#Twisted T-Bug

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Twisted T-Bug, 2025. The British off-road specialists have created a restomod Volkswagen Beetle in the style of the Baja Beetles of the 60s and 70s. Modifications include new LED headlamps, raised heavy-duty suspension, increased engine power (still only 80hp) and upgraded interior trim. There's no indication yet of how much the T-Bug will cost

[laferrassie]

i don't think ive been this sick since i was a little kid

[luveline]

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫-𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭

Something about Clark makes your head hurt. (And something about Superman is strangely familiar.) 3k words, fem.

˚‧꒰ა ❤︎ ໒꒱‧˚

“Good morning.” 

A stress ball goes careening off the edge of your desk as your body catches up. “Fuck,” you breathe, twisting in your seat to find the Daily Planet’s most puppy-eyed journalist towering over your desk. “Clark! You scared me.” 

Your whisper-shouting amuses him. He smiles, creasing a small wrinkle in the corners of his eyes, pretty pink mouth too much to deal with. If he notices you looking and then looking away, he doesn’t show it. 

“I’m sorry,” he says, not sounding too sorry. 

“Are you?” 

“I’m so sorry. Really. What’s got you so, ah, immersed?”

You click the minimise button on your open window, clearing your desktop before he can spot your shoddy workmanship. “Nothing.” 

“Sure. I believe you. Do you want a cup of coffee?” 

“No, thank you.” 

He lingers. Your office skews toward casual dress but Clark’s hardly the first to wear a proper suit, skinny black tie against a solid backdrop. You’d quite like to grab it, hoisting him downward, and you know you’d never do it, but the thought is nice. Your face and neck warm with it. 

Clark’s smile is soft and yet endlessly indulgent, like you’ve given him what he’d sorely wanted. “I can help, you know. I’d love to help you with whatever it is that’s making you all… cagey,” he says. 

“You’re always helping me.” 

“That’s not true. I couldn’t help you move.” 

You wave a hand at his wincing. You hadn’t asked him to, and you hadn’t minded when he cancelled at the last minute. “I’m just happy your ma was okay.” 

“I’d still like to make it up to you.” 

“How?”

His smile is crazy. Magnetic and tempting and sickening, too, nausea a pit in your stomach that blooms the longer you stare at him. Sometimes, sometimes, Clark smiles at you in this quasi-specific way and you think —you. I know you. 

And then a headache comes like a knife between your eyes. 

Clark startles at your hard flinch. “Migraine again?” 

“Not a migraine.” 

“Then what would you call it?” 

“A shooting pain? They don’t last long enough to qualify. Jimmy says so.” 

“What does Jimmy know about headaches?” Clark asks, voice taking on a silky quality that threatens to send shivers down your back. He hesitates in front of you, taller and taller as the moment stretches, before he bends at the waist to touch your forehead. “Sorry, can I just– is this okay?” 

“Sure, but, what are you–”

His hands are warm. “You don’t feel hot. What did the doctor say?” 

“I didn’t go.” 

“You didn’t go?” His softness turns stiff. “Why wouldn’t you go? Sharp pains like this aren’t normal. Why wouldn’t you go and get that looked at? You already made the appointment.” 

You shift away from his hand. It would be easy to meet him where he is right now. You could tell him that it isn’t his problem nor his business. That you didn’t wanna get looked at and ignored, again. You woke up this morning and couldn’t hack it. 

“I didn’t feel like it,” you say, not without care. 

“You didn’t feel like it.” His eyebrows rise. His thumb strokes over the curve of your eyebrow as he pulls his hand away to straighten his glasses. 

“That’s what I said, yeah.” You laugh at his parroting. “I’m fine. It’s not so bad when I’m at home. I figure maybe it’s the computer screen.” You let him stare at you in his sternness until you start to feel too much like a bug under a magnifying glass. “If I send you this bit on one-pan carbonara, could you just– read it for clarity? And cross out whatever sounds ridiculous?” 

“I doubt anything sounds ridiculous, but I’m happy to read it.”

“Thank you, Clark.”

“You’re welcome.” 

He takes a seat at his desk across the way, forcing you to turn your chair away from your computer to see him. You pretend to watch the TV, eyes flicking carefully to his back, waiting for a sign that he’s found a mistake in your article that needs changing. You’re caught on the dark curl of hair kissing his jacket when he tips his head back to meet your eyes, like he’d known you were staring the whole time. “This is great,” he says. “It’s nice, I love the anecdote at the end, you aren’t overwhelming the reader but there’s a clear set of directions and you explain it well.”

“Oh. Thank you. It’s not like there’s much to explain, really.” 

“Sure,” he says, always sure, so easy for him. “But for somebody who’s never cooked alone before, I think this is a nice starting point. I might try it.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah, you can judge me on it. We can put your instructions to the test.” 

You laugh through a smile. “You can’t make carbonara?” 

“That tone you’re using wasn’t one I picked up on in the article.” 

At the end of the workday, when you’ve exhausted yourself mapping out your next week of online columns and the sun has turned Metropolis into a baking puddle, Clark catches you on the way out and walks with you to the end of the block. “So,” he says, knocking his glasses up his nose with a rushed hand, “are you free tonight?” 

“Why?” 

“To help me with this carbonara.”

“You’re serious?”

“Yes, please. I could use your guidance. I don’t think I even know what to put in a carbonara.” 

“You do. You’re lying.”

He smiles. “Yeah, I’m lying. Come help me anyways?” 

Grocery shopping with Clark is weirdly nice. He makes you laugh; he smells amazing when you stand beside him picking out fresh herbs, a cologne that lingers but you can’t place; he carries both bags from the store to his apartment, and makes it look like easy work. 

—

“Okay?” 

Things with Clark are so new they’re barely anything at all, but there’s an exclusive sort of sweetness to him as he slides a coffee onto your desk. You raise your chin to meet his eyes, dark behind darker glasses. Blue eyes, you know, but less piercing than you’d imagine them to be. 

“I’m okay.” 

“How’s your head?” 

It actually really hurts, now he’s mentioned it. “Fine.”

“Well, it’s decaf.”

“Spoilsport.” 

“But it’s just the way you like it, otherwise.” 

You raise your brows and take a showy sip, visibly judging his performance. The flavour hits the back of your throat, but after a rough swallow, you realise it’s probably the nicest cup of joe you’ve ever had. “That’s perfect,” you tell him, voice all scratched up and awed as he peers down at you. 

He really looks like someone else, sometimes. The more you think about it, the worse your head hurts, so you push the thought from your mind. “Thank you, Clark. This is really good. Do you– is this, like, a hobby?” 

“What, making coffee?” He deliberates with a shrug. “Not really.” 

“You’re just naturally good at everything, then.” 

“Of course not, I’m… I practised. I wanted to make it how you like it.” 

You lift your shoulder before his hand comes down to squeeze it. He handles you so easily, and so kindly, that a little brashness like this makes all the difference. His thumb works into the bone of your shoulder and it nearly-not-quite aches as it brushes its way up to the side of your neck.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks quietly. 

You tell him you are. The workday goes like any other, you send him what you’re working on, Clark sends you back a sweet comment. He asks you if you’re busy on the way out, and you agree to go grocery shopping with him so he can attempt your recipe for honey-roasted peanuts under the watchful eye of a professional. 

“It’s not complicated, Clark, you just blanche your peanuts–”

“Raw ones?” 

“Yeah, well. You can use the pre-cooked ones, but they’re not as nice. Then you make your glaze, honey and butter and a little bit of sugar, you read the recipe–”

“Yeah, I read it, I just know you can make it better than I can, and I need the excuse to spend time with you. Which you know,” he says, holding the door for you as you go. 

It’s sitting on his kitchen counter with the smell of honey-sugar thick in the air that Clark kisses you for the first time. You’re wondering if this is real, if the handsomest man you’ve ever met genuinely wants you, and he’s sliding a hand up your thigh with a gentleness that tickles. “Hey,” he says simply. 

“Hey.” 

“Thank you.” 

“For what?” 

“For helping. For not laughing when I burned the butter.” His hand coasts to your hip, opening and then pressing into softness unabashedly. “For… letting me be a coward, for this long.” 

There’s a headache brewing square between your brows that you fight to ignore. They’re awful lately, shooting pains that don’t end unless you close your eyes. 

“This isn’t cowardice,” you say, because it’s unbelievable that he wants this, and if he doesn’t kiss you soon your heart’s gonna fall into your stomach. “Just the run up.” 

“Yeah.” He grins. “I like that. The run up to a good kiss?” he asks. His voice has gone small and weak. You don’t mistake it for nerves. This is something else entirely.

You close your eyes. It’s all the answer he needs. Your mouth falls open slowly against his as he tilts his head, as his body tries uselessly to slot between your thighs. You sigh a half-protest and he murmurs sorry into your open mouth. 

You don’t get another headache for days. 

They come back to bite you, though. Superman spent the morning playing on TV, fighting a water monster that threatened to drown an elementary school with gelatinous gloop. Clark texted you an apology of all things a few hours ago when he realised the water monster had flooded 110th street, stranding him in a bakery. Your pastries are dry! he’d promised. 

He rolls into work halfway through the day, when Superman and the Justice Gang have successfully boiled the water monster off in another shocking display of heroism. They’d blocked him into a glowing green box with Superman and a triangulation of Mister Terrific’s flying robots, amplifying his heat division and filling the box with boiling steam. Superman had been unaffected, as usual. 

Clark looks red in the face, ridiculously sorry as he presses a kiss to your cheek and a brown paper bag against your chest from behind. “Hi,” he says, “how are you?” 

You preen into his kiss. His nose lingers against your cheek. “I’m fine.” 

He smells weirder than he usually does. You sniff him curiously, promoting a warm huff of a laugh and another kiss to your cheek. “What’s up?” 

“You smell different.” 

“I do?” 

“You’re not wearing any cologne.” 

“I guess I’m not. I was in a rush. Did you eat?” 

“Yeah, we had sandwiches.” 

“Did Jimmy pay again?” 

“He did not. He offered.” 

He pulls you back to his chest. “He did.” 

“You’re not actually jealous.” 

“It’s polite of him,” he says, falling into that little voice that makes you wanna ask him to take you home. What is his problem? He’s 6’4, he’s wide, he has no business baby-voicing you and you’re eating it up ‘cos you know it isn’t put on. He gets sweet when he’s comfortable. You make him happy. 

“You’re smiling,” he accuses. 

“Nope.” 

The headaches persist. Clark is this shining bright spot of goodness in your life, even if he kisses you rather impolitely when the office clears at hometime, even when he disappears at strange times. He always texts, so. There’s a hundred different reasons as to why he’s late for work, or cancelling a date last minute, and he makes it up with flowers and apologies out of the ears. 

Superman gets busy on the news. You feel a bridge there, something about something about Clark Kent. A migraine hits before you can figure it out. 

It’s a few weeks after your first kiss, and you spend the morning flicking through photos of you and Clark. He likes taking them, holding your phone out in front of you both. “Smile!” he says, kissing you fondly when you oblige. You’re thinking about getting a couple of them printed for your photo album, though that might doom the whole thing, really, an early jinx, so for now you settle for thumbing through them with a big smile. Your head’s been hurting some since you woke up. You blame Clark for surprising you with a too-early FaceTime, sheets pulled up to your nose. 

To make up for waking you, he promises to bring groceries. You’d written a recipe for creamy mushroom eggs a few days ago that he swears he can make so long as you’re watching. 

You struggle out of bed when you hear him knocking. He’s grinning at the door, three paper bags hoisted in arms that have no business being as shapely as they are, his hair wet with rain and curling against his forehead. 

“Oh, no, it’s raining?” 

He leans in to peck you, paper bags crinkling sadly between your chests. “Not much.” 

His obvious lie makes you laugh, which has him stealing another kiss from the apple of your cheek. 

“You okay? How’s the head, today?” 

“It’s fine.” It’s protesting, actually, angered by your movement. 

“Why don’t we go sit you down, huh?”

“I don’t know why…” 

Clark guides you to the kitchen, shelving the paper bags on your small table and shepherding you into a chair at the head of it. “Why what?” 

You chew your lip. 

“What?” he asks patiently. 

“It’s like they get worse when you ask me about them. Maybe it’s psychosomatic? I’m sorry, I don’t mean– you don’t make them worse, Clark–”

But doesn’t he? He’s looking down at you and your headache is blistering, that single black curl against his forehead as his glasses slip down a damp nose. He’s wearing a blue hoodie and light wash jeans and it’s stirring and it hurts your head. 

“Oh,” he says quietly. 

“It’s not you, Clark.” 

“It might be.” 

“What?” 

He bends slightly to see you. Your eyes throb in their sockets as he watches you, clearly thinking, the cogs behind pretty eyes turning slow. 

Clark brings his fingertips to your cheek. “You’ve always been very observant.” 

“Have I?” 

“Of course. You’re so smart, you have an eye for detail, the small things, all the most important parts. That’s why you’re good at what you do, right?”

“I don’t follow, Clark.” 

“Your headaches are the worst at work, right?” 

“Yeah.”

“And since we’ve been dating, they follow you home, too.” You’re worrying that this is the breakup when he raises both hands to his glasses. “It’s my fault. Or, it’s down to these.”

You stare at him wordlessly. 

“It’s– Four. Made me these, they all did, to obscure my identity. So I could have a normal life.” 

You’re feeling pretty nauseous, as things go. Maybe you’re having a stroke? That’s how these happen, sudden, strange feelings in your hands and garbled speech. Aren’t you the one who’s supposed to be speaking in riddles? 

Clark strokes your cheek again quickly, fingers going back to the arms of his glasses before you can savour the touch, and he works the black body of them down his nose and off. 

You squint at your almost-boyfriend. He looks different without the glasses. Paler. 

Then he straightens up and the pieces click firmly into place. 

Your lips part. He folds his glasses into the front of his hoodie, crossing his arms over his chest to follow. 

“I know it’s a lot to take in.” 

“How are you… Your glasses– and they– the headaches?” 

“I don’t know. They never told me there’d be side effects.” 

“Who’s they?” 

He smiles rather boyishly, considering. “The bots, at the Fortress of Solitude. Four never mentioned that it could hurt you. I’m sorry about that.” 

Superman is looking down at you with big blue eyes and Clark Kent’s pretty mouth. That you’ve kissed. You’ve kissed superman. 

“Can you stop frowning? You have a nicer smile,” you say finally. 

He wants to do as you’ve asked, but his expression stutters. “You’re not mad?” 

“About what?” 

“About– about what? About my secret.” 

You’re not sure you can say ‘Superman’ out loud. “Either I’m having an aneurysm, or you have, like, the world's biggest burden on your shoulders. How could I be mad about that?” 

“What is wrong with you?” he asks. Clark-man (wow!) grins sudden and sweet as he loses his straight-backed posture, bending down again, looking for your hands where they live waiting at the ends of your arms for his touch. “I’m a metahuman. Hell, I’m not even human. I’m from space. You’re being unbelievably cool about this.” 

You settle into your chair with a tired smile. “My headache’s gone for the first time in months.” 

He pulls your hand to his chest. “Yeah?” 

“Yeah, completely. Who knew it was you the whole time? Should’ve stayed away. Just, I couldn’t manage it.” 

He kneels at your feet. “Is it really all better?” he asks.

The relief is nothing you’ve felt before. The first absence of pain after weeks of pinching agony. 

Clark pulls the glasses off of his hoodie and throws them over his shoulder. They land with a crack in the kitchen sink. 

“Don’t you need those?” you ask. 

He takes your face into a big, big hand, smiley and shy as he pulls you down to meet his mouth. “Not for this,” he promises, breath warm on your lips and your tongue as he takes the lead. The kiss goes hot and heavy as honey under summer sun, blistering, and searchingly slow. He kisses better without his glasses. You shuttle the thought away for a later date and let yourself sink into the heat of his chest. 

—

“I thought Superman didn’t have time for selfies?” you croon sometime later, sated and steady with a warm body behind your back. 

Clark hums into your hair tiredly. “Huh?” 

“You always make us take photos together.” 

“Well, that’s different. With you, I’m usually Clark.” 

“Usually?” 

He kisses the top of your ear. “Yeah. Guy you just met? That was Superman. But otherwise, I’m just Clark.” 

You groan as he laughs, giving it your best attempt at wiggling out of his reach to punish him for the cheesy line. Strong forearms cross over your stomach to pull you right back in. 

˚‧꒰ა ❤︎ ໒꒱‧˚

thanks for reading!! hope you enjoyed!! and thank you becs for proofreading quick before I posted !!

[cressidagrey]

Sick Day

Pairing: Oscar Piastri x Felicity Leong-Piastri (Original Character)

Summary:  When Bee wakes in the middle of the night with a fever, a simple stomach bug drags Oscar right back to the memories of the night he nearly lost both her and Felicity.

Warnings: Mention of a Stomach Bug, aka one mention of vomit, discussion of NICU, a sick baby and a very traumatic birth. Everything ended well though.

Notes: Big thanks to @llirawolf , who listens to me ramble 😂

(divider thanks to @saradika-graphics )

Oscar stirred at the sound of the door creaking open.

At first, he thought it was the wind. Or maybe just a half-formed dream. But then came the soft padding of feet on carpet, the ragged, hiccuping breath—followed by a voice that broke through the haze like a splinter.

“Papa?”

His eyes snapped open.

He sat up instantly, heart already hammering. The digital clock beside the bed blinked 2:43 a.m., casting a faint red glow across the room.

Bee stood in the doorway, tiny and silhouetted by the warm hum of the hallway nightlight. Her pajama shirt clung to her damp frame, curls sticking to her flushed cheeks. Her hands were clasped in front of her chest, and even from across the room, Oscar could see the glassy sheen of her eyes, the sheen of sweat across her brow.

“I don’t feel good,” she whispered, her voice breaking in the middle.

Oscar was out of bed in an instant. “Oh, sweetheart.”

She took a single step forward—

And then gagged.

He caught her before she could fall.

One arm scooped under her knees, the other cradled her back, his hand already smoothing over her curls as her small body curled against him, trembling and hot. Her breath hitched, and she clung to him, her fists twisted in the collar of his t-shirt.

From the bed, Felicity sat bolt upright.

No hesitation. No groggy confusion. Just instinct.

“Bucket,” she said, already out of bed and moving. “Towels. I’ll get a cool cloth. Did she get anything on you?”

“Mostly me, yeah,” Oscar said, voice tight.

Bee whimpered against his shoulder. “Sorry, Papa.”

“You don’t have to be sorry,” he murmured, rocking slightly. “You’re okay. It’s okay.”

But he wasn’t okay.

Not really.

No, he was back in that godforsaken corridor in the Hospital. Under too-bright lights, breathing through a mask and a prayer, waiting for a nurse to come out and tell him his daughter still had a heartbeat. He was nineteen. Terrified. Holding a pen with shaking hands as they asked him to sign consent forms while Felicity hemorrhaged on one floor and Bee—his daughter, his miracle—was wheeled into emergency surgery on another.

He could still hear it: the beeping, the alarms, the chaos.

“We need to operate now or she won’t survive.”

“We’ll do our best.”

He still remembered the weight of her when he finally got to hold her—three days later, post-op, with more wires attached to her then she had had limps and a feeding tube winding down her nose. She was so small. So pale. So still.

He hadn’t known if she’d ever leave that hospital.

And every time she got sick—even now, three years later—his brain pulled the fire alarm and dragged him straight back to that hallway. That sterile smell. That white-hot helplessness.

Intellectually, he knew this was just a virus.

Emotionally? He was nineteen again. In a hard plastic chair in a hospital corridor, waiting for someone to tell him that he wasn’t going to lose the two people he loved most in the world. 

His grip on Bee tightened.

Even now—even years later—even when he knew she was strong, knew she was safe, knew this was just a stomach virus, his brain lit up like a house on fire.

It didn’t matter that she was three now. That she corrected his sector times and haggled over mochi and could name four different chassis designs. Every time she got sick, he was back in that NICU, watching her fight.

Even now—even three years later—even when he knew she was okay and strong and eating whole bowls of rice like a gremlin on better days—this still undid him.

Every time.

He still saw it. The white walls. The smell of antiseptic. The sound of heart monitors beeping in sharp, terrifying rhythm. He was holding her again for the first time after three days of surgeries and wires and machines doing the work her body couldn’t.

She’d felt fragile then. She still did now.

And it didn’t matter that she was three. That she talked back now, that she had opinions about her socks and declared “no thank you” to some vegetables with a queen’s confidence. Every time she got sick, he was right back in that chair outside the NICU, praying for news.

He swallowed hard, shook his head like he could force himself back into the present.

She was three. She was strong. It was just a virus.

But she was also his.

His tiny, stubborn miracle. The baby he hadn’t held until she was three days old. The reason he still sometimes jolted awake if a monitor beeped in a hotel room.

“Papa,” Bee whimpered. “I don’t feel good.”

“I know, Bumblebee,” Oscar whispered, pressing a kiss to her damp curls. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

Felicity returned a moment later with the bucket, towels, and the calm clarity of someone who’d done this before. Her voice was steady. Her hands didn’t tremble. She dropped to her knees beside them.

“Take her into the bathroom,” she said, all soft authority. “I’ll get a clean shirt and start the washer. She’s burning up.”

Oscar nodded, lifting Bee gently. She was too quiet. That frightened him more than the fever.

Felicity was already in motion—peeling the sheets, gathering supplies, flipping on the bathroom light.

Bee curled into Oscar’s shoulder as he knelt beside the tub, one hand bracing her back. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing uneven.

“I don’t wanna be sick,” she whispered.

“I know, baby,” Oscar murmured, trying to sound calm even though his throat was tight. “I’m so sorry.”

He peeled her damp pajamas away carefully, heart aching with every whimper. Her small fingers clung to the front of his t-shirt, and even now—even with her feverish and miserable—she pressed her cheek to his chest like it was home.

Felicity returned with a cool cloth, clean pajamas, and a steady presence Oscar couldn’t even begin to explain.

Felicity always did this. Snapped into useful. Into motion. Maybe it was trauma. Maybe it was motherhood. Maybe it was both.

She didn’t cry. She didn’t freeze. She moved.

Oscar watched her with awe and something that cracked inside his chest.

“Arms up, sweetheart,” Felicity coaxed, her voice a soft melody, steady even as Bee whimpered and clung to Oscar’s shirt like it was the only thing anchoring her.

“I don’t want to be sick,” Bee repeated, eyes shiny with exhaustion.

“I know, baby,” Felicity said, wringing out the cool cloth and wiping gently at her forehead. “But we’re here. We’re going to help you feel better.”

Oscar peeled the soiled shirt from her back as gently as he could, hands trembling only slightly now. Felicity was already swapping towels, grabbing a clean pair of pajamas, and laying out a new cup of water like it was all part of a routine she knew too well.

When she’d finished wiping Bee down, Felicity crouched in front of her, brushing sweat-damp curls back from her face. “You scared me, sweetheart,” she whispered.

Bee didn’t speak. Just leaned into her mother’s shoulder, arms limp, her small body sagging between them.

Felicity’s hand found Oscar’s arm, and their eyes met—just for a moment.

No words.

“I don’t want to be sick,” Bee whispered again. 

“I know, Bee,” Felicity said softly. “But we’re here. We’re gonna help you feel better.”

Oscar kissed her damp curls. “We’re not going anywhere.”

***

Later, once Bee was cleaned up and curled in a fresh pair of pajamas—soft cotton with little stars down the sleeves—Felicity got her settled between them in the bed. Oscar watched wordlessly as she moved through the room on automatic, wiping down the bathroom floor, starting laundry, rinsing out the bucket, dimming the light just enough that Bee wouldn’t wake.

She climbed in beside them, pulling the blanket over her legs and slipping one arm gently around their daughter’s middle. Her other hand found Bee’s cheek, thumb brushing gently over her flushed skin.

Bee was already dozing again. Her little hand still clung to Oscar’s shirt, fingers bunched in the fabric like a lifeline. Oscar lay on his side, one hand on her back, steady as a metronome.

He hadn’t spoken since they left the bathroom.

He couldn’t.

His mind was still there—back in that sterile hospital, back under buzzing lights and clanging monitors, back in the chaos of the NICU where everything had smelled like antiseptic and fear. Where Bee’s chest had been bandaged and her tiny body had looked swallowed by tubes and machines. Where the doctors kept using phrases like congenital defect and survival window and prepare yourselves.

Even now—three years later—his body hadn’t unlearned what that fear felt like.

It just waited in the corners.

And the second Bee got sick, it came roaring back.

He didn’t realize his breath had gone shallow until Felicity touched his wrist.

“Hey,” she whispered. “You okay, Oz?”

Oscar blinked. Looked at her. Her face was shadowed by the dim light, eyes soft, mouth drawn into a line of quiet concern.

He swallowed.

“I just…” He paused, jaw tight. “Every time she’s sick, I’m back there. NICU. Her chest bandaged. You unconscious in another wing. It doesn’t go away.”

Felicity didn’t flinch. She just leaned forward, resting her forehead gently against his arm. “I know,” she said. “Me too. But we’re not there now. We’re home. She’s three. She’s strong. It’s just a stomach bug.”

Oscar nodded, almost automatically, and bent his head to kiss Bee’s hair. He breathed her in—her familiar scent dulled by fever and sleep, skin still sticky from the worst of it. Her body pressed against his, warm and trembling.

“I know,” he repeated. “But the fear doesn’t listen to that.”

It didn’t care that this was just a bug. That they had towels and medicine and time.

The fear only remembered the beeping monitors. The tightness of a surgeon’s voice. The weight of a clipboard in his shaking hands as he signed consent forms with the ink running sideways because he couldn’t stop trembling.

Felicity reached up and brushed a tear off his cheek. He hadn’t noticed it.

“Then we hold her through it,” she whispered. “And hold each other through it too.”

He didn’t answer.

He just kept his hand steady on Bee’s back, feeling the rise and fall of her breath beneath his palm. That rhythm—that small, fragile miracle—was the only thing that ever calmed him.

And even as she slept, her hand stayed curled in his shirt.

She always did that. Even when she didn’t know she was doing it.

As if she knew.

As if she remembered.

Oscar stayed quiet for a long moment. Then he looked at Felicity again—at the way she cradled their daughter so easily, so naturally—and asked, “You don’t… feel it the same way I do, do you?”

Her fingers paused, mid-stroke, in Bee’s curls.

“No,” she said softly. “Not exactly.”

Oscar didn’t press. He just waited.

Felicity sighed. “Because I don’t remember the worst of it.”

Oscar blinked.

“I was unconscious. High on pain meds. I didn’t wake up until a week later.”

Oscar’s chest tightened.

“I woke up, and I didn’t even know what had happened.” Felicity continued. “I missed everything. The surgeries. The decisions you made. The first time you held her. The fear.”

She didn’t say it bitterly. Just truthfully.

“I didn’t get to feel the panic because I was barely alive myself.”

Oscar’s breath caught in his throat.

“I opened my eyes and she was already recovering,” Felicity said. “Already breathing on her own. And I didn’t even know what I’d missed.”

Oscar reached for her hand across the bed. Their fingers tangled between Bee’s small shoulders.

“I would’ve done anything to be awake. Just once. Just to hold her and let you breathe,” Felicity whispered. 

Oscar closed his eyes.

“She was so small,” he whispered. “She didn’t even look real. Just wires and tape and bruises. I kept thinking—this isn’t how it’s supposed to be.”

Felicity reached for his hand and laced their fingers together over Bee’s stomach.

“I know.”

“I still hear the machines sometimes. The beeping. The silence before they started again.” He paused, throat thick. “Every time she’s sick, I’m back there. Watching the monitors. Signing things I didn’t understand. Hoping to hell she’d make it to morning.”

“And she did,” Felicity said, firm but quiet. “She made it. We made it.”

“I know.” His voice cracked. “But I don’t think that part of me ever left the hospital.”

It was a memory that never softened.

“I think about it every time she sniffles,” he admitted. “That week. That hallway. That chair outside the NICU. Every fever takes me back to it like no time has passed.”

Felicity didn’t say anything for a while. She just kept her hand in his, warm and steady.

“I know,” she said eventually. “And I wish I could take it from you. Even now.”

He kissed Bee’s temple, then Felicity’s knuckles, and closed his eyes against the ache in his chest.

Even after Bee had fallen asleep—her body hot and limp, her breathing finally steady—Oscar couldn’t bring himself to move his hand. He just kept it there, counting every breath, every rise and fall, as if it might make the world more solid.

As if maybe this time, the fear would finally leave.

It didn’t.

Not completely.

But when Felicity leaned across the bed and pressed her lips to his cheek—when her fingers curled around his arm like they had a hundred times before—it eased.

The fear didn’t disappear.

But it stopped roaring.

And that, for tonight, was enough.

***

The morning light slipped through the curtains, muted and silver-grey.

Oscar stirred first.

Bee was still curled against him, her little hand tucked under his chin now, her breathing slow and even. Her fever had broken sometime before dawn—he’d felt it happen, had tracked the cooling of her skin beneath his palm like it was the most important data he’d ever read.

Felicity was still asleep on Bee’s other side, her arm slung loosely around their daughter, face pressed into the pillow, dark hair spilling across the duvet. There was a line between her brows even in sleep—worry she hadn’t been able to shake, even once the worst had passed.

Oscar lay still for a while, just watching them. His wife. His daughter. The two people he’d nearly lost in the span of a single night three years ago.

Now here they were, pressed against him on either side. Safe. Warm. Breathing.

He exhaled slowly, quietly. Then reached for his phone with the care of someone disarming a bomb.

He sent a message to his race engineer. Telling him that he was working form home. Asking if he could reschedule sim hours to tomorrow. 

The replies came quickly—short and understanding. 

He didn’t always know how to ask for space. But this? This was worth protecting.

He eased out of bed like a man trying to leave without waking a sleeping dragon. Bee murmured once in protest but didn’t stir beyond that. Felicity only shifted slightly, her hand moving to take his place in the sheets without ever fully waking.

He padded downstairs in his socks, filled the kettle, started the espresso machine with muscle memory. While the water boiled, he set out Bee’s favorite cup—the one with tiny bees printed all over it—and filled it with warm water, not milk. Her stomach still wasn’t ready for that. But the ritual helped.

Afterward, he tiptoed back upstairs with the cup, a plain piece of toast, and her morning meds. He set it all on the nightstand and crouched beside the bed.

“Bumblebee?” he whispered.

She stirred, lashes fluttering.

Oscar brushed a curl off her forehead. “Hey. You awake?”

She blinked up at him, groggy and flushed but more alert than the night before. “Papa?”

“Right here.”

Her face scrunched up. “Still feel yucky.”

“I know, sweetheart,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. “But your fever’s down, and we’ve got a quiet day ahead. No kindy. Just us.”

Bee’s hand reached out sleepily, finding his shirt like she always did. “Mama?”

“Still sleeping,” Oscar whispered. “She had a long night too.”

Bee nodded solemnly, then reached for the cup. “Warm water?”

Oscar smiled. “You know it?”

Bee sipped carefully. He watched every swallow like it was a test. She managed a few good gulps before flopping back onto the pillows with a sigh.

“I don’t like being sick,” she mumbled.

“I know,” he said again. “But I’m staying home today. We can build a blanket fort later. Maybe rewatch the F1 highlights from Spa 1998.”

That got a weak smile. “That’s the crashy one.”

“That’s the crashy one,” Oscar confirmed, voice warm. “You’ll love it.”

Later, Felicity would wake up and they’d all pile onto the couch. Bee would fall asleep again halfway through the highlight reel with one hand still in Oscar’s, and Felicity would stroke her curls while working on her laptop.

And Oscar?

Oscar would answer emails with one arm wrapped around his daughter and his heart quieter than it had been in days.

It still didn’t erase the fear.

But here, in the soft hush of a post-fever morning, with warm water and toast and race replays and his family safe under one roof—it was manageable.

It was home.

And that was everything.

[f4ggydog]

shauna x reader: is there someone else🔞

minors do not interact nor read! u have been warned!

warnings: nsfw, possessive shauna, toxic shauna, manipulative shauna, controlling shauna, reader uses pussy and cunt as genitalia, fingering, degradation, twisted affirmations, just overall bad friend behavior!

Unsurprisingly, Shauna’s had another fight with Jackie. It’s the daily routine at this point. The two bicker over nonsense and then they make up. That’s how it went and tonight was no different. Only it was kind of different because the argument was in front of a bunch of people, rather than being kept to themselves.

You weren’t sure who started it. Shauna always claimed that Jackie started it, but you know Shauna’s temper could get out of hand in certain moments. Though, you did not believe she always got out of hand. There was nuance to it, some nuance that might be able to save the friendship between the teenage girls if they can’t save themselves.

Shauna trudges over to you. You can’t tell if she’s half drunk or if this slow walking is just part of her being pissed off. Either way, you don’t want to bug her with inquiries. No need to add fuel when there’s already fire.

Shauna approaches you without a word. Her face screams fury and her hands are balled into fists. Should you try to console her or leave her be? She came over to you for a reason. It wouldn’t be abnormal to suggest that she might need some consoling, no?

“You’re a funny girl Shipman,” you say, carefully patting her shoulder. “Hanging out with girls that you don’t like. It’s like you enjoy torturing yourself.”

Shauna doesn’t respond, only shakes her head. However, she nuzzles into your touch and pulls you closer. Clearly it’s a sign that you’re doing something right. So you continue.

“What did Jackie say?” You ask. “How bad was it this time?”

Shauna always seemed to run to you when shit went awry. You were like her secret friend outside of the Yellowjackets that she never spoke about. But, she didn’t know how to explain to you that she didn’t just cause problems with Jackie this time. Now Taissa and Nat currently hated her guts as well. Perhaps without a bad reason, but still temporary hatred nonetheless.

“Can’t wait to go home,” Shauna sighs. “I should’ve never let Jackie convince me to go to a party I never wanted to go to. And stupid fucking Randy had the nerve to talk to me too.”

“Yeah, he’s definitely annoying.”

“He’s not just annoying,” Shauna grumbles. “He literally smells like shit. Like if I was in another continent right now, I would still be able to smell how much his breath stunk. It’s like he’s never heard of brushing his teeth.”

You wince at the description, imagining Randy’s odor traveling through your nostrils. It’s a good thing you never really got to hang out with him. Though, you realize that Shauna had no interest in being his company. She was only forced to stick around him because he’s close with Jackie’s boyfriend. And they were the epitome of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. Or perhaps Tweedle Dum and…Tweedle Dum again.

“Do you have your car with you?” Shauna asks. “Or did a friend drive you here?”

“N-No, no. I took my parents’ car.”

“Do you even have a license?” Shauna snickers.

“Um…” You debate the proper way to answer this question. “Ummm, let’s just say that’s…irrelevant.”

“So the answer is no.”

“Yeah okay,” you sigh. “The answer is no.”

“Don’t care.” Shauna shrugs. “As long as you can get me the fuck out of this place.”

When you both your reach your parents’ car, Shauna hastily hops into the passenger’s seat. She slouches in her seat without even putting her seatbelt on. Her arms are crossed and her lips are turned into a frown.

“So,” you say. “Do you want me to start driving you home or do you just want to stay here?”

“Don’t drive yet,” Shauna demands. “I think we need to talk.”

Your eyes widen slightly, but you obey her instructions. However, Shauna’s tone throws you off. Speak about what exactly? Why does she sound like she’s about to break up with you, despite you guys obviously not being in a relationship? 

“Would you ever leave me?” Shauna asks. “Do you have somebody lined up in my place? Am I your second option? Be honest with me.”

“Shauna, what are you on about?” You arch your eyebrow. “No? Look, are you getting self conscious again because of Jackie? I know you have issues with her, but-“

“So, what if I am? You haven’t said anything nice about me the whole night.”

“N-Nothing prompted me to. I-I’m confused. What?”

“You complimented Jackie’s shoes,” Shauna reminds. “You didn’t compliment my shoes. Or my hair. Or my outfit. You didn’t compliment anything about me, but you complimented Jackie.”

“That’s cause I barely saw you the whole night, Shauna. I really think you’re looking too deep into this. Seriously, just relax.”

“You didn’t look for me because you like Jackie more than me,” Shauna asserts. “Admit it. Jackie’s better than me. So you like her more than me. She’s the queen bee so naturally everyone’s gonna flock to her. I get it.”

You stare at her with blatant confusion written on your face. “No Shauna, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I know you more than I know, Jackie!”

“And yet you still complimented her before you complimented me, so clearly I’m not good enough.”

“Shauna,” you sigh. “I don’t know what Jackie said to you at that party, but you’re overthinking this by a mile. And it’s okay if she’s influencing your mind a little bit, but there’s no need to project this on me. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Of course you’re trying to defend yourself,” Shauna grumbles. “I’m always the bad guy, aren’t I? I’m always the problem, always the villain! You think of me the same way Jackie does. You secretly hate my guts and only keep me around to torment me.”

The word ‘irrational’ almost slips out of your mouth, but you don’t dare use it. Even if it’s a perfectly accurate way to describe Shauna’s behavior currently.

“Am I pushing you away?” Shauna questions, softer than before. “Are you gonna leave?”

“I’m not going anywhere Shauna,” you reassure your insecure buddy. “Trust me. You’re just…letting whatever Jackie said get into your head. You need to shake all those shitty thoughts out. They’re not worth it.”

“There’s no guarantee that you’ll stay.”

“There’s no guarantee I’ll leave either, Shipman.”

Shauna lowers her head. She glances over at you before firmly pressing her hand on top of yours.

“I don’t wanna go home yet,” Shauna states. “Wanna stay with you.”

“We don’t have to go home yet,” you respond. “Thankfully, my parents aren’t feeling that strict tonight. So, I think they’ll be okay with me staying out a little longer.”

“Yeah,” Shauna murmurs and looks out the window.

She daydreams. She dreams of a world where she doesn’t live in Jackie’s shadow. She dreams of a world where she feels confident enough about her appearance to pursue people. She dreams of a time where she’ll feel genuinely wanted. She imagines a world where she’s the only friend you’ll ever need.

But Shauna’s not sure if her ideal world could ever exist. It remains a fantasy, but if only she could obtain at least some parts of it. She’s not expecting a genie to grant her all three wishes. But one good thing happening to her shouldn’t be so out of reach, right? She still had you. And Shauna’s not aware of how close you think you are with her. But for her own sake, she hopes she’s the person you’d cut off an arm and a leg for.

The drive home is mostly silent. Shauna occasionally leans on your shoulder and you allow her to. It’s the least you could do after she had such a rough night. But during the trip, you can’t shake away this pain in your gut, gnawing at you like it’s trying to send a message. Shauna seemed to have calmed down from her earlier explosion. But, something told you that this wouldn’t be the last time she blew up on you, precisely over Jackie.

The next day, Jackie unexpectedly walks up to you during lunch. She takes a seat by you and whispers.

“Hey, do you know when that essay for Mr. Snyder’s class is due by? Someone told me it’s due tomorrow and I’m kinda freaking out.”

“It is,” you answer Jackie’s question. “But we were given like a week to complete it.”

“A week isn’t enough!” Jackie groans. “Ugh, he always grades so harshly too. I heard the highest grade he’s ever given in his class was an 89.”

Okay, that didn’t seem far fetched. You could only score 80s in Mr. Snyder’s class yourself.

“I haven’t even been paying attention for most of the reading,” Jackie admits. “But it’s not my fault the book is so boring. He doesn’t even try to make it exciting. He reads it in the most monotone voice ever!”

“Did you at least start your outline?” You ask.

“We were supposed to do an outline!?” Jackie gasps. “Shit! Oh, I’m so screwed. I’m so screwed. This asshole is gonna kill me.”

“He’s not gonna kill you.” You roll your eyes. “Just cram through it. Stay up all night if you have to. I know it’s not ideal, but I guess it’ll help you learn your lesson.”

What you don’t realize is that Shauna is eyeing the both of you from the corner of the cafeteria. She looks like an angry dog ready to defend its owner from outsiders. Her eye twitches and her nails dig into her palms.

Shauna instantly gathers that her suspicions were correct. After the conversation last night, she didn’t expect you to speak with Jackie less frequently. She expected you to avoid Jackie altogether. Everyone was turning against her. She was losing the people she so desperately clung onto. Nobody was going to want Shauna’s attention. Everyone was gonna leave her. She was gonna be worse off than Misty fucking Quigley.

How could you do this to her? Did your friendship mean nothing? Was Shauna just a placeholder until someone better came along? Was she worthless to you? All of the worst possible thoughts raced through her head. Shuana immediately jumped to the worst case scenario, as per usual.

But she chooses not to confront either of you. She lets you two have your conversation while she watches from afar. Shauna doesn’t know what the conversation is about and she doesn’t want to know. All she senses is betrayal, attachment to another besides her. And that wouldn’t fly. No, she had to do something to ensure you remembered your place. You were hers, and either Jackie was trying to steal you away from her. Or, you were planning on abandoning Shauna.

When lunchtime ends, Shauna ignores Jackie when she passes her. Jackie calls out Shauna’s name, but Shauna pays her no mind. She storms into class, only you on her mind. She’s got no time for frivolous lessons or pop quizzes or difficult homework assignments. Her main problem right now should only be you.

Class couldn’t go by fast enough. Shauna wishes she had this class with you, but unfortunately she only shares this class with Lottie. Shauna just needs this class and the next one to pass. Then, she can corner you alone. She just needs this class to not go by a snail’s pace.

For Shauna’s last period, the teacher keeps her class behind for a few extra minutes. The woman won’t stop yapping and cared more about getting every note from her lesson out than the kids getting home on time. Finally, the teacher allowed the students to leave and Shauna exited class, finding you waiting for her outside of her classroom.

“Hey,” you say. “Why’d you get out so late?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Shauna adjusts her backpack straps.

“Okay. Well, I figured I’d wait for you.”

“Thanks,” Shauna says in a monotone voice.

She still doesn’t believe you value her enough. You waiting for her outside of class didn’t suffice enough as proof. Shauna was right about you. She was always right. Her stubbornness would be her downfall, just as your helpful attitude towards Jackie would be yours.

“Can we talk?” Shauna asks the dreaded question again.

“You know we can always talk,” you respond. “Um, where do you wanna go? Just talk outside here or….”

“We’ll go where I say we should go.” Shauna’s driving the bus. She’s taking the reins. Shauna practically drags you towards the girls bathroom, already struggling to keep her fury bottled up. She knows once that lid pops off, you’re in for some of the worst wrath of your life.

Shauna shuts the door behind you guys once she’s got you inside. She presses you up against the sink’s counter, her hands digging into your waist.

“I fucking knew it,” Shauna snarls. “I fucking knew it all along. You tried to play me for a fucking fool, but I know better.”

“What are you talking about?” You gasp out, trying to swat Shauna’s hands away. “Have you lost it again?”

“Of course you think I’m just some demented bitch,” Shauna hisses. “You’re trying to make me look stupid. Again. I fucking knew you were thinking of replacing me. I should’ve known.”

“Shauna, where is all this coming from?”

“You were fucking talking to Jackie! Don’t you dare try to deny it. I saw you two. Probably gossiping about me, huh? Probably making me look like a fool?”

“S-Shauna,” you stutter. “I-It’s not what it looks like. She was just asking me about an essay that was due tomorrow. That’s all.”

“Bullshit.” Even though you’re being honest as you can be, Shauna still suggests that you’re lying through your teeth. She can’t trust you. She’s too afraid of losing you to trust your motives.

“Why bullshit? Jackie can’t ask me for homework help?” You state defensively.

“Jackie would’ve asked me!” Shauna declares. “I’m the one with straight As, not you. If Jackie was so panicked over a dumb essay, she would’ve came to me. Why the fuck would she ask you about it?”

“M-Maybe cause she thought you were mad at her. I dunno, Shauna. B-But, I’m telling the truth. I swear.”

Shauna shakes you against the bathroom counter. Talking to her is like trying to get through to a brick wall. This whole conversation was fruitless.

“You think you’re better off without me?” Shauna interrogates. “You think Jackie can be a better friend than me?”

“N-No, I…”

“What about that time you stayed over at that classmate’s house because you wanted to hook up with them? And I lied to your parents, saying that you were with me? Remember when I covered for you then? All so you could go fuck somebody like some sort of whore?”

“D-Don’t call me that,” you whimper, Shauna’s face dangerously close to your neck.

“You don’t want me to call you that? When you’ve been whoring yourself out for attention? Jackie’s probably your next victim, isn’t she?”

You’re too stunned to speak. You know Shauna’s had a jealous edge to her. But, this went far beyond any ordinary envy. She wouldn’t let you talk with anyone. You were literally her property and she’d punish you if you didn’t respect that.

“Please leave me alone Shauna,” you beg. “P-Please, can we talk about this later? I-I…I don’t want to do this right now.”

“No.” Shauna says firmly. “Since you want to whore yourself out to people, I’m gonna teach you a lesson. It’s what you deserve for not realizing how good you have it.”

Without warning, Shauna stuffs her hand into your pants. She swirls her fingers around until she finds your cunt and runs her digits along your pussy lips.

“Shauna, what are you doing? Are you nuts? What the fuck?”

“You don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to do this,” she husks. “Since you wanna act like a whore, I’ll let you be one.”

Shauna bites down on your neck like a vampire drunk on the thought of your blood. As she nibbles, her fingers trail over your clit, brushing the nub with the lightness of a feather. It’s still enough to make you jump, though.

“But you will only be a whore for me. Nobody else. Just me.”

“Nobody else,” you repeat timidly. “F-Fuck…”

“Are you already enjoying this?” Shauna smirks. “I knew a whore like you would. You may be a whore, but you’re such a good one for letting me play with you like this.”

Shauna uses her other hand to harshly grasp your chin. She sucks and licks over the bruise she created on your neck, admiring the purple spot as evidence of your claiming.

“You’re not even asking me to leave you alone. It’s cause you like this, isn’t it? It’s only natural for a whore like you to enjoy being touched inappropriately. Bet you were wishing Jackie fucked you with her fingers.”

You shake your head. Shauna’s hand shifts downward and squeezes your throat. With her other hand, she inserts two fingers into your dripping pussy, eager and ready for penetration.

“I expect an answer,” Shauna growls. “You might be a slut, but I want you to be a competent one. So answer me. Now.”

“Y-Yes Shauna,” you answer. Though, you’re not entirely telling the truth. “I-I wish she did.”

“Good girl,” Shauna praises, stretching your hole out and scissoring you with her digits. “Loosen up for me, baby. C’mon.”

“Fuck, trying. Trying. I-I’m trying.”

There was a slight soreness at your core, pain mixed with a hint of pleasure. But, Shauna couldn’t care less about your potential suffering. She’s proving a point and you will be her obedient student, whether she has to use force or not.

“There we go,” Shauna encourages, able to pump her fingers faster as you adjust to the intrusion. You exhale, your heart beating rapidly. You felt your mind slowly melting, your head getting fuzzy with all sorts of lewd thoughts.

You make the mistake of letting out a moan too loud. To combat this, Shauna silences you with a fierce kiss to the lips. She bites down on your bottom lip until it’s close to drawing blood and shoves her tongue deep inside of your mouth.

Her fingers curl inside of you and you hump Shauna’s digits for more friction, most of the pain subsiding. Gasp after gasp erupts from your throat, your eyes almost rolling back from how deep Shauna’s thrusts were hitting you. You grab onto her for support, leaning against the bathroom counter as you let her absolutely use you.

“You like this?” Shauna spits. “Tell me how much you like it, my pretty little whore. Tell me how much you enjoy being used like a sex toy for me.”

“L-Love it,” you pant when she pulls away from your mouth. “Fuck, it’s so intense. Can’t take it. Can barely take it.”

“You will take it though,” Shauna demands. “Because that’s what good sluts do. They take what I give them.”

“Yes Shauna,” you whine, feeling your cunt wrap tightly around her fingers. Your pussy was throbbing as squelching sounds filled the bathroom. Your entire body wobbled and you felt your vision blurring.

“You’re already getting close?” Shauna chuckles. “My god, you’re fucking pathetic. It’s perfect. I want you dumb and pathetic just for me, okay? Not Jackie. Not Jeff. Not any of the other girls on my soccer team.”

“Just you,” you reply obediently. “J-Just you. Fuck, fuck. Shauna, I’m gonna…I’m gonna…”

“What the fuck are you waiting for, you pretty slut?” Shauna barks. “Cum on my fingers, you filthy girl. Show me how good it feels to give up your innocence for me. Show me that I’m the only one you deserve, the only one you’ll ever need.”

“Fuck!” You cry out, probably loud enough for people outside of the restroom to hear. You coat Shauna’s fingers with your juices as her fingers milk you dry. You don’t even bother biting back your moans or chewing on her shoulder to suppress her noises of desire. You’re lost, in a whole other world where only you and Shauna exist.

Once you’ve ridden out your high, Shauna withdraws her fingers and presses them to your lips. You know exactly what to do. With an opening of your mouth and a flick of the tongue, you clean off Shauna’s digits and embrace the taste of your own fluids.

“You’ll never get rid of me,” Shauna promises, leaning in close to press a kiss to your forehead. It’s a sign of tenderness after the storm, the restoration of tranquility after you’ve been marked as her own pet. She doesn’t need to go hard on you anymore, at least for right now.

“Didn’t plan on it,” you say meekly, still processing your friend’s deeds.

“I know.” Shauna smiles confidently. “There’ll never be another girl like me out there for you.”

Ain’t that the truth.

[nakaira]

What if their wife sends them a video of their baby walking for the first time when they are away for work? (Fyodor, dazai and chuuya)

note. i have focused more on the husband aspect of this request. so i am sorry if this is not what you wanted but i am very proud of how this turned out + my characterization of dazai and chuuya here to some extents (fyodor too but not so much). it is def more romantic than them being farhers but yeah!! also in most of them i have tried to keep the baby gender neutral so you can imagine whatever you want, whether baby boy or girl except for chuuya where a baby boy is mentioned.

fyodor would try to act all nonchalant. like he will see a notification from you, click on it and see the video without showing any emotion on his face because i imagine this happening when he's in the middle of a meeting with the other decay members or when he's clearly surrounded by other important, dangerous people.

once he's home though (may it be a day or two later), he's straight up rushing to the room for his baby. picking his baby in his arms and cooing at them (softly and quietly to the point if you don't pay attention, you can't even hear him let out such affectionate words).

there's a silent pride in his eyes and later when you try to coax him to talk, asking what he thought of the video and all, he smiles gently as he turns to face you and before we get into the words we uttered, the sight of fyodor laying on the pillow next to yours and free of every kind of stress is, to you, like seeing stars twinkle in the night sky. perhaps they too are blushing somewhere right now and twinkling as they witness how in love you are?

"i do not show it but no one is more prouder then me — of our kid and of you."

"why me? it's not me who took my first step." you attempt to tease.

"you did. with every step our kid takes, aren't we also taking our first steps into different aspects of parenthood too, dear?" his eyes twinkle in amusement, it's as if he has seen your amazement towards the stars and stole and placed some of them in his eyes so you would admire him too

and as much as I want to say dazai will be happily bugging and showing kunikida or atsushi or yosano or anyone the videos of his kid, i wholeheartedly believe he's going to be quiet about it too, like fyodor, but for a completely different reason.

let's suppose he's at a meeting too with the local police team in whichever city he's at for the mission with atsushi and kunikida and in the middle of it, he gets the video. he will see that you have sent a video but will not open it until he's all alone in his hotel room.

leaning against the headboard with a pillow on his lap, dazai gulps before he finally plays the video and instantly his eyes with soften in fondness and melancholy.

often times even after having a baby with you, he had gotten the cold feet and wanted to run away from it all because this is such a new experience and as nice it is, it's also a bit uncomfortable because he never thought he's the kind to settle down. it's as if he feels exposed yet at the same time you are exposed too so he feels better.

dazai has so many regrets and guilts and fears of his past somehow catching up in a twisted manner now that he is a father, he spends most of the time in worry and stress despite pretending not to be.

he almost feels like crying. instead, he pauses the video of the tiny bundle of joy wobbling taking a few steps before falling on their butt and giggling loudly. he leans his head back against the wall (behind the headboard) and closes his eyes.

later, when he facetimes you, he's smiling softly as you show him the sleeping baby, "i was scared when i saw the video," he reveals, nervously running a hand through his hair and it's such a weird sight to see him nervous, "because this is just the first achievement. the wobbly steps will turn into more firmer but still wobbly steps in the future. people won't be kind to our kid in the future, right? they'll expect them to act like an adult and that's why i am afraid because this innocent soul is one day going to face the same problems we face along with however the situations is in the future. and i am afraid of my kid walking into the same destructive footsteps i am trying to pull myself out of."

you smile sadly as you let him talk all he wants because it's not often he talks about himself this deeply. when he stops, you begin, "i know you regret many things. so do i. everyone regrets one or the other thing but i don't regret meeting you or having a baby with you. you can only grow when you let yourself be free first."

"i just love you alot." he quietly confesses.

chuuya was sitting on the bed in his hotel room (since he's on a mission in another country) when he gets the video and after seeing it, he immediately face times you.

with an excited grin and a flying kiss, you turn the camera over to show the baby who takes another step forwards, falls on his butt, gets up shakily and takes another step forwards.

turning the camera to face you once again, you laugh out as chuuya dramatically places his hand against his chest and closes his eyes to act as if he's going to faint, a smile on his face as he hears your laugh.

seeing you laugh, the baby begins to laugh too while trying to approach you.

"should i start buying sneakers and sandals now?" chuuya asks once you stop laughing, eyes nearly oozing out his adoration.

you shake your head and he rolls his eyes, "why not?"

"because he took his first step. doesn't mean he's going to start walking properly now."

"that's why we gotta teach him." he insists.

"he's going to learn with time." you chuckle, turning the camera to show the baby who is now crawling around again to prove your point and chuuya jokingly tsks, "tell him to try walking. his father ain't raising no quitter."

"you are so insufferable." you giggle, turning the camera to face you again, "when did you start walking, genius?"

"probably earlier then the other kids?" he shrugs because of course he doesn't remember when he began walking, he barely remembers if he had a childhood or not.

"when did you start running then?" you tease more.

"when i met you." he answers without missing a beat and you bite your lip as a shy smile takes over your face and so to make you more shy and flirt more, he adds, "i am still running behind you happily like a dog behind it's owner and to be honest? i prefer it this way."

"you are so sappy." you roll your eyes to hide how his words makes you brighten up. really, when you met him you didn't know he was going to woo you daily with his words and playful antics.

[kaiijo]

SUPER-GLUED JAR PRANK — [WIND BREAKER]

characters: sakura haruka, umemiya hajime, hiragi toma, togame jo content: gn! reader, a (very old) tiktok prank notes: they’re so silly, i love them

sakura haruka ✶

in hindsight, you should have known giving sakura the super-glued jar might not have been your best idea but his bright pink face paired with an inevitable tirade were too good to pass up. you can’t take all the credit for it — kotoha played a role too, supplying you with a nearly-empty jar of sprinkles and some acting. 

your boyfriend is sitting with nirei and suo when you emerge from cafe potus’s pantry with the jar. she feigns disappointment when she asks, “any luck?”

“no,” you say, shaking the jar in your hand for effect.

“it’s such a waste to just let all that stuff sit at the bottom.”

you turn to sakura and asks, “can you try opening it, sweetheart?”

sakura’s face flushes at the pet name, which makes his friends giggle, and he takes the jar from you. with each attempt his make, sakura scowls more and more, huffing as he sets it down. nirei suggests that he tap the lid against the edge of the table but sakura uses just a bit too much force and the glass breaks. you gasp and the trio at the table jumps back with fast reflexes. 

kotoha’s already running to grab a broom and dustpan and you’re reaching down to pick up the big pieces. sakura’s hand closes around your wrist before you can and he says, “are you crazy? you could hurt yourself, let me do it.” 

“no one touch it,” kotoha orders as she sweeps the shards up. nirei is apologizing profusely and sakura mutters an apology, complaining about how he almost had it and how they shouldn’t make jars that sealed that tight. when you come clean to him about gluing the lid, he’s huffing and puffing at you, and you make it up to him with a lot of food and a lot of kisses and cuddles in private. 

umemiya hajime ✶

you find umemiya on the roof of furin high, tending to his garden. your heart swells as you hear him coo at his plants, carefully and lovingly watering them. you almost feel bad about this little prank. almost, but you remember the prank he pulled last week with that fake rubber bug in your lunch so you don’t feel too bad.

you thank every star in the sky that sugishita’s not here at the moment because you’re pretty sure this prank would be the last thing you’d get to do if he was. “hajime?” you call to him.

 his head immediately swerves to look at you and his smile is as bright as ever as he set down the water can and makes his way over. he presses a loud, messy kiss against your cheek, and you don’t even have to ask umemiya; he notices the jar in your hand and says, “i can help you open that!”

“thanks,” you say and he takes the jar from you. 

he’s beaming when he replies with a breezy “no problem, baby!” and firmly grips the lid, giving it a firm twist. his smile dims a little and he tries again with no luck. umemiya squares his feet and gives it another go, and you can’t deny that seeing his arms bulge with exertion against the sleeves of his white t-shirt is in any way unpleasant.

he slides on his gardening gloves and tries again. the lid doesn’t budge and umemiya is pouting at the jar and mumbling, “i’ll be right back.” he disappears into the school for about twenty minutes. he comes back with a look of defeat, shoulders slumping. “i can’t help you,” he says. “i’m really sorry.”

oh my god, you feel your stomach twist in sympathy and you answer, “i know. i’m really sorry, haji, it’s because i super-glued the lid.”

he blinks once, twice, and then his smile is back on his face. he wipes some sweat off his brow and sighs in relief, “phew! i thought i’d totally lost my strength there for second!” you can’t help but stare at him as he grins, outshining the sun. what did you do to deserve this angel?

hiragi toma ✶

you walk into your living room, where hiragi is setting up a movie for the two of you to watch. “any movie in mind?” he asks as he leans back in the couch, remote in hand. 

“howl’s moving castle?” 

“again? we watched that last weekend too.”

you grin at him. “it’s not my fault howl’s so cute.”

your boyfriend rolls his eyes, grumbling, “he’s not that cute. and he’s not real.” before you can argue, hiragi motions at the jar in your hand. 

“can you help me open it?” you ask him, holding it out to him. 

he eyes it suspiciously. “you hate pickles.”

“i want to try them again.”

“but why buy an entire jar if you want to just—”

“can you please just open it? help me start this new journey in my life?” he still looks confused but, ever the dutiful boyfriend, takes it from your hand. 

one attempt. two, then three. by the fourth, you feel a giggle threatening to burst forth but the familiar sound of the air pressure releasing has your jaw dropping. hiragi doesn’t take the lid off entirely, letting it sit on top as he hands it back to you. he takes in your awed expression with a frown. “is everything okay?” he’s already reaching for his stomach tablets. 

“i super-glued this,” you say, still a little starstruck. “like, with a lot of glue. you weren’t supposed to be able to open it.” 

you show him the lid and as he swallows down the pill. he sighs, “you’re going to be the death of me.” 

togame jo ✶

“these looks so good!” tomiyama says, marveling at the spread of sandwiches and snacks you had brought to the park. he had been the one to propose a shishitoren picnic, though togame was the one who had pared it down to just a couple of people to make it more manageable. 

“thanks! help yourselves!” you reply, watching on with a small smile as the boys dug into the food you had prepared. you lean against togame, who rests his chin on your shoulder. 

he leans forward for a sandwich, handing you one as well. it’s your favorite variety of the ones you made and you’re thrilled that your boyfriend remembered that. as you take a bite, you figure this the perfect time to execute your plan. you reach into your own bag, pulling out a nearly-finished jar of chili oil. you nudge togame. “you think you can help me open this? i tried all morning.”

“sure,” he says, gently lifting it from your grasp. his arms are still around you as he makes his first attempt and you feel the quick breath he exhales as he tries again. he eventually untangles himself from you, eyebrows furrowing. “shit,” he says, “i don’t know if i can.”

tomiyama makes grabbing hands at it. “let me try!” togame hands it over to his friend and tomiyama tries a couple of times, pouting when he can’t open it either. he hands it over to sako, who glowers when he fails too. the jar gets passed between the shishitoren members present and each one is unsuccessful. the last guy hands it back to you and togame sighs, “sorry we couldn’t help, baby.”

as everyone else apologizes to, you feel a little bashful as you admit to gluing it. you’re relieved when they take it in good stride, letting out relieved cries and playfully protest. you pull out another jar of the same chili oil, this one totally super-glue-free and give it to those who want it as a peace offering.  as the group settles into a nice rhythm, you lean back against togame and his head finds its place in the crook of your neck again.

[captain-huggy-bear]

Morning Sickness

Pairing: Quinn Hughes x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Mentions of sex in the past, pregnancy, etc.

Summary: Quinn is getting increasingly worried about you as you're sick every morning and every evening, you're adamant that you're fine. Turns out you're right in a way.

Notes: Thanks to the person who sent this idea in :)

Totally happy to take requests/ideas/prompts at the moment in my ask box :)

Writing Masterlist

It starts around a month after your honeymoon. Every single morning Quinn wakes to the sound of you throwing up and every single night he holds your hair back as you're sick over the toilet.

You pass it off as a bad stomach bug or anxiety, something different every time but Quinn doesn't believe you nor does he like what's happening. He's had many health scares with you; the chest infection that led to you being hospitalised after you nearly passed out at work being a prime example. As a result, he knows better than to assume that when you say you're fine, you're actually fine. Instead he sits with a heavy buzz of anxiety in his chest, a fear that something is seriously wrong but not knowing what and not knowing how best to convince you to get a check up and see the doctor about it. You’re stubborn to a fault. 

It's another one of those evenings where he's happily curled around in bed, blankets tucked in around both of you. You're in his arms, back to his chest, legs twisted together so that any movement jars the other, but you're so used to it at this point that sleeping apart is more difficult and less restful than navigating the tangled mass of limbs that the two of you become each night.

When you try to slip out of his arms he's awake like a shot, blinking through bleary eyes while you push his arms off you so that you can get up. Quinn lets you go, an instant release but he's quick to follow, footsteps padding on the carpet after you towards the bright light of the bathroom. Never once considering rolling over and going back to sleep.

"You okay, baby?" You're leaning over the sink, taking deep breaths, cheeks puffing out as you try your very best to not be sick again, nausea roiling through you. You’re so fed up of being sick, it’s become a routine that’s led to you being careful about what foods you eat in the morning and evening, learning what is the worst to throw up and what’s the least offensive thing to throw up.

All you can do is shake your head frantically before you're rushing to the toilet, knees hitting the floor with a loud thud as you lean over the toilet bowl to be sick. Quinn winces at the sound of your knees impacting tile and he's beside you in an instant, hands reaching for your hair to pull it back and out of your face so you don't have to worry about throwing up in your own hair.

"Oh, baby...just let it out..." A warm, free hand landing on your back, rubbing soothing circles as he feels the way your body jerks with each bout of sickness, your muscles contracting and relaxing each time. 

You’re crying, he can hear it, the way you whimper and whine because this is the worst and you’re fed up with being so violently sick…It only increases his worry because this has been going on for too long and it just doesn’t seem to be getting any better. 

He stays beside you, holding your hair and rubbing your back until you’re no longer vomiting. When you stop, cheek resting against the toilet seat in exhaustion he’s up and reaching for a glass to fill with water for you.

“Here, baby, have some water…” You take a mouthful only to spit it out in the toilet in an attempt to get the taste of vomit from your mouth, before downing the whole glass. It doesn’t really help much.

“I hate this…” You groan out, feeling silly because it’s not even like you feel ill most of the time, you just keep getting these random bouts of sickness in the mornings and evenings. Quinn shouldn’t be as worried as you know he is…it’s probably all in your head, maybe you’ve created a Pavolvian response to the morning and night time where your body expects to be sick, so you are?

“I know, baby…” Quinn runs a hand over your hair, pushing a few strands out of your face and behind your ear, he’s gentle about it, long fingers gingerly caressing your skin like he’s worried you’ll break, “You need to visit a doctor, baby.”

“It’s probably nothing, Quinn…I’ve just eaten something or have some sort of bug or something…” You don’t want to go to the doctors, you’re certain this will blow over soon, that it’s nothing serious and you hate the idea of taking more time off for it even as your husband looks at you like you might be the most stubborn human being on earth. 

“For weeks?”

“Quinn…” You sigh out his name because you don’t want to argue, because you’re tired. All you want is to go back to bed, curl up in his arms and get what little sleep you can before you have to go to work in the morning.

He must see how tired you are because whatever fight he had seems to leave his body, shoulders slumping, head nodding to himself like he’s made a decision in his mind to put this down for the moment even if he wants to keep going, repeat himself until you give in.

“Okay…okay, let’s get you to bed at least…” He gives up arguing because you’re so tired and have to be up at 6am for work. It’s bad enough you're not feeling well, let alone that you have to still teach like this, adding exhaustion to the mix is just a bad idea. He’ll keep pushing until you go to the doctors, but right now? Right now he can see you're tired and sleep is probably better for you than arguing at 1am. 

Quinn helps you to your feet, your hands resting in his much larger ones while he pulls you up. He keeps both hands on your hips the whole time as the two of you waddle your way back to bed, there’s part of him that worries you might fall or faint on the way back to bed, hands firmly gripping you just in case. 

He curls around you once you're both back under the covers, almost protective like he’s trying to shield you from some unseen threat and you nestle back into him, resting your head on the arm underneath you. 

The early morning throw up session had you completely wiped hours later, it really shouldn’t have been a surprise that you felt dizzy as the day went on. Even more so because food was just not enticing you and you had skipped lunch when your sandwich made you feel queasy just looking at it. Each lesson felt harder and harder to teach and your last lesson of the day had your head reeling. It really shouldn’t have come as a surprise with how dizzy you felt, how lightheaded you were, that you fainted completely in front of your students. Thankfully, you had felt it coming on, having lowered yourself to the ground mere seconds before it happened.

To give them their dues, your students who could have used that as an opportunity to cause a mess, do whatever they wanted and generally cause chaos, actually tried to help. They were so concerned for you that they got another member of staff to come help, David, your favourite trouble making hockey fan, put his rolled up Canucks hoodie underneath your head and Stacy checked you were still breathing. The fainting spell didn’t last long, within a minute or so you were back to consciousness and trying to sit up, staff and students trying to force you to lay back down. 

It’s Laura, the English teacher next door, who grabs your phone and calls your emergency contact, Quinn…even as you protest and tell her not to bother him, that you’re fine. All your protests go ignored by the forty year old, who had become something of a mentor and parental figure during your time at the school.

“Hi Quinn, sorry, it’s Laura from Y/N’s school?” You can’t quite tell what Quinn says on the other line, but you’re sure it’s along the lines of ‘what’s wrong?’ in a panicked tone because no one ever used your phone. You hate worrying him, he has so much on his shoulders already, so much weight there from the team, the season, his brothers…

“She’s fainted, do you think you could come get her? It’s the end of the school day anyway but I don’t think she should be driving home…thanks, Quinn.” 

You groan at her, tempted to tell her off for calling him against your wishes but you know she means well…you also know there’s absolutely no chance you’re getting away with avoiding the doctors now. In fact you wouldn’t be surprised if he drove you straight to the doctor's office after coming to get you…still, maybe you should see a doctor, what with throwing up all the time…and now fainting? 

Laura won’t even let you get up from your spot on the floor, packing your things away for you, getting your students to chill for the last 10 minutes of the day and waiting until Quinn arrives. You know she’s worried you’ll faint again, but it feels ridiculous, sitting on a cold, dirty classroom floor waiting for your husband to come get you.

“Hey, baby…” The way he stands in the doorway to your classroom when he finally arrives makes you want to cry. It’s like he’s scared you’re going to faint again, a sense of hesitancy and caution in his body language that you hate because Quinn is never like that around you. 

“Please don’t…don’t be scared of me, right now…” You feel like crying, wetness starting to fill your eyes and your voice coming out choked. You’re not even sure why you’re so emotional about him looking like that when Quinn’s always worried about you, it’s not a new development. He cares so he worries. 

“Hey, hey, I’m not scared of you…I’m worried, baby.” He’s crossing the space between you as quickly as possible, crouching down next to you with care, hands reaching for your face gently to rub his fingers across your cheeks to try and calm you down.

“I’m sorry…I don’t mean to be a bother…” Your eyes are so watery that Quinn’s face is a blurry mess, but even then you wouldn’t be able to mistake the serious set of his brow, the way his jaw clenches, how he always takes your concerns and worries seriously.

“Sweet girl, hey…you’re not a bother. You’re never a chore, okay? But I'm going to need you to accept that we need to go to the doctor's now, okay? I’ve already phoned them, they can see us in forty minutes.” You can’t really deny him, he’s been so patient with you, worried, but not pushing you to go to the doctors too much and you know he’s right…something’s not normal right now and you need to get checked out.

“Okay…” The smile he gives you is radiant, relief filled and bright like your answer is enough to make his day. It makes it worth it.

“Atta girl, right, let’s get you up off this floor, okay?” 

You nod at him, reaching for his outstretched hands and letting him grip yours tightly, your wedding rings gleaming and new under the fluorescence of the classroom lights. As Quinn stands he pulls you with him, helping you to your feet and holding you steady when you get a bit of a headrush from the sudden upright position.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, i’m good,” He doesn’t quite look like he believes you, “I promise, i’ll let you know if i’m not.”

He’s got an eye on you the entire way to his car, always watching in case you suddenly faint or trip or take a dive to the ground. You don’t, your dizzy spell has passed and now you just feel emotional and embarrassed about the whole thing. 

As is routine by now Quinn opens the car door for you and buckles your seatbelt, making sure it rests comfortably against you and isn’t digging into you at all. He goes a step further than normal though, reaching into the backseat to grab a blanket he keeps there for when you get cold, laying it over your lap and tucking it under your thighs like he’s worried you’ll get cold on the drive to the doctors. 

Quinn leans forward into the car, pressing a kiss to your forehead gently causing you to close your eyes, letting out a happy sigh. He lingers slightly, hand smoothing down some of your fly away hairs before he shuts the passenger side door and gets into the driver's seat. 

There’s a heavy silence that settles over the two of you while Quinn starts the drive to the doctor’s office. It’s a silence that screams that Quinn has things he wants to say, words he’s holding inside him right now and you wait patiently for him to break. 

It doesn’t take long, a few minutes pass before he’s watching you from the corner of his eye, “You need to start trusting me to handle knowing when something is wrong…” He sighs out at you, and you try not to cut him off, biting on your lip to force yourself to listen until he’s said what he needs to say. “I know you’re scared of being a burden and putting more stress on me, but, baby…I’m your husband. I need to know. I want to know. My job is to support you. I can’t do that if you’re not letting me in…” He reaches a hand across to squeeze your leg, an attempt to reassure you that he’s not mad, but that he wants you to trust him more and you get it…you do. You’ve been so reluctant to put any more stress on him, but here’s Quinn demanding that you do, telling you he wants to know when things aren’t quite right.

“I just…you have all this pressure on you and I don’t want to add to that.”

“Baby, the only stress you’re giving me is when you don’t let me help you…I need you to promise me you’re going to start relying on me more, please?” He can’t take it anymore. The way you try to hide how you’re doing, try to take all that onto yourself so that he doesn't get any of the pressure. You’re the only pressure he wants, fuck hockey, fuck the season, but he needs to know what’s wrong with you so he can fix it, so he can help you.

You reach for his hand on your leg, twisting your fingers in his and holding his hand tight, watching him glance at you out of the corner of his eye, focusing on the road for the most part. 

“I promise.” 

Quinn’s shoulders drop in relief, his need to support and protect you, to look after you already feeling better now that you’ve promised you’ll actually communicate with him properly. He loves you, but your fear of being a burden is his least favourite thing about you. He hates that people have made you feel like you have to minimise yourself, your problems. Hates that you’ve been trained to be so hyper independent and self reliant. 

“Have you taken a pregnancy test?”

You blink at the doctor like she’s insane because the thought hadn’t even crossed your mind that that was a possibility, that maybe you were pregnant.

“Uh, no…”

“Have you been using protection? Is it possible you’re pregnant?” You try to think back to your last period, late, try to think back to the last time Quinn and yourself had unprotected sex…your honeymoon. So over the moon, so giddy the two of you hadn’t really thought about it, forgoing the usual precautions because you were married now so it didn’t seem like such a big deal. 

You look at Quinn, the two of you sharing a look that says you’re both thinking back to your honeymoon, the two weeks of being absolutely feral for each other that you really didn’t think much about the consequences…well, you did, in a sense. Quinn had had a great time considering what you’d look like pregnant with his child, dirty talk filled with comments about getting you pregnant, but it had all been fantasies, silly in the moment dirty talk, neither of you had really considered (rather stupidly perhaps) that it might become a reality. You hadn’t thought…normally it wasn’t that easy for people and you’d always had concerns about fertility in your family in the past so why would it be that easy for you? 

“It’s…it’s possible.”

“Okay, I want you to go take this test and come back when you’re done. I think you might just be experiencing some really bad first trimester morning sickness.” You take the test offered to you, the little pee cup and pipette too, glad that she wasn’t expecting you to pee directly onto the stick…

“Do you want me to wait outside the door?” Quinn asks as you hesitantly get up, not really wanting to go alone, as silly as it was because all you were about to do was pee into a little cup and put some drops onto a pregnancy test, it wasn’t like you were going to do anything crazy. But, you’d never had to take a pregnancy test before, you’d never had to deal with the reality that you might be pregnant and even if it's with your literal husband it’s still kind of scary...

“Yes, please…” He’s reaching for your hand without any hesitation, guiding you out of the examination room and towards the toilets. 

You hesitate before entering, scared to find out the answer, unsure which you want to be true; that you’re pregnant or that there’s something else causing you to be sick and faint. You want kids, both of you have discussed it time and time again, but you always thought it would be planned, that the two of you would be actively trying when you got pregnant. 

“It’ll be okay, y’know? No matter what. If you’re not pregnant we’ll figure out what’s wrong and if you are? That’s a good thing, we wanted kids, baby.” Quinn can see you’re scared, the way you grip the test tighter, how you seem to stop breathing as you stare at the bathroom door. He’s trying to not get his hopes up, to temper some of the excitement he can feel because he really…fuck, he really hopes you’re pregnant, he’s so ready to be a dad, and it would be an added bonus to know you weren’t seriously ill, just dealing with the first trimester. 

“Yeah, just…wasn’t expecting it to potentially be this soon.”

“I know, baby, but it’ll be okay and mom’ll be over the moon.” You smile at the mention of Ellen, how excited she’ll be…heck Jack and Luke would be ecstatic to be uncles, suddenly things didn’t seem quite so scary when you considered the people around you, how supportive they would be.

“Yeah, she’ll probably scream down the phone…” If you’re pregnant goes unsaid but it’s there, the reality that maybe you’re both starting to get your hopes up for something that isn’t going to happen. 

“Okay…I can do this.”

“You’ve got this, baby…it’ll be okay,” He smiles at you one last time before you disappear into the bathroom.

Your hands shake the entire time you’re in there, completing the test and putting it on the side to wait. You pacing a hole into the floor, back and forth, back and forth as the time ticks down on your phone. In that time you start to get excited, nervous, but excited. The initial shock of potentially being pregnant disappearing in favour of thoughts about what it would be like to finally have your first child with Quinn…how he’d teach them to skate, how Luke and Jack would play with them at the lake house in the summer, how Ellen and Jim would be devoted grandparents, how you’d read them books every night and make your own Christmas traditions… Your nerves now centred on that possibility that you weren’t pregnant, that your hopes might be crushed.

You couldn’t bring yourself to look when the time was up, reaching for the door handle to Quinn pacing outside the door. His head shoots up the moment you open it.

“So?” Quinn looks so expectant, lips bitten and red from all his worrying, waiting for an answer. 

“I…I can’t look, can you check it for me?”

“Uh, yeah, course, baby.” You can tell he’s nervous too, but he steps inside the bathroom, locking it behind the two of you for privacy. You point to where the little, but no less life altering, test rests by the sink. 

You watch him walk over, watch the tension in his shoulders, how he looks at the little test, seems to read the marks, and then again, and again like he’s struggling to process it. You know the answer the moment his shoulders relax, the moment he turns to you with tears in his eyes and a wide smile, so wide across his face. He’s practically grinning, vibrant in the way he is after a won game or how he was at your wedding. The sort of vibrant that changes Quinn, his usually understated calmness wiped out in favour of pure unfiltered joy. 

“We’re…we’re having a baby…” Saying it feels unreal at first, that those two little lines can mean so much, that right now, in your tummy is your baby. The perfect mix of the two of you slowly growing into someone amazing, someone he’s so excited to meet. 

“Yeah?” You can feel your own excitement starting, hearing it is making it real, so fucking real. 

“Yeah, baby!” You’re crying, he’s crying, it’s a mess when you come together in a hug, his arms wrapping tightly around you and lifting you off the floor to spin you around. You’re both crying into each other when his mouth slants over yours for a kiss, one of his hands cupping the back of your head, the other resting gently over your throat.

It’s a kiss that feels monumental, deep and filled with love, so much love that the taste of the salt from your tears does nothing to deter either of you as you cling to each other. The scratch of Quinn’s beard, the silky smoothness of his hair in your fingers, the way you cling to each other, you’ve not felt that happy since your wedding day, since you both finally said I do. It feels like the world has shifted on its axis in the most spectacular of ways and all that worry, all that fear is gone, just like that. 

He’s so fucking relieved, that’s part of it. God, is he excited that you’re pregnant, that he’s going to be a dad, but part of the excitement is relief, that you’re okay, that you’re not seriously ill. You’re just pregnant, just dealing with morning sickness and all the changes associated with growing a baby. 

When you pull apart neither of you go very far, foreheads pressed together, noses nuzzling against each other. His hands still cradle you close to him, his breath warm against your lips.

“We’re going to be parents…you’re going to be a mom…” There’s something about him saying it that makes it feel more real because it feels almost out of body of an experience, to find out you're pregnant when you had no plans to be. 

“Yeah…you’re going to be a dad…”

“Fuck, I love you…” Quinn kisses you again, soft but lingering as a hand comes down to rest against your belly, no sign yet of the bundle of cells that’s growing into a baby, “and I love this little bean too,”

“I love you too, you’re going to be so great, they’re going to love you.”

“They’re going to love us.”

[mysterymachine67]

Pairing: Dean Winchester x M!reader

Summary: Fucking Dean on the hood of the Impala. Yes, the hood.

NSFW. Minors DNI.

It was dark out. Crickets and other insects spoke among the two of you. The shine of the moon hit the Impala that Dean was currently laid on, and the air was cool. Not too hot, not too cold.

Speaking of Dean, before you guys stopped on the side of the road, the two of you had been driving to pick up food. You both were pent up (more so Dean but we don’t mention that); giving each other suggestive touches along the way. And then it became to much. The both of you couldn’t wait. Now, you guys are here.

Dean huffed and squirmed as you unbuckled his belt. Lifting his hips up just to try and get some type of friction. But you slapped his thigh and told him otherwise. “Quit squirmin’ or else I’m gonna leave you like this, all needy and pathetic. You wouldn’t want that, right?” And all you got for a respond was a long groan.

Once his pants were down and out of the way, you moved onto his shirt. Helping him take it off. “Shirt too? God, you can’t get enough, can you?” Dean teased. And once the cold feel of the impala bit at his back, he let out a hiss. You couldn’t help but bite back a laugh. In which he shot you a glare. “I can’t help it, pretty boy. Look at you, beautiful all over.” You replied while your hands ran over his chest. The warmth of them mixed with the cold sensation on his back caused him to shudder. A groan falling from his lips and his eyebrows knitting together before speaking up.

“‘M not beautiful, don’t call me that..” He mumbled. Turning his face to the side just to be met with the cool feel once again. “Want me to use a more manly term for your beauty, Mr. Winchester?” You teased, but soon brought it to an end once he bucked his hips again. You didn’t want to keep him waiting for to long.

You leaned down, bringing your mouth to his for a kiss. Distracting him from yet another cold feeling. You popped open the lube and squeezed some onto your fingers. Cringing once you realized you should’ve warmed it between your hands first before opening. Before you pushed your finger into him, you whispered a small warning about the cold, then pressed another quick kiss to his lips.

“Shit! What the hell?” Dean grumbled. Hips shifting in attempt to get more comfortable, but you told him to stay still.

—

Once Dean was stretched enough and prepped, which was hell with all of his complaining, you pressed the tip of your cock against his wet hole. Giving him a moment before pushing in.

Considering you were indeed fucking Dean on the hood of the Impala, there was a chance a car would drive by and see you both. But, those chances were low because for one it’s dark out, and two it’s not really a main road. Yet the thought of you two getting caught only turned you on more. Once you were bottomed out, you started to move again. When you looked up at Dean his face was twisted into a look of pleasure. His hands balled into fists—not knowing where to grab, and his jaw was clenched shut, not daring to let out any noise.

“How’re you feeling, baby?” You asked, while slooowly dragging your cock from his hole. You moved his legs just as he was about to answer, holding them up by the back of his thighs. It gave you a clear sight of seeing your cock disappear into him. Before he gave you an answer he let out a broken hum. His eyebrows furrowed for a moment. “Good—feel s’good.” Dean blinked and swallowed the spit that formed in his mouth.

“Yeah?” You whispered. Speeding up your pace and finding a rhythm that made him see stars. “Mmm!” Is all Dean could manage. He clenched and arched his back oh so beautifully. His eyebrows nearly drawn upward while his eyes closed. You took in the sight of it, watching his mouth drop as he couldn’t keep his jaw shut any longer. It all felt good. To good. And when you hit his prostate dead on? He let out a looong moan that silenced half off the bugs that were chatting previously. With how tight and warm he felt, you couldn’t help but let out a moan yourself. Continuing to bully your cock into him. And finally, that familiar feeling rose in both off your body’s. Deciding to help him out, you wrapped one of your hands around his dick, starting to pump. In response to that he threw his head back against the Impala, quick. A loud ‘thud’ noise coming from the impact. You winced, but still stifled a chuckle.

You asked if he was okay, and he responded with a nod of his hurt head. Seemingly to only care about cumming at the moment. Even though you, yourself knew damn well that hurt. But with one more stroke of your hand, and another hit to his prostate is all that it took for him to cum. You soon following after.

You both stayed there, breathing heavily and panting. And once the both of you calmed down you spoke up. “How’s your head?” You asked, and his response was, “Just a little bump. I’ve had worse.” Shaking your head while beginning to move, Dean’s phone started to ring. He sat up on the hood, letting out a soft groan before grabbing his phone and answering it, putting it on speaker.

“Yeah?” He asked. It was Sam. “Where the hell are you guys? You only went out on a food run.” You both looked at each other like a deer in headlights.

Shit, the food.

[regressionschool]

circle

Lilly stood in front of her mirror, twisting her hips slightly as she admired the soft pastel design of her pull-up in the reflection. She grinned, her short, ruffled t-shirt barely brushing the waistband, leaving the pull-up fully visible. “Six whole days dry!” she thought proudly, snapping a photo with her phone.

She glanced over her shoulder at the background in the photo—the neatly stacked rows of diapers on the shelves behind her caught her eye. A pout briefly flickered on her lips. "Not for long," she whispered determinedly before sending the photo to Mommy with the caption: Look! Still dry, Mommy! Six days in a row! Can we get rid of the diapers now?

It didn’t take long for Mommy to reply. Lilly’s phone buzzed with a picture of Mommy’s amused smile and a message: Good job, sweetheart! But let’s not be too hasty. Those diapers might still come in handy! You’re not in that big of a rush to grow up, are you? 😉

Lilly puffed out her cheeks as she read the reply, her face flushing pink. She quickly typed back, Mooommy, I don’t need them anymore! I’m a big girl now!

Her phone buzzed again. Big girls don’t pout, Lilly-bug. Why don’t we wait a few more days, just to be safe? I’m so proud of you, though!

Lilly let out a huff but couldn’t help the small smile creeping across her lips. Mommy’s teasing didn’t erase her pride. She posed in front of the mirror again, this time sticking her tongue out playfully. “A few more days,” she muttered to herself. “But then they’re gone for good!”

She snapped another photo—this time with her tongue out—and sent it to Mommy. Mommy's reply made her giggle: Big girls are so silly!

Lilly sat on the soft nursery rug, her legs splayed out in front of her as she banged two colorful blocks together. She was entirely absorbed in the clatter they made, her cheeks glowing pink from exertion, a faint pout on her lips as she concentrated. She barely noticed the slight crinkle and sag of her diaper beneath her onesie, though the growing warmth spreading through it was impossible to ignore. Her brow furrowed briefly as her body took over, the back of her diaper expanding as she unconsciously filled it without a second thought.

From the rocking chair nearby, Mommy watched with a knowing smile, resting her chin in her hand. “Well, well,” she teased, her tone light but dripping with amusement. “What’s this, baby girl? Did someone just make a big mess in her diapee?”

Lilly looked up at her mommy, wide-eyed and confused, the blocks slipping from her hands. She gurgled softly, as though trying to respond, but her thumb quickly found its way into her mouth instead. Her lips moved around it as she babbled something incoherent, completely unfazed by the state of her now sagging diaper.

Mommy chuckled, shaking her head. “Just five days ago, you were my proud, big girl. You sent me pictures of your dry pull-ups, remember?” She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with playful teasing. “You even said you didn’t need those diapers anymore. But look at you now.” Lilly only blinked at her, tilting her head slightly. The words seemed to wash over her without meaning, her little mind too fuzzy to grasp the irony. Her attention quickly shifted back to the colorful blocks at her feet, a giggle bubbling up as she clumsily grabbed one.

Mommy smirked, her tone softening as she cooed, “This happens every time, doesn’t it, sweet pea? You grow up so fast, get so close to being a big girl… and then, poof! Back to square one. My silly, unpotty-trained baby girl, just where you belong.”

Lilly gave a delighted squeal, her legs kicking out in excitement at the sound of Mommy’s voice, blissfully unaware of the teasing as Mommy stood to gather changing supplies. Mommy gently patted her diapered bottom, shaking her head with a warm smile. “Don’t you worry, baby. Mommy knows you’ll try again someday… but for now, let’s get that stinky bum cleaned up.”

[keferon]

That GIF makes me go bonkersss

I had to write something for ratchet and drift cuz yesss hehee

_____

Deadlock's vents hitched. Hot, it was hot. His engine felt like fire roaring through his unmoving body.

His optics came online, just as a spatter of pain ran through his joints and he jumped up from his seated position, jumping hard enough to bang his helm right against a solid ceiling.

He heard the rumble of something when he hit his head, sitting back lower as he groaned and rubbed the spot he'd probably dented in his rough awakening.

Then he paused. The ship- the- he'd been attacked. He was escaping. Something struck the ship and something struck him and then-

Something was bugging his ear.

He heard a static, a sound like something yelling. Something small.

Deadlock lowered his head to look around. He was in a large space. Not large enough for him to stand, apparently not large enough for him to completely straighten himself either. His legs were bent uncomfortably to fit the room.

He then focused on the source of the voice, looking down at a tiny creature, swinging its fist at him and shouting incoherent- curses, he assumed.

-

Ratchet hadn't thought this thing to still be alive. Or- moving- whatever it was doing.

He'd brought it back to his garage to repair what he could. He was a full time medic, but fixing cars was like a hobby to him and to his suprise, this....creature, wasn't much different from a car. Atleast externally. He'd found some parts and liquids that he sure as hell didn't recognize.

It wasn't a mecha, thats for certain. Ratchet had caught a short glance at the creature's face when he'd found it and it didn't look like any mecha he had ever seen before. Unless this was some twisted new invention...he couldn't imagine. He chose to keep this to himself for now.

It didn't have a cockpit either, evidence further pointing to the fact it wasn't being controlled, atleast not from the inside.

He'd been trying to reassemble some of the wiring inside the giant's leg when the bloody thing had suddenly jolted and cracked his ceiling. Almost crushed him too when it had moved it's palm to balance inside the small space.

"Can you hear me, huh?! Watch yourself 'fore I leave you more broken than you were before!"

He glared at the thing's wide red eyes.

It blinked, furrowed it's brow and then blinked again, staring at Ratchet intensely like it was trying to put together a puzzle in it's head.

Ratchet paused, huffing.

"You don't understand me, do you."

He wondered briefly if it was from a different country, but the image of a crash site reminded him whatever it was came from up there.

Then the machine moved again, placing another palm, wearily, down to the ground and leaning over, settling it's giant face terrifyingly close to Ratchet.

It stared, squinting it's red, glowing eyes at Ratchet like he was some sort of bug.

"Where are you from, hm? Some weird new mecha invention?" Ratchet asked like he wasn't phased. The thump of his heart beating faster was only audible to his own ears. The creature looked angry now, angrily confused.

It opened it's mouth and out came a lot of loud, irritating static.

Ratchet flinched and slapped his palms over his ears. It rang and buzzed in his head like a freaky radio he couldn't understand.

"Ag- SHADDUP!"

That suprisingly seemed to be a command the machine understood perfectly well, as it shut it's trap the moment Ratchet ordered it to. Maybe it was just his tone of voice.

The two glared into each others eyes, frustrated over the confusion in communication.

Ratchet huffed and placed a palm on his chest. "My name is Ratchet. R-A-T-C-H-E-T. Y'got that?" He spoke, watching the thing's eyes follow his face and hands intently.

The machine opened it's mouth again and Ratchet prepared to cover his ears.

"R-A-" it sounded out instead. Not exactly english, but not so static-y that Ratchet couldn't understand. It was trying, atleast. The noises it made sounded like a radio going through channels at a rapid pace.

"R-at- Ratch- R-a-t-"

The creature looked like it thought of something and then it slowly brought it's head down to the other again, a wide grin on it's faceplates.

"Rat."

I AM. SO SANE AND NORMAL ABOUT THEM. I'M SO. . KHKYKYOHKYKYM

Also. Eheheh I like to think that. The moment that made Ratchet realise "oh shit it's not a machine it's a person" was when Ratchet saw that Deadlock can feel pain. He saw that this giant angry robot is in pain and it clicked in his brain. Oh this isn't a piece of weird technology. Technology can't suffer. And this one clearly can.

Like. I think in Ratchets mind everything that can feel pain deserves help to relieve that pain. It doesn't matter if it's an animal or human or apparently giant space robot:)

And your writing made realize I'm so glad that when someone back then asked about Ratchet I went with Ratchlock instead of Dratchet. Ratchlock in this specific setting is so much more fun. Drift is all cool and collected and careful and respectful and everything. Deadlock is a menace. Deadlock is feral backstabbing angry bastard /aff. It's so much funnier that way>:D

[lovebugism]

hi!! could I possibly request something with Eddie or Steve with their chronically ill gf? I have POTS and although I don't full on faint, I get super fainty often and can lose my vision a little sometimes from that, and I think it would be cute to see how either boys would be with a partner like that (IF NOT THAT'S TOTALLY OKAY, THIS IS A VERY SELF INDULGENT REQUEST)

i tried to make this more general since i don't personally have pots, but it ended up being very self-indulgent bc i do get fainting spells quite often so enjoy hahah :D — the one where eddie munson is a very panicky caregiver (established relationship, hurt/comfort | 1.2k)

bug's summer fic fest (⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

The hottest day of the season weighs heavily upon you. The golden hour sunlight and sticky summer air seep into your bones, sucking all the energy from your already tired body. You feel a bit like a vampire now — a withering thing wasting away in the center of Eddie Munson’s bed, with nothing but a clicking fan beside you blowing hot air around the room.

Eddie seems largely unfazed by the summer weather despite his metalhead qualities, which should otherwise clash with the heat. 

He’s shed his leather jacket for the first time all year. The thrifted t-shirt he wears below it leaves his pale, tattoed arms on display. You can see the tendons in them pulsing every time he strums lazily at his acoustic guitar. His wild curls, more untamed than usual in such humidity, are pulled out of his face with one of your hair ties. A few stubborn strands stick to his face still — now a darker shade of brown, going damp from the sweat beading on his jaw and forehead.

You watch him tilt his head back to shake his bangs from his eyes, then smile to yourself when the attempt proves fruitless. His hair’s grown much too long now — enough to be perpetually frustrating. Not that Eddie cares to acknowledge it, anyway.

“I think it’s time for a haircut, Eds,” you try to tease, though the words come out strangely heavy on your tongue. They sound lightyears away as they spill from your mouth, and the thought alone makes you dizzy. Dizzier.

Eddie’s face, glimmering and softly flushed, screws in a boyish pout. “Don’t say that. You know I hate that word.”

“Look at your bangs, Eds! They’re way too long—”

The mattress squeaks softly under your weight when you go to reach for him. You’re barely able to sit upright without your head spinning. It’s like you blink once, and suddenly you’re underwater — vision blurry, ears ringing, the world swimming with various indistinct shapes. 

You squeeze your eyes shut and sit back again.

It takes Eddie a moment too long to notice.

“No, they’re not— See?” He pauses his strumming to muss at his curls. His ringed fingers tousle his already frizzy bangs to get them out of his eyes. He smiles all cheeky at you then, as he glances at you over his shoulder. His smile ebbs at the twisted look on your face. “Hey… You okay?”

“Yeah,” you answer immediately, though the pinched look to your features never wavers. 

“Okay. Yeah,” Eddie nods. “But… Are you?”

You squeeze your eyes shut until it hurts — until blue and white stars start to twinkle in the nothingness. But even in the quote-unquote nothingness, you can still feel the world spinning around you. It’s like you’re on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean, swaying in time with the rocky tides even though you’re sitting still. The notion makes your swimmy head spin. 

“Yeah,” you repeat, pitched higher this time as you dig your palms into your eye sockets. A feeble attempt to ease the dizziness. “I just— I just got a little dizzy all of a sudden. But I’m fine.”

Eddie starts reeling immediately. “Shit. Are you… Are you gonna pass out?” he stammers and rises suddenly from the bed. He leaves his guitar at his feet as he rushes to you. The mattress bounces under you and makes you feel sicker. His panicking makes you feel sicker, too.

“I don’t think so,” you answer, voice quiet and faraway.

“You don’t think so?” Eddie echoes as he looms at your side. 

You can’t see him, but you know he’s there. You can feel his shadow and the heat radiating from his lanky form. His ringed hands sit awkwardly out in front of him, aching to comfort you but frightened of making it worse. 

“Do you— Do you want me to do something? Do you need me to get you anything? Like… Like a glass of water or—”

“Eds. I’m fine,” you interject a bit too firmly for your poorly state. “It’ll pass, just… Just sit down.”

“I can’t,” he squirms. “You’re makin’ me nervous, babe.”

“Standing on top of me isn’t helping, Eds.”

The boy sits gingerly at your side, then. He doesn’t move a muscle as he waits for you to tell him what to do. Obedient but hardly patient. He tries not to fidget too much, lest he add to your unease, but he buzzes with worry in the meantime. He watches with his heart in his throat as you finally take your hands from your face.

His wide, chocolate eyes dart over your pallid features. “You okay?” he whispers.

“Mhm,” you hum in the affirmative, though you haven’t yet tried to open your eyes. 

The mattress feels less like a wobbling water bed now, but you’re still scared of what the world will look like — if everything will be slightly askew or flipped upside down entirely.

“Can you try to look at me?” the boy presses gently.

You peek one eye open and turn your chin to look at him. The subtle movement ends up being an obvious mistake. “Fuck,” you curse in a quiet murmur, shutting your eyes when the world goes staticky again.

“Don’t move so fast, babe. You’ll pass out,” Eddie chuckles despite the panicked ache in his chest. 

He moves slowly so as not to jostle you too much — lifting his arm to rest over your shoulder and pulling you very carefully to his chest. His free hand covers your eyes and rests over your temple. He squishes his cheek against your hair.

The humidity doesn’t often allow for such contact, but the heat isn’t nearly as strong as Eddie Munson’s love for you. He holds you close in spite of the slightly agonizing way your skin sticks together, fully content to melt with you completely.

“‘M not gonna pass out,” you murmur, words sitting heavy in your mouth.

“Yeah,” Eddie scoffs. “‘Cause slurring your words like you’re drunk all of a sudden is real convincing, sweetheart.”

“M fine,” you insist anyway.

“Yeah?”

“Well, the world’s not spinning anymore, at least.”

“Good,” Eddie hums, smacking a chaste kiss to your head. “Lay down for me, alright? I wanna get you some water. And maybe something salty. That shit’s supposed to help, isn’t it?”

You whine in protest when he starts to move. Less because of how faint you are, and more because of how little you want him to leave. 

“No. Later. Don’t move,” you grouse.

“I gotta make sure you’re alright, babe,” the boy laughs through the warmth blooming in his chest, a sparkling sort of pride perhaps, as you curl further into his side.

“I’m fine right now,” you mumble tiredly. “But if you stop holdin’ me like this, I won’t be.”

“Ah, right…” Eddie sighs in defeat. “Guess I’m stuck here then, huh?”

You nod slowly, cheek rubbing along the cotton fabric of his shirt. “Mhm.”

He smiles softly to himself, wider than he usually allows, ‘cause there’s nothing metal about being a lovesick puppy. But, in truth, he’s happy to be stuck here with you — even with your swimmy head and humid air and clicking desk fan that’s hardly working now. The circumstances a mildly inconvenient, sure, but he’d take a billion inconvenient circumstances if it meant getting to be with you.

Lovesick puppy, indeed.

[maiiuelle]

jj and his inexperienced gf who he's been friends with his whole life she's very insecure with herself and her inexperience especially because jj was practically a manwhore with his hookups at keggars and bonfires but jj is so reassuring and he's so soft and sweet and he helps her try some stuff

this is sooooo pogue!reader :)

she’s been with the pogues since day one, so she’s no stranger to jj’s… habits. actually, she makes a point to make fun of him for it, adopting the term manwhore to chastise him. it’s no use though, he’s happy to dawn the title. he’s not the type to refute a rumor that’s true — so really, you’re only hurting yourself.

the truth is, you’re frustrated. how does he manage to hook up with a new girl every weekend? you simplify it to just having a natural distaste for hook-up culture, putting yourself above it as to not feel excluded. it’s not untrue — after all, it isn’t only jj that bugs you. it’s just that when he does it, it bothers you the most.

you can’t blame the droves of tourist girls flocking to him every summer, or the few other pogue girls on the island he has on call. and you know jj, he’s not going to turn down a pretty girl looking his way. you just can’t understand why his eyes had never fallen onto you, and so, you’re bitter.

now, things have changed. jj manned up enough to make things official with you, and the bitterness you’d once felt caramelized to a sweet obsession. the two of you are inseparable, as if you hadn’t spent every day together before. the insecurity you harbor from your friendship transforms too.

among many things, jj is an airhead. sinking under his watchful gaze is foreign to you, being the one that usually corrects the blonde. you never considered how your inexperience puts you at a disadvantage now that you’re with him, it warms your cheeks in utter embarrassment.

“what’s wrong?” jj quips, dipping his head down onto your shoulder, kissing your neck. his meaty shoulders are bare and radiating warmth onto your skin. he’s comfortable, fluid in his movements like he’s done it a million times. it twists your tummy in a weird way, how many girls has he done this to?

“nothing.” you answer in a warbled whisper, leaning back against the wall of the chateau’s spare bedroom, once big john’s. he breathes a laugh, strong enough to blow down the front of the t-shirt you’re wearing, the one you stole right off his back. he knows that’s not true.

“don’t be nervous, it’s just me.” he hovers over you, forcing your chin up at him with his knuckles. “got nothin’ to worry about, ‘s just me.” he repeats.

his sweet nothings cemented him as your first everything, the perfect partner to guide you through it all <3

[phyrestartr]

Their Burning Bodies Keep Us Warm (1/2) | Sukuna x M!Reader

W/C: 3.4k #NSFW, top!Sukuna, bottom!Reader, ABO dynamics, cannibalism, mentions of sex trafficking, mentions of cults, questionable relationship, suggested Stockholm syndrome, post-apocalypse, enemies to friends to lovers, angst, drama, gore, typical zombie shite, not rlly edited kekw SORRY

tags: @flowersatwork @tr4nniez @kamote-kuneho @prettorett @better-imagination-9

You ran. Even when your lungs tore apart, your legs burned to ash, your mind split and ruptured, you ran. 

The destination was simple: anywhere. Anywhere away from the hell hole you'd been swept up into–a camp full of soldiers getting hopeful little bugs stuck in a honeypot with promises of safety and a life well-lived despite the end of the world. A colony. A chance to stop hoping to simply survive. 

But that wasn't what happened. You and so many others were victims of a breeding ring–a puppy mill, so to speak. One where those able to bear young were forced to. One where a hivemind fooled the naive into thinking this was all for the ultimate goal of repopulation, for a chance to reclaim the world should the infected finally fall.

Yet humans, as smart and powerful as the hive claimed, had already lost once, and now twice as they lit their humanity ablaze for the greater evil of satisfying twisted desires under the guise of necessity. You couldn't take it anymore. 

So, you ran. 

Then, you saw a light. Just faintly. It whispered promises of warmth in the cold deadness of Winter's night; you couldn't help but be drawn to it like a moth to a flame. 

But that meant someone was inside, too, which could be a blessing or a curse–if they found you, sidling up to the house, listening for signs of life or unlife, they could turn you in to the men chasing you; on the other hand, you might find a friend. A companion. A safe person to sleep by at night. To eat with. To talk to. That'd be nice. 

Your daydreams shattered when the voices of those soldiers echoed in the empty streets of the town you'd found yourself in. You peeked from your perch by the front door of the house, and ducked out of view when you saw two bobbing lights flicking and scanning over the snow. 

Shit, shit, shit. You swallowed thickly, trying to thick through the frost biting you and the snow melting on your bare arms. What were the odds they'd be able to follow your scent? All the way down to the spot where you hid beneath the front steps? It was hard to track another when it was raining, so snow had to be the same, right? So why were they coming closer and closer, why were their voices becoming hushed and their words rushed, why were they–

The door above you slammed open with the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. You covered your mouth with a shaky hand, hoping the boom coupled with your stalker's shocked, angry barking (just one voice?) stifled whatever pathetic squawk you garbled out. 

It must've. Because the person--the man--standing on the weather-worn deck above you laughed, and stepped down the creaky stairs with heavy, lazy steps before following that soldier's voice. 

Go, go, go. You forced yourself to move, pushing yourself up the steps under the cover of barked threats and the outbreak of a fight. You thought men like that stuck together. That they'd help each other out with delivering omegas back to one another. That they'd invite him to join their diabolic cult–especially when the thick scent of alpha filled your lungs.

You swallowed thickly, your inner omega going wild with curiosity and wonder and a need to curl up in the musk and laze in it all day, but your petrified self picked up the slack and kept you in motion, kept you scrambling for a place to hide. Staying the night was the plan–you wouldn't be able to survive outside, not like this. Not with a t-shirt, worn joggers and runners being your only defense against the cold. 

What happens in the morning? He'd no doubt catch your scent. He'd no doubt realize he had an unwelcome guest. What would he do with you? What would he do to you? 

“I don't care,” You breathed as you jammed yourself into the darkness of a bedroom closet and burrowed into whatever lay on the floor. “I don't care.”

And that was true; being a slave to one was better than being a slave to many. 

–

His eyes shone red.

You weren't sure if you woke in the night to find the demon. You didn't know if your dreamscape simply enjoyed tormenting you. But the burns left by that searing, glowing gaze were real. 

He stood there. Features melded with shadow. Body engulfing the snowy light of night. Staring down at you. Quiet. Still. Inhuman. 

Only your shaky breathing filled the thick, damp void of silence his presence brought. What were you supposed to do? What were you supposed to–

He closed the closet doors, and his lumbering footsteps sauntered away.

–

When morning came, the stranger was not so willing to leave you alone. 

You thought you were being quite crafty, quite sneaky with how you planned on escaping; you waited for sounds of his to stop in a far-off room, then you donned yourself in whatever gear and warm clothes you could find in the closet, and then you carefully, so so so carefully, opened the closet doors and–

“Leaving already, little omega?” A deep, playful voice taunted from the doorway of the room, just out of sight; if you pushed the doors all the way open, you'd see the man standing in the doorway to the left. 

But your hands fumbled alongside your heart. Your voice died in your throat. 

You were caught.

A large hand gripped the side of the closet door and pulled it open. You stumbled backwards, heart shattering from its frosted paralysis to jump into overdrive. 

Because the man, the alpha standing before you, was unlike anything you'd seen before. 

He was tall. His shoulders stretched wide and, judging from the strain of his shirt, his build was formidable and downright predatory. Muscle shifted and adjusted under an expanse of gilded skin everytime the beast moved, changing from looming over you to leaning against the doorframe. Maybe in an attempt to make himself smaller. More likely because of his cocky laziness. 

The smirk plastered on his face bore the same arrogance, too. As did the care in brushing back his hair and actually looking presentable in the guts of a fucking apocalypse. But maybe he relished in the anarchy. You could only assume so much from tattoos marking his skin and the mirth gleaming in hellborne eyes. 

“Go on,” the man drawled, hooking a thumb into his belt, bringing your attention to the thick knife strapped to his side, “Let's hear your pretty voice.” 

“I wasn't gonna stay,” you choked out, and the demon in front of you smiled wider. “I just–I saw your light, and–” 

“And you walked on in without even knocking.” He sighed and shook his head. “Kids these days.” 

“M'not a fucking kid,” You bit out, surprising the both of you with your venom. You thought you'd lost it long ago, but maybe not. 

The man laughed, showing off his brutal, jagged canines. You swore you saw red staining them. 

“You've got some bite, huh? Like that in a bitch.” He stepped closer, and you tried to meld into the wall of clothes behind you, but failed to escape the calloused hand that grabbed you by the jaw and forced your head up, down and around as he inspected you like a piece of meat.

You tried to pull away, tried to turn your head to break free from his grasp. “Don't fucking touch me–”

“Hah. This how you tried to get those alphas off of you?” He taunted, grinning at your sudden wide-eyed stare. “No wonder they used you up like a–” 

You headbutted him and kneed him in the dick before pushing past him and running. Your head pounded thanks to your stupid opener, but at least it worked. Now, you just had to get out of the damn house and–

“OMEGA.” 

–and escape from the devil chasing you. 

His growling voice ripped through your skull like a chainsaw revving to life as you threw yourself down the stairs and out the front door. You slipped and slid, nearly falling and breaking your fucking neck on the porch, but you caught yourself and made a break for the street as the thundering of footsteps clamoured after you. 

Churned snow painted in sour shades of rusted red greeted you. You could almost envision the struggle, the stabbing, the warmth bleeding from their bodies as they died for their selfish desires. It chilled you, gave you pause–and that's where you fucked up. 

The horizon reeled and spun when a heavy body crashed into you and pinned you to the ground. You gasped, straining to catch the breath that'd been punched from your lungs, failing to stop the burning in your chest as your face froze against the pavement. 

“Wily little cunt, huh?” The stranger breathed, rage and amusement fighting through his words. “You bring that much fight to the sack, omega? Hey?” 

You tried to rip free or push him off or something as he taunted you, but you couldn't. You were trapped. Again. Again.

“Fuck you,” you spat. “I'd rather fucking die than–”

You froze. The slow, stuttering shamble of footsteps pricked your ears before low, ungodly moaning and wheezing rattled through the streets. The noise was quiet, but so loud to a frightened deer. 

“Lookit that,” your captor whispered, leaning down to your ear, “Guess God heard your prayer.”

Your heart hammered. “Get off, get off.” Your voice quaked and broke as you thrashed beneath him. “Please.” 

“Thought you said you'd rather die.” His knee ground into your back and you bit back a yelp. 

“Please.” The diabolic gasping came closer, became more frantic as the thing saw you. You couldn't see it, but they always got so fucking excited and loud when they saw fresh, living meat. You knew it was coming. 

“Ah-ah, can't let you go. Your buddy won't be able to catch up and end things for ya.” The stranger cackled something hideous and unnerving. “That'd be a right fucking shame.” 

“Let me up,” You begged.

“Not yet.”

It got closer.

“Please!” 

“No.” 

Just a metre away, now.

“I'll stay.” 

The scent of alphan approval washed over you.

“Good pet.”

You were pulled up and off the snowy ground with ease as soon as you submitted. You even vaguely saw the man kick the undead back with ease, sending it toppling over into the snow and stuck on its back like a helpless turtle. Its motor functions were shot in this weather. It probably wouldn't be getting up for a while. 

You wondered if you were going to suffer the same fate: stuck on your back, unable to move, at the mercy of a sick freak you accidentally met while running away from other lunatics. You were doomed. But at least you were alive. At least you'd be warm.

The pink-haired menace locked up the door before throwing you down onto the couch with little grace. You would have been more mad if the purring roil of the fireplace didn't breathe warm gusts of comfort over you. And, well, you weren't being dragged into a bedroom and tied down. Not yet, at least. 

The make matters worse, the man didn't really say much. Just closed the blinds and ensured the entrances and windows were secured while you sat still and quiet, patient lest you suffer a worse fate. 

He glanced at you over his shoulder before returning to the task at hand. “If I wanted to kill your sorry ass, I woulda done it last night,” he said into the quiet of the room. 

You remembered those eyes staring down at you. How inhuman and evil they were. How much fear they bred in you. And now, you had to accept how real that was. 

He sat down on the coffee table in front of you and leaned towards you, resting his elbows on his knees, holding your gaze with his own. 

“Here's what's gonna happen,” he said, low and dangerous. “I'm gonna let you stay. Real nice of me, yeah? I'll give you food, water. Keep you warm, keep you safe from all the bullshit going on outside. Sounds good, doesn't it?” 

You looked over his face, brows furrowed, heart pounding so loud you almost couldn't hear him. But you nodded for fear of what he'd do otherwise. 

He smiled, satisfied. “Good. And in return,” he started, letting a hand slip up to your knee, “You'll make like a good little whore and keep my bed warm. Fair deal, don't you think?” 

You nodded. It wasn’t like you had a choice, anyway.

–

Sex with the man–Sukuna, as you’d come to learn–wasn’t the worst thing imaginable; for one, he had some level of patience and tact when it came to stretching and lubing you up for your occasional “duties,” which put him in your “good book” right away (Christ, your standards had fallen so low). 

Secondly, he didn’t make you participate. He’d command you in the same way each time (“face down, ass up, don't bite”), and he'd have his way with you. He never made you kiss him. Never demanded you speak. Never bullied you. He seemed like he just wanted to stuff his cock somewhere warm and forget about the world for a bit.

And you didn't really mind it. Sometimes. you almost looked forward to it. Sometimes, you let little noises escape when he railed you into the bed with reckless abandon. Sometimes, you wanted his hands on you just a little longer. 

Because when he wasn't fucking you, he might disappear out of the blue and leave you all alone, only to return a week later with supplies and clothes, unperishable goods and other random odds and ends he found along the way. Once, he even found a retro game store and scooped up an endless supply of gameboy advance and colour games and consoles. Another time, he carried home a bag full of weather-worn books. 

What'll it be today? You wondered when you caught sight of the man wandering back up the steps. He cursed under his breath as he messed with the lock for an eternity, and you took the opportunity to scurry away from the living room to put some distance between the two of you just in case; at this point, you didn't expect him to hurt you, but wild animals were unpredictable, even when seemingly domesticated.

“Fuckin' shit-ass door,” Sukuna grumbled as he nudged it open before kicking it closed and locking up. “Need to fix that shit.” 

You peered down at him from your perch halfway up the stairs and watched him saunter around, heavy boots clunking on the floors you just washed as he looked around. You had to wonder who the hell had taught him shoes inside was okay. 

“Where the fuck is that little bitch,” he mumbled, walking out of your line of sight. He traipsed through the bottom floor thoroughly before walking past the stairs again, pausing, rewinding, and meeting your patient statre. “The fuck are you doing?”

I don't want you to bite me; I don't know if you'll randomly kill me if you're in a bad mood; I don't trust you like that, all ran through your head, but none felt like a good option to admit to. So, you shrugged.

Sukuna sighed, loud and laced with an aggravated growl. “Downstairs. Now. Need you to do something.” 

Your brows furrowed slightly. Normally, you weren't asked to do much. The sudden command had your skin itching. 

“Now.” 

“Coming.” You tried to control the quivering of your legs on your descent to him, and just prayed he didn't notice. 

He stared down at you with narrowed eyes and a bit of a sneer before he leaned over, sniffing for your scent, circling around you a few times, and finally rubbing his wrist against your neck to half-heartedly re-mark you. 

You cleared your throat. “Is that it?” 

Sukuna scoffed and turned away, grabbing the medical bag from the kitchen cabinet and dumping it on the counter. “You know how to sew, yeah?” 

“Well, yeah. I can sew.” You approached warily as he gestured you closer. 

“Hah. Good to know you're not completely fucking useless.” He sat down heavily onto a bar stool and shrugged off his jacket and shirt before turning his back to you; a long, jagged gash marred his skin with trails of dark, gooey ichor and scarlett smears. Whatever had happened was serious.

“Holy shit,” you breathed, scrambling to look through the medical bag to find something, anything, that seemed like it'd help. You found some essentials: gauze, tape, bandages, antibiotic cream, disinfectant wipes. But you'd definitely need more than a few dinky wipes to deal with his back.

You felt his eyes on you as you puttered around the kitchen, grabbing this and that and some other things before returning to his side with salt, bottled water, and booze in-hand. 

Sukuna quirked a brow. “The fuck is all that for?” 

You jumped a bit when his voice interrupted your whirling thoughts. “I–gonna, um, try to make some kinda…saline. To clean it.” You cleared your throat again and set the mostly-empty bottle of sake by him. “That's for…y'know.”

“Loud and clear,” Sukuna sighed, dreading what was to come, and took a long, long drink from the bottle.

You pursed your lips and nodded to yourself before starting to mix the salt and water together in the bottle. You weren't sure what the ratio should be, but you figured there wasn't necessarily a limit, not when you were lacking isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. You'd be sure to mention it to him next time he went out. 

“So. This'll…suck,” you warned, voice nervous and weak. 

Sukuna sighed again. Took a swig again. Then ripped his belt from his waist, folded it a few times, and bit down. 

He gave you an unenthused thumbs-up, and you found the nerve to jab a hole in the plastic bottle cap before spraying your makeshift saline solution against the wound. 

You nearly shit yourself as Sukuna growled with the force of a jet turbine. Faintly, you heard the creaking groan of leather crackle from his mouth as his teeth sank in deep. His canines probably already pierced through the material. 

“I know,” you whispered, actually feeling badly for the animal keeping you prisoner. “I know.”

You took your time cleaning the wound out, being sure to remove any sort of gravel or shrapnel embedded into his flesh. Luckily, the gash looked worse than it actually ended up being. It bled a lot, but it didn't cut all the way through to his ribs or beyond. Talk about lucky. 

When a majority of his trembling and snarling ebbed, you hazarded the question: “So…how’d this happen?” 

Sukuna groaned, and you almost smiled. “Fell off a fucking roof. Hit a sign on the way down.” 

You cringed at the thought. “Well. It's…not that bad.” You drenched the wound with another round of salt water before patting it dry.

“Yeah? Then no stitches,” he half-declared, half-asked. 

You gave his back a pitying look before reaching for the needle. Sukuna scoffed and muttered colourful obscenities when he saw your fingers snatch up the tool before disappearing behind him again. 

“Fuck me.”

“Sorry,” you offered softly, trying not to laugh. 

You saw his knee bounce in trepidation as you wiped his skin and the needle down with those cute little towelettes. You kinda felt bad for him. Healthcare in the apocalypse was a bit lacklustre.

As carefully as you could, you pushed the needle through his skin, and tried not to gag at the obscene feeling. The sound of his fist hitting the countertop helped ground you, though, and helped keep you on task stitch, after stitch, after stitch, after–

You set aside the tools and cleaned off your trembling, crimson-stained hands as best as you could before applying whatever ointment you could under gauze, and finally bandaging his torso up. Sukuna's eyes followed you, but you couldn't bear to look at him, quietly afraid of what he might do if your unsteady gaze met his; but that wasn't acceptable, judging by how he grabbed your arm and stopped you from turning away to clean up the mess. 

You looked at him, then, eyes laser-focused. Every shift pumped your veins with ice. Every flick of his attention sent electricity down your spine. Every silent word his lips failed to commit to filled you with dread. 

“Thanks,” he said. And he let go. 

[roostersbby69]

0.2 Fresh Starts

Bradley Bradshaw x reader

Summary: After leaving your abusive ex husband with your two kids. Tackling motherhood by yourself is a challenge. Getting to know a certain neighbor might lift some of the weight off of your shoulders.

Warnings: Swearing, alcohol, little bit of smut

Masterlist |

The next day, Bradley was taking his morning jog like he did every morning. The Navy kept him in shape and that led to making him a morning person. Which is probably how he got his call sign ‘Rooster’. He glanced at your house to see you in a robe checking the mail. He smirked and decided to bug you a little bit with his bright morning smile. That’s what neighbors are for, right?

“Morning, neighbor!” He waved as he slowed his pace at your driveway.

You eyed him carefully as you flipped through the mail, “How can you be running at 7 in the morning after you drank and partied all night long?” He noticed you never looked up at him while you said this, which was amusing as it seemed you were asking yourself.

“My job keeps me in shape.” He shrugged. “What have you got going on today?” He tried to start a conversation as he took in your tired state. He seemed like a morning person. As a mom, you were never a morning person.

“The usual, trying to find a handyman to fix my shower head and someone to build some furniture.” He watched as you turned to travel down your driveway back to your house.

“Hey, I'm off work today if you want me to help out.” He shrugged and wiped the sweat from his forehead. You now looked up at him and noticed he wasn’t wearing a shirt. His rock hard abs glistened with sweat as he took deep breaths. You looked up to his face and shook your head, “No thanks, I'll find someone.”

“Come on, I feel bad for last night. And it’ll be free other than hiring a handyman. I’m good with my hands.” He winked.

You scoffed and bit back a laugh as he stared you down waiting for an answer. “Fine, but only once.”

“Great, I'll go get changed and be over to start the job.” He nodded and jogged in place to get ready to return back to his own home.

“I have to get my kids to school, be here around 9.” You yawned and turned to go inside.

He nodded and threw a thumbs up at you before making his way home.

This was probably a bad idea.

-

You watched his biceps strain against his white t-shirt that he showed up in. His tan skin looked great against it you have to admit. Standing in the bathroom doorway, you watched as he grunted against the stubborn shower head.

“Tough one.” He grunted again and stepped back to shake his head.

“Yeah, I couldn’t get it myself.” You nodded and mocked his stance with crossed arms.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” He said, determined to get it done for you. After all, he did offer to help. And what kind of neighbor would he be if he couldn’t help out?

You bit back a smile and watched as he placed his hands on the shower head once more and twisted hard. A loud cracking noise was heard and it finally popped off sending Bradley flying backwards into you. He twisted around and caught your head before it hit the tile floor. You gasped as his face was inches away from yours and he smirked slowly. “Got it.” He held the rusted up piece of metal in front of your face.

You rolled your eyes and pushed on his broad shoulders to get him off of you. “Thanks.”

When you finally stood up he threw the metal in the trash can and turned to you. “What’s next, boss?” He smiled like a school boy.

You shook your head with crossed arms and was almost in awe of his helpfulness. You were kind of rude to him the other night and here he was, helping you.

“You want a beer or something?” You asked as you turned out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen.

“Beer would be great.” He smiled as he watched you bend into the fridge. His eyes scouted over your ass that strained against your jean shorts.

He stood straight as you turned to him with a brown bottle. “Thanks.” He searched around for a bottle opener, “You got something to open this with?” He chuckled.

“Oh, yeah.” You took it from him and placed it in between your teeth and cracked it open with ease.

He stood, amazed at what you had done before him. No girl had ever done that, not even a party trick could come close to how turned on that made him. He took the bottle in his hands and watched as you poured yourself a glass of wine.

You leaned against the counter and brought the glass to your lips. Taking a long sip, he watched you relax.

He also took a swig of his bottle before taking a look around the empty room. His head popped up when he heard you speak.

“This house is a wreck.” You never looked towards him as you stared at the boxes filled with items that were supposed to be put up by now.

He shrugged, “When did you move in?”

“Just a week ago. After I left my ex husband I took the kids and brought them here. We didn’t live too far away, just a couple of minutes. But away was enough.” You explained before taking another sip of the wine.

He nodded as he let you talk, “Nice place. It was owned by an older couple. They moved upstate for retirement.”

You smiled and nodded. The place really was lovely. A master bedroom with one smaller room and two bathrooms. One bathroom across the boys room and a bigger one connected to yours. A back patio and a small car shed with a yard for the boys to enjoy. You probably wouldn’t stay here long, just for a little bit to get started. It was the fastest and cheapest place to find since you were so eager to move out.

“I need to unpack.” You muttered as you closed your eyes in exhaustion.

Bradley watched as you straightened up from the counter and walked over towards the boxes.

“Is this all of your things?” He asked as he noticed the lack of furniture and the amount of boxes that stacked against walls.

“Not all of it, half of the things are in a moving truck. The others I'll have to go get from my old place.” You really didn’t want to go alone. But, you didn’t have any other option.

He nodded and walked towards the back of the house past the boys’ room. He saw a mattress on the floor and two l bed frame boxes leaned against the wall. A basket of toys was in the middle of the floor and a couple of books were stacked in the corner.

You hummed as you put away cutlery and plates. Completely forgetting Bradley was still in your house, you remembered after an hour or so and walked back towards the bedrooms. You passed by the bathroom and saw the new shower head was attached and the towel hangers were screwed on correctly. Walking further back, you stood in awe as each of the boys’ bed frames were completed and made with stuffed toys on them. Charlie’s was a little bigger and Westons was a toddler bed. The dresser was made and the box of clothes on top of them.

Bradley walked out of their closet and smiled when he saw you, “Hey, I was just fixing this shelf in here.” He nodded back to the closet. You nodded with an open jaw and admired his work.

“You didn’t have to do all of this.” You waved your hands around.

“Oh please, I’ve got nothing better to do. Besides, I like doing this kind of stuff.”

“What? Seducing girls with your muscle shirt and being the knight in shining armor?” You amused yourself and crossed your arms.

“No, I'm serious. I like building things and fixing problems.” He nodded and put the screwdriver on the desk by the wall. He smirked by raising a brow and turning to you, “But are you seduced?”

Your cheeks tinted as you rolled your eyes, “No.” Walking off to get away from his gaze, you went back to unpacking boxes.

He smiled as you walked away and followed you into the kitchen once again. You crouched down and opened the box. His gaze was fixed on you as you dug through the tea towels and glass cups.

You slowly stood up and walked to the cabinet to put away a couple of cups. Once finished, you turned around and saw him leaning against the fridge with a sweaty bottle of beer in his hand. His muscles in his biceps contracted as he brought the bottle up to his lips and took a long swig. His mustache hugged the top of the bottle and once he was done he licked his lips clean of the alcohol.

This was such a bad idea. You were supposed to be focusing on yourself and your kids' well being. But then again, your hormones are a part of yourself. He smirked as he caught you watching his every move. Bradley set his bottle down on the top of the fridge, which wasn’t a struggle at all for him to reach, and slowly walked over towards you.

You never moved from your spot as he stood not even an inch from your body. Feeling his breath fan your cheek, he took his finger and swiped a piece of hair behind your ear. His lips grazed your cheek and you tried to focus on anything else than the hot man that practically pushed you into the counter.

“What’s on your mind?” He teased as his lips moved to your ear.

You didn’t even know this man’s name. “What’s your name?” You blurted out pushing your head back to look into his eyes.

He smiled and chuckled, “Bradley.”

“Bradley.” You repeated under your breath to test it out on your tongue.

He nodded once you repeated it and smirked to himself, “Sounds good when you say it.”

Deciding to stir the pot, he brought his lips down to your jaw and barely grazed it just to tease you. He wanted to build the fire inside of you and figure out what pleased you.

“I can’t do this.” You shook your head, but your neck tilted to the side to give him better access and more space to litter his kisses on.

“Why’s that?” His movements never stopped as he traveled up your jaw and close to your ear lobe.

“Because, I’ve got kids and I just got a divorce.” You explained, but you couldn’t seem to hear yourself. You were so fixated on his hands and how they gripped your hips tightly and his lips how they ghosted your jaw slightly.

You had to fight back with every fiber of your being to not make a single noise. Not a whimper or moan. Trying your very hardest but the sexy man in front of you was making it literally impossible.

“I can’t be seen having sex with another man.” You pushed on his hard chest to make him back away from you.

“Then let’s go to the back.” He suggested and shrugged his shoulders.

“Bradley,” You started to say, but were lifted in his arms and were toted away from the kitchen. You were surprised at this. Never have you been carried away like this. It was every girl’s dream to be carried to bed by a muscled up man with a pornstar mustache. And you were living it right now.

“Bradley, we shouldn’t do this.” You gasped as his teeth nipped at your neck then kissed the spot soothingly.

“Come on, baby, let me make it up to you from last night.” He set you down gently on the carpeted floor, “I feel so bad.” He pouted and rubbed your hips. You knew what he was doing. He was trying to convince you and seduce you to let him ‘make it up to you’.

He pushed you back onto the bed and ground his pelvis into your heat once he spread your legs far apart.

It has been almost two years since you’ve had proper sex. After having your youngest, you and your ex husband stopped doing anything physical after he started drinking. You missed this exhilarating feeling between a man. What’s the harm?

You grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him into your lips. The plush of his lips hit yours and immediately started to devour you. Your jaws opened further apart so you could fight against each other’s tongues. He was a good kisser. A great kaiser even. His kisses made you excited and hungry for more. His hands roamed up to your boobs through your tank top and kneaded at the flesh. He could feel your bra constricting him from getting to where he really wanted to be.

After your encounter last night, he thought about you until he ran into you in your driveway. Those arms and sweaty abs that were glistening in the sun were enough to make you almost drop to your knees and lick up every drop off of him.

He pushed you further into the mattress and shoved his lips further into yours. Your teeth clashed together and you didn’t mind one bit if he chipped it.

Your arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer to you. You could feel his erection through the jeans he was wearing. Which means he must be big. Your breath shuddered as he moved his kisses down the front of your neck and to your collarbone.

You grabbed his face and brought it to your lips to kiss him with need. Your hands pushed at his shirt and rested your hands on his large pecs. He caught onto your little hint and tore his shirt off swiftly. He came back down and kissed you again with slick lips and wrapped his tongue around yours. His mouth tasted of beer and mixed with something else that made it much more delicious.

You spread your legs further and brought your hands down to press onto the tint in his pants. He groaned into your lips sending vibrations straight down to your clit. You moaned for the first time in front of him and felt him move to smirk against your neck.

“Jesus, Bradley.” You whined as he ground his hard dick into your clothed pussy. He pressed so hard into you it made you cry out. He dipped his fingers under your shorts and panties. Slowly dragging them down your smooth legs he felt the fat of your ass and laid you back onto the soft mattress. It was a little hard to get on your level since the mattress was laid on the floor. Bradley didn’t mind.

He spread your legs further and slipped the clothes off of your ankles and threw them across the room. One good look at your dripping heat was able to make a grown man cum in his pants. He dove into your pussy immediately and licked a thick stripe up your slit. Your fingers tangled in his hair as you cried out his name. He groaned against your clit and sent vibrations up your stomach. “Fuck, Bradley.” You gasped as the tip of his tongue prodded at your dripping hole.

He plunged one finger into you until he was knuckle deep and brought his thumb up to rub your clit fast.

“Shit!” You moaned and squeezed your eyes closed tightly. He held your legs far apart, making the feeling more extreme. “Say my name again.” He demanded as he stared up at you while fingering your pussy.

“Bradley.” You moaned and opened your jaw in pleasure. He smirked against your clit and curled his finger up into you. Over and over and over again he assaulted your g spot making your wetness spill out of you and into his fingers.

He moaned and kept drilling his finger into you trying to get every ounce of orgasm out of you.

“Fuck!” You moaned as he took his fingers out of you and took his tongue to lick your entire pussy in one stripe.

“Jesus, honey. Your’e soaked.” He laughed and saw your face heat up as you sat up and pulled your blanket over the middle of your legs from him. “I’m just teasing.”

“You really should go.” You scrambled for your shorts and underwear and pulled them onto your legs. He stood up and pouted, “What’s the rush?”

“My kids are probably on the way home and they can’t see you here.” You spoke as you hurried into the kitchen and saw the time. He followed you and nodded his head.

“Okay, same time tomorrow?” He teased as he slipped his shoes and shirt on beside the door.

You gave him a warning look as he smirked and winked at you.

“Thank you for the help.” You were very grateful for his help and it would've taken you much longer to finish without him.

“It was my pleasure. Call me when you need me.” He stuck a piece of paper on a cardboard box and walked out of the front door.

You walked over to glance at the paper and saw his number written down neatly.

Watching him walk back to his house you shook your head.

That was a bad idea.

—————————————————————

[thewintersoldierdisaster]

a/n: a little fic inspired by a convo @youunravelme and i had a couple of days ago! couldn’t stop thinking about this little idea and just had to write it ☺️ a little bit more lore in the squeaks’ verse added here and lots more to come! enjoy!!

tw: a little innuendo, domestic fluff

word count: 4.3k

summary: it’s talia’s first day of kindergarten and neither you nor mat is handling it particularly well

mat and t’s first day of kindergarten

You lean forward on the counter and smile at Talia, who’s looking at you skeptically. “How about we pick some snacks for your lunch tomorrow?” You ask chirpily.

“How about no?” Talia looks back at you with wide hazel eyes and a nervous tilt to her lips. Her fingers twist together and she kicks the heels of her feet against the legs of the stool she’s sitting on.

“You’re going to be hungry if we don’t pack any snacks,” you reply reasonably, unzipping the brand new Disney Princess lunchbox you’d picked up a few weeks ago at Target. The rush of back to school shopping, even if it wasn’t for you, was a high like nothing else. You’d gone slightly overboard on the supplies and in a burst of excitement, had bought yourself a new planner and half a dozen packs of various styles of pen. You can’t help but get excited about stationary.

“If I was home I wouldn’t be hungry and I could have snacks whenever I want,” Talia points out, tugging at the end of her dark braid. She twists her fingers in the hair below the tie and you reach over the counter to gently untangle her fingers.

You prop your chin on your palm and nod. “You could. But you’re not going to be home. It’s your first day of kindergarten and you’re going to have so many new experiences,” your tone is infused with excitement and you’re relieved to see that the nervousness in Talia’s expression fades a little. Her mouth twists to the side, eyebrows drawing together over her nose.

“Am I gonna see Tulsa?” She asks, hopeful.

“Tulsa’s in the next school, remember, baby?” You reply carefully, hating to burst her bubble. “She moved to a new school too.”

Talia’s lower lip quivers and she sounds impossibly sad when she says, “I thought me and Tulsa were gonna be in school together?”

“Not this year,” you reply sympathetically, but then perk up to continue, “we’re still getting first day of school ice cream with Tulsa and Gunnar and Aunt Holly and Uncle Bo. That’s exciting, right?”

Talia’s eyes light up at the promise of ice cream and you knew that would work. She’s her father’s daughter when it comes to her sweet tooth.

“And you and Daddy, right?” She asks, leaning up in her knees on the stool, little palms pressed flat against the countertop.

“And me and Daddy,” you confirm. “We’re even bringing you to school in the morning, before Daddy goes to work.”

“Okay,” Talia nods once, decisive, and her mood about starting kindergarten is all but gone. “Mommy, can I have fishies for a snack tomorrow?”

You move around the kitchen, gathering up the components for her lunch, “sure, love bug, you can have fishies.” The snack-sized packet of Goldfish get tossed into her lunchbox, along with a handful of raspberries, a peeled Cutie, exactly five pretzel twists, a Nutella and peanut butter sandwich cut into stars, and a small water bottle. Now that she’s into it, Talia’s definitely got opinions on what should be included with her lunch.

“No, you can’t take seven cheese sticks,” you sigh, pulling the bag out of her hands and replacing it in the fridge before shutting the door. “I’ll give you one.”

“But I want six!” She yelps, hanging from the fridge handle. “I want six!”

“Six what?” Mat’s voice echoes through the kitchen, the back door closing behind him.

“Daddy!” Talia squeals and makes a beeline for his knees, crashing into them with a muffled grunt from Mat. He holds the pizza box high over her head in one hand and rubs at her head with the other. “Mommy won’t let me have six cheese sticks.”

Mat grins at you over Talia’s head and you roll your eyes back, crossing your arms and leaning a hip against the counter. You wait to see how he’ll handle it.

He slides the pizza box onto the counter and hoists Talia up next to it, leaning his palms on the counter and kissing her cheeks until she giggles. “Mommy is always right, Talia Bee,” he says seriously. “Especially when it comes to knowing how many string cheeses you can eat.”

You smile to yourself, turning to the cabinets to get out plates and glasses for dinner. Mat keeps talking to Talia behind you. “Besides, the last time you ate three string cheeses you puked on my sneakers, what do you think six would do?”

“Uhhh,” Talia’s eyes go wide and she cradles Mat’s face in her little hands, “puke six times?”

You and Mat wrinkle your faces into matching expressions of disgust. “Yeah, we don’t want to do that, right?” Mat laughs, tickling Talia until she shrieks for him to stop.

Before Talia can knock into it, you slide the pizza box out of her reach, warmth filling your stomach at how adorable Mat and Talia are together. Every time you see them, with their dark heads bent together conspiring, your heart lurches with love. Having a family with Mat is all you’ve wanted since you’d seen him around his teammates’ kids.

“Daddy?” Talia pipes up a few minutes later, half-chewed pizza in her mouth.

“Swallow first, please,” you remind her, snagging the green peppers off of Mat’s slice. You have no idea when he even orders with green peppers when you’re the only one who likes them.

Talia chews and quickly swallows while Mat waits with a soft smile on his face. “Can I wear my helmet to school?” She props her chin on her fists and grins charmingly at you both. Her hockey helmet is covered in stickers and glitter, a project with Mat that you hadn’t been privy to before it happened. She’s really easy to spot on the ice during her skating lessons though.

Mat grins at your daughter, clearly delighted at the prospect of her walking into her classroom with the decorated helmet on, but he shakes his head a little. “I think your helmet is better left on the rink, TB. Didn’t you and Mommy pick out a dress?”

You casually slide a few carrot sticks on her plate, mentally fist pumping when she grabs one and absently starts chewing on it. “Yeah, baby,” you chime in, “I thought you liked the dress we picked? With the blue stripes and your fancy heels?”

Talia’s fancy heels are a regular old pair of sandals with a twisted knot over the toes and an ankle strap, but they also have a quarter of an inch thick sole by the heel and so, they’re “fancy heels.”

“Oh yeah,” Talia nods. “I forgot. Can I bring Sparky?”

“Sure you can,” you agree. “But he has to stay in your backpack, okay? We don’t want him getting lost.”

“And maybe,” she plucks her fingers at the crust of her pizza, “maybe I can take Daddy’s hat. And maybe my sparkle jacket?” Nerves creep into her voice and it wavers a bit, making your heart clench painfully. You just want to protect her from all the bad feelings.

Mat reaches out to tug at the end of her braid, “you can take my hat in your backpack too.” His lips twist up to the side a little, concerned about Talia’s nerves.

“And you can wear your sparkle jacket over your dress,” you promise. Mat’s Stanley Cup Champion hat and Talia’s customised playoff denim jacket had been staples in her wardrobe all summer and you’re not surprised that she wants to bring both with her to school as comfort items.

Talia beams and Mat slings his arm over the back of your chair, relaxing now that Talia’s happy again. “How about you finish that pizza and we get in a little park time?” He suggests, laugh echoing around the kitchen when Talia jumps up on her chair to start chanting about the park.

After clearing up dinner and wrapping the leftover pizza up, the three of you head out to the park, Talia zipping ahead of you on her little pink bike. Mat links his fingers with yours and you squeeze his hand gently.

“She’s getting so big,” he comments sadly, his lips turning down in a frown. You look up at his side profile, studying the way his eyes never leave Talia for a second. Your heart flips in your chest, a painful lurch when you think about how you should be holding another baby right now, how you want so badly to give Talia younger siblings. Mat looks down at you and squeezes your hand tightly, drawing you away from the negative thought spiral. His lips twitch, like he’s trying not to smile and you know he’s about to say something out of pocket to lift your mood. You wait and sure enough, he says, with a little twinkle in his eye, “maybe we should homeschool her?”

A laugh bubbles out of your chest, the absurdity of his question slash suggestion easing the knot in your chest.

“Mat, baby,” you giggle at him, “you have a high school education and I can’t do math. It took all of my brain power and patience to teach her how to read and write.”

“Okay, homeschooling is out,” he replies, leaning in to give you a quick peck before running off to the swings, where Talia is calling for him to push her. She still has her helmet on and it’s tipping just a little bit over her eyes. Mat’s behind her in an instant, sending the swing higher and higher into the air. You reach Talia’s bike and set it upright, sitting on the seat and watching your two favorite people in the whole world laugh together.

A warm early September breeze ruffles your hair and you wave when Talia shrieks for you to watch how high she’s going. You want to live in this moment forever and commit every detail to memory.

Mat spends the next forty-five minutes chasing Talia around the park, wearing her out enough that bath time is a breeze and she slips under her covers with little argument. You and Mat pile into her bed too and Talia curls up against your side, yawning widely. Mat reads Madeline, voice getting quieter and quieter as Talia nods off, until he’s stopped reading altogether and her mouth hangs open, face slack in sleep.

“Sleep tight, love bug,” you whisper, kissing the top of her head before easing out from under her arm. Mat helps, holding your waist and keeping you steady as you get to your feet. He plants his own kiss on Talia’s forehead and clicks off the bedside lamp and turns on the nightlight before following you out of the room.

A sort of bittersweet mood traps you and Mat while you get ready for bed later. You know she’s ready for school, ready to make new friends and learn, but it’s hard to know that your tiny best friend is going to be out of your sight for eight hours a day now.

“She’s going to kill it,” Mat says, opening his arms for you to cuddle close. You rest your cheek over his heart, arms wrapped around his waist.

“I know,” you sigh. Your legs tangle with Mat’s under the covers. “What am I going to do with my day now?”

“Bottomless brunches and window shopping at the Americana,” Mat teases, kissing the crown of your head.

You tuck yourself even closer to him, soaking up his body warmth. “Oh ha,” you drawl. “Very funny.”

“It’s why you married me,” Mat chirps and you know he’s grinning without even having to look at him.

“Mhm,” you hum. “Definitely not for your big….wallet.”

You giggle and Mat groans, training his fingers up and down your spine, making you shiver. “That was even worse than mine, Squeaks,” he mutters.

“Guess your terrible sense of humor is rubbing off on me,” you snark, kissing Mat’s chest and closing your eyes. He mutters something under his breath, but his heartbeat is steady in your ear and you’re asleep before you know it.

The next morning is harder than you expected, emotion clogging your throat as you get a special breakfast - Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes, bacon, and fruit cut into different shapes - ready for Talia while Mat helps her get dressed.

He’s surprisingly adept at doing her hair, a high ponytail braided and tied off. There’s a big white bow at the top of her ponytail and her smile is huge as she spins in the little blue and white striped sundress.

“I love this dress, Mommy,” she beams, wiggling excitedly while you tuck a napkin into her collar to keep her clean.

“You look like a princess,” you compliment her. “Daddy did a really good job with your hair.”

“Thank you,” Mat wiggles his eyebrows and sits down to his own plate of Mickey pancakes.

Talia looks at you with wide eyes and covers her mouth with both hands while she tries to whisper, “Daddy messed up soooo many times.”

Mat’s lips flatten into a straight line and he looks at Talia with sarcasm written plainly on his features. “Gee, thanks, TB. I thought we agreed not to tell Mommy that?”

Talia shrugs at him and returns to her breakfast, humming happily under her breath. You smile at Mat and lean over the counter to kiss him gently, darting your tongue out to lick up a drop of maple syrup on his lower lip. “I still think you’re pretty impressive,” you whisper against his lips.

Mat grins against your lips and Talia makes a fake gagging sound, “kissing’s gross!”

You pull back from Mat with a laugh and point your fork at your daughter. “You won’t always think that, now finish breakfast. You don’t want to be late for your first day, do you?”

Talia shovels another bite of pancake into her mouth, slightly less enthusiastic, and you kiss the top of her head before going into the front hall to find her backpack to make sure everything is packed up. It’s heavy, full of fresh supplies (including a 64-pack of Crayola crayons with Talia’s initials Sharpied onto each individual crayon, a fit of mania from Mat, because “no one is going to try and snake my baby’s crayons from her!”), the Disney Princess beach towel that’ll be used for nap time, and one of Mat’s old button downs that’ll be used for a smock during art class.

You zip the backpack and settle it back against the wall, swallowing the emotion clogging your throat. Seeing all of Talia’s gear packed up is making everything so much more real.

Mat’s hands on your hips startle you a little, and you jolt back against his chest. “Penny for your thoughts?” He mutters, kissing your cheek. His palms are warm on your sides, fingers splayed towards your belly button.

“Just thinking about how it seems like time is moving so fast,” you sigh.

Mat nods against your neck and mumbles into your skin, “can we get serious about trying for another again? I miss the baby years.”

Your heart beats in triple speed in your chest, anxiety flooding your veins, but you nod, whisper, “yes, definitely. I want another baby, Mat.”

The conversation is halted when Talia comes stampeding into the hallway, twirling around. “Mommy! Can I wear your lipstick?” She clasps her hands under her chin and pouts adorably. You should resist, tell her no and swipe on a little of the Pink Sugar Summer Fridays lip balm that she loves instead, but you find yourself nodding and pulling away from Mat to grab your purse off the hook.

“Sure, baby,” you squat in front of her, digging out the well-loved tube of Black Honey from the bottom of your purse. Talia puckers her lips out in a kiss and you swipe on a little bit of the sheer balm.

Twenty minutes later and running slightly behind schedule, after you make Talia pose for a few pictures with her Back to School board and she insists on Mat sitting on the step next to her for a picture, you’re all buckled into Mat’s car for the quick drive to the primary school. Talia’s swinging her feet in her booster seat, smiling happily now that she’s wearing the red cowboy boots Aunt Liana had brought back as a souvenir from her trip to Nashville over the summer instead of the sandals you initially wanted her to wear.

“Mommy,” Talia sing-songs, “I’m hot.”

“The air conditioning is on, T,” you sigh, rubbing at your temple. You know she’s probably hot because of the boots and the denim jacket she’d insisted on wearing. Her sandals are in your tote bag and all she has to do is ask for them, but a stubborn streak runs through your daughter, inherited directly from both you and Mat.

You can see the side of Mat’s lips tick up out of the corner of your eye, his fingers tapping along on the steering wheel as Justin Bieber plays on the radio - the old-school throwback station, which makes you feel ancient. He looks at Talia in the rear view mirror and says casually, “I bet you’d feel better if you let Mommy give you the sandals.”

Talia’s face crinkles up in disgust. “I don’t want the sandals. I wanna wear my Mashpill boots.”

A little giggle bubbles up in your chest, it’s getting rarer that Talia mispronounces a word, so you’re living for the Nashville/Mashpill mistake.

“The sandals won’t be as hot,” Mat says, and then, laughing, adds, “plus your feet won’t stink!”

“My feet don’t stink!” Talia gasps, outraged. She shoots back, shouting, “your feet stink!”

You laugh and Mat mock-glares at you. You give him an innocent smile, teasing, “keep your eyes on the road, dear.”

Mat scoffs at you, rolling his eyes even as a full smile graces his lips. Talia’s still chanting in the back about stinky feet, at the right age for the silly humor. Mat reaches out and rests his hand on your thigh, letting his fingertips drift up under the hem of the linen dress you’re wearing. The pads of his fingers dance lightly over the sensitive skin of your inner thigh and you shiver a little, goosebumps rising on your arms. Mat’s smile turns smug and he taps the volume button on the steering wheel with his other hand, singing along loudly to the Billy Joel song now playing. Talia’s little voice chimes in from the back seat with her made up lyrics, and by the second verse, you’ve joined in for the three-part harmony.

Mat pulls the car up to the curb outside of the school, parking behind a line of SUVs before turning the car off and pocketing his keys.

“Ready, T?” You turn around in your seat, smiling widely at her.

She sighs and kicks her feet up at you. “Mommy, can I have my sandals?”

Your smile softens and you nod, reaching behind you for the tote resting at your feet. “Sure can, baby. I think you’ll be more comfortable this way,” you reply, getting out of the front seat so you can open Talia’s door and change out her shoes before she hops out of her booster seat. Mat’s already out on the sidewalk, holding her little pink backpack in one hand.

He looks like such a stereotypical dad in his dark jeans and navy polo, hair scraped back off his forehead and slightly beat up sneakers. The little pink backpack just makes him even hotter and you can’t help but stare. When Mat catches you looking, he gives you a slow smirk and a quick wink, holding his hand out for Talia to take.

She grabs his hand with her free one and lifts her feet off the ground without warning, swinging between you and Mat. Your arm nearly pulls out of its socket and your heart skips a quick beat, but Talia giggles and you love that she feels safe enough to do that. Mat swings his arm, sending Talia forward and eliciting even more giggles.

“Maybe we can just skip school and go to the park?” Talia asks, planting her feet back on the ground and squinting up at the school. It’s a cute little square brick building, kindergarten and first grade classrooms on the outside of the hallways and glass windows looking in on a courtyard. The ceilings are lower inside to make it more welcoming to the kids and Mat can brush the ceiling tiles with his fingertips when he stretches his arm over his head - something he had learned during the open house a few weeks ago.

But from the way Talia’s looking at the building now you’d think she was standing in front of Hogwarts.

At the same time you open your mouth to suggest going to the park after school, Mat pipes up and says, “that’s a good idea, TB. You don’t need to go to school, you can just stay home with Mommy.”

“Mat!” You hiss at him over Talia’s head and he cocks his head at you, barely looking apologetic.

“What?” He mutters back. “It’s an option.”

“It’s not!” You say, at the same time Talia says, “I wanna stay with Mommy.”

You glare at him, hoping your expression conveys the exact levels of ‘see what you did?’ that you’re feeling. Mat’s mouth curls in a sheepish expression and you can see his hand tighten around Talia’s, like he’s not going to let her into the school. Before any of the three of you can say anything, you spot a tall older woman striding down the path towards your little group. You recognize her as the principal and are bracing yourself for the absolute hysterics that Talia is sometimes prone to.

“Hi Talia,” she smiles, bending a little at the waist so she can be at eye level with your daughter, “I’m Mrs. Seaver, the principal. Do you remember meeting me at open house?”

Talia nods, totally mute, her fingers tightening around yours. Your hear squeezes a little for her, nearly ready to break down and bring her home, like Mat had suggested.

“Why don’t you come with me and we can get you settled in your classroom?” Mrs. Seaver continues, somehow managing to get Talia’s hand and backpack away from Mat and starts walking her back up the path to the school. “Your mom and dad will be so excited to hear all about what exciting things you got up to today.”

Talia looks back at you over her shoulder, an apprehensive look on her face. Mat makes a move to step forward and follow them, but you reach out to lace your fingers with his, tugging him back gently. “We literally cannot keep her from going to school,” you whisper, pasting a bright smile on your face and waving at her with your free hand.

Mat looks constipated and you nudge him with the back of your hand, muttering, “smile,” until he manages something halfway decent.

“She’s just a baby,” he says out of the corner of his mouth, waving like a robot. “She shouldn’t be old enough for school.”

You sniffle a little, watching the door shut behind Talia and the principal, your hand dropping from the air. “I don’t understand how time went so fast,” you hiccup, tears building at your lash line. Anxiety starts to churn in your stomach. “Maybe you’re right, maybe we should keep her home another year.”

“Oh, whoa,” Mat wraps an arm around your shoulders and pulls you to his chest so he can hug you tightly. “We definitely need to distract you, if you’re starting to agree with me.”

He laughs and you manage a weak giggle against his shoulder. Mat’s hands are warm against your back and you melt into him. “I’m going to miss having my little sidekick around,” you confess, suddenly exhausted from holding it together. Other than a few hours a week at pre-k, Talia’s been by your side practically every second since birth.

Mat drops a kiss to the top of your head, “I’ve got a couple of hours before I have to hit the gym, why don’t we go home and make you a new sidekick?”

You can hear the grin in his voice and you pull back from his chest, looking up at him with wide eyes. “Don’t tease me, Mat,” you murmur, heart pounding wildly. He’d said about trying again earlier, but you weren’t really sure if he was serious.

“Not teasing you, Squeaks,” he replies, the familiar nickname falling from his lips warmly. At this point, he uses it more than your given name, the curse of those damn Nikes. Mat grips your chin in between his thumb and index finger and tilts it up a little more so he can bend his head and kiss you sweetly. “Let’s give it another try and if…well, if not, we can look more into surrogacy again.”

Your head bobbles a nod and your heart swoops a little in your chest, the excited/nervous fizz of Mat’s words making you feel a little dizzy. Baby making is a land mine sometimes for your brain, but right now all you know is that everything in your body is screaming for your husband to give you another baby.

Mat’s grip on your chin tightens briefly and he kisses you again, lacing your fingers with his to drag you back to the car. You skip along behind him, laughter fighting to escape your lips.

“Should we make this one in the bedroom?” Mat teases, holding open the door for you. His hazel eyes twinkle with mischief. “Or in the shower like T?”

A flush works its way up over your chest and face, your entire body going hot. Mat laughs at the expression on your face and you mutter, “we don’t know it was the shower.”

“Right, could’ve been the back seat of the car or the couch or in Bo’s bathroom,” Mat’s eyes dance, his smile wide and shit-eating.

You can’t help but smile back at him, electric delight working its way through your veins.