#How am I supposed to learn and practice doing it in my own life

[please-picturemeintheweeds]

..

[shitpostdevil]

watching this blog come together is kind of wild

like I would actually perish at this point if it disappeared bc I've put so much work into it

[kyri45]

A final letter

Hello Everyone!

The queue is paused and everything is scheduled, which means we are ready for the finale!

I know that, in the end, this was just a silly side project for me, with everything else going on in my life. But for this occasion, I wanted to drop some words here and hope they make sense.

I started watching LMK only because a friend told me there was a "Sonadow-coded" ship. I ended up consuming the entire thing in one sitting on July 10th, 2024. At the time, I was still recovering from a bike accident that had left me with a broken right forearm—unable to draw for a little over a month. (I did try drawing with my left finger, but it wasn't exactly fun.)

Not only that, but it was summer, and I couldn’t enjoy the season or practice my main sport, windsurfing. To say I was feeling the blues is an understatement. I remember being in physical pain just from not being able to draw my sillies. But then, watching LMK did something to my brain chemistry that my little undiagnosed autistic self had never experienced before. It hit so hard that I’ve been physically unable to rewatch the show SINCE that very first day. (And y’all still call me the CEO of this fandom. Bro, I just work here.)

A lot of you have asked what inspired me to start this comic or to draw LMK fan art in the first place. While my usual answer is, "I saw Shadowpeach and thought MK could be their lovechild, given his appearance," the moment that actually started it all was THIS ONE—

(I HAD TO REWATCH THIS SCENE TO MAKE THE GIF AND IT HURT ME ON A MOLECOLAR LEVEL)

I have… a thing for characters who discover their entire identity was something else all along. It consumes my thoughts, my dreams, my every waking moment. I live for identity crises, for characters who thought they knew who they were, only to be forced to rediscover themselves, their existence, and their place in the world. If you give me a story where a character has to go through that, I will like it—regardless of how bad the rest of the story is.

Pair that with loads of trauma, daddy issues, the pressure of a legacy, and world-ending stakes, and congrats! Now I’m obsessed, and I will not stop thinking about it for the rest of my days!

At first, my brain just wanted to release some of that energy with a small, four-panel post about the monkeys discovering that MK was technically their kid.

That was supposed to be it.

But since I never seem to learn my lesson, it didn’t stay like that. Because once I started drawing, I just... continued.

And

I

never

stopped.

A lot of you have also asked how I found the motivation to draw so much, to never take a break. Well, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it one last time: I am my number one fan. No matter how much you laughed, cried, screamed, or went feral over this story, I did all of that and more. Because I got to think about the chapters months before they released. I got to daydream about them. I got to watch them come to life—first through sketches, then line art, then dialogue. And finally, I got to witness your reactions and see the incredible creations you made, inspired by my story.

So yeah, in a way, it was almost an addiction. A good addiction. Because, for the first time in my life, I actually understood what loving art means.

I’ve been drawing for ten years, working professionally for five, but I never loved art before. I just liked it because I happened to be good at it. But creating this comic made me understand why artists say, "Oh, I’ve loved drawing since I was a child!" This was the first time I allowed myself to create purely for my own enjoyment. Something I hadn’t had the privilege to do for a long time.

Other than making me feel even more single than I already was, this story somehow also helped me a little with my own family relationships. So yeah. Crazy how the gay monkeys changed my life.

Of course, I never could have predicted how much traction my AU would gain. Man, y’all were really starving to latch onto something this silly. /j

But yeah—thank you. Thank you for sticking around until the end, for having the patience and trust to follow the story even when I made you rage with angst and cliffhangers. (The statement in my bio still stands: I am not responsible for any physical or emotional damage my art has caused.)

I’m absolutely shit at thanking people, or at writing, or at talking in general, honestly. I’m the furthest thing from being good with words, so I hope the final chapter will be enough to show you my gratitude.

Through this story, I met so many wonderful, talented people. I watched as fans across different platforms found each other through memes and fanart of the AU. I saw artists start their own AUs inspired by mine, growing their own communities. I witnessed an explosion of creativity and collaboration through our takeovers. And I laughed along with you all.

And yeah—at its core, this story has always been about love. Whether it’s platonic, sibling, parental, romantic, or whatever the hell Mac and Wukong had going on for millennia.

At its heart, it’s a story about family.

And maybe, in the end… the real family wasn’t just the one in the comic, but the one we’ve found together along the way. 💛

See you all at the finale.

Love you all, freaks /affectionate

Jade

[chokkzou]

(＞。☆) ﹑ MY FIRST BOYFRIEND⠀✶⠀

︵︵ sypnosis : being in a relationship for the first time isn't easy, especially for these kids. you're their first love, and while each of you shows it in your own way—awkward, nervous, or dreamy—you're all learning.

𓄹𓈒     isagi, hiori, kurona, ness & nagi !

Isagi has always had a strong theoretical understanding of love, but when it comes to real-life experience, he's a complete disaster.

His analytical mindset extends to relationships, making him overthink every interaction. "Is this the right thing to do? Am I doing this correctly? Should I be doing this at all?" His mind is constantly racing with questions.

When he doesn’t know what to do, he turns to external sources—reading relationship articles or watching tutorials on "How to Be a Good Boyfriend" as if they were game strategies. Even the smallest gestures, like holding hands or sending a sweet message, make him incredibly nervous—not because he lacks feelings, but because he fears ruining everything.

What he doesn’t realize is that his genuine effort and desire to be a good boyfriend make him adorably imperfect, leading to unexpectedly sweet moments.

Hiori doesn’t know how to express his emotions properly. He’s great at thinking about what he wants to do for you, but terrible at actually saying it.

He never expected to be in a relationship, and now that he is, he’s more confused than excited. His mind is full of things he wants to do and say, but in practice… he just can’t get the words out.

He stays up at night rehearsing ways to tell you how much he cares, only to end up blurting out a dry, "I like you." He thinks it was a disaster, but your smile melts him completely.

If you suddenly grab his hand, his brain short-circuits. His face turns red, and he starts overanalyzing everything. "Do couples always hold hands? Should I do something in return? What if I kiss them on the cheek? Wait—is it too soon for that?!"

The cutest thing is that, even though it’s difficult for him, he tries. And when he finally thinks he’s done something right—like hugging you out of nowhere or letting you rest your head on his shoulder—he sneaks a glance at you, silently asking: "Did you like that? Was it okay?"

In the end, he realizes that love isn’t about being perfect, just being honest with you.

Kurona may seem calm, but in reality, he’s nervous about everything.

He acts like being in a relationship isn’t a big deal, but inside, he’s overwhelmed. Physically, he looks composed; mentally, he’s panicking. "What am I supposed to do now?"

From the very first day, he wonders if there are specific rules he should follow. Should he text you good morning and good night every day? What if he forgets? Does that make him a bad boyfriend?

The first time you tried to hug him in public, he completely froze. His whole body went stiff—not because he didn’t like it, but because he wasn’t prepared. After ten seconds of shock, he finally leans into you, just a little.

He takes forever to get used to affection. If you ruffle his hair or give him a quick peck on the cheek, he stands still like a statue—not because he dislikes it, but because his brain just shuts down.

Deep down, he loves it; he’s just never experienced this kind of attention before and has no idea how to handle it.

Ness has an idealized view of love, almost like a fairytale.

Ever since he was young, he imagined love as something straight out of a movie—perfect, effortless, and full of magical moments.

But now that he’s in a real relationship, he realizes that love isn’t like in the movies at all, and it completely throws him off.

He tries his hardest to make everything perfect, as if he can create the ideal romance where every date and every gesture is flawless. But he doesn’t account for misunderstandings, awkward moments, or things not going as planned. These little imperfections worry him.

However, when he finally lets go of his need for perfection and just enjoys being with you, he starts to see the true beauty of love. It’s not about getting everything right—it’s about sharing moments that feel real.

Nagi has no idea what to do because he’s too used to his own little world.

He’s always lived at his own pace—if something wasn’t fun or interesting, he’d just stop doing it. But now, with a boyfriend, his mind is in total chaos.

At first, he thought just being together was enough, but when he sees you and other couples acting more "romantic," he starts wondering if he’s doing something wrong.

When you surprise him with a kiss on the cheek, he freezes completely—like he’s been punched in the gut. He has no clue how to react, but his mind is screaming: "That was okay… right?"

He feels like he’s being thrown out of his comfort zone, but deep down, he likes it—even if he doesn’t know how to handle it.

And when you hug him, poor Nagi is so lost. Not because he doesn’t want to hug you back, but because he has no idea how. He overthinks it like it’s some kind of test, wondering if he’s doing it right.

If you try to hug him in public, he’ll get so tense that he might even walk faster to escape the situation. But when you’re alone in his room, he can’t stop smiling—even if it’s just a little.

Even though he’s a genius at soccer, in love, he’s like a kid learning to walk. But what he loves most is that you guide him. He doesn’t say it, but with every small gesture, he feels more secure.

He realizes that he doesn’t have to understand everything—he just has to enjoy the moment with you.

[daretoassume]

spiritual lessons i learned before turning 20

it was exactly january 1st, 2021, when i began my self-development journey. i think most of us experienced some unpleasant things in 2020. that year led me to my spiritual path and taught me many things about loving myself. i spent my whole year by myself, meditating, reading books, and practicing conscious manifesting. these things brought out the best in me and guided me on how i perceive the world and life in a better way.

1. don't try to fit in. after all, you are not here to stay.

in my high school days, i always wanted to fit in because it was so hard for me to make friends while observing my other classmates; it was so effortless for them. i wanted to have that friend group, so i tried to fit in by doing what they were doing so i could be acceptable to them.

it was so unhealthy to dislike other people, judge them behind their backs, and waste each other's time. i became someone i am not. i eventually left them because i realized, "if these people i am with can speak negatively about others behind their backs, what makes me think that they are not going to do that to me as well?"

we all want to feel like we belong, but being someone you are not is not the way to feel like you belong. isn't it exhausting always trying to fit in to feel like you belong?

you are supposed to stand out. you are supposed to have your own personality and embrace your qualities. after you love yourself enough and embrace yourself, the right people will come to you, and you will not feel like you are trying to fit in. our life is too short to spend trying to fit in; we might as well look within and be who we are meant to be.

2. don't follow the crowd they are also lost.

it is almost the same as the first one, but this one concerns following society or social norms. we are taught to do one thing because it is more acceptable than the other. who is accepting it? did they say something when they accepted it? are they proud because we followed them?

i thought i had always wanted to be a flight attendant, so i took a tourism degree. where does that thought come from? it was from my family; growing up, they mentioned that i should either be in hospitality or take a tourism degree. i wanted them to be proud of me, so i took that degree, thinking it was my dream.

while i decided to choose that, i didn't consider any other degree because i thought i wanted that for myself. i was not aware. this is the first thing i learned in 2021: to choose the life i want for myself; unapologetically, i am now following the path i am supposed to take while in college.

there is always something in our hearts that we want to do. follow that even if you think it is ridiculous. follow that, even if other people think it is ridiculous. just because you do something different doesn't mean you are crazy. i mean, the world is crazy enough, and following the crowd without awareness is one of them.

3. when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

everything is perception. the meaning you give to everything in your life becomes your reality. and if we think about it, this is a life-changing lesson. the way you look at things determines whether you are going to be mad, happy, sad, or envious. our eyes don't see; our eyes are the only tool our mind uses. and our mind will determine what perception it is that we have.

do you believe that people are kind and friendly or out to get you? whatever you choose, that is what you will create for yourself.

it is about changing your attitude towards situations that did not come your way. change how you look at things in a way that will serve you better so that what is outside of you doesn't control what you feel.

it doesn't mean that if you change your perception, the situation will change as well; it will not, but it will change how you see it. it is how we see things that make us live better. it is inside what we need to change to see life in a beautiful way to create a beautiful life we will love to look at.

remember, where we focus our energy, it will expand. it is nice to develop positivity and love just by focusing on it. i don't mean to have toxic positivity. of course, not every day is love and light; we can dwell on it, but we also have to know when to stop.

4. don't take it personally.

i have learned this the hard way, and i am still learning. other people might say something about us, but it is not about us; what they say is more about them. when somebody calls me "dumb, ugly, stupid, weak, worthless," it is not about me; it is about them.

tell me, what kind of person will say that to another person if they are mentally sane? maybe they are having a bad day and decided to put that on me; perhaps they feel that inside and put that on me (without being aware); it is never about us.

the same goes for someone who calls you "beautiful, nice, amazing"; do you think a person will tell you that if they don't already see that in themselves?

hurt people hurt people, and healed people heal people.

but whenever you are being judged and criticized negatively, remember that a person who is love and light will spread love and light. try not to get upset with people. what they say or what they do is powerless without your reaction. if we get frustrated, we take their trash and make it our own. how can we see life better if our environment controls our thoughts and feelings?

5. introspective work is the most important thing to do.

we are the only ones in our inner world; why not make it a safe space for us? try filling it with love, positive thoughts, and kindness. our inner world reflects our outer world.

you see, if you feel good, you do good and smile at the world. but when we are feeling negative, especially mad, we sometimes put that on other people. if we feel envious, resentful, anxious, or depressed, these are things that we should work on inside, not outside.

we cannot control what is outside; the environment, the situation, and the turbulence on our journey are beyond our control. what we can only control is what is inside.

everything starts within. even in manifesting, we don't look at our reality and ask, "where is it? where is my manifestation?" we see that in our minds first before it comes to fruition. we believe and feel that we already have it; we even fix our self-concept to align with the vibration of what we want before it manifests in our reality. all these things come from our inner world.

do much reflection on how you speak to yourself in your mind, and be aware if it is kind or tormenting you. suppose you think that the outer world is quite harsh. in that case, people are being unkind, or you feel negative about life, turn to your inner world; maybe you are neglecting something inside of you that needs the most attention and introspection. 𓍯 entryfromsane003 (extracted from the old blog two years ago)

[cherryblossombankai]

Summary: Years after the final battle, a retired Endeavor moves out of the city. You are working as his new housekeeper, and you begin teasing feelings from him that he didn't expect. Word Count: 5,025 Warnings: lots of talk about feelings, enji and rei talk about the past, all around there's some mention of past abuse and such, enji has a prosthetic arm, unprotected sex, smut with feelings (lots and lots of feelings), fem!reader, she/her pronouns for the reader, age gap relationship (reader is implied to be the same age as Fuyumi) Tag Lists: @pixelcafe-network, @actuallysaiyan, @helloiamadrawer, @satorustar, @sweet-chocolate-sweet, @hinomasumi, @renjis-wife

The dream had never changed. Deep down Enji knew his family would never truly be happy with his presence. He had tried to shake off that feeling for Fuyumi’s sake at least. Of all in the Todoroki family, she was the only one who seemed at peace with fate forcing them all together again. All she’d ever wanted was a happy family, but this was not a happy family. It never was, and it never would be. 

When Rei asked for a divorce, Enji didn’t fight her on it. He’d been living alone in the old house with the ghosts of the past for the better part of two years anyway, and she deserved a chance to be with someone good. Someone who would see her gentle strength for what it is, and savor her. The last time she’d come by to make sure he had food, he’d finally gotten up the nerve to put a stop to that as well. 

“Do you come here because you want to or because you feel you must?” he asked her, his voice gentle despite the raspiness it had acquired. Gentleness, something he never imagined himself practicing. 

“Somewhere in between, I suppose,” her voice was unsteady. 

“I don’t want you to tie yourself to me any more than you want to. I have more than enough money to hire help,” he sits back against his chair and stretches out his legs. They’re still sore and stiff, but he can stand on his own again, but he still uses a cane sometimes. “You should be using this time to do things you want to do. You shouldn’t worry about me.” 

Rei sits down beside him. “A man asked me out,” she confessed with a flush on her cheeks. “I suppose it’s difficult to imagine not being married anymore. I know the divorce was my idea but—”

He doesn’t have to hear the rest to know where she’s going with this. She’s worried if it was the right choice. Despite everything she’s worried about if he will be okay when she moves on. More than anything, she’s worried about stepping forward with a new relationship.

“Is he good to you?” Enji asks. 

“Y-yes, he’s very nice. We met at the library.” 

“That’s good. Do the kids know?” 

“No, I wanted to make sure you were truly okay with this before things progressed.” 

“Rei, all I want is for you to be happy.” 

“I am happy,” she admits sheepishly. 

She feels guilty to an extent. Guilt is an emotion Rei has never quite been able to get over but she has slowly learned not to misplace it anymore. So much of what went wrong was out of her hands, or she’d done her best but living with Enji was certainly living with an unstoppable force. There had been a brief moment in time when it felt like they were at peace, but it hadn’t lasted long. It almost feels like she just imagined things were better than they were. But she remembered the flush on her cheeks the first time he kissed her deeply and held his face in her hands so delicately. She remembers how he fumbled with the clasps on her lingerie on their wedding night then apologized when she winced the first time they were together. 

It seemed like almost overnight the gentle cradling of his hands turned into harsh slaps. The gaze that seemed concerned about hurting her when they were intimate became fierce with determination and rage. It had all fallen apart so quickly, and there was no way to pull it back together. It had taken him quite literally being beaten within an inch of his life for him to see the error of his ways. Still, they’d all paid the price. 

“You should find some way to be happy too,” Rei breaks the silence. “I know you think you deserve to be alone forever atoning, and maybe you do, but everyone who loves you wants to see you happy.” 

Enji furrows his brow, “No, I don’t deserve—” 

“Being miserable for the rest of your life won’t change the past,” she sighs softly. “And over the last few years, we’ve all seen the change in you. Even Natsuo asks about you sometimes.” 

“I have been thinking about leaving the city,” he admits quietly. “This house is much too big for me, and I just…I want quiet.” 

“I think that sounds nice,” she smiles softly. 

“I found a little place,” he fumbles through his pockets for his cell phone. “Well, Keigo —Hawks— found it for me,” he explains as he pulls up the house listing. 

 Rei takes the phone from him and looks it over. The house is a small two-bedroom in a tiny town known for its therapeutic hot springs, which are conveniently within walking distance of the house. She can see why Keigo would consider it for Enji.

“It looks nice,” she says as she flips through the photos. “Enough room for you and…Someone special.” 

Enji snorts softly, “Ah yes because everyone is on the market for a broken-down hero.” 

“Why not? You’re still handsome,” Rei giggles. “You could meet someone.” 

“I’ll consider it.” 

The weeks pass slowly. With Keigo’s help, Enji closes on the house. Over dinner he’d announced to Shoto and Fuyumi he was moving out of the city. He had texted Natsuo as well to let him know, but he didn’t expect an answer. He just didn’t want Natsuo to feel neglected anymore. He wants Natsuo to know that he’s always on Enji’s mind just like the rest of the children. He’d gone to the hospital to visit Touya as well and tell him the news, and also assure him he’d still be coming to visit him. Touya, who made a miraculous recovery due to some uncovered research from Garaki’s lab, had taken the news worse than Shoto or Fuyumi had. 

“You’re running from me?” Touya had croaked, his voice just starting to recover. 

“No, nothing like that Touya.” Enji’s cane taps across the floor as he comes closer to the glass looking into Touya’s chamber. 

It seemed like yesterday Touya was locked in a tank, but now he’s able to have a proper bed. His skin is growing back slowly due to the regeneration cells used in his treatment. The doctors said within a couple of years he’d be healed, albeit with some scarring.

Enji places his hand on the glass, “Perhaps when you’re ready, you could come live with me.” 

“You’d want that?” Touya looks up at him, tears brimming in his blue eyes. 

“I’d love that,” Enji smiles softly. 

Touya comes to the glass and places his hand over Enji’s. “Save a room for me, yeah?” 

“Always.” 

With all of that settled, the day came for him to move. He was a little nervous. Keigo and Shoto, to his surprise, came to help him move. Fuyumi did as well, but she spent a lot more time worrying about him being far away. No matter how many times he reminds her that he’s only a short train ride away, close enough for him to come to the city every day if he wants, she still worries about him being lonely. 

“I know how you are,” she says as she follows the guys outside as they load the moving van. “You’re liable to just lock yourself in the house and not talk to anyone for days.” 

“Well, don’t worry too much about that. I hired a housekeeper,” Keigo speaks up. 

“You did what?” Enji frowns. 

“Yeah, she’s a real nice girl.” 

“Oh! That sounds nice,” Fuyumi grins. She and Keigo share knowing looks that Enji picks up on, but decides not to say more. The last thing he wants to do is encourage this behavior. 

Once the moving van is packed up, Shoto and Fuyumi offer to drive it to the new house. Enji rides in the car with his driver. 

You’re already at the house, using the key Keigo had given you to let yourself in. He had told you that you would be working for Endeavor when you were hired. Many of the housekeepers he’d interviewed walked out the moment he revealed the identity of the client, but you had remained level-headed. 

“He is still trying to atone for his mistakes,” Keigo had told you. 

“He helped save the world,” you smile kindly. Keigo was pleased you remembered that. “I suppose the least I can do is keep the house clean and mind my own business.” 

He’d hired you on the spot, and now you find yourself getting the house ready for him to move. Keigo had even sent you some money to go buy some basics for the house. You may or may not have taken some liberties. You were putting together a bouquet on the porch when the moving van pulls up and is followed soon after by the car. 

“Oh, shit,” you mutter under your breath. You hadn’t expected him to be here today. You stand up quickly with the flowers in your hand. 

You see Shoto and Fuyumi first, they hop out of the moving van. You wave to them, noticing how Shoto seems a little shy when he waves back. Fuyumi smiles softly and walks up to introduce herself. 

“I’m the housekeeper,” you explain after introducing yourself. 

“It’s nice to meet you! It’s good to know someone will be around to help him and stuff,” Fuyumi sighs happily. 

For some reason, her attitude has you expecting a feeble old man to emerge from the black car. Instead, the man who emerges is instantly recognizable as a former number-one hero. He’s tall and still broad as though he works to keep in shape despite his forced retirement. The only hint of his injuries is his cane and the few scars he has on his face. 

“Hello, Todoroki-san!” you smile softly as you come down the steps to introduce yourself to him. He greets you with a kind smile before looking at the flowers clutched to your chest. 

“Are those for me?” he asks uncertainly. 

“Oh! Uhm…Yes!” you lie and hold out the unfinished bouquet. 

He chuckles softly as he takes the flowers and blushes. He’s never been gifted flowers before. It makes his heart flutter in a way he didn’t expect. “Thank you.” 

“I hope you don’t mind, I’ve been cleaning inside to get everything ready for you. Takami-san gave me some money to buy some things for the house.” 

“I see,” Enji sighs softly. Of course, Keigo would make sure you take on the role of a lady of the house. He feels embarrassed at the idea of Keigo putting in so much effort just to hook him up with someone. 

“I bought a few groceries, and of course, some cleaning supplies and Takami-san said you didn’t have much for decor so—” 

When Enji opens the door to his new house, it almost looks as though you’ve moved in. It’s what Keigo had told you to do, start some decorating to make it feel like a home. Enji notices the pretty rugs and floral tapestries you have on the walls. He looks down at you, raising his eyebrow. 

“I can take it down if you don’t like it,” you blush. 

“It looks nice!” Fuyumi says as she walks in behind the two of you. 

“Heh, it’s pretty,” Shoto smirks and playfully nudges his dad. 

“It’s fine,” Enji groans before taking the box Shoto is carrying from him. 

“Would any of you like some tea?” you offer, hoping to break the ice. You feel a little silly now; already being here when he arrived, having decorating…It didn’t matter if Keigo encouraged you to do it, you feel foolish. 

“Tea would be nice,” Fuyumi says as she follows you in the kitchen. Shoto goes out to get more of the boxes out of the moving van. 

“Todoroki-san, would you like some too?” you ask. You can’t help blushing when you realize he’s putting your flowers in some water. 

“That’d be nice, thank you,” he responds. 

While you’re making the tea in the kitchen, he sets the flower vase on the kitchen table. Then he and Fuyumi go to look around the house. He notices right away how much effort you’ve already put into it. Everything is spotless and there’s a few touches here and there that show you’ve tried to make it more comfortable. 

“She seems nice,” Fuyumi comments to him as they step onto the back porch to look around at the garden. 

“She does,” Enji agrees nonchalantly. 

“Very pretty,” she adds. 

“Oh, want her number?” Enji offers, wholeheartedly sincere in his words. Ever since Fuyumi came out to him, he’s been doing his best to be as supportive as possible. 

“Not exactly what I was thinking,” Fuyumi giggles. She looks in through the door to make sure you’re not close by. “I was thinking you should ask her out.” 

“You have to be kidding me! She’s the same age as my children!” 

“So? If she likes you and stuff,” Fuyumi giggles. 

“Absolutely not!” he insists.

“Sorry, sorry,” Fuyumi giggles. She leans against the door frame as Enji looks at the potted plants you placed out. “It’s a good thing she decorated. You wouldn’t have thought to do it.” 

“She could’ve waited until I asked,” he grumbles under his breath. 

“Well, your feathered friend is pretty persuasive,” Fuyumi reminds him. 

Within a few hours, it’s only the two of you in the house. You’re busy unpacking boxes when he sees everyone off. His body is a little achy, as it always is after a full day of activity. He wishes he still had his youth some days, but then again he’s grateful for the clarity he’s found in his age. 

“You should rest,” he says softly as he walks into the living room where you’re fussing with the curtains. You’re not quite tall enough to get the rod on the hook. With ease, he reaches over you and fastens the hook. You smile up at him before straightening the curtains. 

“I should at least make your bed before I leave,” you insist. 

“No, really, that’s not necessary.” 

You giggle as you look up at him, “Sure it is! Where will you sleep if I don’t?”

“I’m capable of making my own bed,” Enji blushes and steps away.  

“Yeah, but I get paid to make your bed,” you argue playfully. 

He rolls his eyes at you, “Fine, fine. But then I want you to go home and I don’t want you coming in too early.” 

“Don’t worry, I won’t overwork myself,” you brush past him and make your way to the bedroom. 

He follows you, although he’s not sure why. He leans against the door frame and watches you dig the sheets out of the box Fuyumi had helpfully labeled ‘linens’ and begin making the bed. The thought suddenly crept up on him that you might be the first woman to be in his room in years. He turns away quickly and walks away. 

You notice him stomping off, but of course you don’t know why. You hum softly as you make the bed then throw the pillows on it. 

“Todoroki-san, should I make you something to eat before I leave?” you ask as you breeze into the kitchen where he’d been taking solace from what your presence was starting to do to him. 

“N-no,” he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Call me Enji! You don’t have to use honorifics.” 

“Oh,” you blush deeply. You’d spent all day wondering if you should’ve called him Endeavor-sama or Todoroki-san and now suddenly he’s permitting you to call him by first name. Yet he won’t turn to look at you and he seems so damn eager to get out of your presence. You clear your throat and when he turns around, you’re bowing at the waist. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you.” 

Enji feels like he’s going to melt. He shakes his head and comes closer to you, placing one hand on your shoulder to guide you to stand straight again. 

“You haven’t,” he assures you softly. “I’m sorry…I didn’t expect…you.” 

“Oh? Did Takami-san not tell you I was going to be here?” you blush. “Did you not want a housekeeper? I’m so sorry! I must have seemed crazy all day—” 

“No! No, listen it’s fine. I’m glad you’re here to help me,” he lets out a sigh. “I just meant you’re very…Uhm…” His words fail him completely. Pretty? Yeah, sure you’re quite pretty but he can’t tell you that. Nor can he tell you that it’s been ages since he was close to a woman besides Fuyumi and Rei, one of which was his daughter and the other his now ex-wife who he never deserved to be close to in the first place. “Fuck,” he growls and turns away again. 

“How about tomorrow we can start over?” you suggest shyly. 

“Start over?” 

“Yeah,” you come closer to him and place your hand on his back. “It’ll be good.” 

“Alright, that sounds good,” he agrees. 

True to your word, the next morning you come into the house with a fresh smile. You don’t even say anything about the awkwardness from the day before. You make cheerful morning conversation, and as Enji sits at the kitchen table drinking his coffee and watching you cook, he can’t help wondering if anyone in his family was ever this content in his presence. Does he deserve this feeling now? Maybe he’s a desperate old fool, but he admires you. You’re sweet and funny, even towards him. You aren’t graceful all the time, but you are confident. Even when you mess up, you giggle through it in a way he’d never be able to imagine. 

As the days go on, he becomes even more of a fool for you. He can’t help it. 

He finds himself at the grocery store and passing the flower section, he considers buying you some. He remembers you had a bunch of daisies in the house and he realizes they must be your favorite. He picks up a bouquet of them, but then changes his mind at the register only to then change his mind right before paying. 

He comes home to the sight of you sweeping off the front porch. You were wearing a pair of corduroy overalls that hugged your curves in a way that had made him bite his lip when you first arrived this morning. He notices your bare feet. This morning your hair had been down, but now you have it pulled into a messy updo. He’s always liked long hair. Rei had grown her hair out as his insistence, but he’d been thrilled when she cut it off after their divorce. She was healing. 

“How was the grocery shopping?” you ask as he comes up the steps. 

“Good,” he grumbles and shoves the flowers at you. His cheeks are flaming red, and he doesn’t look you in the eyes. 

“For me?” you giggle. 

“Y-yeah, take them home,” he rushes past you. 

You watch him go into the house, and you smile softly to yourself before going into the kitchen behind him. He’s putting away the groceries when you find a vase to put your flowers in. 

“My roommates would probably just knock them over, so I think I’ll keep them here,” you explain as you set the flowers on the counter. 

“Roommates?” he asks. Although you’d talked a lot about yourself, you’d never mentioned roommates. You also never mentioned a boyfriend or girlfriend. 

“Oh, yeah. I had to get some roommates to help cover the bills,” you shrug. 

“Is Keigo not paying you enough?” he asks and he’s already fishing into his pocket for his checkbook. 

“He’s paying me plenty,” you insist. 

“How much do you need?” he opens the checkbook and places it on the counter. 

“Really, it’s okay!” 

“Just tell me,” he presses on. 

“Enji, stop!” you snap. His eyes come to meet yours. He can see right away that you regretted taking such a tone with him, and he has to fight down his own pride wanting to lash back out. 

“I was trying to help,” he growls softly.

“I know, but it’s fine,” you insist. “Lots of people my age have to have roommates. We’re not all heroes making bank.” 

He watches the way you force a sad smile before turning away. It had been his desire only to take care of you, but of course, he always pushes too hard and breaks the things dear to him. 

The rest of the day is quiet, and for the first time in months, you don’t stick around for dinner.

He’d been shocked the first day you called out of work. You told him you weren’t feeling well, and just needed to rest. He’d been sure to keep up with all your chores for you so that you wouldn’t be overburdened when you returned. But then you called in for a second time, then a third. 

It was almost a week before you finally showed yourself again. This time you weren’t smiley and happy like before. Your brows were furrowed as he sat down at the kitchen table in front of you. You’re staring into your coffee trying to get up the nerve to slide the envelope across the table to him. 

“What’s this?” he asks, pointing to the little cream envelope. 

“It’s…My two weeks notice.” 

“Your what?” his eyes widen and he wants to pretend he’s not hearing this. Fuck, you were the only thing that made him want to get out of bed most mornings. 

“I just think maybe I shouldn’t work for you anymore, Todoroki-san.” 

“Why?” he feels like his chest is being ripped open. “Because of the money thing? I am sorry about that! I didn’t mean to…” 

“It’s not that,” you sniffle back some tears. “It’s really not that.” 

“I see,” he looks miserable. “Is it me? Did I offend you?” 

“No! No, nothing like that.” 

His hands are shaking as he tries to find something, anything to make you stay. He doesn’t want to lose you. Just thinking that you would walk out that door today, and he would never see you again, he felt like dying. 

“Don’t go,” he pleads. His pride be damned. 

Little did Enji know, you were leaving because you’d fallen for him. It happened so suddenly that you hadn’t even realized it. Everything had just fallen into place, and every time you came to work it felt more like coming home. All of his little quiet gestures, like buying you flowers and making sure to keep your favorite tea around even though you only told him once which one you liked best, had made you feel like maybe he felt the same way. When he’d offered you a check, you’d felt like a commodity instead. It had made you wonder if he only did nice things to keep you around. But now…He’s pleading. You never thought you’d hear Endeavor plead. 

“I just think it’s for the best,” you whisper before standing up. You grab your purse to leave before you lose your nerve.

Enji rushes to his feet. The kitchen table is pushed aside as it just becomes an obstacle keeping him from you. The effort of pushing it sends a sharp pain through his back. At the same time, he takes his first quick steps towards you, he falls to his knees from the nerves in his back searing with pain. Still, his hands reach for you, grabbing at your skirt. He’s fought through worse pain than this. 

“Don’t go, please don’t go. I’ve been alone…For so fucking long,” he pleads, not caring how foolish he looks. “I know I’m a stupid man. I’ve made mistakes, and I fucked up because I couldn’t just tell you…How I feel…” 

“Enji, let me help you up,” you whimper as you try to pry his hands off your skirt. He wraps his arms around your legs instead. 

“Don’t go,” he pants softly and he nuzzles his face against your thighs. “Stay with me, just…Stay!” 

“Enji,” your hands are gentle in his hair as you lower yourself onto his lap. You kiss him softly on the cheek before hugging him tight, burying your face in his chest. “I…I love you…” 

“Oh…oh…” he wraps his arms around your waist and squeezes you against his body. His nose is in your hair, taking in your scent and his hands are kneading at your sides. “My precious girl…” he gently kisses you. The taste of your lips makes his blood run hot, and you can feel the heat rising on his skin. 

Everything else is forgotten now. He may not have told you he loves you, but every touch proves it. The way his tongue is slow and tentative against yours, his hands are gentle yet insistent as he touches you. He keeps your body pressed close to his, not wanting to part even a little from you. Even his moans, the first time you grind against him, are so incredibly desperate. 

“Can I touch you?” he asks between kisses. 

You nod eagerly and he pushes up your skirt. His thick fingers brush against the wet spot on your panties, making you moan softly for him. Months of shy smiles and lingering touches culminated into this hunger neither of you can contain any longer. 

He pushes your panties aside carefully and begins rubbing your slit carefully. His hands are a little shaky, it’s been so long since he’s done anything like this. Already his mind his in a daze.

“Is this good?” he asks. 

“Y-yes,” you pant softly and spread your legs a little wider for him. 

Every moan he manages to draw out from your body makes his cock twitch in his jeans. The outline of his cock is finished off with a thick, sticky splotch of precum on leaking through. He feels needy, feral even. Your walls are hot on his fingers, making him hunger even more to be inside of you. 

“I need you,” he growls as he pulls away from your kiss. 

He can’t be bothered to take the time to do this properly. He needs you now, and he can tell by the look in your eyes that you need him too. 

“I need you too,” you whisper. 

He pushes you against the kitchen cabinet, only making space enough between your bodies for him to open his pants and push them just past his ass. Then, he’s hovering over you once more, guiding your legs around his waist. You only get the quickest glimpse of his cock and the dark red patch of hair at the base before he’s pinning you against the cabinet and pushing into you carefully. Your arms wrap around his waist and your hands rest on his ass. 

“F-fuck,” you whine as his girth stretches you past anything you’ve felt before. He knows he’s big, huge even, and that’s why he’s going slow despite every instinct to slam into you. 

“You feel fucking amazing,” he groans softly. 

He clings to your body like he never wants to let you go. He works his way into your warm walls and pauses so you can both acclimate to the feeling once he’s bottomed out. 

By the time he starts his pace, he’s rutting into you like a man gone wild. His face his buried against your chest, his mouth drooling and biting at your tits through your thin shirt. He loved that you didn’t wear a bra, he had noticed it from day one but didn’t want to be a pervert. Now he’s leaving saliva stains right on your shirt from biting at your nipples. 

“You’re fucking perfect, so perfect,” he pants as he fucks you. “Love you, love you, love you…” he emphasizes every declaration of love with a deep thrust. 

You can’t even make a coherent thought come out of your mouth. You can only moan and cry his name in blazes of ecstasy. It’s music to his ears, knowing he’s managing to bring you to this state. You don’t even manage to warn him when you cum on his cock. The pleasure takes over your senses completely. He can only tell by the way you grind against him and your walls clench so tight around his cock that you’ve reached your peak. His nails dig into the meat of your thighs as he feels himself reaching his climax. 

“Shit shit shit,” he grunts. “Do I…fuck…pull out?” 

Your hands grip tighter on his ass, “No, please!” 

His eyes roll back in his head as he quickens his pace. His hips snap frantically, and he shakes when he reaches his peak. You’re filled and then some with his seed. It’s dripping out even as he continues to fuck it into you. 

Finally, he slows himself to a stop. You’re limp and weak in his arms. Your head rests on his shoulders. 

“Are you okay?” he asks as he rubs your back. 

“Mhm,” you hum sleepily, your eyes fluttering closed. 

He carefully holds onto you as he stands. He manages to hold you with one arm long enough to pull his pants up. They hang loosely from his waist as he carries you to the bedroom and gently lays you down. 

“Rest,” he whispers and kisses you quickly. “Let me take care of you.” 

“Will we do it again?” you ask as you watch him dig through his drawers for a shirt to dress you in. He didn’t realize until now that he’d ripped your clothes. 

“You don’t regret it?” he asks as he carefully undresses you only to slip a black sweatshirt onto your body. It’s big on you, and he loves the sight of you in his clothes. 

“Not at all,” you smile softly. 

“Then, we’ll do it again,” he promises. “Next time, I’ll go slow. I’ll make love to you like you deserve.” 

“Mm, sounds good,” you giggle as you snuggle up on the bed. “Nap first though.” 

“Yes, yes, nap first,” he agrees.

[yermes]

I wasn’t meant to be understood 🍈

Music:

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Pick a meme

123

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Disclaimer: please take what I say with a grain of salt and not as the gospel. I just want to share some ideas of practicing and giving advice using the medium as often as I can with school, work, and my own personal studies and practice. But I am working on sharing my notes soon so that will be exciting! Liking and sharing does a lot 🥰

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Feel free to stick around for a while **⋆**

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The cards 🃏 

Pile 1 ⭐️

Star, moon, knight of pents

You are in a huge dreamer phase, and you are about to take a step, the step only has to be meaningful to you. People don’t know what your inner world looks like nor are they entitled to it. Be meaningful with yourself for yourself, peoples advice are suggestions with no insight into you as an individual while professional advice is nice for sure and insight into anything is important the steps, you need to make sure what is happening feels right and you can actually fucking achieve dreams with your steps. You are in a very day dreamy part of your planning, you have the idealized version of what you want to do but you have little direction and few people to lean on, ultimately you are the only person you can lean on. The inner world is rich and vast, you will know what to do when the opportunity presence itself. Do your own personal research, think about what is actually best for you, mentally physically and spiritually. Be present in decision making, consider yourself because god knows no one else is. Show up for yourself everyday and even if no one can understand a dreamer it can’t stop you from dreaming.

Pile 2 🌈

King of wands, ace of cups, magician

Lots of emotional manifestations, not always a good thing but its something that definitely happens. Lots of tears, lots of emotions, lots of your own emotional turmoil turning into a self fulfilling prophecy, have you thought that your hang ups on the external and lack of comfort with the internal is giving you negative confirmation bias of the world around you. Our biases shape our perception of the world and you are making it all seem like a scary place but babe it all starts with you beginning to learn about yourself. All of the thousands of people you will meet throughout your life will have a different perception of you, but there is only one you. And there is only one person with unlimited access to your inner world is you, don’t weep for the fact no one can ever look in be happy that you are your own private space.

Pile 3 💥

Tower, two of swords, the devil

Imagine thinking you have all your ducks in a row and then everything goes to shit, I mean what else is supposed to happen. Getting all your ducks in a row has never been your M.O, you are more like a chaotic murder of crows. Shit will fall apart, do not let it shake you, the way shit hitting the fan affects you and how it triggers your own personal trauma is sacred to you, you owe grace to nobody. When you are struggling through a hard time fear not of your external facade care only for the internal world which is forever being shaped by being and experiencing. Be aware of how others respond for their perception of your outward appearance means fuck all, again, take care of the internal and spiritual. YOU CANNOT MANIFEST IF YOU DO NOT START OVER, YOU CANNOT REACH THE SPIRITUAL IF YOU ARE CAUGHT UP SOULY IN THE PHYSICAL. It is all about balance.

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Extras: 🌾

Personal/ updates:

Treating brain samples tmrw

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[mysteryshoptls]

Lilia Vanrouge Shared Lines

Tutorial: Now then, off we go. I'm sure time is precious to you.

Level Up 1: Is this what they call a growth spurt? Kheehee.

Level Up 2 / Buddy Level Up: Nice, I've leveled up!

Level Up 3: School life sure his worthwhile.

Level Max: It may be because I am brimming with more energy than ever before, but these recent days have been a blast. It is all thanks to you.

Vignette Level Up: Looking back, these days I've recently spent alongside you have been thoroughly delightful... Hm? Oh no, I'm not saying goodbye. You're stuck with me!

Spell Level Up: Well, this is nowhere near my full potential. I'll show you the true extent of my power some day.

Friendship Level Up: This place is filled with things that pique my curiosity. Of course, that includes you. Kufufu.

Friendship Level Max: I cannot believe I’ve gotten to this age, and I’m still making new friends that I can confide in. Kufufu, it’s a blessing to be able to live this long. Keep up the good work!

Uncapped: Oh, my, are you should you should be granting me even more power? Kheehee, I see. Then, I should not disappoint.

Groovification: Kheehee, I feel pumped up. I can't let myself fall behind all these youngsters.

Lesson Select 1: Yup, I'm totally ready! So, what should start preparing for?

Lesson Select 2: If you're too overeager, you'll burn out quickly. It's fine to take it easy.

Lesson Select 3: Studying alongside other students, hm? Sounds interesting, I'll actually put in some effort today.

Lesson Start: Time to learn to our fullest extent.

Lesson Finish: Mhm, a great class. This is truly what school life is all about!

Battle Start: Kufufu, I’ll play with you.

Battle Won: Don’t underestimate me, you fool.

Trouble 1: Kufufu, I got a bit heated, very unlike my age.

Trouble 2: You’re so small-minded, getting angry over something like that～

GIFT CALENDAR 2023: “How will you be spending the day?” We have band practice today. However… When it gets cold like this, my fingers get numb and hard to move. Hm? Naah, I already have the songs memorized. It’s really only about staying in rhythm with the other members!

Birthday Login Message 1: A birthday? Mine? Aah～ Now that you mention it, when I enrolled in this school, I might have said that. At some point before I forgot when my own birthday was. I didn’t think it would be celebrated. I’m happy, thank you.

Birthday Login Message 2: There will be a birthday party held for me today. Why don’t you join us? Of course, I won’t force you to, but… If you don’t come, I may become so lonely that I’ll start crying. [fake sobs] Oohh! Alright, so you’ll come! Kufufu, lets enjoy ourselves today to our hearts content.

Birthday Login Message 3: Well, well… No matter how old I get, it’s still lovely to have my birthday celebrated. …Eh? You want to put my age’s worth of candles on the cake? Kufufu, you don’t want to do that. It would be a shame if the cake was to be completely covered in holes.

Birthday Login Message 4: You came all the way out here to wish me a happy birthday? You have my thanks, [Yuu]. What would I like for a present? It’s fine, you don’t have to worry yourself about it. But if I really had to pick something, I suppose… I’d like to hear about your hometown. It would be fun to hear stories from a place that I know nothing about. There’s no way I’ll be letting you sleep tonight～!

Birthday Login Message 5: Thanks for coming to celebrate. I’m more than pleased to have you remember my birthday. The Pop Music Club is planning on having a birthday performance tonight. You’ll be joining us too, right? I hear that Kalim is preparing an extra-large cake as a surprise. Cater was worried that it wouldn’t be a surprise if he told me, but… Kheeheehee, I’m still happy about it. We’ll sing and party, surrounded by all those close to me… It’s this kind of birthday that makes me the luckiest guy in the world.

Requested by Anonymous.

[classypauli]

She’s the Man

Pairing: Jenna Ortega x fem Reader Summary: With the new university Y/N meets new opportunities, plays on the football team, meets new people, makes new friendships, and maybe finds something she didn’t think would find.... But being dressed as her brother can create little problems in the future. She’s the Man AU A/N: So this fic will be based on the movie She´s the Man, it won´t follow every step of the story, I had it in mind some time now and have been thinking about if it is a good idea or not but well, here goes nothing… Not forcing anyone to read this, idk just wanted to try something new. Warning: first time writing, bad grammar and punctuation in complex sentences, spelling errors, boring and awkward Word count: 5k I DON’T OWN THE MOVIE THIS STORY IS BASED ON OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE IN THERE. IT’S ONLY FICTION AND NONE OF THIS IS REAL.

Chapter 1

Y/N is sitting in her brother´s room, eyes wide open  „You can´t be serious! How am I supposed to do that?!“ she shouted at him. „I´ll be thankful to you till the end of my life.“ well, that won´t be for long if she decides to kill him right now. „Charlie-“

„Please Y/N you are my only hope, you know I´ve been wanting to go to this festival for so long, you know what it means to me, please.“ he puts his hands in a praying position, and now his puppy eyes are the only thing his sister can see. „Ew get away from me.“ she pushed him into the chest as he stumbled back.

Charlie, Y/N´s twin brother, wants her to impersonate him. Yeah, you heard it right, he wants his sister to go to his school and act like him this whole time that he will be on tour. He is in the band, their parents aren´t really happy about it, they say that music won´t get him anywhere and he should concentrate on the more important stuff. Y/N´s sad because she was always like if something makes you happy, that´s all that matters, right? But he isn´t giving up, he still hopes that he can convince them about being serious with music.

And don´t get her wrong, she´d do anything and everything for him, he is her brother, her twin, but this... She´s not so sure, it´s just too much, what if they find out? What if she isn´t good enough and mess up? What would their parents say? Oh God too much pressure on her shoulders and she didn´t even say yes.

But his sad and disappointed eyes are her last straw. „Gosh.... m'kay.“ Y/N whispered under her breath almost unnoticed. Charlie´s eyes lit up like Christmas lights and started running to his sister yelling „Thank you thank you thank you! I promise I´ll do anything for you!“ He almost suffocated her when they hugged. „Careful with your words and now get off I can´t breathe!“ he immediately pushed himself off and started his little winning dance.

She rolled her eyes at him „So how we are going to do that? I mean, I need to look exactly like you, act like you, talk like you, and EVEN SMELL like you? Well now I´m not so sure if I can do this I mean-“ she looked at him and scrunched up her nose. „Oh, you didn´t you f-“ he hit Y/N with the pillow in the head. She started laughing at her brother's offended face. „Just kidding stop being a baby.“

He stood up and started thinking „Well we look alike, like a lot, so there won´t be much work in the face-“ „What?!“ „-but you need to learn how to walk like me and dress like me. Stand up we are having our first lesson.“

They were practicing her walk, or more like his walk, and she got it pretty right. Clothes won´t be a big problem cause they wear uniforms and wearing baggy clothes is one of the most comfortable things for her. She doesn´t know how she will do it but for her brother, she needs to at least try.

A couple of days passed and now Y/N is sitting in the passenger seat, Charlie is behind the wheel. Sun is shining through the windows of their parent's car. She is wearing her school uniform and her leg is bouncing up and down in black uncomfortable shoes.

„Stop Y/N it will be okay-„ she turned to him „Well it´s easy for you to say! You aren´t the one dressed as me!“. Okay maybe she´s a little dramatic but she´s shitting her uniform pants right now, oh God please let this be over already.

Y/N didn´t even notice and they were already in front of the school. Students were walking back and forth, laughing and greeting each other after the holidays. The girl wasn´t a social kid growing up. I mean she doesn´t have a problem with talking to others, the problem is in the start of conversations. She can try as hard as she can but she never knows how to begin. Her mind suddenly stops working and becomes quiet. She´s not shy, at least she doesn´t think she is. For the longest time of her life, she thought that she was an introvert but as she was getting older she realized maybe she´s just a quiet extrovert. Y/N likes to listen to people more than talk to them. She likes to be by herself but also enjoys the company of the right people.

„Okay we are here, “ Charlie said „Just try to enjoy it, it will be fun“. Yeah, his twin is boiling with excitement.

They got out of the car, her brother went to get her bags from the back and she just stood there. Just like a kid for the first time going to school, doesn´t know what's waiting for them. She just realized that this is real and that what is she going to do is a crazy idea.

„Ch-Charlie I think I changed my mind I can´t do this-“

„Y/N STOP-“

Walking to her dorm room is the next thing, bags in hands trying to find her room. Finally, she sees the right numbers and she can´t wait to put these heavy bags in there. She unlocked the door and walked straight to the room.

„Oh hi!“ Y/N heard from the other side, looked up and her eyes met with the unknown boy.

„I´m Percy.“ he walked up to her and offered his hand „I´m guessing you are my roommate?“ He was a little taller than her and had long brown hair.

„Yeah, nice to meet you my name´s Y-Ch-Charlie, my name´s Charlie.“ she said as she shook his hand. Damn! She needs to concentrate more.

„Well Charlie pleasure to meet you“ he smiled „I´d like to sit and talk with you but I have to go now, you can put your clothes right there, and on the left side of the door is the bathroom, thankfully every room has one so not all students have to share the same one.“  Well, at least it would be easier for her to shower. Y/N thanked him as he walked away. With a sigh, she fell right into her new bed. She started unpacking and soon walked out of the dorm. She doesn´t know where is she going but she will find out. Silently cursed at her new roommate for rushing away even though he knew she was new. Y/N was in her world passing around the corner of the hallway until someone smashed into her.

“Oh shit I’m so sorry!”

The girl moved her gaze to the voice and there was a guy, he was taller than her and looked like he was in a rush, he was holding some clothes which were probably PE uniform.

“I didn’t mean to do it I swear I didn’t see y-“

“Hey it’s okay nothing happened but damn you are in quite a rush”. she laughed and he started to rub his neck.

“Yeah, I’m heading into football practice and I’m late again, oh God my coach is going to kill me, last time he said if this happens one more time he will kick me out of the team.” he kept rumbling but the only word Y/N could catch in his sentence was “football”.

“But hey at least you are okay, I’m glad nothing serious happened-“ she cut him off.

“Wait you play football?”

“Uhm yeah, doesn’t it look like it?”. He asked in a small voice as if he was sad about it. What? He definitely looks like someone who does some sport, he is big and tall with his big arms wide shoulders, and athletic legs.

“No I didn’t mean it like that-” he kept watching her with curious eyes “-I just used to play football too and yeah, I don’t even know why I react-“ his face lit up.

“You can go with me! We have enough space in our team!”

“Thank you but am not sure if-“

“No! Please! I’m not going to force you but you can at least come and look, please-“ he was giving her puppy eyes now “-if you come with me then the coach would forgive me maybe if I said I was bringing you-“

“So that’s what it is about!”

“No! Well- maybe- but it would be cool to have someone new on our team! And we are missing a midfielder because of his injury, so you could fill up his place”. Well maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea, she can at least try. Y/N looked up at him and nodded.

“YES! Come with me- wait my name’s Mason”

“Charlie” she introduced herself with her brother's name.

They shook hands and started to walk into a field.

„You are new here, right? I don´t think I saw you before.“-

Y/N was now standing inside the cafeteria, she was looking around for a spot when suddenly she saw Percy, he was sitting in one of the middle tables with some of his friends. Before she could do anything he looked up and saw her.

„Charlie!“ he waved his hand for her to come over to the table, his friends already looking at her. Well, there´s no way to go back now.

„Hey, I wanted you to introduce me to my friends.“ he said smiling „This is Hunter and Georgie.“ Y/N shook their hands and took a seat.

„Nice to meet you, Charlie, “ Hunter said, „so how´s the first day goin´?“

„Well I´m just warming myself in here but so far I don´t have any negative words.“

Georgie took a sip of something he had in his cup and looked at her „That´s good, if you have a problem with something just ask.“

Hunter laughed at Georgie „Yeah but I don´t recommend asking Georgie for help with a class, he is the one who should seek help with that.“

„I´m not!“ he said offended. Y/N could only laugh at their bickering. „Don´t mind them-“ Percy wanted to continue with his sentence but his eyes caught something more interesting. She followed his gaze until she was met with three girls who walked into the cafeteria. They sat opposite their table and were discussing something that Y/N´s ears couldn´t hear because of the loud noise of other students in the room. She knew that Percy knew them or at least one of them, she would be an idiot to not catch that stare he was giving them but she was fighting with inner thoughts if she should ask or not. Before she could even decide Hunter saw that and turned around to look.

„Oh, “ he said, and soon Georgie followed Hunter's action and started laughing. „you may wonder why is Percy stuck. “ he said to Y/N. „Well Charlie, the one girl in the middle is Jenna, and Percy here has been trying to get with her forever but with no answer “. Oh, so he was looking at her. Yeah no wonder, she caught Y/N´s attention pretty quickly. She was really attractive even from this far. „He tried everything.“ Georgie continued „from writing her letter and getting it into her locker, drawing her portrait and leaving it on the seat she used to sit at to ask her in person but nothing!“ he laughed and Percy punched him into his shoulder. „This is not funny! I don´t know what to do anymore!“.

„Have you thought about that maybe she didn´t see you in that way?“ Hunter asked as he turned back to him.

„Of course you idiot but at least she could give me a chance“ 

„Well, I don´t know I mean... it´s a little strange I can´t even remember if I have ever seen her with someone. There are lots of guys who wanted to get with her but she turned them down, maybe she doesn´t want a relationship now-“ Hunter still kept looking at him with a serious face „-Or maybe she just thinks you are a creep.“ Georgie said and started laughing again. Percy groaned and put his head in his hands. Y/N could only smile at this boy, he was hilarious.

They were sitting there and talking mostly about classes and professors in school. She learned that Percy is in an art club and loves to paint. That would answer the question of why he has so many paintings on the walls of his side of the room, Y/N must admit he is talented and has a unique style. Hunter and Georgie, the two boys she just met, were friendly, they always tried to keep her in a conversation and asked her questions about her last school, hobbies, and family. The girl may don´t know them for too long but she can already say that she feels comfortable with them.

Y/N was speed walking out of her last class, she had a long day and couldn´t wait for it to end. Tomorrow she´s going to have her first training and she wanted to get herself some sleep. She was thinking about things to do when suddenly her body crushed into someone. Yeah, again.  She heard a small ugh and the sound of books falling on the floor. Well only her luck. She picked herself up and looked at who was the other person. She didn’t know if her eyes were making some magic on her or not. She realized what happened and started picking up her books from the ground.

“I’m so sorry- I didn’t mean to!“

“No no, it was my fault.” Y/N looked at her and was met with big doe eyes. Her brain couldn’t process what was happening. In front of her was Jenna, the girl from the cafeteria, she was wearing a school uniform and stood shorter than Y/N, her dark brown eyes, which she couldn´t see a couple of minutes ago clearly, matched her long hair.

Suddenly the door from a principal’s office opened and he walked out. „What is-?“ he started but as he looked at the scene in front of him he smirked. „Getting to know the opposite sex, are we? Male-female dynamics. All that sexual tension. It's all part of the high school experience. So continue. Please. But keep it clean, though. OK. Abstinence is key. Abstinence is... the best way to not is to not... yes.“ he slowly took back steps and closed his door.

„Well“ Y/N sighed and looked and the other girl „That was awkward... is he always like this? Friendly?“ she asked her. Jenna softly laughed „Are you kidding? That´s him being rude“.

„Okey... ehm... I´ll continue with my way.“ She didn´t know why she was acting like this. „Here are your books.“ She handed her them and shot her apology for eyes „Sorry again I didn´t mean to.“

Jenna only looked up at her with wide eyes „It´s okay, nothing happened “ she smiled „Hope to see you again“.  Y/N quickly walked away leaving the other girl behind her. Damn, she needs to put herself together.

The next day Y/N felt a lot more relaxed, she spent almost all afternoon with Mason and she decided that he just become her favourite person. He was so kind. Keeping an eye on her and always asking if she needed anything. He was outgoing and even though her new friend was the polar opposite of her social life, Y/N couldn´t help but feel comfortable with Mason.

The whistle was heard from the football field and Y/N was trying to find her way of getting the ball into the net. God, she missed it so much. Her legs were running like there was no tomorrow, others got in her way to stop her but they never succeded, Y/N was too good. She knew that. In the past, when she used to play, she was one of the best, if not the best, in her team. She truly enjoyed it and now that she finally had the football ball on her foot there was no way to stop her. Y/N shot the ball into a net and it flew straight to the right top corner of the goal.

„What? Charlie! How are you this good man?“ Mason ran to her and grabbed her shoulders smiling. „And here you wanted to decline my offer!“

„Well I got a little lost.“ They started walking slowly to get their water as they got a quick pause from the coach.

Some people were sitting on the tribune but she didn´t mind. This wasn´t only a football field, there were a lot of sports grounds and right now there were a lot of athletes too. She scanned the chairs when suddenly she caught the girl. The same girl she saw for the first time in the cafeteria and the second time ran into. She had books on her knees and a bag beside her, her hair was waiving in soft wind. But there is no way that she came to look at the football training, right? She was waiting for someone, maybe her friend. But as she kept looking, their eyes met and Y/N quickly looked the other way. This was embarrassing. Luckily she was saved by the whistle and that made her jog her way to the coach.

At the end of her training coach called the girl on the side „Good job today Y/L/N, I would be glad if you come next practice.“ he said as he waited for her answer.

„Yes, you will see me, thank you for having me.“ He only nodded his head and walked away. Mason came to her side and was smiling widely „You impressed him today, I wouldn´t be surprised if he let you play in our next game.“ his eyebrows went up and down.

She was glad that she let herself be talked into this, Y/N hadn´t felt this alive since she could remember. It was for sure a good idea and couldn´t wait for the next practice. As she was walking back she shot one last glance at the tribune only to find the spot Jenna sat in empty.

Y/N was leaning on a table, they were waiting for their professor to start a class. She´s standing beside Percy, Hunter, and Georgie. They are talking about plans for the weekend. Y/N doesn´t really listen she just looks like she is listening.

She was thinking about her brother and how she would call him when her class was over. He already texted her, asking how it was going and if she had any troubles. She misses him, but she won´t tell him that of course, and how could she not, he is her twin, her other half.

The teacher walked to their group with a bucket in her hand. „Everyone, please take a slip and read off the name of your lab partner.“ Percy was the first one who grab the folded paper, he got Emma Myers. Emma was one of the group of girls they saw in the cafeteria. „Oh you are lucky, she´s cool.“ Georgie says and Hunter nods at his words.

Y/N unfolded her paper “Jenna Ortega” she says out loud and Jenna immediately looks at her with a smile. “You know each other?” Percy hissed at her. “No, not really” quickly turned away with a slight hint of red cheeks. “Switch up with me please” he went to grab the paper with the girl´s name on it. “I can’t! She already heard me, what would she think?” the girl grabbed her things and went to her new lab partner.

“Hi.. so you are my lab partner?” “Yeah,” she said smiling.

„I don´t think we introduced each other the other day.“ she was hitting on the day they both ran to each other. „No we didn´t, I´m Jenna.“ she grinned. „I´m Charlie.“ She almost forgot about her brother. Y/N felt Percy´s gaze but didn´t mind him. It´s not her fault that she got lucky to get her as a lab partner, right? It happened because of something she can´t control.

“You know ehm... the whole dissecting thing kind of freaks me out. So, think you may have to take the reins on this one.” she said slowly.

Jenna leaned into the table with her eyes still on the other girl.“Wow, no guy would ever admire that” Oh f- Y/N quickly realized her mistake. What is she even saying? “Shit, you are right” Her hands started to sweat but before the inner thoughts and anxiety could grow even more the brown-haired girl grabbed her hands. “No! It’s okay you don’t have to be embarrassed, it’s cute”

Y/N moved her eyes from their hands and looked at her. God her doe eyes, they were beautiful, so innocent and pure. She lowered her gaze at her smiling lips and then her dimples, at that action Jenna smiled even wider. “So today we are going to-“ she quickly pushed her own hands away and looked at the professor acting like she wasn’t just drooling over her classmate. This will be long.

“So how it went?” Percy asked.

“What do you mean?”

“The talk with Jenna, how it went? What were you talking about?” Y/N turned to him placing books on her table. They were in their dorm right now since their classes were over. “Nothing, just school work” Well she wasn’t lying. They were just talking. He was silent for a minute, looking out of the window.  “What are you thinking about?” the girl questioned him but his eyes were telling that his thoughts were elsewhere.

“Charlie I need you to do something for me” Well this doesn’t start well. “ Can you convince her to go out with me?” “Who?” He turned to her. 

“Jenna of course! It’s just I’ve been into her-“ yeah she had noticed “-for so long and this is like a perfect opportunity for me that she will finally say yes to me.” he sat on her bed and looked up at her. In this position, it seemed like he was giving her an ultimatum like there was no other answer than the one he wanted. And like dude, there may be a reason if she didn’t say yes to you yet. He keeps looking at her waiting for the girl's answer and to be honest, for some reason, she doesn’t really like the idea of him with Jenna together but on the other hand, she can’t just say no to him. Why is she always the one who needs to please someone's needs?

“Well, I’ll see what I can do”. Y/N nodded her head and Percy instantly got up.

“Thank you Char you are a lifesaver!” he smiled wide at her and went to his bed as she just stood there looking at the ground.

At night Y/N couldn´t sleep, she was thinking about what Percy said and she didn´t feel good about it. Because of something, it felt a little disrespectful towards Jenna, almost unfair. But she already agreed. She will just say something nice about him and see where it will go, she can´t influence Jenna´s decision after that and Percy can´t be mad at her if this doesn´t work.

She picked herself up and went to the bathroom, silently thanking God above that this wasn´t a public bathroom, and could shower without being scared that someone could see her. She doesn´t even know what she would say if someone finds out the twin´s secret. But she doesn´t want to think about that option.

A couple of days passed. The classes were good but the football practices were her favourite. Coach wants her to play in the upcoming game and she just can´t wait. Mason is her right hand and he is always supporting her, now when she doesn´t have her brother near, the boy is playing the role of her twin. Today she and Jenna have class again. They are talking a lot more. Y/N liked her, she was sweet and always smiling, she also found out that Jenna likes to listen to music and loves acting. She even recommended some of her favorite movies which Y/N didn´t see yet. They spend a lot of time together, besides being together in class, they also sometimes hang out in the cafeteria and walk together to classes, and sometimes she even sees Jenna watching her practice. Y/N doesn´t know how she found out about her being in the team but she isn´t even sure if the brown-eyed girl is sitting there every practice for her.

„What?“ Jenna was shocked „How come you have never seen that?“ they were talking about films, the movie Scream to be exact. They were sitting under the tree on some bench. Students were walking around chatting, birds were singing in the trees and the sun was shining through the holes of the leaves. Y/N was walking out of class when suddenly she saw the other girl. Jenna asked her if she wanted to grab coffee since they had some free time. So now they were sitting next to each other, talking about everything.

„I have heard about it but didn´t see that, don´t know why.“ Y/N shrugs her shoulders. Jenna only shook her head at the girl.

„That´s a mistake, it´s so cool, the actors, plot, cinematography, blood-“ she started to mumble about the movie when suddenly an amazing idea crossed her mind „we can watch it together sometime!“ she let out and looked at Y/N for an answer. She only kept her gaze on her if she heard it right. She wanted to say yes but there was something in her telling her that it would be unfair for Percy.

„Yeah sure, that would be awesome“ Y/N said smiling. Jenna shot her smile back.

„Okay, so this friday?“ she asked the other girl. Y/N looked at Jenna, she didn´t know this girl would be so fast, she thought they were just talking about the possibility, not that they were already making plans.

„Yes, I should be free.“

„Great, can you give me your phone?“ Y/N gave her phone to Jenna „Here, you better text me football player.“ she said smiling as she stood up from the bench and started to walk away. Y/N laughed softly.

„Of course.“ she whispered under her breath and kept staring at her back until she couldn´t see her anymore. She picked up her phone and looked at the new contact. Jenna xx.

It was already the end of the week Y/N was getting ready to hang out with Jenna, and she texted her about the details. They are going to watch the film in the other girl´s room since her roommate is going to a party. She walked out of the bathroom and saw Percy, she didn´t tell him about her going out. It´s not like she has to say it to him, right?

„Hey you planning to go somewhere?“ he asked.

„Uhm... yeah, some boys from the football team asked me about hanging out with them.“ she said. Y/N hated lying but what would he say if she told him she was hanging out with the girl he had a crush on? It´s not her fault that Jenna invited her, or is it?

„Oh okay, we are going to the party some students are throwing, wanted to ask you if you want to come but it´s good.“ he only smiled at her. She thanked him and he soon left the room. It was already time to go so she picked up some snacks she bought and left the dorm.

“So? Your rating?” Jenna turned to face the other girl. They just finished watching Scream and all Y/N can say, it got her. They were sitting on the small couch, snacks around them, she faced Jenna and only the light from the TV made her see her. The girl´s hair was loose on both sides of her face, she was not wearing any makeup and her bare face only made the girl’s heart skip a beat. It was refreshing seeing her like this and also Y/N felt proud because this meant that Jenna felt comfortable around her.

“It was pretty good, not bad not good.” Y/N acted unbothered.

“Oh yeah? That’s why you didn’t blink the whole movie?” she smirked at Y/N, she squinted her eyes at her “Be honest.”

“Okay! I enjoyed it so much and actually liked the plot, that’s what you wanted to hear?”

Jenna tilted her head “That’s what I thought. What can I say… I have a good taste.”

They kept silence between them, it wasn’t embarrassing or tense silence. It was comforting. They were looking at each other.

“Tell me about your family.” the brown-eyed girl said softly, holding gaze with the other girl.

“Well, I live with my parents and my twin sister” Jenna raised her eyebrows.

“You have a twin?” Y/N nodded at her question.

“What is she like?”

“Well…“ she didn’t know what to say, it felt weird talking about herself as if she was talking about someone else “She is cool, likes to keep things to herself most of the time, likes reading and writing poems…”

“She sounds interesting, you could introduce us to each other sometime.” she smirked at her.

“Yeah, I think she would like you”

“You think?” Jenna straightened her back “I’m amazing! Of course, she will!”

Y/N throws her head back with a laugh.

“How can you be so sure that you will meet her?”

“Oh believe me” Jenna smiled at Y/N “I know.”

Y/N felt the vibe of the room change. When she was with Jenna she almost forgot about everything and everybody, her brother, her parents, school, her and Percy´s deal, her impersonating her twin…

But only almost.

next chapter

[mikimakiboo]

Time Travelers AU - Spin-off

Fireworks

Not a chapter, but still a little something ! Which means @ancha-aus the tagging is back :D

To celebrate National Day I just had to do something with my little Frenchie lol

This little story is set in the future, when the adventure is done and they all acquired their time traveling rings ! (Which turn out can also take them to different places)

AO3 link

Will probably contain minor spoilers, nothing big tho so no worries

Happy 14th of July 🎉

It was almost night, the sun was setting on the lake, wrapping everything in a soft light. The surroundings were rather calm, a few people were there with their kids, chatting, waiting, throwing pebbles in the water.

Nightmare was looking down, careful not to trip on the grass with his heels. Dust had appeared in his time, saying that he had something to show him related to his country, France's National Day he said, that apparently appeared long after Nightmare's time. Nightmare followed, rather curious about what they could possibly be celebrating and how. They had stopped at Dust's house before going so that the noble could change clothes to blend in easier, something comfy but still stylish: soft grayish pants, a black turtle neck sweater, a long coat going to his knees, and a pair of heels, as he was used to wearing this type of shoes and quite liked the extra height it gave him. Cross was supposed to come too, but he had promised Killer he would teach him more swordfighting techniques, so Dust and him agreed to go another time, and since it was an annual event Dust could chose a date to travel back to and take Cross with him anytime.

- Before it starts, Dust began, it's gonna make quite a lot of noise so if it gets too much you tell me, I brought some noise-canceling headphones, he gestured to his bag.

Nightmare turned his gaze towards his boyfriend, they all learned a bit of English, enough to have small conversations or add some words understood by everyone when they talked in their native language. It was still nice hearing the different dialects though, especially for Dust.

- I will survive, Nightmare answered.

Dust smiled, he would never get bored of hearing their accent when they spoke his language, they had tried working on their pronunciation, but Dust had practically begged them not to, very shyly admitting he found those accents very endearing.

- I sure hope you will, he chuckled, try not to panic when it goes boom then.

Nightmare rolled his eye, though a faint smile appeared on his face.

- Dust, mon cher, I am not going pan-EEHH ?! He shrieked, grabbing Dust's arm for dear life, for a petard exploded next to him.

The kid responsible of the assault cheered at the noise, before rushing elsewhere to make some more noise. Nightmare glared at them as they went, then looked up at Dust who was very much trying to hold a laugh in. His face flushed with a teal color when he noticed he was clasped against him, and he quickly let his boyfriend go, embarrassed by his own reaction.

- ... Pardon...

Dust pat his shoulder with a chuckle.

- Come, it should be calmer over there, he lead him towards a bench, farther from people.

Nightmare followed, glad to distance himself from the group, and sat with Dust as night started to settle properly.

- It should start in a few minutes, when it's dark enough, Dust informed.

- What are they.. célébrer ? The noble asked.

- Celebrating ? Dust corrected, it's the day people took the Bastille, in 1789.

Nightmare frowned, quite confused as to why such an event would become a National Day.

- They took la Bastille ? Why ?

Dust straightened on the bench, ready to give a little class.

- There has been a revolution, he began, because, to put it very simply, the people were very poor, très pauvre, and they were mad that the nobles and clergy had a lot of privileges while they had to pay a lot of taxes, impôts I think it's called ? So they rebelled against the system and the Bastille was like THE symbol of the royal power, and it had weapons. Des armes.

Nightmare slowly nodded as he listened, he was aware the nobility had privileges, as well as the clergy, but to think it led to a complete revolution ? Things must have gotten really bad...

- Did they have what they wanted ? At the end ?

Dust winced, glancing to the side.

- Not really, well, they did for a moment, but other things happened and they ended up killing the king and queen. And many nobles. And later other people but that is another thing. They just cut their head off on the public square.

Nightmare felt a shiver run along his spine as he reflexively brought his hand to his neck. Imagining people's head being cut off in front of a public was... an unsettling thought. He was glad it wouldn't happen during his time, because himself being killed, he could handle the thought, after all he was familiar with near-death experiences with his childhood, but imagining his brother's head falling ? His dear brother being murdered for people's untertainment ? He couldn't bare that thought...

- But... what they celebrate today, it is more the end of a strict regime than killing people, he tried to reassure, seeing his boyfriend's troubled expression.

Nightmare looked back at him, his gaze having drifted away for a moment.

- Nobody will cut your pretty head, he smiled.

Nightmare felt his cheeks warming up, but still he sighed dramatically.

- Pourtant, hélas, my knight is not here to protect me.. !

Dust playfully answered with a bump on his shoulder.

- Hey I can protect you too ! He smiled.

Nightmare couldn't help but snort, amused too. He sure had changed a lot since they first met, and it felt nice to be himself without all those layers.

- Évidemment, je ne doute point- he got cut by a whistling noise followed by a loud bang.

He sharply turned his head towards the lake, and saw strange colorful lights in the sky, in the shapes of what he could only describe as snakes. Another whistling noise, more bangs, and more colors erupted, lighting the night sky in a wonderful painting. He had never seen anything like this before.

- What is it ? He asked, not diverting his gaze from the spectacle.

- Fireworks, or feux d'artifice in French... Dust answered, his own gaze fixated on the amazed face of his partner, beautiful.. isn't it ? He smiled dreamily.

- Yes... Nightmare slowly nodded.

He had seen so much wonderful paintings in his life, so much sculptures and murals and all sort of luxurious art his rank gave him access to, and yet if he had to pick the most beautiful piece, he would have chosen this precise moment with the sky lit up by all those colors...

Maybe this was worth cutting some nobles' heads off, just for this moment with his boyfriend next to him, looking at the illuminations... he never really liked them anyway.

[missblissy]

Domestic Astarion x Reader HCs

A/N: UwU just wanted to add to the married life headcanons after the events of the game. Fluffy good stuff below. GN!Tav, no class/race. Enjoy!

Some days always started better than others. But that’s only to say because someone didn’t need as much sleep as you, and had a life time left to learn new skills. One of them being cooking. Sure Astarion can’t taste and it’s a useless skill to him. But you? He would do anything for you. And that includes learning to cook for the sheer simple act of spoiling you with a warm and home made breakfast in bed.

It’s strange to say you two never had a wedding. That’s not to say you two weren’t married. “Oh…?” Astarion isn’t sure how to explain this when someone asks, “Well, you see, my darling little love here found this-” He holds up his hand and wiggles the ring in his finger, “On a rotting old skeleton then found the matching one, get this, on another smelly corpse!” Most people wouldn’t look fondly on something like that. But no, Astarion wasn’t most people. He’d smile and swoon, “And I suppose since then we’ve been married,”

It doesn’t help that back then when you did find those rings, you quite literally told him, “We’re married now,” As a joke. It wasn’t joke….

Astarion has a habit of leaving you poems to find in the most hidden of places. Like little lost treasures. Or maybe he just knows the looting demon you are at heart with your little grabby fingers going for anything they can touch. So it always comes to a surprise to you when you open a book and a poem written years ago flutters out… but the love and truth still rings pure despite the yellowing of the pages.

Crimson sons, vermillion daughters. Quivering maroon, burgundy, cardinal. Short fainting strokes Fester a broken carotid Free from feathers Unbound By the serpent's head no more.

His way of saying thank you for everything you've ever given him. And then some. No matter the message you cherished each treasured poem you would find.

The man had a knack for spoiling you, unconditionally, and most importantly, endlessly. If you saw something out in a shop that caught you eye, but you were just to stubborn to get it for yourself. Surprise, surprise when you get home and find it there with a man beaming proud like a puppy with his bone.

But that didn’t mean affection was off the table either. Astarion spoiled you with kisses, big ones, little ones, some on the back of your hand as he opened a door for you. Others on your cheek, gently but with sorrow as he left for some few weeks for whatever reason. He had his own things to do and sometimes you couldn’t go with him. But that just meant when he got home you could throw your arms around him, breathe him in and share the long awaited kiss of his return.

Married life strangely suited you both, from the little grabbing of hands under tables, the protective placement of an arm, the look of pride when the other did something extraordinary. And Astarion would always be the more boastful in pride when it came to talking about you.

And he couldn’t help but show off, sure he’s loud and arrogant about it. Saying he was best option of course, no one else stood a chance… blah blah blah. But when no one was around he can look you in the eye and practically grovel, “I am so lucky you chose me,”

There were many other things that came with the long life of being married together. The two of you were quite dedicated to learning to… dance. Astarion hadn’t a clue wether his left foot was right, and you may have been no better. It was your idea really. You heart would swoon watching other couples and with an eager voice you pointed a finger and declared, “I want to do that too!”

And so you did, but behind the close doors of your own home. Seeing as Astarion didn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of so many people. Where you both could trip and side step and laugh, giggle and make the most out of learning something new together.

It seemed the two of you had a habit of learning things together. From silly little drawings, to paintings, perhaps an instrument or two. You both always found a way to share your hobbies and passions together.

And it was the mornings, where these happened most often. Naturally Astarion couldn’t be in the sun but that didn’t stop him from enjoying what little light he could. You’d find him in the dusty dusk right before the sun actually broke the horizon.

He had been teaching himself to play the piano, so to wake up in the morning and not hear the soft echos of keys down the halls would be a bad sign. It’d be another bad sign if you didn’t sit down beside him, stroking the keys as the two of you played a song that was always in the process of being made and never done.

Surely soon he’d go off to sleep, sharing kisses and affection. You wouldn’t see him again until the evening, when the sun was starting it decent. Day-phobia was real in vampires no matter how much they loved the sun and he didn’t have a worm anymore to help him fight that. But he managed, enjoying every sun rise and sun set he got to see just as the world of night came and went.

Despite staying up all night sometimes just to be beside him, it was fairly often that Astarion would have to nag you to go to sleep. You’d barely have even one eye open, drifting back and forth between dreams and you’d still tell him, “I’m not tired, I’m just resting my eyes,” All because he was up late in kitchen and you didn’t want to leave his side.

He often compromises though, making deals and barters, “If I go upstairs with you, will you go to sleep?”

“…” Surely you aren’t going to say no? “Will you be the big spoon?”

“Of course,” How could he say no to a face like yours? And such a sleepy one too?

He didn’t mind, not really. Some nights he’d stay in bed with you until the morning. Even though nothing would get done, or things he had planned were set aside, he wouldn’t sleep either, he truly really didn’t mind. He could lay there for eternity holding you close and be at peace.

[flamingpudding]

I am keeping him B

A/N: Stress late night writing, while I am supposed to sleep cause I still got work tomorrow but screw my life...

It all started with the disappearance of Box Ghost, followed by Spectra. Back then, Danny didn't realize what was happening, and he still blamed himself for that. What a fine bridge of balance he was....

The next to disappear had been Elli and Danny had mobilize whatever he could to organize a search party when he lost contact. After Elli, Ember was next. Maybe by then Danny should be realized.

Dan was the next in line of disappearances. Vlad was the one making Danny aware of it. Everything Danny had mobilized in his search for Elli was extended to find Dan now, too.

Shortly after Dan, Vlad also disappeared from the face of earth. If he hadn't already be worried Danny would have been now. His events tripled, sleepless nights followed, days in which Jazz practically had to force him to sleep.

One by one all the Ghosts Danny knew disappeared. Maybe he would have realized it sooner if he had paid more attention to certain things, to the news to politics, to anything really. Maybe then Danny would be noticed the appearance of Dalv.Co and his parents invention on the black market. The sudden spike in Meta traficing following or the sudden interest in Ecto-entities.

But he hadn't...

...and that probably what was what costed him too.

Because, one day, he woke up in a dark cell, still in his Phantom transformation but with a collar around his neck. It zapped him any time he touched it or tried to let go of his ghost form. It was like a reverse of the stupid taser Vlad had. There were no mirrors or anything he could use to see himself with, but he had a feeling that collar used Fenton tech. He also realized that he was in a more eldrich kind of transformation. His hands that usually were in white gloves when in phantom form were clawed and inky black with sparks that reminded Danny of the night sky's above Amity Park. He couldn't tell if he looked anything like himself or not, but judging by his hands, probably not.

That day, when Danny woke up in that cell, he realized the reason behind the disappearances of his family and ghost rogues. Just like there was a spike in Meta trafficking, the growing interest had also developed into Ecto-Entity trafficking and worse was, they weren't even protected by law. The Anti-Ecto Acts are making it not even a real or all too big of a crime.

Months passed, and Danny learned to shut his mouth and emotions out. He thought he was even in a state disassociation, Jazz would have been proud of him for his self diagnosis, maybe. With the passing days, Danny stopped remembering who owned him and who he was forced to fight. Sometimes, his eyes came to live when he met one of his old friends in the battle rings. Tho their fights were no longer a form or bonding, it still felt nice to sometimes feel the heat of Ember's flames, the sting of Skulkers blasters or even see a box get thrown at him.

Of course, he had tried to escape or save at least one of the others before, but whoever modified his parents' inventions knew what they were doing. All his attempts were met with failure.

But then the day everything changed came. Danny didn't know how long it had been, all he knew was that a stupid clown was his current holder. The guy spouted some nonsense or wanting to see how a bat, of all animals held himself against one of the strongest ecto-entiies. Danny really wanted to refuse, yell at that fruitloop of a clown and be done with the World.

But what he didn't expect to happen that day was the shock of electricity, the ricochet of a bullet, the crack of metal... and the collar falling of his neck.

Suddenly, Danny no longer felt like he was trapped in his own body, like he was just an onlooker, but at the same time, he had never felt this tired before. He stumbled forward his body losing whatever momentum he had before. It was a single arm that saved him from faceplanting.

"Fuck! That thing was actually a kid!"

"What?!"

"I am going to fucking murder the clown."

Danny blinked slowly as he felt his awareness sliding from him, yet he still couldn't help muttering at least something before the world would go dark. "Get in line, I really hate clowns, and he is the nightmare realm fodder."

Danny felt the arm holding him shaking, and he really wanted to close his eyes and sleep, but right before he did, in fact, black out from pure exhaustion, he heard one last thing. "I don't give a fuck, B. I like this kid so I am keeping him."

[missmaymay13]

family is when i'm with you - m.boldy

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

dad!m.boldy x fem!oc | 10k

summary: matt and alea were still new to their relationship, and out of nowhere, they are thrown into a whole new world of chaos as they find out they are pregnant. having to navigate this new reality, they have to learn to lean on each other and the people around them to make it through.

author's note: i did use the same names for my oc's in this story as my other m.boldy fic 'everything after the whistle' but they are not related! hope you all enjoy!

masterlist

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

The world goes quiet.

Alea sits frozen on the closed toilet lid, the pregnancy test clutched in her trembling hand. One line becomes two. Pink. Bold. Certain.

It feels like the air is sucked out of the tiny dorm bathroom. Her heartbeat echoes louder than anything else—faster, harder—as if her body's trying to catch up to what her mind already knows.

Pregnant.

The word flashes like a warning sign in her brain. Over and over.

She doesn't cry. Not yet. She just stares, her mouth parted, chest rising and falling in shallow, panicked breaths. Her soccer bag is still slung over one shoulder, cleats muddy from practice. Her hair's pulled back into a tight braid, sweat still clinging to her skin.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Not now. Not like this.

She drops the test onto the counter like it burned her and presses her fists into her eyes. Maybe if she squeezes hard enough, she'll wake up in her bed and it'll all have been a nightmare. A stress dream from midterms or overtraining or just... life.

But she doesn't wake up.

And the test is still there. Real and blinding.

Matt.

The thought of him sends a fresh wave of nausea through her—not from fear of him, but of disappointing him. What if this ruins everything? He's got hockey. A future. A life planned out.

They've only been together for six months. She still blushes when he kisses her forehead. Still gets butterflies when he calls her "Al."

How is she supposed to tell him this?

Her fingers dig into her knees as she tries to breathe. In. Out. In. Out. She's not ready. She's barely holding her own life together, juggling classes, practices, late nights, and a scholarship that might slip through her fingers if this is real—when this is real.

And it is. So real.

Her voice breaks as she whispers to no one, "What the hell am I going to do?"

The days that followed felt like she was walking underwater.

Alea couldn't look Matt in the eye. Every time she saw him across the quad or in the dining hall, her stomach twisted. His texts went unread. His calls unanswered. She skipped post-practice hangs, faked headaches, lied about study groups. She even bailed on their Tuesday night ice cream run—something they'd never missed.

Matt noticed. Of course he did.

And it was killing him.

He replayed every conversation they'd had, wondering if he said something wrong. Did he forget a date? Cross a line? Did she stop liking him and just didn't know how to end it?

By Friday night, he couldn't take it anymore.

She was walking out of the athletic center, head down, hoodie up, trying to slip past him when he stepped right in her path.

"Alea." His voice was soft but steady. Hurt laced beneath it. "What's going on with you?"

She froze. Her heart thundered.

"I—I can't do this right now," she said quickly, trying to push past him.

But he didn't move. His brows were drawn, eyes searching hers. "Did I do something?" he asked, quieter this time. "Because if I did, just tell me. I'll fix it. I swear."

Her bottom lip quivered. "No. God, Matt, it's not you."

"Then what is it?" His voice cracked. "You've been avoiding me like I'm a stranger. I miss you, Al."

Her eyes filled instantly. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to hold it in, but her chest heaved, and then it all came crashing out.

"I'm pregnant."

The words were barely audible, cracked and raw. A whisper. A confession.

Matt blinked. "Wait... what?"

She looked up, finally meeting his eyes. "I'm pregnant."

And just like that, the world shifted.

Matt stood still for a long moment, silent, as if trying to catch up to what she'd just said. His mouth opened, then closed. "Are... are you keeping it?"

Alea's throat burned. She nodded slowly, cautiously, bracing for him to walk away, to freak out, to do anything but what he did next.

He stepped forward and wrapped her in the tightest hug she'd ever felt, like he was holding onto her for dear life.

Her breath hitched against his shoulder. "You're not mad?"

"Mad?" he said, pulling back just enough to see her face. His eyes were glassy. "Alea, I've always wanted to be a dad. I dreamed about it. I just didn't know it would happen this soon."

She let out a choked laugh, equal parts relief and disbelief.

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled softly. "We're gonna figure this out. Okay? You're not alone in this."

She nodded, heart pounding in her chest.

He leaned down, pressed his forehead to hers, and whispered, "And our baby's gonna be the best BC super athlete ever. Fast and a sniper."

And then—his voice a little shaky, but full of truth—he added, "I love you, Alea. And I'm gonna love our baby just as much as I love you."

Matt kept his promise.

Alea never had to go to a single doctor's appointment alone. Even when he was slammed with practices or midterms, he found a way to be there—walking in breathless, hair still wet from a post-practice shower, holding her hand the entire time like it was second nature.

Their friends stepped up too. Their tight-knit group that once bonded over parties and game nights was now splitting baby books and researching prenatal vitamins. Alea cried the first time she walked into her dorm room to find a tiny stack of baby clothes on her bed with a note that read "One day at a time. We've got you."

But nothing could have prepared them for the moment they heard the words:

"You're having twins."

Alea blinked at the ultrasound screen, then at the doctor. "I'm sorry... did you just say twins?"

Matt's eyes were wide as he leaned forward. "As in... two?"

The doctor smiled warmly. "Two strong heartbeats. Congratulations."

The room spun for a second—excitement, shock, fear all crashing in at once. Alea's hand found Matt's instinctively, and when she looked over at him, she saw the exact same expression she wore: pure awe mixed with holy-shit panic.

They didn't say much after that.

In the car, they just sat there in silence. The engine off. Clinic parking lot bathed in late afternoon sun. The ultrasound photos resting face down on the dashboard, almost too real to look at.

Matt stared out the windshield, jaw tense. Alea picked at the sleeve of her hoodie, heart thudding.

Two.

They were having two babies.

And then, like magnets, their hands reached across the console at the same time. Fingers laced together tightly.

No words. Just touch. Just comfort.

It was overwhelming—this unexpected future unfolding in front of them. But they had each other. That much they were sure of.

And when Matt couldn't be there—when away games pulled him across the country or team workouts clashed with Alea's appointments—he made sure she never felt alone.

Sometimes it was Spencer Knight, his roommate, waiting outside her class with her favorite smoothie and a playlist of chill music ready for the walk. Other times, it was one of the rookies, awkwardly carrying her books while trying to keep up with her fast stride and baby bump.

And once, after a particularly rough day of nausea and classes, Alea opened her dorm door to find a giant stuffed bear, a bouquet of wildflowers, and a handwritten note from Matt:

"Even when I'm not there, I've got you. Always."

⸻

Sure enough, Alea's bump grew bigger with every passing week. What started as a little secret between her and Matt soon became impossible to hide under her baggy team hoodies and warm-up gear. Her teammates rallied around her, but the moment she told her coach she was stepping away for the rest of the season, her heart cracked a little.

Soccer had always been her constant—her anchor since childhood. Walking away from it, even temporarily, felt like she was losing a piece of herself.

Matt held her through the tears that night. Said all the right things without trying too hard. He didn't promise it would be easy, just promised he'd be there.

And he was. Always.

He came to home games when he could, sitting beside her in the bleachers with his arm tucked protectively around her shoulders. They still teased and chirped the refs, still screamed when her best friend scored a goal. But it wasn't the same.

Nothing was. And yet, everything somehow felt right.

⸻

The decision to move out of the dorms came not long after that. It just didn't make sense anymore. The tiny beds, the shared bathrooms, the midnight fire alarms—how could they raise one baby in that chaos, let alone two?

With the help of both their families, they found it—a slightly crooked, slightly musty, slightly-too-small bungalow fifteen minutes off campus. The floors creaked. The walls had handprints in the paint from past tenants. There was a weird stain on the ceiling Matt kept pretending wasn't there.

But it was perfect.

Soon, the place filled with mismatched furniture—an old loveseat from Matt's aunt, a secondhand crib from Alea's cousin, a table with only three matching chairs courtesy of their coach's neighbor. The living room smelled like cinnamon candles and takeout, and their kitchen cabinet somehow held seven different brands of mugs from people who didn't know what else to gift new, terrified parents.

To anyone else, it might've looked like a mess. To them, it was paradise.

⸻

It was weird, at first. They hadn't even hit their one-year anniversary and were suddenly learning how to split bills, buy groceries, and fold tiny onesies.

But they made it work.

Every morning followed a quiet rhythm: Matt would sneak out of bed for his early morning lift, pressing a soft kiss to Alea's forehead before slipping into a hoodie and sliding out the door.

By the time he got back, she'd be in the kitchen—barefoot, bump peeking out from under one of his sweatshirts, flipping eggs and handing him a protein shake.

He'd eat. She'd grab her backpack and dash out the door to make it to her 8am lecture, usually with Spencer or some poor rookie trailing behind her like an assigned bodyguard-slash-backpack-mule.

At lunch, they'd find each other. A bench under the old oak tree behind the science building. The floor of Matt's locker room. The campus café. It didn't matter where, as long as it was together.

On days Matt had practice, Alea would head to the library with her laptop and highlighters, waiting until his skates hit the ice for the last time that day. Then they'd walk home together, her hand tucked into his hoodie pocket, the world blurring around them like it didn't exist.

And on Matt's recovery days, they'd spend hours studying side by side—sometimes in their living room, other times on beanbags in someone's dorm, or surrounded by their friend group, textbooks scattered and laughter echoing between bites of snacks and shared inside jokes.

They were building something. Not just a home, not just a routine. But a life. A messy, beautiful, wildly unexpected life.

And somehow, even with all the unknowns ahead of them—they'd never felt more sure of anything.

⸻

They had tasked Spencer and Jenna with throwing a small baby shower/ gender reveal party.

So when Alea and Matt showed up to the team house neither of them expected streamers. Or balloons. Or a half-deflated "BABY BOLDYS" banner strung across the living room ceiling with what looked like hockey tape.

Jenna popped out from behind the couch, holding a glittery plastic tiara in one hand and a "#1 DAD" foam finger in the other. "SURPRISE!"

Alea blinked. "What is this?"

Spencer Knight—carrying a tray of slightly burnt cupcakes—grinned. "We couldn't let you two go through this without a proper party."

Matt looked around in awe. There were tables with pink and blue snacks, a baby name suggestion board already filled with ridiculous entries like "Baby Beckham" and Spencers personal favourite "Spencer Knight" and someone had rigged a diaper-changing race station using actual hockey gloves.

"You guys..." Alea murmured, tears already stinging her eyes.

"This is insane," Matt said, laughing as he pulled Alea to his side, both of them totally overwhelmed.

The entire hockey team was there, already placing bets on whether it was boys or girls, while the soccer girls made sure the vibe stayed Pinterest-worthy and not total chaos. Coaches had shown up too, awkwardly holding baby-themed gift bags and asking if onesies needed to be washed before being worn.

And of course, their families—Alea's aunts and uncles, Matt's parents and siblings—all filled in the space like it had always been theirs.

The backyard was decorated with tissue-paper pom poms and two big balloons: one blue, one pink. A homemade banner strung above them read: "He or She? Let's See x2!"

Spencer and Jenna took their jobs very seriously as the designated gender reveal duo.

"Okay," Jenna called out, standing on a lawn chair with a megaphone she clearly did not need. "Everyone, grab a snack, grab a drink, and gather around! It's time!"

Matt stood behind Alea, his hands gently resting on the sides of her belly, eyes locked on the balloons.

"You ready?" he whispered.

She nodded, cheeks flushed. "Kinda want to throw up."

"Same."

Jenna counted down. "Three... two... ONE!"

They popped the balloons.

Blue confetti exploded into the air—twice.

The cheers were instant and deafening.

A couple of the hockey guys threw their fists in the air, already claiming dibs on skating lessons. Spencer tackled Matt in a hug, and Alea was swarmed by the girls on her team, all laughing and crying and squealing.

"Twin boys!" Matt shouted, pulling Alea into his arms, spinning her once before grounding her back to earth with a kiss to her temple. "Two baby boys, Al!"

Alea looked up at him, eyes watery but glowing. "We're gonna have two little Boldys."

He smiled, pure and soft. "God help the world."

⸻

By the time Alea hit the third trimester, she was tired. Like, could fall asleep standing up in the dining hall tired.

But Matt?

Matt was a man on a mission.

While most expectant parents used the last few weeks before birth to rest, maybe catch up on Netflix, Matt Boldy had entered what could only be described as a full-blown nesting phase.

Alea waddled through the front door one evening after a long lecture, kicking off her shoes with a sigh. She was looking forward to her usual routine—feet up, ice cream in hand, and a quiet night on the couch. But the second she stepped inside, she heard it: the unmistakable sound of furniture being aggressively assembled.

"Matt?" she called, carefully rounding the corner into what used to be their dining room.

It was now a war zone of cardboard boxes, foam peanuts, open instruction manuals, and baby gear in various states of "almost there." In the middle of it all was Matt, wearing a backwards hat, a slightly panicked look on his face, and gripping a power drill like it was an extension of his arm.

Next to him sat a very confused freshman defenseman who Alea was pretty sure had only come over for leftover pizza.

"I swear this changing table looked way easier online," Matt muttered, glaring down at the manual. "Why are there twelve screws left over? There shouldn't be twelve screws left over."

Alea leaned against the doorframe, smiling softly as she took it all in. This wasn't the first time she'd come home to this sight. Over the past two weeks, Matt had turned their little bungalow into baby prep central.

She'd come home to a fully sorted closet with color-coded onesies.

A freshly built double stroller sitting in the hallway.

A giant wall decal that read "Future All-Stars Live Here" that Matt insisted was "inspirational, not tacky."

And every time, there was Matt—sweaty, determined, and usually yelling something about the instructions getting something wrong.

Spoiler. It never did.

Matt got it wrong. And Alea would have to go back and fix it in secret while Matt was sleeping.

"Babe," Alea said gently, walking over and ducking under his arm, "you know we still have a few weeks, right?"

Matt didn't even pause. "Exactly. Which means I'm already behind."

The rookie handed him a pacifier. "I don't think this goes with the crib."

Matt sighed. "I'm just... I want it to be perfect. For them. For you."

Alea felt the tears prick her eyes before she could stop them. Damn hormones.

She placed a hand on his chest and looked up at him. "It already is perfect. You're perfect."

He leaned down and kissed her—quick, sweet, but full of emotion. "Just wait until you see the baby swing I got on clearance. It plays lullabies and has Bluetooth."

Alea laughed. "Boldy, if you buy one more piece of baby furniture, we're gonna have to sleep in the driveway."

He grinned, already reaching for the next box.

⸻

It started like any normal Friday night at the team house.

Alea was curled up on the couch in the middle of a heated Mario Kart tournament between the boys. She had a bowl of popcorn balanced on her belly, legs stretched out on Spencer's lap while half the team hovered around the TV, shouting and accusing each other of cheating.

She'd been feeling off all day—crampy, a little nauseous—but chalked it up to being nine months pregnant with twins. Every movement felt like a full-body event lately.

Then, mid-popcorn bite, she felt it.

Pop.

And then... warm. Too warm.

She blinked. Looked down. Then up.

"Uhh... guys?"

Spencer turned, already grinning like an idiot. "You finally beat Matt's record?"

"No," she said calmly. Too calmly. "My water just broke."

The room went silent.

And then—pandemonium.

Matt nearly flipped the coffee table trying to get to her. "What?! Now?!"

One of the rookies ran in a circle and yelled, "Towels! We need towels!" like someone was about to deliver the twins on the living room rug.

Another kid—probably a freshman—started filling water glasses and shoving them at Alea like they were at some weird spa.

"WHY IS EVERYONE YELLING?" someone else screamed.

Matt, though prepared for this moment for months, was clearly malfunctioning. "Okay, okay, okay, we have the bag! Where's the bag?!"

Spencer, bless him, held up the overnight hospital bag like it was the goddamn Holy Grail. "Got it. Let's go. Car's out front."

Matt grabbed Alea's hand and led her out like they were walking into battle. Spencer slid into the driver's seat, throwing on his hazards while Matt climbed in the back with Alea, gripping her hand like he was the one about to give birth.

Everything felt real now. Too real. And suddenly Alea—quiet and focused—was way too quiet.

Matt's heart started pounding. "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you okay? Are the babies okay? ALEA, SAY SOMETHING!"

Alea turned her head toward him, face twisted in pain as another contraction rolled through her. Then, in the calmest rage-filled tone imaginable, she hissed:

"Matt. Take a long, deep breath... and respectfully shut the fuck up and let me focus on the two babies you decided to put in me."

Spencer let out a snort from the front seat. Matt went pale.

"Right. Sorry. Shutting up."

By the time they made it to the hospital, both families were already on their way, thanks to Spencer's panic texting and the hockey group chat that was currently blowing up.

The labor was long. And loud. And dramatic—according to Matt.

He paced the room. Ate all the ice chips. Got lightheaded twice. At one point, Alea threatened to kick him out if he asked the nurse one more time how much longer it would be.

"She's a warrior," he told her aunts at some point, half passed out on the couch. "I think I'm dying."

Alea, meanwhile? Cool as ever. Calm. Focused. Fierce.

And at 8:47 PM, after a final push and a whole lot of yelling from Matt that absolutely no one asked for—

Two healthy, screaming, perfect baby boys entered the world.

Wyatt and Kalen Boldy.

Tiny fists. Matching dimples. And two sets of lungs strong enough to rival their father's goal celebrations.

Matt cried the second he held them.

Alea did too—but mostly at the sight of Matt, holding their sons like the world had just stopped spinning for a second. Like everything that came before was leading to this.

Their new beginning.

⸻

The twins had only been home for a few weeks, but the bungalow already looked like a baby supply store had exploded inside it.

There were burp cloths in the couch cushions, bottles on every flat surface, and at least one baby sock had somehow ended up in the fridge. Matt was surviving on four hours of sleep and pure adrenaline. Alea was somehow functioning on even less and still managing to ace her midterms.

But the real surprise?

Matt was nesting. Still.

He hadn't stopped building things since the day they moved in, and now that the babies were actually here, it had only intensified. Changing tables, bouncers, play gyms—if it needed assembling, Matt was sweating over it. And usually, some poor rookie was sweating beside him, roped into helping with the promise of leftover mac and cheese and "character building."

One Tuesday night, Alea walked into the nursery to find Matt kneeling in front of the changing table with Kalen laid out in front of him like a tiny ticking time bomb.

"Okay, tabs go in the back... or is it the front?" he muttered, eyebrows knit together as he studied the diaper like it was an IKEA manual written in ancient Greek. Kalen, for his part, was happily kicking, offering zero help.

Alea leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You've been at this for ten minutes. He's going to need a new diaper by the time you figure that one out."

Matt didn't look up. "He keeps kicking me in the sternum. I think he knows I'm weak."

She laughed as Wyatt cooed from his bassinet nearby. "Do you want me to—"

"No! I've got it." Matt looked up, determined. "I'm the dad. I can handle a diaper."

Thirty seconds later, he had it on backwards.

And Kalen peed directly on his shirt.

"Cool," Matt said flatly, holding the baby out at arm's length while Alea nearly collapsed with laughter. "Super cool."

The next morning, Alea found Matt standing in the kitchen, spoon in hand, half a pouch of baby puree already gone.

"Is that... the babies' food?"

Matt blinked. "It's apples and spinach. It tastes like applesauce. With a hint of guilt."

She stared at him.

"Please don't tell the guys."

"Oh, I'm telling everyone."

A few days later, Alea was desperate for a shower. The babies had been fussy all morning, Matt was at practice, and her hair hadn't been washed in... well, she'd lost track. So, she called in the troops.

Spencer, Jenna, and two rookies showed up with coffee and nervous energy, all claiming they were "ready for babysitting duty."

She left them with strict instructions, promised to be back in twenty minutes, and slipped into the bathroom.

Twelve minutes in, chaos erupted.

One baby had peed on Spencer.

The other was chewing on a pacifier still in the wrapper.

Jenna was trying to explain that babies couldn't drink Gatorade while one rookie Googled "how to swaddle a baby like a burrito."

The second Alea stepped out, towel around her shoulders, she was greeted with absolute mayhem.

Spencer looked up at her, wide-eyed, cradling Wyatt like he was holding a ticking bomb. "He pooped on my hoodie, Al. My team-issued hoodie."

Alea took one look at the scene—Jenna documenting the madness with her phone, one rookie singing a lullaby that was 100% a slowed-down Drake song—and just started laughing.

⸻

Jenna and Spencer had become the official documentarians of the newborn chaos. Alea would wake up to photos on her phone: Matt asleep on the couch, both babies sprawled across his chest. A blurry one of Alea in sweats feeding Kalen while writing a paper. A perfectly framed shot of the entire hockey team crammed into the nursery trying to hang mobiles—crookedly.

One day, Jenna handed her a little envelope. "For you," she said. "From us."

Inside were printed photos on thick, glossy paper. Their village. Their chaos. Their love.

At 2:41 a.m. on a particularly rough night, Alea sent a text to the team group chat:

"Anyone awake and want to do a bottle run? We're out. Matt's afraid to leave me alone with the babies."

Four hockey players showed up ten minutes later with every kind of formula on the market—and a box of donuts.

"Why donuts?" Alea asked, bleary-eyed but touched.

Spencer just shrugged. "For morale."

They weren't perfect. The boys were overgrown babies themselves half the time. There were spills and tears and way too many wipes wasted on stuffed animals. But the love was loud and constant.

Matt would still forget how to fasten the car seat sometimes. Alea would still catch him sneaking sips of pureed pears. But together, with their wild little village of hockey players, soccer girls, best friends, and sleepy 2 a.m. donut deliveries... they were doing it.

They were raising two beautiful baby boys with every ounce of love they had.

And somehow, that was more than enough.

⸻

March 2021

The call came on a Tuesday. Matt had just rocked Kalen to sleep and was halfway through folding tiny laundry when his phone buzzed. Minnesota. He stared at the screen for a second, heart hammering, before answering.

They wanted him in Iowa this summer. The farm team. The step before the dream.

When he hung up, he didn't smile right away. Instead, he just sat there, a onesie still in his hands, heart full and heavy.

Alea was in the kitchen, Wyatt balanced on her hip, sipping from a too-cold coffee while scrolling through course schedules. She looked up when Matt came in.

"I got the call," he said softly.

She stilled. "Minnesota?"

He nodded. "Iowa. They want me."

Her breath caught just slightly, but she didn't blink. Didn't cry. Just nodded, slow and steady.

Matt stepped closer. "Come with me," he said gently. "Bring the boys. We'll figure it out."

Alea offered a tired, understanding smile—the kind that says I love you, even if it's not said out loud.

"I can't, Matty. Not yet."

Her voice was calm, but full of something deeper.

"I want to finish what I started here. Soccer. School. My degree. My dream didn't disappear when I got pregnant—it just hit pause."

He nodded. He understood. Because that fire in her had been part of what drew him to her in the first place. And if there was anyone who deserved to chase her dreams, it was Alea.

And she knew him too. Knew how hard he'd worked for this moment. Knew what playing pro meant to him—what they used to whisper about in bed late at night before the twins were even a thought.

So they made a choice. Together.

They wouldn't break up. They'd just pause.

Put each other on a quiet shelf and trust that when life calmed down—when the babies were older and the timing felt right—they'd return to that shelf and pick up right where they left off.

They co-parented. FaceTimed every night. Shared schedules and swapped stories about teething and sleep regressions.

And when Matt visited Boston, he slept on Alea's couch—or in her bed when the boys were fussy. They didn't kiss. Didn't cross any lines. But they were still them. Her hand brushing his on the way to the fridge. His head resting on her shoulder when he rocked one twin to sleep.

It was soft. Intimate. A love still present, just waiting.

⸻

Alea returned to the BC roster with fire in her step. Balancing twins, school, and soccer, she pushed through every practice and every doubt—becoming ACC Player of the Year in her comeback season. She started taking classes toward her sports psych degree and still made time for every giggle, every first word, every sleepy snuggle.

Matt thrived with the Iowa Wild. He poured everything into the ice, missing his boys with every mile between them, but knowing every goal, every shift, was building toward something bigger.

Then, in January 2022, it happened.

The call. The one he'd dreamed of since he was a kid.

Minnesota was calling him up.

⸻

His parents flew out instantly. Alea promised she'd be watching the debut with the twins—Wyatt in his lucky onesie, Kalen with a paci in his mouth and his stuffed moose in hand.

Matt walked into the NHL arena, bag over his shoulder, bare-faced and quiet, nerves bubbling under his skin.

As he was lacing up, his coach walked into the room with a grin.

"Helping me announce today's lineup are three very special guests... Alea Mitchell, and Wyatt and Kalen Boldy!"

Matt's head snapped up.

There they were.

Alea stood in the doorway, a baby on each hip. Both boys reached out, arms outstretched, babbling loud enough to fill the room.

Matt was on his feet in seconds, blinking back tears.

It had been a month since he last held them. A month of phone calls, blurry screen kisses, and quiet ache.

Now they were here. For this. The moment he'd waited for his whole life.

He crossed the room, eyes never leaving theirs. And when he reached them, he pulled all three into a hug—tight, warm, needed.

His hand brushed Alea's back. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"I couldn't let you do this alone," she whispered.

He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. No promises. No grand declarations. Just them.

Then it was time.

Matt took his solo rookie lap around the ice. The crowd roared. His heart raced. And when he scored the game-winning goal, the roar nearly drowned out his heartbeat.

But he didn't care about the crowd. He was already running to the tunnel—already aching to see them again.

Alea was waiting by the locker room doors. The twins were bundled in matching Wild gear, cheeks flushed from the cold. She passed them into Matt's arms without a word.

He held them close, rocking gently.

Alea leaned in with a sly, knowing smile and said, "Wyatt, honey... who's that?"

The little boy looked at Matt, his sleepy eyes lighting up.

"Dada!"

Matt's knees nearly gave out.

Tears slipped down his cheeks as he pressed a kiss to each of their heads, then looked up at Alea.

They didn't need words.

They knew.

This—all of it—was worth the wait.

⸻

Matt's NHL debut was electric—crowd roaring, stick raised in the air, arms outstretched after the game-winner—but the real moment he'd been waiting for came hours later.

Not the spotlight. Not the victory lap. But this.

His hotel room was small, temporary, just a holding place until the team got his living situation sorted. But when Alea walked through the door with the twins in her arms and a diaper bag slung over her shoulder, it felt like home for the first time.

They ordered takeout and ate off napkins. The boys giggled through their bedtime bottles, then crashed almost instantly, worn out from their big night. Matt laid out blankets across the bed, turned off the lights, and just... exhaled.

Alea curled beside him, the twins sleeping peacefully between them. Her head rested on his shoulder. His arm found its home around her waist.

For a long time, they didn't speak. Just listened to the soft breaths of their sons and the hum of a city still moving outside.

Then Alea sniffled.

Matt looked down to find tears slipping down her cheeks, silent and sudden.

"Al—hey, what's wrong?" he asked gently, brushing a thumb under her eye.

She laughed through it, shaking her head. "Nothing. Everything. I'm just... I'm so proud of you, Matt."

Her voice cracked, and the words came tumbling out, soft and full of heartache and joy all at once.

"This is what we used to dream about. All those nights in the dorms, talking about our futures—about you making it, about the NHL. You did it. You're here."

He swallowed hard, eyes burning. "I wish you could've been with me every step. I missed so much."

"You didn't miss anything that matters," she whispered. "You never really left. You called, you visited, you showed up in every way that counted. And the boys know you love them. I know."

Matt blinked back tears now too, overwhelmed. "I missed you," he murmured. "Every night. Every milestone. Every little moment. But I knew you were giving them everything. And you're... God, Al, you're such a good mom. You're so strong. I don't think I could've done this without you."

Alea shifted slightly, her hand resting on his chest, feeling the thump of his heartbeat.

They just held each other there, warm and close, like the space between them had never existed.

And then, slowly, they pulled back just enough to see each other clearly.

Their eyes met.

Everything unsaid—every I miss you, every I still love you, every thank you for waiting—sat thick in the space between them.

Then Matt leaned in, and Alea met him halfway.

The kiss was slow. Deep. Familiar. Months of distance melting in a single touch.

It wasn't rushed. It wasn't shy. It was full of fire and softness, of aching and relief. A kiss that said I love you, I never stopped, you're it.

When they pulled away, foreheads pressed together, breaths mingling, hearts racing, the world felt still again.

"I'm so in love with you," Alea whispered.

Matt smiled, his thumb gently tracing her jaw. "I'm so in love with you too."

⸻

Sunlight filtered in through the sheer hotel curtains, casting a warm, golden haze across the room. For a few blissful seconds, it was quiet. Still. Whole.

Matt's eyes fluttered open first. He didn't move—just stared at the ceiling, Alea's hand tucked under his on his chest, one of the babies snuggled into the crook of his arm. He could feel the soft rise and fall of little lungs against him, tiny fingers curled into his shirt.

Then he looked down.

Alea was already awake, eyes on him, smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

They didn't speak.

They didn't need to.

It felt like no time had passed. Like all the late nights apart, all the FaceTimes and missed milestones and miles between them—had melted into this moment.

Matt reached over slowly and brushed a lock of hair out of her face.

"Hi," he whispered, voice still raspy with sleep.

"Hi," she whispered back.

And then Kalen stirred.

He let out a small, fussy whimper that only grew louder with every passing second. Alea gently rolled over, already reaching for him.

"Hungry," she said softly, rubbing his back. "Definitely your son."

Matt chuckled, only for Wyatt—startled by the noise—to let out a full-blown wail that had Matt flinching dramatically.

"Okay, okay, I got him," Matt mumbled, already scooping Wyatt up with the grogginess of a man who hadn't changed a diaper in a few weeks but still remembered the drill.

Within seconds, the hotel room that had moments before been filled with peace was now alive with baby cries, quick movements, and the chaotic harmony of two parents who were somehow still in sync.

Matt balanced Wyatt on his hip while searching for the travel pack of wipes with one hand. "I forgot how loud he is," he said, laughing as he made a face at the full diaper waiting for him.

"You forgot?" Alea raised an eyebrow as she gently rocked Kalen. "This one screamed for forty minutes the other night because I gave him the wrong pacifier."

Matt winced. "I'm sorry I missed that. But also... not sorry."

She laughed, exhaustion and happiness blending together in that effortless way they always did around him.

Within a few minutes, the boys were fed, changed, and curled up on the pillows between them—Kalen wide-eyed and kicking, Wyatt already dozing again.

Matt laid back, arms behind his head, looking at the chaos like it was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

"God, I missed this," he said. "Waking up with you. With them. Even the crying."

Alea rested her head on his shoulder again. "Feels like no time passed."

Matt turned to her. "It never really did. Not with you."

She smiled at that, eyes soft and full of love, before leaning in to press a light kiss to his cheek.

And just like that, they were whole again.

A little messy. A little tired. A little mismatched.

But home.

⸻

Alea sat in the backseat, nestled between two car seats, one hand gently patting Wyatt's thigh while Kalen dozed off with a pacifier in his mouth. Matt's eyes stayed focused on the road, but his hand gripped the steering wheel tighter than usual. His knuckles were white.

No one wanted to say it out loud, but they all felt it.

This goodbye hurt more than the first.

They had finally felt like a family again. Like the distance was shrinking, like maybe this could be their normal soon. But normal still meant long-distance. Still meant two cities, two lives, and a dream that hadn't quite made room for them all—yet.

Matt pulled into the airport drop-off lane and parked. His family was already waiting by the entrance—his mom with her arms stretched wide, ready to help Alea get through security with the twins.

Alea didn't move.

Neither did Matt.

For a long moment, they just sat there. The only sound was Kalen beginning to stir and whimper, his lip trembling the way it always did right before a cry.

Then Wyatt joined in, reaching out toward the front seat.

"Da—da—da—" he babbled between cries, his tiny fists clenched as he leaned toward Matt.

Matt turned around and reached for both of them at once, unbuckling their car seats with a practiced hand, scooping one twin into each arm. The moment they were in his arms, the crying slowed—but didn't stop.

Their chests rose and fell quickly, little faces red with frustration and confusion. They didn't understand why they were saying goodbye.

But Alea did. And it broke her.

She slid out of the car slowly, trying to blink away the tears stinging behind her eyes. Matt met her at the trunk, bouncing the boys gently as if the motion could hold all of them together just a little longer.

"I don't want to go," she whispered, brushing a hand over Wyatt's soft curls.

"I don't want you to go," he whispered back.

Her throat tightened. "We just got back to being us."

Matt leaned forward, touching his forehead to hers, careful not to shift the boys too much between them. "We are still us."

A tear slid down her cheek. "I miss you already."

"I miss you always."

He handed her Wyatt first, and her arms instinctively curled around him, even as her heart screamed to hold all three of them at once.

Kalen went next, reluctantly, squirming until Alea got a firm hold on him. He let out another cry, his little hands reaching for Matt's jacket.

Matt kissed both boys on the forehead, slow and tender.

"I love you so much," he said, barely above a whisper. "Be good for Mommy, okay? I'll see you soon."

Then he turned to Alea, who was already crying now, silently, her lips pressed tight to keep from falling apart.

"You're my rock, Al."

Her voice cracked. "You're mine too."

His arms wrapped around her and the babies, holding them all like he was trying to memorize the feeling.

They stood like that for a long moment. One more second. One more breath.

Then Alea finally stepped back, her legs heavier than they should've been, and gave him a tearful smile.

"I'll call you when we land."

"I'll be waiting."

Matt stood by the car as she walked toward his family—his mom reaching out to help, her voice soft and soothing—and then through the sliding glass doors.

He didn't leave right away.

He stayed there long after they disappeared inside. Long after the van behind him honked.

He stood with his hands in his pockets, blinking hard, and whispered the only thing he could:

"See you soon."

⸻

The summer heat clung to the windows of the bungalow, soft rays of morning light spilling across the hardwood floors. The same floors Alea used to pace with colicky newborns in her arms. The same ones Matt had skated across in socks more times than he could count. The same floors that held diaper blowouts, first steps, takeout dinners, and everything in between.

Now, they held the weight of something else entirely—pride.

Matt leaned against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, eyes locked on the woman standing in front of the hallway mirror.

Alea was smoothing the fabric of her graduation dress, adjusting the sleeves just so. Her long hair framed her face in soft waves, and she kept glancing down to check her shoes, her cap and gown folded neatly on the counter beside her.

Matt didn't say anything at first. He just looked at her—really looked—and felt that familiar ache in his chest. That quiet kind of love that built slowly, deeply, and never left.

He fell in love with her all over again, right there between the dining table and the baby gate.

"You look... unreal," he finally said, voice low and full of awe.

Alea glanced over her shoulder, blushing. "Yeah right. I'm sweating through this dress and haven't even left the house yet."

"I'm serious." He stepped forward, arms sliding around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You're the strongest person I've ever met. And today? You're graduating. You did it, Al."

She leaned into him, just for a second, her hand resting over his. "We did it."

The ceremony was packed, the air buzzing with excitement and camera flashes.

Matt sat in the second row of the bleachers, a twin on each knee—Kalen trying to eat the corner of his graduation program, Wyatt clapping at every name called whether he knew them or not. Jenna and Spencer were behind them, Jenna already crying and snapping photos. Matt's parents and Alea's aunt and uncles were all there too, eyes scanning the sea of graduates.

Then the name rang out through the mic: "Alea Mitchell, Bachelor of Science in Sports Psychology."

Everyone stood.

Matt was the loudest. He stood up with Kalen in one arm, cheering like she'd just scored a Stanley Cup-winning goal. The boys squealed right along with him. It was chaotic. It was loud. It was perfect.

Alea's smile as she crossed the stage was electric. Eyes glistening, cap slightly crooked, and still somehow the most composed person in the room.

Matt didn't take his eyes off her once.

Later, back at the bungalow, after hugs and cake and too many group pictures to count, the house was quieter. The twins were down for a nap. Spencer and Jenna had taken off. The family was packing up. It was just the two of them now, standing in the living room with the late afternoon sun pouring in.

Alea looked at him. No teasing, no buildup. Just truth.

"I'm ready," she said softly.

Matt blinked. "Ready for what?"

"To move to Minnesota. With the boys." She smiled then, slow and sure. "To come home."

Matt didn't speak—couldn't. His throat burned, his heart full to the brim. He just stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her slightly off the floor.

"God, Alea," he whispered into her neck, "I've been ready."

What she didn't know—what he hadn't told her—was that for weeks now, he'd been slowly turning his new place into a home for them.

The extra bedroom had been transformed into the boys' room—cribs already built, matching bedding, tiny bookshelves lined with bedtime stories. Alea's side of the closet was empty but waiting. The fridge had her favorite yogurt. He'd even ordered the same candle she always lit during late-night study sessions just so the place would smell like her.

It wasn't just a house anymore.

It was theirs.

And now, it would finally feel that way.

⸻

Moving day came with more cardboard boxes than either of them remembered owning and an overwhelming mixture of excitement and nerves.

Alea stepped into Matt's house—their house now—with the twins on either hip, a diaper bag falling off her shoulder, and her heart thudding in her chest.

It was beautiful. Clean, modern, warm. There were family photos already on the walls, tiny sneakers lined up by the door, a framed print of the twins' footprints above the fireplace. Every corner of the house screamed "I built this for you."

And yet... Alea couldn't shake the feeling of being slightly out of place.

Matt had a life here. A team. A rhythm. She was proud of him—so endlessly proud—but she couldn't help but wonder where she fit in now that she wasn't just his college girlfriend or the girl raising his kids across the country.

She was here. But what now?

Matt noticed the shift instantly.

That night, after the boys went down and the house quieted, Alea sat on the couch in one of his old t-shirts, knees hugged to her chest, eyes distant.

He sat beside her, close enough that their knees brushed, and didn't say anything for a moment.

Then, gently, "You okay?"

She hesitated. Then nodded. Then shook her head. "I don't know. I guess I just... this is your world. And I'm trying to find where I fit in it."

Matt didn't miss a beat. He took her hand and laced their fingers together.

"Al," he said, voice thick, "this world? It doesn't exist without you."

She looked up at him, surprised.

"I mean it. Everything I have, everything I've done—this house, this team, this life—I was building it for us. I don't want it if you're not part of it."

Her eyes welled with tears, but he leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers.

"I'm still so in love with you," he whispered. "We'll figure it out. Just like we always do."

The next day, he brought her to the rink.

Reintroduced her to the team—who were all wide-eyed at finally meeting the famous Alea and her twin boys—and more importantly, introduced her to the WAGs.

Alea had been nervous. She was young. A mom before twenty. She worried they'd think she didn't belong.

But the second she walked in, it was all smiles and hugs and warm welcomes.

"You must be Alea! We've heard so much about you," one of them—Sam—beamed.

Within minutes, they were offering babysitting help, playdates, and their favorite coffee shops.

"We'll make sure you're never bored when Matt's on the road," another said, squeezing her arm kindly. "Or alone. That's what we're here for."

And it was real. Kind. Easy.

A few weeks later, Alea found a hybrid job with a sports psychology company that worked with several minor league teams. It was flexible, challenging, and—most importantly—hers. A piece of her identity that didn't revolve around being a mom or Matt's partner. And Matt? He was thrilled.

It meant they didn't have to hire a nanny just yet. It meant more time with the twins. More time as a family.

Slowly, the routine began to rebuild itself.

Mornings were coffee and oatmeal and babies in matching socks. Afternoons were work calls and stroller walks and laughter. Nights were quiet dinners and tired snuggles, and sometimes even a glass of wine if the boys went down early.

They were finding their rhythm again. Together.

Then came the first away game.

The Wild were on the road, and the WAGs decided to throw a watch party. Alea, now a familiar face, brought the twins—dressed in Wild jerseys two sizes too big—and joined a sea of other moms and their kids.

The house was full of laughter, toys, snacks, and the game playing in the background. Kids crawled and toddled around like they owned the place, and everyone was relaxed and happy.

Alea stood in the kitchen holding Kalen while chatting with Sam, who sipped her drink and grinned.

"You know," Sam said, nudging her gently, "the entire time Matt's been here, he hasn't shut up about you."

Alea blinked. "What?"

"Oh yeah. You and the boys. Literally wouldn't stop talking about you. 'Alea's the strongest person I know.' 'Alea's raising the best kids in the world.' 'Alea this, Alea that.' It was adorable."

Alea felt her cheeks flush, her heart skipping.

Sam laughed. "We actually couldn't wait to meet you. He hyped you up so much, we were like—if this girl isn't a literal goddess, he's in trouble."

And just like that, the last piece of the puzzle settled into place.

Alea smiled softly, looking around the room—at the kids playing, at the game on the screen, at Wyatt crawling toward a plate of cookies.

She was here. Really here.

And for the first time in a long time... she felt like she belonged.

⸻

December 2025

It was a week before the twins' fifth birthday, and Minnesota was in full winter wonderland mode. Snow dusted the trees, Christmas lights glittered downtown, and the Wild's annual Family Skate Night had arrived—one of Alea's favorite traditions.

She loved watching the rink filled with laughter, kids bundled in team gear, partners clinging to the boards, and players in beanies helping their babies wobble on skates. It was cozy. Warm, even in the cold.

What she didn't know, though, was that Matt had been nervous all morning.

Pacing.

Checking his pocket for the ring every five minutes.

Googling "how to propose without passing out."

Brock Faber had tried to keep him cool, cracking jokes and throwing snowballs at him in the team parking lot. Meanwhile, Brock's girlfriend, Stacy, had been running the real mission.

She'd planned the whole thing with Matt behind the scenes: a casual shopping day that "just happened" to include a nail appointment. ("It's been a while, treat yourself, come on!"). Then a trip to get Alea's hair done ("holiday photos, duh"), followed by helping her pick out an outfit for the skate—and coordinating the twins' outfits too.

By the time they were ready to leave, Alea felt cute, relaxed, and had no clue what was coming.

The arena was softly lit, festive music playing over the sound system. Alea laced up her skates while Matt helped the twins into theirs—Wyatt already asking if he could race Uncle Brock, and Kalen tugging on Matt's sleeve asking for hot chocolate first.

They all laughed, gliding out onto the ice together, cheeks pink from the cold, the boys skating between them.

Eventually, Alea smiled and let the boys skate off toward Brock and Stacy, who waited at the other end of the rink. She didn't think twice about it—just took Matt's hand and skated beside him, falling into a slow rhythm like they always did. A calm kind of silence wrapped around them as they circled the rink, surrounded by other families laughing and cheering.

It felt peaceful.

Comfortable.

Home.

But then, near center ice, Matt slowed. He let go of her hand.

Alea turned, confused. "What are you—"

Her breath caught.

All the families—players, wives, kids—were gathering quietly at one end of the rink, all watching. Waiting.

And Matt?

He was on one knee.

In the middle of the ice.

His eyes glossy, his lips trembling with a nervous smile, hands holding a small black box.

Alea's hands flew to her mouth.

"Matty..." she whispered, barely audible.

She didn't even stay standing. Her knees hit the ice, too, right in front of him, tears slipping down her cheeks as she pressed her hands to his.

"I've been in love with you for so long, Alea," Matt said softly, voice thick with emotion. "You've been my best friend, my rock, my safe place. You gave me the two best kids on this planet. And somehow, you've only made me love you more every day since."

She was already crying, already nodding.

"You've supported me through everything. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. You've built this life with me—this family—and I can't imagine a future where you're not beside me."

He took a shaky breath.

"So... would you make me the happiest man on earth and please say you'll marry me?"

Alea let out a sob that sounded a lot like a laugh and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Yes," she whispered against his ear. "Yes. A million times, yes."

When they stood, she grabbed his face and kissed him, full and soft and sure. Their audience erupted into cheers—players banging their sticks on the boards, kids clapping, WAGs dabbing their eyes and taking a thousand photos.

Then, with perfect timing, Stacy and Brock let go of the twins.

Wyatt and Kalen came skating toward them in unison, cheeks red, arms out, shouting, "MOM! DAD!"

Matt bent down, pulling them both into a hug as Alea knelt beside him, arms wrapped around her family.

It was chaotic. Icy. Sweet.

Very them.

And as snow began to fall outside the windows of the arena, Alea rested her head on Matt's shoulder, staring at the ring now sparkling on her finger, and thought:

This is it. This is the life we fought for. This is the life we built.

⸻ bonus - the twins think they're funny

It started like any other Saturday.

Alea was in the kitchen, sipping her second coffee, scrolling through work emails. Matt was parked on the couch watching game footage with one AirPod in, glasses halfway down his nose, looking very serious about something involving zone coverage.

Then Wyatt and Kalen came in.

Their almost-seventeen-year-old sons, taller than both their parents now, both with that mischievous Boldy smirk that definitely meant trouble.

"Mom. Dad." Wyatt held up two thick envelopes, perfectly crisp. "We've made our decisions."

Alea's heart skipped. "Already?"

Matt sat up straighter, eyes narrowing. "You're both committing?"

The boys nodded solemnly.

Kalen cleared his throat, dramatically pulling out a folded paper from his back pocket. "I'll start. Dear Coach, thank you for believing in me. I am thrilled to announce that I will be continuing my athletic and academic career at..."

A beat.

"...Boston University."

Matt blinked. "I'm sorry. What?"

Alea straightened, slowly setting down her mug. "BU?"

Wyatt grinned and held up his letter. "Me too. Hockey. Go Terriers!"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Matt looked like someone had told him the Wild were being traded to Florida. Alea blinked, hand hovering over her heart.

They had raised Eagles.

There was a BC flag hanging in the garage. They had season tickets. They were donors.

Matt spoke first, voice low and shocked. "BU?"

Alea's lips twitched. "We love you both. Obviously. We support whatever you choose. But BU? Really?"

Wyatt nodded, biting his lip to hold back laughter. "We just thought... you know, switch it up. You did BC, so we figured..."

Matt's jaw tightened. "Sure. Of course. That's great. Really great."

"So proud of you," Alea added, voice a full octave too high.

The twins looked at each other—and lost it.

They burst into laughter, doubling over, the fake letters slipping from their hands.

"Oh my god," Kalen wheezed. "The look on Dad's face—I thought he was going to cry."

"You should've seen Mom," Wyatt laughed, pointing. "She started shaking."

Matt blinked again, finally catching on. "Wait. You're joking?"

"We're going to BC, obviously," Kalen grinned. "You think we'd survive family Christmas if we didn't?"

Wyatt tossed them each a navy blue BC sweatshirt with EAGLE MOM/ DAD printed on the back. "Early decision. Both of us. Got the emails this morning."

Alea launched off the stool and pulled them both into the biggest hug imaginable. "You little shits. I was about to write a strongly worded letter to the NCAA."

Matt stood, shaking his head with a stunned smile. "I've never been more mad and more proud in my life."

Wyatt looked at Kalen. "We should keep the BU letters though. Frame 'em. Just to mess with people."

Kalen nodded. "Yeah. Put one in Dad's locker stall."

Matt threw a throw pillow at him.

Alea laughed, eyes misty as she looked at the two boys—her boys—standing taller than ever, BC sweatshirts half on, full of love and mischief and everything she and Matt had built together.

"I can't believe we did this," she whispered to Matt, sliding her hand into his.

"Believe it," he said, pulling her close. "And thank god they didn't pick BU. I don't think I would've made it."

[aventurineswife]

Hello, I just got an idea for a request from the Disney movie Finding Nemo, I'm thinking about a story like the beginning of the movie where Nemo is waking up his father but instead it's with Jiaoqiu and the reader, who's always been a bundle of energy but seemed to be ten times more excited than usual because of the wardance, during the 2.4 quest, he took the reader on as his student but he does view them as his own child. You don't have to do it if you don't want to I just thought it'd be cute

Guided by Small Joys

Summary: As the preparations for the wardance begin, Jiaoqiu finds himself stirred from his peaceful morning by his ever-energetic student, you. Despite his initial reluctance, he is quickly swept up in your infectious excitement and reminded of the hope and joy that still exist even amidst the hardships of war.

Tags: Jiaoqiu x Reader, Platonic Relationships, Father Figure Jiaoqiu, Student and Mentor, Fluff, Lighthearted Moments Found Family, Wardance Celebration.

A/N: Never watched Finding Nemo, so I had to change it change it a bit, hope you like it!!

The early morning haze had just begun to lift over the Xianzhou Yaoqing, bathing the serene alchemical gardens in soft, golden light. The air carried a crispness, promising a beautiful day ahead. Jiaoqiu sat cross-legged in his quiet study, his hands resting gently on his feather fan. Even blind, he always seemed to know the exact moment the sun crept over the horizon.

He had been awake for some time, savoring the stillness before the world stirred. But his quietude was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps outside his door, light but unmistakable. He smiled faintly.

"You're up early." he remarked before the door even slid open.

The response was an explosion of energy. "Jiaoqiu! Master Jiaoqiu! Wake up—oh, wait, you’re already awake! But still! Guess what? Guess what?"

The sheer enthusiasm in your voice made him chuckle. "Good morning to you too, little firecracker. What could possibly warrant this much excitement at dawn?"

"It's the wardance today!" you exclaimed, practically bouncing into the room. "I can't believe you forgot! Everyone's getting ready, and I just knew you'd want to be the first to hear about it!"

Jiaoqiu tilted his head, his ears twitching slightly at your words. "Ah, the wardance. How could I forget something you’ve mentioned no less than twenty times this past week?"

You laughed sheepishly, your energy undiminished. "Well, I had to remind you! It’s only the most exciting event ever! There's music, dancing, sparring demonstrations—oh! And the food! You’re coming, right? You have to come!"

Jiaoqiu sighed dramatically, though the corner of his lips quirked up in a teasing smile. "I suppose there's no convincing you to let me enjoy my morning in peace, is there?"

"Not a chance!" You grabbed his hand, your excitement infectious. "Come on, let’s go! The preparations have already started, and I promised to help set up. You said learning balance and coordination was part of my training, remember?"

"Did I?" Jiaoqiu teased, allowing himself to be pulled up. "Very well. Lead the way, little one. But do try not to trip over your own feet in your enthusiasm."

"I won’t!" you declared confidently, though Jiaoqiu could sense your barely-contained giddiness.

As the two of you stepped into the morning light, Jiaoqiu let out a soft sigh, the warmth of the sun against his skin a welcome reminder of life's small joys. You had been his student for some time now, and though your energy often wore him out, he found himself deeply fond of your spirited nature. In truth, it reminded him of something he thought he'd lost—a spark of hope, a reason to keep moving forward.

"Master?" your voice broke through his thoughts.

"Hm?"

"You’re smiling," you said, a note of wonder in your tone.

He chuckled. "Am I? Perhaps it’s because your enthusiasm is so blinding that even I cannot help but see it."

"Hey!" you protested, but your laughter soon followed.

As you guided him toward the bustling heart of the wardance preparations, Jiaoqiu couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. In a world fraught with loss and sorrow, your boundless energy was a gift—a reminder that, even in the midst of chaos, there was still light to be found.

And for today, at least, he would let himself bask in it.

[hunterwritings]

𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔, 𝐌𝐘 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 | 𝐁𝐈-𝐇𝐀𝐍

summary: bi-han is only compliant with you, and you are the last one to realise it | gn!reader x bi-han, childhood friend! reader, flirty and joking! reader warnings: kinda suggestive at the end (?) notes: FINALLY WRITING SOMETHING AGAIN HALLELUJAH | this is very self-indulgent lol

Bi-han was not someone who enjoyed physical touch. Or any affection for that matter.

At least that's what everyone believed, considering how unwelcoming he was to everyone else. If it was talking about kombat, now that was different.

It was something first noticed by his brothers, Kuai Liang and Tomas. They would go to put their hand on his shoulder or pat him on the back and he would swat them away while muttering cold insults. They brushed it off, knowing that Bi-han had acted that way with everyone.

Until you came into the picture.

You had known the Lin Kuei brothers since you were young. You had trained with them, fought with them and grown with them since you were all children. You loved all of them, but something about Bi-han drew you in. How he was so cold and unimpressed with you and your jokes, it made you want to wittingly mess with him even more. You would always walk by his side, taunt him to the point of him wanting to throw a punch at you. You would never do anything to make him uncomfortable, just enough to see him roll his eyes at you and push your face away with his palm.

As you grew with him, some things changed with Bi-han. Your comical and witty nature stayed active throughout time and, in your eyes at least, Bi-han had the same attitude from when he was a child.

But he was different.

It was something people around you two noticed first. How instead of ignoring your witty jokes, he would critique them and say how you could do better than that. How instead of scooting away from you when you would sit unnecessarily close to him on the couch, he would let you sit inches away from him, even lying your head on his shoulder as you listened to him talk about battle plans. How instead of leaving you on the ground after he beats you in sparring, he would offer his hand to you with the same irritated look on his face.

You guess that it's never been something you thought of until Kuai Liang had spoken to you.

"Bi-han has never been so close to someone." He shakes his head with a smirk.

"I guess I never looked into it." You chuckled.

"Then it is clear to everyone except for you. I would not be surprised if he thought about proposing to you."

You nearly chocked on your own breath. "Proposing? That's moving a bit fast don't you think?"

"Well, I suppose that's what Bi-han does." He smiles. "He moves in black and white, it is all or nothing for him. And when he learns to accept his feelings for you, he will make a move before anyone else does."

"How do I know this isn't just some hunch you have?" You crossed your arms and jokingly raised an eyebrow at him. He chuckled.

"I've known Bi-han my entire life and he has never been so compliant with someone, I am certain." He says.

You were a bit dumbstruck by his blunt words. Your love for Bi-han was obvious to everyone else, you wanted to make it obvious as you grew more jokingly flirty with him as time went on. As you began to look at things in retrospect, you notice how Bi-han had been more lenient with you throughout time. Oh my gods, have you been so blind this whole time? Has Bi-han tried to subtly tell you how he felt throughout his actions? Now you were overthinking.

You wanted to speak with Bi-han and see if you could get him to admit something to you. You sought him out throughout the temple, stopping when you found him in an empty training room, using a stick to practice his attacks. He halted his movements the second he saw you enter the room.

"Sorry to interrupt." You chuckle as you walk closer to him. He just raised an eyebrow at you as you approached.

"Is it something you want?' He asks, you now standing in front of him.

"Perhaps."

"Well get on with it." He says as he continues his training movements as you walked around him and pressed your back against the wall.

"I've just been thinking a lot."

"That's new." He wittingly jokes, causing a laugh to emit from your lips. A smirk appeared on his face at the sound of your laughter, that caught your eye.

"You think you're very funny, but that's my job." You smile. "Bi-han." The sound of his name from your lips caused him to stop his fighting movements. He went to turn towards you, but you quickly wrapped your arms around his waist, pressing your chest to his sweaty back. You felt his cold hand press against yours wrapped around his torso. "I really enjoy being around you." You softly admitted.

Bi-han felt like his heart stopped, when in reality it was beating quite fast from what you could feel. Bi-han was used to quick and small touches from you in a joking flirty sense, but he could tell that you were trying your best to be serious. He never thought that your feelings for him would go anything past platonic.

He pulls your hands off of him so he can turn and face you. Your face was different from your usual relaxed, this time your eyebrows contorting in anxiousness, wondering if you had just ruined your relationship with him. Bi-han was a bit dumbfounded, wondering how to continue this conversation. So he took a chance.

He leaned into you and pressed his lips gently against yours. He quickly pulled away, only a few inches to scan your face and wonder if he made a mistake. When he feels your hands on his cheeks, he immediately drops the stick in his hand, hearing the wood hit the floor as he reached his arms low and grabs a hold of your legs and picks you up as his lips stay on yours. You feel your back hit the wall as his cold hands stayed on your thighs, gripping tightly.

You pull away for a moment to catch your breath, your eyes darting to every detail of his face.

"How long have you been wanting to do that?' You chuckle, pressing your forehead against his. You could practically feel his eyes roll back in his head. "Shut up." He shakes his head before his lips are on yours once again.

Bi-han is a very serious man, he takes things in his life very seriously. Even before you had told him how you felt, he would go to the ends of the earth to protect you and keep you safe. Now that you were officially his, not only would he be even more protective of you, he would boast about it to everyone around him. He would let everyone know that you chose him and it would feel like the greatest achievement of all time to him. Whether it be from the sounds people would hear through the walls at night or how he now walks with your arm wrapped around his bicep, he will make sure everyone knows that you're his.

And Kuai Liang wasn't wrong, within a few weeks of your confessions, Bi-han brought up the idea of proposal to you. How could you deny the grumpy grandmaster himself?

[creatingblackcharacters]

Hello! Thank you so much for all the effort and care you put into this account. I am a white high school english teacher and most of my students are Black; I cannot overstate how beneficial your lessons have been to my work. A lot of it has been in how I pick which texts we read. I’ve tried my best to carefully search for as many different Black authors as I can, especially modern ones, and it’s made me so happy to see my kids get excited about Black characters in stories! I FINALLY got a kid (who had refused to read all year) hooked on a book because he said the main character was just like him. You’ve also given me some really good advice on how to guide their critical thinking about race in a way that puts their own voices and experiences and feelings at the center. I’m learning so much from them as well, and when I make mistakes out of ignorance, your lessons have been invaluable for helping me maturely correct myself and make things right with kids. Besides, it’s plain easier to communicate when I’ve done the work at home to get more familiar with important parts of Black culture and experience. I definitely still have work to do for myself and with my white coworkers, but I just want you to know that what you’re doing is having a real positive impact on some young Black people in the world :)))

I think out of all the responses I get, my favorite is when I find out that the Black kids that people are around benefit from the newfound perspectives. Black children are treated so poorly in schools, like it honestly breaks my heart how we get sent in and expected to fail. It really can fuck up your perspective on the rest of your life when you have teachers that you're supposed to listen to... And they practically enforce that you don't matter. So I appreciate that you actually made that space a little more welcoming for our kids; that means the world to me. 😭😭😭😭

And really, just think about it- you got that job without ever having to think about these things before. For every teacher that's like you, there are hundreds that just... Aren't. That don't do the extra work. And they don't have to!