#I wanted to at least celebrate this bc well round years

[poetic-emptiness-fanfic]

Rant in the tags, I don’t bother to write it in a post bc why would I

[seokmins]

Brewing Love — LSM

The clumsy, newly hired barista honestly sucks at his job. But there's actually a good reason why he's either breaking the coffee machine or forgetting recipes?

【ˢⱽᵀ ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡⁱˢᵗ || ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳᵖᵒˢᵗ】

💞 🄿🄰🄸🅁🄸🄽🄶: Lee Seokmin x reader 📚 🄶🄴🄽🅁🄴: Fluff, Very teeny tiny angst, Coffee Shop/Barista!au 🌟 🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: G  💬 ⓌⒸ: 4.8k ⚠️ 🅆🄰🅁🄽🄸🄽🄶🅂: Food/Non-alcoholic beverages, Reader has anger issues tbh lol, Not much really lmk if I need to add anything — I really tried to make it gn! as possible so I hope I didn't miss anything :D

💫(っ  ◔◡◔)っɛƖ۷'ʂ ŋơɬɛʂ 💕:

requested by the darling miss @chogiwapadada for what I presume is in celebration of 1k on this blog 😏 I don't know if this was a request truly meant for you lmao I think you sent it bc you know it would torture me fjskdf but I finally got it done... anyways, mwah this video lives in my head rent-free thx bestie wife I hope you enjoy it 💖☕

It's just like your brother to leave you to fend for yourself. 

You had made Joshua swear up and down to you in person that he would never leave the quaint coffee shop he'd opened last year near the local campus unattended and unsupervised. You'd collected written assurance that he would give you fair warning if he needed your assistance. All you'd asked was at least a week's notice. You were a busy person!

Seungkwan would never let Joshua do you dirty like this. But your best friend was in Jeju now, as he always was during this time of year to see family. Meaning there would be no one to operate the coffee shop during its busiest season, the second month of the fall semester.

Joshua knew this. Seungkwan's been the 'best' to your 'friend' for decades. 

One to two people was enough to keep disgruntled students and surly professors semi-satisfied with their daily (or hourly) orders of much-needed caffeine. Joshua was always in the back, filling in between Seungkwan's generous shift hours or whenever it got busy — or at least that's where he was supposed to be.

Right now, Joshua must be enjoying himself on the white sands of some remote beach. Watching the sun sparkle across aqua blue waves as the tide rushes in to kiss his toes, sea breeze whipping back the black locks of his hair, one arm wrapped snugly around the shoulders of his partner. 

You're happy for him. Truly. You did not want him to feel any bad vibes on his special vacation.

Still — that didn't eliminate the fact that you hoped he would stub his toe on a rock as you glare at his sloppy, scribbled signature on the written agreement that ended up doing you no good. 

You're well aware that he and his significant other had decided on a small, private wedding. You were the one who happily lent your assistance in helping them prepare it. The celebration was quiet and tiny in contrast to the radiant display of love and affection they had toward one another. A reason why they had been debating on whether or not they would go somewhere extravagant instead for their honeymoon. 

You slam a glass a little too harshly on the counter. Of course, you'd advocated that they should! Duh! You just didn't think Joshua would send a lame text message, having already booked a flight and halfway out of the country by the time you read it in the morning. That was Joshua's escape mechanism to avoid the wrath of your anger as you scrambled to get to the coffee shop and open it before the regulars in a more foul mood than you decided to riot.

Smart and stupid.

AKA Joshua Hong, your beloved brother.

The door to the storage room bangs open and you hear a worried gasp of your name before two hands are wrapping around your own, trying to gently pry your fingers from around the glass. You let out an angry huff of air that causes your hair to fly up but release the death grip on the glass and let yourself be fussed over.

"I thought you had broken something!"

"What, like you do?"

It's fascinating to watch the blush creep up along Seokmin's neck to his ears and finally color the roundness of his cheeks. The soft trace of his fingers over yours intently checking for any signs of injury is equally as heartwarming as him trying to defend himself.

"That… that was… an accident."

You raise an eyebrow. "Are you saying I was trying to break something on purpose?"

"N-no! I was just worried you might've hurt yourself."

"I'm fine and so is this glass. Now get back to what you were doing, our afternoon rush will be hitting soon."

Like a scolded puppy, you can practically see figurative dog ears drooping as Seokmin hunches his broad shoulders and slinks back to the storage room. Despite being thousands of miles away, Seungkwan pulled through with helpful information that he knew someone who was looking for a part-time job. Of course, your best friend who was a reliable worker fully understood additional assistance was needed during the month and a half that Joshua was gone. Unfortunately, he had underestimated just how clumsy Seokmin was.

Although he was sweet and ready to learn immediately upon being hired, you swear it only added more work to your plate to train him. It also didn't help that his charming good looks caused an influx of customers to flock to the shop, very unsubtly to steal glances and shoot their shots with the new barista. Even you could admit that watching Seokmin's arms flex as he operated the large coffee machines, the bright sparkle in his eyes that matched his brilliant smile, and his shy but endearing nature were all very healing for the soul.

But you were also a witness to the horrifying scene of him almost breaking the great coffee contraption that cost nearly triple the amount that students paid for tuition at the campus. If you had been a cat, all your fur would've been poofed out when you hissed in shock at the unnaturally loud clank that echoed over the calm background music when he'd pushed down a lever too hard.

The future flashed before your eyes at that moment. 

A furious, caffeine-deprived mob banging outside your door. Seungkwan complaining about his puffy face after crying for weeks. A perplexed Joshua divorced merely a month after marriage because now he's swimming in debt. Loan sharks dirtying your name and preventing you from ever getting a new job to pay for repairs and all other extraneous bills. You and Joshua are homeless, branded as criminals on the run.

Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic. 

But you've poured a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and money into this place and that darn machine — none of which you technically even own. It's your brother's pride and joy just as much as it became yours, a comforting place to visit on your days off that you are more than happy to assist when it all comes down to it.

Even now, you're eyeing Seokmin suspiciously as he very gently lowers the lever to start the process and shoots you a sheepish smile. Everything turned out alright in the end. But you had to spend an extra two hours last week examining the components closely with your new hire cringing but giving you pouty, pleading gazes in the hopes that you wouldn't fire him on the spot.

Of course, you didn't. You even brewed him your signature blend to ensure that the machine was operating as it should and as additional compensation for the extra time he stayed. Plus, you needed his help. Whether you liked him or not.

You did like him, though.

"Um, can you help me finish this latte?" 

You jump. Lost in your thoughts, you're unaware of Seokmin's sudden presence as he whispers in your ear, minty breath warm as it fans against the side of your face.

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

Even though he did things like this, yes. You somehow still really did like Seokmin.

He's good at acting oblivious to the curious, questioning stares of the customers waiting at the counter and you do your best to ignore them as well. Peeking over his shoulder, you talk him through it as your nervous system relaxes because of the refreshing scent that surrounds him. 

You don't know how to describe it but Seokmin smells like sunshine. Maybe because he is the sun itself.

"And you know what's next?"

"Wait, don't tell me." His eyebrows scrunch as he closes his eyes in thought, mumbling what he's already done to remind himself. 

"You've added almost all of the ingredients."

"Right. Cinnamon, vanilla extract, syrup… the coffee of course. Uh…"

"Milk."

"Yes," he puts down a finger as he counts, "the milk… Oh! The milk!" Smacking his forehead lightly, he grabs one of the containers that he'd frothed a portion of the milk in earlier. "Duh, how could I forget that again?"

"You're doing better each time."

You're taken aback when you pat him encouragingly and he turns, not even flinching at how close his face is to yours. "All thanks to you."

You blanch at his sparkly, grateful eyes and quickly shuffle to the counter. The woman waiting for her order is giggling as you approach and you choose to ignore it.

"Would you like whipped cream?"

"I do like sweet things," she slyly says and takes it from your grasp, laser-focused on the man behind you. "Care to top me off, Sugar?"

You follow her expectant gaze only to find Seokmin not even paying attention. His back is turned and he's humming happily to himself as he cleans up the used utensils and straightens the dishes. 

"Um… excuse me, darling?"

"I think she wants whipped cream," you say. Or something… someone… else runs across your mind only to blink when the tube is dangled in front of your face. "Huh?"

"Said you needed it, right?" Seokmin waves it back and forth until you take it from him and goes right back to what he was doing with a bounce in his step. "Let me know if I can grab anything else for you!"

The woman is boring holes into the side of your head as you stare at his back flabbergasted for a few seconds before snapping out of it. Meeting her narrowed eyes, you put on your best customer service smile and squeeze the whipped cream dispenser to top off her latte. 

"Could I get you anythi — "

"Hah! No. Thank. You."

She flounces out as if she's a damaged diva not even waiting for you to finish and you shrug, wiping up the wasted drops of liquid heavy cream. Losing a customer who has a bad attitude is no skin off your back.

"What was her issue? She was kinda rude."

"And here I thought you weren't paying attention."

"Of course I was. She asked for whipped cream, she got whipped cream. No reason to cut you off like that when she got what she wanted."

"But she didn't."

"What?"

You turn around with a knowing smirk and lean against the counter when Seokmin tilts his head in confusion. "She didn't get your attention."

He rolls his eyes. "That's ridiculous."

"Are you single?"

"Uh… wh-why do you ask?"

It's amusing how his demeanor changes so quickly, once again flustered after being snarky for merely two seconds. 

"Sorry, I'm not trying to pry. You don't have to tell me, what I mean is that, if you are single it's okay if you wish to spark a connection with a customer. Nobody's going to fire you for that, we're chill about it. That's how my brother met his partner after all."

"I… I don't — "

"I'm not saying you have to, like if you already have someone special you're also free to invite them over if you want 'cause you know Kwannie does that all — "

"I'm single!"

You blink at his abrupt outburst. "Okay. I wanted to make sure you're comfortable here. As long as you don't break my coffee machine, you can do what you want."

"I just," he runs a hand through his hair, "it's… it's nothing you have to worry about." 

Seokmin looks so devastatingly serious — almost upset — that your body moves before you realize it, playfully dispensing a dollop of whipped cream on the tip of his nose. It's comical how his eyes cross in confusion to stare at it in utter astonishment that you can't help but let out a tiny snort. 

He recovers from the shock faster than you think. Thumb scooping the cream off with lightning speed before he cradles your cheek and chin, smearing it across your bottom lip with a gentle swipe.

You've heard detailed stories from your friends, and even sickenly from your brother, about the legendary sparks that fly in moments with someone you deem special. But no one ever talks about the absolute stillness. How everything seems to fade away and it feels like it's just you and Seokmin in the world. In that moment.

Staring into his warm, dark-brown eyes that hold galaxies. Holding your breath when his gaze drifts down to watch how your tongue pokes out to lick up a tiny bit of the whipped cream. Right where his thumb hovers above your lips. How his eyes dart back up to yours, leaning in just a smidgeon before the sound of someone irritably clearing their throat shatters the spell.

"How quaint." 

You leap away from Seokmin's grasp, scowling at the new arrival who lazily adjusts his barely-tied tie, only causing it to look messier. Yet, it somehow makes the local populace drool over him even more.

"Yoon Jeonghan."

He laughs at the way you hiss his name, unfazed by your venomous tone. "That's now Professor Yoon to you, sweetcheeks."

"Gross. I doubt any students can take you seriously."

"Does Shua know his sibling isn't looking after the shop and customers but flirt — "

"Josh knows his place is well taken care of because I'm here, isn't that why you told him to take off?" You interrupt with a pointed tone, raising your eyebrows. "What do you want, the usual?"

Jeonghan rolls his eyes. "You're acting like their elopement was my idea."

"And it wasn't? Can't fool me, Mr. Yoon."

"Not always. But I'm not lying, it really wasn't me. You know Joshua is much more mischievous than he lets on."

"Yeah, tell me about it. He's had a bad influence ever since he was young."

"Ouch. Are you sure you're not talking about yourself?"

The cardboard coffee container is nearly crushed by your grip as you hand it to him. "If your conscience stings you must be feeling guilty, unlike me."

You hear a snort off to your side and side-eye where Seokmin is trying to hold back his laughter at the bantering while he fusses with another recipe. His cheeks are still flushed, ears adorably tinged red and you bite your lip.

"Ahem. Sometime today, preferably."

Jeonghan's additional cough snaps you out of your trance, glaring at your brother's best friend as if you weren't caught red-handed. Again.

"Here. Your order."

He delicately picks up the cup, a stark contrast to your aggressive movements. "Thank you, my dear barista. A one out of ten experience as usual."

If you could, you'd flip him off as he turns his back to leave like you normally do. But 'professional' times call for 'professional' behavior and you've already made a fool of yourself enough today. 

"Go ahead and post your opinion online as promised! Then you'll see how irrelevant it really is!"

That doesn't stop you from having the last word when the bell jingles and Jeonghan graciously responds with a middle finger once he's fully stepped out the door. A sigh of irritation escapes and you tap your nails irritably on top of the counter. Maybe you can speak to your friend Seungcheol in administration and find out how in the world that menace managed to get employed.

You don't actually dislike your brother's best friend. He just grates on every single one of the few nerves you have left.

Seokmin sidles up to you. "Hey, do you have some time tonight?"

"Why? Want to go over some more things?"

"That would be nice, yeah."

"Sure." You shrug in agreement. It's not like you had any big plans. "Let's see if we can survive through this mob first, though. Seems like classes have let out for common hour — oh, wait!"

He freezes, wide-eyed. It's your turn to grasp his sharp jawline in one hand, bringing his face closer to yours. Ignoring the way he nervously licks his lips and how his eyelashes flutter as he rapidly blinks, you take a napkin and wipe the sticky remnants of white still left on his nose.

"Sorry," you murmur, "you had… there was just… a little… "

"Thank you." Seokmin's hand covers yours pressed against his cheek before you can move away. You're forced to meet his gaze head-on, unable to look anywhere else. "Thanks for taking care of me."

"O-of c-course!" You curse yourself for stuttering like an idiot. "I m-mean I have to take care of you, what kind of person do you think I am?"

It's Seokmin's turn to take the first step back but he does it with a calmness that almost seems calculated if it weren't for his embarrassed giggle that sounds abnormal being two pitches higher than usual. Shamelessly he winks at you, pretending like the heat that's been burning in his cheeks hasn't spread down to even his arms.

"A very sweet one."

You try to hide your shy smile behind a frown, sarcasm, and the chatter of customers coming in. "Well, duh!"

Time flies when the coffee shop is bustling. The lines do not let up and somehow, Seokmin helps keep up decently without any terrible disasters befalling. Just as the sun begins to sink below the horizon and cast off the distinct glow of golden hour rays, you happily flip the 'closed' sign to display on the door. 

Stretching, the feelings of relief at the end of the day are briefly interrupted by Jeonghan walking by on his way home and you rightfully get your vindication. Two middle fingers and a big grin. Gestures he doesn't fail to kindly return.

Your neck prickles and warms slightly when you go back inside and find Seokmin grinning at you as he leans on the counter, forearms nicely on display. The frothy glass placed between them allows you to ogle his arms without it being too obvious.

"You like it, huh?"

"Huh? Like what?"

"Messing with Jeonghan." A playful smile is on his lips, almost a smirk like he knows. 

"Well, yeah. We've known each other since we've been in diapers so it's easy to give him crap."

"Ever had a crush on him?"

You put your hands on your hips. "What's this? Revenge for earlier?"

"Depends on what you're referring to." His eyes sparkle. "And maybe your answer."

"Why does this feel like a test?"

"Maybe it is."

"You're a piece of work!" You exclaim, eyebrows twitching at the next words that come out of his mouth. 

"As much work as Jeonghan?"

"No, Hannie's something else, for sure. Now, you… you're just… I don't know… difficult." 

"You wound me, you really do." Seokmin shakes his head with a smile. "All I did was ask a simple question but it seems like getting to the answer's more difficult than I am."

"What do you get out of knowing?"

"I don't know… wingman privileges?"

You choke on air. "Are you trying to set us up?"

"If that's what you want. Your answer, then?"

"No, thank you," you say emphatically with your entire chest and he beams.

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" He gestures to one of the tables and you take a seat with a huff.

"You know I could cut your pay out of spite."

"Yeah, but you're not going to."

"You're right, as long as this drink isn't poisoned." You stare dubiously at the beverage placed in front of you and he whines.

"The last one wasn't that bad!"

"No, but… it wasn't good either. Oh? What's this?" 

Tonight, it's not just a drink Seokmin has whipped up. A pretty little fruit cake on a plate is accompanied by it and you poke it questioningly with the fork he also hands to you. 

"I made it."

"You did?" You eye it and poke it again. "Well, it's awfully squishy for something made out of plastic."

He whines again, this time your name. "I'm serious! Just try it."

You relent, of course. You've already established the terms ahead of time in case you get sick from something he's made. Not that you have, but it's always good to be prepared for the worst case scenario.

Gingerly, you take a tiny bite. Eyes unwittingly lighting up in enjoyment at the taste of one of your favorite sweets and the way the fluffy dessert melts on your tongue. Absolutely deli —

"It's good, isn't it?"

"Just say you bought it."

"Wha — ?"

"You can't fool me. Clearly this cake is store bought."

"I… " Seokmin tilts his head. "Okay, you got me… you enjoyed it though, right?"

"It's a very appreciated treat, thank you. Where did you buy it?"

"Um, got it from a local bakery. I think they just opened so I'm glad it tasted good."

"Oh, nearby?"

He twiddles with his thumbs. "Uh, p-perhaps I can take you…?"

It is at this moment you heavily weigh your options in a decision-making split second. Grabbing the drink you haven't touched yet, you gather up the confidence you didn't even know you could summon around him.

"A date?"

Seokmin's entire body twitches as he mildly chokes on his saliva. His downturned gaze shoots up to meet yours before returning to the very, incredibly, interesting mark on the table.

"Um…"

"Is it? Are you asking me on a date?"

"W-would you… g-go with me? I mean t-to the place."

You raise your glass in his direction, a smile growing on your lips. "I would like to meet the professional baker who made this cake… "

He bites his lip. "Are you teasing me?"

"Not necessarily."

"Then?"

"If your drink concoctions meet my expectations, then we can go… on a date?"

The poor man looks like he might die on the spot. "You're definitely making fun of me."

"Am not." Even with your mischievous banter, the answer is clear when you slightly grimace after taking a sip. "Why does this taste a bit off?"

"I don't know…"

"I think you added too much syrup. Did you remember to divide it evenly?"

He shrugs. "I think so?"

Sighing, you stand up and gesture for him to follow you around back. "Let's go over the basics again. I can't believe you're still so bad at this."

"Maybe I don't have a good teacher." Seokmin's hands fly up in defense when you whirl around. "I'm kind of over here struggling to wrap my head around if you're asking me out or if you're tricking me into thinking I asked you out."

"Use that lovely brain power of yours to retain the correct measurements this time to succeed. If you want to go on a date, that is."

"I'll do my best."

Seokmin's grand declaration is encouraging but every single fancy drink he prepares for you flops and you're starting to consider that maybe this was his subtle way to reject the date offer. You're mildly insulted, to say the least. But in all honesty, you don't have time to dwell on it, let alone even have time for one anyways.

It's a relief when Seungkwan returns, granting you some well-deserved days off to return to your normal routine. By the time you've finally caught up with things and find time to drop by the coffee shop again, it's been a little over a week. Joshua's flight landed the night before as well, meaning your dashing brother would be well within choking range soon.

Your best friend greets you at the front with a tight hug and large bag of souvenirs as promised. You ask him about his visit and he chats animatedly about the rest of the Boo family he hasn't seen since last year.

"You know I was worried that you didn't get any rest before coming to work but it seems like things are going smoothly."

The atmosphere is peaceful and quiet, the midday lull leaving the shop empty and Seugnkwan's as bubbly as ever. In fact, he rolls his eyes at you and clicks his tongue. 

"I got a ton of rest, silly. And Seok's a great help."

"Yeah, he's not too bad. I just feel bad that you have to manage everything as soon as you got back."

"Aw, you gotta chill out, bestie. Seriously, we have a pro on our hands."

"I know you're more than capable — "

"Not me, I'm talking about Seokmin obviously!"

"What?"

Seungkwan babbles on while you're left flabbergasted. "You know it's incredible, really. He's already whipped up a whole bunch of new drinks and now that we're going to be adding pastries to the menu, he wants to kickstart them by launching a holiday theme! Something fruity because — "

"Whoa, whoa… what are you even ta — "

"Spilling all of my trade secrets already, Kwan?"

You turn around at the voice but you're not even focused on the man speaking who's suddenly shrouded in mystery but glaring daggers at the one with his arm wrapped around Seokmin's shoulders. 

"Joshua Hong!"

"Behold!" Your brother raises his tanned arms to the ceiling. "We have acquired brand new bold and raw talent!"

"Don't think I won't kick your butt because there are people around!"

"Lovely to see you too, dear!"

Seungkwan rushes to hold you back when you take a threatening step towards his boss. "I understand your feelings but can we please call a truce for now!"

"I demand an explanation."

"Of course," Joshua nods, "you have my eternal gratification for various reasons but especially because you convinced the Lee Seokmin to come to the dark side."

"You know I want to hear about something else so what are you talking about, Kwannie picked him? And the 'dark side'? This isn't a cult!"

"Well, yeah but it wasn't until he found out that you — "

Seokmin interrupts Joshua with a hacking fit causing the two other men to look at him in concern. Your eyebrow twitches.

"Clearly there are many things going on that I don't understand." Whether it was intentional or not, you didn't like it.

"It's not like that, it's just — "

"Seokmin's the son of the family that owns that famous bakery in town," Seungkwan supplies helpfully, the only one with a tiny bit of common sense. "He's been scouted by tons of places since he decided to start out on his own but he's agreed to set up shop here."

Your mouth drops at this new information. "What?"

Joshua's arms wrap around the younger man's shoulders again. "Isn't this exciting? It's going to bolster our sales so much!"

When your eyes meet Seokmin's, he winces. "I wasn't trying to hide anyth — "

"If you didn't want to go on a date so bad, you could've just told me."

It slips out of your mouth before you can even think and everyone, including yourself, freezes. Realizing what you said, you swear under your breath, getting ready to bolt away from the scene immediately. But as usual, Seokmin's one step faster. He gently grabs your wrist, spinning you to face him again.

"I swear it was nothing like that! I…. I ended up delaying things because I was nervous."

"Why? There was — well, at least I thought — there was… I don't know… something between us?" Your other hand covers your face. "I can't believe you're making me say this in front of my brother and friend!"

He sucks in a harsh breath. "How do you think I feel? And I'm sorry, I didn't… I was just being stupid. I wanted to… liked spending more time with you but I was unsure of what Joshua might think of me."

"He could give two rats less about a single thing."

"True dat," your brother chimes in.

"You see how he runs this coffee shop… or rather the lack of. No responsibility."

"Hey!"

While Seungkwan hushes your brother, Seokmin takes both of your hands in his. "I'm sorry. Really. C-can I please make it up to you? Maybe o-over some cake and coffee? I'll explain whatever you want."

You chew on your lip, the warmth of his grip and pleading gaze causing you to rock back and forth on your heels. "Are you asking me on a date, Lee Seokmin?"

He catches onto your teasing tone and squeezes your hands. "If you'd be okay with that…"

—

Seokmin still is bad at making drinks. Even if he's improved and follows the recipe correctly, they still taste awfully bland. Neither you nor Joshua nor Seungkwan can figure it out but it's okay because that's where you come in. His grandiose ideas are brewed into fruition by your very own talents and that's why you stick around. 

Or perhaps the delicious little desserts and pastries prettily displayed on the counter are another motivation. Definitely getting to test-taste every single one before it's put on the menu is certainly a bonus. 

And maybe… just maybe… It's the smiley man whose kindness is baked into each one of the tasty treats that becomes the real reason you stop by every day. Just like how everybody comes for their daily fix of caffeine, you cannot go without your daily fix of love from and for your very own Lee Seokmin.

dokyeomblr September 2022: Brewing Love ©

[fullmoonandstar]

who's the australian dude?

Glad you asked XD And I will take this chance to also bring this full circle and tell you why you will probably see or at least hear him in Deadpool 3.

(This is about that post)

So, out of all my celebrity crushes, he is both, the most realistic and the most unrealistic at the same time. Like, personality-wise I think we would be a good match but he is also a kpop idol lol

So Chan in three photos:

(Why is this the only photo of him in the studio that I found???)

He is a producer, songwriter, and singer. I know, people think kpop is never written by the performer but he made songs live on stream several times, if you are interested you can watch episode 158 of Chan's room for example. (he gets a phone call around 55 mins into the stream with a request from one of his group members XD The subtitles are a bit weird in some parts but in general okay^^)

Already mentioned Chan's room. It's his weekly live stream (usually on Sunday) where he listens to music and talks to the fans for an hours or so. In this gif it's a subset of episodes that I call Chan's actual room lol

Once someone asked for advice on period cramps on stream and he did not embarrass himself with his answer which puts him in like the top 10% of people without a uterus that I know. (Maybe I'm pessimistic but I feel like this half of the reproductive parts is not very well understood by those who don't have them^^;;;;;)

🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Bonus:

90% of the time his hair is straightened, but he actually has curly hair. (relevant bc most of my celebrity crushes have curly / wavy hair lol) This was his Halloween stream from last year and I adore the curly hair. I think I have all the gifs of every moment that was caught on camera where his hair is not straightened.

So yeah it's Bang Chan (Or Christopher Bang). Now, for the one person that is asking themselves why would he be in Deadpool? The short answer is bc he and Ryan are buddies and Chan loves Deadpool. Now how do they even know each other in the first place? This is an interesting story.

In Kingdom, 6 male Idol Groups prepared performances for a different theme every week. Every round was followed by a vote that determined the ranking and some manoir details of the show. To this day, I have not understood how the voting system worked even though they explained it on the show like every episode lol

In Kingdom, 6 male Idol Groups prepared performances for a different theme every week. Every round was followed by a vote that determined the ranking and some manoir details of the show. To this day, I have not understood how the voting system worked even though they explained it on the show like every episode lol

One of the themes was "no limit" basically everything goes. They could collab with anyone, remix songs, or some third thing (I know nothing about music) but they could do basically anything they wanted.

Stray Kids have a song called God's Menu which was their first real break in 2020 and propelled them to the next level of popularity. Now, there is this Black Pink song called Ddu Ddu Ddu. Both songs have a part in the chorus that goes "du du du" but at different rhythms and they thought "wouldn't it be funny to make a mash-up?". Black Pink is well know and their songs are popular so why. They made the mash up and it's amazing. This performance is the reason I became a fan btw. I watched Kingdom for one of the other groups that competed - Ateez - but this mash-up is so good it put Stray Kids on my radar.

This performance was very Deadpool-inspired, from the hand draw map to the outfits.

(Mnet took down the original performance video for some reason but you can see it here)

Quick side note: When Chan is talking here, he is talking in English, but because this was Korean tv they used these cards to write subtitles on. however, the first one says something different. It says "JYP 바보 (JYP is an Idiot)" Park Jin-young (JYP) is their boss and founder of their record label they work for lol (I think he resigned as CEO but is still involved with the company)

After the performance, Chan took one of probs, a Deadpool mask, and appeared with it on hos weekly live stream.

Another side note: The live stream is called Chan's room but this is really some sort of play on his name bc "room" in Korean is bang and it's written the same way as his family name. (This doesn't mean that his family name means room bc family names in Korea are almost always based on Chinese symbols and the name is just the phonetic version of that)

The performance doesn’t go unnoticed, Ryan post something under a tweet about it. Some interaction followed - I’m not on twitter so idk what exactly happened here but yeah, - this was the beginning of their bromance. Chan send Ryan a signed album and Ryan sent chan a bottle of (what liquor is he selling?) which is funny bc Chan doesn't drink so it's just there on his desk. In a later stream he opened the bottle and sniffed it. You can imagine the reaction, I don't have to tell you XD Chan also interviewed Ryan when Free Guy was released.

Given that Ryan reblogged a post with Chan gifs recently leads me to think they are still bros and if the opportunity arises they would totally do something together.

This is the reason why so many people, including myself, are convinced the Stray Kids will be on the soundtrack for Deadpool and I wouldn't be surprised if they even have some cameo in the movie in one way or another. It could even just be in some reference only fan will get or one of their songs plays in the background. There are lots of possibilities

One last thing. Maybe you saw the screenshot of Chan from their performance on Kingdom and thought "Man, he don't look like Deadpool." And yes he doesn't. Because Chan wasn't Deadpool. He was.

This is Stray Kids' other Australian dude, Felix. (If you watched the performance, yes, that is his actual voice.) He even got the swords <3

(Did this sit in my drafts for two months? Yes, it did.)

[theoreticslut]

「 celebrate good times 」

eddie munson x fem reader

summary: eddie is finally graduating, and - as his best friend - you make sure he gets the celebration he deserves.

requested: no

word count: 4k

warnings: pet names (honey/hon, princess, baby, etc), reader being anxious

a/n (1): i attended a graduation party a few weekends ago and all i could think about was eddie getting the graduation party he deserves. like he’d just be so overwhelmed with joy - even if he doesn’t outwardly express it. anyways, i hope you enjoy this fluffy little piece Xx

a/n (2): so so so sorry i haven’t posted a fic in probably a month and a half/two months. college has been busy - as it always is. if i ever get down time, i’m usually trying to sleep and take some ‘me time,’ bc i don’t get it otherwise. i hope i’ve still got some people here though willing to read my fics. i love you guys & am really hoping i can’t get some writing done soon again so i can post more for all of you Xx

“The class of 1986!” 

As rounds of applause and cheers permeate the gymnasium after Principal Higgins’ announcement of the newly graduated class, you find yourself smiling wider than ever before. Even wider than you did on your own graduation day. 

Your best friend has finally graduated, and you couldn’t be any happier or more proud. He’s worked so hard to get here, and you only hope you can treat him to the full experience that he rightfully deserves.

“I told you it was ‘86, baby!” Eddie smiles, arms open wide in grandeur as he jumps off the makeshift stage to greet you and his uncle.

“l didn’t doubt you for a second, Eds.” 

“I’m just glad you made it, son. I’m…well, I’m proud of you.” Wayne congratulates, and you know he’s emotional even if he’s not showing it.

Wayne has raised Eddie for a good twelve years at least, and he’s glad to say he’s done a far better job than his brother ever could. Although he hates that his brother followed the family legacy and practically left Eddie behind, he’s proud that Eddie is trying to do better than either of them - Wayne or his father - ever tried to. 

It’s hard to watch the kid you raised grow up to be an adult right in front of your eyes, though, regardless of how proud he is. 

“Ah, c’mere.”  

You can’t help but chuckle at the sight of Eddie pulling his uncle into a hug, but it warms your heart all the same. They’re the only blood the two of them have, and it’s nice that they’re so close.

“You too, honey. Get in here.” Eddie coaxes, reaching out for you where you stand to the side of them.

As he grabs your waist and pulls you into the hug, you can’t help but let out a gasped giggle which brings a smile to both of the mens’ faces. Eddie is simply always happy to see you happy, but Wayne is more pleased with the fact that you make Eddie happy. 

It didn’t take long at all for Wayne to welcome you into their little family after you and Eddie became friends back in late elementary school. He could tell that his nephew had an immediate soft spot for you - and that you had one for him - and that’s all he needed to know. 

Ever since, he’s seen you as a daughter, because he’s sure that sooner or later you will be in a sense. It’s clear to him that both you and Eddie love each other, even if you haven’t yet figured it out yourselves.

“Eds, you’re squishing me.” You chuckle, trying to pinch his side as you hug him and his uncle.

“Sorry, hon. Guess I’m just a little too happy today.”

Smiling, you smooth out your sundress as the three of you pull away from the hug.

“You deserve to be, Eddie. It’s definitely been your year, just like you said it would. You deserve to celebrate it.”

“Yeah? Well how does pizza and movies sound?”

“You want to celebrate your graduation with pizza and movies? Two things we do just about every week as is?” You question, a little skeptical that he doesn’t have any other ideas.

“Do you have a better idea, princess?” 

“I might. Let’s take a few more pictures and then head home first, though.” 

Eddie can’t help but raise his brows at your statement, only one idea running through his head at your innocuous response. Surely you don’t mean what he’s thinking though. Not when Wayne is standing right here with the both of you, and the two of you have never done anything of the sort. You’re best friends. Still, he can’t help but wonder what you’re up to.

~.~

Wayne can’t help but shake his head at you, which you don’t miss, as the three of you get closer to the trailer park. You’re practically bouncing in the center seat of the truck with all the nervous, excited energy coursing through you.

Since the beginning of April, when you found out for sure that Eddie would be graduating, you’ve been planning a graduation party for him. He deserves it more than anyone, and you know that Wayne wouldn’t know where to start with one, never having one himself either.

Of course you made sure Wayne was included in the planning from the get-go after you first approached him with the idea. He was Eddie’s uncle, and sole blood relative in his life, after all. You couldn’t throw Eddie a party and not invite him.

Albeit being a bit hastily put together with only a month of planning, you and Wayne were determined to give the lovable metalhead “freak” you both hold dear a graduation party. You would spend the mornings over at the trailer with Wayne, running things over while Eddie was at school, and then you’d spend evenings with Eddie acting as if there was nothing out of the ordinary happening right under his nose. 

You planned out the food and beverages, the music, the time and place, the guest list…anything and everything that goes into planning a graduation party you managed to do in a month. You even roped in - bribed - Steve and the kids to get the party set up while you were at graduation for Eddie, because it would surely be suspicious if you missed watching him walk the stage.  

Containing your excitement has always been difficult, but it’s even harder to do when it’s a surprise for your best friend. You’re dying to see his reaction, hoping that he’ll appreciate the idea and not be upset that you did this without his permission. 

“You okay, honey? I think you’re more excited than I’ve been all day, and I’m the one that graduated.”

“’M fine, Eds.”

“Positive?”

“Mhm. I am excited, but can you really blame me? My best friend finally graduated from the hellhole that is Hawkins High.”

“Mm, I guess I can’t, but you’re still far too excited in my opinion.” Eddie smiles, snaking an arm around your waist and pulling you closer to him on the bench seat.

Wayne doesn’t miss the little action, of course, but says nothing as the two of you have been like this for years now. He knows that as soon as he says something then things will get awkward between you. He’d honestly just rather watch the two of you figure it out yourselves, no matter how painful it might be at times. He’s sure it’ll happen sooner or later.

“You’ll just have to deal with it, then.” You quip, smiling as he gives you a skeptical side eye.

As he smiles and shakes his head, however, you feel the smooth asphalt change to the bumpy gravel of the trailer park and you start to bounce in excitement yet again. A month of planning is coming to light in less than two minutes. How can anyone expect you to sit still? 

“What’s going on?” Eddie questions, dragging out the question as he notices the large amount of people outside the trailer.

“I didn’t do anything, Wayne. I swear.” 

“I know you didn’t, Eddie. This is all y/n’s doing.” He ever so slightly smirks, glancing between his nephew and you.

“Y/n?” 

You can’t help the soft, albeit unsure, smile that settles on your lips as Eddie looks out the windshield as the truck comes to a stop, Wayne parking and sliding out of the vehicle, leaving you and Eddie alone.

“Congrats on Graduating, Eds.”

“Y/n…”

“I wanted you to be able to celebrate with everyone that cares for you.” You explain, watching him as he takes all of it in, abnormally quiet.

“You…you planned a party for me?” 

“Wayne and I did, yeah. What do you think?”

“I can’t believe you, hon. I love it.“

“Yeah?”

“Mhm, thank you. I…I never expected to have one of these. Wayne…”

“I know, Eds. That’s why I wanted to do it. You deserve it, munch.” 

“Thank you.” He murmurs, wrapping you up tight in his arms. 

“How about we go join the party, yeah? Everyone’s waiting on you.”

He nods, smiling, before he opens his door and slides out. Before you can move to do the same though, he’s got his arms around you pulling you out of the truck himself.

Giggling, you can’t help but smile as he sets you down before pressing a kiss to your hairline. He can’t believe that you’d go through all of the planning of a party just for him. You’ve always treated him well and made him feel special, but this is going above and beyond. 

Truthfully, he’s not sure there’s enough words to express just how grateful he is at the moment. All he can think to do is to kiss you, but you’re only friends. Anything but a forehead kiss might make things a little awkward.

As he lets his lips linger at your hairline, though, all he can do is smile and it’s nearly impossible to stop. He’s honestly not sure what he’d ever do without you. Not when you make his heart race and make him feel seen.

“I can’t believe you did this for me.” He mutters, smiling and sighing as he grabs your hand in his.

“You deserve it more than anyone, Eds. You worked hard to get here, and we wanna celebrate it with you.” You state, squeezing his hand in yours before leading the two of you out from behind his Uncle’s truck.

Eddie still looks awed by you as you drag him into the throes of his party, a soft smile on his lips and fondness in his eyes. He’s never felt more lucky in his life, but he’s got you and that’s got to be done with the greatest luck in the world.

“Congrats, man!” Steve calls, smiling as soon as you and Eddie come into view, taking notice of your intertwined hands.

Though neither of you know it, all your friends have bets on when the two of you will get together. Your feelings for each other are so obvious that it’s really all they can do to not go crazy with the constant “not flirting.”

“Thanks, Harrington. It’s nice to see you.” 

Before anything more can be said between the two men, Eddie’s being attacked by the three freshmen he’s taken under his wing, nearly being knocked over by the force of their group hug.

“You did it, man! You graduated!” Dustin smiles, patting his dungeon master’s back.

“Told you that ‘86 was my year, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but it’s weird to think you won’t be there next year.” 

“I’ll still be around, dude. Gotta make sure you’re taking care of those lost lambs.” Eddie teases, ruffling the boy’s hair as all three of them promise that they will.

All you can do is watch on with a fond smile as Eddie begins to play fight with the younger boys. It’s only when Steve bumps your shoulder with his do you pull your eyes away from Eddie.

“It’s a nice party, y/n. You did good.” 

“Yeah? Thanks, Steve. And thank you for getting it set up. I owe you one.” You smile, letting Steve pull you into a side hug as your attention drifts back to Eddie.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s a really nice thing you’re doing for him, and I’m glad I could help.” 

“Have you given him his gift yet?” He questions after a moment while Eddie gets pulled into a conversation by someone else.

“Not yet. Planned on giving it to him later, towards the end of the party.”

“Don’t want anyone to see you confessing your love to him, huh?” 

You scoff, rolling your eyes as you swat at Steve’s chest. He’s always teased you for your feelings towards the metalhead, even when you never officially told him them. He just knows, and you really kind of hate it sometimes.

“I’m not confessing my love to him, dipshit. It’s just a gift.”

“If it is, then why haven’t you given it to him yet?”

“Shut up, Steve. I don’t need to explain myself to you.” 

“Never said you did, but you’d and I both know it’s not just a gift you’re giving him, don’t we?”

“Go find someone else to bother.” You huff, shoving him off with no real conviction. He’s not wrong, even if you won’t admit it.

~.~

As the sky fades into different shades of the sunset, you find yourself sitting on the Munson’s little patio, watching Eddie laugh along with your guys’ friends as they chase each other with water balloons. It’s nice to see him just enjoying himself with no worries whatsoever.

“Ahh! You’re gonna get it!” Dustin threatens, chasing a laughing Eddie who’s running towards you.

“Can’t now! Y/n’s the safe spot.” Eddie calls, clambering up the stairs behind you as Dustin hovers in front of you - you just watching on in amusement.

“There was no safe spot!”

“There is now.”

“Cheater.” Dustin huffs, glaring at the man now squatting behind you.

As Dustin stalks away, pouting but not challenging the older man, Eddie starts to laugh from behind you.

“That was a bit mean, Eds.” You state, trying to give him a pointed look but a smile finds itself a place on your lips as you look at him from over your shoulder.

“He’ll deal with it. Wanted to come see you, honey.” Eddie smiles, pressing a kiss to your forehead as he settles himself into a sitting position behind you, you being positioned between his legs.

“Yeah? You’re seeing me.”

“I am.” 

There’s no stopping the smile that grows on your face at his unintentionally sultry voice while he wraps an arm around your waist, leaning his head on your shoulder.

“How are you liking your party?”

“I love it. Thank you again, princess. You know exactly how to make a man feel special.” 

“I wouldn’t say that, necessarily, munch. I just wanted to give you what you deserve.” You giggle, shivering lightly as the cool water from the balloons drips off his hair onto your bare shoulder.

“I appreciate it nonetheless, hon. You’re amazing. The bestest friend anyone could dream of having, and yet you’re all mine, aren’t you?” 

“All yours, Eds. Wouldn’t trade you in for anything.”

“Good, because I think it’s about time you get involved in the party you planned.” He states, and you can hear the smirk in his voice.

“Eddie…what’re you do-OH!” You shriek, cold water dropping over you as he pops a balloon above your head. Thank god you had forgone a white sundress in favor of a darker, floral one.

“You asshole!” 

You can’t help but bite back a smile as Eddie laughs, wrapping both arms around your waist in a tight hug. You’re so going to get him back when he’s not expecting it, but for now you’re just going to enjoy being in his arms.

~.~

“Thank you again for coming.” You smile, waving goodbye to the last of Wayne’s friends, some of them arriving late after their morning/afternoon shift ended.

Yours and Eddie’s friends had left about a half hour ago now after the kids were practically falling asleep around the little fire you got going. You didn’t want their parents to worry about them, so you and Eddie got Max over to her trailer, while Nancy drove her brother home. Steve then offered to drive Dustin and Lucas home, but not without another teasing comment whispered in your ear as you hugged him goodbye.

“Was that the last of them?” Eddie questions, coming to stand behind you, a hand on your waist as you watch the older man drive away.

“I believe so. You had a lot of people show up, Eds.”

“Surprisingly, yeah. I would’ve been happy with just you and Wayne, though, you know.”

“I know, but this was fun, wasn’t it?”

“Definitely. Thank you, honey. I really can’t thank you enough.” He sighs, soft smile on his lips as he gently moves to lead the two of you inside.

“You don’t need to thank me, Eds. I wanted to do this for you.”

“Which I still can’t understand. How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?”

“Oh hush up. You’re flattering me again, munch.” You huff, cheeks warm as you try to deflect all the affection being thrown around.

“Because you deserve it. I never pictured myself having such an amazing best friend.”

“I think I’m the one with the amazing best friend, Eds.” 

As he chuckles and shakes his head, you let him lead you into the trailer, blinking at the difference in light.

“Careful, princess. Flattery works with me, remember.”

“How could I forget? Go get changed, Eddie. I’ve got one last surprise for you.” You smile, fidgeting with your fingers ever so slightly as the idea of giving him his gift brings about a surge of nervousness.

“Another one? Y/n, you’ve done more than enough. I can’t-“

“Yes, you can. Or so help me god, because I’ve purposely held onto this one for you to open.” 

Aside from your stomach doing somersaults, your heart is racing - not only making it difficult to breathe, but making your entire body shake. Although you and Eddie have been friends for years now, you’re worried how he’ll take this gift. It’s a bit more personal and sentimental than anything you’ve ever gifted him, and you’re not sure you could handle him rejecting it.

Eddie frowns as he notices the waver in your voice. You’re nervous, which isn’t necessarily all that unusual, but unusual for when it comes to him. 

Grabbing your hands in his, he mindlessly squeezes your fidgeting fingers before sending you a soft smile. This last surprise of yours must be important to you, but he’s not sure what it could possibly be. All he knows is he doesn’t want you to be nervous. Not around him.

“You really didn’t need to, princess, but thank you. You’re too good to me.”

“You haven’t even opened it yet, Eds. How do you know that you don’t hate it?” You almost whine, your nerves getting the better of you.

“Because I don’t need to open it to know I’ll love it. It’s from you, hon, and I love everything you get me.” Eddie smiles, making your cheeks flush with heat as you try to bite back a gleeful, giddy smile.

“Do I absolutely have to change before I can get this last surprise, princess?”

“You don’t have to, but I figured you’d want to get comfy now that everyone’s gone.”

“I want to see whatever this surprise is more. You do realize you can’t tell me you’ve got a surprise and then tell me to go do something else, right? I’m a child, y/n.”

You can’t help but laugh at him as he gives you a wide-eyed, playfully pouted look. He truly is a child at times, but you love him for it. 

“Okay, okay. Let me go get it, Eds.”

Watching you disappear down to his room, he can’t help but smile. He will never understand how he got so lucky to have you in his life. While he would love if the two of you could be a little more, he’s happy to have you as his best friend. 

How could he not be when you’re as kind and thoughtful and beautiful as you are? He’s not lying when he says that you’re too good to him. No one else would ever consider throwing him a graduation party, let alone get him a birthday and Christmas gift every year. No one else would make sure he’s got something on Valentine’s Day - be it a flower or a goofy card or some candies. 

No one else could ever be you, and he’s grateful for that. He’s in love with you, and it doesn’t matter if your love for him is only platonic, because at least you still love him too. 

“Okay, I saw these a while ago and really liked them, but I wasn’t sure what you’d think of them. I’m still not sure what you might think of them, but…yeah. I got them.” You ramble, coming out of his room with a small box dressed with a simple ribbon. 

“If you liked them, then I’m positive that I’ll like them, but I’ll hold off on an official judgment. Since you apparently have to open stuff up before knowing.” He teases, happy to bring a small smile to your face as you roll your eyes.

“You do! Now…open it.” 

There’s no stopping the small chuckle that leaves Eddie lips as you hold the box out for him to take. Carefully grabbing it from your hands, he undoes the bow before letting it freely hang over his hand. 

You watch as he glances up at you with a soft smile, and feel your stomach flip while your heart flutters inside your chest. Deep down you know this little gift holds more meaning than simply being best friends, and that’s what makes you so anxious. You haven’t yet decided if you hope he gets the meaning or not.

He finally lifts the lid off the box, and moves the folded tissue paper aside until two beaded bracelets are revealed - one white with a single black bead and the other black with a single white bead. 

Eddie stares at the jewelry for a moment, trying to get a handle of his thoughts and emotions. You got him - and presumably you - matching bracelets. While you’ve done soft things for him before, he’s sure this is the softest. 

“What do you think? Th-they’re supposed to represent us always being with each other, even if we can’t physically be together.” You question, voice dropping to a murmur as you explain the meaning of them.

“Eddie?”

He’s yet to say anything, and it worries you. Maybe he hates them. Maybe he realizes you like him as more than a friend. Maybe -

Your thoughts are cut off as Eddie kisses you, his lips warm and soft against yours while his hair tickles your cheeks. Although initially surprised, having him kiss you feels right. It’s like this is what the two of you should have always been doing.

“I love them. I love you, honey.” He murmurs, smile on his lips as he pulls away from you the slightest bit.

“Yeah?”

“Thought I just made that obvious, baby. I wouldn’t have kissed you if I only liked you.”

“You’re such an idiot,” you huff, playfully hitting him in the chest. 

“…but I guess that’s why I love you.” 

“Glad we’re on the same page.” He chuckles, catching your lips with his once more, this kiss being softer - less rushed.

Once he pulls away, a dopey smile on both your faces, he pulls out the bracelets from the box he’s yet to set down. Looking at both of them in his hands, he can’t help but smile wider. You love him and you got matching bracelets for the two of you. You’re his just as much as he is yours.

“I don’t know when we’ll ever actually be apart, but I still love these, princess. I like knowing I’ve got a piece of your heart.” 

You can’t help but shake your head at the metalhead you call your best friend, although there’s no denying that you’re still smiling. He carefully takes your left hand and slides the white bracelet onto your wrists, gently tightening it for you so it doesn’t slide off. Afterwards, he slides his on his right wrist alongside the other few bracelets - usually knitted friendship ones - you’ve given him over the years.

“Thank you for everything today, y/n. For watching me graduate, for the party, for these…I’m glad you were here.” He confesses, playing with your fingers as a smile grows on his lips. 

“I wouldn’t have dreamt of being anywhere else, Eds. I know how hard you worked to finally get here. I’m proud of you, and wanted you to feel as loved as you are.”

“Can you say that again?”

“Which part?”

“All of it.”

There’s no way you couldn’t smile at that. He doesn’t get nearly enough of the love or reassurance you can tell he wants, so you’ll happily be the one to remind him.

“I’m proud of you, Eds, and I love you. So, so much.”

------------------------------------------------------

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[spencersawkward]

omg omg i know matthews birthday isnt for a couple weeks but i would die for a bday sex one shot omg

i made you wait so long for this i'm so sorry omg. one-shots usually take me longer bc i want them to be detailed!

summary: reader has plans for Matthew’s 41st birthday, but things take their own turn. 

content warnings: unprotected penetrative sex, oral (male receiving), degradation, Soft!Dom Matthew with some fluff, too; fingering, creampie, implied age gap. 

pairing: Fem!Reader/Matthew

word count: 4.3k

masterlist

I haul the enormous bag of flour onto the counter, grunting. it's early afternoon, and my day has been spent wrapping all of Matthew's gifts and trying to plan out the perfect birthday celebration. he's turning 41, and all I want is for him to feel as special as he feels to me. the cake is the last piece of the puzzle, and I'm hoping that my less-than-excellent culinary skills improve over the course of the next few hours.

I set out all the ingredients first, swaying to my music while I go through the recipe and decide how much I need. it shouldn't be too complicated, right? just chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. I thought I'd try to recreate the Rumple Buttercup cartoon with it, but now I'm not so sure. that might be flirting with disaster.

instead of deciding right there, I just get started on the batter. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

the air is thick with sweetness and warmth as the oven slowly pre-heats and I stir together the silky smooth chocolate batter. I pour the mix into a round baking pan, tapping it a bit to make sure it's even, before pushing it into the oven. naturally, I lick the whisk clean.

my phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out to see that Matthew's texted me.

on my way home now!

my heart stutters in my chest as I check the time. he's definitely early; he told me this morning that he wouldn't be at home until at least seven. my eyes flicker to the cake, over the messy kitchen, and back to my screen.

early?

yep. can't wait to see you. followed by a series of heart emojis. I start to panic a little. this throws my whole schedule off; I was going to do my hair, pick up food from his favorite restaurant, set the table, litter the bed with rose petals. I wanted everything to be just right for him; it's the first time he's had a birthday with me.

and now he's going to come home to me with flour-dusted cheeks and a half-baked cake. I quickly clean the kitchen and wipe my face before running off to the bedroom, rifling through my closet for something nice. thank god I already showered this morning because there's no way I'd have time now. I find the dress I'd planned to wear, red and slinky and pretty, before dropping my clothes and changing right away.

truly, I move at the speed of light when I do my hair, scatter the rose petals, and call the restaurant to get our order started. we'll need to run out and get it, but Matthew likes going for walks, so that shouldn't be a problem.

the smell of chocolate wafts through the house while I tie an apron around my waist and get a bowl out of the cabinets. the cake needs to cool for a while, but I might as well get started on the frosting. who knows how long that'll take?

too damn long, apparently.

Matthew opens the front door while I'm halfway through my crumb coat, the soft green shade of the Rumple Buttercup colors coming along nicely. I start to panic a little when I hear his footsteps on the stairs.

"Y/N!" he calls out.

"kitchen!" I respond without moving. he probably shouldn't see the cake, but at this point it's too late. there's fluffy buttercream frosting and food coloring all over my apron. all I can do is wait patiently as he strolls into the room.

"what are you up to?" he sets his hand on my back, smiling.

"making your cake, birthday boy."

"mmm." he wraps a hand around my arm, drags it down while leaning his chin on my shoulder. "looks really nice so far."

"you like the color?" I ask.

"I do." he mumbles, starting to touch my waist. "what material is this?"

"silk."

"you know I love that." he squeezes my waist and I have to resist the blush spreading up my cheeks. he's affectionate right now, and I want to resist, but it's hard.

"what're you doing?" I question playfully in response to the drifting of his fingers down my thighs.

"I'm excited to see you."

"I'm excited to see you, too, but we have a strict schedule tonight."

Matthew groans and drops his head into the space between my neck and shoulder. his hands don't leave my hips.

"why?" he whines.

"because I want you to have the best birthday ever." I smooth off the top of the cake, sighing when he digs his fingernails into me. it feels heavenly, and the featherlight kisses he's leveling on my jaw are making me woozy.

"making me wait?" he brushes over my ass, squeezing the flesh lightly. "that's cruel."

I laugh a little and swipe my finger through the frosting.

"try this and tell me if I'm still cruel."

he grabs my hand in both of his, sliding my index into his mouth and licking it off of me. my jaw drops in surprise before he pulls away and drops it. it's unbelievably sexy.

"that is really good." he smiles, then kisses my cheek in an alarmingly innocent manner. he knows what he's doing. "don't be a tease, darling."

"you--" I stutter, trying to regain my concentration. it's futile at this point; it isn't until he moves away from my body that I'm able to keep working on the cake. he only glances with a knowing smirk, walking around the counter to sit across from me.

"how was your day?"

"my day was jam-packed with planning for a little ingrate's birthday." I joke.

"I'm not an ingrate." he protests. one look at his pout and I feel guilty for teasing. standing on tiptoes, I lean over the counter and plant a kiss on his mouth.

"you're right, I'm sorry," I sigh. "I just had a whole plan and when you came home early, I didn't have time for all of it."

"what can I do?" he offers immediately. I scowl.

"you're not gonna help me prepare your birthday celebration, silly."

"but I wanna make it easier."

"you wanna make it easier?" I ask, the corners of my lips quirking up. he nods enthusiastically and I hold his gaze. "I need to go pick up our dinner, so you can walk with me."

"ooh, yes!" he leaps up in an almost child-like manner, coming around to my side again. I nuzzle into his shoulder as I finish piping the face onto the cake. he snorts when he sees the completed project. "is that Rumple?"

"shut up, it looks so bad." I complain. my body leans into his in defeat. even though I tried, Rumple looks like he's been possessed and exorcised in one sitting: he's got crazy eyes and a lopsided face.

"no, it's beautiful," he pecks the top of my head. "he's supposed to look funny."

all I can do is turn around and hug him, giggling at the absolute monstrosity that I've created. he wraps his arms around me tightly and we start to sway a little.

"I feel like Victor Frankenstein." I laugh. he untangles our bodies to tilt my chin up and look at him.

"you're way cuter." he rubs my nose with his own. I'm smiling so big, it hurts. he makes me so unbelievably happy, I can't imagine not being by his side. Matthew is the best boyfriend in the world, and I really want everything to live up to his expectations.

our fingers thread together briefly before we get ready to go pick up our food.

...

"I am literally going to combust." I giggle, throwing my napkin onto the table. red wax drips down the sides of the candle between us, and Matthew's eyes are starry as he watches me talk.

"good?" he asks.

"amazing. how was yours?"

"could barely get it down." he gestures to the empty plate. I throw my head back and laugh more than I should. Matthew frowns. "what?"

"that's such a dad joke."

"really?" he laughs along with me until we're both just smiling brightly at each other. I don't want to step too far; we've been dating under a year, still. but I see myself with Matthew forever. we've already moved in together; I've never felt so strongly as I feel for him, and I think that he feels it, too. in our bones.

"yes, but I like dad jokes."

"come here." he holds his arms out and I get up from the table, walking over to sit on his lap. he shifts so I can be more comfortable, and I place both hands on my stomach.

"I have such a food baby right now."

"do you?" he sets one hand over the bump. I lean my head into his shoulder, curling up a little. he starts to rub my tummy gently, holding me close while we sit in a relative quiet. "I like it."

"mmm." I hum, wrapping my arms around his neck. although he could easily turn this sexual, he doesn't. we just linger, breathing and letting our food settle. I really am full; the chances of me falling asleep are higher than not.

I ask Matthew to tell me more about his day as I sit there, and the rumble of his voice in his chest is soothing. as the candle wax drips further and further down, I watch it with lethargic eyes. I've had a hard year-- Matthew's made it better. he can read me like a book, and he listens like I've got all the answers in the world. I love him. and when I head to the kitchen to slice the cake, he follows me with his arms around my waist. we move like two people who have been together a long time, like we can anticipate the next person's movement down to the flicker of their eye contact, down to their step.

"I can't believe you have room for dessert." I grab a knife from the drawer, along with some plates. Matthew kisses my head.

"I've got room for multiple desserts."

"was that a sexual allusion or are you actually hungry?" I turn briefly to gauge his behavior. if he hasn't had enough to eat, I'll feel horrible. but he leans down to my ear. it still sends a shiver down my spine.

"definitely sexual," he smirks, then retreats. "let's do this, though, first. I want a piece of Rumple's eyeball."

"just get out the candles so I can do this for you." I push him away. he heads to the cupboard and returns with the pack of candles that I begin to spear into the cake. I only put in ten because there's not room for forty-one, but he doesn't seem to mind as I light them up individually.

"go sit down! you weren't even supposed to come in here." I laugh as I lift the dish into my arms and shoo him into the other room. Matthew gives me a sidelong look, smiling for an unknown reason, before following my orders.

he pretends to look surprised when I bring the thing out to him, mouth making a pleased O shape.

"wow!" he cheers.

"make a wish, then, my love." I tell him. he inhales deeply, then blows out the candles. one or two stragglers remain, their flames flickering before he tries again and snuffs them out. I clap my hands.

"happy birthday, baby!"

he grins at me and starts to pluck the candles out of the cake. "you didn't sing to me." he says.

"trust me, that was a gift in itself." I laugh before picking up the knife. "how big a slice do you want?"

Matthew seems to think for a second on this, squinting as he examines the thing.

"big."

"alright then." I cut an enormous hunk out, making sure to get one of the maddened eyeballs on it before sliding it onto the plate and giving it to him. "enjoy."

"oh, I will." before I can move to sit across from him, he reaches out and pulls me into his lap. I let out a surprised noise, but settle in anyway on his thigh while I cut my own slice of cake. we eat together.

"it's actually pretty good." I'm impressed with myself. sure, it's not a super complicated recipe. but I still did well. Matthew wraps his arm around my waist, one hand holding his plate while the other digs the fork in.

"it's amazing." he nods through a mouthful of food.

"how's the eye?"

"how you'd expect a vitreous humor to taste." he jokes, laughing as I elbow him in the ribs. "ow!" he complains. I swipe some of the frosting off the top of his slice and tap it over his nose. he wrinkles it at the sensation.

"maybe I'll just leave." I move to get up, but he keeps me in place. his little smile, so determined in its happiness, makes my heart soften. for all of his teasing, he's weak for me, and I love it. when I lean down a little to lick the icing off, he blushes.

"when can I have you?" he asks quietly, one hand resting on the top of my bare thigh. it tightens around my skin, growing more aware of my presence in his lap. I bite my lip and mull this over, subtly draw the hem of my dress up a bit just to tease him.

"I'm thinking..." this time, he lets me get up. my fingers slide through his, dragging him with me. "now."

Matthew gets an excited grin on his face before I spin around and lead him to the bedroom. a couple candles are burning, filling the room with a deep, sensual smell that he inhales as he stops in his tracks.

"did you put rose petals on our bed?" he chuckles, staring at me with his eyebrows raised in an adoring expression. I run my palms up his chest, stopping below his shoulders. I poke my tongue between my teeth as I smile.

"yes, I did."

"very romantic."

"is it?" I lift an eyebrow. it takes everything in me not to pounce on him right then.

"consider me seduced."

"if you ever use that word again, I'm calling this off." I laugh. he silences it in a kiss, eagerly gathering my body up in his arms as he tilts his head to deepen it. a slight moan slips through me, pleased with the gentle, innocent pleasure he elicits. he's softer than velvet. when he crushes the silk of my dress in his fist, lifting it over my ass so he can touch me without barriers, he groans.

"did I pay for this?" he rolls the fabric between his fingers.

"mhmm." I hum.

"good." his breath hitches when the zipper comes down easily, the garment falling to the floor and leaving me in brand new black lingerie. his eyes move hungrily over my body, pupils dilating further as he takes in the curves of my figure.

"this is new."

I twist around a bit, showing him the back as well, his grip on my waist loosening only to allow me this movement. "you like it?"

he groans. "I love it."

I want to start undressing him, greedy for the sight of his naked body, but he reaches down and lifts me into his arms, my legs wrapping around him while he carries me to the floral-covered mattress. I sink into a rosy paradise, almost give into the alluring sensations he causes with his fingertips over my skin.

he's between my legs, teeth seeking out collarbone and the swell of my chest. it would be so, so easy to remain here, pinned down and allowing him to let loose on me. every deliberate shadow on my body is like a sunburst. but I can't.

I grab his shoulders and yank him down next to me. he peers at me with a smile, wondering what I've got in store. the answer is too loaded to fit into one sentence, so I watch him move up the bed until he's resting his head on the pillow, my legs moving to straddle him.

"taking control?" he questions. he knows I don't usually like to be on top. instead of replying, I reach behind me and undo the clasps of my bra, sliding it from my arms before tossing it somewhere else. his eyes widen and he goes to grab at my tits, but I'm too quick. I lean down, unbuttoning his shirt and drawing my nails over his chest as I lower myself to his pants.

Matthew is silent, open-mouthed at the red marks I leave behind on his smooth skin. it's intoxicating for me, too, and I work quickly to tug his bottoms down his legs, the boxers with them. when his dick is released, I let him struggle through a moment of no contact.

"let me touch you." he goes to stroke himself. my gaze flickers between the length he's now gripping in his hand and the needy look on his face. I want to fuck him right now. every cell in my body aches for him, for the pleasure that so violently rips through my veins when he's inside.

"not yet." I betray myself, and his hips buck into empty air when he sees my torso so close to his erection. when I drop my head and lick up the underside, he lets go of himself and allows me to tease him. I pause at the tip, then hold the base while I spit on it.

"shit!" he grunts as I start to swirl my tongue around him. his fingers run through my hair. "suck on it, baby."

all I do is moan, the vibration torturing him. I peek up through my lashes and see the veins in his neck throbbing while he resists the urge to fuck my mouth. I soften and lower my head slowly, inch by inch swallowing his cock. he hits the back of my throat. the slight gag that runs through me makes him sigh. it's then that I tap his hand as our signal to push my head down.

Matthew loses it. he starts to shove my mouth onto him, fucking it, one hand reaching behind him to grab the top of the headboard while he groans.

"choke on it... fuck." he moans. there are tears in my eyes from the pressure, but I keep looking at him the whole time. he's gorgeous, mouth dropped open in ecstasy while he goes between rolling his eyes into the back of his head and staring with an intense desire.

every time I gag, he lets out an unholy noise and gets excited all over again, his hips moving to meet my lips until he's on the edge of falling apart. his cock twitches and I moan, but he's not willing to finish.

"get over here so I can fuck you." his voice is borderline raspy as he forces himself to release my head. I sit up and wipe the spit from my mouth, crawling on top of him again to leave some of my favorite marks on his neck. he's mine. every bite stands to prove it, and his quick breaths let me know that he's not going to wait much longer.

his fingertips hook in the waistband of my panties and he pushes them down my thighs, purses his lips while he watches me shimmy out of them. it's wonderful, seeing the disarray in his face whenever he catches sight of my naked form. he never knows where to touch first, moving over my breasts to my waist and hips down to my legs. like he's trying to blend our bodies together by simply drinking me in.

I tense when he reaches out and sinks two fingers into me. I'm so wet, it takes almost no pressure.

"fucking soaked, huh?" he smirks. my hands steady themselves on his shoulders as he starts to pump in and out of me. I groan.

"get inside, please." I murmur nearly incoherently. he starts to go faster, his cock throbbing against his stomach. but he wants me to squirm and beg.

"oh, so you've got demands?" he teases. his fingers curl in my pussy, brushing over my special spot, and I almost gasp at the pleasure. "after making me wait?"

"I just--" I start to defend myself, but it's fruitless. he guides my face down to his, whispering in my ear.

"let me guess: you just wanted me to have a good birthday?"

"yes." a choked, desperate reply.

"let me show you what kind of present I want, then." he removes his fingers and lines himself up at my entrance, pushing me all the way down before sliding the pads of his digits into my mouth. I lick them clean while I moan. his cock is so deep inside me, I can barely breathe.

the combined pressures between my hips and on my tongue, make me give up on drawing this out. it feels so good, I couldn't stop myself if I wanted to. I rise up a bit and sink onto him again, his jaw clenched at the sensation. he lets me do this a couple times and then pauses my actions.

"get on your hands and knees." he orders. I lift myself obediently, whining slightly at the loss of contact, before he sits up and switches positions so that he's kneeling behind. I wait patiently for him to do what he wants with me. he doesn't disappoint.

softly, he pushes my head down so that my cheek rests against the pillow while he slides in from the back. it's a completely different angle and I can barely handle the way he works through the tightness, his moans louder this time.

"thought you could sit on it and I would just let you?" he chuckles darkly, pulling out and moving in. my breath rattles in my chest at the repeated, delicious intrusions. my eyelids flutter shut while he keeps talking to me in that commanding, low tone. "you're my little slut."

the moan that comes from my lips is pathetic, like a mewl. he plows into me and my face presses into the mattress.

"such a perfect little pussy," his hands lure my hips to him while he groans at the new depths he keeps finding. "so responsive for me."

"faster, Matthew." I whine. although he's not going slow, I need more. the slam of his body against mine, from this angle, creates just short of enough friction for my clit. he follows my request, however, and fucks me at an insatiable pace.

"you like that?" he grunts. I literally don't have the mobility to nod, so I shove my ass back instead to take more. he bucks. "you feel so fucking good."

I whimper and he starts to stimulate my clit by reaching around, lowering himself a bit to do so. he keeps his arm pressed to my stomach so he can feel the bulge of his cock sliding in and out of me. "good girl. take it."

my fingertips fist the sheets and I whine as my orgasm approaches. he switches the pattern of pressure, finding what makes me fall apart fastest. I'm on the edge, my mouth dropping open in a silent cry. my hips start to move on their own, working against his cock as I moan his name and tumble into the abyss.

"Matthew, right there-- fuck me, fuck me--" I moan. he rams his hips so hard, the headboard slams the wall and he groans.

"you're gonna make me break you, baby." he warns. I bite my lip so hard that I almost puncture the skin, feeling like a planetary collision is occurring within my lower stomach. I'm coming up on a second climax.

"break me, then." I dare.

Matthew wraps his arm around my chest and brings me up so that I'm leaning against his chest while he whispers in my ear. "defiant little whores don't get my cum."

"but--" I complain, hips wriggling for more while he thrusts into me.

"apologize or I'll stop fucking you right now." he slows just to demonstrate the torture of not being inside me. I grasp at his hips to coax him, but he's determined. I take a shaky breath at the smooth, slow movements.

"I'm sorry." I beg. he reaches down and starts to play with my bundle of nerves again. as much as he wants to make me crash, he loves the way this feels, too.

"mmm," he hums while laying sloppy kisses along my neck. "good thing I wanna fill you up for being so sweet today."

his thrusts are uncontrolled and needy, rapid pushes between my legs that cause me to start shaking all over again. he rubs my clit and moans in my ear, spilling.

"I love you so much." he mumbles. the hand holding me to him squeezes one of my tits while I arch my spine and enjoy the slowing pace of our bodies. I moan his name.

"I love you, too." I'm in awe of how he changes for me, his attitude shifts whenever we're in bed. it's cosmic, how we fit together. and his withdrawal from my body causes both of us to collapse onto the bed with exhaustion.

I can only suck in air for a while. my limbs are like lead, in the best way.

"that was hot." he mutters. I turn to him, admiring his beautiful features, and nod lazily.

"a successful birthday, then?"

"after that cake? yeah." he scoffs jokingly and I giggle before curling into him. he traces his fingertips down my skin. "do you wanna take a shower?"

"I'm so tired." I groan. Matthew glances at me.

"I'm the one who just turned forty-one."

"shut up."

"come on, then. let's get you cleaned up."

he rises from the mattress, bringing me with him. a few stray rose petals flutter onto the ground.

[unbridgeabledistances]

a ✨drunk and clingy ian✨ one-shot

okay so we all know that saint patrick’s day is a very arbitrary and somewhat meaningless holiday (at least in the u.s. lol)- but we also know that the gallaghers are incredibly fucking irish, so i am using this as an excuse to write some drunk and clingy gallavich fluff (bc i think we all need it!! or at least i do!!!!)

hope y’all enjoy<3

--

Mickey and Ian came in the door from their final weed security run of a way-too-chilly and grey March afternoon, kicking the slush off of their lace-up boots in a tired but comfortable silence. Mickey had been fantasizing for a good part of the afternoon about his usual afternoon ritual of collapsing onto the couch with a cold beer in his hand, and taking a long lazy nap while shitty game shows played on the TV in the background— but unfortunately, Debbie had other plans. Or so he realized when he turned the corner and his eyes were met with a forest of green and white streamers blanketing the living room, with Debbie determinedly balancing on a kitchen chair to hang them in the doorway.

Mickey did a double-take, shooting a glance at Ian and then back at the festive room again. What the fuck? He quickly racked his brain— there was no way he’d could’ve forgotten Franny’s birthday, that was in the summer—and he was pretty sure that Liam’s birthday was in the winter sometime; so whose the fuck was it? Too many goddamn Gallaghers to keep track of. Finally, Mickey admitted his own defeat.

“Is it someone’s fuckin’ birthday or something?”

Mickey flashed another gaze to Ian in confusion as he said it, hoping that Ian would silently mouth whatever the occasion was to him, or at the very least raise his eyebrows and goad Mickey enough to jog his memory to remember whatever the fuck today was— but Ian just gave an easygoing grin as he took in the room’s decor and let out a laugh.

“Debbie, isn’t this kind of going overboard?”

Debbie looked over her shoulder from where she was now taping a crudely scribbled picture of a shamrock, most likely drawn by Franny, up onto the wall.

“What? If it’s our last Saint Patrick’s Day in the house, the least we can do is go out with a bang,” she answered nonchalantly, and continued fixating on hanging up Franny’s drawing.

Mickey inadvertently let out a scoff and rolled his eyes. Fucking Gallaghers.

“I’m sorry, fucking Saint Patrick’s Day?”

Ian’s lips formed a playful smile and he elbowed Mickey between the ribs. “Yeah, Mick, Saint Patrick’s Day— also known as the unironically most important day of the Gallagher family calendar year. I can’t believe I forgot it was today, with all the work stuff we had going on.”

At first Mickey couldn’t tell if Ian was actually being serious— but in the same second he decided that it didn’t really matter, since Ian’s eyes were bright and shining and there was this weird giddy grin he was sporting from ear to ear, like he was absolutely fucking delighted that it was Saint Patrick’s Day, instead of just a normal goddamn Wednesday. Fucking softie.

And as endearing as that was, Mickey still couldn’t let him off that easily. “There’s no way I’m celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. It’s a fake holiday for yuppie rich kids to go bar hopping—I’m not getting involved in any of your Gallagher bullshit.”

Ian’s grin just grew, like he knew exactly what Mickey was doing. “Hey, you married into this family. If anything, this is your own fault.”

Mickey just rolled his eyes, then continued to unlace his boots and throw them by the doorway.

“The fuck do you do anyways, aside from getting trashed?”

Ian put a hand on Mickey’s upper back to steady himself as he pulled his own shoes off. “I think getting trashed pretty much sums up the festivities. Today’s practically a holy day of observance for Frank, and I’m assuming Debbie’s also just gonna use today as an excuse to get drunk on a Wednesday.”

“Hell yeah I am!” Debbie called from where she was putting the chair back in the kitchen.

Mickey raised his eyebrows. “I knew Gallaghers were white trash, but I had no idea you were this bad.”

“Oh, come on. You don’t have any Ukranian white trash holidays or whatever?”

Mickey held back a bitter laugh. Yeah, they had “holidays,” in the form of days when Terry was celebratorily drunk enough to leave them the fuck alone for 24 hours, rare occasions when his looming shadow was out of the house and a festive lightness bled in in its place. They sort of celebrated Christmas, which was mostly just associated with too many painful memories of Terry ripping open the presents before he or his brothers had the chance, and too many painful stings associated with him having one too many drinks as they sat quietly inside the sagging house and pretended to be a big happy family for one night a year.

But never anything as gaudy and deliberate and ridiculous as observing a C-list, Irish-American holiday just for the hell of it, just for fun—which yes, was probably fueled by Frank’s alcoholism more than anything else, but also made something swell in Mickey’s insides that he didn’t quite know how to place.

And Mickey didn’t know how to let out that entire internal monologue to Ian while Debbie was standing within earshot. “Nah, man. Milkoviches don’t really do… holidays.”

Ian snaked a hand around Mickey’s back, giving his shoulder a squeeze, a grounding touch. He gets it.

“Well, get ready to have your mind blown, Mr. Gallavich, because we’re about to celebrate this hallowed occasion Gallagher style.”

Mickey rolled his eyes again, but let himself lean into Ian’s touch, lean his weight ever-so-slightly against Ian’s chest that was pressed behind him by the doorway. And, okay— as stupid as this was, maybe there was something sort of warm and solid about tradition, about hand-scribbled shamrocks and streamers on the wall, about having days to celebrate just because you wanted to, just because you could…

Just then Franny came hurdling into the room, wearing a baggy green t-shirt and a face-painted shamrock adorning her cheek.

Ian’s face lit up when she stopped in front of them. “Hey Franny! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!”

Franny held out two bottles of beer to Ian and Mickey from where she had been hiding them behind her back.

“Mommy said I should give these to you when you came home!”

Mickey smirked, carefully taking the bottles from Franny’s outstretched hands. “Thanks, kiddo.”

And if all celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day took was knocking down a few beers on a weekday afternoon—well, Mickey wasn’t going to complain about that.

**

Of course, hours later Mickey realized how severely he’d underestimated Debbie’s enthusiasm— after lounging around the house waiting for the stream of Gallaghers to trickle in from their various daily activities, Debbie had rounded everyone up and they migrated to the Alibi as the sun was setting, where they’d met up with Kev and V and Lip and Tami, who (thank fucking god) looked as vaguely confused and fully apathetic about this whole “Saint Patrick’s Day” situation as Mickey did.

Now it was late, and Mickey was leaning against the bartop of the Alibi sipping a thick, foamy glass of Guinness, which was as close to embracing whatever-the-fuck Irish heritage his husband had as he was possibly going to get.

All of the Gallaghers were here, swirling around the room—Debbie had put on some sort of peppy music as Kev poured everyone drinks, and a couple of other Southside neighbors had heard the bass thrumming and joined the ruckus. The room wasn’t too crowded, but it was pleasantly full of bodies and chatter— Kev had bought bunches of shiny, tacky green mardi gras beads for everyone to wear, and the air in the room was festive and bordering on sloppy in a way that felt very different from how Mickey had envisioned this evening would go.

Mickey was pacing himself, because it was a Wednesday for fuck’s sake— but his husband was an entirely different story. Between the beers at home and the various drinks Debbie had been siphoning into his hands all night, Ian was teetering on the drunkest Mickey had seen him in years—which partially made the tiniest spark of trepidation start to creep into Mickey’s bloodstream, a spark that he immediately extinguished. It was one night, the first in a long time— Ian deserved to have some fun.

And he definitely, definitely was having fun— casually dancing with Debbie and Sandy and whoever else would humor him, grinning with red-hot cheeks and bright eyes— from across the room Mickey could tell how warm his skin would be if he pressed a hand against it, how flushed. Mickey wasn’t really in the mood for dancing, or whatever the fuck stumbling around and chatting and making friends Drunk Ian was up to for the evening, and he was perfectly content to nurse his drink at the bar— which is why it surprised him when Ian pulled himself out of the crowd, slightly stumbling over his own feet, and made the way across the room to where Mickey was leaning at the bar, immediately boxing him in and putting his hands square on Mickey’s waist. Mickey almost imperceptibly let in a sharp breath.

Ian looked down at him, all smiles and shiny eyes— when he spoke the scent of sweet, hot liquor danced on Mickey’s face and all he wanted was to be closer, to breathe it in.

“Are you having fun?” Ian’s right hand traced up Mickey’s side, then back down to its hold on his hipbone.

Mickey raised his eyebrows. “You and your leprechaun family don’t mess around, Gallagher.”

Ian smiled a lazy, tipsy smile, and pecked Mickey’s cheek before Mickey could be embarrassed about it.

“D’you wanna dance with me?”

Ian’s hands slid off of his hips and entangled with Mickey’s hands that had been hanging limply at his sides, walking backwards so their fingers were laced together an arm’s distance apart.

Mickey shrugged noncommittally. “I’ll leave showing the Irish pride to you and the rest of the drunken Gallaghers.”

Ian registered Mickey’s words and opened his mouth to reply, just as Debbie pulled Ian over by the arm.

“Stop sulking with Mickey and do more shots with me!”

Jesus Christ. Ian was going to be wrecked when their alarm went off for work in the morning, and Mickey was starting to debate if he was going to need to have a talking-to with Debbie about the appropriate amount of “Saint Patrick’s Day fun” they were allowed to partake in next year— but for now Ian was happy, and he could stomach one night of hardcore festivities.

Mickey stood at the bar for a while, watching Ian and Debbie get progressively more flushed as they bobbed through the crowd— and then, when Debbie had found some other victim in their mid-twenties to get even more shitfaced with, Ian made his way across the room to Mickey again, plopping onto the barstool beside him and heaving his bodyweight onto Mickey’s left side, burying his face in the crook of Mickey’s neck. Mickey wrapped a tentative arm around Ian’s waist, trying to hold him up from slouching off of the barstool.

“M’tired.” Mickey could feel Ian’s hot breath dancing on his collarbone as he slurred out the words, and felt Ian’s eyelids flutter shut against the side of his neck.

Ian was always giving Mickey measured casual touches, wherever they were—but it was so exceedingly rare that Ian fully let himself go like this, let himself be drunk and happy and just crumple into Mickey, without worrying about holding anyone else up. It felt new, but it felt good— Mickey let the solid weight of his husband’s body leaning against his press him down, rooting him into the Alibi’s sticky floors, feeling the clammy skin of Ian’s forehead that was solidly lodged into the side of Mickey’s neck.

He hated to admit it, but in that moment, something in Mickey was also frozen solid— as much as Mickey had grown in the past few years, something about these situations, about PDA or whatever, still made Mickey feel like he was treading water—like he was fighting to stay afloat while everyone’s eyes were on him, and the strong current was only lifted when he and Ian were in the dark safety of their bedroom. If Mickey was drunk at a bar and sloppily leaning onto Ian, there was no doubt in Mickey’s mind that Ian would hold him, would gingerly touch him and caress him and do more to him than just prop him up— but something in Mickey still hesitated and flashed with warning signs in a crowded room full of people.

But Ian was still breathing hot on Mickey’s neck— so Mickey thought about what Ian would do, if it was Mickey who was tipsy and slumped on his shoulder. He tentatively raised his arm from where it was lying limply by his side, and started to run soothing circles onto Ian’s t-shirt, just above his hipbone where Mickey’s hand was holding Ian up by his waist.

Ian hummed in acknowledgement of the touch— and then he pressed a tender kiss to the crook of Mickey’s neck, where his face was buried. Fuck. Mickey just pulled him in closer, gently tugging Ian’s torso in by his belt loop to hold him steady.

Ian hummed again, then started to press kisses up and down Mickey’s neck. “You smell good.”

Mickey’s heart started to beat a little quicker, his blood running hotter than usual—and Ian couldn’t fucking do this now, while the rest of his family was milling around and dancing and wearing fucking mardi gras beads while flaunting their Gallagher pride.

Ian lifted his forehead off of Mickey’s shoulder, and gently bit at the underside of Mickey’s jaw—and Mickey thought he was going to combust right there, on the spot, in a room full of Gallaghers pressed against the bartop at the Alibi by his very drunk husband.

And in an act of excruciatingly inconvenient timing, Lip sidled up to the bar and sat on the barstool on Mickey’s other side, nursing what Mickey assumed (and hoped) was a diet Coke in a beer glass.

“Hey there, Mick. And, uh, Ian.”

Ian looked up from where he was very engrossed in continuing to nuzzle the opposite side of Mickey’s neck, and glared at Lip from across Mickey’s chest.

“Go away, Lip.” Ian collapsed his head back onto Mickey’s shoulder and closed his eyes again, wrapping his arms around Mickey’s neck like a fucking boa constrictor. Mickey snaked an arm up around Ian’s back, holding him steady on the wobbly barstool.

Lip held back a laugh as he sipped his drink, then took a drag of the cigarette he was holding. “Seems like Ian’s done enough drinking to make our ancestors proud.”

Mickey took a sip of his own beer with his free hand. “Debbie made sure of that.”

Lip raised his eyebrows. “Damn. Guess we’d better keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn’t also have the Frank gene.”

Mickey grunted in acknowledgement, then took another sip of his beer, mostly because he didn’t know what else to say. Ian’s head shifted slightly on his shoulder— and Mickey realized he probably needed to haul Ian home ASAP, before he was even more sleepy and incoherent and unable to lug down the street.

Lip noticed Ian’s movement on Mickey’s shoulder and smirked. “I’ve gotta say, I’ve never seen Ian being this clingy before. Even with other guys—no offense, Mick— he usually stayed pretty contained. And you guys aren’t usually too into the PDA department.”

Mickey shrugged, trying not to jostle the heavy weight of where Ian’s head was hanging. Lip was right—he and Ian never really were all over each other, especially not like this, outside of the context of their room, when they were very much always all over each other.

Lip kept studying them, and the corner of his mouth eventually ticked upward. “It’s good. He’s definitely not this… comfortable with anyone else. Including me, which is definitely saying something.”

It felt weird, to get something like what felt like Lip’s full blessing at a raunchy Gallagher party months after he and Ian had gotten married—but that was also exactly what it felt like was happening.

Lip’s eyes suddenly darted across the room, to where Tami was holding up his coat and gesturing to the door. Lip rose from the barstool, stubbed out his cigarette, and put out a hand to clap Mickey on the shoulder as a goodbye.

“Catch up with you later, Mick.” Lip reached out and jokingly tousled Ian’s hair. “Make sure this one doesn’t hate himself too much tomorrow morning.”

Mickey smirked. Ian was practically asleep and drooling on his shoulder, his breathing turned steady—Mickey reached a hand up to card through his hair, then gently shrugged his shoulder to get Ian’s head to rise from where it was jammed on his neck.

Ian raised his head, his eyes bleary and confused at first, then softening around the edges when he met Mickey’s gaze.

“Alright, let’s get you home, carrottop.”

[seijorhi]

okay but like how would yandere*insert preferred hq team here* react to their beloved darling manager being abused or bullied?? i wanna see your take bc your shit is always gud

Not well.

I feel like I don’t hype Shiratorizawa enough, so let’s go with them for this one.

TW implied dub/non-con, bullying

It’s not like the bullying is overt. No, everybody knows that the VBC are untouchable within the school - they’re the powerhouse team, academics aside, the only real reason that anybody anywhere cares about the Shiratorizawa name.

Also, the Captain is Ushijima Wakatoshi and nobody in their right mind wants to irritate the steely Ace.

You, being their manager, are a part of that team. While you might disagree, they take care of their own, they’re rather protective of their darling little manager. They care about you.

They love you.

It’s not a secret - wherever you go within the school grounds there’s usually at least one of them trailing not far behind. More often than not one of your fellow third years - Tendou in particular likes to hang off your shoulder, chattering inanely while you’re trying to study. And maybe that’s how the rumours start.

The only reason you joined the volleyball team was so you could fuck the players. You blow them before all of their matches, they celebrate their wins with you on your back. You’re little more than their cockwhore mascot, begging to be filled every second you’re around them.

Never mind that you didn’t want any of that. Never mind that you’ve never so much as touched your underclassmen.

When it’s just rumours you don’t care. You can ignore the snickers and the whispers that follow you down the halls, and outside of the occasional glare and not so thinly veiled threat courtesy of whichever teammate happens to be within earshot - they’re content to more or less let it slide. (You have a sneaking suspicion that Semi enjoys it - everybody knowing that you’re taking his cock so well after practice every day - and maybe that’s why he’s so intent on marking you up. Tendou definitely does.)

But when it gets physical - your team isn’t nearly so forgiving.

It’s the soccer Captain who corners you in the hallway one afternoon trying to convince you to suck him off (he knows you’re good at it, knows you like it), but it’s Goshiki, devoted, eager Goshiki who adores you, who sees him tugging you back into the locker rooms, your arm twisted behind your back, your face screwed up in terror and wet with tears.

Of course he knows what to do. It makes it easy with most of the team still in the gym, cooling down after training. Ushijima’s never been the most expressive person, but even Goshiki gulps nervously at the dark storm brewing behind olive eyes when he explains what he saw. Nobody touches you but them and nobody - nobody - gets to hurt you.

It’s a good thing that the Shiratorizawa volleyball club is the pride and joy of the Academy. It’s a good thing they can damn near get away with murder. Ushijima naturally gets the first hit (and the second), but after eight rounds with your very, very pissed off team, the poor bastard is lucky he’s still breathing.

[heungmins]

HERE'S A 50 QUESTIONS INTERVIEW THAT HEUNGMIN DID 10 YEARS AGO !! [cries] enjoy bc i suffered way too much n you do too

Your given name - Son Heungmin.

Birthday - July 8th, 1992. I’m 19 in international age. Still pretty young, huh?

Nickname - Rocket, Hamburger Son, Smile man, and many more. I like the nickname Rocket the most.

Family - My parents and an older brother. My parents live in Germany and my brother lives in Chuncheon.

Religion - I have none.

Life motto - By practice rather than words. (or Actions speak louder than words)

Strengths/Weaknesses - I think my strength is my bright personality. My weakness would be how timid I am. I want to be more confident.

Words you like hearing the most? - You’re handsome. You’re cute.

People you have trouble talking to/make you uncomfortable - I get scared to talk to people who are conservative and blunt.

Your favourite song and singer - IU’s Good Day. I get embarrassed because I say this so often.

The thoughts that come to your mind when you look in the mirror while you get dressed - I want to have a better style of fashion.

Where do you see yourself after 10 years - I’m still young, you know. I want to be playing soccer still.

Are you dating anyone - Of course not. I only have soccer and the fans.

Your most prized possession - My iPad. I can’t put it down from my hands these days. It’s so fun to go on Twitter.

Your ideal type - A girl who’s cute and small, with a good personality. Oh, and cooks well. Am I being too picky?

Experience with blind dates? - Of course not. I’ve lived in Germany since I was so little.

When do you want to be married - Before I turn 30. (lmao f in the chat for min) I think the earlier it is, the better.

Do you believe in love at first sight? - Of course. I believe that it exists.

If you had to choose between someone you love and someone who loves you only, who would you choose. - The person who loves me only.

Something you hear a lot from someone of the opposite gender these days - Oppa. I can’t believe I’m getting called “oppa” already when I’m so young, haha.

Who do you play the soccer game Winning Eleven with the most in Germany - I don’t have friends in Germany so I play soccer games by myself. I’m bored. Do you want to play a round with me?

Things you do after practice - I clean my room while listening to music. I like everything being clean.

My final words would be - Save me. I don’t want to die yet TT.

Love or friendship - (After contemplating for a while) Love. I think love is the most important at the end of the day.

If you picked up 1 billion won(around 1 million dollars) on the street - I would donate five hundred million and keep the other five hundred million.

Your biggest interests right now - I love watching kpop idols right now. The drama “Dream High” is also very funny.

What would your final meal be - A course meal in an expensive restaurant. Or a lobster dish.

An ad that would be most fitting for me - Soccer cleats (is it called boots for you British people) or a car. My favourite things. But I don’t have a license yet.

Favourite celebrity - It’s not Goo Hara. It’s IU. (During the Qatar Asian Cup, there was a false rumour that Son Heungmin and Yoon-Bit Garam both liked Goo Hara and there was a weird sort of competition going on in the National Team.)

How long can you wait for someone - An hour at most. It would depend on who it was.

The most memorable trip that you’ve been on - The first sea I’ve been to, Sokcho in Gangwondo.

Another sport that you are good at, other than soccer - None. I guess running. I get around the end of 11 seconds, which isn’t bad.

A random word that comes to your mind right now - Winning Eleven. I want to play games.

3 things you need if you’re stranded alone on a deserted island - Food, Someone else, water. You could survive with those three, right?

How do you relieve stress - I sing loudly. I’m not very good though, haha.

Make a three-line acrostic poem with your name - I REFUSE TO TRANSLATE THIS !!! THE SECONDHAND EMBARRASSMENT !! it doesn’t even make sense in English anyway so TTTTT

Your biggest concern these days - Playing games (also could be ‘the number of games I play’). And scoring.

Your best friend in the national team - Jabongie(Jabong is a short form for volunteer) hyung Goo Ja chul. He’s so nice.

The funniest person recently - (Smiling widely) Cha Doori hyung. He has the “It’s because of the liver” effect right now. **It’s an ad that Cha Doori was in. Search up 간 때문이야 if you want to see it.

The quietest person on the national team - Lee Yongrae. He’s so silent.

If you could find someone in the TV program “Love on the Air”, who would you find - Woah, that’s a hard question. (Thinking for a while) Someone who was very sick in grade 1. I think his name was Kim Kwangrim. I hope he’s healthy and doing well now.

Three things that you like - Soccer, singing, video games.

Body parts that you’re most proud of - My nose and my teeth. Apparently they look good when I smile.

Things you look for when you go shopping - Pretty shoes. I really like shoes that come up to your ankles these days.

Someone on the team you want to get to know better - Defender Joris Mathijsen. We’re not awkward but I think it is necessary for us to be closer.

Someone you have trouble talking to - Hyungs who are a lot older than me. When I first came to the national team, it was really hard to talk to Lee Youngpyo and Lee Jungsoo. We’re close now. Don’t worry.

A club you want to retire at - A K-League team. My final moments in Korea.

A team you want to play in at least once in your career - Real Madrid. It’s the best team.

Your favourite non-Korean player - Christiano Ronaldo. He’s got everything.

Your least favourite non-Korean player - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. When I watch him play, I get this weird frustration. I have nothing personal against him though.

[socheckitout-mikey]

you can totally make hc if you want!!!! i'd eat that shit up like breakfast ngl. in my opinion david is joe (kind of obvious) dwayne would be sal, marko would be murr and that makes paul q <3333

omfg yes! i had way too much fun doing these. i know they're a little shitty, but i tried istg! - mae

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

The Lost Boys Pranking Each Other Like Impractical Jokers Hc's:

° I JUST KEEP IMAGINING DWAYNE AS SAL RUMMAGING THROUGH TRASH FOR HIS BIKE KEYS AND THEM LEAVING HIM DHDHDHR OR THAT TIME SAL HAD TO DIG THROUGH ELEPHANT CRAP TO GET HIS PHONE, ONLY ITS DWAYNE'S KEYS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MARKO GOES "EH BUDDY LOOKIE ERE!" AND HE'S DANGLING HIS KEYS IN THE AIR "I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU GUYS!" SHDHFJFJF

° Paul is deadass one of the most ruthless out of all of them when it comes to prank wars. He's targeting everyone with ridiculous pranks, but they always bite him in the ass later on when he wakes up the following night with his hair dyed a luminous green. He rocks it but he totally had a nervous breakdown over it bc "THAT'S MY FUCKING HAIR MAN!"

° "Maybe you shouldn't have thrown my keys into that gross guys hotdog stand-" David drawls nonchalantly, flicking cigarette ashes at Paul's green goblin looking head.

° There was this one time that Marko attempted to prank David, and I say attempt bc it went absolutely atrociously... Maybe it was because Paul was trying to get him back and gave his buddy too much of that good green stuff. Marko's plan to train his pigeons to crap all over David had ended up with him waking up the next morning covered in pigeon shit. "Serves you right, you yutz-"

° "Man, we need to drown you in the tub." Dwayne snorts.

° "DON'T BRING THAT SHIT UP-" Paul screams from the other end of the Cave.

° "Right... But it's not like we're adding a dog into the mix..." Marko muttered under his breath, using a crumpled old napkin to clean the literal crap off of his face.

° "I SAID SHUT UP!"

° Paul thought it'd be a good idea to drop rice to bug David, but it ended up with all of them counting the fallen grains of rice lmaoo. He kept losing count and everyone got different numbers.

° Honestly, the best one's at pranking people are Dwayne and David as they're very patient and thoughtful.

° David schemes like an asshole cat, striking when you least expect it. It leaves Paul and Marko on edge for months, just waiting for David to pull a prank on them.

° "C'mon man! Just prank us already!" Paul pleads, paranoia finally driving him up the walls.

° "Yeah, we're livin' in fear here!" Marko agreed suddenly.

° "You know, you just reminded me about that..." David's just kidding, though the other two don't know that. David forget something? Not a chance. This guy is on that Petty Train™ and it's going straight to Saltyville!

° Dwayne can take years to strike with his pay back. He's got patience that even David doesn't have, and honestly, Dwayne's pranks are really intense. He'll scare the shit out of the others so much so that they don't prank him for good long while. Paul's the one who never seems to learn lmaoo.

° Well, unless he's in the mood for being playful that is...

° Like I'm talking about the fact that after digging through elephant crap in the local zoo after hours for his bike keys, he not only chased down all of them, but he kinda tied Paul and Marko up and may've just let the sun rise a little... he's waiting for an apology- he's salty now and won't care if they burn... but once he get's that apology he's been wanting to here, he's pulled them into the shadows.

° "Ahhhhh! Dwayne, man, c'mon! The suns rising!" Paul screams, thrashing around in the sturdy chains he's been bound by the wrists at.

° Dwayne responds with an expression of total anger, but it's cool and collected. He's patient. He can wait a little longer. He's in no hurry.

° Whereas David's lounging on one of the dusty old couches in the shadows. He had given Dwayne what he wanted, whether his apology was half assed or not. He still said it with some meaning, right?

° "David didn't even mean that piece of garbage he called an apology!" Marko spat out, eye cracking a vivid yellow whilst he stared directly into David's blue amused eyes.

° "Well at least I had the courage to swallow my idiotic pride~" David sing-songed joyously, folding his nimble gloved hands behind his spikes of bleach blond hair. "And it worked wonders, didn't it? I'm not the one about to be fried into ashes..."

° "Man, we're sorry alright?! We won't fuck with your bike or your keys again!" They both screamed in unison, shutting their eyes tightly as the sun began to rapidly crawl into the open space of the Cave. It's golden rays beginning to spark the ends of their blond locks alight! That was precisely what Dwayne wanted to hear, and without little thought, yanks them down and watches them scurry into a deep crack in the wall. That'd teach them from fucking with his shit ever again.

° "Fuck, my hair! It's all burnt on the ends!" Paul wails, swatting the frizzy ends rapidly to put out the sparks.

° "That's literally the least of your worries, Paul." David retorted into the air, gathering himself up from the couch and towards his own nest.

° "Yeah, we almost got fucking fried you sack of shit! This is the last time I listen to your ideas-" Marko rambles on angrily.

° Yes, they did sleep curled up together in the crack in the wall. They genuinely held each other tightly, Paul waking up from nightmares! Poor baby :'(

° Marko definitely does listen to his ideas after that lmaoo.

° Also it's very true, these guys compete to embarrass each other out in public, so much so that they've pretty much become a star attraction.

° That is until that one time Marko drop kicked Paul off the Pier and cracked his skull open... Yeah, they got into a lot of trouble for that one...

° These guys are chaotic dumbasses and their prank wars a cynical as hell. Like it get's so intense, but it's hilarious! Star and Laddie are kept entertained for ages!

° They be pranking Laddie too, but it's all in good fun. He's a kid after all! They're not gonna be excessively mean to him. That is until he fucks with their shit...

° Then you've got Paul and Marko holding him up by the scruff of his jacket, demanding where their Playboy mags, bike keys, their specific wrench is, that Deff Leppard Tape... boy you name it! They'll interrogate him good cop bad cop style lmaoo.

° Dwayne's heart kinda warms up whenever Laddie pranks him. He ruffles his hair, even if it makes him mad as hell. Laddie is his weak spot tbh.

° David just gives Laddie a pointed look and goes, "This better not become a common occurrence, otherwise I'll have to shave your head."

° Lmaoo the absolute sass that he receives from Laddie after that djkgdsghjsd-

° Sometimes David allows Paul and Marko to get away with their stupid pranks on him. Although it's incredibly annoying, he also finds it endearing how happy getting away with some of the simpler ones makes them. Paul thinks he's literally gotten away with it, but Marko knows.

° Paul deems himself to be the Prank King™ and honestly he is, but you know what? He's usually quite good natured and even though he does overstep boundaries, he'll always make things up to everyone if it really bugs them. He's out to have fun, not get murdered or cause tears. Most of the time...

° He ropes Laddie in on the pranks and loves it! Paul is a great big brother! He also enjoys pranking Star quite a bit, and she can be quite mean when returning the favor.

° Marko however, plays the dirtiest! He's pretty cynical himself, so his sadistic nature comes out full throttle. The lines within him are blurred. He's genuinely good natured usually, but once someone does something that pisses him the hell off... They best be prepared for hell to arrive at their feet.

° Like this one time, Marko cock blocked Paul for several weeks lmaoo then he ate the person Paul had the hots for. He dropped them at his feet in the Cave like, "Whoopsie!" He got into so much shit from Max bc that person was like hella important, I'm talking celebrity status sfjdshfhjsdfnbds

° David's just cynical as hell and he's always got something witty to say during or after it. Definitely mocks them dsjgdsjfds David's just an asshole cat istg! I mean, not even Star is safe from his pranks, but he kinda has a sisterly soft spot for her. He likes to dig deep under her skin and bug her. She's quite fiery honestly.

° Pranks with the Lost Boys is incredibly chaotic to round it off.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

please like, reblog and follow for more!

requests: open!

[gallivantingheart]

the proposal pt.1

who?: jeonghan x (f)reader

word count: 1495

genre/s: fluff and a bit of fun

warnings: none!

synopsis: jeonghan has never been confused on how you feel about marriage - now it’s just a matter of how to do it.

a/n: just a fun diddy bc i love this sleepy man - no, not based off that movie with sandra bullock

note: bold italics = korean

You confuse him endlessly. More so than the likes of his cryptic self or round-about Jihoon. How you say action is your favourite genre but he catches you watching the same romance movie at least once every few weeks, singing and crying at the same parts. How your wardrobe is full of dark hoodies and you wear the same ripped jeans, but your nails are always sparkly and your draws have pastel blouses. You'll say you don't need romantic gestures, but almost always squeal when he drops flowers by your office. Or the fact you say you're bad at them but always pull the best tear-jerkers on him. Like the time you brought him dinner to the practice room - vase of flowers and all - at midnight while keeping him company, even though he knew you had a client presentation the next day. The comeback prep was gruelling, so yeah, he got a bit misty-eyed.

At least one thing he's not confused with is your opinion of marriage. Despite this comfort, even though you've been together for almost four years, you've never once brought up marriage, even casually. You cried though, when Mingyu and Chaewon got engaged at their anniversary party last year. Babbled wetly into his shoulder about how sweet love was, meant to be and the like - for the record, you were completely sober. Sobbed even longer as one of Chaewon's bridesmaids that Jeonghan had to collect you from the altar after they left the venue. And he's seen you look at apartments to share, linger on pinterest on a Saturday afternoon.

He wants it just as bad as you, but no idea how to broach it. You’ve talked about how you want a rescue cat when you move in together as well as the style of decor. Even said in passing at a park how you hope that your kids have his smile because it’s, “the most beautiful thing I get to see every day.” Jeonghan doesn’t want to overwhelm you with a grand public proposal, but he doesn’t know how to wow you like you do for him all the time. Jeonghan’s gotta be honest - he wants the whole shebang. Smiles, tears, blubbering; the lot.

He also realises that he wants it recorded for your mum when he calls her for her blessing. You moved a whole hemisphere away a year before the two of you met, to pursue a job in the entertainment industry. Something interesting and left of field found you in Korea working in concepts and marketing. So phone and video calls are a regular for the two of you. He’s also tried really hard over the years to improve his English, to bridge the gap with your family. Jeonghan thinks your mother is amazing, kind and funny - the kind of level head he expected to bring such a wonderful person like you into the world.

He’s English is nowhere near good enough for what he wants to say, so he asks for a familiar face to help out. Joshua is on the video call too, made in Shua’s clean dorm. Your mother looks a little surprised to not see you there. You both have the same texture of hair, but not much else.

“Jeonghan! How are you!” She waves.

He smiles at her enthusiasm. “Good thank you. How are you?”

“I’m really good, sweetheart. Bit of a weird time to call - everything okay? Where’s y/n?”

He sees her search the screen for her daughter, even so much as leaning side to side to try and see outside the frame. Some of her speech is still lost on him, so he looks to Joshua in question. He leans over to his ear.

“She’s wondering if everything is okay for you to be calling at this time.”

Jeonghan raises his brows and nods in understanding. Her expression changes as well, the lines around her eyes softening with the fading concern.

“It is okay. Y/N is at work. I...I have a question to ask you. Just us. It’s very important.” He twists his ring anxiously in his lap.

“Of course, what is it?”

Joshua can see the tension rising in Jeonghan’s shoulders, how quiet and hesitant he gets at the elder woman’s agreement. The way he looks at the woman, staring persistently. The American born member leans over with a smile.

“Hi y/n’s mum. It’s a bit of a speech, so I’ll be helping Jeonghan translate, okay?” He looks to his friend, nodding gently. “Jeonghan? Tell her.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met a person like y/n... She’s kind and exciting and interesting and she makes me really happy. I hope I do the same for her. I can’t imagine my life now if she weren’t in it. I don’t want to lose all that. I would like your blessing in asking her to marry me.” Jeonghan says as clear as he can, without too much of his nerves or feelings getting in the way - usually an easy feat for him.

Joshua translates along the way and he picks up words here and there - happy and your name, of course. But he’s not watching his fellow member speak for once, instead analysing his potential mother-in-law’s reaction. He starts to jiggle his knee off the bed as he sees your mother’s expression roll from from a quirked brow to a warm smile, then watching her eyes go glassy and her chin wobble through said smile. Her hands go over her mouth once Joshua finishes and out of shot, his hand lies flat over Jeonghan’s on his sheets in a sign of comfort.

“I...I...yes. I would love to have you as part of the family officially. Of course you have my blessing.” Your mother pulls her hands away to murmur.

She fumbles to the side for tissues and Jeonghan looks to Joshua in shock. He heard a yes, but… Joshua is meanwhile beaming in return, laughing at his member’s expense.

“She would love to have you as part of the family. You have her blessing.”

Jeonghan grins, his chest so full and tense he feels like he might burst. Instead, he laughs, grasping shua’s shoulders to shake them

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

She shakes her head. “Of course I would say yes. You don’t know how much she talks about you when you aren’t there - how much she raved about you when the two of you first met. It was like the stories she used to make up as a little girl, come to life. I wish I was there to see her face when you ask.”

Jisoo translates and he laughs even more, elated being an understatement.

It took a little searching and contemplating on what kind of ring to get you. Nothing too big, because you used your hands for everything. Not gold, because you didn’t like the way it looked against your skin. He settles on loopholing the gold for white gold, something silver but reflective and a singular round diamond - only two carats or else you’d throw a fit at the mystery price. He gets a thin chain as well of the same material, knowing you were more likely to wear it round your neck than on your finger for fear of losing it. Seungkwan of all people was the one to help with the final decision, insisting on its chic simplicity and pretty glow.

Jeonghan decides on a little party to pop the question. Or as little as you can get with thirteen members and their partners as well as your friends and their plus ones. Under a guise of missing your friends and a celebration of your success with a client, he even whines that he’ll organise the food and drink. Everyone invited is in on it, of course, which heightens the stakes.

The box sits hot in his pocket or bag all week. All the members know about the little surprise coming up dance between trading their resident trickster or offering a helping hand. Seungkwan has pulled up as quite the miracle worker, his entertainment ties conjuring up a caterer on such short notice and Mingyu slipping the business card of the decorator of his engagement party - it’s a little worn from being worried in Seungcheol’s initial finding but that just adds to the charm. Like a group heirloom to be passed around.

Despite the client win, you’re still snowed under with new paperwork and contracts, so you’re none the wiser to the nerves brewing in your boyfriend which proves to be the perfect mix come the weekend.

He lets you sleep in even later than the two of you usually do, and encourages you to take up that nail salon voucher you’ve been humming and harring about - you deserve a treat, he whines. And when you shut the door gently, Jeonghan breathes a sigh of relief and an inhale of stress - now the fun really begins.

[loveyouhomex]

(i unfollowed you as i was clicking on the ask button-- i'm so sorry!) but i'm so happy that you had a lovely time!!! any highlights of your trip (on or off track) that you wanna share?? 🥺

haha sera, don't worry, tumblr mobile is really shitty why would you put those buttons so close together 😅

I had the best time ever! Still not over it, and yes, absolutely wanna share some highlights 😍 The biggest was honestly meeting Gabi (@i--am-ironman) in real life because I didn't think it would happen this soon, but it did and we got along as if we'd known each other for years instead of months. She also made this experience so much more because we've gotten a beautiful non-tourist trip in Budapest itself but she also knew her way around the track which was so so so helpful 🧡

I think the biggest highlight was seeing and hearing the cars going round for the first time. The sound - Holy shit I've had goosebumps everywhere. We also had an amazing grandstand (at the chicane) and such a good view!

The track experience was so much more intense than I would've thought. SO MANY PEOPLE! SUPPORTING SO MANY DIFFERENT DRIVERS/TEAMS! It was honestly so beautiful to see I've loved it 😍 There are not that many people running around with Aston merch yet, but Sunday night I've walked around in my Aston hoodie and we walked past a guy sitting in a restaurant wearing an Aston shirt and we shared a nod and a smile, that was really cute haha 💚

Then Sunday came and we decided to stay in the city until the drivers parade! Good idea because we (honestly by chance, we didn't plan!) went past the hotel where Alpha Tauri and Merc stayed and when we saw Pierre's Honda in front of the entrance we decided to wait for a few minutes and well - he actually came out haha. So yeah, I don't think my brain has fully come to terms with that yet.

(it's really zoomed in btw, we weren't as close bc we didn't want to be part of the mass of people running towards him)

Then we got on our way to the drivers parade and the scenes were INCREDIBLE. So many people, cheering, hollering, laughing, smiling,... It was an absolute adrenaline rush let me tell you, especially when the bus came around the corner! (before the drivers came there were people cleaning the track bc of the F3 race that had happened before and it was just the coolest thing because the whole crowd cheered for them and they did a little dance in front of us! 😍)

(this is the second truck with the Alfa's, Williams, Mclaren, Aston and Merc 💚)

And then the race. Fuck my life, I nearly started crying when they played the F1 theme. It was the coolest thing ever, I'm still not over it. AND IT WAS RAINING! Which led to the race being red flagged shortly after they drove by us for the first time but well, we made it through haha. My voice was gone after a few minutes when the race finally restarted but I can proudly say that I cheered every time Seb and Lewis came by (everything for these two).

Oh yeah and you know what happened next? Sebastian Vettel drove on that fucking podium with Lewis being third and I couldn't believe it?! I went to my first F1 race and got Seb on the podium?! A fucking Sewis podium? (yeah I'm ignoring the provisional 2nd bs). I was over the moon. I went down as close to the track as I could get and watched the celebration lap, Seb waving at us was probably the highlight of everything. We watched the podium ceremony on the screen in front of us and I stood there with tears in my eyes, not getting out a single word. There were so many people cheering for him which was the best fucking thing ever. (I don't want to get into people booing Lewis because I'd start a fucking rant and it would get eve longer, but believe me when I say that I screamed and clapped as loud as I could for him and talked back at those idiots behind me because fuck me, what a race Lewis has driven).

So yeah, this is my race weekend report and god, I'm so so so sorry for the length of this. It was just the best experience ever and I can't wait to do it again.

I really, truly hope every single one of you gets to experience that at least once in your life because it's just so amazing ❤️

Love you Sera, thank you for asking this ❤️

[skullrock]

the (secret) santa - Jonathan x Steve

12 days of fics day 2 - the (secret) santa

pairing: stonathan

summary: Steve is psyched to get Jonathan for Secret Santa, but has a hard time figuring out what to get him.

word count: 4.2k

warnings: simply none

a/n: Jonathan is Jewish here bc I love that headcanon <3 I used the Internet to tell me when Hanukkah was in 1986, and it said it was December 26th-January 3rd, so that's what I used! hope u enjoy <3 also I literally cannot find a good video to make a stonathan gif w sorry

30 days before Christmas; 31 days before Hanukkah

Steve knew Jonathan, but Steve didn’t know Jonathan. Not the way he’d like to, at least.

When he got Jonathan for Secret Santa, he was ecstatic. It seemed like the perfect way to get closer to him - to make things right, to see him in personal and intimate ways. Ways he has always wanted to. He was excited, until he realized that he didn’t know much about Jonathan, save that he made the bat Steve currently had in his trunk, liked to cook, was cute, and was a photographer. And Steve had already gotten Jonathan a camera, so that wasn’t a viable gift. Plus, the budget was twenty dollars.

Twenty dollars did not seem like enough money to spoil Jonathan Byers like he deserved.

So Steve did the only thing he knew how, which was talk, and try to be sneaky about it.

===

28 days before Christmas; 29 days before Hanukkah

“Jonathan!”

Jonathan and Will both turned on their heels to face the voice that had rung out. Will rolls his eyes when he sees Steve jogging towards them - of course it was Steve. And of course he wanted to talk to Jonathan. How neither of them saw it, he doesn’t know, but he climbs into the passenger seat to give them some space. They’ll get it soon enough.

“Hey,” Jonathan says, shoving his hands hastily into his pockets, as if he had something to hide. “What’s up?”

“Hey, man,” Steve pants, leaning forward just slightly and gripping his side. “Do you like music?”

“What?”

“You know?” Steve licks his lips. “Do you listen to music?”

Jonathan’s brows twitch together. “Yeah, I - I listen to music.”

“Me too.”

Jonathan stares, which is all he really knows how to do around Steve. Stare and observe. Take in the brunette and blonde locks, how they curl a bit on the end, how they all fall perfectly into place when Steve runs a tired hand through them. How his sweater is the color of red maple leaves in the fall, and how it clings to his shoulders. How that sweater rides up when Steve straightens, showing Jonathan the pale and smooth skin of his hips.

“What kind of music?”

Jonathan blinks and shoves his hands deeper into his pockets. He glances back to Will, smiling knowingly from the passenger seat, then back to Steve. “I kinda - I gotta take Will home.”

“Shit,” Steve mumbles, then bends forward to wave at Will. Jonathan’s still watching the way the sweater rides up. “Sorry, I didn’t know.”

“‘s okay,” Jonathan says with a bit of a laugh.

It’s at this point Jonathan realizes what’s going on. Steve was not very subtle about being his Secret Santa. And if that’s not it, then Steve is making an enormous effort to be Jonathan’s friend, and who is he to deprive him of that?

“The Smiths.”

“Who?”

“The Smiths,” he repeats. “And The Cure. Stuff like that.”

It takes Steve a moment to realize these are bands and not families in Hawkins. “Oh. Oh. Awesome. That’s so cool.”

There’s an awkward pause before Jonathan asks, “You?”

“Queen,” Steve says, almost immediately. “Yeah. Queen. And, like, other stuff, too.”

“Oh. Cool.”

“Yeah.”

Will knocks on the window and raises his eyebrows at Jonathan, because the sight was honestly a bit painful. Jonathan looks, then back to Steve. “I should -”

“Yeah,” Steve says again. “Yeah, go ‘head, don’t let me keep you.”

Jonathan doesn’t know why he feels so damn giddy, why a smile tugs at the corners of his thin lips, but it’s happening. He tucks his face towards the collar of his shirt as he rounds the car. “See you, Steve.”

“See you,” Steve calls back.

He wonders why Will is looking at him like that.

===

25 days before Christmas; 26 days until Hanukkah

There’s something about Jonathan Byers under the glow of Christmas lights.

Maybe it’s the mustard colored sweater he’s wearing, casting a warm glow on his face and illuminating the blonde in his hair. Maybe it’s just the holidays. Either way, Jonathan Byers looked beautiful, and it was just the two of them in Mike’s basement while the kids ran upstairs for snacks.

“Are you ready for Christmas?” Steve asks, his knee against Jonathan’s.

Jonathan bristles. “Oh, we celebrate Hanukkah.”

“Oh,” Steve whispers. “I - do you still do presents and stuff?”

“We do.” Jonathan shifts, bumping his knee against Steve’s again. “But we light the menorah and everything, too.”

“Oh.”

Steve mulls over the logistics of getting someone who is Jewish a Christmas present, but Jonathan luckily says, “So I could do the Secret Santa, because we still exchange presents. My family does, anyway.”

Steve hopes his sigh of relief isn’t too noticeable.

“What other things do you like?” Steve asks. “I - I just realized that we never really got to know each other.”

Jonathan feels himself about to smile again. “Music-wise?”

“Anything-wise.”

Jonathan doesn’t like talking about materialistic things, so he mumbles. Steve has to lean close to hear, and it makes his hair stand on end. “I like photography. And… peace.”

“Peace?” Steve smiles. “Past few years must have been real hell for you.”

Jonathan laughs mirthlessly. “Yeah, they were.” He takes a deep breath. “And I like drawing, sometimes. But Will’s better than me.”

Steve scoffs. “Doubt it.”

“What?”

“I - no. Shit. That’s not what I meant - I mean, like, I’m sure you’re good, too.”

Jonathan lets out a confused laugh. “Thanks.” He relaxes, and his knee is firm against Steve’s now, and both of their breaths hitch. “I really like seeing my friends happy. And I like seeing Will happy. And mom.” And you, he wants to say, but it’s caught half in his chest and half in his throat.

“How is your mom?”

Jonathan wasn’t expecting that. “She’s doing okay.”

“Good. Good.” There’s a sincerity behind Steve’s voice that Jonathan also wasn’t expecting, but that sends his heart soaring in his chest. “If you guys ever need anything….” Steve uses his thumb to point to himself as he turns to Jonathan to show how serious he was. “I’m not that far away.”

“I know,” Jonathan says, and before either of them can say anything else, the kids hustle down the stairs screaming about a movie.

Steve and Jonathan scoot apart.

===

23 days before Christmas; 24 days before Hanukkah

Steve has never been to the Hawkins Library, but Dustin practically holds his hand through the process of finding and selecting a book to read. Steve wants to learn more about Hanukkah, and a children’s book seemed like the best way to understand it all. It takes him only half an hour to read it - a personal record, Steve thinks - and while he’s not still completely sure what Jonathan does to celebrate, he’s at least got a better idea.

Steve thinks of maybe buying Jonathan a hand-made menorah, but the price is well over twenty dollars. Then he considers getting them candles for the menorah, but figures they probably already have that covered. Robin seconds this.

“Just get him a vinyl or a walkman or something,” she says, laying on the floor of Family Video.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“If I didn’t know any better,” she starts, sitting up slowly, “I would say you’re trying to… impress him.”

Steve stutters. “What? No. No. No way. I - I - I just like getting good presents. I think - I know I’m really, really good at it.”

Robin narrows her eyes at him before sighing. “Steve. I see how you stare at him.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” Robin says, sighing again. “It means nothing, Steve.”

About an hour later, a miracle happens - Jonathan comes to the store.

Jonathan Byers has never set foot into Family Video, and he treads lightly as he enters. Steve almost trips over himself when he sees Jonathan walk in, another pretty sweater on his slim frame.

“Can I help you?” he asks, approaching Jonathan, who stays relatively close to the door.

“I need to get Will something?” It’s more of a question than a statement. “He wants to watch a movie tonight.”

“Oh, I know the perfect thing!”

Jonathan watches Steve jog the short distance to the register and jog back. Jonathan wonders if he always runs around him to impress him, but he pushes that thought out of his head. Steve presents him with a VHS box with David Bowie on it - Labyrinth.

“Bowie?” Jonathan asks.

“Apparently,” Steve answers. “Will said he wanted to watch it, and Keith finally ordered it. You like Bowie, too, right?”

Jonathan’s brows twitch and he smiles a bit, that swelling feeling once again apparent in his chest. “You remembered what Will wanted to see?”

“‘Course.” Steve puts his hands in his back pockets. “I was holding it for him.”

Will was the most important person to Jonathan Byers. He would very easily trade his life with his brother if he could. He would do anything to make him safe and comfortable and happy. And Jonathan never really saw Steve as someone who would care about his little brother in such a way that he saved a tape for him. Which, yeah, maybe the bar is low, but Jonathan’s known for a while now that Steve Harrington has a knack for defying all expectations.

“It’s free,” Steve says, Jonathan shocked into silence. “Just take it. Let me know how it is.”

“Do you want to watch it?”

Steve’s eyes widen before he blinks. “I mean, maybe -”

“Do you want to watch it with us?” Jonathan almost tags on an “as friends”, but Steve’s almost certainly not thinking it’s a date. Steve’s a boy. Jonathan’s a boy. Just friends.

Steve blinks again, his brain short circuiting - like, yeah, of course he wanted to watch a movie with Jonathan Byers, and yeah, Bowie did look hot in that outfit, and yeah, they’re two men that hardly know each other except on a very deeply personal level that Steve can’t think about without making his head spin. It makes Steve’s head hurt when he thinks about the bond he shares with Jonathan, even though they’d only had approximately seven conversations over four years. He thinks Jonathan looks at him like he has him figured out, and it makes Steve’s stomach turn in excitement and anxiety.

“Tonight?” he finally manages.

“Yeah.”

Steve licks his lips. “Yeah, man. Yeah! Yeah. I like movies. Yeah, man, I can come over. What time? Want me to bring something?”

“No,” Jonathan says quickly. “Just yourself. Eight?”

“I can do that,” Steve says, not a hint of a joke in his voice. “Eight sounds perfect.”

“Do you remember where I live?”

Although Steve had only ever been at the Byers residence to thwart evil from overtaking the  universe, he does remember. He could make the drive with his eyes closed. “I do.”

“Okay. Eight.”

Robin smirks behind the counter.

===

Later, 9 pm

Jonathan cannot believe how obvious Steve is about being his Secret Santa.

“Do you listen to Bowie?” he whispers in the middle of the movie. Their knees are touching again.

“Yeah,” Jonathan whispers back.

“Do you, like, have all of his albums?”

Jonathan glances at Steve, then back at the TV. “I do.”

Steve lets out a defeated sigh and Jonathan has to stifle his laugh behind his hand. Will can’t believe how obvious they’re being, either, but he tries to focus on the movie and not the scene happening beside him.

“Do you - like… um. Is there an artist you don’t have… an album… for?”

Steve cringes at himself.

“I’m set,” Jonathan says, trying to wrack his brain for anything he could give Steve. He feels pity for Steve, who’s just trying his best, but Jonathan isn’t exactly materialistic. He doesn’t even know why he let Will convince him to be part of the exchange.

Steve lets his eyes wander around, trying to think of anything he could get Jonathan. Maybe a nice blanket, or a sweater. Maybe a David Bowie poster. His eyes wander towards the kitchen window, where he can see a golden candlestick holder.

“Menorah?” he asks Jonathan, gesturing towards it.

“Yeah.” Jonathan looks towards it, too.

“It’s the twenty-sixth this year, right?”

“What?”

“Hanukkah,” Steve clarifies. “‘Til the third?”

“H- how’d you know that?”

“I looked it up,” he says, matter-of-factly.

“You looked it up?” Jonathan asks quietly.

“Yeah.” Steve frowns a bit. “Was I not supposed to?”

“Why’d you look it up?”

“So I could know more about what you celebrate.”

“Oh.” Jonathan looks back at the TV. “That. That’s nice of you.” And then he looks back at  Steve and with a small smirk says, “We don’t need candles for it.”

“I wasn’t going to ask,” Steve says with a smile, bumping his knee against Jonathan’s.

They both smile the rest of the movie.

===

16 days before Christmas; 17 days before Hanukkah

Steve takes his headphones off. “I don’t know if I like them.”

Jonathan scoffs and bristles. “What - what don’t you like about Joy Division?”

Jonathan’s bed dips under Steve as he adjusts, his knee and elbow hitting Jonathan’s. “They’re, like, sad.”

“That’s the point!”

Steve rolls his eyes slightly, but smiles. “Why do you always want to be sad?”

“I - I don’t - they’re just good.”

“I believe you,” Steve says, and he means it. “I mean, what do I know about music?”

“Here,” Jonathan says, leaning forward to grab a Bowie album. “Have you ever listened to Bowie?”

“On the radio.”

Jonathan smiles and puts the tape into the walkman, and Steve puts the headphones back on. He gives Jonathan an apprehensive look as the younger boy clicks through songs, and is pleasantly surprised by the music that comes through. It’s not as sad as Joy Division - not at all. Not whiney, either - it’s victorious and upbeat and Steve can’t help but to move, shimmying in place, leaning sideways to hit Jonathan’s arm with his as he dances. Jonathan smiles and says something, but the headphones block him out. “What?!”

Jonathan chuckles and pauses the music. “I said, do you like it?”

“It’s happy!” Steve asserts. “You should listen to this stuff more often.”

“I do listen to it.”

“More. Often,” Steve enunciates, and then presses play on the walkman, his hand brushing against Jonathan’s.

Jonathan realizes how much he likes Steve being happy. He always knew it, but he didn’t know how much he liked it. Steve moves like he owns the world, like he’s not ashamed or afraid of anything. And Jonathan knows how bullshitthat is, that Steve, at heart, is a scared and insecure person who needs to love and be loved every moment of the day. Jonathan wishes he could give that to him, but if David Bowie gets Steve close to as happy as Jonathan would like to make him, he’ll take it.

“Put it in your stereo,” Steve says suddenly, pausing the music. “We should both listen to it, shouldn’t we?”

Jonathan shrugs a shoulder and takes the tape from the walkman, slipping it into the stereo and playing it. They both jump at the volume before Jonathan turns it down, and then they sit together, listening to Heroes until it fades out.

“Like us,” Steve says. “Heroes.”

“Yeah,” Jonathan says. “I guess.” Jonathan chews his lip for a moment before pausing the tape. “You saved my life.”

“What?”

“When the….” Jonathan can’t say it. “With the bat.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Steve looks at his hands and then smiles. “After you saved mine by beating the shit out of me.” Jonathan stiffens, and Steve sighs. “I know I said it before, but I’m sorry, Jonathan. I’m… God. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Jonathan says, voice a bit cooler. “It’s in the past.”

“You did save my life, though,” Steve says after a pause. “Seriously. If you didn’t beat sense into my brain….”

“You mean a concussion?”

“Sense,” Steve repeats. “If it wasn’t for you….”

“I know.”

It’s all that needs said.

“Another?” Steve asks.

“Really?”

“I like listening,” Steve says.

Jonathan suppresses another smile as he leans forward and turns the tape on again. Their arms are touching.

===

10 days before Christmas; 11 days before Hanukkah

“Just get him a new walkman,” Dustin says, tone bored, as Steve drags him through the biggest mall within an hour from Hawkins.

“It’s not good enough!”

Steve is exasperated, and desperate. He’d been spending way more time with Jonathan, and kept asking questions - he’s 90% sure Jonathan is on to him at this point - and he was still unsure of what to get him. Each day that passed made Steve more desperate to give Jonathan something that would make him happy, and a twenty dollar budget was just not enough for Steve. And though he feels like he knows Jonathan more than most people, he doesn’t quite understand Jonathan. And he wants to. He wants to so badly.

“Jesus, o-kay,” Dustin says, throwing his arms out.

“I’m not - I’m not mad at you.” Steve sighs and runs his hand through his hair as he stares at  a sweater displayed in a window. “I just - I don’t know what to get him.”

Dustin knows why, but he still asks, “Why do you care so much?”

“I don’t! I don’t. I don’t care that much.”

Dustin sees through the bullshit, but he doesn’t think a mall is the best place to talk to Steve about his feelings. “I just got Mike a new dice set. It’s not the best gift, but he’ll like it.”

“Well, I’m not lazy.”

Dustin pouts. “I’m not lazy -”

“And you’re not supposed to tell me who your person is -”

“You told me yours!” Dustin already knew Steve’s, but the point still stood.

Steve’s brows twitch in agitation. “Well, yeah, because I need help!”

“And I am helping you. Get him a damn walkman.”

As Steve contemplates the idea, a new one pops into his head.

“Perfect!” he shouts, making everyone stop to look at him. Dustin inclines his head, trying to get Steve to elaborate.

“We have to go to the music store. Now.”

===

3 days before Christmas, 4 days before Hanukkah

It’s official - Steve hates Joy Division. Not as much as he hates the Smiths, but he definitely hates it.

His ears hurt after listening to Jonathan’s favorite music, hand selecting the songs with the lyrics that Steve thought best exemplified Jonathan. In a way, the music helped Steve understand Jonathan, which was a happy surprise. And, quite honestly, Steve doesn’t mind listening to the music, because he knows it would make Jonathan happy, and that’s mainly what he cares about.

But something seems missing. Maybe it’s because no gift on Earth would be good enough for Steve to give to Jonathan. Jonathan deserved the world, deserved much better than what he was dealt. So did the rest of his family. Steve knows if he gave Jonathan anything worth anything, though, he wouldn’t take it. And if he did take it, he would share it - and Steve wanted to get him something that was purely for Jonathan. Maybe a mixtape was the perfect gift, but it didn’t feel like it. Something was missing.

Not that Steve had much time to contemplate another gift, because the exchange was happening tonight, and Steve couldn’t even write a two page paper in six hours, let alone find a better gift.

There’s always next year, he thinks as he’s wrapping it. Or his birthday. Or….

The wrapping paper his mom had purchased was patterned with bright green mistletoe, plum colored berries hanging from the leaves. Steve’s eyes focus on it for a while - intimacy was something that he missed. The closest he’d gotten in a year was his skin pushed up against Jonathan’s, knees and biceps touching. It made him yearn, and not for just anyone, but for him. For Jonathan.

But Steve doesn’t know how Jonathan feels. Yeah, they touch each other a lot, but maybe that’s just what friends do. Steve wouldn’t know. Jonathan’s eyes had lingered on Steve’s face before, and when they were smoking Jonathan didn’t even wince when Steve passed the joint to him. Isn’t that kind of like kissing? Steve doesn’t know. He just knows he wants to kiss Jonathan. He’s known for a while, and Robin told him after Steve cried to her one night that maybe he’s bisexual, and Steve had adopted that term because he wants to kiss Jonathan Byers so bad. And a kiss would be a personal, for-Jonathan-Byers-only gift.

A kiss, though, seems very straightforward. It doesn’t seem like a great idea. Maybe back in high school when Steve would kiss just about anyone, but not now. Not when he doesn’t even know if Jonathan swings that way.

So Steve finishes wrapping the tape, and he prints Jonathan on it in the best handwriting he can muster, and he hopes Jonathan understands through the lyrics.

===

“It’s got, like, you know.” Steve clears his throat. He’s too aware of the mistletoe above them. “The bands we listened to on it.”

“Steve,” Jonathan says, turning the tape over in his hands. His brows are furrowed together as he studies it, wondering what’s on the tape, wondering what Steve thought was intrinsically Jonathan Byers. It was such a personal gift that Jonathan didn’t even know what to do or say. “I…. Thanks. Thank you, Steve.”

Max grabs another gift from under the tree. “This one’s for Mike.” She chucks it at him and everyone’s eyes seem to turn to Mike, except for Will and Steve.

Their eyes meet, and Will gives Steve a look he doesn’t understand.

What? He mouths.

Will’s eyes flit up to the mistletoe, then back down to Steve and Jonathan. He repeats this a few times until Steve almost gasps at the suggestion. Does Will know something Steve doesn’t?

Steve nods his head as subtly as he can towards Jonathan. Him?

Will nods furiously, then looks back to Mike, who seems quite pleased with the dice Dustin had bought him. But Steve doesn’t get it, and when the presents are done, he pulls Will aside.

“What the hell?” he hisses. “What - what does that -” he mimics Will’s eye movements - “mean?”

Will rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. “C’mon.”

“What?”

“Come on,” he repeats. He gets quiet, and Steve can see Joyce in Will. “He likes you.”

“What? Did he say something to you?

“Steve. You touch each other, like, all the time.”

Steve deflates. “So he didn’t say something?”

“He doesn’t need to. Why do you think I convinced him to do this?”

Steve knows he’s saying “what?” too many times, but he says it again. “What?”

“We all planned this. We paired you two together on purpose.” And then he walks away because he’s tired of hearing about everyone’s love lives. This isn’t his problem. He just wants to play with Mike’s new dice.

When Steve looks towards the kids, they’re all staring. They quickly start talking to each other again, and Steve lets himself sit with the realization that these bunch of punks just pulled the most amazing Christmas hijink of perhaps all time.

Shitheads, Steve thinks, and while he’s definitely going to confront (and thank) them later, he’s got to talk to Jonathan first.

Later, 9 pm

“I knew it was you, you know.”

It’s cold outside, but it’s the best privacy they could get.

“How?” Steve asks, though he already knows.

“You’re not very conniving,” Jonathan says, once again suppressing a smile. “It was pretty obvious.”

“I just wanted to get you something you’d like,” Steve says. He breathes out and watches his breath disappear into the cold air. “You’re impossible to shop for, you know.”

Jonathan has the audacity to seem offended. “What?”

“Impossible,” Steve says, stepping forward. “You’re not a materialistic person.”

“So?”

“So,” Steve says. “So.” He can feel his heart in his throat, beating loud and fast - he hopes Jonathan can’t hear it. “So….”

And then they’re kissing under the mistletoe that Mrs. Wheeler hung on the porch.

Steve pulls back first, quick, surprised with himself. “Shit.”

Jonathan says nothing - he just stares.

“Can I kiss you?” Steve asks, throat dry.

“Didn’t you just kiss me?”

“Um. Yeah.”

Jonathan blinks. “Then do it again.”

And this time Steve really steps forward, really takes Jonathan’s cold cheeks in his cold hands, and he really kisses him. Jonathan finally lets that smile come through for the first time in a month as he melts into Steve, like a snowflake into a snowbank. Steve’s warm - well, warmer than the air - and he tastes a lot like vanilla birthday cake. Jonathan’s never really liked cake, but he likes Steve’s lips. Weird.

Jonathan pulls back first this time, because it was getting increasingly harder to kiss as his smile grew. He even tries to hide it behind his hand again, but Steve stops him, taking his cold fingers and wrapping his own through them.

“Impossible to shop for,” Steve repeats, his own smile hurting his cheeks. “Good thing kisses are free and personal.”

A laugh bubbles up from Jonathan’s chest and to his lips. “Yeah.” He squeezes Steve’s hand. Their chests are touching. “Good thing.”

===

tags: @pterawaters​ @mpmarypoppins​

[patchodraws]

For the wedding headcanon I can’t decide between crosshares and schneewood forest so you can pick or do both!

you get schneewood forest bc i also have another crosshares one (also i've thought so much about a schneewood forest wedding)

1. It starts with a promise ring. Technically speaking it starts with Winter half-proposing to Robyn one-night and feeling super embarrassed when she realizes what she's just asked. Robyn goes out that week and buys a promise ring, saying that she'd love to marry Winter one day, and she'll be with her until they're ready for that.

2. Robyn is the one to propose. Knowing that Winter wants to marry her and being the one who feels like she needs to wait a bit more, Robyn ends up being the one to pop the question after a few years. It's not that she needs time to figure out whether she wants to or not, but that she needs to make sure her relationship with Winter and her relationship with her job - protecting people, working in politics, that kind of thing - can coexist. When she is ready, the moment isn't a big grandiose one, but a quiet intimate question asked in the comfort of their home after a day at work. Robyn pulls out a ring and says, if Winter is still ready, then she is too.

3. Willow funds the wedding. Willow's just really happy most of all to see her family finding happiness again, and wants to encourage and be part of that happiness however she can. It's a little awkward for Winter at first, but she never held the same kind of disdain for her mother as Whitley or even Weiss to an extent. Willow at first doesn't even want to attend the wedding, not wanting to impede on Winter's special day, but Winter and Robyn decide she should be there, especially if she's paying for a lot of it.

4. The wedding is the first time Winter ever met the Hills. Look, I have this headcanon that Robyn doesn't have the best relationship with her parents, mostly because she was a total wild child as a teenager but also because her semblance pushed her away from them, leading to her feeling that way with everyone in her life for a time. Because she invited Willow, Winter wonders if Robyn would like to invite her parents, and though it takes Robyn some time to decide she figures she'll at least extend an olive branch now that her own life's a little better. The Hills invite them to dinner to meet Winter and celebrate their engagement, which goes...about as well as you'd expect at first, really, but in the end it's all okay.

5. Weiss' maid of honour speech makes Winter cry. Weiss' speech mostly entails memories from Weiss' perspective on their relationship growing up, about how much having Winter as her big sister meant and still means to her, and about how, finally, she gets to be happy. Weiss expresses how proud she is of Winter to find that happiness, and how proud she is to be her sister, and everyone is completely bewildered when Winter starts to cry because that's not something Winter does in public. Regardless, it's a super touching speech and Winter gives Weiss the biggest hug after it.

n e ways it's great that i have so many schneewood forest wedding headcanons bc talking about it is one of the things that made me and my girlfriend grow closer, so quick lightning round too !!

-the reception is at a beautiful but small venue -fiona catches the bouquet and marries joanna later that year -blake and yang dip in the middle of the reception to go make out in a broom closet somewhere -willow takes robyn aside at one point to thank her profusely for everything she's done for winter -whitley gives a speech with a lot of sass but is also touching nonetheless -may spends most of the evening essentially acting as the 'horny wedding guest police', except instead of telling people to stop making out she just points them towards the least conspicuous places to do it

send me a ship for five wedding headcanons !!

[angeltrapz]

hey dude 💚 sorry yr having a shit night too— chainshipping ask tho! I’m always down to head more thoughts abt just. things they do to make th other person smile. but also favorite things to do together? not necessarily Big Activities but the lil domestic stuff (like cooking, maybe chores they do together, etc) that’s just better bc they’re Both doing it

Yeah it was a. rough one kdjks... ty <33

I'm always game to talk abt things they do to make the other smile!! One I think about all the time is the simple act of getting things for each other? Maybe sometimes before they even realize they want said thing, or that they need said thing. As you've mentioned b4 I do think Adam has one of those lavender-scented stuffed animals that you can put in the microwave (I have!! the celebration bear one, who naturally is named Lawrence bc he's blue... and uh... I associate teddy bears. w him) and sometimes, when Adam is doing poorly and has gone nonverbal, Lawrence will just be like "Oh! I know what might help!” so he’ll grab the husky from the bedroom (got Rlly attached to that idea when you mentioned it <33) and pop it in the microwave for a minute, rounding back to the couch to hand Adam one of his shirts to snuggle in and a kiss on the forehead. When he gets Adam’s husky from the microwave and hands it to him, Adam just kinda has a moment like oh... I didn’t even have to ask... and he smiles, for the first time that day, and honestly? It rlly does help, to have someone who knows what might comfort you/knows what types of things do, and who just. Does those things when you need them, sometimes without prompt. It’s an intimate kind of knowledge, and it makes Adam feel all warm on the inside.

Another good example of this is Adam making sure Lawrence has his cane while he's walking around the apartment, esp those first few months when he's just getting used to using it - because he's still learning + trying to get used to walking with his (properly fitted) prosthetic, he often left the cane in random places because Adam would often offer his arm if Lawrence needed it (which, again, took some time for him to be okay with, but Adam always tells him it's okay to need help sometimes), and it would frustrate him because he'd be sitting on the couch like "I. I don't know where I put it." but Adam will be like "It's okay, I know where it is!" and it's as simple as that! Lawrence can't help but smile when Adam hands it to him because Adam just. He gets how hard it is. It's so simple to Adam but to Lawrence it means a whole lot. <3

Something else is that Lawrence will remind him to eat. I've touched on this a little bit b4, but Adam has issues with food that extend past textures and tastes and such - his eating is very disordered, and has been since childhood. He doesn't eat three meals a day, sometimes he hardly eats anything at all (usually the bare minimum that will allow him to take his medications without getting sick), he tends to gravitate towards snacks/easy foods that aren't necessarily super healthy, and combined with him already being underweight + having spent the last seven or eight years since leaving his parents' place at 18 getting by on very little, it causes him frequent dizzy spells/fainting episodes. It also takes him a while to realize that hey, I don't have to spread my meals out anymore, I don't have to worry about getting food, and I don't have to feel guilty about eating when I'm hungry. I think Lawrence is a very observant person by nature, and while he might not understand it fully right away, I think he'd definitely realize that some of these issues are tied to the state of the apartment he'd seen only once + Adam's life from before.

So he doesn't force him to eat, obviously, because that doesn't work and helps no one, but he will definitely be like "Hey, I know you're not feeling great today, but why don't I grab you a granola bar or something? We have those oranges you like too. I just want to make sure you don't give yourself a headache or get sick." and admittedly Adam is. Not used to that kind of regard whatsoever. But it feels so much easier to at least eat something small when he knows Lawrence sees him, understands that it's hard and isn't forcing anything out of him. I do think that once they settle into a routine after moving in together, some of that becomes a little bit easier because hey, he's not living paycheck to paycheck, he doesn't have to survive off of ramen and monster energy, he's allowed to eat and not worry about what happens after. The stress of worrying about groceries is definitely nonexistent with Lawrence, and that takes so much weight off of Adam's shoulders; not to embtion the fact that Lawrence is also conscious about his same foods, and makes sure they've always got some in the kitchen. It's not easy, but having someone care about him so much, someone who wants to make sure he's eating right and caring about him like that always makes Adam smile a little bit.

For Lawrence, I think a big thing is just like... seeing Adam hanging out with Diana? There's nothing that will put a smile on his face faster than coming home from work to find the two of them in the living room, a Disney movie (or The Princess Bride!) playing in the background while Diana paints Adam's nails bright glittery blue and pink, because she wanted to practice patterns and she really likes the glitter. Her nails are already painted black with a glitter coat on top - "Adam's nails always look so pretty like that, and he said maybe I couldn't do full black, so he put glitter on them too!" - and he's sitting there, hand spread out on the coffee table while they both sit on the floor, talking about anything and everything that pops into Diana's head, and Lawrence just kind of stands there and watches for a little while. His two favourite people, relaxing together, enjoying each other's company. Adam turns around and Lawrence has always got this huge grin on his face, just like, "Oh, don't mind me. What was it you were talking about, Diana?" which of course prompts her to jump up to give him a huge hug, but after that she's right back to painting Adam's nails, and Lawrence is more than content to just sit in and listen. (He also absolutely adores finding Adam reading to her before bed, because he does voices and everything. He gets a little bit embarrassed about it at first, but once he sees Lawrence watching them with the most loving look he thinks he's ever seen, he just blushes, smiles back, and continues. Sometimes Lawrence joins in, but not always, because then it becomes a competition of voices and they'll never get Diana to bed if she's laughing too hard!!)

Another is that Adam is really good at pulling him out of his own head. He can usually tell when Lawrence is thinking way too hard about something, or when he's beating himself up for some perceived slight he feels he's somehow performed, or when something is bothering him and he's debating whether or not to bring it up for fear of bothering Adam. Often times he'll just sit beside him wherever he is, or lead him somewhere to sit down if they're standing, and he'll just guide Lawrence's head to rest on his chest and he'll just talk softly, making sure Lawrence isn't sitting in silence, knowing that Lawrence doesn't typically feel up to talking himself right away. He'll run his fingers through his hair and tell him about his day, or something he saw while scrolling through his phone/on TV, sometimes he'll read to him, basically just letting him know that hey, I'm right here, I know you're not doing great right now, and that's okay. I'm here for you. Lawrence cries sometimes when Adam does this, the relief of being held + feeling safe enough to express his emotions making it easier, but he smiles by the end of it because he knows how much Adam loves him + wants to make sure he's okay, and he knows that Adam isn't going to judge him. It's the safety of it all. <3

Favourite things to do together!!! Like you mentioned I like to think they do chores together! It’s just more fun that way. Again as you’ve mentioned b4, I think Adam has some difficulty with the dishes despite liking the repetitiveness of the task, both because of textures and because of his shaky hands - so what they do is Lawrence will wash the plates themselves and then hand them off to Adam, who will dry them and put them away/the strainer! They both find it helps a lot to just be around each other like this, listening to the radio above the stove and bumping hips, tapping their feet, sometimes humming along if they know the song well enough. It’s just a nice little routine. (Sometimes they dance in the kitchen after, and sometimes to the goofiest pop songs Adam has ever heard, but if you heard that, no you didn't.)

They like folding laundry together, too! That one is just because it's fun. Lawrence will toss him one or two of his shirts while they're warm because he knows Adam likes the feeling + stealing Lawrence's clothes, and every now and then Adam will throw a washcloth at him just 'cause he thinks it's funny (it is, especially bc Lawrence's gut response is to throw it back?? so they look like two dorks bc they're just throwing it back and forth???), and it's just a nice way to share space. Sometimes they get a bit too caught up in whatever is on TV (its on bc they both need background noise) and end up just sitting against the couch, two baskets of laundry on either side of them, and then eventually Adam will be like "Okay babe I think we should probably finish folding clothes now," and Lawrence will just groan like "I forgot that's what we were doing. Damn it." and they take a moment to laugh before they finish up. (Adam Loves hearing Lawrence swear bc he doesn't do it often, so even smth as simple as "damn it" cracks him up for a good minute lmao!!)

I do think they also enjoy cooking together!! Adam will hand him ingredients/assist in cutting vegetables/what have you; I think, for the most part, that Lawrence does the majority of the cooking, but Adam does help where he can! Sometimes he'll just hop up onto the counter and hand Lawrence things as he needs them, and Lawrence thanks him with either a squeeze to his hand or a kiss on the cheek, and Adam will joke about how he's basically just sitting there looking pretty, but he learns very quickly that Lawrence will just be like "Well, you DO look very pretty, so I think that's fine," and it ends with Adam red in the face but smiling into his hands anyway. The payoff is always a nice meal that they can sit down to together, and it's just such a peaceful, enjoyable thing for them to do together!!

Other than those three they'll take turns doing chores for each other - sweeping, dusting, tidying up the bathroom, things like that just to help each other out <3

[callmepippin]

ok so i was tagged by the lovely @lexiklecksi for the 11/11/11 tag, the rules are: answer the 11 questions she asked me, make up my own 11 questions and then tag 11 ppl to answer those (so if you want you can skip to the questions at the bottom lmao). however as a fair warning: this got Way too long probably bc im rambly today. i tried to limit the stream of consciousness but….

1. current musical obsession: Frank Ocean and related sort of neo-r&b stuff - while writing this im also discovering Childish Gambino’s “Awaken, My Love!” (and also the song Golden Brown, but not bc im listening to it but bc im learning it on both guitar and piano)

2. 3 things i always take with me:

- wallet (or at least my id)

- phone (&earphones)

- cigarettes&lighter

3. what (or who) i miss most in lockdown: i dont rly remember? im so used to the situation by now that i kind of forget to miss what i did when things were “normal”... but i guess going to bars w/ friends, and just being able to go shopping when i need smth

4. pick: either only read 1 book or only read books picked by someone else: i wouldn’t be able to only read one book for the rest of my life! so definitely the second option (esp if i can pick the person who picks the books)

5. why i found your blog/followed you and if i intend to stay: uhh you followed me and when i checked your blog i liked the vibe i guess? also you were v nice in the tags of my music stuff! also ya i like it here, so im staying for a while

6. when and why did i last cry: i genuinely dont know for sure.. the last time i specifically remember crying was my granddad’s funeral, which is three yrs ago this month, but i do know ive cried once or twice since then, i just dont remember for sure when and why.

wait i do remember, i think the last time was when i saw Richard Says Goodbye (live music and movies or books are basically the only reason i rly cry, im not an emotional crier, dont know why).

7. who holds the key to my heart: my partner of five (and a bit) years, whom i love Very Much! (although ofc my heart is not locked, i have so much love to give, just romantically i am very much taken)

8, pick one: star wars/star trek, dobby/gollum, white/black magic, flying/teleportation, time travel: past/future?

- Star Wars

- Gollum (even though i have read hp but still havent read lotr, ive read the hobbit like 4 times tho)

- i think the hard dichotomy btwn white/black magic or like light/dark and good/bad in most fiction is often v flawed bc thats not how the world works, everything is grey areas (e.g. the Jedi are not better than the Sith, both have deeply flawed philosophies). the Force (or any magic for that matter) is not inherently good or evil, it just is. nature isnt abt good or evil, isnt abt opposites but abt balance.

and especially if you work with the occult and magical, i think thats all abt walking the edge between light and dark, life and death, night and day, good and bad etc…

so to answer the question: grey magic lmao, its all abt balance

- teleportation i think, bc while flying is very cool, i think teleportation has more practical uses (although also has danger involved, such as what happens if you teleport into a space that is already occupied by a person or an object? but for the sake of argument, prolly teleportation)

- do not even get me started on time travel.. the implications of time travel to the past are…… complicated to say the least (it only works if you believe in hard determinism, which i wholly do not). so in a practical sense, def to the future (although that is also Problematic within the constraints of our four-dimensional universe/experience).

in a philosophical sense though, ignoring all the paradoxes and laws of time and space, id still pick the future (or maybe no time travel at all), bc i think the past is the past for a reason. we remember it, we learn from it, but ultimately we must leave it behind.

my philosophical problem with traveling to the future is more that you cant just. skip life. so if you travel to the future, it has to be way beyond your own life and direct influence, or youll interfere with yourself and your own future, and thats scientifically, psychologically /and/ philosophically a v bad idea all round, i think.

9. which thoughts keep me awake at night: almost never specific thoughts, but quite often anxiety abt the near future. but theres no like, lingering issues that keep me awake.

10. what id do with you if we were locked up together for 24hrs: i think i’d really like to write with you! make poetry, song lyrics, make art! bc we could rly learn from each other i think and also we could just rly pick each others brain abt mundane, important and transcendental stuff ya know?

11. ask anything: do you have concrete, long term plans for the future, maybe even backup plans? a clear vision of how the rest of your life is going to go? or are you more the type to do what makes you happy now and figure it out as you go along?

my own questions (large variation in vibes and weight, i know):

describe your favourite colour using other senses (like what sound, smell, feeling or w/e do you associate with it)

what’s the best thing that happened to you in the last week, last month and last year?

what’s the one thing/what are the things that help(s) you get up in the moring and keep putting one foot in front of the other?

are you a leftie? (warning: there is a correct answer)

do you play/have you ever played a musical instrument? (and for the sake of completeness, yes i am counting singing as well)

do you have one thing (e.g. a song, movie, book or smth else) that never fails to bring you joy?

do you have one (or more) person(s) you feel you could still hit up after ten yrs of radio silence and you’d still vibe?

what’s your favourite song lyric/line from a poem/quote? and why?

who was your first celebrity crush? (if you’ve ever had one obvsly)

what’s smth you’re looking forward to? could be specific, could be a general thing like a driver’s licence or your own apartment or w/e

this one is specifically to feed my curiosity, indulge me: why did you follow me?

congrats, you’ve managed to reach the end! again, very sorry for the rambles, thanks for sticking around. im tagging @alt-heidi, @terdiscussie, @a-soul-to-cling-to, @ontvreemd, @sarahhnghae and i guess whoever fuckin feels like it? i literally can’t think of 11 ppl on this hell site, so if i forgot you its not personal. if we’re mutuals you’re especially tagged.

[willowistic22]

The pleasure’s all mine... Prince Romeo

A grand party is held in the palace tonight, but one of the royal family member isn’t in the mood to indulge in it like how they’d usually be. Luckily, a stranger comes to save them. It just so happens that this stranger is so dangerously handsome. 

Word count : 4688

Part : -

Warnings : light mentions of alcohol, cursing, and that should be it. it’s nothing too serious. 

A/N: HIIII this is my gift for @s9da (well technically for paranormalsoup... i think you can piece in together why i asked you abt paranormalsoup in the wormsie discord server hehe) for the @newsiesgiftexchange i had fun making this bcs i absolutely love newsies royal au, so i hope you don’t mind i wrote a somewhat self indulgent fic for your gift hehe. it was still spromeo like you asked, but uhh idk i hope you like it bcs half of me think it’s not as great as i thought it was in my head. But anyways enjoy!!! :D

“Romeo! Get your ass out of there!” 

“How long does it take for you to get dressed?!” 

The two muffled voices turned into banging on the door. Romeo rolled his eyes, deciding to ignore his brothers and continuing to adjust his tuxedo in front of his full length standing mirror. 

His bedroom door swung open with no warning. In turns, two boys formally dressed came storming in. 

“Race! Crutchie! You could have at least waited for me to let you two in!” Romeo protested, adjusting sleeves under his dark blue blazer. 

“My God, Ro! You’re not even ready yet!” Crutchie commented, walking over as fast as he could with his crutch to get to where Romeo is standing. He takes the silver tie from the dresser and slings it around Romoe’s shirt collar, “The party is supposed to start right now and you know dad would want all of his sons to be present!”  

“He was probably too busy talking to the cat, weren’t you?” Race flops on the big bed, causing the dozens of velvet pillows to jump. It also seems to have awakened a huge white fluffy cat in the midst of the pillows. 

“Racetrack! Snowy was getting his beauty sleep!” Romeo protested, seeing the scene unfold from the mirror. 

Crutchie flipped both of his brothers off, telling Race to be careful so he doesn’t mess his own outfit up and making Romeo stand still while he helps him get ready. In under five minutes and Romeo is properly dressed just like his brothers. 

Crutchie places Romeo’s crown on top of his black locks, the magnificent silver object goes perfectly with the intricate silver curlicue designs on the shoulder and back of his dark blue blazer. With the tiny silver crown lapel pin and its tiny chain draping on the fabric to wrap up the dashing outfit. 

The three head out of the room. They strut through the grand hallway like it’s a fashion week runway, feeling confident with every step following the red velvet carpet till they reach the grand ballroom decked to the nines just like them. 

A huge chandelier hanging above the open space. A few tables and chairs neatly organized for the awaiting guests but still leaving enough space for a dance floor. The huge glass doors wide open to make use of the huge balcony for the party, also letting the evening breeze through the door. 

“About damn time you three show up!” Jack, the oldest brother exclaimed. 

“Jack! Do mind your language!” Their father protested. 

His three younger brothers walk up onto the podium, greeting their father who’s sitting on the only throne present. 

“It was all Romeo’s fault. He didn’t know how to tie his own tie!” Race joked. 

The brothers have their little silent squabble as they stand behind the throne. Crutchie decides to not get himself involved in it and tries to break it up, “Oh, grow up you guys!” 

Those words did nothing to help. In turn, Crutchie turns to their father in hopes to ignore those three. 

“Jackie-love! Listen to your brother, please!” A different voice chimed in. 

The three turn their focus away towards it and see Jack’s husband already fully dressed up. In a classy dark purple suit with a grey tie in the same shade as Jack’s own suit. 

“We’re celebrating our sixth anniversary and Sarah is finally home from her travels. The least you could do is to keep yourself presentable!” 

Jack pushes aside the squabble, switching on his loving smile for Davey. Romeo and Race pulled away from the squabble right after Jack. Their father silently sighed in relief to see his sons finally deciding to act like fully grown adults. 

He tells the royal guards to let the guests in. In under five minutes, the ballroom was instantly filled with guests in formal attire. Some fill their assigned seats for the dinner that was promised in the invitation while others mingle with each other. The band, playing lovely tunes loud and clear but it wasn’t time for the guests to get up and dance. 

The princes have also indulged themselves in the party. Jack and Davey can be seen mingling with the guests they’ve invited, listening to their congratulations on their sixth anniversary. Crutchie has gone to god knows where, which is surprising because he’s wearing a flashy yellow and black suit in the midst of all the mostly dull colored outfits in the ballroom. Race had gone off to fulfilling his promise to their father of introducing his new lover, the future king of Brooklyn. 

Romeo is left to slump on the round table with leftovers sitting idly on his plate. An odd thing for him to do, and he’s quite aware of it too. Romeo adores mingling, making new friends, or even catching up with some old friends that he has indeed spotted somewhere amongst the crowd this evening. Though, his energy to do so doesn’t seem to be there in this particular moment. 

The young prince watches from afar as his big brother finally introduces Spot Conlon to their father. Spot’s dark red suit is really contrasting to Race’s own outfit, a bright blue suit with golden curlicue designs on the shoulders and back which is a bit like Romeo’s. It matches perfectly with his blond messy curls and electric blue eyes. 

Romeo smiles, seeing his brother’s face lighting up as their father seemingly approves of the dashing Brooklyn boy that he has so helplessly fallen in love with for the past two years. Romeo doesn’t linger on it though. He returns his focus towards his empty table and plate, a sad smile painting his face as he observes his own reflection on the ceramic. 

“Well, aren’t you the life of the party!” A voice interrupted his thoughts, causing him to lift his head up, “But if I do say so myself, and I mean no offense to his royal highness, you’re quite the tragic sight sitting here all alone” 

His eyes landed on a gentleman standing proud and tall in a maroon suit, a black tie neatly tucked under his blazer. His complexion reminded Romeo of the topaz rocks in some of the castle’s intricate decorations, rich with brown but always glowing bright with the rest of the gems. In this case, his glow comes from the simple smile and the lovely brown eyes behind the silver framed spectacles. 

The initial comment brought a smile to Romeo’s face and a little laugh along with it. He fixes his sitting posture, eyeing the stranger with a head tilt while his head tries to figure out who this guest could be. 

“And you’re what? Here to be my savior from my little slump?” Romeo replied to match with the stranger’s cleverness. 

Seeing the success his opening line has brought, the gentleman pulls out an empty chair next to Romeo and sits himself down, “Well, you’re the prince here. Whatever it is you command me to be, I’m pretty sure I need to follow” 

Romeo lets out a small fit of laughter through his smile, looking away from the man’s eyes. It also makes the stranger laugh along with him. 

Romeo returns his sight back to the man in front of him. He walked right into a gaze-off he cannot look away from. In no means for intimidation, but a brief yet firm infatuation through the art of eye contact with the man he just met. Only now did Romeo realize how dangerously handsome this stranger is. 

“Romeo!” The call of his name pulled him away from the gaze and back to the world around him. 

He spots Crutchie zipping through the crowd. A smile painted on his face, just as bright as the yellow and black suit he’s currently rocking in. Romeo stands up to give his brother a hug. 

“I see you’ve met one of my friends from the lab!” Crutchie gestured back to the stranger Romeo was just previously speaking to, already slightly bowing his head to pay his respects to the two members of the royal family. 

“Oh, you work in the lab!” Romeo concluded, turning back to face the stranger who’s already on his feet. 

“Yeah. We call him Specs!” Crutchie giggled, making the other man laugh along while Romeo looks back to where he’s currently standing, “And Specs, this is my brother, Romeo!” 

Specs pulls up a simple smile for Romeo and a firm head nod. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you two!” Crutchie apologized, a few moments after remembering they were previously having a conversation. He adjusts his crutch to get ready to leave, “I’ll leave you two to it, okay?” 

Romeo watches as his brother walks away to mingle into another group. It leaves him with the previous gentleman he was talking to. The only differences now, he’s not much of a stranger anymore. 

“So... That’s what they actually call you? ‘Specs’?” 

“Well, it’s because, if you can’t already tell…” 

Specs gestures towards his spectacles that rests on the bridge of his nose. Romeo chuckles, playfully rolling his eyes. But the smile tells Specs he’s still in the clear from offending a royal family member. 

“What’s your actual name? Unless you don’t have one” 

He laughs, parting his lips to let it out before saying, “It’s Julian. But now people mostly refer to me as Specs” 

Romeo nods, staring directly into his sparkly brown eyes. Whatever is gleaming under it is very inviting, and Romeo isn’t opposed to this mysterious invitation. He’s rather pleased by its presence. Before he knows it he’s already engaged with it, letting his own obsidian gemstone eyes linger in the gaze. 

“A pleasure to meet you... Specs” 

“The pleasure’s all mine... Prince Romeo” 

- 

Soon enough the sun has fully set. The night sky takes over the heavens above, thread by sparkling pearls to break up the deep blue. But the party didn’t stop. The royal family’s favorite performer, Ms. Medda Larkin, has finally arrived in the most fashionably late way. Her grand entrance was welcomed with warm arms by King Denton himself. 

With the presence of the superstar, the band picked up its lack of entertainment as Ms. Medda picked up the microphone after a quick dinner. The jazzy upbeat tune sends all the guests roaring for the dance floor. 

Romeo though? He has his own entertainment, in the huge balcony by the bar with his own partner. 

“No dance?” 

Romeo pries his eyes away from the dance floor he’s observing from outside. He glues them onto Specs, leaning his shoulder on the shiny bar top while twirling his glass of scotch. 

Romeo shakes his head, making a semi weird face, “Not really up for it” 

“Huh, you’re nothing like what Prince Charlie says” Specs commented, taking a gulp from his glass to finish his drink off, “He says that you’re very energetic and flirty” 

The comment makes him scoff through his smile, “I can’t say that he’s wrong. But… I’m just not feeling it tonight” 

The little silence between them is giving Romeo the impression that he should explain even further. But he takes this chance to finish his own drink and change the subject, “So, you work in Crutchie’s lab?”  

The subject of Specs’ profession quickly did the trick. It also reveals some basic facts about him. As it turns out, Davey was the one that pushed him to work in the royal lab. He’s been friends with Davey since college and has been partners in crime ever since. Davey was first to get the job as a chemical engineer at Crutchie’s lab after a year of switching jobs to match his preferences, while Specs was still continuing his studies for a masters degree. Since he’s been an A+ student at a young age, the first application he sent got him the call for the job interview and got in quickly. 

Romeo was very impressed by the story. Half way through it he starts to question as to why he’s been given the honor to talk to Specs. There is no way Specs is anywhere close to Romeo's league. 

Regardless, Specs doesn’t seem to question all of that. While there’s a noisy ballroom in the background, they’re having a party of their own. Smiling, laughing, and basically having a great time in their private little universe. Romeo is very much infatuated by the gentleman and wouldn’t want anything in the world to ruin the moment. 

“Y’know, you should probably just drop all the formalities at this point” Romeo lightly mentioned, between sipping his third drink he had only touched after half an hour upon asking the bartender for one, “It’s just me” 

“Just you?” Specs questioned, lips wrapping up into a warm smile that makes Romeo’s heart melt. 

He froze in place, admiring the wonder to behold. It makes Romeo smile wider as he slowly nods at the question. 

Before he could say anything else, the loud sound coming from inside took over their center of attention. A loud cheering of guests over something neither Specs or Romeo knows about, as the view was blocked by dozens of backs. 

Romeo turns his head away from it, focusing back to where he is currently at. He glances over at Specs and says, “Let’s get out of here” 

Specs looks back at Romeo, a little confused with his offer, “And go where, exactly?” 

Romeo sips the remaining liquid in his glass, setting it back with a loud clang against the bar top. He spontaneously grabs Specs’ hand and drags him away, leading him to the stairs on the side of the huge balcony. With every step down, the twinkling Manhattan view slowly fades away from their eyes. 

It was soon replaced by the view of the royal garden in the dark. A cobblestone path stretching to as far as the eyes can see in the dark, pass the green trees with overgrowing plants hanging over it, and various shapes of bushes strategically placed all around the settlement. The smell of the grass is so fresh and different, unlike anything Specs has ever encountered before. 

However, Romeo drags him to the other direction. They walked under a dimly lit tunnel, under where the balcony and the ballroom is. They can barely see each other in this kind of lighting, though Romeo’s crown was able to let the tiniest ray of light reflect on its figure. At the end of the tunnel, they can see an opening which would lead them to the center of the palace where another garden is located. 

“Where are we going, if I may ask?” Specs returned to his previous unanswered question. 

“Just… around, I guess” 

The two smile at each other, Specs nodding along to whatever bullshit he was just fed but still getting entertained by it anyways. 

“So… are you gonna tell me why you decide to detach yourself from the party?” 

So he noticed. Well, it isn’t like Romeo has been sneaky about it but he was hoping it wouldn’t be brought up. 

“That party isn’t for me so…” Romeo started, fiddling the hem of his blazer, “... It didn’t felt right if I were to mingle in there” 

“Because that party wasn’t for you?” 

Romeo stops in his tracks, realizing how wrong that sounds, “Okay, wait, I take that back umm…” 

“No, it’s okay if you’re a little… self centered” Specs half teased. 

Romeo scoffs at that, playfully shoving his arms with his shoulders that sends the taller boy laughing. He recollects his composure and re-explains himself, “I mean… Jack, Race, and Crutchie are up there because they have…’something’” 

The two continue to walk through the tunnel, Specs fixated to Romeo as he explains himself. 

“You see Jack, already living up to his reputation from being a good leader. Charismatic, fearless, all of that. He’s just waiting for our father to step down from the throne so he can unleash his full potential” Romeo started out, which made no sense to Specs question but he kept listening anyways, “And then you got Race. However big of a dumbass and a troublemaker he is, he’s smart! He doesn’t work full time at the lab but you’ve seen him there a few times, right?” 

Specs nods, recalling the memory of him seeing prince Anthony while he was working. 

“A great problem solver. Despite being the one that causes the most problems in the castle” Romeo added, making Specs chuckle a bit. He lets himself smile at that but it didn’t linger long. 

“And you know Crutchie. He’s smart and wants nothing more than to help others. Hearing the voices of the little people” Romeo continued. 

He stops walking, causing Specs to do the same. They’ve almost made it through the tunnel, just a few more steps away. The moonlight can reach just far enough to illuminate their faces and highlight their main features. 

Romeo looks up to the other boy, “I’m almost 23 and I haven’t really done shit” 

Specs fully turns his body towards Romeo, his words from before finally clicking in his head. 

“I thought you were a performer” Specs said, “Isn’t that something to be proud of?” 

“It is something I’m proud of. But people talk, Specs” 

His older brothers are famous for what they’ve achieved that are viewed as ‘useful’ with their title as royalty. Romeo, on the other hand, is a famous Broadway performer. Whether it’s playing the lead role, a side character, or just a part of the ensemble, no one will deny his talent. But people still talk badly about his title mixed with his love for theatre. 

Specs stays silent while waiting for Romeo to continue. He let’s Romeo walk out the tunnel first, letting the glow of the night illuminate his whole body along with the garden he’s in. Though, his heart doesn’t seem to be enjoying it the way that he should. 

Romeo turns around to face Specs, already slowly stepping out of the shadows of the tunnel. He takes his crown off his head, letting it dangle freely in his right hand, “Living here has its perks. But the downside is people expect you to be a leader of some sort” 

The taller boy stands next to Romeo, observing one side of the castle. The bright lights from the chandeliers clear as day through the huge windows. 

“So you’re really going to let the stupid comments old people say about you affect the rest of your life?” Specs questioned, letting a small smile creep up his face, “I mean, you’re the one that gets all the girls drooling” 

“I guess, but I prefer guys anyways” Romeo half chuckled, his smile yet to return. 

“Then it looks like the odds are with me” Specs said in a cheeky manner, taking a few steps ahead of Romeo. 

It caught him off guard. He dumbfoundedly stared at the boy for a good few seconds while his back was facing him. Heart beating very fast. Heat rising up his cheeks. The corner of his lips picks up on the tiniest bit of joy and excitement his heart is indulging in. 

Specs turns around and Romeo shakes away any obvious adoration towards the boy, pretending to admire his crown in his grasp. 

“I mean, I think you’re a very talented actor” 

“So you’re a fan?” Romeo asked cleverly, looking up to meet his eyes again while placing his crown back on his head, “Is that why you came up to me in the first place?” 

“Among other things… yes” 

Well, that’s something to know. 

Romeo and Specs roam around the garden in the dark, though they stay quiet in fear that other people might hear their presence. The laughing felt more personal and heartfelt when it’s secretive like this. Somehow Romeo is falling out of his usual confident nature, getting shier with every giggle that escapes their lips or clever remark Specs added on to the conversation. 

Romeo brought up the idea for the two to head to his bedroom after spotting a glimpse of his balcony on the second floor. Well, from the ground it’s three floors up. Regardless, they were still able to utilize their environment to work in their favor on climbing to the balcony. 

Romeo avoided entering his bedroom because it was embarrassingly messy. So they stayed where they are, carefully sitting on the balcony railing and continuing their conversation. They picked it up so easily that they’re soon laughing together like before. This time, they get a view of the garden below, a glimpse of Manhattan, and closer to the night sky. The warmth of his bedroom through the open balcony doorway defeats the freezing temperatures from outside. 

Specs was interrupted mid sentence after an odd feeling came by his leg. Fluffy and warm, like it’s a living being. 

“Who’s this?” Specs looks down to see a white fluffy cat looking back up to him. He gently picks up the white furball and cradles it close to his chest with a loving smile. 

“About time he decides to wake up from his nap” Romeo commented, scooching closer towards Specs so that they’re shoulder to shoulder so he can pet his little feline companion, “His name is Snowy” 

Snowy purrs at the love he’s receiving, giving the two boys long and slow blinks with every pet they provide. 

“Do you have any pets, Specs?” Romeo asked. 

“My apartment doesn’t allow pets. It actually sucks because it can get a little lonely” Specs replied. He lets Snowy go after the cat starts stirring in his grasps. Specs cleans any excessive fur that got stuck on his blazer before turning back towards Romeo, “I’m glad I get to have my own space after needing to live in a foster home for the majority of the time. But I got used to having lots of people around so…” 

“Not courting anybody?” Romeo asked again, “You look like the kind of guy who’d win a lot” 

Romeo you fucking idiot. His mind was yelling at him for saying that. No one with common sense would blatantly say that to someone they just met that day. 

Specs chuckles through his smile, staring at Romeo with a little twinkle hidden in his brown eyes. It could just be the stars from the sky reflecting in his eyes, but it’s not possible because there was a meaning behind his glimmer. 

“Not really my style” Specs replied, a flirtatious smirk making its way up to his face, “Though, I met a guy recently and… I’m trying my best to impress him” 

Oh. My. God. 

Romeo didn’t realize how close their faces were getting. Hot breaths circulate the small gap between their faces. Romeo diverts his eyes away from Specs’, but it absentmindedly went to stare at his lips. He imitated the way Specs has his lips slightly parted. 

“A-and how’s that going for you?” Romeo dared to ask, stopping the gravitational pull towards each other. Any closer and Specs might know how fast his heartbeat is going. 

“Not sure” He replied breathlessly, “You’ll have to tell me” 

If stomach butterflies could explode then that is definitely how Romeo is feeling right now. But they stayed still. Neither quite seem to have the courage to take the next step. 

Specs took the initiative, slowly guiding his hand up to cup Romeo’s cheeks. He then whispers, “Can I-” 

“Romeo!” A muffled voice interrupted their little moment. They quickly pull apart and stare at Romeo’s bedroom door inside the dimly lit bedroom. Violent knocking followed after the voice and it continued, “Romeo, are you in there?” 

It didn’t take long for Specs to catch on to what’s happening. He scrambles himself away behind the brick wall of the balcony, just next to the doorway. Romeo fixes his suit and answers the door. 

Just as he expected it, it was Race. No one in the family knocks as violently as he does. 

“My God, Race! Can I ever get some time alone in my room?” Romeo answered the door. 

“Why are you even in here? You’re supposed to be at the party!” Race said, “Dad was looking for you, y’know” 

“I just needed a little air but I’ll be right there, I promise” 

He flips Race away and turns around, seeing the previous boy he was with coming out of his previous hiding spot. He smiles sheepishly at Specs, which was met with his own chuckling. 

“Guess, we better head back” Romeo said, looking up to meet Specs’ eyes, “But you’re gonna have to use the balcony” 

“I figured” 

Specs sits back on the balcony before swinging both legs over the railing to climb down. Romeo leans his body against the railing, held up by his arms. It’s only polite to wait for Specs to climb down before he leaves to get to the ballroom himself. 

“By the way… thanks for keeping me company” Romeo felt like he owed him a thank you. After all, Specs could’ve had some fun or gained more than just a casual get-to-know-me conversation if he were to fully participate in the party. 

Specs looks up from minding his steps down, back up to Romeo’s eyes with a loving gaze towards him, “Of course. When else will I get the chance to be this close to you?” 

Rome looks down to his hands to hide away his blush and bashful little smile. He notices Specs hands are still on the railing, placed quite close to his own. 

“But how did I do? Were you impressed?” 

Romeo looks up, finding the other boy’s face is already two inches away from his own. The exact same position they were in before getting interrupted by his brother, just this time Specs is hanging on the balcony.

“Is that something you want to know?” Romeo questioned back with a little giggle following it. He thought it would be fun to tease him around before they finally part ways. 

“It’s not usual for me to straight up ask but… “ Specs caught on with the teasing, “... technically you were the one that ask” 

Romeo giggles along with him. He nods to his question and answers properly, “Yes. I was very much impressed by you, Specs” 

The next seconds were filled with silence. The high from their little banter turned into adrenaline to do something with how they’re positioned now. They both realize it, as both smiles slowly fade to parted lips with hot and heavy breaths hitting each other’s faces. Romeo glues his eyes on Specs’ lips, he could only imagine the other boy did the same. 

“Do I get the permission to kiss you?” Specs asked, barely above a whisper while his hands traced up Romeo’s arm until it reached his cheek once again. 

Romeo stuttered through his next few words before replying with a little giggle, “Permission granted” 

Specs wasted no time, softly crashing his lips on the other boy’s. Fireworks set off in their heads as the feelings developed for each other from this short period of time are released in one gentle kiss. Romeo moves one hand to hold his neck, as a means to deepen the kiss and to secure Specs from falling. 

They part with heavy breaths escaping their lips. The heavy breathings turned into giggles and giggles turned into goodbyes. 

Romeo watches as a giddy looking Specs makes it to the ground and walks towards the previous tunnel. Before finally escaping his vision, Specs glances back up to Romeo. Despite the distant Romeo can see a stupid grin on his face, which only made him laugh. 

As Specs finally escapes his view, Romeo lets out a long and adoring sigh and melts into the moment. Lowering his body and placing his head on top of his hands that are gripping on the balcony. 

He hears his beloved fur ball meow near him, but he’s far gone for that boy to even care what the cat wants. 

“I know, Snowy,” Romeo said, as if understanding the language his cat speaks, “He’s such a dream…”