#and I gonna have to pull several all nighters to try and get the work done

[illomic]

I made my bed and now -I fear- I must lie in it 😔

[flemingology]

L is for the way you look at me ─ alexia putellas x reader

part 1 of my l-o-v-e miniseries. full masterlist here!

in which: you meet Alexia through your work, but things take an unexpected turn

warnings: nothing i can think of, but there must be something with this being 9k words. so let me know if there's anything worth mentioning lol. fluffy though!

wc: 8.8k

an: put my whole writerussy in this series. it'll come out on a weekly basis, every sunday for the next 4 weeks. will run simultaneously with the rest of my christmas series! i hope you enjoy <3

Your tires kicked up some gravel as your car came to a halt on the parking spot next to the sports complex. You leaned your head back against the headrest and let out a deep sigh, letting the silence overcome you for a second. You bathed in the comfort of your own car and tried to come to your senses, before what would be one of the biggest moments in your professional career as an interior architect so far. Scratch that. Biggest moment, for sure. Nothing had ever been bigger or more important than this.

It was early January when you initially got the call from your boss. You were at home, working on some 3D blueprints for a new apartment complex that was being built in the city centre. Not your most exciting project, but that’s the price you paid for working in a metropolis like Barcelona. Deadlines coming thick and fast, it meant that you were severely overworked, but clients weren’t waiting. Residents weren’t waiting, either. So you worked. You worked early, worked late, worked at home, worked in the office. You’d always been career-oriented, though, so you were never going to complain, not with the opportunities your perseverance had given you already. But you wouldn’t have dared to dream about this next one, even in your wildest dreams.

Your phone shook you up from your thoughts, head deep in a few finishing touches on an elevator blueprint when your ringtone sounded through your apartment. You rolled and stretched your neck in a futile attempt to release some of the tension there, before picking up the device and bringing it to your ear.

“Y/n, I’m gonna get right down to business. I’ve got an opportunity for you that you’re not going to want to turn down.”

A combination of words you’d normally be very excited about, but with the amount of work you already had on your plate, you weren’t quite sure about that. Endless to-do lists were scattered around your apartment and you were already struggling to meet all the deadlines set, so taking something else up would definitely set you back for a good couple months on multiple projects. You pinched the bridge of your nose and took a deep breath before you replied, solely a hum.

“Look, I know you’re busy. You have a whole load on your plate right now, but if you take this, I’ll take care of the rest. We will redistribute the work. But this is once in a lifetime. And I want my best employee on it.”

You were taken aback by his words, your boss never one to willingly move work around from employee to employee once a project had been started. Your interest was piqued, so you decided to bite.

“Alright, you got me. Shoot.”

“We’ve been asked to design a new training complex for the Barcelona Women’s team.”

-

The best part of 8 months later, here you finally were. Sat outside the complex, in your car, taking a couple more moments before throwing yourself in the deep end. You had worked relentlessly on this project. If you thought you were working hard before, you’d found a new gear that left all your previous years in your professional career in the dust. You were the only designer on the project, meaning that a lot of the work fell on your shoulders and yours only in the initial phases of the process.

You were fatigued, from a lack of sleep as much as physically. You couldn’t remember how many all-nighters you pulled in trying to get the design over the line by the deadline. You experienced heightened anxiety and stress over the course of multiple months, only adding to the already overbearingly heavy weight on your shoulders. You got obsessive with it, as you always did, danced on the brink of a burn-out at some points, but you promised yourself it would pay off. Nothing would ever come close to the feeling of professional success. And you hoped, for the love of God, that you could deliver tonight. That everyone was happy with the complex, that your tour would go seamlessly, and that you had another thing to tick off in your long bucket-list of working as an interior architect. You took a couple more composing breaths in the driver seat of your car, checking your appearance a final time and attempted yourself at a pep-talk before you opened the door of your car and stepped out into the heat of the Spanish capital.

You’d seen it before, given the tour to your imaginary guests more often than you could count, but now, in Barcelona’s glistening afternoon sun, it really came into its own. The complex stands tall, but it exudes a sense of openness. It’s large, commanding, but not intimidating. Towering windows scratch across its surface, a feature that you’d grown to love across your visits to the facility. It allows plenty of natural light to pour in, the building strategically positioned so it would catch most of the afternoon sun. The entrance is wide, inviting, but nothing short of impressive. A set of smooth, glass doors that reach high, transparent so they give you a view of the lobby. The first feeling that comes over you is relief. You had seen the structure plenty of times, but with the prospect of having to guide the clients around later, it’s reassuring that you still feel excited and accomplished about your work. You approach the building, deciding to wait for the rest of your clients by the entrance.

You didn’t have to wait long, two black Cupras soon arriving at the facility after you made your way over. You weren’t fully aware how many people of the club were going to be present, but you’d tried to prepare yourself. Nine people though, that was kind of cutting it. Five people exited the first vehicle, another four quickly following short out of the other. Nine. If you weren’t nervous before, you surely were then.

The introductions went by in a flurry, but you tried your absolute best to remember the name and functions of every suited or dressed man or woman that had just shook your hand. Joan, president of the club. Pere, head coach. Marc, financial director. Lucia, facilities manager. There was one amongst them, though, that didn’t need an introduction. Not to you. Not to anyone. And really, it shouldn’t have been a surprise to you that they brought a player. If anyone has to approve of the facilities, it’s the players themselves.

“Alexia. Nice to meet you.” “Y/n. Likewise.”

She gave you a firm handshake, her eyes holding yours just a second too long, and you swear, you could feel it—that spark, that something. But before you could question it, she’d already let go of your hand and joined the rest of her people. You were well aware who she was, well aware of what she meant in the world of football, but you weren’t taken aback. It was nothing more than a crossover between two people doing their jobs, and you weren’t gonna have someone like her intimidate you and throw you off your path for the rest of the afternoon. Not with the importance of this project for the future of your career.

You clapped your hands when everyone seemed to have taken their first looks at the building from the inside. “Okay! Shall we?” You mustered up the brightest smile you had in your locker, silently wishing that the nerves would settle down as soon as you got into your element inside.

“Okay, so, the main entrance. I didn’t want to have too much going on in here, more going for a calm atmosphere. Reception in the middle, and then there’s really only one hall here, leading you towards the rest of the facility.”

The entrance was, as you described, calm. It had some lounge seats here and there but you couldn’t imagine many people spending lots of time here, so you kept the extras limited. A few acknowledging and appreciating hums from your tiny crowd sent you on your way, your nerves slowly but surely ebbing away.

You slowly guided your guests towards the hallway, letting them take in the interior and space for as long as they wanted until they seemed ready to continue the tour. “On the left, first and foremost, the changing room. I thought it was handy for it to be near the entrance, as most of the players probably come straight here after arriving.”

You push open the double doors to the room, stepping aside and allowing the others to step in first. “As you can see, a large and accordingly illuminated space with rows of lockers, personalized for each player. Each locker has a charging station, storage for gear, and adjustable lighting, because who doesn’t hate bad lighting when trying to focus before a game?”

For the first time during the tour, someone spoke up then, and it wasn’t who you’d expect to take the floor first. “I’ll admit, I’m guilty of using mine as a mini closet sometimes. Good call with the extra storage.” Alexia’s admission caused some lighthearted laughs and chatter to rise from the small group of people, and you almost felt grateful for her comment. “I’m glad.” You mustered up a small but sincere smile, before turning back around and continuing your work.

You gestured towards the wall that wasn’t adorned with lockers. “The screens on here are meant for displaying tactics, team news, and whatever else you guys get up to on a day-to-day basis.” You were really coming into yourself and started to forget about the nerves of the moment. You were in your element, you were doing what you liked, what you had been doing for the past 7 years of your life. You weren’t gonna mess this up.

“Of course, showers are tucked around the corner. Communal shower room, as I’m sure you’re all familiar with. Physio beds, and everything else you would need for pre-activation before training are around the other corner. To integrate some options for relaxation, there are also some sofas in that room. I don’t know to which extent they will be used, but they’re there.”

Right as you were about to lead the group back out towards the next room, Pere spoke up. “I like the adjustable lighting. I think it’s something we struggled with at our previous facility. It was quite bright, and sometimes that’s not the vibe you want to create for your players. They need calm, especially after a training session. Good work on that one.” The man offered you a sincere smile and rested his hand on your shoulder for a split second, and you felt all warm inside at the acknowledgement of your work. You took it in your stride and continued the tour.

“Taking a left outside the locker room and moving down the hallway, it’ll take you into the tactical room. Meeting room, briefing room, whatever you want to call it. This room is more dimly lit, with one singular big screen on the wall for video analysis, powerpoint presentations, and so on. I think there’s about 30 seats, but I wasn’t quite sure on how many there would need to be, so if you need any more I can take care of those too.”

Pere and Alexia shared a look, before letting you know that 30 would be enough. “Now, moving on through the room, I designed a second section with more of a discussion place in mind. I opted for a round table, rather than a rectangular shape, because I feel like it invites more participation. A couple whiteboards here and there, but I’m sure you guys will find your own ways to use this room to your own liking.”

“There’s one thing, though, and I’m quite proud of that, if I may say so myself. One of these walls,” you started, tapping your finger on the back wall of the discussion room, “is a writable wall. You can write, pin notes, whatever you might need to brainstorm about your tactics.”

Pere’s voice sounded through the room as you finished your explanation. “So, Ale, no more scribbling on napkins during tactical meetings, huh?” You finally realized why one of your colleagues on the project was adamant about a certain type of soundproof walls for the room, because you were now grateful for the great acoustics as Alexia’s laugh sounded through the place. Suddenly, you noticed that one of the chairs around the table was slightly out of place. Your need for perfectionism rose up and as much as you wanted to leave it, to not fuss about a small detail like that, you couldn’t help yourself.

“Sorry, this chair is bothering me. Details matter, especially in places like these. Athletes notice more than they think they do.” You didn’t direct your statement towards anyone, but weren’t exactly surprised either when you heard Alexia’s voice in response. “We do? I just thought we used these rooms to throw our stuff around,” the Spaniard said with an amused, infuriatingly attractive smirk on her face. It was your turn to laugh now, and you weren’t the only one grateful anymore for the acoustics of the room.

You answered a couple questions and scribbled down a couple more suggestions from the rest of the staff, before making your way out of the discussion room and moving back towards the hallway. “Now, crossing the hallway, this is the treatment room.” There’s a calm atmosphere in the room, the soft hum of the lights the only sound as your clients take in their surroundings. “Plenty of massage tables in the middle of the room, some more space for pre-activation, shelves stretched across the walls with recovery tools. Around the corner, there’s a multifunctional hydrotherapy pool and an ice bath. These adjustable lights mimic natural daylight to help with recovery. I wanted to create a space where your body and mind can unwind together.”

“I imagine you will spend lots of your time here,” you smiled, gesturing towards one of the women that presented herself as one of the club’s physiotherapists.

“Yeah, this will be my safe haven. It’s great, honestly, better than I ever imagined. I was thinking whether there was something missing, but I can’t think of anything. You did great work.” You shot the woman, whose name you’d already forgotten, a bright smile and thanked her for the compliment. The moment was soon lost on you as you heard someone clear their throat.

“Yes, Alexia?” It was the first time you’d called the Barcelona captain by her first name that afternoon, and you were surprised at the ease it rolled off your tongue with. If Alexia was taken aback, she didn’t show it. “I’m gonna be annoying for a second. Wouldn’t it be tough for someone injured to reach that?” She pointed at the top shelves, where some of the recovery tools were stacked. You took a moment to yourself to think about her comment, before giving her a slight smile and nodding. “You’re right, thank you for noticing that.” You took out your notepad and scribbled something down, adding an exclamation mark or 5 to convey the importance of the task. The rest of the group had already moved back to the hallway, leaving you and Alexia to yourself for a little moment. You didn’t know where the flurry of confidence came from, but you grabbed it with both hands before it could slip away, leading to your next comment. “Good catch, captain.” Alexia grinned, a twinkle in her eyes as she met yours.

“You’re the expert, not me.” “Well, you’re the professional footballer amongst the two of us, so I think I could learn a thing or two still about the design of team facilities.” “You’re doing more than a good job so far. I’m positively surprised.”

You got pulled back to reality when you heard a laugh coming through the door from the hallway, reminding you of the fact that you were still working, still having to uphold a professional persona and make sure that the tour went well. This wasn’t the time and place to be making much small talk, let alone flirting. Could you even call it that? “Let’s move on, yeah?”

You lead your clients down the hall, opening the double doors that would lead to the gym. The space was just as you’d imagined it, and hearing the noises of appreciation from the people behind you, you knew you’d done a good job.

“I think this speaks for itself, really. Not entirely my area of expertise, not really one for dumbbells or barbells, but I think I got everything covered here,” you chuckled. “Resistance machines, cardio equipment, dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells. There’s also an area for stretching and functional training near the back of the room. I wanted this to be big, spacious, allowing lots of natural light in, because I know half of the training days are spent here. People tend to forget that.” 

“Dios mio, Pere, if I’m ever missing, just come find me in here. This place is a dream come true,” you heard Alexia say from across the room, letting her eyes rake over the abundance of equipment that was scattered all around the gym. You crossed the room and joined her, following her movements with your eyes as she explored more of the gym. “I think this wall here needs some more Barca colors, no?” You scoffed and shook your head slightly, but pulled out your notepad nonetheless. “Noted, but I think you’re biased. Lucky for you, I like your bias.” Alexia tilted her head at that. “Does that mean I get to say in the rest of the design too?” You knew what she was doing. And it was so wrong for you to be giving into it in this professional context, but the woman across from you was enticing and you couldn’t help but be flattered at the way she seemed to be flirting with you. “Now, don’t push your luck, Putellas.” With that, you turned on your heels and made your way back towards the front of the room, not wanting to give Alexia the satisfaction of seeing the crimson red color your cheeks had turned at the small interaction.

“Well, I think we’ve got one final room, then.” You lead your guests back through the doors of the gym. “Taking a right here, you’ll end up in the team lounge. A cozy space for bonding, relaxing, whatever you guys want to do here. There’s a coffee station, entertainment options like games and a big screen, beanbags scattered around the room, but you can fill it in the way you want, really. There’s lots of flexibility with this space.”

“A coffee station? That’s going to make you a lot of friends around here,” the ever-familiar voice behind you commented. “Honestly, the caffeine might be the most important design element in this building.”

You pointed at the seating arrangement. “I went for modular sofas so you can switch between team bonding sessions and personal space. As I said, I went for flexibility here.” Pere caught up to where you were walking and put his hand on your shoulder, just as he did earlier during the tour. “You thought of all the details, huh? Most people wouldn’t notice things like that.” You shrugged off the compliment. “It’s all in the details, I bet you know that just as well as I do.” The coach let out a warm laugh and you couldn’t help but feel accomplished, it meant the world to you that him and one of the most important players in his team felt right within the facility and were impressed with your designs.

“As for different rooms, that was it for the tour. The pitches are outside, but there’s nothing special about those. Feel free to check them out if you want. I’m gonna let you all wander around a bit now, and if you have any questions or remarks, please come to me. I’m all ears and I’m very open to feedback. I hope you’re all satisfied, though, because this project meant a lot to me and I can’t begin to express how grateful I am to have received this opportunity.”

What happened next, was the last thing you’d expected. The room went silent for a second, until you could hear a couple slow claps sounding through the room. They came from Alexia, who was ushering the other people in the room to give you an applause. Her colleagues followed shortly, and soon the room was filled with the sound of their clapping, all smiling brightly at you and sharing laughs with one another. You felt grateful, overwhelmed by your emotions, but you felt a huge weight fall off your shoulders at the acknowledgement.

It wasn’t until a couple minutes later, that Alexia found herself next to you again. Most of the people had wandered back through the corridors, checking out the rooms at their own pace. “So, how long did it take you to design this?” Alexia fell in step with you as you walked through the gym, mustering up ideas for the remark the Spaniard gave you earlier. “Uh, about 4 months for the main sections, and then a few extra weeks for the final touches. And then, a waiting game while it was being built. It’s a bit of a balancing act, you know?” Alexia smiled faintly at you before responding. “I imagine. It sounds like a lot, but it seems like you’ve got everything under control.” “I try to.”

It was about half an hour later, when you all found yourself back at the entrance. You received another couple compliments from several staff members that had come along, and it felt like every single one bolstered your outside a bit more and more, upping your confidence with each one, taking them all in your stride. You’d been nervous for this, had worked countless hours, days, weeks on this project, but it all felt worth it. It was the biggest project you’d ever worked on, but it turned out perfectly and you couldn’t have wished for a better outcome.

The sun had started to set over Barcelona now, golden hour casting the building in rays of orange. It felt symbolic, a perfect ending to what had been a greatly successful afternoon. Alexia had noticed your passion for your work throughout the tour, and it was safe to say that she admired it. “You care a lot about getting things right, don’t you?” “Of course. It’s important.” “It feels right… you being here. You doing this. I feel like you understand this place.”

Alexia’s words came right from the heart, her voice growing soft as she uttered the final couple words, and you felt a fuzzy feeling coursing through your body at the admission. You raised your eyes at her, curious where the sudden comment had come from. Alexia picked up on this, explaining herself further.

“Your dedication to your work, it just resonates with my dedication to mine. The team’s dedication. It feels good, this.” You weren’t sure what she was talking about anymore, whether that be the building, your commitment, or just this–– the situation you two found yourself in at the moment. You’d tried to keep up your professional demeanor throughout the tour, but the more heartfelt comments Alexia threw your way, the harder you found it to keep up the snarky remarks or shrugging off whatever she said.

“I don’t know the word… it’s like when you do something that makes sense, like…” “Purpose?” “Yeah, purpose.”

Alexia grew bashful quickly, a shy smile covering her face. “Sorry, my English isn’t quite there yet.” You waved away her apology and were grateful for the change of tone in the conversation, not quite sure you would be able to keep up your persona had she gotten much more open with you.

“Look, I have to go now. I can sense Pero is growing impatient in the car. But, look, uhm, I like how you understand this place. Would you maybe,” she clears her throat and looks down to the ground before finishing her sentence, “want to grab a coffee with me sometime?”

You should’ve expected it, really. The way she was throwing not-so-subtle flirty remarks at you throughout the tour, her demeanor growing in confidence the longer time went on, you should’ve known this was coming. Still, it swept you completely off your feet, and quite frankly, speechless. There wasn’t a single cell in your body that thought of denying her request. But somewhere, in the back of your mind, a little rational voice sounded, saying that you had to be professional. This was your work, her work, and mixing work and dates was never a good idea. So you took a deep breath, meeting her eyes again before you gave her the answer she probably wouldn’t have expected.

“Alexia, I’d love to. But, this is a professional work context.” Alexia cocked an eyebrow at you, a small smile hinting on one corner of her mouth, and you couldn’t help the confusion that came across you. “Guapa, you are the one assuming that we are going on a date. I proposed it just to, you know, discuss insights about the building.” Your cheeks burned bright red at her words, and there was no way to escape the situation now. The taller woman in front of you let out a laugh, throwing her head back and if it weren’t for the twinkle of adoration in her eyes when her gaze met yours again, you would’ve thought she was laughing at you. “No, I get you. But look, I’ll make it worth your while. Just give me one chance, okay? You can’t deny the… how do you say, chemistry?” You nodded bashfully at the Spaniard, knowing she was completely right. You had tried your hardest to remain professional, but it grew harder and harder not to open up more of yourself to the footballer. “Look, if you don’t want a coffee, how about you come to the game tomorrow? You’ve done so much for us, you should come see what you’ve worked for these past couple months. My family can’t make it this week, so I’ve got plenty of tickets for you and anyone else you want to bring.”

That sounded like a better suggestion, all in all. If anything, you could now paint it down as just a friendly invitation to thank you for your work, and you didn’t have to think of it as a date. Although, even with what you said, you weren’t opposed to that idea either. “That sounds fair. You owe me a good performance, though” you quipped back, not letting her off the hook that easily. She had made you blush, but you weren’t gonna let her walk over you like that. “Only if you come to dinner after.” And just like that, she’d turned the whole situation around again. Infuriating. Infuriatingly attractive. “We’ll see.”

-

You struggle on deciding what to wear that day. Torn between trying to look put-together and not wanting to look like you’re trying too hard, you eventually settle on something practical but nice– enough to look professional, but not too casual. Because in the end, it’s just a game, right? Just Alexia Putellas casually inviting you to see her in her element, no big deal. And dinner. Maybe.

The journey to the stadium went smoother than expected. You’d left more than early enough, and had just about beat the flurry of afternoon traffic, as you arrived at Estadi Johan Cruyff. This is as far as outsides of comfort zones went. This was not your usual surroundings. You were a homebody, either working or relaxing, you weren’t one for the big events. Let alone sporting events. You weren’t at home in this setting, but you couldn’t help but feel an excitement bubbling up inside you as you noticed the heaps of fans dressed in blaugrana jerseys, waving flags and scarves, all coming to see their idols on a sunbathed afternoon in the Spanish capital. Nerves bubble up the closer you get to the stadium, and you tried to ground yourself by taking a couple deep breaths before taking the plunge.

You’d remembered the instructions Alexia sent you over text on how to get to her friends and family box. She asked for your number at some point that day before, and brushed it off as practicality for today’s game, but you knew somewhere that that wasn’t the last time you’d hear of her. The moment you arrive in her box overwhelms you. There’s a couple other people, and you get a sudden burst of nerves thinking about having to introduce you as… well, as what? The interior architect of her new team facilities? You were well aware of how weird that sounded. But they paid you no mind, so you thanked your lucky stars when you found your seat without all too much fuss and settled down for the next couple hours.

The crowd, the noise, there was a buzzing atmosphere around the stadium and it was such a stark contrast to the environment you’d been in yesterday. The stadium felt alive. As much as you weren’t a football or sports fan in general, you finally understood why people liked going to games. You took in your environment, scanning the crowd. A man singing at the top of his lungs, seemingly the person that needed to get the chants going. A little girl in a jersey three sizes too big, on her father’s shoulders, holding a sign that said: “Alexia, mi heroina”. A group of teenagers finding their seats right underneath the box, faces painted with stripes, yelling things you didn’t quite understand, because God forbid you were consistent with your Spanish classes. A mixed smell of popcorn, churros and questionable hotdogs suddenly hit you like a wall. It was chaos, but it seemed like the people here thrived on it. Suddenly, you couldn’t believe having missed out on this element of the city for so long. Of course, you were well aware that Barcelona had two successful, thriving first teams. You just couldn’t be bothered. Now, though, it felt like your whole world had turned upside down at the revelation of how fun this was.

As much as Alexia insisted on you bringing someone, for your own company, you didn’t. It felt too much like using her, not wanting to overstep boundaries on this first meeting. Second, in theory. But now, as you were sat here in the stadium, crowd so loud their hum vibrated in your chest, maybe you wouldn’t have minded someone else here to share the experience with. Then again, bringing someone would’ve made this feel more like a… thing. And you didn’t know whether you were ready to accept this being a thing, yet. Your thoughts circled back to Alexia, the woman you were here for in the first place. Would she be nervous now? Of course not. She was in the locker room right now, already zoned in and focused. Professional. Unlike you, who was sitting here, overthinking what a stupid invitation to a game might mean. Still, there was something about being here– her stadium, her world, that made you feel closer to her. Like it was a glimpse into the pieces of herself she didn’t give away so easily. They were all here for her, but you were invited by her. It felt different.

What you didn’t expect, at all, was your phone to chime with a message from her.

From: Alexia You here yet?

You quickly typed back a response, figuring she didn’t have much time to be on her phone. They were due for warm-ups anytime soon now.

To: Alexia: Yeah, just found my seat. Thank you :) It’s chaos out here, damn

From: Alexia Good chaos. You’ll see. Enjoy it, I’ll find you after

It’s as if Alexia’s words had a soothing effect on you, because as soon as you tucked your phone back away you relaxed, sitting back against your seat and letting the experience roll over you.

The Barca girls came out for warm-ups, and you couldn’t help but admire them. The players moved across the pitch with this kind of effortless precision that made it all look simple, though you knew it wasn’t. You couldn’t tell who was who at first, not even you lack of football knowledge, but there were so many of them, a blur of navy shorts and bright orange bibs weaving in and out of each other as the ball zipped between them.

You weren’t looking for her. At least, you told yourself you weren’t. But somehow, your eyes kept finding her anyway. You caught a flash of blonde hair and noticed the distinctive way she carried herself on the pitch. She wasn’t doing anything else than the others– passing, moving, stretching. But she stood out. There was something about her, even from a distance, a pull you couldn’t quite explain. It was like your eyes gravitated towards her naturally, without you guiding them. 

The Alexia you’d walked the tour with, who’d thrown you teasing smiles and leaned a little too close when you said goodbye, was gone. Out here, she was something entirely different– serious, focused, untouchable. She hadn’t looked up once, her eyes not searching yours, and you would feel apprehensive about it if you didn’t remember the look she had in her eyes when she invited you. After all, why would she? She had a job to do. This was her thing, as much as yesterday was yours.

You weren’t the only one watching her, obviously. You could hear little bursts of her name from the fans sitting nearby, the occasional shriek of excitement when she touched the ball during a drill. She was theirs and they were hers in a way I couldn’t quite wrap my head around, but it was beautiful. Alexia is Barca and Barca is Alexia, right?

It wasn’t long then until the game started, you got lost in your own thoughts a little bit and you were now mere seconds away from kick-off. The pitch looked impossibly green under the floodlights– that were turned on way too early, but you guessed it was better to be safe than sorry. Players were scattered around it, waiting for the signal from the referee that they could get their game going. The energy of the crowd built like a wave, rolling through the stands. People were on their feet, clapping, yelling. You didn’t know the chants, but you felt a tingle inside of you urging you to clap along, the energy of the crowd too enticing not to.

As the whistle blew to signal kick-off, the energy in the stadium shifted. You didn’t expect it to hit you like that, the way the crowd seemed to breathe, shift, move as one organism. It was overwhelming in the best way. You weren’t here to watch anyone in particular, you told yourself. You were just going to enjoy the experience, the place, to see it all in action. But once again, as soon as the ball was in play, you found yourself watching her. Tracking the way she moved, the way she gracefully handled the ball, the way she always seemed two steps ahead of everyone else.

Out here, she was undeniable. There was a precision to the way she played, a quiet authority that made it impossible to look away. It wasn’t just that she was good– and realistically, that played a huge part, it was the way she made everything look so effortless, like she’d orchestrated the entire game in her head before anyone else knew what was happening.

You were deep into the first half when the play stalled, and for the first time all game, the noise of the crowd dulled in your ears. Alexia was in the middle of the action, barking instructions to her teammates– sharp, no-nonsense commands you couldn’t hear from up there but you could feel all the same. Her gestures were deliberate, decisive, and when she pointed towards the flank, her teammates took off without hesitation.

There was something magnetic about it, about the way she owned the field without ever raising her voice too much, the way her team fell in line like clockwork because she was the one pulling the strings. Captain’s armband snug around her bicep, confidence looked good on her. It wasn’t flashy or loud, but it was undeniable.

Your eyes lingered on her a little longer than they should have, when play resumed. The way her jersey clung to her shoulders and arms wasn’t helping either. You shifted in your seat, tearing your gaze away, but the thought was already there, uninvited and impossible to ignore. You’d listen to whatever she told you to do too.

Heat rushed to your face at the realization so quickly it nearly made you feel dizzy. Nope. Absolutely not. You took a deep breath and focused back on the game, on the fluid football that was being portrayed by the girls in blaugrana. Professional. You are professional. And you are definitely not thinking about what it would be like to hear that voice closer. Louder. DIrected at you.

Saved by the bell. Or the half-time whistle. Saved by something, thank God. That’s what you thought. As the players made their way toward the tunnel, your eyes found her again. She was talking to one of her teammates, gesturing animatedly about something, but just before she disappeared into the tunnel, she glanced towards her box. It was quick, so quick you almost missed it, but your heart skipped a beat anyway. You told yourself she wasn’t looking for you. Why would she?

During half-time, a kid sitting a couple rows in front of you caught your eye. He was shouting all of the players names, his little voice full of excitement. He was waving a jersey, one with the number 4 on the back, and even though they couldn’t hear him right now, tucked away in the building, it struck you how loved they all were. How much they all meant to these people. You caught yourself smiling at the kid’s enthusiasm. At the player’s impact. It was hard not to feel drawn into it.

The second half went by quicker than the first. You’d settled, and you were starting to feel more like yourself the more time went on. Barcelona scored thrice in the second half, effectively beating their opponents 3-0. Alexia hadn’t scored, but she’d assisted the final goal and you felt a weird sense of pride overcome you as her cross was headed in by one of her teammates. The final whistle pierced the air, and with it came an eruption of cheers from the stands. Another win, another three points, and they deserved every ounce of the applause raining down on them.

Alexia didn’t jump into the celebration like some of her teammates did, instead staying composed as she clapped for the fans along with her friends, her captain’s demeanor shining through even in victory. For a second, she looked toward the family box, her gaze skimming across the seats. You thought to yourself that she might be looking for you, but as soon as it arose, you brushed it away, even though your stomach fluttered at the thought.

And then, like she’d heard your internal thoughts, answering the unspoken question, she lifted a hand in a small wave. Subtle, unnoticeable for anyone that wasn’t watching, but it was definitely there. You gave her a small wave back, and you wondered if anyone had noticed the small interaction between the two of you. This wasn’t the time to raise any suspicions, and even though no one’s eyes were on you, you felt like a spotlight had just been shone directly on you. You thought that was gonna be it, but then she stepped away from the group of her teammates for a second, and made a phonecall motion with her hands. You gave her a thumbs up in response, in hindsight probably not the most flattering thing, but it would do the job.

It wasn’t long after the team disappeared back into the tunnel that your phone buzzed in the pocket of your jacket.

From: Alexia I’m gonna get a quick shower, but I want to see you :) Meet me outside by the parking lot in 20 minutes?

A bashful smile grew on your face as you read her text, the casual tone doing little to mask the effect it had on you.

To: Alexia Yes, of course! Just gotta tell me how to get there

Alexia sent you on your way with a couple directions and off you went, not bothering to wait another 20 minutes in your seat, trying to avoid any possibility of you being late in the parking lot. The chill of the evening air hit you as you stepped outside of the stadium, as if inside there was a personal bubble of warmth created for the team. You crossed the main parking lot, that was surprisingly quiet. Most fans still lingering inside or making their way out through the main exits.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you approached the meeting spot, a secluded parking are for the players. It was even quieter there, and every little sound seemed amplified in your ears.

Alexia took 17 minutes after sending you her post-match text. Not that you had been counting, or anything. She stepped out of the building, freshly showered and dressed in a Barca tracksuit. Her confident and vibrant energy from the pitch faltered slightly, but you still warmed up at the sight of her. Her hair still damp from her shower, duffle bag slung over her shoulder, walking over to you with an easy stride, as if she’d done this a thousand times before. She broke out in a wide smile as she approached you.

“Hey,” she started, her voice low and warm, “thanks for waiting.” You chuckled and waved away her comment, a little awkward silence forming between the two of you that you tried not to get in your head about, before making a remark about the game. “You played well. All of you, really. It was… impressive to watch. Thank you for the ticket.”

“Are you saying that because you mean it, or because I’m standing here?” Alexia teased. She hadn’t changed a single thing from her demeanor yesterday, still as flirty and making teasing remarks. “Maybe both.” Alexia let out a soft laugh, and even without soundproof walls and good acoustics, it still wrapped around you like a warm blanket in the chilly evening air.

She grew sincere then, her eyes softening a bit. “Hey, thanks for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.” You were taken aback a little by her words, a little sense of insecurity creeping through her voice. “Honestly, for a long time I wasn’t sure either, but I’m glad I did. It just… didn’t know if I should.” The Barcelona captain frowned at that, tilting her head slightly. “Why not?” You knew the question was coming, so you shrugged and gave her your response with a small smile on your face.

“Maybe because this feels… I don’t know, different? You’re… you.” “I’m me?” “You’re Alexia Putellas. Everyone in that stadium was looking at you tonight. And now here I am, standing in a parking lot with you, wondering why you’d want to see me of all people.” “And yet, here you are. Doesn’t that say something?”

You locked eyes for a moment, a brief pause in the conversation and the air between you both changed with unspoken words. Alexia’s expression softens further, her confident demeanor giving way for something vulnerable, something you hadn’t seen about her yet.

“Maybe I don’t want to be Alexia Putellas all the time, you know? It gets quite tiring.” Alexia said quietly. You were caught off guard, but composed yourself quickly. “That’s not an easy thing to ask with your career, captain.” You chuckled quietly, but grew quiet as you noticed the sincerity in her voice. “Look, I know we barely know each other. But I think you’re the kind of person who could see me for who I am, not just the name, the number or the captain’s armband. I feel drawn to you, and that doesn’t happen often. And I know you feel it too. I can tell by the way you look at me.”

“That’s… a lot, Alexia.” You hesitated, meeting her eyes again. “Thank you for being so open and honest with me. You’re right, I feel it too. But I don’t know if I’m the kind of person you think I am. I mean… you’re you, and…” you trailed off, but you were sure she understood what you were trying to say.

“And you’re you. That’s exactly why I’m standing here right now. Why I invited you today. Why I asked you to come to the parking lot.” Her words helped you ease a little further, but not all the apprehension had worn off and she could tell. “Tell you what, let me prove it to you. Dinner? No pressure. Just food, conversation, and maybe some embarrassing stories about my teammates.” A hopeful smile grew on her face after her words and you couldn’t hold back the chuckle that escaped your lips as you listened to her. “You know how to sell an offer, don’t you?”

“I’ve got plenty. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.” “Hmm, I don’t know. Feels like you’re trying too hard to convince me.” “Trying too hard? I thought I was being charming!” “Debatable.” “Come on, let me in tonight. That’s all I’m asking for.” “Fine. But only because I’m curious about these embarrassing stories.” “Fair enough.”

-

The restaurant is small but elegant, tucked away in a quieter part of the city. Twinkling string lights frame the windows, and a gold sign with cursive lettering displays the name. It was perfect, really, and you could see why Alexia liked coming here, especially after busy days like today.

The warm lighting inside created the perfect cozy atmosphere that would allow you both to unwind from the day. There were candles on every table, casting soft shadows on the walls, and there was a tinge of jazz to be heard in the background. It’s intimate but not overly formal, just right for a dinner that was toeing the line between casual and romantic.

“You’ve got good taste in restaurants,” you said, after hanging your jacket over your chair and sitting down. “Good food is one of the few indulgences I allow myself during the season. Though I have to be careful not to overdo it.” You smirked, deciding that you could tease her a little further. “You mean you don’t carb-load on patatas bravas before every match?” Alexia laughed at that, throwing her head back slightly. “I wish. I’d run for ten minutes and then need a sub.”

You indulge yourself in the menu for a second, eventually settling on and ordering a seafood risotto and a glass of white wine. Alexia ordered grilled chicken with roasted vegetables, paired with a glass of red.

You feel hyper-aware of every small detail about Alexia while you wait for your food. The way she leans forward when she speaks, the gestures she makes with her hands, the warmth in her eyes. You’re overwhelmed, in the best possible way.

“So, Putellas, do you always bring strangers here, or should I feel special?” You challenged, taking a sip from the glass of wine that was just brought to you by one of the waiters. Alexia feigned annoyance, placing a hand over her chest where her heart was. Nonetheless, her face turned into a grin soon.

“Special. But don’t let it get to your head. I needed to bribe you into liking me somehow.” “Oh, so this is a bribe?” “What can I say? I’m better with my feet than my words”

Dinner goes by smoothly, and your conversation flows easily from one topic to the other. You cover your family, Alexia’s way into football, what she’s thinking of doing after football, your hobbies, your youth, but it’s when the topic of your work is being brought up that you grow apprehensive. Alexia noticed the unease that came from you after she brought it up, and tried to reassure you.

“You know, I like hearing about your work. It’s part of who you are,” she tried. If there was one thing that you’d not gotten over yet, it’s that you met Alexia through a work context. Deep down, there were more than rational thoughts telling you that that was completely okay, it happened all the time, but with how focused you are on your image and your professional career, you had a hard time dropping the apprehension. So you paused for a second, and then spoke up softly. “But that’s the thing. I feel like I need to keep it separate. Like if I start talking too much about it, I’ll ruin this… whatever this is.” Alexia leant forward at that, like she had the tendency to do quite often you’d grown to learn. “And what do you think this is?” You met her eyes, trying to feign indifference by shrugging. “I don’t know. Something new, something unexpected.”

“Well, maybe unexpected is good. You don’t have to keep everything separate, you know. I like knowing more about you. All of you.” “Careful, I might start talking about zoning laws and blueprints.” “I’ll risk it. Besides, more fuel for me to tease you with.”

There’s a little more hesitance in your eyes, and Alexia wants to get rid of it. “Tonight, I’m not Alexia Putellas. I’m Alexia, Ale. That’s all I want to be now.” And really, how could you stay professional with someone who looked at you like that, as if they’re seeing something no one else ever had?

“I don’t usually do this either, you know? Going for dinner with someone I barely know.” Alexia speaks up after a while of comfortable silence. “Then why now?” You asked, not sure whether you really wanted to hear the answer, knowing it would only put your further into a pit of unfamiliar feelings that was growing deeper and deeper with each passing minute of sitting across the infatuating Spanish captain. “Because you feel different. I’m not sure how to explain it, but I feel like you see me. Not the player, just me.”

The night went on without too many hiccups from then on. It was only when the time came to pay, that some more teasing was thrown around. “You’ve got that look on your face. You’re going to pay, aren’t you.” You cocked an eyebrow at the women across you who was sporting a bright smile. “You caught me.” You sighed, rolling your eyes briefly. “At least let me cover dessert.”

“How about this; you get dessert next time.” “Next time? You’re confident.” “Maybe. But I’m not doubting anything.”

As you step out the restaurant, Alexia offers you her jacket when she notices you shivering in the chilly air of Barcelona. Your fingers brush as she helps you into it, and for a moment, they linger. “This was nice. I’m glad you said yes.” Her voice barely above a whisper, as if the intimacy of the evening had softened her voice. “Me too. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but… I had a really great time. Sorry for my apprehension.” “Don’t apologise. And good, because I’d like to do this again. Soon.”

For a moment, Alexia looked at you, her eyes lingering on yours like she was memorizing something important. And then she leaned in, so slowly that you could feel your heart pound in anticipation. Her lips brushed your cheek, featherlight and warm, lingering just enough to make your breath hitch. It wasn’t hurried, it was deliberate, full of quiet meaning.

Your skin tingled where she’d kissed you, and a rush of warmth spread from your chest all the way to your fingertips. It was a simple gesture, nothing more than a small brush of her lips against your cheek, but it left you feeling all kinds of ways. Ways that you weren’t prepared for, and your growing adoration for her hit you in the face once more.

When she pulled back, Alexia’s eyes searched yours for a reaction, her own cheeks tinged pink in the glow of the streetlight. Your voice felt caught in your throat, but your heart spoke louder. You knew then, without a doubt, that this was more than just a fleeting connection.

[uriekukistan]

HI I BRING INTERACTION pls feed me megu headcanons if u feel so inclined,,,,

hii ty for the interaction :D ofc i am always inclined to megu hcs! he's in my brain 25/8...megumi my beloved <333333333

megumi's always been a light sleeper/had a hard time falling asleep. even when he was a baby, he'd be up like 37 times in the night, so toji and mamaguro would take turns pulling all nighters because what's the point of going to sleep when baby megumi is just gonna start crying 10 minutes later...even when he's older, he still wakes up several times in the night. it's too hot, it's too cold, i'm thirsty, the door slammed four apartments down, etc. of course this only gets worse after the detention center because he starts having nightmares :( dw, this opens the door for some cute itafushi moments down the road im writing a fic abt this

he also wakes up reaalllly early because of this, like 5am...that doesn't mean he's a morning person though. he's very grumpy and almost completely unresponsive to anyone trying to talk to him. not that anyone else is really up at 5am with him...maybe yuuji, but he's on the other side of his sleep cycle (hasn't gone to bed yet, was binge watching a new series) and probably equally zombie-like. anyway, megumi is the epitome of "don't talk to me before i've had my coffee." gojo got him a mug that said that once...

megumi didn't eat breakfast (much to tsumiki's chagrin) until he met yuuji, but that's mostly because he doesn't want to waste yuuji's efforts food :)

to add on to that, he has a pretty small appetite, my personal thought is this comes from when he was younger. he and tsumiki struggled to get food between when their money ran out post parental departure and when gojo came into their lives, so he just got used to not eating a lot...but for the same reason he'll never leave food on his plate. lingering fear that he'll wake up with nothing to eat one day (SORRY i had to make it angsty bc that's just Who I Am 💔💔💔)

um. to end it on a lighter note :) if megumi wasn't a sorcerer, he'd work at an animal rescue facility or a no-kill shelter and he's all the dogs' fav employee :))) (ik a lot of people like vet megumi, but i feel like he'd get too sad when he had to put an animal down bc he couldnt save it........). if he wasn't into that, he'd be interested in ecology and habitat preservation for endangered species.

um i was gonna do a Day In the Life of Megumi but the first points got sooo long so uh. stopped after breakfast.

(the way i write abt him all the time and still had to take a while to write this,,,had to separate au megumi from real megumi)

[vlad-theimplier]

WIP Wednesday: Custos Custodium

No rest for the righteous, or whatever the hell this guy is: Jensen still has errantry to accomplish, and kilometers to go before he sleeps. See him beat up a few more cops.

For a change, Jensen had every intention of following orders to the letter. Off the streets was definitely the place to be. Plus, the Orchid’s effects had not been exactly restful—even though he’d been unconscious for twelve hours, he felt like he’d pulled one all-nighter and was working on a second. But when he gathered himself and rose to enter the subway tunnels, his infolink fizzed and scratched oddly. It looked like someone was trying and failing to call him. No ID popped up, or even a face, but a set of coordinates flickered twice and vanished. He pulled up a map of Prague and checked—not far, actually, on the way back to Překážka, but there was a third coordinate, “–15 m,” that stumped him for a second. Then he realized: the sewers.

He set off into the darkness, ears desultorily attuned to any hint of resumed subway service, and found the spur tunnel some twenty minutes later. Through an old culvert and down a short drop, firelight flickered: not just one fire, but several, all set up in oil drums neatly ringed around a common area. An array of mattresses lay to one side, on a wooden platform, and three radios played simultaneously. One of them was Lazarus—he was having a field day, and no mistake, ranting about the page the Czech government had clearly taken from FEMA’s book on REX-84. Jensen tuned him out and looked around.

A short woman in mismatched fatigues saw him and waved him over. He placed her as she tugged off a watch cap, spiking her elegant, greying bob into staticky strands that reminded him of Malik before tea. Maybe he should get her a hat like that, as a gag.

“Welcome to the Underground,” the Samizdatnik said in a French accent. “I owe you an apology for hacking your infolink.”

“Little K, right? Nice look. And don’t sweat it. I’m assuming you had a good reason.”

“Mais oui! Good memory. Yes, Samizdat’s usual channels are all bugged. I couldn’t risk an audio communication being traced back here.”

“Are you in charge of all this? You don’t sound local.” His glance took in the water purifier in the corner and the multifunction printer sitting beige and incongruous on cinder blocks.

“Ah, yes—they declared martial law, and it all came rushing back to me. I’m from Provence, originally, but I wrote some things that made me have to de-localize a long time ago. Been living story to story on a Schengen visa and a language implant ever since. But I remember my misspent youth and how we operated. I had friends who grew up in East Berlin, you know.”

“So are you running a resistance cell here, or a campaign room?”

She shrugged expressively. “What’s the difference? Now Samizdat has a captive voter base, we could run for the Senat.”

“It’s organized resistance, then.”

“Organized, but peaceful. We’re working together to get people under the cordon and out of Prague. It’s a happy accident of a police state.” Jensen raised an eyebrow, and she amended, “Well, I say happy. When everyone’s repressed, they can see past their prejudices.”

“Or they shift the blame. It’s gonna take a long time for those prejudices to heal.”

Little K nodded gravely. “As long as certain people can profit from keeping the wounds fresh. But you knew that already.”

Jensen finally spotted the tap from the power mains, up by the ceiling of the old foundation. “This isn’t what I call laying low. Aren’t you afraid the police will find you again, finish what they started?”

“Eh—they already got K, Bones, the backup servers, even the shitty coffee machine. Enough for them to call it a win and get back to indiscriminate brutality on the streets.”

“Where were you when this happened?”

“Right here, running our little home away from home. Our sources tipped us off about the martial law. Either we could write about it and throw our hands up—‘Boy, I sure hope the massive rights violation doesn’t end up being too awful this time’—or we could enact a readiness plan and really do something.”

“Huh. To think, when we first met, I called you pamphleteers. I guess I should apologize.”

Little K chuckled. “No, no, we were pamphleteers. Now we’re pamphleteers jury-rigging an underground railroad.”

“You said they got K and Bones?”

“Yes, well—K is me now, according to the Samizdat Manifesto. It’s all very Third Wave Socialism, with a dash of martyr complex.”

“Good to know, but I mean what physically happened to him. K. The old K, the artist formerly known as.”

“Right. His name is Jarek, Jarek Drobni. He’s being held by the police along with Bones. No contact, no bail, no rights. Plausible deniability.”

Jensen winced. “He must have known the risks.”

“Well, he was open to the existence of risks… theoretically. When you showed up, it should have been a wake-up call, but you were reasonable. The State isn’t reasonable.”

“‘The State’ is made of people. Some of whom are reasonable. Like me.”

“Not tonight, they aren’t.”

He thought about the abstract lieutenant and sighed. “Fair enough. What’s your plan?”

“We’re getting people out of the city, starting first thing tomorrow. We have trucks ready. I want Jarek and Bones to go with them, but first we need to bust them out of jail tonight.” She gave him an expectant look.

He returned it levelly. “And you think I’m the kind of guy who breaks into police stations.”

“Are you telling me you’re not?”

Jensen caught himself before he laughed. She was growing on him, especially in contrast to K. Or Drobni, whatever. “Fine, I’ll get them out. They’re being held in the temporary police station downtown?”

“Yes, by the Monument metro. Once you’re clear, take them across the plaza to the Unneda cleaners. They changed the door code to, what was it, zero-four-five-one. We’ve cached everything they need for a long road trip along the old NATO decommissioning zone.”

He rocked back a little. It would be a lengthy, dangerous trek through the minefields strewn across eastern Europe like wrack lines, each one marking a chapter in the saga of Russian expansionism and collapse. “That’s your escape route? Puts getting them past the State Police into perspective.”

Little K shrugged again. “It… works on paper. Ah! and give them these. New identity documents, a lot of new identities. We found a very good forger. We’re keeping her from a bright future in a Picus newsroom.” She handed him a bundle of papers and jerked her thumb over her shoulder at someone sitting behind a computer.

The woman leaned out, revealing a bright blue undercut and a black leather jacket studded with spikes and slashed through with clear plastic windows. When she saw Jensen, she flinched, then gave him a smile and wave that tried to be disarming and managed only guilty. It was Milena, the forger who’d been working for Drahomir.

He stared her down over Little K’s shoulder. “We’ve met, actually.”

“Oh! Good. She’s been invaluable. So.” She gave him a solemn nod. “Bonne chance, to you and to them.”

Before he left, he tapped on the edge of Milena’s computer screen. “I see you didn’t take my advice about giving up on forgery.”

This time, her smile was defiant. “I know, I know, but trouble is: I’ve got a talent for it. And it’s a real growth market. As soon as you got me out of that thing with Drahomir, I had like twenty emails from Samizdat. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for art school graduates to find a specialist subject these days?”

“The permits aren’t enough for police anymore. Forged or real.”

“Not in Prague, maybe. But it turns out I’m multilingual when it comes to falsifying border passes. Lucky, right?”

“If it gets K and Bones out of the Czech Republic, I’ll call it lucky.”

She scoffed and growled an octave lower in mockery of him. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Super Commando Man. ‘Oh, don’t mention it, Milena.’ If there was an easier option, you think we wouldn’t take it? I was less stressed out when I was working at gunpoint.”

“Well… I’ll let you get back to work. I’m sure you have more people to smuggle out of Prague, and you’re a hell of a lot better than the Dvali.”

Milena gasped dramatically and clutched at her chest. “Coming from you, that is like the gold star seal of approval!”

He rolled his eyes, remembered she couldn’t see it, and shook his head. Then he made for the tunnels again, to solve other people’s problems. Just for a change of pace.

[dark-twist-fairytales]

(Currently trying to imagine how that Micah and Vin one would work- is it Vin on Micahs chest or Vin laying chest down? Or Micah on Vin.)

Yeah, they all enjoy a good cuddle. Keagen and Juni sometimes just lay togheter in bed when the rest are up and about, enjoying each others company and getting to know what it feels like to be spooned (Vin has tried, which Juni found adorable, but he ended up under her when they woke up)

Once Vin said "Hey, I'm gonna pull an all nighter to work on some stuff."

The rest are fine with one night, since they've seen him work without sleep for several days. They start to get concerned, however, when he doesn't come to bed the next night, or the next, or next.

They try to get him to come to bed but he always says, "soon, love." Clayton is also concerned since he knows what he's like several days without sleep.

It all comes to a head when Vin just randomly passes out when he's standing, Juni carrying him to bed and holding him close.

"You're an idiot, my love."

(This very same scenario has 100% happened with Clara and Clayton)

(With Micah and Vin: The height difference and with how Micah is curled, it'll bring Micah low enough to Vin's chest. So, it's Micah on Vin's chest. It's essentially like if Vin was sitting in Micah's lap, just them laying down (Vin on his back). It sounds more uncomfortable than it is.)

Juni and Keagen purposefully waiting together in bed, so Keagen has an excuse to listen to Juni talk as they get ready for the day.

Juni gently berating Vin in his sleep in such a Clara and Clayton thing to happen, I love it.

Honestly, them having a calm and relaxing day, I want that for them.

[orcelito]

O yea so today I got a lot done towards my UX design class's final project. Sat on a call with my group for several hours working on shit. I also got several more chapters done of my reading.

Tomorrow I'm gonna try to knock my persuasion class's project out (since that's due the earliest, this friday). Probably do some more reading.

Wednesday I'm meeting with UX design group again to finish up the project. Gonna try to work on my data governance project too. At least finish my section of work on the report. I'll also have to clean tho so idk how much energy I'll have

Thursday is gonna be Thanksgiving stuff. No time for school bc I'll be doing family stuff.

Friday I'll finish up whatever I haven't finished with my projects. *Ideally* I'll get working on my last essay exam, tho it's due on Tuesday aka later than the rest of the projects, so it's not immediately pressing. Worst case scenario, I pull another all-nighter after Monday to get it done. Tho I have a gynecology appointment on Monday that'd complicate it 😭

BUT!!!!!!! Saturday I will hopefully get my car. And then drive myself back home on Sunday. Which would make things easier with monday.. maybe... we'll see...

[dcwnthercbbithcle]

Thinking about Doe’s crepuscular nature in TLB’s verse. Now! Historic vampire-lore aside (given how fickle a standard it poses given the wide scope of the myth in cultures and folklore) It must be said, nature wise there is massive precedent, most predatory creatures in nature, from lions to foxes, bear, jaguars and even raccoons are crepuscular! It's not something out of the picture and it feels truly fitting!

I also find it fascinating with Doe, she gets extra time but it’s not exactly the clear cut benefit you would hope it would be. In terms of energy and wakefulness, she WILL drop off in the middle of the night, growing sluggish and seeming 'out of it', and will choose to retire to a hunting burrow or hidden alcove for a cat nap until prey passes by and she catches hint or she can muster back energy she needs to feel on the ball.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, and I recently learned about this, many crepuscular animals will alter their sleep schedule and internal circadian rhythm in response to the activity of prey and predators in the area where they’re active! Sometimes it’s to work with the competition, other times it’s following prey and sometimes it’s just a ‘human beings disrupt everything’ sort of deal but regardless I do feel this phenomenon DOES effect Doe too!

Or at least whenever she’s choosing to live in the dorm room they’ve chosen to occupy as a second base of operations and in direct and frequent contact with humans.

On that note, Doe's body and her routines won't necessarily prioritize logic over instinct when it comes to her sleep routine. I mean, let's be real, waking up extra early into possible daylight is a piss poor plan for survival. But Doe's nature is ground dwelling and burrowing, her body assumes she's underground, burrowing, and hunting from there. Following the feeling of footsteps and scents back to homes to wait until night cover has drawn. Meanwhile Doe, in actuality is often playing RA and dormroom babysitter. And on that note, even when shielded by curtains and by the shade of buildings, Doe is still, well, she's a vampire! Resistant, yes. But immune? Absolutely not, she burns out quickly and her sunburns are severe, even second hand and even running in low light has its risks. But the vulnerability is par for the course, a constant reminder of the dangers of her human-centric lifestyle and deciding to go against the long evolved instincts.

Also RE: The Janette incident, it was 1000% lowkey Doe’s fault but not due to willful negligence, she had a human-centric schedule formed around the beginning of the school year and establishing her character (or so to speak) on the campus, so when the humans were suddenly wanting to pull all nighters and party through the night. Doe couldn’t keep up, she couldn't stay vigil at the watch, and the minute she needed to be on guard and watching for intruders, she was asleep!

Frosh week is hard and by all rights there should’ve been more than just two of the girls on guard, but the others wanted to follow the party to Santa Carla and feed and Doe wasn’t gonna tell them no, she's not their mother, or their leader (god knows she doesn't want THAT responsibility)

Of course every chicken farmer gotta know: you’re gonna lose *one* to the foxes now and again, even with all the livestock guardian dogs, gizmos and gadgets. But that doesn’t make the sting of failure and the anger at the Audacity of the wayward vamp any less!

Groups of vampires are, surprisingly, often less of an issue than a single vampire because a pack gotta think about the repercussions for all members! They don’t have the ability of moving light and inconspicuously. Is a single student worth the possibility of losing one of your own? Absolutely not. But the starving half-vamps and the single survivalist vampires aren’t so easily deterred

And TRUST ME it’s absolutely the deal, Doe will say as much when she’s the person doing the confronting. You’re not welcome here, you can try to snag a few, it’s not like we have eyes EVERYWHERE but trust me, we know your faces and we WILL take one from your pack for each student you make off with.

*it should be noted, when students leave the school grounds and territory the girls consider them free game for anyone. They care little for students once they’ve strayed beyond their territory, a sort of mental transition from kept livestock to wild game, and god knows! That’s Where THEY hunt too! it’s just the school and both their territory within and around that’s barred as a hunting ground for any of the similarly afflicted vamps!

Thinking about Doe’s crepuscular nature in TLB’s verse. Now! Historic vampire-lore aside (given how fickle a standard it poses given the wide scope of the myth in cultures and folklore) It must be said, nature wise there is massive precedent, most predatory creatures in nature, from lions to foxes, bear, jaguars and even raccoons are crepuscular!

I find it fascinating with Doe, she gets extra time but it’s not exactly the clear cut benefit you would hope it would be. In terms of energy and wakefulness, she WILL drop off in the middle of the night, growing sluggish and seeming 'out of it', and will choose to retire to a hunting burrow or hidden alcove for a cat nap until prey passes by and she catches hint or she can muster back energy she needs to feel on the ball.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, and I recently learned about this, many crepuscular animals will alter their sleep schedule and internal circadian rhythm in response to the activity of prey and predators in the area where they’re active! Sometimes it’s to work with the competition, other times it’s following prey and sometimes it’s just a ‘human beings disrupt everything’ sort of deal but regardless I do feel this phenomenon DOES effect Doe too!

Or at least whenever she’s choosing to live in the dorm room they’ve chosen to occupy as a second base of operations and in direct and frequent contact with humans.

On that note, Doe's body and her routines won't necessarily prioritize logic over instinct when it comes to her sleep routine. I mean, let's be real, waking up extra early into possible daylight is a piss poor plan for survival. But Doe's nature is ground dwelling and burrowing, her body assumes she's underground, burrowing, and hunting from there. Following the feeling of footsteps and scents back to homes to wait until night cover has drawn. Meanwhile Doe, in actuality is often playing RA and dorm babysitter. And on that note, even when shielded by curtains and by the shade of buildings, Doe is still, well, she's a vampire! Resistant, yes. But immune? Absolutely not, she burns out quickly and her sunburns are severe, even second hand and even running in low light has its risks. But the vulnerability is par for the course, a constant reminder of the dangers of her human-centric lifestyle and deciding to go against the long evolved instincts.

The incident with Janette serves as a prime example of this, it WAS Doe’s fault but not due to willful negligence or oversight. Doe had a human-centric sleep schedule formed around the beginning of the school year out of need, given she needed time to establish her character (or so to speak) around the campus, so when the humans were suddenly wanting to pull all nighters and party through the night. Doe couldn’t keep up, her circaidian rhythm couldn't and wouldn't allow it. She couldn't stay vigil at the watch with so many people coming and going between open house style dorm parties, and the minute she needed to be on guard and watching for intruders, she was asleep!

Frosh week is hard and by all rights there should’ve been more than just two of the girls on guard, but the others wanted to follow the party to Santa Carla and feed and Doe wasn’t gonna tell them no, she's not their mother, or their leader (god knows she doesn't want THAT responsibility)

Of course every chicken farmer gotta know: you’re gonna lose *one* to the foxes now and again, even with all the livestock guardian dogs, gizmos and gadgets. But that doesn’t make the sting of failure and the anger at the Audacity of the wayward vampire any less!

SIDENOTE: Groups of vampires are, surprisingly, often less of an issue than a single vampire because a pack gotta think about the repercussions for all members! They don’t have the ability of moving light and inconspicuously. Is a single student worth the possibility of losing one of your own? Absolutely not. But the starving half-vamps and the single survivalist vampires aren’t so easily deterred

And TRUST ME it’s absolutely the deal, Doe will say as much when she’s the person doing the confronting. You’re not welcome here, you can try to snag a few, it’s not like we have eyes EVERYWHERE but trust me, we know your faces and we WILL take one from your pack for each student you make off with.

Doe's philosophy, and by extension the philosophy of the Belles is simple: students are welcome within their territory, come and go as they please, do whatever! but once they venture beyond the school's grounds and the territory, they become fair game for anyone. The girls consider themselves "livestock" keepers within their territory, but beyond that boundary, they transform into hunters. This mental transition is a crucial aspect of their nature and the pack mentality they have going.

[unknooooow]

BTTF Year-End Tag Game!

@alex-a-fans thanks for tagging me :DD and yes I wanted to wait until very close to new year's eve to post this

This year:

-How many times would you guess you watched the first back to the future movie?

... good question. Idk too :)) maybe 10 or 15 times around

-Did you get any sweet bttf merch? If so, what!

this year I only got one thing: the bttf making of book (I got it for my bday :DD)

-How many cans of Pepsi Free did you chug this year?

well... 1 or 2? pepsi is not something that is easy to find around here ;-;

-What was a favorite bttf fanfic you read this year?

I could name several... but Im gonna name one with several chapters and a oneshot

fic with more than one chapter: Most People Were Silent by @daryfromthefuture. DOC FROM THE 40S :DD this topic is just soo interesting. and Dary worked really well on this topic :))

oneshot: Merry Christmas from the Browns by @alex-a-fans. this was one of the best. Its funny and it caught me by surprise. doc as Santa Claus :))

-A favorite bttf fanart you saw this year? (please give us a link, not a screencap/repost!)

calm down. here I go looking for the fanarts :)

this fanart is so amazing and deep (@autoraton)

I love analyzing Citizen Brown reality. and this here represents my fascination with this :)) (@tobytost)

the Brown family is my fictional family ok? I love them and they look beautiful in this fanart 🥺🥺 (@maxintime)

I LOVE BABY DOC YOUR HONOR!! he looks so cute in this fanart I CANT STAND IT 🥺🥺 (@cheriboms)

-Did you create any bttf fanart or fanfic? If you did, what one(s) are you proudest of?

OOOOOOH GREAT QUESTION :DD

In terms of fic I think the best was the first chapter of June of Doom. At first I thought the idea might backfire but it ended up making a great fic :)) I loved working on the topic

In terms of fanart I choose this beauty here. this was one of the drawings that required the most work but it was worth it :) I ended up liking the result and the text and the other characters I made

-How many times were you late for school this year?

none :) I am a very exemplary student ;))

-Did you watch any other movies/tv shows with BTTF actors in them?

well, I watched My Favorite Martian (courtesy of @alex-a-fans :)) that features Christopher Lloyd. the old Addams movie that also features Christopher Lloyd. and... Who framed Roger Rabbit... that also features... Christopher Lloyd...

-Was there a memorable moment you heard a Huey Lewis song this year?

in the car. started playing The Power of Love on the radio. and my parents started singing along with me. it was really fun :)

-How many times did you fall down this year?

1 or maybe 2 times. I really try not to fall down

-Did you get to see BTTF: The Musical? What was your experience like!

unfortunately not (yet) ;-; but I hope to go next year (if I can convince my parents to buy tickets for me)

-How many times did your mom retell the story of how she and your father met?

she only told me this story 3 times. and I still remember. Its not that big of a story but its interesting. And if I went back in time maybe I could end up interfering with that too :,)

-If you could describe your year in a BTTF quote, which one would it be?

“Why do we have to cut these things so damn close?”

yep. definitely

⚡️LIGHTNING ROUND⚡️ Did you get to: go on any trains, skate on a skateboard, ride a horse, drive a Delorean, run in the rain, go to a dance, hang up a clock, play the guitar, pull an all-nighter, read science fiction, or drive thru Burger King this year?

-Your future is whatever you make it! So what are you going to make of this coming year?

try to be more active. and write more. ill try :)) I dont promise much

but anyway. HAPPY NEW YEAR PEOPLE :DD

Tagging: @autoraton @maxintime @tobytost feel free to do it :))

[mythical-bookworm]

Thanks for the tag! I only joined to fandom in September, so I haven't been here or done anything for to long haha

Also @cheriboms thanks for the tag as well, I was already working on this reblog when you tagged me whoops.

1. Twice....I swear TV never shows it- *starts crying*

2. No, but I want some!

3. I am not a fan of 90 percent of soda, including Pepsi! Nor do I like sugar free stuff...

4. 'Cause I Might Not Make It Back

Look, guys. I love the amnesia trope. Young Emmett and Marty is amazing. This is two birds with one stone.

5. YOU WANT ME TO DECIDE?????

Okay, for humor reasons:

For content reasons:

For awesome looking reasons:

6. Yes sir! I have several incomplete/abandoned fanfics so the only one I've posted is Doctober 2023, but I learned so much from that!

As for art I have done several, but my favorite one has to be this:

7. Zero times 😎

8. Uhhh, see I never recognize actors so if I did I didn't know lol

9. Ok so we got a new car and we were testing it's Bluetooth and we used my playlist. Power of Love came on and Dad was like "Huey Lewis? Wow." And I was just like "I have some random things on here-" ;-;

10. Idk, I don't count that haha, but def a good amount. But I did just fall yesterday on top of my cousin hehe.

11. So I didn't GO see it cause it's across the country. However I found an uhm...another way to watch it.

Needless to say AAAAAAAA ITS AMAZING! All of Marty's little quirks are there and hilarious! Little details about his and Doc's friendship are so adorable! Everyone plays their character perfectly! Awesome songs! 10/10!

12. Funny thing. This question made me realize I have no clue how my parents met. I know they met in collage...and that's it. Whoops.

13. "Silence, Earthling!"

14. Run in the rain- Yes! Marching season overlaps monsoon season so once or twice we were forced to run with our instruments in a panic out of the rain (because there's lightning near and we need to get back inside)

Pull an all nighter- Literally pulled my first all nighter 2 days ago! Me and my cousins swore we wouldn't sleep. The youngest failed at 4 but me and the oldest made it past sunrise at 7 am. She then literally passed out and I got bored so I went to sleep for 3 hours.

Read Science Fiction- Yup!

Drive thru Burger King- Didn't do drive thru, but walked in. Fun story, me and my friends just came back from a comic-con so we all walked in full cosplay! We gave the employees a laugh, especially when the one dressed as Michel Myers came in first with no context haha.

15. I dunno! I have a lot of things ahead of me, but I'm trying not to stress too hard. I'm just going to go with the flow.

Not gonna tag anyone here as a lot have already done this and I'm doing this last minute. But if you want to do it, go right ahead!

BTTF Year-End Tag Game!

This year:

How many times would you guess you watched the first back to the future movie?

Did you get any sweet bttf merch? If so, what!

How many cans of Pepsi Free did you chug this year?

What was a favorite bttf fanfic you read this year?

A favorite bttf fanart you saw this year? (please give us a link, not a screencap/repost!)

Did you create any bttf fanart or fanfic? If you did, what one(s) are you proudest of?

How many times were you late for school this year?

Did you watch any other movies/tv shows with BTTF actors in them?

Was there a memorable moment you heard a Huey Lewis song this year?

How many times did you fall down this year?

Did you get to see BTTF: The Musical? What was your experience like!

How many times did your mom retell the story of how she and your father met?

If you could describe your year in a BTTF quote, which one would it be?

⚡️LIGHTNING ROUND⚡️ Did you get to: go on any trains, skate on a skateboard, ride a horse, drive a Delorean, run in the rain, go to a dance, hang up a clock, play the guitar, pull an all-nighter, read science fiction, or drive thru Burger King this year?

Your future is whatever you make it! So what are you going to make of this coming year?

I tag: @agentmcfly24601 @moonlightandstarshimmer @brinkle-brackle @bg-sparrow @bttf-dork @mrfutureboy @pepsifox88 @tsukinikawatteus @itsthemorph @synthsays and anyone who would like to answer these questions! as always, no pressure!

[hoes4hoseok]

txt reacts: you’re preparing for finals

boyfriend!txt x gn!reader requested by :: @unlocktxt (thanks for requesting, babes!) beta reader :: @goldenhypen (thank you for your feedback :) author’s note :: writing this was genuinely so fun and managed to relax me while i was actually losing my mind over finals 😭. dhmu about how inconsistent the tenses are i know they're bad HAHA i hope you guys enjoy and good luck to everyone taking finals now or soon! warnings :: a lot of food and eating habits talk,, i think that's it though. lmk if i need to add anything.

soobin

soobin would be so sweet while you were prepping for finals

if you were struggling with something that he didn’t understand, he’d literally spend 15 minutes on the computer with a pen & paper in hand trying to figure it out 

&& then he’d call you over to explain it but get confused in the middle 

but by that time you’d understand & explain it to him (◡‿◡✿)

you’d probably have many visits to the library since it’s more quiet (& less messy) there than the dorms

you’d also share earbuds while you worked

every once in a while, amongst the slow tracks, a random banger like ‘that that’ by psy would play & the two of you would be sent into a fit of laughter that you tried so hard to contain

luckily, the librarian never busted you

although it did earn a few looks from elsewhere in the room (whoops)

he’s also definitely the type of boyfriend who makes you really good tea

&& it probably became a very important part of your day (because how could it not?! the tea was amazing)

he would prioritize sleep quite a bit, so lights are off for him by 11 every night during finals week

&& that rubbed off on you!

the days would end with an episode of your favorite show playing on his laptop while you drifted off to sleep on his bed together (。-ω-)zzz 

stress be gone!

yeonjun

if you were in a long distance relationship with yeonjun, you & him would have planned for him to fly in the night your finals ended 

but yeonjun found a cheaper flight for the week before :) so naturally, he bought it!

he was so excited to surprise you, especially because he knew how stressed out you were from the several late night facetime calls you had 

&& you were indeed happy to see your boyfriend at your doorstep with takeout from your favorite restaurant in hand

it improved your week tenfold just seeing his face (ꉺᗜꉺ)

he, on the other hand, while happy to see you, was shocked to see how poorly you had been taking care of yourself

considering the dark circles under your eyes & the fact that you were in pajamas at 3 pm,, he knew something was off

&& you, as every student does at one point or another, were living on instant ramen & cereal — he could tell from the state of your dorm alone (╯•﹏•╰)

you didn’t plan for him to find out because he tends to worry about you a lot <3 (SORRY JUN)

&& the ‘less than 6 hours of sleep during finals week’ thing was pretty standard for people at your school

“eat with me” ( •_•)

he set the bag down on your table & looked at you with the playfully threatening stare that you had missed so much

“then i’m getting groceries while you nap” he continued, looking over at your kitchen area

oh wow had you missed your boyfriend

it only came to you when you felt as helpless & overwhelmed as right now

but you needed him. & so, you pulled him in for a tight hug, cutting off his mumbles about the lack of fruit in your kitchen (づ ◕‿◕ )づ

oh, how he loved you <3

beomgyu

beomgyu would not want you to overwork yourself. obviously.

but,, if you were gonna be pulling all nighters & working your butt off, so was he

y’all are in this TOGETHER (｡-_-｡ )人( ｡-_-｡)

he strikes me as the type to know those random life hacks so he might come to you excited with studying ones HEHE

like he’d tell you to chew a different flavor of gum while studying & then chew it again during the exam so you can remember the content better

&& ofc you’d comply to make him happy, but a few of them definitely helped you!

you two probably made plans to go on a little getaway together after the semester ended

so whenever you seemed particularly down, he’d remind you that you’d be miles away from all this in just a week :)

beomgyu is 100% the one making ramen runs to the kitchen (he made sure to stock up before finals week!)

&& he makes yours with the little modifications that you like, whether it’s extra spice, an egg, or some chopped vegetables – he’s got it all

he’s got flashcards, he’s got tea, he’s got hugs…& he’s also an absolute pain in your side when it comes to sleep

ಠಿ_ಠ “it’s 1:30…you said you’d sleep at 1:00” 

he’d have to physically pull you away from your work sometimes 

it wasn’t hard either because you were so tired that your eyes were closing

he’d probably sleep in the mornings of your exams,, but would slice some fruit for you to eat before going to bed

&& leave a little note of encouragement on a sticky note with a couple sticks of gum next to it :)

“good luck. you’re gonna ace this test. love you ♡”

taehyun

you & taehyun had a whole finals prep schedule planned out. this man was not about to let you fail any of your classes or fail any himself

so, your finals prep started at least a month early

he’d be up at seven am shaking you awake & threatening to pour his water on you ʘ‿ʘ

even though he knew you’d tackle him to the floor if he actually poured it 

once you finally rose, he’d give you a quick forehead kiss & push you off towards the bathroom to brush your teeth

you’d eat breakfast & start working relatively quickly

the two of you quickly realized that the pomodoro method worked best for you – finishing a task in 25 minutes, taking a five minute break, & repeating three times before taking a 20 to 30 minute break (y’all should try it frfr)

by noon, you’d be internally thanking him for waking you,, bc as much as you hated to admit it,, you are definitely more productive in the morning

&& on taehyun’s plan, you were actually getting enough sleep somehow?

&& he definitely had special allocated time slots in the schedule for personal time & date nights so that you two wouldn’t get burnt out

the routine definitely got harder to keep up with as finals inched closer & he could tell 

so he took you for a much-needed massage the day before finals started to destress (°◡°♡)

&& as expected, y’all would CRUSH finals week

he’d be so proud <3 but also he knew you would succeed bc of how hard you worked!

[honestly this is such a dream. i made taehyun my dream bf in this LMFAO but hey he already is so…]

hueningkai

hueningkai would be there for you during your breaks. sure, he’d help you with the flashcards if you asked him, but he’d support you most by making you smile!

he’d make sure there’s always food in the fridge, especially if your schedules didn’t line up & he couldn’t eat with you

hueningkai would also give GREAT back massages & it’s all because he would NOT hold back ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ no knots would be left when he’s done

&& he’d probably also put on your favorite show or music while he did it which would be really odd at first, but you’d grow to appreciate it hehe 

he’d also go on a walk with you every night to help you unwind 

that would always do you wonders, especially after being cooped up inside all day 

it would also be a time when the two of you could finally talk about something other than everything stressing you out (because boy, had it become all-consuming)

on the mornings of your finals, he’d walk you to class & buy you your favorite drink with a bagel or donut on the way

if you got really anxious before going in, he’d hold your hand tightly & tell you to take deep breaths

&& to remember that you’re prepared & that one test will not matter in the grand scheme of things

he’d also send you in with a hug & a peck on the cheek. (´ ᴗ｀✿)

masterlist

[waterfallofspace]

27 and 61 for E/rasermic with Mic being the sick one?

Thank you again for the requests!! (I've said this on previous ones, I'll say it again, as I'm thankful for them all!!) Writing M/ic as the sick one was new for me, so I hope I did a satisfactory job! I adore E/rasermic, so it was quite fun to explore their dynamic some more! Hope you enjoy!! <3 1.9k words, prompts 27 and 61, story under the cut! 27. “How long have you felt like this?” 61. “I can tell you’re sicker than you’re saying.”

~~~~~~~

By the time Aizawa gets home, it’s well into the evening. Class had ended on time, but several students had questions about assignments. Because of that, grading papers was pushed till later, leaving him exhausted, and running several hours behind. As soon as he sprawls on the couch, Mic walks into the room, giving a gentle, albeit slightly strained, smile.

“Welcome home!”

“Thank you. I’m just gonna rest my eyes for a minute.”

This week the long days had quickly turned into long nights, with Aizawa spending all of his daylight at the school, and pulling all-nighters to catch up on hero work. Mic’s been supportive, but they both feel the strain of not seeing each other as much.

“Dinner?”

Aizawa manages to pry open his eyes to look at his husband as he approaches the couch. Mic’s signature smile is on, but his sunglasses are off, and his hair isn’t gelled up, just messy. ‘Probably laying down before I got home. 8pm is a touch early for him to be going to bed though, maybe just a nap, or watching a show?’ 

“I’m okay, had something while I was at school.”

“Was it enough?”

“For now. I don’t have patrol tonight, so I’ll eat breakfast with you in the morning, I promise.” 

“Alright, love.”

With that, Mic presses a kiss to Aizawa’s cheek, before walking into the kitchen. Aizawa hears the familiar sound of the coffee pot being filled, ‘Mic’s making coffee in the evening…? Maybe he wants to stay up talking, it has been awhile since we’ve gotten a free moment together.’ before a not so familiar sound starts up.

“ihhngt’shii-! ehhgnt’iee-!” 

“Mic, everything okay over there?”

“Yep!”

The answer is short, and Aizawa feels his mind slipping into teacher mode, trying to calculate every possible reason. ‘Those were likely sneezes, but for some reason he’s stifling. Trying to hide them, probably. His voice sounds normal, but he’s keeping his responses short, that’s not like him… making coffee in the evening… looking like he was sleeping before eight…’ Realization dawns across Aizawa’s face, a game plan starting to form in his mind. 

“Hey, you brewing some coffee?”

“Yep, want some?”

There’s a layer of congestion to Mic’s words that wasn’t there a minute ago, Aizawa pretending not to notice as he strolls to the kitchen, cuddling up against his husband and taking the pot from his hands.

“Let me do it instead. Your coffee is okay, but we both know mine is better.”

Mic just hums in approval, letting himself lean against Aizawa for a second, before quickly straightening up. Aizawa gives him a questioning glance, before letting a smirk replace it. ‘His nose is twitching. He’s trying not to sneeze again. I’ll give him an out, just for now, only to get him out of the kitchen so I can switch this coffee for some tea.’ 

“Why don’t you wait for me on the couch? Pick something for us to watch before we head off to sleep, I could use a little time to destress.”

“Of course, Sho. Rough day?”

“Not particularly, just a lot of questions to answer. Those students may be great heroes one day, but they’re still teenagers for now, and some of them are struggling with the most recent course material.” 

“eh’kNG’shhii-! hH’INktt’shiew-!”

Despite hearing the double quite clearly from the kitchen, Aizawa lets Mic continue believing they passed unnoticed. Finishing up with the kettle, he walks back into the living room, heart fluttering at the sight waiting for him. Mic has one hand pinched against his nose, the other fanning his face, eyes closed, head tipped back.

“Need to sneeze, Mic?” 

Eyes snap open, Mic’s hands dropping into his lap, a red flush starting to lick at his cheeks. His nose, revelling at its newfound freedom, starts twitching. ‘He looks a bit like a bunny in this state.’ Aizawa lightly chuckles to himself, a grin starting to pour over his face.

“N- no… heHhh-!”

“Really? Sure looks like you do. Your nose is trembling, dear. Almost like there’s a tickle building, spreading deeper-”

“ShhAhH-! Shota d- don’t…” 

“Like a feather, brushing every ticklish nerve, sending the itch across your face, buzzing through your sinuses… until all you can do is-” 

“heH’EISSHH’IIE-! EIICHH’IEW-!”

“Bless you, Zashi.”

“eschh’ieww-! aiSHH’iee-! hEh’ESHH’iee-!”

Aizawa slips onto the couch beside his husband, kissing a blessing into his soft hair. Stroking his hand down Mic’s back, he lets out a sigh at the tension. Letting his voice soften, he tilts Mic’s chin up till their eyes meet, not missing the guilt waiting for him.

“How long have you felt like this?”

“N- not long… It’s not that bad, just a few sneezes, and a touch of a headache. Really it’s n- nothi… s- sorry gottasneez- ZZISHHIEW-! aH’AISHhh’iiee-!”

“Blessings. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“You were ju-” 

Mic breaks off into a cough, deep and chesty, knocking the wind right out of Aizawa’s lungs. His hand resumes its earlier motion, rubbing tight circles as tears spring to Mic’s eyes with the effort breathing now requires.

“Easy, shallow breaths, just let it out, it’ll be over soon.”

The words are surprisingly calm considering the panic dancing through Aizawa’s chest. Mic’s hand reaches up, finding Aizawa’s and giving a tight squeeze. Managing to open his eyes in between spasms, Mic lets out a hoarse whisper.

“I’m.. okay..” 

“It would be more reassuring if you could breathe as you said it, Mic.” 

A strained laugh breaks free from the coughs, Mic letting his fist playfully brush Aizawa’s arm, prompting a light sigh from the tired man. ‘He doesn’t seem worried about the cough, which means it’s probably happened before… how sick has he been- more importantly, how did I not notice…’ Aizawa thinks, letting the guilt he’s all too familiar with seep back into his brain. 

“Hey.”

The word breaks him free, his focus lowering back to Mic’s level, noticing as his hand stills that the coughing has ended. Mic’s eyes look worried, though Aizawa can’t figure out why he’s the one receiving that glance. At least, until he realizes the hand holding Mic’s is shaking, in fact, his whole body is trembling.

“I’m okay, Sho. heH’inGHSHH’iie-! Bless me, sorry.”

“You’re not okay. I can tell you’re sicker than you’re saying. That cough was… how long have you been this way, Hizashi?”

“aieschhhh’iew-! heH’IESHH’iee-!”

“Bless you, but you’re not getting out of the question so easily.”

Mic gives a guilt soaked shrug, eyes starting to water as he meets Aizawa’s calm gaze. Aizawa gives his arm a light squeeze, reassurance dripping from his smile. He lets his other hand cup Mic’s chin, lightly bringing him in for another kiss, before letting him respond.

“I was telling the truth earlier, it has been not long, just a few days… but maybe I was exaggerating how slight the symptoms have been…”

“Love, it’s just me here. You can tell the truth, I just want to help. Your voice is starting to sound as rough as mine, so I know you’ve got a cold. I just need to know if it’s more than that?”

“Don’t think so. Just… hhaHh-! hAH’EISHH’iee-! eeaschhh’iew-! nngeSHh’iee-!”

“Blessings.”

“Thank you. It’s just the cough that’s bad, but you know colds tend to settle in my chest and throat. There was no fever last time I checked, and I don’t feel warm, just sore… and I keep- keep… eH’GNSshh’ieee-! which doesn’t help my throat.”

“I’m sorry, I should have noticed sooner.”

“It’s not your fault, Shota. We’ve barely seen each other, plus, it’s not like I wa- was… heHh-! eH’GNshhiee-! aischhh’iew-! Bless me! Not like I was broadcasting it. I didn’t want to worry you, you looked so exhausted when you got home from your jobs...” 

“Hizashi, my most important job is taking care of you. Let me do that, okay~?”

A whistling cuts through the apartment, Aizawa rising to answer it. Pouring himself and his husband each a glass of tea, he spoons an extra dash of honey into Mic’s, along with a few squeezes of lemon juice. Handing the warm mug to Mic, Aizawa plants another gentle kiss on his forehead, relaxing as there’s just the usual warmth that comes from the energetic man.

“Drink this, love. It’ll help your throat.” 

Mic takes a few sips before setting the mug on the table, gesturing for Aizawa to join him once more. Doing as he’s told, Aizawa settles onto the couch, Mic sliding in next to him, head resting against his chest.

“You’re quite the trickster you know. Switching the coffee out for tea behind my back?” 

At the remark, Aizawa chuckles, the sound vibrating through his body, straight against Mic’s face. The sensation triggers another sneeze, Mic having nowhere except Aizawa’s shoulder to aim it, a pink hue spreading like wildfire against his face.

“hEH’AIESHH’IEE-! Oh- I’m so sorry, it surprised me I jus-”

“It’s alright, Zashi. Just lay down again, I don’t mind. Try to rest, I’m sure some sleep would help, we don’t want this getting any worse.”

“Thank you, Sho…” 

“Let’s just both be glad there’s no fever yet, I don’t know if I’d be able to keep my eyes open for that long after a week like this.”

Mic giggles lightly, letting out a faint groan at the memories, burying his face into Aizawa’s chest. ‘It’s lucky Mic’s quirk isn’t activated by the volume of the noise he’s making. It’s a conscious choice he has to make to start using it. However… that also means when his mind is too fuzzy, or sometimes if the tickle is too intense, it’ll break free.’ 

A memory flashes across his vision. They had been on a hero mission together when an unknown allergen had decided to make Mic its target. The first few sneezes had been fine, he was still able to stay in control, but the allergen had seemed unsatisfied with that result. Eventually they had managed to capture the villain, who had seemed deeply distressed by the sonic beam screeches Mic was letting out with every sneeze.

‘I had to keep his quirk erased for almost an hour after that. We never did figure out what brought it on, but it was certainly hilarious to watch the villain squirm as Zashi let loose towards an open field. I doubt he was planning on his heist going down like that.’ 

Aizawa casts a fond glance down at the man snuggled in his lap, recalling the flush in his cheeks was not too different from the slight tint living there now. ‘I should remember to check him for fever in the morning, and set out some meds. I assume he’s taken some already, so I’ll have to ask-’ 

“I… love you…”

The sleepy voice drags him out of his own head, Aizawa laughing softly at the tired fighting it’s way into the congested tone. ‘Just sleep now, Hizashi. I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.’

“I love you too.”

With that, Aizawa lets his hand run through Mic’s loose hair, starting to hum lightly. He doesn’t sing often, but with Mic being such a music focused person, it’s become a little routine. Same as how Mic will often stand watch for him as he falls asleep, giving him the security to do so, Aizawa softly hums songs from the playlist Mic made for them. It gives him something to focus on, other than the discomfort, and is guaranteed to get him to fall asleep.

“hehh’eishh’iuhh-!” 

“Blessings, my dear.”

Aizawa slowly feels his own eyes start to get heavy, hands slowing in Mic’s hair as he slips into a deep sleep too, curled in his lover's arms.

Not a safer place in the world.

[beels-burger-babe]

The Five Times Mammon Did Something For The Others

(And the one time the others did something for him.)

***So the votes were mainly for # 1 and # 2 on this post. So here we are! Thank you @hangryweeb for the prompt! I've been wanting to get to this one for a while now, just didn't quite know how. Will this probably end up angstier than I intended? Most likely. But hey! If you're a regular on my blog, you know the risk your taking. -B *** Summary: Without his brothers even realizing it, Mammon has gone out of his way time and time again to make sure that they are safe, happy, and healthy, and yet no one ever seems to do the same for him. Hell, no one even thanks him for it.

1) Leviathan

The House of Lamentation was awoken by an ear-splitting wail coming directly from Leviathan's room. You and Mammon groaned as you shifted from the beanie bag chairs you had fallen asleep in that night, and glanced over to the source of your disturbance. Levi was practically sobbing over his computer as he frantically clicked the refresh button. "No, no, no, no, no!!! I can't have missed it! Come on! Please!" From around him, you could see a large red bar covering the upper quarter of his screen, reading "sold out". You rubbed your groggy eyes and pushed yourself onto your feet to approach the distressed demon. "Levi, what's wrong?" Levi growled and punched his desk, causing Mammon to jump to his feet, ready to defend if needed, and you to take a step back. "The ultra-ultra rare, limited edition, Ruri-Chan doll that was only for sale today is sold out! I've been waiting MONTHS for its release, and I set an alarm and everything!" Levi's bottom lip trembled as tears formed in his overly tired eyes, "B-But I must have slept through it due to the all-nighter we pulled watching The Seven Lords last night," he squeezed his eyes shut as his hands wove their way through his hair gripped tightly onto the purple locks. "Gah! I'm so stupid!"

You rushed over to Levi, and gently placed your hands on his to carefully pry his hands from his hair. "Hey, hey! Levi, listen to me. You aren't stupid. You had fun last night, right? You probably just forgot. It happens to the best of us. Can't you see if it's for sale somewhere else maybe?" Levi's tears poured heavier down his cheeks. You could feel your heartbreak at the exhaustion and disappointment that laid behind them. "It's not for sale anywhere else. The developers were the only ones releasing the doll, and they only made 200 of them. If I wanted to get one now, I'd have to go to some kind of underground auction, but even then it'll be disgustingly overpriced and-" he was cut off as several broken sobs tore their way through his throat and he squeezed tightly onto your hands. "I can't get it. I won't be able to get it now." You pulled Levi into your arms and glanced back at Mammon. The second-born had a strange look on his face before he caught your stare. He smiled awkwardly at you and gestured to the door. "You seem to have this under control, MC. I'm gonna let the others know that Levi isn't really dyin'-" "Yes I am! My soul has been shattered, never to be rebuilt again!" "-and that he's just havin' another nerd breakdown," he sighed and walked towards the door. "You look after him; I'll look after the others." "Wha- Mammon!" but it was too late. Mammon had already taken off. You spent the next few days comforting a "grieving" Levi and worked on trying to get the otaku back onto his feet, but nothing seemed to be working. You were running out of ideas on ways to cheer him up when his bedroom door swung open. Mammon stood in the doorway, shades on, collar popped, looking almost too casual and nonchalant for it to be genuine. "Hey. I just got back from an auction, and when I thought I was bettin' on some super cool diamond-encrusted watch, it turns out I got the numbers mixed up and betted on some lame doll," he chucked a pink box at Levi, who fumbled before catching it. "You collect toys, or whatever, right? I figured you'd get more use outta it than me." Levi's breath hitched as he looked closely at the box. There in his hands, still in the original, unopened packaging, was the ultra-ultra-rare, limited edition Ruri-Chan doll. What's more, according to the label and authorized signature on the back, this was the factory floor test model making it even more valuable! "This...This isn't some 'lame' doll, Mammon!!! This is the Ruri-Chan ultra-ultra rare, limited edition doll test model, and you just thew it like it's trash?!?!" Mammon shrugged and pushed off of the door frame. "Does that mean it's special or something? It's just a toy." "Just-Just a toy?" your eyes widen as Levi set down the doll and burst into his demon form. "JUST A TOY?!?! MAMMON!!!!" You caught a glimpse of his face breaking out into a wide, satisfied, grin before he took off fleeing from a rampaging Levi.

2) Satan and Belphegor

"I know it was one of you two! This whole trap has one of your pranks written all over it! Now admit that you had set up a prank to harm me, resulting in the shattering of an ancient, irreplaceable vase, and perhaps I will go easy on your punishment." Satan glared up at Lucifer. "How can you be so certain it was one of us?" Belphie shrugged, "I was stargazing all night and Satan was helping me with some research on astrology. We were in the planetarium all night. It couldn't have been us." Lucifer scoffed and crossed his arms. "You seriously expect me to believe that? Your only alibis are each other." Satan growled and curled his hands into fists. If the prank had gone as plan and hit Lucifer instead of that stupid vase they wouldn't even be having this discussion. Lucifer sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look you can either come clean or-" "Wait, are you guys talking about my Coin Fairy trap?" Everyone whipped around to see Mammon looking uneasily between the three of them. Lucifer scowled and raised an eyebrow at him. "You're what?" Mammon glanced at Satan and Belphie. A strange shine of certainty flickered through his cyan eyes before he focused back on Lucifer. "Ya know, the Coin Fairy! Geez, I thought everyone knew about it." Lucifer looked up the ceiling murmuring under his breath in impatience. "What in the seven rings are you talking about, Mammon? Whatever it is, please get to the point. I am in the middle of something here." "Okay, okay! Since ya don't know, I guess I don't mind tellin' ya," as Mammon spoke, he slowly and casually moved himself in between Lucifer and Satan and Belphegor. "Ya see, I was readin' one of those human world books that MC has the other day, and it was goin' on about this story of a fairy that comes and just gives people money if they leave a small bone under their pillow! Pretty neat huh?" Lucifer looked at Mammon as though he had two heads. "Are you talking about the mythological creature of the Tooth Fairy?" Mammon put on a complexed expression on his face while one of his hands rested on his chin. "Nah. I'm pretty sure it was called the Coin Fairy," without Lucifer realizing, one of Mammon's hands went behind his back and began to gesture for Satan and Belphegor to leave. The two younger brothers looked at each other, and then at Mammon. He had to be wanting something in return for this. Surely he wasn't such an idiot to put himself in front of Lucifer's wrath without anything to gain. He had to be doing this for something. Regardless, the best course of action for the two of them at the moment was to take advantage of the situation and leave. As the guilty party began to make their way out of the room, Mammon continued his story. "Anyway, I figured I'd try catching it. Why would I just take one stupid coin when I could get it to give me its entire stash! Am I right? So I, and don't get mad or anythin', but I took a tooth from that skeleton you have up in your room and set up this trap to catch the fairy!" There was believable excitement in Mammon's tone, but just as Satan was leaving the room, he noted how Mammon shifted his weight on his feet, clearly ready to run, and the slight tremble in his hands. "You guys said I trap went off. That means I caught it, right?" "MAMOOOOOOON!!!" There was a yelp from Mammon before the white-haired figure took off through the House of Lamentation, leading the angry Lucifer away from Satan and Belphegor. That night he was strung up on the chandelier. If anyone noticed that he hadn't complained once the entire night, they didn't say anything.

3) Asmodeus

Asmodeus slammed the dining-room door behind him as he stormed into the room and threw himself into his chair. He began to aggressively scoop small portions of food onto his plate as silent tears rolled down his cheeks. His brothers exchanged glances with one another before Satan spoke up. "Is everything alright, Asmodeus?"

Asmo scoffed and glared at him. "Yes, Satan. Everything is perfect. It's wonderful. It's just fan-fucking-tastic!"

Everyone leaned back at the sheer amount of anger and sarcasm that radiated off of Asmo's broken voice. The fifth born growled and violently stabbed a piece of broccoli with his fork. "Why would I even want to model for Devil Style anyway?! It's not like I need them, or anyone for that matter! I'm fabulous without them! I don't need them! Or those stupid haters on DevilTube! Or anybody!" His growls turned into a shriek as his fork bent beneath his hand. Asmo let out a fury-filled scream and threw the fork across the room before storming out, cursing to himself as he did. Everyone stared at the place where the demon once sat in silence. "So...should we go after him?" Beel asked through a mouthful of food. Lucifer sighed and dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. "No. He's too upset right now. I'll check in on him later. Just...let him get it out of his system." Satan rolled his eyes at Lucifer's words and grabbed Asmo's abused plate. "I'm going to pack this up for him so that, at the very least he'll have something to eat later." "He won't want to eat. You know that." Lucifer only got flipped off from Satan, in response, as he left towards the kitchens. You awkwardly sat in the tension-filled room and looked at a surprisingly calm Mammon. "Does this happen often?" Mammon shrugged and took out his D.D.D. "Every now and then. Mainly when Asmo hasn't been getting the amount of praise that he'd prefer from his fans or if things aren't really going his way. He doesn't take rejection well." A glance down at Mammon's device told you that he was opening up DevilTube. You frowned and looked at him. "Is there anything we can do to help?" Mammon paused and looked at you. There was a knowing smile graced his lips, though a certain kind of sadness lingered in his eyes. "Trust me, MC. Everything will work out. I promise." A couple days later, the dining room doors slammed open once more as a humming Asmo practically waltzed into the dining room. As he reached your chair, he scooped you up into his arms and brought you into an impromptu dance with him. You giggled at the demon's antics. "Asmodeus, what's got you in such a good mood?" He laughed brightly and kissed your cheek before setting you back down into your chair. "Well there has been a movement within my fans lately, of them defending me against those monstrous haters and I've been practically swimming in praise. Which, can you blame them? Look at me, I'm perfect."

Satan smiled and rolled his eyes as Asmodeus leaned onto his chair and dramatically flicked his hair. "So they've come to their senses then?" "Yes! And they're not the only ones! You are looking at the new cover model for Majolish!" Everyone congratulated and cheered for Asmodeus, Beel even got up and mentioned something about Demonous. But while everyone celebrated, you blinked at Asmo in shock and looked over at Mammon confused. Mammon stared at his plate with a sad little smile while playing with his food. You leaned over to him. "Mammon?" you whispered. He glanced up at you. "I thought you were the new cover model for Majolish? You had been talking to me about how excited you were about it all week?" Mammon dropped his gaze back to his plate. "There's other gigs. Besides, it's not that big of a deal. Asmo needed it more than I did." You opened your mouth to protest but were dragged into the party by an over-excited Asmodeus before you had the chance. Throughout the night, you kept glancing back at a notably melancholy Mammon.

4) Beelzebub

You and Beel were tearing apart the locker room frantically searching for the missing red duffle bag. "I'm sure it's here somewhere! It's gotta be!" You exclaimed as you quickly opened and closed lockers. Beel groaned and shook his head. "We've been looking for a half hour now MC. The team'll be almost done warm up now. I must've forgotten my gear bag at the House," he sighed as his shoulders dropped in defeat. "Come on. You have to get out of here before warm-up ends, and I have to tell Coach that I can't play this game." You gave him a sympathetic smile as you closed a locker door and followed Beel out of the locker rooms. As the coach caught sight of the two of you, he frowned and waved you both over. "Beelzebub, care to tell me why you're not in uniform?" Beel looked down shamefully. You gently placed a hand on his back in support. "I forgot my equipment Coach. I'm sorry." The Coach's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, you forgot your equipment?! Beelzebub, this is the quarter-finals!! What am I supposed to do without my best defenseman out there, huh?!" Beel winced and looked at his coach apologetically. "I know. I messed up. I can make it up-" "And just how do you plan on doing that?! Huh?!" The coach swore as he ran a hand through his blading hair. He shook his head before his eyes fell on you. His gaze hardened and his jaw clenched. "You know, Beel's been getting all kinds of distracted since you started showin' up to our practices and games."

Beel's head snapped up as the coach started to address you and he quickly stepped between the two of you. "Now hold on just a-" Beel never got the chance to finish his sentence. The sound of squealing tires and the scent of burning rubber filled the air. A streak of bright yellow ripped into the parking lot next to the stands and drifted to a stop. A wide-eyed Mammon popped his head out of the golden convertible's window, and he waved to the two of you. "Hey Meathead!!" He called out to Beel. He reached one hand into the car. "You forgot your stuff!" Single-handedly, Mammon grabbed a red duffle bag from inside the vehicle and biffed it over the fence into the field. The coach stared at the bag and Mammon in shock, while you grinned and waved at Mammon. "You're a lifesaver, Mams!"

Though you couldn't hear him over the roar of his car's engine, Mammon stuttered and blushed before waving off your thanks and tearing out of the parking lot. As Beel got ready for the game, he smiled softly at the handful of protein bars, shakes, and his special "pre-game" trail mix that Mammon had apparently thrown into his bag for him. That smile grew even wider once he was out on the field, and he noticed a yellow convertible watching from the parking lot.

5) Lucifer

Lucifer let out a long tired sigh and let his head fall onto his desk as he held his glasses in one hand. He had been doing nothing but paperwork for the past 48 hours and wanted nothing more than to sleep. He could barely keep his eyes open and head up, and yet he knew that he had to stay awake. It was his turn to cook supper, and if he didn't act soon, Beel would go on a rampage. He propped his head onto his arm and peered over at his phone. It was extremely tempting to just order take out from Hell's Kitchen, but after 48 hours of nothing but coffee, energy drinks, and princess poison apples, Lucifer knew he was in dire need of real food. With a groan, he pushed himself out of his chair, cracking several joints as he did. For the first time in at least five hours, he walked away from his desk and left his office. As Lucifer dragged himself towards the kitchen, the sent chili spices flooded his nostrils as a symphony of something boiling and pots clattering reached his ears. Fearing that he had been too late, and Beel had already begun to destroy the kitchen, Lucifer used what little energy he had to rush towards the scene. When he arrived, he was surprised to see Mammon cooking on the stove wearing the "kiss the chef" apron that Asmo had bought but seldom used after Lucifer banned him from wearing it in the buff. Lucifer's eyes widened as he spotted the extra-large pot of chilli that Mammon seemed to be making, and the bowl of salad that he had set out another counter. He blinked at the sight several times before clearing his throat. Mammon merely raised an eyebrow at him. "What? Ya gotta problem with what I'm makin' for dinner? Chilli ain't good enough for you, your highness?" The eldest frowned and glanced at the calendar, double-checking that it was in fact, his day to cook. "That's not the problem. The problem is that it's not your day to cook. It's mine." Mammon froze and whipped around to look at the calendar with almost comedic exaggeration. "What? No way! It's my day!" Lucifer huffed and tiredly pointed to the day's date on the calendar, which clearly had his name written on it. Mammon stared at it for a moment. "Huh. Guess I got the days mixed up," he glanced back at the pot of chilli and chuckled. "Well, supper's basically cooked already. No point of lettin' the food go to waste. I might as well finish up in here, and you can cook another day." Too tired and too relieved to argue, Lucifer grunted and left the room, missing the smirk that Mammon gave his retreating form.

+1) They take care of him

You fretted around the kitchen with a worried frown on your face, and lightly trembling hands. You quickly and carefully gathered select items; Hell-Sauce Noodles, a bottle of water, a tall mug of extra dark hot chocolate with whip cream, and a few random bags of comfort foods. With the tray loaded, you urgently began to make your way back to Mammon's room when you almost ran into Asmodeus. The Avatar of Lust quickly caught you and your tray and chuckled at your clumsiness. "Where's the fire, darling? What's got you all hot and bothered?" You huffed in impatience and glanced around to make sure nothing fell off of the tray. "Mammon's having a bad day. I'm putting together a comfort package to help make the day a little easier." Much to your surprise, your words weren't returned with a look of concern or even shock. Instead, Asmodeus began laughing loudly and nearly doubled over in effort. You frowned as you felt anger in Mammon's defence bubble up within you. "Oh sweetie," Asmo breathed as he wiped tears from his eyes. "Mammon doesn't have 'bad days'. It's just not him. He's probably just faking to get you to dote over him," he smirked and plucked one of the chocolate cover strawberries from your tray and popped it into his mouth. "Wouldn't you rather pamper me? I'll make it worth your time." You snarled and tore yourself away from Asmodeus. "Seriously? Your not even going to pretend to be concerned?" you scoffed in disgust at Asmo's shocked expression. "You seriously disgust me sometimes, you know that? He does nothing but look out for you guys and try and help you and this is the thanks he gets?" Now Asmo looked even more confused. He opened his mouth to retaliate but was interrupted by Lucifer. "What's going on in here?" Asmodeus rolled his eyes and gestured to your tray. "Apparently Mammon is having a 'bad day'."

Lucifer tensed at Asmodeus's words and looked over at you with analyzing and serious eyes. "Take me to him." You sighed heavily and nodded, leading the way towards Mammon's room as Asmo squawked in protest. As you arrived, you gave Lucifer a stern look before opening Mammon's bedroom door. Sitting in the dark, trembling, tangled in the blankets of his bed, was a teary-eyed, clearly shaken Mammon. His head snapped up at the sudden noise, as he looked at you and his brother with wide frantic eyes. Lucifer inhaled sharply at seeing Mammon so distraught, while you sighed and moved into action.

You gently placed the tray on the side table and sat down beside him, placing a delicate arm around his quivering shoulders. "I'm sorry," you whispered softly to him. "He followed me here. I can make him leave if you want?" Mammon simply whined and placed his head on your shoulder. Lucifer moving forward caught your attention. You glared at the eldest, daring him to say something bad about the demon in your arms. Lucifer's eyes pooled with pity and guilt as he knelt down by the bed. The words that came out of his mouth weren't mocking, or harsh, or judgemental. Instead, he only said one word: "Nightmare?" Mammon let out a choked sob and nodded as he clung on to you tighter. Lucifer nodded and sat down on Mammon's other side, silently pulling him in close. You watched in near awe, as Lucifer's expression shifted into one of familial protectiveness and held a softness that you had never seen him bear to anyone, let alone Mammon. As though something inside of him broke, Mammon collapsed into Lucifer's arms letting out heart-clenching wails as he clung onto his older brother's cloak. Lucifer's arms tightened around him as he curled in around him. "Your always taking care of us," Lucifer spoke gently, running a hand through Mammon's hair. "Always being strong, taking the brunt of everything, sacrificing yourself for the others," the eldest closed his eyes and just held his younger brother for a moment. "Let us take care of you for once." Your lips parted in shock at the sincere, emotion-filled scene. Mammon gave the smallest of nods as he seemed to curl into himself even more. Lucifer sighed and glanced over at you. "Will you get the others? Tell them Mammon needs their help." You frowned deeply at the instructions, "But Asmo-" "Was deflecting and jealous that you were putting your attention elsewhere. I assure you he would've had a very different reaction if he knew you were serious," Lucifer smiled gently at you. "We may not act like it sometimes, but we do love and care for each other. Just...tell them he had a bad nightmare. They all know better than to joke about that." You weren't sure if it was the desperation or sincerity in Lucifer's tone, or maybe it was the way that for the first time since you found him screaming this morning, Mammon was finally starting to calm down, but you believed Lucifer.

You reluctantly let go of Mammon and went to get the others.

Just as Lucifer had said, each of them took the news with grim seriousness. Asmo paled and looked like he was going to be sick when you told him. When you returned to Mammon's room, you found him asleep in the middle of a cuddle pile, surrounded by his brothers with a small smile on his face. You chuckled and leaned against the doorframe. You had always thought that Mammon's actions towards his brothers went unnoticed, but seeing them all like this, told you otherwise. They all knew exactly what Mammon did for them, and they were all extremely grateful for the brother that they adored. ***There ya have it! We get some fluff! We get some angst! We have some comfort! Honestly, this fic kinda has it all. 😅 I hope you guys enjoyed it! Thank you so much @hangryweeb for the great prompt! It was a treat to write once I realized what I wanted to do with it! *** Taglist: @thegrimgrinningghost @henry-and-the-seven-lords @satans-beloved-riv @cosmixbun @sufzku @simeonspebble @victoireshaven @obey-mes-treasure @kissed-by-a-dementor @yukihaie @justtiarra @mammoneybb @obeys-world @poly-bi-mf @armycandy10 @burrixino

[kedreeva]

Hello fucker im the anon losing my absolute marbles about godfuckingdamned stranger things

Not only are you apparently not going alone to hell and have fucking grabbed me and decided to take me along with you you fuck but i feel as though i was plucked out the 3 story window of my fucking flat and shoved inti the metaphorical backseat of the fucking zamboni machine heading straight for hells fiery gates WHILE I WAS MERELY TRYING TO WET MY NIN EXISTENT FLOWERS ON THE WINDOW SEAL

Having said that i can absolutely fucking tell that the characters themselves are holding the fucking thing together and it would work eith absolutely nonsensical plot SINCE I KNOW ALMOST NONE OF THE PLOT (UNFORTUNATELY I DO KNOW A BIT NOW SINCE IVE BEEN CONSUMING THE FUCKING FICS OF THIS FANDOM LIKE A MANIAC FOR THE PAST 2 DAYS) AND IM STILL LOSING MY SHIT OVER THEM

I have also fucking decided to start watching the fucking thing right fucking now even though im so fucking behind on several deadlines and assignments including a very important one thats due right thia fuckinh week and for which i have yet to write ANYTHING and which has to be about 80 fucking pages long by the end of it so yes i am truly having the fucking time of my life goddamn it i was gonna start watching the fucking thing literally last night but i fell fucking asleep at about 2am because of the all nighter i had pulled the previous night reading the fucking steddie fics and last night i fell asleep woth my fucking phone in my hand doing guess fucking what READING ON AO3 ONCE AGAIN

I literally only vaguely know how steve and eddie look and dustin a little bit and robin a little bit and thats IT but goddamn do i have strong feelings for like 9 characters i know fuckall about except for fanon

As for the goddamn fic that made me lose the last of my sanity it wasnt even a Proper h/c per se just had some h/c in it which was game enough for my tired ass to deem it a h/c fic in my exvaustion and insanity and i do NOT unfortunately remember the name of it but i do know that it was by a fellow whose usernmae is pukner which i somehow remember and it was about 40k long amd what fucking made me read it and LOSE it and i mean LOSE IT like fucking LOSE IT was that it had NONBINARY steve kedreeva it had fucking NONBINARY STEVE so yeah i truly have given uo all of my 2 drops of remaining sanity for the smallest possible little bit of serotonin i could possibly receive

KEDREEVA ITS GOTTEN SO FUCKING BAD I ENDED UP HAVING TO DITCH MY HANDMADE HANDPICKED SPOTIFY PLAYLIST FOR MY LAST FUCKING HYPERFIXATION EARLIER AND FUCKING LOOKING UP A STEDDIE PLAYLIST IM LOSING IT THAT BADLY

I blame you SO hard for everything you are literally never gonna stop hearing from me about this you shall deal with every single mental breakdown and Thought™ that i have because of stranger things from now on because youre the reason why im in this shitshow in the first place my fucking friends and acquaintances and EVERYONE both online AND IRL have been trying to get me to watch stranger things EVER SINCE IT FIRST CAME OUT and _THIS_ is what fucking does me in

Well, I found the fic in question, and a) there's more than one NB Steve written by this person and also they're on tumblr by the same name

and b) Hey....... anyone out there got some nonbinary steve harrington fics to rec? bonus if they're hurt/comfort fics apparently. If I'm going to be blamed, I'm gonna fuckin EARN IT :D Drop 'em in the replies or reblogs or askbox, happy to reblog tumblr links too.

c) heyyyy drop your Steddie playlists for anon let's make it worse as a FAMILY

[fanficsfromyesteryear]

Hi! Can I request headcanons for dating marcus (deadly class)? Thank you

HEADCANONS FOR DATING MARCUS LOPEZ ARGUELLO

A/N: Just a head’s up, I got a little carried away, so this is kinda long lol. Also, sorry this took forever! I’ve been suuuuuper busy lately :/ I almost had it done before work picked back up, but I couldn’t figure out how to end it. Anyway, I hope you like it!!

Before the two of you started dating, Marcus had no idea that you liked him, and for good reason

You did such a good job with hiding your feelings that sometimes even you forgot they were there, which was kind of the whole point

With girls like Saya and Maria around, sending out mixed signals and dropping subtle hints that they liked Marcus, too, it was intimidating

Add Marcus’s constant cynicism about love, and life in general, into the mix, and it was clear the chances of him actually liking you back were next to nothing

So, you knew it was probably for the best to move on

You used the “if you ignore it, it’ll go away” approach in the hopes that if you simply didn’t acknowledge your feelings, the problem would disappear

All this did, however, was create a whole new issue

Somewhere along the way, you’d begun to take the thought process of ‘ignoring your crush’ too literally

You and Marcus were best friends, so when, out of the blue, you stopped talking to him, he could tell something was up

He had no clue what, though

Naturally, he assumed it was something he had done

Marcus started asking around among your mutual friends to see if they knew anything, but they were all just as out of the loop as he was

You hadn’t told anyone about your repressed feelings for Marcus, and you had no intention of letting the secret slip any time soon, but accidents happen

The truth came out one night during a game of truth or dare when you were up on the roof smoking with the Rats

Your confession came tumbling out quicker than you could even think about reeling the words back in

“You hear that, Romeo?” Billy asked, elbowing Marcus in the ribs. “Y/N’s got the hots for you”

All Marcus could do was laugh nervously as he looked down at his feet, refusing to meet your gaze

To your relief, no one brought it up again for the rest of the game

When the next day rolled around and your crush on Marcus still wasn’t the topic of conversation, you started to think that you were in the clear

Maybe they’d all been too stoned to remember when they’d woken up that morning

Your hopes were shattered by the late afternoon

As you left the bathroom, Marcus spotted you from across the hall

He quickly rushed over and caught you by the elbow, dragging you back through the doorway

“Relationships aren’t really my thing,” he said

Marcus sounded like he had more to say, but before he got the chance, you cut him off

“It’s fine,” you said. “I get it”

“No, no. I mean, I like you, Y/N, really. I just don’t wanna mess it up”

You couldn’t stop the smile that spread across your face even if you tried

“You’re not gonna mess it up”

Before either of you could say more, the bathroom door opened and Petra walked in

She glanced between the two of you knowingly

“Hate to break this up, but if I hold this piss in any longer, I’ll explode”

With that, she pushed past you both, effectively ruining the moment

It didn’t take long after that for you and Marcus to make your relationship official

‘Official’ is a bit of a loose term in this case

For the most part, both of you kept the fact that you were dating fairly under the radar for fear of what others would do with that information

In a place like King’s Dominion, something as small as caring for another person beyond using them as an ally was seen as a weakness that could and would be used against you, and the last thing either of you wanted was to be put in a situation where you were pitted against each other

Of course, there were several instances when one (or both) of you nearly blew your cover

Such as in Martial Arts class

Instead of fighting you, Marcus would try to cop a feel

You’d quickly smack his hand away

“Miss De Luca’s right there!”

“She’s not looking”

In defense of both of you, though, a class in which hormonal teenagers are asked to pair themselves up and wrestle is practically an invitation to break the ‘no sex’ rule

The other classes you shared weren’t any better

Master Lin caught you and Marcus staring at each other instead of paying attention on multiple occasions, earning both of you a smack from his cane

Although Marcus was somewhat known for his smart mouth and talking back to authority, he knew better than to challenge Lin, not mention that if he did, he’d risk exposing the two of you in the process

So, Marcus bit back his insults and held in his tirade until the two of you were safely locked away in his dorm room

“He had no right to hit you like that”

“I’m fine,” you assured him, shoving another tissue up your nose to stop the bleeding. “Besides, he does it to everyone”

“That still doesn’t give him the right”

“Next time, I’m gonna stick that cane right up his ass”

Marcus wanted to shield you from all the violence at King’s, but when it was coming from teachers, there wasn’t much he could do about it

If it was a fellow student pushing you around, on the other hand, there was no holding him back

You loved how protective Marcus was of you, but sometimes you worried that he’d get carried away

Marcus always made sure you were never around to witness the fights take place, but the scrapes and bruises on his face that hadn’t been there when you saw him that morning were all the proof you needed

In such cases, you would insist on patching him up afterwards

The first few times this happened, Marcus was embarrassed by all the attention you were giving him

After a while, though, he grew to love the feeling of having someone fuss over him, especially if it was you

It was nice to have someone care about him for a change

You weren’t much of a fighter, but making sure he didn’t get Tetanus was your way of looking out for him

When you and Marcus weren’t getting into trouble, you were actually a pretty cute couple

Your roommates became accustomed to the two of you being a package deal, which often meant sneaking into each other’s rooms after lights out

Sometimes, it was to make out, but other times, it was so you could have late night conversations that you didn’t get the chance to have during the day

The topics of these conversations varied—they could be deep and philosophical (which was Marcus’s favorite kind), an opportunity to open up to each other about yourselves and your pasts, a time to plot someone’s death (usually only theoretically), or simply joking around

After especially long days, you would accidentally drift off in the middle of these nightly chats with your head on Marcus’s chest, but he never minded

He’d pull the covers up on your side and wrap his arms more tightly around you

While both of you were perfectly capable of pulling all-nighters, whenever you fell asleep, Marcus was never far behind

The sound of your evened-out breathing was like a lullaby to him, so it was safe to say that his sleep schedule drastically improved after the two of you started dating

You’d found that you slept better with Marcus, too, so on the few nights you spent apart, you’d doze off listening to the mixtapes he’d made you in your Walkman, which were full of your favorite songs and songs that reminded him of you (though, these had quickly become your favorites, too)

It was rare that the two of you weren’t together, though

Even during the day, you and Marcus were practically joined at the hip

At lunch, you would hold hands under the table and share food

Of course, this always opened the door for plenty of teasing from your friends, especially Lex

“While you’re at it, why don’t you chew the food up for each other and pass it back and forth like little birds?”

“Fuck off, Lex”

It was always in good fun, though

Actually, the other Rats were relieved when the two of you finally got together because the weird tension that had been brewing leading up to that point went away, meaning group hangouts could carry on normally

They could overlook you sitting in Marcus’s lap if it meant you weren’t being distant and secretive

Just like they pretended not to notice when you showed up to class wearing each other’s blazers by mistake after spending the night together

Or walking in late looking ✨especially disheveled✨

All in all, you and Marcus are King’s Dominion’s cutest couple™️ that only, like, five other people know about, but still-

[divinefireangel]

Heyyy can you do a reaction of sf9 when hell week(s) started and you're stressed out studying/working??

OKAY THIS HIT WAYYYY TO CLOSE TO HOME RN

Warnings: Sad/Emotional reader. Applicable to anyone who bleeds down under💀. Undertones of not eating well.

YB:

He is so indulged in taking care of you he doesn't even do any of his work

Unapologetically goes out and buys you whatever you need

Whether it be food or your sanitary items

Calls his mom or sister to ask them what he can do to help you with pain

With your moods

Will even call your mom for advice

If you're crying, his heart literally shatters

He feels helpless and he'll probably cry too 🥺

Cuddles you and rubs your back

Reassuring you that your work can wait

That he will help you pull all nighters if necessary to complete your tasks

Only when you're feeling a little better

And not in constant pain

Gets Jamong to cuddle you both when you rest, finally after much pestering from him

IS:

He's gonna do your work, as much as he can, for you

Even if it means he's going to be more tired

Calls his mom

A doctor

Does research on the internet to see if there are any home remedies to slow down the bleeding

So you can review the work he's done for you

Does all the cooking

And cleaning

Tells you not to worry about anything other than getting better

Endless cuddles when he's done

He'll remain more calm about the situation so that even if you are worked up, he can reassure you with a mostly clear mind

Secretly he is terrified of something happening to you

But you've dealt with this problem more times than he has seen you

So he trusts you won't neglect yourself too much

And he is there to make sure that that doesn't happen

JY:

REFUSES TO LEAVE YOU ALONE

Even when you have to use the washroom???

When you tell him that it's gonna be messy

He's like okay, what can he do to lessen the mess

Scolds you if you pick things up when you drop them

Like, he's right next to you??

Tell him!!

Helps you shower after work

Makes sure you actually eat at least two means a day

If you're feeling down, he will make you sit on his lap and cradle you like a baby

So many reassuring kisses you start to feel sleepy

If you snap at him to leave you alone, he's just gonna go to the kitchen to cut you some fruit

But he'll be back soon

Claiming he left you alone but since you didn't tell him how long to leave you by yourself, he's here

DW:

The internet is his best friend

Somehow reads that sex helps with the pain

So he actually suggests sex

But when you glare at him, he'll back down

Gives you a massage when you lay down

Or when you're standing

Or sitting

Basically all the time

And it's just gentle pressure from his hands

Almost unnoticeable

Also read that sweets help a lot

So expect a whole ass cheesecake or what ever cake you like to be in the fridge the next time you check it

Gives you hoodies that smell like him to wear all the time

So when you feel overwhelmed, you realise you're wearing his hoodie

Cause it feels like a hug from him

A continuous hug

RW:

Oh god

He calls EVERYONE

And I mean everyone who has this problem whom he knows in real life

His mom, sister, the member's sisters and mothers and his grandmother and female staffs

Just to find out if it is safe for you to work when you're bleeding

When you show the slightest of inconvenience

He is rushing to you

And pushing you onto the bed

Claiming that you can work from the bed

And only get up to use the washroom

He'll get you everything and anything you need

Like carrying you bridal style to the washroom when you don't wanna walk those few steps

Cooks you your fav foods

Sweet and savoury

Feeds you like a child while also making sure you don't over work here

Is not even the least bit deterred when your mood changes randomly

ZH:

He knows not to disturb you when you work

But you're in pain, even if it isn't severe, it's still pain

He knows by the way you sigh out loud every few minutes to ease your pain

He will send his cats to distract you cause he knows that you won't scold them whatsoever

Wants to be around you all the time

Even if he isn't next to you, he wants to be close enough to see that you're alright

Gives you a nice shoulder and back massage to put you to sleep

Makes sure you wear only his clothes so that even if you bleed out

It'll be on his clothes and not yours

Cause he knows that you like those cute PJs you bought recently and that you don't want to ruin them already

Many reassuring back and head pats

So many compliments of admiration

YT:

The softest at everything

Convinces you to nap so softly

Feeds you softly

Sings to you softly

Cheers you softly when you work

His large palms apply soft pressure on your skin where it hurts

His long fingers dance on your skin

Buys you the best chocolates

Temple kisses, shoulder kisses!!!

Makes you a tonic to help with the pain if any, that his mom told him about

Reads you poems to sleep

Makes sure you do something that makes you smile a bit each day during the week(s)

Wraps you in blankets and carries you to bed when you're done or even when you seem to start overworking yourself

He scolds you, soft though, and tells you that work can wait and your health is his first priority

HY:

Lays on top of you or let's you lay on top of him

Or half on top of him or just your leg or just your hand

Whatever position is comfortable for you

Even when you move too much he's okay

Sings your favourite songs to lull you to sleep

Orders in food, doesn't at all want to leave you alone

If you have to work, like it completely inevitable

He will be next to you when you start, when you whine, when you finish too

After you're done, he will not at all listen to any of your excuses and gets you to bed againnn

If you aren't sleepy, he'll get his laptop and you both watch movies

Takes a few cute selfies when you fall asleep on him

Absent mindedly kisses your forehead

Come to think of it, he has been absent mindedly kissing you throughout this time

Resting his head on you in some way all the time

To let you know that he is there for you

And that it is okay to stop if you don't want to continue with your work

When you're all okay, he'll buy you a cute soft toy to remind you of how strong you are

CH:

Will not at all hesitate to give you a reality check

You are bleeding

You are tired

And you don't need to work that much just to please your boss who has no clue what's going on with you right now

Hugs you with teary eyes when you tell him that your head aches

Gives you a head massage till you're sleepy

Then he will put you to sleep and sprints out to get comfort food

And your sanitary items and things you may need

So glad to find you still sleeping when he returns

Calls your boss to tell them that you are sick and you can't work for a few days

If you have to do some studying, then he will try his best to make you notes

Makes sure there is hot water for when you wake up

Fresh clothes will be ready when you come out

Actually makes a fort on the bed so you can eat with pillows all around you and go back to sleep again but this time in his arms and against his warm chest

[kaistarus]

College Drop-Out

Pairing: NishinoyaXReader

Words:  1.6K

Summary: When Noya shows up in the middle of the night unprompted you’re more than surprised at the news he brings with him.

A/N: angsty >:D but it’s me so is it really? lol

Masterlist

A strange vibration pulled you out of your deep slumber. You whined as you smoothed your hand across your mattress aimlessly searching for what caused the annoyance. When your fingers glided across the soft cotton sheet to land on your cell phone your frustration hit its peak.

You pulled it down, squinting at the blinding screen that shone Nishinoya’s contact against your room’s pitch-black darkness. You swept the red circle to end your suffering and snuggled back into your cocoon of warmth. Whatever Nishinoya wanted at nearly three in the morning he could deal with himself.

The cellphone began vibrating a second time and with clenched teeth you sent him to voicemail again without opening your eyes.

But when your phone vibrated a third time you violently slid the green circle across the screen before shouting into the receiver, “Noya, it is two in the morning what the hell do you-”

“I can’t believe you sent me to voicemail,” Nishinoya sounded offended and you let out a pathetic muffled whine against your pillow.

“I’m trying to sleep.” You glared blankly at the apartment window across yours-their lights all off stave a few. You envied the ones lucky enough to be sleeping. “What do you want.”

“You’re already sleeping on a Saturday?” Nishinoya questioned.

“Already? It’s nearly two a.m, Noya.” You scoffed while straining to hear the gusts of wind on his side of the line. “Where are you?”

“Outside.”

“Obviously, I mean where outside?”

“Outside-outside,” he unhelpfully clarified. “I’m outside your apartment.”

You blinked several times before shooting up in bed, “what?”

“It’s really cold out. Could you let me in?”

You hopped out of bed and moved toward your closet, sliding into your simplest pair of shoes and rushing to the hall. “This better not be a prank, Noya.”

“It’s not,” he said as you impatiently jabbed the elevator button. “I wanted snacks from the gas station, but I must have taken a wrong turn back because I ended up here.”

“Wrong turn?” You furrowed in confusion when the elevator finally arrived. “Noya, I’m a thirty minute walk from your place.”

“Oh, right.”

You felt your cheeks warm when you stepped out of the elevator to find him standing in the vestibule. His hair had been whipped around by the wind and was a chaotic mess; you could tell he looked exhausted, but still managed a bright smile when he lifted a plastic bag filled with various snacks.

You rolled your eyes and let him in without hesitation, taking the bag from his grasp the moment he stepped through the glass doors.

“Thanks,” he mumbled while shuffling toward the elevator. You eyed him uncertainly, but followed him closely as he pressed the buttons that would take you both to your apartment.

“Are you okay?” You asked when the normally nonexistent awkward silence became too intense to ignore. He followed you hesitantly into your apartment, completely oblivious that you’d even asked a question until you’d turned to face him in your kitchen when the door swung shut. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” He said, avoiding your eyes.

You rolled yours and took the snack bag to your couch with a yawn, “you’re acting weird.”

“I’m always weird.”

“True, but this is a different weird.” You sat cross-legged, digging through the bag and pulling out a soda-you figured you’d need the caffeine to deal with whatever was happening. “Something’s clearly wrong.”

“No.” He sat down across from you on the floor and hugged his knees to his chest. “Well, maybe. I don’t know actually.”

Your eyes softened at his nervous expression that didn’t fit his confident persona, “you can tell me anything. Promise.”

He took a deep breath, making determined eye-contact before announcing, “I’m dropping out.”

You blinked once. Twice. “What the fuck?”

“I hate everything about college. I’m not good at it and it stresses me out and makes me depressed and I…” His eyes fell toward the floor. “I can’t do it anymore.”

You knew Nishinoya hated it here. Every time you studied for exams you could see the light draining from his eyes, and he spent more time finding ways to procrastinate than actually doing his homework. You didn’t know it was to the point that he wanted to drop out though.

“What are you goin-”

“Travel.” His lips quipped into a half-smile. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do, so I’m just gonna fucking do it. Fuck college. This place sucks.”

You allowed a soft smile. How very Nishinoya to decide ‘fuck college’ because ‘this place sucked’ and start traveling the world. You scanned his determined expression and nodded.

“Okay.”

“I know, it sounds ridiculous but maybe if you sleep on it you’ll understand why-” He raised his brow. “Wait, huh?”

“I said, okay.” Your smile widened the more the idea settled in your head. “Dropping out should be easy enough, but I think the bigger problem will be getting money.”

He stared at you wondrously while you spoke which made you a little uncomfortable.

“My grandpa knows someone in Italy. They said they can get me set up there with a job and everything, so that’s where I’m gonna start.” He said while avoiding your eyes.

“Oh, you have a plan.” Your stomach knotted at the news, but you smiled through it. “Do you know when you want to go because subleasing can be-”

“I’m in love with you and I want you to come with me.”

Your mouth hung open and you stared at him with wide eyes. His face was bright red as he watched your reaction with baited breath. As you continued staring at him in stunned silence he cleared his throat and put his hands between you both as if calming a startled animal.

“Okay, um, you look like you’re panicking.”

You nodded, giving him a once-over and scooting further into the couch away from him.

“Let me try again,” Nishinoya took a deep breath before nodding. “I would very much like to suggest that you also dropped out of college, so that we may travel together.”

“Nishinoya, I don’t think that’s-”

“Also I’m in love with you.”

“I heard that part.”

He sent you fingers guns and quickly averted his eyes. You stared down at your hands and urged your sleep deprived brain to work faster on a solution, but this was a massive info dump. You locked onto his nervous amber eyes, now curiously watching you, and sighed before patting the spot beside you on the couch.

Nishinoya looked at it confused but crawled forward and climbed up beside you. This had never been how you expected everything to go, but with Nishinoya you shouldn’t have planned things to be normal.

“We’re just going to speed this up,” you took a deep breath and grabbed the sides of his face, forcing him to face you. You ignored the way your heart raced against your chest when his cheeks turned a deep shade of red. “I like you,” and before his smile could get too wide you continued. “But I’m not dropping out.”

His shoulders dropped and you could see the heartbreak in his eyes, “but why?”

You rattled your brain for the exact reason because you knew it existed, but it was really hard to find when the boy you liked was rubbing small circles gently against your knee while begging you to travel the world with him.

“I only have a year left,” you settled on while he placed a steady hand atop yours, “and I don’t think I’m ready for something like that.”

His eyes searched intensely for something in yours before he quietly asked, “what about after you graduate?”

You half-smiled and gently pressed your forehead against his. “You know I can’t promise you something that far away. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“You’re the only good thing about this place,” he groaned frustrated. “I don’t want to leave you behind.”

“You’re ridiculous,” you teased, but there was no bite in your words. Your chest was already aching at the realization that you’d be losing him--all-nighters at the library, college parties and being carried home, drunken fast food trips, random late night visits, surprise post-final celebrations--all of him.

As if mirroring your sinking dread, Nishinoya wrapped his arms around your midsection and pulled you closer, nuzzling his nose into the crook of your neck.

“You need to go though,” you said, pressing your cheek against the top of his head. “You’re right. This place isn’t good for you.”

He nodded in silent agreement.

“Things will work out.” You smiled slightly as he tightened his hold on you. “We’ll be okay.”

He nodded with a shaky breath in response. You closed your eyes and relaxed in his hold for the time you had. You knew your words were the truth-Nishinoya did too. Even if it wasn’t in the way you wanted right then you would both be okay.

Nishinoya would leave and with enough time you would become a distant memory for him. For you it would become the same. He would be successful and happy in his own way because that’s what he did, he was good at what he set his mind to. And you would move on to what you needed.

But you could live in this right now. Pretend you would have had something if your futures aligned differently. Maybe only these few minutes. Maybe for the night. For however long you’d allow yourself these feelings with him. But for now it could be enough.

It was enough.