#a bit angsty sorry...

[starlinggirll]

can u tell the story how was the house with the boys before exhusband!art nd reader get divorced? 🥺🥺🥺, i wanna now how they face each other, touch each other, speak to their kids, nd do the gentle parenting, thank uuu luvs

pre-divorce!art . . . (what caused the divorce muehehe)

at the start of the marriage, it was beautiful. he constantly put you first, his time was obviously restricted due to tennis but you were always first!

then you got pregnant, and his attention zeroed on you and the twins even more. he sometimes went as far as missing practices just to make sure you arent alone for too long with two screaming toddlers.

he would be there for tantrums, late night diaper changes. sometimes if the kids were too fussy he would insist on letting them cry it out, "they need to learn when to stop crying," he said, but next thing he knew there was two tiny babies pressed inbetween you both in the bed.

he would be the more strict parent, but that was only because you were more of the "cool parent" for letting the boys get away with mischiefs!

things went good for like . . . 4 years.

during those years he was the best husband/father you could of asked for. in the bed he was amazing, gentle but firm. and regardless of his schedule he always made time for the babies, always going to teacher meetings, games, and bonding with them as much as he could.

but then he started slowly drifting? he put you and the kids more and more on the back burner, putting more attention to his career and less attention to you and the kids.

you didnt blame him, tennis was his whole life before you wormed your way into his heart. but it still hurt watching him pay less mind to the you. he stopped touching you, you both went months without cuddling once you realized you were initiating every single physical touch. but it hurt more with the kids. he stopped going to their games, your heart breaking when they asked, "where's daddy?" or, "he promised he would be here!" watching their tiny frowns broke your heart.

you would be lying if you said you didnt blame yourself for it. you spent nights wondering where it all went wrong. trying to figure out what happened, did he find another girl? did he get bored of you?

you tried to talk to him about it, and all he tells you is a "im just tired, dont worry baby." with a kiss on your forehead. he deflects, hard. you know he doesn't like opening up, but you thought that 10 years of being together meant he would be open with you.

you decided to finally divorce him when he missed the boys birthdays. all of your family and friends went, his friends even went, and him? gone. when he came late at night you crashed out on him, asking him with tears what did you do wrong, begging him be more of a dad and husband.

he did change, for a few weeks. but u still proceeded with the divorce when your mother told you AND your boys deserved better than that. the divorce was . . . complicated. he begged you alot to stay, to not 'break apart' the family. he did try to manipulate you a bit, but in the end he realized that he was hurting you and the boys. that doesn't stop him from trying to get you back.

and you know that eventually, if he keeps putting genuine effort you'll get back together with him. he needs to show you that he REALLY wants u, want the family back. and slowly but surely, it's working. he just prays you'll give a second chance to prove that you and the twins are his whole world.

i took advantage of this ask to give a bit of backstory as to why they got divorced...oops! 😭

[narliee]

does it weigh on you?

[brucedefender4eva]

< prev >

——

Tim: I have never seen you as an obligation- as a means to an end

Bruce: … Neither have I

——

Bruce slowly sipped his chamomile tea. Alfred had somehow noticed his back flaring up and brewed him a nice cup of tea to help with the inflammation. Bruce had asked for extra honey and sugar, which the older man generously allowed.

“I can feel you staring at me, Tim.” Bruce rumbled, taking another slow sip, making sure not to slurp. Both he and Tim hated the sound of people slurping their drinks; it was horrid. “Drink your tea, sweetheart, it’s good for gut health.”

Tim let out a small hum of acknowledgment but didn’t look away, his own chamomile tea going untouched in his cup.

“Switch?” Tim asked, pushing himself up from the couch he was sprawled out on and carefully bringing his full cup to Bruce. “Want yours.”

Without a second thought, Bruce took Tim’s teacup and placed his own on his son’s saucer, grabbing two more sugar cubes and plopping them in the tea for Tim. “Still hot,” Bruce warned, watching Tim as he took a sip and let out a soft hum, making Bruce smile softly.

The two lapsed into another comfortable silence; the only sound audible in the study was the soft clicking of their teacups every time they set them down on their saucers.

“Hey.” Bruce looked up from the newspaper he was absentmindedly skimming, tilting his head at Tim. “Say I love you.”

Bruce blinked but complied nonetheless. “I love you. A lot. I love you very much, Timmothy.” Bruce stated, his face remaining in a relaxed expression.

Tim wrinkled his nose at his Dad using his full name, trying to hide the flush on his cheeks from Bruce being able to say the three words so easily, compared to how it was before. “Ew, you full named me.” Tim pouted, hiding a grin behind his teacup as he heard Bruce chuckle lightly.

“Me too, by the way…” Tim set down the teacup, looking into Bruce’s eyes before shifting them to look at his forehead. Much easier than actually looking into his eyes. “I love you lots, Dad.”

This time, Bruce wrinkled his nose in confusion. “Did your brothers put you up to this?”

Bruce’s voice wasn’t accusing, but then again, it never really is when he talks to his children. He always gives them the benefit of the doubt.

Tim scowled, feeling a twinge of embarrassment bubble up in his chest. “No. Why would you think that, Bruce?”

Uh oh, he was back to being Bruce right now. Bruce let out a small huff of air from his nose and folded his hands over one another. “You and your brothers have been acting… strange. Coming here, to me, once a week and interrogating me over… menial topics.”

“Menial?” Tim’s voice took on a sharp edge once he heard the word. “You made Dick cry and Jason looked like he was in fucking shock. Obviously, those conversations were important.” Tim accused, pointing his finger at Bruce.

Bruce blinked, the only sign that would tell he was surprised by the change of tone. “I did no such thing. I have no idea why that happened, and they refused to tell me. You can not blame that on me, I will not allow it.” Bruce asserted.

“You’re supposed to know!” Tim raised his voice.

“How am I supposed to know when no one will tell me?! You guys always get mad at me for ‘snooping’ or ‘going through your business’ on normal days! How am I supposed to know when it’s appropriate?” Bruce struggled not to raise his voice at Tim. He knew Tim would shut down immediately and this… conversation would devolve into a screaming match that would rival the ones with Dick and Jason.

“You told Jason that you think we hate you! How could you do that?!”

Bruce threw his hands up in the air. Fuck! Not this stupid conversation again. Was this the only thing people wanted to talk about in this household?

“When someone says they hate you, you tend to believe that!” Bruce shouted, immediately regretting the action when he saw Tim curl into himself and his face harden.

Bruce let out a shuddering breath and ran a hand through his hair, grateful that he had forgone putting gel into it. He did not need to be overstimulated on top of this talk with Tim.

“I don’t understand why this is a topic of discussion in the household as of late.” Bruce continued quietly. “And I don’t know why you would insert yourself into something like this.”

Tim squinted his eyes, not understanding what the fuck that meant. Before he could ask, Bruce continued speaking.

“Look… I know how this relationship between the two of us officially started. I see you as my son, Tim, one of my own, and I’ll always love you as such.” Bruce reassured, but instead of it making Tim feel better, he felt like he was about to be dropped off into a gaping black hole. “But I know that this,” Bruce gestured between the two of them, “is nothing more than a… responsibility on your part.”

And just like that, the floor was swept out from underneath Tim’s feet.

“What makes you say that?” Tim could feel his lips move and feel the way his vocal cords vibrated to ask the question, but blood rushed through his ears, making everything sound muffled. "What have I done that could possibly make you say that?"

“You came to me because I was a danger to myself, which meant I was a danger to Gotham,” Bruce said matter of factly, like he knew what the fuck he was talking about. “I’m just glad that somewhere along the way you decided to stay with us, even if it wasn’t for me.”

The words leave Tim’s lips before they even have a chance to register in his mind. “But it’s the same for you!”

“The only reason why you took me is because I pestered you so much! And even then, you didn’t want me; Alfred was the one who gave me Robin.” Tim tried to pretend that his voice didn't break in the middle of his sentence, silently glad that Bruce didn't mention it and allowed him to keep his dignity.

Bruce tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair, peeling off the flaking paint and ripping it up into smaller pieces. He would run out of paint soon enough if people kept trying to lie right to his face that they didn't hate him.

“You became Robin not just because Alfred gave it to you, but because you wanted to do good. Because you are good.” Bruce let out a small hum. “If I could go back in time, I would change how our relationship started. How everything started.”

“Change how?”

“I would be better. I would show you that I love you.” Bruce nodded to himself, smiling softly as he turned to Tim. “I would tell you it’s okay to hate me, that you don’t have to pretend that you love me. I already know. Everyone hates me. I also hate myself.”

And truly, what the fuck do you say to that?

Because if Bruce could believe something so… twisted, then how could Tim believe anything that this man in front of him was saying?

How could he believe that Bruce truly loved him if Bruce didn’t believe that Tim loved him?

[baker-chan-senpai]

My gift for @ot3 who asked for an exploration of Trucy and Phoenix's relationship for the @aa-spring-swap

[cookie-lore-keeper]

Do you ever think Royal Berry Cookie found Hollyberry Cookie completely passed out drunk with bottles surrounding her, and he had to clean up her mess because she wasn't getting up? Do you ever think he had to home to quiet that was so eerily loud? Do you ever thinm about Royal Berry and Jungleberry having to talk with Hollyberry about quitting drinking before they baked Tiger Lily and Princess? Do you ever think about how much it must fuck-up a child to see their parent so depressed that they turn to alcohol, and their kingdom turns to crumbs because of it?

Because I sure do :)

[noodles-and-tea]

i love your modern merthur art so i have to ask, what do you think Arthur’s favorite and least favorite thing about the 21st century would be if when he’s revived?

I think (once he gets used to it) Arthur would really appreciate technology and playing easier Nintendo games (especially if Merlin can play with (for) him)

I think he’d also like binging tv or movie series and comfy clothes (he lives in sweats) and taking very long, hot showers (figures)

As for his least favourite things I think he would occasionally get homesick, less as he grows accustomed to his new life but he would definitely miss his friends and the knights and Gwen.

:(

[defleptic]

Bittersweet

[deikshen]

5 times Yue Qingyuan misinterpreted Shen Qingqiu's reactions to food (pushing his plate away so that no one eats from it, keeping sweets in his sleeves, not complaining when eating something that was clearly burnt by one of his junior disciples, not wanting to eat in formal meetings with other sects and avoiding being seen while eating, even eat food that he quickly pick up from the floor if it falls while eating), mistaking his actions for traumas related to his past lack of food...

And 1 time where Shen Qingqiu choked on a stuffed bao at a post-meeting dinner (a minor choking resolved in 2 seconds by a precise hit from Liu Qingge on his back) and Yue Qingyuan couldn't understand why he had a panic attack. Was it because of the hit on his back? Did he react badly to being hit by someone who was treating him better? Should he do something? But when Shen Qingqiu recovered, he treated Liu Qingge normally and even thanked him, no resentment for having been hit by surprise to the point of panicking.

... Yue Qingyuan just, cannot understand Xiao Jiu's mind this time.

[pleasesetmywagononfire]

Most heartbreaking moment of a girl’s life is finding out that there’s always going to be this fundamental social difference in the way you’re treated in comparison to your male friends.

It’s the most awful thing when the boys you’ve been friends with your whole life suddenly get the memo that they are men and you’re a woman.

Once this switch happens nothing ever really feels the same, everything becomes laced with this overarching bitter aftertaste that poisons every interaction and every accomplishment. The conscious or unconscious knowledge that nothing you do will ever exist without the lens of your inferiority forced upon it.

The people you used to know become more and more like the men of fiction who you swore were unrealistic tropey caricatures of men.

The creeping sense of a lack of safety or acknowledgement for your own personhood seeps into your life, crawling into every crevice of your being. Breeding a resentment in your soul for people that were once your best friends. People who you no longer know and who no longer care to know you.

It’s the ever present fact that to these people, your friends, you are no longer and never will be a person.

And in tandem with this subtle change in the wind everything starts to close in on you. “When are you getting a boyfriend?” “When are you having kids?” I hope you find a good man soon and don’t waste your life away” “don’t let these modern ideas get in the way of the true joys of life” all of these seemingly harmless statements pile up in your mind, cumulating in the central idea that if you’re not devoting ever bit of your identity and time and energy and effort and life to a man then you’re doing something abhorrently wrong.

Because in the end it always goes back to the fact that they are men, and you are a woman. They are people, you are helpful. They are important, you are beautiful. They are men.

You’re a mother. You’re a wife. You’re a whore. You’re a daughter. You’re a spinster. You’re a bitch. You’re crazy. You’re hot. You’re ugly. You’re fat. You’re easy. You’re emotional. You’re high maintenance. You’re hysterical. You’re a slut.

You’re anything but a person.

And that is an absolutely heartbreaking realization to have

[gzdraw]

You sure you’re okay with it, Bokkie?

BlueSky : https://bsky.app/profile/gzdraw.bsky.social/post/3lhwtew3pkc2q

[davonati]

They make love out there in the field, before David has to leave for good. It’s fast and messy, with both of their emotions running so high. Yonatan comes with the taste of David’s tears on his tongue.

He stays lying on his back in the grass until the sound of crunching footsteps finally fades away, and only realizes later that, in their utter desperation for each other, he’d forgotten to take any of the usual precautions. But by then, it’s far too late.

***

Four months later, he goes to see David at Horesh. Even in the dim light of the hideout, David looks at him oddly.

“Something’s different about you,” he muses, and Yonatan has to stop himself from reflexively clutching his belly. He’s not showing yet, not really, but he can feel the life growing inside him.

He expects David to approach him then, to explore the planes of his body as he’s done countless times before. He readies himself to tell David the truth, to finally feel the weight of this secret lift off his shoulders. But David comes no closer. He eyes him for another moment and then turns away, pulling out a large map of the Judean territories as he updates Yonatan on his group’s movements over the last few months.

It’s better this way, Yonatan decides. David has enough to worry about at the moment without concerning himself with Yonatan’s health, and there’s no guarantee that the baby will make it to term anyways: it’s not as if Yonatan is willing – or able – to confine himself to bedrest for nine months. When David returns to Giveah, Yonatan can reevaluate the situation. Most likely Yonatan will never need to reveal his mistake; best case scenario, David will have an heir to secure his lineage as he ascends to the throne.

***

Years later, as Yonatan lies bleeding out under the stars, his last thought is to wish he’d gotten the chance to tell David about their son.

[arsenicflame]

It's a time-honoured tradition- every time Sam comes across Izzy (and Ed) in their travels, he asks Izzy to marry him. And every time, Izzy turns him down.

At this point, Sam is asking more for the sake of it than any belief Izzy will ever say yes, a remnant of childhood dedication touched with 30 years of heartbreak and regret- though even now, a small part of him still holds out hope. Sam's promises have only got more extravagant over the years, from a job as his first mate, to a captaincy, a fleet at his command, a whole fucking island if that's what Izzy wants- but he knows it isn't though, not really. If Izzy was ever going to agree to marry him, to leave his life and go with Sam, it wouldn't be for anything Sam could offer him. Izzy never did care for flashy shows of wealth, for a ship or to be captain. The only thing that ever mattered to him was loyalty given, and loyalty shown in return. 

It all comes to a head after Stede left and came back, after Izzy lost a toe, lost his leg. Sam hasn't seen him since before things with Ed started to really slide off the rails, before stress permanently set into the lines of Izzy’s face. So, when he sees a dishevelled man with a hoof for a leg in a no-name port, he doesn't even consider the idea that he might know him. It's only when he turns towards him, and Sam catches a glance at those oh too familiar tattoos, he realises this is Izzy, his Izzy, that stands before him.

Knowing Izzy's discomfort with pity, he doesn't treat him any differently than he would in years gone by, positioning himself in Izzy's line of sight before approaching and sweeping him up into a bone crushing hug. 

“Israel-goddamn-Hands!” he exclaims, as Izzy grumbles back a begrudging “Samuel-fucking-Bellamy”, a tradition almost as old as their friendship itself. Izzy might not hug him back, but he can’t keep the corner of his mouth from twitching, just for a second.

(If Sam holds Izzy a little tighter and a little longer than usual, well. That's his business)

By the time Sam lets go, most of the crew has appeared in the town square, drawn in by the commotion. They may have given Izzy his leg and welcomed him as one of them, but still there’s an underlying tension, with nobody quite ready to set aside everything that happened before the Kraken. Seeing him cosying up to an unknown man sets everyone on edge, unsure whether to come to their first mate’s aid, or to assume that they've been betrayed once again.

When Ed sees that the yelling was Sam, his hand goes tense where it's held in Stede's. He knows the routine, has seen it more times than he can count, but as he watches them part he realises that this is the first time in a long time he's unsure of what Izzy's response will be.

Knowing that something’s different, knowing that Izzy's feeling vulnerable already, Sam doesn't go for the same flashy proposal he’s been giving for years. He doesn't promise Izzy the world, he doesn't cause a scene (or, any more of a scene than he already has, anyway). He looks at the fractured man in front of him, takes his face in his hands, and says the exact same thing to him he said when they were little more than boys. “Israel, I have to ask you. I know what you'll say, but I have to try. Come with me. Marry me and sail away with me. I'll keep you safe”

And Izzy… hesitates. He glances over at Ed, at Stede, and says to Sam “...We’re staying in port for a week. Ask me again then”

That's the moment Sam knows there is something deeply, horribly, wrong. He's not just looking at an Izzy who got seriously injured in a fight and is struggling to cope, this is something so much bigger than that- and that Ed has something to do with it. Izzy wouldn't even be considering leaving if he didn't. Whether it was negligence or something more sinister, Sam doesn't yet know, but he intends to find out.

[itadooori]

god yall i love gi-hun so much its actually hazardous

[leverage-ot3]

I’ve talked about this before but imagine what it’s like for someone in a country/place where eliot is Top Most Wanted and then your tech guy finds a breakout star baseball player on their visual scanner that looks EXACTLY like spencer. but…there’s no way that’s him, right???

and then the next year it happens again but this time it’s some one hit wonder country singer kenneth crane that has like 78 tween-run fangirl blogs dedicated to him. you see a grainy video of him being chased by a horde of screaming teenage girls and ??? no way Eliot Last Thing You’ll Ever See Spencer is a country singer star just. signing pictures of his face right…?

a few months later your intern shows you footage of an eliot lookalike who is in san lorenzo talking about how there is dog fighting in the presidential palace and you just. sigh. because of course. a scant few days later the political geography of the country changes drastically and damien moreau is imprisoned. …interesting

and then a year of silence goes by. he still shows up as blips on the radar but he must have a good hacker working for him because his tracks on the internet are expertly erased.

every time you ask through interagency channels some random interpol guy talks in (condescending?) riddles at you and it also somehow feels like he’s threatening you

and then your friend who recently got into foreign hockey teams sends you a dropyourgloves video of someone called jacques the bear. you immediately get a headache (and watch some more videos because even you can admit this guy is a good hockey player)

and you know he’s a Bad Guy but it’s been admittedly a bit entertaining seeing what claim to fame he will come upon next. and his most recent actions over the few years make you wonder.

a few months later your phone pings because multiple heads of state evacuated from DC. the reason? eliot spencer was in town. you hear two days later a bioterrorist was taken down by… the report was redacted. your hacker tells you spencer and two teammates were behind the successful operation. which, huh.

not even a full year later it is released that spencer is dead and… you don’t know how to feel.

[jellyfishsempai]

I’m just here to be insufferable about Brave Face by @zoemillinwrites again

(sorrynotsorry)

[chimckenns]

honey and guy angst pls

It was nearing holiday season, and Guy and Honey were working overtime for what felt like every single day. Guy is forced to take more shifts as Max’s Pizza was getting more orders, and Honey had to take over another project after their coworker took the week off for a holiday.

By the time Honey got home, Guy was passed out in the bed. And by the time Guy woke up, Honey had already left. Guy wanted to stay awake or at least wake up when Honey got home to talk to them, but he was so drained from standing and working all day.

When was the last time they even saw each other?

On Sunday Guy finally got a small break, with his shift starting in the afternoon instead of the morning, and he took this opportunity to finally see and talk to his Honey again.

He woke up to the sun shining through the blinds. He was pleasantly surprised to feel warmth coming from the spot next to him on the bed, and he wriggled towards it, arms snaking around Honey’s waist and burying his face in the crook of their neck.

“Mmmmf…” He nuzzled into their hair. “Honeyyy…”

He felt them wriggle a little, head tilting ever so slightly in his direction. “Hmm? What time is it?”

“It’s 8am or something, I don’t know.”

“Mmmmmh… lemme sleep.” They rolled away from him and buried their face in the sheets.

Guy let out a gasp, waking up a little more now.

“You’d throw away an opportunity to spend the morning with the love of your life? When we finally have the chance? Come on Honeeeyyy I missed youuuu.” He wriggled closer, arms reaching for them again.

“Please stop. I’m tired. Lemme sleep.” Honey mumbled and avoided his touch again.

Something in Guy snapped, frustration built up from the previous week of fatigue, and without a word he got up and left the bed. He made his way to the kitchen and made breakfast, before leaving for work a little early. He’d make up some excuse and help out with prep today. Not that any of his coworkers would complain about extra hands on deck.

Honey fell back asleep, making the most of their one day off. They vaguely remember Guy saying something that morning, but couldn’t recall what happened. They were dragged into deep slumber, before they were trapped in a nightmare.

Guy had left. Actually left. And they hadn’t even noticed. When was the last time they even talked? When was the last time they ever even saw him? They jolted awake, hand feeling the spot next to them where he usually lies. But it was empty. Cold. Honey sat up and looked around. It was their apartment, but it was as if every trace of Guy had disappeared. His clothes were gone from their closet. His extra pillow and plushie was gone from the bed. His hoodie that was always on the chair in the room was gone.

Or was he ever here?

Honey spiralled and it felt harder to breathe. Their thoughts in their head grew louder and louder until it overwhelmed them, and all they could hear were the same thoughts that used to plague them.

Why would anyone be here? Why would anyone want to be with you anyway? No one likes you, you’re too cold. You’re too mean. You’re too closed off. No one understands you. Why would they even want to. You’re not worth the time.

Time seemed to stop yet also speed up at the same time, and they felt themselves freeze up. Their hands instinctively moved to cover their ears. It was too loud. Yet the house was silent. Their thoughts just kept getting louder, and they shut their eyes, a single tear falling down their cheek. Somewhere along the way they had woken up, but their dreams had blended into reality, and they felt trapped.

Guy came home earlier than he planned as he had started work early. Rosa insisted he rest, and he was too tired to refuse. It had been a while since he got to go home before the night time rush.

He opened the door to find darkness. That’s odd. Honey had their day off today. They could have gone out, but that would be very uncharacteristic of them considering it’s their rare day off.

He shuffled in, putting his bag down and taking off his jacket. He made his way to the bedroom, just in case. Sometimes Honey would nap at odd times of the day, maybe this was one of those moments.

But there they were. Sitting up on the bed with their knees folded up, curling in on themselves. They had their hands over their ears still, and Guy could see dried tear stains on their cheek.

Oh.

Not wanting to scare them, Guy whispered.

“Honey? What’s wrong?”

Honey didn’t seem to hear him. Their eyes were hollow and unfocused, gaze stuck at their feet.

Guy reached for their hands, and gently touched it, gauging their reaction. When Honey didn’t flinch, he held their wrist in his hand and pried it away from their ear. Only then did Honey finally register his presence.

“…Guy?”

“Yeah, it’s me. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t… I-… I thought you left.” Honey looked up at him, their eyes desperately searching for answers in his. Their hands were shaking. Guy had never seen them so small before.

“I did, but I just went to work. You said you wanted to sleep, and I didn’t want to bother you if you weren’t in the mood.” He kept his hands on theirs, hoping it somehow grounded them.

They fell silent. Then they leaned their head on his shoulder, hiding their face.

“I thought you left.” It was barely a whisper.

Guy wrapped his arms around them, and shifted so that they could sit in his lap and he could have his legs on either side of them, holding them properly.

“I’ll never leave you, Honey.” He pressed a kiss to their head.