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thestarrynightslover · 3 years

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So Many Times Before

Pairing: Jay Halstead x Reader

Word count: 3,190

Warnings: Discussion, yelling, some angst.

Summary: (y/n) and Jay used to be best friends who had always, secretly, wanted more. Now, after years of not seeing each other, what happened to all those feelings?

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the One Chicago shows, or its characters, also not associated with it in any way or know anyone involved with it.

A/N: So, this is my first actual fanfic and I’m quite unsure about it (especially since English isn’t my first language), but I really wanted/needed to give some use to my obsession with Jay Halstead, lol. Anyways, I hope it doesn’t suck too bad and, please, feel free to give me feedback, cause I’m also here to learn!!

(y/n) = (your name) (y/l/n) = (your last name) (y/n/n) = (your nickname)

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"So, honey, you are never gonna believe who I saw the other day at the district..." You remember your dad saying, in a conversation that made your heart skip a few beats, weeks ago.

"Oh yeah? Who?" You asked with a soft smile on your lips, not paying much attention at the moment.

"Jay Halstead." He said simply as if just waiting for you to freak out. God, your dad really knew how to make you drop your cool-girl act.

"Oh, that's nice... Wait. What??? Did you say Jay? What was he even doing there? Is he okay? Did he get into some sort of trouble? How can we help?" And there it was, you were totally losing it and your dad just stood there with that smug smirk of his, that says: I knew this was coming.

"Relax, (y/n/n), he’s okay. He was just there to get some files from a case my unit was handing over to them." That would've been a completely acceptable statement if Jay Halstead wasn't still in the army for all you knew.

"Sorry, handing a case over to them?"

"Yeah, sweetheart, apparently that scrawny kid — who's not so scrawny anymore — is, now, a detective working with CPD's Intelligence Unit."

"What? But when did he leave the army?" By then you were drifting off the conversation with your dad and he knew it, so he did you the favor of leaving you alone with your thoughts and memories.

Now, with the very same (well, not the same, he really wasn't scrawny anymore) Jay Halstead standing right in front of you, that moment with your dad inevitably came back to mind.

"Wow, (y/n) (y/l/n)!" He said with a huge bright smile that made you wanna go back to your high school days, yep the smile was that awesome.

"Jay Halstead. Wows are definitely in order." You said between giggles. "Oh my Gosh, it's been forever! How are you doing?"

"I'm- I'm- I'm good, thank you. How are you?" He looked absolutely shocked as he scanned you upside-down.

"I'm good too. You look great, by the way."

"Thanks," he smiled again. Wasn't he ever gonna stop doing that? "you look, hum, you look great too!" He said that, while looking at you in a way that was, for sure, making your cheeks heat up. "So hum-" Your phone just had to start ringing at that moment, didn't it?

"I'm so sorry, but I gotta take this. Work." You said, waving your phone in front of his face.

"Oh, okay, no problems, go ahead!" Jesus, he was acting like a teenager. After all these years how was it even possible that you still had so much effect on him? He started thinking, as he watched you take a few steps away and confidently boss someone around over the phone, was that really you? His high school best friend? Because who could tell? You were generally so quiet and shy with everyone. You would never lead any groups, almost choked on your words every time you had a presentation... Remembering that made Jay think of a moment in particular, when he first knew he loved you as more than just a friend.

You were 16 and he was 17, a year ahead of you in school too, as he was already a senior. But you guys never really minded that. How could you, anyway? Jay was your best friend in the world (okay, your only real friend after Will left for college).

The two of you were walking back home from school, as you always did, him dropping you off at your doorstep – even if that meant he had to go back a few blocks every day, all he cared about was making sure you got home safe.

That day was different, though. He stopped you at your house's fence and said he needed to tell you something important. God, your heart literally stopped, as you thought you knew exactly what he was gonna say. "Oh, jay-"

"No, please, (y/n/n). Just let me tell you, otherwise, I'll lose my courage." He stopped for a second, breathing hard and watching your expression attentively. "I, I, um, I need to tell you that… That I, um… That I enlisted the army." He said like he was ripping off a band-aid.

"What???" You were shocked, to say the least, "You did what, Jay?" You asked again, whilst trying to calm your nerves.

"Look, don't be mad at me, just let me explain, please." He pleaded with you. "I just need to get away from here and you know it, (y/n), you know why" You did know why, just, God, the army, seriously?

"Jay, you don't need to do that." You tried reasoning with him.

"Of course I need to, (y/n/n)!" He said and you could see him beginning to get upset. Or was it desperation? "I can't stand him any longer! I just can’t.” Geez, you didn’t want him to go. You definitely didn’t want him to go, but you could see the sadness in his eyes when he said that. Still, you tried a little more:

“But what about your mom? Your brother? What about me?” You felt yourself blush after that last part, but continued: “Jay you’re really important to me… my best friend, my… my… my only friend! I can’t lose you.”

“And you think that that doesn’t kill me? Will and my mom will be just fine, they’ll miss me, sure, but they’ll be fine. You on the other hand? I don’t wanna leave you! Especially knowing that you’ll have to go through the rest of high school alone…” He looked genuinely apologetic and concerned “That’s why I told you before anyone else.”

“I don’t… I don’t understand.” You stated simply.

“Tell me you don’t want me to go, and I won’t.”

“What? You’d… You’d really do that for me?”

“Of course, (y/n/n)! You mean the world to me and you’ve gotten me through so much already…” He sounded sincere, but you also knew what led him to make such a drastic move and you couldn’t just let him throw away what was probably his best shot at getting out of Chicago for you. You wouldn’t.

“Jay… I could never ask you something like that. You’re right. I know why you’re making this choice.” You said and tried to smile a little so that he’d stop worrying about you. Your life was better and easier, in many ways, because of him, so you couldn’t or wouldn’t make his any harder than it already was.

“Are you, are you sure? Because I came here ready to argue with you about this. To try hard to make you understand my decision, but now that I’m actually here, talking to you about it…” He looked so confused and you only wish you could pull him close to you and say that everything was gonna be okay as long as you two were together. Just like he did with you on the hard days, but you couldn’t. He deserved better from you.

“I’m sure! Look, I know what I said before, but… But I promise you I’ll survive this without you! It’s gonna be harder and a lot more boring… But I’ll be okay, you don’t need to worry.” At that moment you looked down to your feet, unsure if you really had it in you to let him go like that. But of course you did because you loved him. So you went on, “You said this is how you get outta Chicago, so you should do it. You’re my best friend and I love you. And I really just want you to do what’s best for you. What’ll make you happy.” You said with a small smile, even though the tears were already in your eyes.

And that was when he knew he loved you, for the first time, as more than just a friend. The way you supported him – like no one else had ever done –, even though it pained you… That really stuck with him. In Jay Halstead’s opinion, time and distance and other people all sucked. Because they had pushed you away from him. Well, he was to blame for that too, but now you were standing right there. At his District. That’s gotta count for something.

As you came back, he noticed you looked upset. “Everything okay?”

“What? Ah, yeah, sure. Just work stuff. Anyways it is a huge surprise to see you, Jay.” That made his heart drop, you were surprised to see him?

“Oh, yeah? I thought the reason you were here was that your dad told you this is where I work. I mean, because we ran into each other the other day…” Now it made sense. Of course your dad would wanna play matchmaker between you Jay! Even more, now that he was a cop.

“Oh, God, he did mention something about you the other day. But you’re telling me that he isn’t here?” At that, Jay just looked at you like you were crazy.

“Today? I haven’t seen him… He works at the 26, no?”

“Yeah, I know he does. It’s just... He told me to meet him here for lunch today. Something about a joint op. Anyways now I know why he said that.”

“What? He lied to you, then?” Jay asked, laughing his ass off at your cost. Unbelievable, you being played by your cupid father and Jay Halstead laughing at you. He stopped when he realized just how angry you were getting. But the stupid smile was still there.

“Forget it, this was a waste of time.”

“No! Wait, why don’t I take you to lunch instead?” He shot you such a charming smile that you could have said yes to marrying him at that moment. “C’mon, at least you don’t end up with an empty stomach.”

“I gue-” You almost said yes, but, thank God, your brain went back to working properly and you remembered how you promised to never let yourself fall for Jay’s “ways” another time. “Actually, I already spent most of my free hour here chatting with you, so now the only way I won’t be late is if I just grab something on the way back to the office.” You saw him opening his mouth and said: “And I can do that by myself.” You added so that he wouldn’t have a chance at convincing you.

How can Jay Halstead make you feel like this after all this time? It's absolutely ridiculous because the man hurt you the way he did, he left you behind (for a good reason, but still), and you just spent the rest of the day torturing yourself for being too rude with him?

You have no self-love. That has to be it, because, now that you left work, you're calling your dad just to embarrass yourself and make him feel like the achieved cupid. Oh, right. And to beg him for Jay's address. This was the wrong move in so many ways, but you just had to go there.

Or at least that’s what you’re telling yourself as you reach his building entrance. There it was: 3B - J. Halstead. You pressed the button hoping he would be home. He was; he answered. Okay, why did you do this again?

“Hello?” You hear him calling out.

“He- hey! Hum, hi it’s (y/n)...” He doesn’t even let you finish your rambling.

“(y/n/n)! I mean, hum, (y/n). Hey, let me buzz you up!” With that, the door opens and you get inside, you’re so unsure about this that the next thing you know you’re standing at his door about to knock, but being met with a grinny Jay instead. “Hey, I was pretty surprised when I heard your voice…” He states while running a hand through his perfect hair. “I honestly thought that I had somehow managed to order food and forget about it!” Gosh, he really wasn’t gonna stop smiling like that, was he? “Hey, you okay? What happened?”

“Hum, no, no, no! Everything is fine, really! Thank you for asking though, it’s very sweet of yours.” After hearing that, his concerned expression started softening until he started smiling again, damn Jay! “Actually, I’m here precisely because, hum, after I left the District, I ended up doing some thinking and got to the conclusion that I was a bit rude with you… Maybe even more than just a bit and I’m sorry. It’s no excuse, but I guess I just got upset because of how my dad played me and took it out on you! Anyway, it wasn’t right and I’m sorry.” Instead of just saying it was okay, or agreeing with you, he just gave you a funny look and silence. “So, huh, what do you think about that? Say something, please?” Still nothing, unbelievable. “Seriously? You’re giving me the silent treatment? What are we, ten?” Hearing that, he bursted into laughter, leaving you very confused, to say the least. Once he caught his breath, he finally started talking:

“Jesus, (y/n)! Of course, I’m not giving you a silent treatment!” He said while shaking his head and still laughing. “You say you were rude, but I was trying to remember exactly when, during our less than five minutes talk, that happened. I kinda asked you out and you declined, I’m not gonna think you’re a bad person because of that! Especially after all of our history…” That kinda surprised you, but, then again, Jay was never the kind of guy to get upset over some mild rudeness.

“Ah…” Was all you managed to say before he spoke again:

“But, since you’re already here, let me pry on your guilt a little and ask you to come inside for a beer, maybe?” You nodded your head giggling and followed him inside. “So, um, your dad mentioned you were moving back here…” He half asked, handing you a bottle.

“Thanks. Ah, yeah, the company I work for decided it was time for a transfer.” You answered with a shrug of shoulders.

“Oh I see, you’re an engineer, right?” The conversation was beginning to get awkward, and both of you could feel it.

“Yeah,” you said while calculating how fast you could make it to the door after standing up from the couch, “chemical engineer, listen, it’s getting late, and I have an early morning tomorrow, so-”

“Wait, please don’t leave just yet.” He breathed out, softly grabbing you by the arm. “Ever since our fight that day I’ve been hoping for a chance to make things right between us, (y/n/n)...” At that, you just close your eyes and rub your fingers against your temples. “I never meant to hurt you, I swear!” Really? That was what he was going with?

“You never meant to hurt me? I crossed the Atlantic just to be by your side, leaving a lot of important stuff behind, and you didn’t wait a single moment to trade me for the first cover girl you could find, but you didn’t mean to hurt me?” You always thought you’d start crying if you had to confront him like that, but instead, you were just angry.

“(y/n/n), I’m so sorry! It’s just that I couldn’t be with you at that moment... I-”

“You couldn’t be with me? Right, because I wasn’t half of what they were… It’s not like you’re telling me anything new, really.” You tried to make it sound like nothing but, damn, that hurt deep.

“What? No, of course, not! You got it all wrong, baby!” Baby. He used the pet name you two sometimes used with each other to mock all those popular couples in school… “I couldn’t be with you because I was so messed up! I’m not proud to say it, but none of those girls ever meant anything to me! They were just a distraction from everything that was happening, from everything that had happened… You, on the other hand… (y/n/n), you were there at my mom’s funeral when I wasn’t! Don’t think I forgot about it!” His eyes softened a little. “You were my best friend in the world!”

“Oh my God! You still don’t get it? I didn’t want to be just your best friend, Jay! I spent most of my high school days just wondering when you were gonna trade me, your mere friend, for one of those pretty girls, who would happily be more than that to you… But you never did… Until that time! I was expecting to find you messed up! Because I knew that I wasn’t gonna give up until you got better! But, that?” Now there was just no stopping the tears that were rolling down your cheeks. He was on the verge of crying as well, so the two of you just stayed there in silence until he decided to speak again:

“I’m a complete idiot. That’s all I can say for myself. I’m so sorry I never realized it, (y/n)!” He seemed sincerely sorry, but you weren’t sure you could forgive him just yet. “You know,” he started, while laughing bitterly, “I made a real fool of myself with you, cause I used to dream about having a shot with you, romantically, I mean.” After hearing that, your jaw literally dropped, while Jay just kept laughing lightly. “Will even used to bug me about it, he’d say that you were just as fallen for me as I was for you,” he said, chuckling, and shaking his head, “and I never believed him, I’d actually beg him to stop saying those things whenever you were around because I thought it could make you uncomfortable…” You didn’t even know how to respond to that.

“Jay, I…” You began, but he interrupted you:

“You, um, you don’t need to say anything, if you don’t want to. Now I see that I hurt you a lot more than I thought I did, and I am so sorry! I wish I could take it all back, but I can’t, so if you ever feel like you can give me another chance, even if just at our friendship, I’ll be so thankful! The happiest man! But if not, well, I’ll just stay out of your life,” you could see how hurt he was, “because I don’t ever wanna make you cry again.” He said that but it looked like he was the one about to break into tears, so you did the one thing you could think about doing; you threw your arms around his neck and kissed him. Just like you had thought about doing so many times before. It took him a while to correspond since he was sort of stunned, but when he did… Oh boy, it was everything that books always told you about, there were butterflies and fireworks, and you knew that your transfer back home couldn’t have come at a better time.

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matbarzyy · 4 years

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Impossible

A/N: If you follow me on main you might know I’ve been obsessed with Impossible by Nothing But Thieves, so I tried to use it to write a fic. It definitely deserves a listen if you wanna have that playing in the background while you read. This is a best friends to lovers fic starting off a lil angsty but it ends well.

Word count: 4358

Love it stings, and then it laughs

At every beat of my battered heart

Something was wrong.

You couldn’t tell what it was just yet, but the way Mat was texting you wasn’t normal. He wanted to talk, he tried to keep the conversation going, but the texts were empty of content. It was so unlike Mat that you didn’t realise how worried you were until you tasted blood in your mouth from the way you bit your lip.

He was a ray of sunshine and a dork, always throwing jokes around and acting like an idiot. Seeing Mat sad was a rare occurrence.

You didn’t know what put him in that state but you guessed he needed something to distract himself, so you decided to call him.

“Alright, what’s up with you?” You spoke as soon as Mat picked up the phone. There was a sigh on the other end of the line and a ruffling noise before you heard him.

“Nothing,” He replied weakly, trying to hide a sniffle by putting the phone away from his face. You picked up on it anyway.

“Mat?” Your voice softened and your heart squeezed. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” He admitted, unable to give you a better answer as he lay on his bed without moving, tears streaming down his cheeks.

You took it as a clear no. The only times Mat ever called you to cry were after hockey games he lost, and that was only if he was too far for you to be with him. Whenever he played at home you came to see him and stayed to celebrate or cheer him up depending on the outcome.

“Where are you?” There was no need to ask if he needed you, the answer was obvious, you just had to ask where you had to go.

“Home,”

“I’m coming over, hold on, okay?” You slid into your sneakers as quick as you could, too rushed to undo the laces and put them on properly.

“Okay,” He whispered so low you barely heard him.

He went quiet on the phone and you hung up after promising him you’d be there in no time. You lived close enough to him that you could walk, driving was pointless unless you had a lot to carry. Mat had made you pick this apartment on purpose when you moved to New York, he argued that he’d be close if you ever needed anything, and you had never been more glad to be there.

He was your best friend in school when times were simpler, and he somehow remained your best friend when his hockey career began. Things were different with the distance, but you were the little bit of home he could stay attached to. He had been ecstatic to find out you were joining him in New York after your degree so that you could work on a masters.

Anthony had quickly become one of your best friends too, and you all got along well with Mat’s girlfriend. Lena wasn’t as part of the group as you thought she would be when you first met her, but you didn’t mind it too much. You liked spending time with just Mat and Tito, she was nice but always calm and calculated. It didn’t fit with the spontaneous crackhead energy you shared with the boys.

You often wondered why Mat always reached out to you rather than her. You could understand when he went to Tito, he understood him when it came to hockey and guy things you couldn’t wrap your head around, but you spent endless nights questioning where you fit in the middle of that. Mat never let you feel left out, no matter how invested he was in his relationship he always made time for you.

“I’m here,” You called out when you unlocked the door. You had a spare key from the moment you arrived, officially because he needed someone to have it in case he got locked out, unofficially because he wanted you to be able to come over whenever you wanted. “Hey,” You found him in his bedroom, dried tears on his cheeks as he looked at you with heartbreak written all over his face. “What happened?”

“Lena’s been cheating on me for four months,” Mat whispered, his eyes falling shut as he dug his teeth into his lip to stop himself from crying again. He had been rehearsing the words in his head since you called so that he could tell you, but they still tore at his heart.

“Oh my god,” You sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over to engulf him in a hug. That at least explained why he called you. He needed comfort, and as sweet as Tito was he was also fiercely protective, you knew he’d go rip her apart if he found out now. Mat’s chest shook with small sobs while one of his arms wrapped around you, clinging to you for dear life. “Shit Mat, I’m so sorry,”

“I was- I was just going to surprise her,” He cried against your shoulder, tears beginning to soak your shirt. “And I found them,”

“Come here,” You breathed out as you slid onto the bed more comfortably, letting Mat curl himself against you. You had held him while he cried before, but you had never seen him look that small. “You deserve so much better,”

“I just-” He hiccuped. “I can’t believe she’s been doing this for so long,”

“I know… I don’t even know what to say,”

“Four years,” His words were so choked you barely understood them. He was the most broken you had ever seen him and your heart fell apart for him. No one should have to go through that, but it angered you more than anything that someone as sweet as Mat had to be the one to suffer from it. “I trusted her,”

“I know you did,” You nodded, gently running your fingers through his hair in a way you hoped would soothe him. On some particularly quiet nights at home when you were drunk with no one but him and Tito he liked to rest his head in your lap to make you play with his hair. It wasn’t something Lena really did for him, he had told you one day, but he never let himself be that close to you when people were around in case pictures circulated and she became unbelievably jealous again.

They had a fight about it once, and you wished you realised how horrible she was back then. She played it off on insecurities when it was pure misplaced jealousy, and you could now add hypocrisy to that. Mat was a good boyfriend, reassuring her and talking to you about it to make sure you’d know not to be too touchy when she was around.

It should have clicked in your head that she didn’t belong with him at all when he was forced to hide his affection for you and any other woman in his life. Tito might have been a bit smarter than you about it, he never even tried to take a liking to her while you made efforts to get along with her for Mat’s sake.

“I don’t want to fall in love ever again.” He sniffled against your shoulder, only calming down for a second before his sobs became louder.

There was nothing you could do except hold him through the rest of the night.

Somebody told me and I think they’re right

There is a change on its way tonight

It took a few months for Mat to feel better. He kept blaming himself, trying to find where he went wrong, and it took many pep talks from you to remind him that he was worth more than that. None of it was his fault, Lena was a heartless liar using him, and she didn’t deserve all of the tears he shed over her.

Tito helped too, joining your efforts as soon as he found out. Between the both of you Mat got plenty of encouragement and love, it was at least enough for him to appear fine to everyone else around him. Only you and Tito got his late night phone calls and texts when he got in his head and began blaming himself for everything that ever went wrong in his life.

Girls were still flirting with him, some of them asking him out on dates, but he turned them all away without a care. You thought he might get into a bit of a fuckboy phase to take his mind off things, but even that didn’t happen.

Neither you or Tito pushed it, he needed patience.

“You’re in love with him,” Tito accused you one night. He was the only one still sitting at the table you had secured in the bar for the rest of the team and their significant others. There was enough space that everyone was standing and mingling around the room. You were practically filling the whole bar anyway, there weren’t many other customers.

“That obvious, uh?” You gave him a weak smile, glancing in Mat’s direction.

“You’ve only been giving him all of your time and attention for the past year,” He shrugged. “I figured it out after I saw you turn down three dates the first month you were here,”

“Nice catch, I barely had it figured out for myself then,” You admitted, taking a weight off your shoulders. You had never been able to confess your feelings for Mat to anyone before. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Tito was the one to figure it out. “I just don’t want him to know yet,”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s too scared to fall for anyone again, or I would have told him already,” You saw him down the rest of his drink and laugh loudly at something one of his friends said, and that sound alone made a smile appear on your lips.

“He trusts you though,” Tito brought you back to the conversation. He had spent enough time with you to know, and he wished the two of you could see things as clearly as he did.

“Not to let himself love me as more than just a friend,” You sighed, your heart squeezing at the thought. “I know what he’s going through, well, not to that extent, but yeah, I know the kind of trust issues that come with it,” You had spent a long time getting over an ex who only cheated with a kiss, and you had barely been with him for six months back then. You could only imagine what it did to Mat to find out his girlfriend of four years lied to his face for four months straight.

“I honestly believe he already has feelings for you, he just won’t act on them just yet,”

“Maybe… Either way, all I can do is wait until he notices,” You could still give him time. You didn’t blame him for keeping his distance, as much as it hurt you had seen the damage his last relationship had done to him and you were willing to wait. You couldn’t see yourself falling for anyone else, Mat was the only one in your heart.

“Mat might act like an idiot all the time but he pays attention to people, he knows how much you care about him,” Tito assured you. You didn’t see it, but Mat was always looking at you and turning to you for everything. You were more than just his best friend and it was painfully obvious.

Mat wasn’t doing it subconsciously either. He was all too aware of your feelings for him, and he fought with himself trying to repress his own for a long time.

You were his best friend back home, but ever since you came to New York you had become so much more than that. Even when his relationship still held up you were the person he shared everything with. You and Tito were his favorite people, he constantly hung out with you without realising what you truly meant to him. Tito was like a brother but it was different with you.

Accepting his feelings for you while getting over his ex was a lot to handle, but he eventually got there. There was only so much patience you could have, he was scared it would wear off before he grew the balls to jump in and tell you the truth.

He could see you sitting with Tito while he was out there drinking, and he couldn’t help but walk over. There was no way for him to enjoy his night unless you did too.

“Come on, you’re missing out on all the fun,” He cheerfully grabbed your hand and pulled you up from the table, motioning for Tito to join.

“Someone’s drunk,” You chuckled when he wrapped an arm around you and pulled you into his chest. Drunk Mat was always extra needy.

“Only a little,” He grinned down at you.

His loud laugh echoed through the room when you took the opportunity to tickle his sides, and he jumped away from you with a squeal. It was the most beautiful sound, one you had missed for a whole month when he never let himself be truly carefree.

“See! This is why I can never bring you to work related stuff!” He tried to retaliate but you blocked his hands, wriggling around until he gave up and put his arm around your waist.

“Why, because I always make sure we have a good time when we’re out?” You laughed at the memories of all the stupid things you had done together when he was supposed to act professional. Granted, trying to see which one of you could catch the most olives in their mouth while the other threw them hadn’t been your smartest idea, but that dinner had been boring and the backlash had been worth it.

“More like because he can’t focus on shit if you’re around,” Tito muttered and you bit your lip in response, wondering if that was really the case. Mat was just Mat around you, but was he different when you weren’t there?

“Something like that,” The brown haired giant remained oblivious to his best friend’s words, too drunk and excited to notice. “But now you need a drink!”

“I’m driving you home, dumbass,” You laughed and resisted his grip while he tried to drag you towards the bar.

“We can uber!” Mat’s face lit up like the idea made him a genius, and you had a hard time not turning into a puddle at the sight. He was so cute it was unfair.

“And leave my car here? I don’t think so,”

“Tito, help me,” Mat looked to his friend, puppy eyes at their finest, to convince him.

“I only had one beer, I can drive,” The man sighed, rolling his eyes at Mat’s behaviour. It was the best compromise so that you wouldn’t have to leave your car and Mat could get his way.

If he could anything that might finally get you two together he’d do it. He was sick of watching you like this when you should obviously be a couple. As stupid as it was, he hoped the alcohol would help you loosen up and get closer. Mat hadn’t been with anyone in a long time and he was obviously lonely, there was a solid chance you’d at least be cuddling by the end of the night.

“You don’t have to,” You tried to ignore the hand that tugged on your arm, making sure Tito was okay with not drinking for the rest of the night. You promised you’d drive, you didn’t want to ruin his fun.

“I don’t really want to drink more, you’re good, go,” He gave you a gentle push, and a second later you were stumbling after Mat because he often forgot how strong his grip was.

“Two shots of tequila and a rum and coke please,” He asked a little louder than he needed to, but the bartender clearly didn’t mind. The guys tipped well when they were out, and since the whole team was filling the bar you knew the whole staff was happily making more money than on regular nights.

“You really think you should be drinking tequila?” You laughed at his state, knowing he was only about to get worse. You didn’t mind it, he was always closer when drunk, clinging to you like a baby, and there was nothing you craved more than his hugs.

“Nope, that’s all for you,” He handed a bill to the bartender to pay for the drinks. “You need to catch up,”

“You’re going to be the reason I die one of these days,”

“Promise I’ll make sure you get home in one piece,” His lips pressed against your temple and you melted into him. He’d always make sure you were safe.

You didn’t know what to do with the mixed signals you got from him. Tito was right, you were almost sure he had feelings for you, but you wondered if he would ever act on them or if he would only want to keep you as a friend. You could only have your hopes up for so long.

The shots were placed down in front of you before you could let yourself overthink things more, and you took both with a grimace under Mat’s stare.

He was trying his best not to let himself ruin a potential relationship with you. He knew he loved you, but getting with you before he was ready would be a mistake. You were more than a rebound and you deserved to be treated right. Mat couldn’t be the one for you until he fixed himself, but knowing that gave him the energy to be better. He let himself slip into the depth of the love he felt for you, allowing himself to fall a little further every day until he was so in love with you he knew he could never go back.

The night ended as predicted, you and Mat were so drunk you laughed constantly and could barely walk, Tito tried his best to be patient as he helped you both to the car.

“Guys,” He groaned as you stopped once again, doubling over into a fit of laughter at something he didn’t understand. He was mostly amused but had to act serious for either of you to listen to him. “Come on, hop in,”

“Thanks Tito,” You gave him a big hug while Mat opened the car’s door.

“Yeah yeah,” He rubbed your back with a chuckle. “Get in there and hug Mat,” He guided you to the backseat where Mat already was, leaving the passenger seat empty.

“Tito said I should hug you,” You leaned over to him and rested your head on his shoulder as you did so.

He only hummed in response, wrapping his arms around you while Tito started the car. It would be a short drive to Mat’s place, and the three of you knew there’d be no need to drive to yours. Tito’s car was at Mat’s because you had picked them up there to come to the bar, so he’d be able to drive home and leave your car where you’d spend the night.

Getting up to Mat’s apartment was surprisingly easy. Your energy had died down in the car and you were both just dying to get in bed. Tito had to fight a little to get you both to drink water while you complained you were hungry, so he promised to make you food if you both just went to bed.

“Alright, everyone comfy?” Tito had to stop himself from rolling his eyes when he found you settled under the covers together. Mat was shirtless and you were in one of his t-shirts, you couldn’t look more like a couple. “Here,” He let you both sit up against the headboard before handing you plates.

“You’re ‘e ‘est” Mat dug in and spoke with his mouth half full of his sandwich. You nodded after him, looking up at the blue eyed man.

“Drink some more water before you fall asleep, okay?” He chuckled as he thought that soon enough all of your nights would look like this. You might have thought that Mat needed more time but Tito could see he didn’t, he had already let himself fall for you, you just had to let it happen.

I could drown myself in someone like you

I could dive so deep I never come out

Dinner at Mat’s was common, but a homemade dinner at Mat’s wasn’t. You didn’t hide your surprise when you smelled chocolate brownies baking in the oven as you walked in on a Friday night. Mat rarely went through the trouble of making food himself when he could get it cooked by someone else who would know how to prepare it right.

He had texted you to come over early during the week, so you knew he had this planned and it wasn’t just another spontaneous night you’d spend together.

“You cooked?” You took a look at what was in the oven while he stood by the stove.

“Um, yeah,” He scratched the back of his head nervously, moving a pan off the heat while you smiled.

“It smells good,” You reassured him and earned a relieved sigh. You had teased him about his cooking skills hundreds of times, but he really had tried tonight.

You sat with him like everything was normal although the dinner and bottle of red on the table told you it wasn’t. Mat was a nervous wreck, glancing at the candles he had left unlit on a shelf because he knew it’d be too much to add them to the table.

You carried the conversation easily through the beginning of the meal, giving him some more time to say what he needed to. You could see he had something to get off his chest, but you didn’t try to push it until dessert. You could barely believe he was serving you a homemade brownie with freshly cut strawberries and your favorite brand of vanilla ice cream.

He was slowly turning quiet, obviously thinking too hard.

“What is it?” You bumped your foot into his to get his attention.

Mat finally looked up from his dessert, taking a deep breath in before letting the words flow out.

“I’ve fallen for you so damn hard,” He put his spoon down, looking at you with a slightly awkward smile. Mat was rarely shy around you, but there he was, knee bouncing under the table and running his hand through his hair too many times.

“The feeling’s mutual,” You abandoned the rest of your dessert to focus on him with a soft smile. You thought you’d feel butterflies or excitement when it finally happened, but Mat’s confession only brought warmth to you. It made you feel like everything was finally falling into place.

“I know,” He breathed out, reaching for your hand across the table. It wasn’t the first time he held it, but it was the first time he let himself get amazed by how small it was in his. “I just… I thought it was impossible, I didn’t want that again. But you’ve got more patience than anyone else I know and… and you made it all possible,”

“I knew you’d need time to come around,” You ran your thumb over the back of his hand, looking straight into his eyes. Mat felt his heart melt at the sight, it was like you had known this would happen all along while he wondered if he was meant to be single for the rest of his life.

“I didn’t think I would,” He honestly answered, knowing he could voice his insecurities around you without fear of being judged. You had been his rock this whole time, his steady while he was a mess. “And I probably wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for you. You’ve pulled me out of my head so many times, so thank you,”

“Come here,” You pushed your chair back and got up while Mat mirrored your movements.

He pulled you into a tight hug almost instantly, placing a soft kiss on top of your head while you rubbed soothing circles on his back. There wasn’t a lot you needed to say once you were there, holding each other.

“I love you,” He gave you a gentle squeeze, the words floating in the air for less than a second before you replied.

“I love you too,” You pulled away to look at him, cupping his cheek and feeling him lean into your touch. “And I know how much it takes for you to say that, so thank you, for trusting me,”

“I’ve always trusted you,”

The tip of his nose touched yours and you both smiled, letting your eyes fall shut before your lips finally met.

In all of the years you had known Mat you had never exchanged a kiss, not even during a dumb drinking game. You had only imagined this moment a million times, and now that it was finally happening you could barely think.

His lips were soft, the stubble growing on his face tickled your skin, and it all felt like perfection. Nothing could have ever prepared you for what it’d be like to kiss the person you were in love with.

“Wow,” Mat whispered as he pulled away, his hands trembling slightly.

“Yeah,” You chuckled before a frown appeared in your face. “Hey,” You got him to look at you rather than his feet. “What are you so nervous for? It’s just me,”

“Sorry, I’m, uh, all out of practice when it comes to that stuff,” He admitted, his hands coming to your waist to hold you.

“How about we clean up and get on the couch so you can get practice again, mmh?” You kissed his cheek and instantly got a smile back on his face.

“That sounds perfect.”

Please reblog guys! Feedback and comments are always super encouraging and help me write more

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i-prefer-the-term-antihero · 3 years

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So this is going to be a long, overemotional/melodramatic post... but I need to get my feelings out somehow.

I've only watched ep1 so far, but I really love the look of, and am really excited for, the new Loki show.

When I first saw that some Marvel shows were coming to Disney+...okay, yes, I was definitely excited about Wandavision and Loki, because those are three of my favorite marvel characters. But at the same time, things did feel a bit like a marketing ploy. Of course Disney would make a bunch of marvel shows on their new platform--thats what'll sell. Of course they'll pick Loki, because he's really popular and that'll sell more. I wasn't even sure I'd watch Falcon and Winter Soldier. It didn't feel like I could genuinely be excited about the shows, thinking this. And, don't get me wrong, this problem is still there, no doubt about that.

But I've definitely enjoyed Wandavision and Falcon and Winter Soldier, especially the former. I thought they were solid shows.

So even though I LOVE Loki as a character...I came to the trailers with this sort of bias in mind.

Now, let me be clear, I don't just love Loki.

He was probably the first character I ever became truly obsessed with. I'm pretty sure he was the first villain character I liked, and kind of awakened my love for redeemable villains (which, if you couldn't tell by my url, stays strong today). He's a character I've loved since Thor came out in 2010. He's been in my life for ten years, and in a way shaped who I am.

I enjoy marvel overall, but pretty casually. I definitely keep up with all the movies, but I don't totally obsess over all of them. However, I still remember just how unfathomably excited I was when Dark World came out. How unbelievably happy I was to see Loki again. How I savored every joke he made, every tender moment with him, and just how happy I walked out of that theater. When I watched Ragnarok, I was older, so I wasn't quite so giddy, but that kid inside me is still there, and still jumped and grinned every time I saw him come on screen.

Needless to say, he holds an extremely special place in my heart. Even though I have characters now that I potentially like more, he's sort of been my "favorite character" for ten years, and I will always adore him.

I'm sure its been said by plenty of Loki Stans but...I absolutely hated how Infinity War went.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad because he died. Okay, of course I'm mad he died. But I can deal with character death. In fact, I sometimes prefer a character getting a dramatic and fulfilling death to them getting a happy ending. (And there are things I liked about his death--like, I really adored his dialogue, that he was dying for a good cause.)

But what I hated the most was that it felt like the creators didn't know his character. Loki is the god of mischief. He would never EVER launch a straight attack on a villain, no illusions, no back up plan. I'm sorry, but that's just not him at all. (Sure his plans in Avengers were more scattered and went horribly...but, firstly, he was being mind controlled so he wasn't all there, and secondly, if I remember correctly, there was still a level of mischief in his plans. He didn't generally do things straightforward. That's part of what made it fun to watch.).

(Loki wasn't the only character I felt they did this with in IW. I hated that they just had Cap live his life through time with Peggy. Not that I hate that idea itself, it's cute of course. But Cap is so incredibly selfless. He would never just do something so selfish like that...It wasn't him).

In addition to that, I felt like I saw the puppet strings so clearly in that scene. That movie was all about shock value. I don't think a movie--at least one in a franchise like marvel--should ever be made purely for shock value. It should be about what's right for the characters and the overall storyline. If there's some shock there, great. But give the audience an actually fulfilling story. Don't make your entire plan to shock and horrify the world that loves these characters/this franchise. In that scene, it truly felt like they were "Oh hey Loki's like the most beloved character, right? Lol, let's break his neck within the first five minutes to show we mean business. They'll hate that."

I'm a writer, I know the merit in going "okay, hey, we're going big here, we need to set up our villain early, and set up how this movie overall is going to go with the first scene." I know why they felt the need to kill off a character in the first five minutes.

And hell yeah I'm largely just mad because it was my fave, of course I am.

But it didn't feel like they were going "Okay does this make sense for Loki's character? Is this a good way to have him go out? Will this satisfy our audience who loves him?"

It felt like they were going "Okay let's pick the most beloved character so it'll shock, annoy, and hurt people the most."

And I'm not okay with that.

I'm just some shmuck, there's nothing I can do about that. But I'm not okay with that. I was so not okay with that, that I've pretty much hated marvel for all the years preceding Infinity War, and have not been fully excited about anything marvel related since then. I have barely interacted with Loki content since then it affected me so much.

I know it's melodramatic, but It felt like they were killing my childhood. That little piece of me that got excited every time he came on screen. That piece of me, that had been so excited to see him be on the side of the villains in infinity war, because it just meant I got to see him. It truly felt like a small part of me died when I watched him die.

So when the Loki trailers came out? In a weird way ....I couldn't even be excited.

They were bringing him back, potentially erasing the problem I have with Infinity War. And yet...I couldn't be excited.

First off, when I saw what happened with him in Endgame (it made me extremely happy and hopeful, let me tell you, but it obviously didn't fix everything) I was kind of under the impression he'd just be causing mischief throughout space and time for the show, and I was absolutely here for it.

So when I saw the trailers were him getting caught immediately, and then recruited for the side of the good guys...I was like "okay so...the same plot as other Marvel movies? The plot of Ragnarok again? He gets stranded on an alien planet, and has to work for the leaders. There's lots of fighting, like there is in every other marvel movie, which is the part I least care about." When I saw the trailers I didn't get to see Loki being himself at all. I saw other people controlling him, and then him working for the good guys. That's not Loki. Loki is mischief. Loki works for himself. Loki fights, yeah, but his character actually has depth and emotion to it, he's not just for brainless fighting. (And whoo boy let me tell you I was mad when I saw the DB Cooper part of the trailer and thought they chopped his wonderful hair off when they made him a good guy, like they were totally changing his identity. And also let me tell you the SHEER RELIEF I felt when I found it was just a tiny scene, and his wonderful hair will remain (please God let it remain)).

So here I was thinking "great, its infinity war all over again. I'm gonna have a whole show of them not knowing and staying true to his character."

Even though that little kid inside of me was still there. Even though that little kid was going "Dude! Dude! It's Loki! An entire show about Loki! You won't have to wait for him to show up on screen, he'll just always be on screen! He'll be the protagonist! Do you realize how much I would have loved this if I got to see it years earlier?" I was so tired, and so mad.

But now I've watched the first episode.

And for the first time since infinity war...I felt like I could breathe again.

Here I thought they'd forgotten his character. They forgot that he's the god of mischief, that he's funny, that he's, well (to use the words of Thomas Sharpe)...absurdly sentimental.

And they didn't at all.

From minute one he's himself, wanting to rule the world, cracking jokes, refusing to be controlled, causing mischief when and where he can. They actually showed the progression of why he'd be willing to work for them really well.

And gosh I loved that scene where he sees what his life would be like. From the moment Mobius started showing him scenes from his life, I was desperately hoping he'd be left alone with the device and get to see more of his life, and desperately hoped he'd see and react to his death.

And they did not disappoint.

They remembered. They remembered that he's ambitious, that he's not controlled, they remembered that he's funny and mischievous, and that he's a special marvel character, that you can actually get deep and emotional with. They remembered all of it.

Watching Loki watch his own death was like taking all those years of anger, and for one brief moment melting them away. I felt like I wasn't alone anymore. Wasn't alone in going "hey that's not Loki." Loki himself was watching it, and could judge that for himself. And most importantly, it was confirming before my eyes that it was no longer was his end.

And him being the villain and the hero? I cannot explain to you how much I love that idea. How much and how well that keeps in line with his character. A great premise and protagonist can make for a poor story if it has a poor villain, and, to be fair I haven't seen how it goes, but that seems like the perfect--and perhaps only--villain who could make this show absolutely stellar. I'd love to see them explore that Avengers-level villainousness, with him also being a hero like we see at the end of Ragnarok. It'd be fun to see his two sides trying to convince each other to join them. It would truly feel like they understand all aspects of his character.

I'm older now, so I don't get nearly as excited about things as I used to. I wish I did. I almost wish this came out when I was younger so I could be more excited. But that kid is still inside of me, and I'm so excited to see him on screen all the time.

Now...I don't really care so much if it's all about the money.

It's a whole show about Loki. I don't have to wait for him to come on screen, he's just there.

This feel like more of a relief than I can possibly express.

(@mylokabrennauniverse @annievvv7 I’d be curious to hear your thoughts/if you’ve felt similarly!!)

#loki #loki tv series #loki tv series spoilers #loki tv #loki series #loki laufeyson #marvel #mcu #marvel loki #loki mcu #loki show #marvel mcu #loki marvel #mcu loki #thor #thor the dark world #thor ragnarok #infinity war

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gladiatortale · 3 years

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My DEPRESSION BEATING, fandom obsessing, shit-tastic FANTASTIC year in review!

TL;DR: I’m fixing my mental health and figuring out WHO THE FUCK I AM one fandom filled day at a time! Thank you to everyone who’s been there for me along the way. xoxo

what’s up HEATHENS.

stating the goddamn obvious here, it’s been a HELLUVA YEAR. One emotional rollercoaster after another but we’re ALMOST DONE. I know things aren’t gonna magically get better the second it flips to 00:01 on January first, but I’m excited to put this year behind me, and (SHOCKINGLY) a bit sad to see it go.

It was a year where the whole world completely stopped, we realized what is really important, what is really worth fighting for, and took a GODDAMN SECOND to just breathe.

For me personally, the year (which I’m counting off from November 1st) started out UNBELIEVABLY SHIT. I had just been kicked out of the country I called home for the last four years (thank you Brexit), I had ZERO job prospects, my depression was the WORST it had ever been, and I just didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. And in the beginning, the pandemic felt like salt in the wound, an extra kick in the teeth to my early twenties that had already “failed to launch.”

But I tried to embrace the madness, really take advantage of the world (that I always thought moved to fast) properly slowing down, and take time to try and become myself again. I wanted to figure out what I loved and try and become a bit more like the person I was before my depression got so bad.

I often say I became that Manic Trash Planet Lady™ you see in sci-fi adventure films; a bit zany to say the least, with a million ideas and a very eclectic fashion sense, but embracing the insanity as it comes...

*cough cough* audrey, get to the goddamn point!

Right. lol. THE POINT IS!

I’m not 100% “healed”, I’m not sure if I think depression is a “oh look you’re officially cured! hooray!” type of disease, but this year I let myself ENJOY SHIT for the first time in god knows how long. I still don’t know “wHaT i WaNt To dO WiTh mY LiFe”, but I’ve got a better idea and I’m heading in (what feels like) the right direction. And most of all, I can look back and say I am better than where I was a year ago.

So I wanted to say T H A N K Y O U to the mad lads on this website that introduced me to the fandoms, shows, movies, fics... THE SHIT that made me happy this year and were there to be one (BIG) piece in my healing journey.

AND SO, with out further rambling ADO! Here are the highlights of the year marked by my ridiculous hyper-fixations and OBSESSIONS. Thanks for putting up with me ya fiends, xoxox

November 2019 The Arcana (Visual Novel)

I had just gotten home and I was in a LOOOOOOW place. Randomly decided to download this app when it came up and it proceeded to ruin my life (and my bank account...) for pretty much the rest of the year. It was exactly what I needed to get me through a tough time and I was thoroughly, horse-blinders-up-to-the-rest-of-the-world, OBSESSED. These gorgeous magical fiends ruined me and all I could say was thank you.

Joined the fandom: November 2019 Obsession peaked: Late November Obsession faded: December 2019; I started a new job AND my bank statement came in and I realized I had accidentally spent over SIXTY BUCKS on this stupid app. No ragrets, but I definitely started to phase out at that point. Fandom friends: Velma, (@lanavxds on insta) miss you girlie xx Fanfics you NEED to read: ‘Second Mistake’ by DeathBelle on AO3, because DAAAAAYUM SON. Favourite moments: Basically the whole of the Julian arc. That gangly himbo OWNED my ass for a month.

December 2019 Hazbin Hotel (TV Series)

Y’ALL okay here me out. Am I proud of this one? No. Is the show crass as hell? OOOOOOOOHHHH YEAH. Did my angsty ass love it at the end of last year? DAMN STRAIGHT IT DID. Goes without saying, but this is NOT FOR EVERYBODY, but it definitely helped me along the way to becoming more comfortable with myself and being open about being the massive geek that I always was, and watching things I enjoy regardless of what people say about it.

Joined the fandom: December 2019 Obsession peaked: Shortly there after. Fandom friends: None. Dipped one toe in fandom discourse and then promptly YEETED the fuck outta there. Obsession faded: January 2019. Still curious to see the full series if A24 actually ever does produce the whole thing, but I have def moved away from it. Fanfics you NEED to read: Haven’t read any. Maybe I’m a pussy baby piece-o-shit, but I DID NOT want to go down that rabbit hole, NO MA’AM. Favourite moments:

Discovering the Hunicast podcast. These guys are a riot and Ashley is a flustered GEM. Even if you don’t watch the show, go watch an episode of these fucking LADS just dicking about and your day will get better.

Watching the first episode with my partner and watching him realize his girlfriend is a total freak.

January 2020 Lore Olympus (Webtoon Comic)

*Officially* discovered this one thanksgiving weekend in 2019, but my Arcana phase was still raging pretty strong at that point so I didn’t really get in to it until later. EVERYBODY AND THEIR MOTHER NEEDS TO READ IT. It has everything and handles the reality sexual assault and it’s aftermath EXTREMELY well.

Joined the fandom: Late November 2019 Obsession peaked: January 2020 Fandom friends: KELLEY. MA GIRL XOXOXO Obsession faded: June-ish 2020. I’m like 10 chapters behind now, but I still love this story so much. Fanfics you NEED to read: SO MANY ON MY ‘MARKED FOR LATER’ LIST AAAAAH. I have to get to that... NEW YEARS RESOLUTION lol Favourite moments: Having a drunk conversation on New Years Eve in 2019 with one of my oldest friends from high school about how much she loved it too. Helped me see how popular fandom and fandoms, are especially after feeling like I needed to hide my enthusiasm through high school and uni. (THAT WAS A MISTAKE BUT I’LL GET THERE IN A MINUTE).

February 2020 Versailles (TV Series)

SO FUCKING GAY Y’ALL. Oh my god everyone in this show is so gay. Even when they’re not they still are a little bit. AND BEST OF ALL!! it’s very historically accurate (except for the demon satanic nonsense in season 3, what was that???)

Joined the fandom: February 2020 Obsession peaked: Like??? The SECOND I finished episode one. Fandom friends: none... WHERE ARE ALL OF YOU??? Obsession faded: March 2020. It was a fast and passionate love affair, what can I say? Fanfics you NEED to read: IF YOU HAVE RECS, GIVE ‘EM TO MEEEEE. Favourite moments:

Showing the first episode to a friend of mine and the *ungodly GASP* that came out of her throat was... PRICELESS.

The ENTIRE throuple(???) relationship between the Chevalier, Philipe, and Palatine. PLATONIC/ ROMANTIC LOVE G O A L S.

March 2020 Yuri!!! On Ice (TV Series)

*deep breath* ...y’all knew this one was coming.

Was I ready for this show to ruin my fucking life? No. Am I so glad it happened??? FUCK YEAH.

NEVER IN MY LIFE have I fallen off the deep end so quickly with a fandom. HOLY SHIT. This blog didn’t have much of an “identity” before, but I you said that this is a Yuri On Ice blog now I wouldn’t even be mad (nor could I really defend myself to the contrary... bc??? like??? just go LOOK at my archive). Craziest thing is I watched the first two episodes like?? a solid TWO YEARS ago, but I didn’t continue watching because I was just not in the right head space for all the love and silliness and positivity.

I could do a whole separate post about how much this show and how this fandom has changed my life (DON’T TEMPT ME I JUST MIGHT). But I’ll stick with the highlights for now ;)

Joined the fandom: March 2020 Obsession peaked: Has it peaked?? Went straight up and it still going lol Fandom friends: Sandra, my mentor, my queen @aeriamamaduck, my fandom ride-or-die. Thank you for taking this internet bby under your wing. RACHEL @idancewiththefairies I TRAPPED YOU HERE. MUAHAHAHA xxx Obsession faded: ON GOING. CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP. Fanfics you NEED to read: jfc, SO MANY.

‘Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart Aches’ and ‘Of Bright Stars and Burning Hearts’ by Reiya @kazliin -- Rivals AU companion pieces. Longest fics I’ve ever read and JESUS CHRIST these two fucking SENT ME. Most popular YOI fics on AO3 for a REASON.

‘Tell Me Where Your Love Lies’ by @aeriamamaduck -- Royalty AU, trope-breaking ABO. Ah sweet, TMWYLL, how you’ve killed me over and over again. This BEAUTIFUL wip has SUCH amazing world-building idk where to start (Congrats on passing 50,000 hits!) EVERYONE GO READ IT.

‘Blackbird’ by sixpences -- WWII/Coldwar Spy Fic. I don’t have enough words to describe how amazing this is. It’s elevated to a higher plane beyond fanfic. Just go read it. Thank me later.

‘Zanka’ by rinsled05 @dreaming-fireflies -- The geisha fic that ruined me. *deep breath* AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH *gasp* I’m fine. lol I sooooo not ready for this fic. Holy hell, Aoyagi had my heart in his hands from the first chapter. “’Please’ [...] ‘Don’t give me hope.’“ FUUUUCK.

‘Echoes’ by Reiya @kazliin -- Future fic. First fic I cried at... BOI. I was NOT ready for this. Shouldn’t be surprised given the author, but MAN. “‘A love like that, a love like what they had together, it never leaves completely.’ Yuri spoke again, eyes still staring out onto the ice, lost in memory. ‘There are always echoes.’” JUST FUCK ME UP.

Favourite moments: Oh good lord, where do I begin??

Having two (count ‘em TWO) main characters with mental health issues (Yuuri and his anxiety and Victor with burn out and depression) and NOT MAKING IT THE ONLY ASPECT OF THEIR PERSONALITY. CLAPS FOR KUBO AND YAMAMOTO!!

Everything about Yurio (ESPECIALLY HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YUUKO AND HIS GRANDPA), that tsundere motherfucker is too pure for this world.

THE KISS. THE PROPOSAL. MY HEART WASN’T READY. AAAAAH!!

This fandom *properly* introducing me to smut on AO3...

Thinking I was going to get Rachel to like the show... NOT being prepared for her to fall off the deep end and START LIKING REAL SKATING TOO!!

Staying up waaaaaay too late waaaaaay too often to plan out plot points for TMWYLL with Sandra. Love ya dearie.

The warm fuzzy feeling I get every time I think about Victor and Yuuri.

April 2020 Bungou Stray Dogs (TV Series)

I had a hunch I was gonna like this show considering ALL of the characters are based off of famous classic authors from around the world... what I was NOT prepared for was just HOW MUCH I was going to love it. HOLY SHIT. The art style? Love it. The plot?? Bonkers, but so fun. THE VOICE CAST??? AMAZING. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to get in to anime, great place to start.

Joined the fandom: April 2020 Obsession peaked: Probably this summer? But we have DEF plateaued in a VERY high place. Fandom friends: FIJI. MA BOIIIII @lil-1nsane Obsession faded: Hasn’t. Hope it doesn’t Fanfics you NEED to read: So so so many. The smut in this fandom is *chef’s kiss*, but here are a few...

‘He Works Hard For the Money’ by CataclysmicEvent @cataclysmicevent2019 -- Sugar Daddy AU. FUCK MAN. I was not expecting to like this one, but bloody hell. This fic grabbed me by the throat and WOULD NOT let me go. Praying for chapter 16! But the author is working on another STELLAR fic so I’m okay for now.

‘Everything or Nothing’ by CataclysmicEvent @cataclysmicevent2019 -- University AU. FUCK THIS FIC. Started reading it as I was waiting for HWHFTM to update and BOI, this fic ROCKS. The alternating POV fits so well with the enemies/idiots-to-lovers vibe. Solid 10 outta 10.

‘The City Where Wind Blows’ by @raven-rein -- Cancer Death fic. *pained shriek* AAAAAAGUUUUUUUHHHH *gasp* aaaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHHH, FUUUCCCCCCCCCKKKK MEEEEE. THIS FIC. Only the second fic I’ve ever cried to but I BAWLED MY GODDAMN EYES OUT. FUUUUUUUCK. I was not ready, never would have been ready. This is so tremendously well done, it killed me so beautifully,

‘Haunted by Hatred’ by DeathBelle -- Canon compliant Soukoku. It is a CRIME that DeathBelle doesn’t have more BSD fics on her page, but this one is still brilliant.

Favourite moments:

THE CHUUYA-DAZAI MAFIA REUNION TEAM UP WHEN THEY FIGHT LOVECRAFT. Ooof. BOI. We love it.

The first three episodes. Soooo many break neck plot twists.

Every insane hypothetical conversation with Fiji.

Every time Atsushi or Tanizaki is on screen bc I LOVE THESE LIL BEANS.

June 2020 Trash Taste (Podcast)

Goddamn I love these chaotic lads so much.

As I became more and more comfortable with myself and my love for anime I stumbled upon these three goons, -- Joey, Connor, and Garnt, -- best known for there SUPER successful (mostly) anime YouTube channels. Even if you don’t watch anime, WATCH/LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST. The focus is mostly on their lives and the overall expat/immigrant experience, with a bit of anecdotal anime references sprinkled in.

This show is both wholesome and heathenous in equal measure, and after having lived abroad for a significant portion of my (admittedly still quite short) life, it was such a breath of fresh air to hear people talk so openly about how living outside your home country is both wonderful and terrifying. They’re wonderfully candid about the fact that even if you love a place dearly, no where is perfect, and you WILL hate somethings about your new home even if the majority of the experience is fantastic. I cannot rate this show highly enough.

Joined the fandom: June 5th 2020, loved it from the first episode. Obsession peaked: July maybe? I was RELIGIOUS about watching the episodes as soon as they came out. Still watch every week, but less “on time.” Fandom friends: None :( but I have tricked my partner in to listening several times :) Obsession faded: It’s dimmed from where it was, but still going strong. Fanfics you NEED to read: NONE. NEVER PLAN TO. Hard and fast rule, I don’t read fics about real people. Characters played by real people, even that’s a maybe for me. But real-real people? FUCK NO. (some of my) Favourite moments:

Any time Garnt and Connor get into a big-brain-monkey-brain argument and Joey is just LOSING his GODDAMN MIND in the corner.

Bringing a retired Japanese porn star in the show for an honest conversation about consensual sex work and showing people can have more than one career in life.

Everything about the, ‘Are Online Friends Real Friends?’ episode. GO WATCH IT, it’s brilliant.

Garnt making “chotto-THE-FUCKING-matte” an expression

August 2020 Great Pretender (TV Series)

Spent most of the summer marinating in my BSD and YOI bubbles, until THIS BAD BOI came up on my Netflix recommendations. HOOOO BOI. This is some Anime Of The Year shit right here. Has a pretty original concept (Catch Me If You Can by way of Oceans 11-ish) but generally starts out like most other shounen (sans the super powers). AND THEN EPISODE FIVE HAPPENS. Not gonna spoil it but they TOOK THAT SHIT UP A NOTCH. Brilliant, even with a bit of an insane ending. GO WATCH THIS ONE.

Joined the fandom: August 2020 Obsession peaked: Pretty much as soon as I started watching it. Fandom friends: What’s up Fiji ;) @lil-1nsane Obsession faded: Naturally faded, but so glad I watched Fanfics you NEED to read: None so far! Little scared about this one, heard mixed reviews, but maybe someday. Favourite moments:

Edamame’s “madness arc” at the end of season 2. HOOOO BOY.

Laurent getting fucking WRECKED when Edamame punches him mid way through season 2, kills me every time.

Introducing my partner to anime with this show.

October 2020 Attack on Titan (TV Series)

RETURN OF THE KING. lol

In my quest to find an anime that I can watch with my partner, I turned on season 1 of this bad boi. Holy hell I forgot how much I loved this show, NO WONDER everyone lost their goddamn minds when this show first aired. I NEED to catch up before all the season four spoilers come to get me...

Joined the fandom: Winter 2016 Obsession peaked: Basically as soon as I started watching it. Fandom friends: None yet, but I know you’re out there... Obsession faded: 2017, JUST BEFORE SEASON TWO... I should have stuck around longer I know, but it’s slowly coming back. Reeeeeally need to catch up on seasons two, three, and four. Fanfics you NEED to read: GIVE ME YOUR RECS HEATHENS. Favourite moments:

Watching my partner FREAK OUT about Eren’s “death.”

EVERYTHING ABOUT POTATO GORL! lol

Getting in a conversation with a die hard fan after I hadn’t watched it in three years and saying... “Who’s that blond bitch that cries all the time?”/ “Armin?”/ “THAT’S THE ONE!”

November 2020... kind of. Figure Skating (Sport)

Okay this one is a bit hard to explain.

I have been a DIE HARD figure skating for A LOOOOOONG time. My grandmother got me a hat from the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and I remember watching even then. But I first became consciously aware of different skaters, my faves, etc. from about 2010. I vividly remember watching Plushenko skating in 2014 while on a school trip to Hawaii, and my friends laughing at me as I yelled at the TV.

But I didn’t TRULY get involved in the fandom side of it until this year. I had all this knowledge bottled up, but didn’t have any skating friends to talk to... UNTIL NOW. Super ironic that this happened in a year with almost NO skating, but I’ll take what I can get ;) Also did I stay up until FOUR-GODDAMN-THIRTY IN THE MORNING a few nights ago to stream Japanese Nationals on my phone??? YOU BET I DID.

Joined the fandom: Three times; 2002, 2010, and 2020. Obsession peaked: 2014? 2018? Idk it peaks any time someone does something amazing. Fandom friends: Rachel, my girl @idancewiththefairies, WHY DIDN’T I INTRODUCE YOU TO THIS SOONER??? Obsession faded: Hasn’t. Won’t. lol Fanfics you NEED to read: NOPE. NONE. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. No fanfics about real people. Never gonna change that. (some of my) Favourite moments:

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir doing THAT routine at the 2018 Olympics.

Rachel sheepishly admitting to me that Shoma may have replaced Yuzu as her favourite, and me being SO DAMN PROUD of her for growing and developing her own skating opinions apart from me.

Yuzu’s 2012 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ routine and Worlds. THE RAW FUCKING POWER OF THAT SKATE.

Plushenko, cheeky bastard, changing his 2014 Team Event routine AS IT WAS HAPPENING.

The worlds friendliest rivalry between Yuzu and Nathan.

Any thing the Shibutani’s do, and all they do to break up the stereotype that all of Ice Dancing has to be rOmAnTiC and SeNsUaL to be good.

Watching my early faves become coaches and the D R A M A.

Honorable Mentions:

Coco (Film): I watched this the weekend I came home and I owe this movie a lot. It is so sweet an heartwarming, and it a roundabout way it brought me back to Tumblr (needed somewhere to vent my feelings considering I watched the movie a solid THREE YEARS after it came out, Tumblr seemed like the place to go lol). Watched in again in 2020 and it’s just as amazing.

Jekyll and Hyde (All media): Loved this book from the first time I read it in my first year of uni. But in December 2019, my fandom understanding reached its PEAK. The musical?? The comic?? YOOOOOO.

Dear Evan Hansen (Musical): I have BARELY engaged in fandom discourse, but the MUSIC. She fucking SLAPS.

Sirius the Jaeger (TV Series): This show is such an underrated gem. It literally has so much; "dead” family drama? Eclectic international group of monster hunters? Cowboys and vampires?? Yes, yes, and YES. And the main character has the same Japanese voice actor as Atsushi from BSD!

Studio Ghilbi (Films): My love affair with Ghibli goes back to when I was about 5 and BEGGED my mom to take me to the library so we could rent Kiki’s Delivery Service on DVD. But that love has been FULLY rejuvenated this year when I went to the Ghibli Film Festival in New York City (ironically in the last week in February). If you haven’t seen them, go watch From Up On Poppy Hill, Whisper of the Heart, and The Wind Rises. Spoilers, you’re probably gonna cry.

If you’ve made it this far, THANK YOU FOR READING!

And thank you to all the amazing people that made my 2020 not so horrible. Good riddance 2020, don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

#2020 #mental health #appreciation post #figure skating #studio ghibli #coco #attack on titan #great pretender #bungou stray dogs #trash taste #versailles tv #yuri!!! on ice #the arcana game #hazbin hotel #anime #fandom

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belphegorbillickin · 3 years

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Okay, but I can definitely imagine Barb/Dia doing that. It seems like quite a possibility. But wasn't dying mc's own fault though? Like,, Barbatos did warn,,, unless he knew this was gonna happen and mc was DUMB AND STUPID enough to show up to everyone like: "hi." and possibly be dumb enough to get killed. Idk lol I forgot this part.

But what you said about Beel, I really like that. I think you even mentioned belphie guilt tripping you in your yandere hcs, and trying to make you completely depend on him?? I like those possibilities. Mammon though,, too soft. Like you said, they've robbed him a lot. He could have had so much potential to be a dark character. Similarly Levi omg.

The brothers are the embodiments of the 7 deadly sins, yet, tbh, I haven't seen too much of this side of them. At least, not like how'd I expect. Leviathan, for eg. Envy. I don't recall seeing his sin playing out anywhere except in the TSL Quiz thingy. I mean, it's been toned down a lot for someone who's the literal embodiment is envy. Idk I just don't feel he's like that? As from what I found: Envy (Latin: invidia), like greed and lust, is characterized by an insatiable desire. It can be described as a sad or resentful covetousness towards the traits or possessions of someone else. The struggle aroused by envy has three stages: during the first stage, the envious person attempts to lower another's reputation; in the middle stage, the envious person receives either "joy at another's misfortune"(if he succeeds in defaming the other person) or "grief at another's prosperity" (if he fails); the third stage is hatred because "sorrow causes hatred".[38]

Envy is said to be the motivation behind Cain murdering his brother, Abel, as Cain envied Abel because God favored Abel's sacrifice over Cain's.

They toned him down a little too much?? If this game has actually been inspired by demons and the 7 deadly sins, they could at least make them similar to the demons, at least in some way. I'm not that far into the game yet, but so far that I've played, I haven't seen much. As for a demon who is the embodiment of envy... I wish to see more. Levi is capable of A LOT.

Similarly, Satan. I sometimes wonder why is he even called the Avatar of Wrath when we hardly see it?? The only time I remember is him losing his calm during the whole body swap event. The fact Satan got mad at us refusing a pact actually made me think that he was the sin "wrath", but idk now. And the way it was said that "every smile is an act", I really like that concept too. But I don't think I've paid much attention to see where it played out. Sigh now Satan simps for cats like,,, please show me your dark/evil side sir.

The way you said Barb and Dia took part in a torture dungeon, I want to see more of that too. If they're demons, wouldn't they have caused SOME sort of bloodshed in a way? Especially if they're the strongest demons. Killing humans, eating them, or I even like to think doing the same to their own race. Torturing... Seems like something that every demon's blood would contain lmao, I'm not answering questions bye.

And I believe so too. The human seems like a pawn... I feel the demons would use humans for entertainment and their own purposes, while keeping up the facade of loving them. It's easy, since demons are manipulative. In that case, losing the human whether by their own hands or not would go like: "Oh well, that's unfortunate. Time for another human."

But if they REALLY did love you, I feel they'd still be manipulative. Like you said. Corrupting/spoiling the human so much to the point that they'd just HAVE to depend on them. I feel they'd also have yandere tendencies, or be "protective". Like, then I feel they really wouldn't want to let you go, despite knowing how much it can ruin your innocence.

I also don't like how everyone is after mc like "uwuwu master". The human is still a weakling despite having pacts, plus, the pacts aren't even demanding the human's soul or anything. I don't get why they let mc walk over them when they are CLEARLY much stronger? If I were a demon I'd do the opposite lmao. Making the human seem as if they are controlling me, but it's the opposite. I don't think a mere pact can change the fact that the demon's stronger,,, esp if the pact didn't demand the human's soul/life/whatever.

Also, thank you! Things got better for me :)) and also,

💫✨💕send this to ten bloggers you think are wonderful. keep the game going 💕✨

Ofc you don't have to do this, but I got this, and it really made me happy, so here ^^

Oh btw in lesson...56 I think?? Just gonna tag this as a spoiler, but where for whatever reason Satan was "Sully" and the angel Lucifer asked him whether he liked books, let me just say I haven't even played it that far yet, but Satan going, "...Every book here is precious."

TOUCHED ME SO BAD LIKE. I DON'T KNOW IT REALLY MADE ME SOFT LMAO HE'S JUST SO okay I'll stop 🏃– 🍹

It's been a while since I've thought in-depth about the whole time traveling thing tbh, but couldn't Barbatos generally see the outcomes of the world?

We went back because they wanted to know who opened it, but considering Diavolo's the ruler of hell who turned Lilith human and Barbatos is basically the ruler of time & practically the universe I believe they already knew Lilith did it since it had to be "blood related" basically.

Barbatos also knows he can stitch together timelines and get of "extra" MCs essentially, so I believe he'd take that into account. I'm not saying MC getting killed was 100% part of the plan, but that they didn't care of MC was traumatized because they knew they could bring them back if necessary.

Imo the real goal wasn't to find out who did it, but to avoid breaking the family's bonds and devotion to Diavolo. The way it worked out was incredibly convenient and "coincidentally" a huge upgrade for Diavolo that kept the status quo and made him look good (or at least better) to Belphie and Beel without making Lucifer choose.

We see that kind of repeat later when Diavolo withdraws from the play because he was worried Lucifer wouldn't be as loyal. That's also why Lucifer gets that warning from Barbatos.

I think a huge part of why Levi's characterization is like that is because not enough people like him enough to tolerate it tbh. Even Mammon and Lucifer stans complain about the other characters hogging screen time and a lot of them admit to feeling bad for other fans. Levi is pretty much always second to last popularity wise.

I think he'd actually be more liked if they focused more on the jealously instead of making almost every interaction otaku/Ruri-chan related, but it's a bit too late now. I really, really hate how they just pretend otaku culture always existed and that's all Levi ever was. Like at least make him have an obsessive personality and be hyperfixated on novels instead of talking manga in an era before Japan even existed. It's so unbelievably lazy and really takes me out of the story.

Another problem is we only really see him interact with family or people that could enact severe consequences like Diavolo & Barbatos or people protected by the exchange program. He never gets a chance to shine or be cunning. The closest we get is things like him purposefully trying to ruin Christmas for random people online in his Christmas card. I think if he genuinely got jealous of MC and some random demon he would summon lotan almost instantly.

It's especially painful knowing what we had & being so excited to get more only for all of that to get dropped.

In an early devilgram, Be You, Satan gets jealous and feels bad about not having much unique to him and Lucifer comforts him in his own way when the others make it worse. Mammon is the most empathetic though ofc. They also talk about horror movies and Mammon says he doesn't find them scary (& the way it's framed sounds honest, idk if it's a retcon or a lie,) and Satan says "I'm sure we've all witnessed plenty of real-life horrors worse than anything in the movies."

Then when Lucifer asks for a time when he was really angry Satan first casually then gleefully talks about torturing a family to death because a kid set him up to get scolded by their parents. Meanwhile the brothers act wary of him and worry about him getting out of control while Lucifer tells everyone to take cover for their own safety with a smile. Satan happily talks about them begging for their lives and says he wishes they saw it too.

Levi also says he hates hearing about people being happy, but likes hearing about the negative things. While Asmo and Mammon are freaking out he also calls Satan cool. Which shows at least a little bit of his envy for once. Satan also says just the aura of his rage is usually too much for humans which is also interesting.

But back to Diavolo and Barbatos, I don't hate how the whole torture thing isn't super open, it makes sense imo, but I would like to see hints of them hiding it. Especially if Satan or even attic Belphie was the one you could go to to learn more about it. If anyone would defy Diavolo for that it'd be them trying to bring Lucifer down with them, or even just Satan rewarding the hunt for knowledge and not understanding the human psyche fully.

Imagine if instead of a paper thin lie about being human we got a Belphie manipulating us by pretending he was locked up because he was against hurting humans and the whole exchange program was a scam? Or at least if he told us things no one else would about Diavolo that were true so we wouldn't trust him and etc. That's the angle I'm going with in my fanfiction at least, the original story is just so lazy and boring imo.

Yeah I'm not a huge fan of how they handled pacts either, especially considering they don't even get MC's soul. It's way too one-sided to the point where I don't believe someone like Satan would ever offer it, even if the first offer was a trick and he'd get your soul or something. I agree on the whole manipulation thing too, like how is it partnership if one side has complete control over the other?

Even just making it so that demons can fight against if they really don't want to do something like harming each other and having it corrupt MC would make it a million times better.

And that's so sweet, thank you! You've made my days a lot brighter too. Not much makes me happier than infodumping and complaining about Obey Me rn lol.

I really liked Satan's line there too, although I did wish he had more a reaction to everything tbh. That whole section felt a bit too easy imo though, like I kept waiting for it to all go to shit or something. I am glad they went back into more story-based chapters too. I hope they keep that trend and expand on it.

#asks #season 3 spoilers

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kinetic-elaboration · 3 years

Text

June 17: 1x23 The Omega Glory

Watched the very uneven episode “The Omega Glory” today. Upon some reflection.. I think I have seen it? But I think my last rewatch ended abruptly after “By Any Other Name” so it might have been some time ago.

Anyway, it was... something. Decent, I might even say good, until the last 10-15 minutes and then it just went off a cliff? That’s how I’d summarize it.

Sulu, my beloved. I’ve missed you.

Kirk knows where all the ships are. I mean, obviously, but I love to hear it.

Phasers on heavy stun huh?

It’s so weird to be on a different ship. That looks like the same ship. It’s so empty and haunted looking.

With creepy crystal remains of bodies everywhere.

“These white crystals... are the crew.”

Something was thirsty!! Perhaps... a water vampire? Perhaps... a former McCoy girlfriend?

(Honestly having watched the whole ep...they could have expanded this intro longer. It was creepy and mysterious. Then cut the last act.)

Oh no, they’ve been infected and now must quarantine. Sort of. I guess.

...Oh no, is this Vietnam? Again?

“Our old enemy, Vietnam.”

My mother suggested the disease might be communism and I don’t think that metaphor tracks through the whole episode but you know what.. anything’s possible.

I don’t like this whole “you can’t leave the planet or you’ll get sick and die” thing. Too familiar.

"I may never be able to leave this planet but I have a worse problem: a colleague may be breaking a rule."

Says the man who has frequently violated a directive that has never been referred to as Prime before.

Kirk is getting very mumbly. That’s his serious voice.... bu it’s also his Denny Crane voice lol.

Like bio warfare in the 90s? TOS really thought the 90s was going to be the dark ages, didn’t it?

Only 90s kids remember...

Spock bursting in with a wounded man, just bringing the drama, as he does.

He’s not even listening to McCoy. Rude.

Spock absolutely 100% would have killed Captain Tracey on instinct as soon as Kirk is threatened.

Sulu’s in command? I love Captain Sulu but where is Scotty?

Kirk is so good. Clever, strong, smart. Knows all the regulations.

Tracey’s so dumb. “They’ve eradicated disease and live for hundreds of years!” Man, have you considered that they are...aliens? And their life spans are simply.... naturally longer than human life spans? And even if you could isolate the serum, it might not work on humans?

And his master plan is to isolate their immunity and bottle it for profit. It’s our old enemy... capitalism and the exploitation of intellectual property.

A fight scene!

“The pointy-eared one stays.”

Another fight scene!

Spock is watching all of this, and you know what, I feel like he’s not upset about it. It’s just like Pre-Reform Vulcan. Perhaps some... Amok Time flashbacks? “Damn, I wish that was me.”

Peanut gallery Spock.

“I wish you could teach me that.” / “I have tried.” Omg where is my scene of Spock trying to teach Kirk the nerve pinch?

And then that look Kirk gives him.

I don’t get the point of this scene but it amuses me that as soon as McCoy sees the pretty girl, he feels better.

A post-apocalyptic alien world... a very interesting concept. Like you could do a lot with that idea imo.

“That’s our worship word [freedom too.” Umm.... questionable.

Damn bitch, that was cold. Just knocking him out like that.

Damn yankee.

...Yankee and Communist dammit.

McCoy’s not even surprised to see Kirk and Spock out of jail.

Nature created a natural counterbalance to the biological disease. Where is OUR natural counterbalance, I ask?

McCoy sounds extra Southern rn. It’s all the stress.

I really don’t think Shatner gets enough credit for his subtlety. His face when McCoy explains the whole situation...

Oh he's mad now. "You've hurt Spock for nothing! Oh yeah and also killed thousands but MOSTLY THE SPOCK THING!”

Whereas Tracey really doesn’t seem to care about anything but war for its own sake. He knows now that his master plan for immortality was nothing the whole time...but he still needs to call those Yangs.

In other words, another once-reputable figure of authority now gone mad.

Kirk’s voice is so casual when he’s talking to Uhura and Sulu, you feel like he’s gotta have something up his sleeve. He can never hide when he’s really upset about something.

...Apparently what he had up his sleeve was his crew knowing regulations and then another full body tackle. Fight scene 3!

"My need for attention is vital.” Same, Spock.

This is a very attenuated and unbelievable connection Kirk is making but he’s Kirk so I’ll assume it makes sense that he’s putting it all together so fast.

Alternate Universe: Vietnam canon-divergence lol.

For anyone keeping track, this is right about the point where the episode goes off the rails.

YOU’RE A ROMANTIC, JIM. Well he’s right about that at least and he should say it.

Oh no, an American flag.

Cloud William, chief and the son of chiefs. That’s continuity of government for you.

(Also pretty hilarious that this society is supposedly So American with our exact flag and Constitution and everything... but they’re not a democracy.)

I really don’t want to believe that “under God” is still in the pledge 200 years from now.

"You're confusing the stars with heaven." Kirk thinks he's being called an angel.

The absolute mishmash of meaningless, referent-free words here. America. Native Americans. Communists. The flag, the Constitution. God. Angels. Devils. What???

Like how can they both be flag worshippers AND...believers in God? Who is their God? Alien George Washington?

So rude to call Spock Kirk’s “servant.” That’s his space husband!

Is that a literal picture of Spock as a demon in their.. Bible?

I can’t even follow this anymore.

“You command him.” I mean...yes, that’s how the military works.

“He has no heart.” Wow, rude.

“His heart is different!” I stan one (1) Southern Doctor.

I feel like Spock is just... not having this at all. His face loos like he’s thinking what I’m thinking.

Oh no is that the CONSTITUTION??!

“Kill his servant” wow Tracey is obsessed with Spock, isn’t he? I guess everyone in the Fleet knows about them and their special relationship.

Spock is even amused by the knife at his throat. His eyes say "I am distressed--but fascinated!"

A FOURTH fight scene? And here I thought Kirk was going to recite the Constitution.

“I’m open to suggestions.” He’s just as worried about Kirk as McCoy is, bu the doesn’t show it.

...Yep, he’s being telepathic again. Not really in line with his usual telepathy but okay. Alien magic is flexible.

Okay I have a JD and I can confidently say there is nothing about good defeating evil in the Constitution.

And now this alien guy is immediately ready to make himself a “slave.” That seems problematic. What happened to the holy word “Freedom”?

Wow, Kirk's in a bad mood. "You can't pronounce your own holy words worth shit."

“This is only for the eyes of a Chief,” he says and Kirk just pushes him away.

Spock literally turns Tracey around for Kirk’s big final speech like “Listen up, bitch, my boyfriend’s talking.”

Is this the 4th of July episode?? Feels like there should be canons and fireworks going off behind him rn.

Idk, the words of the Constitution can't be so unique and unprecedented if a WHOLE OTHER ALIEN CIVILIZATION just came up with them, too, on their own, like monkeys typing Hamlet. (Given the timelines here... they probably did it first too lol.)

"Liberty and freedom need to be more than just words." Like what does that even mean in this context? Sounds nice but it’s very hard to put into the context of all the rest of this.

“And uh be nice to the Kohms,” after most of them (?) were probably just killed.

I really was into this until the last 10-15 minutes and I think there were under-explored concepts that could have taken the fever dream of whatever that bizarre-o fever dream at the end was. The abandoned ship. The leftovers of bio warfare. The whole weird and under-explained concept of immunity. The tragedy that so much was destroyed,, including but not limited to the whole Exeter crew, for no reason. What happened to Tracey to so destroy him--was it just greed? What about the “Prime” Directive? Is it important or not. They just leave at the end after (as Spock pointed out) doing quite a bit of their own meddling, even though meddling is allegedly the worst. Also, we know almost nothing about the Kohms at all. The “American” society clearly wasn’t democratic. Were the Kohms literally Communist?

I’m willing to accept a certain degree of alternate Earth scenarios--like Miri (though imo that was not a necessary component of that story) or Bread and Circuses, but this was too much. TOO unbelievable. And frankly unnecessary. You could do an allegory for alternate-Vietnam, and it would be just as clear but even more effective. There wouldn’t be any distraction in the form of “what the fuck is that flag doing here?”

There is a potentially incendiary concept here, which is the same one I thought of reading about actual COG plans--certain aspects of the Yanks’ culture survives, but with absolutely no meaning attached. They have a Constitution but they mispronounce all the words. They have this tattered flag but it has no other meaning. They’ve turned the symbols of the government into a religion, but they don’t practice any of the civil aspects of it--they have chiefs, not democratically appointed leaders, for example. Like, COG asks “what IS the country, and how do you make sure the country endures no matter what?” This was an opportunity to show the worst of that: the country continues to exist as symbology only--incredibly strong symbology, but only that--and all of the actual values that were supposed to be stored with that symbology have disappeared. Similarly, their hatred of their enemies endures. It’s lauded in the ep as their attempt to get “their land” back but what if it’s just war for its own sake, as Tracey seems to be engaging in? To tell that story, especially in the 60s, against the backdrop of Vietnam, and with the references to bio warfare and nuclear warfare, could be powerful. And I know TOS can work in metaphor and comparison. It doesn’t need to bring out a literal fucking flag.

Honestly, it was like they had one good, classic, sci fi story but it didn't fill 52 minutes so they tacked on the American Pride 4th of July Propaganda Extravaganza at the end.

It really felt like the lesson was “America good” lol.

I liked the concept of the post apocalyptic society in the aftermath of bio warfare as a cautionary tale for 1960s America, and I'd be up for crazed snake oil salesman Starfleet Captain (or...whatever his rank was) if it were a bit better explained. But the rest of it....

It also... could have been kinda incendiary with the idea that the Constitution and flag are religious symbols... I mean some people do treat them that way and I've always found that, first, blasphemous, and second, bizarre in such a hyper-Christian country. But I feel like instead of digging ito that, they just tempered it with "But also they're Christian, as you can tell by their drawing of devil!Spock, for some reason."

Idk, this story could have been complete with out the whole weird “Vietnam AU” back story or alternately it could have been a biting commentary about what defines America, and about whether or not our symbols might be more enduring--or even more important to people today??--than the laudable but more complex and difficult ideals that underpin the country’s founding. Are the words of the Constitution just gobbledy gook? They are if you don’t live by them, and America has always struggled to do that. It definitely would struggle even more in the aftermath of an apocalypse.

...I’m more annoyed now, thinking about the possible sci fi story that could have been...

Anyway next is an ep I’m fairly sure I haven’t seen, so that should be fun.

#the year 2021 #2021: star trek #star trek tos

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messiisgodibeliveinhim · 3 years

Text

Just Another Rant

Okay, so why do NCTzens have a hate boner for Taeyong??? It's so f*cking weird, it doesn't make sense.

Taeyong has been under NCTzens' microscope since his debut. Everything he does is dissected and twisted into something its not. No other member of NCT or any group (except maybe Jennie from Blackpink) is treated this way by the group's fans. NCTzens want Taeyong to be the villain so bad, that they're willing to stoop as low as dehumanizing, body shaming and wishing d3ath on him. NCTzens dislike him, some even hate him and they're not very subtle about it.

Now, I'm not saying all NCTzens are TY antis. I have moots on Twitter who dont stan him, but are incredibly respectful towards him and acknowledge his talents and hardwork. If you're one of them, then this rant is not about you. But i will say this, if it isnt all NCTzens who anti Taeyong, it's most of them.

It started with Lines and Screentime distribution for NCT songs and mvs. Now, i agree that Taeyong used to get a little more lines and screentime than the others at first. But instead of calling out SM, most of you targeted Taeyong saying he deliberately stole the said lines and screentime from his members so that he'd get to shine more..... Really???

Next, when he was announced as a member of SuperM, NCTzens were clearly upset it wasn't Johhny or Jaehyun. Do you wanna know why??? No, they didnt talk about talent. Instead, they wanted Jaehyun/Johhny instead of Taeyong because SuperM is a group targeted at the western audience and Jn & Jh knew to speak English better than TY..... Okay.

And it keeps getting worse.

-NCTzens saying that TY goes into the recording studio to record his solo songs, by LOCKING OUT the rest of NCT, so that they wont get to record their solo stuff.

-That TY is SM's Golden Boy cuz he 'gETs a LoT of SoLO pRoMos anD cENter TiMe', completely refusing to understand what 'SOLO PROMO' means or see how overworked and mistreated he is by his own company.

-When TyongFs praise TY about anything, NCTzens always, ALWAYS insert their faves in the post. Like, go make your own post maybe???

/Trigger Content

-NCTzens saying that TY dances like he has a sq*irrel in his pants, raps like d*g, looks like a skeleton etc etc. And these are just mild stuff i mentioned here. NCTzens are so much worse when it comes to body shaming and dehumanizing him. And when we call them out for it, thay have the audacity to say that its a JOKE and we're STUPID for not having 'A Sense of Humor'....

/End of Trigger Content

-NCTzens saying that TY's main dancer/main rapper/main visual/leader/center positions should go to their faves cuz their fave 'iS So mUcH beTTeR aT TheSe pOsiTIOns'. Yeah.... sure..... NCTzens rarely talk about the positions other members have , but are really obsessed with Taeyong's.

-NCTzens still denying that Taeyong is NCT's leader and that he's really good at it. Just yesterday, a Wayzennie (also a TY anti) started spewing sh*t about Taeyong's leadership. And their arguement??? That they have 'lEAdeRsHiP eXpEriEncE iN UnI, WoRk aND ouTsIDe wOrK' and that makes them an expert about leading a 23 member global kpop group, who had a rough start what with their controversial 'unlimited' concept and experimental songs. Sure, Jan.

(Also, the thing where some Wayzennies are still not accepting that TY is the leader of whole of NCT, cuz Kun is WayV's leader..... Seriously, though its not that hard to understand. Kun IS and WILL remain the leader of WayV, a 7 member group. That's a fact. But when the subunits (127, Dream and WayV) come together for projects (ex: NCT 2018 and NCT 2020), Taeyong becomes the overall leader. But since these Wayzennies are still on their WayV not being part of NCT agenda, they're simply ignore this. Go figure.)

- Oh, but when some other member in NCT messes up, it suddenly becomes Taeyong's responsibility cuz 'HE'S THE LEADER'. Funny, how NCTzens change narratives quickly. Also, weird how, according to NCTzens, NCT members suddenly can't think for themselves even though they're grown adults and need Taeyong to take the blame for them. Haha.....

-Also, NCTzens guilt tripping TyongFs from canceling NCT Beyond Live tickets when they got to know that he was injured and wont be participating in the concert a little too late, cuz "Taeyong, as a leader, would be sooo upseeet that his group wont be getting TyongFs' money and he'd feel sooo guiltyyy that y'all are getting refunds of your OWN money that YOU CHOSE to spent and its not my business at all. But damn, y'all are sooo selfish!!!!"

-NCTzens posting about how overjoyed they are that TY is injured cuz that means their faves get to shine..... "Look how MY FAVE killed TY's part" "MY FAVE ate Taeyong up" "Should've put MY FAVE in the OG line up instead of Taeyong" "MY FAVE made TY's part as his own" "Thank god, MY FAVE got to show off his talents, now that Taeyong isnt here". God, if i were one of the Neos whose fans say sh*t like this, it would've felt like a slap to my face. Honestly, tell me, do y'all really think so low of your faves? Do you really think they cant shine even with TY being on stage? They absolutely can, but you're focus is not on them, is it? Way to embarrass yourself.

-NCTzens blaming Taeyong for NCT's slow rise to fame because of the false rumors/allegations pinned on him by nasty people. They say Taeyong was the sole reason for NCT not being liked by many, not because of their confusing/complicated concept or the music. Yeah, you heard me. NCTzens are not above victim blaming and pointing fingers, cuz they are not ready to accept the fact that Taeyong was the one who carried the group on his back all the way.

-And how they can't stand the fact that TY gets praised by proffesionals or non-fans or locals. A dance analyzer analyzed 127's Kick It and at the end stated that Taeyong was the best dancer in 127. And what did NCTzens do. They bullied the analyzer to the point that they deleted the video, just cuz their fave was not named the best. A reactor reacts to Taeyong's Long Flight and the comments on the videos are along the lines of 'Hey, MY FAVE'S also has a solo song too. You should definitely react to that' or when they're tryna be subtle (but not really), they go 'Taeyong is soo good but you should also check out MY FAVE'S blah blah blah'

Hell, even when TyongFs say 'Taeyong is very so creative, by coming up with BDLI Jungle Gym concept and the MAW chandelier thing. He's literally an Idea Bank', and NCTzens go 'All the Neos are idea banks' in the same post.

When TyongFs say 'Taeyong is the really so handsome. NCT's main visual', they go 'All the Neos are main visuals'

Lmao, just 3 days ago, someone commented 'Taeyong is cute' under a tiktok video and an NCTzen just couldn't help but fume about it and went 'All Neos are cute'🙄

Like seriously, this is sooo annoying. Make your own goddamn post about the rest of NCT, ffs! Why do you to insert anyone else in a Taeyong tweet? Literally, can't let Taeyong have a moment for himself.

-Recently, Taeyong released 2 solo demo tracks on SoundCloud- Dark Clouds and Dark Clouds Remix (check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/eh_ovo_taeyong). And NCTzens being NCTzens started those who never even promoted Kun's SoundCloud before started promoting it under every TY tweet on the same day. Now, i don't have a problem with them promoting Kun's SC. But they could've done it any other day or made their own tweet about it. But doing it under every TY promo tweet and on the very same day? Really??? And some of them had the audacity to say that TY was getting free clout from Kun cuz Kun followed him on SC.....😑😑😑

-NCTzens have this weird belief that TY is getting solo promos and is being pushed by SM. What on earth are they talking about? Taeyong being center, main rapper and main dancer of the group is not solo promo. Him being in SuperM is not solo promo. Him opening Instagram and SoundCloud is not solo promo, but self promo- which means HE'S promoting himself, not SM. Solo promo is usually provided to the artist by the company in the form of photoshoots, accepting brand deals, releasing the artist's solo music etc and SM isnt doing sh*t for Taeyong. All they're doing is overworking him and milking him for money. That's it. And i want NCTzens to understand that.

And the list goes on and on and on. This weird hate boner NCTzens have for Taeyong is so bizarre to me. All Taeyong does is sing, rap, dance, talk cutely, take care of his fishes and play games with Baekhyun. And this somehow gets NCTzens mad. They constantly discredit him, try to make him seem less than what he actually is, insert everyone else when someone is talking just about him, make him seem like a villain by twisting his words or actions and making it into a big deal.... *sigh* Its so unbelievable how low NCTzens can stoop. And it gets tiring real quick.

N E Ways, this is everything i wanted to rant about and damn, this turned out to be too lengthy. Now, if you havent followed Taeyong on his Instagram, please do @eh_evo_nct. Stream Long Flight, his one and only solo station. And please look forward to BaekhyunxTaeyong collab on Taeyong's SoundCloud.

Ciao!

#lee taeyong #taeyong #nct 127 #nct

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everydaymj · 4 years

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Number One Fan - Peter Parker x Stark!Reader

Summary: AU where Peter doesn’t know Tony and is working for the Daily Bugle and is the photographer for Y/N Stark’s interview. To say you hit it off is an understatement.

Being a freelance photographer I took all kinds of pictures for the paper, most of them ended up being of Spider-man but occasionally I was brought along with a reporter for specific pictures JJ wanted.

Today was one of those times, I was just about to leave after dropping off my latest folder of Spider-man shots when I heard someone yelling at me. Or about me, more like.

"Just take Parker, he's not totally useless. I want some good shots, this is the first interview she's agreed to do in almost a year and she picked us. I want details, something nobody else has! Now get the hell out of my office!"

A very worn down looking Anderson, lead reporter for the celebrity news section at The Bugle, walked out of JJ's office with a sigh. Scanning the room, he smiled when he locked eyes with me.

"Parker, you're with me. Come on."

His tone left no room for argument so I followed him to the elevator.

Once the doors had closed he turned to me with an appraising look.

"I've seen your work, you're pretty good kid. Too bad Jameson hates Spider-man so much, the shots you get of him are almost unbelievable. Could make for a great story of New York's underdog hero."

I grinned. He would never believe me if I told him how I got them, so I guess they were a bit unbelievable. And he didn't seem to blindly bend to JJ's opinion that I was, erm Spider-man was a menace to society.

"Thanks. I like to believe that someday he'll come around and see that Spider-man isn't all that bad. So what am I supposed to get pictures of? I could hear him yelling about an interview with someone but that's about it."

Anderson snorted.

"Kid, I think the entire building could hear him. But yeah, apparently he somehow landed a one on one with probably the most private celebrity in New York."

I raised my brows, wow that's pretty big.

"Who is it?"

He smirked as the elevator doors dinged and we stepped out into the lobby.

"Y/N Stark. She's a recluse compared to her brother, so the fact that she agreed to do an interview is almost unheard of. Every paper in the city has been asking since she got back from helping in Sokovia with the relief effort and that was four months ago."

Everyone in the city knew who she was, New York's darling as the celebrity fluff pieces liked to call her. There was always some kind of story about her in the magazines and tabloids, her volunteer efforts, the latest party she'd been spotted at, and of course speculation on who she was or wasn't dating.

I can't imagine growing up in the spotlight like she did, it would have drove me crazy.

I looked up as Anderson whistled sharply, hailing a cab.

"Look alive Parker, time to go."

Shaking my head, I jumped in the cab with him as he told the cabby to take us to Avengers Tower and step on it.

"So it's a big deal then?"

He rolled his eyes and smiled.

"In the grand scheme of things? No. But in the world of celebrity obsessed who are dying to get even a sound bite from this girl, yeah it is. You ever done something like this before?"

I grabbed the door as the cab took a very sharp turn and the cabby started yelling at the car who just cut us off.

"No, but how hard can it be? Just a few shots and we're done right?"

He laughed.

"Cute, you obviously never had to deal with bratty socialites and stuck-up divas. Lucky for you she's supposed to be the exact opposite of her brother. But yeah shouldn't be that difficult, a few shots of her smiling or something and we're golden."

Didn't sound too hard, should be a piece of cake.

I smiled at him as the cab screeched to a halt in front of the large imposing building that was Avengers Tower.

"Sounds easy enough, let's do this!"

Grinning at me, Anderson slapped me on the back.

"Your optimism is nauseating Parker, but it might just get you places."

I just followed him inside as he made a beeline for the receptionist at the large desk in the lobby. She didn't even look up at us but pointed to the elevator on the other side of the room.

Muttering under his breath about rude women, we got on the elevator.

"You must be from the paper; Miss Y/N is expecting you. I will direct you to the meeting room."

I jumped at the sudden voice coming from nowhere.

Anderson just chuckled.

"Stark's AI, practically runs the place. It's weird at first but you get used to it. Freaked me out when I came here to interview Pepper Potts a few years ago."

Okay, that actually really awesome. Nodding I started fiddling with my camera, making sure I'd be ready, while Anderson went over his notes and list of questions.

The elevator slowed to a stop and the disembodied British voice broke the silence.

"Miss Y/N wishes me to inform you she's running a bit behind and will be meeting with you on her floor instead of the conference room. If you'll wait just one moment."

We stepped out and the first thing I noticed was the huge wall of glass that led out to a balcony loaded with plants. Before either of us could say anything, a hurried female voice could be heard.

"JARVIS are they here yet? Tell them I'm sorry, got caught up with Tony and I completely forgot."

A short Y/H/C blur whipped around the corner.

"Miss Y/N, I implore you loo-"

Before I could move out of the way she slammed into me, knocking both of us to the ground.

The AI sighed exasperatedly, was that even possible?

"Look out…A useless endeavor I suppose. The men from the paper are here, as you can see. I'll leave you to it, let me know if the boy you just trampled is in need of medical assistance."

I could hear Anderson laughing and started to get up but a weight on top of me kept me from doing so.

Blinking I looked up at her and met Y/E/C eyes that seemed to sparkle.

Oh wow…

She was sprawled on top of me with a dazed expression, her hands spread out on my chest as she slowly realized what had happened. Very quickly she scrambled off of me, as a horrified look spread across her face.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!"

Taking the hand Anderson offered I stood up and checked to make sure my camera was okay. Seeing that it was I looked back at her and nodded, hiding a smile at how worried she looked. It was kinda cute, she was really cute actually.

"Yeah, I'm fine. No worries."

She frowned and took a step closer.

"Are you sure? I can't believe I did that, really I am so sorry."

As I was about to tell her one more time that I was fine, Anderson cleared his throat catching her attention.

"Trey Anderson, The Daily Bugle. Now that you and my photographer have been acquainted, how about we get started?"

He eyes widened and a slight flush appeared on her cheeks.

"Oh right, of course. You don't mind if we go out on the balcony do you? It's such a nice day after all."

She motioned to the large glass wall that had first caught my eye and started towards it, the sliding door opening as she did. Anderson and I followed her outside and he sat down on the nice outdoor couch, while I strayed closer to the edge of the large balcony so I wouldn't bother him. And that way I could get some pictures without interrupting them.

"Once again I'm really sor-"

Cutting her off from apologizing once again, Anderson started his recorder.

"So why now? Why agree to an interview now when the press has been begging for one for months?"

Somewhat taken aback at his abruptness she raised her brows in surprise.

"Well, I…I'm not as outgoing as my brother but I'm not a hermit. I've been incredibly busy since I got back from Sokovia helping organize benefits and put together the rebuild relief and then time just kind of got away from me. Tony kept telling me I'd have to talk to the press sooner or later, I guess it just ended up being later."

Anderson nodded.

"Understandable Miss Stark, now I'd like t-"

She smirked and stopped him.

"Call me Y/N."

He grinned.

Okay then, Y/N, tell me about your time in Sokovia."

Her eyes lit up and without any more prompting she started talking about the people of Sokovia, waving her arms and motioning with her hands. I snapped several pictures of the animated look on her face, half of them ended up blurry due to her moving around so much but the other half weren't bad.

As they talking about Sokovia and her other volunteer and charity work, I kinda zoned out and just looked at her.

She was a lot shorter than both of us, had to be just over 5 feet tall. Her wild Y/H/C hair was down, a lose strand peeking out from behind her ear as she constantly pushed it back out of her face. Very minimal makeup, a dusting of freckles on her nose and cheeks.

I smiled looking at how she was dressed, jeans and a plain green shirt. So much for stuck-up diva, she seemed so down to earth.

She was a knockout.

I kinda wished I'd at least been able to introduce myself but Anderson was quick to get down to business.

It was only later after all the bases had been covered, that I tuned back in when Anderson brought up something that made me perk up.

"So, because the entire city wants to know, are you currently dating anyone?

I don't know why I was so interested in her answer, but I looked up to see what she'd say.

She rolled her eyes.

"Why is that always what people want to know? Who are you wearing? Are you dating anyone? It's ridiculous!"

Anderson grinned.

"What can I say? The people want what the people want. So any juicy details you wanna divulge?"

She shrugged and I snapped a picture right as she smiled.

"Sorry to tell you, I'm single. And kinda boring, so there really isn't much to tell. I stay in and binge watch Netflix and eat pizza just like everybody else."

He looked at her skeptically.

"Okay but what about the guy you've been spotted with in Hell's Kitchen? Some tabloid got a fuzzy picture of you two arm in arm coming out of a diner. What about that?"

She frowned for a second and then laughed.

"That? Oh that was my friend Matt, we meet for lunch every once in a while. I met him when I was visiting a friend of mine from med school a couple years ago."

"I dunno Y/N, you two looked pretty cosy."

Narrowing her eyes, she looked over his shoulder at me and smirked.

"Did I forget to mention? Matt is blind. I was helping him get back to his office, he's one of the founding partners in a law firm just a few blocks from the diner we were at."

I held back a laugh as she seemed to be enjoying the uncomfortable look on his face. She grinned at me and I snapped another picture as she winked at me.

Anderson looked a bit embarrassed at his blunder and quickly moved on.

"So no boyfriend, got it. The boys of New York will be happy to know you're still on the market."

She just groaned and shook her head.

He clicked off his recorder and stood up with a smile.

"I think that's about it. If you'll just let Parker here, get a few more pictures of you then we'll be out of your hair."

She snapped around to look at me, recognition in her eyes as she stood up.

"No problem! This wasn't nearly as bad as Tony always makes it out to be."

He laughed and shook her hand.

"Okay off the record, I gotta know. Why did you pick the Bugle out of all the papers asking to interview you?"

She looked down as a slight flush came over her face.

"You really wanna know?"

He nodded, curiosity in his eyes.

"Yeah, not that I'm complaining but the Times and the Sun were just as eager to have this interview. Why us?"

She bit her lip and glanced at the city below us with a small smile.

"Well, the Bugle always has the best pictures of Spider-man and I kinda have a little crush on him so…"

Wait, what?

I froze as her gaze turned to me, a huge smile on her face.

She had a crush on me?!

Well Spider-man, but still!

Ignoring the amused smile Anderson was sporting she walked over to me.

"You're the one who takes them all? Peter Parker right? I see your name in the Bugle all the time. I'm a big fan, the shots are amazing, and the angles you get are incredible!"

I found myself at a loss for words, she really didn't have much of a sense of personal space because she was about a foot from me and anything I would have said flew out the window with her big Y/E/C eyes staring up at me like that.

She really was pretty, I wonder if…nah no way I stood a chance with a girl like her.

Finally finding something to say I stuttered out an answer.

"I…uh, y-yeah that's me."

She leaned ever closer, excitement on her face.

"Have you met him? Like talked to him?"

I couldn't concentrate because she was way too close to me to think straight.

Before I could try and answer her, Anderson cut in.

"Wait, you live with superheroes why the fixation on the web slinger?"

She tilted her head in thought as she moved away from me.

"Well I guess when you live with someone they don't seem as fantastic when you see them every day, not to say my family isn't awesome. But really, once you see Thor with bedhead you can't un-see it."

Chuckling at the thought, Anderson spoke up again.

"So you like Spider-man because he's mysterious and different?"

She shook her head and furrowed her brow.

"No it's not that. Of course that is cool but I like how he sticks up for the little guy, the Avengers save the world one catastrophe at a time but Spiderman is out there stopping crime every day. I just admire that and think he shouldn't get as much crap from the media as he does.

She grinned again, looking smug.

"And you can quote me on that."

I just looked at her in shock, did she really just say that?

I finally found my voice as we all walked inside, Anderson already heading for the elevator while Y/N waited for me.

Smiling at her I messed with the strap on my camera.

"Not many people would say that about Spider-man, I'm sure he'd appreciate knowing you felt that way."

She blushed and looked away.

"I bet not, I'm just one girl out of an entire city."

I felt the corner of my lips turn up in a grin.

"Nah, I think you're wrong, everyone likes knowing they're appreciated."

She looked up at me and smiled.

"Maybe you're right. Gosh knows Tony likes it, he adores the high he gets from being Iron Man."

I laughed and ignored Anderson's look when she put her hand on my arm.

"Yeah, what's that like? Having Iron Man for a brother I mean."

She rolled her eyes and sighed.

"It's never boring that's for sure. I've been kidnapped a few times, that's always fun. Um, let's see, Tony likes to go flying and scare the crap out of me by bringing me with him. Oh and we both make it a game to try and steal Cap's shield when he's not looking. Always something with him, usually something loud and explosive but it keeps things interesting."

Surprised at the info dump, I picked up on one thing that didn't seem to fit her vibrant personality.

"You're scared of heights?"

She playfully shoved my arm and laughed.

"No, I just don't like flying with Tony. It's too loud and he likes freak me out by almost crashing into stuff. I'd love it if it weren't for that, heck I went wing suiting in Rio for my birthday last year. I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie."

Y/N Stark was just full of surprises.

Getting an idea, I innocently looked down at her.

"So swinging around like Spider-man would be more your style?"

Her eyes sparkled and she grinned.

"Absolutely! He makes it look so easy and smooth, gliding around like that, swinging around the city would be a dream come true! Much better than how my brother buzzes around in a tin can."

My eyes widened in surprise and I bit back a laugh.

She gasped and looked up at the ceiling.

"JARVIS don't you dare tell Tony I said that! He'd flip out!"

That same British voice with a very amused tone answered her.

"If he asks, my programming prevents me from hiding it from him. But until then your secret is safe with me Miss Y/N."

She sighed and shook her head.

"Well let's just hope he doesn't ask. Wouldn't do for him to find out he's not my favorite hero right?"

It was nice to have someone say I was their favorite. Especially someone as cute and funny as Y/N.

I grinned and rubbed the back of my neck.

"Yeah, can't have Iron Man being jealous of Spider-man."

Her eyes seemed to glint with mischief and she put a finger to her lips.

"Our little secret then, I'll trust you not to rat me out to Tony."

Just as I opened my mouth to reply both of us jumped at the barking voice of Anderson.

"Parker! Time to go, we've taken up enough of the lady's time. JJ's gonna want this as soon as possible."

I looked over at him and felt a flush on my face as he nodded at Y/N and smirked at me.

Oh great, I'm sure I'd be hearing it from him on the way back.

Turning back to Y/N, I saw her smile fall as she looked down.

"Oh, right. I'm sure you both have more important things to be doing. I'll let you guys get going."

I frowned at Anderson, of course he would ruin the moment.

Looking back at Y/N, I sighed.

"I guess he's right, we should go."

I really didn't want to go, here was a beautiful girl that was actually giving me the time of day and I had to leave. And unless she agreed to do another interview with the Bugle then we most likely wouldn't cross paths again.

Life just wasn't fair.

The elevator dinged cheerily and I wanted to glare at it for getting here so fast. Anderson stepped inside and as I moved to follow him I stopped short as Y/N's hand shot out and grabbed my arm.

"Peter wait! I mean, uh…I was wondering if maybe you'd want to hang out again? I'd love to see your pictures sometime and um…oh I could show you around the tower! The view from the penthouse is amazing! I mean if you wanted, like we could just go for coffee or something too."

It was like she was trying to convince me when I totally didn't need convincing to want to hang out with her. I felt a stupid smile cross my face as she continued to argue her case.

It was adorable.

Then as if just realizing her hand was still on my arm, her eyes widened and she trailed off with a flush on her face.

I smiled, trying my best to not be an awkward dork as I answered her.

"Yeah! Uh I mean sure, we could totally hang out sometime."

And there was the awkwardness, way to be cool Parker.

She beamed at me and all but shoved her phone in my hand that she had whipped out of her back pocket.

"Really?! Awesome, just give me your number and we can go from there."

Almost dropping it as I handed her my phone, I typed in my number saving it with a camera emoji next to my name. That wasn't lame was it? Oh well, too late to take it back now I'd already handed her phone back to her.

Before I could check and see what she'd saved her number as, Anderson grabbed the back of my collar yanking me into the elevator.

"Thanks for your time Y/N."

I glared at Anderson and looked back at Y/N as the doors started to close.

"See you around Peter, bye Trey."

I waved at her, smiling as she laughed. Then the doors were closed and I could feel Anderson staring at me, so I looked at him just waiting for it.

He only grinned and slapped my back.

"When you 'totally hang out' be sure to tell me how it goes okay?"

I just rolled my eyes and shoved his hand off as I started looking for her number in my contacts.

I grinned as I saw her name, this was turning out to be a really great day.

~~~

Stepping outside to water my plants, I looked out at the skyline of New York City and sighed.

"JARVIS?"

"Yes Miss Y/N?"

Letting my little rose bush have a drink I frowned.

"On a scale of one to Tony when he's drunk how stupid did I sound today?"

"I'm assuming you mean when Mister Parker was here correct?"

I could feel the amusement in JARVIS's tone and I rolled my eyes. Leave it to my brother to create a sassy AI.

"Yeah that's what I meant."

Walking to where I'd put my night lilies, I stood next to the rail of the balcony as I poured water over the soil.

"You came off more endearing than anything, nothing to worry about I'm sure. If I may ask, why are you so bothered about this?"

I set the watering can down.

"I don't know, something about Peter…he was different. He seemed real, not faking it because of what my last name is or who my brother is. I guess I just really liked him that's all."

"Well, if his flushed face elevated heart rate was anything to go by I think he likes you too."

Smiling at the thought, I felt a blush come over my face as I leaned on the rail looking out over the city.

"And oh my god he was so cute, like what a babe! That whole sexy nerd thing really works for him."

I heard JARVIS sigh.

"This sounds like a conversation Miss Potts would be better suited for, shall I get her instead?"

Laughing I shook my head.

"No, just let me ramble."

"Very well Miss."

Sighing dreamily at the thought of the adorable photographer, I wondered if I should wait for him to text me first.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Not looking up I bit my lip and smiled.

"Oh I was just thinking about a very cute photographer and hoping he'd call me."

Wait a second…there wasn't anyone out here but me and that wasn't JARVIS.

Looking up I scrambled backwards at the sight before me.

Spider-man was lazily sitting on the side of the building, looking at me.

I'm sure I looked ridiculous, standing there with my mouth hanging open just staring at him.

"I um…you're Spider-man!"

He chuckled and hopped of the glass window and onto the balcony with me.

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you. But I was swinging by and heard you talking to yourself and wanted to check it out."

I could feel my face turning bright red.

"I wasn't talking to myself! H-how long were you there?"

He shrugged and I got the sense he was smirking at me.

"Not long. I didn't know nerds could be sexy though, guess you learn something new every day."

Oh god this is so embarrassing! But I wouldn't let him get the best of me, hero crush or not I wasn't just gonna stand here like a star struck dork.

Channeling Tony I beat down the blush on my face and grinned at him.

"I guess I have a type, what can I say?"

He took a few steps closer, as if testing to see if I would back away. I didn't move, watching him as he moved closer.

"Everyone does, like I've always had a thing for Y/H/C."

My eyes widened.

Was he flirting with me? No, he couldn't be I had to be reading into things.

Shaking off the idea that Spider-man could be flirting with me I smiled.

"Okay so I met your personal photographer today, and I have to say he really knows how to catch your good side."

While I couldn't see his face, I got the distinct feeling he was grinning.

"Did you now? He wouldn't be the aforementioned photographer now would he? Cause if he then he's one lucky guy."

Looking out at the city so he wouldn't see the blush that was threatening to take over, I ran a hand through my windblown hair.

"Well I don't know about that, but I think there's something there."

Watching him in my peripheral vision, I tensed as he got a little closer.

"What makes you say that?"

He sounded curious, like he genuinely wanted to know so I answered him.

"I don't know really, I'm probably over thinking things and I literally just met him today but I feel like we were supposed to meet each other."

Shaking my head, I looked back at Spider-man and smiled.

"You're pretty nosy for a superhero you know that?"

He laughed.

"Don't you know us hero types live on gossip?"

Snorting, I grinned.

"Makes sense, my brother is the worst. Always wanting to know everyone's business and be a part of it."

Surly he knew who I was, I mean it's not like my face wasn't all over the tabloids with stories about Iron Man's little sister. It was highly unlikely Spider-man didn't know who I was.

Pausing, I smiled thinking of how caring my brother really was.

"Not in a bad way though, Tony just wants to help most of the time, make sure everyone is okay. He's actually a lot softer than his Iron Man persona would lead you to believe."

There was a beat of silence before he responded.

"Yeah, the few times we've crossed paths he did come off as a bit of a busybody to be honest but I'll take your word for it."

I snorted, Tony definitely had some busybody qualities to be sure. Before I could say anything, he spoke up.

"So how some come you aren't out there flying around in a suit of your own? You strike me as the type of girl to want to be out there with him."

I turned to look at him and wished I could see his face

"Well Tony would never in a million years give me the tools to go out and do crazy dangerous stuff like he and the team do. But you're right, I would be out there with him if I could. So I do what I can, the Sokovia relief organization has been my main focus lately."

I grinned at him, remembering my conversation with Peter earlier today.

"And it's not like I never get to fly around, Tony takes me with him sometimes. Not that I particularly enjoy it, what with his suit not being the most comfortable ride, but the flying thing is pretty cool."

I started as he hopped up on the balcony rail, somehow balancing perfectly as he stretched his hand out to me.

"Well I can't fly per say but I bet I can show you a view of the city you've never seen before. Whadaya say, wanna see New York like I do?"

I looked at his offered hand in shock.

Here was Spider-man, my hero crush offering to take me swinging around the city. Was this not exactly what I'd been talking to Peter about earlier?

This was crazy!

But there was no way I was gonna turn him down, so I slowly took his hand with a raised brow.

"Bring it on web head."

Laughing he pulled me up on the rail with him making me cling to him so I didn't fall. Not that I thought he would let me fall, but oh god this was high!

He raised the hand not securely wrapped around me and shot a web at the next building over as I put my arms around him.

"Hold on."

Just as I was about to give him a sassy retort he jumped off the rail and we were free-falling.

Squealing in excitement, I gasped as the web went taunt and we swung upwards.

It was so exhilarating! The wind whipping through my hair and the city blurring around us was absolutely amazing.

Effortlessly he switched arms, now holding me with the other and had shot another web yanking us in a different direction.

"Okay check this out."

Before I could ask him what he meant, he'd swung over to where we were parallel to one of the glass buildings a block over from the tower.

"You ready?"

I furrowed my brow even though he wasn't looking at me as I felt his arm tighten around me.

"For what?"

He just laughed and suddenly we were running on the side of the building. I looked down at out reflections in the mirrored windows and couldn't believe this was really happening.

Letting out a whoop of pure glee, I stretched my hand out feeling the wind rush through my fingers. This definitely beat anything I'd ever done before, what a rush!

And then before I could catch my breath we were back in the air, gliding through the city.

I got the idea he was showing off a bit and I didn't mind one bit because this was beyond amazing.

It was only later when he landed us on top of one the taller buildings in the city, that I realized we had circled back around and were pretty close to the tower, I could see my balcony from here.

Looking out at the city I couldn't help but be blown away at the view, it was just starting to get dusky out and the sunset was fantastic.

"So what'd you think? Cool right?"

Spinning around to look at Spider-man who was a yard or so away from me, I threw my hands up in the air motioning to the view around us.

"Are you kidding me?! This is way beyond cool! I can't believe you get to do this whenever you want, like I'm so jealous!"

He snickered and rubbed the back of his neck, something about it reminded me of someone but I couldn't place who.

"It's not a bad gig that's for sure, bad press aside I wouldn't trade it."

I wrinkled my nose and tucked my hair behind my ear.

"I don't get that, like all you do is help people, the fact that you get such crap from the press is unbelievable! All of them are idiots, don't listen to word they say. I think you're amazing."

Realizing I just said that out loud, I felt a blush starting to appear on my face and I once again wished I could see his face. If only to see what his expression was.

"Haters gonna hate right? But really, thanks. I know not everyone believes what they say about me but it's nice to hear. And it never hurts when a pretty girl says they think you're amazing."

I blinked owlishly, was he flirting with me again? Deciding not to think about that I focused on something else.

Grinning at him, I raised a brow.

"Did you just quote Taylor Swift?"

He held up a hand and I could imagine him to be smiling under that mask of his.

"Hey don't be hating on my girl T Swift!"

I giggled and shook my head.

"Oh never, I love her! But you didn't strike me as a Swiftie."

He snorted and tilted his head.

"I'm a surprising guy, and I have to shake off most of what's said about me so… Besides, I'll have you know that under the mask I'm rocking some hella good hair myself."

I doubled over laughing, while he crossed his arms, rolling his eyes most likely.

"Oh my god, you are such a dork!"

Looking up I tried to compose myself but the thought of Spider-man swinging through the city rocking out to Shake it Off was too much and I couldn't stop laughing.

"You know I could just leave you here."

Wiping my face to get rid of the tears that had leaked out when I was laughing, I smirked at him.

"But you won't, for one my brother would probably start a city wide spider hunt for leaving his baby sister on the top of a building, and two, you like me too much to just leave me here."

Hey who says I wasn't allowed to flirt back?

He sighed and started walking towards me.

"I guess you're right, having Iron Man out for me isn't on my list of thing I really need to happen. You being really cute doesn't have a thing to do with it."

I was about to reply when he darted forward and grabbed me by the waist and jumped off the roof, completely taking me off guard.

I shrieked in surprise, latching onto him as he chuckled, swinging us over to my balcony.

As we landed he very gently let me down and perched on the rail about at eye level with me.

I glared playfully at him.

"Jerk."

He just shrugged and if I had to guess, I'm pretty sure he was grinning.

"You know you love me."

I snorted and smiled at him.

"Just call me your number one fan."

He leaned forward and was suddenly very close to my face.

"I wouldn't mind that."

I flushed at how close he was but I didn't back away.

While I still had a bit of a crush on the masked hero in front of me, thoughts of a fluffy haired brown eyed photographer lingered in the back of my mind. Maybe my thing for the web slinger was more of an infatuation because I found myself wishing it was someone else's face I was this close to.

Smiling, I tapped him on the forehead pushing him back in just the slightest.

"Hmm, well it's too bad you aren't my type. You sure know how to impress a girl though, this was amazing!"

He seemed like he was holding back a laugh.

"Right, that nerd of yours has no idea how lucky he is. Looks like I'll have to settle for number one fan."

I smiled softly.

"I don't know about that. But I'll always be the president of your fan club, guess I'll just have to get in more trouble so this isn't a one-time thing."

He shook his head.

"That won't be necessary, I think I can make an exception for you. See you around!"

With that he stood up and back flipped off of the balcony rail and started swinging off to who knows where.

As soon as he was out of my line of sight I felt my phone start to vibrate in my back pocket, pulling it out I felt a sappy smile on my face.

It was Peter.

While I had the time of my life swinging through the city with Spider-man and would do it again in heartbeat, Peter Parker was the one I couldn't stop thinking about.

Grinning I answered my phone.

"Hey Peter, you're never gonna believe what just happened to me!"

~~~

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bechloeislegit · 4 years

Text

Bellas for Life

Based on a prompt from Tumblr User Anonymous and is listed at the end of the story. I hope you enjoy it!

The Bellas were at their favorite bar for their Annual Back to School bonding party. Best friends and co-Captains, Beca Mitchell and Chloe Beale, stood side-by-side, sipping their beers and scanning the crowd. It was Beca's Sophomore Year and Chloe's Second Senior Year.

"See anyone interesting?" Beca asked.

"Not really," Chloe replied.

"Well, the night's still young," Beca said.

Chloe looked around again before grabbing Beca's hand. "Come dance with me. Dancing shows you're ready to party and go where the night leads you."

"Dancing does all that, huh?" Beca said, hiding her smile.

"Maybe it does, and maybe it doesn't," Chloe replied, setting her beer on their table. "I just want to dance."

"Fine," Beca said and set her beer next to Chloe's. "Let's dance."

The two best friends joined the rest of the Bellas on the dance floor. Chloe started doing what Beca jokingly called her stripper moves.

"Get it, Chloe," Stacie yelled.

"Chloe's smokin' tonight," CR said and laughed.

It wasn't long before Chloe had someone else dancing with her. Beca stayed close as they laughed and danced the night away.

At the end of the night, Chloe went home with her dance partner after checking to make sure Beca was okay with getting the rest of the Bellas home. Beca told Chloe to enjoy her night and be safe.

After Chloe left, Beca gathered the Bellas so they could leave together. As they waited for their Ubers, Stacie looked around.

"Where's the wife, Beca?" Stacie asked.

"Where's who?" Beca asked.

"Chloe. The wife," Fat Amy said.

"Yeah," Stacie said. "Where is she?"

"The wife. That's funny," Beca said, chuckling. "She left with some guy and said not to wait up."

"Doesn't that bother you?" Jessica asked.

"Why would it?" Beca asked, confused.

"Because of the thing you two have?" Ashley said.

"Thing?" Beca said, furrowing her brow. "What thing?"

"Come on, Beca. We can see the thing you two have for each other," Stacie said. "We all know you two will be married to each other one day, probably before any of us."

"You guys are drunk," Beca said, shaking her head. "And delusional."

"It's a fact," Fat Amy said, waving her arms around. "And we all know it."

"Okay, drunkies," Beca said as their rides pulled up. "Let's get you all home."

~~ Bellas For Life ~~

The next afternoon, Beca and Chloe were sitting on Chloe's bed, talking. Beca had just finished telling Chloe about the conversation she had with the Bellas.

"Why do they think that?" Chloe asked, laughing.

"I don't know," Beca said. "I guess because we did become fast friends. And we are together a lot."

"Well, just so you know," Chloe said, leaning closer to Beca. "I do love you. But, sadly, you're not marriage material. Well, not for me, anyway."

"How dare you!" Beca yelled, shoving Chloe away from her. "I am totes marriage material. You'd be lucky to be married to me."

"You might be right," Chloe said, settling back down on the bed. "I mean, you do know how I like my coffee. That would be one of the things on my list of things I'd look for in who I marry."

"Shut up," Beca said, laughing. "There's more to marrying someone besides them knowing how you like your coffee."

"I know," Chloe said, grinning. "That's why I said one of the things on my list. There are more, so many more."

"You're weird," Beca said, shaking her head.

"You love me because I'm weird," Chloe shot back.

"I can't argue with that," Beca said.

~~ Bellas For Life ~~

It was Valentine's Day, and Beca and Chloe were both dressed up for a night out as they came down the stairs together. Stacie and Jessica both whistled and made heart signs at them.

"I'm glad to see you two finally got your heads out of your asses," Stacie said.

"What are you talking about?" Beca asked with a laugh.

"Aren't you two each other's Valentine?" Stacie asked.

"What? No," Chloe said, laughing. "We're doubling with Tom and Jesse."

"What?" Jessica asked. "That doesn't make any sense. You two are a much better match for each other than you are with those two."

"God," Beca said. "You girls need to stop with this obsession you have about Chloe and me getting married. We are best friends. That's it."

"Beca's right, you guys," Chloe said. "We love each other just like we love each of you. There's nothing more to the story."

"Still think you two belong together," CR mumbled.

There was a knock at the door, and Chloe opened it to find both Tom and Jesse standing there.

"Wow, Chlo," Tom said. "You look amazing."

"Thank you," Chloe said, reaching up to kiss him.

"Hey, Beca," Jesse said, leaning down to kiss Beca. "You look nice."

"I can't believe you wore a jacket and tie for little old me," Beca said, smiling at Jesse.

The two couples were laughing as they walked out the door.

"Are they delusional to think there's nothing between them?" Ashley asked. "Or is it us?"

"It's them," Stacie, CR, and Jessica, say simultaneously.

"Yeah, it's definitely them," Fat Amy said.

~~ Bellas For Life ~~

It was Beca's Junior Year, and she and Jesse had just broken up. Chloe locked them in her room and fed Beca ice cream and let her cry on her shoulder for hours.

Once Beca had calmed down, the two best friends went to the kitchen to get something real to eat.

"What have you two been up to?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah, you've been locked up in Chloe's room for hours," Stacie said.

Chloe looked at Beca to see what she was going to say. She didn't know if Beca was ready to talk about it with the rest of the Bellas.

"We weren't doing anything," Beca said.

"Really?" Fat Amy asked. "Then why are your clothes all wrinkled, and you're blushing?"

"Oh, my God!" Beca cried. "Chloe was comforting me because Jesse and I broke up!"

"Did you break up because you cheated on him with Chloe?" Stacie asked.

"What?!" Beca and Chloe both exclaimed.

"I don't hear you denying it," Stacie said.

"You. I. It's-," Beca stammered. "God, you are all unbelievable."

With that, Beca shoved past them and ran upstairs.

"Way to go, you guys," Chloe said, shaking her head. "Jesse cheated on Beca. That's why they broke up."

Chloe walked out of the kitchen, following Beca upstairs. The girls looked ashamed and hung their heads.

"I still think those two hooked up," Fat Amy said.

~~ Bellas For Life ~~

A year later, the Barden Bellas took to the stage and won the Acapella World Championships. They were celebrating in Beca and Chloe's hotel room when there was a knock on the door.

"I got it," Chloe called out, opening the door. "Hey."

"Hello, is Beca here?" the woman asked.

"Kommissar," Beca said, smiling as she reached the woman. "I thought I was meeting you at the bar."

"I was walking past and heard all the noise and thought you might have forgotten about me," Kommissar said with a smile.

"Forget about you?" Beca asked, smiling at the woman. "Never. Come on in. I'll just be a sec."

Kommissar entered the room and stood by the door. Chloe looked at the woman and said, "DSM was awesome tonight."

"Thank you," Kommissar said. "Unfortunately, not as awesome as you Bellas."

Beca looked around as she realized the room had become silent.

"What's wrong?" Beca asked, looking around.

"You're dating HER?" Stacie asked, causing Kommissar and Chloe to both look over at Stacie with raised brows.

"We're just going to get a drink," Beca said, grabbing her wallet. "Come on, Kommissar. Let's go."

"Congratulations on your win, Bellas," Kommissar said as Beca took her hand and led her out of the room.

"Thanks!" Emily called out.

"Have fun, you two," Chloe called after them.

Chloe closed the door and turned to find all the Bellas staring at her.

"What?" Chloe asked.

"Beca likes girls?" Fat Amy asked.

"Um, yeah," Chloe responded.

"Since when?" Stacie asked. "And if she does, why aren't you the one going to have a drink with her?"

Before Chloe could respond, there was another knock on the door. Chloe opened it to find Tom standing there.

"Hey, Tom," Chloe said, smiling at the man. "Come on in."

The girls stared at Chloe wide-eyed. "What the hell?" CR asked.

"Did I miss something?" Tom asked.

"No," Chloe said. "They're drunk and just being silly."

"Oh, okay," Tom said. "Do you still want to grab a late dinner with me?"

"Definitely," Chloe said. "Let's go."

Tom and Chloe left, leaving the Bellas standing there in a state of confusion.

"What the hell is Tom doing here?" Fat Amy asked.

"He moved here a year ago for work," Aubrey responded. "He heard Chloe was going to be here and called her to see if he could see her."

"Is he still Chloe's boyfriend?" Fat Amy asked.

"She told us she broke up with him just before he graduated," CR said. "That was three years ago. Why is he here now?"

"Probably thinks she'll take him back now that she's graduated," Jessica said.

"That's just wrong," Emily said, shaking her head.

"We agree," the other girls said.

"They're still friends," Aubrey said. "Are you guys still on that Beca and Chloe love each other kick?" Aubrey shook her head at them. "Unbelievable."

"Are you seriously telling us you don't see it?" Stacie asked. "They do practically everything a married couple does, except for having sex with each other."

"You mean, we haven't caught them having sex with each other," Fat Amy with a laugh.

"Stacie's right, Aubrey," Ashley said, ignoring Fat Amy. "We've had a front-row seat to the whole thing for four years now. We can't all be wrong."

"Plus, Beca asked Chloe to move to New York with her, and Chloe said yes," CR said. "Tom asked Chloe to move to Chicago with him, but she told him no and broke up with him. And remember, Jesse asked Beca to get back together and move to LA with him, and she told him no. We know why Beca said no, but why did Chloe say no to Tom?"

"Because she knows they belong together," Jessica said. "That's why."

"I've only been a Bella this year," Emily said. "I thought they were dating since I first saw them together. And I still do believe that."

"There's nothing romantic between them," Aubrey said. "They're best friends. That's it."

"That's what they always say," Ashley said.

"Chloe's your best friend, too, Brey," Stacie said. "Did she ask you to move to wherever she was planning to go after graduation?"

"No, but-"

"And did Chloe always make sure you had breakfast before you left the house?" Jessica asked.

"That's not-"

"Did Chloe always save you a seat during movie nights?" Ashley asked. "And snuggle with you while you watched the movie?"

"Well, no, but, uh," Aubrey stammered. She chewed her bottom lip and thought for a moment. "You really think there's something romantic between them?"

"Yes!" All the Bellas responded.

"What we can't figure out is how they don't see it," Stacie said.

"But Chloe's not gay," Aubrey said.

"Are you sure she isn't a little bit gay?" Ashley asked. "We didn't know Beca liked girls until just now when she left with Kommissar."

"I, I-," Aubrey stammered to find an answer. "I don't know."

"That's what we thought," Fat Amy said.

~~ Bellas For Life ~~

Beca, Chloe, and Fat Amy had been living together in New York for two years when Amy moved to L.A. to be with Bumper.

It was six months later that Beca came home to find an invitation from Emily to a Bellas reunion at Barden.

"Chloe, did you see this?" Beca asked, holding out the invite.

"Yeah, I got one, too," Chloe said. "I'm so excited. We haven't seen all the girls together in two and a half years. We should make our reservations now."

"It's a month away. I'm sure I can get time off," Beca said. "How about you?"

"I only have two weeks left on my job, so I'm good to go," Chloe said.

"I'll book our air and lodging together so we can save a little money," Beca said.

"There's a block of rooms being held at the Barden Inn," Chloe said. "Compare and see if it might be better just to contact the hotel directly and get the special group rate."

"Oh, okay," Beca said, pulling up a travel website to search for flights. She checked prices and turned to Chloe, "Does this flight look okay to you?"

"That would be perfect," Chloe said.

"The lodging rate is much higher if I book the flight with it," Beca said. "I'll book our flight, and we can call the hotel directly to get the special group rate. Could you grab my credit card from my purse for me, please?"

Chloe found Beca's wallet and pulled out her credit card as Beca filled in all the necessary information for their flights.

"Thanks," Beca said, taking the card and filling in the payment information. "Done! Now, I'll call the hotel and book our room."

Beca booked the room and tossed her phone on the table in front of her. "The room is booked, and we are good to go."

"Yay," Chloe said, clapping her hands and bouncing up and down in her chair.

"You're still weird," Beca said, laughing at Chloe.

"And you still love me because I'm weird," Chloe shot back.

"And I still can't argue with that," Beca said.

~~ Bellas For Life ~~

A month later, Beca and Chloe enter their hotel room at the Barden Inn.

"We have less than an hour before the welcome reception starts," Chloe said as she unpacked her suitcase.

"I'm glad it's here in the hotel," Beca said. "I want to take a shower to wash off the airplane smell."

"Be quick so that I can take one, too," Chloe said.

"I'll be ten minutes," Beca said as she hurried into the bathroom.

True to her word, Beca was out ten minutes later. Chloe hurried in, and Beca started getting ready.

Beca was putting on her earrings when Chloe came out of the bathroom. Chloe got dressed and was doing her makeup when her phone pinged with a text.

"Becs, could you check that for me?" Chloe asked.

"Sure," Beca said, picking up Chloe's phone. "It's from Aubrey wanting to know if you're here yet."

Chloe took her phone and responded to Aubrey. Aubrey's response came back within seconds.

"She wants to meet downstairs now," Chloe said.

"Let's go," Beca said.

Beca and Chloe left the room together and made their way toward the elevator. Once they made it to the lobby, Chloe looked around and let out a squeal.

"There she is," Chloe said, rushing over to Aubrey.

The two friends grabbed each other in a hug. Beca walked up, and Aubrey hugged her as well.

"Good to see you, Posen," Beca said. "It's been too long."

"It's good to see you, too," Aubrey said.

"Beca! Chloe!" Stacie's voice called out as she ran over and grabbed Beca.

"Good to see you, Stacie," Beca said.

"Come on," Stacie said. "I'll show you where the reception is being held. Emily is freaking out about no one being in there yet."

The small group chatted as they followed Stacie. Beca saw relief wash over Emily's face as soon as she saw them.

"Thank goodness," Emily said. "I was getting worried that no one was going to show up."

After that, the rest of the Bellas started arriving, and everyone was catching up.

"So, what's been happening with you two?" Stacie asked, looking at Beca and Chloe.

"What do you mean?" Beca asked, glancing over to Chloe.

"Last we heard," Stacie said. "You were working in a recording studio. Are you working with anyone we know?"

"Well," Beca said. "I'm not supposed to talk about it, but I'm meeting with Adele's people in a few weeks to discuss a new album."

"Oh, my God, Beca!" Stacie said. "That's huge."

"Have you met Adele before?" Ashley asked.

"Is she as nice as she seems?" Jessica asked.

Beca was getting a little overwhelmed at the attention. She ran her hand through her hair. Chloe put her arm around Beca's waist and leaned in to ask if she was okay.

Beca nodded and was saved from saying anything when Fat Amy arrived with a tray full of shots.

"Time for shots, pitches," Fat Amy said.

The girls all cheered and started reaching for the shots. Beca and Chloe used their left hands to pick up their shots, and CR yelled out, "Wait!"

Everyone stopped to look at CR, who was looking at Beca and Chloe. "Are you two wearing wedding rings?"

"Oh, my gosh, they are," Emily squealed, grabbing Chloe's hand, causing her drink to spill.

Beca grabbed a napkin and handed it to Chloe.

"Um, that's what people do when they get married," Beca said, looking at the girls. "They wear wedding rings to show they are married."

"You two got married?" Aubrey asked. "To who?"

"Each other," Beca said, blushing as Chloe smiled next to her.

"How did this happen?"

"When did this happen?"

"I was keeping an eye out for anything to happen," Fat Amy said. "I never saw you two acting any differently than you usually do. How did you do this without me knowing?"

Beca and Chloe looked at each other; Chloe shrugged, and Beca smiled.

"Okay," Beca said. "Let's sit, and we'll tell you everything."

The girls all hurried to grab a seat and sat down. Beca pulled Chloe's chair out for her.

"Aww," Emily said, putting a hand over her heart.

"So, spill it," Aubrey said.

"Okay," Beca said. "So, about a year after we moved to New York, Chloe and I went to a local bar for a few drinks. We both got drunk and went back to our apartment. We managed to get our pajamas on and get into the bed. Chloe looked at me, and I looked at her."

"Why haven't we ever hooked up?" Chloe asked.

Beca's first reaction was to stare at Chloe for a minute.

"I don't know," Beca finally said. "Bad timing, I guess. Plus, we each always seemed to be with someone else. Why are you asking this now?"

"I don't know," Chloe said. "I've been thinking about all those times the Bellas said stuff about how we belonged together. I guess I was just wondering about what might have been."

"Are you saying you would have been open to us dating?" Beca asked.

"I, uh, I don't know," Chloe said. "I guess I am."

"What about now?" Beca said, sitting up. "Would you date me now?"

Chloe sat up, facing Beca. "Yes, I would," Chloe said. "The Bellas were right. We do act like a married couple most of the time. And somewhere along the line, I started liking you like that."

"Really?" Beca asked. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"It's like you said," Chloe responded. "Bad timing."

"I wish I had known," Beca said. "I thought you'd think it was creepy that I had the hots for my best friend."

"You had the hots for me, huh?" Chloe asked, smiling at Beca.

"Still do," Beca said, smiling back at Chloe.

"Good to know," Chloe said, yawning before settling back down in the bed.

Both were asleep within seconds.

"That's it?" Stacie asked. "That doesn't explain anything."

"There's more," Chloe said and took over telling the story. "The next morning, Beca and I were hesitant to bring up our drunken confessions from the night before. That is until Beca came back from picking up our takeout we had ordered for dinner."

"I picked up some beer on the way back," Beca said, holding up a six-pack.

Chloe took the beer and placed two on the table. She put the remaining beer in the refrigerator.

Beca placed the bag of food on the table and started taking containers out.

"So, I was wondering," Beca said, causing Chloe to look at her. "What are you doing Friday night?"

"I don't think I have any plans," Chloe said. "Why?"

Beca took a deep breath and let it out through her nose. "I was wondering if I could take you out."

Chloe blinked a few times. "On a date?"

"Yes, on a date," Beca said. "Isn't that what all that talk was about last night? Us saying we liked each other and deciding we should date."

Chloe nodded and said, "I'd love to go on a date with you."

Just then, the apartment door flew open, and Fat Amy came stomping in.

"I smell Chinese good," Fat Amy said. "Did you get me my usual?"

"Of course, I did," Beca said, pushing the container toward Fat Amy.

"Great," Fat Amy said, grabbing a beer from the refrigerator.

"We'll talk later," Beca whispered to Chloe.

"Did I keep you from doing something more?" Fat Amy asked.

"No, we were just talking at that point," Beca said. "Although, after that, there were a few times you almost caught us."

"Why were you keeping it a secret?" Jessica asked.

"We wanted to make sure there was something there," Chloe responded. "And not us thinking we had to be together because you all thought we should. We thought for sure Amy was going to figure it out. And before we knew it, we had been dating for a year. Then Amy moved out, and a week later, on our one-year dating anniversary, Beca asked me to marry her."

"We didn't say anything to anyone because it was the same time my career really started to take off," Beca said. "I was worried about it getting in the way of our relationship, but we became stronger. Then one day, about a month later, I started getting offers from studios in L.A."

"L.A.?" CR asked. "That's always been your dream."

"That's huge, Beca," Aubrey said.

"That's what I thought, too," Beca said. "But, I started worrying that it would be too much for Chloe. But we talked, and Chloe said she loved me and would go wherever I needed to be to pursue my dreams. I think I fell more in love with her at that moment."

Chloe blushed and kissed Beca's cheek.

"By this time, we knew we were going to be moving to L.A. at some point," Chloe said. "So, I suggested we get married as soon as possible. That way, Beca could accept whatever offer she felt was right for her, and we could move to L.A. as soon as Beca got hired."

"I agreed it was the best move," Beca said. "So we went to the Court House and got a marriage license. And two days later, we went back and got married."

"So, how long have you two been married?" Emily asked.

"Almost five months," Beca and Chloe responded.

"And, last week, I got an offer from Sony," Beca said. "It was a great offer, so we're moving to L.A. in two weeks."

"And, we've decided that once we get there and settled in, we're going to have a small wedding reception and invite everyone out," Chloe said. "So, start saving so you can all be there."

The girls started talking at once. Aubrey leaned over so Chloe could hear her.

"I can't believe you got married and didn't tell me," Aubrey said. "And to Beca no less. I would never have guessed."

Chloe chuckled. "Well, you are probably the only Bella, besides me and Beca, who didn't think we'd get married."

"I still can't get over how I never figured out you two were together," Fat Amy said, causing Chloe and Aubrey to look at her.

"I guess we were good at hiding it," Beca said.

"You two always did act like a married couple," Jessica said. "That's probably why Amy didn't figure it out."

"Yeah," Stacie said. "Even knowing you're married, I haven't seen you do anything or act any different toward each other."

"Are you guys pulling some kind of prank on us?" Ashley asked. "Trying to get us back for all those times we said you belonged together?"

The girls looked from Ashley to Beca and Chloe.

"Well, are you?" Emily asked.

Beca huffed and looked at Chloe. Chloe didn't say a word; she leaned in and kissed Beca. Beca put her hand around the back of Chloe's neck and deepened the kiss.

The girls all stared at them. Aubrey heard one of them moan as their kiss became a bit more intense.

"Okay, okay," Aubrey said, causing them to pull apart. "We believe you. You're married."

"We are literally Bellas for life," Beca exclaimed.

"Damn right, we are!" Chloe said before pulling Beca in for another kiss.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Full prompt from Tumblr User Anonymous: Could you possibly do a fic about Beca and Chloe being best friends and dating other people but it's a running joke that no matter who they're with at the moment they're gonna end up marrying each other and then a few years later at a Bellas reunion they walk in with rings on their fingers, and they're holding hands?

#bechloe fanfiction #bechloe #beca mitchell #chloe beale

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the-fiction-witch · 4 years

Text

Newt’s First

MOVIE MAZE RUNNER DEATH CURE COUPLE NEWT X READER RATING SMUTT AF

I sat looking at the ceiling of this old broken building, looking at the beams and rusted pipework. I could hear the other guys fast asleep Thomas and fry gently snoring in the darkness. I pulled the blanket tighter around me turning to my side looking out at the water and the boat they where fixing up, the others all had hammocks but they gave me the one little bed due to my leg playing up lately, I tried to get some sleep but I couldn't turn of my head.

Just then I felt a tap on my shoulder I jumped and turned sitting up seeing y/n one of the group B girls who we had met in the scorch who we all did get along with fine, even if I did kinda like y/n ever since we met up with them I thought she was kinda cute and it developed over time to be a little bit of a crush on her but I hadn't told anyone,

"Oohh hey, you made me jump" I said to her as hushed as I could not wanting to wake the others

"Sorry" she answered

"What's up?"

"I was wondering if I could sleep with you for Tonight?" She asked

"what?" I asked a little shocked at her question

"I can't sleep, and I'm frozen... Please newt" she begs

"Uhh well I guess so" I told her letting her crawl into my little single bed with me we where hardly an inch apart I felt my blood start to race feeling her so close to me

"Oohh we haven't got much space have we" she giggled

"Uhh no, we uh we don't" I stuttered

"That's okay," she smiled "would you hold me?"

"What!" I asked in shock

"So I don't fall off' she says

"Uhhh sure" I said holding her wrist and she giggled taking my hands and resting them on her waist as she moved forward so she was even closer to me then before

"There, I can't fall off now can I?" She smiled "it's okay newt I rather like being snuggled up with you" she smiled resting her head in my neck

"Uhh yeah it's nice in bed with you too y/n" I blushed

"Are you okay?" She asks

"Hu? Ummm yeah I guess so sorry I've uhh not shared a bed with a girl before I'm a bit nervous" I admit "and I'm not too sure like where's an okay place for my hands"

"Awww newt that's adorable" she giggled nuzzling even closer I wasn't sure how much closer she could get before she'd just be climbing ontop of me "well don't worry newt you can touch whatever you like" she whispered giving me a little wink "you can put your hands anywhere you'd like" she giggled "well everywhere but here" she says as she moved herself against my knee rubbing her pussy on me I froze unsure what to do with this Information, she smiled and moved my hands down to her butt it was so big, almost too big for my hands so soft and squishy thought her little shorts she nuzzled closer to my neck giving it little kisses as I uncontrollably groped, she moved my hands again letting me touch her breasts they felt even better they where heavenly even though her shirt I could feel her nipples hard to the cold air she let me play with her tits all I wanted squeezing and groping for what felt like forever "enjoying yourself newt?"

"Yeah" I blushed "how could you tell?"

She smirked biting her bottom lip before I suddenly felt a hand on my cock thought my boxers shorts of course as I had gone to sleep in them her hand felt so soft I was in shock, I'm laid in bed, with a girl! Who's letting me feel her tits and she now has her hand on my cock! I didn't know what to do my brain has overloaded in all this amazing pleasure what's the one thing that came out my mouth

"I'm a Virgin y/n!"

"A what?" She asks

"A virgin... I've never had sex before" I blushed "or done anything sexual really, this uhh actually the furthest I've gone in my life."

"How far had you gone before this?" I asked

"Uuuhhh I kissed Gally in a game of truth or dare once" I admit

"That's it?"

"Yeah" i sighed "it's okay uhh if you still want to I'm sure one or the other boys-" I began but she put her finger on my mouth to stop me talking

"Hehehe newt I wanted a snuggle, and I want to snuggle with you" she says pressing ever inch of her against me moving my hands to her waist

"But I don't know what I'm doing... Wouldn't you rather go snuggle with someone who knows what there doing?"

"No I want to snuggle with you newt" she giggled

"Why?"

"Because I like you"

"You- you like me?" I stuttered in shock and she nods holding my hand

"I had a crush on you since you boys met up with us" she smiled

"I uhh I kinda had a crush on you too" I admit

"You did?" She giggled and I nodded

"I thought you where really cute"

"Awww I think your adorable newt... And sexy" she smirked rubbing herself against me

"I uhh I didn't realize how sexy you where till tonight... Guess I never really looked at the girls that way" I blushed

"Newt... When where back in your maze? Did you ever?"

"Well I'm a Virgin?"

"I mean like all by yourself"

"Ooh no, the guys used to, I never really had time... To busy" I explain

"Ohh you poor thing so you've never?" She asks

"Never what?" I asked

"Finished?" She smirked

"Not really no ... I mean a couple times in my sleep"

"Aww you poor thing, if you want I could... Finish you?" She suggested

"Well I Uhhh.... Okay" I blushed so she smirked sitting on my legs over me she smiled the moonlight hitting her beautiful face I couldn't help but smile a little overexcited as she tugged my boxers down

"Oooohh newt... He's bigger then I expected" she blushed running her fingers along my shaft, I bit my mouth hard so scared of waking everyone else up "you can touch anything you want just not here" she says as she gently rid her hips on my thigh I nodded getting comfortable and she smiled giving my hands little kisses as she rested them on her waist as her hand grabbed my base hard and tight it felt so good and she isn't doing anything yet all she's done is touch me and I think I'm gonna go insane "hehe can tell you where too busy for him..."

'how so?" I asked

"He's so desperate" she giggled as her hand moved up and down my shaft slowly and tenderly but it was enough to make me have to bite my pillow to try not to scream "newt? Is this the first time anyone's has ever touched this part of you?" She giggled and I nodded

"Anyone other than me" I told her trying to keep my breath steady as I spoke I couldn't help myself I moved my hands to he breasts ummm they felt even better with her sat on top of me she giggled at my hands and pushed them away a moment and she pulled up her shirt revealing her bare breasts to me and putting my hands back I couldn't stop my hands they where working on there own groping and squeezing as she moved her hand "please please don't stop" I muttered between my breaths

"Aww does it feel that good newt?" She asked and all I could manage was a nod so she smiled moving a little grabbing a hair tie from her wrist and putting her hair in in a pony tail I was a little confused but she moved down pulling the blanket to my waist so she was completely under it I grabbed the blanket unsure what she was gonna-

"Uuuhhh! Oh my god!" I moaned instantly putting my hand over my mouth to shut myself up so afraid of waking anyone as I felt her beautiful warm lips around my head her hand didn't stop it sped up as she licked and sucked every inch she could "y/n please" I begged

"Heheh don't worry newt you can cum in my mouth if you want to" she said as she pressed kisses up and down my shaft

"I uuuhhh I'm not sure I can"

"Why not?"

"Is there such a thing as overload?"

"Awww newt, that's just because you've never felt it before... It always feels this good" she says as she returns to her sucking ohh fuck her mouth is magic "and I'll come do it for you whenever you want me too"

"Y/n... I- I think I'm gonna-" I blushed trying so hard to stop myself

"Just relax, let it go" she says her hand gently massaging the bottom of my stomach as her other hand pumped my shaft and her mouth went up and down sucking and licking as much as she could, I was in heaven I never wanted it to stop, I was beyond desperate I felt like if I didn't finish I might have a heart attack my eyes rolled back and I had to bite on my pillow so unbelievably close like any second I was gonna-

But the door across the way suddenly opened and y/n stopped pulling her shirt down and laying back beside me pulling my boxers back up she shhed me and I nodded as whoever it was wondered around the sleeping people we sat still a moment but I couldn't take it I was so close

"Y/n..... Please... I need you" I pleaded in desperation

"Aww okay, but quiet" she warns slipping her hand in my boxers and jerking me as fast as she could go it wasn't as good as her sucking but I didn't need it to be, and begged her to go faster and she obliged doing as I asked until a voice made me jump

"Y/n? Bella needs a word" the person said

"Aww sorry newt I have to go" she says moving her hand away and getting out my bed

"What? No please, five more minutes" I begged holding her hand tightly trying not to let her go

"I won't be long" she smiled "five minutes" she says giving my lips a gentle kiss before she went off with this girl out the room, I sighed feeling it beg and ache desperate for her touch as I laid in bed waiting for her... I didn't know how long she'd be I couldn't take waiting I grabbed my base like she did to me and pumped as hard and fast as I could it didn't feel as good as her hands but I was too desperate to care I pulled my boxers down imagining my hands where hers going as fast as I could possibly

"Uuuhhh!! Uuuummm" I groaned as I felt likes someone lit a firework in my cock, pleasure exploded out of me from the tip of my cock flowing across my body, this unbelievable pleasure I felt something spill out all over my stomach but I didn't care it felt so good... Now I see why the boys where so obsessed with it in the maze, I get it now.

"Enjoying yourself?" Y/n asks as she stood by my bed

"Uhhh hi" I blushed "sorry" I told her as she climbed in next to me

"I wasn't gone that long newt" she laughs

"I'm sorry, I couldn't wait" I admit blushing hard

"Aww it's okay newt, did you enjoy it?" She asked and I nodded

"It would have been better if you did it for me"

"Well I would have but somebody got all impatient" she giggled giving me another kiss "oohh look at all the mess you've made" she says looking at my stomach and cock she smiled giving me another kiss before she went licking up every drop licking my cock clean and swallowing it all

"Y/n?"

"Ummm?" She asks as she cleaned her mouth

"Do you wanna be my girlfriend?"

"Aww newt, of course I do" she giggled cuddling close to me so I wrapped my arms around her to hold her close "did you wanna do something else?" She asked

"Tomorrow night" I smirked

"Okay, goodnight newt"

"Goodnight y/n" I smiled giving her lips a sweet kiss.

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mostweakhamlets · 4 years

Text

Cake Heals All Wounds

This fic was published on patreon on August 14th as part of the four exclusive stories that you can read for $2 a month! This one is sort of a Great British Bake Off AU

Aziraphale sighed in relief as soon as he was out of the tent and in the open, grassy field. While the sun was hot and beamed down directly on his head, it was better than the suffocating heat that had been trapped inside with the contestants and crew and the two of them.

“Fuck the producers for scheduling the longest bakes in the middle of a heatwave.”

Crowley lifted his hair off the back of his neck. His cheeks were splotched with red and sweat soaked his hairline. The poor thing looked miserable in his all-black outfit that had become his signature style.

Aziraphale tutted. “You can’t expect them to predict the weather when they schedule the series months ahead of time.”

They had managed to escape before makeup cornered them to dab up their perspiration and re-apply powders and concealers. Aziraphale was tired of having tissues shoved into his collar and towels pressed to his forehead. He just wanted a moment of peace without a camera on him.

“It happens every year,” Crowley said. “I think they’re doing it on purpose. It’s either their longest bakes or something with chocolate. It’s psychological torture at this point.”

Aziraphale did feel terrible for the bakers who were on the verge of breakdowns induced by both stress and the heat. Crowley was right, though. It wasn’t anything new. Filming was coming to an end, and the tension was increasing every minute along with the temperature.

Crowley had his conspiracy theories that the producers intentionally made every other episode miserable for the bakers for entertainment. Aziraphale doubted that they were that evil. But he knew what ratings looked like, and he knew how people took to social media when dramatic episodes aired. It was good for the producers, but it couldn’t have been intentional. At least not totally. Not every time.

“Oh God, they found us,” Crowley mumbled.

Two women, who were always well-meaning, approached them. The dabbing of tissues and the assaulting with brushes began.

Aziraphale was ready to be in the studio for voiceovers. He didn’t have to be in the heat with every scent of bread and cake clinging onto him by the end of the day (which he didn’t necessarily hate, but it did grow old). He could be in his own comfortable clothing rather than the dapper get-up that the audience expected to see him in, and he wouldn’t need layers of powder on his face for him to scrape off later.

“They’re getting ready to decide who’s going home, we think,” one of the women said, removing tissues from his collar.

Crowley chugged the water bottle he was handed as his makeup artist tried dabbing a powder puff into his cheeks. “I hate that part.”

“Well, I have to say it this week,” Aziraphale said.

Crowley smiled at him. “Yeah. I’ll make it up to you.”

“You could try taking your turn.”

“But they love it when it’s you.” ‘They’ was the audience. “You get all choked-up.”

“Just take your turn next week, and we’ll call it even.”

“Next week is the semi-finals.”

It was the last time someone would be sent home and the most emotional week of the series. Whoever didn’t make it would be devastated after making it so far and getting nothing. And Aziraphale and Crowley would be heartbroken having to be the bearer of bad news and see a familiar face leave. It was their annual tradition to go out after filming and buy a couple of bottles of wine and whiskey and sit up all night while binging on their alcohol and take out.

“I’m aware.”

Crowley scoffed. “I was thinking something along the lines of dinner.”

“You can take me to dinner, too.”

“Unbelievable.”

Crowley slid his sunglasses off to allow his eyes and nose to be touched up. Aziraphale watched as the off-hazel, nearly-yellow looked off in the distance. His eyes gained him a bit of celebrity. They were a “distinct feature” as talent agencies and IMDb declared. Crowley had grown sick of them and never saw anything quite special about them in the first place.

Aziraphale was obsessed with them.

“Alright, let’s get back inside before we get yelled at.”

Crowley walked back into the tent. Aziraphale followed.

—

“What do you mean you have another gig?”

“I mean that I have another gig, angel.”

Aziraphale wished the conversation was happening in public. That way, Crowley could see how huffy he looked. He could furrow his brow and purse his lips. But as it was, he could only try to convey his near-tantrum over the phone.

“What is it?”

“I can’t really say yet. All I can tell you is that I’m not going to be at the studio at the same time as you. Is it really that big of a deal?”

“Yes! We’re always there together.”

“It’ll just have to be different this time. Listen, angel, I have to go. I have a rehearsal soon.”

“Rehearsal for your new gig?”

“Yes. I’ll talk to you later. Are we still on for lunch Friday?”

Aziraphale thought about canceling the plans just to be a bastard. “Of course.”

—

“Anathema’s ‘Occult Occake’ is an aesthetical twist on the traditional jam cake. Dyed black with squid ink, the cake will be layered with homemade strawberry jam. It’ll be shaped as a demon-summoning circle with powder sugar symbols and fondant candles.”

Aziraphale wished he could record the lines before knowing the results. Anathema would have been the winner that week if that cake had turned out as she had envisioned it. The jam, which she had attempted to make in the tent, had been far too runny and seeped into the cake. Aziraphale had stood by as the hosts cut into it and revealed the soggy mess.

It was the first time Anathema had cried on camera, and it was all Aziraphale could think about.

“Can we try that again, Aziraphale?”

Aziraphale nodded. If Crowley were there, nothing would feel amiss and Aziraphale wouldn’t be flubbing his lines.

“Anathema’s ‘Occult Occake’ is an aesthetical twist on the traditional jam cake…”

He wouldn’t be thinking about Anathema’s face crumpled as soon as the hosts looked up at her with disappointed raised eyebrows and comments about how “Really, we expected better from you.” It was the worst Anathema could be confronted with—disappointment. Aziraphale had picked up on that by helping her plate biscuits and giving her mid-bake pep talks. She didn’t care if her presentation went wrong or if flavors didn’t work well. She only cared if she had expectations set on her, and as it looked as she was going to win the entire series (and as nearly the entire country hopes for it), she felt the pressure.

“Anathema’s ‘Occult Occake’ is an aesthetical twist on the traditional jam cake…”

If Crowley were there, he could point out how Anathema had quickly dried her tears and how Newt had run over to hug her as soon the cameras cut. He could take Aziraphale’s mind off the ordeals they had to go through.

“Anathema’s ‘Occult Occake’ is an aesthetical twist on the traditional jam cake…”

—

“Try this one.”

Aziraphale turned around and a bite of cake was being shoved in his face. He took Crowley’s hand and held it away so he could have a little dignity while taking it in his mouth. Once he realized how their fingers were touching and for so long, though, he pulled away with burning cheeks. It was obscene.

When the cameras finally went off for the last time that year, Aziraphale and Crowley were free to finally eat the cake they had watched being made for hours. And they were always determined to eat their fill of each of the three cakes presented before they were divvied up among the crowd of past-contestants and family.

Aziraphale hummed. It was rich and sweet and moist and satisfied his growling stomach. “Is that Newton’s?”

Crowley nodded and stabbed at the mangled piece on his plate. The cakes were supposed to remain pretty after being cut into, but Crowley somehow had the ability to make a mess out of anything he ate.

It was endearing if a bit annoying when Aziraphale wanted to take his time savoring every bite. Aziraphale could never be too annoyed with anything Crowley ever did. At the end of every day, he thought of Crowley and smiled.

His chest was tight, and his mouth was dry. He regretted not grabbing a glass of champagne.

“I was thinking,” Aziraphale said, “of taking a holiday in a few weeks.”

Crowley shoved more cake into his mouth. The dear would end up sick if he didn’t pace himself. Again, it was endearing yet annoying.

“Where’you goin’?” Crowley asked around the cake.

“That’s the thing.” Aziraphale rubbed his hands together and smiled. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears. “I was wondering if you’d like to join me, and if you would, I’d like you to have some say.”

Crowley froze. He swallowed his cake. He looked away.

“Uh… sure. I don’t have much on. Just a little filming over the next month.”

“Oh, of course. Your new gig.”

Aziraphale’s heart sank, though he wasn’t sure why. He wasn’t disappointed. He got what he wanted. A holiday with his friend whom he fancied that could potentially lead to more. But he wasn’t happy, either.

“Yeah.”

Crowley was becoming more popular, Aziraphale had to admit. While Aziraphale had made his fair share of guest appearances since the show gained its devoted, international following, Crowley was becoming an actual celebrity—noticed in shops, gaining masses of new followers on social media, earning nominations for bougie awards. Aziraphale was happy for him. But he also knew that with the newfound popularity, there was less time to spend together.

There would always be new gigs and interviews and publicity. There would be business dinners and coffees and contract meetings. There would be conflicting schedules and canceled lunches and postponed traditions.

“I’ll check my schedule, and we can plan something around it.”

“Around your new schedule. Right.”

And there was always the fear of Crowley leaving the show for good. What would Azirpahale do then? They were a duo at this point. Would Aziraphale be asked to leave the show? Would he leave on his own accord if his partner—filming partner, totally professional—wasn’t around anymore?

And if they weren’t filming together anymore, then would they grow apart?

“We can figure it out,” Crowley said. “And then we can decide where we’re going.”

“Alright.”

Crowley smiled. “Why do you look sad?”

“I don’t! I’m quite happy. There’s no reason to be sad.”

Crowley clearly didn’t believe him. He cut into Anathema’s winning cake and handed a somewhat sloppy piece to Aziraphale.

Cake healed all wounds.

#good omens #my fics #patreon

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littleredroseonthevalley · 4 years

Text

Land of the Blind

Summary: Nathan is caugh on a DUI and is sentenced to comunity service. There, he meets someone who can change his life.

Rating: T - Suitable for teens, 13 years and older, with some violence, minor coarse language, and minor suggestive adult themes.

Words: 5400

Notes: So, Natey-boy again. Who hasn’t gotten over him yet?

בשוק סמייא צווחין לעווירא סגי נהור

In the street of the blind, the one-eyed man is called the Guiding Light

*_*_*_*_*

"Nathan Sterling! Come over here, bro!" Beau Han bellowed, causing several heads in the party to turn, but he remained uncaring, as he went on to wave his bottle of beer as a half-hearted greeting.

Nathan sighed, shaking his head in frustration at the closest thing he could call as best friend. His boorish antics got old fast, and he had to take them for years now. However, it did not keep the young, blond man to slip into the seat next to him and grabbing a bottle of beer.

They had met in college, when they pledged the same fraternity. They both came from privileged upbringings, with the difference that Beau was nouveau riche, while Nathan was a Boston Brahmin. The Asian boy, because of that, submitted himself to be his faithful lapdog, and he did not care for the difference between that and “true friendship”.

"Anything fun going on around here?" Nathan asked, unamused.

Beau gave a casual shrug, before pulling a face. "No hot girls are allowed here, apparently."

He craned his neck then, as if looking for something. Nathan frowned, opening his mouth to question him when Beau beat him to it. "Eh, Nathan? Where's Becca? I thought she was your conquest for the week?"

Nathan flicked his finger dismissively, before downing the bottle of beer. The voluptuous girl was not bad-looking, on the contrary, but she really was just really bossy and nagging, and her name was tarnished since her parents divorced and cut her off, it was no fun.

Not to mention, she wanted commitment, too. She wanted to raise herself from the filth she was thrown in. It was a big no-no for Nathan. He did not, under any circumstances, do commitments. Anytime a girl seemed to imply that, she was out. Especially the social-climbers.

"She's old news already, Beau.” He responded, lazily. “I can't seem to find anyone else up to my standards."

"Your standards must be reaching heaven, my dear friend." Beau shook his head as he chugged his beer, before wiping the corner of his mouth to clean himself of the trail of white booze. "I'm pretty sure dear Katie would be glad to lecture you again."

Nathan sighed, shaking his head. Katie was the exact reason why he is so averse to commitment. She was his cousin’s wife, daughter of a fisherman from down at the harbour, and seemed to think they were a loving family just because they were around the same age. She firmly believed in love and that Tanner was her One and Only.

To him, it all sound either naïve or malicious. She knew he was cheating on her with the Emersons’ slag, Scarlett, but she took it because parting with the Sterling fortune was too much to bear. Not that she will ever really have to, having birthed a daughter already.

He almost scoffed at just the mere idea of fairy-tale love. Pick any marriage on his lineage, from the very day the first member of his family set foot in America hailing from Norway, and they would be a good example that love did not exist. Including Kate and Tanner’s.

“She can’t lecture me if she doesn’t know, and evidence shows it isn’t that hard to hide things from her. She is pretty stupid.”

"Damn, you're bad!" Beau chuckled heartily before pulling Nathan up from his seat, gesturing to the platform set up for the party. "Let's go dance, and maybe pick up some hot girls, yeah?"

The corner of Nathan's mouth lifted slightly. Yes, that was exactly what he needed.

"Yeah, you're on."

*_*_*_*_*

"Nathan, you honestly shouldn't… " Beau stopped in the middle of the sentence, hiccupping for probably the umpteenth time. "Drive the car in such a state. You might get into an accident."

"Shut up, Beau, unless you’d like to walk." Nathan threatened. He was sure that he could handle liquor well, Beau was totally underestimating him. "I'm pretty sure you're the one who needs help getting home. Whose party is this again? Elliott's? I'm sure he'll be glad to drive you home."

"Yes, see that horn over there?" Beau hiccupped again, before chuckling and pointing at the roof of the house. "It’s Elliott's!"

"Damn, Beau, you are drunk." Nathan shook his head. Beau really seem like a stupid teenager at times. He muffled a sigh. “Call yourself an Uber. I know you like to spite your mother.”

"No need. Beau's going home with me." A familiar voice stated from behind the said male's bulky form.

Nathan's eyes widen by the tiniest bit, before he recovered, trying not to laugh. Trying to make him jealous? With Han? How quaint. Too bad it would not work.

"Oh, alright then." Nathan said, grinning as he saw his friend's face morphed into one of horror's, but he paid him no heed. He was apparently still sober enough to realize what he was getting into. "Have a nice night, Claire."

Without another word, he silently washed his hands from Han before he slipped into his Ashton Martin and sped off. The adrenaline was coursing through his veins, most probably a side effect from the consumption of beer. It had actually been a while since he had gone home with a girl, and for this moment, this silence was actually rather nice and peaceful.

He took a deep breath before he relaxed against his comfortable leather seat.

The sirens of police cars suddenly broke him out of his reverie, and he immediately swerved to a stop in an unconscious move.

Ugh, Nathan, you moron! What did you stop for?

He suppressed his grumbles as he rolled down the window of his car to come face-to-face to Officer Silverhawk. He muttered a curse under his breath. Of all people... Of all days...

"Good evening, Officer Silverhawk." He greeted grudgingly.

"Yes, Nathan." She sounded displeased. "What're you doing out here that late at night? Is that alcohol? You reek of it!"

"No, of course not, ma’am." Nathan lied smoothly. "I wouldn't do such a dangerous, reckless thing."

“You certainly would.” She said, unbelieving. “Give me your keys. I’ll pull up your record.”

"Don’t get your panties on a twist, Officer Silverhawk." He muttered.

Officer Silverhawk looked up from scrolling through the records at the mention of her name, but Nathan waved his hand like it was nothing.

"Well, Nathan…" She said, sounding gruff. "It's not the first time you've been caught speeding. In fact, this is the fifteenth time, and there's another few which was after consuming alcohol."

Again, shit.

"Well, I'm afraid you'd have to go to the police with us. Don't worry, you will most likely just have to serve community service if it comes to that." Chief Silverhawk seemed to meant for her to sound reassuring.

However, she seemed smug and Nathan noted irritably that her upper lip seemed to twitch slightly at that comment.

Fuck was the only thought echoing through his mind. His parents were going to kill him.

*_*_*_*_*

“You are a disgrace, Mr. Sterling. You are a smudge on this town prideful tradition, and a shame to your surname.” Judge Rhodes said, sternly, from his bench. “I am very glad that I was able to shield my stepdaughter from the likes of you.”

Nathan used much of his willpower not to roll his eyes at that comment. Judge Rhodes was obsessed with his wife and stepdaughter, to the point it was nauseating.

The man congratulate himself into making a “safe” town for his family to live, as if he would ever be interested in Emily Harper. She was a very creepy character, and he is not alone in thinking that. Yes, she was his neighbour, but they just never interacted anymore.

He could remember that, before Queenie Harper married Dr. Rhodes, before even Evan Harper died of a heart attack, him and Emily would spend a lot of time together. Mrs. Harper would have him on their home to relieve his nannies, and the two kids would spend the Summer afternoons together.

Over Winter, while he was away in New Haven with his parents, however, Mr. Harper passed away and Queenie moved away with Emily to God knows where. They returned years later, when the old bat had already remarried, conveniently, with the new county judge.

Every time he sees her, which was actually quite rare, she would be wearing a long dress and she would be wearing a sunglass with Zigmund Ortega, if he remembered correctly, the felon son of their housemaid, or with either of her parents by her side.

“I would prefer to send you away for a month at the county jail. That ought to straighten you out. However, the laws of the state of Massachusetts do not allow me.” The judge continued, doling out the punishment. “Therefore, I hereby sentence you, Nathan Sterling, III, to ten weeks of community service. I really hope this would be of help to your behaviour."

The gavel went down, he was taken away from the courtroom to where his family was restlessly waiting, no doubt anxious to give him a piece of their mind. He almost wished that Rhodes had locked him away.

“A DUI, Nathan, honestly.” Lois Sterling, his mother, admonishes coldly. “Why don’t you just piss on your great-grandfather’s statue at main square while you’re on it, huh?”

He limits himself to a glare. His mother really knows how to make a bad situation worse just by standing in the room.

His father, in turn, merely sighed, patting Nathan's stiff shoulder. "Learn something there, son."

"Nathan, you're an idiot. I swear, you are!" Katie huffed, looking very much like an angry poodle dog. "But I really feel like something good may come out of this whole mess, so don't go messing things up."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever you want, Cinderella."

All he got was an answering smack.

*_*_*_*_*

"Well, now what am I supposed to do?" Nathan asked, refraining from groaning as he looked at the peeling layers of wallpaper in the room of the orphanage.

The matron of the establishment narrowed her beady, black eyes at him, as if threatening him, before she pushed the grey bun on her head up higher. He stared at it for a moment, fascinated, before turning to face her. "I'm sorry, Ms..."

"Mrs. Higginbotham." She snapped, her lips twisting to a grimace. "You weren't listening."

"I'm sorry." He shuffled his feet and stared at them for a moment, trying to deceive her into thinking he was feeling guilty, which he obviously was not.

She released a sigh. "It's alright, boy."

Some people just were so easy to deceive. Most people, in fact, were easily thwarted by him. Call it a congenic trait.

The older woman motioned for the wall. "You need to peel of the wallpaper of this entire room before repainting it. A few older children will be coming in to help you out later, so don't worry about the workload."

He nodded.

She mimicked his movements, looking satisfied before leaving him with the appropriate tools.

He sighed, pulling his sleeves up and dreading the loss of a shirt. "Better get to work now, I guess."

"Hello!" A cheery voice disrupted his concentration, and he turned to face her after scraping off the last peeling layer of white from the ceiling.

What he saw was an assorted group of approximately thirteen-year-old teens standing there and looking at him. He fought back a grimace, before he raised his hand in an awkward wave.

"Uh, hi?"

"We heard you were here to serve your sentence." One of the boys blurted out.

The boy beside him smacked him.

"Not a sentence, Nicky. That's such an exaggeration!" He paused, before giving Nathan a curious look. "Or is it?"

"Alright, boys." A girl who was obviously the leader of the group of five stepped out, holding her palms up for silence. "Enough. We are here to help."

The two boys bowed their heads in resignation. "Sorry, Vanessa."

She nodded her head in satisfaction before turning her attention to the gaping Nathan. "What do you need help with, sir?"

"The scraping of wallpaper at the rest of the walls, I guess. I already did the ceiling. Then we can paint this room." He replied after recovering quickly. "And don't call me 'sir', please. It makes me sound old."

Vanessa grinned.

"Okay. Let's get to work then!"

This kid must be something to control them like that. Blonde curly hair, bright blue eyes, clearly a strong-willed kid. Had not been for the crude demeanour of her posture, one would say they were siblings. He found he rather liked her.

A few minutes after they started work, Nicky, if he remembered correctly, suddenly asked. "Brad, aren't you looking forward to the afternoon?"

The boy who smacked Nicky turned, his eyes bright as a cheeky smile surfaced, accidently scratching the wall with his tool in his carelessness, but he paid it no heed.

"Like, duh! Emmy is coming!"

"Emmy?" Nathan could not help himself from asking.

All eyes in the room turned to look at him, looking shocked before exclaiming in unison, "You don't know who's Emmy?"

“No, not really.” He responded.

“Emily Harper.” Vanessa supplied, helpfully. “She’s a voluntary teacher here. The kids that have been here the longest call her Emmy.”

“Oh! She’s my next-door neighbour.” He gasped in recognition. "Um, well, we’ve met, years ago, but we’re not close anymore. She's kind of... I don't know… "

He tried to untangle himself out of the situation, noticing how everyone seemed to stiffen at his words.

"You're one of those creeps who look down on her, right?" Nicky yelled, his face red with anger as he fisted his hands, stepping forward and looking as if he was about to hit him.

"Nicky." Vanessa's soft voice stopped him, and he bit his lip before muttering an apology.

"I'm sorry, Nathan, we're rather protective when it comes to Emily." She managed a smile. "I sure hope you aren't one of those who look down on her. She is a lovely person. She really brightens up our day."

He smiled back, unsure of what reply to give.

After that exchange, the room's atmosphere seemed to escalate to a freezing region, where everyone talked among themselves, occasionally only speaking to Nathan when they need to.

It seemed hours to him before Mrs. Higginbotham came, looking very pleased with their progress. "Well, you are almost done, ain't ya?"

All the teens nodded their heads eagerly, excluding Nathan.

"Well, I suppose you all can go for your break." She turned to leave before she angled her face back to face them once more, a twinkle in her eye. "By the way, Ms. Harper has arrived."

It was a moment after she left, before all the children threw down their tools and dashed out, pushing against each other as they stumbled along the corridor. Nathan blinked once in bewilderment, before he decided not to follow.

He continued working on his part of the room for a few more minutes, before his stomach growled. He bit the inside of his cheeks, before resigning. Now, he would have to find the canteen by himself.

How pathetic. Why did he have to stop his car when Officer Silverhawk signalled him to? Walsh would never let her come after him, anyways. There were so many better ways to spend his precious time, to the point he is willing to go work with his father.

Pulling the towel off his neck, he jumped down from the stool before trudging out of the room. The county orphanage could not be that big; he was sure of it. It should not be too hard to find the canteen.

He yawned, rubbing his eyes. This work really was exhausting.

As he walked down the hallway, commiserating with himself, a beautiful melody drifted to his ears then, and he immediately perked up. Someone was playing the violin, and that person was really good at it, too.

Unknowingly, his feet followed the source of the music, and he stopped in front of a door at last.

Placing his hand on the doorknob, he debated for a while whether he should go in or just leave it be. But the curiosity of knowing who was inside overwhelmed him, and he twisted the knob as softly as he could before he poked his head to the room.

A redhead with long, flowing curly hair tumbling down to her waist was on the middle of a mostly empty room, holding the instrument. She was wearing a white floral dress that reached over her knees. He watched, transfixed as her fingers danced over the strings, her eyes closed and her full lips in a concentrated pout.

"Nathan?" Mrs. Higginbotham's voice broke him out of his entranced stare.

The music abruptly got cut off and the girl turned to face him. His jaw almost fell to the ground.

"E-Emily?" He managed to get out.

She smiled a breath-taking smile, standing up from her seat, her eyes still closed as she tilted her head to the side for a moment.

"Hi, Nathan."

"Hi?" But it sounded more like a question. The beautiful girl playing the violin just now... Was actually Emily Harper? The ghost of Birchport? The bratty child of the county judge?

He swallowed, watching as her long, elegant fingers pressed against her full, red lips, looking embarrassed.

"Did you hear me play?" She asked, a soft stutter on her words.

"I did. It was beautiful." He breathed, still looking utterly entranced, his emerald green eyes lighting up as they stared at her.

Red coloured both her cheeks as she fidgeted even more, seeming to feel the weight of his stare. "Thank you, you’re too kind."

Suddenly, someone coughed in the room, and Nathan realized they were not alone. The entire roomful of teens and children and Mrs. Higginbotham were looking at him, seemingly in amusement and curiosity.

"New brother!" One of the younger kids squealed before clapping his hands together, looking very happy.

Nathan stared at them with a completely bewildered expression.

"Well, Nathan, how nice of you to join us." Mrs. Higginbotham said, motioning for him to take a seat and snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Thank you, Mrs. Higginbotham."

"Sorry, Nathan. I really thought you were one of those creeps who look down on Emmy." Nicky whispered to him from in front and Nathan tilted his head to the side. Why would anyone look down on her? She was beautiful, and she played such beautiful music.

Before he could ask, though, Emily had already picked up her instrument and placed on her neck, measuring the tempo for a new song. She seemed tense now, her fingers stiff. Was it because of his presence?

He wondered about it, before shaking it off. Impossible.

Her first note was slightly shaky, before it was followed by a firmer tone. As she continued on, her confidence began to grow and the music slowly crawled to a crescendo, her fingers flying over the strings.

He could not help but gape. She was the epitome of beauty and class. Maybe she would be deserving to be his next conquest.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" Mrs. Higginbotham murmured from beside him.

He nodded, not speaking, transfixed by the song.

"You can't even tell that she's blind." She said softly and Nathan whirled to face her in shock.

"What?"

"Why, yes, Nathan. She's blind." She said, a little surprised. “I thought you knew. Most people in town do.”

“I… She wasn’t blind back when we were close.” He responded lamely.

Higginbotham tutted, lost in thought. “She did lose her sight, just after her father’s death.”

“How did it happen?” He asked, curiously.

“You’d do better asking her yourself.” She answered with a tone of finality.

That night, as he went out with Kassidy Marquez, his mind was elsewhere; thinking of a certain redhead with a lovely blush.

Soon, he broke off with a shocked and angry Kassidy, because he simply could not stand the heaviness in his heart.

*_*_*_*_*

Emily teaches music to the children at the orphanage, or at least tries to. Their music room was on the bare side, so their lessons are mostly consisted of her playing for them to hear. After every break she plays, she would tell the children the stories of her life, and Nathan would sometimes be one of the characters.

When she was feeling particularly wicked, she would tell some humiliating story of the two of them when they were kids, which would always finish with him red as a tomato and mumbling, “That’s so not what happened…”

She, however, never told them about the time she spent away from Birchport, curiously enough. She never told them how she lost her sigh, nor where she had been or what she had been doing. It was mysterious.

Every day, after clock out, Nathan would go home alone looking dazed, and Katie would be waiting for him on the foyer, just to pester him as always, wondering who the girl was.

She sure was not the only one wondering.

He stopped going out at night, he stopped dating different girls at the time. In a nutshell, he stopped doing everything like he would always do. Instead, he would always go to their library to play the piano when he had any free time.

There was a time he loved playing the piano. His mother had commanded him to chose an instrument, and he took to that. He even had quite a deal of talent, but on his Senior year in high school, Lois barred him from playing and at Hartford was impossible. By the time Summer came and he returned to Birchport, he had long forgot it.

The change of his personality within such a short period of time was shocking, to say the least. It was a pleasant one, though, of course.

He would always look out of his bedroom window, gazing beyond the gardens, wanting to see her, but he would never have the chance to. So, he had to wait every day until he reached the orphanage.

*_*_*_*_*

"Nathan, it's your last day of community service today, right?" Katie declared, over breakfast. "It must have been a long two months and a half."

He shook his head, but refrained from a snarky comment. Nathan had been more patient with his cousin by marriage these days. In fact, he had been more patient and mindful with just about everybody, with the notable exception of his mother.

Happy people want for everybody to be happy too, he reasoned. Since he felt more comfortable in Emily’s company, he stopped to be so cynical about everyone’s angle when talking to him, he became more trusting. He was even beginning to accept that Katie was just a good person, after all.

"It's not long at all." He murmured, the corner of his lips tugging up slightly. "Not long at all."

Nathan, Snr., stared, seeming shocked, but said nothing. An approving smile was on his face. They simply have to meet this miracle-worker.

Lois, in turn, glared at her son. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson, boy. The next time you pull out something like that, you won’t be getting off so easily.”

The young man shrugged and got up to his feet, leaving the house with no further words. He jumped into his car and drove as fast as he could to the orphanage, getting straight into work as soon as he arrived.

He watched her as he ran his errands, during every break of that week, watching the beautiful girl playing music that touched his very soul. He was captivated, he was entranced, and he was completely falling to the grace of it.

Not only to the violin, but to the girl playing it.

The slight furrow between her brows as she contemplated something; how she pressed her fingers against her lips when she was embarrassed; how her hands would wrang together when she was nervous; how she would bite her lip when she was frightened; how...

Fuck, how did he know these things?

He buried his head into the crook of his arm. It was the last day of his community service, and he was actually here, obsessing over a girl. A girl who barely knew him and would certainly hate to.

"Nathan?"

It was then, did he realize that Mrs. Higginbotham has been calling him for some time. She looked rather displeased. Again.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright." She smiled. "As I was saying, I've seen in your information that you're rather talented in the piano. Why don't you two play a piece together? As a farewell?"

"You're leaving?"

A slight furrow could be seen from his view and he smiled, though he knew she would not see it. She actually looked concerned. He almost laughed at the irony of Judge Rhode's words on his sentence. Well, it certainly backfired.

He nodded slowly, out of habit. "Well, yeah. It's my last day of community service."

“I’ll round up the kids, while you decide on a song.” The matron declared, excusing herself. “I’m sure it will be beautiful.”

A pause.

"So, would you like to play a duet with me?" He asked, his tone velvet and smooth.

He would not talk to her anymore after this. Perhaps he would, they were neighbours, but it did not seem likely. It would not be like it was now, in these hallowed rooms, away from their families and away from the prying eyes of the community.

As he spoke, he took big strides, reaching her quickly. He took her hands that were wrung together on her lap before taking one of them to his lips, pressing his lips against them gently. She blushed deep red.

He felt his crooked smile on his face. His real smile, the one born out of legitimate joy, that he almost forgot he had. He frowned at that thought, dismissing it away quickly.

"A duet, my Lady?"

"Sure…" She stammered, a blush still on her cheeks.

He sat on a bench and stretched his hands to play the old piano that the institution kept and he had tuned earlier that month.

There was a silence as they shifted to make themselves comfortable, before he blurted, “Where were you?”

“What?” She asked softly, in confusion.

“We were friends, Emily. It might have been long ago, but I remember that much. I left for New Haven after Labour Day one year, and when I came back in the Spring, you were gone.” He said, rather feverishly. “Then, as suddenly as you left, you came back, and now you are blind. What happened?”

The girl turned her face away, trying to hide the tint on her cheeks. “It was entirely too sudden. My dad died, and then we moved right away. I didn’t know until I heard the movers come into the house.”

“Why, Emily? What happened?” He insisted.

“My dad, he had a heart attack while driving. He hit a tree and died from the impact. I was on the car with him, and the glass shards from the windshield cut my eyes.” She explained. “The doctors in Boston said I wouldn’t be able to see anymore, so my mother moved us to New York, so I could attend a school for the blind.”

“I see.” He nodded, sober. “And Judge Rhodes?”

“My mother met him in New York. He is a good man, just a little overbearing. He thought it would be better to live in a small town, that it would be safer, so when I got into Boston Conservatory, they decided to relocate to Birchport for me to commute.” She finishes her story with a soft voice, barely perceptible.

“I see. Thank you for telling me.” He responded, a little ashamed of himself. He should not have pressured her that way.

“It’s okay, I’ve been meaning to, actually.” Emily said, smiling again. “I was honestly quite intimidated by you in the beginning. You seemed always so angry and frustrated.”

Nathan chuckled. “It’s because I was.”

“You’ve mellowed out since.” She concludes. “I’m glad. You have a nice voice when you’re happy. I like it.”

“I have a pretty voice…” Nathan teased. "I must be pretty hot, huh?"

She giggled softly. "Yeah. You seem to be, if I remember you right."

"You aren't the only girl who say that."

Her smile melted away then, and Nathan berated himself for saying such a thing.

“You’re very perceptible. I live in a house full of perfectly seeing people, and none of them identify what I think or feel.” He smiled sadly, trying to cover up his slip of the tongue.

“I’m sorry for that, Nathan. You shouldn’t be made feel this way.” She raises her hands to him. He picks them up and cradle them on his. “People are good in hiding emotions in their faces, but not on their voices, not on their bodies. If there is one good thing about being blind is that it is difficult to be lied to.”

They took a minute to enjoy each other’s bodily presence, one that was too soon interrupted by a loud cough from Mrs. Higginbotham. All the older teens behind her stifled their laughter, seeming to know what was going on.

"What piece then?" Nathan questioned, a smile seeming stuck on his face. He just could not stop smiling.

"How about Dvořák?" She offers. “The fourth duet.”

"I like it." He murmured, watching as she fumbled with the stacks of scores for a moment before pulling out the desired one.

"I hope you'd have no problem with it. Um, no, I'm not underestimating you, it's just..."

He laughed. "No worries, Emily. I can cope, and I know you're not."

He could not help the arrogance that slipped through, but it was him, after all. He was not called a piano prodigy for nothing. His thumb brushed her warm cheek casually before they turned to the score before them.

He counted softly under his breath before his fingers swept over the keys in a beautiful, enchanting dance. The soft, soothing melody filled the room, their music interacting beautifully on the dusty air, and a smile would surface on both Nathan's and Emily's face as a surge of electricity run through their veins.

"Beautiful piece, isn't it?" Emily whispered, almost too soft for him to hear as their fingers choreographed a breath-taking dance, without any rehearsals or practice. They felt whole.

"Yes." Nathan murmured, unable to stop the next sentence from slipping out. "More beautiful when it's played with you."

He knew that out of all the girls he had been with, she, Emily Harper, the ghost of Birchport, brought out the best in him. He did not need to look at her to know she was smiling a timid smile.

They struck a final chord and simultaneously turned to face each other; though Emmy could not see him, before breaking out into a joyful laughter. The people in the room started laughing too.

The younger children had no idea what was happening, but they joined in, clapping their hands and squealing, immersing themselves in the happy and light atmosphere.

The fingers that were once dancing over the keys were now interlaced with each other tightly.

He knew it then, as he swept a strand of brown hair away from her closed eyes, a beautiful smile on her face; that he wanted her to love him; that he wanted them to be together.

"Emily." He murmured, cupping her face gently in his hands, before he pressed a soft kiss against her full, pouty ones, watching as a familiar red coloured her cheeks.

"Yes?" She answered breathlessly.

He smiled. "I promise I’ll share my eyes with you, if you promise to always be with me."

He watched a tear escape from the corner of her closed eye, before leaning forward and capturing it with his finger.

“I promise.” She whispered.

The children cheered while Mrs. Higginbotham looked at them with a berating eye-stare, scolding them for the display, but she could not stop a soft smile from spreading across her face, either.

*_*_*_*_*

TF Masterlist

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#The Freshman #the junior #Nathan Sterling

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alltheworldsinmyhead · 4 years

Photo

I’LL GET IT RIGHT (ON THE FIRST TRY)

gendrya wedding smut / (e) / ao3

Gendrya Week 2020 Day 1: celebration and songs & lyrics

***

don't want no plan b

(I'll get it right, get it right)

I ain't got no envy

(If it keeps you by my side)

I'll get it right, I'll get it right on the first try

I don't need no second chances

(I'll get it right, get it right)

I don't want no new romances (If it keeps you by my side)

I'll get it right, I'll get it right on the first try

- Johnnyswim, First Try

Let it never be said that Arya Stark does not know how to make compromises because, unbelievably, both she and her mother ended up quite satisfied with her wedding outfit.

The outfit, not a dress. That was Arya’s concession.

White outfit though, because Catelyn refused to bend on that. Stark women get married in white. – she said and before Arya could even begin to open her mouth, she quickly added and Tully women also.

So she walks down the aisle (which is not really a true aisle but a pebble pathway in her parents’ garden) in the ruffled jumpsuit in the shade of fresh snow. The top doesn’t have a back and Jeyne put her hair up in a high ponytail, so the tattoo between her bare shoulder blades is perfectly visible, and Arya can hear guests gasping as they spot it. Which may or may not be her intention.

Besides, why should she bother covering it up, when even her mother admitted that the simple geometric bull has a certain charm?

It’s already after dawn, but Sansa went all out with fairy lights and lanterns and so Arya can see everyone perfectly; their friends from university fencing and rowing teams, their aunts and uncles, and cousins, their sisters and brothers with dates. All the people she cares about gathered in one spot to see her get married, probably at least half of them not able to believe their own eyes, because Arya Stark and a blushing bride just don’t fit together in one sentence.

Well. She is not a traditional bride in any sense of this word, she will be the first to admit that.

But she finds it hard to care about all that when Gendry’s eyes widen as he takes her in and he’s staring at her as if she was the only thing he wants to look at for the rest of his life.

And yeah, okay. Maybe she does blush a bit.

***

However, no matter how comfortable the jumpsuit is, and how beautiful and sexy she feels in in, it’s hard to deny that it’s not the easiest outfit to take off and a pretty impossible one to have sex in.

‘’Not that I’m complaining, but if you wore a dress, we could just hike it up.’’ Gendry groans, sounding somehow both amused and frustrated as he’s tugging on the hidden zip on her left hip.

She swats at his hand and whips her head up to glare at him.

‘’If I were you, I would stop talking. ’’

He doesn’t get to be the one whining while she’s soaking through her nice, uncomfortable lacy panties.

With his tie and suit jacket gone and his hair thoroughly tousled by her fingers, he makes a pretty distracting sight though, so she quickly lowers her eyes back to her pants.

The two of them were pretty much expected to sneak out for a quickie just after the cake was served at their own wedding reception. Arya doesn’t think even her mother will be surprised when she notices they’re gone. It was supposed to be just a few minutes of bliss anyway and then back to the guests, and they nailed the first part flawlessly; he took her hand and lead her to the corridor and soon they were kissing against the door, giddy and high on joy, with happiness buzzing in their veins along with champagne.

Arya’s stubborn wardrobe was decidedly not part of the plan.

With a huff of annoyance, she begins tugging on the zipper herself. It’s all ridiculous, truly. She’s already topless, for fuck’s sake, having slid the ruffled straps off her shoulder ages ago. What is even wrong with those pants? She should’ve known Mom agreed on this outfit way too easily.

Gendry’s leaning against the sink silently for a second or two before clearing his throat.

‘’You know… there are some things that we can do without you taking this off.’’ His voice is strained from how badly he tries to sound casual and Arya’s brain lags for a second as it mulls over the meaning of his word.

He keeps his hands in his pockets. And he would not be nearly as flustered if he was suggesting a simple handjob.

There is something intense swirling in his blue eyes; something that draws her closer, like a moth to the flame.

Gendry has literally never asked her for a blowjob. Ever. Not even once during the course of their entire relationship. Even during scenes, even when she brought it up herself repeatedly as something she would like to do. He was weird like that and with time she just dropped the topic. For whatever reason, he had this very strange idea about honor and treating her honorable that she was not able to change, no matter how hard she tried.

(And make no mistake, she tried pretty hard.)

So to hear him proposing it here and now, is more than unexpected.

Unexpected… but not unwelcome.

She lets go of the stubborn zipper and flashes him a wicked smirk. There is a fluffy, cream-colored carpet covering the tiles and Arya has never been more grateful for her mother’s ridiculous obsession with putting rugs all around the house - not really for the sake of her knees but mostly due to the pristine shade of her pants.

‘’Okay, husband.’’ She hums, sinking down on the floor and smiling at the way his Adam’s apple bobs at the sight of her in front of him. ‘’That’s the first time, I believe.’’

The party is in the full swing behind the closed door. She can hear people laughing and the metal clang of cutlery against porcelain, and even the faint sound of Sansa’s shriek when ‘Single ladies’ starts to play. She half-wishes she could see her sister, serial monogamist and recently outed bisexual having the time of her life on the dance floor after way too many glasses of champagne. Maybe she’ll trip and ‘accidentally’ fall face-first into Margaery Tyrell’s cleavage like she’s clearly dying to. Maybe Bran will be kind enough to record it for Arya.

Because there are some other important things she must attend to.

‘’Well.’’ Gendry’s fingers lightly trace the line of her jaw, his thumb sweeping across her lower lip and making her shiver. ‘’Special requests for a special day?’’

He’s cupping the back of her head with his other hand and smiling down at her with this shy, sweet smile that he has reserved for her and her only, and oh. Oh, they’re married now.

She doesn’t think she’ll ever get used to it, seeing him like that, even in twenty years from now. Eyes dark, voice low and husky. The corners of his mouth up. The most handsome man she has ever met trembling with desire for her.

Hers, until death do them apart and all these other sappy, honest things they promised each other just a few hours ago.

‘’Absolutely.’’ She lets him tuck stray baby hairs behind her ear. ‘’After all, we’re celebrating.’’

Thanks gods, Gendry’s zipper works perfectly well on the first try.

The air escapes from his mouth with a sharp hiss when she licks down his shaft, but her heart is beating almost too loudly for her to hear that. What she does hear – or feels, rather – is Gendry sliding lower against the sink so she wouldn’t need to raise her chin so damn high. It makes her feel weirdly fond, or at least as fond as she can possibly be, taking her husband’s cock in her mouth and sucking him off during their reception.

‘’Arya.’’ He sighs softly, almost in the same way he was addressing her under the flower arch. ‘’Fuck, Arya.’’

She hollows her cheeks and slowly bobs her head up and down, making the tip of his cock slide against her lips. In response, his hand moves higher and grips her already half-undone ponytail, tugging on it slightly.

It feels so good. She has never thought she has some kind of gratification kink, but she can possible get off on this alone – on Gendry’s quickening breath and low moans, on his fingers tangled in her hair and the way he barely manages to keep his hips from moving.

On the way he murmurs her name over and over again, each time more adoringly than the previous.

So she rubs her thighs together and sucks harder, takes his cock deeper until it hits the back of her throat; looks up at Gendry to meet his stare and winks, which makes him curse quite loudly and bang the palm of his hand against the porcelain of the sink.

She would probably giggle at that, if her mouth was not occupied at the moment.

Her head withdraws, leaving only the tip inside her mouth so that she could swirl her tongue against it, teasing him as delicately as she can.

‘’Ahh, just like that, love.’’

Gendry doesn’t mind hard and fast and she knows that well. But, for the first time ever maybe, she does not want that. She wants gentle and soft, and loving, and all of what he deserves. Today was probably one of the most monumental days of her life and the only thing she could really focus on was how full her heart was, filled to the brim with a peculiar mix of grand and scary emotions.

Like love. Like adoration.

It must show on her face somehow, what she’s thinking about, cause he lets go of the brim of the sink to caress her neck again, brushing his finger up and down her pulse point.

‘’So beautiful.’’ He coos at her. ‘’You’re so beautiful, darling.’’

She lets her eyelids flutter close and inhales. Slowly, she relaxes her jaw, caresses the fat, pulsating vein under his shaft with her tongue. As on cue, Gendry lets out a drawn-out grunt and thrusts into her mouth a little bit, keeping her head in place with his grip on her ponytail.

And because she knows him and she’s sure he’s about to withdraw to ask her for consent, she begins sucking in earnest, picking up the tempo so that he would have no other option but to continue moving, desperately pushing his cock down her throat.

‘’Damn you, Arya, fuck.’’

Giddy, she realizes that even if somebody passes the bathroom now and hears his curses or the wet sounds she makes, this somebody will have no ground to stand on. They are married now, which suddenly gave them full societal approval to fuck however and whenever they wanted. Gods bless.

She still hopes her father stayed in the ballroom, though.

He on the brink of finishing, almost there and her jaw begins to ache a bit, so she braces one hand on the brink of the sink and uses the other one to cup his balls lightly, squeezing them in the way she knows will drive him insane. She manages to open her eyes to look at him just as he’s coming; he’s staring down at her, all panting and blushed, strands of hair plastered to his forehead. He makes a pretty picture like that. Some kind of gleeful pride blooms deep inside her chest and she wonders if that’s how Gendry feels like when they’re playing in the bedroom and he reduces her into a quivering mess at his mercy.

As she’s swallowing his come, he reaches down to caress her cheeks, his fingers dancing on her heated skin.

And when she releases him with a wet pop, he gently pulls her to her feet, letting her lean against him and stroking her arm, her shoulder, her waist, any exposed part of her.

‘’Pretty good for a first try, hmm?’’ she finally asks, breathlessly. She feels the rumble of her chest against her head when he starts to laugh.

‘’You are a terrifyingly fast learner, Arya. I am honestly afraid of what will happen if you become more practiced.’’

‘’Well, we have our whole life to figure it out, don’t we?’’

She cannot blame him for leaning down to kiss her sweetly, savoring his own taste on her lips. This is exactly the response she had in mind.

While his kiss is as innocent as it can be, his hand diving in-between her thighs to stroke her through the smooth white material of her pants is decidedly not.

‘’Not that I don’t enjoy fucking you the regular way, but this jumpsuit was an excellent idea. Do you think your mom’s seamstress messed the zipper on purpose?’’

Arya bites on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from giggling.

‘’If so, the joke’s on her.’’

#gendrya #gendryaweek2020 #gendrya week 2020 #gendrya week #gendrya fanfiction #gendrya au #gendrya smut #gendrya fic

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katahnisharma · 5 years

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the bookworm | t.h.

Summary: Tom keeps seeing this girl on the train, and he may or may not have found out where she works.

Warnings: it’s very soft my guys and i’ve had a rough week with bad news so I hope you guys like it let me know what you think :)

A/N: Sorry I’ve been so MIA recently, life has been tough but I'm trying to get through the asks in my inbox (no promises) and the Press Tour which has felt a little forced so I'm taking it slow thanks for being patient. Also Tumblr apparently won’t let me link things so if you’re looking for my masterlist, playlist, taglist, or writing challenge it’s in my bio ♡

Tom had been watching you for weeks.

He was fascinated by you, the cute girl on the subway. Your routes crossed in the afternoons, when Tom came back from his walk and you went for your part time shift at the bookstore across town. It was a small independent bookstore, the kind that remind you of cozy libraries and cups of hot tea. Tom had passed by it numerous times, but he hadn’t ever been interested in it until you came along.

God, you were so pretty.

The first time he saw you, you were wearing an oversized sweater, light washed jeans, a pair of brown ankle boots, and your hair was in a messy bun. A few strands escaped the hair tie and they fell around your face, framing it perfectly. Tom tried not to stare, but he couldn’t look away. It was like he was in the presence of an angel, the most perfect human being he’d ever seen. You were such a contrast, a soft warm aura in the midst of stuffy crowds of commuters.

And then there were the books.

Everytime Tom saw you, you were reading a new book. He had no idea how you did it, managing to finish a whole book in a day. But there you’d be the next day, your nose stuck in a new book. Tom smiled like an idiot when he saw you pull out another book, it made you so intriguing. Sometimes, he’d go home and look up the titles to find out what you liked to read. His brothers found out and teased him mercilessly, laughing at how whipped their older brother was for a girl who didn’t even know he existed.

So here he was, standing outside the bookstore with his heart in his hands.

There were so many things that could go wrong with this. You could have a boyfriend, you could think he was a creepy stalker, you could throw a book at him and tell him to get out. The worst fear of them all was that you’d recognize him as a famous actor and want nothing to do with him. But Tom knew that if he didn’t do this, he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

Because what if you were the one?

The door jingled as Tom stepped inside, the warm air hitting him in the face. It wasn’t as big as he’d imagined, but it was beautiful. The bookcases lined the floor, dark brown oak structures filled with multi-colored books. There were fairy lights strung across the ceiling and pictures of beautiful landscapes across the walls. In one corner was a chair next to a fireplace and a cup of tea next to it. The store looked empty, the front desk littered with books but no one behind it.

Tom ventured forward a little, smelling tea from behind the desk. It looked fresh, so someone must be about. He noticed a book on the desk and smiled to himself. The Bell Jar, the book you were reading this afternoon when he last saw you. It was a little worn, so Tom assumed it was one of your favorites. He ran the pages through his fingers and chuckled when he noticed you’d written things in the margins. Little lines of poetry or annotations to yourself. Tom had no idea how someone could be as cute as you, and he didn’t even know your name.

A noise brought his attention to the middle aisle, a bookcase with a plaque that read Romance. Tom walked over and his breath hitched. There you were, atop one of those slidey ladders he’d seen in Beauty and the Beast, looking like an angel. Your hair was loose and cascaded down your back in messy waves. You wore a pair of black overalls with embroidered flowers, a light purple shirt, and a pair of pale pink converse. A stack of books was located by your feet, which you were currently trying to shelf. Tom tried to speak, but he didn’t know what to say.

I love you, I’m in love with you and we’ve never even met.

Suddenly, you lost your footing. Your right foot caught on the last rung and you gasped as you felt yourself fall backward. Tom broke out of his daydreaming and sprung into action, catching you in his arms. You yelped, not sure where the young man had come from. And yet here he was, holding you in his arms. Your face flushed.

“Oh my god, thank you.” You said, your breath coming back to normal. Tom set you down shakily, making sure you could stand. Then you turned to face him, and you almost died then and there. You clamped a hand over your mouth to stop from screaming.

“Y-you’re Tom. Tom Holland, Spiderman. What are you... what?” You stuttered, nervous as hell. One of your favorite actors of all time was standing in front of you, and he’d just caught you from a fall. Tom stood there, trying to think of something funny or clever to say. But he took one look at your beautiful face and his senses left him.

“Yeah, I’m Spiderman. I mean Tom! Tom Holland, that’s me.” Tom said, trying to shake off how stupid he sounded. He put a hand on the bookcase behind him, trying to get some leverage. You picked up a book to hold to your chest, anything to calm you down. Out of habit, you crossed and uncrossed your ankles, just something to do.

“Wow, I can’t believe...thank you. That could have been pretty bad, it’s high up there.” You squeaked, running a hand through your hair. You were well aware you looked ridiculous, but there wasn’t much to do about it now. Tom finally managed a smile, though it was a shy one.

“Of course, no problem. Glad you’re okay.” He said, taking a small step forward. You blushed as Tom’s eyes met yours, something in them could turn you to mush. You took a step forward, still clutching the book to your chest. The smell of the books and the tea you’d left on the desk was intoxicating.

“I’ve, uh, seen you before. On the train.” Tom said, watching your eyebrows furrow. Crap, he shouldn’t have said that. Now it was all ruined, you would think he was a stalker and run him out of the store. What possible explanation could he give for knowing where you work? Could God just strike him down already?

“Me? You’ve seen me on the train? When?” You asked, not sure whether he’d seen someone else and confused it with you. After all, why would a famous actor have taken notice in you? He must have meant someone else, there was no way it was you.

“Everyday, really. You’re always on the train at the same time I am, I see you across the car. Like casually, of course.” Tom said, realizing he was revealing how obsessed he was. You giggled, surprised that someone so smooth could be so nervous around you. It was endearing, honestly.

“Oh, I’m always reading. No wonder I’ve never noticed you before.” You whisper, staring at the shelf behind him. It was so hard to look him in the eyes, you felt like a fraud. Tom should be out with Zendaya or some other celebrity. Not here in your little bookstore with someone like you.

“I know, you’re always reading a different book. Today it was The Bell Jar, right?” He asked, and you smiled at the fact that he had remembered. You walked back to your desk, Tom behind you, and put the stack of books on top to the side.

“Yes, it’s wonderful. Have you read it?” You looked to Tom who gave you a bashful grin. He had not, indeed, read the book. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d opened one. But Tom couldn’t bear to tell you that, so he told a white lie.

“Yeah, one of my favorites. I’ve read it tons of times.” He said, smiling when you did the same. You knew he’d never read The Bell Jar, but you didn’t mind. Tom was kind and that was all that mattered. You’d met plenty of men that were avid readers but unfortunately total jerks. Tom could have stared at you all day, but the little bell broke the two of you out of your trance.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Can I help you?” You asked, as the old woman smiled at the two of you. She shook her head, wandering near the fireplace. After she warmed her hands, the woman turned back and looked at the two of you.

“What a charming couple you two make.” You turned fifty shades of scarlet, Tom doing the same. The old woman walked through the bookshelves, sensing the two of you wanted some time alone. You looked to Tom, giving him an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, that was so awkward. I’m sure you have someone waiting for you, I don’t want to keep you.” You checked the cash register, not trusting yourself to look at him. He was like some weakness to you, and you wanted nothing more than to get him out so life could return back to normal. Tom smiled at you, feeling at ease that you were as nervous as he was.

“Actually, that’s why I came here. You see, I’ve been seeing you for weeks and I really like you. Would you maybe want to go on a date with me?” Tom asked, searching your eyes for anything that would indicate a yes. He was so nervous, his heart pounding in his chest. There were so many ways this could go wrong, and it would have killed him to hear you say no.

You nearly fainted when you heard him speak. Tom Holland had been watching you for weeks? And he wanted to take you out on a date?

Was the world coming to an end?

“Um, a date? With me?” You couldn’t stop yourself from smiling, the whole thing was unbelievable. You half expected someone to burst in with a camera saying the whole thing had been a prank. But you waited for a few seconds and nothing happened, Tom waiting for you to answer. Since you couldn’t speak, you just nodded through wide eyes.

“Thank god, I thought you’d refuse me.” Tom laughed, as you bit your lip to stop from smiling. You extended a hand across the desk, your face lit up in happiness. Tom took it, using his other hand to brush a stray hair behind your ear. You shook his hand, smiling when you felt his hand meet yours.

“Y/N, nice to meet you.”

“Tom, nice to meet you too.”

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#tom holland #tom holland x reader #tom holland fluff #tom holland fanfiction #tom holland fic #tom holland x you #tom holland x y/n #peter parker #peter parker x reader

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