#I do always notice other people reacting questioning his moves especially at the very beginning clearly don’t know that they start a ton of

[jsprnt]

Americano PT. 8 | Jude Bellingham x Reader

What happens if two individuals who absolutely despise each other are forced to interact after unforeseen events occur?

A/N: this one is a bit on the shorter side, but I promise next chapter will be juicy! 😉

W/C: 3.086

part seven

"Wait- why am I actually kind of bitter about this?"

I mumble, looking up at Luis. He turns around, moving his camera away to look at me.

"Bitter about what?" He asks, fidgeting with the settings of the device.

"They literally crap out money- but get a free BMW?" I question, folding my arms.

"Oh, please. Will you stop being such a negative person?"

He gives me a nasty look, his hand coming to grab my arm.

"Or go sit in the car..?" He adds, pointing behind me.

"No, it's too hot to sit in the car.." I complain, adjusting my sleeve.

"Why did you even follow me here in the first place?" He asks, raising his brows.

"I was done with my to-do list and didn't want to stay cooped up in the office.."

Not to mention to avoid the insanely annoying looks I had been receiving ever since those stupid rumors and photos had been out.

"Okay, just stay back and watch then.."

I watch him make cinematic shots of each individual model and car. My patience begins to thin when he's still busy with it twenty minutes later.

I pull my phone out of my pocket to keep myself busy. I carefully scroll through my Instagram explore page, ignoring the thousands of follower requests to my account.

The internet was very quick, so within hours of my face being online, people had found both my full name and social media accounts.

"y/n!"

I freeze, holding my phone against my chest, and turn in the direction the noise came from.

I make immediate eye contact with Valeria, her obnoxiously fake smile burning my eyes instantly.

"Yeah? Anything wrong with the shoot?" I ask, shoving my phone into my pocket.

"No, the players have just arrived- and it's a better look if you're off your phone and look interested."

I fight the urge to snort at her ridiculous comment, and just nod before I lose it.

"Sure, any reason you're here today? It's only for some short clips..”

I watch her take a step forward, a hand reaching up to her hip. She moves her neck in a weird way, staring at me for a moment.

"It's always good to see how my juniors work, and how close they are to the players is really something I like keeping an eye on.."

Oh- surprise, she was here for something stupid!

I was already over her snarky remarks, especially those insinuating a romantic relationship between Jude and me.

The thought only makes me want to gag.

I shiver at the cursed idea, noticing a few players already walking over to check out the new car they chose, and look back at Valeria.

"Well, I'm sure some of the guys really need your presence and knowledge. Please, go and join them.."

I instigate, hoping and wishing she goes to bother Toni instead.

For some reason, he could handle her bullshit really well.

"Oh, don't mind if I do.." She chuckles, immediately turning her back to me and walking away.

I sigh in relief, rubbing my nape to try to release some tension from my body.

I begin walking up to the cars myself, reading off every license plate to see which player got what model.

I stop at the car chosen by Aurélien, observing the details of the 'i4 eDrive35'.

« Très belle, non? » I hear him say. I nod, pursing my lips.

« Le couleur- noir est parfait.. » I compliment, stepping back to get a better view.

I open my mouth to say something else- but I'm startled by a loud car horn, it almost makes my eardrums explode. I shut my eyes tightly, not reacting fast enough to cover my ears properly.

"What the fuck.." I mumble, looking to my left. An obviously aggravated expression on my face, because who the hell thought that was a good idea?

“Jude! Get out of your mom’s car, please!” I exclaim, seeing him stand at the driver’s door.

The man couldn’t even drive, but got to choose a car for himself?

Not even that- he also chose the most expensive model worth more than a hundred thousand euros?

Life is so unfair.

“You’re standing in the way!” He exclaims, walking around to sit in the passenger seat. Another staff member comes over to drive him around the parking lot.

I give him a nasty look, stepping aside and looking back at Aurélien.

“Why don’t you join him?” He suggests, an obvious smirk on his face.

“What? Why would I do that?” I ask, raising my brows and folding my arms defensively.

“You know- nice car and fun drive..” He trails off, glancing at the moving car.

“I would feel like I’m in danger without him even being the driver..” I state, shielding my eyes from the sun with my hand.

He chuckles, as if to mock the fear for my safety. I shrug it off, looking behind me to see where Luis is.

“Come on- get in the car and I’ll get Luis to do a little video..” I usher, walking away to get Luis.

The entire shoot takes us about an hour before we’re finally done. I quickly bid farewell and thank fellow staff members for their hard work before jumping into my car.

I go to start my car, looking up to see where Luis is. I roll my windows down, letting some fresh air into the car, hoping he’ll be here quickly.

“No- it’s just annoying because I’m trying to do my job properly and I’m getting the craziest stares. Like, does having a conversation with someone mean we’re married with three kids and a chihuahua?!” I exclaim, looking at Amira on FaceTime.

“And you attended his match, and you wore his name on your shirt and spoke to his family and-"

I cut her off with a loud groan, rubbing my eyes in irritation.

“You’re the one who set me up!”

“I thought you already knew it was his shirt! Should I have worn Jude’s while you wore Trent’s?” She defends herself, a smirk forming on her lips.

I shake my head, dropping my pencil on the table.

I had been studying all day and had stopped the instant Amira called me.

“The way I can’t even get mad at anyone about this- ugh..” I complain, shifting in my chair.

“And those follow requests are so annoying..”

I grumble, totally aware of the fact that I had been complaining about literally every single thing and then some.

“Girl, if you set your account on public again and accept those followers..”

“What? I’m going to clout chase being that douche's fake girlfriend?”

“Obviously?”

“I have to take over my dad’s firm one day, and you want me to be known for dating my coworker?”

“Too late-"

I stop paying attention to what she’s saying when the front door opens, my gaze moving to see my dad walking in.

“I’m going to call you back later.” I mutter to Amira, waving at her until she hangs up.

I close my laptop, standing up to walk over to the door.

“Hey, dad- you’re late.” I say, grabbing his laptop bag off of him.

“I had a lot of work to review. Did you have dinner?” He asks, hanging his coat up on the coat rack.

“I had some of the food auntie Carmen made. You?”

“We all had dinner in the office. Everyone has been going home late these days.” He says, washing his hands in the kitchen sink before loosening his tie.

“With what?” I ask, setting his laptop bag on the table, prying into his business.

“Can’t say, but- don’t you think you need to tell me something?” He suddenly asks, turning to me.

I freeze, looking at him with wide eyes.

What the hell would I be hiding from him?

“Uh- no? I’m not sure what you’re talking about?” I state, scratching my nape in confusion.

“Are you sure?” He presses on, coming to hold onto my shoulders.

“I’m sure. What am I supposed to hide from you?” I ask, getting rather defensive, a frown forming in between my brows as I keep staring at him.

He notices my irritation, letting go of my shoulders and holding his hands up in surrender.

“Okay- I understand. Don’t get all angry at me..” He says, smiling.

“I’m not angry- just confused..”

“Forget I asked- How was work? How about you tell me about that instead?”

I purse my lips, looking down at my laptop.

“Alright, the players got new cars, so we had to do a shoot for BMW..” I mutter, fiddling with my notebook.

“You look so down, y/n. What? Are you jealous? I got you your new Audi less than two years ago..”

“What do you mean, dad? I love that car, would not exchange an Audi for a BMW- I have some car knowledge.” I state, my expression changing as I explain to him.

“That’s right! Come to me when you really want to change your car. I’ll call up some people I know.”

I make my way towards the printer, looking for the documents I had sent over to be copied a couple hours ago. Finding them, I quickly read them through to confirm the pages are complete, until I’m stopped by Hugo.

“Are you ready for El Classico week?” He asks, making a copy of something.

Most people, as in football fans, would say an El Classico is a match you shouldn’t miss. The long-standing rivalry between the two clubs was always interesting to watch, and I would definitely agree a hundred percent-

Only, if it didn’t mean we had to ensure our match posts, interviews, and statements were properly prepared and triple-checked and approved days leading up to the match.

Of course, I loved watching the game- but the way it exhausted literally everyone involved was no fun.

What made it harder was the fact that we had a whole Champions League match to worry about first. To sum it all up, no one was getting sleep for the next two weeks.

“Yeah, just really busy with preparations.” I reply, folding the corner of the documents.

“Good luck, we’ve all been having sleepless nights. It will be worth it in the end- you’ve experienced this before. Just keep on doing what you always do.”

I nod in acknowledgment, smiling at him.

“You’re right, we will put our best foot forward.” I give him a thumbs up, chuckling.

“Good- I’ll see you at lunch. Work hard!” He encourages, patting my shoulder before leaving with his printed papers.

I sigh in relief when he leaves, making my way up to my desk. I place the documents on the table, before running down to the pitch. Having to finish some last-minute recording of the match preparations.

I walk over to the pitch, training is already in full motion, and I notice Luis already there. I look around for any other staff members, only seeing the creepy guy I ran into weeks ago standing across the pitch.

The guy was a walking, real-life jumpscare at this point. I’d only run into him at random moments, and the way he’d look at me had my heart leaping into my throat.

“You’re late.” Luis complains, bringing me out of my thoughts, fiddling with a black cable.

“Did those two minutes kill you?” I ask, sighing, and look at the players who were training.

“Of boredom, yes..” He replies, and I notice the small- very slight compliment in his words. A smile forming on my face as I chuckle.

“We would’ve been absolutely fucked if Kepa didn’t save that one..” I mutter, insanely stressed, as I eye the scoreboard in the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. A temporary stadium FC Barcelona had been using for this season.

“Don’t say that- you have no trust in this team whatsoever..” Luis complains, looking up at me.

“Who will score?” I ask, we loved guessing who would score and assist goals during every match.

“Jude.” He immediately says, not hesitating one bit.

“No- I’m guessing Vinicius..” I say, eyes darting back to my laptop screen.

“I will be right- just watch..”

“It’s his second El Classico and his first in season one. What is he going-” I immediately stop talking when I notice a chance to score, my hands tangle into my shirt as I see how much space there is to score.

I gasp, and my jaw slacks open when Jude scores an absolute screamer, which I’d obviously never admit to him.

“I told you!” Luis screams, celebrating like it’s his birthday. I scoff, secretly happy we were put out of our 0-1 misery, and search for the draft I’m supposed to publish.

A couple minutes pass, it’s almost full time, and extra time is finally announced. The away side is full of Madridistas, all sitting on the edge of their seats until Luca kicks the ball towards Jude and GOAL!

The away side celebrates happily, with another El Classico win in our pocket. I quickly manage and do what I have to do, before we both get up to go back inside.

I was both delighted and annoyed at the fact that we won. Of course, it’s always amazing to win a match like this, especially when we were doing so well this season. Also because it’s Luca’s 500th match, and an assist is pretty amazing to pull off on a day like this.

The only thing making me have bitter feelings was the fact that I had to interview Jude today. Normally, Man Of The Match interviews with him were already horrific to experience. An elaborate interview with him, after I’d been avoiding him like the plague, wasn’t necessarily something I would want to do.

“Can you go first? I’ve got to pee really badly..” I say to Luis, placing my bag down and running towards the restroom. Finishing my business up quickly and washing my hands thoroughly.

I look around me for a bit, knowing that sometimes players would use these restrooms as well. I had heard about instances where the players of the opposite team had raged against our team’s staff members. Which definitely had me watching my back in moments like these.

I had interacted with some players of FC Barcelona, and they hadn’t been disrespectful so far.

Thus, I’m not too fazed when the door to the restroom opens. I look up as a sweaty and tired Ferran Tores walks in.

We make immediate eye contact, and I nod in greeting, shooting him a quick ‘hello' before pulling some paper towels from the dispenser to dry my hands.

He seems to be seething in anger, so I break eye contact, looking away.

“This is a staff bathroom, are you aware of that?”

He suddenly says, water splashing from the faucet as he begins washing his face.

“Sorry?” I question, wondering what he’s getting at.

“Not for girlfriends.” He mutters, turning the faucet off.

My face twists into one of confusion, the words throwing me for a loop. Seems like he notices, and he opens his mouth again.

“You’re Bellingham’s girl, aren’t you? This is the staff restroom.” He enunciates every single word as if I’m a kindergartner, it makes me freeze for a second.

I struggle to stop myself from reacting thoughtlessly, not knowing if I should be crying or laughing.

My hand reaches for my staff badge hanging from my neck, waving it in front of his face.

“Do I look like a girlfriend?” I ask, dropping my badge and stepping out before he can apologize.

Asshole, losing doesn’t give you the right to be so damn rude.

How could I even get rid of these stupid fucking rumors?

“Okay, smile!” I exclaim, holding Luis’s camera up to take a photo of the squad. With the happiness of winning an El Classico and the celebration of Luca's milestone came a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.

I hold back a chuckle at the sight of Aurélien laying on the floor, instructing some of them to move a bit for a better shot.

We take multiple photos together, staff members taking photos with the squad while I force them to stand in front of the camera.

“y/n, come here, and we’ll take a picture!” Antonio urges, snatching the camera off of me and pushing me to stand in front of the camera.

I feel myself being pushed, until I find myself almost pressing into Jude’s side.

I curse to myself, forcing an awkward smile as I pose next to everyone.

“What? Surely, you don’t think I bite?” Jude whispers, his arm dropping to his side.

“Please, shut up and pose. We still have that interview, so don’t start now..” I mutter between a clenched smile, pretending I’m not fazed.

I hear a soft chuckle, a mocking and breathy ‘sure’ leaving his mouth.

It gives me shivers down my spine, and I fight the urge to step on his shoe, focusing on posing instead.

This will be a long, long interview..

“You should’ve told me you’re leaving.” I mumble, mouth full of cereal and milk.

“Sorry, been so busy, didn’t even come to mind.” My dad says, walking around the house as he gets ready for work.

“Where is that blue tie I just got?” He shouts from his room.

“I ironed it! It’s in the bottom drawer!” I shout, scrolling through my messages.

“Got it!”

I hum, chugging the leftover milk in my bowl before standing up from the dining table.

“When are you going? Will you be gone for long?” I ask, watching him put the tie on in his bedroom.

“This weekend. It’s a crucial case, so I’ll be back when it’s totally over. Don’t get up to mischief. I know how you get when you’re home alone.” He points, giving me a stern look.

“Yeah, sure, I will plan a house party or two..” I joke, but it doesn’t land as he continues staring me down.

“Okay! I will be a responsible adult and call you or auntie Carmen when something happens..”

“Good, I’m leaving to get to work. Will you be back on time for dinner?” He says, grabbing his paperwork and laptop bag.

“Yeah, can we order in tonight?” I give him a pleading look, walking him out.

“You know I can’t deny my daughter happiness in the form of burgers and fries...”

[hekettled]

It’s fascinating listening to dream talk about manhunt tbh. Like…it really is so incredibly calculated and produced. I don’t mean that in a bad way, I think it makes them better. Like obviously he has a lot of skills and puts a lot of research and practice into them, but also of course they’re em heavily edited and carefully put together. That’s why they’re good.

Like it took me a while to watch them and I think I only started because I saw people taking about how sweet and nostalgic the early ones were with just Dream and George were, but then I got hooked and started tearing through them, and at certain points my wife saw me watching one and always got hooked and wound up finishing those with me even when they were like an hour. They are very engrossing. They are like a Minecraft action movie. Like yeah the music is easy to make fun of (and often too loud Dream please it is hard to understand the dialogue), but it adds to the emotional investment/suspense whatever. I have heard him talk about liking to pick music in the editing process and even if it’s a little much I do think it’s such a big part of their success.

And then he talked about editing in audio from other manhunt videos (old ones/failed ones), and my first reaction was you sneaky little bastard, but yeah. Of course. They’re not scripted, their reactions are not always gonna be compelling, that’s smart and also wow, these editing jobs must be so much work. And as much as the yelling is sometimes a lot for my ears, yeah in the moment of watching the video I’d rather hear a reaction that carries my excitement.

And he also mentioned the rules thing and making your video as accessible as possible to the widest audience, and like yeah. He’s very strategic and smart about all this. I already knew this, from stuff he’s said and just from how fast he grew. I mean obviously a lot of it’s luck and algorithm, but certainly not all of it. It’s just cool to hear more insight into his process.

And the manhunt series continues to really impress me, in lots of different ways.

[slasherhaven]

How would slashers react, when their s/o climbs on them (or hug them very tightly) in the middle of the night, because she has terrible nightmare? I mean in their earlier relationship, when they're not used to snuggling neither sleeping so close to each other yet. Thank you :) btw your writing is amazing, I can read the hc and stories over and over and it always makes my day ♥

The Slashers reacting to their s/o (or future s/o) coming to them for comfort after a nightmare:

Thomas Hewitt 

You had been staying with the Hewitt family for a little while now. You had become a member of the family and you had grown closer to Thomas than anyone else. You had been given your own bedroom and that was something you were grateful for.

You and Thomas really had become close and he had really started to relax around you.

You woke up from a nightmare, gasping and breathing heavily, quickly switching a light on.

You were shaken and couldn’t get back to sleep, you even felt uncomfortable just sitting on your own. And there was only one person you could go to.

You wandered out of your bedroom and over to Thomas’ room, knocking on the door. You didn’t want to just barge in on him.

You knocked again and waited when you heard movement from inside the room. It wasn’t long until the door opened, revealing Thomas.

“I’m sorry for waking you up” you apologised but he shook his head, silently assuring you that it was okay. “I had a nightmare and...I don’t want to be alone, I’m kinda freaked out, could I stay with you tonight?”

Thomas would pause for a moment, considering your request, before finally nodding. You looked shaken and a little embarrassed, and he wanted to help you, he just couldn’t turn you away.

He let you in, closing the door behind you. He was a little awkward as you both got onto the bed and got comfortable. 

But you noticed that he was just laying on his back, with his mask on.

“You can take the mask off, I promise I won’t look” you assured him.

Thomas was a little reluctant but believed that you wouldn’t lie and figured that the light was off so the room wasn’t well lit. So, he removed the mask, placing it on the bedside table before settling back down.

You kept your promise, making sure not to look at his face, but you still moved closer to him. 

“Thanks Tommy” you rested your head on his chest, draping an arm over his waist.

Thomas is a surprised by your actions but pretty much just melts, wrapping an arm around you in the hopes of making you feel safer.

Michael Myers

You and Michael had technically been sharing a bed for a while but for the longest time you never even saw him sleep. Once he became more comfortable with you, you’d catch him sleeping for short periods of time in your bed. And finally the two of you would share the bed at the same time.

Still, sharing a bed didn’t mean you were cuddling at night. The two of you tended to stay to your sides of the bed and he would be gone in the morning since he usually woke up much earlier than you, usually sleeping less that you do.

So, when you woke up from a nightmare, you just wanted to feel safe and comforted but weren’t sure how Michael would respond to that. 

When you woke up, you jolted and that woke him up (always on edge and still a relatively light sleeper) but he didn’t react, knowing it was just you.

You thought he was still asleep but he was completely aware of you shifting closer and cautiously tucking yourself under his arm.

He honestly isn’t sure how to react but he doesn’t stop you. He knows it was a nightmare because of how you woke up and you’re not doing any harm, so he allows it...

You slowly settle and relax, resting your head against his chest and draping your arm over his chest. 

Michael will be awake until you’ve fallen asleep again, feeling comfortable and safe being so close to him. Then he’ll finally fall back to sleep.

You’ll wake up the next morning to find one of Michael’s arms casually but protectively wrapped around you. He’s not good intimacy but he is protective.

Jason Voorhees

Jason is very sweet and very cautious about making you uncomfortable. He fully lets you sleep on the bed while offering to sleep elsewhere. You had tried to assure him that you really didn’t mind and that it was his bed, if he wasn’t comfortable you would sleep on the couch. But Jason insisted.

So, when you woke up from a nightmare, you were alone and freaked out.

You knew where Jason would be and you knew that just having him around would make you feel better, he always made you feel safe.

So you didn’t think much of it when you climbed out of the bed and searched the cabin for Jason, finding him in the living room, sleeping on the couch. You hated that he felt the need to sleep out here in his own home.

“Jason?” you walked over to stand by his side, the gentle call of his name being enough to wake him. 

When he saw you, he sat up in a slightly panic, figuring that something must be wrong and worrying about whether you were okay or not. Especially since you looked a little shaken.

“I, uh, I had a nightmare and I can’t sleep...can you just come and lay with me?” you asked but Jason didn’t response instantly, he just looked at you like he was trying to come up with an answer. “Please?” and that was all it took.

You looked shaken and clearly had been tearing up a little, so he knew that he couldn’t just leave you.

He would nod and stand, following you back to the bedroom.

You got on the bed first, patting the space beside you to encourage him to join you, and he did. 

Jason would lay beside you but not purposely touch you, still just thinking he was being respectful. 

So you were the one to move closer, happily making yourself comfortable against his chest. 

Jason is just a little flustered by finding himself cuddling with you, but he would wrap his arm around you, maybe even stroke your hair to comfort you.

You’ll fall asleep again pretty quick but Jason would be up for a little while, getting used to the feeling of holding you and relaxing. Finally he would fall asleep, and he would sleep well with you in his arms.

Brahms Heelshire 

Despite all of Brahms’ wishes, the two of you weren’t sharing a bed on a nightly basis. Cuddling wasn’t completely out of the question, you would hold him when he needed to comfort him but that was where it ended.

But when you woke up from a nightmare, you didn’t want to be alone and you knew that Brahms wouldn’t have a problem with that. So, you didn’t really hesitate before heading for his room.

He didn’t wake up when you entered his room, closing the door behind you.

“Brahms?” you asked, making him stir. “Brahms?” you repeated, moving closer to his bed.

This time he woke up, sitting up when he saw you standing beside his bed.

“Sorry, I uh...I had a bad dream and can’t get back to sleep, do you mind if I just stay with you?” you explained yourself.

It was a little strange, it felt like the roles had been reversed to an extent. Normally you would comfort him and now you were going to him for comfort.

Brahms nodded instantly, moving over to give you enough room to lay down.

You lay down beside him and pulled the sheets over your body. As you lay down, Brahms would look at you questioningly, as if waiting for some sort of reassurance.

With some gentle encouragement from you, he will lay down beside you, happily pulling you into his arms to hold and comfort you. He just wanted to make sure he wasn’t getting ahead of himself, restraining himself for once.

But once he has you in his arms, he’s holding you close and not letting you go, nuzzling his face into your hair.

He’ll whisper some gentle reassurances, telling you that it’s okay and that he’s here for you now.

His hold is comforting and you quickly find yourself relaxing in his embrace and holding him in return. 

The two of you are falling asleep again before you know it.

Bo Sinclair 

You had been staying in Ambrose for a while now, the truth about the town beginning to feel normal to you. You had been staying with the twins, in a spare bedroom that they had.

When you first arrived in Ambrose you had quite frequent nightmares, understandably. But things had changed, you were more comfortable and even happy in the little town and you had become friends with the brothers, even becoming close to Bo.

It had been a long time since your last nightmare so this one was a surprise and affected you more than you would have expected a nightmare to do. You knew there was no way you could get to sleep, barely even wanting to close your eyes again, feeling paranoid and unsafe even if you knew nothing was different from any other day.

You just didn’t want to be alone, so you had to make a choice. Did you seek out Bo or Vincent? While you knew Vincent was a sweetheart, it was Bo that you had developed a better connection with.

So you climbed out of them and wandered down the hallway until you you came to Bo’s door, taking a breath before letting yourself in. 

The room was dark but you could see well enough, including where Bo slept on his bed.

Bo had technically invited you into his bed multiple times but you were pretty sure he had just been trying to get under your skin, and you had always turned him down.

You padded over to his bed, truly not knowing how he would react to you coming to him like this for comfort.

You weren’t sure whether you should wake him up or not, you didn’t need to be mocked for having nightmares.

But he woke up pretty quick when you approached the bed.

“Been dreaming about me?” he teased, a smirk on his face, assuming you had come to his room for very different reason

“Shut up. I had a bad dream” you confessed, face red with embarrassment.

He’s mostly confused but rolls his eyes at you, muttering before going to turn around to sleep.

“Bo?” you got his attention again. “Do you think you could...” of all the people to be asking for comfort, you knew Bo was the most like to scoff and tell you to get out. 

He got the idea of what you were trying to ask and sighed.

“Come on then” he mumbled, acting disinterested as he lifted the blanket, inviting you in. You gave him a small smile before climbing onto the bed.

Bo assumed you would keep to yourself but he was wrong, and he was surprised when you shifted closer and wrapped your arms around him. 

He could tell that you were still shaken by whatever your dream was and he was too tired to deal with it in any other way, so he just gave up and wrapped his arm around you, letting you cuddle up more against him.

“Not a fucking word about this to anyone” he muttered, to which you nodded, suddenly feeling safe and comfortable enough to fall back to sleep.

Yeah, he’s absolutely going to tease you about this for a while.

Vincent Sinclair

Since you were staying in Ambrose, you needed a place to sleep. Vincent had gone out of his way to tidy up a spare room for you, which you greatly appreciated. 

You liked having your space and some privacy, even if you enjoyed spending most of your days with Vincent, finding his presence calming.

When you woke up in a dark room from a terrible nightmare, you felt alone and unsettled. You just knew you couldn’t go back to sleep, images of your nightmare flashing in your mind whenever you closed your eyes.

You didn’t even question it, Vincent calmed you, so you headed for his room.

Even in your shaken state, you respected his boundaries, so you didn’t turn on any lights in his room, so that you wouldn’t be able to make out the features of his face.

You woke him up gently, calming him when he startled slightly.

“I, uh, I had nightmare and I don’t want to be alone. Could I just stay here for the night?” 

Vincent’s hair fell over his face, hiding the scarring but leaving the unharmed half of his face slightly visible in the dark room. He paused for a moment, thinking about his answer, but nodded.

You seemed upset and he didn’t like that, he wanted to help.

He lets you climb into bed but turns away from you, so that you wouldn’t see his face. Poor guy thinks it would only scare you more.

You and Vincent had been growing very close so you didn’t think it was too weird to shift closer, wrapping your arm around his waist as you rested your head against his back.

He tensed for a moment before relaxing, feeling comfortable like this.

When you woke up the next morning, you would find yourself in a reversed position. Vincent laying beside you, his chest against your back and his arm around your waist.

Lester Sinclair

Since your stay in Ambrose, you had moved into Lester’s home. Mostly because you and Lester got along so well and Bo thought it would be better if you weren’t in town all the time, especially when ‘visitors’ came by. Lester wasn’t sure how to go about your new living situations, so he gave you the bedroom and insisted on sleeping on the couch. He didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. 

But you finally managed to get him to share the bed with you, feeling bad about making him sleep on the couch in his own home. Plus, you weren’t uncomfortable with sharing a bed with him. Still, he made sure to stay on his side of the bed to avoid any awkwardness. He’s just being sweet.

Lester is a pretty deep sleeper, especially since you moved in and there was another person in the house. So, when when you startled awake and sat up, he just slept through it.

You did feel better than you would have if Lester wasn’t there at all but you just felt like you needed a little more comfort and Lester was a good friend.

But you didn’t want to just wrap yourself around him or anything, so you tried to wake him up.

You gently shook him awake while saying his name. He woke up, assuming something was wrong since you were waking him in the middle of the night, and asked what was wrong when he saw the worried look on your face.

“Everything is fine, don’t worry. I just...I had a nightmare, it really freaked me out and I can’t get back to sleep”

Lester would do anything to make you feel better, and he asks what he can do, but you simply ask him if he can just hold you,

Of course, Lester agrees, nodding and shifting more towards the middle of the bed.

You thanked him quietly as you settled in his arms, wrapping your own around his waist as he held you against his chest.

If Lester hadn’t been half asleep, he probably would have been a little more awkward or nervous, but he was tired and happy with the idea of holding you.

Cuddling becomes a very normal thing between you both after that night, both of you simply enjoying it and finding comfort in it.

Bubba Sawyer

During your stay with the Sawyer, you had definitely grown closer to Bubba than anyone else.

So when you woke up, freaked out after a pretty terrible nightmare, you barely even thought about it before heading towards Bubba’s room. 

You were going to knock on his door but were a little worried about waking one of his brothers or something and making a much bigger scene than you meant too.

But Bubba wouldn’t mind you letting yourself into his room or waking him up.

Bubba would never turn you away, especially when you just had a nightmare or where upset.

So, he’s invite you in, making sure you were alright.

He tries to be respectful of your space when you’re in his bed, but you just wanted to be close to him and be comforted. So, you cuddled up to him.

Bubba would instantly hold you and cuddle you in return, he’s more than happy to do so.

And he gives great cuddles, you’ll be falling back to sleep in no time, with no thoughts of your nightmare.

If you ever need him again for some comfort, you know where to find him!

Billy Lenz

Befriending Billy to the extent you had took some patience but it was fair to say that he now trusted you with everything he had. And you felt a similar way.

It wouldn’t be the first time you had fallen asleep together. You had fallen asleep on the couch together but also on your bed, cuddled up in blankets while watching a movie.

But it wasn’t a nightly thing, Billy still usually stayed in the attic while you slept in your bed.

This night was just the same as usual, except for the horrible nightmare you had. You woke up in a cold sweat and a gasp, breathing heavy.

You took a moment to calm down but you knew that you wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep, not if you were on your own anyway.

But as you gathered your thoughts and looked beside you, you saw Billy curled up on the other side of the bed. He must have had a bad dream too, or just couldn’t sleep. This also wouldn’t be the first time he had done something like this.

You knew to be cautious, not wanting to startle him, but his presence relaxed you a little.

So, you shifted closer, gently resting your arm around his waist and pressing your forehead to his back.

This caught Billy’s attention, gently waking him up. When he felt you against his back, he turned around, making you pull away slightly.

“Sorry...I had a bad dream” you explained yourself with a light blush of embarrassment.

“Me too” Billy mumbled as he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you closer again and making himself comfortable.

You made yourself comfortable again as well, cuddling into him. You comforted him a lot but he was very capable of comforting you as well.

Asa Emory (The Collector) 

Asa isn’t much of a cuddler, so even when you’re laying in his bed after spending the night with him, he’s not really cuddling you. You kind of have to initiate that.

You woke up with a slight jolt, breathing heavy as you sat up, looking around the room to process your surroundings and calm down.

Asa felt you wake up and heard your unsteady breathing, he quickly puts two and two together, assuming you had a nightmare,

He rolled onto his back and looked at you, holding an arm out for you.

You quickly accepted the invitation, moving into his side and laying your head on his chest.

“Bad dream?” he asked lowly, wrapping his arm around your body while closing his eyes again.

You just nodded, nuzzling your face against his chest some more as he tightened his hold on you.

It wasn’t a huge gesture but you did find comfort in it and you always felt safe when he held you, a reminder of what was real and what was only a dream.

Asa could be cold at times but he made you feel safe, and he always came through for you in the end.

Jesse Cromeans (Chromeskull)

Jesse enjoys cuddling more than one might assume, so he is already holding you. An arm around your waist and his chest pressed to your back. He’s not going to have you in his bed and just be ignoring you.

So, when you wake up from the nightmare, you’re instantly soothed just a little bit because of the feeling of being held.

But it wasn’t quite enough. 

You turned around, burying your face in Jesse’s chest and wrapping your arms around his waist, bringing yourself closer to him.

Your sudden movement woke Jesse up, and the way you seemingly clung to him made him a little concern.

He tightened his hold on you a little, stroking his hand over your hair and up and down your back.

He holds you securely, making sure you felt safe and protected.

If you wanted to talk about it, he would listen, but you seemed like you just wanted some comfort.

He would hold you and sooth you until he felt you falling back to sleep, then he would fall back to sleep again.

Otis Driftwood 

You had been ‘staying’ with the Firefly family for a little while now, spared for reasons still confusing to you. Otis had made it extremely clear that you were welcome in his bed anytime but you had never taken him up, for perfectly understandable reasons.

However, it was undeniable that you and Otis had been getting closer during your time with the family. He’d make you smile and laugh, you’d sit and talk, by his standards he was nice to you, and you were growing more comfortable around him.

He was still a flirt, he still offered you a place in his bed, but you never took him up on the offer. Even if your restraints were slowly weakening...

So, the night you woke up from a terrifying nightmare, you knew where you would be welcome.

You had tried to shake off the feeling and just go back to sleep but you couldn’t, you didn’t even want to be alone at the moment. 

And so, you crept out of your room, staying quiet to not wake anyone up, and headed for Otis’ room.

You let yourself in, closing the door behind you, and saw Otis laying on the bed, sprawled out carelessly with a thin blanket lazily draped over his body.

You took a breath, a little nervous to disturb him and being completely sure that he was going to mock you for this, but you walked over to the bed.

“Otis?” he didn’t wake up, leaving you standing beside the bed awkwardly.

You knew he wouldn’t mind you getting into bed with him, so you decided to just got for it. Climbing onto the bed and carefully positioning yourself in the small free space beside him.

You laying beside him seemed to wake him up, though.

He’d squint at you for a moment, processing the fact that you were laying beside him, curled up and facing away from him.

But he isn’t known for being particularly shy, so he’d just turn to face you, wrapping his arm around your waist and pressing his chest to your back.

“Ya could’ve woke me” you could feel him smirking against your neck.

“Just had a bad dream” you mumbled, ready for him to make fun of you.

He was silent for a moment before just sighing. “Alright” was all he said, and he didn’t loosen his hold on you since you didn’t complain about it.

The two of you just lay like that for a moment before you relaxed some more.

Otis wouldn’t make another comment, mostly because he didn’t know what to say. So, he decided to say nothing and just leave you be. He was only half awake anyway so he was already falling asleep again, and so were you, now feeling surprisingly more safe.

This would definitely have an impact on your relationship and sleeping beside him would become a much more regular thing.

Baby Firefly

You had been staying with the Fireflys for a while now and you and Baby had become good friends, she just made you feel better about everything that was going on in the house while you were living there.

Because you were such good friends, you had moved into her room. You had been sleeping in the living room, on the couch, but you felt a little in the way of the rest of the family. So, Baby had offered to let you stay with her.

You had found sleeping at all difficult when you first arrived at the house but now you slept fine, at least until tonight when you were woken up by a dreadful nightmare.

You woke up with a jolt and gasp, glancing around the room as you grounded yourself.

Your sudden movements woke Baby up, squinting at you as she asked what was wrong.

You were just honest with her, telling her it was bad dream.

If Baby likes you, she’s a very affectionate person, so she’s up and comforting you.

She’ll pull you towards her, letting you rest your head on her chest as she strokes your hair, lulling you back to sleep. 

After this, cuddling becomes a very regular thing.

Yautja (Predator)

It was the early stages of your relationship, you were definitely together but it was still early.

Still, it wasn’t uncommon for him to stay at your home. Because...why not? You liked spending time together.

You never feel safer than when you’re with him, so when you had a nightmare it only made sense that you wanted to be near him.

So, you climbed out of your bed and left your bedroom to search for him, finding him in the living room.

Of course he is concerned when he sees you awake this late, asking if you’re alright.

“Yeah, just had a nightmare...could you come and stay with me?” 

Well, all you had to do was ask!

He doesn’t need much of an excuse to be near you and if you need him, he’s going to be there.

The two of you head back to your bedroom and climb onto your bed. 

He’s happy when you move closer to him, he’ll even move you so that you were laying fully on his chest, letting you get comfortable.

And to help sooth you, since you were still a little shaken by the nightmare, of course he starting with those little purrs, which you’re able to feel vibrating through his chest.

It’s incredibly soothing and you feel protected in his embrace, so you fall asleep again pretty quickly.

Well, there’s no way you’ll be spending your nights any differently now.

[bitsandbobsofwriting]

Merlin Scar Reveal Part 2(final part)

Merlin tries to pretend nothing happened, Arthur says “that’s stupid.”

Part 1

Merlin’s nightmares last for the rest of the afternoon and extend well into the night. 

The heat certainly doesn’t help, and it takes all of Gaius’ effort to keep his temperature low enough to not boil him from the inside out, but he manages with help from the knights. Mordred and Lancelot refuse to leave the servant’s side of course, but the others loiter in the corridor the entire time, and take turns sprinting to the cold store and kitchens for ice water and cloths.

It was difficult to stand there waiting, being given scraps of information on Merlin’s condition, especially when most of the scraps consist of something along the lines of “Hopefully he’ll snap out of it by the morning.”, which was certainly not helped when the occasional whimper floated out to them from the young servant’s room.

After a few hours, Leon was the one to draw the short straw to go and talk to Arthur. Whilst all of them were mildly miffed that Arthur had pushed Merlin so far, they knew that ultimately, it was all of their faults. All of them had pushed him, and none of them had protected him from being injured in the first place. None of them knew how much he had suffered, was still suffering. Considering Arthur’s... extra feelings for his servant, it was no wonder he’d reacted even worse than the others.

The First Knight agrees to go, knowing he had the best chance of talking some sense into The King, though he refuses to leave until he sees each of the others settle in their beds; it had been a long day, and would likely be an even longer day tomorrow. They all need as much sleep as they can get.

Arthur doesn’t answer when Leon knocks on his door, but the knight lets himself in after a few moment regardless, doing so quietly so as not to startle the man if he was asleep or, more likely, deep in thought.

The King was sat at his desk, chin resting on his hands, and Leon has to stamp down the surge of protective adrenaline in his lungs when he sees the dry tear tracks on the younger man’s face. He doesn’t notice Leon’s presence, not even when he very deliberately clears his throat, so the knight walks over to him slowly, rapping his knuckles harshly on the desk. That finally catches Arthur’s attention, and he looks up with a start, hands reaching for the sword that Leon knows he has hidden under the desk.

The King lets out a deep breath and relaxes back in his seat when he sees that it’s just Leon, hastily wiping his eyes before clearing his throat and looking up with a fake confidence:

“Sir Leon, what can I do for you?”

Leon just raises an eyebrow, but when Arthur holds strong and doesn’t react he lets out a deep sigh and collapses into the seat on the other side of the desk:

“Come on, Arthur. We need to talk about this.”

Arthur gulps, trying to keep his unaffected façade up, but failing and dropping it after only a few moments; something about the soft, overly concerned look Leon was giving him made him want to wrap himself in blankets and sob himself to sleep. He frowns and just about manages to keep the tears in:

“Why wouldn’t he tell me? If not about the physical scars, then about all the times he’s been hurt. Does he not think I would’ve given him time to recover? Or, God forbid, helped him?”

Leon purses his lips slightly in thought, still having to make a concerted effort not to gather The King up in a tight hug as he considers his questions:

“I don’t think it’s about you, Arthur. Merlin is... a private person by nature, and he doesn’t like worrying people. You heard Mordred, he and Lance found out by accident, and even then Merlin tried to keep them away from it as long as possible.”

Arthur stands, the guilt and sadness in his gut now frothing with anger as well. He paces around to the centre of the room and Leon stands to watch him carefully:

“He can say it’s not about me as much as he wants, but I’m The King, Leon,-”

He whirls on the knight, and Leon clenches his jaw, resisting the urge to raise a mocking eyebrow. He knew to expect anger at some point, but that doesn’t mean Arthur was entitled to it:

“-I have a right to know what’s going on in my Kingdom. I should’ve been informed of Nimueh and Morgause’s deaths, I should’ve been informed that Cenred was torturing people for information. How many other countless adventures has Merlin had that have put himself, Me, the Kingdom in danger, simply because he didn’t want people to know much about him?? None of that was his call to make.”

Leon does raise an eyebrow at that, but Arthur was too busy furiously pacing to feel scolded quite yet. The older man crosses his arms and huffs slightly, waiting for The King to calm before responding:

“Be that as it may, that’s not why you’re angry. You can lie to yourself, Arthur, but you can’t lie to me, and you certainly shouldn’t lie to Merlin. If you go to him pretending that you’re angry because he put the Kingdom at risk, and not because you’re heartbroken at him having suffered so much, then he’ll never forgive you. And when you realise that, you’ll never forgive yourself.”

Arthur looks to Leon sharply, but the anger drains from his face within seconds and his whole body sags slightly, the exhaustion of the day having caught up to him. A glance to the now dark window tells him that it’s well into the evening, but he can’t find it in himself to be annoyed at the unfinished paperwork on his desk or the hunger in his stomach from not having eaten since before noon, not when he knows Merlin is being tortured by nightmares and injuries that have long since healed. Injuries that he should never have had in the first place. Leon waits patiently for Arthur to respond:

“I don’t want him to be in pain. I just want to help him.”

His cracking admission has Leon give up on holding himself back, and he strides towards The King to pull him into a tight embrace. Arthur tenses at first, but quickly falls into the older man’s affection, accepting a hug for the first time since he was a child. Leon responds softly, aware that he only had a short time before Arthur pulled away and put his walls back up:

“Merlin’s already in pain, Arthur, but that doesn’t mean we can’t now help him.-”

He feels Arthur nod into his shoulder and squeezes the man tighter for a moment before pulling back, keeping a tight grip on The King’s shoulders:

“Come on, you need to get some sleep.”

Arthur’s tired, longing gaze moves to the paperwork spread haphazardly over his desk, and Leon shakes his head, tugging Arthur’s shoulders so he looks back at him:

“No, work isn’t an option, your mind is not in any sort of state to be productive right now. You’re exhausted, Arthur, a few hours of sleep will do you some good; I hate to say it but The Kingdom won’t stop needing attention whilst we... sort through this, and you’ll need the energy tomorrow.”

Arthur shakes his head, stepping back and rubbing his eyes tiredly as he takes a deep breath and straightens his back. Leon steps back as well, re-introducing the respectful distance that should be between a King and his Knight, waiting for Arthur’s no doubt stoic response:

“The councilmen will survive without me for a day or two, if not then that really should be something I’m made aware of so I can get to replacing them. Merlin and I need to...-”

He cuts himself off and clears his throat:

“-has there been any news? Any change?”

Leon shakes his head, but catches Arthur’s wrist when he begins walking towards the door:

“Arthur. I just about managed to convince everyone else to get some sleep and you need it more than them.-”

Arthur looks back indignantly, failing to portray his Kingly Anger in his exhaustion and looking more like a scolded child:

“-You know I’m right. Get some sleep, Gaius will inform you if anything changes.”

For a moment, it looks like Arthur wants to argue, but he quickly lets out a deep, bone weary sigh, nodding before moving sluggishly towards his bed. Leon nods approvingly, muttering a soft “Goodnight, My Lord” and smiling slightly at Arthur’s hummed response before quietly exiting the chambers.

~

Arthur can convince himself, for a few blissful seconds, that it was all a bad dream when he wakes up the next morning.

His curtains are thrown wide open; the sunlight streams in and forces The young King to groan and roll over, attempting to shield his eyes from the brightness. Merlin’s cheery voice echoes throughout the various chambers:

“Come on, Sire, up and at ‘em!”

Arthur just grumbles a slurred “Fuck off.” before his brain wakes up and he throws himself from the bed, thankfully wearing sleep clothes but only just managing to catch himself on the bedside table before he falls over:

“Merlin!! What the hell are you- are you ok?! Did Gaius say you could get up?!”

Merlin looks back at him with the same disapproving, mocking glare he usually uses in the morning; Arthur is taken aback at the darkness in his eyes. He can’t quite decide if it made it’s first appearance this morning, or if it had always been there and he just hadn’t noticed. He doesn’t know which idea he hates more:

“I’m fine, Arthur, no need to worry about me. And for your information, I’m a fully trained physician, I don’t need Gaius telling me what I can and can’t do.-”

He rolls his eyes and turns to The King’s desk with a huff, gesturing at the mess:

“-It’s flattering that you rely on me so much Arthur, but really, this is ridiculous.”

Arthur is finally broken out of his shocked stupor, shaking his head disbelievingly and taking a few short steps towards his manservant. He goes to yell but quickly backtracks, snapping his mouth shut and taking a deep breath before trying again, softly this time:

“Merlin... we have to talk about yesterday.”

Merlin’s reaction is immediate and harsh. The quill that he had picked up from Arthur’s desk snaps in his sudden tight grip and the tension in his shoulders is painful looking. He freezes for just a moment before forcing himself to relax, casually throwing the broken quill into a waste basket before continuing to organise the desk, refusing to look up at The King:

“No, we really don’t. I’m fine, My Lord.”

The lack of sarcasm or sass in Arthur’s title worries The King greatly, but the way Merlin regains more and more of the tension in his shoulders the closer Arthur walks to him is even more worrying:

“Merlin... look at me.-”

The servant gulps, biting his lip at he stares at the desk for a few more moments before forcing himself to look up. He recoils slightly at the tears in Arthur’s eyes, but doesn’t allow himself to look away. Arthur opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted by the door to his chambers opening with a bang as Mordred and Lancelot rush in. They’re both red-faced and panting, speaking at the same time:

“I swear to the Gods if he snuck out of bed to work, I’ll-”

“I apologise My Lord, I don’t suppose you’ve seen-”

They both freeze as they see Merlin stood behind Arthur’s desk, paperwork crumpled in his tight grip and face fallen into a annoyed frown. Arthur throws his hands up, frustrated as he paces and mumbles:

"Just... come in why don’t you. No, don’t worry about knocking just run on in like you own the damn place.”

Lancelot spares him a quick glance but locks the door behind him and crosses his arms like an angry mother as he looks to the irate servant:

“Merlin, we’ve talked about this, you’re meant to take the morning off after a bad night, Gaius says-”

Merlin just rolls his eyes and turns away, interrupting Lancelot’s scolding as he continues to tidy around the room, his annoyance evident in his harsh tone and hurried movements:

“I’m a physician too, and I say I’m fine. I would like to just... get on with things, please.”

Arthur has to stop himself from recoiling at the way Lance and Mordred’s faces fall, the pain and grief sadder than anything he’s ever seen in their expressions before. He takes a moment to think before giving the two of them a pointed look and quietly asking:

“Can you give us a minute?”

Lancelot looks doubtful, but willing. Mordred plants his feet and crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. He doesn’t say anything, but it’s obvious he has no intention of leaving Merlin’s side; as much as Arthur finds that admirable on a personal level, as King it’s unacceptable. He’s normally not a fan of pulling rank among friends, but maybe that’s because he normally doesn’t need to. Perhaps this whole mess was his fault, Mordred obviously felt so, but Arthur could hardly fix it with them glaring over his shoulder. He raises himself to his full height, a good few inches above Mordred, and uses the tone of voice he normally reserves for particularly difficult councilmen:

“You forget whose presence you are in, Sir Mordred, you’d do well to remember again. You are both dismissed.”

Mordred’s eyes go wide and he takes in a sharp breath, but after a quick glance to Merlin’s turned back he dutifully bows and walks from the room stiffly. Lancelot’s postures straightens as well, and he follows Mordred after a confident:

“We’ll be in Gaius’ chambers should you require anything, My Lord.”

Merlin was oblivious to the conversation, though Arthur reckons he was deliberately ignoring it as opposed to being actually unaware, especially with the way the servant’s shoulders relax when the door shuts behind the second knight.

Arthur sighs as Merlin continues to putter around the room, refusing to look him in the eye; he leans against the edge of the desk and crosses his arms:

“Merlin,-”

His voice is soft, but the servant still doesn’t look at him, giving a non-committal hum as he clears out the hearth with shaking hands:

“-come here, please.”

Merlin freezes for just a moment, and if the problem wasn’t so glaringly the context of the situation, Arthur may have been able to fool himself into believing that Merlin was just shocked he said please. The younger man stands slowly, turning to walk towards Arthur with his gaze stuck to the floor. He stops with about five feet of space between them and Arthur sighs again, closing the gap until only a few inches separates them. The King ignores the tears gathering in both of their eyes as he lifts a hesitating hand, dropping it softly on Merlin’s shoulder only when the servant doesn’t flinch away:

“Merlin, I... you mean a great deal to me, and I know I don’t say that often enough, or at all, really. You... look after me, keep me alive and unhurt, evidently more than I had originally thought. You make me a good King, and a better man.-”

Merlin looks up at him sharply and Arthur can tell that he’s about to argue, so he squeezes his shoulder and quickly hurries on:

“-You’ve been hurt, you’ve suffered in your service to me, and that’s unacceptable but it’s also my fault; I should’ve made it clear that I would protect you from anything. These scars prove your strength, but I understand not wanting to acknowledge them, so I promise I will never ask again. You tell me when you’re ready, and if that’s never, then that’s completely fine.-”

Merlin seems surprised by the promise, and the tears slowly dripping from his wide eyes just make Arthur regret yesterday even more. After a second or two of shock, Merlin visibly relaxes, relieved with the knowledge that he doesn’t have to expect the conversation that he really doesn’t want to have. Arthur gives him a weak smile before continuing:

“-I’m sorry, but I’m also grateful. Thank you, Merlin. But...-”

Merlin re-tenses at the “but” and Arthur squeezes his shoulder again, giving him what he hopes is a reassuring smile:

“-please don’t keep doing this alone. I... I don’t expect you to ask me for help, though I would drop anything in a heartbeat to keep you safe. Even... even if it’s Gwaine, just... I don’t want you disappearing off to save the Kingdom only to never come back again because no one knows where you are.”

Merlin smiles weakly at the disdain in Arthur’s voice when he mentions Gwaine, but quickly frowns again and looks at the floor. He gaze stays lowered when he asks his one word question, his voice quiet and ragged:

“Anything?”

Arthur frowns for a second, confused about what Merlin was asking, but quickly realises, lifting the other man’s chin with his hand, his voice a whisper:

“Merlin, I would give up the Kingdom to rid you of the burden you’ve place upon yourself. I just want you safe and happy and by my side.”

Merlin once again looks like he wants to argue, but a quiet sob falls from his mouth instead and Arthur, damning the consequences and his stupid reputation, pulls the younger man into a tight hug, cradling his head into his shoulder and running a soft hand up and down his back. A few tears of his own slip free but he finds he doesn’t care that much as Merlin shakes in his arms; he presses a barely-there kiss to Merlin’s temple and begins swaying slightly on the spot, wanting more than anything to take away his servant’s pain.

Merlin’s cries slow to a stop after what feels like hours, but Arthur doesn’t let go quite yet, eyeing the unmade bed over Merlin’s shoulder with eagerness, knowing that neither he nor Merlin had slept well last night. He feels Merlin stifle yawn against his shoulder and that just strengthens his resolve; he squeezes the younger man to get his attention and then speaks quietly:

“Reckon the council can survive without me later?”

Merlin clears his throat and responds, but still doesn’t let go:

“Doubtful, but Leon and Morgana could probably whip them into shape. Why?”

Arthur nods and pulls back, frowning at the slight panic in Merlin’s eyes when he steps away but doesn’t mention it, letting his hand slide down from the servant’s shoulder to grip his hand. Merlin visibly relaxes, but still looks confused as Arthur tugs him towards the bed gently; he allows himself to be pushed to sit on the edge and looks up at Arthur questioningly. The blond stops himself from grinning widely at the trust in his expression, instead turning away to shut the curtains and lock the door as he says:

“Shoes and belt off, I fancy a nap, how about you?”

He was expecting an argument, so he's surprised when he turns back to the bed to see Merlin softly smiling as he sets his shoes and belt on the bedside table neatly. They both climb under the covers wordlessly, and Merlin doesn’t hesitate to curl into Arthur’s side when he holds his arms out to him. 

The King holds his servant close, tucking his head against his chest and burying his chin in his soft hair, his arms wound around Merlin tightly. Merlin closes his eyes without issue, finding himself unafraid of the darkness or the nightmares or the firm touch against his back for the first time since his collection of scars began.

The warrior sleeps, plagued by nothing but pleasant dreams and the warmth of a protection he knows he can trust.

~

THE END!!

That took me FOREVER to write, writer’s block really does suck, but I’m glad I finally got it finished. I feel like it’s a little underwhelming, but I hope y‘all like it :)

@1stbonesfan asked to be tagged! <3

[danger-noodle-uwu]

This is a pretty graphic idea I had but I understand if you don’t want to do it or find it too triggering.

I want to request hc’s of the Brothers + Datables (but if you do the Brothers and Datables separately than just the Brothers please) reacting to MC being summoned but MC’s covered in blood and holding a weapon like a bat or knife, because they massacred their abusive family and they don’t feel bad about it at all. Mc’s pretty emotionally hollow and they don’t show much reaction or fear to dangerous situations either since the Bros do start off threatening and rude but they relate to Mammon since he’s emotionally abused by his Bros and physically punished by Lucifer.

This is only if you feel comfy doing it and I apologize if I broke the rules and making you find it very triggering and disturbing

Trigger warning!

Mentions of blood/murder/abuse

Do not proceed if sensitive

Lucifer

At the summoning part, Lucifer would be merely worried about what type of student has diavolo choosen, pitying his taste. Though he was but a demon, weary and skittish around you.

The Avatar of pride scared of mere human?

(Though he kinda was)

Blood being spilled on the floor was common in devildom yet he was unfazed.

But now, things are different and he can't help to worry about how this weak creature will influence on his brothers.

the fallen-morningstar tried to keep you away from the entire of his brothers including himself.

He also made sure that never was anything that could be used as a potential weapon surround you.

Often the man would receive rather harsh words from you and get somewhat hurt. Yet , not a single cry reach your ears.

(Que enemies to lovers dynamic)

When the pair started dating, the raven-haired demon had already known the past and what it once held for mc...

Oh how much he wishes, he helped you instead of interrogating every movement, to regain the 'you' that your parents killed. So, he will find a solution. To find those rascals in the realm of spirits or demons and put them once again at your mercy.

Prepare yourself Mc. For a whole month of pampering and love as he will never dare repeat the mistake he made.

Mammon

As the story is, Mammon didn't encounter you first but only heard melody of your voice.

The first meet was unforgettable, he was petrified to see the blood dripping off your slender bruised figure.

One thought that he was scared however, No he was anything but scared. He had thought you were the one hurt like--you know h-how Lucifer hurts him.

He rushed towards you but was stopped by the eldest saying " They aren't hurt." And this was the first person tried who befriend you.

When your words were sweetly aimed at him and just HIM. He'd feel his heart beat racing like crazy which made him believe he thought you found him special.

He was never honest with anyone, until you showed up. His biggest fear was snapping because of the mean comments his brothers pass and you had probably done something similar.

He wanted to know. Though dense he may seem, he hoped you'd tell him.

Was it scary? Do you feared this before? Is it still scary? Do you feel emotions after this?

Yet he never asked...

When the greedy Boi and mc started dating, they told everything about their condition. Of how they snapped.

He was the most understanding of his brothers and promised to never let another one harm you. Not even you.

He loved even more since that day. Not to mention 1323433454455686 'I love you's per day.

Leviathan

Blabbering lord knows what, Leviathan had stepped out of his room even if that was to scold mammon and get his money back.

He obviously knew about the exchange program but what he didn't know was that bloody murderer would be part of it!!!

He wasn't moving when he saw the numb expression you wore and the bloody knife you had held.

Inside, he was scared shitless but he didn't know how to show it.

A mere-human had terrified The great admiral of hell's navy. What shame he was.

"Oi cut it out!" Yelled the scummy yet kind demon protectively moving between the two.

In the beginning, he felt unsafe only by your gaze and refusing to make eye contact.

And then, a good day to exit to his room. The true reason being the pearly raindrops that had littered the gardens of HOL.

He saw you... soaking wet smiling and hurting... shining brightly though it felt dim.

That day. That dammed day. He found out who truly were. A beautiful person who was just hurting and breaking.

Since then, he has been a mix of a nagging mother but also shy as if a touch-me-not.

Dating him was heavenly, he wasn't shy with touch yet words were a whole another thing to him.

He always left 'Love you's in the chats and reminders on your phone that were just a bunch of 'eat healthy' 'stay safe', etc.

And this was certain that his love will never end.

Satan

Snatching the bat from your hands, the blonde-man threatened to kill you with your own weapon if you dared to move.

And that's exactly what you wanted... to die... to end the suffering...

And he saw it.

Saw how horribly you were hurting, he knew what it felt however, he couldn't lose his composure not in front of his brothers.

Wrath is a storm which is followed by pain. He knew this. Same in your case except pain knocked the doors first.

He knew it was too early for asking. So, he kept his mouth shut. Not wishing to hurt you any further though he didn't know why he felt this way.

When you finally finished your 2nd month in your new home, things had changed as the Avatar of wrath often talked to you not about how bloody you arrived or you had killed but are you okay now?

His words were soft. So sweet.

Each time he would offer you his shoulder to cry on, you would feel your heart slowly warm up. Slightly more each-time.

Soon enough you started dating the green-eyed pact demon of yours, recalling the long lost feeling of warmth and love.

The knowledgeable one loved to show physical affection especially in front of his brothers.

Oh~ the smell of their burning envy, when he kissed the nape of your neck and complimented you.

Post-its were his favorite though.

He would often write 'Love you, kitten' 'take break,love' 'you look amazing today',etc.

Asmodues

He yelped when he saw a bloodied figure emerge from the purple haze. Are they okay?

He was concerned only till a knife was spotted next your seemingly heartless figure. Now, he was somewhat hiding behind satan in disgusted yet anxious way.

You gaze deeply disturbed him to an extent he even had nightmares of you ripping him open with same knife and had that soul-less expression.

He much like Leviathan refused to see you after the encounter but what was different, was the course of events...

He saw you arguing with Lucifer, for you refused let him hurt Mammon who curled behind you.

Asmo felt pity for you as he knew the outcome of an argument with the eldest.

"Lucifer don't hurt him, please. He already has enough bruises" Asmo says giving his sweet brother Luci the puppy eyes, hoping they would work. (Yeah they didn't)

But nonetheless Luci~ still backed out and left the hallway.

You rush for the poor injured demon, he is crying while thanking you for the save.

And there for one moment, The lustful blond saw emotion in those glassy eyes of yours. It was beautiful and aching at the same time.

Making him greedy for more...

Later the very same day, he approached you finally asking the questions his head was haunted by.

What was weird? He didn't blame you for breaking instead he complimented you for being a survivor of such harsh tortures.

Accepting his confession was the best thing you ever did.

He is open with affection especially when you both are in public to show he is yours. You are his. You belong together.

for his hunger to see those pretty eyes shine with joy is endless, he makes Mc smile with happiness and love

Beelzebub

Famished as always was the sixth born. Especially after smelling human blood.

Little did he know the blood of the now dead parents of mc, the exchange student.

He wasn't even fazed unlike his brothers. He couldn't care any less than he did nor about the blood neither about the weapon clutched in your hands.

Even if you passed insults, he wouldn't mind. Sometimes, he asks why you dislike him? And is fine even if the answer is illogical. (Don't fuckin hate him)

Numb eyes. Tears flowing freely. Cuts. Bruises. Hurting. Dying inside.

The glutton wipes the sweat off his forehead remembering the condition of yours in that horrendous nightmare.

You looked awfully similar to belphi when- when s-she died. He blamed himself and hurt himself for being so useless. Just like you do.

And then realization hits--

YOU ARE HURTING!!

He now knew why your rude words didn't hurt him because you were like belphegor trying to protect your fragile heart.

Why you look numb? because you're trying to hide the pain. Push people away so you don't get hurt when they go away.

The following day, you were gently woken by the huge teddy bear. He held a hand out for you before taking you to his room for the special breakfast.

You teared upon the sight instantly realizing that he recognized your suffering. He apologized for not noticing earlier and from now, he will be there for you.

Never in the three realms did he think he'd fall for you? Maybe he had all along just didn't notice....

Once you begin dating the orange-head, he was ecstasic and cheerful all the time. Encouraging words followed you everywhere.

He would often eat the entire fridge out. So as apology, a cupcake with sorry written on it was placed on the kitchen counter. Other days, when he won't go such extreme, carrot chips or a poison apple etc. Waited for you.

Beely is the opposite of possessive. Protective. He is Protective and supports you through the ups and downs in life. He was your true savior. A savior who never judged you for your past.

His Love is the sky, you learned to fly in.

Belphegor

He had heard the tale of how the human exchange student had shown up covered in blood with a bat in hand.

Never did he believe that it was true until seeing the monotone figure of them.

The way they spoke made them like Lucifer. Emotionless. Heartless. Ruthless. Monster.

He wanted to strangle them on spot but he was stuck within the confines of the attic.

The sloth couldn't help passing comment making mc slowly reveal the aching heart of their own-self.

Expression faultered and he saw it--No, no more like felt it. The way their tears were swallowed. The way their voice turned monotone once again to cover what had already been seen.

However, the seventh born didn't say a word, he just showed affection through body language as they couldn't touch each other yet.

After he was free from the prison of an attic, he ran to you. His star. The one that guided him out to freedom.

It felt weird dating the lazy demon. Afterall, he was doing nothing other than shoving compliments in your face and dozing off here and there.

Few months pass and things become smoother than how they were.

Now, he always compliments you but softly and sweetly. Always willing to listen to whatever you wanna rant about.

"You are my true love, Mc. The star that guides to where I belong when I'm lost."

-------------------------------------------------------

Welp! That was long as hell. Anyway, thank you for the request. It kinda feels like you and my sister share the same brain cell cuz she said the same thing but like- mc ate their organs and more messy. God I hope you like it...

Good day!

[kendrixtermina]

Edelgard and “meritocracy” - an essay

In this essay I wish to adress the common argument that “meritocracy bad, therefore edelgard bad” & the logical leaps therein.

Before we begin, I’d like to stress that she doesn’t even use the word “meritocracy” & they’re not even looking at it’s modern definition but reacting to the way it has been used as a fighting word to denigrate the poor specificically in the post reagan modern USA & then assuming Edelgard means the exact same thing by that without bothering to examine what she actually says & in what context.

Modern capitalism & the way it uses rhetoric of merit as an excuse is bad & with its reduction of human value to their moneymaking ability, definitely inherently ableist, I agree totally.

But 3H does NOT take place in the modern world. Progress is always relative to what came before. It*s progress away from entrenched problems.

It’s a total failure to even imagine a world different from the sucky one we live in - that’s exactly what tolkien meant  by that saying that if we’re prisoners we have a duty to escape.

Edelgard doesn’t live in a capitalist society nor is she bringing about capitalism (if anything Claude’s the one talking of free trade & giving the merchants what they want, though he is almost certainly playing them much like the church)

And the main component of capitalism - factory owners, rich elites who owns large swathes of companies or real estate - is nowhere to be found.

In our world that cropped up because industrialization made owning factories, offices, trade etc. more lucrative that just owning the land, so factory owners replaced landed lords, essentially promising the peasants freedom if they helped them overthrow the kings but granting them only in a limited manner - the flawed inequal democracies that resulted were a compromise between peasants and factory owners.

But by and large the nobles are very much in the same niche as the factory owners today - they own the land and get special trade privileges (the means of production), they often abuse the populace with impunity, the peasants are very poor.

Edelgard cracks down on corruption & special trade privileges even during the timeskip.

And like the rich of our world, they have a self-mythology propaganda justification based on merit. Yes, there is the “by the grace of god” argument, too, but crests give you extra fighting power, and if you look at the Ferdinand support for example you do see that Fodlan’s nobles - especially the adrestian ones - see themselves as a honed elite that is trained from birth & therefore better at ruling.

Not quite the same argument a modern billionaire uses - who is very invested in convincing you that they didn’t get their power and wealth by their birth - but a myth nonetheless.

Edelgard’s not bringing “meritocracy” as in brutal competition opposed to caring social safety nets, but as opposed to unearned privilege.

If you wanted to compare that to any kind of sociohistorical context, you might look at Napoleon’s peasant liberation or the implementation of civil service examinations in ancient China.

That wasn’t an all good thing - In the same way that Europe is very impacted by the legacy of rome both good & bad (there are persisting bad attitudes toward war, authority and agriculture for example), east asia still has a lot of education obsession causing pressure & unhealthy work habits to this day.

But if you compared ancient china before the reforms to ancient China after it definitely got better, by ancient china standards.

We couldn’t expect the people back then to come up with all advances up to our exact modern values at once (not can we be sure how much of our values will stand the test of time)

Considering that Fodlan’s ideal of merit is basically what Lorenz, Ingrid and Ferdinand are embodying for their respective countries, and that she stocks her inner circle with very different leaders, it is no stretch to say that she wants to shake up the social ideas of what even counts as merit, to make ppl value other things that crest power or elite upbringing, the same way we might say today that hey, cleaners are valuable actually.

Edelgard is basically doing her world’s equivalent of taxing the billionaires - reducing the power of what the overprivilieged class happens to be, & it’s obvious from her talk of how she despises inequality that she would hardly be for rule of factory owners.

When Edelgard says that she wants to make Fodlan more merit-based, that has to be taken in the context that she lives in a world where your birth determines everything, incompetent nobles can be as lazy as they want, and no one cares how competent you are if you lack a crest, title or both.

If she looked at our world, she would quickly see through the propaganda that it is supposedly “merit based” and object to how wealth and national origin obviously dictate wealth & opportunity while talented people go to waste in sweatshops.

Now of course there have been arguments even against “perfect” meritocracy - one is the devaluation of working class jobs.

To this one could answer that this is more a flaw in how merit is conceived. Historically there have been societies that exahlted blue collar work, artisans or farming.

The second argument, however, is not so easy to get rid of: That is devalues people who can’t just go & produce like machines, especially the unemployed, the sick, the mentally ill, the disabled…

But at this point we’ve got to lean back & get our definitions straight, & make it clear what we even mean by “meritocracy” -

Because if we’re just talking about the basic idea that competency should be rewarded, I don’t think too many people disagree with that. We might see a problem with valueing the competency of a doctor or lawyers dispropottionally over the competency of a cleaner or a bricklayer, but we all, by and large, want the people who prepare our goods and services to be competent. Maybe we wouldn’t exalt it over all over qualities, but most of us admire skill.

Of course the problem with the political rhetoric of “meritocracy” is that it goes beyond just rewarding skill, first with the afore mentioned rewarding of only some skills, but mostly with the reversion or overemphasis of the above: Saying that skill is the only thing that matters (to the exclusion of any inheent human value) & that those who don’t have it are worthless.

First I want to throw out the thought that this is a product of the production/profit orientation of capitalism, but one could of course imagine, as many sci fi authors have done, a non-capitalistic society that is still obsessed with merit at the exclusion of those who are not oriented towards productivity & care more about fun & relationships than producing, or those who can’t produce because they are sick or disabled.

So now we must ask ourselves the question: Which of those views does Edelgard actually hold?

Cause I want you to notice that they’re not the same. “Skill should be rewarded & jobs should be done by competent people”  is not the same position as “Skill is the ONLY thing that matters and if you don’t have it you are worthless”

In one position, skill is a good quality, in the other, it's a prerequisite to worth.

Most of us here probably agree that skill is admirable (we like and reblog pretty fanarts), but not that the unskilled are worthless.

Looking at her superficially I could perhaps see how someone might suspect her of the latter -  She gravitates to & surrounds herself with skilled intelligent people and she’s obscenely superpowered.

It’s an misunderstanding that Dimitri makes in-universe, he accuses her of “only benefitting the strong”

But note that her answer to that is that she wants to empower the weak to no longer be weak & decide their own lives, instead of accepting charity. (Contrast with how Dimitri romanticizes abyss, for example, even as Claude points out that locking the poor underground is hardly help.)

Of course she can say many things, as rulers often give florid speeches.

But let’s have a look at what she actually thinks. How does edelgard actually act towards people who struggle or aren’t productivity oriented?

This is one of her lecture questions from part I:

“When one professor lectures many students, some will inevitably have trouble keeping up, while others will get too far ahead in their studies. I wonder how this problem might be solved…”

Her favorite answer is “lectures should be optional”.

Which part of that sounds like a bell curve type eugenicist “only skill & intelligence counts” kind of person? She wants the struggling students to be taken proper care of, not just the good ones.

Look at the speeches she gives to Petra & Lysithea about not giving up on themselves & wanting them to move forward from an empowered mindset. Look at how she tells Lysithea to take it easy & not overtax her body. (Not "don't whine & keep working")

Look at Bernadetta - very much an ‘unproductive’ individual with great struggles & limitation. Does Edelgard dismiss her as a weakling? Not at all. Not even in the C support. She makes sure to stress her good qualities when introducing  her, makes an effort to be more patient so as not to scare her, & they become good friends.

Look at the Linhardt support - at first she mistakes his behavior for youthful lazyness (He’s 16 after all) & wants to get him to apply himself, but when she realizes that he just has different priorities, she respects that, & works to get him the exact sort of position that he wants. No “suck it up!” or dismissing such a different lifestyle. Nor does she chide him for hating fighting at any point.

Edelgard does everything in her power to accomodate people so they can do their best. She sees the value even in strange unsocial people that society would dismiss. She found a job for someone like Jeritza & helped him, she doesn’t hesitate to make Dorothea a general or Manuela the prime minister no matter what people say or if they don’t act like typical politicians.

Also, when she talks about choosing her sucessor, she wants them to be brilliant/competent yes, but also kind and 'an outsider' (ie, impartial) - hardly a PoV of "if you are skilled you can do whatever you want and if you aren't no other quality matters". She's prizing kindness & objectivity just as highly, something which is absolutely reflected throughout all her actions & behaviors towards others.

She doesn't devalue living quietly & low key without making waves - in fact, that is her dream life, which she deems superior to achievement and ambition, which are to her just tools to archieve good aims.

She couldn’t be further from having a narrow definition of what a “valuable” person is, she is all ABOUT empowering people to take control of their own lives, no pity-driven charity, no paternalism, none of that. This is one of my favorite traits about her, so I can’t help but get mad when people accuse her of being the exact opposite.

But maybe the biggest argument is abyss. This is where the genuine underclass lives, poor, struggling, traumatized, refugees etc.

Edelgard isn’t as vocal during Cindered Shadows as Claude - she can’t blow her cover & just isn’t as expressive personality wise. But she’s the one who makes everybody swear to take care of Abyss no matter who wins.

And her route is the one where, instead of telling you that they lost people, Hapi tells you that they’ve all been pretty much fine over the timeskip.

If you want to help the struggling & the poor and those who don't have "conventional" skills, you should back edelgard.

[just-dreaming-marvel]

Safe

MAIN MASTERLIST

Tony Stark x Fem!Reader 

Word Count: 3,870ish

Request: Hi so this is my first time actually talking about this but I have PTSD from when I went to a party and 2 guys sexually assaulted me. I think about it a lot epically when I'm in crowds and such thinking they may be near me. I know Tony deals with PTSD but from a different situations and I was wondering how he would help his girlfriend with it? & I just really wanna feel safe when it's so hard for me to right now 

Warnings: sexual assault (not explicit), mention of rape and rape kit, PTSD

Notes: I hope that did this request justice. Please read carefully. The first “section” (divided by the ~~~) tells about the sexual assault incident. It doesn’t go too in depth. But if you don’t feel comfortable reading it, please skip that part and read the rest. (If you chose to skip that part, begin reading after the first ~~~.)

You couldn’t stop the tears from cascading down your cheeks. Even though you knew how it looked, especially as you sat in the corner of the subway car. Trying to get yourself to disappear from the world. Mascara had joined your tears cause you hadn’t thought to wear a waterproof type. Why would you? You never thought that it would happen to you. Yes, you’ve heard the stories, you’d been warned, and you even knew people who had it happen to you. But maybe you didn’t think it could ever since you became an Avenger. Ever since you’d meet Tony and he promised to protect you forever.

You went to the party knowing that you couldn’t drink, at least not very much. There was an important mission tomorrow, everyone on the team was needed. That was also the reason why you didn’t want to go to the party at first. But Tony had convinced you, saying that you needed to hang out with your old friends.

The old friends had met you in front of where the party was. Greeting you with large smiles and hugs. The first few hours were fine. But the people got drunker and the music got louder. And before you knew it you had been separated from your friends. Two guys were next to you, basically on top of you because of how crowded the space was.

They both tried to get you to go someplace else with them. You kept refusing. They kept pushing. Eventually, they didn’t care to get you into a more secluded setting. They shoved a drink down your throat, almost immediately putting you in a dazed state. One of them went behind you while the other stayed in front. They sexually assaulted you right then and there. With no one caring. One was always holding you up with a hand around your mouth, so that the other could be inside you. Then they would switch or join the other.

Slowly, they were moving you to the side of the room. You didn’t know what to do, how to react. You were in such a state of shock that all your training went out the window. Whatever they gave you wasn’t helping as well. They enjoyed you for far too long before literally tossing you in the alley outside of where you were.

There you laid, trying to get yourself to move. Eventually you did. As you got up, you noted your lack of undergarments. All you had on was your dress. Your purse was missing as well. Your whole body was shaking as you headed out of the alley to the nearest subway station.

You hadn’t even noticed the tears until you were sitting in the subway car. Getting weird looks. You didn’t care though. All you wanted to do was go home and wash this night away.

~~~

“Sir, it appears Miss L/N is back,” JARVIS informed Tony. He was up late in his lab, not being able to sleep without you safely in the Tower.

“Thanks, J,” Tony responded. “Tell her—“

“There’s something wrong.” Tony’s head snapped up. JARVIS had never spoken like that. Spoken with just concern. “I’m bringing her to you.”

Tony rushed to the elevator, already knowing not to question JARVIS. He waited anxiously for the elevator to open. And when it did, his heart completely shattered. You were hugging yourself, pushed up against the corner of the elevator. You were on the ground, your face a mess.

“Y/N!” Tony exclaimed. 

You flinched. You looked up at him, but you weren’t seeing him. Your eyes were red and glassed over, and not just because of the tears you were shedding. Tony crouched down in front of you, careful not to get into your space.

“Honey… wanna tell me what’s going on?” You shook your head, still not looking at him. “Alright, that’s okay. Can I help you up? I think you need to be checked out.”

“No!” You squeaked, pushing yourself further into the corner.

“Y/N, I’m not going to hurt you. Have I ever?”

You breathed raggedly, trying to get your brain to form coherent thoughts. “N-noo…”

“Then can I carry you out of the elevator?”

It took you a moment, but eventually you nodded. Tony let out a breath of relief before quickly getting his arms situated to pick you up. As he did, your dress moved up, revealing that you had no underwear on. Tony’s heart clenched and he had to repress a growl building in his throat. You didn’t need to tell him what happened anymore, he could easily guess. And after he was done helping you, he was going to make sure whoever did this to you paid.

You were trembling in his arms as he carried you out of the elevator and into his lab. Tony set you down on a clean work bench and watched you curl in on yourself. He turned to his monitors, taking a deep breath before he freaked out. He typed quickly on his keyboard, notifying Wanda and Natasha of the situation and to hurry on up to the lab. He then contacted the Tower’s female doctor, requesting her to the lab immediately. 

Wanda and Natasha were in the lab faster than Tony had expected. He had moved to your side, trying to figure out what to do. You were still crying and partially dazed. 

“Y/N,” Wanda called sweetly, appearing next to your head. “You’re in shock. May I help you?”

“I… I don’t know…” you mumbled.

“I won’t do anything without your permission. I just want you to feel some peace, get some rest.”

“….okay….”

“Before Wanda does anything,” Natasha cut in. She paused, briefly glancing at the other two. “We need your verbal consent to do a rape kit.”

You clenched your eyes shut as a sob tore through your whole being. Your heart was racing dangerously as you began to struggle to breath.

“Sir, it seems that Y/N is panicking,” JARVIS said.

“No, shit, J!” Tony responded. “Hey, honey, hey.” He bent down to be closer to your face. “I need you to breath or to allow Wanda to help you. It’s your choice. Nothing will be done without your consent.”

Tony gripped your hands close and ever so lovingly. You allowed yourself to look into Tony’s pleading brown eyes. You knew that he would never hurt you, he never had. Shakily, you nodded.

“Yes,” you rasped. “Help me.”

Tony pulled your hands to his lips, kissing them. “Of course, sweetheart.”

“Y/N, we need your verbal consent for the rape kit,” Natasha reminded, gently.

“Okay,” you breathed out. “You can do the rape kit.”

Wanda’s red streams of power floated around your head, putting you into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. And that’s when Tony let loose. He turned around and threw the items off his desk with a shout. 

“Tony! Tony!” Natasha exclaimed, moving to stop the billionaire. She grabbed him from behind, turning him around and pulling him in for a hug.

“I failed her,” Tony cried softly. “I failed to protect her.”

“You didn’t do anything. No one could have seen this coming.”

“Excuse me,” the doctor exited the elevator. “I was called up here.”

“Yes, yes,” Tony nodded, putting his sunglasses over his eyes. “The patient, Y/N, is on the table. She’s given verbal consent for a rape kit and I would like her blood to be drawn. I want to see if she was drugged.”

“Cause there should have been more bruises and fight marks,” Natasha whispered, putting the pieces together.

She knew you. She trained with you. You were capable of taking down Steve and Bucky on your best day. How did you not fight this? Natasha and Tony both knew you would have, so there had to be something that prevented you from doing so.

“Alright, I’ll get right to work.”

~~~

When you began coming to, you noticed how badly your head was pounding. You were confused initially, at your surroundings. The white and gray walls. The twin bed and the monitors beeping. But then it all came flooding back to you. You gasped, sitting up dramatically and frantically looking around the room. The monitor beside you began beeping faster and louder.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,” Tony said, rushing into the room. He sat on the edge of your bed and set his hands on your upper arms. “Breathe, honey, breathe. You’re in the med-bay, you’re safe.”

“I… they…” You stuttered as you tried to catch your breath and your racing thoughts. “I should have… I could have…”

“Whatever you’re thinking, sweetheart, I need you to stop. It was not your fault. You were drugged.”

“I-I know… they stuffed it down my throat… I… I kept saying no… But there was two of them…”

“You don’t have to talk about it right now,” Tony cupped your cheeks, brushing his calloused thumbs across your cheeks to catch the tears. “I don’t want you to get worked up when you’ve just gone through a trauma.”

“I… I… they…” You were getting worked up, which was definitely something you did not need right now.

“Sssshhhh,” Tony coed. “You’re okay, you’re safe now.”

“Good morning,” the doctor greeted, walking into the room. “How are we feeling this morning?”

“I… I don’t know how to answer that,” you responded quietly.

The doctor gave a sympathetic smile. “That’s to be expected. Are you hurting anywhere?”

You sucked in your lip and thought about it. You did hurt. Your heart, your head. Every area they touched burned, like a phantom pain. But do you tell them that? Do you freak them out and worry them more? Or do you lie?

“I… uh…” You stuttered. “It…” The doctor and Tony eyed each other, worriedly. “Um… y-yes…”

Both the doctor and Tony were surprised at how you were actually honest with them. But they weren’t going to question it.

“Okay,” the doctor jot something down on the tablet she was holding. “Do you mind sharing where exactly you’re feeling the pain?”

“I… um… no…” you said.

“That’s okay. I’ll just order you a general painkiller, hopefully that will help.”

“Is it okay if I take her to our room?” Tony wondered.

“Yes, I can check in on her there and she would be more comfortable, I’m guessing.”

“Please,” you pleaded quietly. 

You needed some place more private and where you felt safe. Tony and yours shared room had always been your safe place. Tony had even shared with you that he felt the same after you had moved in. In that room you two had shared very intimate moments. Physically, emotionally, mentally. It was a place where both of you could let your guard down and completely be yourselves.

Tony leaned down and placed a kiss to the top of your head. “I’ll go get a wheelchair, sweetheart.”

Tony quickly grabbed a wheelchair and gently placed you in the chair. He took the blanket that he had laid on you when you were on the table, and placed it on you. You curled onto the chair, pulling the blanket around you. He thanked the doctor before pushing you to the bedroom. 

Once you were there, Tony placed you onto the bed. He helped you under the covers before sitting beside you.

“What can I help you with, dear?” Tony asked softly. He took your hand, rubbing his thumb along the top of it. “Do you need anything? Food? Water?” 

“Actually… a shower…” you responded. “I need to wash all this off me.”

“Okay, okay. Let me go get it all set up and started and then I’ll help you.” 

He rushed off before you could get the courage to tell him that you didn’t want his help. Not that you didn’t appreciate it. But you couldn’t stand the thought of him, or any other man for that matter, touching your skin or see you naked. Tony was back faster than you thought he would be. He didn’t take any notice of your glossy eyes as he picked you up, took you into the bathroom, and set you on the edge of the tub.

“I’m going to help you out of your clothes, okay?” Tony was careful, making sure that he had your permission before he did anything.

“N-noo,” you squeaked. “I… sorry…”

Every time Tony thought his heart couldn’t shatter anymore, you’d do something to prove him wrong. “Okay, honey. That’s okay. I’ll just leave the door ajar and be outside if you need anything.” He placed a quick kiss on your forehead. “Right outside.”

Then he left you. You slowly removed your clothes, hating seeing the dress you used to love. And the skin you used to be so confident in and let Tony worship didn’t physical look different, but it sure felt different. 

When you stepped under the streaming, hot water, you let it pound against your back. You were unable to move for longer than you cared to admit, so stuck inside your mind. Reliving those horrific memories that were last night.

“Honey,” Tony’s voice filled the shower, with help from JARVIS, “your heart rate is escalating. Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah-h,” you replied.

“Are you sure?”

No, you thought. But you weren’t about to tell him that. “I’ll be out in a minute!”

You washed your hair before you began to scrub your body. And scrub and scrub. Until your skin was red. You turned off the water before stepping out and drying yourself. Thankfully, Tony had left clothes for you. A pair of his boxers and your favorite shirt of his.

While you had been in the shower, Tony was leaning his back against the wall next to the door. Trying to keep his tears at bay. He couldn’t let you know how this was effecting him, because he couldn’t imagine how bad this was all effecting you.

When you finally came out of the bathroom, the emptiness in your eyes scared Tony the most. He wordlessly helped you into bed before getting into the bed himself. He moved over to you and tried to bring you into him, only for you to immediately tense up.

“I’m sorry,” you rasped. You clenched your eyes shut as you tried not to release any tears. “I’m so sorry.”

Tony’s arms immediately retracted. “Please don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s going to take time and I’ll be here every step of the way.”

~~~

The nightmares that occurred made you feel so bad. You woke up Tony every night. But all he would say is that you did the same for him, so he’s just returning the favor. It was the truth. Tony’s PTSD used to keep him up at night, but with you and therapy he had been gaining positive strides. So he was determined to help you do the same. He found you a therapist, which took some time for you to open up to, but you did. He didn’t touch you without your permission, and made sure everyone else did the same. 

It took you almost six months for you to get physical with Tony again. But there was no funny business about it, you two were still taking it slow. You were slowly healing, slowly feeling safe again. Though sometimes for every step forward you took, you felt like you would then take four steps back. There was one thing you hadn’t made progress with at all yet. Crowds.

Crowds had you terrified. Always checking your surroundings for the men that had harmed you. Or for any person that might think of doing the same. That had gotten you taken off missions, for the foreseeable future. You had barely left the tower since that night. Only getting fresh air from the balconies and rooftop. Tony, because of you, had even stopped hosting parties. Team movie nights even took a while to start back up. Not wanting to rush you. But you had finally began to warm up to the team as a whole again.

You had successfully avoided crowds, parties, and galas of any sorts for months. Well, until the government had decided to honor the Avengers and it became a requirement for you to show up to the celebration gala.

“I’m going to be by your side all night,” Tony promised. 

He had a hand above your knee as you two sat close together in one of the limos taking the Avengers to the gala. You two were decked out in some of your best attire, which could usually lift your mood because of how extremely handsome Tony looked. But it was failing to tonight. Your palms were sweaty, you kept having to wipe them against your dress. Your heart was trying to not race and you were trying to keep your mind from spiraling out of control.

“Hey, look at me,” Tony gently directed. You let out a shaky breath as you did. He could see the fear in your eyes, while you could see the overwhelming love in his. “Natasha and Clint have done a sweep of the building. JARVIS, Maria, and I have checked over the guest list. Everything’s going to me alright.”

“I… I don’t know—“

“We don’t have to stay long. After they hand us that bloody paperweight, we’re out, okay? I have Happy on stand-by with the limo to take us wherever you want. Plus, I won’t leave your side.”

You swallowed. “Let’s get out of this car before I change my mind.”

Tony pecked your lips. “You got it.” 

Tony exited out the door on his side, the flashing lights of the paparazzi beginning. You took another shaky, deep breath as Tony ran around to your side to open the door. He held his hand out to you, firmly taking yours once it was placed. He pulled you from the car and guided you through the crowd of people. Yes, they were all behind barriers. But they were shouting your name, shouting questions. It wasn’t a secret that you hadn’t appeared on a mission, let alone outside the Tower, in months.

Tony paused you two a few times for pictures. Always keeping you tightly to his side. He’d press a kiss somewhere on your open skin and whisper about how good you were doing and how proud he was of you. You kept taking deep breaths and tried to focus solely on Tony. He noticed each breath, responded with a gentle squeeze or a kiss.

Finally, you arrived inside. It was a large area, very grand with a stage and set tables on the other end of it. With a dance floor in the middle and a bar on the side. You would have appreciated it all more if there weren’t so many people. The further you entered, the harder time you had not checking your surroundings. The itch to do so was driving you mad. The moment you turned your head to check over your shoulder, Tony turned it to face him.

“Your breathings picking up, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I need you to match mine.”

“I—I—I can’t… we need to go home,” you stammered, letting your fears get the best of you.

“Yes, you can. We’ve been working on this, we’ll be gone within the hour.”

“I…” Your head snapped towards the sound of a booming voice, causing you to almost jump out of your skin.

“Woah there.” Tony held onto you. “It’s just Thor telling the congress people a story. You’re okay.”

“I really don’t think I can do this, Tony.”

“What do you always say when I begin to panic?”

“That’s different. You—“

“No arguing. What do you tell me?”

“I tell you that you can get through it. That I will go through it will you.”

“And?”

“I tell you how proud I am of you and how much I love you.”

“And what do I tell you?”

“That I can do it. That you’re proud of how far I’ve come and how you’re going through it with me.”

“Exactly. The fact that you got out of the limo was a huge accomplishment. And that you’re standing in this building with people all around you is an even bigger one. Honey, you have made so much progress even just tonight. That makes me so very proud of you.”

“But I still don’t know how much longer I can do this for.”

“That’s fine. Completely fine. How about we see if a dance will help? We’ll be able to see the whole room together, keep an eye out. If that doesn’t work, then we’ll leave. Who cares about this dumb award anyway?”

“One dance… I’ll try one dance.”

Tony smiled as he pulled you onto the dance floor. He held you close as he twirled you around. The both of you checked your surroundings. You knew that nothing would happen with Tony with you, your brain just didn’t want to believe it. No matter what.

“Tony,” you rasped once the next song started. Your head was spiraling and your heart was still on the verge of racing. “I… I really think I need to go.”

“Okay, okay. We’ll send a message to the team in the car,” Tony responded. “Let’s go.”

He led you out, calling Happy on the way. You let out a breath of relief at the fact he was taking you the back way so that no one would make a fuss over it. Thankfully, Happy was already ready and waiting. He opened the door for the two of you. You sent him a grateful smile, which he reciprocated. The moment Happy shut the door, you leaned heavily into Tony. You hadn’t realized how much of your energy was being used to try and keep yourself calm.

“Just relax, baby,” Tony whispered, holding you close. “Nothing’s going to happen to you in here. I’ve got you.”

“Where to Boss?” Happy asked. 

Tony looked down at you. He smirked when he realized that you had passed out. “Home, Hap. Let’s go home.”

~~~

Tony carried you into the bedroom. Before the incident, he would have been able to change you out of your clothes without permission. But now he needed to ask you, he didn’t want to push you over the edge.

“Sweetheart,” he whispered, gently shaking you. You groaned. “I need you to wake up, baby. You need to get changed so that we can go to bed.”

“M’kay,” you mumbled, eyes fluttering, failing to open.

“Just wait here, I’ll grab everything.”

All you could do was nod in response. Tony rushed around, changing himself before grabbing the things he needed for you. He told you every move he was going to make before he made it, not wanting to freak you out. Once you were all ready, he pulled you into bed with him. He pressed a kiss to your head and held you close, thinking that you were already asleep.

“Thank you, Tones,” you murmured, practically moving to lay yourself on top of him, “for always keeping me safe.”

“Of course, honey, of course.”

TAGLIST INFORMATION

[parkerslatte]

Happy Place

Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Warnings: mentions of injury, torture 

Word Count: 3k

Summary: After being kidnapped and tortured by an unsub, Y/N thinks of Spencer to keep her grounded.

MASTERLIST

***

Throughout her life Y/N was always told that whenever something bad happened to her, she should go to her happy place. When she was sad, she would go to her happy place. When she was hurting, she would go to her happy place. When there was a tough case, Y/N would go to her happy place. However all these instances didn’t prepare her for the torture she would soon come to endure. 

She was on her way home from work early since she had finished all the work she had needed to complete. At first, she was going to wait around for Spencer so they could leave together but Spencer told her to leave since he would be staying late that night. Y/N pressed a kiss to his lips before leaving without another thought. What she didn’t know was she was only half an hour away from enduring the worst pain she would ever feel.

Y/N climbed into her car, turned the radio on before driving off. She sang lightly to the radio as she drove, following the route home like the back of her hand. It was beginning to get dark and Y/N was looking forward to going home and sinking into a hot bath and relaxing. It had been a tough week with paperwork and cases so Y/N was looking forward to her day off. 

There were barely any cars on the road so everything was quiet except for the radio playing softly in the background. Someone stepped out in front of Y/N’s car causing her to swerve before totally stopping. She looked out of the rear view mirror and saw the person on the floor collapse. Without thinking, Y/N climbed out of the car and rushed over to the body laying in the middle of the road. The person wasn’t moving which worried Y/N. 

“Hey, hey, are you okay?” Y/N asked softly.

What Y/N didn’t prepare for was the man rolling over and hitting her over the head with something, knocking her out cold. 

***

People always say that your life flashes before your eyes when you think you’re going to die, but Y/N’s life was flashing before her eyes when she knew she was very much alive. Everything and everyone she had ever loved replayed in her head over and over again like clockwork. Her abductor sat across from her, watching. He hadn’t done anything yet which caused Y/N to be confused. 

She watched as his jaw clenched and his foot tapped on the floor, growing more and more irritated with each passing second. Every time Y/N moved even the slightest bit, he would tap his food even more and pick at his nail beds. What Y/N didn’t prepare for however, was the man lunging forward, reeling his hand back before bringing it back down to her face with a loud smack.

***

Y/N smiled over her coffee cup at Spencer who was going through countless files. She thought no one noticed but of course, someone did. Luckily it wasn’t Spencer.

“You do realise you’re being really obvious right?” JJ’s voice caused Y/N to snap out of her daydream. 

Y/N cast her gaze away from Spencer to face JJ. Even though Y/N knew what JJ was talking about, she faked a confused expression on her face that she was sure JJ could see right through.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been staring at Spence for the past few minutes. Just go and talk to him,” JJ stated, “Or ask him out.”

Y/N swatted JJ’s arm gently, “Keep your voice down,” Y/N whispered, “And besides, I don’t want to disrupt his work.”

JJ sighed, “Y/N listen, I don’t know how much longer I can take of this.”

Y/N’s eyebrows furrowed in actual confusion this time, “Take more of what?”

“Of yours and Reid’s constant glances at each other.” JJ said.

Y/N sighed, “I’m just worried that it will ruin our friendship if we get into a fight or anything like that. And I’m not even sure he’s ready to be in another relationship, not after Maeve.”

“Y/N, I know that you probably don’t see it, but it seems as if Spence is over Maeve - especially from where I’m standing.”

“But what if-”

JJ placed her hand on Y/N’s shoulder gently to stop her talking, “You shouldn’t worry at all. And it’s clear to everyone that you two love each other, so I say go for it.”

Y/N looked over to Spencer who looked up from his work and locked eyes with Y/N. Whenever Y/N looked into Spencer’s eyes, it felt like home to her. It brought her a sense of comfort. 

JJ gave Y/N a nudge in Spencer’s direction. Y/N broke eye contact with Spencer for a brief moment to look back at JJ. 

“Ask him out.” She mumbled.

Y/N smiled slightly before heading over to Spencer. He watched her walk over every step of the way, a smile stretching across his own face. As she got to his desk, Spencer moved his chair backwards slightly so Y/N had room to perch on the side of his desk. 

“You nearly finished your work?” Y/N questioned.

“Yeah, I’ve got a couple more files to go through but I’m pretty much done. What are you asking?”

JJ walked past Spencer’s desk and stood behind him and mouthed to Y/N, ‘Ask him out’

Y/N briefly glanced at JJ before looking back at Spencer, “I was just wondering if you wanted to do something? With me. After work,” Y/N paused for a moment, “Like a date?”

Spencer didn’t react at first which caused a surge of panic to flow through Y/N. It wasn’t until a small smile appeared on his face when the panic dispersed. 

“You want to go on a date with me?”

“Of course I do, why wouldn’t I?”

Spencer shrugged although the smile was still evident on his face, “I don’t know, I just thought you didn’t like me in that way.”

“Well Dr. Reid, as a matter of fact, I do like you in that way,” Y/N teased, “So what about that date?”

“I would love to go on a date with you Y/N.” Spencer replied.

***

Pain surged through Y/N’s body after she was kicked and beaten. She was sprawled out across the floor. She was alone, her abductor had left her alone a few minutes ago but not after locking the door behind him. Y/N braced herself before lifting her head up from the floor. Y/N had been beaten before, gained a few nasty bruises from different cases but never any this severe. Her whole body was littered in bruises, some were more painful than others but they all hurt nonetheless. 

Despite the pain however, Y/N managed to sit up fully before crawling across the floor to a set of drawers to help pull her to her feet. Even though she was beaten and bruised, she still tried to find an alternate exit. The door that her abductor had exited out of was not an option. The only other exit was the small window. 

Y/N limped over to the window. Her body was crying out to her to stop with every step she took. The window was too far up for her to reach on her own. Frantically, her eyes scanned over the room for something she could stand on to reach the window. There was a rotting wooden crate over in the corner of the room. Y/N scurried over to it before gripping onto it with her hands and pushed it over to the window. As she pushed it, pieces of rotten wood came off and fell to the floor. She only hoped that it could take her weight when she stood on it.

Footsteps were heard coming up the stairs. Y/N immediately stopped pushing the crate and headed back to her place on the floor. With every slight movement, Y/N winced. Just pushing the crate felt like fire was coursing through her veins. 

The abductor came into the room, pulling a chair behind him. He placed the chair legs flat on the floor. He leaned down to grip tightly onto Y/N’s upper arm and pulled her roughly to sit in the chair. He tied her arms to arms on the chair and tied her legs up as well, preventing her from moving. 

“Why are you doing this?” Y/N tried to sound calm, but her voice failed her. She sounded scared and hurt. Just what her abductor wanted. 

Her abductor only smirked before unlocking a drawer behind him. Pulling out many different knives and sharp objects, Y/N felt her breathing hitch. If she was in pain now, she only knew that the pain to come would be unimaginable. 

***

It was a few months into their relationship and Y/N and Spencer couldn’t be happier. Even the team could see their shift in mood. They couldn’t think of anyone more perfect for each other. 

Y/N headed up to Spencer’s apartment. She had been away for a couple of weeks visiting family and she hadn’t seen Spencer at all. Of course they had shared countless phone calls but it wasn’t the same as being with each other physically. Y/N didn’t know but Spencer had been sulking around in Y/N’s absence. The team was glad she was coming back. 

She stood outside his apartment and raised his hand to knock. Y/N had told Spencer that she wasn’t going to be home until the following day, she wanted to surprise him. Her fist made contact with the door as she knocked. The sound echoing. 

Y/N could hear shuffling inside before the door swung open. At first Spencer didn’t process that Y/N was standing in front of him until his eyes went wide.

“Y/N!” He said excitedly. Almost instantly, he lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Y/N. Her arms wrapped back around him and she let out a giggle when he picked her up from the floor and spun her around. 

“You said you weren’t getting back until tomorrow.” Spencer continued, setting her down on her feet but his arms still wrapped around her.

“I wanted to surprise you.” Y/N mumbled into his shoulder. It felt good to have Spencer in her arms. After two weeks without him, she had missed him immensely. Y/N had never felt this with anyone else before. 

“Consider me surprised.” Spencer mumbled into her hair. 

Spencer pulled away from the hug and pressed his lips to Y/N’s. His hands held onto the sides of her face, fingers becoming tangled in her hair. After two weeks of no contact, Spencer and Y/N’s hands were all over each other. However, before it went any further, Y/N pulled away for a moment. Her hands gripped the front of Spencer’s shirt.

“Let’s move this inside, we don’t want your neighbours to walk out and see something they don’t want to see.” Y/N mumbled before she slowly pushed Spencer back into his apartment, shutting the door behind her. 

***

Y/N was beginning to fall in and out of consciousness. If her body was beaten and bruised before, try adding bloody to it. Her body was on fire as she forced herself to stay awake. Every time she shut her eyes, she felt herself begin to drift into an unconscious state. Forcing her eyes open for what Y/N felt like was the hundredth time, she felt her abductor plunge a knife into her leg, causing Y/N to yell out in pain. 

“Stay awake.” He hissed. 

Y/N stared the abductor in the eyes before it felt like a black curtain was drawn on her vision. She was unconscious. 

***

Y/N and Spencer were four years into their relationship and they were going stronger than ever. Most of Y/N’s friends envied their relationship - it was perfect. What most people were surprised by however, was the fact that Y/N L/N hadn't become Y/N Reid yet. The couple was questioned multiple times on when they were getting married but the two always avoided the subject.

It wasn’t until Penelope demanded the two an answer as to why they weren’t married yet was when they finally answered. 

“We don’t want our relationship to fall apart after marriage.” Y/N answered honestly. 

Everyone around the table was shocked by the answer. They had never seen a more perfect couple in their lives. Of course this caused even more questions to be thrown in the couple’s direction. Some of which the couple couldn’t answer because they simply didn’t have one. 

“You two just need to get married then have kids so I can be the godmother.” Penelope spurted out.

“Woah, slow down there Penelope,” Y/N chuckled, “And getting married just wasn’t one of our number one priorities.”

Even though Y/N said that getting married wasn’t one of their top priorities, the team began to ask questions about their perfect wedding. To which Y/N and Spencer answered honestly, a small wedding with close friends and family. The team, of course, took their answers into account and a couple of weeks later, Y/N L/N became Y/N Reid.

The couple couldn’t be happier.

***

The pain Y/N was feeling was horrendous. Her abductor had left and hadn’t come back in a while but she was too weak to even attempt to free herself. Y/N tried to go to her happy place several times but she couldn’t help but focus on the pain. 

There were several times when she wished that her abductor would come back to finish off the job so she didn’t have to go through the pain any longer. But Y/N was determined to get back to her friends and Spencer. 

A couple of weeks ago, Y/N and Spencer had spoken about starting a family. They had been together for years and it was getting to the point where they wanted to expand their family of two to a family of three. Of course, their job was a main factor as to why they hadn’t started a family yet but now they felt like it was the right time to. Y/N wasn’t going to die before she let that happen. 

Y/N had lost count on how long she had been tied to the chair for but it couldn’t have been more than a few hours. She was sure that the team were doing all they could to try and find her so Y/N held on to hope. 

It felt like Y/N had been sitting in the chair for forever before she heard movement coming from somewhere downstairs. She panicked, thinking it was her abductor coming back. It wasn’t until she heard a voice when the panic was replaced with utter joy. 

“Y/N has to be here, search the entire house.” It was the voice of Emily Prentiss. 

Y/N tried to call out to try and signal her location but her throat was scratchy and dry, she doubted anyone could hear her. Footsteps were heard coming up the stairs and Y/N desperately struggled in the chair despite the pain she was in. She was going to be saved. 

The door handle to the room jiggled. Y/N let out a small gasp before trying to shout again, it was quiet but she was sure the person on the other side had heard her.

“She’s in here!” The voice yelled and Y/N's heart swelled. It was Spencer.

The door was busted open and Spencer rushed into the room. His eyes filled with worry as he took in Y/N’s appearance. He rushed over and immediately began to untie her, shouting that he needed a medic. 

Y/N felt tears stream down her cheeks as Spencer helped her out of the chair and laid her down on the floor. He bent over her and gently wiped her tears away. Y/N brought her hand up to his face and held his cheek lightly. She offered him a small smile, “You found me.” She said weakly before falling into an unconscious state. The sound of Spencer calling her name echoed in her mind. 

***

Y/N felt someone gripping onto her hand, tight enough so she knew it was there but gently enough to not cause her any pain. From what she could tell she was in an ambulance as with every turn it made, the ambulance jerked slightly. 

Y/N began to open her eyes slowly. Her head was tilted slightly to the left so the first thing she saw when her eyes opened was Spencer. His eyes were brimmed with redness and he looked flushed. Y/N followed his arm down to his hand that was clutching onto hers. She gave it a small squeeze. 

Spencer’s head snapped up to meet Y/N’s gaze. He smiled seeing her awake again. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. Y/N tried to speak but her gas mask was muffling her words. Spencer reached forward and lightly took it away from her mouth. Even though her face was bruised and bloodied, Y/N still looked like the most beautiful girl in the world to Spencer. 

“When I’m healed,” Y/N started, “I want to start working on that family we were talking about.”

Spencer smiled before bringing her hand up gently to meet his lips, “I think we can do that.”

Throughout her life Y/N was always told that whenever something bad happened to her, she should go to her happy place. Spencer Reid was Y/N’s happy place - and perhaps a few months down the line, she would have another person to be her happy place.

[kamino-blues]

Meditation Hc's (Jedi!Reader x Bad Batch)

Rating: Pg

Warnings: None! Just fluff!

Hi I just tried out meditating today and absolutely loved it 💖So I decided to write about how the Bad Batch react to their s/o meditating! Hope you enjoy~

Hunter

Hunter would often try to join you when you were meditating

He would use it as a way to calm down his senses after a long day

Both of you sit across from each other, your knees touching

Hunter couldn’t meditate as long as you could, but he would still sit there, taking in your calm expression

It was a good way to connect without talking

If you meditated while holding Hunters hand, it put you on the same wavelength as him

It was very comforting, and it was the main reason why he tried to meditate with you

When he didn’t meditate with you, he would try to be in the area to make sure you were safe

Especially when you guys were surface bound, he was extremely protective of you

At first Hunter wasn’t sure if you wanted him in the room when you were meditating alone, so he would stand in front of your door

When you walked out and saw him there, you let out a small laugh, telling him that it was perfectly ok for him to be in the same room as you were meditating

You would always wait until you felt him walking towards your room, so that you could start in his presence

He would sit on your bed, glad that you were comfortable enough to trust him in the room with your guard down

When you were done, you would often sit behind Hunter, running your hands through his hair while keeping the calm atmosphere

Crosshair

Crosshair often required time to unwind away from others, so you would use this time to meditate

You didn’t want to impose on his recharging time, so you would usually leave the room so he could have his time alone

It was like this at the beginning of your relationship, until one day he walked into the room where you were meditating, noticing how serene you were

The energy you had, it was as if you were radiating calmness

Crosshair felt himself relaxing, watching as you slowly opened your eyes, giving him a small smile

He then asked if you could stay around when he was recharging

You automatically agreed, excited to be around him more

It became a routine, You would join Crosshair after missions in his barracks, him sitting on his bunk while you would sit criss-crossed on the floor

At first you would sit across the room to give him space, but slowly over time he would beckon you to move closer

Crosshair would either clean his rifle or lay on his back with his eyes closed during this time, while you focused on meditation

You could feel his emotions, and if he was feeling stressed or anxious you would send him calming energy

You would make sure you would keep the energy as serene as possible, wanting him to feel safe

Sometimes when you would open your eyes after a long meditation session, you would lock eyes with the sniper, him opening his arms so that you could jump into them

He would hold onto you, using you as a way to ground himself, and often you two would lay there in hours, complete silence as you both continued to unwind from long missions

Tech

Tech was fascinated by Jedi techniques, often asking you multiple questions about how it feels to use the force

Sometimes he tries to get data when you use the force, but in the heat of a battle it isn’t the best idea to be trying to get readings on brain waves etc.

So he turned to when you were meditating

You would only let him do it once in a while, cause it was a tad bit distracting, but you were happy that he was excited to get new data

Tech would ask you a ton of questions about what you see when you meditate, comparing it to what he has read

After long days, you would sometimes ask if you could meditate in the cockpit while he’s working on projects

Sitting in the co-pilot's chair next to Tech, legs underneath you with your hands on your knees

The sounds of him tinkering were a good way to put your mind into a state of calmness

Tech would make a conscious effort to not talk, not wanting to disturb you

Catch him glancing over at you as he works, looking at how calm your facial expressions are

Would always ask you after you're done if your meditation went well, wanting to make sure he didn’t accidentally disrupt you

But that was never the case, and you two would happily chat for a while after your meditation was done

You would leave with a kiss to his cheek, Tech watching you with a light blush

Echo

When Echo was with the 501st, he was used to seeing his Jedi meditate while on long missions, so when you first asked if you could meditate he was totally ok with it

Usually Anakin and Ahsoka would go to another room, however Ashoka and sometimes even Anakin would meditate in his and Fives proximity when getting prepared for a mission

Ahsoka would always say that Jedi only meditated in front of people that they trust

It was rare though, so when you asked he figured that you would leave the room

So when you stayed, his eyes widened, and ended up staring at you

You could feel his gaze on you, but you didn’t say anything

Echo didn’t leave the room, going on his datapad while he flicked his gaze to you every so often to make sure you were ok

Sometimes he would sit on the floor with you, trying to meditate with you

Echo’s thoughts would wander, often falling to things he didn’t want to think about

So he would rather watch over you instead

When you get out of meditation, Echo would send you a small smile and ask you how it went

You would often pull him into a hug, holding onto him as you both relished in a rare calm moment

Wrecker

Wrecker seriously did not understand how you did it

How you could sit still in silence for hours, eyes closed and lost to the world

It was the complete opposite of him, he couldn’t even fathom even trying to do what you do

Would often accidentally knock you out of a meditative state, him profusely apologizing when it happens

You always assure him that it is completely ok

Usually Wrecker has to be out of the room, he doesn’t want to accidentally distract you

He would use this time to exercise

One day you decided to ask him if you could try meditating with him

Wrecker agreed nervously, not knowing how it would go

But when you asked him to sit on his bunk and you crawled into his arms, he was extremely surprised

You had your arms wrapped around him, sending calm energy through your touch

He ended up slowly closing his eyes, burying his face into your neck

It wasn’t true Jedi meditation, but it extremely comfortable for the both of you

[holdontorogers]

𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐛.𝐛.

gif not mine, credits to owner

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠; tfatws!bucky x bartender!college!reader

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭; 2,218

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲; Bucky has a secret place in Brooklyn that he found out as soon as he got his apartment after the blip: the bar you work at.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬; +18 ONLY | MINORS DNI, angst, cheating (your bf/ex), hints to oral (f receiving), sex dreams, alcohol consumption, metal arm kink (i guess lol), swearing, friends on their way to lovers, unrequited feelings, mentions of college, stress, let me know if something’s missing and sorry for any typos.

𝐚/𝐧; so this was suppose to be out last weekend but headaches, college and stress delayed the process, hope you enjoy. 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐬!!!

⊱⋅ ───────── 𖥸 ────────── ⋅⊰

“So, pretty amazing what you and Captain America did the other week”, he chuckled more for himself then any other thing as he pretended to ignore the fact that you knew everything about his past — and about him, in general. 

“Yeah well, I guess it feels good to know that the shield is finally with the right person”. You gave him a nice smile and intended to say something else but someone was already calling out asking for their drink, you rolled your eyes playfully for Bucky and walked away.  

Safe to say that Bucky is way more interested in your company than the bar itself, that’s why he would come by almost everyday by the end of the night and stayed for as long as you would like. 

The bar was packed, more than usual, and Bucky pretended to ignore the fact that he was bothered by not having as much of your attention as he planned to. 

Given that between missions and your senior year in college plus all your work at the bar, sometimes visiting you while you moved around the crowded place was one of the only ways you two could spend some time together.

 “It won’t magically fill up you know?” Bucky  was so lost in his thoughts and distracted playing with the now empty beer bottle he didn’t even notice you brought him another one.

“You know I can’t get drunk right, doll?” he said with a playful smirk, “and why would I want to get you drunk?” you winked and went back to attending the other people in the bar as Bucky followed your movements with his eyes. 

He sees you quickly looking at your phone following the action by a frustrated sigh, and he immediately clenches his jaw. Your ass of a boyfriend was probably leading you on yet again on another Thursday night with some lame excuse. Bucky could not believe how poorly this man (boy) treated you. If only Bucky could have the chance to show you how you should properly be loved and cared for...

When you came back to where he stood you seemed even more annoyed.

 “Is everything okay, doll?”, you looked at him with an exhausted expression and a tension between your eyebrows, “yeah, just... can’t wait to finish up and go home, how long are you planning to stay?” Bucky furrowed his brows, were you tired of him? 

“Don’t know yet, why?” you shrugged and looked over your shoulder discreetly “that girl keeps checking you out and I don’t know, maybe you would like to take her home?” I actually would like to go home with you. Bucky could swear this suggestion was as painful to you as it was to him, but he knew that that was only his mind playing tricks with him.

 “I still don’t think I have a way with the ladies right now” your eyebrows rose in amusement and you tried to study his expression “Well, if anything, just tell her your arm vibrates”.  You winked and returned to your duties once again. Meanwhile, Bucky realized the heat in his cheeks thinking about what you said. It’s amazing how much power you had over him, as he imagined how you would react under his arms. 

How soft his right arm would be on your warm skin, how the friction between metal and warmth would drive you insane once his metal arm was touching you... He could see all the different ways that he could make you his, make you forget all the shit you go through everyday, make you feel unique and loved. 

(...)

However, Bucky saw you seemed more upset and stressed out than usual so he decided to stay. He waited until you closed the bar and helped you sort everything out. You looked once again at your phone with a much worse look than before. 

“Doll what’s wrong?” he rarely asked you about your relationship, and always did good in pretending to ignore the frustrated looks you’d constantly give to your phone. 

You met his concerned eyes and saw all his attention in you, which makes your heart soften a little. You unlocked your phone and opened a conversation with one of your friends, showing it to Bucky with watered eyes. 

When he looked at the conversation from a few days ago he used all his self control to not shatter your phone or run down to haunt the man in the pics you showed him. There was a girl pressed against the wall of a club right between your boyfriends arms, and that girl was not you.

All the anger in Bucky’s eyes settled for worry when he looked at you. He held you in his arms and ran his fingers through your hair to calm the silent tears that were falling involuntarily from your face. 

“He’s an asshole and he never deserved you.” You nodded and continued to let yourself be taken care of by Bucky, “and just tell me the words so I can gladly kick his ass”. You laughed and that felt odd, but not surprising since Bucky always brought up the best in you. You had no idea how you two became such close friends, but you were glad to have him in your life. “Thanks Buck, you’re the best friend I could have right now ”. 

As Bucky walked home after taking you home the events of the night went over his head. He was a mess of nerves, angers, worries and sadness. He knew how much you needed a friend right now. He knew how you handled your own feelings and barely talked about it. He knew it was a big deal for you to show him what was going on. And yet the thought of showing you how much better he could treat you if you saw him beyond a friend wouldn’t leave his mind. 

 ───── 

**Bucky’s lips were drawing your skin like it was meant to be there this whole time. It’s like his mouth was designed to know how to touch you in all the right spots. He would caress your skin and take such good care of you. His words were soft and yet you knew he was in control, and you loved being at his mercy. You were willing to let him do anything as long as his lips never left your body again.

Goosebumps were consuming you as he kept going lower and lower. His lips finally started to trace down your inner thighs as you whisper his name as an exasperated request. Bucky’s lips were wet and soft and hot at the same time. He smirked and finally went down to where you needed him most.**

Your heart was racing as your alarm made you jump scared instead of properly waking up. It took a while to remember where you were and what the hell was going on. You sighed when realizing you just had a dream with your best friend.

You decided to take a cool shower before starting your day, as the minutes you usually lay in bed before forcing yourself to wake up were effectively replaced with a very intense dream that led you to question all your life choices.

Your mind begins to wonder and you asked yourself if Bucky got the phone from that girl in the bar last night. You had a bothered look on your face even though you knew you should not be feeling like this.

And you shouldn’t be having these dreams as well, but it’s been so long since you’ve actually felt good.... It’s been so long since you had an orgasm. It almost felt natural to think of Bucky that way, as if the desire of having him between your legs have been there all this time just waiting for you to notice them. You shook the feeling out of your head - or at least tried to. 

You couldn’t help but think about the recent events of your life. You have been beyond busy and missed so many warning signs from your now past relationship. You left out a breath you didn’t know you were holding, biting your lips and thinking about your situation. 

You’re suddenly annoyed and wondering why the hell you stuck around in the relationship you were at. It wasn’t adding anything else to your life anymore, it wasn’t doing you any good and you were pretty sure the main reason your boyfriend has been so neglecting lately was because he was cheating on you. And you were right. Now you were a breakup hot mess drowning in work and college assignments barely making it through the days without stressing yourself out. 

As the caffeine started its magic and you were getting ready for the day, your boss texted you saying that you could have the day off. She would surely find a way to compensate for this miraculously free day you had but you wouldn’t complain. Today especially was a very much needed day for you to give yourself some tranquility. You got ready for your classes in a very comfy yet cute look that made you feel good and went out.

On your way to college you texted Bucky to see if he was available this afternoon. He was surprised to read about your day off and quickly answered back saying he would be free. You both agreed to meet at Central Park once you were done with classes. Your smile and excitement once again surprising you as your dream would not leave your mind. How would you face him? You had no idea but he was your best friend and one of the closest and greatest person in your life right now. Your frustration of a sex life would not be in the way of this friendship.

The classes went by rather quickly and you were catching up on your readings when Bucky met you at the park. The sun was starting to set and there was something about the sunset atmosphere and Bucky that made his features seem even more in evidence. You smiled and waved at him as he raised his brows and walked happily to where you were. 

“Hey doll, how’s the day been?” he seemed extremely relaxed and care-free as he tugged you in a warm hug, his cologne invading your senses and numbing you for a moment. You cleared your throat before answering him “It’s been weird” you frowned “I was called off work God knows why and I have been able to catch up on most of my readings for school so” you shrugged still surprised with how smooth things were. “So it’s been a good day?” his brows drew together in amusement, and you both started walking aimlessly through the park.

“Yeah it’s been good I guess, weird but peacefully good, what about yours?” his eyes were sparkled with excitement and he had a half smile illuminating his face “I’ve been good, I was watching that show you told me about when you texted me about your free day so, only good moments I guess” he winked as you studied his face and his genuine expression and you felt weird butterflies in your stomach — which you ignored.

“So how do you like Friends?” you poked him teasingly and he smiled “It’s a good show, Alpine and I have good laughs, but I don’t know I feel like it’s something that should be shared you know? I bet watching with someone would make it a hundred times better”. Bucky looked at you as if you should’ve read something between the lines.

You would usually take his words lightly and never question their meanings, but tonight was different. You could almost feel something in the air. You were absolutely sure that it was all on your head but... Something about the way Bucky always looked at you in such admiration and softness. You could spend all of your days studying his expressions and getting to know him. Life may not have been kind to him but kindness was all you knew when it came to James “Bucky” Barnes. 

He cleared his throat and caught your attention. Yep, you were staring at him instead of thinking about an answer. “Sorry doll, I just meant — ” Bucky read your silence as an awkward moment but you were quick to stop him “No! You were right! Friends is absolutely better when you watch with people... I’m sorry, I’ve been a little distracted that’s all” you smiled at him hoping he would take your answer and not think too much about this. Bucky thought you were distant and quiet because of what he found out last night, but the truth was that you couldn’t look at him without thinking about your dream. 

Every single time your eyes met his or that you accidentally touched him was like an electric wave washed over you. The memories you created in your sleep would not leave you as Bucky would do normal things like, winking when telling a joke, wetting or biting his lips. Every little action made you hold out on reacting in a way that would ruin your friendship for good.

Crossing a line with Bucky would be a bad idea, wouldn’t it? 

[hford0311]

He's Back

*Where the reader is also from the 1940s, and is now a part of the Avengers. Now, she has learned to deal with her displacement in time and moved on from the idea of love, especially after the death of her love, Bucky. Until, one day Steve calls for an emergency meeting where her world is turned around. Word Count: 2.2k*

Whispers were indistinctive around the Avengers Tower that you could never end up being a part of. When you made your entrances in different rooms, people would instantly stop talking, even if you were nearly silent coming in the room.

"Okay!" You exclaimed and threw a glass cup in the sink when it happened once again. "Do I need to set up a meeting, so I can be told what's being whispered around or something?" You yelled at Nat, Tony, and Bruce. They were shocked by your response. "I'm tired of this stupid silent treatment." You added, almost panting in anger. "Y/n," Bruce started to speak before the other pair in the room shot him disapproving looks. "No, tell me, Bruce. I can handle it." You stated. "Yeah, the cup can really tell that you can handle something," Tony dully remarked. "So you're going to stop everything to make sure that I do not know the stupid secret that everyone else in the tower gets to know but me. Cool, thanks, Tony," you stomped out of the room.

Steve was gone, the only person from your time, and he was the only person that you could confide in at times. You were also from the 1940s. You were friends with Steve and actually Bucky's girl up until his death in 1945. You were a nurse during the war. They shipped you off to Germany. There, you were one of the captured nurses that were forced to treat the German soldiers, and HYDRA decided that you were useful enough to keep around for decades. On and off ice for decades.

You kept messaging Steve to know when he was going to be back and where he had gone. It took hours for him for him to respond Emergency Meeting at 8. You tried knowing the content of the meeting, but he did not give you a response. You huffed and stayed put in your room until 7:55. That's when you walked into the main living area, where everyone was surrounded, including Steve. There was chatter, they obviously have not noticed you yet, this time. Steve asked everyone to back up and give them room. Them? You mentally questioned, who else is here?

The mini crowd back up and dispersed more in the living room. That's when you saw him. You were slightly embarrassed yourself when you noticed how you had pinched yourself. When you met his eyes, you felt time slow. He was not paying attention to anyone else either. You walked a few steps closer, "Hey, Sarge," you gently said. Bucky's body and face softened at your voice. "Long time, no see," you gave him a small smile. You could tell he wanted to reach out to you, but something was holding him back. Suddenly, you felt your stomach drop and a large amount of feelings suddenly attack you. For over half a century, you've known of his death, and it took you so long to accept that he was dead. Now, everything had backfired. All of that had now changed. You felt yourself beginning to sob. Bucky, your Bucky is alive. "This can't be real," you whispered and ran to your room.

The nightmares came back to you. There were incredibly recurring and were from your, what you call, main past being the 1940s and 1950s. However, they did not just include the horrible reliving the past like they used to be when you experienced them before. They included the screams and cries from Bucky to you. Your name and cries for help kept repeating, but you could never find where they were coming from until it was all dead silent, and you awoke panting and sweating. A few of the times included you crying out for him too and patting over the bed until you realized it was a dream.

This time after waking from the nightmare, you grabbed your throw blanket, quietly escaped your room, and went out to one of the patios. It did not matter how many times you did this, the view was always something that distracted you from the nightmares that occurred. The lights from all the apartments and other buildings were something that you always appreciated about living in the city. It did not matter that you were awake because you were not the only one. Sometimes, you would people watch and make up stories of the shapes of people that you go in and out of their lit living areas. It was all comforting. The opening of the sliding door made you jump in your seat a little, but you were fine when you saw it was Steve.

"Another one," he questioned and sat in the chair next to you. You nodded and wrapped the blanket around you tighter. "You know you can talk to whenever about them." Steve reminded you like he always does. Sometimes you debated making up a fake one to tell him about, so he could leave you alone about it. But like always, you pursed your lips and shook your head, "I'm fine," you quietly spoke. Steve sighed and looked out into the city. "It makes you wonder why their all up sometimes." He changed the subject that he knew he could get you to talk about. You gave a silent, second longing laugh before answering, "That's when you make up people stories. Like that building," you pointed at one about the height of where the patio was, the third closest building on the right, "on the third floor down from the top and fourth one to the right that couple are planning their wedding, it's going horribly, but they keep having fun along the way." You had a comfortable smile.

"Ever wonder what's that like anymore?" Steve asked while he looked at the window you exposed to him. You audibly scoffed, "Maybe almost a century ago, but I haven't ever since." Steve gave you a sad but understanding look. "Dedicate myself to fighting with the Avengers, I don't think any dreamboat could handle it. Just a single dame till the day I die...whenever that will finally be," you finished by rolling your eyes. You watched Steve looked at you with shock. "Well, Y/n, I'm surprised by you," he stated and leaned back in his chair, "I thought you would think differently with Bucky here. I know I have." You gave him a sad smile, "Steve, you and I both know that that person is not the Bucky we know and..." You faded into silence and looked back out. "Y/n, you haven't even-" "I know!" You paused after hearing yourself echo slightly, "I know, I haven't." You added much quieter. "The thought terrifies me, especially after coming to acceptance that my....was no longer, and being kidnapped with no hope in sight, I turned into a cold person. I saw him, a-and I-I..." you paused again, "I wasn't--fuck, I still don't know how to react to it, and I...am very mixed emotion about everything with him. On one hand, there's....what we had," your hands really helped you do the talking, "and now...I'm sure he has gone through worse than me. I'm sure he doesn't want to add anything to my plate of trauma, and I don't want to add to his." You finished.

"Y/n, you can't even get yourself to say Bucky's name." Steve pointed out to you. That's when emotions started. "Steve," you heavily exhaled, "that's the problem. Some nights, I wake up screaming for him. I pat my bed looking for him! I haven't done that since his mother told me about the soldiers coming up to her about his KIA in the '40s, Steve! I have nightmares of him screaming for me to help him, and I can never find him!" You took a large breath. "I am in an internal battle of wanting to run and jump in his arms like I wanted to do so badly when I daydreamed about the war being over and becoming a wife of an American hero while also wanting to stay the hell away from him because...well, everything after that to now!" You rubbed your forehead. "Y/n, he's here. Try something. Do you think he doesn't have the same feeling?" You looked up at the sky and shook your head. "It's terrifying." You breathed. "So is waking up from the ice, but we survived that." Steve said before getting up and going back in the tower.

***

Right on time again, up and terrified. You repeated your routine of going outside. You hummed old, familiar songs as you did. One of your favorite couples were dancing by their window. "You really have it all figured out, don't you?" You whispered, even though you knew you would never get an answer back. They were comfort characters in your world. You were so entranced by them that you did not noticed the other human walk out onto the patio as well, until he spoke. "Old habits never die." Your neck swiftly changed directions in shock at the voice. You tightened the blanket from a nervous habit. "Somethings never do," you simply added before turning away. However, your eyes kept glancing towards him. You noticed the recent haircut compared to when you saw him the other day at shoulder's length or a little beyond. "But so many things often do." He responded. "Can't ever go back even if we truly desired to." You added back to him.

There was silence. Eye contact never fully met. Under different circumstances of no history involved, some would say it resembled high school crushes. He finally gave in first and turned around to face you, hands on the railing of the patio. You noticed then that the left one was vibranium. You sighed and looked back at the couple near the window while humming songs from the '40s. Then, after a short while, you heard Bucky add to your humming. You stopped and shyly smiled back at him. "Music is nothing like it used to be," you mentioned. He lightly laughed and nodded. What came from your mouth next, you didn't really have control over, maybe it was an instinct like when you talk to Steve, maybe it was something you did not know you truly desired now.

"Want to head to my room and listen to it?" You couldn't avoid eye contact when he looked back at you now. You said it loud and clear enough that he looked over at you with a hint of shock. "That'd be nice," Bucky responded with a hint of a smile.

At first, it did start as simply that, listening to the records while sitting on your set of velvet wide wingback chairs. The occasional glances and small smiles shared. Then, Bucky made a move. He stood from his chair and stood in front of yours, offering you a dance. "Oh, Bucky, I haven't danced since-" "1943?" You nodded at him finishing your sentence. "I haven't either," he added and as gentle as he could be, he grabbed your hand to pull you up to dance with him. You allowed it to happen, resistance did not feel right to you in that situation.

The dancing started stiff and cautious like neither of wanted to frighten the other. However, it grew into a more fluid dancing, the pair of you getting more comfortable with each other. After a couple hours, you felt comfortable enough to rest your head on his chest. "Don't fall asleep on me, Y/n doll." He quietly said, which made you look up at him with curiosity at the old nickname. "I'm sorry," he admittedly said. "I shouldn't have-" "Don't apologize," you deeply whispered and leaned up, kissing Bucky's cheek. Then, his lips, after so many decades, had reconnected with yours, quick and short turned into long as well as passionate.

The world around you both felt like it turned back to 1943. The room was now Bucky's apartment, his clothing turned into his sergeant uniform, yours into the red shirtwaist dress, and time didn't hurt the pair of you like the present. "Never leave me again, James Buchanan Barnes." Your lips drew together and bodies grew closer. "Wouldn't dream of it, Y/n doll," Bucky would mutter against your lips and pulled your closer by the waist.

As your back landed on the bed, you physically felt your breath being caught. "Bucky," you exhaled in a tone that was no longer flirtatious or excited, rather it was a sad realization. The dimly lit apartment, the uniform, the red dress, all of it turned back into reality of your room in the Avengers Tower. You can see that the dream ideal world had broke from his eyes as well. "Bucky," you breathed as you stood and softly grabbed both sides of his face, "you were gone. You were gone for so long." You lightly cried. He embraced you, holding you close to his chest. "I know, doll." Bucky lightly kissed the top of your head. You gripped the back of his shirt. "Don't ever do that again." You whispered into him. "Why would I ever do such a thing?" Bucky held you tighter.

[writingtoforgetreality]

Springing Forward (Helmut Zemo x Reader)

Request: hey there cathy! i’m a new follower and i was wondering if i might request a zemo x reader where it’s maybe pre ultron and reader’s family own a flower shop in sokovia and somehow through that they meet? idk i know it’s super random but i’ve got spring fever 😂 (by @msmarvelsmain), [Marvel-Masterlist]

Summary: Your family owned a little flower shop. You assisted every now & then. One day, your parents had departed for a while, a man entered the store & changed your life forever.

Words: 3,255

Warnings: fluff, soft!Zemo, it is so sweet, I promise, pretty sure I didn't use any pronouns :), no TFATWS spoilers (you’re welcome), (Y/F/F) = your favorite flowers, REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

If you like my work & wanna support me: a coffee would be highly appreciated ❤

Spring was your favorite season of the year. Flowers started blossoming. Nature turned colorful again. Lush hues decorated the outsides. Your family owned a petite shop in the central of downtown in Sokovia. The store was your whole pride & joy. The façade was stacked with uneven, light grey cobblestones. The sign on top of the glass door was illuminated with a warm & congenial light. While you did not have that many guests, your regular customers supported you continuously. Helping out your parents had never bothered you. It was a family business. Your assistance was appreciated & the local citizens enjoyed whenever you served them.

Plants & flowers were your hobby. Somehow, they grew when you tended to them. You managed to flourish almost dead ones. That was one of your skills. Your handling with the people who visited your shop left a good impression. The earnings were not a fortune but you made do. The smiles of your pleased customers were enough to balance that out. Not even once had you been bad-tempered. If something bothered you, then you suppressed that negativity for the sake of your reputation. After all, it never had anything to do with the shop itself.

The mornings were your favorites. When the rest of the town was still fast asleep & the birds slowly awakened with rhythmical chirps. The slight breeze that touched your skin tenderly. The goosebumps erupting where your clothes did not cover you. Yet, you abandoned the thought of pulling over a jacket. As the hours ticked by, the sun would amplify, leaving you content with your tenuous t-shirt. Your parents had left town for relaxation. The shop would be solely yours for the upcoming days. Your little apartment was not far away from your workplace. The short walks back & forth were forever welcomed. During your lunch break, if your job & the weather allowed you that, you wandered through the narrow backstreets. Every corner was familiar but the small details that frequently transformed always fascinated you anew.

Years ago, you loathed leaving the country you were born in to start a new life here in Sokovia. Your parents were incomprehensibly overstrained with your whim that seemed to worsen daily. Friends were abandoned in the process of moving. The beginning in a foreign area was strenuous. Not only did it take a toll on you but on your parents as well. The loan enabled your family’s dream of owning their own shop. Independence was an indescribable feeling. Ever since, your fondness of this place had been increasing steadily. And while you would not exactly say that you had friends here, you definitely made a few acquaintances. Friendships would follow sooner or later. Besides, your work consumed almost all of your time. You lived to work & you worked to live. It was as simple as that. Your lifestyle functioned like that. It was exhausting, sometimes excessive, but you handled it just fine. Still, every now & then, you found yourself craving something. What that particular something was had yet to be discovered.

The delightful ringing of the bell whenever someone entered your shop reached your ears. It was early in the morning. Usually, the first costumers rolled in closer to lunch time. Not that you were complaining. Your body spun around, your apron getting stuck on an infinitesimal bump standing out of your oak wooden counter. Silent curses left your lips, too quiet for the stranger to hear. The struggles were noticeable & a presence approached you. You had yet to glance at the person but your delicate hands were busy with fiddling the fabric.

“May I?” a soft, accented voice spoke up & startled you slightly. Your eyes flickered up & locked with warm, chocolate brown ones. For a few moments, time stopped. Your heartbeat sped up. Something about this simple interaction let sparks burst. And when his lips turned into a gentle smile, you were gone for. Never before had something similar occurred. Especially not that quickly. It was obvious that you were staring a little too intensively. But his eyes did not leave yours, lingering just for a fraction longer. He had asked you a question. As an owner, you completely failed your task. You neither welcomed him in nor did you engage in a conversation. Coughing to hide the embarrassment, you averted your gaze & began.

“Welcome. Um, I’d really appreciate your help, thank you.” your voice wavered but it did not crack. His hands, covered by leather gloves, stretched out & he initiated the process of freeing you. The thick material that hid his fingers was offbeat. Average people tended to avoid gloves during this season. It was warm enough without them. Then again, this stranger did not strike you as average. This brief meeting was proof enough.

“There you go.” he commented after successfully liberating you. “As good as new.” he radiated a feeling that made you believe he was a well-spoken man. You were unsure how exactly you ended up with that conclusion.

“Thank you.” both of your hands reached to the hem of your apron, glancing down at it, checking for possible damages. But, as he alleged, it was perfectly fine. Another moment of silence went by, then you slowly returned to reality. You occupied your according place behind the counter. Back straightened & regained composure. “Apologies for my unprofessional behavior. I will ensure you a discount for your purchase. Right…what did you need?” your rambling was mortifying. Hiding your emotions was not necessarily one of your skilled characteristics.

“Please, do not bother with special treatments.” one of his hands raised in front of his chest, signaling that he was being serious. It did not change that, deep down, you felt poorly. “I was actually looking for…” a chuckle interrupted his speech. “I am uncultured regarding this area, truthfully. If you offer me your assistance now then the two of us are even.” the following wink made you all giddy. What was it about him?

“Okay, well…” your previous painstakingness was pushed down. “What is the occasion?” it was always surprising to gain new customers. His accent betrayed him a little. And what a sweet betrayal it was.

“A decisive meeting with a higher up. An efficient first impression would be convenient.” he enlightened you, choosing his words carefully. Well-spoken he was but that was manifested from the very beginning.

“Any preferred colors, types?” one of your eyebrows perked up. Moving your body around the counter & in the middle of the modest shop, you reacted unwillingly after brushing past his frame. Your shoulder barely grazing but enough to trigger uneven breaths.

“How does a common purchase for such an event look like?” you peered over your shoulder, a bit of amusement written over your features. While he appeared like a literate man, ten times wiser than you, this was a field you surpassed with ease. A quick glimpse on your forearm, where a barely functioning watch swathed your wrist caressingly, confirmed your previous assumption. There was still a load of time left until the shop’s actual occupation. You could bestow him your aggregate attention. The unnamed stranger absorbed your every word of your explanation. Your eyes sparkled with a newly witnessed enthusiasm. The fact that he did not heckle your talk during the entirety of your tour through the shop brought you desired satisfaction. He was the first person to display genuine interest in your employment.

“God, please excuse me trailing off. I did not intend to bore you.” all of a sudden, your energetic self switched to an insecure one.

“I can assure you that you did not bore me. Not for one second.” his affirming smile calmed your incertitude. Together, the two of you picked up various individual flowers. A compiled bouquet would portray him in the best light. Your hands moved on their own. You could still hold a conversation with the man on the other end of the wooden table. It separated the back of the shop from the front, main area. His fascination for you expanded by every further move you performed. Lastly, you wrapped the ends of the stems with a fine, almost sheer paper. To secure everything & hold it in place, you braided a ribbon that matched the color of the textile.

“All done.” you showcased the finished product to him, a small, gratified smile adorning your face. “What do you think?” the question was almost shy, it needed reassurance. Which made him ponder why you were so doubtful of yourself & your abilities. To him, you prepared the most gorgeous bouquet he had ever caught a sight of.

“Plainly astonishing.” his praise warmed you from deep within. “You really do have an unbelievable talent.” you thanked him quietly, eyes flickering down to avoid his intense stare. By no means was it displeasing or inadvertent. It was sweet & thoughtful. You wanted to extend his stay, fearing that this would be a one-time interaction. But you could not remain on this high you were currently experiencing. The sound of the entrance bell fetched you back to the present. Another customer that needed attendance. Your togetherness approached an undesirable end. Controlled fingers punched a well-rehearsed pattern into the cash register. The blue numbers flashed for the man in the coat to see. Gloves & a fur-coat during spring? He was the only living soul you had ever met that made it work.

A wallet was pulled out of his pocket. Fine fingers retrieved the money. A beat went by. Two. Almost like he wanted to savor the little time you two had left. But your duties called. He would not use up any more of your duration. Maybe he had already overstepped & his appearance was no longer welcomed or appropriate. The notes were handed over. Your movements like a slow motion scene in your favorite movie. The scenery grasping your every bit of attentiveness. It was something you wanted to remember. To think back & hope to perceive that same feeling you experienced during the first time. You reached for it. The moment his clothed hand touched your smooth skin stilled the world once again. The gentle brush of his thumb over the back of your hand could have been missed if it was not for your body to be this alerted.

“Thank you for your exceedingly helpful guidance, …?” his eyes looked up at you sheepishly. You knew what he was intending. It was a silent question for your name. And you were more than eager to comply.

“(Y/N).” it was short, adequate. His smirk held a deeper meaning. What it was exactly, you could not identify.

“Why, thank you, (Y/N).” his emphasis was on your name. The way it rolled from his tongue was mesmerizing. You found yourself craving to hear that sound constantly. But you were not even sure if it was naïve to hope for his return. He would exit any second. Leaving behind a pit only he could fill. Your train of thought converted into utter despair. He was your customer. Nothing more. Nothing less.

“You never told me your name.” you called out when he was almost out of the door. One last time, he glanced over his shoulder. The fur tickling his chin a bit. One last time, you studied the way his lips lifted. One last time, you believed.

“Helmut.” he replied. “It was nice meeting you.” his hand pushed the door open. His body moved through the doorway. As fast as he entered your life, he left just as quickly.

“You too.” you whispered but he was no longer here to listen to your words. Your face fell, the previous spark in your eyes completely gone. The person in front of you waited until you paid all of your attention to them. It took a lot of effort but you managed in the end. The only difference was that they were not him. Nobody would ever be him again. But he vanished. Like dust in the wind, blowing away his remaining scent that had filled your nostrils.

Was it possible to crave a person you barely knew? Your subconscious sprinkled salt in your wound. Brains could be ridiculous. Nonsense. The teasing of your dreams, in the dark of the calm night, was echoing. Ricocheting off the walls that kept your emotions buried inside. Similar to being the main character in a horror film, desperately looking for a way out but being trapped no matter what. Why were you reacting like that? Why did Helmut waltz into your shop without any restrictions, turning your entire life, your entire world, upside down? He was one mysterious man. Uncommon, remarkable. Someone who swept you off your feet by simply being. One charming smile & you were gone for. The first words he directed to you & he gained you wholly. The worst part of it all was that he had no idea what he did to you. He had no idea that your thoughts were solely revolving around him ever since his entrance to the store. His entrance to your heart. What was happening to you? You had to move on, that much was clear. Truth was, you abominated that thought. Your focus had to shift. Back to your work, back to your task.

The following day started off with a bad mood. Certainly, the upcoming hours would be draining. You could not allow the shop’s closure. Not even for a day. Your family’s existence depended on it. Everything was the same. Chirping birds, a cool breeze, a short walk. The peacefulness before customers visited. Yet, everything was not the same at all. Because there was this nagging feeling inside of you & you knew you could not get rid of it. The ringing sound caught you off guard. It was unusual. Only once had someone entered this early in the mornings. And this one time was yesterday. Your shock was visible. Helmut’s presence was unexpected but definitely not unsought.

“Helmut?” your voice was an octave higher. The excitement emitting from you.

“Good morning, (Y/N).” he strutted closer to you. The same gloves, the same coat. The same offbeat & arcane man.

“What brings you here today?” your head tilted, trying to find a possible explanation for his return. “Wait. Was the bouquet improper?” immediately, thousands of dark, negative thoughts were rushing through you. You did your very best with the flower’s arrangement. Never before had you spent this much time & effort.

“No, not at all.” one of his hands raised & rested on your shoulder, squeezing the tiniest bit. You had to take a deep breath in order to stay calm. As calm as it was possible with him around. “The exact opposite. Which is why I am here again. Could you assist me once more?”

“Of course. What were you envisioning? Who are the flowers for?” your elbows propped onto the countertop, gazing lovingly into his orange shining brown eyes.

“I meant to ask for your favorites. You strike me as one with fantastic taste.” Helmut certainly had a way with words. No matter what he said, you found yourself captivated by him. The topic could be dreary but he made it sound fascinating.

“My favorites? It’s tough to choose one when there are so many stunning options.” you quieted down for a few seconds to really contemplate your answer. It was flattering that he asked for your opinion. “If you make me pick then I’d say…hmm, probably (Y/F/F).”

“Perfect. I would like to purchase a bouquet then.” right away, you got to work. Helmut watched your skilled hands. His enthusiasm only died down when he saw the frown forming on your face. “What is it?”

“Huh?” you were in your thoughts. His question was almost missed by you.

“That frown. Where is it coming from?” only Helmut could be so straight forward about such a small detail he had noticed. Would you tell him the truth? You should not. He did not need to know that your mood turned sour because he bought more flowers. This time, he did not let you know about the purpose of them. Another dinner with a higher up? Highly unlikely. But not entirely impossible. You assumed he would gift them to a woman. Hence why you sidestepped his question masterly.

“I believe it happens when I’m focused on my task.” you hoped your smile was reassuring but Helmut saw right through you. In the end, he did not comment on it. There was a building tension between you two. This time around, there were no lingering touches. He left the shop once again & it was clear that this was it. Helmut would not come back again. And maybe it was for the better. Your heart was too fragile to be crushed by his bare hands. It was not fair to blame basically a stranger. He had a life you had no insight on. But the aching could not be ignored.

Just as you wanted to lock the door to your shop for your lunch break, a voice reached your ears, followed by hurried footsteps. Turning around to look for the cause of it, you were shocked for a second time today. It was Helmut. The same bouquet he had purchased earlier clasped in one of his hands. The other one balanced two cups of coffee. As much as you wanted to withhold your smile, it was inevitable to repress.

“(Y/N)!” he was slightly out of breath. “I expected you were gone already.”

“Good that your expectation was wrong.” the warmth that filled your body was endearing.

“Here.” he handed you the flowers & your eyebrows furrowed. “For you.” he explained further when you made no move to reach for them.

“Why?” you inquired but grabbed the bouquet from him anyway. His posture relaxed & the grip on the cups was more secure.

“May I invite you on a walk through the town?” he suggested shyly. “I brought you coffee. I do hope it is after your liking?” the last part was a question. A sign that he doubted himself the slightest.

“I’m sure it’ll be delightful.” you eased his mind immediately. The cup was placed in your other hand. “Could you wait here for a minute? I should put them in a vase.” he motioned for you to go ahead. Your heart was doing backflips. It all fell into place now. You pieced everything together. He asked for your favorite flowers earlier today because he intended to give them to you. His plan was to spend your lunch break together. Helmut really went out of his way for you. His efforts were mellow. Returning outside once again, he patiently stood in the same spot. The softness of his features were rare on a man like him. You had met people similar to him but he was different. Helmut was that type of many who bought you flowers & made time to spend more with you.

You knew the town by heart. So did Helmut. But exploring the beautiful spots together felt like you were espying every corner, every building, for the very first time. Conversation flowed easily. Laughter was shared, loving glances were exchanged. He gave you a feeling of belonging. Like you were supposed to be right here from the very beginning. It felt right. With a man like him on your side, your life quality would finally improve. Helmut would be the one to quench your cravings. And you would not want it any other way.

Published (05/04/2021) by Cathy

✨MY Ko-fi PAGE✨

Tags: @takacsgram, @hiddlestoner-cumberbitch, @bibliophilewednesday, @yallgotkik, @noavengers, @lieutenantn, @birdieofloxley, @aisling1985, @trelaney, @sebastian-stan-d-on-my-throat, @thewinterrbucky, @loveinthemadness, @princess-yuna (thanks for your support <3)

[bnha-more-like-bnh-gay]

*slides in on heelies* When Todoroki found out what bkg did to Midoriya, he lured bkg out of the dorms to fight. He used his fire this time.

Y E S ! ! !

Thank you so much for this, this is going to be a relatively long post, so I am apologize!

TW: @bu$e

Todoroki never liked bakugou and mudoriya’s interactions. They always seemed so hauntingly familiar to him. When he learned why, he was furious.

He would sigh thinking about how it all started. They had just been studying

Todoroki had asked Midoriya his thoughts on one of the questions, only to find that the other boy had fallen asleep

Todoroki was happy that Midoriya was finally getting some sleep. He always over exerted and over extended himself. Helping their classmates, excessive training, trying to help anything that was breathing.

Or not breathing. Todoroki had caught Midoriya spending a number of hours tending to UA’s gardens and talking to the flowers there. Sunshine incarnate. An angel.

Anyway, he was happy that Midoriya was finally getting some rest. Until, that is, he started having a nightmare.

Todoroki is no stranger to nightmares, but he was still hesitant as to how he should help Midoriya

He tried to help talk the other boy through his nightmare, but when it became apparent that that wasn’t going to work. He shook Midoriya awake, and asked if he wanted to talk about his nightmare

Midoriya ended up talking about how he didn’t get his quirk until the entrance exam, and how Bakugou and his cronies bullied and @bu$ed him for over a decade.

Todoroki was metaphorically, and quite literally, fuming. How could someone hurt sunshine incarnate? Midoriya was the most selfless and kind person Todoroki had ever met, how could Bakugou hurt him to the point of having PTSD?

He felt guilty that he hadn’t done anything before. He had seen how uncomfortable Midoriya had been around bakugou, and he had done nothing?! What kind of a friend was he??

Midoriya had shown him some of the scars Bakugou had given him, and ah yes; that was red he was seeing.

They talk for the next few hours, Midoriya spilling his entire life story. Todoroki offers encouragement and support (he is doing better than he thinks he is)

The next day Todoroki is very robotic. He’s reverted to the way he acted at the beginning of the school year. The main difference, is how protective he is of Midoriya throughout the day.

What’s worse, is that he got paired up to spar with Bakugou.

It does not go well. Todoroki acts a second before the timer starts and freezes bakugou entirely.

Bakugou reacts the exact way you would expect: screaming that it wasn’t a fair fight, and that Todoroki wasn’t using his all, and how he’s better than Todoroki, and will be the #1 hero, etc.

Midoriya is worried for both of them, and tries to smooth things over. Todoroki is just kind of numb right then. Midoriya had been through so much, and was still just trying to help everyone. To mediate the situation and make everyone happy. Todoroki was numb but also in awe at how strong and incredible Midoriya was.

Bakugou did not take it that way. Instead, he says that Deku is looking down on him, and how he needs to, “shut up and mind his own business, useless deku”

That’s the last straw for Todoroki. He snaps and starts yelling at Bakugou. Telling him that if he wants to be a hero, he should stop acting like a villain.

Aizawa breaks up the brewing fight, but later that night Bakugou runs into Todoroki in the courtyard; asking, “what the hell is your problem, icy hot?!”

Todoroki says that bakugou had wanted him to use his full power earlier, well; here he goes.

Property is destroyed. Aizawa is not payed enough. Todoroki and Bakugou both get suspended. Midoriya is frustrated. Todoroki feels guilty.

If he exploded, and used his fire to hurt someone when he was angry, what he that much better than his father? He tormented himself for a majority of the night.

Later that night, Midoriya goes to Todoroki’s room to ask, “hey, what the hell was that about?”

Todoroki tells him more about his father, his “training” methods, and the boys find that their stories are quite similar. He tells him how he felt guilty, but how he wanted to protect Midoriya. How important izuku’s safety and happiness was.

Izuku softens at that, saying that Todoroki was nothing like his father. That he was using his fire for good, to try and help Izuku. That they could bring endeavor down in 24 hours. 24 hours and Todoroki could be safe.

Todoroki says that they could bring bakugou down as well. They could tell Aizawa what he’s done, and he could be expelled, or at the least be moved to a different class!

Izuku says that he would feel too guilty, because Kacchan has people who consider him a friend, and that aren’t just cronies. But Todoroki disagrees. He’s seen the uncomfortable looks sero, Mina, and kaminari have given Bakugou. Sometimes even Kirishima.

Todoroki finds that Uraraka already knows about bakugou, hence why she is also so protective of Izuku when it comes to Bakugou. Tsu, Shinsou, Tokoyami, and Momo had suspected something similar as well. He ends up asking them to help him try and move Bakugou to another class at least, if not have him expelled.

How far they pushed was mainly determined on Izuku, but his safety and well-being came before his moral code. Especially since the fight, bakugou had been even more violent. The Kiricrew started to separate themselves from him, not that Bakugou payed much mind to it.

In the end, they got Izuku to agree and tell Aizawa about Bakugou. He explained his whole past: getting his quirk the day of the entrance exam, the constant bullying and @bu$e, his scars, etc.

Aizawa was horrified that he hadn’t noticed. Guilty that he had pushed them to work together so much because he thought it was simply a childhood feud.

Mic and Midnight were stricken: they had let one of the most determined and hardworking students suffer for months, and didn’t think much of it at all.

Bakugou was expelled, and class A had a lot less tension.

Izuku was still waiting for the go ahead to destroy endeavor. Todoroki wasn’t exactly silent about hating his father, but he hadn’t gone into much detail white those other than Midoriya and a few members of the Izucrew.

After break one time, Todoroki came back with excessive bruises, burns, and a fractured arm. Now it was Izuku’s turn to snap.

He patched Todoroki up, and told him that they had to tell Aizawa about this. That they had enough evidence to get Shouto out of endeavors “care.” And Shouto finally agreed to it.

For the second time that month, Aizawa found himself sitting in his office with two of his most prominent problem children.

After explaining everything, izuku showed them Aizawa and Shouto all the evidence he had against endeavor, and how he had even put together a fifteen pages paper on, “why Endeavor is a villain.”

Todoroki may or may not be in love, that is pending.

Aizawa wanted a raise.

In the end, Shouto got adopted by Midnight (do you guys want me to write an essay on why she’d be a great parent? Because I will👀)

I hope you liked this!!!! I l o v e d this prompt 😭😭👏🙌 you are 10000% correct. Also, huzzah for heelies!👀

[matildashoney]

Concept: you and Harry are exes and have to attend a wedding together (my song inspo is I Almost Do, but ofc you can take it anywhere you want!!)

Harry knew they would see each other again. It was inevitable, wasn't it?

Harry knew from the moment they decided to part ways that dreaded night that he would see her again, that this wouldn't be the end. He assumed that they would keep in contact, that she would reach out to him to let her know of the promotion that she received at her company, or maybe to congratulate him on the new single.

Harry did reach out, sort of, through their mutual friend, the one that’s getting married, the wedding that they’ll both be in attendance of. They kind of have to be, as part of the bridal party. Harry asked how she was doing over brunch, and their mutual friend – Molly is her name – said that she was doing well. This made Harry quiet, unsure of where to go. It’s not that he was expecting her to be doing poorly, he didn’t want that for her, especially not because he was still in love with her, but there was a part of him that was hoping she was even the tiniest bit as miserable as he was. That’s the selfish part of him, the one part she always complained about. That’s the reason they split, in the end. Harry was a bit selfish, is a bit selfish, and she wasn’t willing to give up her life for the touring and the music and the craziness that surrounded him.

YN’s whole life, all she wanted was to be an engineer.

YN used to tell her mother and father, “I want to build bridges and skyscrapers and all the things!” and when she was old enough to go to school and pursue her passions, that’s exactly what she was doing. Little did she know that she would start building stages for some of the biggest recording acts known to the music industry. Her career took her across the world, from Sydney to Tokyo to London, and she fell in love with what she was doing, even if she started at it by mistake. Her best friends were met through the industry, people that she fell in love with, people she grew to care for deeply and never wished to be parted from in her life.

Harry Styles is one of those people.

Immediately, Harry and YN hit it off, talking about their experiences in the music industry, the concerts they’ve seen, the stages they’ve loved and hated. They bonded over their love for artists and the way that music is unique to everyone, and how everyone’s muse is a little bit different. YN wasn’t nosey or prying into his personal life, and to be honest, she couldn’t care less. Harry was simply Harry in those moments in the office, not Harry Styles, the pop sensation. That’s how she saw him. That’s how she always saw him, even at the end of everything.

YN knew what she wanted and demanded it gets done. Harry liked that. He made that much very clear. She was pretty much expecting it when Harry asked her out for the first time. Harry asked her on their first date the night she visited the O2 Arena for their first construction of the stage, her first time seeing it live and in action. Harry had asked her on a date a bit before he was about to go on stage when he was dressed and ready and his band was making their way and she was mingling with other techs. It was quick, caught her off guard if she was honest. “Would you get drinks with me after the show?”

And before YN could properly understand what was happening in her life, she and Harry were exchanging keys to each other’s houses and staying the night and moving in clothing and going to weddings together. Their friends called it a whirlwind romance, and many of them admittedly said it was something that couldn’t see lasting past a few months – great friends they had back then – but if she was being honest with herself, which often she was, she loved every minute of it. YN loved Harry, more than she loved anyone before him, and she wanted to spend her life loving him and loving her career.

YN enjoyed going to the studio and hearing him record the songs that would never get heard past her ears. Harry loved watching her sketch out new stage plans for artists that he adored. They loved going to concerts together, seeing her work portrayed to thousands and thousands. Mutually, they respected each other’s crafts and their dedication, and it was something that bonded them more than it separated them.

Until the dreaded tour conversation came about.

Harry wanted her to come with him, to take a year remotely and travel the world with him, with her significant other, her partner. YN wanted Harry to understand that her career came first, just like his. That he didn’t like. In Harry’s eyes, YN came first, that he would’ve dropped everything for her and she wouldn’t do the same. Harry wouldn’t listen after that, and it led to a dreaded conversation in her kitchen with their keys on the table and two glasses of wine, saying that maybe in another life this was meant to be.

Eight months later, Harry is trying to prepare himself for what it’ll be like to see her again. Harry’s never stopped loving her. Hell, he’s written an entire album of songs that no one will ever hear because they’re lyrics he only wants her to hear. He nearly sent it to her, last month, all the recordings, simply to see if she would have something to say.

Always an almost. That’s how everything has been with YN, lately. Almost called. Almost sent the recordings. Almost reached out. Harry can never do the damn thing. He can never just say it. It’s always on the tip of his tongue, one step away. Harry’s always just one step away from her.

He can see her from across the room. It’s easy to notice her. YN is so fucking beautiful. He’s always said that, that her beauty is unlike anything he’s ever seen before. He notices her before he’s even made his way to the room where all the groomsmen are getting ready. Her voice travels through the tiny hallway in the hotel and Harry stops dead in his tracks, aching at the sound. He hasn’t heard her voice in so long. Way too long. He doesn’t want to disturb her, to take her away from her friends that she’s talking to, but more than anything he wants to steal her away and talk, just talk about anything, to simply hear her voice.

YN sees Harry almost as easily as he sees her – he certainly spotted her first – and walks right to him with her signature smile printed on her lips, leaving her friends behind and waving them off when they mention waiting for her. He swallows thickly and nearly extends his arm to shake her hand – now what would she have done with that – but she is too quick for him, always has been, and hugs him tightly, whispering, “Hey, H.” Harry nearly melts at the name. “It’s good to see you.”

Hugging feels intimate in the quiet hallway, and Harry stops himself a few times from breathing her in, the scent of her perfume that he knows too well bringing back memories that existed only in the furthest depths of his memory. He smiles warmly when she loosens her grip and steps away, saying something about seeing him at the aisle and saving a dance for her, something along those lines. He was too in awe of her to be paying all that much attention, in all honesty.

Harry watched as she walked away, and silently beat himself up for not saying more.

Harry’s hand was shaking against his side when YN walked towards him at the base of the aisle. He silently told his brain to ‘quit fucking around’ but it didn’t do all that much. She slinked her arm through his and smiled, nodding towards where the other bridesmaids were already walking and waiting for them. He didn’t notice that he was keeping them behind.

Green eyes are on her the entire ceremony, and she surely notices. Everyone does. Nearly to the point where one of the groomsmen nudge his arm and make him stare at the bride for even a nanosecond. Harry shrugs it off, saying that it’s nothing and that’s he’s fine, but everyone knows that he’s swimming with regret and unanswered questions.

He is fine. Harry’s fine. He’s fine until YN walks over and says, “I think you owe me a dance.”

Harry smiles his signature smile and stands, leaving his whiskey on the table and scooting his chair against the hardwood floor, taking her hand that’s stretched out for him and bravely kissing her knuckles. YN smiles, and he knows that wherever this is going, it’s nowhere near what the worst-case scenario he created in his head might have been.

“God, I love this song,” she says as soon as they make their way to the dance floor. “I’m working on their stage, right now. They have a tour coming up, this year.”

Harry circles his arms around her waist, exactly like he used to, and brings her into his chest, their faces mere inches from each other. Her hands lay on his shoulders, inching towards his neck, and the way their eyes are staring into each other’s make him know that there is still something there, even in the slightest capacity. “Busy bee, as always.”

“Have to do something with my time,” she giggles, shrugging her shoulders and licking her lips. Harry remembers that she does this when she’s nervous, and for the first time that night, it feels like his nerves begin to ease. “How are you? How’s everything?”

“Eh, well, I’m okay, I guess,” Harry says, and he believes that to be true. He is okay. He knows better than to lie to her, too. YN has a radar for bullshit. “I wrote two albums, this year.”

“Two?” YN blinks, waiting for confirmation. When Harry doesn’t say anything in return, she continues, “That’s amazing, H. I’m really proud of you.”

Harry doesn’t know how to react to that sentiment, because, although it feels painfully good to hear, it is still painful, nonetheless. “That means a lot coming from you.”

“It’s been a while since we talked,” she says softly, sliding her arms further around his shoulders and clasping her hands together behind his neck. “I’m sorry I didn’t reach out sooner. I, there were things I wanted to tell you, and I wanted to share with you, but I just couldn’t. Things felt too raw. I wanted to talk, but every time I would go to dial your number, it was like, a mental block.”

Harry nods sadly, almost like he’s agreeing with her. “I know. I almost called, I almost texted. Good amount of almost things. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

“H, we said we’d stay friends.”

“Am I not your friend, YN?” Harry chuckles, but she knows that there is pain behind it, an aching question that is dying to be answered unless the answer is something neither of them wants to admit. “Honestly, I just thought you’d moved on or hated me. I resigned to either of those reasons. I was okay with either, as long as you’re happy. That’s all I wanted to know.”

“Harry,” she says, shaking her head adamantly and meeting his glassy stare, “that’s the last thing from the truth.”

Harry doesn’t say anything for a minute or two, maybe more, and YN is beginning to wonder if this conversation was a mistake. His silence is deafening and there’s a moment where she thinks she’ll slip out of his grasp, only to feel his palms widen on her back and one hand slip away to take her hand and spin her around. Harry smiles softly and listens to her laugh, and soaks in the sound, very unaware of where the conversation will go afterwards.

Music still plays behind them, and couples come and go from the dance floor. Harry and YN mind their business, dancing quietly and leaning into each other and soaking at the moment that feels like it could last a lifetime. His hand is holding hers, his other splayed across her lower back, and her cheek is resting on his shoulder when he whispers, “I still love you.”

Her hair falls down her back and across her face when she turns her head on his shoulder, and Harry reaches forward with their interlocked hands and brushes it away from her cheek. His expression is neutral, calm, and she can barely tell if she was meant to hear the confession or not. “Harry.”

“I still love you.”

[stray-kids-react]

Idol crush teasing them

Masterlist

...

Bang Chan

° You were covering IOI's iconic song 'Very Very Very'. Which involved a lot of adorable dance moves and intentional aegyo. Doing things to Chan's heart very intentionally.

° Bang Chan's crush on you started ever since they were performing their debut stage, you cheered them on from the crowd and even told your fans to stan Stray Kids whenever you went on vlive.

° Your group was as popular as Exo and Redvelvet, so to see someone so big in the entertainment industry love his band's music... Truly did something to his heart.

° Bang Chan reached out to you a few months after their debut stage, and asked if you would be interested in dueting with him. You of course agreed, because he's Bang mother fucking Chan.

° The night you stayed in his studio, recording different tones of your voices in sync. With steaming cups of coffee in both of your hands, and a tired grin plastered across his face. That was the night you truly felt a connection to one another.

° You both have performed sexy, charismatic, and cute songs in front of one another. But you both always looked for each other in the crowds when performing, feeling a rush of joy when you find one another.

"Hyung, the camera is coming your way. Don't make your crush to obvious." Lee Know murmured, with an unfazed expression.

"I'll try... Y/n just looks so cute." He sighed, smiling shyly as you sang.

Lee Know

° You and Minho had a very strange relationship, you both liked each other and knew that. But both of you wouldn't fess up to it until the other one did.

° You and Minho would take turns teasing each other without either fandom knowing knowing, mostly focusing on doing sexy stages. You were covering Girl's Day 'Something', which was VERY sensual.

° You stood out the most in the performance according to netizens, wondering what possessed you to become this sensual God. But Stray Kids' knew what caused it.

° That whole performance reminded him why he liked you, the confident and charismatic energy that you brought to each performance was a hypnotic trance. Minho knew he wasn't going to hold back anymore.

° Once you headed backstage for the dressing rooms, he got up and followed. You were waiting for one of the rooms to be free, when a gentle tap on your shoulder caught your attention. It was Minho, who had a much softer gaze then he usually had.

° His hands lightly cupped your face, as he leaned in slowly. He didn't care if you were warm and sweaty, you were still as attractive as you usually are. His lips your soft, you could feel the slightly curve of a smile when you finally began to kiss him back.

"I guess this means our competition is over." You teased, giggling softly. Trying to hide how truly bashful you were.

"And it means, I can kiss you all the time." He replied, staring back at your lips.

Changbin

° Your group and Stray Kids were very close, and decided that you'd bless the fans with a reality show together. Everyone was hyped for this idea, but bittersweet for Binnie.

° Changbin was excited to see everyone and hang around you, but he was also nervous because he'd be around you and probably have to do something embarrassing. He didn't know how you would react to it either.

° The first episode would take place at an amusement park, where an aegyo battle was the decision for who would go on the first ride. Changbin was thrilled to see you do it.

° You perfected the aegyo without becoming awkward or over the top. You impressed him with your direct cuteness, so he wanted to repay the treat. Which got him to winning the first challenge with you.

° Changbin had to ride a very intimidating ride, and also ride it next to his crush. He has never felt so nervous before then he did when he was strapped in right next to you. You seemed antsy for the large drop coming your way, by the tightness of your grip.

° He held onto your hand like his life depended on it, screaming in pure fear mixed with excitement. You giggled sweetly at his clingy behavior, letting him hold onto you as tight as he wanted. You even stroked his hair gently once it finished.

"Are you okay Bin Bin?" you questioned, creating a new nickname that he loved immediately once it left you mouth.

"Y-yeah, thanks for holding me." He responded, a shy blush across his cheeks.

Hyunjin

° Hyunjin is very charismatic, talented, and attractive. He's the whole package, so who wouldn't be crushing on him? You were different however, because he knew about it.

° One of your members teased you a bit too loud, and Hyunjin heard... Everything. And it was evident, due to the smirk that was plastered across his lips. To make things worse, you had to perform with him.

° You were both doing a special stage where you did a cover of 'Hush' by Miss A. You knew Hyunjin was going to kill it, thanks to practicing with him for 2 months straight.

° But on stage, he looked different then when he did while practicing. A new flare of confidence and passion behind his eyes, and they seemed to peirce right into your soul. He wanted a reaction from you.

° You weren't going to be a flustered mess on stage infront of so many fandom and bands, so you just continued the performance as if nothing was wrong. You got tired of him playing with your emotions, so you teased him back just as well as he could.

° Everyone saw the chemistry on stage and couldn't get over how well you both worked together. The ending pose sent shock waves throughout both fandoms, your faces only inches from one another's. A small smile on your lips as he tried to lean in.

"I saw you try to lean in Jinnie." You teased, poking his chest as he fanned himself. You were happy when he didn't deny it.

"Well you were the one teasing me." He retorted, pouting cutely as you giggled.

Han

° You were a guest MC on weekly idol, interviewing Stray Kids who you were already quite close to. Many fans and members shipping you with Jisung.

° You were challenged to try and effect the member's heart beats, by doing aegyo or acting sexy. You were much more confident in aegyo, and aimed towards the members you knew you could possibly crack.

° Jisung smiled within the first ten seconds of your aegyo skit, his heart increasing by each pose you made. All of the members began teasing relentlessly afterwards.

° When the hosts asked why he was so easy to break, he admitted to finding you attractive and charismatic. You were taken aback by his honesty, but also flattered by his words... Especially since you liked him.

° The interview continued, but you tried your best to make him just a tiny bit more flustered. Talking cutely in purpose and doing shy aegyo, that only some noticed when you began to do it.

"So would you date me?" You questioned, once the cameras cut and the Jisung was away from everyone else.

"In an instant." He replied, showing off his bright gummy smile.

Felix

° Even though Felix is a very attractive idol with a deep ass voice and hot stage presence, he is honestly a huge softie who everyone loves and wants to protect.

° So seeing you have a very sensual dance break during your performance, would make him very shy on the inside. He'd keep composure due to the cameras that surrounded him, but he was suffering inside.

° Felix had a crush on you since before he debuted, being a fan of your music and you were his bias. You found out from another member, and decided to test if it were true.

° You looked over at him while you laid across the stage for a split second, smirking softly as you winked quickly. The members all saw your flirtation towards Felix, and teased him quietly as he sat there in shock.

° Once the performance ended, your group went back to the table which was right next to Stray Kids'. All of there eyes latched onto yours as you sat down like you didn't just wink at Felix during a sensual performance. But you were secretly scared you went too far.

° The cameras cut for commercial, and Stray Kids approached your table. Felix standing right beside you, smiling brightly once he noticed your very obvious blush filled cheeks. He couldn't notice them with the dim lit table set up.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel awkward, I just like you and though you-" you ranted, feeling your confidence fade away.

"Don't worry about it, I like you too." He chuckled, brushing the hair from your eyes.

Seungmin

° You were a solo artist, after your temporary group from produce 101 disbanded. Your music was well known, and you were one of the more successful members.

° Seungmin was a huge fan of yours, and it was as obvious as his liking in Day6. The only difference, is the tint of pink that would cross along his features when he mentioned your name. He was crushing on you hard.

° Seungmin was waiting backstage as the other members were getting touch ups done, you noticed him in the crowd and were relieved to see a familiar face.

° Seungmin felt his heart begin to skip a few beats as you approached, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks once the first words left you mouth. He had to respond, he just didn't know how to when you looked so good.

° Changbin noticed how nervous Seungmin was and decided to step in and save the day. He took you towards the food table to get some punch, he assumed Seungmin had confessed due to how shy he was acting. But Changbin assumed very wrong.

° Once the words 'you' and 'crush' left his lips, a gentle smile was placed upon your features. You left your cup on the table and began walking back to Seungmin, who was still a blushing mess. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders as you pecked his nose.

"I have a crush on you too Seungmin." You commented, burrowing into the crook of his neck as he tried to process what happened.

Seungmin looked up at Changbin, silently asking "How did you do this?"

Jeongin

° You and Jeongin were beat friends since you were trainees, many people seeing you as a sibling type of relationship. Jeongin saw it like that for a year, before his crush began.

° Only Chan knew about it, and it was by complete accident. Your name slipped out his mouth when talking to Chan about crushes and the best looking idols, the bright grin that graced Chan' face was priceless.

° You noticed Jeongin acting differently around you recently, so you searched up if any rumors were spreading towards your best friends... Instead it was a ship.

° There videos of Jeongin crushing on you, ship moments, videos of you flirting... It was endless. And you started to wonder if these videos were true evidence of something you were very oblivious to.

° The next day Chan and Jeongin were visiting your group to see your dance practice, little did they know that it was going to be a sensual choreography. Rather than the regular upbeat and slightly cute aesthetic everyone was use to.

° Jeongin was shocked to see you in this light, never expecting to see you crawl over the floor with a darker gaze in your eyes. Chan tried to hold back his laughter, Jeongin's ears were burning red and you noticed this immediately.

"So you do like me. Don't you?" You questioned, panting slightly due to the intense choreography.

"How'd you find out?" he chuckled, trying to cover his bright red ears.

[elysianslove]

jujutsu sorcerer!reader; haikyuu boys 

requested by anon(s): haikyuu boys with a crush on a jujutsu sorcerer, and being saved by them

pairings; hinata shōyō x reader, kuroo tetsurō x reader, tsukishima kei x reader, kozume kenma x reader 

genre; fluff

warnings; some mentions of death

hinata shōyō

to hinata, you probably stand out more than you’d think

idk why but i love love love the concept of hinata having like a completely opposite s/o kagehina. as in, i can see him so well with an alt!s/o or a goth!s/o. i can’t explain it it just works so well in my head

the fact that you were so mysterious and quiet really, and i mean really, peaked his interest. unlike literally any other character, he is nosy, and he wants to know why and how and when and who you are, so he does make effort to talk to you often

you always kinda just smile at him and give him one word replies. it’s not that you don’t like him, it’s more that you’re here for a reason and you don’t want him to get caught up in the middle of it all. you’d hate for something to happen to someone as pure as him

your attitude towards does not throw him off in the least. he’ll just want to get to know you even more

one of his upperclassmen, like tanaka or noya, probably notice and try telling him things about you to kinda back him off of you because they’re scared of you lowkey 

ik i used this scenario before but it fits hinata too; we all know he stays late to practice often, so it isn’t a surprise or it isn’t too odd that he stays yet another day until the sun has long since set. you’d only known he was in the volleyball club in passing, but you didn’t know him well enough to anticipate that he’d be in the gym this late

the most remote place, and the closest too, that you could think of at literally nine pm was the boys’ gymnasium, so you’d led the curse there in hopes of driving it away from other people around it. you hadn’t expected that you’d be leading the curse straight to another target 

hinata was the only one there, too, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to attack him 

one moment, he’s just tossing the ball against the wall and receiving it, the next the gymnasium is being broken into by some creature from above, followed by you and your angry yells

you were really focused on the curse, prepared to battle it and exorcise it, before you finally spot him. he’s frozen, the ball dropped from his hand and rolling away from him. the way he’s staring at you, and the way he keeps eyeing the creature in fear, it clicks something in you, you don’t know what

but you don’t give the curse a chance to even try and attack, immediately charging at it and exorcising it quickly, defeating it right away. it dies away with an agonizing yell and you’re pretty sure this’ll count as trauma for the poor kid before he rushes towards you, grasping your wrists and staring at you like you just hung the moon in the sky

“what the hell was that that was so cool oh my god can you do it again can you teach me how to do it you are so badass —“

like baby breathe omg 

even the way you laughed at him was intimidatingly hot he was a goner !!! 

now that he knows of your nature, it attaches him to your hip. you can’t get rid of him anymore but it’s okay he’s literally sunshine in human form 

as a duo, and as romantic partners, you really are complete opposites, but that’s why you fit so well together you know! 

if you can conjure up something like the divine dogs like megumi, expect him to constantly pester you for them <3

kuroo tetsurō

listen, he knew you were a little odd from the moment you joined nekoma. like there was no doubt about it there was something off about you. he had some type of feeling that you weren’t really here for the education you know? 

but the rational side of him convinced himself he wanted to live in some type of movie so he dropped it

he does try to get to know you, though, yeah, of course he had to fall for that one person that no one knows anything about 

kuroo’s just trynna be the main character lmfao

with kuroo, he actually succeeds in growing closer to you. i mean who can resist him? no one

it starts off simple, he’d invite you to games, sit with you during lunch, before it escalates more into walking you home some days, inviting you over during weekend games, inviting you over at outings with his friends

more often than not, especially when said outings happened during nighttime, you’d decline. he didn’t really think much of it though, he just let you be, you know? 

then, one time, you decide to go for it. 

he invites you out to the movies with some of the vbc boys, and you accept. you figure you being gone for a few hours won’t hurt anyone, and it wasn’t like there aren’t any other jujutsu sorcerers available in tokyo. it’s a big city, you rationalize 

halfway through the movie, something feels off, and as a sorcerer, you know to trust your gut instinct, so you excuse yourself to the bathroom to check the area out. kuroo, having felt like something wasn’t right with you, and being slightly worried himself, goes after you. 

turns out you were right. two people had already died by the time you come to the alleyway behind the theatre, and there’s a curse hovering by their bodies. you’re slower to react because of the initial shock, and when you see kuroo coming out of the same backdoor you’d just left out of, your body entirely freezes

until the curse jumps to attack him, and in a flash, you’re by his side, kicking away at the curse, watching as it smashes roughly against a wall 

kuroo’s immediately asking questions, but you can’t exactly focus on him at the moment. you prioritize eliminating and exorcising the curse first, and when that’s done and dusted, you lead kuroo away from the theatre

he’s very shaken by the whole scene, especially after having seen two corpses 

that night, you lead him to your home, and he stays there. he keeps you up all night, but it’s understandable. throughout it all, you reassure him of his safety constantly, telling him that you’d never let anyone or anything ever hurt him

it’s what brings you two closer together 

because that incident had been his introduction to that specific world, he grows very wary anytime you’re sent out on missions, but you always come back home to him, and that’s what matters <3

tsukishima kei 

please tsukki with a crush is hilarious cause he’s so bad at expressing his feelings 

you’re actually really similar to him in that you’re quiet and that you don’t really appreciate talking and conversing to others. you tend to keep to yourself, and he really respects that, like deep down 

he thought you were just a really timid person until he snaps at you once and you snap back. and then it was like everything that has ever happened to him led to this moment right here because what the fucsjdhwf

the fact that he recognized his feelings for you kinda made him even warier of you. like his scowl is deeper and his bite is harsher, but that’s really only because he does not know how to deal with these emotions. like he has a bad way of expressing them correctly 

you two build this small relationship between you. it’s like a teasing thing, where it’s literally just all bark and no bite. it’s lowkey fun, and you grow to appreciate his presence 

he doesn’t really question it when you miss days of schools, or when you return the days after that all bandaged and bruised. he figures it’s not his business to ask questions like that, and just continues to observe you from afar

anyways! one night he’s walking home, all alone, peacefully, before he sees you dash by him, being chased by??? what the fuck is that???

tsukki just pauses, but he’s not even like scared or worried he’s just confused and a little amused tbh. he stands in place while his eyes follow your movements as you allow the creature to chase at you, before you make a sharp turn and hit it, sending it flying back

except, you hadn’t realized the direction you’d hit it at

the curse goes flying at tsukki, and he’s just staring at it like, “hm,” not moving an inch. he’s trynna give you an aneurysm on god 

you scream at him to move, but you’re already rushing towards him. as soon as you can, you throw your arms around him and topple him to the ground. you land on top of him, but you don’t get to see his flustered face because you’re off of him way too soon, taking care of the issue at hand 

he’s a little surprised at the reason you’re always cut up and bruised, but he can’t say he’s not even a little amazed at just,,, how cool you seem

he’s still on the ground lol and you hit him with “i hope you’re not waiting for me to pick you up.”

“it is your fault i’m on the ground to begin with.”

you help him up 

with an eye roll of course 

when he’s standing again before you, he just sighs and lifts a finger to his face, as if to indicate to your face. then he says, “that explains all this then,” referring to the bruises painting your skin 

your relationship doesn’t change much for a while after that, except that knowing glance he gives you every time you walk into class exhausted 

likes to call it monster hunting for some reason 

clearly you’re the only one out of the two of you with any balls because you’re the one that confesses. thanks for saving him the trouble hehe

he’ll never tell you to your face, but he thinks he is incredibly lucky to have someone as badass as you as his s/o

kozume kenma 

kenma probably took note of your exceptional situation for a few, but he didn’t give it much thought initially. like so what if you were super secretive? not like anyone knew much of him himself 

it’s not until kuroo or someone points out like, “they’re quite odd, right?” that he starts to pay attention, but he’s not sure why

maybe he’s trying to convince himself and others that you’re not really odd for being the way that you are. just secretive and mysterious and introverted. like. does that make him odd? 

he starts to notice things like you staying after school for late, late hours, but not because you’re a part of any club, and things like your missing of school, or how your knuckles are always, always bandaged and wrapped, or how you seemed to be at the oddest of locations at the oddest of times

it’s not really like him to be too interested in what you do, so he doesn’t invest all his thoughts and energy into. he does though dwell over it for a lot longer than you’d think 

sometimes, kenma takes a console of his, and heads up his rooftop, because it just feels really safe where nobody and nothing can get to him

he’s proven wrong one night when, in the middle of the game, he hears thumps across the rooftop. he thinks he’s being tricked by the game he’s playing, until he feels something behind him, until the hairs on the nape of his neck stand and a shive runs down his spine because there is something breathing down his neck

and then he hears your all too familiar voice whispering out, “don’t move, please.” 

it’s honestly not like he could 

he sees you from the corner of his eye move in a flash, and suddenly, when the feeling is gone, he finds himself able to move again, and he turns around

it honestly looks like a scene from a movie, what he’s staring at. you battle the curse so well, and kenma is fully and shamelessly enamored by you and the way you moved so swiftly and efficiently, as you dodge and attack, and as you finally exorcise 

like he’s so in awe he has to pinch himself to convince himself he’s not dreaming 

when the curse is taken care of, you just slowly approach him, kneeling by his side and asking in a soft voice if he was okay. he decided then and there that no, you were not odd at all. you just saved his life, so,,,

you urge him to go back inside, to stay safe, and he just nods as you lead the way to his window. and when he slips inside, for some reason, he finds it in himself to ask you to stay too

to stay safe, of course

it takes you by surprise a little, but at the genuineness in his eyes, you accept, and stay up playing games with him

and when you greet him in school the next day with a smile and a wave, kenma returns it, just as brightly <3