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thetarttfuldickhead · 6 months

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Fic: Roy & Jamie & and that time when Jamie was NOT in a car crash

With ten minutes left until training officially began and still no sign of Jamie, there were a few raised eyebrows and murmurs and Isaac telling Will to put the player down for a 100 quid fine, but no one thought to be worried. People ran late, sometimes. Not usually Jamie, no, but Colin figured there was a first time for everything. Besides, he was busy listening to Bumbercatch explain the intricacies of post-Brexit labour shortages and the way it served to reproduce notions of capitalist realism, none of which Colin understood, but Bumbercatch was at his fittest when he was passionate and mysterious so Colin hung on to his every word all the same.

When Roy stepped into the dressing room a little while later and noticed the distinct lack of number 9 and rang Jamie to demand where the hell he was only to receive no answer, a slight sense of unease settled over the room, though Colin suspected that had more to to with the sinister look on Coach’s face rather than any real fear that Jamie might be in danger (at least not until he showed up and had to deal with Coach anyway).

And then they heard about the car crash.

---

It was Sam who – always eager to play peacemaker, bless him – checked his phone to see if Jamie had left any messages in the group chat to explain his absence, and Sam who went very quiet and stared at his screen in silence for so long that everyone else fell silent too and turned to stare at him. Never a good sign, that sort of silence in the dressing room.

“Yo, bruv, he write something?” Isaac asked when it became apparent that Sam was not going to volunteer whatever information he had found.

“No, nothing,” Sam said. “But… “

“But fucking what?” Roy demanded, words sharp and jagged like broken glass.

“There’s been a car crash,” Sam’s voice was quiet and slow and reluctant. “A big one, not far from Jamie’s house. At least two people are dead, and several injured. It doesn’t say anything about Jamie,” he quickly added into the collective intake of horrified breath. “I’m sure he’s perfectly fine.”

“Yeah,” Thierry agreed quickly. “He probably just got delayed because it caused a traffic jam or something.”

Eager nods around room, and Colin found himself nodding along because of course that was the most reasonable explanation, of course Jamie hadn’t— he wasn’t—

“But then why didn’t he pick up his phone?” Bumbercatch asked. “Or call to say he’d be late?”

A relevant question, and as with most of Moe’s questions, without a ready answer.

“We would have heard, wouldn’t we?” Nate suggested uneasily. “I mean, they would have called, if— “

He didn’t finish the sentence. No one else spoke.

Trying to distract himself from the quickly growing pit in his stomach, Colin turned his gaze on Roy, who had gone so still that he didn’t even seem to be breathing. His face was a blank mask, utterly devoid of any emotion, but his fists were clenched so tight that Colin’s own hands twinged in sympathy.

“I’ll go talk to Higgins,” Beard said abruptly, breaking the fraught silence.

“Yeah, no, that’s a great idea,” Nate quickly chimed in. Like Colin, he’d been eyeing Roy nervously. “He’ll know what—“

The door slammed open. Jamie rushed inside. “Sorry, sorry I’m late,” he called as he dumped his bag on the bench by his cubby and started pulling his vest off, “been this massive car accident, was stuck for ages and then the road was closed off so I had to go round and— Eh?“

Cockburn, by virtue of being closest, had pulled Jamie into a tight hug, and the rest of the players immediately closed in to follow suit, Colin among them. In his relief he wasn’t sure whether to kiss Jamie or smack him on the head for worrying them, and in the end he settled for briefly squeezing his neck. Jamie grinned at him, at all of them, looking a little bemused but very much delighted by the attention.

“Fucking hell, lads,” he laughed. “Thought I’d be getting a fine, not a fucking group hug. Realized how dull training would be without me, huh?”

“You are getting a fine,” Isaac told him, even as he put his arm around Jamie’s shoulder and shook him gently. “But we’re fucking happy you’re here, yeah?”

“We thought you had died in the car crash,” Jan explained.

“Sí, amigo, we were so worried for you!”

“Oh! Yeah, no, I’m fine, I’m fine. Not fucking Colin, am I? I don’t get into any car crashes.” He caught Colin’s eye and winked, sticking his tongue out like the utter tosser he was and Colin rolled his eyes and was so, so stupidly happy the idiot was there to be annoying.

Eventually, after everyone had gotten to hug Jamie or pat him on the back or ruffle his hair (to his loud but clearly half-hearted protests), the team drifted back to their own cubbies, happily chatting amongst themselves—

— leaving Roy standing on the middle of the floor, staring at Jamie with a look on his face that had Colin take an involuntary step backwards. Their gaffer did not look relieved. In fact, he looked absolutely murderous.

“Why the fuck,” he intoned, emphasizing each word, “did you not fucking call to say you were fucking late? And why the fuck did you not answer your fucking phone?”

The tone of voice would have had anyone with even an ounce of self-preservation running for cover if directed at them, but Jamie just blinked. “Oh, er, left it at home, didn’t I? Already had it in me black bag, right, only I realized the tan one went better with this outfit so I grabbed that instead, but I forgot about the phone ‘cause I was in a bit of a rush, yeah?” He shrugged a little sheepishly. “It was stupid. Sorry about that.”

“Oh, you’re sorry about that, are you? Do you have any fucking idea—“ Taking a step closer, getting right up into Jamie’s face, Roy launched into a dressing-down of such volume and viciousness Colin was convinced it had the walls vibrating. Even by Roy Kent’s considerable standards, it was a lot and it lasted for well over a minute until Roy growled, “If you’re not out on the pitch running laps in two minutes you won’t have to worry about getting into any car crashes going home ‘cause you’ll be here all night, running ‘til you fucking drop in your own puke, got it?”

Initially, Jamie had seemed slightly taken aback by Roy’s furious remonstration, but then something that looked strangely like understanding passed over his face and he settled into a determined stoicism, neither talking back nor looking cowed. By the end of it, though, there was definitively barely suppressed anger glinting in his gray eyes, leaving Colin worried he might snap and then they’d have a full-on brawl on their hands, just like back in the bad old days when Roy and Jamie well and truly hated each others’ guts and wouldn’t that be exactly the sort of fun they all wanted on a Tuesday?

He gave a sigh of relief (and could hear Richard do the same just next to him) when Jamie just offered a curt, “yes, Coach,” and set to getting changed at an appropriately hurried speed.

“And fucking apologize to your teammates for delaying training!” Roy barked.

“We’d be out there already if you hadn’t spent the last hour shouting at me,” Jamie muttered to the boot he was tying.

“The fuck did you say?”

“Nothing, Coach. Sorry, everyone.” He looked up. “Really am,” he added, sounding quite sincere about it. “Didn’t mean to hold you up or, you know, worry you or nothing.”

---

Training was an awkward and quietly tense affair. Once Jamie had finished his laps and was allowed to join the rest of them, Roy pointedly and resolutely ignored him, refusing to so much as spare him a glance while the team muddled through the day’s exercises and scrimmage.

Jamie, for his part, seemed utterly determined not to give a shit. He went through the drills as diligently as ever, dribbled and passed and shot with his usual flair, shouting encouragements and slapping Colin’s butt after a particularly good free kick. For all intents and purposes, it was just another day at the job for Jamie Tartt – but Colin saw the looks he kept shooting Roy when he thought no one was watching, and he noticed how Jamie didn’t just play well but played brilliantly, stubbornly lining up one little footie miracle after another on the pitch. He wasn’t being a prick about it either, prompting Colin to mutter to Isaac: “Looks like Jamie’s trying to get back on Roy’s good side by going for player of the year.”

Isaac glanced over at Jamie, then shook his head in dismissal. “Nah, bruv,” he said. “He ain’t trying to appease the gaffer. Sticking it to him, innit.”

“Oh. Okay.” Colin frowned. That… didn’t make a lot of sense, really, but Isaac usually knew what he was talking about, and it wasn’t like Colin begrudged Jamie a little bit of pushback, not after the way Roy had chewed him out in front of everyone. It was just that, if this escalated and the two of them got into it properly, the way they used to back when Roy was still the captain rather than the coach… Well. It’d be a shit time for everyone. Colin could do without it. They could all do without it.

Not that that sort of consideration had ever stopped either Roy or Jamie before.

On the other side of the pitch, Jamie threw himself down in a bicycle kick that saw the ball soar right past two defender’s and Thierry’s outstretched hands.

“Whistle,” Roy snapped. “Training’s fucking over.”

---

“Oi! Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

Colin, with Dani, Jeff and Jamie in tow, had almost made it out of the dressing room, freshly showered and changed and very ready to put the training session behind them, when Roy’s bark brought them to abrupt heel. Dani stopped so suddenly that Jeff almost walked straight into him, and Colin himself accidentally elbowed Jamie when he startled at the sudden roar.

You’d think they’d be more than used to Roy’s yelling by now, Colin thought. Then again, he supposed it’d been a strange day and they were all a little on edge. Jumpy.

“We’re going to my place, Coach,” he quickly offered, hoping to stave off another round of shouting. “To play some FIFA.” He briefly considered inviting Roy to join them, it would only be polite, right, and could be good for morale maybe, but he was held back by the notion that the gaffer might say yes.

“Tartt isn’t,” Roy informed him curtly.

Jamie cocked his head to the side. “I’m not?” Definitively a hint of challenge in his tone, and Jesus, this was all going to go straight to hell, wasn’t it? And after they’d almost made it out of here, too.

Roy was unmoved; unyielding as stone. “No, you’re coming with me so I can keep an eye on you since you’re too much of a fucking child to be trusted on your own.”

For a moment, the two men simply stared at each other, both faces shadowed by stubborn scowls. Colin realized he was holding his breath, and glanced over at Isaac getting ready for dinner with his parents in front of the mirror to check if he, as captain, was maybe planning to step in and deescalate the situation. How he was going to do that Colin had no idea; he wasn’t the captain.

Isaac said nothing, though, just watched the exchange with an unreadable expression. Figures, Colin thought a little sourly; his friend was utter shit at keeping secrets but could pull inscrutable like nobody’s business when it suited him.

“Fine.” In the end, Jamie relented with an exaggerated sigh. “But I’m taking me own car, which I have, what with me not actually being in a car crash today and all.”

Roy looked furious at that, as if Jamie’s lack of fiery death in a burning inferno was somehow a personal insult to him, but then he pressed his lips together and jerked his head in a sharp t nod. “Fine.”

He spun around and stalked away, leaving Jamie rolling his eyes and muttering Jesus fucking Christ you overdramatic grumpy fuck under his breath. Then he turned to the rest of them and shrugged. “Sorry, lads. Another time, yeah?”

Dani made a small, unhappy sound. Colin exchanged a look with Jeff, who looked about as unsure and uncomfortable as Colin felt. Over on the other side of the room, Isaac was still quiet, potentially a sign to the others to keep out of it as well, but in spite of that Colin found himself compelled to ask: “Boyo, do you want us to… talk to Coach?”

It was a mildly terrifying idea, and it very much went against the unspoken agreement that nobody interfere with the continued absurdity that was Roy and Jamie’s relationship these days. But, today had been weird in a way that seemed to have little enough to do with training, extracurricular or otherwise. A particular kind of weird, even for these two. Besides, his whole idea of an impromptu game night had been, at least in part, a bid to cheer Jamie up after all that, and it seemed a shame that he’d miss it for more of the same.

Jamie, however, waved his hand dismissively. “Nah, mate, it’s fine.”

He looked like he meant it, too. There was a frown on his face, sure, but as far as Colin could tell it spoke more of mild annoyance than actual upset or worry.

“But forgetting your phone was a simple mistake, and it is not your fault you were late. It’s not right that Coach should keep punishing you for it.” Sam, who had declined FIFA in favour of being a responsible restaurant owner (“and bad fucking flirt, it’s been almost a year mate, why haven’t you asked her out yet?”), had walked over from his locker and was eyeing Jamie with customarily earnest concern.

Jamie just shrugged.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, and off their worried stares added, “He’s not going to do anything bad or anything. It’s just, I fucking scared him, right, and he’s being a twat about it ‘cause he’s an idiot who doesn’t know how to have feelings properly and he’s only been in therapy for like three months and it’ll probably take a year for anything Dr. Sharon says to go through his big stupid head, yeah? That’s all.”

Which. Okay. Colin could see how the prospect of Jamie actually dying might scare even Roy, but on the other hand… it was Roy. Roy Kent. And besides—

“I don’t know, man, he didn’t seem scared,” Jeff ventured.

“No, amigo, he seemed like he wanted to rip your head off,” Dani helpfully filled in. “And maybe use it as a football.”

“Yeah, because he’s a twat,” Jamie said. “But it’ll be fine, I promise. Probably just wants to make me dinner or something.”

Colin blinked. That… was a leap. Even by Jamie’s particular kind of logic, that was definitively a leap.

“He’s right.” Oh, so now Isaac decided to speak up. “Roy’s not mad at Jamie, he’s mad because he was frightened.”

Jamie raised his eyebrows meaningfully and pointed at their captain. “Yeah, that. So don’t worry.” Adjusting his cap he shot Colin a cheeky wink. “Whoever plays me better score a fuckton of goals tonight, yeah? See you tomorrow, lads.”

And he was out the door, fucking humming as he went. Doing that Jamie Tartt thing of untouchable and unshakeable confidence and you think you can get to me? Nothing ever gets to me and even now that Colin knew Jamie wasn’t quite as invulnerable as all that, some of the old awe and jealousy stirred, mixed with concerned incredulity.

“Is it just me,” he asked after a protracted moment, “or are those two getting even weirder?”

“It’s not just you,” Jeff muttered.

“Don’t worry, my friend,” Dani promised brightly, “I will play Richmond tonight and score a fuckton of goals and I will crush you for the sake of our amigo Jamie.”

Colin sighed. “Fantastic.”

At least he’d have the comfort of knowing that getting trashed by Dani Rojas was still far, far better than whatever cruel and unusual punishment Roy had planned for Jamie.

---

Jamie leaned back against Roy’s surprisingly comfortable couch and let out a small sigh of contentment. He wondered whether he ought to be still annoyed with Roy for being a massive wanker or pleased with himself for how utterly he’d called this. He settled for alternating between the two; he was complex like that. People didn’t know it, but he had depths.

Roy hadn’t tried to make him run a marathon or do a million burpees or whatever Colin and the rest had imagined. He hadn’t yelled. Hadn’t said much at all, really, since Jamie stepped through the front door without knocking; mostly he’d glared and grunted and used those funny little head jerks to communicate that Jamie should sit down and be quiet and drink the water Roy put in front of him.

Jamie had sat down and drunk the water. He had not been quiet. He’d watched the Spurs game on the telly last night and he had opinions relevant to their upcoming match against them, which by rights should interest the gaffer and if it didn’t, too fucking bad.

Roy hadn’t told him to shut up.

Instead, he’d made them dinner (fucking called it), a nutritionist approved salmon pasta with saffron and fennel that Jamie was particularly fond of, and then sent Jamie off to the couch while he did the washing up. He hadn’t said a word about Jamie’s choice of entertainment either, when he appeared a little while later with two steaming cups of tea and found the telly turned on to an old episode of Doctor Who. The show had been a staple of Jamie’s early teens and remained a nostalgic comfort; just a bit of silly fun, really, and so naturally something Roy fucking loathed, sad old fuck that he was.

Normally even the suggestion of watching it (or anything else even halfway interesting) would have been met with foul-mouthed refusal and something about Roy’s house, Roy’s rules, but tonight Roy just put the tea down wordlessly and sat down next to Jamie, as on the screen Martha, Jack and the Tenth Doctor (fittest of them all, although Jamie had a soft spot for Eleven) narrowly escaped an exploding flat.

Jamie smiled to himself. For all Roy was utter shit at saying stuff, he could be fucking transparent at times.

It had been dead obvious when Roy’s anger finally and fully faded, and guilt started trickling in to fill the void. It was right there in the way Roy went all the way quiet and started shooting him little looks out of the corner of his eye when he thought Jamie wouldn’t notice throughout dinner; there in the way he sat down far closer to Jamie than he normally would on the couch now, their legs all but touching.

It was as blatant an invitation as you could ever expect from Roy Kent, and tempting, but Jamie stubbornly held himself to himself, upright and with his arms crossed over his chest. Roy had been a right proper arsehole today and he hadn’t even said sorry so if he wanted a cuddle he could fucking ask for one, or he could wait until Jamie felt inclined to indulge him.

Eventually, though, after what Jamie deemed an appropriate amount of time (which may or may not have amounted to two whole minutes), he relented and allowed himself to lean against Roy, casual like, and tipping his head to rest Roy’s shoulder.

He smirked at how Roy not only failed to ask what the fuck he thought he was doing but also was very quick to put a tentative arm around his shoulders, the grip growing firmer when Jamie didn’t shrug him off or ask him what the fuck he thought he was doing.

For a while there was only that; the warmth of Roy’s body pressed into his; the sounds of the television. I love it when you say my name, the Master declared.

“I’m sorry about today,” Roy said suddenly. The words came haltingly, reluctantly. Still, he pressed on. “I … fucking overreacted.”

Jamie snorted. “Little bit, yeah.” Then he added, not bothering to conceal his smugness, “All the lads think you were dead mean to me.”

He glanced up at Roy who was determinedly staring at the telly while his eyebrows were doing something complicated and seemingly painful. “I think that… maybe… I got a bit… fucking worried, when we thought you’d been in that car crash.”

He offered like it was some great admission, a grand fucking reveal, and Jamie rolled his eyes. “Uh, yeah, mate, I know.”

Roy’s eyes snapped to his face at that, all disbelieving like, so Jamie rolled his eyes again, even harder. “Come on, man. Pretty obvious, that.”

For a long moment, Roy didn’t respond. He looked away from Jamie again. Then finally, “It wasn’t obvious to me.”

And the thing was, Roy sounded so fucking unhappy about it that Jamie clamped his mouth shut around a reflexive no, but you’re an idiot.

“Maybe something for Dr. Sharon, yeah,” he suggested instead, noting with some satisfaction that he was being really mature about all of this.

He’d have liked pointing that out to Roy, too, but had a feeling that maybe that would take away from the maturity a little. He’d mention it to Keeley later instead.

“Yeah,” Roy said after a moment of looking like he’d rather let Isaac kick a football straight at his head. “I’ll talk to her.”

“And maybe fucking apologize to my teammates for delaying training,” Jamie added innocently, feeling a smirk tug at his lips and then blossom into a full-fledged grin when Roy pulled back a little to stare at him, seemingly trying to gauge whether he was serious or not.

“You’re a prick,” Roy said eventually, relaxing again and sounding right fond about it.

“Mmmhm,” Jamie agreed happily, pulling his feet up on the couch and curling up closer to Roy. It was nice, this. Worth all that, maybe. “And here you are, fucking glad I’m not dead and all.”

Roy sighed. His arm around Jamie’s shoulder was warm and solid.

“Yeah,” he said, quietly enough that they might both pretend it wasn’t meant for Jamie’s ears at all. “I am.”

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cheesy09 · 6 months

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[CN] Kiro’s Habitat Date

🌸 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date that hasn't been released on the EN server yet! 🌸

Note: In order to fully enjoy and appreciate this date, please read the date's corresponding birthday prequel here. (And maybe even Fulfilling Date and its corresponding birthday prequel if you haven't already~)

MC: You’re saying that the boathouse won’t be able to make it to Loveland City today?

??: Sorry, but due to sudden bad weather and low visibility, the transport ship isn’t able to travel.

MC: But according to our agreement, the boathouse should have arrived a week ago, and you clearly stated a few days ago that it would be delayed until yesterday at the latest.

??: I’m truly sorry. The loss caused by the delayed will be compensated according to the contract.

MC: I’m not asking for compensation...

I took a deep breath with complicated emotions and spoke again with the last bit of hope.

MC: Anyway, the boathouse can’t be transported tonight, right?

??: Yes.

MC: ......

After confirming the final arrival time of the boathouse, I hung up the phone and stepped on the gas pedal with complete disappointment.

Kiro was currently directing a remake of a classic film, which coincidently coincided with his birthday. Considering the fact that he would be busy with filming, I had made a birthday plan for him one and a half month ago -

Smuggle Kiro’s boathouse from California to Loveland City, and pick him up from set to celebrate his birthday at the boathouse in the port after work ended.

Originally, the transport ship would have arrived in Loveland City a week ago, but the transportation process had been delayed again and again... and even today, it was still “on the way”.

Thinking back to how I mysteriously asked him to look forward to his birthday surprise tonight before he left for work this morning, I couldn’t help but sigh repeatedly, not wanting to lose the reigns on his birthday.

MC: I’ll have to make other arrangements...

I was thinking about which restaurant to book when the car’s phone rang again. I pressed answer and glanced at the name on the screen, and my nerves jumped.

Kiro: Beautiful lady who’s coming to visit the set~ have you set off yet? The crew’s about to take their lunch break.

The energetic voice immediately filled the entire vehicle, dispelling my bad mood a bit.

MC: I’ll be there in about ten minutes~

Kiro: Got’cha! Also, I want to tell you something--

Kiro: In order to reveal my evening birthday surprise earlier, my shooting today was very efficient.

My smile froze at the corner of my mouth for an instant, and when I hesitated to say something, I heard “Director Kiro” from the other end of the phone.

Kiro: I have to hang up first. Savin will pick you up at the entrance of the studio. See you!

The second after he hung up the phone, I let out a sigh of relief and secretly encouraged myself in my heart.

I’ve got to make a perfect remedy plan and not let him down!

[PART 2]

As soon as I arrived at the entrance of the studio, Savin greeted me.

Savin: MC, the crew’s birthday preparations are all ready. As expected of your ideas, the kid will definitely love it.

MC: That’s fine, but my surprise tonight has changed...

I forced a smile and complained to him about the boathouse transportation.

MC: I just booked a few restaurants for Plan B, and I’ll go check the restaurant layout in the afternoon. If Kiro asks at that time, I’ll have to trouble you to cover for me.

Savin agreed without hesitation, and I confirmed the restaurant reservations again before walking to the set.

The shooting location was located in a villa, and the spacious area was packed with filming equipment. Among the many figures, the eyes of Kiro, who was talking to others, met mine almost telepathically. His blue pupils lit up for a moment, and he glanced at his watch.

Kiro: It’s lunch break, let’s rest!

Seeing everyone leaving the room one after another, I deliberately cupped my fists and walked over with a smile.

MC: You’ve worked hard, Director Kiro.

Kiro followed my example and bowed.

Kiro: Not hard at all. Welcome, Big Producer, MC. Your presence here has filled this small studio with splendor.

MC: Pfft-

Seeing that I couldn’t help laughing, Kiro quietly grabbed my finger and squeezed it.

MC: This seems to be my first visit to “Director Kiro’s” class.

Kiro: Shall I show you around then? I promise there are many things you won’t see in other studios.

Seeing his high spirits, I clapped my hands and followed his footsteps.

MC: Then please lead the way, Director Kiro~

Kiro: ...This sandbag is our decompression artifact. We come her to ‘bangbang!’, throw punches when the pressure is too much.

Kiro: This is the ‘blind box’, which contains a lot of candies and notes with various small challenges, which is our favorite activity during the break!

Kiro: And this...

He gleefully introduced to me various novel things until he led me to an empty room.

Large tracts of sunlight passed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and spread on the wooden floor, making it appear bright and comfortable.

Kiro: This is the highlight of this "set tour" - the performance training room for the cast and crew.

MC: Are you still doing actor training on the set?

Seeing me slightly surprised, Kiro seemed a little proud.

Kiro: Most of the crew are new actors. Training on set can not only allow them to effectively enter the performance state, but also relax and adjust the state when tired.

Kiro: You must remember that no matter what kind of work you do, your good condition comes first.

MC: [grinning] Being a member of your crew must be nice--

I felt sincerely. I walked in curiously and looked around, and found that there was only one high-end speaker in the entire room.

MC: It's so empty here. What kind of training are you doing?

Kiro: Many, including body movements and lines. But the most popular one is the imagination and sensitivity training.

Kiro: Do you still remember that I like to let myself go and do various imaginings during dance practice? That's a habit I retained because of this training.

MC: So that's it~ I thought acting classes were just about acting non-stop. I didn't expect such training.

Seeing my look of interest, he blinked.

Kiro: Want to try it?

Kiro: But first of all, taking one of my classes is very expensive.

MC: [teasing smile] Can a hot pot meal afford Director Kiro's class?

Kiro: A kiss from MC is enough.

Kiro: Close your eyes, focus on your breathing. Inhale, exhale... You are now in darkness and can only feel your own existence.

Following his words, I felt my heart slowly calm down.

Kiro: ...You see a bright light at the end of the darkness. Through the bright light, you come to a lush forest with colorful flowers blooming on the roadside. The fragrance of flowers and the warm sunshine make you feel comfortable. You continue walking deep into the forest and see your favorite person.

The corners of my mouth turned up unconsciously and I pictured that familiar figure in my mind. The golden sunshine outlined his delicate face, and his clear blue eyes were filled with bright colors.

The eyes in the picture were slightly bent, but the voice in my ears suddenly became happy.

Kiro: Question! Who did you see in your mind?

MC: Eh? Is there also a Q&A session?

Kiro: Hehe, I really can't fool Miss Chips.

I opened my eyes and saw Kiro with a successful smirk on his face. Just as I was about to joke with him, there was a sudden polite knock on the door.

??: Director, please take a look at this long shot.

A staff member pushed open the door a crack with unconcealed anticipation on his face.

Kiro: Right now?

Kiro slowly stood up in confusion.

Kiro: Strange, why are you working during lunch break today?

Staff member: Well... you did it in the past.

The other party's hesitant attitude moved my heart. I secretly glanced at my phone, and sure enough, I saw the text message Savin sent a minute ago.

Savin: The birthday celebrations are ready.

Kiro: ...All right. Miss Chips, I'm going to take a look. Just wait for me.

MC: I'll go with you!

-{Cut to Studio}-

Without waiting for his reaction, I walked out of the room first and sat in front of the director's monitor as planned.

Kiro followed me with a face full of suspicion. When he saw everyone in the crew gathered there, he blinked even more doubtfully and slowly sat down next to me.

The black display screen in front of him immediately lit up, and a close-up of a cake appeared.

Then the scene gradually zoomed out, and a staff member entered the picture and made a big heart sign to the camera--

Staff member: Director Kiro, I wish you all the best~

Kiro's eyes immediately widened, and I continued to look at the screen with satisfaction.

The screen kept panning, and the crew members who came into the picture one after another performed cute poses and shouted their blessings to Kiro.

??: I wish Director Kiro will always be handsome!

??: Kiro, best wishes for you!

With a bright smile, I waited until the camera came in front of me and Kiro. I cleared my throat and solemnly turned to meet his eyes.

MC: Kiro, happy birthday!

[PART 3]

Kiro: I declare that this is the best gift I have received this year!

Kiro, after thanking everyone, he cut the cake and distributed it to the crew. When the crowd gradually dispersed, he stuffed a big mouthful of cake into my mouth while praising me.

Kiro: I can't even remember the last time I had a birthday on set. But what is certain is that this one is the most unforgettable one for me.

MC: So how did you celebrate your birthday on set?

Kiro: Just by eating cake and taking a photo~ After all, the crew had a packed schedule. Everything had to be kept simple, and occasionally, it'd even be missed.

MC: And the birthday?

The news that I saw on the internet the other day suddenly came to mind, and I nodded in understanding.

MC: I'll just say it. Some time ago, someone started spreading rumors online that you didn't celebrate your birthday on the set of "Three Kingdoms" because you were at odds with the crew.

Kiro: We were at odds??

Kiro opened his mouth wide, looking angry and dignified.

Kiro: The people on the "Three Kingdoms" crew were very kind to me! The seniors felt sorry for me for eating fat-reducing meals and often stuffed me with small deserts.

Kiro: And if they hadn't reminded me that day, I would have forgotten that I had a birthday. The director also gave me a special birthday gift.

MC: What did he give?

Kiro: I was still a newcomer at the time. After filming my scenes, I would go to a small corner where no one noticed and watch and learn. As a result, after I finished filming on my birthday, the director suddenly called me over--

Kiro crossed his legs and formed a deep "double eyelid" on his eyebrows.

Kiro: [In an exaggerated deep voice] "Is your life only about the studio?"

Kiro: "Don't hang around on the set, go celebrate your birthday. Eat a cake, make a wish, and meet your friends and family."

MC: So cool... so where did you go?

Kiro's expression paused almost imperceptibly, as if he went into a momentary trance.

The curve of his lips was still very moving, but his starry eyes flickered gently, as if he was quietly touching that past.

Then, he slowly leaned on my shoulder.

Kiro: I asked myself the same question at the time.

His eyes fell on the script in his hand, and his soft voice floated past my ears, like a cloud that didn't know its direction.

Kiro: I thought about it for a long time, but couldn't figure out the answer.

Kiro: So I just strolled along the street, passing by office buildings, parks, departments stores...

Kiro: Finally, I walked to a very busy street and sat down on a bench on the side of the road.

His tone became calmer and calmer, as if something very heavy had reappeared in its lightest form.

But my heart felt like it had been stabbed. At that time, Kiro had just returned to China, and as he was still unfamiliar with the place, he probably didn't have a lot of options to "have a good birthday".

I slipped my fingers between his and clasped his palm slowly and solemnly. Kiro raised his eyes and showed me a beautiful smile, as if relieved.

Kiro: I initially just wanted to take a break.

Kiro: But when I was sitting there, I saw many adults rushing back to their companies after eating, and children being picked up after school with big schoolbags on their backs...

Kiro: I watched them for a long time without realizing it.

No matter how relaxed his expression was, that lonely figure still appeared in front of me.

Unconsciously, there was a sourness at the tip of my nose. I shook his hand and deliberately relaxed my tone.

MC: Sounds like young Kiro was envious of how busy others were?

He also laughed when he heard this and nodded without concealment.

Kiro: I was very envious.

Kiro: I envied that they were spending another ordinary day, completing their menial tasks for the day in different places, and then going home to enjoy a warm meal.

Kiro: I was even more envious that they seemed to know exactly where they were going and what they were supposed to do.

He lowered his eyes again and his fine eyelashes cast a fine shadow on his cheeks, like an unsharpened blade, brushing across the tip of my heart.

Before I could say anything else, he had already raised his head and knitted his eyebrows together in an exaggerated manner, looking a little pitiful.

Kiro: Unlike me. I even took a sudden "short vacation" without a plan in mind, and could only eat the company's fat-reducing meals--

Kiro: Later, Savin found me and decided to give me a birthday present. I was even looking forward to a cake.

Kiro: As a result, that strict and stingy agent excused me on the grounds that I needed to control my weight while filming, and waited until filming was completed to treat me to a meal.

I was momentarily stunned and realized that he was deliberately trying to lighten the atmosphere, so I cooperated and helped him complain about Savin.

But after hearing Kiro's account of the past, an idea gradually emerged in my mind.

--Perhaps the best alternative was the birthday surprise I prepared for him this year.

[PART 4]

The lunch break ended quickly and Kiro got into shooting mode in full swing. While he wasn't paying attention, I quietly left the set.

When I returned, the entire sky was filled with darkness and there was a constant flow of traffic on the streets. It seemed that many people were rushing towards their homes.

There were only a few figures left in the villa, and everyone seemed to have called it a day. Kiro was sitting in a corner, looking at the script in his hand intently.

He raised his head when he heard the sound, and the moment he saw me, his shoulders slumped with a look of discontent on his face.

Kiro: Where have you been? Why didn't you answer the phone? Everyone's gone home. I've been waiting for you for a long time.

I walked up behind him and squeezed his shoulder.

MC: Sorry for the long wait. I had some things to deal with temporarily~

MC: As compensation for keeping you waiting, and as a reward for your hard work today, let me relieve your stress.

Kiro: Relieve my stress?

MC: That's right. Using the way you like~

I winked at him, took out my phone and clicked on a piano song, then reached out and gently touched his eyes.

MC: Now close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Inhale, exhale...

MC: You're in a colorful world, and besides yourself, you can also feel my presence.

Kiro: Pfft--

Kiro: This teacher isn't only suspected of selling what she has learned now, but is also a bit of an amateur.

MC: Don't question the teacher. This is my unique and innovative method.

MC: Anyway, please relax and give yourself to me wholeheartedly~

Kiro held back his laughter and cooperatively took deep breaths, gradually getting into it. I took his hand and walked cautiously towards the door.

MC: You and I are walking in a quiet alley.

MC: The sunshine now is warm and abundant, shining on the walls made of marshmallows, filling the alley with a sweet smell.

I led Kiro, who had his eyes tightly closed, all the way to the front of the car.

MC: We spotted a car parked at the end of the alley...

My brain suddenly shut down, and I couldn't speak any more.

Kiro: [smiling softly with eyes closed] A small car suspended in the air surrounded by stars?

MC: Yes, the star car.

I ignored the curvature of Kiro's mouth, slowly led him into the car and started the engine.

MC: Now we are going to take this star car and drive to a mysterious place.

MC: The sound of the giant trees swaying in the breeze drifts past our ears, and the clouds in the sky are also swaying. The distant horizon vaguely reveals a patchwork of valleys, and several white windmills are slowly turning their blades...

Along with the music, I work hard to weave every beautiful picture.

The starlight outside the car window flickered in front of me, but it seemed like I could really feel the gentleness of the sun. Sometimes I accidentally got stuck on my words, and Kiro would cooperate and pick up the next sentence without opening his eyes.

The vehicle drove around the corner and came to a familiar single-family house. After I parked the car, I helped Kiro down and walked to the door.

MC: I guess we've arrived at the terminal~

MC: To be precise, there is a door in front of you. The door is very ordinary, nothing special.

MC: But behind this door is my full heart for you... and an apology.

Kiro: Apology?

Seeing him tilting his head in confusion, I embarrassedly told him the entire story.

MC: There have been some changes in what I originally prepared for you, making it impossible for me to give it to you today.

MC: So I changed my plan and carefully prepared this surprised now. Hope it doesn't disappoint you.

After saying that, I took a deep breath, grabbed his hand and pushed open the door.

MC: Open your eyes now.

His long eyelashes fluttered and raised, and a warm courtyard was reflected in his clear eyes.

Large bouquets of colorful flowers were dotted on the grass in the garden, and a delicate and beautiful round table was clustered in the center.

The hot plate on the table was filled with a variety of dishes. The breeze spread the fragrance of rice, and the taste of happiness filled the entire courtyard.

MC: Welcome back to our home, Kiro.

Kiro: Did you... run home specially to make these for me in the afternoon?

He opened his eyes wide. There seemed to be stars dancing in his ocean-like eyes.

MC: I was a little pressed for time, so I don't know how it tastes~ And...

I opened the map on my phone and zoomed in on an area of the sea with my finger.

MC: The surprise I originally prepared for you is here - I transported your boathouse to Loveland City.

Kiro was stunned for a moment, then his eyebrows rose up high.

Kiro: You mean the boathouse in California?

I nodded and told him the story in detail.

MC: ...You're so busy now that you aren't even able to go to California even once a year. You probably miss it a lot.

MC: It's also very important to you. In addition to the meaning of home, it's more like an old friend from thousands of miles away. So I thought about bringing it back so that you could go to many places with it again.

Kiro: Miss Chips...

He suddenly hugged me in his arms and rubbed his fluffy blond hair against the crook of my neck.

Kiro: I've wanted to take the time to go to California with you to see it, but I couldn't find the right time.

Kiro: Thank you~ for bringing it to me.

He put slight distance between us and motioned to the food on the table with his eyes.

Kiro: What about these?

The lights in the courtyard fell on Kiro's eyes, reflecting my somewhat distressed and relieved expression.

MC: These... are actually my last minute ideas.

MC: When I heard what you said on set today, I felt very sad... and very regretful.

MC: I was thinking that, if I'd found you earlier, or been found by you, that Kiro wandering on the street wouldn't exist, right?

MC: Because he'd be like those children after school, knowing firmly where they should return to.

MC: So this meal isn't strictly a surprise.

MC: It's just a common meal that came late after many years.

I looked steadily at the quiet Kiro, his warm eyes tracing my brows, as if looking into the bottom of my heart.

Kiro: Miss Foolish Chips...

Kiro: I haven't finished what I said in the afternoon.

He sighed and put his arm around my shoulders again, the familiar warmth enveloping my entire body and filling my heart.

Kiro: In fact, after meeting you, I'm no longer hesitant.

Kiro: As long as you're always here, I'll be confident in whatever I do. This was also the reason why I chose the current script regardless of the controversy.

Kiro: I just simply wanted to do this, not caring about anyone else's opinions or evaluations.

Kiro: I don't need to prove to others that I'm a good actor or singer, nor do I need to find my own place and strive to be recognized by others.

Kiro: Because my place is right here.

Kiro: Right next to you.

Kiro: So don't feel bad or regretful. Today, I just want you to be happy.

MC: [blushing profusely] It's obviously your birthday, why do you want me to be happy?

I spoke sullenly in his arms, feeling a tremor in my skin touching his chest.

Kiro: My birthday is the oldest, so I have the final say.

Kiro: I want to give you half of every birthday blessing I receive today.

His deceitful tone was wrapped in a clear preference, which made me take a deep breath and stabilize my trembling heart.

MC: Okay, then we'll be happy together.

The breeze quietly picked up, making the bouquets of flowers and grass in the yard rustle.

That was also the voice in my heart.

Translation Masterlist: here

#mlqc #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc kiro #WHOLESOME 🥺💞

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thepaintedlady00 · 1 year

Text

Nightshade

Chapter 3: Trigger

Chapter 2 | Chapter 4

Sorry all for the delayed posting! Yesterday got insane and so I didn't get any time to edit and whatnot. I hope you all enjoy this new chapter! 🥰

TW: general stress, Simone is condescending as always, some not-so-fun glimpses into Lena's past, feelings of betrayal, confrontations, drinking, smoking, mentions of drugs, threats of violence (nothing graphic), panic attacks

"Get in here and give your aunt a hug."

Yeah. That happened. I took in a deep breath of Aunt Maddie's faint perfume. Light florals with hints of dirt and peony. The smell alone made me go stiff in her arms. This was definitely happening.

"What the fuck?" Sasha mumbled, eyes wide and mouth hung open, earning a glare from Howard and a slap to the arm from Ari. Everyone looked the same as he did, even those that hid it in well. Shit.

Maddie pulled back and smiled at me. "It's been a long time." With a soft sigh, she brushed the hair away from my face. "You look just like your mother when she was your age."

My hands clenched at my sides as I forced a smile on my face. "It's good to see you again, Aunt Maddie."

She looked around the room a bit, calculating but enjoying the anxious and scrambled reaction her surprise visit elicited. "I seem to have disrupted your service prep." She turned back to Howard. "Think there's still time for a quick tasting?"

I could hear Scotts quiet groan behind me as Howard nodded. "For you, of course, Chef."

"Excellent!" Maddie said, giving my cheek a light pinch. "Are you ready to show me what you've got?"

The sentence, and implications that came with it, was one I was well versed in. I knew it from the years I spent in Aunt Maddie's kitchen cooking beside her every holiday and visit, as well as the years of studying beneath her that followed once I was old enough. Plate after plate. Dish after dish. "Come on kid, show me what you've got." I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. "Of course, Chef."

She smiled even wider and looked past me. "Simone, care to show me to my table?"

The blonde woman looked far more unhappy than I'd ever seen as she nodded. Her lips were stuck into a thin line as the stiff and poorly contained anger simmered in her eyes. That calculating mind of hers was no doubt having a field day with all the newfound information my aunt's visit was giving her. I almost felt bad that I wouldn't likely be around to witness the blow-up she was no doubt about to have. "Of course."

They walked out together, talking about wine and Howard gave me a sympathetic look before following them. He'd been new at the time, but he'd seen enough to know how complicated my relationship was with my aunt. Everyone around me remained frozen. Were they judging me? Were they all carefully preparing what malicious words they spew my way? Was tonight the last night these people would see me as their friend?

It was Scott that broke the silence. "We've got a tasting and service to prep for. If you're not kitchen staff get the fuck out and do your jobs!"

I remained glued to where I stood as they slowly funneled out of the kitchen, either sparing me a look or not even looking at all. God damn it all.

A hand settled on my shoulder. Warm and familiar, Isaac, but I stepped away from it anyway, the scar burning beneath my clothes. He understood, dropping his hand and leaning to catch my eyes. "Are you gonna be okay?"

"Yeah," I answered. "I just…" I rubbed my shoulder, desperate to alleviate the uncomfortable sensation. "I just wasn't expecting that."

"I know."

Shaking my head I gestured to the stairs. "I'm gonna get dressed. Tell Scott not to start the tasting without me?"

Isaac looked worried, and maybe he had reason to be, but he nodded. "You got it."

The locker room felt like the only place with breathable air. I sat down on the couch and greedily sucked in everything I could of it. I don't care what they think of me, I reminded myself, smoothing my hands along the leather sleeves of my dad's jacket. All that matters is what I think of me. Following my normal routine I hung my jacket, tracing the letters for a short moment before buttoning up my shirt and pulling the cook's coat over it. All that matters is me.

I hurried down the stairs and stood in front of the kitchen with my back straight. "The kitchen is no place for soft people." Maddie's voice echoed in my ears. "Back straight, head high and get your shit together Lena."

Scott sighed when he saw me. “Fucking finally. I’m assuming you know what this shit show is all about?”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “Sorry about the unnecessary stress, Chef.”

“Maddie’s always stressful, but this… this is a whole new fucking thing.” He nodded to me. “So, what do we need to do?”

I smiled at him. “How would you feel about going off menu?”

His brows raised. “You serious?”

“Absolutely.”

“You know what she’s like when even the tiniest detail is changed right?”

“Yeah, I do.” I shrugged. “What do you say, Chef? Willing to trust me for an hour?”

Scott laughed quietly. “You’re crazy, but let's fucking do it.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll take lead. It should keep you off the chopping block when she inevitably has an issue.”

“You sure you want to take the heat?” He questioned. “I know Howard won’t fire my ass over a dash of salt, but you're still the newbie.”

Aunt Maddie wouldn’t fire me, but that certainly didn’t save me from whatever harsh punishment she’d dish out to send a message. “I’ll be fine Chef, I’m used to her moods.”

“Yeah, I guess you are, huh?” He noted working beside me as I got the image of what I was cooking in mind. “What’s the story behind that?”

“Save it for after service,” I reminded gathering the last of the ingredients together and smiling up at him. “You ready to get in trouble?”

Scott looked around the kitchen, “We ready?”

“Yes, Chef!”

I explained the dish quickly, everyone already knew exactly what was expected of them which made it easy for me to work beside Scott as we insured all the components of the dish were perfect. If we were going to break the sacred rules Aunt Maddie placed, we may as well do it right.

The dish I had in mind was simple, something we’d had on the menu for years but was rarely ordered anymore. I changed practically everything about it, elevating it to the new standards of the time but keeping enough components that it was still something she’d recognize. Simone stood in front of me as I plated the final product, the annoying feeling of her critical stare boring into the top of my head until I finally slid the plate toward her. “The chefs tasting.”

Her lips were pursed together as she took the plate. “This is… Interesting.”

Scott leaned back, watching the door with me while the rest of the kitchen prepared for tonight's service. “So what’s the point of this?

"Think of it like a game," I told him, my eyes still locked onto the doors.

"You ever win?"

"No."

“I don’t understand,” I said quietly, looking down at the plate of food Aunt Maddie shoveled into the garbage. “I did everything exactly like you did.”

She looked up at me and sighed. “That’s the problem, kid. I asked you to show me what YOU could do, not what I could do.”

That couldn’t be right. Aunt Maddie was strictly against anyone changing her dishes. “So, you want me to make something new?”

“I want you to showcase your talent. I want you to show me you understand the food.” She shook her head. “Maybe that’s just too much for you.”

“It’s not!” I insisted. “I can do it.”

I never did, at least not to her. The constant feeling of disappointment and failure was one of the many reasons I never finished studying under her. Howard entered gracefully, drawing in a deep breath before looking up and meeting my gaze. "You're off the line tonight. The owner suggested that you back wait at the bar." He looked at Scott. "She's cooking tonight. I trust you’ll be able to handle it."

Scott scoffed but nodded. "That'll be interesting."

"Best behavior everyone."

He nudged me. "You're off line? What the fuck does that mean?"

I shrugged my cook's coat off and sighed. "It means I win."

It didn’t feel as good as I’d wanted it to. There was no huge release of the weight that I’d been shouldering ever since I left her program. No feeling of accomplishment… there was practically nothing. I left my coat off to the side and walked out to the bar, moving behind it and jumping into work. Nicky looked over at me a smiled. “You out here tonight?”

“Looks like it.”

He nodded, refocusing on his task. “Well, hopefully, that means we’ll actually have the bar stocked tonight.”

I forced a smile. “I’m an excellent back waiter, Nic. You’ll have plenty of ice.”

Jake set the shot glass in front of me with a grin as I finished folding the napkins. “You look like you need it.”

“Thanks,” I said quietly, accepting the glass and downing the burning liquid inside quickly.

“So…”

“Save it for after service,” I reminded him, just as I did Scott.

“Do I need to save all my questions for later?”

I gave him a look. “Depends on the questions.”

He nodded, stacking a glass. “Why don’t we play twenty questions again?”

“Four.”

The sight of his wide smile made me feel a little more at ease, or maybe the shot was just starting to kick in. “That’s two more than last time.”

“Yeah, I’m in a generous mood today.”

“Alright,” he polished another glass as he thought. “Last night you said Leanin Lena was a boxing thing. Do you box?”

“Sometimes,” I answered. “I used to a lot, but just kind of stopped having time for it after a while.”

Jake nodded. “You any good?”

I smirked. “Is that your next question?”

“Again? Fine. You said you moved in with your dad and brother when you were fifteen. Where’d you live before?”

This question was one I’d always tread with caution. “A bit of everywhere. My mom traveled a lot for work and after my parents divorced she took me with her.”

“Where was your favorite?”

“Japan,” I replied with a smile. “Last question, better make it a good one.”

He nodded, looking very pleased with the answers I’d shared with him. “A good one, okay let’s see… Here’s one. How’d you get that scar on your shoulder?”

I froze entirely as my mind pulled up the faint smell of copper and distant shouting. “Ask something else.”

“What?”

“Ask something else,” I repeated coldly.

Whether or not he sensed the shift in the conversation or not didn’t matter, Jake thought for a minute longer before quietly asking, “What’s your favorite color?”

“Yellow.”

Service was quiet. Everyone was on their best behavior trying to avoid getting caught by the feared owner. This was the first time the restaurant felt as smothering as it had back in the day. The feeling didn’t lessen even after the guests had gone home and everyone began to filter out to the main room for drinks and answers. Aunt Maddie was still here, that was the reason all of them spoke softer and hadn’t touched any of the alcohol yet.

Howard exited the kitchen and stood beside the bar. “She wants to talk to you before she goes.”

“Wish me luck,” I grumbled as I passed him and walked into the kitchen.

She was sitting at the table, eating off a plate of leftovers or something she’d made to pass the time. “Sit down, I made enough for both of us.”

I pulled a chair up beside her and sat, quietly reaching over to take a piece of what she had. “It’s delicious.”

“A classic,” she replied. “One you’re no doubt familiar with by now.”

“I don’t think there’s a lot left I’m not familiar with.”

“You went off menu.”

There it is. "You told me to show you what I had, not what you did."

Aunt Maddie chuckled at the memory. "I guess I'm just… Disappointed. You had so much potential Lena, so much drive to be the best."

"People change."

"I didn't expect you to be the same little girl that cooked with me at Christmas, especially not after what happened. But this… This isn't you."

Isn’t me? I wanted to scream at her, wanted to tell her that she didn’t know me… that she hadn’t for a long while now. But over that anger was my old self, timid and desperate for the approval of my aunt and the woman who had been my mentor since before I could remember. “Like I said, people change.”

Aunt Maddie nodded, with a thin and sad smile. “I trust you’ll be sticking to the menu from here on out?”

That’s all? That’s all you have to say to me after all that? “Of course, Chef.”

She stood, raising her hand to hesitantly brush my hair behind my ear. “Take care of yourself, kid. The last thing I wanna do on my next visit is see you in the hospital again.”

“I’ll be fine, Aunt Maddie,” I assured her, holding in all the hateful words I wanted to spew at the mention of the painful memory. They weren't for her, not a lot of them at least.

And just as quickly as she’d come, Aunt Maddie was gone. The kitchen was quiet and the crowd of waiting co-workers outside the doors steadily grew louder once they’d felt comfortable that she wasn’t around to hear them. I finished the plate of food and washed the dish before heading upstairs to the locker room. If I was going to face everyone I wanted to do it looking like me.

“So, Lena Glover?”

I nearly groaned at the sound of Simone’s soft voice coming from the doorway. “I was never an official Glover.” I shoved my shirt into the locker and straightened the straps of my tank top.

She only hummed, clearly disinterested in the technical side. “Still, Maddie and I have known each other for a long time. I’m surprised you never came up.”

“Maybe you weren’t as close as you thought,” I replied harshly.

“I think it made her sad,” she responded. “It seems like the two of you were close once. Having you resent her so much now was probably a lot to handle.”

Taking a deep breath and trying my best to keep from lashing out I replied, “You don’t know anything about what happened.”

Simone stepped into the room, quietly changing her clothes. “She talked about you a lot today. You are right though, I don’t know what happened, but it’s obvious that she cares about you.”

If she cared about me she would have defended me… She would have looked past herself and seen what was going on right in front of her. She would have done something. I shook my head to keep the malicious voices from taking root. “Do you want something from me?”

“Of course not.” Simone sighed and stood next to me. “I just want you to know since it looks like you’re here to stay for a while, that I’m not your enemy. You and I got off to a rocky start, but I do truly believe we could be friends.”

I looked over my shoulder at her. “You want to be friends?”

“Is that such a ridiculous thing to want?” This sounded too familiar. Simone smiled, smoothing her hand over my hair and down the scar on my shoulder. “Maybe it’s the boxer mentality that makes you think I’m out to get you, but I want nothing but the best for you and this restaurant.”

Boxer mentality? I pulled my shoulder away from her and turned back to my locker to finish getting dressed. “I have nothing against you, Simone. I just know you and I aren’t compatible to be friends.”

She nodded. “If you insist. Have a good night, Lena.”

My mind was racing as I walked down the stairs and out to the crowd of people waiting for me. Sasha smiled, clapping his hands. “How kind of you to finally grace us with your presence, your Majesty!”

I shook my head, moving behind the bar and pouring myself a drink. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”

To my surprise everyone was quiet. Scott was the one that spoke first. “So, Maddie Glover, the owner is your aunt. I’m guessing that's where you learned most of the shit you know.”

“Spot on, Chef.”

“So, if you would have stayed with it you would have my job right now?”

I shrugged. “Probably.”

He nodded with a fraction of a smile. “Thank fuck you quit then.”

The chatter picked up a bit after that, but it was mostly jokes. They asked if I was rich and made disappointed noised when I said no, but then they went about the night as if nothing had happened. “That’s it?”

Ari smiled at me. “Yeah, that’s it.”

Sasha reached over and squeezed my hand. “Who gives a shit what your last name is? You’re still our sexy and fierce Tiger Bitch!”

Isaac wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Told you they wouldn’t give a shit.”

“Shut up,” I joked, pushing him.

Shift drinks went on as usual from there, everyone laughed and bitched about service and Maddie’s visit and then they all funneled out to head to Home Bar. Isaac stayed behind to put up all the chairs and make sure the linens got washed while Nicky, Jake, and I cleaned up the bar. Now that the majority of my stress was gone, Simone’s words in the locker room rattled around in my head as I put the glasses away.

“So, should I start calling you Glover now?” Jake teased giving me a sideways glance. Maybe another night I would have written it off as his normal jackass behavior, but his words mirrored Simone’s in a way that made it obvious I was right to be suspicious.

Simone had used information from last night to try and bring my guard down in the locker room, information only Jake could have given her. “No. I wasn’t ever an official Glover.”

His head tilted a bit as he wiped down the bar. “Why not?”

“Did you tell Simone about last night at The Ring?” I asked, brushing his prodding question aside.

“I probably mentioned it.” His demeanor barely shifted, no guilt or fear, just a plain look as if it were obvious that he’d tell her something like this. “Why was I not supposed to?”

Every inch of me was vibrating with everything the night had brought. Every inch of me wanted to lash out and tear him apart. “I just don’t see how that has anything to do with her.”

Jake shrugged. “I just figured she’d be able to help out is all.”

“Help with what?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Just kinda seemed like there was a lot of unresolved stuff there. Simone’s good with that kind of thing, she makes things like that better.”

Oh, I’m sure she does. I shook my head. “Look, I don’t know what your deal with her is and honestly I don’t care. Friends, siblings, lovers whatever, just keep my business out of it. If I need help I’d ask for it.”

He looked at me, light eyes filled with a sarcastic glimmer, and chuckled. “Are you mad at me?”

“Yes. Friends don't share each other's shit behind their backs.”

“Jesus, it was just an old boxing place.”

“I know it seems like nothing to you, but that old boxing place means a lot. It’s more than gloves and punching bags and sweaty guys Jake, and I trusted you with that piece of me. You. Not Sasha or Ari or Heather. And sure as fuck, not Simone. YOU.” The sarcasm vanished from his eyes, but what replaced it was something I couldn’t put my finger on. “I could have told you to go out front to smoke but I didn't. Hell, I could have let Dom's boys beat your ass. And you immediately went behind my back to share what you learned like it was some interesting shit you saw on the news. Either you're my friend or you're an idiotic little bird that tweets information in Simone's ear." I shook my head and grabbed my stuff, not bothering to wait for his shitty response. “Friends don’t do that.”

The banging on my bedroom door was what woke me from my deep sleep, but it was the two masses flopping down on top of my bed that made me open my eyes and glare at Prue and Quinn as they made themselves comfortable in my bed. “Good morning?”

“Good morning!” Quinn cheered, far too loudly.

“What the fuck are you two doing here at…” I checked my clock and groaned. “Eight.”

Prue sat up. “Isaac filled us in on what happened last night. So we figured you’d need you two badass bitches to help cheer you up!”

“I’m not upset,” I replied silently. It wasn’t a full lie, but that mattered very little when the two of them were concerned.

“Just shut up and come with us to breakfast!”

I looked between the two of them and sighed, sitting up. “Pancakes, mountains of bacon, and booze?”

Quinn nodded. “Plus a day of shopping and shit-talking.”

“I’m in.”

Prue squealed. “Go shower, I’ll pick out your outfit!”

“Nothing crazy!”

She crossed her finger over her heart and nodded, hopping over to my closet and rummaging through my clothes. Quinn waved me toward the bathroom. “Go, I’ll make sure she picks something good.”

Together my friends picked out a suitable outfit and walked a few blocks to the breakfast spot we always went to and sat down in our usual booth. They didn’t ask questions about last night, nor did they make comments about how I was still shaken by the whole thing. They knew me better than that and so they talked about anything and everything else.

Quinn went on about a few guys she’d gone on dates with a few weeks ago, while Prue prodded me for information on Will. “As much as I’d love to help you get into my co-worker's pants, I don’t know him that well.”

She whined. “Give me something Lena!”

“Why Will?” Quin signed with a shake of her head. “He looks vanilla as hell.”

“He looks like a total cutie!” Prue argued. “And I wanna jump on that massive d-”

I ran my hands down my face and groaned. “Oh my god, you two need to chill out!”

“Shut up!” Quinn kicked me from beneath the table. “Like you’re any better!”

“Don’t fuckin start with this!”

She threw herself dramatically back into the seat causing Prue to go into a fit of giggles. “He’s so tall!”

“Shut up!”

“That earring!” Prue joined in.

“The tattoos!”

“All that leather and those chains!”

I grabbed Prue’s hands and glared at Quinn. “You two are the worst.”

“Hey, you said it, not us.”

“I was drunk.”

Quinn smirked. “Doesn't mean you didn’t mean it.”

“We all know you get honest when you drink too much.”

I leaned back in my seat and rolled my eyes as our food came. “Fine. He’s hot. Sue me.”

“I don’t know why you don’t just sleep with him,” Quinn said as she drown her pancakes in syrup. “It’d be fun.”

“He looks like he’d be into some freaky shit.”

“I’m not having this conversation again,” I insisted. “He’s a co-worker and a massive asshole so I will not be sleeping with him.”

“Fine,” Quinn grumbled. “Leaves more time for me to talk about who I’m fucking.”

We spent the day walking around and occasionally trying on some clothes. It was nice, to have something else to do and think about instead of my Aunt or Simone, or Jake. When it got late we headed to the bar where we were met with a huge crowd of people and the bar practically smothered in bodies. I hurried over to help out while the girls did their best to keep people's spirits up. Ozzy sighed when he saw me. “Thank god you’re here!”

“What’s going on?” I asked grabbing a large tray of glasses.

“Ian’s late,” he answered. “Started fine but then we got hit with a wave of people. That friend of yours’ band is drawing in a crowd when they play!”

With me, Ozzy, and Max behind the bar the crowd slowly started to die down and people were finally back to their dancing and drunken rants. Quinn and Prue sat down on the stools and made light conversation with me while I worked. Quinn flirted with Max, as she always did, and Prue kept her eyes peeled for Will. Just as Ari’s band took the stage Sasha and the others filed in and shoved themselves into place by the bar. Prue smoothed her hair down and smiled at Will, doing her best to have a conversation with him with the limited knowledge of sign language he knew.

I smirked at the sight of Will’s blush as I moved in front of Sasha. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

“I would never miss my lovely Ari’s show!” Sahsa proclaimed loudly cheering for the girl.

“What can I get you guys to drink?”

Will was the only one that bothered to answer me as the rest of them pranced off toward the dancefloor. “Just beers. Thanks, Lena.”

Prue offered to help Will carry the drinks and find a table. She winked at me as the two of them disappeared into the crowd. I served the next line of drinks and then turned to find Jake leaning against the bar watching me. “Didn’t know you came with them.”

He shrugged. “You working?”

“Kind of, one of the bartenders was late so I jumped in to help.”

“Truly inspiring acts of kindness.”

Just as I was about to ask him what he wanted Ian slid behind the bar, hood up and face down. “Fucking finally! You’re two hours late Ian!”

“Sorry, Lena,” he mumbled quietly.

I grabbed his arm when he tried to move past me. “What’s going on?” When he finally looked up to reveal his face, beaten and bruised and covered in deep scratches I yanked his hood down and began looking over his head for any signs of injuries. “What happened?” I demanded, looking over Ian’s face gently.

“I got jumped in the alley last night. One of Dom's new guys thought I was causing trouble or something.”

I stood up straighter. “Which one?”

Ian shook his head. “It’s okay Lena, I’m alright.”

“Like hell you are,” Quinn said, leaning over to look at his face. “You’re gonna need at least three stitches.”

“Which one, Ian?”

He nodded toward the table Dom and the bikers usually sat at. “Red bandana.”

I looked over at Quinn. “You and Prue get him cleaned up.”

“On it!”

Knocking on Ozzy’s office door I hollered. “OZ, I need you to help Max cover the bar for a minute!”

Once I heard him respond I moved quickly, brushing past Jake and making my way toward the table of bikers. Isaac called out to me to wait and Patrick was on his feet in an instant. Grabbing their small tray of drinks I tipped it over right into the man in the red bandana's lap. He shot up. “What the hell?”

“Stay the fuck away from the bartenders.”

With a loud chuckle, he moved closer toward me, nostrils flaring and eyes wide. “I don’t take orders from little fucking cunts.”

I stood my ground, hands burning as I tightened them into fists. “Well if you want to keep your teeth I suggest you make an exception.”

Just as he took another step toward me, one that would have put us chest to chest Dom’s hand shot out and pushed against his chest. “That’s enough, Malcolm.”

“She’s the one you gotta tell,” he insisted. “Crazy cunt wants a fight.”

Patrick tapped my arm. “Come on Lena, let security handle this clown.”

"Put your bitch on a leash Dom or I'll do it for you,” I spat as I brushed past him.

Quinn cleared out a booth and shoved Ian into the seat, setting down the glass and filling it to the brim with tequila. “You’re gonna want to drink that.”

Prue had already donned the gloves from the first aid kit and was preparing everything she needed to take care of Ian’s injuries. Sasha blew his smoke toward me with a smile. “How glad I am to not be on the other side of the claws!”

“The night’s still young,” I replied, only half paying attention to him. Ozzy stood behind the bar, watching me with a careful gaze, one I usually saw right before he scolded me for being reckless. I got Prue’s attention with a gentle touch to her shoulder and signed, “You got this?”

“Of course I do,” she responded. “I am a professional.”

With the knowledge that Ian was safely in the hands of Quinn and Prue, I quickly excused myself to escape the overwhelming noise and Ozzy’s concerned gaze. The back hall that led to the bathrooms was always a bit crowded, but the noise was usually manageable. I just needed a minute, one quick minute to clear my head. Jake’s familiar voice called out down the hall, “Hey, you alright?”

I looked up to see him making his way through the mess of bodies, either sharing whatever drugs Dom had sold them or nearly tearing each other's clothes off. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t look like it,” he insisted.

“If I need your help, I’ll ask for it.” I reminded him coldly.

Jake shook his head. “Come on, Lena, I thought you wanted to be friends.”

Rolling my eyes I leaned back against the wall. “I don’t like people that gossip about my life.”

“It wasn’t gossip.”

“You were talking about me behind my back with someone I think I’ve made it pretty clear I don’t trust.” I shrugged. “That sounds an awful lot like gossip to me.”

“I know Simone comes off strong, but I think you’d like her if you gave her a chance.”

“I don’t need to give her a chance, I already know everything I need to.”

He looked upset at my response, more so at my implication that I didn't trust her, and shook his head in frustration, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag before speaking again, “Well, she's all I had for a long time. We tell each other everything.”

It was like talking to a wall. A really dumb, really pretty wall. “If you can’t keep my shit out of your little honesty pow-wows then just say it and move on Jake.”

"You don't get it," he said, blowing smoke out of the side of his mouth.

"Let me guess, no one does?" I finished with a scoff. "That might make a good argument against innocent little doe-eyed girls that don’t know better, but it won't cut it with me."

Jake scoffed a dark, venomous smirk spread on his lips. "You don't know anything about what we went through."

"Do you really think you're the only ones that got dealt a shitty hand?" I demanded all that rage, all that fire burning hot inside my lungs. "Cause newsflash you aren't." The floodgates opened in an instant, memories of all I'd endured… All I'd given… All I'd lost filled every inch of my being. "You weren't the only ones that got neglected or beaten or starved or that lost someone you loved. You weren't the only ones thrown off the deep end and told to sink or swim…" my voice faltered as tears stung my eyes. Jake's anger was gone, replaced by that hideous and all too familiar look. Pity. I shoved myself off the wall and pushed past him. "Go home, Jake."

His hand moved quickly, wrapping around my arm and causing a chill to run up my spine followed by the instinctual flinch I'd thought I put behind me. "Lena -"

I pulled my arm free and glared at him. "Go. Home."

Thankfully he didn't try to follow me as I made my way out the back door and across the dark alley. The Ring was quiet tonight, most of the regulars were at home sleeping to prepare for the coming fights. I moved to the back locker, dinged and dented and covered in old stickers and graffiti, and nearly ripped it open to grab the old boxing gloves with Dad and Peter's names sewn into the leather. I wrapped my hands tightly and shoved them into the gloves.

Chains created and groaned as my fists collided with the dense bag in front of me. Old faces blurred my vision. Pain ignited in my chest as my breaths grew uneven and my punches hit harder.

"Show me what you've got."

"So, Lena Glover?”

"I guess I'm just disappointed."

"Should I be calling you Glover now?"

"This isn't you."

"Come on little one! I don’t have all day!"

Two arms wrapped around me, pulling me gently back into the familiar smell of Patrick's cheap cologne and Irish whiskey. "Breathe Lena. You need to breathe."

I could feel the water pulling me down, could feel the cold biting at my limbs, and taste the bitterness of the water on my tongue. As my vision blurred more I could see the outline of the boat, and the figure that stood on it. "Sink or swim."

“Just breathe.”

Sink or swim.

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yarameijer · 1 year

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Hi again yara! Thank you so much for answering my question.If you don't mind.I have a headcanon that at one point,tenma would give up the Captain post,if not quit.I know we've seen an episode about his insecurities.I think after galaxy most of raimon would think that he got over it.but maybe something happens like underhanded comments from some people(a reporter,a teacher,some classmates,maybe the coach of a rival team).his doubt would continue to fester and increase till the trigger would finally seal the deal,maybe a teammate says something or someone he knows says something.either way his insecurities would be at maximum level already not only about being Captain but also about his soccer skills and he would decide to quit and think they would be better off without him.I know you've touched upon this in"over the edge"but i would like to hear more about it if you don't mind.

Sorry 😔if I'm asking too many questions,it just plagues my head,If you don't want to write a drabble, it's totally fine I promise,I know you're still recovering

Again,best wishes,and love from Hana

Hello again! Sorry for the delay in answer, I was busy studying for exams. First of all, don't apologize for sending asks, it's literally my favorite part of being on tumblr! It's so much fun to hear what people come up with and then create and share my own ideas about it... that being said, let's move on to your question!

The funny thing is, I actually had a very similar idea for the one-shot collection. I have the first part written out but I haven't really kept up with it, but I hope that I can finish it at some point.

The basic idea is that yes, Tenma didn't get over his insecurities yet - they'll always be a large part of his personality, even three years later in AR (except here they're not about his being captain but about other issues, because he's had time to come to terms with being captain).

The events of Chrono Stone went a long way in reassuring Tenma of his abilities as captain, and in the months between Chrono Stone and Galaxy, he worked on figuring out what kind of captain he wanted to be. He wasn't like Shindou - the one who always had a plan, who gained respect for his accomplishments and his ability to be calm and composed in the face of strife; or Taiyou - who, despite being a first-year, had been known as a prodigy for years by that point and could make or break his team's play. Tenma didn't see himself as a leader, as an outstanding player.

But when he was chosen as captain for Inazuma Japan, he felt confident in his empathy, his passion; he was the kind of captain to encourage others to bring out the best in themselves.

However, when the stakes went up in Galaxy - when the truth behind the tournament was revealed, when they became the Earth Eleven instead - Tenma, a young and inexperienced captain, was forced to lead a team to victory at all costs... or lose everything trying.

What inspired the idea for this one-shot was, actually, Shindou and Tsurugi in Galaxy. They were not as outspoken as they were in other seasons, and especially Shindou ended up disagreeing with Tenma on several occasions, while also pointing out what was at risk. Then Tsurugi reappeared playing for Faram Obius - and although he and Tenma worked it out, and now joke about it in AR, it did hurt Tenma at the time. Basically, they put a lot of pressure on Tenma’s shoulders and didn’t support him the same way they did earlier seasons.

When they return from space, when the summer holidays are over and school picks up... these issues go unaddressed. The tension that hung between Tenma and Shindou for so long, the consequences of Tsurugi's choices, and for months they pretend it's not there.

In the end, that changes.

Tenma getting comments from other people is an interesting take, one I might end up using in the actual one-shot. Perhaps people, instead of making underhanded comments, would instead praise him, put so much pressure on him that he bends and bends and breaks.

He's tired of ignoring the unspoken issues in the team, of pretending that they didn't make the choices they did. Of pretending those choices didn't hurt one another. And as the weeks pass, he starts closing himself off, and the team notices; and eventually, just before the Christmas holidays start, he snaps.

Whether he quits the team... we shall see. What I can tell you is that it's the worst fight Raimon has seen so far, and it ends with the entire team at odds in the last few days before the holidays start. Unfortunately, they are all too stubborn for their own good and none of them know how to start the conversation - because no one really knows what's wrong. Tenma lashed out and neither Shindou nor Tsurugi fully understand why. The rest of Raimon isn't exactly aware of all the details of what happened in space. Everyone hates that they're fighting... but they don't really know what to do about it. What they do know, however, is that it's up to Tenma, Tsurugi and Shindou to work it out.

Which is a bit hard when Tenma suddenly decides to pack his bags and go to Okinawa for two weeks without telling anyone.

That's all I will tell you about the details! I hope this answered some of your questions - this one-shot will be less action and more of an introspection into the relationship of the GO Raimon trio, together with some (a lot) of my headcanons on their personal issues. Unfortunately I can't say when it'll be done, but I hope that you'll enjoy it when the time comes!

#inazuma eleven #inazuma eleven go #ina11 #ie11 #ie go #matsukaze tenma #shindou takuto #tsurugi kyousuke #raimon #raimon trio #fanfic #accidental reverse ask #i love them your honor #i have so many headcanons #one shot #angst but when do i write anything different #accidental reverse

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cerealmonster15 · 2 years

Note

8 with kalim/silver for the kiss writing prompts thing?

YEAHHHHHHH [from this prompt list, if anyone wants to send more in!]

I decided to post it to Ao3 as well :3

Silver stood at the entrance to the courtyard, hands hanging stiffly by his side. He gazed ahead, where he spotted Kalim sitting cheerfully on a bench underneath a grand oak tree.

Kalim’s smile, as always, was outshining the sun itself, even on a cloudless day such as today.

Silver took a deep breath, willing himself to walk forward and approach his objective.

“Hello, Kalim,” he said as he approached. “I’m sorry for the delay. Have you been waiting long?”

“Oh, hi Silver!” Kalim somehow managed to smile even brighter the moment he locked eyes with Silver, and stood up to greet him with a hug. “Don’t worry, I just got here a few minutes ago.”

Silver felt his heart pounding in his chest.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” Kalim asked, eyes brimming with curiosity.

It was now or never…

“Right. I wanted to ask you about the upcoming dance our school is holding,” Silver replied, crossing his arms in an attempt to suppress his nerves. “I was wondering… Are you going with anyone?”

“Oh, right, the dance! I’m so excited!” Kalim bounced on the balls of his feet excitedly as he talked.

He looked so, so cute. Silver couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“I’m going with Jamil!”

…Ah.

“Oh, I see…” Silver responded neutrally. Really, he felt that he should’ve expected that answer, but what was he supposed to say now? “So, he asked you, then?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that, exactly. He’s being so serious about it!” Kalim let out an exaggerated sigh. “He said a crowded event like this is one where he has to work the hardest to keep an eye on me and make sure nothing bad happens.”

Oh. So this wasn’t so much a date to Jamil as it was… a task?

Kalim’s eyes dropped sadly to the ground. “I just wish he could relax, y’know? I mean, don’t get me wrong- Jamil is my best friend, and I’m always so happy to spend time with him! But, as his best friend, I want him to relax and have fun at school events, too! I don’t want him to have to hold back on spending time with someone he might really like, just because he feels like he has to do a job.”

The somber tone in Kalim’s voice made Silver’s heart threaten to break.

Kalim looked back up into Silver’s eyes. “Oh, wait, you and Sebek are probably gonna have to be looking out for Malleus, too, right? What if we all hung out together at the dance!? Then it wouldn’t feel so much like work, if we’re all together as a group!”

The excited flame was back in Kalim’s spirit as quickly as it had gone. He really was the most cheerful guy Silver knew.

“That was the initial plan, yes,” Silver said. “But both Malleus and Fa- Lilia insisted that we should relax more, and that it would be just as fine to socialize with the rest of our peers, so long as we are all at the same event together.”

Kalim smiled. “That’s great! Maaan, I wish Jamil would relax more like Lilia. I’m always fine when I’m surrounded by trusted friends like you, Silver!”

The pounding in Silver’s chest returned.

“...Kalim,” he said softly. “I have a request for you that I think might solve this problem.”

“Really!?” Kalim asked excitedly. “What is it?”

Silver took in yet another deep breath, and reached out to take Kalim’s hands in his. “Jamil doesn’t have to worry about you as long as you’re under watch of somebody trustworthy, correct?”

“Oh! Um,” Kalim glanced down at their hands, then back up at Silver. “Yeah, that would make sense!”

“Then, would you allow me to take you, instead?” Silver asked, a rush of emotions bubbling up inside as the words left his mouth, yet not daring to display on his face. “We can talk to Jamil. I’m used to guarding Malleus, so I have no doubt that I can apply those same skills to watching over you, too. That way Jamil can relax for a night, too.”

“Oh, Silver, that’s a great idea!” Kalim looked elated, for a second, before furrowing his eyebrows with concern. “Oh, wait, but then you wouldn’t get to relax, either, if you had to keep watch of me, instead…”

“Yes I would,” Silver said hurriedly, his cheeks growing pink on his otherwise stoic face. “I actually asked you to meet me out here for that very reason.”

Kalim tilted his head in confusion. “You called me out here because you wanted to ask me if you could be my guard at the dance?”

“N-no, um…” He shyly averted his gaze for a moment, “I wanted to ask you… as my date.”

Kalim gasped gently, his eyes growing wide. He looked down again at their hands, still clasped together. “Wh- Really!? You wanted to go with me anyway?!”

“Yes.” Silver looked back into Kalim’s bright, shining eyes. “Kalim, you’re the kindest and most genuine person I’ve ever met. I really like you, and…” He brought one of Kalim’s hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the back. “Nothing would make me happier than to spend the whole night at the dance by your side.”

“Silver…” Kalim’s bright eyes immediately filled with tears, as he broke out into the biggest smile yet, and lunged forward to throw his arms around Silver’s shoulders. “That’s so sweet! You’re so sweet! Of course I’ll go with you!” He cried, gleefully bouncing in place as he maintained his hug.

Silver let out a breath of relief, a smile forming on his face as he wrapped his arms around Kalim’s waist to return the hug.

#twisted wonderland #twst silver #kalim al asim #silkali #or w/e their ship name is idk lol #sorry for any typos i missed #this was a sit and write in one sitting kind of thing kdfljskl #cereal writes #THANK YOU FOR THE PROMPT I HAD FUN

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mcrmadness · 2 years

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About that controversial music opinions post. What is it about rap that makes you write it off as a genre entirely and not even classify it as music. Like i get not liking it,but no one can really solidly define what is and isnt music. Like whats your criteria for "real music"? (not being argumentative just wondering because i see people say that a lot)

Hi and sorry for the delay, executive dysfunction got out of hands again lol

My answer to this is probably very boring one: I just grew up in a house where my dad did and still does actively hate rap, and always has kept saying that it is not music. So I kinda picked that up from him.

Then to my own thoughts: I said so because the post was about controversial music opinions, and sometimes I still think that way but I try not to shout it too much because I know I have loads of people to disagree with me :D But it's again just opinions, not facts.

But yeah, mainly it's just my dislike towards the rap "singing", which I again wouldn't call singing when it's more like. Talking. I'm just all about melodies, and I cannot enjoy something when it lacks the melody. Sometimes rap for me is like... why don't they go to stages to read poems out loud, why do they have to have some very repetitive annoying beat at the background to go together with it? That's also another reason why I don't like rap, because the so-called music there is often very very repetitive and often computer generated. I have no idea how much work they maybe put in the songs, maybe some actually work really hard and I just don't know it. But most of what I have heard, it all just sounds the same to me. And annoying.

(A little bit) more under the cut if you're interested in hearing more of my thoughts:

Still, I'm not someone to hate on others just because, so sometimes there are artists (not just rap, but of just any genre) whose music just is not my cup of tea, but I still notice their skills and have respect for them. As a kid, I often hung out with my cousin who got into rap and still is a fan of some artists/groups, and we often listened to certain rap artists with her. Somehow I still never got into rap despite all this... but anyway, that was the early 2000s and Eminem was a huge name back then. I've never liked his songs either because, simply, I just don't like rap, but he's one of those people I mentioned in this part of text: I might not like nor listen to his music, but I've heard enough of him (thanks to my cousin who's still a fan) to respect him and his work.

This same goes to all music actually. I'm so picky with music that I could write the same thing about e.g. pop music too. Just no my cup of tea and so many aspects that annoy me, but some artists have talent and skills and it's unfortunate that they just happen to like the kind of music what I don't like :D

#krankes-gehirn #answered asks

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marmixedwithabitofintellect · 2 years

Text

The Story of You

I am very sorry for the delay but here is the very much awaited Part 4! Things are starting to get interesting and if you get distracted you might miss them...

Come chat with me about your thoughts! All the love, Mar

Disclaimer: In no way do I wish to spread hate or negative opinions about any of the characters here depicted, this is just fiction and with the purpose of entertaining you guys

Part 4: Yearning

May 29, 2021: Twelve Weeks

Harry. Cheshire, England. 1:12 Am

I sighed after reading the message, I knew this couldn’t wait until the morning or else I wouldn’t be able to sleep, I checked the time in LA, it was around 5 back there, so she was probably home. I grabbed a jacket and put on my slippers before going downstairs.

I shot her a text to ask if she could talk now and as I was waiting for her reply, I decided to make myself a cuppa and grabbed a blanket, although it was still warm outside nights brought an uncomfortable chill with them.

I settled on the bench mom had in the corner of her garden and took a deep breath before dialing her number, it rang three times before she answered, “Hold on a second”, she must have blocked the microphone because I can hear her muffled voice telling the kids that she is busy and to go look for Babs, I then hear a door close and a sliding door open and close, she must have sat on the balcony couch.

“Hello love”, “Oh, now I am love? Are you serious Harry? What’s going on? You spent about two extra weeks in New York and then simply let me know that your plans changed, and you will leave earlier to England and today she posts that photo, and your mom, sister and you comment that, what is happening?”, I can hear the anxiety induced tears in her voice but know that she won’t let them come, just as I was about to speak she whispers “Please tell me it is not what I think”.

I feel tears come to my eyes and take a deep shuddering breath “I’m sorry”, I sniffle, the line is so quiet I’m afraid she hung up, I decide to break it by saying “Please say something”, then the unexpected happened, she starts crying. I feel tears begin to fall while she cries, the guilt on my chest is killing me but I don’t know what to say, “Liv I-, I’m so sorry, I really don’t know what else to say”.

“When?”, “March, we met by chance in LA, the night when we were fighting about…”, “Are you sure its yours?”, “Yes, we did the paternity test a week ago, got the results the next day, baby is definitely mine”, “Are they okay?”, I smiled a little, “Yes, everything is great, growing as they should”, “Good, that’s good”.

“Listen, I know this is a lot to take in, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I was really trying to understand everything, because even if it doesn’t seem that way, I am scared Liv; I’ve never been so scared of anything”, “I know, thank you for telling me, however this does not mean that I am not hurt or upset Harry”, “I know”.

“Liv are we good?”, her silence is deafening, my hands are sweating, and I my heart is beating really fast. After a few seconds, which felt like hours for me I hear her sigh and say in a whisper “I don’t know Harry, I really don’t know”.

We hung up the phone and I went inside, I washed my cup and went to bed, I was feeling drained but just before I drifted to sleep, I texted Jeff and asked him to send a couple of flower arrangements to Olivia with the note I attached.

June 3, 2021: Week Thirteen

New York City, New York. 9:00 Am

Good morning baby! How are you today? I am sorry, mamma slacked last week but you were killing me with the morning sickness bub, but hey if that means that you are healthy, I’ll take it any day. Today you are thirteen weeks! This means we are already a little over a fourth of the way through this journey, yay!!! Last week we had an appointment and daddy was able to meet you, he was crying tears of joy and couldn’t believe how big you already are! Daddy is currently in Europe working on filming a movie, but he has been texting me and asking about how you are (and how I am). We finally told the world about you lovie, everyone is really happy and excited to meet you, especially your Nana Anne and Auntie Gem and I feel that this is the perfect moment to write about them!

Your Nana Anne is daddy’s mum, she lives in England and has many cats, I’m sure you will be happy to play with them, she loves to knit (I’m pretty sure she will knit you anything you ask) and is very passionate in bringing awareness to causes close to her heart, she will be so happy to tell you everything about them. As for your Auntie Gem, she is my best friend, she is the better Styles but don’t tell that to your daddy. She works as an influencer, has a podcast, a blog, and her own sunglass line, she is the coolest person in the Planet, after me of course, I’m sure she’ll be your sidekick in many adventures to come.

I am hoping that we may be able to see each other soon, but this crazy world we’re living in has us stranded in different sides of the world. But that doesn’t mean they don’t love you bubby, they love you so so much already. I promise to keep up with my writing baby, I love you so much.

After writing I closed my notebook and went to have breakfast, I am so glad that the aversions are finally letting on and that I am able to eat whatever I want, which in this moment was some waffles.

After breakfast I got ready and started working, surprisingly I finished early and decided to take a walk around the neighborhood, the weather was nice, and I desperately needed some fresh air. There has been a though bugging me since I found out I am pregnant, and I decided to check in with Harry to ask him.

To H. Styles (4:34 PM): Hi, how are you? I hope shooting is going well. I wanted to ask you if you would mind me reaching out to Olivia and apologizing; after all this is a two people thing and I am as responsible for this as you are.

From H. Styles (4:36 PM): Hi! Shooting is going well, how are you? Any changes? Regarding Olivia, if you feel comfortable doing so, I won’t be opposed, not gonna lie, things between us are not good right now, so the only thing that worries me is if she thinks I sent you.

To H. Styles (4:38 PM): Everything is going well, no changes since you last saw them. I’m sorry to hear that, I promise I won’t mention her that we spoke, but I did want to let you know.

From H. Styles (4:39 PM): Thank you, it means a lot to me.

I decided I had enough sunshine for today and I walked home but stopped to get some dinner, I really wanted sushi, but I wasn’t allowed to have it right now, so I settled for Chinese. I arrived home and I decided that I was time to let my parents know.

I am surprised that they hadn’t already called me after the post, but then again, they don’t have social media and my siblings agreed to keep the secret. After my mom answered that they were available I took a deep breath before calling her, I knew that seeing her through Facetime would be a lot.

“Hi mom, how are you?”, “Hi darling, we are well how are you? I’m surprised that you called”, “Yeah sorry about that, it has been a few rough weeks”, “Oh really? And what could be so rough that you didn’t call for three weeks huh? We don’t ask much of you”, “I’m pregnant”, the line went quiet, the only thing I could hear were my breaths and my mom’s breaths.

“Mom?”, “Is it his?”, his as in Harry’s, it was no secret they were not the biggest Harry fans from the beginning of our relationship and had made nonstop comments on our break up, “Yes”, I heard her sigh and my dad come into the call, “Hello honey, how are you?”, “Pregnant, that’s how she is”, my mom answered bitterly, my dad laughed “Bear, what a funny joke”, “Daddy, it’s not a joke”.

“Honey, what happened?”, I started crying, “I don’t know daddy, I was in LA for some job meetings and decided to stay the week, I met him by chance, we went for dinner, and I’ll spare you the details, but he knows and has been really present all throughout”, “Oh baby, so you are back together then?”, my stomach dropped, “Uhm no, he is still with Olivia”, “WHAT?”, I had to remove the phone from my ear with the scream my mom gave, “So you are the other woman?”

“No mom, I am not the other woman, we are trying to figure everything out”, “Yeah, until he abandons you, how could you be so reckless? And worse of all, a cheater”, ouch, my mom knew how to touch nerves, “It’s not like that”, my dad had remained quiet, and I never expected him to say, “I’m sorry Y/N but your mom is right”, “What? Daddy-“, “No, I’m sorry but this has crossed a line; you knew he was dating someone, and you still chose to have sex with him, so now you will have to live with the consequences”, “What do you mean?”, “We will not condole or tolerate things like this, so I am asking you to please refrain from contacting us”

My heart dropped, “Daddy you don’t mean that”, “Yes, we do, I hope you learn from your mistakes and choices”, and they hung up the phone; the first ten minutes I was in total denial, my parents couldn’t have really meant that could they? I decided to call them again, and that’s when I knew: they meant it, I was sent straight to voicemail, and when I tried the third time it wouldn’t even go through.

I was panicking, my whole life was falling right in front of my eyes, and I felt like I couldn’t do anything about it, but why? Why did they abandon me? I felt like I was running out of breath and like throwing up at any given moment, I ran as fast as I could to the bathroom and hovered over the toilet for a few moments.

After the nausea passed, I was able to leave the bathroom, I sat down on the couch and grabbed my phone, I was starting to dial Harry’s number, but I decided against it, it didn’t feel right after what my parents told me.

As if someone was listening to my thoughts I got a call, I looked to see who it was and was very surprised to see Sarah’s name, we were really good friends while I dated Harry and was one of the people who I was so sad to let go when we broke up. I answered the phone.

“Miss Sarah Jones, what a pleasant surprise, how are you?”, “Hi lovely! I’ve missed you, how have you been?”, “I’m okay thank you, how about you mama? Ready to pop”, she laughed “Not quite but getting there, little baby is getting excited to come out; speaking of… congratulations to you too mama!”

I smiled, “Thank you, still feels like a dream you know?”, “I do honey, it was like that for me, I mean it had already like sunk in when we heard the heartbeat and had our ultrasounds but when I popped it was like a revelation moment. But really, how are you? You know we are friends with you too”

I started crying when I heard her say that, if there was something I was grateful for it was the friends I made while dating him, and the fact that they considered me their friend and not just a friend because I was a lover, “Uhm, I don’t know where to begin, I mean, my life did take a 360 in two months, I feel like the most stupid person for even agreeing to go with him to dinner and even worse to have agreed to go home with him, for not being able to give my baby a traditional family, oh and my parents basically disowned me and told me to not contact them again”

“Why me Sarah? I was doing just fine, I was starting to get my life back and finding some normalcy, especially after trying to accept and cope with the fact that he was moving on so quickly”, I sobbed for a few more seconds “I’m sorry, that was a lot”, we both laughed a little bit.

“I really want to go to New York and hug you honey, first and foremost, please for the love of God if you ever feel this way again, call me, text me, facetime me I don’t care, I don’t want for you to feel like this, I know that timing was not perfect, but what I’ve learned is that even if we don’t think so, timing is perfect, and that little baby has a reason to be here lovie”

“As for a ‘traditional family’, that is not how family is defined, what matters the most is that this baby is already loved and cared and cherished by a whole lot of people, he or she will never question if mom or dad loves them more or why are you not together, because you and H are two of the purest, most wonderful human beings there are on the planet”

“Thank you, Sarah, I really mean it, I am so sorry I cut ties with you guys, I won’t do that again”, “You better not, we are belly buddies now, I love you Y/N, you are not alone”, “I love you more, please say hi to Mitch for me”, Will do love”

I hung up with a lighter heart and a newfound sense of gratitude for every person I have met.

June 6, 2021: Week Thirteen

New York City, New York. 15:34 PM

To Olivia Wilde (13:31 PM): Hi Olivia, I know I am probably the last person you wish to speak to, but it would mean a lot to me if we could talk?

From Olivia Wilde (14:05 PM): Hi, it’s okay, maybe we could talk later, like 4 your time? Kids will still be in school.

I was shaking as I continued watching the clock tick, I knew this had to be done but it didn’t mean it was easy. I thought back to the day I met Olivia, it was late, and they had just finished filming so Harry texted me if I wanted to go to dinner with them, I couldn’t say no

I am not going to say that were the best of friends, but we had a cordial relationship, I was closer with Florence (who by the way was very open on expressing her feelings towards Harry and Olivia after the breakup) but she was nice whenever I visited set, or we met for a social gathering.

A buzz pulled me out of my thoughts, and I took a deep breath before answering, “Hello?”, “Hey, uhm its Olivia, sorry dumb comment you must have caller ID”, “Hey, how are you? Not dumb at all, better to be sure”, “I am well, how about you”, “I’m taking it day by day”, there was an uncomfortable silence for a few moments before I decided to talk, “Olivia, I’m so sorry”, “No Y/N-“, “Please let me say what I need to say, because it has been giving me so much anxiety”, I took her silence as a cue to continue.

“I am really sorry, and there is no excuse for what happened, and I feel so guilty because you don’t deserve this, and I’m mad because I have caused trouble between you and Harry when the only thing, I ever wanted for you guys was to be happy together. It would be easy for me to say that it was his fault, but I know that I have half of the responsibility here and I needed to tell you this and to also ask you to please don’t overthink things, it was a drunk mistake that shouldn’t have happened, but I won’t be a liar and tell you that I am not happy that it did, because I am happy to have a baby, because I know that this baby already is the love of and my life and I can’t wait to meet him or her”

“Y/N, I am not angry, well not with you at least, I want to thank you for reaching out, it really means a lot to me, especially because I was nervous that you had reached out because he had asked you, but you just showed me that you are the bigger person on this situation just please, do me a favor?”

“Sure”, “Please don’t break his heart, he is just as excited for this, but very nervous nonetheless”, “I promise you that I won’t break his heart”.

We hung up and I decided to shoot a text to Harry before going to bed, this phone call left me drained.

To H. Styles (6:47 PM): We talked, everything is good.

June 12, 2021: Week Fourteen

New York City, New York. 9:30 Am

I had just returned from the Farmer’s Market when I got a text from Gemma, and I was thankful I had left my shopping in the table because it would have probably ended on the floor.

From Gemma Styles (9:35 AM): Hey stranger, you up for a FaceTime call? Mom and I would love to see you.

From Gemma Styles (9:36 AM): Hi! Yes! Just give me a couple of minutes.

I went to my room to get my laptop and charger and fixed myself a glass of water and grabbed an apple before settling down on the couch and dialing Gem, it rang three times before she answered, and I felt tears brought to my eyes when I saw her and Anne smiling at me.

“Oh honey! Hi! You’re glowing!”, “Damn sis, pregnancy has done you good huh?”, I laughed a little, “Hello to you too, you are both the sweetest because I am definitely feeling unattractive and sick”, we all shared a laugh; God how I have missed them.

“I guess some congrats Nana Anne and Auntie Gem are in order huh?”, I saw Anne tear up, “Oh lovie, I want to hug you so bad, I am so so happy for you and Harry”, “Just wanted to let you know that I will corrupt your child”, “Gemma!”, we laughed as Anne hit her in the arm, “But, in all seriousness, how are we doing? In all aspects darling and don’t you dare lie because I will figure out.

“I am okay, morning sickness is getting better, belly is still to pop but I think it will be soon judging from the ligament pain I’ve had; I am in a better headspace now and I am so excited to meet this baby, to kiss his or her cheeks and to do everything”, I was tearing up.

“We are so happy to hear that, I know pregnancy is hard, but it will be so worthy; I will send you some advice by message, after all I was also pregnant with a Styles baby”, “Thank you Anne, I will be looking forward to it.

We chatted a little bit more about life, how was this world still treating us and how they really hope to be able to be here when baby arrives, “Speaking of, when are you due?” I could feel Gemma’s excitement through the screen.

“Well Betty my midwife has given me like two possible due dates, one is December 6, just at 39 weeks but she thinks that I’ll deliver on my actual 40-week due date which is December 13”, “Oh my god! The same day that Fine Line came out”, “I really hope that by that time we are able to travel, I would honestly be heartbroken if I missed the birth”, “I would be too Anne”.

After talking for about another hour we finally said our goodbyes, I put away my shopping, prepared some lunch and sat on the couch to eat and watch a movie while also stalking Twitter to see where he was.

Even if we were broken up, I still yearned for him.

Taglist @tinydestinybear @harry-is-my-sunflower @onlyamylee @adorejaell @dirtytissuebox

#harry styles x reader #harry styles imagine #harry imagine #harry styles #the story of you #harry styles fanfiction #dad!harry #lot 2021

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msmarvelouswinchester · 3 years

Text

Et Vertit In Felem

Summary - A witch hunt goes wrong which leads to som interesting discoveries.

Pairing - Dean Winchester x Reader

WC - 2437

Warning - Crack, Fluff and if you squint you can see angst. Things get a bit heated at the end but no smut

Squares filled - Crack ( @girl-next-door-writes's Make Me Feel Bingo); Spell ( @anyfandomgoesbingo )

A/N 1 - This was a request from @valsworldofcreativity! So sorry for the delay but I hope you like it! And a long, long time ago, I participated in @superbadassnatural's challenge. I never got around to write a fic in time smh but I felt guilty for not ever completing the challenge so I'm finally posting my entry.

A/N 2 - Hello lovely hoomans! It has been so long that I had posted a proper fic. College and life in general has been busy but here I am! I hope you enjoy reading this!

Thanks to @bccky for helping me with the fic<33 The rest of the bullshit is mine. Dividers by @firefly-graphics

“Ego convertam ad maledicendum in felem!” The words were cried out by a woman as a loud gunshot reverberated around the old house which was soon filled by sparkling, golden fairy dust. Y/N fell into a coughing fit as the dust settled on the greasy basement floor.

Whatever spell the witch had casted over the hunter was so powerful, it had effectively blown out all the candles in the basement. In the pitch-black darkness of the place, she visibly tensed when an arm wrapped around her shoulder. Y/N heard someone gasp loudly as she recovered from her own misery. “Sammy?” She croaked, coughing up a bit again.

“Shh, shh, Sammy’s okay.” The familiar smell of whiskey and leather filled her nostrils and she breathed a sigh of relief. She turned and nuzzled her face into his chest as sudden dizziness hit her. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“Y-yeah.” Another protective set of warm arms engulfed her, “Feeling a little lightheaded, that's all.”

“Yeah? Alright, I got you.” Dean said, “Can you stand?”

Y/N nodded her head as she stood up, slinging her arm on his shoulder and putting her weight on him. She groaned when a sharp pain shot up her back to her head. “Man, I hate witches!”

“You and me, both.” Dean grunted, “Sammy?”

“Yep, on it. You go get Y/N to the car.” Sam said.

Invading the darkness, the two hunters made their way over to the black wheeler, leaving behind the younger Winchester to take care of the witch's body.

“I'm alright.” Y/N exhaled as she climbed into the backseat. The older Winchester stole a glance at his friend, getting into the driver's seat. He saw her shivering, clutching her flannel tightly close to her. He shrugged off his jacket and handed it over to her.

“You're cold. Put this on.” Y/N looked up at him and instinctively, the man reached for the knife in the glove box. Her eyes were the colour of creepy golden, with black streaks inside them, almost like those of a cat. Dean’s jade eyes were locked with those of her gleaming ones before the staring contest was interrupted by Sam, the interrupting moose. One look at their friend and Sam raised his gun at her.

“Don't point your gun at me!” Y/N exclaimed, quickly holding up her hands.

“Who are you?”

“Are you having a stroke? Were you hit by a spell of Obliviate? I am Y/N!” Her voice was a bit more nasal and high pitched than usual but it was the least of their concern now. Her twinkling cat-like eye could very well make her a shapeshifter.

“Touch this silver.” Sam handed over the knife to her and she took it without burning herself.

“Boys, I'm not a shifter-”

“Take a look.” Dean adjusted the rear view mirror and her mouth hung open in complete shock. She blinked twice as she looked at herself.

“What the fuck is happening to my eyes?” Y/N asked loudly, “That damn witch! She did something to me!” Fear seeped into her as her mind ran wild with all the thoughts.

“Do you remember what the witch said?” Sam asked.

“Something along the lines of covert...convertem.” She offered him a half-assed answer.

“I'll try to work with it for now and the witch is dead,” said Sam, “hopefully this doesn't cause much trouble.” And boy, was he wrong about that.

As soon as Dean turned off the ignition when they reached the garage, he looked back and his eyebrows shot up to the hairline. “Sammy, since when do we have a cat?”

Their friend was gone and instead a furry, white, four-legged animal peeked through the numerous layers of jackets and flannels. Meowing loudly, it strutted across the seat, it's bushy tail up in the air before it turned back to look at Dean.

“Dean, I don't think it's a normal cat. I think it's Y/N.” The younger brother's strained voice was quickly followed by a sneeze, “and you are allergic to cats.”

They wasted no time in getting out of the car. Sam scooped her up into his arms as Dean grabbed their belongings.

“She turned Y/N into a cat!” Dean dropped the bags on the table, glaring at Sam when he heard her purr. Y/N was nestled in Sam’s arms as he fingers rubbed the back of her ears, eliciting soft purrs. Yawning softly, she nuzzled her face further into his strong chest as Dean’s jaw tightened.

“She likes this.” Sam chuckled, patting Y/N’s head.

“I think you're missing the point here. I know Sammy that you love pets but Y/N is a human not your playtime kitty. We need her back and that means we have to do some research! Now set her down and get your laptop!” Dean huffed. Jealousy was a green-eyed, mean monster and seeing Y/N being all adorable and comfortable in his brother's arms made his blood boil in anger especially when he couldn't hold her without him sneezing thrice every second.

“Alright geez, here-” Sam set her down on the ground and Y/N skipped down the way over to Dean and the latter took a few steps back. She let out a low whimper.

“Y/N, I don't know if you can understand me but-” his voice died down in his throat as she rubbed her head against his leg. Dean bent down and picked her up. She licked his thumbs. “Don't lick my fingers!”

Dean immediately set her down before letting out another sneeze and he glowered at Sam when he chuckled at his brother's misery. “Take some Benadryl, it will help you with the allergic reaction.”

“Oh Y/N, what did you get us into?” Dean asked and she raised her head to look at him. She understood everything but other than a purr or a meow, she couldn't convey her words. Freaking witches, Dean, she hissed. Hungry and tired, Y/N wanted nothing but to have some pizza and catch some good sleep. Instead, she was turned into a freaking cat. Surely she didn't mind the soft embrace of Dean.

“Sam?” Dean sniffled, “You good with research?” Sam had occupied his usual spot at the table with his laptop open in front. He nodded and went back to read through lores to find a cure.

“Alright, let's get you settled in Y/N as Sammy finds a cure for you.” He went back to his room with her in his arms. Putting her down on his bed, he took a seat beside her. “You make an adorable cat. I'm sorry you got into this because of me-” Don't you dare blame yourself, she meowed “-and you probably can't understand me. Just stay here. I need to take a shower.”

After turning into a cat, her senses had heightened. The strong smell of Dean’s cologne and whiskey hit her as she made herself comfortable on one of his pillows after Dean went to the shower.

“Y/N, come on, let me work.” The woman, still stuck in her feline form, bumped her head with Dean’s leg as he was sitting on the floor of his room, leaning against his bed. It had been four days. Ninety-six hours since all Y/N did was eat, sleep and roam around the bunker. The younger Winchester, after an intense research for two days, concluded that the spell was temporary and it would wear off in a few days.

Scratching past her ears, Dean gave her a gentle shove before diving back into the lore book open wide in front. Though after a few minutes, he looked up from the book and threw a suspicious look around his room. The room was too quiet. “Y/N?”

Y/N jumped into his lap all of a sudden, letting out a long meow.

“Don't scare me like that.” Dean frowned. He sniffled and knew that the effect of Benadryl was wearing off. In the past four days, he might have completed two whole bottles of the medicine so he could keep a close eye on Y/N. Dean knew she was having a hard time adjusting to the life of a cat. She curled up in his lap. He sighed, the spell was nowhere close to wearing off instead it was turning Y/N more into a cat.

“It is scaring the shit out of me, Y/N--” Dean saw her ears pricking up but she didn't make any efforts to look at him, guess she really wasn't understanding him “--what if Sammy’s wrong? We have no idea what fucking curse the witch has casted.” He ran his palm along her body, caressing her but then withdrew his hand immediately. Heat crept up his neck, his cheeks and tip of ears had a tinge of red in them. It was after all Y/N - caressing her body was like invading her personal space but she didn't even bother to glance at him.

He kept his hands to himself and said, “I guess you don't really understand but--” he let out a choked laugh “--I thought that I had seen all sorts of weird but being in love with a cat...human...human-cat is a first.” It was as if Dean was speaking to himself because the cat in his lap didn't give a ‘meow’ back.

Shutting off the book in front, he continued, “I swear to God, that every time I look at you, human-you, all I want...you remember that night in the parking lot? You have no idea how badly I wanted to fight with that man who touched you. If you hadn't stopped me, I would have made sure that man didn't live to see another day but like the badass you are…” a smile graced his face, “he deserved that kick in the nuts and you know what? It made me fall in love with you more. If you were a human right now, I wouldn't have ever grown a pair to tell you all of this. Maybe this curse is a blessing. I want you to be mine but I don't know how to make you mine. I don't know the answer.”

Dean looked down at Y/N all cozied up in his lap. He brushed his fingers against her furry head. “I know it is hard for you but we are trying to find a cure, trust me. I can't see you as a cat anymore, thriving only on cat food and sleep, sure you still fight with me over bacon but I need you back as a human.”

He eyed the new bottle of Benadryl and scooped up Y/N in his arms as he stood up. A mewl slipped past her whiskered face. “Do you want to spend the night here or go back to your room?”

Y/N jumped onto the bed from his arms in reply to his question, stating the obvious.

On her very first night as a cat, Dean had respectfully shoved her into her room but in the middle of the night, he was rudely awakened by a scratching sound on his door. He had opened his door to Y/N staring up at him. Since that night, she had been sleeping in his room.

Dean crawled under his cover and Y/N nestled at a corner of the bed and he smiled, knowing he would wake up with her curled up on his chest.

“Y/N?” Dean frantically skidded down the hallways of the bunker in his socks-covered feet until he reached the kitchen where his brother was lazily sipping on a cup of coffee. “Have you seen Y/N? She isn't in my room. Did she get out? But my door was closed!”

“Dean--”

“Why are you so...calm and drinking your damn coffee? I said Y/N is missing!” Dean said.

“I'm right here Dean.” The man in question arched an eyebrow at his brother who was trying to stifle a laugh. He stood up straight and turned around, swallowing hard before a smile broke out on his face.

“Y/N!” He practically skipped towards her and pulled her into his arms, “You are not a cat anymore.”

“Yep.”

“And I'm not allergic to you anymore! Throw away all the cat food, Sammy.” Dean grinned and went to fetch himself a cup of coffee when he noticed Sam had quietly slipped out of the room.

“You had spent quite a lot on cat food.” Y/N laughed.

“Yeah well, I wasn't goin’ to let you starve.” Dean pulled a chair and took a seat at the table.

“I know that.” Y/N walked over to him and took a seat right beside him. “You know the answer, Dean.”

“What?” A frown was evident on his face.

“You're overthinking this, De.”

“It's too early for your riddles, Y/N.” He rolled his eyes and blew at his coffee.

“You know how to make me yours.”

A deafening silence descended over the room. Only shallow breaths and beats of their hearts echoed. The corner of Dean’s mouth twitched before he said, “You u-understood...everything?”

“Uh-huh.” Y/N slowly stood up.

In a second, the coffee was abandoned as Dean jumped out of his chair and it fell back to the floor with a thud but no one cared. He had pushed her up against the wall, caging her with his arms. A whimper fell from her lips when he ran a finger along her jaw. “You have the answer right here, Dean.”

Their eyes locked and he cupped her cheeks, she said, “Make me yours, De.”

His lips crashed against hers. The kiss was filled with need, one steeped in yearning and longing for each other. Her hands found a way to tangle themselves in the strands of his hair and he cradled her face gently. After years of dancing around the fine line of being friends and being something more, they finally gave in to their heart’s passion.

“I've been in love with you for so long.” Dean said, dropping his forehead against hers after they broke off the kiss. “I tried to shove down my feelings for so long. Maybe this curse proved we are both dumbasses.”

“Maybe we are and maybe we had our very own rendition of frog princess,” Y/N laughed, “True love wins again.”

“You're so dramatic,” he grabbed her hand.

“You are stuck with me now.” She shrugged.

“Well I'm gonna thank my lucky stars that I got stuck with you forever,” said Dean.

Feedback is highly appreciated!

#dean x reader #make me feel bingo #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester #supernatural #dean winchester x you #dean winchester x y/n #dean winchester fic #jensen ackles #sam winchester #dean winchester one shot #dean winchester fanfic #dean fanfiction #dean x you #dean x y/n

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pink-imagines · 3 years

Text

snow day

request: Hi hi! Can I get a headcannon of needy Todoroki were Todoroki is in the ~mood~ 😏but his s/o is out shopping. But when they get back he’s all on them and pretty much attacking them w kisses and cuddles.

a/n: let’s just say for this fic’s sake covid never existed!! (stay safe ppl, try to stay at home as much as possible!) also hi! i’m back, i literally have no excuse now but i’ll be posting a bit more soon hopefully. (you can probably tell that i started writing this back in january)

warnings: mentions of something smutty that might go down but no smut and no other warnings!

masterlist

requesting rules

The snow couldn’t seem to stop falling. It had already been snowing for the past few days, but the weather didn’t change. It stayed the same and the snow piled on and on. You quite liked this kind of weather, somehow seeing people wrapped up in their scarfes with beanies dragged far over their ears made you feel warm - despite the cold weather. Today was your day off work, so you had a wonderful lazy morning with a bath and eating breakfast while watching TV. The only thing you could think of that would make this better was if Shoto would be here. He was, unlike you, out doing work. You remember teasing him lightly about it yesterday, that you got to spend the day at home while he had to be working out in the snow. In reality you worried that he’d become sick or catch a cold, even though you knew he stayed safe. Either way, you decided to treat yourself today with some shopping. It had been so long since you could actually go out to shop, so despite the cold you wanted to go outside.

You took the train to the mall and walked through the stores. The only thing you were planning on buying was a sweater, considering that you had been frequently stealing more and more of Shoto’s hoodies so you should probably get some of your own. When you saw the little jewlery shop you stopped dead in your tracks. Knowing that your wallet would start screaming if you walked in there you decided to keep it to window shopping. Earrnings, necklaces, bracelets... but most importantly rings. The memory of your mom straight up asking Shoto when he was planning on proposing came to mind. A smile grazed your lips, he had been so flustered that he choked on whatever he was eating. You had been trying to tell your mom off when he put a hand on your thigh and lightly brushed his thumb across your skin there. “No, it’s fine.. we’ll see in the future.”, he had said and had given your mom a soft smile. If it weren’t for the fact that people were around you would’ve started giggling, but you held yourself back and kept glancing over the rings. One in particular caught your eye, a simple silver one with a smaller diamond. You knew you couldn’t wear a lot of jewlery for your line of work so it seemed so perfect. For the sake of the memory that your brain decided to pull out from the dust, you took a picture of it and sent it to Shoto. -So... when’s it happening? :P You snickered to yourself and started walking again but your phone buzzed quicker than you expected. -You’re starting to sound like your mom A laugh escaped your lips at the message. However, it did surprise you that he could be texting you back so quickly since he was at work. -I was just joking.. aren’t you supposed to be working right now? The text bubble that indicated that he was typing appeared immediately. -Not on patrol today and I just finished my paperwork. I’m about to go into a meeting though -Is that a warning or a challenge? -Y/N. Do. Not. Yet another laughed made it’s way up your throat and you put your phone away again. He usually sounded cold over text, but you could always see right through it. Maybe that’s what four years spent together does to you.

The hours passed by as you walked around in the mall. It was actually quite pleasant, as not many people were there considering the fact that it was a weekday. As you were trying on clothing in yet another store you found a sweater that you really liked. It was an oversized black sweater that went down you your mid thigh and the collar was a bit wider, almost creating an off the shoulder look. You smiled at yourself in the mirror. Under the sweater you had the black bralette you had tried on moments before. Both of the items fit you perfectly and together it created a very cute look. Without thinking you sent a picture to Shoto, asking him if you should buy it. Thinking he probably had his phone off during the meeting, you put your phone down and changed back to your clothes. When you had just finished up putting your pants back on you looked at you phone again to see Shoto’s messages... you forgot his messages are connected to his laptop as well. -Y/N I told you I was in a meeting! -I mean you look very pretty, I like the sweater.. but if you’re going to send me pictures while I’m at work please put pants on. This was not a funny situation, is what you tried to tell yourself... but that didn’t stop you from smiling at the thought of his ears going red in the meeting room. -Sorry, I forgot! I’ll make it up to you by making you soba, okay? It took a while for him to answer so you went out of the dressing room and put away the things you weren’t going to buy. -... fine. I’ll be home after this meeting, so maybe around 5. -See you then ;) Were you being cheeky? Yes, but it wasn’t anything that he hadn’t dealt with before.

After making your purchase you looked at your phone and saw that the clock was nearing 4:45 pm, this meaning that it was time for you to go back home. You went over to the trainstation only to see that the train you were taking home was delayed by 20 minutes due to the snow. With a sigh you sat down on the nearest bench and took out your phone. Because of the 20 minutes it would take to arrive at your home station and the 5 minute walk home, you’d be home in about 50 minutes. Knowing Shoto, he’d probably already be home by now as he most likely managed to cut the meeting short - what was the meaning of staying longer when you had already gotten to the point? Even so, you decided to not call him just yet in case he actually still was in the meeting.

Time passed and as soon as the clock struck 5:00 pm you got a call. “Hey, are you okay? I’ve been waiting for a few and you’re still not home...”, Shoto’s voice was slightly distorted over the line due to your bad connection but you were still relieved to hear his voice. “The train got delayed, can you believe it?”, you sighed heavily. “Yes I can actually, it’s been snowing all day.”, he said calmly, “Do you need me to pick you up? I can be there in 10 minutes.” “No it’s fine, the train should be here in 5 and then I’ll be at the station in just 20 minutes.”, you stood up and looked by the track for the train. “Are you sure? The train’s probably gonna be packed.” “It’s fine, I have headphones with me so I won’t even notice.”, you smiled at his tries to come get you, “Besides I can practically see the train by now.” “Okay... then I’ll meet you at the station.”, he answered, as if it was nothing. “No, baby, you don’t have to do that. You’ve been at work all day just rest please?”, you reasoned. “I’ll see you in 20 minutes, sweetheart.”, he hung up on you. You were taken aback by the usage of the nickname, he barely ever called you by petnames. Before you could think to much of it the train arrived and you put in your earbuds and got on quickly to find a good seat.

The train wasn’t as packed as Shoto had thought. Though there was a crying child in your cart. The mother who frantically tried to calm her baby down gave you an apologetic smile. You made sure to look friendly back at her to make sure she understood that you didn’t mind. The poor woman was trying to keep her child from screaming while also balancing groceries and a stroller at the same time. “Do you need any help?”, you asked and took out your earbuds. “Please.”, the woman gave you a relieved look. You took her grocery bags and balanced them against some empty seats. Then you took the stroller from her hands so that she could properly care for her baby. “He’s just a bit hungry...”, she said and took out a bottle to give to the young boy. “... I’ve never understood how parents always know what their children want like that.”, you said mostly to yourself but the woman answered anyways. “I guess it’s an instinct.”, she said with a warm smile, “Thank you for your help. My husband’s working late so he couldn’t take care of the groceries tonight.” “Ah... I understand.”, you nodded. “Are you married?”, she asked and when she saw your shocked face she quickly apologized, “Sorry I didn’t mean to pry, I was just trying to make small talk.” “It’s alright.”, you stifled a laugh, “I’m actually not married... not yet at least, my mom’s been pressuring my boyfriend for a while now so who knows.”, you joked. “Oh, you have a boyfriend. Have you two been together for long?”, her demeanor had changed back to the kind and warm one from before. “A few years, actually.”, you nodded, “He’s a very sweet guy and-... that’s him actually.” Your phone started buzzing and Shoto’s caller-ID flashed up on the screen. His picture that you had chosen was of him holding a puppy husky that you had been thinking of adopting. Sadly, you ended up not doing that since you were both to busy to take care of a dog - let alone a puppy. You excused yourself to the woman next to you and answered. “Hi, babe, is everything okay?”, you asked. “Yeah, I just wanted to say that I’m by the station. Was the train packed?”, he spoke softly, which made it clear for you that he was in fact outside. “Not at all actually, it’s quite roomy. I told you that you didn’t have to wait for me though...”, you sighed. “I wanted to. It’s fine.”, he said and then added in a whisper, “Then I get to see you sooner.” Your face flushed up in all shades of pink as he said that. He was never usually this affectionate, but you couldn’t deny that you absolutely loved it. “You’re cute, Shoto.”, you chuckled. “Don’t laugh at me.”, you heard him huff slightly. “Sorry, sorry.”, you smiled, “I’ll be by the station in a few minutes if I’m lucky, okay? Thank you for waiting for me.” “No problem... see you soon.”, he said and hung up again. When you turned back to the woman sitting beside her you could tell she was holding back her excitement. “That was the sweetest conversation I’ve ever heard. That sounded like it was straight out of a story!”, she realized what she said and quickly apologized again, “Sorry! I didn’t mean to eavesdrop!” “It’s no problem, we all do it sometimes.”, you tried to control the blush that was creeping across your face but it was near impossible. “I bet he’ll propose to you soon.”, she said and looked back at her baby, “I hope he does.” “Thank you.”, you smiled and looked down at the baby, who was staring back up at you. You waved at the child and he let out a gurgling laugh that had your heart melting. Today was certainly a special day.

You and the woman just happened to get off by the same stop so you helped her get her grocery bags out of the cart. When you saw Shoto standing by himself you waved and called his name. He turned to you and smiled softly, almost longlingly. “He’s handsome too... wow, you’re lucky.”, she smiled to you, “Thank you for the help, miss.” “No problem!”, you smiled back and watch her walk away before turning your attention to the man walking towards you. “I haven’t seen you all day.”, he embraced you with a sigh. Hugs were normal for the two of you, but absolutely not in public. Your body stiffened in shock before settling in his arms and hugging him back. Eventually he let go of you and took a step back. “Who was that woman? Do I know her?”, he asked. “No, I just met her on the train. Let’s get home, it’s freezing out here!”, you said and took his arm in yours.

The two of you walked in silence, as you usually did, but there was one thing that was running around in your mind. “Do you ever think of having children?”, you asked out of the blue, your breath forming white clouds in the cold air. Shoto stopped in his tracks and looked at you. It wasn’t until then you had realized what you had said, maybe not directly but the question was floating around your heads. “Children, huh?”, Shoto took a deep breath. You peered up at him through your eyelashes, afraid that he’d look disgusted or even scared. He didn’t. His mind was somewhere else, you could tell by the far away look in his eyes. Shoto’s face was dusted pink but, just like yours, you couldn’t tell if it was because he was flustered or cold. “I’ve never thought about it, actually.”, he looked at you which made you look away, “Not against the thought of it though. Let’s talk it through some other time.” He said it so casually. As if this was obvious and not a huge step in a relationship. Then he just kept walking. If it wasn’t for your arm that was still wrapped around his, you would’ve forgotten to walk along with him. “Don’t be embarrased about it, please.”, he said suddenly, “It’s good to bring up these things.” “I just thought about it... you know... the woman on the train and everything...”, you muttered. “Sweetheart.”, there was the nickname again, “I told you not to be embarrased about it.” After a few years you’d think he wouldn’t be able to make you weak in the knees anymore. That was wrong. You hummed in response to what he said and leaned your head against his shoulder. There was an urge in you to feel a sudden intimacy between the two of you and that was the first thing that came to mind. “Are you cold?”, he asked. “Not extremely...”, you looked up at the clear sky, “... maybe it’s not the best time for cold soba though.” “It’s always a good time for cold soba.”, he answered, completely serious but you still laughed. You laughed because it sounded like him. You laughed because it would ease the excitement stuck in your stomach from what he had said before. You laughed because at that moment you felt so incredibly wonderful - and who wouldn’t laugh at that?

When you got home you made yourself a cup of tea while Shoto stuck to heating up by the radiator. “Are you sure you still want cold soba? We could always make warm soba.”, you suggested as you poured the hot water into your cup. “I say we make cold soba.”, Shoto shrugged as he kept his hands on the warm radiator. His nose was still red from the cold. “Then we make cold soba.”, you nodded.

After eating and cleaning up you sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. Since you usually sat with a bit of space in between the two of you, you did so. However, this time Shoto scooched closer to you and put your head on his shoulder, only to then wrap his arm around your shoulders. “Is this okay?”, he asked quietly to not disturb the show playing. You could care less about the show, your heart was beating loud enough for you to not even hear it. No words would come out of your mouth so you hummed as an answer to his question. He had been acting very lovingly the entire night, something that he didn’t always do. “Are you okay, Shoto?”, you asked suddenly, “Did something happen at work?” “Why do you ask?” “You just seem... more cuddly?”, you looked up at him, catching him staring but he didn’t look away. “I just missed you then I guess.”, he said, “... and you sent me that picture and that wasn’t very fair.” He looked away and now he couldn’t blame the cold on his reddened face. That’s how you remembered your sweater that you had bought. “Right the sweater!”, you exclaimed, “Can I show you?” “Sure.”, he said and watched you get up, “You seem very excited about this sweater.” “Yes! And you should be too, because now I won’t be stealing yours anymore!”, you took your bag and walked over to the bathroom. “But I like it when you wear my clothes...” “Then...I won’t be stealing your clothes as often anymore!”, you smiled before closing the bathroom door behind you.

You walked out of the bathroom, dressed just like you were in the picture, and walked up to him. He looked over at you, looked you up and down, and then stood up. “What do you think?”, you smiled as he pulled you closer by your waist so that you could wrap your arms around his neck. “I like it more when you wear my clothes... but this is also very nice.”, he leaned down and kissed you quick, “Let’s go have that talk about having children...”, he whispered and started guiding you to the bedroom.

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royallyprincesslilly · 3 years

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Title: Crown For Two {1}

Henry Cavill AU x OFC Xari Thornton AU

Warning: Plot, Mild Cursing, Cheesy Christmas Themes,

Words: 6.1k

Summary: Xari Thornton is a travel photographer with a blog and social media that garners some heavy-duty traffic. People tune in to see where she is and what she’s doing there, all in hopes of either living vicariously through her or to plan their next vacation.

Her slogan; “Traveling the path to the most off-beaten places, so you don’t have to.”

Her next stop on her four destination travel itinerary of “Places You May Never Have Heard Of” is Sandvell, a small European country. When her plane makes an impromptu stop due to bad weather, she has no idea where she is. It feels like she’s stepped inside of a snow globe and back in time in a modern way. It leaves her fascinated.

This bad weather forces her to stay at an Inn, The Beaux, for the night. Rather than letting the hours tick by in her room, she explores and meets the friendly locals. While taking photographs, one local in particular captures her lens with eyes as blue as the ocean and a jaw that was chiseled from stone. They strike up conversation during their time drinking at one of the local bars, Ickles. Once they separate, she gets herself into a harrowing situation.

As soon as she awakens, she realizes she’s not in some fever dream, but a palace and the owner of the palace is none other than the local she met before with the piercing blue eyes, His Royal Highness Henry Wellington Leopold Danglishton, First of his name, Crown Prince of Brexendor.

Note: All right, all right people, the ride begins. I really, really hope you enjoy this. As a note, it’s going to be fast-paced a bit, and I am gonna overload you with pictures because why the hell not, it’s a Christmas Fic. 😁 Feel free to come by and tell me what you guys think.

As always, thank you all for reading, I appreciate each and every one of you.

If you enjoyed this, please, LIKE, COMMENT, REBLOG!!! ❤️❤️

***Loosely Edited/Proofread***

***Interactive***

***Picture Heavy***

Chapter One

“You were supposed to be on your way home.”

You rolled your eyes as you scoffed. You’d mentioned nights ago that you thought you should just go home, but then you went to your next destination. It was a moment of weakness or it could have been loneliness. Your schedule took a lot out of you. No one saw it because it was all behind the scenes. All anyone ever saw were the incredible places you went to, the fun things you experienced, and the culture you soaked up. What they grasped was whatever you posted in your pictures.

“You know I can’t. I started this series, and it’s gotten the eye of a lot of sponsors, and one of them is even talking about some really big ideas at the end of it if it goes really well. that could be incredible for my brand,” you explained.

Anika sighed loudly. You knew she was annoyed with you right now, especially it being December.

“I know you’re disappointed. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Whatever.”

“Attention, ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. It looks like we’re headed right into a storm. We’ll be experiencing a little turbulence as we veer off course a little bit as we try to evade this thing. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.”

You sighed while buckling your seatbelt, preparing for what was coming.

“What’s happening?”

“Going through some turbulence. It should be fine,” you assured your sister.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to hang up.”

You nodded to the flight attendant and promptly ended the call promising your sister that you’d call her back when you landed in Sandvell. As soon as you hung up, the turbulence began. It started out with slight bumps, that you could sip your drink through. Then graduated to bigger bumps that had you gripping the elbow rests. When the entire plane started to shake, your heart leaped into your throat. One minute passed, then two, and after five minutes or so, the speaker came back on.

“Ladies and gentleman, your captain again. We’re going to be landing shortly. This storm is not one to be messed with. I apologize for the inconvenience, folks, but on this airline, we choose safety above all else.”

You weren’t going to argue with him. You definitely didn’t want to risk your life over getting to your next destination. What was a one or two day delay? Once the pilot got to a lower altitude, the majority of the turbulence subsided. It was another ten minutes before the plane landed, but when it did, all you could see from the window was white overcast with darkness.

When you had your belongings gathered and began walking off the plane along with the other fifty or so passengers, you tried to find cell service, but you had zero bars.

“Excuse me, where are we?”

“Uh—I’m actually not sure, ma’am. Patricia, where are we?”

The two flight attendants looked puzzled. The second asked a third, and that third asked another. None of them seemed to know. That was not a good sign, you thought. Once you’d walked down the long corridor that served as the connection between the airport and the plane, you found yourself in one of the classiest airports you’d ever been in, and you’d been inside quite a few as a travel blogger. As far as the eye could see, it was class, with the exception of the floor.

You looked around you and marveled at the detail in the design that was around you. Where most airports were mainly logically designed without lavishness. This one looked like lavishness was the first priority. The floors looked to be made from the finest paonazzetto marble. You remembered the name because of the substantial time you’d spent in Italy trying to capture architecture through your camera lens. Reaching for your camera around your neck, you began snapping a few frames of the floor. Getting lost in picture taking, you found yourself at one of the many glass windows snapping pictures of the airplanes on the tarmac.

Hearing the commotion of raised voices behind you, you looked back and saw the passengers of the plane you’d just disembarked from gathered in a huddle. You walked back toward them in time to catch a question from a concerned passenger.

“How long are we delayed? When will we get back in the air? I have to get to Sandvell.”

A man wearing a mixture of royal blue and white colors cleared his throat then spoke. “I apologize, ladies and gentlemen, for the delay. There is a storm heading right for us on the path to Sandvell. Continuing through it would be lunacy. Our only viable option is to wait it out.”

No one seemed to like that answer. All the questions flew out at once. All their voices overlapped, and you could tell that the gentleman was overwhelmed by not only the volume of questions but also their voices.

“According to our team here, we’re expecting possibly a twenty-four to thirty-six-hour delay.”

Everyone groaned in unison, everyone but you. You’d traveled enough to always expect the unexpected. Things like this didn’t bother you so much now, three years into your career. The only thing that bothered you now was that you’d have to rearrange your hotel plans as well as finding somewhere to sleep tonight.

“You said here,” you began with all eyes trained to you. “Where exactly is here?”

The gentleman cleared his throat again. “Brexendor.”

The crowd murmured as they looked at each other. Clearly, no one had ever heard of Brexendor. Some even pulled out their travel map to scour it for the country.

“So what are we supposed to do now? Where do we stay?”

“We are in the process of arranging accommodations at one of the inns within the capital. If you all would work with us so we have your names to get your luggage to you in a timely fashion so you can be shuttled over to the Inn, that would be appreciated.”

Everyone filed into a line in front of one of the four airport staff, hoping to hurry matters along while you searched your phone for any information on where you were. When you typed in Brexendor into the search engine, the first thing that popped up was a map of the country. Apparently, it was next door to Sandvell. They were considered sister countries.

“Population three million, run as a monarchy, considered one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Average life expectancy one hundred and ten years. Well, damn.”

Someone clearing their throat brought your attention up in front of you. You were next in line.

“Sorry.”

The woman with brown eyes and blonde hair smiled warmly. “It’s all right, Ms--.”

“Uh, Thornton, Xari Thornton.” You handed her your passport and boarding pass and waited as she scrolled through her tablet.

“Ah yes, Ms. Thornton. Here is your paperwork. On it, you will find where you can retrieve your luggage and the shuttle number that will be taking you to the Inn. Once at the Inn, just provide your name, and you will find everything has been taken care of. On behalf of Brexendor Aviation, we humbly apologize for this snafu.”

Her customer service training was on point, you thought. Her smile was warm, as if she really meant the words she’d just said. Finding it refreshing, you took the paperwork and proceeded to where she was motioning. Everyone you passed as you walked the fancy halls had a warm smile plastered to their face and even warmer words of welcome. You felt as if you’d stepped through into some alternate universe. You made a voice note about everything you encountered. You wanted to make sure you captured your authentic feelings and reactions in real-time. It made writing about your experience on the blog page easier. You’d even found that readers and supporters liked the play by play with your added thoughts. They commented it added personality.

Once you’d made it to the baggage claim area, your jaw dropped at the change in décor. There were Christmas trees that sparsely decorated the space, and they were all lit with the same blue, silver, and white theme. It contrasted with the latte color of the leather seats and the cream offset tables. The design gave the space an elegant but also comfortable vibe. When you slipped into one of the chairs, you released an audible moan. It was like sitting on a cloud.

After gathering your luggage, you followed instructions through a hall lined with Christmas trees, stopping every so often to take a few pictures before you made it to the front of the airport. As you stepped outside, your eyebrows shot up seeing the fresh snow cascading from the sky. The bite in the air had you bundling your jacket tighter, but it did not stop you from snapping a few pictures. One turned to ten and ten to fifteen until another person clearing their throat brought you back to reality and to the waiting bus ahead of you.

You took a break from pictures and called the hotel in Sandvell, hoping to alter the dates of your stay. What you expected to be a hassle and a long drawn out process ending in them saying they were booked and nothing could be done, turned out to be quick, easy, and painless. The Luxembourg Hotel assured you that your room would still be available and there would be no charge for the altered dates. You made another note on your phone, a point you had to stress when you wrote your piece.

You continued snapping pictures from the window of the bus with an easy mind. Everything you passed seemed like it didn’t belong. It all looked so old fashioned but so modern all at the same time. The buildings looked to have been standing since the beginning of time in the materials they’d been built in, but the displays were from the twenty-first century. It was the most exciting contradiction. The only word you could think to describe it was—quaint.

When the bus drove over a bridge, you got a semi-bird’s eye view of the town across the water, and your jaw nearly dropped.

“Brexendor? What the hell?”

The entire drive had you widening your eyes like a child seeing an insane amount of presents on Christmas morning. Buildings were decked out in Christmas lights, and every door had a wreath with blue and silver Christmas ornaments. Almost every few feet, the sidewalks were decorated with poinsettia trees that were half the average human’s height, and the way the freshly fallen snow-dusted their tops only made it even more perfect.

By the time the bus stopped, you’d taken so many pictures, and part of you was dreading having to go through them to choose the ones that would make the cut. You knew it was going to be a next to impossible decision. As you stepped off the bus, you felt like you’d walked right into a snow globe.

“Holy shit!”

You spun, taking in a full three-sixty view of your surroundings. all the glistening lights and the falling snow only made it feel even more magical. You didn’t know where the hell Brexendor was or why the hell they rolled like this, but you were excited to see more. When you stopped spinning, you realized several other people were snapping pictures and looking just as marveled as you were. After gathering your luggage, you followed instructions and walked across the street to the building that a friendly looking man with slightly greying hair was standing before beckoning you inside.

For the second time that night, you felt as if you’d stepped into a Christmas movie set. The interior was set so cozy. It felt like a Christmas cottage, and you loved it. Instinct had you reaching for your camera and taking a few shots of the Christmas tree in the corner by the fireplace and the plaid decorations on the leather couch. Even the pictures on the walls got a snap.

“Miss?”

Looking back to the owner, you smiled and approached the desk.

“Hi, I’m so sorry. This place is so gorgeous.”

“Thank you. I wish I could take the credit, but it is all my wife.”

Just then, a beautiful brunette came out wearing a bright red sweater and one of those spoof reindeer antler headbands that bounced with every move.

“Hi, there darling. Welcome to The Beaux. I’m Anita, and this is my husband, Borik. I heard all about your ordeal. I’m so sorry.”

You shrugged but kept your smile plastered on your face.

“It’s all right. Can’t control the weather, right?”

Anita smiled and nodded. “Definitely not in Brexendor.”

“I have never heard of this place before, and I am lost how. Everything is gorgeous and so quaint. How have you stayed under the radar?”

Anita and Borik looked at each other with an all-knowing look that you wanted in on.

“Guess it’s just happened,” Anita cheerfully said.

You knew they knew something. Staying this under the radar, including from America, didn’t just happen. This took work. You wondered who in charge in their right mind would make a stupid decision like that.

“Okay, what’s your name, darling?”

“Uh, Xari Thornton.”

“Ah-ha, I told you, Borik. Once we were contacted with a list of names that would be checking in, and I saw your name, I told him I just know she’s gorgeous and look. You are a vision.”

You couldn’t help but smile widely while trying to keep your head under proper proportions.

“Thank you.”

“You must have quite the many suitors where you’re from,” Anita continued.

You snorted and shook your head. The reality was you were as single as the number one with no prospects.

“No suitors here.”

Both Borik and Anita looked shocked, as if you’d said the most appalling thing.

“That can’t be true. Borik. She’s single and at twenty-eight. Even our Kennedy was at least engaged by the time she turned twenty-seven. Here that is unheard of. A woman is usually married by twenty-four, especially if she’s a looker.”

You pinched your lips, trying to keep your laughter in. this was not the first time you’d been called an old maid. Hell, your mother said it often, especially since you flat out turned down Maurice’s proposal three months ago. She was livid.

Anita must have sensed the awkwardness of the moment because she cleared her throat and brought all her attention back to the reservation.

“Well, your room is prepared. I took the liberty of giving you one of our prettiest rooms. Would you like Borik to carry your bags up?”

“Uh—no, I’m sure I can manage,” you began.

Borik stood, shook his head, and came around to you.

“I won’t hear a thing about it. I’ll happily carry your luggage up. Follow me.”

“That’s my Borik, ever the gentleman,” Anita filled in with an enamored smile before Borik walked off, leaving her to check in a few of the other passengers from the plane.

You listened to Borik tell the story of the Inn and how it got its name. You kept one ear on his story while you took in every detail around you. The wood looked so rustic, and you guessed that was what gave the place such a warm and welcoming feeling. The higher you climbed, the more you saw, and the more you saw, the more you liked. You followed Borik down a hall, noticing that all the doors you passed had mini wreaths decked out in the same blue and silver ornaments like at the airport and throughout the streets.

“Ah-ha, here we are,” Borik said before he put the key into the lock and pushed the door open. Once he did, the scent of cinnamon and pine hit you in the face. It was like the hand of Christmas came out and smacked you.

“My wife loves the smell,” Borik explained as you stepped inside. You smiled and thanked him for his help.

“If you get hungry, you have a few options. There are plenty of places nearby you can eat some authentic Brexendorian food, but also my wife cooks every night, and dinner usually is at eight o’clock, but tonight Anette has agreed to keep some heated for anyone who would like some. It’s stew, rabbit.”

“Oh, thumper. Wonderful.”

Borik laughed loudly with that one. “I know that one, Bambi, the children’s cartoon. Good one Ms. Thornton.”

You smiled. “You can call me Xari, Borik.”

“Well, have a good night,” he said before he walked out.

Finally alone, the first thing you did was text your sister to let her know not to worry and give her an update on what was happening. After you let Anika know what was happening, it didn’t take long for your phone to ring. The next ten or so minutes were spent talking to Anika and telling her how amazing the things you’d seen so far were. You could not shut up about the decorations, the way the snow looked to have been groomed to lay on things perfectly. It was that damn picturesque. Since you couldn’t stop talking about it, Anika was the one to suggest you go out and enjoy it before you got back on the plane. It was a suggestion you fully intended on listening to.

Fifteen minutes later, you were back downstairs bundled with your camera and your purse, ready to explore. When you told Anita your intention, she gave you a map of the city and highlighted places to look at but cautioned you to hurry because stores would be closing soon, and nights during Brexendor winters could be brutal. You promised you’d be quick and careful, then stepped out, ready to explore like Dora.

Your first stop was a block down, a children’s toy store. It was decked out with all the latest toys along with some traditional things that Santa would have brought specially made from his workshop. While you were snapping pictures outside the window, a kid ran up to the window and pressed his nose to it. His eyes were wide, and his mouth matched their size. You asked the adult with him if you could take a picture. When they approved, you got one or two from a few different angles before they walked off.

As you walked through the city, enjoying the scenery, you took pictures of everything that caught your eye, ornaments, trees, people, stores, even pets. Christmas wasn’t your favorite holiday, but it was your second favorite, and being here really as inching it higher on the list.

When you felt a strong wind hit you, it stopped you in your tracks. It was strong enough to have you stagger backward a little, allowing a chill to sweep through you. You looked around and saw a few feet away was some sort of bar, and behind it was swirling snow that looked like a tornado. You hurried toward the building, being careful not to slip on any ice that may be hiding underneath the snow. Once to the door, you walked inside, and the sound of Christmas carols filled your ears.

“Jesus.”

If the scent of the Inn felt like Christmas slapped you in the face, the look and sound of this place was the one two-hitter that settled that you were in a whole nother world here. You looked around and found a coat rack along the left wall. After placing your jacket and scarf on the hook, you walked to the bar and slid onto a stool. As you waited for the bartender to come over, you looked around. Here it didn’t smell like cinnamon, but the pine was present, along with the smell of alcohol and licorice.

There were several small dark wooden tables around the bar with chairs and even booths that decorated the walls. The floors matched the tables, and those matched the walls. This place looked like somewhere you’d find in the middle of nowhere. The window to the back of the establishment showed the dark woods with tall snow-covered trees and that howling snow tornado.

When you turned back to the back, the huge elk head above the wall lined with alcohol bottles had you gasping.

“Jeez,” you said as you snapped two of three pictures of the creepy looking thing.

“That is Hogan’s prized possession.”

You looked beside you where the voice came from to see a very attractive man there. When you’d sat down, you didn’t notice anyone beside you, so to see his piercing blue eyes boring holes into you. Your eyes traveled lower to his awkwardly shaped nose. It looked like it had been broken once or twice and never quite went back to normal. You didn’t mind it, though. Who liked a perfect face, especially when looking at him, seemed like that was about the only thing that was not absolutely perfect. His jaw was carved to precision like he was specially crafted and not born. When your eyes fell to his lips, you purposely forced yourself to look away.

“Is—is that right?”

“Yes. I bet you cannot guess why,” the stranger said in a crisp European accent that was very close to British. You weren’t one hundred percent sure if it was or not, he just sounded proper as hell, and it was actually a bit of a turn on.

You shrugged while looking at the bottles that lined the back of the bar. “Enlighten me.”

Just then, a large man with blond hair in a man bun walked over. He had to have been over six feet tall, and if this were America, he’d definitely be a shopper at the store Big & Tall. The man looked to the one seated beside you, ready to speak but suddenly closed his mouth.

“Hogan, Ms--,” the stranger began waiting for you to fill in your name.

He thought he was so smooth; you thought as you smiled to yourself.

“Xari.”

His eyebrow shot up, and he smiled sweetly. “Wow, what a beautiful name.”

You smiled, and as you felt it widening, you bit onto your bottom lip to stop it. “Thanks.”

“Ms. Xari would like to know why Shandoe is your most prized possession.”

“Shandoe?”

Hogan looked behind him at the Elk’s head then smiled. “It’s been in my family for generations. It was the first thing my great-great-great-great-great grandfather ever killed for himself to feed his family. They ate everything but the head and decided to keep it as a reminder of where we came from.”

You were expecting some weird manly story but what you got was a wholesome and heartwarming tale. You smiled, raised your camera, and snapped Hogan, and as he stared at the Elk’s head with such a loving look on his face that was such a contradiction for his large frame.

“Are you a reporter?”

“No, no. Not at all. I’m a travel influencer and blogger. I go around and soak up what the world has to offer while taking pictures and writing about it on my blog for others to read about.”

The man beside you nodded, then raised his glass to his head.

“What can I get you?”

“Uh—what is he drinking?”

“The Mistletoe Bomb.”

You snorted, unable to contain yourself any longer. “What in the world is that?”

“You laugh now, but it is a blend he makes special for me. It is not for the faint of heart,” the man beside you informed.

“Oh no, well looks like I’ll be having one of those.”

Hogan looked to him, then back to you. “It is all right, Hogan. Give the lady what she wants. I am assuming fell strength is also what you require?”

“Yes, full strength. I want all the mistletoe and all the bomb.”

Hogan went to work, making the drink while you continued looking around.

“Em, I’m Henry.”

You looked to him to find his hand outstretched to you, waiting for you to place yours in it. When you did, you repeated your name as you noted how soft his hands were. It felt like he’d never done a day’s work with them. Henry rose your hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on the back of your hand. It was one small action, but that action had butterflies flitting in your belly and your cheeks heating as if a heater was aimed directly at your face.

“I am delighted to make your acquaintance,” Henry uttered while looking into your eyes.

“Same,” you whispered.

Henry released your hand and turned back to his drink at the same time Hogan placed a mug before you.

“One Mistletoe Bomb for the lady.”

You looked at the large mug then to Hogan, who waited expectantly. When your eyes drifted to Henry beside you, he too was watching and waiting. No matter how much you felt like this was a setup, you persisted, not wanting to back down. When you took your first full mouthful of the drink, your eyes immediately bugged. Your tongue was on fire in seconds, and it seemed the longer you held the liquid in your mouth, the worse the burn was. You gulped it down and instantly knew the mistake. Not only was your mouth on fire, but now your throat and chest as it burned a fiery path to your belly.

“Holy fucking shit!”

The two men boisterously laughed, the sounds booming off the wooden walls before filling the entire room. You looked around, noticing for the first time it was completely empty.

“What the hell is that?”

“Something that will put hair on your chest,” Hogan teased.

“No, shit.”

Henry seemed to like that response; he laughed again then finished his mug.

“How can you drink this?”

He shrugged, then turned his body to you. You gave him a well-paced once over, taking in his furry winter boots, dark pants, and dark sweater to match the pants. Underneath the sweater, though, you saw peeks of a crisp white shirt. He dressed like he had money, you thought.

“I have done it for half my life. I do not even feel the burn anymore. Do you know why he calls it Mistletoe Bomb now?”

You giggled and nodded, pushing the mug away. If you drank that, you’d need to be carried out of here. As Hogan appeared to take the mug away, Henry reached for it, insisting he’d finish it while Hogan placed a beer bottle in front of you.

“Would you like a straw?”

You looked at Hogan as if he were crazy. Who drank beer with a straw? You shook your head and raised the bottle to your lips to take a swig. This was more your speed, not pure petrol.

“So you are new in town,” Henry began.”

“Kind of. My plane had to detour because of the storm, so here I am in a place I’ve never heard of and cannot figure out why.”

“Is it strange to never have heard of every place in the world?”

You thought about it for a moment as you took another mouthful of beer then nodded.

“Yes. I’m from America,” you began.

“Ah, American. Let me guess. Everything has to be discovered, and if it is not, then either it doe not exist, or it is being hidden.”

You snapped your mouth shut. He’d guessed American thinking in one try. “Well, that’s not fun,” you added. Henry laughed and took his mouthful of fire.

“I am sorry. I know America well,” Henry informed.

“Oh, so you’ve been?”

“No. I do not need to. I have spent my entire life learning it.”

You looked back at him, confused by what he meant.

“Every country gives lessons on other countries of the word, especially powerhouse countries,” he explained.

“Well, your studies have paid off.”

“Do you really believe that everything has to be discovered?”

“No. where is the fun in that? I believe that the world has to have some mystery.”

“Then welcome to Brexendor,” Henry said with a smile.

“Brexendor. What’s it’s deal?”

You leaned closer, resting your elbow on the wood of the bar as you watched him.

“Deal? I am afraid I do not understand.”

“What I mean is, the people are nice. Everyone I have encountered, including at the airport, is nice. You know airport staff can be so mean, but not here. The people who own the Inn I am staying at are so sweet. Even strangers I bump into don’t;’ seem to mind. Not to mention, this place has the whole snow globe effect down. It’s incredible. What is the deal? Is the president some fantastic guy who pays everyone well and gives them ample vacation time for them to be so happy?”

Henry smiled, dipped his head lower, then rubbed the back of his neck.

“Would that be unusual?”

“Yes. Compared to what America has going on—highly unusual.”

“Well, the first thing to know about Brexendor is, a president does not run it,” Henry clarified.

“Ah right, it is a monarchy. So does that mean there is a king, and queen, lords, dukes,” you began, then gasped, remembering more. “Princesses?”

Henry smirked, gulped his drink, then nodded. “Yes.” He continued to take another swig from his mug.

His words slowly resonated. “What!? You’re serious?”

He nodded, then placed the glass onto the bar.

“Wow. How interesting. So this King and Queen are they the good kind?”

Henry’s smile turned somber before it disappeared altogether.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, no. Yes, the King and Queen are the best kind,” he filled in before he took the last mouthful of his drink. “They would like you.”

You laughed loudly and shook your head. “Me? I doubt that. While all the mothers of my boyfriends have loved me, I don’t think the King and Queen would care for me.”

“Boyfriend, so uh—you’re involved,” Henry said as he avoided your eyes.

His words sounded like a statement rather than a question, so you remained quiet. After a few moments, he looked at you expectantly. You pinched your lips before you finished your beer.

“Are you involved?”

Henry took a deep breath looked forward to the bottles at the bar as a pained and confused expression washed over his features.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” you replied.

“I am not—involved,” he answered.

“You said it like you weren’t sure.”

“It is complicated.”

“Well, I am a stranger in a bar—an empty bar. You’ll most likely never see me again, and I’ve been told I’m a great listener.”

Henry smiled then turned back to you, resting his elbow on the bar mimicking your stance.

“You have not answered my inquiry.”

“Inquiry?”

Henry smiled again, then bit his bottom lip. That is where your eyes went to. He had nice lips, you thought.

“On if you are involved,” he clarified.

“I am not involved with anyone. If you ask my mother, she will tell you I’m an old maid with no prospects.”

“I do not believe that. You are funny, intelligent, fun to be around, and quite beautiful. There is no way you have no admirers.”

You smiled and began toying with your necklace.

“I’m sure you say that to all the girls you meet in deserted bars during a snow storm.”

He snorted, and you felt his breath across your cheek. It was then you realized how close the two of you were to each other.

“To be honest, I have never found myself alone with a woman in a bar. You are my first.”

You bit your bottom lip feeling more flirtatious than usual as you gazed into his hypnotizing eyes. He was gorgeous and becoming even more so with every passing minute. The two of you ordered more drinks, then drifted off to one of the booths on the wall that was more hidden and even more comfortable. You talked about nearly everything and nothing at the same time. He spoke a lot about philosophy and astronomy and the sciences that motivated a lot of the earlier theories. It was fascinating just listening to him speak. There was something about his mouth and the properness of the words he used. Never once did he use slang or even a contraction. You’d never met anyone who didn’t use contractions. The longer you sat there, the more you felt like never getting up.

“There is something about you that is so comfortable and easy,” Henry began.

“You too.”

“I feel like I can talk to you about anything. I even want to.”

You smiled, “You too.”

Your eyes lingered, and you saw him sway forward, but then he stopped only to do it again and again. With your faces were centimeters from one another, it was then you noticed the slight speck of brown in his left eye. You felt Henry’s hand gently cup your cheek; then, his thumb slowly stroked your skin. The heat from his palm seared your cheek, and every stroke of his thumb send heat tendrils down your jaw to your lips, making them tingle and yearn for his.

This had never happened to you in your entire life. You’d known this man a few hours and were ready to possibly bring him back to the Inn with you. Henry didn’t move. It was like he was giving you the last few centimeters to make a decision, but you didn’t make it. A phone went off, but you both ignored it until the sound went off. You raised your hand to rest on top of his. Once your skin touched his, Henry lightly sighed out. Before either of you could make another move, a phone rang again. This time Henry groaned before he looked away just as you did.

You cleared your throat and slid from his body as he checked his phone.

“I have to go,” he announced.

Frozen, you sat there trying to understand if you’d read this entire thing wrong.

“I am sorry, something—urgent has come up.”

You snapped out of it, then nodded. “It’s fine. I should probably get back to the Inn anyway. They say a storm is brewing.”

Both of you stood from the booth while straightening your clothes.

“I really enjoyed tonight,” Henry added.

You smiled and nodded. “Me too. It was—nice.”

Your eyes lingered again, and your bodies drifted closer. It was you who looked away first and stepped back. You reached for your purse, but Henry stopped you.

“It has been taken care of. Let us call it a tourist special, right Hogan.”

“Right your--,” Hogan began before Henry looked at him, cutting him off.

Henry ushered you to the coat rack on the wall by the door then helped you into your jacket.

“Can I drive you back to the Inn?”

“No, please. I am more than capable of getting back,” you assured.”

“Are you sure?”

You nodded then turned to walk out, but Henry pulled you to him. “I want to see you again.”

“I don’t see how. I leave tomorrow as soon as the storm passes.”

Henry looked to be thinking before he sighed. “I guess it was not meant to be,” you whispered, a tinge of sadness filling you as reality set in.

“In another life,” Henry softly said.

He came closer then placed a slow, chaste kiss on your cheek before he released you. The two of you stared at each other for a few moments, and in those moments, anything felt possible. When you faced that anything could have been possible but not for you, you sighed. A few seconds later, you turned and walked out of the bar.

Once outside, the rough wind caught you off guard. You took a few moments to bundle yourself, then continued walking back to the Inn. The swirling snow in the air made it a little challenging to see, but you tried the best you could. Several times, the wind picked up and shoved you where it wanted, forcing you to grab on to something to hold until it passed.

Suddenly a big gust of wind blew you to the right and knocking you off your feet to roll for several feet. When the wind slowed, you rolled over onto your back to spit out the mouthful of snow that you’d managed to ingest. It took you several tries to stand, but when you did, you tried to see where you were and what direction you needed to walk in. That was when the wind picked up again, making you scream. When you turned, you saw two headlights coming right at you, then all you felt was pain before you were out cold.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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#crown for two fic #henry cavill #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x you #henry cavill x black reader #black fanfiction #royalty au #slow burn fanfic #christmas fanfiction #henry cavill x black ofc #cheesy christmas fic

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acetarisborn · 3 years

Text

Happy (delayed) international asexuality day!!!

I haven't written (and posted) in a while and one of my most popular posts is the one about me simping for Asmo from Obey Me while being ace so... what better day to post this than yesterday!! But I fell asleep so now...

The brothers falling in love with an asexual MC

This is my first time writing one of these so it may end up feeling more like fanfiction than headcacons lol.

Asmo

The second you saw this gorgeous charming man it was love at first sight, and he felt the same way

Although you might have felt a little intimidated when you found out he's the avatar of lust. You might even think you have no chance!

But oh boy are you wrong

This man adores every aspect of you. From your gorgeous body to your breath-taking personality and he knows you love him as well.

The surprise in his eyes when he finds out you don't like him only for his looks is priceless

He can't help but blush brightly every time you give him the slightest of compliments, which sometimes turn into ankward laughs if he adds a sexual advance at the end

You try everything to let him know without telling him. Wear the ring, make several ace jokes and even wear the damn flag pattern on your clothes, to a point that the entirety of RAD but Asmo knows you're ace

But to be fair he might not even know what asexual means

He lets you know his feelings in a BIG way, something very intricate and romantic like a huge banner with help of the bros or plans a situation where you two end up dating

When you tell him you're asexual he's shocked to say the least

Not all humans enjoy sex?! Truly the newest concept he's ever heard

He does get sad at first, realizing he won't be able to experience that pleasure he's been fantazising about, but once he thinks about how out of all the beings in the Devildom you fell in love with the demon of Lust himself he bursts in laughter

He stops abruptly once he realizes why you look scared or sad because of his laugh and explains himself immediatley

If you tell him you understand if he doesn't want you he turns serious and grabs your hand

"Mc, you are the most gorgeous, kind-hearted and amazing person I've ever met, I didn't fell in love with how you are in bed or anything about sex! I fell in love with everything that makes you, you. I would never leave you over something so... so ridiculous! No matter how much I enjoy it!"

Once you guys start dating he showers you with gifts and fancy stuff (mostly skincare products)

He starts being super cautious about what he does or says, but eventually loosens up after the thounsand time you told him to do so

He also loves kissing you all over your face (if it's okay with you). On the lips, nose, cheeks or your forehead

All because he wants to remind you every day how precious you are in his eyes and that he loves you no matter what

Beel

You can't tell me you guys didn't fell in love that time you shared a room, you knew at the spot but this certified himbo is very oblivious

"Im hung-" He never gets to finish this sentence again because you always have a snack or food to offer him

Of course this is what starts his liking to you.

He doesn't realizes at first but it's the little things like what draws him in

He always wants to seat next to you at lunch and just talk for hours, he blushes at the sight of your smile or his eyes light up every time he sees you walk by

He begs you to cook for him no matter how many times you already do or say you're terrible. If you make him a bento this will make his whole week

Once he realizes his feelings he plans to tell you, not knowing you were planning on telling him you're ace and doing the same

"That's cool but um...whats an ace?"

Once you explain it to him he's a little surprised but nothing too extreme, he understands and didn't paid mind to sex anyway, he's happy he got to know beforehand.

"Oh, that sounds like you, good to know, specially now, because..."

He stops hiding a big box of chocolates and opens it, the chocolates spelling "Will you be my partner?"

If you ask him if he's okay he nods almost agressively, which ends up in you tackling him in a hug

Once you start dating he's ready to provide bear hugs and cuddles, he's the cuddliest demon in the Devildom

"Hey, I found this food/thing with the ace flag colors, thought you might like it"

He asks you to help him cook whenever he's hungry. Doesn't matter if it's the greatest culinary piece ever or an absolute disaster, he's happy he gets to spend time with you.

Levi

Okay but that overflowing PASSION when he rambles on about TSL, that fire in his eyes, *chef kiss* you can't help but stare dreamily at him

"watcha looking at normie?" He asks while blushing madly at the way you kept looking at him

The first time he finally accepted he's in love is when you dragged him to your room to watch a new anime, he realized you were a total weeb just like him (And I know you are because why else would you be here?)

Since then you have anime nights at least once a month with all the snacks you can get in your bed or couch

He obviously loves playing any kind of videogame with you, he doesn't like some of the ones you do but plays them anyways just to see you celebrate once you've won

Dragging you to conventions is a given, he spends weeks making you the perfect couples cosplay, staying all night muttering about how yours needs to be perfect

Since most of his brothers don't care/like or are too busy for his ramblings about a new game or anime he goes to your room very often. He's happy you're always there for him.

But IS HE JEALOUS

If he sees anyone flirting with you in the slightest of ways he'll go into overprotective mode. In a bad day this means as much as asking you for a pencil in class

We all know he puts you in a bit too high of a pedestal compared to him, but it's because he loves you and tries his best to gain confidence once you tell him how wonderful he is.

"They're so cool Henry! They are so nice to me and so pretty. I don't deserve them but do I want to try!!"

Since he's too shy and introverted none of you have asked the other out yet, but you decide to trust him and come out to him first.

"Oh yeah, I know plenty of asexual characters, I know what it is. That's great! You have my whole support!" This one takes you off guard

He talks about how he kinda suspected it but never said a word in fear that it could offend you.

This was enough for you to jump in and tell him your feelings.

To say he's blushing is an understatement. His whole body is red

"I like you to...But a-are you sure? You're just so pretty an- and amazing and I-I'm just a yucky otaku... Not that all otakus are yucky! You're not! Oh crap, I'm so sorry."

You snap him out of his rambling with a hug or a kiss, telling him how much you love him no matter how he belittles himself, because he's already perfect.

He tackles you in a hug out of excitement and says he loves you too

He has no problem with sex at all once your relationship starts, he wasn't having any to begin with and never thought of the idea of you guys doing it, so it's pretty much the same.

He tries his best to make bentos for you or use any romantic tecnique he has ever seen in romance animes

Instead of overprotective mode he now brags about his amazing partner to everyone he can.

"Mc, we should cosplay these characters! This one's ace!"

He'll do anything for you to feel safe and welcome in his arms no matter your sexuality.

Satan

This lovable bookworm fell in love later than anyone (except Belphegor) did, in the train murder mystery.

At first he thought it was mere admiration, but then why was his heart beating so fast?

Don't get me wrong, he's outraged. He hates that he's not paying attention to class to write poems, being distracted from his books because his mind wonders off thinking of you, and he despises that every time you bring him a cup of tea or flash a smile his face turns bright red in front of his brothers.

Eventually he has no choice but to ask Asmo and he is overjoyed. He offers himself as a wingman many times and Satan declines every single one

He doesn't tell you about this willingly, Asmo creates some devious situation where he ends up needing to confess his feelings.

He has never felt so relieved that the time you said you liked him too

He finally shows you some of his poetry (at least the less cringey ones) all of them talking about your outer and inner beauty in a way that almost moves you to tears

Everyone is surprised by how frequently one of the scariest demons out there lets himself get hugged by you at any given time, even if he's busy he always has time for you.

Also cats. Plushies, bags, clothes, anything with a cat on it you gift it to eachother

You eventually gather courage, enter his room and talk to him, thinking that maybe him being so distracted reading would soften the news

But he just nods mindlessly

"Satan? Did you hear me? I'm asexual" You take his book annoyed but the answer leaves you in shock

"Yeah, I know! can I go back to my book now?"

Turns out you were being painfully obvious and Satan is too smart not to notice.

"So... you're okay with it?"

"What in the world made you think I wasn't?"

He closes his book and you two have a long talk about how he accepts you and loves you for who you are over some tea

Mammon

He has always been in love with you as you have with him, what else is there to say?

Mammon melts at the slightest of touches and compassion you show him

He's so happy every time he's with you because you actually treat him like his brothers should

He loves them but they aren't the kindest towards him, so there's nothing better than hearing from you how much he's worth

He repeatedly asks you for money or pulls out some pranks but suddenly stops. How weird? Could it be that he feels bad for making you feel any kind of sad?

You have to stop him from saying he's your first several times, thankfully it eventually works

He tells you how great you are in a way he isn't directly telling you? But you can just know

"Hey, hu-I mean Mc! You're...the less annoying person in this place...Thanks for that" Yes, that was him trying to compliment you

As your bond becomes stronger he starts to loosen up to you. Leaving you gifts or flowers at your door with a smile on his face.

"Lucifer took my dear goldie for a week because of this but ya know... it's worth it."

When you actually accepted to go to the biggest casino in the Devildom he considered it as your first date.

You spend the hole night seeing him win and loose money, even pulling you in to have fun as well

You two take a break exhausted at a fountain. Mammon sees his chance and goes in slowly for a kiss

"Wait, Mammon. If we're actually going to...date, there's something you have to know."

"You're the most outstanding human, what the hell, the most outstanding being in the three worlds I've ever met in my eternity, Mc! What makes you think I'd leave someone as breathtaking as you over wether or not you wanna have sex?!"

"For some people it's a big dealbreaker..."

"Well, not for the Great Mammon! Only an idiot would let you go because of your sexuality. And no matter what they all say, I'm no idiot"

You end the night holding hands and going back to the House of Lamentation, ready to start this beautiful romance.

Lucifer

Ok. First things first. Everyone can agree Lucifer is (or seems) even hornier than Asmo, so this is gonna get...complicated. But we'll get into that

He sure seems the least likely to actually show the vulnerability of being in love, but gosh did you made your way into his heart

It was a long and diffecult journey to get him to like you, but he eventually got a liking to you the more you guys spent time together

You were able to make him loosen up as well.

Dragging him to anywhere you loved instead of being sat down with mountains of paperwork

Always waking him up after he fell asleep in his desk with a blanket, a hot cocoa (Coffee if the work needs to be done by the next day) and even a kiss on the cheek if he's lucky

By the time the whole Belphie situation was defused he was finally able to show his true intentions

He's a fairly elegant person, so when he tries to make an advance, he does it with style

This means all kinds of fancy places once he's off from work with the most romantic of views. Every day you feel like being swept over by a true gentleman

I'm pretty sure he'd have you as his partner by now, maybe he never officially asked but you both imply you're a couple at this point.

But as I said it, he has his whole...punishing thing......

It's exactly because he starts crossing the line with one if these why you just had to stop him and tell the truth

He gets shocked and slowly start fitting the puzzle pieces in place

"Well, this is unexpected. Wait. Have I... made you feel uncomfortable around me all this time?"

Once you nod he falls in his bed ashamed

"My deepest apologies, my love. I truly hope you forgive my reckless words. I must know, are you not feeling safe in this relationship?"

You explain how wrong that asumption is, telling him how every day with him is incredible, but showed your discomfort at some of the things he says

He was relieved he hadn't crossed the line yet and was never going to let himself cross it.

"I am so glad you shared this information with me, I promise to make this relationship the most romantic experience of your life"

He stays up all night researching everything ablout being ace, he gives you gifts related to this, finds out your love language and does what it is every day, he does every romantic thing you can think of and he even asks you to go to a pride in the human world!

He's willing to do all he can in order for you to feel loved in any way you want

Belphegor

Well, he did tried to kill you, so I'm pretty sure his betrayal hurt if you helped him for love

He knows you're at least a little scared of him and he knows he needs to apologize, but never finds the time because you always seem wary of him

He tries by leaving a note in your desk that says "I'm so sorry for what I did. Thank you for bringing our family back together"

This is the first smile he gets out of you as you look at him

This escalates to him passing notes whenever he's not asleep. In class, the table at dinner, outside while hanging out with you and Beel, anywhere. This happens so often you end up always having a pen in hand to answer.

It goes until one of you decides to speak, you start talking and become best friends in no time

Although Belphie seems too possesive for his feelings to be just friendship

Honey, if you thought Levi was bad he's nothing compared to Belphie

He uses every excuse to get you away from anyone that possibly flirts with you. It's either that or his death glare burning them for several minutes until they run or apologize

He always wants to be with you, even if he's sleeping he feels the lack of your prescence

This is why he always tries to convince you to take naps with him, snuggling with you is the best part of his day

If you're more of a night owl he'll do his best to stay awake and look at the stars with you in the planetarium. Sometimes falling asleep in your shoulders "on accident" wink wink

He mumbled about you in his sleep and that's how you found out and ended up dating

The relationship is pretty much the same with more kisses and hand holding, along with him convincing you to skip class sometimes just to sleep

Also plushies, a lot of them, all of them

You decide to tell him one day while snuggling beneath the stars. Being sure enough that he'll understand, although the nerves are still there

"Okay... so?"

You express your worries and he stands up looking almost menacingly but his words killed the scary mood

"Are you dumb? How did you think someone like me would even worry about that?"

"I'm not Asmo, beds are for sleeping. Come on, lets steal that cake Lucifer saved in the fridge, I heard it's sort of an inside joke between us."

After this he keeps asking you about the whole asexual spectrum, thinking he might be part of it. He's shows true interest at every question you answer and tries to use this new information for future dates.

All and all it's very relaxing to date someone like him, who surprisingly has a very loving and understanding heart behind what people are used to see.

#asexual #obey me leviathan #obey me beelzebub #obey me satan #obey me mammon #obey me lucifer #obey me belphegor #asexual mc #obey me #international asexuality day #obey me shall we date #obey me asmodeus #ace pride #ace

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hoe-doroki · 3 years

Text

passing the night stars

banner by @dymphnasprose

warning: reader has social anxiety

pairing: shinsou x reader (platonic or romantic)

genre: hurt/comfort

wc: 3.2k

summary: The party was neon and you needed darkness.

a/n: this is a gift for my SiL’s birthday today! To any astronomy nerds: I tried and I’m sorry.

edit: I no longer write x reader but here’s my old masterlist - mobile | desktop

There was something to be said about distance.

It was a buffer, quieting every voice, external and internal, until the only one left was that of the crickets singing over the lo-fi spilling out of the house behind you. You’d stepped away from the party long enough ago that the playlist had started over many songs back—you had no clue how many anymore. The distance turned the music’s thrumming into a quiet melody, the lyrics just as indistinguishable up close as here in the backyard, sitting on patio furniture that rocked lopsidedly in the grass.

Any filter would do, though. Anything that could soften the world just a little around its loud, coarse edges. The ice in your peach-flavored hurricane melting so that the drink was a little less saccharine. The rum casting a film over your mood, keeping your loneliness from dropping you into total dolor. The slight late-night breeze blowing the smoke from the fire pit away from you so that the acrid smell was stronger on the hood of your black sweatshirt than the air. It all muddled your emotions, numbing the buzzing overwhelm of the party to an anxious hum. The party had been neon, and out here you had a bit more darkness.

Without these buffers absorbing some of the furor, you might have escaped the party hours ago. Snuck out while the thing was still in full thrall, before social anxiety could hiss over your bones. Got out while you were ahead. Instead, you’d lasted as long as you could before out to the backyard with the near-dead fire, wracked with guilt at the prospect of leaving without saying goodbye, while too nervous to actually draw the attention to yourself necessary to actually say goodbye.

That wasn’t to say you hadn’t held up for a good while, though. You’d hung out with your friends when the fire had just gotten started and then when the party had moved indoors for drinking games and edibles. You’d hovered on the border as your friends grew more interested in dancing in drunken delay to the somniferous lo-fi beat than conversation. Then the itching had started in your brain, and before you knew it, you were out here, social battery drained dry, waiting for an indefinite future in which you could find the energy to escape.

You shivered as footsteps swiped through the grass, crickets chirping at the intruder.

“Did I surprise you?” Shinsou asked, his voice deep from booze or smoke or both. Or, maybe he was just tired, you figured, as the harsh light of the fire sharpened the bags under his eyes into dark creases.

“Breeze,” you mumbled, goosebumps rising on your wrists, standing the fine hairs on end. Only a few licks of heat from the pit were touching your knees, leaving the rest of you cold in your threadbare sweatshirt as the fire shrank smaller and smaller.

Shinsou had a blanket in his arms, ratty and certainly stolen from the back of the living room couch. He blinked at you for a second before he asked, “Can I join you?”

His voice was deadpan. Between the two of you, there was no real vocal inflection to speak of. Still, you shrugged one shoulder and said, “Sure.”

You stiffened when, instead of choosing one of the many other patio chairs or foldable camping chairs forming a friendly circle around the fire, he joined you on your bench, tossing a bit of blanket over your knees. You hardly realized you were staring at him until he said, “You’re cold, right?”

“Oh, yeah, a little,” you said, tucking your knees up to your chin and curling the scrap of blanket around your arms.

The blanket was raggedy in your hands, pilled on the hem, but warm from being indoors with all the dancing bodies. Plus, clinging onto it, running your thumb over the uneven texture gave you something to focus on instead of Shinsou’s body so close to yours.

Your senses were tingling, raw at having someone nearby again. It was too soon—you still didn’t have anything to say, no defense for why you’d dropped off from the party without a word.

But, on the other hand, being alone wasn’t fixing you either. Parts of your brain were still coiled taut as compression springs, and while they weren’t getting any tighter, they weren’t quite loosening yet either. It was rest, not recovery.

Abruptly—was it abrupt, or were you that zoned out?—Shinsou touched the back of his hand to yours, nearly making you flinch as he furrowed his brows at you. “How long have you been out here?” he asked, shifting towards you and pushing more of the blanket into your lap.

“Oh, um—” maybe a half an hour, maybe more, “—not that long.”

For that flash of contact, his skin had been hot against yours, so you could only imagine how cold your hands had felt to him. Your icy drink was probably mostly to blame, but you were also suddenly aware of how your shoulders were hunched nearly to your ears, your arms clenched to your sides like your chest might warm them. You piled the blanket a little more over your knees and one shoulder, only the hand holding your drink poking out.

“Hard being on the fringes,” he mused as he took a sip from a can. Possibly seltzer, probably beer.

You mirrored, tasting your own drink. It was really mostly water by now, though you were sure it was still painting your tongue orange.

Shinsou’s situation wasn’t much different than yours. Everyone in that house was old classmates. Shinsou was too, but he’d come late. Not too late to be friends, but late enough that it mattered. You were even later—not a classmate, but a post-high school roommate. You’d both landed on the side of Kaminari’s friend group, but neither of you were the core of it. The heart of it. That, for reasons you couldn’t quite understand, was Bakugou.

For some reason, you and Shinsou had never talked about this before.

“Hard being in a group big enough for there to be a fringe.”

Because, of course, it wasn’t just the Bakusquad here today. The majority of the old 3-A was here, those who weren’t on duty or suffering with early morning duty tomorrow. Enough people to certainly cause a ruckus and maybe a noise complaint that even pro heroes wouldn’t get out of.

“Touché”

The two of you fell into silence, and you couldn’t help but wonder exactly what had drawn Shinsou from the party. Even if he didn’t feel he was the most popular guy in the room, you’d seen the way he had the ability to talk to everyone. You weren’t sure if it was a product of his quirk or what, but he was able to start a conversation with everyone he met. He didn’t seem shy or anxious in the least.

Then again, that was just what he presented. You knew from that what you put forth in public wasn’t necessarily in line with what you were feeling.

It was hard to be the introvert around a group like yours. Worse—it was noticeable. This wasn’t the first time you’d stumbled away from a party, mind half gone not on alcohol or weed but on the sudden assault of attention, loud voices, and talk of hero work. Being one of the only non-heroes in the room was exhausting, and maybe that’s why you’d had to escape. Or maybe there never was a reason, good or otherwise, and you were just here because of your stupid self.

“Clear night,” Shinsou commented, “Don’t get to see much of the stars in the city.”

You looked up, a bright spot in the center of your vision from where you’d been staring into the fire. Almost everyone in your group lived in the city, not too far from each other, depending on your definition of the word. But those with quirks better suited outside the city, like Tsuyu and Koda, had moved out of town post graduation, granting the rest of you access to a night in the suburbs like this.

The truth was, you hardly looked up at the sky in the city. Tourists were always looking up, eyes glinting off the skyscrapers and billboards. But natives were always looking down, too aware of the fact that other natives didn’t always clean up after their dogs and, with so little grass, the sidewalk often needed a close eye kept to it.

But here, it was pretty. Not the smog-stained brown you were used to, but deep blue and twinkling with infinite pinpricks.

“Mm,” you hummed, taking another sip of your watery drink. “You’re right.”

“There’s Cassiopeia,” he said, pointing just over the tree line.

You followed his finger, unsure quite of what you were looking at. The stars hardly looked like clusters to you, especially on a night like this where you could see so many. It was more a broad network of them, either all connected or all individual. All the stars or just a star.

“You know constellations?” you asked, ears latching onto something that finally wasn’t hero related. Truth be told, you probably knew less about stars than you did about hero work but it was less alienating. You could lean into it.

“Some,” he offered. “Cassiopeia is a basic one.”

“Where is it?”

Shinsou glanced at you, leaning in closer so that his finger could match your gaze. You shoulders knocked and you could feel his wild hair against your own. His finger traced down and up, down and up in a cockeyed W. “Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda.”

“She’s a woman?”

It was any wonder that ancient people had looked into the night sky and seen things like rams and bulls, creating a whole woman out of a few diagonal lines. Still, you listened to Shinsou, his low voice rumbling into your tired bones as he began.

“A beautiful woman,” he answered. “In Greek myth, she thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Her boastfulness made Poseidon angry, so he created a sea monster that Andromeda was sacrificed to. Andromeda was left to await her fate when Perseus, who had just killed Medusa, used Medusa’s head to turn the sea monster to stone. After saving Andromeda, the two of them got married, and when they died, they both became constellations alongside Cassiopeia.”

Shinsou’s voice was husky and even as he told the story. The cadences were easy drops, landing you softly before he started up again with his next thought. It was a voice you could be rocked by, a voice you could be held by.

“Do you know where they are too?”

“Just below,” Shinsou said. “Probably come up just in time for the sun to make them invisible.”

“That’s too bad,” you said, curling deeper into the blanket, curling so that on shoulder leaned more onto the bench than the other. You head was almost resting on Shinsou’s shoulder and you could feel his warmth radiating in the cold night. “How do you know all this?”

Shinsou was quiet for a second and your nerves spiked again. You hadn’t even felt them relax, but suddenly your anxiety was scratching again, wondering if you’d misspoke. Or maybe you’d whispered it and he just hadn’t heard you? Before you could decide whether to say it again or apologize, though, he let out a sigh that jostled the blanket.

“Jack of all trades, master of none,” he said by way of explanation.

You cocked your head. Perhaps it was just a good hobby for an insomniac, but you were unsure about the evasiveness. “Did you have to learn a lot for general studies? Or to get in to U.A.?”

“…Yeah.”

You could only imagine. U.A. was an incredibly competitive school for heroes, but that was a specialized course. For general studies you didn’t need to have the physical prowess or the other particular skills that came with heroics, but you had to be an ace in school. It was no small feat to get into general studies, especially while you were trying to pursue something else. You were satisfied with that, ready to let it go and return to the near silence of the crickets and the fire popping, when Shinsou suddenly continued.

“When it looked like my plans to become a hero wouldn’t pan out,” Shinsou began, his words slow, tired, “my parents encouraged me into any and all other interests. None stuck.”

“Oh,” you said quietly, the personal admission taking you aback.

For all the times you’d seen Shinsou talk effortlessly with people in a room, you weren’t sure how personal or vulnerable you’d ever seen him. He seemed comfortable enough probing other people, but this was new. It made the space between you suddenly seem private—so different from the party you’d escaped from. You could still hear the ambient noises of a couple dozen people in there having a good time, but it was suddenly a world away.

“I’m sorry, Shinsou,” you said, brows furrowing as you glanced his eyes, still gazing up at the stars. His parents had probably thought they were being supportive, but it wasn’t the support he’d desired.

“It is what it is,” he said. “It worked out in the end.”

There was the smallest smile on his face at that, barely betraying what must have been true joy at having a dream slip through his fingers only to fly back to him. And he’d earned every bit of it, even if he wanted to keep it to himself.

“So now,” you began softly, “you just have a lot of little things that you can offer people. The little things you could have been. That’s not so bad, right?”

“No, it’s not so bad,” he agreed. “I always liked that story.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Japanese astronomy varies so much from region to region and is usually about more functional things. Harvest, seasons. But these other myths about people with no chance of being heroes becoming ones anyway…”

He trailed off, but the sentiment was there. Trapped in the things he’d done to try and leave heroism behind were little vestiges. The inescapable fact that he was meant to be a hero and would be one anyway, even if the world told him he was a villain, doomed for failure.

The stories had been true.

“Are you feeling better now?” he asked, surprising you.

“Feeling better?”

“You’d been out here for over an hour,” Shinsou stated. “Your eyes were glassy and distant and you were freezing and you didn’t seem to notice.”

“Oh,” you intoned. You hadn’t realized it had been that long. You were sure it had only been half that time.

“You don’t have to tell me anything,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay.”

“No, I’m fine,” you said truthfully. “I’m fine now.”

The anxiety from earlier that had been buzzing through you had kept you awake, all while thoroughly draining you. You’d hardly realized just how much until now, with your body not just feeling settled but heavy. The stress had run straight through you, and now you bore the fatigue.

Shinsou glanced down at you out of the corner of his eye. His brows raised and it lifted his whole face, making the dark circles under his eyes just a little less stark. “You look exhausted.”

“You always look exhausted,” you retorted, your first little grin curving along your lips.

In his surprise, Shinsou smiled too. “I know that. Here.”

Shinsou took your forgotten drink from your hand and set it down, then patted his shoulder.

“You should rest for a little while.”

Your eyes met his, searching for anything that looked like obligation or impatience. But there was none. Just a surprising amount of openness and a pretty shade of purple.

“Do you have more myths?”

Shinsou smiled and, once again, his gaze went up to the stars. As he started another tale, you snuggled onto his shoulder, the rest of your body drawing closer to his as well. He didn’t wait long to begin speaking, talking in more detail than he had before. There was no reason to be concerned that he might be boring you, or that you didn’t want to hear it. Really, these stories, these stars that had brought him even the tiniest speck of light were just what you needed too.

You weren’t sure when you fell asleep, and you weren’t sure when you woke up. But when you blinked your eyes awake, the first thing you noticed was that Cassiopeia hadn’t moved far. The second was the feeling of Shinsou’s head tilted against yours, his breath like gentle waves under you.

You shifted, signaling that you were awake, and Shinsou did too, his head lifting from yours. At some point, his arm had wrapped around you, encasing you in his warmth. He didn’t move it, not yet, as your body creaked and you forced yourself to sit up.

“How long?” you murmured, voice barely raspy with sleep.

“Not that long,” Shinsou answered, echoing your reply from earlier.

He didn’t look at his phone or a watch, and hadn’t since he’d come out, so you wondered if he had any clue. Or if it simply hadn’t felt long. Somehow, the idea that his time spent with you hadn’t felt long was a comfort, a relief.

“How are you feeling?”

You checked in, feeling that grogginess that always came in the wake of an intense mental episode. Your brain struggling to catch up and survey the backlash from its earlier antics. That would go away. It always did. “I’m good.”

Shinsou continued to look at you, switching between each eye, double checking your expression for any lie. But he must not have found any, for he leaned back into the bench and relaxed, that tiny ghost of a smile back on his face.

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said, gazing out again. “You out here alone before? It had been…well, we were…I wanted to check on you.”

For the first time, Shinsou looked almost a little shy, and you couldn’t help but smile, touched. You put a hand on the shoulder that had just taken your weight and brought his gaze back to you. “Thank you.”

There actually was one thing you knew about stars. You’d heard that every light year a star was away from you was a year into the past you were seeing its light. Looking at the stars was looking millions of years into the past. Despite the fact that these selfsame stars connected you to humans around the world today and those of old, that filter of distance and time rendered them ancient, if not already gone.

But as you looked at Shinsou, their soft, silvery starlight illuminating one side while the last dancing coals of the fire glowed on the other, you were sure that this was the opposite. This wasn’t old or past or known to anyone but the two of you. This wasn’t the stars or even the stories inspired by them.

This was just beginning.

#shinsou x reader #shinso x reader #hitoshi shinsou #hitoshi shinso #bnha x reader #mha x reader #shinsou fanfiction #shinso fanfiction #bnha fanfic #bnha fanfiction #mha fanfic #mha fanfiction #tw: anxiety

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jaxsteamblog · 3 years

Text

Day 5: Soulmarks

This is a re-post of my 2019 one-shot “Destiny and the Domino Effect.” It’s a Modern AU that isn’t my faux flower shop thing. Click on the title to read it on AO3, or keep reading under the cut!

The day Katara got her mark, she was beset by nervous laughter. Her hands shook and Suki had to take the picture for her YoPic account. Aang smiled patiently and placed his hand on the table palm down. After taking a breath, Katara set hers down, having their pinkies touch. Suki took the picture and handed the phone to Aang, as Katara was still shaking.

It’s a match! #GotMarked #Blessed #ToldYaWeWereSoulmates

The rest of the day was a blur. They had to call Hakoda and the congratulatory texts started to pour in. Needing a moment to herself, Katara went into the bedroom of their apartment and shut the door. As she sat on the edge of the bed, she felt her phone buzz and pulled it out of her pocket.

Guess I’m the last one left. You owe me a very expensive bottle of wine.

Katara smiled and let her shoulders fall.

The Soulmate’s mark was anxiety inducing. As soon as the person was “sure” or in a place where they could safely admit their feelings, then the mark would pop up. This meant that one person could get their mark before their partner.

Sometimes it ended fine. Sokka had gotten his before Suki, and the weeks between had kind of been a mess. When he stressed, he worried that his attitude would delay Suki’s mark even more, and other times he just held onto his belief that Suki’s mark would match his. And it did.

Sometimes it ended horribly. Mai hadn’t been bothered when she had gotten her mark while Zuko would boil over from time to time from the anxiety. Then, one day and matter-of-fact, Mai informed him that someone else had her mark and she left.

Book-ending these events was this pairing. Aang had gotten his mark very early into knowing Katara, and had been convinced from day one that it was meant for her. After every holiday, birthday, special event, or particularly romantic date, Katara would stare at her hands, willing them to change.

Toph had to intervene, dragging both her and Zuko out to a very weird resort for two weeks. Katara could only remember a few of those days, as the rest had been obliterated by alcohol or sheer terror from the “bonding excursions” Toph had planned.

One night, she and Zuko had escaped. They hid themselves away and talked about everything other than their lack of marks. At the end, they had agreed that whomever got their mark first had to buy the other a very expensive bottle of wine.

I’ll buy you the finest vintage I can find in the FastMart.

Katara sent the text and fell backward onto the bed. Lifting up her arm, she looked at the back of her hand.

The marks were supposed to be special. It represented the couple and was supposed to be meaningful.

Aang said their mark was a mix of their cultures, but Katara only saw a curled arrow.

Katara covered her face with her hands and sighed.

Aang wasn’t a big traditionalist, so they had agreed on a small ceremony. Still, there was planning to do, and Katara did most of the running around. Aang helped when he was asked, but offered no input, saying he didn’t mind since at the end they would be just as married no matter what happened.

So weeks passed and Katara barely had time to think. With the mounting stress, Aang decided it would be best if he gave her space. He and a group from his work had planned an office trip to a nearby mountain to go skiing and would be gone for the weekend.

“You should try to relax. Why don’t you hang out or something?” He said and kissed her goodbye.

When Katara did see Zuko again, he was the one with the wine. She let him into the apartment and ushered Appa back onto his massive pillow. Even though he always said it was fine, Katara always felt bad about the dog hair that invariably ended up covering Zuko’s nice clothes.

They transitioned in a rush of radio static. She fumbled over his congratulations, thanking him for the wine. Holding out her hands to take his coat but being handed the bottle. They laughed, and Katara stared at the label in silence as Zuko hung up his coat. Then Katara remembered she had to uncork it and darted into the kitchen.

She asked about his drive as she dug in the corkscrew. He answered apathetically as he moved around her to grab two glasses. She frowned as she tried to pull the cork out and he chuckled. At his insistence, she handed him the bottle and saw her mark. She lowered her hand to her side as he pulled out the cork with a loud POP! He handed her the bottle, talking about the vintage, and she poured. He twisted the cork off the screw and mentioned a new take out place had opened a few blocks away. She replied it didn’t have many vegetarian options so she didn’t eat there often. She handed him a glass and took up her own.

“Cheers.” Katara said.

“Congratulations.” Zuko replied and they clinked glasses.

Katara took a slow sip and looked back down at the counter. The cork looked like one of the government seal stamps. The corkscrew was neatly folded next to it like a closed inkpad.

“So how do you feel?” Zuko asked. Katara swirled her glass and watched the oily arches.

“Relieved.” She answered quickly.

“Not excited?”

Katara looked over at him.

“Should I be?”

“Well, I mean, most people don’t sound so…”

“So what?”

“Most couples are just more excited when they match.”

“Well, we all already knew it was coming, right?”

“Not everything is a sure thing.”

Katara and Zuko turned away from each other as they drank in silence. Katara leaned against the counter as Zuko walked to the other side. She set down her glass and started to spin the corkscrew.

“It was just a lot of pressure. Having his expectation and nothing ever happening.” Katara stopped the corkscrew. “It’s nice to not have to worry about it.”

When Zuko didn’t respond, Katara looked up at him.

“What?”

“When did it happen?”

“My mark?”

“Yeah.”

Katara covered up her hesitation by drinking more of her wine.

“I just made the decision to be sure.”

“So you resigned yourself to it?”

“That’s not.” Katara felt her whole body warm as she lurched forward. “That is crossing the line Zuko.”

“You are absolutely right and I sincerely apologize for that.” Zuko sighed and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. He finally gave in and leaned against the opposite corner, but still kept hold of his glass.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it isn’t. I’m being a jerk because I’m frustrated and I will do better to not be such a jerk.”

Katara looked down at her glass.

“I appreciate you letting me off the hook so easy,” Zuko said. “but you don’t need to cover for my bad behavior.”

Katara snapped her eyes back up. “Do you think that’s what I’m doing?”

Zuko flinched and his eyes widened. “I, no? I just mean, I was told I shouldn't rely on other people making my apologies for me.”

“Yeah, but I already know you. I know that if I call you out and you apologize, you mean it. We already got to this point.”

Zuko gave her a wry smile. “You were the first one to trust me.”

Katara gave a sharp laugh, but then sighed. “And you understood me.”

They lapsed into silence again, and the air felt cool between them.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked.

They talked until they finished the bottle. Then, while Katara ordered takeout from the new place, Zuko ran down to his car, bringing up two more. They talked over food and the next bottle. They talked as they took Appa out on a night walk. They talked as they sat on the floor of the kitchen, sharing the cold remains of takeout and the last bottle.

They never stayed on one topic for long, and as the night crept past midnight, Katara wouldn’t have been able to follow one thread anyway.

“Did I ever tell you about-” Katara stopped herself and snapped her mouth shut. Zuko tilted his head and looked at her.

“What?”

“No, I know I told you already.”

“Tell me again.”

“No, that’s boring.”

“You thought about it for a reason. I want to know what just popped into your head and then I am going to evis-, eviths-, evisceserate the reason for my own amusement.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Oh I forgot to say.”

“What?”

“Nice glass house you got here.”

Zuko took a drink as Katara picked up a chopstick and threw it at him.

At some point, she fell asleep. She could remember Zuko carrying her to bed and when she woke, there was a glass of water and two white tablets.

When Katara exited her bedroom, she was more hydrated, in her pajamas, and a little bit cleaner. The rest of her apartment was quiet, and she wondered if Zuko had already left.

Then she walked into the living room and saw him splayed out on the couch.

Leaving him there, Katara set about making breakfast. When the eggs were frying, Zuko shuffled in and grabbed a piece of bacon on his way to the coffee pot.

“How are you feeling buddy?” Katara asked, smiling as she swirled the eggs with chopsticks.

“Rough.” He mumbled

“Go wash your face or something. It’ll help.”

Zuko made some sort of grumbling grunt and shuffled to the bathroom. He had not abandoned his coffee mug.

They ate and when Katara took Appa out, Zuko cleaned up. She was surprised that she found him ready to leave when she returned.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. I have to get some things done.”

Katara stayed quiet as she knelt down to unclip Appa’s leash. Once free, Appa bounded away to his water bowl. She watched the dog’s shaggy body wiggle as he lapped greedily, making the bowl jump on the rubber mat.

A pale hand came into view and Katara took it. Her hand still held the leash, so she looked down as once again she was awkwardly fumbling.

Then she saw the hand.

“Or are you meeting someone?” Katara asked slyly.

“What do you mean?”

Katara, still holding Zuko’s hand, held it up with a broad grin.

“You got your mark!” She said excitedly. As happy as she knew she was, her hangover made her stomach sour and it felt like an empty pit.

“Are you serious?” Zuko blurted.

Not wanting to see his face, Katara looked at their clasped hands.

“It looks like a wave of fire.” Zuko said.

“I know.” Katara whispered, seeing the exact same mark.

And no curling arrow.

#zutara #zutara month 2021 #zutara month #soulmate mark #fanfiction

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expired-blueberries · 3 years

Note

Ooh what’s the headcanon for frank tennyson you mentioned in the tags in that one post??

okay so forgive the delay in answering but i wanted to rewatch the single episode we ever saw frank in (What Are Little Girls Made Of, aka the one where we first see verdona) just so i could be sure i had my facts straight lol

ANYWAY this is actually gonna be a two part answer, but ill put the headcanons in a list and then ill put more of an analysis (not really an analysis because i dont have time but more of a rambling of my thoughts lol) under a readmore

- i cant remember if its canon that frank is a lawyer or not. i feel like i remember it being mentioned in canon once but im not positive. so if thats not canon then thats the headcanon

- following that, lawyers work long hours; frank probably isnt at home very often (and we also know this because he only shows up in One. Single. Episode), opting instead to work late at the office.

- my guess is that natalie is more of the disciplinarian both because of his long house but also because natalie is more uptight than frank is. frank has to be some measure of Not Uptight by virtue of his upbringing with verdona (if he were completely rigid in all things he Would Have Snapped at this point)

basically frank just isnt in gwens life as often as would be best. i am NOT absolving him of the blame, he 100% should have told gwen of their alien heritage and took more of an interest in her life, but theres only so much time in the day i guess and at the end of it if your only daughter is healthy and seemingly happy, theres only so much you can do.

- also my last headcanon (that does not in any way relate to the previous headcanons) is that frank (and carl and ken and ben) DOES have anodite energy locked away inside of him, but that anodite dna is dormant... until its given a reason not to be. (remember, frank can sense when verdona is around even when shes invisible, despite, in verdonas words, ‘not having the spark’

gwen was able to learn magic and use powers BECAUSE she was exposed to high levels of magic (hex and charmcaster fights when she was 10, along with the charms of bezel) and also high levels of STRESS (literally her entire life). frank and carl were both kept in the dark about max being a plumber; they both knew he had a double life but they werent sure what it was (carl says this in the episode Grounded, the one where bens parents find out about the omnitrix). frank and carl all told have a pretty calm life, even when they were kids, and despite being around verdona and her mana for some of the time (i imagine she was still just a free spirited then, and probably especially as they got older and were more capable of taking care of themselves, she probably stayed around less and less until she finally left them). if they were put under a high level of stress and a more constant stream of mana, then they would unlock their powers. frank has gwen around, but low stress. carl has decidedly more stress (remember the highbreed fight? also his son is literally the most famous, and most sought after person in the galaxy), but a lower stream of mana. i imagine the omnitrix probably lcoks down the anodite dna so it can keep the human dna sample (ben) as close to human as possible. ken, now in college, has zero mana stream near him, but a relatively high amount of stress (both the dnalien attack and also, just, college). i imagine he might unlock his powers if he were to ever become a plumber and spend more time with gwen.

when i rewatched the episode, one of the things that stood out to me was frank commenting on not being allowed into gwens room for ‘quite some time.’ thats pretty normal for a teen, but then we remember that gwen has been studying magic for the last five years, since she was ten, so i think thats probably originally when she stopped letting him into her room, so that she could hide her spellbooks and magical artifacts etc. BUT we also know that frank is the one that she invites into her room and the one she tells about meeting with verdona. she DOESNT invite natalie into the room, despite natalie being just downstairs. gwen trusts her dad more than her mom and believes he wont dismiss her concerns (he does dismiss her magic ‘hobby’ but then goes on to explain that there is no such thing as magic, just aliens, so im willing to let that one slide) .

frank smiles when gwen talks about possibly going with verdona, then frowns when natalie talks about ‘wishing [gwen] had taken after [natalies] side of the family’, but then smiles when gwen talks about going again, and says they wont stand in her way. more than anything, including his interactions with verdona, this tells me he (and natalie) have been thinking on this for a long time. he says he and natalie had both thought gwen wasnt an anodite since she hadnt shown any sign of the spark by alien force, but my guess is that, like his mother leaving for anodyne as soon as carl and frank were out of the house (probably late teens or early 20s), he expected that if gwen WERE to be an anodite, she would follow the same path. gwen, however, is sad that they ‘wont stand in her way’.

gwen needs to feel like shes wanted around. her parents arent telling her to go, but they arent telling her to stay; same with ben. later in the episode, gwen talks about loving her life, but she specifically mentions crime fighting and hobbies, not bringing up family. she isnt as close with her parents as she could/should be, same for them with her.

theres a few things throughout the episode (usually done or said by verdona) that hint at the type of life frank had growing up. verdona talks multiple times about frank not having the spark, even saying ‘there was nothing [she] could do’ in regards to him at one point. verdona refuses to listen to gwen not wanting to leave at first, dismissing it as a tantrum. she outright says that 16 is too young to make up a mind. verdona is curt with kevin because he isnt an energy being, and doesnt really care for anything ben has to say because hes the same way. once she left, verdona hadnt visited the family for ‘quite some time’, presumably ever since ben and gwen were born, and once she noted they werent anodites, she left again.

basically, frank (and carl) grew up with a dad with a double life (which they knew about but were NEVER told the NATURE of, not until they forcibly found out during af) and a freespirited mother who seems hung up on her children not being what she wants them to be, and who left as soon as she could. frank, i imagine, probably had to take care of carl a lot as the older brother, especially with a flighty mother around. frank doesnt seem to harbor any hard feelings towards verdona, but seems to take it more as a ‘this is the way she is, there is no changing it’ sort of way. so i guess frank is more used to having to go with the flow than anything else

(this isnt a jab at verdona - she was away from her home planet and her people, she and her husband were growing apart, and neither of her children were like her; she was effectively alone and i dont necessarily blame her for wanting to leave. granted, i still think she was probably in the wrong more than in the right, but still.)

listen im SO sorry this is so jumbled i wanted to organize it better but its 7 am and i havent slept yet lol

#ben 10 #blue talks #man i know i should individually tag all the rest of the series but im just not feeling it lol #frank tennyson #vreedleedleedle

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waitingat-thefrontgate · 3 years

Text

Hell Was The Journey

Summary: Max and Spencer's almost meet...two times before they do

Word Count: 1769

Authors Note: I love Max. I love Spencer and Max's relationship. I also LOVE Taylor Swift, so when I was listening to invisible string I couldn't help but wonder how that'd be a cute Maxcer fic. So here I am! I made a separate account to post this. I hope you enjoy!

p.s this isn't probably the first fic inspired by that song, but I am pretty sure it is the first Maxer one. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

4x8

Max let out a deep sigh as she checked her watch. She had an hour before she had to head to her student teaching placement, an hour she wouldn’t have if her professor didn’t end class early.

“Come on Max, let’s act like college students and do something on campus” her classmate Leah said.

Before Max could respond, Leah had already pulled Max off to a direction.

“You know we could be lesson planning. Or even better, go somewhere to eat!” Max grumbled as she would have preferred to spend the hour decompressing her teaching credential program’s tough schedule. Although she looked forward to seeing her students and loved being able to share the passion of art with others, Max still couldn’t help but wonder if this was what she was supposed to do with her life. She followed her mom’s advice about pursuing something she loved, but an art history degree unfortunately isn’t getting her job interviews.

Ignoring her, Leah stopped at a bulletin board that listed all the current events that were going on campus. “Max! They are holding an FBI recruitment seminar in a few minutes, we should go!”

“I don’t think the FBI will be impressed with my 5’2 stature and art history degree” Max snorts and shakes her head. “Besides, we are pretty knee deep in another career path.”

“I know that, but who knows who we’ll meet. Maybe some cute guys are interested, or better yet, maybe there’s some hot FBI agents here already. Let’s go!!” Without giving Max the second to respond, Leah at pulled her off to the direction of the building the FBI seminar was held.

They arrived a few minutes before it started. The presenter was an older man, who seemed to be already chatting with another attendee, who seemed to be dressed to impress wearing a suit and tie. It wasn’t until the younger man turned around that his holstered weapon was visible.

“What have I been doing wrong if he’s in the FBI. He looks about our age” Leah whispered.

Before Max could respond, her phone starting buzzing. Leah sent Max death glares as she picked up the phone, her brother-in-law Jared doesn’t call her unless it’s important.

“Hello?”

“Michelle’s in labor! We’re on our way to the hospital now. Meet us when you can!” Jared hung up right after his last words, probably calling the rest of the family.

After a few seconds of shock and the reality that her sister was going to be a mother, and Max would be an aunt registered, Max gathered her things right as the presenters started introducing themselves.

“Hello, good afternoon my name is David Rossi and I hav-“Leah looked at Max waiting for an answer as to why she was just leaving so quick.

“Sorry I’ll call you later” Max whispered, “let me know how it goes!” She slides out the door and starts running towards her car, knowing she will be meeting her niece or nephew very soon

10x9

Max couldn’t believe the news about her friend Jessica. Although her and Jessica haven’t been close ever since she went behind Max’s back and dated Mike Davis a week after they broke up, she was still horrified and saddened by the details of her death. Max knew that Jessica wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but she was a business owner, and her responses were always out of fear and stress about making ends meet.

She had already been in contact with other mutual friends she shared with Jessica, and she began scrolling through old pictures she had.

Max thought for a very long time that Mike Davis was going to be the man she’d marry. After a tough time getting a steady teaching job and losing her mother, Max so desperately wanted something she could say was hers. This led to her moving quickly with Mike and missing (and ignoring) the clear red flags. Even after the cheating and lying, Max was willing to forgive Mike. No matter how many times they broke up, Max always hoped for the day Mike would just pick her, and only her.

Feeling guilty about practically ending her friendship over a guy like that, Max sighed as she grabbed her keys to head to work. That’s when she jumped over her phone ringing.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Maxine Brenner?” a deep voice asked.

“Yes, yes this is her. May I ask who I’m speaking with?”

“My name is Aaron Hotchner, I work with the FBI and I’m calling to ask you questions about your friend, Jessica Harris. She had you listed as an emergency contact.”

Max’s heart stopped. She didn’t know. “Yes, yes of course. We haven’t been in contact as much, but I want to help however I can.”

“Would you be able to stop by our office this morning?”

Max bit her lip. She had already used all personal and sick days, and her current principal was everything but understanding. “I’m on my way to work right now, and unfortunately won’t have time until this afternoon.”

“I understand. Give me a second and I’ll connect you with another agent who can talk to you on the phone, and they’ll see if you should come down again this afternoon.” At the bureau, Aaron looks out his office window. He sees Spencer looking at the board of the case with the pictures of the victims and their location.

Aaron steps out of his office, enough for Spencer to hear him, “Hey Reid, I have a contact that knows Jessica on the phone right now, can you ask her some questions?”

Spencer doesn’t turn around. “I can’t right at this moment, I’m still putting together information about our other victim”

Aaron scans the room and noticed Anderson without a task. “Anderson! I’m gonna patch you with someone who knew one of our victims. If anything seems worthy have her come down this afternoon.”

Max twiddled her thumb until finally she hears another voice, “Hello, my name is Agent Anderson and I’ll be asking you a few questions about Jessica.”

During her entire commute, Max answered questions about Jessica truthfully. She winced when she realized she didn’t have many good things to say about her. Agent Anderson thanked her, and as of right now he doesn’t see a need for her to come down. Max thanked him and grabbed her things and walked towards her school. She knew her students would be able to make her smile.

15x4

It was Saturday morning and Max smiled as her nephew talked about school over breakfast. Her nephew was almost as tall as she was, but she still remembers how small he was when she first held him all those years.

She finally felt like she was in a good place. After many years of struggling silently Max got the strength to go to therapy and take the time and energy to truly heal. It was hard, she always found pride in her independence and her high walls. The decision to go wasn’t easy, but when she realized how much it was affecting her relationship with Sammy, she knew she had to go. For the first time, she talked about her childhood and the pressure of growing behind her sister Michelle’s shadow, losing her mother and her toxic, fast paced and short lived relationships.

For almost two years, she had been applying the advice her therapist had gave her. She took care of herself, began putting effort in her relationships with her family, especially Michelle, and instead of ignoring the topic of her mother, she talked and remembered her fondly. She even got in touch with a headhunter, considering maybe it was time to leave teaching and find something that was meant for her. The other day she even thought about asking her brother-in-law if any of his coworkers were single, but she didn’t because she still wasn’t sure she was ready for that.

“Max, can we get cinnamon rolls at the coffee shop we always go with my mom?” Sammy looked up with big puppy dogs eyes.

“Sammy, we just finished eating. You sure you have room?” Max raised her eyebrow as she paid the bill.

Sammy thought for a minute, “I actually don’t know. But the park is right there so we can always go there for a bit.”

“Mhhh,” Max thought for a minute herself. She looked out and saw that it was a beautiful day in D.C and she would appreciate more time with her nephew, “Alright, let’s swing by the park!”

When they got there, the parking was full. She did a few laps, and she was ready to give up, “Sammy, I don’t think it’s possible we’re gonna have to try again another time.” Max turned her blinker to turn on the road again to drop Sammy off at his house.

“Awe come on Max! It’ll be quick I promise!” Sammy gave his best puppy eyes and Max knew who would get their way.

She turned her car around and parked on a no parking area and turned to Sammy. “We have to be SO quick.”

Sometime past season 15

Max looked out the window of her dad’s house as she plans the summer programs for the Smithsonian. Spencer was teaching Sammy a new magic trick as the rest of her family preps dinner outside. It had been almost two years since that Saturday at the park. Something that wouldn’t have happened if she didn’t make that spur of a moment decision.

Spencer and Max had already realized the two times their paths would have crossed. It was more decisions that delayed their meeting, but they both agreed that they were supposed to meet on that Saturday. They had to go through things, change, hurt and grow to be the person they were today. The person that was right for the other.

Hell was the journey but it brought me heaven.

Max put her things away. There was something that connected her with Spencer, and today, she thanked that thing a little more. She reached her bag that had a positive pregnancy test. Holding it close to her heart, she thought back of all the things that had happened, and she would do it again to be with Spencer and grow their family.

Spencer saw Max walking down to join them, he grins and thinks to himself he will never get over seeing her. He still feels like that Saturday night when he found her again after waiting in the hospital.

“Took you long enough” Spencer says as he laugh

#Maxcer #Spencer x max #max brenner #invisible string #first fic please be nice

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