10daysto1k

[10daysto1k]

[bitterness on a tongue] also on ao3

(pidw-verse liu mingyan as an unreliable narrator; for @10daysto1k in a very belated day 5: regret)

“He was,” says Ning Yingying, looking over Liu Mingyan’s shoulder at her teacher in the long, ornate hall— a distant gaze over the way Luo Binghe’s face looks ravenous and charming, the way Shen Qingqiu is ragged and limbless and bound in iron, “kinder than A-Luo remembers, sometimes.” Her tone is wistful, tinted with the bare edges of regret. Inaudible to Luo Binghe where he reclines upon his throne to survey his prisoner, a dark and angular figure with his hand rested on Xin Mo.

Liu Mingyan looks at her. Face veiled, but eyes sharp with clarity. Not quite a question: “Was he.”

It’s unsurprising from Ning Yingying; the favored pupil, cosseted by Shen Quenqiu, innocence sheltered.

Liu Mingyan, with her brother both a corpse left behind in the past and a ghost over her shoulder, thinks of Luo Binghe’s years as Shen Qingqiu’s disciple in terms of the way he’d been a pale and beaten thing walking barefoot over thorns, learning to cast on masks. The way he’d listened when she’d said—obscured in more poetic terms but with a thrill of fury underneath her voice—he murdered my brother and none of them did anything about it, and had taken the facts in with wordless understanding, touched her hand lightly in the dead of night. She suspects Ning Yingying recollects those years differently.

Ning Yingying says, “It’s not— It doesn’t change it, when he wasn’t.” Almost helpless, still watching Shen Qingqiu’s face, the pained and exhausted rage carved into his face, the way the chains dangle from him as Luo Binghe toys with him. “I know what he’s done. But.”

Liu Mingyan is silent.

She wonders sometimes, what it was like, the shifting of the earth to have the truth revealed the way it was. She wonders sometimes how much Ning Yingying had run from until she couldn’t, had already known, shutting her eyes in self-preservation. How much of it she misses now, tucked in a palace with her childhood sweetheart’s other wives.

Luo Binghe had always taken the bruises and injustice in silence, Liu Mingyan knows. Had always looked at Ning Yingying as something pure and sweet—the same way Shen Qingqiu gentled to see her—lays his head in her lap now years later and lets her pet his hair with patient indulgence. Bends to her whims as cleanly as possible, old fondness.

Liu Mingyan had seen Luo Binghe come back from the dead and recognized in him the same things in herself, taken his hand back when he offered it in conspiracy, his eyes hot and his masks fallen, a bared truth he given weighed-out. A mirror and a partnership. He’d taken her even-handedness and reserve in turn, the careful judgement and plotting, the way something lingered with bitterness underneath her composure. She’d looked on Cang Qiong in flames, red and yellow and white licking up at the sky, ash falling like faded snowflakes over the wreckage, and smiled. A sharp, horrible kind of victory.

[10daysto1k]

how long is the collection/challenge still going to be open? i wanna participate so bad but i just found about it today!! *cries*

Would love for you to participate! It's open until we announce otherwise :)

[10daysto1k]

[just to see if you would miss me] also on ao3

a very belated day five for @10daysto1k - prompt: journey

summary:

After avoiding Vein for a few weeks, Xia Fei faints on set. Vein sees he gets home safe.

Vein fits into the grime and dirt of the underground —  it should feel unnatural for his laoban to be standing here in his tailored jacket, smelling of tobacco and eucalyptus, looking more like a model than Xia Fei while standing beside him on the platform. But Vein inhabits every space like he owns the place, shining beneath a faulty, fluorescent light. He whistles as they wait, the crisp tap tap tap of a loafer against the ground, out of time with the thundering of the incoming train. Filling the not-silence. Xia Fei expects a reprimand: you haven’t been answering my calls, or my messages, a cool laugh low like the rumbling of metal, are you trying to provoke me, Felix? A firm hand on his shoulder, or a softer, still calloused one tilting up his chin, directing Xia Fei’s defiant eyes right at him. 

But Vein doesn’t do any of that. He keeps his hands in his pockets And Xia Fei keeps sneaking glances at him, mouth zipped shut, waiting for the wolf to pounce. 

After the train slows to a stop the doors slide open, hot air spilling out with the hoards of people crammed into each carriage. Vein hangs back, letting rush hour wash over them, and nods for Xia Fei to go ahead and board. He follows close behind, the warm buzz of Vein’s chest pressed close to Xia Fei’s back, a different kind of claustrophobia from the sweaty container full of strangers he’s stepped into. And should be used to, by now. Vein’s body acts as a buffer, or a shield against all the people — Xia Fei crowded in one corner, Vein holding onto a handrail by him, sectioning him off from the rest of the passengers and almost obscuring the sickly yellow lights. Today, the sway of the train, its screeching against the tracks, the sweltering heat, all make Xia Fei a little dizzy. 

Vein leans in close, and Xia Fei can do nothing but let him. “You alright?” 

“Dizzy,” he answers simply, more mouthing the words than saying them. But Vein’s already got him — his other hand securely on Xia Fei’s shoulder. When the train stutters to a stop, the forward motion jostles him and Vein, his attentive da-ge, guides Xia Fei’s head down to rest on his shoulder as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. 

“Close your eyes and stay here, then.” 

People spill out from the carriages as the doors open, emptying out in no time. Heat and sticky sweat lingers in the air; the train still screeches as it pulls out from Paddington Station, but the furnace of bodies, and bags and open books and squeaky trainers disappear. Xia Fei breathes out a sigh, still leaning against Vein. 

“Why haven’t you scolded me yet?”  

The vibration of Vein’s laughter buzzes, clear as a bell, by his temple. “For ignoring me? I thought it was interesting. Rest now —  there will be plenty of time to scold you later, anyway.”

[10daysto1k]

Since the collection is still open and I love microfic, I decided to do another round of 10 fics for @10daysto1k. You can find my 1st round of fics here

Once again I did the challenge of doing 10 different fandoms, but this time I added a bonus challenge of making sure I didn’t reuse any fandoms I did last time too

Fics are linked below

Fandom: Revolutionary Girl Utena

Illusion

When Utena holds Anthy in her arms, she makes Anthy dream of impossible things.

Written for the prompt “Fake”

Fandom: Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

Goodbye

Na Bori caresses Lee Jihye’s face one last time and then lets her go forever.

Written for the prompt “Murder”

Fandom: Arcane

Free

Two toasts at the end of it all.

Written for the prompt “Escape”

Fandom: Six of Crows

Reunion

“How willing are you to strip your armor for me, Kaz?”

Written for the free space

Fandom: Jujutsu Kaisen

Morning

The flavor of Shōko’s lollipop today is lemon.

Written for the prompt “Citrus”

Fandom: Interview With the Vampire

Phantom

The old theater is said to be haunted.

Written for the prompt “Bite”

Fandom: KinnPorsche

Reconciliation

The problem is this: Chay still loves Kim.

Written for the prompt “Music”

Fandom: The Locked Tomb

Hate

One night of rehearsal for Dios Apate Major.

Written for the prompt “In Vino Veritas”

Fandom: Liu Yao

Home

“Hey Xiao-Qian, you would still love me if I was ugly, right?”

Written for the prompt “Prank”

Fandom: Word of Honor/Tian Ya Ke

Sorrow

Wen Yan was fragile in a way no other disciple was.

Written for the prompt “Regret”

[10daysto1k]

I have FINALLY finished @10daysto1k and I am so excited to share links to all of the pieces that I have written in one spot <3 Thank you so much to the mods for running this event it was SO much fun!!!

Day One: citrus 🍊 i love you. i'm glad i exist (100w, andreil, not rated)

Day Two: bite 🦷 Milo, or Fluffy, or Tiger (200w, jean + neil, G)

Day Three: sweat 💧 two becomes one (300w, jeandreil, T)

Day Four: regret 🍿 a good deed (400w, jean + neil, G)

Day Five: tattoo 🌲 a moon so big and bright (500w, andreil, T)

Day Six: clone 👬 superimpose (600w, jostwins, T)

Day Seven: fake 👨🏽‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼 best friend's brother? (700w, aaroneil, T)

Day Eight: moonlight 🌕 dream a little dream (for) me (800w, jeaneil, T)

Day Nine: in vino veritas 🍷 mouth (900w, kevjean, E)

Day Ten: roommates 💨 liminal space (1000w, kandrew, E)

[10daysto1k]

Day 1: You Got This

Their legs dangled over the van’s back windshield, rubber soles knocking softly as his brother cracks open the first can and hands it over.

“Doubles as an ice pack.” Lip grinned, the moonlight had muted his eyes grey.

“Fuck off,” Ian dug his nail under the loose tab, plucking at the aluminium. “I meant it, y’know, I’ll get him back.”

Lip was quiet for a moment before taking a swig.

“Yeah, I know.”

Ian’s face throbbed against the condensation, where the fist had left a bruise. It will be gnarly purple by morning – he’ll tell Fiona it was from karate.

~

[Prompt: Moonlight]

Read You Got This or all my event fics here. Had a tonne of fun in @10daysto1k; thank you for hosting!

[10daysto1k]

10 Days to 1K: Day 10

1000 Words | "Clones" | Alex Rider | @10daysto1k

"alex rider," says yassen gregorovich. "why do you have a child?"

he asks the question with deliberate slowness, his gaze not wavering from alex's wide, panicked eyes. if he doesn't study the wriggling bundle of flesh in alex's arms further, then perhaps there's a chance that this is all a figment of his imagination.

"i—" alex is particularly fawn-like as the not-child gives a whimpering cry, and yassen has to bite back a curse because he will not swear in front of innocent ears. he will not.

"it's the Department," alex explains. he adjusts his hold to better cradle the gurgling lump against his shoulder, the span of his hands wide and shaking and tight, yet somehow gentle, around the baby—because not only is alex carrying a child when he has no business to be even near one unless that jack character decided to procreate, but he is carrying an extremely young child at that.

"alex..." yassen's eyes flashes a warning, and he preens a little to see it's effect on alex: the further widening of the eyes, the nervous shifting from foot to foot, the rise and fall of an adam's apple that belies anxiety. (yassen may be retired ever since scorpia was forcibly disbanded, but he's still got it.)

"what did you do?"

alex looks affronted. "what did i do?!" he yells in a frantic whisper. "I didn't do anything!" his eyes dart down to the child chewing on the neck of his shirt. "he was just—they were all—the entire Department... Mrs Jones, Smithers, Blunt, Crawley... they all knew... and they didn't tell me. didn't ask for my permission, my consent."

yassen speeds through to the conclusion, and finally he lets his eyes drop to the child with a tuft of blond hair suspiciously similar to the shade alex himself wears.

"the child," gasps yassen. "he is..."

"me."

"...yours?"

just as yassen was finding it in him to become somewhat of a fatherly (grandfatherly?) role to this foundling child that alex has stolen—or not really stolen, given what he knows already—alex's words ricochets through his head like a stray bullet.

"alex, what is this child to you?"

alex grimaces. "it was like greif all over again. there were—schematics. of growth trajectories, which age the brain's best equipped to learn... skills. karate, jiu jitsu, krav maga. basically all the stuff I grew up learning with ian..."

those sons of bitches, thinks yassen.

"...they were trying to replicate it with him." alex hugs the child closer. "they were trying to raise my clone as some kind of future agent without even a guardian like ian to humanise the entire process!"

"those sons of bitches," yassen says.

alex blinks loudly; he is clearly caught off guard. "what?"

"now I understand why you have the child," yassen explains, albeit in an purposely arbitrary manner just because he can. "come on," he tells alex, "you and the child can stay with me tonight. get a good night's rest. and then tomorrow, after breakfast, we will discuss plans on how to..." he smiles menacingly, the kind that doesn't dare reach his deep, dark eyes. the kind only his missions see before the last lights of life leave their cooling bodies.

"i want them destroyed." alex follows yassen at a close pace. "I want every last inch and every last person involved ruined beyond recognition. they let me go after scorpia and told me to think about joining them after uni, did you know that? and what even was the point of it, some kind of reverse psychology so that I never actually do come back because they already had what they wanted? my dna for them to make more child soldiers? fat chance."

yassen listens, silent, as alex builds himself into a righteous fury.

"i'm going to burn them all to the ground. like hell i'm going to let the baby version of me go through the same shit i did with greif and cray and fucking julia rothman."

yassen grunts disapprovingly. "you shouldn't do that," he says. they are close to his car, a nondescript sedan parked in an equally nondescript street bookended by a caffe nero on one side and an inauthentic japanese restaurant on the other; he quietly murmurs directions for alex to sit in the back and to hold the child carefully throughout the car journey.

"what," alex frowns at him through the rear view mirror, moments later. "I thought you approved of destroying the Department with me." he tilts his head consideringly before correcting himself: "or... destroying the Department for me," he says, challenge lacing his tone.

"I will do most of anything for you, alex rider." yassen cruises down the road at a speed below the limit, knowing better than most that to speed will only attract undue attention. "and for your clone child, too, I suspect. but what I meant was: you should not swear in front of the child. it is impolite, and what kind of example would that be for little alexei?"

alex leans his head back onto the seat of the car. his eyes are droopy, tired and world-weary in ways a teenager alex's age should never be, but his hold of the child does not waver.

it's not until they are slipping into the cul-de-sac where yassen keeps his most child-friendly safehouse within driving distance that he hears alex say, soft and warm and utterly affectionate, considering the circumstances: "thank you, yassen."

yassen opens the door and lets alex and the snoozing child cradled protectively in his arms through the front door threshold first. this feels like a new chapter. not just for yassen. for alex, surely. but also for the two of them together.

"make yourself at home," says yassen. "rest. all will be right in the morning."

alex drifts towards the living rooom, turning the lights on idly as he passes by. "you'll stay with us all night?"

"no harm will come to you both."

[10daysto1k]

300!!!

the collection is still open and we're only 9 works away from 300.... just sayin'.....

[10daysto1k]

Hi! Are we still able to post if we missed the deadline or is it closed now?

It's still open!!!

[10daysto1k]

woahhhhh I DID IIIIIIIIIT. @10daysto1k is one of my favourite events/challenges i've participated it in in the last wee while!!! so fun, so chill :') writing has been really hard recently and i needed a kick up the arse an excuse to challenge myself to writing without overthinking and over-editing. with the helpful assistance of some randomiser wheels (into which i fed the prompts, a few different fandoms and pairings, and some fun genres/tropes) i am proud to say i made it through all 10 days, wrote a total of 5500 words, and i technically even managed a bingo lol

100 words for the prompt 'bite' — classic combo | aftg, seth/allison, G

200 words for the prompt 'flame' — love letter | atogai, evemer/kadou, G

300 words for the prompt 'departure' — happy haunting | aftg, cat/laila, T

400 words for the prompt 'citrus' — tender treasure | aftg, kevin/ichirou, T

500 words for the prompt 'roommates' — sandy shores | aftg, katelyn/kevin/aaron, T

600 words for the prompt 'voicemail' — unorthodox understanding | svsss, moshang, M

700 words for the prompt 'fate' — monstrous medicine | aftg, kevneil, M

800 words for the prompt 'clones' — curious concoctions | tgcf, hualian, M

900 words for the prompt 'journey' - killer kismet | aftg, kayleigh/wymack, T

1000 words for the prompt 'moonlight' - honeyed homecoming | omgcp, zimbits, E

✨ click hereeeeeee for my series that houses all of the above ✨ and hereeeeee for the full collection ft. +250 works across +60 fandoms ✨

[10daysto1k]

Just posted my 10th fic for @10daysto1k and wow it's chaotic lmao but I think it works. I wanted to hit as many prompts and characters as I could and I had an idea for "dream" this morning so....

conscious

(T, 1000 words)

Somewhere outside Chicago, a demon stirs up trouble. Around the world, strange things begin to happen...

Read on AO3

ahhh this challenge has been so fun and I feel like I've learned so much from it:

short fics are SO VALID (which I knew but like, it's nice to be reminded)

I actually can come up with story ideas given a prompt and a pairing and a little brainstorming??? before I just waited for stories to come to me but this was a great exercise in seeking them out.

really just how much story you can cram into each word count. and just how satisfying it is to tweak and make things fit *just right*

thank you @mostlymaudlin for jumping headfirst into this with me on a whim and being an Organizer Extraordinaire and also my friend <3 and props for writing amazing stuff even while sick!!!

and thank you to everyone who participated - it was so much more than I even thought to expect, and I'm just buzzing that I've gotten to read so much awesome short fic and that people took this challenge by the horns. y'all have done awesome stuff.

okay that's all from me for now THANKS ALL <3333333

[10daysto1k]

Day 10, 1000 words, prompt - fake

We did it!!!!!!! This was such a fun challenge and it really jumpstarted those creative juices again.

Thank you to every who joined me and read every day. I appreciate you all.

This was the only prompt that feel I could continue. But I really don’t need to add to my wips. But when have I ever done the smart thing.

We’ll see lol

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66099886

[10daysto1k]

Murder

Day 10 prompt (1000 words) for 10 days to 1K: Murder

Characters: Harvey Specter, Louis Litt, Charlie Specter (OC)

—

Harvey wasn’t used to fielding calls home—or in this case, calls to the office—from Charlie’s school. Months after his father’s death, he was still adjusting, and today had showed him how ill-equipped he was to manage. 

How quick everything could go to shit.

Harvey had plans and contingencies in place, sure. He'd hired people to look after Charlie when he couldn’t. 

Beyond that, Harvey had Donna. 

And he had Jessica’s understanding—she’d been beyond flexible with him. 

Harvey hadn’t realized how fragile all of that was though. One little change could mess up everything and it seemed like today, everything that could go wrong did, starting with his schedule, packed so tight he couldn’t possibly go when the school nurse called midday demanding a pickup because Charlie’s allergies were so bad. 

Harvey being busy was fine—expected, even. But the sitters, too? Neither girl was free, and the one scheduled for today’s school pickup was sick and had actually been about to call him to call out.

Harvey thanked the universe for Donna, who went to Charlie’s school and back during lunch before attempting to settle Charlie in Harvey’s office, a neverending endeavor since Charlie was so miserable. Then Donna had called the pediatrician, getting care recommendations and making an appointment. 

Harvey knew Charlie just wanted him. Her previous experience with allergies was her reaction to bee stings, which was a truly terrifying thing, so when the nurse started throwing ‘allergies’ around, Charlie freaked out. And that was after she’d had a couple of coughing fits so intense that she’d managed to make herself throw up. 

After his meetings died down, Harvey sat with Charlie for close to an hour just trying to get her to sleep. It should’ve been easy considering she had taken a dose of the benadryl Donna had purchased before Harvey sent her home for the night, but Charlie fought it. She was sleeping now though, sprawled out on the couch while he continued deposition prep he wouldn’t have time for tomorrow because of her appointment. 

Harvey clocked Louis’s furious approach and met him at the door, conscious of the fact that Donna wasn’t there to stop him from barging in. 

“You’re pawning work off on my associate?” Louis slapped a file against Harvey’s chest. 

It was busy work and below Harvey’s paygrade, but that wasn’t why he gave it away. It just happened he’d be at the doctor with Charlie when the client was scheduled for court. Harvey was good, but he couldn’t be in two places at once.

“It’s a great learning opportunity, Louis,” Harvey answered, not bothering to comment on the fact that neither of them had been assigned an associate, something Harvey was generally grateful for. “Wouldn’t want it wasted on someone with my experience. Feel free to help if you’re looking to improve.” 

“Darrow is working on the Rushfall case for me. You need to ask—”

Louis went silent when Harvey turned from him, his attention drawn to Charlie’s sudden restlessness. 

“If you wake her, I’ll murder you,” Harvey said before Charlie’s agitation shifted to a coughing fit. Harvey was at Charlie’s side immediately, sitting her up even as she was only half-awake. Charlie was back asleep within seconds and Harvey rearranged the blankets she had dislodged, checking her over. 

Louis found himself unable to pull his eyes away from the kid he hadn’t even noticed a few moments before. He had met Harvey’s sister a handful of times and recently, he had seen her around the law firm more. Louis didn’t know the details, but he knew that Harvey’s father had passed. He knew that Harvey was the girl’s guardian now. 

He remembered that Charlotte Specter had always been kind to him, which was more than Louis could say for Harvey. 

Kindness was all Louis saw in Harvey now though as he leaned over his sleeping sister, moving the disheveled hair from her face. It was such a gentle gesture—an adjective Louis absolutely did not associate with Harvey—and Louis forgot for a moment what he had been so angry about before.

He didn’t say a word as Harvey crossed the room and gestured, indicating they should finish their discussion outside. 

“Listen, Louis—”

“What’s wrong with her?” Louis interrupted. Charlie looked awful even from the hallway, with her eyes and nose red and raw, her whole face puffier than could be considered normal. And the cough had sounded painful—unproductive. 

“Seasonal allergies,” Harvey answered though it almost sounded like a question. His gaze shifted back through the glass wall to Charlie. “Never had them before…just allergic to bees, but apparently you can develop them at any time and—”

“Do you have an immunologist?” 

Harvey gave Louis a blank look. 

“An allergist?” Louis continued. “To have her tested?” 

“No…” Harvey answered, the call to be defensive swiftly rising the more Louis’s questions made him feel like an idiot. “We’re scheduled to see her pedia—”

“The pediatrician isn’t going to do anything.” Louis scoffed. “Let me handle it. I’ll get you in with Dr. Rosenblum. Top pediatric immunologist and allergist in the city. He sees Esther’s kids. They’re allergic to everything. Tomorrow at 9 am works?” 

A handful of questions and sarcastic comments came to mind in the wake of Louis’s question, the most prominent of which was how Louis could schedule an appointment without talking with the doctor first, but Harvey knew Louis so he knew that particulars didn’t really matter. If Louis said he’d handle something, he handled it. 

“9 am is great,” Harvey answered. “Thank you, Louis.”

Louis nodded. “Make sure she drinks a lot of water. Tea with honey helps the cough.” 

“I’ll try that,” Harvey answered. 

“And keep Darrow until this is sorted. I’ll find someone else for Rushfall.” 

Harvey found himself feeling genuinely grateful and he absently issued another thank you, though neither of them was particularly focused on the rare niceties passing between them, both of them more concerned with making the twelve-year-old asleep on Harvey’s couch feel better.

—

Suits (Lines to Live By) Masterlist

[10daysto1k]

Bumping Into You

My day 9 contribution to the 10 days to 1k challenge. (Masterpost). Fandom: Young Royals | Prompt: roommates | Rating: T | AO3

-

The first time it happens, neither of them makes a fuss. They’ve been sharing an apartment for three weeks now, so they were bound to get in each other’s way at some point.

“Sorry,” Wille mumbles, still half an eye on his mug of coffee that nearly spilled as they bumped into each other in the small kitchen.

“No. My fault,” Simon says, half shrugging his way into his hoodie. “I’m in a bit of a rush.”

“No worries,” Wille says. “There’s coffee in the pot if you want it.”

“Amazing,” Simon groans. “Thank you.”

“That’s okay.” And then Wille has disappeared into his bedroom that’s currently doubling as his office and Simon is rushing out of the front door.

The second time it happens, Simon grins sheepishly. “Sorry,” he says. It’s been five weeks now and they’ve got to know each other a little better.

“That one was my fault,” Wille says, carefully folding the corner of the poetry anthology he’d been reading. “I forget there’s someone else here sometimes.”

“I’m not sure how to take that,” Simon says, stuffing crisp bread into his mouth.

Wille grins and Simon feels something strange lurch behind his navel. “It’s a compliment. Trust me.”

“Okay,” Simon says. “I guess I’ll have to believe you.”

The third time it happens, there aren’t any smiles.

“Shit, Sorry,” Wille says. “I, uhm… sorry.”

“It’s okay. Hey.” Simon shoots out his hand to grab Wille’s sleeve. “Are you okay?”

Wille shrugs it off and sniffs, not meeting Simon’s eyes. “Fine. Sorry. I’m going to…” 

And Wille speeds off, slamming his bedroom door behind him.

Simon stands in the kitchen and blinks at the door for several seconds before deciding it isn’t his place to say anything.

The fourth time it happens, Wille is drunk.

“Fuck,” he slurs. “Sorry, Simon.”

Boozy breath makes Simon take a step back – partly because of the fumes, partly because of the memories, partly because Wille is closer to him than he’s ever been before and it’s making Simon’s insides wiggle in a not-entirely-unpleasant way.

“That’s okay. Have a good night?”

“The best,” Wille sighs with a happy smile. “Felice is amazing.”

Simon’s stomach plummets. Felice. Wille’s talked about her a lot. He’d never really been sure what— 

“Is she not staying over?” Simon folds his arms and tries to not make his voice too clipped. 

“No,” Wille says. “She has a breakfast date tomorrow so she wanted to get ahead of the hangover.”

Oh.

“Oh right,” Simon says. “Well… goodnight, Wille.”

Wille’s face falls slightly. “Oh,” he says. “Okay. Uhm… goodnight, Simon. Sleep well.”

Simon does not sleep well. He spends several hours staring at the ceiling, over analysing the way his body reacted to Wille. By 3am, Simon has concluded that it was just because Wille was drunk, and slightly clingier than normal. Yes. That must be it.

That is not it. Because the fifth time it happens, Simon’s world tilts on its axis.

Wille slips on the kitchen floor, flails and grips onto Simon trying to right himself. In a panic, Simon grabs him and the result is them clinging onto each other, faces millimetres apart, Simon’s insides having a party and screaming at him that “Wille isn’t drunk this time! And he’s still looking at you like that! And your heart is still beating too fast!”

That’s the shock, Simon thinks, but he knows it isn’t. Knows that it’s because Wille’s hands are so warm, and his eyes are so brown, and when they drop to his lips, Simon’s stomach swoops so much it makes him a little dizzy.

With an awkward chuckle, Simon carefully untangles himself. (How had his hands got into Wille’s hair? And why was it so soft??). “Are you okay?” he asks, taking a sensible step backwards.

Wille clears his throat. “Yeah. I, uh… yeah, fine. Sorry.”

The sixth time it happens is on purpose. Since their moment the previous week, Simon has barely thought about anything else. He’s been driving himself crazy trying to work out what he feels and, once he realises what it is, whether Wille feels the same way.

Because Simon likes Wille. Really likes him.

And… he doesn’t think it’s just him.

Wille looks. And he watches. And he looks some more.

So, whilst they’re quietly making breakfast side by side in the kitchen, Simon decides to take a risk. He bumps his hip into Wille’s. Wille looks at him in surprise. Simon pretends not to notice and continues slicing his cucumber. 

Then, Wille bumps his hip back, harder this time. Simon stumbles and, giggling, says, “What was that for?” in mock indignation.

“You started it.”

Simon knocks his hip sideways again, and this time Wille is ready for it and grabs him around the waist, swinging them around so that they’re face to face.

All the air has gone from Simon’s lungs. They’re standing chest to chest, Simon gazing up into Wille’s fathomless brown eyes.

“Careful,” Wille murmurs. “Or I’ll think you’re doing it on purpose.”

“Maybe I am,” Simon breathes. “Maybe I—”

But he can’t finish his sentence, because Wille’s lips have closed over his and Simon’s arms have looped around Wille’s neck. They kiss as if they’ve been doing it forever. And Simon hopes that this will now always be his reward every time he and Wille bump into each other in their tiny shared kitchen.

[10daysto1k]

No Escape

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66029839

My 9th entry into the "10 Days to 1K" drabble challenge.

No Escape by DLanaDHZ Fandoms: We Are Relationships: Tan/Fang, mentioned Phum/Peem, Chain/Pun, Q/Toey Words: 900 Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Fighting, mild violence, Tan and Fang used to fight a lot, The Couple That Fights Together Stays Together Story Summary:

Back in high school, Fang was a “punch first, ask questions later” kind of guy. Tan was the type to instigate a fight so he’d have an excuse to fight back. In college, everyone saw their new personas, the versions of themselves after they’d turned over new leaves and promised to stop fighting all the time. Soft, gentle Fang who passively allowed his boyfriend to drag him into shenanigans while secretly enjoying every moment. Hyperactive, love-sick Tan who was goofy and good-natured.

But to protect their friend, they were both willing to take a few steps back on the road to maturity.

[10daysto1k]

Summer Longing

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66029602

My 8th entry into the "10 Days to 1K" drabble challenge.

Summer Longing by DLanaDHZ Fandoms: Our Dining Table Relationships: Minoru/Yutaka Words: 800 Additional Tags: Summer, Hot Weather, Longing, Food as a Metaphor for Love Story Summary:

On top of all the other issues, it had been a week since Minoru had seen Yutaka. They didn’t normally go so long without seeing each other, but Yutaka had been busier than normal at work and had texted less too.

“Nii-san,” Tane called, inching the door open. “If you’re so miserable outside, why don’t you come in? Dad has the air on.”

“Nah,” Minoru declined petulantly. “I’ll stay out a few more minutes.” -- -- --

On a summer day, Minoru hates the heat and the cicadas and the feeling of his own clothes against his skin, but he refuses to go inside until he gets to see Yutaka.

[10daysto1k]

Signing Forever with You

My 5th entry into the "10 Days to 1K" drabble challenge.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65955634

Signing Forever with You by DLanaDHZ Fandoms: See Your Love Relationships: Yang Zi Xiang/Jiang Shao Peng Words: 500 Additional Tags: Anniversary, Slice of Life, Post-Canon, Proposal Story Summary: ZiXiang was so amused when he found ShaoPeng on the couch, two glasses of wine prepared and set beside two plates of food. ShaoPeng was already tipsy when ZiXiang arrived home, and when he tried to greet his lover and then explain why he was drinking early, his signs were all wonky.