure," Barry replied and smirked. "You're much better at lying than me after all. You might as well keep trying harder to make me fully convinced."

"You're lucky I have no problem with that," Oliver finished and connected their lips yet again, already sure he would never get tired of this sensation because it was tangible. It was real and most importantly it was theirs.

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It was a regular day the next time they decided to meet in Jitters again. Barry still couldn't get over the fact this was officially his life. He'd never been this happy and sometimes there were still days he thought life would decide to take that away from him in the most horrible way possible, but Oliver never left again and that had to count for something, right?

They were waiting in the line as they had been numerous times before and yet something felt different this time. Their eyes were locked, hands always busy with finding countless ways how to stay in direct contact. They were in their own world, immersed and happy beyond belief it was something only the two of them shared. No one could take that away from them because they would be foolish to ever let it go.

"Welcome to Jitters," a barista they didn't recognize brought them back to reality. "What can I get you?"

Barry ordered for both of them and then finished with "By the way, we're together, so we'll go with the couple’s menu if that's okay" and feeling utterly joyful that this was official and as true as it could be.

The cashier, however, apologized instead and said they were no longer serving the couple’s menus because it was stupid to begin with according to their owner and someone had complained the policy implied one kind of love meant more than any other. Barry didn’t appreciate the irony of this at all, but he tried to wave it off even though part of him felt sad that he would never get to drink from the horrendous looking cups again especially now that he was so blessed with love and aware of it. Oliver must have read it somehow from his face as the know-it-all he was because once the barista wrote their names on the regular cups the billionaire asked: "Can I borrow your pen for a second?"

"Yeah, sure," the barista replied and handed him the object in question.

Oliver thanked him and reached for one cup, either writing or drawing something on it and then doing the same thing on the other cup. Barry couldn't tell what it was, though, because Oliver made sure it was indecipherable from the movements of his hand as the smartass he was, handing the cups back to the barista so Barry couldn't see why he needed the pen for as long as possible. Even once their coffees were ready, Oliver took them both and left Barry to pay for it which had been the plan anyway so Barry decided to let it slide and followed his boyfriend, relishing was he could call him that now, to their table. Only then Oliver handed him his steaming coffee with a smile. "I'm gonna miss the cakes."

"We can buy a cake next time we're here and share it like we used to. We don't need some special menu to be able to do that."

Oliver softly chuckled with so much affection Barry had to mirror it. "I guess you're right."

Barry finally turned the cup around in his hands so he could see Oliver's creation and stopped breathing for several seconds in shock and so much love he swore it had to be illegal because there was no way people could feel this good and get away with it. In the end, he decided to be immersed in it instead because that was what it was supposed to be about anyway.

He didn't throw away his cup that day. He took it home with him and for the rest of his life, he would wake up with it in his eyesight, reminding him that dreams could come true after all. He had never imagined a used coffee cup, although he did try to clean it as much as possible without damaging it, with his name in the center of a huge heart struck with an arrow to be the sign of something like that, but then again, he hadn't anticipated having someone like Oliver in his life either and here he was. And here he would always be. No matter what.

#olivarry #olivarry fic #fake relationship #slow burn #my last tribute to this amazing ship #hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I did

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thegreatescape · 5 years

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SKAM ITALIA CONVENTION

FIRST OF ALL, sorry for my English. Please, don’t repost the pics from this post. I wanna share them with you but you have to respect this, pretty please ;;

PANEL

At the panel I sat in the second row and when I saw the cast I was shocked by their beauty! Even if it didn't last long, they were so nice and funny and it was wonderful to sing “Buon Viaggio” along with them (even if it was a bit embarrassing haha).

PHOTO-OP WITH ROCCO

As soon as I entered the room I had an heart attack because he was so pretty and he seemed such a genuine guy. He smiled at me and said ‘Hi!’ with the softest voice and opened his arms to hug me (I was shaking so hard haha) and I told him I was very happy to meet him. We were still hugging when I asked him "Can I hug you?", as if we weren't already doing it, and he laughed and said "Ehm, yes? Sure!" and he held me tight as we took the picture. I hugged him another time and I was like "I’m so sorry" because I didn’t want to bother him and he said "No don’t worry” and he hugged me even tighter ;;

MEET & GREET WITH LUDOVICO

When he arrived it was a bit embarrassing because there was complete silence. We were all so nervous and, damn, it was awkward. So he broke the silence saying "Should we play cards?" diffusing the tension.

- He told us that "Giovanni Garau with the U because he is Sardinian" was improvised because, while they were shooting, their make-up artist (who was next to the bouncer) jokingly said 'Garao?' and Ludovico was like "No, it's Garau with the U. And then I asked myself: why is it with the U? Ah, because it's Sardinian! And I said it!" lmao - He said that when they were shooting the scene in which he and Francesco had to run away from the police they bumped into the quod where there was the director, because they were running too fast, while Federico and Nicholas were very slow. - Then he talked about "Aggrappati a me” and told us that the child with whom he acted didn’t collaborate sometimes. Basically she refused to wear a coat but when the director asked her if she wanted Ludovico to put it on her she nodded HAHA - He also talked about that time he worked with Muccino and he said that there was a traumatizing scene because he couldn't remember his line and Muccino scolded him and he started crying because he couldn't take it anymore ;; But then he was so proud of himself when he was able to do it! Seriously he was so sweet! - At the end I apologized because I always tag him on my drawings and he said "Are you kidding? That makes me happy! Have I ever replied to you?" I told him yes and he said, "Ah well, that's the most important thing! Unfortunately I usually don’t have time to reply to people and I'm so sorry". We posed to take a selfie but I asked him to take it and he was like: Why? Me: I'm shaking. He laughed: I don't believe you, liar! haha

PHOTO DUO FEDERICO & ROCCO - PHOTO-OP WITH FEDERICO - GROUP PIC

Here I met Federico for the first time and I was really nervous because he’s my favorite person in the world. When I arrived I greeted Rocco again with another hug, and then I clung to Fede just saying "Ciao" because I was literally shaking haha. He had such a soft expression and a tender smile that melted my heart. So, a bit embarrassed, I asked both of them if it was okay to make a group hug and Federico said "Yes, let's squeeze hard!" And I found myself sprawled between him and Rocco. It was the best moment of my life! Then I greeted them with another hug, continuing to apologize, especially to Rocco because it was like our 10th hug.

When I returned to the room, there was only Federico ready to take individual photos and while we were queuing, Ludovico came out of nowhere and queued with us hiding among the people. When it was his turn, Federico started laughing and caressed his cheek and posed hugging him tightly. Then Ludovico sat down in a chair next to where they were taking pictures. I wanted a specific pose with Federico and I was trying to find a way to explain it to him without 'ambiguous' but when I mimed it he said "Oh you want me to take you from behind?" I widened my eyes and he immediately realized that it was misunderstandable and he said "That sounded bad!" We took the pic and I gave him another hug because he kept smiling so softly and he was the cutest little muffin ever.

Then I lined up for the third time ready for the group photo. I introduced myself to Pietro and Francesco and I greeted the others again (yes, hugging them all again because it seemed polite to greet them lol). After we took the pic there was another round of hugs, luckily this time it started from them otherwise I would have felt intrusive, and I ran upstairs to the autographs session.

AUTOGRAPHS LUDOVICO / ROCCO / FEDERICO / PIETRO / FRANCESCO

Unfortunately I had no extras with Pietro and Francesco, so I gave my drawings to my friends. Franz was very happy about the drawing and said he would have thanked me at the dinner (and he did it). Pietro, on the other hand, recognized my drawing from Instagram and he was so nice to leave me a note saying "Thank you Giulia, your drawing is WONDERFUL!" with his autograph ;;

The first one I talked to was Ludovico: I thanked him so much for his work and for making the meet a unique experience and I gave him the drawing. As soon as he saw it he widened his eyes and stared at me incredulously "Woah! It's beautiful. Did you do it?! I have no words, it's fantastic, you have a unique talent. Amazing!” and he continued like this for a minute while I was screaming inside. Then we took the pictures!

Then I met Rocco and when I arrived we hugged for the 45987243 time. Rocco is SO shy! Every time he hugged someone, he had a nervous laugh and lowered his head, smiling, embarrassed ... ADORABLE. By the way, I told him something personal and I thanked him for his work because he helped me a lot. He stared me straight in the eyes and he looked kinda sad because he saw that I had tears in my eyes and I was desperately trying not to burst into tears and in fact I told him that it was better to change subject because I didn't want to make him uncomfortable and he said: “Don’t worry. I’m the one who should thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m happy that you felt comfortable to open up to me, it's wonderful knowing that I’m helping someone."

Then I gave him my drawings telling him those were my way of saying ‘thank you’. When he saw them he lit up and said "NOOOO! SO COOL! They are beautiful! Wow, AMAZING! Oh, wait… this is Fe Cè!” and I realized that I had also given him Federico's drawing by mistake haha

We took the selfie, I looked at him with tears in my eyes and it was like he had read my mind because he said "Another hug?" laughing because it was like the thousandth! When I left the queue I read his autograph where he had written "Love yourself always, Giulia"and I cried while I was waiting for Federico’s autograph lol

When I saw Fede I thanked him for everything and I told him that he’s such a great actor and a beautiful human being and he was literally a sunshine because he smiled from ear to ear with his hands clasped over his heart; I gave him the drawings and he also complimented me and thanked me so much. Then we took 3 selfies and hugged another time.

DINNER WITH CAST

The dinner was the best part of the day. I was at the same table of Federico and Pietro, and I was quite close to Pietro. I thanked him for leaving me that note and he lit up and stretched out his arm to be able to shake my hand and he caressed me saying "Ah you are the girl of the drawing! Honey, you gave me a gift! It's one of the most beautiful drawings I've ever seen! I've seen some good ones in my life but yours was perfect, so realistic”. I just smiled and thanked him because I didn't know what to say and he smiled at me in a very sweet way ;; During the dinner we talked a bit with Federico and Ludovico but unfortunately we couldn't hear that much because there was caos.

When we finished the pizza and they brought the desserts Federico went to sit right next to Pietro and started asking everyone if someone wanted to eat his tiramisù with him and after everyone said no, he saw that I was staring at him and he stretched the plate "Do you want some? Please help me I can’t eat all of it!" He ‘insisted’ a few times and in the end I said yes and so I ate a piece of it. When I gave it back to him, he looked at the plate and said: "Just that? But you ate a small piece!” And I said “Fede, there was just one fork, maybe I should ask the waiter to bring another one!” and he was like “Oh no, don’t worry. There’s no problem! I eat with this!” lmao So Pietro took a girl's phone and started filming the scene saying “Giulia is eating all of Federico's tiramisu!” It was so embarrassing haha A few minutes later Pietro got up to go to Ludovico - I don't know where I found the courage since I am so shy - and I went to sit next to Fede and I said “I wanted to stay right next to you” regretting it a second later. Federico explained us that he calls Rocco “lizard” because when he yawns he looks like a lizard and he makes a very strange sound. And he chose this nickname because he wanted to find a name that was as humiliating as "Bambi" haha Then he told us a tongue twister and he was the only one able to say it “Se ti stizzisci, stizziscitici pure!” and then he asked Rocco to say it too and Rocco was like “Se ti stizzzidusafhoa sicciicisohfdas” it was adorable hahah Then Fede kept eating his tiramisù even if he was full, but he didn’t want to leave it there so he did the “airplane” with the fork and he tried to make me eat that, you know, like you do with kids, and he made an adorable voice "Come on, take a tiny tiny tiny piece, look at it! It looks soooo good".

Then I don't remember how we got into the argument but I asked him if I could take a picture of him and he said yes, but when I wanted to take it he turned around to talk and I already had the phone in my hand and I took it anyway but he turned around again with the tiramisu still in his mouth and I lowered the phone so quickly but he had seen me. So I picked up the phone and he saw the picture and he laughed: "Are you taking pics of me while I’m eating? Look how ugly I am! There are too many photos you can blackmail me with! Come on, take another one so I can pose!” I took the picture and when he looked at it he laughed again “Jesus, it's worse than the first one!"

Shortly after I told a friend "I’ve never drank wine!" And Federico heard me and looked at me so shocked "You’ve never drank wine!? But how old are you?” "25 ..." “And you have never drank wine? Do you want to try ..?” and he gave me his glass (after I said ‘no’ a few times because I was embarrassed lol). I tasted it, and after few second I said: “THAT’S SO GOOD!” Federico burst out into laughing "Good, right?! You have to trust me! Well… Oh God, you’ll become an alcoholist because of me! What a responsibility! "A few minutes later he gave me his glass again asking me if I wanted a little more. For the umpteenth time we have repeated the "no it’s okay", "oh c’mon just a sip, don’t worry" and then I drank again. He laughed and said: "I created a monster!" Then Francesco arrived and hugged him from behind, starting to open sugar sachets because he was very drunk lol

Then Fede got up because Francesco was bothering him and he said "Okay, our speed date is over!" and I was like noooo don't leave. Even Francesco was very nice even if he was saying things that had no sense haha We took a picture together and he was kind of purple and said “I’m sorry, I’m drunk as fuck!”

The staff told us that the dinner was over so I went back to Pietro to thank him and we took some pictures (like… 15 haha). We hugged each other hard and he thanked me again for the drawing.

Then I went back to Federico and told him that I had spent the best evening of my life because of him and laughing he said "It's the wine that makes you saying this! Drink responsibly, I recommend you! I feel the responsibility on my shoulders now! Thank you for everything!” And we took more photos.

Then I joined Rocco and I asked him another hug and he smiled and held me tight, saying, "Let’s take a selfie!"And so I took pictures with him too. I was about to leave when we looked each other in the eyes and we both laughed and we hugged each other AGAIN HAHA

In the end I went to say hello to Ludovico and we took two pictures but he was completely lost because he was as drunk as Francesco lol

Probably this is full of mistakes but I just wanted to share with you the best experience of my life. Again, please don’t repost the pictures ;-;

#skam italia #federico cesari #rocco fasano #ludovico tersigni #pietro turano #francesco centorame #skamit #fandom vibes #convention #skam italia convention

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haruine · 4 years

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DAY6 GRAVITY in JAKARTA // 30.11.2019

OH. MY. GOSH.

Best concert ever. Period.

I just wanted to share with you guys about my experience going to GRAVITYinJKT, it was truly amazing that I still suffer from my PCD until now. It’s not that severe but believe me, whenever I heard Best Part playing accidentally on my playlist I would go sksdkddjs and try hard not to scream lmao.

So, first of all, I will tell you the background story of why I chose to attend their concert. Well, it was because I’m very curious how cool is their live performance. I watched a lot of YT videos about them and read many MyDay (and non-MyDay)’s comments about seeing their live performance. At the same time, I have just joined the fandom and falling in love with their songs day-by-day. I’m still a 5-months old baby MyDay now hehe.

When I saw their tour announcement on Twitter, at first I was like ‘oh wow they’ll go on their 2nd world tour’ but then idek why I was willing to go and watch them. Really, my decision was out of the blue. Then I introduced DAY6 to one of my close friends by watching their videos on her YT lol. Initially, she said that the songs are good and catchy, but some days later she texted me that she watched DAY6′s MVs, her bias is YoungK, and she even listened to their songs regularly. I was surprised, and even more shooketh when she finally said “you said that you wanna go to their concert, right? let’s go to their concert, shall we?”

The night before departure to JKT

On Thursday night (November 28th), I read on Twitter that the boys had arrived at Jakarta. My heart was beating so fast, remembering that tomorrow I will go to Jakarta and on Saturday I’ll see them.

Departure to JKT

After the whole stressing weeks (yes November was that month), on November 29th me and my friend flew to Jakarta by plane. My friends who knew that I’ll watch DAY6 said have fun and gave their warmest greetings to DAY6. Around 5 pm, we reached Jakarta and head off to our hotel.

D-DAY GRAVITYinJKT

We woke up at 6.30 am (if I’m not mistaken lol), respectively took a shower, applied make-ups and did our hair nicely even though no one would look at us haha. Afterward, we checked our belongings and went to the venue to get our wristbands. At the venue, we finally met our senior from college and she introduced another senior from my college that just graduated. We greet each other and stick together until we got our wristbands and went to get lunch at the nearest mall.

Around 2.45 pm, the three of us got back from the mall and entered the gate to take our queue number. Why only three of us that went back? Bcs the other one was from the yellow section, and at the mall, we met our junior from college that also watch DAY6 in the yellow section. With that, she decided to went back with my junior when the gate is opened for their section. (the three of us were from the blue b section)

After we got our queue number, we queued for the photo spot and made friends with 3 MyDays. They were chill and fun to talk to, and our queue numbers were in sequence. By that, we decided to always stick together until the end of the concert and didn’t forget to follow each other’s social media accounts. While waiting, it was raining so hard. Until finally my section got to enter the venue first, and I was really excited.

6 of us stood in front of the extended stage and we were standing beside each other. When the time strikes 6.57, the opening VCR played and every MyDay screamed. The moving screen opened and there stood five men, holding their own instruments, that I’ve been waiting to see for 3 months. Best Part opened the concert, and I couldn’t do anything besides screaming, literally. I love the song.

I jumped freely and sang their songs on top of my lungs like I have nothing to worry about. I remembered Jae saying that we should take our stress off our life first when we attend their concert to enjoy the whole event, so I kept that in mind throughout the concert.

Until when it came to them performing on extended stage, I couldn’t stop saying ‘oh gosh’ when they walked towards it. And what made me even happier was,

Jae noticed me.

Yes.

Park Jae-hyung from DAY6 noticed me.

However, I forgot to record it bcs it was so sudden :”””). Jae was squatting in the extended stage to greet MyDays, and when his eyes were locked with mine, I immediately waved my right hand at him and said ‘Jae, hi!’ while smiling so wide. Jae smiled back and waved his hands at me, I still remember him mouthing ‘hi hello’ and I couldn’t stop smiling. After he mouthed ‘hi hello’ and waved at me, he waved at other MyDays.

It was beyond my expectations that DAY6 is so kind to MyDays and their performance was sooo amazing to witness. I cried when YoungK said this on his ment,

“Honestly, with that much energy, I think you -- each one of you -- will be able to achieve whatever you want. Whatever you want in life.”

Literally, I choked up and couldn’t hold my tears. Remembering that before I came to see them, they’re my motivation to do well in college, until now they still are. Then he told us to made a pinky promise with him, he said:

“Even though I said this a lot, please promise me to always be happy and stay healthy until we meet again.”

Anddd my tears were back again when Sungjin said this on his ment,

“I trust you guys, so you guys trust yourself. Bahagia dan sehat selalu, ya.” (= always be happy and healthy, okay.)

I truly felt the sincerity in their ments, but mostly YoungK and Sungjin’s that hit my heart the hardest. What made me happier was when Wonpil suggested MyDay to sing, he said that he got two songs in mind but he forgot the lyrics so he played the notes. Guess what? He played When You Love Someone first, and the second is I Smile. YoungK asked MyDays what song that we wanted to sing first.

Since I Smile is my most favorite, I energetically waved 2 fingers and saw that other MyDays were waving their 2 fingers too. YoungK said "I see a lot of peace signs *chuckling* okay then, number 2 it is!" so Wonpil started the song immediately. After singing I Smile, he played When You Love Someone. My friend aww-ed, bcs that is her favorite song.

Even Wonpil tricked MyDays with singing JYP’s You’re The One, but we still sang it anyway. Then after he said he was joking, he started out I’m Serious. MyDays singing it with him. At the beginning, they were saying let’s make tonight a festival, and it was really a festival.

If I describe how they are when seen in person... Jae, he was lanky and he has that cute baby face, Sungjin looked handsome + dashing and he’s funny omg, YoungK is what Indonesian MyDays called gembul, which means chubby in a cute way, and his smile is so captivating!

Wonpil is indeed looked like a prince, he’s that soft and uwu, and his solo stage is my #1 among the 5 solo stages. Dowoon? He! Babie! He’s so adorable I can’t, when he sang on Wanna Go Back and Get Lucky I can’t stop squealing over his voice like for real. When he talked also screams uwu, I laughed when he fist-bumped YoungK and said “come on, come on, hit the beat” >.<

After the concert, the promotor prepared freebies for us, that is, a DAY6 postcard. I got YoungK originally, then my friend found a MyDay who willed to exchange her Dowoon postcard for my YoungK postcard. (...you know who my heart belongs to guys hahaha)

I had a lot of fun at the concert. Even though I cried when I saw on the D2 of the concert the boys went down from the stage (yeah I’m such a crybaby bcs of that lol), I still feel grateful and happy bcs I went to see them.

Sometimes it’s true, experience is a lot more worthy than anything else. If you miss a valuable opportunity (when in fact you can achieve it), the next opportunity may be different from what you expect. We can’t predict what will happen in our future, right?

If you guys were asking me, did you ever feel any regret about choosing to go to DAY6′s concert? The answer is: no, absolutely not. I’m proud that I can afford myself a ticket and accommodation with my own savings. Also, I’m sooo glad that I joined the MyDay fandom, this fandom is literally filled with kind people and they’re fun to be with.

And if you guys were also asking me, will you attend their next concert? The answer is: yes, certainly, without a doubt.

#day6 day6gravity day6gravityinjkt experience gravityinjakarta #myday

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feynites · 6 years

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@lycheemilkart have some Banana Bachelor Auction shenanigans!

Also featuring @selenelavellan‘s Selene! Because Ana needed a friend to put her up to this lol.

Bachelor auctions are weird.

Vena had never heard of them before the firm’s latest charity event, to be honest. He gathers they’re pretty common in the Free Marches, and Orlais and Ferelden, too. Among the humans there, anyway. A good percentage of him is intensely suspicious of any kind of ‘charity event’ that involves buying people for fun, but, Serahlin assures him that it’s just symbolic. A date, not a sex thing. Although it is also kind of a sex thing, judging by all the flirting and joking going around.

Ostensibly, that’s why they usually just sell men for these sorts of events. Because humans are weird about gender, too. The firm is Arlathan based, though, so they decide their ‘bachelor’ auction is just going to be in name only.

Well, Vena doesn’t really get the appeal. But he gets the rules. All willing and eligible singles in the firm are expected to show up and let people bid on a date with them. Vena’s done worse things for less noble causes, and everyone seems flatteringly certain that he’ll net a small fortune. Plus, Tasallir really does not want to do it. He makes his ‘oh gods no shoot me now’ face whenever the subject comes up, which is a little deer-in-headlights-ish, to be honest. Vena loudly declaring that he’s going to not only participate but bring in the biggest bids usually deflects things back into the realms of comfortable eye-rolling.

And he’s not alone on the bidding block, either. Serahlin has signed herself up, along with Thenvunin from reception, and the new temp, and like half the janitorial staff. Plus the boss’ own brother. Mostly, Vena thinks, they all just want to have the fancy evening out. Everyone dresses up nice and practices their struts and poses beforehand. Vena decides to wear suspenders. Not the trendiest, but they look good on him and he can use them like a prop to make provocative gestures. Gestures that also look funny, of course, because he’s not actually for sale.

Sylaise woldn’t actually pimp them all out.

…Probably.

“Are you going to bid on me?” he asks Taz when they’re heading over. Waggling his eyebrows, while Tasallir keeps his gaze firmly on the road, and obeys all the traffic laws, and doesn’t even go through the red light when there is literally NO ONE coming for miles come on Tasallir FOR MILES. But ‘traffic laws are not suggestions’, and something something breaking laws utter chaos something, so Vena settles for teasing him instead.

Taz sighs.

“I already promised Serahlin I would buy her date,” he says. “We are going to my favourite restaurant up on Fifth. And then on to the theatre. If I have enough leftover after that, I will buy you, and you can come along too. If you behave.”

Vena lets out a low whistle.

“I don’t know, I’ve been led to believe I’m going to be expensive. Not really third wheel material,” he quips.

“I thought that was office sarcasm,” Taz replies, dry as the desert.

Vena smacks a hand to his chest.

“You wound me, sir. You wound me.”

They trade a few barbs for the rest of the way. Vena trying to cover up some of his nerves as they look for parking, because there isn’t a parking attendant at this thing and also because Tasallir probably wouldn’t trust them with his car even if there was. They’re perfectly on time, though. Vena even has a few minutes to dash into the bathroom and double check his hair. He braided it in a more traditional style for the event, something from the Dalish side of his family. A look mostly cobbled together from old family photos that he got from an ancestry website, and then several tutorials that looked like they fit the bill. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now Vena’s a little nervous that it’s not ‘fashionable’ enough for Sylaise’s standards.

She’s a pretty demanding boss.

But she pays very, very well, so he usually just tries to go with it. It beats following the family plans, anyway.

The auction is at a night club owned by Sylaise’s family. A classy night club, too, one that was established in her grandparents’ days, when ‘club’ meant champagne and crooners and softly glittering magelights, more talking than dancing and more live shows than DJ’s. Vena’s got nothing against the more modern style of clubbing, but there’s something to be said for the highbrow kind, too. For one thing, the decor is gorgeous. If a bit weird. There is a lot of velvet and clam shells, and there are some truly glorious jokes waiting in that, but the music is soft enough to talk over and the lighting is good enough to see everyone’s outfits.

The ‘bachelors’ are expected to mill around with the guests for the first half of the evening. Try and build up interest and sell themselves and all that. Vena mostly sticks with Tasallir as the event gets underway, though.

He tells himself that he’s trying to play up the ‘dark and mysterious’ angle. But truth be told, Sylaise’s brother is probably cornering that market, and his reluctance probably has more to do with the unexpectedly high number of magisters who’ve turned out for the auction. ‘For charity’, everyone agrees, but Vena can’t help feeling like there’s something gauche about their obvious delight in the prospect of bidding on Arlathan elves.

There are other people at the club too, though.

Serahlin spends a good chunk of time chatting with a handsome blond elf, who Vena recognizes from some celebrity gossip magazines. Ada-something, he thinks. The jewellery designer, the one who did that infamous ‘moving snake’ necklace that Melarue wore to the Elven Prominence Awards last fall.

Several of the firm’s more high-profile clientele are present too, of course, including Rala Inirel, the owner of Arlathan’s largest adult toy company. Vena has handled several of Ms Inirel’s accounts, and drags Tasallir over for some polite small talk. The face of Wonder, Sylaise’s sister-in-law’s little inventor’s guild, is also around.

Among the less familiar faces, Vena spots a striking, pale-haired woman dressed in a silver gown. Her date is a petite redhead, who he thinks might be throwing him some glances. He can’t put names to their faces, so he doesn’t venture over. But he does offer up a wink when he catches her eye at one point. She’s pretty. More subtly dressed than most of the club’s occupants, and with a Dalish-style clip in her hair. Or what he thinks is one, anyway.

There’s also a man who Vena thinks might actually be a member of House Pavus, in among the magisters. But he’s still largely skirting around that contingent when there is a slight commotion at the entrance. It draws a few eyes. Vena and Taz are still at Rala Inirel’s table when they turn, and see their boss’ other brother make his way in.

Falon’Din Evanuris bears a stronger resemblance to his younger sister than he does to his twin brother, but you’d have to look closely to see it. Especially when Sylaise isn’t dying her hair blonde. The Evanuris heir is notorious for his disruptive behaviour. Vena still remembers getting stabbed by him, on one particular occasion. It doesn’t do a lot to help his nerves.

But tonight he’s wearing a suit. His hair is combed back, and apart from throwing a glare around the room, his only real action is to find an unoccupied table and sit it in. One of the club servers brings him a menu and a bidding paddle, and just gets waved off rather than snarled at.

A few murmurs spread through the assembled attendees anyway.

Vena looks towards his boss, and it turns out to be good timing. She catches his eye and motions with her head, before moving towards the stage.

Ah.

The auction’s not supposed to start for another half hour, but apparently invading relatives have bumped up the time frame. He nods at Tasallir and Ms Inirel before excusing himself from the table, and taps the shoulder of every other ‘bachelor’ he passes on the way to the front stage. Serahlin is already headed there, towing along Thenvunin from reception and most of the rest of the volunteers. The others seem to pick up on the trend and make their own way over, as Sylaise gracefully calls for attention to the stage by ringing her empty champagne flute with a spoon.

“Ladies, gentlemen, and nonbinary guests, if I could have your attention for a moment please,” she requests. “It seems dinner was too delicious by far, and flew by all the more quickly for it. In light of the lull, I see no reason why we cannot get the charity highlight of the evening underway.”

Vena’s sure that more than a few people in the crowd aren’t buying the excuse. But the cue is accepted anyway, and the guests settle down at their tables as Vena and the other volunteers queue up along the back of the stage. Falon’Din Evanuris glares at his sister, but doesn’t otherwise move. Tasallir keeps his seat at Rala Inirel’s table, and the mysterious redhead and her date settle into the empty one behind Falon’Din. Along with a few other notorious gossip-mongers, and the famous jeweler. The guests from Tevinter largely fill up the other half of the club. A few more drinks are refilled, as the lighting is changed to highlight the stage.

“Our first bidding option is Sten,” Sylaise begins, as she summons her script with a flourish of magic. Sten, from the janitorial group, moves forward at the cue. “From our building maintenance crew. A humble but vital position to any operation, Sten is the only Vashoth bachelor on our list. So I would keep those paddles at the ready if your tastes run to the exotic and statuesque. Sten is a sword enthusiast who enjoys exercise, and is offering a date to Arlathan’s premiere Ancient Reenactment Fair…”

Sten obligingly rotates himself at the front of the stage, and gets a fair few bidders once Sylaise has finished his introduction. Their boss has ordered things to try and maximize the build-up, so a few more of the less ‘known’ volunteers carry on with kicking things off. The magister crowd take over the early bidding, as the audience throws in the occasional clap or wolf whistle. Vena takes some deep breaths and focuses on his routine. Be charming, he reminds himself. It’s all for fun.

For charity, even.

Thenvunin from reception gets to the front of the stage and looks like a deer caught in headlights, despite his best efforts not to. One of Sylaise’s in-laws, a striking figure in all red, puts in the winning bid for his ‘scenic bird watching’ date. Then it’s Serahlin’s turn.

“One of the most successful family law experts in our employ, and a stunning beauty besides, Serahlin enjoys theatre, fine dining, and grinding her enemies beneath the points of her impeccable heels. Our office ice queen has promised a rejuvenating spa date to her winning bidder - and perhaps an opportunity to help her defrost,” Sylaise announces.

Serahlin’s smile looks a bit pinned on, at that, but she still gracefully turns and offers an elegant bow towards the club floor.

Tasallir puts in the first bid on her. He’s immediately countered by the prestigious jeweler, in what sets off the first heated, one-on-one bidding war of the night. It puts a crackle of excitement in the air, even if Vena knows that Taz is bidding as a friend. Once or twice someone else throws in a bid, seemingly drawn in by the air of competition itself. But the jeweler himself just seems pleasantly determined to win, and eventually Taz caps out at five hundred dollars, and the cheery blond elf wins his date for a solid six.

Vena wonders if anyone’s going to top that tonight.

And then Sylaise calls her brother up onto the stage.

Dirthamen seems set to play up the ‘mysterious’ angle again, as he stands stock still and doesn’t turn. In fact he barely even moves his arms as Sylaise reads out a spiel about him liking books and masquerades and offering, as his date, an evening tour through the Labyrinthine Gardens and an exclusive chance to dine in the maze’s fashionable center restaurant, which Vena knows requires reservations a full year in advance.

The date alone is probably going to merit high bidding, so no one is surprised when there’s an initial flurry of interest. Dirthamen surpasses Serahlin’s record before the bids finally start to taper off near the eight hundred dollar mark. Three bidders keep things going past a thousand, though - the white-haired elf in the silver dress, Magister Danarius from Tevinter, and Falon’Din Evanuris.

See, Vena thinks, as the guy aggressive bids against everyone trying to buy his twin’s date. This is why the tabloids always write those stories about you two.

Magister Danarius caps out at the two thousand dollar mark. Falon’Din turns to glare at the white-haired elf who outbids him again, and looks near to throwing one of his iconic tantrums. Sylaise stares directly at her older brother with a look that could peel paint, though, and after a moment, he subsides with nothing worse than a curse word. Apparently at his max, as his rival wins the date with his brother for a hefty two-thousand and four hundred dollars.

If Dirthamen’s surprised, it doesn’t really show on his blank expression. Though as he passes by Vena to go and sit with the winner, there does some to be a slight furrow to his brow.

“Well,” Sylaise says. “I’m so pleased at the wealth of charity we’ve been seeing! Let’s keep the ball rolling, shall we?”

There are a few chuckles. Falon’Din gets up and exits dramatically from the club, as Sylaise pointedly clears her throat.

“Venavismi,” she calls.

Tough act to follow, Vena thinks. But he can see some of the cracks in his employer’s smile. So he strides confidently up to the front of the stage, and does his best twirl. He focuses on his showboating as Sylaise reads his introduction; snapping his suspenders and rolling up his jacket sleeves. And effect which he knows does his silhouette a lot of favours.

“Venavismi has promised his winning bidder a day trip out of the city, for a relaxing beach trip featuring lunch at the Stormward Open Air Grill. Shall we start the bidding at eighty?”

Magister Danarius is the first to lift his paddle.

Vena wonders if there are laws against reneging on charity dates.

There are some whispers over from Dirthamen’s table, though, and after a minute, the same woman who won the date with Sylaise’s brother puts her paddle up.

“Ninety,” she offers.

There are some titters over that. Dirthamen doesn’t seem perturbed, but the woman’s current date - the cute redhead - blushes right to the roots of her hair.

“I have ninety. Do I have a hundred?” Sylaise asks.

Tasallir bids.

Thank you, buddy, Vena thinks.

“A hundred twenty?” Sylaise ventures.

“One-thirty,” Danarius offers.

“One-fifty,” the white-haired woman counters, with a broad grin. Her date glances up towards Vena, still blushing. But after a second, she ventures a wink towards him, too.

Ooh.

Vena thinks he might be charmed. She doesn’t have a paddle, though, he realizes. Is her friend bidding on her behalf…?

That might not be so bad.

“One-sixty,” Danarius bids.

“One-seventy,” Taz counters, like a hero.

“Two hundred,” declares the white-haired woman.

Vena thinks that might be it. But the magister seems set on redeeming his losses over Dirthamen, so he bids again. Taz counters him. The white-haired woman out-bids Taz. Vena tries to keep from fidgeting on stage as the numbers get higher, and some dark corner of his brain wonders if there isn’t something innate that really hates this, like some genetic corner that remembers when his paternal ancestors were standing on serious auction blocks in Tevinter. Because gods above he cannot remember being this uncomfortable before in his life.

He loses focus for a minute and by the time he tunes back in, his bids have somehow reached the five hundreds.

“Five-hundred and eighty,” the white-haired woman says, as Danarius virtually grinds his bidding sign into dust in his hand, and Taz gives Vena an apologetic look. He’s tapped out, but that’s okay. Vena’s dates are pretty good, but not really that good.

“Any more takers?” Sylaise asks, looking thoroughly pleased with the bidding war.

Danarius’ paddle stays down.

“Sold!” his boss happily decrees, and gestures towards the white-haired woman. “To one of our most charitable contributors of the evening!”

Her tone dips in admiration.

Vena’s not sure how he’s supposed to respond to his boss kind of blatantly flirting with the unknown business associate who just bought him. He makes his way down from the stage, for starters, as she moves on to the next sap for the chopping block. Serahlin pats his hand as he passes her to go over to his winning bidder’s table.

It helps, actually. Vena’s found his smile and a bit of his equilibrium again by the time he gets there.

“Well, I must admit - I thought you’d won your date for the evening,” he says, as the redhead scoots a chair one open between herself and her date. Dirthamen sits at the white-haired woman’s opposite side. She smiles, and gestures for Vena to sit.

“And I must admit that I did,” she tells him. “But my friend thought you were too cute to pass up, so I got your date as a gift. I’m Selene.”

Reaching over, she shakes his hand, and then gestures towards the redhead.

“This is Ana.”

Vena offers his hand to Ana. She might still be blushing, but she also turns it like a proper, polite admirer, and bows over it rather than shaking it.

“I like your braids,” she blurts.

He grins, unabashed.

More and more charming, this Ana.

“Thank you. I like your freckles,” he commends, with another wink. It seems effective, as she lets of his hand with a nervous flutter, and turns to stare at the crumpled napkin on the table in front of her.

“I must apologize,” Vena realizes, as he scoots his own chair more comfortably close to the table. Keeping his voice low, beneath the sound of Sylaise’s auctioning. “I don’t really know either of your names. Have you hired the firm before?”

“Oh, no,” Selene admits. “But Mythal Evanuris sometimes hires myself and Ana to do contract work.”

“Ah,” he says. “Well that would explain it. What sort of work do you do?”

“Human resources,” Selene says.

Vena blinks.

His first thought is that Human Resources isn’t usually contract work. But then, maybe they’re head-hunters? The business equivalent of talent scouts for the various branches of the Evanuris corporate empire? That would make sense. It probably takes a lot of work to find the right people for various positions throughout those businesses, definitely enough to make for full-time work. He lets the questions subside as the bidding starts up, and takes several minutes to appreciate that he didn’t end up over at the magisters’ tables.

By the end of the evening, all the dates have been bought for at least respectable amounts, and the charity pot looks quite healthy. The public relations pot is probably even healthier. The lighting shifts and the last round of refreshments are brought out, as Sylaise encourages everyone to mingle and flirt and get to know their wonderful dates and charitable bidders.

“We should exchange contact information,” Dirthamen suggests, tentatively.

“Well you and I just need a meeting place, really,” Selene says. “But I won’t say no to your number. Why don’t you escort me to the washroom, and we’ll discuss it?”

She takes Dirthamen by the arm, and leads him off with a nod to Ana, and then one to Vena, too.

Leaving them alone to get acquainted.

“I made some tentative reservations for the weekend after next, at the beach bar and grill, but we can move it around to whatever time you like,” he offers. “Or do something else. We don’t actually have to go on a beach date. It’s just a strong suggestion.”

“I like beaches,” Ana tells him.

She looks like she might just be laughing at him a little. But Vena can roll with that. He grins back.

“Good excuse to wear bathing suits,” he agrees. “I wouldn’t mind seeing yours, I bet it’s cute.”

She hums at him.

“Well, I’m Dalish, so. Our bathing suits tend to be the invisible kind.”

Vena’s grin widens in delight. He suspected, from her tattoos, but the confirmation is nice.

“I could get on board with that,” he says, flirting back. “But I don’t think it’s a nude beach. Maybe I should buy you a suit, to cover the unexpected expense. We could make it two dates. One to go shopping and the other to show off the goods.”

Ana’s blush comes back. He’s happy to see it.

“Maybe three - you might not have picked a nude beach, but I know of a few.”

She gives him a once-over, but it’s entirely playful. Vena doesn’t mind in the least. Now that the bidding part is done, he basically just has a nice date planned with a pretty stranger - not a bad situation at all.

They chat a bit more. Working out dates and times; Ana admits she does have a swimsuit, and when he tries to talk her into a shopping trip anyway, she demures a little. Which is fine; they can have their beach date and go from there, in the end. One of his clients is an Anna, so he puts her into his contacts as Dalish Ana. Which seems a little dry. Vena supposes he’ll have to come up with something more fun, when the inspiration strikes.

“Do you like to dance?” he asks, for the meanwhile. The music’s not loud, but it’s still pretty good; and a few couples have tentatively made their way onto the dance floor.

Ana looks at him.

There’s a pleasantly flirtatious glint in her eye.

“Why not?” she agrees.

#banana #long post #bachelor auction au #selene and ana are assassins #:3 #i might do more but this seemed like a good stopping off point #dirthalene #(implied)

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