#personally last night was a moment in history for me okay i love them so much

[becca-is-not-well]

Hi pretty!

So I have a super cute idea that won't let me rest

So basically how do you think chase davenport would react to the reader stealing his clothes

Like pajama pants, one of his flannels, a tee shirt

Id yoyu don't wanna write if you totally don't have to🩷

NAH HE WOULD BE SO FLUSTERED AT FIRST AND THEN BE LIKE "Wait why is this kinda-" LIKE HE'D GO 🤨😲😳🥺😏

Chase Davenport x reader

Warnings: fluffy, a little cheesy, and gets suggestive at the end (im sorry I couldn't help myself I love him sm sobbb) 2nd person (you/yours) also I didn't specify how the clothes fit cause I'm a big girl and I know for a fact Chase's clothes would be tight on me if I even managed to squeeze in lol so it's hopefully as inclusive as possible :)

"Hey, has anyone seen my blue flannel?" Chase asked the living room full of superheros.

"You have, like, a hundred blue flannels. Care to narrow it down at all?" Bree responded with her usual amount of attitude. Chase sent her an unamused look.

"Then have you seen my sweatpants? I'm staying with my girlfriend tonight and I can't find any of my clothes," he says exasperated.

"I bet Oliver stole them. He had a history," Kaz looks away his best friend with an amused smile.

"For the last time, I didn't realize they were your underwear! I wouldn't have touched them with a ten-foot pole if I had realized," Oliver shuddered at the memory while Bree and Chase both rolled their eyes.

"Oh! Skyler, have you seen my blue flannel and/or my sweatpants?" Chase asked the alien as she walked into the room.

"You have about a hundred blue flannels, how am I supposed to know which one you're looking for?" Skyler replied immediately. Bree pointed at Skyler dramatically while looking at her brother.

"See?!" She said triumphantly, happy for the unexpected validation. Chase rolled his eyes so hard, it was a surprise they didn't get stuck looking at his brain.

"And this is why I'm going away for the night," he said with a sarcastic smile before turning around and leaving the room.

After almost a half hour of searching, he still couldn't find his missing clothes. But Chase was nothing if not punctual, so he ended up just throwing some random clothes in his bag and heading out the door to get to your apartment on time.

Soon enough, he was right outside the familiar door that led into a small apartment. The man let out a content sigh as he opened the door and took in the familiar sights and smells of the place, happy to finally get away from his own home and spend the night with his love.

"Honey, I'm home!" Chase called out, only half joking.

A blur of blue and gray suddenly came full speed out of the bedroom, colliding with him in a tight hug. After taking a second to regain his balance, he chuckled and hugged you back just as hard.

"Hi, baby," he said, burying his face in your hair and breathing deeply. It had been a rough week for him, but all the tension in his body left with a simple hug.

"I missed you~" you said in a slightly whiny tone, holding onto Chase even tighter.

"Missed you too, bug," he chuckled at your enthusiasm to see him, warmth and love rising in his chest. No one had ever had a reaction like this to simply seeing him before- and it was definitely a boost in confidence.

After a few more moments in each other's embrace, you both pulled away slightly, smiling at each other. Silently, you met each other's lips for a sweet, slow peck.

"Wait- what are you-" Chase pulled away again, his big brain processing what he had seen you wearing in the split second he had looked down. "Is that my flannel?"

You just nodded with a sweetly oblivious smile, stepping back to show the whole outfit.

"And your pants- and this might be your t-shirt," you told him happily. Chase just stood there in confusion- and a little bit of awe. Sure enough, your entire outfit consisted of his clothes.

"Is- that okay?" You asked after a moment of silence from Chase.

"Uh- yeah! Yeah, of course," he replied, a smile working its way onto his face.

It was cliché, but he decided quickly that seeing his you in his clothes was the best thing that would ever grace his eyes. You just looked so cute standing there, a shy smile on your face as you presented the clothing that used to belong to him. Obviously, though, he thought you looked much better than he ever did in the clothes- he would never dream of asking for them back.

Soon, the innocent adoration turned into something a bit less innocent. A surge of possessiveness and pride swelled in him as he looked you up and down again.

"You look so pretty, I don't know if I want to take my clothes off you or just keep looking," he said, the surge of confidence overtaking him as he stepped closer again.

You let out a giggle as he took your waist in his hands, pulling your body closer.

"I may or may not have a preference," you told him, subconsciously biting your lip.

"Oh really? Why don't you show me which one you want, then?" Chase said with a smile, meeting you for another kiss.

A/N: THANK YOU FOR THE REQUWST YOU HAVE NO IDRA HOW HAPPY I AM

#chase davenport #chase davenport x reader #lab rats #lab rats x reader #romantic #romantic! reader #fanfic #fanfiction #imagine #lab rats elite force #fluff #suggestive

[essycogany]

Rare But Not So Rare Sonic Moments

Flaws

This may get controversial.

I welcome anyone else’s view point on this topic. If you don’t agree I’m okay with that. Just because I have a different perspective doesn’t make what I think right or wrong. You don’t have to change your mind. Whatever your opinion is, I respect it. Besides, it’s fun to have different views on something we both love. It gives us a way to see different sides of the coin.

Disclaimer: I’m a person who didn’t grow up with this franchise and only recently got into in early 2022. I have no biases towards any version of this character. Making my opinions about his characterizations mixed.

By the way, I’ll only use Sonic games as examples (for the most part) because this analysis would be too long if I talked about other medias.

In short. Most of his flaws do stir into different medias as well. To be honest, Sonic’s other variants aren’t as different as some may think, but that’s my hot take.

Times The Blue Blur Messed Up

Riders: Sonic lunched Amy along with Eggman into the air with his wind abilities. While knowing Amy’s safety would be at risk. Then left her. Which was the reason she was so angry and aggressive afterwards. He didn’t ever apologize either.

06: Exchanged a chaos emerald for Elise even after Tails warned Sonic not to.

Unleashed: Was distracted by taunting Eggman.

Sonic: “Well, this is new. Showing remorse Eggman? If you played nice, I wouldn’t have to break all your toys.”

Then became the Werehog. All because he wanted to boost his ego.

Secret Rings: Shahra used Sonic to collect the world rings for Erazar Djinn. Even though it should’ve been expected because she said, “They use to work together.” Ended up not being true.

Black Night: Was tricked into helping Merlina who wanted to create a world that would last forever.

Lost World: Tails once again tried to warn Mr.Impatient about the conch in Eggman’s hand, but kicked it anyways. Then warned Sonic about another trap, he didn’t listen, ended up getting the fox captured instead.

Frontiers: Accidentally helped free The End despite Knuckles and Sage’s suspensions. If his friends, Eggman, and Sage didn’t help him…..Well, it’s in the villain's name.

Side Note: In Secret Rings, Black night, and Frontiers Sonic was rude at points.

Sonic Sassiness

Sonic Sassiness Part 2

Sonic’s Overall Flaws/Mistakes

Some may be from his general characterizations throughout his history.

Sonic rushes into things without a second thought. (Impulsiveness) Sonic can be too reckless, brash, or not take situations seriously.

He’s impatient. (Which was his core trait since his idle animation in Sonic 1)

He doesn’t listen to his friends warnings. Sonic can be too cocky at the wrong moments. He causes or contributes to world ending consequences. The blue blur can also be too trusting and naive.

Sonic doesn’t worry about his own physical or mental state and internalizes his emotions. He isn’t able to express himself very well. Therefore doesn’t put the right words together when speaking sometimes.

Sonic can be stubborn and a bit of a jerk.

Sage: “You are short tempered and short sided.”

And that’s about it. If I missed anything, feel free to let me know.

My Thoughts

A few of these can be seen as Sonic’s strength and weaknesses. Like his willingness to harm himself if it means to save his friends.

The reason Sonic never learns from his mistakes in the games is because he gets away with them. Which is not a good or bad thing per say. (Besides Sonic Riders. There’s no excuse for that.)

The stories never really given him an arc. But I don’t think Sonic’s a perfect or flawless character. If the examples I’ve shown are evidence of anything.

I’d say he’s static, but not consistently. Most static characters I’ve seen rarely stays static anyways.

I also don’t believe Sonic himself thinks he’s perfect. Sonic probably thinks he doesn’t have to change because he’s so sure he should be able to manage things without issue. Everything does eventually go his way. Why should he change?

I do understand Sonic influences people, but why can’t there be a balance? It’s been done plenty of times with other characters. In books, movies, and tv shows. Animated and live-action.

Movie!Sonic in Sonic 2 inspired both Knuckles and Tails. Helping them better themselves with advice and encouragement. While also going through his own arc of growing up and being responsible.

Tails:“You’ve inspired me. To leave my village. To find you and help you on your mission.”

Despite him learning how to slow down and plan things out, Prime!Sonic also inspires the different variants of his friends. Thorn, Dread, and Nine. Helping them grow into becoming better people.

Even in Unleashed Sonic was at his most mature, but it was only after his cocky attitude got him into trouble. So, yes. Inspirational characters can have flaws.

I’ll just say this

Everyone has their own views on how Sonic should be characterized, drawn, played, voiced, animated, and showcase.

It’s fine if you don’t like a curtain interpretation of a character, but to say the character (Especially if they weren’t very consistent in the first place) isn’t acting like themselves now, it’s really hard to argue what self there is to come back to. Because even in the games there are so many different selves for these characters in their own canon universe. From Classic to Adventure, Unleashed, Colors, and Frontiers. (If that makes any sense)

It’s hard to find one place to be in because Sonic’s been in too many places at once. He shouldn’t be held down to one characterization if he’s already been all over the place from the beginning of his existence.

AKA Sonic’s first two shows ever. TAOSTH and SATAM. In both shows Sonic had flaws as well, but never learned from them. Which means he’s been like this from the start. Like everything else about this franchise, his personality is an ongoing experiment that’ll probably never be solved. And I kind of love that. Even if it can be stressful and has it’s own up’s and down’s

All of these unique stories from the games, comics, tv shows, and movies people grew up with are what made this franchise so popular. This is the main reason I became a Sonic fan. Because I learned so much about characterization from this franchise and how to love the different variations of its characters. Finding an appreciation for each of them.

Conclusion

Everyone’s opinions are valid at the end of the day. At least we all have a version of this character we can love and appreciate. Whether you agree or not I’m grateful you’ve made it all the way to the end. You’re a trooper!

Stay Creative! 💜

#sonic the hedgehog #amy rose #tails the fox #knuckles the echidna #dr eggman #sage robotnik #thorn rose #knuckles the dread #nine the fox #sonic riders #sonic 06 #sonic unleashed #sonic and the secret rings #sonic and the black knight #sonic lost world #sonic frontiers #sonic x #sonic boom #sonic idw #archie sonic #sonic movie 2 #sonic prime #the adventures of sonic the hedgehog #sonic satam #the murder of sonic the hedgehog #character analysis #I really like talking about this stuff #I know this character means different things to different people and wanted to provide my own take #Everyone’s opinions are valid #sth

[kyleoreillylover]

Show, Don’t Tell 📸

Sami Zayn x Fem!Black!Reader x Jey Uso

Summary: You finally snap and betray the very man you helped build up-Roman Reigns, and Sami and Jey want to help you pick up the pieces. But it's easier said than done, and with the rich history between the two of you, you understandably don't want to listen to a word they have to say. But Jey and Sami decide that to fully get through to you, they have to show you-rather than tell you-how much they love you.

warnings: smut!! threesome, angst to smut to fluff. word count: 15,895 tag list: @southerngirl41 @venusesworld @jeysbae @reci1996 @tbonesteakwithasideofmashngrav @hope4more @selena-tyler-564 @saintaquarius

a/n: I finally gave in and wrote a samijey fanfic because they are just so cute and hot and cute and pretty and ughh!! I'm a sucker for both of them, especially for sami, just look at him 🥹 Hope ya'll enjoy this!

incoming text from unknown number: i saw what happened. just want you to know i’m here for you. me and jey are here for you. hope ur okay.

outgoing text to unknown number: leave me alone.

incoming text from unknown number: okay, icing me out, using your typical defense mechanisms. clearly you’re not okay. and i'm gonna make sure you are, whether you like it or not. 

outgoing text to unknown number: seriously, fuck off.

incoming text from unknown number: i didn’t give up on jey, you really think i’m gonna give up on you? i’m saving you from yourself, because i care for you. see you later. <3

You let out a huff as you shut off your phone for good and pocketed it, the city skylines passing by as your uber drove through the bustling streets. The moon shined down on the city, casting shadows that danced along the buildings. You leaned back in your seat, trying to push away the memories of the night as your mind raced with conflicting emotions. Hurt. Pain. Suffocation.

All those feelings swirled within you, making it difficult to focus on anything else.

You scratched at your skin, feeling the restlessness creeping in, the pain grounding you in a way. The Uber pulled up to your hotel, and you stepped out, feeling the cool night air against your face.

You finally did it. You betrayed the man who you helped build up, who helped you both get to the top of the industry, your own best friend.

And you couldn't feel more sick.

The weight of your actions bore down on your shoulders, the guilt twisting in your gut as you entered the hotel lobby. The receptionist offered a polite smile, but you barely acknowledged it as you headed straight for the elevator.

Acknowledge. You scoffed, feeling like the last thing you wanted to do was acknowledge anything or anyone at the moment. Everything was like a reminder of him. A reminder of how you had let him use you, and it felt like a knife twisting in your heart.

As the elevator doors slid open, you stepped inside and pressed the button for the 2nd floor. The soft hum of the elevator did little to soothe the turmoil inside you. Each passing second felt like an eternity as you ascended, thoughts racing, memories flashing before your eyes.

The doors pinged open, and you walked down the hallway, the click of your shoes on the polished floor echoing in the silence. You walked across the hall and opened the door to the bar, ready to find some solace in a drink or to avoid your problems- and the one person who you knew was trying to find you. The low hum of conversations and clinking glasses drowned out your emotions momentarily.

You slid onto a barstool, the cool wood offering a brief distraction from the whirlwind in your mind. The bartender approached, a friendly smile on their face.

"What can I get for you tonight?" they asked, wiping down the counter.

You hesitated, your mind still reeling. "Something strong, god knows I need it." you murmured, your voice barely audible over the ambient noise.

The bartender nodded knowingly and began to prepare a drink. You didn't offer a smile when she set down the glass in front of you, the amber liquid reflecting the dim lights of the bar. Taking a deep breath, you wrapped your fingers around the glass, the coldness seeping into your skin.

Just like the chill in your heart.

Everything felt cold. The air. Your skin. Your soul. Your mind.

You took a sip of the strong drink, the burning sensation down your throat momentarily distracting you from the chaos in your mind. But it was a fleeting respite. The bitter taste lingered, mirroring the bitterness that consumed your thoughts. You brushed a strand of your curly hair from your face, trying to focus on anything but the mess that your life had become, the mess you had become.

You weren't supposed to be like this. You were supposed to be untouchable, strong, always in control. successful, strong, and in control. But now, sitting at that bar, you felt none of those things. Even though you finally took control, you felt like everything was spiraling out of your grasp. Every sip of the drink brought a mix of numbness and a sharp sting of reality.

You didn't know how long you were sitting there, but you know you eventually got bored of sitting alone in the bar, drowning in your thoughts and the bitter taste of the drink that did little to ease your pain. You knew you had to eventually get up, relish in the fact that you have some kind of control left in your life, and that started by facing the man who you wanted nothing more from then for him to finally leave you alone.

Your keycard dinged as you approached your room door, the soft sound echoing in the hallway. With a heavy sigh, you slid the keycard into the lock and pushed open the door.

"You finally stopped avoiding me?" A familiar voice called out from the room, interrupting your thoughts.

"Fuck off." You replied coldly, slipping off your jacket and settling it over a chair.

"I told you, being mad won't make me leave you alone," You turned to the voice, and locked eyes with the chocolate-brown eyes you loved to hate. Or tried to hate.

Sami sat on the edge of the bed, a concerned look etched onto his face you'd grown used to. His usually wild hair was tamer than usual, and the dim lights of the room illuminated the weariness in his expression. He looked tired, but his eyes held a determination you couldn't ignore.

"How did you get in here?" You ignored his words, your voice laced with frustration.

Sami sighed, standing up and taking a step closer. "Bianca gave me your keycard. She was worried about you too."

You clenched your jaw, feeling the anger simmering beneath your skin. "You two need to learn how to mind your own business."

"You can yell at her after you're done yelling at me," Sami's words made you pause, and he continued, his tone softer, more earnest. "I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. But you're also hurting, and I want to help."

You scoffed, the bitterness in your voice unmistakable. "I don't need your help. What I need is for you to leave me alone and get the hell out of my room, and get the hell out of my life."

Sami took a step closer, ignoring your cold tone. "Maybe you don't need it, but you deserve it."

You glared at Sami, frustration bubbling within you at his persistence. Why wouldn't he just leave you alone? "I deserve to have a moment alone to myself, not have you out of all people suffocating me! Let's make this short and sweet. I don't care what you have to say, so leave me alone!"

Sami didn't listen to you- in fact he came closer to you, his gaze softening as he closed the distance between you. "You might not care for what I have to say, but you'll care for what he has to say."

Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion, before your eyes widened in realization and anger. "Sami…You didn't-"

"He did."

Your head whipped around at the sound of the new voice, freezing as you saw Jey standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a conflicted expression on his face. His presence in that moment was both a comfort and a stab in the heart that still held him dear to you.

"What are you doing here?" you snapped, feeling a surge of emotions you couldn't quite place. Confusion, anger, hurt, and something else you didn't want to acknowledge.

Jey pushed himself off the door frame, his eyes locking onto yours. "I needed to talk to you. Sami let me in."

"Well, I don't want to talk to you," you shot back, your voice sharper than you intended.

Jey winced at your words, taking a step into the room. "Then just listen to me."

"You really think I wanna listen to anything you have to say?" Your eyes were red with emotion as you tried to keep your composure. Sami's heart beaten with guilt as he looked at your fallen face, but he knew if he wanted to get through to you he was gonna have to bring the big guns- and that was Jey.

"I saw what happened tonight." Jey started, trying to settle the atmosphere with his calm, honey sweet voice, but you weren't having any of it.

"Good," you retorted, bitterness lacing your tone. "The same thing I did to Roman might happen to you if you don't leave me alone."

Jey winced at the the mention of Roman, his expression pained, He took another step forward, his eyes pleading. "

"I know how you're feeling."

You laughed bitterly, and the sound faded into the air like a haunting melody. "You have no idea how I'm feeling."

"I know you feel like you are sick to stomach, like you've betrayed someone you cared about." Jey spoke softly, his eyes holding a depth of understanding. "I know because I've been there too. I know what it's like to be torn between loyalty and doing what's right."

Your fists clenched at your sides, your emotions churning inside you. "Of course you know that! All you do is feel sorry for yourself and play the victim card, and I'm sick of it! I've been sick of it since you left The Bloodline, and you clearly haven't changed a bit since then."

You moved to the counter, putting some distance between yourself and Jey, trying to shield yourself from the flood of emotions his presence evoked. You needed to get them both the hell outta here before tings got messier than they already were.

Jey flinched at your words, hurt flashing across his features. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice. "I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I'm asking for a chance to explain."

"There's nothing to explain!" Your voice rose in frustration, the whirlwind of emotions spinning out of control. "You chose your path. You walked away from everything we had built together. And now you have the audacity to show up here and act like you have any right to speak to me?"

Jey's expression shifted from hurt to anger, and he walked over to you, his eyes glaring at you with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine. "And what was I supposed to do? Stay and let Roman control me? Control us? I made my choice, and it's the same choice you made tonight, so don't act like you're any different than me."

Your breath caught in your throat, his words striking a nerve. You glared back, trying to mask the vulnerability that threatened to spill over. "I didn't ask for your opinion."

Jey chuckled at you, the sound hollow and bitter. "There you go again, deflecting shit when things get too real. You shut people out instead of facing the truth." He paused, his gaze never leaving yours. "I'm not here to make excuses. I'm here to make things right."

You stared at him, his words echoing in your mind. You couldn't deal with this right now. You couldn't deal with your emotions threatening to pour out right now. Sami- you could hold him off for a moment, but Jey's presence alone cracked through your defenses. You felt the walls you had built around yourself crumbling, and it terrified you.

"I don't want your apologies," you finally managed to say, your voice barely above a whisper. "I just want you both to leave."

Sami stepped forward, his expression softer but still determined. "Please, just listen to him."

You shook your head, feeling overwhelmed. The alcohol had dulled the edges of your emotions, but facing both Sami and Jey in that moment was a stark reminder of everything you were trying to suppress. "No. I'm going to bed, and I expect both of you to leave as soon as I go to my room."

You made a move to push past them, but Jey's hand shot out and grabbed your wrist gently, stopping you in your tracks. His touch was unexpected, sending a shiver down your spine. You looked at his hand, then slowly raised your gaze to meet his intense, conflicted eyes.

"I ain't letting you leave." Jey's voice was harsh yet pleading, and his eyes were the same as he stared at you, almost begging for your understanding. "I know I hurt you, but I couldn't let Roman's control consume me. And I can't let it consume you either."

You tried to pull your hand away, your voice filled with frustration. "Let go of me, Jey. I'm not doing this."

Sami stepped closer, a hand on your shoulder, squeezing it gently in a comforting gesture, as if trying to squeeze out the tension between the three of you. "Please, just hear us out. You can even slam the door on our faces after. You don't even have to talk, you just have to listen."

You glared at Sami, his touch only adding to your frustration. "I said I'm fine. I don't need either of you here."

Jey's grip on your wrist tightened slightly, not in a forceful way, but enough to make you stop and look at him. His eyes were searching yours, the intensity in them reflecting his inner turmoil. "Then why haven't you kicked us already? If you really wanted us gone, you woulda been called security on us."

You hesitated at his words. They were right. You could've easily made a scene and had them removed from your room, but something stopped you. A part of you wanted them to stay, to hear them out, even though you were fighting against it with every fiber of your being. But you were fighting it with all your might, trying to maintain control over a situation that was slipping further away.

"I don't owe you an explanation." Your voice was cold, but your face was betraying the facade you were desperately trying to uphold between the two men who knew you better than you knew yourself.

Jey released your wrist, but the weight of his touch lingered. "You don't owe us anything. But maybe, just maybe, you owe it to yourself."

His words echoed in your mind, the emotions within you intensifying. You turned away from both of them, gripping the edge of the counter as you tried to steady yourself.

Sami's hand left your shoulder, and you heard him move closer. "Tonight, you finally took a stand for yourself. You stood up against something that was suffocating you, just like Jey did. I know it feels like the world's crashing down on you right now, but you did what you thought was right."

You scoffed, feeling the turmoil within you reaching a breaking point. "You have no idea how I feel! You have no idea what it's like to feel like everything you 've built is crumbling around you!" You pushed Sami's chest away, turning to face them both with a cold stare. "You had a choice, Sami. You walked away, with no consequences. But I have to face these emotions myself. I have to face the man I created myself. Unlike you, I am not weak!"

You turned to Jey and pointed a finger at him accusingly as you continued. "And you. You're right."

Jey gazed at you, and it was as if you could see the hurt that ran rampant in his eyes, his lips twisted into a frown. And he knew you were feeling the same thing, no matter how hard you were trying to hide it. "You had to do what you had to do with Roman. Be your own man. But guess what, it was too late! Cause where was that man when I needed him the most?" You gestured wildly at your surroundings. "You were gone! Roman asks you once and you answer to him, no questions asked. And I had to pick myself off the ground while you acted like everything was okay when you chose him over me!"

Yeah, you and Jey were in a relationship , you had feelings for each other, known each other for years and had been close friends, the romantic and sexual tension that existed between the both of you was undeniable. And when you both finally made that leap and got into a relationship behind Roman's back and Roman found out, he told the both of you that relationships would distract you both in the factions, and then told Jey he was just looking out for you and that you wouldn't make the right choice-but he would, and that's to just be friends or else.

Jey heeded his warning and ended things between the two of you-saying he didn't want Roman to hurt the both of you- but you were already hurt by him, and hurt by Jey the most. Jey didn't even realize he was actually playing into Roman's control, but when he finally saw the light, it was too late, you had started building yourself back up without him. If he wanted to be friends, then he would get what he wanted, but it wouldn't be the same. But you would never let yourself be hurt like that again.

And then, when he left the Bloodline, you cut off all contact. You didn't get the chance to voice your feelings because everything fell apart in the blink of an eye, so you wouldn't let him know your true feelings unless it was forced on you.

But Jey had never gotten the message. He kept coming back, and coming back, and so did Sami, and you were sick of it. You were sick of their constant appearances, sick of their stupid faces always trying to comfort you, and most of all you were sick of yourself for letting them affect you this way. So you thought being mean would be enough, you thought keeping everyone at arms length would keep you safe, keep you sane… It never worked. Every time they showed up, and they were supposed to leave you alone, they'd somehow find their way back, making you question what was truly important to you…

And now, staring into their eyes, after you finally snapped on the man who you called your best friend after months of verbal manipulation and abuse, you felt the walls crumbling all around you. You felt the tension you had been holding onto all these months finally crackling into a raging fire inside you, a fire which you hoped Jey and Sami could finally quench. But instead they seemed to have ignited even more.

"I didn't chose him over you." Jey spoke softly, and his eyes were even softer as he gazed at you. You felt that fire inside you again, burning brighter now, hotter and stronger than before. "I chose to protect you. And now, you have to choose the same thing for yourself."

You closed your eyes briefly as you fought the feelings and tension you always felt when you were around them. The heat that rose inside you threatened to burn you from the inside out. But you refused to give in. There was too much pain running through your veins to allow you to fall to pieces right in front of them.

The silence that filled the room was deafening, until it was finally broken by Sami. "Look, you can be as snarky as you want, you can insult us as much as you want, but that won't change the fact that when I look into your eyes, I see someone who needs my help." Sami hesitantly came closer to you- his brown eyes boring into yours. “Someone who's lost everything, and has nothing but hope left. That's not you. And if you continue to run away from this-"

You scoffed, cutting him off, not wanting to listen anymore to whatever he was going to say. You couldn't give in to them.

"Just stop! Just fucking stop! Stop acting like you care about me, or about me, or about us. Just… just stop!" Tears welled in your eyes, and it made you want to scream. The tension grew so strong, you thought your head was going to explode. You felt the walls collapsing, the flames starting to lick at your skin.

Jey shook his head, taking a step forward towards you. "Are you tryna convince us or yourself? Cause all your doing is deflecting, deflecting, deflecting, acting like we ain't know every inch of you and what makes you tick, what drives you crazy."

His voice was loud, commanding, hot, and demanding, causing the temperature in the entire room to skyrocket. "Acting like we ain't know you're just tryna make us mad so we'll just leave, well get this through your fucking skull-we ain't gonna go anywhere, we are staying here whether you like it or not. Cause we fucking care about you! Because we 're here for you! We're gonna help you and show you that you fucking deserve everything good in this world, you deserve the best, you deserve us!”

His eyes were filled with a fire that matched yours that made your body heat up even more his voice low yet so demanding, his words harsh yet so caring. “Now, you gon' sit there, and tell us that you don't need help, you don't wanna accept our help because you think its weakness or somethin'? Well, that's just bullshit, baby. And we ain't gonna stand by and watch as you try to pretend like everything's fine when its not!"

Your eyes were blown wide, watching Jey take another step forward, anger blazing bright in his eyes. The heat radiating off of him, making your body heat up even further. You swallowed roughly, unable to speak, unable to process what you were hearing. A tear escaped your eye, rolling down your cheek.

You didn't bother wiping it away.

But Sami did.

His gentle touch wiped away the falling tear, bringing your attention towards his concerned expression. His beautiful brown eyes stared deeply into your eyes, looking straight past the facade you were putting up. Sami wasn't fooled, and neither was Jey.

"Please, sweetheart. Stop lying to yourself." His deep voice whispered soothingly, his face inches away from yours. "Stop lying to us. Let yourself be free." His lips were inches away from yours, and the walls you had built so tightly were slowly fading into dust.

You looked up into his soft eyes, and you knew exactly what they were saying. You knew exactly what he was thinking. "Let yourself be happy."

You didn't know what it was about those words, but they broke something inside of you, shattered the tug and war you were doing with your mind and heart, and you finally listened to your heart and pulled Sami down into a kiss.

He immediately responded and wrapped his arms around your waist pulling you closer to him. It was soft. It was sweet. It was everything you craved from him, and all you've ever wished he would do for you. It ended as fast as it started, and you pulled away, only just barely managing to hold in a whimper. Your heart pounded in your chest, and you knew that you were shaking. Sami soothingly rubbed your trembling back, trying his best to calm you down, but it just caused you to shiver.

"It's okay. You're okay." He whispered soothingly into your ear. He brought his hand up, caressing your face gently. "We got you babe, I promise." He said to reassure you.

You looked up, and your eyes flickered to Jey, who stood by the door watching you intently. His intense gaze made your skin heat up with yearning and lust. Your heart caught in your throat when he moved from the door and approached you. His presence seemed to fill your entire being, and you couldn't pull your gaze away from him.

He stopped just in front of you, and you could feel the tension and tension between the three of you growing thicker by the second. He slowly raised his hand, his thumb gently trailing along your jaw. You couldn't breathe, couldn't move. All you could do was watch as he leaned down, his lips so so close to yours.

"I will always love you, and this time, I'ma choose you for good." He breathed. And with that, his lips met yours.

The warmth and love pouring into you so strong, you were afraid you would melt. You loved him. And you knew he loved you, and the moment you felt it, you felt it with all your might despite your anger, and it made the walls inside you crumble once again.

Your fingers found their way into his hair, tangling themselves into the strands, and you kissed him back, desperate for more. You needed more. You needed him.

You missed how he smiled against your mouth. And you missed how his hands found their way to your lower back, pushing you flush against him, his fingertips grazing the skin under your shirt. And you missed how you weren't able to break apart long enough to breathe.

It felt like hours until Jey finally broke this kiss, panting slightly. His breath brushed against the side of your neck, sending tingles throughout your body.

His hands slid down the small of your back, grabbing each of your hips, holding you firmly against him. His warm breath tickled your skin, and you couldn't help but gasp lightly when his teeth grazed your collarbone. "Since you don't wanna listen to us talk about how we love you, we gon' show you how much we love you instead."

He nipped your collarbone again, letting out a pleased groan at your reaction. One of his hands slid up to cradle the side of your face, pressing a lingering kiss to the corner of your mouth.

Your eyes fluttered shut, savouring the feeling of his lips on yours. You missed being held. You wanted to be held. You wanted to be loved.

But you also knew that you couldn't let yourself be selfish. Not now. Not after everything you had done. So you pushed him away, forcing yourself to look him in the eyes. "No." You whispered, your voice hoarse. "I can't."

"Shh.." Sami interrupted you gently with a finger to your lips. "Don't push us away again. Not yet."

His lips met yours as Jey's sucked on your neck, making you arch your back and moan softly, the sound echoing around the quiet room. You felt Sami's hand creep up your shirt, stroking your thigh, and you whimpered, feeling his tongue slip into your mouth, kissing you with fervor that made you melt . Your hands trailed over his muscular chest, and you sighed as his hands slid around to your ass, squeezing it slightly before pulling away, looking deep into your eyes.

"You are worth so much more than anyone thinks." A whisper. And your knees almost gave in to his soft tone.

You yelped when Jey pulled you up with his muscular arm around your waist, picking you up bridal style as you squealed in excitement, wrapping your legs around his waist and clinging onto him for dear life. Sami smirked, wrapping one arm around Jey's shoulder as Jey picked you up bridal style, carrying you out of the room and towards your bedroom.

"You didn't have to carry me." You whined lightly into his ear, biting back another smile as he laughed softly, setting you down on the bed and leaning down to place a soft kiss to your neck again.

"And have you run away from us? I ain't letting that happen." He sucked on your sweet spot right underneath your ear, eliciting an immediate moan of pleasure that made you bite on your bottom lip, trying to hold it in. Jey chuckled and nipped at your neck once again, sucking on the tender flesh.

The bed dipped, and you turned around quickly, watching as Sami pulled his top off and crawled over to you and Jey. He climbed onto the bed, his eyes never leaving you and Jey, his lips curving up into a grin.

His grin widened when you pushed Jey off of you gently and sat up, taking off your shirt as well. Sami watched, his eyes trailing every inch of your body as your muscles tensed as you removed your bra, exposing your breasts, and your nipples hardened instantly in the cool air. He licked his lips and Jey had a wicked smile on his face as his panting intensified at the sight, and you smirked at him through a seductive grin, running your fingers through your hair and turning around to look back up at them, giving them a sexy wink.

"You said you were gonna show me how much you loved me. Was that just talk or are you gonna back it up?" You asked teasingly, uncrossing your legs and taking off your pants in one go.

They both grinned back, standing from the bed and taking off their clothes before moving to climb on top of you, hovering over you, their large and powerful bodies covering most of yours. The height difference was evident, but you didn't complain.

"We're gonna show you, alright." Sami murmured lowly in your ear, nibbling on it, causing a sharp inhale and his name to pass your lips, and he couldn't help but smile. He loved it when you moaned his name.

Jey lowered himself onto your lips. His lips were soft, and he tasted salty as you ran your tongue across them, tasting him, enjoying the taste as you moaned quietly into his mouth. His lips moved against yours passionately, and you couldn't help but moan loudly into his mouth and wrap your arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. You bit his bottom lip playfully, drawing a grunt from him, and you felt how he tightened his grip around your thighs.

He lifted you up, his grip still firm, and he walked backwards, dragging you with him, till you fell back onto the bed. He followed suit, sitting inbetween your legs and cupping your face with one of his hands. The other tangled into your hair, pulling your head forward so that he could capture your mouth again.

Your hands roamed over his body eagerly, exploring every inch of his skin you could reach, loving the goosebumps forming wherever you touched. Sami shuffled behind you, and you gasped into Jey's mouth when you felt his erection pressed into your back, his body leaning behind yours against the bed. Jey took advantage of your gasp and began nibbling on your lips, pulling away just as quickly as he had started. But not before licking at your bottom lip and grinning devilishly down at you.

"Mmh..you taste so fucking delicious babygirl." He mumbled huskily against your lips as you tried to catch your breath.

"Fuck yeah she does." Sami mumbled in agreement, his hands rubbing your naked skin, making you shiver with desire. "I'll get to her real soon." Sami muttered against your mouth before attacking your neck, his fingers dancing down to cup your bare breasts possessively.

Jey's hand found it's way to your legs, and he rubbed your thighs roughly, eliciting a moan from you, making you writhe against his lap, making him chuckle as his lips continued to explore your body. You arched your back, your hands reaching up to tug lightly at Sami's hair, wanting him to continue where he left off.

Sami growled into your neck, kissing up and down your skin as Jey hands teased your thighs, his finger gently rubbing against your swollen, wet folds, making you gasp loudly and shudder, your fingers digging into Jey's shoulders. Sami leaned forwards and caught the tip of your nipple between his teeth before biting sharply, earning a choked scream from you.

"Oh god." You panted as Jey's thumb began massaging your clit, his finger brushing back and forth, teasing the sensitive bundle of nerves inside your pussy and making you groan and lean your head back against Sami's chest.

"Relax, you deserve this" Sami breathed, his hands tightening around your hipbones, his thumbs rubbing circles on your hips.

"No, I don't." You grumbled back, but Jey's fingers moving faster made you choke on a moan, his fingers crooking into that spot that made you moan out uncontrollably, teasing it with each stroke, your eyes rolling back in your skull and your jaw clenching tightly. Jey kissed his way up your chest and rested his forehead against yours, his breath hot against your cheeks.

"Don't say shit like that. You deserve this." He said firmly, his dark brown eyes boring into yours. He circled the spot once again, making you cry out, his fingers dipping further inside your pussy. "You deserve everything, okay babygirl?"

You didn't think you did though. You thought you didn't deserve anything ever again. All the things you'd done to people. All the pain and hurt they had experienced. They had suffered because of you. Because you chose to do what you did. You chose to not stop the monster you made until he inevitably hurt you as well. You let your pride override your emotions. You let your love for giving your best friend everything in the world cloud your morals until you could no longer see the good side of anything. It was always about the future. Always about plotting away the future you instead of saving yourself right now.

"Stop thinking about it." Sami said softly, as if he was reading your mind. He tweaked your nipple, making you forget about everything instantly and whine loudly and arch your back, making you feel Sami's cock pressing against your butt, sending tingly shocks straight to your center.

"Shit..Sami..oh my God.." You panted, closing your eyes and tilting your head back to try and breathe better, but Jey's fingers were still working your pussy, stroking at your clit as Sami held your hips firmly, keeping you still as he moved his fingers inside your pussy, making you moan louder. "Please..fuck.." You panted out desperately, begging Jey to hurry up. Jey smiled and looked down at you, shaking his head slightly as he leaned down and placed a feather light kiss to your lips.

"Say you deserve it." He whispered, his voice low and deep and so full of lust and passion. You opened your eyes and looked down, unable to find the words to respond. You shook your head, and closed your eyes again. You didn't deserve i-

"No..say it." Sami ordered softly, harshly squeezing your boob hard, causing you to cry out and arch your back again. His gaze softened and he pulled away from you to kiss your cheek before leaning down and taking your right nipple into his mouth. You bit your lip, fighting off the urge to moan at how amazing it felt, and you heard Sami suck harder on your left nipple, causing you to whimper louder. You squirmed underneath the warm weight that was laying on you, your leg tangling with Jey's and his arm still holding you close, your hips shifting beneath his.

"You deserve to be loved. You deserve to feel loved, baby. So tell us, say it again." Sami growled against your shoulder before sucking on your earlobe. You gasped deeply, your body tensing as you gripped the bed sheets underneath you. Your heart pounded heavily in your chest as Jey slowed down his pace slightly and stared down at you while his hand fingered you slowly, your walls clenching tight around his finger making you shake from pleasure. Your breathing was heavy and uneven, as you were lost in ecstasy.

"All that shit Roman told you, get that outcha head. You know damn well he was wrong." Jey whispered in your ear as your moans turned into loud gasps. "You hear me? Get that shit outtcha head, cause you deserve nothing less than all the happiness the world has to offer." Jey kissed the hop of your head sweetly, in contrast to his thumb was rubbing your clit as he spoke and his fingers worked furiously against your opening, his thumb circling you slowly and teasing you, making you bite on your own lip and arch your back, moaning loudly in the process.

"Say you deserve that shit!"

"I deserve it!" You finally said out loud with a moan, your voice sounding hoarse from crying and panting through your cries. Jey grinned triumphantly and moved his thumb to brush your nub gently, making you moan again, this time louder. A sudden wave of heat washed over you, and you could practically feel yourself building up again.

"Good girl." He said happily before trailing kisses up your jawline to your ear and then whispering in your ear seductively. "We ain't gon' hurt you like him baby, we're gonna show you just how much we love you."

The warmth spread from your toes up to your groin, making you arch your back off the bed as he pistoled your pussy and sped up with the force of his hand thrusts. As he went faster, you squeezed your eyes shut and cried out. You were close, so so close, but you didn't even have to tell Jey or Sami. They already knew. They always knew.

'Let go for us, baby. We're here for ya. Let it all go.' Jey purred into your ear in a gentle tone while stroking your clit, watching you on the brink of an orgasm. Sami's free hand cupped your other breast, stroking your nipple lightly, as he sucked on your other breast as well.

"We're not gonna leave you, baby. We got you." Sami's soft voice cooed in your ears softly while his lips sucked on your breasts harshly as if he couldn't get enough of the salty taste.

Your moans grew louder and louder, and you felt Jey's hand gripping yours tightly enough to leave bruises.

'Come on baby, come for us.' Jey commanded and suddenly you couldn't hold back any longer. You didn't know what set you off; the way they were guiding you, their soft voices and even softer touches, but all you know is that you let go and let out the loudest scream you've ever screamed, your muscles tensing in agony and pleasure all at the same time as you came undone.

White spots danced in your vision as your mind went blank. The only thing you could focus on was the intense feeling coursing throughout your body. The feeling of being with two men who loved you and wanted you. Who cherished you. The feeling of being worshipped and desired. The feeling of someone wanting you more than they've ever wanted anyone else.

Sami's hand on your face and Jey shaking your shoulder brought you back to reality, your eyes blown out with pleasure and dazed, blinking repeatedly to clear the hazy haze in your vision. You opened your eyes to see Jey and Sami stared down at you lovingly, their faces flushed and their eyes glowing.

"We wore you out, babygirl?"Jey asked softly, smiling down at you while tracing random patterns on your naked thighs, his thumb gliding along the crease where your thighs meet. Sami hummed in agreement as he followed suit and softly traced the same patterns on your leg.

You scoffed at the thought, smirking up at them. "No chance in hell you guys are wearing me out." They mirrored your smirk and chuckled lowly, and your smirk turned into a gulp at the look in their eye when they slowly moved their bodies closer to you.

"Oh really?" Jey asked, licking his lips slowly, his eyes never leaving yours. "You wanna bet on that?" Sami added, his hand sliding over yours, his fingers curling around your own until you intertwined your fingers with his, both of you staring at each other intently. Their eyes locked together as they waited for your answer silently.

"Yeah. You wanna bet?" you breathed, your stomach fluttering wildly as you saw the hunger in their eyes.

"Well I can't exactly make the lady pay me back right?" Sami murmured, moving his head lower till his lips were brushing the edge of your collarbone, his breath tickling the skin. He began to trail kisses along the curve of your breast. "Like we said, we're here to take care of you…" Sami mumbled as his fingers trailed down the edge of your shirt to stroke your bare stomach.

"Take care of her." Jey whispered quietly, caressing your thigh with his hand, his gaze fixed intently on your face, his eyes darkening at the sight. Sami stopped moving his lips and instead brushed his tongue against the corner of your navel before kissing it, and licking it again as his fingers stroked your inner thigh slowly, his fingers gliding over your folds and rubbing gently in circles.

You squirmed under their hands, your breath catching in your throat. You tried to speak but no words would come out of your mouth. All you managed to do was shake your head from side to side as you closed your eyes and clenched your jaw tightly, trying to stop yourself from whining from all the pleasure rushing through your body.

"You ready for some love now, babe?" Jey whispered huskily, Sami's fingers slipping out of you with a whine that turned into a yelp when he pulled you up and laid you down on your back.

You gasped loudly as they climbed onto you, sitting on the bed as Jey leaned forward and rested his forehead on top of yours, gazing into your eyes with lusty brown hues. He reached up and cupped your face softly with one hand, pulling himself up so that he could lean over and kiss you softly, his tongue dancing inside your mouth in harmony with yours, it has been so long but it felt so familiar and it felt right and you missed it so much.

Sami started moving his hips in sync with yours, rubbing against you while Jey continued to kiss you and touch you as if he needed to commit every part of your beautiful body to memory. And oh god did he do just that, making your body feel loved yet also made you ache in the best way possible.

You were preoccupied with the dizzying taste of Jey's addicting mouth on yours, but you felt Sami let you go and shuffle around the room, before returning, feeling his weight shift the bed as you and Jey were kissing each other like your life depended on it, melting into each others touch and kisses.

"God, you taste good." Sami groaned, licking the side of your neck, causing you to break away from Jey's mouth to look up at Sami. His cute little dimples showing as he smirked down at you and gave you a quick peck on the lips.

You rolled your eyes fondly and bit back a smile at his cuteness. This man did not know what he did to you, how he made your heart beat for him even when you tried to fight it back. How every time he touched you, you could feel your knees giving way under you, because the feeling of your body being consumed by him was too strong, too intoxicating to resist.

How he made you was the first person in a long time to make you feel at peace with his infectious presence; his sweet smiles, soft giggles, playful jabs and jokes. How his eyes shined deep like the stars you used to dream of looking at, sparkling and warm with emotion. How everything he does makes you fall in love with him a tiny bit more.

Jey grabbed Samis hair and pulled him closer, his lips fiery hot as his lips devoured Samis', their tongues colliding fiercely and passionately, making your pussy heat up at the sight- especially when Sami let out a guttural moan and kissed Jey back just as hungrily, his hand cradling Jey's chin and forcing Jey to open his mouth wide to swallow more of his lover's lips.

You couldn't help but bite your lip at seeing the heated passion in their eyes, their tongues tangled, biting and kissing deeply, making you wetter and hotter, your legs trembling, and your clit throbbing, the intensity and want building.

Both men groaned into each other mouths at the feel of their dicks being palmed, and Sami bit down on Jey's bottom lip hard, licking it to soothe the bite before breaking away from Jey's lips and leaning back, panting heavily and holding Jey's cheeks in his palms, looking down at your grinning form , his brown eyes blazing in desire and need as they searched yours, drinking up every detail of your face greedily.

"Baby, as much as we appreciate that, this is about taking care of our girl." Sami said hoarsely, his breathing ragged as he watched you pout, your eyes pleading with him to just let you please them. "I'm not a doll that'll break any second, I don't need to be taken care o-

You yelped when you were pushed back, the air leaving your body when Jey's lips crashed harshly against yours, his teeth scraping your bottom lip roughly, your mind immediately filled with nothing but the taste of Jey and his minty breath as he devoured you like he was starving for you, and you for him.

Jey's large calloused hands held tightly on your waist, his fingers digging painfully into you as he ground against you, your breasts bouncing wildly on his chest. Your moans echoed throughout the room as you clutched at Jey's shoulders, your nails grazing the skin there.

When he finally pulled away, his honey brown eyes were glistening with passion as he looked you over, running his tongue across his full bottom lip slowly. Fire was all you saw in his eyes, the fire you've craved every since you first met, the fire you've been craving the past couple months ever since he left the Bloodline and you iced him out. You wanted more, wanted to see those eyes turn black as sin as you begged him to fuck you, wanted to see the flames dance in them and unleash from his soul.

And as he licked his lips and you stared into those dark pools of fire, you knew you were gonna get what you wanted.

"You so fucking stubborn, you know that?" Jey growled and gripped your hips firmly as he pressed a few kisses to the corner of your lips, your cheek, your temple, and stopping at your neck, clashing his teeth lightly over your pulse point.

"You.Are.Our. Girl." he growled in between the kiss as his grip tightened on your hips. You arched your back slightly as he took advantage of your sudden change in position, his cock slightly brushing against your entrance making you shudder as he sucked in a sharp breath against your neck and kissed his way back up, his rough beard scratching the sensitive spot where your neck and shoulder meet.

"And that means you let us take care of you, okay baby?" He said softly into your ear before nipping your earlobe playfully, his hands traveling underneath you to push you up slightly. You were so deep into his words and seduction you didn't realize Sami was behind you until you felt his breath on your neck and his hands on your waist, the feel of his bulging cock on your ass bringing a moan from your lips as your whole body tingled with anticipation.

"Whatever shit he who must not be named put into your head-" You giggled at Sami's way of mentioning Roman, and his eyes lit up at the sound.

"-You are amazing, you deserve to be loved and cared for, by someone who loves you, someone who will treat you right. And I can't promise that we'll be perfect, I can't promise we can give you the same influence that Roman has given you. but…we can promise you we'll take care of you and love you better than he ever will, like you deserve, because you are so fucking precious, I don't think you even know how amazing you truly are…."

The tears stung your eyes as his warm words and gentle loving voice penetrated through your thick layer of emotional pain.

Power.

It had been the one thing that'd been consuming you for the past 3 years, the main thing that you thought would make you happy- the thing that brought out the dark and twisted sides of you that you didnt bother hiding in the first place, but came out even more because anyone standing in the Bloodline's way would get crushed in an instant, just like you did. And Jey was the only one to break through your armour and shatter it like glass. Then Sami broke it into pieces and shattered them completely, and then healed them again, and again, and again. Every piece Roman destroyed, he repaired, and every piece you fell apart, Jey fixed alongside with him.

And right now, looking into his pretty face, looking into his big brown eyes shining bright with love for you, and Jey with his handsome face smiling and eyes full of adoration as he looked at you, you didn't want to just feel fixed. You wanted to become whole again; to be complete.

You wanted to feel complete. You wanted to feel loved despite the darkness within you, because they brought out the light inside of you that you've buried so deep inside your bones that you forgot the feeling existed. But they brought it back.

And it was the most beautiful feeling in the world.

You let out a watery chuckle as a sadly beautiful smile appeared on your lips as tears pooled in your eyes. "I think loving me comes with its own set of challenges, and I have so many of them…" You chuckled dryly as you cupped Sami's cheeks, your eyes burning and your emotions bubbling beneath you. "I don't want to hurt you. I'm just like him. And I want you guys to realize that now instead of later when you get hurt by me."

Sami exchanged a look with Jey before he lifted your chin, his hands cupping your jaw lovingly while he stared at you so intensely that you almost thought your skin would melt off your body just by his gaze alone. "You are no monster," He said softly, his touch on your skin even softer. "You're our angel. And the only thing that would make us leave you is if you left us right now."

You closed your eyes at the statement, your eyelashes fluttering lightly against your cheeks as you let out a small giggle, which turned into a sob as the last remaining remnants of anger melted away from your heart as your eyes flashed open to reveal the tears spilling freely on your cheeks.

"I-I'm so sorry, Oh my god, I didn't mean to make you sad and cry-" Sami panicked , his hands moving from your jaw, wiping his thumbs over your cheeks tenderly, his thumb gently tracing over a tear track. "I'm sorry!" He repeated in a whisper as his thumbs brushed across your cheeks again, his thumb still moving gently around your cheek.

"Sami, sami, chill out, those are happy tears!" Jeys stopped Sami from panicking, placing a hand on Samis' chest and keeping a firm hold on him, preventing him from continuing his ministrations and making him stop and look back at you and see the sad smile on your face and the glint in your beautiful eyes. You couldn't help the smile you gave Sami as you wiped the last traces of tears away from your eyes and smiled sweetly as you placed a soft, chaste peck on his lips.

"You're fine, baby. Jey's right, I'm fine." You smiled, your tone reassuring as you squeezed Samis' shirt and leaned into Jey who was currently hovering over you protectively. Jey knew you too well. "I just...never had someone say that to me before, y'know? Say all this sweet stuff and really mean it." You murmured and Jey sighed quietly, his lips forming a tight line as he gazed at you with the most gentle yet heated expression in his eyes, causing butterflies to erupt in your stomach as he ran his thumb over your lips.

"You deserve to be treated right." His husky voice sent shivers down your spine and made your knees go weak. He moved closer to you, your faces inches apart as his hands caressed your thighs as the heat emanating from his touch sent shivers down your spine.

You swallowed nervously, watching Jey move even closer to you, his face mere centimeters from yours, his eyes burning into your soul, burning holes right through your body. He stared at you like he knew exactly what you were thinking -he was always able to tell what you were feeling -as the tips of his fingers traced your hipbones, your thighs, your chest, your collarbone…his fingers trailing down your arm as if he couldn't bare not touching you anymore and just wanted nothing more than to pull you closer, to touch every inch of your body, to devour every inch of your soul, to show you how much you meant to him.

"And I'ma make sure you know it." He whispered into your soul before capturing your lips in a passionate kiss, one that left you melting into him, your arms encircling his neck tightly, pulling him impossibly closer to you, his warm hands holding your cheeks as he deepened the kiss. He slowly backed you against the bed, kissing you passionately while his lips continued their torture against yours.

"Lean against Sami, baby. We gon' be laying down awhile." He whispered hotly against your lips, and you could feel Sami's hands on your thighs as he held you steady so that you wouldn't fall as his body was pressing up against yours, your back arching and your breasts jiggling with each movement as he pressed you against him.

You listened and turned around and was met with a kiss from Jey, his tongue hot and probing against yours. You moaned into his mouth as he took control of the kiss, and he was doing so perfectly. Teeth clashed against each other, tongues flicking one each others mouths, the heat pooling in between your legs at the feel of his cold chain on your warm skin contrasting the warmth radiating off Jey's skin where his body was pressed against yours.

Every breath you stole from each other was like a re-introduction to each other written in fire, burned and blistered by your lips. Every kiss was an apology to each other in the form of tongue and teeth, as every time one of you breathed out another sigh, the other groaned in pleasure. Every pounding of your hearts and gentle touches to your skins was like new love letters that you wrote while you missed each other that you were going to keep reading every night.

And every time you felt something else brush against you as you lay there in Jey and Sami's embrace, everything in your head went silent, as if there wasn't anything to distract your mind. You knew they were safe. They protected you. No matter how many times you told yourself they didn't, deep down you knew you were lying to yourself.

And you weren't gonna let you lie to yourself any longer.

"You ready, baby?" Jey whispered against your lips after kissing the tip of your nose before pressing his forehead against yours, his hand finding your waist, gently pulling you closer to him.

"Yes." You replied honestly, your eyes sparkling with realization and hope. "With you both, I'm always ready."

Jey's lips turned up into a sweet smile that matched the stars that seemed to be in his eye's that made your heart swell, and Sami's grip on you hips softened even more as he smiled too. Your lips connected once again, this time with more passion and emotion. You wanted to memorize how this moment felt for eternity. And you hoped forever would come sooner rather than later.

Once you pulled away panting, Sami kissed alongside your neck before slipping something to Jey, and when Jey caught it with ease you realized it was a condom.

You groaned internally when Jey brought it to his mouth and ripped it open with his teeth, never breaking eye contact with you, the heat radiating off of Jey's eyes as he stared intensely at you, licking his lips, making you shiver in anticipation. You heard ripping coming from behind you and knew that Sami was doing the same thing.

"Are you trying to kill me?" You faux glared at Jey as your heart hammered violently against your ribcage.

"Not yet, sweetheart." Jey smirked as he slipped the latex on and started kissing along your jaw, Sami kissing along your collarbone and shoulder until Jey reached the end of your neck, leaving you gasping as Sami sucked your pulse point gently, sending shocks through your entire being as his kisses trailed down your side and stopped at your hipbones before sliding down again, pausing briefly to suckle on the flesh.

Sami removed his lips from your hipbones and pressed a soft kiss against your exposed shoulder, your skin tingling as it warmed instantly from his presence. You inhaled sharply when you felt Sami's cock nudge against your ass as his hand slid down your thigh, gripping onto your ass, squeezing hard, causing you to let out an involuntary gasp as a mixture of pain and pleasure rushed through your whole body.

"I swear to god if you don't move in the next five seconds you're gonna die-" You were the one cutting yourself off with a moan when Jey slid his cock into you without warning, stretching you out inch by inch with no mercy, his eyes burning into your soul as your mind shut down, only conscious of his thrusts, his tongue lapping at your throat.

Only able to feel the coldness of his chain on your skin, only able to hear the uncontrollable moans you were letting out as Sami continued sucking and nibbling at your earlobe as Jey slid deeper and deeper inside of you, and it felt like your insides were being devoured alive.

You could barely think or get a word out, let alone breathe properly because everything felt unreal, everything felt so real, so surreal. It felt like you were floating in space, floating in clouds of clouds that looked so fluffy but felt so heavy as you tried to hold yourself together.

Then Sami pushed you a bit farther back and pushed his cock into your core, and you lost it.

"Fuck! I can't -oh my God!" You were moaning and squirming uncontrollably, the feel of him filling you up alongside Jey and every thrust he made was like heaven itself was entering your body, and the angels were singing praises as your toes curled. And when Jey thrusted in time with the music, a beautiful melody filled your ears as if the angels had joined in on the heavenly choir of praise, the sounds of your moans mixing beautifully with the sounds of their grunts and Jey's harsh breathing.

Jey chuckled against your skin at your blissed out state, making you shudder and shake. "Oh yeah, baby. Feel good now?" His hot breath tickled your ear, his fingers digging into your flesh while his lips continued kissing you senselessly, his lips caressing your skin and his cock moving in rhythm with each thrusts of Sami's.

You nodded, but any words you wanted to say were wiped away and your head fell back on Sami's shoulder in bliss when he hit a particular spot inside you, making any and all doubts in your head go away.

"So beautiful," Sami growled against your neck, your jaw going slack at his sexy tone and even sexier words. "Being such a good girl for us, trusting us to take care of you and look after you right?" He pulled out just slightly before sliding back in smoothly, your eyes closing and body shaking as you moaned loudly, "Let us do those things for you, baby." He pleaded against your skin, and his tone made you weak in the knees. Another timed thrust and you became even weaker.

"That feel good, right baby?" Jey cupped your jaw and forced you to look directly at him. His handsome face was contorted in pure ecstasy and glistening beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but the look in his eye was intense, fiery, lustful, as if all the galaxies were in his irises and you were just the fuel that was burning them to life.

"Yes…baby" You gasped softly and gripped his shoulders, your nails digging into his back.

Jey smiled at your response, and your back arched instinctively as his lips found its way towards your neck, biting your collarbone gently, causing another wave of pleasure to surge through you.

"Shhh…." Sami mumbled against your skin as his hands traveled to your breasts, pinching lightly at your nipple, making you squirm and moan in arousal. "Relax. Relax." He urged you, making you relax your muscles as he kept massaging your breasts in time to the pace of his thrusts and Jey's thrusts.

How could he think you could relax when your nerves felt like they'd been electrocuted? You couldn't stop your hips bucking up underneath Sami who held them still, but you could feel how close you were becoming to losing control, to falling apart completely. The only thing you could do was bite your bottom lip to keep yourself from crying out from sheer pleasure.

"Don't hold back, baby." Jey encouraged gently, giving you little chaste pecks against your neck as his hips pounded against yours faster, almost frantic as you moaned loudly, unable to control your voice anymore, and your cries drowned in the sound of Sami's deep, raspy breathing against your neck.

You wanted to feel like this forever. Live in this moment forever. With Jey. With Sami. In the arms of the two men whose love was so unconditional and strong that you would probably die from the pure bliss it produced within you.

Even though you wanted nothing more than to stay in that exact moment forever, you could feel the heat building up in your belly, spreading throughout your body and your thighs were starting to tremble under the pressure of their thrusts, the warmth inside of your legs spreading further down your legs, which made you arch your back with an audible moan.

"Please..faster." You whimpered out between pants and whimpers as you made both men grunt at you clenching around them so tight it almost hurt.

Both men grunted harshly, pushing deeper as they slammed themselves into you relentlessly, their moans louder and their thrusts harder, and it was the best high you've ever felt. You couldn't believe that you were already getting addicted to it, addicted to the sensations coursing through your veins, the overwhelming feelings of complete ecstasy and euphoria flowing through your veins.

Sami's hand slid down to your pussy squeezed your clit roughly, rubbing it as their thrusts increased, hitting you harder and harder, until you were shaking and gasping and crying out and panting, trying but unable to hold back, unable to hold yourself back.

Jey noticed and leaned over to whisper something in your ear, "Go ahead." He spoke softly, as if he wasn't making your whole body shake underneath him. "Take all you need." He added. He puncuated that with a hard thrust inside you, causing you to cry out loudly and make your eyes roll to the back of your head.

"Move her." Sami ordered softly, his thrusts and hand rubbing at your clit making all thoughts leave your body. Jey complied and understood what Sami meant instantly, grabbing your legs and putting them on his shoulders, and you squealed as he pounded his cock even deeper with the new angle he took.

"Jey! Fu-" You cried out in surprise as Jey moved your legs in a different direction, his thrusts stronger, deeper and faster, his strokes rougher and deeper than before.

"I know, baby." Jey hummed, pulling his dick out and slamming it back in, making you arch up once again, making you gasp for air. "Good girl. Keep going. Give it all you got, baby. You can take it." He praised, and you were close, so so close, teetering on the edge of heaven and earth and beyond, and you weren't sure where you belonged, but you hoped wherever you ended up wasn't without Jey and Sami.

"I-I'm close…. You panted, feeling Sami's hand grip your hip and guide you closer, Jey's hand gripping your ankle. At your words both men's hips jerked forward simultaneously, causing you to scream and cry out again even louder and scream their names.

"Let go for me baby…Let go.." Jey begged, his thrusts hitting you harder, faster, and harder, and you could feel it all bubbling inside of you, waiting to come to the surface.

Sami pounded himself softer and slower and then faster, and you could feel your body trembling as you were about to fall off the precipice. You felt like the waves were crashing against you, drowning you, taking you away to another world, somewhere unknown but safe, and you wanted to be swept up in it's shores.

"Sami.. Jey.." You moaned as the waves crashed against you, the waves swallowing you whole. "I'm gonna.. I'm gonna…."

"Come for us baby… Come now." Sami ordered, his thumb stroking the wetness inside of your pussy slowly while he and Jey thrusted in unison and your entire body shuddered at the sensation.

"Look at me, sweetheart." Jey's gruff voice broke through the haze clouding your mind and the wave that was threatening to swallow you vanished.

You opened your eyes, and met Jey's golden ones. They stared back into your soul, their lust and desire and possessiveness and affection shining brightly in his eyes. They were dark brown with hints of gold in them, and you could literally see every thought and emotion hidden behind them and it scared you how much he loved you.

"Let go for me, baby. I love you, we love you. Do it for me." He purred and your heart clenched at his words, and you didn't know what it was about them, but they made your knees give in and your body finally succumb to the waves that were trying to sweep you away and drown you.

Heaven and hell had disappeared for you for a while; there was only darkness and fire and Jey's piercing gaze and and Samis' fierce touches that burned you alive as you rode out those waves, and Sami's warm hand on your face bringing you back to reality after they rode out their own waves as well.

"Are you okay, babe? You did so well for us.” Your eyes fluttered open at Sami's hand on your cheek tenderly, looking straight into his eyes lovingly. Jey was right beside you and his chest was heaving as he caught his breath. He kissed your forehead tenderly.

You gave them both a bright smile that melted their hearts as they gazed back at you lovingly, their expressions softening as their eyes filled with adoration.

"That... was the best sex I had in my entire life...." You admitted truthfully and they chuckled.

"I think that was the sweetest thing you've ever said to us after everything that happened." Sami teased as he brushed a curl of hair that had fallen across your face.

"Shut up, it was not." You giggled, swatting his hand away playfully.

"So you telling us to fuck off and leave you alone doesn't count?" Jey sarcastically challenged as he grinned smugly back at you, sitting up on the headboard right next to you, resting his arm around you.

“Okay, could you blame me when I thought you guys hated me after I basically iced you two out after all the shit that happened? I mean, I understand it. Honestly, I do.." You sighed heavily, turning slightly away from him.

"Hey." Jey pulled your chin round so you faced him again, and cupped your cheeks gently in his hands, forcing you to look at him. "Don't put all the blame on yourself. It wasn't just you either. I fucked up by letting you go when I should have never let you go in the first place, expecting you to forgive me and move on like nothin' ever happened."

His thumb grazed your bottom lip gently as he looked deeply into your eyes that were filled with a mixture of guilt and regret, making his stomach flip at the sight. "It's the same thing I did with Sami when I tried to push him aside. It's all my fault."

"Hey, hey hey, it's no ones fault okay?" Sami interrupted your guilt ridden self pity party, moving in between you and Jey and wrapping his arms around you both tightly, leaning back against the headboard. "We are all human, and that means mistakes. But that doesn't mean we can't move on ." His tone turned serious, his eyes holding a firm glint in them. "The past is done. All that matters now is the future and right now, I want our future to include each other."

Sami turned to you and looked deep into your eyes, his words leaving you in awe of his honesty, at how sweet his smile was, how gentle his touch always was, and how raw his voice was. "I want you with me for as long as you will let me. I want to be the one you go to when you're lonely or when you're hurt, I want you to come to me when you feel like you're going crazy, I want you to trust me enough to not shut me out when something is bothering you, and I want to wake up to you and Jey in my bed every morning because that would be heaven." Sami's grip tightened on you and Jey as he continued speaking, and a lump in your throat formed at hearing his words, and you didn't have to look at Jey to know he was teary eyed as well.

"Sami…" You whispered softly.

"Let me finish please." Sami smiled softly, his thumbs caressing your cheeks and wiping away some stray tears which were falling down your face silently. "My point being: I love you, I want to spend the rest of eternity with you, and I need you in my life more than anything. And I'll gladly spend however long you want me to, if I can." Sami's eyes twinkled with such sincerity and care, so much care and passion, that it made your heart melt all over again.

Your heart was stuck in your throat as he finished his speech, feeling the tears stinging your eyes again but you blinked them away and held Sami's love striken gaze as best as you possibly could without bursting into loud sobs and throwing your arms around him. His honestly raw honesty made you fall in love all over again, and you didn't realize before how badly you needed that kind of honesty in your life, and you know you owed it to him to give him exactly that.

"Sami, I love you too you absolute fool." Your comment made both men laugh despite the emotions running through all three of you, and you wiped at your eyes, your vision blurring with tears of happiness and relief and joy. "And you're a dumbass if you think that I'm just gonna walk away from this, walk away from you both. You've made me feel like nothing else in the entire fucking universe ever has, and I'd be an idiot if I didn't let myself fall for someone who loves and adores me as much as you do."

You sniffled as your lips trembled uncontrollably, Jey's arm rubbing soothing circles on your shoulder making you turn to him as well. "I love you guys. I promise that."

Sami's eyes shone brighter, the emotions swirling within them making them shine brighter than any star ever had before, and you couldn't believe you were the one making the stars shine with pure love and light, as if they had been created solely for your sake. You were staring at them as if the moon was rising on the horizon and the clouds had suddenly parted, Sami smiled like the sun itself, and Jey's eyes were shimmering like diamonds as if you had just bestowed upon them the most beautiful jewels imaginable.

"God you don't know how long I've waited to hear you say that." Sami's voice cracked a little and in one second planted his lips firmly on yours, silencing you. The kiss was slow, loving, and sweet, everything you ever wanted and needed. When you eventually pulled away, Sami's hand rested on the side of your neck, caressing your skin tenderly. Jey cupped your jaw and tilted your face until you were looking directly into his eyes, his smile wide and full of warmth and love.

“I love you, and I'm never letting you go like I did once before, not now, not ever, and definetly not ever again. This time, I mean it, baby girl."

His words were like a warm blanket wrapped around you, calming you down and easing all of your worries, your stress, your fear, and your sorrow, and it left you with the biggest smile on your face ever since you saw it. The warmth emanating from Jey's eyes as he stared into you was almost intoxicating, but even more so when Jey leaned in closer and pressed his soft, warm lips to yours.

Unlike the kisses you shared with him earlier, this kiss was slow, gentle, passionate, and meaningful; it was a way for him to make up for lost time and remind you he would always be there for you, he would always be here. He said that with every movement of his lips against yours, and with every caress of his fingertips on your skin sending tingles throughout your whole body.

You pulled away from him breathless, and rested your foreheads together as you smiled lovingly at him and traced your finger down his perfect facial structure slowly and carefully.

"I hope you'd love me considering all that's happened tonight." You laughed lightly, your brown skin glowing softly in the low light of the room.

"Anddd you just ruined the moment." Jey complained, shaking his head jokingly. You smirked and leaned forward, pecking his nose affectionately.

"Oh poor baby, can't handle my charms." You teased, laughing when Jey pouted at you and shifted over to Sami's lap, pulling him into a tight embrace. "I'm going to someone who actually appreciates me and won't make fun of me."

"Then you went to the wrong person, cause teasing you is my favorite pastime." Jeys groan of annoyance made you laugh harder, causing Sami to chuckle as well while kissing Jey's hair.

You smiled at the sight, squishing yourself in between them and resting your head on Jey's chest and your legs on Sami's lap, snuggling into the warmth of their bodies.

"Guess this means I'm officially your girl now, huh?" You inhaled Jey's scent deeply, trying to wade off the slight nerves at your question. Jey noticed and stroked your skin comfortingly, smiling lovingly when you cuddled even closer to him. He missed this part of you, the moments when you felt safe and comfortable enough to show how vulnerable you really were and to relax completely, to just be yourself.

"Baby, just like Sami said, we ain't letting you go, even if I gotta handcuff you to my bed, but you prolly would like that." Jey answered, laughing at your indignant squeak and dodging your playful swats to his shoulder. He intertwined your fingers before you could swat him again and squeezed your hands gently, earning him a soft smile in return.

"But forreal, I can't handle not having you by my side again. I want us to start fresh and be happy, and I wanna call you my girl, our girl."

You smiled even wider at his words, knowing it wasn't a question but a fact. And it was a fact you wanted to be true, you wanted to have this forever, and you knew you couldn't let them slip by your fingers because of your fears or your doubts anymore.

So you turned slightly to face him, and cupped his face in your hands with your thumbs tracing the curve of his cheeks lovingly. "I'd want nothing more." You said sincerely, causing Sami to squeeze your hand in excitement and Jey to smile widely, his eyes lighting up with happiness. Sami leaned back in to place a soft kiss on your cheek and then your lips, the gesture so intimate and loving and sweet that it nearly broke your heart. Jey leaned forward and planted another chaste kiss on your lips after Sami gave you a peck and smiled brightly.

"Well I guess congratulations are in order." You giggled at Sami's remark and looked at Jey with a smug smirk on your face.

"You're right, Sami. And my first act as your girlfriend is going to the bathroom, and you both are very much welcome to join." With a wink, you got up before they could catch you and walked towards the bathroom, your butt swaying seductively as you strutted away.

Jey and Sami's eyes landed on your bare ass as it swayed seductively, making their hearts beat faster, their breaths shorten, and their mouths water for more. Their eyes followed your figure as it disappeared out of view, before turning to each other and exchanging knowing looks.

"First one to get to the bathroom get's to join me in the shower!" Your voice called out through the door teasingly, your giggles reaching their ears despite the distance between the two of you.

Jey and Sami looked at each other again, seemingly communicating silently with each other, before Jey smirked at him and pushed past him (albeit gently) to run to you , his steps echoing loudly in the room. "Man, move ya slow ass!"

Sami chuckled to himself as he watched Jey chase after you, feeling incredibly accomplished and proud that he had gotten everything he wanted. The man of his dreams, the woman of his dreams, and it couldn't be more perfect. And as he made his way to the bathroom, and the three of you participated in more rendezvous activities in the shower, he made his way to the bathroom, and the three of you participated in more rendezvous activities in the shower, he knew this utter perfection is what he wanted to live for. To fight for, to love, to cherish, and to give.

And he and Jey wouldn't let it go without a fight - not if you were willing, anyway.

Unbeknownst to the three of you, your phone was ringing incessantly, but it was on do not disturb. But maybe you'd regret that decision sooner or later.

incoming text message from roman🖤: You think I don't know what you're doing? I've known you for years,you really think I wouldn't know that u ran off to sami and jey after you made the biggest mistake of your life? You think I'm gonna let what you did slide?

incoming text message from roman🖤: Everything I'm about to do to the people you care for, and you'll have no one to blame but yourself if you don't rectify what you did.

incoming text message from roman 🖤: Don't say I didn't warn you.

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[hollandorks]

haven

battinson! bruce wayne x f! reader

chapter thirteen

Summary: After the sudden deaths of her mother and grandmother, y/n is forced to return home to Gotham…and to the man who broke her heart three years ago. Back in Bruce Wayne’s inescapable orbit, she vows to get to the bottom of her former best friend’s new cold personality. But Bruce’s secrets aren’t what she’s expecting.

a/n: Sorry this took a hot minute to get posted! In my defense I wrote 4 chapters, hated them, deleted them, and then had to start over from what was last posted. Also, life just keeps happening. Anyways I have the next two chapters written already so I should be posting a few chapters over the holidays!

Series Masterlist

word count: 2.1k

“I’m okay,” she said, but she wasn’t sure she was.

Bruce hadn’t looked at y/n for pretty much the entirety of their little safety meeting. 

By the time Gordon and Alfred deemed their security changes good enough, she was more mentally and physically exhausted than she had been since Alfred first knocked on her apartment door. And to think she had been almost excited at the start of the night. 

She sat, staring vacantly at a knot in the ancient hardwood floors. She couldn’t have said what was decided in that meeting if a gun was held to her head. She bit back a wry smile at the irony of the thought.

When she lifted her eyes again, everyone was gone. Alfred was hovering in the doorway. Bruce was a step right inside, hands shoved deep inside his sweatpants. The two exchanged a glance, and then Alfred was gone. 

She looked up at Bruce, her elbows on her knees, her head aching. She rubbed the space between her eyes with a wince. She probably looked awful with her clothes and hair mussed, blood on her head, her eyes half-wild. 

She realized Bruce was staring at her–probably waiting on her to get up–so she stood and stretched. 

Bruce was still standing there, watching her. 

“I’m going straight to bed, don’t worry,” she said. Her tone was more flat than she intended. Things were going to be even worse. Bruce and Alfred had been dragged even further into her mess and Wayne Tower was about to be turned into a veritable fortress. And she definitely wouldn’t be able to leave now. 

Y/n went to slip past Bruce but he held out a hand. He didn’t touch her so much as subtly block her way. She stopped and stared down the hallway. For some reason, her heart was pounding. If she looked at him–she didn’t know what would happen if she looked at him, but she couldn’t. She was too tired to hide anything, too tired to pretend. 

“Are you alright?” he asked in a voice so soft it ripped something open inside her. 

Tears filled her eyes. She nodded her head. Then she shook it. 

The hand Bruce held out gently touched the small of her back. His other hand cupped her elbow. An embarrassing whimper slipped out of her mouth as he very slowly pulled her into his chest. 

She stiffened reflexively as Bruce held her. Then, all at once, all of the tension melted away.

Her hands fisted in his well-worn shirt as she inhaled the scent of him. “I lost–everyone I loved all at once. And now I keep getting fucking shot at and a mob family wants me dead. I’m not sure I’ll ever be alright again.” She had missed him so much that a simple hug had her weak in the knees. At that moment, she didn’t care about the history between them. She didn’t care about the ragged edges of the heart he’d broken. He was there, he was holding her, and she felt more safe and whole than she had in a long time. 

“You haven’t lost everyone,” Bruce murmured. “I’m still here.” 

The words were a spark, her anger igniting in a burst. 

Her fingers tightened for a moment before she forced herself to step away. For a moment, she wished he would pull her back into the safety of his arms, but the anger stirring in her chest wasn’t going to be ignored. 

“I lost you three years ago, Bruce,” she said in a startlingly calm voice. 

And he flinched.

It didn’t feel as good as she thought it would. 

She turned away from him to take a deep, steadying breath. “It doesn’t matter,” she said when he remained silent. “I–I think I’m finally falling in love with someone else.” When she faced Bruce again, his mouth was open with shock. “I mean, I’m not in love with him,” she clarified, face flushing with heat. “But I could see it happening.” She hadn’t meant for those words to come out. But Batman had been on her mind a lot lately, more so since that moment in the alley, him protecting her, his bare hand gentle against the skin of her face. 

Bruce recovered enough to say, “Who?” 

“Why does it matter?” she asked, still angry. “Are you the only one allowed to–to move on?” 

“No, I just–” He looked stunned by her anger, and that felt good. Hurting him hadn’t, but letting him see the extent to which he’d hurt her, how angry it made it, that felt good. 

“It’s the Batman. Alright? I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like myself around him and I haven’t felt that way in years.” Three years, to be exact. She crossed her arms and turned away again. “And I don’t know if he even likes me at all or is just, you know, obligated to be around me. But someone like him is someone I could…see myself with. And I haven’t felt that way in…” In three years, she finished silently. 

The silence lasted so long that she gave in and looked to see what Bruce’s face was doing. He was making a valiant effort to school his features, but he was failing at it. “What?” he finally said. There were several emotions warring on his face, all of which he was trying to hide. 

Y/n grit her teeth so hard she thought she heard something crack. “Forget I said anything. I’m going to bed.” 

She stepped past Bruce and again, he held out his hand to stop her. She smacked it away and muttered an angry-sounding goodnight. 

She was so stupid, she thought as she shoved a few papers off of her bed. Telling Bruce that she might fall in love with the Batman? A man in a mask she barely knew? She grabbed her notepad with all of her article notes with a frustrated growl and made a single note: white knight syndrome. 

–

For two more days, y/n stayed locked in Wayne Tower. She pestered Gordon and Martinez and even her vigilante friend for updates, only to receive little in response. The man’s face was plastered all over the news.  

Finally, she had his name. 

Frank Gallo. 

Her luck was, honestly, the worst. Leave it to her to accidentally get involved with the mob. 

Thankfully, at the very least, Martinez valiantly tried to keep her entertained. They texted almost constantly, Martinez mostly sending memes, but it was better than the godawful silence of the Wayne Tower residence. Bruce was almost always gone–flaunting his freedom, y/n felt, even though she knew that wasn’t what he was doing. And Alfred always hovered just out of sight, a suspicious lump at his side indicating he was now always armed. 

Being cooped up was really making her insane, y/n thought as she stared at the row of coffee mugs on the shelf before her. She had been standing there for at least ten minutes, her mind entirely blank. 

Her phone vibrated on the counter with another text from Martinez. This one was just a string of various tired emojis. It vibrated again with a GIF of a kid falling asleep at the table. 

Y/n grinned. Poor Martinez. He didn’t really have any rank and so was constantly given the worst jobs–which now included patrolling the street around Wayne Tower with three other officers. He almost always got stuck with the midnight shift. That worked for y/n–she hadn’t been sleeping much, and Martinez’s texts were probably the only thing keeping her from flinging herself out of a window. 

I’ll bring you some coffee, she texted in a split second decision. Meet me in the lobby. 

She knew she wasn’t allowed outside–she didn’t want to get caught by a sniper, after all. Or have Martinez or any of the other officers or Wayne security get caught in the crossfire. But surely if she rode the elevator down and Martinez met her at its doors it would be safe enough. And it’d feel almost like being able to leave. Maybe a small taste of freedom was all she needed. 

Y/n nodded once to herself and filled two mugs with fresh coffee. 

She spilled a little over her hand, hissing in pain, as she hit the elevator button with her elbow. She hadn’t heard her phone vibrate with Martinez’s response yet, but she could always just wait in the elevator downstairs until he came inside. 

The elevator doors slid open. 

Y/n’s next inhale was a strangled gasp. 

She stumbled back, both mugs dropping from her hands in her haste. They shattered against the floors, one after the other, hot liquid burning her feet and ankles. 

On the back wall of the elevator, exactly at her eye level, was a picture. 

It was dark and grainy, yet its subject was unmistakable.

It was her and Batman, his bare hand on her face, her eyes shining as she stared up at him. They were washed out by red and blue lights around them, caught in the shadows of the alley. 

She knew exactly the moment it had been taken. 

And she knew it meant two things: they knew who she was, and they knew where she was. 

Her entire body went cold. 

“What happened?” Alfred’s sharp voice barely registered. When she looked up, he was right beside her, handgun drawn and aimed into the elevator. It didn’t take long for him to notice the picture, even as the doors slid shut again after idling for too long. 

“Stay here,” Alfred half-growled, mashing the button again to open the doors. He dialed a number on his phone with his free hand. The grip on his gun was unwavering. 

“Security breach. Elevator.” was all he said into the phone as he stepped inside the elevator. Y/n had never seen Alfred look so…fierce. So imposing. Even when she’d been caught sneaking out as a teen, he’d never looked so scary. 

She often forgot that he used to be in MI6. 

It was as if y/n’s brain started working again all at once. The neurons started firing, her chaotic thoughts pulling together into a semblance of order one after the other after the other. 

Martinez hadn’t answered her text. 

There had been a security breach. Martinez had been stationed right outside the front doors. 

And he hadn’t answered. 

She leapt through the doors just as they closed. 

Alfred reacted instantly. “No!” he snarled. She managed to catch his hand before it hit the override button, the one that would send her back inside. 

“Martinez!” she said, as if that would explain everything. She turned wide, frightened eyes to Alfred, her hand still on his free one. The gun was still in a readied position, but aimed carefully away from her. “He’s my friend, Alfred. Please.” 

She could see the hesitation in his eyes. 

“Fine. Stay in here until I make sure it’s absolutely clear. If anything happens–” He proceeded to show her a hidden override panel that would enable security measures, turning the elevator into a panic room. 

Her hands were shaking, but she ignored it. Maybe her forcing her way downstairs with Alfred was another thing in a long string of bad luck that would end with her actually dead this time. But she couldn’t wait upstairs, twiddling her thumbs, waiting to see if her friend was dead. 

“Stand here,” Alfred said. He maneuvered her so she wouldn’t be seen when the doors opened. He took up position on the other side of the doors, both hands on his gun now. 

The elevator jolted then stopped. Alfred met her eyes. She heard the unspoken order. Stay put. 

When the doors slid open, Alfred burst into motion. She noted distantly that, despite his age and his limp, he was pretty spry. 

It was silent outside the doors. No immediate shouting or gunfire, which had to be a good sign. Right? 

It stretched on. Without any more buttons being pushed, the elevator doors closed again. 

Y/n’s heart was about to fly out of her chest. Was Martinez dead? The anticipation and fear was going to kill her this time. It was so much worse when it was someone she cared about. Her own death looming over her head was bad, sure, but this…this was pure torture. 

The doors opened again and she pressed herself tighter into her corner out of reflex. 

“Come on out,” Alfred said. He had put his gun down, but not away. 

“Martinez?” y/n immediately asked. But her answer was standing right before her, wringing his hat in his hands as he stared at the picture that now hung inside the elevator. 

“Oh man,” Martinez groaned as his eyes flicked from Alfred, to her, to the picture, and back again. He gulped audibly. Next to him, Blake the security guard was white as a sheet. “Gordon’s gonna kill me.”

Next Chapter

taglist:

@ktficworld @grunge-n-roses5 @anon-cat-posts @projectdreamwalker @warsaur @lachillona02 @crazyunsexycool @doetic @alexiris @that-girl-named-alex @harry-bowie-mercury @vaniasagitaa @widows-writings @missing-loki @exactlyelegantwizard @miriamnox @mavenmoon @eclipsedplanet @spencerrxids @giulia2372 @katara-is-a-goddess-changemymind @janezat @incorrectmarvelquotesss

#battinson x reader #the batman x reader #bruce wayne x reader #batman x reader #the batman #the batman 2022 #battinson #bruce wayne

[pleasantlycrazyworld]

Summary: You were a bet. Robin and Nancy bet Steve that he can get you to fall for him. Now it's your 1 year anniversary, and you just found out.

Steve had everything set up for the night. He was prepared to give you the most romantic night anyone could have ever imagined. You were out with Nancy and Robin right now getting your nails done and then going to find a new outfit for the evening. Steve checked the clock and saw that it was nearly seven, so he went and got dressed in his new shirt and tie before slicking his hair back just like you like it. Okay, Steve, just breathe. You got this. You love them. They love you, and it will for sure be a yes. Steve took a few deep breaths and checked his pocket to make sure the ring was still there. This was it. He was finally going to have the life he'd dreamt of.

It's been a whole year of nothing but love and you still can't believe it. When Steve asked you out for the first date you thought your heart had exploded but after the first date was the second, then the third, and it's been history ever since. It's been like a fairy tale and every day gets more and more magical with the man of your dreams.

When he told you that he made you and the girls nail appointments for the morning of your anniversary it was easy to assume that there was a possibility of getting proposed to later at dinner. You weren't wanting to get your hopes up but it was too hard not to.

"So do you think tonight the night?" Nancy asked with a shimmer in her eye, almost like she knew what was going on. "I don't know, I mean I would hope so! But it's only been a year" You tried to reason with not only her but also yourself. Just the thought of the possibility had your heart skipping a beat. The three of you went to find you a new outfit and shockingly as soon as you walked into the store you found stuff to try on. "Oh my gosh! You have to try that on!" Robin says grabbing your size off of the rack and handing it to you, "Go go try them on and let us see!"

You go try everything on and are quick to fall in love with how it looked on you, as you go to walk out and show the girls, the sound of whispering stops you in your tracks.

"Steve must really love her, who knew a wedding would come out of a stupid $20 bet?"

"I know right, I can't believe he actually won"

"I thought one date at most but a whole year? Damn"

You could feel your heartbreak. I...I was a bet? A $20 bet at that!? Your heart might be broken, but you aren't going to deal with this anymore. You change into your clothes once again and tell the girls that you had a new outfit back at home that you just got that you think would be better for tonight. They shrug, thinking nothing of it, and you all get ready to leave.

Back at home, Steve was going over the very last details as you pulled into the driveway. He smiles hearing you walk to the door and he feels his heart race and stomach fill with butterflies. He hated how you got together but he was so happy that he agreed to the bet in an odd way. If it wasn't for the bet he would have never got the nerve to ask you out finally, it may not be the way he wanted things to go but now that he has you he never wants to let you go. He grabs the roses he got you and walks to the door to greet you.

Steve loses his smile when he sees the angry tear streaks that are ingrained to your skin. "Baby? What happened? " Hearing the concern laced in his voice did nothing but anger you more. How dare he act concerned. How dare he treat you with a love that was nothing but bullshit. You get a stone cold expression and his heart drops so intensely it felt like it escaped his body. This isn't you. You were always an emotional person but never one to shut down.

You walk right past him and up to your shared room where you began to pack. At this moment, Steve was reminded he did still have a heart as it began to race, and he began to tear up.

"Princess? Please talk to me!" He asked in such desperation as he tried to undo your work and unpack your bag. A look flashes across your face that will haunt Steve for the rest of his life. "I'm a bet. I'm a 20 dollar bet!" You screamed so loud it was shocking the windows didn't shatter.

All color left Steve as those words left you. "You were never supposed to find out.... you were never supposed to know. " he kept mumbling this, making you scoff. "What a way to have a relationship. All of this was just what, just bullshit?" Steve physically flinched hearing that word, "never. This is real baby I do love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you" he pleads with you to stay, to listen to him and forgive him "I'm a stupid, stupid man baby please let me make this right, let me explain" you finished packing a small portion of your belongs and turn to him.

"You're right..." you pause and watch his face light up, "you really are so fucking stupid" and with that you walk out of Steve's life, and he watches his love leave him once again.

Tagging @emmyshortcake @sweet-villain @steddieandstonathansprincess @screammunson @eiightysixbaby @zestychili @lofaewrites @bloodthirstybreedingbunny

Authors note: I got inspired by a bucky fic I read earlier this week. I can't remember who wrote it. :( If I can find it, I'll reblog it, and you all better go love on it because it was amazing!

#steve harrington #stranger things #stranger things angst #steve harrington angst #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington x reader #female reader #angst

[alexsoenomel]

In The Air Tonight (Sub!Dean Winchester x Reader smut)

Summary: You like Dean but you are too shy to tell him until one night...

Pairing: Dean x Reader 

Warnings: sexy times with  Dean, teasing and bj :)

Word count: 1782

Note: Wrote it in the first person, it’s an old one. Like/ reblog or both if you like it :)

You know when your crush is so intense you find yourself not being able to function properly? Well, that’s how I felt every freaking day for the past 10 years ever since I started working with The Winchesters. After my parents died in an “unexplainable” fire (like their mother did) I had nowhere to go. I was 17 and hunting was still new to me. My parents never wanted me to live this life, we kind of got dragged into it by vengeance after we found out my aunt was murdered by a nest of vampires. After that hunt, there was another and another until we stopped counting and accepted our new life. At times it was exciting the adrenaline and traveling but other times I felt like giving it up. It was a love-hate relationship. My father told me if anything bad happens to them, to just call John (old friend of his), he will help. And after the fire I did, only to be greeted by Dean’s voice and the sentence “John is dead”. They took me in and the rest was history. After a while they learned that they could trust me and eventually I became family.

After few years of hunting with them I became quite skilled and found myself looking at the older Winchester more than usual. In fact at times I couldn’t stop staring. There was something so mesmerizing about him and his whole being I couldn’t put my finger on it. I don’t know if it was because of his piercing green eyes, his charm, and humor or overall just his heart, but I was head over heels for that dude. I managed to hide it at first, from him and from Sam, but I knew it wouldn’t last. My face was like an open book, you could read me easily. That’s how Sam found out.

One night after a hunt Dean came out of the bathroom in just his towel around his waist (Yeah…) to the library for whatever reason. Sam and I were deep in the books because we couldn’t sleep. When I saw him my cheeks went completely red and I refused to look at him until he went to his room.

“Oh no…” Sam then came to a conclusion not whipping a huge ass grin off his face.

“Oh no what Sam?” I tried to play along.

“Oh no you have a crush.”

I gave him a typical harsh NO for an answer. I was lying my ass off and Sam could see right through it.

“Liar.”

And after denying it for like two minutes I finally gave up. “Okay fine I like him.”

“Since when?”

“Don’t know.” I mumbled. “You can’t tell him Sam.”

“Oh I won’t he will find out soon enough.” He laughed.

“What do you mean?”

“(Y/N) when he walked in you were red as a beet and practically drooling.”

“Hmm, good point.”

After that we never spoke about it again. I pretended like everything was fine and normal, but we all know how that shit always fails. And it did thankfully one night after me and Dean went to the bar we would always go after a successful hunt. Sam said he would go take a walk to the bunker saying he wanted some me time. I knew he just wanted me to spill my feelings to his older brother. Well after two glasses of whiskey I almost did. We talked about childhood, good and bad times, confessed stuff that was on our minds in that moment…We had a pretty good time. When clock hit 2am we knew it was probably best to go and get some rest. We were both tipsy but Dean was still capable to drive. When he finally pulled up in front of the bunker and as I was about to unbuckle my seatbelt when…

“Wait!”

“Yeah?” As I turned to look at him he leaned in and kissed me. I was taken aback for a second before I kissed him back. It was like swallowing something sweet with lots of alcohol. I undid my seatbelt and leaned in slamming him against his seat before moving on his lap. I could barely fit but I managed somehow. We stayed like this for a while; kissing and groping each other like a couple of teenagers before breaking the kiss to finally face each other.

“Well then…” I broke the ice not really knowing what to say. He brushed his thumb against my cheek not taking his gorgeous eyes off me.

“Yeah one word, wow.”

“Did you know I would kiss you back? Was I that obvious?” I asked him remembering Sam’s words.

“Yes and no.”

“How though?”

“I just felt like there was something more between us. I can’t explain it.”

“There was something in the air tonight, huh?” I remembered that song my dad used to play in the car while traveling.

Dean smiled because he caught my reference. Phil Collins never gets old.  “Yeah you could say that.”

“Since when?”

“Since when what?”

“Since when you see me more than a friend?”

“It has been so long at this point I don’t even know.”

“Same here.” I cupped his head with my hands and kissed him, this time hungrily telling him exactly what he wanted to hear. Now that secret was out, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. We barely made it to his room without waking Sam up. We pushed each other against the car, front door and hallway walls until we finally reached Dean’s bedroom. I was pretty sure we will end up with bruises tomorrow.  I slammed the door shut and locked it just in case Sam wakes up.

I kissed Dean as I pushed him against the door making him gasp. When I couldn’t breathe anymore I broke away and started unbuttoning his flannel.

“Jesus (Y/N) what has gotten into you?” Dean smirked.

“I think you know my answer.” I responded. “You.”

Taking off his flannel I pulled him by his belt telling him to follow me to his bed and that was exactly what he did. He sat down and like a puppy watched as I undressed myself scanning every inch of me. I liked the attention he was giving me which was strange because I would usually shy away whenever he would look at me. Leaving only underwear on I sat on his lap and kissed him again as I slowly moved my lips on his jaw then on kiss neck leaving bite marks in the process. There was just something I liked about biting.

His hands were on my hips and as I started to grind his grip tightened. I could already feel how hard he really was.

“Are you actually trying to kill me?” He said almost out of breath.

“Kinda.” I smirked pushing him onto the mattress.

“How are you so…?”

“What?” I asked him undoing his belt. “Dominant?”

“Yes, that. And you’re always so shy.”

Taking off his pants I laughed and gave him the answer he wanted. “Shy girls are always full of surprises, Dean.”

“So far, I’m loving this surprise.”

“Good to know.” I climbed on top of him feeling his hard dick teasing me through my underwear. I started slow, kissing his lips, neck and going lower as his breathing became more apparent. He was slowly losing his mind and I loved it. When I reached his boxers I didn’t want to take them off right away. Instead I kissed the skin around where the hem was, licking ever so slightly just to drive him mad. I was succeeding because he was groaning and begging me to do something.

“Please.” Was music to my ears. I loved the control I had.

“Shhh don’t let Sam hear you!”

“Then stop torturing me.”

“Okay, okay.” I took off his boxers finally setting him free and stroked him a couple of times before licking his shaft slowly. A light moan escaped from his lips as I started to lick the tip of his long dick not breaking eye contact. He was on cloud nine as I took him whole and started to move my head up and down. My pace was slow at first but when he grabbed a chunk of my hair and started pulling me down I knew he wanted more. I decided to be good to give him just that.

“Jesus (Y/N).”

I felt his dick hitting the back of my throat with each and every move before he told me he was close and I stopped.

“Why?” He asked frustrated.

“Not yet.” I just winked at him. I took the bra and panties off before I let him touch me.

“You’re brutal.” He said trailing his fingers over my hips and stomach.  

“And you’re wonderful Dean Winchester.” I said positioning myself on top of him and slowly sat down. He was big but felt so freaking good. “Fuck.”

Slowly I started to move as my mind went on him. I was enjoying the sight beneath me and he sure as hell was enjoying his. We were both moaning each other’s names desperately trying not to get loud and wake up Sam. The bed was squeaking as I sped up my pace seeing he was slowly falling apart. His grip on my hips hurt, but I liked it. It was a different kind of pain.  

“Are you close?” I managed to ask him between breaths.

“Y-yeah.”

“Look at me Dean.”

“W-what?” Poor guy was so lost in me he didn’t hear what I said.

“I said, I want you to look at me when you cum.” I said locking my hands with his. “I wanna see you fall apart.”

“Jesus (Y/N).”

My pace became faster and faster and I could feel my orgasm approaching. I was falling apart just like him and I think he could see it.

Finally, and quite unexpectedly I came and few seconds later so did he. My body was stiff; waves of pleasure went through my whole body as I was moaning his name over and over again. Him, on the other hand, was clenching my hips with eyes shut, biting his lower lip not wanting to be too loud. I finally collapsed next to him covered in sweat and panting.

“Wow!” He said.

“Not bad for our first time, huh?” I asked him feeling proud. I just made Dean Winchester fall apart under me.

“Best sex I had, hands down.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I still can’t believe you’re like that.”

“Oh you haven’t seen anything yet.” I said and kissed him. “I really like you, Dean.”

“I like you too, (Y/N).”

#dean winchester #sam and dean #dean x reader #dean x you #dean x y/n #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester x you #dean winchester x y/n #dean winchester fluff #dean winchester smut #supernatural #supernatural fanfiction #supernatural fic #supernatural drabble #supernatural fluff #supernatural smut #spn #spn fluff #spn drabble #spn fic #spn fanfic #spn smut

[buckyownsmylife]

Secret Door: the one where the morning after rolls around

President James Buchanan Barnes is the first president to occupy the White House without a first lady ever since… well, President James Buchanan Barnes. But he’s not too worried about it, since he got his best friend from college acting as his VP, supporting him just like only someone who knew everything about him could do. What happens when feelings from the past start to resurface?

Or the one where you and Bucky used to date but now you got a country to run.

for general warnings and author’s notes, please go to the fic’s masterlist.

specific warnings for the chapter: angst, alcohol, alcoholic amnesia, involuntary non-consensual voyeurism, guilt, suicidal feelings, anger, insecurity, tears

Bucky’s P.O.V.

I’d forgotten how she stole all the blankets.

It was such a small, silly thing, and yet realizing that after all these years, I didn’t remember it anymore got to me. There was a time where I used to boast that I knew everything about the woman lying next to me, and although I liked to think I still did, there was a considerable gap in my knowledge of her history, a gap that was placed there despite me.

I still didn’t know what made her break up with me back then.

Sure, I knew I wasn’t the easiest person to be around. I partied too much, drank my weight in alcohol every night. And not with cheap beer, oh no. It was always expensive shit - the same kind my father used to drink back when he was still alive.

More often than not, I’d wake up without any recollection of the previous evening. But that was okay. Because she was right there to help me, wipe the sweat from my forehead and let me know it was all going to be okay.

She was everything to me, until one day, she wasn’t. And when we first started working together in the world of politics, it was hard not to be resentful. I had done everything for her, back then. I loved her. And she’d just traded me for another person, like I was nothing to her at all.

I remembered seeing them fucking one day, when I went to her place hoping to get her back. The sounds I heard from that bedroom had haunted many sleepless nights, and they still did, even so long after.

I didn’t believe I was truly over what had happened until tonight, when I finally had the chance to have her again. No more memories of jacking off to her and her ex, just me and her, together again, at last.

I reached out blindly to pull her body closer to me, and was surprised to not find anything there. Startled, I sat up quickly, brushing the sleep away from my eyes as I struggled to adjust to the lack of lighting in the room, and that’s when I saw it…

She was trying to sneak out, wearing my hoodie over her dress, her heels dangling from her fingertips as she stared at me in guilt.

It felt like I was going to die.

“Where are you going?” I asked, even though the answer was pretty obvious. Anywhere but here, and although I was a mixture of incredulous, sad and angry, I still couldn’t help but think that she looked so fucking cute wearing my clothes.

“Are you going to leave?” I pressed, sitting up on the bed as I watched her fidget. It hurt more than I cared to admit, the way she avoided my eyes and refused to answer. Getting out of the bed and ignoring my naked state, I was almost gentle in the way that I pressed, “What is it, then? Wasn’t I enough for you? Back then, right now?”

She looked shocked, her wide eyes told me so. I suppose that she didn’t expect me to reopen old wounds, but they felt pretty present to me at that moment. “Did you stop loving me?” The question I always wanted to know escaped me without much difficulty.

I don’t know if I would be able to say the same about the way I would deal with the answer.

“Because I never did.” The hurt was obvious in my voice, and it took a sharp inhale from her to snap me out of the past and back to the present moment, a moment I didn’t even want to be living.

“James, what do you remember of those times?” She surprised me by lowering her shoes, slowly making her way back to the bed, where she sat down next to where I was standing. “The times when you would drink yourself blind, only to wake up in my arms, safe and sound. What do you remember?”

I didn’t know what to say, so I remained silent. “Come here,” she quietly begged, reaching out for my hands until I was sitting next to her in bed, her thumbs rubbing circles on the inside of my wrist.

“You don’t remember. You don’t remember how it ruined me to be the one to pick up the pieces of the man that I loved, night after night. I know you don’t remember, but I’ll never forget.”

“It broke my heart.” The worst part about it was that I knew it to be true. I couldn’t even deny it. “You were becoming your father and it hurt too fucking much.”

“And when you told me what your dream was…” She continued as I stared at her through water-filled eyes. “I knew there was no way you’d get better if I indulged your wild side any longer.”

“You were already so close to losing your scholarship…” She stopped to take a deep breath, before completing, “so I knew the only thing that could possibly speak to you was if you lost me.”

I had no idea. I knew she’d broken up with me because of my ways, of course - it was the reason why I decided to become sober, but I had no idea she had done this sacrifice for me, so I could become the man I needed to become to get this job done.

“You were my origin story,” I laughed through the tears, letting her tug me down so she could rest her head on my shoulder. “You could have talked to me, though.”

“You know what?” She conceded, “I suppose I could.”

#my series #secret door #president au #politician au #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes #angst #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes reader

[starseneyes]

Chenford- Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 5 - Ep 12

"Death Notice" aka "Bow Chicka Bow Wow"

SPOILER ALERT: If y'all wanna stay un-spoiled. Run. Just run. I say this with all love, but this is not the place to be. I am going to spoil EVERY SINGLE DETAIL that I notice. But, if you want to digest every morsel of deliciousness with me, come on in!

How'd it all shake out? Let's dive in!

Riding in an Elevator

Let's just call out Tim for stopping the elevator for Lucy, and her little breathless, "thanks". These two are adorbs. Also, shoutout to the makeup, hair, and costume departments who put a lot of work into this scene.

And Tim's eyeroll on the "Detectives" line? I was rolling.

Tamara and Lucy

FINALLY getting to see Tamara, again!

"You're here." "I live here. "I went to bed at one and you still weren't home. "Oh, I came home around then. I must've just missed you. Trivia went late." "And how was Trivia?"

Let's be real. The entire point of this conversation is that Tamara wants to let her know that she's onto Lucy. Tamara wants to talk about this new development, considering last she knew of Tim and Lucy was "This is work" when she caught them macking in the living room.

And Tamara is never going to judge Lucy, and will always give her space. But, it's about time the gal came clean with someone.

"You are such a smooth liar. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, all that undercover training." "I'm not lying. "I saw Tim drop you off."

I love the fact that Lucy literally drops the weight she's been carrying. Not only that, she slides around to sit on the couch and dish with her roomie about her new boyfriend.

Lucy crosses from behind the couch that was separating them and sits on it, leaning down to chat with Tamara. The camera moves down with her, the audience settling in with Lucy.

"Thank God. I am so over coming up with cover stories." "Why the big secret? You're both single." "I mean, we're just keeping things under wraps until we figure things out."

There are so many layers and levels here to the why. But this implies that Tim and Lucy don't want to go public until they have a gameplan. And that really makes sense for both their personalities.

I've seen folks ask, "Why is Tim so cool with this secret dating thing?" Do you know how weird it can be when friends start dating and they spend every. freakin. day. around their other friends? Everyone has an opinion.

Tim doesn't mind delaying that a bit longer. Same with Lucy. But, also, this is a huge transition. Even though they're both secure in the knowledge that they want one another, and they have years of history, they have to figure out who they are together.

"We're not sleeping together." "Why not?"

First off, the music cue had me rolling. Oh. My. Goodness. Director, Editor, whoever came up with that idea? Thank you. I had a much needed giggle.

But, also, remember that this is strange behavior for Lucy. Lucy isn't a one-night-stand girl, but she's also not a "dating you but not doing you" girl.

Tamara's gotta be wondering if Tim misfires or something, at this point, because there ain't no other reason she can think of that Lucy hasn't torn those clothes off by now.

And this is part of the maturity of Tim and Lucy's relationship that I love. They don't need to be sleeping together to be fully committed, but they're also not rushing to get to that moment.

"We're taking it slow. We want to do this right." "So, you're not sure how you feel?" "I know exactly how I feel. I mean, this is the most amazing relationship I've been in since, ever."

Oooh, the "r" word returns. Lucy tried to talk to Tim about their relationship on her last day riding with him as a Rookie and the man was not a fan of putting a label on it.

But, it's also important to note that Tim and Lucy have been dating a matter of weeks and she already knows this is the best relationship of her life. Not only the most important. Best.

"Okay. And you're waiting why… again?"

I hear Tamara's point! If y'all are on the same page and completely committed, why aren't clothes flying through our living room? For one, Tamara might want to get a look at Tim's bare chest in Jackson's honor. For two, what's the hold-up, lady?

I've talked a lot about them savoring this relationship. But, I also think Lucy has been using the "taking it slow" idea as an excuse so she doesn't have to think about the roadblock in her way.

Think about it. Lucy couldn't process through whether or not to date Emmett, so she needed to talk it out with Tim. Lucy couldn't process why she didn't want to move in with Chris until she talked it out with Tim.

What Lucy needs to do is talk it out with Tim. But, Tamara's push is taking Lucy in a different direction. It's not a bad direction.

They could have slept together and it wouldn't have wrecked anything. But, I think the security they have at the end of the episode (Yes, I'm skipping a little... go with me, here) is what Lucy needed.

Tim isn't facing the issue of their professional relationship. This whole episode demonstrates that. They need to take care of that power imbalance, because if they don't, then there's no point in any of this.

To truly be together, there were three things that had to go as outlined by Tim in Season 5, Episode 1. "I'm dating Ashley. And Lucy is with Chris. And I'm her Superior Officer, so..."

Tim told us himself what has to go for them to truly be together. And it's that last one that's still in their way, whether they acknowledge it or not.

"Morning." "Morning."

First, I have to say I love to see them greeting one another fully. Back in 5x06, Lucy kept trying to tell Tim "Good morning" and he kept looking past her or trying to avoid it. Because he was trying to avoid her and his feelings for her.

But that particular obstacle is out of the way because Tim knows how she feels about him and Lucy knows how he feels about her.

Now to the part y'all thirsty folks really care about:

Hands. Glorious hands. Wandering, sexual-desire filled HANDS. Lucy holds her keys in both hands so she can release one as she sidles up alongside Tim. Tim taps on her thigh with his fingers, a little, "hey, honey". Then he tries to catch her finger with his pinkie. In broad daylight. In front of the station. Are you insane, Tim Bradford?!

They can't keep their hands to themselves! Y'all, these two are outside a police station where they both work. Before they were dating, they would stand outside with at least enough room for the entire Holy Trinity. Now, they're practically walking on top of each other and "sneaking" in touches.

But nobody's gonna notice? Yeah, right!!

Tim seems to finally remember himself and wipe that gorgeous grin off of his face. But, oy, I love seeing him so happy!

Both of them quickly make fists with their hands after the initial contact, and Tim even presses his hand against his pocket as though checking for his keys.

But it's Tim's smile that I can't stop rewinding and watching. Look. At. Our. Boy. Have we ever seen him so happy? Tim is beaming and all they did was barely brush one another.

Because much as the physical is amazing, it's about simply being close to the person who makes you happiest in the world. Lucy is Tim's person and he gets to touch her and have secret moments with her.

He's no longer pining across the parking lot. He's walking alongside her knowing she is his as he is hers. And, let's be real, this isn't about being possessive. Lucy isn't a purse any more than Tim is a wallet. It's about knowing that this person is your person. And Tim and Lucy are each other's.

And don’t think I didn’t peep the ring. Lucy chose to put that on this morning when she told him it was naked time, just like she did when she came to the station to tell him Chris was out of the way. The streak continues!

Folks... I haven't made it past the first two words of the scene... Y'all know this is gonna be a looooong one. I hope you have snacks!

"Ummm."

Look how Tim is still smiling as he leans his head closer to hear what she's going to say. So cute.

"Tonight is the night."

Tim was not expecting that. I'm not saying that he doesn't want to add that layer to their relationship. I'm simply saying he wasn't expecting her to announce it in the parking lot at work.

"Oh, really?"

Look at that man's quizzical brow. He wants to be sure he understands perfectly, that he's not misunderstanding. Because, come on, he misread things once before and Lucy set him straight. They've been on the same page for a while, now, and he wants to be sure they still are.

Lucy, meanwhile, has already planned out the outfit she's going to wear when he finally undresses her. Come on. You know she has. After the disaster of running late to their first date because she couldn't pick an outfit, Lucy can't be late to her own apartment.

Lucy's got a plan, and she's ready for her man. Wow, Dr. Suess just got a kinky upgrade, and I didn't even intend it! Anyway...

"Yes. Really."

Come-hither Lucy has made her appearance, folks. Yowza!! The Velvet Voice has traded places, and Lucy is already seducing her man... in the parking lot.

And poor Tim can't even see the way she's looking at him... Like he's whip cream and her tongue can't get enough. Like he's a chai latte and she wants to drink every last drop. Like he's... Okay, you get it. Lucy's got it bad for Tim Bradford and I am here for it!

"My place or yours?"

With doubt out of the way, Tim is wasting no time. And I'm proud of him for it! He is so fully committed to this relationship, and so is she, and it really shows in the confidence they both have.

Let's talk about that for a second. Lucy doesn't look to the future with the guys she dates. She doesn't want labels. She doesn't want to meet the parents. She doesn't invest in the relationship because it's never been worth it before.

Tim is the exception. In the past, it was Tim who didn't want to label their "relationship" (partnership... mentorship), but Lucy has always put a label on it. Even when she blurted out her feelings, she labeled it a "relationship". That was while she was still dating her "work in progress".

Because it's different with Tim. She doesn't want to rush into bed because she wants to savor every second of this. I've said it before, but when you know it's your last anything... you savor it a bit more.

Lucy's already half-joking about grandchildren, and thinking about their future together. She has the confidence that this is built to last—and Tim does, too.

We've talked throughout the series about Lucy's issues with second-guessing, but Tim has his own self-esteem issues. He trusts himself as a cop explicitly, but as a man, far less.

That's why he was so cautious coaching Little League, why he minimizes himself and his wants in relationships. He's so afraid of being his father. He doesn't trust who he is outside of the job.

Lucy has helped him find himself, again. She helped him go after his dreams of Sergeant. She prevented him from sacrificing himself to protect Isabelle. She had his back with the false-fender-bender. I could keep going, but I'll stop.

The broken pieces of a man are almost impossible to put together, but like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, there is a way to mend them into something whole and beautiful. Different from what it was before, but no less complete.

Tim helped Lucy find surety in her decisions, sure, but she helped him find confidence in himself. They balance one another so beautifully, and in the light of one another's love, they're blossoming.

Tim is confident in who he is with Lucy. Lucy is confident in who she is with Tim. There's the promise of forever without the discussion. Because it isn't needed. They both knew as soon as they took this risk, it was all or nothing.

And now, they're taking the next step in their relationship, together.

"Jealous dog or nosy roommate?"

Kojo! Oh, Kojo is going to be so happy that his Mommy and Daddy are finally together. That poor pups been sitting there thinking, "When is the blonde lady who tastes gritty going to leave so I can get Mommy back?" Well, baby boy, your Mommy is coming home.

Just not tonight.

"Tamara knows." "What? You told her?" "No. She has eyes. I didn't have to."

Let's be real. Anybody with eyes (not you, Nolan) knows what's going on here. Tim's been smiley. Lucy and he are now glued to the hip out-of-uniform. He's doing an awful lot of "nothing".

"But she is staying at her friend's tonight. So…"

Suddenly Tamara's knowledge about them is a good thing. "I should go," Tamara once said... No worrying about her walking in on them this time.

And, look, I know some people really wanted to see Tamara catching them. But we already got that in S4 and it was hilariously done.

Not everything has to happen on-camera. Not every item on our wish lists will be fulfilled. And that's okay. This isn't the Chenford show (much as my Metas might suggest otherwise).

That's what fanfics are for! And, believe it or not, I wrote quite a bit back in my college days, mostly for Alias.

We are going to see some gooooooood stuff on-screen, even if we don't get everything we want. So, stick around, eh?

Side Note: It sounds like Eric has a cold! They really mean “the show must go on”. I once did a show with a fever of 102. I knew I wasn’t feeling great but had no idea how bad it was until I got off the stage. Performing’s a funny profession!

Grey whisks in, reminding me I'm supposed to be talking about Chenford and not me. Yikes! Let me get my focus back.

Tim and Lucy need that same splash of cold water because they are looking at one another and Lucy's doing that thing where she presses her lips together while thinking about Tim that is doing things to our boy.

"Mm, this is gonna be awkward. " "It doesn't have to be. We've ridden together hundreds of times." "Never as a couple."

Oooh, we've graduated! First it was "we're dating", then we got the "relationship" mention to Tamara, and now we've got the "couple" label. Nice!

Why am I making such a big deal about this? Lucy doesn't do labels. In that past she did, we know, because she mentions her boyfriends never being good enough for her mother. But with her guys in this show? Nope!

She wanted to keep things casual with Nolan and wouldn't leave her stuff at his place. Emmett was not her boyfriend, as she stated many times. Chris was her "work in progress".

Tim is a labels guy. He likes things to have boxes and labels and organization. His house is very put together and uncluttered.

But I feel like he is taking her lead on this. He knows Lucy. She doesn't do labels. But she does with Tim. Because Tim is the one she's been waiting for... she just didn't know it.

"So, are you telling me you're not gonna be thinking about tonight?" "Not at all. Thank you." "Me, neither."

It's like an un-said bet, except she is totally checking out his ass.

Also, Lucy and Tim opening doors for one another. Wow, is that a metaphor for this episode. Lots of opening and closing doors all over the place.

It started with the elevator with Tim making sure it stayed open and letting Lucy go first. Here, Lucy's the one opening the door for Tim.

Their whole relationship is littered with opening and closing doors. And this entire episode (much as the theme seems to be "judgment" and "the choices we make") is about opening and closing doors.

"I could tell Grey that I got food poisoning." "Just to get out of riding with me?" "I mean, I get the day off. We avoid all this weirdness. Wins all around." "You're overthinking this. We leave our personal life at the door, just like always" "Oh, And you can just shut it off?"

Lucy is the one thinking clearly, here. Look, I love Tim. He's my favorite character (Lucy is a very close second), but he's not facing reality. The reality is—something has to change.

And, oh, that is scary for a person who grew up with instability and clings to what is known and safe. The minute he acknowledges this problem, he won't be able to ignore it, and then they have to face it, and then everything has to change.

"At 7:59, I'm your girlfriend. At 8:01, I'm your, what? Your subordinate?

What. Did. You. Just. SAY!?!?! Lucy Chen, who has resisted calling any of the guys we've seen her date a "boyfriend" just self-identified at Tim Bradford's girlfriend.

I'm gonna need a minute, here. Because, OH MY GOSH IT HAPPENED!

I should save that for later, right? Right.

But, nope, I'm losing it. I'm squeeling into a pillow trying not to alert my kids so they run into the room saying, "Mama, Mama!" and then I miss what's next. Because Lucy bad*ass Chen just called herself Tim Bradford's girlfriend.

They've been dating three weeks! Remember Lucy's initial response to why she didn't love Chris when Tim asked. She said they hadn't been together long.

But everything is different with Tim. And it always will be. They were carved from opposite sides of the same stone, destined to reunite when the time was right. Or, we might take Plato's nod and think of the one being split into two, destined to search for their other halves.

"Really?" *models herself* "My duty belt. My taser is on the wrong side. Usually, you'd be all over me for that."

I admit, I didn't notice. Crap. I'm as in love with her as Tim is!

"You did that on purpose? You don't do Tim Tests. I do Tim Tests." "Well, that's 'cause this isn't a Tim Test. It's a Lucy Lesson. And, admit it, you're taking it easy on me. We're not even on duty, yet, and our dynamic has changed."

Damn, Lucy! Holding him accountable!! But I love Tim blowing air out as she said, "Lucy Lesson". He's so exasperated with his woman.

Lucy taps his arm, and I must applaud her restraint. It's definitely a "on-duty Lucy" touch in that her hand is open and barely connects with his arm. But, she's trying to check him.

"Get in the car." "It's called a Shop."

Much as I hate the point, she's absolutely right. Tim and Lucy on-duty dynamic together has changed. And it has to.

"You haven't noticed?" "What? That you're carrying your coffee in your gun hand? Of course, I did. I just haven't said anything because these Lucy Lessons are pointless." "You really don't think you're treating me differently?"

First off, Lucy's touch lingers, this time. Much as she's telling Tim that their dynamic has changed (and he does need to acknowledge it), she's demonstrating it accidentally as much as on-purpose.

Also, remember Tim barking at Lucy for holding her radio in her gun hand in front of Emmett? And how Lucy was angry at Emmett for making an issue of it, because Tim was technically the in the right?

That's where my brain goes, immediately. He rarely goes soft on her, and she always notices. But now Tim Bradford is f*cking mush around his lady.

Tim wants so badly for this not be an issue. It reminds me of him at the restaurant trying not to react to the two men arguing, hoping that it would go away. If he doesn't acknowledge it, it doesn't have to be faced... but this has to be faced.

"You're not a Rookie. You want to change up your duty belt, carry your coffee in your right hand, it's up to you. You know. This isn't about us. I'd give Thornsen the same leeway."

*cough* BULLSHIT *cough*

"This is robbery. Wait a minute, you had your gun! This is armed robbery." "I'm sure your earrings will come up. We will call you when we have them." "I want a receipt" "We don't issue receipts. Look, it's all in the report. If you want to file a complaint, you can do so at the front desk on your way out." "I didn't take the earrings." "I know."

Tim will never accuse you of stealing, but this is a big deal. And Lucy knows it. Tim knows it, too, but he wants to do whatever he can to save her.

FAST FORWARD: And, let's be clear, after exhausting every avenue, he was going to do it... to report her. But he was going to try everything in his power, first.

"God, I've been so focused on us. Did I screw up?"

Damn. This hits hard. Poor Lucy always does her best to do it by the book, the way Tim taught her. Where did the earrings go? Tim doesn't want to acknowledge it, but you can see how soft his eyes go, immediately. He's worried for her. He's not thinking about the earrings—he's thinking about Lucy.

FAST FORWARD: And, yes, I've seen the whole episode, now, so I know. But... I like to write these as though it's the first time. And the first time, I should have seen that Lucy Lesson coming.

I mean, it was so beautifully set up with Tamara commenting on Lucy's ability to lie so smoothly, and then with the string of Lucy Lessons. I should have seen it coming, but I admit I expected the worst and didn't.

I truly expect ships I love to go through horrible pain and be destroyed. I'm learning to trust The Rookie more as the show goes on, but I have a lot of harnessed distrust there to dislodge.

"We'll keep checking until we find them." "Wait, wait, okay. Look. You need to file a memorandum with the chief. It's protocol. I get it." "We're not there, yet."

Tim is avoiding. He's trying to hard to not have to face it. And Lucy's the one being practical, here. She can see that Tim is treating her differently and she knows it can't be that way.

He doesn't want to face it. He once felt responsible for pushing her towards a serial killer. We saw how unhinged he was, and they were nowhere near this level in their relationship, now. If he is the one to write her up and it tanks her career... He'd blame himself.

"Well, how long can it wait?" "I have discretion with things like this. We find the earrings no paperwork necessary." "But if we don't you need to report me to IA." "Maybe janitorial swept them up."

Lucy can see what Tim is clearly (yes, I used their word) missing, here. But she's trying to let him get their on his own. Talking to him about it was getting nowhere, so she changed tactics.

And I love how this is shot. It's giving me major CSI Grissom/Sara vibes. Flashlights and searching while dealing with tension and romance? Yeah, I've got a type.

But, seriously, there's such simplicity in the matching over-the-shoulder shots of them, on opposite sides of this issue, but still very much in line with one another. I love the symbolism, intentional or not.

"We canceled our date." "What happened?" "Well, Tim and I rode together today and it really drove home all of the problems with dating your boss." "It did seem tricky, but I didn't want to say anything. Does that mean you guys are breaking up?" "No."

No hesitation from Lucy. Look, I love Tamara (and her relationship with Lucy is one of my absolute favorites on the show). But, Tamara's view of relationships is filtered through her own experience.

Come on, all of us filter how we see Tim and Lucy through our own experiences, for better or worse. But those once-in-a-lifetime relationships are different. They change how you see your future because for the first time there is a future with that other person.

Tamara hasn't experienced that herself, yet, and based on what she's seen with Lucy, none of her other guys really stuck.

Tamara's known about this relationship one day, so she doesn't know all the details or struggles Tim and Lucy had getting to this point. There's no going back for Tim and Lucy. It isn't even a consideration.

"We'll figure out how to make it work. " "Great. How?"

This is tricky. This is tough. Tim and Lucy have to figure this out, and do it now. There's no more time to put it off, to pretend it's not an issue, to ignore what they know to be true.

Tim puts the people he loves ahead of everything because they are so few and far between.

He didn't want to coach Little League for two seconds, because just being on that field in that position risked him becoming his father.

We all know that risk is near impossible, but Tim doesn't. As a child of abuse, he's haunted by what he's survived and terrified of becoming it.

He will do whatever he needs to for Lucy... but that doesn't make it right. With Isabelle, he was about to go over that line if not for Lucy. We know he's capable.

And, to be fair to Tim, when there was no other recourse, he was willing to do what was right in this case. He hated it, but he was going to do it. Because he is still the man he was... thanks to Lucy.

"Lucy! Your boyfriend's here."

I love Tim's face on "boyfriend". This is likely the first time he's heard himself called Lucy's boyfriend, and it just makes me giggle every time I see it.

Tim has his hands in his pockets, much as he did the last time he stood outside this door, urging her to go to UC school as she feared he was pushing her away.

"Did she tell you I figured it out on my own? I'd make a great detective." "I have no doubt."

Such an interesting quirk to hear Tim echo those words in that doorway, again. Last time it was to Chris about Lucy's level of care. This time, it's about Tamara.

So, I have to believe that on some level, he means it. And that could be a very interesting turn of events if they ever wanted to take Tamara down the path of becoming "the rookie" since they try to have someone in a "rookie" position each season.

"Hey, I thought we canceled." "Uh, we didn't." "Oh."

Now that Lucy doesn't have to hide from Tamara, she goes in for the hug. And I love the way Tim's head ends up in the crook of her arm. It reminds me of the hug from Breakdown in Season 4.

It's like he's nestling into her. Because, it takes effort for him to bend down to that level. I'm always fascinated watching tall/smol ships and how they handle that.

Tim and Lucy have history to draw from, but I look back at The X Files and I giggle thinking about the "Gilly boxes" they had Gillian Anderson stand on to get them framed well in the same shot. I have wondered a time or two if they'd used them for Chenford. No lie!

But I love how... relaxed Lucy is in front of Tamara knowing that she doesn't have to hide Tim, anymore.

But this is a serious discussion, and they need Tamara to skidaddle. "Go on, kiddo. Mom and Dad need to talk."

"You have to report it, now." "I know." "And if it was Aaron, you would have reported him already." "I know. But it's not Aaron. It's you." "And you can't be objective when it comes to me, right?"

Look at Tim's sad face and the shake of his head. But this is where Lucy needed him to go. He needed to see that he is going to treat her differently, and that's not going to work.

"And now endeth the Lucy lesson." *giggle* "The what?" *giggles*

I love this, "What" Because Eric Winter puts so much into it that I am cackling with laughter.

"The earrings were never missing?" "Nope! I set them aside and I gave them back to Sergio after work." "That's evil. And impressive. And evil."

GIRLFRIEND! I am so proud of you. It's like a productive prank. Yes, she manipulated him, but much like some of the Tim Tests, it was what he needed. Tim helped Lucy become a better cop. She's helping him become a better boyfriend.

Because in this case, what he needs to do is be honest with himself. He can't be objective where she's concerned.

"I know, but you weren't facing the problem." "Okay, well now I am. So what do we do?"

These two are absolutely working together. I stan a couple who communicates. Because he slides that "we" in there so fast. Lucy and Tim are learning how to really communicate and work through issues as a couple, and I love seeing that on my screen.

When my husband and I first married, I came from a family where screaming and name-calling was the norm. He came from a family where conflict was ignored because it was "unpleasant". It took forever for us to learn how to have a productive discussion when we were on opposite sides of an issue.

One of the simple pleasures of The Rookie's track record with ships is getting to watch our favorite couples work together. Jyla and Wopez paved the way for Chenford, in that respect.

"We only have two real options." "Break up or one of us leaves Mid-Wilshire."

First off, I love how they never even entertain the option of breaking up. Because that isn't an option for them. Yes, it technically exists as an option, but it's not one Tim and Lucy will ever consider.

They're in this and neither one is giving up on it. No second guessing. No doubt. Tim and Lucy are completely sure about one another and secure in their relationship.

"It should be me." "No. No, you love it here." "No, I do. But there isn't an open Sergeant supervisor job anywhere else in the division. I checked. Which means you would have to take a demotion and that's not happening."

I love that she talked about it. And that she'd already researched other Sergeant positions. That's our girl! Sorry... Tim's girl.

But right this second, I can see the wheels turning in Tim's mind. Lucy is basing her assumption on what she's seen of him in the past.

She knew before Rachel did that he wasn't leaving LA. She didn't know about Ashley trying to pressure him into retiring, but anyone who knows Tim knows he loves patrol.

Different as this is for Lucy, I don't know if she yet realizes how different it is for him.

"Lucy-" "No, it'll be fine. Rookies leave their first station after making P2 all the time." "That's true." "So, this is the best move, right?" "Maybe, but we don't need to decide right now."

Lucy is ready to commit to this decision, and I love it for her and for Tim. Because Lucy is choosing Tim. Forget her friends, her commute, and her comraderie. In this moment, Lucy has chosen Tim. And what other woman in his life has ever done that?

It's a hard, hard decision either way, but they both are on the same page... something has to give.

And someone better do something, because there's footage all over these cameras of an Officer and Sergeant in love. Like, that could be a problem, too, if they don't get on top of it.

Tim and Lucy's Silent Approach

This is their first time in a dangerous situation together as a couple. Tim's trying to keep it straight, and so is Lucy. They have innocents to protect. This isn't earrings. This is human life.

And Tim and Lucy get the job done.

But was it harder because of their relationship? That's the question, here. Lucy already proved that Tim can't be objective because of her, but now they're looking at the other angle—what if that hadn't happened so perfectly?

"Nice work today." "You, too. It's not a bad way to end our partnership, saving a family."

First off, Tim has really embraced complimenting Lucy. Second, Lucy has fully embraced that they are no longer going to be in the same chain of command after today.

Look at her picking the lint off of his shirt, which was a classic relationship test in the series New Girl. And then she's touching him and

"Yeah, although we're still not partners. I mean, on the job, anyway."

Look at her tapping his arm in a very gentle hit. Because, now they are partners. And her adorable smile that coaxes out his loving one. Oh, these two!

"It's going to be so weird going to a different station knowing I'm not gonna to see you all day." "Yeah. And there's no guarantee that our shifts will sync up." "I hadn't thought of that. Wait. Wait, wait. So by doing the right thing, we're going to see each other a lot less?" "Most likely." "No." "Yeah."

Gosh, this is hard for them. Melissa O'Neil broke my heart with how Lucy delivered, "I hadn't thought of that". Because Lucy is often the one who has thought of everything.

But this is an area Tim knows better, and now that they're facing this reality, it kinda sucks. But note how Lucy doesn't change course. Because, much as it sucks, they both know it's the right thing to do so they can stay together.

"I'm going to put in my transfer request in the morning."

This is heart-breaking. Lucy goes to pull the bags out of the Shop, like she always does, but Tim grabs ahold of the one closest to him, waving for her to give him the other. He's carrying her burdens. And look at the way she smiles at him.

They hate that the status quo is going to have to change for them to be together. But they will be together. And that's worth it.

Meanwhile I'm screaming at the screen, "Swoop in and resign first so she can stay!"

"Got a minute." "Sure."

Well, that was fast! Tim closes the door behind him and takes a seat. He didn't even wait to get into plainclothes to have this discussion because he wants to be sure he gets there before Lucy does.

And, it's so easy to say, "Oh, there's Tim Bradford giving more, again." But he really isn't. He's giving exactly what Lucy was willing to give for him. Only this scenario is actually better for them even if it's worse for him.

Because Tim finally has a partner who gives and takes, who will hold his hand through the heartache, and call him on his bullshit, and be the one to hold him when he deals with the rolling emotions of his father finally passing. Tim finally has the love of his life. And that's worth all of this.

"I've been keeping something from you. Lucy and I started dating a few weeks ago." "I suspected as much."

No surprises here. We've always said that Grey was onto these two. But, I think he was waiting for them to come to him since it wasn't impacting anything, yet, from what he could tell.

"Sir, we wouldn't've lied, but we needed time to figure out how we felt."

Which means we've missed some scenes. Look, I know I was the first person to say that we're not going to get to see everything (and y'all fic writers are on it, I'm sure). But I don't think they needed time to figure out how they felt so much as they wanted to make sure the other was fully on the same page.

After half a season of miscommunication, Tim and Lucy are trying to get on the same page at every step. Lucy's "Lucy Lessons" illustrate that they have a ways to go, but also that she knows how to get through to Tim when needed. They've got this.

"And since we're having this talk, I assume it's serious." "It is, but for it to be appropriate, I need to move out of her chain of command."

First off, "it is." That's it. That's all Tim has to say because he has full confidence in Lucy's love. Have we ever seen him so sure? Have we ever seen him so secure in love that he will shift the course of his entire career? Of course not.

Lucy is his sun. She is "the one" that Grey once said starting over would be worth it for.

And Grey doesn't question that it only took a few weeks of dating for Tim and Lucy to get to that conclusion. He's watched them battle against one another and together. He's seen the dance as they wrestled with what they felt, and he wasn't oblivious when dancing around one another shifted into dancing together.

This isn't a "You're marrying a man you just met" scenario. Tim and Lucy have known one another in so many ways. The typical timelines and steps don't apply. Yes, Tim and Lucy are taking their time, but that's never been for lack of assurance in one another's commitment to this relationship.

And now Tim is doing what he needs to to protect that relationship... to put them first. Not Lucy first, as Tim too often has done in his relationships, minimizing himself. He's putting them first.

Grey doesn't love helping Tim with this because he knows he's losing a great Supervising Sergeant who can hold down the fort when he goes on trips to visit his daughter at University. This is going to create a giant hole in the Chain of Command.

But Grey's going to help Tim, anyway. Because, this is a man of integrity—a man who walked into this office to come clean without prodding, who wants to do the right thing, who has finally finally found love after all his heartache and loss.

Who wouldn't want to help a man like that?

"Okay. Unfortunately, there's only one position open that'll do that." "I'll take it." "It's not a great job." "Doesn't matter. I'll take it."

TIM BRADFORD. See this is what we love about Tim. When he's all-in, he's all-in. Before, it was the job. Now, it's Lucy.

He is walking away from the job he loves to get out of her chain of command and keep her from having to leave. This is such an incredible demonstration of love, and despite the Chenford scene following this one, this is the scene that has me in a choke hold.

Tim doesn't ask for a pay scale. He doesn't ask for a job description. Hell, he doesn't even know what the job is. He sees that it meets what he needs to maintain his and Lucy's integrity and not be separated from the woman he loves. That's it. That's what matters.

Some things matter more.

No, he didn't utter the line. But, he's saying it with his actions. By making this sacrifice, he's showing her that a job will never be more important than her. That his love of patrol is great, but his love of Lucy is greater.

Because, at the end of the day, he doesn't want to see Lucy only on alternating Tuesdays and bank holidays. He wants them to have time together so they can continue to build this relationship. He wants them to build a life together. And that takes time.

So, to give them the time... he takes a step back. Because this is true love, damnit.

"So, I've been thinking, Hollywood division would be kind of ideal."

I love Lucy cooking for her man. Because next time it's Tim's turn. This is something neither of them will ever do out of duty or expectation, but because they both enjoy cooking, and this is an expression of love.

Lucy has a whole meal planned out for Tim. There's salad bowls, an open bottle of wine, plates and placemats.

Second, Lucy's about to give me a Wings-style heart attack with how many candles she's lit (the place burned to the ground while the couple hooked up... it's the only episode of that show I remember).

We knew from end of Season 4 that she likes to light candles like my Dad when he was tipsy during a hurricane (so. many. candles), but last time they weren't actually considering naked time.

"Well, it's not necessary. I talked to Grey, And you're looking at the new Court Liaison Sergeant." "But that's a desk job." "Yeah. Out of your chain of command. "You'll be bored out of your mind."

First off, Lucy knows Tim well enough to know he'd never be satisfied in a desk job. She didn't even consider this job when she looked up available jobs. But he took it without looking at the job description. Because some things matter more.

"That doesn't matter. Look, you and I'll get to see each other every day. And you won't have to travel to some, I don't know, far away station where they'll make you work the midnight shift because you're the newbie."

He has a sound argument. My husband and I worked opposite schedules the first year and a half of our marriage. I worked nights and he worked days. It was awful. Building a marriage when you never seen one another is a struggle I wish upon none.

And at this angle, I FINALLY get to confirm that Tim is wearing a shirt that snaps open and closed. It's not even a button-up. He went for snaps. This man came prepared. Talk about understanding the assignment!

"Tim-" "It's done. Okay. No sense in arguing about it."

This is such a husband move. Like, we all know she was willing to be the one to go, but he jumped in first, and it means they get more time together. "Wins all around", right Lucy?

And Tim and Lucy could argue about it (because they are "worth the effort"), but it's unnecessary. What's done is done.

"But we're so good at arguing."

Lucy, now you are reminding me of the couple with the golf clubs. The horny side, I mean, not the property-destruction side. Because, YOWZA, you knew what you were doing leaning over and kissing him like that, leaving enough room for him to stand up and come to you.

Yes, I know there are pieces of tape on the floor showing them where to stand. Shhhh! I'm in Chenfordland, right now, and I'm going to give Lucy full credit for that move.

Tim slips in his "I know" before kissing her, again, practically murmuring it against her lips.

"I know. But I'm hoping that we're good at certain other things, as well."

Welp. THAT happened. I mean, how the heck am I supposed to get through this scene without taking apart every move of the hand, of the lip, of the eye, of the BELT!? Oy vey, y'all, strap in (heh), because this is gonna take a bit.

First off, Lucy's kiss when he was sitting was definitely a come-hither kiss. She's got her arms wrapped around his shoulders for balance, but also to put a little weight on him. I mean, for all we know she likes it on top, right?

As they stand up, she's already got her hands on his shirt, on his chest. She's telegraphing interest as Tim's right hand takes a trail up her thigh to her waist.

And. Look. At. His. SMILE! Tim Bradford just walked away from patrol to take a desk job, but it's all worth it because he's looking into the eyes of his love, and she's staring back at him. And now they're both ready for this next step.

Tim is glowing in the light of her love. I once likened Lucy to the sun and Tim to a star. Now, technically, a sun is a star, right? And some solar systems have more than one sun. Lucy and Tim are each other's light. Neither has ever felt this secure in a relationship. This alive.

Rachel wanted Tim to move. He didn't. Ashley wanted Tim to retire. He didn't. Chris wanted Lucy to move in. She didn't.

Three weeks in and they're both ready to walk away from the job they love for the other? In the words of How I Met Your Mother, "That's love, bitch."

"Want to find out right now?" "Yeah."

Tim's "yeah" is barely above a whisper, but it's there. I wasn't certain it would be subtitled, but I'm so glad they did!

And I love that they are both on the same page. There's no doubt or confusion about what's about to happen. Lucy invited Tim to cross another threshold with her, and he breathed that sweet "Yeah" that's peppered their conversations since they became a couple.

"Yeah" when she said she wanted to get dinner sometime. "Yeah" when acknowledging they would do the right thing but never see each other. His soft little "Yeah"s are multi-purpose.

But that breathless one just now? Oh, that takes the cake, folks!

Lucy wastes no time with Tim's shirt. Her hands were on his snaps before his mouth met hers. No wasting time, here. She starts with one snap at a time, but at the end it's like popcorn, tearing that shirt open because it is in her way.

And her little sounds as she's undressing him? Girlfriend is gone. (and I can say that, now, because I'm never going to get over Lucy Chen being Tim's girlfriend)

C'mon. When she was wiring him to go undercover as the Hit man she was totally scoping those pecs. And let's not forget Rachel's house where all the man was wearing was a towel. Lucy's seen things. Now she wants to fully appreciate them.

There's a difference between admiring artwork from afar and really getting your hands into the clay on the wheel. Lucy's done looking. It's time to get hands-on.

Tim's left hand goes for her face, but he feels the last button give. She pushes the shirt over his shoulders, and as he pulls the sleeves off, completely, Lucy is all eyes on her man.

And what I love about this is that as Lucy is appreciating every inch of Tim's chest, her hands tracing the V toward his pelvis, his eyes are watching her, drinking her in. Seeing her turned on is turning him on all the more.

Her eyes meet his, and she smiles the most serenely sexy smile. This is everything she ever wanted in a relationship, and tonight is everything she ever wanted in a last "first time".

The second he shakes that shirt lose, his lips are back on hers. Her right hand winds around his back, her other on his face. He has both hands on her face, directing each kiss with the surety Lucy once dreamt.

Tim loves to touch Lucy's face. Like the airplane bathroom and the kiss at the food truck. But this kiss is different. Instead of sweet, this is starving.

Tim is starved from his want of Lucy. Forget the dinner Lucy was making... Tonight Tim and Lucy feast on one another.

Lucy got the engine started, but Tim's the one driving, now. And like her dream of him, she's all the more turned on by him taking the lead.

He's firm, but not aggressive, as he kisses her, drinking in every taste of her mouth like it's his first drink of water after days without. Lucy is the only thing to sate his thirst.

Her hand traces his back before both hands land on his belt. She's pulling him as much as he's pushing her toward the bedroom. They walk in step together, like the hottest four-legged, sandwich-style race. Lucy giggles as they go.

Because sexy as this is, it's also still them. Tim and Lucy are enjoying themselves. And we've learned through the course of this relationship, thus far, that comes with some giggles from Lucy.

No doubt, she's built this up in her mind. They both have. But here in this moment, they aren't second-guessing or wondering. Tim's not standing before her, waiting to see if she's interested. Lucy's not thinking about the past and letting it still her.

In this moment, they are both living, breathing, and craving right now.

Tomorrow, there'll be the jobs, and the logistics, and all the other things to worry about. But in this moment, Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen are carefree save the love they carry for one another.

Every kiss is punctuated by desire fueled by love. There's echos of every other kiss they've shared—but these kisses are like breathing. In this moment, Tim and Lucy are one another's oxygen tanks, and the only way to exchange breath is to share it.

They could bee-line right to the bedroom, but Tim can't help himself. He doesn't want to wait to feel himself pressed fully against her—every curve of her body responding to his.

His right hand reaches for the door frame, so when he pushes Lucy back against it, she doesn't hit her head. In fact, his left hand is cradling her head, so it's his hand that meets his hand.

But she feels every muscle, every part of Tim pressing against her, wanting her, aching for her. With every touch of his bare skin against her skin, his taste on her lips, and his pelvis pressed against hers, her desire grows.

Her left hand winds to his neck, as though she could pull him even closer, somehow merging every part of them before they've even made it to the next layer of clothing discarded.

Tim shifts so his left hand is around her waist as she backs into her bedroom, Tim practically on top of her, not wanting to separate an inch now that he's finally here. He can feel her responding to him, and like her lips, he's growing addicted to that feeling.

Tim pushes the door most of the way closed as Lucy giggles, completely free in the wonder of his love. Locks of Lucy's hair catch the frosted glass as the door slams shut—Lucy no doubt with her back against that door (and possibly lifted up by Tim, judging on the placement of her hair in that window).

Tim Bradford once more forgetting the bed behind him because they're going to break it anyway.

Seriously. I fully expect "Lucy needs a new bed" to be a plot point. Just to see her scrolling options on her phone would be enough for me! That bed is not ready for the action it's gonna see tonight.

I have to say, I love that we can hear the scene. The music isn't overpowering this moment, and for someone like me whose ears hear everything, but can't separate if sounds are too close in decibel or pitch, that made the scene.

Back when they kissed in the airplane bathroom, we could hear the sounds of their lips. But this scene was so much sexier with all of Lucy's hums and gentle moans into his mouth. The music volume was perfect to add to the moment without distracting from it.

Fan Fic Writers... go do your thing!

And to Eric Winter, golly, I hope he wasn't too sick. Listening to how much of a voice he has in each scene and gauging shooting scheduled based on how weak it was was amusing. But, seriously, the job of an actor can be killer. Any job in the industry that involves being on-set, really.

My mom is a hair and makeup artist. She worked on a series in Wilmington in the late 90's where one of the lead actresses and she both had the flu. Didn't matter. They both had to work through. Mom has this photo of the two of them passed out on a couch together between scenes. It makes her smile, now, but it reminds me of how hard it can be.

We think about the glitz and glamor. And while that does exist, the hours alone can be a huge deterrent for any sane person. Creating art takes time, patience, and a crew of folks who sacrifice so much of their personal lives to make it happen.

If it's a good crew, it can become like family. If it's a complicated one, it can be incredibly trying to get through 18+ hour days stuck together, short turnarounds, and Fraturday schedules.

Also, I hope poor Melissa O'Neil didn't get sick from Eric Winter because of this scene. Because, golly, it's a weird job, right? I once did a shoot where I had to make-out with two separate men I'd never met before on the same day (no, it wasn't a porno). Like, you're really getting paid to do this. It's so weird.

Back to the show... There's a line in this episode that Wesley says to Angela that really sticks out for me... kind of the mantra of all the ships of The Rookie "It's not ideal, but we can handle it."

Romance in real life is messy. Too often, I see television shows go one of two ways... full on soap opera or train wreck. There are very few shows I trust with ships, even in hindsight.

The Rookie shows these very real people dealing with very real issues. Kids keeping you on a schedule that prevents you from getting any sleep. Having more kids. Shared calendars. New love and job schedules. All of that is so relatable, and it's so nice to see a show that is committed to showing people work through.

It's a detail that I really appreciate as a real person with real issues.

Anyway, if any of y'all are still alive, I want to thank you for reading. I have so much fun writing these, and the fact that people read and comment and enjoy them still blows me away. Thank you.

See you on the next!"

#Chenford #Lucy Chen #Tim Bradford #Melissa O'Neil #Eric Winter #Lucy x Tim #Tim x Lucy #The Rookie #Meta

[eemoon]

damn polycule is my favorite so heres some headcanons as a gavin and lasko kinnie -3-

*when lasko is dying of heat during summer, damien stocks up the freezer with ice packs, ice cream fucking everything. he doesnt understand laskos dislike towards the heat but will do fucking anything to make him feel more comfortable

*huxley made a little tower for lasko to roll his dnd dice

*when they got an apartment/house whatever together, they have a couple extra bedrooms. theres one main bedroom for them all to cuddle up on, but they understand the importance of needing alone time and they dont take it personal

*damien wakes up at 5 am and makes coffee/tea for everyone when they (begrudgingly) wake up. gavin will occasionally “help” out too, its uhh. more him cuddled up to damien from behind and being a nuisance. (shhh damien loves it)

* “hey gavin my bro, try this strawberry boba” and since then, history has been made. if you dont see gavin with his pink boba the world is ending

*huxley loves cuddles, lasko loves kisses, gavin loves when his hair is being played with, damien loves those quality time moments where theyre doing their own thing but together, freelancer?? LOVES FUCKING ALL OF IT. ITS A PERFECT COMBINATION THEY ARE A WHORE FOR THE LOVE THAT THEIR LOVERS PROVIDE.

*nah cause me too freelancer

*freelancer and lasko, both when overstimulated, just. completely shut down. and they always go to eachother when it happens. freelancer will come through the door after a long day, they wont be talking and lasko will “touching? or no touching? hold up 1 or 2 fingers” and freelancer does the same for lasko

*also me too freelancer

*theres a whiteboard on the fridge, groceries they need, little doodles (all the doodles are done by lasko), ‘i love yous’, just your basic fluff shit

*all of them playing dnd together <3333 gavin and damien having the hardest time understanding it. caelum is also playing!! with the help of gavin and freelancer ofc, but cae is happy to be included

*movie night-damien doesnt care for movies but he cares for his lovers so he is usually scrolling on his phone cuddled up into huxley

*gavin and huxley are the ones who take care of spiders. freelancer will “AGGH. GET RID OF IT. BUT DONT KILL IT JUST TSKE IT OUTSIDE”

*lasko is also like. the most fuckin protective. damien is ofc not a force to be fucked with but lasko????? the wind picks up heavily, he has a more calm anger i guess is how i imagine it? he wont be screaming, he’ll just have a smile on his face and death in his eyes as he remembers all the ways to dispose of a body

*also another lasko becaUSE I LOVE HIM- he hates getting up earlier, this mf is not an early bird but his work makes him get up at like,,, 5:30-6:00 am. hes fuckin suffering over here

*gavin needs so much attention and love its insane. playing video games? he’s sitting in your lap. doing homework? he’s your work now do him. lasko is making a dnd campaign? he’ll be giving lasko so many kisses he wont he able to focus

*just love him pls he needs soft lovings

*huxley also has plants covering the entire house, he has vines on shelves, at least 3 monstera in the living room, he has shit hanging from the cEILING. you cant stop him.

*OKAY LAST ONE!! when they order pizza, its. so fuckim chaotic, gavin answers with just boxers on, damien is trying to shove him out of the way and apologize, freelancer is trying to pay, huxley is just smiling in the back enjoying the moment with lasko wrapped around him

someone help guy

pls

#fuck love triangles #lets all just kiss and make out #problem solved honesty #send me fanfics pls im starved #redacted asmr #redacted audio #damn polycule #redacted gavin #lasko moore #redacted lasko #redacted damien #redacted huxley #redacted freelancer

[to-the-stars8]

Learning to Love Slowly

Jason Todd x Reader All Chapters AO3

40-Batcaves and Dead Robins

“So…Jason, are you bringing your girlfriend to dinner tonight?” Bruce asked suddenly.

At the question, everyone went silent and turned to hear his answer. Jason sneered at him because he hated being put on the spot like that, especially in front of everyone. There was a few moments of silence before he finally decided to say something. 

“I don’t know. I haven’t asked her if she wanted to come,” He said.

Dick, on behalf of his father, rolled the chair from the batcomputer over to his brother’s phone on the table nearby. Despite Jason’s irritation at the invasion of privacy, especially since his password was now obviously compromised, he didn’t make a move to take the phone from him. 

After a few seconds, after the message was sent, there was a ding. There wasn’t too much wondering from the crowd surrounding him about what you said, because as soon as it appeared on the screen Dick read it aloud. 

“Of course, Jaybeans, I’d love to! By the way, do you really think your Pops will let me see the Batcave?” Dick then added on his own commentary after seeing Jason’s face, “Don’t be too upset, Jaybird. It’s the last family dinner before the new year, let’s make it fun!” 

Bruce chuckled in response to his eldest son, only meeting Jason’s angry eyes briefly before quietly surrendering himself to the idea of staying out of it. Taking his phone back while mumbling about how no one there wouldn’t know how to respect boundaries if it hit them in the face, Jason then disappeared upstairs. 

He didn’t mind you coming over—Hell, he wanted you there, but he also hated suddenly springing things like this on you. Jason was about to message explaining what had happened when you replied again. 

Should I wear the dress you like so much?

Okay, maybe he wanted you there a bit more than he initially thought because the thought of you in that pretty little pale pink dress drove him wild. After all, it would be nice to see you after the tough time you had with your exams. 

When you arrived Jason met you at the door with a kiss, and Dick ran out greeting you like a dog after its owner arrived home from a long vacation. He was excited, pulling you in with Jason trailing behind the cave. 

“It’s kind of weird to have someone who’s not, ya know—”

“Wait, wait, wait. Dick,” You laughed. “Let me get my bearings first. I’d like to say hello to Alfred and your Dad before I go invading the most personal of your family’s spaces.”

“But—”

“Dick,” Jason warned. Reluctantly, he let you go.

Bruce and Alfred were thrilled to see you back in their home, saying how long it had been and how much your presence was missed. You felt so welcomed whenever you entered the Wayne Manor as they seemed so happy to have, as they described it, someone normal around for a change. Well, the second normal person. Apparently, Tim had been dating a civilian, too, named Bernard. 

The entire time Dick had been impatiently waiting to show you the Batcave, and, by the time dinner had been served, gave up on showing it to you at all. Jason didn’t care whether or not you saw the cave, and, in fact, preferred the latter. 

There was too much history in the cave, happy and sad, that he felt like he would have to explain. To Jason, the cave was nothing more than a pit of despair and longing that he knew would turn anyone with common sense. 

Forgetting the cave, dinner was great. You seemed more than happy to be there, and Jason was more than pleased, especially seeing you in that dress. The dinner had gone so great that everyone had insisted you stay longer to play some of their games. You joined in with such enthusiasm that Jason already knew you might be stuck at home with him for the night. 

Watching you beat Dick and Stephanie in Mario Kart earned you an extremely special place in the household as one of the greatest players of the game, a title previously owned by Steph. Soon enough, Tim was going around to the whole group gathering money on who would win in the next round, all bets going to you. Unfortunately, just as your luck was up, Stephanie quickly earned back her rightful name. 

You handed over the controller to Jason, “You play now. I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Oh, do you need me to show you…”

“I’m fine, I’ll be right back, honeybee.” With that and a kiss, you were gone. 

Jason watched you go. The first few minutes you were gone he thought about following you, just to make sure you didn’t get lost in the twisted maze of the manor but decided against it. 

It wasn’t until the third round he had played did he start to get worried that you were lost. Excusing himself, Jason got up to go find you. The halls were empty and, for once, quiet. He was worried you had left without saying anything until he had come across Alfred. 

“She’s with Bruce down in the Batcave,” Was all he said before stepping away. 

Jason didn’t know how to feel at that information, especially since he wasn’t there with you. As he made his way to the cave entrance a thousand rushed thoughts were going through his mind. Did you like the cave? What were you thinking? How in the hell did you end up there with Bruce of all people? 

Shaking off his trainwreck of an inner voice, he tipped-toed on the stairs down to where the two of you were. When he got down to the platform he could hear you and Bruce talking, voices echoing clearly. 

“It’s small,” You said. 

Jason, standing back and slightly hiding, could see the two of you standing in front of the glass cases of old suits. The two of you were in front of his, making his heart sink as you stared at it. Even from across the cave it was obvious how fucked the suit was from what had happened with the Joker and that building. There were spots of blood on the yellow and green and black spots from the soot of the explosion. 

All remnants of a dead Robin. 

Bruce chuckled, thoughtfully and somberly. “He was a small kid.”

“You would never guess it now,” You remarked. It was a joke, but the way you said it was like you were thinking out loud. The wheels in your head were turning, and Jason wanted to know what thoughts your head was cranking out. “I—I can’t imagine what it was like for you, Mr. Wayne, as his mentor and a father. I’m sorry.”

Bruce was quiet for a few seconds before finally saying, “Thank you. I regret what happened every day. He was—No, sorry, still is a good boy. ”

“He’s a softie.” You patted Bruce’s arm. “And a good person.”

“I know, and every day I wonder where he got all that from.”

Jason sat there in stunned silence. His heart was thumping in his chest and all he wanted to do was bury his head in your chest while he cried. It had been so long since someone called him, an over six-foot-tall brick house of a man, a boy, much less a good one. 

Suddenly, Bruce changed the subject, “Jason, when did you get down here?”

Jason was sure Bruce had known he was there far longer than he showed but spared him the embarrassment of getting caught by you. You turned around fast with surprise before melting into an expression that just gave away how happy you were to see him. Laughing lightly at himself, he walked toward the two of you. 

“A few seconds ago. Dick was getting annoying.”

You giggled, “I’m sorry to have bailed. I ran into your dad on the way back from the bathroom and he offered to show me the cave and…” You gestured all around you. To him it wasn’t much, but, as far, as he could tell, you liked it. “Don’t think I could resist getting a tour from the Dark Knight himself.”

He couldn’t see the appeal in what you described, but the cave and Bruce had become such an odd norm to him. He nodded over to the glass case. “Bruce told you the sob story of the dead bird.”

“No,” You said. “No birds here.”

Jason thought about rebuffing your words when he realized what you meant. Right, there were no dead birds. Just a dead kid. His eyes shifted over to Bruce whose eyes were looking glassier than usual. And, a dead son.

Jason cleared his throat. “We better get back upstairs, Dick’s gonna be pissed when he hears he wasn’t the one to give you the grand tour.”

“That’s right,” You said. “Let’s go. Are you coming, Mr. Wayne? I’d like to hear some more silly Jay-Jay stories.”

Bruce finally tore his eyes away to look at you and nodded. Clapping his hand on Jason’s shoulder and your’s he guided the two of you back upstairs. Though, usually apprehensive to his father’s touches, Jay tried not to be too quick to push away this time. 

It was the least a good dead son could do for his grieving father. It would be a good New Year’s resolution anyway, to breach the gap between him and Bruce. 

Just as the three of you emerged from the clock entrance upstairs, Dick entered the room. Looking distressed, he whined, “Did you show her the cave without me?”

#robin jason todd #jason todd headcanon #jason todd fanfiction #jason todd fic #jason todd imagine #jason todd robin #jason todd x y/n #jason todd x female reader #jason todd x you #jason todd x reader #dick grayson #nightwing #good dad bruce wayne #bruce wayne being a good dad #bruce wayne #stephanie brown #tim drake

[stevetonyweekly]

SteveTony Weekly - July 30

 Hi friends!! So someone (hi @till-i-get-back-punk )  commented on last week’s bonus rec list, surprised that I’m @areiton​ so--as a reminder, your friendly neighborhood rec curator is indeed arei! I started the STW because I love reading and was running out of fic recs and occasionally that’s still true---so always feel free to send me new things to read via asks. I don’t do requested rec lists often, mostly because I’m crazy busy, but I’ve been thinking of a series of mini-lists for the holiday season--more on that later. 

Now on to this week’s list--as always, remember to share the love--comment/kudo if you’re enjoying the fic! 

~*~ 

poor flesh and fluttering hearts by deathsweetqueen

Steve blushes so adorably when Tony walks into the kitchen, staring down at the plate of pancakes that he made for himself and the rest of the team.

His brown wings, the colour of burnt umber, shake out before folding around his broad form.

For a moment, Tony is confused and then, he looks down at himself, noticing the way he strode into the kitchen in just a pair of silk boxers, arc reactor and shiny red scars on vivid display.

He shifts uneasily on his feet and immediately hates himself for the action.

Why should he feel so awkward, so self-conscious just because perfect fucking Captain America finds him an absolute mess of a person?

The Way of Things by Sineala

The Avengers have been around a long time, and they have a lot of traditions. But when Steve finds out that the team has a tradition he's never been informed of, he learns that there's something Tony hasn't been telling him, either.

Fixer-Upper by imafriendlydalek

Tony leads the way up the steps to the house, and as the door swings open with a long creaking sound - note to self: oil door hinges - Steve’s eyes widen. He steps inside, turns slowly on his own axis as he looks around.

“Tony, this place, it’s…” There’s a sense of wonder in his voice. Tony smiles inwardly. It is just the kind of thing Steve would like. Steve, who has a keen appreciation for fine aesthetics, who has a healthy - okay, sometimes more than healthy - sense of history and an acute desire to preserve things he deems worthy.

“This place is a dump.”

Well, so much for that, then. Tony shifts his weight to one leg as he takes an appraising look. “It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, yeah, I’ll give you that, but it’s not past saving. Just needs some TLC.”

Steve uncrosses his arms and shoves his hands in the pockets of his pants. “Well listen, you ever want an extra set of hands with some of the work, just give me a call.”

Big Boy Toys by extantecstasy

Steve finally gets fed up with Tony’s juvenile pranks. When Tony models for a sex toy, Steve seizes the opportunity. Or, it seizes him.

Glitch by iam93percentstardust

And I'm not even sorry, nights are so starry

Blood moonlit

It must be counterfeit

I think there's been a glitch, oh, yeah

~

“Ms. Potts, my name is Steve Rogers, and I’m Justin Hammer’s roommate," Steve says.

“Oh, what does that asshole want now?” she asks.

“I don’t think he wants anything—except to make a quick buck and ruin Mr. Stark’s reputation.”

Trust Fall by Sineala

Tony needs someone who cares about him, bandages, a jacket, ibuprofen, dinner, a lasting romantic relationship, a nice time in bed, and assistance committing federal crimes. He gets them. In that order.

Tony Stark vs. the Heteronormative Agenda by sweatervest

Nat leans her hip against the table and folds her arms. “Short of making out in public, I don’t think anyone will make the jump to ‘they’re dating.’”

Steve glances at her and then over at Tony.

Nat follows Steve’s gaze. “You did make out in public.”

“Steve never got his Time’s Square victory kiss,” Tony protests.

--

Or, five times the general public was determined to believe Steve Rogers and Tony Stark were just close friends, and the time Tony made sure they knew otherwise.

through thick and thin by earliebirb

“We should break up,” Tony declares, gazing out of the floor-to-ceiling window of their bedroom. The colorful twinkle of lights of the New York City nightlife is truly a mesmerizing view.

“Why?”

“I don’t love you anymore.”

Steve scoffs, utterly unfazed.

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? by ceealaina

Steve’s going to ask Tony out for New Year’s Eve. Really. He absolutely means it this time. He just... has to work up the nerve.

The Emperor's New Clothes by Captain_Panda

No, Tony wasn't "flirting with him."

Tony was trying to drive him crazy. Steve Rogers would not stand for it.

Honey, I Can See The Stars by twentysomething 

"The most he'd ever cared about anything remotely related was his uniform, which, beyond the stylistic, was pretty necessary. But now his suit comes from a lab far more advanced than the basement of a Brooklyn antique shop, and the only decision he really gets to make is if his pants are too tight. (They were, but he doesn't really think they changed them. He doesn't know why, but he thinks that might have been on purpose.) That being said, he doesn't know what he's done to deserve the double take Tony gives him as he walks in the room."

The Most Amazing Things (Some Terrible Lie) by copperbadge

Tony's decision not to reveal his identity as Iron Man to the world was shrewd and calculated. Too bad it's about to backfire on him like a Jericho missile.

It Started with Two Men by Missy_dee811 for tarialdarion

Steve remembers and confronts Tony but there's more to Tony's confession than Steve had ever thought possible:

“Tony, I –”

Tony cut him off with the wave of a hand. “Why can’t you understand that everything I do, I do for you?” He was sobbing now into his hands, covered in blood. It was jarring to see Tony like this. Steve didn’t know how to respond. This didn’t go as planned, he thought to himself. He hadn’t expected a heartfelt confession. In truth, he had expected more lies, more deceit. He felt like the world’s greatest asshole for using his best friend as a punching bag.

Make It Clap by shetlandowl

Steve is a sophomore at BU and Tony is finishing his graduate degree at MIT when they begin their relationship. This story is told as 31 snapshots from their first two years together. The story is told in sequential order, though not always in sequence (i.e., some chapters capture events only hours apart, while some chapters are from events weeks or months apart).

Ice Ice Baby (The Hockey Fic) by youcancallmearrow

Tony Stark is a star center, sidelined by a slip in sobriety. Steve Rogers is a goalie, suspended for a punch thrown off the ice.

When the two meet, they're trying to get their lives back on track, both off and on the ice. It turns out, the saying is true: A burden shared is a burdened halved. At least until Howard Stark gets involved.

(A get together fic full of fluff, supportive friends, dad Rhodey, and hockey! But if you know nothing about hockey, you'll be fine, because neither does the author.)

Tonight we're gonna make it all come true by gottalovev

Steve Rogers is one of the best players in college football and is ready to prove it. The road towards becoming a professional football player? Is totally crazy. Falling in love with Tony Stark, the young quarterback from Stanford, may be even more life changing.

i don't have a choice (but i'd still choose you). by frostfall

There’s a name inked onto his chest, a name written in an all-too familiar scrawl. And it’s— It’s—

Steve doesn’t realize his body is quaking until he’s tracing the tattoo with a shaky finger.

Because of course that is the name etched into the skin. Like a brand, a reminder for everything he has done. An appropriate retribution.

Anthony Edward Stark.

(When Thanos snaps half of the universe away, he unknowingly leaves the other half with soulmarks.)

#stevetony weekly #stevetony fic #stevetony fic recs #rec list #fic recs #fic rec list #stevetony #stony fic #stony fic recs #stony #steve rogers #tony stark #iron man #captain america

[royal-ruin]

red, white, and royal blue (rwrb) fic recs (part 5)

other rwrb fic recs here other fic recs here personal favorites are starred, by the way. everything is complete unless stated otherwise.

this is probably going to be the last part for now. hope you enjoyed the recs!

*Déjame Ver Cómo Es Que Floreces by 14carrotgold (~12k)

Oscar gets in close and bluntly asks, “Earlier. In the bathroom. Did you do it?” Alex scoffs, “No. Don't be a perv. Why would you wanna know that anyway?” Oscar rolls his eyes. “Mind out of the gutter, chamaco. Did you propose?” Ah.    Henry is introduced to the extended Diaz side of the family at their matriarch's birthday. Shenanigans (and romance and feelings) ensue.

oh my god?? a must-read.

what we might do (if we stop keeping a secret) by indomitablelove (~8k)

'This isn't how I wanted to tell people. I thought we'd get the chance to do it right.' - Red, White and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston, p.327 or, in another world, Alex and Henry get to do it right.

Love is indomitable [Interview] by aceofsapphics (~4k)

„It definitely stays secret until after the election. And I know it’ll be messy. But if we can get ahead of the narrative, wait for the right time and do it on our own terms, I think it could be okay.” Chapter 10, page 283 “In another universe they date long distance for a couple years and then come out with a huge piece in Vanity Fair by Ronan Farrow” – Casey McQuiston, from select annotations from Red, White and Royal Blue, accessed via pagesandpugs.blog OR the coming out Henry and Alex have always deserved and always will.

i cannot fall in love (with you) by orionseye (~22k)

"One of the many nights it’s kept her up, she imagined taking the romcom approach to this. In some alternate reality, June gives Nora the grandeur she deserves. And it’s Jane Austen worthy, it’s glitter-in-your-hair, fireworks-in-the-sky, friends-to-lovers bullshit. She’d confess, obviously. Maybe there’s a boombox involved. Maybe it’s pouring rain. The setting doesn’t matter, really, because they’re both there."  even after alex and henry get their happily ever after, there's still a story left to tell. when an ironic new year’s kiss turns triggers something much more, june finds herself stuck in a messy situation. can she find the line between her personal life and her public one? what does it mean to love someone in secret? can she ever find the guts to show it?  the nora x june rwrb sequel we are all dying for

the summary said it perfectly. june's pov had me reading around the tears in my eyes.

Heaven is You by cmere (~2k)

Alex stirs. Henry trails his hand down Alex's chest, nuzzles into his neck. A low, soft noise escapes Alex's mouth; he pushes back against Henry's hips, and Henry echoes it with a noise of his own. His mind is slowly awakening, catching up to the instinctual responses of his body. His eyes cast over the two of them, tangled up under the blankets and bathed in light. Suddenly, all the implications of what the bright sunlight means—shades thrown wide open, snipers on top of buildings, long-range lenses shooting them in their most private moments—sends icy bullets through his chest. Several years later, Henry is still working through the trauma of their forced outing. Alex helps him.

Room 1071 by MaryaDmitrievnaLikesSundays (~7k) ”No,” Henry said. “I…” He trailed off, his eyes stuck somewhere behind Alex. Alex followed his gaze and felt dread settle hard in his stomach at where it landed. Pink, purple, and blue. An eagle set between red and green lines. The flags that Alex refused to be ashamed of, taken apart by Henry’s unreadable gaze. So. It was like that. Henry was like that. Or, the college au where Alex is absolutely, positively sure his roommate is homophobic.

you’re leaving (now i’m left amongst the living) by peppermintpatties (~37k)

Six years since they've been together, Alex and Henry were now a far cry from the lovestruck couple they once were when their history began. If you ask Alex, all of it was Henry’s fault. If you ask Henry, he’d agree and say that Alex was right. But before Alex could ever find out why Henry does not seem like the man he once decided to spend the rest of his life with, he already walked away from it all. Now, Henry was alone, left to deal with whatever shattered remains he could salvage from his life. Or, the one where Henry’s sick and Alex only finds out two years after they've broken up.

Please Don't Let Me Be So Understood by chamel (~20k)

“I’m glad you both see it that way,” Dr. Chen says. Then she closes her notebook and folds her hands on top of it. “I think I’m starting to get a sense of where the issues lie. The good news is that you’re both here, and you’re both willing to work on this relationship. That’s promising. Not all of the couples I see are even at that point.” “Sorry, what?” Henry says, voicing Alex’s stuttering thoughts as well. (After one too many fights at work, Henry and Alex are assigned mandatory reconciliation therapy by their boss. Except the therapist thinks they're there for couples therapy... and surely, a bet on who will break first makes more sense than actually correcting her, right?)

a fair amount of it is just them being dumb lmao

*Nova, Baby by chamel (~67k)

Agent Henry Fox-Mountchristen is an asshole. Alex is 90% sure those exact words are going in this mission report. Yeah, they’re supposed to be objective when writing this shit up, but that isn’t his opinion. It’s a fact. (CIA agent Alex Claremont-Diaz and MI6 agent Henry Fox-Mountchristen don’t exactly get along, but that doesn’t keep their respective agencies from insisting they work together as partners. Then a mission in Colombia changes everything, and their relationship begins to shift and grow into something that neither of them ever expected… and something that could have deadly consequences.)

#rwrb fic recs #rwrb fanfiction #rwrb fanfic #rwrb #rwrb movie #henry fox mountchristen windsor #alex claremont diaz #red white and royal blue movie #red white and royal blue #royal's rwrb fic recs

[sinnohelitefourlore]

Random Sinnoh Gym Leader HCs Pt 2.

Candice:

- When she was at Snowpoint City’s Trainer’s School (aka, “Bitch High” according to students from other schools) she was considered one of the “nice” ones, which at the time said quite a lot.

- Candice was never outright mean, she was just… venomously sweet. It was out of self-defense, however – she was passive aggressive to the girls that were mean to her.“Wow! That blouse is certainly… a brave choice!”

- if Candice ever says something mean at a league meeting the others gently remind her that she doesn’t have to be so defensive anymore. Volkner just straight up tells she’s no longer a student at “Bitch High” so she could stop, thank you.

Maylene:

- if you asked maylene if she loved her mom or dad more, she would say her grandmother. yes, she knows that wasn’t an option, but she doesn’t want to talk about it so shut up.

- she once challenged wake to an eating contest and lost… the first time. today, he would challenge her, and the end result would always be wake in the bathroom as maylene picks at his leftovers.

- maylene doesn’t like makeup, but candice likes makeup, and she only agreed to letting candice make her over was that it was a plausible excuse to get closer to the ice gym leader.

Gardenia:

- she used to have panic attacks in the eterna forest specifically near the old chateau. one day she’s blinded by her own tears, she texted the last person she messaged with trembling hands not knowing who it was at the time to go get her. that’s how volkner (from all the way in Sunyshore) came to her aid. without saying a word, he brushed her tears away with his thumbs, got her to slow her breathing down, and then they ventured their way out of the forest. she locked her hand with his in a death grip.

- she’s not a religious person, not really - but there are times when she would spend nights crying to arceus praying for her fear of ghosts to go away.

- when she was elected as gym leader, she gave one shiny leaf each to the elite four and cynthia as a way of showing thanks and friendship. after years, they all still have them.

Roark:

- if one more fucking person reminds him that riley was supposed to be the gym leader and not him, then he’s going to lose it.

- no really, he’s tired of the goddamn comparisons. comparisons to his dad, comparisons to the aura guardian boy toy, and to the other gym leaders.

- he likes to help gardenia tend to flowers in his free time.

Volkner:

- even before flint left to go on a journey, volkner’s moods had always been erratic starting as a teenager. he could go from “i want to skinnydip at night jumping from the fucking lighthouse, flint” to “everyday i day i die a little more, flint” in a matter of weeks.

- when he’s up and about, he has about fifty projects around sunyshore working with his gadgets and he’s so on top-of-the-fucking world and he’s actually feeling fan-fucking-tastic no flint who cares that he hasn’t slept in three days it’s not like he needs it. When he crashes, the blackouts happen and everything goes to shit because he’s not motivated to do shit and the pokemon trainers are not good enough to do shit and everything is just shit.

- he plays the guitar to help these moments, and it helps a little – only flint knows about this talent of his.

Fantina:

- Sinnoh had a reputation of hosting the “crueler” trainers of all the regions. when Sinnohnians wondered why Fantina was so lovely and kind, she remarked in an interview that she’s from Kalos. “Ah, that explains it,” they said.

- over a half of fantina’s earnings as a gym leader and a coordinator go to charities – the most out of any league member in history.

- when she publicly came out as trans, sinnohnians had only two questions: “okay… she’s still the gym leader right? I sure as shit hope so.” and “she’s still having her contest shows yes, please tell me she is?” in other words, they didn’t care, because this was goddamn Fantina Dumont, a coordinating legend who could’ve stayed in Kalos but wanted to dazzle Sinnoh, instead.

Crasher Wake:

- though he looked like he could kill you with one snap of the neck, he would never. he only used his strength to protect those who were young and vulnerable. because of this, the teenage gym leaders affectionately called him "Hercules.”

- out of all the gym leaders, you would think he’s best friends with byron. while byron’s certainly up there, he has the closest bond with fantina. if fantina was doing a contest, wake would be in the front row. vice versa for wake’s wrestling shows.

- wake doesn’t hate things, because he thinks life is too great to hate, but then he sees cyrus for the first time and bloodlust riles within him.

byron:

- byron has a gruff exterior, but when it comes to his wife, lily, he gets bashful as he was when he first met her when they were both 22 working in the mines. he’ll call her his “beautiful honey,” and “his girl.” he once said she was “the miner that won my heart,” and realized how wrong that sounded as soon as it left his mouth. lily still laughs over it to present day. roark just facepalms.

- byron will take to his grave that he loves rom-coms, especially the end where the couple finally admits their feelings to each other and kiss.

- byron had cried three times in his life. when his father died, when he got married, and when roark was born.

#sinnoh #gym leader volkner #gym leader candice #gym leader maylene #gym leader roark #gym leader byron #gym leader fantina #crasher wake #gym leader gardenia #pokemon #pokemon bdsp #pkmn #bdsp #pokemon platinum #pokemon diamond and pearl #pokemon brilliant diamond #pokemon shining pearl

[bengiyo]

The Eighth Sense Eps 3 & 4 Stray Thoughts

Last time, we all lost our minds at the inherent queerness of this show, and how distinct it feels in the world of BL. We met Ji Hyun, a new resident of Seoul from the countryside who recently started school, and Jae Won, a senior returning from military service and son of a wealthy family. Ji Hyun is struggling with city life, and Jae Won is struggling with everyone's expectations of him. These two met and felt instantly drawn to each other, and are now engaged in intricate rituals in the surfing club. We left them on the beach before what felt like a kiss.

Episode 3

Okay so it was a kiss! That was not tentative at all.

Oh, I'm not a fan of pressuring new members to binge drink. Relieved others are pushing back, but still it's gross.

Why is Ji Hyun being brave about the drink? Is it to distract himself from the kiss and abrupt separation? Is it to end the tension of the moment and save the girls? Is he getting drunk enough to be taken care of by Jae Won?

This dude is so annoying every time he gets drunk. Tae Hyung definitely wants to fuck Jae Won, and it's embarrassing.

Ah, of course Jae Won has built up a history of getting drunk and kissing people. He needed to build that mask.

Hey, that was a beautiful shot of the beach.

Not a fan of Ji Hyun potentially going out into the water alone, but it is intriguing that he tried to suit up on his own in maybe the wrong size. He's not comfortable anymore.

Oh, Jae Won. You can't just ignore the boy like this. This is also unfortunately familiar.

I have questions about the person running a bar in Korea that can't understand enough Korean to take orders.

I get Jae Won feeling more comfortable with Yoon Won after all this time because she feels grounded.

Jae Won, you can't smile fondly at his art after ignoring him!

Damn, the freshmen just casually clocking Yoon Won as a lesbian.

There's a lot of drinking in this show.

I don't think the roommate's assessment is totally off. If Jae Won is signalling that he doesn't want to interact with Ji Hyun anymore, it's probably best to just let it go. Does beg whether Ji Hyun knows he's queer.

If Ji Hyun doesn't want this girl to attach to him too much, it would be ideal to introduce her to the definitely straight friend.

I like Joon Pyo.

Oh, I like experiencing the therapy session through the distorted reflection

I love the bar owner. Ji Hyun definitely needs encouragement.

Here Jae Won goes with the meaningful looks again. Not sure how I want to read them having an interaction right after a therapy session.

I liked this episode. I like Ji Hyun taking his angst and confusion in stride. I also like how many people encourage him.

Episode 4

Gosh, seeing these two recognize that there's something special about just being near each other in silence is just...wow.

Wonder what changed for Hae? Is it because it's night time. Don't send me back to my beauty in the dark phase.

I like Jae Won learning how to draw. It's really sweet to see them learning the other's passion. We also get to see Ji Hyun smile and laugh.

"Do you want to eat ramen with me?" *I understood that reference.*

Again the tension between these two when Jae Won adjusts Ji Hyun's bag. These two are delivering.

I love Ji Hyun's briefcase. I hope there isn't a plot point involving it going missing.

I'm obsessed with Ae Ri. She looked at Jae Won and Ji Hyun and was like, "Ah, gays," and immediately covered for Ji Hyun. Then, she goes on to show Ji Hyun how obvious things appear, and to keep his wits about him, before making clear she does not desire him. I hope she gets everything she wants.

Here these dudes go again meddling in Jae Won's affairs with Eun Ji.

If Eun Ji does something cruel to these boys because she saw them bonding in the stacks....

I'm not a therapist, nor have I been in much therapy, but it feels like Jae Won can be honest with his.

Here Eun Ji goes being mean to Ji Hyun.

Oh my goodness. That was a low-key read. "I didn't say you broke it intentionally. But if you broke it, is it that hard to apologize to the person fixing it?" She doesn't know why this girl is bullying Ji Hyun, but she is not going to let it slide.

A pinky brush into hand holding? We stay winning.

"A beer in your dorm room. Aren't we moving too fast?" Sir, you kissed and then avoided him!

I no longer like Joon Pyo. We had everything. A hand on a leg, a secret romantic desire expressed, and a lean in for a kiss. Then he runs in to spoil the moment!

I'm really glad they give us two episodes a week. I'd have been really frustrated to only get episode 3 with Jae Won avoiding him only to end on the subway would have been annoying. Instead we're seeing this support network grow around Ji Hyun and the obvious relationship blossoming between these two. I'm curious to learn about this secret desire Jae Won is afraid to voice.

#the eighth sense #korean bl #bl series #lgbt tv #Ben watches

[luverofralts]

Arkhelios Adventures

"Do you know if my mother will be here? She didn't say anything in her email, but she must have told you, right?"

Princess Victoriana stared eagerly at her posted guard, desperate to be let in on her mother's plans. Last night, she'd received a message from her mother's office, informing her that her presence was required in Sedona. The details were scarce, just that she was to reopen some historical buildings and make a speech or two.

It didn't sound that bad to Victoriana, but her grandmother had read the email with an unreadable expression and stormed away afterward to speak with her grandfather in another room.

What was the harm of dusting off some old buildings in dumb Sedona? The former country had been conquered by Pleasantview centuries ago, and just about everyone had forgotten about them. There were still descendants from their former royal family, but Pleasantview had decimated their culture and history until the only recognized annual event in Sedona was the visiting of the Pleasantview monarch on the anniversary of their surrender to remind them of their place.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but the queen regrettably won't be here for the reopening," the guard replied. "Her schedule is only at the palace for today."

"Oh. That's okay, I guess. She wanted me to do this for her, so maybe she'll see me tomorrow to ask how things went."

"A very likely scenario, Your Highness. Her Majesty would never assign you a duty you could not perform."

Victoriana posed by the long abandoned thrones of the former Sedona castle, running her speech through her head before the cameras started rolling. After reviewing the speech, Victoriana had been surprised to see that this grand reopening of the castle wasn't reopening it as a museum, as it once was a decade or so ago. No, this castle and the other, much older castle in Sedona were being restored as living quarters for the Pleasantview monarch.

Victoriana tried to picture herself living in this place. It wasn't a bad place by any means, but it felt foreign and strange to think that she might actually live here. It's years as a museum had taken its toll on the old building, and clearly, they would have to remove the gift shop.

The master suite in the old castle was at least modern enough to be comfortable for the teen. After her speech, Victoriana had been ordered to stay in the building overnight to await her mother's next command. As the highest ranked person in the building, Victoriana got to sleep in the master suite, which was a rare treat. Whenever her mother was present, the queen was given the largest room. For one brief moment, Victoriana could imagine her future as queen. This huge suite would be hers permanently, and she would have the power to decommission museums that she wanted to live in, just like her mother.

It would likely be a lonely life, if Claudia's reign was any example. Victoriana would eventually inherit her mother's endless meetings and busy schedule. She would have to miss out on milestones with her own children, just as Claudia had over the years, and really screen potential spouses to make sure their intentions were honest. She would make sure to make time to see her half-siblings and hopefully her father when her mother was gone. That day wasn't anytime soon though.

Victoriana's phone beeped while she mused over the future. To her surprise, it was a message from her mother.

"Tomorrow, you'll be opening the second Sedona castle as a royal residence as planned," Victoriana read. "I will meet with you the day after tomorrow at the Honora St. Julien Tower in Crystal Cove. Your new speech will be delivered to you shortly. Love, Mom."

The princess groaned at the idea of more speeches but was incredibly excited at the news that her mother would finally be joining her. Who even cared about these dusty old buildings or about boring Sedona? Victoriana would much rather be at home in her own room or at school where she at least got to talk to people her own age.

She'd been texting with her half-brother Theo for the past few days, but only when she wasn't busy or he wasn't in class, so not very often. He seemed like a nice enough guy, and she'd learned a lot about their father from him. Her father was a great baker, overprotective and a passable demon hybrid according to Theo. He had a dark form, and the attention of his sister in law, the Demonic Sovereign. The rest of their conversations were heavily focused on Theo's boyfriend, Adam, or what homework assignment he found tedious that day.

Victoriana had less interesting subjects to talk about. She didn't have a romantic partner or even a crush on anyone. Her grandparents were the only family she was allowed to see unsupervised and her day was packed with learning rules and treaties that were only relevant three hundred years ago. She may live in a palace when she wasn't at boarding school, but her life was far from what the other kids her age assumed it was. What kid wanted to hang out in two museums her mother apparently needed to live in?

Sometimes her mother confided in her about her plans, while other times, Victoriana had no idea what her mother was thinking.

"And that is why we hope that the repurposing of this historical landmark will highlight the vibrant part Sedona plays in our great country. Thank you."

Victoriana stepped down from the podium, scanning the crowd for signs of her mother.

She hadn't been told to expect her mother until the next day, but she had still been hopeful. Eventually, the politely clapping crowd and flashing cameras would leave and she could once again unwind in yet another lifeless building on her own. Theo had written her a long text detailing his defensive magic exam to compare it to her own school's curriculum. Politics and networking were more valued at her school, and the princess often feared that she would fall behind magically, despite her private demonology lessons. There was a lot a crown princess needed to know and she couldn't risk the danger of being unprepared. Fortunately, Theo seemed to be studying dark, complicated magic that he was all too happy to demonstrate the next time they met or virtually on their phones. She doubted that her mother would approve of her contact with Theo, but Victoriana was her own person and she could forge alliances with whomever she chose. If Claudia was too busy for her daughter, then it was only fair that Victoriana got to spend time with people aside from her grandparents.

When her mother did meet up with Victoriana, the atmosphere was tense. First of all, Queen Claudia was dressed in full regal splendor, with her full guard behind her. The second concerning thing was that the queen and her guard were standing in a tower located in Crystal Cove, attracting many worried onlookers.

"Mom? Shouldn't we be in Pleasantview or Old Sedona if we're opening a building?" Victoriana whispered to her mother as cameras flashed around them. "We don't own any land in Crystal Cove."

"You'd be surprised what we own," Claudia informed her daughter, smiling for the cameras. "If you studied your history closely, you would know that when the empire broke apart, Pleasantview officially retained control of Honora St. Julien's tower as a good faith gesture. All I'm going to do is remind them of this fact."

Victoriana dutifully followed her mother inside the building and up to the outside balcony that was already set up with a microphone.

Her mother said a bunch of words that didn't really mean anything, just like most of her speeches. This action she was taking was controversial, it was written all over the faces Victoriana could see from the balcony. This must have been the thing that had made her grandmother so upset earlier. Grandma Anna was an excellent political strategist and one devoted to preserving peace. It wasn't an act of war to take ownership of something that was rightfully yours and it did look like the building hadn't been properly occupied in decades, so they weren't even evicting anyone. Still, restoring the Sedona museums into royal residences had clearly been a front to minimalize the potential backlash of repossessing this tower.

"Mom? What's so great about this building?" Victoriana asked, once the queen's speech had completed and they had a brief moment to smile for the crowds. "Grandma told you not to do this, didn't she?"

"Grandma doesn't know everything," Claudia replied. She paused before replying, making sure that there wasn't an active microphone picking up their conversation. "The king of Crystal Cove is old and inexperienced at ruling. His late wife did most of that for him. He won't fight this. He's probably writing a speech now welcoming us to take more land in order to keep the peace. His heir would fight to pay us the value of the tower in exchange for the land itself, so it's best to do this now, when there's a weak monarch in charge."

"What do we need with this dumb tower anyway?" Victoriana asked, completely baffled that her mother wanted to fight over an old, unimportant relic at all.

"It's a foothold, dear. My advisors believe that it may be necessary to expand our options in the near future. It never hurts to have options."

Claudia maintained a calm expression for their audience, but Victoriana could see past that mask...most of the time anyway. Lately, she had been harder to read. If her shadowy advisors were worried, something must be brewing behind the scenes. Something frightening enough to take controversial actions.

"Mom, should I be worried? Are we going to war?

"If this all goes well, then probably not," Claudia said reassuringly, leaving her daughter with an unsettled knot in her stomach.

"Probably not? Probably?"

Claudia's gaze remained on the crowd and the cameras, though her voice did soften slightly.

"Probably not," she repeated. "Peace is extremely hard to maintain forever, dear, and sometimes sacrifices must be made to ensure it lasts. There are frequently events that could potentially turn violent or tragedies that turn friends into enemies. How we survive them is by thinking ahead, and planning our moves carefully. You must always have multiple plans to fall back on and know when to trust your intel. Your life as queen will depend on it."

"Is...is this about my father? Are we in danger because of his family? Should we tell him?"

"Your father? Certainly not," Claudia replied, a ghost of a smile toying with her lips. "No, for once, I can't blame this on him. When you need to know, Victoriana, I will let you know. This all may blow over and it might not. Just enjoy the pageantry while it lasts. You'll be heading back to school tomorrow."

Despite her worries, Victoriana's spirits rose. Returning to school? She was finally free of her grandparents? Did this mean that her mother would finally let her return to the castle on weekends?

Another thought popped into Victoriana's head when she thought of her time with her grandparents.

"Wait a minute, did you send me away for weeks to Grandma and Grandpa’s just to keep Grandma busy?" Victoriana asked, the accusation clear in her voice. "I thought you were mad at me about asking about my father and sent me away. Was all that a front to keep an eye on Grandma?"

Claudia's only response was to raise a curious eyebrow at her daughter's accusations.

"Both of those theories could be true," she said at last. "You must remember that your grandmother has rules of her own to follow that cannot be broken. A reaper can't be caught interfering with the affairs of the living."

"Can't be caught," Victoriana said slowly. "That's different than not interfering at all. You plotted against your own mother to keep her out of your plans for claiming land in Crystal Cove?"

"In your opinion only, dear." Claudia was having difficulty repressing her smile. Her heart was filled with pride that her daughter was finally learning how to think as a monarch. Victoriana had come a long way recently. With her demand to know her father's name and now, her piecing together some of her mother's plan, the princess was slowly growing into the leader Claudia knew she would one day be. She was paying attention to how the world around her functioned and what pieces of it could be swapped out at her command if she disliked them.

"So who are we almost at war with?" the princess asked. "Crystal Cove? Is that why we need a base inside their country? I haven't heard anything about Crystal Cove at all lately. Why would they want to fight us?"

"I never said it was Crystal Cove," Claudia said sternly. "I don't recall mentioning any country of concern, just that we needed options going forward."

She paused as another thought occurred to her. Victoriana did have access to an entire student body of well connected students who were all very fond of gossiping about what they'd heard their parents say at home. Hearing the gossip and predicting who she could trust to support her reign would be a great help in these times.

"Okay," the queen conceded at last. "It would be very helpful if you could listen to the gossip at school for me. Every detail about what their parents believe helps our cause, but there is specifically one thing I want you to listen for: the Red Queen. If anyone mentions those words, I need you to listen carefully. This is crucial, Victoriana, you can't mention this mission to your friends or seem too interested in asking questions. Nothing can compromise this plan, do you understand?"

"Yes, Red Queen, don't be suspicious," Victoriana confirmed with glee. "What does it mean though? Is it a code word? Is it a another monarch threatening to invade?"

"Just remember your mission," Claudia said abruptly, returning her focus once again on the crowd. "And no texting your half-brother about this. If I find out that you've involved him in this, I will be quite disappointed in you."

Victoriana cringed, kicking herself for assuming that her mother wasn't aware of her and Theo's chats. The saying really was true: the queen of Pleasantview truly did know everything there was to know.

As much as she loved her mother, something inside the princess longed for the day when she would inherit that much power.

#sims 2 #arkhelios #arkhelios adventures #claudia goldman #Victoriana Goldman

[deep-hearts-core]

A post about the Loreen thing,

which I'm making separately so that it isn't hidden under the cut when I do my yearly review.

First of all it is necessary to state that I don't hate Tattoo. I have it fifteenth for the year. I liked Euphoria and I like some of Loreen's other music. I am not jumping on the hater train because I hate Loreen or hate the song. She sounded good on the night and the staging was, as we expect of Sweden, showy and mostly visually interesting.

HOWEVER. I think that there are two reasons that people are angry right now and both of them are justified. Firstly, it's because of the way the voting system works currently and what narratives work well on a television show (which Eurovision, ultimately, is). Secondly, it's because some more discerning fans are picking up on some of the circumstances surrounding Loreen's participation and win and have gotten out their red string.

To point one: This is the first time since the split voting system was implemented in 2016 that the winner of the jury vote won the contest. We've previously had entries who won neither, but there was too big of a split between the jury and televote winner (2016, 2019), an entry who won both votes (2017), and entries who won the televote (2018, 2021, 2022). Eurovision has changed a lot since its inception and in some ways the juries are a holdover from when it was a song contest rather than a performance contest (they were also reintroduced to combat bloc voting and then just made the bloc voting worse so do with that what you will). These days, the people like to vote!!! The people also like an underdog, which we went into the contest knowing that Finland was--or at least, the only other contender with a fighting chance of beating Queen Loreen. So seeing Loreen absolutely sweep the jury vote, country by country, with a margin of over 100 points, got boring and frustrating real fast.

I'm not saying down with the juries necessarily. I'm a somewhat serious musician who often loves jury bait songs and the juries have played an important role in supporting the songs I really like. And sometimes, the tension between the jury vote and public vote is okay! Sometimes it's interesting and makes for good television! But last night was not, narratively, good television.

I mean, maybe it was for some people.

Which leads me to point two: the red string. Now, I am not usually a conspiracy theory person at Eurovision. I mean, my first Eurovision was 2016 and I remember how the Russia fans got about that. My second Eurovision was 2017 and I hated APD with a burning passion at the time and I didn't get out the red string then.

But this... I think a lot of more serious fans are looking at the big picture. So, when a country wins, they get to be on the reference group and participate in decision-making about contest rules and such. The last time Sweden won was 2015. This win put them at 6 total, one behind Ireland. Sweden has made being good at Eurovision part of their national identity. The split voting system was introduced the following year, at the 2016 contest, hosted by Sweden.

Fast forward to this year. Sweden have placed 5th three times, 4th once, and then 7th and 14th which are less interesting, in the years since. Objectively very good results. But this year, the contest final was due to take place on Johnny Logan's birthday (Johnny Logan being the first, at that time only, competitor in history to win twice). The fiftieth anniversary of Abba's win is next year. And Loreen decided to come back to Melodifestivalen.

Loreen had previously tried to return in 2017 with the song "Statements" but wiped out in Melfest's second chance round. So it wasn't necessarily guaranteed that she would sweep. However, many fans felt that this year's Melfest entries were really weak songs, which made it easier for "Tattoo", with its flashy staging and name recognition, to soar to a win. In a real monkey's paw moment, I said after watching Melfest that the only way I could accept Loreen winning Melfest was if she Johnny Logan'd. Lol.

Even before Melfest, though, there were also the new voting rules. For the first time this year, semifinal qualifiers would be decided only through televote, not based on the juries. As I noted last night, this meant that the televote would likely be split among many songs--we'd still have a televote winner, but if the jury coalesced behind one song, the jury winner would win the contest. This... happened.

It's also worth noting that the current executive supervisor of the contest is Swedish, and that even before the voting sequence there were references to Abba and Johnny Logan throughout the night. That, in addition to the weak Melfest, timing of both voting changes, and the timing of the contest, adds up to a conspiratorial picture, for those who are so inclined.

And, lastly, I also think some of us are having fun arguing with Loreen fans, especially those who are like "well, YOU voted for her, so you don't get to complain!" Reader, I did not vote for Loreen. I in fact voted for Finland, among others. Most of us who are complaining did not, in fact, vote for Loreen. And look I don't wanna be like last year's Spain fans who to this day say that Chanel was the true winner of the 2022 contest but it is pretty fun to be a hater.

At the end of the day, it is what it is and there isn't anything we can do to change it, but it's fun to be angry in the meantime, and I personally had fun assembling all the reasons why people are angry into a nice little tumblr post for you all. Thank you and goodnight <3

#shispeak #esc reviews #eurovision #full contest review + top to come later #wanted to do this first #ALSO: the circumstances in part 2 can easily be explained away #or taken as a GOOD tv narrative where loreen comes back and takes her rightfully destined second win #i have my own opinions but i'm not the arbiter of what is true #and if you're happy for loreen: i am happy for you. i can be happy for you and also angry at the tv narrative. #so don't come for me!!!!!! lol