#oh and maybe i'll get to see my friends from home... god i'd love that

[happyk44]

[Text ID: 1. In another universe you're still my best friend

2. When you find an old picture of us And you clear away the dust I hope you miss me sometimes

3. [highlight] The best friends of our childhoods are the loves of our lives, [end highlight] and they break our hearts in worse ways.

4. I lost a friend Like keys in a sofa Like a wallet in the backseat Like ice in the summer heat I lost a friend Like sleep on a red-eye Like money on a bad bet Like time worrying about every bad thing that hasn't happened yet

5. I loved my friend He went away from me. There's nothing more to say. The poem ends, Soft as it began- I loved my friend.

6. When does a war end? When can I say your name and have it mean only your name and not what you left behind?

7. they did not tell me it would hurt like this no one warned me about the heartbreak we experience with friends where are the albums i thought there were no songs sung for it i could not find the ballads or read the books dedicated to writing the grief we fall into when friends leave it is the type of heartache that does not hit you like a tsunami it is a slow cancer the kind that does not show up for months has no visible signs is an ache here a headache there but manageable cancer or tsunami it all ends the same a friend or a lover a loss is a loss is a loss

8. i miss you and i hope your journey back home is safe. i miss you and i am starting to forget your voice. i miss you and i'm sorry my actions said otherwise. i miss you and and and i wish you were here.

-sk

9. I hate you for what you did And I miss you like a little kid

10. old friendship is like: i see pieces of you in every person i meet. you know exactly how i take my tea and i always remember to pick the tomato out of your sandwiches. we don't talk for months on end. your hugs feel like coming home. sometimes i look at you and see a stranger. we know each other's deepest hopes and fears. i get jealous of anyone that makes you smile brighter than i can. your love is the only stable thing i have in this world. we pretend we don't notice how far we've drifted apart. i miss you even when you're right next to me. we know what the other is thinking we a single glance. i'd die for you in a heartbeat.

11. That I don't know who I am after you And I can't stand to look at that fucking pair of Shoes I used to wear with you Or the pictures that I framed of you Oh, I, feel like I'm split in two

12. You change me, you should remember me.

13. we're getting older and I'll miss you forever

14. I want that girl that I knew before

To come right back and knock on my door

She's my best friend, but I'm not hers

'Cause she's got more than she had before

15. Movies and books also don't tell you that friendships don't just end after one fight or incident, it's like the rusting of a bridge, the slow decay of flesh and bones and secrets. It tooks weaks, months- until one day I woke up and I realized I hadn't thought of her in a while. And I wrote a poem that day and I titled it 'The dying of a best friend' and I put all my love for her in a tiny box with my half of a matching pendant of a dolphin we had and stored them in a corner of my heart under the heading Grief. Where else can one hide unspent love?

16. I Still Forget We're Not Even Friends

I still wake up with things to tell you.

17. Maybe, if you're with a group of friends who'll never be together again, all your lights will shine at the same time and you'll know, and then you can hold each other and whisper, "This was so good. Oh my God, this was so good."

18. every time i think of you, i subconsciously downplay what our friendship was. but i remember you painting my nails and rollerblading through the neighborhood in 90 degree weather. and i miss you a lot. you were my best friend.

19. Sorry if I don't seem like a whole person it's just I left some pieces of my in my childhood friends and I'm not sure how to get them back

20. And I'll be fine without him But all I do is write about him How the hell did I lose a friend I never had?

21. Dear Friend,how have you been? I think about you from time to time Some day, I'd love to know How you have grown since our last goodbye

22. Where is my friend, my love?

Does he carry his sadness still?

Like baggage in a tightly-closed fist.

Does he carry happiness finally?

A pleasure he judged himself undeserving of.

Does he carry love?

A thing he cannot help, but be.

Where is my friend, my love,

for I want to see it all.

/end ID]

Words from the mouths of babes, promises ocean deep. But never to keep.

@inanotherunivrse/cocaine jesus - rainbow kitten surprise/fredrick backman, us against you/i lost a friend - finneas/poem - langston hughes/ocean vuong, on earth we’re briefly gorgeous/the underrated heartache - rupi kaur/@sarakleijn/unknown/motion sickness - phoebe bridgers/ @honeytuesday/saw ur mom at the grocery store - abby cates/louise glück, seizure/@thundersoon/ bronze - the regrettes/ritika jyala, the world is a sphere of ice and our hands are made of fire/i still forget we’re not even friends - trista mateer/the light that shines when things end - anonymous/couch sleeper, unknown site/ @saltair-and-palemoonlight/i lost a friend - finneas/dear friend, - dayglow/peter - taylor swift

Requested here

[smallblueandloud]

being so so so brave. on friday i can pet my cats and do a puzzle.

[jscrawls]

Grave mistakes

Gotham City is full of a lot of characters, criminals, creepy clowns, man eating plants, eccentric billionaires. But all that rolled into one household?

Warning: contains mentions of blood, witchcraft, general spooky stuff, it's an Addams reader they're gonna be freaky,

Part 5: picking up a good read

🔹🔹🔹

Barbara was having a good day, she really was. the sun was out for once and the people in the library were all behaving themselves beautifully, as if infected by the warmth shining through the large windows. her coworker even brought her a caramel iced macchiato unprompted, Then you walked up to her.

She didn't mean to gawk at you, really. She's a professional after all. But she's heard a lot about you the last two weeks from multiple sources, from Cass expressing concern to dick ranting like you made an attempt on his life with your cooking.

She smiles thinly at you when you clear your throat, right, gaping at bystanders is rude.

“Ahem, how can I help you?” what could you possibly want at the library? Please don't start asking about something demonic or inappropriate-

“Hi, I'd like to check these out please.” They smile as they drop a few books on the counter and slide them within grabbing range, Barbara is averse to taking her eyes off you even as you stand there with an innocent, unfaltering grin, yet she forces herself to act normal as she grabs at the books and takes the brakes off her wheelchair…. Botany encyclopedias? Please don't be something nefarious-

“oh are you starting a garden? I tried that last spring, didn't go well.” it's a weak attempt at probing and she knows it, she just hopes it's not that obvious.

You pace the other side of the counter to keep even with her as she rolls over to the computer, still wearing that unnerving smile on your lips. “Something like that, my roommate is quite upset in my plant rearing abilities so I thought I'd do a little reading.”

Barbara knew you didn't have a ‘roommate’ as of two days ago, dick or Bruce would've noticed. How'd that change so fast?

“oh, that's nice of you…. You got plans for a bit of horticulture around your place then? I'm jealous at anyone with a green thumb honestly.”

She sets the books on the counter next to the computer, taking her sweet time to scan them just so she can try to squeeze anything out of you. You've been nothing but polite besides the creepy staring- yet she's more than suspicious of you, you're not just some rich goth with antisocial traits, God knows she's seen plenty of that around this city. you're….. Off. Maybe she's been around zatanna too much.

“maybe a few house plants.” Barbara almost sighs in relief at that.

“though my new roommate does seem fond of the carnivorous ones, she's already covered the front gate in some lovely meat eating fly traps.”

Barbara knew it was too soon to relax.

“Oh….. Sounds fascinating.” She's floundering a bit, her smile getting tighter as she grips the wheel bar tighter with one hand.

You smile wider, either happy with how the conversation is going or you're reveling in her discomfort. For whatever reason Barbara thinks you're somehow not picking up on it.

You reach into your pocket and Barbara tenses, eyes widening behind her glasses as she waits for you to pull something horrible. Instead you pull out a…coin? “Thank you very kindly my friend! Do you accept gold here?” Who the hell carries gold coins around-

“I…. I've never asked?” this isn't how she expected her afternoon to go, she doesn't want to call her supervisor to ask what the libraries stance on paying check outs with gold of all things. She just wanted to sort the last of her stacks and then go home and binge watch bridgerton until it was time for night activities.

“If it's a bother I'll go fetch my wallet my dear.” you lean against the edge of the counter with that same big stupid weirdly friendly smile on your face as you stare down at her.

that’s…..weirdly accomodating? barbara doesn’t see that much with the general public, she just hopes you’re not the type to pay with pennies next thing.

“….that would be appreciated, i don’t think we can process your……currency. sorry.” she tries not to wince as she speaks, watching you put the coins back in your pocket while she neatly stacks the books just so she has something to do with her hands, please stop staring at her.

“that’s perfectly alright! can i leave my books here or is there somewhere out of the way for them?” god barbara doesn’t want to be charmed by your politeness.

“here is fine, there isn’t exactly a line waiting on you…” you both glance around the library at that, this place doesn’t see much traffic on weekdays.

she watches you nod enthusiastically and turn to stroll out without another word, she only cringes a little when she watches you physically recoil when you walk out into the sunlight before continuing your little quest, god you’re like an awkward vampire. she waits until she’s sure you’re out of sight before pulling her phone out and sending a quick text to the groupchat, she doesn’t think you’ll try anything but she still wants to keep tabs on you. she quickly mutes her phone when she sees you coming back around the corner.

“so sorry for the inconvenience my friend!” you say a little too loudly, an old lady with a thick pair of bifocals and tight white curls loudly shushes you, barbara tries not to laugh as you whip around to stare at the woman and just as loudly apologize to her, the elder obviously flinches back from your appearance, she does a hail mary while turning around and shuffling away on clicking knees without another word to you.

barb almost pities you.

“anywho, about those books?” you turn back towards her and drop a hundred dollar bill on the counter between the both of you, that weird stare once again locked on her. barbara deadpans at the large bill.

“…..you know it’s a five dollar check out fee, right?”

“i’m well aware my good friend! i was under the impression tipping was still acceptable in new jersey.” barbara can’t tell if you’re snarking her under that painfully wide grin, once again she finds you almost endearing, maybe it’s just the money buttering her up.

“okay, funny. alright i’ll finish this up hang on…” she takes the brakes off and rolls over to the old register, a small smile on her face despite her initial dislike of you. being nice to public workers is a quick way to endear yourself to barb after all.

with the tip tucked in her pocket she bags the books up and watches you stroll towards the door, calling over your shoulder as you go. “bye have a terrible day my friend!” to the chagrin of many, multiple people shushing you as you duck back out the door.

“by lucifer this weather is absolutely horrid!”

this time barbara giggles as she watches you dramatically try to cover yourself from the sun, there’s something kinda entertaining about how….comfortable you are with yourself.

����🔹🔹

“repeat it.” Pamela stands over you with crossed arms and a sour expression on her face as she taps her shoe on the floor impatiently, Harleys doing something in the play room but all your focus is on the green-skinned woman in front of your sitting form.

“Don't feed saltwater to the plants.” You meet her eyes as you lean back against the couch and her expression hardens. “And?”

“Don't cut them down, and if I'm going to feed them blood and bones, ask you first so I don't give them too much nitrogen.”

You parrot her earlier yelled words dutifully, for a moment she looks as if she's going to scold you like a child but then she just sighs and nods her head. At least you were making an effort to listen to her, unlike some people in this house.

“good, as long as I see you actually following through with obeying then we'll have less problems.”

“ooh is someone getting the red special? I wanna watch!” Harley darts in the room and sits on the edge of the coffin-table, resting her elbows on her knees with a large grin on her face.

Pamela rolls her eyes as she glances back at her and points an accusing finger at her. “You're lucky you're not alongside them, I know you helped them feed my babies blood earlier. You two nearly made the ferns sick!”

although her words are just as harsh as she was with you earlier, her tone is much gentler with her girlfriend. You just sigh wistfully as you watch them while getting comfy.

“Ah, you two remind me of when I watched my dear Gomez and Morticia court each other. You'll be making sacred oaths in blood under the moonlight before you know it. I just hope I get to bring the ceremonial athame.” You wipe at your teary eyes while they both deadpan at you with varying degrees of annoyance.

🔹🔹🔹

M.list | prev | next

A/n: apologies for how late this update is! Been a bit busy dealing with the bad weather in my area

Taglist: @lunarapple @ladykamos @itsberrydreemurstuff

[love-belle]

you're the best in my life and i lost you !!!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ in which they truly are the best in each other's lives but they lost them.

or

for when you finally get to know that maybe it is unrequited. ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

social media au // charles leclerc x fem!reader

prequel - i'd never walk cornelia street sign ⋆·˚ ༘ *

warnings - language

author's note - finally here!!!!! i REALLLLLLY hope u like it !!! i have so much planned for this week and i hope i can show u all of it soon !!! thank u so much for reading i love you <3

tagged - @willowpains @lexxlouuu @topaz125 @leclercloml @sophiaasf @slut4peterparker @crlsummer @ananyasr1bughead @official-chicken-little @jspitwall @lovely-blackinnon

≡;- ꒰ °instagram ꒱

liked by lewishamilton, carmenmmundt, lilymhe and 3,927,588 others

yourusername my sophomore album "good riddance" is finally here and i'm soooo excited for u all to hear little pieces of my heart sewn together. every single syllable is what i feel and what i have been feeling. we all have that one person that we absolutely refuse to talk about so just like that, i ended up writing a whole album instead. thank you sooo much for supporting me, i love you all forever. and to the inspiration behind this, thank you. you were good to me. you're the best i've ever had.

19,628 comments

username SCREECHING WHAT THE FUCK

username oh my god

username now im half of myself here without you?????? you're the best in my life and i lost you????? and we had no control when it fell through???? it was one sided hate how i hurt you?????

-> username WHERE DO WE GO NOW

username i 😭 know 😭 i 😭 know 😭 better 😭 you're 😭 no 😭 guarantee 😭

username I ALMOST LOST IT I'LL HEAL EVENTUALLY BUT FASTER WHEN UR NEXT TO ME NEXT TO ME

-> username IM CODEPENDENT BUT TRYING HARD NOT TO BE IM BETTER WHEN UR NEXT TO ME

username why the FUCK aren't people talking about the blue and how it's literally her and charles???

-> username "you came out of the blue like that i never could've seen you coming i think you're everything i wanted" NAHHH FRRRRR

username there was absolutely NO NEED to break my heart like this

username charles is probably tearing up rn likeeee

-> username bro's hiding in a corner bc i KNOW lily is out for blood today

danielricciardo cool album

-> yourusername thank u i wrote it myself!!!!!!

-> username as if daniel's stories aren't js him crying and singing along the whole album 😭😭😭

username "i know it won't work" had NO business ruining me like that when i know damn well i haven't even held hands with someone

username THE VOICE MESSAGE IN THE INTERLUDE OMGKMGKMGKGSJJAJS

-> username i bet you my first born that it's CHARLES

-> username lost it when it was cut from charles' message (yes it was charles and yes it broke my heart) to y/n's like THERE WAS NO NEED TO HURT ME LIKE THAT

username i wish for pain and im glad we only live once bc this woman WILL find more creative ways to hurt us with her amazing songwriting and vocal skills

lilymhe LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEE

-> yourusername I LOVE YOUUUUU

lilymhe SO SO SO GOOD AHHHSJSJSJS

-> yourusername STOP TYSM IM GONNA CRY

lilymhe the only album to ever exist btw

-> yourusername ur the 1 for me ❤️

username still not over two people like what do u MEAN "hate how we touched just to push things aside. when u take me for granted i make it alright"

username she's never attaining peace for releasing this and ruining my nights

username OH I KNOW SPIRALLING IS MISERABLE I SHOULD PROBABLY GO BACK HOME WHY DOES THAT FEEL DIFFICULT DIFFICULT

carmenmmundt still crying

-> yourusername same 😭😭😭

carmenmmundt george wants to comment but he can't see through his tears

-> yourusername PLEASE OMG

username "and to the inspiration behind this, thank you. you were good to me. you're the best i've ever had." DO U WANT ME TO CRY

username charles i am in ur walls

username i will never understand how she wrote "it's nice to have a friend" for charles and now she wrote "two people" like how did THAT transition happen

-> username the worst transition ever btw

landonorris thid is si good anf im cryjng so harf whay thr fucj

-> yourusername lando deep breaths

-> landonorris DINT TELL MR TI TAKR DEEP BRESTGS I SWRAR

-> yourusername wow

-> username i identify so much with lando it's INSANE

username somewhere in monaco pascale leclerc is listening to this album and it's a good day ❤️

-> username bet u literally my bank account the entire leclerc household is BLASTING this

carla.brocker words cannot explain how proud i am 🩷🩷🩷 i love you so much big sis

-> yourusername carlaaaaa 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 u own my heart i LOVEEEE you

-> username this made me tear up whatcthebfuck

username no bc i KNOW charles heard "will u cry" and CRIED like that man is not strong enough to bear that

-> username no bc "u don't move me???? i see through u????? i don't follow???? i don't want to?????"

-> username that man is in SHAMBLES about this rn

username GOOD RIDDANCE TOUR WHEN

username this will be my personality for years to come

lorenzotl proud of you y/n/n 🤍

-> yourusername i love u charlotte's bf thank u

username cannot breathe bc "it's almost like you like to let me down" and "i hate the fact that i miss u around"

≡;- ꒰ °twitter꒱

≡;- ꒰ °instagram ꒱

liked by yourusername, landonorris, danielricciardo and 2,672,882 others

charles_leclerc so proud of you. seeing you live your dream is the best feeling ever and i hope you get to see the world just like we talked about. things aren't the same but my support for you will always be unwavering. this is what you were made for and i couldn't be more happy 🤍

tagged yourusername

16,628 comments

username what the actual fuck

username WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

username stfu this isn't DONE like u CAN'T do this

username "things aren't the same but my support for you will always be unwavering" WHAT IF I CRY

username so u mean to tell me that he went to her show after MONTHS even when they're not together just to support her???? bc he wants her to see the world even if things aren't the same????? what the fuck

username i did NOT need this at 7am in the morning come back later

username babe wake up new y/ncharles lore js dropped

danielricciardo amazing show!! aren't you glad i dragged you there?

-> charles_leclerc i literally booked the tickets myself what are you on about?

-> danielricciardo let me have this one mate

username last night was UNREAL bc wdym y/n's ex fiancé was there and wdym she sang full machine and the blue for him and wdym he came on stage and spoke so fondly about her and WDYM MAX VERSTAPPEN AND LANDO NORRIS THREW WATER AT THE AUDIENCE JS FOR THE HELL OF IT

username this is my roman empire

username i know he was dying inside like

username imagine fumbling a bad bitch like y/n couldn't be me LMFAOOOO

username y'all brutal in the comments let my man grovel in peace

landonorris nice caption. now say i love you.

-> charles_leclerc i love you lando

-> landonorris not to ME to HER (i love you too 😘😘😘🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍)

-> charles_leclerc oh (no)

username SCREAMING DANIEL SNATCHING Y/N'S MIC FROM HER AND SINGING HIS FAV SONG FROM THE ALBUM

-> username THEY'RE SO UNSERIOUS 😭😭😭

username this caption will haunt me in my dreams

username is it js me or did her voice crack when she said "now i know it's unrequited"

-> username NO BC I FR THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JS ME

-> username she genuinely looked on the verge of tears throughout "405" like

-> username imagine being y/n and singing the most heartbreaking song ever about ur ex IN FRONT OF UR EX

username no bc this feels like a confirmation that they'll never be together guys why does this feel so final i want my parents back.

username SCREAMING WHATHEBRCUKXKSKA

carlossainz55 surreal night. loved seeing you lose your cool every time she was nearing your side of the stage

-> charles_leclerc just because we can speak doesn't mean we should

username the camera switching from y/n to charles when she sang "i know it won't work" was so me like the camera person is messy js like me fr

username genuinely in ruins on my bedroom floor rn y/ncharles nation we LOST

username no bc i CANNOT enter their friendship era ever again after seeing what i have seen for the past few years

-> username fr like people don't GET IT!!!! they were supposed to get MARRIED

username forever crying bc of them 💔💔💔

yourusername forever grateful for u!!!! thank u so much 🫶🏼

*liked by charles_leclerc*

yourusername u deserve the world

*liked by charles_leclerc*

username charles replying to everyone but y/n on the post HE made for HER makes me so idk like it's weird

username no bc why do i have the feeling that y/n and charles are NOT good and this is js something done for "damage control" or wtv

username im.

[renguro]

Now that S2 is almost over, I wanted to finally get out that post talking about all of the insights and things I did, learned, or other fun stuff about the countdown pieces I made. I still have something in mind for the S2 finale, so maybe if you read (or skip) to the end I'll have a preview for you?

Oh god here we go One day I was coming home from work and decided to check how many days there were until the new season released and I found it was 7 days. So I did all of these in 7 days. Literally everyone was worried about me because I did nothing but draw for those 7 days.

... Except for when I went back to work. I worked I came home and then drew until I literally couldn't anymore lmao. I remember being dazed and exhausted after the Clock Keepers and my dad came up to my room literally right as I finished and asked, "Have you gone to sleep?" And I said, "NOPE! :D" I was living on energy drinks

I'm also 90% sure this started the "ren you're doing too much you need to chill the hell out" thing with me and my friends now

When I was doing these, I had only read the first ten volumes of Hanako-kun at the time, so I was stopped right in the middle of Picture Perfect. I had the second box set, but I just hadn't gotten the time to read it since I got it for Christmas. That means I didn't know Shijima's full deal, and I didn't even know Hakubo's name, so I was winging it hard.

All of the full pieces are linked by clicking their names :)

NO.7 HANAKO

You can tell from the speedpaint I was struggling hard with the pose lmao. I honestly felt like the one I chose was a cop-out and didn't feel energetic enough, but the time crunch got me. At this point, I was also really unsure about how I wanted to treat the colors, because I'd only just started dipping into seriously studying how Aida does it. So many references. And him wearing basically all black didn't help I wanted to scream. I was TRYING to keep everything as solid colors without falling back on overlay and multiply layers, but I got desperate. Still looks pretty good I think.

My favorite part was probably the hakujoudai and the detailing on his collar/shoulders! If I were to edit anything, I think I'd put more on the bottom half of the background because it feels a touch empty. kinda killed it on this pant leg and his hat tho

NO.6 HAKUBO

Like I said, I had no idea who Hakubo was. For the first half of things, I couldn't even find his name, I was just calling him "Shinigami-sama..." I wasn't going to go trampling into spoilers just for references either, so I was freaking out on what to do for the background. All I knew was that there was something to do with lotuses or bugs, and already having an idea of where I'd take Tsuchigomori, I took the lotus route. I uh also hope I didn't make his face too feminine. I don't know why but when drawing male characters who are larger or more built (even if it didn't turn out obvious in this piece) I somehow keep making them look like butches.

Shading his hair was the most fun part out of all of this, I usually never draw characters with hair as short as his, so it was a fun challenge! I'm also just a sucker for kimonos and flowy clothes. He was probably one of the most fun ones for me, even if he was so early on. I LOVE the texture I got on the skull. (even if it's technically too small.)

NO.5 TSUCHIGOMORI

Tsuchigomori onwards ALL used this sticky note full of thumbnails I drew at work for reference. Yes that is a note next to him that says + cuntier. He was also drawn on the same day that I did Hakubo, so I managed to buy myself some extra time.

I was so excited for this one because I could see it so well in my mind's eye, until I realized how many hands I'd need to draw. And then I sucked it up and locked in because I love Tsuchigomori. I'm so pleased with how I worked in more of the blues into the shading and his hair. It was at this point that I think I was understanding how I wanted to take the colors for all of these pieces! I enjoyed doing the fun trick I learned with the weave on his sweater and the spiderwebs where I drew a thick like and then erased the middle. Nearly forgot the markings on his forehead too lmao.

I wonder whose black book he's reading?

NO.4 SHIJIMA

Oh Shijima. I truly had zero real clue about her, and I managed to dodge spoilers about Mei even when I was looking up references. That's why she's painting using her paintbrush clone haha. It's still cute though, so I'm keeping it. Her hair kept giving me trouble because it's the kind of hair you draw and don't really realize just how big you're drawing it until you have to fix it. Actually, I'm having that exact issue on what I'm working on right now, and I'll fix it after I take a break.

I dug up a comment I made while I was working on it and I still stand by this.

There's also something a little odd about the positioning of her chin that I was too exhausted to fix, and I SUPER fudged the coloring on her hair. Also I really didn't know what to put in the background OTHER than the atelier, but I can't really draw buildings! So uh! The exhaustion was beginning to set in after 3 days of this. (Since Hakubo and Tsuchigomori were done on the same day. I didn't keep that time advantage for long though.)

think i fudged it okay, though.

NO.3 MITSUBA

I was struggling on Mitsuba some because that thing where you see/read something and then forget about it only for it to arise as something you think you did happened. That pose I thumbnailed on the sticky note was WAY too close to the official Hell of Mirrors standee/art. Luckily I contain extreme Mitsuba bias (shocker) and I was able to figure it out. I had a ton of problems shading his coat just like I did with Hanako. It's so hard to keep things from melding together when you've mostly got them wearing black.

It's an odd thing to be proud about, but I feel I did the best on the.. Legs of his pants, the chains and lockets, and the eyes and teeth on his jacket. That and the ribcage scarf. I'm really disappointed in myself for the background and his hair, if I'm being honest. I wanna fix his eyes. I STILL haven't figured out his hair either too. Which makes me even more surprised that my friends said, ren, your bias is showing on this one because I was like IS IT??? ARE YOU CERTAIN?

his hand turned out nice too and did i mention i had fun on the ribcage

NO.2 YAKO

I sketched the first initial draft for Yako on the same day I drew Hakubo and Tsuchigomori, but when it finally came time to sit down and draw her? I realized there would be so much empty space where I couldn't have fun with colors and it'd just be the white back of her kimono, so I turned her around and scrapped the idea of her fox form curling around her. I couldn't fit fox Yako in, and I'm STILL kind of bummed about that.

The flow of her hair was so much fun to figure out, as well as the patterns on her kimono. I'm really happy with the background, combining the aspects of the Misaki Stairs' original version and the one after she's been removed from her seat with the spider lilies. The lilies themselves are a little fudged if you look too close, so... Don't look too close? :3

loved the kimono. every bit. can't believe i had her turned around.

NO.1 AKANE/MIRAI/KAKO

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS WAS THE COGS IN THE BACKGROUND SORRY AKANE'S FACE BOTHERS ME I NEED TO FIX IT ONE DAY HE LOOKS TOO OLD I WAS LOSING MY MIND AND THE EXHAUSTION WAS KILLING ME IT BEGAN MY HATE OF DRAWING AKANE'S HAIR BECAUSE *GESTURES VAGUELY*

Uh okay some good things to say about this one... The colors were a ton of fun to figure out how to place, and I think I at least did a good job on that part. Shading gold things is always really fun! And at least Akane's ponytail was fun to make flow, I was riding the high from Yako's hair here. I think I got a lot of that fun flowy movement in here, which I'm pleased about. This was another one that my friends say turned out the best, again that I'm ??? about.

these cogs are my everything

FINAL THOUGHTS + EXTRAS

All of the kanji's colorings for their numbers were taken directly from the anime! I don't really wanna get rid of that fun reference even if in like, Tsuchigomori's case the colors are REALLY different from the main piece.

Most of the first day was spent on, Hanako of course, and then setting up the frames for everyone else to go into. I spent money to get the patterns to go on the colored part, actually. Constraining everyone to the frames helped a LOT in terms of balancing myself and made it fun to choose what elements would stick outside of them. If I pushed for entire full backgrounds, then I would have been doing even worse.

I was on the ropes at the end. I was half dead and drawing like I was possessed. And the catharsis of it being done and it all looking acceptable just. Ough. I don't know if I'll ever have a high like that again. There's an evil, evil part of me that says, ren! redraw all of them for s3 under the exact same constraints! And shit I might but I'll complain about it. I think it's more likely though that I go back and doctor them up some so I can print them as standees. Probably just for myself, but I do want to build a stock for artist alleys.

I had so, so much fun overall even if it was so much it really could have put my already bad health in more danger. I learned so much about coloring, lineart, framing things, and I really attribute my gauntlet to the explosion in my art progress. That, and my sheer adoration for this series. Am I rambling? I just love TBHK. It's only been 5 months since I first discovered it and it's done so, so much for me.

Even if you went and scrolled through all of this nonsense, which I don't blame you for, here's a little preview of what I'm trying to finish by next week for the finale.

I can't believe we're on the final episode! It's so close now, and it keeps flooring me how little time has really passed. I'll try and push to get SOMETHING else done before then, but we'll see. I've got so much I want and have to get done.

[bm571158]

Right Where You Left Me- OP81

(Part One) (Part Two) (Part Three) (Part Four) (Part Five) (Part Six) (Part Seven) (Part Eight) (Part Nine)

Daisy’s POV

She didn't know what time it was, but the daylight flooding in through the windows had her burying her head in the pillows to try and block out the sunlight. Her head was pounding, her mouth drier than the desert. The hangover from hell that would almost surely be fixed if she got up and got some water, but she just couldn't bring herself to move.

She heard the bedroom door open with a quiet creak, footsteps brushing across the plush carpet. The bed dipped beside her, and she tentatively lifted her head.

"I was starting to think maybe you'd died." Josh joked. "How much did you have to drink? I thought it was a fancy wedding not a piss up. I'd have come as your plus one if I'd known!"

"Unless you have brought me coffee, you need to leave." Daisy groaned, her head dropping back down onto the pillow as she looked at her friend.

He reached over to the bedside table, holding up a steaming mug of coffee. "Of course I thought the goods, I've nursed you through enough hangovers to know you're not worth talking to until you've had a coffee."

"This is why you're my best friend." She joked, sitting up and taking the mug from him.

"Oh honey... you couldn't even take your make up off?" He joked, looking at her disheveled appearance once she sat up, makeup smeared across her face.

"If you're going to insult me then you can get out and just leave me and my coffee alone to wallow." Daisy rolled her eyes.

"Alright, alright." He held his hands up in mock surrender. "Don't kick me out. I don't get to see nearly enough of you these days. How was the wedding?"

Daisy hesitated for just a beat too long. "Fine."

"Thank god you didn't decide to become an actress, you're terrible." Josh laughed. "Come on, spill. Now."

She took a sip of her coffee before she spoke. "Oscar was there."

"Oh...." Josh raised an eyebrow. "How was that? Did you talk to him?"

Daisy shook her head quickly. "No, I drank a lot of champagne and then made you come and get me. Of course I didn't talk to him."

"Do you not think maybe you should have?" Josh asked curiously. "It might help you finally move on."

Daisy rolled her eyes. "What am I supposed to do? Walk up to the guy and be like hey, just to let you know you broke my heart and fucked me up so badly I haven't managed to even go on a single date since and I'm just stuck here while you're off being some superstar F1 driver and completely fine? Hardly small talk for a wedding reception is it?"

"Alright, you don't say it quite like that but yeah... the gist of it." Josh said. "You can't just keep pining after him forever."

"I'm not pining I'm...." She trailed off, sipping her coffee again.

"You're pining." Josh finished the sentence for her. "You've been pining after the guy the entire time I've known you."

"I.... I love him, Josh." She said quietly. "I always thought he'd come back, eventually."

"You're still in love with him because you won't give anyone else a chance." Josh pointed out. "You're not flying home until tomorrow, right?"

"Whatever you're about to suggest... the answer is no." She shook her head, taking another sip of her coffee.

"We're going out." Josh declared, and she had known it was coming. "Connor is back tonight, we'll get dressed up and go out, there's plenty of hot guys in Monaco that you could have a fun night with and remind yourself that you don't need Oscar."

"I don't want to be third wheel to you and Connor all night." Daisy protested. "And I don't have anything to wear either. You guys go out, I'll stay here. I've got work to do anyway."

"You know I'm not going to let that happen. If you've not got anything to wear then you just need to get up and in the shower now so we've got time to go shopping and find you something to wear. If anything, this makes the whole thing even better. How long has it been since the two of us got to go on a shopping trip?!" Josh grinned.

Daisy looked at her friend for a long moment, as if sizing up if there was any way out of this for her. The look on his face as he grinned at her suggested there really wasn't. She drained the last of her coffee, then handed the mug back to Josh.

"Alright, I'll get in the shower. But we're getting breakfast on the way, I'm not letting you drag me around the shops for hours on an empty stomach." She told him.

"Honey, it's gone midday. It's going to be lunch not breakfast." Josh laughed, climbing out of bed and heading for the door.

"Whatever." Daisy shrugged. "As long as you agree to feed me I don't really care what time of day it is."

"Get dressed, then food and shopping!" Josh laughed. "That way I can sneak the bags in before Connor comes home and he won't kill me. I'm supposed to be on a shopping ban but what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

Daisy was starting to feel a bit more alive by the time they made it out of the apartment and stopped off in a cute little cafe for some food. The second she had finished eating Josh had dragged her back out into the busy streets, herding her between various shops and picking up horrendously overpriced clothes that he was insistent that she just had to have.

She'd managed to deflect him away from a couple of things that he'd picked up which were more than she earned in a month, in the end settling on a simple, short black dress that was backless with a slit up the thigh that was dangerously high. When she tried it on she knew from the look on Josh's face it was the one before she'd even looked into the mirror. She ended up at a fair few black tie events with work these days, so she supposed she could at least rewear it a few times and make it worth while.

Outfit secured, the two of them headed back to Josh's apartment to wait for Connor and then get ready to go out. By the time Connor arrived, the other two had started drinking, singing along loudly to Josh's phone as they got ready.

"Looks like I missed my invite to the party." Connor smirked, leaning against the doorway. Neither of them having heard him come in whipped around in surprise.

"You're early!" Josh grinned, jumping to his feet and wrapping his arms around his boyfriend. "You need to shower and get enough drinks in you to catch up with us. We're taking Daisy out for a big night in Monaco before she goes home!"

"I see, I'd better get a move on then." Connor laughed, shaking his head as if he already knew that trying to argue with Josh was futile.

"Yes, you had!" Josh called as Connor made his way back down the hall. "Alright, where were we... a top up then we'll finish your hair!" He announced, turning his attention back to Daisy.

Connor had more or less caught up to their level of drunkenness impressively quickly, and Daisy found herself in the middle of the couple, arms linked through theirs to keep her up right on her heels as they made their way through the streets of Monaco in the direction of the club Josh had decided they'd got to go to.

"You should come back for the F1!" Connor suggested. "So many parties, we had such a good time last year!"

Daisy laughed nervously. "Yeah, I don't think so. Not really my thing that."

Josh shot a look at Connor over the top of her head that could've killed, and it took Connor a second to catch up to where he'd gone wrong.

"Oh... uh... yeah... well I mean you won't see him." He offered. "We don't get those kind of tickets. I don't think you'll be running into any drivers."

"Thanks but... I've spent the last couple of years doing everything I can to avoid having to cover the F1 at work. I'm not about to start attending the races in my free time. Seeing him yesterday at the wedding was bad enough." Daisy shook her head. "Anyways, let's just forget about that and have a good time shall we?"

"I'll drink to that!" Josh grinned, dragging the two of them through the door and into the club.

Oscar's POV

He didn't know why he'd let Lando talk him in to going out. Something about needing to get out and experience more of Monaco now he'd moved over there, that was what his teammate had said. Oscar had ignored him for as long as he could, but the Lando being Lando had simply turned up at Oscar's front door and refused to leave until Oscar caved in and agreed to go out for a drink with him.

It had been a calculated plan, he'd go out and buy Lando just enough drinks that he'd not really notice when Oscar then slipped away and went back to the peace and quiet of his apartment to spend the night on his own the way he had planned. It was a tried and tested strategy, one he'd executed go absolute perfection on numerous occasions.

The club was loud, and busy. Lando's idea of a great night out, Oscar's idea of a nightmare. It was something that even as they entered their third year as teammates Lando didn't seem to understand. Oscar had lost count of the number of clubs and crowded parties Lando had dragged him into over the years, just assuming that Oscar would have as much fun as Lando would.

This night was no different. The music was too loud, the place too crowded and while Lando blended seamlessly into the crowd, Oscar felt out of place and like everyone was looking at them. Well, the second part was true. The second that they'd walked in half a dozen cameras had turned in their direction.

"Come on mate!" Lando turned back to face him from the car, drinks in his hand and passed one to Oscar. "You need to loosen up a bit! Stop hiding in that apartment on your own. What was the point in moving over here if you're never going to go anywhere and enjoy it?"

Oscar looked at him for a moment, mouth half opened as if to tell Lando exactly why he didn't want to come out every time his teammate invited him. But, he took the path of least resistance in the end, taking the shot that was being held out to him and downing it. He quietly calculated his escape strategy, if he could get another three shots in to Lando in the next hour he could probably get away with leaving within the next two hours.

"I'll get the next round." Oscar suggested, putting the glass back down on the bar and quietly ordering another couple of shots. He'd never understand how Lando was yet to figure out that Oscar always got him drunk and then abandoned him, but it worked every time and Oscar certainly wasn't going to complain.

"Going all out tonight are we, Osc?" Lando laughed as Oscar reappeared with a handful of shots. "See, I told you that you'd have fun once you got here! You need to get out and have fun more often! Loosen up a little!"

Oscar said nothing, just quietly handing Lando the series of shots to down which would ensure Oscar's escape in about an hours time. Lando downed them, one after the other without a question as Oscar watched on.

As he sat in the booth, listening to Lando ramble on about something that made no sense to him having run into a couple of friends and dragged them over to join, Oscar's eyes wandered over the rest of the club and the packed dance floor.

He had to do a double take, scrubbing his hand over his face as though it might clear his vision. Because it couldn't be her on the dance floor in front of him. It couldn't be her, because he hadn't seen her in years and there was no way she was now in Monaco and he was seeing her for the second time in two days.

Except it was. It was definitely her. He'd recognise her anywhere. Even after all that time had passed.

"You alright mate? You look like you've seen a ghost." Lando asked, snapping Oscar out of his internal panic.

"I uh... I need...." Oscar mumbled.

"You need another drink." Lando declared, already pouring another one from the bottle on the table in front of them and sliding it across the table towards Oscar.

Oscar picked it up, eyes flickering back and forth between Lando and the dance floor for a moment, then he downed it. He had no idea what was in it, but the alcohol burned his throat as he gulped it down, the burn wasn't enough to takeaway the sting of what was happening in front of him though.

He couldn't tear his eyes away, every time he tried they just kept drifting back to her. If he thought she'd looked good in her dress at the wedding, it was nothing compared to the tight black dress she had on now. Drink her hand, smile on her face, head tipped back singing along to the music as she danced without a care in the world.

It would've brought a smile to his face, maybe even some fond memories of when she used to drag him out in a similar fashion to the way Lando had done, and the two of them would dance together celebrating his racing victories.

It didn't bring a smile to his face this time though. Because in front of her, in the place that used to be Oscar, was another guy. He assumed the same one he'd seen picking her up from the wedding. The man's hand on her waist, the two of them danced, and then he leaned in and whispered something in her ear that had her laughing. The sound didn't carry across the room the way it had done at the wedding, the music far too loud for that, but just watching her expression he could hear it in his head.

He used to be the one that made her laugh like that.

"What are you looking at?" Lando asked curiously, twisting around in his seat trying to work out what his friend was staring at so intently.

"Nothing." Oscar answered far too quickly, pouring himself another drink which he gulped down.

"You're blushing." Lando laughed. "It's a girl isn't it? Which one? Come on tell me, this is exactly what you need!"

"Lando, no." Oscar shook his head. "Just leave it, please."

The words fell on deaf ears. Lando was persistent when he was sober, but once drunk Lando got something in his head Oscar knew that he was never going to hear the end of it.

"Alright, which one is she?" Lando asked, pointing blindly into the crowded dance floor like Oscar had any idea who he was pointing to.

"Lando..." Oscar sighed.

"No, no.. come on. This will be good for you." Lando shook his head. "I'll be the best wingman you've ever had, just tell me who she is."

"You can be the best wingman on earth and it's still not going to happen." Oscar shook his head. "I fucked that one up a long time ago."

It took a second for the words to sink into Lando's alcohol affected brain, and then he turned his head so fast Oscar wondered if he'd broken his neck. "The mysterious ex?!" Lando all but gasped. "Which one is she?!"

"You know I'm no where near drunk or stupid enough to tell you that." Oscar shook his head. "If I do you're going to go straight down there and say something really weird to her. I know what you're like."

Lando looked at him for a moment, then nodded in defeat, Oscar was right. That had been exactly what he was planning to do. "So what, you're just going to sit here and stare at her all night like some lovesick puppy?" Lando asked. "Where's that going to get you?"

"No." Oscar shook his head, getting to his feet.

"I'm going home, where I wanted to be tonight in the first place. Have a good night, Lando."

He could hear Lando calling after him as he slipped into the crowd and back towards the exit. As much as he hated the crowds, it did make it a lot easier to escape from Lando.

Once he made it out on to the street he got his head down, setting a brisk pace as he walked home. It was quicker than waiting for a taxi, and if he kept his head down and walked fast enough the odds of anyone spotting him or trying to stop him were minimal. Unlike his teammate he'd become quite good at flying under the radar.

It also gave him a little bit of time and fresh air to try and clear his head. It had taken him by surprise, having her suddenly reappear in his life like this, how much it physically pained him to see that she'd moved on.

He may have been the one to make the decision at the time that their relationship was over, and yes there was a hundred different points that he could've reached out and tried to make amends and he hadn't. But there was something about seeing her in the club, dancing with another man and looking so happy that made it all seem so final.

Maybe Lando was right, maybe he did need to move on, or at the very least accept that she wasn't coming back.

Daisy had, that much was clear for him to see.

[starlitmelanin]

reader had been out with her friends and she comes home drunk, waking Trent up. and she’s yapping about random things that happened as he helps her get ready for bed

yapper | trent alexander-arnold

pairing - trent x fem!reader

word count - 1k

warnings - none

it's way past midnight when you stumble through the front door, the sound of your laughter echoing through the quiet house. you've had a few too many drinks, but it was a good night, filled with dancing and endless conversations with your girls. your mind is buzzing with the alcohol, and your cheeks are flushed from the night's excitement.

the house is dark, but you navigate it with the ease of familiarity, your steps a bit unsteady as you make your way to the bedroom. trent is fast asleep, sprawled out on the bed, his breathing steady and calm. you pause at the door, a mischievous smile creeping onto your lips.

"trent, wake up!" you whisper loudly, climbing onto the bed and bouncing slightly.

his eyes flutter open, confusion crossing his features before he registers your presence. you giggle as you straddle him, your hands pressed against his chest.

"what time is it?" he mumbles, his voice thick with sleep. but then he sees your flushed face and the glint in your eyes, and a smile tugs at the corners of his lips. "have a good night out?"

"the best," you declare, leaning down to kiss him. he can taste the alcohol on your lips, the sweet mix of cocktails and shots. "we danced so much! you should've seen tiana, she was a mess," you laugh, your head resting against his shoulder. "and desi, oh my god, she spilled her drink on this guy, and he was so mad. it was hilarious."

trent listens, his arm wrapping around you, holding you close. his other hand comes up to cup your cheek, his thumb gently brushing your skin. "you're a little drunk, aren't you?" he says softly, amusement lacing his words.

"maybe just a little," you admit, nuzzling into his neck. he chuckles, the sound vibrating through his chest. "but i'm so happy. it was such a good night."

"i'm glad you had fun," he murmurs, his fingers tangling in your hair. "but we need to get you ready for bed. come on."

you pout as he gently pushes you off him, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "i don't wanna," you protest, but he's already standing, pulling you up with him.

"let's get your makeup off," he says, leading you to the bathroom. you're still giggling, swaying slightly as you follow him. he sits you down on the edge of the tub and grabs a makeup wipe, carefully wiping away the remnants of your eyeliner and mascara. you scrunch your nose, but he's gentle, his touch soft.

"hold still," he says, a small smile playing on his lips. "i'm almost done."

"you're so sweet," you murmur, your eyes closing as he finishes cleaning your face. "i don't know what i'd do without you."

"probably fall asleep with your makeup on," he teases, earning a laugh from you. "now, let's brush your teeth."

you groan, but he's already holding out your toothbrush, a dollop of toothpaste on it. "do i have to?" you whine, but he nods, his expression firm.

"yes, you do. and if you're good, i'll tell you a secret," he bribes, and your curiosity piques.

"what kind of secret?" you ask, taking the toothbrush and starting to brush your teeth, albeit reluctantly.

"a really good one," he promises, watching you with a fond smile. you roll your eyes but comply, brushing your teeth thoroughly.

once you're done, he hands you a cup of water to rinse out your mouth. "all done?" he asks, and you nod, handing the cup back to him.

"now, tell me the secret," you demand, following him back to the bedroom. he sits you down on the bed, pulling out a t-shirt and some shorts for you to change into.

"the secret is," he starts, helping you out of your dress and into the comfortable clothes, "i love you."

your heart swells at his words, and you throw your arms around his neck, pulling him close. "i love you too, trent," you whisper, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"alright, let's get you into bed," he says, guiding you under the covers. you snuggle into the pillows, watching as he moves around the room, turning off the lights and closing the curtains.

"wait, i haven't told you about bria's drama yet," you say suddenly, your eyes wide. "it was so crazy, trent."

he chuckles, climbing into bed next to you. "tell me all about it," he says, his arm wrapping around you, pulling you close.

"okay, so bria met this guy at the bar, right?" you start, your voice animated. "and he seemed really nice, but then she found out he has a girlfriend! can you believe that?"

trent hums, his fingers tracing patterns on your arm. "that's wild," he says, his tone indulgent.

"right? and then she confronted him, and he tried to deny it, but she wasn't having any of it. it was such a scene," you continue, your words slurring slightly as sleep starts to creep in.

"sounds like a lot happened tonight," he murmurs, his voice soothing. "but you need to get some rest now."

you yawn, your eyelids growing heavy. "okay, but remind me to tell you about myra's thing tomorrow. it's even crazier."

"i will," he promises, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "goodnight, love."

"goodnight, trent," you mumble, already half-asleep. "thanks for taking care of me."

"always," he whispers, holding you close as you drift off, the warmth of his embrace lulling you into a peaceful sleep.

[kaliforniahigh]

I just left an abusive relationship. I need some comfort😭 If your comfortable with it could you do a fluff one where the reader runs to Noah when leaving. I need a reader runs into his arms and gives the most comforting hug in the world. Maybe falls in love even?

No, take me home, take me home where I belong - n.s.

Hi, anon! I'm sorry this happened to you and I'm so proud of you for leaving. I'm hoping this fic brings you some kind of comfort <3

Warnings: this fic deals with the descriptions of an abusive relationship, please contact someone if you need help <3 Reader's boyfriend threatens to hit her, but it doesn't actually happen, reader threatens him back, mentions of knives, cursing, yelling and crying. Soft fluff in the end :)

WC: 2.5k.

It was yet another night of arguing and screaming at each other.

"I don't understand why you have to trail after him everywhere he goes!" your boyfriend told you, voice reverberating inside the apartment.

You met Peter a few months ago, and then, Bad Omens was on a long and well-deserved break from touring. By default, you were on a break as well, because you worked with them.

From the beginning, Peter had a very obvious problem with Noah. You reassured him everytime that you two were just friends, but something told you he never believed you.

You met Noah before you met everyone else in the bad. You worked for another band he was friends with, and met him when he attended one of their concerts in LA.

You clicked instantly and after a while, Matt offered you a position to work for Bad Omens. Looking for new experiences, you accepted.

"What is so fucking hard to understand, Peter? I work for them for God's sake!", you yelled back from the dining room, where you were seated.

"Oh, so I'm just supposed to accept that you'll be alone with the guy who makes heart eyes at you every chance he gets?", you sighed out loud at his remark. Before you met Peter, you and Noah always had some kind of banter going on, that sometimes turned into flirting. But everytime one of you had something going on with someone, you completely stopped out of respect.

You were sure Noah hasn't flirted with you in the months you were with Peter.

"Are you seriously bringing this up again?", you asked, voice even losing it's loudness, as you pinched the bridge of your nose.

"Yes, I am!", he got in front of you and slammed his fist on the table, catching you off-guard and making you jump a little. "God knows what you'll be doing with him, alone on a tour bus"

You rolled your eyes at this and apparently, the action enraged him more.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, you fucking brat", he pointed a finger at you.

"I'm gonna roll my eyes as much as I want, because you're being a fucking idiot!", you stood up now. If he thought he was going to intimidate you, he was very mistaken. You were not afraid of pathetic little men like him.

"You roll my eyes at me, and I'll slap the attitude right out of you", he was seething now, trying to regain control over the situation. You could tell he was never talked to this way.

Having enough of this conversation, and Peter, you turned around and opened the kitchen drawer, grabbing a butcher knife and pointing it at him.

"Oh, you're gonna hit me? I'd like to see you fucking try", you could see the surprise on his face as you exteded the knife towards his face.

"Wh-What are you doing?", he stammered a little over his words. You wanted to laugh.

"You think you're the only who can threaten people? News flash-alert, you're not"

You can hear your heart beating wildly in your chest, your blood pumping through your veins. Sure, you were able to hold your own, but what if he decides to not leave you alone? What are you gonna do? You're not sure you had the courage to ACTUALLY stab someone.

You looked around for your phone, seeing that it was forgotten on the other side of the living room. So calling 911 was not an option right now.

"Put the knife down and let's talk about his a little more calmly", he said, voice lower than before, putting his hands up and walking slowly towards you.

"I don't want to talk any longer. I want you out of my apartment", you tried to keep your voice even, but you could hear a little tremble of nervousness seep through.

"I always knew this was going to end like this", he scoffed. "You're going to call him once I leave aren't you? I should've known you were a whore the first time I met you", he looked at you with complete disdain written on his face. If you weren't so eager to get this man to leave your place, you would give him a few choice words.

Your apartment was always your safe haven. You were very particular about who you would let come into your place. And right now, you were wishing you were anywhere but here, with Peter in your face and you having to pull a knife on him.

"I want you to leave!", you exclaimed. He just shook his head and turned around, walking towards your front door.

You held the knife still in your hands, not being able to anticipate his next move. He could just leave, but he could also turn around and lunge himself at you. So you stayed rooted to your place.

Without another word, he twisted the door knob and left your apartment, slamming the door behind him, which caused you to jump a little.

Waiting a few seconds to make sure he wasn't coming back, you walked over to the window in your living room, and observed as he got into his car and drove away into the streets.

Letting out a huge sigh, you locked the door and grabbed your phone from the center table.

Now that he was gone, your hands were shaking and you could barely hold the phone in your hands. Tears started to well in your eyes from how intense the situation had just been.

Taking a few deep breaths, you were able to find Noah's contact and click on the call button. It ringed a couple of times before his voice came through the speaker.

"Hey, sweetheart. What's up?", his voice was light and he greeted you in a cheerful tone. Listening to him speak brought you a sense of comfort, but it also made you completely break. Finally feeling safe enough to let your emotions consume you. So you let out a broken sob.

"Noah", you were able to mutter his name in the middle of your cries.

"Y/N, what's wrong. Why are you crying?", his voice was alarmed now, and he repetead the question when you didn't answer him.

"Can you come over?", you asked.

"I'm already gettin in the car. Please tell what happened", he pleaded with you, and you could hear the sound from the engine of his car.

"It's Peter"

Noah felt his body go cold at your words. He couldn't say he ever liked the man, but he never thought about the possibility of him hurting you.

"What about Peter? What did that motherfucker do to you?", he hit the gas pedal a little harder, wanting to get to you as soon as he can.

"It's not what you're thinking. Just get here, please", your small and resignated voice broke him, and he soften up a little.

"I'm almost there, ok? Do you want me to stay on the line?", he asked you, taking a right turn and he was about 5 minutes way from your place now.

"Yes, please", you answered, voice a little calmer, but he could tell you were tired, emotionally exhausted.

"Ok, I'm 5 minutes away. Did you lock the door? Where are you?", he wanted to keep you talking, he wanted to hear your voice and know you were somewhat ok for now.

"I saw him leave and then I locked the front door. I'm in the living room"

"I'm pulling up outside right now, can you buzz me in?", he asked and he could hear you get up from your spot. He saw you in the living room window from where he parked in front of your place.

He got out of the car and then went up to your apartment. He found the door unlocked already when he twisted the knob.

A soon as he made his way inside, you were throwing yourself into his arms. He hugged you back, but tried to look around the place from over your shoulders. That's when he spotted the knife sitting on the center table in your living room. A chill ran up his spine, as he distanced himself from you, and looked over your body for any signs of injury.

"I'm ok. I'm not hurt", you tried to comfort him.

"Y/N. Why is there a knife over there?", he asked, desperately needing you to explain that the hell happened.

"Peter came over", you started, making your way to the couch and sitting down. Noah followed after you and sat beside you. "We had an argument because of the upcoming tour".

You didn't want to give him the details of the argument. Didn't wanna tell him about Peter's jealousy and how he told you that Noah gave you heart eyes all the time.

Deep down, you knew that Peter's accusations were not completely unfounded. You did catch Noah's eyes from across the room from time to time, as if you were always searching for each other. Always drawn to be looking for him when you were in the same room.

Whenever it happened, you could see something in his eyes that you never really had the time to unpack what it meant. He was not only your friend, but he was your co-worker as well. And you couldn't imagine the way involving yourself with him could damage the dinamic you already had.

"An argument because of tour?", he asked, confused. Why would Peter start an argument because of your job?

"Yeah"

"And the knife?", he pressed. He could tell there was something you were not telling him.

"Well, it escalated. He got a little agitated and I had to grab the knife to defend myself if needed", you said, but you could see in his eyes that he was not buying this.

"So, he started an argument because of tour, got angry and you had the grab a knife?", he summarized what you just told him, and you nodded in agreement. "What is it that you're not telling me?".

"That was all", you shrugged your shoulders, but diverted your gaze from his.

"No, it's not. You're hiding something from me, and I don't understand why you would do that", he was getting frustrated now. He wanted to help you, but how could he when you wouldn't tell him the truth?

"I don't know what you want me to say. That was literally it"

"I want you to tell me the truth", he was being direct, while you were trying to avoid him. You really didn't need another argument right now.

"I'm telling you the truth", you put your hands up in surrender.

"Was it about me?", he asked, bluntly. You looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. "Was the argument about me?", he repeated the question.

"Why would the argument be about you?", you shot back. He sighed and ran his hands over his face.

"You don't think I notice the way Peter looks at me? He fucking despises me. And I happen to be the person you're going on tour with", he said, with a sarcastic chuckle. "So, tell me. Was the argument about me?"

You could try, but you knew you couldn't lie to him any longer. You didn't want to anyway, you hated hiding things from him.

"Yeah, it was", you admitted.

Noah didn't know how he felt about that. Did Peter hate him that much to start an argument in which you had to grab a knife to defend yourself?

"He kept telling me how he didn't trust me going on tour with you. How he didn't trust us together in a tour bus", you rolled your eyes when you said this. "Then I got angry at him, and he got angry at me. He threatened to hit me, so grabbed the knife and pointed it at him"

"He threatened to hit you?", he asked, getting slightly agitated at the idea of a man trying to hit you.

"He said he was going to slap the attitude out of me", you chuckled darkly, remembering the look on Peter's face when he said this.

Noah got up and started to pace the room. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to relieve the agitation and anger running through his body.

"You're so much better than I am, because I would've stabbed that motherfucker. Who the fuck does he think he is?", he said, shaking his head.

"I'm ok. He left and I'm pretty I'm never seeing him again", you got up and put a hand on his arm, feeling how wound up he was.

"He better never come around again", he stated, a hidden promise in his words. "I'm just glad he didn't lay a hand on you", he grabbed your face in his hands, running his thumb over your cheeks.

"He said something though, that stuck with me", you said in a lower voice. Not really sure if you wanted to bring this up.

"What was it?", he matched your tone of voice.

"He said you make heart eyes at me from across the room", you gave him a timid smile, looking at him through your lashes.

"Damn it. Then I wasn't as subtle as I thought", he kept stroking your cheeks, now sporting a cheeky smile on his face. "I'm sorry though. I knew you were in a relationship and I should've stopped. Maybe if I had, this argument wouldn't have happened"

"It happened because Peter is an insecure and small man. It's not on you that he feels thereatened by your presence", you tried to reassure him. "I might have reciprocated the looks one time or two anyway"

He smiled at you, and a silence fell over you for a few seconds, before he spoke up again.

"After this Peter thing, I don't want you dating any of these man", he told you, but you could tell he had something else to say, so you kept quiet and let him go on. "I want you to be with me. I want you to be mine. I don't want to hide the way I look at you, or the way I feel about you anymore. I want everyone to know how fucking smitten I am with you"

You let his words sink in. The words you've been wanting to hear for so long but didn't know how much you actually needed it until now.

"I don't want anyone else anymore. I don't want anyone else but you", you admitted. "You don't have to hide anything anymore". You get up on your tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips.

His hands moved from your face to your hips, pulling you closer to his body while he deepened the kiss. His lips felt so good against yours, the perfect balance between roughness and softness. It was even better than how you imagined kissing Noah would be.

After parting, trying to regain your breaths.

"This tour is about to be so good", he looked you in the eyes and said. You laughed at his remark and planted your lips against his once again.

[nonranghaes]

"okay. so. like. don't freak out, but i may have just found my birthday present."

mark can hear the way you freeze while on your walk home. really, truly, from the bottom of his heart... he didn't exactly mean to stumble across it. you'd asked him if he'd match necklaces with you to dinner tonight, and who was he to say no to such a sweet request? so he'd started digging, trying to find where it was because it wasn't with the rest of his things... and then he just stumbled across a box.

with an engagement ring. and he knows you've been hiding something for a while now, with all your secret calls and cleared browser history.

"... okay... so... what is it?" you're trying to feel him out right now, yet he hears this slight confusion to your voice. of course you know. you're the one who bought it--why wouldn't you know?

"oh. just, uh. just..." he leans against the wall, not bothering to fight back a smile. "just somethin' i'd say yes to. if you asked."

immediately, you breathe a sigh of relief. "oh, thank god, you didn't actually find it."

he flips the box closed again, brows furrowing. "wait, what?"

"i meant what i said," he can hear the way you're grinning now. "that's not your present, birthday boy." you let out a nervous laugh. "jesus, i thought one of your friends got there early."

"wait, what?"

and now you're silent. "uh--calls breaking up, gotta go, i'll see you when i get home! happy birthday, love you, bye!"

before he can protest, you end the call right then and there, and he stares at his phone in confusion.

... maybe you both really are perfect for each other in that way chenle always said you were.

(and he'll say it again after you and donghyuck drag mark to a surprise party at the restaurant you two were going to, all while recounting the panicked phone call you made to him right after you hung up with mark.)

[sunnshift]

my favorite things in my apartment ੈ✩‧₊˚

ੈ✩‧₊˚ my record player & vinyls ; my mom got this for me when i was 10. i took it and my mom's the smiths and eagles vinyls when i moved from oregon to california. among my other vinyls are various albums by daisy jones and the six (they're a real band in my dr), fleetwood mac, and frank sinatra (gifted to me from steve for my birthday)

ੈ✩‧₊˚ my kitchen ; i!!! love!!! my!!! kitchen!!! i'm not good at cooking by any means (nat can vouch for this) but it's so organized it pleases my perfectionist brain. i cook at home maybe 3 to 4 times a week, and when that goes awry, i'll order from the chinese place a block away. even if i'm not a great chef, at least my kitchen is organized :)

ੈ✩‧₊˚ my tea drawer ; this is another reason why i love my kitchen as much as i do. my favorite kinds of tea are english breakfast, raspberry leaf, and peppermint, so i am very stocked up with those kinds of tea. i also keep little honey sticks (as pictured above) and stir those into my tea.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ my mini wine cellar ; i have a see-through door to the right of the fridge that houses about 15 different kinds of wine and liquor. i'm not an alcoholic but... this may speak for itself

ੈ✩‧₊˚ my guitar ; i keep my guitar right next to the bay window in the apartment. i often forget about it so it does go untouched for a while, and then i look at it when i'm sitting on the couch thinking hmm, i should really start playing again... and then the thought dissipates. this was a gift from my uncle for my 12th birthday

ੈ✩‧₊˚ my roller skates ; and again, with the same guilt that says hmm, i should really pick up this hobby again... are my roller skates! i used to skate a lot when i lived with my dad in malibu (i had no friends, give me a break), but now that my apartment is significantly smaller than the house in malibu, i don't do it as much as i used to.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ my purse & my wardrobe ; oh my god. don't even get me started on my closet. it's very 2000s suburban mom coded but in a good way. my chanel boots were really the only things that kept me going for... an embarrassingly long amount of time. my north face vest never gets a break during autumn in dc. i have an outrageous amount of dark-wash bootcut jeans and sweaters. i've got a separate closet for my professional outfits, that's how bad my clothes addiction is. my purse, i love her, she's my right hand woman. if i was stranded without my purse i'd simply die. she's (emotionally) written in my will.

[spaghettitm]

I WANNA GIVE YOU SOMETHING FUN! maybe Charlie and Pim both having a crush on the reader? And different routes if the reader chooses one of them or both? (This is kind of an excuse to get Charlie and Pim headcanons 😵)

AHHHHHHH YES OH MY GOD . Excuse the fact that it kind of seems like a shitty Wattpad story from 2020, my sincere apologies

Also pretty sure this is my longest one I've written... lucky you!

——

• You got the job right after Halloween, you had hit it off with Mr. Boss and he offered you a spot at the smiling friends!

• your first day was smooth, everyone was nice. The job was simple, just make people smile! This would become a challenge the more jobs you did, but for now it was easy.

• You got along well with everyone, especially the other two people who went out with you on the job—Pim and Charlie

• They both had their pros and cons; Charlie was funny but could be rude and moody now and then. While Pim was super sweet and fun to be around, he was a bit overwelming at times.

• as the weeks passed you grew closer to the two. But.. they started treating you differently.

• it was painfully obvious that they both caught feelings for you

• Charlie would show up on time just to say good morning first, and Pim would bring you coffee every morning

• at first you thought that it was just them being nice

•after a while of you being blissfully unaware, Alan comes to you at closing hour and explains what's going on.

🪤 : “ I could be wrong, but I'm pre-tty sure that Pim and Charlie are having some sort of crush battle over you. ”

🫵 : “ Oh... that would explain alot... ”

• you weren't upset by any means. It boosted your ego!

• if you where being honest with yourself, you thought they where both pretty cute.

If you chose Pim

• you talk to him after work one day

🫵 : “ Hey, Pim. Are you busy at the moment?”

🩷 : “ Oh? Not at all, no! I'm just heading home! ”

🫵 : “ I was wondering if you wanted to ... Go on a date with me or something? ”

• Pim's face gets bright red, and he doesn't know how to respond. He stared with his big round eyes for a long while.

• he felt as if he was about to puke that's how excited he was. Oh wait. He did puke.

🫵 : “ Oh jeez Pim, are you alright? ”

🩷 : “ Yea!! I'm alright haha!! Um, I would love to go on a date with you!! ”

• he nervously goes to grab some paper towels from the counter

🫵 : “ Is tonight alright? Or is that too early? ”

• he looked as if he was going to pass out

🩷 : “ of course! Let's meet at um. Spaghetti Taco! I'll pay for the whole thing!! ”

🫵 : “ Great, see you there ”

If you chose Charlie

• on the way home from a task Mr. Boss set you and Charlie up for, you started the conversation

🫵 : “Hey, are you busy this Saturday?”

🪓 : “ uhhhh... I don't think so? ”

🫵 : “ oh okay, good. I was wondering if you wanted to go out and eat or something with me. ”

• he looked up from his phone

🪓 : “ Like a date? ”

🫵 : “ Sure, like a date. ”

• He gained a orange blush around his nose and cheeks

🪓 : “ I-I mean, ha. Sure. I'd be down. ”

• he stammered, looking back down at his phone. He was trying to avoid eye contact

🫵 : “ great, do you know any good places? ”

🪓 : “ it's not really fancy or anything but I know this awesome burger place, Salty's

[osaemu]

when they hug you

PAIRING: tartaglia, xiao, venti, kaeya, diluc, zhongli x reader

SYNOPSIS: when is his embrace the most memorable?

CONTENTS: cursing. indirect mentions of death in xiao and zhongli's parts.

childe spins you around in his arms the second he returns home from another one of his missions. you two collapse in the snow, laughing like children and smiling so hard your faces hurt. being in his arms again feels like home — for both of you.

"haven't seen you in a while, hm? c'mon, let's go grab a drink while you tell me all about what's happened while i was gone, yeah?"

xiao pulls you close in the middle of the night when his mind starts to replay every battle he's ever been through, every friend he's lost, and every time he thought it was over for him. his arms find their way around you because he wants to know that you're still there – to ensure you won't slip through his fingers, just like everyone else did.

"just making sure you're stil— ah, i mean, keeping you safe. go back to sleep. oh, me? i don't need that much sleep. don't worry about me."

venti wraps his arms around you whenever he gets the chance. it's usually for comfort or out of laziness — primarily the latter. sometimes he'd just plop down next to you in the tavern and wrap his arms around your shoulders and lay there, drunkenly mumbling something you can't make out until you finally agree to take him home.

"huh, why is everything so blurry?! i can't— don't let me go, or i'll fall! and if i fall then i- huh? you won't let me fall . . . ? good!"

kaeya wraps his arms around your waist when he has a point to prove, whether it's to you or to the world. if he's trying to make a point to someone else, boom, your pretty face is in between his arms as visual credibility. and god forbid that he's trying to make a point to you, because he'll have no problem trapping you in his arms for as long as it takes to get you to agree with him on whatever the matter is.

"tch, is someone getting distracted? eyes up here, babe. look me in the eye while i tell you why i'm right about this."

diluc hugs you long and hard after a shitty day. he probably has a terrible headache and muscles in desperate need of a massage, but your hand trailing down his back makes everything a little more bearable. 

"fuck, my head is killing me. help your boyfriend out and give him a drink or two, yeah? or a massage. actually, i'd prefer that, love. you're the best."

zhongli holds you in his arms when you're about to leave. maybe it's to go to work, maybe you need groceries, and maybe you even just want to step outside. he always wants to make sure that you leave with a good memory of him — having lived for thousands of years, he knows all too well how unpredictable life is. he never wants to have the regret of seeing you for the last time without a smile on your face.

"bye, darling. i'll see you soon, stay safe... yes, i know i say the same thing every time you leave. why shouldn't i?"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: i had a three year long childe phase </3

[queensunshinee]

Time Of Our Lives || Part 23

warnings: SMUT! 18+!, oral sex, handjob.

Part 23

"Have I already thanked you for agreeing to come with me?" Art asked after he entered the hotel where Liana was staying. His parents had also arrived. "You know I wouldn't miss you at the Olympics, right? And in London, no less!" She rolled her eyes because he hadn't stopped saying 'thank you' since the moment he bought the stupid ticket (which she wanted to pay for herself, but he didn't exactly ask her). "I love London. It's not a punishment or anything," she smiled genuinely.

Art smiled back, but he had known for some time that she loved him just as much as she loved London, and if he wanted to be arrogant, maybe even more than she loved London. And God knows how much he loves Liana. So why can't he talk to her about it? They talk about everything except that. They act like people who have been in a relationship for a decade. People whose dilemmas are about kids and home design. Why can't those be their real dilemmas? Has Art sentenced himself to a life beside Liana that will never be full and complete? Will he always have to settle for almost because he didn't insist on how ridiculous their agreement was?

"Can't wait to see all the places you love. All the buildings you told me about." His smirk widened into a real smile when he saw her face. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her cheeks reddened. She was truly the most beautiful person he knew. He can't believe he grew up beside her all his life and didn't realize how beautiful she was for half of it. "Maybe I shouldn't introduce you to Melissa, so you won't fall in love with her by mistake," she said in response, and he raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yes. I'm definitely capable of falling in love with your best friend," he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes as she swallowed. They both realized how loaded his statement was only after he said it. After all, Liana had been in love with his best friend. She was capable of that. It's not the same thing. He knows it's not the same thing. And yet. It's not far-fetched in their reality.

"Are you excited?" she abruptly changed the subject. "What's the worst that can happen? I'll lose in the first rounds with you and my parents in the audience, all of America watching me, and I'll become a meme. Just another Sunday," he lay down on the bed beside her, burying his head in her chest, letting her fingers run through his curls. "Or you'll win, and then win again and again," she said in response, and he chuckled. "What are the chances of that happening, Lia?" he sighed, afraid of disappointing so many people. "High. But in any case, you know I don't care, right?" she asked, moving his head a bit, making him look at her with wide eyes, absorbing every word she had to say. "I don't care as long as I know you're enjoying yourself and doing what you love to do. That's like the only reason I'm willing to watch you play tennis. Because I know you love it and it excites you. In any other scenario, fuck tennis," she shrugged as if it was the most obvious thing and moved again, allowing him to rest his head back on her soft chest. He could fall asleep like this. He had fallen asleep like this before.

"So if I quit tomorrow, you wouldn't care?" he asked without looking at her. Because he didn't plan to quit. He was far from it. He loved playing tennis. He loved seeing Liana in the audience. He loved winning. "I'd throw you a party," she replied, making both of them chuckle.

"I brought you something," she murmured, gently moving him again so she could get up. "It's not too much, so don't get too excited," she added as she rummaged through her suitcase and pulled out a box wrapped with a ribbon. "Lia, you shouldn't have." His hand found its way to his neck for a moment, unable to think clearly. His heart was beating irrationally. The fact that she thought of him enough to give him something for the tournament, even though she was already flying with him, gave him chills. "Don't be stupid, open it," she smiled. And for once, Art listened to what she told him to do instead of giving her instructions. "What is all this?" he muttered, not knowing what to focus on.

"Okay, the headphones are supposed to be really good. They're for listening to your meditations if you're with someone in the room, or the songs you like to listen to before games. The book is just because I know you might get bored in the Olympic Village between games or training or whatever, so you have something to pass the time. And there's this really silly picture my mom gave me two months ago. Art, have you seen it?" She talked so fast, and Art felt he could cry. "It's from that time you got a skateboard for your birthday," he stated, examining the framed picture. Liana and he were seven. He was holding his first racket in one hand and hugging Liana with the other. His cheeks were red, and his eyes were swollen. Liana, on her part, had her arms crossed, standing next to a small skateboard. She looked displeased.

"Yeah, and you cried and acted like a little bitch even though you got a racket for your birthday," she laughed heartily, and Art couldn't take his eyes off the picture in front of him. "I wanted to have what you had," he said honestly, remembering that feeling exactly. As a child, he couldn't let go of her at every shared moment. He followed her like he was her tail. Probably even then, he would have wagged if she asked him to. She never asked. "It's for you to put in your room because two and a half weeks is a long time, so you feel a bit at home. After that, I might want it back. It's too cute," Liana continued, partially ignoring what he said.

"Is that mine?" he suddenly asked, pulling out a simple white cap from the box. "Yes. Okay, it's weird, I know. But you had that period where you wore a backwards cap and really looked like a smug, annoying dickhead—" "Oh yes, I remember. You didn't stop telling me how much you hated all my caps," he rolled his eyes.

"Well...I lied," she said without blinking, and he looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "You looked really good with those silly caps. It was awful," she rolled her eyes. "And then there was one time I was at your house one summer, and you were in the pool, so I just took that cap. I thought maybe it would make you stop wearing them, but you just wore another one the next day. An insufferable person," she spoke quickly, as if the speed would make what she said less significant.

"When was that?" For every word she said quickly, he spoke his slowly, swimming in this moment. "The summer of age 16, like 10 years ago, I think?" she tried to remember. "Lia, did you have a crush on me when you were 16?" The familiar smirk spread across his face. "Oh, fuck off," she rolled her eyes, and he put the box on the bed beside him, stood up, and approached her. Wrapping her in a hug with his big hands.

"Thank you," he said quietly, feeling himself melt into her. "You know I've got your back, right? With or without tennis. You and I will be okay," she said, looking at him again. Art kissed her in response, unable to find any words other than 'I love you' (which he wasn’t allowed to say) to sum up the discussion.

After three weeks at the London Olympics, Art Donaldson won a silver medal in the doubles tournament and a gold medal in the singles, all while wearing a backwards white cap in every match. The kiss he gave Liana after his victory was captured everywhere. It was called 'iconic.' Nobody knew who Liana was, but she was the first person to receive his attention, and his parents or Tashi, who were sitting there, weren't surprised at all.

They said goodbye to his parents and decided to stay another week in London. This way, Art could meet some of Liana's friends and see places she loved. Besides, he could use a vacation. Tashi tried to resist, unsuccessfully. It was also Liana's birthday, and Art wanted to take her to a nice restaurant.

They sat next to each other at a bar in London, with some of Liana's school friends sitting across from them. Art connected with them instantly. In a flash. Overall, seeing Liana so immersed in her element, so social, was like exploring her anew. Discovering the person she had been all these years without him.

"Does anyone want something to drink?" he asked, and after everyone told him what they wanted and someone else went with him, Liana stayed with Melissa, who looked at her as if she had fallen from the moon. "You're so in love with him it's embarrassing. I don't know what this act is for," Melissa said the second everyone walked away. "There's no act, we're fine. He's my best friend," Liana shrugged and finished her drink. "Girl, I'm your best friend. The blond guy who looks at you like you hung the moon and sleeps with you most nights of the week, he's your boyfriend." Melissa almost laughed at the absurdity. There wasn't a single person around the table who even asked who Art was to Liana. It was obvious to everyone that he was her boyfriend. His hand was on her in a half-hug, so nonchalant, as if he was born in that exact position. As if he belonged right beside her.

"He doesn't look at me like-" Liana rolled her eyes. "What are you afraid of?" Melissa interrupted, not letting her continue deceiving herself. There isn't a person in the world (literally the whole world since their kissing photos were published) who thinks Liana is just Art's best friend. "I guess, I don't want to get hurt again," Liana murmured, looking at Melissa with a pitiable expression. "Oh, babes, sweetie, everyone gets hurt all the time. Who the fuck has the energy to be afraid of that?" She hugged her, a crushing hug. "I need to visit you more. You're losing it over there in America," she concluded as everyone returned to the table.

Art's hand returned to the same spot, only this time Liana's head rested on his shoulder, as if she was born right there as well.

Two days later, Art insisted they go to the restaurant he had reserved. "Art, we're going to celebrate at your parents' house in two weeks anyway. You're really overdoing it," she said when he just told her about his plans. "Hey, we never celebrate your birthday on the actual date. It feels unfair. Just let me spoil you for a bit," he looked at her with a gaze she found hard to refuse.

So, Liana found herself sitting next to him at a Michelin-starred restaurant, telling him occasionally that he was crazy for the amount of money he spent on this meal. Reminding him that there was no real reason for this extravagance. But every time Liana took a bite or sipped the wine, he saw her face change, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. He knew it wasn't a waste. He knew he had made the right decision, and he knew that tonight might take a turn very soon, so he decided to savor the good, certain moments as much as possible.

After they finished eating, Liana took him on a tourist bus tour, which made them both roll their eyes and laugh, feeling like kids again. They weren't bothered by the people asking to take pictures with Art. What did bother them was the rain that started to pour in August, causing them to catch a taxi to the hotel, drenched. "That was a really extreme ending to this evening," Liana said as they both laughed. "Thank you, Art, this was really over the top," she said, looking at him with a gaze that quickly changed from amused to grateful.

"You don't have to thank me for anything, Liana. Like, ever." He said, his gaze was piercing. Demanding. "Haven't you figured that out yet?" he mumbled and sighed. "Okay. No more thank yous. Do you want to shower with me?" she smiled, and his look filled with mischief as he moved towards her and unzipped her dress. They were under the warm water quickly, with Art gently moving her hair away from her face, and she closed her eyes. His hands were so rough from tennis, but his touch was soft.

"You're so beautiful, Lia. It's unbelievable that you're mine," he murmured, and she opened her eyes. He looked at her, too, and knew he had crossed some kind of line. Because they didn't say it out loud. They didn't say what everyone understood. They just acted like it, and Art was about to ruin it. Or change it. Or improve it. He was about to break it. "You're beautiful yourself," she replied, standing on her tiptoes and kissing him. He deepened the kiss immediately. And it wasn't hurried or sloppy; it was serious and mature and deep. They took their time, refusing to break apart until they ran out of air to share.

Art didn't know how he found himself on all fours before her again, but he loved looking up at her sometimes. When she looked back at him, and they both knew she had the power to destroy him, but she would never use it. And Art was beginning to believe he also had the power to destroy Liana, but he would never dream of using it. His mouth was on her pussy, and even as he explored her from within, he took his time, just as he had with her mouth earlier. And the sounds she made, which he was already used to but would never tire of, made him feel like he could come without her touching him at all. "Fuck, Artie, I'm close," and he loved when she called him that because it only happened when she was needy and coming and desperate and his, and he knew she was in that stupid state because of him, and she also knew he was the one making her feel so good, in such euphoria. And with that thought in his mind, he felt her come, half leaning on the wall and half on his shoulder as he held her shaking legs. "It's okay, baby, I've got you. Come for me. I'm here," he talked her through it, making her orgasm even more intense.

And after she recovered and managed to give him a handjob while they both giggled at her inability to function, they managed to shower and get dressed. "I have a present for you," he said suddenly, with his hand on his neck, knowing this was going to be a pivotal moment but staying calm. "Art, you're overdoing it. The meal was enou-" "Please, Liana, just let me give it to you," he interrupted her because he knew the arguments would come later anyway; right now, he needed her less combat ready.

"Okay," she mumbled, and he went to his suitcase, pulling out a small jewelry box. "Art, what is this?" Liana looked at it as if it were a contagious disease wrapped in a bow. "Relax, it's not a ring. But it might make you angry, and I want you not to be mad at me. Can you do that? Not be mad before you let me talk?" he said, playing with his fingers to steady himself as he spoke. "What's going on, Art?" her voice became more serious. Every note of amusement left it as he handed her the box and sat cross-legged on the bed in front of her.

She looked at the key inside and then at him with a raised eyebrow, feeling her heart pounding faster. "The house is ready," he said, not taking his eyes off her. "Actually, it's been ready for a few weeks. The designer finished completely." He continued, seeing that Liana didn't move for a second. Not even blink. "I'm moving there, and I want you to move in with me." His look was almost desperate. He was so afraid of her reaction, as if he knew she was about to shatter him. "Art, that's not what we agreed..." she said quietly, afraid to move. "Fuck it, Liana. We haven't been in what we agreed to for a long time. We haven't been friends with benefits from the minute we agreed on it. You know that." He closed his eyes and took a long breath. "You built that house. The interior design consists of your ideas too. You love that house, and Liana, I'm pretty sure you love me too, and if you don't say otherwise, then I just want you to agree to live with me. That will be the new agreement," he was desperate. His voice shook, and he didn't speak logically, but he tried to convey a point.

"That will be the new agreement?" she asked, biting her lip, and he could see she was giving in. "Yes. The new agreement will be that we're in love and live together in the house we built for ourselves." He moved closer to her, his voice steadier as he kissed her neck and heard her sigh. "I can't pay for that house, Art. It cost you an insane amount of money," she mumbled. "Liana, the money doesn't matter to me. I have more money. Just what I earned from the Olympics covers that house. I'm not broke in any way." He tried to dramatize that this was the last thing that mattered to him.

"Okay," she said after a few seconds of silence, surprising him. Making him move back a bit and look at her. "Okay?" he asked, confused. He honestly thought it would take him more time. That he would have to twist and convince her.

"Yes, I think we can be in love and live together in a beautiful house. It's something we can handle," she shrugged and started to smile. "So I can say I love you without fearing you'll run away from me?" he continued, not believing he didn't have to struggle. "You already stated that I love you, so I think it would be fair if you also say you love-" He didn't let her finish the sentence before he kissed her. "Happy birthday, Liana Levy. I love you," he smiled into her mouth.

'Happy birthday Amanda, I miss you' will probably be the first message Liana sees when she opens her phone in the morning, but that's a worry for another day. Today, she's celebrating the best birthday she's ever had, probably because she's finally celebrating it on the actual date.

Hey guyssss, how are we doing? Let me know what you think as always, it literally makes my day. Also, send me more requests for blurbs. I love them and I will do at least another one between this and the next chapter. Patrick will come back to us. I just needed Art and Liana to be more stable at this point. Hope you're still enjoying it <3 

taglist (if anyone wants to join, just ask): @suzysface tqd4455 @soberbabes @nina357 @lamoursansfin @marley1773 @ruyaas-world @apolloscastellan @primlovesdilfs @fangirl-kimora @serenadingtigers @imbabycowboy @do-it-for-kicks @izzywags478 @4deline08 @igotmajordaddyissues @jackierose902109 @ganana @yoitsme-04 @swetearss

[nerdlvr]

hiiiii, are you still taking requests? can you do something with this prompt? "Jaemin and you were friends for a long time and you didn't let go of each other, you walked hand in hand, you exchanged affection and kisses, you protected each other. Everyone thought you were much more than friends, but you always denied that. Until one day, one Jaemin's friend (insert neo here) started to be interested in you, asked you on a date in front of Jaemin and you quickly accepted. That's when Jaemin realized that his feelings for you were very different from what he imagined."

i can't copy the prompt word for word but i will try my best to do something similar. thank you for the request, enjoy! ☺

no, you were not dating na jaemin. not yesterday, not today, and not tomorrow. yes, you hold hands around campus, spend almost all of your time together, and kissed occasionally - but hey, friends can be affectionate too, right? Everything between you and Na Jaemin was purely platonic, total best friends. so why did it bother him so much when haechan decided to ask you out right in front of him? and why did it sting even more when you accepted?

jaemin didn't know what to do to get you to cancel your date. there he was sitting on his couch thinking of ways to get you to leave haechan and come home. maybe call you and say his cats ran away? that would kill you, his house is on fire? too extreme, his tv is broken? not good enough. he paced around the living room phone in hand, your contact open, thinking of what he could possible tell you to leave that stupid date, with stupid haechan, and haechan's stupid flirting skills, what was jaemin gonna do with himself! he threw himself onto the couch, deciding maybe it was best to let things play out. yeah, maybe you might hate haechan's very attractive face, and smooth pick up lines, and his nicely styled hair, and- oh my god, what was he thinking haechan was a catch! and thats when he heard it, "hello? jaem? is everything okay?" he picked up his phone staring at the ongoing call he had accidentally started. what was he gonna say? "oh um, hey y/n, i'm just checking in making sure you're safe and stuff, seeing if haechan isn't creeping you out or anything" he could hear you giggle on the other end of the call, thank goodness you weren't mad. "nana, it's 5 my date isn't for another hour, i'm still at home getting ready" all you heard was, "wait right there, i'll be right over" before he hung up. not even 10 minutes later you heard a heavy knock on your door followed by a heaving sound. when you opened the door you found a very out of breath and disheveled jaemin. he was hunched over hands on his knees gasping for air, "oh my god, i need start doing more cardio instead of weights, just, just give me a second, i need to catch my breath." you let out a laugh rubbing his back in an attempt to help him breathe. when he finally caught his breath, he looked up at you sweat sticking on his forehead, cheeks slightly pink, "please don't go on that date with haechan" "jaem what? why-" he interrupted you, "wait let me finish before you say anything, please don't go on that date, because if you do i think i might die at the fact that holding hands and kissing won't be our thing anymore, and that you'll fall in love with someone that isn't me. it's just natural for us, to be a couple, so please, don't go." he held his breath squeezing his eyes shut scared of what you might say, but he just felt you grab his shoulders forcing him to look at you, "jaem, come on look at me" as he opened his eyes, he saw your warm smile, "if you really mean what you're saying, then i can cancel on haechan okay?" jaemin looked as if he'd just been told alien's have landed on earth, "really? i thought you'd take more convincing then that, i was thinking of telling you my cats ran away so you'd stay." "if you told me that i'd be dead on the floor right now and neither you or haechan would get the chance to date me" jaemin grinned widely at you, "so you're saying i have a chance at dating you?"

no, you were not dating na jaemin. not yesterday, not today, but maybe tomorrow. and yes, you hold hands around campus, spend almost all your time together, and kissed occasionally - but now you guys might have an actual reason to do so.

[gamarancianne]

Azriel x reader - In Between part III

Part I, part II, part IV

Summary: after the disastrous family dinner, you started to get yourself up again by going on dates with a guy working in your coffee shop. But what happens when, by denying your irresponsible acts, you start to hurt your friend

Warning: angst, toxic guy, denial, so much denial, kinda rude Lucien, mean and rude reader, hurt, smut if you squint, and allusion to slut, anxiety, overthinking, regret, lots of regret. Not proofread, my English.

Note: sorryyyyyy for the angst babes but I promise the next part will be *chef kiss*. Love you all ! Thanks again for the love, the support and above all the understanding of my pause 💗💗💗

Also I wanted to say that i move when you react by reblogging or commenting it makes my days !!!

The ring of the coffee shop you worked in, pulled you out of your well deserved dream. Since you started working again, you sunk again in the meanness and the rudeness of the many customers that came in and almost insulted you ordering their coffee.

What you didn't expect was that it was Feyre, your High Lady who came in. You stilled, back high in your position, your eyes wide open. Her eyes scanned the small and cozy room and brightened when they found your frozen figure. She smiled brightly at you and you felt like you were looking at the sun. She approached the counter and said:

"Hello you !

-High Lady." You bowed your head. She pouted.

"I thought I already told you not to call me that. I'm Feyre to you.

-Right, sorry Hi-Feyre.

- Don't apologize". Her smile returned to her beautiful face. Awkward you asked her:

"So what do you want on the menu.. I have a few favorites if you want advice."

You wondered why did she come in your coffee shop where as there were many that were way more luxurious.

"Oh I didn't want anything, I wanted to see you.

-Me ? But-

- Yes you, I didn't particularly wanted to talk to the wall behind you".

You chuckled at your nervousness.

"I, again, apologize for the mean and completely undeserved behaviour of my sister a few days ago".

The sun of her face was instantly replaced by dense and grey clouds as remembering this bad memory.

"Don't worry really ! It's not your fault, you should not feel guilty about something you haven't done. You haven't been anything but nice and kind to me when I arrived at your private home, kinda inviting the space and the calm of your family.

-No no no ! I feel like you help Lucien a lot, and since he got here it was difficult to talk through what happened to us but I really care about him you know, so I feel delighted to know that someone else does too. And I liked you since I saw you so I wanted to know you!

-It means a lot to me Feyre, really, I liked you too, you're an incredible woman."

She put a hand on her heart, her sea eyes full of emotions and love.

"Well maybe I'll trust you and order something. Get me your favorite!"

You smiled at her and prepared her order, she paid you way more than needed and left after waving goodbye and promising to return to see you maybe with Nyx.

Even serving mean customers, your day had been way better since Feyre came in to say hello. As you were closing the shop, Aaron, the brown haired guy who worked with you was waiting for someone outside. You started walking on the street to your appartment he came to you blushing.

"Hey yn? He asked awkwardly.

-Yes ? You turned to him questioning.

-You know, from a very long time I think you're really kind, and smart and pretty. And I wanted to ask you three weeks ago but you stopped working so it's now or never. I'd really want to go to dinner with you if you'd like.

-Oh my gods that's really kind of you ! Why not ? When do you want to go ?

-Are you free tonight I know a nice restaurant down the street ? He asked relieved from your former response.

-Yes let's go ! I didn't know it before but it seems really nice."

Your walk to the dinner was filled with laughter et joy. It's atmosphere was warm and cozy, just what you needed. You both ate in a comforting silence and he walked you back home.

"I just want to make myself clear. He said hesitantly. Tonight was a date, for me, I like you a lot so..

-Don't worry, it was one for me as well, I've really enjoyed it, it was a nice evening thank you for paying by the way.

-No problem. Then, since we both agree on that, what would you say about another one in 2 or 3 days?

-Yes I would appreciate that ! We'll organise that tomorrow though because I'm really tired now and all I want is to jump under my covers.

-Yeah of course.. yeah see ya !" He kissed you on the corner of your lips and you saw him shrink as walked the down the fairy lit street of Velaris.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The days at work were now so much more joyful and you appreciated it a lot. Your coffee guy and you had been on 4 dates lately and you had one again tonight at the same restaurant. You were disappointed in the fact that you both did exactly the same things as dates but he was nice so you brushed it off. You haven't told anything to Lucien yet, and you could bet that he had guessed because of the suspicious looks he gave you when you would go to work. The bell rang again and Feyre came in for third time in the week. She had been coming with Nyx lately, today was an exception, because he seemed to like you, even to be enamoured with you. That's what Feyre had said. You loved him too, he was so small and so cute with his cheeks burning red everytime you would come up to him and kiss him on the nose or the forehead. You brightly smiled at her but she seemed a bit off today. You frowned a little and when she arrived at the counter you took her and led her to a more private table. You could see she was thankful thanks to her beaming eyes.

"What's happening Fey?"

You had a thing with nicknames, it was your own love language. Everytime you would meet someone new, and that you liked them of course, they would end up with a nickname of yours, even your high lady.

"Well, Rhys and I are really really tired because of the parenthood and we haven't had time for ourselves, I mean our relationship lately. Plus with the tiredness, we argued this morning and said bad things that we didn't mean but nobody apologized for now. And I would've liked if Rhys and I could go to a 3 days maybe 2, vacation at the cabin to rest and enjoy eachother a little...

-Do you want me to babysit Nyx ? You cut her off and she seemed embarrassed to ask you that.

-Well, I know we've been friends just for a short period of time but Nyx only wants you to babysit him, we've tried everyone but he can't seem to stop crying or asking you if you aren't the one to keep an eye on him. I'm really sorry yn.

-Hey Fey, don't worry really. You brushed an arm on her shoulder to ease her tension. I asked because I wanted to offer my help, there's no need to be embarrassed, of course I will stay with this little demon. And you know, even if it's not since a long time, I value and cherish a lot our blooming friendship."

She hugged you tightly and you did as well.

"Also, enjoy Rhys and don't worry you can even go one week if you want. But do you mind if on the morning I come here with Nyx, unfortunately I can't stop work.

-Really ? Oh my gods you really are the bestest friend!! And yes he loves your coffee shop anyway. Are you free to start tonight ?"

You nodded and she hugged you goodbye and stormed off the shop surely to inform Rhys, a big smile on her beautiful face.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The day at the shop had been quite calm and relaxing, on the contrary of usual. You had cancelled your date and he seemed a bit mad, but you understood so you brushed it off. You were walking to the townhouse now, listening to the lovely music of the talented artists of the rainbow. As you walked through the door, Rhys came at you, eyes thankful as ever, and hugged you saying that it meant a lot to him and that you were helping him with his relationship and he was so grateful for that. You reassured him and after discussing with Fey she led you to the little Lord of the night who was playing with a giant figure that seemed way too familiar to you to be at ease, before running into your arms and screaming your name. The figure flinched and stilled before beautiful Hazel eyes sunk into yours and you lost yourself in the beauty of the male sat before you. Azriel. He was there, playing with Nyx and his toys and you were hugging back Nyx, hung on your legs. Feyre quickly hugged you goodbye and vanished away when her and Rhys windowed straight to the cabin. You couldn't move, you were frozen on your feet but Nyx pulled you sat in front of Azriel.

"Let's play with my favorite aunt and uncle !"

He was so oblivious to what was going on between you and Azriel, so innocent. It was kinda cute but you couldn't think of that I that moment.

"He wanted me to stay but not without you, I'm sorry if I make you feel awkward. Azriel explained, eyes filled with genuine apologies.

-Dont worry, he's the little king after all, he gets to decide."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

On the contrary of what you had expected, Azriel, Nyx and you had had a very good week. Azriel and you were really organized: while you were working he would take Nyx out flying and is he had reports or little missions to do you would take the little Lord to the coffee shop and under the hard gaze of your coffee guy, Azriel would come pick you both up. The night you would both play, read and then put Nyx in bed with a kiss. After the conversation was not awkward at all, you discussed a little bit of everything in your life: Azriel had told you the story behind the siphons he had and the Carynthian trial, what a fool you were asking him the first time where you could buy them. And you told Azriel the story behind the library coffee shop you held, the fact that being a girl you weren't given the chance to read and always admired the beautiful books in a library or a bookshop, so you decided to allow people who couldn't afford books to read, especially if they loved it. You talked and talked and laughed, but never ever has the infamous subject been approached. But it was better this way, to move on and everything.

Tonight was the last night with Nyx and after a flying time, a picnic near the Sidra, and a 3 scoops ice scream on the way back home, Nyx was now in his pajamas and ready to go to sleep after a big day of activities. But he wouldn't manage sleeping if you weren't in bed with him pretending to sleep as well.

That's the reason why you found yourself tangled on the couch with Azriel, an almost sleeping Nyx on your lap while the former was reading him a story. Gods that voice of his ! It was so attractive.. how could you move on to that ?? You were almost eye fucking him at this point. But in effort to not make a fool of yourself, you closes your eyes and tried to relax a little. But what you didn't expect was to fall asleep with his voice, which he didn't expect too. He found himself with Nyx and the beautiful female he would like to call his asleep on him. Oh gods he was panicking. He didn't really realise you were asleep on him. YOU WERE SLEEPING ON HIM !!! Azriel was trying to catch his breath to no wake you up but it was difficult knowing that you laid on his chest, holding tightly his shirt, clearly a sleeping beauty. So he relaxed himself as well and fell asleep too.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

You felt sunlight peak through your eyes closed but they felt too heavy to open them and wake up. Plus you were so comfortable, it was warm and there was tight arms hugging your waist and chest.

But around 5 minutes later, your mind found consciousness again when you hear little giggles coming from above you. You opened your eyes and saw two pairs of icy and violet eyes looking straight at you, glistening with joy and mischief. You wondered why until yours went wide as you realised the arms and the warm wave from the one and unique Azriel. Rhys bursted out of laughter at your panicked face and Feyre poked and scolded him for wakening Azriel. Because yes, he did. And Nyx woke up too, jumping on his parents still laughing at now two panicked faces. After thanking both of you, Feyre and Rhys seemed to be having their own secret conversation because of the way their eyes went glassy in a matter of seconds. So you jumped on the opportunity to flee, to run away from this damn situation. What have you done ?!

Arriving at your appartment the door was open so you assumed Lucien had stayed in. Coming in you were met with him yelling at you.

"Have you lost your mind ?"

You had never seen him like that and you didn't understand why.

"What ? What's going on Lu?

-Don't Lu me right now, that's not the time ! I've learnt that you were having dates with a guy for 2 weeks now? And besides the fact that you haven't told me anything, which I'm upset for, that damn guy came today. He was fuckibg banging at the door, almost crashing it ! When I opened, we both explained our situation with you, he got mad, started yelling that you were going to fucking pay for the fact that you were avoiding him and seeing another male he saw you with !

-Dont worry Lu, I don't see anyone else, I was just babysittkng Nyx with Az, that's all.

-But I don't care about that! That's not the fucking problem! The damn thing is that this guy is a walking Red flag! He screams toxic a hundred miles away ! And seeing him yelling like a godsdamned animal earlier, it wouldn't surprise me for him to be an abuser! So stop seeing him please !

-What ? No ? You're emphasising Lu, he's not like that I promise, he's kind and nice to me!

-Please yn.. I've seen him.. I dont want you to get hurt."

The whole conversation was starting to upset you. You hadn't slept a lot, had woken up awkward as hell and you hadn't even put a feet in your own appartment that your best friend started screaming at you for a guy he didn't even know.

"Okay Lucien." He stilled, you never called him that usually.

"It's not because your own relationship didn't work that you have to have a word on mine or ruin it for me to still be the pitiful single not-even-bestfriend of yours."

He opened his mouth, ready to talk back but nothing came out of it. You saw the big pained look in his eye and immediately regretted your action.

"Oh my gods Lu, I'm so sorry I didn't me-

-As you said.. don't Lu me right now." He said cold voice starting to walk to the doors.

"NO PLEASE LU!" It was your turn to scream now.

He slammed the door shut, and you cried your whole heart out: you were such an ass. No wonder why Azriel, then Elain and now Lucien had walked away from you. You hurt everything and everyone you loved. Feyre might even be pretending to be your friend. You only felt just an ounce of relief when the cool breeze of a shadow caressed your the back of your neck.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The shadow had stayed the day and helped you with everything. It was comforting really and you needed it. You blamed yourself for what happened with Lucien earlier, really you did and you only thought about that. But you still went to work and met your coffee guy who proposed a date the night for you to make it up for the lost time. That's what he had said with a wink. You had nodded but hadn't said anything, a little hurt by what he said. Maybe Lucien was right after all ? No that couldn't be possible. You couldn't possibly be terrible in every relationship choices you made ? So you agreed and back home before the date, you decided that you would indeed make up for the lost time. You dressed yourself in a long blue dress with your back naked, attached your hair in a stylised bun and put on mascara and red lips. You were really sexy and beautiful. For once you could admit it and call you that.

The dinner went well and on the door, he kissed fervently. At first you were shocked but still answered to the sloppy kiss. He pinned you on your door and after a pressing unlock, he slammed it and carried you to your bed for what you thought to be a sleepless night.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It was a sleepless night indeed, but not like you thought it would be. He wasn't even food in bed and you had spent the entire night regretting it but fearing of just moving an inch. You had just been staring at the ceiling wondering what had you done again and thinking about the fact that you should have listened to Lucien. Panicking again, in a too short period of time, you sensed again the shadow curling against your neck, as if it was comforting you.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Taglist:

@mirandasidefics @63angel @leeknows-wife @thehighlordishere @annaaaaa88 @starsinyourseyes @oucereeng @wallacewillow0773638 @kalulakunundrum

Sorry for the tags that didn't work I couldn't find your accounts :/

[cloudsmateria]

college roommate - leon kennedy x reader

nerdy!reader x leon kennedy

synopsis: you and leon have just started university, finding yourself in the same university visit, he comes and visits your dorm as he's been struggling in his classes. you kick it off, and you invite each other into your different, interesting lives.

words: like 4500

disclaimer: this isn't proof-read and i actually do need to proofread it and i will when i finish it, this also isn't finished. so if u don't wanna read it now and wanna come back to it when it's pristine and complete be my guest, the edit of this will be very edited like literally whole chunks of texts will be different, i just wanted to post something

content warning: kissing, bit of angst, slight smut/almost smut, sexual themes

A loud knock rings through your door, if it had come even a second later you wouldn’t have heard it at all as you were on a one-way path to passing out on top of your notes. 

“Come in.” You mumble, picking your head up off of the desk and watching as a dirt-blonde hunk of a boy you don’t recognise comes through. Maybe it’s one of the frat boys trying to get to know all the girls in his dorm house. 

“Hey. Can I ask a favour?”

“Who are you?”

"I'm Leon, I saw you in my engineering lecture the other day and you looked like you understood what was going on. Then I found out you were in my university building. So here, I am. Help. Please. I’m going to fail and we’re only 3 weeks in." His desperation makes you laugh, something you were shocked you could do in this dazed state after a mind-boggling 8 hours of completing work.

"Oh Leon, I'd love to but I think if I even think about that engineering class for another second right now I might actually drop down and die."

"It can wait, you busy right now? Other than you know, spilling drool all over your papers?”

“Yeah, I was just about to go spill some on my pillow too, I'm exhausted." You say, not entirely joking, and begin to gather your things.

“I get it.”

“We have another engineering lecture tomorrow anyway so you can just catch me then."

"You sure, though? I mean I'm already here." He shrugs and picks up a book from her bookshelf. "How do you read any of these? There are no pictures." You laugh again. 

"You're asking me how I read physics books when you take engineering… Are you sure you picked the right course? You know, you can read it if you want, and would probably benefit from it. If you can even read."

"No thanks, I'll just get you to teach it to me tomrrow. I’ll see you in a bit, Einstein.” 

"You should watch what you call me if you want me to tutor you, that’s usually not free."

"Oh, but the thing is I don't think you're actually going to make me pay for anything. You're too nice for that."

"That's a very bold statement to make to a stranger."

"You'll come round eventually."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"Can I just ask you another question? I'm not going to stop annoying you until you answer it the way I want you to."

"Go on." You sigh.

"Have you eaten today? Cause I haven't and I'm hungry."

"Leon-"

"Please."

"Okay, okay, God, you're persistent. Gonna give me a headache." You groan and sit up.

"It’s worth it, you'll need me to keep you sane later in the year."

"Oh really? You think we’re gonna stay friends that long?"

"I know you've got your nerdy brain, but I've been told I have a great personality." You can't tell if he's implying something with that disgustingly stupid joke or if he really is just an idiot. To be fair, he's funny and managed to pull you out your the room you had been hibernating in for the past few days to get ahead of work. You suppose there are worse people you could be forced to talk to.

"Whatever. Just get out of here." You push him towards the door.

"You're not going to eat with me?" You roll your eyes and lock the door, getting dressed into something that wasn't your pyjamas.

…

Now here you were, eating outside with this boy from your lectures when you had just wanted to be at home sleeping. Although it was nicer than you thought it would be, he had insisted on buying you an energy drink to keep your eyes open as you were eating in some random burger shop.

"How come you're struggling?" 

"Been going to too many parties, I've got different priorities."

"..."

"What?" He says defensively.

"Don't make me slap you. You can't be stupid because you got into this university, you're wasting your potential."

"I am not!"

"You're struggling! We're only 3 weeks in! I mean, come on, Leon."

"I don't understand what your problem is, maybe you need to live a little."

"That is rich coming from you. You're going to peak in college and fuck up the rest of your life if you ruin your chance now. And I live fine right now, I go out often enough and put the rest of my time toward my course, like a responsible human being."

"So you're boring?"

"So you're an idiot and can't plan for the future?"

"No, I'm not." He smirks. "And also, I never said I couldn't plan for the future, just that it isn't the only thing I want to focus on."

"Okay, fine, that's it. This is your problem, I'm not tutoring you."

"Got under your skin?" He smiles.

"I'm serious. You're smart if you got into this school, but you're wasting your talent partying and sleeping around."

“You’ve only known me for 20 minutes and you’ve managed to start an argument.”

“I just don’t want to waste my time. If you want me to help with assignments you need to make an effort, and if you want to be my friend, you’re also going to need to make an effort because I’m not going to care about someone who can’t even care about themselves.”

"I care about myself. Why else would I come to you for help on this?"

"Because you can't do it yourself and your friends are too stupid to ask them for help."

"No... Well... Okay fine, yeah that sounds pretty accurate. But in all honesty, I do care about my grade, that's why I'm coming to you. Now you know my intentions, I beg talk about something else, this entire conversation is reminding me of my mom."

"Like what?"

"Like, there's a party next Saturday, and I think you should come with me. You’re pretty entertaining."

"Oh, Leon. You're so clueless, it's pitiful."

"You have to go to the party, it will be fun."

"I have been to parties, I've gone to 2 since the start of the semester. But we have assignments to work on this week."

"One more little party isn't going to kill you. It'll be good, and then we can do the work."

"That's a very backward mindset." 

"You'll thank me, trust me."

"You say the reason you’re struggling is because you’re going to many parties, and immediately proceed to invite me to a party." You shake your head and laugh. “You are something else.”

“So are you coming?”

“I’ll think about it.”

… 

You and Leon had been going to the lectures together ever since, having lunch at points when he wasn’t hoarded by his friends and even managing a few study sessions into his schedule. You came 5 minutes early for the engineering lecture the next day. Flipping through the textbook notes to top up on your pre-reading beforehand, you had right at the back as Leon begged you to over text the previous night to sit there rather than the front so he’d feel comfortable sitting next to you. It doesn't take long for people to start filtering in, and eventually, that blonde-headed boy pops up next to you, leaning his head on your shoulder immediately. 

"Didn't get enough sleep last night." He mutters.

"Up studying?"

"You know me so well." 

“I'm not even going to ask what you were doing." You sigh, fully believing he had either gone clubbing or to another party last night.

"I promise you, I was studying. And you can ask me all the questions you want, I'll try my best to answer. I did go a little off track and I'm not doing well at it but your inspirational speech convinced me to try a bit."

"Really?" You ask excitedly, looking down at him. "Leon, that's great!" You feel his cheeks crease into a smile against your shoulder at your enthusiasm.

"You're more excited about it than I am, that's cute." He chuckles. "Keep talking, my head hurts, your voice helps."

"The lecture starts soon."

"Don't care." 

"I’m not going to talk over the lecturer." You say, flicking his forehead.

"It's just a lot, okay? I'm trying my best, but I might have reached my full capacity last night." He sits up and sighs, rubbing his temples.

“Welcome to university."

"Yeah, whatever. Can we go back to your room after?"

"Sure."

"Thank you."

"Of course." 

The professor finally steps into the lecture hall, and everyone quiets down, preparing for the lesson.

Halfway through, Leon couldn't help but pass out on you again. Your body went rigid, trying to make sure his head wouldn't fall off your shoulder. You pick the paper off of his desk, dragging it toward you as you start to write notes on your own and his paper so he won't miss out on anything.

He's surprisingly cute when he's not cracking annoying jokes and snapping back with snarky remarks. He was even making you lose track of the lecture a bit.

After class, you wake him up and walk him back to your dorm with him, chatting and catching him up on what he missed briefly. When you think about it, you're surprised you only met him yesterday. He feels like someone you've known since secondary school, or maybe he just treats everyone this way. Either way, you wouldn't complain about spending time with him.

"So, we're alone. What do we do?"

"Study?" You say, throwing him a pencil and paper. "Don't ask me stupid questions like that again."

"Come on, we just got out of an hour lecture, we basically already studied."

"A lecture that you slept for half of-"

"And that you caught me up on after."

"We need to make up the time. Now come on, let's work."

"But-"

"Now, Leon."

"Ugh."

…

The next hour wasn't as bad as you had expected it to be, you could still get your work done while simultaneously teaching Leon that content he missed out on. His demeanour quickly became enthusiastic when he saw how proud you were when you understood a concept, and you were genuinely impressed, he caught onto things quickly. After an hour, you both took a break sitting on your bed, him replying to some messages on his phone.

"Hey." You say, poking his arm to draw his attention.

"What?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Making the effort to try, even if it is just a little bit."

"You're definitely making more effort than me." He smiles, leaning his head on your shoulder again.

"If you want to sleep you should just go home, you must be exhausted."

"I'm not leaving you in this depressing room, I'm keeping you company."

"I’m not keeping you from anything? Your phone was blowing up a second ago I assume you have somewhere to be."

"They can wait, I want to stay around for a bit longer. I like the change for once."

"Change?"

"It's quiet, I can think for once. You’re different from the people I’m around smart and stubborn,”

“So you’re aware of the poor choice of people you hang around, you had me fooled for a while.”

“Wait I’m not done, and even after all of that, I can tell that you're a little shy which is adorable. Oh, and my favourite part is how easy you are to annoy."

"I am not."

"You're blushing right now, I can feel your cheek getting hot. Adorable."

"Don’t you even close your mouth?"

"You know I can't, come on, it's not like you mind."

"Oh my god."

"Admit it, I'm fun to be around."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Tell me what you think of me."

"What?"

"Tell me, come on. Please, I'm dying for validation."

"Well. You're nice, and I've never seen you without a smile on your face, it's refreshing.”

“A little more… I know you got it in you.”

“You're not as stupid as you make yourself out to be,. And I honestly can't tell if I'm special or if you treat everyone else this way because you make me feel way more important than I really would be for someone like you."

"You're special, trust me. And that's a stupid question to ask. Do you want a list of the people I've met? The people I’ve made friends with?"

"What?"

"I can count on one hand the real people I've managed to keep around and one of those is my dog. Don't worry about that, because I know you’re gonna be on that list too. I know you think that I have so many friends and I'm surrounded by people all the time, but they're all fake. They're just fun for parties and clubbing when you have nothing else to do."

"But-"

"It's true." He looks at you, his expression becoming serious for the first time since you've met him. "And I've got to tell you, you're different."

"Different?"

"Yeah, you're interesting. You're not fake, and you're actually doing something with your life."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that, I think you’ve just surrounded yourself with one particular type of person, and now you’re shocked when you meet someone who’s not an idiot."

"Come on, I've seen the work you've done in these past 24 hours. You were working for at least 25 of them.” 

"You know how to flatter me."

"That's another reason why you should hang out with me more."

"Oh, and why's that?"

"I'm not afraid to admit how much I like you, Einstein. Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?"

"I can't even think about what I should say to that." You say, laughing and burying your head in your hands. "God, you're a mess."

“I suppose, yeah. You’re changing that though.” He lifts your chin up to face him, smiling at your red cheeks. “See? So cute.”

"Why do you have to keep saying things like that?"

"Because you react this way." He grins.

"I hate you."

"Let me ask you something again. Are you going to go to the party on Saturday?"

"I don’t think so."

“Since I’ve got the chance, I think I can change your mind.” He smiles and pulls your face a little closer, close enough for him to feel your shallow breaths against his lips.

"I-" You can't find any words, you're stunned. He's gorgeous, and you can't deny that, but the idea of kissing him feels wrong, you can't do it. Not right now. The thought of getting with someone you're starting to have feelings for is setting off alarm bells, the alarm bells imprinted by your bad experiences from secondary school of guys playing with your emotions. No matter how much your heart is screaming you want to, your mind is screaming no. 

"You're gonna go with me right?" He whispers.

"Okay." You say hoarsely, your legs desperately pressed together.

"Good girl." He smiles, getting up and putting his shoes on. "I'll see you on Saturday." He says, before leaving.

"I'm screwed." You mutter.

… 

Saturday finally rolled around. You weren't even sure how much time you spent with Leon the day before, but you knew you wanted more.  This was starting to become a concern for you. You remember last year, when you were hurt so bad you pledged to never fall for someone again. You can't do this, not with him. You know Leon is exactly that kind of guy, he’s charming, an athlete, with too many friends for his own good, someone who has no reason to be associated with you unless he wanted something, and was patient when it came to getting it. 

And yet, here you were, wearing a simple little black dress and the heels Leon said would match. You pray that the feelings are cut off here, hopefully he sees you as just a friend and just likes to tease. But a little part of you has a sliver of hope that maybe this is real.

Leon came to pick you up from your room, as he was only a floor away. When you opened the door you were met with Leon dressed in a black bottom down with the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up which definitely made you feel some kind of way.

"Leon, hi." You say, overly aware of the fabric hugging your skin, you rarely wore tight clothes. 

"Wow." His eyes were stuck to everything that wasn't your face.

"Hey! My eyes are on my face, not my chest."

"I know."

"Leon!"

"Just admiring the view." You ended up crossing your arms to try and hide a bit of your figure.

"Can you stop looking?"

"You look great, don't worry." He says.

"Whatever."

"No, I'm serious. I mean it, you look amazing. Just relax and have fun, okay?"  He puts his arm around your waist, pulling you close. "You look hot. And it's only going to get better. Just try to have a good time, I'll be by your side the whole time.”

"I've been to a party before, you don't need to baby me."

"I know it’s just this one is a big one. They always end in a mess. I've had a couple of close calls with the police."

"That's not what I'm worried about." I'm worried about what I might end up doing with you, she thinks.

"Just tell me if anything makes you uncomfortable and we can go." He smiles and leads you out of the dorm building and into the street.

"How far is it?"

"Only a few minutes away." He says, leading you along the sidewalk.

The walk wasn't too far, it was about 20 minutes of you both drinking from a wine bottle for some pre-game. Time seemed to fly by as you came to the house. Whoever was hosting this party, probably one of Leon's friends no doubt, was rich. The house was huge and the whole thing was vibrating with the music that blasted through it.

"We're here."

"I think it’s going to collapse.."

"Wait until you see inside." He grabs your hand and drags you in, the house packed. You didn't recognise anyone and felt a little intimidated as Leon led you through the crowd of people, pushing them aside. You couldn't believe there were this many students in the town.

He stops at the kitchen, handing you a drink. You hadn't gone to a party this big before, and that was voluntary, this was just too much. You drink it in one to hopefully get you drunk enough to gain a bit of confidence and hand it back to Leon for it to get refilled.

"I didn't know there were this many people here."

"There's usually a lot." He smiles, handing her another drink. "Don't worry, I'll be with you the whole night. You take a shot before starting to sip on the more tame drink Leon had gotten. 

"What do you want to do first?"

"Let’s go find some of my friends.He says, taking your hand and dragging you through the sea of people, most likely dancing, grinding, or drinking.

He pulls you into the living room, finding his friends from one of the lectures and joining in on their conversation. You're introduced and you talk with them, they're all quite funny and sweet. You were happy to have found a fun little group.

The rest of the night is spent with them, the five of you getting progressively drunker and drunker and talking about more and more stupid shit before someone suggests the group should go and dance, you immediately go and hide behind Leon. 

"Dancing is definitely not my thing." You whisper.

"You have to come."

"No way."

"Please." He says, looking into your eyes.

"Why?"

"I want you to."

"Leon."

"If you hate it, I'll make it up to you. Please." He whispers, and you sigh, giving in. "I know you'll enjoy it." He smiles and leads her by the hand into the living room where everyone is.

"Everyone's too drunk to be paying any attention anyway." He says, and the group joins in on the dance. 

After a few more drinks the alcohol started to hit.

"Isn't so bad, is it?" He says after the first few minutes, watching you find your rhythm.

"No, it's fun."

"See, told you."

"Don't let it go to your head, I'm just drunk."

He smiles, spinning you so your back is pressed against his, the two of you continue to dance. He leans down and kisses your shoulder, wrapping his arms around your waist and grinding into you.

"Leon-"

"It's hard to control myself with you, almost kissed you that time I convinced you to come to this party, could tell you weren’t sure though."

"Because I thought we were just friends."

"That never lasts long, does it? Did you really think it was going to stay that way forever?" He says, running his hand down your thigh.

"We're drunk." You mumble, leaning your head back onto his shoulder. God, you wanted it. You were trying with everything you had to rationalise with yourself. He knew what he was doing.

"That doesn't change the fact that you're irresistible. And that's not the alcohol talking. I've been wanting to do this for a while."

 He smirks, spinning her back around to face him and lifting you up, your legs wrapping around his waist.

"Let's go upstairs,"

"Leon-"

"Shh." He puts a finger over her lips and leads her away, finding the stairs and walking up. “Stop doubting yourself. One thing about you is that you always say no, or doubt yourself, let’s change that for once.”

He takes you to the first room he finds, happening to be a bathroom, opening the door and stepping in, kicking it closed and locking it. He sets you down and starts to kiss you, the alcohol making it a lot more forceful than usual. You kiss back, letting him guide you and set the pace, his hands sliding over her body. 

"You're so fucking beautiful." He mutters, his lips trailing down to your neck. You feel the pressure of his hands pushing you backwards. Your back hits the counter, he lifts you up and settles himself between your thighs.

"Leon-"

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure? About me?"

"Yes." He smiles, lifting his head. "Now stop doubting yourself, will you? You're too perfect for that." If you were sober, your mind would've had red lights blaring, trying to protect you, but the alcohol flattened out all thoughts. A hint of doubt crossed your mind instinctually. But his touch is so good, and he's making you feel things that you haven't in a long time.

"I-"

"Come on, tell me how much you want me."

"I really like you, Leon. It's just...I have this feeling that I'll get hurt."

"What are you so afraid of? What can I do to change your mind?" He whispers. "I'll do anything for you." He says, pulling your head down to kiss him. The sweet nothings bring back some bad memories, it's starting to feel a bit like deja vu.

"I've been hurt before, Leon."

"What's his name? I'll kick his ass."

"It was in high school, but it happened too many times."

"You have to stop thinking, just focus on me, okay?"

"Leon."

"Come on." He sighs, pressing a finger to your lips. "I won't let anything bad happen to you. I don't want to lose something because someone in your past ruined everything for you, okay?"

"I don't know."

He sighs. "Do you wanna head home ?"

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not upset. Come on, I'll take you back."

"I didn't mean to ruin the night."

"No, I'm not letting you leave thinking you ruined it. I'm sure a million more parties are happening this week if you feel so bad."

"I'm a mess, Leon. Why do you even like me? I'm not worth it."

"Of course you are." He says, cupping your cheek."You're the only person I can stand to be around for hours while sober. And you can't argue with that."

"Okay."

"I'll get us out of here and you can crash in my room."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Now come on, we're leaving." 

...

The taxi ride home was short and sweet,  but still awkward. You were scared he'd be mad at you for ending the night so abruptly, but when you got into the room he made sure to put his arm around you, whispering reassurement into your ear, stroking your hair.

"You don't have to worry. I'm not angry."

"Really?"

"I don't blame you for wanting to wait."

"It's just, the last time-"

"I'm not him, you can trust me. I've been trying to prove that to you."

"I think... Maybe I can learn to trust you."

"You will, eventually." He says, holding his arms open, gesturing for her to cuddle with him.

"Thank you."

"Anytime."

You cuddle him for a bit, the silence being cut by the sound of the two of you breathing. Leon leans down to kiss capture your lips softly, it feels a lot easier to kiss him back, pressing your body against him.

"I don't know why anyone would ever hurt you." He whispers between kisses. "You're perfect." He runs his fingers through your hair.

"I don't know about that."

"I don't know why you doubt yourself either. Go to sleep, you'll feel better in the morning."