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#you’re no better than those white washers
liuhko · 6 months
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If y’all don’t stop American-ifying oyankopon rn. “Onyankopon Johnson” he is a west African man, let me and my people (black Africans) have this one minuscule sliver of representation!
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Second Best 2
Warnings: non/dubcon, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.
My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.
Characters: Lee Bodecker
Summary: The newly-single sheriff sets his eye on an unexpected match.
Part of the Backwoods AU
As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging.
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You stomp up the porch steps as your dad rocks in the wooden chair, in his usual meditation over a can of Molson. He grunts in his way, acknowledging your return and you shoot back a sharp, ‘hey’. Inside, your mother crochets in front of a soap opera, not looking over as she clacks her needles together. You know better than to try to start a conversation during her programs.
You go to your room behind the stairs and keep yourself from slamming the door. Greta always knows how to ruin your day. She might be right about being your only friend but maybe it’s time to make new ones. This town isn’t just the two of you.
You flop onto your bed sideways and stare at the ceiling. You can’t let her spoil the whole day off. That’s bullshit. What’s the point of spending hours caring about her nonsense. Tomorrow, you’ll be back to cleaning up hotel rooms and wishing you could just lay in bed and do nothing.
You sit up and shake off your agitation. A thorn sticks in your side but you try to ignore it. You could work on your embroidery. The Summer Solstice is coming and you might just talk yourself into sharing a booth with Hilde again. You sold quite a few patches last year.
You pull out your sewing kit and the box of half-finished patches and make a nest on the floor. You turn on the old CD player and listen to the same disc you always do. You set to work as you try to tune out the world.
You poke through the patch and jab into your fingertip. Shit. You growl as you wish you could stab Greta in her stupid little eyes. She’s such a bitch. You hope she has fun with that pig. She’ll be right back at The Horn scavenging for one night stands.
You’re not judging her, you’re judging this place. There really isn’t much to choose from. It’s the exact reason you have a vibrator hidden under your mattress. You’ve seen the men around here and you’ve talked to their girlfriends and wives.
You blow a raspberry and suck on your fingertip. There’s still a hint of vanilla on your skin. You drop your hand and lean back against the dresser.
Something’s gotta give. You’re so fucking bored of this town. There’s nothing to do. Greta just wants to drink and fuck around. If that’s what she enjoys, power to her, but you’re about to glaze over. You want something, anything to change.
🍦
You yawn as you walk up Thunder Lane towards the B&B. Another shift, another dollar. It’s minimum wage but better than nothing. You don’t have the education or the experience to demand more. Besides, the Odinsons aren’t bad employers. Usually you get a free meal or two.
You enter through the front door and greet Darcy as she droops over her coffee. She chirps as she sits up, startled by your sudden appearance. She relaxes as she realises you aren’t a guest or her employer.
You stop by the breakfast bar to grab a cup of your own before you head down to the laundry. You’ll try to catch up on the towels before check-out begins. There aren’t too many of those anyhow. Not yet. Midsommar usually draws in the tourists as a sort of novelty.
You load a washer and set it to spin as you restart a dryer left full from the day before. You give it ten minutes to fluff the towels and start folding. You sip your coffee between towels, drinking it away from the so you don’t stain the pure white.
You load up the cart with fresh towels in preparation for your daily route around the hotel. As you bend to grab some extra wash clothes, you’re started by a deep hum. You stand up straight and turn to face Thor as he looms in the doorway. Gods, he scared the piss out of you. How can a man that big sneak around like a cat?
“I heard there was a broken machine,” he drawls as he leans his elbow on the doorframe.
“Uh, yeah, that one again,” you point to the corner as you add the washcloths to the cart. You feel him watching you still.
“Ah,” he clucks, “and how are you today, lady?”
“Eh, just another day,” you shrug. “You?”
“Hm, as you said it. Another day,” he remarks, “we have a guest.”
“Oh?” You turn the cart around.
“In the Berkano suite,” he explains.
You nod, “right.” You mark the chart pinned to the handle of the cart.
“She is very demanding,” he muses, “from the city.”
“They usually are,” you give a tiny chuckle. You wish he wouldn’t stare at you like that, or that he’d at least move out of the way.
“Not like you village girls, eh?”
“I guess,” you furrow your brow.
“Mm, how’s Greta?” He winks.
“Fine, I don’t know,” you sniff and grab the handle of the cart, rolling it forward.
“My birthday’s coming up. Maybe she’d come?” He suggests.
“I don’t know,” you murmur as you stop, blocked from leaving by his burly form.
“You’re invited too, of course,” he grins and his eyes dip down for a moment, “is that a new apron?”
You have to hold back a scoff. You know better than to mess around with Thor Odinson. It’s more than just the Confucian philosophy of not shitting where you eat, it’s good sense. You’ve heard the stories. Aside from that, he’s a bit above your age range.
“Nope,” you answer flatly, “anyway, I should get started.”
“Well, are you coming? To my party?” He asks.
“I’ll see if I’m free,” you deflect.
“Bring Greta,” he slides out of the way, “and whoever you like. Any pretty girls you know.”
You bow your head to hide your disgust. You don’t think you’ll be feeding anyone to the wolves, especially not yourself. You pass through the door and feel a brush against your hip. You ignore it and roll down the hallway. You wouldn’t even hand over Greta to that beast, for more than the fact that she is excommunicated from your life.
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littleinkling64 · 1 year
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Getting (Slightly) Better Lineart from CSP’s 3D models--without CSP EX (Full tutorial below the cut because it’s a looong post.)
If you’re like me, you hate drawing the repetitive, straight lines of background scenes and have wanted to take advantage of CSP’s huge 3d asset library to get some decently detailed backgrounds--only problem is even if you have CSP EX’s lineart extraction, the result is really....gross.  I have CSP EX at the moment, so I’ll demonstrate below.
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This is the extracted lineart with 5px max width of line, no line texturing, no toning, 80-level line detection accuracy, and 1-level corrections.  Taking a closer look, we can see the results look okay-ish from afar, but up close...
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The software struggles to convert repeating shapes, like the wire basket, into nice, clean vector lines.  And lighter lines struggle to produce anything but strange speckles.  Ugh, ok, but how do we fix this?  Well, here’s an alterative method.
First, you have to understand that this alternative method won’t give you vector lines.  At the end of the day it’s just hard to convert an image--even with clean 3d lines--into nice vector lines.  But we can still get nice, reletively clean pixel or raster lineart that can save you some time.
For this method, you will need some kind of photo editing software with the following features: - Contrast/Brightness  - Edge Detect (this one is really important!) - Color Invert
I strongly dislike paying continuously for Adobe, so I prefer to use Affinity Photo, but honestly, most photo editors should have these fairly basic features.  However--as far as I know, Photoshop and Affinity Photo are the only photo editors that have edge detect, so check you have a software that has that function.
To start, lay out your CSP scene, and be cautious about adjusting the lighting angle so that you have decent contrast with all visible edges to the CSP 3d model.
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Sadly, you are not going to get every little detail in perfect relief.  Some details are going to get lost because they can’t all be in contrast at the same time.  Just do your best to make sure that major details, like in this case, the bench, washer doors, and vents on the roof, all have enough tonal difference to mark them apart.
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Export the canvas as a .jpg, laid out exactly the way you want the scene to be, and drop it down into your photo editing software of choice.  For me, this means Affinity Photo, and you can see our first edit: adjusting the contrast using Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Contrast/Brightness.  Good contrast gives the photo editing software the best chance of detecting the edges, so I like to crank it up about 50%.
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Now, what I’ve done here is used Affinity’s Filters>Detect>Detect Edges.  There is no pop-up panel to refine this, so we’ll work on refining it later.  Now, I’ll apply a quick Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Invert to the the result below, to get a black and white image.
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So far, we can see that the edge detect in a photo editor tends to do much, much better than CSP EX line extract with things like subtle lines and curved shapes, like the washing machine doors.  Just compare the difference with another closeup:
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Now we’re going to deal with all those funky little gaps between the lines where the program drew two thin lines close together, instead of one thick line.  But dealing with this is actually a bit easier in CSP, so let’s hop back over there.  Export the black and white image as a .jpg, and put it into CSP.  (Everything we’re doing there is totally available to Pro users, so don’t worry about having EX for this part by the way.)
Once you have your photo in CSP, go to Layer>Rasterize.  Importing the photo will put it in an image layer format by default, so to make edits we’ll need it as a pixel or raster later first.  Once you have a raster layer, we want to isolate the actual lineart without the white background, so go to Edit>Convert Brightness To Opacity.  Now we’re really ready to polish this stuff.
First, apply a very low Gaussian blur.  Keep in mind, this should be a very, very minimal effect--we want to apply it just enough to make the pixelated edges a little softer.  I prefer about a level 4 Gaussian Blur.  You should get something like this.
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Now, depending on your preference for how it looks, use either Filter>Sharpen or Filter>Sharpen more.  I like sharpen more, since it gets me closer to the level of anti-aliasing that I like without having to use sharpen multiple times, but do what you want.  My final version looks like this:
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Of course, if you want slightly darker lineart in some areas, like the poster board on the left wall, simply duplicate the lineart layer and erase already dark areas you don’t want darkened, and merge them together to get something like this:
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Of course, with complex interiors like this laundromat, there will be limits to what you can extract.  Some corrections will have to be made by hand.  Overall, you’ll probably get more success with this method using something simpler, like this piano:
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Hope this helps, and happy lineart-ing!
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wooshpower · 1 year
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Go For The Right Liquid Detergent - Woosh Fab Wash Liquid Detergent! 
Finding the right detergent for your clothes is an important part of the laundry process. If you’re interested in finding the right detergent, and you’re considering using a liquid option, then you are in luck. In this category, you can choose the best product available to you right now - Woosh Fab Wash Liquid Detergent. But first let us understand why you need a liquid detergent. 
There are many benefits associated with a liquid detergent. A liquid detergent can give you great laundry results. It provides both tough stain removal in just one wash, while still being gentle on bright colours. While, with a low quality detergent powder, you may need to compromise between stain removal and keeping colours bright, with Fab wash Liquid Detergent you no longer have to. You can also use liquid detergent to pre-treat clothes before washing, to make sure you get those stains out effectively. Another benefit to liquid detergents is that these dissolve better than powders at lower temperatures.   
Liquid laundry detergent is ideal for all types of washing machines, and works well on coloured loads because it is gentler. The liquid detergent formula works to remove tough stains in one wash inside the machine, particularly grease stains. This is one area where Fab Wash really scores. That is because Fab Wash Liquid Detergent is best used for grease or oil stains on your day to day items. This is due to its ability to help release and break down stains in fabrics. You can rest assured that Fab Wash Liquid Detergent will be kinder on colours and more effective on greasy stains. 
What is the reason, you might ask, that a liquid detergent dissolves better? And the answer is very simple. Because liquid detergent uses water as the main filler ingredient, it dissolves easily regardless of water temperature. This leads to less likelihood of buildup on your washer or clothes. Just make sure to use proper dosing to help avoid over-sudsing, residue or bad smells from forming. Low quality powdered detergents can also leave behind residue if they don’t dissolve properly. This can cause white stains on your clothes or a buildup in your washing machine’s drain, especially when used with cold or hard water. Using an extra rinse option, if available on your model, can help ensure that the load is thoroughly rinsed. 
Another benefit, which is often overlooked, is that a liquid detergent is less likely to cause septic issues as long as you are dosing as recommended per the product packaging.  
With a formula especially designed for washing machines, Woosh Fab Wash Liquid Detergent lifts tough stains and locks them inside machine itself , preventing re-deposition on your clothes. It delivers superior cleaning on both white and coloured clothes. So, say goodbye to tough stains, take good care of the colours of your apparels and provide your family with bright, clean clothes! 
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Are Commercial Washing Machines Better
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I've been wondering if commercial washing machines are really better than regular washers. After all, they come with a hefty price tag and I'm not sure it's worth it. To find out the answer, I did some research on the topic so that you don't have to. In this article, I'll cover what makes commercial washing machines superior and what benefits they offer compared to regular ones. So, let's dive in! Are commercial washing machines actually better? We'll explore the differences between them and traditional residential models before giving our verdict – stay tuned for more!
What Is A Commercial Washing Machine?
I'm sure we've all experienced a broken washing machine when doing the laundry. It's one of the most frustrating things ever!
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But what is a commercial washing machine and how does it differ from regular ones? Commercial washing machines are specifically designed to handle large amounts of laundry in shorter time frames, making them perfect for businesses that provide services such as laundromats or hotels. They're much bigger than normal machines, too. Not only do they have larger drums but also stronger motors, which means they can handle more weight and spin faster. This makes them much more energy efficient than regular washers - not to mention quieter, with noise levels usually lower than 50 decibels. It goes without saying that these advanced features come at a cost, so if you're looking for something robust and reliable yet still affordable then opting for a commercial washing machine might be your best bet.
Advantages Of A Commercial Washing Machine
I'm sure you've experienced it - after a long day at work or running errands, the last thing we want to do is head home and spend time doing laundry. Commercial washing machines can be a lifesaver for those of us who need reliable, efficient cleaning but don't have the luxury of taking our clothes to a laundromat.
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Not only are they convenient, but they also offer numerous benefits that make them worth investing in. First off, commercial washing machines provide energy efficiency when compared to regular washers and dryers. These appliances use less water and electricity overall, making them more cost-effective than residential models over time. Furthermore, because most commercial washers are designed with higher spin speeds, your clothes will come out cleaner since dirt and grime will be removed faster. The convenience advantages of having a commercial washing machine also cannot be overlooked. Many businesses offer services like free delivery or installation which saves time on shopping around for the right model as well as on setting up the appliance itself once purchased. Moreover, these machines often have larger capacity drums so you can wash more items in one load without worrying about overcrowding or having to separate colours from whites like you would with a residential model. This means all your laundry tasks can be completed much quicker, giving you back some precious hours in your week!
Disadvantages Of A Commercial Washing Machine
I'm sure we've all experienced the joy of a freshly washed load of laundry. But when you opt for a commercial washing machine, that feeling comes with some drawbacks. Although they offer greater convenience and faster cycles than residential machines, there are several disadvantages to consider before buying one. The environmental impact is one major concern; commercial washers use more energy and water than standard models, resulting in higher utility costs as well as added strain on natural resources. Commercial machines also tend to be less efficient than typical home models when it comes to energy consumption - although they may provide larger loads at once, this often translates into increased electricity usage overall. On top of their ecological footprint, these units can also cost significantly more than regular washers due to their heavier duty construction and extra features such as temperature controls or built-in dryers. In addition, most require specialized installation and repair services which can add additional expense over time if something goes wrong. All things considered, investing in a commercial washing machine may not be the best choice for many households.
Cost Comparison Between Regular And Commercial Washing Machines
I'm trying to compare the cost of regular and commercial washing machines, and I'm wondering if commercial ones are better. Price-wise, commercial ones may cost more, but I'm hoping that they offer higher quality and durability.
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I'm also interested in their energy efficiency and speed of washing, as well as the load capacity. I'm curious about the design, warranty, maintenance, and noise level too. Smart features and accessories can also influence my decision, as well as ease of installation and water efficiency. Finally, I want to consider the brand and reputation before making a purchase. Price When it comes to cost, commercial washing machines come with a hefty price tag. The initial investment is definitely more expensive than regular models but the long-term savings are worth considering. They usually feature superior energy efficiency and water usage compared to standard home washers, so you can save money on your utility bills in the long run. Plus, many businesses offer special financing options for those who want to purchase a commercial machine instead of renting one - allowing them to spread out payments over time and make budgeting much easier. All in all, investing in a commercial washer could be well worth the price if you’re looking for an efficient way to get laundry done! Quality When it comes to quality, commercial washing machines offer superior performance that can't be beat. They are built with advanced energy efficiency and water usage technologies, so they consume less electricity and use fewer resources than traditional models. Plus, many of them come equipped with specialized features like temperature control and automatic shut-off functions which help reduce wear and tear on fabrics as well as prolong their lifespan. As a result, you get cleaner clothes with minimal effort - plus the added benefit of lower utility bills! All in all, investing in a commercial washer is definitely worth considering if you want top-notch laundry results without breaking the bank. Durability When it comes to durability, commercial washing machines really shine. They are built with waterproofing technology and often come with temperature control features which help reduce the wear and tear on fabrics over time. This means you won't have to replace them as frequently, saving you money in the long run. Plus, because they use less energy and water, you can rest assured that your clothes will last longer too! All in all, investing in a commercial washer is definitely worth considering if you want maximum protection for your garments without having to worry about breaking the bank.
Our Verdict: Is A Commercial Washing Machine Better?
After comparing the cost between regular and commercial washing machines, it’s time to answer the question: Is a commercial washing machine better? It really depends on your needs. If you want more energy efficiency, then a commercial model might be worth it. Commercial models are designed with energy-efficient features such as temperature control, spin speed adjustment, delay start settings and sensors that detect how much water is needed for each wash cycle. They also come equipped with special cycles like sanitizing or allergen removal which can help keep clothes cleaner than a standard washer. On the other hand, if space constraints are an issue in your home, then some of these large-capacity models probably aren't suitable for you. The size of a typical residential laundry room isn’t enough to accommodate one of these beasts unless you have extra square footage available. Many people overlook this important detail when considering whether they should buy one or not - so make sure you measure twice before making any purchases! At the end of day, only you can decide what kind of washer is best for your household's needs. Consider all factors including price point, energy efficiency, space requirements and custom cycles before making a final decision. That way, you'll feel confident that no matter which type of appliance you choose, it will provide years of reliable service at an affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How Often Should A Commercial Washing Machine Be Serviced? It's important to keep your commercial washing machine well serviced in order to maximize its energy consumption and minimize maintenance costs. Depending on the frequency of use, most machines should be serviced at least once per year. However, if you find that your machine is being used very often then it may need more frequent servicing - around every 6 months or so. Regular servicing also helps to ensure that parts are kept running smoothly and efficiently for a longer period of time. Are Commercial Washing Machines Suitable For Small Households? If you're running a small household, commercial washing machines may be an attractive option for you. Cost-wise they are usually more expensive to purchase than regular washers and the energy efficiency might not yet be worth it for smaller laundry loads – however, if your family does large amounts of laundry on a daily basis then it could certainly pay off in the long run. It's important to consider all factors when making this decision such as cost comparison and energy efficiency, so do some research beforehand! Is A Commercial Washing Machine Better For The Environment? When it comes to energy efficiency and water usage, a commercial washing machine is definitely better for the environment than a traditional residential washer. Commercial machines are often more efficient in terms of their power consumption compared to standard home appliances, as well as having larger capacities that allow you to wash large loads at once. Additionally, many commercial models also have an ‘eco’ setting which further reduces their environmental impact by cutting back on both electricity and water usage. What Safety Measures Should Be Taken When Using A Commercial Washing Machine? When it comes to using a commercial washing machine, you should always take some basic safety measures. When loading and unloading laundry, be sure to wear protective gloves as the machines can get quite hot. Also make sure that your load size matches the capacity of the washer so you don't overload it - this is important both for energy saving reasons and ensuring all items are properly cleaned. Finally, check that the door has been securely closed before running a cycle in order to prevent any potential leakage or flooding. Does A Commercial Washing Machine Require Special Detergents? Yes, commercial washing machines do require special detergents! If you're using a commercial machine for the first time, it's important to know what kind of detergent is best. Generally speaking, use a heavy-duty powder or liquid detergent that can handle high water temperatures and tough stains. Make sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions as they may recommend a specific type of detergent. Depending on the model, you may also be able to adjust the water temperature setting so double-check that too before starting a load!
Conclusion
In conclusion, commercial washing machines can be a great choice for larger households and businesses. They are designed to handle heavier loads than regular washers and offer greater energy efficiency. However, it is important to remember that they require more frequent servicing in order to remain efficient as well as safe for use. Proper safety measures should also be taken when using them such as keeping children away from the machine while in operation. In addition, special detergents may need to be used with these types of machines so it's important to do your research before purchasing one. All in all, if you have large laundry needs then a commercial washing machine could be the perfect solution! Read the full article
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acleanhousewashing · 1 year
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How to Wash Your Home by Hand
If you want to keep your home sparkling clean, one of the best ways to do that is to wash everything by hand. Hand washing your belongings helps reduce the spread of germs, and it is also a safe alternative to pressure washing. However, if you are not sure how to do it, here are a few tips that you can use.
High pressure washing vs soft washing
When it comes to washing the exterior of your house, there are two main choices to consider: pressure washing and soft washing. Both of these methods can help you remove dirt and grime, but they have a few differences.
Pressure cleaning is good for hard surfaces, while soft washing is better for softer materials. If you're trying to decide between the two, the pros and cons of each should be considered to decide which is the better choice.
The first thing to understand is that soft washing uses much less water than pressure washing. Soft washing also uses specialized cleaning solutions, so it can be a more environmentally friendly option.
Dry-clean labels can be washed at home
Do you have one of those cool looking labels that say "Dry Clean" and you can't figure out what to do with them? The best thing to do is ask a question. While your answer might not be what you are looking for, you might be surprised at what you find. You aren't the only person in town who has a closet full of dry clean only garments. Fortunately, there is a solution for this common problem. All you need is a smidge of determination and an open mind. After all, you never know when you might find yourself in a bind!
Removing stubborn mold with a general all-purpose cleaner
You can use a general all-purpose cleaner to remove stubborn mold from your home washing. But before you start, it's a good idea to check the manufacturer's instructions. Depending on the type of mold you have, you may need to use different methods to kill it.
If you're looking for a safe and effective way to clean and disinfect your home, hydrogen peroxide can be a great option. It's a natural anti-fungal and anti-viral substance that works well on a variety of surfaces.
Another option is white vinegar. This all-purpose cleaner contains about five percent acetic acid, making it a great choice for cleaning and disinfecting your home.
Hand washing reduces the spread of germs
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs at home is to practice good hand hygiene. This includes washing your hands regularly, not contaminating food and drinks, and not touching objects that might be contaminated with germs. Handwashing can reduce the amount of bacteria and viruses on your hands, which can lead to respiratory infections, skin diseases, and even diarrhea.
During cold and flu season, it is especially important to practice good hand hygiene. In fact, it is recommended that you wash your hands after changing diapers and handling raw meat. You should also wash your hands after using the bathroom.
Safer than pressure washing
A safe and smart way to clean your home is to hire a professional handyman. They have experience and a reputation for doing a good job. And they are insured too!
One of the benefits of pressure washing is that it removes a lot of the dirt and grime that can build up on a roof or siding. This can be hazardous to your property and health, as it can create a breeding ground for vermin.
A power washer does the same thing with a lot more water. However, you don't want to use high pressure to clean your car or patio, as it can damage the wood. Also, you don't want to blast the paint off your house.
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blue-kyber · 2 years
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I've been posting excerpts from waaaaaay far forward in the book, so here's a bit at the very beginning. :)
From Chapter 1 - "Transmission" (read it on wattpad)
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“I got a call from your school again,” his mother sighed in weariness of this pattern.
Even if he could have ninja’d his way into the house unseen, the mud from his boots, and the dead leaves scattered around him would betray him.
“Uh… Hey, mom,” he pasted on a fake smile, “Are you cooking chicken? ‘Cause that smells really good.”
“It’s mac and cheese. Nice try, Indy,” she folded her arms, “Was it the Carlyle brothers again?”
“Tweedle Dumb, Tweedle Dumber, and Tweedle Dumbest,” he spat with a history of dealing with those idiot apes, “They called me a baby and locked me in the kindergarten room today. The janitor had to let me out,” he grumbled, “Again.”
“Will, you know fighting isn’t the way to solve your problems with these idiots–boys,” she corrected herself.  The advice she gave her son was sound on paper, but if she had an opportunity to enact revenge of her own against their mother - that beast of a woman - she’d do the same thing. 
“I know! I didn’t fight! They started it. Those Neanderthals have nothing better to do than ruin my life just because I’m the shortest one in my class. A moron would have seen those balloons,” he dropped his backpack onto the couch and hopped over the back to land on the cushion next to it, “It’s not my fault they share a brain cell and keep losing it.”
She picked up his backpack, hiding a chuckle at that last part, “Go upstairs and wash up. You’re filthy.”
Will groaned and trudged upstairs. 
“Will.”
He stopped halfway up the stairs.
“How’d you get them back?”
“Purple paint filled water balloons on their chairs.”
The giggle escaped, “Inventive. I would have gone with pomegranate juice, and some added red dye food coloring.”
He blinked, “Mom?”
“The stains are impossible to get out,” she waved him away, “You didn’t fight. Good alternative. But this has to stop.”
“Yes, mom.” He was a little confused. Was she proud of him or mad?
“And you’re grounded for Saturday.”
“Mom,” he whined. That answered that question. She was both.
“Don’t ‘Mom’ me. Making it only Saturday is your reward for not throwing punches. Now go on. Git.”
She smiled as he trudged up the stairs grumbling, ‘It’s not fair’ and went back into the kitchen. Her son’s imaginative method of combating his arch nemesis gave her an idea. If she could somehow slip in a red sock into Mrs. Carlyle’s whites at the laundromat…. They had their own washer and dryer, but she did need to get more detergent, and the laundromat sold bottles on the cheap. She made plans for a shopping trip.
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The picture winked out.
“Dad,” Will whined, “I was watching that.”
“Watch something else. What about that cartoon about monsters who only say their name? You like that,” his father flicked the paper, folded it, and rested it next to his own plate. 
“That’s on after school. You worked on the Nova Star. Space is your thing.”
“Not anymore.”
“But it’s cool! It’s a new era in space flight! He said it! We can leave the Earth and see what’s out there in our own ship! We can explore the galaxy and be like Indiana Jones, but in space! I wanna fly it!”
“You’d never pass the vision test, and you’re too scatterbrained,” his dad stated.
Molly smacked him on the arm in a 'be nice' move. Their son had ADHD. He'd only started on medication a few months ago, but still struggled. They were in the process of finding the right one for him along with therapy. Her husband needed to learn some tact.
Will frowned, “But...but my eyes can be fixed, and I can try harder to focus! I’ll do better, I promise!” He kept his dream alive, “I’ll be the Nova Star’s pilot, and be...and be... Captain William Indiana Jones Kade!”
“That’s a long name to put on a flight suit tag,” his mother joked with a lighthearted smile. 
“Then, I’ll shorten it to...Captain Indy!”
“Indiana fought Nazis. Not aliens,” his father countered.
“Those face-melting angels were probably aliens. They went after the Nazis all like, ‘Rawr!’ And they were all like, ‘wuuaaah! Blaarrrgg!’” Will dragged his fingers down his face, making guttural sounds and pretending to melt into a puddle of goo.
“No face melting on the couch,” Molly chided gently, “It’s hard to get out of the fabric.”
Will stopped the dramatics of a grim death-by-ancient-relic, and went back to eating. “I can fly the ship. I know I can.”
She chuckled, “You said that with the same confidence when you announced you were going to flip that jug of milk yesterday.”
“And it worked! It landed perfectly on its butt,” he grinned.
“Then it exploded,” she reminded him. She had said in a tired sigh, ‘please don’t,’ though let him do it to teach him a lesson about consequences to his actions. It took him all afternoon to clean up the kitchen. But he had flipped it in a full double rotation. The mother in her was angry. The nerd in her was impressed. 
Will bounced quickly back to the more important topic, “Can we watch it on New Years Eve, dad? Please?”
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flowersauce96 · 2 years
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7 Selfmade Window Cleaner Recipes
Just notice that the spray won’t last as long when using lemon juice. The acidic vinegar can break down the film on windows, glass, and mirrors. Pour the vinegar and alcohol into a twig bottle, fill the bottle with water, and shake to combine. Late spring and early summer time are additionally perfect for window cleansing, however you'll have to attend for a day that’s not too sunny or wet. Bryan is our cooking and kitchen expert, with greater than 15 years of expertise of cooking and testing kitchen merchandise. When exterior of the kitchen, he enjoys woodworking, photography, videography and figuring out how to live a extra eco-friendly lifestyle. He thoroughly enjoys discovering the best, whether or not it’s components or equipment, and discovering products that may stand the rigors of daily use. There are many other ingredients that go into creating our prime six products. Some have raised more considerations than others. Yet, a better and safer methodology is cleaning with an extendable pole, mop and selfmade window cleansing resolution. The nonprofessional telescopic window cleansing pole can attain up to ft, which implies you'll have the ability to clean the windows as much as the second ground. That method you presumably can eliminate the chances of damaging your property or endangering your well being. If you’re utilizing detergent mixed with water then simply dip the microfibre cloth into the water and rub the window in a round motion. For stubborn marks, you might need to get store purchased window cleansing options involved. 2016 bore witness to the global family cleaners market hitting a total market value of 25.5 billion US dollars . A statistic that's predicted to soar in at 33.seventy eight billion by 2022. To put this into perspective – the worldwide flat-pack large IKEA was in 2017 valued at $24 billion. That's where the micro-fibre cloth is out there in. This is great for getting rid of these water marks anywhere on the glass. You can simply put it in the washer when it is too wet or dirty. I go through one or two per house, however newbies will normally need a number of extra. You ought to never clean home windows when the solar is shining directly on them or on hot days. double sided window cleaner Over time, air pollution and grime accumulate slowly however surely in your home windows, both inside and out, obstructing your views and blocking precious daylight. Thick streaks left behind by improper cleaning. Use a clean microfiber material or sponge to go over the surface of the window, starting on the prime and dealing right down to the underside. Take your time, and revel in how meditative that sweeping squeegee motion may be. Unplug electrical appliances before utilizing product. Not beneficial to be used on wooden or varnished surfaces. Wipe dry in a single direction utilizing a microfiber material. “We put a lot emphasis on tools and methods, however the fact of it all is that those issues don’t matter,” he says. Cleaning glass is extra in regards to the tools than the elbow grease. Leave for a few moments earlier than wiping with a dry cloth. These are useful because they're specifically designed and marketed as streak-free cleaners. If you are probably to keep away from chemical cleaners, know that there are many homemade cleaners you could make with few components. In your bathroom, the home windows may not get very soiled, but the mirror is more likely to get heavy use. From splattered water to errant toothpaste, mirrors can get dirty fast. Natural mild makes us feel higher and can boost productivity and morale in the office in addition to brightening our days and evenings at home. Mix two tablespoons of ammonia OR white vinegar with two quarts of warm water. To clean soiled window tracks, each Lewis and Dorn say that utilizing a vacuum attachment is a technique, however they recommend getting out an old toothbrush for most jobs. “That really lets you get down into those crevices a bit better,” Lewis says. The larger ones are difficult to work with as a outcome of they’re rather more tough to move and not so good at washing the corners of the windows. As for the smaller one, the difficulty there is that they might not be in a position to clean the window panes properly leaving smears behind.
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subtleflight · 2 years
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The Advantages of Cotton Clothing
Today, this fiber is used in all styles of matters, which includes towels, threads, and t-shirts. Modern technology has made it so you can without problems get cotton products at affordable charges.On a hot summer time day, there's nothing higher than carrying a cotton t-shirt. Walking around with sweat pooling on your chest, again, and armpits can be highly distracting and uncomfortable. One of the most important benefits of cotton is it is pretty breathable. This approach every time you sweat, that moisture will go through the tee and evaporate quick.
By a ways the most commonplace and famous material for T-shirts, Mens apparel cotton is a fluffy, natural vegetable fiber acquired from the seedpod of the cotton plant. The fiber is most often spun into yarn or thread and used to make the gentle, breathable cloth absolutely everyone is aware of and loves.Cotton's an incredibly vital fiber in our records; it changed into first utilized in 3,000 BC and has been so precious that it changed into once called "white gold."
Your body's way of cooling down is thru sweating and having that moisture evaporate into the air. When you're making it easier to your frame to do this, this means you will get better cooling. A hundred% cotton t-shirts also can be worn within the wintertime as the first layer to all of your winter clothes. By wearing cotton rather than a few different blends, you may not overheat and get uncomfortably sweaty while you move indoors where it's hotter.
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The very nature of cotton makes it a soft and cozy fabric. When you get one hundred% of it and now not some blended blend, this best means you will similarly experience the cotton benefits. This is fantastic news for individuals who are typically allergic to blends or have sensitive pores and skin. When you've got a cotton tee on, it will feel like you're wearing a cloud, because it's splendid-smooth and those not often have allergic reactions to it. This is a cloth that might not aggravate the skin; that is why when you shop for child garments, nearly the entirety is product of 100% cotton. If it's precise enough for a toddler's touchy skin, then it's really appropriate sufficient for yours!
With softer materials, you typically must worry approximately it speedy deteriorating, specifically after some washes inside the laundry system. But whilst cotton is incredibly soft, it is also extraordinarily long lasting. This approach you do not should compromise for your consolation to get a chunk of garb that'll closing you for years. When you pick 100% cotton, you may stay pleasant and snug, all while not having to worry about your tees falling aside after a few months. In addition, cotton holds its form thoroughly. While your apparel of different materials may also stretch out over time, you could expect your cotton t-shirts to live looking exactly the equal for years to come. An added gain to this is that you don't ought to do a whole lot to take care of your tees!
Because cotton is such a durable cloth, you don't have to worry about upkeep. You can placed it in both the washer and dryer, and also you might not need to iron it afterwards. It'll be equipped in order to put on! This additionally manner you don't have to give it special remedy, inclusive of a run to the dry cleaners. All you need to do is set your laundry system on "delicate" whilst you provide it a wash.
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forever-rogue · 3 years
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Hi love!! I know I'm sneaking it in under the wire, but congratulations again on your milestone! You deserve ALL the good things, honeybunch! For your prompt requests can I please get a fluffy something (maybe a lil unrequited-but-really-requited) friends to lovers with our hot daddy Marcus Moreno?? With the prompts:
“Stay. Please.” (prompt list 3) and 79. "I can't get you out of my head" (prompt list 1).
Feel free to get as creative or flexible as you want with this. Love you bb 💜🌿
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I love you too bb! I am so in it for one (1) Marcus Moreno! Enjoy!
Marcus Moreno x Fem!Reader ; warnings: none
Pedro Character Masterlist
»»————- ♡ ————-««
Dating was hard. Dating was even harder when you’d been out of the game for years. Dating was hardest when you were a single, widowed father who doubled as a superhero. 
Yeah, dating was hard for Marcus Moreno. 
Even with all the support from you. 
“Marcus,” you scoffed at him as you picked up around the kitchen, sighing at the small disaster that had occurred when he had tried to cook. He knew that tone of voice very well, and he took a step back and offered you a sheepish grin. You grabbed a dish towel and threw it at him as you gestured to the mess, “how? How does this even happen? All you did was make pasta and salad!”
“I don’t know!” he insisted meekly. It was true - the man was a walking, talking disaster when it came to anything related to cooking. But he tried, gods knew he tried so hard. He was trying to do good, to be better - his best - for Missy, and himself. And you. You just weren’t exactly privy to that fact just yet. He cleared his throat awkwardly before he got too caught up in his little daydream fantasies, “it just...happened. You don't have to clean it swee- it’s okay. It’s not your mess.”
“It’s alright Marcus,” you promised him as you threw all the trash in the can and set the dishes in the sink to rise, “besides you made dinner and dessert. It’s the least I can do.”
“I burned dessert…” he pouted slightly as you laughed, causing his heart to skip a beat at the magical sound. You watched as he came over and started to load the rinsed dishes into the washer, giving his hip a small bump with your own.
“You tried,” you shot him a quick wink, “that’s what counts. Besides, you had ice cream as a backup to save the day.”
“Luckily,” he agreed, pausing for a moment as he tried to choose his next words carefully, “umm...can I ask you for a huge favor?”
“Anything,” you promised softly as you finished stowing away the leftovers and wiping down the counter, “what’s up?”
“Can you watch Missy tomorrow night?” he asked quietly, almost as if he was embarrassed by his request. You quirked an eyebrow at him before leaning against the counter and offering him a curious expression, “I-I asked my mom but she’s got poker night with her friends. I can order pizza or whatever you want for dinner and-”
“Of course, Marcus,” you interrupted him before he could stammer further, pressing a finger against his lips. If you hadn’t been so caught up in your own feelings, you’d have noticed the ting of pink creeping into his cheeks as he tried not to focus too much on the feel of your touch, “you know she’s my favorite person on the planet, right along with her dad. Just let me know the time and I’ll be here - but I want Thai, including dessert!”
“Whatever you want,” he grinned softly, “you’re such a lifesaver, and I just...I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I know,” you teased, “what’s the occasion? Another date with Katie?”
“No,” he admitted, as you offered up a look of surprise. You’d met her for all of about five minutes the first time he went out with her as you’d arrived to hang out with Missy. She was nice - pretty, funny, warm and despite the bit of a jealous twinge in your stomach, you could see why Marcus would fall for her. You were surprised to hear that things didn’t work, “she umm...it was fine. It just...I can’t see myself with her, you know?”
“You just gotta test the waters and see how it goes,” you swallowed the lump that had welled up, “you never know until you know. Who’s the lucky lady? If it’s a date - I shouldn’t just assume. Perhaps you’re busy saving the world?”
“I think those days are past me,” he admitted, “we leave that to the kids - with guidance of course. I..yeah it’s a date. Her name’s Stacy.”
“Oh, another first date?” you tried to keep your tone light and teased as he focused on the floor and nodded, “how very lucky she is. Hopefully she knows that and hopefully you’ll have fun! That’s what? The third first date this month? Things are looking up Mr. Moreno!”
“It’s nothing,” he swore as he shook his head, “obviously they’re first dates and they stay first dates. It is what it is.”
“Hey,” you reached over and gave his arm a squeeze, “you’re amazing Marcus, and you deserve the best. One day you’re going to meet another woman that will knock you off your feet. You just have to be patient. What is it that they say? Love is patient, love is kind? Or something like that!”
“Yeah,” he agreed as his heart dropped slightly. If he was a brave man, a bold man, he’d have dropped to his knees and confessed his love for you then and there. He’d have told you that it was you, always you, that you were the only one he wanted. But...he didn’t. Instead he swallowed his pride and his nerves and offered you a nod, “I guess we shall see.”
»»————- ♡ ————-««
But just as Katie had came and went, so did Stacy. And then Maria. And then Stefani. And then…
"Hey," you greeted Marcus as he came in the door, a dejected look on his face. You were sitting on the couch, doing some work on your laptop as you ate some ice cream. It wasn't terribly late, but Missy had already gone to bed, leaving you to your own devices. You'd gone and picked up around the house before settling on the couch, knowing Marcus had had an incredibly busy week. 
"Hey," he let out a long sigh, immediately putting his feet on the coffee table. He looked at your laptop before holding his hand in front of the screen, "its late. No more working!"
"I'm multitasking," you insisted with a grin as you held up your ice cream and pointed at the television that was playing reruns of the Office. He tutted anyway and eventually you gave in, closing out your programs before closing your laptop, "fineeeee! So, how was it? Tell me everything!"
"Not much to tell," he shrugged softly as he took off his glasses and tossed them onto the table before pinching the bridge of his nose. You offered him a small smile before holding out the remainder of your ice cream to him. He looked at it as a smile tugged on the corners of his mouth and he took the bowl from your hand, "I don't think there's going to be a second date with her either."
"What? I thought Carla seemed lovely!" you were surprised by what appeared to be another failed date. You had liked her from all the things Marcus had told you about her, and you were positive that she would be the one, "what happened, Marcus?"
"I don't know," he shrugged lightly before taking a big bite of ice cream, "I don't think it was her. I-I think it was me."
"You didn’t like her?"
"I did," he swallowed thickly, feeling his heart rate pick up wildly, and he was positive you could hear it. Why, why, why couldn't he just tell you? Why couldn't he suck it up and open his heart up and confess his feelings? It would have been so easy, "its just...I umm…"
"You don't have to explain it to me," you insisted, reaching over and giving his arm a reassuring squeeze, "if you don't click, you don't click. Patience, my love, patience. There's no rush to get anywhere.
"Listen," he set the bowl down and turned towards, a serious look on his face, "I have to -"
Before he could say anything else your phone started buzzing on the table. You sighed lightly as you saw your boss' name light up the screen. You grimaced before grabbing it and offering him an apologetic look, "I should go and take this. I've got a big presentation tomorrow…"
"Oh yeah," he gave you a meek smile as you grabbed your laptop and bag before leaning down to press a kiss to the top of his head and promising him you’d text later, "see you…"
You were quietly answering the phone as you rushed out of the house, leaving Marcus sitting there by myself. He let out a long sigh as he leaned back and tried to calm himself. Of course, of course, of course, the one time he'd gathered up some courage, something interrupted him.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Soon he'd finally tell you. He wanted to, desperately so. Every date he went on that wasn't with you just made him realize that he wanted nothing more than you. He wished it had been you on all those dates. 
That made him realize he needed to do this. Marcus Moreno was going to make his move - finally.
»»————- ♡ ————-««
And then he didn't.
He just...never seemed to get the timing the right. Every time he finally plucked up the courage to finally say something, he was interrupted. It was like the entirety of the universe was against him.
Eventually, he reluctantly gave in and decided to go on a second date with Carla. It was a combination of things, namely her asking him, but he gave in and said yes. It had killed him a little bit as he'd responded to her text; he'd been out with you and Missy doing some grocery shopping, watching as the two of you tried to pick a cereal (it was time for something other than Great White Bites, Missy had insisted). You'd caught his eye and smiled, but he still sent the text.
Anything to get his mind off of you. 
But as soon as her excited response came through, Marcus felt like the worst person. Still - maybe he could make this work...maybe Carla wouldn't be so bad for him. 
»»————- ♡ ————-««
It wasn't too late when Marcus came home after his date. He'd thought about texting you to see if you wanted him to bring ice cream, but had decided against it. His mind was made up and set on one thing.
You.
His second date with Carla had taught him that despite how kind, funny, and pretty she was, she would never be the one for him. The one for him had been right in front of his face the whole time and he finally knew what he needed to do.
Even if you rejected him, he had to tell, to get it out in the open once and for all.
When he got home, the house was quiet, with only the soft sound of television signaling that someone was up. You'd left one of the lights in the living room on, creating a soft glow in the quiet space.
Then he spotted you and was left breathless. There you were, curled up on the end of the couch, a warm, thick blanket draped around as you slept. What a pure, innocent sight, and yet - he still felt like his heart was on fire.
Almost as if you sensed some sort of disturbance, you slowly opened your eyes and blinked away the bleariness to find Marcus watching you intently. 
"Hi," you smiled lightly as at him, "didn't mean to fall asleep. Long day...Missy's off in bed already."
"Okay," he whispered gently before coming closer to you, "listen, I have to tell you something. And I'm afraid if I don't say it now then I'll never have the courage to do it again."
"Of course," you slowly sat up and gave him the megawatt smile he loved, "but first, tell me how your date was! I bet she was so excited to see you again as she should of course because-"
"I'm in love with you," he cut you off before you could ramble on, surprising the two of you. A warm, wicked flush of red colored his features as he clamped his hand over his mouth and breathed deeply, "I...I didn't mean to quite say it like that. I just...I can't get you out of my head. I realized that every date I had didn't work out for a reason - because they weren't you. I wanted it to be you, and well...I wanted to ask and just never got the nerve."
"Oh," you tried to suppress the smile on your face, but it was futile effort as you watched him closely, "you know you're my best friend, and I supported you going on those dates because you deserve the world, only the best, but to be honest, I'm glad they didn't work out…"
"W-why?" he stammered nervously as his whole body vibrated with energy, humming like wildfire as he anticipated your next response.
"I think you know why…"
"Will you say it...please? I want to hear it...to know I'm not crazy. I can't be the only one feeling this…" the look in his gentle brown eyes was nervous, more so than you had never seen. You threw off the blanket and slowly stood up, taking a few steps closer to him so there was almost no distance between your bodies. 
"I'm in love with you too," you promised softly, as a grin broke out on his face, "I have been for a very long time and I was never sure if you felt the same and didn't want to ruin anything…"
Before saying anything else, Marcus reached up and delicately placed his hands on the sides of your face as he studied you. It was long before he moved closer, and then even closer before you finally closed the gap and kissed him softly.
It wasn't some big grandiose thing, rather it was soft and gentle - a longing kiss between two people who had been waiting on this moment for a long time. And it was everything. Marcus kissed you until you were breathless, leaning into his touch and chasing after him. It was just...utterly perfect. 
When you broke apart for a breath of air, he pressed his forehead against yours, giving your lips another saccharine little kiss. It felt natural for him to hold you like this, his large hands on your waist as your arms wrapped around his neck.
“I should have done this a long time ago,” he whispered softly, to where you could barely hear it and in some ways, you wondered if it was even intended for your ears, “I’m sorry I waited so long.”
“It was worth the wait,” you promised him gently, “you’re worth the wait.”
“Will you stay?” he asked softly as you gave him a confused look, “stay. Please…”
“Tonight?”
“Forever,” he closed his eyes as he kissed you again, holding you gently in his vice like grip, “I love you.”
“Of course,” you nuzzled your nose against his, before touching over his face gently and giving him a gentle smile, “of course. There’s nothing I’d rather be than your forever.”
“My forever,” he repeated, “you are everything.”
“Can I ask you for something Marcus?”
“Anything.”
“Please kiss me again.”
»»————- ♡ ————-««
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hqbbg · 3 years
Text
no regrets.
pairing: iwaizumi hajime x fem!reader (ft. oikawa)
prompt:  "I wonder what he’d do if he knew you were with me right now."
genre: smut with a sprinkle of angst
word count: 7.3K (i’m so sorry, this came out way longer than i intended)
warnings: 18+, slowburn like wow look at that word count, mentions of alcohol, some cheating, fingering, oral (f.receiving), unprotected s3x, aftercare
author’s note: here’s my monthly contribution to the Haikyuu!! Headquarters server collab! here’s the masterlist, so be sure to check everyone else’s works out too! hope you guys enjoy :)
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The sunlight seeping in through your bedroom window feels warm on your face as you stir awake. Stretching your arms above your head, you sigh in contentment, satisfied with the quality of sleep you had. You roll over to check your phone, frowning as it fails to turn on, realizing that you’d forgotten to charge it after a call with your boyfriend who’s currently halfway across the world.
Suddenly, a thought strikes you and you scramble out of bed to check the wall clock you have hanging in your apartment’s living room. A loud gasp followed by a curse leaves your lips as you rush to the bathroom to get ready for work.
You’re running late. Again.
Dread spreads through your senses as you quickly go through your morning routine, thinking of all the possible excuses you can offer your boss that won’t result in the loss of your job. As you finish up in the bathroom, you practically run to your room and carelessly throw on a relatively clean white shirt and a pair of pants before rushing out the door. Despite your hectic morning, you’re out the door in record time, locking it behind you. You have half a thought to give yourself a pat on the back. Unfortunately, you just don’t have the time for that right now.
By the time you arrive at work, you’re breathless and visibly frazzled, only slightly annoyed when your coworkers give you suspicious and questioning looks. As you’d expected, your boss hardly greets you before demanding a reason as to why you’re late. You can already tell that today’s going to be a long day, the fact amplified when you realize you’d left your phone charger at home.
When you finally clock out after a particularly long shift, hardly sparing your coworkers a proper goodbye on your way out, you feel momentary relief knowing that you’ve gotten that out of the way. As you step outside, another groan leaves your lips as you look up at the thick and dark clouds overhead. With your phone being dead in combination with being late, you had no idea that rain was in the forecast for today. There were hardly any clouds this morning on your way to work, too! Well, maybe there were, you were just too preoccupied to notice.
You silently plead that the journey home is a dry one, but you should know better than to have hope on a bad day like this.
When you feel the first of many heavy raindrops, you curse under your breath and briefly scan the area to find some shelter, eyes landing on a nearby café. You walk as quickly as you can, avoiding others who either came prepared with their umbrellas or those who, much like you, are rushing to find a place to stay dry.
Pushing the door open, you’re finally able to catch your breath. However, the relief is short lived when someone else opens the door from behind you to get inside, shoving you into another person who was on their way out.
Just as you begin to think the day can’t get any worse, the world clearly has other ideas. You feel it before you see it: the cup of iced coffee spilling onto your shirt and practically freezing your skin as you let out a yelp.
“Oh, shit, are you okay?”
Your head whips up at the oddly familiar voice and you’re surprised to see Iwaizumi Hajime standing before you, looking around frantically to search for napkins to clean you up. If it weren’t for the icy and numbing sensation on your chest, you would’ve been happy to see him.
He takes a couple long strides to the nearest condiment bar and swipes a handful of napkins before rushing back to you. He still hasn’t realized that it’s you standing before him: his best friend’s girlfriend whom he hasn’t seen or spoken to in years.
Wordlessly taking the napkins from him, you peel the shirt away from you while pressing them into the fabric. Though your chin is tucked so you can look at your shirt, you can feel Iwaizumi’s eyes on you.
“Wait, Y/N?”
You lift your head and greet him with an awkward smile.
“Hey,” you lamely respond as you finally give up on your shirt. Your next best option is to get home quickly and throw it into the washer while you take a nice, long shower. Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. The only issue now is finding a way home that doesn’t involve getting drenched by the storm raging outside.
“Wow, it’s been awhile,” says Iwaizumi as he lifts his hand to rub at the back of his neck. “It’s good to see you, but sorry about your shirt.”
“It’s fine, my day’s been pretty bad to begin with,” you sigh. You immediately realize the implications of your statement and feel your eyes widen as you scramble to recover. “I mean, not to say you’ve ruined my day or anything! I just—it’s just been one of those days.”
Iwaizumi offers an apologetic and understanding smile. “I get it, you don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
“Thanks,” you reply gratefully. “I didn’t know you came back from the States.”
“Yeah, I graduated and came back for good a couple months ago,” he says casually. His eyes flicker for a brief moment to the stain on your chest and he quickly shifts his gaze elsewhere, clearing his throat. “Do you, uh, have a jacket or a change of clothes?”
“No, I was running late this morning and my phone’s been dead, so I didn’t get a chance to check the weather or anything,” you reply with a frown. “I’m clearly living my best life right now.”
You half meant it as a joke to lighten the mood, but the frown settling on your former classmate’s face tells you that it was not received that way.
“It doesn’t look like the storm is gonna let up anytime soon,” says Iwaizumi, sensing your concern as you turn your head ever so slightly to check the weather outside. “Do you live far?”
You shake your head, turning back to face him. “No, I’m just a couple more blocks away.”
“If you want, I can walk you home,” he generously offers. “My umbrella isn't that big, but it would get the job done.”
“Oh, you don’t have to!” You’re quick to shake your head, waving your hands out in front of you. “My shirt’s already done for and I can just make a run for it, so it’ll be faster.”
Iwaizumi seems to hesitate, giving you a quick once-over with his eyes. “Okay, well, the least I can do then is offer you my jacket. I did spill my coffee all over you, after all.”
You open your mouth to refuse his kindness, but he’s already shrugging out of the outerwear and holding it up in front of you.
“Take it,” he insists as he locks eyes with you. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”
You hesitate for a moment and glance down at your shirt to see if you really need it. Your eyes widen slightly when you’re able to see your bra through the damp fabric and the way it sticks to your skin, particularly the valley of your cleavage.
Muttering your gratitude, you’re quick to take it and put it on, feeling dwarfed instantly. You close the jacket and glance out the window again to see what you’re working with before looking back at him.
“Alright, well, I guess I’ll be going now,” you say, getting ready to turn and leave. “Oh, wait.”
You turn back around and Iwaizumi raises a brow.
“How do I get your jacket back to you?”
“Oh, right.” The thought seems to have slipped from Iwaizumi’s mind too. “Uh, here, give me your number. We can find another time and place for you to give it back to me.”
Iwaizumi shuffles and grabs his phone from his pocket, giving it a couple taps before holding it out to you. You thank him and quickly input your contact information, sending a quick text to yourself before handing the device back to him.
“Thanks, Hajime,” you say with a grateful smile. The look on his face is one of surprise and you realize it’s the first time you’ve called him by name today. Actually, since the last time you saw him back in high school. “This time, I’m going for real.”
Iwaizumi recovers quickly enough to give you a nod and a small wave. “Good luck out there.”
“Thanks, I’m gonna need it,” you say, sighing warily as you turn towards the door again. This time, you don’t look back, preparing yourself for the stormy commute that awaits you.
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“Sounds like you had a rough day.”
“It was awful, Tooru,” you whine as you pad through your kitchen, trying to figure out what you want to eat for dinner with your phone propped up on one of the kitchen counters. You’re on a video call with Oikawa in your oversized t-shirt and hair wrapped up in a towel, having come freshly out of the shower before this. “Oh! But something interesting did happen earlier.”
You hear your boyfriend hum curiously, urging you to continue.
“I saw Hajime,” you say, inspecting some vegetables in your fridge that have been in there for a suspicious amount of time.
“Oh?” Oikawa sounds as equally surprised as you were earlier. “Wow, how long has it been since you saw him?”
“I haven’t seen him since high school,” you reply as you put the vegetables on the counter next to your phone, seeing Oikawa still laying in bed. “He let me borrow his jacket on my way home to avoid getting my shirt any wetter.”
“Oh, that’s nice of him,” Oikawa responds with less enthusiasm than you’d expected. You thought he’d be more excited to hear that his girlfriend and best friend interacted, but there’s something in his voice that doesn’t necessarily sound right. “He always had a soft spot for you back then, too.”
“Really?” You raise a brow as you return to your fridge. “How so?”
“Well, that’s irrelevant now,” Oikawa says, nonchalantly brushing off the subject. You don’t question things further, more concerned about what to eat for dinner.
You stay on call together for a little longer before Oikawa has to leave for practice, and eventually, you’re left alone in the comforts of your apartment. You still have yet to settle on dinner and migrate to your couch to see if anything looks appetizing on your local food delivery app.
As you mindlessly scroll, you hear your washing machine go off to alert you that your laundry is done. Setting your phone down on your coffee table, you stand and go to transfer the clean clothes into the dryer. As you pull out Iwaizumi’s jacket, you’re reminded that you need to return it soon; there’s no point in keeping it here for too long.
Walking back over to your couch, you plop back down and pick up your phone. This time, you navigate through it to locate Iwaizumi’s name and type up a quick text to ask him for his availability in the next couple of days. He doesn’t respond for several minutes and you return to your relentless search to find something to eat.
Deciding on one of the local fast food restaurants, you place your order and sprawl yourself out over your couch. With roughly twenty minutes before the food arrives, you try to busy yourself on your phone before dejectedly placing it down beside you.
Your phone buzzes with a notification and you lift the screen to see a banner with Iwaizumi’s name on it. Reading over his reply, you find that he’s available on your day off in the next few days. You type up a response to ask him if he’s willing to meet up so you can return his jacket, and this time, he responds quickly with a simple agreement.
After texting him a time and place, you set your phone back down beside you. It’s been so long since you last saw him, it feels strange. You can’t help but think back to your time in high school and the memories you had with him.
Back then, you weren’t the biggest fan of volleyball like the rest of your friends were, so you never really went to the games unless they dragged you along. You recognized some of the boys from your class, though you could hardly remember their names; they were never the ones your friends talked about—they weren’t Oikawa Tooru and Iwaizumi Hajime.
You actually met Iwaizumi before you’d met Oikawa, but that was because you’d bumped into him on your way to the bathroom during one of the games your friends had taken you to. Sure, he didn’t introduce himself or anything, simply muttering an apology before storming off somewhere, but it was still your first memorable interaction with him.
It was one of your friends that got you acquainted with Oikawa sometime later, and after the two of you officially started dating towards the end of your second year, you started seeing Iwaizumi more often. He was slightly intimidating at first, but after some time, you’d come to learn that he was a big softie on the inside—he just didn’t like to show that to other people.
Most of your friends were jealous that you were the lucky girl who somehow caught the popular captain’s eye, so when the two of you had gone on a break in the middle of your third year, no one was really around for you. Except Iwaizumi.
It was neither of your first choices to have him listen to you cry over the phone about Oikawa on a Friday night, but that’s where you’d both ended up. He was terrible at giving advice, but he was a good listener at the very least.
Ever since then, you were more comfortable with him and he seemed to feel the same way. When you got back together with Oikawa, he was less than thrilled to hear the news, but respected your relationship nonetheless. He stopped responding to your texts as much, stopped answering your calls, and by the time you graduated, he barely spoke to you when Oikawa wasn’t around.
To say that it didn’t upset you was a lie; you considered him to be a friend, after all. So, when you had to hear from Oikawa that Iwaizumi left for America for school instead of hearing it from him directly, you were a little hurt. Oikawa had assured you to not take it so personally, telling you “that’s just how he is”. Since then, you’ve moved on with your life and now you’re here.
Your thoughts are interrupted when your phone buzzes and you look to see that your food’s arrived. As you bring it inside, you settle back down on your couch and find something to watch before indulging in your meal. Finally, the day is over.
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Thankfully, the rest of your week isn’t too bad. Your day off finally rolls around and you’re waiting patiently inside the café you’d bumped into Iwaizumi at, nursing a cup of hot coffee in your hands. You’d arrived several minutes early, so you’re surprised to see him walking in five minutes before your agreed upon time.
Calling out his name, you raise your arm to wave him over to the table you’re sitting at.
“Hey, you’re here early,” he says as he sits himself down across from you.
“So are you,” you remark, taking a slow sip from your cup.
“Ah, yeah, I was hoping to get some coffee before we met up,” he says, glancing towards the front counter.
“Sure, don’t let me stop you,” you say with a small smile on your face. He nods and excuses himself, leaving you alone at your table.
Your eyes follow his figure, trailing along the broad expanse of his shoulders and back, admiring the way it all tapers at his waist. He’s filled out a lot since high school, and you can tell he’s worked hard to get to where he is now.
When he comes back with his iced coffee in hand, he sits back down in his seat across from you.
“Here’s your jacket,” you say, lifting the paper bag you packed the borrowed clothing in. “Thanks for letting me use it.”
“No problem.” He takes it and there’s a moment of awkward silence.
You can feel his slight discomfort as he shifts a little in his seat, so you decide to break some of the ice. “So, how’ve you been?”
As the conversation progresses, you can feel him slowly opening up and getting more comfortable with you. You come to learn that he’s still in contact with Oikawa, which spurs a shared trip down memory lane.
By the time you start to wrap up your time together, you realize that it’s getting dark outside and check the time. Where had the time gone?
“Wow, we’ve been here awhile.”
Iwaizumi flicks his wrist to check the time and nods. “Yeah, we have. Do you wanna grab dinner?”
You hesitate for a moment. Typically, you call Oikawa around this time, but you figure it doesn’t hurt to not call today. He would understand, right? He knows that you were upset when Iwaizumi practically ghosted you, so he’d understand that you’d want to make up for some lost time, right? Iwaizumi’s his best friend, after all; what would be the harm in hanging out with him for just a little longer?
“Sure, what did you have in mind?”
The two of you settle on a restaurant nearby where you proceed to spend a couple more hours just talking and enjoying each other’s company. You want to ask him why he stopped talking to you in the first place, but you figure that maybe tonight isn’t the best time nor is this the place.
Iwaizumi ends up walking you home, claiming it’s not safe for a girl to be out alone at this hour and that he’d be doing a disservice to you and Oikawa if he let you go off on your own.
“You know, I actually had a lot of fun today,” you say as the both of you stand in front of your door.
“Surprisingly, I did too,” he says with a playful smirk on his lips. He seems much more relaxed than he was several hours ago and part of you is excited to think that things might go back to how they used to be in high school with him.
“Let’s keep in touch more,” you suggest. “It’ll be like high school all over again.”
His lips falter a little, a detail you miss as you turn to unlock your door.
“Anyways, thanks for walking me home,” you say with a smile. “Have a good rest of your night.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you later,” he replies with a nod before turning on his heels to leave. You also step into your apartment and lock the door behind you. Today’s been a good day.
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Over the next several weeks, you end up seeing Iwaizumi more often. Whether it’s for a quick coffee or even running errands on your day off, he’s been there to keep you company. When you had told Oikawa about it at first, he was less than thrilled to hear the news, but you figured it was simply because he felt left out.
When you told him that Iwaizumi had come over once to help you carry groceries, he had gotten upset and it led to a small argument that led to the two of you refusing to speak to each other for three days. You didn’t see the harm in spending this much time with Iwaizumi—did Oikawa not trust either of you?
Needless to say, when you started talking again, you felt some tension and decided not to bring up Iwaizumi as much anymore. Part of you felt bad for not giving your boyfriend the whole truth, but he didn’t seem to trust you and you didn’t want to deal with another argument and the possibility that your long-term relationship would end over your friendship with another man.
You decided to keep this from Iwaizumi; you didn’t want him to feel bad in case he blamed himself if something were to go wrong with your relationship. Well, not that you’d think anything would go wrong. You’ve gotten this far in your relationship with Oikawa, and sure, there have been a couple bumps in the road along the way, but you’ve both made it work.
“Oi.” Iwaizumi’s voice snaps you out of your thoughts and you turn your head to look at him. You’re currently sitting on his couch in his apartment, having agreed to come over to watch movies.
“Hm?”
“I asked if you wanted something to drink,” he replies from his kitchen. The fridge door is propped open and you think it over for a moment.
“I’ll take anything,” you say, shrugging your shoulders. He returns with two beers in his hands, handing one to you before sitting himself down beside you on the couch.
“What are we watching?”
“I found this movie with one star,” you say as you pull it up on his tv. “It’s going to be terrible.”
“I’m gonna need more drinks for this.” You laugh lightheartedly as the movie begins playing.
The both of you don’t even make it halfway through before searching for another bad movie to make fun of. As Iwaizumi searches on his phone, he gets an alert that the food you two had ordered has arrived and you get up to grab it. When you return, you place the food on the table in front of you and plop down beside him.
You feel your leg brushing his and realize you’ve miscalculated your spacing, but he makes no effort to move away from you. Taking out the food, you hand him his meal and grab your own, settling back comfortably as he sets up another movie.
As the movie drones on and on, the two of you finish your dinners, engaging in your own conversation. You see his eyes on your mouth as you speak and suddenly feel a little self-conscious. Do you have something in your teeth?
“You have a little,” he lifts his finger to point at his own mouth, “something there.”
You wipe at your mouth with the back of your hand, but apparently miss as Iwaizumi tells you the food is still there. You wipe at it again, but it seems to be stubborn and Iwaizumi eventually gets frustrated. He lifts his hand to your face and gently brushes the culprit away with his thumb, allowing his digit to trace your bottom lip for a moment.
He seems just as stunned as you are at the soft and intimate gesture, quickly pulling away and turning back to the movie, clearing his throat. You also slowly turn, keeping your eyes fixed on the screen in front of you.
The air feels awkward and heavy and the silence between the two of you is deafening, if not for the movie blabbering on its own. You watch from the side of your eye as Iwaizumi takes a long sip from his beer, knocking the whole thing back until there’s not a drop left. He sets it down and clears his throat.
“Uh, do you want to watch something else?” He doesn’t meet your eyes.
“This is fine,” you reply. “It’s not as bad as the first one, at least.”
You watch the corner of his lip quirk upwards a little. “Yeah, that one was pretty bad.”
The tension in the room seems to ease up a little and he leaves to grab a couple more drinks, taking the trash left from your dinner with him. When he comes back, he sets the bottles down on the table and sits down right where he was, though this time it feels more intentional with his placement by your side.
The movie, although terrible from the start, seems to get increasingly more boring, so you turn to him to start another conversation.
“I have a question,” you say, fidgeting your fingers in your lap. Iwaizumi turns to look at you with a raised brow, wordlessly urging you to continue. “So, you remember back in high school how we were friends and then we weren’t?”
“Uh, yeah, sure,” Iwaizumi says, nodding slowly. He seems to know where this is going.
“Why did that happen?”
You can practically see Iwaizumi’s thoughts being processed in real time as he weighs the different options he has depending on his response. He opens his mouth to say something, only to close it again.
“Fuck it,” he mutters under his breath before inhaling deeply. “I liked you. A lot.”
The way his eyes lock with yours nearly sends a shiver down your spine, but you chalk it up to the alcohol pulsing through your veins.
“I wanted to ask you out, thought that you might be into me too, but then I heard you got back with Oikawa, so I backed off,” he says. “I know it was a dick move on my end without telling you why, but I figured it was better that way.”
“Did Oikawa know about this?” You have a lot of questions you want to ask, but somehow, this is the one that slips through first.
“Of course he did; he’s my best friend.” Iwaizumi seems a little agitated as he fidgets in his seat.
You try to think of a way to respond. That would explain Oikawa’s attitude towards your renewed friendship with his best friend, though part of you feels conflicted. Could you have possibly harbored feelings for him in return back then? Maybe, but what does it matter now? You’re in a relationship with Oikawa, you shouldn’t even entertain the thought of what if…
“It doesn’t matter now,” says Iwaizumi, pulling you out of your thoughts. “That was the past.”
“If I hadn’t gotten back together with Oikawa, what would you have done?” Your voice is quiet and you know you’re treading dangerous waters right now. The alcohol is definitely not helping with your sense of judgment either.
“I probably would’ve asked you out,” he replies plainly as he shifts his attention to the fabric of his sweats. “If the feelings weren’t returned, well, I don’t see much being different from what ended up happening.”
“What if I said yes?”
Iwaizumi lifts his head and turns to look at you again. You know you should stop now, but now you want to know. To be honest, it’s not like you haven’t thought about dating him in the past; he’s a great guy, and honestly, anyone would be an idiot to turn him down without a really good excuse.
“Y/N, we shouldn’t,” he says slowly. You don’t even realize you’ve been leaning into him until your lips are nearly touching.
“I know,” is all you manage to say before your lips are pressing against his. You feel electrified and realize how touch-starved you’ve been all this time.
Iwaizumi tastes like beer and the musk of his cologne feels overwhelming to your senses. You can’t help but raise your hand to weave through his hair, hardly protesting as his tongue pushes into your mouth. You feel his hands rest on your waist and you slide onto his lap, unable to resist the small roll of your hips against his groin. He lets out a low groan and you can feel him twitch through his pants.
A million red flags and sirens are going off in your head, but you ignore them all, letting your hands slip down to rest on Iwaizumi’s broad and built chest. His own hands slide down the dip of your waist towards your hips and you feel him slowly guide them along the growing hardness between his legs.
Just as your hands begin to wander further, your phone begins to vibrate loudly on the table behind you. It’s as if a bucket of ice water is dumped on you and you pull away rather quickly. Iwaizumi’s hands drop from your side.
Your phone is still buzzing and you slide off of his lap to grab your phone, the weight of guilt beginning to settle in your stomach as Oikawa’s name and a picture of you two flash on the screen.
“I’m gonna go,” you say, standing abruptly, trying not to sway at the headrush.
Iwaizumi doesn’t say anything as you practically run out of there, quickly answering Oikawa’s call before it goes to voicemail. You don’t see the way he buries his face in his hands as he leans forward on his knees.
“Hey, Tooru,” you greet a little breathlessly.
“Hey—are you okay?” His voice is laced with concern and you can only imagine what you sound like right now.
“Yeah, I’m just out right now,” you say. You chew your bottom lip as you begin your walk home, still able to taste Iwaizumi. “Can I actually call you back?”
“Sure, but is everything alright? You sound a little stressed,” he says, voice laced with concern. You feel the tears springing in your eyes as you inhale a shaky breath.
“Yeah, I’ll call you back when I get home, okay?”
Oikawa hesitates, but you’re already hanging up on him. By the time you get back to your apartment, you feel lightheaded. What just happened?
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You went a solid three days before breaking under the pressure you’ve placed on yourself. Oikawa was beyond livid and you had cried yourself to sleep that night, telling yourself that he deserved better. You know he does.
He doesn’t answer your call for the rest of the week and you consider simply sending him a long message to express how sorry you are. As you’re about to do so, you receive a text from one of your friends, followed by an apology. With a frown, you open it and see that it’s a link to a gossip website in Argentina. Not really caring for the words, you scowl as you scroll through and see paparazzi photos of Oikawa with a beautiful woman draped on his arm. There are several different photos of the two together in different outfits to imply that they’ve been taken on different days.
It feels like you’ve been punched in the gut when you connect the pieces.
Without even thinking, you simply text Oikawa that your relationship is done and grab your jacket and keys, practically running out the door. You feel blinded with hurt and anger as your legs carry you all the way to a familiar doorstep you haven’t been to in awhile.
The door opens on your third knock and Iwaizumi looks surprised to see you standing there.
“Y/N? What are you doing here?”
“Oikawa and I are done,” you say. Hearing yourself say it out loud seems to solidify it as reality and you resist the tears threatening to spill from your eyes.
“Y/N, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be here like this,” he says, sighing warily, before muttering under his breath, "I wonder what he’d do if he knew you were with me right now."
“Hajime,” you say, hands and voice trembling as you pull out your phone, holding it in front of him. He hesitantly takes it from you and you can see his eyes widen for a moment as he scrolls, slowly handing the phone back to you.
“I’m sorry, Y/N.”
“I just need a distraction right now.” You look up at him with watery eyes before he lets out a sigh, stepping aside so you can come in. Closing the door behind you, he follows you into the living room.
“So, what do you want me to—”
His sentence is cut short when you turn, leaning up to kiss him. Your hands fist his shirt, and you can feel him hesitantly move his lips against yours. You know your way around his apartment enough to begin pulling him into the direction of his bedroom, careful with your steps so you don’t trip or fall.
“Y/N,” Iwaizumi says, pulling away slightly as the backs of your legs hit the edge of his bed. His voice is coarse and his half-lidded eyes are dark. “I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret later.”
“I won’t regret this,” you say softly, looking up into his eyes. He can still see that you have tears in your eyes, but behind that is a sense of lust.
“If at any point you want to stop, tell me, okay?” Iwaizumi lifts a hand to brush your hair away from your face. Your grip on his shirt tightens as you nod.
“Thank you,” you say, before kissing him again. This time, he seems more willing to kiss you back, easing you down until you’re laying on your back on his bed. He hovers over you, kissing along your jaw to your neck. You let out a shaky sigh as his hands slowly stroke your sides. You can feel his hesitancy to touch you more, so you wrap your legs around his torso and grind against him.
“Fuck,” he hisses under his breath as one of his hands slip under your shirt. You watch as he leans up slightly to drag your shirt up to your neck, exposing your bra. You sit up just a little so he can help get the fabric completely off, tossing it aside before kissing down your chest to your clothed breasts. His hand comes up to squeeze one and a whimper leaves your lips.
Seriously, when was the last time anyone has touched you like this?
Iwaizumi reaches under you to unhook your bra with seemingly practiced ease and you arch your back up to give him easier access. Peeling the garment off of yourself, this time you’re the one to discard it somewhere on his bedroom floor.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he says before capturing a nipple between his lips. You sigh softly as his tongue flicks the hardening bud, the other being pinched between his thumb and index finger.
He alternates between your breasts for a few more moments before kissing his way down your abdomen. He sets on his knees on the floor, peering up at you.
“Y/N, you sure you wanna do this?”
You nod quickly, suddenly very aware of the heat pooling between your legs.
“I need you to use your words.”
“Yes, please,” you respond.
“Good girl,” he says, lips quirking upwards into the slightest smirk before his fingers hook the waistband of your pants. He easily tugs them down with your panties and you gently kick them off your legs. “Holy fuck.”
The way he eyes your glistening cunt has you blushing and suddenly very aware of your surroundings. Before you can even tell him to stop staring, he leans forward to lick a hot stripe between your slit. A loud gasp echoes around the room as you feel your body instantly react, lifting you head to watch as he leans forward again to bury his face between your legs.
His arms reach under and around your legs, allowing his fingers to hold your lower lips open to reveal your most sensitive bundle of nerves. He gives it a hard suck after flicking it with his tongue and your hand shoots to fist his hair. He groans lowly, allowing the vibrations to further stimulate you.
He dips down a little lower so he can properly taste you, humming in satisfaction with how wet you are. He brings one hand back down and around before pushing a thick finger inside. You let out a loud gasp at the sudden intrusion, though you aren’t complaining. He slowly thrusts it in and out, keeping his eyes on your face to see what you do and don’t like. When he finds that one particular spot within you, he inserts another finger and does his best to hit it again. As your back arches and eyes roll to the back of your head, Iwaizumi can’t help but smirk a little, satisfied with himself.
“Fuck, H-Hajime, I’m gonna cum,” you whimper as he continues his relentless ministrations. Before you know it, your back is arching and toes curling as you finally hit your release.
He lets you ride out the rest of his orgasm on his tongue, relishing in the way your hips buck from the sensitivity. He pulls out his fingers, admiring the way they glisten before pulling away from you completely. You lock eyes with him as he licks his fingers clean and another whimper leaves your lips.
“Are you feeling okay?” He asks as he moves to hover over you on the bed.
“More than okay,” you say, unable to resist the dopey smile on your face. Iwaizumi chuckles softly as he combs his dry fingers through your hair. As he does so, you realize that you’re completely naked while he’s fully clothed. With a frown, you sit up and look at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“You still have your clothes on,” you say, turning and climbing over him so you’re straddling his lap. He sits up with a small smile.
“We don’t have to go any further, Y/N,” he says, putting his hands on your hips.
“I want to,” you say as you grind your hips against him much like you had the first night you shared a kiss.
He can see how dark and clouded with lust your eyes are and the raging hard-on in his pants would never forgive him for turning you down.
“Okay,” he says simply. You flash a smile before tugging at the hem of his shirt. He easily pulls it over his head in one fluid motion and you can’t help but lick your lips as he gives you a full view of his toned chest and abdomen. “Like what you see?”
You can feel your cheeks burn with embarrassment, not missing the arrogant grin on Iwaizumi’s face. You don’t say anything as you loosen the drawstring of his sweats and he helps pull them down. His cock practically springs out and slaps against his hard stomach and you all but drool at the sight. The angry tip is leaking with precum and you want to get a taste, but Iwaizumi stops you by pressing his lips to yours to capture you in a hungry kiss. You kiss him back and let his tongue push through your lips and you can taste hints of yourself still lingering on his tongue.
“‘M wanna taste you,” you mutter against his lips.
“Next time, baby.” You want to say something back, but his sturdy hands are lifting you by your waist so you’re sitting up on your knees over his lap.
Before you can say anything else, he’s reaching for his weeping cock and positioning it between your legs. You can’t help but whimper softly as you take it upon yourself to lower your hips on him. He feels so big, so thick, and you feel so full despite him not being entirely sheathed within you.
“Fuck, you’re tight,” he hisses as he keeps his gaze fixed where your bodies meet. Something about the way he’s disappearing inside of your warmth leaves him a little lightheaded.
“Mm, you’re so big,” you gasp as you finally seat yourself fully on top of him. Iwaizumi feels his chest and ego swell with pride as he looks back up at you. He admires the way your lips are parted, eyes glazed over with pleasure.
He doesn’t rush you as you adjust to the sheer size of him, kissing along your neck and shoulder until you’re ready to move. When you are, you slowly drag your hips up until he’s nearly out of you completely before you drop back down. A loud moan leaves both of your lips and you have to brace yourself on his shoulders as you repeat the process, eventually finding a steady rhythm to follow.
A string of curses mixed with praise leaves his lips as you bury your face into the crook of his neck and shoulder, letting his hands roam and squeeze your ass. As you roll your hips in circular motions, another loud moan leaves him before he holds you and flips you over so you’re on your back.
“Fuck, I almost came too early,” he practically growls, placing a kiss to the corner of your mouth before sitting up.
You let out a soft giggle until he grabs one of your legs, tossing it over his shoulder. This new angle has him hitting a different spot inside of you and you feel your walls clench around him as he drags himself back out only to thrust right back in.
“Shit,” he hisses as he feels you flutter around him. “You look so pretty like this, fucked out on my cock.”
His thrusts are deep and precise as one hand presses against your lower abdomen while the other holds your leg. He presses a kiss to your ankle as you practically chant his name, feeling close to another orgasm. He seems to notice this too, losing some of his rhythm as the hand on your abdomen moves lower to rub harsh circles against your clit.
Just like that, it feels like the tightly wound coil in your belly snaps and your back arches off the bed as you reach your climax. Iwaizumi’s not far behind, pulling out and roughly jerking his throbbing cock until thick white ropes of cum decorate your chest and stomach.
The room fills with sounds of both of you breathing heavily and Iwaizumi flops onto his back next to you.
“Wow,” he says breathlessly, turning his head to look at you.
“Wow,” you parrot back, unable to resist the smile pulling at your lips. He tiredly smiles back for a moment before his eyes flit towards the mess he’s made all over you.
“Sorry for the mess.”
“It’s fine,” you tiredly shake your head. With the roller coaster you’ve been on these past several days and the physical exertion, you feel the exhaustion finally hitting you.
Your eyelids feel heavy and you barely see Iwaizumi get up from the bed and disappear for a moment. The sound of clothes shuffling and the sink running tells you that he’s cleaning up and in a few more moments, you feel a warm and damp towel wiping your body. You hum softly at the pleasant feeling, still riding the tail end of your orgasm as you open your eyes to see him wiping you of your sweat and his cum.
“I don’t regret anything,” you say as you feel Iwaizumi pull away.
“We can talk more in the morning,” he says softly as he places a kiss to the top of your head. You sleepily watch him as he disappears again and hear him running a bath.
He returns shortly after and easily scoops you up in his strong arms. You cling to him and let him slowly lower you into the warm water. He gestures for you to scoot forward a little bit so that he can slide in behind you, filling up the small space even more.
As you lean back and let him press soft kisses along your neck, your phone lays discarded on the floor, buzzing with another call from your now ex-boyfriend. That’ll just have to go on the list of things to figure out in the morning.
834 notes · View notes
formenis · 3 years
Text
Lesson
Anon asked: “ Can you do a scenario where L hasn't sleep in a while and it got to the point where even the Task Force is worried about him so Watari calls L's secret S/O and she comes barging into HQ and starts yelling at L that he is getting sleep or she is drugging him so he will sleep and L just follows behind her like a love-sick puppy“
A/N: please everyone, let’s give L so much love! Our best detective needs some rest sometimes.
And consider English is not my first language so I’m sorry about all the mistakes you’ll find. I’m trying to improve.
pairing: L x fem!reader
warning: nope
requested: yes
Y/A = your alias
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Once Watari said: «L has no internal clockwork or any concept of time. After 102 hours of staying awake, he slept for almost 17 hours» and for him it was not enough.
If you think it's strange, well you don't know L. He goes to the toilette by himself with open doors and slightly changed sitting position. Since he likes clearness, he bathes frequently. But he never washes himself; he just sits in Watari's special "human washer" which includes drying functions.
L is rather picky with regards to clothing, there are always ten or so identical sets of clothes prepared for him. But he cannot put them on by himself…no, rather, he never feels like doing it (Watari has to say something like "banzai" to tell L to lift his arms). Most of the time, he is in his room, sitting motionlessly in that position.
But Y/N L/N knows it very well. She is L's girlfriend for a long time and she is used to L's particular (and almost non-existent) routine. That's her patience and kind personality that caught L's attention. It all started when Y/N went at the Wammy's House for a job interview. They were searching for a new teacher and Y/N satisfied all the prerequisites. During her probationary period all children fell in love with their new teacher, so patient and gentle even with the most spiteful kid.
When Roger Ruvie, the Wammy's House manager when Watari was not there, sent his observations about this new candidate, L agreed in hiring her. And when he met her in person he was hypnotised by her. The children were right, she was special: Y/N became the mother, the sister, the aunt and the friend those children didn’t have. This captured the attention and the interest of the greatest detective in the world.
It didn’t take long for both Y/N and L to fall for each other: the young teacher was attracted by his intellect and by his gaze, so deep and mysterious; on the other hand, L was mesmerized by her personality and by her smirk she had whenever she was right about something. But the thing that convinced L that Y/N was the right one for him was when she beat him at chess.
«Checkmate»  
At first, L didn’t pay attention to what she said but when he observed the chessboard he couldn’t hide his surprise. «Miss L/N…you won»  
«That's what I said»
But back to the present. Y/N was at the Wammy's House checking the homework of her little students when Roger entered her classroom.
«Miss L/N, there's a call for you»
«Ah yes, thank you Roger» Y/N answers at the phone placed on her desk. «Hello?»
«Miss L/N, it's Watari» the old and warm voice of Quillsh Wammy (as known as Watari) echoed through the receiver.
«Good afternoon Watari, I was correcting some homework. Do you need something?»
«It's about L»
.
.
.
Since the beginning of the Kira case, L moved to Japan. He changed hotel every week until Watari finished the new HQ and for the task-force was compulsory not to use any electronic devices when they were with him. This meant L couldn’t call his beloved Y/N that often and he started to miss her.
In order to solve as fast as he could the Kira case, he dived in the work for entire days and nights. Sugar cubes and coffee were his meals and he almost refused to sleep. He focused his mind and all his being to the case.
At first, the task-force wasn’t that concerned since they realised L had particular habits. But week after week, month after month, the situation got worse. His eyebags became darker and heavier, his skin became more white than his shirt and in general he looked really sickly.
«Uhm Ryuzaki? Did you sleep last night?» Soichiro Yagami asked him, there was worry on his face.
«When the Kira case will be solved I'll sleep» L replied rather tiredly despite his monotone voice didn’t express it. But Watari, who was with them serving ice-cream to everyone, noticed it immediately. He couldn’t bear such sight, he had to do something so he made a decision: if nobody could convince L to rest, then Miss Y/N L/N will.
.
.
.
«That's why I need you here, Miss L/N»
«He didn’t sleep for how much, Watari?! Are you serious?»
«Unfortunately yes. He dedicated every part of his being to the case. And by "every part" I mean literally every part of him»
«I can't believe it. I'm coming there, Watari»
«Very well, Miss L/N»
♰ TIME SKIP ♰
When Y/N arrives in Japan she was truly amazes by that country, so full of life, lights and culture. She can't believe it's the same country where Kira is killing. However, at the moment she can only think about L. She is so worried about him and about his well-being: he can be so odious and stubborn about his work that he would gladly renounce to his health if it meant to solve a case.
Y/N is boiling from rage, L went too far. If he falls ill how can he solve the case? Despite the anger she feels, she is excited too: it's been months since she saw or heard L. She misses him so much…but at the same time she wants to scold him.
«He is more hard-headed than the children at the Wammy's!» Y/N mutters at Watari, who is driving the car. With an excuse, he left the HQ to go at the airport to pick Y/N up and now they were coming back.
«Yes, I know.  It's the reason I called you…you are the only one who can convince Ryuzaki»
During the way towards the HQ, Watari informs her about the Kira case, the task-force and all L's suspects. At the same time Y/N warns him about all the new prodigies at the orphanage. The old man smiles kindly when he sees, through rear-view mirror, how Y/N's eyes shine when she started to talk about her students.
After an hour, the two of them arrives at this famous HQ: twenty-three floors aboveground and two floors belowground; Watari said there is a helipad on the roof of the building but the structure is designed so that the helipad and the two helicopters on it cannot be seen by those looking at the building from the exterior.
«Miss L/N, please use the back stairs. I deactivated the cameras so you can reach the monitoring room without being watched by Ryuzaki»
«Alright Watari, thanks»
Y/N did as instruct by him and takes the back stairs in order to reach the elevator. In her mind, Y/N is preparing the discourse to do at L: it doesn't matter if his colleagues are with him, he has to come to terms with her and starting to have a regular and healthy routine.
In the monitoring room nobody has any idea that the greatest detective's girlfriend is there in the same building as them. Actually they don’t know that L has a girlfriend either. So when the task-force see a young woman spread open the main door of the monitoring room they are quite shocked.
«Who is she?» Matsuda looked up from the papers in his hands. Shortly after that, all the other men looked up as well.
«L!»
That voice distracted L from his dossiers and through the reflection on his laptop he recognises Y/N. His lips become a thin line, a sudden rush of thoughts and emotions hits L at the same time. Why is she there? Something bad happened at the Wammy's House? Is it because he cuts ties with everyone during the investigations? Confusion, concern, worry, alarm…fear yet happiness, because he can see her after long time. L is overwhelmed.
«Everyone, please meet Miss Y/A, Ryuzaki's significant other» Watari introduces her at the task-force and each member gasped in shock.
«L! Watari told me you refused to eat properly, to sleep properly…to live properly!»
Ryuzaki spins his swivel chair towards her so Y/N has the chance to look better at him: hollow face, paler skin colour, dark and heavy eyebags. «Y/A, please, I'm not one of your student»
L is somehow relieved that Y/N was there because of him and not because something terrible happened to her or to the children at the orphanage. So he half-sighs in relief when she started to complain about is health.
«Well, you seem like one in this moment! I cannot bear seeing you like this, you know how much important health is for everyone. The lack of sleep or an unregulated diet will affect your mind and your efficiency will decrease! And how can you catch Kira if you're tired?»
Ah, how much L misses those cute "telling-offs". It is clearly Y/N's professional deformation: she worries about people and strangers as much as she does with the children at the Wammy's. So when she finishes her discourse, L couldn’t hide a wide smile.
«I guess you're right, Y/A» L pretended to be sorry but the truth is that he loves seeing that part of Y/N's personality.
«Of course I am! Now let's start from the sleeping part!» she walks closer to him and grabs the wrist. Then she drags him out of the monitoring room leading towards the bedroom. In L's eyes, admiration and love can be seen while Y/N continues with her discourse about a new healthy routine he has to start.
Right before entering the bedroom L stops and hugs Y/N from behind, his arms are around her chest now. «Y/N…you have no idea how much I missed you»
She smiles, removing her teacher mask for a moment, and looks at him. «I missed you too, cutie pie»
L rubs slightly his cheeks against hers in a cute act of affection. Having her in his arm is such a relief for him, L can sense a strong wave of tiredness on his shoulders. «Will you rest with me?»
«Of course~» Y/N caresses his dark hair, something she really misses doing. «I'll stay with you from now on»
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brokestminimalist · 3 years
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Broke Laundry: updated 2021
For the time being, let's skip talking about how almost all of us have too many clothes.   The clothes that you have get dirty, and must be washed.  I am going to assume you have access to a modern washing machine, either at your house or a laundromat. We'll call step one sorting:
Sorting: Ain’t nobody got time for this.  This is an extra chore that is 99% not necessary.  Unless you have specialty fabrics or are particular about how white your whites are, it’s just added  stress and a waste of time.  I don't actually own any white clothes anymore, but if I did I'd run a load of whites with a cup of bleach once a month. I do not own things that can’t survive the washing machine, either.  No delicates, no dry cleaning.  I wash towels with clothes, and sheets together with bedspreads. Cleaning rags and towels have their own basket and get washed when it gets full.
Laundry Detergent: Avoid the very cheapest for the sake of your darks, but there is no need to spring for the most expensive thing on the shelf.  In fact, I make laundry detergent from one part washing soda, one part Borax, and one part soap. A double batch is enough detergent to last three months for a single person. Good recipes can be had all over the internet, so go forth and find yourself one.  If you’re washing in cold water and your tap water is very cold, such as in the winter, you may find it necessary to stir your homemade detergent into a cup of hot water before putting it into the machine. Out of detergent?  A spoonful of dish soap will do in a pinch.  Regardless of whether you’re using store bought or homemade, don’t use too much detergent; it’s bad for the machine, the environment, and your clothes.  We do not want to buy new clothes until we absolutely have to, right?  Right.
Fabric Softener: I recently saw a headline about how Millennials are killing the fabric softener industry.  The truth is, they are prioritizing groceries and lights over luxuries like Downy.  If you must have it and can afford it, go ahead.  Measure carefully but don’t dilute unless the package says so.  Fabric softener sheets are a good alternative, if you are using a dryer.  Here at Brokest Minimalist, we use a Downy ball with white vinegar in it.  The vinegar cuts soap residue, softens most fabrics, and is much cheaper.  Plus it’s versatile enough to be used for cleaning as well.  An added bonus is that it doesn’t reduce the absorbency of your towels like regular fabric softener does.
Water:  Set your washer on Tap Cold. Yes, really.  Unless your clothes are very greasy, almost anything can be washed in cold water and will get just as clean.  It isn’t so much the temperature of the water or even the detergent that does the washing, as much as it is the action of the clothes rubbing against each other inside the machine.  Anything that’s machine washable can be washed in cold water, period.
Settings: On our machine at home, clothes go on “casual” and sheets/bedspreads on “heavy duty”. Don’t stress too much about this.  Choose a water level that is appropriate to how full the machine is, add your stuff, and go ahead.
Drying:  Here at Brokest Minimalist, we don’t dry anything in the dryer.  Why?  Because air dries stuff for free, that’s why.  Clothes dryers are one of the most frivolous uses of electricity in the modern world.  They are also one of the number one causes of fire in the United States, after candles and cooking fires.  Unless you are in a huge hurry, hang your clothes to dry. Outdoors if possible, as sun dried clothing smells much better than any fabric softener does.  You don’t even have to spend all afternoon pinning stuff to a clothesline like your great-grandma did, either! Our system is beautiful in its simplicity.  We take our clothes out of the washing machine, hang them on clothes hangers, and then hang the hangers on the clothesline.  If you have a smooth line, tie knots in it or use clothespins to keep stuff from sliding back and forth in the breeze.  If you don’t have a line, put one up or buy a portable or retractable one. In summer your clothes will be dry within an hour in direct sunlight, which is a comparable time to many dryers.  If it’s raining, you can hang them indoors over curtain rods, from your mantel, or on your shower curtain rod.  Even if it’s freezing outside, in direct sunlight your clothes will dry within a few hours. For free.  No kidding.  And UV light is a great sanitizer if you’re worried about germs! Here we hang our and towels and unmentionables on racks purchased from Amazon, such as this and this.  Another tidbit we have figured out, is that there is no need to wait until daylight to hang your clothes. In the old days it was nigh unheard of, but there’s no harm.  The morning dew won’t make your wet clothes wetter.   Do you work nights?  Do a load of laundry after you get home from work and hang it out to dry, even if it’s midnight.  It will be dry by lunchtime tomorrow.   This saves wear and tear on your clothes, it saves electricity, it won’t create extra static like the dryer, and hanging stuff is kind of a nice, meditative way to spend a few minutes. Take some deep breaths of fresh air, reflect on your day, let go of some anxiety.
Does all of this sound too complicated? Written down it’s a lot, but let us take you through a load of laundry we just did.  For the record, it is currently one o'clock in the morning.  It’s 31 degrees outside.
1) Put clothes in washer.  Not sorted, just all the clothes in the hamper or off your floordrobe, dumped into the washing machine.
2) It’s cold out, so put a tablespoon of detergent into a cup of hot water and stir.  Pour in washer. Put white vinegar in Downy ball, toss in washer.
3) Push start button and go do something else.  Read, take a nap, cook, clean bathroom. Write a long-winded Tumblr post.  Whatever.
4) When load is done, hang everything on hangers/racks still wet.  This is the longest part, and it takes 5-7 minutes, max. You can do it while watching tv or listening to music.
5) Carry your hung up clothes outdoors to the clothesline and hang them up, or to whatever indoor location you have deemed fit if it is raining.
These will be dry in a few hours except for very heavy things like thing hoodies or jeans, those may take longer.  Yes, even if it’s cool outside.  As long as there is direct sunlight, they will dry.  When you’re ready, bring them in. All the clothes are already on hangers, so just stick them in your closet.
Once upon a time we had a lot of drama about laundry.  We had fights over whose turn it was, how much Tide to put in, and who was going to clean the lint trap.  When the dryer broke, I absolutely agonized over the three hundred dollars it would take to buy a new one.  That three hundred dollars meant going without cable for two months, it meant scrimping for groceries and paying a late fee on the phone bill.  It was more than an entire paycheck, just to dry clothes!
Today that same dryer is sitting in our laundry room in disuse.  We have it, for emergencies.  A drink spilled on a work shirt, perhaps, that needs to be worn in 30 minutes.  It’s good for fluffing up pillows, on the no-heat setting. It wasn’t worth the stress or the tears or the three hundred dollars we put into it all those years ago.  It’s basically a glorified shelf for our detergent now:
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So today, I challenge you, broke person.  Don’t wear those grungy jeans for one more day.   Do a load of laundry, as frugally as you can.  Measure your detergent carefully, hang your clothes to dry.  Your clothes will last longer, your utility bill will be lower, and you will have a few minutes of peace and quiet outside.  It’s less wear and tear, less electricity, and less stress, and that’s a minimalist win.
If you do choose to dry your clothes in a dryer, beware of over-drying as that can cause static and extra wear and tear on your clothes.  Clean out your lint trap, it will make your clothes dry faster and reduce the risk of fire.  If you are too broke to have dryer sheets, wool dryer balls are pretty cheap and effective for fabric softening and reducing static.  We have also heard that you could use tennis balls or a couple balls of wadded up aluminum foil for this purpose.
Happy washing!
Some links: homemade detergent at TSD, and Mr. Electricity’s opinion on dryers.
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escapewithbts · 3 years
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Recovery Confessions - Yoongi
Not edited, I’m sorry for mistakes!
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You stumbled out of the elevator and into the hallway, almost falling over from all the stuff you were carrying. A duffel bag was slung across your shoulder, an iced americano and iced caramel latte in a cup holder in one hand, way too much take out food consisting of different kinds of noodles and gimbap in a large brown bag in the other... how you made it this far without a disaster was beyond you.
Finally you made it to the end of the hall and set the food down before knocking on the black wooden door in front of you. After a few seconds it cracked open and your friend's face appeared on the other side.
"Aiiiishhh (y/n), what are you doing here?" he complained, furrowing his eyebrows and rolling his eyes, "I told you I'm fine!"
You pushed open the door further despite his struggles to keep it shut and then had a plain view of the living room. Dishes were all over the coffee table, snack bags littered the floor, and clothes were scattered all about the couch and chairs.
"Hmm, yeah, I can see that." you answered sarcastically, giving him an I-told-you-so look.
He protested again as you entered his apartment and set your stuff down.
"Seriously, (y/n), I'm fine. I'll clean all this later, okay? I don't need you here."
"Look, Yoongs, that may be the case and that's fine. I'll leave if you want me to! But I did buy way too much take out, so you have to at least help me eat it."
He looked at you annoyingly.
Then you held up his cup of coffee and shook it gently.
"And look! I brought you an iced Americano!"
His face immediately perked up as he reached for the drink.
He then took a long sip before mumbling,
"Fine, I'll eat with you."
You smiled proudly.
"Ha ha, I knew the Americano would do the trick ."
He rolled his eyes again but smiled.
You cleared a space on the coffee table, setting the dirty dishes on the counter in the adjoining kitchen. You would get to those later. Then you picked up the clothes that laid about the couch and tossed them toward the bedroom, making a mental note to start a load of laundry after eating.
You spread out all the food and grabbed chopsticks for the two of you as Yoongi sat down gently on the couch.
"So how are you feeling?" you asked, handing him his chopsticks, "How's your shoulder?"
You glanced at the black sling that held his arm and shoulder in place as it rested above a black sack. You couldn't help but feel a little sad.
He grabbed some cold noodles and stuffed them in his mouth before answering.
"It's fine. I haven't really had to use much of the pain medication so far."
You reached for a piece of beef gimbap.
"That's great! The less the better." you replied.
"Yeah, it's just hard to sleep sometimes. I get pretty uncomfortable. And I'm just so fucking bored already."
You couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"You? Bored? No way!" you teased sarcastically.
He glared at you.
"I can make you leave now, you know."
You moved your hands holding the chopsticks back and forth in protest.
"No, no, I'm sorry, that's the only joke, I swear."
You held a hand to your heart in promise as Yoongi shook his head.
There was a pause.
"So what have you been doing then?" you asked curiously.
He pointed to the tv which had an NBA basketball game playing.
"This."
"Watching basketball?"
He nodded, picking up a dumpling.
"And watching YouTube videos. I can't use the keyboard on my computer so I can't make music. I obviously can't play the guitar. I can barely put on pants for god's sake."
"Well," you said in between bites, "I know you don't want my help, Yoongs, but I'm here. So maybe I could at least entertain you a little."
It was his turn to chuckle.
"So you're saying you think you're entertaining?"
You narrowed your eyes at him.
"Hey now! You've been friends with me all these years so I must at least bring something to the table!"
He gestured to all the take out in front of you two.
"Uh yeah, free food."
You huffed, half a dumpling sticking out of your mouth.
"If you hadn't just had surgery, I'd hit you right about now."
He laughed.
"Hmm so I guess this surgery was at least good for some thing."
You cocked your head and smiled at him sympathetically.
"Come on, it will be worth it, Yoongi, you know that. Think how much better you'll feel on the stage when you're healed."
He just hummed in disbelief and shoveled more food in his mouth before turning his attention back to the basketball game.
After a little while you both had stopped eating, too full to continue on.
"I really should take a shower." Yoongi stated, rising carefully from his position on the couch.
"Okay," you replied, watching him walk towards the bathroom down the hall, "Let me know if you need anything."
He sighed.
"I told you, I'm fine," you heard him mumble.
You rolled your eyes. He could be so damn stubborn sometimes.
You took this as your chance to clean up. The stubborn man was going to be gone for at least a little while.
You put the lids on all the containers of your leftovers and took them into the kitchen to place in the refrigerator for Yoongi later. Then you collected all the wrappers and old take out containers and threw them in the trash. You gathered all the dirty dishes and washed them, laying them out neatly to dry, keeping them on the counter so Yoongi didn't have to reach for anything. Finally, you bunched up all the clothes laying around and put them in the washer, dirty or not. Nothing felt better when you were home all day than wearing clean clothes.
Just as you pushed the start button on the washer you heard a voice from down the hall.
"(y/n)!" Yoongi yelled, "(y/n), are you still here?"
You walked to the bathroom door and stood outside.
"Yeah, I'm here, Yoongi. Is everything okay?"
You heard him sigh.
"I can't... I'm having trouble..." he let out a groan followed by a pause.
"Yoongi?" you called, knocking softly.
"I need your help.." he said so quietly you had to put your ear to the door to make sure you heard him correctly.
You hesitated.
"O-okay, can I come in?"
"Um, yeah," he responded, "but don't look, okay? I'm... not fully dressed."
Your face got red immediately. In all your years of friendship you hadn't even seen Yoongi with his shirt off. You knew it was something he wasn't very comfortable with. However, that's not to say you hadn't been curious...
"Alright, I won't look. I'm coming in."
You turned the knob and opened the door, a wave of hot steam exiting around you. You entered, shielding your eyes with your hand to not look at him.
"What do you need help with?" you asked, just seeing his feet on the black tiled floor.
He sighed again.
"I can't get my pants or shirt on. I-I got my underwear on, thank god, but I'm having trouble with everything else."
"Well... how have you been doing it by yourself before?" you couldn't help but wonder out loud.
"Not well by any means, but it really started hurting after my shower this time. I think I may have moved it too much in there. I'm worried about hurting it more."
You nodded in understanding.
"Okay, of course I'll help. But Yoongi, I think... I'll have to look at you. I can't help you dress just by looking at your feet."
You assumed he nodded as he responded with a quiet Okay.
You looked up at him finally, his face bright red and his milky white skin blotchy from the hot shower. He was just in a pair of black boxer briefs that hugged his narrow hips and skinny thighs. You couldn't help but take him in a little. His stomach was in no means muscular, but rather just slightly squishy. His arms and shoulders were nicely toned, though, probably from all the dancing he usually does on a daily basis. His skin looked so smooth and was so bright in this lighting that he looked almost angelic.
But what caught you most by surprise was the area on his shoulder where his surgery had been. There was a large, red, stitched up scar across the blade, and purple and blue bruising covering the entirety of his right shoulder, upper back and upper arm. You wanted to cry the moment you saw it. He must be in so much pain.
"Yoongi..." you whispered, reaching towards it but not touching it.
"Looks brutal, right?" he chuckled softly, “they said it would probably look like this.”
Your eyes began to well up with tears before you could stop them. He noticed right away.
"Aiiiish, (y/n), don't cry, come on!" Yoongi exclaimed, "I'm fine, just help me put on my clothes."
You nodded and wiped the tears from your eyes before grabbing the plaid drawstring pajama pants from the floor next to him. You let him steady himself on you as he stepped into them, and you pulled them up, stopping at his waist and gently tying the strings, your fingers grazing the soft skin of his lower stomach. You noticed goosebumps appear on his skin at your touch, but you didn't dare make eye contact with him at this moment. This small act of helping him get dressed was way more intimate feeling than anything had ever been with him.
You reached over where the matching button up shirt was hanging and held it behind him so he could snake his arms in the sleeves, maneuvering it in a way where he didn't have to move his right arm much at all. Then you returned to his front and buttoned each button before straightening out the collar. Finally your eyes met, but Yoongi quickly looked down to the floor.
"Thanks.." he mumbled.
You cleared your throat and backed away from him.
"No problem. I'll -uh, see you back out there."
Then you turned and walked out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind you.
You felt a little dizzy as you headed back into the living room; out of breath and flustered. Your muscles had been tense without you even realizing it. You plopped back down on the couch and shifted your attention to the basketball game that was still playing on the tv, hoping to drown out the feelings and questions of what just happened back there from your racing mind.
A few minutes later Yoongi appeared in the living room again. His black hair was damp from the shower, the blotchy red still evident on his pale face.
He sat down at the other end of the couch from you. Did he feel as weird about what just happened as you did?
"I decided to take a dose of the pain medicine," he stated, curling his legs underneath him, "I'm not sure what I did differently in there but it really started to hurt."
You frowned. He looked so delicate.
"I'm sorry, Yoongi."
He rolled his eyes.
"It's fine, whatever. Just really fucking annoying. I have to live like this for at least 3 more months? How am I supposed to do that?"
You shrugged and looked at him sympathetically.
"You'll be okay. You're strong, Yoongi. And you did the right thing. Plus, I'm sure after a little while they'll let you participate in at least some promotional stuff with the band so you won't be just sitting around here."
He looked down at his hands and chewed his fingernail in anxiousness.
"And in the meantime," you continued, "whether you like it or not, I've decided I'm going to be here to help you. Because that's what friends do."
You gave a triumphant nod and fully expected him to argue with you at your conclusion, but instead he said nothing. He just looked defeated and it broke your heart.
There was a pause as you looked back up at the tv screen, wondering what you could do to cheer him up.
"You want to watch something else? Maybe a movie?" you asked, reaching for the remote on the coffee table.
"Yeah, sure, whatever." he mumbled in response.
You scrolled through the movies he had available before stopping at one and looking at him.
"Ooh, 'The Dark Knight'! I know it's one of both of our favorites. You want to watch that?"
He just nodded, staring at the ground in silence.
You could tell he was deep in thought, probably worried about his shoulder and his career. You suddenly felt selfish for wondering earlier if he had felt anything back when you helped him in the bathroom. That was probably the farthest thing from his mind at the moment. He had never focused on any of those kinds of feelings before, so why on earth would he now? You pushed the thoughts out of your mind and replaced them with ones that were important in the present.
"Do you need anything? Maybe a drink or a pillow from your bedroom?" you questioned.
He looked up at you finally as the movie began to play.
"Umm, maybe a pillow would be nice..."
You nodded and got up, walking into his room and coming back out, a comfy pillow in hand.
"Here you go."
He shifted his body down a little and laid on his back as you placed the pillow under his neck and head, his slinged arm laying at his side.
"I feel really drained..." he said softly, his eyes fluttering shut.
"Yeah, I imagine the medicine is already kicking in, and your body is tired from all the healing it's trying to do."
He just grumbled a response and let out a soft sigh.
You made yourself comfortable then turned back to the tv to let him fall asleep peacefully.
"If I fall asleep," Yoongi suddenly whispered, sounding half asleep already, "please don't leave me, (y/n)."
You smiled at him gently even though you knew he couldn't see. Things like this rarely came out of Yoongi's mouth but it always made you feel warm and fuzzy when they did.
"I'll be here, Yoongs. I promise."
About halfway through the movie you looked over at Yoongi sleeping soundly. His thin lips were partly opened, small snores emitting from his nose, some of his bangs falling in his eyes. You resisted the urge to move them away. Instead, you grabbed a blanket that was laying on the chair next to you and got up to spread it across his still body. He stirred slightly but instantly started snoring again. You couldn't help but smile.
You decided to go back into the kitchen to finish tidying up while he slept. But as soon as you stepped away from the couch where he lay, you felt a hand wrap gently around your wrist. It startled you and you looked back at Yoongi.
"Mmmmmnnooo..." he groaned softly, eyes still shut, "(y/n)..."
"It's okay, Yoongs, I'm still here. I'm just going into the kitchen. Go back to sleep."
You tried to release your hand from his grasp but he continued to hold on tightly.
"Nooo, (y/n), wait," he mumbled, still not looking at you.
You chuckled softly.
"What is it, Yoongi? Do you need something?"
"I just...you're so... such a good friend, (y/n)." he said, "I-I'm sorry I don't tell you enough. I'm not... good at that."
You smiled.
"It's okay, I understand. I just want to be there for you because, well, I know you would do the same in a heartbeat."
You weren't sure if he was even conscious enough to actually be comprehending what you were saying, or even what he was saying for that matter, but it felt nice to have this conversation.
There was a pause as you realized he was moving his hand down further, suddenly holding your hand in his. Your heart skipped a beat. Should you pull away?
"Yoongi, I-"
He interrupted before you could finish
"Do you ever think we could be more than friends?"
Your felt your heart stop. You looked at him, his eyes were still closed, he looked like he could fall back asleep at any moment.
"What?" you managed to whisper out.
"You're just so... caring and funny, and you're not afraid to challenge me and tease me and I like that. I just..I like you, (y/n)."
You swallowed, your heart racing, you breathing getting heavier. This didn't sound like Yoongi. This was drugged up, exhausted Yoongi. He didn't know what he was saying. He was imagining things. He didn't mean any of this.
But why did that make you feel so sad?
"Yoongi... you're-you're on drugs," you stuttered, finally pulling your hand away from his, "Your mind is a little loopy right now. I don't think you know what you're saying..."
"No, (y/n), fuck I know what I'm saying, okay? I-I do know what I'm saying. Do you?"
You ran a hand through your hair, unsure of what to say or do next. You weren't sure if he was serious. If he could barely open his eyes, how could he make such abrupt confessions?
"Well... maybe you should get more sleep. You seem out of it. Can we... talk about this later?"
He sighed and opened his tired and puffy eyes to look at you. He looked so small and so fragile in this state.
"You're rejecting me," he stated flatly, attempting to sit up more to show he was awake, "Shit... I shouldn't have said anything..."
You shook your head immediately and sat down in the small space next to him.
"No, no I'm not rejecting you," you reassured him, but you were still weary, "I just," you looked down at your fingers, "I just don't know how serious you are right now. You took some strong pain meds, and you're tired from your surgery... I don't want you saying things you... might regret later."
His free hand suddenly reached up to your face to tuck a piece of hair behind your ear and you leaned into his touch. He gave you a lazy smile.
"I would never regret saying those things to you. I mean all of it, (y/n), drugged up or not. How can I prove it to you?"
You bit your lip and shrugged in response, looking into his dark brown eyes. You noticed them glance down at your lips, then back at your eyes as his hand moved to the back of your head.
"Come here," he whispered softly, gently pulling your face closer towards his until your lips were just centimeters apart. He closed the gap between them in a tender kiss. You kissed him back, relishing the feeling of his soft lips on yours, something you had only ever imagined before.
Once you broke away he smiled, rubbing his thumb on your cheek.
"Does that help?" he asked.
You chuckled and fiddled with the collar of his shirt.
"You know, you should be soft Yoongi more often," you joked, grinning up at him, "I kind of like it."
He rolled his eyes and smiled wider, poking your chest gently with his finger.
"Hey, don't get used to it."
You laughed.
"Come on, I won't. I know you better than that."
He smirked at you and pulled you to him again as you shared another wonderful kiss.
*
Masterlist
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tsukiihime · 3 years
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Heartbreak Part 3 (Bakugou x Fem!Reader) (Shinsou x Fem!Reader)
Third part up! Now excuse me, I’m going to play Genshin Impact all weekend! Enjoy!
Word Count: 4.3k
Warnings: Angst, arguments, swearing, drinking
Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
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You shriek in terror as a loud blaring sound emanates from the table in front of you - your heart nearly leaps out of your chest as the sudden noise coupled with the darkness and the horror movie playing in the background fries your nerves with fear. You hear Shinsou laugh in the background, in the kitchen grabbing more snacks as you wait in the dark for him to return. 
“Shut up, Hitoshi!” He smirks to himself - you used his full first name which means you’re angry at his teasing. He chuckles as he makes more popcorn and hears you shuffle out of your blanket cocoon to find the source of the noise. 
You find Shinsou’s black phone vibrating and ringing on the table in front of you under some magazines. On the screen flashes ‘Izuku Midoriya’ as a picture of the freckled boy and your best friend at their U.A graduation appears on the screen.
“‘Toshi! Midoriya’s calling! Want me to answer?” 
“Yeah, let him know I’m busy.”
“‘Kay.” You move to swipe right and answer the phone, but the call ends before you have the chance. On the lockscreen of Shinsou’s phone, the lock screen picture of you two at the Hero Rankings ceremony from two years ago is partially covered by a new banner: One missed call from Midoriya. 
“Oops, I missed it.” You set Hitoshi’s phone back down on his cedar coffee table, returning to wrap yourself back in your blanket as you spot fuzzy purple hair returning from the kitchen, popcorn bowl in hand as well as two cups full of water. “Sorry ‘Toshi, I didn’t answer in time.”
“S’alright, I’ll call him back after.” The two both of you turn your head to the phone as it vibrates on the table to let Shinsou know he’s got a text message, from the very person whose call he missed. “Hold on, lemme answer this…” He opens the message from him, cringing slightly as the bright screen blinds him in the total darkness. You help yourself to some popcorn as you wait for Shinsou to give you the signal to start the movie. 
From: Midoriya, sent at 10:39pm
Hey Shinsou! We’re having a small Class 1-A reunion at Shoto’s place this Friday - want to come? Everyone would love to see you! Let me know!
Shinsou leans back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. You cock your head in confusion. “What’s wrong ‘Toshi?”
“Class reunion at Shoto’s. Don’t wanna go.” He covers his face with his hands, groaning as he thinks of an excuse not to attend. 
“Why not? You haven’t seen Midoriya or the others in a long time.” Shinsou isn’t antisocial but he’s rather introverted; he prefers the company of cats and a few trusted friends over a loud party. Add in work and he basically only sees you on a regular basis. “I think you should go, it would do you some good.” Your purple haired friend looks at you sideways.
“Kaminari is gonna drink.” You snort, snickering at his aversion to the combination of the Stun Gun Hero and alcohol. Denki is one of the few people Shinsou gets along with despite his ditzyness, and Kaminari often tries to include Shinsou in mixers and parties much to his dismay. Last time Shinsou went drinking with Kaminari, they ended up in a pool with some of their classmates and in his drunken stupor, Kaminari almost activated  his quirk and fried everybody in the pool. Ever since then, Kaminari needs a designated partner to watch him when he drinks, which usually falls to Shinsou, Sero, or Kirishima. “And if he drinks, I can’t, which means I can’t enjoy myself.”
“Isn’t it Sero’s turn to watch him, since you did it last time? 
“Huh, you might be right. If I don’t have to watch that idiot, then I’ll probably go. Wanna come?” You raise an eyebrow.
“I wasn’t invited ‘Toshi. Besides...I didn’t attend U.A so it would be strange to have an outsider come around, right?” You give him a small smile to show you’re fine without going, but Shinsou knows better. You don’t want to go because you could run into Bakugou. He sighs, and turns to look at you. “Oh! Tell Denki and Sero I say ‘hello’. I miss playing video games with them when I used to go to parties.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll go and visit everyone. I’ll tell them you said hello. Now, can we get back to the movie? Your favorite part is coming up.” He snickers as you immediately dive under your blanket to avoid seeing the scene that makes you have nightmares every time it comes on. As you cower under the covers, Shinsou howls with laughter as you scream. 
You don’t even hear your phone ringing in the bedroom, faint and drowned out by you and Shinsou’s voices. A message flashes across the screen:
One missed call from Katsuki.
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Bakugou listens to your voicemail message play in his ear, despondent as you fail to pick up. He relishes in the opportunity to hear your voice again though, and closes his eyes as your message begins to play. 
“Hey! Sorry I’m not available to take your call at the moment. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!” 
He can see you in his mind’s eye, lounging on the couch and flipping through channels as you try to find one of those true crime documentaries you love so much as you settle in for the night. Or maybe you’re busy with homework for school again, or staying late at work since you always wanted to work more hours to be more independent. He can see you crashing in bed after a long night - fuzzy cat hairband on your head holding back your hair, face freshly washed, wrapped in the yellow blanket you loved so much. His shoulders feel heavy as he solemnly trudges back to his group of friends, taking one last look at his lock screen before he returns inside: a picture of you and him at the arcade, with you beaming with happiness as you hold up a large stuffed bunny he won for you with all the tickets he earned that night. He wonders if you still have it.
His reminiscing is interrupted by an incoming call from Deku - a picture of Izuku and Katsuki appears on screen, taken at a school function in their third year of high school. He lets out a small ‘tch’ but answers the phone anyways. “What do you want you damn Deku?”
“Hey Kacchan,” Deku answers unfazed, “just wanted to let you know that Shoto’s having a reunion at his place this Friday - wanna come?” Katsuki sees Todoroki on and off for his Hero work, and he gets along with both Shoto and Izuku way better than he did in high school, even if the rivalry is still present - in his case anyways.
“Hell no.” Bakugou hangs up the phone, shoves it in his pocket, and angrily pulls open the door to return to the apartment of his friends. On the other side of the phone, Izuku smiles as knows Bakugou’s group of friends will drag him to the function whether he likes it or not. 
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When Friday rolls around, you busy yourself with laundry as Shinsou gets ready to attend the reunion at Todoroki’s downtown skyscraper apartment. You try not to think of your ex-boyfriend and the possibility that your best friend may run into him as you throw your clothes into the washing machine. You also try not to think of the fact that you received a call from Bakugou, a call you missed and didn’t have a voicemail attached to it. You contemplated calling him back to see what he wanted, but your pride and fear of rejection holds you back. So instead, you choose to act like it never happened - but your heart races every time a text or call notification thinking it’ll be from Katsuki. 
Your phone rests next to the washer on the shelf containing the laundry detergent and scent balls - it sits unlocked as you finish your first load of clothes. You pick it up, scrolling through the endless text as you try and find a new home. You’ve decided that you’ve overstayed your welcome at Shinsou’s apartment, and you’re now looking for one of your own. You’ve been working an insane amount of overtime, and now that you’ve raised your credit score, you feel ready to search for an apartment to call your own. Hitoshi of course has been protesting since he doesn’t feel that you’re a burden but you insist on getting out of his hair. It isn’t around and on the highest volume possible so you can answer the phone if Katsuki calls again, no siree. 
As you stare at your phone screen and walk back to the living room, you bump into Shinsou as he makes his way to grab his keys, knocking your phone to the floor. “Oh! Sorry ‘Toshi, I wasn’t paying attention.” 
“S’okay. I’m ‘bout to go, you need anything?” He bends over to pick up your cell and places it back in your hands. He’s wearing a dark green bomber jacket with a simple white v-neck underneath, complimented with black jeans and he holds a pair of Vans in his hands as he makes his way to the door. 
“I’m good, make sure you have fun, drive safe, and if you drink call me so I can get you, ‘kay?” You give him a quick hug, quickly noticing that he’s sprayed on some cologne. He smells amazing, but you wonder why a pang of jealousy courses through you when as you wonder why he put on cologne for a party full of friends. 
“Will do. See you later.” You see him off, locking the door behind him after he leaves. You return to the living room, alone and without plans. So, you decide to order some takeout, watch some Netflix, and stay up with your phone nearby in case Shinsou calls you for a ride.
It’s not so you can answer a call from Bakugou if he decides to call again. No way.
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Shoto’s apartment is the probably the swankiest place owned by any of the Class 1-A graduates - in the heart of downtown, with ceiling to floor windows overlooking the cityscape and a private rooftop. Shinsou feels out of place as he makes his way up in the elevator, meeting Ojiro and Hagakure on the way. He says his greetings, makes small talk, and finally arrives at his destination - Todoroki’s apartment. He says hello to everyone, and moves to grab a beer. Lilac eyes meet vermilion ones as he comes face to face with Bakugou for the first time since everything happened with you. The Bakusquad notice Bakugou’s icy expression and turn to see who has gained his ire; they’re surprised to see Shinsou standing at the end of their friend’s glare.
“Dude, what’s your problem with Shinsou?” Kaminari asks innocently. Mina and Sero shoot him a look, causing him to cock his head in confusion. He mouths a silent ‘what’ to Sero, Kirishima, and Mina, who mouths back your name. He instantly shuts up and changes the subject. Bakugou can’t hear what his blonde friend is saying though, because he’s too busy staring holes through Shinsou’s back. He’s never had a problem with Shinsou before he met you, but every time he looks at the purple haired man he can’t help but feel intense jealousy and anger that bubbles up from within. He imagines you wearing Shinsou’s clothes, and sleeping at Shinsou’s place and he can’t control the rage that comes with it. He abruptly stands, grabbing two beers and walks off.
“Hey, where are you going?” Kirishima asks.
“To get some fresh air dammit!” Bakugou opens the door to the rooftop and forcefully slams it shut. The Bakusquad share a look with one another. 
“He must still be hung up on her.” Denki states nonchalantly, and Mina elbows him in the stomach. 
“Of course he is, you idiot! He loved her more than anything. You saw how miserable he was when she left.” This statement catches Shinsou’s attention, and after excusing himself from his conversation with Izuku and Uraraka, follows the Explosion Hero to the rooftop.
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Although he tries to quietly sneak behind Bakugou as he makes his way to the rooftop, he fails miserably. “Why the hell are you following me Eye Bags?” 
“Huh, didn’t think you’d hear me. I was wondering why you were out here to drink by yourself. I take it you didn’t want to see me?” Bakugou turns around, veins popping out on his forehead as he gazes upon Shinsou in distaste. 
“Of course I didn’t want to see you, you damn extra. You got rocks for brains or somethin’?” Shinsou keeps an even expression as he faces down Bakugou as the sounds of the city play below them. “Well, why are you following me?” He repeats, crossing his arms.
“I just wanted to get some fresh air.” He lies, moving to the railing next to Bakugou, who looks at him with caution. The two men stand in silence, occasionally sipping from their beers as they watch the city they protect from on high. After what seems like an eternity, one of them breaks the tension and silence.
“How is she?” Shinsou looks sideways to see Bakugou staring at his beer can, emotions unreadable as he takes another swig. 
“Fine. A lot better than before. She’s thinkin’ of moving into her own place by next month. Told her she could stay with me until she’s ready but she’s insisting on moving out.” Bakugou’s eyebrow twitches in envy, and it takes almost all of his energy to hold back his tongue. 
“Good for her. She’s always been independent like that.” He slightly smiles as he recalls how self-sufficient you are, working hard to get what you want in your work, school, and love. He quickly wipes it off his face though so Shinsou can’t see.
“Yeah, too bad people take her for granted sometimes.” He knows it’s a low blow but he can’t help himself - Bakugou deserves it for treating you the way he did. “Can’t believe you’d fuck up something so good with someone like her.” Bakugou narrows his eyes in displeasure, his rationality hanging on by a thin thread as he convinces himself to not punch Shinsou in his face because you’d be upset if Hitoshi came home with a black eye and bloody nose. Katsuki decides to let that comment slide - he’s not as hot headed as he once was - and continues the conversation.
“I tried callin’ her last week. She didn’t answer.” He doesn’t know why he says it out loud, but he can’t stop the words from leaving his lips.
“Oh? She didn’t tell me.” Katsuki’s blood boils, and his jealousy reaches its breaking point after he hears that. Shinsou is taken aback by his words though - why didn’t you tell him? You tell him everything - even if it seems minute. He’s a bit hurt that you would hide that from him, but he stops it from showing on his face.
“And why would she? You’re not her boyfriend. You’re just a friend.” Shinsou bristles visibly at that statement - he can’t hide his discontent from showing on his face as Bakugou points out what he already knows. He is just a friend in your eyes, someone who you can count on no matter what. But the lingering touches, the ghost of your lips on his forehead, the cuddling he can’t help but desire - he wants more. He wants you in a way he can’t have, and he feels horrible for desiring you in this way when your heart has been broken. His face grimaces as the guilt creeps up his throat - he wants and yet he can’t tell you. He craves you in a way he’s never had for anyone else and at the worst possible time, his once innocent friendship with his childhood friend has devolved into longing and pining for you when you are emotionally unavailable. Bakugou watches closely as Shinsou’s face changes from his words, and his eyes widen as he puts two and two together.
“You bastard, you’re in love with her.” Bakugou says it low, growling it out through clenched teeth. Shinsou is taken aback for a second - he loves you of course, but is he in love with you? He thinks back on his life and sees you always next to him: smiling, encouraging him, holding him when he’s had a bad day, studying with him when there was a big exam coming up, calling to congratulate him when he entered U.A, and catching a train to see him graduate the Hero course. There’s no doubt in his mind - you’ve been a staunch supporter of his dreams and ambitions and he can’t see a life where you’re ever away from him. Like a puzzle, everything clicks into place. He knows it from the bottom of his heart, the deepest recesses of his soul.
He loves you. Deeply, truly, with every fiber of his being. He’s in love with you, his best friend.
“And if I am?” Vermilion eyes narrow, teeth grinding as he clenches his fists. Bakugou looks Shinsou straight in his eyes, fury radiating from every single pore of his body.
“You droopy eyed bastard. How long have you been waiting to swoop in and take her away from me? Just waiting for me to mess up, haah?” His words are dripping with venom, little sparks shooting out of his open palms. Shinsou isn’t sure if Bakugou will attack him or not, but he can sense that the blonde is so pissed he could blow up the entire rooftop. He backs away from the railing, never turning his back to Explosion Hero.  “How many times have you comforted her just hoping she’d give you the time of day? You think you’ll be able to make her happy Eye Bags? You may be her best friend, but I ain’t gonna sit here and let you talk down to me like you know all about what she and I had. There’s no one else for me and you know it.”
Shinsou sneers, staring at the man in front of him with disdain. “Bullshit. I was at your apartment Bakugou, I know for damn sure she isn’t the only thing on your mind.” Bakugou’s eye twitches in white hot rage.
“Haaah? What bullshit are you on now jackass? Making up stories to make yourself feel better for falling in love with my girl?” Shinsou narrows his eyes in irritation, envisioning your face as he holds you the night you saw Bakugou at the Hero Rankings, as you sob into his chest as he pets your hair. He recalls making you food, leaving it out for you to eat before he goes to patrol and coming home to find it untouched. He remembers how he had to remind you how beautiful you were, how the comments about your body and looks on social media didn’t mean anything because you were perfect just the way you are. Bakugou didn’t see how broken you were, how he shattered your heart and left you to pick up the pieces while he hopped from bar to bar and brought a date to the award ceremonies when he wouldn’t even acknowledge your existence as his girlfriend. 
“I was there at the apartment when she went to pick up her things. You had some underwear in your bedroom. She saw it, and I did too. Now, who did that belong to Bakugou?” He smirks, watching as the face of the blonde in front of him contorts in confusion and regret, now realizing that you had seen his almost one night stand’s underwear when you came to grab your things only a couple of days after you broke up. “Was it some girl you met while bar hopping? Or was it Camie’s? I didn’t know you had a thing for her.” 
“Shut up. Shut the fuck up. You don’t know shit.” Bakugou runs a hand through his spikes, a combination of shame and hurt painting his features. He looks up, glaring at the purple haired man in front of him. “You don’t know what it’s like. To have the person you love walk out on you and to know that you fucked up. I didn’t want to think about her, about us.” His lips purse together, his nose and throat become itchy as tears threaten to spill over at any moment. “I just wanted to forget, okay?! Is that what you wanna hear you bastard? I didn’t want to spend all night thinking about her!” He’s yelling now, his voice reverberating from the rooftop, spreading out into the city under the moonlit sky. Shinsou’s eyes widen in surprise at Bakugou’s outburst, lilac orbs staring unblinking at the man in front of him. He doesn’t think Katsuki is lying, he never hesitates to say what he thinks about anyone, whether they be a friend or a foe. 
“Whose underwear was it?” Shinsou asks lowly, bracing himself for his answer.
“Don’t remember her name. It was a girl from the bar, reminded me of her. I made her leave before anything physical happened. I only kissed her. Didn’t even know she left her clothes.” Bakugou recalls that night, alcohol coursing through his body, craving body heat and another person’s touch. He swallows thickly, imagining your face as you find that foreign underwear in the room you once shared, quickly dispelling that thought from his mind when he remembers your heartbroken expression.
“And what about Camie? I wasn’t home when the rankings aired,” Shinsou crosses his arms as he leans against the edge of the rooftop, “but I know she saw it.” Bakugou grits his teeth in anguish - how much hurt had he caused you without even knowing? How many nights had you cried while thinking he had moved on? He was such a damn fool.
“We went as friends. She wanted to make Inasa jealous enough to make a move on her. I didn’t think,” Bakugou looks up to stare at the lavender eyes boring into him, “...didn’t think she’d be watching. She always hated that kinda shit.” Shinsou’s eyebrows knit together in anger, red flashing in his vision as his entire body shakes as he clenches his fists to calm the fury bubbling up in his chest.
“She hated it because you never used to take her to one. God, you are such a fucking idiot Bakugou! That’s why she left you! You are selfish. You cared more about your damn rank and your stupid one sided rivalry with Deku that you couldn’t even tell the world you had someone you loved. When those people attacked her on social media, you didn’t lift a damn finger to stop the hate she was getting. You listened to your agency like a damn puppet, and let her take the fall. When all she did was love you. It wasn’t even about the attention of being a Hero’s girlfriend, she just wanted you to be proud of having her by your side, to have you not be afraid to show the world you cared about her. But you didn’t. She’s given you so much but you don’t even care. You can’t even get your head out of your ass to-”
“You don’t think I care? I’ve regretted not telling her how much she meant to me that night! I regret letting her leave that night in the rain, and I sure as hell regret letting her cry herself to sleep all those nights!” Bakugou’s hands squeeze in fists, nails digging into his palms and teeth grinding together as he wills himself not to cry.
“I never, never wanted to make her feel like she wasn’t good enough. I never ever wanted to be the one to make her cry. You don’t think I’d take it all back if I could? I miss her Shinsou, is that what you want to fucking hear? I miss her.”  The spiky haired blonde refuses to let Shinsou see him cry, holding back tears while scarlet orbs stare into purple ones. “I’ve missed her since she left and I fucking miss her more everyday. I’m not an idiot, I know I fucked up bad.” Shinsou’s expression softens slightly, he can sense that Bakugou’s telling the truth and he can hear the regret in his shaky voice. He sighs, looking down at his shoes. 
“Look, I may have feelings for her, but she doesn’t know and I don’t care to let her find out - not now anyway. I’m not trying to ruin your relationship or hurt your chances at getting back together because I know she loves you.” Shinsou rubs the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. I let my anger get the best of me tonight. I’ll leave you up here to get some fresh air. I’m going back to our friends, I’ll let them know not to bother you.” Bakugou nods, and turns silently around to continue overlooking the city as his eyes burn from the sting of tears. Shinsou leaves, and after he hears the door close, Bakugou lets the tears he’s held back flow freely from his eyes as he remains on the rooftop. 
Sniffling, he stares at the streets below while he tries to get his emotions under control - the great Katsuki Bakugou will not be seen crying - especially not in front of his friends. He feels a vibration in his pocket, and considers ignoring it, thinking it’s Kirishima or Kaminari calling him to come back. He pulls out his phone to deny the call.
Instead of Kaminari, he sees your name flash across the screen.
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Stalker X Stalker, Part 7
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Perma tag: @nathleigh @peachmuses
Stalker x Stalker taglist: @aespades @jayjayspixiepop @blueslushgueen @fan-written @seraphichana @nerd-nowandforever
No I didn't get carried away with writing domestic fluff and forget to do the one thing I was supposed to with this chapter I'm a professional and would never do that
It took a long time for Tim and Cass to convince Marinette that, no, it wasn’t a trap, it was just a normal Halloween Party. It took even longer to explain what a Halloween Party really was, because apparently it wasn’t a huge deal in France.
But, eventually, she got it:
“Okay, so every Rogue and vigilante has to go to his Halloween Party in stupid costumes… or else?”
Tim nodded. “Rogues have to go because he’ll be insufferable, we have to go because otherwise we’re leaving a bunch of Rogues alone together without supervision.”
“And it really is just a Halloween Party?”
Cass flashed two thumbs up.
Marinette still looked a little confused. “And we… we want to babysit the Rogues?”
“They mostly behave themselves. Again, Crane can be insufferable when he wants to be and they have to spend a lot of time with him in Arkham.”
“I guess that’s cool then…” Then, a thought seemed to occur to her because she brightened up. “Is Nightwing coming?”
Tim nodded, suddenly a lot more wary. “Yeah, both he and Flamebird drop by for most holidays, anyway, so they might as well… why?”
She blushed a little. “I kind of wanted to see if I could get him to train me. I think his fighting style is pretty cool.”
Tim was not jealous or annoyed that Marinette might like two of his brothers more than him. He was fine if she liked Cass more, because Cass was, well, Cass. But Dick? Damian? Come on!
At least he had a month before the party to prepare himself.
For now, he glared at Cass, because she was laughing at him behind her hand.
Then he remembered that Marinette was still there and was watching the two of them interact with a vaguely confused expression and he pulled himself together: “I don’t know if he can teach you much since he’s usually in Bludhaven, but I used to be obsessed with the guy and I know all his moves by heart.”
She tipped her head to the side, considering, then smiled at him. “Sure. Thanks, Red, I owe you one.”
He tried to hide his relief behind a smile. She smiled and blushed, so he was pretty sure it worked.
~
Marinette smiled as she scrolled through the Batinternet on her phone (they’d finally given her the password! She no longer had to waste data!). The batkids were all working on the computer, trying to hack into their father’s files to see their Christmas presents.
She didn’t get why they were doing it then, it wasn’t even Halloween yet. Still, they insisted that Batman was always prepared well before the holidays hit. She was curious about what they’d find, if anything, so she waited as Red Robin hacked their dad’s files.
Loud cheers erupted from the others, which meant they must have found something.
“... right, Ladybug, yours is easiest to get into… he probably didn’t expect you to try… he’s getting you an Xbox and a bunch of games to go with it.”
Her gaze shot up and she surged to the front of the group to see. “Really?”
Red Robin pointed at the screen and she blinked a few times. Yep, that was a customized Xbox. Wild.
Then her shoulders slumped. “Damn, I was only kidding. If I knew he was actually going to get it I would’ve asked for a Playstation.”
She continued looking at all the ‘random’ games Batman had bought her (he was suspiciously good at guessing what she liked), completely oblivious to the fact that she had accidentally started World War III right behind herself at the casual mention of a thing she wanted.
She glanced back at them once during their fight and they straightened instantly, innocent smiles in place. The hand Red Robin had in Robin’s hair turned into a hair ruffle. Black Bat had turned the way she gripped the collar of Spoiler’s shirt into pulling her down for a hug. Signal’s eyes stopped glowing under his domino. She smiled a little and turned back to the screen to look at the rest of the games. Fighting resumed.
Or, at least, it did until Marinette saw the file name.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
“I knew you fuckers took my blood,” she hissed irritably.
She wasn’t exactly scared, the bats seemed generally well-intentioned, just paranoid, but that didn’t mean she liked it. They stole her blood to figure out her identity without asking.
They all tensed up behind her and looked at each other awkwardly.
Robin was first to snap out of it. He swatted Red Robin over the back of the head. “Look what you’ve done, Drake.”
Marinette blinked and then pulled her gaze back to Red Robin. “Drake?”
The batkids looked at each other awkwardly. Except for Red Robin, who was glaring at his youngest brother.
Spoiler was the first one to come up with an excuse: “It’s an older codename. We told him to come up with something original since everything else he’s used has belonged to someone else first… and that’s what he came up with.”
She considered whether Drake really confirmed that Red Robin was Tim Drake-Wayne. On one hand, yeah… but, on the other hand, was he really that stupid? Would he really use his own last name for a codename?
She supposed that, in all her time knowing Tim and Red Robin, he had never shown himself to be original. Smart, sure, but a little unoriginal.
So, yeah, Tim was almost definitely Red Robin.
But she was prepared to ignore it for now. Every bat seemed tense at the idea of her learning their identities, so she played dumb:
“It’s not that bad of a codename. Dragons are pretty cool.”
She could feel Black Bat still staring at her, but everyone else relaxed almost imperceptibly.
“He didn’t base himself off of dragons, he chose male ducks,” Robin informed her.
She blinked. “Why the hell would he choose ducks?”
Signal snapped his fingers and started pulling out his phone. “Oh, Mari -- can I call you Mari? -- you should see his outfit.”
Red Robin realized he was about to get murdered for his younger self’s outfit choices and tried to snatch the phone away.
Unfortunately for him, while he was concentrating on Signal, Black Bat had sidled over to Marinette. She tugged her arm to pull her attention from the two fighting boys and then showed her the picture.
Marinette stared at the ugly cockroach outfit for a long time before taking a deep breath: “Alright, first of all...”
~
Tim… he was fine.
Okay, no, he wasn’t.
The tracker was better, he would admit. She had even started wearing more red and black so she could wear the necklace more (something that made him feel all fuzzy inside), but she wasn’t wearing it every day and he couldn’t exactly tell if the necklace was there because she was home or if it was there because she’d worn a different outfit.
So, he only had one solution: randomly dropping by to do chores with her.
It started off with the ‘might as well’ principle. They were already out for photography and getting ideas for outfits, why not pick up some groceries while they were on their way back? She could even carry more since there were two of them.
He quickly dropped pretenses, though. The one time every few days that they hung out wasn’t enough to keep her in the house, and even if it was she clearly wasn’t fond of staying inside for long periods of time. He started dropping by every day to just go out with her.
He could tell his family was getting a little suspicious about what he was doing, Steph and Cass both narrowed their eyes at him whenever they saw him leaving the office at a normal time and once he had caught Duke following him to see where he was going… but it was fine. They weren’t going to complain about him actually getting some sort of down time.
And, he had to admit, it was nice. Not only did resting his brain for an hour or two a day do wonders for his mental health, he just… enjoyed doing chores with her? He didn’t think he would. He’d expected to like it the first few times, the novelty of going on his first grocery shopping trip or figuring out how a laundromat was always going to make it interesting and new for a bit, but it didn’t seem to be wearing off.
He was pretty sure that was because of the person he was doing it with, though.
He smiled as he watched Marinette half-climb the supermarket shelves for a bag of Takis.
“Need help?” He called.
“Nope!”
He watched her jump a few times on the lowest shelf before, eventually, climbing up another shelf.
Tim winced and surged forward to support her weight a little.
She huffed and grabbed the Takis. He set her down.
She crossed her arms. “I said I could get it.”
“I trust you. The shelves? Not so much. Do you want to die crushed under a bunch of chips?”
Her halfhearted glare morphed into a grin. “If I die any other way you have to promise to resurrect me so I can do it again.”
He rolled his eyes. “How about I resurrect you and you try not to die again for a while?”
“Hm… I guess that’d be alright.”
Then, at the laundromat, Tim saw a bunch of Two Face’s henchmen. How did he know that they were henchmen? The black and white suits kind of gave them away.
He was just wondering whether it was worth it to try and call Duke over so they didn’t risk something happening when he realized that Marinette had slipped over to them.
But she wasn’t concerned as she offered some of her detergent. “Hey, if you need to wash lights and darks together like that… you’re going to need a different detergent. I know those are cheap but there’s a reason for that.”
“Isn’t that just an old detergent problem?”
“No, separating every single color into a different load is. But, if you want to do pure black and white like that… you don’t want to risk it.”
Then she turned and glared at another goon, who was pulling their luckily still okay clothes out of the washer.
“You’d better not be putting that in the dryer.”
The sheepish look on the henchman’s face was answer enough.
She huffed. “That is airdry only why would you do that --?!”
And that’s how they ended up friends with -- and possibly under the protection of? -- a bunch of henchmen. Tim had to admit, they were really nice when he and Marinette weren’t trying to get them thrown in jail. He almost found himself slipping and hoping that Frank managed to achieve his mob boss dreams. He actually did offer to babysit Sam’s kids while she had a shift because she seemed very stressed.
“Tim, darling, do you even know how to take care of kids?”
Tim didn’t know whether to blush because she had called him darling oh my god or due to embarrassment at that massive oversight.
“Uh… would you be willing to help?”
Marinette gave him an exhausted look. “I’ve only ever babysat one kid at a time without their older sibling being there to help.”
He quickly changed the offer to paying for a babysitter. Sam was thankful regardless.
When everyone had finished laundering their clothes to Marinette’s satisfaction, the two of them headed back towards her apartment.
Tim changed the position of the laundry basket on his hip so it didn’t dig into him as much. “You know, you didn’t have to help them.”
She snickered. “First of all, you’re absolutely wrong. I couldn’t just sit by and watch them ruin their clothes right in front of me!”
He rolled his eyes, trying to hide the fond smile on his face. “And second of all?”
“Secondly…” She let him into the house and closed the door behind him. A cheeky smile formed on her face. “Well, they’re henchmen. Don’t you think it would be a good idea to have them on our side in case things go wrong rather than indifferent to what happens to us?”
It was here, with her smiling in front of him, intelligence sparkling in her eyes and the necklace he gave her hanging from her neck, that he realized that he was going to fall in love. He might not be there yet but, if they continued doing things like this, he was sure he would.
He wouldn’t mind that, he thought, as she leaned forward to take the basket from him, pressing a kiss to his cheek on the way over. He watched her disappear to her room, no doubt to fix whatever damage he had done while carrying it that would be invisible to anyone but her. He shoved his hands in his pockets and went to start up the coffee machine.
~
There are no botanical gardens more beautiful than the ones in Gotham. Whether that was because Poison Ivy herself tended to them or because they were kept in tip-top shape to appease her, Marinette didn’t know. Whatever the reason, it was gorgeous and Marinette had gotten quite a few different ideas. She pretty much had an entire spring collection planned out…
It was unfortunate that she’d gotten ideas for a spring collection in the middle of autumn, but she was ignoring that.
Now, they were sitting on her couch. They needed to relax after all that walking around on top of a rather exhausting night the night before (Scarecrow had broken out of Arkham to start preparing for his Halloween Party). She was completely in his space in an attempt to mess with him. It, unfortunately, didn’t seem to annoy him as he lazily rested his head on top of hers.
She huffed a little but allowed it.
He fiddled with the settings on his camera, biting his lip.
She looked down at the camera and asked: “How’d you get into photography?”
“... it’s a kind of personal story,” he said carefully. “A little sad, too, I guess.”
She tried to pull back, an apology on her lips, but he just rested an arm around her shoulders and held her close.
“It’s fine.”
She nodded as much as she could with the head resting on top of hers.
They were silent for a long time. She tried to relax herself. There were no akumas in Gotham, it was okay to accidentally upset someone and it was okay to ask them if they wanted to elaborate. They were people, people are supposed to feel sad sometimes. It’s healthy.
She took a deep breath before curling more into his side. “Would you like to talk about it?”
The arm around her tightened almost imperceptibly. “I… I guess I can, sure.”
“You don’t have to,” she said quickly. In fact, she might be a little more comfortable with that. Emotional conversations weren’t a Parisian’s forte.
But he sighed and shook his head. “It’s fine. Our relationship can’t progress all that healthily if we never tell each other anything.”
Yikes. Way to accidentally call her out on the fact that she hadn’t formed a healthy relationship in years, Tim.
“Not that I’m all that great at healthy relationships,” he said after a minute.
At least she wasn’t alone, she supposed.
“No easy way to say this, I guess… my parents weren’t the best. They’d go on trips -- they were archaeologists -- and I’d be left home alone, usually for months at a time.”
She cringed internally and took his hand in hers, rubbing comforting circles into his palm.
He sighed lightly. “So… I was lonely, obviously. I started by taking pictures of my parents. Sometimes it was all I’d have of them for months. They could leave, but the pictures weren’t able to.”
She felt him bury his face in her hair.
“I started following the bats after a while. I don’t know if it was because I wasn’t sated by pictures of just the two of them and decided to expand, if it was because they had a happy family despite a distant father and I wanted that for myself, or if it was because I wanted my parents to find out and be worried about me, or a mix of all of that… but…”
She slowly moved the camera off of his lap and pulled him into a hug. “But?”
He was silent for a bit, thinking over his answer. He shrugged and wrapped his arms around her. “It was an old coping mechanism. A way of feeling connected to people when I couldn’t actually be.”
“‘Was?’ What changed?”
He laid back on the couch and she allowed him to pull her down beside him. “People around me… started ‘leaving permanently’.”
She winced. Oh.
“It hurt a lot more to look at the pictures after that. It just felt like a reminder that I was alone.”
She frowned. “But… you’re taking pictures of me, now.” Her eyes widened. “Shit, did I accidentally trigger --.”
He shook his head quickly. “No, no. Well, kind of, but it’s okay! Every time they’ve died, it was because of some sort of shortcoming on my part. I think I’ve learned from all my mistakes. You… I won’t let you get hurt, okay?”
Marinette didn’t know how to respond. On one hand, she was pretty sure that she should be assuring him that, even if she did end up dying, that he shouldn’t blame himself… on the other hand, she had no intentions of dying and she was pretty sure it was nearly impossible for her, so maybe it was a good thing that he had chosen to protect her of all people? Maybe the problem would solve itself?
She didn’t know.
She carefully took his face in her hands, pulling him to look her in the eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, okay, darling?”
He gave her a tentative smile. “I sure hope you’re right.”
~
He had been asked to stay the night. Her excuse was that she was almost done with an outfit for him and she wanted to give it to him the second it was done and, by the time it would be, it would be too dark to go out safely.
Tim kind of felt bad that he had worried her but he wasn’t going to turn down the offer of staying over and watching her finish the outfit.
But, first, food. They dropped a million takeout menus on the desk. A long silence stretched between them as they looked at all the options.
“... what do you want?” Asked Marinette.
“I’m not in the mood for anything in particular, you?”
She sighed. “I don’t know, do you want anything?”
“I don’t want anything, what about you --?”
This continued on for about three minutes before Tim got a brilliant idea. He dialled Damian’s number and put it on speaker.
“Drake. Why are you calling? Have you been hurt?”
“No, Dami, I’m getting takeout and I was just wondering if you had any ideas.”
Marinette gave him an affronted look, but he clapped his hand over her mouth before she could warn Damian that, no, he wasn’t buying food for him he was just going to be an asshole.
“... I suppose I wouldn’t be averse to Chinese.”
“Thanks, Dami! Hope you can get Alfie to make that for you.”
“What do -- ?”
Tim hung up on his very confused younger brother.
Marinette frowned as he removed his hand from her mouth. “That wasn’t nice of you, that’s a kid.”
Tim was not about to get beaten by his brother in both identities, thank you very much.
“Alfred can cook better than anyone in the world, he’s not going to suffer.”
She snorted. “I doubt he can make food better than…” She picked through the takeout papers for a few moments before holding up a menu. “... this place!”
He squinted at the menu. “... I really hope you can speak Mandarin.”
“You’d be hard pressed to find a language I can’t speak, Timmy,” she said, absently dialling the number.
Well, he supposed that explained how a person from France knew ASL and could speak English like a native. Damn. Now he kinda wanted magical god-earrings so he could speak every language in existence.
She spoke cheerfully to the person on the other side of the line for a moment before turning to Tim. “What do you want?”
“Uh… shrimp fried rice?”
She rolled her eyes and flicked his nose. “Alright, fine, white boy.”
“It’s a safe option okay --!”
She wasn’t listening to him explain why fried rice was the best choice for him because she was relaying the order to the person on the other side of the line. She hung up with a smile.
“Food will be here in about three minutes. Do you rich people have small bills or do you just use them for tissues or something?”
He raised his eyebrows. “They go down to a hundred, right?”
She pressed her lips together thinly, clearly unsure whether or not he was joking.
He snickered and shook his head. “Nah, I think I have twenties and fifties…”
“Yeah, that won’t do. We’re going to get robbed,” she said, reaching into her purse.
“We? Didn’t know I lived here, too,” he joked.
She barely even glanced up from where she was counting money. “Honestly, with how often you’re here, you might as well move in.”
He choked. He wanted to say something smart or funny or smooth, instead all that came out was: “You --? I --? Uh --!”
She snickered behind her hand. “Love, relax, I’m just kidding. You don’t have to leave your fancy mansion with all your siblings --.”
“Wait, don’t make living here sound even better. I will do it purely to get away from them, don’t test me.”
She rolled her eyes with a grin. “Maybe that's the plan, you’ll never know.”
Tim had exactly zero idea whether they were joking or not anymore. The tone and reactions made him pretty sure they were kidding, but… what if they weren’t?
He was just gathering the courage to ask when the doorbell rang, pulling their attention to the food. She continued counting for a second before running to the door and swinging it open.
He walked up beside her awkwardly as she chatted politely to the guy to take the food inside. He knew, logically, that Marinette was actually way stronger than he was… but his stupid brain saw a thin, short woman in need of someone to help her carry things. So, he took it from the guy with a smile.
The delivery guy glanced Tim up and down before asking Marinette something. She laughed and gave a shrug. Tim did not know what was going on but he felt vaguely insulted.
He was definitely learning Mandarin after this.
The moment the door closed he whined about being insulted. She looked amused.
“You know what he said?”
“... no,” he admitted.
Her lips twitched.
“... you’re not going to tell me, are you?”
She snickered and leaned over the two bags of food in his hands. “So, you got the fried rice, right?”
“Mariiiiiiii.”
“Your food is going to get cold.”
“Beeeaaaan,” he complained.
She raised an eyebrow at him, a blush spreading across her face. “Bean?”
He grinned, feeling heat creep to his own cheeks. “I don’t know, I couldn’t think of anything for a nickname. First thing I thought of was coffee beans, so: Bean.”
“Wow, you’re such an addict,” she teased.
He continued pouting at her until she gave in.
She leaned forward to press a kiss to his nose. “He asked if you could use chopsticks or not so he could get you a fork if you couldn’t.”
He felt the blush on his face deepen. “Oh… I can’t.”
“That’s fine.” She grabbed a tote bag from the floor of her pantry and pulled out a set of plasticware.
He blinked. “... you keep plastic forks?”
She shrugged and tossed the bag back in her pantry. “Plastic forks, grocery bags, napkins, a few sets of chopsticks…”
“... why?”
“Some of us are minorities, darling.”
“What --?”
~
She hummed tunelessly as she worked.
Tim had fallen asleep on her shoulder. Had most of this been an elaborate plot to make him finally get some sleep? Possibly.
She didn’t feel all that bad, though. With how much he overworked himself both as Red Robin and as Tim Drake-Wayne… honestly, she was beginning to doubt that he slept at all. And, really, if a vigilante coffee addict with a magically enhanced physique is worried about your sleep schedule, you’ve got problems. Intervention was needed.
Don’t get her wrong, though, she was going to make up for lying to him. She’d move him to her bed and leave a cup of coffee for him on the bedside table. Maybe she’d even make him breakfast, it depended on how tired she was in the morning.
But that was for when she was done. For now, she was working on the last part of the outfit: she needed to lace up the corset. His posture needed a little work and she didn’t have the heart to tell him that to his face.
… besides, corset vests are cute. She wished more guys would wear them.
She smiled to herself as she pulled the last bit of lace through and tied a loose knot. Done.
She looked down at Tim. Loose strands fell in his face as he slept. The tiny wrinkles in his forehead disappeared, making him look much younger. His lips curled into a slight smile at whatever he was dreaming about.
He looked so genuinely at peace. She hated that that was abnormal for him.
She couldn’t help but worry a little about what he’d said earlier. He’d claimed that the reason he had gone up to the top of that building the day they’d met (as Tim and Marinette) was to scout out a location for photography, but now that was seeming like a lie because he apparently preferred taking pictures of people over locations… so, why was he up so high? He’d known it was illegal to be there, so she doubted he thought anyone else would be…
She swallowed thickly.
She didn’t think his mental state was that bad… but, just in case it was, she waved Tikki over for a bug and sewed it into one of his sleeves.
Tikki was looking at her disapprovingly. Marinette ignored her.
It was Ladybug’s job to make sure everyone was doing okay mentally, and she wasn’t going to fail a person she cared about of all people.
His head slipped from her shoulder onto her stomach and she sighed, trying to lightly push him off without disturbing his sleep. It didn’t work. He made a quiet sound in the back of his throat and buried his face in her stomach, his arms wrapping around her tightly.
Well, this is her life now.
… she supposed it wasn’t so bad, though.
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