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ninesixfourtwo · 15 days ago
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The European Football and Club World Cup Podcast
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-zyttf-18d817b Greetings NineSixFourTwo Podcast Fans! Mr NumberNine and The Fool are back with another football podcast. This week the pair review the European League finals, as well as cast their predictive eye over the upcoming Football Club World Cup. You can listen along as The Fool fails horribly at geography as he tries to guess where each club is from,…
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baddawgsports · 4 days ago
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🔵 CHELSEA BOUNCE BACK! 🔵 Chelsea FC 3-0 Esperance Sportive de Tunis! The Blues DOMINATE to reach Club World Cup Round of 16! ⚽ Chelsea & Flamengo advance from the group! 🇧🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Finally firing when it counts! 🔥 #ChelseaFC #ClubWorldCup #Round16 #TheBlues
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wosospacegirl · 4 months ago
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I don't know why I bite - part 1
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Summary: Leah Williamson is determined to prove herself as Arsenal’s new head coach. Everything is going according to plan—until Y/n, the team’s latest signing, waltzes in late on her first day with a ridiculous excuse and even more ridiculous charm. Leah is not amused. Y/n is not taking her seriously. And the season hasn’t even started yet.
Warnings: grumpy x sunshine!!!!
Word count: 4.6k
Masterlist
Notes: I turned this blurb into a multi-chapter fic, this first chapters looks a lot like the blurb, but I added more depth to the characters. It was 2.6k before and now it's 4.6k
..
Leah Williamson became a living legend after leading the Lionesses to yet another victory in the Euros 2025 as the team captain and a defender. 
Unfortunately, 2025 was her last year as a professional footballer, after suffering a career-ending injury at the end of the season.
Leah had been an Arsenal player since the age of  9, playing for Arsenal Academy. When she was 17 she signed for Arsenal as a senior and hasn’t looked back since.
Leah never felt the need to work towards an international career. She loved Arsenal, it had been her family club since it was formed. It was a club that valued community and a club that stood up for women and LGBT rights. 
Arsenal was never just a club to Leah. That was one of the reasons she was so completely devastated when she was injured.
It was the Champions League final against Olympique Lyonnais. Leah had the ball and was getting ready to pass it to Beth when something collided with her knee.
One of the players–a younger and inexperienced one– had tried to take the ball, but the girl didn't measure how fast and hard she was going for the ball. In the end, her boot dislocated Leah’s knee.
In the end, Leah ended up in the grass of the pitch, but that time she was never to get up and play again.
It wouldn’t have been as bad if it wasn’t the same knee where she had torn her ACL years ago.
Leah was completely distraught when she got the news. She isolated herself from everyone she knew, finding it hard to discover another purpose in life. 
She didn’t want to talk with Beth, Alex, or anyone else. Her whole life had been around football and she didn’t know who she was or what she could be without it.
In the following weeks after Leah discovered she wasn't going to play anymore she had a complete breakdown. She was home alone, trying to walk to the kitchen when the TV news started talking about her.
Arsenal had released the medic report that stated Leah was going to retire due to a career-ending injury. It was the first report and update the world had of Leah Williamson since Leah was still hopeful that she could recover from her knee.
 She didn't, and neither Arsenal nor the Lionesses could keep a player who couldn't run. 
The news talked about her whole trajectory in football. 
It stung watching her younger self lifting trophies and scoring goals. If only she knew how miserable she was going to feel for the rest of her life.
And that is how Serina–Leah’s formal Manager– stepped in and invited the blonde to some coffee in North London.
“I think I know what would help you,” Serina said, taking a sip of her cappuccino. 
“Are you going to give me a new knee?” Leah asked, a hint of madness in her voice. Everybody thought they could help her, but in reality, half of her friends couldn’t even understand what was going on inside her head.
Sarina ignored Leah’s mood. “Belgium has one of the best Coaching centres in the world. I went there, Renée too. If you could get a Coaching certificate, you could start working as an assistant, or as a youth Manager at Arsenal. You’ve been there since you were a kid, and with your history Arsenal’s management would be mad not to give you a chance.”
“Manager?”
“Why not? You have a football brain, you have good leadership, and people trust you. You are a full package,” Sarina responded. “Just think about it, will you?”
Sarina left the coffee shop, leaving a contemplative Leah behind.
..
“If you need anything, you have my number.” Renée’s voice echoed through Arsenal’s training grounds.
It was Renée’s last day as the head Manager. Three years ago, Leah went to Brussels and got her Coaching certificate. 
It wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be. Not to be humble.
She was already very keen on football. After eight months of entering the Manager Academy, Leah was ready to start a new chapter of her life: Assistant Manager of Arsenal, alongside Renée.
The whole time Leah spent as Renée’s assistant was very productive. Leah learned a lot from the older woman, but Leah couldn’t wait for the day she would be officially named Head Manager, aka Manager.
As an assistant, Leah had some type of power to make strategic changes during a match and give her two cents on matters of hiring new players, but still wasn’t enough.
Leah promised herself she wouldn’t stop until she became the Manager of Arsenal Women. She would build her dream team and be the best manager she could be. 
She would fight her to be as good as Renée and wouldn't make any of Jonas's mistakes. Leah was ready to give her all to Arsenal again, but this time from the sideline.
And that’s what Leah did.
Renée decided to retire, and Arsenal agreed to sign Leah Williamson—the ex-captain of the England National team and Gunner-born—to their team.
“I have everything under control, Renée. You know I’ve been wanting your Manager position for a long time.” Leah said with a smirk. “The only thing you have to worry about is your wife and daughter, alright, mate? You’ve already done a lot for Arsenal.”
Both Leah and Renée were wearing Arsenal’s matching outfits. They had just left a small farewell party in the Arsenal’s event room; almost all players were there to say their goodbyes to Renée, and of course, welcome Leah into her new position.
Leah had to give a speech, her first speech as a Manager. She was very nervous but didn't show. She wanted the team to know she was a strong, determined and of course, caring Manager. 
“Still, Williamson, if you need any help, tips or even a friendly shoulder, just know that I’m here,” Renée insisted. The older woman was carrying a box in her arms, the outside having Once a gunner, always a gunner written on it.
Leah stared at the box, she had seen Renée packing things up in her office earlier that day, carefully putting pictures, books and even newspaper articles about Arsenal inside the container. 
It being full meant that Leah’s new office was officially ready for her to take in.
Both women walked through the front door of the Arsenal Training Grounds, and a cold breeze met Leah in the face, making the women shiver. Renée looked at the busy street ahead of her until she pointed to a black Audi A3. 
“That’s mine, guess I’ll go then,” Renée said, a bittersweet smile on her face.
There was a woman and a little kid in braids waving in front of the cars. Renées’ family had come to pick her up. Cute.
Before Renée could walk, Leah hugged her. “Thank you for everything, If I ever need you, I’ll give you a call, I’m serious” Renée hugged the blonde woman back before heading to her car.
 Before she could open the passenger’s door she turned to Leah.
“Don’t forget about the new girl coming in tomorrow, Leah. You’ll have to show her around and everything, plus she’s not from the UK, so—”
“Renée don’t worry!  Y/n is coming tomorrow at 9 am, I have everything planned out,” Leah rolled her eyes playfully.
“Alright, alright,” Renée said. “Now it’s all with you, kid.”
Leah watched as the ex-Arsenal manager got into the car and left.
Now that Reneé was gone and Leah was officially alone, she couldn’t help but feel a slight insecurity growing in her chest. She was the one responsible for the team now, her players relied on her. 
She needed to be firm, trusted, sincere and caring. She was the face of the team and she needed to do a good job. She needed to be focused only on Arsenal for now. 
She already had made her name known as a player, now she was going to make her name known as a coach.
Leah Williamson. New Manager, now official.
It was embarrassing to admit but Leah Williamson giggled and skipped toward her office. 
It was the best day of her life. Definitely.
Ok, maybe the second day. 
Nothing compared to winning the euros.
..
Leah thought her first day as Manager would be unfazed. What could go wrong? It was her first day as manager, of course, but it wasn’t like she was completely new to it. She knew the corridors with the palm of her hand, she could name every staff member's family member, and she knew every crack that needed to be fixed and every lamp that needed to be changed. 
Leah bleed Arsenal 
Leah still had the same players from last season–no one had retired or changed clubes–half of which were her former teammates and friends. The players all had their routine schedule with gym time, physio, drill and pitch time.
Nothing changed. Leah’s day was going as planned on her Google Calendar.
“I need this first day to go perfectly. No mistakes,” Leah muttered to herself, closing her eyes for a moment. “I need to prove to everyone that I can handle this. And I will”
But then, Y/n happened.
Y/n, the newest Arsenal signing of the season and the only change of the team.
It was 9:37 am and the girl was nowhere to be seen. The cold bit at Leah’s lips, numbing them, and the tips of her fingers ached from the chill.
Leah was losing her mind. She had the whole day planned. A meeting to go through, hours of tactical footage to analyse, and a schedule that should have been running smoothly–until Y/n ruined it by being late on her first day.
Leah was waiting alongside the media team to greet and officially meet Y/n for the first time. But instead of focusing on the introduction, she was standing in the cold, fighting the urge to scream.
Leah didn’t participate a lot in Y/n’s hiring; it was mostly Renée doing the work of checking her statistics and all the bureaucracy of recruiting someone from another country. She didn’t even agree with Renée at first, she couldn’t see why Arsenal needed another defender.
“Arsenal needs a sweeper,” Renée had argued during one of their meetings. “Someone who is fast, and logical but not aggressive. This kid Y/n is great for the position.”
“She’s young, just finished playing in college football,” Renée continued. “Think of her as your Alessia Russo, but as your four.”
Four being the last defence position in Football.
“Leah, we really have to get going, we need to take solo photos of the players, maybe when Y/n gets here we can try to make a small welcoming video, or something,” Clarice, the media director said as she looked at her watch. “I mean she is very late, and we have so much to do—”
“Yeah, of course, Clarice, you all can go. If she arrives, I’ll give you a call,” Leah said, impatience clear in her voice, but not wanting to also ruin Clarice’s plans for the day, she still had to do pictures with Beth, Lotte and Vic.
Leah was alone in the car park, tapping her foot against the pavement.
How can someone be late for their first day of training? It was clear to Leah that Y/n didn’t care so much about being the priciest Arsenal hiring in the last 10 years since she didn’t worry about actually coming to training.
When Leah signed as a senior in Arsenal she made her mom drop her off 3 hours earlier. She literally helped the staff open the Arsenal training grounds with how early she was.
Leah walked around the car park and looked at her watch. 5 minutes. Leah would wait 5 more minutes and if Y/n wasn’t here, she would go inside, into her office and let the new girl fend for herself.
 Leah was busy and she needed to watch a bunch of matches to study Arsenal’s future opponents, but instead, she was here waiting for this girl like a fool.
9:42 am.
Leah turned around, heading to the door and feeling stupid about waiting on someone who was not coming. At least now she could do some tactical work against Chelsea. 
Before Leah stepped into the building, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder and turned around slowly, not enjoying the non-welcoming physical touch. 
She locked eyes with a girl.
Y/n.
Leah, for some reason, was expecting to find the girl in full footballer mode, perhaps with her hair tied back, or dirty clothing from an intense match, but Leah was not expecting to find a very… cute girl instead. Leah had only watched the videos Renée sent of Y/n on the pitch, so she was rather surprised to see the new girl didn’t naturally have grass all over her hair.
Y/n was wearing what looked to be five layers of clothing and a coat which was way too big for her. She was wearing very inappropriate shoes for the light layer of snow accumulation on the floor. 
It was like Y/n didn’t know how to dress for cold weather. It made Leah angry, for some reason. Maybe she was just grumpy.
Before Leah could blink, the new girl began rambling.
“I am so, so sorry, ma’am,” Y/n quavered, quickly pulling her hand away from Leah’s shoulder as she noticed the frown forming on her face. “You see, my cat ran away, and I had to chase after him and that took me twenty minutes, and then I took the wrong Tube—”
“Huh?” Leah cut in, her frown deepening. The girl was talking way too fast. “Your cat…?”
“His name is Ball,” Y/n explained. “He's orange. You know how orange cats are.” 
Leah frowned even more. The girl in front of her had a strange habit of saying whatever popped into her head. And what was that about orange cats? Since when did colour determine a cat’s personality? Leah wouldn't know–she was a dog person through and through.
And what was she saying about the orange cat personality? Leah didn’t know the colour of a cat mattered. Leah was through and through a dog person.
A heavy silence hung between them.
“What are you on about?” Leah questioned exasperated, crossing her arms.
Y/n fumbled for words. “Ball ran away and that’s why I am–” Y/n glazed at her phone and gasped. “–oh my god, so late!”
Leah sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She should probably be more focused on the girl’s lateness, but one thing was bothering her more.
“Ball? Your cat’s name is Ball?” 
Leah blinked. Once. Twice.
“Uh–football?” Y/n tried weakly. “Okay, forget it, I am so sorry for being late!”
Leah already knew three things about the girl standing in front of her:
She was disorganized and had too much energy, the worst combo.
She had a cat. A cat named Ball.
She was confused.
Leah wasn’t particularly fond of her so far. Maybe with some tough training, she’d be easier to deal with.
“You made me waste half of my morning here,” Leah said sharply “Don’t let it happen again.”
Leah turned on her heels and headed for the Arsenal training grounds. Behind her, she heard footsteps and the squeak of Y/n’s shooed against the pavement. Leah clenched her jaw. The sound was enough to make her want to rip her own shoes off.
“I–I’m sorry, and of course, it won’t happen again, ma’am” Y/n apologized, looking down at her feet.
Leah stopped in her tracks so suddenly that Y/n nearly bumped into her. Leah turned, her gaze was cold.
“Don’t call me ma’am.” She snapped. “It’s Williamson”
Today was supposed to be a good day, Y/n thought. She had written down on her planner everything she needed to do in order to get to the club in time. 
She had printed the map of the Tube so she could get around easily and not get lost, but of course, it didn’t work out and now her new Manager was clearly pissed at her.  
And of course, the woman angry at her had to be THE Leah Williamson, one of the most skilful defenders of all time and one of Y/n’s biggest inspirations. Y/n even had a poster of Leah in her dorm room–and maybe in her teenage bedroom as well.
Y/n had just graduated from her college in biology. The only reason she was able to get a diploma was because she had the opportunity to be an international student-athlete in the USA. It wasn’t easy being away from home and managing a social life with school and football, but she made it work.
Y/n biggest dream was always to play in a good and competitive league after she graduated. She got a handful of offers in the USA Women’s League, but she didn’t want to be in America anymore, she also didn’t want to go to her home country, so that’s why she screamed when she got the proposal from Arsenal.
Renée had first sent her an email asking her if she had any interest in playing professionally after finishing college. Y/n replied right away, telling her that she pretty much had no other choice: football was her one and true passion.
After that first interaction, Renée and Y/n exchange a few more emails. Y/n sent Renée her whole university’s league statistics, as well as some game tapes.
Renée replied that she was excited to have the girl on their team. They used Facetime to talk about important things, like calendars, dates and salary.
Oh, the money. It was more money than Y/n ever had in her entire life. Yeah, it didn’t match the man’s team, but it was way more than she made while working on the weekends as a baby and pet sitter.
Y/n was trying to see the bright side of this situation. She was in a new country, had her own apartment, and she had signed with one of the best teams in the league. 
She was so happy but so terrified of joining Arsenal. Arsenal was a club with history, it was a big club with deep roots in all of London and the UK as well. 
Y/n was grateful that Renée had seen potential in her, she wasn’t bad or anything, honestly, she had a way of tackling without getting fools which was impressive. But from now on her teammates weren’t going to be college girls like her, she was going to be surrounded by world-class players.
Was she good enough for that? Maybe she was just good at college football. Her manager said she was talented and skilful, and her Manager back in college said she had promising features. But it all depended on her now, could she do it? Could she fill up some big girl boots and show good football on the pitch? Y/n would have to wait and find out.
She was sure of one thing: Leah’s treatment of her wasn’t very welcoming. Yeah, maybe she was late and maybe she called her ma’am. She had messed up, but did Leah really need to walk in front of her a few feet away as if they were social distancing?
When Renée talked through her about her signing she did say she wasn’t going to be in the position as Manager much longer, she just hadn’t said Leah was the one stepping in. 
Not that Y/n was mad, she did deserve it after being almost an hour late, she just wished Renée had stayed a little longer to actually give her a good and warm welcome.
“Walk faster,” Leah said, turning her head around, frowning on her face. “We have the whole building to see.”
Does she ever smile? Y/n didn’t think so.
Leah Williamson didn’t look so grumpy on screen
“Sorry,” Y/n said, stepping up the pace.
Y/n was off to a hard start.
Leah was a grumpy Manager, but it was clear how much she loved the club. She was giving Y/n a great tour despite their bad greeting earlier today, but the snappy comments and impatience attitude were still there.
Should Y/n buy her an apology gift? Would Leha like that? What could she do so Leah wouldn’t be so angry at her? She couldn’t have her manager not liking her on her debut as a senior player! That would be embarrassing.
People had told her before she was hard to be around, too energetic, too forgetful, just too much. She thought it would change when she moved to London, but it didn’t seem like it.
“This is the locker and the changing room. You can grab that one on the left,” Leah pointed at one of the lockers, with no identification on its door. “Basic rules: don’t let your clothes or boots lying around, lock your locker and just keep tidy.”
Y/n hated Leah's tone. It was like the Manager wanted to be everywhere else in the world but here with her. But she couldn’t blame Leah, she wouldn’t enjoy it if somebody kept her waiting for almost 50 minutes.
“Look, I’m really sorry about what happened earlier,” Y/n mumbled, following Leah through the corridors. She didn’t know where they were going. Maybe the kit room? “I’m normally very punctual.”
“Hm,” Leah said, sounding indifferent. “Show that from now on.”
Maybe Y/n was going to cry on her first day after all.
Leah took a turn in the corridor and both women were in front of a white door, with “Medical Room” written on it.
The room was fairly normal, having a couple of physios and massage tables. It looked like the place hadn’t been used today, since the tables were all made. A few Pilates objects were scattered around, making the room seem more lived in.
What really caught Y/n’s attention were the photos on the wall. Y/n took a step closer to the wall, leaving Leah behind her.
Kyra and Alessia were smiling, both receiving messages from an older woman, whom Y/n guessed was the physiotherapist. Kim Little was right next to the girls’ pictures, wearing an air cast and using a crutch.
Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead lay on a massage table, holding hands as they smiled for the picture. “ACL couple #1”, written just below it.
Next to it was a picture of Leah, a few years younger — maybe she was Y/n’s age — running in her arsenal kit. “Leah’s first run after ACL”, written in the same way as Vivianne and Beth’s photo.
Y/n felt her heart ache for Leah. Y/n was young, but she remembered how the football world was talking about how much Leah was trying to be back after her ACL tear. Ironic how it wasn’t even that injury that ended her career. 
Leah did everything available, every new therapy, and nothing worked. Sure, she could walk and even run for small periods of time, but she would never come back to football again.
Y/n wondered how Leah felt having to look at that picture every day. Memories of a time that would never come back.
“This is obviously the physio room,” Leah said, breaking the awkward silence that had formed. “I’ll email you the medical staff's schedule. If you ever need anything, you can just talk to them, they’re great”
“And if you need any medical speciality  that we don’t have here, Arsenal will book one for you at the closest clinic to your house,” Leah continued.
When Y/n turned around to talk to Leah, she didn’t expect her to be so close. Their bodies bumped together, making Y/n lose her balance and stumble forward. If things weren’t bad enough, she stepped right into one of the exercise objects on the floor.
Y/n squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact of her head on the wall. But it never came.
Leah was faster.
One hand gripped Y/n’s waist, the other cradled the back of her head, steadying her before she could fall;
“Careful!” Leah muttered, almost like a warning 
And that’s when it hit her
A soft scent–strawberry and… vanilla? It quickly found Leah’s nose, she breathed it in for a second too long before she realised she was holding Y/n’s hip a little too tight.
Y/n opened her eyes, meeting Leah’s gaze just for a second. 
They were frozen in place for a moment.
Y/n’s breath hitched. Leah’s body was pressed against her and she could feel its warmth, well, as much as she could considering Y/n was wearing seven layers of clothing.
Leah’s breath ghosted over her skin. Too dangerously close.
“Hey Mary could you see my knee—”
Y/n and Leah were met with Katie McCabe, her green eyes staring at the two women in confusion.
“Oh– hi?” Katie said. Y/n could swear she heard teasing in the Irish woman’s voice. “Am I interrupting something?”
“What?! No, of course not.” Leah blurted, taking her hands off of Y/n’s body abruptly, if it wasn’t for Y/n’s years of training balance not to get tackled to the floor so easily, she would have fallen again, that’s for sure. 
“I was just showing Y/n’s physio room, but Mary wasn’t even here…” Leah seemed defensive now, looking everywhere but at Y/n or Katie.
“She almost fell,” Leah continued, overexplaining herself and pointing at Y/n accusingly. “She tripped on this thing,” Leah lightly kicked the equipment, it was just a rubber ball. 
Y/n would laugh if Leah didn’t seem so nervous all of a sudden. 
“You know I hate when things are left lying around and–”
“Leah.”
“Yeah?”
“You are rambling,” Katie said, making the blonde close her mouth.
“Why don’t you go do some manager things and I’ll finish the tour with her, yeah? It’s Y/n, right?” Katie offered her hand to Y/n, shaking it firmly. “I’m Katie.”
“Hi, yeah I’m Y/n, so sorry this is how we met,” Y/n said, looking down. “Guess I’ll just go with her if that's okay—.”
“More than okay,” Leah mumbled. “Bye, McCabe, I’ll see you at training.” 
Before Y/n or Katie could respond, Leah had already left the room, a frown on her face.
Katie was a way better host than Leah, showing all the places in the facility without making the young girl feel like a chore. The Irish woman couldn’t help but notice that Y/n wasn’t as happy as new players usually were when they first visited the club, so Katie asked what had happened.
“She hates me,” Y/n confessed as soon as they got to the pitch, the last place on the tour.
Y/n didn’t know why she was venting to Katie McCabe. The Katie McCabe, but she seemed nice enough and Y/n was tired.
“Who?”
“Williamson.” Y/n mumbled “I was late earlier, and everything went south after that. I don’t know how I’m gonna get her to like me, or well, tolerate me, at least”
Katie placed a comfortable hand on Y/n’s shoulder. “She doesn’t hate you, she is just grumpy like that, Leah doesn’t like it when things don’t go the way she planned, she’ll come around.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Of course, it’s your first time at Arsenal, but it's also Leah’s first time as our manager. She never had a new player before; you are her first. Renée was the one handling the greetings and initial meetings with the players. Leah will understand that other people don’t always react in a way she expected.”
Y/n hoped Katie was right.
..
Notes: Please like, share and let me know what you think! Feedback is important and makes me want to write even more. :D
Read more of my work here -> Masterlist
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4ngelrealm · 1 month ago
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𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝟰 𝘂
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chris dixon x reader 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗬 𝟰 𝗨, c. dixon: four months is not enough time to get over someone you love, especially when they show up at your best mate's party. (hurt/comfort; exes to ???; mentions of a previous breakup; angst to fluff)
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There is an excruciating tenderness to the way Chris thinks about the past. A softness to the way he looks at a sunset and remembers the way the gold used to thread through your hair. It's a reverent fondness that flickers into a somber sadness. The gold sets with the sun and leaves him within the deep blue shadows of the late night.
The past four months seemed to be stuck in the deep indigo of melancholy, the kind that usually only creeps up on you in the dead of night, walking the line between memory and haunting. Video shoots were a little less energetic, he didn't go out as much, he left halfway through while watching football with Arthur and George. In a sick way, he wished you'd parted ways like skin from leather in the summer. He wished it ended with a sharp sting rather than a quiet, almost imperceptible closing of a door.
Chris scrubbed a hand down his face, the scent of his aftershave lingering. He looked cleaner than he had in a while, the edges of his beard sharp and his skin freshly washed, but he didn't feel clean. The memories that clung to the most obscure parts of his life━your toothbrush still in the holder, finding a t-shirt of yours between loads of laundry, a lip gloss and hair tie of yours that he'd held onto for you on a night out still tucked into his hoodie pocket.
He met his own eyes in the mirror, running a hand absentmindedly through his hair. Chris ran his hands down his shirt, listening to the muted sounds of his friends pregaming in the other room. He's found excuse after excuse to skip out on going to the bar or the club to the point of being 'sick' six times in the past four months, but there's no excuse under the sun that'd allow him to skip Arthur's birthday.
When Chris finally makes it out of the bathroom he's greeted with cheers and a shot being pushed into his hand. It's a fruitless effort to wave off a tipsy Becky and he downs the shot, letting the warmth of the alcohol wash over him.
The kitchen is a mess of chatter, empty bottles, condensation rings, and bumping shoulders. The birthday boy is glowing, his cheeks pink from the alcohol and a wide smile splitting his face. Arthur bounds over, tripping on the cuffs of his jeans, and slips an arm around Chris' shoulder.
"I invited her." The words are slurred and slightly incomprehensible, but when Arthur says your name something between a flutter and a break happens in Chris' chest. "And it's my birthday so you can't be mad."
The next few moments blur; a text and Becky's squeal of delight, a few people stumbling to the door, and you being dragged into the kitchen. There's a sickening feeling of familiarity that washes over Chris when you walk in. All the moments of you walking into his apartment dressed to go out or holding a bottle of wine and your favorite movie for a date night. All the times you'd made yourself at home in his space and melded with his world so perfectly that he thought it meant forever.
You look lovely, but Chris thinks the word is too soft, too insufficient to describe you. You've always been beautiful, but after he'd been tucked into the space between your ribs and your soul for so long, he found himself admiring more than your looks. Just looking at you Chris knows the intimate curve of your smile and the intensity of your happiness and the softness of your soul. He knows you, instinctively and wholly.
A passing thought tears Chris from his reverie. Maybe he only used to know you and you've changed yourself, erasing the parts he knew so well. It makes him sick and he finds himself reaching for another beer.
Once the group is significantly buzzed, you less so than the rest of them, you split between two ubers and head to the club. By some miracle━or maybe some sick fate━you end up next to Chris in the way back seat, your thigh pressing to his. He tenses almost instantly, trying to shrink in on himself. You guys broke up. He has no right to occupy your space the way he used to.
Between Chris stuck in his own head performing autopsies on every conversation and doing his best not to touch you, barely notices you nudging his shoulder with yours.
He turns. Entirely quick and all too slow. His heart hammers in his chest and he can't tell if it's eased by your smile or if it hurts worse.
"I'm really glad you're here." You say softly and he sees the double-take in your eyes. "I mean━not that you wouldn't be, but... I'm glad I came and you're here."
Chris blinks and he can tell his moment of silence makes you think you've completely fucked it.
He flips between twelve things he could say to you and stutters beneath his breath. "I'm glad you're here, too."
"I think I only came to see you."
The words slip out before you can manage them. When it's late and you're dissecting the events of the night, you'll blame the shots. The air seems to go still and the chatter in front of you goes mute.
The moment cuts as the uber pulls up to the venue and the group spills out of the car. The night air fills your lungs, cold and full. You're gone before Chris can blink, your arm tucked into Becky's as you're dragged into the bar and onto the dancefloor.
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You have no idea how many songs pass and drinks are finished before you find a quiet moment━quiet, meaning music blaring and loud partygoers, but you're no longer in the thick of it. You slip off the dance floor with a deep breath that smells like sweat and musky perfumes and booze. Elbows propped on the sticky wooden bartop you order a water, wanting the haze of the night to clear.
The water is cool as you swallow, calming the buzzing that's thrummed under your skin since you'd been at the boys' flat.
"Hey." It's hesitant in a way you've never known Chris to be.
His hand slides against the small of your back, fingers lingering by your hip. Five months ago, it would've anchored there and he would've pressed a kiss to your shoulder, his body slotting against yours. But time has passed and his hands slip away like a whisper.
"Hey." You say back, your voice already aching━though you don't know if it's from scream-singing the songs or being face-to-face with Chris. "Having fun?"
On the outside, the words are sweet. A simple check in. To Chris they are shattering, a hollow imitation of the love and care the two of you held together.
"I found your sweater the other day." He settles on and cringes. His voice feels too loud, too full, too stumbling.
You smile anyways. "The white one? I've been looking for it."
"Well, you left pretty quickly. Guess it was hard to grab everything."
You sink, stomach churning with embarrassment and regret. You press into him, arm to arm, trying to catch his eye beneath the neon lights. You rest your hand on his forearm, his skin warm just like you remember.
"I regret everything." You say earnestly, voice soft in his ear. "Can we please talk? I understand if you hate me and never want to see me again, but━Fuck, Chris. I need you to know how sorry I am."
He nods and for a second you don't know what it means, but then he's holding on. Chris' hand holds yours softly, loose and barely there but you can feel every point of connection. He pulls you through the crowd and out onto a back patio.
The music seems to mute as the door shuts, the patio bathed in a mix of moonlight and neon lights spilling out through the glass doors. You knew it was cruel to be so optimistic, but the past few months you'd find Chris creeping into your every day even when he wasn't there. You'd play your music, peel an orange, drink your coffee, and call a friend and he was there.
You don't talk. You don't know how to do this and you let the silence lead the conversation until you can calm your racing heart.
"Why didn't you say goodbye?"
Oh. Any thread of sense fell away, the sound of his voice aching like a deft finger pressing into a bruise.
You still and grasp the bannister for balance.
"If I had tried to say goodbye... I wouldn't have been able to leave." You breathe out, stowing your head and letting your hair fall around you like a curtain. "I don't want you to think I left because of you. I left despite you, because I needed to."
Your chest tightens, the ocean ebbing and flowing as Chris presses into your space once more.
"You needed to?" It's slow, testing. Not understanding, but trying. "Needed to get away from me? To what?"
"The last thing I wanted was to be away from you." You let the tears well up and your voice rises in desperation. "You've never left my mind, but it all got too much. The fans, the constant nitpicking of my life, the assumptions... I couldn't do it anymore. I got scared."
"Scared of what?"
You're both desperate now, both grasping at straws trying to find where it all fell apart.
"Scared that I wasn't the one for you, Chris. I saw what people were saying and I got in my head. I thought maybe you'd see it too and they'd convince you it was true."
Chris' hands move to cup your face, holding you like you're something holy and wiping his thumbs across your cheeks like he was tracing the words of his favorite poem.
"You could've talked to me."
"I know, but I freaked. I had already walked out and by then... I just figured you hated me━"
He pulls you in and you melt. You become pliable beneath his palms, and even as you kiss him, you wish you were kissing him. It's soft, but desperate all the same. The kiss is months of mornings without each other and thumbs hovering over each others' contact, but never calling.
"I could never hate you. Darling, I adore you."
You laugh, halfway between relief and disbelief. It's wet and thankful and his favorite sound. He smiles and you know he's telling the truth. He adores you. So you kiss him, and his arms slide to your hips, pulling you in, and you keep kissing him.
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a/n: anyways :)
taglist: @phantomveb @Ilikewaytoomanythingz
151 notes · View notes
lovelyahoy · 3 months ago
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Dr. Stone: One-shot. Word count:5,126.
Warnings: None I think? Maybe fluff and fast-paced. This takes place in high school, so they're like 15-16 here.
(Idea is from a scene in the movie 'Sydney White', sorry if it feels like I forced Stan into the mix lol)
Summary: [Y/N] can't believe she wondered for even a second, if the possibility of new friends was worth ruining her friendship with two very lovable individuals.
Taglist: @akiqvq (Hope you like this haha💖)
Pairing: Stanley x Fem!Reader x Xeno
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[Y/N] clutched the edges of her skirt, a deep blush adorned her face trying to avoid the gazes of the girls standing before her. This was a terrible idea, she knew deep down guilt would overtake her.
"Can't it be someone else?"
"Nope, nerd, and he's your crush? Perfect choice." Maggie grinned, flipping her black hair behind her shoulder. The girls were part of a small little clique, dominating the cheerleading team and anything socially related.
The [H/C] haired girl had just been accepted into the squad, but needed to prove herself to them as a 'friend'. What was the requirement? Ask out one of the boys they deem a loser or awkward, then leave the restaurant, leaving them to handle the bill alone.
To them, it was a quick fun joke, to [Y/N]? Dread. Pure and utter dread was already consuming her from the mere thought of going through with it. Just a few days ago they had invited her to a sleepover, and when the topic of boys came up, she excitedly expressed her interest in the science club member named Xeno.
Big fucking mistake, who knew a bunch of fifteen-year-olds could be this twisted?
"You can always get someone better, you have a decent face, nice body, and a cheerleader now." Bridgette rolled her brown eyes, not seeing the big deal on this whole fiasco. They've all mostly done it before, forgetting who they had even picked in the past.
Although she was sure no one had picked Xeno yet, which excited the girls to witness this messy prank. They could agree he was cute and would've probably skipped out on him as a choice, but knowing [Y/N] had feelings for him was too good to pass up, something Maggie didn't overlook one bit.
"So, anyways. The restaurant you'll be going to is the one near the karaoke bar, Berlin's Delight was it? We'll be nearby, don't worry." Except that's what worried her the most, having their prying eyes suffocating her every move and word.
The very next day she stood outside the clubroom, taking in a deep breath and composing herself. How would she even get him to agree to a...date? They've only been friends for very few months, meeting at the start of the school year. She was sure he didn't feel the same way at all.
A hand suddenly reached from behind her, opening the door she had been hesitating to touch.
[Y/N]'s head shifted over her shoulder, gazing at the tall blonde who held a blank stare. Xeno's best friend, the second boy she expressed interest in, but ultimately wasn't chosen for this prank because he was part of the football team and a very common crush with the female and male students.
"You've always been eager to burst in there, what's up?" She gulped, feeling sweat start to build up. Stanley guided her into the room when she muttered nothing in return, making the young boy inside raise an eyebrow in wonder.
"Ah, [Y/N]. Do you need help with a question?" Her [E/C] eyes couldn't handle the gentleness his voice carried towards her, looking away and softly shaking her head. She took a seat nearby the metal counter, taking out a notebook and pretending to start her homework.
"Nothing like that, I just...needed some company." From the corner of her eye, she watched Xeno send her a smile and a quick nod, going back to his own little science world. It wasn't rare at all for them to sit in silence with each other, he liked the company of his favorite people.
Stanley couldn't shrug it off as fast as Xeno did, he kept his caramel eyes on her nervous figure, the slight scrunch in her eyebrows, and the trembling of her hand—he knew something was up. [Y/N] was a very shy individual, being a transfer student and forced to make new friends, it wasn't surprising for her to be this jittery.
However, she had gotten over it with them, she no longer stuttered her words or flustered whenever they'd invite her to lunch. Knowing that phase was over, made this behavior all the more suspicious and concerning.
"I heard from the guys you tried out for cheer, how'd it go?" She lifted her gaze, looking to the side and feeling her cheeks warm up from how close he was to her, if she moved even an inch they'd bump noses.
"Oh, I uh, I made the team..." Something clicked in his head, from how dejected she looked, to the uncertainty she carried. He wasn't a stranger to the pranks those girls liked to play, and it worried him that [Y/N] was planning to do something she didn't want to.
Stanley pursed his purple lips slightly, noticing the way her [E/C] eyes trailed to them, blush getting a tad bit darker. He knew she liked them both, what started off as a silly little tease fest, turned into something more. But he wasn't going to rush it at all unless she decided to take the initiative.
Maybe he'd sneak in a kiss though.
Xeno kept his attention to his beaker, writing down the changes in his notepad. Despite his determination to keep focus, his ears were still very distracted by their words. The color turned a bright blue, and confusion settled in his head.
"It was supposed to be green..." He muttered, looking over the chemical bottles he used, onyx eyes dropping in annoyance and a loud sigh caught the sitting pair's attention. "Someone changed the liquids around."
It wasn't like was a bully target, knowing full well Stanley had threatened those who tried it before, effectively cutting any chance for it to continue.
[Y/N] felt a shiver run down her spine, there was no explanation other than Maggie sending someone over to do this. It wasn't a target for Xeno specifically, no, it was for her. A warning, if she didn't go through with it, they'd take the steps necessary.
"Guess I should be glad they weren't as dumb to switch around the lithium, would've exploded right in my face."
Those words made the pencil in her hand snap in half, why did she have to mention him during that stupid sleepover? Unknowingly dragging him into the claws of the cheerleaders, anger brought slight chest pains. Pranks were meant to be harmless and fun, not borderline dangerous and humiliating.
"Hey, Xeno?" He hummed in response while pouring the failed mixture down the drain, wiping down the counter while sending her a quick look—letting her know he was listening.
"Are you free this Saturday? Berlin's delight, 7 pm." [Y/N] stuffed the notebook in her bag, hesitating to move away from the pretty blonde, but knowing she had to leave the room before he could verbally deny her request. "Bye."
That solidified it for Stanley, who felt his mood drop drastically. He turned to look at his best friend, watching him blink in surprise.
"I'm sure you picked up on the signs too."
The white-haired teen chuckled softly, washing his hands thoroughly and then walking around the counter to settle next to the blonde. Both boys gazing at the door she walked out of.
"I didn't peg [Y/N] to be the type, somehow I'm more curious to see the outcome rather than upset."
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Slipping on her white pumps, [Y/N] felt her heart hammering in her chest, smoothing out the light blue sundress and putting pins to hold her [H/C] hair back from falling into her eyes. Her lips were a glossy pink, light mascara, and a pinch of highlighter.
'The girls and I are going to be there shortly, put on a show will you?'
She threw her phone into her purse, grumbling under her breath and checking over her outfit for what seemed like the hundredth time. Her mother knocked softly and opened the door, peeking her head in with a concerned gaze.
"You've been getting ready since three o'clock dear, is everything okay? We need to go soon."
"I'm ready."
The car ride was silent, the soft hum of the radio barely kept her brain occupied away from her thoughts. Reaching a red light, [M/N] glanced to the passenger seat, seeing her daughter gazing out the window.
"Okay, something's up. What is it?"
[Y/N] pursed her lips, and the hand on her dress tightened.
"If you needed to lose two friends for a new group of friends, would it be worth it?"
"Are those two perhaps the boys you like?" Her voice held a teasing tone, laughing when [Y/N] murmured a 'stop it' and covered her face in embarrassment. "Judging from that reaction, no, darling it's not worth it. If your new potential friends take away what you hold dear, they aren't real friends, now are they?"
"I taught you to follow your heart, Xeno and Stanley seem like very nice kids, even if they only came over a few times. They're good for you, don't lose good over an 'if', ever."
The conversation was finalized right when the green light sparked, driving off and getting closer to the destination. Her watch blinked 6:55 pm, she took in a deep breath and ran her mom's words again and again in her head.
It didn't take long to arrive at the parking lot, receiving a comforting smile from her mom she opened the door, waving slightly, and walking towards the crowded line. Maggie had assured her she set up a reservation, even then, she wasn't sure if Xeno would even come.
There was no text message, from him, or sent from her. [Y/N] brushed passed the angered adults muttering half-hearted apologies and going up to the hostess who was trying to calm them all down.
"Hi, I have a reservation for 7 pm under the name of [L/N]."
"Ah, yes here you are. Table for two, we have a corner booth set up for you. Follow me." The woman gave her a tired smile, eyebags prominent and cheeks sunken in. She guided the teen towards her table, setting down a menu and quickly telling her the specials.
"I'll be okay with the wait time, don't worry about me." The hostess huffed out a heavy sigh, nearly close to tears from her reassuring voice. "Two waters for now will be fine."
[Y/N] took out her phone, sending a quick text to let Xeno know about the reservation, shutting it off not wanting to see his reply or lack of one. A few seconds later she looked around the full restaurant, body going rigid when she gazed at the group of girls sitting at the opposite side. Bridgett sent her a thumbs up, smugly smiling when [Y/N] bit her lip harshly in response.
"Right over here sir."
[E/C] eyes filled with sparkles, looking up to see Xeno approach her table and sit down with a soft smile. His white hair was in the usual small pompadour style, but seeing him wear casual clothing always made her heart skip a beat.
A black long-sleeved shirt covered by a black vest and accessorized by a tie that matched the color of her eyes. Matching black pants and dress shoes.
"Hello, [Y/N]." She melted when he rolled up his sleeves, showing off the watch she and Stanley had gotten him for his birthday. She murmured a greeting back, watching his smile stretch further when she tried to hide her growing blush.
"Hi, I'm Yuna, I'll be your waitress for the night. Would you like to order drinks while you look over the menu?"
"I'll stick to water." Xeno took a sip and picked up the menu, gazing over the contents.
"A lemon mocktail please." [Y/N] needed something to quickstart herself, picking up the menu as well and nearly grimacing at the dish prices. For a damned casual place, these amounts were out of this world. An obvious reason why Maggie insisted on this place, wanting the bill to be high as hell for the boy.
"I'll admit, I was a bit surprised by your forwardness. Seems like you've grown more comfortable, I'm glad."
Shut up. The more he spoke the more she nearly folded, he set down the menu, trapping her into an intense eye contact. Holding his cheek up with his hand, his onyx eyes lidded when she couldn't look away.
"I'm sorry, I practically forced you to come."
"No worries, I'm happy to be here."
[Y/N] paused, hearing the slight edge to his words. She twiddled her thumbs, trying to hide the shakiness of her hands. Her drink was set on the table, thanking the waitress she immediately took a gulp, sighing in contentment when it started to cool off her face.
"I uh, I heard from Mrs. Hunter that you got an internship at NASA. How is it?"
"Interesting, although they haven't given me permission to meddle with actual rocket components."
"You're very smart and they'll realize the extent of it soon enough. I'm sure of it."
Xeno had seen the giggling girls a few moments after entering the restaurant, sending them a glare with a sharp smile on his lips. To make [Y/N] feel like she needed to prove herself in such a silly way, warmed his blood significantly.
Yuna came over a few minutes later, taking their food orders and walking away. Xeno immediately stood up, asking [Y/N] to give him a minute, and walked off. Ironic how panic settled within her, did he know what was happening and decide to leave her with the humiliation instead?
She stayed still, swirling the straw in her mocktail trying to avoid the confused eyes of the cheerleaders. [Y/N] wasn't planning on going through with it in the long run, even then, she deserved this treatment.
"Sorry, I needed to change something on my order." Xeno sat down once again, holding in the chuckle from seeing her inner turmoil. She looked cute like this.
"M'kay." He was intent on keeping her eyes on him, catching onto the fact that the [H/C] haired girl found it hard to look away from him. When she first sat at lunch with him and Stanley, she barely gazed up from her lunchbox, face redder than beets. Xeno liked seeing her blush, it always portrayed her emotions so blatantly even when she tried hard to hide them.
"So, will you be in the front lines for the next tournament?"
"Well, I'm the best for flashy moves like the backflips, handsprings, and such—oh! I didn't mean to sound so egotistical..." She covered her face with her yellow-colored drink, hearing him laugh lightly at her self-concern.
"If you're the best, it's natural to embrace the thought. It's not like its a lie anyway." Xeno beamed, nearly gloating for her. He'd seen her practice almost every day, only when Stanley planted the idea of joining the cheerleading team did she enhance her training.
"Don't feed my ego so much Xeno." She giggled, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
Their food arrived and conversation slowly flowed out naturally, laughing in-between bites and having a good time. She had momentarily forgotten the reason they were really here, enjoying Xeno's company in a much more intimate light.
'Bathroom. Now.'
The lit-up text had her sucking in a deep breath, sending Xeno a brief shaky smile she got up from the table, clutching her purse. "I need to use the bathroom."
[Y/N] made her way over, the door slammed shut when she walked inside. Annoyed faces gazed at her, Maggie looked at her with a blank expression instead, arms crossed and cornering [Y/N] near the sinks.
"What are you doing? Did you forget what we're here for?"
Bridgett hopped up on the sink counter, staring down at [Y/N] who opened up her purse to take out her lip-gloss, touching up on her makeup. She ignored them, keeping her eyes on herself through the mirror.
"Chicken." Maggie taunted, leaning in the mirror, close to the teen. "Do it, or don't bother coming to practice again."
It was kind of cute, seeing someone who couldn't compare to your skill level be so adamant. Trying to hold themselves above everyone else when they offered absolutely nothing in return.
"I think you've forgotten something, you aren't in charge, only coach can kick me out."
"As the captain, I hold much more power than you think."
[Y/N] rolled her eyes, getting angrier by the second. Why did she even want to be friends with them in the first place? Right, being in a squad with people you dislike was horrible, and brought so much struggle into the routines. Yet, thinking back on her mom's words, and her own thoughts, she wasn't about to let them ruin this.
Was she really going to ruin the friendship she managed to build with these two? Over a group of girls who would drop her in the blink of an eye if she wore anything they didn't deem fashionable enough?
Yeah fucking right, she chuckled looking into the mirror. Feelings dissipating and turning to look at Maggie, who was startled at the sudden close proximity.
"When you become half as good as me, you can talk your shit. Get out of my way." [Y/N] bumped her shoulder into the black-haired girl, making her stumble back from the impact. Her confidence was only shown on the outside, inside she was freaking out, never thinking she'd be capable of doing something like that.
The girls guarding the door moved out of the way, never had they seen [Y/N] so enraged. They exchanged glances between each other, realizing how right the [H/C] haired girl was. Maggie and Bridgett didn't really contribute much to their cheers, lacking both flexibility and leadership.
Leaving the bathroom, followed by the entire flock of girls they all froze simultaneously. [Y/N]'s table was empty. Xeno nowhere to be seen and she felt a lump rapidly grow in her throat, a laugh suddenly broke her trance.
"Seems like loverboy didn't hold the same sentiment as you, guess the prank worked anyway."
"Shut up Maggie!" Nina snapped, balling her hands into fists. She was one of the 'lucky' few who only had to humiliate herself, not someone else. Seeing [Y/N], who taught her how to tumble safely, looking so sad made her feel bad.
"Excuse me?" Bridgett stepped up for her friend, raising a hand to slap the meek girl when her wrist got caught in a tight grip.
"Will you both just fuck off?" [E/C] eyes narrowed, pushing the girl back and walking to the bar counter. The squad dissipated, with Maggie and Bridgett walking out together and the other girls settling back at their table with troubled expressions.
"Hi, Yuna? I'd like to pay for the check now."
The waitress bumped her head from how fast she sprung up from the bar's lower shelves, she blinked trying to regain her balance and walked up to the frowning girl.
"Oh, that boy paid right after you ordered."
So that's why he had gotten up, he had basically done what the prank called for. Tears welled up in her eyes, startling the woman in front of her.
"I'll stay seated for a few minutes if that's okay."
Yuna nodded, watching the teen walk off quickly. She glanced at the paid bill, remembering the items he had added before sitting back down earlier.
[Y/N] stared at the unfinished plates, more than half of his chicken fillet was left and the water was topped off. She pushed away her own food, no longer feeling an appetite for the pasta. Crossing her arms over the table and settling her head on them, trying to stop the tears from spilling.
This was all her fault, having no one to blame but herself. Xeno wasn't an idiot, and surely Stanley told him the extent of what this date could mean. There was no way for Xeno to know she wouldn't go through with it, maybe that was the only reason he came, to let her feel what he would've felt if she left first.
"Well, you were right." Stanley finished his cigarette throwing it in the large bin nearby, both boys gazing at the large window and settling their eyes on [Y/N].
"I'm sure you're also aware of her real crush on us. She can barely conceal it." Xeno had assured Stanley firmly, that she had invited him out of sheer adrenaline. [Y/N] wasn't capable of going through with this cruel prank, no matter what target was chosen.
The girl lifted her head when new plates were placed on her table, Yuna smiled down at her. A pretty [Fav/Flavor] cake was pushed towards her, while a serving of steaming fettuccini alfredo pasta was on the other side of the table.
"Items he added, told me to wait like 20 minutes before bringing them out. Enjoy."
She was utterly confused, ignoring the pasta and fawning internally over the pastry. Getting a good chunk of it on the fork, she took the bite, nearly moaning at how good it tasted.
The fork stayed between her lips, staring off into space and feeling the tears stream down her face again. He was still being nice after what she had done, everything was ruined, and she had no idea how she could ever face them again.
A soft hand landed on her head, [E/C] eyes filled with unshed tears looked up to widen at the gentle smile gazing down at her. Stanley ruffled her hair, caressing gently and wiping away her tears with his free hand.
"Stanley was in the area, I went to fetch him." Xeno sat, continuing his meal like nothing had happened. Stanley took a seat next to her, pulling the plate of fresh pasta closer and eating as well.
"I'm sorry." [Y/N] picked up a napkin, wiping her eyes carefully. Her mascara was absolutely ruined, and she knew she probably looked like a damp raccoon right now. "It's stupid to be crying, you had every right to leave..."
"Don't worry, I know you like me."
...
...
The tears quickly evaporated, leaving her to look at his smug smile like a gaping fish out of water.
"And me."
Stanley really didn't need to add his commentary, but he took the chance to tease her anyway. His arm rested on the booth's seat, right behind her. [Y/N] was caged, feeling his body warmth reach her.
"I ended up using it as an excuse to go on a date with you, even if they were watching me like hawks." She poked Stanley's thigh, pouting her lips when they laughed at her flustered state, a sort of relief washed over her.
"You don't need any further excuses, we may go out together whenever you desire."
together.
They didn't notice Yuna watching them with sparkly eyes, peeking over the bar in wonder. Never had she seen mere teens be this romantic or self-aware, that girl was super lucky. The hostess sighed finally finishing up setting tables, side-eyeing her fangirling coworker.
"This isn't a K-drama, get back to work."
[Y/N] stuffed her face with the last bite of the cake, not leaving a single crumb of that amazing desert. They all got up and grabbed their things, making it out of the restaurant while thanking the staff.
The cold night was shielded by the thick sweater that enveloped her, Stanley took out a cigarette to keep himself warm. She slid her arms into the sleeves and sighed in contentment, watching the tall blonde walk forward to avoid the smoke getting near them.
Xeno matched her pace, keeping his hands pocketed. He slowly took a hand out, reaching out to hold hers. It stopped her steps, he felt her slowly squeeze him, as if checking if this was real.
He bent down slightly, pressing a lingering kiss to the corner of her lips.
"Whipped cream."
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"Well, I can't say I'm surprised." [M/N] held her face in her hands, having not one, but two boys asking permission to date her daughter, oh my it was so adorable. "There wasn't a single conversation where you two weren't mentioned."
Xeno, Stanley, and [M/N] shared a smile when they heard a loud crash coming from upstairs. Stomping footsteps got closer and out came a stumbling [Y/N], trying to put on her school shoes while maintaining her balance going down the stairs.
"Don't expose me like that, please mom."
"Ah, watch out boys, she has a killer puppy face."
Morning chills overtook her, usually, her mom would drop her off but both boys insisted on walking her. She snuggled into the sweater Stanley had given her two days ago, assuring her he wanted her to keep it.
"This also means you two will eventually be dating each other, right?"
"Yes, indeed." Xeno raised an eyebrow when she put a finger under her chin, muttering under her breath and looking up at the cloudy sky in a giddy gaze. He glanced at Stanley who was holding in a laugh, urging him to voice his amusement.
"She's imagining us together, like those BL stories she reads occasionally."
[Y/N] nearly tripped on the sidewalk's cracked cement, Xeno swiftly wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled towards him, her back colliding into his side. She jumped away from his grasp, grabbing Stanley by the tie and pulling his head down to her level.
"When and where did you see that?"
Caramel eyes held nothing but mischief, giving her a brief wink and a kiss to the tip of her nose. His fingers gently unlaced her grasp on his clothing and smoothed it out, a hand grabbing hers and continuing their walk.
"I always wondered what the big paragraphs of text you'd read were about, guess that sums it up." Xeno gave a fake thoughtful hum hiding his amusement, trailing a few steps behind them. His wrist suddenly got yanked forward, and [Y/N] was holding both their hands now.
Her lower face was stuffed into the sweater's high collar, keeping her [E/C] eyes focused on the ground, trying not to trip again. She was mortified they knew about her little...hobby...well who could blame her really? Good literature is good literature, no matter the content.
Chatter was now reaching their eyes, [Y/N] took a sharp breath in, feeling worry settle in her being like an unwanted parasite. She felt slight comfort knowing Stanley and Xeno didn't mind the gossip, they wouldn't care about people's opinion on their relationship.
She didn't either to be honest, but the thought of everyone turning against her in the blink of an eye felt scary. The school building was finally nearing, some students turned to look at them, whispering amongst each other.
"Two? Isn't that weird?"
"Maggie said [Y/N] was kind of a slut."
"Bridgett said the same, apparently she's very easy."
Stanley cleared his throat loudly, making the gossipers freeze up. He gently swung the intertwined hands, bringing her attention up to him.
"Let's have lunch on the rooftop, Xeno doesn't have an experiment to do today."
That surprised her to the very core, snapping her neck to Xeno, who was mindlessly scrolling on his phone. Feeling her piercing gaze, he lifted his face away from the screen and tilted his head at her. [Y/N] thought he looked like a lost little puppy, wanting to pinch his cheeks.
"No experiment? What's wrong?"
"Nothing at all, I'll be working on some internship papers my mentor has provided for me. If I ace them, those rocket parts will be mine to tinker with." Onyx eyes sparkled excitedly, pocketing his phone and adjusting his schoolbag strap.
"[Y/N]!"
Nina came running up behind them, jumping on her back and almost toppling them over. [Y/N] blinked at the beaming girl, her blue eyes were wide and a grin played on her lips.
"Hi?"
"I have direct orders from the girls to bring you to the gym."
Stanley and Xeno shared a quick worried glance, approaching the girls' figures. Each putting a hand on the bubbly teen's shoulders and lightly pulling her back, Nina was even shorter than [Y/N], leaving her to crane her neck to look at the skyscrapers glaring down.
[Y/N] stood a few steps away, watching them do a silent interrogation. Holding in a laugh at how serious they looked, and a bit of adoration seeing them so protective.
"Oh, no! I promise it's nothing like that, you two are welcome to tag along."
So they did, Nina held [Y/N]'s hand guiding her towards the destination. Her two almost-boyfriends strolled not too far behind, ready for whatever was coming.
...
...
"New captain huh? I expected a catfight or something." [Y/N] was still processing what had just transpired, apparently the rest of the team had voted out Maggie as the captain, sadly still having to deal with Bridgett as the vice.
"A catfight? You're more into actual combat, or am I wrong?" Stanley bumped his shoulder into Xeno's, the science enthusiast chuckled at the weak attempt to shut him up.
The childhood friends continued to play fight, nearly spilling their food over their uniforms and the rooftop flooring. [Y/N] still managed to pull Xeno's important files and Stanley's cigarette box from harm's way, even while being deep in her thoughts.
Nina along with Crystal and Hannah, finally spilled the beans on why Maggie was so persistent with this particular prank. She has a crush on Stanley, if [Y/N] had gone along with the scheme, it would not only ruin her standing with Xeno, Stanley would've been collateral damage.
"Let's go on that date soon, I need to post many, many pictures." [Y/N] finished the small bag of peanuts, taking a sip of her favorite energy drink. "Well maybe I shouldn't stir the pot but the look on her face will be priceless."
Stanley and Xeno pulled away from each other, interested in the way [Y/N] looked like she was about to start a war. Xeno slid his notes back, trying to resume his task but was stopped by her sharp gasp. [Y/N] scooted closer to them, settling in between their seated figures.
"Kiss me." She puckered her lips up at Stanley who's eyebrows shot up at her bold ask, he didn't hesitate for long, capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. When he pulled away, [Y/N] immediately opened her phone camera, ensuring the purple lipstick had adorned her lips.
Her face turned to the side, kissing Xeno on the lips and pulling Stanley closer to the frame by his tie. Snapping the photo and grinning down at it, this would indeed send the message she desired. Loud and clear.
"They can bitch all they want, as long as they know you're both mine in the end."
Xeno blinked rapidly, never had he heard her swear, and a little dazed from the kiss. He felt her fingers slightly rub away the color from his mouth and her own, smiling sweetly.
"Guess our shy little [Y/N] is gone. As much as I adore seeing you so confident, I'll miss those flustered looks you...nevermind, there you are." [Y/N] stuffed her red face in Stanley's school sweater, still holding onto Xeno's hand.
She could get used to this. Maybe a little less teasing.
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ilsanslut · 2 years ago
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꒷♡꒷ TREAT YOU BETTER!
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♰ featuring: sae itoshi + rin itoshi (mentioned) [blue lock]
♰ note: this one is a DOOSY and i'm not even kidding when i say it took me 9 hours and 45 minutes to complete this, over the course of two days of course. However, as my first time ever writing on tumblr, i decided to go all out! that being said, it would mean a lot to me if you would support this work by reading, liking, and reblogging!
sypnosis: why be with his lukewarm little brother when you could be with him instead? wc: 6.6k content/trigger warning(s): 18+. fem/fem-bodied reader. POST BLUE LOCK. sibling rivalry. implied thick/chubby!reader. sae is mean. jealous!sae. bully!sae. rin is 19. sae is 21. CHEATING. degradation. unprotected sex. fingering. squirting. rough sex. DUBIOUS CONTENT. spanking. dacryphilia. slut shaming. groping. implied size kink. minor angst. hair pulling. ONE face slap. pussy slapping.꒷꒦ view the second part here: part two.
Coming home for the holidays, birthdays, or other special occasions is somewhat of a family tradition that enables people to slow down and focus on spending quality time with loved ones. These kinds of celebrations give families that may otherwise be estranged from one another due to work or geography the chance to reunite and enjoy each other's company. And this reasoning was no different in the Itoshi household. What was the occasion for this month’s gathering? Well, it was Mama Itoshi’s birthday, of course!
You see, you have known Rin and Sae Itoshi since you were all very young. Your mothers were best friends, and by default, that meant that you three would become close as well.
Growing up with the Itoshi brothers, on the other hand, was . . . interesting, to say the least. Where Rin found your presence to be refreshing, Sae found you to be a nuisance. You didn’t care for football; you got in the way of his practice; and you were a girl. He always thought you were too weak to play with, and he didn’t hesitate to make his feelings known to you. Pulling your hair until you screamed, pushing you around when you weren’t even in his way, and calling you mean names until your little E/C eyes welded up with fat tears were just some of the things he would do to torment you. Had it not been for little Rinnie stepping in and protecting you from his brother’s outright bullying, Sae most likely would’ve continued until you cried to your mom about how mean Sae-chan was to you. But you would never do that. Your little crush on him would never allow you to get him into trouble.
Nii-chan! Don’t be too mean to Y/N. You’ll make her inner crybaby come out!
When Sae was especially cruel to you, Rin was always there to lift your spirits. He would tell you not to worry about his "meanie Nii-chan," take your hand and wipe your tears and snotty face, and lead you up to his room where you two could watch movies and play action figures away from his brother's taunts. Even if he could not take you away right away, for instance, if you three were at the park, he would always come and ride the swings or the big slides with you just to make you happy. Despite Sae’s every protest about how you were nothing more than a distraction to him, Rin, and football, you knew that your friendship was sincere and unbreakable.
As you three went through the ups and downs of childhood, you also weathered the storms of adolescence together. Sae left for Madrid, leaving you, Rin, and your previous feelings for his older brother behind to navigate the social awkwardness of junior high and share in each other's accomplishments while he was with his football team and you were at your respective clubs. Your friendship was a source of strength during those formative years, providing solace and understanding when the world seemed confusing.
As you two approached your high school years, something began to change. Accidental touches felt more like fleeting sparks, while innocent glances became lingering stares. Neither of you fully comprehended your newfound feelings, tiptoeing around the unsaid emotions that seemed to glimmer between the two of you until the day Rin asked you to be his just before entering Blue Lock. Now, for the past three years, you have been a happy couple, embarking on the dreaded hell of adulthood and the next chapter of your lives hand-in-hand.
Back in the present, the two of you were glad that Rin finally had some downtime from soccer—well . . . more so you than him. Even after the events of Blue Lock, he and Sae remained rivals, seizing any opportunity they could to humiliate each other on the field. That being said, Rin was almost always in the gym, meditating, doing yoga, or practicing his skills to pass the time. It was nice to be able to spend time together without the stress of his next upcoming game or press conference.
Because it was his mother's birthday weekend and all, she would, of course, invite her boys to come to stay with her and their father for the occasion, which included you too since you were Rin’s girlfriend. However, in the few days that you and Rin have already been at his childhood home, Sae had yet to arrive, and no one had heard from him since he texted his mother that he was on his way to the airport to depart. Regardless, the family was busy finalizing plans for their mother's big day. Mr. Itoshi was at the bakery finalizing the details for his wife's cake, Mrs. Itoshi was out for brunch with your mother, and Rin had gone for an afternoon jog because "staying cooped up all day will turn him into a lukewarm lard ass," in his words. As for you? You had just begun to rise, completing some housework in one of Rin’s old jerseys and washing the dishes on which you and Rin had just eaten a delicious breakfast.
After completing your tasks, you made your way back up the lavish stairs of their home with every intention of going back into Rin’s childhood room that you two were sharing for the weekend when you froze. Your gaze traveled to the opposite end of the hallway, to the closed door whose presence loomed in the distance—Sae’s room.
Memories from your childhood flashed back to you, of you watching him and Rin play all too violent and scary zombie video games, rewatching his matches, and, most begrudgingly, the numerous times he nudged your head with his foot and tousled your perfectly styled hair just to get a rise out of you.
Cringing internally at the past memories, you took a further step in the direction of Rin's room before hesitating once more.
It wouldn’t hurt to take a little peek inside Sae’s room, would it?
Despite your better judgment, you shuffled over the closed door and paused with your slender digits loosely encircling the handle. Your stomach churned and your heart thumped in your chest as your inner voice warned you not to enter another person's private space without their consent. But hold on—why were you getting anxious? Who was going to catch you when no one was at home? Turning the knob gently, the heavy oak door would give way with the tiniest of creaks, revealing a rather uninteresting-looking room. But given that Sae had rarely if ever, been home since junior high, it only made sense for it to be so plain. Aside from the plethora of trophies, medals, certificates, and framed photos that lined his dresser, what made it even more amusing was that those were only the leftovers from what could not fit in his trophy case beside his wooden dresser, which housed some of his youth team jerseys and junior trinkets.
You crept further into the cold room, wrapping your arms around yourself, and shuffled over to the plethora of awards from Sae's tireless efforts. As much as you weren’t fond of him, you had to admit that it was beyond admirable that a child was able to accomplish so much in so little time. He possessed a natural talent that professionals would kill for and others were envious of. Even though you were never interested in the sport, you envied him for being so naturally gifted at something he was passionate about.
“Some ‘monster genius’, huh?” You scoffed to yourself as your gaze fell on the last photo of Sae and Rin playing on the same team together before their relationship fell apart. Oh, how you miss those good old days of your youth.
“The fuck are you doing in here?”
Coming from behind you, an all too familiar voice startled you out of your reverie. Turning around, your wide eyes came to rest on Sae's form, which was motionless in the doorway, his stoic visage forever unamused, and his overnight shoulder bag resting by his feet.
When did he come in?
More notably, he’s . . . changed from the last time you’ve seen him since the U-20 vs. Blue Lock game three years ago. He was a bit taller, probably around 6’2” now. Because he was wearing a long-sleeved white compression shirt and gray sweatpants, you were able to see that his muscles were more defined than before, with every ridge and curve pronounced more vividly. His maroon locks had grown a bit longer, with his fringes now reaching slightly beyond his chiseled, clenched jaw, though his bangs remained forever lopsided and flipped back. And his turquoise eyes—had they gotten even sharper since the last time you'd seen them? The way they were glowering down at you, it was almost as though they were piercing right through your very soul.
“You deaf or something, you half-brained moron?”
Your eyes rolled exasperatedly into the back of your head as he rudely interrupted your thoughts. Only ten seconds after you reconnected, here he was spewing insults your way.
“Nice to see you too, Sae.” You grumbled sarcastically, internally dreading what this weekend would hold in store for the both of you.
In response, he hummed, remaining motionless in the doorway as his teal eyes bore into you with something unknown. The truth is, while you were distracted by his physical appearance, he was ogling you in the same manner. You had grown since the last time he’d seen you when you were back in high school. Your once innocent eyes now had a glint in them that could only be described as nubile; your once round cheeks had slimmed a bit to fit your maturing features; and your body . . . Damn, have you really grown over the years. You had developed a more feminine frame, with fuller thighs, widened hips, larger breasts, and a more prominent ass. You had developed into a truly breathtaking young woman, despite how much he hated to admit it.
“Almost thought you weren’t going to show at all.” You sighed, lazily checking your nails. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“I live here.” His voice was deadpan and monotone, yet it held an underlying hint of irritation. “All these years have passed since grade school, and you’re still as braindead as when you were a child.”
“And you’re just as much of an asshole as you used to be.”
You resisted the urge to sneer, not wanting to give him the satisfaction that he was getting under your skin, as you dropped your arms to your sides. When you made this motion, his brows would furrow, and he would cast a scrutinizing glare at your choice of clothing.
Talking to him was futile, and you did not want to be in this room any longer than necessary now that he was there. “Good to have you home, genius.” You spat sarcastically, attempting to push past him to exit the room, when all of a sudden his large hand would seize your bicep, halting your steps.
Your head snapped to him, your gaze a mixture of frustration and confusion as your lips parted to shout a rebuttal his way; however, upon seeing the blazing fire that had ignited in his eyes, you hesitated. His eyes narrowed to thin slits, like two fiery coals burning fiercely within his sockets. The intensity of his gaze was enough to send shivers down your spine, making you acutely aware of the gravity of his sudden wrath. His jaw clenched tightly, showing the strain of controlling his rage, and his brows furrowed, forming a menacing V-shape above his oculars.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” He seethed through clenched teeth, his voice deep and full of poorly contained malice.
You blinked. Your jaw dropped as you gawked at him, beyond perplexed. He had caught you so off guard that even you had to check what you were wearing to make sure you were not wearing anything objectionable. Nothing worth offending—fuzzy black pajama shorts that hugged your plush thighs, plain slippers, Rin's worn-out football jersey.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, you coy little slut.”
That silenced you effectively. Your eyes enlarged—almost lamblike—and your pretty lips drew in a subtle gasp. Any previous spark that had been ignited within you had quickly diminished, choosing silence over tossing more gasoline onto Sae’s roaring flames.
It appeared as though his entire being was directing his wrath into his single, piercing gaze as every muscle in his face tightened with each passing second. His lips, which are typically flat or curved into an unamused frown, were now deep-set, corners tugging into an awful scowl.
“Why are you wearing that lukewarm loser’s jersey?” When you should be wearing mine?
Now it was your turn to be infuriated as he insulted your boyfriend—his brother—the same person he had thrown out like garbage all those years earlier. Your heart was pounding so loudly in your chest that you could hear your blood pumping in your ears.
“So I’m not allowed to wear my own boyfriend’s jersey now, fuckface?” His gaze faltered. “You going to call me names for that too, Sae? Pull my hair? Spit in my face? Huh?”
“*What did you just say?”
“I said are you going to—”
“No, you cow-titted bimbo. The first thing you said.” He leaned in closer to your face, his eyes owlish and unblinking since you opened your mouth. You could smell his minty breath from the gum he had been chewing wafting into your face, “Say it again.”
“I’m not allowed to wear my boyfriend’s jersey?” You repeated, confusion etching your tone.
“That.” He snarled, his voice elated in a sick way, as though he had just found out the answer to some legendary riddle.
The hand that had been gripping your bicep now violently jerked you to the side, shoving you into his door. Before you had time to react, he crowded your personal space as his forearm pressed against the wood above your head, allowing you to smell the faint scent of his expensive cologne. “When did that happen?”
The initial fire that fueled his rage now transformed into a different kind of heat, a simmering and bitter envy that gnawed at his insides. He found himself grappling with conflicting emotions - on the one hand, he was somewhat happy that his blockhead of a brother managed to get a girlfriend, but on the other hand, it was you. The same girl that he had been pining over since you were first introduced to him all those years ago. The same girl that he thought was prettiest when she pouted at him with fat tears in her eyes and pleaded with him to be nicer to her. The same girl that consumed his thoughts 24/7. The same girl that he jerked his cock to at night after seeing how her fat tits in that all too small jersey bounced every time she cheered for his brother at that stupid game against Blue Lock. The same girl that, on all of those lonely nights overseas, he wished that, instead of fucking his fist, he was pummeling himself deep in your sopping wet cunt. The same girl that he was about to ruin before his brother got home from his whereabouts.
“Before Blue Lock . . .” Your voice was hushed, barely above a whisper, as though you were afraid of awakening a savage beast.
Three years. Three fucking years, and no one told him?! Not his mother, not his father, not Rin, not your stupid little social media (that he may or may not have been stalking) where you posted pictures of cats, candid photos of your friends, or whatever the fuck you got at your local coffee shop that day—not even you.
His once-obvious fury and visceral expression subsided, simmering beneath the surface in a contained inferno that burned with a ferocity few could fathom. Despite the turmoil raging inside him, he remained eerily calm, his stoic facade masking the storm within.
His demeanor exuded a cold, steely resolve that sent shivers down your spine and, quite frankly, took your breath away. There was an ominous sense of stillness in his presence, as if the air itself dared not disturb the calmness he projected.
“. . . Do you love him?” He spoke in hushed tones, each word enunciated with precision and purpose. There was no need for loud outbursts; the intensity of his calmness alone was enough to make you cower beneath him.
You were dumbfounded by his question, powerless to respond, and yet the longer you remained silent, the more you could see the cracks in his facade begin to scorch through his surface.
“D-Don’t be stupid, Sae. Of course I do, he’s my—”
You would never be able to finish your statement quick enough before his hands were on you, meaty palms digging into your hair, blunt nails scratching against your scalp as he grabbed a visceral hold onto your roots. The searing pain and astonishment coursing through your frame had you shrieking—in what? You didn’t know. Fear? Agony? Guilt?
Using his grip on you as a lead, he would tug you forcefully out of your slippers and down the hall to somewhere unknown. He ignored your screams as the weight atop your head forced your sight to the ground, your manicured nails digging into his wrist and clawing in an attempt to be freed.
“S-Sae, I-I’m sorry! Please, let me go! You’re hurting me!”
He said nothing, his heavy and deliberate footsteps speaking for him before he paused a short distance later. He threw you forward carelessly with surprising strength, causing you to land painfully on the wooden floors in front of you, barely having time to brace yourself with your palms. You had no time to catch your breath, though, as he shuffled over to you with fast-paced footsteps. Looking up fretfully, you would see Sae towering over you, taking notice that you were now on the floor of Rin’s room just before his bed.
“Sae—”
“Sae! Sae! Don’t be stupid; I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He openly mocked you, his lip curled into the faintest of sneers as he glowered down at you in hatred. Although even you could see that there was a bit of hurt behind his cruel teal eyes, “All you do is flap those pretty fuckin’ lips of yours, never knowin’ when to shut your stupid little trap.”
He relished in the way your bottom lip trembled and your eyes grew glassy, the same way they used to all those years ago.
“Still a little crybaby too, I see. Don’t worry, baby, you’ll be sorry soon enough for leading me on all this time.” He grumbled, lunging for you again.
He snagged at your roots again, drawing a sob from your lips as he mercilessly dragged you to your feet. Releasing his grip on your hair, he instead chose to grab your jaw harshly in his palm, using his thumb and forefinger to squish your cheeks and pucker your lips so that he may smash his lips against your own. It was messy, sloppy, and full of passion and rage on Sae’s end. He smeared your gloss, claimed your brims, and forced his tongue into your pretty, pliant mouth, all with the intention of claiming you and your maw for his own—but you would never let him.
You belong to Rin! You were loyal to him! So then, why do Sae’s lips feel so damn good against your own right now? This was wrong. So, so wrong, and yet, why did you want more of him?
Your mind was cloudy. Your head was spinning. You couldn’t breathe. He was suffocating you. Your dainty fists beat at his beefy chest and shoulders, trying to get him to get off of you, but to no avail. Instead, he seized both of your wrists in the grasp of his other hand and squeezed painfully in a warning, forcing you to whine against his lips—a delightful sound that went straight to his hardening bulge that he shamelessly pressed against you, grinding sinfully against your hips.
When he finally pulled away from you, you clearly appeared dazed. Your eyes were half-lidded and glassy, yet you were silently pleading for him to give you more. Your plump lips had swollen from his being pressed so forcefully against your own, and a singular strand of saliva still connected your lips to his own—one which he would sinfully lick away with a salacious swipe of his tongue.
The hand he used to grab your face gently shook your head back and forth, his sadistic turquoise hues savoring your already fucked-out expression. “There’s the greedy bitch I know and love. Finally decided to show yourself, huh? What? You want more, hm? What about your little boyfriend, princess?”
“R-Rin . . . I love, Ri—” You were cut off when Sae’s expression flared, his hand releasing your face for naught but seconds before connecting with your cheek in a hard slap. You squealed from the impact, your head whipping to the side in shock, but you could not help but feel strangely aroused by the contact. He grabbed your cheeks in his palm once more and tightened his hold on your face, bringing you closer to him until you were nose to nose.
“Don’t lie to me, you little minx.” He snarled as he cut his eyes at you. “You don’t think I’ve noticed the way you’ve been looking at me after all these years, like you wanted me? Or that I haven’t overheard your stupid little conversations about how dreamy you think I am to your friends, huh? Or how about now, when you swear up and down that you love my loser little brother, when here you are already going stupid on me when I’ve barely even touched you?”
You clenched your eyes shut as hot, guilty tears rushed behind your lids. He’s right. You've wanted him—always have—but it was too late now. You were with Rin, and he was the love of your life. You could not possibly change that, could you?
“Just say it, Y/N.” He chided, his voice softer than it was before, yet it still held it’s cold, irritated undertone. “Say you want me, and I’ll make you feel better than that lukewarm little shit ever has.” He released your face and smoothed his thick digits over the top of your head, stopping only when he could rest his fingers beneath your chin and tilt your head to look up at him. Your gaze focused on him once more.
“ . . . I want you, Sae. B-But Rin . . . ”
Sae hushed you again, pressing his lips against yours. How badly he wanted that name to never again be uttered by your lovely tongue. When Sae pulled away again, there was the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
“We’ll be quick, okay?” A lie. He was going to take his time fucking his brother’s name out of your memory. “He’ll never suspect a thing.”
Your apprehension was palpable, but ultimately you would succumb to sin and let desire and greed rule over logic and reason. You nodded, giving him the nonverbal go-ahead to stomp on the accelerator and never let up.
“Good girl.” He praised you, both hands abandoning your face to now grip at the collar of your shirt. In one swift motion, he ripped Rin’s jersey clean off of you from down the middle. “About time we got that shit off of you. The sight of it was makin’ me sick.” He spat as he tossed the tattered fabric over his shoulder.
You were not wearing a bra, so the violent motion had your breasts bouncing free after being momentarily released from their confines, allowing them to slap softly against the flesh of your rib cage—much to Sae’s viewing pleasure. You grew sheepish as he seemed to freeze, staring so brazenly at your bare breasts that you began to feel a bit self-conscious. Was something wrong? Did he not like them? Was he expecting more? Less?
In reality, the answer was none of the above. The midfielder swore under his breath as he shoved you back onto Rin's cozy comforter. He hastily climbed on top of you and used his body weight to pin you against the bed as his lustful hands began to grope and knead at your supple flesh, eliciting precious mewls with each delightful squeeze. His lips would latch onto one of your breasts as he dipped his head downward; the thumb and forefinger of his free hand would play with the other, teasing your nipples. His sharp teeth bit greedily over the delicate areola as his tongue flicked and laved over the hardening buds. The stimulation only served to heighten your arousal, as evidenced by the way you wailed his name like a sweet song meant only for his ears and how your thighs squeezed together from your excitement drooling from your folds.
This didn’t go unnoticed by Sae, who was busy alternating between pleasuring both of your breasts and growling under his breath, “Lewd fuckin’ body. S’all mine . . .” When he pulled away, there were visible marks left in his wake—light red splotches and indentations of hungry teeth imprinted on your skin.
He reached for the hem of his compression shirt and lifted it above his head, tossing it off to the side as he sat above you, staring lustfully down at you. He would manhandle you further after sliding off of your body. He pulled your shorts down in one motion, grabbed your thick thighs by the backs of your knees, and pushed them up towards your breasts. When he did, he couldn’t help but whistle, admiring how your puffy folds clung together and your inner thighs remained sticky from your translucent arousal.
“Has he ever made you wet like this?” Sae inquired, leering at you from between your thighs like a hungry lion with it’s eyes set predatorily on a helpless gazelle, to which your gaze would quickly avert. You and Rin had such a strong emotional bond that you never felt the need for frequent sex between you two. There were a few times, though, when Rin would fuck you after a winning game in a way that made you see stars, but those were always very far apart.
Your silence was all Sae needed for his answer. He crept back up onto you, chuckling sardonically as he held your thigh up with one hand, using his body to keep your other spread apart. He wanted to see all of your pretty expressions up close and personal when he ravished you. Swiping two of his fingers between your folds, the sudden motion caused your hips to jerk into his touch and you to keen with need.
Slowly, he inserted a single digit inside of you, hissing at how your walls selfishly gripped his fingers and eagerly tried to devour more of him. “Loosen up, will you, greedy slut?” He slapped your thigh with his other hand as your back arched with pleasure. “This tight pussy will never be able to take my cock at this rate.”
You tried to loosen up, you really did, but there was something so delicious—so tantilizing—about his thick, calloused fingers caressing your velvety walls that made you crave more of him. He continued to thrust his single digit inside of you, his teal oculars peering into your own with such intensity that it forced you to look away.
“Stop that.” His hand that grabbed the back of your knee slithered along your outer thigh until he could grasp your chin and force you to look back at him. “Eyes on me.” He ordered, to which you would nod dumbly amidst your pleasured mewls.
You felt the delightful stretch of another of his thick fingers pressing into your sopping cunt, thrusting in tandem with his previous one, as he leaned closer to you and his lips just barely touched your own.
“S-Sae, mmph, more, please, please, touch me more.” You begged, bringing a sinful smirk to the midfielder’s lips.
Unexpectedly, he would comply with your requests, pressing the pad of his thumb against your throbbing clit and rubbing quick, pleasurable cricles with his fingers as he arduously sought out that sweet, sweet spot inside of you. You could not help but start sobbing his name, his thick fingers filling you to the brim even though he had yet to stuff his cock into you. Each time he curled upward inside of you, his impeccable skill had you gasping for reprieve.
It was nothing like Rin’s. His fingers were slightly thinner than his brother’s, but they were a tad longer too, able to reach the deepest spots within you without even trying. Sae's immense precision and experience, which allowed him to know exactly where your sweetest spots lay within you, made up for his lack of length.
“ . . . Are you seriously thinking about him right now?”
You were startled out of your reverie by his curious tone and thinly veiled anger. You tried to focus on his hardened features through your daze, but you couldn’t. The knot in your tummy tightened, and you felt an enormous wave of pleasure wash over you. Something big was coming, and you could feel it reverberating all throughout your core.
“He could never make you feel this good, could he? Never get this pretty cunt this wet for him, hm?” All throughout his monologue, you could hear the sinful squelching of your juices soaking his palm, dripping down his wrist, and splattering onto the floor. You were a mess beneath him. He would abuse that rough patch just along your upper walls until your toes clung to the sheets in ecstasy.
“M’sorry, m’sorry!” You mewled, breath coming out in short, high-pitched pants as you writhed under him, his pace increasing as he felt your walls fluttering around his fingers.
“Who’s making a mess of you right now? Huh? Speak up, princess; let me hear you say it.”
“—You, Sae! You, you, you! Hah, please, I-I can’t . . . ! I-I’m gonna—”
“Do it. Cum on my fuckin’ fingers. Make a mess for me, pretty.”
You did just that. Your body went rigid for naught but a second before your back was arched into him, and your head tossed itself back into the pillows as a chorus of unabashed wails of your release erupted from your pretty, drooling lips. Your release was immense—loud—as a gushing of juices from your pussy thoroughly drenched the sheets, Sae’s sweatpants, his abs, and his entire forearm.
You squirted. For him. For the first time ever.
It was uncharacteristic how an almost feral grin twisted on Sae’s lips, his fingers removing from your sopping cunt to place a few well-directed slaps on your far too sensitive and overstimulated pussy.
“Atta’ fuckin’ girl. Can’t believe my baby brother was keeping such a sweet little succubus all to himself—selfish bastard.”
You couldn’t even hear him; your chest was rising and falling heavily as tears of pleasure ran down your cheeks (and thighs).
“Hey, hey. You still with me?” His tone was soft, his typically impassive visage now meeting your own with furrowed eyebrows and a tinge of concern behind his bright hues.
You nodded—it was all you could muster at this moment, but it was good enough for Sae. He brought his soaking hand to your parted lips, lightly tapping the digits on your plump flesh in a silent command for you to clean him off. He chuckled. Your lithe tongue and eager brims slurped, licked, and sucked your mess off of his thick fingers that were now shoved down your throat without you even needing to be told what to do.
“You wanna do that again for me? On my cock this time, pretty?”
You were exhausted, your body already aching beneath him, but you still craved more from him. Another meek nod was given, your dazed eyes meeting his only to utter around his fingers, words garbled from his fingers on your tongue, “Wantha’ squirth’ awound ya cahwk.”
That was all Sae needed to hear as he stepped off of the bed, making quick work to discard his soaked sweatpants and boxers into the growing pile of clothes at the base of the bed. His large hands grabbed your soft hips, tugging you toward him with ease as he flipped you onto your hands and knees. He let out a growl, his hand raising to smack your plump ass once, then twice, on both of your cheeks before taking big, greedy handfuls of your flesh into his ravenous palms. This was undoubtedly already his favorite thing about you.
Standing by the edge of the bed, Sae placed your body horizontally across the mattress with your head facing the door. With a forceful push of your face down into the sheets, your view of the room instantly became obscured. You craned your neck back, peering at Sae from over the arch of your back as he grabbed one of your fat cheeks in one hand and used his other to line his cock up with your entrance. He slapped his heavy cock against your folds, his blossoming mushroom tip connecting with your throbbing clit making you both keen with ecstasy.
He couldn’t wait any more. He needed to be inside of you. He entered your drooling cunt with a single, calculated push, and your fluttering walls were already trying to devour more of him in response to the intrusion. Sae groaned as his hips met the flesh of your ass once he was buried to the hilt inside of you. His head lulled back as he dug his blunt nails into your flesh.
For the past three years, this—this right here is exactly what he had been craving, yearning over, and lusting for—and now he had it. He nearly came from the feeling inside of you alone, though; he’d be damned if he let the fun stop there.
A steady pace was quickly established by the midfielder's hips, and his long, deliberate strokes were deep enough to feel in your tummy and cause your toes to curl up in pleasure. Having had such a powerful orgasm not even minutes earlier, you were still fairly sensitive; however, that only made things all the more enjoyable.
“O-Oh my god, y-your cock, it’s t-too much, I-I can’t—”
“Don’t tell me you can’t, you cock-loving slut.” He snapped at you, cutting your pleas short with a sharp thrust of his hips. The rhythmic plapping of your ass against his pelvis resonated off the walls of the bedroom, lewdly ringing in your own ears. “This is everything I—we’ve—been wanting for years. Don’t tell me that now, all of a sudden—” He paused, groaning deeply through gritted teeth as you clenched around him. “—That this pretty pussy can’t take anymore when you’re gripping me so desperately.”
“B-But Sae, i-it feels too good! Like I’m . . . I’m gonna make a mess again!” You whined.
He thought it was adorable that even in the most deplorable and deprived of acts, you still attempted to hold some semblance of modesty. Oh, how you were both far past that.
If anything, that just fueled his aggression. He used your words as justification to pummel your poor pussy harder and faster, putting both of his hands on your hips and lower back and pressing his weight against you to force you into an almost painful arch as his pelvis slammed into your ass. Your vision went blurry from his unforgiving pace, and your throat went raw from your cries and screams of pleasure.
“Who’s making you feel this good, huh?” He grunted in between thrusts, a hand raising to land a furious smack on your ass that caused you to mewl and your tiny fists to grip the sheets.
“Y-You, Sae! You are! Ngh, plea—”
“And who’s cock do you like better, huh, princess? Me or that lukewarm fuckface’s?”
You hesitated, but only for a millisecond, as you felt the blunt head of his cock caressing your sweet spot, pummeling into you over and over as your thighs began to shake, growing unable to hold yourself up from the stimulation. His thrusts faltered as his cock twitched inside of you. You figured he was close too.
“Yours, y-yours! Your cock feels so good, I-I’m gonna cum again! I’m ngh gonna cum all over your f-fuck-ing cock!”
He let out an almost animalistic groan, something between a chuckle and a feral snarl, “Yeah, princess? You really mean it?” He moved one of his hands to your hair, threading his fingers through it without yet pulling, almost as if he were waiting for your response.
Your response was almost instantaneous, and the adorable chorus of incoherent babbles and cries of "yes, yes, yes" left your head spinning. You had the sensation that you might pass out completely.
Your head was abruptly yanked out of the pillows, and your gaze was once again forced upward. Your eyes, albeit blurry and glassy, caught sight of the all-too-familiar figure standing in the doorway. Sweat dribbling from his forehead while dressed in a white windbreaker and sweatpants to protect himself from the elements during his jog, stood the one person who filled you with dread.
Rin.
He was back.
As your eyes locked onto the all-too-memorable teal ones boring into your own, your moans ceased. The logic and reason that you had previously dismissed for giving into your desires came flooding back. Guilt, which had been gnawing at the pit of your stomach, reared it’s ugly head once more.
He caught you.
With his brother.
The realization of your actions, the feeling of knowing that you hurt someone you cared deeply about and promised your life to, left you reeling. The enormity of the situation left you speechless and unable to respond.
As the shock slowly gave way to the depths of your despair, tears welled up in your eyes, this time of anguish. Your ability to control your emotions ran out, and you began to sob, letting the tears run down your cheeks. Each tear that ran free was weighed down by guilt and regret.
All the while, Sae never stopped thrusting behind you. Almost as if he remained unfazed by his brother’s—your boyfriend’s—sudden appearance.
“R-Rin—”
“—Save it.”
His initial shock, disbelief, and hurt gradually gave way to something else. He was angry, searing with anger as malice began to rise within him, a blaze of fury that threatened to consume him. Though he wasn’t looking at you, he was looking at . . . Sae?
“You told me you would wait until I got back, Nii-chan.”
The air left your lungs.
. . . What?
Using the grip from your hair, Sae pulled you back into him, pressing your body flush against his own as he craned your neck back into an awkward angle, forcing your gaze to meet his own. A dark and unsettling satisfaction crept into his expression, the corner of his lips tugging into a smirk. His eyes sparkled with a perverse delight, reveling in the twisted pleasure he derived from your adorably bewildered and anguished expression.
Your breath hitched.
Your mind raced for answers.
Sae’s gaze lazily tore from your own and to Rin's, who still remained in the doorway, the forward’s eyes sinfully burning into the way your breasts bounced sinfully from each of Sae’s now slow, agonizing thrusts.
"You know, little brother, it is not too late to join in on the fun."
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ⓒ vampiie 2023 — all rights reserved. please do not repost my work outside of tumblr, modify, or translate my work in any form/means. please do not share my work to tiktok or any other site.
if this gets enough attention, i may make a part two!
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kiemiu · 6 months ago
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─── 𝐉𝐎𝐂𝐊!𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒 + 𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐃!𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 ᝰ ࣪ ˖
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christopher o. sturniolo, 21 ☆
college football quarterback party animal extroverted averaging c's and d's in every class besides poetry, where he has an a. "retired playboy."
likes: working out, poetry, partying, pepsi, the cute girl in his poetry class.
dislikes: losing, dry texters, ghosts, wet socks, scary movies
🎵: ian, mac miller, partynextdoor, lil skies, a$ap rocky, drake, concrete boys, travis scott, chief keef, future
🎥: step brothers, grown ups, the simpsons movie, fight club, the truman show, the dark night, dead poets society, scott pilgrim v. the world, blade runner 2049, donnie darko
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nerd!reader, 19 ౨ৎ
psychology major creative writing minor introvert averaging a's in every class. hopeless romantic.
likes: tiramisu cake, libraries, romcoms and chick-flicks, shakespeare in the park, the obnoxious jock that sits next to her in poetry.
dislikes: noisy people in quiet places, constant socializing, packed elevators, mean people.
🎵: erykah badu, clairo, sza, lamp, mac demarco, childish gambino, men i trust, frank ocean, the cardigans, beabadoobee
🎥: poetic justice, knives out, pride & prejudice, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, lady bird, the grand budapest hotel, the menu, black swan, gone girl, 10 things i hate about you.
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jock!chris + nerd!reader masterlist | <3
' 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 ' 🌱: @emely9274 @ginswife @chrisstvrns @conspiracy-ash @sturnina @lovetaylorrussellgrr @nervoussagittarius @sacaydia @chrissturnsss @hearts4werka @chrisprincesss @koilaniazul @starsforu @sturn777 @sturniolosiphone @chrisfavoritewhore @sturnsmia @leaningoutthewindow @certainfestivalnerdshepherd @dominicfikeenthusiast @st4rcs
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jsprnt · 1 year ago
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meeting your boyfriend’s parents
arda güler x turkish! reader
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A/N: based on this request, thank uu 🤍 my first arda fic!!
W/C: 2.175 (yes, I got ahead of myself)
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"is this too much?"
you ask yourself, thoroughly examining your outfit in the mirror. you run your hands down the soft fabric, grunting in indecisiveness.
turning around, you're greeted by a huge pile of clothes on your bed. a combination of dresses, jeans and shirts crumpled up from the way you'd thrown them behind you, after trying them on.
jeans with a sweater, too hot.
a pair of trousers with a blouse, too formal.
a skirt with a cropped top, too much skin showing for a first meeting with your boyfriend's parents.
the weather was becoming warmer these days, so you also had to keep the fabric and thickness of the clothes in mind.
"fuck this.." you mumble, sitting on your bed, the clothes barely allowing you to see you pink bedding. you lay down, the clothes becoming your soft pillow, apart from the buttons on the items, digging into your neck and the back of your head.
you and arda have been together for a few months now. you had gotten acquainted with him through mutual friends when he had just transferred to real madrid.
at first, you were a little nervous, meeting new people was exactly your thing. though, your friends had convinced you to meet him, only due to the shared background you both had.
since arda was born, he'd never lived anywhere else other than türkiye. born and raised partially in the capital, ankara. only to move to istanbul to play at his childhood dream club, fenerbahçe.
the years had gone by fast, and when a huge opportunity came, he finally decided it was time for him to leave and move onto one of the biggest clubs in the world.
you had met arda at a small gathering, specifically a surprise birthday party you attend for one of your close friends. 
the night was full of fun games, karaoke, and the best of all the multiple 'halay' dance routines.
you'd found arda to be a very sweet person, the second you met him. the way he so gently shook your hand, and gave you the prettiest smile you'd ever seen on a boy, had you mesmerized instantly.
obviously, you knew who he was before you met him. it was unavoidable to not know who 'arda güler' was, especially as a turkish person.
growing up around adults who watched and played football religiously, you were definitely aware of the debate.
which football club is türkiye's biggest and best?
was it the 'lion's', galatasaray, who had won the league last year? or was it the 'yellow canaries', fenerbahçe, who were first on the 'Süper Lig's all-time table'?
some would even nominate the 'black eagles', beşiktaş as candidates.
since all three of these clubs are based in the eurasian city of istanbul, derbys were an absolute show every time.
the excitement, the nerves, the turkish anger issues revealing themselves when someone gets fouled, or the thrill of seeing players of the opposite team fight each other, after a highly emotional match at full-time.
to see arda right in front of you, after seeing him on tv all the time was incredibly weird. but, you got used to it fairly quickly after seeing how humble and kind he was to everyone around him, whether he knew them or not..
you rub your nose with your fingers, eyes itching from the amount of dust in your room. you pause your movements for a second, sniffing softly and looking at the sun shining through your window.
the combined actions finally allow you to sneeze, and you don't waste time before you stand up to and go open your windows.
you were supposed to be picked up in an hour, so you had to hurry up and choose something to wear.
you had already texted your friends asking for advice on how you should dress. it didn't help much though, because whatever they said you should wear, you'd change your mind about it last minute. finding an issue with the clothing items, and then having to chuck more clothes on your bed as you rummaged through your closet.
your mind becomes busy with getting distracted by the beautiful weather outside, and the neighborhood children playing and laughing together.
though, you immediately whip your head around when your phone goes off. processing and realizing the ringtone, the one you had specifically set for arda, you walk over.
you sigh in irritation as you look around for your phone, finally catching a glimpse of the white case, from underneath a single black sock.
you're entire demeanor shifts when you read the caller id, smiling to yourself when you pick up. propping the phone in position, against the alarm clock on your nightstand, so he can see you properly.
"aşkım?" (my love) he says, the sweet nickname falling off his lips. his phone incredibly close to his face, as he shifts and moves, from what you can see, his car.
"arda, why did you call?" you question, grinning when you can finally see his full face. he moves his arm, playing with his hair as he smiles back.
"just finished training, showered and I'm coming over right now.."
"right now?" you panic, pointing downwards with your finger to confirm. "right now? but I'm not ready yet- and you said be ready by 5:45.." you blurt, already getting up to your feet, eyes flickering around the room as you forget he's on the phone for a moment.
"hey, calm down.. we have a lot of time, I just thought I'd come over since I know you're nervous.."
you look back at the screen, brows furrowing in confusion.
"that’s very sweet, but you just gave me a heart attack.."
"I'm almost at your place, canım. (my life) don't worry.."
you nod back, your heart calming down slowly.
"I don't know what to wear.." you say, running a hand over your face.
"I'll help you, I'll be over in a minute.."
"okay.." you mumble, waving quickly before telling him you'll hang up and wait until he arrives.
your thoughts are interrupted by an annoying yell and then a scoff.
"y/n! the footballer is here!"
you chuckle at your brother's voice, it's undeniably funny how much he liked galatasaray. even though arda had almost transferred to real madrid months ago, from fenerbahçe, your younger brother had vowed not to like him ever since he heard about you two.
well, he did cave when you asked him if he'd come along to some real madrid matches..
"I'm coming.." you shout back, jumping when you come across your brother. he scoffs at you, hurriedly stomping up the stairs to probably bother your older brother.
"arda?" you question, smiling when you notice him in the living room. he looks up immediately, walking up to bring you into a tight hug.
"I've missed you, tatlım.." (my sweetie) he whispers against your ear, pressing a soft kiss to your temple.
you look at him, grinning from ear to ear. you hadn't seen him since he had left for an important match in a different country, so it was practically your catch up dinner too.
"I missed you too.." you reply, planting a kiss to his cheek. without waiting for him to say anything else, you drag him towards your bedroom, showing him the disaster.
"did a tornado visit your room, and should I be concerned?" he asks, squinting at the pile of clothes.
"I don't know what to wear.." you groan, throwing yourself onto your bed.
you watch arda walk closer, his hands reaching out to grab a slightly wrinkled floral blue dress.
"this one." he firmly states, turning around to grab a pair of white kitten heels from your shoe rack.
"and this.." he says, presenting the two items like a football shirt.
muscle memory, you guess.
you sit up, fixing your posture as you analyze the combination.
"that's not too much?" you ask, getting some hope.
"what do you mean? this is perfect, my parents would love it.."
he watches your unsure expression, placing the dress on your bed and the shoes on the floor.
"try it on for me, okay?" he asks, nudging your chin up, so he can look you in the eyes.
"I'll wait for you in the living room, maybe b/n will join me.."
minutes pass, and you've pulled the dress on successfully. fidgeting with the fabric, you smile, starting to feel satisfied. already thinking of what jewelry and other accessories you'll style the dress with.
hurrying up, you walk into the living room, surprised when you can actually see both your brothers sitting with your boyfriend. and it didn't look like either of them had said anything crazy to arda.
they looked, strangely happy and relaxed..
"what do you think?" you ask, raising your brows at the three boys.
you're bombarded by compliments, and almost gawk as your older brother calls you 'pretty'.
had arda replaced him with other person while you were getting dressed?
without much more thinking, you run back to your room. pulling on the rest of your accessories and fixing your appearance.
"I'm more scared of meeting your sister, than meeting your parents.." you confess, playing with the ring on arda's finger, looking up at where the driver is taking you.
"my sister's not going to kill you.." he chuckles, looking down at your intertwined fingers.
"still.."
you've heard the horror stories. girl's meeting their 'sister-in-law', only to find out how incredibly mean and protective they are about their younger brother.
deep inside, you knew his sister would be nice. he'd told you so many times about her wish of wanting to meet you.
it was just scary to meet three new people at once. especially those closest to your boyfriend. you had to get along, no questions asked.
you fidget with the bouquet of flowers in your hand. other hand intertwined with arda's, as you waited for his family to open the front door.
"hoşgeldiniz.." hearing the welcoming greeting in turkish you immediately tense up. arda seems to notice, looking at you and squeezing your hand reassuringly, before you step in.
you try to smile when you make eye contact with his mother, her loving arms coming to wrap around you. you greet each other with two, traditional kisses on each cheek, the worries in your heart slowly melting away.
you hand the flowers to her, and watch as the smile on her grow, an exact replica of your boyfriend’s smile..
you watch as arda hands his sister the gift bag in his hand, a kilogram of baklava.
you almost drool at the thought of having the dessert with a cup of turkish tea, but stop yourself before you get ahead of yourself.
it doesn't take long before you're all seated at the dinner table. having greeted all three of his family members with a lot of affection.
the atmosphere was friendly, warmer than you had dreamt of. but, you should've expected it, especially with how loving and caring your boyfriend is.
you admire all the different types of food prepared for dinner. eyes catching on the 'manti' you, oh-so- loved. you could describe them as little dumplings, instead of soup they were mixed in with yogurt, a sauce of tomato paste, and a lot of spices.
with how small they looked, you could guess it took a long time to make. not to forget, the other types of food. 'mercimek soup', 'olive-leaf sarma', and a colorful 'çoban' salad to refresh your palate.
you almost drooled at just the sight of the delicious array of food, and the way it tasted was a million times better.
"so, what city are your parents from?" arda's dad asks, the insanely predictable question every uncle asks when they notice you're turkish. only to magically always know your dad in some way or another.
"my mother is from c/n, and my father is from c/n.." you answer, making sure you answer with the perfect pronunciation.
"oh, back when I was younger- around arda’s age. I worked in c/n. we had worked hard for our bread and butter, sending money to the family was the most important thing back then.."
and without noticing, you'd passed the 'meeting my boyfriend's family test'.
only, because everyone at the table started complaining loudly, comfortable enough with you, already- to act like that. indicating they had all heard the story he was going to tell, a million times before.
you chuckle, smile pulling on your lips, as you feel arda's hand slip onto yours. his palm resting on the back of your hand, as he pats it reassuringly.
you glance at your boyfriend, his boxy smile showing, as he calms you down.
"don't listen to him, or he'll talk your ear off, y/n. let's talk about something else.." his sister chimes in, leaning forward to ask you something to save you from the talk.
this could definitely become something you could get used to..
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strawberryblue-blog · 10 months ago
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First love —Hector Fort.
summary: After meeting Hector at university you become inseparable and finally confess you love.
warnings: none. soft, cute, fluff. friends to lovers, young love, college love.
words count: +2.2k
#SEXYNOTE: I'm really bad at naming imagines 😭 I apologize. I also apologize for the mistakes. English is not my first language.
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A familiar sound called to your senses causing your joints and muscles to begin to stretch. You opened your eyes just enough to notice some light through the window but closed them again out of exhaustion. Your senses were not yet alive but you could feel the softness of the sheets enveloping your body. Your eyes focused on the window.
It was dark, a light wind was blowing outside the house and rain was pouring down the glass. You were surrounded by the blue sheets and white blanket when your hands reached for the phone to check the time.
8:00 am.
An exquisite smell of toast and coffee wafted through the half-open door as you sat up refreshing your eyes, finishing waking up your senses that were put on alert when your belly rumbled.
You pulled the sheets off your body, pulling the hoodie over your body and your socks and after washing up in the bathroom, you walked slowly, carving your eyes to the kitchen. You were still a little sleepy but you were already starting to wake up due to the memories of the night before.
Damn. A shiver ran down your spine when you saw the muscular back of your best friend in your kitchen.
Your best friend, uh... best friend? You didn't exactly know if you could say that from now on.
A slight flush appeared in your cheeks remembering what had happened the night before. And you froze behind him without making a move as the memories crossed your mind. You bit your lip nervously and played with the sleeves of his hoodie, feeling his strong perfume making your skin crawl.
You could still remember his lips on yours, his hands on you, the nervous confessions of both of you and the soft caresses, which now had another meaning, on your body. It had been the most beautiful moment since you could remember, you had never felt so full of emotions, feelings, ideas, happiness.
Had it really happened, or was it part of your fantasy? Maybe it had been a dream that you had just woken up. Maybe it had been your head playing with you after your feelings about him. Could it be? Or was it simple reality?
Hector had become your best friend since you had both started college, united by your love for sports. You were both studying sports journalism and you never thought you would cross paths with none other than Hector Fort, Spanish footballer and defender for F. C. Barcelona. The young rising star of one of the biggest clubs in Spain and the world.
It was obvious that you knew him, everyone in Barcelona knew who he was. Yet you stayed away and didn't approach him, perhaps out of embarrassment or perhaps because you wanted to respect his privacy. However, it was he himself who approached you.
You still remember how you trembled when he walked down the aisle and asked if the seat next to you was taken. How your voice stuttered to say 'no' and your heart skipped a beat at how handsome he was, of course, you had to admit he was one of the cutest guys you had ever seen. You also remember how he smiled at you so kindly thanking you and sat next to you, calm and relaxed while you were dying inside with your heart burning and your nervousness.
That's how he stood there every class, every hour, every day. He always arrived at the same time, greeted you and sat next to you. It took you a few days to ask him how he was doing, you always wanted to talk to him but you were a little shy to interrupt him. You didn't want him to think you might be taking advantage of him, so after a few days, you finally asked him about homework.
That's how it all started. You started talking about classes, sharing notes, staying after class to help each other with some questions. You felt more confident. Yet you never mentioned anything about his work.
But you wondered if he had approached you because you were the only person who didn't approach him after entering the class or if he had a reason to sit with you.
You began to get to know each other little by little. He always struck you as someone charming, not just in what he did, but in who he was. Cheerful, funny and kind. You didn't know it until he invited you over for ice cream one day after school. Then you exchanged phone numbers, home addresses and started hanging out. Dining with classmates, watching movies, doing homework, studying together. You became inseparable, like best friends, even though you knew you didn't belong so much in his world. There was something that brought you together. Your love for sports, for football especially.
And now you were here. After last night... A shiver ran through your body from the tips of your toes to your neck, making you shiver.
"What are you doing there?" his voice interrupted you.
Hector was looking at you with a confused smile. He must have seen you looking pathetic, standing there, staring at him like a madwoman, in shock with no response from nerves.
"Ah...I..." you tried to start but couldn't, your ears burning with embarrassment.
"Are you okay?" he asked somewhat concerned. You nodded quickly and bit your lip nervously.
Hector watched you for a few seconds and walked towards you. The moment he cupped your cheeks and his lips kissed your lips softly, your whole body froze.
It was a quiet, soft and delicate kiss. So much so that inside your belly the thousands of butterflies fluttered. His touch felt warm on your skin, his scent made you feel dizzy and you wanted to hug him. He was kissing you. Just like he had done last night for the first time. This time he was more confident, more assured, more committed.
The feelings in your chest bloomed again as they had the night before when you remembered. If it had been true. You had not dreamed. Hector had confessed to you and then you did too. You kissed all night. You caressed each other all night. You enjoyed each other as you were surrounded by love and youth.
It had really happened.
Your hands take him by the waist and you pull him closer to you, trembling. His arms go around your shoulders and because of the height difference, you tiptoe up to kiss him passionately. It wasn't your first kiss but it felt like it was. Your belly roared the same way it did last night, your body trembled, your heart raced, your pulse soared just as it had a few hours ago.
You were madly in love with Hector Fort.
You could finally say it. He was perfect. All of it. Him, you, his love.
When you parted, his mischievous eyes crossed yours and you smiled hiding your red cheeks. You covered your face in embarrassment and Hector laughed tenderly.
"Let's have breakfast, princess" he murmured taking your hand and leading you to the table, making you take a seat.
Then he appeared with the tray loaded with food with two cups of coffee and toast with jam, which he himself had been in charge of preparing the way you liked it, the way he knew how, making you melt with love.
You looked at him with those eyes and when his eyes received yours, they lit up in the same way. You reached up to leave a peck on his lips as a thank you and then he sat down next to you. You had a leisurely breakfast, chatting about some things, crossing a glance or two, laughing nervously and smiling at each other like lovebirds in love.
You had breakfast many times at your house, even you at his. But none of them compared like this one after last night.
When you finished, you both gathered the things and left them in the sink. You would deal with that later, for now, you wanted to enjoy Hector and the time you had together.
"It's still raining too much" you spied through the curtains. "Stay until it stops" you asked looking at him.
"I wasn't planning on leaving anyway" he says laughing as he sits on the couch. You laugh sheepishly too.
On your tiptoes you run up to him, sitting next to him. He grabbed you by the hips, pulling you against his chest, grabbing the blanket and covering you both. Shyly you leaned your back against his chest, settling in so you could caress your feet with his. Your fingers ran down his forearms, where he was already drawing ink on your skin, tracing every line, every shape, every space. You really liked it on him, even though you weren't a fan of tattoos.
He caressed your hair, your face, moving down your neck and staying on the side of your torso, hugging you to him. His breath so calm and pure blowing in your ear, relaxing every muscle in your body. In the distance a movie you had found was playing, as you both watched it but you weren't really focused on it. You were feeling each other, caressing each other, getting to know each other in this new way of loving.
It felt so intimate, warm, special.
Is that what it felt like to be loved? Is that what it felt like to be in love? You had never felt the butterflies in your belly like you did now, your heart so warm it ached. You were trapped in this cloud of love that made you feel so loved. Because you didn't want this moment to end, you wanted to stay like this for life, in his arms, feeling his warmth.
You never thought you would end up like this to tell the truth. You belonged to different worlds but at the same time you were alike. You were just a girl trying to study to receive her degree so she could work at what she loved while he was a rising soccer player who was still growing at the club of his dreams. Hector was someone famous and well known but he maintained humility and you liked that about him.
You couldn't believe he reciprocated your feelings, you couldn't believe he liked you. You were so unreal. But it was really happening. And you were in love with him.
What were you? The question came into your head.
You hadn't talked much after last night and you were curious what he thought. It was clear that you were lovers. You loved him, he loved you. But were you boyfriend and girlfriend? Were they together? You knew that for you safety, you had to keep it private and you didn't care at all because love could do anything.
And you were willing to risk everything for Hector.
"Hector..." you call out to him in fear.
He lowers his gaze and they meet your eyes.
"What... are... we... now?" you ask slowly.
He smiles a little and your cheeks burn. It must be about the tenth time you've blushed so far this morning. But he has that effect on you.
"I mean... we can be nothing if you don't want to..." you try to fix it as you notice his silence but he interrupts you.
"Do you want to be my g-girlfriend, Y/n?" he asks shamelessly. "Well, at least formally now..." he shakes his head laughing.
You felt his heart start beating rapidly in your back, infecting yours. You sat up and turned away from him, to face him. He was serious. He had that delicate, fiery gaze that you loved. His eyes were connected to yours like a spell.
A smile appeared on your lips.
"Yes, I want to be your girlfriend" you accepted without thinking.
Héctor was your boyfriend. Wow, your boyfriend. That sounded too much. He was your first boyfriend, your first love and the only one.
It didn't take long for your lips to join, in a soft and tender kiss. His lips caressing yours with such delicacy, as if they were made of porcelain. In your mind came his first kiss, which had been between confessions the night before, again you were feeling that. Thousands of butterflies, well not butterflies, better dinosaurs. Your hands sweating, your heart racing as if you had run a marathon.
Now everything was clearer, your feelings for him, the admiration you felt every time you saw him play, that feeling when you were with him, your agitated thoughts imagining a life with him. Hector pulled away, resting his forehead against yours, his breaths heaving, his lips reddening, as did his cheeks and hearts joining in an endless battle.
"I love you so much, princess" he whispered opening his eyes to connect with yours again.
Could there be anyone who could make you feel this way with three words? Would you ever find someone who could move your heaven and earth the way Hector did? No. There would be no one else like him. You loved no one more than him.
You were in love with him from the moment he walked into the classroom, from the moment he sat down next to you. It was so genuine, just like your feelings for him. You didn't care that he was a public figure, that you guys couldn't just walk down the street. You didn't care at all because you loved him.
As if the two of you were destined to meet in this life and beyond, as if you were written in a book of love, as if you had found your other half. Because that's how you felt every time Hector appeared in your field of vision, in your thoughts or in your dreams.
"I love you so much, Hector" you replied moving your forehead, making your noses brush against each other.
A short kiss but loaded with feelings deposited Hector on your lips, so that you then returned to your place. Placing you on his chest, feeling his scent, his warmth invade every pore of your body. Holding hands, caressing his fingers with love, feeling sparks around you.
Peace came to you, listening to the drops falling from the sky, your minds and hearts united, loving each other. For the rest of your lives.
Your first true love. The person who made your heart full of joy.
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dough09 · 3 months ago
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I saw this on my page, and I was like, I must deliver. This is such a good ideaaa 😭
(Im working on three different fanfics, save me TvT)
Thank you @keyhai 🩷
// I also paid attention to your comment under the post //
How cute~
When Sae arrived at his new home at thirteen the new school, the dorm building seemed huge. Heck, the whole of Spain seemed monumental compared to Kanagawa. The prefecture he knew so well. He couldn't exactly comprehend how he’d be studying, living and practicing here. 
It was hard at first. Getting to know his age group, his new teammates who were all a little older than him. Sometimes he was close to giving up. Occasionally his Spanish teacher had to consol the little boy. That old man was his only hope. The only parent-figure he could keep in touch with. 
The only person who could understand him. Without that stupid language barrier he learned to hate.
All the bullying he received as a child. Just because he is younger and japanese. He learned how cruel the world is.
Everything changed when he saw a taller girl rush across the hallway. A football and a sports bag in hand. Sae scoffed. “She must be late for practice… slacker” or so he thought.
A sense of familiarity hit him. Clueless why. He definitely hasn't seen you in school, nor at the dorms. What he did know, was that she seemed to be much older.
A week later the Re Al football teams got together to say bye to a retiring coach. Sae has learned that it's a custom to show up to the retirement party for everyone who plays in the club regardless of age, time spent there, or whether or not they knew the person in question.
For Sae Coach Emiliano said nothing. He didn't know him, nor did he hear about the old man. Ever. Each group dressed in their respective jerseys gathered around the man. Sae didn't understand how could people adore this Emiliano, if he has never ever heard his name before. Surely if he was an important figure he’d know.
“Do you want some cookies?” A girl looked down at him. Not much taller, just, maybe a tiny bit. Fine, who is he kidding. She was towering over him. 
He saw how you looked at him. It was a gentle gaze. Not one he is used to. He had no idea what you just said. He understood that you asked him if he wanted something. It was above him to know the word cookie. 
“Yo! Y/N El idiota no tiene idea de lo que estás diciendo! El es japones.” //Yo! Y/N The idiot has no idea what you're saying! He's Japanese.// A guy around your age shouted. He didn't need to understand everything to hear the mean tone in between. He was totally looking down on him. Like everyone. “Oh, sorry, then do you know english?” You smiled.
You smiled. 
Smile?
That guy just told you how he is an idiot and all that. But instead of the usual racism and downgrading, you smiled. At him.
He felt his heart skip a beat. His eyes met yours and they lingered for a while. He saw that you were getting nervous by just staring at each other so he quickly had to say something. “Not the best.. but I know more.”
“That's wonderful! Don't listen to Rodrigo, he doesn't know what he’s talking about. One time, he slammed the ball into the coach’s head- “ you laughed. “He got punished for 3 weeks straight.” 
Your laughter struck a chord within his heart. What was this feeling? He didn't mind being with you even if you were speaking way too fast. He did understand what you found funny though.
Maybe there is a hint of light within the world.
~~~~~~~~
Days passed. You two got closer. Started meeting more due to your training regimen changing. The girls team played at the same time with his team, just across from them. 
With his translator in tow they finally arrived to the court. It was time for practice to start.
His eyes occasionally drifted to the other team. You were captivating. You mainly passed the ball around. You also looked to be a midfielder. 
He hates that position. He wanted to be a striker all along. Hell, even his promise with Rin is about being a striker, but the coach thought this would suit him best. “I’ll show him, I can be a stiker if I want to, I’ll hog all the goals” or so he thought. 
But as he watched you play maybe it wasn't that bad. Maybe passing it around, knowing who is in the best position is maybe more attractive than taking all the glory.
Plus, a striker has to be loved by all. Which he isn't. Or so he's told. “Sae! Coach wants you guys to watch the girls play. They have a training match in 20 minutes!” His translator informed. He nodded and went to the other court. Not that he wasn't already looking at you.
Throughout the whole match you were captivating. Not only for him but many of his teammates found themselves focusing on you.
That was how he fell in love- With the midfielder position. naturally..
~~~~~~
Days of knowing each other became weeks. Later became months. Even years. Years of staying in contact. 
Just like how silent stares, occasional greetings, shared laughs, smiles, nods at each other made your relationship somewhat questionable.
These stolen moments eventually became stolen kisses. They lasted for a moment in public, but when you started going on dates, sharing food and all of the above it all became clear to Sae.
He fell in love. With his senior.
“This is a joke Y/N” he sighed tiredly as you tried feeding him like a little boy. “Come on! Don't be a party pooper, come, say aah~” 
“I am not a child dumbass!” he scoffed and grabbed the fork. “Eat” as he nudged it towards you.
“Oh come on, you are shorter! You can't feed me!!” What logic even is that… not that it mattered. When you were with each other, making sense wasn't always important. Or so he learned.
“Just was. You live in the past mi vida” he flirted. True, as the years passed he became more attractive. You started looking at him differently. Eventually he was more than a younger student. Someone you should help and support. He became someone you could find solace in. “I do not-” but as you opened your mouth the cake found its way to it. 
It was yummy. The fruits and the cream balanced each other so well. Wasn't too sweet, but not too sour.
He saw how much you liked it and couldn't help but also take a bite. From the same fork. /Indirect kiss- your brain interrupted the moment/
“You know, I used to hate Spain. The language, the city, the people, even soccer for a while.. but maybe it's not so bad afterall.” “Think of it this way, if you weren't here, you’d never know me” you grinned. 
“True, although… sometimes I think that’d be less troublesome” “Stop being mean!!!” You whined.
He chuckled. “Come on, eat the rest of this” he said as he pushed the plate closer to you. “Only if I can feed you!” “No” “Come on! Just one bite!!” You squint your eyes in a pout.
“Fine, but only because I’ll never hear the end of it otherwise.” he blushed and sighed. 
He bit down the fork you placed to his mouth and slowly leaned back. “How cute~” he blushed. But it's whatever. Your giggle meant more to him than stupid cake. “I am not 13 anymore Y/N.” He retorted and looked down at the cake.
You took a bite from the cookie on the side. Galleta. It was pretty funny to him. You probably didn't ponder about this. Nor did you remember your first question towards him. But to him, that sentence was life changing.
…Well not the cookies, but you get the point.
Coming to Spain was worth it. The hours of studying was worth it. Interacting with others was worth it. Saying bye to his childish self, was worth it.
That's how Spanish lessons became important. How feelings crept up within him. How he learned about others. And about himself. How he fell more in love with soccer. Maybe at the end of the day, the language barrier has one tiny advantage. Maybe being “special” or out of place within a country isn't always so terrible.
The world may have changed at 13. But change, isn't always a synonym for bad.
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thecapricunt1616 · 1 year ago
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Balessan - (c.b. oneshot)
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𝓢𝓷𝓲𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓽 (𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓑𝓣𝓒):“The Cub takes down The Bear at the 20 yard lineee!!” Mikey shouts ferociously, jumping up and pouncing on Carmys chest in a bodyslam. Carm groans, “Ohhh you little cheater- when did we start wrestling?! They don’t do bodyslams in football, kid” he wraps his arms around Mikey, caging him in and tickling his sides, causing him to squeal and laugh wildly.
♡ O.S Inspo: Balessan ; Also known as: Poplar Buds, Balsam Poplar, Balm of Gilead, Mecca, Mecca Balsam, & Bechan - This Magickal herb can be used to bring forth; Love, manifestations, protection, healing, de-stressing, and assisting in healing from the loss of a loved one. Use in love sachets; carry for healing, protection, and mending a broken heart. ♡ Summary: This amazing, big brained, fabulous & wonderful request is inspired from this ask from my beautiful flower @daysofyellowroses - Thank you my love. -- In this O/S You & Carmy spend a day with his nephew at the park!
♡ W/C: 4,200
♡ Posted Date: 03/19/2024
♡ A/N: Aaaa! look at me pumpin' these one shots out like hot cakes!!! Get your requests in folks I have a long weekend ahead hahaha!! This was BEYOND fun to write, thank you so much again Rose for such an amazing request. I hope it's everything you imagined!! I lovee love love writing mushy happy Carmy, he deserves all the love in his life!! I totally see him being the pushover uncle just like this, Happy Meals & Ice Cream for daysss!!! <3
♡ Warnings for BTC: NONE!!! Well... carmy smokes a cigarette at the end? That's all hahah - ***NO USE OF Y/N - AS LITTLE PHYSICAL DESCRIP. AS POSSIBLE - READER IS CALLED 'BLOSSOM' IN THIS O/S :)***
➵ 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 ♡
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Carmen had never felt true love before. He didn’t think he’d ever know what that felt like. He’d heard stories of parents meeting their newborn babies for the first time, saying that ‘it was an indescribable feeling of holding the entire world in the palm of your hands.’ And that to him, sounded like bullshit. 
It was sweet and all, but considering the way his mother and father treated he and his siblings growing up- that moment was fleeting at the very least. 
That was what he’d thought, until that is- he got the call that would change his life, forever. 
Sugar and Pete had kept the gender of their baby a secret, Carmy was very excited for them, and though Pete wasn’t his favorite person- he knew in his heart he’d be a great dad. Better then he could ever do at least, so that had eased his mind for the new blood of his family. 
Pete had called to inform him that Sugar had given birth, finally, he thought to himself. He didn’t realize that the labor process could take days. Sugar had went into the hospital on Tuesday, in the early afternoon when her water had broken- it was now 4 pm Thursday evening. It was about time for the kid to make an appearance. 
He’d made his way down to the hospital right away, no questions asked. It was Sugar after all, and after Pete had told him she wasn’t having any visitors, but had requested that he specifically come see her- he wasn’t gonna let her down. 
He’d even stopped at the 24-hour deli convenience store on the way, getting her a club sandwich that she’d been moaning about not being able to have for months - something about pregnant people not being allowed to have lunch meat? He wasn’t sure what that was about. 
When he got in the room, it was so quiet, he could hear his heart thumping in his ears. He wasn’t sure why he was nervous- it’s not like the kid was gonna have an opinion on him…yet. But still, he knew first impressions were important. He also didn’t want to fuck anything up, he wasn’t very sure how to hold a baby- he’d never held Eva when she was young, and he heard babies necks were super floppy, so he was really nervous he’d hurt them by mistake.
“Hey..” he said softly, and Sugar sits up. She looked utterly exhausted, she was pale, her hair was knotted and sweaty all stuck to her forehead, and her eyes were bloodshot from either pain or being so tired, he wasn’t sure which. 
“Bear! You came!” She said quietly, opening her arms for a hug. He walks over to her, carefully wrapping his arms around her as he wasn’t sure if her stomach would be hurting or not, and kissing her cheek lovingly. 
“Y’re amazing Sugar, you did so good, thats fuckin’ crazy- you had a baby, Sug” he tells her, rubbing her arm gently. Carmen didn’t know much about pregnancy and birth, other than what he’d learned from Sugar over the past year or so. The only thing he really knew about the birthing process was what he’d seen on TV, and the fact that birth hurt like an absolute bitch, and that there was no way around it. 
“Thank you…is that-“ she asked, picking up the bag he’d placed next to her on the bed. He smiled a bit, pulling the sandwich out. 
“Club sandwich. Don’t say I never listen to you” he teased and she pouted, tears filling her eyes and she pulled him into another hug. 
“Y’re the best Bear.” She said. “Sorry…I’m gonna be hormonal for like..another year” she laughed a bit. 
He chuckled softly, rubbing her back. “I’m used to it by now.” He teased. 
The door opened, and a nurse wheeled in a bundle of white striped blankets in to the room, lying in a bassinet. 
“Oh! Uncle is here! Okay so baby did great, they’re all set. We got all the bloodwork we needed, took their k shot, everything is looking wonderful. I’ll let you get acquainted” she said, being sure not to give away the baby’s name or gender before they were ready, leaving the little bundle next to Sugars bedside before heading out and closing the door quietly behind her. 
The baby coos, making sweet adorable little noises. Carmen took the bag of food for Sugar, placing it on her bedside table as she carefully picked up her baby, cradling them in her arms. 
Carmen was in awe. Everything about them was so…tiny. So pure, so untouched by the world. He carefully nudged the blanket down so he could get a better view of their face, the babies teeny little hand peeking out. He couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped his lips as the babe curled their whole hand around his forefinger. 
“Sug” he whispered, tears pooling in his eyes and falling to his cheeks before he could try and hold them back. “Oh god…” he said softly, stroking the baby's tiny fingers with his thumb. 
“Michael Anthony Lombardi” she said softly. He looks up at her, jaw dropped. 
It was totally something sugar would do, so sentimental. Naming her first son after her 2 brothers. But now, Carmen felt even more attached to the little guy. He was carrying his name- he had to take care of him, protect him, the same way Michael had done for him. 
Carmen sniffles, kissing her head and resting his cheek on top of it as he looks down at the beautiful little baby. Well- maybe not beautiful physically- yet. Carmen always thought brand new babies looked fairly weird, of course he’d never tell Sugar that, though. 
But, beautiful in the sense that he knew what this baby meant for them, for their family. It was a brand new beginning, and maybe- just maybe…this would be enough to get his mother to clean up her act enough to be the grandmother for this baby how she couldn’t be a mother to he and his siblings.  “Nice to meet you, Mikey” he said with the kind of smile that made his eyes crinkle, vision blurry with tears.
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It had been about 6 months since you and Carm had met, and one of the things you loved about him was what an active, engaged uncle he was with his little nephew, Michael. 
He’d grown plenty now since the first time he and the little cub met, being ‘a whole hand and a thumb’ as Mikey proudly told you the time you’d met the little firecracker at the first family dinner you’d attended. 
That little boy was Carmy’s sun, moon, and all of his stars. He was constantly spoiling him with new toys, clothes, taking him out for “Mikey and Bear” days, the kid was the lockscreen on his phone for crying out loud. If you weren’t dating him, with the way he talks about that boy- you’d think he was a single dad. 
Sugar very much appreciated it though, she never wanted to stop working when she’d gotten pregnant, so being able to balance four different days off with 3 adults, rather than just split the duties between her and Pete- it helped their lives as a couple run a lot smoother overall. 
It took a while for Carmy to even introduce you to Mikey. He’d been nervous, reverting to his old ways of ‘waiting for the other shoe to drop’ and nothing would crush him more, then introducing his favorite little guy to someone, getting him used to them, and then them leaving him.
He could handle that rejection- but he damn sure wasn’t gonna subject Mikey to that same pain. If there was one thing Carmen swore, it was to protect the child with everything he had. 
This was the third time you’d be meeting Mikey. Carmy had asked if you wanted to take him to the park together for a picnic after he’d picked him up from school, and of course you agreed. There was no better way to spend the afternoon than sharing snacks with your Bear under the shade of oak trees from the late spring sun, and chasing around Sugars mini-me until he clonked out on the blanket for a nap. 
When you’d arrived to the park to meet them, you spotted Carm’s large black blanket with his backpack and 2 matching big and small Nalgene water bottles, adorned with stickers from different water parks and amusement parks they’d been to together, but he nor Mikey were nowhere to be seen. But you couldn’t miss them with how loud Mikey was being. 
“No! No! I call foul!!” Carm laughed boisterously. You continue on, seeing them come in to view past the blockade of a large tree- to find Carmy rolling in the grass as Mikey tackled him for the football he was holding. 
“The Cub takes down The Bear at the 20 yard lineee!!” Mikey shouts ferociously, jumping up and pouncing on Carmys chest in a bodyslam. 
Carm groans, “Ohhh you little cheater- when did we start wrestling?! They don’t do bodyslams in football, kid” he wraps his arms around Mikey, caging him in and tickling his sides, causing him to squeal and laugh wildly.
“Wow! Uncle Bear has been lacking at the gym, thanks for takin’ care of my light stuff Mikey” you said teasingly with a big smile. 
Mikey quickly got up, running over to you “Blossom!!!” he squealed, crashing into your waist, nearly knocking you over in the process. Blossom had become your nickname in the family, since the first time they’d met you, Carm insisted you’d smelt like cherry blossoms, to which Sugar and Richie agreed, so from then on- you were Blossom. 
“Woah! Kid you’re getting strong huh? Peewee football training been gettin intense?” You give him a big hug. 
Carm chuckled, getting up and dusting the grass and leaves from his hair and shirt, coming over and greeting you with a peck on the lips. “Tell me ‘bout it- Thanks for meeting me, kids got crazy energy today.” He said, ruffling the boys curly soft brown hair lovingly. 
“Nowww can we eat our lunch?” Mikey looked up at him, his pretty blue eyes sparkling in the afternoon light. He really did look like Mikey, and Carmy mixed together in the best way. The Berzatto family genes were mighty strong, at least on the men’s side. 
“Yes Cub. Y’know…you scammed me into a happy meal before we got here, how can you be so starved?” He teased, causing you to giggle. 
“Again? Wow Carm, you’re going softer and softer as the days go by” you teased, sitting down with he and Mikey on the comfortable blanket under the shade of the trees.
“Well it’s hard to tell him no. Did you know he got a 100% on his spelling test t’day? Mikey, tell Blossom how to spell ‘water’ ” he told him with a grin. 
Mikey looks over proudly “w-a-t…” he stops for a moment, looking at Carmy nervously. 
“You got it bud, keep goin’- sound it out, what’s next?” Carmy encourages gently. 
“E! It's E! w-a-t-e-r!” Mikey finishes proudly and you both clap for him excitedly. 
“Oh my goodness! You are such a smart boy. Good job Mikey!” You gush, giving him a high five. 
“That’s right the smartest. First spelling test of the year, and you nailed it bud!!” Carmy praised, hugging him and kissing his head sweetly. 
“Mommy’s gonna be so excited!” He said, sitting crisscross as he opened up his pb&j Carm packed for him. 
“She’s gonna be stoked, Cub. Absolutely stoked” you told him, taking the sandwich Carm had offered you. 
“Oh! Blossom I learned a new joke- listen, so you say who’s there when I say ‘knock knock’ got it?” Mikey asks and you nod with a smile. 
“Alright, thank you for my lines ahead of time, Cub” you joked, earning a chuckle out of Carmen who had surely heard this joke one million times since he’d learned it, considering he saw the kid no less then 5 days a week. 
“Knock knock!” Mikey said, looking at you expectantly. 
“I’m doing the dishes” you said, causing Mikey to burst into adorable giggles and Carm to follow suit since he couldn’t help himself when Mikey got started. 
“Nooo! Blossom!” He giggled “you say ‘who’s there’ this time, ok?” He said and you nod. 
“Okay, okay. I’ll make sure to be not so busy this time.” You teased with a giggle. 
“Knock knooock!” He said again. 
“Hold on just a second! I need to feed mister mittens- my cat!” You said and he laughs again, shaking his head. 
“You promised! Blossom! It’s ‘who’s there!’ “ he giggled. 
“Okayyy! Okay! Whoooos there?” You oblige. 
“Harry!!!” He said happily, popping a grape in his mouth. 
“I don’t know a Harry- so scram!” You teased and he laughed so hard he snorted, causing you and Carmy to crack up in a fit of laughs together. 
“You’re bad at jokes Blossom, here watch, Bear will do it right f’me. Bear, knock knock” he looks over at Carm. 
“Who’s there, Cub?” He said, taking a bite of his own sandwich. 
“Harry” he smiled big, “listen blossom” Mikey urges, causing you to giggle. 
“Harry who” Carm said with a large grin.  “Harry up and open the door it’s raining out here!!!” Mikey said, bursting in to a fit of giggles which of course caused you and Carm to join.
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“Ready or not here I come!” You hear Carmy say. You hold your finger to your lips, holding Mikey tightly in your lap in the tube slide so you both won’t fall and give up your ingenious hiding spot the two of you had come up with.
“Shhh! We gotta be quiet Cub or he’s gonna find us- the bear will eat you!” you joked and he covered his mouth quickly to contain his giggles.
“Where are youuuu!” Carmy called from the other side of the playground, you giggled quietly to yourself. 
“We picked a good spot bud!” you whisper proudly and he nods, hugging your arm sweetly. Leg suddenly cramps up from being in such an awkward position in a tube meant for children much shorter then you, and you gasp quietly, moving your foot to relieve it but in the struggle- your flip-flop slips off, sliding down the tube slide and you hear it thump on the ground below, blowing up your hiding spot. 
You and Mikey look at eachother as you hear Carm laugh, “Ohhhh! Dead!! You’re both dead!” he said and you quickly lift Mikey behind you. 
“Go Mikey! Save yourself he’s gonna eat you!!!” you laugh and he scrambles out of the tube as Carm climbs up from the bottom, grabbing your bare foot.
You squeal in laughter as he pulls you down the slide by your feet, catching you at the bottom and kissing all over your face and neck, nibbling as he goes. “You’ve been caught” he growls playfully, pinning your arms above your head and kissing where your shirt rode up over your stomach leaving playful lovebites on your hips.
“Hey!” Mikey yells, running up and hugging Carms leg, hanging on it like a little monkey. “Thats my best friend! Leave her alone you big grizzly bear!” he yells through his giggles, playfully hitting Carmys leg.
“Ohhhh you’re dead Cub, dead meat buddy” he pulled away from you, scooping Mikey up and swinging him around. “Y’think y’can just beat up y’re best uncle mm little man?” he holds him upside down by his legs holding him carefully and dangling him in front of your face causing him to laugh wildly. “I present your savior Blossom, he’s been defeated” he sways him teasingly causing him to laugh more.
  “Oh noooo! Cub! The Bear got you! I forgot to tell you….he and I were working together in secret- mwahaha!!” you laugh evilly, tickling his exposed belly and he wiggles screeching in laughter.
“Not fair- Not fair!!!” he said between giggles. Carm carefully laid him on your lap so he wouldn’t get sick from being upside down and checks his watch for the time.
“Alright- we got 15 minutes, do we want swings, slide, or playing a game?” Carmy asked, causing Mikey to whine. 
“Noooo! Bear! It’s not time yet!!! It’s not even dark” he pouted, pointing at the sun, causing Carm to smile. 
“Y’re right, its not dark, but bein’ a big man in kindergarten means you got big man responsibilities now, like goin’ home and doin’ homework w’Dad yeah? He’s gonna be waitin’ on you, Dad’s not a man I can reason with m’friend, Higher rank on the totem” he ruffled his hair. 
“Fiiiine” Mikey grumbled. “I wanna do swings, race me-” he jumps up from your lap, sprinting towards the swingset.
“Wha- hey! You’re supposed to say 1,2,3, go! Those are the rules cheater!” Carmy laughs as he jogs after him. You slipped on your flipflop, going after the two boys.
“I beat you! See Blossom my new shoes make me so fast!” Mikey called to you proudly, hopping up and sitting in the swing as Carmy finally caught up.
“I did! Super fast Mikey!” you agreed with a giggle making your way up to the swingset. 
“Oh! Oh! Blossom, let’s see who can get higher!” Mikey said happily and you oblige, sitting on the swing next to him.
“Alright, Bear- you’re the judge I guess” you smiled, starting to pump your legs.
“I’m a tough critic, I expect perfect form outta you” he teased, sitting down on the picnic table in front of the swingset as he watched. 
“I’m gonna win” Mikey said confidently, already getting a few feet higher then you had. 
You giggled, “Yeah- cause you had a head start” you counter, pumping your legs harder trying to gain more momentum.
“It’s lookin’ good for Mikey babe, keep it up kid y’re doin’ great” Carm encouraged, resting his hands behind his head and stretching his legs out as he watched. 
“Bear can I jump off and you catch me?” Mikey asked hopefully to which Carmen laughs.
“Noooo way kiddo, I’m not takin’ a trip to the ER t’night, I got work in the morning and either i’ll end up hurt, or y’mother will kill me” he said, causing you to laugh as well.
“You’re gonna break your neck kid, don’t do that at school, did that once as a kid and I broke my ankle” you giggled, gasping as your flipflop flew off once again and hit Carmen right over the top of the head, causing you and Mikey to burst out in a fit of giggles.
“Hey!” Carm said, rubbing his head jokingly with a chuckle.”Those things are proving to be a horrible choice of park footwear, baby” he snorts, setting the shoe next to him on the bench for when you got off.
“I’m sorry! My work shoes were a worse choice and these are all I had in my locker” you giggled, the wind whipping your hair as you get higher and higher in the air.
“Bear! Bear! Look how high I am!!!” Mikey said proudly to which Carm nods with a big grin.
“That’s right bud! Y’re so high right now, bet you could touch an airplane if it was flyin’ over huh?” he said, digging his phone out of his pocket to take a video. “Say hi to Mommy!” he said and Mikey laughed happily, waving at Carm.
“Hiiii Mommy! I love you!” he said sweetly with a giggle. “Am I beating Blossom? Huh Bear? Am I higher?” he said and Carm chuckled.
“Mhmm- sorry baby, I think Mikey has ya beat this time around,” he said, ending the video and slipping his phone back in his pocket.
“Well how could I beat the best huh?” you mused, stopping pumping your legs so your swing would slow. 
“I told you!” Mikey giggled, digging his heels into the woodchips to come to a hard stop and running up to Carmy, giving him a big hug. “Can we get ice cream bear?” he asked and Carm laughed, shaking his head.
“You don’t stop, huh kiddo? No ice cream, It’ll spoil y’r dinner. How ‘bout, if y’really good at school this week- When I get you on Friday, we’ll go you ‘n me yeah?” he pats his back and Mikey nods with a pout.
“Pinky promise” He holds up his pinky and Carmy hooks his own around it, kissing Mikeys hand, and Mikey kisses his. 
“See? Deal” he ruffled his brunette curls and got up, grabbing the flip flop and coming up to you, crouching down grabbing your leg and kissing down your calf causing you to giggle before he carefully put the flip flop on your foot.
“I want a piggyback!” Mikey said, jumping on Carmys back to which he caught his balance with his forearm.
“Woah! Okay! Alright piggyback it is bud but y’gotta tell me yeah? We don’t want anyone gettin’ hurt” he told him, hiking him up on his waist as he stood up, Mikey wrapping his arms around his neck securely.
“Ok I’ll tell you next time” he replied. You hopped off the swing, taking Carmy’s hand and interlacing your fingers as you walked, swinging your hands together happily. The weather was absolutely perfect today. Not a cloud in the sky, perfect humidity, 72 degrees, you were surprised there weren’t more people here at the park other than the fact it was a Wednesday afternoon.
The three of you made your way back over to the blanket, and Carmy gently sets Mikey down to fold it up and pack up his backpack with the remainder of the food we couldn’t finish. “Blossom look! Look! I can jump so high in my new shoes!” Mikey said, tugging your pants to look at him and you obliged, keeping him busy as Carm tried to get everything situated to pack into the car. 
“Alright little jumping bean, time to go home d’you wanna race to the car, or I’ll carry you?” He asked, putting on his backpack and carrying Mikeys for him.
“Race- 123go!” Mikey said quickly before taking off and you laughed. Carm shakes his head with a smile, holding your hand as you both walked after him to the car. 
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The ride back was full of laughter and singing Bluey songs, of course. That was Mikey’s favorite show at the moment, and you couldn’t help but smile at the way Carmy sang with Mikey along to every word. Carmy had even gotten a little Bluey air freshener that hung on his rearview mirror, just another little piece of Mikey that hung around, alongside his carseat that permanently lived in the back, the polaroid of him, sugar, and Mikey on his dash, the many toys scattered along the backseat. It was more than clear that the little guy held his entire heart in the palms of his hands. 
“Alright buckaroo” Carmy said as he pulls into sugars driveway. Mikey unbuckles himself, flinging forward and wrapping you into a hug. 
“Bye awesome blossom, thanks for playing with me” he said sweetly. You smiled, ruffling his hair and wrapping your arms around him.
“We’ll do it again soon, bud. Be good yeah? Listen t’your momma” You told him, patting his back. Carmy got out, grabbing his bluey backpack for him, helping him out of the car and carrying him up the steps, opening up the door and heading in to drop him off.
You opened up the center console, digging out Carm’s cigarettes and a lighter, knowing he was gonna be craving one bad when he got back in the car. Sugar didn’t even have to ask, as soon as the baby was born- if he was gonna be around the baby he wasn’t smoking until after he’d left, so there was absolutely no chance of any secondhand smoke being passed on to him.
Cracking the window, you lit it, taking a drag as he shuts the door behind him and comes back to the car. You offered the cigarette between your fingers and he smiled, taking it after he buckled his seatbelt. “Have I reminded you today, how much I love you my perfect angel” He leaned in, giving you a sweet lingering kiss on the lips. 
You smiled, humming softly at the sweet gesture. “Yes- well- not in person today, but, you did text me - good morning, I love you when you went to work, so that counts” he smiled as he took a drag, backing out of the driveway carefully. 
“Well, I love you baby, What are we doin’ f’r dinner? Am I cookin’ er we goin out?” he cracks his window, ashing his cigarette before having another drag, resting his tattooed hand on your thigh, stroking gently as he drove.
“I’m in the mood for some Berzatto Family Pasta” you hum, resting your hand out the window to feel the cool kiss of the spring evening breeze.  “Family pasta it is, Blossom”
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baddawgsports · 4 days ago
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🔥 SCORCHING UPSET IN CHARLOTTE! 🔥 Benfica 1-0 Bayern Munich in 100°F heat! 🌡️ Portuguese giants survive the furnace to TOP Group C! 🇵🇹⚽ Boca Juniors & Auckland City ELIMINATED! When it's hot, Benfica gets HOTTER! #Benfica #BayernMunich #ClubWorldCup #Charlotte #100Degrees
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yeeterthek33per · 1 year ago
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Kissin' and Kickin' Charm (Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir x reader)
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A/n not requested, but this woman does not get the love she deserves, so I'm making it happen.
Munich is a hell of a lot different than home.
Of course, you expected that, you aren't stupid...
Not entirely anyway.
There's a charm to the city. A much different one than the small Texan town you're used to, but it's a homely charm, if any.
A much broader, explorative city with ins and outs, beautiful buildings, and on the outskirts, something you've come to realise you feel more at home in than the city, areas with wide open flatlands and albeit manmade, forested areas.
It's definitely a big city, with many towns and a lot of diverse structuring.
It's a lot.
But it's your new home.
At least for the next three years, anyway.
You imagine yourself at home in the ranch right now.
Kicking up dirt, green grass and if you're really lucky, mud and puddles. All of that on your horse, Sweets, that you got for your tenth birthday.
In fact, you'd be there right now, at home on the ranch, if it wasn't for one teeny tiny detail.
Soccer.
For whatever reason, that was the sport your child brain picked to become your newest obsession. Except, it never stopped being that way. You lived and breathed it.
It surprised the hell out of your parents.
They'd never imagined their little, quiet, leather boots, horseback riding, ranch loving daughter kicking around a soccer ball.
But that's what you wanted.
And that's what you did in your spare time.
At first, they were adamant you didn't play it. They refused, insisting that if you wanted to get into any sport, it had to be either American football or horse riding.
But after sneaking home a ball to boot around for the umpteenth time, they relented, letting you take it on.
And take it on, you did.
It got to the point where you were severely outclassing the only all boys teams in your tiny town.
Enough so that someone visiting, who happened to have the right associations, scouted you for the youth academy in Houston.
You went up through the academy, which survived despite the rise and fall of the women's league in the US several times.
Eventually, you were contracted for the first time at eighteen.
It was a big deal.
Small town girl makes her first appearance for the big leagues and despite your parents earlier disappointment in your choice of career, they were now prouder than ever watching you take on the world.
Of course, with that growth, came your first call up to the national team at age nineteen.
That little tidbit had your Mama crying harder than the day you were born. She couldn't have been prouder to see you represent your country.
Playing amongst the likes of legends like Tobin Heath, Heather O'Reilly and even Abby Wambach for a short period, you thrived.
The immense pressure was nothing like you'd ever felt, and you loved it.
Even as reserved as you are, you love a good challenge.
With the call-up, the demand to have you increased, and eventually, at the age of twenty-four, you, rather tearfully, said goodbye to the Dash and moved to Portland to join your national teammates, Sonnett and Horan.
You've spent the past four years there, although you aren't the biggest fan of the city life. You loved the soccer fanbase.
The thorns are well loved by the people in the city and some of the greatest players you've known, to date, play for them.
Of course, playing with the greatest players of all time means you yourself catch the attention of overseas scouters.
It's not the first time it's happened.
Every year, you get calls from your manager letting you know about the offers from clubs in countries you'd never dreamed of seeing before.
That being said, you'd always turned them down, not wanting to leave your home country just yet.
Until now, that is.
When the offer from FC Bayern came through, you just knew.
You knew you had to do it, had to take that chance.
"So what do we say, Y/n?"
"... Tell I'm in if they've got a heated pitch and air-conditioning."
Had your manager chuckling at that.
Taking the time to dig into the team a bit, you end having a look at the team list.
You know the names of a few of the players there, but you'd not formally met them yet, only meeting them once or twice on the pitch.'
One name stuck out in particular though.
Of course it did, she's the captain.
Your new captain.
But there's something you admire about the Icelandic woman that immediately grabs at your soul and you end up taking the time to look up her highlights.
The perseverance, the constant drive to do better and to lift up her teammates around her.
The perfect defence with constant push and pull, defensive manoeuvres and just an overall brick wall of a woman.
The perfect captain.
So when you meet her for the first time, you're a little starstruck.
Sure, you'd done your research in advance, but actually meeting the sweetly voiced Nordic woman has you anxious in your boots beyond measure.
----
When Glódís meets the new signing, she's a little thrown off.
She knew you were American, that you were from Texas and that you most likely had a very different upbringing to the lifestyle you lived now, but the immediate southern charm that flows through your natural southern drawl has her a little flustered.
She doesn't expect the charming smile or the way you call her ma'am and warmly shake her hand, expressing, rather sheepishly, your excitement to meet her.
"It's lovely meetin' you, Ma'am. I've heard a lot about everything you've done for this club and your country. It's incredible, actually, not to sound too much like I'm kissin' up here, but really."
Your head ducks a little, cheeks reddening at your own rambling.
It's adorable, she decides.
"You talk me up a lot for someone of her own incredible skill."
Her smile widens at the way your cheeks darken further under her teasing compliment.
"Oh, I mean, that's... it's not everything I want to achieve. It feels like I've had it a little easier than a lot of the ladies I've seen and played with and known personally. I'm just excited to be here and to get to be a part of something this big. With y'all, at that."
"We're glad to have you on board with us, then. I think you'll fit right in here. The girls have been begging me to let them in the door for the past thirty minutes while you were doing the contract signing."
She gestures to the windowed door to the room, which, with a quick glance, you spot the eagerly waiting players, grinning and waving like kids at you.
It makes you feel a little more anxious now.
Such big names in German and international football and here they are, giddily waiting for you to finish your media duties and finally get to meet little old you.
It feels surreal.
When you turn back to the captain, she's already smiling warmly back at you, and after the okay from you and the management in the room, they let them in.
It's almost too much, the way they all excitedly introduce themselves despite in many cases not having to, with the way you get flustered as you know them well already, having maybe, quite possibly also looked the rest of them up in a bit more detail, purely out of nervousness.
Also, the friendliness of it all.
Normally, with new signings at Portland, it always felt super cold and competitive, definitely a lot colder in the introductions, done during training rather than in a room on the campus.
Of course, after a couple of months, the players did warm up to you, but there's always the cold air about the veterans on the team, all of them wary of you and your abilities.
Always the stress of having your position on the team ousted by the new and shiny youngins for so much as running the wrong way.
Here, in Munich, Germany, in the clubs training facility, in a meeting room, your new clubs teammates welcome you with warm open arms, an air of bubbly enthusiasm and many, many hugs rather than the cold and firm handshakes you're used to.
You recognise a few of them, particularly Magdalena, a regular opponent from Sweden and her national teammate Linda, as well as of course, the German players, the English player, Georgia and Jill Baijings, a member of the Dutch National Team you'd faced just months before at the World Cup.
Regardless of the rivalry held at the international level, they're surprisingly warm, quickly dragging you into hugs themselves.
At least, it's surprising for you.
It feels different here.
It is different here.
You find yourself leaning into it more and more, the more you chat with the team.
It goes on for an hour or so before you're dragged away for more media duties.
The girls are rather reluctant to let their new friend go, waving you goodbye with warm smiles, but small pouts as their chuckling captain ushers them from the room, leaving you with one last grin and a wink that sends heat to your cheeks and shivers down your spine.
Well.
You'll be damned.
That just happened.
----
"She's so cute! I love her accent. She's so sweet with the way she talks too."
The gushing from Giulia is quickly resounded by the other's around her.
"Right? The way she kept calling us Ma'am and Miss. It's too sweet. And her accent, it's so smooth."
"Oh my god, I know Americans aren't the most well known for being nice to listen to, but I listen to her talk all day."
"She's really good too, I've seen her highlights."
There's a few small gasps and protests from around the room.
"Oi! Syd! Why haven't you shown us yet?"
"Hold on, let me just -"
"Guys! Seriously, what the hell are you doing? I've been looking for you for ages. Put the phone away, you all have training to do."
The resounding voice in the changeroom comes from a stern looking Glódís. She's normally quite gentle toned with them, but they were taking far too long to get out on the pitch, leaving their captain wondering where the hell half her team was.
"But we want to see how good Y/n is, Syd's got the highlights here."
"No, you can see how good she is when she joins us for training after her medical assessment. Now come on, or you'll be running laps for making the rest of the team wait on you all."
There's groans of disappointment, but to their rather swift credit, they do promptly exit the changeroom and make their way to the pitch where an also stern looking Alexander Straus is waiting for them, the team's manager, followed closely by Glódís, who's small smile contradicts her rolling eyes and annoyed head shaking.
----
When you do join them, you're quickly grabbed by Glódís, the captain having unofficially ruled that any new signings get paired with her first to properly welcome them to the team, and to also get them settled into her captaincy style and to adapt them to the dynamic of the team.
It's a way to get you properly integrated into the very familial like nature of it all.
Glódís seems very much like the mother of the team. All of them best friends but very much like siblings and but a few of the other older women taking the younger one's under their wings as parental figures on their own.
You figure it as a way to keep some semblance of structure amongst the chaos of the team.
The captain, it seems, is at the head of this, ensuring all of them work well together, the team is lifted for their triumphs, and picked back up with every miscalculated cross and shot, and dragged back onto their feet after every tackle or mistimed step.
Training with Glódís is intense, a good kind of intense. You find yourself enjoying the calculated, focused nature of her defensive manoeuvring.
But it's also warm, the occasional chatter between you leaving you both laughing at the other person's jokes and small mishaps as you settle in.
Her giggles are nothing if not contagious, and you can't help the grin that grows more and more the more you spend time with her.
It doesn't go unnoticed by the others, them taking note of the way their normally much more drill oriented captain has relaxed a bit.
Of course, she's friendly, smart, smiley and very much welcoming, but she's never been this laid back during drills, especially not when she's always expecting to set precedents with the new signings.
But this was definitely different to that.
The lingering touches, hip bumps and tone of laughter are different from the ones she's always held with the rest of the team. It's a little lighter, more giggly and full of a tone they themselves hadn't heard from her.
It was startling to see, nearly.
Glódís was... flirting?
Intentional or not, they didn't know, but it was definitely a flirty tone.
Not that you could tell, bless your oblivious self. You had no idea.
You matched the tone of lightness, of course. But you weren't picking up on everything else, thinking she's just naturally like that.
A very friendly captain.
The other girls know otherwise though, and the knowing looks they share later when your cute celebration after managing to meg the brick wall of a captain has her smirking slightly at your adorableness.
One thing she notices is that the more excited you get, the more your accent comes out.
It's adorable, she realises.
----
The second training isn't much different to the first.
You don't pay it much attention outside of friendliness, but Glódís takes a quick liking to you, now having claimed you for all paired warmups and drills.
Occasionally, you get stolen away every once in a while, leaving you feeling very much like the cool kid on the block.
There's something else, though.
It's in the way the Icelander smiles at you. It's in the way she hugs you every time you score in a mini game.
You brush it off, thinking, once again, she's just being friendly.
But it's a thought that sits in the back of your mind anyway.
You feel like it's a glimmer of hope. You're not sure what for or why but it's there.
Maybe it's a sign of a great friendship blooming.
Yeah.
That's what it is.
Ever since that, it's been amazing training with the team.
Your first match is just weeks after signing.
Your first minutes come as a sub for Klara in the sixtieth minute.
And it's not too long after that that you score your first goal for the club against Leipzig.
It's a beauty too.
A long range effort after a foward pass to Pernille is rebounded back to you.
It was an accident really.
You were aiming for the head of Lea but instead it curls a little more than you intend it to and it bends into the upper right corner of the netting, far past the outstretched gloves of the Swiss keeper, Elvira Herzog.
It feels a little silly, but you can't help the blush when you feel your captain hug you super tightly and lift you up in celebration.
"Let's go, that's our girl!"
----
It's been two months with the team and two and a half living in Germany. You've got a small cottage in the outer district of Munich, with enough yard to set up small drills and other various exercises.
There's been plenty of outings for you, finding yourself socialising far more than you used to back in Portland.
You don't hate it, though.
The whole team has been nothing but sweet to you, and it seems they're already attached, each player having dragged you on outings themselves, whether it be individually or with groups of them.
You're not sure why they've taken quite such a liking, but you think it might have something to do with the fact they keep asking questions for you and you alone to answer, or just anything to get you to talk, really.
You don't mind it. Bless 'em.
They're already like family to you.
Tonight is no different when it comes to being dragged to outings and team bonding nights.
Only this time, it's to a club in central Munich, having been allowed a little freedom given they dont a match this weekend. You yourself don't drink much, but some of the other girls do, so they've let loose, of course, under the watch of their captain and a few of the older girls acting as designated drivers.
There's a small nudge to your shoulder where you're leaning against a standing table.
"Hey you."
You'd recognise that sweet voice anywhere, humming as you turn to the suddenly appeared Glódís at your side.
"Well, hello, having fun there, Sweetheart?"
Glódís' lips perk up at your words.
"Always."
She takes a glance at the cup in your hand.
"Not drinking much? You can let loose a bit tonight, I'm letting you guys off the hook for tomorrow's training. Once in a lifetime opportunity L/n."
She winks at you, and you smile at her, amused.
You shake your head when she nods towards your still half full glass of vodka and soda.
"Nah, I want to be able to get up tomorrow, training or not."
She chuckles, nodding in agreement.
"Oh, to be young and dumb enough to drink like that once upon a time."
"Don't say it like that. You're only twenty-eight."
You huff playfully.
"Please, you and I both know neither of us would make it out alive if we-"
She cuts herself off, gesturing to the very rowdy girls taking another round of shots.
"Well... you're not wrong. To being old and susceptible to hangovers."
She giggles, and you hold out your glass towards hers, meeting her in the middle with a small clink and you both take a sip, her eyes never leaving yours.
"Woah there grandma. Not too hard now."
As you go to take another sip.
Rolling your eyes affectionately, you nudge her.
Turning back towards the group, you groan watching them take another round of shots.
"Oh sweet baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. How the hell are we gettin' them home."
She pats your head with a small chuckle.
"With a lot of herding and the good old divide and conquer, cowgirl."
Then she moves off to go find Pernille and Magda on the other side of the room.
"You know, you and Glódís would be a super adorable couple."
A pair of arms wrap around your neck as a very drunk Sarah hangs onto you for stability, hear head leaning on your shoulder, and your arm moves to hold onto her so she doesn't hit the floor.
"Sarah, little miss, it's really cute that you wanna include me, but you know I don't speak German."
"One, I'm older than you, Two, sucks to be you."
A poke to the cheek following that, as she sticks out her tongue.
"Aren't you taking German classes anyway?"
"Yeah, but doesn't mean I understand the dialect of drunken soccer player yet."
She pouts at you before grumbling and resting her head back on it's spot on your shoulder.
"What I said was, you and Glódís would make a good couple."
Your cheeks immediately flame up, and your whole body tenses, wondering if you even heard the Austrian right.
"What-"
You clear your throat softly.
"What makes you say that?"
"You're already attached at the hip like no other. I've never seen her like this with anyone else. Even her old friend, Karólína."
"She's probably just missin' her then, Sar"
"If you say so."
It's just about mumbled into your shirt and you're beginning to realise that despite the pumping music, she's starting to exhaust pretty quickly with the way she's leaning further and further into you until you have to sit her down in one of the teams half occupied booths where she settles into another teammates arms.
With a small chuckle, you leave her to it, them saying they'd be heading out soon anyways and would take her home.
As you return to your spot at the table, you can't help but think back on what she said.
Despite her inebriation, what she said held weight in your mind.
And it ends with you eyeing up the woman through the small crowd over the lip of your drink.
You catch her looking back several times, each time sheet meets your eye, you think you imagine it, but her eyes crinkle a bit, and her smile gets a little brighter.
----
"You know, if you keep looking at her like that, she might catch onto you there, Glódí."
She knows she's not being subtle, but she can't help the way her eyes drift over to you.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Schülli."
"I think you do."
Glódís bites her lower lip as she watches you set the very drunk Sarah down by Sam and Linda (The Swedish one) before moving back to where you were, carefully watching over the girls on the dance floor.
It seems, with even just a few months with the team, you're already looking out for them like your own.
When you make eye contact with her for the fourth time in ten minutes, she smiles just that little bit more, which you quickly match.
Though, it seems, she doesn't expect the wink you send with it.
She raises a brow at you, ducking under the cover of her glass, hoping the purple hue of the lighting masks her slightly flushed cheeks.
"Wow, she has got you already, hasn't she?"
"Shut up."
The defender quickly turns away from your direction so the striker doesn't have get given any more fuel and gives her an annoyed but small shove to the shoulder, a slight frown marring her features.
"I think you should go for it, Glódí, she clearly has something for you."
"And what if she says no? Then what? Another friendship here ruined?"
Lea pauses for a minute, watching her, as her head ducks and her cheeks flare up at the admission.
"You mean... Ka"
Glódís swiftly nods, shushing the forward.
"Is that why she hasn't-"
She nods again.
The tips of her ears burn in shame under the taller German's gaze.
She hadn't meant to bring it up, but it just slipped out.
Karólína hadn't exactly reacted badly as such, but things between them haven't been the same since then, and with her being on loan now, they really spoken, if at all.
It still hurt, the look in her eyes as she tried her best to let her best friend down gently. Even then, months later, after the international break together, it still hurt.
After that, she'd sworn off dating teammates.
Hence, she hesitates to even think about pursuing anything with you.
She can't help the pang of hope she gets when you smile so brightly at her, though.
The sweet, charming, smooth tone you hold with her.
The way you hold her just a little bit longer and tighter than you do with the others.
But that's what she thought with Karólína, too.
And she was oh so wrong there.
So what's stopping her from being wrong now, right?
"That's why it can't happen, Lea. I'm not going through that again. I can't risk losing her or risk the team possibly being affected by it."
Lea smiles sympathetically at her captain, hand resting on her shoulder with a small squeeze.
It's silent between them for a few moments before the blonde speaks up again.
"Then don't worry about it. Now come on, I think it's time we get this rowdy lot home, it's nearing midnight."
Glódís sighs in appreciation and nods, looking over to the singing and dancing group of players followed by her gaze ultimately drifting over to you once more, returning the familiar warm smile she receives.
----
"Alright, come on, time for you to go to bed, little miss."
There's a small giggle from the drunkenly slurring blonde as you walk her up to her front door, your hands rifling her pockets for her keys.
"You're so cute."
Giulia pokes your cheek with one finger, and you roll your eyes, ignoring the flush creeping up your neck when you hear Glódís' muffled laughter behind you.
You'd turn to give her a glare but you're a bit preoccupied.
"And you are very inebriated."
Finally acquiring the keys from her back pocket, which she giggles again and wiggles her eyebrows at you for, earning herself another eyeroll as you drag her inside finally.
"You sure you got her there?"
The amused chuckle from the doorway makes you groan as she watches your stubborn self herd the blonde woman, currently letting herself lean completely on you, into her bedroom to at least encourage her to bed for the night.
"I am perfectly capable, thank you."
You're sure she doesn't believe that, but you believe it enough yourself to give up and let the now giggling woman help you as she observes on your masterpiece of drunk person wrangling.
Said drunk person now dead weight in your arms whining about not wanting to go to bed yet, to which you just plop her on the mattress finally and despite her protests, she's asleep in seconds.
Turning to Glódís triumphantly, you catch her amused smirk.
"Yeah yeah, real funny. I'd like to see you do that."
She shrugs, shaking her head.
"You're the one that insisted on bringing her in yourself, without help."
Grumbling, you make sure Giulia is fully on the bed before dropping her keys by the door and exiting and locking it on the way out.
Now, the both of you are stood in the darkness outside, with the last of the girls dropped home already, a collaborative effort thanks to Pernille, Magda, both Lindas and Jovana.
It's just you and her, now.
It's a cool winter night, nearing the end of the season but still cold enough that you're half shivering in front of the older woman.
You're both silent, your eyes drifting over her features lit up under the faint glow of the street lamp.
You swear, she gets even prettier every day.
The subtle but sharp line of her jaw, the way her hair almost glows under the moonlight, and the soft pink tint to her cheeks from the cold all have your heart beating a little quicker.
The way her eyes sparkle as they scan yours from across the porch.
The way her lips quirk up slightly under your gaze, brow raising just a bit.
"You okay?"
Her words snap you out of your assessment, and you hum softly, quickly recovering.
"Just a little tired, let's get on home then, Darlin?"
She nods and turns to head towards her car.
It doesn't surprise her when you jog ahead of her to open the driver side door for her, having done it every single time now since leaving the club.
"Such a gentlewoman."
Apparently, she hadn't grown tired of it yet, so that's a start.
It's a soft teasing tone that you poke your tongue out at her at before jumping in the passenger side.
On the drive out to your place outside of the city, her arm rests on the centre console, lined up next to yours as you hum along to the song on the radio, gazing out the window but also occasionally glancing over at her, scanning her side profile.
If she can feel your gaze on her, she doesn't really react.
It remains quiet for most of the drive, with the occasional hum or murmur along with the music.
It's not an awkward silence, but one you both need after tonight's activities.
Every so often, your pinkies brush, and every time they do, there's a small jolt of electricity that shoots up you arm from where they meet.
The moment you're in your own driveway, you bid her a soft and sweet thanks with a gentle nudge and give her a small wink and wave as she pulls way again.
She's thankful you're not there to hear her most likely audible heart beating in her chest the rest of the way home again.
----
Her heart racing at everything you do doesn't stop that night.
In fact, it gets worse.
It feels like everything you do has it beating beyond her rib cage.
It frustrates her, actually.
Every time she gets placed on something she needs full focus and attention for, she's been perfect for, but if you're there next to her?
Forget it.
Media duties?
Sitting next to you, she can feel your leg occasionally brush hers, arms brushing on the table every time you set it down from making gestures and whatnot.
Coach speeches during half time?
It's like you're doing it on purpose knowing she can't focus when you're standing behind her, hands resting on her shoulders, warmth radiating against her back with how close you are.
At one point, she's convinced you are doing it on purpose when she looks back and up at you, head tilted to make eye contact with you with a brow kinked up as you look down at her with a small smirk and a wink.
The more it goes, the less she knows how to function around you.
Individual post game interviews?
Even with you just moving around her doing various interviews with different journalists. A small brush of shoulders here, a hand gliding across her lower back as you move past her there.
At this rate, she feels like she's drowning in you and she's not even trying to move away.
Paired up interviews?
It feels like she's at her wits end with this one.
You're brought in together for a two-on-one interview for some football media page she can't remember the name of. There, seated on a couch, you're not even really doing anything. Except for the arm you have over the back of the lounge, resting just behind her head.
You aren't seated so close that you're pressed together. But you are close enough she can smell your perfume and it's making her head spin a little.
Hell, she feels like she should be used to hearing you speak by now, but it still has her feeling like she can't think properly with you around.
How she plans on surviving this, she doesn't know, but all she knows if she doesn't do something, she's going to lose her mind.
----
You know you shouldn't do it.
Really.
There's not even a guarantee she likes you back right?
Still, you can't help teasing her a little.
She doesn't confront you about it, she doesn't tell you to stop and as far as you can tell, she's not uncomfortable.
Your captain has always been verbal about how she's feeling when she's talking to people...
Mostly.
But she never leans away from you, only ever receiving a flushed face or an eye brow in response at most.
You can tell it's flustering her though.
By the way she's so quick to hide her reddened cheeks.
It's in the most adorable way that she rolls her eyes at your teasing comments when she scores a pretty good goal.
Small touches here and there, innocent touches. Nothing more than brushes and occasional times of brushing away grass from her face after particularly rough tackles.
The soft smile and drawl flowing from you asking how she's holding up makes it worth it.
Even though you may not be able to kiss her, her smile? Totally worth it.
----
Glódís feels like she's at her breaking point right about now.
When she's getting distracted during a game, a champions league game at that, that's a major problem.
You're both lined up for offence on a free kick when you're pressed in between her and an opposition player while she pressures the player in front.
It takes one brush of your hands on her waist and she's distracted long enough to miss jumping for the header on time.
Instead, you make it to the header, the ball flying into the back of the net as you take off running in celebration, having broken the deadlock in the final minute of stoppage.
Which turns into celebrations of the win the moment the whistle blows for full time and you're piled on for saving the teams chances at a spot in the quarter final over PSG.
The screams of the home crowd are drowned out as she waits impatiently for the end of her on field media duties.
Being the captain sucked sometimes, but it had to be done.
The moment she's free, she's jogging straight over to you and you're being dragged away off the field before you can even realise what's happening.
You had your own media duties, ones that you were currently shirking right now not being out there.
The moment you realise it's Glódís, the protests you had ready die in your throat, left with minor confusion the further down the obscure hallways she drags you until you're both in a secluded area and you're shoved into a broom closet with the door slammed shut behind both of you.
"What's goin-"
It takes all of a moment for her to grab you by the collar and slam you against the door leaving you a little winded and confused.
"Whatever it is you're doing, needs to stop. You're driving me crazy."
"What are you-"
"Don't play dumb with me, every time you so much as come near me, you brush past me, you so much as stand near me, I can't think and it's like you damn well know it, too."
It suddenly clears up there. You definitely didn't weren't doing it entirely on purpose.
Well, maybe.
Okay, it may have been a little on purpose, but you had no idea she was this affected.
"Look, I can stop if it's making you uncomfortable but Glódís... I... I kind of really like you and..."
----
Oh.
Well that changes things.
You actually like her?
You weren't just teasing her?
----
Before you can say much else, her hands cup your face and her lips are on yours in one movement.
Anticipating the action, your arms are around her in an instant, pulling her as close to you as possible, her body hot against yours despite the almost raging cold out on the pitch.
Her hands are firm on your face not letting you go for even a second, her lips fervent and sure as they move with yours.
It's only when you pull away for air that she finally relaxes into your hold for the first time.
Your hands are pressed into her lower back, hers now pressed into your shoulders as she looks slightly down at you, being just shorter than her by an inch.
The two of you just breathe for a moment, taking the moment in.
"You know. If you wanted to kiss me, all you had to was ask, Sweetheart."
She huffs.
"You're infuriating, you know that?"
There's a small guffaw on your face after that.
"What did I do?"
She almost believes the innocent look on your face.
The small upturn of your lips let's her know otherwise though.
"What didn't you do?"
And she kisses you again, slower and more tender this time, slowly pressing you back into the wall, slotting herself easily between your legs.
With your chest pressed to hers, you can finally feel the way her heart races, and she can finally feel yours, too.
There's always been something about you.
Guess it's just part of your charm.
----
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eyekonimations · 21 days ago
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── behavior analysis - the scientific study of how environmental factors influence observable behavior
and, fyi, the dsm-5 can only take you so far ⭑.ᐟ yn ln is a sophomore in university , a crappy drummer , and a minimum wage boba shop employee . expecting the worst once again for her third semester , yn's pessimistic world view is shattered after serving her cutest customer to date ─ meret manon bannerman , a member of katseye , the darling influencer friend group rocking social media .
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because i wanted things to look kinda neat in my mind, i made everyone involved be from hybe LOL. anyways...
introducing unmedicated and not regulated !!
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yn : eastcoastemo & gokusolos69
psychology major (derogatory) but dedicated; forever trapped in nugudom; studies hella in order to maintain that 4.0 for the ladies; comic/manga/anime hyper fan that has spent most if not all of her income on building up those shelves; amateur drummer after languidly picking up and dropping the hobby since high school; we are EMPLOYED!! as a bobarista at a local chain just off campus; only goes outside for class and to work otherwise homebody 127%
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huh yunjin : jenaissance & greekgogurt01
is it really a college au fic without bestie yunjin??; our pre-law baddie; captain and founder of the intramural women’s field hockey team; even with her mountain of extracurriculars she studies more than you which seems improbable; smarter baby smarter; drama binge-watcher; also lowkey (highkey) theater kid (derogatory); AND AN INFLUENCER!! and has boatloads of followers across all platforms; booked & busy always
a/n : y/c/t stands for 'your college town' , if you don't have one don't worry just use where you plan on going or make one up it does not matter at all i promise
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sakai moka : mokalatte & bigbangoutsold
studying the culinary arts; as such she is the group’s designated cook so much so that she’s considering charging you guys going forward; film BUFF and will lecture you on why a 6 hour black-and-white-eastern-european film from the 60s is actually peak cinema; on the uni competitive dance team!! you’re doing amazing sweetie; also your coworker (partner in crime) at the boba shop; has a t.o.p stan account that no one else knows about
a/n : y/u stands for 'your university'
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kim minji : kimjistew & reveonce7 ft. NJZ spotify
studying music w/ a strings concentration; partial to the bass guitar ofc; in an indie rock band with the other members of new jeans under the name NJZ (yall see what i did there😅); mystery novella enthusiast whose book shelf is beginning to rival your uni's smallest library; amatuer entomologist and is fascinated by butterflies; keeps journals of everything she sees outside on her daily nature grass-touching walks
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shin junghwan : shinyunnie & shinchana
sports management major and as such is able to get his friends discounted tickets to school football games and larger scale national events, camera ready always in case he’s needed for an impromptu report, legendary intramural soccer striker whose ego rivals the likes of isagi yoichi, !!!TWITCH STREAMER!!! (derogatory) in which he plays various video games through the odd hours of the day or until when his roommates bang on his door
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riki nishimura : rikiNA & bicosdad
architecture major & fine arts minor; president of the photography club and wears that title like a badge of honor; also enjoys painting in his free time, particularly fond of landscapes especially around dusk or throughout the night; or going to art museums and just wandering until closing; mysterious af or so he aims to be; nocturnal(?) and probably actually a vampire
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try being an influencer for a day masterlist   00.
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aus-wnt · 1 year ago
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Matildas star Steph Catley was at a training camp for club side Arsenal when a nutritionist blurted out the news: Sam Kerr had ruptured her ACL while at a Chelsea training camp in Morocco.
“I literally felt like someone had stabbed me in the stomach,” Catley said.
“My stomach fell. I just felt really emotional really quickly just because I felt really removed from it and I couldn’t go and see her and I couldn’t speak to her in that moment.”
Women’s soccer is booming. Before her injury, Kerr, the Matildas captain, and Catley, the vice captain, were part of an Australian side that captured the nation’s attention in the Women’s World Cup in 2023. The Arsenal defender then flew back to London where she played in front of record crowds in the Women’s Super League, including 59,042 at the Emirates Stadium against Kerr’s Chelsea in December.
But that boom is hiding a serious issue.
As a female athlete, Catley is no stranger to serious injuries among her peers. As well as Kerr’s injury, Holly McNamara was called up for the Matildas last year but did her ACL. At Arsenal alone, four stars suffered ACL injuries in the space of just six months: Lionesses captain Leah Williamson, WSL’s record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema, European Championship Golden Boot winner Beth Mead and Austrian international Laura Wienroither.
Catley says the foundations of women’s soccer are not developing fast enough to keep pace with the product.
“Obviously it’s what we absolutely love doing, but I think now that the game is at a point where the standard is so, so high and the games are so challenging and physically demanding [that] a lot of teams and a lot of clubs don’t have facilities and don’t have the right calibre of staff that can keep players healthy and strong,” she said.
“They don’t have the facilities to cater for the amount of demand and the pressures that are on the women’s game now.”
On the eve of Williamson’s return to the playing squad late last month, the 26-year-old defender said the current calendar and demands on female footballers were unsustainable.
“We’re not bred for this. We get to October and girls are saying ‘I’m tired’ because you’re carrying so much from the previous season,” Williamson told UK’s The Telegraph.
“We are driving ourselves into the ground, so some sort of solution needs to be found soon, in terms of the schedule, otherwise it’s not sustainable.”
ACL ruptures disproportionately affect female athletes at a rate 3-6 times greater than their male counterparts.
Research into ACL injury prevention and causation is ongoing and newer reports suggest an intersection of risk factors of intrinsic (anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and hormones) and extrinsic factors (training, conditioning, preparation, facilities and resources).
While Catley was hesitant to speak on the causation of ACL ruptures as she was not an injury expert, she said there was no room to properly switch off mentally or physically on the merry-go-round of the calendar year, putting a lot of strain on the resources available.
“I don’t know if A, B and C leads to this. But yeah, it does logically make sense that if there’s that much demand and not enough support and not enough foundations underneath that people break down mentally, physically, in every way possible,” said Catley.
“I think that’s human and that’s the way bodies work.”
Some English clubs can play as many as three games a week during the height of the season when the WSL, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup calendars are running concurrently. The additional travel, plus the demands of national camps and tournaments, can further complicate schedules. Major tournaments occur in most WSL off-seasons, including a rotation of Olympics, World Cup and regional championships such as the Asian Cup, meaning most players will get one off-season free every four years.
When Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter ruptured her ACL just over a year out from the World Cup during Lyon’s Women’s Champions League final win over Barcelona, she referred to it months later as a “blessing in disguise”.
“I really needed this break. I was very fatigued, I’ve played a lot – a lot – of football in the last year and a half. I was just on the verge of [being] burnt out, really,” she told Forbes last March.
“The injury came, and, obviously, it was disappointing but at the same time, it was the perfect time for me to reset, get stronger, have a rest, have an off-season that I never really have had.”
In Kerr’s absence, Catley will captain the Matildas for the final Olympic qualifiers in Melbourne on February 24 and 28 against Uzbekistan and, if they progress, again at the Olympics in July. Catley did the same in Kerr’s absence for the first half of the World Cup.
Catley said as a kid, she never thought captaining a women’s team at the Olympics would even be possible. But now it is, it’s a “pinch me” moment.
“To be honest, even having that honour at the World Cup was extremely special and something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and cherish for the rest of my life, because it’s stuff that you dream of, really.”
But before she flies to Melbourne, for a 48-hour stop to play the first qualifier, she is deep in the thick of an Arsenal campaign for the title.
The club is looking almost back to full strength after regaining Mead, Miedema and Williamson this season, and sit third on the table, below Chelsea and Manchester City.
Catley said the title race was heating up. And while in the past seasons her side has struggled in those bigger games, this year they’ve done well against top opponents – but let others slip that they’d usually win. This is best summed up by their 4-1 win over Chelsea in December and then a 1-0 loss to Tottenham the following week. On Sunday, they lost to relegation-threatened West Ham.
“You’ve got some incredible teams that are also in form and if anyone drops points at any point, it’s like sharks,” said Catley.
“It’s just so, so close.”
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edutainer2022 · 9 months ago
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Part 2 of HELIOCENTRIC decided to be written, while I was waiting out a bombing. Things take place some time after Hyperspeed. Scott is rather popular with all creatures large and nerds. Parallel to Earth and Sky chatting, a rather unamused Brains has a heart-to-heart with an amused John.
Thanks, as ever, go to @janetm74 for bearing with me.
HELIOCENTRIC 2: CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH
John leaned against a console, arms crossed, while Brains clanked a tablet on his lab table, too forcefully for it not to be deliberate. John gave their old friend room to seethe, before arching a brow.
"You think this is bad? Try being his brother in high school!"
Another piece of equipment gave a cluck it normally wasn't supposed to and John tilted his head.
"He was a Prom King, captain of every team he'd ever been on AND a valedictorian."
"Is that supposed to m-make m-me feel better?"
John didn't remember Brains ever sounding quite so bitter.
"Well, it certainly didn't add to our enjoyment of unforgettable school experience that shaped the remarkable future of next generation."
John tried to emulate the way Mr. Sanders, the Headmaster, sounded through a plastic smile in their prep school ad reels. It did little to unclasp Brains' death grip on a data disk. John was beginning to worry it was going to break. The ginger spaceman himself was, however, quite fond of the reminisce.
"We were the token uncool Nerd Entourage to the One True King - the Arts and Music Chonk and the Ginger Noodle Cybergeek."
John smiled at the inward image of the comical sight they might have made, hurrying across school grounds in the wake Mr. Longlegs and Dimples, practically greeted with rose petals and laurels on his way. Fellowship of the Ring had NOTHING on the Tracy motley crew. John tilted his head to catch Brains' gaze, which the scientist promptly averted.
"Yet he chose US."
"He chose YOU!"
John was not prepared for Brains almost shouting in his face.
"You're his b-brothers! Of c-course he'd choose you! Always!"
For the first time it occurred to John he might have misinterpreted the reasons for Brains' distress.
That stirred other memories, too. Not quite so sunny. Scott, disheveled and grey with fury, lip split in a fight, tossing a burly boy off of John by the hallway lockers. The senior from the football team being a brother of John's pal from the Robotics Club.
"You know, I had friends in the gifted program whose siblings pretended they weren't acquainted. Scott actually ENJOYED hanging out with us. He still does!"
A fact that, to that day, still managed to elicit the spaceman's genuine awe, on occasion.
"And he values your friendship. He chose you too."
He could see Brains still hesitate to be assured. John could maybe extrapolate the scientist's argument to Scott having "inherited" Brains from Jeff Tracy, rather than choosing to befriend him. John also couldn't pretend he didn't share the anguish, at least somewhat, since the Hyperloop incident introduced them to a force of nature that was Tycho Reeves. It was hard not to worry, on some level, Scott Tracy was gonna choose himself a different favorite genius.
John knew his brother well, he knew his brother better than that - Scott's loyalty, once offered, was never revoked. But insecurity was one of John's oldest acquaintances.
Brains finally put the data disc down, intact, and looked up at him. John offered a small smile. They were both too smart to be immune to doubt, but the whole world pretty much hinged on faith in Scott Tracy for the past almost eight years. They were among the exclusive and very scares circle of his favorite people. They were good.
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