#surprises

[nobeerreviews]

It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time.

-- Barbara Kingsolver

(Bistrița, Romania)

#memory #surprises #unnoticed #barbara kingsolver #travel photography #bistrita #romania #quote

[atths--twice]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve imagined this scenario. We should have had it.

But since we didn’t, how about a little fic instead? 😊

The abandoned garage offers no assistance for their overheating car as the suspect they’re chasing gains ground. Mulder sees a motorcycle and hurries to find the keys.

“Mulder,” Scully shouts, as he runs to it and sits down, grinning as he starts it up. “You know how to drive a motorcycle?”

“Yeah, I do,” he yells back, revving the engine and gesturing for her to get on with a tilt of his head. “Hurry, Scully. We need to go.”

She stares at him and he nods. She puts a hand on his shoulder and throws a leg over the bike, sitting down behind him.

“Hold on tight,” he yells, moving her hand to his waist and squeezing reassuringly before grabbing the handlebars.

Her heart rate speeds up instantly, her breathing increasing as she puts her other arm around his waist and holds tightly, the scent of his leather jacket filling her nose.

“Ready?” he yells and though she is the farthest thing from it, she nods against his back.

With one more squeeze to her hand, he pushes the kickstand up and they swerve a second as he steadies the motorcycle and they speed out of the garage. Her grip intensifies, both with her arms and thighs, as the wind rushes past them and she closes her eyes, her cheek pressed against his back.

His right hand squeezes her knee once and she raises her head, her eyes flying open and her heart racing from the simple touch, even as she immediately feels calmer.

“Remind me to take you for a ride under better circumstances,” he yells back to her and she laughs nervously, her knee feeling as though it is burning.

She closes her eyes again, her cheek once more pressed against his back, as they hurry down the road to catch their suspect.

Her grip tightens as they lean to the left and she gasps.

No, she thinks as very unpartnerlike thoughts enter her head and refuse to leave, her face flushing as her thighs press into him. No, I definitely won’t be reminding you.

Or would she?

#xf fanfic #the x files #Twitter #quick prompt idea #motorcycle #surprises #not exactly pure thoughts

[ladykissingfish]

*Sakura decorating her apartment for Christmas, with Kakashi helping her*

Sakura: Okay … windows look good, the tree looks good …

Kakashi: I don’t know, kid; I think maybe you could use some more green tinsel around the doorframes.

Sakura, sighing: Green. Her favorite color. The asshole.

Kakashi: Now, now. You know this isn’t her fault; if anything, you should be blaming me, that Ino’s not here. I’m the one who sent her on that mission, after all.

Sakura: No; you gave her a choice. You told her she could either take this mission before or after Christmas. She chose before, even knowing that she’d likely never make it back in time. *sighs, sits on the couch* Guess our relationship isn’t as good as I’d thought …

Kakashi: Sakura …

Sakura: But I guess I can’t blame her. She’s probably sick of me by now. We spend so much time together, out on missions, at the hospital, and now living together? She probably needed this break. Kakashi: My dear, sweet child; I think you need to have more faith in your girlfriend. It’s the holiday season, isn’t it? The perfect time for surprises. Maybe she’s —

Sakura: Unless she’s hiding naked in my closet right now, I don’t want to hear about “surprises”, Sensei. I —

*a muffled voice from Sakura’s closet*

Ino: Not entirely naked, you jerk. I’m wearing a bow.

Sakura:

Kakashi, preparing to hightail it out of there:

#inosaku #sakuino #christmas #christmas 2023 #surprises #a pretty blonde wrapped in a shiny bow … Sakura and Sasori have a lot in common this holiday season #poor Kakashi tho #man’s has been through enough he doesn’t need to be present to see his babies getting it on 😭 #kakashi hatake #hokage kakashi #sakura haruno #ino yamanaka

[pearlypairings]

birthday ficlet: photocheer with surprising with a bouquet paired with “you remembered?” if that’s okay!! happy birthday!!

jonathan x chrissy || fluff, romantic || 100 words!!

A/N: thank you babe! this one gave me such a strong visual that I actually wrote my first ever official-official drabble!! hope you like it:)

yesterday's prompt

She found him standing at the base of the stairs. Jonathan often worked late, but always made it up to Chrissy; her birthday was no exception. A bouquet of the prettiest pink peonies threatened to burst out of its vase. She’d only mentioned once in passing that she never liked roses, and when they’d gone to the garden center she’d stopped to smell one of the potted displays filled with tiny peony blooms. Chrissy rushed down the flood of steps, stopping short on the last one, and her eyes watered at the sight of his tired, smiling eyes. “You remembered?”

#pearly birthday prompts #third prompt! #s'cute! #photocheer #fluff #romantic #jonathan x chrissy #jonathan byers #chrissy cunningham #surprises #birthday bouquets #stranger things drabble #strangerpairs #firefly graphics dividers

[eris-snow]

𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬

Tags: fluff, bakugou x gn!reader

The clouds were grey around my flat.

My kitchen was empty.

And I was alone.

Imagine bakugou standing in your kitchen, cooking your favourite meal that's warm and cosy and perfect.

It's about to rain as well, you just tumbled through the door like the wreck you are and he's just standing there in your kitchen. He wears a faded pink apron as you start to peel off your shoes.

Bakugou never gets home before you, you would absentmindedly think, but seeing him there with that mouthwatering aroma wafting around the house makes your stomach growl and brush it off.

He hears you, of course, and grins. He's still as handsome as before, but he has an air of maturity around him that he didn't have before.

You greet him with a tired and surprised smile, but you know he can see how your eyes light up excitedly. He would hum lightly as you come up behind him and coo,

"What brings you home so early, Katsuki? Did you get half a day off?"

He chuckles, turning off the gas and simultaneously lifts the pan off the fire and assembles the dish onto the plate.

"Shitty Hair told me that he'd cover me today. I wanted to surprise your overworked ass," Bakugou's words are teasing when he holds up two plates of the scrumptious dinner.

"You almost came too early, idiot."

You pout at the nickname, but it brightens your mood because today wasn't even a special day or anything. It was just an ordinary, plain Friday that most of the time, you don't get to see your husband on.

"Thank you, Kats'" You whisper, voice soft because you're just so touched that after being married to him for over 3 years, he still does these things for you.

"Your surprises always work wonders."

#bakugou fluff #fluff #mha fanfiction #bakugou katuski x reader #bakugo x you #bakugou x y/n #bakugou katsuki #katsuki bakugō #mha #surprises

[bloody-bee-tea]

Happy birthday

Satoru happily skips through his apartment. It’s his birthday this Thursday and while that itself doesn’t mean too much to him, it does mean that Suguru will be coming back, at least for a little while.

He's been abroad for so long already and the only times Satoru ever gets to see him these days are during Suguru’s birthday or his own. And then he has to go through nine agonizing months of not seeing him again, before they get to do it all over again.

Though this should be Satoru’s last birthday they spent apart from each other, because Suguru’s work abroad is supposed to end after ten years, so that would mean he’d be back permanently next summer.

It’s the only thing keeping Satoru sane some of these days because he misses Suguru something fierce.

As if Suguru can hear his thoughts, Satoru’s phone rings with that obnoxious tone he specifically set for Suguru.

“My dear Suguru,” Satoru sing-songs as he picks up the call but his stomach drops out when he isn’t met with the same annoying “My loathed Satoru,” Suguru always greets him with.

It’s a routine they have; something that’s set in stone, that always happens. 

And now that it doesn’t Satoru finds it hard to breathe.

“Satoru, I’m sorry,” is what Suguru finally says and immediately, Satoru’s eyes burn.

“No. Suguru, it’s my birthday this week!”

Suguru always comes home when it’s Satoru’s birthday.

“I know, I know,” Suguru sighs out and he sounds tired and defeated. “But they won’t let me leave. Work picked up so much and everyone is panicking because I’ll be leaving next summer–I simply can’t leave here.”

“I’m panicking,” Satoru shoots back, his voice choked up. “I’m panicking, Suguru, because my best friend can’t be there for my birthday!”

“Satoru, I’m sorry. You know I want to be there but it’s just not possible.” 

“Then make it possible,” Satoru seethes out, because this cannot be. Suguru is always there on his birthday.

“I can’t, Satoru, I tried,” Suguru gives back. “I can’t take the time off this week. Though they agreed to let me go for Christmas Day at least, so I’ll visit then.”

Christmas is not that far off; just another two and a half weeks and it should be fine. It would be, too, if Suguru wasn’t missing Satoru’s birthday.

“You’re going to miss my birthday,” Satoru says, his voice quiet and void of any kind of feeling and he can almost hear Suguru wince at the other end.

“I am so sorry, Satoru, I don’t know what else to say. You know I’m not doing this out of fun. I have never missed one of your birthdays and I wasn’t keen on starting in my last year here.”

“Will you have time during your birthday? Can I come over then, at least?” Satoru mutters, because he doesn’t want to miss one of Suguru’s birthdays either.

“I hope so,” is the vague answer he gets and Satoru feels cold.

Suguru is not coming home and Satoru is possibly not going to see him for his birthday, either.

“I’ll be there for Christmas, I promise, Satoru. I have five days then.”

“Sure, Christmas. Sounds good,” Satoru tonelessly says.

It’s not the same. It will not be the same and Satoru already hates the entirety of December, simply for that.

“I guess you have work now, too, I wouldn’t want to keep you for too long,” Satoru mechanically adds, certain that Suguru is saying something to him but the ringing in his ears is very loud and he can’t make out Suguru’s words.

He simply hangs up on him.

That’s another first for them, Satoru thinks as he sinks down on the couch.

His phone is blowing up, Suguru trying to call him back and sending messages when his attempts go to voice mail and Satoru silences the phone. Yet another first for him.

Instead of picking up Suguru’s call, Satoru dials Shoko.

“What?” she asks, not bothering with niceties and Satoru opens and closes his mouth a few times before he can find the words he needs.

“I want everything you have planned for my birthday cancelled,” he tells her, because he knows she has something planned, and if it’s just a relaxing brunch with their friends.

Satoru is not going to do it, not when—

“Why?” Shoko wants to know, her voice already cautious and Satoru hates the way his eyes burn.

“Suguru won’t be there. I don’t want to do anything. Don’t bother me on that day.”

“What do you mean Geto won’t be there?” Shoko demands to know, clearly just as caught off guard as Satoru was but he doesn’t have the strength to explain this to her, doesn’t have the heart to think about this any more and so he hangs up on her as well before he turns his phone off for good.

He doesn’t want to hear from anyone anymore; today already held the worst surprise of his life and he can’t take any more.

Satoru falls asleep on the couch and when he wakes up, he immediately goes to bed. He tries his best to ignore Suguru’s empty room, which he totally didn’t already clean up and air out, where he didn’t already put fresh sheets on the bed.

Of course Satoru didn’t do any of that, eagerly waiting for his best friend to come home.

~*~*~

Satoru sulkyly shuffles through his apartment. It’s his birthday today and he’s all alone, because Suguru couldn’t make it.

It’s Satoru’s birthday and Suguru isn’t there to celebrate it with him, isn’t there like he promised he always would be.

Satoru lets out a long sigh before he flops himself down on the couch. He repeatedly told Shoko to cancel all the plans she no doubt made and so he is left to wallow in peace for today. He’ll probably have to go out with his friends tomorrow, but for today at least, he gets to be as sad as he wants to be.

Which is very, if he’s being honest.

Suguru being this far away, and for this long, too, is already hard enough but now that Satoru can’t even see him on his birthday? It’s the worst thing that ever happened to him and not for the first time he wonders why he ever encouraged Suguru to take that position.

He must have been mad at the time, he thinks; or maybe he was just madly in love and wanted to see Suguru happy, which that job offer clearly made him.

That’s also a possibility.

Satoru sighs again, continuing his wallowing on the couch for at least another hour before he dozes off.

He wakes up to pounding on his door.

“No,” he whispers because he told Shoko to keep everyone away and he doesn’t want to hear anyone say happy birthday when Suguru is not there to say it too.

But the pounding won’t stop.

“Go the hell away!” Satoru yells out, making the pounding momentarily stop before it picks up again.

It’s infuriating enough that Satoru gets up from the couch, almost rushing over to the door and yanking it open, breathing in to yell at whoever dares to disturb him today.

The words die on his tongue when he comes face to face with Suguru.

“Suguru?” he breathes out because this can’t be. Suguru said he wouldn’t be there and Suguru never lies to him.

“Happy birthday, Satoru,” Suguru says and it must be him, that’s his voice and his smile.

It doesn’t make any sense, though.

“What are you doing here?” Satoru blurts out and Suguru gives him a sheepish smile.

“Can I come in?”

“Can you come in? Can you come in?!” Satoru shrieks out, now veering into the realm of hysterics, because this cannot be.

Suguru lied to him.

“Satoru,” Suguru sighs and takes that moment to push him out of the way, closing the door behind him before he takes Satoru’s hand in his. “Surprise.”

“Sur—no! Suguru, you lied to me,” Satoru hisses, trying to take his hand back but Suguru won’t budge. “How dare you!”

“I’m sorry,” Suguru says with a wince. “Shoko already yelled at me for it.”

“I’m going to yell at you for it, too, just so you know,” Satoru says but to his mortification tears are starting to cloud his vision. “Any moment now.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Suguru seriously says, because he always takes Satoru serious like that.

“You can’t just do that to me,” Satoru sobs out, finally abandoning his pretended anger and throwing his arms around Suguru’s neck. “You can’t just lie to me like that.”

“I know. It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Suguru whispers, holding Satoru close and it only makes Satoru cry harder because he thought he wouldn’t get one of Suguru’s amazing hugs for his birthday.

“How long can you stay?” Satoru asks, the tears still flowing and panic grabs him when Suguru slightly pushes him away.

“Shh, just, let me look at you, okay?” Suguru asks when Satoru’s grip on him won’t lessen and Satoru has to force himself to let go.

“You don’t have to leave tomorrow, right? I get a few days?”

“You get a lot of days,” Suguru tells him, cupping his cheek in his hand and wiping the tears away. “Satoru, I’m back. I’m home.”

“What?” Satoru breathes out and Suguru smiles at him, taking Satoru’s breath away.

“I finished my work early, and I’m here for good. I’m coming back home, if you’ll have me.”

“If I’ll—you absolute jerk,” Satoru says, though he can’t help the happiness that bubbles through him. “Of course I’ll have you, your room is still right there, what do you even think?”

“I think that I’d really rather move into your room,” Suguru says after a moment, a cheeky grin on his face, and Satoru frowns at him.

“My room? Suguru, yours is bigger and it has more light, you know that. What could you possibly want in my room?”

There’s a beat of silence before Suguru bursts into laughter, his hands warm and steady on Satoru’s arms.

“Satoru,” he giggles out, making Satoru frown, because what is even going on. “Satoru, I’m saying I want to move in with you. Don’t you think we’ve waited long enough?”

Satoru blinks.

“You mean—” Satoru can’t bring himself to say it, too afraid that he’s misreading all of this very badly, because surely Suguru is not saying he wants them to move into a room together, like a couple.

Like two people who are in love would do.

“I mean, I love you,” Suguru easily says and it just causes new tears to flow down Satoru’s face.

He can spot the first signs of panic on Suguru’s face, and so he’s quick to lean forward, brushing his lips over Suguru’s.

“I’ve waited ten years for this,” Satoru admits and Suguru chuckles slightly.

“Well, we both did, then,” he gives back, pulling Satoru into a real kiss. “So, about that moving?”

“We’re moving into your room,” Satoru decides, because it wasn’t a lie when he said that Suguru had the nicer room. “And you’re going to do all the work for putting me through hell these last two days.”

“Fair,” Suguru immediately agrees, as if he’s afraid Satoru could take it back. “Happy birthday,” he whispers into another kiss and Satoru sighs happily into it.

The lead-up wasn’t great, he’s not going to lie about that and he will give a piece of his mind to Suguru later, but this?

Best birthday present ever.

#bt writes #jjk #satosugu #geto suguru #gojo satoru #no curses #birthdays #getting together #hurt/comfort #surprises #first kiss #love confession

[fallingforchristmasworld]

#christmas presents #xmas gift #christmas gifts #christmas gift #giftideas #buying gifts #giftsforfriends #xmas presents #presents #surprises #christmas spirit

[antheiasvase]

Andreil says the big L ;)

ALSO POSTED ON AO3!! (link below)

It's quiet. It's always quiet these days. So serene it's almost sickening, like an unfinished peach pit sinking slow to the bottom of his stomach. 

He stares out of the rain soaked window, book dipping downwards in his lazy hands. His fingers itch for something to do, picking at the pages, flicking at his fraying sweater, teasing at the tags of his cushions. 

He's restless, he knows. He's waiting. For something, anything. A declaration, a speech, a symphony. Just something. He's tired of the known. So used to spending his days in a haze, the clarity of his mind leaves him dizzy and desperate for anything to dull down his nerves. 

His phone begins to ring, an annoying screeching sound playing the chorus of Lover, You Should've Come Over, in an awkward stilted way. He knows who it is, he remembers when they had painstakingly figured out how to program it, the phone clunky an awkward in his bandaged hands. Andrew had laughed then, a small huff, when he had excitedly called him, so pleased, like the cat who got the cream, when he had finally figured it out. 

That was before all the travelling, the distance, the gap that felt unreachable between two souls which had once known each other so deeply but now could barely stand to speak a few words before descending swiftly into silence. 

Despite knowing how this conversation would go, Andrew still reached out, still desperate to hear his voice, desperate for his laugh, desperate for the minute escape from the sickening quiet of his empty apartment, desperate for the comforting silence from his lover. 

He couldn't do without it. 

"Neil," He breathed when he picked up, clutching the phone in both hands. 

He heard the hitched breath on the other line, before they spoke, "Andrew," He whispered, he sounded like he was hunched over the the phone. Andrew could imagine him, curled close, under his covers which were pulled over his crimson curls, providing a cocoon of privacy for their conversation. 

"I've missed you," Neil said, he sounded quiet, oh so quiet. A whisper on the breeze of life. 

"As you should," Andrew lightly teased, immediately regretting the words as they slipped, unprompted from his tongue, wishing he could swallow them back and replace them with something much sweeter, dripping, 'I missed you too,'s like syrup from his lips. 

Syrup slow, and tense silence expanded and made herself comfortable following his comment. 

Neil hesitated, but laughed softly, despite this Andrew could hear him swallow. Andrew wished he could see him, he could always read his expression, and understand, but over the phone, it was as if a brick wall had been built up slowly between the two, and despite his shattered bones and bruised knuckles, Andrew wasn't able to punch through the wall. 

Andrew cleared his throat, "I do too. Miss you. That is," It sounded awkward and uncomfortable, and mentally Andrew berated himself. 

"I know that," Neil said, this time, Andrew could detect some form of pleasure in his tone, pleased that Andrew missed him too, as if Andrew could not miss him. Andrew missed him in every moment apart, every breath he breathed that was not mingled with Neil's own exhaled sigh, every cigarette he smoked not lit by Neil's spare lighter, every exy game he couldn't look to Neil and smile triumphantly as Neil cheered at their win. 

"You should," Andrew said, softly, his voice barely louder than a whisper. He heard Neil move slightly on the other side of the call, as if he flipped onto his back to stare at the ceiling.

"Yeah," Neil muttered back, and Andrew clenched his eyes shut, so tight spots danced like every memory he has ever had with Neil in his vision. They flitted through his brain like a slideshow, up until when Andrew left for the true adult life of taxes and jobs and the slide show slowed to split seconds, stolen at airports, mere hours in between practices, budget airlines, and clenched fists on arm rests.

"I-" Neil faltered, and sighed, "Never-mind,"

Andrew picked up where he left the tentative attempt at a conversation, "How was practice?" While he loathed exy, in its every inexcusable shape and form, it was safe. A blanket that Neil could cover himself with and talk about till even he tired from the topic.

He could feel Neil grin, "It was good, uh, the newer kids are still shy, surprisingly, a few stand out but most are quite secluded. It's just me and Robin left, from the old foxes you know, and we're keeping the team together quite splendidly, I think Robin is a little sad, considering the year is almost over for me, but Wymack told me that he's officially upgrading her to Team Captain next year. I thought it was obvious, but he said, considering Robin's character, he figured she'd prefer some official confirmation," Neil rambled.

"He would be right," Andrew interjected, he leaned onto the couch, arm resting on the back.

"I suppose," Neil said, "Either way, there's nothing really interesting going on here, preparing for the finals, and such."

"You prepared well?" Andrew asked, toying once again with a thread from his top.

"Somewhat, we'll see how it goes. It's not like I'll do anything with this degree so I'm not all too worried,"

"Been scouted yet?" Andrew said, he could feel the mood slip slightly in the call, but he bit his lip and waited for Neil's answer.

"A few offers, here and there," Neil said vaguely, "I'm going out to check out a potential team in the weekend. I'm not sure yet, but it might be it,"

Andrew felt a tightness begin to coil at the base of his ribs. He could already see how it would play out, Neil would move, far and far and farther away and soon the phone calls will dwindle to a text every two weeks.

"That's good," Andrew muttered, clenching his fist tightly around a poor defenceless cushion.

"Yes," Neil said, somewhat hesitantly, "It's good,"

Silence fell once again. As expected.

"Neil-" Andrew began to say.

"I have to go," Neil suddenly interrupted, "I just heard a crash from Robin's room," The phone call ended, abruptly and on time with the dread that poured out of every pore in Andrew's body.

⭐️

Saturday practices were the worst, Andrew determined as he trudged across the field, heading back to the locker rooms. He felt disgusting, sweaty and gross, the strikers had been eager to prove themselves, some rumours had been circulating about upcoming transfers in the next season and as it was already confirmed that one of their senior strikers was retiring, the subs were desperate to show that they were ready to take on the tasking position.

Andrew wished they had gone a little easier. He hadn't slept since Neil and his call, and he'd been too apprehensive to call back afterwards. His whole body felt muted, and slow, like a mound of rotting flesh piled on top of his cracking and badly taped together skeleton. He sighed. He did that a lot lately.

"Minyard," He heard their coach call out to him, "Join me in my office for a second," For a moment Andrew considered turning away and going to shower instead, but in a rare display of obedience he found himself walking towards their coach's office. She was a harsh woman, with an even harsher last name to fit the bill, Coach Sauvage, Neil had thought it hilarious when Andrew first told him, as he stumbled over the pronunciation. She was half French and tended to cuss her team out in the vicious language when they pissed her off with their idiocy.

Andrew stepped in, glad for the air-conditioning, it was boiling hot outside. She sat down at her desk, her hands folded neatly over one another, and she pointed her fierce look upon him.

"You may sit," She said gesturing to the plastic chair across her desk. Andrew sat and began unstrapping his protective gear and dropping it to the floor as she began to speak.

"As you know, Richie is retiring out this season, and the role will be filled with one of the strikers we have, however this will leave an empty place in our striker roster. I was more interested in having some new blood contracted, rather than transfer in a more experienced player. However, in this special case, I felt it was more important to speak with you first." She paused and stared at him.

Andrew stared back, thinking about the relieving shower he would have after this dull conversation was over. "How exactly does this pertain to me?" He asked, she seemed amused at his question.

"I'm thinking of contracting Neil Josten, an old teammate of yours from college." She said. Andrew sat up a tad straighter, his eyes slightly wide. He thought back to his conversation with Neil,

I'm going out to check out a potential team in the weekend. I'm not sure yet, but it might be it.

"I know you two had some sort of rivalry back in college, so I need to know if this will or won't mess up the climate in the team. So far you've adjusted well, and I was hoping we could keep you for a while longer. That's why I first wanted to make sure you were okay with this. I would like to remind you however, you should perceive this as more of a fore-warning as it is very unlikely, unless under some extreme circumstance, that my mind will be changed if you happen to make an argument as to why he should not join the team," She said.

"He's here?" Andrew said instead,

"He arrived a few hours ago to watch practice, as it is most likely he will be signed I wanted him to meet the team,"

Andrew stood, abandoning his gear and rushing out of the office, he heard some loud conversation coming from the locker rooms and headed that way, knowing that Neil would most likely be there.

He banged open the door, and there he was. He was standing by the benches, speaking with Richie the retiring striker.

"Josten," He said, he knew he stumbled over the word in his rush to get Neil to notice him. He felt a light flush rise to his ears.

"Andrew," Neil said, taking a few steps towards him. Andrew met him halfway, and in front of the eyes of his entire team he pulled Neil, his Neil, his Junkie, into a tight hug. Neil seemed to sigh into the contact, sagging into his arms, like a lax puppet on strings.

"I missed you, I missed you," Andrew mumbled into his hair, quiet as a church mouse, solemn as a hymn, sincere as a prayer.

"I know," Neil whisper back, one hand twisted into the nape of Andrew's neck, his blonde hair tugged so tight it almost burned, the other curled into the small of his back.

He heard someone drop something to the ground in the background, and he almost jumped back from Neil, instantly aware like a rush of sound, that the entire team had just witnessed that act of passion.

"So," Richie said, biting the inside of his cheek, "That just happened," Neil laughed uncomfortably, but didn't step too far away from Andrew.

"I supposed that's confirmation that you have no issue with Josten joining the team," Andrew heard Coach Sauvage comment from the doorway.

Neil hung his head in embarrassment, but Andrew could smiled, a small one, simple and discreet. Sauvage took a note in her clipboard and said, "All right you losers, clear out and rest up, I'll see you all back here on Monday," She tapped her pen against her clipboard in an air of finality and swiftly turned and left the locker rooms, leaving her bewildered teammates and a love struck couple behind.

When she left, Andrew tugged on Neils arm, "Let's go," He said. Neil nodded, and waved a quick goodbye to their teammates and they followed Sauvage's quick getaway.

Andrew dragged Neil to the car, and pressed him up against the cool metal, it was dark out, and quiet, but this time, it was just them and the moon and stars as their witness.

Andrew tipped his forehead against Neil's, and breathed, he could feel Neil's own exhales puffing against his lips, and he revelled in the mingled air he breathed in.

"Andrew," Neil said softly, lifting his hand up and twisting his fingers into the back of Andrew's hair.

"I know," Andrew muttered, not exactly sure what he knew, just that he knew that this moment was perfect, and belonged to them.

Neil huffed a laugh, and Andrew silenced it by pressing his lips against Neil's soft and gentle, cupping Neil's face in his palms, as he tried to express what he felt without words. Neil responded in kind, and he could feel him slightly grin against his lips. With that smile, Andrew felt the words, sizzle up, saccharine and sweet, resting just behind his teeth, and pushing through the slit of his lips. He leaned back just slightly, Neil attempting to chase his lips, before Andrew spoke.

"I love you," He whispered. Neil froze between his hands, his eyes wide and almost glassy.

"Yeah?" Neil said, his voice watery.

"Yeah," Andrew said, rubbing his thumb over Neil's cheek, covering his twisted circle scars with the shield of his thumb.

"I love you too," Neil said, blinking rapidly after he said it.

"I know," Andrew teased, and this time it felt right.

Neil laughed, and it filled the quiet night and Andrew held him close, his arms finally feeling full again.

Me while writing this ^

But jokes aside, I did write this with an impending deadline, a huge art history paper I have to hand in in 40 minuted, with only 90 of the 1500 words written. Well. I felt at the time this was more important. I'm probably going to eat those words in a few. BUT you know, when inspiration strikes, you must grasp it with both hands and get to work, because inspiration is not a frequent visitor. I might post this to ao3 when I finish my project ;) I hope this was enjoyable and nice to read. I KNOW it was kinda angsty at the start but I hope the end makes up for it :))))

LINK FOR AO3 :)))

#aftg #andrew minyard #they are everything #andreil #aftg andreil #neil josten #fanfic #ficlet #aftg fanfic #andreil fanfic #ooc post #long distance boyfriend #i love you 's and their weird causes #surprises #kinda angsty but very worth it #neil and andrew are emotionally constipated little shits #happy pride 🌈 #just talk motherfuckers!! #it's NOT that HARd #post the kings men #what happens later? #did i google fierce last names for this fic? yes i did ;) #they're in love your honour #i don't care what Nora says #they love each other #he he #deadline what deadline #i'm so screwed #wish me luck #pride icons

[detective-giggles]

Another TMP Tarlos bingo fill: TK stops by the station when Carlos has to work late. This is also going to fill the monthly word prompts of: Party, home, worry, and family.

💜💜💜💜

Carlos: Hey, I know it’s date night. But I’m not going to make it in time for our reservation.

TK: It’s okay.

TK: I know things come up.

Carlos. I’m sorry.

Carlos: I love you.

TK: I love you, too. Be safe tonight.

Carlos: Always. 💜

TK sighs. He understands, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed. He presses the button on the side of his phone and the screen goes dark and he tosses it onto the bed. TK starts to unbutton his shirt to put it back in the closet when he decides to go out anyway. It is date night, after all.

***

TK slips into the precinct behind one of the other officers who recognizes him. He chats politely for a few minutes and then heads down the hallway to the elevators and up to the detectives bullpen where Carlos’ desk is.

“Hey! What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, a small smile crossing his face. “You look very handsome.”

“It’s date night?” TK grins. He sets the bag of takeout on the corner of Carlos’ desk. “I mean, you were going to eat tonight, anyway, right?”

“Probably pizza or Chinese. We’ve been doing a lot of Chinese recently,” he mumbles.

“Can you take a break?” TK asks, gesturing vaguely to the breakroom.

“No, I’ve got to get this done. I’m the one that got the confession, and my Sergeant is waiting on this report.”

“Can you eat while you work?” TK asks.

Carlos looks around the mostly-deserted bullpen and nods. As he types, TK rips open the bag, putting a plastic to-go container near his keyboard, and takes the lid off.

“It smells so good,” Carlos murmurs. He shovels a couple of forkfuls of noodles into his mouth as politely as he can manage, considering how hungry he actually is. “I haven’t had anything more substantial than vending machine snacks all day. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” TK says softly, taking a bite of his own dinner. “I understand you know. I mean, it’s not like I never have a shift that goes long.”

“Yeah, but it’s happening more since I took this promotion. Hell, I almost missed the party you threw me when I got the promotion.”

TK chuckles, “but you didn’t. You made it just in time.”

Carlos nods. “But what if I don’t? And what if the night I miss isn’t just a date night but something important? A birthday or our kid’s recital or something?”

“You will,” TK says, “and so will I. But, Carlos, that’s why there are two of us. Our future kid will always have someone there for them. I promise.” TK slips his hand in Carlos’ and gives it a squeeze. “But baby, don’t worry about that now, okay? Finish your paperwork and I’ll be waiting for you at home.”

TK stands and runs a hand through Carlos’ hair. He’s itching to give his husband more physical reassurance, but they’re still at Carlos’ place of work so he refrains.

“Gimme a sec and I’ll walk you out,” Carlos offers.

“I thought you couldn’t leave?”

“You came all the way down here to bring me dinner, plus you managed to talk me down while I’ve been freaking out over our still-hypothetical family; the least I can do is walk you out,” Carlos points out. “Plus, you actually need to be escorted through the building after hours, anyway,” he adds.

“Well, then, Detective, lead the way,” TK says as he follows his husband out the door.

Taglist @plaidbooks @tarlosweeklyprompts

#tmptarlosbingocard #twpmarchdailyword #detective Carlos #911 ls fic #tarlos #date night #surprises #fluff

[atths--twice]

A True Attempt

A package for Mulder arrives in the mail, piquing Scully's curiosity. Discovering what it is will surprise them both.

Fictober Day... oh, I've fallen so far behind updating every day, we're going with day 22

Prompt- Do I look like I knew that?

For @tofuttim 💓

March 2009 

The size of the package made her wary. It was a small box, addressed to Mulder at the post office box they’d had for years. The return address was another post office box in Illinois, so there was no indication as to what exactly it could be. 

Scully kept glancing at it as she drove home from work. 

“What has he ordered?” she wondered out loud. “Generally it’s magazines or a book, but this… what is this?” 

She pulled into the driveway, stopping to open and then close the squeaky metal gate. Her gaze landed on the box again as she pulled the car in front of the house. Gathering her things, the stack of mail and the small package, she got out and closed the door. 

“Hey, Doc,” Mulder called out as she opened the door. “How’s tricks?”

“I’m going to choose that you’re using that phrase to imply how my day was working in the hospital and not how it was working on a street corner. If that’s the case, then my day was fine, thank you,” she said, closing the door and setting her bag on the table, the armful of mail beside it. 

“And if I meant it differently?” he asked, stepping into the doorway of his office and leaning against the frame as he crossed his arm and grinned. 

“Then I would tell you to fuck off,” she said, raising her eyebrows as she looked at him. 

“Not much of a profit then today, huh?” he teased and she paused in the removal of her coat. 

“I would make a killing,” she said, finishing with the task and laying her coat on a chair.  “Every night.” 

“Oh, I know you would,” he said, pushing off the frame and walking toward her, his eyes traveling over her body from head to toe and back again. 

“Hang on there a second,” she said, putting a hand up to stop his approach. “You think I’m interested in the energy you’re putting out right now? After you’ve insinuated that I’m a prostitute?” 

“I insinuated nothing,” he said, licking his lips as he grinned. “I simply asked a question and you chose which direction to take it. I meant my greeting as a hello, how are you? and you took it as… you looking for a good time tonight, honey? So if you’re mad at anyone, be mad at yourself.” 

“Just… just shut up and kiss me,” she said, smiling as she shook her head. 

“I don’t have any cash on me, hope that’s not a problem.” 

“Oh, you-” she started to say, but he cut off her words, pulling her to him and kissing her silent. She fought back laughter as she kissed him back, grabbing onto his shirt to keep him close. 

“Mmm,” he said, nuzzling his nose against hers. “You taste good. Did you have something peppermint?” 

“A leftover candy cane,” she said, kissing him again, his fingers pressing into her hips. “But it was a while ago.” 

“Still tastes good,” he said, humming as he kissed her once more before pulling back and smiling. “What’s the damage? What do I owe you?” 

“Fuck off,” she laughed, pushing away from him. His laughter joined hers as she shook her head and turned her attention to the stack of mail. 

“Anything good today?” he asked and she glanced at the small package, not wanting him to know how much the sight of it was affecting her. “What’s this?” 

“What’s what?” she asked, picking up a random piece of mail. “Oh that. Yeah, I was wondering the same.”

“I don’t remember ordering anything this size.” 

“Is that good or bad? Do we need to call Skinner? Have him check it out?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head and the package at the same time. It made no noise and her curiosity grew. “I’m sure it’s something I forgot about.” He smiled at her and put the box under his arm as he reached for another piece of mail. 

“You’re not going to open it?” she asked, frowning as she looked at him. “You’re not curious to know right now?” 

“Are you?” he teased and she scoffed. 

“No. It doesn’t matter to me. Open it up whenever you want.” 

“Mmhmm,” he said, watching her as she continued to look through the mail. “Well, I’m gonna head back into the office. See what this is and then… dinner?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” she said, barely glancing at him, her attention on the mail. 

He chuckled as he walked away and she narrowed her eyes as she watched him close the door to the office. 

Why are you annoyed by this? Who cares what it is? she thought as she dropped the mail onto the table and crossed her arms. You have no idea what all he gets up to in there. That one package won’t make a difference. 

But that was it. Sometimes she felt that she was cut off from him in that office. That it was his space and she did not need to worry over it. She had her own office/library where she would go and do work, but it did not have the same feel as his office did. 

At least that was how it felt to her. 

“What the hell?” Mulder exclaimed and then silence was followed by uproarious laughter. The door flung open and he held the opened box in his hands. 

“Oh, you’re never gonna believe this,” he said, laughing as he set the box down, but far enough away that she could not see the contents. 

“I’ve heard a lot of crazy shit from you over the years, Mulder. Try me,” she said, rolling her eyes. 

“True,” he said, nodding as he began to pace. “So I was thinking the other day about your birthday.” 

“You remembered my birthday?” she asked, eyebrows raised in surprise and he nodded once, waving his hand vaguely. 

“I saw something online about Valentine’s Day coming up, which I ignored to focus my attention on your birthday gift.” 

“But you missed my birthday. It was two weeks ago,” she said, trying not to smile as she watched the realization cross his face as  he ceased his pacing.  

“Well, fuck,” he said quietly. “I thought I was on top of it.” 

“It doesn’t matter to me,” she assured him and he hummed with a frown. “It doesn’t.” 

“But I was trying to have it…” he said and then he laughed. “Not that any of it matters now I suppose as I don’t…” 

“Mulder, what’s in that box?” she asked and he laughed again, shaking his head. 

“I thought about what you’d like. Something for your office.” 

“Here or at the hospital?” she asked warily, knowing that his gifts tended to be outlandish at times. 

“Here. Although I did have my eye on something for your hospital office,” he said, rubbing his chin. “Do you have space on your desk for a Sasquatch statue? It’s an incredibly detailed one.” 

“No. I don’t. I have no space anywhere in that room for anything at any time,” she said in a flat voice and he laughed as she shook her head. “Mulder, if you get me a Sasquatch statue…” 

“I won’t. I was only joking.” 

“Hmm,” she hummed, not quite believing him. “So the box? What did you get?”

“So like I said, I thought about what would be nice in the office,” he continued and she looked at the box, wondering what small thing he could have gotten that made him laugh so hard. “I know you’ve talked about a lounge chair or something like that to have in there and I thought that would be a good gift. And well…” He laughed as he picked up the box and walked over to her. “Happy belated birthday.” 

Handing her the box, he chuckled and shook his head. Looking down, she saw a gray miniature sized lounge chair and a matching ottoman. 

“What?” she asked and he started laughing as he took them out and set them onto the table. 

“You're petite, Scully, but I don’t think even you could fit on this chair.” He stepped back and looked at the chair. 

“Mulder… what?” she asked again and he laughed harder. 

“I must have made a mistake.” 

“Ya think?” she asked, picking up the chair and looking at him. “It’s for dolls.” 

“Do I look like I knew that was the case when I bought them? I sincerely thought they were actual human size,” he said, trying to stop laughing. She smiled as she picked up the small ottoman and then something occurred to her. 

“Hold on a second. If you thought this set was actual size, does that mean you paid-”

“Yeah,” he said quickly and her eyes widened. 

“How much?” 

“Well, as I thought it was a good deal for the actual size…” 

“How much, Mulder?” she asked, already imagining an incredibly high price. 

“The price of a gift should never be discussed with the recipient,” he said, taking both of the items from her. “And I will leave it at that.” 

“Mulder…” 

“I’m going to see if I can return them, so it won’t matter,” he said, putting them back into the box, still laughing softly. “And then I’ll get that other chair for your office. I think it will look nice in there.” 

“Mulder,” she said again, her tone softer as she stepped closer and wrapped her arms loosely around his waist, the box between them. “You never cease to amaze me.” 

“Same to you, Trixie,” he said with a wink and she pinched his sides, causing him to yelp and then laugh. 

Two weeks later a large truck pulled to a stop in the driveway. The front door opened and Mulder welcomed the delivery men, who were carrying the appropriately sized soft gray chair up the stairs. 

Scully watched from the living room as they entered, Mulder winking at her as he directed them where to go. 

When they left, and the plastic had been removed from the large chair and ottoman, they sat on it together, her head on his shoulder. 

“This is perfect. Exactly what this room was missing,” she said, snuggling further into him. 

“And we can both fit on it. A vast improvement over the other chair,” he said and she laughed. 

“Yes, this is much better. Although the other one has started to grow on me,” she said, both of them laughing as they looked over at the mini chair and ottoman he had been unable to return. 

As a result, he had cleared a small space on a shelf and placed them there. To it, he had added a fashion doll that looked eerily similar to her. A rug, desk, potted plant, computer, and coat rack with a lab coat hanging from it had also been added, creating the look of a miniature office. 

The doll, laughingly named Doctor Trixie, was currently lounging on the chair, a book in her hands and her shoes beside her on the floor.

“I’m still searching for a miniature Sasquatch,” he said. “I feel it needs something to liven the place up.” 

“As long as it stays in that office, I’m perfectly fine with that,” she said and he laughed. 

“It’s a deal.” 

#fictober23 #fictober 2023 #xffictober23 #the x files #xf fanfic #post I Want To Believe #teasing #flirting #banter #kissing #gift giving #surprises #laughter #happy #love

[antvnger]

"It is surprise people with cookies day!SURPRISE!"

“Cookies for me? Aaww thank y—OH MY GOSH LOOK HOW CUTE THEY ARE!!”

“Thank you, Rei! You’re super sweet!”

#ask scott lang #scott lang #ant-man #byondtheveil #cookies #surprise gifts #surprises #this is sweet #ant man #antman

[schlagerkopf]

Best Surprise of 2023

some call it liebe some call it אהבה some call it amour some call it LA FOLIE I call it you you are my madness my everything I can't stop, baby you make me feel new you are a gift, a freshly wrapped gift under the christmas tree in a warm-cold-outside Austrian morning I am a kid called Hans or Ralph and I unwarp it and it's you cuz you're a gift and i love you so fucking much every moment with you is like a lifetime you believe in me, accept me for what i am i accept you for yourself you bring out the lover in me, and i in you i can't believe you exist I didnt know they still made girls like you thought it was all over, alles ist vorbei but you came and surprsied me you're the best surprise of 2023 and i'm the luckiest man alive

#love #nostalgia #disco #loving #surprises #gifts #being in love #falling in love #the best feeling in the world #Youtube

[gun-roswell]

First time for everything…

I really hadn’t realised I was on someone’s actual blacklist until today when I stumbled upon a fic rec. Could neither kudos nor comment as I was… yes you guessed it… blocked!!!

Guess my own little fics have caused a lot of harm for someone to go to such lengths as I really have no recollection of ever reading any of their fics before. Seems like targeting more than anything for whatever reason unfathomable to me as I really have not had any dealings with the author of said piece in question. Not to my knowledge anyway.

Guess this person doesn’t want their fic to be tainted or whatever if I was to leave a kudos or a nice comment having perhaps written questionable content in their mind?

There is such a thing as filtering by tags in ao3 so not to stumble upon triggering fics so why bother to block individual writers?

Twitter I can understand to some extent. The blocking part. Then again for me personally it’s too much of a hassle to block rather simply scrolling past the content I don’t care too much for.

Oh well, live and learn.

Frankly I’m too old to deal with scheisse like that, but yeah, guess I still had to write this post😈

Oh ao3, thou art a heartless bitch but I love you just the same.

#ao3 writer #ao3 blocking #surprises #first time for everything #yeah so that happened

[justpendule]

I posted a fic for Hijikata Toshirou's birthday! 🎈

Title: Happy Birthday, Toshi!!!

Length: 1,019 words.

Fandom: Gintama.

Link:

#Gintama #fanfiction #hijikata toushirou #gintoki x hijikata #ginhiji #fluff #birthday party #birthday #surprises #Hijikata-centric #gintama fanfiction #5 may

[thequietkid-moonie]

Hey hey !! I just realice that the blog will soon be 6 months old AND it almost reaches 600 followers !!

First of all THANKS EVERYONE !! ❤️❤️

Now, I wanted to ask you if there is something that you will like as the special to celebrate, I was thinking that i could post all the wips (with my own ideas and the requests), tell all of you the fandoms im planning to add to the list the next time i open again the request (although there is still a long way to go for that) maybe talk more about me if you are interested on it, also i can tell you all the ideas I have for this whole crazy darling thing but there aren't much ideas, sorry

Idk there are a lot of posible option, but for me your opinion is always important so i really will like to know

#time to celebrate #celebration #thanks #thanks everyone #love u all #❤️❤️❤️ #surprises #wips #anime x reader #anime x you #video games x reader #x reader #x gn reader #x autistic reader

[stars-of-kyber]

I am holding on this week just because you said that you had a surprise planned for us for prompt 38 this week and I am hoping it is a hurt Kate

Thank you thank you I love you 💕

Can’t wait for whenever you’re gonna drop this amazing piece ✨

Yes, I do! I have a surprise planned, it's almost ready for Falling For You Anthony and Kate! Someone asked for more of them, so I'll give you some more of our favourite overworked, overwhelmed stressed couple!

I'm not going to spoil too much but I can say Anthony and Kate are really happy, living together and about to get married in two months! They're even going to TRAVEL FOR A WHOLE MONTH FOR THEIR HONEYMOON (Ben says he'll believe it when he sees it).

Let's see if I can get it done before the weekend.

I'm excited <3

#Falling For You #Surprises #my writing #bridgerton #kathony #my fic #anthony bridgerton #kate sharma