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kwnnies · 11 days ago

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apartment no.17 - 부승관

summary: moving to a new apartment seemed like an exciting thing, a breath of fresh air maybe; only then your peace is disturbed by the likes of an old friend and his extremely attractive roommate.

words: 7.8k

warnings: jeonghan, a few swear words, maybe a tad bit ooc? that's it i think

a/n: i'm a bit skeptical about the quality of this but!!! my friend liked it so that means it's not as bad as i think ^w^

‘i’ll finally experience some peace the moment i move out’ turned out to be the biggest lie you have ever told, and you’ve learned this the hard way.

it seemed almost too perfect, you thought. finally moving out of your family home with one of your closest friends, finding a spacious apartment not that far away from your workplace, said apartment not costing a ton of money so that you could actually live without worrying about making ends meet. two separate bedrooms, a closet big enough to fit all of your wardrobe and boxes full of sentimental things you just couldn’t throw away no matter how much you tried, even a nice view outside the windows. with the money you’ve saved up, it would be a waste not to buy it.

there had to be a catch somewhere, though. and, as it turned out, the catch in question lived right across from you, in apartment no. 17.

you looked over to umji, who tried her best not to react as yet another round of loud screams and laughter erupted from the other side of the wall, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she flipped through the pages of the book, fixing her hair so that it wouldn’t get in the way. it’s been this way for three hours already - noises growing louder and louder with each hour, much to your dismay. for a split second you thought that maybe a family with kids lived there; which would’ve been at least understandable, as children often tend to have problems with controlling their volume. but you also remembered umji mentioning how no kids live on the same floor as the two of you.

you raised your hands towards your head, fingers gently massaging your temples as if to try and stop the gnawing headache which has slowly been growing in intensity for the past thirty minutes. the noise was all too unbearable; and the slight buzz from the two glasses of wine you shared with your friend before didn’t seem to help either.

umji could only observe as you slowly stood up from the couch, annoyance gracing every inch of your face as you marched towards the door with an amount of energy that seemed way too big for a late hour like this. a second passed and you were out of your shared apartment, knocking- no, banging on the door across from you.

the door opened slowly, noises which were muffled by the walls now out in full glory, and you were met with with three pairs of dark brown eyes staring you up and down with curiosity and confusion, one of them quickly turning around to hush what seemed to be the rest of their friends with a loud yell. but it wasn’t him you payed most attention to.

it was the man right in front of him, his face a bit too familiar for your liking.

‘you have to be kidding me,’ you mumbled, a deep sigh leaving your lips as the man erupted into laughter, you following soon after.

yoon jeonghan.

if there was one thing you would’ve never expected, it would be to, in your adult life, neighbor with the same exact man you lived next to as a child, back when you still learned how to ride a bike with no extra wheels, said boy boasting about already being able to do it while riding alongside you (even though he was three years older than you, so it should come as no surprise that he acquired said skills much earlier), laughing each time you fell down. you loved him the same way one loves their siblings; you knew you could rely on him throughout the entirety of your childhood and teenage years, you knew you could come to him for reassurance or advice, which he would give you after a few minutes of making fun if your situation. safe to say he was like an older brother you never had.

although you still kept in touch with him well into your adult life, meeting occasionally with the limited time you had on your hands, you weren’t as close as before. and although you sometimes missed having him next door, you would’ve never expected for it to be true again.

the universe must’ve been really bored to orchestrate this.

‘missed me so much you had to stalk me down to my apartment?’ his words had that familiar sting of teasing to them and you realized that he hasn’t changed all that much throughout the years.

‘even worse’ you replied, trying to keep yourself from smiling at your friend as a little crowd started forming around jeonghan, some of his friends gathering around with curiosity as to what was happening. the music in the back got turned off for a second. ‘i actually live across from you. and i think the first thing i’ll have to do is file a noise complaint, my lovely neighbour.’

he smiled, almost proud of the snarky tone of your words, the tone that you obviously inherited from him. if inheriting traits from people you’re not related to was even possible, he thought.

‘we’ll keep it down’ he said, laughing at the surprise on your face as you thought of just how quick he agreed. no sly replies, no tricks. ‘but you’re coming over tomorrow evening. we have a lot of catching up to do.’

a sigh left your lips, knowing that trying to say no to his offer would be pointless - he’d end up making you come either way.

‘only if you provide me with some good wine.’

you kept your promise - showing up in front of the apartment no. 17 yet again, which would soon become almost a habit for you, this time in a far better mood than yesterday. this situation was all too convenient, as umji mentioned something about wanting to invite a guy she’s been seeing over to the apartment, and you weren’t exactly sure whether you wanted to be there for that or not. knowing your friend, you’d rather be out.

jeonghan seemed not to change almost at all; he was still the same boy you knew as a child, with the exact same personality and sense of humor. although you had to admit he was way more mature now, which wasn’t surprising - after all he was an adult now.

‘oh, i also forgot to mention’ jeonghan said between small sips of wine. ‘seungkwan should be back in like ten minutes, so he’ll probably join us.’

you tilted your head slightly, as if trying to assess whether you had any knowledge of someone of that name. jeonghan seemed to catch that as he put his glass down on the table.

‘one of my friends. he lives here.’ he explained shortly.

‘there’s someone in this world who can tolerate living with you? that’s surprising.’

jeonghan let out a chuckle, reaching for the bottle to pour you another drink. as if on cue, the two of you heard a shift of the keys outside the apartment, the door opening in one swift move as a young, brown-haired man entered the apartment, reaching up to get the bangs out of his eyes as he closed the door with the other hand.

he was wearing a black tee and shorts, a sports bag thrown over his shoulder. he was probably back from some sort of training - which you didn’t need to be sherlock holmes to deduce - and by what he was carrying you figured he played badminton. but that wasn’t exactly what you paid most attention to.

jeonghan’s roommate was cute.

extremely so.

‘talk of the devil’ jeonghan muttered. his eyes darted to your face for a second, then back to seungkwan’s. ‘i’ve told you about y/n before, haven’t i? my amazing and definitely not annoying childhood neighbor.’

seungkwan nodded as he took off his shoes, stepping further into the apartment and stopping right in front of you. he offered you a warm smile as he reached out his hand, and you swore you almost melted right then and there.

‘sorry for being so loud yesterday,’ he said almost immediately. you focused on the softness of his voice rather than the statement itself, finding it surprisingly pleasant. ‘it’s hard to not be loud when you have thirteen grown and drunk men roaming around your living room.’

you laughed at his words. cute and funny. noted.

‘the downsides of a big friend group. i can imagine.’

‘not that you’d know anything about that’ jeonghan’s voice echoed from beside you, and you didn’t have to face him to see the smirk on his face. it was almost imprinted in your memory by now.

‘i have friends, jeonghan. if you’re curious enough to check, one of them is probably getting dicked down in my apartment right now.’

seungkwan cackled quietly, trying to cover up his sudden laughter with a cough but failing to do so. his smile dropped, however, once he noticed a small detail that he hasn’t registered before.

‘is that- yoon jeonghan, is that my wine?’

jeonghan’s lips curved up into a sly smile and it was enough for the younger man to know the answer.

‘yah! i told you not to drink it, i wanted to save it for a special occasion!’ he said dramatically, as if he was in a scene of some k-drama. watching the situation unfold, you couldn’t help but giggle. ‘how could you betray me like that?’

jeonghan shrugged, standing up to pat his friend on the shoulders. he shot him an annoyed glare.

‘don’t bitch about it, i’ll buy you a new one.’

‘that one was from italy.’ he whined, his expression changing into a pout as he turned towards his room. ‘and i had it hidden in my room, too! you truly are a devil, yoon jeonghan.’

you let out a laugh at the scene in front of you, your eyes lingering on seungkwan as he entered his room and closed the door behind him. the moment it closed, jeonghan was already facing you, his signature smirk gone.

‘you were giving him the eyes.’ he muttered, tilting his head slightly. you pretended to ignore his comment, as if you had no idea what he could possibly mean, but jeonghan knew you better than anyone; of course he’d notice that you’ve found his roommate attractive.

‘what, can’t let a girl dream a little?’ you said, putting your wine glass down on the table. maybe it was because you were slightly tipsy, but you didn’t notice straight away that jeonghan was now completely serious.

‘y/n,’ he said silently, almost as if he was disappointed to have to be the bearer of bad news. ‘he’s taken.’

oh.

and so almost a year has passed, and you powered through it, trying to ignore your feelings to your best ability. you got to know your neighbors and their friends - mainly soonyoung and dokyeom, a bit better - which, unfortunately for you, only fueled your crush on seungkwan. it was still a secret, though; a secret which you have now shared with jeonghan and umji, as it was inevitable that your amazing roommate would find out sooner or later. she was also no stranger to the boo seungkwan from apartment no. 17. as it turned out, they worked at the same place and have been colleagues even before you moved here.

what a small world it is.

by default, you were also introduced to seungkwan’s girlfriend, and the fact that she was the sweetest girl you’ve ever met in your life made your blood boil. she was the epitome of perfection; not a flaw in sight, easily likeable, perfectly matching seungkwan’s dramatic personality. it was as if they were tailor made for eachother. everyone adored her.

well, maybe except jeonghan. and you, but you weren’t so outright about it.

you always trusted jeonghan’s judgement about other people: after all, he’s been right time and time again. even back at school, he could always clearly tell when someone’s intentions weren’t good, he always saw clearly through anyone’s bullshit. it’s like he had some sort of sixth sense, used solely to sniff out whether someone was a good person or not.

‘i can’t pinpoint it exactly, but i don’t trust her one bit.’ he said one day, during your weekly meetups, plopping on your couch with a bottle of beer in hand. ‘i know that they’ve been dating for like, what, six months now? but there’s something fishy about their relationship. it’s like it’s all too good to be true.’

now you were seated between jeonghan and wonwoo, laughter erupting inside the living room of your friend’s apartment as soonyoung recalled one of his many embarrassing stories from when he was still studying to become a dance instructor. mingyu and umji were sitting at the kitchen counter, preparing some intricate dish that mingyu wanted to try out on his friends, while dokyeom and seungkwan were trying their hardest to convince chan to join them in singing karaoke. weren’t it for the fact that apartment no. 17 was the only used apartment on this floor other than your own, you would’ve probably got a noise complaint long ago.

but you’ve grown to appreciate the chaos that ensued whenever you met up with jeonghan’s friends. not only did they accept you as part of the group almost immediately, meeting up with them also meant being able to see seungkwan; even if it wasn’t going to lead to anything, which of course it wouldn’t (you aren’t a homewrecker, after all). they were definitely a very interesting bunch - sometimes you wondered how did it happen that all of them even became friends, given how different they were from each other. maybe that was just the key to a good friend group.

you heard mingyu groan in annoyance, a displeased look on his face.

‘we’re out of alcohol. anyone sober enough to go to the store?’ he said, closing the fridge as he turned towards the group. you knew what was coming, given that you haven’t had a drink yet, so you stood up from the couch almost on impulse.

‘i’ll go. none of you are eligible to drive in this state anyways.’ you mumbled as you headed towards the door, already crouching down to put on your shoes. ‘any special wishes on the specifics of the drinks?’

you’ve got a few answers, ranging from beer to the ‘strongest thing you can find’, which made you cackle a little considering that it was soonyoung's request (and you all knew that he was a lightweight, no doubt).

‘wait,’ you heard jeonghan say the moment you reached for the door, opening it slightly. you turned your head towards the man, and by the look on his face, you already knew he was planning something.

‘take seungkwan with you.’

you sighed, praying no one had noticed your reaction as seungkwan made his way towards you, seemingly ready to go. you shot jeonghan a knowing stare; if looks could kill, he would’ve been dead by now. he only laughed.

the fact that seungkwan was in a relationship didn’t stop jeonghan from putting you in situations where you had to spend one-on-one time with him. why? you figured it was to taunt you; as he liked, no, loved doing it to all his friends when the opportunity arose. your crush on his roommate was a perfect excuse to do just that.

you quickly grabbed the car keys from your apartment as seungkwan waited for you in front of the elevator. when you finally joined him and the two of you went inside, the automatic doors closing behind you, you could immediately feel the silence taking over.

boo seungkwan was far from a quiet person. all of his friends said he was the biggest extrovert among the thirteen, and it was easy to see. he was always the life of the party; entertaining everyone around him, cracking jokes left and right, always willing to talk with everyone no matter the topic, always ready to lend a helping hand when in need. everyone who ever had a chance to met him had the very same opinion of him - he was an amazing, sweet, loveable guy.

and yet somehow when the two of you were alone it was completely different.

it’s like there was an invisible wall between the two of you, something blocking a normal conversation from flowing naturally. it did make you a little disappointed every time you thought about it, although you have long given up the hope of building a closer connection with boo seungkwan the moment jeonghan informed you of his relationship status. maybe your crush was supposed to stay just that - a fleeting feeling unable to bloom into something more.

the entire drive to the store was silent; you could only hear the music coming playing at a low volume, seungkwan humming the melody occasionally. throughout the entire drive you couldn’t shake off the feeling of seungkwan watching you; you didn’t dare turn towards him, too focused on the road. you shifted your focus from seungkwan to the shopping you were about to do. you were lucky that the nearest supermarket was still open at this hour. thank god to whoever thought of making stores open 24/7.

you parked right next to the entrance, both of you swiftly making your way inside the store. still, no words were exchanged as you walked around, trying to find the alcohol aisle before seungkwan finally caught a glimpse of it at the end of the store, taking the lead as he pushed the cart in the right direction.

‘how much do we actually plan on buying?’ you were almost startled seungkwan’s voice, the man finally starting a conversation with you as the two of you stood in front of the alcohol aisle, eyeing the various bottles displayed on the shelves. you thought about the answer for a second, turning your head towards the boy.

‘enough for all of them to be satisfied, but not enough to let soonyoung throw up in the kitchen sink yet again.’ you said, recalling the unpleasant memory. ‘that shit was a nightmare to clean.’

seungkwan chuckled quietly, that warm smile you adored so much appearing on his face, his eyes lingering on your face for a second longer.

‘noted.’

before he could reach for the beer bottles on top of the shelves, he heard his phone buzzing, reaching into his pocket to check who it could’ve been. you’ve assumed it would probably be one of your friends, their patience running thin as they wanted their drinks to arrive as soon as possible - but you were proven otherwise once you noticed his reaction.

upon seeing the contact name, which you didn’t catch, flash on his screen, seungkwan’s demeanour immediately shifted. you could visibly see him tense up, fingers almost immediately clicking ‘ignore’ as his smile fell for just a split second. he quickly regained his composure, though, his lips curving up yet again, softer and less convincing this time. you decided not to ask him about it; if he wanted to, he would tell you himself. but your mind couldn’t stop itself from wondering.

you pushed those thoughts aside for the time being. right now you had to focus on getting the alcohol to jeonghan’s apartment - or else you would have all your friends sending you death wishes.

you tried to stay out of other people’s business, you really did. but with a roommate and best friend as nosy as umji, it was almost impossible to do so.

it was genuinely impressive how much she knew about other people’s lives - you could say she was your own personal gretchen wieners, providing you with gossip and drama whether you asked for it or not. an old colleague was getting married? she knew. your ex situationship fumbled another girl? she knew. that one professor from your college turned out to have a romance with one of his students? she made sure it was the first thing she told you after entering the apartment. so when you opened the door after work and saw her face almost buzzing with excitement, you knew that something interesting must’ve happened.

‘good information for you, not so good for the man of your dreams’ she said, motioning for you to close the door, as she turned her head towards you instantly. ‘i have reasons to believe seungkwan broke up with his girlfriend. scratch that - i know they broke up.’

you didn’t know whether you should jump with excitement or feel bad for your neighbour. instead, you just gave umji the look.

elaborate or else i might explode.

‘she came to our workplace today. i was just finishing some paperwork when i saw him storm off to the bathroom like he was trying to hide from someone. cue a few seconds later and she’s there, all dolled up, somehow even more than usual, listening to mingyu’s poor attempt at convincing her that he was sick and had to clock out early or something.’

umji sat down on the couch, running a hand through her hair.

‘my take is,’ she continued as she got comfortable ‘she did something to betray his trust really bad, and now she’s trying to get him back while he very clearly doesn’t want to and is avoiding her like crazy.’

‘aren’t you two friends?’ you said, reaching for the glass of water you left at the coffee table. ‘you could just ask him, you know.’

you knew that breakups were a really vulnerable thing. still, you couldn’t stop yourself from wanting to know the full story - the tiny glint of hope was still there in the back of your head. you felt bad for thinking like that, but unfortunately, curiosity got the better of you.

‘oh, i didn’t, but mingyu did. from what i overheard, he said that it’s a little complicated and that’s why he doesn't want to bring it up to his friends.’

you let out a chuckle, finding it amusing just how selfless your friend was with the snooping around.

‘well, no wonder. he’ll never hear the end of it if jeonghan finds out. he’s been skeptical about her from the very beginning and-‘

‘holy shit!’ umji squealed looking at her phone, making you jump in surprise at the sudden loud sound. she quickly stood up from her seat, running off to her room. ‘i’m late! okay, i would love to sit here and chit chat with you, you know i would right? but i have to leave in like thirty seconds or else i might be late to my date. love you, bye!’

you didn’t even have enough time to process what she said before she was out the door, leaving only silence (and a dirty dinner plate) behind her. a chuckle left your lips. classic umji.

you shot her a quick text of ‘stay safe and call me if anything goes wrong’ and stretched out, thinking of what to do now that you were left with this information alone, with no one around to talk about it with. so you did what everyone would do.

you were in front of jeonghan’s door in no time, a soft knock as you waited for him to open. you were ready to blurt out the entire formula of ‘you were right again’, following that with the explanation of the entire ordeal, but you were glad you held it in.

boo seungkwan opened the door, eyes widening slightly in surprise as he saw you standing in front of him. he must’ve just gotten out of the shower - his hair was still wet and a little messy, and you had to for yourself not to stare at him too much.

‘oh, hi’ you said quietly, somehow not expecting him to be the one to open the door for you, even though he lived in this apartment just as much as your best friend. ‘is jeonghan here?’

seungkwan shook his head, a soft smile on his lips.

‘you just missed him. he went out like half an hour ago to discuss some work stuff with seungcheol.’

‘oh, i won’t bother you then-‘

‘you’re not bothering me’ he said quickly, words blurted out faster than soonyoung when he tried to showcase his rapping skills after two beers and some whiskey. ‘you can come in. if you want to, of course. i’m actually quite bored so if you have nothing else to do then it would be nice to have some company.

you never complied so fast.

seungkwan suggested ordering some take out, complaining about how his stomach has been empty for the last few hours, and you were happy to agree to his suggestion, quickly agreeing on the food and opting for the most cliche way of spending time together; watching a movie.

you’ve (barely) managed to talk him into putting on one of the final destination movies, despite his many protests (which sounded like a child trying his best to persuade his mother not to go to the doctor). you convinced him it ‘wasn’t that scary’.

seungkwan was hiding behind a pillow before the movie even started.

‘oh come on, i’ve only explained the plot! the movie hasn’t even started yet.’ you whined, trying not to laugh at seungkwan’s displeased expression. ‘you’re just being dramatic.’

‘and you’re trying to make me have a heart attack so you can have your precious best friend jeonghan all to yourself.’ he said, his words muffled by the pillow on his face. the scene was almost comedic, you thought, deciding to torment him a bit more.

‘at least it’s not the one where a guy’s insides get sucked in by a pool’s draining system and then they get sprayed put everywhere-‘

‘can’t we watch cocomelon instead?’

you chuckled slightly, plopping down onto the couch, right next to seungkwan.

‘if you’ll get too scared, i’ll consider it.’

he finally complied with the most dramatic sigh you have ever heard in your life, the sound in itself making you giggle yet again. seungkwan kept clutching the pillow in his hands as the movie began, ready to use it to cover his eyes at all times, shooting you a glare each time you held up your laugh at his reactions.

after around twenty minutes or so, seungkwan’s phone started blowing up.

at first you thought it was his friends; you were after all aware of the infamous group chat with his twelve friends that would blow up with hundreds of messages due to the sheer amount of people in it.

but seungkwan’s expression changed to a displeased look, and this time it wasn't because of the movie.

his eyes kept moving from the tv screen to his phone, a small, almost inaudible sigh following each. in result, you watched as seungkwan finally put his phone on mute, standing up so he can leave it somewhere out of his view.

‘everything okay?’ you asked quietly as you noticed him sit back down, his mood slightly changed. seungkwan looked over to you, his face expression changing to a smile.

‘yeah. it’s just,’ he hesitated for a little, as if deciding on whether he should confide in you with this information or not. after a short pause, he decided to continue. ‘my ex won’t stop bugging me, you know? well, i suppose you do know already.’

you tilted your head slightly, as if not understanding what he meant.

‘umji isn’t really slick with her eavesdropping, you know.’ he mumbled. ‘and knowing her, she’d probably yap to you first.’

well, he wasn’t wrong.

‘sorry for that.’

‘don’t be. it’s not your fault.’

‘can i ask what happened?’

seungkwan let out a small chuckle, his eyes darting away towards his hands.

‘we started dating- well, fake dating first because she tried to get rid of a guy that wouldn’t stop bugging her. i felt bad for her, and i wasn’t interested in anyone at the time, so i agreed to it.’ the movie seemed to be forgotten already, your attention solely on seungkwan and the story he was telling.

seungkwan seemed like the person who would agree to a fake dating situation out of pure pity; his friends often mentioned how he’s too nice for his own good, and you couldn’t disagree. he was always extremely empathetic towards others, and as much as you viewed it as a strength, at times it was the exact opposite.

‘it wasn’t all that bad; she’s sweet, funny and all, but i thought we agreed on it being just a deal that would last for no more than a year. but when that weird guy finally stopped bugging her and i tried to call things off, suddenly she would find every excuse imaginable to keep me next to her for longer. she wouldn’t even listen to me when i tried to give her my reasoning! the only thing that i could do was to just try and ignore her. unfortunately for me, she knows where i work. and even worse: where i live. i’m surprised she hasn’t tried to come down here yet. except for leaving multiple letters in our mailbox downstairs. then there’s also calling and texting me every day and-‘

‘is she a psycho or something?’

seungkwan chuckled.

‘yeah. insane girls dig me, i guess.’ he fixed his hair, a few strands sticking to his forehead. ‘unfortunately for her, i like someone else.’

oh.

seungkwan’s confession definitely caught you off guard, but it has also made you extremely curious of the details. of course, there were a few possibilities of how this situation would unfold:

1. the, at least in your opinion, less possible one - the mystery girl that seungkwan mentioned turns out to be you, cue a sweet love confession and living happily ever after with three dogs two cats and jeonghan (because he is part of the package, unfortunately)

2. it’s a different girl, and upon finding out you will drown in agony yet again, having to listen to him talk about someone he likes while being painfully aware that it’ll never be you.

you thought of what to say next, weighing the options while taking into consideration the possible outcomes as fast as you could, trying not to let the silence between you and seungkwan linger for too long. the most logical approach would probably be not to ask, slowly changing the topic of the conversation to avoid any awkwardness from both sides. but logic, as it often was the case with you, got quickly swept aside by a wave of curiosity.

‘oh really? i wonder who that could be.’

you tried to sound chill, and you prayed to god that seungkwan didn’t notice the slight change in the pitch of your voice as you spoke. he averted his gaze yet again, eyes falling down to the floor, all of a sudden very interested in the rug that has been in that same place for over two years now.

‘well, i guess i can tell you.’ he mumbled, and you swore you’ve never seen him this shy before. you always believed seungkwan to be the loud, extrovert type who’s always extremely outspoken and draws attention all the time: and you mostly weren’t wrong. but behind that was a different side of him, one that you wouldn’t see often. a side much more vulnerable, much more calm, almost as if he switched personalities with someone else.

seungkwan cleared his throat, turning his head to face you with a small smile. he scooted a bit closer, as if to tell you a secret, and only then have you noticed how close to him were you sitting, arms gently brushing against each other, faces closer than ever before. you could almost feel his breath on your skin, the entire situation making your face flush with a light shade of pink that you hoped seungkwan hasn’t noticed.

you expected him to explain who the mystery person was. what you didn't expect, however, was for boo seungkwan to lean in and kiss you.

in a different life you might've taken that as a sign of you finally getting your chance; kissing him back, getting your happy ending after months of unreciprocated feelings. and yet as much as you wanted to pull him closer, move towards him, your body betrayed you. you froze on the spot, paralyzed and unable to do anything other than sit there in utter shock, which alerted seungkwan to move back, a look full of panic and regret starting to appear.

the boy opened his mouth, eyes scanning your face. he was ready to say something, but the sound you were met with was surely far from his voice.

‘guess who’s back!’

yoon jeonghan.

you almost jumped at the sound, quickly followed by what seemed to be bottles clanking in the bag and seungcheol’s quiet greeting as he entered right behind your friend. jeonghan immediately sensed that something was happening upon noticing the displeased expression on your face and the slight flush on seungkwan’s ears; a detail that even you haven’t noticed. you turned towards the tv, ready to grab the remote and pause the movie, only to notice the end credits rolling. time sure flies fast.

‘weren’t the two of you supposed to discuss some work stuff?’ seungkwan asked awkwardly, hand motioning to the bag his friend set down on the kitchen counter, as if to suggest they were using work as an excuse to drink together yet again. jeonghan chuckled, opening one of the drawers to search for a bottle opener.

‘we finished early. sorry for interrupting your date, lovebirds.’ seungcheol couldn’t help but cackle at jeonghan’s comment. your face heated up almost immediately, head quickly turning towards seungkwan who was ready to deny his roommate’s claim, but jeonghan was faster. ‘don’t explain yourself, i don’t wanna know. join us for a drink, will you?’

the two of you complied, having no other choice, and even though you weren't the only ones in the room, you could feel the atmosphere change; seungkwan appeared more quiet, avoiding eye contact with you, almost as if he wasn't fully present in the conversation.

you couldn’t help but sigh, pulling out your phone to quickly answer notifications from umji, opening your chat with jeonghan to send him a short message, making your friend chuckle, his signature smirk appearing as he spotted the notification on his phone screen.

‘i hate you more than words can describe.’

umji hasn’t stopped laughing for five minutes.

‘oh, jeonghan really knows how to fuck with you two. it’s almost as if he did it all on purpose.’

‘you're focusing on the wrong thing, umji!’ you whined, turning to lay on her back, a displeased look on your face as you covered it with a pillow. ‘did you not hear me when i said that he kissed me? do i have to repeat myself again and be even more embarrassed? he kissed me, and i didn't even react- god, why did i not react at all?’

‘i did, don't whine. have you spoke to him since then? small talk doesn’t count.’ umji questioned as she plopped on the couch, laying down next to you. the grimace on your face only grew larger as you shook your head.

it’s been over three weeks since that evening and you and seungkwan haven’t exchanged a single word or text. you tried to blame it on the different work hours, the piles of paperwork you had and the time consuming team projects seungkwan had to deal with, but deep down you were aware that what happened has surely been at fault as well. despite your busy schedule, trying not to think about it was impossible.

if you bumped into each other on the elevator, seungkwan would politely meet you and practically sprint out the moment the doors opened. as time went by you noticed that he even started taking the stairs sometimes, giving the excuse of ‘getting more exercise’ when questioned about it by jeonghan. whenever someone mentioned going out for drinks or meeting at someone's house to spend some quality time together, seungkwan was either a no show or avoided you like the plague; it was an unbearable thing to experience, but you've learned to bottle it up so that you don't turn everyone's mood sour.

umji broke the silence, noticing your long lack of a verbal response.

‘to be perfectly honest, i think the two of you are just fucking stupid. well, him mostly, but you know what i mean.’

‘huh?’

the girl sighed.

‘you two clearly like each other.’ she explained, dragging you up to a sitting position. ‘instead of talking to each other and clearing things up, you tiptoe around it and pretend nothing has happened. and i can understand everything, truly, but he's acting like a high school girl avoiding her crush in the hallway. no offence, i love you both, but if you don’t corner him in some way and talk it out i will ask jeonghan to do it for you, and you know he will make a show out of it.’

‘you wouldn’t do that.’ you looked over to your friend, who shrugged in response.

‘desperate times call for desperate measures.’ she smiled innocently. ‘anyways, it’s your turn to do the laundry today, love. the basket isn’t going to get itself downstairs to the laundry room, you know.

upon hearing you groan, umji couldn’t help but crack a laugh. getting the laundry downstairs and then back to your apartment had to be on of your least favorite house chores to do despite not being as tiring as some of the others. you hated the laundry ever since you were young; maybe because you were always the one to do it in your house, taking a plastic chair from the garden to stand on so that you would even be able to hang the clothes to dry, or maybe because jeonghan tried his best to make you fall from said chair whenever possible, blaming it on the wind each time. as the two of you grew up he stopped his antics, but it was safe to say that upon any mention of the laundry your expression still turned into an almost comical grimace.

the laundry room in your apartment complex was located on the first floor, and so you opted for the only logical option; the elevator. while inside, you couldn’t help but think of seungkwan. maybe what umji was saying was right - maybe you should’ve just come up to him and talk instead of drowning in agony and waiting in your room. but then again, with how much he was avoiding you, it wasn't as easy as it sounded.

your thoughts were consumed by seungkwan at this point; about how to approach him again, how to tell him the truth about your feelings towards his. the universe had a funny way of working, though, and it certainly did not want to give you time to plan it out.

you saw his face first thing when the elevator door opened; here stood boo seungkwan in all of his glory, black shirt and shorts along with his all time favorite navy blue cap. you assumed he was back from a run by the outfit and the beads of sweat on his forehead.

seungkwan seemed just as surprised as you were, eyes darting away from your gaze instantly.

‘oh, hi-‘

‘could you help me carry the laundry?’ seungkwan was ready to greet you and leave it at that, but you didn’t give him the chance, cutting him off before he finished speaking. the man turned around, taking a quick look at you and the heavy-looking laundry basket in your hands, and the answer was obvious.

neither of you uttered a word throughout the walk, the silence between you absolutely unbearable; you could physically feel the weight of the words that haven’t been said for the past few weeks, hovering over you and making it impossible to function normally around one another.

seungkwan awkwardly put the basket down on the ground, right next to one of the many washing machines in the laundry room.

‘thank you.’ you offered him a smile, trying to soften the atmosphere at least a bit. a sense of relief washed over you when you saw him smile back; you missed that sight a lot during the past weeks, so, although it was a small thing considering the whole situation, it made you more joyful than you would like to admit.

he stood there for a few more seconds, unsure of what to do with himself before eventually turning back towards the door.

‘i should go back to my apartment now, i guess.’

seungkwan didn’t even manage to take three steps before he felt your hand on his arm, gripping it lightly.

‘wait.’ your voice was quiet as he turned around to face you, confused and curious at the same time. you took a deep breath as if to gain some more courage through it before you continued. ‘can we talk? about, you know, that evening-‘

‘ah, that!’ seungkwan’s demeanor changed visibly at the mention of that particular situation, an awkward laugh leaving his lips. ‘yeah, about that. i’m sorry for doing that, you know, kissing you and stuff, i should’ve told you that i like you first instead of acting up on it like a hormonal teenager and ruining the mood. it’s stupid, you can forget all of that really-‘

‘seungkwan.’

‘-and i can understand if you don’t feel the same way, you know? i didn’t want it to be awkward for you at the functions so i distanced myself a bit but it’s all good, we can still be friends if you don’t mind but then again i can totally understand it if you don’t want that to be the case-‘

‘boo seungkwan.’

‘what?’

before he knew it, your lips were on his.

seungkwan was definitely caught by surprise, and yet his hand instinctively went up to rest on your cheek as the other found its way to your waist, pulling you closer and deepening the kiss. it felt as if the two of you were letting out all the tension from the past weeks; all the words which haven’t yet been said conveyed in one action. he felt your fingers running through his hair and he couldn’t help the low hum of satisfaction leaving his lips.

you were practically melting in his hands, trying to keep yourself from smiling as your lips worked swiftly against his, wanting to savor this moment forever, drowning in the pleasure of a simple kiss.

‘you said that it’s stupid and that i can forget all of it.’ you repeated his words, breaking the kiss for a quick gasp of air. ‘it wasn’t stupid. and i certainly do not want to forget it.’

seungkwan smiled, eyes sparkly, glimmering with a childlike joy and you swore he never looked more beautiful. he didn’t say anything; instead kissing you again, letting his actions do the talking for him.

‘this whole thing feels like a dream i’m going to wake up from in a second.’ he muttered in between kisses, not wanting to stop it just yet. you couldn’t help but chuckle at his remark.

‘should i pinch you so you find out?’ you mumbled, reaching for one of his hands and intertwining your fingers with his as you took a step back, smiling playfully at seungkwan, both of you visibly flushed.

‘nah. i think one more kiss will do the trick instead.’

‘are you sure you packed everything?’

you turned your head towards seungkwan who was anxiously pacing around the room and you. couldn’t help but chuckle. you smiled, getting up from your sitting position to approach him, a reassuring smile on your face.

‘a hundred percent sure.’

‘what about sunscreen? and toothpaste, have you packed toothpaste?’ seungkwan continued rambling as he stood in front of you, taking your hands in his. he was caught off guard by your sudden laugh, head tilting to the side. ‘what’s so funny?’

‘you’re cute, kwannie.’ you mumbled, leaning in to give him a quick peck on the lips. ‘i have checked it a few times to see if i have packed everything, so you don’t have to worry. and even if it turns out we forgot something, we can buy it when we get there.’

seungkwan seemed more relaxed after hearing your words, lips curving up into a smile as he wrapped his arms around you in a tight hug, placing a small kiss on the top of your head.

‘you’ll have plenty of time for smooching and hugging and whatnot once we’re at our destination, lovebirds.’ jeonghan’s voice echoed from behind you, the man leaning on the doorframe with his arms crossed. ‘we have a plane to get to now, you know.’

you sighed dramatically, loosening the hug and eventually stepping out from your boyfriend’s personal space to go close your suitcase.

‘remind me, why are we taking you with us again?’ you asked, pretending to be annoyed with your friend’s presence.

‘because you both love me very dearly, obviously.’ jeonghan muttered, rolling his eyes, and you could hear seungkwan laughing behind you at his roommate’s statement. ‘also, me and seungkwan are a buy one get one free package. you signed up for that, so take it or leave it.’

‘sure, whatever tickles your fancy, jeonghan.’ you laughed, walking past him in the door. ‘remind me to find you a date so that you stop following us like a puppy.’

‘just call seungcheol up and the problem will be solved.’ seungkwan muttered, the three of you making your way to the elevator. jeonghan was ready to deny his friend’s words but he stopped himself, a sigh leaving his lips.

‘i introduced you two to each other and you make fun of me like that? you two are really something.’ his words earned a laugh from both you and seungkwan, which seemingly irked jeonghan up even more. ‘thank god i have perfect blackmail material for both of you.’

both you and seungkwan turned towards him at the same time, jeonghan’s signature evil-looking grin plastered to his face. the elevator doors opened and all three of you stepped inside with your luggage.

‘oh, and one more thing.’ you mentioned as the elevator stopped downstairs, ready to step out of it the moment the doors open. ‘since i’m driving, i’m choosing the playlist.’

the chaos that ensued after this statement could only make you laugh, seungkwan and jeonghan arguing over how your playlist is shit and it should be one of them who gets to control the aux, the discussion then drifting towards who’s going to be the passenger princess (as if the answer wasn’t obvious already). looking at the two of them bickering, you only thought one thing.

this is going to be a long, long drive.

#boo seungkwan x reader #seungkwan x reader #boo seungkwan fluff #seungkwan fluff #seventeen x reader #seventeen fluff #boo seungkwan #seungkwan

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wildflowersandvibranium · 7 days ago

Text

Muscle Memory : Chapter Six

Pairing: CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS Restaurant Owner Bucky Barnes x Cardiac Surgeon Female Reader Alternate Universe

Summary: In a town that never forgets , she thought she could hide the bruises behind a perfect smile and life. But someone from her past sees too much—and remembers everything. sorry its so vague just don't want to give too much away!

Word Count: 2.8k+

Chapter Warnings: Starts off super fluffy and nice then dips into - Emotional abuse & gaslighting , alcohol consumption , psychological trauma , victim-blaming , verbal threats/degradation , physical violence , mental health topics.

A/N: hey everyone! a new chapter in only two days eee. This one is a pretty rough one im sorry :( but this story does have a happy ending and i promise i will not steer you wrong! i hope you enjoy and take care of yourselves 💖

also next chapter is our halfway point and as a treat im posting the teaser for my new seriess im wiritng rn!! hehe

series masterlist

<- previous chapter - next chapter ->

If there was one thing that didn't change from the time Y/N knew Wanda Maximoff growing up to knowing her now , was that she was truly incapable of—no matter how she tried—keeping things especially parties small.

So , as the countdown to her and Vision's wedding crept closer and closer , it was inevitable that she'd find an excuse to throw a dinner party.

Not that anyone in their group minded. Especially not when it was hosted in this house.

Wanda and Vision’s place was an architectural day dream , a blend of sleek modern lines softened by vintage details. French styled windows framed the setting sun , and the interior glowed in amber hues.

The walls were adorned with old and new framed book pages and antique sconces , one room effortlessly flowing into the next.

An already pre prepared nursery sat quietly off to the right of the upstairs hall , already painted in soft sage and brown tones with a mobile of little animals and characters swaying in the air from the cool breeze of an open window.

The library across from it was cozy , all dark reddish wood and muted velvet chairs , the air carrying hints of cedar and the waft of old novels.

The dining room—well , the dining room was the crown jewel of the home: a long hand carved and made rustic table lit with strung lights and flickering floating candles in water-filled mason jars that adorned the table top , the exquisite centerpiece was made of freshly picked eucalyptus and peonies from Wanda’s garden.

It was intimate. Warm and familiar.

When arriving Y/N sat near the middle of the long table , Tyler right at her side arm tucked behind her back or snug to her waist , her hand clenched under the table in his too-tight grip he currently had on her. His palm hadn’t loosened once since they got in the car to head this way.

Directly cross from her sat Bucky. Sam and Inaya had taken their seats beside him , with Clint and Laura next down the lavish table.

Everyone was deep in their own conversation , it bled into wedding talk , honeymoon destinations and plans and now a friendly dessert table debate.

Wanda , was in a soft black spring dress with a soft gray cardigan draped over her frame standing with an expensive wine bottle in one hand and a dish towel in the other , laughed as Vision brought over the last plate of food announcing:

“No one touch the roasted potatoes just yet,” she said firmly. “They need exactly four minutes to rest or I'll put a spell on you.”

That drew a collective laugh from all ends of the table and room.

Y/N smiled at the joke raising her glass and took a slow long sip of her wine.

If she was being honest , she didn’t even like the taste of wine. Not really. It was too dry and not her usual pick. But it gave her something to do with her hands that kept from making her cuticles bleed by her nervous picking.

And the warmth it provided dulled the thrum of anxiety in her belly and veins that came with being seated at the same table as Bucky Barnes—with Tyler right next to her.

Bucky , for his part , had also loosened up with a glass of the red lquid. He rarely ever drank—ever cautious of his actions and , ever in control—but something about the mood , the dim flickering lights , the hum of shared memories made it feel safe to have a few sips or maybe a few glasses.

Just for tonight , he told himself.

At some point during the chatter of lifelong friends and their spouses , the conversation had shifted.

The newlyweds-to-be were asked about their honeymoon plans or if there were any.

“We’re going to Sicily ,” Wanda smiled , practically glowing as she leaned on Vision.

“We found a tiny villa , no WiFi or distractions , just sun and lemon trees and Vision shirtless on a beautiful beach.”

Vision smiled modestly blushing at his soon to be wife's comment. “She makes it sound way better than it will be.”

“I don’t know about that Vision,” Inaya said , resting her chin on her hand. “I think it sounds like pure bliss and heaven.”

Sam groaned leaning back in his seat. “When can we go back to Europe again?”

“When someone gets a passport that hasn't been way expired,” she teased , “-and when that same someone doesn't keep leaving a child in my uterus.”

Y/N laughed loudly with the group at that.

Her head was beginning to feel a little light , her cheeks warm with that wine buzz.

She wasn't drunk—yet—but she was definitely tipsy , her tongue was looser, her chest less tight and angry.

She’d poured herself a second full glass before the first was even fully empty.

Across the table , Bucky had started the conversation now , recounting and recalling the time they’d tried to build his family pet , a dog house together when they were about fourteen.

“No joke ,” he said , lifting his fork from his plate with emphasis, “she tried to nail the boards into a piece of wood that was warped and wasn’t even remotely usable.”

“I was testing the materials ,” Y/N defended herself , giggling.

“You then hit your finger with the hammer stumbling backwards landing right on your butt and screamed,” Bucky added, teasing her more and more, “but the only thing you broke was the sandwich you’d hidden from me in your back jeans pocket.”

Sam snorted. “Wait , she…you had a sandwich in your pocket?”

Y/N was full-on belly laughing now thanks to her lightheadedness and ease. “I always had snacks on me , okay? You can’t build memories on an empty stomach.”

The group laughed loudly with her. Even Wanda half in the conversation half , refilling glasses and snacking on roasted almonds , chuckled at her friend.

Tyler , however, sat utterly quiet.

Not smiling. Not speaking.

Almost seeming invisible.

The laughter around the table continued , flowing freely like the wine that was endless.

Every shared story seemed to stretch back into a time when things were easier. When love didn’t quite hurt. When home wasn’t as dangerous.

Bucky noticed it.

How Y/N leaned into those memories like a lifeline gripping onto them , her eyes brighter , her body and guard down and looser.

Her smile was more real than he’d seen in the weeks she had been back.

She looked at him across from the table , once or twice , longer than necessary but shorter than they both wanted.

The kind of looks and glances old friends shared.

The kind that said we’ve been through it. The kind that asked: Do you still remember who and how I am?

He did.

Of course he did.

She was still his girl , the one with the broken sandwich and scraped bloody knees , the one who memorized the stars and used sarcasm like armor. Even if she'd forgotten herself in the mirror Tyler made her use , he hadn’t.

He couldn’t.

At one point, Bucky quietly pushed , sliding the cheese platter a little closer to her , seeing there were only a few of the smoked gouda slices left , knowing it was her favorite.

She didn’t say thank you , didn’t need to.

Their eyes met with a glowing smile on both of their faces.

That was enough.

And Tyler had caught right on it.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

More wine was of course poured. Someone—probably Vision turned on soft jazz as it flowed through the house speakers.

Dessert was offered and greatly accepted—mini chocolate tortes topped with cold fresh whipped cream.

Eventually , after Sam and Inaya said their goodbyes with Inaya having an early shift in the morning , and Sam , of course, insisted on escorting her out –they moved to the living room and started a simple game of cards.

Something easy. Something casual. Fun.

Y/N was perched and settled on the couch legs tucked up underneath her , Tyler beside her , Bucky across parallel to the coffee table.

The others fanned out around the room with drinks and some still with dessert still in hand.

It was lighthearted , a little loud, and full of teasing jabs about who cheated at Uno and who hoarded all the wild cards.

But then as Clint placed a green four card…Y/N dropped Tyler’s hand.

She hadn’t even realized she’d done it. Her laughter from Bucky’s sarcastic comment about Clint’s bad hand still hung in the air when she just… let go.

Maybe it was her tipsy comfort. Maybe it was instinct clawing.

But the absence of her hand in his did not go unnoticed.

His grip had been controlling and sweaty. And when she let go, dropping it on the table in front of the others , that loss of the ownership he felt was everything.

Tyler’s jaw tightened hard, grinding his jaw. His hand found her bare thigh under the table and clamped down roughly , thumb pressing against the soft skin near her knee bruising the supple flesh there.

Y/N winced. Her back stiffened and jolted slightly.

And in that second—the laughter and safety faded from her eyes.

She tried to breathe normally. To smile. But the look Tyler gave her as she glanced from his grip on her to his gaze… it was the look of a man who would not forget this.

Would not forgive it.

She felt instantly sick.

Across the table , Bucky's gaze sharpened , the mirth in his features cooling instantly.

He’d seen the subtle wince. The flicker of fear.

His grip on his cards in hand tightened.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

When finishing the game after many , many long hectic rounds everyone began to bid their goodbyes , Tyler practically dragged Y/N out by her elbow the moment people were busy picking up and walking out. Not even allowing her to say goodbye to her friends.

The car ride home was deathly silent. Eerie.

The kind of silence that screamed without a word having to be spoken.

That familiar eeriness clawed at her and made every mile on the way home stretch into an eternity.

She sat still , her body rigid and tight in the passenger seat.

Her fingers trembled, shaking in her lap , curled twisting tightly together.

She didn’t dare speak. Not with the way Tyler was gripping the wheel and in control of the moving vehicle , white-knuckled , his jaw locked and twitching under his skin.

The muscle tick in his temple pulse and pounded in time with the rage she could feel radiating off him like a heatwave.

The second they turned into the driveway , her breath hitched.

She already knew , and accepted. Braced herself.

She didn’t need the slamming of the car door or the quick , pounding footsteps up the front porch to tell her this night would not end quietly.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

As soon as she stepped inside their home anc kicked her shoes off closing the door behind her, it began.

“You think I didn’t see you?” Tyler’s voice snapped like a whip. “You think I’m stupid?”

She flinched at his voice , recoiling slightly as he tossed his keys onto the table so hard they slid off and clattered to the floor.

He was already pacing , hands gesturing wildly , words slurred just enough to show how much wine he’d also taken in. He definitely shouldn't have been driving.

“You were laughing. Laughing with him like I wasn’t even there,” he spat voice breaking. “You embarrassed me.”

“I wasn’t—Tyler, I wasn’t trying to—”

“Oh, don’t give me that innocent pathetic act now,” he snarled , getting in her face , breathing on her nose as she closed her eyes tight.

“You were all over him with your stupid giggling and whispering and touching.”

“I didn’t touch him,” she said quickly trying to use her voice to soothe the storm beginning to spin out of control.

“I was just being friendly. You know I haven’t seen Bucky in years , I was just catching up. That’s all.”

“Liar!” he roared.

Her knees buckled slightly at the volume. “Please… please don’t—”

He grabbed her by the wrist so fast she didn’t have time to react or move.

“You don’t tell me what to do. You don’t get to act like some flirtatious little slut in front of all our friends and then lie to my face!”

“I wasn’t—” she tried , her voice cracking , the panic rising fast now, crawling up her throat like bile as hot tears pooled in her eyes. “I didn’t—Tyler, please—”

“You love him , don’t you?” he hissed then began to laugh dryly.

“That’s what this is. You’ve always loved him. You’ve never stopped. You were thinking about him the whole time we were there werent you. Every time you smiled, it was for him wasn't it…..”

“WASN'T IT?!” He shoved her hard , sending her backwards.

She hit the wall with a sickening thud , her shoulder scraping against the sharp edge of the doorframe and the picture above fell and shattered at her feet.

“Tyler!” she gasped , pain shooting down her back and head.

He stalked forward , his face twisted in pure fury.

“You’re mine. Mine. You hear me? You’re lucky someone like me even wants you. You think he’d take you back after knowing what you’ve become?”

“I didn’t do anything—” she sobbed , trying to push herself up slipping on glass as it dug into her palms.

“You’re disgusting ,” he snapped. “God , you make me sick. Don’t forget who takes care of you. Don’t forget who loves you. No one else will. Not after finding out what you are.”

Her head spun , vision blurring with tears as they poured down her cheeks.

“I love you,” he said sharply , grabbing her jaw in his hand. “Say it back.”

She didn’t. Couldn’t just cry out sobbing, turning into an almost wheeze.

“SAY IT BACK!”

“…I love you,” she whispered , barely audible.

Not because it was true—but because she was so and entirely afraid of him at that moment.

He stared at her for a long moment scoffing as she kneeled before him.

Then he dropped his grip and stepped back like nothing had happened.

“I’m going to bed,” he muttered. “Don’t follow me.”

She didn't look up ; she stayed still on the floor, chest heaving.

The pain was spreading out now , her back , her shoulder , her cheek.

She wasn’t sure where she’d been hurt the worst. Her body? Her heart? Mind?

Everything just ached.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

The silence after he left was impossibly louder than his screams had ever been.

She curled in on herself on the living room floor , her sobs barely making it past her throat. Her hand trembled as she reached for the throw blanket on the couch and pulled it down , wrapping it around herself.

And somehow, the worst part wasn’t even the pain , the blood or anything remotely physical.

It was the guilt.

Guilt that clung to her skin like lingering cigarette smoke.

Because she’d laughed with Bucky. Because she’d let herself forget—just for a moment—what her life really was. Because when he looked at her like she was still someone worth caring about , she’d wanted to believe it.

She hated him–Bucky for it.

Because it made this hurt more. He had tricked her.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

Her fingers curled around the edge of the couch cushion as she dragged herself up , slowly , gingerly , her body sore and heavy.

She winced feeling the glass in her knees and hands but just brushed off whatever she could off her skin and laid down pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders , knees drawn to her chest.

She cried for a long time. Her voice was raw and missing.

And when she couldn’t cry or wince anymore , when her throat was gravelly and her face sticky flooded with tears , she stared at the ceiling fan as it spun.

As Tyler’s voice fills her mind.

“You’re mine.”

“No one else will love you.”

“He doesn’t want you.”

“He never did.”

And the worst part was—Some part of her believed it.

-end

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luveline · 1 year ago

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Missing my zombie!steve husband 🫶🏻

quiet day at the camp… hope something bad isn’t brewing… zombie apocalypse au <3 fem, 2k

Steve loves the sound of the river, but he only allows himself a moment to lay down on the riverbank during laundry hours.

You stand knee deep in the water with your pants and sleeves rolled up, the corrugated metal of an old shed roof that’s been repurposed into a washing board held to your chest. It was pointless to roll your sleeves up, you’re soaked to the bone, even your hair, but the summer sun keeps you warm.

“Don’t get too hot!” you call.

“I’m fine,” he says, unwilling to shout.

“He’s fine!” Robin shouts from beside him. “Numbskull.”

Steve stares at you, locking you in, so to speak, the nice shape of your hip and stomach, the mess of your wet hair. Tonight, he’ll help you fix it, but there’s no rush and no hurry to dry off while the sun is out, and the fences are up. He turns onto his stomach. Grass tickles his cheeks.

“You sure you’re okay?” Robin asks quietly.

“Fine. Can you tell me if she needs help?”

“Sure.” He listens to the sounds of her moving, likely pulling the slim lengths of her legs against her chest to hug herself, the tan leaves of a book spread out just in front of her.

Steve could really go for a cigarette. You swapped the last box you found for toothpaste, isn’t that how it always goes? You and Robin found a cheat code in the apocalypse, nicotine with a capital ‘N’. You swap Arctic chewable for socks without holes and boxes of Marlboro’s for the bathroom essentials. Everybody wants them, and you’re great at finding them. Steve never thought he’d crave a cigarette again considering he wasn’t addicted, having smoked for a couple of months in high school to feel cool with his friends, stopping when his mom asked him to. He doesn’t remember why. She’d asked, and he’d listened, as he used to do. Swim team, cross country, basketball, lifeguard training, mowing the lawn, not upsetting his father, taking out the trash, vacuuming, no drinking and driving; task after task after task. Some of it was easy. He liked doing the dishes, and he loved taking care of his mom even if she didn’t feel the same.

Not that it matters now. Does it matter now? He’s never gonna see her again. She’s a memory. She’s a bad memory, most of the time.

The more he reflects on it, he decides. She was a bit shitty, but she’s his mom, and she’s likely gone, so he’ll try to remember the cookies they made together and the way she’d smile at him after she tied his shoelaces before school. And also the mean fucking bitch she’d turn into when she drank two glasses of wine.

“What are you thinking about?” Robin asks.

“That’s the wrong soap,” you say from the river. Your voice floats over the breeze.

“Fuck off, soap is soap,” Eddie says, your not-so-new friend, Steve’s sworn enemy.

“I’m just saying,” you laugh. “Look, I’ll wash, you rinse.”

“I’m thinking about that time,” Steve begins, holding his hand out toward her, open but not expectant, “when my mom and dad came home early from his business trip in Missouri and found us sleeping together.”

“I’d never heard your dad laugh before,” Robin says.

“My mom really didn’t like you after that.” He smiles as she takes his hand. They were a lot more touchy, pre-apocalypse. He misses that sometimes.

“I don’t even think she thought we were dating.”

“She was disgusted.”

“She said we were being weird teenagers.”

“I guess we were. I never had a friend like you before so maybe I can’t blame her,” he says. He has something special with you, you’re a best friend because you’re half of his heart, but Robin was his first proper best friend, and remains it. “I missed you a lot when we were stuck in Indiana. There were a ton of times where shit would go wrong and I would get mad at you because I knew you’d know how to fix it, but you weren’t there.”

“You’d get mad at me?” Robin asks, squeezing his hand. “You jerk. Be mad at yourself.”

“Can you wait for me next time?” he asks.

Robin’s quiet, then she laughs, “I’m nodding but you can’t see.”

He wonders how she’s feeling. He admits to not doing that much in the past. Not that he didn’t think about how he made others feel, he was always worrying about that after Nancy, but he can’t say he thought of it in the moment. Steve forces himself to sit up and offer his arms for a hug, which Robin gladly accepts, her frazzled laugh on his neck as he pats her back.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“You know Y/N says I’m possessive?”

Robin leans away, fingers curled around his elbow. “You’re fighting?”

“No, just. She says I’m possessive, that I get mad about, you know, my people.”

“Right. Isn’t everybody?”

“I never thought I did. I’m not, like, too proud most of the time.”

“Steve, this is super introspective,” she says, frowning, smiling, a weird expression somewhere melding in the middle of happy and concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay? It’s fine if you’re not.” She laughs shrilly. “I woke up the other day and cried and then ten minutes later I felt fine. I’m far from okay.”

Steve glances past Robin’s head to watch you in the river. You’re sitting down amongst the stones. It really isn’t too deep, water to your ribcage washing suds down to Munson, who’s smiling at you kindly, not smarmy or flirting, just smiling.

“Why did you cry?” he asks quietly.

“I missed my cousin, I think.”

Steve curls his arm behind her head and encourages her in for a fiercer hug.

“Think we should probably go help them,” she mumbles.

He takes it for the brush off that it is; sincerity is too much to take, sometimes. If she wants to be evasive about it that’s okay, she already took the leap and admitted to getting upset.

“I cried thinking about Y/N’s hands the other day,” he says.

“Steve.” Robin rubs her eye with the heel of her hand. “I don’t even know what to tell you.”

“What? I’m trying to show you I’m pathetic so you don’t feel bad.”

“I know you’re pathetic, and I don’t feel bad.” She climbs off of the ground and brushes broken grass off of her legs. Steve climbs up next to her, nudging her with his elbow. “You’re mucho pathetic. It’s kind of crazy.”

“I think I might try and drown him,” he says conversationally.

“Why now?”

“Why do you think?” Steve asks, toeing off his shoes and peeling off his socks, nearly pitching forward on the wet bank closer to the river.

You and Eddie look up as they approach from different spots of the water. Your smile at seeing him winds him for the thousandth time, just so happy to see him, so in love with you he doesn’t even know what to do for a few seconds. “Hey, honey,” he says, “can I help?”

“Now you wanna help?” you ask, gesturing to your soaked front.

You’re messing with him, and he doesn’t care anyways, you can talk to him like crap if you want to. He shuffles down from the mud of the riverbank and into the water, cold and wet like a shock against his ankles, softer as it climbs to his knees. You’re sitting where it’s more shallow, opposed to Eddie on his knees and almost drowning further down. He puts his hand on your wet shoulder and kneels down in the water beside you. “Wanna hug?” you tease.

Steve hugs you. Doesn’t care that you’re soaking or that the water is freezing against his crown jewels, though he shivers by your ear, prompting your laugh like bubbles in his own. “It’s cold,” he says.

“Freezing!”

Not to be a freak, but he can feel your chest pressed to him, and he knows you get achy in the cold. He wraps his arms doubly behind your back and rubs at your sides. “How much laundry’s left?” he asks. “We’re gonna get hypothermia. Again.”

“You didn’t get hypothermia,” you remind him, folding into his space. “Steve… is everything okay?”

“Do I look mopey today? Robin just asked me the same thing.”

“You don’t look mopey, but you’re being touchy. You’re cuddling.”

“How am I not supposed to cuddle you, dummy? I’m keeping you warm enough to function right now. Without me you’d be an ice cube floating down the river.” He leans back to hold your face in one hand, your cheek under his thumb, water racing down his wrists and your neck.

You push against his hand gently with your cheek.

“Sorry,” he says.

“What for?”

For lots of things. “I didn’t realise how cold the water was. I would’ve come to help you.”

“It’s fine. I scrub everything and then Eddie catches it. We’ve only lost one pair of underwear,” you say. “The river’s like a long washing machine.”

“How much do you have left?” he asks.

“Nothing. I was just about to get out.”

“Couldn’t have told me that before I came to get you?”

“No,” you say, lifting your chin. Not challenging, but close. It’s an offer, Steve decides, kiss me or don’t kiss me. You don’t seem to realise he doesn’t decide, he needs you. If you always wanted to kiss him, you’d always be kissing, all the time, everywhere.

Steve gives you a quick peck. “Come on, let’s go set up the line.”

You somehow, together, make your way back to the tents without freezing to death after throwing your clothes on a drying line between trees. It’s warm enough that stripping down to your skivvies is mildly pleasant (away from the eyes of the other campers). You get dressed in the softest clothes you own upon Steve’s insistence, sweatpants and a dark hoodie, three pairs of socks and the tent door left open, before he lays you down on the sleeping bag, and settles between your legs, his full weight bearing down on you, his face nestled in the damp crook of your neck.

“I couldn’t kiss you the right way,” he confesses.

“Why?” You pull mildly at the ends of his hair.

“‘Cos I always want more than one kiss.”

“That’s a strangely romantic way to say you wanted to make out with me,” you whisper.

“It’s not like that,” he insists, even though he does want to, and he did in the river, and he does all the time.

“You’re getting kinda heavy, Steve,” you mumble.

“What?”

“It’s a good thing.”

“How dare you.”

“We got sorta frail for a bit.” You wrap an arm around his head, tip of your nose to his forehead.

“Yeah. Lucky we’re in camp Eddie now,” Steve says.

“I never thought I’d hear you say that,” you murmur, so close to sleeping Steve can tell. You just need a feeling of security to nudge you over the edge.

“Lucky we’re together.” He climbs off of you slowly so as not to rouse you too much, kissing your slack cheek as he settles on your shoulder. “You and me. I don’t care where we are.”

He ends up falling asleep not long after you, lulled by the rhythm of your light snore.

#steve zombie!au #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington oneshot #steve harrington scenario #steve harrington drabble #steve harrington fic #steve harrington fanfiction #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things #stranger things fic #stranger things x reader

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rhiannonsknife · 7 months ago

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── ❆ THE HAPPIEST SEASON; jackie taylor

— summary: jackie brings you home for the holidays.

— warnings: the plot of ‘happiest season’. so: angst. hurt/comfort. internalized homophobia. past jackieshauna. some nsfw content. mdni. fem!reader. her mom is very much out of character for the sake of the plot. also jackie has an older brother in this.

the taylor’s home is something straight out of a magazine: immaculate, grand, and sparkling with holiday cheer. wreaths adorn every door, garlands wind their way up the banister, and twinkling lights cast a soft glow over the meticulously decorated living room. it’s all so perfect. too perfect.

you’re standing awkwardly near the hors d’oeuvres table, clutching a glass of wine like a lifeline. the place is packed with people: jackie’s parents’ friends, colleagues, neighbors, all dressed to the nines, laughing politely at each other’s stories, their voices blending into an distant hum. you feel like a guest at someone else’s christmas, because in so many ways, that’s exactly what you are.

you can see jackie from across the room, talking to her mom’s book club friends. she’s smiling, poised, doing what jackie does best: being the golden child everyone adores, the same girl she was when she left wiskayok after graduation. the sight of her makes your chest tighten.

it’s been days of this now, days of pretending to be something you’re not:

when she first asked you to come home with her for christmas, you’d been thrilled. nervous, sure, but excited. after all, you’ve been dating for a while now. long enough that meeting her family felt like the natural next step. you’d even imagined what it would be like: holding hands under the table at dinner, sneaking kisses under the mistletoe, sharing the kind of quiet, intimate moments that made the season your personal favorite. you knew her parents were rather old-fashioned, jackie had told you as much, but you figured she’d prepared them, or at least planned to tell them about you when the time felt right.

that’s not how it’s been. your imaginary, festive bubble had been burst the minute you stepped through the overly decorated entrance of jackie’s two story childhood home. the first cracks appeared before you even made it through the front door.

jackie pulled the car up to her parents’ sprawling house, her hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. she gave you a quick, nervous smile as she shifted into park. “okay, so, just…let me handle my mom, alright? she’s a lot, but she’s going to love you!”

the warning had been vague enough to feel normal. plenty of people had complicated relationships with their parents, after all. so you brushed it off, smiling back at her and squeezing her hand over the center console.

inside, jackie’s mom greeted you with the enthusiasm of someone meeting a new best friend. she hugged jackie tightly and turned to you, her smile widening. “you must be the roommate jaqueline told us so much about!”

you froze, glancing quickly at jackie, hoping she’d correct her mom. she didn’t.

“we’ve been looking forward to this,” jackie’s mom already continued, bustling around to take your coat. “we haven’t seen her in months! practically all year, really. it’s so nice that you could both come”

“yeah, it’s great to meet you too, mrs. taylor,” you said hesitantly, managing to force a smile.

her dad appeared a moment later, extending a firm handshake: “it’s nice you brought a friend home this year, jaqueline” he said, looking over at his daughter. “it’s a pleasure to meet you”

“come in, come in!” mrs. taylor ushered you both inside, talking a mile a minute about how the house was a mess and how much she had to get done before the party. you couldn’t even process the introductions properly, your mind was still stuck on one word: roommate.

you wanted to say something to jackie, but there was no time. she disappeared into the house with her mom, leaving you standing awkwardly by the door, already wondering if this was a mistake. you tried to make sense of it, you really did. maybe jackie just hadn’t wanted to drop everything on them all at once. maybe she planned to explain things in private, later.

later never came. matter of fact, things only got worse from here.

the first night, over dinner, mrs. taylor asked you a series of polite (if not slightly invasive) questions: where you were from, what you studied, what you wanted to do after school. you answered as best you could, until she got to the question you’d been dreading:

“so” mrs. taylor said, her voice light, “are you seeing anyone dear?”

you barely had time to open your mouth before jackie jumped in. “nope, not right now,” she said, laughing lightly as if the whole idea were absurd. “she’s too busy for all that, right?”

you nearly dropped your fork.

mrs. taylor, blissfully unaware, joined her daughter’s laughter. “well, good for you, focusing on your future. too many girls your age let boys get in the way” she nodded approvingly. “but they can be such a distraction at your age! you’ve got plenty of time to find a suitable boyfriend still!”

it was humiliating. you sat there in stunned silence, as her mom continued on about “being independent” but the importance of “finding a nice husband and starting a family” as her dad sat across from you, mumbling his occasional agreement over a glass of wine.

jackie didn’t even look at you, just kept eating like she hadn’t said anything wrong.

the sleeping arrangements were the final straw.

after dinner, mrs. taylor led you upstairs to show you the guest room. “you’ll be in the guest room! i’ve got fresh sheets on the bed, and there’s extra blankets in the closet if it gets cold,” she said cheerfully. “jackie’s room is a little tight for two people. but i figured you’d want your own space anyway!”

“oh, i don’t mind if-“ you started to say, but jackie cut you off.

“that’s perfect,” she said. “thanks mom!”

that night, as you lay in the guest bed staring at the ceiling, all you could think about was how different jackie felt here. the girl who kissed you in public without a second thought, who called you her girlfriend like it was the most natural thing in the world, was gone. in her place was someone who couldn’t even look at you when her mom called you her roommate.

and the worst part? she didn’t seem to realize how much it hurt. jackie didn’t just avoid telling her parents about you, she actively reinforced the lie. every time her mom called you “friends,” every time jackie deflected a question about your life, it was like a slap in the face.

and the little moments only piled up as time passed.

the next morning, jackie’s older brother arrived with his wife and two kids in tow, a flurry of loud greetings and suitcases. jackie introduced you, of course, though things went much like you anticipated: “this is my friend, y/n. she’s staying with us for the holidays!” she said, lying through her teeth so smoothly you would believe it too.

her brother gave you a brief nod before turning back to jackie, immediately launching into some story about work while you, once again, stood awkwardly to the side. jackie’s sister-in-law was slightly kinder but distant, mostly preoccupied with keeping her kids from destroying the pristine holiday decorations.

at first, you tried to make yourself useful. you helped mrs. taylor in the kitchen, played with jackie’s nephews (at least the kids seemed to like you), laughed along with the family’s inside jokes…yet there was always a subtle reminder that you weren’t part of this.

-like when they took a group photo later that evening, everyone gathered around the elaborately decorated tree in the living room. “y/n,” mrs. taylor called brightly, handing you the camera, “would you mind taking a picture of the family?”

for a moment, you hesitated, glancing over at jackie. she was standing in the center, next to her brother and his wife, looking entirely too comfortable with her role in all of this. when she caught your eye, she smiled encouragingly.

“of course,” you said quietly, swallowing your disappointment as you took the camera.

the family arranged themselves, arms slung over shoulders, smiles wide and bright. you adjusted the focus, trying to ignore the way your chest tightened as jackie laughed at something her brother whispered.

“perfect,” mrs. taylor said after you’d taken a few shots, coming over to check the camera. “you’re a natural with this”

all you could do was nod and hand the camera back. jackie didn’t even look at you.

later that night, after a dinner with another uncomfortable amount of questions, you couldn’t stop the thoughts swirling in your head as you laid awake in your guest room. every little moment from the days prior replayed on a loop, each one cutting a little deeper than the last.

then came the faint knock on the door.

“y/n?” jackie’s voice was quiet, hesitant as she pushed the door open just enough to catch a glimpse inside. “are you awake?”

you didn’t answer right away, torn between wanting to see her and wanting to tell her to leave you alone. but eventually, you sighed. if this was your only chance of normality these days, it would be stupid not to take it. “come in”

she slipped inside, shutting the door softly behind her. she was in her pajamas, her hair loose around her shoulders. for that one moment, she looked like your jackie again.

“I just wanted to check on you,” she whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“i’m fine” you muttered instantly, though there was no conviction in your voice whatsoever.

jackie winced, her hand hesitating before reaching for yours. “i know this isn’t…ideal. but it’s just for a few days, okay? once the holidays are over, we can go back to normal”

your stared at her. “normal? jackie, you’re acting like i’m some stranger crashing your family christmas. i’m your girlfriend. at least, i thought i was”

“you are,” she insisted, her grip tightening on your hand. “it’s just- it’s complicated. my parents wouldn’t understand. you don’t know how they are”

“don’t i?” you shot back, pulling your hand away from her grip. if jackie wasn’t comfortable telling her truth yet, you would never ask her to. but she was forcing you right back into the closet alongside her, hardly looking at you at all. “i’ve been here for two days, jackie, and all i’ve done is watch you pretend i’m nobody”

jackie’s face crumpled, and for a moment, she looked like she might cry. “i’m sorry,” she whispered. “i didn’t mean to hurt you”

the fight drained out of you at the sight of her instead, you sighed, scooting over to make room for her on the bed. “just…come here”

jackie hesitated for a moment before lying down beside you, her head resting on your shoulder. you wrapped an arm around her, trying to ignore the ache in your chest. for a little while, it was almost like things were okay. jackie traced lazy patterns on your arm, pressing soft kisses to your collarbone occasionally.

“i love you,” she whispered, so quietly you almost didn’t hear it as she dragged her lips up the side of your neck. the blankets around you rustled as she slipped up your body until her weight was resting atop your own.

“i love you too” you half murmured, half gasped as she nibbled on your earlobe, freezing fingertips brushing underneath the the fabric of your shirt.

“i love you” jackie repeated all over again, smiling against the side of your neck when she drew a gasp from your lips, caused by the way she was rolling your nipple between her index and thumb.

“sh” she hushed playfully, pressing her free pointer finger against your lips. you didn’t have to think twice about it; immediately parting them to suck it into your mouth. the way jackie looked at you then reminded you that your girlfriend, the jackie you knew, was still in there: her own mouth hung open as she watched you take it, her eyes darkening as she pushed in deeper.

you whimpered around her fingers softly, all the pent up energy and frustration shooting straight between your legs now that you could feel jackie’s body on top of yours.

jackie, in response, rocked her hips forward, stifling her own sounds by pressing her face to the crook of your neck. the comfortable weight of her index against your tongue shifted, and she pulled it back before running it down your body urgently.

another gasp fell from your mouth as she pushed the saliva stained finger into your pajama pants, right into your underwear, not wasting any time to circle it in clockwise motions around your clit. at least she had missed touching you, judging by how frantic jackie was moving her hand, all while simultaneously rutting herself against your thigh.

“i missed you” jackie whined as her lips found the juncture of your neck. “fuck, i missed you so much”

you let yourself believe it as she sunk her fingers into you and threw her head back, one hand slammed over her mouth to stifle her moans.

your head fell back against the headboard of the guest room’s bed with a soft thud, exposing more of your skin to jackie. immediately, her mouth was on you, licking and sucking just soft enough that she won’t leave any marks behind in her wake.

“i got you” she panted, rocking back and forth on your leg until the bed frame moved back against the wall. simultaneously, jackie pumped her fingers in and out of you, stroking your g-spot every time.

“fuck-“ you cried out quietly, eyes pressing shut as your teeth sunk into the flesh of your bottom lip. “right there”

“mhm” jackie hummed, her fingers sliding through your wetness. “oh baby, you’re so wet”

you were fairly certain that the whole house would hear if she kept this up: riding your thigh as she fucked two digits into you.

“jackie” you managed, trying desperately to keep quiet over the waves of pleasure she was sending down to your abdomen. her fingers dragged along your walls, coaxing breathy moans from your lips as you bucked up into her.

for this moment, it was easy enough to forget about the rest. to forget about everything beyond the doors of this guest room, as jackie humped your leg and pushed her fingers in as deep as they’d go, until you were both trembling with the force of your simultaneous orgasms.

then, later, she left again, sneaking through the halls of her very own home so no one would ever know of your nightly escapades. her shame, you realized, would follow the both of you through the holidays.

now, standing in this crowded room where you feel like an outsider, the weight of it all is starting to crush you all over again. you don’t belong here, amongst all of these people. you never did. jackie might be able to play the role but you’re certainly not.

the polished laughter, the clinking of glasses, the warm holiday lighting, it feels nothing but suffocating. jackie, despite the stolen kisses and the night spent together, has her perfectly practiced mask back in place, never acknowledging your presence any more than necessary.

you’re absentmindedly swirling your wine in the glass, trying to focus on the swaying lights of the christmas tree instead of jackie’s laugh across the room,when the door opens.

just when you thought this night couldn’t possibly get any worse, jeff walks in.

you watch jackie’s ex boyfriend stride through the front door in a wool coat, shaking snowflakes from his shoulders.

he looks exactly like the guy you’d imagined from her stories: tall, athletic, and perfectly at ease in his surroundings -so unlike you. jeff is carrying a bottle of wine as a hostess gift, and his stupid grin only widens when jackie’s mom rushes over to greet him.

“you made it!” mrs. taylor exclaims, practically glowing as she hurries past you to greet him.

you’d heard of jeff before; a passing mention here and there, a name dropped when jackie reminisced about high school. “we dated for a while,” she’d said once, shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal. but seeing him now, with jackie’s parents’ unabashed enthusiasm and the way he fits so seamlessly into the room, you realize it is a big deal.

“jaqueline, look who’s here!” mrs. taylor calls, pulling your girlfriend’s attention.

you watch jackie turn, her face lighting up in that familiar, performative way that’s become all too common during this trip.

“jeff!” she says, walking over to him and her mother as well. jackie hugs him, and he squeezes her back like they’re still the couple her parents clearly wish they were. “i didn’t know you’d be in town”

“just got back last night,” he replies, flashing a grin that’s all teeth and confidence. “figured i’d stop by and say hi to everyone. it’s been- what? a couple of years?”

“yeah” jackie nods, voice carrying just enough for you to hear.

“you look great, by the way” jeff says, so clearly checking her out that your fingers tighten around your glass. her mom pipes in, then, her voice practically bubbling with excitement.

“you two should catch up! it’s been so long, and, well, you always made such a good pair” she looks between them with a knowing smile. for a moment, you’re not even sure you heard her right. but then jacke laughs softly, almost shyly, and it’s like the air has been knocked right out of your lungs.

you stare down at your drink, your grip tightening until you’re afraid it might crack. jackie doesn’t correct her mom, of course, she doesn’t say a single thing to suggest that you might be the one she’s with now.

“right?” jeff says with a laugh. “we had some good times, didn’t we?”

you can’t do this. not anymore.

setting your glass down on the nearest table, you slip away, your heart pounding as you make your way through the crowd. no one notices as you step outside. no one follows you out into the freezing cold.

the porch is quiet, save for the faint hum of the party inside. you lean against the wooden railing, trying to steady your breathing, but the frustration boiling in your chest feels like it might spill over at any moment. this wasn’t how the trip was supposed to go. jackie was supposed to make you feel at home, like you belonged. instead, she’s left you out in the cold. both literally and figuratively. you’re not sure what hurts more: the way her family’s words cut deep, or the way jackie lets them.

you close your eyes, willing yourself to calm down, but the sound of mrs. taylor’s words -you always made such a good pair- plays on repeat in your mind. jackie didn’t correct her. she didn’t even hesitate. you squeeze your eyes shut, not wanting to think anymore, not wanting to be here anymore at all. there are few times where you’ve ever felt so small, so invisible.

the sound of the door creaking open behind you pulls you out of your thoughts. you brace yourself, thinking for a moment that it might be jackie, but the footsteps are heavier, slower. when you glance back, you see a woman stepping out onto the porch. she’s holding a glass of wine, bundled up in a thick sweater.

she’s striking, though in a more quiet, understated way. dark hair frames her face and she wraps her arms tighter around herself after closing the door on her way out. when she catches your gaze, she offers a small, knowing smile before stepping closer.

“needed a breather too, huh?”

you nod, trying to shake off the weight of your thoughts. “yeah it’s a little…much in there”

she tips her head back when she laughs softly, leaning against the railing beside you. “that’s the taylor family for you. they really know how to throw a party!” she pauses, taking a sip of her wine before turning to you. “mind if i join you?”

you shake your head slightly, still struggling to figure out how to put into words what you’re feeling. the last few hours have been a mess of awkwardness, forced smiles, and the gnawing feeling that you’re not the person jackie wants anyone to know she’s with.

“you okay?” the woman asks.

“i’m fine,” you say quickly, trying to regain your composure.

she raises an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sympathetic half-smile. “yeah, you’re really good at looking fine. i’ll give you that”

you laugh, at least, the tension in your shoulders loosening just a fraction.

“i’m shauna, by the way. old friend of jackie’s!”

the name clicks immediately, and you blink in surprise. jackie mentioned her before: her best friend in high school, practically inseparable.

“oh i know you” you respond. “i’ve heard plenty about you. i’m- well, i’m a friend of jackie’s too, i guess”

shauna frowns at that, mouth twitching like she’s fighting back a smirk. “friend, huh?” she says, her tone light but pointed.

you flush, suddenly feeling exposed under her sharp gaze. “what’s that supposed to mean?”

she shrugs, setting her glass down on the railing. “oh, nothing. just…you don’t really seem like just a friend. but hey, what do i know?”

her words hit a little too close to home, and you look away, staring out at the snow-covered yard. “well, that’s what jackie wants everyone to think,” you mutter before you can stop yourself.

shauna hums thoughtfully, and when you glance back at her, her expression has softened. there’s something almost sympathetic in her eyes now.

“you know,” she starts, leaning against the railing, “this feels familiar. jackie pretending someone important to her is just a friend. hiding what she really feels because she’s too scared of what her parents will think. too scared to risk upsetting the perfect little image they have of her…”

your breath catches in your throat, and you stare at her, unsure of what to say.

you only ever knew shauna as her best friend then, her teammate. yet the way she speaks of your girlfriend sounds all too familiar for somebody who was just that. maybe your truth isn’t the only jackie has been hiding away.

“you-“

“you’d be surprised how well i know,” shauna says with a sigh. “it’s exactly how it went with me and jackie, back in high school” she runs her hand through her hair, looking over her shoulder at the glowing house behind her.

“we were close” she begins. “really close. she kept us a secret, too. all of us. at first, i thought it was just me, you know? but then i realized, it wasn’t just about me. it was…about everything. about her parents and how she thought they wouldn’t accept it. about how she wanted to keep everything perfect for them, to the point where she couldn’t even see how much it was tearing her apart”

shauna drinks from her wine again.

“i let it happen because i thought…fuck i don’t even know, i thought it would change eventually. i mean, we were- what? 17?”

her words hit you like a punch to the gut, the parallels between her story and yours almost too much to bear, even after all these years. “did it?” you ask quietly, even though you already know the answer.

shauna shakes her head, looking down into her glass absentmindedly. “no. i got tired of waiting, tired of being a secret…”

“and jeff…?” you ask softly, not wanting to push too hard but needing to understand.

“jeff” she scoffs, humorless. “jackie was always so torn between us. like she couldn’t figure out what she wanted. eventually, it all came crashing down.” her voice drops, the bitterness more evident now. “she publicly outed us, well, me at a party with her friends. told everyone i was in love with her…and then she turned around and made it abundantly clear she was with jeff”

you can’t imagine how painful that must have been. “i’m sorry,” you say quietly. “that’s…really messed up”

shauna shrugs. “it’s okay. that was years ago. i just thought she’d, you know, tell her family by now”

“well” you mutter, crossing your arms over your chest “she’s got me pretending too. it’s like i don’t even exist to her, not in front of her family”

shauna studies you for a long moment, then nods her head slowly. “yeah. that’s exactly what she does. jackie’s scared of being real. she used to be terrified of what people will think if they know who she really is”

you swallow hard, her words settling deep in your chest. “what did you do, then?”

“i walked away”

the silence that follows is heavy, broken only by the muffled sounds of the party inside.

“i’m not saying that’s what you should do,” shauna continues after a moment, her voice softer now. “but…just make sure you’re not the only one fighting for this. jackie’s a good person, but she’s always been scared of…rocking the boat. i suppose. if you’re the one taking all the hits to make this work…well, it’s worth thinking about”

she steps back from the railing slightly. “you don’t have to stay here and suffer through it. come on. there’s a bar down the road. we could use a drink”

the offer comes out of nowhere, but sounds like the perfect escape.

you meet shauna’s gaze, and without another word, she pushes off the railing and heads toward the stairs that lead down to the snowy driveway.

you don’t realize how late it is until you pull up to the driveway, the cool night air making your head swim a little more than it should.

you stumble quietly through the front door, the chill still clinging to your skin as you step into the warmth of the house. the buzz from the bar still lingers in your system, a pleasant haze that makes everything feel just a little bit softer, a little less heavy. the conversation (and drinks) with shauna had been a much-needed escape. she understood in a way that nobody else in this god forsaken place did. the night had felt like a brief breath of fresh air. now, as you close the door behind you and glance into the living room, you see jackie sitting there, waiting for you.

she’s perched on the edge of the couch, looking every bit the picture of genuine concern. her hands are folded tightly in her lap, her lips pressed into a thin line. as soon as she sees you, her eyes widen in relief, and she stands up quickly and rushes towards you.

“where the hell have you been?” her voice is quiet hiss. she’s been worried, you can tell even with the remains of alcohol in your system.

you take a deep breath and cross the room slowly, leaning your shoes by the door. “i was with shauna,” you say simply, trying to keep the annoyance from creeping into your tone. “i needed a break”

jackie seems to relax slightly, but her eyes remain narrow. “a break from what?” she asks. “where were you really?”

“i was really with shauna” you tell her, letting your weight drop onto the couch slightly less coordinated than intended. “she’s been through this before, you know? she had to hide who she was too. she saw right through everything tonight”

jackie bites her lip, clearly frustrated but unsure how to respond. “how long, jackie?” you ask, your voice just above a whisper. “how long have you been hiding this? hiding us?”

she flinches at the question, but you can’t look away. “i’ve been waiting for the right time,” she murmurs, the words coming out small and hesitant. “i thought maybe if i just- if i just kept it to myself, things would be easier and-“

“easier?” you repeat, the disbelief lacing your words. “you think this is easy for me, jackie? if you’re not ready, fine! but instead you’ve been treating me like i’m not here at all!”

“i know. i messed up” her voice is tight, close to breaking. jackie shakes her head. “i was just scared. i’m sorry for making you feel like that. you deserve so much more than that”

there’s a brief silence between you two, both of you trying to piece together the broken parts of this relationship. you feel the walls between you soften just a little, but the questions still linger. “what about shauna, jackie? what about her?”

jackie stiffens at the mention of shauna’s name, her jaw clenching slightly. “it’s not what you think,” she starts, her tone defensive. “shauna and i-“

“she told me the truth. she told me you two were together in high school…that you kept it a secret, just like you’re doing with me now. how long were you planning on hiding us?”

jackie sighs, running a hand through her hair. “it’s not like that. i was so scared of losing everything then. my family, my friends, the life i had. i should’ve told you the truth from the start. i should’ve trusted you more. i should’ve told you what happened with shauna. i really cared about her, and i guess i got scared again”

you feel a lump form in your throat as everything finally starts to sink in. you know it wasn’t just about her family; it was about jackie being terrified of her own feelings, of letting herself be vulnerable. she’d hidden in the safety of the closet for so long that she never stopped to think about how it was affecting those around her. those who loved her.

before you can respond, jackie takes your hands in hers. “i love you. and i’m so, so sorry. i should’ve been braver. i should’ve-“

you cut her off gently, your fingers reaching out to touch her arm. “it’s not just about bravery. it’s about…trust. i’ve been hiding myself for too long already, jackie. and i’m not going to go back there. i want us to be something real and-“

she moves closer to you. “you are something real to me,” she says softly. “i was just scared. but you’re right. i’ve been so damn scared that i was hiding from you, too. hiding from us”

you nod slowly, your heart still aching, but somehow lighter. you let out a shaky breath. “then show me, jackie. be real with me now”

jackie’s lips curl into a small smile, and for the first time in what feels like forever, you see the truth in her eyes. she nods, then pulls you toward her, wrapping her arms around you.

“i will. i promise,” she whispers into your ear, holding you tightly. “i’ll fix this. i want to fix this!”

you take a deep breath and pull her in a little tighter too, running her fingers through her hair gently. you can feel tears in her eyes where she’s burying her face in the crook of your neck and decide you won’t let this be. her, loving someone is not going to cause anyone involved any more pain ever again. you cup her cheeks, tenderly, and let jackie be the one to close the distance.

she kisses you gently and, with the soft touch, the anger melts away.

jackie’s hands settle on your waist, pulling you closer, and for a moment, the world outside fades. it’s just the two of you, standing in the quiet.

just as you’re about to pull away, you hear footsteps behind you. the sound is light but distinct and your heart is instantly plummeting to your stomach. you freeze, lips still only inches from hers, and when you finally open your eyes, you see mrs. taylor standing in the doorway.

she’s watching the two of you with wide eyes, her expression unreadable. suddenly the whole room feels too warm, too still. you pull back from jackie, your body stiffening as you glance nervously between her and her mom.

jackie’s hand falls from your waist, and she steps forward slightly, shielding you without even thinking. you’re not sure if that makes things feel better or worse.

“mrs. taylor, i-“ you stammer, finding your voice before jackie does. you try to think of something, anything, to explain what she just walked in on. “it’s not what you think. we just-“

before you can come up with a blatant lie, jackie cuts you off. “no, it is” she says. you glance at her in surprise, seeing the tension in her jaw, the resolve in her eyes. this once, she doesn’t hesitate as she continues, her gaze fixed on her mother. “it’s exactly what you think, actually”

mrs. taylor blinks, her expression shifting slightly. she looks more startled than anything else, but there’s no immediate explosion, no anger like a part of you had already anticipated. just silence. jackie takes another step forward.

“i’m- i’m gay,” she says firmly, though you can hear the slight tremor in her voice. “and i’m with her” jackie gestures toward you without breaking eye contact with her mom. “y/n is my girlfriend”

your feel your breath hitch in your throat, and your hand instinctively finds jackie’s. her fingers curl around yours immediately. for a few seconds, you think maybe her mom might yell, might storm out, might say something you’ll never be able to forgive.

but then, to your utter shock, mrs. taylor lets out a soft, almost amused breath. “well,” she says. “i suppose i’ve suspected that for a while now”

you blink blankly, the words taking a moment to register. “you…what?” jackie’s voice falters as she stares at her mom in disbelief.

“you think i haven’t noticed the way you’ve been with her? the way you look at her? jaqueline, i’ve known you your whole life. you’re my daughter. of course i’ve noticed”

her mom crosses her arms, leaning lightly against the doorframe, her tone becoming more conversational. “i didn’t want to push you. i figured you’d tell me when you were ready. but i’m glad you’re finally saying it out loud”

you feel the weight in your chest ease just a little. jackie, however, takes a step back toward you, her voice softer now. “so you’re- you’re… okay with this?”

mrs. taylor’s gaze flickers between the two of you, and for a moment, she seems to consider her. “of course i’m okay with it,” she says finally. “i want you to be happy. and if this, if she, makes you happy, then that’s what matters”

you can’t help the small, disbelieving laugh that escapes you, and Jackie looks at you like she’s not entirely sure this is real. you squeeze her hand, your heart pounding, but for the first time in days, it’s not from stress or fear.

mrs. taylor smiles gently, her gaze lingering on the two of you. “i’ll leave you two to it for now,” she says, glancing down at the watch on her wrist. but before she disappears completely, she pauses, glancing back with a raised eyebrow. “oh, and for the record? you don’t need to sneak around. this is your house, too, jaqueline. act like it!”

with that, she’s gone, leaving you and jackie standing there in stunned silence. you turn to her, searching her face for any sign of what she’s feeling, but she just lets out a shaky laugh, pulling you into her arms before you’re able to speak.

“did that really just happen?” she murmurs, her voice muffled against your shoulder.

you nod, smiling as you hug her back tightly. “yeah,” you whisper, your voice filled with something that feels an awful lot like hope. “it did”

the morning sun filters softly through the frost-lined windows on christmas day, casting a warm glow over the taylor family’s living room.

the place is alive with the soft sounds of christmas music playing and the rustling of wrapping paper coming from beneath the tree, where jackie’s nephews are excitedly tearing through the paper.

you’re sitting cross-legged on the plush rug, your back supported by the couch, while jackie is perched lightly on your lap. it’s casual, but it’s not hidden. not this time. her arm is draped around your shoulders, and one of her hands is laced with yours, fingers warm and steady. it’s a small thing, her hand in yours, but it feels monumental. a sign of trust. of progress.

her mom is seated on the armchair, holding a steaming mug of coffee as she chats easily with jackie’s dad, who’s fiddling with the fireplace.

her sister in-law sits nearby alongside jackie’s brother, watching their son shaking a gift box suspiciously, trying to gauge its contents. for the first time since you arrived, it feels like you can truly breathe.

jackie shifts slightly, leaning back against you, and you instinctively tighten your hold on her waist. her thumb brushes across your knuckles absentmindedly. the tension from the past week still lingers in small, barely-there ways: an unspoken promise that there are things to talk through and feelings to unpack. for now, there’s peace. you’d had the hard conversations late last night, voices hushed as the house slept. jackie had been honest, apologetic, and ready to work toward earning your trust back, which made you feel like you could meet her halfway.

“hey, you two,” mrs. taylor calls from her spot. she’s smiling warmly. “there’s enough under there to keep us busy until next christmas” she nods towards the tree. “i’m sure you’ll find some for you too”

jackie grins, sitting up straighter and stretching lazily. “what do you say?” she murmurs, turning her head to look at you. “think we can handle it?”

the morning stretches on, filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional playful argument over whose turn it is to open a gift. the entire time, jackie stays close, whether it’s sitting beside you on the floor or returning to your lap with a smug smile after grabbing another cup of coffee. her family doesn’t comment on the closeness, doesn’t send pointed looks or make veiled remarks. they just let it be, and that, more than anything, makes you feel welcome. you’re no longer just a spectator to their celebration, you feel like a part of it.

at one point, as the gift pile dwindles and the music shifts to a jazzy rendition of “silent night,” jackie leans in close, her lips brushing against your ear. “thank you,” she whispers.

you tilt your head to look at her, your brow furrowing slightly. “for what?”

“for being here,” she says, her gaze soft and sincere. “for being patient. for…everything”

“of course” you squeeze her hand, offering her a small smile. “merry christmas, jackie”

“merry christmas” jackie smiles. her lips are on yours before you get a chance to process everything.

#˙ ❆ ̟ !! ─ christmas works #jackie taylor #jackie taylor x reader #jackie taylor x female reader #jackie taylor x fem!reader #jackie taylor x you #yellowjackets #yellowjackets x reader #yellowjackets x female reader #yellowjackets x you

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grandline-fics · 1 year ago

Note

love you have given me mihawk brain worms ong, please i need to spend the rest of my days having lots of domestic but sweet moments with him

i just know that beneath his aloof demeanor he is just smitten with his s/o

DESCRIPTION: Domestic life with him

WARNINGS: none, just fluff

CHARACTERS: Mihawk

WORDS: 640

A/N: I know this wasn't an actual request but my health has been bad and I've been waiting over two weeks for test results so needed some indulgent fluff to feel better. Hope you enjoy

*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*

MASTERLIST

———————

With what he does taking him away from you so often, the times he does return to you means he enjoys every second he can with you. While you sleep, you’re kept protectively and lovingly in his hold; one arm around your waist and the other cradling your head with his fingers through your hair. Mihawk keeps his head pressed into the crook of your neck and his lips against your skin, not just for indulgence but to also feel your steady pulse. He always wakes first, to enjoy the warmth of your body and the soak up the feeling of calm your presence grants him. He’ll lie still and relaxed in the blissful silence. It’s rare for Mihawk to open his eyes first. He likes to wait for you to stir and turn in his hold and press a gentle good morning kiss against his lips before he’ll pretend to wake because if it’s not your face he sees first thing, what’s the point?

Mihawk has no sense of personal space when you two are together. He’s practiced and aloof enough to be subtle. When you are out in town shopping together he’ll stand close, the back of his fingers just close enough to graze against the small of your back. Or sometimes he’ll stand with his arm against yours. You’re used to it and will always gladly lean into him so to the untrained eye it looks like you’re the one responsible for the lack of space between you two. However if they looked for long enough they’d notice how Mihawk would casually follow you when you hurried to the next stall or store front to browse the wares and how he would always come to a stop beside you once more.

When you’re lounging together, him with a glass of wine and a book and you with the paper in your hands, you like to inform him of the news that he wouldn’t think to look into otherwise. Most of the time though you’re looking for old rivals of his or acquaintances with a smile, already awaiting his dry commentary on their activity.

“Love, look. Your son’s bounty has gone up!” You tell him with a genuine bright grin as you hold up Zoro’s updated bounty poster. Mihawk’s eyebrow always quirks at your affectionate term for someone he would at most call his student. Still he can’t help but feel some sort of satisfaction at seeing the other swordsman’s bounty gaining higher and higher amounts because he knows most of that is down to his instruction.

“They grow up so fast.” He notes and you grin, setting the poster aside to put proudly on the fridge when you get up later.

Mihawk will do anything you ask of him even if it’s something he would avoid. Introducing you to the Cross Guild for instance was something he would have sooner never seen happen. You understood that he was private by nature and neither Crocodile or Buggy really needed to know about his relationship with you. Still all you’d mentioned was that it would be nice to properly meet the men he was working with and as a result he took you to them. Crocodile was more surprised that you ‘deemed someone like Mihawk worthy of your time’ and Buggy couldn’t believe that someone as notorious and dangerous as you had actually settled down and were with Mihawk of all people. Now that they know about you, you do make it a point to visit Mihawk more so he isn’t always coming to you all the time. However with every visit you have to constantly refuse Buggy and Crocodile’s proposition for you to join as an official member as you’re still having fun doing your own thing and being independent from Mihawk makes your reunions so much sweeter.

#one piece #one piece imagines #one piece x you #mihawk x reader #dracule mihawk x reader #one piece fic #one piece x reader #one piece scenario #one piece fanfiction #hawkeye mihawk #dracule mihawk #one piece mihawk #op mihawk

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ebnealwrites · 30 days ago

Text

wip wednesday 5/28

continued from snippet 1 | snippet 2 🌃

“This is a nice place, Rob,” Eddie was saying, looking around the apartment. He handed her his jacket, glanced at Steve. “So, what, are you two contractually obligated to live together? Or is this a cute little lavender marriage situation?”

A horrible silence erupted, broken by Robin’s choking sound.

Steve looked at the floor, wished for death.

“Um,” Robin managed, and she sounded as wretched as Steve felt. “No, Eddie, I should’ve— I probably should’ve— Steve’s just staying here while he sells his house.”

“Oh.” Eddie glanced between them, and maybe Steve was imagining the little spots of color on his cheeks, like he was embarrassed, too. “You didn’t want to live there until it sold?”

Steve spoke for himself this time. “No,” he said.

In the past six years, Eddie seemed to have learned a few manners. He clearly sensed the minefield he was tiptoeing around, so he nodded, turned to Robin. “All right, you gonna show me your sound system or what?”

Things got better, easier. Steve went back and forth from the kitchen, finishing dinner, floating on the edges of Eddie and Robin’s conversation. He listened carefully, curiosity getting the better of him, and learned a few interesting things.

Eddie had made himself quite a career out of being a session musician in LA, working up the ranks until he’d become the go-to guitarist for some pretty big film composers. He was surprisingly modest about it, deflecting more than once when Robin pressed for details — “Wait, Eddie, you work for the Hans Zimmer?!” — and not once mentioning a partner. Boyfriend, girlfriend. Nothing.

Not that it mattered.

Eddie seemed to like LA, though he said he missed New York. “LA’s a sprawl,” he said, topping up his wine. They were already through most of the bottle he’d brought — which was easily worth fifty dollars — and they hadn’t started eating. “I like it when my city goes up, not out.”

“Chicago might win you over,” said Robin. Her face was flushed from the wine. “It’s like LA and New York had a love baby. Only better.”

“Yeah?” Eddie’s grin was like mercury. “Well, I’ll have some time to test that theory.”

“Mm!” Robin flailed, almost spilling her glass. “You’re staying?!”

“For a month or so,” he said. “Maybe longer. Depends how long it takes my buddy and I to finish this EP.”

“Ah!” She pointed, right in his face. “I knew you weren’t just here to see me!”

Eddie laughed, belly-deep and loud, and Steve ignored the answering squirm in his stomach. “Shockingly,” said Eddie. “I’m not. I’m here to work.”

“So, what,” said Robin. “You’re joining a band?”

“Not really,” said Eddie. “Old friend of mine’s been working on some stuff for a while, needed a few musicians to help him get it off the ground. His guitarist bailed on him last minute, but he’s already booked the studio, the engineer, so he needed someone quick. He called me, and I’m between projects right now, so I figured why not, you know?” His gaze flickered to Steve. “Thought it might be an adventure.”

Steve looked away, his heart giving a weird throb. He stood up, glass in hand, said, “C’mon, we should eat.”

#steddie #steve harrington #stranger things #eddie munson #fanfiction #robin buckley #steve x eddie #steddie fanfic #steddie fanfiction #steddie fandom #steddie fic #fanfic #my fic #my wip #wip wednesday #writing wip #fic wip

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charliedawn · 4 months ago

Note

knocking on your door at three am in the rain

Charlie, dearest, I am… so sorry to bother you so soon and so close to the date… but may I perhaps inquire about a Valentine’s Day with the Hannibal’s? Please? Please?? Pleaseeeeeee????? They deserve something nice today :)

Valentine’s Day with the Hannibal Family

The morning at the Hannibal estate began as it always did—refined, quiet, and steeped in an air of sophistication. But today, a subtle shift had taken place. There was a box of chocolate waiting to be unwrapped on the side of the table. A vase of crimson roses sat at the center of said dining table, a rare acknowledgment of the holiday that none of them usually bothered to celebrate.

You, however, were determined to bring a little more heart into the occasion.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, my terrifying murder family,” you announced as you walked into the room, arms full of small, individually wrapped gifts.

Peter’s face lit up immediately. “Wait, we’re doing Valentine’s ?”

Kevin smirked. “Apparently.”

Hannibal Sr. raised a brow, a knowing glint in his eyes. “I suspect you had something to do with this.”

You grinned, placing a package in front of each of them. “Of course. What, you thought I’d ignore the perfect excuse to force you all into a unwanted display of affection ?”

Morgan picked up his gift, eyeing it suspiciously. “What is it ?”

“Open it and see,” you replied confidently, plopping down in your seat with a self-satisfied grin.

One by one, they unwrapped their gifts. Peter gasped audibly as he pulled out a hand-knit scarf in deep forest green. “You made this ?”

You nodded proudly. “I did. Thought you could use something warm.”

He brought it to his face and took a long inhale. “I love it…Thank you so much.”

You smiled.

Okay. Hannibal 1 is happy with his gift.

Kevin tore his open too, revealing a T-shirt that read Trust me, I’m an artist in bold letters. He burst out laughing. “I’m wearing this immediately.”

He ran upstairs to change.

Morgan, ever the skeptic, unwrapped a sleek, elegant pen—one you had painstakingly researched, knowing he would appreciate quality over sentiment. He turned it in his fingers, nodding in approval. “Not bad.”

Hannibal Jr. lifted the lid off his box to find a carefully curated collection of rare teas. He let out a soft hum of approval. “You do pay attention. Merci, mon/ma cher/chère.”

You smiled as he called you dear in French and nodded. Fancy…Seems like he also liked his gift. Good job you.

“And for you, sir,” you said, sliding the last box toward Hannibal Sr., “a new set of antique wine glasses. Because, frankly, I fear for my life every time you handle the old ones.”

A low chuckle escaped him, and he lifted his glass of morning coffee in a mock toast. “A thoughtful gesture. I’ll be sure to use them wisely.”

After breakfast, Peter surprised everyone by shyly pushing a box of chocolates toward you. “I, uh, actually got you something too. Since you’re always making things for us.”

Your heart warmed as you took it, grinning. “Peter, that’s adorable. You’re my favorite today.”

Kevin snorted. “Wow, no hesitation.”

“Sorry, I play favorites on Valentine’s,” you teased.

“Then I suppose I’ll have to bribe my way into first place,” Hannibal Jr. mused. He reached into his coat pocket and handed you a small, wrapped package. Inside was a beautifully intricate bookmark, its design reminiscent of old-world craftsmanship.

You blinked, touched. “This is gorgeous.”

“I know you read more than you sleep,” he said, taking a sip of his tea. “It seemed appropriate.”

Morgan rolled his eyes but handed you something as well—a first edition of a book you had casually mentioned months ago.

“Wait,” you whispered, flipping it open in disbelief. “This is impossible to find.”

Morgan smirked. “Not for me.”

You opened your mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by Kevin shoving something into your hands. It was a mixtape.

“A mixtape ?” you asked, amused.

He shrugged and pretended to be nonchalant about it. “Figured I’d introduce you to good music.”

“I will treasure it forever,” you declared dramatically and chuckled before putting all of them in a bag.

Then, finally, you turned to Hannibal Sr., raising a brow. “And what about you ? Do I get the Valentine treatment or…?”

He studied you for a moment, then reached into his pocket and placed a small, silver key in your palm.

You frowned. “What’s this ?”

“The key to the library,” he said smoothly. “You now have unrestricted access.”

Your eyes widened. “You never let anyone in there unsupervised—maybe Morgan sometimes but...”

“A rare exception,” he admitted, amusement flickering in his gaze. “One you have earned.”

For once, you were speechless.

Peter clapped his hands together. “Well, this was unexpectedly wholesome.”

You beamed at all of them, your heart warm. “Happy Valentine’s Day, you terrifying, ridiculous, wonderful people.”

Kevin smirked. “We should do this every year.”

Hannibal Sr. merely raised his glass again. “Perhaps.”

But the rare, almost fond expressions on all their faces told you everything you needed to know.

Message from Author:

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #slashers #hannibal x reader #hannibal family #hannibals #hannibal lecter #morgan hannibal #kevin hannibal #peter hannibal

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butterflyfive · 1 year ago

Text

Celebrating your birthday

How genshin boys would celebrate your birthday 🍰❤️

kazuha, diluc, wriothesley, neuvillette

g/n reader

a/n : it’s my birthday today so I had to make a birthday themed post

Kazuha

you wake up to a letter and a wrapped gift, he hugs you and urges you to read and open them. The letter is handwritten, and the gift is handmade. he believes something personally crafted can best express his love

he’ll tell you all of his favorite things about you, give you so many kisses and pet your hair

wants you to have fun with a variety of things to do

buys you a new outfit you try on at a store, then ask you to race him outside on a whim

he’ll pick a dandelion and tell you to make a wish on it as he smiles

in the middle of the day you rest under a cherry blossom in his warm embrace. he’ll hum for you as you rest there

“I’m so fortunate to have you in my life, y/n. Let's continue adventuring together forever, at each other’s side through everything.”

Diluc

It will be only the best for his love

he gifts you a relaxing day with no stress, he wants to take care of everything

gives you sentimental gifts like a ring or set of earrings

he’ll also spoil you with other lovely gifts of your liking, he knows you well

you’re grateful a luxurious meal together

at the end of the night he wants to wind you down and pour you a glass of wine, put music on, talk about your day, aspirations, and give you a light massage

“I’ll do everything in my power to see you happy and prosperous. I love you, y/n.”

Wriothesley

very much cares about celebrating you and making you feel special

he’ll tell you how much you’ve changed his life and how you make him happy

uses this day as an opportunity to cook for you since he doesn’t often have the time

will want to please you (I’m sorry I do mean it in that way)

sets out a blanket so you can gaze at the stars as he holds you

he might surprise you with a gift that’s rare, vintage, hard to find, or expensive. he couldn’t resist

“Every day you’re worth celebrating, and I wish I had time more often to show it. I love you, and please never forget that.”

Neuvillette

he’s old fashioned and it’s very charming. he presents you with a bouquet of flowers and a card / letter. Your signed name is in his elegant handwriting

for dinner he takes you to a fine restaurant. he booked a reservation in advance with a wonderful view or a table on the upper patio, there’s a feeling of privacy in this area

he gets you gifts of things you mention interest in. he always listens and remembers internally what you bring up

in the night he’ll take you somewhere he usually goes to alone, somewhere special to him. he wants to share this place with you

he wants to hold your hand and gaze into your eyes admiring you from time to time. he knows it can make you shy but is indulging just a little bit more than usual today

“It's so nice to spend quality time together on your birthday. I hope all of your dreams come true, and I will stay by your side always.”

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oflights · 6 months ago

Text

Bloodweave Inn New Year’s Prompts Day 2: Growing Old Together

written for @bloodweaveinn’s New Year’s Prompt Challenge! I rolled a 2 this time, which means my prompt was Growing Old Together. i wasn't really feeling it until a little while ago and just kind of knocked this out in 20 minutes lol. i'm a little late but oh well! it was fun.

enjoy just under 1k words of extremely sappy established bloodweave, post-cure for astarion's vampirism. 😌

“Is that a gray hair?”

Astarion’s outraged cry draws Gale out of his reading, and he looks over the top of glasses at him with a slightly distracted “Hm?”

“Look!” Astarion insists, jabbing his finger at both the mirror—where his reflection can now be found, and though it’s been nearly a year since finding Astarion’s cure, Gale still can’t help looking upon it with pride and affection—and at the top of his head. “I’m going gray, Gale.”

Gale blinks at him, then squints. Astarion huffs automatically, an instinctive response to Gale squinting and a result of the Great Glasses War of 1494 DR, which Gale had summarily lost.

Eager to draw Astarion’s attention from his squinting—gods forbid he make Gale get a thicker pair of lenses—Gale hastily says, “Astarion, your hair is already gray. What are you talking about?”

Astarion gasps. His eyes, luminous and green-gold, as pride-inducing as his reflection, go very wide.

“How dare you. My hair is white blond! It’s platinum! It’s not gray, you heathen.”

“My love,” Gale says soothingly, setting his book aside and holding out two placating arms. “Come here. Let me see it.”

Grumbling, and with one more pouting glance into the mirror, Astarion slinks over, as graceful and lithe as ever. He fits himself into Gale’s lap with fluid motions Gale could never hope to replicate, and he butts the crown of his head into Gale’s chin, not unlike a cat. Gale hides a grin over the top of his head.

“Look. It’s awful.”

Gale truly cannot see any bit of what has Astarion so upset, but he kisses the crown of his head anyway, taking off his damnable glasses with some relief. “It’s not awful,” Gale says into Astarion’s beautiful, soft hair. “It’s lovely, because it’s on you, and you are the loveliest elf I’ve ever seen.”

“Just the loveliest elf?”

“Being. Humanoid. Immortal or mortal.” At that, Gale tips Astarion’s face up by the chin, gazing down at him adoringly. “You are as gorgeous as the day I met you. Gray hairs and all.”

“Hairs, plural? Did you see another one?” Astarion scrambles to get up and go for the mirror again, but Gale draws him into a kiss first, sighing as he settles down in his lap again.

“What’s so bad about grays, anyway?” Gale asks when they break apart, smiling when Astarion, eyes closed, chases his mouth a bit. Astarion huffs, the scent of their shared dinner—some nice, bloody red steaks; Astarion still has a taste for it, and he’s as bad as Gale is about eating his vegetables—hitting Gale’s nose and making it wrinkle. “You like my grays, don’t you? You certainly admire them enough.”

As if to prove Gale’s point, Astarion’s hand goes up into Gale’s hair, sifting through what are surely more bountiful gray streaks now. Just as there are more wrinkles in his face, more pronounced crow’s feet and laughter lines, and a softer, chubbier frame as their adventure days have fallen behind them. Astarion has lavished each of these features with so much love and approval that Gale has had barely any room to ever feel self-conscious about them.

“Of course I do; your grays are beautiful,” Astarion says. “You’re aging like a fine wine, my dear, and I’m—well, I’m just aging, aren’t I?” He says it like it’s just occurred to him, a bit wondrous, and also a bit sullen.

“Of course you are, though much, much more slowly than you seem to think,” Gale says. “Slower than I am, naturally. We both know this. It’s a good thing, isn’t it? Part of your cure?”

“But I’m no distinguished professor like you; my looks are like your brains,” Astarion tells him. “I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it when I start looking like Jaheira, gods.”

“Jaheira is beautiful—oh, stop, you know what I mean,” Gale says as Astarion scowls. “And you are much, much more than your looks. Which are still beautiful.”

“You have to say that. Your opinion is biased.”

“Is my opinion not the most important, after yours?”

Astarion eyes him carefully, as if genuinely judging Gale’s sincerity. Gale tries not to huff back at him—he’d put a garlic sauce over his own steak tonight, which Astarion still doesn’t care for.

“You’re certain you’ll love me even when I look like a withered old crone?”

Gale tips his head back. “Astarion, I’ll love you until the day I die. And not to be depressing, but you must understand that I’ll be a withered old crone long before you will. I probably won’t live to see you that old.” He strokes the back of his hand over Astarion’s face, the lines that are there, and feels a bit of sweet, sad longing over that fact. He sees it reflected on Astarion’s face, in the sudden droop of his ears. “So don’t worry—I’ll be old and wrinkly and gray all over, and you’ll still be my pretty young thing.”

“Gods, you’re right,” Astarion says, aghast. He settles further into Gale’s hold, shaking his head. “We’re going to have to do something about that.”

“About what?”

“The whole thing where even though I’m cured of vampirism, you’re still going to die first. I don’t approve of that. That’s our next project. Ugliness notwithstanding—I do want to grow old with you.”

Warmth suffuses Gale at that, and he places another helpless kiss in Astarion’s beautiful, soft, and yes, gray hair.

“We’ll see what we can do,” Gale says, and he picks up his book again and starts squinting down at it, his love in one arm.

“Gale,” Astarion murmurs against his neck, breath ghosting out against the old bite scars.

“Hm?”

“Put your glasses on.”

With a laugh and a sigh, Gale complies; he supposes they both have their vanities.

#bloodweave #bloodweave fic #bg3 fic #oflights #bloodweave inn ny prompt challenge

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gay-wrongs-activist · 2 months ago

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Okay, so here is my current watch progress with shows I am watching and my thoughts about them. No specific order.

Currently watching (ignoring the literally 35 other shows I need to finish):

Monster Next Door (4/12) - so far this show has been dangerously adorable. Oh my god (lol) it's so cute. Honestly my only point of criticism is - please someone free Khun Shy. I hope he suceeds fleeing from that terrible glass cube. Watch if you want adorableness and a himbo extrovert and a nerdy introvert falling in love (saying this as a nerdy introvert myself - I love Diew's characterization).

My Stubborn (3/12) - I have literally gone from dropping this show two thirds into episode one to giddily watching each new episode. If I would drink alcohol I would definitely get a glass of wine for this show. The key really was to not take a single thing serious that goes on in this show, and just enjoy the ride (also, partly, literally). There are tiny ideas in there that could have gone places in other shows but honestly - this a 12 episode pwp with HR violations and I am here for it. Watch if you want (mostly) nicely done NC scenes, HR violations and/or like CEO/assistant couples as a side. Also I am holding my hopes up that the hot lesbians are gonna get featured soon. This show is an a plus guilty pleasure (for me anyway).

Pit Babe S2 (1/13) - ooooooh my god this season is delivering so far! I love season 1 so very much and am so happy that we get a second one. Episode 1 has been what was to be expected in the very best of ways. I can't wait to tune in again on Friday. Watch if you want the wild ride of a life time. Seriously. Pit Babe is what you usually can only find in brilliantly written 300k+ word fanfics.

Nirvana in Fire (25/54) - a 10 year old CDrama where did that come from? I am actually watching this together with a friend and holy fuck, is it good. It's court intrigue and 20D chess and it keeps you in incredible suspense in a show that consist mainly of talking. Watch if you like historical fantasy and want to see the most married men in fictional Chinese history. If your dead husband is actually not dead and instead your personal advisor but you don't know that. Watch if you want to see regal men cry over missing their dead(?) friend beloved. Depending on your preferences this whole thing can also be a polycule in which one person is not aware that they are currently part of a ploycule. (Also just for clarity's sake, this is not a bl show or based on a danmei book. But honestly if it would have been it wouldn't have surprised me one bit.)

The Next Prince (1/14) - we all know about this show as a thing of the far future, but now it finally started! And it is absolutely living up to the hype! NuNew especially stands out brilliantly in the first episode, and I freaking love Khanin being a competitive asshole (affectionate) and done with everything (very relatable). And man, everything about it is pretty. I am absolutely hyped for episode 2! Watch if - well actually if you have any affinity for BL whatsoever. This show might be an instant classic. Otherwise - watch if you want amazing chemistry, royal au aesthetics, horses (presumably) and court intrigue the cutesy edition (honestly, I have included NiF in this very same post, I must make that distinction).

Perfect 10 Liners (15/24) - disclaimer in advance: I am a terrible little uwma hater. But. With P10L I feel like I have finally found my own appreciation for New Siwaj. It has a lot of elements found in other of his shows, but it does them so so so well. The funny thing is - hardly any of the tropes that P10L has are things that appeal particularily to me. I don't care about uni BLs, I don't care for slice of life and I actively dislike coming of age (which is sorta part of it but really only on the fringes). It comes to noone's surprise that my absolute favorites are Klao and Warich, but - to the show's credit - I actually do like all the couples so far and their stories as well. Watch if - listen I am not the best person to recommend this show, as I like it less for what it is but more in spite of it? I suppose watch if you generally like New Siwaj's shows and want to watch his (in my opinion) best work to this date.

Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist (4/12) - definitely need to catch up on this one. It's sweet, and I enjoy Mark and Ohm together. I have heard a lot of complaining about the show, especially the episodes that I haven't watched yet. I intend to keep watching though. I like the cast and it's a comfortable little show so far. It's exactly what I need for watching when I have a meal. It's cute. Yeah, the premise could have been better but the actors do a good job and I love the colors of this show. It's so colorful ❤ Watch if you need some light entertainment and love snacks. Also definitely if you like the cast.

Boys in Love (1/12) - Am I watching this show 100% for PoddPapang? Yes. Absolutely yes. I actively despise high school settings, so I need a good fucking reason to watch a show set there. So, first impression of Boys in Love? Actually, surprisingly good? The high schoolers are for once actually very close to high school age and not grown adults, and the one episode I have seen so far is very sweet and colorful and avoids things I especially do not like about hs stories. So, I am enjoying myself. Even if i am mostly there for the PP crumbs, I do not mind at all to watch the rest of it, and might catch up with the show this evening. Watch if you really badly wanna see some (also quite adorable) PoddPapang and if you like sweet, innocent highschool sweethearts.

#monster next door the series #my stubborn the series #pit babe the series #nirvana in fire #the next prince the series #perfect 10 liners #sweet tooth good dentist #boys in love the series #thank you to all the wonderful gif makers #multi bl #currently watching #ql watching

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animelovelover123 · 1 year ago

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Hey there! You don't have to answer, but what do you think (insert DMC charas of your choice) would do for Valentines Day? Love your work btw. Always makes my day when you post 🥰 Have a great evening

Devil May Cry Boys Valentine

Parings: Dante, Reboot Dante, Vergil, Reboot Vergil, Nero, V x Reader

Author Note: Thanks for the suggestion! I woke up late today (was up and down all night because of period pain) and when I saw this and started imagining scenarios it made me feel better. Hope you like it, happy Valentine’s Day/Singles Awareness Day!

Dante

This mans straight up forgot, like always. He is always forgetting dates and holidays, especially if he is out on a mission in some remote place so doesn’t have the typical festive decorations that litter stores to tip him off that some event is approaching. Even when he is at home though, sometimes he holes up in his house just eating delivery food and relaxing so the world outside and the passage of time goes on without him.

He scrambles to prepare something, anything.

What can he set up in less than a day? What do people do for Valentine’s Day? He is not used to having a partner.

Fancy restaurants? Can he get into any of those? No, they have all been booked months in advance.

Okay, candlelit dinner at home. Should he order something? No, that’s not special enough. So he should cook. He can cook, right? It can’t be that hard.

It was… it was hard.

Well while that disaster is on the way, what else can he do?

Flowers? Flowers sound nice. Again though, most florists are sold out of the traditional roses, but at least he can make his own with his demon abilities (see Lucifer from DMC4). How many does he make though? One? Six? A dozen? Well now Dante has enough roses to fill a hot tub but that’s fine, he can just sprinkle the petals around. What does he do with the stems? Uh… just throw them in the closet for now.

What else?

He should dress up! He still has a suit, right? Does it fit him still? He hasn’t worn it in years.

In the end, you have dinner with Dante who tries to act cool, despite the fact that he is in a suit that is two sizes too small, his food is a mushy mess (a good-tasting mush might I add but still), he nearly set the place on fire with the old candles he used, and you both have little nicks all over your hands from cleaning up the rose stems that came cascading out of the closet when you tried to hang up your coat.

He swears up and down that he will do better next year. Yes, it was a disaster, but by god he tried.

Reboot Dante

Dante is not into Valentine’s Day and how commercialized it is. Every ad, shop, and website proclaims that if you don’t buy your partner <insert product name here> then your relationship will fail. What bullshit.

But you know what is kind of fun? The day after.

Pounds and pounds of chocolate and sweets on sale for cheap.

Popular hangout spots mostly barren as everyone just went.

Bars and restaurants with half-used bottles of wine and champagne that are usually multiple tens of dollars a glass now being sold at a fraction of the price because it was quickly going stale.

Valentine-themed lingerie and sex toys practically being given away at stores.

So hold off on the celebration baby. Save that cash you would have spent.

The next day you and Dante will go on a shopping spree, buying more chocolate than you two could eat.

And as you two indulge in said chocolate, you can bounce from one place to the next, enjoying bougie alcohol at empty restaurants and practically having places like amusement parks, arcades, and waterparks all to yourselves.

And when you two get home, well you now have a drawer full of new lingerie and sex paraphernalia that Dante is dying to try. Which one does he want to try today? Oh no baby, you don’t get it. Dante wants to try them all.

Vergil

Vergil is the kind of man who did not see a point in doing anything special for Valentine’s Day. He gave you love and affection all year round, why would doing something specifically on this one day mean more than any other?

But if you show even the slightest sliver of disappointment at this, he will do something. Nothing basic though. If he was going to go out of his way for this then he was going to be extra about it.

So on the day he picks you up from work, school, or just your home, in a limo.

He takes you to a dress and suit rental shop filled with gowns and suits of all styles and colours. He also made sure to find a rental place that also offered accessories so jewellery, headdresses, and shoes were also available.

He will not exert his will over your choice, but he does want to be present for you trying things on and he will suggest some things. He claims that he simply wants to make sure you are presentable, but he secretly is having a lot of fun seeing you in different styles, patterns, and colours. He takes mental notes of what kind of things you look good in so he can get them for you later.

Once you pick out whatever you like he takes you to a dance hall where a ball is being held. Men, women, and everyone in between are dressed to the nines and dance around the room to live music. The way the lights shine, the glitter of jewels sparkle, and the fabric of all the dresses swish around creating a dream-like atmosphere.

Vergil will lead you in multiple dances. If you seem nervous or mess up the steps, he does not criticize you. He brushes it off as there is no need to worry. Yes, this was an elegant ball, but that should not restrict you. He did not bring you here to try to force you to act fancy.

He brought you here to make you happy, and that’s all he cares about. Not just today, but every day.

Reboot Vergil

This man is always working and unfortunately does not spend a lot of one-on-one time with you. He makes exceptions for special events though, such as your birthday, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day.

He will spend time with you for these events. Note, though, that the likelihood of Vergil actually spending the specific day with you is low. His social life must work around his work, he warned you of this before you started dating. So your Valintine’s Day celebration will happen in about a month's vicinity of February 14th.

When the time comes though, Vergil spares no expense. Literally, this man is loaded and he will use this opportunity to shower you with luxury and attention to make up for all the time he spends working.

We are talking about a multi-day vacation to anywhere in the world you want to go to do whatever you want. And you know exactly where you are going because you are the one that planned it all. Again, Vergil is a very busy man.

This isn't to say he will not have a few surprises in store for you.

Despite what it may seem, when you are talking at him while he is typing away on his computer he is listening. He has a specific file on his computer that lists all of the things you are interested in and said you wanted and will secretly add to it while you talk.

The surprises he gets you for Valentine’s Day will be extravagant, not a simple book or game you have been interested in. He just buys those for you whenever they come up, if you don’t take the initiative and get it yourself with his card. So be ready for things like private concerts from your favourite singer and/or group, getting to play the beta version of an unreleased game you have been waiting years for, or getting to play a minor role in an episode or two of your favourite TV show.

The time you two had together would be relatively brief, as only a few days were scheduled and he reminded you that he would have to return to work as soon as possible.

It was almost two weeks later when he could finally pull himself away from you.

Nero

A traditional lover from a traditional city and religion.

Even if Nero was not really into the rules and restrictions of The Order of the Sword, some of his beliefs did line up with theirs.

For example, Nero wasn’t interested in getting you something sexy for Valentine’s Day as he felt it was a bit sleazy and he worried that it would give off the impression that he was only interested in sex. However, if you are the one to gift him with a special something something in the bedroom then he will be all for it.

No, Nero wanted to keep things clean and simple.

Flowers, chocolates, and a card filled with some personal and deep feelings that you better not tell anyone about because he would die of embarrassment if it got out.

He’ll take you out on a date, but not to a restaurant or anything. Instead, he planned a picnic for you two. He made all the food himself, with minimal help from Kyrie. Mainly she just acted as a recipe book and made sure everything he made was safe to eat. Nero was a decent cook, but he did not want to risk making you sick. It may not look immaculate (he doesn’t have a normal right arm, give him a break) but it tasted great.

On the day he will take you out of town, somewhere nice and natural. A peaceful place with a beautiful view and no one around for miles that can get in the way of you two being together.

This will be the first Valentine’s Day V ever celebrates, period. He knows of the day, of course, and many of the traditions that accompany it. But he has never gotten to experience them.

It was also a bit troublesome as many of the typical Valentine’s Day activities, such as fancy dinners, either at home or going out, giving flowers and reciting poetry were things V did for you regularly.

So if days with him are already filled with elegance and refined shows of affection, how would he make this day special? Well, he will do the opposite.

V invites you to make homemade chocolates with him. With his lack of experience, it is a messy task and the finished product is far from immaculate, but that did not matter to him.

He could clean later and his familiars could eat any mistakes created. (They were demons, they could eat chocolate despite their animal forms.)

What mattered was experiencing something new with you. To spend the day working together, laughing at the mess-ups and sharing the prideful joy of success.

And he also quickly discovered the appeal of licking chocolate off each other.

#devil may cry imagine #devil may cry x reader #dante x reader #nero x reader #v x reader #vergil x reader #reboot dante x reader #reboot vergil x reader #valentines day

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